352 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



Aug. 



early vegetables may again be occupied by 

 some otber late crops, as turnips, cabbage, 

 spinage, &c. 



Asi'AKA(;us. — If not already done, give a 

 dressing of some suitable fertilizer and care- 

 fully work it in ; keep clean of weeds ; gather, 

 clean, and sow the seed in well pre{)ared beds, 

 if desirable, and new beds are needed. 



Beans. — Save some of the earliest and best 

 for seed, gather them as they rii)en, dry in 

 the attic where vermin will not disturb, &c. 

 Gather for the table, &c., as they are ready. 

 Bush varieties may be sown to furnish a 

 winter supply of snaps, &c. 



Be1';t.s. — Gather first from the thickest parts 

 of the bed, so the rest may have space. Keep 

 the ground clean of weeds, water and culti- 

 vate. One or two of the earliest may be 

 marked for seed. 



Blac KUEinuES. — Gather as fast as they 

 ripen fidly. Can, or dry any surplus. 



CAiuiACE, Cauliflower, and Brocoli, 

 should be hoed frequently to keep them grow- 

 ing. 



Celi:ky. — No plant delights more in mois- 

 ture than this, and if the trenches are in well 

 drained soil, it is well to water freely every 

 other day. Stir the ground often, and do not 

 begin to earth up too soon. Rapid growth is 

 essential to goodness, hence applications of 

 fertilizers in a liquid state, or worked in the 

 soil about the roots, is often advisable. 



CoHX. — iMark and save for seed a few of 

 the earhest and finest ears ; gather and use 

 others as fast as they come to suitable condi- 

 tion. In some sections a worm attacks the 

 ears, eating downward from the silk to the 

 kernels, spoiling the ear. Kill them. 



Cucumbers. — If it is desirable to keep 

 them longest in bearing, pick them close, al- 

 lowing none to seed. Gather and pickle, or 

 lay down in salt. Save a few of the earliest 

 and finest specimens for ripening for seed. 



E<Jt; 1'laxts. — The growth and ripening 

 of the fruit will be accelerated by placing a 

 board paii>tcd white on the north side of the 

 plants. Hoe well, hilling slightly. 



Grapes. — Guard zealously against insect 

 enemies, and mildew. Tie the leaders to the 

 trellis. The side shoots from bearing branches 

 that have been shortened in will need pinch- 

 ing. I'inching and summer pruning must be 

 governed by circumstances. 



Ili:i:iiS. — CJather as they come into blossom ; 

 drv in the shade, or in-doors. 



Melons. — Thinning to only a few speci- 

 mens to a vine, acts as favorably as for fruits 

 of any kind, in growing nicer specimens of su- 

 perior ([uality and flavor. 



Onions. — As soon as they ripen, gather for 

 use or market ; but where they are to be kept 

 any length of time, they should be exposed to 

 the sun till properly cured. Seed may be 

 sown for "pips," for early use next season. 



Teas. — Those done bearing should have the 

 vines pulled and fed to the pigs, stock, or be 



cured and stored for winter fodder ; if not 

 mildewed they are woU eaten b}' some stock. 



Potatoes. — Harvest the early crop and re- 

 plant the ground to some other crop, as above. 

 Remove to the compost heap, or burn, all the 

 tops. 



Seeds. — See to it that all the earliest and 

 best kinds are saved as they mature. Label 

 each one distinctly, variety and year, before 

 ])utting away in a dark, dry place, secure from 

 all vermin, or other annoyance. 



Spinach. — Sow seed at intervals for fall 

 use ; cultivate well, and keep clean. 



Squash. — Look out for and remove eggs of 

 the squash bug — Coreiis trisiis — from the 

 leaves, and destroy all insects infesting the 

 vines. Save early specimens for seed. 



Tomatoes — Continue to trim and train, as 

 begun ; hand pick and destroy the worms — 

 larvffi of the Sphinx quinqvemaculaius — they 

 are harmless, altliough ugly looking. 



Weeds. — The careful gardener gives no 

 quarter to weeds ; saves time and expense by 

 cutting them down as soon as they put in an 

 appearance. If the seed of any is found, the 

 safest course is to burn them, others will add 

 to the compost heap and aid in the production 

 of other more useful plants. 



W. H. White, 



South Windsor, Coim., 1S71. 



Mink Breeding, — A correspondent of the 

 Maine Farmer furnishes an interesting notice of 

 Bacon Brothers' mink breeding establislmient in 

 Charleston, Me., near East Corinth. They have 

 eighteen full grown minks — two males and sixteen 

 females. The inclosure, including a portion of a 

 brook, is of cedar posts and sheet ii-on and wire 

 gratings, which is constructed on a ledge of solid 

 rock. It is found that the minks, which are caught 

 in box traps, are easily tamed, gregarious in their 

 habits, preferring to lie down in groups and huddle 

 together. They are aquatic in their habits, and 

 very expert divers and swimmers. Their food is 

 principally meat and fish. They are sleek, fine 

 looking animals, quite playful, and seem to enjoy 

 domestication. Tlie writer was shown one of the 

 feminine gender exercising her maternal instincts 

 in nursing her three little ones, then two weeks old. 

 They bring forth from three to six to a litter, and 

 breed once a year. The Messrs. Bacon having 

 gained considerable valuable experience as regards 

 their management, are quite sanguine of success. 

 As prime skins are worth six dollars to eight, they 

 hope to make it a paying business. 



Making Clover Hay. — Cut it early ; before the 

 heads are turned bro\\Ti. Cut it Mhen it is dry. 

 After it is cut, wilt it as rapidly as possible, by 

 turning it, or throwing it up with the tedder. The 

 leaves will not fall off in this process. Tlien cock 

 and cap it, and let it remain thirty or forty hours. 

 Open to the sun and air a little and get it in. 



