THE CULTIVATOR. 
horns and face, forehead and nose; likewise smear 
plenty of tar about the manger and troughs. Before f 
commenced with the above remedy, I lost a number of 
my best cows, but we called the disease the horn dis¬ 
temper or murrain. I have had cows taken when in 
fine order, I might say almost fat enough for beef; they 
would linger a few days and die—the horns when exa¬ 
mined would always be hollow, and mostly dry—urine 
sometimes bloody. From the circumstance of your cows 
voiding bloody urine, I think it evidently the murrain 
your cows are afflicted with. It is a distemper caused 
sometimes by cattle drinking impure water. I would 
advise you to try it, always bearing in mind that it is 
necessary for the cow to swallow a good portion of the 
tar. Since I have used the tar, about two years, I have 
not had one of my cows diseased in any way, and one 
of my neighbors, whose cows were formerly diseased, 
has used it for a long time with the most complete suc¬ 
cess. I give the tar to horses, sheep and hogs, and think 
it good for them. 
If you should think it worth while to try it, and 
should succeed, I would be glad to hear from you, that 
is, after you have tested it fully. Direct to Union 
Town, Carroll county, Maryland. 
Since writing the above, I think it necessary to state, 
that I do not think the tar will be so likely to cure a 
diseased animal, but as a preventive of disease among 
stock of any kind I think it unrivalled, particularly for 
cows. Your friend, 
JOSEPH COOKSON. 
Princetown, Schenectady Co-., April 21, 18-38. 
Dear Sir, —Ten months have nearly elapsed since I 
received your letter in reply to one of mine which was 
published in the June number of the 4th vok of the Cul¬ 
tivator, giving an account of -a disease that prevailed 
among my cows, which I did not then know was what 
is called murrian , until informed by Judge Buel and 
yourself. My object in now writing you is, first, in ac¬ 
cordance with your own request; 2dly, to return you 
thanks for your promptitude and kindness in writing 
me, which I now do unfeignedly and gratefully; and, 
3dly, to inform you of the success of your prescription, 
mot only in my case but also with several of my neigh¬ 
bors. I can now go a step farther than you ventured to 
da, that is, I can recommend the use of tar, not as a 
.preventive only, but also as a cure for the above dis¬ 
ease. You will be able to judge from the following 
facts: I commence I, according to your directions, im¬ 
mediately on the receipt of your letter, from which time 
back to the date of mine already referred to, none of 
my cattle had been taken sick, but in three or four days 
after they had received the first dose one of them was 
seized. I first observed her in the morning, and imme¬ 
diately gave her another portion, perhaps double in 
quantity to what you recommend. At night she ap¬ 
peared to be no worse, but I gave her yet another dose; 
next morning she was evidently much better, and soon 
got entirely well. 
This was the last sickness of any kind to which any 
of my cattle have been subjected. The distemper has 
prevailed in this neighborhood, more or less, for a num¬ 
ber of years, very few recovering; and where it found 
Its way among a stock, it has sometimes swept the 
whole which the owner possessed. Application was 
made to me by three of my neighbors, to all of whom I 
recommended the use of the tar, and in every case the 
result was a complete cure. The first, (who like my¬ 
self had been contending with the disease for a consi¬ 
derable time,) had a cow so far gone that she was una¬ 
ble to stand, and was blind, yet, contrary to all expec 
tation, on a liberal application of the tar she recovered. 
Another had one of his cows violently seized, (he well 
knew the trouble as an old acquaintance, it having 
nearly swept him once before,) he applied the tar a few 
times in large doses, and she soon recovered. Another 
had lost two cows, but since he commenced giving tar, 
which is about six months, the others have remained in 
good health. These are the only cases that have come 
to my knowledge, but the result has been uniformly 
such as I think will warrant its publication. 
Your letter has been read in the office of the Cultiva¬ 
tor, and the result of your prescription in my own case 
has likewise been stated. A request has also been 
made for your letter for publication, which I have pro¬ 
mised, on condition that you make no objection, which 
I think very improbable, after your prompt communi¬ 
cation to an entire stranger. I will, however, wait un¬ 
til the last of May, and if I do not hear from you be¬ 
fore that time, your letter will probably appear in the 
June number. 
I am, dear sir, your much obliged well wisher, 
JAS. SMEALLE. 
Mr. Joseph Cookson. 
Cora Stalk Rodder. 
Knoxville, Tenn: r May 13, 1838. 
J. Buel, Esq—Sir—Our farmers generally pursue 
the old plan of stripping the fodder off the corn stalks, 
whenever the corn is sufficiently matured to do so.— 
The stalk is very seldom cut off near the ground, and 
we know very little of saving corn and fodder in that 
way. ' ? 
I have been under the impression that the blades 
would become so much dried before the corn would be 
sufficiently matured to cutup, that the fodder would be 
of little value. I would be glad of some additioiial in¬ 
formation on this subject, and also as to how long the 
stacks.are left standing in the field after cutting?— 
Whether the corn is taken off the stalk before housing? 
and any other information on this subject you may 
please to communicate in some subsequent number of 
the Cultivator. Very respectfully, your ob’t serv’t. 
