1837] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



181 



sweep awav our hill-side soil, as well as to cut 

 ffullies. Durin<r the course of the cultivation of 

 tlie corn crop, the land is laid ahunst eiilirely Irvol 

 by many iaraiors; coiiseiiuenlly, tlirre are no tiir- 

 rows left to hold water, if they could do it at first. 

 But, the fact is, no water furrow can he made deep 

 enough al any time, to retain ilie water of a <ireat 

 rain. We must then provide a substantial and 

 permanent conductor for superfluous water, at such 

 spaces as sliall be adequate to control the <rather- 

 inj^. While the plan vviiich I have recomiuended 

 will entible us to cultivate the corn crop in the most 

 successful manner, it also otlers the most perlect 

 sateguard to our soil, during the early stage of the 

 subsequent sau\II ffrain crop. We usually seed in 

 single beds in this quarter, so as to restore the old 

 corn bed to something like the height which it had 

 in the begmning of the corn crop, giving, between 

 each two, a pretty good water jurrow; now, it is 

 during the period which is required for the wheat 

 roots to take iiold in the soil, that the most serious 

 washing and gullying is done, which may be pre- 

 vented by the graduated trench 3.nd furrow. 



Having said so much on the subject of plough- 

 ing and trenching, I will endeavor to be more con- 

 cise on the less important matters left. Being 

 much pleased with the idea oWhe hand-rake, used 

 by Mr. Gay, and so warmly recommended by a 

 writer over the signature of K. D. K., I proceeded 

 at once to provide a few. They have six teeth, 

 and weigh about four pounds. They are proba- 

 bly a little too heavy. Only one of the hands, 

 however, has complained of the weight. This 

 instrument does very nice work, in light land, clean 

 and well broken. I have not tried them in any 

 other kind. I think that R. D. K. was a little, 

 hyperbolical when he said that a girl or boy could 

 do as much as several men in a day. But, I think 

 that such a girl or boy, with the rake, can do as 

 much as a man with the hoe; and that is doing 

 very well. So far as I have tried it, I feel pleased 

 with the rake. Practical men are the persons 

 who should be most hishly regarded among farm- 

 ers. I have been intbrmed that Mr. Gay is a 

 skilful, practical farmer. Will he not give the read- 

 ers of the Register a summary or short account of 

 his method of doing things ? 



A few words on the use of gypsum. Much has 

 been said as to the use and operation of this arti- 

 cle in flirming, particularly as to its application to 

 the clover crop. I have but little experience upon 

 the subject. Some say it is good for nothinir — 

 some, that it often fails — others again, that it is of 

 great value. Now, why should this be so? It can 

 hardly be owing to a diversityof qualities in the ar- 

 ticle. Sulphate of lime is very hard to decompose, 

 and what any section of country uses in a term of 

 years, would hardly present much difference in 

 qualities — not enough at any rate to account for 

 being greatly good, and actually good for nothing. 

 There is then, in all probability, some other way of 

 explaining these discrepancies. And I will pro 

 pose, as a mite upon the subject, the opinion of 

 one of our most skilful practical farmers, who, I 

 will take the liberty of introducing to you as Mr. 

 P. B. Pendleton. I take the liberty of introduc- 

 ing both his name and opinion, (sustained as it is 

 by his practice,) because I think it probable that he 

 would not do so himself The opinion entertain- 

 ed by Mr. P. is, that if plaster is applied during a 

 space in which no rain shall fall for a few days, 



(none having fallen fora few,) that it will generally 

 succeed in firoducing the best eilects on clover. 

 In other words, lie recouuueuds the apfilicalioii 

 during, what the judg:uent of the farmer would 

 call a dry spell. I do not know the quantity he 

 uses to the acre, nor whether he prelers afiplying 

 it in the morning or evening. If Mr. P.'s [ilan 

 and opinion be correct, it will go Itir to explain 

 many experiments, embracing all the difierent 

 classes. In relt^rence to the result of the practice, 

 I feel confident that he is rijxht, and hope that 

 those who use plaster or clover without regard to 

 weather, will think of it this and the next season. 

 I plastered a part of a lot oi' clover this spring, dur- 

 ing the long spell of dry weather which has con- 

 tinued, even to the present time, with an increase 

 of two-fold I think, il" not more. I usually apply, 

 in the small way in which I have hitherto used 

 plaster, half a bushel only to the acre. And now, 

 if I may be allowed to add the testimony of theory 

 to practice, I will say that plaster operates on the 

 clover by being actually absorbed by the clover. 

 If this be so, it is unnecessary to urge the impor- 

 tance of avoiding not only drenching rains soon 

 after the application, but likewise high windy 

 weather, as far as practicable. And now, that the 

 theory is correct, I will leave to the test of observa- 

 tion. Dress a section of clover with plaster, and 

 leave another (so remote that it cannot possibly be 

 affected) undressed. Should the plaster take well, 

 that is, neither be blown or washed off, it will be 

 found that the plastered clover will have a great 

 number of white specks, not on, but really within 

 the substance of the leaf. These that remain vi- 

 sible to the eye, some large, some small, are con- 

 stituted, I apprehend, of the coarser parts of the 

 plaster, while the finer particles have descended 

 by absorption down into the plant, stimulating and 

 invifjorating it. You niay now examine most 

 minutely the section unplastered, and not a white 

 speck can be found. So I have found on observa- 

 tion. It may be of service to others to study again 

 this old subject. 



Should the editor of the Register think the re- 

 marks above offered, worth inserting, they are at 

 his, and the service of the readers of the Register. 



J. Du Val. 



For the Fanners' Reifister. 



IMPORTANT FACTS IN REGARD TO KEEPING 

 APPLES SOUND FOR A LONG TIME. 



Queen Anns^ Co., E. S., Md. \ 

 June 2d, 1837. 5 

 I had this day on my table the first strawberries 

 from my garden, and, at the same time, a dish of 

 fine sound Newtown pippins from my orchard. 

 They were not kept for the occasion; they have 

 been used in prolusion, in my family, since the 

 first of January, and presents made of them to 

 some esteemed friends. The apples were pre- 

 served by drying them in the sun for two or three 

 days when first gathered, and put away in dry 

 sand, so as not to touch each other. To have 

 fruit throughout the year is desirable — it is a cheap 

 luxury, and I think conducive to health. I have 

 heretofore paid some attention to storing my apples, 

 but have not before succeeded in preserving |)ip- 

 pins till the ripening of the summer fruits. The 

 sand ought to be perfectly dry, and clear of clay, 

 which would give them an earthy taste. 



