1880 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
85 
but it is true. Tall growing leafy oats, and tall peas, 
yield the most fodder; the “ Black-eye Marrowfat ” 
pea, grown in Canada as a field crop, is the best 
for our use, the seed being free from weevil. For 
a second crop, the earliest small “Canada Gray” pea 
may be sown. The fodder is in the best condition 
for cutting, when the peas are in full blossom. 
Southern Cow-Peas will produce good green fod¬ 
der for late use, but cannot be sown until May, or 
after corn is planted. Those who wish to sow them, 
should look for seed, as it is not always to be had. 
Seeds. —AO the seeds that may be required, should 
be procured at once. There are some kinds of seed 
that are better to be changed occasionally, oats and 
potatoes are of this kind, and should be procured 
from a northern locality, where the oats are hardier, 
and the potatoes larger and more vigorous. 
Clover and Grass Seed. —Clover may be sown this 
month. When the ground is lifted and cracked by 
a light frost, the seed may be sown with good effect. 
But the preferable method is, to sow so soon as the 
soil is dry enough, and then run over the ground 
with a light smoothing harrow, and spread 150 lbs. 
of fertilizer immediately. Orchard-Grass is a most 
valuable kind to sow with clover ; it is early and 
late, and is unsurpassed for cutting for soiling, or 
for hay. Three bushels of seed per acre, is not too 
much, as close seeding is needed, to prevent the 
grass from forming large clumps or stools. 
Grass Lands. —It is a mistake to suppose that our 
climate forbids the success of permanent grass for 
meadows and pastures. If the right kind of land 
is chosen, low, moist, and full of vegetable matter, 
and is kept well manured, and occasionally re-seeded, 
we can have permanent grass as well as other coun¬ 
tries. But it is necessary to sow, and encourage a 
number of kinds of grass, those with creeping roots 
being preferable, if the quality is good. This sub¬ 
ject is worthy of study and experiment. 
Bolling. —The roller is both a good and a bad im¬ 
plement; good when rightly used, but very bad 
otherwise. One good use of it is, to run it over 
meadows early in the spring, to smooth the surface, 
press in stones and tufts, mole-runs, and other ir¬ 
regularities. Grain fields are also benefited by roll¬ 
ing, which crushes any lumps left after the winter, 
presses in roots that may have been thrown out, 
and covers grass seed. Light rollers are the best, 
if a heavy one is needed, it is always easy to load a 
light one, but one cannot make a heavy roller light. 
Live Stock. —It is a'critical time with young ani¬ 
mals, and sometimes with old ones. Those that 
have been well kept, will continue to do well, but 
it is safest to give all young animals, especially 
calves, a dose or two of physic. The blood becomes 
affected by the dry feeding, and close herding of 
the winter, and some laxative is required. Other¬ 
wise the danger of febrile diseases, of which Black 
Quarter (anthrax ov carbuncular erysipelas), is the 
most frequent, will be imminent. Two ounces of 
Epsom Salts, or half an ounce of Hyposulphite 
of Soda, given twice, may save a calf. A pint of 
Linseed Oil, given two or three times to a cow or a 
horse, will help the digestion, loosen the hide, and 
facilitate the change of coat, which is accompanied 
by irritation of the skin, and slight fever. 
Vermin — Make a clean sweep of lice, ticks, fleas, 
and other vermin, as soon as possible. Oil or grease 
is the best basis for an effective remedy, and Sul¬ 
phur is perhaps the best thing to add to the oil. 
One part of Kerosene, added to four parts of Lin¬ 
seed Oil, makes an excellent application, that is 
not in any manner injurious to the skin. Ticks 
may be picked from sheep and lambs. They will 
come out on the fleece on a warm day, and the best 
instrument with which to kill them, is a pair of 
sharp pointed scissors. Kill at the same time every 
round, red egg that may be found. 
Poultry. —“Theearly chick gets the early worm,” 
and the sooner begins to feed itself. March pullets 
are those which fill the egg basket in the winter time. 
