No. 144.] 287 



FLAX MACHINE. 



Prof. Mapes said that 50,000 tons of flax straw is wasted in 

 Ohio, where it is grown and threshed for seed. A. H. Carry! has 

 invented a machine which does not cost over $200, by which he 

 can make 500 lbs. of lint per ton, worth $140. The Fall River 

 Flax Company can use up all that is groAvn. There is great de- 

 mand for these machines for making lint of tangled flax straw. 

 It would be invaluable to the paper makers. 



IMPROVING POTATOES. 



Dr. Waterbury — I had the blossoms from an acre of potatoes 

 pinched off. It greatly increased the yield and quality, and pre- 

 vented the rot. 



PLOWING CLAY SOILS. 



Prof. Mapes made the following exceedingly interesting re- 

 marks : Although clayey soils are more retentive of manures 

 than any other, from the power of alumina to retain ammonia, 

 and not, as is sometimes supposed, from the impervious character 

 of clay in passing water freely, still these soils, from their pecu- 

 liarity of texture, present difficulties for general use, and in the 

 fall plowing it should be performed in such a manner as to cor- 

 rect the mechanical faults of such soils; nor will the rendering of 

 clayey soil more pulverulent at all interfere with its power to 

 retain ammoniacal vapors ; on the contrary, in an ameliorated 

 clayey soil these vapors can pass between a greater number of 

 particles, and hence come in contact with a greater amount of 

 their surface for absorption. Clayey lands should be ridged and 

 back furrowed in the fall, so that the surface may represent a 

 succession of letter A's with a letter V intervening between them. 

 Through these furrows, represented by the letter V, the subsoil 

 plow should be deeply run ; and if the lifting subsoil plow should 

 be used, it will have nearly the effect of underdrains. Before the 

 ridging and back furrowing, manure may be placed on the sur- 

 face, and thus doubling the surface soil in ridges from the two 

 directions will cause the manure to be encased wuthin these 

 ridges. The frequent freezings and thawings during the winter 

 will disintegrate the portions represented by the letter A, render- 



