iNo. 7. 



AND G A R D E N E R 'S J O U R N A L. 



09 



Heaics in Horses. 



Messrs. Editors — A correspondent of yours wish- 

 es to know of a cure for the henvea in horses. I have 

 heard a medicine recommended as an eflectiial cure; 

 but 1 think, that, like the asthma in mankind, it 

 cannot be wholly cured. This, however, is the 

 most cflectual of any thing I am acquainted with. — 

 Take a small portion of slacked lime, sny a handful; 

 throw it into a pail of water, and give this to him as 

 long as you perceive any signs of the heaves, which 

 will generally be two or three days. This is very 

 simple, and within the reach of every one. 

 Yours, &c., 



Greece, June 14, 1840. HOSTLKR. 



Hoof Ail, or Foot Rot. 



Messrs. Editors — In perusing an old English ag- 

 ricultural work a short time since, I noticed the fol- 

 lowing highly approved cure for the hoof a.l, or foot 

 rot:— 



" Bleed copiously. If the disease firet oppears be- 

 tween the claws, wash the part clean; when dry, rub 

 a tar rope to and fro between the claws 1)11 an evident 

 warmth is produced; then dresa ;he part with a wood- 

 en skewer dipped in butter of antimony, oil of vitriol, 

 or nitrous acid. Let them stand dry for an hour or 

 two, ond them turn them on a dr>- pasture. Repeat 

 this for three or four days successively. 



** If inflammation appears, reduce it by a poultice 

 of linseed meal, or rye flour. The cure will be accel- 

 erated by administering the following saline purgative: 



** Take of glauber salts, one pound; ginger, pow 

 dered, two ounces; molosses, four ounces; add two 

 pints of boiling water, and when of new milk warmth, 

 give at one dose. Particular care is requisite to keep 

 the animals on dry pasture for a week or two." 



Knowing that this disease is considered by many 

 farmers in this section as inctirablc, I thinlc the re- 

 cipe may be of timely aid. W. N. H. 



Yates Co., June I5th, 1S40. 



claiming wot lands, it will greatly improve light soils ; 

 it will deepen the active soil which will be of immense 

 advantage in root culture, and prove beneficial to most 

 all crops ; for there is hardly any plant cultivated, the 

 roots of which would not penetrate below the usual 

 depth we commonly plough, if a tine mellow soil was 

 prepared for tlicni ; and where there is much depth 

 there is less injury from drought, for in thorough cul- 

 tivation the loose soil at the surface prevents the eva- 

 poration of moisture from below, where the roots of 

 plants freely penetrate and find nutriment. 



As the sub-soil ploughingaud its advantages become 

 known in this country, it will be practised where land 

 is dear, as it will gready increase its capocity for pro- 

 duction, and farmers generally who are able to expend 

 something for improvement in this way, will find from 

 the copilal thus invested a good and permanent profit. 

 The profit from sub-soiling is like that from clearing 

 a piece of land from stones and putting into wall ; it is 

 at first attended with considerable expense, but it pi'o- 

 duces a lasting benefit. It is in fact only carrying the 

 same principle to a greater depth. 



Mr. Fcnno, and Mr. Worcester of the Cary farm, 

 are entitled to credit for their generosity in the cause 

 of agriculture in furnishing teams and aid in this ex- 

 periment, also Capt. Perkins who managed the plough 

 in this new method, with as much skill we presume, 

 as a Scotch veteran when sub-soiling was first intro- 

 duced. Mr. Fenno's hospitality will be remembered 

 by those who " never forget tlie time of eating and 

 drinking.^^ 



From the Yankee Farmer. 



Experiment iu Sub-Soil Ploughing. 



On Monday last we had the pleasure of witnessing 

 an experiment at sub-soil ploughing, with Smith's 

 plough, lately introduced from Scodand, at an expense 

 of .$75, by Messrs. Ellis & Bosson. This experiment 

 was made upon the farm of John Fenno, Eisq., in 

 Chelsea, and we believe it is the first attempt of the 

 kind in this country ; it was very satisfactory ond 

 gave evidence that our soils may be deepened with 

 convenience, and at a moderate e.xpenee, compared 

 with the great ond permanent utility that will result 

 from such operation. 



The spot selected for trial was not favorable to an 

 easy operation, as the sub-soil was very stony, but the 

 plough worked well, going to the beam where the soil 

 was free from obstructions ; the small atones were 

 thrown up, as the plough is constructed with a view 

 of producing this eflect, and some stones weighing 

 several hundred pounds, that were completely buried 

 in the earth, were thrown up so that they might be 

 easily removed. 



