102 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[ApbUi, 
Carrots —.M:\y tie sown as early as the ground can 
be put in irood order. Tlio J.oni;' Orans^o is the 
favorite field variety, tUoug'h the White Belgian is 
said to be more prodiietivo; and, if so, it is better 
for feeding, but not for market. Sow 3 pounds of 
seed to the acre by hand, and 1 to by machine. 
Cellars .—Do not neglect to clean them out tho¬ 
roughly, removing all decaying vegetables, wood, 
etc. Where cabbages or potatoes have lain and 
decayed in part, it is well to sprinkle dry ashes or 
fresh loam, removing it after a day or two. White¬ 
wash every part, except the floor, which may well 
be sprinkled with lime. See article on page 123. 
Clover .—See article in the Basket. 
DrainHg .—This is the best season to see where 
drainage is needed, and to appreciate its advantages 
as shown in land well nuderdrained, though the 
maximum effect may not be seen for a year or two. 
If there is any time to spare from other and more 
important work, push forward the drains. Round 
tiles with collars are the best, but not easy to get. 
Fences, Posts, and Oates .—See article in Basket. 
Fowls .—Collect eggs of all kinds before evening, 
lest they be injured during cold nights. Place 
those designed for setting in a pan of bran or oats, 
little end down, to keep the yolk from the side and 
adhering to the shell. Hens and other female birds 
turn over their eggs frequently, both before and 
during the period of their incubation. M.ark 
choice eggs with red chalk or pencil. 
Oram Fields .—As soon as the frost is out, and the 
ground is settled, it is well to go over the land and 
pick off the stones that have been heaved up. On 
much land the grain is benefited by rolling, espe¬ 
cially when it has been thrown out by the frost. On 
other soils this is injurious. Top dressings of ashes, 
•ashes and plaster, superphosphate, guano, ammoni- 
acal salts or similar substances which c.an be sowed 
by hand, usually produce good results, especially if 
the grain is winter killed in spots or does not look 
thrifty. Coarse weeds may often be pulled easily 
or cut up with a “spud” at this time. 
Hogs .—Secure a good stock of pigs or shoats for 
manure makers. Give good care to brood sows. 
See hints in last Agricidtarist .about flirrowing. 
Horses .—While they are shedding their coats the 
ski*’ makes heavy demands on the organs of nutri¬ 
tion ; it is peculiarly sensitive to cold, to avet and 
drafts, and horses are liable to take cold. They 
should, therefore, be well fed, .and groomed, and 
blanketed avhen exposed, quite .as well as in mid¬ 
winter. Be careful about letting horses that are 
shod get loose in the lots together. They are pl.ay- 
ful, and in their play often kick one another severe¬ 
ly. Horses intended for the market should never 
be used before the plow nor for hard labor. 
Neither should those used for fast work on the 
road, nor showy carriage horses ; it makes them stiff 
and awkward and will seriously affect their v.alue. 
Irrigation .—Tons of good fertilizing matter are 
c.arried off in small streams, which might be con¬ 
ducted over our farms, especially grass lands with 
great profit. Turn streams of mnddy water from 
the highway on fields so that it will spread over 
a large surface. Fine earth, horse-droppings, etc., 
washed from the beaten track will increase the 
quantity of gr.ass quite as much as a top-dressing 
of manure, and the water, aside from what is sus¬ 
pended or dissolved in it, is of great benefit. 
Implements .—Purchase no new kinds but those 
that have been well tested. Look out for such as 
will require the least force to work them. If 
possible, procure those made near home, that in 
case of a break-down they may be rep.aired at the 
least expense. If a avheel of a reaper or mower 
were to break, and one avere obliged to send four 
or five hundred miles to the fixetory for a new one, 
he would probably sustain much loss before it 
could be put in running order ag.ain. Protect all 
tools and implements from rain and sunshine. 
Improvement .—This should be the watchword of 
farmers during the entire year. Improve the fer¬ 
tility of the soil by a better system of management, 
and by making more manure. Improve stock by 
disposing of inferior animals, substituting better 
one* : and improve the man himself by reading good 
agricultural papers, and in every way gaining and 
communicating useful knowledge. 
