94 



Time of Sowing PF/ieat — Bees. 



Vol II. 



From the i.ialtimore Farmer and Gardener. 



Time of Sowing IVIieat. 



I have noticed of late, that several writers 

 have advanced the opniion thai lokeat, it 

 sown late, will stand a better cliance to avoid 

 the ravages of the fly, than if it be sown 

 early. One of these, writers intimates that 

 between the 1st and 10th of November, is the 

 proper time. I have sowed my wheat late 

 and early, and although I have no data to re- 

 fer to, the impression is very strong upon my 

 mind, that the former vvas more generally 

 exempt from this insect. Upon one occasion, 

 I think it was in 1831, I did not get my last 

 field of wheat in until the 2d of December, 

 and that my neighbors all prognosticated, 

 kind souls, that tbe grain would rot in the 

 ground and never come up. It did come up, 

 though not until the next spring, generally, 

 and it was observed on all hands, that it was 

 the best field of wheat on my farm, although 

 tiie rest (three in number,) had been manured 

 and ploughed just as well as it was. The 

 field consisted of 20 acres and yielded 4.56 

 bushels of good merchantable wheat. It was 

 of the red bearded variety. The field had 

 been, the two preceding years, in clover, and 

 prior to ploughing it in, I put on 500 bushels 

 of lime, 25 bushels to th? acre. In turning 

 down the sod, I was verj careful, employing 

 a hand to follow the ploughman and turn that 

 did not lay flat with the sod completely under. 

 I made the ploughman plough deep, say from 

 7 to 8 inches — tiie surface being harrowed, 

 furrow-wise, I spread over the whole field 

 about 1000 bushels of ashes, and 206 single 

 horse cart loads of well rotted manure, mixed 

 with about one-third its quantity of vegetable 

 mould from the woods — then sowed my seed, 

 and instead of harrowing it in, passed the cul- 

 tivator over it. In this state it remained un- 

 til the frost was out of the ground in the en- 

 suing- spring, when to prevent the ill eflect of 

 frost-spewing, I passed the roller over it. 



I have intimated, that I gave this field a 

 liming at that time, 1831, of 25 bushels to 

 the abre, and I can now add, to this day its 

 benefits are as obviou^ as the noon-day sun, 

 and I doubt not tiiat it is more productive 

 than it was when cleared : how long it may 

 remain so, is to be tested by time , but by fol- 

 lowinirup the good system of rotation of crops, 

 and ploughing in a green crop of clover, rye, 

 oats, or buckwheat occasionally, I think it 

 will last for at least ten years in good heart. 

 My neighbors lime much heavier than I 

 do, some four-fold, others six-fold, but I doubt 

 the necessity, and if by putting on 25 bushels 

 to the acre, we can secure as great a benefit 

 for a reasonable number of years as when we 

 nut on a much larger quantity, why should 

 we incur the additional expense 1 



A Pennsylvania Farmer, 



Bees. 



We have often marvelled that our farmers 

 do not pay more attention to the rearing of 

 bees. The produce of these industrious in- 

 sects is far more profitable than the generality 

 of persons may be inclined to imagine, and 

 and the little time which it is necessary to 

 bestow upon them is seldom uselessly em- 

 ployed. They will always thrive in the 

 vicinity of fields of clover and flower gardens; 

 and, while the productof their labors will fur- 

 nish no inconsiderable profit in a pecuniary 

 point of view, the example of industry which 

 will thus be constantly placed before the 

 younger portion of the community, may have 

 the most beneficial effects. We lately met . 

 with the following anecdote, showing some 

 of the advantages which may arise from keep- 

 ing bees. 



" A French Bishop being about to make his 

 annual visitation, sent v/ord to a certain curate, 

 whose ecclesiastical benefice was extremely 

 trifling, that he meant to dine with him ; at 

 the same time requesting that he would not 

 put himself to any extraordmary expense. 

 The curate promised to attend to the Bishop's 

 suggestion, but did not keep his word, for he 

 provided a sumptuous entertainment. His 

 Lordship was much surprised, but could not 

 help censuring the conduct of the curate, 

 observing that it was highly ridiculous in a 

 man whose circumstances were so narrow, to 

 launch out into so much expense, nay, almost 

 to dissipate his entire income in a single day. 

 " Do not be uneasy on that score, my lord," 

 replied the curate, for I assure you that what 

 you now see is not the produce of my curacy, 

 which I bestow exclusively upon the poor." 

 " Then you have a patrimony, sirl" said the 

 Bishop. " No, sii-." " You speak in riddles, 

 how do you then do^' " My lord, I have a 

 convent of young damsels here who do not 

 let me want for any thing." " How! you have 

 a convent! I did not know there was one in 

 this neighborhood. This is all very strange, 

 very unaccountable, Mr. Curate." " You are 

 jocular, my lord." " But come, sir, I entreat 

 that you solve'the enigma; I would fain see the 

 convent." " So you shall, my lord, after 

 dinner; and 1 promise you that your lordship 

 shall be satisfied with my conduct." 

 , Accordingly, when dinner was over the 

 curate conducted tiie prelate to a large enclo- 

 sure, entirely occupied by beehives, and point- 

 ing to the latter, heoberved, "This, my lord, 

 is the convent which gave us our dinner; it 

 brings me in about 1800 livres per annum, 

 upon which I live very comfortably, and with 

 which I contrive to entertain my guests gen- 

 teelly." The surprise and satisfaction of the 

 Bishop at this discovery may easily be con- 

 ceived. The sequel of the story informs us 



