•174 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



NOVEMBER r. 18 : 6. 



BOSTON, WEDNKSOAY EVENING, DEC. 7, 1836. 



FARMERS' WORK. 



Lkicid Manure. — In our last, page 166, we gave 

 some notices of the uses of this substance in Flanders, 

 in Scotland, and likewise in this country by Mr Putnam, 

 of Uanvers, Mass. We will now pursue the subject, 

 end further illustrate theory by example. We would 

 premise, however, that what we propose to advance on 

 this topic will contain nothing new to our subscribers, 

 who have for years honored us with their patronage; 

 but, perhaps, some, whose subscriptions are ofa more re- 

 cent date may find in our records of Farmers' experience 

 some matters, which may reward attention. 



Mr Robert Smith, formerly President of the Maryland 

 Agricultural Society, gave the following account of the 

 arrangements he miide for the preservation and appl. ca- 

 tion of the liquid manures, yielded .by his stahles and 

 liarn yard at Orange two miles from the city of Bahi- 

 aaore. 



"The yard is situated in the south of the bain ; on its 

 east and west sides are built cow-stables, which extend 

 almost the whole length of the yard. In these stables, 

 well ventilated, are several ranges of cattio, standing in 

 separate stalls, and each secured by a chain and halter. 

 At the tails of each raiige of cows, there is a drain, made 

 of strong planks, fourteen inches wide, and twelve inch- 

 es deep, sud so fixed as to receive all their dung and 

 urine. These several drains have a sufficient declivity 

 to carry all fluid matter to their southern terminations, 

 where they intersect similar drains, which convey all 

 Cheir liquid manure into a cistern fifty feet long, six feet 

 wide and six feet deep. This cistern is so placed] and 

 constructed as to receive not only the urine of the sta- 

 bles, but also the liquid matter of the farmyard. In it 

 there is a pump, by means of which its contents are 

 pumped into a large hogshead, fixed on a pair of wheels, 

 dtawn by oxen. To the end of the hogshead is attach- 

 ed a box, pierced with holes into which this liquid mat- 

 ter flows through a faucet and spigot, and is then 

 sprinkled over the ground as the oxen move forward. 

 Before these drains were made, the stables, nblwilhstand- 

 ing the greatest exertions of two pains-taking men were 

 so wet and dirty that tho cattle could not be kept free 

 from filth. But since they have been made, the stables 

 tave been dry and clean, so as to be cwmfortable to liie 

 criws and agreeable to the milkers Bu' this is not all. 

 One man has now so little difficulty in cleaning the sta- 

 bles, that he has time enough for the currying of all 

 the cows in the most perfect manner. At the time of 

 faying these drains, I was somewhat apprehensive that 

 - they would prove too deep; but experience has shewn. 

 Cliat they have the recommendation of convenience us 

 well as cleanliness. Wore they but five or six inches 

 deep the cattle would often stand with their hind feet 

 in them, and in such case the advantages of the drains 

 would be but partially obtained. 



*' In the middle of the farm yard is a large trough 

 , supplied with water for the stock from a hydrant. Tliis 

 water is conveyed in pipes under ground from the milk 

 liouse. A line of these pipes I am about laying so as to 

 -^ Iiave a hydrant at the upper end of every drain, to fur- 

 nish water for the washing of the stables All the wa- 

 ter employed in this operation, carrying with it the dirt 

 of the stables, will flow down the drain into the cistern 

 to the no inconsiderable increase of its invaluable con- 

 tents 



"The urine in the cistern contains not only its own 

 constituent fertilizing properties, but it is also highly 

 Impregnated with certain portions of the dung with 



which it had been mixed, and among which it had flow- 

 ed. The beneficial eliects of this species of manure are 

 practically known to all farmers. And Sir Humphrey 

 Davy, and other chemists have as-ured us that urine 

 contains in a state of solution the esseniial elements of 

 vegetables. The highly celebrated author of the Code 

 of Agriculture has moreover stated that Mr Harvey, of 

 Glasgow, by using cow urine has cut gra.is six limes in 

 a season, and the average of each cutting was fifteen 

 inches in length." 



THE EFFECT OF SOOT ON WHEAT. 



I had last week an opportunity afforded nie by a friend 

 who farms on a dry and infe.-ior soil, of witnessing the 

 effect of the application of soot on young wheat in the 

 Spring. The field to which I now allude, has been 

 partly dressed over at the rate of thirty bushels of soot 

 to the acre, and it is quite astonishing to see the benefit 

 it has afforded to the crop of wheat. N.ithing can be 

 moie conclusive as to the virtue of this description o" 

 dressing than the experiment which I am now speaking 

 of. The field was sown with wheat out of a clover lea, 

 without any manure being laid on, the whole of the 

 piece having been previously, in this year farmed in an 

 exactly similar manner. The field is, perhaps, seven 

 acres, and about four acres (the poorest part of the in- 

 closure) were selected for sowing the soot on; the re- 

 maining three acres not having any soot applied. I 

 have no doubt but that at harvest there will be eight 

 bu.shels of wheat more an acre on the part that was soot- 

 ed, than there will be on the part to which no soot was 

 applied. The cost of the soot was sixpence a bushel, 

 being at the rate of fifteen shillings an acre, for thirty 

 bushels. The whole of the expense attending the dress- 

 ing will not exceed twenty shillings per acre, the in 

 crease of the value of an acre of wheat will be forty- 

 eight shillings, or eight bushels of wheat at six shillings 

 a bushel, thus leaving a net profit of twentyeight shil- 

 lings per acre, afler deducting the cost and expenses of 

 the soot ; and as to any additional labor brought about 

 by an extra crop, such as reaping, threshing, harvesting. 

