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I have strong faith in the top-dressing, as it feeds and nourishes the young plants until the roots take up the manure from below.

some sections of our country. Where large numbers of horses and cattle are kept in the same stable or hovel, there may be some danger of having the hovels too close and warm for the health of the stock; but if a proper sys-horse hoe or weeder, passing it as near the plants as posThe weeding is done by first going through with the tem of ventilation is attended to, governed somewhat by sible without interfering with them. I then take a hoethe temperature of the weather-whether very cold or with good sharp corners, and go first on one side of the moderate, or quite warm-little fear need there be of hav-row and then on the other, drawing the hoe in an obliqueing the hovels too warm. In very cold weather but little ly direction from the plants, taking away part of them, fresh air is needed, in addition to that which will force its of thinning by hand. In thinning I leave the plants four with all the weeds, which greatly facilitates the operation way into the hovel through the "cracks and crevices;" in inches apart, best as a rule, but vary the distance either milder weather more air should be admitted; in warm in or over, if by so doing I can leave a stronger plant. It weather the doors and windows should be kept open. To is quite an object to leave the strongest and healthiest manage these matters aright, requires attention and judg-plants. ment on the part of those having charge of the farm to keep the soil well stirred and free from weeds, except in All we have to do now with regard to the cultivation, is work during winter. Farmers differ somewhat in their a very dry time, when it may be necessary to water them. views as to the winter management of sheep and young I use liquid manure freely; but when land is well subsoilcattle. Some prefer keeping their sheep mostly in the ed, and kept loose and mellow, it takes a severe drouth to G. FAIRBAIRN. Erie Co., N. Y. barn, where they have suitable feeding racks; others give effect them much. their flocks the choice of sleeping in the barn or out-doors. For the best health of the sheep, whether they lodge outdoors or under cover, they should be well littered with straw, refuse hay, or dry leaves. Some farmers of late years “tie up” all their cattle, old and young, giving them the range of the barn-yard for an hour or two each day through the winter, if not too cold or stormy. It is thought by such farmers that their cattle do better and require less hay than if allowed their liberty to range far and near. Others think that young cattle do better to have their liberty in the yard, or under sheds, or the barn cellar, and fed from suitable boxes or racks. These are matters about which farmers will decide for themselves. In the meantime we will suggest that from this to first of December, will be a good time to make all needful arrangements for the most economical method of keeping them through the winter in a thrifty, growing condition. There is no profit in stinting farm stock in their rations, or the laws of animal life cannot be violated with impunity.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] CULTURE OF THE CARROT.

MESSRS. TUCKER & SON-I notice in number 14, Oct. 4, of Co. GENT., an inquiry in regard to the cultivation of carrots, and an invitation to growers to give their mode of management, &c. As I have raised them to some extent the past few years with tolerably good success, I will give you my views and mode of operation; but I do not expect to throw much light on the subject, being comparatively a "young farmer."

I

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] A GOOD COW

L. TUCKER & SON.-Having read the account of the Ayrshire prize milkers, and also of L. SWEETSER's Ayrwill give you an account of a cow owned by me, as L. shire cow, which gave 300 pounds of milk in seven days, SWEETSER says by way of comparison. I would like to know the number of pounds of butter she made in the seven days. I did not weigh the milk every milking, not expecting to publish it, but weighed at different times through the week. I will give the average weight when her in seven days. She dropped her calf the 5th of 5th weighed, and likewise the amount of butter churned from month, (May,) and at one week old it was taken off for raising. She was then fed with eight quarts of corn meal chopped with the cob, adding one-third oats before chopmilk' when weighed per day, 484 lbs., which would amount ping, with plenty of good hay. Her average weight of to 3394 lbs. in seven days. Churned from it 15 lbs. of excellent butter.

When turned out to pasture she increased one quart per day, which was the 20th of 5th month. She milked very extraordinarily through the summer, and now, after milking twenty-two weeks, in the last seven days we have churned from her milk alone 12 lbs. 13 oz. of beautiful yellow butter.

She is of the red Durham stock, three-quarter blood, and weighed before calving, 1,370 lbs.

