Answers to Correspondents.

CANARY GRASS.-G. N., Hobart, Del. County, N. Y. This grass will perfect its seed in this lati. tude. It is usually sown in drills, with a machine, about one foot apart, requiring from sixteen to twen ty quarts per acre. It is an annual, and the seed is sown at the same time of sowing spring grain, and ripens nearly at the same time, or rather later. The yield is from twenty to thirty bushels per acre. The straw is eaten by cattle and horses.

BERKSHIRE HOGS.-B. S., Greenwich, N. J. There are no full blood Berkshires in this neighborhood, and we are unable to say where they can be had.

COLZA.-N., Bridgeton, N. J. We have heard of no experiment with this plant in this country. If any one has tried it, we should like to know the results.

STUMP MACHINE.-J. F. C., Grand Rapids, Mich. The description of the article to which you refer, (Cultivator for 1846, p. 116,) evidently contains a mistake in regard to the length, which is there given as "two feet." We regard it, howev. er, as a matter of little consequence, as the cut gives a definite idea of the form of the article, and it is obvious that it should be of such dimensions as will suit the size of the stumps. We have seen such things used of various sizes. It is only stumps the roots of which are considerably decayed, that can be taken out in this way; but for such the contrivance answers well.

SEEDING LAND TO GRASS.-S. W., North Easton, N. Y. On lands of medium dryness, we have used, for one acre, eight pounds or four quarts red clover, eight quarts timothy or herds grass, and from half a bushel to a bushel (according to its cleanness) of red top.

THE WHITE SNOW-BIRD.-S. W. According to Dr. DE KAY, this bird breeds mostly, high at the north, along the coast of Labrador, but has been known to breed in Massachusetts and Maine. In winter it comes down from the north, and is sometimes seen as far south as Maryland and Virginia. It feeds on the seeds of weeds and grasses, which it finds above the snow.

OHIO MINERAL PAINT.-A FARMER. The sub. stance of what we know in regard to this article, was given in our last volume, page 379.

FOOD OF FOWLS.-L. B., Clayton, N. Y. Fowls should have a variety of food. Indian corn, barley, buckwheat and wheat-screenings, may form the bulk of their food in winter; but they should have some animal food, such as butcher's offal, and pure green vegetable food, as cabbages and potatoes; and also mineral matter, as lime, oyster-shells, bones, and gravel.

PLASTER.-C. H., Central Village, Ct. The qualities in plaster, to which its action as a fertilizer are attributable, are undoubtedly dissipated, in some degree, by exposure to the weather; but with that which has been kept in casks, as you describe, we should not think the loss was very great.

COLMAN'S EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE.-A. L., Gale's Ferry, Ct. This work is for sale by A. D. Phelps, Boston, and also at this office. It is bound in two volumes, price $5.

GUANO. We believe the best success has attended the use of guano when sown just before a rain, or applied in solution. The proper quantity is 200 to 300 lbs. per acre.

FISH FOR MANURE.-We believe it is considered best to make them into compost with peat or earth, to be applied when decomposed.

PROUTY'S CENTRE DRAFT PLOW.-A. B. P., We have never heard of these Boone Grove, Ind. plows being used in any soil where they did not work clean; and we are not aware of any objection to their use in "the black, loose soil of the prairies."

TILES FOR STRAWBERRY-BEDS.-J. I. K., SingSing, N. Y. The tiles about which you inquire, are described in our volume for 1845, page 128. We do not know of any establishment where they are made, but it would be an easy matter to make a mould and have them made at any brick-yard, and burnt in a

common kiln.

CENTRIFUGAL WIND-MILL.-J. P., Cape Vincent, N. Y. There is a mill of this kind, on a small scale, in use in this vicinity. We cannot tell how it answers for general purposes. Perhaps some of our correspondents, who have more knowledge of it, will inform us in regard to its operation.

ICE-HOUSES.-O. L. D., Portage county, Ohio. It is best to build an ice-house with a double partition, the space to be filled with tan-bark, or some non-conducting substance. The bottom should be covered a foot deep with small blocks of wood, and over these a covering of shavings. Some lay the ice on the shavings-others lay a floor to receive the ice over the shavings. The ice should be packed as closely as possible. You will find a cut and description of the plan adopted by the great ice-merchants of Cambridge, Mass., in our volume for 1847, page 345.

CHARCOAL AND LIME.-E. C. J., Campbell Court-House, Va. If your charcoal and lime are mixed together, and the lime is slaked, you may use with safety a bushel to each fruit tree of the size you mention.

