68 



GENESEE FARMER. 



May, 1845 



P^or tUe Genesee Farmer. 



SYMPHYTUM, or COMFRF.Y ; 

 A neiv kind of Food for Men and Cattle. 



In searching for aids in a new self-supporting 

 eystem of general and liberal education, especially 

 in the physical and dietetic departments, I was led, 

 Bome ten years ago, to commence a series of exper- 

 iments upon this vegetable ; the interesting results 

 of which I began, in September, 1842, to communi- 

 cate publicly in my own native eastern region. 

 This, for the public benefit, I wish still to do, as op- 

 portunities shall be afforded. 



I have found this article truly of rare value ; the 

 herb made into hay for cattle, and the root dried and 

 ground to flour for man. Any who shall use similar 

 experiments, I doubt not, will find similar results. 



It is a native of this and many other countries ; 

 found both in a wild state and also cultivated in 

 many gardens for its healthful qualities. It is peren- 

 nial ; very hardy ; the crop sure ; the growth luxu- 

 riant ; the produce abundant ; while the labor it re- 

 quires is very small. In 1841, I obtained, of two 

 years' growth of roots, on soil of moderately good 

 tilth, after the caps of the roots were taken off to 

 re-plant, when thoroughly dried and ground, at the 

 rate of 24,200 pounds of flour the acre. In 1842, I 

 obtained on the same soil, from the herb of the sec- 

 ond years growth, at two cuttings, at the rate of 

 11,616 pounds of well-made, good hay the acre. It 

 requires no other tilling, or attention, than digging 

 the crop of roots in April, once in two or three 

 years, and re-planting as you dig, about 7 or 8 inches 

 apart both ways ; and cutting and haying the herbs, 

 once the first year, and twice a year afterwards. 



When ground in a cofiTee or corn mill, the root 

 flour may then be used like other articles of food, ac- 

 cording to the requsitions of health, convenience, or 

 fancy, in various breads, gruels, puddings, griddles, 

 Boups, pastry and custards, and in such proportions 

 as shall be found agreeable. It is, like arrowroot, 

 sago, and oatmeal, very mucilaginous, nutritious, 

 and easy of digestion. It operates well for the 

 lungs. It has restored a lost voice, and is one of the 

 best remedies for habitual coughs and incipient con- 

 Eumptions. It nourishes the feeble, and suits well a 

 dyspeptic stomach, when no other food can be kept 

 down ; and it sets all right in the bowels. I think 

 it one of the best articles for sustenance and health 

 ever made for man, and that on almost every account 

 But let others cultivate and try it for themselves, 

 and it will probably, with them as with me, be con- 

 stantly growing in their estimation. 



With kind regards to all concerned, 



EZEKIEL RICH, 

 A Minister of the Gospel and an 



Batavia, JV. Y., 1845. Educator. 



For the GeiiPsee Farmer. 



SCIENCE OF VEGETABLE NUTRITION. 

 POTATO-FATTED HOGS. 

 How is it that doctors do so disagree. Professor 

 Emmons says, that plants " derive their sustenance 

 almost entirely through their roots." Per contra, 

 Dr. Lee is of opinion that at least 80 per cent, of 

 all vegetable structure is derived from the atmos- 

 phere. Liebig's theory corroborates Dr. Lee's opin- 

 ion : he says, " When a plant has matured the or- 

 gans by which it obtains food from the atmosphere, 

 the carbonic acid from the soil is no longer requir- 

 ed." I have tried the experiment of clipping the 

 leavei of Indian corn, after the pollen was develop- 



ed : the result was, thot no perfect ears were per- 

 formed. 



Professor Hall remarks, that different plants pos- 

 sess different powers— some absorbing more from 

 the atmosphere than others ; that a vine running 

 over a dunghill, or in the vicinity of animal and ve- 

 getable decomposition, will flourish better than in 

 an inodorous atmosphere. This strikes at the doc- 

 trine of Dr. Emmons, and corroborates Liebig, Lee, 

 and others. 



Mr. True Remick, of Maine, fats hogs on pota- 

 toes — prima facia evidence that vegetable physiolo- 

 gists are mistaken in supposing that potatoes do not 

 possess the fat-forming elements of Indian corn. 

 Query — How many boiled potatoes did those hogs 

 eat? how hard was their fat? did it not evaporate 

 when exposed to the hot frying-pan ? Did it never 

 occur to a farmer, that the leaf-lard of a potato-fed 

 hog would evaporate full 15 per cent, in the frying ? 

 S. W. 



For the Genesee Farmer. 



MARL. 



Marl — a species of calcareous carlh, of different composi- 

 tion, and possessing fertilizing properties. — Webster. 



The term "marl;" in common parlance, is applied 

 to many deposits which contain lime, and by some 

 to soils which are of a yellowish color, which con- 

 tain a small portion of clay, mixed with silicious 

 matter, with or without lime. 



Shell-marl is a term more limited in its significa- 

 tion, and is used to denote those deposites which are 

 found scattered through different countries, and are 

 evidently produced by different crustaceous animals, 

 while living in salt or fresh water. The shells of 

 such animals are composed of lime, combined with 

 phosphoric and carbonic acid, and, when fresh, con- 

 tain ammonia. All these substances, separate or 

 combined, are taken into plants, and without them 

 many plants will not arrive at perfection. Shell- 

 marl has, in countries where it is found, been consid- 

 ered equal in value with plaster of Paris, and, when 

 applied to wheat lands, even superior to that article. 



There is another substance, found precipitated 

 from waters which flow from lime formations, which 

 is often called marl. It is found in beds of consid- 

 erable thickness, in some localities soft and friable, 

 in others forming porous stones, of greater or lesser 

 magnitude, when it is called titfa. This substance 

 has been found valuable as a manure, when applied 

 to soils destitute of lime. 



Localities. — In searching for shell-marl, those pla- 

 ces should be examined which are supposed to have 

 been covered with standing pools or ponds of water 

 at some previous period, and which have been drained 

 by art, or become dry by natural causes. In such 

 localities, it is often foimd resting upon a stratum of 

 soft, unctuous earth, and covered with a quantity of 

 vegetable matter. 



Test. — The quality of shell-marl may be readily 

 ascertained by putting a small quantity, when dry, 

 into a tumbler, and pouring vinegar upon it : in pro- 

 portion to the rapidity of its effervescence, so will 

 be its value^ N. GOO DSELL. 



RHUBARB, or Pie Plant.— After the plants have a good start, 

 (say second year after phinting,) hoe the eiirth from the roots 18 to 

 24 inches and as deep as the roots run down. Then put in a quantity 

 (no dangerof getting too much) of r tied cow manure, and the effect 

 is astonishing the succeeding year— rendering it unnecessary to put 

 barrels over them — the stalk being much more tender from its quick 

 growth. You can in this way have cuttings twice a week from the 

 same plant. This is the result of my experiment. J. H. \V. 



