m^-' 



1864. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



m 



supply, or can easily obtain it in their neighbor- ] 

 hood. But at the same time it will be best to only 

 plant what is known to be good, and never plant 

 any poor or inferior kinds, because "the seed don't 

 cost anything." 



Every garden, of course, has, or should have, a 

 good asparagus bed, and plenty of pie plant. If 

 these are not already provided, good directions for 

 their culture can be found in back numbers of Co. 

 Gent. 



I have only referred to the more common and 

 staple crop> for the farmer's garden. There are 

 many other kinds that can be, and more or less of 

 which will be grown, as may suit the taste or con- 

 venience of the farmer; but, as they w:ll only be 

 such things as he is more or less aequuinte with, 

 no special directions will be needed. "-With the 

 ground well prepared, and planting and hoeing 

 well and seasonably done, of course, whatever is 

 tried will be well grown. 



As to garden fruits, in view of the great am- 

 mount of valuable information in regard to their 

 culture contained in the Co. Gknt., it would seem 

 to be superfluous to do more than to urge farmers 

 to pay more attention to them. But there are yet 

 80 many that entirely neglect most kinds of these 

 fruits, particularly berries, that I cannot close 

 without urging every farmer that has not these or 

 some other kinds — to set a good bed of Wilson's 

 Albany|seedling strawberry, and also one of Doolit- 

 tle's black cap raspberr}'. These are so produc- 

 tive, hard}', and easily grown, that I can hardly 

 imagine how can any one fail of being well satisfied 

 for his trouble, or see why they may not lead to 

 the cultivation of many other kinds and varieties 

 of garden fruits, and eventually lead to raising a 

 good supply of many of the best kinds. 



But long before planting will be entirely out of 

 the way, another important operation will have to 

 come into play, that is hoeing the garden. This 

 will be attended to in the next and concluding 

 number. F. 



Western New York, 1864. 



From the American Agriculturist. 

 Early Beets and Carrots. 



The earlier these can be had, the more accept- 

 able they are, and with a little pains they may be 

 brought on much earlier than usual. The soil for 

 both should be light, warm, deep, and rich with 

 manuring the previous season. The best early 

 variety of beet is the Bassano, or, as called by 

 some, the Extra Early Turnip Beet. This, though 

 not large, is quick growing and very good. Soak 

 the seed in warm water for 24 hours ; pour off the 

 water and keep the seed covered in a warm place 

 until the sprouts begin to show themselves, then 

 roll the seed in plaster and sow. — In treating the 

 seed in this way, do not let the sprouts get too long, 

 as there is danger of breaking them, but sow as 

 soon aa they begin to show themselves as little 

 tender points breaking through the shell of the 

 seed. Sow in drils, 12 or 15 inches apart, and 

 when the plants are 2 or 3 inches high, thin to 8 

 or 10 inches in the row. As the beet seed is really 

 a sort of cup, or capsale, containing two or more 

 seeds, it often happens that two or three plants 

 vill come up so dose together as to appear like 



one. — These crowded plants should be looked to 

 and only one left. If there are any deficiencies ia 

 the rows, they can be filled by carefully taking 

 plants from the crowded places and transplanting 

 them. Hoe often and weed thoroughly. 



The Early Horn Carrot is the best early. Soak- 

 ing the seeds in tepid warm water for two days 

 will hasten their geimination. A Friend inform* 

 us that he gets carrots up in three or four days by 

 keeping the moistened seed in a warm place for 

 five days and then drying off" in ashes or plaster. 

 We have not tried this plan. An ounce of seed 

 will sow 150 feet of drill. Sow in 15 inch drills, 

 cover half an inch, and thin to four inches. As 

 the plants are very small when they first show 

 themselves, it is a good plan to sow a few redish 

 or turnip seeds with those of the carrot seed, in 

 order to distinguish the rows readily at the first 

 weeding. > 



[i?rom the Canada Farmer.] 



Estimating the Weight of Cattle by 

 Measurement. 



Many eipci-iments have been made by graziers 

 and salesmen to ascertain the net weight of cattle 

 by measure?nent, and a number of rules and tables 

 h;ive been formed from the results obtained. None,, 

 however, can be regarded as absolutely correct. 

 With the most accurate measuring is required a 

 practical acquaintance with the points and forma 

 of animals, and allowance must be made according 

 to age, size, breed, mode and length of time of fat- 

 tening, etc. ; conditions which require a practical 

 eye and lengthened experience to correctly appre- 

 ciate. We have found the following method to 

 lead generally to trustworthy results : 



Measure carefully with a tape line from the top 

 of the shoulder to where the tail is attached to the 

 back ; this will give the length. For the girth, 

 measure immediately behind the shoulder and fore 

 legs. Multiply half the girth by itself in feet, and 

 the product will give the net weight in stones of 8 

 Sis. each. For example with an ox or cow 5 feet 

 in length and 1 feet in girth, the calculation will 

 be as follows : 



Multiply half the girth by itself in feet 3.6 



,-;--; tJ, 



12.26 

 Multiply by the length in feet 6 



Weight in stones 61.26 



■ «•• 



[From the Detroit Free Press.] 



The Wheat Crop in Michigan^ 



The warm rains for the last several days hare 

 materially improved the wheat prospects in this 

 State; and yet we do not consider that the chances 

 of over two-thirds of a crop are by any means great. 

 All the conditions of the season will have to b« 

 favorable to produce a full two- thirds crop. The 

 favorable weather thus far in this month hat 

 undoubtedly had a strong tendency to give many 

 of these " stools" that were seemingly dead such » 

 start that they may produce a good article of wheat. 

 It was thought in the fore part of March that ttw 

 "winter killing" would result in the growth and 