The

WHEAT DRILL.-W. S., Lahaska, Pa. grain drills which are most distinguished, so far as we know, are the following: Sherman's, made and sold by J. W. Sherman, Ontario, Wayne Co.; Palmer's, made by Fitch & Barry, Brockport; Graggs & Reynolds', made by O. Reynolds, Webster, Monroe Co.; Burrall's, made by T. D. Burrall, Geneva. Our acquaintance with the operation of these drills is not such as to enable us to say which is the best. We should be glad to hear from those who have tried different kinds.

ABOLITION OF BULL-FIGHTS IN SPAIN.-It is said that measures are about to be taken by the Junta General of Agriculture at Madrid, for the gradual suppression of Bull-fights, in consequence of their prejudicial effects on the interests and morality of the country. It is calculated that 4000 horses annually perish in Spain upon the horns of the bull, and in a country essentially agricultural like Spain, this con. tinued and cruel destruction of a useful animal, deprives those who dedicate themselves to the culture of the soil, of a large amount of working power that might be applied to the augmentation of their pros perity. The annual destruction of 1500 bulls in the various fights celebrated throughout the Peninsula, destroys the best working breeds, impairs the quality of beef, impoverishes the milk markets, contributes to the decadence of pastures and fields, and augments the price of butter and milk, which in civilised countries are counted amongst the necessaries of life. All these considerations, and the fact that the people by attending bull-fights acquire habits of brutality and ferocity, by becoming accustomed to scenes of bloodshed, is likely to induce the government to attend to the representations of the Junta of Agriculture.

The Farmer's Note-Book.

Mr. Van Rensselaer's Devon Bull Major." (See Portrait on preceding page.)

This animal is at present the property of R. H. VAN RENSSELAER, Esq., of Butternuts, Otsego county, N. Y. He was bred by R. C. GAPPER, Esq., of Thornhill, near Toronto, Canada West, and was exhibited by him at the show of the N. Y. State Ag. Society at Syracuse, where he took the first premium in the foreign class of Devons.

Major," (calved in 1842,) was by "Billy," dam "Beauty," both imported by Mr. GAPPER, from the stock of Mr. DARCY, of North Moulton, Devonshire, England.

Major" is in every respect, one of the best bulls we have ever seen. His portrait, though generally true to the original, and highly creditable to the skill of the gentleman who made the drawing, as well as to the engraver, is in no way flattered. He is, in fact, just one of those animals, which, though rare, are sometimes seen, whose points of excellence cannot be fully shown on paper or canvass. He has great bulk, justness of proportion, and compactness of body, short-jointed, clean, and strong limbs; giving a general form which confers constitution and endurance, with the greatest power of draft. It is a form, also, which is fitted to carry the greatest weight of valuable flesh in proportion to the bone and offal. He is a good handler; the skin is not thin and papery, nor rigid and unyielding, but with sufficient substance to denote hardiness, has the mellowness and elasticity indicating thrift. The color is cherry-red, with the orange-colored ring round the eye and muzzle, characteristic of the true North Devon.

The distinguishing traits of the Devon breed of eattle, were given at some length in our last vol. ume, pp. 120, 121, 122.

Crops of 1849---Drainage.

EDS. CULTIVATOR-Our hay crop was never better since I lived here, (28 years.) The rains in the end of May and beginning of June, made both meadows and pastures where not over stocked, excellent. Taking this county, (Seneca) as a whole, I think there was an average crop of wheat. In the north half of the county, there was considerable loss by the weevil or midge; but the south half of the county was clear, or nearly so, of that insect. I had 59 acres of land in wheat, from which I obtained an average of a fraction over 25 bushels per acre, which is a tolerable crop in these times, but much short of what I expected when it was sown. The wire-worm cut off a 20 acre field very much in the fall, so much so that I intended to have plowed it up in spring; however, it recovered wonderfully, and gave at least from one-half to two-thirds of a crop. From the severe drouth, our corn crop was a short one, although after the light showers early in August, it recovered greatly, and all those farmers who worked their corn early, and continued working it, got much more corn than they at one time expected; but those who let the grass, weeds, and Canada thistles master the corn, got nothing worth husking. Some say they could not see what was the reason their corn was so poor, as they manured the land well before planting. I suppose they are not aware that on our stiff soil, barn-yard manure does no good for the corn, if put on immediately before planting; indeed, in a dry season, it does harm.

Ever since I manured my corn ground in the fall, I have never failed of a fair crop. This season I made 80 bushels of ears to the acre, from 28 acres, being all I planted. Being disappointed of drain-tiles in the spring, I was prevented from planting as much as I intended.

