The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-04-03
FARM AND GARDEN.

plant draws its ammonia more from the
air than from the soil. On land that
without such fertilizers gave about three
and One-half tons of clover hay the
crop was increased to four and one-haIf
tons per acre by manuring with the
salts named. Combined with super
phosphates, these substances would be
likely to show still better results, and a
fertilizer thus constituted is we'll worthy
OF extended trial on our clover fields.
The value of clover, especially when
Pastured with sheep, is fully recognized
by our farmers; but its systematic
growth preparatory TO wheat, as is prac-
ticed in English tillage, is too much
neglected, inasmuch as, from the small
amount of ammonia taken by it from
the soil, it allows nearly whole years
accumulation to be stored up for the
use of the succeeding cereal crop, to
which nitrogenized plant food is abso-
lutely essential.
CULTIVATION OF SMI1Ax.-Mr. J.
Wick, than whom there is no better au-
thority as a florist, gives the following
directions for the household culture of
this plant, now so much used in floral
decorations, for twining in the hair and
for trimming party dresses: "With
little care and attention it can be grown
successfully as a house plant. The
seeds should be sown in a box or in
pots In the house, and should be kept
moist till the young plants appear.
The seed being rather slow to germin-
ate, you must not think it bad if it does
not make its appearance in two weeks.
The young plants should be ported off
into three-inch pots as soon as they are
three or four inches high. Once a year
the bulbs should be allowed to dry off
and rest. They will start into growth
again IN about six weeks. The vine
does not require the full sun, but will
grow we'll in a partially shaded situa-
ton. It can be trained on a small
thread across the window or around
pictures. It is climbing vine, and
will attach itself to a string in Just
about the right condition to use for
wreaths, ETC., or, when required for
lighter work, the branches which be-
come ehtangled can be separated"
MmLET. -Millet seems to succeed ev-
erywhere, with any reasonably fair
treatment. It can be sown early in the
spring, and will produce a succession of
crops, by continued sowings, up to the
middle OF July IN this latitude. Scarcely
more than six weeks are required for
its growth, and the crop should be cut.
II for hay, when the tops of the seeds
begin to ripen if saved for seed. it nav
stand until the seeds become brown.
MIllet requires a good soil, well pre-
ppred and as rich as may be made. Deep
p43ughing is effective in the cultivation
OF this crop against drouth, as it is with
almost all others. There is nothing
better as manural application than a
n hrV TIrT uk d.
ano or good super-phosphate. Barn
yard manure, when used, should be
well rotted. Four or five pecks of seed
are sufficient to the acre when hay is
the object. When sown for the seed,
which when ground is nutritious and
fatten1ng, rather more seed should be
sown. There are number of varieties
of millet; but our remarks above ap-
ply to that commonly in use, known
botanically as PGn5ctG771 77ajLaceun1. OF
Its great value there can be no doubt,
and we hope all our readers who can do
so will SOW at least a small patch of it 4;
II only as an experiment, to test its
adaptability to their situation. We on
~ add that the hay it makes is excel
lent IN quality, much relished by cattle
and horses, and frequently reaches three
to four tons to the acre in quantity.
RAPE AS HONEY PLANr..--H. O..
Krusch, Berlin, Wis, writes the Ameri-
can Bee Journal 81 AS a honey-produc-
ing plant the rape is scarcely second to
linden, producing a beautiful golden
honey, of good flavor, and is in blossom
when nearly everything else is out OF
blossom, commencing about the middle
of August and continuing couple OF
weeks. AS farm crop it is as good il
a.E ll,AE r.
sowing it is from the middle to the end
of June. This gives time to prepare the
soil after other crops are in; or i
wheat or corn should fail in coming up
rape can be sown in their places. It is
harvested from the middle to the last Of
September, after all other grain is har
vested. 1t does not iHlpoverish the soil
but benefits. From five to eight bush
els more per acre of wheat are raised OF
ground which had rape the previous
year. il allows no weeds to grow aftel
1T IS fairly started, growing very dense
and its leaves completely shade the
ground, therefore it does not suffer will
drouth, like other grains. The SEED
has good cash market at Fond du Lac
Wis, where oil is extracted from it
and brings from 81. so to 81 per bushel
From ten to eighteen bushels are gen
BAOuuCGu per Dub IL Is Oh
tener over than under this estimate
Two quarts are sufficient to SOW an acre
Thousands of bushels are annual,
raised in Calumet county and it is jus
as stable crop as wheat"
CULTURE OF ONIoNs.-The soil should
be of such a character as to be easil,
worked and rendered fine at the surface
for which purpose a medium loan com
monty answers best. 1t will be a grea
saving of labor to have it clean ant
previously in good order, and it shoulC
have a strong dressing of fine manure
It is better to have the land nearl,
level, so as to be easily worked and no
to wash by rains. There should b.
very few or no stones, or they vii
greatly increase the labor and cost o
cultivation. The seed is usually sow
IN rows about fifteen inches apart. Sow
as early in spring as the ground can b.
well prepared. Four pounds of SEED
are enough for an acre. 1t Is importan
to use drill or machine for sowing tn,
seed, rs it viii ave large amount o
labor and put in the seed more evenly
Roll the surface, to press the soil OF
the seed and to facilitate the first cult
Walton and hoeing. 1t is all essential t,
destroy the weeds before they are a.
inch high, both for the good of tn
voung plants and to save labor, for tn
work will be increased more than ten
fold if the weeds get several inche
high. and the crop viii be half ruined
Whom the young plants are three O
four inches high, thin them so as to
two inches apart in the row, disturbin
tba roots as little as possible IN tn