evidence of having been subjected to heat, and in the insoluble part, there were some small white lumps of fused substances which seemed to indicate that a little silicate of lime or soda, had been added. An analysis of this manure has been made for the company by some chemists at Liverpool, and their report is quite favorable. They especially mention the favorable effects to be expected from the soluble silicates; now it happens that there are no soluble silicates. They probably obtained silica by fusing the insoluble portion, but that silica existing as silicate of lime in the manure, was not in a state to be immediately taken up by plants. Without in the least degree impugning the skill of these gentlemen as chemists, it may be doubted whether they have any knowledge of agricultural chemistry. The science often suffers in this way from the assertions of those who have not sufficiently studied its laws. There can be no doubt that artificial manures may be made equal to the natural; and when the farmer learns to guard himself by the light of well directed science, the dealer will be forced into honesty.

I have spoken above of the silicate of lime. This is a combination of silica (or quartz,) with lime. It is in some rocks present in large quantity, and slowly decom'posing, furnishes a constant, though not abundant supply of both silica and lime. Prof. Johnston in his Lectures, p. 608, speaks of the first slag which is obtained at the iron smelting furnaces; it consists almost entirely of silicate of lime. He recommends that this be broken up and spread over the soil where lime is scarce. In a peaty or boggy soil, where vegetable acids abound, it would decompose more speedily.

As I am upon the subject of manures, I may give the analysis of a guano from a new locality, Saldanha Bay, within the British possessions at the Cape of Good Hope. It contains

99.81

This guano is light in color and dry, like the Peruvian, but differs greatly both from that and the Ichaboe, in its composition. The quantity of ammonia is small, but there is a very large proportion of phosphates. Its action would not be so immediately perceptible as that of the other kinds, but might be expected to continue longer. It is said to cover 7 or 8 acres of ground, to the depth of several yards. The papers state that vessels of all nations are permitted to load there after obtaining a license at the Cape. Yours, &c. JOHN P. NORTON.

Domestic Correspondence.

ITEMS OF AGRICULTURAL SURGERY.

2. A COW SAVED.-On the 2d of March 1842, I was called up early in the morning by one of my men, who stated that we were about to lose a cow. On repairing to the barn, and the enclosure where the animal was confined, a three years old heifer, appeared to be in the agonies of death, from her efforts to expel her first calf, which presented breech foremost. She lay on her side with her feet extended as if exhausted with the exertions of the preceding night. She raised her head, and gave such a look as I never before saw in a dumb beast. It was expressive, penetrating and imploring, and I interpreted it into the words, "do help me." What's to be done? said my man. Why help her to be sure. The cow had evidently been struggling all night, and nothing but the tail of the calf had yet appeared. How will you proceed, said the assistant. Thus, was the reply. Do you take hold of the tail, and I will endeavor to get one or both hands between the thigh and body of the calf, and when the cow makes an effort, we must draw gently downwards. The animal was so much exhausted that her pains were feeble, and at long intervals, but by patience and perseverance, we succeeded after two hours attention, in relieving the cow, but the calf was strangled by remaining so long in the birth. The poor creature was now prostrate and overcome, and there were no afterpains to expel the secundines. After waiting a reasonable time to give her rest, and seeing no prospect of their expulsion, I introduced the hand and extracted them.

In the course of the day we found that the animal could not stand or use her legs, and lest they should become stiff as she lay, we trussed her up by means of an old sacking-bottom under her body as oxen are trussed up when being shod. Her feet were left touching the ground but she did not use them until the fifth of March, three days after her delivery. The unusual presentation in this case, weakened the loins of the cow, and altered her walk, from which she gradually recovered. I still possess the creature, and she has since had a living calf.

I have been informed of a similar case which occurred on another farm, in which the owner fixed an iron hook between the body and thigh of the calf, then tied a rope to the end of it, and three men by main force pulling upon it, delivered the animal, but killed both cow and calf. This occurrence, which was known to my assist ant, caused him to think at first that my cow was also to

be sacrificed.

