IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^.^% 1.0 I.I IttlM |2.5 ■so "^^ M^H lU lU 140 IL25 III 1.4 1^ III 1.6 % vi 7 ^'^ %. # op Hiotograpliic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 •^ \ \\ ^f^ (/a CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques <\ k Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notaa tachniquas at bibliographiquas Tha Instituta has attampted to obtain tha baat original copy available for filming. Faaturaa of this copy which may ba bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the imagea in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. n Coloured covera/ Couverture de couleur I — I Covers damaged/ D Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicula r~~1 Cover title miasing/ La titre de couverture manque □ Coloured mapa/ Cartas gtegraphiques en couleur D D □ D Coloured ink (i . ther than blue or black)/ Encra da couir i:< r t • /.'■.. ..... ; Vf' THE ^;w ^> . ,iiii. -s:«gp: S^culture, ^n is th9 'e oblige^ ^ Relieve, become q THE CAUSE OP THE STERILITY OF THE SOIL; T, HE general opinion amongst the Farmert that their lands are worn out^ has created an apa- thy^ and no one has courage enough to step out of his old path ; but acts like those^ who^ bewildered in the forest^ give themselves up for lost. — Let them examine the cause of the sterility of their land ; it is no other than having been too avarici- ous— too frequently cropping with grain. They have not considered that the earth requires rest and nourishment, otherwise it soon becomes exhaust- ed. The soil bein^ thus reduced^ demands a differ- ent management, to bring it back to its primitive strength. Land that has due nourishment and re< pose, cannot be worn out, as is supposed ; but will produce to the end of time. Their are sufficient examples of the fact in the vicinity of Montreal, where many farms have been sold by the Canadians to Europeans. Those lands were considered inca- pable of supporting their former proprietors : indeed they afforded them but a poor existence. Let them return to their former residence, although few years have passed away since they left the spot, they wiU tl [ s ] will find beautiful Meadows, fine crops of grain, and abundance of vegetables ; healthy, robust ani- mals improved from the diminutive stock tlicy lefti These delightful scenes, the reward of care and industry, will prove, that the means are at hand whenever they may be brought into action. The plan I propose to bring the soil into a fertile statej is to give a better tillage, to destroy weeds ,* to give rest and manure. There are few situations, but what may in a few years produce profitable crops of one kind or other. A farm on the scale of one hundred arpents is proposed ; that size being most, •frequent in the seigniories j as the nature of the soil diti'ers on every seigniory, so it does on every farm. I shall, therefore, treat separately on them, and the manure fit for each, as also the crops best adapted for each soil — the method of culture — and the use they may be applied to when gathered : ^^ ^ in'Uj'"-i« -jiis wr-'V V'l f- •fcU*t( . Urn "' 1^. ';i /r 'M\^ Vf'if-i ^^.»1 .Vl^•^^t^■■1c■^ ^ at i,a„(| '»• Tiie t'/e state, '* *^siye «"s. but crops of "f one 8' most, ^^'esoii every best -and C 9 3 •pmri jM>oA% llllllli 7 1st Wheat 8 Gre^Crop 3 Barley 4 Hay 5 Pastnr* 6 Hay 7 Pasture 6 1st Pease i Wheat 3 Green Crop 4 Barley 5 Hay SPastare 7 Hay 8 Pasture. 6 1st Wheat 2 Green Cref 3 Barley 4 Hay 5 Pasture « Hay 7 Pasture • Hay. 4 1st Pease 9 Wheat 3 Unea Crop 4 Barley ft Hay 6 Pastare 7 Hay 8 Pasture. 3 1st Oafs 2 Pease S Wheat 4 Green Crop 5 Barley « Hay 7 Pastnre 8 Hay. 2 tst Wheat 9 Green Crop S Barley 4 Ray 5 Pasture 6 Hay 7 Pasture 8 Hay, & break ap in the Au- tumn. No. 1. Sheep and Pig Pastnre. — . l| 1^ a 1 li C5 1 » ■I. mmm [10] The Farm is distributed intonin6 ble it to give more nourishment to succeeding crops. Those improvements can only advance gradually, because the lands are full of weeds, and require from three to four years, to bring them into a proper state for grass seed. Those, who lay down before the earth and weeds are subdued, will have their work to begin anew. The advantage arising to the farmer will be great, because every part of the Farm will be in a productive state. Instead of his cattle feeding on the wild growth of forty arpents, which produced but a mere existence, twenty ar- pents of gocd meadow will furnish them with more than thcj can cat. The other twenty will produce a ^ 4- '■■ " . , »• lift . . I'-M ro.4. ^ y«ar,^n4 yev wj4 "ffe, that is merer |uent rc-r that in- nd ena- ? crops, idualjy, require proper before their ing to of the of his )ents, yar- more Juce [ 13 ] ft crop of Hay, to keep them in winter ; and the after m^t^^ when the hay ia mowed for autumn £Dod, forty arp^nts under tillage will iiirni^h the £^nily, fet^a stork, and give a sui-plus tor Market. The Straw, ]|]aulm and Fodder derived from the propped land, will encrease the stock oi winter food and furnish bedding for the animals, to be convert- ed into manure -r-To improve the soil, notiiing is wanted but industry and enterprize^ to effect so dpr |irable a change. V STRONG SOILS. c 'LAYS in general, of whatever kind, are dif- ficult to cultivate, particularly in summer ; the sun and wind ia a few hours make them so hard, that they cannot be worked to advantage. However, when proper correctives are applied, they are more lasting soils, than many others. The following Manures have been used 'o Adva:itage : The coarse Blue Sand from the beaih of the River St. l^aw- rence ; the quantity, one hundred and forty loads to the arpent, the load contains eighteen minots. — Lime has au excellent effect on clay, at the rate of ,#^ sixty iU4 ~1 ^t ■» »v sixty minots to the arpent. The method to njppif the lime^ is to put it in heaps about the size of a miv not on the land, where it is to improve : then have- people ready to cover it over with earth, so that the lain cannot touch it, care must be taken from time to time, that the earth be on the heaps ; for fear the wet should get to it. After it has been a fortnight in that state, it may be spread as equally as possible, and be ploughed in with a shallow-furrow. There is a blue slate that crumbles to pieces, often seen on the sides of rivers, that is of service as a dressing. Small gravel, tanners' bark, and stable dung, all these are beneficial manures and correctives. A trial was made on a piece of clay soil, that had been under a hoe crop ; it was ploughed and manuied with three kinds of manure for a crop of Barley, to lay down with Clover and Timothy. One part of the field had Lime, another tanners' bark, and a third stable dung. The lime produced the finest Barley, the stable dung was next, the worst was where the bark was put. The succeeding year the grass was so heavy, that it was very difficult to cut ; and for five years after, it produced very heavj crops. v-hi Wherever manures are applied, no soil is more grateful, than that of this Province ; it returns its master many fold. LOAM. ■7 izeofaniP then hare- »o that the from timt ^' fear the •rtnightin spossibie. There n seen on' dressing-, iung-, a« ives. A »ad been fianured ^rfey, to part of and a finest St wa» ar the )cut; ieavj nore ) its ps] LOAM. o, 'P this denomination^ there ate several colours; the stable dung, at the rate of sixty loads to the ar- dent, is sufficient ; but these soils require refresh- ment every fourth year ; the light kind of loam might be improved with Marie, which is the most lasting of any. There is plenty near Three Rivers, as alsb on the River du Loupe and Yamaska : it is of a blue colour at these places, but there is likewise marl of a grey and some of a reddish colour. Those who may not be acquainted with that earth may be able to know it, by putting a piece into a wineglass ; if it is marie, it will dissolve in water. The quan- *tity to the arpent mi»st not exceed seventy loads ; if it is spread too thick, it makes the crops grow too rank. — It will last for eighteen or twenty years. ^^ ~ ,111 — .■■■■■ SANDY SOIL. im s. M. 'AND is improved by putting on clay, which thould be done in the autumn to be exposed to the i* tiit-ifh air CI6) air and frost. Marie is also a manure for Sand; it would require one hundred loads to the arpent. The mud from ponds would be very good for sand. Those on the borders of lakes, have an exceHtut manure at hand ; the mud on the sides of theiii could be collected in the summer^ when the water is low ; it is useful £L>r sand and loam« and would make a part of a compost for any use. METriOD TO ENCREASE litANUB ^. T, HERE arc many q)portunitie8 6f collecting materials to form a compost ; the sides of ridges and hills offer virgin mould of a contrary nature to parts of the farms. The earth on the sides of main dit« ches, the mud from ponds^ rivers and lakes^ rushes^ tanners' bark, horse and cow dung, that from pig* sties, might be placed in layers, on some convenient spot, made for that purpose. A hollow where the bottom is clay, is best ; should no such place offer, one might be made and boarded, to prevent the urine from running off. Where lime can be obtained^ that mixed with the other parts, would be of greft ''' Sand en ' Sand or light bam may be put into the S' eep- HousCi about two feet thick, then straw or any lit- ter for the sheep to lie on. As the frost prevents the removal of the sand or earth, in order to put on fresh earth, fresh litter must be added, as often as it becomes soiled. By this method/ I obtained forty loads of dung, from twenty-five sheep in one winter ; this manure is the best of any for wheat. The horses, cattle an4 pigs, should all have lit- ter to lie on in the stable ; the fodder they tuga^ when they are fed out, might be gathered \^ ilc bedding. Tht» method will, much increase. th0 stock of manure : the strftw and other Jitter wili 6oak up the urine, the most valuable part tliereof>.o The dung of all kinds of Poultry is approved of^ Us 'EL top dressing for Wheat and ik^rleys^ strewed thin on the ground when the grain has come up. A, • }»M -..i cu : WOOD ASHES. r . /:hM . i.iouM. . i«*MlJ f ., -SUES are a manure for yellow loairt, strewed «t the rate of twenty minots to the arpent, when *it:f 'V^ *,.vpi ' # the t IS 3 the grain is about three inches high. \ hav6 tnti them on strong clay soil, without perceiving anj' ^oodeffiect. BONES. 'Miitll^ jBo] ^NES are A tasting manure t they iure Viikr^ fill for strong days and all loams ; they must ht dtiopped small ; fifty minots will be sufficient fat o:ae aipeo* ; they are strewed as equal as posistblet (idf SOOT. I: T, "Cti,j '■«■ HIS is an excellent top dressing for Wheat, Ilarley, or low grtiss land ; tilr^nty minots to the ar- pent Much might be collected in the towns from Clhimnies and Stove Pipes ; it is worth one shilling tlie minot. It being very light, the expence ^6f Ciurriage would be but trifling to distant parts. s > • PLASTER eiving an^ 119 3 PLASTER OP PARIS. ■ ?f ♦iiiu^ must b«i cfent for ^oastbte. rrtilt hear- from 36 of V5j Jt HIS valuable manure, almost unknown and very easy to be olilained, merits the attention of f very farmer ; there is scarcely a farm in the Pro^ vince, but it might be applied to with advantage. The practice of nine years on the following soils and crops, may suflKce to prove its quality. On a piece of poor yellow loam, I tried thre^ grain crops without success ; with the last, which followed a hoe crop, I laid it down with Barley : the return was little more than the seed. The grass seed took very well. In the month of May the following year, I strewed powder of plaster, at the rate of one minot and one peck to the arpent ; in July the piece of land being mowed, the quantity of grasst was so great, that it was not possible to find room to dry it, on the land where it grew. The produce was five large loads of hay, to the arpent, it conti- nued good for five years. A trial was made with plaster on a piece of white clay laid down with clover and timothy— ^the grass was very thin. After the plaster was strewed, it improved so much, as to be distinguished from any other part of the field ; the sixth year after, the field was broke up in the spring and sowed with pease^ the spot where the Q% plaster [20] plater had been put, produced twice as much af any otiier part of the field. The haulm was of ^ deep green colour, nor were they effected with the drought like the others on the part of the field^ wliere no plaster had been put. A trial waa mado on a strong loam ; the crop Indian corn, manured in the hills with old stable dun^, lime and plaster : the stable dung surpassed the other two. The In- dian corn was finest where it was applied. In the spring of the following year, the field was ploughed and sowed with pease, where the plaster and lime had been the year before, the pease were as strong again as any other part of the field. I tried plas- ter on cabbages and turnips, but did not perceive any good effect. From the frequent trials on vari- ous soils of this manure, it is evident that it is ap- plicable to both strong and light soils, for top dres- sings of succulent plants. ^ The method to reduce it ; take an axe and break the stone to the size of a nut ; then take a flat stone two feet diameter, and break it into powder with a •wooden mallet— it must be reduced very fine ; those that h^ve an iron pestle and mortar, can pound it expeditiously that way. Should plaster mfeet its deserved attention, it might give employment to people in the Houses of Correction to reduce it to powder, for the use of the farmers, when no other objects of industry present themselves. ,^^ ^*>fSJiJ'^| la ^9 much af m Was of ^ '*^ with the ^' tJie fields was made I, manured J poster : The In. Ill the ploughed and h'me *8 strong- 'eti plas- perceive on vari- t is ap^ P dres* [21] • , In order to give an idea of the measure of a ton of plaster in stone, it will measure three feet squara on the base, and two feet two inches high English measure. This is cited, in order to assist personf that may wish to buy fi-om the vessels going up the river, where weights cannot be had to weigh. That which is taken from the mine is be.si ^nd is of a siU ver grey colour ; that from otF iht surface is red and is of less value. A ton will produce fourteen minots of powder when broke ; a man can break eighty pounds in one day, in a mortar of six inches diameter in its natural state. Having a great deal to prepare for the spring of 1817, I had it broke about the size of a goose egg, and then put it into the oven of a double stove ; it remained about half an hour, after which a man could reduce two hun- dred and ten pounds in twelve hours with a sledge hammer, pounding it on a flat stone. As this is an experiment, time must determine whether the heat diminishes its quality : it does not loose wcig;ht by the process. GREEN CROPS TO PLOUGH 11^ FOR MANURE. la iAND sown with red clover, when the clover i$ mow«dj ;> C»3 |no\yed, and has grown again to the height of eight or nine inches, is ploughed in and is a great en- richer of land ; the crops that follow after are, first barley, second pease, third wheat, and laid down in grass. Buck whea^ has the effect of enriching light soils, one minot of seed to the arpent ; plough Jight, then sow the seed. When it is in bloom, ifc must be rolled with a roller to lay it down, after which it may be ploughed in, to take a rotation of two grain and one green crop, when it may be laid down. i I. tl ' Pease are used sometimes for the same purpose. Tares would be preferable to the two before men-, tioned crops to plough in j they produce a far great- er bulk ; but at present there are none to purchase. Oats are very good for the same purpose ; they re* quire to be sown thick ; and when about ten in- ches high, plough them in -^Having pointed out manures tliat will restore dilferent kinds of soils and enable them to bear crops ; it is also requisite to re- commend to the Farmer, to clear his land of stones, at least of all that are larger than a man's fist, as also stumps of trees, to fill up small holes and drain off the water from the cavities ; a^ improvement in many places, that would cost but a trifle ftnd ren- der the[land much gasier to cultivate. ^'.'f^l^ '.r-l- Jv >•- !k TWO ,K. -f tM>-* ^h'i *V ''gilt of eight » 6:reat en- fter are, first d laid down •f enriching ^nt; plough n bioom, it 'own, after rotation of "ay be laid ; purpose, ore men- ^r great, urchase. they re* ten in- ited oue >ii8 and e to re- stones, Rst, at drain ment I ren- [Mi TWO HORSE PLOUGH. B. vo Before I point out the advantage of the two horse plough, I should do injustice to a deceased gentlemen, Mr. Davidson, were I to omit the ac- knowledgment of the signal service, that he ren- dered to the vicinity of the Riviere du Loup, where he introduced that implement, called the Devonshire Plough. It is to be regretted, that it has not made more progress, through the province. The ease with which that implement performs the labour, the facility of ploughing equally every part of a field (even holes can be turned up, M'here the French wheel plough cannot touchy) tlie many baulks and large corners left untouched by that combroas ma- chine. The number of cattle, horses and men, to attend its slow progress, one might think would •how the Canadian farmers the propriety of adopt- ing the two horse plough, where one man with two horses perforrii the labour in less time and far bet- ter; the saving of manual labour, as well as the cx- pence of keeping useless cattle, might be sufficient inducemejnt. However, there are many Canadians in the vicinity of Montreal, that have adopted thu two horse plough in preference to the wheel plough ; it is therefore to be hoped, that in a few years, the li"bl KJf^ ( [ 84 ] » light ploughs will be in general use. Those \Vh6 wish to adopt them, should get ploughmen from the parts where they are in practice, I have shewn men the use of them, and in a few years, they have «oon become proficients ; but it is necessary the plough should be well made and well handled ; and what is remarkable, when a man has worked with the light plough, he gives it the decided prefer- ence, declaring its superior advantage. Some iron ploughs, which are very complete, have been im- ported ; but they should not be put into the hands of new beginners. A plough that has the beam and handles made of wood, had better be the hrst ; they are easiest repaired in case of accident. The share and coulter should be steeled ; they cut bet- ter, and in meeting stones, receive Httle injury. Very good ploughs may be had at Riviere du Loup, for about four pounds. The seasons for the di£ferent pursuits of agriculture in Canada, being so various^ every machine that can advance labour, should be employed. •, I , THE FOOT PLOUGH. T, HIS implement is a smaller plough for one horse, to clear the earth out of the furrows, after rhose WIi6 n from the ive shewn they have sssary the lied ; and rked with d pre%r- 'ome iron been im- le hands he beam he rirst ; t. The cut bet- I »nj«ry. n Loup, lifferent rarious, culd be r one after [25] ft field is sowed and harrowed ; to run furrows^ to plant Indian corn, French and horse beans, po- tatoes and cabtjage ; also to clear ttie rows of weeds, and earth up the plants. THE DUTCH OR HOG PLOUGH. T, HE hog plougii, so called, perhaps from tlie share resembling, in a side view, the face of that animal ; is very usefnl in shp'^ow soils, intersper- sed with large stones, or in new land among stumps of trees. The shortness of the beam and handles renders it easy to remove ; the solidity of tlie share enables it to meet obstruction without receivin": in- jury. This implement is in ;^eneial use amongst the Americans, and was introduced by them into this province. It is also employed to run furrovys and earth up hoe crops ; but from the great Avidf h and hoUowness of the share, it is unfit to plough deep and effectual. ,.,,.J*.;'^/- •(*>■» t'lVlYji/ THE m ■Mifa [36] THE HORSB HOE. 