50 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. I 



Lime as Manure tot Wheat. 



Our correspondent " Seskca." in our eccjnd No., 

 inquires for the best method of testing the presence 

 and quantity of lime in soils, and whether the use of 

 lime on whnt are termed limeetone soils, is beneficial. 



It is much to be regretted that accurate and syste- 

 matic experiments have not been made to a greater ex- 

 tent in this country on the use of lime; but that it is 

 greatly beneficial to many of our soils, has been sufTi- 

 ciently proved, and none appear to doubt. Experi- 

 ments have especially proved its value in the culture of 

 wheat. 



In order to ascertain the presence of lime, (carbo- 

 nate of lime), let a handful of the soil be put into a 

 glass containing water sufficient to cover it; stirring it 

 until it is entirely fieed from atmospheric air, and re- 

 moving what vegetable fibres and scum may appear 

 upon the surface. Then pour in a quarter or half an 

 ounce of muriatic acid, which, by its greater specific 

 gravity, will sink and mix with the soil. If any lime 

 be present it will immediately combine with the muri- 

 atic acid, and effervescence will follow from the escape 

 of the carbonic acid. This method will indicate a 

 very minute proportion of carbonate of lime, as, ac- 

 cording to Ruflin, "the gas that only eight grains of 

 calcareous earth would throw out, would be equal in 

 bulk to a gill measure. Indeed, the product of only a 

 single grain of calcareous earth, would be abundantly 

 plain to the eye of the careful operator, though it 

 might be the whole amount of gas from two thousand 

 grains of soil." If no effervescence whatever is visi- 

 ble, we may bo certain that the soil does not contain the 

 smallest portion of carbonate of lime. 



To ascertain the precise ijuanliiij of lime, when pre- 

 Bent, one of the best methods is by means of the pneu- 

 matic apparatus of chemists, which measures the quan- 

 tity of carbonic acid gas liberated; the quantity which 

 two grains o( the carbonate of lime will yield, being 

 equal in bulk to one ounce of water. Its proportion 

 in the soil can hence be readily calculated. It is to be 

 observed, however, that in this experiment, the soil 

 must be thoroughly dried before the operation, other- 

 wise, in weighing it, the presence of water would 

 cause inacciuacy and spoil the result. Care must also 

 be taken that a sufficient quantity of muriatic acid is 

 added, and that it acts thoroughly on all parts of the 

 soil. 



The second inquiry of our correspondent is, "Does 

 all land in limestone countries contain as much lime as 

 is advantageous, and what experiments have been 

 made to ascertain the effects of applying lime as ma- 

 nure, on limestone, or other lands of our country V 

 We believe that Edmund Ruilin, author of the essay 

 on calcareous manures, was the first in this country 

 to prove that many fertile soils; those in the immediate 

 vicinity of limestone rocks, were entirely destitute of 

 carbonate of lime. In Cayuga county, soil from the 

 most fertile fields, when taken near the surface, gave 

 little or no indication of its presence, although in the 

 immediate vicinity of immense beds of limestone, 

 fragments of which were scattered over the ground. — 

 Such soils have consequently been greatly improved 

 by its application. Very productive soil in Wayne 

 county has yielded the same results, although in both 

 instances, the siihsoil indicated, by its effervescence 

 with acid, a considerable portion of lime. 



Experiments in the improvement of such soils by 

 lime, have been very limited, but they have sufficient- 

 ly proved its beneficial effects. We hope, in a future 

 number, to notice these experiments more at length; 

 and, in the mean time would earnestly recommend all 

 farmers in Western New Yoik, with whom it may be 

 practicable, to make accurate experiments on this sub- 

 ject, measuring the results, the communication of 

 which to the public would doubtless be of essential 

 benefit. There ii probably little, if any, Iniid in the 



western part of the state which would not be much im- 

 proved by its proper application. We believe that slicll- 

 marl, equally efficacious with lime, (and which is, in 

 fact, nearly pure carbonate of lime,) may yet be found 

 in many places in great abundance, in the northern 

 portions of Western New York; — it occurs in immense 

 beds under the Cayuga marshes, and has been found in 

 many swamps, as, for instance, in Junius, Seneca 

 county; in Macedon, Wayne; and Farminglon, On- 

 tario. Its presence may be easily ascertained by thrust- 

 ing a sharp pole through the peat of the swamp sever- 

 al feet downwards, and if mail be present it will cover 

 the lower part of the pole, and is readily distinguish- 

 ed by its whiteness, by the numerous small shells it 

 usually contains, and by its powerful effervescence in 

 acids. 



We close our remarks on this subject for the pre- 

 sent, by the queries proposed by the English Agricul- 

 tural Society, which %ve copy from the first volume of 

 the Journal of the society, published last year, with the 

 request that if any ot our readers or correspondents can 

 now, or in future, answer any of them from experi- 

 ment, they will give us the results. 



1. How many years have you used lime as a ma 

 nure i. 



2. How many acres have you limed each year ? 



3. What quantity have you put on per acre ? 



4. On what sort of soil 7 



5. At what time of year 1 



6. For what crop ? 



7. Whether with or without manure ? 



8. In what manner applied ? 



9. What effect on the crop 1 . 



10. What effect on the succeeding crop 1 



11. What was the price of the lime ? 

 13. Do you continue to use it 1 



13. What is the chemical description of the lime 

 you use ? 



14. State generally any particulars with respect to 

 lime. "• * 



Destroying Couch Grass. 



