lOG 



^l)c JTarmei'ii iUcinti)lij iMsitcir. 



Piiriibility of Salt, as a Fertilizer. 



Si>nii? I^>iir vi'.irs ;i:;r>, »vi; ;i|i|ilifil six li.iiicU o( 

 (-■|>(>ileil) siili ti-'li, ti> .1 flii|i ot' |iotat(ifS in ;i tii-ld 

 ol" l"i):ir iii-feT', ill niiii;i:irisiiii wlili y.trii iiiaiMire. 

 To every liiil, we |)iit li.ill' .1 liuriiii;; oi- muckerf I, 

 nl llii- tiihe of iilaiiiiii^'. Tlii! sensnii |iiuvimI 11 

 viTv ilrv imp, .'tiKl whi!.: tlie viiiKS In llic oilier 

 IMils (il'llie lii'lil riiiftrri'il irrivillv IVoiii llie ilr(iii;;lit, 

 tlinsi- wlierK liie 5;ill ti-<li Wii:! iiseil, iii;iii)t;iiiH'(l a 

 <l irl(, viiionins ;iiiil lie;ililiy color, vines very l;irfrf, 

 loiijr, niiii eoiitiiitii'"! ^'ifiii some tiirie iit'ier llie 

 oiliers were shriveled, iliieil niiil (ie.iil. On niis- 

 iii;;, we found them inneli Inriier ill si/.e, ;iiid 

 nearly iloiilile ill cinimiily, 10 lliose wlieio the 

 \iinl nianine was a|r|ilieil. 



At llieliiiie, we alliiirined the frrent yield, over 

 tin; oilieis, lo llie annual snhsUinee, as iinihin;; 

 lint liu! hones "I llie Ci-ii \>ere liniinl in the (all, 

 hut on lunlier refleeiion and oliservalion, we are 

 iiu-ii!n;d In ihinU ihal the sail «as ihe most |iow- 

 erlhl aL'ent al'lcr all, as u ill a|i|iear from llie crops 

 taken off llie ihreo l'ollo«in;r years. 



The next croii we took (rom the same field 

 was Unia U i;.'as, and ilnit |iarl where the lisli was 

 used, showed a inofli more vi^/orons growth of 

 plant, inaintaiiied the same dark, heallhy a|i|ieai'- 

 ni.ce, and eonld hi; disiiii;;iiislieil from iliererl at 

 n ^'real disiai.ee ; hot on liiiin;,' them in the fall, 

 we foimd lliat ilie u'reat j.'rov\tli of lo|i was at the 

 p.X|ieiise of tilt: liotiom ; the hnlhs were ,«maller 

 than ihose I.i llii' oiher part of the fielil ; thus for 

 Kht.a U.mas. il proved rather injiirions. 



Last year the fiidd vv.is sown willi oat.s, and pro- 

 tlilL'ed a very heii\y erop. The striji where ihe 

 sail fis!i Were used, was visihle lo ihe eye, at a 

 jrreal distance (i'oni the field, and the siraw nincli 

 larirer and Ion_:ier, and jnst hefoit; ihe heads filled 

 out, a severe storm of wind and rain prostrated 

 it; helin'e wliieli il piesenled the most vigorous 

 {frowtli of oats we ever helieM. 



Alter ihe oats were taken off, we had it plonjrh- 

 v.i\ deep, the stnlilile well liiriied under, harrowed 

 and iidleil miiil well pulverised, and iheu sowed 

 wiih wheal, and sioeked down \\'n\\ i-lover and 

 'I'imolhy. The plants soon m.ade llieir appear- 

 imee, and crew off viiioiiaisly in Ihe tall, hut 

 owing 10 the small qnanliiy of snow, and the se- 

 verity of ihe frost in the v. inler, niiieh of ihe 

 ^.'raiii w.as killed, w liieli j^ives it ratlii-r an unsight- 

 ly iippearanee, and looks a litlle patehy. 



On passin;.' the fiehl a few days silic-e, my (it- 

 teiilion was ;iriesleil hy ihe \ii;nrony ixrowlh, dark 

 color, and the heads preseniiiii; in hill hlooin, 

 were inneh taller, l>elti:r lillered in that part of 

 the field where the fish had heeu applied, while 

 oil llie oilier p-aris, Ihe heads of the wheat just 

 he^raii lo jireseni tlieniselves. 'I'he lilies where 

 the fish was used, could hj Iracetl hy the eye, al 

 a ^real distance. 