't T, HE horse hoe is formed with a beam and handles. It has an upright share, the foot of which is of a triangular form, and two mould boards which are extended at pleasure by means of a scraw. This implement is used to work between the rows of plants and roots sown in drills, to cut the weeds and earth up the plants. It will perform in two hours with the assistance of one horse as much as one man can do in three days. THE SCARIFIER. T, HE scarifier is of a triangular form, furnished with handles and five tines, two inches thick, flat at the foot, formed triangular and steeled ; they are five inches at the base, and set so as to cut thirty inches. It destroys the weeds between the drills, pulverizes the earth, and gives nourishment to the crops, by enabling them to expand their roots. K».xji Jk THE •earn and of which 1 boards tns of a between s, to cut perform tiorse as [87] THE DRILL RAKE. T. HIS cheap and useful implement is formed" with a beam five feet long and four inches thick : it has a pair of shafts for a horse to draw ; on the top of the beam two sticks are placed uprig-l.t, and on the sticks a piece of wood to press the tines in- to the earth ; these are of an angular form, curva- ted and two inches thick. Holes are made in the beam at the distance the crops are intended to be put in the field ; it answers for turnips, beans, pease, corn, carrot|, parsnips and onions in drills. When the seed is' sowed, it is covered with the head of a rake, or a piece of wood four inches broad with a handle placed in the centre like that of a rake. The seeds are very soon covered with it. I -■/■ • . ? */-;.■'" ■•.-*' lished flat at y are hirty rills, > the 'HE HARROWS. T, HE form of those implements differ in most countries ; that used by the Canadians is triangular, D 2 mostly* ufffm ,y Ji I ' [ 38 ] jtnostly set with wooden tines, differing from the French Harrow which is a long square. The En- glish patent locked Horrows have been introduced here, hut from the want of careful persons accus- tomed to that refined implertient it is often injured. In order to avoid that diJBculty, I have had some made of three inch timber, four feet long, three feet wide in front, and four behind. It has four crosi bars, each of them have twenty iron tines^ which are steeled at the points about three inches high. The tines arc best made flat on the side and nar- row in front, if a little curvated the better ; when the harrows work single they J^re drawn by one corner. A small staple is put to steady the cHvice. sometimes two are attached together, and drawn straightways with two liorses, by which means they answer for single or double us^. ^^^. ^ THE SWEDISH HARROW. T, HIS harrow is constructed with three inch timber forming a square of five feet set with iron tines half an inch thick, and curvated. It is used after < lie heavy harrows to cover small seed when , . * sown ^g- from the •. The En- "itroduced sons accus- ten injured. ' had some ong-, three sfourcrosf ^s^ which 'hes hig-h. ■ and nar- *"; when • by one le divice, 'd drawn ans thej $oyfn broad cast, of three inches, la^x, and turnips. [29] The tines are set at the distanci^ I have it used after mowing- hemp^ i% THE ROLLER, A, -LTHOUGH few Europeans have Rollers which may be had for a small sum, they are very necessary on every farm, to roll the grass, grain, and pulse crops ; as also to break the rough soil^ and render it more easy to cultivate. PLOUGHING. inch iron used ^hen )wn F, ARMERS cannot too seriously consider the great principle on which the due culture of tlie earth is founded, viz. thoroughly to devide and loosen the soil ; this principle is so generally receiv- ed, that there is not an English Fj^mer, wlio does not I \ \ i ! •^ I 4' not know^ that one ploughing more than ordinary, is near as serviceable as a light dunging. Expe^ rience shows him that his crops are more abundant by extraordinary ploughing. Of all the ways of improving his land, no one is more eflFectual, or less expensive than this. If its full value were known, it would be practised more, and [every farmer would give all his land one ploughing extraordinary ; the Canadian farmers plough little and sow a great deal : that practice will keep them poor, such im- perfect culture, is the cause of the very small return, which they reap, very often it is only five seeds. In tlie best years rarely more than eight. So small a return does not pay the expense of the labour, nor can they expect any other until the land is better prepared. The wide furrows taken by the wheel plough leave the earth in a massive state. A great part of the field is not ploughed at all ; the sod is merely laid over the turf. If the farmers obsen-^e the middle of th^r ridges, they will always see, that the weeds are stronger there, than on the sides. Their roots remaining undisturbed, they rise early and choak the grain. In order to plough thoroughly and destroy the weeds, when the first furrow is run, let the plough turn it back. By following that method, every part will be Cut, and there will be an end to the covering system. If a fallow is intended, after the field has been plough- ed three weeks or a month, let it be harrowed well J [31] " ordinary; -abundant e ways of 'al or Jess known^ it 'er Would ^'•y ; the a great ^uch im- return^ eds. In small a 'r, nor better wheel §Teat is ene see, tlie 1st well ; a few days after let it be ploughed crosg- ways in very ^-road lands. It may lay till within a few days of the last ploughing ; before which, it must be well harrowed. The lands must be run out straight and equals and laid up high to sow in the spring. If it is to be manured^ that will Ise done directly after the last harrowing, to be turned in. Manure should never be laid on in the summer ; unless it be turned under furrow, as it is carted on the field. — Great quantities of manure are wasted annually, by being exposed on the land during the burning heat of that season. October is the best time to spread manure. — The month of July is the time the farmers have least to do ; they then cart their manure and spread it on the land. It re- mains in that state until October ; the sun exlialet all its virtue in a day or two, from which circum- stance it has little or no effect to enrich the soil The Canadians not knowing the fact, have consi- dered manure of little benefit ; this can only be the cause why they are so inattentive to the first princi- ples of refreshing the earth. Let them reflect, that when they apply manure to potatoes, Indian c«>ru or cabbage, they cover it immediately with eartli, and always reap a benefit. The same precaution is necessary, while the sun has pov/er to draw the salts from the dung ; it is therefore advisable, not to draw manure on the land until the Autumn, when every advantage may be reaped from it. TIIR ^ [323 M-'i ■ ( t V fi i THE CHOICE OP SEED. ', f <\ I T should be the farmers particular care to choose for seed the finest and cleanest grain of every kind, free of weeds. The little attention to this very essential object in husbandry, is but too frequent a disappointment to the Farmer. No merchant or miller will buy foul or burnt grain, when they can get that which is clean. The change of seed is no less necessary every third year, the greater the distance the better. Those who live in the north, should procure seed from the south ; it is more likely to come to maturity earlier, than that from a backward situation. Those who con- tinue sowing the grain on their own land too fre- quently, cause it to degenerate, and as there are always more or less seed of weeds sown with it, the land will continue foul. It is a general case, that change of seed produceth more abundant crops. ''■h'-r - .' ; ,i.-^il», . . - ■:;• i«J;.>' , .V. ■;,-! .■■1^1>^^5tu'' [33] t :.-"? PREPARATION OF SEED TO SOW. T, HE grain intentird to be sown, sliould be screened ; after whicli it should be put in a tub, and washed ; the light grains and seeds of weeds must be taken off as they rise. When it is well washed, it may be spread thin on a barn floor, and have some slack lime sifted over it. Then It 1h sho- velled *on the floor, and when the grain is incrust- cd, it can be sowed. There are many steeps recom- mended in order to purify and fertilize grain ; per- haps the following may be as good as any. Put as much salt in a tub as will make an c^^g swim : that done, add as much more, then the grain is put in and stirred about. Let it lie thirty hours ; then take it out, spread it on a barn floor, sift slack lime over it, as stated above. Those who live where salt is scarce or dear, can make a strong lye with wood ashcB, which wiU answer very well for a steep. £ THE ■■^itt^ ,v— -~- — — ' ■■ ^ ■**«.■< [34] THE TIME OF SOWING. T, HIS essential point in husbandry drew the attention of one of the greatest Philosophers that ever lived,* his remarks are so instructive, that it >vill be proper to insert them. It is evident that great advantag-e may be reaped, by a strict appli- cation to them : " It is now the fourth year," says the ingenious M. Harold Bauck, " Since our il- " lustrious President, exhorted his countrymen to " observe with all care and diligence, at what time " every tree expands its buds, and unfolds its " leaves. Imagining, and not without good rea- " son, that our country would, sometime or other, *' reap some new, and perhaps unexpected benefit, " from observations of this kind, made in different *' places." As one of the apparent advantages, he " advises the prudent husbandman to watch with " the greatest caie, the proper time for sowing, " because this, with the Divine assistance, produ- " ces plenty of provisions, and lays the foundation " of the public welfare of the state, and the private " happiness of the people. The ignorant farmer, " tenacious of the ways and customs of his ances- " tors, fixes his sowing season, generally to a month, " and sometimes even to a particular day, without con- \ \o\\ Lianaeu^i of Upvcij, gwedeii. tt drew (;,e that it ent t/iat -t appij. •*/' says ' our iU "icn to at ti'ine Ids its d rca- other, -'lefit^ Cerent ?s.he wit/i >du, ion ate ler, es- K lit (S (< (e cc (C (C yould then be sure. These observations are applicable to this Pro- vince^ '>^' '"'•on. (he 'S-''t to be to reinar/i ''^« of t/ie y fonjpar, ^y «i>p<>ar S-" T/,e ' iiot/c- K com. The ill ap. 'at aM dry the ob- Jve ml [37] vince, wlicrc the sowing of every kind of grain, is confined to the spring ; however, the forest is not direetly the guide. Tljose who are acquainted with the woods, kaow tliat trees bud and expand their leaves emlier there, tlmn in the open fields. Trees exposed to a free circulation of the air, arc more b.ickward in leafing, than those in the woods ; it is from open situations, that the time for sowing nmst be drawn. In order to lead to such discove- ry, trees might be planted in exposed situations ; there is an evident want of taste, in not planting tljosc beautiful ornaments, so frequent to be met with in Europe ; the inattention to shade the farm house, so necessary in summer, as well as to break the storms of winter, — the painful sight of the panting flocks^and herds exposed to the burning sun of summer. The few trees required, to fornj, a shade forages, are sufTicient inducements to erect such useful monitors. Those who may wish tt> embellish their estates, with forest trees, should have the holes dug in tlie Autumn, and as soon as the frost is out of the ground in tjie Spring, take up the trees they mean to transplant : they should not exceed two inches diameter. Care must be taken not to bruise the roo's, and get up with tliem as much mould as possible; two poles shtiuM I)c put slant-ways, to meet the tree, about four feet fnim the ground ; and a band of liay tied r(5und the whole, that the wind m:^1\t not prevent the tree, from 1 [38] from ffrowinij:. They should be watered twice a week until they take root. The nature of the soil will guide the choice of the trees : the following- are applicable to trials made on the cast side of the is- land of Montreal, near the city. The witch elm will point out the time to sow spring- wheat, KyC;, Horse IJcans, and the Larg-e Pease, when the buds have risen to the size of a large pea. The Soft MiiplCj tlio Butter Nut, and llaw-Tliorn, when the buds open, will point out tlic time to sow barley, buck- wheat, on\.% and ca iy pease. The White Oak and the White Ash wiil shew tlie time at the opening- of their buds, to plane Indian corn, potatoes and Krench beans. There are some farmers, who sow their wheat on the snow, depending on the frost ai J thaws in the month of April, to cover the seed. Sometimes they have succeeded on light loams ; but on strong clays there !s htt'e hope of a crop. Others commit their grain to Ihe earth, while it is wet and harrow it in : the Horses sink to their knees and bury the grain too deep, ever to be able to rise. Although early sowing of wheat, beans, and large pease, is advisable, yet the farmer had better wait a few days, until the earth be dry enough to bear a horse, without sii\king more than two or th.ee inches. When he would have every reason to expect success from whatever he may •ow ; if the earth is harrowed wet, it becomes hard with the sun, and spoils the crops. SPUING '"^^^f the is, I' "ye, Ho,,e ^^^^« A/,p/e^ '" "'e buds '■'^% buclf. ^^ O-^/c ai,d ""f^^y their frost ui J ^^>e seed, ^oanis; ^ crop. o (iio/r ^e able '• /lad dry thiii] very nay lid [39] T, SPRING WHEAT. HERE are three kinds known among- the Canadians : the white or ba!d, the red and tlie bearded. The white hasPELT, called Egyptian Wheat, by the Cana- dians^ is very productive ; it will grow on poor light soil. The flour is very coarse ; it makes bad breads but good beer — and could be used, to feed horses^ pigs and poultry. It is cultivated the same as Wheat, but requires rather more seed for the ar- pent, the grain being larger. BUCK WHEAT. T, HIS grain will grow on light loam, gravel- ly or sandy soil, but rarely succeeds on clay or strong loam. The cjuantity of seed for an arpent is two gallons and one quart ; the meal makes good cakes. When it is scalded, it will fatten hogs, but should not he given whole unless it is boiled. It is good for horses and poultry. The produce is from fifteen to twenty minots to the arpent. RYE [41] ,,..( ^,1 ! -:,' ■■•p'r,: ... 1 }/ 'I i 1 ^^;t.. RYE. I > i>-'.:/i;* ■:. '! M /-^ 'luii h-iii\ tj'i HERE are two kinds of Rye^ the autumn and the spring. There is no demand for this kind of grain ; it is scarcely to be met with ou the mar- kets. As it succeeds on poor light loam, and sandy soils, it deserves attention from those who have that kind of soil, wheat not growing in such places. One third of rye meal, to two thirds of wheaten flour, will make very good bread. It fattens cattle, and the meal when scalded is good to fatten hogs and feed poultry. One minot and a half is sufficient seed for an arpent of land ; the return is sixteen minots in general. This grain is nearly ^qual to that of barley, for laying down to meadow : the grass seed, if good, seldom fails when sowed with it. '•rniCKr^'^-^*'--'''!^. BARLEY. T, ii-- hi:'iii S^ HERE are three sorts of Barley, the two rowedj the four, and the six ; the latter is most pro* P ductive. i t- I ductive. The land must be in good heart, to rt- ceive the seed. It will succeed on strong or light loam and clay. As this is the best grain to lay down to clover, or mixed grass, the use of it is indispen- sible with the farmer. One minot and a half is sufficient seed for an arpent ; the return from fif- teen to thirty-two minots. Besides the use of this grain for brewing, it is next to wheat for bread ; one third barley meal to two thirds of wheaten flour, makes excellent household bread. The meal when scalded fattens pigs, and gives the meat a very fine flavour. The same preparation made in- to a paste is superior to any other food, for young poultry. The practice of giving scalded bread has often proved fatal, from the salt used in the prepar- ation of that article. Poultry of every kind are fisLttened sooner with scalded meal than any other kind of food, and the meat has a better flavour. ta^ Mt i mMKm nisM.fiimK'ii *^*tiA , smm*iff n [It I, OATS. T, HERE are some very good oats lately impoi*' ted, which will improve the seeds ; for those in th« country are very bad. They are the white kind, and .'jftiiu'ji sue- J •"S- or Jig-ht '" % down s 'ndispen- J a half ig '^ from fif. se of this *^ bread ; ^'heaten ^^e meal - meat a ^ade in. ^ young ead iia« prepare nd are other 3ur. *^^ h« Id I I [43] 'Succeed on all light loams, as also on clay ; but where they are most productive is on swamps newly cleared, and drained. The quantity of seed is two minots to the arpent. In the latter soil, they will produce forty minots to the arpent ; but on the former not more than from twelve to eighteen. ■-- t ^ • y r - , .