3. PROLAPSUS ANI, OR COMING DOWN OF THE INTESassisTINE IN HOGS.-In the month of January 1844, my tant in the case of the cow, informed me that we should lose two of our best store hogs, out of a litter of eight, being three quarter Berkshire shoats, between four and five months old. The intestine in both cases had descended and bulged out of the body as large as a man's fist. They were immediately removed to a small out building where they could be shut up and kept warm by themselves. The first operation was to hold up their hind feet, and wash with warm water the protruded intestine, and then to grease it with warm tallow. A man contin

1. DYSPEPSIA IN A ROOSTER.-Some years past I ob-uing to hold the animal by its hind feet with the head served my children playing with a large rooster, that down, my two thumbs were gently pressed upon the gut with other poultry had been removed from the country until it began to yield, and in two or three minutes it was to the city, and became a pampered animal, like many returned into the body. The creature struggled and other bipeds who take little exercise, feed high, and live strained so hard that it came down again several times, without work. Upon approaching the group of children and was as often returned in the same manner, sometimes who had possession of the bird, it was discovered that he requiring an additional thumb or finger of a third person could not stand although his crop was full. On attempt to overcome the resistance caused by the straining of the ing to place him on his feet, he repeatedly fell forward hog. External pressure was then made with a roll of rags, with the weight of his crop, which was distended and confined to the part by a bandage around its body and hard from the amount of its contents. Presuming that between its legs. It was then shut up in the dark and his stomach wanted relief from indigestion, and not know-supplied with clean dry straw to lie upon. This process ing how an emetic would work, I took a sharp knife, cut was applied to both.

a hole in the crop and emptied it of its contents. It was On looking in upon the patients two hours after, they then washed out with clean water, and the incision sew-informed me, that the pledget and bandages were uncom ed up. The fowl being placed upon its feet, immediate-fortable, and that they had taken the liberty of rubbing ly flapped its wings and walked away. The materials against the building, and had got them off. I could not removed from the crop measured a quart or more, con- scold at the unruly animals whose sensibilities are about sisting of whole grains of Indian corn, oats and water as acute as the thickness of their skins. So as the intes melon seeds, which, from the commencement of putre-tines had come down again, I called my assistants, and factive fermentation, smelled very offensive. This state tieing together the hind feet of the young porkers, we seof the crop caused me to wash it out clean before sowing cured them to the side of the building in an elevated poit up. sition, so that they could touch the ground with the fore

feet, and after returning the guts once more, left them in Tennessee is so remote from market, and provisions that position. My two men had now become so accus- are so abundant, that the price of produce is perhaps lowtomed to the operation, that they acted without my aid. er here than in any other State in the Union, consequentWe left the shoats standing heads down, an hour or more ly traveling expenses through this State are cheap indeed; until they were perfectly tame from fatigue in standing there are few sections of the United States through which in such an unusual position. And when they were re-the traveler who has his own conveyance, can go with leased, they nestled in the straw and went to sleep. Nothing was given to them the first day but a little drink, and next day some Indian meal gruel. They recovered, and at the end of the year made heavy pork.

4. Cow LOSING HER HORN.-On New-Year's day, 1845, one of my cows in fighting another with a fence between them, caught the horn in the rail and completely separated it from the pith. I was absent at the time, but my man who acted as assistant surgeon in the cases of the cow and the shoats, and who thought he had lear-being more than 30 miles across. This table land abounds ned something from a book farmer, undertook to practice on his own account. He concluded by reasoning on the nature of things, that as the horn was made to cover the pith, the pith ought to be covered, especially in winter. He accordingly shut up the cow by herself, and looking around, found the horn beside the fence lying on the ground, and as cold as a stone. It was replaced, and he went to my farm medicine-chest, and taking therefrom a roll of sticking plaster, spread long strips of muslin with it, and wound the strips around the base of the horn. The result was, that next day the horn became warm at the base, and gradually extended upwards until the whole assumed its natural temperature. The plaster adhered more than a week, and upon examination at that time, the horn was found to be united. It is now three months since the accident, the horn is firmly fixed in its natural position, and the cow is well, and running at large with the others.

