338 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



the relative feeding properties of large m. small 

 hogs, we should like to hear from them. The ex- 

 perience of farmers on this point ■vvonld be very 

 acceptable. 



MEXICAN SPHmG WHEAT. 



We learn from Mr. Ambkose Stevens, of Gen- 

 esee county, the following particulars as to a new 

 variety of spring wheat lately introduced into that 

 county. He sowed three and three-fourths acres 

 with this new kind, called the Missouri or New 

 Mexico wheat; it being so called because said to 

 have been brought to Missouri from thence. It 

 •vas brought to Genesee county, from Missouri, by 

 Mr. L. H. Yates of that county ; beyond this Mr. 

 Stevens knows nothing of its history. It is a red 

 wheat, tlie berry flinty and pearl like in character ; 

 the straw medium in size and strong, the beards 

 well bearded, and the chaff thick and tough. The 

 seed sown was somewhat mixed with the Canada 

 Club sort, which is a white and bald or beardless 

 wheat. The ground was part second bottom allu- 

 vial of the Tonawanda creek, and part a sandy loam. 

 No manure used; the preceeding crop (of 1857) 

 potatoes, and the one before that, corn. Five bush- 

 els of seed were sown on three and three-fourth 

 acres, and got in on the 16th of April in good con- 

 dition ; the ground dry and mellow. The plant in 

 its growth was delayed by the cold rains of the last 

 of April and May. When it came into head, the 

 Canada Club was observable in a small proportion, 

 both varieties heading at the same time. The 

 whole crop showed that there had not been seed 

 enough sown, and the wire-worm troubled it in 

 May, doing some damage. When the midge (or 

 weevil) flies made their appearance, they could be 

 seen at evening in myriads, moving over the plant. 

 At the proper time, the heads of the Canada Club 

 were found filled with the midge worm, and were 

 completely destroyed, — not so much as one grain of 

 that variety could be found. In the New Mexico 

 wheat, not fifty were found in all ; and, indeed, it 

 required much search to find the few which were 

 detected. The crop was cut the first of August, 

 and yielded something over 17 bushels to the acre. 

 Had it been more plentifully seeded, and had the 

 wire-worm not troubled it, it would probably have 

 produced from 22 to 25 bushels to the acre. 



This variety makes whiter flour and bread than 

 the Mediterranean wheat ; and when grown so as 

 to alloAv of a fair comparison, has yielded bettor. 

 Mr. Stevens is of the opinion that it may be a 

 winter variety; and he thinks it better than any 

 kind of spring wheat with which he is acquainted. 

 ,He believes that it has a perfect power to resist 



the midge (weevil), and is well worthy of a trial by 

 all who can not raise Avinter wheat, or who have 

 had their winter crops cut oft' by the insect. 



CUKING POEK AND HAMS. 



A FEW years since we had the pleasure of dining 

 with Leonaiid House, Esq., of Houseville, Lewis 

 Co., N, y., and could not but observe the superior 

 quality of the pork and ham— juicy, tender, and 

 fine flavored. They were cured as follows: For 

 pork: make brine enough to cover tiie pork, as 

 strong as possible. For every layer of pork, put 

 a layer of ground black pepper, say abo":t one 

 pound to a barrel. Put in three or four ounces of 

 salt-petre; this is not enough to make it taste, and 

 yet it is sufficient to keep the lean from getting 

 hard. When used the second time, don't scald the 

 brine. This is very important. Mr. II. thinks 

 brine should never be boiled. 



For hams: to each 100 lbs. of ham take nine 

 pounds of salt, five ounces of salt-petre, one quart 

 of molasses, a large spoonful of saleratus, and four 

 ounces of good black pepper, Let the hams re- 

 main in brine from four to six weeks. Smoke them 

 about a fortnight; then pack them away in dry 

 ashes. Care should to taken to prevent the pork 

 from freezing; or at least be careful that the frost 

 is all out when it is put in the brine. More hams 

 are probabl}- lost from neglect of this, than any 

 other cause. Many imagine that because the hams 

 have been in the salt the required time, they must 

 necessarily be cured, forgetting that if they are 

 frozen the salt cannot penetrate them. 



The Chinese Potato. — The London Gardeners^ 

 Chronicle concludes an elaborate article on the 

 Dioscorea batatis as follows : 



" The fitness of the plant for garden purposes is 

 now incontestable ; and we are glad to be able to 

 add that means now exist of attempting to improve 

 its qualities, by rendering it more hardy, or more 

 productive. We are informed by M. Duciiartre, 

 in a paper recently read before the Horticultural 

 Society of Paris, that among some Yams sent by 

 M. DK Montigny from Ciiina to the Im{)erial nur- 

 sery of Algeria, a female made its appearance. All 

 tlie others had proved males. Ripe seeds were pro- 

 duced by the female; other females were raised in 

 Paris from the Algerine seeds ; and they too have 

 seeded, so that we now possess tlie usual means of 

 operating experimentally upon the Cliinese stranger. 

 It appears certain that lliis Yam is one of the plants 

 that, like the jjotato and the turnip, are prone to 

 alter their habits under the influence of domestica- 

 tion. We therefore trust that our skilful breeders 

 will immediately take it in hand. They can not 

 undertake a task more likely to abound in great 

 result." 



It is said that burning tar on coals of fire, will 

 neutralize the effluviiim of a skunk, 



