18 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



August S, 1Sb8. 



face only, some time before Christmas. In tlic 

 following March it is well harrowed (their soil is a j 

 sanily loam) and then is cross ploughed to its full 

 depth. In May, it is ploughed again, the same j 

 depth , and if dry weather and the soil stiff", imine 

 diately harrow after this i)loughing. By the firs 

 of /«n6, it ought to be perfectly clean. Now, 10 



reg 



KITCHEN GARDEN— AUGUST. 



Several crops are to be sowed this month for 

 winter and the next spring and early summer 

 crops ; as cabbages, cauUtlowers, onions, carrots, 

 spinach, and some principal crops planted for late 

 the first ' autumn and winter supplies. In this month, dig- 

 ging vacant ground is required for sowing and 

 planting several fall crops. All new planted arti- 



ffood cart loads otmanure are laid on an acre, .^-5- , ,--- n — - • ,.,. „,tpntinn n-nlH 



Lrly spread, and ploughed in quite/re.., half the cles --t be watered,^ and^^d.hge^nt^a^^^^^^^^^^ 



deptii of the other ploughing— It thus is left till 

 about the 21st. of June ; and then is well harrowed, 

 to blend the soil and earth together.— It is then 

 ploughed to nsfull depth, and harrowed, once only, 

 the way it is i)loughed. The seed is then imme- 

 diately sown, on tUe fresh earth ;* not even ivailing 

 for the ploughing a second ridge. A quart of seed 

 an acre is sown. The seed is harroioed in twice, 

 the same way the ground was ploughed. The 

 harrow is short tined, and the lighter the better. 



The nicest part of the turnip husbandry now 

 remains to be observed : It is hoeing ; without 

 which all the former labor is thrown away. — 

 When the plants cover three inches in diameter, 

 hoe them with a 10 inch hoe ; and set them at 15 

 inches apart ; without regard to the ajiparent ! sum 

 health in the choice of those left. About 10 or at 

 most 14 days after the first hoing, the ground is 

 hoed a second time, so as to stir the mould eftectu- 

 ally between the plants, and to check weeds. — 

 About 14 or 20 days afler the 29th. September, 

 she turnips are fit for consum])tion, and so to April, ' 

 unless frost injures theiti.— Where the land is rvet 

 the wliole are drawn, and fed in cribs. On light 

 dry laiiil, every other ridge is drawn. 



He adds, 20 acres of a good crop of turnips 

 fatten 15 or 16 bullocks, and support 10 followers 

 or store cattle for 25 weeks ; or of sheep, as 8 to 1 

 bullock. But tlie greatest advantage is in clean- 

 ' ing, meliorating and preparing the soil for other 

 crops. 



To save turnips m the field, they sink some beds 

 in the ground where they grew, about two feet 

 deep, of a considerable width, and lay 5 or 6 lay- 

 ers of turnips in them, one upon another, with a 

 Uttle/res/i earth between two layers, and cover the 

 over with straw, to keep out the frost. Or 



to the destruction of the weeds before they grow 

 large, or come to seed. 



Asparagus, which will be now all run to seed, 

 nmst be kept clean from weeds, which is all the 

 culture they will require till October or Novem- 

 ber, then to have their winter dressing. 



Sow cauliflower seed about the latter end of 

 the month, to stand the winter, in frames, hand- 

 glasses and warm borders, for the early and gen- 

 eral summer crop, next year ; and for which re- 

 mark the above time, for if the seed is sown earli- 

 er, they will button or run in.winter ; ami if later, 

 they v.ill not attain due strength before that seas- 

 on. If the weatlier is dry, occasionally w;ater 

 them, and let them be shaded from the mid-day 



Earth up the former planted crops ot celery, re- 

 peating it every week according as the plants ad- 

 vance in growth. Do it moderately on botli sides 

 the rows, but be c^ireful not to clog up the hearts. 



Cucumbers in frames, &c. may now be iblly ex- 

 posed by removing the glasses. Pickler.s, or these 

 in the open ground, will now be in full perfection. 

 Gather those for pickUng" while young two or 

 three times a week. While the weather contin- 

 ues hot, daily Vyfatcr the plants. 



In dry weather hoe various crops in rows, to 

 kill weeds, loosening the earth about, and draw- ^ 

 mg some of the stems of the plants, to crc^uragc 

 their growth. 



Sow cos, cabbage, and Silesia and brown Dutch 

 lettuces, in the beginning and middle of the 



in that season, but principally for spring su]>ply ; 

 and some of the common onions also to stand for 

 early bulbing in siunmer. The common onion is 

 mildest to eat, but more liable to be cut off by the 

 frost than the Strasburg onion. This never bulbs 

 and is of a stronger hot taste than the other, but 

 so hardy as to stand the severest frost. The 

 White Portugal Onion is the finest sort for fall 

 sowing. 



Potatos may now be dug up for use in larger 

 supplies than last month, but principaliy only hf, 

 wanted, for they will not yet keep good long, from 

 their not having attained their full growth. 



Sow an autunni crop of Radishes, both of the 

 common short top and salmon kind. Likewise- 

 turnip radish, both of the small white, and the red, 

 for autunm, and the principal crop of black Span- 

 ish for winter ; and hoe the last sown to six inches 

 distance. 



Sow the prickly-seeded, or triangular-leaved spi- 

 nach, for the main winter crop, and for next spring 

 that sort being the hardiest to stand tlie v,-hiter.— 

 Sow some in the beginning and some towards the 

 latter end of the month, each in dry-lying rich 

 ground exposed to the winter sun. 



