The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-08
Scraps and Gleanings from different
Fields.

HAIr Rorrrp Hay. We suppose every
farmer has observed how much more greecily
cattle viii eat corn husks and stalks that arc
partially rotted and mouldy, than they will
those that are sound and bright. 5. w.
Johnson, in recent letter 10 the Country
Gentleman, gives tho following account Of
the mode Of managing or curing hay on the
Alps. by which il seems they reduce their
hay TO similar stale with The husks above
named.
The hay, he says, is cut here several times
during the summer, as saw it being moved
in many fields where its height was not more
than three or four inches. Owing to this
frequent cutting. and the abundant rains
that fall in the highlands, the grass Is very
fine and thickset. and Of IN intense color.
On account Of the variability OF the weather,
q peculiar method ol curing hay is practised.
Ono observes numerous little log barns,
fifteen by twenty feet square, and ten feet
high, scattered over the lower Alps. Into
these shanties the hay is thrown while half
dry and thoroughly trodden down. ltshortly
ferments, and the hay becomes dark brown
in color, and forms quite solid mass, which
may be cut with spade. Prof.. Fraas, ot
the Munich University, says, in his Princi.
pies Of Agriculture that this 80 called
!. brown hay" is Us good rs the ordinary
hay; il is, in fact, preferred by cattle, and
appears 10 be moro nourishing.
CAPITAL SKKDKD IN AGRICULTURE. IL is
not little strange that even farmer, II he
chance to have little capital, will invest II
in almost anything else than in agriculture.
The editor Of the Rural New Yorker very
truly says the proper application OF capital
Is one of the great needs OF American Ag.
riculturc. II the money which has OF late
years been invested in constructing parall,l
railroads. and other unnecessary and unpro.
ductive enterprises, were wisely expended
in farming. its possessors and the country
would soon be largely benefited. Even it II
did not Immediately pay heavy dividends,
the stock would be constantly improving,
and hence the investment prove permanently
Iprolitablc,-a result quite the reverse OF
what is true concerning some millions now
buried, or lying dormant in the hands or
assets of soulless and dvidendless corpora.
tions and gambling Spectators. We hope
the time is no, far distant, when farmers, ut
least, will prefer TO use their spare capital,
so Ear rs il may DO done advantageously, in
permanent improvements on their own
premises, from which they are certain OF
obtaining q return commensurate 10 the
wisdom aud extent Of the application, in.
stead Of investing it with the expectation OF
early and large dividends in distant and
questionable enterprises.
DRESSING FoR STRAWBERRIES. Mr.. Chas.
A. Peabody. one Of the editors OF the South.
cru Cultiyator, who has become famous for
his skill in the strawberry culture, says -
"a never use animal manure OF any kind -
nothing but the leaf mould. and an occa.
sional sprinkling Of wood ashes. The leaf
mould keeps the ground cool and moist, as
well as the fruit moist, clean, and does not
stimulate the vines to runners. The potash
and scids contained in il are just what the
fruit wants. Should the vines 30 disposed
TO spread, keep the runners down by con.
stantly pinching Of, and clear out the grass
and weeds with the hoe. A few years Of
this culture viii check their disposition TO
run, and encourage them TO fruit.
The bed thus once formed and cultivated,
will, TO my certain knowledge, continue pro.
ductive twelve years, and have reason to
believe, as much longer as the culture is
continued. Should the vines have taken
possession Of the ground in spite Of the
Efforts to keep the runners down. we 20
through in the fall with the hoo, thinning
out the plants to ten or twelve inches. leav.
ing every cut up vine 70 decay upon the
ground where il grew. We then cover with
decaying leaves. When the plants begin to
bloom in the spring, q top dressing Of wood
ashes will be found beneficial. have tried
strawberry culture with the plow. which
will give q greater number Of vines, but give
only one crop Of fruit. II is generally rG.
marked that the wild strawberry is finer
favored than the cultivated, but with this
treatment, the latter retains all the original
favor.
Il has been recommended to irrigate the
strawberry grounds By letting water on the
vines but the strawberry, cultivated after
the manner described, can bear as great
drought as any other plant. II is not the
vines and leaves that want the water, but
the flowers and fruit; and the water nigh,
come in the form Of rain, through the clouds,
from IN engine, or common watering pot.
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