REVIEW OF THE MAY NUMBER OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
221 
REVIEW OF THE MAY NUMBER OF THE 
AGRICULTURIST. 
Drilled Turnips. — The same increase of crop 
may be seen in almost every kind of farm pro- 
duce. Any large wheat grower would get pay 
for a drilling machine every year. Just go into 
the field at harvest time, and observe how even 
is the growth of drilled grain ; all the stalks 
about the same height, with long, full heads ; 
then contrast this with that sown broadcast, and 
I am certain that any man whose brains are not 
broadcast, will be convinced of the advantage 
of drilling wheat. 
Hog Manure. — No doubt of it. There are a 
good many persons just beginning to find out 
that the manure made by a pen of hogs, well 
provided with materials to work upon, is worth 
more than the feed ; but a great many other 
persons are just as ignorant of the advantage of 
keeping hogs in close confinement as the hogs 
themselves. They believe in " enlarged liberty" 
of all animals, and for that of swine in particu- 
lar — they seem to have a sort of fellow feeling. 
The Best Rotation of Crops is that which will 
produce the most profitable result; but that 
recommended by Judge Beatty will not suit all 
latitudes, although the deep plowing will suit 
every climate and soil, unless it is one of light 
sand, with a cold, sandy subsoil. Corn land 
should always be plowed deep before planting, 
and not during the growth of the crop, though 
the oftener the surface is stirred, the better it 
will produce. 
Value of Lime, cf-c. — This is an admirable 
article. You give the difference in value be- 
tween magnesian and other limestone, but as 
farmers most usually purchase the lime after it 
is burned, how are they to discriminate ? In 
using oyster-shell lime, it should be recollected 
that a bushel of that is of less weight than a 
bushel of stone lime, and perhaps that is one 
reason why some have thought the other most 
valuable. It is certain, as a general rule, that 
magnesian lime, such, for instance, as that 
burned upon the banks of the Hudson, is the 
most valuable for agricultural purposes, and it 
requires a less quantity to produce the same 
effect. 
Oyster-shell lime is much used in some 
places, and I am not satisfied that burning them 
does not consume the animal matter contained 
in new shells, to a degree that will balance 
any benefit obtained by burning; so that if 
they can be ground cheaper than burned, why, 
grind away. Only get the lime upon the land 
in some shape, and you will get benefit from it, 
I assure you, upon any soil not already charged 
with calcareous matter. But be careful and not 
make the mistake that hundreds of others have, 
by considering lime as a general or adequate 
manure of itself, without the aid of additional 
fertilisers. But it is the best thing in the world 
to assist you to get the full value of manure, or 
any inert vegetable matter in the soil. You 
say it is important that lime should be kept near 
the surface. But how is this to be done? If 
applied to the surface, of course it will be turned 
down at the next plowing. The best way to 
apply lime, is to harrow it in upon wheat, at 
the rate of 40 or 50 bushels per acre, at first, 
and 30 bushels at the third, sixth and ninth 
years after. 
A Valuable Southern Grass. — Glad to hear that 
any grass is considered valuable in the south. 
When I used to visit the plantations, there was 
one continuous warfare against everything 
that bore the name of grass. 
The Air-Syphon Ventilator. — Let us have less 
theory and more practice. If it is so valuable, 
let it be tested fully, and results published, so 
that we may all follow suit. It is a legitimate 
subject for a premium at the " American Insti- 
tute," unless its managers are too much ab- 
sorbed in promoting the growth of big squashes, 
and turnips, or developing the latent energies 
of some manufacturer of fire crackers. 
Discovery of the Cause of the Yellows in Peach 
Trees. — This is an article particularly com- 
mended to that class of persons who ridicule 
the idea of science as applied to agriculture. 
Here the labor of a scientific mind has been 
applied to make a most important discovery for 
the benefit of every one engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. 
Decayed Grain Injurious to Stock. — Mouldy or 
damaged grain is probably more dangerous to 
feed to horses than any other animal, and least 
so to swine; their stomachs being constituted 
so much like human ones that they are able to 
digest almost as much miserable stuff as men 
do. 
Merino Sheep in Virginia. — And why not Me- 
rino sheep in Virginia as well as anywhere else 
in the United States ? Land is cheap, and Yan- 
kee farming will make it fertile ; and there is 
as good a climate for sheep and shepherds, as 
could be desired. 
Profits of Farming. — Look at this again, every- 
body, and everybody's neighbor, and if you 
don't feel ashamed of your own profits, I shall 
feel ashamed for you. 
Imported Shorthorns. — Another bullfight. What 
will you bet which whips ? Where is friend 
Sotham. I wish he would shove in the long- 
horns, by way of diversion. 
Management of Animals. — First learn to man- 
age yourself. The intractable temper is oftener 
in the man than in the brute, and he is often the 
greater brute of the two. 
Treatment of Male Breeders. — A very short 
article upon a subject that has more need of 
discussion than almost any other in this journal. 
And wh) r not speak out upon this subject? If 
the world is too fastidious to relish articles upon 
a subject of such vital importance, it is time 
their manners are mended. And why not " work 
male breeders ?" Are the children of working 
men born with less vigor in their constitution, 
than those of the " pampered few ?" The fact 
should never be lost sight of by man nor beast, 
that " like begets like," and that a little scrawny 
bull, boar, buck, or colt, (I came very near 
writing boy too,) will impress the image of him- 
self upon his progeny. I wish some competent 
person would write a book upon this subject, 
and call things by their right names. It might 