- - •! ■ T..,.,, .'.,..., >»,a»-. i».li.i>}I .,jC,/ Ml :U ^^ ^i*': Kt,'t '. » ftiJf- iv>' ' ,' ^1 MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN v i»i h T, HE corn best adapted to this province is the twelve rowed, small yellow kind. It ripens much earlier than the large. All light soils are fit for corn. The quantity of seed to the arpent is one gallon : the return when properly tilled, is thirty minots. Should the land be rich enough to b jar a crop, it is preferable to plant it in drills, at tlic dis- tance of four feet a part ; and the grains of corn, one foot a part in the drills or rows, it requires less la- bour than the present practice of the Americans, which is as follows : — After the land has been ploughed and harrowed, a furrow is drawn length- ways, at the distance of four feet from each other, after which there are others drawn crossways at \h^ same distance, forming squares or diamonds F 2 through [44] through the field, ^t each point there is abpnt A shovel full of rotten dung put in the hole^ then four or five grains of corn, and in each third row, a few pumpkin seeds ; then it is covered with a light plough about two inches thick. When the corn if six or eight inches high, it must be earthed up a little, and the hills cleared of superfluous plants : three or four are sufiicient to stand in a hill for a crop. The ground must be cleared of all weeds ; otherwise the corn cannot thrive. It must be gone over again, when it is fifteen inches high, and ci' A of all weeds. When it is two feet high, it I itt Hst earthing, and when the corn has bloom* cd, and the top got a pale straw colour, they should ^e cu* off, he joint above the cob or ear : they are tied in :!iiimU bundles and shocked to dry, an4 when dry ere housed. There are few crops more advantageous than corn; although in the year 1S15 and 1816 it failed by those unfavoumble sea- sons, people should not be discouraged from future trials. It is of great use to ea,t, when green, either boiled or roasted ; when ripe the meal mixed \yith half wheaten flour, makes very good bread. In aU new settlements it is made into cakes, and is almost the only bread made use of It fattens cat- tle, hogs and poultry, and is also given to horses ; when it has been prepared with lye, it is very good in soup. The stalks are ate by cattle and the cows give more milk when fed on them, than on hay. , .. After V .1 ^^' ^hen fpnf '^^ a light <^ecornia tbed up a "8 plants : '"ii for a ^l Weeds ; f ^e g-one '^SK and s Woom- y should r •• they [y. anc| more NSJ5 sea- uture reen, ixed ead. is od vs r*6] Ai%er the corn hsui been gathered, the husks or leaves must be taken off the grain, otherwise it will mould ; when that is done it must be put on a floor, and turned once a week, untii it is dry. In the new settlements they make cribbs : those placei are formed with logs laid square, about five or six feet high, and ten feet long, and four feet wide, co- vered at the top like a house ; the air passin^^ through, dries the ears without farther trouble. Plaster of Paris is a good manure for corn ; a ta- bic spoonful of powder strewed on each bill before the first hoeing is performed, has a great effect ou light soils. . .. -* ' »-,ij ?>';•■. f :•' :»;«• till 'i'n : »;■ 't-, ,.r *;•■}* ,^',yi-^t\ 'l-ft i.;/;.iJ '.'.■■■ I HORSE BEANS. T, HERE is but one kind of these at present in the Province, which are such as those chiefly giv-* en to horses in England. They grow best in clay or strong loams, which ought to be in good order ; the land must be prepared \\y the Autumn, to b« ready to plant in the spring, as soon as the earth is ii) a state to receive the seed. They v'i" suc- ceed 1 ^ ' \ I i , i cced best^ planted in drills, at the distance of thirty inches, betwiecn each row : the beans should be put four inches apart in the rows ; they can be cul- tivated either with the horse hoe, or the light plough. As they require to be kept clean of weeds the above implement will be found the best. They are sometimes dibbellcd ; and some people sow them broad cast and plough them in ; but as the advan- tage to be derived from this crop, is the cleaning and preparing the land for a crop of grain, the drill husbandry is preferable to any other ; one minot is sufficient seed for an arpent when drilled, and two if Bowed broad cast. The return is from twenty five to thirty five minots per arpent. They are harvested with the sickle, and require to be well dried, be- fore they are housed. If the opportunity should offer to stack them out, it will be best, they are the best food for horses that can be, mixed with oats. They fatten sheep and pigs — the stalks are mucU liked by cattle in this country. ' _ * " ' ' ' I ■<> u ,-'. . v: DWARF FRENCH BEANS. i\r T :. ' .'' ;,Lji HOSE bean* are cultivated by most of the •SSt^- -;!i^ ^'^^^ce of thirty *^»» shou/d be '^y can be cul- or (he ligut '^an of needs '^^'< They »P^e son- then, IS the advan- '^e cleaning- ^'n. tile drill 'ne m/not is ' and two if ^ntyfiveto ^^arvested , t^Wed, be- ^y should y are the 'til oats, ^e mucli the [47] C^inadianfl. In order to have good crops, the rowi should be thirty inches apart and the beans planted four inches from each other ; they grow on ahnost every soil, but light is the best for them. They require to be kept clean from weeds, and must not be earthed up more than two or three inches. The quantity of seed for an arpent of land 'is three pecks ; the produce is from twelve to fifteen mrnotsJ They are very good for table use, and are the besb thing for fattening sheep, giving more tattow than' any other food ; they are also in demand for cxpor-^ tation : the white ones would have aprefemnce for that purpose A) \ni->i\-);.\ .-.If. asuas^fni'i'n u^iil .. ffm t i i'ij^io l^.)s« jm'{. PEAS^. jy,j(| l>j'>ihi -fl) : ifvt T, .«♦ HERE are but three kinds cultivated in the field : the green, the large white, and a small wliitc pea, called the early pea by the country people. They all grow better on strong than oir light soils ; those that grow on strong sofils boil well ; but tirose that grow on light loams, gravel, or a part sand, do not boil well, but remain hard. The sami! pea has a preference, as they ripen early ; the large pea ri}>enj li lie // I > . « p ^ [48] late, and is frequently exposed to be mildewed, fof which reason, it is advisable to get the green and large white pease in the ground, as early as the earth is in a state to receive them. The small pea, improperlycalled early pea, is sown always late, very frequently in the month of June, and is ready to har- vest in August. One minot and a half of the smaU pease is sufficient seed for an arpcnt ; but the large kind require one peek more. There are few crops more precarious than that of pease : the return sel- dom exceeds twenty minots, and frequently is but from six to eight per arpent. Pease are in such general demand in this country for soup, that they are wanted daily in most families ; it is therefore necessary to explain the cause of the frequent mis- carriage in their culture. The present custom is to sow them broad cast on a lay, or on land that was cropped with oats the year before under fur- row : the wheel plough turns up a sod eighteen m- ches wide, and very frequently ten incher *hick ; the seed is therefore buried too deep to be able to rise. This is often done in the latter part of May, or in the beginning of June ; the dry season commen- ces at the latter date, the earth being in such a mas- give state, it then becomes so hard that they must fell. To avoid that misfortune, let the field be ploughed with the two horse plough, with a furrow wot exceeding six or seven inches wide : the thich- ness will not exceed the width ; let the furrows be laid 'a*r..^^lv- ^ '^^ S*'-<^en and '.^'^^'^ 'ate, very 'f/««rfytohar. ''f°^thesmali ^'•^ ^^"^ crop, "^'rt'y w but ®''® J'n such P' ^^t they '« therefore ^^stom is 'and that 'nder fur- ''teen in- '''ek;t/,o ' to rise. y> or in nimen- anias, •rrow hic/r, s be ia/d [49] edgeways iiiie against llie other, the lands oiiijht Hot to exceed 8 lectin width, lett!)e pease be sow- ed lengthways of the tunows ; t!iey will roll in between each iayer of cailh, and find iinmcdiaie nourishment. Ah the quant. ly of v/oik to be doiu in the spring* drives the labour of the plough into the month of June, it will be found expedient to i-oiiv and harrow the land of the preceding >. -.1 -'•! •f;^■ VETCHES. U'ilU ■ ♦.»!.> ;.'.',\f,>'(; T, HEY are very scarce iii this province, as such it is to be hoped, that they may be imported, there is no doubt of them growing, because there is a wild sort, which i^ but too frequent in wet seasons, on low strong soils : they overpower the crops of wheat, and spoil it for sale ; it being the same size as that grain, there is no machine that can se- parate the one from the other, by which means the vrtreat is very unfit for bread, Q LEN <-^ !• ! • ^f I h ft [50 3 tENTlLS. L ■J,, .J IENTILS are cultivated the same as pease, but require light soil ; one minot is sufficient for an arpent ; they are much esteemed to make soup. & • OP CULTIVATED GRASSES. ^^ I .T has already been stated, that the land is in an almost continued aration ; although nature appears to have allotted various parts lor a different purpose. Many islands in the river St. Lawrence ate nearly overflowed every spring ; which prevents the sowing of wheat, until there is little hope of its coming to ma- turity. In the vicinity of lake St. Peter, the lands are in the same state as many of the islands. This should point out to the farmers, that grass ought to be their object ; the dairy, raising an^l«fdttening stock; the easiest and most profitable part of farming. Tiie following grasses are the most applicable to the va- rious soils :■— The red clover and fox tail ; the lat- ter ."-It •'^*;. •m<*rs-' r'^"^ for ai> kes oup. *^i- i'iUii ■^Sa ■ '''■'..( <'.:'■■ is in an appears Ufposc. near^ oina- he '^\ i.'e a- 3r C5l] ter called timothy and herds grass, from the pcrsoi^ who introduced its culture. These are tlic only grasses thitt are sowed for crops ; they a^rce on all 6oil8 that are not subject to remain long' inundated^ The white honey suckle clover is a native of the country, and comes in on all lands that are cleared^ ftnd suUered to lay fallow. Hop clover does the same as the white, the «heep fes! 'jii,ii ^''>^y_ft » '- i^ :vf^ CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. lei'e to B, 'EFORE I enter on the culture of VegofaWos, as food for stock, it is impossible that I can refrain from impressing on the minds of the Canadian Far- mers, the necessity of their paying every attention, io the propagation of those plant*< and roots. It is by the application of them, for rearing and fatten- ing domestic animals, that they have been under- sold by the Americans in that branch of rural econo- my. The time Is arrived when these people must use tlipir r.tmost etforis, to get sale for their stock and procluco. Tba interest they have iu this pro- vince c 66 i vinc6 is very great. It is only by a constant iadKs- try and regular perseverance, to cause the earth to {>roduce in abundance, that there efforts can be opposed. The natural advantage possessed in thi!^ country are great. Let it be shewed that those importations can be dispensed with, as was the case some years ago. 1 repeat what I have said some years past, that wheat alone "will keep the country poor. Every branch of husbandry, consistent with the demands of the British Empire, must be attend- ed to. When that object may be effected, there is little doubt of regulations being put in force, to |>rotect the Agricultural interest of the province. ;£r? TURNIPS. i\' f \ I tt 'P these roots thfere are several kinds ; but the blue and white field turnips are most advantageous to the farmer. They grow best on black ground ; they also do well on light loams Or on strong soils, when rendered fine and manured to receive the seed. They may be sowed broad cast or in drills ; the drill husbandry will be found the best : the land is much easier kept clean from weeds. The seed se the earth ta 'fforts can be 'sessed in thi.i '^ that those was the case 'e said Some the country ^s'stent with St be attend- ;ed, there is in force, to proWnce. [ 57 ] seed may be sowed in the latter part of June, or thebe^inin§^ of July. If sowed broad cast, half a pound of seed will be sufficient for an arpent ; if in drills at three feet apart, four ounces of seed will be enough for an arpent. When they have four leaves, they must be thined, so as to allow the plants to stand nine inches apart. About three weeks after the first hoeing, they are gone over a- gain and the plants are thined, so that they be eighteen inches from each other, all weeds are cut up, and the land is made as clean as possible. Should the weeds come up anew, they must be again removed ; after which the turnips will require no farther attention, until they are ready to g-ather, which will be at the end of October.* They must be carefully pulled up, — avoid bruising them as much as possible ; otherwise, they will not keep. When pulled up, the tops are cut off one inch a- bove the bulb. They are then put into A cellar, but the heaps should not exceed fifty minots, be- cause when larger, they are apt to heat and rot. The tops are thrown in heaps, about the size of two minots, in a field that is shut ; and when (ho cattle cannot get any more food abroad, tho^e leaves are given them, to eat. The turnips ma\ H be * In order to ascertain whether I'uinips improved aUf r the. 15th of October, and at what ratio, I measured two, a- d found one increase three inches and a half in cirrnmfercnce in eight days, the other two and a half. I imagined that the ]:-.£• ter was nearer maturity, as they were both in the same kind of »oil^ and not more than one liundred fem apart. i! I'i I 1/ 1 n [58] . be buried on a hill side, on any convenient rising ground. They fatten oxen and cows. Young cattle grow fast ; and cows give much milk, when fed with turnips ; but sheep do not seem fond of them. This is very extraordinary, as there is nothing which sheep like better than turnips, in all parts of Europe. — A preparation for turnip seed, which has often prevented the plants, from being destroy- ed by the fly ; put the seed in Chamber lye : let it lie eight hours ; pour off the water, and mix the seed with flour of sulphur, so as to separate the grains ; and sow it directly. If broad cast on light soil, a bush harrow will do to cover the seed. If on strong soil, a fine tined harrow will be .preferable. — The method to raise turnip seed : — Dig trenches in the autumn deep enough for the turnips. So soon as the sriow is off* them, plant the turnips in the tren- ches ; the frost will not hurt them, and they will sprout- before the fly will have power to hurt them. There must be sticks put in the ground to tie the stalks to ; lest the wind .should break them. With tlic above precaution, the seed will be ripe in time to sow for a crop, the same season that they are planted. There are few crops more precarious on old cleared land, than turnips ; but when they suc- ceed, there are few more valuable. They are much esteemed for the table, as also for animals. The produce is from two hundred to two hundred and fifty minots to the arpent, ! I •W*<«rved in new settlL!? "■*""*' "-"I* in the open counr W be ' ' ""' '"*"' An .T,ent„f land win JntTo^" T'"^"^ three feet distance Th- ^ '''''^» "« fvo„n.Me,earther;or.rn::s',^"r""- -;»po.na3each,whieh^..dethe";2i2- 14 i POTATOES. v^ T. Foduetive. and tiiX::: "'''■"' ■»- "lent will DTOdiir. I. "■ S""'' "anage- been w^;^:!'™;^ J^^ ^ t'lougnea, and harrowed fi ni» t*. nirrows are nm m,;*k i- . "^- ^'he between eaerL:^,^^^^^ "'■''*"- feet: the sets m.Jr. . '"^ '"'''*"» ""-ee toes, piilrL ^H '" '""" ""^ «"««' Po"" Piclted out for the pu^H^e. Small cuttings, as T- ^"■^%!jp^<^ii>^- ^^'^ manner ' ' «nd trials ^ *"ccessfi,j. ^^ 'n an un* =e eig-hteen [63] as well as small potatoes planted whole, produce small fruit. Large sets produce the finest crops. When the sets are put into the furrows, the germ must be put next the earth. Each set should be one foot apart from the other/ to allow room for the potatoes to form, if planted too close, they general-< ly are very small. The sets being deposited, long stable dung is strewed over them, and the earth is turned on them with the plough. When the stems are about eight inches high, the earth is ploughed from them, and in a few days after, they are earth- ed up again. Before they go into bloom, the earth is brought up for the last time, and all weeds clear- ed from among the potatoes. They ripen about the end of September, which is known by the stalks becoming dry, and turning brown. They are then ploughed up with a two horse plough, the coultre is removed prior to that labour. The work is began, by going down the centre of the rows, the first turn to the right the second to the left, which will turn up all the potatoes, after they arc picked up, the land is harrowed across to unco- ver any that may be buried. There will not be one fiftieth part cut by this operation ; but getting them up with a hand hoe, maims two thirds of the crop, besides much time is lost. They require a warmer cellar than any other root : the least frost will spoil them. The country people are in the ha- bit of leaving their potatoes on the ground all • - • night t6*3 tiigfet in the month of October, when they get them up. This never should be done ; the frost being so frequent at that time of the year, they sustain great loss by it. The potatoes for planting should be changed every third year. The greater part of the labour for this crop being performed by the plough, there are few others that will turn to so great an advantage. Potatoes will preserve until the crops of the preceding year are fit to eat. Af- ter their utility for the table, they are very good food for horses, when cut small and mixed with bran or oats. Cattle fat with them, they encrease milk in cows ; but do not appear suitable for sheep ; they scower too much, For fattening pigs in the autumn, they are the cheapest and most efficacious food that can be given, when boiled for that pur- pose. The cuttings from twelve minots of pota- toes will plant one arpent of land, which will pro- duce two hundrerd and twenty minots of Potatoes on an average of seven years.