834 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



good warm sheds facing the south and east, and 

 the liberty of the yard. We wintered thirty good 

 healthy sheep ; gave them, per day, two feeds of 

 good hay, feed of straw, and one-half bushel po- 

 tatoes until the 1st of March, when we gave them 

 about 12 quarts of meal, consisting of one-half 

 rye and oats, one-half wheat bran. Now if you 

 or any of your numerous readers can give the 

 cause, and also a remedy, you will oblige 

 Newark, VL, June, 1861. j. s. & J. M. s. 



HOW TO MAKE GOOD SOAP. 



I wish to inquire through the columns of the 

 Farmer, what is the best receipt for making soap 

 ■with potash. If you or any of your subscribers 

 will give what you consider the best, you will 

 oblige A Subscriber. 



TO MAKE BOILED SOAP. 



Remarks. — First ascertain how much clear 

 grease you have, and to each pound of grease add 

 one pound of potash. Break the potash into 

 pieces, place it in the kettle, add a little water 

 and then as many pounds of grease as there are 

 of potash. When they are dissolved, add cold 

 water as the mass boils up, until the kettle is 

 full. Twenty pounds of potash and twenty pounds 

 of grease, will take up water enough to make 

 about a barrel of excellent soap. 



TO MAKE COLD SOAP. 



Break twenty pounds potash and put it into the 

 barrel. Heat twenty pounds grease and pour 

 upon it ; upon that pour two pails of boiling wa- 

 ter. Stir it thoroughly together, and afterwards 

 add one pailful of boiling water, daily, until the 

 barrel is full. Care should be taken to use the 

 light-colored potash, as soap made from a dark- 

 colored, or reddish potash will color the clothes. 



A DOG POWER. 



Do you know of any machine in which a large 

 dog can be advantageously used to work a churn, 

 either a crank or dash churn ? If so, will you 

 please inform me through the Farmer, together 

 with the price, and where it can be found. 



George W. Nichols. 



East Barre, Vt., May, 1861. 



Remarks. — A good "Dog Power" can be found 

 at Nourse & Co.'s, 34 Merchants' Row, Boston. 

 Price .$15,00. _ 



drive PIPE FOR A HYDRAULIC RAM. 



I saw in your June number an inquiry for a 

 "drive pipe for a hydraulic ram." I conclude 

 that the inquirer has used lead pipe for that pur- 

 pose, and that it has failed. That it would fail to 

 stand the shocks necessary to the pressure de- 

 pendent on the height of the column he states, any 

 engineer would at once see, and not apply such a 

 material for that purpose. 



I would recommend him to use the galvanized 

 iron pipe, which will sustain a pressure of 200 

 pounds to the square inch. It will cost about 'io 

 cents per foot, and can be procured of any of the 

 dealers in steam and gas pipes. 



These pipes are fast taking the place of lead 



and tin for the conveyance of water. I have one 

 in my house, for my pump, which has been in use 

 four years, and is perfectly good and sound now. 

 I had block tin pipes previously. In four years 

 I wore out two of them on the same pump and in 

 the same place. They can be attached as easily 

 by soldering as lead or tin. An Engineer. 

 Boston, June 5, 1861. 



TEMPERATURE OF THE MONTH OF MAY. 



I was informed by Mr. Lamson, of Salem, this 

 morning, that the average temperature of the 

 month of May just ended, was only one degree 

 colder than the average of the same month for 

 the last twenty years. I was surprised to hear 

 this — but still I know there is no man among us 

 whose observations are entitled to so much credit 

 as those of Mr. Lamson. Since the death of the 

 venerable Dr. Holyoke, no man in Salem has so 

 faithfully recorded the temperature, and the fall 

 of rain, &c. p. 



June 1, 1861. 



For the Nezc Enslanit Farnu>T. 

 EDUCATION OP THE FARMER. 



Mr. Editor : — The occupation of the farmer, 



as well as of the mechanic, requires study and 

 thought. He who can construct and set m mo- 

 tion the most complicated kind of machinery, 

 has won no greater merit than he who has beorj 

 for years the most successful farmer. Although 

 the one may have gained a reputation abroad, he 

 has had to look to the other for his sustenance. 

 The education of the farmer should be a practical 

 one. It should be one which will give him a 

 knowledge of the soil which he is to cultivate ; of 

 the different kinds of land, which he may have to 

 enrich yearly, with that which is best adapted to 

 its wants. In order to understand his calling, 

 and make it profitable, it is necessary that every- 

 thing should be done in a thorough and workman- 

 like manner. The idea is often advanced, that the 

 educated farmer meets with no better success 

 than he who has spent but a i&vf months in the 

 pursuit of knowledge. If this is the case, some- 

 times, it is, doubtless, because his education is not 

 practical enough. He was educated for some other 

 calling, but failing in this, he has chosen the oc- 

 cupation of the farmer. But he is again liable to 

 fall into errors in this situation, as he may have 

 spent little or no time considering the many du- 

 ties the farmer may have to perform. His plans 

 are all made to rest upon his education for a ba- 

 sis. One reason why so many of the young men 

 at the present day are desirous of entering upon 

 some easier employment, as it is often termed, is 

 because they have not been able to learn the many 

 interesting facts connected with the ftrm. 



Instead of the many works of novel writers, 

 which are circulated through our country, there 

 should be distributed a collection of reading mat- 

 ter, which might not only amuse, but instruct 

 those of all employments. Books and papers of 

 information should be brought home to every fire- 

 side. There seems to be no reason why the far- 

 mer cannot gain a good education. He has even- 

 ings throughout the winter season, wherein he 

 might gain much valuable information for him- 

 self, and impart much useful knowledge to his 

 children. s. A. s. 



