160 



THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



It is a mistake, however, to suppose that our circulation 

 in Canada is greater " than in any one State in the Union." 

 It is considerably larger this year than ever before, but 

 still we have not over 4,500 in the whole Province — less 

 than one-half what it is in this State. Our circulation, 

 too, is nearly, if not quite, as large in Pennsylvania as 

 in all the British Provinces together; and in Ohio, 

 Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, 

 our circulation is very large, as it is also in all the New 

 England States, and in New Jersey, Virginia and Dela- 

 ware. We have good lists in every State and Territory, 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In an agricultural point 

 of view, the Genesee Farmer is no more a " foreign pro- 

 duction " in Canada than it is in any of these States. The 

 principles of agriculture are of universal applicability, and 



it is these which we endeavor to disseminate and enforce. 

 <-•< 



We are indebted to James J. H. Grkgoet, of Marble- 

 head, Mass., for a package of seeds of his Marblehead 

 Mammoth Drumhead Cabbage. Mr. G. says he has meas- 

 ured plants " that were nearly six feet around the solid 

 head," and that they will average 30 lbs. a plant by the 

 acre. We shall give them a trial, and if they prove as 

 valuable -as the Hubbard Squash introduced by Mr. 

 GnEGORY, he will be again entitled to the thanks of the 

 agricultural community. 



Rdlofson & Harvey's Straight Draft Plow. — A few 

 days since we witnessed a trial of this plow, designed for 

 either two or three horses. Several farmers and others 

 interested were present, and all expressed themselves as 

 highly pleased with its operation. We consider it one of 

 the very best plows we have ever seen. It is manufac- 

 tured by A. Gordon, of this city. 



Peruvian Guano.— Mr. J. K. Chappell, of this city, 

 keeps this guano for sale at G9 Exchange street. We are 

 assured it is a genuine article, and have no doubt that it 

 is so. Genuine Peruvian guano is beyond all question 

 the most powerful and valuable manure in existence, and 

 we recommend our readers to give it a trial. Mr. C. also 

 keeps on baud a supply of plaster, bone-dust, and Amer- 

 ican Company's guano. Of the latter we can say nothing. 



Notes from Canada Wfst. — It was generally thought 

 last fall that hay would fetch an enormous price this 

 spring; but such has been the economy in feeding that 

 article through the winter, that it is now offei'ed in our 

 markets at the low price of |7 per ton. 



Farmers have profited in many ways by last summer's 

 frosts. They have learned that horses and cattle will 

 thrive as well when fed with straw and roots as with hay 

 alone, and these can be furnished at half the price. Thou- 

 sands of horses in Canada have not tasted hay during the 

 winter, and are now as healthy and as able for spring 

 work as when fed the usual way. More butter has been 

 made during the past winter than in any winter previous, 

 and has seldom sold higher than 12.j cents per lb. We 

 have discovered that roots are indispensable to successful 

 farming and feeding. Great preparations are being made 

 for extending the cultivation of roots tliis year. Our So- 

 cieties are adopting the plan of awarding prizes for the 

 best acre as seen in the field. 



The first two weeks in March took nearly all of the 

 frost out of the ground, and left the roots of the wheat 

 exposed to the severe frosts and blighting winds of 

 the latter half of the month; consequently much injury 

 has been done to that which is exposed to "the north and 

 west, but that which is sheltered by woods, or where the 

 land falls to the east, is looking remarkably well. 



A very large breadth of land will be sown with spring J 



wheat, and, it being unusually well prepared, and the sea- 

 sou favorable for early sowing, we are anticipating a good 

 yield — provided the midge keeps quiet. 



The seasons of late have been so unfavorable for the 

 growth of sugar cane and corn, it is not likely that much 

 will be planted this spring. Hungarian grass has been 

 tested and proved to be no "Yankee humbug." It will 

 be extensively sown. Flax, too, is receiving a great deal 

 of attention in many parts of Canada. There has been a 

 large quantity of maple sugar made this season. The 

 maple never fails ; but the Chinese or African sorghum 

 will, I fear, seldom succeed iu this climate. — K. \V. S. 



Inquiries and Answers. 



Salt for Working Oxen. — How much salt must I ^ivB 

 my working oxen '? Had I better give it with their feed 

 or separately? Will it injure them to give them all they 

 can eat, and to leave it where they can lick it at their 

 ple^isure? What is the relative value of ruta bagas, 

 turnips, potatoes and oats for feeding cattle— worliing 

 cattle as well as others. — A., Kerr's Hill, Craivford Co., Fa. 



Hard Soap. — I want a receipt for making good hard 

 soap. Will some of your correspondents favor me ■? Also, 

 directions how to make beet sugar would be very accept 

 able. — C. A. Chase, Ohio. 



Fish. — Can any of your correspondents give me infor- 

 mation on the subject of raising fish in artificial ponds, 

 and what kind of fish are best, etc. ? — S. B., Berlin, Fa. 



Peat Compost. — (A. S.,Yorlc, Fa.) The plan you men- 

 tion, of mixing two parts muck with one of stable 

 manure, is a good one. The more beating the manure 

 the better. We can see no particular advantage in adding 

 gypsum to the compound. The common idea, that it is a 

 "fixer" of ammonia is not correct, except when the 

 plaster is in solution. We can not say whether it would 

 be advantageous to add lime. It would probably acceler- 

 ate decomposition if the heap was moist enough, and we 

 should have little apprehension of any great loss of 

 ammonia — the peat would retain all that was evolved by 

 the decomposition of the manure and peat. See an article 

 on this subject in the January number. 



What is the Best Breed op Cattle? — (A. J. G.) That 

 depends on circumstances. No one breed is best for all 

 purposes, and on all soils. For beef, on the rich lands of 

 the Southwest, the Short-horns and Herefords are best , 

 on somewhat inferior soils, the Devons are perhaps more 

 profitable ; for the dairy, the Ayrshires are considered 

 unequalled ; for the production of rich milk, and for gen- 

 tlemen who do not farm for profit, the little Alderney 

 stands at the head. The Galloway has been introduced 

 into some parts of Canada with advantage. The West 

 Highland affords most excellent beef, and is a profitable 

 breed for medium soils. We do not know if they hav« 

 been introduced here — certainly not extensively. 



The Cultivation of Grapes. — (G. F. M.) You will find 

 an able treatise on this subject from the pen of Josiah 

 Salter, iu the Rural Annual and Horticultural Directory 

 for 1853. We will send it to you on receipt of the price — 

 twenty-five cents. You had better get a comj)lete set of 

 this work, cosisting of five volumes, which we will send 

 you for one dollar. 



Sop Tree. — (S. C, Hamilton.) We have never seen 

 the so-called "American hop-tree," and do not know what 

 it is. We have been assured (by a gentleman who had 

 the trees for sale, however) that it produced hops nearly or 

 quite as good as ordinary hops. 



