38 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



AIG. 3, isia 



AND HORTICULTURAL RF.GI3TER, 



Boston, Wednesday, August 3, 1842. 



A TEIAL OF CRUSHKD BONE AS A MANURE 

 FOR WINTER RYE. 



In the month nf August, last year, we broke up be- 

 tween two and three acres of j>hiin pasture land ; the 

 soil rather light, and the surface quite mossy. After it 

 was plowed, the roller was passed over the whole. 

 Sept. 8, wo marked out a portion of it into squares, three 

 rods by three, and on to 16 nf these squares, we put 8 

 bushels of bone — a half bushel on each 6i]uare. Tliis 

 bone was applied dry and unmixed, just as it came from 

 the cask. The rate was was a little less than 9 bushels 

 per acre. Another and contiguous pirtion of the land 

 had applied to it at the same lime four bushels of bone 

 at the rale of 16 bushels per acre. This is all the appli- 

 cation that was made to any part of the lot. The ground 

 not covered by this hone was left without any manure. 



On the 8th of Sept. the rye was sowed, .5 pecks of 

 seed per acre, and this with the bone were harrowed in 

 together. The harrow passed first lengthwise the fur- 

 row, and then crosswise, and after this the ground was 

 again rolled. 



The weather immediately after tliis wa< warm anil 

 the ground was moist. In one week the grain was well 

 up, and in three weeks, that where the bone was applied, 

 was very perceptibly in advance of the other. It kept 

 in advance through the autumn, became more firmly 

 rooted, and much less of it was killed out by the winter. 

 Late in March, the field was again rolled. In April, a 

 considerable portion of ihe piece was harrowed ; the 

 teeth of the harrow used being so set that they run six 

 inches apart. 



Also in April, we spread bone atthe rate of 9 bifshels 

 per acre upon a portion of the rye wliere none had been 

 applied the preceding autumn. This bone was lefi upon 

 ihe surface, and was neither rolled nor harrowed in. 



During the spring and early part of the summer, the 

 straw looked nearly as well where we applied 9 bushels 

 per acre as where the rate was 16 ; and this that was 

 boned had apparently four times as much bulk of straw 

 upon it in June as the other. 



At one time this rye woie a strange appearance : near- 

 ly ever? straw was as white as it is now, in placfs an 

 incli, an inch and a half, or two inches long, and extend- 

 ing enlirtly around the straw. On some straws these 

 white rings were near the head, on others as low down 

 as the middle. We never saw or heard of any thing of 

 the kind bfifore; we supposed that the crop nas ruined, 

 and connncnced cutting up and feeding cut to our stock. 

 In two or chiee days, however, we found that the sap 

 continued to flow, and we left oft' cutting. The offec 

 tion was seen as well on tlie [larts not boned as on those 

 that were 



On the lOth of July, the rye was fit for the cradle, 

 and we then cut portions of it to be bound and threshed 

 Bepcrately, for the purpose of ascertaining the effect of 

 the difTerunl applications and different treatment. 



To do this fairly as possible, we took in the cenire of 

 the field, the half of one of the lands made by plowing; 

 and in measuring, went from the centre of the hollow or 

 dead furrow, to the centre ol the ridge or back furrow. 

 Our applications had been so made that each of them 

 crossed this strip at right angles. We cut July IfiJ 

 threshcil and measured July 2ri and 29. The lois were 

 as follows — 



No. 1. Containing 10 17 square rods. Had bone, 9 

 bush, per acre, applied in the spiiiig, and was not har- 



rowed. Gave IS qts. of rye, or 9 bush, per acre, by mea- 

 sure. The weight was 33 1-2 lbs. 



No. 2. Containing 10 1-3 square rods. Was harrowed 

 in April, but had no manure at any lime. Gave 15 qts., 

 or 7 bush. 8 qts. per acre by measure. Weight 29 1-2 lbs. 



No. 3. Containing 13 2-5 rods. Had bone in Sept.; 

 16 bush, per acre ; was harrowed in April ; gave 52 qls. 

 ur 19 bush. 12 qts. per acre, by measure. Weight 08 lbs. 



No. 4. Containing 13 2-5 rods. Had bone in Sept., 

 9 bush, per acre, and was harrowed in April. Gave 39 

 qts, or H bush. 17 qts. per acre, by measure. Weight 

 73 1-2 lbs 



No. 5. Containing 8 3-4 rods. Boned in Sept., 9 bush, 

 per acre. JVoi harrowed in April. Gave 27 1-2 qts. , or 

 15 bush. 23 qts. per acte, by measure. Weight 51 1-2 

 lbs. 



These several lots give an average weight of ihe 

 grain per bushel, of CO 2-5 lbs. nearly. 



The results arrived at by this trial are — 



1st. That harrowing in the spring reduced the crop 

 from 15 bushels and 23 qls , to 14 bushels and 17 qts. ; 

 i. e. caused a loss of 1 bush, and 6 qls per acre. 



2d. 9 bushels of bone gave an increase of 7 bush, and 

 9 qts. of rye per acre. 



3d. 16 bushels of bone gave an increase of 12 bush, 

 and 4 qts per acre. 



4th. The application of bone (9 bush ) in ihe spring 

 seems to have given an increase of 1 bus)), and 24 qts. 

 per acre ; but this ground was not harrowed in the 

 spring, and it may be but fair to ascribe one half the gain 

 to this cause. 



The above trial was as fair as is often made. The 

 soil of lots 1 and 2 was a little lower and a little strong- 

 er than that of the others. This caused it losufTjImore 

 in the winter from the frosts, but gave it an advantage 

 in the summer. 



