REVIEW OP THE MARCH NO. OP THE AGRICULTURIST. 
243 
unimpaired, whence it was taken, and materially 
aid in effecting that mechanical division of the soil 
so essential to its utmost productiveness. 
Lime is destined eventually, as I think, to have 
a largely beneficial influence on the product of the 
cane. Its efficiency in securing an early vegeta¬ 
tion and rapid growth, both from its chemical and 
mechanical agency, must render it a most desirable 
auxiliary in the cane, which is sometimes seriously 
injured by the late frosts of spring and the early 
ones of autumn. A plantation, by far the most 
productive which is in the State, for the number of 
its cultivated acres, contains large quantities of the 
shells that here and there abound on the banks of 
the bayous and lakes that pervade the Delta. These 
are profusely scatterered through the soil in every 
state of decomposition; and it is to their presence 
that the greater certainty and amount of the crop is 
mainly ascribed. 
The subsoil plow has been introduced on the 
cane-fields with the most marked success. It is not 
used on such new lands as are still occupied with 
undecayed roots; but wherever it is free from them, 
it is employed by the most intelligent planters, and 
so far as I am informed, with unqualified approba¬ 
tion. It is made to follow in the furrow of the 
breaking up plow, still further to deepen the pul¬ 
verised bed for the roots; and by many, it is now 
made to loosen the soil between the rows, and thus 
open numerous imperfect under drains, which serve 
to lead off the surplus water to the main ditches; 
while their influence is scarcely less beneficial in a 
time of drought, in securing a more copious depo¬ 
sit of dew and atmospheric vapor, and promoting 
the ascending moisture from beneath. 
A system of thorough or under-draining, if con¬ 
nected with wheel surface draining, So as to give 
sufficient depth for the unobstructed outlet of the 
pipes, may even at this early day, in my opinion, be 
adopted with the fullest remuneration for the capital 
and labor employed. Several of the most enterpris¬ 
ing and intelligent of the planters seem very willing 
to listen to suggestions on this subject. I shall en¬ 
deavor to procure the fullest information as to the 
expense and best method of constructing the tile or 
tube drains in the course of the ensuing season ; and 
if I can satisfy myself that the expense and advanta- 
es will justify the enterprise, some of my friends 
ere will readily give the matter a full and impartial 
trial. I defer an enumeration of the advantages of 
this practice, till I have that additional!nformation, 
which will enable me to couple with them the best 
and most efficient plan for their direct and economi¬ 
cal application. R. L. Allen. 
New Orleans , May 22 d, 1847. 
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING YOUR OWN 
SEIDLITZ AND SODA-WATER. 
In looking over the January number of the Ag¬ 
riculturist, 1 observe, that, in the directions for mak¬ 
ing Seidlitz-powders, the proportions and ingredi¬ 
ents to be employed, are not in accordance with 
those generally practised by druggists in this city. 
Therefore, I would recommend the following, with 
directions for making soda-powders, to all who 
wish to economise by purchasing the materials and 
making the articles themselves:— 
Seidlitz-Powders. —Take tartrate of soda (Ro¬ 
chelle salts) 120 grains (troy); carbonate of soda 
40 grains; mix, and put in blue paper; tartaric 
acid 35 grains, to be put in white paper. For use, 
dissolve each separately in a gill of water, pour the 
two liquids together, and drink while effervescing. 
Soda-Powders. —Take carbonate of soda 30 grains 
(troy) and put in blue paper; tartaric acid 25 grains 
in white paper; dissolve each separately in half a 
glass of water, mix and drink immediately. Add 
sugar or syrup, to your liking. 
For those who have not apothecaries’ weights 
and scales at hand, it would be better to purchase 
in quantities, done up in separate papers, sufficient 
for 16 or more draughts, divide and put them up as 
near as possible, into proper doses in blue and white 
papers, and use them as directed above. Pestle. 
New York , July 6th, 1847. 
REVIEW OF MARCH NO. OF THE AGRI- 
. CULTURIST. 
I find that I am so far ahead of you with my 
comments beyond all space you have to spare, that 
I must begin to study the law of condensation, and 
pass many valuable articles unnoticed; of this 
class, that under the head of New York Farmers’ 
Club will rank high—particularly the note on Lime , 
which seems to have been written with so much 
care that it attracted my attention at once. I have 
heretofore spoken of the valuable articles on the 
Horse. They cannot be read with too much atten¬ 
tion. 
Charcoal, Crows, and Blackbirds. —Your Eutawah 
correspondent asks, “ What light can Reviewer 
throw on this subject?” This much; that when 
charcoal cannot be conveniently obtained to use as 
a disinfecting agent, spent tan-bark will answer a 
good purpose. So will copperas, as recommended 
on page 91, and so will gypsum. 
“ Is it true,” is asked, “ that blackbirds and crows 
do more harm than good ?” It all depends upon 
circumstances. I once knew a very worthy man 
down East, that was greatly annoyed by the deter¬ 
mination of all his neighbors to " shoot and poison 
the pretty creatures,” the blackbirds ; until at length 
he determined to move “ out West,” where there 
was room for everybody, blackbirds included. In 
the spring he wrote to me—“ The woods are full 
of music, and as I follow my plow, I am surround¬ 
ed with my favorites, the beautiful blackbirds, 
gathering up every worm.” Again, in midsummer, 
he wrote—“ I have the finest crop of oats I ever 
saw in the world, full two weeks earlier than any 
of my neighbors. I shall have sixty to eighty 
bushels to the acre.” Again, a few weeks later, 
“ I wrote you of my oats—my whole forty acres 
are not worth cutting. I never will say another 
word against killing blackbirds. They have de¬ 
stroyed my whole crop. Being the soonest ripe of 
any in the neighborhood, it seems as though all the 
myriads in creation had come to feed upon my oats. 
The whole prairie was black with them.” So much 
for theory. In Connecticut it may be advisable 
not to kill blackbirds. In Illinois, the theory don’t 
hold good. 
To remove Incrustations from Boilers. —“ To re¬ 
move” is the word, and yet all the directions are to 
prevent. Will the sal-ammoniac remove old incrusta¬ 
tions ? If so, many a housewife in Western New 
