THE OENESEE FARMER. 



299 



•other soil, and the poor " silicious sand" the least, 

 iudicates that rich soils are les** easily saturated than 

 sterile <ines. Is sm-h the cast-? 



The power of retaininj^ water, w}»en exposed to 

 the atmosphere, is alt-o knowTi to di8er materiiJly in 

 the several earths. 8ojiublrk found, calculating the 

 «vapoiation as from 100 grains of water cootaiaed 

 in the earth, that 200 grains of eacth, spread on a 

 purface of ten Pfpiare inches, at a temperature of 

 C.'rf ^, evaporated in 4 hours as follows: Silicious 

 sand, 88.4 grrains; calcareous sand, 75.9 ; gypsum 

 powder, 71.7; Fawly clay, 52; loamy clay, 45.7; stiff 

 clay -or brick earth, 34 9; pure grey clay, 31.9; fine 

 lime, 28; garden moukl, 24.3; magnesia, 10.8. 



Our space "will not allow us to comment on these 

 results, or to pursue the subject further at this time, 

 tiut we would commend their s-tudy to every farmer, 

 and especially to every farmer's son. Do not forget, 

 tnoreover, to let us have the results of any observa- 

 tions which throw light on this subject 



ITEMS SUGPESTED BY THE SEPTEMBER NUMBER. 



Our " dry spell" has come at last, and for two 

 •w^ks we have had «o rain. Fine for the oat har- 

 vest — for ripening our corn — for fall work generally. 

 I have beeti too busy almost to itemize for the Far- 

 mer. But I must remark on some things perused 

 therein. 



The Rotal Agricultural Fair — Would present 

 to our republican eyes " a sight worth seeing." The 

 symmetrical Shorthorns, the handsome Herefords, 

 the dainty Devons; it would be difficult to say which 

 best pleased us; while the South Downs and Leices 

 ters would make us ashamed of our muttonless and 

 iight-fleeced breeds. Yet American stock ia rapidly 

 improving; we get the pick of English herds and 

 flocks, and shall soon be able to contest the palm. 



Massachusetts 1're.mium Butter. — The extracts 

 given on this subject are particularly interesting to 

 dairymen; they show, what we were well aware oi 

 before, that there are different methods of making 

 good butter. " To wash or not to wash is not the 

 qiiestion" but rather, sweet cream, careful churning 

 and working, and good care in packing and keeping. 

 Let every butter maker do the best circumstances 

 will admit, and there will be great improvement in 

 the quality of this product. 



Growth of the " Sorghum." — Six weeks has lifted, 

 the sugar cane about ten or twelve feet in the air,;: it 

 has grown amazingly since warmer weather came, 

 and is now headed out, with a prospect of aearly 

 ripening. 



Poor Roads. — The plan proposed by Mr, Hough- 

 ton would improve our roads, could it be carried 

 into effect. And it would be a capital plan to ex- 

 pend the road tax every year, in finishirig vp a por- 

 tion of the road, instead of " spreading" it over the 

 whole district, one-half of it to no purpose. Com- 

 plete a road — a raised and well-gravelled road-way, 

 with good drainage on each side, for a few rods every 

 year, and at last all our roads would be fit for use. 



Application of Lime. — In applyjn;^ lime to land, 

 would it be best to put it oq grass land one summer, 

 to plow under the next season for corn or roots ? 

 Or, would you put it on plowed land, and harrow in 

 before sowing to any grain grop? Practical limers, 

 please answer. 



Turnips among Corn. — Little chance would tur- 



nips have in our corn fieId-»-the ground entirely 

 shadtd, though the hills are three and one half feet 

 apart each way. I am raising turnips after early 

 potatoes, and peas, and hope to have something of a 

 crop of them. 



Oreat Fecundity of Wheat. — Wheat and other 

 grains will yield enormously if they have the chance. 

 If the saving in seed would pay for the increased la- 

 bor, and the maturity of the crop was not delayed 

 by tillering, it could readily be shown that one peck 

 of seed is better than three bushels, per acre, lint 

 thin sowing gives room for weeds. These must be 

 removed, or they will overpower the wheat, however 

 great its fecundity. The losses by weeds are enor- 

 mous. 



Digging Potatoes — When potatoes are affected 

 by the rot, shall we dig them immediately or let them 

 lie until the usual time? I think they rot no worse 

 to remain in the hill until cool weather comes, but, 

 of course, cannot be certain about it I know I find 

 no more rotten ones in a hill, than three weeks ago, 

 when the disease fairly commenced its work ; and it 

 seems to me that handling and sorting while yet 

 scarcely ripe, would injure more than it would savne. 



N. Y. Prexiium Butter — Is made from sour cream., 

 while the Massachusetts folks eay only siveet cream, 

 will make the prize butter. " Who shall decide 

 when doctors disagree?" 



House Ripening Pears. — Our Jargonelles were 

 picked and ripened in the house this year, and there 

 is a very marked difference in their quality. They are 

 tenderer, mel ing, more juicy, and better every way. 

 Besides, we gathered them ourselves, instead of hav- 

 ing them half cairied off by fruit thieves, as usuaL 



J\'iagara Co , JV. Y. B. 



NOTES FOR THE MONTH.-BY S. W. 



Transmutation of Wheat to CaEsa— Great 

 credit is due to that indefatigable rural economi.'^t, 

 John J. Thomas, and his co-committee men from our 

 State Agricultural Society, for their very thorough 

 examination of those specimens of chesa growing 

 from wheat seed presented by S. Davidson, becau-e 

 a less careful testing would have given to erroi that 

 ostensible triumph, which so olten makes Nature ap- 

 pear inconsistent with herself. When this country 

 was being cleared of its heavy continuous forests, I 

 heard many farmers say that sowing plaster on a new 

 clearing would invariably bring in white clover. As 

 no white clover seed could have been scattered on 

 such virgin soil, it would have been quite as much in 

 accordance with Nature's laws to say that plaster 

 was transmuted into clover, as that wheat was turned 

 to chess. 



Turnips and Tomatoes amo>:g Corn. — C. Brack- 

 ett, of Fulton Co., North Indiana, grows turnips 

 successfully among corn. That tbey do not jjruw 

 pithy, must be owing to their slow growth and snail 

 size. Is Mr. B.'s a limestone or granite soil? It a 

 limestone soil, and devoid of vegetable mould, nie- 

 thinks a crop of English turnips in the sunny climate 

 of Indiana must be very uncertain. The best and 

 largest tomatoes I have this season are seedlings that 

 came up antong early planted King Philip Corn. 

 The corn was picked green, and the stalks up by tke 

 5th of August Last year it was fit to cut by the 

 20th July. Planted lOih May each year. Soil, lieh 

 glcareous clay. Mr, B. asks if a. go,w viill eat toma^ 



