132 



Ql\)t Ihrmcr's ittontl) hj iHsitor. 



principally of the iJioduce of tlie potato, eillier 

 as meal, flour, or fecula. 



"After the gentlemen ])resent had partaken 

 of the various pre|)anilions, Mr. Rogers observ- 

 ed, that the [irepuration of the meal and floin- 

 from potatoes was so simple that it could he 

 accomi)lished in the cottage of the poorest 

 peasant. He then described the component 

 parts of each food upon the table. The gener- 

 al proportion being one-half potatoes; some 

 however, — viz., milk porridge, 'Scotch bread,' 

 and rock biscuits — being entirely made from 

 it; also the jellies, blanc-mange, &c., produced 

 from the ;)ure /ecu/a, without animal matter ol 

 any kind — in (act, no addition but the usual sea- 

 sonings. The soup, also which appeared to be 

 palatable anil nutritious food ibr the lower class- 

 es, was stated to be maile of a small quantity ol 

 bacon, thickened with meal of the potato, and 

 which was capable of being inade in a short 

 period of lime, at a cost of about one farthing 

 per pint. 



"Mr. Uogera then alluded lo the general im- 

 pression as to the want of nutritive power in 

 the potato, and deprecated the publication of 

 statements which were founded in error, slating 

 that there was 'little, if any nutriment in the 

 potato.' He contended that the nutritive 

 properties of the meal and flour of potatoes 

 were almost, if not entirely, equal to that of 

 wheat; and then gave the following analyses of 

 each, assuming the constituents for the support 

 of animal life, contained in vegetables, to be 

 starch, sugar, and gluten. When converted into 

 meal, the potato contains — 



Starch and sugar, 84.08 



Gluten, 14.82 



Oil, 1.10 



100 

 While wheat converted into meal, contained — 

 Starch and sugar, 78.20 



Gluten, 17.53 



Oil, 4.27 



100. 

 Thus showing that the difference between tlie 

 gluten was but 25 per cent., while the starch 

 and sugar were more abimdant. 



"The difference between '■meal and flour of 

 potato, ' prepared as reconnnended, and ' tarina, ' 

 was pointed out. Farina is the starch of the 

 potato, taken from the fibre, and contains noth- 

 ing beyond the properties of starch— while the 

 fibre, which is thrown away in the manutiicture 

 of farina, is rich in animal matter and oil, and 

 by being combined with the farina, or fecula, 

 produces a meal or flour, closely "Sinalagous to 

 that of grain. This fact it was particularly nec- 

 essary to bear in mind, in order to counteract 

 the impression that there was but little nutri- 

 ment in potatoes — a strange one, where so many 

 millions live on them as their only food. 



A comparison was then entered into between 

 the relative amount of food obtained from an 

 acre of land, in wheat and potatoes. On this 

 subject, Mr. Rogers staled that he did not rely 

 on his own experience, hut cited the authority 

 of praciical men as to produce, and of cniineiit 

 scientific men .ib to the analysis of the respec- 

 tive crops, stating the following as the result of 

 his inquiry ; — 



Starch and Sugar. Gluten. Oil. 

 ] acre of wheat. 8'2.''. lbs. 18.5 lbs. 45 lbs. 

 1 acre of jiotalops, 3427 llis. (i()4 lbs. 45 lbs. 



Thus it appears that potatoes will produce 

 of meal and flour, four times, nearly, in weight 

 what can be had from wheat — a fact not gener- 

 ally known, but which could not be contradicted. 

 He begged lo impress this startling liict on the 

 njinds of those who hearil him, and hoped to 

 rescue the potato from the ealuninies thrown 

 upon it." 



Cemeut for Yards and Floors. 



A correspondent of the .Iprinillural Ga::elle 

 speaks of the value of " lar compost, " so called, 

 for forming ground floors of carriage liouses, 

 barns, stalile.s, also for walks, barnyaril.f, &ic., for 

 which [lurpose it is represented lo be excellent, 

 "being thoroughly dry, wholcsnrue, cleanly, 

 smooth, easily repaired, noiseless under motion, 

 and inimical to vermin, besides being so very 

 cheap, only costing from 3d to 4id. ((! to 10 

 cents) j)er squaro loot," 



The writer describes his mode of making 

 such floors thus: "Lay down a good solid con- 

 crete of broken bricks and tiles or chalk, or 

 both materials mixed together, oidy they should 

 be broken smallish ; having made this (piitc 

 level, poiu' on it coal tar, until the rubble is 

 just covered. Then sift through a fine sieve 

 a mixture of coal as\i and sand, or coal dust 

 and powdered lime, or all mixed together, or 

 any one separately, it makes very little differ- 

 ence. I jirefer quicklime, ashes and sand, in 

 equal parts, but 1 have used lime-dust alone, 

 and found it answer, though it is longer drying, 

 and is not ([uite so firm. My plan is lo sift on 

 plenty, and h.ive the woik well lolled or trodden, 

 supplying ujore siftings as it becomes necessary. 



