1880 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
173 
Corn Has, this great fodder crop of the Southern 
States, which in renovating land there, takes the 
place of clover, and is worthy of more attention than 
It has yet had from northern farmers. Though we 
can not plow under two crops the same season, we 
can easily get one, and a heavy one, whether for 
feeding or for turning under. Two bushels of seed 
to the acre, and plowed under With a shallow fur¬ 
row, is the usual quantity. Another method prac¬ 
tised at the South is to put in the seed, at the last 
hoeing of a field of corn, and as soon as the corn 
is off of the ground the pea crop is plowed under. 
Jerusalem Artichokes are growing in favor ; they 
are relished by nearly all domestic animals. They 
may be left in the ground all winter, and when dug 
in early spring are crisp and fresh and the most ac¬ 
ceptable change in the feed. The round, short va¬ 
riety called “ Brazilian ” is best. The seed it cut 
the same as potatoes, furrows made 3 feet apart, 
and the pieces dropped about 12 or 15 inches apart 
in the furrow and covered with a few inches of earth. 
Sorghum —The introduction of the early Amber 
Cane, has again turned the attention of farmers to 
raising their own “ sweetening,” and no doubt 
many will make a trial of it, who have never grown 
Sorghum, or even seen it growing. As the Amber 
is evidently vastly superior to the older varieties, 
to avoid disappointment, be sure to get seed of the 
true sort. Seedsmen of good reputation, and the 
makers of sugar machinery, can supply it. 
The Seel, to make sure of its good quality should 
be tested, by sowing 20 or more seeds in a box of 
earth kept in a warm place, as the kitchen window, 
and noting the number that germinate. 
Land for Sorghum should be such as would pro¬ 
duce a good crop of corn, and prepared in a similar 
manner. The ground for early Air ber is checked off 
3£ feet each way, taking care to check it regularly, 
so that the crop may be easily worked both ways ; 
with these distances, about two pounds of seed to 
the acre will be required. By “ hills,” no elevation 
of the ground is meant, but the term is in common 
use for the spot, or place for the seed. For Sorghum 
the ground should be level. About 10 or 12 seeds 
are to be dropped in a place, and covered. 
Early Cultivation is necessary. The time for 
planting is the same as for com, or whenever the 
soil has become sufficiently warm to allow the seed 
to germinate at once. Observe that the plant, when 
it first appears, looks so much like grass, that a 
careless hand might take it for a coarse grass, and 
treat it as a weed. Success with the crop depends 
upon giving the plants an advantage over the weeds 
at the start, and to do this, cultivation should be¬ 
gin as soon as the rows can be seen. Whatever 
implements are used for the corn crop, may be 
used to till the Sorghum, but hand-hoeing will be 
necessary at first. At the second working of the 
crop, thin out to 5, or at most 6 stalks in a hill. 
When the plants get to be 3 feet high, the crop is 
left to itself until it is time for cutting the canes. 
Manure. —.None of this valuable substance should 
go to waste. Any manure scattered over the yards 
should be raked into a heap and secured from ex¬ 
posure to rain, or put at once upon the field. 
Sheep. —Sheep should be tagged before turning 
out to grass. Dry ewes may be fattened, and mar¬ 
keted as soon as possible. Lambs that are for early 
market, will need the best of care and extra feed. 
The good shepherd will look well to his flock, and 
eount it every day, so that no animal may get stray¬ 
ed far away and lost. The best way to kill ticks is to 
dip the lambs shortly after the sheep are sheared in 
Tobacco Water to which Sulphur is added. 
Washing Sheep. —A deduction of about 1 is made 
by the wool buyers for all unwashed fleeces, and 
this is right if the washing is properly done. Take 
it all in all it is best to wash the sheep, though 
there may be cases where it is not convenient, ex¬ 
pedient, or even safe. 
Live Stock. —Keep live stock of all kinds in a 
thriving condition. The change from hay to grass 
Is critical, often resulting in loss of condition. 
