ring. The work was, however, begun carly, and continued twice or three times a day. Yet the whole labor for 20 trees was not more than equal to the cost of paving one tree. Probably a combination of this mode, with the employment of swine, would answer in nearly all instances. FREEZING OUT THE CURCULIO.-It is not unfrequently recommended to invert the soil by spading, just before winter, to freeze out the dormant curculios. The writer has pursued this course for several years past, with a number of plum and apricot trees (not, however, with any reference to the curculio,) without the slightest apparent effect on the opera. tions of these depredators. Wire Fence. found, during which time I captured thousands of the foe; and the result was that I had the satisfaction of seeing my plum trees loaded with an abun dant crop of fine ripe fruit, while those of my neighbors were nearly or quite destroyed, especially those of the choicer varieties, which seem to be more subject to the attacks of the curculio than those of less merit; and I believe any one who will take the pains to try the above plan, will find his labors crowned with success. R. H. DRAKE. Bloomingburgh, Sullivan Co., N. Y., November 14, 1849. The Everbearing Raspberry, EDS. CULTIVATOR-Your correspondent in The Cultivator for November, has not, I believe, cultivated the Ohio Everbearing Raspberry sufficiently Much has been said in the papers in favor of the to judge of its bearing qualities, and the best soil cheapness and durability of wire fences. We fear for it. I have cultivated in my garden for 17 years, that a few years' trial will disappoint many who this plant, in a rich, deep, porous soil, and the first have erected them. If the wire is so light as to be crop is a very large one. But my soil is too dry for afforded at less than two dollars per rod, heavy cat- it during the summer and fall, and my vines bear tle will frequently snap it by accidentally plunging sparsely the residue of the season. In the gardens against it, if it is tightly stretched. If slack, its of Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Ernst and others, in the vifrequent swaying motion serves in the course of time cinity of the city, where the soil is a natural oneto crack it off at the post, which tendency is great-rich, but not deep,-stiff, with a subsoil of clay,ly increased by the water which lodges in the holes and gradually diminishes its strength by rusting. Hardiness of the Buckthorn. A hedge of three year old plants was set out last year, four hundred feet long. It was done quite late in the season, most of the trees having already made shoots four or five inches long. They were cut down to within two or 3 inches of the ground, and although the roots were not mudded, scarcely one in a hundred failed to grow. The dense mats of small fibres which constitute the roots of the buckthorn, are removed from the soil with very little loss, and contribute to success. The Curculio. EDS. CULTIVATOR-In this section of the country, for some time past, the plum erop has with but few exceptions, fallen a prey to the curculio or plum weevil; so much so at least that the fruit-growers in this neighborhood have become quite discouraged in attempting the cultivation of this valuable fruit, from the fact that their labor is lost, their expectations blasted; and they have the mortification of seeing nearly all, or indeed, often, the whole crop fall from the trees when half or two-thirds grown. I have tried several remedies to preserve my plums from the ravages of this uncompromising foe of all smooth-stoned fruits, such as the use of salt, and gathering up the punctured fruit, &c., with but little success until this season. Having read in your valuable journal, The Cultivator, of June, 1843, on page 182, a plan for destroying the curculio, and preserving the fruit, which was the jarring down of the insects on muslin, and so destroying them, I adopted the plan; and having furnished myself with an umbrella eight feet in diameter, covered with white muslin, with an opening between the arms to receive the trunk of the tree, and a mallet cushioned at the end to prevent its injuring the bark of the tree; as soon as the blossoms had fallen and left the newly formed fruit exposed, I commenced a vigor. ous attack upon the wily foe, which had already commenced the work of destruction, by jarring them down on the umbrella spread under the trees to receive them. This I repeated every day for nearly two weeks, or as long as a curculio could be they have an abundant supply till frost, and the fruit of the succeeding crops is much larger than the first. In Newark, New Jersey, in the garden of my sis ter, where the soil is poor, but stiff, the shoots do not grow half the length that they do in my garden, yet the fruit is larger, and the crops four