240 



Important to Farmers—Canada Thistle. 



Vol II. 



family, and having but a scanty supply of 

 hay and corn fodder, regretted much on a 

 morning when visiting her charge to see 

 the corn-stalks stripped smooth of their 

 leaves, and so large a bulk of the stalks re- 

 main useless in the rack. Her good sense 

 at once suggested a plan of rendering this 

 refuse available. She cut the hard stalks 

 with an axe into pieces two or three inches 

 long, and boiled a portion of them daily in her 

 wash-kettle, and then fed them to her cow, 

 and to her great surprise, she found them 

 eaten with a high relish. The quantity of milk 

 was more than double during the winter, and 

 in the spring, she had the satisfaction to 

 find, she had so largely contributed to the 

 comfort of her family at so cheap a rate, 

 and that not even a dry corn-stalk had been 

 suffered to go to waste. 



X. 



Important to Farmers. 



A few weeks since we published a communica- 

 tion from a correspondent, giving the results of an 

 experiment in plant ng corn, by Hart Massey, Esq. 

 of this village. Mr. Massey called upon us on 

 Saturday last to correct an important error in said 

 communication, and incited us personally to ex- 

 amine the said field, which we accordingly did, and 

 now give the results of our observation. 



Mr. Massey took of the seed corn with which he 

 planted the field, a small quantity, and soaked it in 

 a solution of sal nitre, commonly called salt petre, 

 and planted five rows with the seeds thus prep:ircd. 

 The remamder of the field, we believe, was planted 

 by the same individual. Now for the result. 'J'hc 

 five rows planted with corn prepared with salt 

 pe're, will yield more than twenty-five rows planted 

 without any preparation. The five rows were un- 

 touched by the worms, while the remainder ofthe 

 field suffered severely by their depredations. We 

 should judge that not one kernel, saturated with 

 salt petre was touched, while almost every hill in 

 the adjoining row suffered severely. No one who 

 will cxarr.ine the field can doubt the efficacy ofthe 

 prepara:ion. He will be astonished at the striking 

 difference between the five rows and the remainder 

 ofthe field. 



Here is a simple fact, which if seasonably and 

 generally known. would have saved many thousands 

 of dollars to the farmers of this county alone, in 

 the article of corn. It is a fict, which should be 

 universally known, and is, in all probability, one of' 

 the greatest discoveries of modern times in the 

 much neglected science of agriculture, At all 

 events, the experiment ahould be extensively test- 

 ed, as the results are deemed certain, while the 

 expense is comparatively nothing. 



Mr. M. also stated as to the result of another 

 experiment tried upon one of his apple trees last 

 spring. It is a fine thrifty healthy tree, about twen- 

 ty-five or thirty years old, but has never in any one 

 year, produced over about two bushels of apples. 

 While in blossom last spring, he ascended the tree 

 and sprinkled plaster freely on the bjossoms, and 

 the result is, that it will this seasou yield twenty 

 bushels of apples. Now if the plnster will prevent 

 the blast, it is a discovery of great importance. 

 Mr- M. was led to make the experiment by read- 

 ing an account ofthe production of trees adjoining 

 a meadow where plaster had been sown at a time 



when there was a light breeze in the direction of 

 the orchard, the trees contiguous to the meadow 



bearing well, while the others produce no fruit 



VVatertown (IN. Y.) Standard. 



Tlie American Farmer. 



Tiie proprietors of this paper have a few 

 coinplete sets of this work on hand, which 

 they will dispose of at the reduced price of 

 .*if;50 a set. They are half bound, and com- 

 prise each 15 volumes. The American 

 Farmer, it will be recollected, was the pion- 

 eer in agricultural improvement in this coun- 

 try, being 'established in 1819, by John S. 

 Skinner, Esq., to whose talents and industry 

 its pages are indebted for, perhap.s, the most 

 valuable collection of agricultural matter to 

 be found in any work e.xtant. Those who 

 desire to possess themselves of this valuable 

 work, will make early application, as the 

 number for sale is very limited. — Far. <^ 

 Gar. 



For ttie Farmers' Cabinet, 



Canada Tliistle. 



A number of years since large quantities 

 of Timothy seed were introduced from the 

 northern part of the State of New York, into 

 the counties in the neigJiborhood of Phila- 

 delphia, and sold among our farmers; with it 

 was introduced that most per nicmis pest, the 

 Canada Thistle, whicli has taken root among 

 us, and is e.xtending itself in the counties ot 

 Delaware, Chester, Bucks and Montgomery, 

 and perhaps in other places not at present 

 knowii to the writer. Several who have it on 

 their farms, have but recently become appri- 

 sed ofthe name and character of this unwel- 

 come stranger, who has become seated among 

 them. Many no doubt do not yet know this 

 enemy to their peace and prosperity. It be- 

 hoves all to be up and doing to extirpate this 

 worst of all enemies to agriculture, before it 

 takes entire possession, and drives us from 

 our farms. It is the opinion of those best ac- 

 quainted with this weed, that the best farm in 

 the State, if well set with it, would not be 

 worth ten dollars per acre. The roots ofthe 

 otlier species of thistle are biennial, and of 

 course by preventingthem from seeding, they 

 are easily got rid of But the root of the 

 Canada Thistle is perennial, creeping, and 

 very tenaciotis of life. It penetrate's the 

 earth to a great depth, and each fibre of tlie' 

 root will produce a new plant. Dr. VV. 

 Darlingto.n of West Chester, says: — "This 

 foreigner is the vilest pe:-t that ever in vaded the 

 farms of our country, in the form of a weed." 

 Should any of your readers possess a knowl- 

 edge of the best method of ejecting this un- 

 welcome squatter, he would much oblige by 

 communicating it through the Farmers' Cabi- 

 net. O. 



/ 



