184 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Apkil 



We would here remark, that, in a large majori- 

 ty of cases, probably, the quantity of ashes re- 

 quired to feed the crop of Avheat with the requi- 

 site amount of phosphoric acid, would exceed this, 

 as it is by no means likely that all the acid would 

 be taken vip and assimilated by the plants for 

 whose especial benefit it was designed, when ap- 

 plied. There are a number of ways in which a 

 portion of it might escape, and do very little good 

 to soil a crop ; yet the suggestion is of value as 

 tending to direct us in the pursuit of right meth- 

 ods and fortunate results in the management of a 

 valuable and important crop. The analysis of 

 vegetables will undoubtedly prove of value to the 

 husbandman, and some measure ought to be 

 adopted to render the analyses of plants more 

 common and familiar to us. 



It is well for the farmer to be familiar with the 

 experiments and theories of the chemist, as they 

 will sometimes lead to the most valuable results, 

 and always lead his mind to subjects of the most 

 pleasing contemplation. But there are continual 

 operations in nature entirely beyond the research 

 of either chemist or farmer. The latter may em- 

 ploy the amount of ashes found necessary by the 

 experiment of the chemist to produce a given 

 quantity of wheat, and yet utterly fail of producing 

 a crop. The farmer knows, however, that when 

 he uses ashes or lime upon his wheat crop, that 

 nine times in ten the croiJ is better for it. It is 

 this experience, springing up from his daily and 

 yearly practice, that is of the greatest importance 

 to the farmer. Tlie difficulty is, that he does not 

 digest and record it, and pass it along for the ben- 

 efit of those who succeed him in the same employ- 

 ments. 



HORSES. 



Col. Needham, the Secretary of the Vermont 

 State Agricultural Society, in his annual report 

 says : 



"The number of horses in Vermont before the 

 breaking out of the rebellion, was about fifty-five 

 thousand, since which time it is calculated that 

 nearly ten thousand have been carried from the 

 State for army purposes. This immense levy for 

 horses has been made througliout tlie entire coun- 

 try. When it is considered that comparatively 

 few of these horses will find their way back ; that 

 the number that will die of disease, or become un- 

 fit for service, is twenty times as great as it would 

 be, were they used in other kinds of business ; 

 that to meet this groat want of the government, a 

 large proportion of the business horses in our 

 large cities, which have been thrown out of sei'- 

 vice by general prostration, have been bought up ; 

 it readily appears that, even during the war, 

 horses must advance in price ; and at its close, 

 when business shall revive, and trade resume its 

 former channels, the demand for good horses 

 must exceed the supply. Reasoning from these 

 premises, no more profitable labor can be engaged 

 xa, than the production of good business horses." 



For the New England Farmer, 

 POTATOES OW MUCK LANDS. 



Mr. Editor : — I have lately turned over the 

 last seven or eight volumes of the Farmer to see 

 if I could find any records of experiments with 

 either of the concentrated, manures upon meadow 

 lands. The meadow which I have under cultiva- 

 tion produces abundant crops of potatoes, provid- 

 ed each hill receives a small amount of some coarse 

 manure. I might state here, that while every crop 

 I had tried has succeeded — the potato appears, to 

 be the most profitable, and, further, that a coarse 

 manure produces larger and smoother potatoes 

 than compost. For good and sufficient reasons, 

 however, I wish to use the major part of my ma- 

 nure upon uplands, and would be glad to substi- 

 tute therefor guano, superphosphate, or something 

 of the sort, which, at the same time, might be so 

 much more conveniently applied to lands where no 

 animal can travel without it be shod with rackets. 

 I have thought to avail myself of the experience 

 of some of your correspondents, but find nothing 

 upon the subject. Have you not, Mr. Editor, some 

 reader who has experience in the premises and 

 who is in want of a subject whereon to write for 

 the Farmer") If so I would like to hear from him. 



While looking througli the volumes of the Far- 

 mer, I Avas reminded of the fact that a great many 

 of your subscribers fail to have their Monthly 

 Farmers bound. They are not aware that the 

 twelve numbers, although they may be a little 

 soiled, are made into a very handsome volume by 

 the binder, for the small sum of twenty-five cents. 

 If information is desired upon any particular sub- 

 ject, the reader, by the aid of the index, which 

 accompanies each volume, can compare the views 

 of a score of writers. Let me advise every sub- 

 scriljcr to the Monthly to have his numbers bound. 



Londonderry, N. II. , Feb., 1862. M. W. A. 



Remarks. — We have been examining crops of 

 potatoes growing on muck lands, more or less, for 

 the last ten years. They have averaged better 

 crops on such soils than they have on the high 

 lands. Various manures have been used. Fine 

 crops have been produced by the aid of a handful 

 of Peruvian guano, without other dressing — but 

 at $G5 per ton, it is doubtful whether anything 

 can be gained by its use. So good crops have 

 been made by the use of ashes in the hill, or super- 

 phosphate of lime. A night-soil, or poultry, com- 

 post, on good muck lands, we tliink Vr'ould bring 

 profitable crops. 



HiNGHAM Agricultural and IIorticultU' 

 RAL Society. — This young giant has issued a list 

 of prizes for 1862, making in the aggregate the 

 sum of $750. It is made up of only a single town, 

 but actually outstrips some county societies in 

 the extent and quality of its exhibitions. The of- 

 ficers of the Society are : 



President — Albert Fearing ; Vice Presidents 

 — Solomon Lincoln, Charles W. Cushing, Luther 

 Stephenson ; Recording Secretary — De Witt C. 

 Bates ; Corresponding Secretary — Henry Hersey ; 

 Treasurer — J. H. French ; Libraiian — L. Fearing 



