70 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
Mulching- Wheat.— C. T. Rogers, Butler 
Co., 0. Wheat has been benefitted by spreading a thin 
layer of straw upon it during the winter. It modifies the 
effects.,of sudden changes of temperature by which the 
ground is repeatedly frozen and thawed, and the roots 
thus broken, and the plants often thrown out of the soil. 
Manuring Pastures. — G. F. Wilson, 
Greene Co., N. Y. Top-dressing pastures with manure 
is undoubtedly beneficial. It may be done early in the 
spring to advantage, though for some reasons, autumn 
is preferable. When the soil has not been impoverished 
by long and close feeding, this may in time suffice to 
bring it into good growth. Where it is moss-bound, it 
would be well to run over it with a heavy harrow, sow 
seed, and roll down smooth before applying the manure. 
Dead Animals for Manure.— Edward 
Hone, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Place a layer of muck from 
six to eighteen inches deep, according to the size of the 
animal, lay the carcass upon it, and cover with a foot or 
two of the same material. If any unpleasant effluvia 
arise during decomposition add more muck. Leave it 
until the whole (except the bones) has decayed, which 
will usually be in 6 to 12 months. Then fork it over, 
adding more muck, and plaster, (no lime nor ashes,) and 
throw out the bones, which may be rotted in the horse- 
manure heap, or worked up in a similar compost. Fork 
over again at the end of a month, and you will have a 
capital article of manure. If muck can not be obtained, 
sods, or even common soil will answer a good purpose. 
Cisterns fbr liquid. Manure,— "J. B. 
R." Kennett Square, Pa. — You will find on page 8, Janu- 
ary No., of the American Agriculturist, a description of 
a cistern which will answer perfectly for liquid manure. 
Your pump must be one which will not clog easily with 
bits of straw, etc. You can hardly value liquid manure 
too highly, nor take too much pains to save every particle. 
Yield of Flax per Acre.— Thomas W. 
Hanson, Oneida Co., N. Y. On good land, with fair 
cultivation, a ton of rotted flax, and from eight to twelve 
bushels of seed per acre is an average yield. At present 
prices this would be remunerative, provided there is a 
market for the flax straw near at hand. Or, by the use of 
an improved brake, where enough is raised to justify the 
purchase of one, the straw can be reduced in bulk to ad- 
mit of distant transportation with profit. A ton of flax 
straw if properly dressed, yields 450 to 500 lbs. of good 
fibre, about TO lbs. coarse tow, and 12 to 16 lbs. fine tow. 
Corn and Pork. — William Dawson, Otsego 
Co., N. Y. The quantity of corn necessary to make a 
pound of pork depends upon several circumstances; as 
the breed of hogs, the soundness of the grain, the man- 
ner in which it is fed, whether whole, ground, or cooked, 
etc. A correspondent of the American Agriculturist last 
year reported that a lot of hogs of mixed Berkshire and 
Suffolk breed, returned 13.7 lbs. of pork for each bushel 
of corn fed, unground. 
Saving Liquid Manure. — u G.,"Milford, 
Conn., writes to the American Agriculturist that lie finds 
it pays well to [dace a layer of turf (muck would be bet- 
ter) under his stable floors, to absorb the liquid falling 
through the cracks. In the spring the floor is removed 
and the deposit carted out. This plan is better than to 
allow the liquids to be wasted, but a superior arrange- 
ment was shown in February number, page 44. 
Draining' Peat Lands.-J. H. S. Cross- 
wicks, N. J., describes a muck swamp as we should 
think, though called by him peat — (peat differs from 
muck, as the words are used in this country, in being 
much more spongy, more purely a vegetable growth, 
consisting almost altogether of kinds of moss called 
sphagnum, and is usually more difficult to get in arable 
condition.) The vegetable matter is 2X to 3 feet deep, 
and there is a good fall to drain the land. We advise 
putting drains 4 feet deep througli it and running covered 
lateral drains into them. Use small round tile for the 
side drains. Their length will depend upon the amount 
of water you have to carry off, and the fall you can get. 
The less fall the better as a general thing. Leave the 
main drain or drains open at first if you wish, but protect 
the mouths of the side drains, from toads, frogs, mice etc. 
which might get in and make trouble. 
