1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



257 



surface dries, while the frost is still deep below, is 

 very remarkable. There is none of the up-heaving 

 and continual moisture, so common in Massachu- 

 setts, till the frost is gone ; but the roads and fields 

 become dry and dusty as summer, while it is grad- 

 ually melting away beneath. I remember hearing 

 Prof. Nash complain of the dryness of the atmos- 



})here at Amherst, as unfavorable to the throat and 

 ungs. But here it is much dryer, and yet the 

 country is regarded as peculiarly favorable to that 

 class of disorders. How does the Professor ex- 

 plain it ? 



The tide of immigi-ation this spring is immense. 

 The great bridge across the Mississippi, at this 

 point, is expected to be ready for the iron horse in 

 another week. All of the most valuable land in 

 Illinois is already taken up, and that in Iowa is ra- 

 pidly being so. No public land of any value can 

 be had, within a hundred or two hundred miles of 

 the river. Why do not more people go to Mis- 

 souri? Land can be obtained there, within ten 

 miles of the Iowa line, for five dollars an acre; 

 while at the same distance, on the other side of the 

 line, the same quality of land brings fifteen dollars 

 an acre. M. K. c. 



^pril 12, 1656. 



EQUIVALENTS OF VARIOUS PLANTS 

 TO HAY. 



Mr. Editor : — Farmers are often at a loss to 

 know how much of one kind of ordinary fodder is 

 equal in nutrimental value to an equal amount, in 

 weight or measui'e, of another kind. For instance, 

 if I find my horse is ke])t in good working condition 

 on eight quarts of oats and ten pounds of hay every 

 twenty-four hours, how much corn must I give him 

 in the same time with the eight pounds of hay to 

 produce the same result as the eight quarts of oats ? 

 In Berger's Economy of Farming, translated by 

 Smith, there is a "Table of Equivalents," which will 

 be found useful to those having the management of 

 stock. The following is an extract ; — 



An ox requires two per cent, of his live weight in 

 hay per day ; if he works, two and a half per cent. 



A milch cow, three per cent. A fattening ox, five 

 per cent, at first, and four per cent, when half-fat- 

 tened, and afterwards. Sheep, when grown, three 

 and a half per cent, of their live weight in hay per 

 day." I have found this table of great value while 

 feeding different animals on diverse kinds of food, 

 as well in my stall-feeding and fallowing operations. 

 — Germantown Telegraph. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



MEADOW MUCK. 



ISIr. Bro\vn : — If I remember right, it is report- 

 ed in the New York Times, that some one made 

 the remark at the Farmers' Club in New York, 

 that muck, as it is generally used, was not only 

 worthless but absolutely poisonous. Now sir, as I 

 have been drawing muck all the time I could get 

 this winter, the very idea that my labor may be 

 worse than vain, is no very pleasant thought. It 

 is said 12 or 15 bushels of ashes will make one 

 cord equal to cow dung. Ashes are worth here 20 

 cents per bushel, and difficult to find them at that 

 price. 



If you will be so kind as to give us directions 

 how to manage with our muck, it will most thank- 

 fully be received. 



A subsciiber to your paper, Mr. Wm. Gould, 

 made a fish pond last summer. He put into it 

 120 brook trout. He would Hke a little informa- 

 tion in regard to their management, feeding, breed- 

 ing, &c. S. CUNE. 



Remarks. — Don't be alarmed, friend Cune ; you 

 have been profitably engaged during the winter. 

 Now put your muck into a heap, and mix as much 

 ashes with it as you can. At 20 cents a bushel, it 

 is cheap manure. After the heap has remained a 

 few months, overhaul and pulverize it. If you wish 

 to haul out manure that you are not ready to use, 

 cover it up well with the muck, instead of hauling 

 too much muck to the barn. Such a heap of muck 

 on a farm is literally a bank from which you may 

 always draw with pleasure and projit. 



The New York man said, "as generally used," 

 and meant by that, we suppose, hauled from the 

 swamp to the upland and directly plowed in. In 

 New England some of us know a better practice, 

 and among the number is Mr. SoLYMAN Cune. 



There is a little work published on "The Artificial 

 Propagation of Fish," which may be found at the 

 bookstores. 



LIMING LAND WELL M.\NURED. 



Mr. Brown : — I have land of a light, sandy 

 character, on which I intend to spread a good coat 

 of barn-yard manure, and plow it under, and plant 

 com and potatoes. Will an application of Hme, at 

 33 cts. per bushel pay ? If so, how and where 

 should it be applied ? G. s. N. 



Deerjield, 1856. 



Remarks. — We think not. Try the lime on a quar- 

 ter of an acre, and satisfy yourself. 



J. S. Needham, South Danvers. — Please accept 

 thanks for the White Thimbleberry plants. 



