AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



23 



that stood in a snow-bnnk, and it waa barked 



letely to tlie beigbt of four feet. 



hough drifts are much the most dnngeroue, yet 



deep enowa that lie long, mice frequently injure 



trees. As a preventive, we bad a small mound 



round each tree to the beigbt of a foot, with 



success, for we have not bad a tree damngcd 



.-as properly guarded in tbia manner. When 



cc, rooting along under the enow, come to such 



is, it appears that they generally turn away; 



are is another advantage: tn snows of mode- 



ptb ibe wind sweeps it off; and even should a 



persevere in ascending the mound, be would 



nd his noee in the open air. 



)revent both crushing and gnawing however, 



Jeavor to tread the snow round all our trees 



it ia deep, whether by drifting or otherwise; 



a ia done to the most advantage when it giccs 



, oris near to the Tielting point. t 



Italian Spring Wheat. 



iTHAN Edwards, of Virgil, Cortland county, 



to \\B a successful experiment in the culture of 



leat. He went seventy miles, and succeeded 



uring twenty bushels, which, when thoroughly 



1, amounted to only sixteen. These be sowed, 



' as practicable, in the spring of 1S37, — a part 



and a half acres, which produced 210 bushels, 



jthan 33 bushels to the acre; the rest was not 



iuctivc. The whole crop was 4(58 bushels. 



id waa ploughed only once, but was afterwards 



Iverized with the harrow and cultivator, and 



SI la of leached ashes applied to the acre. The 



IS sold for seed at two dollars per bushel. 



as 115 acres of cleared land, from the tilled 



of which, (about one halt',) he has raised in 



four years, more than six thousand bushels of 



His wife has manufactured about two hundred 



of butter to the cow the past season, and raised 



m 

 wis 



ixH 



Successful Culture of Silk. 



:rt Sinclair, of the Clairmont Nursery, near 

 ire, writes to us as follows: — " A poor man in 

 te, on a very poor sandy farm, with the hope 

 ring bis condition, planted the morus niulti- 

 but not being able to sell them, he turned hie 

 n to the culture of silk. He fitted up his ear- 

 >use, and all the unoccupied rooms in dwelling, 

 nner suitable for feeding, and by constant at- 

 made good cocoons. These, by the assistance 

 fife and family, he succeeded inreehng, doub- 

 d twisting, and converting into good sewing 

 licb be says produced 07ic thousand dollars.^' 

 ■ any person in tbia country who has bad as lit- 

 irience in raising cotton or flax, able to produce 

 iher such successful results I * 



:i ill 



lift. 



Ir.'ii, « 



iktii!. 



Clover in Orchards. 



K8. Editors — A writer over the signature of 

 1 West," inquires if clover is injurious to or- 

 Jlost certainly it is — though the degree of 

 depends very much upon the nature of the 

 , being greatest where the soil is thin, and the 

 heavy aitd cold, and least where the reverse is 

 I have noticed its deleterious effects in a great 

 of instances. The first case of the kind that 

 nder my observation, was that of a fine thrifty 

 I belonging to Judge Brewster, then of Riga, 

 Co. These trees took well when transplant- 

 flourished for several years with uncommon 

 jnder the judicious treatment of that accom- 

 Bgriculturist. About that time clover was first 

 io«»' ced into that part of the country. The advan- 

 ttending its culture were at once perceived by 



fincW' 



upon the trees, in their stinted growth, rough, scaly, 

 moss covered bark, and small yellow leaves; in a 

 word, all those peculiar appearances which mark an 

 orchard dying of sturrution. Since that time I have 

 watched the clibots of clovor on fruit and other trees, 

 and have invariably observed the eame efl'ecte, in a 

 greater or less degree, follow its introduction. 



The reason for this, I believe will be found in the 

 formation ot its roots, which run deep and inleifere 

 with those of the trees; while the grasses, Timothy, 

 red-top, and the like, gather their nutriment at or near 

 the surface, leaving the soil below for the exclusive 

 pasturage of the trees. The long tap roots of the clo- 

 ver penetrate to the same depth with those of the 

 trees, or at least that portion of them from which the 

 trees derive their nourisbmcnt, robbing them of all, 

 or nearly all, of that sustenance which goes to make 

 up the growth of the clover. 



Another reason will be fonnd in the fact — for such 

 I believe it to be — that the peculiar properly of the 

 soil which is sought for and taken up by the roots of 

 the trees for their growth, is the very same which is 

 selected and appropriated by the roots of the clover for 

 its use; or, at least, much more allied to the same, 

 than that which is taken up by the grasses above na- 

 med. So that the trees and the clover suffer, not on- 

 ly by their proximity, but also from their sameness of 

 taste — tbey are both seeking the same peculiar food in 

 the same locality. It is like setting two guests at one 

 table who will eat only of the same dish. The result 

 la obvious — unless there is a plentiful supply, one or 

 both must make a scanty meal. 



H. M. WARD. 



RocJicster, Junnaiy, 1811. 



For the Aeio Genesee FaTiuer, 

 Roots and Root Culture. 



Messrs. Editors — I propose to give you some ac- 

 count of our farming operations during the past sea- 

 son. If you think it will add any thing to the general 

 stock of knowledge, you are at liberty to publish. 



CARROTS AND TURNIPS. 



