1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



253 



if within reasonable distance, and five dollars 

 more in collecting brakes and other materials 

 from the pasture, road side or wood lot, and I 

 think he will have a pile by the side of which the 

 barrel of guano will be small in size and in value, 

 and the ten dollars be kept nearer home. 



While ammonia is the principal element of 

 value in concentrated manure, manures from 

 the stable and hog-yard contain more of the re- 

 quisite food for plants ; have more bulk and other 

 important qualities for most of our soils, render- 

 ing them more pervious, and susceptible of atmos- 

 pheric influences. 



I believe that many kinds of concentrated ma- 

 nure will yet find a permanent place among the 

 farmers as reliable auxiliaries, but they will be 

 like the mint, the anise and the cumin, com- 

 pared with what he may manufacture on his own 

 premises. 



I am about making a compost, and wish some 

 advice from you whether you think it will be 

 strong enough to put half a shovelful in a hill 

 for corn ? 



I propose to take 100 bushels of swamp muck 

 that was dug last June, 25 bushels of rotten ma- 

 nure, five bushels of hard wood ashes, four bush- 

 els of hen manure, and mix them all together 

 and then commence at one side, and shovel back 

 a layer. To this I will add half a barrel of urine 

 and night soil. Then dissolve five pounds of 

 copperas to the barrel of water, and wet it down, 

 and so on through the pile, till I get on five bar- 

 rels. Will it be necessary to make it under cover ? 

 shall I add lime to this compost ? will it do any 

 hurt to put sink water and soap-suds into my 



vault ? B. F. CONANT. 



Lyme, N. H., 1861. 



Remarks. — Such a compost should be made up 

 a fortnight at least before it is wanted, and should 

 be made very fine. Instead of "half a shovel- 

 ful," we should think a pint to a quart would be 

 an ample amount. The four bushels of hen ma- 

 nure are nearly equal to as much guano. Try it, 

 however, in various quantities, and let us know 

 the result. It will be best to make it under cover. 

 Lime will not be necessary. Soap-suds in the 

 vault will be good, if the vault is tight. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HCV^T TO CUBE A SPAVINED HORSE. 



I have a fine mare, which, three years ago, be- 

 came very lame from a bone spavin on the inside 

 of the left hind leg. After pretty hard driving 

 for several days, she became so lame that she was 

 unfit for use. The spavin was very tender, and 

 she rested the foot constantly on the toe when 

 she stood. I took her to the blacksmith and di- 

 rected him to put on a shoe without any toe cork, 

 and with blunt heel corks two inches long. She 

 immediately travelled much better, and when 

 she stood, rested the foot on the toe and heel 

 corks, thus relieving the contracted cord from 

 the strain to which it had been constantly subject- 

 ed. In a short time the inflammation and ten- 

 derness subsided. The swelling abated, and 

 she travelled very well. She wore off the inside 



cork faster than the outside one, when she 

 began to be lame again. I then had the shoe re- 

 set and the corks made of the same length, and 

 she soon became well. After a few weeks I had 

 the corks shortened a little, and the next time 

 she was shod, a little more, but I still have her 

 wear heel corks an inch or more in length. There 

 is a slight enlargement of the bone where the 

 spavin is seated, but she performs hard service, 

 and is not at all lame. Several of my neighbors 

 have applied the same remedy, with equally good 

 results, and I think that a little thought and ob- 

 servation will satisfy any one that this is the ap- 

 propriate remedy. The cords attached to the part 

 where the enlargement is seated, become inflamed 

 and contracted, and raise up the heel from the 

 ground. When the horse brings the heel to the 

 ground the cords are strained, and became irri- 

 tated and inflamed. The long corks keep the 

 heel raised permanently, and thus prevent the 

 cords from being strained, and allow the inflamma- 

 tion to get well. Some enlargement and a slight 

 degree of stifl"ness may remain, but seldom enough 

 to afiect the gait. I consider the discovery of so 

 much importance, that I wish the owners of horses 

 to know it, as I believe that many horses that are 

 now considered of little value may by this simple 

 means be restored to a serviceable condition. 

 Wilmington, 1861. Levi Reynolds. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 

 A LARGE HOG. 



I recently saw the magnificent porker raised by 

 Hon. R. S. Rogers, on his farm in South Dan- 

 vers. I am glad to learn that something besides 

 onions can be grown here, as the maggot seems 

 to have put an effectual veto on this delicious 

 vegetable — always saving its smell. This hog was 

 bred in Chester county, and was selected for the 

 superior character of the breed. He was nearly 

 three years old; weight alive, about 1108 pounds, 

 weight when dressed, 1000 pounds. He has been 

 fed with the best the farm afforded, always hav- 

 ing as much as he would eat. 



I asked Mr. R. as to the profit of raising such 

 an animal ; he replied that he had not found an 

 opportunity to state the account, the most he 

 cared about him was "to see him grow." I can 

 not doubt that the farmer who thus deposits his 

 corn, will find his account, either in the growth 

 of the animal, or in the manure he makes — if he 

 be a working hog. J. w. P. 



March, 1861. __ 



CULTURE OF ROOTS. 

 I have had but little experience in farming, and 

 would like to ask, through your valuable paper, 

 what I had better plant tliis spring for roots, to 

 feed to cattle and sheep next winter. Also, if 

 roots are more common than grain ? 



A New Subscriber. 

 Romney, N. H., April, 1861. 



Remarks. — Mangolds and flat turnips are 

 cheaply raised, and are excellent for sheep and 

 cattle. Carrots, beets and parsnips may also be 

 produced profitably, if the work of cultivating is 

 chiefly done, as it may be, by horse power. 



