1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



the Commissioners, and one perfectly well. The 

 cyst or encysted matter in the lung of one of 

 these animals was about the size of of a common 

 shell-bark walnut, the matter being of a caseous 

 appearance, and devoid of scent. In the other, 

 the cysts were larger. The third case showed 

 dark specks, whether cysts the writer did not have 

 opportunity to observe, as the animal was killed 

 before his arrival. The fourth had as clean a pair 

 of lungs as a Jew would wish to see, in case he 

 desired the flesh of the animal for meat. 



In view of a statement made at the late meet- 

 ing of the Ipswich Farmers' Club in England, and 

 published in a late number of the Cultivator, that 

 "In the case of the cows which died previous to 

 calving, (of 'lung disease,' or pleuro-pneumonia) 

 the lungs of the fietus v/ere found diseased ; where 

 the cows died after calving, the calves died in a 

 few days from the disease." This has been re- 

 garded by some as going to establish the heredi- 

 tary character of the disease, called pleuro-pneu- 

 monia. — Boston Cultivator. 



EXTRACTS AND BEPLIES. 

 HUNGARIAN GRASS. 



I wish to inquire in regard to the Hungarian 

 grass ? What soil is it best adapted to — how 

 much seed does it require to the acre — where can 

 it be obtained, and at what price ? 



How would it do to turn over a piece of green- 

 sward in the spring, a light soil, which is filled 

 with witch grass, and sow it with this grass for 

 fodder ? Subscriber. 



Bath, N. H., Dec, 1860. 



Remarks. — A good Indian corn soil is suita- 

 ble for the Hungarian grass. Six quarts of seed 

 are sufficient for an acre. It can usually be ob- 

 tained at the seed stores for from $3,50 to $5 a 

 bushel. 



Try the experiment with the greensward by 

 plowing deep, harrowing until it is fine and man- 

 uring with fine compost — it will probably do well. 



CUTTING TIMBER, 



With regard to the time of cutting timber we 

 have the following testimony from one of our old- 

 est subscribers : — 



Obed Baker, West Dedham, has cut timber for 

 seventy years, got out frames for houses, &c. ; cut 

 pine timber at almost any time of the year — cut 

 in the old of the moon. Has also cut oak for ship 

 timber and brought in some for the Constitution — 

 "Old Ironsides." Says, peel bark last of May, or 

 first of June, in the new moon, when it will strip 

 freely, — the wood of such trees would turn black 

 and become sap rotten, but the same trees if cut 

 in the old moon would be perfectly sound. Bush- 

 es cut in the old of the moon, December, die, 

 and will not sprout. He has red cedar posts that 

 have stood for one hundred years, and are still 

 sound in the ground. His experience shows that 

 the old of the moon is the time for cutting timber 

 to preserve it. Posts set small end down outlast 



those set the other way. A little salt put in helps 

 to preserve them. It is a good plan, also, to char 

 the ends. 



HAY FOR a horse — COMPARATIVE VALUE OF HAY 

 AND GRAIN. 



You know it is taken for granted that editors 

 can answer all sorts of questions, at least, I 

 take it so in this case, for you have told me once 

 or more just the very things I want to know now, 

 but like other dull scholars, I have forgotten, 

 and I can't find the papers now. I wish to know 

 how many pounds of good hay, cut up and mixed 

 with four quarts of oats ground, (or their equiva- 

 lent in some other grain,) is necessary per day, to 

 keep a horse well, with but little work ; weight 

 of horse, 1100 lbs. Also, as the price of hay with 

 us is high, and some kinds of grain are not very 

 high, I think a table showing the comparative 

 value of the different kinds of grain, hay, &c., if 

 re-published in the weekly Farmer, would be 

 thankfully read by many, as well as by 



Your humble servant, j. 



Mclndoes Falls, Vt., Dec, 1860. 



Remarks. — It is impossible to say with exact- 

 ness how many pounds of hay are required for 

 each of ten horses, mixed with four quarts of oats. 

 We have two horses standing side by side, and of 

 nearly the same weight, one of which is not satis- 

 fied with much less than fifty per cent, more feed 

 than the other, both doing the same amount of 

 work. You will find a difference something like 

 this in many stables. Is it not so with men and 

 women. Some horses, doing but little work, will 

 thrive well on ten pounds of hay and four quarts 

 of oats, daily, while others would require fifteen 

 pounds, or more of hay, beside the oats. 



Strict regularity in feeding, accurately weigh- 

 ing the hay, with a close observation of the horse 

 in regard to flesh, spirits, and the appearance of 

 the hair, will soon enable you to judge with suf- 

 ficient correctness as to how much hay he needs. 



See table by I. W. Sanborn, in another col- 

 umn, on the comparative values of hay and grain. 



HOW CAN MEADOW LAND BE IMPROVED ? 



I wish to get some information through the 

 Farmer that may be of service in treating meadow 

 land. A tract of low meadow land recently came 

 into my possession, which, it is said, used to be 

 productive, but now moss having overrun it and 

 choked out the grass, it yields but moderately. I 

 suppose it will not do to plow it, as it is over- 

 flown most all winter, if not quite all that season, 

 and the soil would probably be washed away. Can 

 some one who is acquainted with such land sug- 

 gest some plan by which the moss may be de- 

 stroyed and the meadow brought up to its orig- 

 inal productiveness ? A Subscriber. 



Remarks. — OverfloMdng the land will not in- 

 jure it, provided there is not a strong current of 

 water over it. The ditch, plow and manure, judi- 

 ciously applied, will reclaim any soil, however 

 obstinate. 



