SEEDING DOWN WITH OATS.

EDS. Co. GENT-The first numbers of the Co. Gent. are at hand, and to say I am pleased with their contents would be a small word wherewith to express my satisfaction. As I look over the nicely printed pages-the observations and experience of practical and thorough farmers—all brimful of instruction, my only regret is, that I had not long ere this been a subscriber to its valuable pages.

Allow me to couple the above with an inquiry. I have seeded down, after oats, for two seasons in succession, an eight acre lot, the first season with clover, the second with clover and timothy, and each time it has proved a failure. The soil is well drained, and consists, for the most part, of a black mold with a gravelly clay subsoil. The oats have been good each season, yet marks of seeding could be seen only in spots. The grasshoppers have been pretty thick at harvest time in the field, but still it was not attributed to them, as I inferred that they would have left no spot untouched. The lot has not been seeded down for a number of years-been under the plow each season. If you, or some of your numerous correspondents, will suggest some remedy for this case you will confer a favor. AGRICOLA. Genoa, N. Y., 1860.

Seeding down with oats is rarely successful. If the oats are poor the grass may succeed-but on good soil, that will bring heavy oats, and which should grow good grass, it usually fails. There are two modes which our correspondent may adopt. The first is to sow the grass seed (double the usual quantity) early in the spring, on the land which he has prepared for the oats, with no other crop, and brush it in. If sown quite early, it will be good pasture before midsummer. We have cut about two tons to the acre under favorable circumstances, the same year. The second year the grass crop will be all he could wish. The second mode is to sow oats alone, and after harvest to plow the stubble, and sow and brush in the grass seed. The grass crop next year thus treated will be much better than it could be if the seed was sown with oats in spring.

[For the Cultivator and Country Gentleman.] CORN FOR A POUND OF PORK. MESSRS. EDITORS-How much corn does it require to make a pound of pork? With a wish to obtain a correct answer to the above question, I made an experiment in the fall of 1857, and now give you the result.

On the 28th of October, I weighed a pig which was about six months old-the weight was 145 lbs. I then fed it ten days and weighed again, Nov. 7th-the weight was 175 lbs.-gain, 30 lbs., and it had eaten 96 lbs. of corn. I then fed corn-meal fourteen days, and weighed again Nov. 21st-the weight was 211 lbs.-gain, 36 lbs., and it had eaten 145 lbs. of meal. I then fed on corn seventeen days, and again weighed Dec. 9th-the weight was 263 lbs.-gain, 52 lbs., and it had eaten 216 lbs. of I then fed till Feb. 1st, 1858, fifty-four days, and weighed again-the weight was 311 lbs.-gain, 48 lbs., and it had eaten 445 lbs. of corn. It was butchered that day, and weighed dressed, 262 lbs.

corn.

I was disappointed in the result all the way through; the gain on the first feeding of corn, was far beyond my expectation; then the gain on meal was less than I expected, as I had often heard it said that pigs would gain faster on meal than they would on corn. Then again, the gain on corn after the meal, was more than I expected; but the gain on the last trial was very much below my expectation, and unaccountable by me.

So far as the experiment extended, I do not know how it could be conducted with more accuracy. The drink was water, in a trough separate from the feeding trough, so that the food was taken dry.

I would add, that in 1858, Sept. 24th, I weighed a pig, to see how much he could be made to gain in twelve days, (previous to a fair which was to be held.) His weight was 104 lbs. At the expiration of the time he weighed 145

lbs.-gain, 41 lbs., or nearly 34 lbs. per day. He ate 70 lbs. of corn, and 16 lbs, of rye bran mixed with skimmed milk. In both cases the pigs were fed as much as they would eat, a few days before weighing, so that there should be no "filling up," as it is called, to take into the account. From these experiments, in connection with Mr. Proctor's statement in the Feb. No. of the Cultivator, page 65, and with some observations that I have made at other times, I am of the opinion that it is much easier making pork in the summer and fall months than it is in the winter months. MARCUS E. MERWIN. Litchfield Co., Conn.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] HOW TO CLEAN SEED WHEAT. MESSRS. EDITORS-The following mode of cleaning chess and smut from seed wheat, I have found to effectually prevent transmutation, and the benefit to the crop will pay the expense.

