1369. 



NEW ENGLAND FAIl]VtER. 



291 



but more may be added from time to time to main- 

 tain moiiture. In two or three weeks the bones 

 will be broken down completely, and the whole 

 may be turned out upon a floor, and mixed with 

 two bushels of dry peat or good soil, and after dry- 

 ing it is fit for use. This mixture, embracing 

 nearly or quite all the great essentials of plant 

 food, is one which in its application will afford 

 most prompt and satisfactory results. Its produc- 

 tion cannot be too highly recommended." 



Directions have frequently been siven for the use 

 of sulphuric acid, but this is dingcrous stuff for 

 people to meddle with who are not experienced in 

 its use. Even the s-imple process recommended by 

 Dr. Nichols may require some skill and practice. 

 That "everything is a trade;" is a fact that ought 

 to be reniemliered by all who undertake to do any- 

 thing from the directions of others. With the 

 most particular directions how to chop off a log, 

 what awkward work any one would make on the 

 first attempt who had never swurg an axe. It is a 

 simple oi")€rati n to put up a leach, but how many 

 fail in getting lye fit to make soap. So in dissolv- 

 ing bones, practice makes perfect; and we might 

 not lose our confidence in the recommendation of 

 Dr. Nichols, though you should fail of perfect suc- 

 cess en the first attempt. Yuu will find the sledge 

 hammering of a thousand pounds of bone no 

 small job. Where one can wait six months or so 

 for an operation, whole bones are sometimes treat- 

 ed with ashes as above. In such case if the larger 

 ones are not sutfiiiently softened, they are raked 

 out, and submitted to the tame process again. 



SrPERPHOSPUATE FOR POTATOES. 



I would like to inquire of you or through your 

 paper, the b. st methoil of planting Early Rose po- 

 tatoes with Hradiey's Piio.-phaie. 



East Haidwick, Vt., 1869. A Youxo Farmer. 



Remarks. — In his lircular, Mr. Bradley directs 

 to ap|ly for corn and potatoes "a table-spoonful of 

 pho.^i'hate to cadi hill, thoroughly mix it with the 

 soil, then drop ihe teed. This will require about 

 250 pounds to the acre." If the land receives no 

 other manure he recommends harrowing in per- 

 haps an equal or a litile larger amount, sown 

 broadcast, pre\ious to pianting. 



SHEEP PULLING WOOL. 



What makes my sheep eat wool ? None but my 

 ewe she( p do it. They have good hay, shorts and 

 meai. I keep salt by ihem, and plenty of pine 

 liml)s. Keaksarge. 



EaU Andover, N. H., April 16, 1869. 



Remarks. — Sheep that have the itch or scab 

 will i-ometimes strip themselves bare by rubbing 

 and ii'.Kigio relieve the intolerable itching pro- 

 duced by the disease. But i-heep often bite or pull 

 cut wool w hen free from tbis disease. About three 

 years ago we pubUshed a valuable article upon 

 this subject written by Mr. E. R. Shedd, of Wind- 

 sor, Vt. From two cases of wool pulling in his own 

 flock, he concluded it was in consequence of a 



change from poor to good keeping, causing irrita- 

 tion and itching upon the skin, and that the ani- 

 mal pulled out the wool to reach the irritated 

 spots. He also says that sheep coming to the. 

 barn in good condition and fed at once a liberal 

 supply of grain will occasionally exhibit the same 

 symptoms. The remedy which he has used with 

 perfect success, is to take unguentum and hog's 

 lard in equal proportions, mixed, and opening the 

 wool at its riigged points, take a little upon the 

 end of the finger and apply it upon the skin, rub- 

 bing it ia* thoroughly, being careful not to leave 

 any of it upon the ends of the wool. This he re- 

 commended as a sure cure, if faithfully applied. 



lice on cattle. 



I would like to know Ihe best method for killing 

 lice on cattle. One of my calves is troubled very 

 badly. A neighbor told me to try a licle kero- 

 sene. I did sj, and the result was the hair came 

 off where 1 put the fluid. 



A Young Subscriber. 



Dover, N. H., April 9, 1869. 



Remarks. — In the back numbers of the Far- 

 mer a great many remedies have been given. Mr. 

 J. Wilkinson; of Baltimore, Md., recommends in 

 the Practical Farmer the application of hard wood 

 ashes with a sieve to the animal, from head to tail, 

 applying two to three quarts. The animal should 

 be kept from being wet a few days, after which if 

 there is a warm rain let it be well drenched. As 

 soon as the hair is dry apply ashes as before. A 

 third application is generally sufficient, but never 

 knew the fourth to fail. About four days should 

 intervene between the ashings. The nits hatch 

 in six to eight days, according to their position on 

 the animal. The stable should be carefully cleaned, 

 and the floor as well as walls whitewashed. Fat 

 cattle seldom have lice. An ointment of one 

 quart of lard melted with two ounces of yellow 

 snuff rubbed on the back from head to tail, and 

 around the neck and ears, has been found success- 

 ful. Others rely on fine dust gathered in summer 

 from the roads, or fine brick dust, feeding the ani- 

 mals meanwhile a little sulphur. "More depends 

 on the nurse than on the doctor," in the stable as 

 well as in the sick chamber. 



beans and PUMPKINS AVITH CORN. 



As you a'^k farmers to answer the questions of 

 "Nat" in the Farmer of April 3, I offer the results 

 ot my experience upon the suiijcct. I am about 

 70 year.- old, have v\orkeu on many farms inlNIas- 

 sachusetts and Vermont, and in my travels have 

 seen considerable of farming in Connecticut and 

 New Hampshire. As i have a farm of only six- 

 teen acres, 1 am able to till it pre ty much as I 

 please, and work for my neighbOis about half the 

 season. Consequently I am tainiliar with both 

 good and poor maniigement. trom this experi- 

 ence 1 wish to tell "Nat" that I dont think pump- 

 kins very profitable, tnough I raise a few to stew 

 tor pies and to ijoil tor the pigs. But I do think it 

 is profitable to raise beans with corn. For corn I 

 plough my land deep, spread on a good coat of 

 manure, which I plough under with a furrow of 

 some three or lour inches. I drop three or four 



