South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-04-25
USEFUL.

relative to the planting of cucumbers
which came under my observation, and
which is worthy Of being known. ]
shall at least give further trial myself
gifts reality. Though / cannot con :
ceive there is doubt remaining on the
subject. Last spring, a friend Of mine,
and myself were planting cucumbers
at the same time. l was planting
mine as is usual in gardens, by mixing
small portion of stable manure with
the earth, and raising the bill an inch
or two above the surface of the ground.
Observing it, he loosely remarked,
"Let me show you how TO raise Guy
cumbers % Never having much luck
in raising them, cheerfulIy agreed to
his proposition. He commenced by
making holes in the earth, at the dis
lance intended for the hills, that would
hold about peck-he then filled them
with dry leached ashes, covering the
ashes with a very small quantity Of
earth. The seeds were thea planted
on level with the surface of the
ground. l was willing to see the ex-
pertinent tried, but had no expectation
of any thing but loss of seed, labor
and soil. But imagine my astonish.
ment, Notwithstanding drier season
never was known, and almost uni-
versal failure of garden vegetables
when l beheld vines remarkably thrift
ty, and as fne crop of cucumbers as
any one need wish TO raise, and con-
tinued to bear for very long time, un-
usually so in fact. l will not philoso-
phize or meralizs on this subject, but
say to all try it--and instead ofthrow-
ing your ashes in useless heap to
stumble over near your door, put il to
its proper use and reap your "iieh re-
ward."--Qhio Farmer.
One Thing at a Time.-Step among
your neighbors, reader, and see wheth-
er those Of them who have go, along
smoothly, and accumulated property,
and gained a good name, have NOT
been men who bent themselves TO one
single branch ofbusiness; who brought
all their powers TO bear upon one point,
and built upon one foundation. Ii mus,
be SO. Go out in spring, when the
sun is yet far distant, and you can
scarcely feel the influence ofhis beams,
scattered as they are over the wide
face ofcreation; but collect these beams
to focus, and they kindle up fame
in an instant. So the man that squan-
ders his talents and his strength on
many things, will fail to make an i'm.
preston with either f; but let him draw
them to point-lel him strike a, a
single object, and it yields before him.
Pasturing Wheat. - PastGring wheat
closely in the spring Of the year hes Of
ten been practised to advantage in de.
stroying the fly. If farmers would
early examine their wheat, and when
the fly is found committing its ravages,
would turn in their stock and pasture
it down closely they would frequently
save their crops, The insect deposits
its eggs between the stocks and first
leaf near the root ;--as the larvae APP.
proaches TO maturity, and increases in
size, it exudes poisonous moisture
from the external covering of The lar.
v8e, which causes the stalk to spache.
late and by the increased bulk. press.
ing between the leaf and stalk, it OBJ.
structs the free circulation of sap, and
prevents q sufficient supply for the
nourishment of the head and grain. By
the disease caused in the stock imme.
diately in contact with the larvae, the
stalk is frequently proken off, and falls.
By pasturing closely at the proper
season of the year, which by the ac-
count below corroborated by my own
experience, may be as late as the 2lst
OF May, the egg or young larvae will
be destroyed /; and at the same time,
according to the laws Of vegetation,
the cutting off the tops of the wheat
will cause new lateral shoots which
will have no flies in them and the
roots spreading, as is always OCCASION
ed by cutting the tops, greater sup.
ply of nourishment will be afforded to
the grains
Farmers are generally Induced TO
SOW late in consequence Of the ravages
of the fly in early sowed grain ; but it
is worthy of their consideration, whelh-
er it would not be better 10 SOW early
and to sow less, manure more and to
have fine pasture early in the spring,
when all supply of fodder is short to
fa,ten sheep, raising up poor horses,
young calves, and to furnish plenti.