THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
do not doubt that valuable chemical agents, as 
gypsum, s'llt, &e, may be added, whereby desi- 
rable combinations with the gases, &c. liberated 
in the process of decomposition, may be obtain- 
ed. Upon this portion of the subject the sci- 
ence of chemistry is one day destined to shed 
most valuable light. 
Upon the subject of 
GREEN CROPS, 
Mr. Gaylord remarks, “For a plant to enrich 
exhausted soils, aff'rding as it does both lop 
and roots to a large extent, there is no plant 
equal to clover; and particularly where it is ne- 
cessary or desirable to have the green crop fed 
oflf by animals. I prefer letting the clover grow 
until nearly or quite in blossom, and then turn- 
ing sheep upon it. They will eat much of it 
and fatten rapidly; but they will trample down 
more, and this, mixed with their dung, forms in 
its decay a most efficient top dressing; and re- 
peated for two or three years, forms an admira- 
ble preparation of the soil for wheat or other 
grains. When a crop is cultivated to be plough- 
ed in, it should be done at the time when the 
plants contain the greatest quantity of nutritive 
matter, and have least exhausted the soil in 
•which they .are growing. This, in most cases, 
■will be when the plants have come fully into 
flower. At an earlier period there may be as 
much weight, but a larger portion of it will be 
mere water; and, if allowed to stand much la- 
ter, the soluble matter is lost in the seed, and the 
ligneous part of the stem becomes more difficult 
of decomposition Buckwheat is a good plant 
for a green manure; its growth is rapid, and 
gives a great weight per acre, and two crops 
may be ploughed under in a year. The best 
way of ploughing in such green crops, is to 
pass a heavy roller over them, which lays the 
plants close to the ground, and greatly facilitates 
covering them with the plough. It is believed 
that corn, sown broadcast, and when just show- 
ing its tassels, cut and covered by the plough, 
would be one of the best crops that could be 
chosen for this purpose. A man or boy, in this 
case, would be required to follow the plough, to 
place the corn in the furrow for covering, at the 
next pas.sage of the plough. Taken at this 
time, corn abounds in nutritive matter, and 
could scarcely fail af preving a first rate fertili- 
zer of the soil. 
Mr. Gaylord thinks that wherever other ve- 
getable matter can be had, falfon leaves will 
not pay the expense of gathering. 
PEAT, SWAMP AND POND MUD, 
heesteems very highly, but these substances ap- 
plied in their natural state are almost inopera- 
tive, as compared with stable manure. To ena- 
ble it to give out the ammonia, with which it 
abounds, peat or swamp muck must be ferment- 
ed, and it is for w^nt of this process that it is 
so little esteemed, in general. To bring it to 
this state, we are recommended to compost it 
with half its bulk of stable dung, which it is 
asserted will form a heap equal in fertilizing 
properties to three times the quantity of dung 
employed. ^ 
Poudrette, urate, guano and other peculiar 
manures are brought under our notice in order, 
but passing over these we come to the more 
general one of 
LIME. 
Upon this subject our author remarks, “It 
appears as the result of experience, that lime 
produces the best effect on what are called stiff 
loams, or loams inclining to clay, and in which 
a good proportion of decayed organic matter is 
found. 
“It is found, too that it operates more favora- 
bly on soils natural to oak and its kindred trees, 
such as walnut, poplar, <Sbc. than on those where 
the beech, elm and maple constitute the princi- 
ple limber. It is singular that the richest lime- 
stone lands, as they are called from being based 
on this rock, are frequently those on which 
heavy dressings of lime operate like a charm. 
“If used as a top dressing, lime is usually 
107 
applied to the sod in the fall; but the practice 
most approved, is to lime the corn ground in the 
spring, on the inverted sod. Manure is applied 
to the wheat crop after lime. The quantity of 
lime used varies much. There is no doubt it 
has sometimes been used in excessive quanti- 
ties; and when used on soils nearly destitute of 
vegetable matter, can produce no good effect. — 
On a medium soil, fifty bushels per acre may 
be considered an abundant dressing; but three 
or four times that quantity is sometimes used. 
The best method of using lime, is to take it 
from the kiln, unslacked, and deposite it in 
heaps in the field where it is to be used, not more 
than three or four bushels in a place; and either 
slack it by pouring water over it, or, which is 
better, by covering each pile with earth, and let- 
ting them slack by the moisture thus furnished. 
When sufficiently fine, the earth and the lime 
are mixed by shovelling over, and the mass is 
then scattered over the land to be dressed. The 
soil should be well harrowed after the applica- 
tion, to incorporate it more completely with the 
surface earth.” 
SALT 
is very highly recommended. “It appears that 
salt in small proportions, promotes the decompo- 
sition of animal and vegetable substances; that 
it destroys vermin and kills weeds; that it is a 
direct constituent of some plants, and therefore 
necessary to their perfection; that all cultivated 
plants of marine origin contain it, asparagus, 
for instance; and that all such succeed better 
when watered with salt water, than when de- 
prived of it; that salt preserves vegetables from 
injury by sudden transitions in temperature, 
salted soils not freezing as rapidly as those to 
vffiich salt has not been applied; and that it ren- 
ders the earth more capable of absorbing the 
moisture of the atmosphere. When salt is ap- 
plied as a manure, it may be used in quantities 
from six to fifteen bushels per acre; although 
some have gone as high as fifty bushels. Far- 
mers, however, should be cautious how they 
venture on excessive doses, as an extravagant 
one could scarcely fail of being fatal to any 
crop. 