Fences »ear at Any Price.— Under 
our present circumstances, we must maintain this neces- 
sary nuisance. Town regulations and public sentiment 
upholding and enforcing them, might save a vast expense 
to farmers, both in the thickly settled East and on the 
"Western prairies. Some fences along the highways, and 
fenced pasture grounds, however, seem to be absolutely 
necessnry, and these with some form of movable fence, 
to protect orchards or crops near which cattle must pass 
on the way to and from pasture, are all that many of our 
best farmers now use. In all thickly settled districts we 
are prepared to advocate the doctrine that every man 
should take care of his own cattle, be held strictly re- 
sponsible for the damage they do, and not be obliged to 
maintain fences against his neighbors' animals. 
What Kind of* Grain to sow <j«rass 
with.— Enoch Thomas, Erie Co., N. Y.— It makes 
little difference, with which grain you seed down your 
land. If the soil is in first rate order, sow wheat, other- 
wise barley or oats. Cross-plow without disturbing the 
buried sod. Sow the least quantity of grain that you think 
will do, and when it is cut, leave long stubble and roll or 
drag it down. 
Timothy on Medium Corn Land. 
"J. I. H. W.» Somerset Co., Md. Timothy (Herdsgrass) 
will probably do pretty well on such land as you de- 
scribe. Corn sowed broadcast or in drills for fodder, 
not so well, but still you can get a paying crop. 
" Some more Beans."— Those who have 
not as yet decided what crops to cultivate the coming 
season, or who can put a few more acres under the plow, 
may well consider whether a crop of beans can not be 
made profitable. The great call for them for army use 
has enhanced the price out of proportion with many other 
articles of food. They are most easy of cultivation, and 
may be raised on land too poor for most of the grains, 
although at least moderate fertility will give the best 
yield. They are an excellent crop for orchard grounds, 
as they do not draw heavily upon the soil, and their culti- 
vation, by clearing the ground of grass and weeds, may 
be a benefit to the fruit. 
Flax-Cotton. — "Inquirer," Berkshire Co., 
Mass. The manufacture of flax-cotton appears to be 
making some progress, but as yet no establishment on an 
extensive scale that we are aware of, is turning out an 
article that can compete with cotton for many uses. We 
have recently examined samples obtained by private ex- 
periments, which seem to come near the desired standard. 
The fabric already furnished is being largely used for 
coarser purposes where cotton was formerly employed. 
Time tor Breaking- Prairie. — Wm. 
Farquahr, Marshall Co., Iowa, writes to the American 
Agriculturist, that after nine years' experience lie thinks 
prairie sod may be broken up from May 1st, to July 20th, 
if the work be properly done. He cautions new comers 
to see that in breaking, all the sod be turned over, other- 
wise great difficulty will be found in after-culture. 
Pleiiro-Pneiinionia.- Hiung Mur- 
rain. — The former name is objectionable, because 
it indicates simply an inflammation which affects the lungs 
and the lining membrane of the cavity of the chest — the 
pleura. This is a disease afflicting holh the human family 
and animals. It is not contagious. The Lung Murrain, 
however, which is also called pleuro-pyieumonia, is as 
contagious as the small pox, and, as we believe, very 
much more so. The advice of a Chester county (Pa.) 
correspondent, that farmers "trust their cattle to Divine 
ProvHence to be protected against this and all other dis- 
eases" is equally applicable to cattle in a burning barn. 
The immutable laws of Divine Providence decree their 
consumption by the flames unless you untie them and 
bring them out. The same laws provide, that of cattle 
exposed to this disease a great number — at least 75 per 
cent— will take it, and that from one third to one half of 
these will die. The truest way to trust Providence is, to 
use every means which Providence places under our 
control to stay the disorder. 
Oypsnm — Sowing; it I>nmp. — Some 
may not be aware that it is not necessary to sow Gypsum 
(plaster of Paris) dry. If dampened just enough to pre- 
vent its blowing, it may be sown with ease and comfort. 
$875 For a Fetv Boards. — A correspon- 
dent of the Prairie Farmer relates that he lost 250 sheep 
during the terrible storm of January 1st, all for the lack 
of a few boards in the right place. The flock, numbering 
550, were under a large shed and, as the owner supposed, 
safe from harm. Unfortunately, he had neglected to 
close up the opening under the sills, which rested on 
stone blocks, about five inches from the surface of the 
ground. The keen, driving blast struck the faces of the 
sheep ; they left the shed and huddled into a corner, 
where the stronger climbed upon the weaker, and the 
whole were drifted in together, with a loss of about half. 
Sprouting- Sorgl&um Seed.— E. A. King 
says in the Country Gentleman that he treats his sorghum 
seed thus : place U In ^ bag with about an equal quantity 
of plaster of Paris, immerse it in boiling water, allow 
it to remain five or ten minutes ; then place the bag 
by the stove or in some warm place, and allow it to re- 
main until the sprouts are from one-half to an inch long. 