Take a barrel and fill it half to two-thirds full of brine, strong enough to float a potato-pour into it one bushel of wheat-skim off all that floats-stir and turn up the wheat -skim and stir it again and again, as long as any thing rises. After skimming all you can get from the brine carefully off, (so as not to agitate the wheat,) in a tub, there will be some chess missed by the skimmer-be careful to When the wheat bemake it all run off with the brine. that will hold it back, and allow the brine to drain off.. gins to come, place your hands or some screen before it, When drained, empty the wheat on the floor, and mix in it lime enough to dry it, so that it will not stick together. Pour the brine in the barrel again, put in another bushel of wheat, and proceed as before.

is none in the ground, the operation will not require to be By this method all the chess can be got out, and if there repeated the next year.

There is usually some chess in Timothy seed. If it is sown with the wheat, sift it through a meal sieve.

Chess will grow with grass from year to year. I have seen it in the grass that was mowed three or four years in succession, and it increased every year. Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

G.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] CULTURE OF THE RUTA BAGA. MESSRS. TUCKER & SON-As this is a good time to make calculations and lay plans for summer, I propose through your excellent paper, to inform my brother farmers how I raised ruta bagas quite successfully last season. A piece of pasture ground, which was so badly run out that it produced next to nothing, was taken for bagas. It was plowed about ten inches deep, harrowed well, and furrowed out with a light one-horse plow. Compost manure composed of night soil one part and surface soil four parts, well mixed, was dropped in hills in the furrows two feet apart, at the rate of one shovel full for three hills. It was covered lightly with earth by the hoe, and seed dropped by hand and covered by hand hoe. The rows were three feet apart, and it was designed to have two plants grow in a hill, but in planting we covered some of the seed too deep, and it did not come up; but what grew were very large and fine, and had the ground been fully stocked the yield must have been very great.

The advantage gained by this plan is that it costs but little labor to tend them, (which always comes in a very busy time of the year,) and requires but little manure. We cultivated twice with a horse and hoed twice by hand. But, says some of the brotherhood, ruta bagas are an exhausting crop; little or nothing will grow after bagas. Such is not my experience. If the crop is fed, and the manure returned to the land, apply what crop you please, and you will find your labor rewarded by a bountiful crop. But if one prefers he may grow bagas for a number of years in succession on the same piece of ground. I hardly know how one can get so much feed in any other way. By feeding the crop and saving all of the manure, you will keep up the fertility of the soil without requiring the proceeds of any other crop, and most likely have a sur

plus of manure left. A neighbor of mine, and he quite a successful farmer, has had them on the same piece of ground for the past four years, and the crop of 1859 was much the best, though it has produced an excellent crop each year, although but lightly manured. Last year he manured better, applying 25 or 30 two-horse loads to the acre, of good stable manure. The same ground was set to apple trees four years ago, and they are doing nicely. He intends to continue the crop on the same land so long as it continues to improve. Chicopee Falls, Mass.

M. S. K.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] A Sure Remedy for Lice on Animals.

It is really amusing, but not very instructive, to read the ideas of different men with regard to the manner of treating lice. One will recommend one nostrum, and another something else equally inefficient. Why do lice flourish best, and increase much more rapidly, on very poor, emaciated animals, than they will

on fat animals? Because the surface of the skin and the hair of fat animals is somewhat oily, while the skin and hair of very poor animals is quite free from oil. Well, what of that? Why nothing, only no lice can ever propagate their species among oily hair; and whether they have any brains or not, they will never deposit their nits among oily hair. If the nits after they have been deposited, or stuck to the hair, should be oiled, they will never hatch; and the lice seem to know that fact, and therefore they do not find a congenial locality in the hair of an animal which perspires very much. Consequently if lice are formed on a fat animal, they will always be more numerous near the end of his tail than on any part of his body. Lice are very like sheep in one respect, they like a warm and dry place.

