FARMER'S ASSISTANT* 353 



pentine, puting into it, once in three or four days, a powder 

 made of calcined vitriol, alum, and bole By this method 

 of dressing, the bag will come away, and a cure will be 

 effected without any visible scar. 



Should this fail of a cure, the hot iron is directed to be 

 applied ; and in that case, if the joint become ii,flumed, 

 apply a poultice over the dressings, till the swelling be re- 

 duced. 



SPAYING. It is recommended to spay Sows, as this 

 prevents conception, and will cause them to have more fat 

 than the barrows. Heiters are also spayed in Greatbritain, 

 where they are raided merely for fating. The method of 

 performing this, with effect, is best learned by practice. 



SPELT (Triticum Sfielta.) This grain is much used 

 for bread, in Germany, and is the frumentacious tribute 

 which the ancient Romans exacted from the People of that 

 Country, while it formed a part of the Roman Empire. It 

 is considerably cultivated by the German Farmers in Penn- 

 sylvania. Its product is about the same as that of wheat; 

 but the flour made from it is of a' yellower color; and there- 

 fore not so valuable in the markets, though perhaps equally 

 good for common family-use. The grain is to be hulled 

 before grinding; and, as the skin of it is very thin, it is 

 very productive in flour. 



Its advantages over wheat are, that it is much less liable 

 to be Winter-killed in moist lands, where wheat is apt to be 

 drawn up by the roots by the frost. It will grow on the 

 richest soils, without lodging; and it will also grow well on 

 soils too poor, or drv, to bear wheat to any advantage. It is 

 usually sown in Pennsylvania about the 20th of September; 

 though it is said that it may be cultivated as a Spring-crop. 

 Dry soils are said to be most suitable for this grain. Pro- 

 bably it might be cultivated to advantage in Newengland, 

 and elsewhere, where wheat does not flourish. 



SPIKY-ROLLER This instrument is much recom- 

 mended, by some English Writers, for mellowing clay- 

 ground that is baked in clods. It is also recommended to 

 be passed over fields of wheat, in the Spring, for the pur- 

 pose of loosening the ground ; and then to be followed by a 

 brush-harrowing. This would, no doubt, be very useful; 

 and would afford a fine opportunity for sowing cloverseed 

 on the crop. Its further use is, to tear and loosen old grass- 

 bound meadows, for the purpose of making the grass grow 

 more thriftily. 



It is merely a wooden roller with iron teeth, or spikes, 

 drove into it. They are to be about seven inches long, and 



45 



