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THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
149 
Froai the Western Farmer and Gardener. 
SPIRIT OF THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNALS. 
Hay. — According to Sinclair, the nearer it 
approaches to ripeness, the more nutriiive mat- 
ter it contains. Clover should be cut when the 
flowers first begin to fade. 
T.nnsps among Corn. — When from any 
cause corn is so thinned as to be only hall a 
crop, make clean the ground and sow turneps. 
This will help to make up for the loss. 
Tabtc of the number of bushels of wheat, barley, 
oats and rye, lo each individual in the different 
countries. 
In Great Britain, 
12 bushels. 
Denmark, 
20 
Prussia, 
12 “ 
Austria, 
14 '• 
France, 
• 7 
Spain, 
United States, 
5 “ 
18| “ 
Tliis was ascertained in 1828, and it 
ble that the proportions have not much changed. 
Fall Fodder for Cattle. — For those who have 
only one or two cows and have a plat of ground, 
when the grass begins to decay, sow son e In- 
dian corn in drills, filled in with manure if ne- 
cessary, and covered slightly. Keep it free 
from weeds, and every night and morning in the 
fall you can cut an armful, and it vrill come 
out in extra quantity and qual^ of milk. 
Remedies suggested against the Curculio. — It 
being ascertained that tlrose insects do not fly 
far, use the galvanic battery, a ring of copper 
and one of zinc, or a cup of tin surrounding the 
tree, in which put lamp oil inch deep. It will 
prove an effectual barrier. Burn all the punc- 
tured plums, too, that fall off, to diminish the in- 
sect the next year. 
Sweet Apples vs. Potatoes, for Hogs. — The ap- 
ples will be found to make the most pork, and 
are easier raised; but they should be of the best 
kind, and ripe, as hogs are fond of grafted fruit, 
as w'ell as men. 
Chess and Wheat. — The doctrine is now ex- 
ploded, that wheat will produce chess, or chess 
wheat; but this is certain, that when the earth 
is turned up, many seeds of weeds and other 
things are turned up with it. 
Conversion of Lard into Oil and Stearine . — 
There are in Cincinnati not less than thiiteen 
factories, in full operation, making from 300 to 
2,500 barrels each in a season, or 100,000 gal- 
lons. The oil sells at sixty cents a gallon by 
the barrel, and seventy-five cents by retail. The 
stearine made by one establishment amounts to 
750,000 pounds per annum, twm-thirds of which 
(the summer) is suitable for making candles. — 
This stearine sells for seven cents per pound, 
which is used for culinary purposes, is equal to 
the best leaf-lard, and sells for six cents per lb., 
when well put up in kegs for shipping. 
Bugs on Vines. — Almost any kind of dust 
strewn on vines has a tendency to keep off in- 
sects, but a new dusting will be'necessary after 
each shower. 
Fall Transplanting of Fruit Trees. — From 
the 20th of August to the last of September, bas 
been found a successful time for transplanting 
strawberries, (these may be done earlier,) pears, 
plum and apple trees, currant and raspberry 
bushes — this according to the season, and when 
the summer wood has ripened. Take two 
spadings of top soil to mix with the roots ; make 
the hole a fool wider than the roots of the tree. 
Previous to taking up the tree or bush, remove 
every leaf with a sharp scissors. Take up eve- 
ry tree in the morning of a clear day, and place 
the roots in a tub of soap-suds ; let them remain 
till the afternoon, or even twenty-four hours. 
Seed Potatoes. — These should not be too ripe, 
as they are apt to be diseased. 
The Blight Insect, or Sekolytus Piri. — Mr. 
Samuel Hatch, of Marshfield, N. Y., showed 
limbs of apple trees girded beneath the bark by 
a small beetle. It attacks pear trees, apple 
trees, and quince trees, and works secretly un- 
der the bark, cutting off the source of the ascend- 
ing sap, and ruining the part of the limb which 
is above its operations. An apple iree limb was 
brought to the office of the Central N. Y. Far- 
mer, which concealed thirteen little dark brown 
beetles in each joint or bud. On being shown 
to Dr. Harris, he had no doubt it was of the same 
species as the pear tree destroyer. Limbs thus 
infested should be cut off immediately and 
burned. 
Salt on Hay. — About four or five quarts per 
ton, is sufficient ; more may produce too much 
thirst in the animals eating it. 
Cure for Burns. — After opening the blisters, 
if formed, dip the part in cold water, and then 
plunge It still wet in cold water lor a minute or 
two. This prevents the air from getting to the 
burn. 
Saltpetre. — Five rows planted with corn, soak- 
ed in a solution of salts of nitre, or saltpetre, 
yielded more than twenty-five rows without any 
preparation. No worms touched the first. 
Gapes in Chickens. — This is caused by worms 
in the throat. Take a small feather and strip off 
the web, except about an inch and a half at the 
top. Wet the end and turn it back. Let a per- 
son hold the chicken on its back, extending its 
legs.' The operator takes bold of its head with 
his left hand, placing the thumb and forefinger 
on each side of the bill, so as to hold the mouth 
open. Draw the neck out gently but firmly ; in- 
troduce the feather over the tongue, and watch 
when the chicken breathes, which opens the 
windpipe; then enier it quick, and do not be 
afraid after the point is entered. Push down 
gently two or three inches, and then withdraw 
the leather, turning it with a cork-screw motion. 
The worms will follow, and others will be loos- 
ened by sneezing. This repeat once more, but 
not oftener. In nine cases out of ten, the cure 
is immediate. 
