THE GENESEE FARMER. 



139 



to the different signification which is attached to 

 the terms "rich" or "poor" land. What one calls 

 "rich," another calls "poor," land. In this case, 

 as in most others, a "happy medium" is doubtless 

 best. 



Some prefer to plow early in the spring, and 

 clean the land as much as possible before planting; 

 others think it best to plow under a clover sod, 

 flat, just before planting, say the first of June, as 

 such land is more likely to be free from weeds. 

 Harrow down smooth, and make the soil as fine as 

 possible; then plant in rows 2^ feet apart and 15 

 inches in the rows, using 4 to 6 beans in each hill. 

 Cover with mellow earth, not more than two inches 

 deep. Some prefer to sow in drills ; but by plant- 

 ing in hills, the labor of cleaning is greatly facili- 

 tated. When 80wn in drills with a machine, it 

 should drop a single bean two inches apart in the 

 drills, the rows being 2^- feet apart. If the weather 

 is fine, plant the first week in June. Some, how- 

 ever, prefer to plant a week later. 



Flax. — There is perhaps no crop that can be 

 grown, more certain in its returns for the labor be- 

 stowed, than flax. The demand for the seed, 

 for making oil, is increasing every year. Hith- 

 erto, the growth of flax for the sake of the- fibre 

 has been a troublesome process; but a method has 

 I been found of obtaining the fibre by machinery, 

 ' without first steeping it ; and we understand that 

 several mills are about to be built this year in Can- 

 ada for this purpose. The soil best adapted to its 

 growth is a rich, deep loam ; stiff clays will not 

 answer. It is indispensable that the soil be perfectly 

 clean, and reduced to a fine tilth. If seed only is 

 wanted, one bushel will sow an acre. For fibre, 

 tlie quantity of seed sown varies from 1^ to 3 bush- 

 els per acre ; the thicker it _is sown the finer will 

 be the fibre. The time for sowing is from the first 

 of May to June. The earlier it can be sown the 

 better will be the fibre. In Ireland, where flax is 

 extensively grown, the usual estimate is that three 

 acres will produce one ton of ordinary fibre, worth 

 from $200 to $350 per ton. The finest quality of 

 flax produced fetches $550 per ton. The seed av- 

 erages about 20 bushels per acre, and is worth 

 $1.50 per bushel. 



More Big Pumpkins. — Jonathan Harris, of 

 Wayne Co., 111., writes us that he raised, "from 

 one seed, eight pumpkins that weighed respect- 

 ively, 108i, 108, 105i, 88, 85i, 68, 62 and 45 lbs. ; 

 making, in the aggregate, 670|- lbs. from one vine." 



, This is pretty good for Egypt. Mr. II. asks " who 



I can beat it?" 



TOP-DKESSINGS FOR WHEAT IN THE SPRING. 



Dr. Voei.ckkr reports the results of some exper- 

 iments made last year on the farm of the Royal 

 Agricultural College at Cirencester, England, with 

 Peruvian guano, nitrate of soda, and other manures, 

 as a top-dressing for winter wheat in the spring. 

 The manures were all sown on the 22d of March. 

 They were finely sifted, and mixed witli about ten 

 times their weight of fine soil and sown broadcast. 

 A gentle rain fell the next day and washed tlie 

 manures into the soil, and secured at once their 

 uniform distribution. 



The following table shows the manures used and 

 the quantity per acre, and the amount of produce 

 obtained : 



The manures cost $T.80 per acre, except the 

 large dose of Proctor's wheat manure on Plot 6, 

 which cost $11.70. 



The wheat was worth $1.20 per bushel. Leav- 

 ing the value of the straw out of the question, the 

 profit from the use of the top-dressing was : 



Wiih Guano, ....fiS 70 per acre. 



With Nitrate of Soda, 6 00 " 



" " •' and Salt, 9 83 " 



" 448 lbs. Wheat Manure, 7 94 " 



" C72 " " lu 16 " 



Taking the fonr first lots, where the same amount 

 of money was expended on each lot for manure, 

 the nitrate of soda and salt give the best result, 

 guano next, the wheat manure next, and the nitrate 

 of soda, alone, the least. The extra heavy dose of 

 wheat manure gave the largest profits, although the 

 increase is not quite in pr'^portion to the amount 

 of manure; that is to say, the extra 224 lbs. on pk*t 

 6 gave an increase of about 5 bushels, while the 

 448 lbs. on plot 5 gave an increase of 12^ bushels. 

 The cost of producing an extra bushel of wheat 

 was : 



With Guano .60 cents. 



" Nitrate of Soda, 71 " 



'■ " and Salt, 57 " 



" 44S Iba. Wheat Manure, H2 " 



" 6721bs. '• " 6S " 



In these calculations, we have allowed notliing 

 for any effect which the manures may ju-oduce on 

 the next year's f*rop. As a general rule, the effect 



