Most of the business of last month may still be continued. Above
all, keep the plows going whenever the state of the ground will
allow of it. Plant Irish Potatoes and also Spring Oats--although it is now quite late enough for either....During wet weather, in
addition to the items named last month, sort over and shell Seed
corn, which should always be selected in the field and housed by
itself, previous to gathering in the crop. Pick over sufficient
Cotton Seed to plant a part of the crop, from which to select the
seed of the year following...Plant Corn during the first favorable weather after the 10th or 20th, taking care to cover shallow.
Sow two or three acres of good land in corn in drills, 2 1/2 to 3
feet apart--invaluable for green fodder. Break up the ground
intended for Sweet Potatoes, if not done before....Look carefully
after the safety, cleanliness and warmth of ewes when lambing. If
hogs are allowed to range in their pastures or lots, not a lamb will be saved. They should have a large open shed, upon a sheltered knoll--keeping the shed well littered--to which they can have free access during wet weather. Salt frequently. Give once a day about a half pint to each sheep of fresh, clean cotton seed. Hogs, too, require to be well looked after. They will yet find good picking in the woods, of a good mast year; and still better in a patch of pindars [?], artichokes or sweet potatoes, reserved for them.
[For those unfamiliar with the term "Pindar" it's
another word for peanut like "goobers".]
Kitchen Garden
Continue to sow, to plant and to tend, as in January. Plant a few
Melons, Squashes or Cymblins [no idea what these are], Cucumbers,
Snap-beans, Okra, etc. They may possibly be cut down; but to have
early vegetables, we must plant early...Plant out all sorts of
Aromatic and Pot-herbs; Carrots, Parsnips and Turnips intended to
produce seed...another sowing or two of Spinage [sic] may be
made...More Peas should be sown for succession....Sow, also, early Corn, Radishes, Lettuce, early and summer Cabbage, and the main crops of Beets, Carrots, Parsnips, and Salsafy....The finer varieties of Brocoli will now be in perfection.
He continues with a discussion of black tongue in cattle...if anyone is truly interested in this, let me know.
From what I can tell at home, they are gourds, but I don't know exactly what kind. I'll check better sources when I get to the library. They may be in the Dictionary of American Regional English.
Vicki Betts
NOT gourds. The Oxford English Dictionary says: Simlin. Also
cimbeline, cymblin, cymling, cymbling, simblin; cymlin.
1. U.S. A species of squash having a scalloped edge.
Sounds like a patty pan squash to me.
Vicki Betts
all, keep the plows going whenever the state of the ground will
allow of it. Plant Irish Potatoes and also Spring Oats--although it is now quite late enough for either....During wet weather, in
addition to the items named last month, sort over and shell Seed
corn, which should always be selected in the field and housed by
itself, previous to gathering in the crop. Pick over sufficient
Cotton Seed to plant a part of the crop, from which to select the
seed of the year following...Plant Corn during the first favorable weather after the 10th or 20th, taking care to cover shallow.
Sow two or three acres of good land in corn in drills, 2 1/2 to 3
feet apart--invaluable for green fodder. Break up the ground
intended for Sweet Potatoes, if not done before....Look carefully
after the safety, cleanliness and warmth of ewes when lambing. If
hogs are allowed to range in their pastures or lots, not a lamb will be saved. They should have a large open shed, upon a sheltered knoll--keeping the shed well littered--to which they can have free access during wet weather. Salt frequently. Give once a day about a half pint to each sheep of fresh, clean cotton seed. Hogs, too, require to be well looked after. They will yet find good picking in the woods, of a good mast year; and still better in a patch of pindars [?], artichokes or sweet potatoes, reserved for them.
[For those unfamiliar with the term "Pindar" it's
another word for peanut like "goobers".]
Kitchen Garden
Continue to sow, to plant and to tend, as in January. Plant a few
Melons, Squashes or Cymblins [no idea what these are], Cucumbers,
Snap-beans, Okra, etc. They may possibly be cut down; but to have
early vegetables, we must plant early...Plant out all sorts of
Aromatic and Pot-herbs; Carrots, Parsnips and Turnips intended to
produce seed...another sowing or two of Spinage [sic] may be
made...More Peas should be sown for succession....Sow, also, early Corn, Radishes, Lettuce, early and summer Cabbage, and the main crops of Beets, Carrots, Parsnips, and Salsafy....The finer varieties of Brocoli will now be in perfection.
He continues with a discussion of black tongue in cattle...if anyone is truly interested in this, let me know.
From what I can tell at home, they are gourds, but I don't know exactly what kind. I'll check better sources when I get to the library. They may be in the Dictionary of American Regional English.
Vicki Betts
NOT gourds. The Oxford English Dictionary says: Simlin. Also
cimbeline, cymblin, cymling, cymbling, simblin; cymlin.
1. U.S. A species of squash having a scalloped edge.
Sounds like a patty pan squash to me.
Vicki Betts
