292 



NEW ENGLAOT) FARMER. 



June 



kernels of corn to each hill, putting three beans on 

 the west side of each hill. I run the cultivator 

 both ways three or four times ; the last time, when 

 the corn is fifteen or more inches high, make very 

 flat hills, keeping the ground nearly level. I 

 never fail of a good crop of corn and beans. I 

 consider betts better than potatoes, and worth 

 three or four times as muc h as turnips. h. 



Framingham, Mass., Apnl 8, 18G9. 



HARD AND SOFT WOOD ASHES. 



What is the comparative value of hard and soft 

 wood ashes ? or, in other words, what can a far- 

 mer afford to pay for solt wood ashes to, apply to 

 his land, the ashes of hard wood being difficult to 

 obtain in larjre quantities ? What is the best 

 method of applying to a clay loam soil, where the 

 chief object is to increase the amount of hay ? 



Lewiiton, Me., 1869. Sears. 



Remarks. — In an analysis made by M. Saussure, 



Jr., who analyzed some fifteen kinds of wood and 



bark, we find that 1000 parts of the dry wood of a 



young oak, produced two parts of ashes ; 



ICOO parts of d'y oak wood produced 2 parts of ashes. 



" " pop'ar " " 8 " " 



" " tiorse chestnut, " 35 " " 



" " piue wood, " 15 " " 



The ashes of the wood, however, vary considera- 

 bly in the soluble salts which they contain. We have 

 supposed that the ashes of hard wood were heav- 

 ier in measure than those of the soft woods, but that, 

 poimd for pound, there would be little difference 

 in the amount of soluble salts which each would 

 contain. 



In an analysis by Sir II. Davy it is stated that 10,- 

 000 parts of the poplar gave seven of parts potashes ; 

 beech, twelve parts; oak, fifieen; elm, thirty- 

 nine ; grape vine, fifty-five. We think that clear 

 wood ashes is richly worth twenty-five cents per 

 bushel, on a large portion of our lands, but espe- 

 cially those which have been for some years under 

 cultivation. Spread them broadcast in a still day. 



BRICK AND CEMENT FOR MANURE TANKS. 



T see that in your laft issue, Mr. P. C. True, of 

 Pittsfield, N. II., is preparing to construct a water- 

 tight cellar of bricks and cement I suppose, from 

 his manner of writing, that ho intends to build it 

 under his barn. Now I believe a water-tight cel- 

 lar, or at least a water-tight vat or tank of suffi- 

 cient capacity to hold all the droppings from i<lie 

 stable, mu^t beapayinginvestmcnt lor any farmer. 

 But is brick a good material of which to construct 

 it? I ask for information, intending yet to con- 

 struct one myself. Will not the liquids percolate 

 through them ? Are they not cxtinavely used for 

 filters? I am told that stable liquids will tiestroy 

 our common cement. Can any one give definite 

 information regarding this ? Is the Rosendale ce- 

 ment stronger or superior to the common cement ? 



D. L. TOLMAN. 



Marlboro' Depot, N. II., March 30, 18G9. 



Remarks. — The bricks are used, we suppose, to 

 keep the form of the cistern, and the cement to 

 prevent the water from pas^ng out. Water will 

 go through the common soft bri.k quite readily. 

 Hard, burnt brick would be better than soft ones ; 

 that is, would be more firm and durable. ^lany 

 cisterns are constructed by 'cementing directly 

 upon the earth, and answer a good purpose, but 



they are liable to be thrown out of shape by frost 

 or by heavy rains. 



A "WORMY AND UNWELL COLT. 



I have a very valuable colt, four years old, that 

 has been troubled for the two past winters with a 

 worm of a reddish olor, aboutone-half inch long. 

 I have fed her about a tible spoonful of copperas 

 every other day, which has brought away many 

 worms, but yet she keeps running-down and has a 

 very poor appetite. She urinates often and but 

 little at^ time. As there is no veterinary surgeon 

 in our parts, I ask advice of the readers of the 

 Farmer and assure them that any suggestions 

 will be thankfully received. 



Frank W. Bafdwell. 



Alden, McHenry Co., III., April 3, 1869. 



Remarks. — From your description, we are in- 

 clined to the opinion that the worms in your horse 

 are rather the result than the cause of the illness. 

 Intestinal worms are natural to most kinds of ani- 

 mals, but any weakness of the digestive system 

 favors their undue increase. We should fear in- 

 flammation or other disease of the kidneys tw 

 bladder, which may have been aggravated by the 

 doses of copperas administered. In the absence of 

 a veterinary surgeon we would advise you to con- 

 sult your family physician. We solicit the opinion 

 of the readers of the Farmer on the case presented 

 by Mr. Bardwell. 



HAT, cattle, wheat, POTATOES, &C., IN STOWB, 

 VERMONT. 



Stowe is ten miles from Waterbnry, on the Ver- 

 mont Central Railroad, and twenty-twofrornMont- 

 pelier. As a .summer resort it is not surpassed by 

 any town in the State in respect to its mountain 

 scenery, having on its western boundary the high- 

 est peak of the Green Mountains. 



As an agricultural town it; is one of the best in 

 Lnmoille County, having a rii h, productive soil. 

 Farms have nearly doubled in price in the last 

 five years, ranging from $'25 to ^100 per acre, in- 

 cluding buildings. The hay crop has the prefer- 

 ence here, as cattle and butter are the chief articles 

 of export. Farmers who calculated last fall oa 

 the same bulk of hay keeping as mnch stock as 

 usual, have lound themselves greatly raj?taken. 

 There has been much complaint of fodder not 

 spending well, and as far as my observation goes 

 stock is looking rather poor in flesh this spring. 



Some are looking for an early spring, which 

 would be haihd with, joy by many who are short 

 of hay, which is now selling at $"26 per ton, corn 

 $.1.40 per bushel. Wheat has been more exten- 

 sively sown fur the last three years, and fair crops 

 liave been realized. I know of one instance where 

 twenty-two bu.-hcls were threshed from one but-hei 

 of sowing. F\irmers find that they can raise their 

 own wheat, since the high prices demanded for 

 flour have driven ihcm to it. No crop leaves the 

 soil in a better conditi n fur grass. 



llaifcing potatoes fur starch is rather playing out 

 here. One starch faetory which a tew years ago 

 received as many as eigh'ccn thousand bushels in 

 a single season is now ready to iall to pieces, hav- 

 ing nothing to do. Some farms have been so badly 

 run out liy raising potatoe-, that it will take years 

 of liard labor to bring them back to their former 

 state of pvoductivcm ss. To test the effect of pota- 

 toes on land, plant an acre of coin and an acic of 

 potatoes, side by ^idc, giving each the same dress- 

 ing and care, thin stuck boih down in ilietUllor 

 spiing and note the difference in the hay crop. 



Not much of the fertilizers which flood ilu mar- 



