AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
203 
1873.] 
unusually wet the farmer who doe* not keep down 
the weeds deserves all the evils that flow from foul 
land and poor crops. 
We have the Lest Climate in the World for killing 
weeds, hut few of us live up to our privileges. 
A Oood Cultivator, aided by our dry winds and 
hot sun, will kill young weed plants by the million. 
The main thing is to commence early before the 
weeds get possession of the soil, and continue to 
stir the soil as often as any new weeds appear. 
A Harrow on mellow soil, and while the weeds 
are in the seed-leaf, is often a more effective imple¬ 
ment for killing weeds than an ordinary cultivator. 
It leaves the young plants more on the surface, 
where the sun can wither them up and destroy 
their vitality. 
In Com and Potatoes we have used the Thomas 
harrow with decided advantage. It may pull up or 
smother a few hills of corn, but such a loss is 
nothing - as compared with the saving in hoeing. 
We are not sure that a light harrow, with tine, 
straight teeth would not be equally effective. 
Corn will probably be much higher next year 
than at present, and it will be well to take good 
care of the growing crop. All that can now be 
done is to cultivate it thoroughly. 
Stirring the Soil, unless it is a very light sand, 
tends to keep it moist. It develops plant-food, 
and makes the land richer. It kills weeds, and it 
is now well known that so far from “shading the 
ground and keeping it moist,” all growing plants 
pump up and evaporate large quantities of water. 
Summer-Fallows are rarely necessary on light, 
sandy soils. We can kill the weeds by the fre¬ 
quent use of the cultivator in corn, potatoes, 
beans, and other hoed crops. 
On Heavy Clay Land, a good summer-fallow will 
often prove one of the best means of cleaning the 
soil and enriching it at tue same time. On such 
land it is usually better to plow two or three times 
rather than to plow only ouce, and depend on the 
cultivator to keep down weeds and mellow the 
surface. It is true that many good farmers adopt 
the latter practice with decided advantage for the 
time being. Whatever plan is adopted, make as 
many weeds grow as possible, and then kill them. 
Oet Ready for Haying .—See that the mower is in 
complete repair, and if any extras are required 
order at once. Look t» the rakes, hay-racks, un¬ 
loading fork and tackle. 
Early Cut Hay is confessedly better for milk¬ 
giving animals than ripe hay. For new milch-cows 
and ewes with lambs it is very desirable to cut a 
few tons of clover just before it gets into full blos¬ 
som. It will not yield as much per acre as if al¬ 
lowed to stand until the blossoms begin to turn 
brown, and tbe hay may not be so nutritious for 
fattening stock, but it is more succulent and more 
easily digested, and when fed in connection with a 
little meal will produce more milk. 
Keep the Implements Under Cover , or if this can not 
be done wash or paint them with petroleum. 
Saturate all the wood-work. The more you can 
get it to absorb the better. 
Animals in the hurry of a busy season are apt to 
be neglected. Do not fall into this error. The 
success of a good farmer depends more on his skill 
and judgment in the management of his live-stock 
than on the mere raising of crops. 
Horses should not be taxed beyond their strength. 
Heavy plowing should be done with three horses 
abreast. It is a very effective team. We keep 
horses too long in the field. They would accom¬ 
plish more by working steadily while at work, and 
being allowed longer to feed and rest in the stable. 
Qrooming is of great importance. It is to a horse 
what a good bath is to a man. It is absolutely es¬ 
sential to high health. Never leave a horse for the 
night until he is thoroughly cleaned. 
A Little Meal in the Water is a capital thing for 
horses at noon, and night when they come home 
tired—say a pint of meal in a pail of water. 
In case of Colic, the first thing to do is to give an 
injection of water. It is not necessary to put soap 
or anything else in it. Blanket tire horse, rub his 
legs, ears, and bowels, and if he does not get bet¬ 
ter in half an hour give a table-spoonful of lauda¬ 
num and two table-spoonfuls of ether. 
Cut Feed is certainly more economical than un¬ 
cut. Whether it is healthier or otherwise depends 
much on whether the horses are allowed to rest 
after eating. 
Indigestion is the cause of more than half the 
diseases of horses, and we should be careful to feed 
properly and regularly, and especially to avoid 
putting the horses to hard work on a full stomach. 
Milch-cows should now be giving a full flow of 
milk. If there is the slightest symptoms of a fall¬ 
ing off, give a little extra feed in the form of corn- 
meal and bran-slops. Corn is cheap, and if the 
cows can convert one, two, or three quarts of meal 
into milk it will be very profitable. See that the 
cows are milked regularly and clean. 
Sheep should have their hoofs pared, and every 
sheep in the flock have its feet dressed with car¬ 
bolic acid to prevent foot-rot. Dip the lambs, 
after the ewes are sheared, in a solution of carbolic 
soap to kill ticks. The ewes and lambs should 
have the best pasture on the farm—but let it be 
dry upland. Low land is death to sheep. Suckling 
ewes, especially, require constant access to water. 
Have a pen in the field into which the lambs can 
enter, and feed them a few oats or other grain sep¬ 
arately from the ewes. It is a great help to them. 
Scours in Lambs indicate that the flock needs a 
change of pasture. Always let sheep have access 
to a little dry hay. They will eat it if they need 
it, and it will do them a great deal of good. Milk- 
porridge, made with wheat-flour and milk—say a 
pint of fresh skimmed milk and a table-spoonful of 
flour, well boiled— is a capital remedy for nnld cases. 
