1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



241 



en inverted A-shaped scraper, shod with mill saw 

 plate, and drawn by four to six yoke of oxen with 

 men attendant — its operation partial and apochry- 

 phal. Still others have we seen, hauling on and 

 spreading a layer of gravel, two loads abreast, four 

 loads to the rod, at a cost of $5 per rod ; the ruts 

 remaining as troughs below to hold water to aid 

 the heavy teams in cutting them out again the 

 first wet spell. 



It is easier to pull down than to build up. The 

 thing that is, is that which hath been ; and that 

 which shall be, is that that hath already been, 

 and though not new under the sun, I will attempt 

 to describe it. 



In the month of April, being desirous of putting 

 the road in order, I applied to a stone-cutter, who 

 split out a rough ashler, 4 ft. G in. long, by 18 in. 

 wide and 9 in. deep — cost .$2, weight 900 lbs. 

 The smith then made two bands of tile ii-on, thus. 



■with bolts to strap the stone — cost, $1. 



So much for preparation — now for the modus 

 operandi, or way to use it. Well ! two yoke of 

 oxen on the timbers or forward wheels of a farm 

 wagon, a draft-chain extending from the transon 

 belt of the axle, back to another chain or bridle 

 hooked into the bolts on the stone, the right arm 

 shortest, to bring the stone at an angle of 45° with 

 the axle and line of ruts. Gee, Buck ! Gee, 

 Bright, up ! One man to drive, one to tend the 

 stone, one to throw out and remove loose stones, 

 and away we go over the gee ruts to the end of 

 our route ! Whoa, boys, whoa ! Well ! Let's 

 see. The ridges are broken down — the ruts filled 

 up and consolidated by the weight of the stone. 



The cobble stones and loose earth are thrown to 

 the centre to fill up the single horse foot path 

 (which had been guttered out) and be removed ! 

 Hush, Bright ! Haw, Broad, over ! And away 

 we go ! On the back track of the other ruts — in 

 like manner and efi'ect to the starting-point. Now 

 let us put the 'sider on — for we can look back — 

 not having "put our hands to the plow." The 

 face of the road looks as smooth and even as ever. 

 It is solid, too. The trough is filled up and the 

 stones are out of the way. Well, what is the cost ? 

 Three men at $1,50 per day^.*4,50 — two yoke of 

 oxen at 8l,50=$3,00, amounting to $7,00. Four 

 miles per day is 320 rodsX4=1280 rods ; $7,00 



or 7000 mills-|-1280=5i mills, or i cent per rod. 

 "Time is money ! Gather up the fragments, that 

 nothing be lost ! Go thou and do likewise, and 

 let others follow your example, and oblige the old 

 Plowmaker John Mears. 



South Abington, 1862. 



P. S. Repeated trials with the stone render it 

 advisable to give more weight, which may best be 

 done by having it split out 12 inches instead of 9. 

 Also, to dispense with the bars and d*aw by ring 

 bolts inserted in the face sides, about 9 inches 

 from the ends, thus : 



the wear of the bar is avoided, the draft is not so 

 heavy, and the movement of the stone is more di- 

 rect and steady. When about to be carried to a 

 distant place, roll it on to a log or cobble stone 

 and sling under the pole and axle. J. M. 



SORREL. 



This is one of the most troublesome pests, 

 wherever it has once become thoroughly rooted in 

 the soil, with which the husbandman can be an- 

 noyed. On clayey soil, however, it soon disap- 

 pears ; but on land of an opposite conformation 

 and texture, its eradication is attended with much 

 difficulty, and, indeed, can only be effected by the 

 most assiduous and persevering eff'orts. The pres- 

 ence of sorrel in a soil is regarded — but with how 

 much truth we do not know — as an indication of 

 acid, and hence the use of lime, or ashes, is said to be 

 of service in eff"ecting its extermination. By cutting 

 sorrel for several consecutive seasons, just before 

 the seed ripens, or a little earlier, say at the peri- 

 od of general flowering, amd applying annually a 

 liberal top-dressing of caustic lime, the growth of 

 the plant will be arrested, and perhaps overcome. 

 This, however, is deemed too expensive by most 

 farmers. 



The seed of sorrel is of a nature to remain for 

 many years inhumed in the soil without germinat- 

 ing, unless the conditions essential to its develop- 

 ment exist about it. The pericarp, or outer in- 

 tegument, is so indurated that the nicest balance 

 of the stimulating powers of nature are requisite 

 to secure germination, and hence we find old pas- 

 ture lands, that have not been disturbed for gen- 

 erations, and upon which no sorrel has been seen 

 in the memory of man, will, upon being plowed 

 and exposed to atmospheric influences, become 

 filled with sorrel plants. The same characteristics 

 apply equally to mullein and a variety of other 

 seeds, but perhaps to none in a more remarkable 