Therefore set all the broody hens for which eggs 
can be procured as soon as possible, and take great 
care of the chicks which come in this month. A 
warm run out of doors may be made under a hot¬ 
bed sash, arranged between two coops, and laid on 
boards set on their edges. 
A Farm Hospital. —There will often be accidents 
and sick animals on a farm. The greatest care can¬ 
not always insure against accidents. A pen or close 
stall made in a warm shed or out building, will be 
found very useful for sick animals, whether a horse, 
cow, calf, or fowls. It will be useful for a calving 
cow, or to keep weaning calves in. It should be at 
least 12 feet square, so as to give sufficient room. 
Work for Stormy Days. —Stormy days may be 
made available for putting all the machines in good 
order, cleaning and oiling them. This may be done 
profitably twice during the winter, for a machine 
depreciates more when idle, than when at work. 
This fact is well known among machinists, but over¬ 
looked by farmers, and their machinery is neglected. 
Bemember, Lime-Wash is a valuable purifier for 
spring use, anywhere; it cleanses and sweetens. 
Hotes on Orchard and Garden Work. 
Our country is so large that it is not often that 
remarks about the weather can have a general in¬ 
terest. All along the Atlantic Coast, and extend¬ 
ing for a varying breadth inland, is a district in 
which, up to the first of February, there was prac¬ 
tically no winter. The large number of our read¬ 
ers within this district are much interested in the 
weather question, which also concerns others, es¬ 
pecially fruit growers, outside of it. What is to 
be the result of this unusually warm weather which 
prevailed for weeks together? In many cases veg¬ 
etation in fruit, trees, shrubs, etc., has been too far 
excited to sustain a sudden change to real winter 
weather (and as we write such a change has come) 
without injury. To what extent next summer’s 
fruit crops are affected by the weather cannot yet 
be told, and the anxiety of the fruit grower as to 
his prospects must continue until after blossoming 
time. There should be no delay in purchasing all 
needed implements, fertilizers, seeds, etc., and 
many who are just starting out in garden and or¬ 
chard work, will ask: “Where shall I buy?” A 
word just here may save both the questioners, and 
the Editors of the American Agriculturist unneces¬ 
sary trouble. It is to be remembered that all sus¬ 
picious business houses, manufacturers, and dealers 
are excluded from our advertising columns ; only 
those obtaining space of whom we would order 
goods ourselves if needed. By a careful consulta¬ 
tion of these business notices the question “where 
to buy” may be answered at once. These adver¬ 
tisers are always glad to furnish information, by 
sending catalogues of their goods, and to reply by 
letter. In most cases it is better for those desiring 
to purchase, or to obtain information about imple¬ 
ments and other articles, to write directly to the 
dealers rather than to us. In garden work there 
are two extremes to be avoided : being always be¬ 
hind the season, and always ahead of it. The soil 
should not be worked when it is so wet that it is 
sticky, and will afterwards dry into a hard mass— 
and on the other hand it should be worked so soon 
as it is dry enough. Let both the season and the 
crop go along together to obtain the best results. 
: —— 
Orchard and ^'iivscry. 
In planting an orchard, the ground should first 
be prepared by thorough plowing and manuring. 
This matter is often ignored, while the fact is that, 
except upon new land, unless the soil taken for the 
orchard is in at least as good condition as would 
be regarded proper for wheat, corn, or other farm 
crops, a paying orchard cannot be expected. It 
would have been better to have prepared the land 
last fall, but the failure to do so need not prevent 
one from planting; plant now, manure later. The 
trees should be ordered at once, as a brief delay, 
may find the best varieties—just the ones wanted 
—all exhausted. If the ground is not ready when 
the trees come, they should be heeled-in, that is, 
their roots covered with soil, that they may not 
dry out. In setting the trees, great care should 
be exercised; it does not pay to hurry through 
this kind of work. The tops should be cut 
back, so that the evaporating leaf-surface of the 
transplanted tree, may correspond pretty nearly 
with the reduced amount of absorbing root-surface. 
