



DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



VOL. III. 



SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1851. 



NO. 14. 



RAYNOLDS & NOURSE, ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^.^^^^ j^Qg^Qj^_ 



Proprietors 



S. W. COLE, Editor. 



WORK FOR THE SEASON. 



July is, usually, the hottest month of the year, 

 and the most busy with the farmer, as he often has 

 much to do to his tilled crops to promote their 

 growth by proper cultuie and secure them against 

 drought and weeds; and this is the principal sea- 

 son for securing his early harvest. In this month 

 nature assumes her most gorgeous and beautiful ap- 

 pearance. Vegetation is in full luxuriance. The 

 fields wave with grass and grain, and the crops on 

 tillag-e begin to cover the land with green. 



Weeds should be thoroughly destroyed before 

 haying, else they will not only choke the plants 

 and rob them of their food, but they will ripen 

 seed for an abundant crop another season. Many 

 weeds that are among grain crops, should be pulled 

 out as soon as they begin to blossom. 



Stirring the Soil n(jt only greatly promotes the 

 growth of plants, by rendering it fine and permea- 

 ble to the tender roots, but this process is one of 

 the best protections against drought, as the loose 

 soil prevents the escape of moisture by evaporation, 

 which is invited upward from the moist soil to the 

 surface by the influence of the sun. Land not 

 tilled will dry down 8 or 10 inches in depth, while 

 that often stirred and kept finely pulverized at the 

 top is moist within a few inches of the surface. — 

 We have tried the experiment often on lands ad- 

 joining. Compact soil serves as a conductor of as- 

 cending moisture, which passes off by evaporation. 

 But the fine loose soil at the surface holds moisture 

 like a covering of boards, straw or other litter. 



Work Early in the Morning. — Tn this hot month, 

 retire to rest early, and begin labor quite early in 

 the morning, while the air is cool and refreshing; 

 and in the haying season, which allows of no rest 

 at noon, work moderately in the latter pan of the 

 forenoon, to allow the system a little respite from 

 severe toil. 



Drinking Cold Water. — Several persons lose 

 their lives every hot summer by drinking freely of 

 cold water, when over licated; and become serious- 



ly injured, and sometimes do not recover for 

 months. Great caution is necessary in the use of 

 cold water at this hot season. When very hot and 

 thirsty, wash the hands and wrists in cold water, 

 rinse the mouth a few times slowly, then swallow 

 a little water, and drink lightly at intervals till 

 thirst is quenched. This mode will soon give re- 

 lief, and with more comfort than in taking large 

 draughts of cold water, to say nothing of the dan- 

 ger of such recklessness of life and health. 



Grain. — When grain is fit for the sickle or cra- 

 dle, it should be secured as soon as possible, as a 

 great loss may attend even a short delay, from 

 storms or other causes. 



Haying. — This is the principal business with 

 the New England farmer in July. Most all the 

 grass on the farm generally needs cutting nearly 

 at the same time, or in the course of two weeks,, 

 yet many farmers cannot do their haying in less 

 than a month, especially, if the weather be unfa- 

 vorable. Therefore it is of great importance to be- 

 gin early, and cut some grass before perfection', 

 rather than lose by allowing the last to stand a 

 week or two, or perhaps three weeks too late. As 

 far as convenient, mow early in the morning, and 

 as soon as the dew is off, and the ground warm 

 between the swaths, spread the grass, and shake 

 it up soon after dinner. This will be dry enough 

 to rake convieniently in the afternoon, while the 

 warm sun is upon it. By opening and turning 

 the next day, it will soon be ready for the barn; 

 and not be injured by exposure to a scorching sun, 

 after it is dry. It is best to make hay partly in 

 the heap, as the sun destroys its sweetness after 

 it is tolerably dry. When clover, partly cured, is 

 put into heaps, the curing process still goes on, 

 even by nisht; and the moisture becomes equalized, 

 by passing from the damp stalk to the dry leaves, 

 and a little exposure to the air and sun will com- 

 plete the process, and in this way the leaves and 

 other fine parts are saved. Grass cut late in the 

 fi)renoon or early in the afternoon, may bo partially 



