1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
263 
Agriculture of the Nile. 
The plow-team in the picture tells the story of 
Nile farming in a simple, straightforward manner. 
In the strangely inharmonious outlines of the camel 
and the ox, one can trace the geography of the 
country thereabout: The desert has come to the 
Nile for drink, and to its harvest fields for food. 
The desert is but close at haud, just back of the 
bordering lands which feel the hand of the Nile- 
god in the moisture of the air, and receive his man¬ 
tle of over-flowing waters. The incongruity of the 
mating indicates the half-civilized condition of the 
people, the mass of whom are living as their fath¬ 
ers lived centuries ago, who harness the camel and 
ox, use the same plow, plow just as deep, sow the 
same seed, cultivate the same crops in the same 
manner, are guided by the rise and fall of the Nile 
waters, and look upon the Nile-god as a deity rul- 
light and easy to work that only the simplest and 
least costly of implements are required. They can 
live in ease, and revere and follow the customs of 
their fathers ; for the Nile-god is the same yester¬ 
day, to-day, and—to-morrow will take care of it¬ 
self. Such is the story of the plow. No need, 
then, you see, of an “ Adamant,” a “ Patent 
Chilled Oliver,” a “ Centennial,” or a “ Holbrook.” 
It does its work. “ Let well enough alone,” is the 
motto of that people. The turbaned plowman 
corroborates the tale of the team and of the plow 
But he tells more : his clothing speaks of another 
race of fierce, hardy people, who, ages ago, came 
from the East and overran this land, bringing de¬ 
struction to everything save the pyramids, the 
sphinx, the Nile, and the desert. 
Hints for Work. 
[The Hints and Suggestions in these columns are 
never copied from previous years, hut arc freshly pre¬ 
pared for every month, from the latest experience and 
observations, by practical men in each department .] 
An Explanation.— When we consider the vast terri¬ 
tory over which the American Agriculturist circu¬ 
lates, and the great difference in the seasons, it is 
obvious that these hints cannot be used by all read- 
is filled with weeds—of which the sprouting oats 
are the worst—and the rag-weed, and many others 
work mischief. An important needed improve¬ 
ment in agriculture is 
A Change of Rotation. —With the present rapidly 
changing demands upon farmers for a greater va¬ 
riety of food products, we need a changed system 
of agriculture. The production of meat will have 
to be the chief aim of a large number. There is a 
widening demand for milk and cheese, and for the 
best grades of mutton sheep. All these are pro¬ 
ducts of the highest systems of farming, in which 
the soil must be enriched and kept clear of weeds, 
60 as to produce maximum crops of fodder that 
can be manufactured on the farm into these most 
salable articles. The old plan of rotation—grass and 
clover, corn, oats, and wheat—in which the three 
grain crops following each other, are not well adapt¬ 
ed to cattle feeding, especially the last two—must be 
abandoned if we are to derive any advantage from 
the new demands and markets so auspiciously 
opening for us in Europe. 
Drilling Wheat.— It would be an interesting and 
we believe a profitable experiment to sow at least 
one acre of wheat in drills, so far apart, that the 
crop could be cultivated. This may be done by 
tying each two of the drill spouts together, and 
thus discharging the seed into one furrow; sowing 
jf 
New York, Align 
A SCENE ON THE NILE. — From a Sketch by Hoppin. 
ing all their affairs, just as their fathers, and fathers’ 
fathers, for many generations, did before them. 
The plow of the sketch would do very poor service 
in the hard soils of New England ; on the prairies 
of the West it might do better. But it is made 
for a different condition of the agricultural soil. 
You see its story printed in plain characters on 
its rude mould-board, and share, and sole, which 
run together as one ? It is as plain as the written 
language of the American Indian. It reads thus : 
“ There is no rain in this country ; the Nile is fed 
by waters from the lakes and mountain streams of 
the far interior. The Nile-god knows that without 
rain his people can only water their crops by the 
severest of hard labor in irrigation. So once every 
year he calls upon the lakes and streams to fill the 
banks full to overflowing, and spreads out his 
mantle of water over the fields. As the waters 
subside, several inches of fine silt, brought from 
fertile woodlands at the source of the river, is left 
on the surface. This accumulation has gone on for 
centuries, so that it now composes the whole soil, 
which is so fine, light, and soft, that only this 
crooked stick is needed as a plow to stir it.” 
Thus the Nile-god cares for his people : he waters 
their lands, fertilizes the earth, gives them a soil so 
ers alike. They must necessarily be general in 
character, and when it is not expressly stated that 
the remarks apply to a certain section, discretion 
must be used as to the time and manner of acting 
upon the hints given. For example, in regard to 
sowing, planting, harvesting, and such other work, 
it is evident that no one rule can apply everywhere; 
but it is easy for each reader to adapt the sugges¬ 
tion to his own locality. 
Preparation for Wheat. —Harvest being over, the 
soil for the next crop needs to be prepared at once. 
In the Southern States, where sowing may be delay¬ 
ed for two months yet, a “ pea-fallow ” is an excel¬ 
lent preparation. Land may be plowed and harrow¬ 
ed and two bushels per acre of cow-peas sown. The 
seed is best covered with a five-tooth cultivator. 
The growth made when the time for wheat seeding 
arrives, is to be turned under carefully, and the 
ground leveled by drawing an inverted harrow over 
the field, which also helps to cover the vines. If 
cotton seed is used as a fertilizer, sow it upon 
the vines, before plowing under. In the north, 
A Clover-sod, may be treated to a dressing of well 
rotted manure,and plowed late this month. Perhaps 
there can be no better method for wheat than this. 
Wheat after Oats, is a faulty practice. The soil 
somewhat less seed. Then the rows will be 12, 14, 
or 16 inches apart; and the spaces may be cultivated 
by adapting an ordinary spreading cultivator, or 
using a wheat hoe, such as has been often described 
in the American Agriculturist. A yield of 60 to 80 
bushels per acre, has been obtained in this manner. 
Seed. —As much depends on the variety of wheat 
sown as upon the manner or cultivation. Upon sim¬ 
ilar soil, and with the same treatment, one variety 
may yield twice as much as another. Of several 
new varieties tried by the writer the present sea¬ 
son, the Clawson has excelled. 
Early Sowing is preferable, except where there is 
danger of the Hessian fly; in which case sowing 
may be deferred until late next month ; but of the 
two evils—the fly or late sowing—it is questionable 
which is the worse. Many good farmers believe 
liberal fertilizing, and the consequent vigorous 
growth, to be the best remedy against the pest. 
This, however, is a matter in which local circum¬ 
stances must be well considered. 
Rye. —The remarks relating to wheat apply equal¬ 
ly to rye. Where the straw is salable, this is often 
a more valuable crop than wheat. 
Fodder. —For fall fodder, white turnips may be 
sown this month. An oat stubble plowed and 