“Salt and lime, artificially mixed as a ma- 
nu’e, promises to be a valuable aid to the farmer 
in those positions where the soil abounds with 
insoluble silicates or geine, and where other ma- 
nures necessary to produce decomposition or 
fermentation are not at hand. Professor John- 
ston recommends a mixture of two parts of lime 
and one part of salt, the mixture to remain in- 
corporated in a shady place, or covered with 
sods two or three months before using. Salt 
and lime should not be used immediately after 
mixing, as bad results are apt to ensue; but af- 
ter being well mixed in a dry state and lying as 
directed, it may be applied at the rate of from 
thirty to sixty bushels per acre, either before or 
at the time of sowing. 
“Dr Dana directs to take one bushel of salt 
and two bushels of lime; to make the salt into 
strong brine, and with it slack the lime. Mix 
both well together, and let them remain ten 
days; then let them be well mixed with three 
cords of peat, shoveled well over for about six 
weeks, when it may be used. A quantity of 
salt sufficient to destroy all vegetation, may be 
applied to a soil with safety when a few months 
are to elapse before the crop is to be put on; as 
: the chemical changes which take place, partial- 
ly neutralize its effect during this time. A small 
quantity mixed with the soil in each hill of 
corn, has been found to protect it from the wire 
worm and the cut worm, indeed there is no sub- 
stance that insects of all kinds more dread than 
salt. It is probable, therefore, that further expe- 
riments will show that not the least value of salt 
is to be found in its preventive properties against 
these depredators. Mixed with soot, salt acts 
with great power on roots.” 
We know how objectionable long articles are 
in general, and have endeavored to compress 
the gist of this valuable essay into a few pages. 
The subject is in its nature extensive, and we 
fear we have done injustice to Mr. Gaylord in 
our abridgement. Indeed, properly considered 
the essay, long as it is, is nothing but a series 
of condensed remarks upon a variety of sub- 
jects, all coming under the general head of 
“manures.” 
AMERICAN MANUFACTURED SILKS, 
The Baitimore Patriot of the ‘22d ult. says: — 
Mr. John W. Gill, proprietor of a Silk Manu- 
factory at Mount Pleasant, Jeiierson county, 
Ohio, has been exhibiting at Darnum’s City Ho- 
tel, for some clays past, a variety ol very hand- 
some and substantial specimens of American 
Silks, manul act ured entirely by himself They 
consist of gloves, cravats, handkerchiefs, stock- 
ings, scarfs, i>ieces in ti e web, for ladies' diess- 
es, of different colors, besides numerous other 
articles, all of wffiich have an admirable texture, 
and appear to be of a highly durable quality. — 
Mr. G. states that his enterprise has thus far 
proved successful, even beyond his most san- 
guine expectations. Besides the factory, which 
employs about fifty hands on an average, he has 
a large Mulberry grove and an extensive co- 
coonery, whereby he is enabled to raise a con- 
siderable portion of the worms that supply the 
raw material. It is several years since this en- 
terprise was undertaken by Mr. Gill, and at pre- 
sent he has invested in it about S30,000, which 
yields, as he slates, a very handsome equivalent. 
Having given much attention to the business in 
its various branches, he has also had an oppor- 
tunity ot discovering the best manner of culti- 
vating the worm, to accomplish which a ventil- 
lating apparatus has been invented by him, to 
facilitate the worm in feeding, found to be of 
great service. It is simple in construction, 
saves much labor, and is accounted a highly 
valuable improvement. 
The success thus secured by the unremitting 
perseverance of this gentleman, in a compara- 
tively new section of our country, goes far to 
show that the manufacture of silks in America, 
is destined, at some future period, to assume an 
importance commensurate with the laudable 
ambition of those who gave to it the fi rst im- 
pulse. Facts are the strongest arguments, and 
we think those noticed here, are conclusive 
proofs that much can and will yet be accom- 
plished in this country in reference to the manu- 
facture of silks, and the cultivation of the silk 
worm. 
Preserving Eggs. — It would be quite a val- 
uable discovery to farmers in the neighborhood 
ol a large market, as well as to household eco- 
nomy, if a cheap and easy method of preserv- 
ing eggs could be practised, whereby the price 
would be more equalized through tiie various 
seasons of the year. Reaumer, the invenuu of 
the thermometer which bears his name, tried 
many experiments for this purpose, and found 
that the cheapest and most effectual method was 
to apply oil or grease, with which they were 
rubbed, or into which they were dipjied. He 
found that they were preserved quite aq well by 
the thinnest layer of fat, as by the thickest coat- 
ing, so that every part of the shell, (which is po- 
rous and admits air,) was covered All sort of 
fat, grease or oil, he found well adapted to pre- 
serve eggs, and kept them in this way, he says, 
for nme months, as fresh and good as the day 
they were laid. Will some of our readers try a 
lew dozen in this way, and let us know the re- 
sult . — Newburyport Herald. 
Preserving Scythes, &c. from Rust. — To 
preserve scythes, sickles, reaping hooks, and 
othei steel tools from rust after the season for 
using them, wipe them clean and dry, and hold 
them before the fire and keep drawing them 
backwards and forwards until warm enough to 
melt w'ax; then take some beeswax and rub it 
all over. A . half-penny worth of wax will be 
sufficient for a sythe. Then put it in a dry 
place, but not warm; it needs no other covering. 
The usual method is to wrap a hay-band round; 
but in winter time this naturally contracts mois- 
ture, or the damp air strikes in betwixt the folds 
of the hay-band. — Farmers' Magazine. 
