22 



N E W ENGLAND FARMER, 



JIH.Y 25: >''38. 



AND gardener's JOURNAL. 



Boston, Wednesday, July 25, 1838. 



CURING CLOVF.R HAY. 



Tliere prevails with iniiny furiuers a strong prejudice 

 .ngainst cioicr hay T and iDili-ed in the conji jon in which 

 it usuiiUy is founj it is a very cnurse niisptahid f"dder, 

 and hiirilly better than si> much brush Our Northern 

 clover enwii on lichly manured land, and with the small 

 quantity •of seed commonly applied, makes a rough pro. 

 duct; and, as the flowers and seeds ;ire generally shaken 



INDIAN COKN. 



tCKERlNOjTOrPINO STALKS, llABVKKTltlO 



The inquiry is often made ; whether it is best to take I off in the making, it contains Utile nutriment, and is 



careely fit for other purposes than litter 



ofF the suckers from Indian Corn, or to allow ihe 

 remain. We have not at haiid-lhe means of refeiring to 

 Home facts in this case, which have been staled, and \vc 

 can therefore only speak <.f them from memory, which 

 after all may not prove entirely correct. The Rev. Dr 

 Lyman of Hatfield, Mass. some yiars since made a ( are- 

 fiil experiment, the result of wliieli was to prove that it 

 was best for the crop to remove the suckers. The crop 

 or those parts of tlie field, from which the suckers were 

 removed, proved larger than that on which lliey were 

 »<u(Tered to remain ; but the advantage was nol deemed 

 n sulficient compensation for the extra labor. In our 

 own experience we have found cerlainly no injury to 

 the crop from removing the suckeis, those on which it 

 was evident no ear was likely to be fi)rmed ; and we 

 Jiave obiaiped from this source a considerable amount of 

 valuable fodder. Where the growth is luxuriant how- 

 ever, and the field closely planted, there i.s risk, unless 

 extraordinary care is used, of much being broken down 

 and considerable injury being done to the standing crop. 

 We have however the testimony of an experienced and 

 most careful far.nor in this case, who states that he has 

 been in llie habit of suekering his corn now for more 

 than ten years. He lakes off the suckers as soon as the 

 tassel in his corn begins to show iiself; and he says 

 alwnjs with much advantage, the ears of corn so far as 

 his experience goes in consequence of this operation be- 

 ing larger and better filled out. Gobig among his corn 

 thus early, there is less danger of injury to the field. It 

 13 quite desirable that this matler should be fully tested 

 by experiment ; and we hope that any of our correspon- 

 dents who are possessed of well authenticated fiicts in 

 Ihe case will be kind enough to communicate them. In 

 the southern states the blades or leaves of the corn plant 

 are always stripped for fodder for their horses, instead 

 of hay of which comparatively liltle is raised. A- Vhat 

 parlicuiar st^ige this is done we are not apprisfld ; but it 

 certainly should nut be done too early, as the lifTice of 

 llie leaves is highly important to Ihe perfection of the 

 fruit. The aoiount of fodde.r, afforded by a well culti- 

 vated acre of corn, is .vory considerable ; in the opinion 

 of most judicious farmers fully equal when well cured to 

 a ton of the best Engligli hay. Every pains iherefure 

 vhould be taken to secure it in the best possible manniT. 

 In regard to lopping the slaljis <if corn, the experi- 

 ments of John Lorain of I'cnnsylvania, and the Hon. 

 Wm. Clark, of Northampton, and others, eslablish the 

 point, that, if cut early, the crop of corn will be dimin- 

 jshed many busheU to the acre. Alter the grain is per- 

 i'oclly formed and has become glazed the injury accru 

 i8g from culling then) will be much less, but probably i 

 .will be something. We are satisfied that taking all 

 things into consideration the best mode of harvesting in 

 that, which is almost universally practised throughout 

 New York and Vermont and many parts of New Hamp- 

 shire ; that of cutting up the whole plant at the boltom 

 .^at a certain stage of its growth, and allowing it to fin- 

 ish its ripening in the shock. We have managed in 

 this way repeatedly; and proceed from our own cxpe- 

 .rience and trials of diflereiit modi s to describe vvh it we 

 consider the best mode of performing it. 

 (To be conlinuei.) 



The southern 

 clover is of smaller growth ; and on that account makes 

 a much better fi)rage. Indeed clover hay, when well 

 cured, is very much liked by cattle, whom we n>ust al- 

 low to be pretty fair judges in the case of what is good 

 for them : and no long feed, that can he given to cows, 

 will make more or belter milk. One of the best milk-men 

 in ihe neighborhood of Boston speak< of it in the highest 

 '■ernis ; and, in his mode of curing, prefers it to any oili- 

 er hay. Clover when mixed with other bay even in a 

 small proportion injures the sale of the hay in market, 

 for the reason only we believe that horses taken in at 

 'he livery slables, will eat more of it than of the Herds 

 grass, cut after it is dead ripe, and so coarse and hard 

 that the mastication of even a small quantity is likely to 

 employ- all the lime the poor tired horse has to spaie 

 from his sleep; and a rack full of it, like the show 

 pickles and pound cake at taverns, is liable to stand by 

 for some time and to serve many a guest. We consider 

 clover hay, when well saved as some of the best hay 

 which can ho grown ; highly palatable and conliiining 

 an abundant nutriment ; but its value greatly depends 

 on the mode of curing. 



