THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



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were mild and sweet. I conclude from analogy, that the western grown sweet potatoes are likely to 

 be the sweetest and best 



Now, a word as to what may be the cause of this false ojnniou expressed in Buffalo, concerning 

 western grown potatoes. May it not be from the fact that in the west there are a groat many varie- 

 ties of them grown, and many of them of infei-ior quality, each variety being different almost as 

 apples. Sweet potato amatures have represented to me that the very best varieties are the Yellovj 

 Spanish and the Bed Spanish, and that there is little difference between them, some choosing the 

 one and some the other. 



Last season I planted from the 10th of June to the 10th of July ; the last planted were of com-se 

 not very large, but paid very weH. I believe there are more failures from having tlie ground too 

 rich than too poor. If manure is thought to be necessary, spread on and plow it in decj), then han'ow 

 well, ridge up three furrows together three and a half feet apart, and set the plants from a foot to 

 eighteen inches apart. Keep them clean, the vines loose from the ground in all other places except 

 at the original root, and tlie ground well ridged up, and you may expect five bushels to the hundred 

 sprouts, if planted by the 10th of June. Cyrus Mooee. — Port Clintmi, Mich. 



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Gapes in Chickens. — As my husband is a subscriber and constant reader of your valuable paper 

 you will, I hope, pardon the liberty I take in addressing you a sliort article on the subject of "Gapes 

 in Chickens," which, if you should consider worthy a place in your pages, you are welcome to lay 

 before your numerous readers, for the consideration of those who have been learning by dear experi- 

 ence (as I think I have learned) the nature of this troublesome disease. I have been induced to write 

 tJiis from haviag seen no answer to the numerous inquiries on this subject, that were satisfactory to 

 my mind. One writer attributes gapes to giving chickens wet food ; another, to sour food ; another 

 to light bread ; &c. These theories may all be correct ; but from several years' experience in the 

 rearing of chickens, I am persuaded that the food has but little to do with preventing, producing, or 

 Cluing gapes, since the same results have been produced from giving a dozen different kinds of food 

 prepared in nearly as many different ways. 



As many persons who raise fowls appear entirely Ignorant of the nature of this disease, I will state 

 plainly my views. The constant gaping is the consequence of an effort on the part of the chicken 

 to expel a knot of small worms, which I have always found in the windpipe, (and not in the gullet, 

 or meat-pipe, as many suppose,) at its lower extremity, where it joins the lungs. Their location 

 apjioars very evident from the fact that they prevent respiration, and hence the effort to expel them. 



The Cause. — I have never yet been able to detect any other cause for this disease than cold, as the 

 chicks are always affected during or soon after cold, wet weather, and never in good weather. 



27w Owe. — I have tried all the prescriptions that have been recommended by the most learned 

 "doctors" who have written on this subject, through the agricultural press — black and Cayenne 

 pepper, Jerusalem oak, spirits turpentine, and a host of other nostrums, that have had no other effect 

 than to assist the little sufferers off. I have also tried to extract the worms with a wire ; but this I 

 consider very unsafe, as it kills as many as it cures. I have also tried a feather, with no better 

 success ; as one stiff enough to extract the worms is very apt to destroy the chicken. My present 

 remedy, however, has never failed in a single instance, if taken in time. It is this : I procure a 

 spear of blue-grass, and after stripping off the seeds, I twist it in my fingei-s until I get the fibrous 

 branches closely entwined around the main stem ; then pulling out the tongue of the chicken until 

 the mouth of tlie windpipe is presented, I insert the spear of grass, and turning it around several 

 times, until it reaches the lower extremity of the windpipe, I withdraw it with the worms attached. 

 If, however, the worms do not appear to be all extracted, I have a cup of water at hand into which 

 I plunge the beak of the chicken, which causes it to sneeze up the remaining worms that have been 

 loosened by the grass. It is sometimes necessary to insert the gra.ss more than once, especially with 

 "young practitioners." Many persons whom I have instructed how to cure chickens of gapes, have 

 killed every one they attempted to cure ; but upon investigation, I have found that they put the 

 gi-ass down the throat instead of the windpipe. Great care must be taken in this matter. 



2o prevent Gapes, I have only to observe a little care in cold, damp weathei-, to keep my young 

 chickens comfortably housed An eye should also be kept to avoid those causes in tlie management 

 of fowls which produce degeneracy, since healthy fowls are not liable to disease. 



I may not be correct in my theory ; if so, I hope to be corrected One thing, however, is certain ; 

 in my practical treatment of the disease, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I never lose a single 

 chicken. A. A. J. Jones. — Bcllefonte Landing, Ky. 



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