13G8.] 
AMERICAN AG-RIC U LTURIST. 
4-il 
Sell an Acre of S\<aii<l, if necessary, and 
stock yonr hon» i worth of good books. You 
and your sons, if yon have them, and your workmen, will 
read these; they will be kept oat of mischief, and they 
Will be led to think more, will he happier and more con- 
tented at work; and their minds will be disciplined to 
think more correctly. Such a collection of books will 
change the whole tone of the farm, and result in many 
profitable improvements. 
The I*. Y. (City) Farmers' Club.— 
Those who hovo thought us severe in our criticisms on 
this remarkable adjunct to the X. Y. Weekly Tribune are 
referred to the following extracts from the reports: 
"James A. Whitney— Mr. Chairman: It is quite clear 
that this Club is a great power for good, when one of the 
members gives ns a little of Moses, a little of Job, two 
Latin maxims, and some choice spread-eagle in one 
sentence, etc."' * * * * " P. T. Quinn— Mr. Chair- 
man : What would an English farmer think of us were he 
10 step into this Club and find us gravely discussing the 
propriety of cutting food for animals, and Gamaliel and 
all the doctors of the law thundering their anathemas 
against hay-cutters? He would think that we had 
as yet the farmer's alphabet to learn Why. Mr. 
Chairman, must thisClnb be forever meddling with the 
first principles, and laboring to upset the axioms of onr 
profession ? We make ourselves a laughing-stock all 
over a great continent, by advancing theory in the face of 
old facts, solid facts, proven facts.'"— The report docs not 
state that Mr. Q's conundrums were answered. 
Tyrolese Larch.— " A. E. R.," Fayette, 
Iowa. The Tyrolese is a variety of the common European 
Larch. It is claimed that it possesses greater vigor of 
growth and durability in its timber than the ordinary 
form. Of this we have no proof, and it is quite singular 
that the Tyrolese Larch, if it be so much superior, is not 
used in the great plantations of England. The European 
Larch, whether Tyrolese or other, is a most valuable 
timber tree— probably the most valuable that can be 
planted. As to shelter, it must be remembered that 
although the Larch belongs to the OonifenK family, of 
which mi nbers arc evergreens, it is a de- 
ciduous tree, and, as a shelter in winter, being without 
leaves it would be greatly inferior to a true evergreen. 
Portable Fences or Hurdles. — 
J H. Haven. York Co.. Fa., wishes to employ his leisure 
this winter in making portable fencing, so that he cau do 
away with the interior fences on his farm and pasture it 
to better advantage. We have published several plans, 
one of which may be found in each of the following 
numbers of the AgrieuUurix^— Febr/nary, 1SGG, June and 
August. 1967. Ilurdlescan seldom be madestrong enough 
to be a good defense against breachy animals. For these 
there is nothing like a good chain tether made fast to the 
hind leg. If any of our readers have convenient forms 
of portable fence unhampered by patents we would be 
glad to hoar from them and publish some of the best. 
$35 ov s.">0 worth of books pertaining to the 
farm will give the boys nevr ideas, set them to thinking 
and observing, and thus enable them to make their heads 
7idp their hands. Any good book will, in the end, be of 
far more value to a youth than to have an extra acre of 
land, on coming to manhood. The thinking, reasoning, 
observing man, will certainly make more off from 49 
acres, than he would off from 50 acres without the men- 
tal ability which reading will give him. Far better to 
sell the acre of land than do without the books. The 
Publishers 1 premium offers, on page 437. open a way to 
get books without expense. The farmers of everyneigh 
borhood ought to put their heads together and raisea 
club of subscribers, receive the books, and hold them for 
general use by all. 
rubor Exchange.— "Wc nave received the 
semi-annual report of the Castle Garden Labor Exchange 
for Jnly, 1808. It is of interest, as it shows where the 
great mass of cheap labor, that comes to us from Europe, 
ts market. The most thrifty part of these emi 
form their plans before they leave home, and press 
ontothegreal Vest, where friends have generally pre- 
ceded them. Others come without any definite aim. 
except to benefit their temporal condition, with very 
little capital, and arc compelled by their circumstances 
to accept the first opportunities for service that offer. To 
this class, which is much smaller than many supppose, 
the Labor Exchange is of incalculable benefit. It meets 
the poor emigrant on his landing with a ready market for 
the only commodity he has to sell. He is cheered and 
comforted at once with his brightening prospects in the 
world. Tho statistics show 10.051 engagements in 
the six moTilhs ; 15.510 applications for employment; and 
15,700 orders for labor. The excess of these orders over 
merits chows that there is little danger of too largo 
emigration to this country. More than five-sixths of 
these engagements' are in the States of X^v York and 
New Jersey. For further particulars, address Castle Gar- 
den Labor Exchange, New York City. 
qTx rinding- Corn aud Co1>s. — U D. P. 
