Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-07-07
Notes and Suggestions for July.

montn OF the homan year, and, on
this account,was denominated Quin-
tits. 1t had originally thirty-six
days, bus Romulus reduced it to
thirty-one, and Numa to thirty
1t was restored to thirty-one by
Julius Caesar who honored it on ac-
count of its being his natal month.
After the death of Caesar, Mark An
thony changed the name to July as
a mark of respect to the family name
Of Caesar. Brady says that Anthony
selected this month for such honor
airy distinction because the sun was
then more potent, as this denoted
that Julius was Emperor Of the
world, and the month was the APP
propriate leader Of one half of the
year. The ancient Saxons called
July Hay-noath, because their hay
harvest occurred during the month.
The great heat Of July led to a SUI
perstition among the Romans
They conceived that the great heat
and the diseases and other calam-
tiles arising from it, were connected
with the rising and setting of the
star Canicula, the little Dog star,
III coincidence with the Sun, and on
this account they gave the name of
Dog-days to the period from the Sd
OF July to the 18th Of August. The
popular delusion that dogs are more
liable to be attacked by hydropho-
bla at this period than at any other
time, probably originated in this
way.
CUTTING GRASS AND CURING HAY.
1t is of the greatest Importance to
the farmer that his hay should be of
the best quality. Badly cured hay
has an unfavorable effect upon live
stock Of all kinds. Stephens saws
1T will change horses appearance
in two days, even when given with
an unlimited supply Of oats. Bad
hay excites the kidneys to extraor-
binary activity; the discharge of
urine is profuse, and the animal be-
comes hide-bound, emaciated, and
feeble. If grass, clover, etc, are
not cut at the right time, hay of
superior quality cannot be made
When farmers had to depend en-
tirely upon the scythe it was no
wonder that some of the grass crop
became too ripe before the mowers
reached it; but in this age of now
ing machines there is scarcely an
excuse for allowing forage crops to
become damaged from over ripe
ness. The common error in hay
making is that Of exposing it too
long to the rays Of the sun and dam
age from rain; in fact, keeping it
"under the weather. until its most
valuable juices are dried up. Some
of the most successful curers of hay
get 1t under cover the same dav
from cutting By this rapid pro
cess the juices are all preserved, the
wax, nitrogen and salts are saved,
and damage from rain avoided.
rATTESISG CATTLE ON GRASS.
In Great Britain and Ireland the
wealthiest and most independent
farmers are those who occupy large
farms of good grass land and who
fatten and sell annually large num-
bers Of cattle. This class of farm
ers are called graziers; they keep
very little of the land in tillage, do
not winter large ! ers of cattle,
but buy two Or fee years old
heifers and stce in the spring,
keep them on choivsSasture during
the summer and auSmn, and sell
before the animals begin to lose
flesh in the fall. The vast herds Of |
Texan cattle are sometimes man
aged in similar way, being pur-
chased when in low condition and |
driven on the ranch and succulent |
prairie grass until they have become
nearly fat. Farmers who have good
grass land should devote at least a
portion OF it to tattening stock; good
two or three year old heifcrs and
steers kept OH rich pasture for six
months would probably pay better
than inferior tillage. The money
would all come together, and the
cost of transportation, compared
with that of the cereals, would be
trifling. Every farmer should
fatten all his young stock that
is not required for the dairy
or the yoke. Selling stock Of
any kind before they are properly
made up for the market is very bad
management, and great deal of
money is lost by farmers every year
in this way.
SELECTION OF SEED.
Nearly all the principal varieties
of the cereals have been originated
from few ears of extraordinary
size and quality gathered by intelli-
gent observers, at harvest time, and
propagated from until large quanti-
ties Of seed were obtained. The
potato oats, which turned out to be
!, most valuable variety, was orig
mated by gentleman Of Cumbcr-
land, Eng, from single plant Of (
extraordinary size and weight, found
growing III potato field. The
most approved varieties of wheat
bear the name Of some intelligent
farmer who originated them. The {
Chevaler barley, Il most excellent {
variety Of this cereal, was named )
after NJ. ChcvaIicr, Il French agri- ,
culturist, who originated it by Sc {
Letting the finest ears in field of 5
barley, at harvest time. a vast inn
provement Of seed and consequent
increase of agreeable produce might
very easily be affected, if farmers
would annually select the best ears
of the cereals at harvest time, and
propagate from them. The agreeable
produce of all kinds Of crops may
be generally increased by selecting
and using the best seeds.
FORAGE CROPS.
Corn sown broadcast or in narrow
drills produces an immense quantity
of fodder, if the land has been well
prepared. June is the best time for
getting in the seed, but if this has
been neglected, it should be done
c,rlv in July. If the season is IA