Middletown transcript., 1874-10-03
Farm, Garden and Household.
seasonabIe Hints.

Reasonable Hints.
Rye is worth growing, both for the
straw and grain A few acres will
furnish bands for large field Of corn,
and the chopped grain with corn is ex-
cellent feed for horses. Two bushels
Of seed per acre is sufficient. If kept
separate at harvest it may be sown at
the end Of wheat field Upon poor,
light, or gravclly soils, it should be
sown in preference to wheat, as more
profitable crop
Few farmers are liable to get their
soil in sufficient good tilth, or rich
enough to sow grass seed alone with
profit. Where it can be done convent.
emily, crop of hay may be mown next
season. In this case half bushel Of
timothy is a proper quantity of seed
Generally, however. it is best sown
with fall grain. If clover is to be sown
in the spring, six or eight quarts Of
timothy per acre should be sown im-
mediately after the grain is drilled or
narrowed in. 1t will find sufficient
covering by the gradual mellowing of
the soil. A quarter Of an inch Of COW
ering is all that is needed. If the seed
is old, one half more will be needed.
Fall following should not be neglect
ed. The corn stubble should be thor
oughly cultivated between the shock, as
soon as the corn is cut. Potato ground
that is unoccupied should be narrowed.
and every opportunity offered for the
weeds to grow. A narrowing will then
destroy them, and start others to grow
which may be killed in the spring
Every way in which weeds may be kill
ed should be studied and put in prac-
tice.
It is useless to try to get a crop OF
seed and fodder at the same time, from
late cutting of clover. 1t is best to
devote all the attention to saving the
seed. If it is exposed to rain it is
easier thrashed and the labor saved is
of more value than the poor odder
which could be secured. 1t should be
thoroughly dry when put into the barn.
If taken from home to be hulled it is
worth while to save the chaff for the
manure pile. We have hulled clover
in the ordinary thrashing machine, by
lowering the concave and fastening a
strong board in front. The seed and
chaff will work out below the cylinder
if one side is opened.
Buckwheat upon low ground is easily
injured by frost. Rather than allow
the crop to be injured, it is better to
cut it early, although some Of the grain
be green. In the stack it is safe. and
the unripe grain will mature by few
days exposure. In drawing home the
crop, spread barn sheet in the wagon
to catch the loosened grain. Thrash.
as it is drawn from the field. Clean
up the seed at once to prevent heating,
and put it into shallow bins. If the
grain heats it should be turned. The
first grain in the market always brings
the best price.
Harvest beans carefully, to preserve
the color. Rain or mildew will reduce
the value so per cent. Stack in tall
narrow heaps around single stakes set
in the ground, and cap the stacks with
straw to shed rain. Thrash as soon as
dry, and store in barrels in a dry
place.
Cutting corn is the great work of the
month. As soon as the corn is glazed
to the tips Of the ears, it is ready to cut.
If struck with frost the fodder is seri-
ously injured. Topping corn is excu-
sable only where the fodder is worth
nothing. We have not found that place
vet. The heaviest Western corn may
be pro6tably cut up to the butts for
fodder. The practice of leaving bill
uncut to hold up the shock, is more
troublesome in the end than setting up
the shocks securely at first. Spread the
butts we'll, and tie the tops of the
shocks with rye straw bands. There
will be no more shocks blown over,
than if hill is left uncut in the centre
Of each. Our plan Is to cut Eve bills
each way, or if in rows 20 feet Of each
row for five rows. This makes shock
that will dry thoroughly in two weeks.
Corn cut before the 10th should be
husked before the end of the month
Cold fingers and benumbed hands make
slew husking g.-Agricmlturist