46 



THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



a great variety of valuable siilino compounds, the 

 most active manures, may be formed. There are 

 many cases, also, where the combijiing power of 

 this substance can be taken advanlaoe of, in the 

 neutralization or removal of deleterious matters, 

 and by judicious management, those very princi- 

 ples may bo converted into valuable manures. 



The following table shows the relative strength 

 of several different kinds of limestone found in 

 Maine during the jjast season; 100 grains, being 

 the weight of each stone analysed. 



PurnPELPHiA Rf.pqrter, Counterfeit Detector, 

 Phihidclphia Price Current and Gcncrul Jidvcrtiscr. 

 — This is the title of a new monthly publication of 

 16 pat^es, issued from the Press of tjie Farmers' 

 Cabinet, No, 45, North 6th street, Phila. by John 

 Libbey, at one dollar a year in adviince. 



From a perusal of the first number, we liave no 

 hesitation in saying it is all its title imports. It 

 contains a complete list of spurious and counterfeit 

 bank bills in every State in tlie Union, witli a great 

 variety of other information. 



For llie Fiinner's Mniltlily Visitor. 

 Mr. Hill, — Dear Siii: — I was much gratified 

 to learn, by an article in the N. H. Patriot of tile 

 !2Sth ult, taken from the first number of tlie "Farm- 

 crs's Montlily Visitor," that yon had called on the 

 farmers and scientific agriculturalist'! of New 

 Hampsliire directing their attention to the analysis 

 of various soils in the State. 



Tliis subject has hitlierto been almost entirely 

 neglected, whicli, in a great measure, is to be at- 

 fibuted to the circumstance, that its importance 

 has not been duly appreciated. 



Tlie agricultural chemist, the scientific farmer 

 knows, that, to ensure a good crop, tlie soil to be 

 cultivated should consist of a mixture of a due pro- 

 portion of silica, alumina and lime, with more or 

 less of decompos'jd organized (aiiinul and vegeta- 

 ble) matter. To liim, the analysi.s ofthe soil will be 

 considered a subjectof iiaraniount importance. By 

 this he is able to ascertain whicli essential ingredient 

 exists in too small, and which in too large, a quan- 

 tity, and will consequently know liow to apply a 

 ttiiiedy ; when a soil is rendered unproductive by 

 the existence of a deleterious substance contained 

 in it, he can, by acertainlng the nature of the nox- 

 ious substance, apply a corrective that will neu- 

 tralize or destroy it. 



,vAs a specimen, suppose a farmer has a piece or 

 "patch" ef land which is barren or unprodnctive, 

 and he wishes to ascertain the cause of its sterility; 

 and suppose farther, that upon a careful analysis it 

 should prove'lo contain sulphate of iron (copperas) 

 which, althougli it may give an impetus to early 

 Tco-etation, will most assuredly letard or prevent 

 the crop from coming to maturity, provided it ex- 

 ist in any considerable quantity. The remedy or 

 corrective in this case would be carbonate of lime; 

 ■tlfc process would be, wliat in chemistry is called 

 double elective affinity ; tlie sulpiuiric acid of the 

 oulphate of iron (copperas) would ilnite with the 

 lime, and form sulphate of lime (Plaster of Paris) a 

 Well known fertilizer of many soils, while tlie car- 

 bonic acid of the carbonate of lime unites with the 

 exide of iron and forms the carbonate of iron, a 

 comparatively harmless substance. Thus a sterile 

 soil, after obtaining a knowledge of the cause ofils 

 sterilitv, may be rendered productive, and the nox- 

 ious substance, caaisirg the sterility, converted in- 

 to a fertilizer. This knowledge can be obtained by 

 ^lo other method than by a careful and correct "a- 

 nalysis of the soil." 



This substance is formed from the sulphuret of 

 iron (Pyrites) and may be suspected wherever rock 

 are seen of a brown, redisli brown, or yellowish 

 brown color. The siilphate of iron (copperas),!; 

 formed during the disintegration of such rocks, as 

 sisted bv moisture and atmospheric agencies.— 

 Gneiss and mica slate formations are generally most 

 impregnated with Ibis substance It, may be seen 

 in many places in the County of PtrafFord, N. H 

 and probably in many other parts of the Stale, Th' 



proper remedy for such soils would be from three 

 to four casks of lime to the acre. It should be 

 slaked with water and exposed for some time to 

 the atmosphere to allow it to absorb carbonic acid 

 before sowing it upon the ground.^ Such soils are 

 not much improved by the use of Gypsum until 

 corrected by the carbonate of lime. 



