THE GENESEE FARMER. 



143 



i: 



that of England. He did not tell them that he had 

 never deen west of Bvffalo ! 



But, in spite of these remarks, Johnston is a 

 favorite with the Ameincan agricultural public. 

 He is more extensively read here than in Great 

 Britain. One reason of his popularity is that he 

 a2>plies science to agriculture. His writings abound 

 with many practical facts, and are characterized by 

 an enthusiastic hopefulness which renders them 

 particularly attractive to the youthful student. 



Stockhardfi Chemical Field Lecturefi* is in many 

 respects a very valuable work. The author is evi- 

 dently a scientific man, though this work is not 

 written in a systematic, scientific style. Believing 

 Stockhardt to be nearer correct on many very 

 important chemico-agricultural points than any 

 other Earopean writer whose works are republished 

 in this country, we have repeatedly commended his 

 book, in the hope that its perusal would do some- 

 thing toward correcting the erroneous views so ex- 

 tensively disseminated by Liebig and his followers. 

 It i?, hovrever, better adapted for the general reader 

 than for the young student who wishes to acquire a 

 thorough knowledge of the principles of agriculture. 

 To such, Johnston's Lectures, or his Blements, is a 

 better work to study, though he might read Stock- 

 HARDT with advantage. 



We are sorry to see so excellent a work marred 

 by the introduction of a puff of "Mapes' Improved 

 Superphosphate of Lime," which the American 

 editor styles "an invention," the result of "re- 

 peated trials." Never was there a more baseless 

 claim ; never a greater humbug. "VTe hope this 

 puff will be stricken out of future editions, or 

 insei'ted merely as an advertisement. 



SUGGESTED ITEMS. -No. 20. 



Plowing and sowing is the "order of the day" 

 with us here, this first of April, but I must give a 

 morning to the suggestions of the Farmer. To 

 me, there is no reading more entertaining than 

 that contained in agricultural papers; and cer- 

 t'ainly, no papers deal in subjects in which I am 

 more' interested. How a farmer can get along 

 without reading, is beyond my comprehension. 

 But there are such; and however much money 

 tliey may have, their minds too often are empty 

 and ]):irren — full of prejudice and bigotry. 



'■•Fxperiments with Artificial Fertilizers on Pota- 

 toes'''' show some valuable results. I am glad to 

 see you take hold of the practical in this manner, 

 and hope you will continue your researches. The 

 small eftoct produced by wood ashes and plaster 

 surprises me. Our trials of these fertilizers were 

 more successful ; or so they seemed, at least — for 



* Cliemical Field Lectures for Agriculturists. By Dr. JuLirs 

 ADOLrnt's Stockiiakdt, Professor of the Royal Academy of 

 Agriculture at Tharand. Translated from the German, Edited, 

 with Notes, by James E. Tescheiiacieeb. New York; A. O. 

 MooisE. Price |1. 



we have never tested them accurately. Pounds, 

 acres, and bushels, show, however, more clearly, 

 and we can not rely on seeming merely. 



^^ Cutting Potatoes for Planting'''' is no longer a 

 question in my mind. They should be cut, and 

 not more than two or three eyes planted in a hill, 

 to produce the best possible potatoes in quantity 

 and quality. The cutting, it is said, should be per- 

 formed ten or fifteen days before planting, and the 

 potatoes left to dry in an upper room exposed to 

 light, which will sprout them slightly and give 

 them a better start. I mean to try this method. 



^'■Improvement of Impoverished Land'''' is an in- 

 teresting subject, well-treated by that veteran agri- 

 cultural writer, Dr. Lee. May the time never 

 come when Northern farms shall be so "impover- 

 ished" as to produce a mere nothing, like those ho 

 describes at the South. 



" To Destroy Canada Thistles"'' is decidedly diffi- 

 cult. My little patch grows finely; but I tmi 

 going to quit cultivating, and go to mowmg them. 

 Mowing, in season and out .of season^ whenever 

 they get up large enough for the io^ tji<?. 



'■'■Salt your Stock.'''' Yes, and. salt liberally. 

 Salt is cheap, and all kinds of stock are very fond 

 of it. Once a week, through the grazing season, 

 is none too frequently, ,and a little brine on their • 

 fodder in winter will do them good. We neglect 

 this matter too often. 



'■'■A Western Neio Yorh parii^'' is a model struc- 

 ture, .and a credit to Mr. Kogeks ^nd old "Wheat- 

 land. 



'•'Eeflections on Poor Roads.'''' A man need not 

 ride, fifty miles, or five, to be called upon to reflect 

 on this, subject. We have seen tliat one great 

 want is a free passage for the water-, each side of 

 the road. When water stands near the road-bed, 

 within six or ten inches of tlie level of the road, 

 there will be rntid and ruts .spoiling the same much 

 later than where a free ]iassage is afibrded. Many 

 roads are too wide and flat; — but Mr. HoronTON 

 is competent to the discu;?siaa of the subject. 



'•'Fancied Facts — Ko. 1" cuts closely. Give us 

 more of them. 



" The Farmer''s Yegetalle Garden'''' should receive 

 early and prompt attention. It is profitable to give 

 it — profitable in many way.% — even in using up the 

 odds and ends of time of hired men and boys, other- 

 wise worse than v/asted. Give each one some part 

 to attend to, and let them see which will do the best. 



"About Chickens.,^'' a good word is spoken t-!> 

 "farmers' wives." They are generally interested 

 in the matter, agd should be so. Hens, ducks, aod 

 geese, are all profittibJe, if kept well and cared lor 

 properly. Look to ihem, farmers' wives and 

 daughters. , b. 



Niaffara Co., X. Y., April '2c7, 1S5S. 



CrEiNG Hat.— -A correspondent says, " I usually 

 exit my grass before it is quite ripe. Out, and get 

 it into the barn the same day. The juciest I put 

 ovei' head, or at the edges. Do not pack down 

 much. Leave a laad on the wagon a short time, and 

 scatter some salt upon it. The hay is seldom hurt, 

 but looks grsea and fresh through the winter." 



Staggers in Cattle. — Give a tea-spoonful of 

 pulverized camphor twice a day. It will cure every 

 case, if attended to in time. H. — C&nner»viUe, la. 



