78 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
SPRING GRAIN. 
Excepting the liability of spring wheat to be attacked 
by the insect improperly termed “ weevil,” we believe 
it may be assumed as a rule, that spring grains generally 
succeed best when sown as early in the season as the 
ground can be brought into a proper state to receive the 
seed. For oats, in particular, and especially on light 
soils, our experience leads us to prefer an early seed time. 
In this latitude, the ground frequently becomes so far 
settled during this month, that warm, light soils may be 
sown. The proper quantity of seed per acre, is a matter on 
which much diversity of opinion prevails. From one and 
a half to Jive bushels of oats are sown by different farmers. 
In our opinion, the quantity of seed should be varied ac¬ 
cording to the nature of the soil, and the time of sowing; 
so that no fixed rule can be laid down. Of the grain we 
are now speaking of, we should use from two to three 
bushels per acre, in the ordinary mode of sowing. And 
we would here remark, that our experience has shown 
that less seed is required on rich than on thin soil. The 
reason is this: That in the first case the abundant food 
the plant receives induces it to tiller , or spread; whereas 
in the latter case but a single seed stem, perhaps, is thrown 
up. It should therefore be made an object to sow on thin 
land as much seed as will be sure to cover the ground at 
once with a sufficient number of plants, for if this is not 
done, weeds, or some foul growth, will be sure to infest 
the soil to the injury of the crop. 
As regards the practice of sowing four or five bushels 
per acre, as we have mentioned is sometimes done, we 
must confess we have seen no satisfactory evidence of its 
expediency. 
For barley, a loamy soil is considered preferable; we 
have, however, seen good crops grown on quite stiff* 
clays, properly drained and worked. We have sown 
from two and a half to three bushels per acre. 
For wheat, loamy soils, which contain some lime, are 
best. We prefer sowing about two bushels of seed to 
the acre. We remarked above, however, that the quantity 
of seed depended somewhat on the time of sowing—thus, 
early sown grain has more time to tiller, and it actually 
will spread much more than late sown. In our remarks 
about the quantity of seed, we have had only in view the 
ordinary modes of sowing; no doubt is entertained that 
by the adoption of other modes, much seed might be 
saved. Solving or planting in drills, by machines, has 
been much practiced in England, and to some extent in 
this country, and so far as we have known with success. 
Dibbling, or planting in hills, is also somewhat practiced 
in England under the allotment system. In this way a 
few quarts onty of seed is enough for an acre, and the 
product is very great, making an average, in some dis¬ 
tricts, of forty-eight bushels per acre. But it must be 
recollected that under this system the ground is hoed and 
kept clean while the crop is growing—the cheapness of 
labor, and the dearness of land, justifying the course. 
But the American farmer would hardly find his account 
in bestowing so much labor in proportion to the quantity 
of ground and the quantity of produce. 
We have said that spring wheat is liable to be injured 
by an insect. We think that which is sown early is most 
subject to injury from this cause. If the sowing is de¬ 
ferred till the latter part of May, it is thought the season 
of the worm becomes past before the wheat is sufficiently 
advanced to be injured by it. But as the late sown w*heat 
is more liable to injury from rust, &c., than early sown, 
the farmer must make his calculations as he best can, 
which enemy is most formidable, or in what course lies 
his greatest chance of success. 
Peas, for early use, cannot be sown too soon after the 
ground is dry enough to work. Select a warm piece of 
ground, rather sandy, and do not put on too much rank 
or strong manure, as it tends to throw the peas too much 
into vines. 
The pea crop is a very profitable one in many situations. 
Sown on a sod furrow, it furnishes an excellent prepara¬ 
tion for wheat, or any other crop. Very hot weather 
seems not to be favorable to theJUling of peas; therefore 
it is advisable to sow them so early that they may get 
well advanced before the hottest and dryest part of the 
summer comes on. 
Peas and oats are sometimes sown together, and are 
considered profitable. Ground into meal, they form an 
excellent food for fattening hogs and other animals, and 
in sections where Indian corn cannot well be grown, are 
highly esteemed. 
CARE OF STOCK. 
.During the latter part of winter and the beginning of 
spring, stock requires more attention than at any other 
season. There is usually much stormy weather about this 
time, and under the fluctuations from heat to cold, and 
from fair to foul, the appetite of the animal is very irre¬ 
gular. Cattle, sheep and swine, are now bringing forth 
their young, and unless they are properly sheltered, pro¬ 
vided with suitable food, and carefully watched and at¬ 
tended, they will certainly fall into bad condition. The 
best hay should have been reserved for feeding the cows 
and ewes at this period, and they should be fed, besides, 
with a little grain in some form, and some potatoes, tur- 
neps, carrots, or other vegetables. They should be fed 
lightly for a few days after parturition, because in the 
weakened state of the system at this critical time, there 
is danger of bringing on fever and inflammation by over¬ 
loading the digestive organs. But after the system has 
become accommodated to the new change in the secre¬ 
tions, and the milk begins to flow freely, the food of the 
mother may be increased in proportion to the draft made 
on her by the increasing growth and demands of the 
young animal. This should be borne in mind. Thus, 
a cow with two calves to support, or a sheep with two 
lambs, should be supplied with double the quantity of 
food which is necessary to support but one; and if this 
is not done, the constitution of the mother will be very 
likely to be injured, or else the young will not have suf¬ 
ficient food. To enable a sow with ten pigs to keep 
herself in as good condition as if she had but five, she 
must receive food in proportion to the number; and as 
the young grow in size, her food must also be propor¬ 
tionally increased till they are able to obtain a part of 
their support from some other source. 
Care should be taken that cows do not calve while tied 
to the stanchion, or confined in a narrow stall. Serious 
accidents may arise from inattention to this. If the birth 
takes place in the night the calf may get covered with 
the filth of the stall, and if the weather is severe, he 
may freeze before morning; or the cow may be thrown 
into a position by which she suffers a permanent injury. 
Separate apartments, warm and well littered, should be 
jprovided, in which the cow t should be allowed to run 
loose for a few days preceding the birth of the calf, and 
for a day or two afterwards. 
A word in regard to calves. If veal is the object, feed 
the cow well, let the calf suck, and make him fat as 
quick as possible. If milk is of most consequence, and 
the calf is not to be reared, it is best to “ knock him in 
the head ” as soon as the milk of the cow is fit for use. 
His carcass is worth something for the hogs, and his hide 
may pay for taking off for the tanner. In rearing calves, 
the expediency of any particular mode depends on cir¬ 
cumstances. In the interior, where cattle are reared 
almost entirely for beef, and where labor is scarce, it is 
hardly worth the while to undertake bringing up calves 
“by hand"—it is less trouble to let them run with the 
cow for several months, and this is probably the best 
course in such locations. But where butter and cheese 
are valuable the case is different, and we should prefer 
teaching the calves to drink instead of allowing them to 
suck their dams. With dose care and attention, good 
stock may be reared without giving them any new milk 
after they are two or three weeks old. Skimmed milk. 
not sour, with oil-cake gruel, or oat-meal, will make the 
calf grow very well. But the calf must be kept dry and 
warm, the food given warm, and the state of its health, 
till it becomes well accustomed to the diet, constantly 
watched. There are several advantages of rearing calves 
in this way. They become more tame, more readily 
learn to eat every thing, are more tractable, and are more 
easily brought to their duties, either as cows or oxen, and 