fold, compared with mine. A majority of persons at my tatable. I prefer the Antwerp. It certainly belongs ble prefer it to the Antwerp, when both are on the to the Black Cap family. Could it not be crossed with the Fastolff or Antwerp, and its everbearing character retained? I concur with your correspondent in opinion about the Alpine strawberry. In some climates and soils it may succeed better than with us. I believe this to be a distinct kind, and that from a cross with our scarlets, bearing seedlings cannot be produced. By the way, have your Eastern cultivators come to any settled opinion, about the absolute necessity of cultivating pistillate plants, where an abundant crop, or even half a crop is an object. Mr. Ernst informs me, that the present President of the Boston horticultural Society, is of opinion that in an average of years, he can raise as full crops from the hermaphrodites alone, as where 11-12th are pistillate. know that the opinion of the late President was directly the reverse of this. With us, not one of your hermaphrodites, will average one-fifth of a crop. I shall this fall, move all my Ohio Everbearing raspberries, to the gullies in the Garden of Eden, where the soil is thin and stiff; where the blackberry grows and bears much finer than in my garden, and an abundant crop through the season will be certain. N. LONGWORTH. Cincinnati, O., Nov. Γ Which received the prize of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. The Cheviot Breed of Sheep. wool. For many situations, it is desirable to ob. tain a breed more hardy than either of these. 6. There are various reasons why, in a country like The Cheviot breed, represented by our cut, is not ours, it is expedient to keep several breeds of sheep. at present, much known in this country. We have Different qualities of wool are required for the ma- heard of only two importations; one by Hon. DANnufacture of different kinds of goods; and for our IEL WEBSTER, of Massachusetts, and one by Col. T. J. CARMICHAEL of Wisconsin. From the locagreat range of climate and diversity of soil and aspect, animals of different characteristics, as to conlity they occupy in their native country, and from stitution and habits, are required for the different all we can learn of their qualities, we think they locations. The sheep which produce the finest sta- would be valuable for many parts of the United ple of wool, are unsuited to coarse food and expo-writes us in regard to his Cheviots, as follows: States. In answer to an inquiry, Mr. WEBSTER sure to great changes of weather. So too, in regard to the production of mutton; those breeds which attain the greatest size, and fatten most readily, with an abundance of food in a mild climate, have not the hardiness and muscular vigor necessary to adapt them to cold and mountainous districts. Hence, in Great Britain we find the Leicesters, Lincolns, and other heavy long-wooled breeds, occupying the warm and fertile valleys and rich grass lands; the South Downs and similar breeds, the intermediate uplands; while lighter and more active breeds are kept on the heaths and mountains of Wales and Scotland. From the increasing demand and enhanced price of mutton in this country, many farmers have lately turned their attention to the production of this article. With this view, different breeds of English sheep have been procured. The Leicesters and South Downs have been considerably tried, and with varied success. In some instances both have failed from improper management. But in general, we think the Leicesters have hardly sufficient hardiness to endure the extremes of temperature, from the heat of summer to the cold of winter, which occur in our climate. It is true they vary in this respect, and some skillful breeders have given to their sheep much better constitutions than those of this breed in general possess. The improved Cotswolds, or New Oxfordshires, though derived from crosses with the Leicester, are more hardy and produce more They are very handsome, coming fully up to the cuts of them which you find in the English pub. lications. I do not think mine are very large, as my pastures are not rich, and I have taken no particular pains with them. I have had no very great experience of them, as to their mutton, as yet; but some wethers have proved very good. I think the breed fattens readily." They take their name as a breed, from the Che. viot range of hills, on the border of England and Scotland, where they have existed from time imme. morial. They have lately been improved by a cross with the Leicesters; and have been adopted with great success in many parts of Scotland, heretofore occupied by the black-faced mountain sheep. In relation to the breed, Martin gives the following description: "They are full behind the shoulder, and the forequarters are justly proportioned to the