194 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
frequent cultivation, especially if there be danger 
from drought. The plow will do no damage to the 
roots before the tops of corn, potatoes, tobacco, etc., 
would be injured by the passage of the whiffletree. 
Manure. — The hog pen6 and compost heaps should 
receive every thing that will decay. The fermenta- 
tion in compost heaps may need quickening by a 
few pailfuls of manure liquor. In hot weather 
manure makes very fast, and dead animals and all 
6ueh things rapidly form an excellent compost with 
muck, sods, etc. Use plaster to prevent the loss of 
ammonia, sprinkling it over manure while it is in 
active fermentation, and upon stable floors, etc. 
See articles on pages 202 and 203. 
Oats, like other spring grain, are apt to ripen un- 
evenly. If allowed to stand too long, the straw is 
not 60 good for fodder, and the grain shells badly ; if 
cut too early, the straw will be much better but the 
grain will not be so plump, and it c-ften is hard to 
thresh; good judgment therefore is needed. The 
oat should be cut just when passing out of the 
"milk" To save the labor of threshing, it is often 
worth while to cut and cure this grain like hay, 
and eed it out in the same way. In this case it is 
cut about as soon as the grain in the more forward 
hc:uls may be rubbed out iu the hands. The only 
objection to this plan is that it is more exposed to 
'.he attacks of rats and mice. 
Pdsluires. — Be very careful about over-stocking. 
If possible make frequent changes from one pas- 
ture to another. Top-dressings of gypsum, or 
ashes and bone dust, quickly show their effect iu the 
increased feed. Sowing bone dust upon old pas- 
tures is regularly and profitably practised in many 
parts of New England, particularly in dairy regions. 
Potatoes for immediate marketing may be dug as 
soon as ripe, or when the tops die. If not required 
to be marketed at once it is best to leave them in 
the ground till fall. Do not hoe after blossomiug. 
Poultry. — Let all kinds of poultry find their way 
to the grain fields after the grain is housed, but not 
before. If kept 6hut up, give grass or greens daily. 
Sheep .vary close shorn sometimes have their 
backs scalded by the hot sun, aud flies will cause 
much annoyance to such sores, as also to wounds ; 
sew on patches of greased cotton cloth. Sheep suffer 
from the attacks of the CEstrusOvis, a gadfly, which 
causes "grub in the head," and is an intolerable 
annoyance to the sheep. They are repelled by 
smearing tar on the sheep'6 nose6, and it is a great 
comfort to the sheep to have a fresh plowed furrow 
here and there into which they thrust their noses 
wheu the gadfly is about. Salt weekly aud visit 
frequently through the season. 
Soiling Crops. — Sow millet, corn, or sorghum fol- 
iate soiling. The millet will mature seed. Hun- 
garian grass will make a good crop of hay sowed 
before the middle of the month. 
Swine may have the range of the orchards, where 
they will pick up the wormy fruit aud destroy the 
insects. They will glean the scattered grain in 
the fields, aud thrive upon it. Grain fed to hogs 
during the summer tells very well when fattening 
begins in earnest, in their increased size and good 
condition. Feed hogs confined in pens some green 
fodder daily. Give them charcoal dust to chew 
or mix it with the feed, and supply water to drink. 
It improves their condition very much. 
Tanner's Bark. — Oak and hemlock trees will peel 
dining most of this month. 
Tools. — Examine the entire stock in rainy weather, 
and if possible anticipate breakage by strengthening 
weak spots and joints aud keeping every thing well 
oiled, nuts tight, bearings clean, cutting tools 
sharp, aud duplicates of parts likely to break. 
Turnips are excellent to fill up all vacant places. 
A few seeds may be scattered here and there, where- 
ever any thing else has failed. The main crop may 
be sowed after the 20th. 200 pounds of super- 
phosphate or bone dust to the acre will almost al- 
ways insure a good crop. Dust the plants with gyp- 
sum if they are troubled with insects. See page 200. 
Weeds. — Watch against their going to 6eed. 
Smother those which cutting and plowing will not 
kill by spreading a coating of litter over them. 
Wlteat.—C\xt when passing out of the milk. The 
"Heading Harvesters" are especially to be recom- 
mended where labor is scarce as it is this season. 
There is some loss of grain, but little in comparison 
with the saving of labor in handling greatimasses of 
straw, where straw has so little value as at the west. 
Orchard and rVairsery. 
Notwithstanding the severity of the winter, and 
the cold blasts about blossoming time in spring, 
there is in many localities a prospect of a fair if 
not abuudaut crop. We have seen some orchards 
with more fruit set than the trees ought to bear, 
and it will, especially pears, need severe thinning. 
It is too much the custom to allow trees to bear at 
will, when the fruit would be improved in quality 
and quantity, if one half or more were removed. 
A barrel of large, wall formed fruit will bring 
double the price of one filled with half shaped, 
gnarled specimens. We repeat the advice to thin 
freely, and it will be found that low headed trees 
will increase the facility with which this is done. 
Budding. — Plums may be worked as soon as the 
bark can be lifted, and good well formed buds can 
be had. In this as in all other propagation of 
plants, avoid all danger of mistakes in labeling. 
The budding of other fruits may follow in succes- 
sion as soon as stock and buds are ready. 
Cherries. — The softer varieties will need to be 
picked and marketed at once. Use a step ladder 
aud let the limbs be drawn carefully toward the 
picker by means of a hooked stick. Allow no climb- 
ing of the trees with rough boots to bruise the bark. 
Orafts. — Continue to watch them and replace the 
wax, if necessary. Remove all shoots that start 
on the stock below the graft. 
