1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
275 
Tobacco needs constant atteution, worming, and 
suckering, to throw the whole growth into the 
leaves until they are ripe. This may be known 
by a certain turgid and swollen look which the 
surface assumes, quite distinct from that of the 
growing leaf. The plants must then be cut at the 
ground, in the heat of the forenoon, turned repeat- 
edly and with great care not to break the leaves, 
aud, when wilted enough to handle easily without 
breaking, hung in airy sheds, or buildings made for 
the purpose. We believe the best mode of hanging 
to be that des ribed in the Agriculturist for March, 
1864, (p. 76,) as practiced by Mr. Joseph Reader, of 
Bordentowu, N. J. The plants are hung upon long 
cords by taking half hitches about the buts, The 
cords are drawn up as fast as the plants are put on, 
and fastened at the top of the building, as close as 
they can hang, and a moderate circulation of air, 
above, below, and through the plauts, given. 
Turnips. — Sow early in the month, and up to the 
10th or loth below latitude 40°, putting them in 
wherever there is ground not otherwise occupied. 
A sprinkling of bone-dust or superphosphate of lime, 
with wood-ashes, will tell finely upon the crop. 
Buckwheed may be sowed on ground not liable to 
early frost, as late as the first of the month, per- 
haps, and make a crop — but sowed anytime before 
the 20th, it will make a fine mass of green manure 
to be plowed in as soon as it is touched by 
frosts, or when blossoming freely, if frosts hold off. 
IVheat. — Laud intended for winter wheat will prob- 
ably need once or twice plowing and harrowing, 
aud if a good dressing of fine compost can be ap- 
plied, all the better. Sow at the end of this month 
or first of next. Use the drill. Pat wheat on 
well draiued or naturally dry land. If it does not 
winter-kill, water in the soil will prevent the crop 
being profitable. Wheat needs thorough tillage. 
Oats. — Harvest before fully ripe, and thus secure 
better straw for feediug, and equally good grain. 
Seed Grain. — The selection should be made at 
harvest time, when the best grain is allowed to get 
fully ripe before cutting. If this is not done, select 
at once the best sheaves, have them threshed, and 
cull out the best kernels by repeated winnowings. 
Slacks. — Examine as soon as they have time to 
settle, and re-top, thatch or straighten them up, if 
necessary, using braces set against upright planks. 
Grass arid Clover. — If the object in bringing any 
field under the plow is to get it in good grass again, 
it is often best to sow the seed by itself as soon as the 
land is in proper condition. Grain detracts from 
the subsequent grass crops. Timothy, orchard 
grass, and blue grass may be sown by themselves 
in August or September. Use an abundance of 
seed, bush it, and roll it in, with a light dressing 
of ashes, guano, or fine compost. Clover may also 
be sown now,but spring sowing is usually preferred. 
Roll clover seed in gypsum, aud sow both together or 
separately, one ton to ten acres is the common rule. 
Water. — Look out for a water supply when springs 
are low, and tile-drains are geuerally dry or dis- 
charging very little water. Take levels, aud see if 
you may not bring water in pipes to the house or 
stock-yard, and dig basins in bhepastures. If wells 
are to be dug, or if digging them lias been sus- 
pended on account of much water, a time ol drought 
is favorable for this work. No farmer should bo 
satisfied nntil he lias good wills or punning water 
close to, or in, bis barn or stock-yards. 
Implements for which there is no more, use this 
season, should be cleaned, painted, the steel parts 
covered with Unseed oil, and [Hit away. 
Brush in Pastures and Wence Hows. -Ctrl close to 
(he ground, and lav lie' tops off to give He' tin a 
fair chance at the roots. II will pay to lit! a fence 
after cutting Off the brush, and tear up the 
ground with a heavy plow, and llien re-sel tie 1 fence 
Should rains occur, or if the ground be moist, and 
the brush start again freely, enclose si p upon i he 
land, stocking bo heavily that theyeal everything 
off close, and give the roots no Chance to breathe. 
Weeds.— Go over gross land, cutting dock-, dan- 
delions, burdocks, thistles, nettles, wild teazles, 
mulleins, with a "spud." Wild carrots and asters 
must be mowed off as soon as they throw up their 
seed stalks, and long before the first blossom. 
Bogs. — Cut the heads or tussocks at the surface 
level, splitting the big ones, and lay them up to dry 
for burning. Much good bedding stuff may be cut 
from bog land this month ; it should all be secured. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
The attention of the fruit grower will now be de- 
mauded by the early ripening products of his or- 
chard. In the southern fruit regions, the harvest 
has already begun, and supplies are rapidly coming 
forward by rail. Peaches, this year, are more abun- 
dant than they have been in years past, and only 
the best prices will be brought by selected 
fruit. Iu gathering the larger fruits for marketing, 
a knowledge of the manner of ripening of the dif- 
ferent varieties is important. As a general rule, 
the fruit should remain upon the tree until it is 
well formed, but not until it softens or mellows. 
It should reach the retailer in sound condition. 
Assorting. — This is a more profitable operation 
than is generally supposed, and the larger the fruit, 
the better does it pay to make at least two qualities 
by selection. Where careful thinning has been done, 
there will be less to go with the second quality. 
Careful handling, at every step, from gathering 
the fruit from the branch, to the final delivery of 
the packages, is essential to its reaching the dis- 
tant market and the customer iu good order. 
Bears are, almost without exception, improved by 
early picking aud ripening in-doors. 
Ladders of various kinds should be in readiness, 
and should be self supporting. We have, during 
the past year, figured several ladders of this land. 
