362 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



You may sow grass seed either as soon as the snow is off 

 the ground, or, as some say, in August or September. You may 

 seelhe question relative to the time for this purpose discussed, 

 pages 25, 26. Be sure to use seed enough, say about twelve 

 pounds of clover and one peck of herd's grass [timothy] to the 

 acre. Page 26. If you did not sow grass seed in autumn with 

 winter grain, you may now sow it, and even harrow it in. 

 Though a few plants will be torn up, the grain will on the whole 

 receive benefit from being harrowed in the spring. Before the 

 spring work presses hard upon you, it will be well to employ 

 your boys under your superintendence to train your steers or 

 calves and colts to the yoke, saddle, or harness, for which you 

 may see some excellent directions by Mr. James Walker, page 

 66. Top-dress winter grain. Top-dressings should not be 

 used in the fall for winter grain, because they would be apt to 

 make the young plants come forward too fast, and be the more 

 liable to be winter-killed. Page 187. Attend to fences, page 

 214, and to drains. Page 296. By often changing the direc- 

 tion of your water-courses, you may render your mowing even, 

 and prevent one part from becoming too rank and lodging be- 

 fore the other part is fit to cut. 



Ploughvng. Light sandy soils had better be ploughed in the 

 spring, and not late in autumn, lest they become too porous 

 and are washed away by the rains and floods of fall and 

 winter. For general rules on this subject, see page 281, &c. 

 It is best to sow spring wheat as soon as it can well be got 

 into the ground. The soil and preparation should be the same 

 as for winter wheat. Page 112. Sow barley as soon as the 

 ground is sufficiently dry. Page 141. Sow oats. Page 138. 

 Spring rye is cultivated in the same manner as winter rye. 

 Page 130. Field peas as well as garden peas make an excel- 

 lent crop. Page 155. Beans are also highly worth the judi- 

 cious cultivator's particular attention. Page 160. Plant some 

 potatoes of an early sort on early ground, to be used in July 

 and August as food for your hogs, that you may commence fat- 

 tening them early in the season. Page 271. Potatoes in small 

 quantities at a time are good food for horses and oxen, as well 

 as most other animals, especially in spring. They will go far- 

 ther if steamed or boiled, but when given raw they are useful 

 as well for physic as for food, being of a laxative and cooling 

 quality. It is now about the time to sow flax, page 104, and 

 hemp. Page 94. Every tool, utensil, &c. which will be want- 

 ed for the labors of the season, should now (if not done before) 

 be critically inspected, thoroughly repaired, and such new ones 

 of the best quality added as will probably be needed. We know 

 of no place where every want of that kind can be better sup- 

 plied than at the agricultural warehouse, No. 52, North Market 



