324 



EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Mr. Editor : — Having noticed in some of the journals 

 that grown wheat would not make light bread, I send jou 

 the following recipe : For one loaf of bread, a quart of 

 ipilk and water — an equal quantity of each — a teacup two- 

 thirds full of good hop yeast, a small teaspoonful of sale- 

 ratus, and the same quantity of alum ; mix to a thick bat- 

 ter, and let it rise ; then mix very stiff, and make it into 

 loaves to rise again. It must be well baked. In tliis way 

 I have made good bread from grown wheat — if you know 

 of a better way please insert it in the Farmer. 



P. IIakvey. 



3En5uiru5 aiilJ ^ns^txs. 



If "A Farmer and Subscriber," Sciota Co., Ohic 

 will give us his name and address, we will write him oj 

 the subject." 



A Subscriber — "Waterford, Erie Co.,Pa.— If your land 

 is well drained, so that water will not lie on it during the 

 winter or spring, you can sow this fall. If not, sow in 

 the spring early, with oats or barley. 



Raising Water. — Permit me to inquire if any method has been 

 discovered for raising; water for stock by the weight of the creature 

 standing upon a platform, which woiks well in practice. A device 

 of this kind was brought to notice through the Michigan Farmer, 

 not long since, which to me appeared impracticable, except in case 

 of a very shallow well, or a very heavy animal to Rtand on the 

 platform. The plan consisted of a large tube or box, say one foot 

 square, with a piston fitted, upon which the weight of the animal 

 ia made to bear, and the water thus forced through a small pipe 

 entering near the bottom of the box and rising into a trough so 

 placed that the animal must stand upon the platform in order to 

 reach it. Now this at first view might seem very easy to accom- 

 plish, but when we come to investigate the established laws of hy- 

 drodynamics, we 6nd that the weight of a heavy animal upon a 

 piston one foot square could force the water up a small tube but a 

 short distance. Indeed, if I rightly understand it, the size of the 

 small tube is imm^te^ial, since the same weight would raise the 

 water to the same height in the small tube, whether it be one inch 

 or one foot in diameter. Now a cubic foot of water weighs sixty- 

 two and a half pounds; consequently a pressure of one thousand 

 pounds upon a piston one foot square would raise water fifteen 

 feet, allowing nothing for friction. The hydrostatic press is formed 

 upon this principle, for by merely filling a small tube, half an inch 

 in diameter and fifteen feet high with water, and connecting the 

 lower end with a tight box one fjot square, a pressure of one 

 thousand pounds would be exerted upon each of the six sides : 

 hence, if this reasoning is correct, water for stock can be raised 

 only from very shallow wells by the above method; since the pis- 

 ton must descend one foot to supply one cubic foot of water— an 

 Insufficient quantity for a horse. But I have been informed that 

 water is raised in New York State by some such method, and if it 

 can be done economically, there are doubllesa many of your sub- 

 flcribers in this western country who would like to be informed of 

 the fact. I havo fince seen a statement of some one in the Michi- 

 gan Farmer who had tried to raise water as above, but failed. J. 

 C. Rogers— Grand Rapids, Mick. 



We know of no such plm in operation in this State. 

 We would go a long distance to see it in successful opera- 

 tion ; but if we remain at home until we go on such an 

 errand, we shall be in no danger of being killed by rail- 

 raod collisions io some time. 



My best wishes do ever go with llfp Genesee Fakmek and th 

 cause it advocates. There ia mach that is edifying and instructin 

 in its pages, and it is well worth rainy times its cost, which cost i 

 next to nothing, while its instructions are worth many a dollar. 



We have had a very dry season, the first part in particular. N' 

 rain of any consequence after the last snow went off, till in July 

 and of course it kept everything backwards. Oats aad wheat hot] 

 suffered considerably, and a good many pieces are not worth har 

 vesting. 



We are much troubled with a new disease in this section ar 

 our water-melon vines, (or what is new to use), and we can't 

 well account for it. My own and Pome of my neighbors' are nearl, 

 all dead, just as they were showing signs of a good crop. 

 disea.se first shows itself by a sudden wilting of the vines, and thei 

 in a day or so the vine itself ia covered with black spots neai 

 root on the upper side, and then spreads along on the vine, n 

 ia dead to all intents and purposes. I have noticed that son 

 the vines appeared to have bursted the outer skin, somewhat af^e, 

 the fashion of rusty wheat, only they are not rusty, and they be 

 come very dry and black. I have not seen any insects about th 

 vines, more than usual. The disease is sure death as soon a; 

 vine is attacked, and we can not stop it, as one day does the busi 

 ness as effectually as a knife. Some of us have lost considerabl 

 money by the death of our vines before a single melon could ripen 

 and we would be glad if you or some one of 3'our many contribu 

 tors could give any light upon the subject. I may as well remarl 

 that the vines in my garden were somewhat stunted in growth 11 

 the fore part of the season in consequence of the drouth, and afte 

 we had plenty of rain they giew fast; but there was no appearano 

 of the disease for a month afterwards. Cyrus Gray— St. Paul 

 Minnesota. 



Will some of your readers be kind enough to give me thi 

 formation as to the best method of drying up & cow safely shortl; 

 after calving? J. T.—St. Thomas, C. W. 



HORTICULTURAL. 

 Keeping of Apples. — Apples are frequently kept bi 

 farmers in pits or ridges in the ground, covered with straw 

 then a layer of earth about eight or ten inches deep. I 

 is a poor method, as the fruit decays very rapidly whei 

 exposed to tlic air, and the quality is quite inferior. W< 

 are not aware that apples or fruit of any kind will bt 

 much longer in ripening in an ice house than in a coo 

 cellar. Ice houses are very useful to preserve ripe fruits* 

 as they can be kept in them frequently some days and re- 

 tain much of the flavor. Cool, dry cellars are preferable* 

 to preserve apples, as well as other fruits, which are kept 

 much better in covered boxes and barrels, excluded both 

 from the light and air, than if exposed. 



Keeping of Apple Grafts. — F. S. — Lacey Springs,. 

 Va. 1. It is not injurious to place boxes of grafts in a: 

 dark cellar, but is preferable, 3. Apple grafts if nearly- 

 covered with earth, allowing only the tips of the grafts to 

 be exposed, will withstand, at times, four or five degrees^ 

 of frost without much injury ; but it is better that they be 

 excluded wholly from frost. 3. Sand in which apple grafts' 

 have been packed may be used again. We can not see' 

 why the sand is not just as good as at first. 



Our friends must not a^k us to prai-se one implement or 

 machine to the injury of others, perhaps quite as good, 

 We are willing to give all necessary facts. 