Manure .—If possible spread a good dressing of 
barn-yard manure upon corn ground unless you 
have a short supply, and it is fine enough to be ap¬ 
plied in the hill. When barn-y.ard manure is 
hauled to the field several weeks previous to being 
plowed under, put it in close heaps to prevent loss 
by evaporation, and if possible shovel a little soil 
over it. Spread no faster than it can be plowed in. 
Make a compost rich in manure, when fine muck 
can be obtained, for manuring Indian corn in the 
hill. Where dung heaps heat, devise some means for 
pumping the liquid over it,which leaches from it. 
Meadows .—Keep all kinds of animals off meadows 
in the Spring if you would have a good crop of 
hay. Better pay double price for hay than to 
allow animals to graze on meadows. Make a light, 
long-handled mallet, and knock to pieces all the 
droppings of animals on meadows and pastures. 
Pick up small stones in heaps, and haul off as soon 
as the soil will bear up a te.am. If .ashes, leached 
or unleached, gypsum or lime, or ground bone is to 
be sowed, the sooner it is done the better. 
Oats .—Sow as early as practicable. Drill in both 
ways using half the desired quantity each time. 
Sow not less than three bushels per acre, with all 
the liglit kernels .and foul seeds removed. 
Pastures .—Never allow animals to graze on newly- 
seeded pastures before the gr.ass has a good start. 
The feet of heavy animals destroy much grass. At 
first let c.attle graze about two hours, then yard 
them. On new land where the blue grass starts 
soon, feed it off early in the spring, and keep it 
short; few anim.als like it after seed-stalks appear. 
Plowing .—Never plow heavy soils when wet, be¬ 
cause .as soon as the surplus avater has settled awiiy 
they will be as comijact as before. Plow dry por¬ 
tions of a field first, and aim to plow heavy soils 
when they are just moist enough to pulverize well. 
Never plow with a dull share or ].ioint;and grind 
every part of the plow until the earth will slip off 
readily. If earth adheres, a plow runs harder, 
holds harder, and does its work imperfectly. 
Potatoes .—If it has not been done already, select 
the best for seed. As the largest eyes are best for 
seed, save the seed ends of those that are used 
for cooking, and start them in small flower pots, or 
oyster kegs, placed on the shelf in the kitchen. 
They can be turned out of the pots .and trans¬ 
planted in drills as soon as danger from frost is 
passed. Better pay double price for ripe seed of 
fair size selected when dug, than to plant potatoes 
that have not been raised and assorted with care. 
Rrje .—Sow spring rye as soon as the soil has set¬ 
tled and is dry enough to plow. The str.aw will be 
needed next fall for binding corn stalks, and it is 
considered better than other 6tr.aw to cut for 
horses. The grain m.akes the best kind of meal for 
teams. Seed can be obtained in most seed stores. 
Roots .—Every farmer ought to raise roots enough 
to feed his horses and neat stock, including calves, 
from a peck to half a bushel a day, on an aver.age, 
and have enough for his sheep besides. Calculate 
to get, with good cultivation, 800 to 1,000 bush¬ 
els to the acre. Begin in April to prepare the soil, 
manuring well, plowing deeply. Harrow thor¬ 
oughly. Sow parsnips .and carrots in April and 
mangels in May, rutabagas in June and sweet 
turnips in June or July. Select a fexv of the best 
beets, turnips, carrots and parsnips before they 
.are fed out, and transplant them for raising seed. It 
is quite as important to raise and select seed for 
roots with care as it is for a crop of cereal grain. 
Sheep .—Keep their yard dry and well littered, 
and protect them from cold .and wet storms. Sheep 
dislike wet yards and leaky roofs as much .as a cat 
hates a avet floor. Give them a few hemlock or 
pine boughs to browse .at least twice a week, even 
when they receive a daily allowance of roots. Keep 
a watchful eye on early lambs. When chilled,warm 
them thoroughly by the fire. When they cannot 
stand, put them into a tub of tepid water and rub 
them with a soft cloth till they revive, then rub 
dry and feed with warm sweet milk, and put the 
dam in a comfortable place. Itijs an erroneous no- 
, tion that chilled lambs must not be near the fire. 
