262 



THE farmers' cabinet. 



VOL. I, 



not cut, which makes it very difficult ibr 

 them to hold the teat, so as to suck when 

 young and weak, and it is common for lambs 

 to gee discoura^red, though ever so rugged at 

 first. To remedy this evil rub the thumb 

 nail, or any hard substance, over the gums, 

 sufficiently hard to cause the teeth to cut 

 through, and the lambs will then be able to 

 Buck without any ditriculty." 



Clay has been recommended as useful for 

 restoring and preserving health to sheep. A 

 ■writer m the New York Farmer gives the 

 following remarks on this subject : — " I am 

 told on credible authority, that a gentleman, 

 •who was losing iiis sheep whithout apparent 

 cause, had occasion to use some clay about 

 his house in the vvinter, and his sickly flock 

 ate it with avidity ; he caused a load to be 

 placed in their yard, much of which was de- 

 voured, and his sheep speedily recovered. 



"As a cure, theretbre, I would recommend 

 clay to be placed in the sheep yard, which 

 can, at worst do no harm, as the animals will 

 not eat it, unless prompted by instinct." 



Wheat. 



Last spring we published some suggestions 

 on the late sowing of spring wheat, as a means 

 of saving it from the ravages of a little yellow 

 worm which some incorrectly call the loeevil. 

 A number of our subscribers tried the ex- 

 permient, and so far as we have heard, with 

 entire success. A farmer in Orange county 

 lold us that he sowed one acre of sprmg wheat 

 ten (lays later than the rest in the same field. 

 The first sowed was seriously injured, the 

 last not at all. Several, in other towns, made 

 similar statements. 



It has been observed, from the first appear- 

 ance of this insect, that the earliest winter 

 wheat was less injured by its attacks than any 

 other. It is evident, therefore, that the time 

 of laying eggs is short. It ia probably, soon 

 after the heads make their appearance. Be- 

 fore they are defended by the leaf which en- 

 closes them ; and when they appear, most 

 probably, the husk soon becomes so hard that 

 the insect cannot pierce it to deposit her eggs 

 upon the kernel. We have, then, only to as- 

 certain the time, as exactly as we can, in 

 which the injury is done, and have our win- 

 ter wheat too forward, and spring wheat not 

 forward enough, for the operations of the in- 

 sect, and the damage is avoided. At present 

 BOW your winter wheat as earli/ as you can, 

 and sow your spring wheat as late as you can, 

 and give it time to ripen. 



Farmers, and all who find either pleasure 

 or profit in any thing made from wheat would 

 be greatly indebted to any etymologist who 

 should make ua better acquainted with the 



character and habits of this destructive ia* 

 sect. — Vt. Chronicle. 



Castor Bean Plant. 



Palma. Christi. 

 Professor Ducatel, in his Geological survey 

 of Maryland, in speaking of the agricultural 

 resources of the lower counties on the Eas- 

 tern iShore, says: 



A popular belief, founded upon prejudice, 

 is, that plaster will not act upon land conti- 

 guous to salt water. It is not so. Lands, 

 whether near or remote from the sea, upon 

 which gypsum, did not seem to take kindly, 

 have been found, aftfr being marlfd or limed, 

 to derive the usual benefits imparted by this 

 valuable material. In souiC parts of Somer- 

 set, a small portion, it is true, as yet, the 

 crop of sweet potatoes is the main one, and 

 is found very profitable, as is evident by the 

 thriving condition of the small farms on Big 

 and Little Deele's Island; whilst intelligent 

 farmers, in other parts of the county, have 

 turned iheir attention advantageously to the 

 cultivation of beans, peas, &c. But there is 

 yet another growth that bids fair to become 

 of great value to the agricultural interest of 

 the Eastern Shore of Maryland, namely, the 

 palma christi, or castor bean plant, some- 

 limes known by the name of mole plant. 



An attempt was made in the Report of last ^ 

 year, to excite the interest of the farmers o! 

 Queen Anne and Caroline counties, in be- 

 half of this new crop. It is to be regrettec 

 that they have not extensively, if at all 

 availed themselves of the suggestion — th( 

 bean having increased in value far beyom 

 the most sanguine expectations. — Then 

 ought to be, therefore, no further delay ti 

 the introduction of this growth as one of thi 

 staple commodities of Maryland. — W'ithou 

 having been as yet able to ascertain the pre 

 else cause of the extraordinary demand fo 

 this article, within a few years, there is stil 

 reason to believe that the call for it will cor 

 tinue to be great; since, notwithstanding it 

 extended cultivation in consequence of th 

 high prices obtained in preceding years, 

 now commands a higher price then at an 

 former period. It has been stated that th i 

 oil expressed from the beans is employed i:i 

 large quantity in the manufactories of Eng 

 land for greasing the machinery by whic. 

 these establishments are put into operation. 

 1 The culture of the palma christi present 

 no difficulties. It is said to thrive best i 

 good corn lands, yielding, according to th 

 quality of the soil, from twenty-five to fori 

 bushels per acre. The land requires tli 

 same preparation as for corn; and the ben 

 is planted like this grain, — in hills on whic 