( bows. —These birds are in the main the farmer’s 
friends ; but at just this time when the corn is com¬ 
ing vjp it is hard to think so. Crows are great lov¬ 
ers of young corn, but for most of the year they 
feed on insects that are injurious. Drive them off 
the corn field, but it is not wise to kill them. 
Machinery .—See that all haying and harvesting 
machines and implements are in good condition for 
service, that they may be ready when wanted. If 
any portions need replacing, procure these well in 
advance of the time when they will be needed for use. 
Notes on Orchard and Garden Work. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
Planting should in general be finished before the 
first of May ; but trees that have been carefully 
heeled-in may be set safely for some time to come. 
Grafting can be done now, but great care is neces¬ 
sary. As the bark peels easily at this season it 
should be cut through with a knife, and the saw 
made to follow the cut, otherwise the bark may be 
peeled and a bad wound made. It is not best to 
remove all the buds from the stock before the graft 
starts, as there will then be no inducement for the 
sap to flow upwards. After the uuiou of the graft 
is made and the buds upon it have started, all those 
upon the stock below should be removed, in order 
that the graft may have the full supply of sap. 
Insects .—An increase of insect life will come 
with the warmer growing weather. The eggs of the 
Tent Caterpillar will hatch into the “ worms ” 
which will begin at once their ravages upon the 
foliage. Fortunately these destructive caterpillars 
put up “a sign,” without which they might escape 
notice. They pitch their “ tents” at once, and though 
tliese are at first small they may be readily 6een iD 
the early morning when the dew makes them con¬ 
spicuous. Take the tent when the whole family is 
“ at home” and crush it under foot. Various de¬ 
vices are suggested for this, but the hand, with or 
without a glove, is the best. For the higher limbs 
a pole with a swab attached may be used. 
Curculio of the plum stings the fruit while it is 
quite small. The trees should be jarred in early 
morning, beginning when they are just passing out 
of flower, and the sluggish beetles caught on a sheet 
opened beneath the tree for the purpose. After¬ 
wards those caught on the sheet should be burned. 
Borers .—Their presence is known by the sawdust 
they make. The only effectual method of reaching 
them is by probing with a wire ; cutting the tree 
with a knife as little as may be found necessary. 
Canker Worms .—Bands of stiff paper put around 
the trunks upon which is smeared a ring of tar or 
planter’s ink, will keep the wingless females from 
ascending the trees. The bands will need new 
coats of tar or printer’s ink now and then. 
Bant Lice, which often crowd upon the growing 
tips of the branches of cherry and other fruit trees, 
are removed by syringing with tobacco water. 
Thinning Fruit .—The sooner fruit is thinned after 
It has set, the better it is for the tree, as all growth 
of fruit costs effort for the tree to make and is 
therefore exhaustive. No one who desires the 
choicest fruit will fail to thin an overloaded tree. 
Might is a quick comer which gives no warning. 
The best that can be done is to cut away the portion 
“ struck,” down to the live wood. If the tree is 
badly affected it Is best to remove it entirely. 
Seed Beds of fruit and forest trees need close 
attention to keep the soil loose and the weeds from 
establishing themselves. The beds, especially of 
evergreens, will need shelter from the hot sun, 
which may be provided by a lattice work of laths, or 
brush may be used, but less convenient in weeding. 
Banting in Orchards.—There is a general reluc¬ 
tance to give up the soil of the orchard entirely to 
the trees. While the orchard is young it is best to 
cultivate it thoroughly, and hoed crops, like pota¬ 
toes, roots, etc., can be grown as a present pay for 
the trouble, but as the trees get older and shade 
the ground, nothing else but fruit should be ex¬ 
pected from the orchard. It is a good practice to 
pasture hogs in the orchard in clover sown for the 
purpose, as it is one of the best methods of enrich¬ 
ing the soil and at the same time destroying insects. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Blackberries and Raspberries may still be planted, 
but as they start early they should have been set 
before this. Stakes or trellises should be provided 
to which the canes are to be secured. Novices fail 
to understand that it is the new canes that grow 
this year that are to bear the fruit the next season. 