MAT, McCLUNG. 
Remarks. —Our practice is, to cut up our corn as soon as 
the grain becomes glazed, or hard upon the surface—while 
the leaves and stalks are generally yet green and succulent, 
and to set it immediately in stooks. Being gathered in this 
succulent state, and protected in the stools from the injurious 
effects of the weather, it dries moderately, and retains most 
of its saccharine and nutrient matter. The corn may be 
picked from the stalk in twelve or fifteen days, if the weather 
is favorable, though the stocks require a longer time to cure, 
before they are housed. When the corn is taken off, we put 
the stalks into small stacks, so as to expose all the but ends, 
which have become wet by standing in the fields, to the dry¬ 
ing influence of the winds. The grain unquestionably de¬ 
rives more benefit from the stalk after it is cut up, than it does 
from the stock, after the latter has been stripped of its leaves, 
its elaborating organs, as practised at the south. The stook, 
containing 80 to 90 stalks, is tied above the ears, which latter 
keep it sufficiently open to prevent the grain heating or 
moulding. It should be remembered, that our corn stalks are 
pigmies, compared to those which grow in Tennessee. See 
a memorandum of our experiment at p. 142, in our 4th vol.— 
Cond. 
Potato Washer. 
Yorkville, Whitestoivn, April, 1838. 
J. Buel, —Sir,—I send by the bearer a model appa¬ 
ratus for washing potatoes and other roots. It is an 
old affair, therefore I am so much the more vexed to 
still see brother farmers washing their potatoes in box¬ 
es, troughs and baskets, when for the value of one good 
oak basket they can construct a washer that will last 15 
or 20 years. The cheapest way is to take that rude 
[Fig. No. 38.] 
plank you have kept so long because it was so fine, and 
strike two circles of 40 inches radius, depth 20 inches of 
course, and saw them out; now take one of your old 
barrels, if oak so much the better, the staves are exact¬ 
ly the right shape, a little too long perhaps, 2.3 inches is 
long enough, place the heads or ends that distance apart, 
and nail on the staves three-fourths of an inch asunder, 
over which nail three strong hoops, one on each end and 
one in the middle; now bore a two inch hole in each 
head two inches below the compass dot, through which 
put a shaft, which maybe put through or notched on to 
two posts; the posts may be set in the ground, or, if it 
is desirable to render the whole moveable, they maybe 
attached to a timber or plank floor. There you have it, 
now we will try it. Pour the potatoes in over one end 
to keep its equilibrium, then dash on a bucket of wa¬ 
ter, and facing one end, and with a hand on each side 
rock it to and fro, so slow that the potatoes follow the 
motion; when they appear to be all wet, put in another 
bucket of water and let them drain; so tip it down, (it 
being high enough to set your basket under,) and they 
will slide out freely. With a washer of this kind, any 
one who can carry a bushel of potatoes can wash, with 
two buckets of water, two bushels in less than two mi¬ 
nutes. 
It is obvious that it will wash ruta bagas, beets, &c. 
equally well, and apples also. There you have my ac¬ 
count of the matter; but it is no use to say so much 
about it; my neighbors see me using it frequently, and 
acknowledge it is a grand thing, and then go straight 
home and continue the use of their baskets and troughs 
as before. ; Tis this that vexes me, because every one 
of them can make one if they will. 
Respectfully, H. G. BALIS. 
P. S. I wish to ask you one question. If my basket 
will hold a bushel of grain even full, ought it to be con¬ 
sidered a fair bushel of potatoes if I fill it heaping full? 
[Yes.]— Cond. 
Cure for Ring Bone. 
Mr. Editor,— Are we not individually called upon, 
when we become acquainted with any knowledge which 
by a more extended diffusion will promote the interest 
and welfare of those around us, to make known the 
same to the public? 
Feeling this to be a duty, I would direct the attention 
of all gentlemen who are raising horses to that distress¬ 
ing complaint, viz. the ring-bone. 
Having in the early part of my life paid considerable 
attention to the raising of horses, but finding them sub¬ 
ject to so many complaints, and especially that of the 
ring-bone, I was much discouraged in the enterprise, 
and was led to ascertain, if possible, the causes of that 
complaint, and if any remedy could be found. From 
all the information that I could obtain from different au¬ 
thors on the subject, and from my own experimental 
knowledge of the complaint, I was led to conclude that 
there were various causes for the complaint—that colts 
Which are kept confined in a stable, and the floor clean¬ 
ed off' daily, are more liable to be affected with ring¬ 
bones, than those that are kept on the ground or on 
floors well littered. Low keeping, by weakening the 
joints, has a tendency to produce them. In young hor¬ 
ses they are generally occasioned by sprains, which are 
made by being rode or drove too hard, running in the 
pasture, or leaping fences. 
