AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



1(19 



cm, the iiitrodm-lion of vnliiablo improvenieiils. 

 e of ihoso who sowed the above seed, bnd never 

 npted growing ruio bngns before; nnd this failure 

 Jiscournged tlieni so thnt ihcy will not try again 

 Iles|>ectfiilly yours, 



EilASTUS SKINNER. 

 I'.MmUsbnrgli, N. I'., June 18, 1811. 



emarks — Several inslnncea of disappointment, 

 lar to the above, have come under our observation, 

 lin ten yenispasl; and wo have taken some pains 

 scertain their cause, ulihough wo have not always 

 ;eeded to our own satisfaction. The dill'erent 

 es of the genua Brussicu, including the whole 

 boge and Turnip family, not only mix icitk aicli 

 ry readily, but are very liable to degenerate 

 11 want of care in raising the seed, or other unfa- 

 ible circuinstunccB. In reference to the case nicn- 

 ed by our correspondent, we do not think the 

 stard was the cause of the evil, although we do 

 say it might not have been. Mustard ( HinapsisJ 

 oneidered by the bottyiists, adifl'erenl genus from 

 ruta baga; but it ia of the same natural family, and 

 ■8 such evident marks of relationship that it is more 

 n probable they will mix, when in bloa-iom togeth- 

 But if this had been the cause of the difficulty, 

 plants would not all have run up to seed nnifunn- 

 We therefore conclude that the true cause was 

 oihor one alluded to — namely, degentracy. It is 

 ;; ted that the seed was raised from small roots — per- 

 )s from a crop that was not worth harvesting, and 

 refore left in the ground over winter, and allowed 

 seed — and it ia not certain that the process of 

 ;eneration had not been in operation several years, 

 all events, it is well known that the greatest care 

 necessary in raising all kinds of turnip seeds, as 

 11 as thai it be raised under favorable circiirastan- 

 nd as more care is usually bestowed on this bu- 

 in England, together with a more favorable 

 mate, it is generally found that imported seed pro- 

 ces better roots than that raised in this country. 



le Weather--tlie Croiss--iIarvest Prospects. 



The longest and most severe season ot drought ever 

 ;own before harvest in this section of country, has 

 en experienced this season, and we believe the 

 me may be said of most parts of the United States 

 d Canada For about six weeks, scarcely enough 

 in fell in this vicinity to moisten the surface of th( 

 rth, or to encourage the hearts of its cultivators 

 let one week ago, however, there commenced a suc- 

 •Bsion of the most fruitl'ul showeis that can be im 

 ;ined ; and all nature now rejoices under their reviv 

 ,g influence. About 10 days since, we passed over 

 part of this and several of the adjoining counties. 

 id it was truly mclaneholy to witness the sufTeiing 

 •ops, and to hear the mournful complaints of the 

 irmers. And truly many crops have suffered, past 

 ;covery. Grass, of course, is very light. Oats and 

 arley the same. Corn that was planted early, and 

 n raiher moist soil, looks well, but tome pieces are 

 ntire failures. Wheat is generally light, and must 

 ill simewhat short of an average crop, although 

 re think it will be belter than many have r^resented. 

 'otatoes came up slowly, and are very backward, but 

 here ia still time for them to recover. Beet and car- 

 ol seeds, sown early, have rnosily done well, but 

 hose sown later have generally failed, as is always the 

 lasein dry weather. 



The latest accounts from other pans of the country, 

 orm a cheering contrast with those received twolweeks 

 igo. 



"The New York Express states, on the authority of 

 personal observation during an extensive tour, in the 

 most productive parts of New Jersey and Pennsylva- 

 rvia, that the appearance of the Gelds of wheat, rye and 

 onis, pr.-iniisG3 an nbundaiu harvest." 



The Richmond ^^'irgi^ia) Slar says — A great 

 deal of wheat has been cut, and we rejoice lo under- 



I, is of a very pioinisiug character. Indeed the 

 havvest prouiii:! e well The probnbilily is, that flour, 

 the great staple will bo very low during the coming 



— and that is no slight comfort to poor people. " 



The Albany Morning Atlas says: — I ho crops 

 throughout the country, generally, are represented a" 

 promising. Though in some pans v. e notice there 

 may be a falling off, yet the average will be n good 



The Fort Wayne (Indianal Sentinel siys: — "The 

 season here has been lemarkably backward, but crops 

 are now coming on fiuely. Wheat never liid more 

 fair for an abundant harvest. Oala and grass are 

 equally promising. Corn ia moie backward, owing 

 to the wet and cold weather about planting time. 

