NO. 12. 



THE FAKMER^j CABINET, 



1S7 



Plaster of Paris. |1 



The following brief history of the origin | 

 and process of ihe application of Piaster ofi 

 Paris, as a manure, may be important to the 

 agricultural interest: — 



" The first discovery of the utility of Gyp- 

 sum or Plaster of Paris, for agricultural pur- 

 poses, was made by a laborer engaged in 

 pounding plr.ster near Hilburn, in (iermany.j 

 He noticed the extra crrowth of grass alon<j' 

 the route which he at different times traveled 

 across a meadow ; supposing it to be occa- 

 sioned by the hne plaster dropping from hisl 

 clothes, he was induced to try an e.\|ieriment 

 to determine the point; it succeeded beyond! 

 his expectation ; and others tested its use- i 

 fulness, until all became satisfied of its' 

 nutritious qualities, and thus the use of the! 

 plaster in Germany became general, as a! 

 manure, vrhere it could be obtained. 



" In the year 17tJ8, Jacob Barge, of Phila- 

 df-lpiiia, having learned the use of plaster inl 

 Germany, obtained some from a manufacturer! 

 of Burr stones, and scattered it upon a field 

 of clover, which proved perfectly satisfacto- 

 ry ; in consequence of which Messrs. Hock-< 

 er, Lancaster, Ulillbrd, and David Deshler,! 

 all respectable farmers near Philadelphia, 

 used the plaster in various ways, and for 

 different plants, and were all equally well 

 satislied of its utility. The call for and ap-' 

 plication of the article increased, and hence 

 the commencement of a regular trade upon 

 the seaboard in NovaScotia to all the South- 

 ern Ports, which has been regular and per- 

 manent. I 

 "The directions for the application of I 

 plaster, are so various and multiplied, that 

 it is believed that no general rule can ever 

 be adopted, for it has been found that on some 

 ground one bushel to the acre is better than 

 six bushels ; two bushels to the acre, how- 

 ever, appears to be the quantity required for 

 the largest portions of land in New Jersey. 

 No one should be discouraged if no percepti- 

 ble beiieht should result from a trial the first 

 year; for it has been found that the more! 

 show it is in its effects the more certain 

 it is to be advantageous in two, three and 

 even four years after its application. For 

 clover, grass, &c. it should be sown over the 

 field just before or after the grass or clover 

 I begins to grow in the spring. It is used in 

 * the same manner upon wheat, barley, oats 

 I and buckwheat urrounds. 



Cotton Cultivator, — A South Carolian 



apper describes a newly invented agricultural 



I machine, which when the coiton ])lant is yet 



I young, ploughs on each side of the rows, 



and thins out the superfluous plants. Drawn 



I by a horse, and managed by one man, it is 



said to perform the wcrk ct five or six men. 



TSjc Farmer's "^iTinter f^ong. 



There is a time, the wise man saith, 



For all thiligs to be done ; 

 To plough, to sow, to reap — as roll 



Succrssive seasons on. 

 For pleasure, too, in flowery spring. 



In fragrant summer's vales, 

 In fruitful autumn's yellow fields, 



In winter's evening tales. 



And though the fields are bleak and drear. 



The forest's verdure gone — 

 And all is withered, cold and sere. 



In garden, field and lawn; 

 There's something left and much to cheer, 



And charm the farmer's heart; 

 For wintry winds to harvest hope, 



Great influence impart. 



And while he views the drifting snow. 



And treads the frozen earth — 

 He has at homo his garners full. 



And social blazing hearth ! 

 And thus he sings whate'er pervade 



The earth or sky at morn ; 

 Of wintry winds or summer's suns. 



The farmer's hope is born ! 



Rear^Bis; of Calves. 



The best cow calves are to be selected 

 from such cows as are most quiet, give the 

 richest milk, are most hardy, and the best 

 adapted in size to the comparative goodness 

 of the farm. 



There are various ways of rearing calves. 

 — In England, as well as in this country, 

 many prefer that calves should run with the 

 cows from 3 to 6 months; others let calves 

 suck twice a day — in such case the calves 

 should take the first or thinnest part which 

 is less liable to injure, by producing and 

 souering ; otiiers give to the calf new milk to 

 drink for four weeks, or a longer period ; at 

 the end of this time, skim milk is substituted 

 with a mixture of farinaceous food. In ad- 

 dition hay or grass is given, as early as the 

 calf can eat it. 



The following mode of rearing calves has 

 been practiced by the writer with great suc- 

 cess. The young animals so raised have 

 usually gained a growth a year in advance. 

 The calf is allowed to suck its mother about 

 two days, as the first milk is well fitted to 

 cleanse the calf, and secure a full flow of 

 milk from the cow. On the third day the 

 moliier's milk is given to the calf to drink, 

 and continued freely for two or three weeks, 

 till the calf begins to fill out, when the fol- 

 lowing food is substitute<i. A gill of flax- 