hind; they are straight in the back, round in the rib, clean and small boned in the limbs; the wool, which is of a quality useful for many combing purposes, comes forward behind the ears, but leaves the face uncov. ered. The Cheviot sheep is capable of enduring much cold and privation; it possesses considerable fattening properties, the wethers being ripe for the butcher at two years of age; and averaging from 15 to 18 lbs. the quarter. The mutton is excellent. This description applies to the Cheviots with a cross of the Leicester. In all that regards size, form and contour, they are superior to the old breed; but the wool has become coarser and longer." Count de Gourey, a French gentleman who made a tour through England and Scotland in 1840, thus speaks of the Cheviot sheep which he saw on the mountains of Sutherland: "I was surprised on going over these horrible mountains and miserable pastures, to see them stocked with such fine animals, yielding, on an ave. rage, five pounds of long and beautiful wool, washed upon the back; wethers three and a-half years old, without having eaten any other thing than what is to be found in these wilds, weighing, alive, 200 English pounds, together with ewes that at 5 years old, and with he same feed, are fat, and weigh from 60 to 70, and even 90 pounds. What I have seen in this journey, makes me more convinced than ever, that the Cheviot breed is one of the highest merit; since they live and prosper on such land, under such a severe climate, and that, too, without other food than what these wilds furnish." PROTECTION FOR SHEEP.-If there is one point in sheep-husbandry of more especial importance than all others, it is shelter. This remark will apply to Sull for sheltering Sheep, almost all countries where sheep are kept; though the character of the shelter may vary of course with the nature of the climate. In southern latitudes it is not necessary to guard against deep snows; but most sections are subject to violent storms of rain, which are very prejudicial to the health of sheep, if obliged to endure them without some protection. The circumstances which affect the keeping of sheep on our western prairies, and on the mountains of our southern states, must bear some analogy to those of Scotland; and if this kind of stock is ever made protfiable on a large scale in those parts of our country, ample protection from the driving storms and boisterous winds which there prevail, must be provided. For this reason we have thought it proper to introduce here, a description of a kind of shelter which has been resorted to in Scotland with great advantage. The flocks kept in the mountainous region of that country, formerly suffered immense destruction during winter, when oft the whirlwind's wing load Sweeps up the burden of whole wintry plains At one wide waft, and o'er the hapless flocks, Hid in the hollow of two neighboring hills, The billowy tempest whelms, till upward urged, The valley to a shining mountain swells, Tip't with a wreath high curling in the sky." The shelter to which we allude, has been found an efficient protection against the storms which pre. vail in the Highlands; and to give some idea of their severity, it may be useful and interesting te the reader to peruse a brief description of the con sequencs of one, which occurred before this kind of shelter was introduced. Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd," describing the effects of the storm of the 24th and 25th of January, 1794, says "it fell with peculiar violence on that division of the south of Scotland which lies within Crawford-muir and the Border. There perished within these limits, seventeen shepherds; and upwards of thirty were carried home insensible who afterwards recovered. The number of sheep that were lost, outwent any calculation. One farmer alone lost seventy-two scores, and many others in the same quarter from thirty to forty scores each." He adds, that when the snow melted, it caused a flood, and after the water had subsided, there were found, at a place called the Beds of Esk, on the shore of Solway Frith, 1,840 sheep, 9 neat cattle, 3 horses, 2 men, 1 woman, 45 dogs, and 180 hares, besides a number of smaller animals. Poet of Ettrick, has been a keeper of sheep," William Hogg,-who, like his namesake, the in a communication to the Scottish Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, written in 1843, gives a vivid account of this storm, to which in guarding his sheep, he was exposed in person. The storm came on in its greatest severity in the night, and was heavy beyond all former precedent. Mr. H. says "I was in a lone, desolate part of the mountains, and felt the snow as it fell, like a dead weight on my shoulders, and the desert place seemed to sigh with the extraordinary burden which lay upon it." When the clouds finally