1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
323 
crop may be cureii partly for hay and partly for 
6eed. That is to .say, if properly cured, it may be 
worth thrashing for seed, and the clover-seed straw 
will be valuable for fodder. In this case, the better 
way is to make the crop into good-sized cocks, and 
let it cure with us little exposure to rain as possi- 
ble. In other words, cure it as you would hay. 
But where the crop is grown simply for seed, (he 
more it is exposed to rain the easier it will thrash 
and hull. Let it be thoroughly dry when drawn in, 
and if possible put it in the barn. It is one of the 
very worst of crops to put in a stack. Unless it is 
thatched, it is almost impossible to so make the 
stack that it will shed water. 
Cutting up Corn. — We usually take five rows. 
Commence on the center row, and cut two hills, 
and stand it up against the third hill, which is left 
uncut to form a support for the stook. Twenty- 
five hills are placed in a stook. Slake it as upright 
and compact as possible. Bind firmly with two 
bands. Where corn is to be husked with a machine, 
it ia much the better plan to bind the corn into 
sheaves or bundles of a convenient size to pitch 
and haudle. Corn may be cut as soon as it is 
glazed, or wheu there is no appearance of milk in 
the kernel. It is better to cut a little too early, 
than to run much risk of having the fodder injured 
by frost. We need hardly say that frost does not 
hurt the stalks after the corn is cut, but an early 
frost while the corn is standing and full of sap 
greatly lessens the value of the fodder. 
Cultivating Corn-Stubble. — As soon as the corn is 
cut, it is an excellent plan to cultivate the land 
between the stooks with a good two-horse culti- 
vator. We have practiced it with advantage. 
Digging Potatoes. — We would dig potatoes as soon 
as they are ripe. October and November are busy 
months, aud it is very desirable to do as much 
work as possible while the weather is favorable and 
the days long. Cart the potato-vines into the 
barn-yard. They make excellent manure. 
Thrashing. — See Hints for last montn. 
Grain in the Granary should be watched, and if 
there is indication of its heating turn it at once. 
Hats and Mice should be looked after. Keep two 
or three good cats about the barns. 
Fatting Pigs. — Pork is low, but so also is corn. 
At this season, seven bushels of corn should pro- 
duce 100 lbs. of pork, or if the pigs are running in 
a good clover pasture, three or four bushels of corn 
fed in addition to the clover should give a gain of 
100 lbs. in live-weight. It is a great mistake not to 
give fattening pigs nearly or quite all the corn they 
will eat at this season while running in pasture. 
Sheep. — Those intended to be fattened next win- 
ter should be separated from the rest of the flock, 
and be allowed a good pasture. It does not pay to 
try to fatten poor sheep in winter. Esves intended 
to raise early lambs for the butcher should have 
extra feed for a few weeks before turning the ram 
into the flock. If you have neglected to mark 
your sheep, neglect it no longer. Wethers may be 
marked on the rump, and ewes on the sides, or in 
any other way most convenient for distinguishing 
them. And those you intend to sell should be 
marked in such a way that they can be easily sepa- 
rated when a purchaser wishes to cxamiue them. 
Horses. — If grass is abundant, let the horses run 
out, but if regularly worked they should be allowed 
grain aud hay in addition. It costs 60 much to 
keep horses, that the rule should be to keep only 
such as are capable of doing a good day's work. 
Feed liberally, work steadily, aud groom thoroughly. 
3Iilch Cows. — Bran and corn-meal are compara- 
tively cheap. A good cow 6hould have all the food 
6he can eat, digest, and turn into milk, and if she 
gains in flesh at this season it will not hurt her. 
Young Stock should have the best of care and 
feed. Nothing is more unwise than to 6tarve a 
young, growing animal. 
Weeds. — The destruction of weeds is always in 
order. Let none go to seed in fence-corners, in 
pastures, or on the sides of the road, or around 
stone heaps or other waste places. 
Pasturing Young Clover. — If the growth is very 
large, it will not hurt young clover to pasture it 
moderately. But if it can be spared, it is best not 
to turn anything into it. 
Plaster. — If you have leisure, it is. a good plan 
to sow plaster on the clover. It will do full as 
much good sown now as iu the spring. 
Buckwheat. — See article on harvesting this crop 
in the August number of the Agriculturist. Our 
own plan is to cut it with a reaper. Wood's 
Reaper, by taking off the reel, will do the work, 
but a Johnston Reaper will cut buckwheat better 
than it can be done with a cradle, and lay it off in 
bundles of any desired size. If ripe enough to 
shell, cut wheu the dew is on. 
Work ia the Horticultural Departments. 
Now that the warm summer weather is over, the 
gardener may prosecute his planting and harvest- 
ing with renewed vigor. There are many varieties 
of vegetable and flower seeds which do best when 
planted iu the fall. The annual fairs of the agri- 
cultural and horticultural societies are sources of 
great pleasure aud profit to the gardener. The 
numerous books aud papers relating to horticul- 
ture are now so cheap that any one of moderate 
means can supply himself with an ample stock of 
reading for the wiutcr and during the long evenings 
of late fall aud early spring. The evenings can be 
profitably employed also in writing out an account 
of the operations of the year. This no intelligent 
man will fail to do, however unnecessary it may 
seem at first. In the extended account of several 
years its advantage becomes apparent, and by 
means of it he will be able to profit by the various 
successes or failures which have attended him. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
Harvesting aud marketing will be the principal 
work to attend to in this department. Care must 
be used in picking to keep the fruit free from 
bruises. Always pick the fruit carefully by hand, 
and never shake it off, as is too often done. The 
assorting is also a matter of a good deal of import- 
ance, as the money returns depend upon the quality 
of the fruit. Make at least two qualities, and on 
no account mix the good and bad. The increased 
price of the first quality will more than pay for 
the trouble of assorting. 