I send this account as true, at the same time knowing there are many that will not credit such accounts because and have now some good milkers, but never owned such such cows are scarce. I have kept a dairy for many years, cow as the above. The butter was weighed in the pre

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Quakertown, Pa., 10th mo. 15, 1860.

JOHN C. LESTER.

Bed Bugs and Cockroaches.

In one of the late numbers of your valuable paper, I noticed an appeal from a neat housekeeper, for aid in her war against bed-bugs. I sympathize too sincerely with her sufferings not to hope that the remedy, a very simple one, which has been entirely successful in many cases within my know

In the first place, I prefer a clay loam for carrots, al-sence of several neighbors. though some prefer sandy loam. It is absolutely necessary that the land be plowed deep, say 12 inches, or what is better, subsoiled, and well manured in the fall. In the following spring take the two-horse cultivator and run it both ways. This, after having laid all winter to the action of frost, rains, &c., will render the soil perfectly loose and mellow, and incorporate the manure with the soil more thoroughly than when applied in the spring. I then give a light top-dressing of fine well decomposed manure, and drag it in with a small fine toothed harrow, or in the ab-ledge, may be of use to her. sence of that implement take a garden or hand hay rake, as it is essentially necessary to have a fine tilth and smooth surface to sow the seed on, if we would expect to have it germinate well. I then take a marker made to mark the rows 20 inches apart, so as to admit of cultivation by horse

power.

I have always used the "Albany Seed Planter or Drill Barrow." It is easily adjusted to sowing and planting all kinds of seeds. I sow from two to four pounds of seed to an acre. I find it best to use plenty of seed to ensure a good "catch."

Procure from an apothecary, half a pound of dried calamus root, boil it in two quarts of vinegar, and leave it to steep all night. With this decoction thoroughly wash the bedsteads. I have never known this remedy to fail in cleansing the bedsteads, but if there is any reason to fear that the insects have made their way behind the papers of the rooms, as is sometimes the case where they exist in great numbers in an old house, I believe they can only be exterminated by tearing down the papers, and either white-washing or painting the walls, according to choice. D. C. R. Winchester, Mass.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Characteristics of "Fife" Spring Wheat.

season and last. In all this I am saying nothing in depre ciation of the good old Club, where this has shown in symptoms of decline. But in Wisconsin, Club has extensively exhibited a declining tendency in a variety of particulars, which, as they may not have befallen it elsewhere, I need not detail.

On the whole, Fife wheat-in consistency with its recent origin from a fall variety-comes so near in hardiness, productiveness, and other economical qualities to winter wheat, that in localities where the latter is precarious or uncertain, in any considerable degree, I should prefer to replace it with spring Fife; the difference in the value of produce being much less, in such circumstances, than_the anxieties and losses incident to a precarious crop. Last

This variety of wheat has been grown extensively the last three seasons in the west and northwest, and proves to be so valuable, that I think every wheat cultivator in the United States is, or may be, interested in knowing something more about its habits and qualities, than has yet come under the public notice; at least, so far as I am aware, from considerable agricultural reading. Though to some, its name might so imply, this wheat is not of Scotch origin-does not get its name from the county of Fife, but from the name of its originator, Mr. David Fife of Ontonabee, C. W., who saved a few roots of a winter variety that he obtained from Dantzie, via Scotland, I be-year the Fife with me yielded 26 bushels per acre; this lieve, and subsequently cultivated the produce as a spring wheat. I will say-after thirty years experience in wheat culture that I have seen no variety of spring wheat that contained so many useful qualities, and therefore so widely adaptable, as the Canada Fife in Wisconsin. It is very hardy, and therefore less liable to rust or mildew and other diseases than other known varieties.

It is later than Canada Club, and does not ripen off so rapidly; it therefore is more conveniently and economically harvested, particularly as it has the great advantage of shelling or beating out with difficulty; the crop, even when dead ripe, being comparativelg free from loss, therefore, in cradling, reaping, or other harvesting routine. It grows a few inches taller than Club; about as stiff, which is quite strong in the straw, and consequently stands up well, not lodging except in very rich situations.

