47 



under similar circumstances, and sowed the Oats 

 about the 10th day of the following April. Now to 

 the result. The Oats sown in February produced a 

 heavier crop, greater weight of grain and straw, and 

 was ready for the scythe upwards of two weeks ear- 

 lier than the April crop ; thus affording not only an 

 \ increased yield, but an opportunity of getting the | 

 I crop in market early and obtaining the highest 

 price. Clover and other grass seeds may be sown 

 in February at the same time of seeding the Oats. 



In preparing land for Oats or any other Spring 

 crop it should be plowed in the Autumn ; for rea- 

 sons that every observing farmer understands. I 

 am strongly in favor of the propriety of surface- 

 manuring. To gain the utmost by the practice the 

 manure should be spread after plowing, and tho- 

 1 roughly incorporated by repeated cross-harrowings. 

 j With those who are opposed to the practice and 

 j prefer to plow the manure under in the Autumn. 1 

 ! will compromise by proposing that the land be cross- 

 I plowed and subsoiled the following spring ; after 

 ! which, "harrow the land 'till it is harrowed enough, 

 j then harrow once more." ^ 

 j The subsoil plow should be run sufficiently deep 

 ; to elevate the manure appHed in the Autumn. If 

 I the substratum is rich, and the upper stratum im- 

 I poverished, the subsoil plow may be run as deep as 

 j possible. Again, on the contrary, if merely pulver- 

 I izing the substratum is the object, it will be neces- 

 ; sary to remove the elevated slide. By the free use 

 1 of the subsoil plow and cultivator, drought (under 

 ordinary circumstances) need not be feared. 



As ground plowed in the Autumn is seldom or 

 ever harrowed, the Oats may be sown without that 

 preparation, and with fair success. 



EVERGREEN TREES, SHRUBBERY, &c. 



BY WALTER ELDER. 



Wherever we travel in winter, we are delighted 

 at the sight of evergreen trees, shrubbery and 

 hedges ; they are a magificent gift of an all gracious 

 providence to furnish us with beauty and shelter 

 during the coldest and dullest season of the year; 

 and where many of the various species are growing 

 upon the same grounds, additional beauty is impart- 

 ed to the scene, by their diversified shades of ver- 

 dure and various sizes and forms ; the green lawn 

 may be deeply buried in the snow, and the flowery 

 drift may be lodged in the emerald boughs of the 

 trees, and even then, they have a rich and dignified 

 look, and much more so after the snows disappear 

 and the plants resume their original forms. Hedges 

 are the frame work of the picture ; and their glossy, 

 verdant foliage is the best gild and varnish to give 



grace to the various species within ; there they 

 stand, harmoniously combining to beautify the 

 grounds ; although some of them are originally each 

 others antipodes : how dark would the Yews and 

 Tree-hox look alone ; and how faint and pale would 

 Cedrus deodara and the Irish Juniper appear by 

 themselves, but when arranged among the Plnes^ 

 Piceas^ Firs, Arborvifws, Biotas, &c. what a diver- 

 sified show they make, and the many choice varities 

 with variegated foliage among them ; make a most 

 beautiful winter garden. 



Nature has made evergreen trees and shrubbery, to 

 spring up spontaneously from the ground in nearly 

 all latitudes and localities over the earth, yet there 

 are spots in all climes whose soil lack the ingredients 

 to feed them. How very grateful would the people 

 be who inhabit the ^ens of England, Bogs of 

 Ireland, Moors of Scotland, Prairies of America, 

 the great Deserts throughout the world, if they 

 could have belts and groups of evergreen trees to 

 break the force of the perpetual winds which are 

 extremely disagreeable as well as very destructive 

 at times. How blest are we, with evergreen trees 

 and shrubs clothing our mountains, embelishing 

 our plains, and decorating our deep dells through 

 which flow silvery streams of water. How beautiful 

 they look, especially in winter while the deciduous 

 ornaments of summer stand leafless, as desolated 

 wastes. But beauty is not the only virtue of ever- 

 greens, they give an admirable shelter and protec- 

 tion during the inclemency of winter weather. 



Many of the failures of our fruiting trees and or- 

 namental flowering plants would not occur if the cold 

 sides of the ground were thickly set with evergreen 

 trees to screen them from sudden cold gusts. Those 

 who have the means, and fail to give such shelter 

 to their grounds; surely do not appreciate the 

 blessings so generously spread out before them. 



[Our excellent correspondent might have added, 

 how stupid are those who, in States and places 

 where evergreens could almost be had for the 

 planting, neglect the precious boon, and freeze and 

 blow away their Hves in utter ignorance of the 

 warmth and comfort of an Evergreen sheltered 

 place. The bare and desolate looking winter home- 

 steads of Pennsylvanians are the surprise of every 

 Western farmer. — Ed.J 