Let a few nits be placed in a warm place for a few days, and they will hatch; but let them be oiled, and it will be impossible to hatch them. So with the eggs of birds and domestic fowls; give them a good coat of paint or grease, and they will never hatch.

The bees, which are such a great annoyance to horses in the summer, which fasten their eggs to the hair of horses, seem to understand this principle much better than most people do, and therefore they deposit most of their eggs on the hair, which will be least liable to be moistened with sweat. For this reason we always see many more bot eggs on the legs, below the knees of horses, than on any other part of them. If such eggs should be greased, or moistened with sweat a few times, they will never hatch. There are several very good remedies for lice on animals; but among them all, perhaps, oil is the most efficacious and harmless. None but sweet oil, or the best kind of lamp oil, or winter strained machine oil, should be used for such a purpose. If linseed oil, or some other kinds of oil be used, it is liable to dry, and the hair of the animals will all stick together in dry, hard bunches. Pour it on their backs, and on their necks and tails, and rub it in thoroughly; and if lice take up their quarters on the dewlap, give it a good oiling, and they will soon bid adieu to such oleaginous climes. Oil should be applied when the weather is warm, rather than when it is very cold; because in very cold weather lice keep very quiet, and do not deposit many eggs. Let it be kept in mind that they never deposit their eggs on oily hair.

In the spring of 1859, we were raising a lot of turkeys which were about as large as quails, when they began to droop, and appeared very lifeless. Upon examination they were all found to be as lousy as an Egyptian. Every one of them was caught, and sweet oil was rubbed on their heads and poured on them, under the wings-giving them a good sopping-and in three days not a louse could be found, and the turkeys soon began to flap their wings and move about with agility.

Mercurial ointment or 66 unguentum," which is made of mercury mingled with lard, is often recommended for lice. But it is a very dangerous remedy; and is no more efficacious than oil. I applied mercurial ointment once to my calves, which were lousy; and it made them so sick,

Such a

that I feared, for some time, I should lose them. remedy never should be used, when there are enough besides, of a milder character.

A decoction of tobacco is frequently recommended for destroying lice. But oil is much cheaper and more efficacious, and will not make animals sick; but tobacco, when applied very bountifully, will often make them sick.

Fowls roll in the sand in order to mingle it with their feathers, which will scratch the lice to death; and cattle frequently throw dirt on their backs, which destroys the lice mechanically, just as scores of people are smashed up among the rubbish of a huge building when it falls. But it is very difficult to make sand or ashes remain among the hair on the dewlaps of animals, or on their sides; there.

fore oil seems to be preferable to almost any other remedyFat catttle will sometimes be covered with lice. I once owned a yoke of very fat oxen, which were the lousiest beings that I ever heard of; but a good sopping of oil soon dispersed them. Keeping animals in a thriving condition is usually a good preventive; but it will fail sometimes as a remedy. S. EDWARDS TODD. Lake Ridge, N. Y.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] HAY CAPS.

MESSRS. EDITORS-This is a very useful article in haymaking, although a little out of season just now-but it is the right time to make or procure them, that they may be in readiness when wanted. The use of hay caps has not as yet become general, but the time is not far distant when every progressive farmer will have them, and consider them about as necessary as any farm implement.

Three years ago I made one hundred caps, one and a half yards square, of heavy cotton cloth. They were made by sewing halt a breadth to a whole one of the desired length. To fasten them on, I first tied stones in the corners, but they would blow off, and were ugly things to handle-then I sewed strong twine to the corners, with pegs attached, but in high winds the corners would pull or tear out after a while. Finally I tied a knot in the corners, leaving the end sticking out about an inch, so as not to slip or untie, and fastened the cord by tying it back of the knot, and found this to work well. The strain then comes upon the whole corner, and not upon a small section, as when sewed on. There is a little knack in putting caps on so that they will "stay put." The pegs should not be run straight into the cock, but pointing up at an angle of about forty-five degrees; then the working of the cap by the wind will not draw them out; and the cap should be drawn down snug when the last two pegs are put in. If thus put on, not one in a hundred will get loose, and the cock cannot blow over.

