Voll.— No. 27- 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



21J 



although it is not quite so green 



as when cut in 



the blossom ; that all kinds of stock will eat it c- 

 qually as well, and that it not only affords more 

 weight from the same quantity of ground, but 

 that a given weight affords more nourishment to 

 the stock. Another advantage is, that in making 

 the hay there will more or less of the seeds shell 

 out, which will furnish young plants to supply 

 the places of those roots which have died from the 

 inclemency of the weather, or any other cause. — 

 It has been found that those meadows which are 

 cut while the Timothy or Herd's grass is in blos- 

 som, sooner become overrun with spear grass.than 

 those which are allowed to nearly ripen the seed. 

 ft is true that the bright green appearance of ear- 

 ly cut hay is rather inviting to the eye of many 

 who purchase their hay in towns, but the practi- 

 sed grazier will look well to the size of the seed 

 in the heads. If Herd's grass is allowed to stand 

 as recommended, in good weather, such as is cut 

 at evening, and allowed to lie over night in the 

 swathe, and that which can be cut before nine 

 o'clock in the morning, may be carried into the 

 barn at evening in good order, if from ground giv- 

 ing a heavy crop. A little salt sprinkled over 

 the mow may be advantageous. 



OKRA. 



This plant, which is considered one of the es 

 sentials at the South, we believe has never been 

 cultivated in this vicinity, and we are not inform- 

 ed whether any attempts have ever been made to 

 introduce it into gardens in Old Genesee. We 

 have procured some seed from Virginia this sea- 

 son, and are making the experiment ; but wheth- 

 er the season will prove warm enough for it to 

 come to perfection, we are yet to learn. If any 

 of our readers have given this plant a fair trial, in 

 this section of country, we should be glad to hear 

 the result. It will be seen by the notice of the 

 plant, in the Southern Agriculturist, that it is re- 

 commended to plant a crop in June, from which 

 we should infer that our summers are long enough 

 for its coming to maturity. A very ce'ebrated 

 dish is prepared from the pods called Gombo, but 

 with which but few of our Northern people are 

 acquainted, and we hope the Editor of the above 

 mentioned paper will give us directions for cook- 

 ing Okra, as practiced by the people at the south : 

 "This fine vegetable appears no where to 

 be so justly appreciated as in the neighbor- 

 hood of Charleston — here it furnishes a por- 

 tion of the daily food of, be believe, at least 

 three-fourths of the inhabitants of the city 

 during its season* In fact, we know of no 

 vegetable which is so generally used by both 

 rich and poor, or which so justly merits the 

 encomiums bestowed upon it. When serv- 

 ed up, simply boiled, we admit it is not the 

 most palatable vegetable we ever eat, but in 

 the form of soup, well boiled, with a proper 

 supply of tomatoes, fcc. we doubt whether 

 it is excelled by any other in the world, ei- 

 ther in flavor, wholesomeness or nutriment. 

 Surely our poor have cause of thankfulness, 

 that our climate admits of its being grown 

 in such quantities as it is. Although in such 

 high estimation among us, yet .ve have rare- 

 ly met with it any where else, and where we 

 have, it has not been appreciated, chiefly 

 owing to their ignorance of the proper mode 

 of cooking, for, except in the form of soup, 

 (and that properly cooked,) most persons 

 would pronounce it a sorry vegetable, and 

 unfit for frequent use. 



The okra prefers a moist soil, well drain- 

 ed,and on such, if it be but moderately rich, 

 the yield is very great. If such a spot can 

 be had let it be ploughed, or formed into 

 ridges, (or beds) if very low, and subject to 

 much wetness, but if rather high and dry, 

 let the surface remain level. In the former 

 the rows must be from four to five feet apart, 

 or the latter they need not be more than from 

 three and a half to four feet ; some plant 

 the seeds in holes, at the distance of from 

 two to three feet, others plant much nigher, 

 and others again drill it. Whatever way it 

 be planted, we recommend that it be thin- 

 ned out so as to leave each plant separate, 

 and at a distance of two feet apart. This 

 is near enough, and if planted wider, too 

 much ground will belost in the first instance, 

 although, in very rich ground, a greater pro- 

 duce is obtained at the close of the season, 

 which, however, is at a time, when all have 

 been in some measure satiated ; if planted 

 nearer they soon run up and suffer from 

 their contiguity to each other. The after 

 culture is simply to keep them clear of weeds 

 and the ground mellow. In gathering the 

 pods for use, care should be taken to take 

 oft" every one of a proper size, whether wan- 

 ted or not. It is a very common practice to 

 take as many as are wanted for immediate 

 use,and the rest are left. These soon become 

 woody, and unfit for the table ; they are then 

 left by some designedly for seed ; by others 

 through mere inattention or carelessness 

 But it must be recollected that a large 

 portion of the nourishment of the plant will 

 be immediately diverted from producing new 

 pods to the perfecting the seed contained in 

 these; consequently, if many of these pods 

 be left on a plant, it will soon cease to bear 

 altogether. Let, therefore, every pod be 

 carefully taken off as soon as it arrives at a 

 certain size, and the plant will continue to 

 produce a succession, which would not be 

 the case, if not so managed. Those plant- 

 ed in the spring, generally exhaust them- 

 selves by the middle of August,and although 

 they may bear a few, yet if they be wanted 

 later, it is best to plant a successive crop in 

 June, which will continue in bearing until 

 destroyed by a frost." 



