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REVIEW OF THE JULY NUMBER OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
Pork — Bacon — Ham, No. 4 .—1 have the same 
objections to this as No. 3—the directions are 
all for England and will not be adopted in this 
country. [All true enough, but we publish 
these papers to show our farmers how other 
nations manage; and besides, they will suggest 
improved methods to them, perhaps.— Eds.] In 
the first place, there is no difficulty in saving 
hams from decay and fly blows in the United 
States, if there is in England. There, they de¬ 
pend upon salt alone ; here, smoke is our great 
preserver of bacon. If the ham is put up in 
canvass and whitewashed, or even loose cotton 
bags drawn over it as it hangs, it may continue 
to hang, and will keep perfectly sweet for 
years. English instruction to us how to cure 
bacon we have no use for. [We think differ¬ 
ently, if the hams are to be exported to England ; 
for if not put up in their style, they will not 
give near so much for them. —Eds.] The direc¬ 
tion to render lard in water is one that may be 
followed by those who like it. I never shall, 
because it is wrong. 
Meadow Lands in North Carolina. —Where? 
Some fiiistake here. Sow grass in North Caro¬ 
lina? Will it grow there? Yes, after the hogs 
root up the land in digging up the roots, and 
work it deeper, and prepare it better than it is 
usually done by the miserable system of plowing, 
which generally prevails there. To grow grass 
anywhere, the land must be tilled, not scratched 
about two inches deep. Take pattern from the 
pigs, and plow deeper. Buy better plows, and 
use them. Sow grass seed, manure the land, 
and make hay. 
Steaming Potatoes. —“ The secret of steaming 
potatoes is very little understood.” That is a 
fact, particularly when cooking for human 
food. Human ingenuity might be taxed its ut¬ 
most to invent modes of cooking that would 
produce as much bad food as the miserable 
manner in which half the potatoes eaten in this 
country are cooked. Go dine at a public table 
and look at the sodden, water-soaked things 
called boiled potatoes. Not one person in ten 
knows how to cook this plain, simple dish. 
Poultry Raising. —There are some sensible 
facts in this little article, one of which is that 
poultry raising is not so very profitable as some 
fancy breeders would induce us to believe (if 
we buy our stock from them). This writer 
says the small varieties are much the best for 
eggs. No doubt of it. And there is another 
secret worth knowing. Eggs are sold by the 
dozen, big or little, generally all of a price. 
Which will cost the most? 
Cultivation of Flax. —What a fortune every 
farmer can now make, (on paper—flax paper,) 
if there are not too many ifs in the way. 
Field Rollers. —A short truthful article. The 
use of a cast-iron roller, which costs, perhaps, 
$75, will often pay for itself in the increase of 
one crop. 
Thorough Drainage. —A sentence never under¬ 
stood in America, much more carried into prac¬ 
tice ; and yet, it would often double the value 
of the land ov^r and above the cost of the work. 
Pray, read the last paragraph of that article 
again. See what draining does for land. 
Analysis of Soils. —There is one very remark¬ 
able feature in this analysis of Dr. Blake’s soil, 
upon which he had applied 80 bushels of lime 
to the acre; that is, it only shows 44 per cent 
of lime in the soil and 80 per cent, in the sub¬ 
soil. It shows that there was sufficient lime 
already in the soil, and that it was useless to 
apply any. These tables of analysis are highly 
valuable, and it is truly surprising why farmers 
do not avail themselves of the cheap facility 
they now enjoy of having a correct analysis 
made of soils from the principle fields they 
have in cultivation. 
To Kill Lice on Poultry. —With onions ? Who 
ever tried it? Don’t believe it, I don’t. [But 
others do who have tried it. They inform us it of¬ 
ten kills them. —Eds.] 
Horticultural Department. —Here is an old hand 
at a new trade. I shall wait a little till I can 
find what tack he sails worst upon, and then 
run aboard of him. 
Ladies’ Department. —Glad to see it again, if it 
is half chicken feed. Now for pity’s sake, 
Messrs. Editors, don’t give us anything more 
about hens and chickens for three months, at 
least. Here are three articles upon this subject 
in one number, which is a little too much for 
easy digestion. I am fond of chicken, but don’t 
like too much stuffing. [Pray, Master Reviewer, 
don’t you know that the fever is pervading the 
country, and must have its run ?— Eds.] 
Review of Professor Johnston’s Travels. —Prob¬ 
ably very just criticism, but a little too long 
for your journal, I am thinking. 
The World’s Exhibition. —The greatest build¬ 
ing in the world, covering the greatest humbug 
ever conceived by any great showman. [Don’t 
be in quite so great a hurry with your opinions, 
Captain; you will see good results from this 
yet. Large orders to American mechanics have 
already been given, and more doubtless, will 
shortly follow.— Eds.] America has burnt her 
fingers in it. Reviewer. 