P.," WiUiamspor-t, Pa, "Can you tell me if this practice, 
which prevailed in New England twenty or thirty years 
ago, is economical ? M — The practice has been abandoned 
by wise farmers. In the cobs of sound, well-dried corn 
there is very little, if any, nutriment, certainly not enough 
to pay for grinding or cooking. In soft, half-ripened ears 
there is some nourishment, but they are not in condition 
for the mill. Then in grinding it was always noticeable, 
that the miller took his toll from that part of the heap 
where there was most corn and the least cob. Stock 
have the same kind of instinct as the miller, and it is best 
to gratify them. The bulk that is wanted in feeding 
cattle is better supplied with good hay. 
Brcwers*Grains-Valuc as Fecd.- 
R. M. Bunker asks : " Please tell if it is profitable to feed 
matt, as we get it from the brewery, to horses, cattle, swine 
and poultry . Is it injurious ? What is its real value per 
bushel when corn is $1.50? How should it be fed out?" — 
Am.— The article referred to is not mall, but properly 
called Brewers' 1 Grains, and is the barley after the sprouts 
have been removed and the malt extracted. It is excel 
lent feed, not injurious, unless absurdly misused. It 
contains, according to S. W. Johnson's How Crops Grow, 
on an average about 76 per cent of water as obtained from 
the brewery, nearly 5 per cent albuminous matter, which 
is the measure of its nutritious quality, and over l'Aper 
cent of oily matter, while sugar, starch, gum. mucilage, 
etc., rich with the oil, all going to supply animal heat and 
fat, make up over 11 per cent. Compared with corn, 
which contains about 1-1 percent of water only.it con- 
tains about half as much albuminous nutriment, one-fifth 
as much oil. and one-sixth as much starch, sugar, etc. It 
is generally worth as feed more than is asked for it. 
IVXill* Experiment*. —Mr Frank J Clarke, 
of Butte Co.. instituted a course of experiments to guide 
him in managing his dairy. He is, we think, an accurate 
observer, and his results, which lie sends us, tally very 
well with the views of those who have given tbc subject 
the most study. They are as follows: 1. The quality of 
the milk differs almost, if not quite, as ranch as the quan- 
tity given by different cows. 2. In buying get a sample 
of the cow's milk, if possible. 3. A cow gives richer milk 
when fat than when poor. 4. A cow gives poorer milk 
with the first calf than afterwards, other conditions being 
equal. 5. The older a cow is. the richer her milk, until 
her constitution begins to fail. G. The longer the period 
which has elapsed since calving, the richer the milk. 7. 
The richness of the milk varies with the quality of the 
feed. S. The richness of cream varies— that from the 
richest milk making the most butter. 9. A cow should 
be in first-rate condition when she calves ; all the fat goes 
into the pail. 10. The stoppings or last milk is five to 
nine times richer than the first milk drawn. 11. A cow 
must be in good health, to give rich, wholesome milk. 12. 
Milk should be skimmed when 43 hours old and sweet. 
Km ton Your Cattle's Morn*. — It 
is an improvement to their looks, which is important 
whether yon want to sell or keep them. It checks the bad 
habit of hooking, and they should therefore be put upon 
yonng cattle. If the old ones have already formed this 
habit, it prevents mischief, and all the animals fed in the 
same yard eat more quietly and thrive better. 
Restraint f\>r Breachy Cows.- Otis 
Ford, and a good many other farmers too, no doubt, keep 
their cattle from tearing down fences by bending a wire 
as large as a pipe stem so as to clasp In the nostrils of 
the animal, and then tying apiece of stout twine hi this 
nose-jewel, on one aide. Pass It through holes bored in 
the tips of each horn and back to the nose, where it is 
drawn moderately tight and tied. This plan presupposes 
that the animal has horns, and that they are of a shape 
adapted to the purpose. 
Stone vs. Tile l>rains.— " L. M. B M " 
Searsdale. N. Y. "I have stones convenient, nnd wish 
to know if they will be as cheap, and serve as good a 
purpose, as the common tile drain."— We believe it is the 
unanimons testimony of those who have tried both, that 
tile drains are the cheaper, and better. The ditches have 
to be made much wider for the stone, which takes more 
labor, and unless there is a duct at the bottom the stones 
are soon clogged with mud and sediment, and the drain 
is spoiled. James S. Munroe, of Lexington, Mass., as re- 
ported by R. II. Copeland, drained a bog of thirty acres 
ten years ago, experimenting with stone and tile. Al- 
though the stones were near at hand and the tiles cost two 
cent- a foot delivered upon the ground, he fouud that tho 
stone drains cost about 15 per cent the most. A part of 
the stone drains were without any duct at the bottom, 
and these filled so much in six years, that they had to be 
relaid. Those which had duets choked more or less in 
five years, and the tiles were working satisfactorily after 
eight years. We do not know of an experienced land 
drainer, who does not prefer tiles. The stones are best 
used for the bottoms of walls and for filling up low places. 
