EDITOR'S TABLE. 



ICl 



JnquirUs anir StnB&otrjff, 



Mr. KiMTOR : — Our prairie land, fresh broke, ia sure for a fair 

 3p of sprinj wheat of fair quality. After a few years* cropping 



K-(.'rt;un; somelimos uoing as well as fresh soii, sometimes 



rn arly failing, but rapidly deteriorating — i. e., growing more un- 



rtain. What clement of •wheat is probably first exhausted, and 



aat would supply it as a special manure ? Soil a deep, loose loam, 



uch nf it rather sandy. Is itibetter to plow in dry stubble than 



1 it off? Suggestions on the above points would perhaps be 

 Juble to other Iowa farmers. P. — Iowa, 



If clover can be successfully grown on j-our prairie land, 

 has no superior as a preparative forwlieat. G. O. Tir- 

 lNY, in the Transactions of the Wisconsin State Agri- 

 ittiral Society for 18.52, recommends corn sown broad- 

 ist and plowed under as a substitute for clover. We do 

 )t know as the experiment has been tried. Lime is an 

 dispensable element in a wheat soil. Suppose you apply 

 few bushels to an equal number of perches of land, and 

 >te the result, as compared with an equal quantity of 

 ed sown on unlimed land. On sandy soils in some of our 

 astern States, farmers are in the habit of applying 

 ached ashes ; but in your locality they would, perhaps, 

 ; too expensive. "We believe the tendency of cereal 

 ops on the prairie lands is to straw rather than to seed, 

 he straw of wheat contains a .large portion of silica — 

 e seed but a very little. The straw has but little phos- 

 loric acid in its texture, while it is an important portion 

 the seed. On theoretical grounds, we would suggest 

 at you make a trial of bone-dust, at the rate of ten bush- 

 's to the acre, or superphosphate of lime at the rate of 

 ')0 fljs. to the acre, and compare results as directed be- 

 re. Light, sandy land requires a free use of the roller 

 t consolidate the soil. From what we can learn of prai- 

 se land and soil, stock-husbandry promises a much surer 

 :turn than raising cereal or grain crops. 



I WISH to make an inquiry through your valualile paper, how 

 )ver seed is best gathered and cleaned. "What is the best machine 

 [■ such uses ? and which is the best for seed, the first or second 

 Dp? 



In "Western New York, the second growth of clover is 

 "niversallj allowed to go to seed, and is gathered by ma- 

 hines constructed for that purpose, wlien the dew is off. 

 V^e have recently examined a model of a machine for 

 eading and gathering clover, timothy, and other grass or 

 rain seeds, invented by T. S. Steaj>man, of HoUey, N. Y. 

 tis very simple in construction, easy to operate, and from 

 ne peculiar action of the cutting knives, will not become 

 logs^ed under any ordinary circumstances. It is drawn 

 y one horse, and with it a man can gather the seed of 

 rom eight to twelve acres per day. By removing a small 

 ■earing wheel, it becomes a three-wheeled wagon box, 

 nd can then be driven to the barn or wherever wished, 

 t is also a self-raker, and with ordinary care we do not 



e how an ounce of seed need be lost. IMore information 

 oay be obtained by addressing the patentee, T. S. Stead- 

 lAN, of Holley, N. Y. Wecannot speak from experience 



to the merits of clover hullers, and should be glad to 

 lear irom our correspondents as to the merits and demer- 

 ts of the various machines now in use for that purpose. 



Havisg been a subscriber for the Gbxesbe Fakmer for the past 

 seven years, I do not recollect of seeing any remedy for the blind- 

 ness of sheep, or the cause of their becoming blind. My cei^bbor 

 lias a line Uock of sheep, and some of them have become perfectly 

 blind, that are young and licalty to all appearance. If you, or 

 some of your correspondents will give some information and a 

 remedy, you will oblige a subscriber. Jas. Nouthrup — Cameron. 



There are so many causes which may produce blindness, 

 that the above question is somewhat difficult to answer- 

 For instance, blindness may be caused by hard driving, be- 

 ing chased by dogs, the intense glare of sunliglit on helds 

 of snow, and some have thought the pollen of flowers will 

 occasionally produce it — and sometimes it may be caused 

 by infection or some epidemic influence. Blindness shows 

 itself in different ways : in some the whole surface of the 

 eye-ball has a light-blue color, while more commonly a 

 white film gradually spreads over it till it has assumed a 

 pearly whiteness. A writer on the subject states "that all 

 kinds appear to be preceded or accompanied by inflamma- 

 tion, and the principal remedy in all bad cases is bleeding 

 from the vein under the inner angle of the eye on the side 

 of the nose. After properly securing the animal, place 

 the left hand on the vein, about two inches from the angle 

 of the jaw and opposite the third grinder, and immediately 

 upon the vein becoming full, puncture it in a spot about 

 an inch from the eye." Respecting washes, he says almost 

 the only wash whicli can be of service is either a drop or 

 two of vinous ttnctnre of opium introduced into the eye. 

 Blindness is frequently hereditary ; and it would be advi- 

 sable to ascertain the condition and soundness of the par- 

 ent stock. 



What ia the reason the southern part of Wt stern New York is 

 not well adapted for raising wheat • Are there any well authenti- 

 cated experiments with lime or plaster^ or any other mineral which 

 produced beneficial effects? If there are, I should like to know 

 the particulars. I should be pleased to know the best plan for ma- 

 king charcoal. I should also nke to know the best way of using 

 muck for manure. Would it not be a good plan to haul it out, say 

 in August, into piles of five or six loads, and mix about abushel of 

 Ume to a load, with a sprinkling of plaster near the top to prevent 

 the waste ef ammonia by the action of the lime ? Answers to the 

 above, from you or any of your correspondents, will be thankfully 

 received. Thomas Plato — Marilla, Erie Co.; N. Y. 



Our correspondent will see in the April number of the 

 Farmer an exti'act from an essay on geology as connected 

 with agriculture, which will answer his inquiries in [lart. 

 His plan for making muck compost is first rate ; but too 

 many are unwilling to be at the trouble of increasing their 

 means of fertilization by similar plans, though it is an in- 

 dispensible requisite for productive farming. 



"Will you oblige an old subscriber and the farmers generally, by 

 stating in your valuable paper what cider mill is considered the 

 best among the fruit-growers of New York State? We have in 

 this section of Pennsylvania Arowsc's Portable Cider Mill, and Ota- 

 pin's — the last named is, however, but little known. Will you in- 

 form us what its reputatiou is at home, and whether there is some- 

 thing of the kind still better. D. D. '^slauumi.— Reading. 



W. E. Hickok's patent mill is preferred by purchasers 

 as being the best, or among the best now in use. 



