Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-04-10
Agricultural.

PREPARING GROUND FOR CoRN.-Ata a
recent meeting of the Bucks County Agri-
cultural Society one Of the subjects dis
cussed was in regard to the preparation Of
ground for corn. An essay was read by
David Palmer, IN which the opinion was
expressed, based on experience and obser-
vation. that late plowing, just before the
planting season, had proved to be best as
general thing. That fall plowing had the
effect of destroying insects ne thought "a
mistake, and the views of Thomas Meehan
were quoted in support of this belief. 1t
was also fallacy to suppose the earth was
mellowed by freezing, as it is compacted
again by thawing and heavy rains. The
freshly plowed ground is the most easily
prepared for planting. In regard to the
depth of plowing there is much diversity
of opinion. What seemed to him a good
rule was to turn up the earth just the depth
of the soil, unless it is very deep. Should
the soil be thin he would go little beneath
it, especially if drought was feared. He
would mark out for the rows so deeply that
the roots of the corn would soon reach the
manure and rotted grass around the field,
in the best possible manner, turning the
burrows fiat. Thus he would save time in
the preparation of the soil, and have less
labor in keeping the grass and weeds in
subjection.
THIS is the way famous cantelope cul-
tivator gets fine start with bis plants, and
has early fruit, as early as any in our mar
kets: II dig holes twelve inches square,
eight or ten inches deep; fill up with well
rotted horse-manue to the surface. On
this put two inches of soil. Then take
four-inch fower-pot; set in the centre
draw the remainder of the soil around the
pot, until the soil is about four inches deep;
then give the pot twist round, withdraw
it. This leaves hole four inches deep by
four wide. In this drop five or six seeds,
and cover to the depth of three-quarters of
an inch. Over this place light of six by
eight glass, pressing it lightly to fit close.
L then give no more attention till the plants
are touching the glass. Then 60 through,
taking small stone, raise up one end of
the glass with it; this admits of circula-
ton of air over the plants and hardens
them. In about three days more remove
the glass entirely. By this time they will
be in the rough leaf 7 thin out to three
plants in hill. 1 draw little fine soil
around them, up as high as the seed leaf,
and the work is donen
| GARDEN HERBs.-Every weIl-kept garden
should have due proportion of garden herbs,
but with the exception of some coarse fellows
which know how to take care of themselves, such
as catnip and chamonile there are seldom any to
be found. These of the most popular and use
| full, sage, thyme and parsley, are seldom grown
except by those who make specialties Of them for
market.
OF parsley we recently gave some hints In
substance we stated that it must be sown very
early and on cool, rich ground; and that if the
seed did not appear for month. still one should
have patience, for it is one of those deliberate
sort of fellows which often take a long time to
decide what they intend to do about it.
IL regard to sage, many have it for a year or
so when it disappears. To have sage continu-
ously, it is best to treat it every second year as
we would box-edgings, of which we gave some
account but few weeks ago. That is, it should
be taken up, split apart, and set in the ground
much deeper than it was the year before. Roots
| hon he riO nod
and the plants seem better adapted to stand ex.
tremes of heat and cold than when the branches
are exposed on long stalks. Sage is not so liza
bic 10 get killed out in the winter when it is cut
back hard in the fall, as when it is left untouch
ed. Many cut back some of it for drying. Indeed
dried sage is the form in which it is chiefly used.
When this is done regularly the plants do no
need replanting so often.
Thyme usually manages to live through In thi
par; of the world, though nothing be dcne TO it
but it also is better for being cut back close ever
fall, and for an occasional lrepIanting.-GsrnsGH
tora Telegraph.
STICKING PEAs.-A correspondent of the Lon
don Field makes the following suggestion as
the sticking of peas, which is worthy of trial:
I ilC builhb lllsLG " lLOec huO nave 10 pTOcQl
stakes at great cost the following method wi
prove advantageous, being very cheap, simp
and easily performed. A few rough stalk
should be obtained and driven into the grour
on each side of the row about twelve feet apaI
These stakes should be of a corresponding heigl
Ito that Of the peas, and when the required nuI
Der for 4 line is inserted, some tar rope or 9th
, strong cord may be tied to the end stakes, al
passed along the line of stakes, making a tn
on each within a few inches of the ground, al
as growth progresses, raise the the next turn
little higher, advancing in succession, until t
! plants attain their full height. These lines bel
run on at the right time, the tendrils of the pc
will clasp firmly round them and support t
, plants quite equal TO the well-known plan
sticking. Some imagine an advantage to be c
! tanned in this way of training, as the lines get
better circulation Of air, and pods can be gsth6
cd at all times without mjuring the haulm.
EGGs FOR SETTING.-An English agricultul
| paper says that eggs intended for setting shoI
be stored with the large end down, because
air-bubble does not spread so much as when
small end is down, this preadng of the air-bl
bic being known to affect the freshness and
tally of the eggs. Eggs stored with the larget
down will keep perfectly good for Matching IN,
than month, while the others cannot be
pended on after two weeks. A successful DC
try breeder in Franklin, Mass, has been exps
menting with eggs for setting, and declares
above statement correct, and adds that e,
stored on the large end for a few weeks bef
setting will hatch at once, instead of vary
several hours, as is usually the case with g,
not so preplred.