But my hay caps called forth various and often ludicrous remarks, when first brought into the field-many looked askance at them, and thought it useless to "blanket" hay, besides any "gump" might now that water would run through cotton cloth. One individual who first saw them at a distance, and really did not know what they were, (they were all in use in one field,) concluded it was the encampment of a general muster, or of an invading army-didn't know which. However, I was so well pleased with them, that I added fifty to the number the next season, and also made two twelve feet square, to cover stacks and think the money well invested. J. L. R.

VALUABLE FARM FOR SALE, Known as the "COLDEN MANSION FARM," situated in Coldenham, Orange Co., N. Y.. 7 miles west of Newburgh, on the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike.

The House is 50 feet square, two stories high, basement kitchen, and built of stone. There is a large Farm House and Tenant House also on the place, together with Carriage Houses, Barn, Hay Houses, Granary, &c., &c. A fine Apple Orchard-also a great variety of the choicest kinds of Fruit Trees in full bearing.

The Farm contains 217 acres, mostly under a high state of cultiva tion, and is as healthy a location as can be found,

mortgage for a term of years.

At least one-half of the purchase money may remain on bond and For further particulars apply to Judge JoHN J. MONELL, Newburgh, L. MURRAY FERRIS, jr., 62 South street, New-York, or to the subscriber on the premises. Mar 8-w6tm2t

LINDLEY M. FERRIS.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] MILLET FOR FEED.

EDS. Co. GENT.-Last winter I wrote you, giving a brief statement with my first trial in raising a crop of the German millet. I was so well pleased with it, that last spring I fitted the ground, and sowed fifteen acres. The ground was plowed about the middle of June, well harrowed, and sowed a little over a half bushel of seed to the acre-again harrowed and rolled, finishing the work June 22d. On the 20th Aug., making sixty days after sowing, I mowed it with a machine; being very thick on the ground, it required two days to cure. Then raked with a horse-rake and cocked. The ground was very uneven. The highest and dryest produced the heaviest growth. On about two acres of the lowest ground, but little grew, being too wet. Some of the heads grew over seven inches in length, and yielded over a tablespoonful of seed. The entire crop on the fifteen acres was sixty loads, as heavy as a span of horses could well draw. I estimate the crop at sixty tons, or four tons average per

acre.

I have fed 20 horses (old and young,) and 20 cows, thus far with no other feed, and have enough on hand to last until the 10th of March.

I have a large barn floor on which I put enough to last two days. Put on the horses, and about two-thirds thrash it. It is all fed in stalls and mangers. My horses and cattle eat it readily, and are in better flesh than they ever were at this time of year. Several times I have put a lock of millet and a lock of the best tame hay into the horse manger. The horse would invariably eat the millet

first.

A team that works every day, requires about half the grain if fed on millet it would if fed with hay. I have a stack of it in my calf-yard, allowing the calves free access. If you were to see them cut their pranks when let out to water, you would think they had "pretty good keeping" at least. I will here remark, that I wintered fourteen calves last year, fed wholly on millet, and never had a lot in better condition in the spring. The butchers tried to buy them for their market stalls.

One of my neighbors last spring tried to raise two crops in a season by sowing the first in April, and again after the crop came off. He failed in both. The 20th June is about the best time to sow the seed. It is often the case that some of the farmer's crops fail, either by poor seed, heavy rains, drouth, or frosts. If in such cases a little millet seed was on hand, he could in a great measure repair the loss. If the farmers in Central or Western NewYork, or any where else where the frosts of June last cut off their corn, beans, potatoes, &c., had sown the desolate ground with millet, they would now have something good and cheap to feed their stock with.

If a Hun

Why the name of Hungarian grass should be given to a variety of the millet, is to my mind a query. garian emigrant introduced into Iowa a millet seed producing a round head, requiring to be sown each and every year to produce a crop, how can it be called a grass? It does not stool or sprout out after harvest, and produce an abundance of fall feed as some have stated. At least I have seen no after growth as yet. There is no such thing as grass about it. It is Millet, nothing more nor nothing

less. It is wrong to class it in your market tables as Hungarian grass seed, or Honey blade, or any thing else than Millet. There is a little difference in the shape of the head. So there is of wheat or barley.

