1878. J 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
24:3 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
NEW YORK, JULY, 1878. 
Hints for Work. 
[The Hints and Suggestions in these columns are 
never copied from previous years, but are freshly pre¬ 
pared for every month, from the latest experience and 
obsei-vations, by practical men in each department.] 
The Harvest, after all the promise of the early sea¬ 
son, is not much above an average as to yield, al¬ 
though the acreage is larger. What may he the pro¬ 
ducts of fall sown grain, can not be ascertained until 
the crop is threshed and measured. From general 
indications it cannot be expected that the sanguine 
hopes held in spring will have been verified. It 
is probable that the failures mostly result from 
the depredations of insects, and defective fertiliz¬ 
ing, which, as a rule, happens every year. 
The Hessian Fly has done much damage in early 
sown wheat. Experience has shown that the 
means for exemption from its depredations that 
have been most successful, have been the use of 
fine salt, at the rate of 6 bushels per acre, and 
fine lime, soon after the plants have become 
large enough to attract the fly; late planting, 
thorough preparation of the soil, and the remov¬ 
al of all rubbish and weeds; ample manuring of 
the soil so as to stimulate a vigorous growth, and 
abundant stooliug from the root-buds, by which new 
6pires are thrown up in place of those injured ; and 
lastly, by sowing only the most vigorous and hardy 
stemmed varieties. 
In the writer's Experiments, the past season, the 
“Clawson,” and the “ Silver Chaff ” wheats, sown 
on the 39th of September, and dressed with only 
100 lbs. per acre of artificial wheat-manure (with 
300 lbs. more in the spring), were completely exempt 
from the attacks of the fly. 
A Clover-sod for Wheat. —No other preparation for 
wheat is so generally successful as a clover-sod plow¬ 
ed under early. This method, however, upsets the 
usual rotation in which clover follows wheat. But 
a good wheat crop is better than a poor rotation ; 
and the clover may come with the barley after corn, 
following a crop of turnips, sown upon wheat stub¬ 
ble. If we can produce 40 bushels to the acre, 
it will pay to grow wheat even with some trouble. 
What shall be done with the Clover-sod? —It may 
be considered that a good crop of clover actually 
adds to the future capacity of the land instead of 
exhausting it to any extent. This occurs through 
the large addition to the soil, of nitrogenous and 
other organic matters derived from the atmosphere, 
and fertility brought up by the deep-searching 
roots. To secure the most benefit, the second 
crop should be plowed under early in September, 
with the seed, which is not lost, but returns to 
us again as a new growth of clover, when brought 
to the surface by replowing. If a crop of seed is 
desired, we should encourage a large growth, by 
top-dressing it at once, and thus put the soil in the 
best condition for wheat. 
Quack Grass. —Careless farmers are laying up a 
store of trouble for themselves in permitting their 
farms to Decome overrun with quack grass, Triticum 
repens; there is no more troublesome weed, and 
no other that increases so fast by neglect. But the 
July and August sun will be a match for even this 
weed if we give the solar heat a chance to roast its 
roots. The cultivator is a better implement than 
the plow or harrow; and a “ grubber ” with curved 
teeth, which tear out the roots and gather them on 
the surface, is the best kind of gatherer. 
Summer Fallows, once so frequent, are now con¬ 
sidered of questionable value. As a means of im¬ 
proving the fertility of the soil, they are needless, 
now that we can procure artificial fertilizers at a 
less cost than that of the labor employed in the fal¬ 
lowing, and can raise a crop of roots or green fod¬ 
der, that will clean the land and pay for the fer¬ 
tilizer several times over. 
Oats, is generally the last of the 6mall grains to 
be harvested, and is frequently gathered too late. 
If left until over ripe, the grain scatters badly; and 
the appearance of an oat stubble always tells how 
much is lost. If at all over-ripe for cutting, oats 
should be reaped early in the morning, and never 
handled in the middle of the day. The straw is 
sufficiently valuable for feeding to make it worth 
while to cut the crop before the straw is entirely 
yellow from foot to head. 
