2S 



THE FARMKRS CABINET. 



VOL. I 



Practical HiiiS*!- 



The following items relating to rural econ- 

 omy are derivRdfrom conversations which we 

 have froai timr; to to time entered into with 

 sundry practical farmers. 



Tar for Sheep. — A gentleman who keeps 

 a large flock of sheep says that during the 

 season of grazing he gives his sheep tar, at 

 the rate of a gill a day for every twenty sheep. 

 He puts the tar in troughs, sprinkles a little 

 fine salt over it, an I the sheep consumes it 

 with eagerness. This preserves them from 

 worms in the head, promotes their general 

 health, and is thought to be a specific against 

 * the rot. 



Botla in Horses. — A traveler informs us 

 that the stage drivers on their mutes leading 

 from Alb my to the western parts of the State 

 of New York, in giving water to their horses 

 on the road, mix a little wood ashes with 

 their drink, which they say, effectually pre- 

 serves them against the bolts. 



Thistles. — It is said that if thistles are cut 

 after they are in full bloom an inch or two 

 above the ground they will be more easily 

 subdued tlian those cut at the same time with 

 the hoe below the surface. In the former 

 case the remaining stub of the thistle gets 

 full of water, which resting on the crown of 

 the plant injures it so far as to occasion a few 

 feeble shoots only to rise, whilst in the latter 

 strong and luxuriant stems were produced. 



Cut Worm. — A friend informs us that he 

 succeeded in destroying cut worms by water- 

 ing ground infested by them with brine m 

 which hams had been preserved, dihited with 

 a large proportion of water. In his first ap- 

 plication he destroyed some of his vegetables, 

 as well as the worms m consequence of using 

 the brine without diluting it sufficiently. In 

 succeeding trials he attained his object, and 

 destroyed the worm without injuring the ve- 

 getables. — N. E. Farmer. 



The Fayetteville Observer urges upon its 

 readers the cultivation of an abundance of the 

 tomato, as an article of diet, equally agreea- 

 ble and salutary, medicinal in diseases of the 

 liver, and likely, in the opinion of some phy- 

 sicians, to supersede the use of calomel. We 

 sincerely hope it may — it is a most agreeable 

 succedaneum for that mineral, and may be 

 taken in any reasonable quantity without the 

 least danger. 



Cmriosilies of the lai^enioEis. 



Incombustibles. — There are many sub- 

 stances of vegetable origin, of common do- 

 mestic use, which it would be of the utmost 



importance to render less liable to be set on 

 fire, if they could not be rendered incombus- 

 tible altogether. If muslins, and other cot- 

 ton goods be dipped in a weak solution of 

 potass, they will be less liable to burn ; but 

 the objection is, that by the attraction of 

 moisture from the atmosphere, they would 

 be less agreeable. It has also been found, 

 that solutions of muriate, sulphate, phos- 

 phate, and borate of ammonia, with borax, 

 render cloth incombustible. Acidulous phos- 

 phate of lime has the same effect. Linen, 

 muslin, wood, or paper, dipped in a solution 

 of this salt, of the specific gravity of 1.26 to 

 1.30, are completely incombustible, and may 

 be charred by intense heat, but will not burn. 

 Several experiments were made at Venice in 

 1807, by a Monsieur Gonzatti, with a liquor, 

 which being thrown in a small quantity on 

 any combustible article on fire, has immedi- 

 ately extinguished it. A few drops only be- 

 ing thrown on a quantity of rosin and oil, 

 which was burning, the fire was immediately 

 extinguished; and it was said that a layer of 

 this composition being spread upon any wood 

 work, it was entirely safe frj r. combustion. 

 The inventor would not mak; wnown the pre- 

 paration of his compositior., but it was, very 

 probably, a solution ot alum, potass, and 

 vitriol. 



Tile Seasons. 



By Mrs. Barry Cornwall Wilson. 



In the smiling morn of Spring, 

 When the wooJs were fresh and green 

 And the wild birds round did sing, 

 Like the genii of the scene : 

 Then, my heart was vvoo'd and won, 

 Then its sweetest hopes begun ! 



When the Summer's glaring ray, 

 Wak'd to life the opening flowers ; 

 And the glorious god of day, 

 Smil'd upon the new-deck'd bowers; 

 Then, my bosom's fluttering guest, 

 Own'd itself too sweetly blest. 



When rich Autumn's golden hue, 

 Gle.im'd upon the ripen'd corn ; 

 And a milder lustre threw 

 O'er the blushes of the morn ; 

 Then, my heart's best hopes betray'd, 

 Like Autumnal leaves did fade ! 



When cold Winter's icy breath 

 Froze the stream, and stript the spray ; ' 

 And the chilling hand of death. 

 Swept the ling'ring birds away; 

 Then, my heart's fond hopes all o'er, 

 Withcr'd, sunk, to bloom no more ! 