This Fife wheat threshes easy enough, and is much less cut or broken by the horse machines than Club and Rio Grande. Indeed, my Fife was not broken in threshing, while the Club was, to a considerable extent; and the Rio This shows the Grande, in my vicinity, more so it seems. berry of the Fife to be comparatively and literally compact and very firm, or when dry, even hard, which I infer must give it better keeping or storing qualities than those of more tender varieties.

But I year thirty-six. This year is not a criterion, however, the season having been so unusually good for wheat. have no doubt I can make the Fife yield twenty-four or five bushels per acre one year with another, and I need therefore say no more in recommendation of a sort so J. W. CLARKE, evidently nearly right. Marquette, Wis., Oct. 16.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Use of Machinery---Cows for Draft. EDITORS OF CO. GENT.-I have recently noticed an inquiry of Mr. Carver, as to steam power for thrashing, sawing wood, and cutting feed, asking those who use machinery to state through the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN whether it will pay.

I will say to him that for the last ten years I have used my cows for sawing all my fire-wood, cutting hay, straw and stalks, and considerable thrashing, and believe it altogether the cheapest and most convenient power in the reach of most fariners.

For the past three years I have used Whitman's Straw
Cutter, Emery's Sawing Machine, and Emery's two horse
I have not paid the first cent to keep the
Railway power.
whole in perfect running order since I purchased them.
Such machinery I think will pay.

For the past fifteen years I have had two or three pairs A year or two ago, before it was generally known, and when, therefore, its merits were not well understood, its of cows broke to the yoke, which are always ready to help broad and hardy qualities led the millers to look well to along when we want more team. They haul out most of their grinding apparatus, as they found it required edge my manure, and do most of the earting. With some adand grit, and more than common power to flour it well.ditional feed when at work, I believe they give as much Hence they gave it a gritty reputation. But Club failed milk as if not worked. This I think does very well. I should very inch like to see in the Co. GENTLEMAN, so fast the last few years on the Wisconsin prairies (which by the by, are to within two miles of my house, as fine as the opinion of some practical and experienced feeder as to any in the U. S.) that Fife rapidly superceded it; so that the comparative expense and utility of steaming feednow there are probably three acres of Fife to one of Club what kind of apparatus nsed, the cost, &c. I have steamraised. Now, therefore, the Fife variety is well known, ed cut hay, straw and stalks, with meal-used a large cov particularly in this State and adjacent wheat districts. Its ered box. I have concluded it would not pay, and abanquality, though not changed, is now much better appre-doned it. ciated. Instead of there being more grit in it than in the long known Club, it now turns out that its flour is equally good as the flour of Club itself, in which it approaches therefore, to within twenty-five or thirty per cent. per barrel, in quality and value to the flour of winter wheat. better informed producers, now, therefore, sell Fife and Club at the same prices, and these usually rate only five or six cents per bushel less than winter wheat commands, or rather formerly sold for; I say formerly, for I have not seen a field of winter wheat this year.

Our

I know of many instances, too, in which Fife has yielded three to five bushels per acre more than Club, both this This account of the origin of the Fife wheat does not agree with a statement published in the Co. Gent., vol. 13, p. 237, by Mr. GEORGE ESSON, a neighbor of Mr. Fife's at Otonabee. Mr. Esson says: About the year 1842, Mr. DAVID FIFE, of Otonabee, C. W., procured through a friend in Glasgow, Scotland, a quantity of wheat As it which had been obtained from a cargo direct from Dantzic. came to hand just before spring seed time, and not knowing whether it was a fall or spring variety, Mr. Fife concluded to sow a part of it that spring, and wait for the result. It proved to be fall wheat, as it never ripened, except three ears, which grew apparently from a sin gle grain; these were preserved, and although sowed the next year nder very unfavorable cireninstances, being quite late, and in a sha; dy place, it proved at harvest to be entirely free from rust, when all other wheat in the neighborhood was badly rusted. The produce of this was carefully preserved, and from it sprung the variety of wheat known over Canada and the Northern States, by the different names of Fife, Scotch and Glasgow. As the facts occured in my immediate neighborhood, and being intimately acquainted not only with the introducer, but with the circumstances, I can vouch for the correctness of the statements, and if necessary produce incontestible proof."

