(^l)c Javmcr'0 JHoutlilij Visitor. 



55 



this piii|iitioiis moment we Iieliold llie welcome 

 intmdiiction of lard oil and lard candles equal in 

 every respect to llie spermaceti. The market 

 camlot well lie overstocked with fiood pork. 

 Prices have (alien i;enerally, and of this among 

 others; lint it is, and will ever he in demand as a 

 cash article. The prices of sperm and other oils 

 have lieen affected already, and must lie still more 

 by the conversion of lard into oil and candles. 



No candles are snperior, and it reqnires some 

 experience to discriminate them from the hesi 

 spermaceti candles. The nianufactnre is now 

 supposed to he very profitable ; but shonUI lard 

 continue al its present [irice, and the prospect is 

 that it will not be enlianced, we may expect these 

 beautiful candles at bom ten to thirteen cents 

 per pound. As a natural consequence the can- 

 dles from beef tallow will fall in proportion, so 

 that whatever may betiill us we shall have this 

 kind of liirht chea'p. This very year iipwarils of 

 four millions of ponnils of lard has been shipped 

 for Europe from Cincinnati alone ; and this is but 

 the opeiiinif of the trade, audits profits in this 

 branch of industry. S. 



For the F.irmer's Monthly Visitor. 



Meteorological Journal kept at Concord 



by A. CHANDLER. 



March. 



|Barujn|Thernioni-i Wind. i Clouds, 

 eter. I eter. | From. Force. | From. Am't. 



Maximum height of the Barometer, 30.05 on the 31st. 

 Minimum ■• " " 28.90 " 29th. 



Mean " " " 29.47 



Maximum " " Thermometer. 43° on the 11th. 



Minimum " " " 3" " 22d. 



Mean " " " 23''8 



Remarks. — On the eveninfr of ihe 6th, there 

 was a beautiful display of the Aiu'oia Borealis ; 

 at half past eight o'clock, when it was fii'sl ob- 

 served by me, it formed a white bank or cloud 

 of light occujiying about sixty degrees of the 

 northern horizon and eight or ten degrees in 

 height. At half past it formed an arch of 



about the same extent and 3 or 4 degrees in 

 breadth. Under the arch in the north the sky 

 was ipfite dark. About half past 10 theie was a 

 few vei-y blight slroains extending up fiom the 

 arch lOor 1.5 degrees; shortly after there was a 

 new cloud springing up under the ai'ch and in a 

 few minutes reached ihe arch and forined ahank 

 again, when 1 quit my observations, tliiidiing it 

 could not stand it long in these anti-bank times. 

 — lOlh, it began to snow liglitly about 2 o'clock, 

 P. M.; contiiuied ihrough the night; fell 5 inch- 

 es deep ; wind moderate from the N. E. — 13lh, 

 liegan to blow from the N. E. at 7 o'clock, A. M. ; 

 at S o'clock it bi-gan to snow and continued to 

 till night; P. M. the wind was brisk.— 14th, wind 

 sliilied in the night to the N. W. and has blowed 

 a gale all day, driving and drilling up the snow 

 that tell yesterday, (which on account of ihe wind 

 it is hai-d telliii:: how deep it was, pi-obably 

 about a foot, however,) to a great rate. — Mlh, light 

 sonlh wind in the morning ; shifted i-oniid by 

 Ihe west to N. VV. in the P. M. ; a fluri-y of snow 

 between 1 and 2 o'clock.— 17lh, began to snow 

 in the night and contiiuied till noon very fiist ; 

 wind hard from the east, shifting to N. E. ; no 

 snow fell between 1 and 2i o'clock P. M. but the 

 wind sliilied round by N. to i\. W. ; it then snow- 

 ed again for about an hour. It has been one of 

 Ihe hardest storms we have had this winter, in- 

 ci-easing the already abundant snuw crop to be- 

 tween 3 and 4 feel in depth.— '24tli, began to 

 snow yesterday about noon and continued till 

 10 o'clock this forenoon. Snow is very light 

 and 4 inches deep.— 28th, snow fell to the depth 

 of 8 or 10 inches last night and this morning; 

 began 10 turn, to rain about D o'clock, A. M. and 

 rained ihe rest of the day; wind moderate from 

 the S. E.— 29th, har.I N. VV. wind all day ; faint 

 bank of Aurora in the evening. 



From the New Genesee Farmer. 

 Cultivation of Roots. 



By root culture, is generally understood the 

 raising of the field beets, turnips and carrots, 

 (bui not including potatoes.) 



Although roots cannot be so extensively nor so 

 piofitably^cultivaled here as in England, yet to a 

 certain extent their cultivation can be made very 

 beneficial, and especially to the grain-growers, 

 who have abundance of chaff and straw. 



The value of roots for winter feeding is not 

 generally realized, and especially for fiittening 

 animals, and for those which are worked or 

 milked. The great amount of succulent food 

 which they produce per acre, and its great value 

 for making and increasing ihe value of barn- 

 yard manure, as well as for fl-eding, amply com- 

 pensates for the extra labor required in raising 

 and securing them, and no farmer ought to neg- 

 lect cultivating a few acres each season. 



The best variety to raise, will depend niiicli on 

 the kind of soil on which they have to be culti- 

 vated, its fertility, &c. 