40 steers now.

quite a business hereabouts.

I have

As I sowed neither barley nor oats, I can say lit. le about them. I find corn a more profitable crop than either. I am feeding cattle as usual. The feeding of cattle is becoming Three years ago, when I commenced cattle-feeding with 43 head, I could not have found as many in ten miles around me. Now I can count 200. I think this mode of farm. ing will ultimately improve our grain crops very much, and where rightly conducted, will pay much better for the corn, or even barley, than selling to distillers and brewers, to be manufactured into a poison to kill themselves or neighbors.

He

A word or two about draining. I notice what Mr. Cheever says about draining. He thinks it rather startling that I should lay out 25 dollars per acre on draining; but if I had Mr. Cheever with me on my farm for six months, I would convince him that it was the most profitable business a farmer can go at, in this part of the United States. says, Mr. Johnston is a Scotchman; and that he (Mr. Cheever,) "agrees with Professor Emmons, to some extent, that the system of draining practiced in England and Scotland, should not be models. for us." It is true I am a Scotchman, and I will tell Mr. C. and Prof. E., that I have never seen, either in Scotland or the United States, a re. munerating crop of wheat, grown upon land that was wet, or even very damp; and never saw suck. land thoroughly drained in either country, (if a wheat soil,) but it produced the very best crops; and I have seldom seen wet or damp land produce a good crop of summer grain, even in this dry climate. Wet or damp land, when under tillage, is much more affected by drouth than dry land, and dry land, when in pasture, will put on much more beef or mut. ton (say fat) than wet or damp land.

I should like much to have Mr. C. and Prof. E. here, if it were only for one day, in May or June next. I have a field of 23 acres now in wheat; the wettest I drained last spring. The want of tiles prevented me from draining all that was wet. Those gentlemen would just see the difference in the piece that was formerly so wet that it would not raise over half a crop, and that which is only a little wet, but enough so to make a thin crop of wheat. As to what Mr. C. says about the drains filling up on some soils, I do not agree with him. I have drained on different kinds of soil, and I have never had a stoppage where the work was properly done. I am often asked-" won't the tiles sink, or will they not fill up, in a few years?"

I took up about 20 rods of a drain last June, that had been laid for ten years, in order to put in larger tiles, as I was going to connect several other drains with it; and I sent for my friend and neighbor, Mr. Delafield, to see them taken up, as he had some misgivings about sinking or filling up. He can now say, that they were neither sunk, nor filled the least particle; indeed no man could have told that they had been a day under ground, from the appearance of the tiles. I have taken up sometimes tiles that had been longer laid, and with the same result. Only let the tiles be large enough, (or put more of them into the main drain,) and there will seldom be

Reports of agricultural discussions at Albany, Transactions N. Y. State Ag. Society, 1948, page 664.

any trouble, after they are laid down. But we must have more tile machines in operation. I intended to have had 10,000 tiles home this winter; but find the maker has only a very few on hand. Farmers ought to have the tiles on the ground in winter; the expense of drawing is little, and if there are any soft tiles, they will decompose before spring, which is much better than to put them in the drain. JOHN JOHNSTON. Near Geneva, Dec. 25, 1849.

Agricultural Economy.

EDS. CULTIVATOR-The economy of the farm is that which first concerns the individual. Not to get rich; not simply to sell the greatest possible quantity of produce, but to maintain the original fertili ty of the soil or constantly improve it. The com. mon farmer cannot expect to get rich, but with good management he may obtain a comfortable living,' and have leisure to enjoy social blessings, and time to devote to reading, and mental improvement. This should be done without wearing out the soil. True economy consists in returning the same elements to the soil that are taken from it, and in the same quantity. This will keep the soil fertile, so that it will produce the same crops, both in kind and quantity, year after year. Vegetable productions derive part of their constituent elements from the earth, and part from the atmosphere. That part derived from the earth must be returned to it again, or it will eventually become barren. The ground that produces one hundred bushels of grain this year, will not, under the same circumstances, produce the same amount next year, unless its equivalent is returned. And the more a piece of land is cropped without manuring, the more labor and expense is required to obtain a crop from it. The farmer that sells hay, grain or stock,-if he does not use extra means to increase his manure-is reducing the fertility, and consequently the value of his farm. On new land this effect is not seen so clearly, but it is nevertheless true, and in time will be manifest.

