1870. 



2?EW ENGLAND FARMER. 



495 



such land, who is desirous of deepening his 

 soil, and of having his garden dry and early 

 in spring, will not fail to have it undei drained, 

 as well as thrown into ridges in the autumn. 



Are the bean poles, stakes for tomatoes, 

 hot-bed frames, melon and cucumber boxes, 

 &o.. gathered and stored under cover? They 

 will last enough longer to pay for such care 

 and attention. The garden, too, looks slovenly, 

 with its summer furniture lying around loose, 

 and gives to the passer-by an impression that 

 the proprietor cares little for his garden or is 

 slovenly and negligent in his habits. 



Is there a corner of your garden that is wet 

 and has frequently troubled you at planting or 

 other times? If so, it shows that there is 

 need of underdraining, and now is just the 

 time to do it advantageously. Vegetables, 

 vines and fruit trees, can no more live and 

 thrive with wet feet than you can preserve 

 your own health with your feet constantly 

 soaked in cold water Perhaps you have often 

 wished, and intended to drain it some time. 

 Well, this fall is the best time you will ever 

 have to do it. The ground is now clear of 

 crops, and after the late, long, hot, dry sum- 

 mer, there should be little water to interfere 

 with the operation. Cut the drain not less 

 than three feet deep ; secure a good outlet, as 

 drains fail as often from a bad outlet as any 

 other cause ; lay good, well burned pipe and 

 collar tile, not less than two inches bore, hav- 

 ing a true descent from head to outlet, and 

 cover all well before the ground freezes. If 

 well and faithfully done it will yield you bet- 

 ter satisfaction than any other job accomplished 

 in the garden this summer. 



How about the grape vines ? Have you 

 enough for a good supply for your family ? 

 Now is a good time to investigate the merits 

 of different varieties, and to decide what ones 

 you will add to your collection. Haven't got 

 any ! Then, just sell a dozen or two of eggs, 

 from old "spec," and invest the proceeds early 

 next spring in one Hartford Prolific, one Con- 

 cord, one Delaware and one lona. These will 

 do to commence with, if your garden is not 

 too fdr north or on too high a hill, and my word 

 you Will never regret the expenditrure. Early 

 this month is, perhaps, as good a time for 

 pruning the viae as you will have. L\ter it is 

 too cold to work with comfort, and besides, 

 tbtj vines will be frozen, when it is not good 

 for Ibem to be cut or handled. Most varieties 

 are benefited by some winter protection, 

 which can be applied with less trouble after 

 being trimmed. The extent of pruning must 

 ,b" governed by the habit and vigor of growth 

 oi' the vine ; a rampant, long-growing variety 

 will not bear as close or severe pruning as a 

 less vigorous or short-jointed grower. Save 

 cuttings, burying them in sand in the bottom 

 of the cellar, if not too moist, for increasing 

 stock if desirable. 



I saw, .as I passed your place the past sum- 

 mer, that you had a variety of roses, flower- 



ing shrubs, vines, &c., which added erreatly to 

 the attractiveness of your place. Have you 

 given them winter protection? We have had 

 an unusually hot summer, and as 'tis said th^t 

 "one extreme follows another." we may have 

 an extremely cold winter. The hardy June 

 roses bloom better if laid down and slightly 

 covered. The Hybrid Perpetuals are not safe 

 without some protection ; the Bourbons, Noi- 

 settes and Chinas absolutely require it. Nearly 

 all rare shrubs and herbaceous plants should 

 have a few leaves or a handful of rubbish, that 

 will not harbor mice, gathered around the 

 crowns, with a little manure added. Newly 

 planted shrubs, small trees — conifers in particu- 

 lar, — Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Azalias, &g., 

 should have a few pine or cedar boughs tied 

 around them, or stuck in among the branches, 

 so as to pretty effectually shield them from 

 the sun, as a bright sun in winter spoils the 

 beauty of color in the leaves. Small hillocks 

 of fresh soil thrown up around the stems of all 

 freshly planted trees, shrubs, &c., are benefi- 

 cial. No tall grass or weeds should be al- 

 lowed to stand in the vicinity of trees, shrubs, 

 «&c., to furnish harbors for mice during winter. 



Cold Frames. — Have you provided plenty, 

 and room sufficient, for cabbage plants, cauli- 

 flowers, lettuce, radishes, &c., with good 

 covering to lay over them during the coldest 

 weather? .Keep them open, except when 

 there is danger of freezing. Secure some 

 ventilation, even when most thoroughly cover- 

 ed ; bank up the sides warmly. The extra 

 covering to lay over the sashes may be any- 

 thing most convenient to shut out cold, — 

 leaves, blankets, straw, mats or wood-shutters. 



Strawberry Bed. — Pine or cedar boughs 

 strewed over the plants make as good protec- 

 tion as can be desired. Give them some win- 

 ter protection, for the hot dry summer has 

 been a haT-d one on them. W. H. White. 



South Windsor, Conn., 1870. 



Nevvt Cattle Disease. — The Warren, 

 Trumbull county Chronicle says that farmers 

 and others in that section, complain of a new 

 cattle disease having broken out, called bla:;k- 

 leg. The flesh on the fore legs of the cattle 

 gradhally drops off, leaving the bone exposed. 

 A gentleman from Lorain county tells us that 

 the same disorder is prevailing to a consider- 

 able extent there, the fore legs of the animal 

 swell to such an extent that the skin bursts, 

 and the flesh drops off, having turned black. 

 The same epidemic is also prevailing in Can- 

 ada, opposite Detroit ; some of tbe horses 

 tbere have died with it. The conclusion of 

 many who are familiar with the workings of 

 the disease, attributes its cause to the bite of a 

 peculiar kind of black fly. Some of the best 

 veterinary surgeons are of the same opinion. 

 Washing the parts with strong soap smis, and 

 applying a coating of lard, fish-oil and sulphur, 

 is given as a remedy. — Ohio Farmer 