All suckers are to be treated as weeds unless new 
plants are desired, when the best ones may be saved. 
Currants and Gooseberries.— Cultivate the ground 
thoroughly and give a good mulch a little later iu 
the season. Watch for the “ worms ” which come 
from eggs laid upon the under side of the lower 
leaves, and use White Hellebore, a tablespoonful 
of the powder to a pailful of water. It is best to 
scald the Hellebore with a little hot water before 
adding it to the water iu the pail or watering pot, 
Straidberries. —Keep the soil free from weeds and 
mellow. So soon as the fruit is well set give the 
bed a mulch, which will keep the berries from 
the soil. Hand pull any large weeds that may ap¬ 
pear. Set out new beds, if plants are to be had. 
Grapes.— One healthy, vigorous cane upon a new¬ 
ly set vine is enough. Tie it up securely to a sup¬ 
port. Vines are trained so variously that specifip 
directions can not be given. Whatever the method 
of training it should keep ia view and provide for 
the crop of next year. Generally the fruit-bearing 
shoots for the present year should be stopped ; 
that is, have their further growth in length pre¬ 
vented, by pinching off the end of the shoot at one 1 , 
two or three leaves beyond the uppermost cluster 
of grapes ; this should be done very early, as soon 
as the clusters of buds (often mistaken for young 
grapes) and the young leaves can be distinctly seen. 
Marketing Fruit. —Provide all the appliances of 
quick and proper marketing before the fruit is 
ready. So much depends upon the appearance of 
the fruit at the market that neatuess and care in so 
packing it that it will show at its best, will pay. 
Caution should be given to the pickers that no 
over-ripe fruit be put into the basket or crates. If 
the distance to market is considerable the fruit 
should be in a less mature state than when the mar¬ 
ket is but a short distance away. Watch the market. 
- — — 
MstcSaeia a.n«l 35ss,r!k4*t CJartlen. 
Work is apt to come with a rush ; there are so 
many different things to attend to, that unless the 
work is properly planned, much time will be lost. 
It happens with many who make a change of resi¬ 
dence, that they can not begin gardening until the 
first of May. These have been obliged to delay the 
planting of those crops that should be put iu so 
soou as the soil will permit, and will be somewhat 
behindhand; but with extra effort, and that at 
once, they may be able to get abreast with the sea¬ 
son with most of the vegetables of the garden. 
Asparagus shonld be «ut with a strong, round- 
pointed knife, and with eare that the neighboring 
younger shoots or buds may not be injured. Cut 
the bed clean, leaving no small shoots to grow now. 
Beans. —Plant the bush sorts in drills 18 inches 
apart, as soon as there is no danger of frost. The 
Limas are not to go in until the cold rains are over 
and the ground well warmed. Set the poles 4 feet 
apart, and afterwards plant four or five beans to 
each pole, thrusting the seeds into the soil with the 
eye downward. See that the poles are firmly set. 
Beets. —Thin the early sown sorts as soon as large 
enough ; the thinnings may be used for “ greens." 
Sow every fortnight until Jnly, and in drills 15 
inches apart. Put in Long Blood for winter use. 
Cabbage. —The hoe and cultivator 6liould keep all 
weeds from the early crop. Sow the seed iu open 
ground for plants for the late crop. 
Carrots. —Sow the Early Horn for early use ; for 
the winter supply wait until the ground is warm. 
Corn. —Plant so soon as the frosts are past, and 
continue to do so at intervals of a week or ten days, 
to have a supply of this excellent vegetable through 
the season. “Triumph ” is one of the best sorts. 
Cucumbers. —PI a n ts that have been started in 
frames should go out, but protect them if cold 
nights come. Seed for later crop maybe sown In 
the garden so soon as the gronnd is warm and dry. 