Henc5 the utility of the analysis of soils, and 

 hence too, the importance of a correct geological 

 and agricultural survey of your State, an object of 

 paramount importance to the farming interests, 

 and one which it is hoped the legislature will place 

 in a state of forwardness at the earliest opportuni- 

 tunity. Respectfully, 



Your obedient seri'dnt, 



WILLIAjM PRESCOTT. 



■ Lynn, (Mass.) Feb. 20th 1S39. 



*iMarl is ngood siibslitulc wlicn ilcan beabtaiiied. 



Boston, Fob. 12, 1830. 



Mv Dear Sir: — I have just risen from the pe- 

 rusal of your valuable paper — devoted to ngriciil- 

 tnre, &c. and find it full of interest and well calcu- 

 lated to do good. I have requested the agent of 

 the work to deliveE me. a copy of it — so long as it 

 shall continue — which 1 hojie and trust will be ?««- 

 nij years. 



Although (lent up in the city,— I talvp great pleas- 

 ure in contemplating the beauties and privileges of 

 the country. I cannot but regard the country as 

 the Paradi^e of the Earth, — and the cultivators of 

 the soil as the real lords of it. And, if I may speak 

 of the agricultural classes — jwJitirdily — I feel that 

 the ultimate salvation of our Free Institntions will 

 dejiend upon their integrity and discretion. 



They are necessarily scattered over the land — 

 and have no motives to congregate, but for impor- 

 tant purposes in reference to the good 'of all. I be- 

 lieve that it is in the nature of their avocation to 

 make them a moral and religious j^eople. 



You must excuse these remarks — because if I am 

 "in love" with any one calling more than all oth- 

 ers, it is that of the Farmer. And, if my life be 

 long spared, I trust that I shall end my days a 

 New England Farmer. 



Your most obedient servant and friend, 



NAHUM CAPEN. 

 His E.xcellenc}- Isaac Hill, Concord, N. 11." 



Common School I/ibrary. 



The Board of Education, of the Cominonw'calth 

 of Massachusetts, has decided to cause to be pre- 

 pared two series of volumes, particularly adapted 

 to the capacities of the young — to be entitled "The 

 Common School Library." 



The plan contemjilates that these series shall 

 consist of .50 volumes each ; One to be of 12nio. 

 size about 400 pages each voluiue, and the other Lo 

 be of 18mo. size about SSO pages each. 



The publication of these volumes has been un- 

 dertaken \>y Messrs. Marsh, Capen and Lyon of Bos- 

 ton, and a number of volumes of both series, are in 

 press, and will be ready for delivery in the course 

 of a few weeks. 



Individuals, distinguished for their learning, su- 

 perior judgment and moral excellence, of diifereiit 

 political parties, and religious denominations, and 

 residing in various sections of the Union, have been 

 engaged to prepare and superintend these works, and 

 when it is stated that every volume must he approved 

 by each individual member of the Board, — that the 

 board is composed of gentlemen conspicuous forlheir 

 talcntsand possessingin a high degree the confidence 

 of Ihe respective parties and denominations from 

 which they were severally selected, — it is not onlj' 

 a sufficient guarantee to tlie public that nothing 

 short of works of the highest order will hi? sanc- 

 tioned, but also that Uie series will contain nothing 

 objectionable to ttli'e'fticmbers of any sect or party. 



A law was passed by the Massachusetts Legisla- 

 ture ]2t]i of April, 1837, authorising an expendi- 

 ture by eacli School District in the Coniiuonwealtli 

 for the purchase of a District School Library. 



The North American Review thus speaks of the 

 Library : "It is understood 1 hat a series of volumes, 

 approved by the Board of Education as suitable for 

 Conunon School Libraries, is about to be published 

 and sold at a moderate rate, plainly and substan- 

 tially bound and placed in cases well iidapted 

 tbr convenient trauspartation, and afterwards to 

 serve as the permanent pl.ice of deposit'.'. 



" It is highly desirable that every School District 

 should avail itself of the law. These books, being 

 fitted for common use, would pass ffoiii the scholar 

 into the family, and increase the interest of parents 

 in the better education of their children, by giving 

 them new views of its value." 



The works are to be stereotyped in a uniform 

 style, and the type will be large and clear. The 

 paper is to be manufactured expressly for the se 



ries, and made of the most durable materials, and 

 the binding will unite the important qualities of 

 strength and beauty. 



