1869.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
ILinaEsag- §aia«ly Soils.—“ H. J. L.,” Al¬ 
pine, Ga., asks: “Does it pay to use stone lime as a 
fertilizer on sandy soils ? How much should be used, and 
at what season applied On light sands with little 
organic matter, lime may he used if applied in composts 
with other enrichment. Mix 10 bushels of lime, slaked 
with brine, with 40 loads of swamp muck or peat, leaf 
mould or sods, and the whole with barn-yard manure 
in any desirable quantity, and the lime will be found a 
great benefit to the manure. Or turn in a green crop 
whenever you can get one and put on 10 bushels to the 
acre with it. Wc would not advise using lime by itself 
on poor, sandy soils. There must be plenty of organic 
matter or clay in a soil to make lime pay, except in very 
small quantities—say 5 bushels per acre, every few years. 
IPoBashes.—Wc learn from our old friend, 
Titus Oaks, who has handled a good deal of potashes in 
the course of his life, that the last potash establishment 
in the State of New York or eastward stopped work a year 
ago. A small business in ashes is done by country soap 
boilers, but soda ash has taken the place of potashes in 
soap-making to such an extent that house ashes are no 
longer sought for by them to any great extent. The 
result is that ashes return to the soil. They are either 
retained upon the farms that grew the wood, or are sold 
to farmers who collect them, paying cash or exchanging 
soft soap as the soap men used to do. 
Spreaiiing- Manure. — A. Reynolds, 
Davisville, R. I., (referring to our statement that the best 
way to store manure is to spread it evenly on the surface 
of the ground where it is to be used), asks whether this 
statement refers to all seasons of the year. It does, al¬ 
though probably there would be a slight loss by evapora¬ 
tion during very dry and hot weather. Even then, how¬ 
ever, it is probable that the loss would be less than either 
in the barn-yard or the manure heap. The formation of 
ammonia—the escaping value of organic manure—is 
checked as soon as by spreading it is prevented from heat¬ 
ing— ns only under the influence of heat is ammonia de¬ 
veloped to any considerable extent. 
!>ry Tam-1>ar-I«: as Manure.—II. M. 
Maxwell asks : “1. Has dry tan any virtue as a manure ? 
2. Is it improved by mixing with stable manure ? or, 3, i 3 
the manure so mixed deteriorated, and the tan not im¬ 
proved ? 4. Is the addition of salt any help to it ?”— Ans. 
—1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. The mixture should be made and 
laid up where it will heat somewhat and the whole under¬ 
go a steady fermentation, being frequently wetted with 
manure water. 4. It is difficult to speak positively about 
salt; a small quantity in a compost is usually beneficial. 
Cl«estfe»’ Whites vs. Yoirlsslalres.— 
We need large sows to breed with small, high-bred boars, 
that their progeny may be large and inherit hearty 
digestive powers and great vitality from the dam, while 
at the same time they have the small heads and bones, 
little offal, and quick development, from their sires. The 
Chester Whites are a coarser breed than the Yorkshire 
or Jefferson Co. breed; they are of about the same size, 
and probably as much hardier and tougher as they are 
rougher; they are well clothed with hair, while the 
Yorkshires are nearly naked; and on the whole we pre¬ 
fer them for common uses, especially for producing a 
stock of large breeding sows to be crossed with the finer 
breeds, for G to 12-months-old pork. 
Essex verssas ISerksIiire Swiiae.— 
“Avoca.” “Where does the Essex claim superiority 
over the Berkshire ?”•—The champions of these breeds 
claim for them similar characteristics, though the 
Berkshire makes much the larger hog. In economy of 
feeding, smallness of offal, and quick maturity, we doubt 
if the Berkshire, good as it is, ever excels the Essex, 
though isolated cases may perhaps occur where from the 
larger size a smaller percentage of offal will be found. 
l 9 ©mltry Stock. — An Issi-portaist 
CSiange.—G-. II. Leavitt, of Flushing, L. I., a well- 
known breeder of improved fowls, has now disposed of 
liis stock of poultry to Mr. G. H. Warner, of New York 
Mills, N. Y., President of the N. Y. Poultry Society. It 
does not often happen that two select stocks are thus 
united, and poultry breeders throughout the country will 
be glad to learn that Mr. Leavitt’s stock has passed into 
such good hands as those of Mr. Warner. 
Hogs Eating- BScn Bbaraag. — “N. 
