DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



NO. 9. 



VOL. VIII. 



BOSTON, SEPTEMBER, 1856. 



JOEL NOURSE, Proprietor, 

 Office.. ..QuiNcr Hall. 



SIMON BROWN, EDITOR. 



FRED'K HOLBROOK, ) Associate 

 HENRY F. FRENCH,] Editors. 



SEPTEMBER. 



EPTEMBER is, by ma- 

 ny, regarded as the 

 pleasantest month 

 of the year. The 

 scorching heat of 

 summer has given 

 place to the milder 

 sun-rays and grate- 

 fully cooling breez- 

 ^f\ij es of autumn. 



After the contin- 

 uous and exhaust- 

 J^^ ing labors of the 

 — hay and grain har- 



vests, how grateful is a sea- 

 son of rest ! After swelter- 

 ing and .steaming in the 

 murky and enervating atmosphere o' 

 dog-days, how invigorating the pure, 

 elastic air of autumn's first month ! 

 Our pleasurable emotions depend mostly, if not 

 wholly, upon contrast. Having felt the pain of hun- 

 ger, we are prepared to appreciate the pleasure of 

 eating. "Sweet is the pleasure after pain." How 

 sweet to the laboring man is repose, after the toils 

 of the day ! and after the severe labors of the sea- 

 son are past, and the more valuable crops are gath- 

 ered, and scarcely housed, how delightful for the 

 husbandman to contemplate the work of his hands! 

 how natural for him to indulge in honest pride 

 when he reflects that, by the sweat of his own brow 

 he eats his bread, — that,he receives the bounties of 

 a kind Providence, direct from, the hand of the 

 great giver of all good ! 



Supposing our readers are in some such happy 

 frame of mind as this, we propose, at the commence- 

 ment of this new quarter, to take a stroll with them 

 about the farm ; making such suggestions by the 

 way, as may be of service to those who desire pro- 

 gress in the great art of husbandry. 



Winter wheat should be sown this month, and 



the sooner the better. That wheat may be pro- 

 duced in most parts of Xew England, and made a 

 remunerative crop, needs not further to be argued. 

 The high price of flour for the last two years, if 

 there were no other consideration, should lead 

 those who have suitable ground to make the ex- 

 periment. 



Whether spring or autumn is the best time for 

 sowing wheat, is a mooted question. We are in 

 favor of both. We have good authority for saying, 

 '•In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening 

 withhold not thy hand." 



In Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, we be- 

 lieve most of the wheat is sown in the spring. The 

 reason assigned is, that it is less liable to winter- 

 kiU. If the ground is wet and cold, we should prefer 

 not to sow M'heat upon it. But, if at all, we should 

 sow in the spring. Otherwise we prefer autumn. 



The same preparation which is made for a crop 

 of rye, will ensure at least as good a return in 

 wheat; and, in most cases, as much better as 

 wheat is more valuable than rye. The ground 

 may be prepared as for rye, by fallowing and seed- 

 ing, early in September. It may be sown after the 

 corn or potatoes, provided they are got oflf early 

 in October. But we prefer turning under clover,- 

 and sowing about the first of September. In all- 

 cases, lime .should be used freely. Oyster-shell is 

 cheqjest, and answers a go(vI purpose. The shells 

 should be ground without burning. By passing, 

 through the fire they lose at least one-half their 

 virtue. Animal matter constitutes an essential 

 part of the shell. This is all driven off" by the 

 fire. After drying in the sun, there is no difficulty 

 in grinding them without burning. Wood ashes 

 also, and salt, do good. 



^luch care should be exercised in the selection 

 of seed, to secure the best varieties, and that which 

 is clean. We think it well to soak the seed over 

 night in strong brine, and roll it in plaster, or lime. 

 Let all who can, try the experiment, if it be but 

 half an acre. 



