NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



179 



who affect them disagreeably tliis way, all should 

 bear in mind the pof5sibility of so offending others ; 

 and, though none of us can change the nature of the 

 Etmosphcre, which we are always creating aiound 

 us, we can prevent its becoming a nuisance by the 

 accumulation of excreted matter on the skin or in 

 the clothing ; we can, by washing every part of the 

 skin once in twenty-four hours, be sure of sending 

 off oulv fresh exhalations." 



iHccljanics' Pepartmcnt, Qivis, $^c. 



The Ohio Indestructible Mineral Paint. — A 

 paragraph in the last number of the Farmer and 

 Mechanic, asking for information in regaixl to this 

 valuable article, induces me to state the result of my 

 own experiments with it. I have used it on tin, wood, 

 iron, caiiras, and brick, and find it exceedingly well 

 adapted to either. For tin roofing it works exceed- 

 ingly well, becoming in twenty-four hours sufficiently 

 set to resist storms, and continues to indurate for 

 several months, until it becomes a perfect stone 

 coating, apparently sufficient, when three good coats 

 are applied, to endure for half a century. Applied 

 to wood covering, whether on the roof or sides of 

 buildings, it is equally valuable. It sets as soon as 

 ordinary lead paint, and, as when used on tin, con- 

 tinues to harden gi-adually, until it becomes perfectly 

 indurated, or like slate. In this state, a quantity of 

 glowing anthracite coal, or a small charcoal fire 

 kindled on the surface of the wood thus painted, has 

 no effect other than to char the wood underneath, 

 decomposing or removing the paint. Any thing like 

 cinders or burning materials, driven through the air 

 and falling on Avood thus covered with the paint, 

 would fad. to ignite the wood at all. For canvas or 

 burlap roofs, or other covering, it requires three 

 coats, and forms a perfect protection from the ele- 

 ments, and is ajiparcntly as durable as metal. For 

 iron, it seems to adhere with great tenacity, and 

 forms a i^erfoct incorrosive surface, protecting it from 

 all the effects of exposure to the atmosphere. For 

 hrick or stucco work, this paint seems to be invaluable, 

 as two or three coats of it on the surface completely 

 preclude moisture, and obviate the great evil at- 

 tendant on brick dwellings, arising from the absorp- 

 tion and retention of moisture from the outside. In 

 short, I have tested its qualities in a most thorough 

 manner, and have full confidence in the extraor- 

 dinary properties claimed for it b)' the proprietor. 

 The article thus tested was of various colors, and 

 furnished by Mr. W. II. Starr, G7 Eeckman Street, 

 who is general agent for the same, and has issued a 

 pamphlet with full description, directions, &c., in 

 regard to this paint. H. S. 



— Farmer and Mechanic. 



Blue Writing Ink. — Four ounces sulphate of 

 iron, two and a half drachms of sulphuric acid, one 

 ounce, or q. s. nitric acid, six ounces fcrrocyanide of 

 potassium ; water q. s. Dissolve the sulphate of 

 iron in one pint of water, then add the sulphuric 

 acid, and heat the solution to boiling ; tlicn pour in 

 the nitric acid, in small quantities at a time, contin- 

 uing the boiling until the iron is peroxidizcd. dis- 

 solve the ierrocyanide of potassium in two pints of 

 water, and add the former solution, when cold, to 

 this. Collect the precipitate that will be formed on 

 a filter, and carefully wash it with distilled water, 

 until the blue precipitate begins to dissolve in the 

 water. It will now be found to be soluble in pure 

 water, although insoluble if any other salt bo present. 



Rub what remains, in a mortar with distilled water* 

 until a clear solution is obtained, of the required in- 

 tensity of color. A Httle oxalic acid is sometimes 

 added, but this is not necessary, if the above instruc- 

 tions be carefully followed, as tlie precipitate will be 

 perfectly and permanently soluble in pure water. — 

 Scientific Ainerican. 



SUBSOIL PLOUGHING. 



The value of subsoil ploughing seems not to be 

 generally understood in this country. In the reno- 

 vation of old lands, that have been long under cul- 

 tivation, there can be no reasonable doubt, that the 

 breaking up of the under soil, which has become 

 hard and almost impenetrable for air, roots, or moist- 

 ure, and the gradually bringing up to the surface, or 

 the intermingling with the surface, soil of substances 

 from which former crops (if of a culmiferons class, 

 such as wheat, oats, Indian com, &c.) have extracted 

 little or nothing of theu- fertilizing properties, is one 

 of the most effectual means to bring the soil into its 

 original productiveness, that can be adopted. This 

 principle of culture, which has been in ojieration 

 some twenty-five years in Europe, is operating in a 

 large increase of agricultural product. 



In this country we have not had sufficient experi- 

 ence to come at a correct comi^arative estimate of the 

 system. An account of its operation, and some of 

 the results as experienced by the writer, who has 

 used a subsoil plough for the last five years, may 

 not, Mr. Editor, be uninteresting to some of your 

 readers. 



This plough follows in the bottom of the furrow 

 left by the seed or surface plough, and may be set by 

 a gauge, or screw, for any depth desii-cd, from eight 

 to twenty inches. This plough has been constructed 

 (or improved from its original construction) on prin- 

 ciples appearing the best titted to break up, or dis- 

 integrate, the soil at this depth, without throwing it 

 up to the surface, as is the case with the surface 

 plough. Some of the benefits derived, beyond the 

 free admission of the air, are that, in seasons of 

 drought or dry weather, the roots can strike down 

 deep below the action of heat, and obtain moisture. 

 So too, in seasons of wet weather, the surplus of 

 moisture can easily pass down through the subsoil, 

 so as to be beyond an injurious influence on vegeta- 

 tion. After the ground has received one thorough 

 operation of the subsoil plough, it can be worked 

 with much less expense, and be dry, and ready for 

 use much earlier in the spring. I have a field of 

 about two acres, one half of which, in the spring of 

 1810, was subsoilcd; the other part was left -without 

 this operation. With a view to ascertain the value 

 of subsoiling, the field was manured alike, and 

 planted to corn, the last of May. The summer was 

 dry, but not a hill on the subsoilcd part intimated 

 the want of moisture, while on the other part, the 

 leaves rolled very much, and the product was less of 

 fruit and stalk. The field was laid to grass in the 

 fall, and I have mowed it four years, with the same 

 comparative rcsidt as with the corn. 



Perhaps I ought to have stated, that in preparing 

 that part of the field where the subsoil plough was 

 not used, it was ploughed \\ith a large sod plough, 

 to the depth of twelve or fourteen inches; and also, 

 that wc considered it the best texture of soil. I have 

 another field, that has been under the hoc for the 

 last nine years ; six years ago, at the time of its 

 coming into my possession, it produced about twenty 

 or twentv-five' bushels of corn per acre ; the next 

 spring (IS 11) it received a thorough operation of the 

 subsoil plough. Since that time it has been culti- 

 vated for early vegetables, potatoes, peas, beans, vines, 