Corn. —Wc have noticed that the most successful 
producers of corn are always the last in the field 
with the cultivator. To “lay by” this crop in July 
is too early. The weeds thus have unnecessary op¬ 
portunity to grow and mature seed. It is a ques¬ 
tion if it is not best to thin out the stalks more than 
is commonly done ; to grow the grain crop by it¬ 
self, with but two stalks, or even one, in a hill; 
and that for fodder by itself, with the stalks as 
closely set as possible for thrifty growth. 
Growing Seed Corn.— Any grain can be greatly im¬ 
proved by selecting the best each year, and contin¬ 
uing to plant this for several seasons. No other 
grain-plant that we grow has so many abortive ears 
as corn. If we can make each of these productive, 
the yield can be greatly multiplied. If any farmer 
wishes to experiment in this way, he might begin 
this month by thinning out the plants, removing 
suckers, and encouraging the growth of the seed, 
instead of a useless amount of the stalk and leaf. 
Fodder Crops. —Repeated plantings of fodder-corn 
may yet be made. Golden millet has proved a 
very productive fodder-crop for planting early this 
month ; and the new “ Pearl millet” is worthy of a 
trial. Cabbages set out upon early potato ground 
will give one of the very best fodder-crops- 
Nothing else is better for milking cows than 
j Roots. —For planting this month up to the 13th or 
15th, ruta-bagas, or Swede turnips, are excellent. 
Imperial Swede turnip is a new variety, that has 
been recently imported, and has been highly com¬ 
mended as yielding largely. No better ground than 
that from which early potatoes have been taken, 
can be had. Sow in drills 30 inches apart on rich 
6oil, with 3 lbs. of seed to the acre. For later sow¬ 
ing this month and next, the “ Greystone ” turnip 
is a very prolific new kind, recently imported. 
Early Potatoes, in many places, have fairly escaped 
the dreaded beetle, and are making a good crop. 
They should be harvested as soon as ripe, lest 
wet weather cause them to sprout. A second crop 
maybe made by planting the earliest kinds the first 
of this month. Of all the new sorts, none have as 
yet displaced the Early Rose. 
Late Pbtatoes should be free from weeds, and bee¬ 
tles; to suffer the leaves to be eaten off is a perma¬ 
nent injury to the roots. Generally it is the latest 
crop of beetles which does the most damage. 
Buckwheat. —For a late crop, or one to occupy a 
rough piece of ground that needs mellowing, buck¬ 
wheat may be sown up to the 12th of July. Half 
a bushel to one bushel of seed per acre is needed. 
A new variety, the “ Silver Hull,” is a beautiful, 
prolific, and valuable kind. We have sown timothy 
and clover successfully, with buckwheat, in July. 
Live-Stock.— During the press of work the care of 
the animals mast not be neglected. Plenty of good 
food and pure water should be given with regu¬ 
larity ; the latter is specially important and neces¬ 
sary for health. They should be protected from 
flies and other insect pests, sheltered from the ex¬ 
treme mid-day heats, and kept clean. The ordinary 
sanitary rules which apply to our own health should 
be observed in regard to them. 
Sheep should have a change of pasture. They are 
then more contented, and thrive better. A large 
field will not graze so many as several small 
ones of the same aggregate size. Give salt at least 
once a week. For scours, give a tablespoonful of 
castor oil; if continued, give a teaspoonful each of 
prepared chalk, and essence of peppermint, in a 
cupful of water. For stretches, which is only indi¬ 
gestion, common when the pasture gets dry, give an 
ounce of linseed-oi) with a dram of ground ginger. 