Trimming before Planting. —This is a matter of 
much importance, the whole future of the tree de¬ 
pending upon its being properly done. No matter 
how carefully a tree may be taken up, some of its 
roots will be injured, and as ordinarily lifted, the 
trees that come from the nursery do not have half 
the roots that belong to them. One must exercise 
judgment in the matter, but it is safe to say, that 
one-third of the length of shoots should be cut away 
at any rate, and often more must be removed. 
Laying Out. —The common method is the Square ; 
but if the most is to be made of the ground, what 
is called the Quincunx, gives the most available 
space to the greatest number of trees. For this 
plan, with illustration for setting, see the American 
Agriculturist, September, 1S79. A list of the best 
kinds of fruits for the orchard, is given in the Notes 
of the January number for the present year. 
Injured Trees must be looked to ; if broken down, 
they should be trimmed ; girdled trees will need to 
be banked up with earth, or grafts joining the bark 
above and below the girdling, should be inserted. 
Pruning can be continued until the sap starts, 
covering all large wounds with a grafting wax, 
made of three parts each of beeswax and rosin, 
and two parts of tallow, melted and thoroughly 
mixed. This is to be used in the melted state, ap¬ 
plied with a brush. Some prefer to use paint instead. 
Grafting. —Plum and cherry trees must be grafted 
earlier than the pear or apple. For directions with 
illustrations of grafting, see the last month’s Notes. 
Cions. —A good supply of cions should be se¬ 
cured early; they must not be cut after the sap 
begins to flow, unless to be inserted immediately. 
Budding Stock. —The twigs and branches above 
the buds, that “took” last summer, are to be re¬ 
moved, leaving only a half-inch or so above the bud. 
'ITlie IFVsiit 4*51 s-alh'sa. 
In selecting a spot for a fruit garden, choose a 
warm place, and as near the house as possible, that 
it may be both convenient for gathering, and more 
secure from trespassers. The soil should be well 
drained, deep, mellow, and enriched with well rot¬ 
ted manure. The importance of a good selection 
of varieties cannot be too strongly insisted upon. 
For a list of the leading kinds of the various fruits 
see the January number Notes ; for others see the 
Catalogues of dealers. The selecting of new sorts 
for the main reliance, is not recommended. Let the 
bulk of the planting be of old, and thoroughly test¬ 
ed varieties, rather than of new and untried kinds. 
Planting.— So soon as the ground is settled, plant 
the trees, shrubs, etc., that they may get an early 
start, and be well established by the time drouths 
come. Like animals, much depends on early growth. 
Blackberries and Baspberries start very early, and 
it is best to set them in the fall; but very early in the 
spring will answer. The canes produced this year, 
will bear the fruit the following season. 
/Sraw&emes.^Old beds are to be uncovered. The 
method of cultivating the vines in rows three feet 
apart, is now generally considered the most satis¬ 
factory. See article and engraving of the “ Sharp¬ 
less ” Strawberry, on page 103 of this number. 
Grapes. —Every farmer’s family should have all 
the grapes they can eat, from September to January. 
It is not necessary to havealarge vineyard for this ; 
a few vines, each cf the best sorts, and properly 
treated, will give a great amount of fruit. There are 
hundreds of out-of-the-way places where a vine may 
be set, such as along a fence, or it may be by the 
side of a shed or bam ; with good soil, and care in 
pruning, satisfactory returns may be expected. 
liitcSiem sind Mai-kct ©arden. 
The Notes for this department last month, were 
unusually long, and much then given is timely now. 
A careful review of the subject of Hot-Beds will 
help those who inquire about raising early plants. 
Cold Frame infants.—Cabbages, Lettuce, and Cau¬ 
liflowers, should be set out as soon as the ground 
can be worked. In market gardens, Lettuce is set 
between the rows of Cabbage and Cauliflower. 
Hardy Vegetables are those that may be planted* 
