The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-08

this Is true. But II those OF our readers
who keep a daily record Of their farm
operations will turn to them, they will
find that gathering the crops constitutes,
Notwithstanding its traditional and real
importance, q very small part Of the
actual work of the month. With
mowers, reapers 1--WE wish we could add
binaere), tedders. rakes, and unloading
forks, all run by horses, harvesting
calls for the exercise Of very different
faculties than it did when the farmer,
Notwithstanding his many cares, found
it necessary to lead the mowers and
cradles in the hay and wheat field.
The most important cork Of this month
is doing those things which we are
constantly tempted to neglect Among
these may be mentioned: ....... ....
The cellar, drains, sinks, privy, etc.
must be kept clean. Dry earth is the
best and cheapest disinfectant. For
sinks and drains use copperas or
chloride of lime. The nights and
mornings are frequently chilly. Make
a little fire on the hearth, or in the
stove. Go to bed early and get plenty
Of sleep.
The health of our animals -The
sickness and death of stock constitutes
one OF the greatest losses and discourage
ments Of the farmer. The immediate
cause of their death may be beyond our
control, but in nine cases out OF ten, the
disease, if we search back far enough,
might he traced to dyspepsia, derange-
ment of the bowels, and general debility.
Improper and irregular feeding, over
work in a hot sun, going too long with
out water, and then giving too much,
are among the causes of bad digestion
and general ill-health. And these are
under our control.
Killing rcedS is one of the most i'm
portant lahors on the farm, at this
season None should be suffered to 60
to seed, if it can be avoided without too
great expense. At any rate, not weed
should be suffered in corn, potatoes,
and other hoed crops
Smmer;tdlIows for Wheat are apt to
be neglected this month. A good
blowing or cultivating during this dry,
hot weather, will kill every weed that
has terminated. Heavy, cloddy land,
that can be reduced aud pulverized
when completely dry, will not forget it
for years.
Cuhivating corn we regard as the most
important labor Of the month. There
can no longer be any doubt that thor
ough and repeated cultivation will
frequently add one-third to the yield,
while the future condition of the land
is greately improved.
Hoeing corn is becoming less and
less necessary, owing to the improve
ments in our horse-hoes and cultivators.
We sometimes wish that the phraze
: "hoeing corn" or "hoeing potatoes"
was banished from: our agricultural
vocabulary. Wetry to impress it on our
own men that we do not want them to
"hoe the corn" We want them merely
to hoe the needs. They would get over
twice as much land in a day, if this
simple idea could be got into their
heads. We want every weed destroyed
that the cultivator cannot reach-add
that is all or nearly all,that is required.
MANY men waste half their time fad
ding about the hills Of corn, forgetting
that we have cultivators that will do
the work Of killing nearly as we'll as it
can be done with the hoe, and for one
third the cost.
Killing corn, Notwithstanding so
much has been said against the prac-
tice, still has many advocates among
intelligent farmers. In our own case,
we throw up little soil 10 the plants
early in July, in hopes OF smothering
some of the small weeds in the hill.
About the first of August we 60 over
the field, and hoe out such weeds as
have escaped, and the soil that has
been thrown up can be hoed away
without injury.
CELEBRATING and Hoeing Potatoes
There are few crops which suffer
more from weeds than potatoes. They
require more moisture than corn, and
every weed robs the ground Of moisture
The weeds are constantly absorbing
from the soil, water through their
roots and evaporating it through their
leaves into the atmosphere. The weeds
in many field of potatoes, evaporate
during our hot July weather, 500
gallons Of water per day, per acre !
And vet the farmer is complaining Of
drouth and signing for rain +! If posi-,
BILE, stop the weeds from growing at ALL
but if they have got possession OF the
land, destroy them at all hazards, even
if it is necessary to disturb the roots
and tubers.
Manole Wurzsl and other root crops,
REQUIRE abundance Of moisture. and
must be kept entirely free from weeds.
And recollect that mangle plant that
is not needed is just as much a weed as
a thistle, and will evaporate nearly as
much moisture. Single out the plants
early. In our own case, we leave only
one plant every twelve or fifteen inches.
Ii the work is done during rainy wealth
er, vacancies may be filled out, as the
mangels transplant as easily as cabbage
Wheat should not be cut before all
trace of milk" has disappeared from
the kernel when crushed between the
thumb and finger; neither should it be
left to get dead ripe. Much wheat is
lost every year from careless binding
and shocking. The farmer himself or
one of his best men should attend to
the shocking, aud see that the sheaves
| orc made into compact shocks that will