dispersed, he says"I was glad and I ought to have been thankful, when I once more felt the sun's cheering beams; but such a scene! The poor creatures lay huddled together dead, in dozens, scores and hundreds; the extraordinary severity of frost and strength of wind had reached their vitals, I think, in a few minutes after foundering down with cold; many were also smothered deep at the bottoms of immense wreaths, and were not found till the thaw came. There was scarcely a pastured district where there was not some human being perished, and many sheep." described, induced the farmers to turn their attention, earnestly, to the means of protecting their sheep; and after having tried structures of various kinds, the superiority of those represented by the accompanying cut, has been fairly demonstrated. These structures are called stells, and the one here delineated is called an "inside stell." It consists of two concentric circles of wall, enclosing a plantation of fir, or other evergreens, having a circular space in the centre for sheep. This centre may be of any size desired; if it is from 30 to 60 feet in diameter, it will accommodate from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty sheep. A sufficient number should be erected to accommodate the whole flock. This belt of trees completely secures the sheep in the enclosure from the force of the wind, affording a quiet and safe shelter at all times. The walls of the passage are made winding, which prevents the wind from blowing into the central space. The serious losses sustained in the manner above In this country, it is probable, the best trees for such plantations, would be the red and white cedars, hemlock, spruce and fir. A belt of a rod in width, if the outside was planted sufficiently close, would soon form a screen, and admirably shelter the inside enclosure. These stells should constitute the feeding yards. In, or near them the fodder should be secured." The feeding-racks may be placed under cheap sheds, made of boards, or with poles covered with straw. In these protected situations, they would not be blown down by wind. Where stones cannot be had for forming the walls, turf embankments will answer to protect the trees while they are small; after they have become strong, they will need no protection. The manure could be all saved here, and carted to places where it was most needed. thoroughly harrowed, and on the 12th of May planted to corn. The early growth of it was soon vigorous and luxuriant, with no perceivable difference between the portion subsoiled and the other, and so continued until about the middle of July, when it all became very much affected by the severity of the drouth that prevailed. It was then I expected to realise the advantages of the subsoil plowing, in a In regard to the location of these structures, Mr. | facilitated capillary attraction, as well as a more William Hogg directs that they be "situated on abundant aliment from the wider and deeper range that department of a farm where the sheep most ea- thus secured to the roots; but it was not perceptisily congregate in times of difficulty. Their parti- ble, nor did any difference manifest itself until the cular site should lie apart from rocks, steep or ab-harvesting the crop. All of it having suffered very rubt precipices. Such obstacles to the tempest on much from the effects of the drouth, and, so far as I ly redouble its fury, and at uncertain intervals could judge, alike. throw the regular current of the wind and drift into furious rushes, almost in every direction. If it be possible, they should be placed where the general stream of wind is not obstructed nor hurried by any object on the earth's surface, but where it blows constantly, open and free." With such shelter as is here proposed, the health and vigor of the sheep would be secured, and the great losses which are now annually sustained from undue exposure, would be avoided. The sheep will naturally gather round these sheltered places in inclement weather, and will pass and repass, as they find most conducive to their comfort. Their health and strength being preserved, they will eat their food with a good appetite, and will graze, or feed at the racks, according to the state of the weather. "Instinct" as a Scottish writer observes, "will teach them when to fly for shelter, and when to return to the pasture; at the same time the shepherd may be with them, rejoicing in his own safety as well as theirs." The Farmer's Note-Book. Subsoil Plowing. EDS. CULTIVATOR-Professor Johnston, in his Agricultural Chemistry, observes that in sandy, and generally all light soils, of which the particles are very fine, the capillary action is of great importance, and intimately connected with their power of producing remuneratiug crops. That they absorb the falling rains with great rapidity; and