FARMERS' REGISTER— DIKED MARSHES AND MALARIA, &c. 



729 



the turnips are sown. The reason is obvious — the 

 cartage o[ this species of manure has taken up the 

 time. 



Let us now consider, thirdly, the strength and 

 durability of bone manure. !t is stron^i; enou<>h to 

 produce as fine, nay, a superior crop of turnips to 

 that produced by the richest dunf>"; and the crops 

 of the three succeeding years will be quite as good 

 as those fbllowini^; a crop of turnij)S from richduno-. 

 In making these observations, we beg to be un- 

 derstood as not depreciating the value of dung as a 

 manure. We admit that it is of immense impor- 

 tance ; but we presume it will be conceded that 

 few farmers have as much as they wish, and tlie 

 majority have not lialf enough. If it be now ask- 

 ed, how these deficiencies of manure are to be sup- 

 plied, we answer, by bone manure. 



It would be a waste of time to enter info tlie 

 question of carrying dung from large towns to a 

 remote distance; but bone manure, from its light- 

 ness of carriage, is not liable to that objection. 

 There is no farm, however remote, that may not 

 partake of its advantages. Even the distance of 

 twenty miles from a navigable river or canal will 

 not be deemed too great to fetch it, seeing that one 

 team will draw home sufficient to dress six acres 

 of land. To those persons, then, ivho have not as 

 much dung as they would like to have, and to those 

 who have not half as much, bone manure will prove 

 inestimable. 



The best method of using this dressing istodrill 

 it in with the .seed. It may, however, be sown 

 broad cast with good effect. If drilled, it is liettcr 

 when the soil is well |iulveri7.ed,to let the land re- 

 main just as left by the drill, without lieing har- 

 rowed or rolled. If the manure i)e usedhy broad- 

 cast, ten or fifteen bushels per acre extra should be 

 sown. Where land is higidy cultivated, from ten 

 to sixteen bushels an acre drilled have been suffi- 

 cient to produce excellent turnip-?. If the broad- 

 cast system be practised, the bone manure must lie 

 scattered after the laud is ploughed; then let it be 

 harrowed once, and the seed must next be sown. 

 The land must then be harrowed as it may re- 

 quire. 



For barley, or oats, the bone manure is very 

 good, and particularly fine for winter or si)ring 

 vetches, as well as peas of all kinds; also for 

 wheat. It is still better for rye. With each of 

 these crops, it may be either drilled in with the 

 seed, or sown broad-cast — taking he jjrecautionof 

 using more, should the latter method be practised. 

 The quantity used per acre, according as the soil is 

 more or less fertile, varying from .-ixteen — the 

 minimum — to forty bushels — the maximum — an 

 acre. 



The late Sir Joseph Banks esteemed bone ma- 

 nure highly for potatoes. 



This manure, for the crops above enumerated, is 

 adapted fiir all soils, except strong clay; but the 

 lighter, the drier, and the warmer the soil is, the 

 more will the good elTects be manifested, and come 

 quicker into operation. 



Asa dressing for t^rass land and young clover, 

 on every kind of soil, clay, as well as the lighter 

 species of land, it cannot be equalled. The proper 

 periods for using it are, in the autumn, or very 

 early in the spring, taking care to have the grass 

 short, so that the manure may the more readilv 

 reach the roots. If used in meadows, the best 

 time is immediately after the hay is cleared off. 

 Vol. I.— 92 



Fifty bushels an acre on grass land would have a 

 beneficial effect, even tolhetenth year. If a hun- 

 dred bushels per acre were used on pasture lands, 

 no more manure would be required for twenty 

 years. It has the effectof producing white (dutch) 

 clover, and other rich herbage, in the greatest 

 abundance, upon which sheep and cattle thrive ex- 

 ceedingly. Worn out meadows, and gentlemen's 

 parks, even where situated in the poorest soils, 

 will derive an incalculable benefit from its ferti- 

 lizing powers. 



It may be advantageously used to be mixed up 

 with any kind of ashes, or very rotten dung — about 

 two-thirds ashes or dung, and one-third bones — 

 after being mixed together, there will be a strong 

 fermentation take place, which will cause the 

 former to be almost as powerful as the bones. The 

 bones will also decompose, and operate more 

 speedily, than they otherwise would do. The hor- 

 ticulturists and floi-ists, in their several departments, 

 will find it excellent. No other manure will pro- 

 duce flowers so luxuriantly as this; and from its 

 easiness of carriage, it may be conveyed into the 

 parterre without injuring the walks. In hot and 

 green houses it will be found of great use. In fact, 

 whether used in the field or garden, it cannot be 

 misapplied. 



TO DESTROY RATS AND BIRDS. 



From the New York Farmer. 

 Mr. Fleet — Take two ounces of Nux Vomica, 

 bruise it in a mortar, pour on it one g-allon of boiling 

 water, and let it stand twelve hours, frequently 

 stirring it — then pour into this liquid a peck of 

 wheat, rye or corn ; let is stand twelve hours lon- 

 ger, then scatter the corn in places frequented bv 

 mice, rats, squirrels or birds, and I presume we 

 shall not soon hear of their depredalions again. 

 The Rev. Mr. Decrue, of the Georgical Diction- 

 ar\-, recommends one ounce of the seed of Cicuta, 

 and I believe any part of the [jlant will answer the 

 same purpose if treated in the same way, and it 

 will prove an effectual remedy against the evil. 

 Yours, R. M. w. 



DIKED MARSHES AXD MALARIA. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



My attention has been turned to the subject of 

 dikes, years before you commenced your valuable 

 work ; liut much more so of late, in consequence 

 of the many excellent hints therein contained. 

 No communication, however, has caused me more 

 satisfaction, than theopinions of Sir John Sinclair, 

 in your 9th No. }). 55(3, on the subject of malaria. 



The fact of there being much sunken land on 

 tide water, in Virginia, and owning nmch myself, 

 has awakened a deep solicitude in regard toddies; 

 and an occurrence in Caroline County, which I will 

 detail, induces me to endeavor to turn the attei.«tion 

 of Virginia to this important topic, as many, be- 

 sides myself, may be deterred from draining, until 

 the rights of land-holders are defined, or settled by- 

 legislative interft^rence 



The late Col. John Taylor of Caroline, expend- 

 ed much labor in attempting to reclaim about 140 

 acres of land, more than half of it being expo.sed 

 to tide water; and though not entirely successful, 

 raised corn profitably on the larger portion. His 

 widow persevered, and the embankment was pre- 

 sented as a nuisance by the grand jury. The 