This will be in from one to two weeks, when it should be 
planted. He says, when treated in this way, the young 
plants will appear above ground in from three to six days. 
The preparation should be made so as to have the seed 
ready for planting about the middle of May in this latitude. 
Sorghum Syrup from i^eAV-Jersey. 
A jar of very thick and very good sorghum syrup comes 
to the office of the Agriculturist from Mr. A. F. Cum- 
mlngs, ' ; ^merset Co., N. J.; a sample of a lot of 1,100 
gallons, Good for New- Jersey, and promising also. 
1 sarin Lal»or-" J. T. H. "VV.," Somerset Co., 
Md. Your question, with those of other inquirers, will 
be found answered in other articles in the present and 
preceding numbers of the Agriculturist. It is not likely 
that the price of oats will be lower for some mouths. 
]>ead Horses in tBae Ai-my. — A con- 
tract for the purchase of dead horses, in the Army of the 
Potomac, was let a few days ago to the highest bidder at 
$1.76 per head, delivered at the factory of the contractor. 
It is said that an average of 50 horses die daily, and that 
the contractor last year realized some $60,000, by turning 
all the merchantable relics of these animals to account. 
HLigli Priced Horses. — The racing stnd 
of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, 66 horses, was 
recently sold for $143,750. The highest price was for 
Onesander, a winner of the Ascot Derby stakes, purchas- 
ed by Mr. T. Wadlow, for one 1000 guineas, nearly $5000. 
Mule raising Profitable. — Henry Hos- 
mer, Logan Co., 111. There can be little doubt that mule 
raising may be made as profitable or more so than breed- 
ing horses or other stock. These animals are little liable 
to disease, may be sent to market at an earlier age, and 
they command a better price than ordinary horses: they 
meet with a ready sale in the drove, the buyer to take 
his own risk, without the guaranty usually given with 
horses. For ordinary farm work and teaming on level 
roads where high speed is not required, mules are of 
great value, as is seen in their large employment for 
army transportation. 
Ounpowder tor Pigs. — The Boston 
Cultivator recommends as a daily dose for "Black Teeth" 
in pigs a mixture of charcoal, sulphur and saltpetre. 
Why not give gunpowder at once as a regular meal, and 
a dessert of friction matches to " top off" with ? 
Steel Plows with Iron Shares.— "W. 
H.'j Brevoort, Ind., asks. " what plow is best adapted to 
the second bottoms of Western rivers ? The soil is a san- 
dy loam, often gravelly. Steel plows wear away very 
rapidly." Try the steel-mould-board-and-cast-iron-share 
plows— made by J. Gill & Son, Columbus, 0., we believe. 
The Reaper Trade.— The Prairie Farmer 
state-s from reliable information that 33,000 reapers were 
made for the trade of 1862, over 46,000 for '63, and that for 
the present year upward of 70,000 will be made, of which 
Illinois alone will turn out between 14,000 and 15,000. 
The cost at an average of $130 each, would amount to 
over nine million dollars, 
Paclcing Porlc. — Win. M. Merwin, New 
Haven Co. Conn., writes to the American Agriculturist 
that in packing pork for family use, he cuts the meat into 
pieces not exceeding four pounds each. This is about 
the quantity required for use at one time by a family of 
ten or twelve persons, and no more need be displaced at 
once, thereby preventing spoiling by exposure. He 
places it in the barrel, skin side down, and entirely covers 
each layer with salt. The reason given for this is, that 
the salt is more readily absorbed by the meat in the direc- 
tion of the grain. [The pork may keep, packed thus, but 
not for the reason given ; the grain or fibre of the meat 
runs parallel with the skin.— Ed.] 
The Best Fowls for Eggs.- «W. J.," 
Oneida Co., N. Y. For producing eggs, the Poland are 
good, though perhaps, not quite equal to the Bolton 
Greys. The Leghorns are prolific, but not very hardy. 
Geo. Taber, of Kennebec Co., Me., who has experiment- 
ed not a little with different breeds of fowls, states in the 
Maine Farmer that, with 29 Bolton Grey pullets and 3 
eld hens of another breed, kept for setting, he in one year 
obtained 4,808 eggs, and raised 65 chickens, besides using 
all the eggs desired in a good sized family. In all cases 
select young hens fpy laying, and old ones fqr nursee, 