these carry down the soluble matters as they descend. On the return of dry weather, the water re-ascends from the lower strata, and again diffuses the soluble ingredients through the upper soil. A writer in the October number of the Horticulturist, remarks that this action is very much aided by a trenching of such soils, provided the best soil is always kept on the surface. Now this commends itself as sound reasoning; and yet, it is so unlike the results of an experiment I tried the past summer, on similar principles, that I am constrained to submit the case to you, and learn in what manner you will account for a difference I shall proceed to state, without repudiating this doctrine. It was conducted upon a piece of five acres of land-a sandy loam-resting upon a subsoil of yellow loam. There was drawn upon it, the past winter, some two hundred loads of manure, which in the spring was evenly spread, and the ground plowed; using on one-half of it a subsoil plow, that was driven eight inches deep, making a united depth of sixteen inches with both plows. It was then That portion of the row, up to the point where the subsoiling commences-and which was of the same length, and contained the same number of hills as that subsoiled-yielded one-half bushels of ears of corn more than the part subsoiled. And this difference was very nearly uniform in each row,-. thus proving, very conclusively, that the subsoiling, so far at least as this crop was concerned, was a decided injury rather than benefit. Now, Messrs. Editors, you who are bound to know everything," will you please account for this difference? You see, readily, that it is at war with the theory quoted at the outset; nor does my mind suggest any reason, satisfactory for it, save one, at variance when applied to this character of soil,and it is, that the readier escape of moisture, from the greater depth, is not made good by an increased capillary action; and that in a season like the past, unusually dry, the crop consequently suffers more. With a more tenacious subsoil, this would not be. Indeed, I am some doubtful of the expediency at all of the subsoil plow, for this character of soil; but more from the results of this experiment than any actual knowledge on the subject; and I shall be greatly obliged to you, in common I presume with many others, for any reliable information that will elucidate this point. P. Waterville, N. Y., November 10, 1849. The above results are different from any which have before come to our knowledge, in relation to subsoil plowing. We shall not attempt to explain them; but would suggest that the crops, on the subsoiled and unsubsoiled portions, be carefully noticed the coming and succeeding seasons. EDS. Mayweed-Corn Chamomile. EDS. CULTIVATOR-Among the many noxious weeds that have been introduced into our country, there is scarcely one that is more to be dreaded by the farmer than the Anthemis arvensis, commonly called corn chamomile, or wild chamomile. On ac count of its close resemblance to the Maruta cotula, or mayweed, the two plants are confounded, and supposed to be the same by many. The mayweed was called Anthemis cotula by Linnæus and others; but De Candolle and, after him, most of our best botanists, have placed it in a different genus. The wild chamomile is easily distinguished from the mayweed by the larger heads of its flowers, and from wanting the strong, unpleasant smell peculiar to the mayweed, and by its botanical characters. The Anthemis arvensis is a native of Europe, Asia Minor, and is frequent in Egypt. As yet, it is sparingly naturalized in the United States,-being found in parts of New-England, New-York and Pennsylvania. In western New-York we have seen whole fields of wheat nearly choked out by this vile weed. It grows very thick, and from one to two feet high, with the branches intertwined, so that it is very difficult to gather what little wheat is left standing. The Anthemis arvensis is an annual, as is also the mayweed. One root sends forth a great many branches which have a great many flowers, and then a great many seeds. Hence, it increases very rapidly; and having once obtained possession of a field, it is very difficult to be eradicated. Many of the seeds come up in the fall, and produce flowers and seeds the next season, while, perhaps, other seeds will not germinate until spring; and if the ground be plowed so as to bury them deep, others may remain without germinating for years, until a subsequent plowing brings them near the surface, and the light and heat of the sun causes them also to germinate. intending to compete are requested to notify T. C. PE- We hope the proposition will succeed; such an exhibition would be of great advantage to the growers of fine wool. Castor Oil Bean. EDS. CULTIVATOR-As a preliminary to the answer of your correspondent, who requests