If these facts and observations will be useful to any one of the agricultural community, please to accept them from your friend, RICHMOND.

Staten Island, March 28, 1845.

so little expense. Many of the inhabitants of middle and
eastern Tennessee raise hors 8, mules and hogs, for the
southern market, which are generally driven into the
cotton growing States during the month of December, and
sold to the planters. I passed through middle Tennessee
to Sparta, near the base of the Cumberland mountains, on
the stage road leading from Nashville to Knoxville.
Here I ascended the mountains and drove along a table
land until I descended the mountain again at Kingston, it
in streams of pure water, and is clothed with grass and
weeds, among scattering trees and shrubs resembling the
oak openings at the west. These mountains, as well as
those of North Carolina and Georgia, are well calcula-
ted for the summer pasturage of sheep, and as such, are
well worthy the attention of wool growers. On the ele-
vated table lands of the mountains of these States, sheep
would have a healthy range, abounding in pasture, and
never failing springs of pure water. They could be win.
tered in the low country near the mountains, at compa-
ratively little expense owing to the mildness of the cli-
mate, and be summered on the mountains at a cost not
much exceeding the wages paid a shepherd, since the
price of mountain land is trifling, and it can often be had
for the mere expense of surveying. There the pure
mountain air and water, and change of scene, would cause
the animals to be strong and healthy. Sheep delight in
hilly and mountainous districts, where they are not op-
pressed by the scorching rays which the sun pours upon
the plains. If we look at the history of sheep, we will
find that they have always flourished best in hilly and
mountainous districts; therefore it is not probable that
the wool growing business will be profitable on the wes
tern prairies, because there is too much sameness in the
scenery, and often the want of pure water and air, besides
during the summer season, the prairies are often parched
by drouth, when the grass becomes dry, affording little
nutriment, and then it stands ready to be, and is some-
At such seasons, every one
times consumed by fire.
knows that sheep would not have a sufficiency of shade,
food and water. I allude more particularly to the middle
and southern portions of Illinois, and I speak from im-
pressions made in a tour through that region in the dry
summer of 1838. I cannot help thinking that the middle
and eastern portion of Tennessee, the western part of
North Carolina, and northern part of Georgia, has great-
er natural advantages for the raising of sheep than any
I spent the summer
other portion of the United States.
season exploring the mountains of those States, and may
give you some further account of them in future letters.
Yours truly,

S. B. BUCKLEY.

West Dresden, Yates co., N. Y., March 22, 1845.

NOTES OF A TRAVELER-No. I. Botanical Notices-The best country for Sheep. MR. EDITOR-In March 1842, I left the southern part of Alabama with a horse and buggy for the purpose of making a botanical tour among the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Already many flowers were in bloom; the woods and trees were green, and all nature looked gay and smiling. Among the flowers, the yellow Jasmine, (Gelsemium sempervirens,) Bignonia capriolata, the dwarf horse chestnut or small buckeye, (Esculus pavia,) Carolina allspice, (Calycanthus floridus,) many species of Phlox, Silene Pennsylvania, and numerous others, were of frequent occurrence. On the top of the mountain south of Huntsville, two or three miles from the Tennessee river, were numerous small trees in flower, and among them the Rhus cotinoides of Nuttall. This beautiful tree is scarcely distinct from the Rhus cotinus of Europe, so frequent in cultivation at the north. Its leaves are larger, and it often attains a greater size than the cultivated species, some trees being from 30 to 40 feet high. It was originally found by Mr. Nuttall on the high rocky banks of the Grand river in Arkansas, and these two localities are all that are known to botanists. It is well worthy of cultivation, and owing to its elevated situation it would be apt to succeed well in our climate. In the vicinity of Huntsville, I first saw fields of red clover; neither this or timothy flourish well much south of that latitude; they being unable to withstand the long dry summers of the low southern country. Here I met with an old northern friend, the Dandelion, (Leontodon taraxacum,) which gave rise to sweet recollections of home, and the scenes of childhood. The common locust, (Robinia pseudacacia,) is indigenous to the mountains near Huntsville, and is also frequently met is obviously necessary. among the Cumberland mountains and the mountains of If the hay be brined once or twice each week through North Carolina. On passing into the State of Tennessee,||the foddering season, say, dissolve one pint of salt in hay was offered for the first time to my horse; he being three gallons of water, for a flock of fifty, it will prevent a native of South Alabama, had never seen the article the scours, and is one of the best methods of winter mabefore, and showed his displeasure by throwing back his nagement, if fed in mild weather, that can be recommenears and shaking his head, but finally ventured to eat spa-ded for sheep. S. W. JEWETT.

