1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



191 



ashes. On the 196th page, we find 2 drachms 

 (from 50 to 55 per cent.) If one drachm is 30 to 

 33 per cent., 2 drachms must be more than 50 to 

 55. But every school-boy knows that 8 drachms 

 make one ounce, and that 1 drachm is 25 per cent, 

 of half an ounce. Why then use numbers so care- 

 lessly ? In the tables, too, in which peculiar care 

 should be used, we notice several great incongrui- 

 ties. We trust these errors will be corrected in 

 future editions, and we are the more desirous they 

 should bo, because the bi>ok is one of the best that 

 can be put into the hands of the practical farmer. 



labor of plowing, by pursuing such a course. Bet- 

 ter plow less and take good care of it. 



You will find scattered through t!ic volumes of 

 the monthly Farmer, accounts of cranberry cul- 

 ture. Where you can turn up a white sand by 

 plowing, cranberries usually succeed well. We 

 doubt whether they would in a cluy subsoil. 



For the New Enifland Farmer. 



OLD PASTURES AI^D CRANBERRIES. 



Mr. Editor : — Having a pasture of several acres 

 situated a mile and a half or two miles from home, 

 that needs plowing very badly, I have thought 

 proper to inquire through your paper, from you 

 or some of your correspondents, the most profita- 

 ble way to manage it. The land is suitable for 

 rye or curn, and capable of producing large crops 

 of either ; containing as it does a sufficient quanti- 

 ty of rich loam interspersed with gravel. 



Would it be best to plow it in the spring, pur- 

 chase some guano, lime or such like manure, (as 

 it is too far to cart barn-yard manure) and plant 

 it to corn ; or would a wiser course be, to plow it 

 in August or September, and sow it down to rye 

 or grass, (a.) 



If tlie former, what would be the cheapest ma- 

 nure to purchase, and the probable cost and quan- 

 tity per acre. If it was not thought advisable to 

 plant corn at so great a distance from home, should 

 rye or grass seed be sown without any manure be- 

 ing applied to the land. (6.) 



Oraxberries. — Will some of yourcorresponderAs 

 give tlieir experience in, and methods of cultivat- 

 ing the cranberry. Can the cultivation of this 

 plant be made profitable to the farmer? Having 

 several acres of swale land near by, producing but 

 little hay, as the soil is of a mucky nature to the 

 depth of three or four inches, and underneath is a 

 hard pan of clay, I have serious thouglits of plow- 

 ing up a portion of it and setting out the plants of 

 the upland cranberry; but before doing so, I wish to 

 ascertain whether the soil is adapted to the growth 

 of that plant, and whether I could use the land to 

 a better purpose. 



Any information in relation to the above sub- 

 jects, will be thankfully received by a 



Young Farmer. 



Remarks. — (a.) We have a pasture ofeight acres 

 which has been regularly fed for 25 years, until 

 the whole product is not more than what one 

 acre ought to be. The conclusion arrived at after 

 reflecting upon the whole matter, is, that we shall 

 pl)w it in August, manure a portion with plaster 

 and guano, and sow with rye and grass seed, and 

 let tlie cows run upon it about the first of June. 

 Another portion with plaster and phosphate of 

 lime, and another with plaster and ashes. Will 

 you do so and let us know the result 1 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CORN CULTURE. 



Mr. Edtior : — In the last volume of the Farmer 

 may be found some remarks by me, on the culti- 

 vation of corn, at pages 73 and 324. Since that 

 time I have had occasion to change my views, as 

 expressed on this subject, on page 73, Vol. IV., as 

 it regarded phmting corn on land that had been 

 planted to potatoes the year previous. 



Last spring I planted five-eights of an acre to 

 corn, using eight cords of unfermented manure, 

 composted with muck, according to Mr. Hol- 

 brook's directions, page 381, Vol. III., of the 

 monthly Farmer, plowing it in to the depth of 

 eight inches, and then cross plowing to the same 

 depth, and then harrowed down smooth, and fur- 

 rowed out and applied three cords in the hill, ma- 

 king in all eleven cords used. About 150 lbs. of 

 gypsum was put on after the corn was up. The 

 yield was forty bushels. Potatoes were grown on 

 this the year previous. Four cords less of manure 

 were on the five-eights of an acre, than were used 

 on the acre and a half the year previous, yet the 

 yield was 15 bushels the most on the five-eights. 



Now I attribute this to two causes. First, the 

 manure was put on in a sufficient quantity to be 

 felt by the corn the whole season. The decom- 

 posed manure gave it a start the first of the sea- 

 son, and the last part the green manure did its 

 work in producing a crop. The second I attribute 

 to the deeper plowing, one being six and the other 

 eight inches. Of the benefits •of deep plowing I 

 need not speak, for they have been so clearly point- 

 ed out in the Farmer for the last two years, that 

 all who have read it need nothing but facts to be 

 able to see the good effiict at a single glance. 

 Y^ours for the cause of agriculture, 



S. Tenney. 



Lewiston Falls, March 7, 1853. 



{b.) No, you would lose a large portion of your Ition. 



Mass. HorticulturaIj Society. — Through the 

 attention of E. Wight, Esq., Corresponding Sec- 

 retary of the Society, we have before us the sched- 

 ule of prizes offered for 1853, as follows : 



Prospective prizes $750 



Gardens Greenliouses, <S;c 200 , 



For Fruits 620 



Plants, Flowers and Designs 750 



For Vegetables 250 



Making in all the handsome sum of $2,520,00. 

 The prospective prizes are for objects to be origi- 

 nated subsequent to theyear]846, and which, af- 

 ter a trial of five years, shall be deemed equal, or 

 superior, in quality and other characteristics, to 

 any now extant. Many of our citizens are scarce- 

 ly yet aware of the high degree of pleasure and 

 profit they may derive from a connection and more 

 intimate acquaintance with this excellent associa- 



