THE GENESEE FARMER. 



149 



POTATOES AND CORN. 



Eds. Gexe&ice Faiimer : — lu the February nuni- 

 laer of the Geneisee Farmer^ I noticed an article in 

 regard to planting potatoes with corn, and intended 

 to elicit the opinion of your readers; and as I have 

 been a reader and subscriber to the Farmer for a 

 •number of years, I venture to send you this com- 

 niucniation to be used as you see fit. 



Some fevv^ years since, when tlie potato rot pre- 

 vailed in this section to an alarming extent, various 

 modes of obviating the disease were resorted to, 

 and among others the following, which, as far as 

 my ex])ei'ience and practice goes, is as follows: 

 After lixing a piece of as dry ground as convenient, 

 the same way as for corn, as early in the spring as 

 it will answer, I then plant the potatoes and corn 

 in the same rows, in alternate hills of about two feet 

 apart, and the rows about three feet and a half apart, 

 the corn shading the potatoes, and protecting them 

 from the hot rays of the sun — which, in my opin- 

 ion, in a wet season, is one cause of their rotting. 

 ■For, in order to satisfy myself, I planted two sepa- 

 rate pieces of ground, side by side, of a sandy loam, 

 of tlie same kind in all respects — one piece with 

 corn and potatoes as above, the other with potatoes 

 alone. 



The result was that the latter were about one- 

 quarter rotten, the former with very few rotten 

 ones among them — tending them in all I'espects 

 alike as to {wtatoes, using no plaster or ashes except 

 on the corn. 



In this way very heavy crops may be raised, in- 

 suring a good crop of potatoes and a middling one 

 of corn, with but very little extra trouble. 



The above plan has been pursued by many in 

 years past, and as far as I have learned, with per- 

 fect success. Care should be taken to plant potatoes 

 on none other than the dryest ground, not very 

 rich, plowing it once in the fall. 



As to hoeing them, in the seasons that they have 

 rotted much, I have observed that a conical-shaped 

 hill was the best. Plant none but the fairest ones, 

 and often shift the* seed. 



By following the above rules, I have invariably 

 had good potatoes, not having lost but a few since 

 the commencement of the practice. 



The only serious objection I have to the forego- 

 ing plan is, that it precludes the possibility of plow- 

 ing the crop both ways, which is very desirable, as 

 it saves much labor. h. n. m. 



Lemon, Wyoming Co., Pa., April, 1S60. 



HOW TO DETECT THE SEX IN DOMESHC FOWLS' 

 EGGS. 



In my youth, about fifty years ago, I had the 

 privilege of keeping fowls, and about that time I 

 was given to understand that it was possible to 

 foretell the sex in the egg, but could find no person 

 who could instruct rae how to do so.| 



After a short lapse of time, I determined to 

 unravel this mysterious subject myself, if there was 

 a possibility so to do. I began examining eggs, 

 classing them according to the difference I found 

 in the formation of eaclx, marking each class, and 

 putting them under hens as soon as opjiortunity 

 offered; when, in less than twelve months; I was 

 fully convinced that I had discovered either a 

 method or the method of foretelling the sex in 



large 



the egg by ocular demonstration in the chickens 

 produced. 



At the large end of the egg there is a circular' 

 space or cavity containing air, which country folks 

 call the "crown" of the egg; its proper name 1 

 know not. AVhen 

 yon examine the 

 hold it, the 

 end upper- 

 most, before a can- 

 dle or gaslight, and 

 in looking through 

 it you will observe 

 a dark circular mark 

 something similar 

 to the moon when 

 partially eclipsed. 

 This dark circular 

 mark is the space 

 filled with air, or 

 "the crown" of the 

 egg, and is to be 

 found in all eggs, 

 situated either in 

 the centre or on the 



side of the perpendicular dotted line, 

 diagram.) 



My method of examinicg the egg is as follows: 

 I make use of the thumb and fore finger of my left 

 hand as two points, placing the small end of tin- 

 egg on my thumb, my forefinger covering the large 

 end of it, and as near the centre of the end a- 

 possible. I then place the egg in this position 

 steadily before a candle and gently turn it around ; 

 if the crown be in the centre it will be scarcely 

 visible, the forefinger nearly covering it. On the 

 contrary, if the crown be on the side (No. 2) y(j;i 

 will only see it on one side of the egg as you turi] 

 it around, — Riciid. Smith, in the Cottage Gardener. 



1. Cpntre-crnwn, male. 



2. Side-cro\Yn, female. 



(See the 



BREEDING AND RAISING FARM STOCK. 



Eds. Genesee Farmer: — In my letter to you on 

 the subject of breeding and rearing farm stock, 

 published in your March number, I said that "it 

 was a subject of vast importance to the farmers of 

 the State of New York." I should have said to 

 the farmers of these United States, as I am not a 

 sectional man, and the whole country is deeply in 

 terested in the subject. Also, that I "cut all corn 

 stalks, straw and hay, if not of first quality." 1 

 did not intend to say that I never cut such hay ; 

 as I often do, and prefer such to any other alway.'^, 

 whether cut or not. My intention was to say, thiii 

 to giv-e an occasional feeding of hay of first quality , 

 uncut, was beneficial as a change, which will b^ 

 appreciated by the animals; as also <a feeding ol 

 straw or corn-stalks, thrown into the yard on a finf 

 clear day in winter, when it is clean and froze; 

 hard. With what relish animals will eat nice stalks 

 at such times, all farmers will bear witness — espe- 

 cially if tJje day be moderately warm. And with 

 what perfect enjoyment the animals will ruminate 

 over them about mid-day, with a winter's sun 

 shining brightly upon their well-fed bodies. Then 

 the farmer can walk through his yards and vie\\ 

 his stock with delight, especially if they have had 

 good care and feeding in their winter quarters. 



Since writing my communication for your March 



