1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



165 



interested in the suhjcct of manures, whether they 

 be special or othorvvii^c ; and such facts and experi- 

 ments as prove and test their worth as fertilizers, 

 are especially important. Guano, phosphate of 

 lime, and other patent manures have been very 

 generally used for years, and in many cases arc 

 considered prolitahle. 



Bone, as a fertilizing agent, has long been used 

 in the old countries with success; and with the 

 machinery and facilities for crushing and grinding, 

 now possessed, it will, without doubt, prove a 

 profitable feriilizcr to the agriculturists of this 

 country. And here let me remark, that a machine 

 has been Invented, and is now in successful ojiera- 

 tion, at the Vermont Bone Works of Paddock, Dean 

 <S| Co., St. Johnsbury, Vt., by which bone is gi'ound 

 in its natural state, and fitted for either fertilizing 

 or feeding purposes. I refer to Dean's Patent Bone 

 Mill, the size of which is 10x17 inches, and its 

 weight ten hundred pounds. It requires from four 

 to six horse power, and will cut from one to two 

 tons of bone per day. It is very simple in con- 

 struction, and can be readily attached to any steam 

 or water power machinery. 



I enclose a specimen of the bone meal as received 

 from tlie manufacturer, which they warrant to be 

 pure, unburnt, unadulterated bone. Our farmers 

 arc using it to some extent with very satisfactory 

 results. I understand the company have machines 

 and patent rights to sell, which they would do well 

 to advertise in our agricultural papers ; for it is 

 through such a medium that the progressive, busi- 

 ness farmer is reached. I. W. Sanborn. 



Lyndon, Vt., Jan., 1867. 



Remarks. — The bone sent us looks as though it 

 were rasped, instead of ground, but is sufQciently 

 fine readily to pass into the fermentative state, under 

 favorable circumstances. We are glad to learn 

 that mills for reducing bones are in operation so 

 far in the interior. They will be the means of pre- 

 serving and bringing into use large quantities of 

 one of our most valuable fertilizing agents. 



COMPLIMENTARY — FLOUR OF HONE. 



I have long owed you a eommunieation. I have 

 prepared a hundred articles in my mind for your 

 paper, while about my work, which increasing 

 cares and a decreasing inclination to write, have 

 prevented your seeing. Meantime the Farmer 

 has continued a welcome visitor. It is now a 

 handsome paper. The type is of refreshing clear- 

 ness. It is well arranged. The Market Reports 

 are full and valuable. I have often been guided 

 by them in selling and buying, to my advantage. 



I wish more people would advertise in your col- 

 umns articles and animals that farmers want. 

 Such notices are interesting to read, and bring prof- 

 it, sometimes, to all concerned. I never buy fa- 

 mous medicines, nor believe parties pay such tre- 

 mendous wages to "active" young men ! 



That communication from Rufus Nutting, giv- 

 ing the results of experiments with the fiour of 

 bone, interested me a good deal. It seemed a fair 

 and candid statement, and was not flattering to the 

 article. Still, I do not think those experiments 

 were conducted so as to show the value of flour of 

 bone. It does not appear in any case that the bone 

 was fermented, or digested, before using. I un- 

 derstand that, when applied to crops ina crude 

 state, it is not plant food. Dr. Nichols, in his late 

 excellent lecture before our Lyceum, said he mixed 

 it with diluted sulphuric acid. Whose practice is 

 the necessary one, that of the chemist or that of 

 the unljenefited Vermont farmer ? 



I want very much to have the fiour of bone prove 

 a most valuable article. I have an interest in some 



distant land to which it is not expedient to team 

 heavy manures, and a condensed fertilizer would 

 be just the thing. W. D. Brown. 



Concord, Mass., Jan., 1867. 



Remarks. — How many articles "prepared" for 

 our columns, in this way, arc every year lost to 

 the world 1 



EARLY potatoes. 



What is the best kind of early potatoes for a cli- 

 mate similar to Boston ? The price of them a bush- 

 el in Boston ? The best kind of manure, phos- 

 phate of lime or fish guano? The number ot 

 pounds to an acre, and cost of it. 



Franklin W. Carson. 



North Oxford, Mass., Feb. 13, 1867. 



Remarks. — We do not know which the best 

 kind of early potato is. We heard the question 

 discussed at a farmer's club, and scarcely any two 

 were agreed upon it. Thei'C are as many prices as 

 there are kinds, varying from $1 to $3 per bushel. 

 The Early Goodrich, new and in great demand, 

 P; Sebec, P; Early Jackson, fl. 



The kind of manure used ought to depend, in a 

 considerable degree, upon the kind of land on which 

 they are planted. If low, heavy land, use coarse, 

 unfermented manure. If dry, use fine manure. In 

 either case, a handful of plaster of Paris in each 

 hill, will prove of service. 



No experiments have been made, to our knowl- 

 edge, between superphosphate and fish guano, for 

 potatoes. Try both, at the rate of 400 pounds per 

 acre. 



a VERMONT HORSE. 



Mr. Wm. W. Day, of Lunenburg, Essex County, 

 is the owner of a gelding horse of the French 

 Morrill blood, that was four years old the22d day 

 of last June, and weighed tlie 1st of December, 

 fifteen hundred and fifty pounds. This colt is a 

 bright baj% black mane and tail, good style, and 

 stands seventeen and a half hands high. Wliose 

 colt beats this ? f. 



Lunenburg, Vt., Feb. 16, 1867. 



FEEDING cows AND HOGS — WOOD FOR TROUGHS. 



How much corn meal can be given to a milch 

 COW daily, with safety ? Can shorts be given to a 

 cow without injuring the butter } 



Can oil cake be given without injuring the cow ? 



Does corn fodder, fed to a cow green, increase 

 the quantity or improve the quality of her milk ? 



What kind of wood is best for a liog's trough, 

 and for the flooring of their pen ? 



Is it judicious, in fattening iiogs, to keep them 

 wholly on a plank floor, to prevent their rooting ? 



If hogs are salted alive, should the salt be given 

 to them clear, or mixed with their food ? 



If the latter, in what proportion ? 



When hogs are kept almost wholly on meal, 

 should much liquid be given with the meal ? 



Derry, N. H., Jan. 4, 1867. E. B. 



BEE CULTURE. 



I think the best hive is one about 30 inches high, 

 and one foot square, with two draws in the upper 

 part, four inches high and six inches wide, with a 

 glass in one end of the drawers. The hive should 

 have two fly holes, one at the bottom, the other 

 about eight inches above. The lower entrance 