SCOURS IN SHEEP.

This malady is one of the worst complaints that attack the flock; as soon as discovered, the diseased animals should be removed from the flock and kept fasting at least twenty-four hours without any food. Then commence by feeding them in small quantities, ripe hay; coarse timothy is as good as any; keep them up on ripe hay until you are satisfied the disease has abated. This is the most simple and surest method I ever tried.

Fresh feed, grass or hay, may cause this complaint, and when thoroughly commenced among the flock, it may spread by contagion; therefore a shift of place and feed

ringly of it, though ever after he preferred corn fodder. Weybridge, Vt., 1845.

NOTES OF TRAVEL IN THE WEST-No. III.

BY SOLON ROBINSON.

made. But to explain. Some 18 months since, a boy in the neighborhood, who was out "prospecting" among the rugged hills, begua digging out one of these old holes, and in a little time discovered the blow out" of the mine beneath. This lead being followed up, and the earth and rocks removed a few feet further, opened into a cave At the close of my last communication, I think we had just begunlined all around the sides and arch with immense masses of ore, to to get among the mineral hills of Missouri. And what can we find the amount of one hundred thousand pounds, and so pure that it yieldin this rugged, uncultivated, and almost uncultivatable district, toed 75 to 80 per cent of pure lead. And here again is a lesson to eninterest the readers of an agricultural paper, when the only staple is courage perseverance; for after this cave was exhausted, the work that same heavy commodity with which guns and brains are some- was suspended for some time, till at length a small lead was discov times alike loaded? I have to hope that my present leaden article, ered, that lead into a second cave of equal size and richness, and may not be thought to emanate from a brain overfilled with that sub- from that to a third one still better, and when I visited the diggins, a stance, or that I shall infuse such a quantity of the arsenical vapor single blast of powder had thrown open a passage into a fourthi cave that arises from the smelting furnaces, into this letter, that I shall which by some, was supposed to contain 200,000 pounds, but I think kill off my friends who have traveled with me thus far. But we that amount may be divided by two, which still leaves an immense must proceed. These rocky hills and mountain sides have to be mass to be exposed to one view. The opening of the cave is in the climbed, before we can reach that rich and sunny southern elime side of a hill, and the descent so gradual, that the ore is brought to where we hope to find more matter of a practical kind to interest the the surface in wheel barrows, where it is cleared of the adhering agricultural reader. I wish I had been favored with that branch of rock, called by the miners "tiff," a white metallic substance which education that ought to be taught in all schools, and I would give|I am unable to name correctly. It is probably a corruption of tufa you here an interesting view of an "old Spanish house" that I pass-It is then hauled to the furnace, where the operation of smelting has ed this day, January 24th. There are many of these old houses yet been so simplified within a few years, that I believe I can "tote" to be seen in this country, but they are fast disappearing. This one fuel enough to melt a thousand pounds of lead. The fuel is dry cewas only different from many others, that it must have belonged to dar chips and charcoal, which is mixed with the broken mineral in one of the aristocracy of olden times. It was perhaps an hundred a furnace holding a bushel or two, and the fire kept in blast by a and fifty feet long, one story high, elevated upon high stone pillars, blow-pipe, driven by a steam engine. In other locations, water a wide portico the whole length, under which were the several en-power is used. The extent this digging has penetrated into the hill, trances to the different apartments; that into the center hall, being is about 200 feet, and there is no telling how long they will continue fitted with very wide, massive paneled doors, the windows small, to discover other caves. At other diggings, caves have been found roof steep and ornamented by three high peaked projections or tur- in larger numbers, but lesser size, and much further from the surrets, in the face of which were small windows or loop-holes, that face. look as though designed to reconnoitre for savage foes that might be Some diggings are dry, others so wet as to require a steam engine lurking in the romantic valley of this location. The vallies of this to pump out the water. Large quantities of mineral have been region are all fertile, and ever will continue to be, while the lime-found in different places in "clay diggins" near the surface. This stone hills continue to disintegrate and send down the best of ma- mineral clay is almost red, very unctuous and very productive. The nure. Col. Snowden, a gentleman