Bisects. — Late broods of the tent caterpillar may 
still be found iu the trees. When within reach they 
maybe removed by the hand. Those high upon 
the trees will need a brush orswab — kill them some- 
how. The disgusting, slimy, greenish slug which 
appears on pear trees may be treated to a dusting 
of lime or ashes, shaken from a bag of coarse mus- 
lin. Encourage insect eating birds, and do not 
shoot any without first ascertaining if they are 
friends or enemies: Birds will frequently take the 
earliest ripened cherries, but it will be found that 
these are prematurely colored because there is a 
worm within. Kerosene or coal oil lamps or lant- 
erns, set in pans of water and kept burning through 
the night, will attract and drown numbers of moths 
which would otherwise lay their eggs on the trees. 
Layering. — The growth of the present 6eason of 
many ornauieutal shrubs may be layered, and will 
form well rooted plants to be separated and re- 
moved iu autumn or the following spring. 
Manure. — It is not too late to help trees to carry 
a large crop by spreading coarse stable manure 
around them a's far as the roots extend. 
Mulch. — Coarse manure used as directed above 
will answer as a mulch for established trees, but 
those planted this season will do better if mulched 
with some non-stimulating material. In the ab- 
sence of all other mulching, a layer of small stones 
might be used with advantage to retain moisture. 
Pinching. — This method of summer priming may 
now be practised. Shoots which tend to run up 
unduly, may be shortened, and the growth thrown 
into lateral branches. Indeed the whole future 
shape of the young tree is now completely at the 
control of the cultivator, who by shorteuing a 
branch here, and rubbiug oup out altogether there, 
can form the head of the tree to suit his taste. 
Priming. — This is the most favorable mouth for 
the operation. Read the suggestions on page 207. 
Seedlings. — These, whether of fruit or ornamental 
trees need to be shielded from the hot 6iin by means 
of a lattice work of lath, or by a shelter of boughs. 
Leafy boughs stuck all over the seed bed will give 
a rough shading, if no better can bo provided. 
Seeds. — Begiu to collect all as they mature. Some 
shrubs ripen and drop their seeds soon after flower- 
ing. Cherry pits should not be allowed to get dry, 
but be preserved in boxes of sand or sandy earth. 
Weeds. — These will now appear in abundance iu 
the nursery, and will require the use of the horse- 
hoe, cultivator, or hand-hoe. In destroying weeds 
it is satisfactory to know that the labor not only 
kills these robbers of the soil, but at the same time 
leaves the ground iu that loose condition which is 
most favorable to the growth of the plants. 
Kitchen Garden. 
The crops here are mainly well established, and 
the success of the season's operations will in good 
part depend upon care during midsummer. The 
free use of the hoe will both loosen the soil and 
keep down weeds. Much ground from which early 
peas, spinach and other crops have been removed, 
may now be rendered available by planting early 
this month. See note on a "Succession of Vege- 
tables," on page 207. 
Asparagus. — Cutting was of course over long ago. 
Nothing now is to be done but clean the bed of 
weeds and let the tops grow to strengthen the roots 
for another season, and they will do this all the 
better if they now have a dressing of manure. If 
the asparagus beetle appears, cut off the branches 
containing the eggs and grubs, and burn them. 
This may weaken the plants somewhat, but the in- 
jury from the insects would be much greater. 
Beans. — Plant Refugee, or other good sort, for late 
use or for salting. Select some of the earliest of 
those already growing for seed. Give Limas a 
frequent hoeing, help them to climb the poles or 
trellis, pinch off the stem at the height of 5 or>6 
feet. Some favorable results are reported from 
growing Limas without poles, letting them lie on 
the ground. Will those who try it give the results ? 
Beets.— Hoe, thin, and keep the ground loose be- 
tween the rows. A late crop may be raised if seed 
is sown early this month. Soak the seed. 
Cabbages and Cauliflowers. — Complete the trans- 
planting of the late sorts, taking pains to "grout" 
the roots if the soil is dry. See p. 17S, last month. 
Use the hoe freely and give liquid manure, unless 
in a dry time. Clear off the ground occupied by the 
early crop, and prepare and use it for late vegetables. 
Celery. — Set out in trencbe6 as directed last 
month. Give water if plants suffer from drouth. 
Carrots. — Keep the space between the rows clean 
until the tops render it difficult to work them. 
Corn. — Plant a crop of the quickly maturing vari- 
eties to prolong the season until frost. Be sure and 
have a good quantity drj r for winter use. 
Cucumbers. — Hoe those planted early, until the 
growth of the viue6 prevents it. Put iu seed the 
first of the month for a late crop for pickling. 
Egg Plants should be hurried up as fast as possi- 
ble by giving frequent hoeings, and if the weather 
is not dry, an occasional stimulant of liquid manure. 
Endive. — Sow as directed last month on page 178. 
Herbs. — All the aromatic herbs should be cut just 
as they come into flower. Tie them in small bun- 
dles or spread them to dry iu the shade. 
lAituce. — Sow for succession where it will be par- 
tially shaded, as the hot weather causes it to run 
to seed very soon. Silesian is good for late. 
Manure. — The liquid manure tank should now be 
in operation and its conteuts applied to stimulate 
lagging plants. Do not use it during a dry time. 
Melons. — Hoe as long as the size of the vines will 
permit. Pinch the ends of the vigorous stems to 
induce side branches to form and hasten maturity. 
Onions. — Keep the bed well hoed and weeded, and 
thin the plants if they are likely to be too crowded. 
Peas. — Sow for succession, putting the seed deep. 
Clear off vines and brush as soon as the picking is 
over, aud prepare the ground for some late crop 
Pick those for seed as soon as the pods become dry. 
Potatoes. — Dig for use and market, and prepare 
for late cabbages, turnips or spinach. 
Rhubarb. — Do not allow the reots to become ex- 