The older settled parts of New England, furnish sad illustrations of want of true economy. Except in the vicinity of cities and villages, the soil has long been deteriorating. This is the result of bad management. The productions of the soil have been sent to market, and the fertility, in this way taken from the soil, has not been returned. Pas. tures have been grazed from April to November, and the fat cattle and sheep sent to Brighton. Hence, grain and roots cannot be raised as easily as they could be formerly, and pastures cannot sustain half the stock they could thirty years ago. And we hear frequent complaints of milch cows being affect. ed with bone disease," and bone dust must be procured for their relief. (Better bone-dust the pastures.) A reversed order of things is in many instances taking place. Less land is tilled and more pastured. The area of woodland is sufficiently limited, and it will not do to make further encroach. ments upon it for pasturage, therefore when the pastures will not summer the stock, that the products of the fields will winter, they must be enlarged by a portion from the fields. Or when a piece of tillage land is reduced so as not to pay for cultivating, it is "turned out" to pasture. Still by concentrating labor and manuring better, the original fertility of a portion of the farm may be main tained, but its aggregate productiveness is much diminished. And when it requires constant toil the whole year "to make both ends meet," the rich lands of the west present visions of ease and plenty

too brilliant to resist, and emigration to Illinois, Wisconsin or Iowa, is" next in order."

The land in the immediate vicinity of cities and large villages is becoming more fertile. The source from which this fertility is derived is evident. Every year thousands and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep are collected in Vermont and New Hamp. shire for the city consumption. The vegetable productions of the soil, to an enormous extent, are furnished for the same purpose, together with large quantities of flour, daily supplied from Western New-York and farther on. In this way, the elements of fertility are transferred, the suburbs of ciThe grazing portions of Vermont and New Hampties are enriched, and remote districts impoverished. shire are becoming less valuable, and so are all places that export more fertility than they import or manufacture.

Besides

Is it worth while to seek a remedy for these evils? In China the people are always engaged in saving every particle of manure that can be found; the English import vast quantities of fertilising substances; but our population is not so dense as to render it absolutely necessary in our case. the cheap and fertile lands of the West are so inviting, that it must be a long time before expensive Yet it is important cultivation will be resorted to. that we should understand what we are about. If there are defects in our system let them be pointed out, and if possible, remedied. At any rate, farmers should save and apply all the fertilising substan. ces within their reach. W. L. EATON. East Weare, N. H.

Water-tight Cellars.

EDS. CULTIVATOR-Some time ago there was pub. lished in The Cultivator an inquiry for information how a wet cellar can be made dry, when draining is inconvenient? A wet cellar is a sad thing-a nuisance to a farmer, and always inconvenient for the storage of many valuable articles of agricultural produce. When under a dwelling, it is frequently the fruitful, yet unsuspected cause of intractable sickness, to those living within the influence of the pestilential miasma, that, during warm weather, continually rises from it.

66

The subject is of such importance, as to press it self upon the attention of reflecting minds, and to call for a more extended notice than it has yet received. Every reader who has experience in the use of means to make a dry cellar, should communicate it to the public. In the absence of experience to make a wet cellar dry," it may be useful to show how a cellar can be constructed, secure from water, by a cheap method, in any place where clay can easily be procured. A brief sketch, also, of some of the uses to which this substance is applied in connection with its impermeable property, may afford hints how it can be used to effect the purpose, in reference to which the writer of the publication alluded to, asks information.

Every farmer knows that water will not soak through a clay subsoil. Some careful farmers, availing themselves of their soil, dig ponds in the lowest part of their field, or orchard, to collect and retain rain water for the accommodation of their hogs in pasture; or in very dry summers to haul a few barrels of water there for that purpose. Clay is extensively used along the line of our canals, to stop the leakage through the embankments. When used for this purpose, or to stop the leakage through the breast of a mill dam, or the bank of a meadow ditch, it is called "puddling;" and when this is properly

done, it is capable of resisting a heavy pressure of

water.

Availing ourselves of this water-tight property of clay, we use it in the construction of our cellars, in a simple, but effectual manner. We stake off and dig the cellar, so large as to leave a space of from eight to twelve inches, between all the walls of the intended building and the banks. This space to be continued from the surface to the foundation; and a sufficient quantity of clay must be provided to fill this space. The work of filling it in, and ramming it solid, should commence soon after the foundation of the building is laid, and be continued as the masons progress with the wall, until the surface of the ground is reached. Small stones and chips must be carefully left out, and only a few inches of clay thrown in and rammed at a time.

The writer of this has tried the method here given with a good result, and does not know an instance in which it has failed to make a dry cellar. This invariable success has suggested the plan to stop the leakage of water into a cellar of faulty con struction, by digging out next the walls of the building, the width of a shovel or more, and as deep as their foundation. This excavation to be filled tight with clay, and a dry cellar has been the result.

