NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



133 



with them, either as to the time of removal, or as to 

 the fact of trimming. The mode of cutting should 

 be somewhat different from that practised with decid- 

 uous trees. They do not push out shoots so easily 

 from tlie trunk ; and it would not be safe to cut thein 

 as close. The best mode of trimming would be that 

 of shortening the branches ; cutting of}' half or two 

 thirds their length, as should bo preferred. This is 

 also the best mode of trimming small deciduous 

 trees ; but in removing larger ones, such as are taken 

 from the forest for shade, it is necessary to practise 

 cutting much more severely ; unless they are taken 

 from open ground, and dug up with extra care, so as 

 to save as many roots as possible. K carelessly dug, 

 such trees should be shortened from the top one third 

 or more, and all the side limbs entirely removed, 

 leaving them like bean poles. 



"This mode of treatment would probably bo im- 

 proper for evergreens, though we have never made 

 any experiments with a view of ascertaining how 

 jnuch cutting they would bear. 



" In removing evergreens, or any other forest tree, 

 it should be remembered that those which gi-ow in 

 open grounds, or near them, exposed to sun and 

 air, will be supplied with many more small roots 

 than those "rown in the shade of other trees." 



NATURE OF DIFFERENT SOILS. 



Clay is the stiffcst of all kinds of soils, and gen- 

 erally contains an unctuous quality. Some kinds of 

 clay arc richer than others, and will always produce 

 much larger crojis by cultivation than other kinds. 

 Some arc soft and slippery ; but all of them retain 

 water poured on their surfaces, where it stagnates 

 ard chills the plants, without sinking into the soil. 

 T1,.e closeness and heaviness of clay prevent the 

 root? and fibres of plants from spreading in search of 

 nourishment. All kinds of clay are naturally un- 

 favorable to vegetation, and are not worth any thing, 

 till their texture is so loosened and opened by a 

 mixture of other substances, as to admit the inliu- 

 ence of the sun and air. Among substances rccom- 

 jtiended to be mixed with it, sand is, of all others, to 

 be preferred. The sea sand is the best, where it can 

 be obtained, for this most effectually breaks the co- 

 hesion. Also, it is not wholly formed of small stones, 

 bvit contains a good deal of calcareous matter. The 

 finer the sand is, the more easily it penetrates clay. 



The next best sand is that washed down by rains 

 from hills. Those which are dry and light, arc not 

 80 good as the fine, pulverized sand, more of the 

 nature of line loam. 



Ashes, and all kinds of vegetable and animal sub- 

 stances, are good for clay ; but they are found to be 

 far more beneficial when well mixed with sand, for 

 this is almost the only substance that will separate 

 the hard, caked clay, so as to admit the rays of the 

 sun. 



Low meadow land has somewhat the nature of 

 clay. Althoiigh it may be very rich, formed per- 

 haps entirely of decayed vegetable substances, yet it 

 will produce but a very little of any thing, until it is 

 changed from that hard, solid nature, so as to be acted 

 upon by foreign inliucnces. If the land is moist, lot 

 it be well ditched. If the ditches should be in the 

 way, they can be filled up with small stones, within 

 a foot or two of the surface, and then covered over 

 with gravel. In this manner the meadow can be 

 made nearly as dry as upland ; the treatment of it, 

 then, should be nearly the same as that given for 

 clayey soils. Both ought to be well ploughed, and 

 especially in the fall, in order that the frost may have 

 a greater influence in pulverizing the soil during tho 

 winter. 



There is another kind of light, poor land, which 

 seldom produces any thing till well manured. It 

 needs something that will give substance to the s^il. 

 Decayed vegetables are probably tlie best to effect 

 this. In the spring, sow the field with buckwheat, 

 or oats, after the rate of three or foixr bushels to tho 

 acre ; when they are in bloom, roll them down, and 

 then plough them in. They will soon ferment and rot 

 in tho ground. Often another crop can be sown and 

 ploughed in the same year. In this manner the 

 most sterile field can be made fruitful at a very little 

 ex]icnse. 



There is another kind of land, which is light and 

 rich, being most easy to cultivate to advantage, and 

 is the most productive, (^'oncoming the nature of 

 this, little need be said. Put on a sufficient (quantity 

 of any kind of manure, and if the season be favorable, 

 there will be a rich harvest. 



There is another kind of land, which is coarse and 

 rough ; often it is covered with bushes, or old 

 stumps, which should all be taken out by the roots. 

 It should be ploughed and cross-ploughed in the fall, 

 and the same in the spring. Tho more it is pul- 

 verized, so much more productive it wiU be. The 

 harrow and the roller may be very useful in tearing 

 to pieces and beating down the sods. Ashes or lime 

 are beneficial for such land ; let them be mixed with 

 some vegetable manure, and applied liberally, and tho 

 future crops of grain and grass will afford a rich 

 reward for the labor and expense. 



The nature of soils, of course, in various parts of 

 the country, is very different, and the management 

 for such should be different. Experiments on soils 

 are the only sure means of ascertaining their true 

 nature. Let every farmer be observant in experi- 

 mental farming, and with the aid of philosophical 

 thinkers, their profession will soon rise to the honor- 

 able position which its true dignity merits. 



M. H. F. 



Hanover, N. IL, 18o0. 

 — Dollar Newspcqier. 



APPLICATION OF BONES AS A MANURE. 



Dr. liEE : As I have been a constant reader of 

 various agricultural journals, for seven or eight years, 

 my attention has been attracted by frequent notices 

 of the great utility of bones, in difi'erent conditions, 

 as fertilizers ; and being now in a situatiun to pro- 

 cure them, I wish to inquire of you, what is the most 

 economical and effective manner of applying them. 

 It seems that tho method of reducing them now 

 generally used, is by means of sidphurie acid ; and a 

 i'rof. Way, of England, I believe, recommends the 

 addition of equal weights of acid and conrmon stilt. 

 On this I should like to have your opinion, as well as 

 on the following points, viz. : — 



1. For corn, on a clay loam, would leached ashes, 

 charcoal icasfe, or both, be best to dry the bones 

 M-ith, after solution ? 2. What is the best mode of 

 application for corn or root crops, — to drop it with 

 the seed, or to cover the seed, and apply immediately 

 over it, or wait nutil the corn, carrots, N:c., ai)pear 

 above ground ? o. Will the mixture be injured by 

 lying in a heap a month or more ? And lastly, 

 how much is required per acre for corn ? 



An answer to the above questions, in season for 

 the coming spring, will be very thankfully received. 



My father purchased the farm that we occupy, in 

 the spring of IS 18. It consists mostly of a clay loam, 

 on a stiff clay subsoil, and is underlaitl by a spcciea 

 of limestone. Some boulders of the same kind, also 

 lie on the surface. The farm has been "skinned," 

 pretty thoroughly; but we, being "book farmcr.-i," 

 expect to increase its fertility somewhat bei'Dre long. 

 by means of deep ploughing, turning under clover 



