No. 9. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



131 



Etiugyle for nn existence nmoiig tlicm. Il wne plough- 

 ed abont tlie beginning of the ei.xth monih ; and fresh 

 manure thrown in emnll heaps. Over these, the earth 

 was drawn with the hoe two or three inehes deep, and 

 pump]vin seeds planted. Jiist before the vines began 

 to run, the ground was ploughed again, turning the 

 urrows towards them. and the weeds around the hills cut 

 up ; but no harrow was introduced. The prospect of 

 the crop is very promising. We are satisfied, how- 

 ever, that the vigor of the plonts is chiefly to be as- 

 cribed to the fresh manure. The culture has been 

 grossly deficient. Further reflection on the subject 

 has convinced us, that if instead of throwing the ma- 

 nure into heaps, it had been laid in rows, and then 

 intimately mi.xed with the soil, by the harrow, the 

 plough, and the drag-roller frequently applied in suc- 

 ccsaion, breaking and grinding the clods which now 

 remain on it to a fine tilth, — the crop would have been 

 much greater. 



In preparing the ground for root crops, we are per- 

 suaded that such would be the proper course. In this 

 kind of culture more especially, farmers generally err 

 by not pulverizing the soil sulTiciently. In preparing 

 a strip for Swedith turnips this season we had it har- 

 rowed sixteen times in immediate succession ; and 

 from hard ground it was reduced to a beautifid tilth. 

 We operated however, to a great disadvantage for want 

 of a drag-roller which would have crushed the clods 

 and ground them to dust. 



Where clods of various size constitute three- fourths 

 of the soil, what proportion, do you suppose, is occu- 

 cupied by the roots of the crops ? These pass be- 

 tween the lumps but cannot enter eflectivcly into such 

 as are large ond harden in the sun ; and we are in- 

 clined to suspect that one-third of the same soil in 

 depth, completely pulverized would yield more nour- 

 ishment to the plants. This opinion will appear more 

 reasonable when we consider that the absorbent power 

 of a soil depends greatly on ils Jlncncss ; and that the 

 interior parts of a clod absorb but little, if any, mois- 

 ture from the atmosphere, or even from a shower of 

 rain. 



In regard to the application of fresh manure, we 

 know that in many cases the practice is very injudi- 

 cious. A forkful of straw and dung, trodden firmly 

 together like pressed hay, is often thrown down on the 

 field ; and having been tossed a rod or iv.'o during the 

 operation of spreading, there it lies. The plough 

 comes along and covers it about half up, the other 

 part remaining like a monumeiat above the surface of 

 the field. The few plants that grow near it may draw 

 some nourishment from its sides ; but it is a dung- 

 hcnp of itself, with the raukness and fermentation of 

 other dimg-heaps only in a less degree. Perhaps an- 

 other lump may be slightly covered by the plough; and 

 if on this thin soil, a beet or a stalk of corn is set to 

 grow, can we expect it to flourish in dry weather ? 



Well-rotted manure ia more easily mixed with the 

 sTil ; and this we believe is its only advantage over 

 what we obtain from the barn-yard in spring. The 

 apothecary rubs doicii a roll of sulphur in preparing 

 ointment ; and the farmer, by means of the harrow 

 and drag-roller may rub down fresh manure and soil 

 into an amalgam. In this way we may get its whole 

 strength without injuring any plants that such sub- 

 stances ever stimulate or nourish. 



We do not expect however, that farmers will subject 

 large fallows to such perfect cidture ; but we will 

 mention a fact for their encouragement. One of 

 whom w^e have some knowledge, and who has become 

 independently rich by cultivating the earth, — has been 

 known to harrow his fields four or five times when 

 others would have been satisfied with a small part of 

 the labor. " Why do you barrow your ground so 

 much ?" was the question of a iicighboJ. ",lt is my 



fancy," wos the laconic reply, but his crops might 

 have served for an answer. 



The giound where our beets grew, though not so 

 thoroughly prepared as wc would recommend, is ge- 

 nerally in fine condition. Where the manure was well 

 broken, its traces aie most visible by the superior mel- 

 lowness and moisture of the soil. t 



The Kose-FIoweriiis Locust. 



The Rosc-floweiing Locust (fioW/iia hi^pida) grows 

 well in many parts of the Genesee country ; but it is 

 equally true that in many other parts ot the same dis- 

 trict, it will not flourish. So far os our observations 

 have reached, heavy loams are unfavorable. To ob- 

 viate this difliculty, we made a new soil of sand and 

 vegetable earth ; but were not able to suit it ; and the 

 last season we devised another plan. As the common 

 locust (Ruliitiid pseudiicacia) grows freely wherever it 

 is planted, the idea occurred that the Rose-flowering 

 might be contented to stand on the stems of the for- 

 mer, and thus avoid defiling itself with our soil. Ac- 

 cordingly wo set a number of grafts, two are growing, 

 apparently healthy, and flowers have already been pro- 

 duced. On inquiry however, we learn that others 

 have been beforehand in trying the experiment, but 

 make very difil-rent reports ; one representing thatthe 

 grafts soon decliite ; and another speaking of them in 

 favorable terms. 



What information can our correspondents ofTord us. 

 on this subject ? t 



PIonshiMg in Wheat. 



