[^"1) 108 THE GENESEE FAKMEB. 



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department of the Patent office, lie went immediately to the office of the Census Board, 

 to get the agricultural schedule changed so far as to enumerate all the cows in the 

 United States. This was done, and the number retunied by the marshalls was six 

 million three hundred and ninety-one thousand nine hundred and forty-six. For what 

 useful purpose was this separation of milch kine from other neat stock ? This is a 

 question which eveiy farmer ought to study. A general and most valuable improve- 

 ment of the bovine race was contemplated by the mover in this matter, who had long 

 felt the necessity of reliable agricultural statistics. The six and a half million cows 

 in the United States now yield less than a moiety of the milk which the food consumed 

 is capable of producing. Now, if we had an experimental dairy farm, with the needful 

 appliances, we would soon demonstrate the truth of this statement in the most satis- 

 factory manner. But public opinion is not yet ripe for the application of science to 

 American husbandry ; and therefore no truly scientific experiments, like those of Botjs- 

 siNGAULT and Thompson, are hkely to be made in this country during the life of the 

 present generation. According to the experiments of M. Perrault and Pabst, a cow 

 giving a full flow of milk, needs six and a quarter pounds of good hay or its equivalent 

 in grass or roots for every 220 pounds live weight. 



We will take an early occasion to resume the consideration of this subject, and 

 endeavor to point out what part of the food consumed is voided by the bowels ; what 

 part by the kidneys ; what by the lungs ; what by sensible and insensible perspiration, 

 and what through the udder as milk, in a good cow, properly fed and otherwise cared 

 for. It is not too much to say that one hundred million dollars a year may be added 

 to the income of the country by the judicious improvement of dairy stock, which implies 

 equal improvement in their management and keep. 



MAPES' IMPROVED SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME. 



It will be recollected that in the December number of the Farmer we made a few 

 comments on some statements by the editor of the Workhu/ Farmer, respecting the 

 manufacture and value of " Mapes' Improved Superphosphate of Lime." What we 

 particularly called attention to, was the assertion of the editor that his improved super- 

 phosphate of lime could not be made in England for $100 per ton. Now it would 

 appear to be of little consequence to us whether it could or could not be there manu- 

 factured for this sum ; but, judging from the frequent reiteration of this assertion, the 

 editor is of a different opinion. lie knows that super] )hosph ate of lime has been ex- 

 tensively used in England for the last ten years; British farmers therefore have had 

 ample time to ascertain its comparative value, and to what particular crops it is best ap- 

 plied, lie also knows that about seven million dollars worth of guano is used per 

 annum in Great Britain. Now the editor wishes to have it understood that his im- 

 proved superphosphate of lime is much more valuable than the best Peruvian guano ; 

 and to reconcile this assertion with the fact that such immense quantities of guano are 

 used in England, where the value of superphosphate has been fully tested, the editor 

 would have his readers believe that his imj)roved superphosphate of lime cannot be 

 made in England for twice what it sells for in this country. He says if it could be 

 made in England for $100 per ton, .it would sell readily, and would soon, to his certain 

 knowledge, take precedence of all other fertilizers. If this is so, how cheap a manure 

 this must be to us American farmers at only |50 per ton. 



The editor objects to our publishing the analysis of his manure by Dr. Antisell, on 

 the ground that it was not a fair sample of the article. He publishes another analysis 

 of Dr. Antisell, of a sample sent by Mai'es' manufacturer, Avhich is of course as good 



