160 



In Farming, Manure is the principal thing. 



Vol. IX. 



the leaves and dung are turned over and 

 chopped togetlier, before they are tiirown 

 out. This kind of manure for potatoes, I 

 nnd superior to any other I ever used; it 

 unites the richness of animal matter with the 

 sweetness of a woodland soil; and I feel con- 

 fident that it not only contributes to the abun- 

 dance of the crop, but that it ensures a 

 superior quality. From the repeated bene- 

 fits I have derived from the practice, my 

 estimation of leaves has gradually increased, 

 and they have become such an essential 

 article in the cultivation of my small farm, 

 that I should now be at a loss how to do 

 without them. They pack better if collect- 

 ed when somewhat damp, and when mixed 

 and chopped with the dung, will more readi- 

 ly ferment." 



Perhaps there is a good deal of small 

 stuff scattered over the tarm that will serve 

 for fuel, which may as well as not, and a 

 good deal better, be picked up now, before 

 it is hidden by the snow — which latter, may 

 come without warning, and when little anti- 

 cipated. At any rate, it is wisdom to pre- 

 pare for emergencies. 



Let every thing be saved for winter fodder 

 that is eatable by your animals. "We hear 

 it foretold by our veteran farmers, (says the 

 American Agriculturist,) that the coming 

 winter will be a tolerably severe one. They 

 say that they have never seen a season of 

 great abundance, especially in fruit, that 

 v\'as not followed by a hard winter." Though 

 htllc faith is to be had in such signs, it is 

 best to prepare for the worst, and save every 

 thing to lengthen out your stock of food, 

 that can be saved. Some vegetable sub- 

 stances which cattle will not eat alone if 

 they can get more palatable food, they will 

 freely devour in winter, if mixed and chop- 

 ped with a portion of eatable hay. 



Turnip and cabbage leaves, and corn 

 husks, should all be husbanded for fodder. 

 They are superior as food for cattle, to hay 

 of common quality. 



Wc have seen pumpkins left in the fields 

 to rot, the fanner having, seemingly, grown 

 more than ho knew how to dispose of with 

 profit. At one of the meetings of the New 

 York Farmers' Club last summer, a gentle- 

 man presented some sound pumpkins of the 

 growth of the previous year, which liad been 

 preserved by placing them in one of his out- 

 Ijuildings on rails laid in courses, so that the 

 pumpkins did not rest on each other. This 

 plan seems worthy of trial : for stock — cows 

 in milk especially — would be much benefit- 

 ed, by a meal a day of pumpkins, in the last 

 of winter, or beginning of spring — more es- 

 pecially if their owners do not provide other 

 condiments for them in the shape of carrots, 



turnips, or beets ; and it is yet true — " and pity 

 'tis true" — that many a stock of unfortunate 

 animals have to live through, or rather get 

 through, the winter, without having a taste 

 of a root — kept upon the low diet system — 

 the Graham system in an aggravated form ; 

 that is, a few cornstalks, a very little good 

 hay, and a great deal of — straw. Pity that 

 the poor brutes thus cheated of their dues, 

 had not the faculty to persuade their owners 

 that both self-interest and humanity dictate 

 that they should keep no more stock than 

 they can keep well. 



Your sheep will thank you for saving them 

 your bean vines for a bite in the winter; and 

 in this connection we introduce the follow- 

 ing, thinking it may impart information from 

 which some may profit: 



If you have any beans on hand which are 

 unfit for culinary purposes, in consequence ' 

 of being mouldy or rancid, wash them care- 

 fully, and give them to your sheep. A gill 

 a day will be of more benefit to them than a 

 pint of corn. Beans, for sheep, even in this 

 condition, we consider equal to the best corn 

 in any state. 



Upon the above. Dr. Lee, of Buffalo, re- 

 marks: Why is a gill of beans better for 

 sheep than a pint of corn '.' This is an im- 

 portant problem, and one that not one flock- 

 master in a thousand can answer. If the 

 object be to form fat sheep, then the remark 

 that beans are worth more than corn, is not 

 true — for corn contains more of the fat- 

 forming elements tlian beans. But if the 

 object be to form muscle and wool, then then 

 tlie remark is true. Beans contain more of 

 the elements of wool than any other culti- 

 vated plant. Hence nature, ever true to 

 herself, has endowed the sheep with a taste 

 for the plant which is denied to the pig. 



Shoe Blocking. — The Southern Planter 

 says, he had been watching the boots of per- 

 sons passing his office for some time, 1o find 

 out, whose did most credit to the brush. At 

 length he pitched upon one man, who alway.s 

 looked well to his understanding, and on 

 inquiry where he got his blacking, was in- 

 formed that he made it himselfj from the 

 following receipt, to wit: 



8 ounces ivory black, 



2 " coarse brown sugar, 



A " oil of vitriol, 



I " muriatic acid, 



] table spoonful of sweet oil, 



1 pint of good vinegar. 



Mix the ivory black, oil, sugar and vine- 

 gar, and then add the oil of vitriol and mu- 

 riatic acid mixed together. 



