362 FAKMER's ASSISTANT. 



Gypsum has a most powerful effect, when applied as 3 

 top-dressing* or otherwise, to strawberry plants, not only in 

 increasing their growth, but also their product in fruit. 



STUBBLE. Where the stubble is large, as it will be 

 where the grain is large, and is reaped, the ground will be 

 very considerably ben* fit; d by ploughing it under as soon 

 as the grain is taken off; whereas, if it be suffered to stand 

 until it is perfectly dried, and all the juices evaporated, it 

 will then do the ground little or no good, In this way, too^ 

 the seeds of many weeds are prevented from ripening 



But the Reader will observe, in the Georgica of Virgil^ 

 that the Author of that elegant Work particularly insisrs on 

 burning off the stubble, in preference to ploughing it under, 

 as being more beneficial to the succeeding crop, and as 

 having a greater effect in fertilizing the land. 



Mr. Peters, of Pennsylvania, is also of this opinion. He 

 says that if straw, or other rubish, be spread over land, and 

 then burned off\ it will assist the soil more than if the same 

 straw or rubish were suffered to rot on the ground This 

 we believe to be correct ; but, whether, it be more advisable 

 to let stubble stand till it is dry, and then burn it off, in pre- 

 ference to turning it under, before it has dried, is a matter 

 that is perhaps well worthy of accurate experiment. 



It should be observed, however, that some British Farm- 

 ers prefer gathering the stubble for the purpose of litter, in 

 which way it is converted into good manure, by absorbing 

 the stale and juices of the dung of the cattle, much of which 

 might be lost for want of something of this kind to retain 

 it: But, whether the dearness of labor in this Country 

 would warrant the expense, we are not prepared to say. 

 Certain it is, however, that, where cattle are properly kep^ 

 a sufficient quantity of litter would seem to be indis- 

 pensable. 



SUGARCANE (Arundo Sac char if er a ) There are va- 

 rieties of this plant; but all contain the juice from which 

 sugar is made. It requires a rich, deep, mellow soil. The 

 ash-colored soil of St. Christopher's, and the red loam of 

 the north side of Jamaica, have been found the best in the 

 Westindies, for its culture. There is at present but a small 

 proportion of our territory, where the climate is sufficiently 

 mild for cultivating the cane to advantage; though it is be- 

 lieved that its culture may be gradually extended to the 

 north, as the plant becomes better adapted to the climate in 

 which it is grown. 



For instance, let it be planted a mile farther north every 

 succeeding year, and in this way it will gradually become 

 contracted in its growth, and in the time required for grow* 



