NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



197 



poultry on a small scale, some persons have tried it 

 on a large scale, hoping to make it a good and prin- 

 cipal business. But generally such plans have 

 proved to be failures in this country, and frcqucntlj' 

 in part, if not wholly from injudicious management, 

 as a large number of fowls have been crowded to- 

 gether, rendering them unproductive and producing 

 disease. In England, some persons make a good 

 business in keeping poultry, whether from superior 

 management to that usuallj' practised in this country, 

 or from being content with less gain, we cannot sav. 



For the Neio England Farmer. 

 CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN. 



Mr. Editou : I have read with much interest the 

 account of Mr. Bridge, of Pomfrct, Vt., on the cul- 

 ture of an acre of Indian corn, that yielded more 

 than one hundred bushels ; and, although I have 

 often heard doubts expressed by practical cultivators 

 of there being really one hundred bushels of sound 

 corn grown on an acre, still there is a reasonableness 

 in his statement that satistics my mind of its correct- 

 ness. In this statement are several facts worthj' of 

 special notice. 



1. The advantageous position of the land. 



2. The high state of cultivation it has been under 

 for many years. 



3. The depth to which it was plovighed — ten 

 inches at least. 



4. The quantity of manure applied being not less 

 than fifty loads to the acre. 



•5. The number of hills on the ground, being 

 about fifty per-cent. more than is usual in planting 

 corn. 



6. The thinning out the stock to three in a hill. 



7. The kind of corn raised being the twelve-rowed, 

 or that which is most productive. 



If this analysis of the communication shall induce 

 any one to reperuse it, and endeavor to imitate the 

 cultivation, and it shall be found, from actual ex- 

 periment, that the lands of Massachusetts can pro- 

 duce crops equal to those of the fertile fields of the 

 Green Mountains, then the purpose of the writer 



will be attained. „ ^ 



Truly yours, p^ 



Danveus, Maij 28, lSi9. 



For the Neio England Farmer. 



CLEARING LAND. 



Mr, Editor : What is the best method to eradi- 

 cate the stumps and roots of pine-trees ? Is there 

 any particular season when cutting would bo more 

 favorable than others ? And what is the best way to 

 uproot or kill barberry bushes • Also, please inform 

 me the best mode of splitting large rocks, or tumblers, 

 whether by fire or blasting ; and oblige. 



Yours, S;c. 



L, 



Editorial Remarks. — Pine stumps will gener- 

 ally remain sound for a long time in the ground. 

 They are usually extracted by machines, which is 

 a rather expensive waj% as great power is necessary. 

 Stumps may be taken up by using a large lever, some 

 twenty or thirty feet long, according to the power to 

 be applied. Fasten a chain or rope to the top of the 

 lever, and then erect it by the side of the stump, 

 placing the but-end between two roots, if convenient ; 

 then put a very stout chain around the lever, just 



above the stump, and fasten it to a root on the oppo- 

 site side. Make a notch in the stump, and let the 

 chain lay in it, to keep the lever in an upright posi- 

 tion. Have a long rope from the top of the lever, 

 that the team may be out of danger, and have greater 

 power, from bringing the line of draught nearer a 

 horizontal. If the power is not sufficient, cut off 

 some of the roots opposite the lever, A lever may 

 also be applied to a root, to aid the team. 



A cheap mode of destroying stumps is to excavate 

 beneath them, and if they are not dry, expose the 

 roots a while during the hot season. Then make a 

 fire under them, and lay turf around, confining the 

 fire in a manner similar to a coal-pit. In this way 

 the fire will be kept down, and after a few days of 

 slow combustion, the stump and much of the roots 

 will be consumed. 



Those trees that produce sprouts should be cut 

 in August to prevent sprouts, and of course a more 

 ready decaj- of the stump and roots, as the sprouts 

 tend to keep them alive. Pine-trees do not produce 

 sprouts. When the trees are not felled, the roots and 

 stumps may be taken out much cheaper with the 

 tree. Remove the earth around the stump, and cut 

 some roots on one side, if necessary. Then fasten a 

 rope to the tree, up high, that the power may be 

 great, and hitch to the rope suihcient team to pull 

 up the tree. This gives a great power, sufficient to 

 take up the largest trees in the forest, if they have a 

 good height. 



Solid and very hard rocks, that are much exposed, 

 may be split by first heating them very hot, and then 

 applying water suddenly. But in many cases, there 

 are ledges that are full of scams, or of a soft stone 

 that is but little aff"ectcd by fire ; or the situation of 

 the rock may be such that fire cannot be applied to 

 it conveniently. Rocks split by fire are irregular 

 and rough, and of but little use, excepting for coarse 

 wall or for filling up cavities. Generally, blasting by 

 powder is the most expeditious. 



When there is a chance for ploughing, barberry 

 bushes may be most easily destroyed by this opera- 

 tion. If stones, rocks, or other impediments are in 

 the way, dig out the roots with a bog hoe or iron bar. 



MORGAN HORSES. 



Mr. Cole : " Morgan Messenger," the colt of 

 " Lady Messenger," is owned by General S. M. 

 Borroughs, of Medina, N. Y., which could not be 

 bought now for one thousand dollars, so I have been, 

 informed. He makes a large gay animal, and very 

 swift on foot. But the dam was never " owned by 

 said Borroughs," as stated in the Farmer of May 12, 

 but is in the possession of Charles L. Smith, Esq., of 

 Bristol, Vermont, who is celebrated for the breeding 

 of fine animals. S. W. JE\\TETT. 



Weybridge, Vt., May, 1849. 



HOW TO GET RICH. 



Almost every body wants this information. It is 

 comprised in this advice : Be economical ; be indus- 

 trious ; attend to your own business ; never take 

 great hazards ; don't be in a hurry for wealth ; never 

 do business solely for the sake of doing it ; and do 

 not love money extravagantly. 