'I'he question now presents itself; whicli is ii 

 Ihal has heen such a laslinu and pow erfnl .■i;;eiit 

 in prodiH-inj; such exlraoi (linary H'riilily ? Is il 

 ihe flesh, ihe hones, ihe sail, or all (!omhineil ? — 

 'I'he animal mailer di-appeared llie first season, 

 and iinihini: hni ihe Imnis were lo he seen, and 

 the qiianliiy of salt was bo small, that it w(uild 

 xeem liaidly possihle that it would have sneh an 

 effect. Salt as a in.inure for -iniss laiid-i, mi'ad- 

 ows, &,c., has hecn nseil in all parts of Ell;;lai)d, 

 w iili vary iiii! success. It is said In sweeten ihe 

 herhaiie, and when sprinkleii ahont, and over a 

 porlionof pasture, caille, sheep, aiifl horses will 

 conslanlly repair lo this sailed pnitinii, in prefer- 

 ence lo any oiher part of the field. Il evidently, 

 therefore, rendereil sirass more p.il.ilahle lo live 

 flock, and upon consnhinu llie old aurienllnral 

 writers, it w.is found that ilie notices of sail asa 

 inaiime, were many ami iinpni tant, and ihatil 

 had been used in various aj;riculinral operations, 

 lion a very early period. 



S,ill renders the e.arlli capahle of ahsnrhiii;; the 

 nioislme of the atmosphere, '11 properly of the 

 first imporlancp, since those soil's which ahsorli 

 the !.'re;ilest propinlioli of mni.»lnre h(mi the at- 

 mosphere, are alwa\s ihe iiiOst valuuhle to the 

 cnllivalor." 4^. Chan. 



Its feriiliziii}; nropcrlies, whiui afiplied to land, 

 may he desi-iiheil as five in nnndicr. 



1st, III snuiU pro^.orlioiis, it promolcB the de- 

 romposiiion of animal and ve;.elahle sidislance.s. 

 Sail, therefore, promoles llie rapid dissoluiion of 

 animal, and veyetuhle remains contained in all 

 vciietable soils. 



2d, It deslroys vermin, and kills weeds, wliich 

 are thus convened into inuiiure. 



I 3d, It is a direct coiisliiiieiii, or food of some 

 plants; and il has heen clearly asceilained, ihal 

 il" s.all is applied 10 a soil, llie vei:etahles alier- 

 wards iirowiiu; on that land, are tiiimrl lo contain 

 it ill incieaseil pr.iportion of connnon salt. 



4lh, f^alt acts fill vej>eiahle snhslances, as a 

 sliniiilanl. And ,')ili, S.ilt pieseives vpyetables 

 from iniiiry, hy sndilen Iransiiions in the temper- 

 ature of ihe almosphere. That salted soils do 

 not lieezu so readily as iisu:il, when salt is appli- 

 ed t<i ihem, is Well know n ; and ihat salt pre- 

 serves crops of Imiiips, cahhaues, &c., from in- 

 jury hy the frost, is ecpi.dly well eslahlished. — 

 Johnson. B. 



Gf.hma.v Silver.— Few are aware of the 

 poisonous rpialiiies of ihis compound. It is very 

 ;;ood lor iinn-monnliii!;s, rifi.'s, <Scc., hut never 

 should he used in llie fiinii of spoon.'!, fir vessels 

 for cooUin:.'. Il is comitfised of copper, ar.^enie, 

 anil nickel. Il oxy ilises very rapidly in conlacl 

 with any acid — even sliuht vefretahle ones: and 

 Ihe small particles which are taken into the 

 stfimach iiTiprrceptihly act as ;i .slow lint sure 

 pfiison. Pure copper spoons Wfinid he prefi;ra- 

 llie. Rvery one is acqnainled with ilie iiatiire of 

 arsenic. iNickel is equally poisonous. 



Aipacha. 