WHEAT CROP. 

 The weather for the week past has been un- 

 commonly wet and warm in this district,and fears 

 are entertained that the wheat crop will not prove 

 as abundant as was anticipated. The fly has in- 

 jured many fields, and owing to the warm damp 

 weather previous to the hardening of the straw, 

 the growth was so rapid that many fields are bad- 

 ly lodged, and others are affected by the rust. 



ON REAPING WHEAT. 



To llio Editor of the Vil trims Herald— 



Sib— As the time of harvest is approach- 

 ing, I address, through your paper, mv bro 

 ther farmers, on the importance of allowing 

 wheat intended for sowing, to be entirely 

 ripe before reaping. Accident last year, and 

 eye-sight this year, have convinced me of 

 the propriety of this course. 



In the year 1829, having selected by hand 

 some ears of Mexican wheat, and sowed it 

 in the fall of the same year, it was forgotten 

 last year, until my little son reminded me 

 that tt ought to be gathered. It was then 

 from seven to ten days after my other wheat 

 of the same kind had been cut. This wheat 

 was then gathered and deposited in a bag. 

 Last October, this wheat was seeded on the 

 same day, in the same manner, and adjoin 

 ing to other Mexican wheal. No selection 

 of land was made for it, as no experiment 

 was intended. It has survived the fly, and 

 the last severe winter, with little injury, but 

 not more than one third of the adjoining 

 wheat has been left alive. From its present 

 appearance, it will produce, I believe, two 

 thirds more than its adjacent neighbor. 



Can the keeping in the bag be the cause 

 of this superiority ? I believe not, because 

 in several previous years, seed wheat has 

 been kept by me in bags, and no similar re- 

 sult has taken place ; my inference thence, 

 is, that tbis difference must be owing to the 

 entire ripeness of the seed. Should any 

 reader of this communication, have doubt; 

 on this subject, it will give me great pleas- 

 ure to show them the growing wheat, which 

 will convince, I should think, the most scep- 

 tical. 



From my twenty-four years experience as 

 a farmer, I am also satisfied, that the smut 

 is mainly attributable to unripe seed wheat. 

 My seed wheat has been always riper than 

 that of my neighbours, and during that pe- 

 riod,! have never seen but six smutted heads 

 in my own crops. In a conversation with 

 the late Mr. Isaac Williams, he confirmed 

 my opinion, by stating to me the same prac- 

 tice of one of his nearest neighbors attend- 

 ed by the most entire success. 



In making this communication, the inter 

 est of wheat-growers is my sole object, and 

 if, by it, their crops should be increased, it 

 will contribute to the happiness of yourobe 

 dient servant. JOHN TAYLOR. 



Liberty Hill, Carolina. 



FLORAL. CALENDAR. 



July 9th. 



At this date our floral calendar cannot be so de- 

 finite as at other seasons, as most of the perenni- 

 als have past their blossoms, and annuals depend 

 much upon the time of planting.The chesnut,one of 

 our best flowering forest trees, has past its flower 

 with a promise of much fruit. Pinks and carna- 

 tions arc in full flower, and the balsams and ma- 

 rygolds are opening their first flowers. Mazard 

 cherries ripe. Rye ready for harvesting, and 

 some wheat beginning to change to a light colour. 

 Cucumbers from open ground are in eating, and 

 early com and potatoes fit for use. This is the 

 proper season for planting cabbage for winter, 

 and celery, — also cucumbers for pickling. 



LINN-rEAN GARDENS AT FLUSHING 

 Prince Paul, of Wirtemburg, whose ex- 

 tensive travels, and scientific attainments 

 are so well known, attended by his suite, 

 paid a visit the last week, to the Messrs. 

 Prince's, proprietors of the Linnasan Botan- 

 ic Garden and Nurseries at Flushing, Long 

 Island, and expressed himself highly grati- 

 fied at the great extent and high culture of 

 the grounds, and at the immense collection 

 of trees and plants concentrated therein, 

 from every clime. This distinguished stran- 

 ger is a great proficient in Botany, as well 

 as other natural sciences. — N. Y. Commer- 

 cial Advertiser. 



Silk. The manufacture of silk is very 

 ancient. In the year 555,two monks brought 

 from India to Canstantinople, great quanti- 

 ties of silk-worms, with instructions for 

 hatching their eggs, rearing and feeding the 

 worms, drawing out the silk, spinning and 

 working it. 