There may be wet cellars caused by a different state of things than are here referred to; for instance an upward infiltration of water through the bottom of the cellar or one or more springs may rise therein. Such defects might probably be remedied by the same means that are recommended in a former volume of The Cultivator, to sink a spring or pond of water in a field. Not having much experience or opportunity of observing the effeet of these measures, I leave the subject to the consideration of others. A B. Setzler's Store, Chester Co., Pa.

Bartlett's Double Plow.

The peculiarity of this plow consists in combining two plows in such a manner that two furrows can be turned at once, with one team and one plowman. We are aware that the combination of plows is not new; but the mode of connecting them in this case, is different from any with which we have been before acquainted. In distinction from others, the frame which connects these plows is so made that each plow has in some degree an independent action, by which the two, when working together, are adapted to the ordinary inequalities of surface, and insure the proper execution of the work. The principle of combination will apply to plows of any size or shape.

We have had two opportunities of witnessing the operation of this plow, on the farm of W. O. BARTLETT, Esq., of Worcester, one of the patentees. We have seen it used under different circumstances, as follows:

1. On plain land where the soil was loose and light. A good yoke of oxen readily drew the plow at their accustomed gait, making two furrows, each seven inches deep and ten inches wide, one man holding the plow and driving the team. The plow ran for many rods after it was set in, without being touched by the plowman.

2. On a stubble-field, where the soil contained many small cobble stones, and where the plow was often turned out by large boulders and fast rocks. The same man and the same oxen managed the plow as in the above case, and the depth and width of the furrows were also the same. The work was as well performed as it could have been in any way No difficulty was experienced in getting the plow over

the stones, or in running the furrows close to them; the cobble stones did not throw the plow out; on the contrary it held its depth as well, if not better, than a single plow could have done-the two plows seemed to steady each other, which tended to preserve a uniform depth.

3. On somewhat rough land, with a very tough sward. In this case two large plows were used, each cutting a furrow eight inches deep and twelve inches or more wide. Four good oxen were attached to the plow, one man drove the team and another held the plow. The work was well done and with great dispatch.

This plow has been considerably tried in Massa chusetts by many of the best practical farmers, who have certified that it makes a great saving in the expense of plowing. We entirely coincide in these statements, and have no hesitation in saying that the introduction of this implement will be attended with signal advantage. On tenacicus soils, it may induce a better system of tillage. To insure the best crops on such soils, particularly of wheat, it is important that they should be plowed fine, and thoroughly pulverised. This is generally admitted, but the ob jection raised is, that such nicety of work takes too much time; and hence, in order to go over the requisite extent of surface, the furrows are made wide, leaving the soil in compact masses. By the use of the double plow, the furrows may be cut deep and narrow, while at the same time the work is more ex. peditiously performed, and at less expense.

In wheat-growing districts, we think this will be found of much importance, especially in plowing fallows, and not less in clover ley, where only one plowing is given before seeding. On all plain lands, and on the western prairies, the saving which will result from this combination of plows, will perhaps, be still more striking than in other situations.

We append the following from a letter lately written to Mr. BARTLETT, by Hon. D. WEBSTER:

In June, 1849, an experiment was tried on my farm in Marshfield with one of your double plows, on a piece of land intended for turneps, somewhat rocky, with a hard sward, not having been plowed for many years, and many bunches of bushes grow. ing upon it. The plow appeared to work well, and Mr. Wright, who has been our principal farmer for many years, was greatly pleased with it. The fur. rows were as well laid, as I thought, as they could have been by any single plow.

Mr. Taylor, who lives on my farm in New Hampshire, wishes me to send him a double plow. His land is level, rather a rich loam, and entirely free from stones. He thinks that with a double plow, and a pair of horses, with a light hand to hold, he could quite easily plow three acres a day, for many days in succession.

It struck me, when seeing the plow in operation, that one part steadied the other, and made the work smooth and even. The saving of labor in the use of the double plow, is too apparent to need remark.

Profits of Fowls.

Mr. EDWIN HOWARD, of Easton, Mass., gives an account of the profits of his fowls from the first of December, 1848, to the same period of 1849. He began with nineteen hens and a cock, and in the spring he added one more hen. The whole stock was valued at twenty dollars. The number of eggs produced in the year, was 1,851; the number of chickens raised by himself was 82. The eggs sold, brought $27.97, and the fowls sold, $46,48. Thir. ty-two fowls on hand, are reckoned worth $30. His