* •4. tr Extract from Holt's Survey of Lancashire. " After the Potatoes are gathered and suffi- ciently dried, they are put together in heaps. ti • Note.— An Arpent of ' ad is four fifths of a statute Acje|; five arpents forms four statute: icres. The Scotch acre is equal to one and a half arpents. '*>^^^?f<*tMt^ W* miM 'ost being so ^y sustain '*''ng shouJd ater part of ned by the *«rn to so serve until eat. Af- e*"}^ ffood xed with increase r sheep ; 8 in the icacious 'at pur- 'f pota- •W pro- )tatoes te t( [65] " the shape of the roof of a building-, covered " closely with straw vvliich should be drawn straight '' and to meet from each side ina point at the top, *' about six inches in thickness ; and then covered " with mould closely compacted tog-ether, by fre- " quent applications of the spade ; after which, Mr. Ecclestone makes holes in the mould, at the sides and tops of those repositories, as deep as the straw, and about three yards distant to per- " mit the air, which, he says, visibly arises from *' the fermentation, to escape ; after the fermenta- " tion has ceased, the holes arc closed, to prevent " the effects of frost or rain." It is owing- to the neglect of this last precaution, that Potatoes often acquire a bitter taste after they are covered up, and they are often very unpalata- table. In this climate, the holes should be closed up every evening-, and they should be covered at least, thirty inches thick with mould. CARROTS. c, «^i 'ARROTS thrive in strong or light loams ; the land must be ploughed deep, and be well manured : I the [66] the drill husbandry h be«t for this cron • .• ■ ^ood for horses, and also to fatten cattle in f a sheep and lioa-s Th. ' ^^ ^^^^ be -appropriated to iuteii cbu: ,„ ,1. itfarch, until the o-ra! o T '^""8'' fr""" tiie grass caule com- ,oto Market. Three quarters of a pound of wed wilt arpentof land, when drilled but h! ' '" require twice that quanti 7 One '"'' '''" luce Ih.. one hundred 2 tw^ntv 3 r''^- «» the i and and. tlic 1 in fa aia he es ; [ 75 ] bundles may be removed to the barn, and thresh- - cd ; after which they are tied up in bundles about the thickness of a man's thigh, and put to rot, as directed for hemp ; requirii>g the same manage- ment in the steep. Dew rotting flax makes it weak, and prevents its bleaching ; as also does the drying it over a fire, prior to its being broke, and w ill prevent its sale for a foreign market. The farmers grow flax, but from an improper choice of the soil fit for its culture, and inattention to provide good and clean seed to sow, they reap little advantoge for their trouble. The practice of putting their flax to rot on the ground before they thresh out the seed, injures the grain so much, lliat one half of it is spoiled by the dew and rain. Were they to thresh it out prior to the rotting, it would be fit to ship to Ireland, and by having good clean seed, it would always command a good price for exportation. A machine to clean the seed can be made of tin, by punching it with holes to let out the false flax-seed, and small seeds of weeds ; it is in the form of a roller ; the cover puts on at the end ; a crank is affixed at tlic other end, and put on two upright posts, sawed so as to let in the crank at onc^d, and a small gudgeon in the centre of the cover : it is turned round like a grind stone. The vast quantity of soil fit for flax in this province, K2 offe [76] "f'' oflcrs a great advantage to the farmers^ to embark in a commodity, which is always in demand for the mother country. Great quantities of this ar- ticle, which are annually imported into Great Britain from the Baltic^ [might be furnished in part from hence. Flax seed should not be sowed more than twice on the same farm. An arpent will yield two hun- dred weight of flax, and eight minots of seed. >inr rd 1.' URTICA OR THE NETTLE. '-(.>i If T, ! ' , ' . HE Nettle has been long known to produce a filament, and is used in various parts of Europe to make Cloth. Thd inhabitants of this Province applied it to make cloth, fifty years ago ; it is likely that the first French settlers brought the know- ledge of its utility. Fishing nets and small ropes have been made from that material. The Maisou Rustique recommends the Nettle for making cloth. The fiiculty of the nettle has been brought by re- cent experiments into more notice. It is said to be more durable in water than hemp ; which is very .:'••, 1 > to embark t'emand for softhisar- into Greaf "nished in than twice two Iiun. seed. ■■■■ '^1.1 1 1 ' i .' reduce urope ovince likely snow- ropes aison r re- el to h is cry [77] rery probable^ it being an aquatic plant, it is then in its element. The property of the nettle de- serves the particular care of Farmers ; when more certain information may be gathered relative to its durability, it may become an object for exporta- tion. Nettles are found on the borders of Brooks and Beaver Meadows in places called Swailcs, which lay between high lands, in ash and soft ma- ple swampSj and on most low flooded land^ on the sides of rivers and lakes, but chiefly in damp sha- dy places. The length of the stalks depends on the quality of the soil. The leaf resembles that of the Beach. At the head of the stem, three branches put forth, and bear a pale straw colour bloom^ in the beginning of September. The seed is small and flat, forming a half-circle, and is of a dark brown^colour, it hangs from the stem by a fine point, and is easily shed. It is fit to cut when the leaves turn yellow, and must not be pulled, being a perennial. It is managed as directed for Hemp, to render it flt for use ; but has the advantage of giving twentj-five per cent more hemp or staple. This plant has not as yet been cultivated. It is not certain that it will succeed in the open country. The trials I have jnade to introduce it in up-land, have not been favourable. Swamps where it grew, being cleared and drained, the growth has disap- peared I but as cattle grazed on those lands, and X have m I; i Ml 1/' [78 J . V . • i' ; ; ;: .,.. ,.:: , . :-,.f ]' i.r.. • ; .. have tliscovcrcd tliey arc fond of it, that may be the cause of its destruction. It is to be hoped that trials might be mude, to introduce its culture ; a certain degree of mt»isUirc must be retained, that it may sipptoach its natural state. The land ought to be IVnccd from cattle, otherwise, the grower will be disiippointed. — It i^ broke with a Flax- Brake, and when passed through fine beckels, will make as fine cloth as (lax, but not so durable. •■ ' ■>■'•■ f It (Tors for the Fisheries, a superior advantage, to an'" t)lhcr filuinent, for Nets and Lines. ;.;t Iv>-> T. THE FARMER'S STOCK. -B.^ f* .... ,f ..yjd jl'fitb • » lioq .1*" ■ 'i WING gone tlirough the culture of the ino;"t material Crops, I will proceed to another b:a;;ri), which requires no less care and attention f.oiu the industrious llusbandman, which are his Horses and Cattle, part of which is necessary for his service in the execution of his work ; and part for breeding for sale. This country offers little advantHge to those, who embark in the breed of Ifine saddle or elegant co^ch Horses, there are few peo- >« lii '••'tt may be ^^ hoped fs culture; "nt^^tl, that and oiia-lit ^ giovver a Flax- iels, wiil ible. . vantafr<> ••> [79] people who want horses of that descri[>t!nn. The tarrncr will lind more profit by good substantial (Iraiiulit horses, which are in constant demand. I'hosc dcscendinjj from the Norman brocd, are most desirable to propagate ; they arc very iiardy, and capable of bearing great fatigue, l^ is to be re'^TcUed, that the Legislature lias not !:i:ide ree- fi'ictions, for the preservation of that valuable hroed. The first point, wliich depreciateij them, is the importation of worthless Amcricuii Mares, which are changed for the finest Canadiaii horses : the second arises from the Canadian.s nut castrat- ing their male animals, at an early period ; but al- lowing them to run at liberty in the fields, by which mean.s they couple when they are ((to young. Their produce degenerates, and their strength di- minishes. Frequently those young sU'.liions cross the farms, and soil the mares intended to hs cover- ed by the finest horse, thus disappointing ib.e hopes of a better nace. To redress the abcve jv^ievance, a tax mightbc imposed on all stallioiis iibove one year old : the impost would have the eillc-t. that no inferior horse will remain uncut above th;tt age. Those '^.aving mares to breed from, wou'-l pay the keeper of a good stallion a liberal price, to have tliem covered. By such procecdiiij?; I'.:',, breed of hurse^i would improve rnpidly. :iin . > ... u-^i.}^ ».^..t* '^f:d '■) H/^s^-Ariq / hue: u'nn. ;' ■■; ' /^dl -^^iiay: 1 : ." '^ VTTLE. ' '1 .^, .\»r-'^ -tfK- • »1 )' . r ■f ',-. M-* .'.».■ (•. n» CATTLE 4W •:>•«;; ',1/ :f.' M HE Canadian breed of cattle is susceptible of great improvement. They are the best for the climate, with care and sufficient food. Their size may be encreased nearly one-half : the defect of size arises from two points, the first from not being sufficiently fed ; the second from the farmer's ne- glecting to castrate their male calves, allowing them to remain in that state until they are five or six years old ; the heifers pasturing with them, they couple at eight or nine months old, by which means their growth is stopt. The farmers sustain a loss by leaving their male calves uncut ; that o- peration ought to take place when they are three weeks old. They grow larger when cut young, and fatten better, when irtended for sale. There are many people who oi ly turn the Testicles ; in that case they have very little inward far, nor is the meat ever so good, as when they are castrated young. ' ^ A preference has been givren \'o cows from the United States ; because they ^^^ive more milk ; but the Canadian cows are more hardy, and their milk con- [81] '• ■*■ .:'. ., !. '8t for the 'heir size Jefect of 'ot being- >er's ne- iWowino" ' five or them, which 'ustain hat o- t^hree aung-, ^here in ithe ated the [)ut Ilk eontinues far longer and is more rich ; and tlic^ art; much easier kept. The breed may be improved by selecting the finest animals of each sex for tlu purpose. Those who have few cows, had belli r hire a bull than keep one. — Cows go nine muutlij and a fortnio:ht with calf. II. i-JU ,^:yv The best time to raise calves is from the middle of February to the middle of May, and not la lei. They should be taken from the cow when six dajji old. Warm skimmed milk must be given to theui twice a day for a week or two, after which they will drink it cold : that drink, or one made will barley-meal, must be continued until they are twr> months old ; when they may have vvat<»r. Smal racks should be put in their stable, and fine iiHy given them. Turnips, carrots, parsnips, or potakx -i may be cut small, and put in a troiigh, with a little sa't sprinkled on them to encourage the calves to eat. If the farmer has a Lucern plantation, he will have early g^een food three weeks sbonerthan thct of an jr oilier growth. To raise calves with success, therr must be near the house a pasture, well stocked with white and red clover, franc foin, and purple fescue grass. If water is not oajjvenient to the pasture, a trough may be made with a peg at th^ bottom, to let out the dirty water that their drink may be clean and good : it is necessary to have :i stable or shed, that they may lay dry and under L com'j: •.>T» ir>.*,*^rm.^ *.»j.:_ ^^., VJPirt-. ■— ..----.-H*.^*- ,. •—^.^ ■l'^ [83] cover the first year. They ougfhl not to bcT)ut oiil of the stable until the end of May, unless the season is very warm and fine. Heifers should not be al# lowed to couple before they are two years and a half, or three years old ; they will make much fin«f cows, being arrived at a greater maturity. When the cows have been with the male, a memorandum ought to be kept, that when they arc expected to calve, they may be put each in ft stable, loose by themselves ; — a good bed must be given that they lay dry. Many calves arc lost annually for want of d proper place for the purpose. After calving, the cow niust have a quart of oats or barley parched in a frying pan, and a handful of salt, or wood ashes, which is given as warm as she will eat them. She must have a warm mash of bran or barley-meal ; if the weather is cold the water must be warmed for a few days for her to drink. All the cattle ought to have a handful of salt twice a week, from the first of March to the first of December. Many cattle are strangled by being tied up i it is sufficient to induce the farmers to fit up their cattle stable with stanchctons, having a sliding bar to let the head of the animal enter. It is then returned back, and fastened with m. peg. Calves shou.d be let k)C8C the first winter in a stable by themselves; they ought to have racks to cat from, not manger je- caust chcy are liable to get cast in them, and many are lost by t'iat means. IMETHOD «*^e season ' not be aU 'ea« and a 'nuch finer K- When noranduiii Pccted to Joose by that they "• ivant of v'ng-, the rched in d ashes, !'• She K-mea] ; ned for ' ou/jht Je first cattle ent to with ad of and OVSG they je- iny [83] ■it! ;f *■^l METHOD TO PATTEN CATTLE ON ROOTS IN THE SPRING. N. O kind of animeJs irrjprove in this country froip the setting in of t^e severe cold, (which is about Christmas,) until thfj middle of March. The best way to manage is, to keep in regular stable feed till then. The roots are washed, if nccgssary : this \vill depend on the manner they were housed : some seasons they are got in dcancr than others. They are put in a trough, and chopped small, so that none be left so large as to ciioke the animals which are to eat them: this can be done with a spade, or a blade made in the form of a hoe, for a handle to be placed on the top, in a socket. The quantity of food to be givei} will depend on the size pf th^ animal. I have fatted two Canadian oxen of the Ijirgcst size, with one hundred and twenty minots of pota- toes, and two hundred bundles of hay, between the . eighteenth of March, and sixth of June, making seventy-nine days. — When put up, they were in working condition ; when sold, were estimated to >veigh twelve hundred weight. L2 Those Ul • flMii ^'_fr. 1*^ *«•».<(,■ T* *(- jR*.t.J., -Ljp^K. .jV; ■' I -I IV Those who put up cattle must feed them regularly, give them a good dry bed, have them curried, and kept very clean . This practice wher\compared with feeding all grain, will reduce the expence three fourths, and the markets may be well suppHed with good beef in the spring, until those from grass be ready to kill- '. • ' -, k t) . '% ' ..4i< • 1/ }t 1.1 ■ . ,u 3;;-..- 3 .! fJ^t .' . o^^u :u ■•.■r)':f T vr-a iijotrj QaV .zjC HE farmers labour under difficulty for the want of grass for every kind of stock, and particularly for ?hecp, there being no extent of range for them in this country, such as is to be met with in most parts of Europe. They are confined to small fields, with- out food, in a manner; for the wild growth cannot be termed such. This will prevent the keeping of any number of them, until more conveniences be jTiade for tlie purpose. A good breed can be ob- tained from the States. „ -^ — <- . The nge of sheep is known by the mouth : when one year old, they have two broad teeth ; when two, . . four ^ '^ '"'"ed, and spared with ence three >P'iedwith "grass be . ft • -i e Want rtyfor em in parts with- anndt i^of 'to s be ob- ten vo. [S5]. four, and when three, six; when four years old, they have eight; .after which their month begins to break. The ewes go twenty weeks with young : the time to let them cou[)le, should be regulated according to the means of subsistence; because if they have not green or vegetable food, they can give but little nourishment to their young: this points out the necessity of root crops for their sub- sistence. When they are near their time of yean- ing, they ought to be put in a pen by themselves, and should be milked after dropping their Iambs before it sucks, to clear the udder of the vitiated milk : a warm mash "made with barley-meal or bran must be given to the ewe. When they lamb in the winter months, the lambs should not be al- lowed to follow their dams in the snow : many are lost in March and April, by being let out too soon : they skip and heat themselves; then lay on the snow, which gives them cold, and causes their death. Neither should sheep and lambs be put to feed about a barn in winter, with cattle and horses ; they frequently get bruised or killed by those stronger animals. A place must be made apart for them. Two breeds might be obtained in a year, by putting the rams to the ewes, in the middle of December, and again in May. The rams ought to be kept Se- perate from the ewes, and only put with them when intended tj cuup'.e. The young males not intended to iM '1 f fl^'^ ^y C^3 fo be k«pt for rams^ should he castrated vrhilst sucking. Potatoes alone scower sheep; they must be mixed with barley-meal or bran. — ^The sheep are kept too warm in winter^ which makes them lose their wool: and in.summer^ they are too much ex* posed to the heat of the sun without any shade^ ^Thich reduces them very much in flesh. ' B9 ■■*■» f ■■{ ' r;=s.l ';.