whom I met with to-day upon ore in the clay is in detached cubular masses. In the caves, in gloone of these rich bottom farms, tells me that he raises as fine hemp bular form-in the rocks, in sheets, varying from the thickness of as he ever raised in Kentucky. I also was informed by Dr. Cooley, this paper, to two feet, and these veins are sometimes followed (with whom I dined,) another gentleman in the same valley, who down into the rocks by blasting an hundred feet deep, always with lives upon an " old grant," that the long and continued cropping of the exciting hope of finding a mass. Many of these mines have this land had no perceptible effect upon it. In buying an old been worked for a long time. Those at a place called "old mines," grant," a man has a great advantage over one who enters land sur- for forty years, by the French residents who still occupy the place, veyed by the United States, because the old settlers having no rigid and from the appearance, in the same log cabins they did at first. rules to confine them to straight lines, have run them in all kinds of But those at Riviere La Motte" in Madison county, are the oldcurious angles so as to make up the amount of their claim entirely est, there being still an unsettled claim upon the tract, by the heirs of the best lands contiguous. of Rino, a Frenchman, who was here in the employ of the king of At Hillsboro, the County seat of Jefferson county, I very unex- France in 1723, but as is now supposed, looking for silver instead of pectedly met with a warm friend of agricultural improvement, who lead. There is a large amount of business done at these mines by a not only reads himself, but induces others to subscribe for such pa-poor looking population who work without the hope that auimates pers; and yet this man is not a cultivator himself, but as is often the the class in other places, as here they are all tenants, and have to case, is a much more efficient friend of every thing that tends to im- give the proprietors of the tract of land, which is I believe 3 miles prove the condition of that class than they themselves are. The by 6, one-tenth of all their earnings. There is now here ten smeltreason is soon told. He reads and what is all important, heing furnaces for lead, and one or two for copper are building. Coknows just enough to know that he yet can learn more. The most balt, nickel, and manganese ores are also found here. The southdifficult class to contend with, being those that already know so western part of Missouri is rich in mineral wealth, but shows few much that they cannot be taught any more. This gentleman, John examples of agricultural wealth; and the mining population are of 8. Matthews, Esq. clerk of the county, has a very fine cabinet of that class that every thing that comes light goes lighter, and they minerals, nearly all of which he has collected himself. It was here live to day, and live poor too, with no thought of the morrow. Now that I saw some beautiful specimens of shell marble, quantities of although money may be sometimes easier made by mining than which exist in the neighboring hills, and which might be profitably farming, it is an uncertain business, and does not seem to produce sa worked. He also showed me some specimens of camel coal of good a state of society as that old fashioned mode of making a good excellent quality, from the Osage river, where it has lately been living at least, in the cultivation of the earth. But the business discovered, and will prove of great value to the prairie region of the withdraws an immense amount of labor from cultivation, and profitwest, it being much lighter for transportation, and answering in the ably employs a large amount of capital, and furnishes a market for place of charcoal for mechanical purposes. all the surplus produce of the few farms in the mining region. I must not forget to mention one of this class who I found in the vici nity of the Mammoth Diggings, Willard Frissell. Esq. whose rich tation of mining some of the rich mineral hills which skirt the fine bottom land that he has in cultivation. Having long been a reader of the Cultivator, I found myself warmly welcomed as an old ac quaintance, and rested with him over a lovely sunny day, the last Sabbath in this month. But I have to charge this man, and I doubt not the charge will fit many other readers, with a failure to profit by what he has read. His only water is "toted" up a long steep hill to the house from a spring at the foot, when right by the side of that spring runs a stream of water, that if applied as directed by Mr. Bement, would bring a constant supply from the spring to the house and as "time is money," would save enough every year to pay the expense. Reader-I mean you, don't apply it to your neighbor-have you profited by what you have read, any better? If not, now is the right time to do so. If you have no spring to make run up hill: I'll bet a bucket of cool water you have a well as hard as lime can make it, and no cistern to make your wife look so good natured

