THE CULTIVATOR. 
41 
the second, the low price at which the applicant holds 
his mental qualifications. If the hireling does his work, 
no matter whether the children learn any thing useful 
or not. 
Sweet Potatoes, have been kept till May, packed in a 
box of dry earth in autumn, placed in a position free 
from frost, and exposed to the influence of smoke. 
Efficacy of Bone Manure. —Horace Callimore, states, 
in the Plymouth Rock, that he expended twelve bushels 
of bone manure, when brought into an incipent state of 
fermentation, upon his mangold wurzel and ruta baga 
crop, scattering it in every other drill—a handful in three 
feet; and that on gathering the crop, he found that he 
had four bushels of mangold wurzel, and two bushels of 
ruta baga—(both being alternated in the same row) in 
each row where the bone manure was applied, and but 
one bushel of each, in the rows where it was not appli¬ 
ed, although the whole was manured with a compost— 
thus shewing an increase of two-thirds where the bone 
dust was applied. 
Elastic Forks. —We accede to the proposition of O. 
Everett, of Sherburne, Mass. 
Davis’ genuine Ploughs —are manufactured and sold 
by Davis & King, Georgetown, D. C. dealers in produce, 
garden-seeds, &c. and agents for the Cultivator. 
Morus Multicaulis trees and cuttings, sold by Joseph 
Bloodgood, Cultivator agent, Flushing, L. I., who sells 
also the China tree corn. 
Italian Wheat. —Fifty bushel* of pure seed have been 
imported, and are for sale, by J. Hathaway, P. M. Rome, 
Oneida county. 
Notices of Correspondence. 
Correction. —We quoted Mr. Whitmarsh, in one of 
our late numbers, as saying, that the “Alpine mulber¬ 
ry was universally raised in France and Italy.” We 
are advised by Mr. Whitmarsh, that he was misunder¬ 
stood by the gentleman who reported his remarks—that 
he said no such thing. His expression was, that “ the 
better varieties of the white mulberry were grafted and 
budded universally in France and Italy, and that such 
a system would not answer for this country.” 
Our hack volumes, in relation to which we are en¬ 
quired of by S. Armstrong, of Bethlehem, la. may be 
had bound of our agents at New-York, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore, &c. see agents. Mr. A. will find answers to 
his inquiries in back vols. Timothy is best sown in 
September with winter grain, and we think, though we 
do not know, that blue grass is best sown at the same 
season. 
Lice upon Cattle. —A. Higgins, of Smokey Hollow, 
asks for a prescription for destroying lice upon cattle. 
Boil the stems or leaves of tobacco in water, and apply 
the liquid, when cold, along the back, shoulders and 
neck of the animal, once, twice or thrice. Or, what is 
said to he equally efficacious, give a little flour of sul¬ 
phur, one- or twice a week, with salt, which the ani¬ 
mal will eat kindly. 
Berkshire Pigs —We have several inquiries in rela¬ 
tion to Berkshire pigs. We refer, for answers, to the 
advertisements accompanying our Feb. No. 
Boynton’s Straw Cutter, we have neither tried nor 
seen. We refer J. A. D. to our advertising sheet for 
February. 
Rohan Potatoes —We are obliged to repeat, that we 
have had none of these on hand since October, to part 
with. We dare hardly name the current price, as it 
is constantly advancing, and is now §6 the bushel.— 
See advertisements in our February sheet. 
Farming in Middle’ Tennessee —John Brown writes 
from Columbia, Ten. as follows: “ In Middle Tennes¬ 
see our climate is very fine, our soil exceedingly pro¬ 
ductive, but our husbandry is in a most lamentable con¬ 
dition. From the intrinsic merit of the Cultivator, and 
the practical information o lie re I to its readers, our 
agricultural labors must be greatly improved. Middle 
Tennessee is well adapted to the production of grain, 
roots and grass, of almost every variety. Heretofore 
we have been principally engaged in the culture of cot¬ 
ton, a misapplication of labor and capital, owing to 
our climate being too cold, and our soil too rich, for 
the profitable cultivation of that article. But the error 
is rapidly curing itself. I have the Cultivator from 
the beginning, and ten times its cost would not take it 
from me.” 
TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS. 
Stephen Earle, of Leicester, Mass, asks us the fol¬ 
lowing questions. 
1. “ Which is the best time, spring or fall, to set out 
spruce and pine trees? 
2. “ Is it a good practice to mix barn-yard manure with 
the dirt that is put about the roots? 
3. “ Is it a good plan to water the trees occasionally if 
the season is dry ?” 