--t!i ■ 'ii'' i)-(. . PIGS. T, .iiV. HESE useful animals are easy propagated. They require less care than any other stock, living on the refuse of the farm.' Those with short legs, and long deep bodies, are easiest to fatten ; andthere^^ fore the best kind to raise. The Chinese are not a desirable breed ; they have too much headand belly, and too short a body ; nor is thqir meat so good as the other kinds in the country. Sows go three tnonths and three weeks with pig: two litters may; be obtained in time to rear, by lettipg tben\ take the boar about Christmas, and again in May. When the sows are near pigging, they ought to be put in a stye by themsehres ; they must have but jfittle bedding, lest they bury their pigs in it, and -Hvr 'ie sheep ^heoi lose nuch €«• y shade. HMf 9 •aiedl. ■^ ivin^ '/• legB, ri| iere> m Ota M % I Us 1 ree ■ ay I ke ■ K- ■ >e H [87] t liy on them &nd kill them. When theyVe five or six days old^ they may have a good bed, being then able to get out of the way. When pigging, give them as much foodjfcs they will eat^.to prevent them devouring their young ones, which some sows are apt to do. Male pigs to rear, should be cut when three weeks old: one boar is more than sufficient for a farm. In summer, pigs will fatten on skim- med milk, or whey ; in the autumn, potatoes boiled and mixed with milk, or ground barley, or buck- wheat meal ; barley or buck-wheat, may be boiled and mixed ; one minot of meal to four of potatoes. When the frost sets in^ in December, discontinue soft food, and feed with pease^ Indian corn, or horse beans, for two weeks, when they will be fit to kill. Young pigs are fond of lucern, which may be given to them in their pens. Pigs require a warm place in winter, and plenty of litter to lie upon. — They ought to have a shade in summer from the sun, being too much exposed in the open fields ; sheds might be made for them to go to from the heat and rain. They ought always to have water in their pasture, which should be well stocked with red clover. In the spring and autumn, a few doses of salt and flour of brimstone is given them to clear their humours. / It Memorandum m M ■ ■. i f Msmorandum offattening tmoPigs, w iSlLiir Value two poonds each, when put to fatten .... 4 10 J \ Put in pen the 80:b Ju?y ; fed on skimni^ d milk 1 to the SOtb September; October ist, began f ■ to feed on boiled potatoes :— quantity ale — r ^ ^° ® thirty minots, at Is. 8d. per uit J Three njinots and a half of Corn, at; 4c. 2d.p^rmt. \i ^7' Three minots ..f PeaO, at Se. ^tt uiu , „ ..... 15 b . : ^ ,1 R^cijjJcq ,f! fit 3iUB on) nl ; yoxiv , '^LJ£_J' Were Liiled on the 20th December, aged ) ' ntir months each, and weighed 560 lbs. > 17 10 '^id. per lb. •••••.,,,,...,,., ) .".yiiV? i f^ twer at 7hd. ^^''^ .-- £9 10 5 • The Canadians would have given forty minots of peas, vi^orth ten pounds, makings a difference of six pounds and five pence in the value of the food, which proves the advantage of using vegetables! There is no better jiork thah that fed on potatoes ; this will show the faculty to undersell the Ameri- cans in that article, which is very great the present day. The skimmed milk being the refuse of the farm is not charged ; for were there no pigs, it must be thrown away. It will be perceived, that pork could be afforded much lower by the stated profit ; but these were the prices of the day. The practice of giving to fattert animals' as much food in the morning as is supposed to be suffix ^ < JfjimifH^itJiti&^sULr^ i9 7 10 [ 89 ] ci6nt for the day, is veiy improper : those who con- tinue that method, will pay dear for their negli- gence. Animals do not thrive, or fatten, when over fed at once ; feeding a little at a time, and often, encourages the appetite : they enjoy tlieir meals when fresh ; after eating they lie down to sleep. Inasmuch as cleanliness is considered a virtue in the human being, it is equally applicable to the brute creation. The farmer that keeps his animals in a dirty and filthy condition, cannot prosper ; he will ever be beset with diseases or death in his stock, which appears a just chastisement by the Supreme Being, for the neglect of his creatures committed toourcare.' -...., =^^.^ . ,. • T, HE imperfect manner amongst the Canadians of calculating the return of the produce from a fai'm, by the number of bundles or sheaves of the differ- ent kinds of grain taken off the land, which are frequently composed of one half weeds, renders it impossible from such statements, to ascertain what are the natural or probable returns from a given quantity of land. It would be fuolisli to (^raw a /in criterion f '; W J * I \ \ ( ^ f C 90 ] criterion from the immediate vicinity of a city^ where labour and manure is always at command ; but from places where amelioration must come from that made on the farm, or, by ploughing- down green crops, or artificial means, by change of crops and follow. The difficulty at all times, to ' command labour, joined to the short season for action, puts it frequently out of the power of tlic ^ best formers to accomplish their intentions. — The following estimate, taken from the latter situation, is offered for the purpose. : , ; « , \m September, 1806. r £.8. d. iPIougtied one arpetit of land, cropped that ) ' 076' spring, with peas .»... •••• > Harrowed, before sowing ....•••• ••• * ^ One minot of autumn Wheat, at 5s. per mt. 5 Ploughed in the seed, Wheat 3 9 \Olh August, 1807. Wheat was mowed • 3 1^ Gathering and binding .... .*..•••• 5 . Carting to barn • 1 Threshing ••• 18 8 Carting to market g Rent .'..... 1» ,. £1 17 9 Produce, — sixteen minots, at 7s. 6d. per mt. 6 Straw : 1 ' £7 Profit ..«.,,. .^ £4 2 3 SeipiembisT ii'^ -ty ■Mc;-«T>wrfc^ ^f a city; ommand ; onie from "S* down lange of imes, to ason for Si- of the s.— The ituation. *. d. 7 6 1 5 3 9 3 10 8 8 3 nber [ 91 ] September Ibth, 1807. — An arpent of land that was cropped with pease, that spring, the crop taken offj it was manured, ploughed, and sowed, with one minot of autumn wheat, that kind of grain having moie time to tiller than spring wheat, and it is found sufficient seed for that quantity of land. The expcnces were as above. The return was twenty-four minot^). The protestants pay no tithe ; but the catholics pay the twenty- sixth minot on grain and pulse {on- ly ; every thing else raised or produced by the farmers is clear. A minot contains thirty four quarts Winchester measure. The Expence of Cultivating one Arpent of Land for Wheat in Mai/, 1815, broke up for Pease, that crop removed. In October ploughed the land once, laid it well up, and cleared water courses. Ploughing ..•••••*... £0 15 O ^6th April, 1816. Sowing one minot & half of spring Wheat, at 10s 15 Harrowing in the Seed • 2 , 26th August. Rep.ping, Binding, and Housing....,*.. 16 Threshing 14 Rent , 15 Carting to Market 4 miles.... ,,.,.* 3 £4 e M2 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^- 1.0 I.I 11.25 us u |A0 1.4 2.0 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation •SJ f\ iV \\ O^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ■4 ^ %> ^^^^ ;V ^ * — ' i Produce eighteen minot* at 10s. lOd ^9 15 • Straw*.* 16 8 11 1 8 profit £7 1 8 ENEMIES TO CORN. A Sketch on this subject will show those ac- qiainted with the varieties of enemies^ which are so destructive in Europe, how much this country is ikvoured in that respect. Of birds there is but one kind, called the Goghie, which comes hither about the end of May. They eat the Barley, Wheat and Oats, when it is near ripe ; their numbers are very few. The Crows and Black-birds attack In- dian Corn, and are very destructive to it, and the Pea crops. The Wire Worm. They are numerous, and very destructive to wheat and Indian corn in dry seasons, by eating the seed in the ground; and call on lovers of agriculture to try experiments by steeps. It is very possible that a preparation for set d, which [93] which will ghe a flavour that those insects may dis- like^ mig^ht prove a remedy for the evil they commit. They prey cdso on potatoes, eating the sets, and cansing tlie leaves to curl, and the plants to die ; they disfigure the crops so much some years, that the potatoes are unsaleable. The onion crops are also subject to their depredation. In the spring of 1S16, a small brown caterpillar made its appeai:ance in the fields planted with Indian corn. A friend shewed me some taken from the hills, where he observed the plants to fade and die. Those insects were in the manure, which was put to the corn. — On the 10th of July, having an experiment to make on some sets of potatoes, which had sprouted from the centre after the first sets had been cut out, dung was brought from the pig's sty : when it was put on the ground, I observed si numt ber of these hrown caterpillars, which may serve '*i> a caution to examine the manure before it is ap pUed for hills. That practice being very common for various things, I planted some sets in] a hill, where the dung was full of those insects, and another that was free from any : the crop was no ways injured by them. The potatoe.s came to ma- turity, and made an abundant return : they were taken up in the middle of October, and were per- fectly ripe 'i In i & ■n -I K "- I In the spring of 1809^ the province was visited by the Hessian Fly; the grain crops were much injured by them for five ye^irs in succession, This, with the frost in the spring, was the cause of dis- continuing the culture of autumn wheat. When |ny wheat was first at(acl^ect I suspected it had met with some insect in the graaa^^y, wher^ it had lain, a year. I had some put in strong brine^ where it remained twenty hours; lin;ie was^ifi^ed oyer it: ^hen taken cut of the steep, ^t was shoyelled until, it was iuprustrated ; after which it was sowed. It ^ame up very well, and in a day oi; two many of the plants withered and died. X tooli^ up somtticlis- ordered plants, and found a i^mall white maggot that eat the bottom of the plants near the root. I, observed a great number of very small fli^s on the ground ; son^e of them appeared to eat the leaves, of the wheat, some went iuto th^ plants, remained, ^ few minutes, and came out. It therefore ap-; peared that they went into the plants to deposit their eggs, some of which came to maturity in a few days, or the fly transforms into a white mag- got; because there is a part of the plants which, grow and form ears. When the barley or wheat is within a fortnight of being fit to cut, those eggs that were deposited early at the joints, having come to maturity, the insects are nourished by the plants, wliich they gnaw, making a hole in the stem, and fly away. This second operation is not so vi- sible [95 3 Bible in calm weather, but the least wind will causft three-fourths of the plants to fall to the ground. On opening and examining the stems thus fallen at the joints, the eggs or aurelise may be seen set round the joints, which are of the colour of lint seed, and about the same size : the Canadians call them la Puce, on account of their colour. Some are often found that have not arrived at maturity. When pressed between the nails, they crack like a flea. The grain obtained from crops in this situ- ation is shrivelled, and very light Whole parishes have had their grain crops swept away by thos6 insects. VERMIN. T, HE field mice are numerous, more from the inattention of the ploughmen than perhaps any other cause. They are often too idle to step oiit oif the furrow to destroy them. They injure the standing crops, and are very destructive to apple trees, by gnawing the bark when the snow is deep on the ground. They have disappointed the hope . of V ^..^_ . ii" 'If >»**•.■ [96] at introducing hedg^es made with havrthorn^ th# . bark of which is achief 8ub«iistence for them in the Tmf^r, Were the fermers to take notice at the end of March^ and at the beginning; of April, when th« tnow is going off the ground, they assemble in numbers under the small bridges, that carry the water into the main ditches, and in the cart ruts, perhaps for the purpose of copulation ; at that time, two persons with a piece of wood made broad at one end, to give width to strike them, might de- stroy many, by raising up the pieces of timber where they are ; had they a small terrier dog, more execution might be done The rats and mice do great injury in the barns : were the cats less nursed, and less fed, it is very po!isible their number would not be so great. DISTEMPERS OP CORN. T, O enter into the various distempers that grain is subject to, would exceed the limits that I have prescribed to myself, and could entertain but a few curious observers. I shall only speak of those that immediately concern the farmer. Of Of C9n Of Burnt Grain. Mr. Mills observes, "that al- Inost all writers upon husbandry, have confounded this distemper of corn, with that which is properly called amuti though it is, in fact, very different, and much more dangerous. Smut, properly so called, occasions a total loss of the infected ears ; but as the black powder which it produces is very fine, and the grains of that powder do not adhere together^ wind and rain carry them away, so that the husbandman houses little more than the straw, which does not infect the sound grains, and scarcely damages their flour. The Burnt or Carious Grains are, on the contrary, often housed with the sound grain, which they infect with a contagious distem- per, at the same time that they render its flour brown, and g*ve it a bad smcU. The characters ofthis4isterapcr, which the Romans called usti/ag-o, and the Frer.<:h name charbon. 1. The plants which are to produce burnt ears are strong and vigorous. 2. The ears attacked with this distemper are not, at first, distinguished from those which arc sound, but after their blossoming is past, the; become of a deep bluish green, and then turn whitish, at which time they are easily known. 3. The skin, or bran, which forms the immediate covering of the grain itself is not destroyed here as it is by the distemper properly called smut. This covering still retains consistency enough to preserve the grains in nearly its natural shape, and to make it look whitish. 4. N The L^) The burnt jrains are shorter, rounder, 'and lightei' than the sound grains, and likewise sometimes larger, and sometimes smaller. The furrow which run lengthwise of the grains of wheat is sometimes totally effaced ; the pistils at the end of the grains are dried and withered. The grains re- tain a small degree of firmness. If opened, as may be easily done with one's nail, they are found to be full of a substance which feels unctuous, is of a brown colour, bordering upon black, and of a nauseous smell. Some of the burnt grains are crushed by the flail in threshing: their black pow- der is spread upon the other grains which are sound: this greasy powder sticks chiefly to the hairs at the end of the grain opposite to the germ, and there forms a black spot: those grains are called spotted. This spot at the end remains, and these will be sufficient to discolour the flour, by rendering it brown, and give it a disagreeable taste." — Wheat that is infecteJwith this distemper, must be washed in several fresh waters, before it is sent to the mill, to be ground for bread. It never should be used for seed to sow, unless necessity should be the cause. In that case, it must be washed very clean. Were a piece of tin punched full of small holes put at the hole where the water is let out, at the bottom of the tub on the inside, it would save much trouble in changing the water. When the wheat is put into the tub, the grains t' that [99] that BvAm at the top must be skimmed off. The wheat must be birred with a paddle, in order to be washed clean ; after which, it may be infused in a lye made with sea salt, strong' enough to bear an egg ; it may remain eighteen ox twenty hours in the steep. When taken out, spread it on a^barn lloor, and sift lime over it; after which, it i» ^hovelled together. When the grain is.i^jcrustated, pr covereid with the lime, it may be sowed, and by A M LYE may be made as for washing of linenj in a tub. Put four pounds of water to every pound of hard wood ashes. One hundred pounds of ashes, and fifty g-allons of water, will yield thirty- tive gallons of lye ; to which should be added fifteen pounds of quick lime. This will be sufficient to prepare twenty bushels of wheat. When the lyo is to be used, it should be heated to such a degree, that a man can but just bear to hold his hand in it : the corn should then be plunged into this liquor in baskets, and be well stirred with a paddle. The baskets should afterwards be lifted up, and sus- pended by poles over the tub, that the lye may drain off into it : and lastly, the seed tliu» prepared, '♦ N2 should '■'irm::mm> noo] should be spread upon a floor, until dry Enough for sowing. If it iisi prepared before hand, it must be stirred, and turned from time to time with a shovel, to prevent its heating. With this precaution^ the seed thus prepared, may be kept a month. B The most informed Canadian formers are of opinion, that the distemper called Burnt Grainy and by them Bl^ Noir, is contracted in wet years. The most intelligent Europeans are of opinion, that it proceeds from grains that are mouldy. There is reason to believe, that the mould may be a cause of the disease. When the season of 1815 is refered to, it is found to have been exiremely wet, so much, so that there was a general failure in the vegetable world. The seed wheat for 1816, was taken from that year's growth, and was sowed with- out having any previous preparation ; although the crop was very good in the district of Montreal, there was a great deal of it infected with this dis- temper; had the season been wet, it is possible the damage would have been greater. — This may serve to shew the necessity of collecting good ttnd perfect seed after a very wet season. There were many that met with very serious losses, for not taking that precaution. A ■'».