Proliahly few ladies who wear and admire the 

 he.iiililiil fiihric calleil Aipacha, are aware of the 

 source of ils proiluciioii. The .'Mpacha is a wofil- 

 he.arini^ animal, iiidi;;Blioiis 10 South America, 

 anil is one of four vaiieties which hear ireneral 

 poiiils of resemblance lo each oilier. The La- 

 ma, one of' Ihese varielies, has heen lonjr known 

 and ofieii deseiiheil; but il is only wilhiii a few 

 years that the Aipacha has heen con>idereil of 

 sufficient importance lo merit particular no- 

 lice. 



Nine tenlhs of the Wfiol of the .\lp:n'h.i is 

 black, llie remainiler beiiiL' parilv while, reilaiiil 

 itrizza-fl. Il is f)f a very loii;.' staple, ofien rc.ccli- 

 iii;.MWflve inidjes, and resembles soft jilos-y hair 

 — w hlch idiar.ieior is not lost in flyein<r. The In- 

 ilians in the South American moimlains maiiii- 

 lacliire nearly all ilieir cloiliiny: from this wofd, 

 and are euableil 10 appe r in black ihesses, with- 

 out ihe aiil of a dyer. Both the Lama and Alpa- 

 (di;i are, pi;i haps, even of iiMU'e value lo the na- 

 tives as beasts fif bi.'rilen than wool-bearinjr nii- 

 iiiinls, and the obsiiuacy fif llieiii, when irritated, 

 is well known, 'j'he imporlance of ibis animal 

 has already heen coiisiflered by llie Eiijllish, in 

 ilieir h;il, woolen and sliiff trade, aiul an essay on 

 ihe snhjecl has heen pnhhshed b\ Dr. tlamillfiii, 

 f l.oiiilon, from wliich .some of ilieee deiails 

 are cfillecieil. 



The wool is so rrmaikable, beiiiif a jet black, 

 {.dos.sy, silk-like hair, llial il is filleil (iir the pro- 

 ilnction of texile fabrics ifdVerini.' from all others, 

 i.cciipyinjr a meilium posilioii hetvveeii wool anil 

 silk. 



It is now niiiifrlefl wiih fillier materials in such 

 a singular iiianiii>r, th'il while a parlicul:n' five 

 will affil ihfise; il will le.ive the Aipacha wool 

 wiih its iiii:;iu,d black colnr ami thus giving rise 

 lo great diversiiy. — Tlic Iris. 



To Destp.oy Bed Bros. As the hot season 

 approaches, (says ihi; Prairie Farmin',) there will 

 111' ilesperate endeavors fjii the part of the ver- 

 min nations to exleiid their selilements. Nor 

 will domesiic .affairs be at all neglected hy them. 

 Hut as Iheir interesls L'eneiclly clash with those 

 fif the leiiaiils of buildings, closets, anil panieii- 

 l.irly of hells, a cfiniest for siipeiiorily frequent- 

 Iv t.ikes place. In these conlesis it is very ilesi- 

 labh; 10 he armed wiih proper iiiiplemenis, as 

 fin that the success of the war mainly depends. 

 Hot water, pepper, tobacco, ami smari-wei d, ,111 

 lieqnenlly relieil on; but we believe that in such 

 cases llii; victtiry is very generally, finally, w'iih 

 the biting and odorheariug parly. We ailvise 

 the use of mercury, or quicksilver, us the iiiosl 



effective inslrnment lliat can he employed. Il i.i 

 not material in what liu m il is applieil, provideil 

 il is slrong enough : but we believe the pure ar- 

 ticle Irfrat into ibe wliilo of an egg is perhaps as 

 cheap and effective «3 any. 



We have tried this, and have fijimd tliiit the 

 vermin cannot emhire it at all. A very Miiall 

 qiiaiitiiy is sufficient to ensure an imniefiiato 

 surrender. 



I'"rtini Ihe Miitiu Kaniier. 

 Butter. 



