THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



843 



NOTES ON THE SEPTEMBER NUMBER OF THE 

 GENESEE FARMER. 



Haryestisg Corn. — A great difference in opin- 

 ion, in regard to the best method of harvesting 

 corn, exists among farmers. It would seem that a 

 few carefully conducted experiments might settle 

 the question, in all its bearings. But when such 

 experiments are made, the results are so contradic- 

 tory that we still remain about as much in the 

 dark as though the experiments had neither been 

 made or reported. Some years ago, Col. Clarke, 

 of Massachusetts, tried the experiment of cutting 

 tlie stalks at the usual time of topping the corn, on 

 a certain number of rows, and left an equal num- 

 ber to ripen with the stalks uncut. The result was, 

 lie came to tlie conclusion that there would be a 

 loss of ten or more bushels of corn per acre, where 

 the yield would be sixty bushels per acre, by 

 cutting the stalks. Judge Buel, in some of his 

 writings, said there would be a similar gain by 

 cutting up and stooking the whole crop as soon as 

 the corn had become glazed. Solon Carter, of 

 Worcester county, Mass., in 1856, made an experi- 

 ment to test the merits of the ditferent methods of 

 harvesting corn. Lot number one, cut at the ground 

 and stooked September 24th. Lot two, had the 

 top stalks cut in the usual way at the same date. 

 Number three, left standing whole until October 

 29th, when each of the lots were harvested, husked, 

 &c. To make a short story of it, the lot cut up 

 and stooked, when husked, dried, and shelled, was 

 much the poorest; that having the stalks cut, every 

 way the best ; and the lot left with its stalks uncut, 

 was much better than the stooked lot, but not quite 

 equal to the lot having the stalks cut. Who can 

 reconcile these discrepancies? A large majority 

 of farmers in this section of the country prefer 

 cutting the stalks when the grains have mostly be- 

 come glazed. They then cut up the corn near the 

 ground wlien ripe, cart to the barn, and husk it — 

 believing this the better way. Some others cut 

 and stook; but very few leave the corn untopped 

 to ripen in the field. This 14th of September, a 

 large portion of our corn is not yet glazed, but un- 

 touched by frost; weather cold for the season. 

 The safest way, under present circumstances, is to 

 cut and shook, whether we, as a general rule, like 

 the method or not. 



"Grow Good Grass and keep Good Stock." — 

 Good advice, and a good article, and needs no 

 special comment. 



Heating New Milk, in cold weather, soon as 

 strained, has been practiced hereabouts with good 

 success. 



Fat Prize Cattle. — A very seasonable article, 

 the numerous agricultural exhibitions, soon coming 

 off, will give judges a good opportunity to exhibit 

 their stamina and independence in awarding the 

 prizes. Captain Tanner and Mr. Phillips have 

 done themselves honor in awarding according to 

 merit. May their example be extensively followed 

 ui this country. 



A Wheat Farm becoming a Farm of All- Work. 

 — Dr. J. B. Smith's letter is full of practical instruc- 

 tion to wheat growers, in those sections of the coun- 

 try infested by the midge. But his letter requires 

 a more extended notice tlian I can now give it. 



Storing and feeding Turnips.— Fanners in this 

 region have not much trouble in storing their tur- 



nips. The growing of the Swedish and other tur- 

 nips does not take among our farmers. Insects, 

 drouth, and fingers and toes, are serious drawbacks 

 upon their culture here. There can be no doubt, 

 however, but a good supply of succulent food for 

 our farm stock, in connection with their dry forage, 

 would conduce much to the health, thrift, and well- 

 being of the animals, and the pecuniary interest of 

 their owners. 



Cutting Grass by Machinery. — I have con- 

 cluded to let Bundy & Co. have all the talk about 

 mowing machines. I have already business enough 

 upon my hands without rushing into their con- 

 troversy. 



Weeds in the Garden. — I have seen a great 

 many more gardens ruined by excess of weeds, than 

 I ever did by deficiency of these pests. To keep 

 up the fertility of a -soil under continued cropping, 

 requires a rotation of manures, as well as of crops. 



Plaster of Paris for General Crops. — There 

 has been a vast deal of ink wasted by writers in 

 their attempts to unravel the mysteries attending 

 the action of an application of plaster to different 

 soils and crops. Nothing definite is yet known. 

 Carefully conducted experiments are the safest tests 

 for each individual farmer. 



The two articles on scientific and practical farm- 

 ing, and farming as a science, will bear even more 

 than a third reading, and so will H. W. Beecher's 

 agricultural creed. But as they all write better 

 than I can, I will skip over to the paragraph on 



Cutting Grass for Hay, and will just observe, 

 that your Belfast correspondent has so exactly ex- 

 pressed my views upon the subject, that I have not 

 an additional word to say. 



The American Farmer, by A. B. RATHBtTN. — A 

 truthful and well written article ; but I have not 

 time to review his article. Trust he will follow 

 his hand. 'Tis such men as Mr. R. that are doing, 

 and successfully too, so much toward elevating the 

 standard of the working farmers — I don't meam 

 Prof. Mapes' Working Farmer, but the real tillers 

 of the soil. 



At page 285, A. Baer, Jr., tells of the diseased 

 apple trees in Ohio and Indiana. The same unfor- 

 tunate state of things exists over large districts in 

 the Northern and Eastern States. Insects, cold 

 winters, over manuring, lack of manuring, and 

 proper culture, and various other ills that apple 

 trees are subject to in various ways, seem conspir- 

 ing to exterminate a large portion of our apple 

 trees. But we are hoping for a change of times in 

 this matter. levi bartlett. 



Wm-ner, N. IT., September l-ith, 1859. 



■ We trust Mr. Baktlett will oblige us by such 

 notes each month. We know of no one, from a 

 wide range of practical and scientific information, 

 and from a long acquaintance with the agricultural 

 and horticultural literature of the day, so well 

 qualified for the task. eds. 



Hogs should be kept dry and comfortably warm, 

 while being fattened. They should be fed in clean 

 troughs, and their appetite so closely watched that 

 no food is given them to be left from one meal to 

 another. Nothing should be omitted which will 

 promote their quietude, for on this greatly depends 

 the accumulation of fat. 



