VOL. XXI', Ji<>. 39. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER 



30d 



The fitriiipr i.; a jfiiide to Ihe most successful culti- 

 vation of the Hoil, wliile the lottor directs the riinri- 

 ner across the deep with onerringr precision. 

 Respeclfiilly, your ob't serv't, 



C. T. JACKSON. 



Boston. March 4, 1844. 



{Cr'W<i are under great oblij^ations to Dr. 

 Jackso.-< for Ihe above communication. If lie has 



Buccceded (and wn caniiol doubt that he has, 



since ho htu tested his preparation himself)— in 

 preparinc an artificial substitute for guano, of even 

 morf value, and less expensive, he has rendered a 

 gerviccto the a^'ricultural community of an impor- 

 tance not casv to estimate. His scientific, perse- 

 vering, and laudable endeavors to effect this ^reat 

 object entitle him to the thanlcs of the agricultural 

 public— and we trust that his discovery and sag- 

 gcstioni pertainincT lo it, will be tested by very 

 many of our agricultural and horticultural friends 

 the pre<L-nt season, and that the results will be com- 

 municated to us for publication. 



A cheap and equally efficacious substitute for 

 guano once introduced among us, will, we hazard 

 little in |. ediclinjr, produce a now era in our agri- 

 culture. Iiiient alone on rendering a service to 

 the agriculturists, Dr. J. secures no " patent right" 

 for his invention, but loaves it free to all ; and 

 though it may not be expected that every farmer 

 will undertake llie preparation of the artificial gua- 

 no for his own use, the demand for it will induce 

 others to prepare it for him, who will be able to 

 afford til- article at a reasonable price. Let the 

 merits of ti.e artificial guano and its results be 

 fairly brought before the public, and however 

 great tlio demP'l f'T it may be, Yankee enterprise 

 will 80011 render llie supply equal to it. — Ed. 



For llie N. E. Farmer. 



CULTURE OF TURNIPS. 

 Mr Breck — Sir — I have seen several remarks in 

 the Farmer lately, on the cultivation of turnips ; 

 and as they do not all agree wiih the methods 

 adopted by us, I forward you our plan of opera- 

 tions. First, select a suitable piece of land, plow, 

 cross-plow, and harrow well, so as to pulverize it 

 thoroughly ; then sow the seed far enough be- 

 iween'the rows to allow the cultivator to work, 

 for thiit saves mncli labor in the hoeing. We have 

 a machine for sowing Ihe turnip seed, that makes 

 the drill, sows the seed, covers it up, and rolls it 

 over. With tliis, a man can sow as fast as he can 

 walk. The cost is very little, for a good smart 

 carpenter can make one in a day. It is all made 

 of wood, c.xocpt the cylinder which holds the seed: 

 that is made of tin: and it answers the purpose 

 better than tha patent machines which cost ten 

 times as much, and have the extra quality of get- 

 ting continually out of order. Now as our seed is 

 in the ground, wc will wail till it is about 4 inches 

 high, and then thin it all out, so as to leave a plant 

 ab'ou't every 6 or 7 inches : if you leave more, the 

 turnips Avill be small and not worth harvesting. 



In gatliering them, let two men begin with a 

 row each, pull a turnip with each hand, strike them 

 together, to shake off the dirt, and lay them down 

 with the tops all one way, over the place where 

 they were pulled. Then cut the tops off with a 

 knife made in this manner: Split the end of an 

 axe-handle and lash about a foot of the point of an 

 old scythe in il, so as to leave the end projecting 

 about six or eight inches. It wants to be just long 



enough to reach the ground without the operntor's 

 stooping. One man can cut the tops off in this 

 way as fast as three can pull them. We tlien haul 

 them in to the barn floor, upset the cart, and push 

 them down through small traps into the cellar. ^ 

 In feeding out lo milch cows, we chop the roots 

 in a plank trough with a spade sharpened for the 

 purpose. 



This is for raising turnips in iho cheapest and 

 most economical manner; and they cost but half 

 as much as the potato, at the Kamc amount of profit. 

 However, a farmer should not calculate upon one 

 crop alone, because he fancies it is the most profita- 

 ble. No crop is the most profitable alone, but 

 some of one and some of another. Rotation is the 

 word for fanners. F. P. A. 



Pushaw, Me., March 5, 1844. 

 ICj^We are glad to present the various modes 

 of cultivation and different views of gentlemen 

 through the Fanner, supposing that our readers 

 have judgment sufficient to guide them, and that 

 they will adopt the course best adapted to their 

 soil, &c. 



A machine for sowing turnips simply, can be 

 made at small expense ; but farmers generally 

 wish to sow carrot, beet, and other seed, and it is 

 desirable to have one machine for the whole. For 

 this purpose, we have a Seed Sower (Willis's) 

 which is very simple, and not easily deranged, and 

 that can be afforded at a moderate price, within 

 the means of most farmers. 



