36 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



fertilizers -will be best to mix with it to form a 

 compost for my sandy lands ? 



North Lisbon, N. H., 1858. A SuBSCRIBEK. 



Remakks. — Barn-yard manure, if you have it. 

 If not, use wood ashes, from five to twenty bush- 

 els to the cord. If a clay-bed is convenient, mix 

 a portion of that with the muck in addition to 

 the manure or ashes. 



THE POTATO DISEASE. 



Mr. Editor : — Your kindness in admitting to 

 your columns my queries as to your endorsement 

 of the theories of Mr. Reed and others, as to the 

 cause of the decay of the potato, (commonly 

 called the potato rot,) has imposed on me the ne- 

 cessity of further explanation. In making this, 

 I wish to say distinctly, that I have not had the 

 opportunity to make the microscopic observa- 

 tions spoken of, and therefore have not been able 

 to see, what is not to be seen without the aid of 

 such glasses. 



That Mr. Reed and others have found many 

 extremely minute insects, in and about the pota- 

 to, I cannot doubt, with such evidence as is ac- 

 cumulated on the subject. I have read this tes- 

 timony Vvith care ; but whether the insects are 

 the cause or the consequence of the rot, there is 

 nothing in the evidence to determine. 



As our Board of Agriculture have undertaken 

 the investigation, I hope they will not abandon 

 it, until something is made certain. 



Truly yours, J. W. Proctor. 



Nov. 5, 1858. 



Remarks. — No man within our knowledge is 

 more deeply interested in the prosperity of agri- 

 culture, or more zealous in the cause, than our 

 correspondent above. He writes with a bold pen, 

 and expresses his opinions without circumlocu- 

 tion, so that if they sometimes lack a little gen- 

 tleness, we can readily enough impute it to the 

 zeal manifested by him in the cause generally. 

 He puts his hands cheerfully and earnestly to 

 whatever he thinks will benefit the farmer. 



JEFFRIES' PATENT BALL VALVE PUMP. 



I would inform your subscribers that I have 

 one of "Jeffries' Pktent Ball Valve Pumps" in 

 use, which I like very much ; they are manufac- 

 tured by Mr. George L. Newcomb, in Harbor 

 Street, Salem, who has them for sale, and where 

 one can be seen in operatien. I think his price 

 is $25 and $35 for the two sizes of very thorough 

 manufacture. B. P. Ware. 



Salem, Mass., 1858. 



potash and coal ashes, 



I wish to know through the Farmer what 

 amount of first rate potash, dissolved, will make 

 a bushel of anthracite coal ashes equal to one of 

 wood ashes in that article alone. 



I am aware there is other good fertilizing ma- 

 terial in wood ashes, but can't we compound with 

 coal ashes, potash and bone dust, a very good 

 manure for fruit trees ? L. c. C. 



East Lexington, Nov., 1858. 



MILCH cows AND DAIRY FARMS. 



Mr. Brown : — In a late number of the Boston 

 Cultivator, I noticed a severe criticism on the late 

 publication of Secretary Flint, on "Milch Cows 

 and Dairy Farming," in which the plates illustra- 

 tive were strongly condemned. I was astonished 

 to see such strictures from such a source. I had 

 looked upon the editor of that paper as high 

 authority in these matters, and as candid and 

 reasonable in his judgment. For instance, in 

 speaking of the representation of the Oakes cow 

 on the 73d page, he says it looks more like a 

 kangaroo — than like the original. After more 

 than forty years' interval, I cannot bring to mind 

 distinctly the points of that celebrated animal — 

 hut until I saw Mr. H.'s criticisms, I thought 

 Mr. F.'s representations gave a fair idea of her. 

 I have compared it with the representation given 

 of her in the sixth volume of the Massachusetts 

 Journal and Reports, while she lived — and do not 

 perceive suflicient variance to condemn the print 

 entirely. What could have induced Mr. H. to 

 speak thus harshly of a publication favorably re- 

 ceived by farmers generally ? My attention was 

 particularly called to this fact, yesterday, by a com- 

 plimentary reference to tfiis volume in a "Report 

 on Milch Cows," drawn by Hon. R. S. Rogers, 

 who illustrates his fitness for such a task, by the 

 purely-selected stock of animals on his splendid 

 estate. Has our friend swallowed a file in his 

 late tour, or has he lost his balance among the 

 hills of Ayrshire? Essex. 



Essex Co., Nov., 1858. 



DISEASE IN potatoes. 



I am not unwilling to be classed with unbe- 

 lievers, while I have such associates as a major 

 part of the Board of Agriculture, and your intel- 

 ligent correspondent from West Medford. I 

 know it is generally deemed a reproach to be 

 thought skeptical ; but I deem it a greater error, 

 to yield assent upon authority, without sufficient" 

 reason therefor. As the Board of Agriculture 

 have taken into consideration the question of the 

 decay of the potato, I hope wa shall hear from 

 them a distinct exposition of what is known in 

 relation to it. I am clear in the opinion, that 

 the theories put forth by Messrs. Reed, Hender- 

 son, &c., of bugs being the cause of the rot, are 

 not the true cause. J. "W. P. 



Nov. 1, 1858. _ * 



' A TURKEY CROP. 



I have raised this year, from five old turkeys, 

 seventy-five. They are now about five months 

 old, and the males weigh from fifteen to twenty 

 pounds each. The old male, (seventeen months 

 old,) weighs thirty pounds, and has gained five 

 pounds in the last seven weeks. 



David R. Gates. 



New Worcester, Nov., 1858. 



POROUS cheese. 



Will j"ou, or some of your numerous readers, 

 inform me Avhat the cause is of porous cheese ? 

 Is it too much scalding, or not enough ? I should 

 be pleased to read any dairyman's opinion on the 

 subject. New Subscriber. 



North F err ishury, Fi{., 1858. 