LEWIS BAILEY. Fairfax Co. Va., Oct. 16.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Woodpeckers in the Cornfield.

My cornfields were much infested during the past summer by the corn-worm, (Heliothes,) and I had begun to fear that great damage would be done by it, when succor appeared in an unexpected form. Large numbers of Woodpeckers came down upon the fields, and commene Where the ed a war of extermination upon the worms. insect had penetrated so far that it could not be reached from the opening itself had made at the summit of the ear, the Woodpecker quickly drilled a hole farther down Bushels of corn, I doubt not, were and pulled it out. "Honor to whom saved by these birds in my fields alone. honor is due."

D. H. J.

Vinely, S. C.

WINTERING HORSES.-A Connecticut farmer winters his In the morning each horse horses on cut hay and carrots. receives six or eight quarts of carrots, with half a bushel of cut hay; at night he has the same quantity of hay mixed with three quarts of provender, consisting of oats and corn in the ear ground together. This keeps them in fine health and good working order.

The Entomologist.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] No. 24.-THE PEAR BLIGHT BEETLE.

A gentleman in Southampton Co., Va., sends to the Co. GENT. Some wood of an apple tree containing several beetles, which he says have destroyed some of the trees in his orchard, which were growing thriftily previous to their invasion by this insect. He desires some information respecting this insect, and how to avoid its ravages.

The insect is the Pear blight beetle, which is known to work in the apple, plum and apricot, as well as in the pear. It is very important that every fruit grower should be able to recognize this insect, and I therefore present such a description of it as will serve to distinguish it from other insects found in the same situations. It is so small that a

magnifying glass will be required to clearly perceive some of the particulars stated in this description.

The Pear blight beetle is of a short cylindrical form, twice as long as broad, and bluntly rounded at each end. On placing one and another of them upon a graduated scale they are found to be slightly over the tenth of an inch in length, and the smallest ones exactly of that size. A little forward of the middle they are cut asunder by a transverse suture, conspicuously dividing the body into two parts, the fore-body or thorax and the hind-body or abdomen, over which last the wing covers are closely laid. The head is small and sunk into a round opening on the under side of the fore-body. The forward end is very rough and rasp-like from little projecting points, and the wing covers are glossy, and have numerous small punctures arranged in rows. The body is bearded at each end and along the sides, with short, silvery, yellowish hairs. The color of these beetles is black or very dark chestnut brown, the wing covers being often of the latter color, with the fore-body pure black. The antennæ and legs are paler, of a testaceous color, (the hue of a tortoise shell comb,) with the thighs much darker or almost black.

and another of the buds, and that the larvæ, which is a small white grub which hatches from the egg, gnaws its way from thence inward to the pith, on which it afterwards feeds until it matures and changes into the beetle, to come abroad and select its mate and deposit another which continues to occupy the same cell until it is ready

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But in addition to its working in this manner in the wigs at the ends of the limbs, it also infests the trunks of the trees. Four years since, I received from L. Smith, therein, which had destroyed several thrifty young trees Esq., of Middlefield, Mass., some apple wood with insects in his grounds. These insects proved to be the Pear which I described in my Third Report on the Noxious Inblight beetle and a kindred species much smaller than this, sects of New-York. And as it was in the spring of the inferred there were two generations of this species annualyear that Mr. Smith met with these insects in his trees, I ly, the first one in spring, cradled in the trunks of the trees, and the second in midsummer, attacking the tender twigs which have then put forth. But it now appears, from these Virginian specimens, that this beetle is found in the trunks of the trees at the close of summer, as well this subject, since the full history and habits of this insect, as in the spring. It is not worth while to speculate upon and the circumstances which cause it to locate sometimes in the twigs and sometimes in the body of the tree, can be authentically ascertained only by actual observations made where it is at work in its natural haunts.

When this depredator makes its appearance in the twigs The blightof the trees it is an easy matter to subdue it. ed twigs are readily detected by their withered leaves appearing as they do when all the rest of the tree is clothed in its summer verdure. And such twigs should be immediately cut off and consigned to the fire to destroy the enemy that is lurking within them. But where any of these Bark beetles make their lodgment in the trunk of the tree we as yet are unacquainted with any remedy for arresting their career.