some one to inform him of the manner of raising the Palma Christi, or castor oil bean, and obtaining the oil therefrom, permit me to premise, that if he resides in this state, or any of the New-England states, he will find the raising of the castor oil bean an unprofitable business; for I am satisfied from experience, To destroy the seeds, some farmers thresh their as well as from other sources of information, that the grain with machines in the field, and burn the business cannot be profitably carried on in the United straw immediately. But after the top of the An-States, further north than the 39th or 40th parallel themis is cut off at the time the grain is harvested, of north latitude. the root sends forth new branches, which flower and bear seeds until the old plant is destroyed by severe cold weather, at the approach of winter. During a recent visit to Cayuga county, where several farms are infested with the Anthemis arven. sis, we were told by an intelligent farmer, who had labored hard to destroy it, that he considered it more difficult to be eradicated than the Canada thistle. The Maruta cotula, or mayweed, is much more widely diffused than the Anthemis arvensis, abounding along road sides in large portions of the northern states, as far west as Missouri. It abounds in the fields and roadsides of Europe, Persia, and the adjacent countries, and in Brazil. It is said by Linnæus to be a very grateful plant to toads, to drive away fleas, and to annoy bees. It is a troublesome weed; yet we believe it does not often spread over fields to the great injury of crops, like the Anthemis arvensis. S. B. BUCKLEY. West Dresden, Yates county, N. Y., November 12, 1849. Saxon Sheep. WM. H. LADD, of Richmond, Jefferson county, Ohio, makes the following proposition:-"I propose to meet any number, not less than 20 breeders of Saxon Sheep; at any suitable time and eligible place in the United States, and exhibit each one Saxon Ram, as competi tors for the following premiums: The amount necessary for obtaining said premiums to be raised in equal sums by the competitors, in the same way as it is done by the members of the different Agricultural Societies. "To the best, a silver cup or pitcher, worth $30, other silver ware worth $30, and $40 in money. In the summer of 1822, I raised, as an experiment, three or four bushels of the beans, and sold the oil at $4 per gallon. I was satisfied the business might be made profitable, and the following year I planted and raised 13 acres on choice rich land. I manufactured the beans into oil, which had now fallen in price to $1.374 per gallon. I calculated the proba ble amount of corn that could have been grown on the same land, and found I would have saved 100 per cent. by substituting the corn for the beans. The plant in question appears to be indigenous to both the East and West Indies,-consequently does not do so well in northern as in southern latitudes. In this state, from ene-third to one-half the crop never comes to maturity. This fact will be readily understood by any one who has ever noticed its growth in our gardens. The plant, when two or three feet high, sends off a shoot from ten to twelve inches in length, thickly studded with the seedvessels; and when this crop has arrived nearly to maturity, another one above it will be scarcely out of the blossom; and thus it progresses, till nipped by the frosts of autumn. Out of eight to ten of the other, not more than three or four of them usuthese little crops, which rise in succession one above ally ripen in this climate; whereas, in the southern states, the climate is favorable to its complete maturity. The land should be prepared the same as for Indian corn; planted and hoed in the same manner, with the When a part of the capsules on the lower stems show signs of maturity, through the field with a basket and knife, and by a part of them turning brown, you may pass gather them,-leaving the remainder until the second crop ripens, which will be from one to two weeks. Thus you will pass over the field as many times as the succession of crops will demand. If the harvesting is neglected until all the capsules on the stem are ripe, your crop will be lost,-the capsules bursting spontaneously, throwing the bean from five to twenty feet. In this manner they are all shelled out, after being harvested, with no other manual labor than to protect them. To do this, lay a platform with boards, say 12 feet by 24 or 36, as occasion may require, with sides from 2 to 3 feet in height. Let the floor descend a little to the south; in this way the beans have a fairer chance to dry, and the water to run off, in case of their getting wet, which should be prevented, if possible, by having a very light roof, which may be moved off or on at pleasure with a windless. Two or three same number of seeds in a hill. |