Do not neglect to tag the lambs whenever 
needed. Salt regularly, or better still, let the 
sheep have access at all times to the salt. They 
will then never eat enough to scour them. 
Swine are looking up. In the great corn-growing 
sections of the country there is no stock that pays 
so well at present prices as good pigs, and the 
prospects are favorable for a considerable advance. 
Feed liberally. Nothing is better than a good 
clover pasture; but it is a great mistake not to 
give grain in addition. Save all the milk for the 
young pigs. Pigs five or six months old get along 
very well without milk, but for young pigs, two to 
four months old, there is nothing so good as 
skimmed milk. Give more or less grain in addition. 
Push the little pigs all you can. It will pay. See 
that all swine have access to fresh water. If con¬ 
fined, give ashes, salt, sulphnr, and charcoal. Keep 
the pens and troughs clean. Dry earth is a cheap 
disinfectant. Use it freely. 
Work in the Horticultural Departments. 
The late spring lias crowded much work into this 
month which ought to have been attended to last, 
and many gardeners have, been late in planting in 
both the orchard and garden. The hot weather of 
summer is, however, now upon us, and so sudden 
has been its advent that a great deal of effort will be 
necessary in order to keep pace with the season. 
Weeds are sure to surpass the vegetables ingrowth, 
and a continual contest must be waged against 
them in order to prevent injury to the young seed¬ 
lings. If the soil was kept free from weeds during 
the last season, less trouble will be needed to pre¬ 
vent their growth this. The ground is now so 
thoroughly warmed through that seeds sown in it 
will germinate at once, and it is not yet too late to 
sow some varieties of flower and vegetable seeds, 
and get a good return from them. Many early 
vegetables and fruits will now be ready for use, and 
flowering plants will make the garden attractive. 
Orchard and Nursery. 
Grafts set in the spring will need attention, and 
where more than one was put in remove the extra 
ones if necessary. 
Pruning. —Many fruit-growers prefer June for 
cutting out large limbs, as wounds made now heal 
very readily, while others contend that too much 
foliage is removed so that growth is checked. If 
the trees were properly pruned when young they 
will not require a great amount of cutting now. 
Thinning is seldom practiced to any extent in this 
country, and the result is that trees seldom bear 
good crops two years in succession. If one third 
or one half of the fruit is thinned out after it has 
fairly set, the remainder will be of good size and 
really first-class fruit, and a much higher price will 
be realized from this than if the whole had been al¬ 
lowed to grow. 
Pinching the growing shoots of a young tree will 
give the weaker ones a chance to grow, and thus 
secure for it a good shape. 
Young trees will need special care in trimming in 
order to avoid too vigorous growth, and the conse¬ 
quent necessity of severe pruning when large. If 
they were planted out this spring give a mulch so 
that they may not dry out when the hot weather 
of midsummer comes. 
Seedlings require a good deal of attention in order 
to keep them growing vigorously, and to keep 
down the young weeds. 
Slugs .—If troublesome upon the leaves of pear 
and cherry trees destroy by a dusting of lime. 
Insects must not be neglected, and a constant look¬ 
out must be kept for all enemies upon the fruit- 
trees. If a tent-caterpillar’s web appears destroy at 
night or in the morning; if on a small twig the best 
way is to cut off the twig and burn ; when upon a 
large limb remove the nest with a gloved hand. 
Curculio .—Where this pest exists the only way 
to fight it is to spread a sheet under the tree and 
jar the tree and catch the insects upon it, when 
they may be burned or put into boiling water. 
Borers .—The most effective way to prevent them 
from laying their eggs, which are usually laid this 
month, is to wrap the trunk with coarse paper, with 
the lower edge just below the surface of the soil. 
Fruit Garden. 
Blackberries .—The fruiting cancs should be tied 
up to stakes, and all suckers not needed hoed up. 
Pinch the ends of the new canes when they have 
reached a height of 4 or 5 feet. 
Raspberries .—Remove all but 3 or 4 new shoots 
from each plant, and tic up to stakes or wires. 
Dwarf Fruit-Trees w'll need attention to insure 
a good form. Thin out the fruit, and pinch those 
shoots which grow too vigorously. 
Gooseberries are most profitable when marketed 
green. The fruit may be cleared of leaves and 
sticks by rolling it down an inclined trough. 
Grape- Vines planted this spring should only be 
allowed to grow one shoot. Thin out a portion of 
the fruit on the bearing vines ; this should be done 
early so that the vines may not he exhausted. Ap¬ 
ply sulphur with a bellows on the first appearance 
of mildew. Layers may be made of the present 
season’s growth. 
Currants .—A good mulch will save time in weed¬ 
ing, and also increase the size of the fruit. Apply 
powdered white hellebore to the leaves when at¬ 
tacked by the currant worm. 
Strawberries if not already mulched should be at¬ 
tended to at once, so that the fruit may be kept 
free from grit. Keep newly planted beds free from 
weeds and hoed often to insure a good growth be¬ 
fore the hot weather comes. 
Kitchen Garden. 
The great enemies of the gardener as well as 
farmer, viz., weeds, should be destroyed at the out¬ 
set, as when young they may be easily kept down 
if the ground is constantly stirred. One of the best 
and most effective implements in use is the wheel- 
hoe described in December, 1871. A rake is also a 
very excellent implement when used just as the 
weeds have shown themselves above ground. 
Asparagus .—Do not cut too long, and remember 