We ploughed up a piece of muck land upon which 

 rutabagas were raised last year. May 22d, ground 

 in fine condition, drilled in the seed, at the rate of 

 I lb. to the acre. Soaked the seed until it bad con- 

 siderably swollen, turned ofi" water and sifted in plas- 

 ter. Rubbed the seeds in plaster till tbey became dis- 

 tinct and separate, and passed through the drill with- 

 out trouble. Owing to the dry weather and the seed 

 being planted too deep, tbey did not vegetate very 

 rapidly. The prospect however, was favorable for a 

 very good crop, when one day went to examine them, 

 and some two bundred sheep had taken it into their 

 beads to get over a poor fence, and eat every tbing 

 down to the ground. This was about the 25th July. 

 Had a good fence put round the lot and yarded the 

 sheep several nights, occasionally dragging the field. 

 On the 30th drilled in the Norfolk turnip, and have 

 gathered a veiy tolerable crop. Jam satisfied carrots 

 will prove the best root, next the potato to cultivate, as 

 they will do well on almost any soil, more hardy and 

 less exposed to insects than turnips or beets, and less 

 affected by the season than the potato. 



BCTA-BACA AND POTATOES. 



Sowed almost two acres, and did not vegetate well, 

 and what did grow was badly injured by the fly. — 

 Ploughed up the ground and planted potatoes. Had a 

 fair crop, but not so good as we should have bad if we 

 had not cultivated so many weeds among them. I 

 am no believer in the Rohan. The Merino ia better 

 adapted to the country and with aa good care will 

 yield as bountifully. I think it ia the best field pota- 

 to that can be raised. JVe hire no stxd to sell hole- 



crop the fanner can cultivate. If he have good po- 

 tato land, the farmer had better eschew all these mod- 

 em improvciiients in the root line, and go for his old- 

 est and best friend. It is only in those situations 

 where potatoes cannot be raised to advaninge, as when 

 the crop with good cultivation, and average ycaie, falls 

 below 300 bushels per acre, that other roots should bs 

 tried. From my observation this season, I am satisfied 

 the Carrot, under all circunislanecs will prove the 

 next best root for extensive field culture. 



SUGAR BEET AND ROOTS GENERALLY. 



The beet crop was a total failure, owing to tho seed 

 being planted too late (24th May.) lam not much 

 in favor of them for field culture. However, I believe 

 all of us have much to learn on the subject of root cul- 

 ture. All are agreed as to the importance of cultiva- 

 ting more roo:s than we do, and I am glad to see much 

 attention exhibited on the subject. In conversing with 

 an intelligent farmer yesterday, be told me he had been 

 feeding his horses for some months upon carrots, and 

 he was satisfied a bushel of carrots was worth as much 

 for that purpose as a bushel of oats. Should further 

 experience justify that assumption we shall wonderful- 

 ly increase our profits, by the increase of the root cul- 

 ture. With ordinary care 500 bushels per acre might 

 be counted upon ^vith as much certainty ae 40 bushels 

 of oats. Then, allowing them to be on a par as to 

 feeding properties, you have in productiveness at least 

 12 to 1. It will cost more time to cultivate an acre of 

 carrots tb^n an acre of oats. But the difference will 

 not exceed three to one; still a large balance in favor 

 ol the root. The root however, has another decided 

 advantage, and that is in leaving the ground in fine 

 condition for a spring crop, and making a great deal 

 more manure. 



I hope we shall hear more on this subject from the 

 numeroua lietof your really able contributors. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Darim, Dec. 21, 1840. T. C. PETERS. 



B., wbo sowed many of hia fields with it, and 



them the orchard above mentioned. A few crer. Where the soil is favorable, I believe the pota^ 

 •er«suffici«nt to show the ill effects of the clove to, beyond all comparison, the most profitable toot YaUs County, N. F. 



For Ike Aeio Genesee Farmer, 

 Salting Butter. 



Take 2 pounds of the best common salt ; 1 lb. of 

 good brown sugar, and 1 lb. of salt petre. Mix 

 and beat all up together, and take one ounce of the 

 composition for each pound of butter; work it well 

 into the mass and close it up for use. 



Butter cured in this way, appears of a rich, mar. 

 rowy consistence, and fine color, and never acquires 

 a brittle hardness or tastes too salt. It should be 

 kept two or three weeks before it is used. If well 

 made, it can be kept good for two or three years. 

 This recipe is used and highly approved in many 

 parte of England and Fiance. W. N. H. 



Fattening Poultry. 



An experiment has lately been tried of feeding 

 geese with turnips, cut up very fine and put into a. 

 trough with water. The efl'cct was, that 6 geese, 

 weighing only 9 lbs. each when shut up, actually 

 weighed 20 lbs. each, after about three weeks feed, 

 ing with this food alone. 



Malt is an excellent food for geese and turkies. 

 Grains are preferred for the sake of economy, but 

 will not fatten EC fast. Oats ground into meal and 

 mixed with a little molasses and water : barley meal 

 mixed with sweet milk ; and boiled oats mixed with 

 malt, arc all excellent for fattening poultry, re- 

 ference being had to time, expense, and quality of 

 flesh. 



Corn, before being fed to fowls, should always bo 

 crushed and soaked in water, or boiled. It will thus 

 g<j much further and digest easier. Hens will often 

 lay in winter, when fed in this manner, especially if 

 well sheltered. W. N. H. 



