1863. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



i«r 



nipulated at all after planting. Last year we saw 

 eereral fields that yielded fair crops with the no 

 culture system, but the owners were not satisfied 

 with the result. It was necessity that compelled 

 to the treatment. He invariably raises the most, 

 who cultivates the best, and we have yet to see the 

 farmer that thought he had expended too much 

 culture upon his corn crop. 



Most of our farmers have raised sorghum, suffi- 

 cient to understand the feeble nature of the young 

 blades — ^how they have taken them for grasses 

 when they made their first appearance above the 

 ground. No one doubts that, if at any time, this 

 crop needs care it is during the first six weeks af- 

 ter the seed germinates. This, like corn, must 

 have all the culture that •ircamstances will permit 

 till it becomes too large to work without injury to 

 the stalks. Potatoes are known to be better if the 

 soil about them be frequently stirred till the blos- 

 soms appear. Carrots, mangolds, and all root 

 crops must be treated in ther earlier days, or their 

 planting is useless. — Prairie Farmer. 



Frem the Valley Farmer. 



Hay Making. 



There is something beautiful in the operation of 

 making hay when the weather suits. This is so 

 Timothy, with all kinds of grass, especially so with 

 clover. Cut it when in blossom, when stem and 

 head are tender, and juicy and fragrant. The 

 scythe — if you are so unmannerly as to cling to 

 the old poetic usage — will "walk" through with 

 the greatest ease, showing what a tender thing 

 you have. It is precious and requires careful 

 handling. Let the sun wilt it ; though it would 

 be better if the sun did not see it at all. His rays 

 are too fierce, and will scorch it and hurt it. Bet- 

 ter if in the old fashioned winrow, than spread 

 with the machine. If mowed with the machine, 

 and there is time, put it in winrows, broad and 

 somewhat thin, so that the air can get in. This 

 will measurably relieve it from the suu. Then, if 

 there is warm, dry air stirring, a few hours will 

 suflaciently wilt the grass to fit it fos the cock. It 

 should always be cut when the dew is off. Then 

 throw it in small cocks, say of half a hundred 

 weight to the cock. Consult your barometer, and 

 if you are sure of your weather, leave your cocks 

 untouched for about three days or nearly that. If 

 rain threatens, clap on your hay caps, or, you are 

 safe in doing it in the start.' They will inter- 

 fere little with the curing process, and will shed 

 rain. Then, if your weather is warm, with a little 

 air in motion, let a hand precede the wagon, and 

 turn over the cocks, loosening up the hay a little. 

 This, with the stir the hay will get in loading and 

 unloading, will be sufficient. And now you have 

 hay that is hay — green, with a slight touch of am- 

 ^' ^^^ ^^^® every head entire not falling into 

 chaff. Every leaflet is there, tenacious of its 

 stalk ; the entire stem as the scythe left it, is there 

 ■--phable, not brittle and dried "to a crisp, with the 

 aeads and leaves missing, or lodged on the barn 

 noor, m the mow-seat, in your neck and bosom, 

 and scattered on the field. But here vou have 

 neads with the hue of the blossom still" there— a 

 Mower "pressed"— that is making hay. In this— 

 pressing your flower"— is the whole secret. Wilt 

 and cure, but not dry. Oure is the onlv word. The 



wet wtather in many parts of the country has 

 brought into requisition hay-caps. We are glad 

 to see it. On the whole, they are a benefit. If 

 the weather should continue wet beyond the time 

 allotted for its cure, in with it the first moment it 

 is dried off on the outside. Your hay is cured ; 

 but there is still some moisture left ; and yos have 

 no means to give this to the air, so sprinkle a lit- 

 tle salt on each load, amount according to mois- 

 ture. Your hay, when fed, comes out about the 

 same ; is as readily taken by the stock. Even 

 should it change a little in the mow, how much 

 better so than a bulk of brittle sticks, with all the 

 sugar and the starch out, and all substance. Such 

 "hay" will starve cattle, and is a pity to look at. 

 There is no poetry in such "hay," neither in the 

 making of it, nor the feeding. There is less labor 

 in making it the right way ; and the wettest season 

 will not spoil it, as in the other case. Such hay — 

 •r grass cured — will fatten your stock. It will 

 have the summer eflTect upon your cattle, upon the 

 bowels. They will eat it with avidity, and bright- 

 en up over it. Roots may be dispensed with in . 

 the presence of such hay. 'Tis thus one may 

 have summer with his «attle. Such a man is be- 

 nevolent, as well as an economical a«d wise man. 

 The sight of such hay shows the prosperity of a 

 man. There is but little in the country as yet, but 

 it is fast increasing. It will soon be the only hay; 

 and then a better era has dawned for the cattle, 

 horses included — and man also. 



When to Cut Wheat, 



Here is something worth the consideration of all 

 wheat raisers ! A club of ten farmers in Penn- 

 sylvania (Chester county) made experiments in 

 cutting wheat. Their conclusion was that the best 

 time to cut wheat was " when the grain can 

 be pressed between the thumb and finger, and 

 leave nothing but the husk and a thick pulp, with- 

 out any fluid around its edges." If cut earlier, 

 there will be loss ; if later, there is less weight to 

 the bushel. A few days before or after makes lit- 

 tle or no difference. 



Hoed Crops and Weeds. 



For any hoed crops, a clean soil is a greater ad- 

 vantage than most people are aware. 



If old strawberry beds run out, do not replant 

 the same ground, but select a spot moderately rich 

 and as free from weeds as possible. 



So with all root crops. Manure which is gener- 

 ally required in hoed crops, makes weeds, as every 

 farmer and gardner must know. 



The best soil for roots, strawberries, corn, garden, 

 or the like, is a good natural soil, or ground made 

 rich years before. A rich soil thoroughly cultivat- 

 ed is often just the thing. 



Weeds are a pest, as every one knows. A clean, 

 mellow soil, is a delight to work in, especially if 

 rich and productive. 



Every cut of the hoe is so much labor (whieh 



is money) expended. Use cheaper means to kill 

 weeds. 



