16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



DocT. Elijah Baldwin, of Canterbuiy, presented a disser- 

 tation, wherein he gave an account of his mode of raising 

 corn and potatoes. By lining both ways he is able to culti- 

 vate them with but little manual labor. The gist of his dis- 

 course was how to raise the most corn and potatoes with the 

 least labor. He also gave a recipe to manufacture home-made 

 super-phosphate of lime, which he has found available. 



Recipe for home-made super-phosphate of lime. Articles re- 

 quired : Cracked bone, sulphuric acid, a large kettle, a small 

 kettle, plaster of Paris, soil free from gravel, &c., &c. Put 

 four pails of water in a large kettle, add forty pounds of oil 

 of vitriol, (sulphuric acid,) add one hundred pounds cracked 

 bpne ; after this has stood twenty-four hours, put under the 

 kettle a moderate fire, and continue to simmer till the larger 

 pieces of bone will give a little under the finger. During all 

 this time the contents of the kettle should be stirred occa- 

 sionally. Make a bed somewhat like a mortar bed, (smaller,) 

 spread over it as much dirt as you choose to use — one barrel 

 or more — then upon this one hundred pounds of plaster of 

 Paris ; then add the mixture from the kettle — and for a supe- 

 rior article, spread upon this twenty-five pounds of Peruvian 

 guano. For buckwheat tlie guano is essential. Mix all care- 

 fully with the hoe. It is now a very sticky mass. Let it lie 

 till next day and it will become fria1)le and can be easily 

 handled. It should not be allowed to lie in large heaps and 

 heat. The solution of bone can be prepared beforehand and 

 put in flour barrels or any convenient barrels, and if they leak 

 set them on dirt — there will be no loss. To pour the acid, 

 turn the carboy over a sleeper so as to raise it above the 

 small kettle. This can be done by one or two men behind it. 

 A holder of paper or rags will prevent danger from spatter- 

 ings on the bail. Empty without haste into the large kettle. 

 After weighing a few times the measure will determine with 

 sufficient accuracy. 



Question. What varieties of potatoes do you raise ? 



Dr. Baldwin. I have raised the Davis Seedling, because 

 it is a great yielder, and always finds a ready market. 



Question. How much is your yield to the acre ? 



