214 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



slant inclining downwards, remembering to spread 

 some grafting salve on the wound so inflicted. I 

 shall beg leave to differ, perhaps, from some of 

 your correspondents as to the time of cutting sci 

 ons, and ingrafting. We may agree that the best 

 time is, when the bark adheres most closely to the 

 wood, but at what time that takes place we may 

 differ upon. I contend that while the moon is new, 

 or first quarter, the bark slips more readily. I 

 have often heard the remark made by those that 

 make a business of pealing bark. I do not con- 

 tend that the moon affects the bark, or sap of a 

 tree, but that the sap circulates more freely about 

 that time, hence the propriety of performing all 

 the surgical operations on fruit trees "in the old 

 ^noon." C. A. 



New Haven, Ct, 1860. 



EXTRACTS AND BEPLIES. 

 SOIL FOR AND CULTURE OF CARROTS. 



I wish to inquu-e what soil is best adapted to 

 raising carrots, and how it should be prepared ? 

 What the time and manner of sowing, the best 

 kind, and how much seed to the acre, and wheth- 

 er a top-dressing of any kind would be beneficial? 

 • Bath, N. H., 1860. G. H. 



Remarks. — Land suitable for Indian corn will 

 produce caiTots — that is a granite, or sandy loam, 

 and they will do well on a clay loam if it is under- 

 drained. But land for cai-rots, as for corn, requires 

 high manuring. It should be plowed a foot deep, 

 and plowed two or three times, pulverized so as 

 to be light and fine, cleared of all turfs and stones, 

 and the seed sowed in drills about eighteen inches 

 apart as early in ISIay^ as the ground is sufficient- 

 ly dry and warm. A top-dressing of fine manure 

 would be good, though a heavy dressing of green 

 manure plowed under in the fall would be better. 

 The orange carrot is generally raised, but the 

 white will yield a larger crop. About four pounds 

 of seed are required for an acre, though half that 

 quantity would be ample if all the seed could bo 

 properly distributed. There is no mystery or dif- 

 ficulty whatever in raising a carrot crop. Make 

 the soil deep, light and rich, and allow no weeds 

 among the plants, and you will get a crop. 



GREEN CROPS AS JLINURE. 



What is the best green crop with which to ren- 

 ovate an old pasture ? 



Hov/ much seed should be used to the acre for 

 this purpose ? 



What can Hungarian millet be procured for a 

 bushel, and how much should be used upon an 

 acre ? E. Hinckley. 



Hyannis, March, 1860. 



Remarks. — Clover is generally esteemed the 

 best plant to use as a green crop to fertilize ex- 

 hausted lands. Under favorable circumstances it 

 fills the soil so full of roots that an experiment 

 made by a friend showed that after cutting a heavy 

 crop from the surface, there were some seventy 

 tons of roots left in the ground ! Clover should 



not be plowed under in a green state, because fer- 

 mentation very soon ensues, throwing off the su- 

 'J^r and starch which the clover contains, and leav- 

 Ir™g little but the coarse and comparatively innu- 

 tritious fibre. Cut it, and, when it has wilted a 

 day, plow it under ; the process of decomposition 

 is then slow, and nothing is lost. 



CULTIVATION OF THE CRANBERRY. 



I have a piece of land containing about one- 

 fifth of an acre, which I consider very well adapt- 

 ed to the cultivation of cranberries. It is now cov- 

 ered with coarse grass and cranberry vines ; it is 

 bounded on two sides by a brook, which would be 

 serviceable for flowing. Will you please inform 

 me through your columns the best course to pur- 

 sue to bring it into the cultivation of cranberry 

 vines, and also the time of the year in which to 

 commence operations. Walter Ricketson. 



New Bedford, 1860. 



Remarks. — See "Eastwood on the Cranberry," 

 for full directions. 



TO KILL VERMIN ON CATTLE OR FOWLS. 



To kill vermin on cattle and fowls, take common 

 lamp oil, and rub it in well back of the ears and alj 

 down the back ; do this once a week, and no ver- 

 min will trouble you. It is safe. Tobacco will kill 

 lice, but should be used cautiously. Rub lamp oil 

 on the back of tlie head, and under the wings, and 

 over the posteriors of any fowl once a month, and 

 it will clear out all Hce. A Reader. 



Billerica, March, 1860. 



MUCK AND ASHES. 



Some of our farmers are trying the experiment 

 of mixing muck and unleached ashes together for 

 a fertilizer. Ashes cost here 25 cts. per bushel. 

 Pot?.sh may be obtained by the barrel for about 

 6A cts. per lb. Would potash answer the purpose 

 of ashes at less expense ? Inquirer. 



Remarks. — We have known potash dissolved 

 and sprinkletl upon old and well pulverized muck, 

 and used as a fertilizer with good effect. Some- 

 times damaged potash may be purchased for three 

 or four cents a pound — but at the common prices 

 by the cask, we have no doubt it would be cheap- 

 er than ashes at 25 cents a bushel, unless the 

 ashes furnish something beside the potash they 

 contain. 



POTATOES. 



Mr. A. F. BlCKFORD, Danville, N. H., writing 

 us about raising potatoes, says he uses the root 

 end of the largest potatoes he has, only four 

 eyes in a hill, and uniformly gets good crops ; 

 uses no manure hut leaves and muck sprinkled 

 with ashes. 



In raising onions, he sows ashes upon them as 

 soon as they are up, and as they grow, scatters pul- 

 verized hen manure over them in wet weather. In 

 dry weather he soaks the hen manure and sprinkles 

 the onions with the solution once in each week. 