After hearing the above statement as to the causes, 
the reader may with propriety inquire, what composes 
the ring-bone, and whence does it originate ? In answer 
to this inquiry—I have found it to be composed of the sy* 
novia or juices of the ankle or fetlock joint, which, by 
some of the forementioned causes, is made to flow or 
leak from the joint, and is at first collected into a small 
sack in the back part of the fetlock joint; from thence 
it is conveyed by two small tubes to each side of the 
foot, where it gradually forms the callous or ring-bone. 
For the last thirty years I have been in the habit of 
successfully performing an operation, which prevents 
the ring-bone from increasing in size, and if not lame 
previous to the operation, the animal never after be¬ 
comes lame in consequence of the ring-bone; but if lame 
before the operation is performed, a period of from one 
to twelve months is required for their recovery, much 
depending on the length of time which they have been 
lame. 
The operation is performed in the following manner. 
I first shear off' the fetlock, then make an incision thro’ 
the skin and extract the sack above mentioned, at the 
same time taking care to destroy the communication 
from the joint to the ring-bone, by cutting off the tubes 
or conveyors from the joint to the ring-bone. 
If the aforesaid operation is performed skilfully, the 
horse is as fit for use in one week as before. 
ZECHARIAH CONE. 
Hebron, Conn., March 26,1838. 
Remarks.—D r. Wiilich says, where the tumefied part is 
distinctly perceivable round the pastern, without affecting the 
coffin joint, it is easily cured, but if the swelling be of long- 
continuance, and has become hard, it may then require both 
blistering and firing,” i. e. searing with a hot iron”-—Extend 
a mild blister over the cauterized part 
Importance of Agriculture—to all. 
Stroudsburg, 23 d May, 1838. 
Dear Sir, —Although not a farmer by occupation, yet 
there is no department of human industry regarded by 
me with so deep an interest, as that of the cultivation 
and melioration of the soil. The sad experience of the 
few last years has brought us to feel how immediately 
we depend upon the humble calling of the husbandman 
for the daily supply of our most pressing wants. Un¬ 
der Providence, society looks up to the farmer; who- 
holds in trust the elements, not only of human comfort.,, 
but of existence itself. How important then is the bu¬ 
siness of agriculture—and, I will add, how respectable 
too. Yes, sir, how respectable, in itself, and in the pub¬ 
lic estimation. Among private citizens, I know of none 
more worthy of honor than the industrious, intelligent 
and virtuous farmer—and to such a man, notwithstand¬ 
ing his plain garb and hard hand of labor, I would 
sooner bow, than to a score of genteel loungers, who 
contrive to “ lash the lingering moments into speed” by 
novel reading, hunting, fishing and the like. 
But the farmer, in order that he may receive honor 
from those only who can confer it, must have intelli¬ 
gence, hence he must read, for no man in these days of' 
improvement and experiment can keep pace with socie¬ 
ty unless he adds the experience and observation of 
others to his own ; and this is to be done byreading, re¬ 
flection and experiment. Hence the utility of well con¬ 
ducted agricultural journals—and such, sir, without in¬ 
tending flattery, I would denominate yours. 
When I sat down, I intended to touch a subject on 
which I would be glad to see some remarks from your¬ 
self. In every district of country where I have resided,, 
a general belief prevails of the influence of the moon’s 
phases on vegetation, as well as on various other things, 
together with a belief in the important influence of the 
signs. Now if these influences are only imaginary, as 
I suppose them to be, it is a matter of some conse¬ 
quence that the farmer should settle that point in his 
own mind. If error it is, it is by no means a fruitless 
error. Bad consequences, at least sometimes, may fol¬ 
low. Take an instance. A farmer has prepared his 
ground for Indian corn. It is in good condition;; the 
season has come round, and all is favorable— except the 
sign. He must wait a week, perhaps, for the sign to 
travel on to aries, in order that the ears of his antici¬ 
pated crop may correspond in length with those mem¬ 
bers of the body. When at last the golden moment ar¬ 
rives, sad to state, a rain has set in, which, had he com¬ 
mitted his seed to the ground in season, would have 
been most favorable to its early germination; hut, as 
matters are, it may put to hazard his whole crop, in 
those latitudes where a week’s difference in the acces¬ 
sion of the first autumnal frost will often make the dif¬ 
ference of harvest or no harvest.* 
* The moon has unquestionably an influence upon vege¬ 
tables and animals, as well as upon the ocean of waters; but 
we have never seen it attempted to be maintained, by men of 
scientific knowledge, nor have we ever believed, that one 
phase of this planet was more fa vorable to the deposit of seeds 
in the earth than another phase ; and as for signs, the only- 
one that we ever wait for, after our ground is prepared, and 
the season of planting or sowing arrived, is that of good wea¬ 
ther, which we are sure to improve ; and seldom fail of rea¬ 
lizing good crops, whether the moon, at planting, be in aries: 
