264 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Nov. 



STIMULATING- MANURES. -EXPERIMENTS. 



EY M. S. GALLUP. 



Messrs. Editors: — In nothing do we witness such 

 a perfect recklessness and entire want of economy on 

 the part of the tillers of the soil, as is exhibited in the 

 waste of those substances which tend to the nutrition, 

 or the stimulus of plants. What a vast amount of 

 these is yearly and daily wasted, which might, by 

 proper economy, be made subservient to the most 

 salutary and beneficial results! Farmers are, gener- 

 ally, too remiss by far in the preservation of manures. 



It is a matter of no ordinary moment, to preserve 

 and apply whatever can possibly tend to increase a 

 crop. Yet very few act upon this principle. Indeed, 

 a great majority of our farmers neglect to attend 

 properly to this matter, and suffer serious losses on 

 that account. Most especially, is it too true that, by 

 many farmers, ashes are not saved and applied to the 

 production of vegetable substances. Some sell this 

 valuable manure to ash-pedlars for an insignificant 

 sum; others suffers it to remain about their premises 

 unused. Either course exhibits a lamentable want of 

 economy on their part. 



Were our farmers aware of the value of both leach- 

 ed and unleached ashes as a stimulating manure, it 

 does seem that they would not be guilty of such su- 

 perlative folly as selling them for ten cents per bushel; 

 or letting them go entierly to waste. Ashes, on most 

 soils, and in most seasons, has not its equal in the 

 whole catalogue of stimulants. " We speak what 

 we know, and testify what we have seen." 



During the past seson, I have made some experi- 

 ments, testing the real value of ashes as a manure. 

 For this purpose, I selected four consecutive rows of 

 corn planted upon soil of equal fertility ; and each of 

 which received the same care and attention in tillage. 

 To the first I applied unleached ashes — to the second 

 leached ashes — to the third, -unleached ashes after hoe- 

 ing the first time, and to the fourth no ashes. The 

 ashes were applied to the first two rows as soon as 

 the spires made their appearance. Note the result : — 

 I harvested the corn about the 2d of September, and 

 ascertained the respective amounts as follows: from 

 the row to which unleached ashes was applied, I ob- 

 tained 32 pounds of ears of corn. From the row to 

 which leached ashes was applied I harvested 35 

 pounds. From the row to which unleached ashes 

 was aplied after hoeing the first time, I got 26 pounds. 

 And, from that to which no ashes were applied, 24 

 pounds of corn. 



From these experiments we deduce the following 

 facts: — 1. That leached ashes are more valuable as 

 a manure than unleached ones. But I applied double 

 the amount of the former. All things considered, a 

 bushel of leached is equal to a bushel of unleached 

 ashes. 2. That ashes is not far from being one- 

 fourth better to be applied as soon as the spires ap- 

 pear than after hoeing the first time. 3. That the 

 application of ashes at a proper season will increase 

 a crop of corn nearly one-third. It is true we must 

 take into consideration the counteracting influence of 

 season, soil, and such like. The past season has 

 been favorable to the use of this manure. 



The soil, too, being a loam, interspersed with 

 gravel, is well adapted to ashes. Upon a wet, clayey 

 soil, or in a wet season, such results might not be 

 obtained. But, as a general thing, the result will 

 not vary materially from the above. 



If what I have stated be correct, does it not be- 



hoove our farmers to save carefully and apply ashes 

 to the production of corn ? Is it not really worth 

 their pains ? Is it the part of wisdom to waste this 

 valuable manure ? Or, rather, is it not the part of 

 wisdom to preserve it ? Judge ye. 



I have likewise applied ashes to potatoes, and find 

 it highly beneficial. It may be advantageously ap- 

 plied to the raising of garden vegetables, also to pas- 

 ture. Spring wheat may be materially benefitted by 

 using ashes. It should be applied as soon as the 

 spires appear. In this section of the country, this 

 crop is very often injured by worms. The applica- 

 tion of ashes, in this case, is an effectual remedy. — 

 Busti, Chaut. Co., JY. Y., Oct., 1849. 



domestic (Exonomn. 



A New Kind of Cheese. — An esteemed friend, in 

 whose recipes we have great confidence, has kindly 

 furnished us with the following method for making 

 good cheese: Boil good white potatoes, and when 

 cold, peel and mash them till not a lump remains. 

 To five pounds thus prepared add a pint and a half 

 of sour milk, and as much salt as may be deemed 

 necessary to season the mass. Having worked it 

 well, let it be covered, from two to four days according 

 to the state of the weather; then work again, make 

 the cheese the size you like and then let them dry in 

 the shade. After they have become sufficiently dry, 

 place them in pots or pans, and let them remain a 

 fortnight or more. In this way cheese of a most ex- 

 cellent quality may be made and what is of no small 

 consequence, it can be kept for years without the 

 slightest deterioration from the effects of age, provi- 

 ded it can be kept dry. A friend who has had the 

 pleasure of eating cheese prepared in this manner, 

 speaks of it in the highest terms. — Maine Farmer. 



Savoy or Sponge Cake. — Take twelve fresh eggs, 

 put them in the scale, and balance them with sugar; 

 take out half and balance the other half with flour; 

 separate the whites from the yolks, whip them up 

 very light, then mix them, and sift in, first sugar, 

 then flour, until both are exhausted: add some grated 

 lemon peel; bake them in paper cases, or little tin 

 moulds. This also makes an excellent pudding, 

 with butter, sugar, and wine for sauce. 



A Substitute for Tea. — Dr. Graham, an old and 

 experienced physician in London, says — "I may 

 state, on very respectable authority, that the first 

 leaves of whortleberry, properly gathered and dried 

 in the shade, cannot be distinguished from the real 

 China teas." 



Cleansing Paint. — The best thing for cleansing 

 oil paint is a sponge dipped in Ammonia which has 

 been copiously diluted in water. Soap dissolves the 

 turpentine as well as the. linseed oil, and not only 

 destroys the smooth and shiny surface, but e: 

 also the lead to the influence of the water and air, 

 and is, therefore, not practicable. 



Shrinking of Flannel. — Enclose new flannel in 

 a bag; put it into a boiler with cold water; heat and 

 boil it. It will never shrink any mire after this op- 

 eration, and should thou be made up into garments. 



To learn, willingly and promptly to do whatever is 



right, simply because it is so, is a great acquisition. 