Dried Apples. — Many windfalls, and fruit unfit to 
ship, and too good to put with the cider-apples, 
may be dried and put away for use during the 
spring, when there is little fruit to be had. 
Budding.— Stocks which were budded last month 
will need to have the ties cut now. See article on 
budding on page 343. 
Nursery Stock. — If any nursery stock is needed, 
order early, so that no delay will occur wheu the 
ground is ready for planting. Should the trees 
come before the ground is ready, heel them in to 
keep the roots from drying. 
Seeds should be secured now. Peach aud other 
stone fruits are to be mixed with earth and buried 
in the open ground ; in the spring many will be 
found to have commenced growing. 
Fruit Garden. 
Where the winters are not very severe, fall plant- 
ing is desirable, as it gives the plants ample time 
to become established, so that they can commence 
their growth early iu the 6pring. In localities 
where the winter sets iu early, planting had better 
be deferred uutil spring. 
Blackberries.— As soon as the canes have done 
fruiting, cut them away, and dig up all suckers 
which appear between the rows. Tie up the new 
growth to stakes five feet high, and cut back the 
side shoots to eighteen inches. Three or four 
canes are enough to a stool. 
Raspberries. — The old fruiting canes must be 
treated the same as recommended for blackberries. 
Blackcaps. — To propagate these, beud dowu the 
tips of the canes, and throw a little earth over 
them to keep the wind from moving them. AVhen 
treated thus they soon take root, and in spring may 
be severed from the old plants and set out in rows 
in rich soil. In tying up the new growth, a wire 
stretched tightly along the rows, and securely 
i tened at each end to posts three feet high, is 
much more durable than wooden stakes. 
Stramb ■rriis. — Fill up the vacancies in the old 
beds from plants rooted in pots, or from well-rooted 
runners, and set out new beds where wanted. Be- 
fore planting, dip the roots in thin mud. 
Grapes. — The grape crop will be ready for har- 
vesting this month, or at least a part of it, aud care 
must be taken not to break or injure the bunches 
iu any way 7 . Use scissors in gathering, aud do not 
handle the fruit much, as it injures the bloom. 
Grapes intended for home use are the best when 
allowed to remain on the vines until fully ripe. 
Gooseberries ecjidCurrants.— Make cuttings as soon 
as the wood is thoroughly ripe, aud either set them 
in nursery rows or tic them in small bunches, aud 
bury them in earth in a cold-frame or in the cellar. 
Kitchen Garden. 
As fast as a crop matures it should be harvested, 
and the ground plowed aud manured, and other 
quick-growing or winter crops planted. 
Beans.— Gather string-beans from the later plant- 
ings, aud salt them for winter use. Dry plenty of 
Limas and other pole sorts ; they form a pleasing 
variety in the winter bill of fare. 
Cabbages and Cauliflowers.- — Sow seeds of these at 
the North about the middle of the month for the 
spring crops, iu order to get good strong plants 
before the ground freezes. These plants are after- 
wards set out in cold-frames, and kept as nearly 
dormant as possible until it is time to set them out 
in the spring. The seed-beds should be well pre- 
pared before the seed is sown, and the plants after- 
wards thinned aud weeded as in spring. 
Corn. — Dry a supply for winter, using that which 
is just fit for the table. Boil it long enough to set 
the milk, and afterwards cut it from the cob. 
Cucumbers for pickles ought to be gathered every 
other day, those of small size being preferable, at 
least so far as appearance goes. While gathering, 
take care not to injure the vines by trampling. 
Celery grown in flat culture should be kept well 
cultivated. 
Melons. — Pick off all fruit which will not ripen, 
and use for mangoes. A thin piece of board placed 
under the fruit will insure even ripening. 
Marlynias. — There are comparatively few per- 
sons who have eaten good pickles unless they have 
tasted of martynias. They should be pickled be- 
fore the skin becomes hard, and placed iu a brine 
the same as cucumbers ; they are afterwards put 
into sugared vinegar, and flavored with cloves, all- 
spice, etc., according to taste. 
Onions. — When the tops have fallen, it is time to 
harvest them. Do not store in large heaps, but 
spread thinly in a dry, airy place. 
Radishes. — Sow Chinese Rose-colored Winter 
Radish for winter use this mouth. 
SJiallots. — Plant iu rows one foot apart; allow six 
inches between the bulbs. Keep clear of weeds as 
long as the ground can be worked. A slight cov- 
ering of hay is beneficial. 
Spinach may be sown for wintering over; sow in 
15-inch drills, and if too thick the rows may be 
thinned and the thinniugs used. 
Sweet-Potato Vines must be lifted occasionally to 
prevent their rooting. Keep down all weeds be- 
tween the rows. 
Squashes. — The early summer sorts which have 
done bearing should be pulled up, and not be 
allowed to remain a breeding nest for insects. 
Allow the vines of the winter sorts to root freely 
at the joints, and do not disturb them after they 
cover the ground, as they are often injured if han- 
dled roughly. 
Tomatoes.— If there is a surplus of ripe fruit, it 