Our answers are, that the best time to transplant the 
spruce and pine, though they may be transplanted at 
any time, is the last of May or first of June, after the 
plants have begun to grow, or during any of the periods 
of active growth, if due precautions are taken to coun¬ 
teract evaporation, or to prevent the exhaustion of mois¬ 
ture in the soil. Barn-yard dung should not be mixed 
with dirt about the roots—rich surface mould is best. 
Water may be given to keep the ground moist, but not 
too wet. A bucket or more of water may be thrown 
into the hole in the process of transplanting—and the 
surface, after the tree is planted, should be covered 
with coarse litter, to prevent evaporation. Mr. Earle 
will find our reasons for this practice, and an account 
of our success in it, in the back volumes of the Culti¬ 
vator. 
Native Mulberry —A Fishkill correspondent inquires 
if the native black and red mulberry can be propagat¬ 
ed by layers and cuttings? We have no native black. 
Without having had practical knowledge, we may ven¬ 
ture to say that the native red can be propagated by 
layers, and we think by cuttings. Quince cuttings may 
be made at any time after the fall of the leaf and be¬ 
fore the buds swell much in the spring. We think the 
best mode is to cut in the fall, and bury the shoots till 
spring. 
One of our correspondents writes as follows —“ Some 
of your correspondents seem to think, that there are 
none benefitted by the Cultivator but those who read it. 
But I am satisfied there are many who have never seen it 
have profitted by the information which it contains, 
through the influence and example of those who do read it. 
And as this knowledge comes to them in a manner that 
does not interfere with their prejudices, I have no doubt 
it is preparing the way for them hereafter, to be still 
more benefitted, by inducing many of them to turn their 
attention to books and papers that treat of agriculture.” 
Botsford’s Thrashing Machine, is inquired for by se¬ 
veral correspondents. Our readers are in possession of 
all the information we have in relation to it. We have 
seen a model, but have not seen the machine ; nor can 
we give directions further than we have published.— 
Mr. Joseph P. Plummer, of Richmond, la. thinks, judg¬ 
ing from the price probably, that they would just suit 
his country. Mr. P. had better grow beets upon 
his hog pasture, if it is moist, or inclined to clay. 
Preparing Seed Corn —Edmund Wells, of Harmony, 
prepares his seed corn as follows: for half a bushel of 
seed, he dissolves nitre, or salt petre, in water, till it 
will bear an egg ; makes the water about blood warm, 
and steeps his seed in it twelve hours. He then takes 
it from the tub, and pours upon it a mixture of 3 gills 
of tar, one gill of oil, half a pound of powder, and boil¬ 
ing water enough to make it of a proper consistence 
for glazing the corn, rolls the seed in plaster, and plants, 
taking care to keep the grain moist. “ It comes up 
rank,” says Mr. P., “ is larger at one week old than 
dry planted at two, and I am confident I have not lost 
a single hill the two past seasons. The smell is so dis¬ 
agreeable when prepared as above, that neither crows, 
birds, squirrels, field mice nor cut worms are disposed 
to meddle with it.” Mr. P. asks if nitre and sulphur 
will answer the same purpose, and if yes, how much 
of each ? Sulphur would no doubt prove a good anti¬ 
dote, and there would be no danger of using it to ex¬ 
cess—yet we think tar and powder equally beneficial. 
Lice upon Ruta Baga and Cabbage —In reply to the in¬ 
quiry of Mr. C. Holbrook, of Woonsacket, we are sor¬ 
ry to state, that we know of no certain remedy against 
plant lice. Good manuring and good culture is the best 
remedy; though wethinktobaccowaterorsulphur would 
expel them from the upper side of the leaves. If sul¬ 
phur is used in a liquid, it may be first mixed with 
milk, and then blended with water. 
A gentleman in Dorchester, Mass, asks if “ there is 
any difference in the manner of growth, the size and 
quality of the leaf, between the Canton and multicau¬ 
lis mulberry, and whether the former will stand our 
winters better than the latter?” The multicaulis has 
the larger leaf, and we think the Canton is the most 
hardy. See our article on the mulberry. 
The Silk-Reel, a drawing of which we received from 
R. Mansfield, is the Piedmont reel recommended by the 
National Silk Convention. We will procure a cut, and 
insert and notice it in our next No. 
“ Is there a cast iron Plough, of good construction, in 
use. with a steel point ?” is the question put to us by C. 
Ingalls, of Lockport. Norton’s self-sharpening plough, 
sold by Wm. Mascraft, No. 23 Washington-street, Al¬ 
bany, is a cast iron plough of this kind. The point 
and share are separate, and are so formed as to be 
turned upside down, at pleasure, and made thus to 
sharpen themselves. This plough is said to have re¬ 
ceived premiums at New-York, Philadelphia, Balti¬ 
more and Washington, and its merits are highly spoken 
of by the patentee. Never having used it, we speak of 
it according to report, and not from personal knowledge. 
