1662. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



243 



3. We do not. 



4. "Horse with a covgh." But little work, a 

 ■warm stall, with bedding a foot deep, moderate 

 feeding, with moist cut feed, and a little laxative 

 medicine. 



5. "Poor farm — no money — no stock." A 

 hard case, truly — almost too desperate for any 

 remedy that we can prescribe. There are tliree 

 ways to be pursued, viz.: 



1. To sell land enough from the farm to furnish 

 the means of plowing and manuring one, two or 

 more acres. Plant and tend them perfectly, work- 

 ing for others in the meantime to assist in the 

 family support until the crop is taken off. 



2. To get the means of operating by mortgag- 

 ing the farm, then cultivate thoroughly and eco- 

 nomically, and not only make a living, but pay up 

 interest and principal. 



3. With the aid of the family, cultivate a 

 kitchen garden, pasture a cow or two, and let the 

 rest of the farm lie idle, while you assist other 

 people on the best terms you can, until enough is 

 accumulated to purchase stock, and keep it. 



We know persons who are now independent, 

 who began in each of these ways. Those who 

 mortgage the farm and get a cash capital of four 

 or five hundred dollars to work upon — if they are 

 shrewd calculators — -will generally do the best. 

 Our sympathies are warmly with you, brother 

 C, and we regret that we cannot recommend 

 something more easy to accomplish than anything 

 we have suggested. 



KECEIPTS FOR ALVKING COFFEE. 



The following receipts for substitutes for pure 

 coffee, which the writer has never seen in print, 

 are worthy of a place in the Ladies' Department 

 of the monthly Farmer. 



1. Take sweet corn, sound and well ripened, 

 roast and grind it as you would coffee, mix two- 

 thirds of the corn with one-third of good quality 

 pure coffee. 



2. Take common barley, M-ash and free it from 

 all foul seeds, roast, pound or grind it. Mix two 

 parts barley, two parts sweet corn, and one part 

 pure coffee. 



In either of the above ways a finely flavored ar- 

 ticle is produced, superior in the estimation of the 

 writer to the best quality of ground coffee that is 

 usually sold in the market. The addition of a 

 small quantity of prepared Dandelion root or 

 Cliiccory is esteemed by many an improvement, 

 imparting to it a higher color and richness of fla- 

 vor. Subscriber to Monthly Farmer. 



Still River, March 26, 1862. 



smith's patent fence. 



In your issue of Feb. 22, is a description and 

 recommendation of "Smith's improved farm 

 fences, patented Oct. 11, 1859," 



From some experience, and also from observa- 

 tion, I can bear testimony to the excellence of 

 that kind of fence. Fences were built in this vi- 

 cinity on essentially the same plan, several years 



previous to the date of this patent. Mr. Smith, 

 therefore, cannot claim to be the inventor of any- 

 thing in reference to it, unless it be the grooving 

 of the posts. Hence, I suppose any one desiring 

 to erect such fence, by dispensing with the grooves 

 in the posts, need not be at the trouble and ex- 

 pense of obtaining permission of Mr. Smith. 

 South Amherst, 1862. Farmee. 



Remarks. — We know nothing of this matter. 

 Mr. Smith will be able to vindicate his own rights. 



REMEDY for SHEEP PULLING "WOOL. 



I have always regarded the column of "Extracts 

 and Replies" as a very valuable feature of your 

 excellent paper, it seems so familiar and so much 

 like talking the matter over with our neighbors. 

 And I sometimes think that we get and retain 

 more valuable knowledge by these inquiries and 

 short replies than by a more extended and la- 

 bored essay upon some general topic. 



A few weeks since I noticed an article from Mr. 

 Peters, of Bradford, recommending unguentum as 

 a remedy for sheep pulling their wool. I find that 

 this was designed for those cases where sheep 

 pulled their own wool, occasioned probably by 

 itching. I have one or two sheep that pull the 

 wool from others, and eat it, and have sprinkled 

 snuff on the sheep, which I hope will prevent it for 

 a while, but I am afraid that it will not last long. 

 It would be something of a task, and somewhat 

 expensive to apply snuff to a large flock. 



Will you, or some of your readers, tell me of 

 something better ? s. 



Fairlee, Vt., April, 1862. 



Remarks. — We have no knowledge in the mat- 

 ter. Will some one who has, reply ? 



use of ashes. 



As the time for composting and using manure 

 will soon be upon us, I wish to ask through your 

 columns a little advice in using ashes. I have a 

 stoned cellar with a roof over it, partly in a side 

 hill, in which I deposit my ashes as taken from 

 the house, where they cannot expose buildings to 

 fire, and are ready for use when required. I de- 

 posit there annually about 100 bushels. These 

 ashes are made from a mixture of wood and peat. 

 I wish to ask which is the most judicious method 

 of using them ? I have for years past used them 

 ])y applying a handful to each hill of com on the 

 surface of the ground, around the stalks at the 

 first hoeing. But I have serious doubts of its be- 

 ing the best way, either for the present crop or 

 for the land. I thought you or your correspond- 

 ents might give their practice, whether they use as 

 above described, or compost and put in the hill at 

 time of planting, or how they use, and on Avhat 

 soils they are most beneficial. I thought tliis in- 

 quiry might bring out views which would interest 

 others as well as myself. A Subscriber. 



Wayland, 1862. 



Remarks. — Many good farmers think ashes 

 applied to the hill as you describe, is a profitable 

 way to use them. We are inclined to think that 

 if they were composted with fine, meadow muck, 

 and a quart of the compost appHed to the liill, and 

 mixed with the soil, the effect would be better. 