Currants — as standards or trees. This does 
not seem to suit our climate. They require 
some shade and bushiness to encourage mois- 
ture. 
Boston Centre Draught Plow, Prouty agid 
Mears. — This plow, it is said, by the aid of a 
wheel and a new arrangement of the gearing, a 
late invention of the patentees, carries a furrow 
ten inches deep and twelve inches wide, and 
turning it over with the greatest ease and facili- 
ty, and leaving not a vestige of the sod to tell. 
It requires no holder or guide, farther than to set 
it into the land, and turn it out at the end; and 
this can be done to perfection by aboy of eleven 
years of age. 
Decay of Fruit Trees in Charlestown, Mnss. 
— This seems to have been going much in the 
same way this season, as in the neighborhood of 
Cincinnati, and elsewhere in the West. There 
is soon to be an explanation of this matter, it 
seems, by competent individuals, both here and 
at the East. 
Compost Manure. — Until the earth can be 
brought to give something for nothing, we may 
not despair of reaping benefit from the well 
mixing and stirring up of stable manure with 
earth, and other proper materials for the com- 
post heap. 
Charcoal. — This mixed with loam, is still 
growung in favor with agriculturists. It is the 
most astonishing article to make use of for all 
purposes of cultivation; and especially for 
plants under artificial treatment, says an emi- 
nent horticulturist. 
From the Boston Cultivator. 
RECLAIMING WET LANDS. 
Messrs. Editors— Mr. John Chamberlain, 
of this town, has reclaimed about three acres of 
wet land, and as the beautiful smooth field now 
forms a fine contrast with the once ugly looking 
swamp, that seemed like a nuisance on the 
farm, I will give an accountof his management, 
hoping his good success in improvement will 
encourage others lo do likewise, «nd now is a 
favorable time for the business. 
Drains were made around the margin, and a 
large one through the centre. The centre drain 
was made very wide with slanting sides, on 
which a good crop of grass is produced; and 
this mode of making drains Mr. Chamberlain 
most approves of; and many others who have 
made these slanting drains prefer them to deep 
perpendicular ditches. 
The hassocks were levelled by cutting them 
up with a bog hoe, and then they were piled up 
and burnt. Then gravel was hauled on about 
six inches deep, and compost applied, about 20 
or 25 loads to the acre. The ashes were spread 
on with the manure, and grass seed raked in. 
He commenced about three years ago, apd fin- 
ished last yi ar. It is now all in fine English 
mowing, and the best grass on the farm, produ- 
cing two tons to the acre the first crop, besides 
the rowen. He manures with a little compost 
annually. The cost of reclaiming was from 50 
to 60 dollars per acre, and Mr. C. now values it 
at more than $100 per acre. Before it was re- 
cla imed, it was of no profit. E. C. Flagg. 
Soulhborough, August, 1844. 
From the Tuscaloosa Monitor. 
WOOL-GROWING IN ALABAMA. 
On a former occasion, we alluded to the bar- 
ren and hilly parts of Alabama, to some extent, 
unfit for any other use, as affording fine sheep 
walks, that might be made exceedingly profita^ 
ble in the growth of wool. We are glad that an 
experiment is now making, as the letter of 
Messrs, Harris & Clayton will show. These 
gentlemen, both known to us as upright and in- 
dustrious men, (and good practical printers 
withal,) have invested capital in a flock of sheep, 
of various bloods, which they keep some eigh- 
teen or twenty miles north of this city, having 
brought them from Tennessee last spring This 
is the first attempt, so far as we have been in- 
formed, that has been made upon a liberal scale, 
with proper attention, lor the production of wool 
as a business, in Alabama. That the increase 
of the flock will pay a better dividend than al- 
most any other investment, we have very little 
doubt. 
The samples alluded to in the letter may be 
seen at our office, where several gentlemen have 
already examined and admired them. 
As an enterprise, wool-growing in the South 
has been comparatively untried. It is estimated 
that forty millions ol dollars are annually paid 
by this country for foreign wool, a great part of 
which sum might be kept at home by extending 
the production in parts of the United States 
where it can be successful. Whether Southern 
qualities will be equal to those of the North, we 
are not prepa'’ed to say; but wool fit for staple 
manufactures can assuredly be grown here, as 
we trust the experiment of Messrs. Harris & 
Clayton will demonstrate. 
The following is their letter; 
Tuskaloosa County, Aug. 25, 1844, 
Major Miller— Dear Sir: Enclosed wesend 
you a few samples cl our wool, both short and 
long. We are now shearing our flock, and 
shall have near five hundred fleeces, though we 
do not intend clipping our ewes this fall. We 
hardijr know whether these are as fine samples 
as we could send you, but we think they will 
form an average at any rate. These samples 
are all from lambs, except the Bakewell buck. 
He is in his second year, and cost us five dollars. 
The Bakewell lamb’s wool is, I think, seven in- 
ches: please straighten it and measure, and give 
its length.-f^ It was dropped in February. No. 
7 is from a half-blood merino lamb, dropped in 
February, and his fleece, when we clipped it, 
weighed full three lbs. See how thick it grew. 
But just look at No. 1, 2 and 3: they would 
grace Prince Albert’s own back, in the form of 
a coat. These samples are at the inspection of 
the public. 
Yerv respectfully. 
Your obedient servants, 
IIARPJS ct CLAYTON. 
'Fall seveE inches by actual measurement. 