W T .,” of Bucks Co., Pa., writes, that noticing that his 
hogs were ravenously fond of hen dung he threw them 
a basket of corn, and one of hen manure immediately 
afterwards. They left the corn at Once, and devoured 
the latter, lie asks, “ Is it probable that they would cat 
the manure if it was not good for them ? How does it 
affect them ? Will it destroy worms ? Will it prevent hog 
cholera Hen dung is very rich in phosphates. Hogs 
grow very rapidly and have use for this material for build- 
ingup their bony frames. We think their food does not, 
as a rule, contain a due proportion of phosphates, and 
that were we to add ground bones in some form to their 
feed, they would do better, and were “N. W.’s ” hogs to 
be so fed, they would soon lose their abnormal appeiites. 
ISair for Setttlmg- IffGarulSes. — On page 
333 is a description of a neat hurdle or portable fence for 
confining sheep upon rape, turnips, etc. The bar used 
for setting the posts as there described is shown here¬ 
with. It is a light crowbar about 3 feet long, with an en¬ 
largement within a foot of one end, having in it a shallow, 
cup-shaped cavity, which fits upon the top of the post, 
and has a tendency to contract it and keep it from split¬ 
ting. By using this as a hammer or maul, the post is 
driven firmly into the ground, a hole being first started 
with the point of the bar. 
Wets for UJsslosKiIiaig £5rain.—Where 
the Heading Harvesters or “Headers ” are used, the grain 
heads must of course be handled loose. S. W. Glenn, of 
Leeland Co., Mich., inquires about nets used for unload¬ 
ing by horse power, how they are made, etc. Nets are 
used for unloading header-cut grain, and we would like 
to learn the size of the cord and of the mesh, the size of 
the nets and of the rope which forms their outer edges, 
and the number commonly used upon an ordinary load. 
5>r»ijas Near an Osage BE©«lg-e.— 
“ W. J. P.,” Chesterfield, Ill.,-wants to lay a tile drain 
under an old Osage Orange hedge, and asks if the roots 
will choke the drain laid 4 feet deep.— Ails .—It depends 
almost entirely upon the amount of water that flows 
through the drain. If it runs several months at a time, 
the roots will probably find it out, and be likely to fill it. 
If, however, it only runs during and after rains, there 
will be little danger. The difficulty may probably be 
avoided by laying the tile in cement,—at least cementing 
the joints for a rod on each side of the hedge. 
BBoots in Iba-sisns.—Linvill Ferguson, of 
Bentonville, Ind., has had difficulty from the choking of 
his tile drains by the roots of trees and even of wheat, and 
he fears the same trouble in a new vineyard. There is 
no absolute remedy for this if the drains carry water at 
all times, but the deeper they are placed the less the 
danger, and it is not likely that the roots of wheat will 
ever reach 4-foot drains. The roots of trees sometimes 
will, but not nearly so soon nor so frequently as they will 
those only 2<4 feet deep, which seems to be the depth of 
those complained of. On any land that is fit for vine 
planting, 4-ft. drains will not be troubled by the roots of 
any but water-loving trees, and these should be excluded 
from the vicinity of a vineyard for more reasons than one. 
Sisfostittste for a. SSoy.—Fence Malt¬ 
ing.—Mrs. M. C. Ross, of Warsaw, Ill., writes: “My 
husband, having some fence to build, and no one to 
assist him, a neighbor remarked that he ought to have a 
boy to hold up one end of the boards, but having no boy, 
he set his wits to work to make a substitute. Taking a 
piece of 4-inch board one foot in length, with a l^-inch, 
augur, he bored holes, one 2 inches from one end, and 
the other 4 inches from the other, split the holes out 
to the ends, and trimmed the slots smooth. After the 
bottom plank was nailed on, the longer legs were 
“straddled" over it, ready for the next plank to be laid in 
its arms. This held one end while he nailed the other, 
and possessed one advantage—it never tired, and kept the 
boards an uniform width apart. 
Eive-stocli las ©Halo, B8G8 saaaal ’©9. 
—From a “ Tabular Statement ” from the office of the 
State Auditor, exhibiting the numbers of live-stock re¬ 
turned for taxation from each county, we deduce the fol¬ 
lowing ; There has been a gain of 4,203 horses, a dacreasc 
of 20.035 cattle, of 391 mules, of 1,416,205 sheep, and of 
337,629 hogs. 
Coiaiaeetieait Ag-iriciiltrarc.— Wc have 
received from Mr. T. S. Gold, Secretary of the Board of 
Agriculture, his report to the General Assembly for 1S6S. 
Besides the matter usually found in such documents, it 
contains the reports of interesting discussions, lectures, 
and essays on grass lands, pastures, meadows, etc., which 
gives the volume especial value. Besides, the now 
famous report of Professor Johnson on sundry samples 
of fertilizers taken in the open market and submitted to 
his analysis is contained in this volume. The book 
325 
ought to be for sale, and so ought every one of its class. 
Few people value a book that is given away. At a price 
that would cover the cost, and a little more, ten times as 
many would be read. 
