P,88 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



applying only twenty loads of manure to the acre, 

 because the new earth and the fertilizer would be 

 entirely disiproj>ortioned — there could be no profit 

 ia the result. Nor should we apply a bushel .of 

 Iicrd's grass se^d to the acre when a third, or one- 

 half of it, is all that such an extent of land re- 

 quires. The same rule will be in operation in 

 tiio application of manures. 



In answering your inquiry, we must have a ba- 

 m mutually understood to start upon. It will not 

 answer to take land already rich, nor gravelly 

 knolls that never have been manured, — but the 

 ordinary land of the form, such as will yield a fair 

 orop of corn, say 40 to 55 bushels to the acre. 

 Then we should reply, unhesitatingly, it is not 

 best to apply 100 loads of manure to an acre. On 

 such land, you would probably find as much profit 

 with 50 loads to the acre as with the application 

 of 100 loads. With proper cultivation, and with 

 what aid the atmosphere would impart, we think 

 tiie plants would find all the nourishment they 

 \^ould require to produce a crop of corn as large 

 ;i^ ought to be expected upon a single acre. The 

 ••ommon practice, however, is, to sjH'ead the ma- 

 uure over too much land. The losses in travelling 

 to and from the fields, in plowing, harrowing, 

 furrowing, planting, hoeing, weeding and harvest- 

 ing the cx'op, between one and tivo acres, arc not 

 •.vtimatod with siifiicient care. It will not be 

 doubted by any one who makes a fair trial, that 

 it is altogether more profitable to manure liberal- 

 ly and cultivate well, what we undertake, than 

 to go ovor a larger extent of land indifferently. 



(c.) Calves in a perfectly healthy condition will 

 nut often contract the habit of gnawing the wood 

 about them. They are too often neglected, do not 

 have sufficient food, are confined within too narrow 

 limits, or are exposed to wet and cold. If the calf 

 i« generously supplied with nourishing food, has 

 ample and well- ventilated space and a good bed 

 of dry litter to lie upon, he willnotonly ??o/ gnaw 

 the boards, but give you a handsome profit in his 

 rapid growth for the care you bestow upon him. 



Will you inform us, at some future time, wheth- 

 er the remedy prescribed is a successful one 1 



A. R. II., Lawrence, Mass. — We thank you, 

 not only for the cash enclosed, but for your good 

 '■(pinion of the Farmer. Tlie corn and potatoes 

 you speak of should be covered at different depths 

 according to the kind of land. On a sandy loam 

 uue inch would not be too deep for corn : on heavy, 

 wet land, half that distance. Potatoes should 

 be covered somewhat deeper than corn. 



TDE CANKER WORM. 



Mr. Editor: — A neighbor informed me that all 

 l(is apple trees have been ravaged by the canker 

 worm, with a solitary exception, and that was 

 surrounded by a quantity of the ashes of anthra- 

 cite coal. It seemed to me to be a fact that should 



deem it worthy 



be kno.wn, and perhaps you may 

 of a place in the columns of vour 



your paper. 



The cause is simple. The worm finds a bed of 

 ashes no place for it to deposit its eggs. 



Another eminent fruit grower informs me that 

 he saved bis trees after they had been attacked by 

 the canker worm, by once syringing with whale oil 

 soap, (1 pound of soap to 8 gallons water) from a 

 garden engine. h. r. n. 



BONE MEAL. 



Will you inform me what bone meal is a pound, 

 when put up in bags of from 15 to 25 pounds, for 

 feeding to cattle?" E. S. Allen. 



Jacksonville, Vt., 1851:. 



At retail, bone meal is sold at -3 cts. per pound 

 — in considerable quantity at 2^ cts. 



The inquiry, with regard to the coming in of 

 cows, wc cannot answer so that it would be of 

 much value to you . 



GUTTA PERCIIA PIPE. 



Editor of Farmer : — Dear Sir, — T wish to bring 

 soft water from a spring a))oat five rods distant — 

 into my house, but have objection to lead pipe by 

 reason of its tendency to make water unhealthy. 

 I have heard that gutta-percha pipe is an excel- 

 lent substitute for lead. Can you inform me of 

 its qualities for this purpose, also its price, and 

 where it nan be found I 



Yours truty, M. W. Kimdall. 



Ilopldnton, iV. H., July, 1854. 



We have sent you a circular by mail contain- 

 ing the prices of gutta percha pipe, as they stood 

 a few months since. Recently, the raw material 

 is scarce, and the prices are higlier, and are un- 

 fixed. 



RELATIVE VALUE 07 NEW MILK AND INDIAN CORN. 



Mr. Editor: — Canyon or any of your corres- 

 pondents give the relative value of new milk and 

 Indian corn as fodder for sroro hogs ? It is a mat- 

 ter that I have never known to have been made 

 the subject of accurate experiment, yet is of suffi- 

 cient importance to merit attention. m. 



Chester, N. 11. , 1854. 



bovine wiiiskabout holders. 

 Friend Brown : — A very ingenious, and of course 

 valuable apparatus for holding a cow's whisk- 

 about during the operation of milking, was de- 

 scribed and figured in the Farmer of last week. 

 A method I have sometimes used, though it can- 

 not lay claim to so much scientific ingenuity, ia 

 easily performed, and is perfectly effectual. It is, 

 to hang a chain over the hind quarters of the cow 

 in such a manner as to enclose and press by its 

 weight against the tail. This mode is not yet pa- 

 tented, but I will warrant it to satisfy all who 

 will adopt it. Jonathan Doolittle. 



Concord, June 26, 1854. 



TUB CROPS. 



Friend Brown : — I am well pleased with your 

 paper, and wish you much success. Our pros- 

 pects for a good crop in tiiis ancient town are 

 very good. Grass and corn and potatoes look quite 

 well, though probably not more than half as 

 many potatoes are planted as usual, but more 

 corn. Of fruit there will pre)bablybe a fair crop, 

 with the exception of peaches ; there is no sign 

 of the palmer worm, thus far this year. 



N. Piper. 



Stratham, N. H., June 23, 1854. 