Pigs. —A run on a good clover stubble will be 
very beneficial. When confined in yards and pens, 
bedding of clean dry sand, several inches deep, will 
be found better than any other litter. An occasional 
sprinkling of a solution of copperas about the 
yards, or a good dusting with ground gypsum, will 
act as a deodorizer and disinfectant. Young pigs 
should be forced just now, as fast as healthy growth 
will permit. Pork is advancing in value, and pigs 
may justly claim a little more atteution than when 
it was worth but $8 a barrel. Now is a good time 
to improve the stock. For November pigs, couple 
this month, and use a boar of some pure breed. 
Poultry. —July chickens, if well cared for, will be 
large enough to go through the winter safely. After 
July wc would set no hens, but set all possible up 
to the middle of the month. In the hot days of 
midsummer vermin breed very fast, and cleanliness 
alone will keep them in subjection. 
Rsts now run riot with the stock. The bot-flies 
are perhaps the worst. Wash their eggs from the 
legs of horses with warm water, or scrape them 
off with a knife. Protect cattle from their bot¬ 
fly, which lays its eggs on the loins, by rubbing a 
little crude petroleum on the backs of the animals. 
Tar sheep’s noses to keep the sheep bot-fly from lay¬ 
ing eggs in their nostrils. These means of preven¬ 
tion will add much to the comfort of the animals. 
By keeping stables clean and dark, the hateful 
black-fly (Stomoxys caltricans), in general appearance 
so much like a house-fly, will be less annoying. 
Notea on Orchard and Garden Work. 
In former years we have suggested that if there 
was any time during the growing season in which 
the orchardist and gardener might “go a-fishing ” 
with a clear conscience, it is during these months 
of July and August. It should be an especially 
favorable season for leisure this year, as—despite 
a few drawbacks—most of us have been able to 
keep well ahead of the work. To one whose work, 
is always ahead of him, leisure never comes. In 
the term “going a-fishing ” we include whatever 
takes the cultivator away from his “patch,” and 
allows him to see what others are doing, and he 
may get quite as much recreation by fishing for 
ideas in the ponds and preserves of the orchards 
and gardens of other cultivators, as by the actual 
use of the hook and line. A week or two devoted 
to going among others engaged in similar pursuits 
—and this need not, of necessity, be very far from 
home—will give one a freshening up that will be 
worth more thau all it costs, and the good influ¬ 
ences of which will last all the year. To all who 
make use of the comparative leisure of mid-summer 
to visit the orchards, gardens, and ground of others, 
we have one bit of advice to give : 
“Slaut Your Own Gale SSeliind You!” 
When you leave your garden, fruit patch, or 
grounds, of whatever kind, shut the gate, and leave 
whatever is behind it, there—don’t take it with you. 
Recollect that when you visit the place of another, 
you go to see what he has to show, and learn what 
he has to teach. If you would be a welcome visitor, 
*and be dismissed with a pressing invitation to come 
again, place yourself in a receptive mood ; be for 
the time the attentive pupil and not the teacher. 
When others visit your place, will be the proper 
time to teach. Of all the intolerable bores who 
visit us is the man who brings his own place with 
him, and who, whatever maybe shown him, at once 
institutes a comparison with his own, and at once 
begins to tell that “ mine are much better than 
that,”—“I can beat you on so and so,” and ignor¬ 
ing the thing before him tell us, “Ah, you should 
see my strawberries,” “My roses,” “My toma¬ 
toes,” and so on all through—in short, the man 
who did not “shut his own gate behind him.” 
Those who are so thoroughly satisfied with their 
own that they can not forget it for a few hours, 
should not visit, but remain upon the scene of their 
remarkable achievements—at home. We would 
not imply that one in visiting the grounds of 
another, may not, on occasion, drop a useful hint 
drawn from his own experience, or that he may not 
give his host any information that he may ask for. 
But we have been so annoyed at receiving visitors, 
and worse still, in visiting strange grounds in com¬ 
pany with those whose only object in visiting ap¬ 
pears to be to boast of their own affaire, that we 