In Europe extensive forests have sometimes been destroyed by some of the insects of this group, there being no known means for withstanding them. After a tree is dead they continue to breed and multiply in it until the wood is so far decayed that it ceases to be palatable and nutritious to them.

Hence it is advisable to

may wander abroad and found new colonies in any trees that may yet remain uninfested.

This insect belongs to the group of Bark beetles, (Scolytide,) which are often noticed under the bark of pine and other trees, where they excavate long slender burrows, which are often so regular as to resemble marks drawn with a pencil. And to come out from the tree, they bore through the bark, forming numerous holes therein like the perforations of a pin. The species now under cut down and burn all dead trees, and also all that are deconsideration was first brought to notice by Prof. Peck, clining and unable to survive-lest from the successive who gave it the scientific name Scolytus Pyri. Dr. Har-broods that will be nurtured in such trees, some individual ris subsequently referred it to the genus Tomicus, but as the little round knob at the end of its antennæ is solid, and not cut asunder into four joints, it certainly pertains to the genus Scolytus, in which Prof. Peck originally placed it. This insect has never occurred in my own neighborhood to afford me an opportunity to examine its operations. I consequently am only acquainted with it from information and specimens received. from correspondents, and from published accounts. These latter speak of it only as infesting the young twigs. In the middle of summer, when the tree is in full leaf, a twig here and there is seen to be withered and its leaves faded and dead. On inspecting these twigs a small perforation like a pin hole is seen at several of the buds which project at different points along the bark. And from each of these holes a burrow may be traced, on splitting the twig, extending up a short distance in the central pith, with one of these beetles therein. I presume that the female places an egg in the axil of one

ASA FITCH.

Whether by washing the trunks of uninfested trees with alkaline solutions, tobacco water, or any other substance, the bark may be rendered so unpalatable to these insects as to protect them against their invasion, can only be ascertained by experiments which are yet to be made. East Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y. NOTE. A few weeks since, we received from "P." of Franklin Depot, Va., specimens of a caterpillar which was there preying upon the foliage of the Silver-leaved maples. As no leaves were placed in the box for them to feed upon during their journey hither, they came to hand dead and very gaunt and shriveled. They, however, appeared to be a species unlike anything we have ever met with upon the maples here, and which we are, consequently, unable to name without seeing the same insect in its perfect state, when it will be a miller or moth.

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CULTIVATING AND PRUNING HEDGES. During a recent journey in several directions, through some of the western states, as well as of our own State, we had some opportunity of witnessing the results of attempts at hedging. They have mostly proved failures. In this state, perhaps not one attempt in a hundred has given a good reliable barrier-in the west success has been more frequent-the soil being perhaps more fertile there, and the longer or warmer summers favoring a larger growth. We speak solely of the Osage Orange for this purpose.

So far as we have witnessed, the failures have arisen from the entire neglect of the two absolutely esssential requisites, namely, cultivation and pruning. To omit either is fatal. The speculator who offered for sale an excellent mill-seat, with only one defect, namely, entire absence of water to drive the stones, made a less mistake than the hedgers, for he left out but one requisite, while they omit two.

The privet and buckthorn, which have much natural hedginess about them, will form some semblance of a wall of verdure, with neglect; but the Osage plant, which is better than either, although having naturally none of the peculiar dense growth required, can be nothing at all without cutting, and will not grow without culture.

We have examined a great many intended hedges several years old, the appearance of which is so nearly alike in every case, that the annexed cut, (fig. 1,) is a tolerably

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and vigorous, they are cut down nearly even with the ground, and again a few inches higher, and so on, so as to make a wide thick base, like fig. 4. Some such hedges as this, of five years growth, and seven feet high, were special objects of admiration, and among them we may name the beautiful hedge surrounding a part of the nursery of M. B. BATEHAM & Co., of Columbus, Ohio.

