AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
293 
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ments, are meant an abundance of soda, or pot¬ 
ash, the statement may be partly true, for either 
of these articles or even common wood ashes will 
convert peat into a valuable manure. But with 
stable manure alone, we think this proportion is 
quite too large for the best results. Mr. Phinney, 
of Lexington, Mass., an excellent authority in 
this matter, was accustomed to mix two loads of 
peat with one of stable manure. The permanent 
effects of this compost he regarded as superior to 
the same bulk of green stable manure. This ac¬ 
cords with our own practice for the past seven 
years. We have found, that yard manure carted 
out any time during the Fall and Winter, and 
mixed with twice its bulk of peat or muck, makes 
a compost about as efficient, as if it were all yard 
manure. The compost should lie in a heap two 
or three months, before it is spread and plowed in. 
For all practical purposes, it will be seen, then, 
that peat, conveniently situated on a farm,is worth 
almost as much as stable manure. If a man has 
stable manure and has not peat, it will be econo¬ 
my for him to purchase the latter, if he can have 
it delivered upon the field where he wishes to 
use it, at a considerable less price than that of 
stable manure. If peat can be had for a dollar, 
when manure costs two dollars a cord, he will 
make a profit on every cord he buys until his 
land is well fertilized. As to what price one 
should sell peat for, no rule can be given. It is 
often for the owner's interest, to sell an article at 
half its real value. In a neighborhood where peat 
is not valued, a friend sells it upon the banks of 
the ditch at a dollar a cord, to induce cultivators 
to experiment with it. This is done upon the 
same principle, that a merchant often sells anew 
article, in which he has confidence, at less than 
cost, in order to bring it into notice. The de¬ 
mand for peat is constantly increasing at this 
price, and we have not a doubt that there will be 
a large demand for it at double the price, in the 
course of a few years. A farmer with a peat or 
muck swamp, beyond the wants of his own farm, 
had better give it away for a year or two, than to 
have it he waste. He can at least have his ditch¬ 
es dug for the muck thrown out of them, and 
benefit his own land, while he helps his neighbor. 
We are confident that this article will bear exam¬ 
ination better than most of the fertilizers offered 
in the market; and in any region, where there is 
a sale for manure, it will command a remunera¬ 
tive price, as soon as its value is known. * 
A Broad-cast Sower. 
We introduce, herewith, an illustration of “ Ca- 
hoon’s Seed Sower,” our object being rather to 
show the implement than to specially commend 
it at this time, as we have not tested it sufficient¬ 
ly to recommend or condemn it. It consists of 
a bag for the grain suspended by a strap over the 
neck, with the sowing apparatus at the lower front 
side. This is not unlike the spreading part of a 
tin funnel, in the front of which are placed cross¬ 
pieces or wings for throwing the grain outward. 
The grain is let into the smaller end of the con¬ 
ical .cylinder which is kept in rapid motion %y 
turning the crank to which is attached a multi¬ 
plying wheel. The flow of the grain is regulated 
by a gate or valve which may be opened more or 
less to regulate the amount to be sown. We tried 
an implement with a small quantity of grain 
which it appeared to distribute pretty evenly. It 
appears to us, however, that too much depends 
upon a uniform motion of the crank and a regu¬ 
lar gait of the person using it to allow of very 
great evenness in the distribution of the seed. 
A very slight increase of the motion of the crank 
would throw the grain beyond due bounds on 
either side of the operator. All this, however, is 
founded upon an examination of the implement 
itself, and a limited experiment. Experience will 
test the question of its utility. 
--• -—a Ot—-- —- 
Keeping Sweet Potatoes. 
