VOL. x>T. sro. 40. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER 



365 



From llie Central New York Farmer. 



APPLICATION OF SALT TO LAND. 

 Tlio application of salt is a subject which lias 

 en discussed ninongr furniers during the last vear, 

 d is assuming a considerable degree of iinpor- 

 ice, inasnnich as if the statements made respect- 

 T it ars correct, many of the difficulties now at- 

 idinj- the cultivation of our staple crops will be 

 noved. Many statements have been published 

 jthis country, and in Europe, goinnr to show that 

 I when applied to crops, has a tendency greatly 

 increase the product, and also to prevent Ihc 

 )redations of in>!ecls of many kinds, which have 

 netiiiies destroyed our crops. I. will be recol- 

 ted that a Mr Allen published in the agricultu- 

 papers, nearly a year since, an account of some 

 leriments made by hiin, going to show that salt 

 y be safely applied to the corn crop after it 

 kes its appearance above ground, and that the 

 rcdations of the worm nould thereby be arrest- 

 The trial was made on a small scale, by a 

 e number of farmers, and was found to be en- 

 ly impracticable. We have not room for even 

 ibridgemeiit of the many articles which have 

 lifferent times been given to the public upon 

 subject, but shall venture a few suggestions, 

 3d upon the publications which have been made 

 n the use of salt in this country, aud in Eng- 

 I. 



.nd first as to the advantages to he derived 

 ; the use of salt. It is claimed in the first 

 :e, that on land to wliich salt lias been applied, 

 crops will not be affected by rust. Two or 



communications were published in our first 

 me, going to prove this position. In addition 

 lese. a neighbor of ours, sowed salt in two 

 rate and distinct fields of oats, and although 

 whole crop was free from rust, at harvest he 

 •ms us that long aft^r the grain was removed, 

 the stubble in other places had turned black 



Irusty, that on the salted portion remained bright 

 [entirely free from rust. Other experiments 

 ( been published, going to prove the correct- 



1 of this position. It is also said that salt has 

 idency greatly to increase the crop. Here we 

 say nothing from experience, but respectable 

 Jfities would seem to sustain the position. In 



way it acts upon the soil, we have not heard 

 lined. It is possible that upon dry soils, the 

 3ncy to moisture occasioned by the presence 

 It, may, in a measure, account for the increase 

 oduct. After preparing our seed wheat last 

 \g, the brine in which it had been washed, was 

 n on a corner of a patch of potatoes in the 

 en. This spot was directly in view from our 

 jom window, and for several weeks the exact 

 a where the brine was applied, could be dis- 

 y seen in the morning, showing a greater de- 

 of moisture than the ground around it. But 

 reatest benefit claimed from the use of salt, 

 3 destruction of the insects which prey upon 

 lants. The corn crop has suffered severely 

 ii State from the ravages of the. grub and 

 worm, destroying as they have, in many in- 

 es, the entire crop. Crops of small grain 

 also been seriously injured, and hitherto no 

 dy has been discovered to arrest this destruc- 

 of the farmer's hopes. We have no actual ex- 

 unts to record of the effect of salt in destroy- 



Insects, hut from the statements and opinions 

 li have at different times been made public, we 



are led to place some confidence in its efficacy. 

 At all events, wo design to give it a fair trial the 

 coming season, and hope others will do the same, 

 so that we can arrive at correct conclusions, and 

 know nhnt course to pursue in future. We ask 

 every lurmer who reads this article, to give the ex- 

 periment a fair trial, and give the results to the 

 public. 



(iiianlily to be applied. — The properties of salt 

 are such that an improper application would be 

 very likely to destroy rather than benefit the crop, 

 but it may be safely applied at the rate of five or 

 six bushels per acre. This quantity is said to be 

 sufficient tor all useful purposes, and will in no 

 case endanger the crop. Salt may now bo pur- 

 chased for about one dollar per barrel, and at this 

 price, the expense of an application is trifling, com- 

 pared with tlie injury often sustained, even when 

 very few worms are to be found. It should be 

 borne in mind, that the application should in no 

 case be made after the grain comes up, (although 

 corn might not be damaged by such application,) 

 but that it should be sown broadcast before the 

 crop is planted or sown. This will ensure safety, 

 which should he the care of every farmer. 



From ihe same. 



SOWING CORN. 



Messrs. Editnis — As the sowing of corn has at- 

 tracted the attention of some of our farmers, I will 

 relate a small experiment made by me last season, 

 that others may slum the errors I fell into for want 

 of experience. 



I appropriated a small piece of land {,3-lCth of 

 an acre.) to that purpose. The land was in corn 

 the year before, producing about forty bushels to 

 the ai;re : the hills were split, three loads of yard 

 manure spread, harrowed and plowed under, say 

 f.c.T: 5 to 6 ip'-hes deep, harrowed again, and the 

 corn sown at the rate of four bushels to the acre, 

 of the early twelve-rowed yellow corn, small ker- 

 nel, buried with a light horse-plow, and rolled. 



