398 



NEW EXGL.VND FAE^IER. 



Sept. 



which has taken its place, and thus confuse 

 them together until we know not "which is 

 ■which." And then, to mend the matter, when 

 the whole of them have danced their graceful 

 round, hand in hand, before us, not being 

 able to think of either separately, we unite 

 them all together in one imagination, and call 

 them the Past Year, as we gather flowers into 

 a bunch, and call them a bouquet. 



"Now this should not be. Each one of the 

 sweet sisterhood has features sufficiently 

 marked and distinct to entitle her to a place 

 and a name ; and if we mistake these features, 

 and attribute those of any one to any other, it 

 is because we look at them with a cold ?nd 

 uninterested, and therefore an unobservant 

 regard." 



In order to really enjoy the Months, we must 

 be strongly impressed with the peculiarities 

 of each — the weather, atmospheric phenomena, 

 the coming in and going out of plants, ani- 

 mated life about us, in our domestic animals, 

 in insect and bird-life, and the changing sounds 

 which proceed from them at the different 

 stages of their existence. We must "pay 

 equal devotion to each in her turn ; the 

 blooming May and the blushing June disdain 

 the vows of these votaries who have not pre- 

 viously wept at the feet of the weeping April, 

 or sighed in unison with the sad breath of 

 March. And it is the same with all the rest. 

 They present a sweet emblem of the ideal of 

 a happy and united family ; to each member 

 of which the best proof you can offer that you 

 are worthy of htr love, is, that you have gain- 

 ed that of her sisters ; and to whom the best 

 evidence you can give of being able to love 

 either worthily, is, that you love all." This 

 should be the manner in which we should re- 

 gard the Months. They will pass rapidly, to 

 be sure, but will instruct us as they pass of 

 our own and their immortality, — immortal, 

 because ever renewed, and bearing the seeds 

 of their renewal within themselves. 



"These, as they change, Almighty Fath- 

 er, these are but the varied God ! The roll- 

 ing year is full of Thee." 



— Oflacial returns received at the Bureau of Sta 

 tistics show that during the month of April there 

 was exported from the port of New York fish 

 spawn to the value of $15,340. There were also 

 exported to France during the same month silk- 

 worm eggs valued at 



SEPTEMBER EMPLOYMENTS. 



O sweet September I tby first bretzeB br'ng 

 The dry leaf's rustle ami tbe squirrel's laughter. 



The coo , frseh air, wheuf^e hea th and vii<or spring, 

 And promise of exceediDg joy her after. 



— George Arnold, 



In another column we have spoken cf some 

 of the things which go to make September a 

 pleasant month. Now let us call up some of 

 the more severe and practical duties which de- 

 volve upon us at this time. A modest sugges- 

 tion cannot harm the most skilful and careful 

 cultivator, and a walk just taken over the 

 farm prompts us to mention several things 

 which are always best done in September, — 

 some, indeed, which are only appropriate then. 



Sovnng to Grass — As the grass crop is a 

 leading one with us, it is important always to 

 give it careful attention. Lands that are to 

 be devoted to grass next year may be stocked 

 to great advantage early in September. Plough 

 and pulverize until the soil is fine ; it will 

 richly repay to do this thoroughly. Do not 

 go over more ground than you can work into 

 good tilth and manure with some liberality 

 with fine manure. Grass seed is slow to take, 

 even on a tolerably rich soil, but where it can 

 find a particle of well-rotted manure, it will 

 germinate freely, take root at once, and go 

 on to flourish unless choked by weeds or 

 parched by drought. It is more profitable to 

 get a ton and a half of hay on an acre than 

 on an acre and a half. There is leas cost of 

 ploughing and all after preparation, and less 

 in getting the hay. The top dressing should 

 never be omitted. Herdsgrass and redtop 

 are not easily winter-killed, and clover seed 

 may be sown on late snows in the spring. A 

 peck of herdsgrass and from three to four 

 pecks of redtop are comoaonly used ; some 

 use only two or three pecks of redtop. Six 

 to ten pounds of clover are usually employed 

 in spring sowing. 



Weeds. — Cut up the rank weeds that skirt 

 the edges of corn or potato fields, and from 

 every other place where they are growing, to- 

 gether with all other refuse vegetable matter, 

 and place them in a heap. Overhaul occa- 

 sionally, and allow the whole to gain a degree 

 of heat that will certainly kill every seed of a 

 plant which it contains. What is left after 

 fermentation, mingled with fresh stall manure, 

 will make a good compost for top-dressing. 



In the Garden, in the latter part of the 

 month, take up and pot such plants as it is 