Rock Island Co., Ill., Feb., 1860.

C. G. T.

Fatal Disease among Cattle in Massachusetts.

A very destructive disease is raging among the cattle of North Brookfield, and neighboring towns in Massachusetts. None of the animals attacked with it have recovered. The disease first appeared last summer, in a calf of foreign breed, leading some to suppose it is an importation of the pleuro-pneumonia of Holland. The first animal upon

which the disease appeared being one brought from Holland to the farm of Mr. Chenery, of Belmont, where cattle are also dying in great numbers--but the sale of the calf, and its transfer to Brookfield, was the occasion of the appearance of the disease in its most virulent form, at the latter place, and with, at present, greater destruction. No less than fifty head of valuable cattle have died, and many more are beyond recovery. Inquiries are being made by the farmers of all who can be expected to suggest any relief. Dr. Dadd addressed some of the citizens of North Brookfield a few evenings since, after examination of the diseased animals, one or two of which had been killed for the purpose, in different stages of the progress of the disease-the offensiveness of it in those which had died naturally, being overpowering. He thought it infectious, but not contagious-believed it to be pleuro-pulmonia— differing from the pleuro-pneumonia of Holland, in its not assuming a typhoid form in our climate.

In some cases

examined, the lungs were putrid, having mortified. In one instance the lungs were compressed to one-fourth their natural size; in another filled with nearly a pailful of foreign substance in the form of colored serum. The No remedy only symptom was a deep seated cough. could be devised but to isolate the diseased animals and have them killed-this could be done by direction of the Board of Agriculture-the State paying for the loss, as was uniformly done in Europe in similar cases.

Immense numbers-amounting to millions-of cattle have been lost by this disease in Europe. The governments of France and Holland have offered large rewards for a remedy, but none has yet been discovered. Inoculation has been found a preventive, and in localities where sixty per cent of the cattle used to die of this disease only one per cent die since vaccination has been tried. The process is described as follows:

ease.

"This inoculation is done near the end of the tail. The hair is clipped off, the skin cleaned, and two incisions made with a lancet, into which the virus is introduced. The virus must be obtained from the lungs of a cow suffering with the disease, and killed for the purpose, and not from an animal that has died in the natural way from the effects of the disthe lung between the healthy and the infected parts-the The manner of obtaining it is to cut off a portion of part marbled like water and blood is wrung out into a vessel and allowed to stand one day, when the the bloody part will sink to the bottom, and a lemon colored liquid will remain upon the surface. This, if free from scent, is fit for use, and may be preserved in a vial. In cold weather it will keep eight or ten days before becoming too corrupt for use, while in warm weather it will hold good only one or two days. The fortnight, and in some cases a longer time, a pock quite simidrops introduced into each incision will produce, in a week or lar to that caused by the inoculation of persons with the cow pox. When no pock appears it is presumed that the animal is not susceptible to the disease. When the tail of the animal becomes much swollen, an incision is made, in order that the infectious matter may run out, and the wound is from time to time cleansed with water."

Since the above was in type, and too late for this week, we have received an interesting letter from a Massachusetts correspondent on this subject, which will appear

in our next.

LARGE PUMPKIN.-I send you a few pumpkin seeds. The result from The original one was sent me last winter. the vine, one pumpkin, which measured 3 ft. in length, 4 ft. around it, and weighed 80 lbs. The skin was perfectly smooth-color a delicate yellow with a few white streaks. I kept it until Christmas. It proved to be the finest for pies we had ever tried; I do not know the name. I would like to hear, through your paper, the result of these seed, and name of pumpkin. Burlington Co., N. J.