The |)roper quantity of siftings will work in 

 without any trouble at all, if time be allowed 

 and the floor is used. Sumetiines two or three 

 coats are wanted, and are always l>est; often 

 one will ilo. After the first coat upon the nd)- 

 ble, no more is necessary to be done either for 

 an extra cout or a repairing coat than to pour 

 down some tar and spread it about with an old 

 brush, coveiing it with siftings. Any laborer 

 can mend or even make a floor of this sort. * 

 * * The reason why I prefer brick 

 rubble to stones is this: I have found that by 

 long wear, a small stone, or an edge of a 

 piece of a larger size, will workup; whereas 

 broken bricks or chalk will saturate partly with 

 tar, and will wear down with the rest of the sur- 

 face. I think the value of such a bottom for a 

 stable would be greatly enhanced by its imper- 

 meability to the drainage from animals. " 



Another correspondent of the paper above 

 mentioned gives his mode of making a similar 

 cement as follows: 



"Two parts sifted coal ashes .and one part of 

 quicklime, to be thoroughly mixed together in 

 a conical heap ; then proceed as in mixing u\> 

 fine niorlar, making a hollow in the top of the 

 cone, and pour in gas tar, not gas water, or half 

 and half, as it sometimes comes out of the res- 

 ervoir, hut the thick tar, and gradually ujix as 

 you would mix water with the mortar or plas- 

 ter, until the heap is about the consistence of 

 pretty stiff mortar. In forming my yards and 

 sheds for cows, and those attached to loo.se boxes 

 for horses, two years ago, in onler that all the 

 fluids should drain towards a tank, 1 employed 

 this compoimd, spread about three-fourths of an 

 inch thick, on a surliice fbriiied with stone brok- 

 en very small, and a small (piantity of fine grav- 

 el scattered over then) and then rolled down, 

 to prevent unnecessary waste of the cenjent. — 

 This was laid over, and then patted down with 

 an iron shovel. In the course of t«o or three 

 days, just belore it gets hard, (^ass an iron roller 

 over it. In the course of a week, if properly 

 done, it will be as firm as stone, and not affected 

 either by drought^or wet in any degree. My 

 yarils have been "in use, covered with muck 

 (luring two winters, and exposed dry and clean 

 lo the sun during two summers, and 1 perceive 

 no change. * " * * I have also used this 

 covering for the top of stone walls for vvhich 

 it answers admirablv." 



in the Fanner's Magazine, some very interesting 

 facts are given in relation to the destruction of 

 the Wheat Midge by the ichneiuijon flies. Of 

 the latter, he slates, there .'U-e about five hundred 

 siiecies, several o( which are destructive to the 

 Wheat Midge and calerpiller. " 1 have, " says 

 Mr. 15., " fre<|uently observed these small black 

 flie.s, or 'nidgets, ' as we call them in Essex, at 

 their work of destruction. They will insert 

 themselves between the wheat and the cliaft', 

 and immediately attack the Wheat Midge. — 

 They are very voracious, and «ill strike mag- 

 got after maggot in rapid succession, as fast as 

 they can pass from one to another. In passing 

 up a field one day, on my way to market, I saw 

 a number of these black flies on an ear of corn 

 (wheat) which I plucked, and upon exanination 

 of it, by opening' the chaft", I found they at- 

 tacked the Wheat Midge most voraciously. I 

 carried it to market, and exanjined it again w hen 

 I got there; but their voracity continued just 

 the same. In striking the maggot, they insert 

 .•m egg in its body ; and the maggot liien gets 

 into a place of concealment and dies, just as 

 sheep seek concealment when siifFering in a 

 similar way. The little insect, which becomes 

 the ichneumon, subsequently emerges from the 

 dead insect; it is first formed into a chrysalis, 

 and becomes a fly the following summer. I 

 had a number of these insects, which I had 

 intended to bring with me, but they escaped 

 my njemory. They attack catei pillars by hun- 

 dreils,and seem so determinrd in their endeavors 

 to effect their object, that the more you attenqit 

 to frighten them away, the more hold they be- 

 come. It is to Ibis class of flies that we are so 

 much indebted for rideing us of the pest — the 

 Wheat Midge." — llh. Cultivator. 



