THE GENESEE FAEMER. 



147 



NOTES ON THE APEIL NUMBER OF THE GENESEE 

 FAKMER. 



Bones as a Fertilizer. — The first article in the 

 April number is a discussion on " Bones as a Fer- 

 tilizer," or rather, on the amount of phosphate of 

 lime in bones. The Editor and Dr. Lee do not 

 seem to be exactly agreed upon this point. In a 

 scientific or chemical point of view, it might be a 

 matter of some consequence to know the exact 

 amount cf phosphate of lime in a given amount of 

 " dry bones," if this amount, like the constituents 

 of carbonate of ammonia, and many other chem- 

 ical combinations, was in all cases precisely the_ 

 same. But bones of different animals, and those 

 of the same animals of different ages, vary some- 

 what in their chemical combinations. Therefore, 

 it is not one of those cases which should excite 

 much warmth of discussion ; for, practically, a few 

 pounds, more or less, of phosphate of lime in a 

 given quantity of bones will not make a very mate- 

 rial difference with the farmer. The great misfor- 

 tune, with too large a portion of the American 

 farmers, is an entire neglect of making use of the 

 bones within their reach, whether they contain 42 

 lbs. or 52 lbs. of phosphate of lime. However, all 

 such, and similar discussions, will eventuate in good ; 

 for farmers need " line upon line," not only upon the 

 value of bone, but many other waste manures that 

 have been too much overlooked by them.^ 



Rollers and theie Uses. — It is rather too late 

 to expend much ink in proving the great value of 

 the farm-roller, in preparing the ground for sowing 

 grain — especially if the soil is clayey or lumpy. 

 But, Messrs. Editors, does it not require more power 

 to draw or turn a roller like the engraving you 

 give us, than it would if the shafts were as low 

 down as the gudgeons ? that is, having the draught 

 like that of a sled, instead of having it up as high 

 as the backs of the horses and oxen.* 



Salt and Plaster Together, — J. N. H. seems 

 to have made a slight mistake in saying that I 

 "advocated the use of plaster for Thnothy;" for 

 I have seldom known any good to result from the 

 use of it on the narrow-leaved grasses. But where 

 it has been applied to such grasses, clover has fre- 

 quently been known to follow, giving, with the 

 other grasses, an "A. No. 1 " quality of hay. How- 

 ever, 1 have no doubt but the occasional application 

 of a few bushels of salt per acre, with the plaster, 

 ■would be more useful, on many soils, than the 

 plaster alone. But circumstances alter cases. J. 

 N. H. lives near the Onondaga Salt Springs ; of 

 course he can procure salt cheaply. Our salt comes 

 mostly from Liverpool and Turks' Island, and after 

 being landed in Boston, it comes 80 miles per rail- 

 road before we can use it. Whether it would ^^ay to 

 use it here for manure, has never been fairly tested. 



Surface Maxuring has been a eubject for dis- 

 cussioTi ever since I can remember; and, judging 

 from the practice of farmers in applying their man- 

 Tires, I do not see any probability of the question 

 ever being settled. There are a great many con- 

 tingencies connected with the subject: difference 

 in seasons, soils, manures — whether green or rot- 

 ted — depth of plowing, etc., etc. Perhaps it might 

 be well for farmers to experiment more carefully 



* Perhaps it does ; but when you have shafts you can not very 

 well have them placed otherwise than in the cut. — Eds. 



in the manner of applying their manure to the land 

 for the corn, potato, and grain crops. One year's 

 trial would hardly settle the question definitely : 

 the results might prove very different in a very wet 

 season from those of a very dry one. 



Breadstuffs. — Most people in this section of the 

 country prefer good wheaten bread to that of any 

 other kind ; and they will never go back to " rye 

 and Indian " just so long as the wheaten is within 

 their reach. Though, in all probability, it would 

 be better to use a greater variety of the cereals — 

 if not made into bread ; there are numerous other 

 ways in which they can be worked, and made into 

 nutritious and palatable food. But, after all, " fash- 

 ion and taste" will regulate these matters; at least 

 till such times as flour becomes a vastly dearer 

 breadstuff" than corn, rye, oats, barley, and rice. 



Deep Plowing Injurious to Prairie Soils. — 

 And so it is to sonje others ; but as a general rule, 

 we think there is more injury sustained by too 

 shallow, than by too deep plowing. But to be 

 certain he is right, the farmer, like Mr. Turner, 

 should experiment upon Jiis own soils : say, plow- 

 ing a strip four inches deep, another six, and so on, 

 till the last strip has been plowed twelve inches 

 deep. Manure alike ; plant the several strips with 

 corn or potatoes — manuring alike. At harvest, 

 carefully note the result. Next year, grain and 

 grass seeds ; carefully note the differences, if any. 

 Third and fourth year in grass — by which time 

 something like a correct judgment can be formed 

 as to the most suitable depth at which such soil 

 should be plowed. If the four inch plowed land 

 gave as good crops through the course, it would be 

 folly to plow twelve inches deep; or perhaps the 

 crops might be so increased, as to more than pay 

 for the increased expense of the deep plowing. 

 This is a matter worthy a fair trial. 



Topiary. — That was a new word to me; so I 

 looked into " Webster's Unabridged," for a defini- 

 tion, and found it meant "shaped by cutting." So 

 that the shearing of an evergreen, so as to resemble 

 •' a bird, with a top-knot and a long, sweeping tail, 

 standing on one leg on the top of a round-headed 

 club," is " topiary work." Thanks to you, Mr. Ed- 

 itor and Webster, for I know a thing or two more 

 to-day than I did yesterday. But whether this 

 "topiary work" — this shaping of trees into the 

 form of " birds, beasts and fishes," is in good taste 

 or not, you and Mr. Smith may discuss to your 

 heart's content. I shall not enter into the lists, 

 pro or con. 



Bones foe Grape Vines. — Bones are a durable 

 and valuable manure for grape vines, trees, and 

 most of our cultivated crops. For several years 

 past, I have used some three cart loads of horn- 

 piths, in the hill, for my potatoes — placing one 

 pith in each hill at the time of planting. They 

 will last a dozen or more years, and the longer 

 they are used for this purpose, the better. R. H. 

 says "he has seen the fibrous roots cling to the 

 bones, and penetrate into tlie pores as though there 

 were something in the bones they were fond of." 

 When digging potatoes, I find the piths completely 

 enveloped by the fibrous roots of the potato plants. 

 A horn-pith will produce as great a growth a^ a 

 shovel full of dung to the hill ; and the potatoes are 

 not as liable to rot as are those dunged in the hill. 



Warner, JT. H., ApHl, 1860. L. BAETLETT 



