The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-31
8be Tarnt.
From the American Agriculturist.I
Hints for the Work Of the Month.

LATE Houn0.-If farmers could be con-
WINGED of how much of the feeding value OF
hay is lost by leaving the grass to become
ripe, hard. and woody, it would no longer
be permitted.
Ho,c to Cure Ripe Hay-Hay that has
been cut late may be improved by curing IL
in the cock instead of drying it in the sun.
Being comparatively dry when cut 1t is very
soon cured; and if put up in cocks as soon
as # is thoroughly wilted, it will heat and
steam and become much softened. and Will
remain greener than if sun-dried in the
swath.
Cuttnq Wheat and Rye-If there wss
anv doubt about the best time for cutting
grain, the general experience last year went
far towards settling the question. All over
the country a hot spell came on just as the
cutting became general, and the grain
shrank badly. Had the harvest been a few
days earlier, the total gain would have been
enormous. In the writer's field, stopping
the cutting for the 4th of July holiday last
season, caused a loss of 800 in the quality
of the grain and in shrinkage OF weight and
bulk. As soon as the grain is solid, but
will still crush dry between the finger nails,
it NAV he cut, and hot weather will not in
lure it in the shock as it will when stand
ing. Dead ripe grain is not only less valua-
BILE, but the straw is worth less than II cut
three or four days earlier.
Hay Caps will serve a good purpose upon
grain shocks, and are much more secure
than cap sheaves.
Rake the Fields after the grain has been
drawn; the labor will be we'll repaid.
Protect the HOrses.-A cotton sheet will
be found a great protection to the horses
working in the harvest field. 1t screens
them from the heat, from flies. and from
dust, and the labor Of cleaning them is les
sened. As mentioned last month, 1T will be
found desirable, when horses are washed,
to use a soft sponge and water in which
some carbolic soap has been dissolved.
This cools the skin, assists perspiration, re-
moves the strong pungent smell, greatly re-
freshes the animals, and drives away flies.
Where there is a river near by, a bath in the
evening will be agreeable and safe, if the
horses are kept in the water only two Or
three minutes, are driven home at once and
rubbed dry.
A Scroper for the Horses may be made of
a piece of old scythe, with the edge dulled
on the stone with this the sweat or mois-
ture, after washing. may be easily removed.
Green Feed for Horses.-Give a share OF
the green fodder when horses do not run at
pasture. If at pasture at night, a generous
feed should be given before they are turned
out.
Corn should not be neglected in the hurry
of harvest. Frequent cultivation hastens
growth and the maturing of the crop. To
see the difference, leave a row or two un.
cultivated. Much hard work later in the
season may be avoided by a little work with
the cultiyator, and by keeping the weeds
down..
Fodder Corn may yet be sown. A rye OF
tchaat ct1rbh1o nay ha r1nro1 anl ,loptoI
in drills with 8 bushels of corn per acre
The large Western or Southern corn, OF
Evergreen Sweet Corn, may be used. Somt
extra good ammoniated s~uperphosphate
with potash added, or special corn-fodde1
fertilizer, should be sown broadcast anC
narrowed in before planting. Dropping
the fertilizer in the drill does not answe
we'll for corn when other manure is not usee
broadcast.
RoOts.-Sow Ruta-baga early this month
and White TurEips later. Superphosphat
of lime, or fine bone dust, is specially adapt
ed for these crops. A stuble may be pre-
pared for them by giving one good plowin!
and narrowing; a cross narrowing a weel
later will kill many small weeds. One 0
the hand garden drills will SOW these small
seeds.
CdbJdgcs.-In planting late cabbages OF
potato ground there is no need to pillow tn
whole area before planting. Plow ope1
burrows, 3 feet from center to center, ant
mark out by cross burrows 2 feet apart
Drop a forkful of manure at each crossing
close the burrows over the manure, and sc
the plants in the lines of the cross burrows
Fodder Crops.-Hungarian Grass, com
mon Alliet, or the Golden Millet, may b
sown this month for green fodder or hay
A bushel of seed per acre may be sown
though rther thick seeding, the fodde
will be all the finer and better for it. Mil
let that was sown in May should be cut be
fore the seed is ripe or the fodder gets hard
unless the seed is wanted. Millet see,
makes an excellent addition to ground fee,
when mixed with corn and rye.
Buchacheat may be made profitable upol
a piece Of rough or newly cleared ground
No other crop is so effective in mellowin,
rough cloddy land. The seed in northern
localities should be sown before July 18th