 Some did not come up well, but we have hail line 

 weather for several days, and it has grown astonish- 

 ingly." 



Whkat Prospects. — Wc have the most flattering 

 accounts from all portions of our countiy, of the 

 prospect of a plentiful harvest. An unusual quantity 

 of wheat was sown last fall, and ils appearance now 

 indicaies a great yield. — Huron ( Ohio J Adv. 



The PainesviUe (Ohio) Telegraph, of n late date, 

 says; — 



"Farmers may now obtain seventy-five cents cash, 

 for wheat, in our elreele. For Oats, 25 cents; pota- 

 toes, IC cents. 



These advanced and advancing prices, and sales for 

 cash, are encouraging to our farmers, and inspire all 

 with fresh hopes of better times. The prospect now 

 is, that notwithstanding former fears, the present will 

 be a eeas.jn of great abundance," 



Ti!E Crops.— The Germantown (Pa.) Telegraph 

 says: — "Our farmers have begun in earnest iheiriiay. 

 making, though much of the grass apjiears, from the 

 backwardness of the spring, to be yet growing. The 

 crop generally, is as good as in any ordinary season ; 

 and should the weather enable it to be housed without 

 injury, the supply of this staple production, which it 

 really ia here, will be equal to the demand of the cus- 

 tomary prices." 



TheaccounlB from the western portion of Maryland 

 are decidedly favorable to the growing crops. In 

 Frederick they had refreshing rains last week. The 

 last Uniontown (Pa. J Democrat had a paragraph com- 

 plaining of the drought, but ils complaint was cut 

 short by copious rains which commenced falling on 

 Monday. 



The Savannah Republican has intelligence from 

 the interior of Georgia, that the promise of the com- 

 ing corn crop, now conaidered as half secure — is good, 

 the wheat in Upson county, where the harvest is com- 

 mencing, very good, the colton crop, rather poorly 

 for the present. 



The (New Ilaven, Con.) Farmers Gazette, of June 

 2.5, says : — 



"If fine weathei, and an abundance of it, tan have 

 a beneficial effect on the crops, ihere is reason to be- 

 lieve that our tanners will this year have no cause of 

 complaint. The frequent and copious showers of the 

 past week have had a most happy effect on the vege- 

 tation ol this neighborhood, and dissipated tb.e frars of 

 ihosewho have been disposed to distrust the goodness 

 of Him who has prumisrcd that the eanh shall yield 

 food sufHcienl for man and beast. We are told that 

 in conseiiuenee of the rain of one day last 'week, the 

 price of laiy was reduced two dollars. Except in 

 some upland meadows where the drought was partic- 

 ularly severe, it is supposed that the crop of hay in 

 this vicinity will be as heavy as an average ol several 

 years past." 



anxiety; and should the diought continue, even a lit- 

 tle longer, it may alfo seriously afleei our root cuUure 

 In this htaie of things, I consider it an act of prudence 

 10 look about ns, and seo what remedial measures, if 

 any, we can resort to. 



In the course of my experience I have known occa- 

 sionally just such a state of things. I have known 

 not only just such, but much more pressing necetsi- 

 ties to exist; and the best remedial course I have ever 

 pursued, has been lo sow a crop of corn, broadcast, aa 

 soon as the deficiency of the hay crop had becom* 

 certain. 



A Kinall amount of good ground thus cultivated, 

 will produce a very great amount of excellent fodder. 

 1 have sown from one acre to six acres. The product 

 will be prodijiious — several tons per acre. 



My practice has been to fow two and a half bupheli 

 good seed corn per acre on the fuirows bdnre harrow- 

 ing; then 10 drag it thoroughly the same way it wai 

 ploughed. The seed will fall mostly into the funows, 

 and being well dwigged will thus be deep enough lo 

 have strength of rootsulTicient to sustain a tall iialk. 

 i have tried different quantities cf teed. The results 

 from the quantity named above, 1 have foui.d most 

 satisfactory. Wilh this (;uanlity the ttalks will eland 

 so thick as to glow up tall and slender. Catlle will 

 consume them entirely. 



