DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



VOL. III. 



SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1851. 



NO. 16. 



RAYNOLDS & NOURSE, 

 Proprietors. 



OFFICE, QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. 



S. W. COLE, Editor. 



WORK FOR THE SEASON. 



August. — Before the close of this month, the 

 scythe, the sickle and the cradle will have passed 

 over many fields and shorn them of their crops. 

 Much of the grandeur and beauty that have adorned 

 nature the previous months will be gone. During 

 a part of August, the farmer has some little respite 

 from his hard labor, yet there is much to do in se- 

 curing the matured crops, taking care of those that 

 are growing, and doing many things in preparation 

 for the future which cannot generally be so well 

 done in any other season. 



Haying is not yet completed in many parts of 

 New England, and the sooner it is done the better, 

 as grass dries up very fast, after it is fit for the 

 scythe, and it soon loses much of its good quali- 

 ties. When hay has many bushes, brakes and 

 other weeds among it, put about half a peck of salt 

 to each ton. and the cattle will eat up the coarse 

 part much better. 



Cutting Grain. — The greater part of the wheat 

 harvest comes ofFin NewEngland during this month. 

 It should be cut soon after the berry begins to har- 

 den, as the straw is then drying up, and can afford 

 no more nutriment to the grain. By cutting rath- 

 er early, there is often a chance to save it from a 

 long storm, or a long time of dull weather, which 

 is often very destructive. 



Weeds. — These require considerable attention, 

 and yet they have generally been neglected during 

 the haying season, and if not destroyed immedi- 

 ately, they will seed the "round plentifully. Those 

 that are maturing their seed should be burned, or 

 ])ut into compost and the seed allowed to vegetate 

 before the manure is applied to the land. 



Bushes. — Cut bushes about the middle of this 

 month, and they will sprout but little — less than if 

 cut at any other season. On many farms in New 

 England bushes are numerous, and occupy no 

 small part of field and pasture. Their extermina- 

 tion would render the farm more beautiful, more 

 pleasant to work, and greatly increase its profits. 



Pru?ii?ig Trees. — August is one of the best, if 

 not the best month for this operation. The bark 

 does not readily start from the wood; and as the 

 tree is in foliage, the operator can see to thin the 

 limbs judiciously. But the great advantage in prun- 

 ing at this time, is that where the limb is cut off, 

 the trunk remains sound whether it heals over soon 

 or not. 



Digging WeUs. — In August or early in Sep- 

 tember, when there is a severe drought, is a good 

 time for digging wells, as it generally will be done 

 thoroughly. Frequently there is great loss in attend- 

 ing to this business when water is plenty, and the 

 well is not sunk deep enough, and must be made 

 deeper in a dry time at great expense. 



Wet Lands, properly improved, are our mosr 

 profitable grass lands, and though much has been 

 done in some sections to reclaim these valuable- 

 lands, in other parts they are almost wholly neg- 

 lected, while the grass crops are failing on high- 

 lands. This is a good season for clearing up, ditch- 

 ing, ploughing, hauling on sand or gravel, ma- 

 nuring and sowing wet land to grass; and if well 

 done, a good crop of grass will pay no> small' 

 share of the expense another year. 



Weaning Lambs. — In this month, or early in 

 September, according to their age, lambs should be 

 weaned, while the feed is sweet and succulent. 

 They bear weaning better at this season than late 

 in the fall when the feed is dry, hard and innutri- 

 cious; and the sheep are far better for early wean- 

 ing, as they have a chance to get in good condi- 

 tion before winter. See that the lUmbs have a 

 plenty of good sweet feed on being separated from 

 their mothers. 



Winter Wheat. — Prepare for sowing winter 

 wheat, which should be sowed in this month, or - 

 early in next. Large quantities of this grain are- 

 now raised in Maine, and generally with profit.. 

 The Blue Stem is a variety that succeeds weU 

 there. 



Manure. — Mud, muck and peat must be carted 



