Jb' A K M E 11 S ' R E G I S 1' E R 



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inconsiclerable, aD(] when started, let him walk in 

 those sinks, the team Ibllowing directly behind ; 

 thus hiyini; out the field into lands of dillerent 

 sizes and shapes, as the deflections may require. 

 A few such |)!ouyhinrrs wilt cut down a slight 

 bank, consequently a slij^ht sink is filled, and ad- 

 ditional work will presently level more uneven 

 around. It will be understood that when speak- 

 innr oC the level, J do not mean a perfect horizon, 

 but a uniform grade ; yet for grounds sufficiently 

 porous to absorb rains as they fall, I would prefer 

 a perlect level. Nor would 1 be understood as re- 

 commending a naked fallow to ridging on clay; 

 but will the reader not discover the folly of ridg- 

 ing clay, which has an uneven liice? will the 

 Water not gather and stand in the sinks, to the 

 destruction of the neighboring veiretables ? 



The harrow also assists much in levelling, 

 whether worked in the direction of the ploughing 

 or crosswise. 



In ditching hkewise the firmer should have an 

 eye to the filling of sinks. The earth cast out of 

 n dilch should be removed and spread on som.e ad- 

 jacent sink, unless indeeii there is a probability 

 that by some means the ditch may presently be- 

 come useless, and consequently a pest ; in which 

 event the earth should be returned. 



The farmer should if possible avoid turn- 

 rows, for they breed briers, weeds, and pestife- 

 rous grasses ; consequently he should avoiil open 

 drains; for every such drain within a field must 

 have two turn-rows. Besides the pests, let the 

 I'armer count his loss of ground, and limes in turn- 

 ing, and he will either wink, or nod, if he does 

 not speak. 



Under- drains are made of wood, or stone, or 

 brick, or tile. I have used wood, stone, anu 

 brick; as to brick they are too costly; where 

 stones are convenient I would use them for a short 

 drain, the lower end of which has an outlet; but 

 in the general, logs laid in the manner recom- 

 mended by Col. Taylor is preferable ; only I would 

 recommend the use of larger logs. Stone and 

 brick, (and perhaps tile,) 'are objeciionable in this; 

 (hat after hard or long continued rains, the water 

 runs in such quantities, and with such velocity, 

 that these materials are undermined, and sink, 

 consequently the drain is choked ; moreover I 

 have known clawfish to make dams, and cast out 

 the water. A long and larue log catmot well 

 sink, and if it should, there is yet a drain; nor 

 can a clawfish well contrive to make a dam 

 amongst logs. Where timber is an object, under- 

 draining, according to the recommendation of a 

 late writer in the 'Cultivator,' must be preli^rred. 

 His mode is to turn down guttered logs, |)lacing 

 short boards underneath, and crosswise, lor the 

 purpose of preventing their sinking. 



I have a bottom fifld, a portion of which is clay, 

 theiialance sandy; on the clay, and not far distant 

 from the sand, there is an ooze, which a few years 

 ago I determined to dispose of; for which pur- 

 pose I cul a ditch from the ooze into the sand, cast 

 in stone, and returned the earth; but presently, 

 by the operation of clawfish, the water again ap- 

 peared. I then cut another dilch, near the origi- 

 nal, and filled with loss, but to my mortification 

 the water appeared again, if this drain had an 

 outlet at the lower end, I have no doubt but that 

 the last experiment would have been effectual ; but 

 the clawfish and lizards stirring up the mud, the 



pores were stopped, and out came the water; 

 Shall I acknowledge that a clawfish or lizard, is a 

 better mechanic or philosopher than 1 ? No — no — 

 I will cut a wide and deep ditch, and fill it with 

 coarse sand, which will absorb, and convey oH'lhe 

 water, and in which the clawfish cannot enter; 

 taking care to cut deep at the spring, thus securing 

 a fair start. Indeed ii' this experiment should fail, 

 what of il? I do not consider that I have lost by 

 the fiirmer experiments, neither can I lose by 

 this, although lading; (or first I got clear of the 

 sione, second my ground was manured by the bu- 

 ried logs, and the sand will be the means of im- 

 proving the clay. 



Facts and inquiry. — We all know that Hessian 

 fly will dcposiie their eggs in wheat ; I know that 

 they likewise deposite in rye and oats, and believe 

 that they deposite likewise in grass. Now if it 

 may be possible that the fly would preler deposit- 

 ing in oats to any other vegetable, then nothing 

 can be more certain than the protection of our 

 wheat and rye by sowing oafs at the same time 

 with these. The grazing of the oats would more 

 than compensate for the seed, and both oats and 

 fly would be swept off by the winter's frosts. It 

 is my opinion that wheat is first choice, oats next^ 

 and rye last ; but if oats may be first choice, then 

 by their use, hundreds and thousands could be 

 added to individual purses, and millions to the 

 country. Can any one give us any facts relating 

 to this subject ? 



Frozen pumps. — My water pumps freeze ia 

 winter, so that I am subject to considerable incon- 

 venience ; can the editor, or other person, inlbrot 

 me how it can be obviated 7* 



Winter ploughing. — Solomon says, " He that 

 will not plough by reason of the cold, shall beg in 

 in harvest and get nothing." So we see that so 

 far back as the time of Solomon, ploughing in 

 winter was necessary, and all-important; and no 

 less is the necessity and importance at the present 

 time. I say therefore to my fellows, plough on at 

 every opportunity through the winter. Plough 

 your clays first, then your loam, and lastly your 

 sand. Feed your horses v/eil, and they need no- 

 more rest than a man, that is one day in the week. 

 I beseech you again, drive on, or you may beg 

 in harvest and get nothing; or what is nearly as 

 bad, you may reap a harvest and nel nothing. 



Winter preservation of outs. — If you wish to 

 have oats tor early cutting or grazing, sow about 

 the first of October, and in the latter part of No- 

 vember cover them lightly with straw. In thia 

 way they can be preserved as well as turnips. 



Mountaineer. 



December, 1839. 



THE GALACTOJIETER, QR INSTRUMENT FOR 

 MEASURING THE RICHNESS OF MILK, AND 

 DETECTING ADULTERATIONS. 



To tlie Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Clermont, Fairfax co., Va., Jan. S(h, 1S40. 

 Dear SrR — 1 put in charge of my son, James 

 M. Mason, who was wiih me a few days ago on 

 his way to Richmond, a liitle instrument, recen'ly 

 procured for me by a friend at Paris, iniendinl in 

 ascertain the relative [juriiy of milk, of which I 



* We have no practical knowlcde,-e on this poiiit.-Ko. 