«J">/»k' OF [101] OP MILDEW ( Called by the Canadiam RouiUe, R^st. T, HIS disorder is most where the la,nds are loif and wet; it sometimes takes place where the lan4 is too rich. The growth becomes too luxuriant ; the hazy weather, and heavy dews in the month of July> followed by very hot sun« have the effect of mildewing the crops of wheat. When wheat is sowed too thick, it prevents the free circulation of the air, and retains too great a moisture, which causes the rust. This misfortune takes place more frequent with Europeans, than Canadians, wno always sow thin. The rust has the effect of ruining ^he finest helds of wheat, stopping the sap vessels; by which means the grain becomes shrivelled, and has the appearance of t'jat which has been frozen^ yielding little else ^.lian bran. These grains, although diminished, will vegetate, and produce good wheat. — Barley is subject to this disorder, in the same degree as wheat. The large pease are often much injured at the above period. P OF f^i'iPijipi-.. CIO* 3 OF THE SPUR; CaUed hif the French Mfgot ; a distemper whici^ Rye is subject to, A, .LTHOUGH rye is but little cultivated by the Canadians^ there are many parts in the province where the soil is more fit for it than any other grain ; therefore time may point out the propriety of introducing its culture; and as I have observed rye which I have raised^ to have been infected with the spur, I think it necessary to shew the utility of picking' out the ears^ that may at any time be infec- ted with that disorder. 1. The grains which have the spur are thicker and longer than the sound ..es, and generally project beyond their husks. 2. Their outsidcs are brown or blacky and their surface, rough. 3. When a spurred grain is broken, one perceives in the middle or centre of it a pretty white flower, covered with another flower^ which is redish or brown. 4. Though this vitiated flower has some consistency, it may, nevertheless, be crumbled between ones fingers. 5. These grains, when put into water, swim at first, and sink afterwards tc the bottom. If chewed, they leave a bitter taste on the tongue. ^fi "The [103] " The effects of this distempered, or comiited rye," say the Philosophical Transactions, " are to dry up the milk in women, to cause sometimes malignant fevers, accompanied with drowsiness and raving; to breed the gangrene in the arms, but mostly in the legs, which ordinarily are corrupted first. This corruption is preceded by a certain stupefaction in the legs, upon >vhich follows i littlft pain, and some swelling without inflamation, and the skin becomes cold and livid The .^ang^cnc begins at the centre of the part, and appears not al the skin till a long while after ; so that people are often obliged to open the skin, and lind only the gangrene lurking under it. The only remedy for this gangrene is to cut off the part affected : for if it be not cut off, it becomes dry and shrivelled, bh if the skin was glued over the bones, and 'tis of a dreadful blackness without rottennes^ Whilst the legs are drying up, the gangrene ascends to the shoulders, and one knows not which way it com- municates itself. — Poor people are almost the only persons subject to these evils." L§wthorp'» Abridgement^ vol. ii. p. 026. '- » However, it is not every year that the spur ia rye produces these dreadful accidents. '9 ■■')■ THIS [ 104 j[ THE MANAGEMENT OP THE DAIRY. ^sc* T, HE care of the dairy belonging to the fann- er's wife^ any remarks thereon may be deemed superfluous ; but when it is considered that there may be some who might profit by the obsei'vationd of attentive dairy women^ I am induced to offer the following remains. — The dairy should be on the north side of the house ; the more shade the better: the entry ought to be from the kitchen if possible. The immense heat of the summer re- quires that it should be in part under ground, four or five feet at least, in order to keep it cool. A small window, the frame covered with canvas, will give sufficient. light: there should be a few iron bars on the inside of the window, to prevent visits from intruders. There mast be four tiers of good broad shelves, ^bout two feet above each other, the first to be set three feet above the ground floor. A building sixteen feet square on the inside, will be suflicient for fourteen or sixteen cow's milk. The dairy must be furnished with a strong table, and plenty of milk dishes, that will contain from one to one and a half gallon each ; pewter are preferable, — there is less risk of breaking, and the frost has no effect on them. There are large brown glazed dishes. ■'v "1 -i aishe^j which are next in quality ; they last little ' ihore than a year or two ; the frost chips off the g^laze, and then they corrupt the milk in a few hours kfter it is put into them. The tureens are too small, and badly made ; besides, there is a loss of cream and time in skimming such small vessels. A tin skimner, the size of a small plate, is best to use in lieu of a spoon^fwhich is in g-eneral practised. The milk dishes, and every utensil of the dairy, must bo well washed and scalded after having- been used ; Unless this precaution is attended to, the milk coi - i-upts when put into half-clean vessels, and only part of the cream rises. It is n(?c*ssary the mis- tress should see that the servants milk (he cows clean ; that they are not milked too fast ; bccau -e the coWs g'ive their milk gradually i — the ser- vants are little interested, therefore take the least trouble they possibly can ; by which means the cows do not give half so much milk, and are often dried. Many good cows are spoiled by bad milkers. When the milk is strained,- one pint of cold Mater is put to each gallon of milk, which makes the cream rise quick : this method is pursued from t!ic 20th of May to the 20th of September ; from that date to the ensuing May, hot water is applied in- stead of ^old. When the cold weather sets in, it will be found expedient to have a large cupboard put into the kitchen, to receive the milk ; the dairy will thon be ion cold for the cream to rise. The O . cream \t I t i06 ] ^i'eam that is taken off the milk in winter^ shotiklbc* put where it will freeze ; there being; but little at that season^ it is found to preserve better : when a sufficient quantity is collected to churn^ itis*put into a tin pail or earthen vessel, and set on the stove ; it is stirred now and then to prevent it burn- ing. When it has thawed, and has the warmth of new milk, it may be put into the churn, and will turn to butter in ten minutes.-^There are a variety of rhurns, therefore people can choose to their minds: from experience, the perpendicular one has a preference of ten per cent, over the water wheel box churn. It will perform the work in equal time; but with more fatigue. When the butter has come, cold water is put into the churn, and the work is continued a few minutes, in order to wash and harden the butter; after that, it is taken out and washed clean. The salt that is ap- plied, must be ground fine ; the quantity will be to the taste; too much makes it disagreeable, and too little will not preserve it: practice must be the guide. Those who wish to enter into the cheese busi- ness, must have occular practice, and a certain ser- vice, to be perfect in that branch; the seasonsr having great effect in corrupting that article. 'W \:iiS'i'''^- C 107 3 Expenee of a Two-horse Plough. ^srvADta' Wagea per ann. .••••. • 24 a Board per d9« do 25 0. i)30 bundle! of May, at 41. Os. Od. per bund. . ,. S7 4 1 16 half Mioots of Oats, at Se. 4d. per mt 19 8 4 This food is giveu between the 20th of October and the lOth of Jua«. (3rass between the I Ith of June and the Idtb of^ 4 October, ai 3.a. 66, per week fur eacb borse > ^ Smith's and Wright's work 7 Uepairs of Saddlery ...., ......»••... ^ Q. 0. Interest ongbt to be cliarfed. TwoIIorscs, atSOl. each 40^ 0> C: An imported Wooden Plough, with wipple ttees 6 6 7;- Harrows 2 10 Saddlery 6 Shovels, Forks, Curry CombSi Halters, ke. « . . 2 ^'175 8 11 Labour performed hy the Man and Horses. it- Forty five Arpents once Ploughed Thirty-five Arpents once Hairowed Nine Arpents Scarified Nine Arpents Horse hoed Beside, carting Manure, rolling Land, and carting ofF the Crops to the Barn, drawing Wood for Fuel, and variou» Labour required on the Farm and Marketiag. ) 'i ■• I ■n.4 - -,- 03 Outlaws 1 / C 108 3 OuUays tmhen commencing on a Farm of |0(3| Arpcnts. Tbe Rent in the Vicinity of Moi^treal, may Iw rat^ at 15s. the Arpent; at a distauce of 16 to iO Miles froin Uience, 7«. 6d. £. s. d. T'vo Plough Horses, at 20. eac^ 40 O Anorcinnry extra Ilorst' 10 Twelve Cows, at 61. each 73 1 en Shtep. Ht ll. each . 10 Two Sows, at Si. IDs. each 5 Twrniy fiui Fowls, at 28. each 2 8 A light Plough, aR<:Her, Horse Hoe, 8 Scarifier, ^ 90 O O A xes, and various small Implements ) Two DriJgCaits, two Hay Carts, t'*o pair of 1 Wheels to serve the four bodies, and two J- 29 • Trains for winter ••■•• ••••....... j A Two horse Plough ••.^•. 6 6 7 Harness fordo , »m,»» 6 0. Harrows ... 2 10 A Cart HarresB for extra horse 3 10 Saddles and Rreecb for Plough Hoises. when} _^ ^ put to cutt } Thr>e H alters and Stable Furniture . 2 Furniture for Dairy Dishes, Pails, Qburn, fijc. 10 Fifteen Alinots of Seed Wheat, at lOs. per mt. 7 10 Ditto ditto 01 Peas, at 10s. per rat. ...... 7 10 Ditto ditto of Barley, at 78> 6d. per mt. .. 5 12 6 Grass SefH for tun at penis ...«..••«.. 3 7 6 Potatoes for five arpents, at 3s. per mt 9 Seed,Corn,orHorse Beans & seeds of Vegetables 3 10 (^ servants' and labourers' wages. Ploughmen .... 24 Q Two ordmaiy Men, at 151. each •«.. 30 (X Carried up £313 4 7 • /' ^y ' A Servant It Brought up ;€313 ^ ftttvaai Woman, at 12U IS AGitl, at6i 6 Fcur Men frcm the IMh of July to tbe 15th ofl „ , ^^ ^ September, at S). per month J Women 6c Children to plant & gather Roft Crops 6 Piovisiens ,. ,., •••.... 124 ^485 4 7 4 The abQve calculations are made for entering on a Farm on the first of May, when tlie stock may be expected to feed abroad. Were the entry t«> lake place in November, an allowance must be made for the subsistence of the stock. The cows would be rated at 30 lbs. of hay per day ; the sheep at 5 lbs. of hay, with rough fodder ; the pigs at 3 [Ants of grain or pulse, with the wash from the housie. The food for the servants is included for one yeu«' ; but the expence of the furniture for the house and ve- hicles, the maintenance of the master a:td his family are not included, that depending on the stile ,they may choose to conform to. : T, H^ natural endowments granted by Provi Jenqj to this country, oflFer many comforts to the mclus- triotiB economist: — the maple trees present them- selves 5.'j: Hj HI I [ 110 ] •elve8 to the assistance of man^ yielding sap to make abundance of sugar. The apple for eating and beverage ; the elder^ the raspberry, and the various kinds of currants, for the like purpose. The pleasure arising from a proper application of those fruits, can only be felt by those who draw these bles- sings from their industry. They have the heart- felt satisiaction to offer to a friend wine or liquor made of the fruit they get from the forest, or their garden. These considerations have induced me to give the directions for making wine and perkin, with a hope that they may be brought into practice. TO MAKE ELDER WJNE. T, O nine gallons of water, put three pecks of Black Elder Berries; boil them for half an hour; then strain the liquor into a tub: dissolve two pounds of maple sugar to each gallon of liquor : when it is cold, put half a cup;ls ',rt easy- \ '• [112 5 jctisk, and bun^ it iip. — It will be flt to drink in January^ when it may be bottled oflf for uso. Wild Grape Win€, The grapes when perfectly ripe, are gathered iand squeezed; two gallons of juice to one of re- duced spirits. Refined sugar, allspice and ginger, are boiled, and the wine is sweetened to the palate. Let it be bottled ofiji and in three montlis it will be fit to drink. . P % To make Perkin. Cut one bushel and a half of apples into a tub ; put nine gallons of water to them ; let them stand four or five days ; strain the liquor off, and boil it a quarter of an hour. When cold, it is barrelled ; add a quarter of a pound of ginger, and it will keep Very well. All Fruits that are most exposed to the sun and the free circulation of the air, are the best to make wine. MY tllS] 11 u , Y first intention to treat oA Agriculture ^ast nirith a view to excite the Canadian farmers to change thieir system^ so as to render their proilucts applicable to th^ necessities of the province, and beneficial to navigation. Viewin^f tlie impolicy of allowing Vadt sums of money to go oiit of the coun- try, i6 purchase tattle, sheep, hogs, tsutter and dieesfi'-the rearing and manufacturin|^ of wliicli, might be performed by the ftirmers of the province : the ill effect it has to draw out the money necessary to cany on aii active culture of the soil, proceeding fi'om a want df information oh rural economy. But on refiection, it occurred to liiie, thai tKe im- ihehse tratts df forest yet to settle, will be peopled from England, or the northern part of Europe; from whence alone the interest of the British Go- vernment c^n m^'et support. These circumstances consideriid. It appeared, that some hints on the subject mi^ht b^ of use to thbife who may settle OA new land. The Candidas offer greater advantage to settlers, than most parts of America. In the United States, ""*•"- p every . ..,'JdtaUliik UV(/ ■ ^^m ^ every situation^ worthy of occupation^ has long since been taken up :* the new bomers^ as they are called^ must go back where their produce, when raised, becomes of little benefit to them, having no market for many hundreds df miles. In Lower Canada, the most distant farms are not one hundred miles fro^ the principal cities, and many villages intervene, where sales can be i^^de, where- by the Americans of Vermont, the back parts of New York State ^nd Pensylvannia, and along the JUikes, look to the Canadas for a market. It is cer- tainly better to be in a country governed by English laws, and honest old English custom, than where it is considered A crime to be an Englishman, ^nd, wljcre deception is the order of the day. . ,V ! , '.' The first consideration is tlte clioice of soil; no place, however pleasant to view, ^ould engeige a man to settle where the laod is infertile : nor an unhealthy situation, tthere the soil is good. The. quality of the soil may be fudged by the growth of trees ; where tlyey arc large, H is k sign of good, land; where there is plenty of beqich, maple, and i^utter nut, that land is good — it is either yellow or hazel loom. Where elm, wliite ash, butter nut,. •^4t * The emigration of Amertcans to the Canadas, demonstrates th« advantage of these coioni«s over that -«f the United Stater for settlers : their removal ik not from principle, but to improve Uieir fortane, tthich makes them leave the land of liberty aad e^Mlitj^ vvincfa Mr. Winterhothoi* has paintid in far too hiali rolvun* c: "5 1 ^vhileand red:aak!gR)w, the soil ii genendly strong^ Where pine, heinlodi; birch and spruce grow, the- soil is sandy, the worst that there is. Cedar swamps^ ' thongh often coinposed of good soil, are notdesi-i rable to take, unless easy to dikun Ash and soft' iQa{de swamps are mostly on a clay >)r marl ; if easy^ to draii^ they are good for mefidows. White birch - and pqplar denote very poor light loom, or whiter clay; The spot being chosen, which ought to be near, a constant supply of good water, trees are cut tobuildalo|f house; if i^saw mill is not near, to get boards to cover it, the bark of ash becomes i^' substitute for them. It is best not ot lay out money at first to build a fine house, because when the land is cleared, it often happens, more advantageous spots are discovered to build on. A good large eel-.; lar must be made under the house, for the vegeta- bles. Log stables and a barn ought to be erected, and care ta)(en to make them shade the cattle from the north and north-west winds; — they are the coldest in this country. 