220 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
to future crops, and require much more labor to 
eradicate thum, when they are thus multiplied. 
Fences — Arrange fields so as to need as few 
fences as possible, and keep these in good repair. 
Allow no hedge rows to line their sides, and extir- 
pate all weeds which are ripening seeds along their 
coarse, especially in the corners. Let road and line 
fences especially, be kept up to prevent incursions 
from the stock of neighbors. Much vexatious liti- 
gation might be thus prevented. 
Glean all fields of grain with the horse rake. 
Enough may be gathered after the most careful 
harvesting, to amply repay for the labor. The re- 
sulting grain should be immediately threshed out 
to be fed to stock, as it will usually be too much 
filled with foul stuff for making good quality flour. 
Hay not yet secured, is worth something for bed- 
ding, if not for feeding. Gather all possible from 
swales and other waste grounds. Salt marsh hay 
should be stacked where it will not be carried away 
by high tides, or better, where practicable, stored 
near the barn, to be used during Winter. 
Horses are better kept in the stable away from 
the flies and hot sunshine during the present month, 
except at night, when they will enjoy a run in the 
pasture. Provide fly nets for teams in use, and fre- 
quently wash them with a decoction of walnut 
leaves to repel insects. 
Manures. — Continue to collect from every availa- 
ble source. Provide an abundant supply of swamp 
muck for use in the stables and sheds next Winter. 
If there is no swamp in the neighborhood, the set- 
tlings at the bottom of ponds now dry, or sunken 
spots at the foot of hills, will furnish excellent ma- 
terial for composting with stable manure. The 
carcases of all animals dying upon the farm should 
be covered with a foot or more of muck or 
earth, which will absorb the gases from their 
decay, and furnish valuable fertilizing materials. 
Meadows newly mown are much benefitted by 
top-dressing with fine manure. Remove all bushes, 
rocks, and other obstructions to the mower. Do 
not allow stock to graze upon them until the grass 
is well started. 
Millet or Hungarian Grass, should be cut for cur- 
ing before the seed has ripened. Experience has 
shown that the seed is not safe food for stock. 
Oats. — Cut before ripe enough to shell, or just as 
the grain has passed out of the milk. When har- 
vested at this stage, the straw, if properly cured, is 
valuable for winter feeding. 
Pastures, when eaten very closely and burnt by 
the sun, will be much benefitted by top-dressing 
with well-rotted manure. A mulching of straw 
would be better than nothing. Occasionally scat- 
ter cattle droppings with a maul. Cut all weeds 
before they ripen seed. Sow salt about the roots 
of thistles to attract the sheep and other stock 
to destroy the young shoots. 
Potatoes. —Unless signs of decay appear, it is con- 
sidered best to allow them to remain in the ground 
after ripening, rather than dig them early, if they 
are to be stored. Those largely engaged in their 
culture will be interested in the description of the 
newly invented digger on page 233. Set out late 
cabbages, or sow white turnips where early crops 
are harvested. Collect tops for the compost heaps, 
but burn weeds of any kind that have seeds near- 
ly or fully ripened. 
I\>nltry. — Allow them the range of grain fields 
after the crops are harvested. Confine them in the 
houses until noon, that they may deposit their eggs 
on the premises. Commence to fatten early, as 
they will be prepared for market more easily than 
in cold weather, and prices will be better than later 
in the season. 
Boot Crops. — Keep well hoed, and thin out where 
the plants are crowded. A top-dressing of super- 
phosphate hoed in, will be beneficial on poor land. 
Rye. — Harvest any remaining. Glean the fields 
with the horse rake, and thresh out for grinding 
for stock. Select the best for seed : thresh as 
early as practicable, and store by itself. 
Sheep are worth especial care in the present time 
of high prices. Many will be disappointed in the 
hopes of great profits trom want of skill or man- 
agement. Separate all rams from the ewes, and 
give the lambs rich pasture by themselves or with 
the yearlings. Keep a few older wethers with them 
as leaders. Examine the bags of ewes a few days 
after removing the lambs, and milk them occasion- 
ally if the bags be caked. Salt freely, and apply 
tar to their noses to repel the fly. 
Swine relish green food, which keeps up their 
appetites, and improves their condition Un- 
threshed pea vines are excellent for this purpose. 
Green clover is also relished. Weeds and refuse 
from the garden will be worked over by them into 
valuable manure. Commence to feed with grain 
early ; it will show itself in the increase of pork 
more rapidly than later in the season when the 
weather is colder. Early made pork also usually 
commands the best price. 
Timber. — Cut any needed for building, fencing, 
etc., peel off the bark, and put uuder shelter if 
not wanted for immediate use. 
Timothy may be sown this month with prospect 
of a good crop next year. If to be put in with 
winter grain, next month is a better time. 
Turnips. — Sow strap-leaf or flat varieties among 
corn, where early potatoes have been harvested, 
or on other vacant ground. Kepel the fly from the 
young growth by sprinkling with soot or ashes. 
