The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-08
evening State Sa,,rmat.
THURSDAY EVENING, AUG 8, 1872.

TIE american Agicul,uist for August
is very fine. The illustrations of any num-
Der are worth its price for the year. The
ogden Farm Papers " are continued with
success. The writer inculcates deep plow-
ing, butwith the proviso, that plenty ofmsn-
ire is used. lie advises setting milk in deep
cans, and cooling by such artificial means
as spring-houses. The Ogden Farm dairy
produces 600 lbs of butter per month from
twenty-scven Alderny cows, big and little,
sick and well. The farm is thoroughly
cultivated, and the soilng system islpur-
sued with cattle as a rule. Valuable hints
are given on machinery and economical ex-
pedients of various kinds. We copy the
following from theexcellent monthly notes !:
Weeds.-4-rhe best thing to do with the
weed seeds cleaned out of the grain is to
burn them. If the screenings contains
weeds. as they almost always do, they
should be thoroughly boiled before feeding.
If possible allow no weeds to 60 to seed in
the growing crops or in the ience-corners
or waste places. Now the weeds in the
pastures. If the wheat or barley stubbles
are weedy, it is a capital plan to go over
them with moving machine.
Bedns.--Our own plan is to pull five
rows at time, and place the handfuls,
with the roots up, on the middle row. If
the weather is favorable, this is the easiest
and quickest way of curing. They should
be lifted or turned as often as necessary to
prevent the leaves on the ground from
moulding. If the weather is unsettled, it
is the safest plan to cure them in large
heaps made so as to shed the rain. IL
carefully made, beans may stand in such
heaps for weeks without injury.
Wheat on ,Stubble Laad.--A large and
increasing breadth of winter.whcat is now
sown after barley, oats, peas, or beans.
Whether it is best to rlaw such land once
or twice depends on circumstances. AS a
rule, we think it best on rather heavy soil
to pillow twice--once Immediately after the
crop is gathered, and again just previous to
sowing. On light sandy land we should
harrow the stubble, or cultivate it TO start
The weeds and fallen grain, and pillow as
soon as they had terminated. Then har-
row, and keep the surface clean andmellow
by the use of the cultivator until it was
time to sow.
Root Crops, such as mangel-wurzel,
ruta-bagas, carrots, parsnps, etc., should
be kept scrupulously clean. Use the hoe
and cultivator freely. BY using 200 lbs. Of
good superphosphate per acre, q fair crop
Of strap-leaf turnps may be grown on good
clean land sown as late as the first or even
The second week in August. Sow on
iresh-plowed land.
Draining S,oamps and Getting out
Muck are always in order this month.
Grind the spades as sharp as possible, and
60 to work with a will. 1t is nothing like
as difficult job as most people imagine. On
flat, level land, the true way to dig ditch
is to commence at the lowest point, and dig
Just deep enough to have the water follow
you up into the higher land. You will
then lose no fall. Such muck as you In
tend to use for manure or compost should
be thrown on one side of the ditch only,
and by taking a little pains it may be
thrown in good-sized heaps with little ex-
ira labor.
Cous. During the hot weather in Aug
ust the flow Of milk is apt to fall off consid-
erably, and it is difficult afterwards to
bring It up again. Bran and spout-feed are
unusually cheap, and can be used to great
advantage. Our own plan is to keep large
trough Of water in the yard, and mix as
much mill-feed with the water every day as
the cows will drink. Tt pays in the ma
nure, in the increase of milk, and i'm. the
improved condition Of the cows. If you
have any green corn, now is the time to feed
it literally. If very succulent, let it wilt a
little, and if very large and coarse, and
consequently rather deficient in nutriment,
let the cows have enough corn-meal to
make the fodder as nutritious as the best
pasture grass.
Sheep.-Lambs should now be weaned.
Put the ewes in poor pasture, and let the
lambs have the run of some second-growth
clover or other rich grass. If the weather
is wet and the grass saeculent, give some
dry food, such as clover hay, or, better
still, bran. Remove the rams from the
flock.
Swa,e. Let the breeding sows and store
pigs have therun of the stubbles. Pigs in
tended to be fatted this fall should now be
fed literally, but should be allowed to run
in the pasture.
WmG.--See that all animals have
plenty.