We lately noticed the s\iperior benefits of this me- 

 thod of putting in wheat ; ond would again recom- 

 mend it, especially to those who have lands consider- 

 able worn. The dejtth at which the seed is buried, is 

 more regular ; and gives the young i»lants a strong 

 hold on the soil. The unctenncss of the surface is 

 onother item of great importance. Some farmers roll 

 their wheat in the fall ; ond we have done so to much 

 disadvantage, — for the blades had no protection from 

 the sweeping winds, and they suffered greatly. Other 

 farmers who plough in their wheat, then harrow it ; 

 hut we decidedly condemn the practice. Let the 

 ground remain as rough as the plough leaves it. 



For ploughing in wheat, os the furrow should be 

 narrow, a one-horse plough answers very well ; and 

 if two horses draw it, their speed moy be brisk. By 

 ploughing lands only eight or nine I'eEt wide, we have 

 many dead turrows which serve as drains for the sur- 

 face water ; and by crowding well together the earth 

 from the two middle furrows of each land, it may be rais 

 ed considerably aUove the general level. In a climate so 

 wet as ours, every such inequality is an advantage. 



In our native land, and in years that have long pas- 

 sed away, to plough in wheat was the general custom. 

 Then came the method of harrowing in. It could be 

 done more expeditiously, and many who did not take 

 time to reflect that often haste makes waste, odopted 

 it. It was a crab-like advancement in agriculture. 

 But if any of our readers are unwilling to try a whole 

 field by ploughing in, let them try a part. If one-half 

 is too much, try a quarter. Try a few lands — try one 

 land — but try it. And having arrived at this deter- 

 mination, do it — not to the halves — but thoroughly. 

 Make the experiment fairly, and in a farmer-like man- 

 ner. t 



Cleaning Clover Seed. 



Messrs. Editors — In your paper for this month, 1 

 read an inquiry from a Canadian correspondent, (S.) 

 as to the method of cleaning clover seed. — Now, to 

 pen on accurate description of a clover machine would 

 require too much room, as well as a much abler pen 

 than mine. Nevertheless, I will use my best efforts 

 for the benefit of your readers, it being a request 

 from you to your coircnpTudcnts generally. 



The Jirsl process is separating the heads from, the 

 straw. — This is done by thrashing it with a flail, in 

 the usual manner of thrashing grain, which can be 

 done with comparative little lobor, in cold winter wea- 

 ther. 



The second process is separating the seed from the 

 hnll or chajf'. — The machine necessary for this ))ur- 

 pose, is similar to a small sized thrashing machine, 

 except that the cylinder ond concave are covered with 

 heavy sheet iron, which is punched with a round and 

 sharp punch, so as not to cut the piece out where it 

 goes through; but leave the edges sharp and ragged 

 on the under side. This is nailed on to the cylinder 

 with the rough side outwards, and the concave, simi- 

 larly punched, is noiled on with the rough side inwards. 

 These are set so close together, that o few ot the long- 

 est teeth (as they are called) will touch until it has 

 iieen used for a while. 



The heads or chaff", as it is often called, are fed into 

 the machine through n hopper, which extends the 

 whole length of the cylinder, and is secured over the 

 cylinder,6o that not more thon one-third of the width or 

 diameter of the cylinder is visible through the mouth 

 of the hopper, which is formed with the ends perpen- 

 dicular, and the sides spreading not more than half as 

 much as the hopper of a common fannmg mill. 



The manner of driving this machine, as well as the 

 size of it, must depend on the power by which it is to 

 be driven. 



The third process is cleaning the seed when so separ ■ 

 ated. — Any ordinary fanning mill will answer thii 

 purpose. First, close the side doors which regulalu 

 the current of air; then toke out all sieves but the 

 coarse chaff" and the wheat sieves; then put a thin 

 board in the place of the sloping or chess sieve, so a' 

 to prevent the seed from going into the chess box, anit 

 also remember to put the wheat sieve into the low 

 est sliding place, so as to break the fall of the seed on 

 the sloping board; then turn rather slowly and ft''- 

 slowly. 



It will be found on examination, a that part of 1 

 chaff", (that part lying next the mill,) has yet some 

 seed in it; this must go through the machine again, 

 and we have sometimes to put a portion through a 

 third time. 



When this is occomplished, the seed will be separa- 

 ted from the choff, dirt, &c.; but in order to make i'- 

 fit for sowing, or for market, it must be cleaned simi 

 lor to Timoihy, Turnip, or other small seeds. For tliiu 

 purpose it is necessory to have, instead of the wheat 

 sieve, one finer than the sloping or chess sieve thd 

 material for which can be procured ot any of the hard 

 ware stores — and the wheot sieve must be substituted 

 for the coarse or chaffing sieve. 



I have briefly stated the method/used in this neigh 

 borhood: and ollhough but imperfectly described, 't 

 can, I think, be comprehended by any man of ordi" 

 ry mechanical powers. Yours, &c.f 



Yates CO. August, 1840. W. N. II. 



Remarks. — We thank W, N. H. for his comnumi- 

 cation, ond, os the sub|ect is very important to most 

 of our readers, we should be glad if he, or some other 

 competent person, would give us a little further jirac- 

 tical information respecting growing and cleaning clo- 

 ver seed. As to the kind of soil ; time and frequency 

 of sowing ; time of cutting ; whether the first or sec 

 ond crop is best ; itsiial amount of feed obtained from 

 an acre, &c. Also, whether the thrashing connot be 

 done by a common thrashing machine instead of the 

 flail ; what is the cost of a clover machine with and 

 without a horse power ? Can the clover machine be 

 easily adapted to the different kinds of horse powers, 

 used for thrashing wheat,'Snd what amount of power is 

 required ! — Edi, 



