42^ 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Spring-feed.— The crops which are usually 

 sown for this purpose (with one exception, which I 

 shall subsequently notice) all require a similar pre- 

 paration to be given to the land for the reception 

 of the seed, however varied may be the soils for 

 which thev are in a special degree adapted, and 

 however this character of the soil and the succession 

 of food required may influence the choice of the 

 crop. They are sown upon the corn-stubble, and 

 the class of soils selected for their growth are 

 generally dry and free in their nature. Their 

 growth upon strong soils is exceptional, and never 

 to be recommended except in dry climates. After 

 the corn is cut the cleaning of the surface should 

 immediately commence, and, as soon as this is 

 done, the land should be deeply ploughed (for we 

 have to prepare for the succeeding root-crop as 

 well as for the present one) ; after it has lain a few 

 days the sowing of the earliest spring-feed may take 

 place. Nothing further, besides roUing, will be 

 required before the seed is sown, for these soils 

 are not difficult of cultivation. Rye is one of the 

 earliest crops for spring-food, and usually forms 

 the first sowing. It is generally sown broadcast, 

 at the rate of four bushels to the acre. The next 

 sowing will be rye and vetches, or else winter oats 

 and vetches mixed. For these the same preparation 

 will be necessary. The usual allowance is one 

 bushel of rye or oats and three bushels of vetches 

 per acre, either sown broadcast or by the drill : 

 thick sowing is always advisable for spring-crops. 

 For these crops rather stronger land may be se- 

 lected than for the rye, and they are also more 

 likely to receive manure, as they require more 

 nourishment from the land, and, if so, the roller 

 will be necessary. 



The sowings will be commenced in September, 

 and continued at intervals to the end of October. 

 Vetches may be sown about the middle of October, 

 without any mixture ; but they will not be ready 

 for use as quickly as the mixed seeds. In these 

 cases rolling will be found advisable, especially 

 when the soil is not covered with a fine mould, 

 which is very necessary for the growth of these 

 seeds. It is also desirable, after the use of the 

 drag, to give some pressure to the soil, as they do 

 not thrive well when the ground is too loose ; with 

 rye this is not so material as with vetches. A dry 

 time should be selected for sowing the seed, and 

 after this the land should be left harrowed and not 

 rolled. 



French Clover or Trifolium. — This plant 

 is somewhat peculiar from the excessive firmness 

 of soil required for its successful growth. It is 

 usually sown after a corn-crop, and, for its culture, 

 a clean stubble should be selected upon land which 

 is tolerably stiff. If this is twice harrowed it will 

 produce soil enough to cover the seed, and this 

 seems to be all that is requisite except a light 

 rolUng. This may appear to be a slovenly mode 

 of farming ; but it is decidedly the best plan, for, 

 when the stubble is pared and the land cleaned, 

 and especially if it should be ploughed, the trifolium 

 will not thrive so well. As regards the appearance 

 of the stubble, provided a clean stubble be chosen, 

 no doubt need be entertained that successful prac- 

 tice will justify from every charge of neglect, when 



in the spring the stubble disappears amidst the 

 luxuriant growth of the clover. About 20lbs. sown 

 broadcast will be found a sufficient quantity of 

 seed to the acre. When the soil has been loosened 

 more than by moderate harrowing, the roller must 

 precede the sowing, otherwise much of it will run 

 down into the soil too deeply for germination, and 

 a thin plant will be the consequence. 



I have thus noticed the special requirements of 

 each of our principal agricultural crops, so far as 

 regards the mechanical condition of the land, and 

 other circumstances connected with the successful 

 germination of seed. So far as my limits have 

 allowed me, I have endeavoured to show the chief 

 variations in practice; but it must be remarked that 

 local peculiarities of soil and climate will occasion 

 exceptions from these general rules in minor points 

 of management, which are still of the greatest im- 

 portance for obtaining a successful growth. I do 

 not, therefore, pretend to say that the conditions 

 named will be invariably applicable ; but, from a 

 rather extended experience, I have reason to con- 

 sider that they represent the most successful 

 systems of management. — Queen's College, Bir- 

 mingham. — Journal of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society. 



UNDER THE ORCHARD TREES. 



Under the orchard trees, 



In Summer's golden prime, 

 When skies were blue, and hearts were true — 



Oh I 'twas a merry time. 

 Such merry songs were sung, 



Such merry games were played ; 

 Light-hearted and gay through the live-long day, 



We romped in the cooling shade, 

 Or sat on a moss-grown stone. 



Watching the butterflies pass, 

 And the gay sunlight in patches bright 



Fall on the dewy grass. 

 How pleasantly murmured the breeze 



Through the old apple trees ! 

 And the brook sang as it hastened along, 



On its way to the distant seas. 



Under the orchard trees. 



In those days of long ago. 

 Chasing about, now in, now out, 



Amid the branches low ; 

 And when through the trembling leaves, 



Down in a shower of white 

 Came the snowy bloom with its sweet perfume. 



How we shouted in pure delight ! 

 Then away down the sunny slope, 



To the side of the little brook ; 

 For well we knew there the violets grew, 



And hid in a shady nook. 

 Oh ! dearer by far than gold. 



Or mines of wealth untold, 

 Is the memory of those hours of glee, 



In the pure happy days of old. 