Enoch Engle, of Beaver Co., Pa., sends the 
following which he thinks will benefit many who 
now lose a large proportion of their sweet pota- 
tatoes by rotting : “ Dig early, and pack in box¬ 
es with air holes, but not large enough to admit 
mice. They may be packed with dry earth, al¬ 
though it is not necessary that anything be put 
with them in the box. Nai! covers over them, 
and place in a dry, coal bank. A rotten potato 
will seldom be found even in Spring.” We will 
add that potatoes intended for seed should be dug 
very carefully and as many of the fibrous roots 
left adhering to the tubers as possible. They 
may then be buried in a coal bank or in dry sand 
out of the reach of frost. We would also re¬ 
commend hemlock boxes to pack in as less liable 
to be eaten into by mice.—T.] 
A faithful friend is a strong defense. 
Mad Itch in Cattle. 
We have several communications on this topic 
from two of which we give extracts. Mr. Con 
way, Jefferson Co., Ind., referring to the case de 
tailed on page 109, April No., thinks the symp 
toms indicate that “ the disease resulted from 
acute inflamation, more commonly known among 
farmers as ‘a stoppage,’ Which is produced by al¬ 
lowing cattle to eat any indigestible, irritating 
substance, such as frosted turnips, dead leaves, 
fox grass, and that baneful substance, the chewed 
wads which hogs leave after feeding upon green- 
corn stalks, as was the case with Mr. English’s 
cattle referred to. The wads lodge in the stom¬ 
ach, produce inflamation, and the brain is acted 
upon inducing a species of madness. The rub¬ 
bing is the natural effort of the animal to remove 
the irritating cause.” He recommends, first, to 
use prevention ; but if the disease be contracted 
through carelessness, to “ administer in the 
early stages, mucilaginous drinks, in conjunction 
with anti-spasmodic, relaxing and tonic medicines, 
with proper attention to diet.” More specific di¬ 
rections as to the kind and quantity ofmedicines, 
and of diet would have been desirable. 
Mr. Hartzell, of Hancock Co., Ill., on the con¬ 
trary, says that the disease can not be caused by 
feeding with hogs, because many of the best beef 
cattle have been attacked, though never having 
been with hogs at all. The irritating cause may 
have been the same, however, viz , an indigest¬ 
ible mass clogged in the stomach. He recom¬ 
mends “ a tablespoonful of spirits of turpentine. 
If ibis does not give relief in 15 minutes double 
the dose, and go on doubling the dose every 15 
minutes until a cure is effected.” The first part 
of this recommendation may be taken, for spirits 
of turpentine is often beneficial in similar cases, 
but how long could one go on “ doubling the 
dose” without producing certain death 1 
---—-- 
Liniment for Cattle, etc. 
J. W. Dc T.e Ree, of Queens Co., L. I., sends 
the following as the best liniment for man or 
beast. This, he says, is usually sold under the 
name of “horse oil.” Mix thoroughly in an iron 
vessel, 1 pt. linseed oil with one pt. spirits of tur¬ 
pentine, and add, slowly, l£ oz. sulphuric acid. 
When cold, put in a jug or bottle, and cork tight. 
Be careful not to spill any upon the clothes in 
using. [We can not say as to the value of this. 
At first sight the ingredients appear incompatible , 
but we may be mistaken. It would be likely to 
take off the hair from a horse we think — Ed ] 
One mode of making Shining Black Ink — 
E. Pierson of Crystal Lake contributes the 
following:—“Beat up well together, in an iron 
mortar, the following ingredients, in a dry state • 
4 ounces of the best blue Gall Nuts, 2 ounces of 
Copperas, 1 ounce of clear Gum Arabic; add 1$ 
pints of clear rain water. Put all in a stone m 
glass bottle, and shake it three or four times ,t 
day for ten days ; at the end of that time it will 
be fit for use ; keep it from freezing. Ink made 
according to the above I know to be good, by 
some fifteen years’ experience.” 
Sands form the mountain ; moments make its? 
year. 
So live with men as if God saw you. 
Sin and sorrow are inseparable. 
Short reckonings make long friends. 
Sorrow's best antidote is employment. 
