474 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



At that ago they average 1 foot in licight,' and at six years from planting will he from 

 8 to 10 feet high, and 2 to 4 inclies in diameter ; provided, always, that the same cul- 

 ture is given them that is given to corn. At tliis age the trees may he thinned to 4 

 feet apart. They do not require further cultivation, their dense "lowth so shading the 

 ground that weeds cannot grow. At ten or twelve years from lilanting, a majority of 

 these trees will make good fence-posts, more durable than any other wood. 



Mr. Dunlap regards the osage orange as next in value to the larcli, 

 both as to rapidity of growth and durability, when i^roperly cultivated 

 and grown to sntiicient size. When grown for stakes, posts, and ties, 

 the trees should be x>lauted about 20 inches apart in the row, and the 

 rows 4 feet apart. An annual pruning must be given to induce the 

 trees to run up, and prevent the wasting of its strength in side branches. 

 At six years these trees will make vineyard-stakes, handspikes, &c., 

 and should be thinned out one-half. When given sufficient room the 

 tree grows very fast, and but a few years will be required for it to grow 

 large enough for posts. The wood, when seasoned, is very tough, and 

 answers adurfrably for mallets, buts, hubs, wagon-axles, «&c. No insects 

 prey upon the young plants, and it makes a large and very fine orna- 

 mental tree. He regards the yellow locust as objectionable, because of 

 the depredations of the borer, which has destroyed most of the young 

 forests of the State. 



Mr. Dunlap gives the following directions for planting nut-bearing 

 trees : 



The seed of all nut-hearing trees should bo planted in autumn, iu ground well pre- 

 pared with the plow and harrow. Furrow out the ground with a small plow, in a 

 similar manner as for i)otatoes. Drop the nuts at suitable distances apart, say 1 or 2 

 feet, for these trees must remain wliere the seed is planted," as none of them trans- 

 plant readily. Acorns, hickory, and chestnuts should be planted as soon as they fall ; 

 a few days' drying injures their germinating qualities ; cover 2 inches deep, and mulch 

 the rows with straw. Walnuts, both white and black, may be covered 3 inches, and 

 should also be mulched. These trees all require dry soil ; it is useless to j)lant on wet 

 land. The j'oung plants .should be kept free of weeds for two or three years; after 

 that they cau take care of themselves. 



Mr. James W. Dwyer contributes an article on the manufacture of 

 soap. He gives the following ])rocess for the manufacture of hard 

 soaps : 



After the raw soda or barilla is ground or pounded, it is placed in a vat in alternate 

 layers with unslacked lime, the bottom layer being lime. Water is allowed to infil- 

 tr.ate through those layers, and the lye is secured as it trickles through a hole in the 

 bottom of the vat. The lime absorbs the carbonic acid of the soda, making the lye 

 caustic or lit for the soap-kettle ; and the quantity of lime applied must be in propor- 

 tion to the quantity of carbonic acid in the soda. * '^ * To every 20 pounds 

 of taUow add one gallon of weak lye, and boil until the lye is spent. The mass must 

 then cool for one hour, the spent lye drawn off, and another gallon of strong lye added ; 

 the mixture again boiled initil the second dose of lye is spent ; and the same process 

 must be repeated for several days, until the mixture, if properly managed, is converted 

 into white tallow soaj), which should be allowed to cool gradually and settle, when it 

 is poured into molds, and when solid it is cut into the bars which are found in our 

 markets. Twenty pounds of tallow ought to make 30 pounds of first-quality liard 

 eoap, allowing three pounds of soda-ash for every 20 pounds of tallow. The balance 

 of the weight is made up by the largo quantity of water which enters into combination 

 ■<vith the grease and alkali in the course of saponification. 



When yellow or resin soaii is required, the hard soap has to be made in the usual 

 manner, and at the last charge of lye, or when the soapy mass ceases to absoi'b any 

 more lye, one-third the weight of pounded resin is introduced, the mixture constantly 

 stirred, and the boil kept up vigorously until the resin has become incorporated with 

 the soap. The whole must stand iintil it settles, and the soap then dipped out. Resin 

 soap, when well made, should be a fine, bright color. 



The writer then gives the following directions for making soft or 

 potash soap : 



The principal difference between hard and soft soaps is, that three parts of fat 

 afford, iu general, fully five parts of hard soda-soap ; but three parts of fat or oil will 