The ruta baga or Swedish turnip, is generally 

 the most productive on light sandy or gravelly 

 soils; l)ut a strong clay loam is best adapted to a 

 bountiful cro[) of the wurtzel and sugar beet; 

 and they will do very well on sliff' clay, pi-ovided 

 it is plentifully manured, and well pulverized by 

 rolling and hariowing. The long Altringham 

 carrot requires a light and deep soil, but the large 

 White resembles the wurtzel, and will produce 

 more bountifully on strong ground. A rich allu- 

 vial soil will generally produce any of them very 

 well. 



The relative value of the various roots for 

 feetling has not been .satisfactorily determined. 

 The wurtzel and sugar beet are very similar, and 

 require the same soil and management. The 

 latter is more nnlritioiis per pound, but the for- 

 mer is generally more productive, has fewer 

 roots, and is much easier gathered; and, on the 

 whole, is rather preferable. The carrot does not 

 yield per acre equal to the beet or turnip; but 

 fiir horses and working oxen, is more valuable. 

 The wurtzel, or the large sugar beet, are much 

 the best for milch cows. For fiittening, the turnip 

 is as valuable as any, and perhaps preferable to 

 the wurtzel. But the liest for each farmer to 

 cultivate, is that which his ground will produce 

 most abundantly. 



An ample supply of well rotted manure, (and 

 the more it is mixed with the urine and drop- 

 pings of animals the better,) deep ploughing, and 

 thoroughly luilvcrizing with the roller and har- 



row, are very essential to a bountiful crop of any 

 of them. To assist the beet and carrot seeds in 

 vegetating, soak the former four or five days, the 

 latter two, in soft, and moderately warm water; 

 roll them in plaster, and endeavor to sow early, 

 before the ground becomes too dry. Put on 

 plenty of seed^fbur pounds of beet, or two 

 pounds of carrot, per acre : cover one or one and 

 a half inch deep, and they will seldom fail. 

 The turnip vegetates easily, but is frequently de- 

 stroyed by the fly as soon as it comes up. Soak 

 the seed in tanner's oil, roll it in plaster, and it 

 will check their ravages much. Sow on low 

 ridges or drills, two and a half or three feet aiinrt, 

 and it will facilitate the first hoeing very much. 



Having cultivated from two to five acres of 

 roots per annum, for 20 years, 1 will give what I 

 consider the best method, on sliff dry soils, 

 (which mine are,) and what has most generally 

 proved snccessfiil. 



Apply an abundance of well rotted manure; 

 spread it evenly over the surfiice, then plough 

 well, (viz: nniformly and deep;) harrow effec- 

 tually, and if necessary, roll, so as to thoroughly 

 pulverize the surface and mix the maiiuie with 

 the soil, which enables it to retain the moisture 

 and inci-ease the warmth. This also assists the 

 seeds in germinatinsr, and affords food to the 

 young and tender plants, giving them a vigorous 

 start. Whenever the manure can be applied and 

 the ground ploughed in tlie tiiU, it is much the 

 best ; especially on stiff clay ground. 



Soak the wurtzel and sugar beet well : there is 

 no danger of injuring it by doing so. 1 have fre- 

 freipiently had it sprout previous to planting. If 

 you cannot plant when the seed is ready, and 

 you fear it is getting too much sprouted, put it 

 into a cool place ; move it carefully from one 

 vessel to anothei-, so as to cool and dry it a little, 

 but do not let the sprouts become willed. 



Planting on ridges gives the roots a deeper 

 soil, but the greatest advantage is in the saving 

 of time in the first hoeing. Making the ridges 

 three feet apart, gives room to pass freely between 

 them with the horse cultivator and harrow, which 

 is of more consequence than the value of the 

 extra ground. 



Commence weeding as soon as the plants can 

 be seen. Taking the weeds in time, saves much 

 labor, and prevents them from covering the 

 cround, and checking the growth of the plants. 

 if there is a good supply of plants, thin out some 

 the first time'of weeding, but not too much, for 

 many of them may yet be destroyed. At the 

 second hoeing, thin well ; never leave two plants 

 together, unless there is a vacancy each side of 

 them. At the third hoeing, thin thoroughly. 

 Give the wurtzel and large sugar beet eight or 

 ten inches— white carrot six or eight— .Altring- 

 ham carrot four or six inches to each plant. In 

 July, the thinnings of the wurtzel, white carrot 

 and sugar beet, are very valuable for table use, 

 and a feAV may be left when thinning for that 

 purpose ; but they must not be forgotten and 

 allowed to remain. Gather in autumn before the 

 hard frost sets in. A light one does not injure 

 them, but when much frozen ihey will not keep 

 in winter. 



Those who have not cellars, can secure then- 

 roots in pits or heaps, similar to jiotatoes. Put 

 on plenty of straw, but little earth— five or six 

 inches is plenlv. Leave a hole open at the top, 

 until cold weather sets in, to allow the steam to 

 pass off, for they are subject to heat, especially 

 the carrots. 



Feed to grown animals (cattle or hor.ses) from 

 one-fourth to three-fourths of a bushel per day, 

 viz: 65 lbs. per bushel, according to the wish to 

 feed and the- supply of roots. The latter qiianti- 

 tv had better be given at two different limes. 

 ^ Respectfully, W. GARBUTT. 



Wheatland, March 1842. 



Scours iiv Calves.— We have never, says tli<; 

 editor of the Southern Planter, found any remedy 

 for the scours ineferable to boiled skimmed milk. 

 This should be given warm, and it is more safe 

 than poisons of any kind. 



The material worlil has its links by which it ia 

 made to shake hands, as it were, with the vege- 

 table, the vegetable with the animal, the animal 

 with the intellectual, anil the intellectual witlu 

 what we may be allowed to hope of the angelic 

 — Lacon. 