Five or ten volumes of each series, will be deliv- 

 ered at a time, and the publishers are under obli- 

 gations to furnish the whole at the lowest jiossible 

 price. 



There will be numerous Cuts and Engravings in 

 those volumes requiring such illustrations, and no 

 expense will be spared to render the series equal, 

 if not superior to any published in the world. 



The same publishers are also preparing to pub- 

 lish a series of volumes under the title of "The 

 Teachers' Library." 



This will embrace standard works, original and 

 selected, on the important subject of Education, 

 embodying a mass of information valuable to In- 

 structors, and interesting to all desirous for the 

 dissemination of correct knowledge and sound prin- 

 ciples among the rising generation. 



THE FRUGAL HOUSE'»VIFE. 



Odd scraps for the economical. 



Suet and lard keep better in tin than in earthen. 



Suet keeps good all the year round, if chop- 

 ped and packed down in a stone-jar, covered with 

 molasses. 



Pick suet free from veins and skin, melt it in 

 water before a moderate fire, let it cool till it forms 

 into a hard cake, then wipe it dry, and juit it in clean 

 piijjier in linen bags. 



Preserve the backs of old letters to write upon. 

 If you have children who are learning to write, buy 

 coarse white paper by the quantity, and keep it 

 locked up, ready to be made into writing books. 

 It does not cost half as much as it docs to buy them 

 at the Stationer's. 



Do not let coffee and tea stand in tin. Scald 

 your wooden ware often ; and keep your tin ware 

 dry. 



When mattresses get hard and bunchy, rip them, 

 take the hiiir out, pull it thoroughly by hand, let it 

 lie a day or two,, to air, wash the tick, lay it in as 

 before. Thus prepared, they will be as good as 

 new. 



It is poor economy to buy vinegar, by the gallon. 

 Buy abarrel, or half barrel of really strong vine- 

 gar, when you begin house-keeping. As you use 

 it, fill the barrel with old cider, sour beer, or wine- 

 settlings, iVc. lef>. in pitchers, (lecanters, or tumb- 

 lers, weak tea is likewise said to be good : nothing 

 is hurtful, which has a tolerable portion of spirit, 

 or acidity. Care must be taken not to add these 

 things in too large quantities, or too often : if the 

 vinegar once gets weak, it is difficult to restore it. 

 If possible, it is well to keep such slops as I have 

 mentioned in a diffi;rent keg, and dravi' them off 

 once in three or four weeks, in such a quantity as 

 you think the vinegar will bear. If by any care- 

 lessness you do weaken it, a few white beans drop- 

 ped in, or white paper dipped in molasses, is said to 

 be u.seful. If beer grows sour it may be used fo 

 advantage for pancakes and fritters. If very sour 

 indeed, put a pint of molasses and water to it, and 

 two or three days after put a half pint of vinegar ; 

 and in ten days it will be first rate vinegar. 



Barley-straw is the best for beds ; dry cdrn husks 

 slit into shreds are far better than straw. , ^ 



Straw beds are much better for being bo.xed at 

 the sides, in the same manner upholsterers prepare 

 tick t; for feathers. 



Ba'ass andirons should be cleaned., done up in 

 papers, and put in a dry place, duirlw^'the snuinier 

 season. 



If you have a large family, it is well lo keep 

 white rags separate from colored ones, a.rid cotton 

 separate from woollen ; they bring a higher pi'ice. 

 Paper brings a cent a pound, and if you have plen- 

 ty of room, it is well to save il. 'A penn_\ saved 

 is a penny got.' 



Always have plenty of dish water, and have it 

 hot. There is no need of asking the character of 

 a domestic, if you liave ever seen JiOr wash dishes 

 in a little gre;..-sy water. 



When inolatses is used in cooking, it is a prodi- 

 gious improvement to boil and skiui it, before you 

 use it. It takes out the unpleasant raw tasti?, and 

 makes it almost as good as sugar. Where molas- 

 ses is used much for cooking, it is well to prepare 

 one or two gallous.in.this way at a time. 



In winter, always set the liaiidle of "your pump 

 as high as possible, before yougotobed. Except 

 in very rigio weather, this keeps the handle from 

 freezing. When there is reason to ajiprehend ex- 

 treme colli, do not forget to thi^w" a rug, or horse- 

 blanket over yttur pump ; a frozen pump is a com- 

 fortless preparation for a winter's breakfast. 



Never allow ashes to be taken up in wood, or put 

 into wood. Ahvavs have your tinderbox and lan- 

 tern ready for use, in case of sudden alarm. Have 