Mr. Matthews informs me that the oak ridges of this country, which are at present but little cultivated, are very fertile, and the north sides invariably the most so; and that they produce as great aand well cultivated farm has enabled him to live free from the temp burthen of blue grass as any land that he is acquainted with. Here then is another good country for sheep." Yet none are here, for no one has money to buy sheep in a country where silver turns to lead; and often stays turned. For although fortunes are sometimes made by mining, yet taken as a class, the miners are not as well off in the world, as those who follow the slow and sure road to comfortable independence in the cultivation of the earth. Jan. 25th, I visited one of the largest mining establishments in this part of the State, and at present yielding probably the most lead for the amount of labor employed, of any one in the United States. It is known as the Mammoth Diggings," and is situated in Jefferson county, 55 miles south-west of St Louis. The method of hunting for mineral is this: a man goes upon any land where the external appearances indicate mineral; in fact it is often found in small quantities upon the surface, and commences" prospecting," that is, digging holes 3 or 4 feet in diameter, and more or less deep as the prospect induces, and if he discovers lead, then he goes on" proving" until he finds" wash day." whether it is worth following, or till the lead give out. The whole Jan. 27th. A warm spring-like rain detained me nearly all the country is full of these prospect holes, some of which prove barren, forenoon. This is the first "sprinkle" since I left home, which pro and in others, the miner discovers mineral enough to pay him for ved rather a hard one in the course of the day; for lured by false ap his labor, but the prospect is too poor" to induce him to penetrate pearances, I undertook to drive a dozen miles over a road that the into the solid rock below the earth and loose stones near the surface, very thoughts of is enough to make the bones ache, of one who is and he abandons that spot and goes to another, in the hope of even-accustomed only to the smooth prairie roads. But patieuce and pertually making a "discovery," which will lead to quick and certain severance accomplished the task and before the next morning, the rain turned to snow, and for the first time this winter, coated all naBut in this, as I will soon illustrate, as in agriculture, it often hap-ture in a white mantle about two inches deep, that soon melted in the pens that a steady and untiring perseverance in the "old diggings," morning sun, making as fine a compound of snow and mud and wa continually turning up the earth a little deeper, would lead to more ter as ever was mixed together. At Old mines, I saw as fine a certain fortune than an abandonment of the old and familiar ground, young apple orchard as ever grew, proving what might have been for a new beginning upon an untried soil, when like the desperate proved long before, that the country is well adapted to raising fruit gambler, we place all upon the cast of a single die. At this "Mam-as well as lead. The owner also showed me the benefits of manure moth Digging," some poor fellow about 15 years ago, was within a as well as lime, upon this limestone soil. By the use of lime, the f foot of his fortune; but he was a surface skimmer, and knew not the nest crops of grass can be raised, and many of the hill sides could be value of subsoiling; and so he missed the crop that since has been set with fruit trees, that are unfit for cultivation.

fortune.

on.

