The Portland daily press., 1874-05-25
Agriculture.
GROWTH OF CORN. .

III. III. McAFee says in the Western Rural
While the ''accidents of the season" modify
all our crops more or less, no other crop is so
sensitive to meteOrolo2 2ical influences, or va
ries so far either above or below the average,
as this one. Requiring an elevated tempera-
ture, long continued, those delightful cool
nights which sometimes come to make our
''rest real, ,retreshment," are inimica: to the
corn. The weather must be sultry hot, to
make it do its best, and grow on the 'jump,"
So JuHJ rne carry TrUsfs may CdICn IL
''soft' From the day when the seed is bur-
led, to the day when the ear hangs ripe, corn
is the best epitOme of steady, active, rushing
business, to be found in the care of the hus-
bandman. Given only favorable conditions,
and growth ensues which is a marvel of ac-
tivity, and wonder in its immense economi-
cal results.
From one seed we may get from 1900 to
2,400 or more, and that, too inside hundred
days from planting, and beside all that from
an acre from three or four tons of valuable
rough feed, if we choose to utilize it. To
grow the great plant sometimes fifteen to
eighteen feet high, with rootage of scores of
yards in length, and to ripen up thousand
fold or more seed, is surely sturdy one hun
dred days labor. But there must be no de-
lays, or hindrances in the way or poor maize
will suffer. II can not wait day, much less
a week for needed culture, but must suffer if
lacking any of the many conditions favorable
to growth. "a day lost can never be regain
ed' is never more true than in the corn field,
for each of the days of the plants short life
has its work, and the excuses for neglect
which may be very satisfying to our own
minds will never weigh an atom in favor of a
corn crop.
There must be fearful amount of this
neglect of corn in these United States too,
r. 1aor @1,.f %I,1 10 fn.
1868 yield of 24.6 bushels per acre; for 1869
yield of 23.5 bushels per acre; while the
State averages range from SO bushels per
acre in South Carolina in 1870, to 4S.4 BUSH
els per acre in Kansas in 1869.
TRAINING HELPERS TO MILK.
Cows usually become addicted to kicking
when hefers, from being MIXED by abusive
mixers. l nave never seen an old COW be-
come a kicker unless abused. Instead oil
cows being averse to being MIXED when CIV
ing large quantity, have ever found it the
reverse. When pasturage is good, and cows
come home at night with udders distended
with milk, they seem grateful to have it re-
moved. Milking heifer for the first time
requires patience, for they will almost inva-
riably kick. In such a case, put broad strap
around her body, just 10 front OF the udder,
and buckle it up moderately tight, and as
soon as she gets quiet, (for she may kick
around little at first,) take your pail, sit
down and go TO milking, for she is as help
less as kitten. Do not attempt to use a
rope instead of strap, for it will not answer
This is a much better method than tying the
legs. etc. as it does not hurt the animal in
the least. A few applications of the strap,
with plenty OF patience and kindness, will
cure the most obstinate case.-Coyrespondent
Rural Home.
ASPARAGUS AS A MEDICINE.
A medical correspondent of an English
Journal says that the advantages of asparagus
are not sufficiently estimated by those who
suffer with rheumatism and gout. Slight
cases of rheumatism are cured in few days
by feeding on this delicious esculent, and
more chronic cases are much relieved, espec-
ially if the patient avoids all acids, whether
in food or beverage. The Jerusalem arti-
choke has also a similar effect in relieving
rheumatism. The head may be eaten in the
usual way, but tea made from the leaves oil
the stalk, and drank three or four times a
day, is certain remedy, though not equally
agreeable.
BUsHING PEAS.
Ap exchange says: "All the efforts to
bring out a bush or dwarf pea of as fine quail
ity as the old-fashioned high climbers, have
deed. many very choice dwarf peas, but for
prolific bearing and fine flavor, they are all
inferior to the high sorts. The greatest
drawback upon the growing of the higher
varieties, is the trouble and expense OF
busbiny them. Our practice for several years
has been to use twne instead of brush, and
to those who have to procure brush at great
cost, the following method recommended by
a correspondent of the London Field, will
prove advantageous. He says: "A few
rough stakes should be obtained and driven
into the ground ON either side of the row,
about twelve feet apart These stakes should
be of corresponding height to that of the
peas, and when the required number for a
line is inserted, some tar tWine or Other
strong cord may be tied to the end stake,
and passed along the line of stakes, making .
turn on each within a few inches of the
ground, and as growth progresses, raise tn,
next turn little higher, advancing in sue
cession until the plants attain their ful
eight These lines being run on at III,
rio ut time, the tendrils of the peas will clas,
firmly round them and support the plant
quite equal to the well-known plan of bnsb
ing. Some imagine an advantage to he OBJ
tained in this way of training, as the line
get better circulation of air, and pods cal
be gathered at all times without ipjuring th,
haulm." Two lines are quite sufficient
When it becomes desirable to place the third
our practice has always been to take off tn
lower and place it above the second, and 5,
on through the entire period of growth
MAP YOUR FARM.
The Farmers Union suggests that ever
farmer should have complete map OF hi