THE GENESEE FARMER 



195 



A Kev to True HAPriNESS. — A book with the above 

 title, containing IG-i duodecimo pages, has been written by 

 Mr. E. JIoBTON, of St. Joseph, Michigan, for a copy of 

 which we are indebted to the author. Like thousands of 

 otlier philanthropists, Jlr. M. would gladly do something 

 to reform and bless a thankless, heedless, wicked world; 

 and the better to attain the great ends of Truth and Kight, 

 in human society, he proposes to organise a new Order in 

 tJie community for the increase and ditfusion of knowledge 

 and virtue. II is plan of association partakes somewhat of 

 the leading features of Masonry, united with the industry, 

 frugality, and co-operative efforts that distinguish Friends 

 as a Christian body. In theory, the scheme is as promising 

 OS its objects are commendable ; but like ten thousand 

 churches that sink to the level of the dominant passions 

 and common failings of the mass of mankind, this new Or- 

 der would either die from the lack of popular sympathy, or 

 do as other people act. If the piety, devotion and genius 

 of a few gifted sons of Adam were adequate to persuade 

 mankind to love and seek the Truth, to learn and obey the 

 Kight, popular ignorance, vice, crime, and all their pesti- 

 lent fruits, would long since have been banished from the 

 world in which we live. 



Had we room, we would gladly pursue this theme at 

 some length, for the ways and means adapted to the eleva- 

 tion of our race are matters to which we have given the 

 consideration of at least a score of years. 



Lewte, or the Bended Twig, by Cousin Cicely, 

 has been laid on our table by the publishers. 



"We wish that every mother in our land, who resembles 

 the Mrs. Elwtn of the tale, would carefully peruse the 

 above, and note well the results of neglect in esrly parental 

 government, and many might learn from the gentle and 

 patient Agnes the true spirit of love and kindness to our 

 fellow men. 



Pearl Fishing ; or, a selection from " Household 

 VToRDS," BY Dicken.s, is a choice selection of stories — 

 grave, humorous and instructive. 



The Two Eras of France ; on, True Stories from 

 History, by Hugh De Norm and, is another work of 

 great merit. The history of France has at all times been 

 of deep and thrilling interest. For a thousand years, it 

 has been interwoven with that of nearly all the nations of 

 Europe, and it is well worth one's vihile to acquire a know- 

 ledge of some of the leading events in her history. 



The publishers, Messrs. Wanzer, Beardslet & Co., 

 deserve credit for their enterprise and industry in getting 

 up works of worth and utility, and we are glad to know 

 by their rapidly increasing sales, that the public appreciate 

 their labors in its behalf. 



A Treatise on Growing Tobacco in the United 

 States. — We have received a small pamphlet treating of 

 Tobacco Culture, anonymously written, or compiled, and 

 published by E. H. Babcock & Co., Syracuse, which is 

 truly a valuable little work. Jlany persons in the North- 

 ern States, and a few in Canada, are devoting some atten- 

 tion to the production of this staple. To all such we com- 

 mend this treatise, for the plain and useful information 

 contained therein. Price 25 cents ; address publishers. 



Struggles for Life, is the title of an interesting and 

 suggestive work published by Lindsay & Blakeston, 

 Philadelphia, purporting to be the auto-biography of a 

 dissenting minister. It is written in a charitable spirit and 

 well inculcates the duties of love and charity towards our 

 fellow man. 



Phosfhobus was first discovered in 1699. 



Rochester Agricultural Machinery. — The atten- 

 tion of our readers is directed to the advertisement of Mr. 

 Joseph Hall, who manufactures in a superior style sev- 

 eral of the most approved Reapers, Mowers, &c. 



Ashes, Bones and Oyster Shells. — A correspondent 

 asks : " What is the relative value of leached and unleached 

 ashes? and how much per bushel will it do to pay for the 

 latter ? Can bones be dissolved in sulphuric acid without 

 being first broken or ground ? Is oyster shell lime worlJi 

 twice as much as shell lime ? " 



As wood ashes are ordinarily leached, they are w'orth 

 perhaps about half as much per bushel as they were before 

 leaching. Some ashes are more soluble in both cold and 

 hot water than others ; the least soluble retain most of 

 their fertilizing elements. Ashes leached but a short time 

 may retain two-thirds of their value for agricultural pur- 

 poses ; while if washed for months or years out doors on a 

 side hill, they may part with four-fifths of their manural 

 virtues. 



Where corn is worth fifty cents a bushel, it will gener- 

 ally pay to buy good house ashes at from ten to fifteen 

 cents a bushel ; much depends on the quality of the soil. 

 Bones may be broken with a stone hammer, or an old axe, 

 sufficiently for dissolving them in sulphuric acid. Treat 

 them as described in the April number of the Farmer. 

 Oyster shell lime is not worth twice as much as stone lime 

 per bushel. 



You will do a Canadian subscriber a favor by giving a few remarka 

 on the advantages of drill culture in your next number, as we are 

 quite inexperienced in the use of grain drills. 



The principal advantages of sowing wheat in drills in- 

 stead of broadcast, are the following : 



1st. It is impossible to cover seed at a uniform depth 

 when it is sown broadcast, and either harrowed, cultivated, 

 or plowed in ; consequently, it comes at different times, 

 and never acquires the same degree of maturity, so that 

 three-fourths of the crop will be ripe enongh to cut six or 

 eight days earlier than the other fourtli ought to be har- 

 vested. This unevenness of ripening often causes a con- 

 siderable loss. 



2d. Less seed by a fourth is required per acre where it 

 is well drilled than where it is sown broadcast ; and it can 

 be covered at a nearly equal depth, thereby securing a 

 much better stand. 



3d. It is entirely practicable to stir the ground between 

 the rows of properly drilled wheat ; and this cultivation, 

 duly performed, benefits the crop as much as tillage b«- 



