NORTHERN CALENDAR FOR MAY. 
153 
at the same time plow deep near the plants. A few 
days after plowing draw the earth around the stems 
with a hoe. If this second working he done early, and 
the plants be left in good condition, you will find much 
of your after-work comparatively easy. Before the 
end of the month, the plants will be large enough to 
dirt with a large shovel-plow, which should be now 
used, and the entire middle broken out deep and 
thoroughly. 
Keep your corn-fields in good order, and at the sec¬ 
ond plowing, drop peas, ten to fifteen in number, be¬ 
tween the hills of corn, so that the plow will cover 
them, and you will ec kill two birds with one stone See 
that your cane-fields are kept clean; and that your 
tobacco-plants are not eaten by worms. If previously 
neglected, rice may be sown this month. As large 
crops, however, can not be expected from it as if plant¬ 
ed in March or April. 
When cane has grown about 18 inches high, a small 
quantity of earth should be drawn back to the plant; 
and in the course of the two succeeding dressings a bed 
should be formed for them five or six inches in depth. 
In new lands, notwithstanding the weeds, mucli less 
•hoeing is done on account of the luxuriance of the cane. 
Most of the winter grain that was sown in October 
will require cutting this month. That to be used for 
feeding stock should be cut just before it begins to turn 
yellow, and that for seed, leave until fully ripe. 
Those who have bedded out their sweet potatoes, 
must set out the drawings every rain, having ridges or 
hills already prepared. 
Silk-worms will have wound their cocoons from the 
1st to the 20th of this month. Those you wish to reel, 
put in the hot sun a day or two, or place them in a 
close vessel, with a little gum camphor, in order to kill 
the chrysalides, and they can be reeled at leisure. 
Those intended for producing eggs for the next crop, 
must be selected and placed on a moist paper, in a cool 
dark room. 
The garden is an indispensable requisite, and all that 
is necessary, at this season, is to keep it clean, well- 
stirred, or to sow occasionally endive, or cabbages for 
fall; radishes,lettuces, and peas, so as to give a suc¬ 
cession of these vegetables. Keep them well watered 
in dry weather, and protect them by shade, if neces¬ 
sary. 
NORTHERN CALENDAR FOR MAY. 
The whole force of the farmer will be required this 
month; his manure, if any remain, must all be carted 
out, all his land plowed, and his crops in, except some 
potatoes and ruta bagas. The best fresh manure for 
the meadow, is a well-mixed compost. All the new 
barn-yard manure should be scattered over the ground 
before plowing, and plowed under, and if any of it is 
too long to be turned in conveniently, let it be placed 
in the furrow with a fork and covered by the succeed¬ 
ing furrow-slice. It is a common error to manure in 
the hill. This ought seldomly to be done. If the land 
is well pulverized, as it always ought to be, the rootlets 
of the plants will find their proper food, if planted 
within suitable distances; and instead of the manure 
yielding all its nutriment to the young plant, it will be 
thus held in reserve to be given up as required during 
the whole growth of the season. Corn, perhaps, is the 
most important crop in the United States, and is par¬ 
ticularly deserving the farmer’s attention. It is com¬ 
puted by Mr. Ellsworth, that the crop of 1842 exceeded 
441,000,000 bushels, which is, perhaps, an overesti¬ 
mate. The stalks of this invaluable grain are, in many 
parts of the country, worth the expense of cultivation, 
thus leaving the whole crop of grain for profit and the 
use of the ground. To produce the best seed and cul¬ 
tivate properly, is surely, then, a great object for the 
farmer. A rich soil should be used, sufficiently dry, 
and well pulverised. Mr. Young of Kentucky, who 
has raised the astonishing amount of 190 bushels of 
shelled corn to the acre, says he plows his land in the 
fall, cross-plows it in the spring, and plants from 8 to 
12 grains in each hill, at a distance of three feet apart 
each way; covering 6 inches deep. As soon as the 
corn is up, he starts a large harrow with a double team 
directly over the rows of corn, letting the horses walk 
in the adjoining furrows. A few days after, he plows 
with the bar next the corn. This again completely 
stirs the soil. He then thins to four stalks in a hill, 
and plows three times more. The choicest kinds of 
corn only ought to be used for seed, and if steeped in 
a strong solution of saltpetre before planting, it will 
protect it from crows and grubs, and give it an early 
and rapid start. Potatoes are a very important crop, 
and as they furnish so large a share of our vegetable 
food, it is of great consequence to get the best seed, 
which may be such as give a good yield, and afford a 
solid, mealy root, of pleasant flavor when boiled. In 
dry land they may be planted in furrows; if cold or 
wet, they should be planted on ridges. Rich land is 
best suited to them. Meadows should now have at¬ 
tention. When the waste of the barn, or house, or 
roads, can be led to them, they will be found to thrive 
very much from it. Where the meadows have been 
laid down long in grass, the roots should be particularly 
examined, and if found thin or mossj r , and the sod hard, 
a fine compost ought to be spread on it, at the rate of 
eight to sixteen loads per acre; then grass-seeds of the 
kind required. Then harrowed with a fine, sharp- 
toothed harrow. Ashes are peculiarly suited to grass¬ 
land, as potash and its silicate are the principal ma¬ 
terials of which the ground is exhausted by this crop, 
which are contained in them in large proportions. If 
herds-grass or timothy occupies the ground, it is best 
to omit the use of plaster. When it is desirable to pro¬ 
mote the growth of the clovers, plaster may be sowed 
freely. If not before done, finish sowing hemp-seed 
and planting tobacco, and castor beans. 
Kitchen Garden. —In the fore part of this month 
all the early cucumbers, melons, cabbages, cauliflow¬ 
ers, lettuce, radishes, &c., which have been taken out 
of the hot-bed, removed and transplanted into the open 
ground. All kinds of table vegetables, as peas, beans, 
beets, onions, parsnips, carrots, and esculent herbs, 
should be sown early. Plant Lima-beans in turneps 
hollowed by scooping out the inside, and place them in 
a hot-bed, so that you may have this delicious vegetable 
early. Tomatoes, egg-plants, peppers, &c., can be 
planted out. 
Fruit-Garden and Orchard. —All kinds of fruit 
and forest-trees and shrubs that have not leaved out, 
transplant immediately. Spring inoculating may still 
be performed in the early part of the month. Straw¬ 
berry beds may also be planted out, and the suggestions 
in the calendar for April concerning pruning be obser¬ 
ved. 
Flower-Garden and Pleasure-Grounds. —The 
borders of the flower-garden should be finished, and 
perennial herbaceous plants transplanted. Sow seeds 
of autumnal flowers in seed-beds, to be transplanted at 
a future time. Set out box-edging early in the month, 
or it will be liable to suffer frou the drought. Trim 
hedges and shrubs. Give the lawns and pleasure- 
grounds a top-dressing of ashes or stable manure, and 
put the gravel walks and carriage-ways in order. This 
is the best month for transplanting evergreens. 