In our two last numbers we published an interesting 

 article on "Thorough Draining and Sub-soil Plough- 

 ing" by the inventor of thia valuable system, ond to 

 that we refer the reader for particulars as to thia meth- 

 od of ploughing and its giea: advantages. 



The plough used in the ..iperiment, though not of 

 the largest size, possesses great strength, being made 

 wholly of wrought iron ond weighing abjut 300 pounds. 

 The whole length of beams and handles is fifteen feet, 

 its depth from the bottom of the beam is 19 inches, so 

 that it will run 16 or 18 incheadeep. It haa no moidd 

 board, and but a narrow wing, as it ia intended for 

 loosening the sub-soil, without displacing iter mixing 

 it with the active soil. A spur rising obliquely from 

 the wing, runs about midway the furrow and thorough- 

 ly loosens the soil and throws up the small stones. — 

 Alter sub-soihng the ploughing ia giadually deepened 

 at every succeeding operation, and portions of the sur- 

 face soil becomes enriched by manure and exposure to 

 the atmoaphere, 



Agricultural Papers and Warehouse?^. 



The Maine Farmer of the 18th April, publishes a 

 communication, designed to prejudice the public 

 against those agricultural journals which are published 

 or having any sort of connexion with an agricultural 

 warehouse or seed store. We are sorry thot that good 

 pa])er should thus array itself in solemn v.'arring against 

 the " New England Farmer," published in Boston by 

 Joseph Breck & Co., who keep o large agricultural 

 warehouse and seed store, and also against the "Yan- 

 kee Farmer," of Boston — formerly of Portland — which 

 is published in connexion with Ellis & Bosson's ex- 

 tensive warehouse and seed store. We take but very 

 Utile censure to ourselves, because we are conscious 

 of not deserving eo much of it as do these papers. 



The writer protests against the encourage'uent of 

 papers which ore edited by persons who are not ac- 

 quainted with the business of practieal agriculture, 

 and who "prostrate their talents for hire." As ifmcn 

 ought to labor for notldng in order to he respected or 

 beUeved 1 There's for you Dr. Holmes of the Maine 

 Farmer — there's for you also, Rev. H. Colman, the 

 unpractical, "hired" editorof the New England Far- 

 mer — there's for you, also, Mr. Cole, editor of the 

 Yankee Farmer — there, too, is for you, Gov. Ilill of 

 the Concord Visitor, and even ourselves, perhaps, will 

 have to fall in the rear of this honorable company who 

 are thus to be swept by the board. 



Now we do not think that our farmers are such fools 

 as to be deceived by an advertisement that appears in 

 any paper, or that they are running any more risk in 

 purchasing a plough, hoe, rake or seed of men who are 

 engaged in publishing agricultural newspapers, than 

 of persons who take loss interest in the subject. We 

 therefore cannot join in the admonition which the 

 Maine Farmer's correspondent deals out to the public, 

 to beware of the N. E. Farmer, the Y'ankee Farmer, 

 and even we might add the Maine Farmer, whose edi- 

 tor cannot escape the censure, which the general prin- 

 ciples laid down in that communication would concen- 

 trate upon him as muchaaupon the rest of us. — Maine 

 Cnllirator. 



Re)narl;s by the Editor of the Yankee Farmer. — We 

 noticed the ridiculous article above alluded to, and it 

 reminded us of the old lady, who on hearing it obser- 

 ved that a certain minister was eo very illiterate that 

 he could scarcely read, gravely exclaimed, " So much 

 the better, f n- he has no human learning to depend 

 on." It ia late in the day to hold up the doctrine, that 

 the more ignorance the more honesty ; such stuff" will 

 not be swallowed by an enlightened community with- 

 out some rumination. 



Every intelligent farmer knows very well that an 

 important qualification fir on editor of on agricultural 

 paper is a good knowledge of agricultural mechanics ; 

 and how can this information he obtained without a fa- 

 miliar acquaintance with agricultural woi-ehouses, 

 where moy be examined the various implements and 

 machines in use, and by testing such things, witnees- 



and liable topufl'an inferior article, hashisadvantces 

 also from his situation, ond it ia o narrow policy that 

 would array papers against each other on account of 

 their local advantages, or on account of their situation, 

 affording greater or less facilitiss for the publishers and 

 editors to play off' deception. 



The editor of a pajier not connected with a seed and 

 implement store, may advertise or pufl'a worthless ar- 

 ticle, and thus honestly aid in gulling the farmers, 

 when a peep into a depository of machines and imple- 

 nienta would at once show the error into which he has 

 unintentionally fallen. 



