1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
213 
their earlier stages, by being simply cut up or torn up, 
and left on the surface of the ground. In wet weather, 
or when weeds have obtained a larger size, they are 
more retentive of life, and though dug up and exposed to 
sunshine for a day or two, may take root and grow again 
if rain should then occur. Some weeds are much harder 
to destroy than others. Of those which grow in gar¬ 
dens and among cultivated crops the Purslane ( Portulac - 
ca oleracea ,) and the Goose-foot, called Pig-weed in 
some districts, (Chenopodium album,) are, perhaps, the 
most difficult to kill of annual weeds. It is, however, 
only on rich land that they grow with such strength as 
to become a serious obstruction to cultivation. Several 
species of annual grasses, as they grow on almost every 
kind of soil that is cultivated, may be considered greater 
enemies to the farmer. 
In damp weather weeds are more effectually destroyed 
by being buried, than by being left on the surface; but 
the former mode requires more labor. In gardens, how¬ 
ever, the additional labor is not important. It is com¬ 
mon to rake the weeds together in bunches, and it is 
only necessary to dig small holes into which they may 
be pressed by the foot, and covered over with two inches 
of earth. Their abundant juices soon cause a rapid fer¬ 
mentation, and in a day or two they will be totally de¬ 
composed. Only a slight covering is required, as the 
heat generated in the weeds will soon destroy the vitali¬ 
ty of all in the heap. 
In field cultivation, the harrow and cultivator are good 
implements with which to kill weeds j but to do it to the 
best advantage, they should be started as soon as the 
weeds can be seen, and kept running as often as they 
appear, so long as the crop will admit of their passing 
without its being injured. In garden culture, the scuf- 
fler or Dutch hoe, is one of the best implements. Those 
which have an edge on each side of the plate, and are 
attached to the handle by rods curving upward, are best. 
The operator can work it either to or from him. It 
*s generally pushed through the weeds, but if one hap¬ 
pens to be missed by this motion, it is easily cut as the 
tool is brought back for a new push. Another advan¬ 
tage of this tool is, that it does not change the general 
surface of the ground, and does not disturb the roots 
of cultivated plants, while from the manner in which it 
cuts the weeds, they are more likely to die than if they 
had been taken up with all their roots. They are also 
easier to work than the common hoe, and can be used 
with less liability of packing the soil in wet weather. 
A hand-plow may be used in gardens with advantage, 
and we have thought it singular that such an implement 
was not oftener seen. It should have a wheel in front, 
by which the motion of the plow is steadied, and' its 
depth regulated. The frame may be fitted to receive 
tools of different shape, so that the soil may either be 
merely skimmed, or loosened and turned over, as de¬ 
sired. Two men, one to draw and the other to push and 
guide the implement, will go over more ground in a day 
than they could with hoes, and for many purposes the 
work would be done much better. The plow itself 
should be made of steel, as this metal will carry a much 
keener edge, and do more thorough execution among 
weeds, and will require less force to carry it through the 
soil than either wrought or cast-iron. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The Fruit Garden • a treatise intended to explain 
and illustrate the Physiology of Fruit Trees, the theory 
and practice of all operations connected with the propa¬ 
gation, transplanting, pruning and training of Orchard 
and Garden Trees, as standards, dwarfs, pyramids, es¬ 
paliers, etc ,; the laying out and arranging different kinds 
of Orchards and Gardens, the selection of suitable va¬ 
rieties for different purposes and localities, gathering and 
preserving fruits, treatment of Diseases, destruction of 
Insects, description and uses of Implements, etc.; illus¬ 
trated with upwards of 150 figures, representing all 
practical operations, forms of Trees, designs for Planta¬ 
tions, Implements, etc. By P. Barry, of Rochester, 
N. Y. Published by Charles Scribner, New-York. 
This is a handsome volume of about 40Qgpages, very 
neat in its mechanical execution, and in the appearance 
of its illustrations. We have not yet had an opportuni¬ 
ty of making a thorough examination of its contents, 
and must therefore defer a more detailed notice. It is 
for sale by Gray, Sprague & Co., of this city. 
Notes on North America, Agricultural, Economi¬ 
cal and Social. By James F. W. Johnston. Two vols. 
Boston: Little & Brown. Edinburgh and London: 
Blackwood Sc Sons. 
Most of our readers are aware that Professor Johnston 
spent some time in the British Provinces and the United 
States, in the latter part of the year 1849 and early part 
of 1850. He delivered a valuable address at the Fair 
of the New-York State Ag. Society at Syracuse, and 
an interesting and instructive course of lectures for the 
same association, at Albany. These have been published, 
and have been extensively read by the people of this and 
other states. He also delivered courses of lectures at 
Boston and Washington. His opportunities for seeing 
the practical agriculture of the United States, were less 
favorable than they would have been if his visit had been 
at another season of the year. With the exception of 
the few days spent in this state about the time of the 
Fair, his time, from his first landing at Halifax, till about 
the first of January, was spent chiefly in New-Brunswick, 
having been engaged in making an agricultural survey 
of that Province. From Syracuse he went to Buffalo, 
by railroad, without delay, and from thence, by Niagara 
Falls he passed down Lake Ontario and the St. Law¬ 
rence to Lower Canada and New-Brunswick. He came 
to the States again in January; his lectures in this city 
were given in that month, and he left for England on the 
third day of April. His journey was extended as far to 
the south as Alexandria, Va.,—his route and mode of 
conveyance, in all cases, being that usually adopted by 
business travelers. This will show that he had compa¬ 
ratively little opportunity to study American agriculture, 
and will account for various mistakes into which he has 
fallen. His work is designed as a record of what passed 
under his observation during this visit. We cannot, at 
this time go into an extended analysis of it. Though 
designed, chiefly, for the British market, it will be found 
in many respects interesting to the American public, to 
whom we recommend its perusal. At the same time 
we cannot refrain from extracting the following sentence, 
