348 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



easily penetrated by tlie warm air, and can absorb the dews and gentle rains, 

 and gives opportunity for the tender roots to stretch out in search of food. 

 The hoe should be used till the plants cover the gi-ound; after that it would 

 be likely to injure them. 



Jethro Tull, one hundred and thirty years ago, said : 



"As soon as tho ploughman has done with his work of ploughing and harrowing, the soil 

 begins to undo it, inclining towards, and endeavoring to regain, its natural specific gravity. 

 The broken parts by little and little condense, unite, and lose some of their surfaces. 

 Many of the pores close up dui-ing the seeds' incubation and hatching in tho ground. 

 As the plants grow up they require an increase of food proportionable to their increase 

 of bulk; but on tho contrary, instead thereof, that internal superficies, which is their 

 artificial pasture, gradually decreases. The earth is so unjust to plants, her own offspring, 

 as to shut up her stores in proportion to their wants — that is, to give them less nourishment 

 when they have need of more. Therefore, man, for whoso use they are chiefly designed, 

 ought to bring in his aid for their relief and force open her magazines with the hoe, which 

 will thence procure them, at all times, provisions in abundance, and also free them from in- 

 truders ; I mean their spurious kindred, the weeds, that robbed them of their too scanty 

 allowance." • 



But attention to the plants in a garden should not cease with the use of the 

 hoe. Dead leaves and branches and diseased plants should be removed. 

 Injurious insects should be kept out if possible, and, if that cannot be done, 

 the plants they infest should be thrown into the hog sty, that no eggs or larvse 

 may be left in the garden. Weeds should never be allowed to mature their 

 seed there, unless it is desirable to secure a crop of them for the next year. 

 Many farmers keep their gardens clean and take much pride in their neat 

 appearance during the early part of the season, but permit the weeds which 

 spring up rapidly under the August and September rains to remain and ripen 

 their seeds. This insures them plenty of work for the following year. Clean 

 culture during the entire season should be the invariable rule. Where plants 

 are crowded, such culture is difficult, and this is another reason for giving them 

 plenty of room. 



From long observation and experience I am satisfied that no part of the farm 

 of the same size, cultivated in whatever crop, is so profitable to the farmer as 

 the garden, and no equal portion yields so rich a harvest of pleasure, comfort, 

 and health to his family. 



It is not to be expected that every farmer will raise all the varieties of plants 

 in his garden. Let each select those that he and his family value most, and 

 make them the objects of his special care. But there are some kinds which I 

 think should never be wanting in any garden, and these are asparagus, rhu- 

 barb, currants, and tomatoes. The first three are perennial, and when once 

 established in a good soil will, with clean culture and an annual dressing, con- 

 tinue to yield fruit for an entire generation. The first two are among the 

 earliest products of our climate, and are relished by almost every one. Cur- 

 rants and tomatoes come at a later period, and furnish delicious and healthful 

 acids at the very season when our systems, debilitated by the heat, require their 

 cooling and refreshing influence. Both of these fruits may be eaten in a ripe 

 state almost without stint in the months of August and September, not only 

 without injury to the health, but as among the most effectuid preventives of 

 those diseases that are apt to prevail during the heats of that season. 



Garden vegetables not only afford a pleasant and healthful diet to the labor- 

 er's family, but they are especially conducive to the health of sedentary men. 

 Their bulk and laxative qualities furnish the stimulus which the digestive 

 organs require. For the soldier and sailor living upon salted meats and 4ry 

 bread their juices and acids are the only effectual safeguards against the scurvy, 

 to which so many fall victims. Preserved vegetables and fruits are now put up 

 in large quantities for sea voyages, and, when fresh ones cannot be obtained, 

 are an agreeable substitute. Among the most valuable for this purpose are 