Winter Grain. — Plow early and harrow thorough- 
ly several time6 if sod ground is devoted to this 
crop. It usually succeeds best after oats, fallow, 
or some early hoed crop. Sow late this month 
or early in September. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
We hear very differing reports concerning the 
orchards. In many places where there was an 
abundant show of blossoms there is a great lack of 
fruit, while in other localities there is a promise of 
a very fair crop. From all that we can hear we in- 
fer that there will be a moderate supply at best, 
and in view of the great demand there will be for 
all kinds of dried and preserved fruit, unusual care 
should be taken to prepare all that cannot be dis- 
posed of in the fresh state. Early apples and pears, 
as well as peaches, will need to be gathered this 
mouth. In gathering, precautions should be taken 
not to injure the fruit or the tree. We have not 
seen many trees this year disposed to overbear. 
Thinning may yet be done where it is necessary. 
Borers. — The eggs of these hatch at this season, 
and the young borer will soon make his way into 
the wood. Use lye or soft soap upon the trunks. 
Budding. — This operation should continue as di- 
rected last month. The stocks should be worked 
only when the bark peels or "runs" freely, and 
well-formed buds selected for use. Use the greatest 
care in keeping the varieties properly labelled. 
Evergreens. — Though May is the preferable month 
for removing evergreens, it may be done from the 
middle of August to the middle of September,' if 
care be taken to move the trees with a good ball of 
earth. Choose a damp time for the operation. If 
the 6oil is dry, water well and put an abundant 
mulch around the roots. Large stones placed over 
the roots are better than stakes, to protect the tree 
from being disturbed by heavy winds. 
Layers may be made from the wood of this sea- 
son's growth as soon as it is sufficiently mature. 
Seed Beds. — The young seedling fruit stocks and 
tree seedlings generally, especially those of ever- 
greens, are apt to suffer this month unless they are 
watered and partially sheltered from the hot sun. 
Brush may be stuck about the bed to afford a par- 
tial shade. Screens made of lath or thin slats are 
often used. Keep the seed beds free from weeds, 
and stir the soil to promote early maturing. 
Water. — In August the trees which were trans- 
planted in the Spring may suffer from the effects 
of drouth. A thorough watering and subsequent 
mulch will usually restore and save a drooping tree. 
Weeds. — These must be kept down not only be- 
tween the rows, but among the trees in the row6. 
The cultivator or plow should be run through the 
rows frequently, and the soil near the trees worked 
with the hand hoc. 
Kitchen Garden. 
It is a good thing to have a garden. It is^a 
pleasure to see the things grow, and to wateh the 
maturing of vegetables planted by one's own hands. 
Then what a variety of delicious healthful food is 
now being daily furnished; fresh too— not carried 
a long distance to market and then allowed to 
wilt and lose its sweetness by long exposure 
on the huckster's stand — but only a step from the 
garden to the kitchen. We repeat it is a good 
thing to have a garden. In a garden of any con- 
siderablesize, there is always a surplus which should 
be dried, salted, or bottled, as the case may be, for 
winter use. The heavy work is over and but little 
remains to do, but to keep the crops growing and 
the weeds from thriving, to clear off early crops 
and put iu a few late ones. 
Asparagus. — The dense growth of tops will help 
to keep the weeds in tolerable subjection. Large 
weeds i^ll need hand-pulling. If seeds are desired, 
they may be collected as soon as they ripen, and 
sown at once, or preserved till Spring. 
Beans. — Some of the early bush varieties may be 
planted for a crop of late string beans, or for pickles. 
String beans may be preserved for winter use by 
preparing them as if for cooking and packingthem 
in ajar or keg with alternate layers of salt. Some 
persons scald them before putting them down. 
Beets. — Thin those sown last mouth. In pulling 
the early sorts for use, take from where they are 
thickest. This vegetable is much better when 
growu rapidly, and it will pay to water small beds 
iu dry weather, and give liquid manure. 
Cabbages and Caidijlowers. — The early sorts are 
now ready for use. Keep all well hoed ; theirgrowth 
will be more rapid, with a consequent increase of 
tenderness. Set out the remaining plants for the 
latest crop. 
Carrots. — Where young carrots are preferred to 
full grown ones, seed can he sown now. 
Celery. — Earth up that set out early, as soon as 
sufficiently large. Prepare trenches as directed in 
July and transplant the late crop. Shorten the 
roots of the plants and remove the large straggling 
leaves before setting. If the weather be hot, shade 
for a few days with brush laid over the trenches, 
or with boards, and keep well watered. Some 
cultivators prefer to grow their celery upon the 
surface and leave the bleachiug until it is taken up 
for the winter. We have never tried this method. 
Corn. — Forward that planted last month by tho- 
rough hoeing and stimulate with a little hen man- 
nure if backward. The early sorts will now give 
a supply. Leave the earliest and best for seed. 
Cucumbers. — For pickles gather when of a size to 
suit the fancy; most persons prefer them quite 
small. Preserve a sufficient number of vines to 
produce seed and remove all fruit from them, ex- 
cept that intended to ripen. 
Egg Plants.— Hoe thoroughly and hill slightly, 
and forward by all possible means. If the fruit 
touches the ground, there is danger of its rotting ; 
place a shingle or a handful of straw under it. 
Kerbs.— Gather and dry as soon as they flower. 
Hoe and Bake.— The constant use of these tools 
is required to keep the garden neat, and it will, by 
loosening the surface, promote the growth of the 
plants. We have before recommended the bayonet 
hoe ; it will pay to get one even at this late day ; for 
working among cabbages, lettuce, etc., there is 
nothing like it, and for small gardens hardly any 
other hoe is needed. 
