FARMERS' REGISTER— ARTICHOKES-GAMA GRASS, &c. &c. 



639 



serve as indirect, or circumstantial evidence. Tlie pn;i(ivp 

 proof will be furnished by one indisputable fact of a plant uf 

 cheat, or spell, being traced throughout its growth from a seed 

 of wheat. Of the two proofs adduced by our friend, the first 

 was not witnessed by himself, and his confidence in its truth, is 

 founded on the high character of the gentleman who observed 

 and informed him of the fact. There are few better grounds for 

 cojifidenl belief— and we are far from underratitjg them in this 

 case : but still, there might have been a mistake, either from im- 

 perfect observation, or imperfect recollection. The second fact 

 is subject to no such doubt, and moreover, is sustained by either 

 similar results (though differently produced,) observed by other 

 persons. But however strong may be its testimony, or unac. 

 countable the result, on any other grounds than those of our 

 correspondent, the proof still is incomplete.] 



CURE FOR THE BOTS OR GRUBS IST HORSES. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



If you will excuse the suljext, (for although 

 graceless, it is valuable not only to aiiriculturists 

 but to all classes, using that Valual)Ie animal the 

 Horse,) I send you a remedy I used while our 

 coals were broui^ht to market in road wa<;;ons, 

 which obliged us to use a great number of horses; 

 and I never knew it fail of giving relief, in from 

 one to five minutes. 



Pour out half a gill of spirits of turpentine into 

 the hand, and ruli i( on the breast of tiie hoi'se 

 while suffering; let it be api)lied to the hollow or 

 pit of the sloiiiach, just at the point where tlie neck 

 joins the breast, on a space six to eight inches in 

 diameter. The relief is certain, if the grubs have 

 not already cut through the coats of the stomach. 



SEASON FOR CUTTIIVG DOWN WOODLAND. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



As one of your subscribers, I am pleased with 

 your Register, because I think it will do much 

 good throughout the country. Every thing which 

 contributes to tiirow light upon any subject, any 

 way connected with agriculture, will add to the 

 benefit of society — therefore, I will make one or 

 two suggestions by way of inquiry, (as I do not 

 recollect to have.seen it mentioned in the Register, 

 or any where else,) whether it is better to cut 

 down new land in the summer, or winter.' Is not 

 jhe strength of the soil carried up by the ascend- 

 ing sap.? if so, is not the soil reduced by cutting 

 off the growth, when the sap is at its higliest.' 

 From a small experiment recently made, the crop 

 was better on thelandcut in the winter; though ! 

 am not certain, that the ditference was produced 

 by the dilTerence in the times of clearing. I con- 

 sidered the land equal before it was cleared. Bc)th 

 lay from 12 to 18 months after it was cut — with 

 every thing upon it. p.p. 



JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES. 



From the London Farmers' Magazine. 

 " I was determined to prove whether or not they 

 could be cultivated to greater advantage than the 



!)ota(oe, dLS food for cattle. One sack was consumed 

 )y a young calf at hand; it ate them with avidity, 

 and improved on them. I took tlie other two sacks 

 and planted them in the midst of a five acre piece 

 of potatoes. I set them whole without cutting, 

 measuring correctly an eighth part of an acre; the 

 produce was in proportion to 640 busliels per acre, 

 — the potatoes 327 bushels. The following year, 

 the memorable one of 1826, I planted half an acre 



on a piece of thin gravel, old tillage land, in its re- 

 gular course of preparation for a vegetable crop 

 after wheat; they maintained their verdure through 

 that extraordinary dry summer, and produced 150 

 bushels; but the potatoes by the sideof them were 

 completely set fast ; they never lormed a bulb. 

 The year following [ set an acre on part of the 

 same kind of soil, but of better quality ; it pro- 

 duced 570 bushels, without auy dung. An half 

 acre on the same land, with the usual quantity of 

 dung for turnips, produced 290 bushels (a bad 

 compensation for eight loads of excellent dung.) 

 This present season, an acre on the same land (part 

 of my turnip-fallows) produced 576 bushels; but 

 the wet state of the soil when taken up, and being 

 a vegetable of uneven surliice, which causes the 

 soil to adhere to it more than to a pofaloe, renders 

 it difficult to come at the exact quantity. From 

 an experiment I made of washing a sack, I can 

 sateiy assert, I have 530 bushels of clean roots; 

 whilst the vegetal)les on our flat gravels do not 

 equal this by full 50 per cent, in value, except the 

 potatoe, which produced 308 bushels on the same 

 soil, i never could raise more in favorable sea- 

 sons. 



" The cultivation of the artichoke is the same 

 as of the potatoe, except that it requires to be set 

 early — not later than M arch ; if laid above ground 

 all winter, it is proof against the severest frost. 

 When once cleaned, no weed can live in its dense 

 shade; horses, beasts, and sheep, consume it with 

 avidity ; pigs pre'er a potatoe to it in its raw state, 

 iiut prefer the artichoke when boiled or steamed. 

 It attracts the game in a most extraordinary way ; 

 they resort to its shade in autumn ; it forms one of 

 the finest covers in nature. We are so fortunate 

 as to have but little game in our lordships; I do not 

 recollect ever having seen even a Swedish turnip 

 I'itten by a hare or rabbit, notwithstanding they 

 will consume the artichokes left by the men in se- 

 curing them. 



"If potatoes can be profifalily cultivated as food 

 for cattle, compared with Swedish turnips, man* 

 gel-wurtzel, the sugar beet, &c. (which I much 

 doubt,) the artichoke is vastly superior to them, 

 The expense of culture is no more ; it is not lia^ 

 ble to be injured by frost ; can be taken up at 

 pleasure; it produces at least 30 jier cent, more^ 

 and on pooi- land full 50 per cent. ; is far more nu-j 

 tritious,Am\ leaves the land perfectly clean. The 

 only objection that can be urged against their cul- 

 tivation for cattle in conq)etition with potatoes is 

 that they require more care in taking (hem up. 

 The frost not acting upon them so as to destroy 

 vegetation, what are missed will, of course, grow 

 amongst the succeeding croi),but I have found ve 

 ry little inconvenience in this respect." 



GA3IA GRASS CONTRADICTORY REPORTS, 



AND THEIR EFFECTS. 



Notwithstanding the very higli estimate made of the 

 value of Gama Grass by many persons, there are oth- 

 ers, whose opinions are entitled to great respect, who 

 pronounce it to be worthless, and that " no stock will 

 eat it, unless in a state of starvation." It is not strange 

 that opinions so directly opposed should be formed upon 

 slight and imperfect observation of any new facts, 

 when nothing deserving the name of an experiment 

 has been made. But the attention of so many persons 

 having now been drawn to this .subject, it may be ex- 



