1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



231 



night, when the cream has risen sufficient to take 

 off. Great care should be taken not to allow it to 

 become too much heated, as the quantity of cream 

 will be much less when ready for churninsir ; to one 



straw into heaps near, or on, the field to be plowed ; 



the spring rains will probably wet it through; then, 



just before plowing, spread on to the land as much 



pailful of cream, add four quarts of new mflk, whicl>« ^^^ ^^ plowed under in half a day, so as to get 



in addition to the above method, will give a taste jit under m a wet state. If it is found difficult to 



and flavor far surpassing that of the best made June 

 butter. 



I likewise contend that one-third more of butter 

 from the same quantity of milk can be made from 

 the above method than any other way. 



A Lover of Butter Making. 



C n, jV. H. 



MTSAT MANURE FOR PASTURES? 



Mr. Editor : — I have ten acres of new ground, 

 rather light soil, descending to the east, one quar- 

 ter of the surface covered with large rocks and ledg- 

 es. This is seeded with timothy and red-top, and 

 sowed with rye in September, lSo4, and clover seed 

 in the spring of 1855. I intend it for pasture. — 

 What shall I put on to improve the land, and the 

 amount of feed ? If plaster, how much per acre, 

 or if any of the fertilizers of the day, how much per 

 acre? c. w. 



Indian Orchard, 1856. 



Remarks. — Apply ashes, if you can get it for 

 anything less than twenty cents a bushel, or leached 

 ashes for twelve cents. Plaster sometimes has a 

 good effect. Sow, when the dew is on, four to six 

 bushels an acre. Try an eighth of an acre with 

 guano, and another eighth with superphosphate of 

 lime, and note the results. No one is competent 

 to tell ivhat the result will be. 



HOW TO USE STRAW — ASHES — CLOVER SEED, 



Mr. Editor : — I wish to have your judgment, or 

 that of some of your correspondents, as to the best 

 way to dispose of straw. I have eight or ten tons, 

 and wish to make some disposition of it this spring, 

 What effect would it have to burn the straw on the 

 land before sowing ? (a.) I have heard of scattei-- 

 ing potatoes on grass land and covei'ing them with 

 straw ; would that be profitable ? (6.) How would 

 it do to plow it in deep ? (c.) Also the best and 

 most profitable way to use dry unleached ashes, on 

 dry loamy or gravely soil ? {d.) Is it best to sow 

 timothy in the s])ring or fall ? Will it answer to 

 sow clover seed in the fall, if so, at what time ? (e.) 



I have running water to my barn, caused by a 

 force ])ump, and wish to know how I can firmly at 

 tach the lead pipe to the socket snout, or nose, of 

 the pump, so that it can be easily removed? (/.) I 

 have done it with a hose wound with a strong 

 cord, but it bursts frequently. 



Is sour milk injurious or beneficial to cows, if in- 

 jurious why ? By answering the above you will 

 much oblige, E. KiNGSBERY. 



Derby, March, 1856. 



Remarks. — (a.) There would undoubtedly be 

 great loss in burning straw on the land, beca'.ise all 

 its volatile matter would be dissipated into the air. 

 The straw, plowed under, would supply a large 

 amount of vegetable matter, or humus, to the soil, 

 which would be highly valuable. We would re- 

 commend this course as an experiment; throw the 



get the straw under with the plow, throw it upon a 

 cart, follow the plow and deposit in the furrow to 

 be covered by the next furrow sHce. This process 

 may be a slow one, but worthy of an experiment. 



When buried in the soil in a dry state, straw 

 decomposes slowly, and produces a less sensible ef- 

 fect upon the succeeding crop, therefore, if a quick 

 return from it is desired, it should be saturated with 

 the water of the barn cellar or yard. 



(b.) It is doubtful whether a paying crop would 

 be obtained by covering the potatoes with straw on 

 grass land. Try it, on a rod square. 



(c.) To plow the straw in seven or eight inches 

 deep, is, we think, the true com"se, and one from 

 which important results may be realized. 



(d.) Ashes, like barn-yard dung, is a standard 

 manure. It is a universal panacea. Spread it broad- 

 cast and harrow lightly. 



(e.) Young clover, from seed sown in the fall, 

 is apt to winter-kill. Sow it in March — if on the 

 snow it is as well, and then you can see the seed 

 and sow evenly. Timothy seed may be sown in 

 April, May, or in July, August and September. 

 Some persons seed down grass land in October, but 

 as a general thing, it is too late. 



{/.) Some person better skilled in "pipe laying" 

 than ourselves, must answer this query ; and also 

 the one in regard to sour milk fed to cows. But 

 sour milk is excellent for pigs — why not let them 

 have it ? 



odd year apples. 



Mr. Brown : — Enclosed you will find commu- 

 nications from gentlemen who have in their orchdrds 

 what we consider the very choicest variety of apples, 

 with the addition of being odd ye'ar bearers. I have 

 felt so much interested in this fruit that I have pro- 

 cured of ^Ir. Thorp some specimens from his tree, 

 which I herewith present to you, and if your opinion 

 should be favorable, I trust you will make it known. 



You can judge of the interest I take in this fruit 

 from tho fact that of over one thousand trees which 

 I have within a few years set out for orcharding, 

 the largest portion are of this variety. 



South Hadley, 1856. Charles Eastman. 



Remarks. — The apples did not reach us in per- 

 fect order. They appeared much like the Baldwin. 

 Mr. Eastman's opinion came strongly backed by 

 that of several other gentlemen who know the fruit. 



guano and plaster. 

 John H. Saunders, South Benvick, Me., informs 

 us that he mixes guano and plaster, equal parts, 

 and applies a large table-spoonful to the hill, and 

 has found it to increase the corn and potato crops 

 finely. 