To preserve the hedge in the best condition, it should not be sheared very frequently. By doing so, the interior becomes a smooth, impenetrable sheet or stratum of foliage, shutting out the light from the interior, which consequently becomes destitute of leaves, or only naked and partly dead stems and branches, fig. 5. If less evenly

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accurate representation of all. Most of the plants were either partly dead when set out, were badly transplanted, or else were destroyed by the dense growth of weeds and grass. Many hedges, (so called,) are much thinner than the cut indicates, eight or ten feet in length often occurring entirely destitute of plants.

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[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] THE PUMPKIN-SEED QUESTION. MESSRS. EDITORS-A few years ago this question was discussed, experiments tried, and I think their results were given in the CoOUNTRY GENTLEMAN; at any rate the seeds kins to milch cows in the usual way, were condemned. About that time I was feeding pumpand was disappointed

In a few instances the hedge has been partly cultivated, or rather the owner claims that it has been; and the cut-in the quantity of milk produced. My milk is drawn into ting back has been done at the top only, and not at the seven-quart bottles, morning and night, and a minute bottom. Such a hedge appears better than the preceding, made of the amount every day. If there is an increase, or like fig. 2, the end view of which is something like or the reverse, it is seen at once, and the reasons are fig. 3. known. But being "no doctor," an explanation of the reasons cannot always be given, as in the case of the Pumpkin Seeds.

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Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 exhibits a hedge which has been properly maraged. In the first place the soil has been well prepared, (and thoroughly underdrained-nearly under the line of the hedge before setting, unless there is good natural drainage,) the plants carefully selected, after the buds are swollen, so that all bad ones may be rejected; a broad, (not a narrow,) strip of land kept well cultivated on each side for several of the first years; and in a year or two, or after the plants have become thoroughly established

At the time referred to, I had a box placed near the manger to receive the seeds, that I might know that they were taken out. My experiments at that time satisfied me, first, that the seeds were injurious, inasmuch as they diminished the flow of milk; and second, that pumpkins fed, either with or without the seed, to milch cows, did not lay on their equivalent in fat, but when fed to fatten ing animals, are a valuable article of food. Since that time I have seldom fed pumpkins to milch cows.

and squashes to the oxen, but the man having charge of This year, as usual, I gave directions to feed pumpkins the cows failed to understand the direction, and fed "seeds and all." A few mornings ago he came in, saying that two or three of the cows appeared sick, their hair standing on end, and there was a falling off of their milk, notcause, and applied the remedy-by cutting off the pumpwithstanding he had been feeding better. I suspected the kins-and now all is well, and my "judgment not reversed." M. c. w. Lincoln, Mass.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Experiments with Superphosphate of Lime and other Manures for Corn.

MESSRS. EDS.-In September, 1859, while rambling over the intervale farm of Jos. B. Walker, Esq., of Concord, N. H., he called my attention to a few rows of corn on In mathe south end of a field of two or three acres. nuring the field he lacked about one load of manure to finish out the piece. On this unmanured portion, he planted two rows of corn without any manure; two rows with Peruvian guano in the hill; two rows with plaster of Paris in the hill, and two rows with Coe's superphosphate of lime. The six first named rows were very poor indeed, while the rows having the superphosphate would average nearly as good as the corn on the portion of the field that was heavily manured in the spring. We were of the opinion that the two phosphated rows would yield as much corn as would the other six. I suggested to him the propriety of accurately ascertaining the result when he harvested the corn. This he did, and found the corn on the two phosphated rows equal to that of the other six. How ever, this experiment was on too small a scale to be of much practical value; but it induced him to experiment more largely and carefully the past season.

I was at his place during the last week of September, and carefully noted the results of his experiments on his corn crops with different manures. The first piece, some two or three acres of inverted sod intervale land, was well manured with a compost of muck and cattle manure. About one half of the field was manured in the hill with Coe's superphosphate of lime, at the rate of 125 lbs. per Stakes were put down to mark the row where the superphosphate ended; but as the result proved, this was unnecessary, as the superior size and more early maturing of the corn made its own mark-it being very much the best, ripening in 120 days from the time of planting; while the corn on the same field, manured as above except the superphosphate, was ten days later, and much smaller all through the season.

acre.

Field No. 2, well manured with stable and hovel manure, superphosphate applied to part of the field, as in No. 1-attended with similar results, except in the ripening of the corn, which was later by two weeks, it being a larger and later variety of corn.

