148 



THE COMPLETE FARMER 



drops' are found on the under leaves of plants after deep stir- 

 ring has been given in a time of great drought, the practice is 

 sound. I should suggest, if I vi^ere allowed, that moisture 

 had better be at such times conveyed to the roots, than be 

 exhaled by the sun, or placed on the leaves until his rays 

 shall have exhausted it all. The valuable parts of most ma- 

 nures readily assume the gaseous form ; every deep stirring, 

 to a certain extent, in hot weather, therefore, impoverishes 

 the soil. Deep ploughing, at proper seasons, is, I conceive, 

 the basis of all good farming. Such crops as shall enable the 

 husbandman to extirpate weeds, and obtain large supplies of 

 fodder, without much exhaustion, should be the great objects 

 for his aim. I would propose that a foi.1 sward receive its 

 proper quantity of quicklime, which should be spread and 

 ploughed under, in its caustic state, in the early part of Sep- 

 tember ; that the field be harrowed sufficiently ; sown with 

 rye at the rate of two bushels per acre, as early as possible ; 

 that it be depastured late in the autumn and early in the 

 spring ; that in May it be again ploughed, three inches deeper 

 than before ; that it be harrowed, and left until the small 

 weeds begin to appear. Early in June millet should be sown; 

 in August the crop can be removed, after the labors of the 

 general harvest. The field should be slightly stirred with 

 the scarifier, occasionally harrowed, and left throughout 

 September, for the destruction of weeds, as before. In Octo- 

 ber it may be manured, and sown with wheat, or left for a 

 crop of Indian corn. 



BUCKWHEAT. {Polygonum.) In light lands this crop 

 may be raised to advantage. In this climate it should not 

 be sown till after the middle of May. One bushel is seed 

 enough for an acre, if sown broad-cast, as is usual ; but if 

 sown in drills, less than half that quantity is sufficient. In 

 the state of New York, farmers sow it in August with win- 

 ter wheat. It affords them a ripe crop in the fall, without 

 injuring the crop of wheat, which grows with and succeeds it. 



Buckwheat is harvested by mowing, in the manner of 

 barley. After it is mown it should be several days before it 

 is housed. It is in no danger of the seeds falling, nor does 

 it suffer much by wet. From its great succulency it is lia- 

 ble to heat in a mow, on which account it is better to put it 