Hoe the last sowed turnips eight inches distant 

 in the garden crop ; but large sorts, ui fields or ex- 

 tensive grounds, must be thimied ten or twelve 

 inches or more. 



Be particularly attentive to gather all seed that 

 are rijie before they disseminate. Many sorts 

 will now be in perfection ; you must therefore cut 

 or pull up tfie stalks, bearing the seed, and lay 

 them in the sun to dry, &c. as directed in July. 



top 



pile them up in small stacks, with the greens out 

 yrard, and a little clean straw between every two 

 layers ; and lastly cover or skreen them \\ ith wat- 

 tles lined with straw.f 



* Jli Maryland, Imnip seed is usually sown a full mnnlli larcr 

 than this. 



t At Wye, with intention 10 try a new mode, my turnips were 

 gOH'n in broad-cast, thick. A plough having a narrow nn with- 

 out its mould board, was run through the young plants, careful- 

 ly, for leaving tlicm on a narrow slip ol earth. Handhoes fol- 

 lowed, working across the rows, and cutting near a f»ot widtli 

 of the plants quite up; the hoers stopping occasionally to thin 

 the clusters of turnips left by the hoes. A double mould board 

 ■plongh afterwards run through the intervals, heaves up the earib 

 on each side and leaves the plants on clean ridges. Advanta- 

 geous as this proved, I could not procure it to be repeated more 

 ihanonce more, a few years afterwards. Overseers are as fi.\- 

 ed to old habits as the negroes under them ; and I was much a- 

 feroad on other business. I have indeed always found the nc- 

 ■^ro^s bcKter disposed to execute ray designs, than the o\erseers, 

 who invariably are attentive and ingenious in taking short cuis 

 ibr slurring over all work, to soon get vid of it and go a frolick- 

 ing. I usually sowed near the end of July though I felt disposed 

 to, break through the practice ; and sow .1 tinle later, for saving 

 tltfim before they were old in growth when they incline to be 

 open and spongy, and therefore do not keep so well as younger 

 turnips, close and in full vigor. In that country turnips are but 

 ttHte-hoed and that ;Iovenly - an* to thin the plants the country j 



month ; and towards the latter end for succession- 

 al crops the same autumn, and ibr winter supply 

 and to stand the winter for early spring and sum 

 mer use. Plant and thin lettuces of former sow- | 

 ings a foot distant. 



Onions being now full bulbed, and come to their 

 mature growth, should be pulled up in dry weath- 

 er, and spread in the full sun to dry and harden, 

 for a week or a fortnight, frequently turning them 

 to ripen and harden equally for keeping. Then 

 clear them from the gross part of the stalks and 

 leaves, bottom fibres, any loose outer sldns, earth 

 &c. and then house them on a dry day. 



Sow winter onions both of the common bidbing 

 and Strasburg kind, for the main crops to stand 

 the winter to draw yotiug and green, some Cor tisc 



MODE OF PRESERVING POTATOES. 



Tlie following process for preserving potatoes 

 has been recommended by an English writer, 

 which he states "will preserve al! tiie nutritious 

 parts of this valuable root for years." 



" Let the potatoes be ^arfici</art.y well washed, 

 then put into the cider mill and ground to a per- 

 fect pulp ; put this pulp under a powerful press, 

 (in hau- cloths, as in cider making), and press it as 

 dry as possible : then take it from the press, and 

 put it upon the hop kiln, and carefully and well 

 dry it ; and then let it be packed in casks, or kept 

 in any other manner, so that it be always preserv- 

 ed in a completely dry state." 



people think would bo destroying what they had done. They 

 count the turnips by the number of plants, rather than by the 

 quantity of the roots. 



Turnips in rows, having 12or U inch intervals. Eccnj oth- 

 er row taken up and saved, would leave intervals 24- to 28 inches 

 1 wide. Cover the remaining turnips with long dung : then in 

 November, before the frost sets in, dip deep a double miuld 

 board plough, and heave the eanh on Ihe turnips, to stand llie 

 winter. Make the experiment- Such a plough is highly valu- 

 able on many occasions. It especially saves 2 or 3 bouts in 

 clearing cut, when ploughing maize. Ol potatos every other 

 row taken up would leave 3 feet intervals between the rows of 

 reraainin£ potatos. The haulm cut off and laid on these pota- 

 tos, may then be covered by the earth heaped on them by a 

 stout double mould board plough ; for keeping this halt of the 

 crop through the winter. It may be first tried in a few tows. 



KELP, OR CRUDE SODA. 



[Concluded from last week. J 

 France was in the habit of depending princi- 

 pally upon foreign countries, for the supply of 

 cruile sodas, until the period of the revolution. In 

 consequence of the wars Ughted up by that event, 

 she found herself cut oft' from the rest of Eurojie, 

 and compelled either to abandon some of her most 

 importajit manufactures, or to find within herself 

 the means of supplying the raw nuiterials. She 

 was entirely destitute of many articles of dailj', 

 and indispensable use. Surrounded by enemies, 

 she had not even the means of obtaining nitre for 

 preparing gun powder for her armies. This state 

 of things, and the great political excitement that 

 existed at the time, resulted in prodigious and suc- 

 cessful efforts, to supply herself from sotirces 

 which had not before been thought of The value 

 of the physical sciences under these circnmstanoes 

 was perceived, nor is there perhaiis a period in 

 their history more honorable than this. No long-_ 

 cr confining herself to the closet and laboratory, 

 philosophy went forth, and relieved with her 