4 \ Clearing. This is done by the acre: in the Lower Provinces it is about three pounds, in the Upper, six. They- cut down the trees, chop off the branches, and lay them in heaps : the trunks of the- trees are cut in pieces about ten feet long. The fire is putin a dry time ; after it has passed, the logs are drawn to a place, and burnt; the ashes are -itiAf pg gathered it r- ^p mm V ' It I it pdhtrtd^ and put under cofer/ to sell to tb^ makers of pot ash. The land is then sowed; if tyith wheat or rye/ one minbt of seed is sufficient for an acre^ bect^use tlie stUmps occnpy a great part of the land, foj^some years : the seed is harrowed in with a triangi^lar barrow. When land is sowed with grain« it is advisablb to lay it down With grass se^d; half a peck of fox tail^ or timothy, mixed with twopbnnds of r^d cloveif seed : this can be sowed when thei^e is an Appearance of rain, which Will wash it in. It need not be iiarrowed. Laying down'tbgrass bias the effect to Iveep down any fresh growth of trees, by mowing the land^ and hay is always in demand in new set* tlements. When land i^ intended for potatoes, it in prepared as above: the sets are laid on the ground, four sets in each place, at the distance of three feet; earth is drawn over them with a hoe; tiiey are made in heaps, about the iizc of a bushel measure: nothing further is done to them until they are tal^en up. If Indian corn is planted, four or five grains are laid on the ground; a person fol- lows the planter, and covers the seed with a hoe; a few pumpkin seeds are put in the hills w|ien plaiit- iiig : it is managed afterwards as directed in the tormer part of this work, witli the exception, that i^ is done by the hanU.,y(l ni luotU vA iiim ,3f>{f0rtm 'i As the land is cleared, it is fenced with the wood tukca from the clearinij, or cl^jewhere, that is suit- Im'iiUh^ S*! able llble for the purpoie. A piece should be fenced, fo# 1^ pig and calf pasture, neur to the house. It is bet' ter not to be too hasty in buying sheep, they are not easy kept at first ; settlers must be cautious of buying stock before they hate food for them : ad- vances must be gradual^ and success will crown their endeavours, * The object of people at a distance from market^ should be to raise and &tten cattle, — to make but- ter anc cheese; therefore pasture is a first consi- deration. A few acres of lucern might be sowed broad cast, to cut and feed in other enclosures, not vyhere it grows. It may be argued, there is the run of the woods ; granted, for grown cattle, but calves, •heep and pigs cannot be trusted abroad. By hav- ing such a resource, the stock of young animals can W greatly increased. The cows that feed in the Vfodds give very poor milk : hence arises the bad flavour of the greater part of the American butter and cheese. The leading cow will require a good toned bell, buckled to her neck, because cows are often too idle to return home; by which means they are easier found : salt should be given them every week, to entice them to the house. But with this care, they sometimes absent themselves, and if not looked after, they soon become dry, which is a serious loss. Fat cattle go to market themselves. Pork, and the proceeds of the dairy, are easy to ^iVV carry; «iiTy ; tbcrefiorc new settler; have oniy^heiF l)r«a^ stuff to rai^e, and vrhftt grain mny be wi^ntfi^ fpji .their stock. ' >«« ,>ti?:\»i/ different sized augurs, socket chissels, spike and sm^Il gimb- lets, an iron crow about ^ pounds, ip^de with two^ short i^rpngs at one end, and a cross bar at the other, to get up stumps and stones. All other articles are bought in the colony to suit the wants of new set* tiers, which are felling aJ^es, log and plough chains,, American hand hoes, Dutch plough and ox sleigh, stoves, iron kettles for sugaring, pails, &c. The smith's work is charged one shilling per pound ; Birmingham and Staffordshire wares, glass, ^c. are to be had here. Seeds that may he brought for th§. ^se of (he farm : lucern, saint foin, rutabaga, blue and white turnip, carrot, drum-head cabbage, eaily York, ma,ngle wurtzel, radish and le-tuce ; goose- berry, and the different currant seeds. Such a coir lection will be of service to those that have theni. i •• '. " ' The [ "9 3 The price of land varies accOiding^ to situationy from five shillings to forty ; but the government has offered a grant of one hundred acres^ for actual settlement , as such^ a purchase can be avoided ; there are many valuable situations on the seigniories^ where a small house^ and some clearing have been made^ that might be bought for fifty to a hun-* dred pounds, subject to an annual rent of a half-penny per arpent, and two minots of wheat, for each hundred arpents. There are seigniorial rights, similar to those of lordships, in some parts of England: Ist. eight percent, on the sale of land and houses ; 2nd. tenants must go the seignior's mill, and pay the fourteenth for mill fee; 3d. cart- age of building materials for the seignior's man- sion, and for the church. Those latter services do not happen often. These obligations are fixed and certain. — Those seigniories having been granted prior to the conquest of the country, are all in the most ^voured situations, many of which are not fil- led, and offer residence, at a distance of from thirty to fifty miles from Montreal, which is the first city in Lower Canada ; and, from its central situation, will be the emporium of l^ritish America. The fprmers of Lower Canada pay no impost, either personal or territorial, at present. i'v?ns i(\^ ■^^K^ ■■■. 'i ^-f-V- ■>■<>; ,'>:,.;. ;. '■ .. nv * - • I \t "^ ^ u- ' ' ' ' j) '■ ' ' "7" <■' ' '" ' MAPLE i ■I J' ' en'"': (my MAPLE SUGARi J it' w, if !,.':> ZQ : i- lUh?, HERE maple trees are on a farm a setee-' tion might be made of from four to eight hundred, to make sugar ; What may not be wanted for the fa« liiily, will find a ready sale. The spot chosen^ the centre is pitched on for thd boiling place. This operation begins about the 20th of March, as the snow begins to melt. When there is no snow o^ frbst in the ground^ the sap will not make sugar. A large white wdod tree, commonly Called brasi wood, is felled for a back log, to make the fire against ; two small trees are cut to get forked pieces to put a bar across ; branches are cut for hooks Co hang the boilers upon ; a large white wood trough is made for a reservoir, to put close to the boilers; small troughs are made of white ash or butter nut, to put at the foot of the trees. Tapping : — ^the best method is to bore a hole slant ^vays, with an au- gUr ; and when done sugaring, to cork it upl with a piece of wood, to prevent the tree exhausting itself; but the generality of people make an incision slant- ways with an axe ; after which, a hole is struck with a gouge at the lower part of the wound : a thin piece of cedar is put into the hole made with the two-inch gouge, to conduct the sap to the small trough, which is made to contain a pail full. Each f ewning i^MAdMii C181] A, 1- le IS le >i r. if •c « h evening the sap is collected and put itito the rbstt- voir. Some people have a puncheon put on a light sleig;h to carry the sap ; others take it to tliere ser- voir in pails. The number of boilers will depend on the quantity of liquor ; iron ones are in general use, perhaps from cheapness. The following- mornings twelve pails full ol" sap is pat on the fire, in a kettle, which is kept on tlieboil. Eight pails are put on in another kettle over a gradual fire. As the first eva- porates, it is filled from the second ; when it is laved out, the first one is continued boiling: in about six hours it will be reduced ; that is known by its rising to the top of the kettle ; a small piece of fat pork is thrown in. It will soon rise ag-ain when another piece is added. When it rises the third time, that is repeated, and the syrup is taken off the fire, and strained into a pail. This stands until •the next day, when it is put on a slow fire in a small pot, and will take three quarters of an hour to fine down. It is then put into moulds the size of bricks, or earthen vessels, to cool. There are people who use milk instead of porkji to prevent it boihng over. The quality, quantity, and colour of sugar, de- pends on the situation ; up land trees give the rich- est sap and the best colour, yielding one pound of sugar to each pail of sap ; low lands give a dark co- lour, and only 3 ield twelve pounds to twenty pails Q fuU <.■.'- |U.J«M"- f'"' "■• iV- x^ mmammm. ftiH of sap. Frosty nights, succeeded by clear sun- fthining days^ are thebe^t weather for making sugar. 'i i'- ' I .T will sometimes happen that people lose them- selves in the Woods. Tiiis is found by returning several times to the same spot. Cloudy weather operates to deceive, but the sun will always direct by observing its rising and setting from the dwel- ling place, which Europeans ought strictly to attend to on their first beginning in the forest. Swamps are the most ' .ficult, from the thickness of the green timber : in such a case, let the person avoid flurrying himself, because fear is the first thing that agitates the mind, and leads to frenzy. If fatigued, sit down, and examine the trees; the north side of large trees is covered with moss ; the branches are longest on the south and south-east sides : these will form a compass. Should you fall on a river or brook, its course will lead to some settlement. The brooks, many of which are little rivers in the spring at the melting of the snow, be- come dry in summer; but their course may be dis- covered by observing the way that tiic wild growth of I' '' if 1-^ .jm r. [ 1^ ]■ • ofherbs^ grass, and roots of trees lay: their heads will point to the out-let of such water ; the stones will be cleaner on the side next the source^ than that next tlie out-let. These observations are easier un- derstood than heights, falls, &c. &c. Sometimes cattle are met with miles from hoipe ; by starting them, they run from a stranger, and generally go home : that will lead the lost person to a settlement. There being little to fear from wild beasts, food is a primary object. As berries are not always to be iiall any more than nuts, herbs become a consider- ation. The colts foot, called by the Americans snake root, has a leaf formed like the foot of a colt ; it is of a deep green colour ; the roots run horizon- tally, and are of the thickness of a tobacco pipe ; they taste like lemon peel. By gathering of that root, to eat, a person might exist for some time. This plant produces many lateral roots, it is in greater abundance than most other herbs; it delights in moist situations, and is easy to diRCOver. It is taken as a tea, to remove violent colds, when a little sweetened. QS APPENDIX, ;f .-LwJ.___J^!!S i [ t. si' '■*'■ '■■■■■', iijsrii «/i/0 ,5:n;*(w ;•• '•'■ T'.' . >'yi;i.?fm?' •I)''-! ^■'• ^:' M , I ■' ■■' •'" S\'. f. •. '1 i < ■• r'f '5jl4| •5'f •■.».,,•'. ?iil(^- . .''v ^.^ \ ; f r -t •f ,. APPENDIX. "ivr«* to-. y T, HE Wheat Crop of 1816 being much infected with burnt Grains, I tried an experiment in 1817 with some which vvas disordered, to ascertain the effect of the following preparation. An hundred grains were washed in three differ- ent waters ; after which they were put into a steep, made of sea salt, and remained thirty hours ; when taken out it was mixed with unslacked Jimc, and laid twelve hours in that state before it was sowed in drill ; there were no unsound grjiins when it was cut, the produce was lib. 13 oz. , An hundred grains of perfect sound wheat were sowed two feet apart in a parallel line ; at the same distance from it the sarn^ quantity of disordered wheat unprepared. The unprepared had a great many burnt cars ; some of the ears of the sound wheat were infected that stood next to the unpre- pared row ; the seed of the sound wheat weighed • . two, m^ i^"i i* [ 186 3 two penny wts. and twelve gis. — the produce ^vas three pounds. The disordered wheat produced two pounds and three ounces. The result of this experiment proves that there is a remedy for wheat in the above state to render it fit to sow, as also the consequence of using it for seed without a previous preparation : however, the sound wheat yielded neariy one third more weight than the other^ and points out the advantage of good grain for seed. , ^. . »• • *, . • It will appear singular that the unprepared crop produced more weight than the prepared ; but it may be accounted for, that the burnt grains retain a greater degree of moisture, therefore they give more weight. It proves likewise, that an adjacent crop will be injured by wheat in the above state. A recent Quebec paper states that Autumn Wheat has succeeded in that neighbourhood ; per- haps it may, the snow laying so long on the ground. The cause of its failure in the open parts of the district of IMontreal is, from the want of snow, to cover it from the frost : of late years, it has been in part uncovered during the winter ; the frost * * the spring is also very fatal to it. Tlierc bring but very little Autumn Wheat in the lower E 197 3 lower province, that dtefeeft may be relieved Tiy using Spring Wheat in its place, which will answer the same purpose : the sowing should lake place in the latter part of August, or early in September^ to give the plants time to get sti'cngth . The potatoo crops come oflF the ground too late to sow Wheat on that ground with much prospect of success. T„ i'yf y ^\n 1 HE great public benefit arising froyn a knowledge of the state of the crops is too evident to need comment; and in order to imitate the practice of the British Counties, the conductors of the Mont- real Herald suggested the idea to me of giving monthly reports of the state of the crops in the dis- trict of Montreal. I readily entered into their views, and furnished them from June, ISIG, to October, 1817 : perhaps they may be not deemed of any use. at present, but as they pourtray the period for la- bour in the field, as well as the various crops that are cultivated in this Province, they may be a source of information to people in Europe, who may be inclined to emigrate he7iee. For this reason I have had them reprinted ; to the above gentlemen, I must acknowledge myself indebted for publishing «■ r various 1 ) [ 128 ] various papers on Agriculture; and I have reason, to believe, that to their patriotism in promulgating such information, great public benefit will eventu- ally be ierived to this Province. The present pe- riod is . ly propitious to the advancement o/Agri- cultun, as there are Societies established this year, Cl817j headed by persons of the first respectability, to promote a better management of rural economy. i / r ' i : t ! c i'\ AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTREAL. JUNE, 1816. . . X lie coDtinued cold weather and frosts to the middle of tkis month, orre&ted the progress of vegetation, and injured the rising crops in a great degree. The Grass ou high as well as on low lands is very thin and short. The Wheat has a better appearance than might be expected from the sudden change in the latter part of the month to excessive beat and continued drought. The bailey is promising, but very short : as is also the Wheat ; neither have branched out from the foot as usual. The Oats are short and thin, but keep a good colour. The Pease are well colored, but are very short. The attempts heretofore to introduce Horse Beans, have often been frustrated, from too late sowing, and too light soils; those sowa this spring on strong soil, prepared last (M, promise success, and have the best ap|iearance of any crop on the ground. The greater part of Indian Corn, or Maize, that was sown early, rotted m the ground; those lately sown are hardly fit for the first hoeing, The wire worm has been destructive; es also a species of caterpillar not noticed before to have attacked this kind of corn. i \\ A \ [ 129 ] rorn. The hops have Buffered much bj the froBti iu this rauntJ|. The potatora have not generally.tnade their appearance above th« eurfaceof the earthy JULY, 1816. -ii* Although very little rain has fallen tbia month, vegetation, when compared with the last month's unfavourable prospect, has much surpassed our most sanguine expectations. I'his alteration has been occasioned by the very heavy dews expfiienced since our last Report. The Wheat, although thin, with a few excep- tiona, bears an appearance equal to the must fAror&ble years. Barley is fine ; the early so.wn is now changing colour, and wi'! be soon fit to cut. Rye, which is much neglected by the Canadian farmer, and only sown on a few sandy spots, looks well. The early sown Odts are good ; of those sown late, great part of the seed has not yet vegetated. Buckwheat — This species of grain being the last that was sown, and thatin the latter part of June, little of the seed has yet vegetated, and consequently a crop cannot be ex- pected. The Indian Corn looks well in some parts ; however at this advanced seabcn it is doubtful whether much will ripen this year. The pease have a very favorable appearance, and a good crop may be expected. The blossoms of the Horse Ueana were in- jured by the fiost on the 6tb iiist. The Hops also suffered much at the same time. The Hay making, which is begun, scarcf'ly gives an assuranee of more than two thirds of a crop, when coiii< pared with the growth of last season, which was in general allow- ed t» be very good. From the season being so far advanced, there is bnt little prospect of hay being cat a second time. Turnips — ■ This root, next to (lotatoes, both as ftod for man and cattle, has been cultivated to a greater extent in this, tiian perhaps any for- R mtt -_>-<»(,.> w C 130] m^r year ; tbey have been in a great degree a prcjr to the fiv, but early rains may probably yet aave them. The potatoes planted on light soil have a gn^d appearanre, those set no strong loan\ are not so t'urward, but in general the prospect of a good crop pte- senia itself. When a review is taken of the present state of Crops in genera', and the probability that a deficiency will arise in the article of FndJer during the ensuing winter, it may not be improper to point out to the industrious farmer, substitutes for the usual food given to horses, horned rattle, and sheep during that season ; and which mit;ht be collected from the wild growth on almost every farm : viz. Mngwort, culled by the Canndian peasantry, Herb St. Jean, Thistles, Wild Tares, and Hep Clover, to be £iven to horses. For horned cattle and sheep, the Cutonier, or Milk Weed, Panet or Wild Parsnips, Wild Endive, or Chiccoree, the young growth ill I'aspberri"?, the Tern and the Wood or bouquet Jaune; the whole of the above mentioned would prove a valuable addition to the Winter stock of Hay, Straw, &c. AL'Gl'ST, 1816. It is wiih plensiirs we are able to say, thnt this montli has beew the mfflt propitioug of any preceJ.ing one since the opening of the. 8»as(!n, for Agricultural pursuits. The rains which fell were so or'ier»!d by the Divine Kuler tif the Universe, as to be sufficient to five a clue nourisi mtni, to ibe Fmits of the Earth, and bring thtm t- nmtiirjly, without at aiy tin.e impedirg the securing of those that were ready to harvest. '1 !ie Clover and Fox-Jail, or Tiraclby Ilay-making, which [131 ] began the latter part of last month and concluded in the earl part of this, was Iioused in good ordri. I'he Franc Foin, Uuich gold top and foul meadow Grass, nu low lands, are a little mure tliHii half a crop, but the crarse low Island Hay, is more abundant than usual. — The Dai ley was cut and housed in the middle of the month, the ear is lung and the grain very plump and heavy. — The Wheat harvest began about the 2l8t in the southern ai.d eastern parts of the district; a great poriion will be housed this tnonth ; the ear appears more like autumn than spring Wteat. I'he quality is excellent, and fur beyond expectation, those ic the nortiiern and western parts of the district will not be; ready to cut until the end of the month. — The Hye is a good crop and has been housed. Some Odts have been cut and housied, but the greater part were out, and very gieeo at our latt tt dates. I'be rain has brought forward the Burk-wheat, which in in fj'.l bliM)ni ; the late frosts checked it, to that the crop will be ve.ry light. — The Indian Corn has improved ia height, but very little in ear or cob. The Early Pease on high light soils, fiave been housed; those on stoney low 80il were very green at Uie close of the inoiiti/, but well podded. The large Feabe have not half their bloom set, they are much exposed to mildew. The Horse l>eaiis Mil! be ready to cut by the end of the mouth, and will make a good re< turn. The Hops will be a light crop ; the picking of the Bells will commence about the middle of the next month. 