The Portland daily press., 1881-10-21

AGRICULTURAL.
nanth for seed.

at Of seeds
air hut not light. Buried in common soils
thew obtain the requisites, and also the third
If not too deeply covered. A good rule,
.ubiect TO some variation with circumstan-
ces. and applicable to seeds of all sizes, is
10 cover them to depth of from three to
Eve times their diameter. Corn, for ex-
ample, the grains Of which are nearly half
an inch in diameter, may be covered to
depth of an inch and half to two inches
or more; but grass seed, only twentieth
of an inch in diameter, will not bear depth
much greater than half an inch Consider
able variation must he made with the ma
ture and condition of the soil. One that IS
sandy or gravelley admits air through It's
pores to greater depth than soiid ana
compact soil. Seed planted in dry soil
must be placed at greater deptn IMAM III
soft and moist earth.
In connection with this subject, carefully
conducted experiments bring out valuable
facts So e years ago we made some ex-
perimenis on wheat, corn, oats, and beans
covered at carefully measured depths. The
soilwas m ist, so that the seed germinated
freely when quite near the sur, ace. Al
half an Il ch In depth, wheat came up IN
five days; at an inch in depth in six days;
two inches deep in seven days; three inches
in eight DAYS: four inches in ten days; aud
at six inches deep in twelve days. Five
weeks afterwards the plants were most vigor
Gus from those planted half an inch and an
inch in depth, but scarcely superior TO those
from depth # two l. ches; the others de-
creased in vigor with the greater depth.
At six inches there were but few slender
stalks. Tie soil was strong, rich, well
pulverized loan.
The practical lesson taught by these ex-
periments is that the seed-drill for sowing
wheat lif the condition or the soil and
smooth surface of the field admits) should
L. nf MO
although greater depth may be allowed for
q very dry soil.
In the experiments with corn, the depth
varied from half an to six inches. All, or
nearly all, the grains grew. Those buried
half an inch, an inch, and an inch and
half all came up nearly together in eight
or nj days; at depth OF four and hve
inches twelve and. thirteen days were re-
ouired. Five weeks afterwards the strong
est plants were those from seed covered two
inches or less in depth.
With OATS buried at different depths, the
plants at one inch came sp in half the time
required from four or five inches, aud grew
much better afte wards. AT six inches depth,
the plants were feeble. The experiments
made with beans were similar to the others,
except that none grew at depth of five
inches or more
The experiments made many years ago bv
the Messrs. Lawson and Edinburgh with
grass seed, showed that nearly all grew
when covered not over half an inch deep;
only about one half grew at the depth OF an
inch to an inch and a half; and none from
a depth of two inches. The kinds expert
mented with were orchard grass, timothy,
and red and white clover. Very similar
were the results of the trials made in this
country by G. Trowbridge in 1858, the
plants of clover and timothy diminishing in
size with the depth of covering, none grow
ing from a depth of two and half inches.
In three months the plants from the shallow
covering were foot high; those from great
er depths only five or six inches.
These experiments teach the Importance
of finely pulverized surface for properly
covering the seed, as well as the advantages
of a tnpdressing of fine manure to retain
moisture and start growth. They indicate
that grass seed should not be buried with
common harrow, but with fine brush or
roller And they show that seedsmen may
be unjustly censured by pIonouncing seed OF
bad quality when perfectly good, if it is
buried where it cannot grow.-Boston Gull
tivator.
Points OF Various Breeds Of Fowl
1t is a fact that some breeds of fowl are
condemnd before arriving at the period of
usefulness-caused, perhaps, by entering
on the poultry business without forethought
breeds held in contempt, but the whole
business is condemned severely. All this is
caused by the lack of proper knowledge,
and disposition TO overcome drawbacks and
avoid mistakes. 1t is folly tor one to embark
in the poultry business with an Indifferent
disposition. On the contrary, lively in
terest must be enlisted.
The Dorking is bI eed that will not be9r
neglect, and is long time in arriving to ma
turity. They seldom come to full size until
after the second annual moult. Indeed,
believe they still continue to increase in
size and value even in the third year. They
need long season, and therefore, should be
early h2tched. They require warm quarters
In cold weather. IL should be remembered
that these slow-maturing fowls remain
much longer time in egg production, and
when not producing eggs are making the
very finest flesh. impatient novices should
not invest in this breed unless previous
and thorough knowledge be obtained.
slow and steady growth, and small profits,
are the accompaniment of success.
Closely allied to the Dorking are the Black
Spanish, a fine old breed, that produces
some of the very finest eggs as well as flesh.
The birds of this breed are not quite so
slow Of growth as the Dorkings, neither do
they reach so great size, but are excellent
In every way If patiently cared for.
The Leghorns are the fowls for the new
beginner, 1OT luty MAKE QUICK STOWbuS, dflu
are he very earliest to lay. In this respect
they are not excelled. They are the de-
penience for eggs, but when flesh is desired,
their size is against them. For early broil-
ers they are excellent, but when inquiry
comes for something large to roast, the
choice generally falls on the Asiatic varie-
ties which have become generally bred fol-
this purpose New beginners may be told
that they are also good egg producers, and
mature sufficiently early for market chick
ems. The very first mistake the novice
makes with these fowls is in feeding too
heavily, thinking in this way to increase the
amouns of eggs, but with the Asiatics, 80
much and no more goes to production of
eggs. The remainder goes to production of
fat, which, if in excess, destroys the egg
organs. In other varieties, the overplus of
food would not be eaten at once. What is
eaten goes to make egg material, keeps
down the fat. and the birds are better in
every respect, more wholesome and healthy.
No European breed will over-eat and gorge
themselves, as rule, like the Asiatics.
which are the farmers, the villagers and
the city fowl, from the fact that they may
be kept where none other can be.
The Leghorns are docile; the Spanish are
gentle aud fond of their homes, and sure to
return to them at night. The love of wan
dering is great with the Dorkings. In this
respect they differ from almost all other va
rlebleS lDey are SpIenulu Dreeu, prOuuc-
ing the best of flesh, and they seldom scratch
or do damage 1t is universally acknowledge
ed that profit and amusement may be com
bined in the poultry business, but there has
been too great disposition among fancers
to color their statements too highly, to rep
resent the advantages and profits too glow
ingsy. thus leading the novice astray. All
this is wrong, but III promulgator probably
reaps the reward in the sale of fancy birds
and eggs at high rates.-Corr. Country Culti
valor.
A Different System of Swine Raising De-
sirable.
Pure air helps to make pure blood, which,
in he course of nature builds up healthful
bodies Out-of-door pigs would not show so
well at the fairs, and would probably be
passed over by judges and people who have
been taught 10 admire only the fat and
helpless things which get the prizes. Such
pigs are well adapted to ill lard kegs, where
as The standard of perfection should be a
pig which will make the most ham with the
least waste of fat the longest and deenest sides
ch, haua