26 



xVEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



as did several others of the lookers-on ; it was 

 remarked with v.hat ease it held, particularly when 

 operating in this double form. 



I learned from Mr. H., who I think Avas instru- 

 mental in getting up the models or designs for the 

 various combinations of this plow, that there were 

 thirteen different changes, by merely a shift of 

 mould-boards, and in some of them a shift of la-id- 

 side : designed to do all kinds of plowing in the 

 most thorough manner, with the same standard 

 and wood-work, from bog-meadow, thi'ough all the 

 grades of surface and soil, down to the smooth 

 and level intervale. The land where this trial was 

 made, had apparently never been plowed more 

 than five inches deep, and, though intervale, below 

 this shallow depth it was tenacious and hard, and 

 of course the plow could not show so easy a draft 

 as on similar soils that had been broken and 

 stirred to a greater depth. 



The last work of this plow was on stubble land, 

 single share, short mould-board and land-side, 

 with a single pair of horses. It worked admira- 

 bly, leaving a fine tilth, so nicely rolled together 

 and mixed that the furrows could not be distin- 

 guished or counted, having the appearance of a 

 finely harrowed or cultivated surface. From the 

 peculiar manner of the curve of mould-board, 

 and roll of the lifted soil in this stubble plowing, 

 with the height of standard, I have no doubt of 

 its turning under without clogging almost any 

 amount of green crop, mould, or coarse, strawy 

 manure. 



1 doul)t Avhether there has ever been presented 

 to tlie farmer any one improved implement better 

 adapted to his wants, as to economy, convenience 

 and thoroughness of work, than this universal plow. 

 It is a dozen ])lows in one. My acquaintance with 

 it is yet limited ; I intend to extend it, for I regard 

 it as the plow of plows. J. w. C. 



Springfield, Vt., Nov. 14, 1859. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 

 LICE ON APPLE TREES. 



Please inform me what will kill lice on apple 

 trees ? C. Robinson. 



Weston, Mass. 



Remarks. — Keep them in a vigorous, but not 

 too rapid, growth, by cultivating the ground where 

 they are growing ; prune them projjerly, late in 

 June, if they need it, and wash them annually with 

 common soft soap diluted with water luitil it is 

 about the thickness of cream. Lice don't like a 

 perfectly healthy tree half as well as they do one 

 stunted and struggling for existence. There may 

 be other ways to kill lice on trees, but we consid- 

 er a perfectly healthy growth better than all drugs. 



mi;asxtremext of hay. 



Can you, or some of your readers, inform me 

 how many square feet of English hay, in a mow, 

 will make one ton of 2000 pounds by weight ? Al- 

 so, how m.uch meadow hay in feet to a ton ? 



Billcrica, Mass., Nov., 1859. A Reader. 



Rejljlrks. — We copied an article into the Far- 

 mer in 1857, from the New Jersey Farmer, which 



stated that "the top of a mow, say about one-third, 

 would require 800 cubic feet to the ton ; the mid- 

 dle 700 feet, and the bottom 600 feet." "A Sub- 

 scriber" in Reading? Vt., states that at the bottom 

 of a mow 400 feet will make a ton, and that a 

 whole barn full weighed out, averaged a little less 

 than 500 feet to the ton. Mr. M. J. Perkins, anoth- 

 er of our correspondents, states that farmers in his 

 region estimate that from four to five hundred cu- 

 bic feet to the ton, according to the position in 

 which it lies, is sufficient. Meadow hay is usually 

 lighter, will not pack so closely, and more feet 

 must be allowed for it. 



three acres of land to support a sjull 



FAMILY ! 



A clergyman, Avho is compelled to abandon his 

 profession l\v ill health, is desirous to know ho-w 

 he may cultivate three acres of rich land, so as to 

 support a small family ? Liformation will be thank^ 

 fully received. 



West Springfield, 1859. 



Remarks. — Plere is an interesting problem. — 

 who Avill solve it for our unfortunate friend ? He 

 who can do it, and will do it, will confer a sub- 

 stantial blessing upon mankind generally, as well 

 as to a "clergyman in ill health." But the ques- 

 tion has its difficulties, because there are so many 

 contingent circumstances surrounding it, such as 

 locality, the nature of the soil, markets, &c. &c. 

 We once knew a person whose sole business Avas 

 upon less than one acre of land, and he hired a 

 man to Avork tAvo or three months of each year 

 Avith him, upon the same spot, and Ave suppose he 

 supported his family Avell. But this land Avas lo- 

 cated Avithin the limits of a city, and a considera- 

 ble portion of the sales Avere green-house floAA'ers, 

 though the Avhole grounds Avere croAvded Avith va- 

 rious fruits. 



While Ave hardly dare to venture any sugges- 

 tions upon this question, Ave hope some of our at- 

 tentive and able correspondents — and Ave haA^e 

 many such — Avill. We Avill suggest, however, that 

 three acres of land is a pretty large tract to take 

 care of — there are a great many productive farms 

 in the Avorld, not half so large. It Avill require a 

 great deal of hard and persistent labor to tend 

 such a farm, — and to make it profitable, its posses- 

 sor should have an ample capital in a stern will, 

 in strong and Avell inured muscles, and in Avell 

 versed horticultural skill. He must also be a good 

 deal of a merchant, as well as gardener and labor- 

 er, and take advantage of the markets, and pro- 

 duce his s])inach and peas, his straAA'berries and 

 asparagus, his caulifloAver, cabbages and celery, so 

 that they shall be in the market at the instant the 

 faslnnjiahle appetite demands them ! 



It Avill be no child's play to manage three acres 

 so that its profits shall keep back the Avolf from 



