202 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



it does not only supply a necessary and indispensa- 

 ble condition of vegetable life in furnishing a sol- 

 vent for the inert and soluble matters already con- 

 tained in the soil, but it supplies the actual food of 

 vegetables in a state of solution, and consequently 

 ready for their immediate appropriation and sup- 

 port. 



There is no substance that enters into the organ- 

 ization of the living system of plants, that can be 

 taken up by the roots, as food, except in a state of 

 solution. Hence the powerful effects produced by 

 copious and frequent irrigation in seasons of exces- 

 sive drought, and Avhen the natural supplies of the 

 soil are so far exhausted as to cause it to parch, and 

 the soluble humus contained in it, to become dry 

 and incapable of yielding its juices to the roots it is 

 designed by nature to supply. In many places, the 

 natural facilities for introducing a system of gener- 

 al irrigation, which would subserve the wants and 

 supply the necessities of a whole community, as in 

 the cases above mentioned, are not to be found ; 

 yet there are a great many farms at least, that might 

 be effectually and permanently irrigated, at very 

 small expense. It is already done, in some instan- 

 ces in our knoM-ledge, with the happiest results. 



That irrigation and thorough draining must go to- 

 gether, we are aware, and to establish a complete 

 system would be a work of considerable time and 

 expense on a large farm. But the subject is one of 

 importance, and ought to be familiar with the 

 thought of every farmer, so that in his annual oper- 

 ations he may have the object in ^iew, and that they 

 may have a tendency to the beginning of the work. 



It seems to us that the character of our summer 

 climate is settled — it is to be dry ; so dry, that 

 without artificial means, either of deep trenching and 

 high manuring, or by irrigation, many of our crops 

 must annually suffer. It is the part of wisdom, then, 

 for the cultivator to have in view some method of 

 averting an evil which shall annually reduce his 

 profits and blast his hopes. 



For the New England Farmer. 



CAEE OF COLTS. 



Mr. Editor : — Knowing the inattention usually 

 shown to questions asked through the public prints, 

 I take the liberty of being one (perhaps of the five 

 hundred) to give answers from practical experience, 

 to the questions asked in your February number of 

 the Monthly Farmer in regard to raising colts ; 

 and will here say that it is much the custom of 

 breeders generally to care very little for coUs, and 

 until of late years there was no stock raised, to 

 which so little care was given. I will make an- 

 swer in the same order as the questions were pub- 

 lished in the February number. 



1. Keep colts in good order, not too fat, with a 

 variety or change of food. Oats, cut feed or roots, 

 and two or three quarts of grain, not more, per 

 day. 



2. Wean colts before taking up for winter, if 

 strong and Uvely ; if not, afterwards, but according 

 to the time of being foaled. 



3. The colt should be weaned according to the 

 strength of it and its dam, but generally at about 

 the age of six months. 



4. If the colt was a late one, by all means. It 

 would not materially injure the mare, if she could 

 be kept in good flesh and spirits ; but if a large and 

 strong colt, it would reduce the strength of the 

 mare. It is not advisable to let a colt draw on the 

 mare longer than can be helped. 



I will here remark that there is no particular 

 need of cleannig or rubbing, but feed and water, 

 regularly, and keep them warm in winter, and by 

 this, and kind treatment push them forward for the 

 first two years. But above all things to begin with, 

 — breed from the best blood to be had, as they are 

 more profitable, and the expense is just as much to 

 raise a good one that will bring a $150 at a year 

 old, perhaps $300, as one that never will bring 

 much. 



If these answers meet your ideas, use them as 

 you will ; if not, why they may be sent with the 

 rest of the rejected ones to the fire. 



Respectfully, your obedient servant, 



Feb., 1856. M. A. C. 



Fur the Neic England Fanner. 



Biographies. — Some weeks since we stated that 

 it would be a part of our plan hereafter to publish 

 brief biographical notices of men distinguished for 

 their ability and influence in matters pertaining to 

 agriculture. We have already given a notice of the 

 late Frederic Howes, Esq., of Salem, and are now 

 furnished with a memoir of the late Professor Za- 

 DOCK Thompson, of Vermont, the State Naturalist 

 at the time of his death, and long eminent for the 

 interest he manifested in every thing that promo- 

 ted the prosperity and tended to adorn rural life. 

 We shall soon find a place for this sketch. 



Peppergrass among the Cucumbers. — A gen- 

 tleman from the western part of the State in- 

 forms us that a plant or two of peppergrass in a 

 cucumber hill, will keep off all yellow bugs. 



SPROUTED GRAIN. 



Mr. Editor:— In the February number of your 

 interesting and valuable paper, I find an inquiry 

 from Mr. W. Bugbee, respecting the sowing of 

 grown or sprouted wheat. During the last twenty 

 years I have usually sown grown grain and ob- 

 tained fair crops. The last season my grain, both 

 wheat and rye, was badly grown, so much so, as to 

 render it wholly unfit for use as to making bread. 

 I sowed both kinds of it last fall, which came up 

 well and looked as well as usual when the snow 

 came. It would be prudent, when grain has been 

 much sprouted, to sow a few quarts of seed extra, 

 to the acre. But I will give our friend B. my 

 method of testing seeds, both of grain and grasses, 

 which is, to fill a tumbler nearly full of milk-warm 

 water, lay upon the water in the tumbler a piece of 

 cotton batting, having previously scattered some 

 seeds to be tested into the cotton ; set it in the sun 

 in a window, or keep it in a Avarm place, and in 

 forty-eight hours or less the seeds will show their 

 vitality, if they have any in them. The above is a 

 sure test and no mistake. 