Insects, especially the moths, may be sensibly 
diminished if the fallen fruit be gathered up, and 
fed to the swine. Plant lice are easily killed by 
strong soap, or tobacco water, and some prefer a 
mixture of the two. The great trouble is, that these 
pests come in such numbers, aud are usually on the 
very ends of the twigs, where they seem so inac- 
cessible, that they are generally allowed to have 
their own way. There are now many efficient and 
cheap engines for throwing washes into trees. 
Budding will continue, and may be done where- 
ever the bark of the stock runs freely, and good buds 
can be obtained. The maturity of buds may be 
hastened by pinching off the ends of those shoots 
from which they arc to be taken. The usual order 
is cherry, plum, pear, apple, cherry on dwarf (Ma- 
haleb) stock, peach, aud quince. The stocks budded 
earlier should be looked to, and the tying not 
allowed to become too tight. 
Layer Shrubs, protect seed beds from scorching, 
and gather tree seeds as directed last month. 
Fruit Garden. 
As the fruits ripen in succession, the surplus will 
need to be preserved in some form. Bottling or 
canuing is of course the best plan, but drying is 
better than no method of preserving. Some hints 
on this matter are given in our household pages. 
Blackberries are to be kept low and in a compact 
form, as recommended on page i'.fl. 
I)n;nj Trees. — Pinch in rampant shoots, especial- 
ly on young "fruit trees, and continue to rub out 
those that push where they are not. wanted. Fruit 
may still be thinned, especially of those kinds thai 
grow in clusters, aud are apt to harbor insects. 
Pick early varieties of pears for house ripening. 
Grapes. — Mildew should not be allowed to get 
the upper hand. The timely dusting of sulphur 
will usually arrest it. We last year flgured the 
bellows used for the purpose. Keep growing 
shoots tied up to stakes and trellises. We kuovi of 
no better way to deal with caterpillars than hand 
picking. Where the number of vines is not large, 
frequent aud persistent search will soon free them 
of these destructive agent.. 
Haspterries. — The general way i- to remove the 
old canes In spring, but in garden culture if is but 
little trouble to cut them away as soon as the fruit 
is off, aDd give the new canes full scope. 
Strawberries. — In a large way spring jfianting is 
preferable, but small beds may with proper care be 
advantageously made iu autumn. Indeed, where 
the precaution has been taken to start the runners 
in small pots, they may be set at any time. Where 
plants are grown in row or hill culture, the runners 
are to be kept off, and weeds pulled from the rows. 
Weeds. — Clean culture is as necessary iu the fruit 
garden, as elsewhere. A mellow soil is secured by 
frequent working, and there will be much less suf- 
fering from drouth if the soil is stirred or mulched. 
Water only when absolutely necessary, as it some- 
times will be with trees set last spring; remove 
the surface soil from over the roots, water abun- 
dantly ; when it has soaked away, replace the earth. 
KiJclien Garden. 
If weeds have beeu industriously kept down, this 
month will be one of comparative leisure to the 
gardener. Still he must look out for his future in- 
terests in the careful saving of seeds, and occupy 
ground cleared of early crops with such late ones 
as may be desirable and which have time to grow. 
Asparagus. — Old beds will ouly need to have the 
coarse weeds pulled out. Seed beds, properly hoed 
and thinned, will give better plants at a year old 
than those neglected aud over-crowded will furnish 
at the end of two years. 
Beans. — The bush varieties may be planted for 
late crops, and to give a supply for saltiug. 
Beets. — Give plenty of room in the rows, aud thin. 
Cabbages and Cauliflowers. — Plants, especially in 
the warmer States, may be set for a late crop. Lime 
will destroy slugs, and also prevent club-foot. 
Carrots. — Hoe, thin, and weed, and ifyouug roots 
are desired, seed of the early sorts may J>e sown. 
Celery. — Plauts may still be set with the prospect 
of lair-sized roots byfrost. Keep the earlier plant. I 
free of weeds, aud the soil mellow by frequent us( 
of the cultivator or hoe. At the end of the mouth 
commence to earth up the more advanced plautings. 
Corn. — Save seed from the finest and earliest ears. 
Cucumbers will need picking over every day, or 
every two days at least, if small pickles arc wanted. 
Egg Plants. — Caterpillars will oftcu make great 
havoc with the leaves, aud must be picked off. Give 
liquid manure, and keep the heavy fruits from 
contact with the ground by the use of mulch. 
Endive. — Transplant afoot apart each way, and 
sow seeds for the latest crops aud for winter use. 
Herbs. — Cut aud dry as they begin to flower. 
Lettuce. — Sow small quantities for succession. 
Melons. — Increase the size and quality of the. fruit 
by preventing the vines from overbearing. Save, 
seed only from those varieties that have grown at 
a distance from other plants of the same nature. 
Onions. — Harvest as soou as the tops fall over. 
Those that are to be stored lor winter should lie 
thoroughly dried. Take up onion sets, dry them, 
aud spread with their tops on in an airy loft, put- 
ting them not over four inches deep. 
Hadishes.^Sov/ early sorts, if wanted so late in 
the season. The best winter radish is the Chinese 
Rose-colored Winter, which may be sown now or 
later, and treated in all respects like turnips. It 
sown too early, it will get owr«iwi 11. 
Spittach. — Some may he sown for fall cutting, but 
the crop for next spring's use sbonld not he put in 
until next month. 
Squashes. — Seed of the early kinds should be -■ 
cured. Let the vines of the running sorts 
root at the joints. Crush all the eggs found on 
the underside of the leaves. Examine often. 
Viotet Potatoes.— It. t\ie soil be kept mollowand 
free from weeds, there Is no difficult} in getting n 
satisfactory crop. At the .North, it is not advisable 
to allow the vines to root at the joints, nor is it 
well lo dip them, a- it diminishes the crop. 
Tomatoes.— The great enemy to the tomato is the 
