CULTIVATION OF SWEET POTATOES.—BLIGHT IN PEAR-TREES. 
23 
There was enough hanging out to fill a bushel 
basket, which was put back, and would not re¬ 
main in its place, but was held by several men 
alternately until afternoon, when one of my neigh¬ 
bors came over and effectually remedied the 
matter. 
The mode is as follows: The part hanging out 
must, be washed with warm "water and soap, and 
then put back by placing the fist against the 
centre of the mass, and press it into the vagina in 
the manner of putting on a stocking that has been 
turned inside out, as far as the arm will reach. 
Immediately, before the cow can by straining dis¬ 
place it, pierce with a pocket knife the lips of the 
vagina, and put through two pins of strong wood, 
about four inches long, and a quarter of an inch in 
diameter, so as to divide the opening into three 
equal parts. These pins must be secured by tying 
twine across in the manner of the figure 8, lying 
on the side, which prevents the lips from parting 
so as to come off the pins, which maybe removed 
in two days. 
When I returned home and found my cow in 
the situation mentioned, I expected to lose her, 
but she is now alive and well. 
Some sew up the part, to prevent the withers 
coming out after being returned ; but the pressure 
is so great when they get back, as to frequently 
tear out the skin, which is not liable to be done in 
the case of the wooden pins, and the latter mode 
is more simple and easy of execution. 
Charles Starr, Jr. 
Mendham, N. /., Feb., 1843. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
CULTIVATION OF SWEET POTATOES. 
Log Hall, Miss., Feb. 101h, 1843. 
Mr. A. B. &llen : I have tried the cultivation 
of the sugar* beet here for some three years, not 
extensively I admit, but sufficiently so for an ex¬ 
periment, and have not been able in the three 
years to pay myself for the trouble. Planting 
them side by side in garden and field, with the 
long blood-beet, I see no difference in point of 
size. I say I have not been paid for my trouble, 
as it is double the work, if not more, than to raise 
potatoes, and yet the beet is not, I think, a greater 
yielder. According to my limited experience, the 
same labor applied to the cultivation of sweet po¬ 
tatoes, will feed more, stock and do it better: nor 
is the sweet potato as troublesome to feed, nor 
yet more so to save. I would therefore advise all 
who can grow sweet potatoes, even if not above 
250 bushels per acre, to do so, in preference to 
cultivating the beet. I have known 460 measured 
bushels made per acre, basing my opinion on the 
affirmation of a friend. The plan I have adopted 
in saving is pretty much as I now relate, putting 
up in heaps or a long pile as fancy directs at the 
time. 
If in heaps, strike a circle 6 or 7 feet in 
diameter, level it off well, then put a layer of 
corn-stalks some 4 to 6 inches deep, on which 
place the potatoes as closely together as you can, 
ever using some care in placing them; then cover 
with corn-stalks some 6 inches thick, over which 
place boards if convenient; then cover up with 
earth some 6 to 10 inches deep, taking the earth 
from a ditch around the heap. After a few days, 
open a hole on the top to the potatoes, so as to 
give vent to the warm air, closing with straw 
when cool, and cover the hole with boards so as 
to exclude rain. I never dry them or select par¬ 
ticular weather, though preferring dry weather 
for the operation, as more work can be done and 
the roots be put up in better order. If they should 
be wet when put up they will not injure; even 
pouring water on them in the heap has been prac¬ 
tised by an old gentleman I know in South Caro¬ 
lina. I dig as soon after the vines are killed as 
will suit other work—never before. I have put 
up heaps containing 50, 60,100, and 150 bushels; 
but where I put up many together, I make rows of 
them by levelling a bed, say 8 feet wide, and 15 
to 20 or more long, drive stout stakes along the 
centre, say every 8 to 10 feet, fasten on a ridge 
pole, pile my potatoes up to it, then cover with 
corn-stalks, and put up long boards to rest on the 
ridge-pole, and cover with earth. When I use 
out of one end, I keep an abundance of oat-straw 
or hay, so as to preserve them entirely from 
changes of the atmosphere. I believe corn-stalks 
are better to place next the potatoes, as they will 
absorb the moisture measurably, and do not settle 
down so packed and close on the potatoes as 
grass does. When I have used grass the potatoes 
did not keep so well. Every farmer and planter 
should plant half an acre of potatoes to each hand, 
as they will feed anything but men and dogs raw ; 
horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep, will all eat them 
greedily. A favorite mare here will absolutely 
paw the earth to get at them, and she will walk 
all over a potato patch in search of them, instead 
of going into a pea field. Yours truly, 
M. W. Philips. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
BLIGHT IN PEAR-TREES. 
A. B. Allen Esq.—Dear Sir : In the August 
No. of Vol. I., of the American Agriculturist, I find a 
notice of the blight in pear-trees. I will give you 
my observations on that subject the past summer, 
and although very imperfect, they may throw 
some light on a subject that is enveloped in mys¬ 
tery, notwithstanding all the numerous causes and 
preventives that have been published. On the 
23d of May last, I was observing a pear-tree, some 
of the branches of which were dead, others with 
the leaves turning brown, the fruit dropping off, 
and what is peculiar to this disease, the branches 
in another part of the tree appeared perfectly 
healthy, and vegetation in full vigor. I commen¬ 
ced paring off the bark on the diseased branches, 
which presented quite a red appearance, and in 
laces a reddish liquid was exuding through the 
ark. In these spots (after taking off the outer 
bark) there was a very small hole about the size 
of a number 10 sewing-needle, and on removing 
the inside bark to the wood, there the little de¬ 
stroyer was esconced, feeding on the life of the 
tree, to which they must be a deadly poison. 