Free .llartins Again.-'.J. W. G.," Low- 
ell, Mass., writes: " Three of us neighbors, all old sub- 
scribers to your paper, have cows that brought twins ; in 
each case one of the twins is a bull and tbc other a heifer- 
We want to raise them, but first want to know if it is 
true that they are not good for breeding."— Ilcifers com- 
ing thus, seldom, or more often than otherwise, do not 
breed. The name "free martin" has been given to them. 
They arc often raised with a view of making beef of them 
at three or four years old, and most delicious beef they 
become. Sometimes they are broken to the yoke and 
matched with a twin brother, made a steer. The bulls, 
if used for breeder?, are said to be frequent getters of free 
martins. 'V7e suppose there is little doubt that twin 
animals are more apt to bear twins than are others. 
A free martin has, if barren, a peculiarly ox-like look. 
Potatoes on Sod Gronn«l.-"H. P. 
II.," Vinton, Ohio. " I want to plant potatoes next 
spring in sod ground, where sheep have been fed for two 
or three winters. When is the best time to plow, and how- 
wide should the ground be marked ? Should it be one or 
both ways? How often shouldthe ground be plowed, and 
how often should the potatoes be hoed * Mow should they 
be cut. and howmany pieces in the hilt ?"— A good clover 
sod is one of the best preparations for potatoes. Any 
tougher sod is good to make a crop, and to guard against 
rot. The objection to it is the- difficulty in getting the 
sod mellow enough for easy working. If plowed in 
August or September, the sod rots well. If plowed in 
the spring, it should be done deep enough to admit of 
cross-plowing without disturbing the sod. narrow very 
thoroughly. Mark out the rows both ways thirty inches 
apart. Bush harrow just before the potatoes arc up. to 
kill weeds. Start the cultivator or Share's harrow a week 
or ten days later, going as near the potatoes as possible, 
and stirring all the surface soil. If the tops hive alight 
covering of dirt il will not harm them. Cultivate them 
the second time the other way of the rows. Two or three 
eyes to the hill are enough. Go through the potatoes a 
third time, to pull weeds. This often makes a difference 
of twenty-five per cent in the yield. If the ground is 
made smooth and mellow, the hoe will hardly be needed. 
The advantage of hills over drills is that nearly all the 
weeds can be reached with the cultivator, and the ex- 
pense of hand hoeing be saved. If the land is very rough 
and full of sods, the hoe must be used. Unless planted 
very early, cut into pieces with one or two eyes. 
Tiles Tor Rooft.-"C.S.T.," Steuben- 
ville, O. " Is there any manufactory of tile for roofing 
in this country?"— We think not. This style of roofing 
is superseded by better articles. Tile is very heavy, and 
requires much heavier timber than is now used in build- 
ings. Slate is quite as durable, much lighter, and we 
have inexhaustible quarries that need working, 
If uck Mining 1 .— " W. R. D," of Crawford 
Co., O , says he took our advice and weut to mining muck 
as if he had faith in it, and ■■ in digging a little deeper 
than usual found a substance (of a grayish color when 
dry) from one to five feet deep, overlaid with pure muck 
or peat, three to eight feet thick."— Our correspondent's 
experience is like that of multitudes of others. The bot- 
toms of the peat beds arc usually deposits of exceedingly 
fine silicious or calcareous sand, frequently filled with the 
remains of shells or minute animal organisms. They 
are seldom of any considerable value as fertilizers, except 
when calcareons deposits arc found in large quantities, 
as is often the case. This layer, which is impervious to 
water, consists often almost wholly of small shells, the 
larger of which are of the size of mustard seeds or wheat 
kernels. Such a deposit is called shell marl, and is usual- 
ly valuable as a manure on soils needing lime, and may 
pay for carting two or three miles. 
Onions. — " X. J." Davenport, Iowa, asks if 
u we can get onions the first season from seed grown in 
California."— It is not probable that the place where the 
seed is raised will make any difference in getting onions, 
but if our correspondent expects such onions as are 
raised in California, he will be disappointed. We have 
known seed from Xew Mexico, where the onions arc as 
fine as those of California, if not finer, to produce only 
common onions at the East. There seems to be some 
thing in the soil or climate, or both, of these Stales 
particularly favorablo to the production of onions. 