The Wheat Midge. 



The insect here called " the weevil," though 

 improperly so, which in the larva slate does 

 so much damage to our wheal, is known in 

 Kngland imdir the name of the "Wheat Midge." 

 It IVequeiilly occ;isi(ins great damage there; ihe 

 crops ijeing MUnetimes lessened from this cause 

 to the auKinut of from forty to lifiy per cent.— 

 No very efiectual means of prevtnling the ray- 

 ages of this insect seem lo he known either in 

 lauope or ihis country. They prevail in great 

 iimnhers in some seasons, and in others are 

 greatly <liniinislied. The causes of this varia- 

 iKin are supposed lo be certain slates and con- 

 dilions of Ihc' almosphere. IJurniiig weeds lo 

 the winilward of fiehls infeslvd wiih them, has 

 sometimes, it is said, proved of advaiilage. IJut 

 Ihe greatest destruction of the insect is doubt- 

 less effected by means wholly independent of 

 human aid. In this country, the conimon yel- 

 low l)ird <levonrs great numbers ofthelarMc: 

 they are also devouruil by several kinds ol car- 

 nivorous bees, and killed by iehneuniou flies. 



Ill a l(H-lure on insects deslruclive lo crops, 

 lately delivered beforo the London farmer's 

 Club, by Mr. linker, a report of which wo find 



From the Albany CnlUvator. 

 Successfal Gardenin?:— Produce of one Acre. 



The capability of our soil is but partially im- 

 deistood. With skilful n anagemeni, it may 

 be niade to yield great burthens and profitable 

 returns, where good markets are avail.ihle. A 

 few (layssince,a person (1 am not allowed to give 

 his name for fear his landlord will raise his rent!) 

 gave me the following as the produce of one 

 acre of land within one mile of the capital, in 

 1845. The soil is a tenacious clay, and has been 

 cultivated as a garden for many ye;u's, but never 

 considered remarkable lor its l<;rtilily. 



It must be remembered that prices ranged 

 high last year, which will account for the great 

 amount received for the articles, viz., in round 

 nmnhers : 



100 bushels potatoes, at, 4s. $.50 00 



32 do corn in ear, 3s. 12 00 



(55 do oniuns, 4s. 32 50 



13 do carrots, 3s. 4 87 



8 do jiarsneps, 4s. 4 00 



7 do heels, 3s. 2 (j2 



800 cabbages, 3c. 24 00 



Horse radish, sold for 42 00 



Fruit, <lo 10 00 



Pigs fed on refuse of garden, 20 00 



$i207 00 



No manure was applied except what was made 

 by the pigs : but the great produce is ascribed lo 

 the use of oyster shell lime, at an expense of one 

 dollar and filly cenis per year for three years. — 

 "It was wonderful, " he .says, " lo see how the 

 ground would heave and swell afier every rain." 



Many of our fiirmer.? have been experiment- 

 ing with lime, and appear well plcasril with its 

 operation. Several thousand bushels have been 

 taken down the river to enrich ihe soil, and it is 

 hiiped ihat those who have tried il, whether 

 successful or unsuccessful will commimicaie 

 the resulls lliroiigh the metlinin of the Culliva- 

 tor, for the liciK'lil of others. 



There is one fact, that has been commnnicat- 

 lo me that is entirely new, in regard to the ac- 

 tion of lime, and that is, its effects are greatest 

 in a lime soil or limo region. Can our cheniisls 

 account for ihi.s. C. N. lU'.MlCNT. 



JlaiicnCs ,'lmer. Hotel, Jlban;j,.'lui!;. 184(). 



Sai.e of Wool-. — A letter received from Mes- 

 srs. Perkins & Brown, dated S|uiiigfi<:ld, Mass., 

 .luly 28, '40, informs us ilini they hud jusi sold 

 an enlire clip ol' about 'J,,'?00 lbs. of wool for 

 sixty-nine cents per lb., including in each fleece 

 ihc wliolo of the worst looks ever ^llOrn from 



