1871. 



. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



their place, modestly fill up a great, nutritious 

 undergrowth at the bottom. 



It has been objected to the orchard grass 

 that it grows too much in stools, or tussocks. 

 If it has a fault, that is one of them ; but full 

 seeding will measurably remedy that. It does 

 not stool or spread so universally as the blue 

 grass, or perhaps some others, but it forms a 

 strong, compact root, and tliat root it holds 

 firmly, endiu'ingly, and, if given a moderate 

 amount of fertilizing matter, its roots fill the 

 surface, and there they stay, yielding to 

 nothing but the utmost abuse by treading out 

 in spring by heavy cattle — which should never 

 be allowed on any grasses — or the plough 

 itself. 



The seed of the orchard grass, from its 

 absence of general cultivation, is not found in 

 abundant quantity at the seed-stores of our 

 towns and cities, and the price may be dear 

 compared with timothy, and the clovers ; yet 

 not so dear as to prevent the farmer from ob- 

 taining it in sufficient quantity for trial, and 

 from a small area of ground, to supply his 

 own wants in seed hereafter. It yields boun- 

 tifully, and when ripe, which is easily known 

 by its assuming a yellowish color, it may be 

 cut and bound in sheaves like oats, or mowed, 

 cured, and threshed out, like timothy. The 

 entire process of its cultivation is as simple as 

 any of our ordinary farm grasses. 



ARNAUTKA TArHEAT. 



A correspondent of the Maine Fapner, who 

 has grown this variety two years from seed 

 obtained from the Agricultural Department at 

 Washington says : — Last season, 1870, 1 raised 

 about a dozen bushels. It is quite a pretty 

 growing variety, short, stiif, bearded and the 

 heads are short, plump and well filled. The 

 heads are of a square shape, and often of a 

 bluish black color, especially before ripening. 

 It was not injured by the midge, and in pro- 

 ductiveness compared well with the leading 

 varieties cultivated. The straw is tough, and 

 the heads tougher. There is no danger of any 

 wasting and falling out in the field, for it is no 

 easy matter to thi-esh it, even with a macliine. 

 Quite a per centage of the yield last year 

 was lost or left in the straw. The threshers 

 said it was impossible to get it all out of the 

 straw. A few weeks since this wheat was sent 

 to the mill to be manufactured into flour, but 

 it was only after considerable urging that the 

 miller would consent to grind it. He said that 

 he had refused to grind several "grists" of it, 

 and had sent it away as the kernels were so 

 hard and flinty it was almost impossible to 

 flour it. However, he put it through, and the 

 result was a A'cry fair article of flour, with a 

 large amount of "middlmgs" and bran. The 

 flour is sweet and eatable, but the per centage 

 of flour was hardly equal that from our best 

 varieties of wheat. So much I can say from 

 experience. I shall not sow it again. Per- 



haps others may have had a different experi- 

 ence. 



TOPICS FOR FARMERS' CLUBS. 

 The following list of subjects for the winter 

 meetings of the Waltham Farmers' Club for 

 1871-2, have been announced, together with time, 

 place, and disputants for each meeting. This gives 

 time for thought and preparation on the part of 

 those appointed to engage in the exercises. The 

 programme may be of interest to the members of 

 farmers' clubs in other localities. 



The results of farming in 1871, and what has 

 been learned that will be beneficial in the future. 



Has the importation of the foreign breeds of 

 cattle, horses and other stock been a benefit to the 

 communitj' ? 



Trades and trade unions ; their influence on the 

 business of the conmiunity. Would a combination 

 of the farming interests be a benefit to their general 

 prosperity ? 



Woodland and forest trees ; their advantages or 

 disadvantages to the farm and community. 



What are the causes that have led to tlie de- 

 crease of the farming population of New England, 

 and to the deterioration of its soil ? 



Farms and farmers; what are the indications 

 of good farming ? 



Swine and poultry; the best breeds of each, and 

 the best method of keeping and feeding, and the 

 profit or loss. 



The roads of Waltham ; the best and most eco- 

 nomical method of making and repairing them 

 throughout the town. 



Fruits and vegetables ; the proper time to gather 

 and the best way of preserving them. 



Milch cows; the feeding and management in 

 regard to health and the production of milk. 



The raising, feeding and trainmg of horses for 

 speed, road and fann work. 



Farming of Waltham ; is it profitable ? if not, 

 how can it be made so ? 



Making Soap. — A great deal of grease 

 may be saved for soap that would not be nice 

 mixed with soap. Put all your grease in a 

 large kettle, (scraps, marrow-bones and any- 

 thing else from which grease may be extracted) 

 cover it with lye, and let it boil an hour or 

 two, then put a quart, more or less, of course 

 salt, which will separate the grease from the 

 rest and rise to the top ; let it boil half an 

 hour, then fill it up with cold water, and let it 

 stand till cold. Take all the grease otF the 

 top, throwing away the bottom, which will 

 contain a great deal of sediment. Then put 

 the grease and lye together, and boil, and 

 you will not fail of having good soap, if the 

 lye is good. A trough is much better than a 

 barrel to keep it in, as the hoops are liable to 

 burst. — Farmei-'s Wife, in Maine Farmer. 



— The Gardener's Monthly says liquid manure 

 made from rotten wood is a capital fertilizer for 

 violets. Once, he thought, as shady places were 

 the natural places where violets grew, that rotten 

 wood would be a good thing in the soil, and so 

 made the experiment. 