We think turnips do best when sowed in drills, 

 but sometimes it is necessary to sow broadcast 

 among other crops. It is a great mistake to sow 

 turnips in drills too near: the distance recommend- 

 ed by our correspondent is not too great. The 

 turnip extends its roots to a great distance. More 

 roots can be raised on an acre when in drills at 

 21-2 or 3 feet apart, than when only 15 or 18 in- 

 ches, and they are taken care of with much less 

 expense.— Ed. 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 



A PROCLAMATION 



For a day of Puhlic Fnsting, Humilialion and 



Prcjer. 



The observance of days of Public Fasting and 

 Prayer has been sanctioned by our ancestors, from 

 the earliest history of our Commonwealth. 



Such a practice becomes dependent and sinful 

 beings. Impressed with its fitness and importance, 

 I do, with the advice and consent of the Council, 

 appoint THURSDAY, the FOURTH DAY OF 

 APRIL NEXT, to be observed by the good peo- 

 ple of this Commonwealth, as a day of Fasting, 

 Humiliation, and Prayer. I call upon all classes, 

 and earnestly invite them, to abstain from their 

 usual avocations, and from the indulgence in re- 

 creations and amusements, during the day. And 

 I respectfully request the Ministers of the Gospel, 

 and the people of the various religious denomina- 

 tions to which they belong, to meet in their seve- 

 ral places of Public Worship, and sincerely devote 

 themselves to the solemn and appropriate duties of 

 such an occasion. 



Let us with one accord humbly approach the 

 Supreme Ruler and Judge of heaven and earth, 

 and whilst, with contrition of soul, we acknowledge 

 and confess our past sins and ingratitude, and im- 

 plore their forgiveness, " through the merits of our 



Lord and .Saviour Jesus Christ," devoutly supplicate 

 His merciful regard for the future. 



Let us pray to Him that he would have compas- 

 sion upon our infirmities, and deal kindly with us, 

 'as He did with our fathers in days that are past; 

 ' that wo may be so guided by the Holy Spirit, that 

 '■ taking heed to our ways, we may apply our hearts 

 : unto wUdom ;" that he would give us peace, health, 

 land preserve to us our precious institutions, and 

 impart to us understanding, from time to time, to 

 make such improvements as may he best for us : 

 that Ho would give us success and prosperity in 

 all the branches of industry and business, in which 

 we are honestly engaged, upon the land and upon 

 the sea ; that wealth, and learning, and talents 

 may be properly cireclcd ; and that labor may re- 

 ceive its just reward, and the poor, the widow, and 

 the fatherless, be remembered and visited in mer- 

 cy ; that a love of justice, moderation and order 

 may pervade the hearts of our citizens ; that Chris- 

 tians of all denominations may possess in an emi- 

 nent degree the spirit of the Divine Master whose 

 name th'ey bear, and exhibit its fruits in works of 

 honesty, charity, brotherly kindness, and g(>od will ; 

 that all the efforts which are making to extend the 

 cause of human freedom, of virtue, and of tempe- 

 rance, to disseminate amongst the wl...le family of 

 man the peaceful doctrines of the Gospel of the 

 Son of God, may mejf . the approbation and receive 

 the favor of our falhe.- in Heaven. 



Let us invoke thi blessing of God upon the peo- 

 ple of all the States of this great Uniim, and pray 

 that He would give ihem a spirit of Christian Pa- 

 triotism and Forbearance, and inspire their hearts 

 with a respect and reverence for the Constitution 

 made by their fathers, and under which they have 

 so long prospered, and so direct their ways, that 

 their best interests, honor, and happiness, may be 

 permanently promoted by their continuing Fre& 

 and United Stales. 



Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, this first, 

 day of March, in the year of our Lord one thou- 

 sand eight hundred and fortyfour, and of the In 

 dependence of the United States the sixty- 

 eighth. GEORGE N. BRIGGS. 

 By His Excellency the Governor, with the advicft 

 and consent of the Council. 



John G. Palfret, Stcretary. 

 God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts .' 



Hints for Spring. — The earlier after the frost 

 is out of the ground that you transplant vines, or 

 put out your cutlings, the better ; for it is impor- 

 tant that they start in their growth with the earli- 

 est vegetating power of the earth in spring. 



Rose, snow-ball, lilac, and ail other bushes of 

 the flowering tribe, should be set out early as pos- 

 sible. 



As soon as the plants in your strawberry beds 

 push through the earth, the beds should receive a. 

 dressing. Clear out all the weeds, decayed leaves, 

 and old runners: loosen the earth around the 

 plants, and apply some rich mould abou'i them, 

 digging it in so as to prevent a loss from evapora- 

 tion or washing. — Selected, 



Astringent Mixture for Scours. — Suet cut fine 

 and boiled in new milk, in the proportion of one 

 quarter of a pound to a pint of milk. To this add 

 boiled starch one pint ; alum, in powder, one 

 drachm. Give as a drench. Good both for horses 

 and cattle. — Practical Receipt Book. 