Dr. IIohies— Sir: — 1 harilly lake up a news- 

 paper iliai has not some fornmla (lU' wliat 1 call 

 an apology liir a lormula) for making g'lOfI bill- 

 ler. They put me in mind ot u confab I piici; 

 bearil, benveen two old women on soap making. 

 lMi>. IM. askcfl iMrs. W. how she made it making 

 soap? '' .Mi.serahle ! miserable 1 i\Iy husband 

 difli.'l buy all almanack, ami I coiihln't tell when 

 it was tjoofi lide, ami spoileil all my soap, just 

 tiir Want of an aluiaiiack.'' " Hut I suppose 

 \fim' hu^banil bought you one, and you had gootl 

 lindi ?" '■ Well, he lionghl one, hni I hail mise- 

 rable luck too, ami it was fuviiig 10 Ihe pocky 

 beech ashes — 111) husbaiifl would slick in soiiif! 

 beech with ihe bass-wood, rather lliun have it 

 wastefl, and so spt>ileil all the soap." I under- 

 look li> convince ilieiii ihal it was not the beech 

 nor ehh liile that spoileil the siaip, lint 1 might 

 as well have chopped lofjc lf> a lliiuloo as lo 

 heal them mil fif Kieir pieposesseil whims. 



Perhaps vou begin lo think 1 have sirayeil 

 away from llie track i eiitereil tm, lo tell about 

 soap, when t began about builer — lint now lo 

 the hnller point. One writer tells ns it is poor 

 .salt that makes liad linlter. .Xnolhcr tells lis it 

 is iM-caiise the milk was not loppered before tho 

 cream was lakeii oft'. Now, I suppfise ihey iii- 

 qiiireil of some gootl bmier makers liow they 

 made their Inittfu', and ilie\ lohl them some of 

 these stories, either lo keep iheir iiiofie in the 

 dark, so thai they could iuono|Ttriize, or perhaps 

 they li>llowefl the course rectimireiideit, and that 

 there was Sfime redeeming process which they 

 iliil not meniion, ami ihal the writer considered 

 what was in fact a faiiil, thw reason why the bnl- 

 ler was (ifuifl. 



liuiler as vxe all know, is llie oleaginoiis part 

 of the milk, or oil secieleil wiih lb;.' milk. Now 

 ii fiiilv remains, in order 10 make hiiiiei, 10 spp- 

 ariile the oil from the milk, and when il is sepa- 

 rated in a pure slate, il will keep as well as any 

 other oil. Cheese cnnl, or, as one writer c;ills 

 it, lopper, is a very differeiil article from oil : it 

 is a lymph coagnlaleil, ami the very article Ihal 

 conliads what we call the slioiig flavor of but- 

 ter or cheese, from iis exposure lo thi; air. 



.My method for making good biiiier is — liavo 

 your cellar ideaii ; let there be no rolien polalfie.s, 

 iiirnip.s, half roileii bo.irils, or any oiher rotten 

 fir mouldy ariicle. Set your milk in the cellar 

 till Ihe cream has risen, but never let it remain 

 imskimmed till the milk sours, if you do yon 

 will unavoidably have some of the cnifl or rotten 

 milk in your butler. Cream should he skiiiiinerl 

 off clear from any milk. To ilo this, do not lake 

 a saucer, clam-shell, or any thing that cinies to 

 baud, hut have one niaile of liii, with a strainer 

 solflercfl on the botloin, so that all the milk can 

 he draineil frfiiii llie cream. 



The cream should he churned before it con- 

 tracts any bail fl.ivor. As soon as the butler is 

 clmriiRd, il slionlil be taken from the churn wiih 

 a lail\'s delicale hand, (if it is clean, or any oih- 

 er clean ariicle.) and as sotiii as it is n liiile cofil, 

 so thai it will work well, all the bulier-milk 

 should he worked out belVire any salt is put lo il. 

 The .salt should be very fine. I am not so very 

 nice what kind is used, as there is nolhinginany 

 kind that will injure it if the sail is clean; hut 

 if \oii use the li;:hl kind, yon mii.-l |int in the 

 more, as llie strength of salt is nearly in pro- 

 poiiifiii lo ils weighl, if it is clean. Perhaps 

 many will flifl'er iioin me as so iheipialily of salt ; 

 il I hey do, let them prove by cheudcal analysis, 

 that there is in Liverpool salt the very article lli:it 

 makes butter rancid. 



When the butler is sailed, ami llie .suit ihor- 

 onglily worked in, il shoulil he put in a stone fir- 

 kin, and kept as much as possible from the air. 

 Wood is not as good as stone to keep butler in, 

 ftir the builer that is next the wiiful will become 

 strong, while thai in the miiKlle is pBrfeclly 

 aneet. Many uiacltines have been rccoiiiiiieuded 