1 he Tur* nips on old land have been destroyed by the fly, those on new have sulTered very much; they will not yield above halt' a crop. The Potatoes in every situation have improved in appearance ; the small trials nnade to ascertain the fiuitfulnesa of the plant is not so satisfactory as could be wished, but they have yet much time to improve. Summer Fallowing was attempted before the rain fell, and has been continued during the month. I'he fear of a want of Fodder has in^ some measure disappeared by the happy effect of the rain, creating ftesh growth in these plants, which bad not arrived at maturity ; however, it may be held in ' ■ ' , view, / H I / ] ■ la C 138 ] 4iew, tbat they are not yet secured : therefore we must itiU hcommend peculiar care to collect every kind of forage that t&tk be got for winter use. J^EPTEMBER, I8I6. ^inCe the first week, liiert has been a continued drought to the end of the month, the weather has geneially beeq ve'y hazy, at* tended with cold winds ; on the lltb a severe fro$t was,experi« enced. The 19th and 20th were extremely warm ; the 26th, 27ik and 28th, the frost was so severe, as to complete the destruction of the Potatoe haulm, which escaped that of the 11th. The ef- fect of such unstsasonable weathe'-, has been particularly felt by all the standing crops, which were in a backward slate, requiring warmth and rain, to biing them to matuti.y. I \ The Wheat in the north and west parts of the District, which remained at the date of our last report, has been housed and is very fine. — There stitl remains out through the District a quan< tity of Oats, a great portion of which cannot riptn and must be cut for fodder. The early Pease have been got in ; the quantity is great, but the sample will not be generally good, there being nearly one third that were not perfectly ripe. The large white and green Pease, have not cume to perfection ; the frost, and codiinued chill in the air have prevented them ripening ; many have cut them for fodder, those yet standing await the same re> suit The lodiai Com was destroyed by the frost of the 11th KiBt. it is doubtful whether seed can be obtained for another year. The Iloree Beans have been housed in good order ; they are very productive, and deserve attention b) every cultivator that hits soil la{ for them. The picking of Hops was concluded [135] at the close of the tnontli; the plnnters had a dry time for that labour ', the quantity and quality ace both deficient, when com* pared with more favourable years. The Potatoes have had to contend wi.h a dry season ; superior tillage and manure have not insured success with this crop : the want of rain, joined to the early frosts, has caused a great deficiency in most situations of this valuable vegetable root ; they caunot be rated at more than half a crop. The Meadows have made little projj^ress since they Mere mowed ; the country has seldom witnessed so great a want ' of gra«n food for feeding of stock as has been experienced this summer. Lacern, hnn only been cut three times this year ; io mo«t others, it has been cut five times. Although a native of l^edia, it succeeds very well iq this climate, from its quick growth and great produce. This grass cannot be too much recommended to the new settlen, for feeding their young stock and particularly their pigs. People in those situations are always in want of food for their young animals. ^ The progrPM of the plough has been arrested for the greater part of this month on strong soils ; rain is much wanted to facilitate the advancement of that labour* )% •^d, *■*:*•, -r y OCTOBER, 1816. The little interest this month presents in rural pursuits, renders a Report almost annecessary, were it not proper to exhibit the residue of the revolving year, wherein the farmei bai had bupis and fear in continual view, aod for the present closing every ex> pectatiea of farther reward for his toils during the season. The Oats and Peate that remained oat at the date of our last Re. y:\ c i* 5 ileport, have been genarally got in ; they can ouly serve for fodder. The weather was very favourable to the middle of the taionth to get up the Potatoe crop, which has generally been found light. Various trials have been made on the culture of Beeti, Carrots and ParsNips in the open field, under the Horse Hoeing husbandry, for fteding and fattening cattle and hogs, the produce has been abundant; they have the peculiar advantage that no insects annoy them, which makes them sure crops, when the soil is fit for *heir culture. Few]farmers enter into the merits of root crop6, except Potatoes and Turnips. There is no crop so uncer« tain as the latter. The culture of r«bl>ag« in the open field under the plough succeeds extremely well. It is rare to see any in that situation. While the farmers neglect the many facilities to increase food, which can be obtained from the fertility of the loit, in order to raise and fatteo stock, this country will remain open to Competition, and the valuable branch of breeding and fattening stock will be performed for us by our neighbours ; thus depriving tne province of considierable sums annually, which might be obviated by attention And appropriate regulations. The greater part of the land for sowing of Wheat, Barley and Fease in the ensuing spring has been ploughed. From the appearance of the weather, that labour may be continued to the middle of the next monthi NOVEMBER, I8I6. The ploughing ceased on the IStb, when the frost set '\tu^ ■\ _*o.4 ''i.;ii.v;-.:'' !. ■ ■ I ■- -f'^.'.i.:. . i \ MMSMHH jm] APRIL, 1817> The Season for rural pufBuits opkned on tbe 31st. Some partia) cperations took place on tbe pre<;eding week which were prema- ture. The sowing of Wheat, Qarley and Pease, has been general in the Soutb-East angle of this DiMricf, as also tbe drilling of IJorse Beans. |n the North-West Aoglct the sowing of tbe \Vbeat began at the close of tbe month. The soil has seldom been in a better state to receive tbe seed ; the strongest was ren- dered as fine as sand by the operations of frost during th« winter. Although vegetation has made little prugrrsa to the view of an indifferent observer, yet those who look minutely to the budding of Trees, find them in a stat* to give confidence to the rising year. The plough has been actively employed on lay land, with the exception of two ^^ys occasioned by tbe fall of rain and snow, which stopped every operation* The meadows, although i|ncovered a great part o( the winter, have not suffered so much us might be expected, and at ^be close of the month had begun to assume the^r wanton colour- The Hops have suffered by the iroat in the winter on light soils. Tbe making of Sug&r is an appendage to husbandry in this part of the world. It may not be improper to state, that it has besn very successful this spring from the frequent frosty nights succeeded by clear weather and bright sun,- < - , At the close of tbe m-mth, the wild (lowers had begun to bloom in the woods. MAY, C136 3 MAY, 1817. At All Thi fine «um weatfaer Kt the tteginaing of the nontb, gavf; i^ cheerful hope for the lising cropt. The seed of every description was got into the ground without impediment. The alternate changes of heat and cold from the 9th to the Slst, with almost continued drought, kept vegetation in a languid state through the latter part of the month. The \Vheat on summer fallows look* very healthy, but that on land less prepared has suffered much by drought and vermine. There have been several instances where it was necessary te sow the land a second time, the first being seed that had been heated, it did not vegetate. The early •owed Barley suffered by the frost ; the late is rising and has a good colour. The Pease have a favouraMe appearance. The drilled and bioad'cast Horse Beans look healthy, they may be considered a new production, and offer a great advantage to the country. As ingenious individuals are promoting their growth, it ii necessary to observe that the Cabbage Caterpillar is preying on them this spring ; they may be discovered by removing the earth from the Beans that are attacked. There have been more Potatoes planted this year than in most former ones. Beets, Carrots, and Mangle Wartzel under the drill husbandry are only beginning to rise. The Grass in the meadows is very short and thin. The Clovers of each denomination have suffered more by the frost than any other grass. Lucern was one foot high at the close of the month and might be cut. The pastures have seldom exhibited such deficiency as at the present. The great inconvenience inseparable from the practice now in use, might point out to the farmers the propriety of changing their method, and sow grass seed in order to provide for their stock. The Hop Vines have a good appearance for the season. fLAST£R OF PARIS.— This valuable manure is at length draw- [137] drawing the attention of the fancera of this district. Its virtue and cheapness offer greater advantages than any other fur a top dressing. By report, it has been said that the vast number of pigeons this year had destroyed much of the seeds ; but it appears that what they ate was tulten off the surface, by examining what was in their craws when they werfr killed ; there was not the least appearance of the grain having germinated befure they had talien it up. JUNE, 1817. TuE favorable change of the weatbvr at the begintiiiig cf ibis month, with frequent rain through the whole of it, has removed the fear occasioned by the drought of the latter one ; the progress of vegetation has been extraordinary and premises the most happy results. The Wheat following green crop is very luxuriant, that oa Autumn fallows has tillered much, and has a tine appearance ; the early sowed Barley is in ear, the late is very strong and healthy. The Oets look well. The Pease bear a better appear^ anec than in most former years. The Morse Beans are in bloom. The Potatoes are fit for the first dressing. Some inconvenience has been experienced in this crop, by planting seed which did not vegetate, but it is not too late to plant again. Some Potatoes were planted last year on the l6th July, which came to maturity and produced a very good return. The Caterpillar, called the Cabbage Grub, is preying on the Potatoe plants by cutting them "^Pl^ ^^^m ^i^mmm [138] oft a()out one inch above the ground, after which they retarn into the earth : they may be discbveied by removing the mould from about the item, where they have cut off the head. The ] lups are strong and healthy. The Beets and Mangle Wartzel have suffered much by the Tuitiip Fly. The Carrots have a Ane appearance. Tb«t Meadows are more backward than any other gn-Mb: the Hay crop does not offer that abundance which might be wished : the Pastures are much improved, but are yet inade* quate fur full feed. JULY, 1817. ^iiERt has been a great similitude in the weather of this month td thbt of tie last, with the exception of the present being much warn;er : the effect of frequent rain succeeded by heat, has produced an appearance in the crops that promises the most atandant harvest ever known in the annals of this district. i The Wheat is very strong and changing cbloor rapidly ; it only requires dry weather for two weeks to complete its maturity ; some ver^ rank grain was laid by the heavy rain at the close of the month, which tray cause it to rust. It is to be regretted the farmers pay so little attention to the choice of seed wheat ; some disappointment will be met with iu the north from an injudicious choice uf seed, although ttrong injunctions were presented on that hpud in the spiingto avoid sowing spotted wheat. Rye is nearly ripe, it will yield well. Barley is a heavy ciop, it will be fit to cut by iliC 8th of the ensuing month. The Oats are in a forward state, but in some parts thin. The (ie*d Pease were fit to eat on Uie 20ih ; the cri>|> will be abundantt The fuilure of Buck ■ ". ■■'' :->.,-,.=■■ .^^^.>. ' - '-■ Wheat fn pd u pe tr it [ 139 ] WLeat the last two yean has deprived the farmer of the inear^^ to sow an extent of ground, but small patches are seen whici) look well— they will soon be able to enlarge to their usu-' ^ : ■■■'■' --■'- AUGUST, I8I7., ■" ■ '"-" ■ '■ ■'•■" Par,t of this district was visited this month with one of tbe^ greatest storms known in the memory of man. I'be frrquent heavy rains from the 3d to the 23 J, had given cause to fear fur the grain crops ; however, it is with infinite pleasure that the premises in our last reprrt will be fulfilled in the present ; by stating that from the forward state of the grain crops, they s;f. fered very little; and the bad weather only retarded the cutting t . j - ^ -'j -■" '' /I T mi*-' [140] The Wheat Harvest began in tlie midland parts on the SOth ; grain is very plump, and much was boused at the close of the month in good order. The Barley was mostly boused at the abi>ve period, but is not so weighty as that o'' the preceding year. The Rye has been got in. The Oats have improved by the rains, and will in appearatire double the former expectations. Th« Pease have suffeied more than any other crop by the frequent rain. Ihe Horse Beans are changing colour; they sutl'ertd by the Sturm. The Indian Corn does not offer much, the wet and the storm have injured it. The Potatoes in high situations are a heavy crop ; in low, very poor. Root crops have suffered generally by the rain. The Cabbages in field- culture are not promifcing. The Hops suffered more by the sturm than any other crop by the poles being broken ; the Bells are nearly fit to pick from those unhurt. The Ilay-muking was mostly finished this month on uplands, very little has been spoiled, but the colour is generally bad. Great part of the low meadow Ilay will b« lo^ or spoiled fioni the land being flooded so frequent. 'I .<^kii SEPTEMBER, I8I7. \\ Tiip. WpHther was very favorable to the Slst, which enabled the fat mfrs through the district to house the Wheat crop in good •(frier. The e \ \ pe [Ml] tbii spring vas cut a lecoDd time at the beginning of the muntb^ The froit on tbe 29th and SOtb killed the Totatoe Vines, but a* the crop had arrived nearly to maturity, little damage will bf occasioned by it. Tbe Hope were nearly picked at tbe close of tbe month ; some plantations proved more abundant than usual, but the quality is nqt so good as lo dry years. The Ploughs have been actively employed on lay land ; tha veatbsr has been very favorably since tb« 22d for that labour. OCTOBER, 1817. This month has been very unfavorable for rural pursuits ; the frequent change of th« weather causes much trouble and disap> poiDtment to the farmer in housing the late crops, but there wa% scaicely any thing out at theclp^e of (he month. The Oats have been much discoloured, nor are they weighty. Tbe late Pease have sufTsred in colour, many not having ripenfd. The Morse Ueans were housed in good order ; this pulse will be a substitute fur Indian Corn, when sowed early ; thry ripeo well, and are very good for Horses, Pig», Sheep and Poultry.— Toe low Meadow and low Ibland Hay, ie very light and bad, ii btting always cat late in the Autumn, it could not be housed well f:om the continued rain. The Potatoe crop lias been generally got in ; those on high ground have been very productive, and from the immense quantity that was planted this spr'ig, there are perhaps mure than in any f.irnier year. Carrots in field cuitu e are a fair crop. Parsnips are scarce from bad seed. Mangle Wartzel has been successful ui: high laud, lie Cabbages are y«r| C i« 3 iadifferent, from tfae turnip fly having preyed oa them when young. The Turnip crop is very light from the fly, they were generally cot off; theie lowed in August 9tood, but it was too late to form any size. From the changeable weather which prolonged the housing of the cr< ps, it had the effect to prevent the farmers from ploughing, tome grt>und being too wet ; that labovr is not near eo forward as it was at this date last year ; however, should the season he lilce the last, it may be cominaed to the middle of the nej(t |uouth. $^l. ERRATA. Page 24, line 4, for years read hours. - 19, /or various t CMil short, ij ;i» 46, - 6, for above read former. 66, - 3, for there read their. 70, - S5, for hart read harl. 88, - l,/»ri4, 10, 0. read£l, 0, 0, 115, - 2.3, /or Provinces rrod Province 1)!0, • 9, for Brass read Bass. 121, - 3, /or Servoir read reservoir. 182, - 2, for are read is. }^7, . 16, for be not read not be. ■*">li 4 U- t ..1 .;:-, •«!<{>/ .nv'f't CM-'v'i "t^'i i'.UJ; ;*"£> In* ■ ^:J..' CON. P'v In U Contents. Cause of the Sterility of the Soil, » - # Of Soils, . - - . 13 Manures, - - - - 16 Implements of Husbandry, 23 Ploughing, - - - 29 Choice and preparation of Seed, * 32 The time of Sowing, 34 Grain and Pulse, " r * 39 Cultivated Grasses, 50 Culture of Vegetables, 55 Culture and preparation of Hempi Flax, and Urtica, or the Nettle, 67 The Farmer's Stock, 78 Method to fatten Cattle, * - 83 Estimate of the return of Crops, - 89 Enemies to Corn, 92 Distempers of Corn, • - 96 Management of the Dairy, - 104 Expence of a two horse Plough^ 107 Outlays token commencing a farm of 100 arpents, 108 Method to make Wines and Perkin, * 109 Hints to European settlers, 113 Appendix, g g z 124