fo. 8. The Greedy Mole. — Gypsum. — Editorial Notices. 



261 



The Greedy Mole. 



The extreme voracity of the mole is well 

 nown. The shrew, which belongs to the 

 ime natural group as the mole — the insec- 

 vorous carnivora — would seem to resemble 

 ; in this peculiarity, according to a state- 

 lent furnished to me by my esteemed friend 

 /Ir. Selby, of Twizell. He observes, in a 

 3tter received February, 1843, "What 

 reedy gluttonous animals the shrews ap- 

 ear to be ! One was caught alive, upon 

 he snow, here, tiie other day, and brought 

 nto the house and placed in a glass box. A 

 liece of raw mutton was given to it, which 

 t attacked with the greatest voracity, the 

 aoment it smelt it, and continued eating al- 

 nost without intermission, till it had de- 

 oured the whole of it. The piece, I should 

 hink, could not have weighed less than half 

 ir three-quarters of an ounce. When the 

 hrew first seized it, it shook it as a dog 

 loes a rat, and then began to gnaw it with 

 ts sharpened grinders on one side of the 

 nouth. It lived for a couple of days, almost 

 ;ontinually eating; and previous to its death, 

 vhich was very sudden, seemed in perfect 

 lealth." — Jenyii's Observations in Natural 

 History. 



Gypsum. — How does gypsum act? This 

 s an inquiry which has often been made, and 

 which is answered in various ways, even by 

 ;he learned. True science can alone ration 

 illy direct the practical farmer. "All else," 

 )bserves an erudite author, " is mere cxperi' 

 •nent — hazardous, expensive and conjectur 

 il." The beneficial effects of gypsum, or 

 slaster of Paris, on growing crops, is to be 

 referred exclusively to the power it possesses 

 Df fixing ammonia, and holding it for the 

 gradual use or progressive appropriation of] 

 plants. It has been correctly demonstrated 

 by the most careful and accurate scientific 

 experiments, that one hundred pounds of gyp- 

 sum will fix as much ammonia in the soil, as 

 six thousand two hundred and ffty pounds 

 of horses' excrement would impart to it. 

 Ammonia is always present in the atmos- 

 phere, and hence the beneficial effects of 

 this mineral, which absorbs and fixes it so as 

 to render it available to the growing crop. 

 Maine Farmer. 



THE FARMERS' CABINET, 



AND 



Philadelphia, Third Month, 1847. 



It will be observed by a odmmunication from James 

 Gowen, on page 243, that he is making arrangements 

 for the opening of an Agricultural College at Mount 

 Airy, Germantown, about eight miles from Philadel- 

 phia. 



An establishment of this character, in this vicinity, 

 has been a subject of conversation among many of our 

 intelligent citizens for years past, and numerous evi- 

 dences have been furnished from agriculturists and 

 others, at a distance— particularly in the Southern 

 States, that many advantages were anticipated from 

 the realization of such a scheme. 



The location— in itself an important consideration 

 — is every thing that could be desired. The readers of 

 the Cabinet need not be informetl of the capital— the 

 industry — the enterprise, and sound judgment, which 

 James Gowen has brought to bear upon his farming 

 operations, nor of the successful results which have 

 crowned his efforts. In the Cabinet of the sixth month 

 of last year, under the Editorial head, will be found 

 some remarks which are not foreign to the subject, 

 though the plan now in contemplation, had then barely 

 been suggested. 



This is a matter of no ordinary importance to the 

 agricultural community, independent of the results of 

 the enterprise as it may affect our friend. It is an ar- 

 duous undertaking, and must involve considerable risk 

 of capital, as well as bodily and mental exertion. 

 Most men would shrink from it, and perhaps but few 

 incur the responsibility. James Gowen is prepared 

 and willing to meet it in its various aspects. Our 

 hope is that the public will appreciate the efiort, and 

 meet him in a generous spirit: that not only his indi- 

 vidual interests will be promoted, but that also those of 

 our common country will be so benefitted, that he shall 

 be enabled to feel in after life that he has not lived 

 in vain. 



Our brethren of the Agricultural press throughoiit 

 the country, as well as other papers, are respectfully 

 requested to copy the circular on page 243, andthua 

 serve our common cause. 



Warts on the udder and teats of cows 

 may be easily removed, simply by washing 

 them in a solution of alum and water. We 

 have known this application to result favor 

 ably even after all other prescriptions had 

 failed, and the disease seemed to have ad- 

 vanced beyond the possibility of cure. Try 

 it. 



A SPIRITED and enterprising friend of ours, a farmer 

 of "little Delaware," informed us a few days ago that 

 he was preparing to plant 120 acres of Indian corn 

 this spring, and that he had just purchased seventeen 

 tons of guano at a cost.of about $G00, which he should 

 apply to the ground. 



A FRIEND— J. Y., of Towsen Town, Md , — makes the 

 enquiry, if any of our "readers have been successful 

 in destroying Couch-grass, that greatest of all pests." 

 We apprehend there is no better mode of destroying 

 this pest, than by thorough ploughing. lie also asks 

 for information from those who liave practised soiling: 

 their method, and the results. We would be glad to 

 receive communications on these matters. 



