188 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



April 



3. It changes the inert vegetable matter in the 

 soil, so as gradually to render it useful to vegeta- 

 tion. 



4. It causes, facilitates, or enables other useful 

 compounds, both organic and inorganic, to be 

 produced in the soil, or so promotes the decom- 

 position of existing compounds as to prepare 

 them more speedily for entering into the circula- 

 tion of plants. 



The fertilizing properties of lime, then, appear 

 to arise, in a great measure, from the force with 

 which it attracts carbonic acid from the atmo- 

 sphere or soil to which it is exposed. This at- 

 traction for carbonic acid is so powerful, that if 

 lime be placed in contact with animal or vegeta- 

 ble matter, they are decomposed or dissolved 

 with great rapidity, and reduced to a fit state for 

 entering the roots of plants. It is for this rea- 

 son that we see such good results from the appli- 

 cation of lime upon soils where green crops have 

 been consumed on the land, or where any of the 

 various plants used for that purpose have been 

 plowed in green. It also produces equally good 

 effects, and for the same reason, in soils newly 

 broken up ; in fact, in all soils rich in humus or 

 vegetable matter. 



But the chemical action of lime is not confined 

 to the decomposition of vegetable and other or- 

 ganic matter in the soil. It appears to be clearly 

 established by the experiments of agricultural 

 chemists, that this substance has also the proper- 

 ty of setting at liberty the alkalies which are pre- 

 sent in exceedingly small quantities in the soil, fa- 

 voring the formation of soluble silicates, which 

 are useful to all of our crops of grain. Lime, how- 

 ever, not only acts chemically, but to a certain ex- 

 tent it is also useful by altering the mechanical na- 

 ture of the soil. For instance, it renders clayey 

 soils less tenacious; and it is also stated that it 

 makes sandy soils firmer, and loamy soils soft, 

 mellow and light. Such is briefly all that is 

 known at present concerning the chemical pro- 

 perties of lime. 



ABOUT A LOW BROOK MEADOW. 



I have a few acres of low brook meadow, much 

 run out, on a part of which the long white moss 

 is struggling hard for the ascendancy. I have 

 partially drained it, cutting ditches and lowering 

 the bed of the stream. There were obstructions 

 in the brook which caused it to overflow at every 

 freshet, and the ground thus overflowed yielded 

 large crops of grass. I have recently built a dam 

 by which the whole meadow can be overflowed at 

 pleasure. 



Now, what I want much to know is, at what 

 time and how long should the water be kept on ? 

 How can the moss be exterminated ? There is 

 yet a very little fowlmeadow grass in small 

 patches ; if the ground is kept sufficiently moist, 

 will this grass spread of itself, or should seed be 

 sown ? If so, how much seed to the acre, and 

 where, and at what price, can it be obtained ? 



Boyalslon, Feb. 16, 1861. J. Wood. 



Remarks. — Put the water on while the plants 

 growing upon the meadow are in the flush of 

 vegetation, and let it remain until the next spring. 

 To kill the plants effectually, it is best to keep 

 the meadow covered during the hot weather. We 



have known some meadow land covered with wa- 

 ter three years, before the plants, including bush- 

 es, growing upon it were killed. The plants in 

 other meadows are sometimes destroyed in a 

 single season. Do not depend upon the patches 

 of fowl-meadow now starting, but clear up the 

 land and sow afterwards a bushel of seed at least 

 to the acre. It is scarce, but you may find it at the 

 seed-stores. 



now TO BELIEVE CHOKED CATTLE. 



There has been considerable discussion in the 

 Farmer, of late, about cattle choked, and the 

 best remedy to relieve them. I have read all the 

 remarks that have been made on that subject, 

 but they did not agree with my views as to the 

 best remedy. 



The instant a creature becomes choked, no 

 matter what with, the throat beomcs dry, and the 

 longer the substance remains, the dryer the 

 throat. The following is a sure remedy. Take 

 some oil, no matter what kind, and hold the crea- 

 ture's head up and turn down about one gill of 

 oil, and then let go of the head, and the creature 

 will heave it out in two seconds ! I have tried it 

 for years, and never knew it to fail. H. 



Poland, Me., Feb. 9, 1861. 



WORMS IN HORSES. 



I have a horse that is troubled with worms, I 

 have tried various methods to cure her, but with 

 no success. She was formerly very free to travel, 

 and in good spirits, but now she is slow, and 

 seems to have lost all animation. Will you re- 

 commend a remedy through the columns of your 

 valuable paper. A SUBSCRIBER. 



Exeter, Feb. 2, 1861. 



Remarks. — Sift wood ashes, and mix one giU 

 of it with the horse's cut feed ; one dose every 

 other day for a week. Watch the result. 



FOUL OF THE FOOT IN CATTLE. 



A correspondent in the Monilihj Farmer for 

 February wishes to know a cure for foul of the 

 foot in cattle. 



The following is an almost certain remedy : — 

 Take a small quantity of soft soap, and stir in 

 as much fine salt as it will take up ; clean out 

 the creature's foot and rub in the mixture. Two 

 or three applications will effect a cure, usually. 



Why would it not be good for scratches in 

 horses ? M. H. 



Pelham, N. H., 1861. 



ON SETTING FENCE POSTS. 



Principles will satisfy some persons on ques- 

 tionable points, where, for want of opportunity, 

 they could not have demonstration. But where 

 and when it is available, it is worth seeking. Re- 

 liable testimony comes next. This article is to 

 add my own experience from early life, by way of 

 endorsement, to some good articles (commended 

 by yourself) for some inquirers, "On setting 

 fence posts," with ditches and small stones, and in 

 some situations with holes and stones, and no 

 ditch. Always but end up ; best with me cut and 