 &c. the increased quantity of straw will entirely liqui- 

 date it. — Farmer s Magazine, London. 



" HELP." 



" An ounce o[ prevention is worth a pound of cure." 

 Mr Fessknoek — In your last No. I observed a notice 

 of the Society for the Suppression of Pauperism, which 

 1 am happy to hear is in full ope ration, and promises 

 much good to our city and State. It now only needs 

 the CO. operation of the community to go forward suc- 

 cessfully in its plans ; and our farming brethren may 

 help in the good work. At the Office of the Agent Mr 

 SiMoNDs, in Tremont street, is kept a record of men, 

 women, boys and girls, who want places. Many of these 

 would like places in the country, and may be made use- 

 ful and profitable in many situations in a farmer's family. 

 If any of your readers are in want of help, they will 

 aid this Society, and get persons to their mind, by call- 

 ing on Mr Sinionds. Rus m Ubbk. 



According to a s|.T"'ment in the New York Express, 

 there was imported into iSew York during the month of 

 November, from European ports, 29,878 bags and 17,000 

 bushels of Wheat, and 14,012 bags of Rye ! The great- 

 est part of these large importations fr' m the cities of 

 Hamburg and Dantzic. 



Weight of Grais. — The Genesee Farmer gives 

 the following as the weight of grain :^w heat, mean 

 weight, CO lbs.; rye, 56; barley, 48; oats, 35 ; Indian 

 corn, 58 ; peas. 63 ; beans, 69 ; red clover, 64. It should 

 however, be remembered that the weight often varies 

 a few pounds on the bushel, according to the climate, 

 soil and culture, and variety of seed. Wheat has 

 weighed as high as 67 1-2 pounds, and Indian corn 64 

 pounds per bushel. Barley has weighed as high as 54 

 pounds. On the other hand, grain has often weighed 

 less than the number of pounds above given, as unfavor- 

 able circumstances have operated. Wheat has fallen as 

 low as 54 ; rye as Uiw as 50, and barley as low as 45. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICUI.TCRAL, SOCIETY. 



tJaturday, Nov. 26, 1S30, 



EXUIBITIO!) OF FRUITS. 



Pears. — By Mr Vose, President of the Society — Koi 

 d'Wurlemberg and Napoleon, both fine. 



By Sir Downer— Urbaniste, Wilkinson, Beurre Die! 

 and Bleecker's Meadow all fine, the last is remarkably 

 spicy, and is now proved to be a most abundant bearer. 

 Also, Beurre Ranee, Monsieur Jean, Forelle, and Bourg- 

 inestre, or the kind so called, and heretofore known with 

 us by this name, but evidently wnmg, and not the true 

 kind described by the Chevalier Parmentier, and so 

 named in honor of him ; nor the kind described by Mr 

 Thompson, and so lately sent to this country from the 

 Society's Gaiden at Chiswick, by him. 



Apples. — By Mr Downer — Ortley Pippin, large and 

 fine. The Ortley proves a firsi rate fruit. 



By Mr Vose^Hubbardsion Nonesuch, another large 

 fruit of first rate quality. 



Also, from some unknown source. Blue Pearmain, 

 very good ; a red Autumn fruit, and another, a large 

 yellow fruit, now ripe and good. 

 For the Committee. 



WILLIAM KENRICK, Chairman. 



A mtmmolh ox, raised and owned by Mr Nathan 

 Slade, of Somhiset, weighs twentynine hundred and 

 two pounds. 



Joornev Under Water. — The extraordinary feat 

 of walking under water for the distance of a mile was 

 performed at Weymouth on Monday, Oct. 31, by Mr 

 Joseph Orchard, the celebrated diver, who completed 

 this unparalleled undertaking in the harbor, walking at 

 the bottom of it from the new pier the whole length, 

 and then making his appearance by landing at its en- 

 tremity, bearing a pewter tankard, which he had met 

 with in his progress. He afterwards dived again, walk- 

 ed under the water across a portion of the bay, and 

 landed at the stairs opposite Luce's Hotel, amid the 

 cheers of an immense crowd who had accompanied and 

 watched his submarine excursion. A boat, having an 

 air pump and necessary apparatus for supplying Mr Or- 

 chard with fresh air, attended him.— Bu(//, {Eng.) 

 Cliron. 



Femaee Swimmer. — A girl in France saved a woman 

 from drowning by rushing into the Esaant river and 

 drawing her out. 



BliKiHTON MARKET.— MoKDAT. Dec. 5, 1836. 

 Itol'orleil forllie Daily Ailvertiiier &. I'alrlol. 



A market 430 Beef Cattle 90 Stores, 1320 Sheep, 

 and 15ii Swine. 



I RICES — Beef Cattle — An advance was effected, as 

 will be perceived by our quotations, viz : a /ew extra 

 at $6 50 a 6 75 ; first quality at 5 75 a 6 50 ; second 

 quality at $5 a 5 75 ; third quality at 3 75 a 4 75: 



Stores — A very few sales only were effected. 



■ikeep. — Prices have advanced. Lots were taken at 

 •2 25, Q 75, 2 ^8, $3, and 3 50. 



t-iwinc— Sales quick at an advance. A lot sold to 

 peddle at 8 and 9; at retail, 8 and 9 for large, and 9 a. 

 10 for small. 



