FARM CALENDAR.
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FARM CALENDAR.
FARM CALENDAR.
JANUARY.
Wheat harvest--after which burn stubbles if the ground is infested with weeds. Care should be taken to plough two or three furrows all round the field to prevent the fence from taking fire, after which plough the land to lay until the time for sowing arrives, when another ploughing should be given, which will greatly benefit the soil.
FEBRUARY.
Fallows, burning; if the weather is showery sow rye, Cape barley, or oats for green crops.
MARCH.
Sow grass, clover, burn off bush, plough and dig potatoes, in ploughing remove the coulter, as it is found to cut the tubers; turn the rams to the ewes.
APRIL.
This and next month are the best for all kinds of grasses and cereals. Continue to sow barley, rye, oats, wheat, &c.
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FARM CALENDAR.
MAY.
Sow as directed last month. Get in all grain crops and grasses. The two following months are generally too wet to work the ground, and crops often fail if the land is either ploughed or sown in a wet condition.
JUNE.
Continue wheat sowing if the weather should be fine. Young stock begin to want dry food and shelter this month.
JULY.
The middle of the month plant potatoes for a field crop--early planted ones are generally the best. Scrape and collect manure about the premises, as it prevents waste, and place it in the dung pit. Sort out large potatoes, and cut them, leaving two eyes, ready for planting the early part of next month.
AUGUST.
Give good attention to cattle this month, with dry fodder and shelter. Sow oats, Cape barley, English barley, and spring wheat; also, peas, beans, carrots, and other field crops; plant potatoes; sow grass seed.
SEPTEMBER.
Continue to sow wheat, barley, and oats; finish main crops of potatoes. Sow mangold wurtzel, grass seeds, lucerne, and clover. Close paddocks intended for hay this month.
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FARM CALENDAR.
OCTOBER.
If the potatoe planting is not finished, you may continue in low bottom lands. Sow maize, pumpkins, and sorghum saccharatum. Roll spring crops; a top dressing of guano previous to rolling will greatly benefit them; plough land for fallows; keep the horse and hand hoes well at work between the drill crops.
NOVEMBER.
Keep crops free of weeds, and plough for fallows. Cart timber, or anything else, at this time, before the business of harvest arrives. Prepare straddles for hay and grain stacks: these are easily made when plenty of timber is at hand.
DECEMBER.
Hay making will now occupy a good deal of time; if your straddles are not prepared it is time to look to this business, and dig a trench around them to carry off water; destroy weeds in the growing crops.