We wish that the writer who warns farmers against 

 taking papers connected with agricultural esioblish- 

 ments, lest the editor deceive them by commending 

 articles which the publishers sell, would examine pa- 

 pers differently situated, and see the implements and 

 machines figured and recommended in them ; and 

 then step into the agricultural warehouses and see such 

 articles neglected and rusting, while better ones are 

 advertiaed by the publishers and recommended by the 

 editors which ho censures so /iAcr*///?/. 



As a striking instance of the deception to which far- 

 mers are liable, we lately noticed in an agricultural pa- 

 per published in the interior, the representation of a 

 Wino" called " Smith's Sub-soil Vioiigh improred." — 

 At that time Smith's plough had not been used in this 

 country in order to learn whether it was susceptible of 

 improvement, and until very recently it had not been 

 introduced into this country, and that thing, which 

 seemed hke an attempt at caricature, must have been 

 on entire inccniion by some one who hod never seen 

 Smith's plough, nor had dreamed of any thing that re- 

 sembled it. 



Let each agricultural editor avail himself of the ad- 

 vantages his situation affords, of collecting and dis- 

 seminating ueeful information, and in this way the 

 whole editorial corps are mutually benefitted, and the 

 informotion of all may be spread before the reoders of 

 each journal ; and above oil, let brothely love prevail, 

 and let us sufl'er none to etir up atrife among us. 



Lotus show to editors of pohtical papera, and alaot 

 to those who conduct religious journals, that it ia not 

 our principle bueinese to dwell on our differences in 

 opinion, but to promote the gieat ond good object in 

 which we profess to be engaged. Let us be to them a 

 pattern, for surely soiuething of the kind is wanted. 

 Let us exhibit towards each other in practise those 

 many en dearing qualities which they profess. — Yankee 

 Fanner. 



There are many tracts of rich, but at present, wet 

 and useless lands, that may be made the most produc- 

 tive in the country, by under draining, and sub-soil I ing their practical operation and comparing their sever 

 ploughing, as described in the article which we have al advantages in order to judge of their utility '. 

 referred above. -We are aware that the editor who ia more retired 



Besides the great advantaijp of aub-aoiling in re- I while laboring under a disadvantage in this reepect, 



Instructions to Young Mowers. 



Every farmer who has employed many mowers, 

 has had occasion to pity the manner in which some of 

 them "dragged their slow swarths olong," while he 

 was delighted with the ease, the ropidity and smooth- 

 ness with which others, of far less strength, wotdd 

 pass over the field. 



The instructions of a kind and indulgent father on 

 this subject ore not only fresh in my memory, but 

 have made first rate mowers of many young men, ond 

 perhaps may be useful to some of those who may mow 

 for the first time hereafter. I soy for the first time, 

 because very few change a bad habit (of mowing par- 

 ticularly) after it is once acquired. "As the twig ia 

 bent, the tree ia inclined;" eo with those who use the 

 scythe. Therefore let the boy of fourteen mow one 

 or two hours in each day, during the haying season 

 for two or three years, when, by the following direc- 

 tions, he may be able to successfully compete with the 

 strong but illy instructed. Let his snaith and scythe 

 be very light, and the scythe of rozor like edge, and 

 so huns, that when suspended on the finger by the 

 lower neb, the point and heel of the scythe may be at 

 equal distances from the ground. When at the edge 

 of the grass let an old and good mower, (who is to 

 walk near him half an hour,) instruct him to stand 

 nearly erect, the hips being further advanced than the 

 shoulders, and under no circumstances to stoop, and 

 when inserting his scythe into the grass be sure to keep 

 the heel nigh the ground; and when cutting the clips 

 and after, let the point be equally near it; let the body 

 turn with the scythe oa on o pivot, the heel of the 

 scythe passing within two or three inches of the ad- 

 vo'nced foot. Thia will relieve the arms, and so di- 

 vide the effort, that he will mow with as little fatigue 

 as he can perform light work, and soon laugh at the 

 'six footer' who stoops to reach his grass. 



Let the boy also at first be instructed to clip only 

 ten or twelve inches of grass, until his erect posture 

 and the horizontal position of his scythe become 

 habitual, when hia love of ease, his interest, and de- 

 sire to triumph, will require a long scythe, perfect in 

 temper, yet light, and from heel to point the segment 

 of a circle of about seven feet radii.— Fnrjnfr's Montli- 



hj Jlsitor. 



i. W. W. 



