234 Retros'perAwe Criticism. 



no. Yet, according to the judgment of my eye, there is certainly an 

 increase in the phosphates of the seed with guano. If this fact can be 

 fairly once ascertained with one ingredient, it may be fairly supposed to 

 be the case with others ; and Avlien the researches affecting agriculture, 

 now being pursued by numerous able men of science, shall have attained 

 a greater degree of precision and perfection, the importance of a knowl- 

 edge of the ingredients contained in the various foods of cattle and man, 

 will become quite manifest. 



One other consideration has suggested itself to me as worthy of notice. 

 In cultivation, the choice of fine seeds has always been deemed of first 

 rate consequence. If the seed of this fiist year's sowing with guano has 

 really acquired any more valuable properties than that cultivated without, 

 it is at least probable, from what we already know practically of the laws 

 of vegetation, tiiat these properties may be increased with another year's 

 similar treatment; I have, therefore, preserved some of this guanoed corn 

 as seed for the succeeding year, when it will be again tried with the same 

 manure. 



I will merely add to these statements, that the quantity of guano I con- 

 sider desirable for each hill of corn of five seeds, is less than one ounce, 

 to be given in two applications. One quarter on sowing must be well 

 mixed with the soil, and three quarters stirred well into the hill when the 

 plant is about a foot high, always endeavoring to effect this latter opera- 

 tion just previous to rain. This would give about 70 lbs. to the acre, 

 supposing it to contain 1100 hills at six feet apart. The price in Eng- 

 land is £10 to £12, or .$50 to #C0 per ton, of 2240 lbs.; hence the quan- 

 tity to the acre would cost somewhat less than two dollars, and no other 

 manure is necessary. In England it has been applied at the rate of 250 

 to 500 lbs. to the acre, or more than six limes the quantity by the above 

 calculation ; but there it is scattered broadcast as the seed is sown, and 

 of course the quantity used must be much greater, as all the ground is 

 covered. In the method I propose, it is applied as it were simply to each 

 plant. In England, nothing is cultivated in hills ; it is either broadcast 

 or in drills. — (JV. E. Farm.) 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



Errata. — Our correspondent, Mr. Teschemacher, requests us to correct 

 an error, which was overlooked in his communication in our April No. 

 p. 140. The fruit of the raspberry is represented as tlic receptacle ; he 

 intended to invite attention to this fruit as being a specimen of tlie berry, 

 (acinus.)— J. E. T., Boston, May, 1844. 



The efficacy of Salt for destroying the Curcidio. (In answer to Mr. Long- 

 worth, p. 190.) I noticed a very modest communication in your last num- 

 ber, in Avhich tlie writer represents liimself as being under great excite- 

 ment in consequence of your once having expressed an opinion that his 

 famous "Ohio Grape" was identical with the "Norton's seedling," (al- 

 though, if am not mistaken, there was a retraction made by you in a 

 succeeding number, some months since.) Of this, however, I should not 

 have spoken, had it not appeared to me to be his design to seek out some 

 one on whom he could vent his " spleen ;" and has seen fit, in no very 



