:• I No. 2. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



23 



eter, that stood in a snow-bank, and it was barked 

 completely to the height of four feet. 



Although drifts are much the most dangerous, yet 

 under deep snows thai lie long, mice frequently injure 

 small trees. As a preventive, we had a small mound 

 raised round each tree to the height of a foot, with 

 great success, for wc have not had a tree damaged 

 that was properly guarded in this manner. When 

 the mice, rooting along under the snow, come to such 

 mounds, it appears that they generally turn away; 

 but there is another advantage: In snows of mode- 

 rate depth the wind sweeps it off; and even should a 

 mouEe persevere in ascending the mound, he would 

 80on find his nose in the open air. 



To prevent both crushing and gnawing however, 

 we endeavor to tread the snow round all our trees 

 when it is deep, whether by drifting or otherwise; 

 and this is done to the most advantage when it gircs 

 a lUiU, oris near to the melting point. t 



Italian Sprin:; Wheat. 



Jo.vATHAS EinvARDs, of Virgil, Cortland county, 

 states to us a successful e-xperiment in the culture of 

 this wheat. He went seventy miles, and succeeded 

 in procuring twenty bushels, which, when thoroughly 

 cleaned, amounted to only sixteen. These he sowed, 

 OS early as practicable, in the spring of 1837, — a part 

 on five and a half acres, which produced 210 bushels, 

 or more than 38 bushels to the acre; the rest was not 

 80 productive. The whole crop was 468 bushels. 

 The land was ploughed only once, but was afterwards 

 well pulverized with the harrow and cultivator, and 

 ten loads of leaehed ashes applied to the acre. The 

 crop was sold for seed at two dollars per bushel. 



He has 115 acres of cleared land, from the tilled 

 portion of which, (about one half,) he has raised in 

 the last four years, more than six thousand bushels of 

 grain. His wife has manufactured about two hundred 

 pounds of butter to the cow the past season, and raised 



six calves. * 



Successful Culture of Silk. 



Robert Sinclair, of the Clairmont Nursery, near 

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

 this State, on a very poor sandy farm, with the hope 

 of bettering his condition, planted the moras multi- 

 caulis; but not being able to sell them, he turned his 

 attention to the culture of silk. He fitted up his car- 

 riage house, and all the unoccupied rooms in dwelling, 

 in a manner suitable for feeding, and by constant at- 

 tention made good cocoons. These, by the assistance 

 of his wife and family, he succeeded in reeling, doub- 

 ling and twisting, and converting into good sewing 

 silk, which he says produced one thousand dollars." 

 Is there any person in this country who has had as lit- 

 •tle experience in raising cotton or flax, able to produce 

 from either such successful results ? * 



Clover in Orchards. 



Messrs. Editors — A writer over the signature of 

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

 chards. Most certainly it is — though the degree of 

 injury depends very much upoit the nature of the 

 ground, being greatest where the soil is thin, and the 

 subsoil heavy and cold, and least where the reverse is 

 found. I have noticed its deleterious effects in a great 

 number of instances. The first case of the kind that 

 came under my observation, was that of a fine thrifty 

 orchard belonging to Judge Brewster, then of Riga, 

 Monroe Co. These trees took well when transplant- 

 ed, and flourished for several years with uncommon 

 vigor, under the judicious treatment of that accom- 

 plished agriculturist. About that time clover was first 

 introduced into that part of the country. The advan- 

 tages attending its culture were at once perceived by 

 Judge B. , who sowed many of his fields with it, and 

 among them the orchard above mentioned. A few 

 years were sufScient to show the ill effects of the clove 



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 starriitiun. Since that lime I have 

 watched the eflecls of clover on fruit and other trees, 

 and have invariably observed the same effcete, 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 interi'ere 

 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 nourishment, robbing them of all, 

 or nearly all, of that sustenance which goes to make 

 up the growth of the clover. 



Another reason will be found in the fact — for such 

 I believe it to be — that the peculiar property 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, 

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

 med. So that the trees and the clover sufl'er, not on- 

 ly by their proximity, but also from their sameness of 

 taste — they 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 

 IS obvious — imle=s there is a plentiful supply, one or 

 both must make a scanty meal. 



H. JI. WARD. 



Rochester, Januauj, 1841. 



For t/ie Is'eic Genesee Fanner. 

 Roots and Root Culture. 



Messrs. Euitors — 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 TLRNIPS. 



We ploughed up a piece of muck land upon which 

 rutabagas were raised last year. May 2"3d, ground 

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

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

 siderably swollen, turned off water and sifted in plas- 

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

 tinct and separate, and passed through the drill with- 

 out trouble. Owing to the dry weother and the seed 

 being planted too deep, they 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 hundred sheep had taken it into their 

 heads to get over a poor fence, arid eat every thing 

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

 Had o 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 hove 

 gathered a veiy tolerable crop. lam satisfied carrots 

 will prove the beet 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, ond less 

 affected by the season than the potato. 



RCTA-BAGA 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 had if we 

 had not cultivated so many weeds among them. I 

 am no believer in the Rohan. The Merino is better 

 adapted to the country and with aa good care will 

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

 to that can be raised. We have no seed to sell how- 

 eter. Where the soil is favorable, I believe the pota- 

 to, beyond all compart on, the most profitable root 



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

 tato land, the former had belter eschew all these mod- 

 ern improvements in the root line, and go for his old- 

 est and best friend. It is only in those situations 

 where potolocs cannot be roiecd to advantage, as when 

 the crop with good cultivotion, ond average yeais, falls 

 below 300 bushels per acre, that other roots should bo 

 tried. From my observation this seoson, I am satisfied 

 the Carrol, under all circumstances will prove the 

 next best root for extensive field culture. 



SUGAR BEET AND ROOTS GENERALtT. 



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

 being planted too late (24ih 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- 

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

 ting more roots than we do, ond I am glad to see much 

 attention exhibited on the subject. In conversing with 

 on intelligent fanner yesterday, he told me he hodbeort 

 feeding his horses for some months upon carrots, an4 

 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 with as much certainty as 40 bushels 

 of oats. Then, oUowing them lobe 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 thpn an acre of oats. Bnt the difference will 

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

 oi the root. The root however, has another decided 

 advantage, and that is in leaving the ground in fine 

 condition for a spririg crop, and making a great deal 

 more manure. 



I hope we shall hear more on ibis subject from tha 

 numerous list of your really able contributors. 

 Sincerely yours, 



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



For Vie New Genesee Farmtr. 

 Salting Butter. 



Take 3 pounds of the best common salt ; 1 lb. of 

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

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

 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, itnd never acquires 

 a. brittle hardness or tastes too sjlt. It should bo 

 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 

 parts of England and France. 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 effect 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 so 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, are all excellent for fattening poultry, re. 

 ference being had to time, expense, and quality of 

 flesh. 



Corn, before being fed to fowls, should always be 

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

 go much further and digest easier. Hens will often 

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

 well sheltered. W. N. H. 



Yaics Ci>unti/, N. Y. 



