214 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



SPIRIT OF THE AGBICULTUBAL P££SS. 



Cut Hat Early. — The Mdssachusetts Ploioman has a 

 readable article on this subject. "Science and experi- 

 ence," it says, "alike indicate that 'grass should be cut 

 early. But perhaps some one will say, 'What is the use 

 of talking about chemical changes in the growth of 

 meadow-hay ? Get away with your science, and let us go 

 on in the old way !' Very well, neighbor, let us say no 

 more about 'chemical changes' in this connection, but 

 apply one of the simplest tests of nature that the farmer 

 can have ; and we are sure it will settle the question for 

 us more satisfactorily than all the scientific men in the 

 world can do it. Many years ago, we remember to have 

 read of a case in point, which will illustrate the argu- 

 ment we desire to present : Two farmers came to town, 

 each with his own load of hay, and while they stood in 

 market waiting for purchasers, a dispute arose as to 

 ■which had the best quality of that article. After con- 

 sidewible discussion and argument, one of them pro- 

 posed that it should be left to some competent arbitration, 

 to which the other assented, and the first-named sug- 

 gested that their wise old schoolmaster, who happened 

 just then to come in sight, would be a suitable person. 

 To this the other replied, that admitting the great learn- 

 ing and ability of the umpire suggested — his capacity to 

 read Greek and do hard sums — he nevertheless might be 

 mistaken ; but he had in his mind an umpire whose judg- 

 ment could be relied upon as unerring, and to that one 

 only would he submit the case for decision, and that was 

 cot the schoolmaster, but the schoolmaster' s mare. And 

 so we say that if any persons see fit to reject the teach- 

 ings of chemical science, in its application to this theory 

 in regard to the proper time to mow meadow and swale 

 grasses, let them refer it to the dumb beasts upon the 

 farms. A month ago they would eat them with avidity; 

 even now, horses and cows will, everywhere the_y have a 

 choice of grasses, make them a part of their daily feed. 

 How will it be a month later, after the flowering season 

 has passed ? Every farmer knows that they will not 

 touch a spear of them if they can help it, and that next 

 winter hunger alone will compel them to eat the bay." 



Thk Crops in Eueopb. — The Mark Lane Express of June 

 8th savs the crops in England have suffered for want of 

 rain, but during the week it fell in abundance, "and 

 should this be general a fair crop may yet be gathered." 

 Of the crops on the Continent it says: " The irregularity 

 of the season, and especially the late frosts, have not 

 been without damaging effects. The North of Italy is 

 reported seriously to have suffered by the fluctuations of 

 temperature, and prices have rather advanced in Pied- 

 mont. Uungnry also is said to have suffered from drought, 

 and though anticipations were generally favorable in Rus- 

 sia and Northern Europe, prices have been hardening in 

 France and the adjacent countries. 



Chinesk Yam. — A correspondent of the Prairie tanner 

 writes: The Chinese yam does best in a soil the sub- 

 soil of which is loose and contains little or no nounsb- 

 * ment The deeper the top soil the deeper the large part 

 of the root will grow, as it seems to swell its root only 

 when the fibres And DO nourishment. J 



Corn for Youd^r.— The Boston Cvllivator says: " 

 der-corn may be planted lill the middle of July. W 

 planted, for it is better to put it in drills— either by i 

 or by a machine — having the rows at such distanc 

 will admit the passage of a horse-hoe or cultivato 

 keep down the weeds. This is rather a hard crop to 

 for winter use, unless it gets so well matured tha 

 stalks have sufficient stiffness to stand in shock, 

 greener state it is more valuable to feed out as soon 

 is cut, or after being wilted. In this state it saves g 

 aftermath, which maybe cut for hay; and later in 

 season it may save hay directly." 



To Prevent Skippers in Hams.— There is. accor 

 to my experience, nothing easier than to avoid the n 

 per, and all bugs and worms that usually infest, 

 often destroy so much bacon. It is simply to keep . 

 smoke Jtouse dark, and the moth that deposits the 

 will never enter it. For the past twenty-five yeary, I | 

 attended to this, and never had my bacon troubled bj 

 insect. I have now hanging in my smoke house li 

 one, two, and three years old, and the oldest are as 

 from insects as when first hung up. I am not awar ! 

 other causes for the exemption of my bacon from ins * 

 but simply from the fact that my smoke house is al i 

 kept dark. Before adopting this plan, I had tried t^ 

 experiments, but always without success, or with ii 

 to the flavor of my bacon. I smoke with green hicl 

 This is important, as the flavor of bacon is often ut 

 destroyed by smoking it with improper wood. 



"The Long Ddought." — Under this heading the 

 lish papers are filled with complaints of the want of 

 "The spring corn, and in some instances the aut 

 wheat, are turning yellow from lack of moisture, f 

 have not had any dews this month." " We in S! 

 shire," says one writer, "have had nothing but cold 

 winds and sharp black frosts, which have cut off ( 

 potato shoot that showed itself in the gardens as w« 

 in the fields. There is scarcely a blade of grass fo: 

 cattle." 



Remedy against the Cdt-Worm. — A correspondei 

 the Germantown Telegraph gives the following as a ir 

 of protecting corn from the cut-worm : When the 

 has been up about a week, examine it; if it shows ii 

 by the cut-worm, gather the common mullein, root 

 all, and place about every third or fourth row and 

 top down, in the afternoon; in the morning folio 

 take a large tight basket and shake them off the mul 

 into it, and feed them to the poultry." 



Grub IN the Head of Sheep. — Dr. Dadd, in a c 

 munication to the Prairie /arj»«f, says the only wa 

 prevent grub in the head of sheep, is to put plent 

 "grub" into the stomach of the animal — and that it 

 well known fact that sheep properly attended to, well 

 and housed, are never troubled with the parasite kn 

 as the grub. 



Foot Rot in Shrep. — A correspondent of the ( 

 /'arwer gives the following receipt for the cure of 

 rot: Pulverize blue vitriol and while lead together; 

 it with spirits of turpentine to a salve, and apply 

 salve with a paddle to the sore part of the foot. 



To Clbansr Wblls. — A correspondent of the Ma 

 chusetts Ilowman says he made his well pure by bail 

 out the water, and filling up the well with straw 

 burning it. After this he washed the stones and put i 

 little slaked lime. It was found very effectuaL 



