346 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



Meadows, this year, when hay will be some- 

 what scarce and high, should be cut early in Au- 

 gust, if they have been omitted until that time. 

 If cut when the grass is tender and succulent, 

 most of it will be consumed by the stock if fed in 

 the morning during the coldest weather. Indeed, 

 we have often found milch cows preferring one or 

 two fodderings of meadow hay in the day, to that 

 of the best English. They like variety, and wili 

 thrive better for an occasional feed of inferior hay. 

 It also answers a good purpose, cut, and mixed 

 with better hay or straw, and Indian or oil meal. 

 It is all worth saving in good condition this year. 



The Turnip Crop. — This crop, in its varieties, 

 is always important, but particularly so when the 

 hay crop is short. It will be well to sow the flat 

 turnip as late as the first week in August ; the 

 expense of seeding is small, so that if the crop 

 fails, the loss is trifling; if the season proves fa- 

 vorable, a fine crop may be obtained and the win- 

 ter's supply of fodder greatly enhanced. 



Attention must be given to the ruta bagas and 

 mangel wurtzels. All weeds should be taken out 

 and the plants thinned so as to give each ample 

 room to expand itself into a good size and shape. 

 The distance required will depend much on the 

 richness of the soil. If that be in good condition 

 twelve inches between the plants will be none too 

 much. The crop will be benefited by hoeing in 

 good super-phosphate of lime or dissolved bones. 

 Do not neglect the turnip crop. 



Reclaiming Meabows. — Every observing cultiva- 

 tor must have come to the conclusion that the 

 best lands of New England lie in our low grounds, 

 or even the boggy swamps which are scattered all 

 over it. When once subdued, no lands yield such 

 ample returns for the expense incurred, or remain 

 in good condition so long without being again bro- 

 ken up. It is scarcely necessary to repeat what we 

 have so often said on this subject, but refer the 

 unpracticed to an article in another column on 

 "Swamps and Draining," and to the last year's 

 volume, under "Farm Work for September." 



August, also, is a good time, perhaps the best, 

 for breaking up and laying down old grass lands 

 that have "run out." The process is simple — 

 plow deep, manure well, turning it under two or 

 three inches with the cultivator or harrow, and 

 seed liberally. The manure used in such cases, 

 should be fine, so as to mingle thoroughly with the 

 soil. Twelve quarts of herds grass and three pecks 

 of red-top seed, are sufficient for an acre. Sow six 

 pounds of clover seed per acre, on a light snow in 



March. 



« 



Grape Vines. — Everybody likes grapes. There 

 is scarcely a person who has a garden but adorns 

 it with a grape vine. Great efforts are being made 

 to introduce varieties that are delicious and hardy; 

 by-and-by, we shall succeed. The old idea, long 



entertained, that the leaves must be stript off in 

 order that the fruit might ripen, has nearly lived 

 out its day. it only lingers, like a heavy brick, 

 in the noddles of some of the "old fogies," who 

 are determined that the world shall be no wiser 

 than they themselves are. As well may we strip 

 the apple tree of its leaves that the sun may enter 

 and ripen the fruit, or tear off a man's arms and 

 legs, that his head may sooner be ripe with wis- 

 dom ! No, no — let the leaves alone ; they kindly 

 prepare rich juices for the fruit, as the bird pre- 

 pares food for her young. Nature is accommoda- 

 ting in some things ; the tree does not object to 

 send its unelaborated sap into the veins of scions 

 not her own, and comfort and protect them, but 

 she will not be turned from her proprieties in oth- 

 er things. She cannot be roMed of her lungs or 

 leaves, and produce good blood or fruit. 



Grains. — The grains which have cost you so 

 much labor, which you have cut and garnered up, 

 will still require care. If frequented by rats and 

 mice, the loss is not only in. what they consume, 

 but in shelling it out and mixing it with their of- 

 fal. By thrashing and clearing up early you will 

 find a more favorable return from your acres. 



Celery. — This is a wholesome winter salad; easi- 

 ly raised and always brings a fair price in market. 

 It ought to be common among all classes. The 

 eartliing up about the plants must be carefully at- 

 tended to this month. Gather up the leaves 

 neatly and not bury the hearts of the plants. 



Beans and the early kinds of cucumbers may be 

 planted for pickles, if done immediately; herbs, 

 such as are desired, must be saved now ; the sage 

 cut and dried, and hops picked and dried. 



Budding. — The season has again approached 

 when this operation may best be performed. The 

 process is so familiar to most persons, that we will 

 only refer the uninitiated to our former remarks 

 on the subject. 



Haul out Muck. — Now that the swamps are 

 mostly dry, and the haying is out of the way, the 

 opportunity should be improved to go into the much 

 mines and remove large quantities to the high 

 lands. Spread it shallow on pasture, or on grass 

 lands which are to be plowed, so that the winter 

 frosts may penetrate the whole heap and thus pre- 

 pare it for use. 



A shovel full of meadow muck, and a half gill of 

 guano in a hill for corn, will give about thirty 

 bushels to the acre on almost any land that is not 

 utterly impoverished. 



I^ A JSToble Act Rewarded.— 'Rev. Eufus W. 

 Gtiswold has presented to Mr. Linus Benedict, of 

 Norwalk, (who saved the life of his daughter, at the 

 Norwalk calamity, after she was supposed to be 

 drowned,) a very costly gold watch and appendages, 

 as an evidence of his gratitude and that of his fami- 

 ly, for his extraordinary and successful efforts on that 

 occasion. 



