244 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



^Iay 



■where it should be to insure the best results, and 

 ■worth as uiuch to me as fifty per cent, more 

 ■would be six or eight indies below the sur- 

 face. The harro^w •will pulverize and niinj;le 

 manure with surface soil t© a depth to facili- 

 tate decomposition ; the moisture thus found 

 ■will li(iuify its soluble ])articles while the little 

 spongiok'S draw nourishment from the bounti- 

 ful su])]>ly near at hand. 



It would be anuising to see farmers ■who 

 plough their manure under through fear that 

 it will go skyward like a l)alloon charged with 

 hydrogen gas, top dressing grass lands ; yet 

 such an anomaly is couuuon. It is pretty ■well 

 settled that this is an excellent method of in- 

 creasing the grass crops ; and there are very 

 few good farmers at the present day who 

 make grass a specialty who omit it. Were I 

 to increase the grass crop upon a farm adapted 

 to it to the greatest extent in the shortest 

 time, it ■would be by ploughing little and 

 spreading ■well rotted manure upon the grass. 

 Ashes also are valuable upon some grass 

 lands ; upon others ■worth but little. The ex- 

 tremes of very wet and very dry land should 

 be avoided — at least this is my experience. 



Several years ago a small piece was ashed 

 in spring liberally ; the crop that year was 

 considerably enlarged ; th^ next year I judge 

 it cut two tons per acre, where before it cut 

 from five to ten hundred, and patches of moss 

 that had held possession for several years had 

 gone. 



A large manure heap is indispensable to 

 profitable farming ; large hay crops insure the 

 manure heap. To increase both without re- 

 sorting to artificial fertilizers, plough less, top 

 dress the grass, and grain lands at seeding 

 time ; and as the hay increases, furnish mouths 

 to consume it. Spring in some respects is a 

 favorable time to treat grass lands ; rains are 

 often more frequent than in fall, and if done 

 early and well the scythe will meet with little 

 obstruction. c. 



Wilminr/ton, VI., 1871. 



For the New England Fat-mer. 



GARDENING FOR MAY. 



May, sweet May, greeted by Spenser as — 



"The fairent maid on jfrouiul, 

 Deck'd witli all daintiis of Iut season's pride, 



And throwing flowers out of her lap around," 



is now with us, and will soon unfold the abun- 

 dant riches of nature. The tender green of 

 the fresh, young leaves is indescribably beau- 

 tiful, and the flowers of this month are of del- 

 icate texture, and most excpiisitely tinted. 

 The host of summer birds have all returned, 

 and the woods are melodious with their varied 

 song. , 



May was a merry month in the olden time. 

 The ancient English loved all customs that con- 

 tributed to ha[)piuess, and wealth and j)Overty 

 often met on ]\lay-day, on the same equal foot- 

 ing. The lord of the .soil gave the tallest tree 



upon his estate for the May-pole, and the low- 

 liest laborer danced around it with a light 

 heart. 



]\Iay-day is celebrated in many parts of our 

 country, and though the gatherings are more 

 select than in times of yore, yet this month is 

 fraught ■with a blessing to every heart. Its 

 bright sunny days invite us all to come forth 

 and enjoy them. A writer says : 



"I know not how it is with others, but to 

 me the spring's invitations are irresistible. I 

 may be scholarly inclined, and my task indoors 

 delightful, yet my garden claims me, monopo- 

 lizes all my morning hours, and I know for me 

 has come the season's summons which I shall 

 not set aside, — no, not for studies nor hospi- 

 talities which become rivals for my time and 

 attention. My garden waits — is the civiler 

 host, the better entertainer. Then I have a 

 religion in this business, and others must waive 

 compliments. W^ould the sun but shine all 

 night long for my work to continue !" 



Thus speaks a lover of gardening, and all 

 of us who possess the true spirit will indorse 

 his sentiments. 



Gardening is peculiarly adapted to women — 

 it olfers to them recreation and pleasure, far 

 more tlian they can realize until they have com- 

 menced operations. 



The love for cultivating both flowers and 

 vegetables is greatly on the increase — and 

 many ladies wholly superintend both flower 

 and vegetable gardens. We can plant peas as 

 well as petunias, and enjoy seeing them flower 

 and fruit. To be sure I prefer to have the 

 beds dug over for me, and the trenches pre- 

 pared full six inches in depth, then the seed 

 can be easily dropped in. Beans, beets, spi- 

 nach, &c., can all be planted by women's hands, 

 and by emjfloylng a small boy to keep down 

 the weeds, many delicious dishes can be pro- 

 cured for the table. 



Farmers, as a general rule, neglect the kitchen 

 garden, and deprive themselves of many com- 

 forts ; and if they do attend to it, it is not 

 planted until all the crops are in, and then re- 

 ceives but little attention. But if the wife 

 and dau;^hters of the house can take it in hand, 

 they will be very proud of their handiwork. 

 I\Iay is the month to cultivate a fondness for 

 the occupation. If the season is backward 

 flower seeds can be planted in the house, and 

 their blossoming will be hastened by several 

 weeks. 



If a few friends club together, they can 

 purchase seeds and ])lants at a large discoiuit. 

 .■55 will purchase to'the amount of $6.25, and 

 by exchanging plants or seeds, a great variety 

 is procured at but a slight expense. Five la- 

 dies for $1 each, can buy a goodly supply, 

 and there is always a charm in wholesale pur- 

 chases. Plants are now sent by mail with per- 

 fect satisfaction. The Innisf alien Green- 

 houses offer every inducement to purchasers 

 by sending plants by mail at a very cheap rate. 

 Fifty bedding-out plants of rare varieties, are 