Field No. 3, just one acre. This land having been annually pastured (although intervale) for over 120 years, and never manured except by the droppings of the cows and the sedimentary matters left by freshets. The land being free from obstructions, was well plowed in October, 1859, well harrowed in the spring, and divided into three equal portions of one-third of an acre each, and manured as follows:

1.-One-third acre-Superphosphate, at the rate of 225 At the second lbs. per acre, at a cost of $5.40 per acre. hoeing, a handful of unleached ashes was applied to each hill on the three plots alike.

2.-One-third acre-Guano, large tablespoonful to a hill; cost at the rate of $60 per ton.

3. One-third acre-Pigeon and hen manure mixed with soil-two parts soil to one of bird dung; half pint in each hill.

Where the superphosphate was applied there was much good corn. The portion manured with the compost of bird manure was very much poorer, and that part guanoed was miserable in the extreme; a very large portion of it

was cut up for fodder, there not being even a nubbin on the greater portion of it.

In rating the difference, we put the proportions thus: superphosphate 4, hen mauure compost 2, guano 1. That is, the superphosphate produced twice as much corn as the compost, and four times as much as the guano. Reasoning from chemical principles, we should at once say, without experimenting, that superphosphate of lime was the " one thing needful" for the improvement of land that had been pastured by milch cows for over 120 years in succession. The application of superposphate of lime, or fine bone dust, to the long grazed pastures in Cheshire and other districts in England, has been attended with the most successful results. The reason why, is so self evident, that a child might understand.”

Mr. Walker kindly furnished me with his written views upon the results of his use of superphosphate upon the corn crops on his farm, which I here copy:

"First.-It affords immediate support to the plant in its tender state, before its roots expand sufficiently and reach the other manure, and keeps it growing vigorously during the first period of its growth, (say the first month,) until fairly started; it then begins to appropriate the other manure-or in common farmer parlance "it gives it a good start," and that too when it needs it most, and there is a greater evenness in the size of the plants. "Second.-The start" thus given is kept up through the season, and the corn ripens from ten to fourteen days earlier than it otherwise would.

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"Third.-It increases the length and fairness of the ears, and there are fewer nubbins and soft ears.'

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From a careful examination of the several fields of corn above described, I think Mr. W.'s views are perfectly correct as to the action of superphosphate of lime upon his long cultivated soil, and the corn crop. But it would be unreasonable to suppose the same marked results would follow the increase of the corn crop upon every body's else" cornfields. There are so many contingencies connected with the action of concentrated manures upon different soils and crops, that the "profit or loss" of purchasing them can only be ascertained by carefully conducted experiments-and those at first should be upon a small scale. It may be profitable for the New-Hampshire farmer, as in Mr. Walker's case, to purchase or manufacture superphosphate to apply upon his long cultivated and grazed alluvial and other soils. But it might prove the very reverse of "profitable" for the Wisconsin or Iowa farmer to purchase either guano or superphosphate. His new soils already contain every constituent of fertility requisite to the production of maximum crops of corn. they did not, and it was ascertained that superphosphate would exhibit the same good results as in Mr. Walker's experiment, then it might not prove a profitable investment of money to purchase superphosphate, as the price of corn there would not cover the cost of the superphos phate. In the purchase and experimenting with purchased manures, whether domestic or foreign, all these things should be taken into consideration by the farmer-and when he finds he is right "let him go ahead."

Warner, N. H., Oct. 23, 1860.

But if

LEVI BARTLETT.

Remedy for Smut in Wheat.

MESSRS. L. TUCKER & SON-I see an inquiry in the Sept. CULTIVATOR, concerning smut in wheat. Below I give you a receipt for cleaning seed wheat of that pest, which has proved successful in this county.

RECEIPT.-To the first bushel of seed take three tablespoonfuls of blue vitriol, and soak three hours; then pour off the brine, and dry the seed with lime. Keep the brine, and to every bushel of seed add one spoonful of the vitriol, and wash and skim as before, except the three hours soaking, and I think TYRO will soon be clear of smut in his wheat. L. ODELL. Randolph county, N. C.

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