Some farmers have cut it in the morning, and after a 

 warm day have carried it in in the afternoon of the same 

 day, and by a very liberal sailing have sived it well 

 But Ihe practice of other farmers ts we believe a much 

 preferable mode. We know several cases in which it 

 has proved enlinOy satisfactory; and we shall proceed 

 to describe it. They cut it in good weather, imil when 

 it is dry. They scarcely spread or slir it at all. At 

 night of the day on which it is cut they put it into cocks 

 of a good size, and there let it remain two or three days 

 rain or shine. When well made in this way, which is 

 easily determined by a practised hand, on a pleasant day 

 in the morning they turn over the cocks and open them 

 slightly, and ihen carry it in, giving it a very little sprink- 

 liiig of salt. One great object is to avoid by much stir- 

 ring the shaking off of the heads. 'I bus cured they re- 

 gard it among the most valuable hay which tiny get. 

 We have known the same plan puisiied by one of the 

 best farmers in weslerrf New Ywrk w ith aM his hay crop- 

 The Decrfield farmers of lal'; yiars dry their hay in Ihe 

 sun much less than formerly, and they believe to iheir 

 great benefit. In all casi s however the most scrupulous 

 care must be observed to rid iha hay fiom ail weiness of 

 dew or rain. 



THE SEASON AND CROl'S. 

 The season, we believe, has not, within the memory 

 of any man living, been sujpas.sed for the fineness of iis 

 wcaihcr and the luxuriance of its vegetation The sun- 

 shines and rains have come in such regular and beauiifui 

 succession -, and the temperature has been so precisely 

 what it seemed desirable that it should be that even ha- 

 oittial discontent has found no r<)oin lor complaint; and 

 the most fastidious imagination has not been able to say 

 how inaiters should be improved. Hay is coining i 

 abundantly ; and the season has been as fiivorable as it 

 ever was for securing it. Rye and wheal, and barley 

 and oals, are looking extremely well. I'olatoes prom 

 profusion, and Indian corn, the be.it treasure of i\ 



ICngland, i over presented a more he:ilthy and hrilliani 

 appearance. There is really U'lthing lo be done ; but to 

 shake our heads with sorrow, and cry ; " it is too much 

 trouble to gather all these good things." We shall never 

 get through with harvesting and huiikiug. O sad ! our 

 neighbors' crops are as good as ours. We have got too 

 much, too much ; prices mu>t come down ; prices will 

 be low ; the poor will have enough this time ;" »nd 

 other complaints as grateful and as benevolent, of which 

 there is always in our community quantum suffu it . 



VEGETABLE FIELD CROPS. 

 We have great pleasure in announcing the fact that 

 esculent vegetables beyond whai have hiiherto been cul- 

 tivated, such as luta baga and sugar beet, aie entering 

 c*»nsideiahiy as field crops into the cultivation of our far- 

 mers. Having once begun ihey are sure to keep on 

 This will lead to a most important revolution and im- 

 provement in our husbandry. It will inerease to a great 

 exient the power of the farmer to rai-e and keep live 

 stock ; it will greatly increase his manure heap, the 

 vuitcriid of agrieultuie, and enlarge his cultivation and 

 the productiveness of Ins soil. It will lead to a much 

 more care'ul and neat husbandry, which will prove in 

 various respects a great gain. iis effects upon our 

 dairy pniduce in qinnlity aiii) quality will be mo>t favor- 

 able. Ii is calculaied by many observing fanners that 

 ihree tons of sugar beels or of ruta baga are equal to one 

 of the best of English Hay for neat caltle. We do 

 nol pretend to aive a decided opinion on this subject. 

 But i\edo know that twi-nty ions of Sugar Beet, of Ru- 

 ta Bag, I, of Parsnips or of Carrots can be raiseil U[ion an 

 acre , and il in this way an amount of caltle feed equal 

 to SIX tons of bay can be procured from an acre of culti- 

 vated laml, what extensi\ k advantages must the fanner 

 derive from such husbandry. 



I'oTATo Bi.osso.MS. — Repealed experiments in England, 

 t is coiifideiilly asserted, have demonstrated thai the 

 plucking iff the blossoms of the potato before any balls 

 are formed, have coniriboted very much to increase the 

 produce. We have no personal knowledge of any fadts 

 in thrs mailer, which would serve to determine it. We 

 do not pretend to understand the philosophy of il, even 

 ifil be true. But it is so often and confidently stated, 

 and upon such respertable aulhority, that we hope some 

 (aieful observers will make tho experiment with exact- 

 ness ; and do \\<, or ralhei the agricultural public, the 

 kindness to report the result. 



To CUHK WOUSUS, BKDISES, SORKS, SPRAINS, HINO 



woRnts, iVc — Take two ounces of the Tincture of Hel- 

 lebore, and put it into a junk or porter bottle, fiP up the 

 boltle with alcohol — tho cost of all which is .30 cenis— 

 and a family should never be without it. Apply the 

 mixture to the wounded part, by means of a linen cloth 

 or rag, and which you may leave on the flesh — wet it 

 frequently, and you will find it lo have a most soothing 

 and healing efi'ect. Applied to wounds or sores on hor- 

 ses or catlle will elh ct a speedy cure, Il has been known 

 lo cure ihe ring-worm, and fingers when so mashed as to 

 endanger loosing iheni. 



Having /;er5«?i'///7/ I'xperienced the good efFecis of the 

 mixlure, I consider it invaluable and recommend its 

 use. A. U. 



JVftc York, July 17, 1838. 



JMasBachusetts Horticultoral Society. 



KxiiiaiioN OK fi.owi;ks. 



■' The • faireit Jimea's of tlic aiuson arc inir Carnallons." 



fialurday. JuUj2\, 1838. 



This was the day appointed ftir the exhibition of. and 

 to awaid the premiums on ("aroatiiuis. The compelilors 

 were .Messis Winslop, Ma.«on, Melli.r,and Johnson. A 

 coininitlee of three n as appointed to examine the speci- 

 mens and lo award the prizes. 



A fine specimen of Asclepias tuberusa, TuLrovs Ureal- 



