334 



NEW ENGLAND FARINIER. 



July 



the time one-half the blossoms are open. 

 Then there will be a good second crop, but if 

 we wait till the seed is formed in the first crop 

 the second crop will be greatly diminished. 

 Deferring to cut the first crop ten days may 

 nearly spoil the second. It is on the second 

 crop we must depend for the seed. With a 

 good catch and proper care, there will be from 

 two and one-half to five bushels of seed to the 

 acre, worth now six dollars per bushel. 



The second crop should not be allowed to 

 stand till it is over-ripe, as then much of the 

 seed will be lost In harvesting. Now, let us 

 look at the result. One and a half tons at 

 the first crop, worth say $24. The second 

 worth $10, and three bushels of seed worth 

 $18, the whole amounting to $52. What crop 

 do we raise of equal value for the same labor ? 



In Pennsylvania, where they raise a good 

 deal of clover seed, it is not uncommon to feed 

 the clover fields till the fore part of June, and 

 then let it go to seed. In this way, it is said, 

 they often get five bushels of seed. They 

 then plow up in the fall, and sow wheat. 

 Plaster In most parts of the country is found 

 to be one of the surest means of bringing a 

 good clover crop. We are in the habit of 

 sowing red top and herdsgrass with clover, 

 with the Intention of letting it remain as a 

 meadow three or four years. This makes the 

 very best of hay. When we would get a crop 

 of clover seed, we should sow the seed with 

 grain, and not feed off In the fall ; then after 

 taking the first and second crop of clover, we 

 may plow and reseed In the fall with herds- 

 grass and redtop. If we wish to mow It for a 

 few years, top-dressing as may be needed. 



esting to Eastern no less than to Western far- 

 mers. He says : — 



"Several experiments have been made to ascer- 

 tain the proper depth at which to plant corn, and 

 by one of tliem it was ascertained that'whenlt 

 was planted three inches deep, it came up and 

 grew well until it was three or four inches hiah, 

 and then stopped for a fortnight, while the corn in 

 the same field, whicli was planted at a less depth, 

 grew rapidlj'. On examination it was tbund that 

 a joint had formed aljout one inch and a half 

 above the kernel, and that the roots had sprouted 

 out from that joint, leaving all below to perish. 

 While the process of changing roots was going on, 

 the plants ceased to grow above ground, but in 

 about a fortnight recovered their vigor, and they 

 were about that length of time later in maturing 

 the grain than the seeds that were planted shal- 

 lower. 



A series of experiments showed that com plant- 

 ed at the following depths came up as described : — 



No. 1 planted at a depth of 1 inch came up in 8 days. 



» 2 " " li " " 94 " 



<< 3 I. i< 2 " " 10 " 



" 4 " " 2J " " Hi " 



» 6 «« «« 3 " " 12 " 



" 6 " " 3i " " 13 " 



i( 7 » <( 4 « u 131 « 



" 8 " " 44 " " — " 



.1 9 .< « 6 .< <i _ .< 



"10 " " 5i " " 174 « 



11 11 " «< 6 *« " — " 



Nos. 8, 9 and 11 were dug up after twenty-two 

 days, when it was found that No. 8 had an inch 

 more to grow to reach the surface. 



Nos. 9 and 11 were three inches beneath the sur- 

 face. No. 10 came up in seventeen days, but 

 withered after six days' growth. The more shal- 

 low the seed was covered the more rapidly the 

 sprout made its appearance, and the stronger was 

 the stalk. It is hoped that many more careful ex- 

 periments will be made this year with regard to 

 thfc merits of deep and shallow planting. 



CULTIVATION OP COHN. 

 The Western Rural, published at Chicago, 

 has had much to say in Its late issues upon this 

 subject. This is as It should be, as com Is the 

 crop of the great West. We are glad to see 

 the modes of culture, the importance of ma- 

 nuring, the use of fertilizers and other topics 

 thoroughly discussed. The editor is urging 

 the cultivation of less land and doing It more 

 thoroughly than in times past. This is the 

 only way of arresting the process of exhaust- 

 ing the soil, which is going on so rapidly, and 

 is beginning to tell upon com, and has to an 

 alarming degree upon wheat. In the last 

 jiumber he states some fjMJts which are inter- 



■WOOIjEN HESOIiUTIONS. 



This is a great country for "resolutions." 

 They are manufactured by congresses, legis- 

 latures, conveii«;ions, associations and divers 

 other "bodies." Webster passes the word 

 along with only eight definitions and one "pic- 

 torial illustration," wh'Je Worcester enumer- 

 ates no less than ten distinct meanings ! But 

 are either of these lexicographers equal to the 

 task they have undertaken ? Can it be done 

 by pen or pencil ? A bull of the Vatican and 

 a resolve of the American may be felt, but 

 can hardly be described. A Turkish firman, a 

 Russian ukase, and a royal decree have set- 

 tled many knotty questions and removed many 

 ugly difficulties, but a universal solvent has 

 been found only in the modern "resolution.*" 



To buy each lot of wool In the country as 

 each lot of grain, and cattle, and butter, and 

 other kinds of agricultural produce are bought, 

 — on its own merits, — involves no little work 

 and the exercise of no little skill. Grain is 

 harvested and hay Is made by machinery, and 