The following method of destroying couch, quitch, 

 or xcilch grass (Triticum repens,) if effectual in 

 thoroughly eradicating this obstinate intruder, will be 

 of great value, as it is becoming abundant in some 

 parts of the state, our fertile lands being doubllefs fa 

 vorable to its increase. The method which has for- 

 merly been practised, was by frequent ploughings in 

 hot, dry weather, and harrowing between each plough- 

 ing, that the roots might be all worked to the surface. 

 Sir John Sinclair says, "It is one of the greatest 

 banes that husbandry has to cantend with;" and, "is 

 so interwoven in the soil, when land has been long 

 under tillage, as to form a perfect netting." Loudon, 

 in his Encyclopcedia of Plants, also says, "It is one 

 of the worst weeds in arable lands and gardens; and 

 in the former it is only to be destroyed by fallowing or 

 I'allow crops, or hnjiyig down to grass ; and the latter 

 by hand picking or very deep trenching." * 



Quitch Grass. — Ma. Eiiitok — Some of your cor- 

 respondents have been striving to rid themselves and 

 their neighbors of that troublesome weed, quitch 

 grass. Now, I happen to know, from experience, one 

 of the easiest and most profitable methods of destroy- 

 ing this grass. This grass will never increase in pas- 

 tures. It always t'mtU its way into such land as has a 

 warm light soil, and is most cultivated. Land abound- 

 ing in this weed should be immediately converted to 

 a sheep pasture, and in a few years it will be entirely 

 eradicated. 



My father once took a piece which was thickly set 

 with it, ploughed it late in June, sowed it with winter 

 rye, and turned it into his sheep pasture. 



The rye continued to come up for a year or two and 

 was kept closely fed by the sheep, and in a few years 

 the quitch grass was exchanged lor sweet clover and 

 red top. I doubt not but that this plan might be adopt- 

 ed to advantage on many farms that are overrun with 

 this useless weed. It is folly to talk of digging it up 

 when it has obtaimd a linn Ibothoid. Land that is of 

 a light thin soil can be changed from tillage to pastu- 

 ring to great advantage. Pastures would be improved 

 in this way, for it is bad economy to po^s^^^ a pasture 

 that will give only now and then a Bpot th'it cattle will 

 ouch. 



Another method I have seen practised in riddii 

 small garden spots of this grass, which is by layij 

 boards over the ground for a season. This is mm 

 easier than to dig it up. While on this point I cann 

 help noticing one fault among gardeners. They a 

 very anxious to prevent the weeds from going to sei 

 during the first part of the season, but as soon as tl 

 plants get a little start, they suffer the weeds to la! 

 their own course. Consequently there isa fresh su 

 ply of seed for the succeeding spring. 



If some of your correspondents will counsel me 

 kdling thistles with as little labor and as much profit 

 I advised them in killing quitch grass, they will i 

 ceive my sincare thanks. — Farmer's Register. 



For the Xew Genesee Farmer. 

 Profits on Sheeep, &c. 



Messrs. Editors — It was with much pleasure tl 

 1 placed my name on your list of subscribers; — det< 

 mined, as I was, to have an agricultural paper, I si 

 scribed for the Cultivator before your prospectus ar 

 ved. It was not known here, till then, that thi 

 would be a new Genesee Farmer, but one and 

 of the old subscribers have enrolled their names for i 

 New, though many had ordered the Cultivator. S 

 cess to your undei taking, gentlemen, is my most c 

 dial wish — such a paper as yours is much needed 

 this part of the state, and I hope that every farmer 

 the Genesee country will not only become a subs' 

 ber, but a reader also. 



As I have noticed invitations given to farmers 

 furnish results of their observations, I would give sc " 

 statements relative to a flock of sheep which I have 

 the management of for a few years. They were r 

 ed from a flock of ten coarse ragged sheep, purchc 

 in 1831. This flock was crossed with the best blc 

 within reach, up to the present time. It now cent 

 f jrty-six; and for weight of carcase and fleece, it 

 surpassed by any in our neighborhood. The follow 

 will show the profits of this flock for the past year: 



For 10 fat wethers at $3 per head, $3C 



"11 coarse yearlings and lambs, $1,25. . ... lo 



' ' wool sold at 37 J cents, 1" 



" 120 lbs wool at"40 cents, 4i 



" 2 wethers slaughtered, worth $3 per head, ( 



$11. 



Besides the above, there still remains the orij 

 number of forty-siz, of as much real value as 

 were last season. I lost but one lamb last year. T 

 are no ticks among the flock; I follow them too c 

 ly with tobacco, which I apply, by steeping inw 

 to the lambs a few days after shearing; for then 

 will have left the old sheep and have fled to the lai 

 for better protection among their thick coat of woi 

 A very httle care in this way will often save n 

 wool, besides making it easier to winter the flock, 



Enclosed is a sample of silk, manufactured the 

 season. The worms were fed from the leaves o; 

 while mulberry. We fed but a few hundred, 

 enough to obtain some knowledge of the businet 

 We intend to engage in it to some extent hercafte 

 I have no doubt it will prove lucrative. 



Will any one who is acquainted wiih raising 

 grape among the readers of the Farmer, give info 

 lion through its colunis, of the best mode of cul 

 pruning, &c., and the soil best adapted to it, tl 

 may bear soon ? I have some choice varieties o 

 large purple, but know nothing in panicular of 

 culture. 



I'ilie, Feb. 14, 1840. 



I''*jr the Xew Ginesee Fam^ 

 Evperiinents with Potatoes lor 18-10. 



Messrs. Euitoks — Many experiments have 

 made with a view of ascertaining the best and 

 economical method of cutting and planting seed 

 toes; but still I do not think the subject is full; 

 derstood. For instance, it is not generally kl 

 how large a quantity of seed can be advantage>B^^' 

 used when potatoes are very cheap; nor how iH 



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