MONTHLY CALENDAR 279 



stock of manure and decide what will be needed for 

 the crops to be grown. Don't spread over too large 

 an area. We may often grow as much on an acre by 

 intensive cultivation as is averaged on three or four 

 acres, and the cost of cultivating the smaller area is 

 very much reduced. Too many of us are "land poor." 



Seeds. Look over the stock of seeds on hand and if 

 any appear to be poor test them in a plate of moist 

 sand between two sheets of cheesecloth or blotting 

 paper. If the percentage of germination is 50 or below, 

 and that not strong, throw the seed away, as the plants 

 coming from it will probably be weak. Don't be too 

 late in ordering seeds for farm or garden; or exchang- 

 ing with neighbors, if they have good strains, is good 

 practice. 



Poultry. The hens should be laying heavily at this 

 time and we should be planning for the best possible 

 supply for setting next month. The hens should have a 

 great variety of feed and be given a run in the open air 

 during the middle of the day when the ground is un- 

 covered. Every hen that wants to set should be removed 

 to a room away from the other fowls and eggs be put 

 under her. If a number can be set at once, at the proper 

 time the eggs may be tested, the unfertile be thrown 

 out and the fertile ones put together thirteen or fourteen 

 to each hen, and those thus left without eggs be given a 

 new lot. This also should be done with eggs in the incu- 

 bator, and it is advisable to have two or three incuba- 

 tors filled at once, that none of them be run with a small 

 number of eggs. 



Brooders should be put in repair or new ones built 

 so as to have them ready when the chickens are taken 

 from the hens or incubators. 



Bees. On warm days bees will be flying more or less, 

 cleaning out their hives, and should be watched to see 