G. R. DUER.

applied to land in spring, by spreading it evenly over the surface, breaking it up finely and mixing it with the top soil by thorough harrowing before plowing it under. If there is so much long stuff with it that it cannot be treated in this way, draw it out to the side of the field where it will be ultimately wanted, and make it into an oblong pile with thin alternate layers of fence corner turf, loan, ditch washings, &c., and then let it remain a few months, until completely rotted. If the pile is long and not high, it may be easily and thoroughly pulverized and mixed together by means of a plow, harrow, and a yoke of oxen-and will then be in adinirable condition to apply for fall crops of any kind, or for other purposes.] UNDERDRAINING-TOP-DRESSING.-Seeing that you take some notice of inquiries, I would like to ask a few questions in regard to our soil--1st, whether underdraining would be necessary-2d, whether top dressed with manures or plowed under would be best--the soil being sandy loam and sub-soil clay, no stone of any kind in the way of the plow, and pretty hilly at that; so much so that but little water stands any length of time on the surface. J. H. Washington Co., O. [We repeat the simple rule to determine whether underdraining is necessary- namely, to dig holes in various places two and a half feet deep, and if the water stands in these holes several days during the wetest time of the year, the ground

should be underdrained--if on the other hand the water when it falls into these holes immediately passes off through the porous subsoil, draining would be of no use whatever. Plowing under manure is always best on light soils Top-dressing pastures or lawns which we do not wish to plow, if done in autumn or winter, so that the soluble parts of the manure will be carried by the early spring rains into the newly thawed porous surface, will be of much use--but the most so on heavy or clayey soils.]

ROOT CROPS.-Will you please inform me through THE CULTIVATOR the best kind of root crop for stock? What time to sow-how to plant out, and what time to harvest them--the cost of seed for half an acre, and where I can get it. CHRISTIAN TRAUGER. Pleasant Unity, Pa. [Carrots and Ruta Bagas do best on light soils; for carrots the soil should be deep. Mangold Wurtzels and Sugar Beets succeed well on strong soils. The land must be very rich. Ruta Bagas cannot be used for feeding milch cows, as they impart a turnip taste to the milk and butter, but carrots and beets are both excellent for them; the beets are perhaps best of the two, to promote a free flow of milk, but they must be given cautiously at first. Carrots make very rich milk and yellow butter. The seed should be sown as early in spring as the ground can be made ready-it must of course be mellow and fine. There is no transplanting-the superfluous plants must be thinned The weeds must be never allowed to grow 2 inches high Half a pound of ruta baga seed will plant half an acre, and will cost 50 cents-2 pounds of carrot seed or of beets will plant the and will cost a dollar or two. They can be had at the seed stores in large towns, and our correspondent could undoubtedly procure them at Pittsburgh. We should, perhaps, add that a planting machine is almost indispensable as a labor saver-but in its absence, the labor of dropping by hand may be greatly facilitated by nailing a tin cup, to hold the seed, to the lower end of a stick 2 feet long, and making a hole in the bottom just large enough for the seed to fall through as it is held over the drill and shaken as the operator walks along.]

out.

same,

PROPAGATING THE BLACKBERRY.-I would like to know how to propagate the Lawton Blackberry, so as to get the most plants in one season. Is there any difference between the Lawton blackberry and the New Rochelle, or does the Lawton go by any other name? Can you tell me the cost of the bushes? WILLIAM RHODES. [The New Rochelle blackberry is the true name of the sort called Lawton. The sorts are precisely the same. They are propagated by placing pieces of the root under the surface of a rich mellow soil, and giving them bottom heat in a hot-bed or propagating house. They also propagate themselves by suckers. The plants are sold by nurserymen generally at $5 or $6 per 100 ]

DISEASES OF HORSES-Will you inform me through the Co. Gent. of the title of the best work on the Diseases of Horses, and where it can be had? I want a work that will give me a full description of the diseases they are subject to, and the remedy. J. C. M. [We know of no better work than Dr. Dadd's "Modern Horse Doctor," which we can send you postpaid for $1.25.]

DRAINING SIDE-HILL.-I am about making some side-hill ditches on a piece of ground on which I shall plant fruit trees. I would thank you most kindly, if you will tell me how much fall they should have, the distance apart to put

them, &c., &c. E. C. J. Va. [Cut the ditches directly down hill by the shortest way-the reasons for which are fully explained in the Rural Register for 1859, in the article on underdraining. The depth should be about three feet; and the distance apart twenty-five to thirty feet for heavy soils, and thirty-five to forty-five for porous soils.]