Should results generally be such as we have here ob- 

 tained, Mr Ward's bone should find a ready sale ; for 

 the cost to us at the mill is 35 cents ; truckage, 20 miles, 

 6 cts. per bushel, and co>t of sowing I cent — whole cost, 

 42 cts. per bushel. Now each bushel of bone where we 

 applied bushels per acre gave an increase of grain of 

 25 8-9 qts., and where wn used 16 bushels, each bushel 

 o-ave as increase 24 1-4 qts. The increase of straw amply 

 pays for the increased expense of harvesting and thresh- 

 ino- the larger crop, so that is proper to reckon the grain 

 at the market price in making up the account. If 3 

 perks and more of rye can be obtained at 42 cents and 

 the bono be left in the ground to benefit the future crops, 

 and we know it will work lor four or five years, then 

 the farmer does well by such an operation. We honest- 

 ly think that those who intend to sow winter rye this 

 fall upon light lands, will find it a good operation to 

 apply to them from 12 to 20 bushels of bone per acre 

 Our figures lead to this opinion. 



IMPROVEMENT OF PEATY GROUNDS. 

 We copy today a portion of an article upon this sub- 

 ject upon this subject from the Journal of ihe Royal Ag- 

 ricultural Society of England. The article is from the 

 pen of Philip Puaey, M. P , President of that Society. 

 We do not furnish it to be taken in its details by the 

 farmers of this country as their guide. Labor being 

 cheaper in England than with us, and land being worth 

 more there than here, they are remunerated for outlays 

 upon their soil which would generally be improvident 

 here Still, the soundest principles of husbandry there, 

 are worth knowing here— and we ask attention to two 

 or three points in that communication . for instance, the 

 elT( CIS ot burning the surface; of ditching around by the 

 shore and there digging through into the hard pan ; also 

 ihe benefits of clay as a top dressing. The second of 



these points may be attended to here, for generally tliei 

 U no other way in wiiich one can put upon peaty land 

 valuable top-dressing so cheaply, as by digging into lb 

 pan along the margin of his wet meadow, and throwir 

 the gravel, sand, clay or whatever he finds, directly or 

 upon the surface of his peaty grounds. Either of the; 

 substances is good in such a place. Clay, where it cc 

 conveniently be had, is worth trying. We meniioned la 

 year, that Mr Peter Dodge, of Wenham, covered his w 

 meadows years ago with clay, and that wekno^vnot- 

 lands any where that yield a larger burthen of grass tha 

 these, without greater expense in keeping up their fertil 



The article we give today is worth studying by thoi 

 who intend to work upon their lowlands this autumi 

 and we trust there are many such — especially is it won 

 their notice so far as it teaches them to dig up from h 

 neath the peat a dressing for the surface. 



When you go to these lands, it is generally well I 

 commence by opening a good ditch through the centre 

 this, however, in some narrow strips may not be necei 

 sary. Next open good ditches at the sides, sinkin 

 them into the pan : thus you cut off the waters whio 

 are constantly working oul from the high lands, and oo 

 ing up through the peat. Having obtained control 

 the water, the surface may be operated upon various! 

 according to its texture and situation. If there are bai ilJ 

 socks or bogs upon it, they should be cut o(T and lemov 

 ed or burned on the land. After this, if the texture ai 

 lows you to plow, it is well to turn over the sod, but 

 is not advisable to plow deep. After the ground h; 

 been plowed, a dressing of ihirly or forty loads of grave* 

 loam, soil, or clay, spread upon the surface and harrowc 

 in with grass seed, or applied after the grass seed hii 

 been worked in, and left without harrowing, will prnba '"' 

 bly give you a fine crop of good hay for several yeair 

 Where yon cannot plow, a much thicker coating upa #1 

 the surface is desirable. 



Ml' 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL, SOCIETY. 



Saturday, July 30, 1842. 



EXHIBITION OF FI.OWEKS. 



From the President — a few Dahlias, viz; Rival Rli 

 vcnge, Constaiitia — [ihe names of the others are loo i 

 legible in the MS. to be deoiphcred.] 



From Hovey & Co.— Bengal, Tea, Noisette and B014 

 bon Roses. 



From S. R. Johnson — China Ro.<es and Carnalions. 



From Dr. J. C. Howard— Dahlias. 



From J. F. Trull- Dahlias, Verbenas, &c. 



From A. Bowdiich — China Rose. 



From S. Dearborn — a large pink in a pot. 



Carnalions fiom S. Walker. 



Bouquets from Dr. J. C. Howard, Hovey & Co , 

 Hovev, W.E.Carter, W. Meller, J. A. Kenrick, 

 Walker, and J. L. L. F. Warren. 



Pel order, C. M. HOVEY, Cli'mn. 



EXHIBITION OF VEGETABLES. 



From John Hill, No. 103 Faneuil Hall Market, extl 

 larjie White Onicns. 

 From A. Bowditch — fine large Chenango Potatoes. 

 From John C. Howard— large While Potatoes. 

 From J. L L F. Warren — 'I'oraatoes. 

 For the Committee, 



A. D. WILLIAMS 



HON. EDWARD EVERETT. 



Our Minister to England has recently mode a V9« 

 happy speech at a dinner of the Royal Agricultural Si 

 ciety, which we shall copy next week. 



The Season.— Crops thus far abundant. The latM 

 part of last week was dry and hoi — the corn began 

 roll in some spots — but on Sunday we had n fine showi 



[O'Fruit report received too late for insertion. "H 

 reports should be sent in during Monday morning. * 