Potosi is the county seat of Washington county, built of course I am sorry to say I was greatly disappointed in the reThese gentlemen who tried that system, are good hike all other towns, upon seven hills; for here there is not level sult. ground enough to build scarcely one house, much more a town upAt this place I was shown a well dug through a bed of lead planters, energetic, and indefatigable; and they left no ore, and was assured that this mineral never injures the water, all stone unturned, in giving it a fair trial. They intend the of which must come more or less in contact with it. Near Potosi, I coming crop, to try it again. One perhaps reached 2000 visited the farm of John Evans, a good English farmer, who has lbs. to the acre; the other hardly reached that amount. I part of proved that fruit trees, grass and sheep, will flourish in this Missouri, if they can have a chance. At a Frenchman's where I planted against the former, on the old drill system, and I beat him. His trial was on ten acres, according to Dr. staid over night, I learned a new way to build a barn in a country where saw mills are few and very far between, as is the case here.Cloud's method; I placed eighty acres against it, on the I will describe it for the benefit of new settlers in general, and some old system, acre for acre, or an average against the ten. folks in particular. A row of cedar posts, being first grooved on each side, are set in By this statement, nothing is intended against Dr. the ground about five feet apart, and in these grooves are fitted pun-Cloud's system, for I am of the impression, it must incheons of any convenient width, the edges resting upon each other,crease the product of land, and I candidly believe the which forms the sides of the barn. Upon the top of these posts, the season of last summer in this section was unfavorable to plates and roof are put. The partitions are all made in the same! way, so that there is no sawed stuff and no nails except in roof and doors, and it makes a very good cheap building. The grooves are eut in the posts by a tool made on purpose, shaped like an adze. The plan is worthy the attention of new settlers in many situations that I cheap sheds" for know of. It will answer very well for making some of the prairie flocks and herds. And now, my dear friends, while I take another rest, let me beg you to have patience, we travel slow, but we have much to see, and life I hope will be long enough to see it all. So once more, I am affectionately your old friend,

SOLON ROBINSON.

DITCHING-COTTON CULTURE.

manured cottons, owing to the drouth it experienced. I manured some fifteen acres of my own in the drill culture, which was by far the most inferior cotton I had, and no doubt the drouth in a measure caused the disappointment in the above crops. One great difficulty they had to contend against, was in procuring a stand, which in the end could not be obtained with no less than four separate plantings, which was against their crop.

Owing to the very low price of cotton, there is some talk among the planters of trying tobacco, as our neighbors, the Floridians, have made the last season a small test of its product, and are so well pleased with the results, that the present year they are going into it on a large scale. Something must be done, for at present rates, the cotton planter is not remunerated for his labor and plantation expenses. The evil I presume will work its JNO. H. DENT.

own cure.

Eufaula, Ala., Feb. 1, 1845.

FEEDING CALVES.

MR. EDITOR-I have noticed several articles in the Cultivator upon rearing calves. I will just give you my plan, with results.