PEAVINE CLOVER.-I see it stated in the columns of your paper that the large or peavine clover is recommended highly. Will you please inform me where I could procure the seed, the price per barrel or bushel, &c. M. ROBLEE. [See advertisement on another page, of William Thorburn of this city, price 124 cents per pound.

APPLE-PIE MELON SEEDS.-Can you inform me where I can obtain some Apple-Pie melon seed. J. H. ABBOTT. [Of Wm. Thorburn of this city, and we presume at the seed stores generally.]

WORMS IN HORSES.-I have a horse that is terribly wormy. Is there any cure for him? F. A. W. [We infer that worms (not bots) which infest the intestines are here meant. Dr. Dadd prescribes the following to remove them: 12 ounces castor oil, oil of wormseed one ounce, and oil of tansy three drachms-to be given on an empty stomach, followed by mashes of fine feed or shorts, well seasoned with salt. To be repeated, if necessary, until the bowls respond.]

loam.

PINES FROM SEED.-I am cutting the timber, oak and chestnut, from a lot, the soil of which is a heavy gravelly Can I sow white pine seed to advantage, after the wood is cleared off; and when and how can it be collected and sown? F. A. W. Still River, Mass. [The shade having been removed and the sun let in, we do not think the young seedling pines would succeed. If weeds should spring up they would smother them. Young pines are very minute and feeble, and would need careful treatment, inapplicable to broad fields.]

ed with stock, and about to stock a small farm with four cows, CATTLE AND PIGS FOR SMALL FARMS.-Being unacquaintplease inform me what is best-Durham, Devon or native, and what breed of pigs? E. T. Providence, R I. [Procure the best native cattle-handsome form, good milkers, &c. had to breed from, the half bloods resulting will be likely to -and if a full-blood or nearly full blood Durham bull can be prove very satisfactory animals-costing only as much more than natives as the cost of the bull service. Suffolk pigs and their crosses are the best. Full blood cattle cannot be raised economically on small farms, and the course here designated will be found most profitable]

OATS AND CORN FOR HORSES AND CATTLE.-What is the

An old farmer told me some

value of oats, ground, for feeding horses and cattle, as compared with Indian corn meal? years since, that he would prefer one bushel of corn and one of oats mixed, for fattening hogs, to two of corn. Is that opinion sustained by facts? F. A. W. [The various experiments which have been made to test the value of oats as food in the extreme-conjectures or "opinions" cannot therefore for cattle, vary from each other about one hundred per cent. be very reliable. For ordinary feeding, we should prefer them mixed, to either or both separate.]

[For the Cultivator and Country Gentleman.] FAMILY RECIPES.

SPONGE CAKE, No. 1.-One egg (beat the white separately to a froth,)-1 cup of sugar-1 cup of milk-1 2-3 cups of four-1 tablespoonful of butter-2 teaspoons of cream tartar -1 teaspoon of soda-season with lemon extract or nutmeg. SPONGE CAKE, No. 2.-Three eggs--1 cup of sugar-14 of flour-1 teaspoon cream tartar- teaspoon of saleratus-nutmeg and lemon.

SPONGE CAKE, No. 3.-Three eggs-1 cup of sugar-1 cup of flour-3 tablespoons of cream-2 teaspoons of cream tartar

teaspoon of soda, and nutmeg. While warm spread with jelly, cut it in slices, and roll them quick as possible.

CAKE WITH OR WITHOUT EGGS.-One cup of butter-2 cups of sugar-1 sup of sweet milk-cup of sour milk, or buttermilk-1 teaspoonful of saleratus-flour to make it thick, and fruit if you choose.

RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA-Is valuable to allay inflammation, internally or externally, especially week and inflamed eyes, fever, &c. If people knew its value they would prize it.

CURE FOR DIARRHEA.-One teaspoon of salt-1 tablespoonful of sharp vinegar-mix with water. Repeat the dose within a few hours if necessary. MRS. ELIHU BROWN. Blandford, Mass.