The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-09-11
farmsrs' Department.
SORREL.

he WISHES to know how it may be eX-
terminated
Had you informed us more about the
relative location Of your field as respects
the surrounding land, we might have Civ
en- you information perhaps, that could
have been made more permanently ben
eficial. You inform us that the field IN
question is wha, is called ''second bot
Tom"
Lands Of this description, if extend
ing back from the "first bottom to the
highlands surrounding, are sometimes al
trcted by springs making from the high
or grounds; rendering the surface too
moist and cold too long IN the spring
for the rapid growth of the grasses, and
when the surface becomes dry and
warm at later period, the plant IN ques-
ton will vegetate and thrive. Frosts,
upon lands Of this description, will al.
so produce its worst effects by throwing
out the grass roots and thus giving use
less plants better chance to gain the
ascendancy.
III have rightly apprehended the
position of your field relative to the
surrounding ground, the first step to be
taken tor the permanent improvement
of YOU field, would be to dig "A ditch of
sufficient SIZE and depth to carry off all
the water that may ooze from the adj
lacpnt hillside, and that accumulates
from rains and SHOWS at different sea-
son Of the year. If, however, your soil
is naturally dry and warm, the ditch
ing will not be needed, as the cause of
the evil will be different from that in
dicated above.
In the latter case we would advise
that the whole field be deeply plowed-
twelve or fifteen inches would be none
too deep, making the dead-furrows the
channels for taking off all the surface
Watr.
As soon as possible set about gather
ing up every available fertilizrr-muck
iivou hay" it on your farm of a neigh
Dor; depoStrs from the streams and
along the highway, decayed leaves and
vegetation FROM the low places in the
woodlands; lrachtd ashes from the ash
cry, or unlrached if you have them, and
TO add to the above to appl y to such
field as yours, you can afford to pur
chase few bushels of lime, say ten
bushels per acre.
Let these substances be we'll mixed
together and then use a top-dressing
upon the inverted sod, applying at the
rate Of twenty good wagon loads to the
acre. Mix we'll with :he soil by har-
rowing, and the last of August or in the
beginning Of September sow your field
thus treated with wheat EARLY in
March ensuing. sow the field with red
clover. After the wheat is taken from
the field dress the clover with leached
ashes using about ten loads to the acre.
Feed the clover but slightly, if at all, be-
lore the Isl OF June ensuing, and then
not too close, or if you prefer it, the
clover may be cut for hay. The sum-
mer following, pillow in your clover, and
again SOW with wheat, the next spring
stocking down to clover, or to clover
and timothy as suits you best, and we
are of the opinion that the sorrel will
be entirely eradicated.
The surface soil Of you field is lack
ing probably, either naturally or by
over cropping, in some one or more of
the nlhaline earthS. Hence the ration-
nIc of using alkaline manures, in the
determination Of acidulous plants
". R. Fo"mer and Dauyman.
NEGETABLE SERpENT.-According to
some Italian journals, new organized
being has been discovered in the interi-
or of Africa. which seems to form an
immediate link between vegetable and
animal liie. This singular production
of nature bias the shape of a spotted SER
rent. 1t drags s'sef along the ground;
instead Of head, has flower shaped
like a bell, which contains viscous
liquid. Flies and other insects, attract
ed by the smell of the juice, enter into
the flower, where they are caught by
the adhesive matter. The flower then
closes, and remains shut until the pris.
oners are bruised and transformed into
a"hyle. The indigestible portions, sach
as the head and wings. are thrown out
toy two aspired openings. The vegeta-
bic serpent has skin resembling leaves,
white and soft flesh, and instead of
bony skeleton, a cartilaglnous frame
filled with yellow matter. The natives
consider it delicious food.
SHADE TREES IN CITIEs.-The last
article prepared for the press, by the
late A. j. Downing was in discourage
ment of the cultivation Of the Ailanthus
"A tree which was introduced into this
country from Europe, though it was
originally from China, and became pop
ular on account of its rapid growth.
The objections are its unpleasant smell,
both in leaf and flower, and its inumer-