662 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



er tbe English language is spoken. The bulk 

 of a given quantity of milk, moreover, will 

 vary with its temperature, and we have had oc- 

 casional doubts whether the froth is not some- 

 times "counted in," when the number of quarts 

 yielded is measured warm from the cow, for 

 the information of the public. As to compar- 

 ison of weights and measures it is common to 

 regard a pint as a pound, but a careful corres- 

 pondent of the Country Genteinan lately stat- 

 ed, as the result of numerous trials, that a quart 

 of milk will average 2 1-5 pounds in weight, 

 and when thoroughly cold, that he had iound 

 a quart to weigh nearly 2 1-4 (2.23) pounds. 



ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 

 In a recent lecture on the subject of soils, 

 Dr. Voelcker vigorously, and sensibly as he 

 always is, opposed the belief that soil analysis 

 alone can determine the kind and quality of 

 fertilizer required for a given crop. To those 

 knowing little of the teachings of modern ag- 

 ricultural science, it appears very simple to 

 remedy a deficient soil by finding out through 

 analysis the wanting constituents, and then to 

 supply them. But this is not ^o. It is not 

 only difficult to exactly analyze a soil, but 

 many other things besides its chtmijal compo- 

 sition have to be observed. The state of com- 

 bination in which the mineral constituents of 

 a soil are found, its physical condition, the 

 presence or absence of substances injurious to 

 the growth of plants, are so many points of 

 great importance upon which soil analysis casts 

 a very dim and uncertain light. The fertility 

 of the soil cannot be maintained, much less in- 

 creased, if only as much of fertilizing constit- 

 uents is applied to the land as was removed by 

 the crop. Waste takes place in various di- 

 rections, and one important source of this is 

 through the process of drainage. Careful 

 collection and examination of drainage waters 

 has shown that a large proportion of nitrogen 

 is carried off in this way, chiefly in the form of 

 nitrates. Dr. Voelcker's analysis of drainage 

 waters also shows that potash and phosphoric 

 acid, both most important mineral constituents 

 for the plant, are almost entirely retained in 

 the soil ; while others less important, such as 

 lime, magnesia, or sulphuric acid, pass with 

 greater readiness out of the land. 



Winter Care of Pears. — Make a point 

 of regularly examining every week all the 

 choice kinds of fruits that may be approach- 

 ing ripeness or which are found not to be 

 keeping well, so that eveiything may be used 

 at the proper time, for the finest pears are 

 worthless enough if allowed to become over- 

 ripe before being used, and the same is the 

 case with many varieties of apples. Also 

 look over the whole stock as often as time can 

 be spared, removing any fruit that exhibits 

 symptoms of decay, and put tht-m aside for 

 immediate use. Any of the choicer kinds of 



pears that do not ripen properly in the fruit 

 room, should be removed to a warm, dry room 

 for a few days. This will be found to greatly 

 improve them. Keep the fruit as dry and cool 

 as possible, and if the frost is excluded the 

 fruit room can hardly be too cool when tht 

 object is to preserve the fruit plump and sound 

 for a long time. 



ON DRESSING HOGS. 



Two years ago many hogs were par- 

 tially or wholly lost, by becoming tainted 

 after they were dressed, and before the meat 

 cooled off. One instance came to our knowl- 

 edge, where two fine hogs, each weighing 400 

 pounds, were injured by taint. They were 

 dressed in quite a cool day, thoroughly cleaned 

 and washed oif with cold water. They were 

 hung up under a shed, where a cool breeze 

 blew over them, and yet the next morning 

 there was a perceptable taint in the carcasses. 



To prevent this the body should be split 

 down the whole length by dividing the back 

 bone. This will admit the air, allow the ani- 

 mal heat to escape, and keep the meat sweet. 



Quite cold weather will not always prevent 

 a taint. It did not in the case alluded to 

 above. It is supposed by some that it is even 

 safer to dress when the thermometer stands at 

 about 40°. The reason given is, that when the 

 weather is quite cold, the skin contracts and 

 prevents the animal heat from escaping. 

 Whether this is so or not, we do not know. 



This, however, is quite certain, — that if the 

 carcass is split down, there will be little or no 

 danger of the meat becoming tainted ; if it 

 is not, there is danger ; and it is so trifling a 

 work to do it, that it is very poor economy to 

 omit it. 



In sending hogs to market, it would un- 

 doubtedly be more convenient to hatidle them 

 whole, than if cut apart, and it may be safe 

 enough to keep them whole in such hogs as 

 are usually sent long distances, those weighing 

 only from 200 to 300 pounds. 



In the winter of 1868, we listened with 



much interest to a lecture by Prof. Gamgee, 



of London, upon "T/te Principles Involved in 



the Preservation of Meats,'''' before the State 



Board of Agriculture, at Amherst. In the 



course of his remarks he said : — 



"Even in winter a lot of hogs may be killed in 

 the evening, and wbiLst still warm packed in carts 

 ready for delivery early next morning. The car- 

 casses buried beneath others heat. The cold hogs 

 remain intact, but the hams of the lower ones taint 

 in pickle. Masses of frozen hams termed "green," 