Mow t© Bicep Mills Sweet,-*" Sub¬ 
scriber,” of Salt Lake City, asks: “ Is there any harmless 
article which may be put into milk to keep it sweet 
longer than it would keep of its own accord ?”—Common 
bicarbonate of soda—cooking soda—is sometimes used 
in small quantities, but it is hardly advisable, as it forms 
an excess of lactate of soda. Cooling the milk rapidly, 
as soon as drawn, to a temperature of about 60° or 
less if convenient, will accomplish the same end. 
SamaancI IF. BSIeti alley. —Col. Samuel F. 
Headley, of Morristown, N. J., died at his residence July 
25th, in the G2d 3 -ear of his age. In the sudden death of 
Col. Headley, the cause of Agriculture, the American 
Agriculturist and its readers, sustain a heavy loss, which 
comes home to the editors and publishers of this journal 
as a personal bereavement. We have long known Col. 
H. as a thorough farmer and a careful and enthusiastic 
breeder, a close observer of nature, a man of broad views 
and excellent judgment, of great industry and an indom¬ 
itable will. He had remarkable business shrewdness 
and tact, a great knowledge of men, and quick discern¬ 
ment. We valued his friendship greatly, and his honest 
criticism was as acceptable as liis praise. Col. Headley 
was educated a lawyer, studying with Judge Grier of the 
U. S. Supreme Court. He practiced his profession suc¬ 
cessfully for many years, was influential as a politician, 
and had the confidence and friendship of many distin¬ 
guished men of both parties. Earnest in pushing all 
improvements, he accepted the superintendency of the 
Morris & Essex Railroad in 1S54, and afterwards of the 
N. Y. & Erie. At the time of his death lie owned seven 
farms, most or all of which were conducted under his 
personal supervision. He was the first to introduce Im¬ 
proved Short-horns (Durhams) and Berkshire Swine 
into N. E. Pennsylvania, and always took great interest 
in improving the breed of horses, keeping fine stallions 
and jacks, the services of which he shared with his neigh¬ 
bors at merely nominal charges. Of late years he has 
taken much interest in the Chester Co. breed of hogs, and 
has been engaged for some time in collecting facts in re¬ 
gard to swine, with a view to publish a hand-book on the 
subject. He built, as owner, five grist-mills, and was be¬ 
sides at one time largely interested in iron mills and 
manufactures. His usefulness was not confined to profit¬ 
able business matters, and he was no less enthusiastic 
and energetic in showing his interest for all good objects, 
for the Church of Christ, the temperance reform, tho 
Sunday-school cause, etc., etc. His place can not now 
be filled, and he will long be remembered to bo honored 
and mourned. 
QaaesSioiras Maple Saag-ai- Mak¬ 
ers.— A Vermont sugar maker, who signs himself 
“ Young Farmer,” asks through the American Agricul¬ 
turist the following questions: “1. Is it best to use a 
large augur or a small one ? 2. Is it best to put one spout 
to a tub and two tubs to a tree ? or two spouts to a tub 
and one tub to a tree ? 3. What is tho best form of 
spouts The maple sugar crop is one which is, though 
not large, of great value to the country, for it is a home 
product, costing little labor, employing it at a season 
when it is not demanded for other farm purposes.and one 
which may be greatly increased, made a reason for pre¬ 
serving and cultivating forests, and causing now unpro¬ 
ductive rocky hill-sides to be planted with sugar maples. 
We are glad to encourage maple sugar making in any 
way, and hope our young farmer may receive numerous 
responses from practical men. 
Ag-a*ieaal£aaB*« in £lac Literary, IP©- 
litical, anti JBLelfgious I’ress.—While the “Farm¬ 
ers’ and Gardeners’ Column” in many newspapers now¬ 
adays is a delusion and a snare, a confused jumble.of 
scissorings, and chiefly useful as a source of amusement, 
and as an evidence to farmers that their dollars are ac¬ 
ceptable to the publisher, who thus pats them on the 
back, yet in others it is very well conducted, and one 
whose business it is to be familiar with current agricul¬ 
tural literature cannot ignore the fact that some able 
writers thus find employment for their pens. Witness 
Mitchell’s articles in the Atlantic, awhile since, Elliott’s 
in the Galaxy monthly, Olcott’s in the Connecticut Cour- 
ant, and a host of others we might mention. As a sign 
of the times it is most significant.. The agricultural press 
was never half so well conducted nor so influential as to¬ 
day—perhaps, in a measure, because its best productions 
are so widely circulated by being copied into the farmers’ 
columns ; perhaps, also, because the necessity is felt to 
show itself superior to those, so to speak, non-profess¬ 
ional writers, whoso agricultural ideas are mutilated in 
the daily and weekly newspapers. At any rate, we re- 