EDITOR OF THE CULTIVATOR-It affords me great pleasure to inform you that I have succeeded in reclaiming my swamp lands by draining, which has rendered them not only safe for fine crops, but their value I now rate very high. I am now engaged in repairing and deepening the ditches I cut last winter, and locating a few smaller ones required. The work has been executed by my own laborers under my directions, and the ditches will compare with any dug by Irishmen. The time employed, I conceive the most advantageously spent of any work bestowed on my plantation. True, the last summer was very dry, but notwithstanding we had a very heavy rain in April, and one in August, which would Feed and growth of a Calf.-Calved Jan. 19th, 1843have left a sufficiency of surface water to have injured the growing crop, had not the waters been conducted off by weaned at six weeks old, and weighed 220 pounds. One my ditches. Our winter rains prove their efficacy, as the quart of Indian meal, and one quart of middlings were fields are rid of waters which heretofore stood on the boiled together and mixed with eight quarts skimmed lands. I have accurate and well finished plates of all my milk, with which he was fed morning and evening, with swamp fields, with their ditches and ponds thereon, as much hay and carrots as he would eat for three weeks which I would forward on to you, was it not for the ex- and five days, when he weighed 276 pounds-gain 2 1-13 pense of the mail, which would give you an idea of the pounds per day. He was then fed with 24 quarts Indian utility and correctness of the work. My stiff swamp meal boiled, without the middlings, for 18 days; weighlands, that I was apprehensive would not be materially ed 326 pounds; gain per day, 2 7-9 pounds. Meal inbenefited by draining, owing to their tenacity of absorb-creased to 3 quarts; fed 22 days; weight 377 pounds; ing water, have by far exceeded my expectations. My gain 51, or 2 7-22 pounds per day. I do not write, this ditches, with the aid of a few water furrows, have ren- boastingly, for it may be beaten; but if any of my brothdered such lands, as I heretofore despaired of, in my opi-er farmers have a mind to try the process, I do not hesinion, after a few good plowings, the most productive, and tate to assure them in advance, they will not find it as Your great a humbug as manuring potatoes with 4 barrels of the best quality of cotton is being made on them. treatise on draining in your August number for 1844, I poudrette to the acre, or using a penknife blade instead examined with great delight, in comparing its instruct- of a shovel to put the manure in their corn hills. Oyster Bay, L. I., March, 1845. ions with the work executed; and the plan fig. 68, page 241, same number, is an instructive lesson of what I am to undertake, in reclaiming a piece of low land surrounded by high, for the season of 1846. I made one attempt in cutting off a spring on a hill side, which partially answered the desired purpose. My mistake was in placing the ditch a little too high. Experience in this case, shows that where the wet land commences, occasioned by such springs, the ditch should be located a few feet below where the spring emerges, so as to absorb the first springs, and by the depth of the ditch, it cuts off the lower springs. Had I proceeded in the work accordingly, In exaentire satisfaction would have been the result. mining the ditches of most planters, and such heretofore has been my own mistake, the ditches are all too small, for after a few heavy rains, they become so filled up, as to render very little benefit; but where a ditch is sufficiently large, it not only keeps itself clear, but drains more rapidly and effectually, and requires less attention in keeping them in order.

D. K. YOUNGS.

TO PREPARE SHEEP FOR SHIPPING. Sheep should be fed on hay a day or two before they are shipped, to change the nature of the dung, and thus prevent their becoming filthy when confined in small quarters. They should also be fed with grain one week at least before they are shipped, and also on the route, oats or other grain, regular twice each day.

The best kind of hay should be selected, and after it has been moistened a little, twist it into a rope as hard as it conveniently can be made, and wind it up into tight balls or bundles and pack it away at a little distance from the pen of animals.

By this method, the hay not only occupies the least possible space on the boat or cars, and is easily handled, but it is kept as fresh as possible, a very important thing in feeding. A small rack or box should be prepared for feeding, and cut off the hay rope for them as occasion S. W. JEWETT. requires.

So much towards ditching-now for cotton. It is an article at present nearly worthless; but as regards its culThe quantity of poultry exported from Dublin to Engture, we may say something. Two of my friends and neighbors experimented on Dr. Cloud's method-goodland during the Christmas week, amounted to five hunhands, well prepared, and well managed throughout; and{\dred tons, and was worth 50% per ton.

A. kitchen-B. living room-C. cooking stove-D. Franklin stove in the sills and foundation walls is filled with clay, hard E EE dormitories-E' and E" family rooms-F. drum-a. tices for ventilation-b. closet-c. stairs-d. pipe of drum.

lat-rammed, to within about 2 inches of the top of the sills. On this sub-stratum, the cement is deposited. It consists of a mixture of 10 parts, irregular brick fragments,