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THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



with the eame quantity of lime, and that the 

 ashes of etraw will be found of no value on most 

 wheat soils. 



SiTMMEK I'^ALLOws FOB WuEAT. — We havG rooenlly been 

 discussing IIk- mcrils of 'two systems of propariiit; hind for 

 wlieat : ono, brcakiiiir it up early in the sprinir, pli>\viii£r 

 cross the furrows airain in July, and asraiii iiiinu'dialeiy 

 before s')\viri;x; and the practice beginning to iirevail liere 

 to RdHie extent, of jjlowing but once and ciillivating twice, 

 to kill the grass, <kc. I would like to know your opinion 

 on this siibjt-ct. A B'jokeve. 



The nature of the soil has more to do with 

 this question than anything else. Unless to de- 

 stroy weeds, summer fallows are inadmiseable, 

 in good practice, on light sandy soils. On the 

 other hand, heavy loams or clays are always 

 summer fallowed for wheat with great advantage. 

 There are few hcain/ soils, if underdrained, but 

 wliat will yield a first rate crop of wheat after a 

 good summer fallow. It is, however, the opinion 

 of m.tny < f our best farmers in tliis neighborhood, 

 tha't even on heavy soils plowing under a crop of 

 clove" in full bloom, and cultivating and harrow- 

 ing the land .to keep dowb weed*, &c, and then 

 putting in the seed with a cultivator, is belter for 

 wheat than summer fallows. On sandy soils such 

 is undoubtedly the case ; and though on clayey 

 eoils the gain by plowing in, clover is not so great 

 as on sandy soils, yet we are inclined to think it 

 a better practice than summer fallowing. 



We should like the opinion of our readers on 



this subject 



♦ 



I have a spring some hxindred rods or more from my 

 house, which 1 have brought in pine pump-logs. They are 

 now nearly decayed— so much so, that I am compelled to 

 relay the-m this season with logs or other materials. I have 

 it in my mind to put down cement. Some say put down 

 lead. I do not e.xactly like lead. My first objection is, 

 that (he distance is so great, and the sj)ring is not over 

 large, that it would be unhealthy ; and second, that it wouM 

 bo too costly. Have you, or any of your correspondents, 

 had any experience in the use of cement V and if so, I 

 would like to hear from them through your journal as to 

 the jirobable cost per rod. The digging is such as we 

 usually find on the Genesee river. 



Should I adopt the cement as a material, I -will give the 

 cost, &c., to your readers through the Farmer^ should any 

 one desire it. D. P. Beooks. — Fillmore, AUegany county, 



Water containing lime, as all spring water 

 does to some extent, is not tainted by passing 

 through or standing in leaden pipes or vessels. 

 On the contrary, pure water or rain water will 

 dissolve, under certain circumstances, a considera- 

 ble amount of lead ; such water is always in- 

 jurious, and sometimes proves fatal to those who 

 drink it. 



Alva Wilcox, of West Bloomfield, N. T., 

 makes, or did make, clay pipes about 1|- inch in 

 diameter, which are cemented together, and thus 

 form a first rate conduit for water, <fec. 



Will our correspondents give us their views on 

 this subject? 



Corn Planters. — Can you inform me where I can pro- 

 cure a Corn Planter for planting in hills? Are the Seed 

 Planters advertized by E. D. Hali.ock and others arranged 

 for t)lanting corn, and who manufactures the best article V 

 I). F. Laine. 



The Seed Planters of E. D. IIallock are not 

 arranged to plant corn. They will sow it in 

 drills, if required, but are not recommended for 

 tha-t purpose. They are intended to drill small 

 seed such as carrots, beets, onions, ruta bagas, Ac. 

 We have used one this spring and can confidently 

 recommend them. There are quite a number of 

 corn planters possessing many excellent quali- 

 ties. It might be invidious to select one as the 

 best out of so many good ones. Emery's Corn 

 Planter and Seed Drill, advertised in this number, 

 has been extensively used and is well recom- 

 mended. J. Ganson &, Co., of Brockport, N. Y., 

 tnanufacture one that plants two rows at onoe. 

 We hear this well spoken of. Many others deserve 

 mention did space permit. 



You did not give your post-office address, or 

 we would, as you wished, have answered by pri- 

 vate letter. 



Manures. — "Will you bo kind enough to inform me which 

 is the best work now pultlishcd on the compo.sition and 

 application of manure. I am anxious to procure more 

 information th.an I at present possess on thi's all-important 

 subject to the farmer. I have bren a reader of your paper 

 for two years past, and the more I read the more I am eon- 

 viiieed of my ignorance in relation to my business. I iiin 

 anxious to learn, and any information will be gratefully 

 received. Horace Fobd. — East Cleveland, Ohio. 



StockhardCs Chemical Field Lectures for Agri- 

 culturists, contains as much and as reliable infor- 

 mation on this subject, as any single work within 

 our knowledge. In thcorij, it is, in our opinion, 

 the hc'St work written on the subject of manures. 

 Tiie practical, application of theory is, perhaps, 

 somewhat at fault for this country. The Pro- 

 gressive Farmer contains, also, much vahiable 

 information on this subject, although, in our 

 opinion, some of its theories are unsound. — 

 Dana's Muck Manual is also a most excellent 

 work. 



Any of the above works can be had at this 

 office, or from mosit booksellers. 



In the May number of the Farmer, reference is made to 

 the fact of a Mr. Smith forking his ground to the depth of 

 eighteen inches, and obtaining immen.se crops by so doing. 

 The subscriber, as well as others in this section, will bo 

 pleased if you will give some hint at Mr. Smith's method 

 in so forking his land, as well as the implements used in 

 the process. John George. — Woodcock, I'a. 



"Forking" bears the same relation to spading 

 that handling manure with a dung-fork does to 

 the use of a shovel or spade for that purpose. 

 To till the ground eighteen inches deep, Mr. 

 Smith spades or "forks" it twice the length of the 

 tines or blade of the implement A fork for dig- 

 ging up the earth differs somewhat from a dung- 



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