One, by no means unimportant item in the value of 

 this crop is, theie will ordinarily be found quite a 

 quantity of small ears of corn — much of it ripe — a 

 full sufliciency for slock which has been accustomed 

 10 a moderate feeding of grain during the winter 

 season. 



To harvest the crop, the sickle ia used moat advan- 

 tageously. When cut, the Ftalks should be bound in 

 small bundles, and be set np to cure in small stouts; 

 and whin stacked for winter, let it be stacked ns at the 

 South, around a stack pole, only the length of a theaf 

 from the pole. In thi.s ease the btitta, or bottom end 

 of the stalk, will all be exposed lo the air, and the pro- 

 cess of curing will be gradual and sale. It nuisi be 

 remembered that it is an exceedingly succulent stalk, 

 and is cut green, and will need cnreand lime lo safely 

 cure it. I have lost o large quantity by heating, after 

 I considered it cured, by pulling it into a large stack, 

 60 as to exclude the air. 



Another benefit of this crop ia, if sown about this 

 lime, it can be followed by wheal in the fall. It can 

 be cut and taken from the ground in good season lo 

 sow wheal. I have had turf ground turned over, 

 sowed with corn, and found it in a more satisfactory 



condition for wheal, than when summer fallowed 



The groun<I has been kept damp and moist by the 

 shade of the corn, and the lurf has been tufiiciently 

 decomposed. A single ploughing after the corn is cut 

 oft", is all that is needed lor sowing. — Foehrslcr Paiiy 

 DcmocTct. A FARMER. 



Sowing Coin for Fodder. 



The scverily of the drought at the present lime, 

 threatens to diminish greatly the crop of mowing grass 

 the present season. Red clover is now putting forth 

 its full bloom, while the stalk is not more than ten or 

 twelve inches high, instead of twenty-four inches, 

 which it ought to be The fox tail, or timothy as it is 

 generally termed, is now shooting out ils head, while 

 the stalk, on dry soils, is scarcely a fool high, when 

 in favorable seasons it would be two and a hall feet. 

 There is great reason, I think, lo apprehend that the 

 crop of mowing grass will be diminished one half. — 

 The season is so lar advanced, that moderate rains, 

 even now, could not, 1 think, retrieve the crop. 



To the fanner who has a large stock lo sustain 

 through another winter season, and whose calculations 

 Cor a competent supply of food for them, are hasitd on 

 the certainty of a good, fair, nveiage crop of mowing 

 grate, the piosejit prospect, I think, must cause miidi 



The following remarks, by professor Dewey, were 

 suggested by an article on this subject in our last. 

 Killims Kats. 



T.henard has proposed sulphuretted hydrogen. The 

 question is, how can it be apidied ? Use a tubulated 

 retort, cgntaining all the materials except the snlphu- 

 ricacid. When the neck of the retort has been sur- 

 rounded with mortar in the rat's hole, the sulphuric 

 acid is to be turned in through the lubulure, and tbs 

 etopple immediately inserted. The gas will then pass 

 into the hole, and to the lower parts, as its speciiio 

 gravity is a little greater than that ofo^ygen gas, and 

 about one fifih heavier than atmosphoric air. Whilo 

 the gas ia very fatal to animals it is not so to man, at 

 least to near the same extent. Cheniistsofien breathe 

 considerable of it. Probably no danger would result 

 from using a common relort, the neck of which should 

 be mortared in the hole expeditiously. It ia more 

 probable that a worse evil would reoult frcm the death 

 of numbers cf rats in an inaccessible place. The ex- 

 istence of the sulphuretted hydrogen will be known 

 by its flffcnsirc odours, which is that of putrifying 

 fggs. If the rats cannot escape, they will doubtlees 

 be poisoned. If they can escape by means of their 

 various paFsages under ground, they will flee w;ith all 

 rapidity from so noisome and fetid an inlruder as this 

 gas. This effect is aa readily produced by the healing 

 of a drum in the cellar, without ary exposure to a 

 substance 90 offensive, and at a much cheaper rile. 



C. D 



