17S 



THE FAP.MERS CABINET. 



VOL. I. 



succession, by many of bis friends as well as 

 by himself, the very great utility of the com- 

 position, as well as its cheapness, with the 

 capability of its being made in any situation 

 and in any quantity. The mode of making 

 it is as simple as it will be found product- 

 ive. It is nothing more than green vegeta- 

 ble matter, decomposed by quick or fresh 

 burnt lime. Upon a layer of vegetable mat- 

 ter, about a foot thick, a very thin layer of 

 lime, beat small, is to be laid ; and so 

 on, vegetable matter, then lime, alternately. 

 After they have been put together a few hours 

 the decomposition will begin to take place — 

 and, unless prevented by a few sods, or a 

 fork full of the vegetables at hand, the mix- 

 ture will break out into a blaze, which must 

 at all events, be avoided. In about twenty- 

 four hours the process will be complete, and 

 you will have a quantity of ashes to lay on 

 your land at any time you wish. Any, and 

 all sorts of vegetables, and weeds of every 

 description, if used green, will answer the 

 purpose. They will doubly serve the farm- 

 er, as they will not only be got at a small 

 expense, but will in process of time render 

 his farm far more valuable by depriving it of 

 all noisome weeds. iNIr. Browne states that 

 he made a calculation with clover, grown for 

 the purpose, and that one acre, at a single 

 cutting, when decomposed by the above pro- 

 cess, yielded a sufficient quantity of ashes 

 to m.anure four acres. He states that the 

 vegetables should be used as soon after they 

 are cut as possible, and the lime as fresh 

 from the kiln as the distance will allow. It 

 appears that on these two circumstances 

 mainly depends the goodness of the com- 

 composition. We think this plan is worthy 

 of further experiments ; and we should be 

 happy to communicate to the public the re- 

 sult of any trials made for the purpose of 

 testing its utility. 



Cnltiiro of Mops. 



The'most suitable soil for hops is such as 

 will bear good corn, and the land should be 

 prepared in the same manner tor raising hops. 

 as for raising corn; old manure should always 



be used for hops, as new manure has too 

 much heat for the roots. After preparino- 

 the ground by having it subdued in the same 

 n.anner you would to raise good corn, furrow 

 it in straight lines three and a half feet apart 

 both ways, then at every other intersection 

 of the furrows in every other furrow, place 

 the hop roots in as small a compass as is 

 convenient, putting about ten or twelve 

 joints, or buds on the roots to a hill, then put 

 on top of the roots thus placed, a stout shovel 

 full of well rotted fine manure. Corn may 

 be planted on top of the manure, and covered 

 in the usual manner, but not potatoes. The 

 hop hills will then be about seven feet apart 

 each way, the intervening rows may be plant- 

 ed with potatoes or corn, the remainder of 

 the first season they may be treated in the 

 same manner as corn ; alter the corn is har- 

 vested put on to each hill of hops two shovels 

 full of old manure, this will preserve them 

 from winter killing, which would be the case 

 if they were not covered with manure. The 

 ensuing spring, as soon as the frost is out, 

 and the ground sufficiently dry, plough the 

 groynd each way, turning the furrows towards 

 the hop hills, but not plough so near as to 

 injure the hop roots. Then set the poles two 

 to each hill, and in a line both ways, so that 

 the ground may be ploughed close to the 

 hop hill. 



When the vines are three or four feet long, 

 go through your field and select two or three 

 vines to a pole, and then put them up and 

 wind them " with the sun" round the pole, 

 and tie them with a woollen, cotton or tow 

 yarn, to assist them to climb the pole. After 

 they are tied up, plough and hoe them well, — 

 in a few days hoe them a second time — and if 

 the ground is ready hoe them a third time, 

 and be particular to go through the field 

 often, and see that the vines are kept well 

 tied up, till after they are flowered and the 

 hops set. The poles should be from twenty 

 to twenty-five feet long, with the bark strip- 

 ped or shaved oflTand all the knots trimmed 

 smooth, so that the vines may be slipped 

 olTfrom the poles. After picking, the poles 

 should then be put in piles and laid up from 

 the ground so as not to rut, and be in order 

 for the next season. The hop is generally 

 ripe for picking the last of August or the 

 first of September, and should then be picked 

 free from stems and leaves, and should not 

 lay in the bin but a short time, for they are 

 liable to heat and spoil, but should as soon 

 as practicable go through the operation of 

 kiln-drying. The second season after the 

 hop has borne, they are to be treated in the 

 following manner; — The ground being free 

 from frost, and sufficiently dry so as not to 

 1)0 muddy or clammy, should be ploughi d 

 both ways, leaving the hop-hills in small 



