The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-29
Agricultural.
Flowing Under clover.

writes to the Country Gentlemen:
'tPlowing clover for wheat is still large
ly practiced in this section, with the
difference that now the top is mostly
cut off and saved for hay, and only the
roots, with what foliage cannot be
moved, turned under. One fact about
the recently cut clover hay may not
generally be known. 1t is that SO long
as the clover is standing the soil will be
as hard as brick, and almost unplow-
able but if plowed within three or
four days after the clover has been re-
moved the soil will turn up with COM
parative ease. l have noticed two in
stances of this within the last month,
and it is fact which l have never be-
fore seen recorded. That the mass Of
clover foliage should dry the soil rapidly
is not strange. The inexplicable part
of tits that after this foliage has been
removed, without any rain, the soil
should become friable and comparative
ly moist. 1t may be that the process of
drawing water from the subsoil, which
with full foliage is at once evaporated,
goes on with little interruption for
time after the foliage is removed. The
surface roots will thus be made very
sappy, Just as the sap exudes from the
stumps of vigorous trees cut in spring
after the flow of sap has begun. Prob
ably the effect in helping the plowlng
by removing the summer foliage would
not be the same with plants not having
the long deep roots of clover. The ex-
periments of Voelcker have shown that
clover makes the best preparation for
wheat after the second crop of hay is
removed The soil is then richer in
fertilizing material than at any previous
stage of clover growth. 1t is its bene-
fetal effects on the subsoil that makes
clover so good a preparation for wheat.
Other foliage plants, with roots near
the surface, are of little value.'
MIR. Charles Hovey says many fruit
growers ignore what is a consideration
to the housekeeper, the size and persis-
tence of strawberry stems and hulls.
Where the hulls are large and adherent
the waste is considerable, and the Der.
f ries are often crushed in attempting the
: removal.
, "A prominent Californian, who baS
fifty acres in the raisin grape, says when
r ever grapes become Improbable fol
I raisins he can make money by feeding
4 them to hogs. He contends that grape'
: will fatten hogs faster than any othel
! known food-from two to three pounds
d. per day.
8 II. S. Gold, of West Cornwall
5 Conn, says that the worm which pro
duces gapes in chickens is propagateC
in the ground. He has grounds so in
/ fected that it is impossible TO raise on
e out of dozen chicks when allowed t,
IT range on it, while adjoining fields ar
:. entirely free from the malady.
a Oliver Baker, of Fulton county
d Georgia, thrashed from twenty-nin
g and one-half dozen sheaves of "Straw
d berry" oats twenty-nine bushels from
fifty dozen of "Red Rust Proof" oats
fifty bushels, and from fifty doze
l. "Burt" oats, grown on one and one
le quarter acres, fifty bushels.
~ Crop reports from Russia are favor
# able. The great wheat growing couI
a try of Russian Poland expects an avel
age crop. The important country to tn
ID north of the Black Sea, from Odessa
ia the Azef, has been freshed by timel
,v rains, and gives promise of good yiel
N of wheat.
n The scarcity and high price of blac
walnut timber should induce farmers
at cultivate this valuable tree. Your
or men especially should pay attention
is the culture of black walnut. There a
We always places on the farm where the
can be grown, which are not occupit
nd by other products.
IL The annual moulting season
BIT fowls is now at hand, which is som
times criticalperiods with them. I'll
transformation of the feathery GOVERN
is great drain upon the system. TIL
'at should be fed literally at this time wi
lal varied supply of food, and allowed
all extended range TO wander over.
,ar Over 5000 head of cattle and ma
thousand sheep are now feeding on t
To- plains of Wyoming Territory, and ma
rse more of both species on those of
we State of Texas, and yet there are ma
iii who hesitate to admit that the gri
to crop is the most important natural p
bile duct of this country.
in Rye production in Russia is abb
ON 60O, 900, 600 bushels, and in some ye
ese goes above 700, 900, 600; Germany abb
and 300, 100000 France, 75,000,000; A
not tro-Hungary, 100, COO, 900 total of tn
nth countries, 1,075, 900, 900 bushels, 2
int average annual wheat product
ter in these countries is about 700, 900,
N.Y. bushels.
'i'n "A writer in the Country GentIen
'i"- recommends the soaking of the W
W "c- composing summer house in CT
Cne petroleum, saying it will make any C,
iis- mon wood nearly or about as DUR
lnB' as cedar, besides imparting to
iier- rich brown color. 1t would be
sn " excellent idea to apply the 81
III preservative to trellises, ETC.,
lawns.