LKTTER FROM VIRGINIA— FEEDING OF HORSES— DRAINAGE. 



63 



By so doing, I have seliioni failed iu getting a good 

 stand of gra^ and in producing abundance of pas- 

 turage. It also adds to the quality of the hay. 



The first crop will have rather too great a propor- 

 tion of clover, but if cured in the cock rather than 

 on the ground, the quality of hay will be good. The 

 next season there will be less clover and more timo- 

 thj-. From one and a half to two tons per acre is 

 my common average. Some farmers advise a larger 

 quantity of seed, when seeding for meadows, but I 

 have found that too much seed may be used in seed- 

 ing for grass, as well as for wheat, corn, or any other 

 grain crop. 



In laying down wet lands for meadows, an equal 

 quantity of timothy and red top, with a small mix- 

 ture of white clover, is best If seeding is required 

 on spring crops, barley, rye, or spring wheat, sown 

 early with a dressing of gypsum, will do, but I have 

 had much better success by seeding on winter, than 

 on spring crops; but iu all cases, thorough cultivation 

 of the soil is an essential requisite. 



Sweden, 1855. 



F. P. E. 



LETTEE FROM VIEGmiA. 



Mr. Editor: — It is strange that withi» ttirty miles 

 of one of the first settlements in the United States, 

 lands should be sold for from five to ten dollars per 

 acre — some of it as handsome timber land as can be 

 found anywhere. And here is a nut for geologists to 

 crack. 



There are in this section, numerous beds of oyster, 

 clam, and other shells, (which are ^ere called marl 

 beds) and at the depth of twenty or twenty-five feet 

 from the surface, are found cast-iron pots and kettles, 

 and parts of chains similar to our log chains; and the 

 query is, how did they get there, and who were the 

 people that used them? 



Marl beds are found at a distance of one hundred 

 and twenty miles back from the ocean. Has not this 

 section of country at one time been the bed of the 

 ocean? If so, was the earth upheaved by subter- 

 ranean fires ? 



The mulberry tree grows and thrives here better 

 than in any other locality I have ever seen. The soil 

 and climate appear well adapted to its growth, and 

 if I am not mistaken it is an excellent place for silk 

 growing. I see nothing but skill and enterprise 

 wanting to make this a desirable part of the country. 



Having recently taken a farm here, I would be 

 glad if you, or some of your able correspondents, 

 would inform me what kind of grass would grow, and 

 stand the severe drouths to which we are subject I 



want something that I can rely upon. Our soil is 

 deficient in lime, but that we supply with shell-lime. 

 Corn and wheat are our principal crops, but they ex- 

 haust the soil. We can, and do raise two crops of 

 vegetables in one season; but what we want Is some 

 kind of grass for pasturage, so that we can raise 

 stock, make butter, cheese, pork, beef, &c. 



Prince George, C. H., Va. K. S. 



FEEDIN G OF HORSES. 



For working horses, we have found that cut straw, 

 either oats or rye, with a mixture of oats and corn 

 chop formed a most reliable feed ; with this should 

 be given a small quantity of long hay, if the horse is 

 to stand in the stall during the day time. We have 

 succeeded very well in keeping working horses, in 

 winter, entirely upon cut corn fodder and a small 

 mixture of chop, either oats and corn, buckwheat, 

 shorts, &c. In the use of corn fod<ler for horses, the 

 better way is to have a trough with a well fitting lid, 

 and after the fodder is cut and put in the trough, 

 pour upon it a sufficient quantity of hot water to get 

 up a good steam, put on the lid for fifteen minutes, 

 then open and sprinkle over the whole a quantity of 

 the chop feed, and when the heat has subsided, this 

 preparation forms an admirable morning or evening 

 meal. We have also succeeded in piecing out a hard 

 winter, by feeding to horses, cut rye straw and ground 

 peas. This makes very hearty feed, and in localities 

 where field peas can be grown, is well worthy the at- 

 tention or horsemen. The practice of feeding con- 

 stantly, to horses, corn in the ear, is unquestionably 

 bad policy, both as to adaptation and economy. To 

 a horse on travel, a feed once a week of ears of corn 

 not too hard for chewing, may be of good service; 

 but for constant eating, corn alone is not well suited 

 to the nature of the horse, and except as above, we 

 should always advise that all grains for horse, and 

 stock feed, should be ground or chopped before feeding. 



The above relates to animals in a healthy condi- 

 tion and fit for service. In order that farmers may 

 avail themselves of the benefits of this method of 

 feeding, the farm yard should be well supplied with 

 feeding troughs, in which the preparations may be 

 deposited, and disposed of without waste. — Ohio Cutr. 



Drainage. — I may be asked why I attach so much 

 importance to drainage. Why, you might as well 

 ask me why I attach so much importance to circula- 

 tion, vital or monetary. Stagnant water, or stagna- 

 ted air, are as ruinous to the plants as they would be 

 to our own vitality. Fix a cork in the drainage hole 

 of your flower pot, and you will soon have a practi- 

 cal illustration of my meaning. The sallow and bil- 

 ious plant (like many turnip crops I know of, on un- 

 drained land) will show by their expression what is 

 denied to them in speech. This is not the occasion 

 to enter into subterranean examination of gravity, 

 capillary attraction, aeration, or filtration, much less 

 of all those afiFectionate or repulsive interchanges, 

 that turn air, water, and earth, into food for man and 

 beast; but be assured, circulation is vitality — stagna- 

 tion death and ruin. — Mechi. 



