THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



The greater part of the turnip crops are sown 

 in this month. The land must be thoroughly pul- 

 verized by previous workings, all weeds and stones 

 removed, and the surface rolled flat. Open the 

 drills with a bout of the common plough, or by one 

 furrow of the double mould-board plough ; lay the 

 dung in the hollows from one-horse carts, spread it 

 evenly, and cover it by the plough without delay, 

 and sow the turnip seed immediately on the fresh 

 tilth, with a two-ridge machine, provided with 

 coulters and a roller. In the case of cloddy and 

 crumbling soils, roll with a heavier weight, which 

 crushes the clods, closes the surface against drought, 

 and acts as a lock and key with regard to moisture. 

 In dry seasons this rolUng is a valuable part of 

 turnip farming. 



Sow swedes till the middle of the month, and 

 then go on with green rounds, and ultimately sow 

 the white globes. Sow with the drop drill all 

 artificial manures, as bones, guano, and ashes, bran 

 and rape dust, and roll immediately. Turnip 

 sowing should be nearly finished this month. 



Plough pared and burned lands, on which the 

 ashes are spread, with a thin furrow, harrow the 

 surface into a fine tilth by repeated harrowings ; 

 sow the seed by hand, and cover it by a single or 

 double tine of the grass-seed harrows. In some 

 cases a rolling may be necessary. If the soil is 

 loamy and soft, work and drill it as usual in tilth. 



Plough the intervals of the drills. Horse and 

 handhoe potatoes, beet, parsnips, and carrots. 

 Plough potatoes deeply, especially on stiff soils. 



and break the drills finely with the band hoe. 

 Minute pulverization adds much to the success of 

 crops. 



Shear sheep, and mark by distinctive signs the 

 different ages and conditions. Examine the 

 animals closely in the mouth, shape of form, and 

 quality of the wool : the inspection will much assist 

 the sorting for the tupping season. 



Wean the lambs of the year, and place them on 

 the best pastures, and beyond hearing the bleat of 

 the dams. Put mares to the stallion every fortnight. 



Cut and destroy all weeds on pastures, pull by 

 hand all tall weeds among grain crops, and destroy 

 all weeds on road sides, or ditch and hedge banks. 

 The winged seeds are carried by the wind to a 

 great distance, and propagate very readily. 



Hay harvest will commence during this month 

 in early seasons. Clovers, sainfoins, and early 

 meadows are cut by scythe, the grass tedded be- 

 hind the mowers, put into cocks, again spread 

 abroad, and re-cocked, and then carried to the rick. 

 Employ plenty of hands, at least six to a mower. 

 In stacking hay, allow the rick to consolidate by 

 its own weight, rather than tread it into firmness, 

 as is usually done. For this purpose, carry a 

 quantity of dried grass daily, if the weather permits, 

 and lay it together lightly. A tarpaulin cloth pro- 

 tects the rick from heavy rains, and a light sail- 

 cloth screens it from occasional showers. Allow 

 the rick to be well consolidated before pulling the 

 sides into form, Then one process finishes the 

 operations. 



CALENDAR OF GARDENING. 



Kitchen Garden. 



First week : — Sow early sorts of peas, as Hotspur, 

 Charltons, and Cormack's Kent, with a few rows 

 of the tall marrow. Peas sown late rarely escape 

 mildew. Sow kidney beans and runners for suc- 

 cession ; cabbages to come in speedily; Dutch 

 turnips for autumn ; carrots and onions to be 

 drawn young, or to stand the winter. 



Transplant cape broccoli about the middle of the 

 month, cauliflower for August, making the ground 

 rich with compost, also transplant borecole, 

 Jerusalem and Scotch kails, savoys, and Brussel 

 sprouts. 



Asparagas beds still yield, but should not be cut 

 beyond the 10th. Beds and rows are mutilated by 

 too close cutting. A shoot should always remain 

 untouched to each crown. Scatter rich earth, with 

 droppings, over the beds ; but avoid salt, as it de- 

 composes the tissue of wet leaves, and kills the 

 plants : it is better mixed in an ounce or two, with a 

 bushel of compost, and thus be washed into the 

 ground. 



Plant young lemon-thyme, savory, sweet mar- 

 joram, basil, and also slips of lavender, rosemary, 

 rue, and other handy sweet herbs, in cool shady 

 beds, for subsequent transplantation. 



Cut the aromatic herbs for drying, when they 



begin to flower. Thin out onions by degrees for 

 use, leaving the bulbing stock from four to six 

 inches asunder. 



If the weather be very dry, frequent light hoeings, 

 tq keep the surface from cracking, will attract 

 much moisture, and bring on the plants. Severe 

 droughts have often shown this to be the case with 

 onions. 



Fourth week : — Sow again turnips and salads, 

 and lettuce. 



Fruit Garden. 



Strawberry rows should be stringed on each side, 

 the twine fastened to short sticks, so as to support 

 the entire rank of trusses. Shorten the shoots of 

 apple and pear trees, dwarfs, and espaliers : the ill- 

 placed shoots ought to be removed to the bottom. 



Flower Garden. 



Arrange the green-house plants, now brought 

 out, in neat order, facing the north. Plunge 

 azaUes into peat earth. Place flowering shrubs, 

 and also herbaceous plants, the low ones in front, 

 and the high ones at the back, rising in gradation. 

 Display the colours in order, when the collection 

 of plants is miscellaneous. 



Take up bulbs when the green parts change 

 colour and become dry. 



