292 
LIFT AND FORCING PUMPS.—MARL.—BUCKWHEAT.—THE COMING WINTER. 
LIFT AND FORCING PUMPS. —Fig. 57. 
We have been so frequent¬ 
ly solicited for information 
about pumps, and the appli¬ 
cation of horse power to 
them, that we give the an¬ 
nexed cut (the only one at 
our command) as an illus¬ 
tration. We presume the 
same horse power which is 
used to propel threshing ma¬ 
chines, with slight altera¬ 
tions, may be made to an¬ 
swer for pumping. Wind 
or water power would be 
preferred, if it can be ob¬ 
tained at a reasonable cost. 
Below we annex the prices 
that pumps cost here. If it were necessary to 
raise the water to a height of from 2 to 6 feet 
only, pumps may be constructed of a somewhat 
different form, and to work with less power. 
Lift and Forcing Pumps, with a double action: 
2h inches raise 20 gals, per minute, $25.00 
4 “ “ 50 “ “ 50.00 
5 “ “ 80 « “ 60.00 
6 « “ 150 “ “ 100.00 
11 “ “ 400 “ “ 200.00 
Iron Lift Pumps, for Cisterns, single rods, $6; double 
rods,.$6.50 
Horse Powers, for small Pumps, complete for one 
horse,.75.00 
e< u il large 11 for one horse, 100.00 
(( 11 il “ “ for two horses 150.00 
MARL. 
We are glad to see that the attention of the 
south is turning to the inestimable treasures of 
marl found in such immense quantities throughout 
this region. The Agricultural Society of Black 
Oak, in St. John’s Parish, S. C., states in their 
report, that last year, twenty-five plantations 
marled 1,113 acres of their land. This informa¬ 
tion we derive from the Southern Agriculturist (an 
excellent publication by the way), which also 
adds, that all experiments with marl which have 
been properly conducted, have resulted very bene¬ 
ficially, especially to the corn and cotton crops. 
To give our readers an idea of the high value of 
this substance, Mr. Ruffin asserts in his report of 
the survey of South Carolina, that the proportion of 
pure carbonate of lime in much the larger number 
of exposures of marl beds varies from 55 to 85 per 
cent., and that more of them rise above 90 than 
fall below 50 per cent.! 
BUCKWHEAT. 
Great loss frequently ensues to the farmer in 
consequence of letting his buckwheat stand too 
long before cutting, especially if it happen to be 
struck with a severe frost. We well recollect one 
season ha vu* lost at least a third of our crop by 
the shelling of the grain during the process of 
harvesting; whereas, had we cut it one week soon¬ 
er, we should htve got quite as large a yield and 
been able to save all the seed. By cutting early, 
that is, as soon as the grain is slightly hardened, 
we also obtain a much superior quality of straw, 
of the value of which for feeding stock and the 
best method of stacking, we gave some account at 
page 193 of Yol. II. Mr. Baker, of New Jersey, 
made an excellent experiment last year in cutting 
buckwheat very early, for which we must refer 
the reader to the same volume as above, page 305. 
After cutting, he raked it up and bound it in 
bunches, and then let it stand to dry the straw and 
mature the grain, a full fortnight in the field 
previous to housing. Mr. B. gave us samples of 
the buckwheat thus cut and cured, which we still 
keep: they are among the finest specimens of this 
grain that we have ever seen. Such experiments 
are highly to be commended, and we wish our 
farmers would get more into the habit of making 
and recording them; they would thus confer not 
only a benefit on themselves, but on all who ever 
read or hear of an agricultural journal. 
THE COMING WINTER. 
^ We hear it foretold by our veteran farmers that 
the coming winter will be a tolerably severe one. 
They say they have never seen a season of great 
abundance, especially in fruit, that was not fol¬ 
lowed by a hard winter; the summer also has 
been rather wet than otherwise, and this may be 
set down as another sign for a cold winter. But 
be this all as it may, the farmer should provide 
well for the season of snow and frost, by saving 
all his straw; carefully curing and housing or 
stacking his corn stalks ; and immediately harvest¬ 
ing and pitting any roots which may be left in the 
field. Straw and cornstalks, with a little bran or 
a few roots, will carry stock through the winter, if 
of a good breed, as well as the best of hay. Save 
all these, for there is nothing like having a little 
too much of everything on hand; no suffering 
comes from this cause, but from carelessness, or 
being too penurious to provide for the comfort and 
good condition of our domestic animals. 