The corn was sowii on the 10th of May, the 

 ground light and in fine order, but cold rains soon 

 came on, and all know what an unfavorable season 

 we had for corn ; it was twice nipped by frost — the 

 last time on the II th of June, this gave all the 

 weeds a chance to grow, and contest the ground 

 with the corn ; and although the ground was well 

 tilled the previous year, and no weeds permitted 

 to seed ; yet there were enough to injure the crop, 

 and although the corn out-topped them in them in 

 the end. When the corn was fully in tassel, it 

 was cut with the cradle, laid in swath, turned to 

 facilitate the drying. When well wilted it was 

 bounded in small bundles, stooked and capped with 

 the same ; when cured, a part was weighed before 

 carrying in, and by computation found the yield to 

 be 5 3-4 tons per acre. It was fed mostly to sheep 

 and calves, but all kinds of stock eat it with avidi- 

 ty. Probably there is no vegetable we raise for 

 stock, that contains more saccharine matter than 

 corn, and it appears the sowing of it may be made 

 profitable, especielly to those who occupy but lit- 

 tle land, whether it be wanted for soiling or win- 

 ter fodder. 



The most essentia! errors I fell into were, first, 

 I sowed too much seed. Three bushels of the 

 small kernel corn I believe better than four, as 

 mine .was so thick it did not tassel. In the next 

 place, I sowed too early by about three weeks. 



We can have but one crop in a .-easi]!! m this 

 iiMrthcrn climulc, and the summer months are suffi- 

 ciently long to bring corn into tassel. I tliinic, 

 therefore, the fore part of Juno will be in season 

 for sowing for winter fodder. No one need be 

 told that land for corn must be rich, and for a sown 

 crop should be free from weeds. If the sowing bo 

 put off until June, many weeds may be destroyed 

 by plowing or otherwise stirring the ground befuru 

 sowing. The curing must be ailcnded to, as on 

 this the value of the crop is mostly depending ; 

 and to make more sure, I would recommend when- 

 ever it is housed, to set the bundles in an upright 

 position, and not pack them away aa we us'jally do 

 grain. Yours, respectfully, 



U BLACKMAN. 

 I'crona, AT. Y., ^pril, 1843. 



From the Albany Cultivator. 



DISEASE OF COWS 

 Messrs. EorroRS — A friend of mine lately lost 

 a very valuable cow, soon after calving, under the 

 following circumstances. She calved and did welt 

 to all appearance at first, but soon began to be af- 

 fected in her fore quarters; if she attempted to 

 walk, her fore feet remained stationary, while her 

 hind ones moved around circularly. She soon 

 died. She had been kept well for three or four 

 years, and was so T.;, that when she died 100 lbs. 

 of talle.w were taken from her. As it is an uncom- 

 mon case among ue, permit me to inquire of you, 

 or sn.T.,e of your numerous subscribers, the nature 

 of the disease, the remedy, &c. 



S. W. BARTLETT. 

 Scantick Village, Ct. 



The case noticed by our correspondent is one 

 of puerperal feoer, or as it is termed by veterinari- 

 ans, " dropping after calving." Cows in hi^'h con- 

 dition are most subject to this disease, which usu- 

 ally appears in from one to five djys after calving. 

 The first symptoms are ilecidedly febrile; the ani- 

 mal is restless, shifting her feet, and breathing la- 

 boriously. The nose is hot, and the udder is 

 inflamed, enlarged, and tender, from the very com- 

 mencement. Bleeding, from six to ten quarts, to 

 be regulated by the impression made on the circu- 

 lation, must be resorted to at once, and the bleed- 

 ing must be followed by physic ; for which pur- 

 pose a pound or a pound and a half of Epsom salta 

 are best, and half pound doses every six hours, till 

 the bowels are opened. If the disease is not at- 

 tended to ill the outset, and it is too frequently 

 neglected, tlie nervous system is speedily attacked, 

 when the symptoms of staggering, &,e., noticed by 

 our correspondent, usually occur. It is occasion- 

 ed by a partial paralysis of the fore or hind quar- 

 ters, most commonly the last; the animal soon 

 falls, her head is bent back to her sides, and death 

 soon supervenes. In the last stages, there is little 

 hope or chance of relief; but if the pulse is such 

 as to indicate fever, bleeding may be resorted to 

 till the last, with a bare possibility of saving the 

 animal ; but great care is requisite, as the bleed- 

 ing, carried too far, is fatal at once. In some pa- 

 pers in the Veterinarian, Mr Friend relates several 

 instances successfully treated by Epsom salts in 

 large quantities, followed immediately by Croton 

 seed and sulphur. 



A good temper, a good library, good health, and 

 a good wife, are four choice blessings. 



