THE GENESEE FARMER. 



226 



tter part of the spring, and the frost does not seem 

 e been felt there to any extent. In Wisconsin, the 

 ;ut down some of the early corn and fruit, but did 

 rious damage. The frost of the 10th was pretty 

 ! in Canada, wheat in some instances being injured, 

 ) spring crops in the back townships, 

 took a trip into Canada a few days after the frosts, 

 ound the farmers complaining very much of the 

 done, but we are inclined to think the amount of 

 re over-estimated. A great portion of the wheat had 

 eaded out when the frost came, and could have sus- 

 l little or no injury. The frost was but slight on 

 istern side of the peninsula lying between Lakes 

 .ud Ontario. 



the whole, later accounts are more cheering than 

 given while the anxiety and excitement lasted, and 

 ink there are good grounds for anticipating that a 

 deal of unnecessary alarm has been felt, and that 

 ffect of the late frosts will ultimately prove less 

 ous than was apprehended. 



! Half Volume — Now is the time to get Scbscri- 

 — The present number commences the half volume of 

 enesse Farmer. Already many of our friends have sent 

 small clubs of new subscribers, and we trust others 

 likewise. There are few of our readers who could 

 nduce five of their neighbors to try the Genesee 

 er for half a year. We will send five copies for the 

 nt half volume (July to December inclusive) for 

 , and send the person getting up the club a copy of 

 eautiful 25 cent book, the Rural Annual and Sorti- 

 ral Directory, pre-paid by mail. For $1.50 we will 

 8 copies of the Farmer and a Rural Annual to the 

 in getting up the club. For premiums for larger 

 ; see last page of this number. 



sett Dollars in Cash Prbmhims for Scbscribers 

 [E Half Volume. — We would again call the attention 

 ;ents and friends to our List of Premiums for the 

 test number of subscribers to the half volume of the 

 isee Farmer, commencing with the present number. 

 >■ few persons are competing for these Premiums, and 



will undoubtedly be taken by unusually small clubs. 



is the time to attend to this matter, (See last page 

 lis number. 



<ws Maggot. — John W. Proctor, of South Danvers, 

 s., writes us under date June 20 : " There are many 

 s of onions near me already bo badly eaten by the 

 got that their owners are replanting them with car- 

 . The onion has been for many years the most valu- 

 : crop produced in our fields, often yielding a net 

 flt of $100, or more, per acre — and this with only 

 ;e the labor required for the culture of Indian corn." 



Inquiries and Answers. 



HRESHiNG Machine. — (Thomas Haines.} — Of sweep- 

 'er Threshing Machines, the most celebrated is that 

 ?itts. It is well known and gives very general satis- 

 ion. A. Gordon, of this city, manufactures these 

 jhines, with all the recent improvements, in a very 

 erior and substantial manner. You will find his ad- 

 tisement in another columo. ii<ii n^ii . 



Grafting Apple Trees. — (Wm. Cunningham, Croydon, 

 C. W.) There is no perceptible difference in the value of 

 a tree, whether it is grafted with scions taken from young 

 trees or from bearing trees. By using scions from bear- 

 ing trees, you are able to know to a certainty what you 

 are propagating ; but if you have young trees, the varie- 

 ties of which you know, you can use the scions from them 

 as successfully as from bearing trees. 



We know of no reason why trees grown about Roches- 

 ter should not thrive well in Canada, if properly trans- 

 planted into an appropriate soil. That many trees have 

 died that have been taken into Canada from this section, 

 there can be no denying ; but a glance at the condition 

 and treatment of most young orchards, not only in Canada 

 but throughout the United States, would suffice to satisfy 

 any mind of the cause or causes of nine-tenths of all the 

 mishaps and failures of orchard trees. Not to enter too 

 much into details, we will specify ouly a few of the inci- 

 dents which young trees are subjected to. First, there 

 are some persons engaged in selling trees who represent 

 themselves connected with some well-known nursery es- 

 tablishment, but who in fact make a practice of picking 

 up second and third rate trees at cheap rates and supply- 

 ing their customers with them. These trees are usually 

 misshapen and feeble, and sometimes even wild stocks 

 that have failed in the working. Many wild cherry and 

 peach trees are palmed off thus every season, as they are 

 usually fine looking and stocky. Again, trees are often 

 packed without the least skill or care, and are half dead 

 when they reach their destination. Three-fourths of those 

 who purchase trees, make no preparation for receiving 

 and planting them ; and when they come to hand they are 

 thrust into small holes in unsuitable or unprepared soil, 

 and there remorselessly left to their fate to contend with 

 the elements in air and earth, insects, worms, cattle, mice, 

 &c. But we can not pursue this further. Buy your trees 

 of nurserymen or their authorized agents ; see that they 

 are in good order when received ; have your land well- 

 prepared beforehand ; plant the trees as if you intended 

 them to produce fruit and become a valuable source of 

 revenue ; give them thorough cultivation and defend them 

 from attacks of insects. &c. ; and we have no doubt you 

 will find that, although grown in Rochester, they will 

 succeed in Canada. 



Burning Clat Sods for Manure. — Will you please 

 inform me, through the columns of your paper, how clay 

 sods are burned lor manure, and how and at what time 

 the ashes are distributed when used as manure for differ- 

 ent crops, particularly potatoes? Are sods from other 

 than clay soils burned for this purpose? About what 

 area of good clay sod land is required to furnish say 2(h) 

 bushels ashes.— Wm. Brown, Brighton, C. W. 



It may be done during the dry weather of summer, by 

 pairing off the sods with a plow, three or four inches 

 deep, aud in wide slices, turning the furrows almost flat 

 Then cut them with a sharp spade into slices as large as 

 can be conveniently carried and piled by one man. Make 

 a fire of chips, or other combustible material, and pile 

 the sods over it in an arched form, leaving a slight open- 

 ing to windward near the bottom. As the fire progresses, 

 more sods are piled on, till a heap is formed some three 

 or four feet in diameter ; the whole is then covered with 

 earth and allowed to smoulder away slowly, care being 

 taken not to allow the fire to burn through the external 



