THE GENESEE FAEMER. 



during winter, see last December number. If the 

 manure has been properly prepared during win- 

 ter, and is sufficiently decomposed, we should 

 decidedly prefer to use it for spring crops rather 

 than let it lie over for wheat. It is, perhaps, 

 better applied to corn than any other spring 

 grain crop. It is, however, sometimes veiy con- 

 venient and advantageous to plow it in eai-ly for 

 baj'lej. For root crops, manure should be thor- 



ouglily decomposed. 



♦— ■ 



Will not four qnarta of lime if heaped against peach trees 

 Injure tliem? (1.) 



'We use soft soap robced ivith an equal quantity of water, 

 in tills part, as a wash for fruit trees, and think it is much 

 BuiKTior to any other, an eacli rain dissolves some of the 

 wiap and malves It appear as if freshly washed. Now would 

 this runninir down of the soap prevent the boror in apple 

 and peach trees ? (2.) „ ,n^ 



Which do vou consider the best treatise on poultry i (.i.) 



Which asrficultural chemistry is considered the best? 

 (4.) D. M. '^Ls.E.—Ancusier. C. W. 



(1.) No. 



(2.) It might to a slight degree. 



(3.) Dixon & Kerr's Domestic Poultry. 



(4.) Boussingault's Eural Economy, Johnston's! 

 Agricultural Chemistry, or Norton's Elements. 



Sw.uirp Land.— I am the unfortunate possessor of some 

 swamp lands, respecting which I wi^^h to make some inqui- 

 ries of you, or, through vour paper, of some one who can 

 give the desired informa'tion. The swamp contains about 

 15<) acres, and in its composition appears to be purely vege- 

 table, being of a reddish bro^vn when first thrown up, but 

 becoming black by exposure to the atmosphere. It is of 

 unknown deptli, being easilv probed with a pole to the 

 df|ilh of twenty feet. Now what I want to know is, wheth- 

 er if it was made dry it would be likely to be gcod farming 

 land. I can get it niade dry for !jl,(H"t()— too much money to 

 throw awav. but a good investment if it will make farming 

 land, or even bring good crops of cultivated grass. Any 

 information wU be thankfully received. J. K. Tatloe. 



We cannot tell whether it would pay to im- 

 prove such a swamp, unless we had a sample of 

 the soil and submitted it to a thorough chemical 

 examination. 



Cow Stable, <fec. — In reply to Mr. Lkti Pad- 

 dock, I send you the following plan : 



C Li 

 MX 30 





5 X 36 



U^ 



PLAN FOR A COW STABLE. 



The stable is 30 feet wide, 86 feet long, with a 

 bay 14 feet W 80 feet. The stable should be C 

 feet 6 inches hi;;!) in clear, with floor descending 

 back 1 to 25 or 30 inches, with a gutter 2 inches 

 (lec)) behind the cows and the back end of the 

 floor plank to lie on the top of tlic gutter ; the 



manger to be 2 feet 6 inches wide at the top, 2 

 feet at the bottom, 1 foot 8 inches deep in front, 

 4 feet deep next the feed room, and set up from 

 the floor 4 inches. The floor should be on the 

 ground, so as to admit of no air under it. Make 

 the stalls 2 feet back from the manger by setting 

 boards on end, and divide the manger at each 

 stall, in order that each cow may get her allotted 

 food, meal, &c. The cellar, I think, is not neces- 

 sary at all, but if it is wanted to keep vegetables 

 for the cows, let it be under the bay with a win- 

 dow east and west; dig it 4 feet below the stable 

 and raise it 2 feet above the ground and bank it 

 up with earth. I have six steps t^go down cel- 

 lar and three to go up into the bay. The cows 

 should be fastened by a strap around the neck 

 (not on the horns) and a half-uich rope tied to the 

 center of the front part of the manger. To save 

 tlie liqui<l manure, put an inch thickness of tan- 

 bark in the gutter, in order to absorb it, and all 

 may be put out together ; old tan-bark is the 

 best, but sand or any dry earth will do. Cut the 

 stable doors in two a little above the center, to 

 open the top, and light and ventilate the stable. 

 The stalls are 3^ feet wide, to give room to milk 

 and card the cows. 



I liave a number of objections to putting a 

 cow's head in stanchions. One is, she is in mis- 

 ery from the time she lies down till she gets up. 

 You will see a cow at liberty, when lying down, 

 swing her head toward her feet to balance her- 

 self. It being an old habit does not argue that it 

 is a good one. Nazro Park. — Bridgewater, Pa. 



Su\ Flower Seed. — I take the liberty to an- 

 swer "J. W. N.'s" inquiry in the last Genesee 

 Far-mer in relation to sun-flower seed. I have fed 

 it to poultry for the last two winters, and found 

 it valuable. It being oily supplies the place of 

 meat — a bushel of seed yielding a galon of oil. 

 I find one-third sun-flower seed, and two-thirds 

 oats and wheat, mixed together, the best propor- 

 tion. However, corn might be Used for a change 

 in place of the two latter. The hens should liave 

 plenty of lime near them. Have boxes made 

 eigkt inches deep, with bars aerocs the top wide 

 enough apart to admit a hen's head, which will 

 prevent wastage of grain ; fill the boxes in tlie 

 morning, so that they may be supplied through 

 the day. Hens not beinn; acquainted with sun- 

 flower seed, may not eat it at first, but soon will. 

 IJy so doing, yo\i will be supplied with eggs 

 tlirough tlie winter, bef^ide the fowls fatting fjist. 

 If you wi^h them to lay, have plenty of gravel 

 near tliem. Sim-flower seed is not in the least 

 injurious. IL C. Adgate. — East Bethany, Gen. 

 Co., K Y. 



Ciup JIanvue. — I notice some iivjuiries alwut 

 chip manure. I will say what T do with mine. 

 1 put it in my hog pen in tlie fall when my hogs 

 are fatting. I take about two Mheel-bairow 

 loads at a time and let it remain till tliorouglily 

 stjred up by the hogs ; I then throw it cnit and 

 wheel in some Tuore ; and in the sprinir 1 have a 

 fine pile ready to put under corn. L. Fitcu Hub- 

 bell. — BmTn'ujtoii Flats, Ots. Co., N. Y. 



