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JEntered according to Act of Congress, in January, 1867, by T. A. Bland, in the Clerk's Ofllce of the District Court of the United States for the District of Indiana.
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Volume II,—No. 8—Terms, SI per Tear,
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, AUGUST 1,1867.
T. A. BLAND, Editor and Proprietor.
Contents ot* August Number.
Work for the Month  145
Scientific, Farming, Xo. 18 14tj
Flax Culture 147
Select Breeds of Cattle 147
What Lands shall be Appropriated for Grazing
Purposes 149
Native Fruits. 150
A Large Yield of Strawberries 150
Pears on Quince Stock 150
Washing Day  151
Various Receipts 151
Woman in Horticulture 151
Dairy Fanning in Florida 152
Chemical Properties of Milk 152
Culture of the Lungs 152
Drainage  152
Horticultural Hints 153
Value of Agricultural Papers 151
Humorous 153
Curious Facts 153
Who Introduced the Tomato 153
Wheat Culture 151
A Time for All Things 154
Moles and Crows 151
Special Terms  151
A Retrogression 154
Address of ltev. W. W. Curry 155
Our Annual 155
Agriculture and Manufacture 156
Kditorial Reunion  156
Killing Out Sprouts 156
Fairs for 1867 156
Transactions of State Horticultural Society 156
Beharrell's Bible Biography  ' 156
New Potato Bug 156
Editorial Items 157
■ Paris Exposition  157
Hard Times Bed Quilt 157
Henry Ward Beacher's Dream 15S
A Short Sermon  158
Home Education 158
Footsteps, (Poem) 15!)
One Glass of Wine 15!l
Facetious Items 150
Special Notices 159
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The Potato—Its History.
An English paper states that a Mr. Crawford recently read a paper before the. Ethnological Society in London, which embraced a history of the potato as far as
known. It was cultivated by the Indians
before the arrival of tho Europeans in
America, but was very small tuber. It
was taken to Ireland in 1G5C. and to Spain
and Portugal some years previously. It is
said to be well authenticated fact that Col.
Mure of Caldwell, in the west of Scotland,
within the present century, had sonic indurated clay soil, taken from a coal pit being sunk on his estate, forty feet beneath
tlie surface, which lie carefully treated so
as to prevent its being impregnated by
any flouting germs of seed ; and that from
this piece of clay several exotic plants unknown to the local botany came up, and
also one which turned out to be a species
of tho Solannm tuberosum, or potato. The
produce of that plant (which in four years
alter its discovery bore large white potatoes) is now cultivated extensively in the
west of Scotland.
For the Forth Western Farmer.
Work for tlie Month.
In this, the hottest of all the months of
the year, we do not propose to lay out
much work for the farmer. Since the commencement of the working season, the
farmer has had necessarily to be very
busy; and with most of them, before the
corn crop was out of the way the wheat
fields were "white unto harvest," thus
allowing no time for the recuperation of
the worn and exhausted energies of the
laborer, until the small grain and hay
were safety housed. Xow that •'harvest is
over," and the urgent demand for the unceasing labor of the husbandman very
much modified, it is onty justice to the
producing class that it should find that
necessary repose requisite to the enjoyment of health, as well as for the exercise
and culture of those social qualities which
constitute one of the distinguishing features of difference between man and tho
lower order of animals. We know very
well that on every farm all over our
broad land, there is always work that may
be done to advantage; yet we believe the
farm that is managed intelligently, as it
should be, will not materially suffer from
an occasional relaxation of active operations, either in the way of improvement
or cultivation.
Each farmer must adapt himself to the
surrounding circumstances, and if one
should be found here and there just begiu-
ningthegreat battle of life, with strong and
untiring muscles, and hands that never
grow weary, that are not only ready but
willing to use the occasion for improvements, cither in building or extending the
area or productiveness of the farm—to
such.it is not only a duty but a pleasure
to hear the sound of the plane, saw or
hammer, in the hands of the builder, or to
keep the plow or spade moving for tlie
benefit of prospective crops. But we only
propose to drop a few hints, while sitting
under our "umbrageous elm." particularly for the benefit of those that are more
industriously inclined than we are, for tlie
present.
THE   FAliM.
Building.—The present affords a good
opportunity for building or making repairs.   Lumber that is thoroughly dried.
and put up as it should be by good workmen during this hot and dryweather, will
not shrink, to produce unseemly cracks, as
when the work is done in damper weather.
Cattle—On pasture will require looking
after occasionally. It is poor policy
to starve cattle on poor pasture. Either
hire pasture, or sell oft' until those on hand
can be kept in a thriving condition. Give
good water, and salt twice a week. See
■•cattle"in last months hints in reference to
furnishing a good supply of water.
Draining.—As the evaporation of water
from low. wet and swampy land takes
place, a better opportunity isoften offered
for the purpose of drainage. Most Irishmen prefer a little water in the ditch while,
at work—just enough to make the dirt slip
easily from the Spade—while an American
would prefer working iu the driest places,
where a ditch is never needed. Give us
the Irishman all the time for ditching. It
is a business he likes, goes at it with a will,
needs no sympathizing to keep him at
work, and his strong back and stout muscles seem to peculiarly fit him for this laborious work. We know Irishmen that have
done our country more good, and that are
more worthy of the gratitude of the people
than some of our noisy politicians in the
halls of legislation.
Fallows—As a general thing have grown
out of practice, yet, there are circumstances in which it may be necessary to
fallow a field for wheat. This affords an
excellent opportunity for putting iu wheat
in the best condition.
Fences.—With a good supply of new rails
is a favorable time for repairing or building new fence. Mowing fence rows is a
valuable means of preserving them as well
as a good preventive of the spread of noxious weeds, besides adding amazingly to
the neat appearance of the farm.
Horses—Sometimes require rest as well
as men; good pasture with a little cut feed
will soon restore them.
Pastures—Are said to succeed better if
all stock are taken oil' for a time in order
to allow them to recruit.
Plow.—This, on stubble ground, should
be set to work as soon as the grain is all
removed. Oat stubble, with us iu Indiana,
is generally broke for wheat. If oats are
carefully saved, the pastnre of the stubble
is wortli nothing, and the sooner it is turned
under the better for tlie next crop. Turnips
may yet be sown with the best of results.
Prepare tlie ground thoroughly before
sowing and brushing in tlie seed lightly—
all the better if just before a shower of
rain.
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