1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



93 



ing all other things equal, and give us the re- 

 sults ? 



3. Is it really advantageous, and will it pay, to 

 subsoil land for general crops ? 



SiihsoiUng Jor general crops. — There is no 

 doubt on our mind but that subsoiling on clayey 

 and granitic lands, where crops of wheat, barley, 

 oats and Indian corn are cultivated, would be a 

 profitable practice. It would be one of the pro- 

 cesses making up a thorough cultivation, and we 

 believe it is generally admitted now, that to cul- 

 tivate a less extent of land, and cultivate it well, 

 always secures the most favorable results. In- 

 stead of cultivating two acres of heavy land in 

 corn, expending forty-five days' labor and thirty 

 ox-loads of manure upon them, put all the labor 

 and all the manure upon one acre, making sub- 

 soiling one of the items of culture on the one 

 acre. Give the same time to the one acre that 

 would be given to the two, in hoeing, and exter- 

 minating weeds — and we believe an exact account 

 will, in nine cases in ten, show a balance in favor 

 of the one acre. 



The use of Mapes' subsoil plow in passing be- 

 tween the rows of corn, potatoes, beans, or any 

 of the hoed crops where it can be admitted, is 

 highly advantageous. It moves the ground be- 

 low, without much disturbance to the surface, and 

 when run between the rows both ways, leaves the 

 field mellow and light, as a root bed for the 

 plants, and the soil in a suitable condition to be 

 greatly benefited by all atmospheric influences. 



4. Being confident that much grass seed is an- 

 nually wasted by not being properly covered in 

 the soil, I wish to inquire the best method of 

 "getting in" the diff"erent kinds of seed ; both 

 clover and the finer grasses ? 



Getting in grass seed. — There is much waste in 

 sowing grass seed by hand, as the person having 

 both skill and long practice will be scarcely able 

 to sow a bushel of timothy seed without over- 

 seeding in some spots and leaving others without 

 a due portion. If there is wind at the time of 

 sowing it makes the operation still more difficult ; 

 a little loss, therefore, at each annual sowing, 

 would soon amount to an aggregate sufficient to 

 purchase the best machine, which would last for 

 generations. 



In the monthly Farmer for June, 18o8, we gave 

 an illustration of Wells^ Seed Sower, and ex- 

 pressed an opinion of its merits. It costs but 

 $4,00, and its use will save that sum on any well 

 conducted farm in two years, in time and seed. 

 If the proprietor of CahomVs Seed Sower will 

 send us a good illustration of that machine, we 

 shall be glad to publish it in these columns. 



After grass seed is sown, it is not a commend- 

 able practice to leave it so near the surface as is 



usually done. It should be harrowed in at least, 

 so that it may get root hold in the soil before the 

 blade appears above ground. A slight brush- 

 harrowing is not sufficient. After harrowing, the 

 brushing should be done by confining white 

 birches, or other saplings, to a piece of joist three 

 by four inches and pass over the field in both 

 ways ; and if the team is sufficiently strong, add 

 a little weight to the joist, so as to compress the 

 earth a little ; this practice will answer pretty 

 well without the use of the roller. But the roller 

 should be used where it can be conveniently. 

 The observing farmer has noticed that seed comes 

 best, and is the strongest, in the tracks made by 

 the team in harrowing. 



5. Will it pay to buy oyster shells at two cents 

 per bushel, three miles from home, to burn for 

 manure ? 



Oyster shell lime. — We have known oyster 

 shells drawn eight miles by team — when return- 

 ing from market, — converted into lime and used 

 on exhausted farms with profitable results. The 

 shells were pitched into a corner whei-e two heavy 

 stone walls came together and placed with alter- 

 nate layers of brush and other cheap wood of the 

 farm and burnt. The proprietor thought he was 

 greatly indebted to this lime in bringing back the 

 farm to a state of fertility. If we should advise, 

 it would be to make trial of the shells, keeping 

 an accurate account of cost, and strictly watching 

 the results. 



6. What is the best method of applying ashes 

 to a corn crop ? 



Ashes for corn. — Forty years ago it was the 

 practice to apply ashes to the hills of corn at the 

 first hoeing, throwing it in among or directly 

 upon the young plants. We cannot see that any 

 one mode of application has decided advantages 

 over another. Ashes are of great value to the 

 crop, and if applied broadcast upon the field be- 

 fore harrowing, or before the first hoeing, the 

 plants will be quite sure to feel their influences 

 before they come to perfection. 



7. I want, next spring, some light manure, 

 similar to poudrette, to use in the hill for corn. 

 Something that is strong and easily applied, and 

 something I can manufacture at a less expense 

 than to purchase poudrette from the Lodi Manu- 

 facturing Company at about $1,75 per barrel here. 

 How shall I manufacture a home-made pou- 

 drette ? 



Something to manure with in the hill. Our 

 correspondent has taken a proper view of the 

 matter in devising some method of fertilizing 

 corn plants in the hill. In our short seasons, the 

 corn crop often fails to come to maturity for the 

 want of an early and vigorous start in the spring. 

 The tender plant needs something immediately 

 about its roots to push it along and bring out its 