Sunshine .—Every animal should have the benefit 
of the sunshine as w'ell as light. Such as have been 
kept in close quarters all winter should be allowed 
to go out and bask in the sunshine every day 
Sunshine in the spring is a great luxury for all kinds 
of animals, and promotes their health and thrift. 
Wheat .—The varieties of spring wheat that appear 
to take the lead at present are the Scotch Fife, 
Golden Drop, the Canada Club and the China Te.a. 
In different localities one kind appears to suc¬ 
ceed better than another. When none of these 
kinds can be obtained in the country, get them of 
dealers in seed in the large cities. Prepare the seed 
as directed on page 112, and drill in, or sow in good 
season. If sowed early, unless the land is very 
wet, the young plants will root deeper, tiller more, 
.and the yield of grain will be larger. 
IFood.—Read remarks on fire wood and wood 
houses in the Agriculturist for last month. Saw, 
split fine and pile before both the hands and the 
teams are required in the field. 
Work Ih tlic Oreiisird and Knrsery. 
—April is usu.ally a busy month with the nursery- 
m<an, and he will now appreciate the value of all 
prepar.ations made in advance to meet the rush ot 
business. The purchaser of trees, if he has pre¬ 
pared his lands, staked out the places for the 
trees, and even made the holes to receive them, 
will find the work of planting an orchard more than 
half done. The general remarks of last month’s 
calendar should be heeded now. We repe.at the 
caution to exercise the greatest care in procuring 
trees from a reliable source. An orchard is to last 
for a life-time, and we well know the disappoint¬ 
ment xvhich is felt at finding trees which have been 
carefully planted and brought into bearing, untrue 
to name. No honest nurseryman will object to this 
advice, and we avish to encourage such only. 
Almonds .—These will grow and fruit wherever 
the peach will do well. Plant early. 
Orafiing.—The proper time is when the buds 
show signs of bursting. Cions put in too early 
often dry out before they form a union with the 
stoek. It is not praeticable for us to publish each 
year full directions for grafting and similar opera¬ 
tions. A very fully illustrated article was giveu in 
the issue for March of last year, which may be pro¬ 
cured by those new subscribers avho have had no 
practice in grafting. Directions for grafting clay 
were given last month, to be used in place of graft¬ 
ing wax, now so expensive on account of the high 
price of rosin. Those who live where Balsam Fir 
Trees grow, can make use of the resinous exuda¬ 
tion furnished by these, known as C.anada Balsam. 
A correspondent in Chester Co., Pa., uses four 
parts of beeswax to one of b.alsam, the wax being 
melted and the b.alsam stirred in until thoroughly 
incorporated. He finds it to be an excellent com¬ 
position to be used by itself or upon cloth. In re¬ 
newing old trees it is sometimes advisable to head 
them back a year or two before grafting, and graft 
into the the shoots which start. 
Insects .—Look out for eggs, and destroy as di¬ 
rected last month. A strong solution of soft soap, 
as before recommended, will remove scale insects 
and destroy parasitic vegetable growths. 
Manure m.ay still be .applied to trees. See p. 120. 
Planting .—When trees are received from the 
nursery, do not hurry the planting any fastei 
than it can be done properly. Heel them in by 
making a trench deep enough to receive the roots, 
and set the trees in it close together, .and cover the 
roots. In this way they may remain a long time 
avithout injury. Presuming that the land is drained, 
manured, and well plowed, the holes should be 
opened with a liberal hand, not a mere post hole 
into which the roots can be crowded, but one large 
enough to allow the roots to be spread out well. 
Make a bed of good soil at. the bottom to receive 
the roots, and sufficiently deep to bring the tree tu 
the proper hight, then place the tree with the roots 
spread as much as possible, h.aving previously 
pruned them if they have been nfhtilated. Throu 
on some fine soil and work it In between the 
roots with the fingers, and gradually fill up the 
hole, pressing the earth down with the toot. The 
