144 THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 



than three or four times ; and, sometimes, I have known 

 farmers to plough summer fallows five times before the 

 1st of September. And those farmers that were most 

 accustomed to summer-fallow their fields for a crop of 

 wheat, cherished the idea that every ploughing increased 

 the crop of grain sufficiently to remunerate for the labor 

 performed. 



Where land is infested with noxious weeds, or is filled 

 with the seed of pernicious plants, it may be advisable 

 to summer-fallow. But I think the better way is to 

 cultivate a crop of Indian corn, instead of summer-fal 

 lowing the ground. If the field be overrun with elder 

 bushes, Canada thistles, dock, daisies, or weeds of this 

 character, apply a heavy dressing of manure, late in the 

 spring, and grow a crop of Indian corn. By ploughing 

 the ground late in the spring, the corn will get the start 

 of the weeds, and maintain the ascendency, during the 

 growing season, with but little hand labor. Head about 

 Summer Fallows in the second volume of my Young 

 Farmer s Manual. 



ALDEN S QUACK RAKE. 



The illustration herewith given, represents an imple 

 ment constructed with reference to the wants of farm 

 ers in localities where quack grass, or couch grass, has 

 taken possession of the soil. This implement was in 

 vented by Alden & Co., Auburn, !N&quot;. Y., in a region of 

 country where this pernicious grass abounds to a great 

 extent. 



The teeth are made of iron, about three-eighths of an 

 inch thick and eight inches long, each one having a nut 

 on the upper end. The wood should be of the firmest 

 kind of hard-wood timber, about five feet long and two 



