Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-08-12
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Catting l,rRss.

cusstu ny tne American farmers cluD.
Upon this topic 1t was found that the
practice and tho opinions Of farmers
differ widely, some advocating cutting
~ closely ~ possibly, some cutting from
two aud half to three inches high,
others from ono to two, and others a.
close as convenient.
One intelligent, practical farmer said
that no preferred TO have his grass cut
high enough to protect the roots from
the hot sun. In his earlier experience
he had had timothy grass almost killed
by cutting close in dry, hot time. Par
ticularly on upland moving grounds
does he avoid cutting close, rs he be-
liaves that the hot sun and dry weather
which usually follows the moving sea-
son has an uniavorahle influence on the
roots OF the grass. Low and wet mead
ows he mows as closely rs possible.
Grass excepting on low, wet ground)
cut two inches starts much quicker to
grow than when shaved to the earth.
Another experienced farmer prefers
to shave close, within nh inch of tho
ground, when possible, for no thinks
that il the soil is in good condition and
not too dry, it will start again immedi-
ately. He top-dresses his moving land
and prefers n compost made OF WOODEN
waste and meadow mud for ground not
very wet but for heavy soil uses sand,
or sandy loan, to mix with wool waste.
He applied fifteen cartlonds Of thirty
bushels each in the late autumn.
The testimony on this subject, though
somewhat conflicting, leads to the con-
clusion that the height from the ground
at which it is best to cut grass, depends
on the season, the soil and the grass
MS, for instance, no grass, except in
moist ground, should be cut 80 low in q
dry season as it will do to cut it in the
wet season also, the injury inflicted
weather establishes the rule of cutting
higher from the ground. Most farmers
concur in saying that the fne grasses
can be cut the lowest with safety, par
ticularly il the season is not too dry.
The talk turning to tho time of cut
ting grass also gave variety of opin-
ions. These, however, indicate very
clearly the prevailing practice of cutting
tho principal grasses, timothy and red
top, when in full blossom, red clover
when about half the heads are in bios
som, and small grass before it is ripe
and generally before blossoming if pos.
sible, so as to prevent its becoming hard
and wiry.
The chief work is to keep the growing
crops free from weeds. This is so easily
done that there is no excuse for weedy
garden. Keep the horse and cultivator
in frequent use among the larger grow
ing crops, and the hoe and various
hand weeders among the others. Save
seeds as fast rs they ripen, selecting
only the best and earliest for seed.
All that can be done to asparagus is
to pull out the larger weeds that appear.
Plant few rows of beans for late use
and for sailing down for winter. Limas
need pinching when they reach the top
of the poles. If the crop is larger than
can be used, shell and dry for winter.
Thin the beets and keep the weeds
down and loosen the soil with the hoe or
hand cultivator.
No crop better repays good cultiva-
ton than cabbages hoe often.
Thin and weed the late sowings OF
carrots.
Save the earliest and best ears OF corn
for seed. Cultivate and hoe as often as |
necessary.
Cueumbers for pickles need to be
gathered every day, and sailed down or
sold. For the market assert them into |
three sizes, rejecting all over three or
four inches long. Save seeds from the |
earliest.
Cultivate egg plants often, and go
over daily and destroy the potato
beetle. Place shingle or handful of
hay under the fruits, to keep them from
the ground.
Gut herbs as soon as in flower, tie in
small lunches, and hang where they will
dry.
Pinch back the ends of rampant
melon vines, and remove all fruit not
likely to ripen. Those about ripening
will be be better if turned occasionally.
Harvest onions US soon as the tops fall
over; store i'll thin layers in a dry airy
loft. II they can be marketed at paying
prices now, it will be better than storing.
Clear up the ground occupied by late
peas, and plant with the turnips.
Dig potatoes as wanted, and either
bury the tops in the rows, or take to the
pigpen to be made into manure.
Treat squashes the same as melons,
and hand pick tho squash bug. When
the leaves wilt, look for tho borer, and
cut it ont with sharp knife.
Do not allow the sweet potato vines
to root at the joints, but move every
week, and keep the weeds out.
Keep tomatoes tied to the trollises,
and thin out surplus shoots. Destroy
the large green worm.
Sow fat turnips in vacant spots, and
thin out rutabagas. -Agriculturist.
Informal Questions and Answers.
When ought the larch be plantedi
AS early i'll the season as the ground
can be worked. No other tree begins to
grow SO early, and if the operation OF
transplanting is delayed until the new
shoots have pushed, it is generally fol-
lowed by the destruction of the plant.
Scotch and Corsican pines can be
planted up to the first of May.
Are onions best raised on meadow or
uplanda
Onions raised on reclaimed meadows
cost less per acre than on upland, the
difference being in the preparing OF the
ground and the wedding. The chief
point is to select land free from weed
seed, us weedy land is very expensive to
ill.
Define clay land.
Pure clay is that from which no sand
can be washed. Brick clay contains
from five to twenty per cent. of sand.
Clay loan contains from twenty to forty
per cent. of sand. Clay soils consist
largely of alumina. Clay itself is a COM
0ound of silica (sand), acid, alumina and
water. 1t also contains potash, soda and
lime. 1t forms compact earth, soft to
the touch, hard in dry state and sticky
when wet.
When must maple seed be gathered
The seeds of the silver maple and the
red maple ripen intwo or three weeks
after the leaves are fully developed.
They should then be gathered and sown
soon after. Plant in drills to the depth
of an inch, the rows being sufficiently
wide apart to be cultivated with har-
row or pillow. When the ground is dry
roll It after planting. The young plants