158 



Wheat Sowins:. — Summer^ s Gone. 



Vol. VI. 



principal cause of so many roots dying during 

 the winter season. 



These facts should always be remembered. 

 They may not only be taken as rules for 

 judging new dahlias by, but may also save 

 from the vexation and disappointment con- 

 sequent upon the production of bad flowers 

 from new and expensive sorts of dahlias. 

 Gard. Chron. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Wheat Sowing. 



Mr. Editor, — 1 rmist tell you how I man- 

 aged my wlieat land the present season — for, 

 unless I greatly err, you will join me in the 

 calculation, that it is about the best and most 

 likely mode of insuring a crop early at har- 

 vest, and free from rust — two considerations 

 of the highest moment. 



My land was a clover-lay, from which I 

 mowed two crops of hay of very great weight. 

 They were grown by means of a heavy top- 

 dressing in the spring, consisting of barn 

 manure, hog-dung, and various substances, 

 some of them so fresh and unfermented as 

 almost to make one believe they would not 

 be out of the way of the scythe by hay har- 

 vest. But the roller passing over, and the 

 decomposition which followed immediately 

 after — induced, no doubt, by the action of 

 light, air and heat, according to the beautiful 

 theory set forth in some of the late numbers 

 of the Cabinet — left not a particle of it to be 

 seen at the time of breaking up the land, 

 which was done as follows : 



First, I ploughed the land with a deep and 

 small furrow, according to your directions, 

 and left it to dry and settle for about three 

 weeks, at the end of which time, the surface 

 had become hard, and to appearance impene- 

 trable. I commenced by passing the harrow 

 once over it in the direction of the furrows, 

 and then sowed the seed, two bushels and a 

 peck to the acre. I then worked it once 

 over with the cultivator, which perfected the 

 business, burying every grain of the wheat, 

 and throwing it into drills as completely as it 

 could have been sown by a machine, with 

 the advantage of leaving a ridge of finely 

 pulverized earth between the rows, to be 

 operated upon by the winter frosts, moulder- 

 ing and moulding up the plants as neatly as 

 it could be done by hand, forming also a de- 

 fence to the sweeping and piercing winds 

 while passing over the surface, "cutting it 

 into ribbons," as my next neighbour terms it ; 

 and if I say I never before witnessed a sight 

 in my business that so delighted me, I guess 

 you will believe me, for the result has been 

 a plant of wheat of inconceivable beauty, of 

 a deep green colour, lying close to the ground, 

 and curling like young cork-screws — promis- 



ing to pay, as some one says, for value re- 

 ceived, at the rate of .50 per cent, per annum. 

 I declare that this single experiment has 

 worked like a charm upon me; and I awail; 

 with impatience the arrival of the spring, 

 that I may practise the many other lessons 

 which you are giving us in the pages of the 

 Cabinet — especially that of raising the sugar- 

 beet as a second crop, say, after rye, or per- 

 haps better, after buck-wheat, preparing for 

 manuring them by composting the dung from 

 the barn-yard with rich mould, during the 

 leisure of winter, secundum artem. 



Mr. Editor, we are indeed only on the 

 threshold of the " Temple of Agriculture ;" 

 every day that I live I am convinced of this 

 truth, and the more I learn the more I yearn 

 to know more. One of your correspondents 

 proposes that we fabricate " facts " for our- 

 selves — a very excellent proposal; in this 

 spirit have I commenced the experiment 

 which I here detail, and have been induced 

 to offer it for insertion in the Cabinet, in the 

 hope that others will go and do likewise. 



With every good wish, and perfect esteem, 

 I subscribe myself, Still a Learner. 

 Nov. 30, iwi 



P. S. Will those who have grown Hessian 

 flies the present year, inform us of their 

 whereabouts. — I have not one, even as a 

 sample ! 



Summer's Goue. 



Hark, through the dim woods dying 



With a innaii, 

 Faintly the winds are sighing — 



Summer 's gone — 

 There, when my bruised heart feeleth. 

 And the pale moon her face revealeth, 

 Darkly my footstep stealeth 



To weep alone : 

 Hour after hour I wander 



By men unseen — 

 And sadly my young thoughts ponder 



On what hath been ; 

 Summer 's gone ! 



There in our own green bowers. 



Long apo. 

 Our path through the tangled flowera 



Treading slow ; 

 Oft hand in hand entwining — 

 Otl side by side reclining; — 

 We 've watched in its crimson shining 



The sunset glow. 

 Dimly the sun now burneth 



For me alone, — 

 SpriiiK after spring returneth, 



Thou art gone. 

 Summer "s gone ! 



Still on my warm cheek playeth 



The restless breeze : 

 Still in its freshness strayeth 



Between the trees. 

 Still the blue streamlet gusheth — 

 Still the proud river rusheth — 

 Still the calm silence husheth 



The heart's disease. 

 But who shall bring our meetings 



Back again ? 

 What shall recall thy greetings 



Loved in vain ? 

 Summer s gone I 