On the subject of advice —A correspondent in Allega¬ 
ny last year described to us the quality of the soil in 
his neighborhood, and asked us how it should be ma¬ 
naged, and now seems to take it unkind that we did 
not answer his question. A physician lays down gene¬ 
ral rules for the prevention and cure of diseases; 
but should he venture to prescribe in particular 
cases, without seeing his patient, or knowing the ex¬ 
act type of his disease, he would be apt to be brand¬ 
ed as a quack. Now we have endeavored ' i make 
known the general principles of husbandry, to enable 
the farmer to improve his practice, leaving him to ap¬ 
ply these principles to his particular case. Soils differ 
like the human constitution, and it would be as futile 
for us to prescribe, in many cases, as it would be for a 
physician to prescribe for an unseen and unknown pa¬ 
tient. John Randolph once remarked, that a man at 
forty is either a physician or a fool ; meaning thereby 
to imply, that in forty years experience a man of good 
sense will acquire a knowledge of his constitution, and 
of the best means of preserving his health. This will 
in some sort apply to the farmer. With a knowledge 
of general principles, the cultivator of a farm should 
know how best to apply them to his particular case.— 
This is his particular province and duty. There is no 
panacea in agriculture any more than there is in medi¬ 
cine. If land is poor, make it rich ; if it is wet, make 
it dry; if it is badly managed, work it better. Ascer¬ 
tain the cause of infertility, or deterioration, and the 
remedy is palpable, remove or abate the cause. We 
have another apology for seeming neglect to answer all 
the special queries that are sent to us. They are very 
numerous, and the task of answering them, in a satis¬ 
factory manner, would be herculean. Under this view 
of the matter, we hope that none of our correspondents 
will construe our silence into intentional neglect—and 
that they will accord to us an honest and constant en¬ 
deavor, to do the most good to the greatest number of our 
patrons. 
Pitts’ Thrasher —George Love’s request will be sub¬ 
mitted to Mr. Pitts as soon as he reaches Albany, which 
he is expected to do in a few days. 
“ A Friend to Improvement,” can be gratified if he 
will permit us to use his proper name. Communi¬ 
cations like his might be sent us from every county in 
the Union. We could not judge of their correctness; 
and without the sanction of a responsible name, both 
ourselves and our readers might be imposed upon with 
impunity. The precedent, it will be seen, would be a 
bad one. 
Preparation of Clover Seed —We have received two 
communications from Joseph Warbasse, of Newtown, 
Sussex county, N. J., on the preparation of clover seed 
for sowing, by which the writer calculates he makes a 
saving of one half the seed required. This is a matter 
of no little consideration at the present price of seed. 
Mr. Warbasse’s process seems to be predicated on 
the assumed fact, that ordinarily more than one-half 
of the seed sown does not germinate, either from the 
want of moisture to swell it, or of gypsum, the presence 
of which he considers essential to stimulate the germin¬ 
ating principle. Mr. Warbasse is probably right in 
stating, that one-half the clover seed sown does not 
come up; and he is strengthened in his supposition that 
much of it remains dormant in the soil by the fact he 
states, and which is of common notoriety, that plaster 
sown upon light lands, will bring in clover, where no 
seed is sown at the time. Mr. Warbasse’s remedy for 
the evil is, to saturate and swell the seed thoroughly in 
soft water, to which a small quantity of salt is added, 
and after it has become well saturated, to coat it with 
gypsum, &c. the effect of which seems to be, to prevent 
the escape of moisture which the seed has imbibed, and 
thus insure its germination and growth. A further ad¬ 
vantage may be, that the salts impart fertility to the 
soil which comes in immediate contact with the seeds, 
and causes a more vigorous growth. Such seems to be 
the philosophy upon which Mr. W.’s practice is found¬ 
ed. We give the process of preparing the seed in his 
own words: 
“ The seed is to be made thoroughly wet with a strong 
pickle from your pork cask, so as to wet the floor ; then 
let it remain in a heap one day, it being thus made 
larger in each grain. In cold weather warm your pic¬ 
kle and give it an additional salting next day. Spread 
it about one or more inches thick on a dry floor, and 
in a few days a crust of salt will be formed on each 
grain, again enlarging it; when you wish to sow it, 
the weather being calm, moisten it with more salt pic¬ 
kle ; spread it over a floor, and put on it about three 
quarts or more of plaster to a half bushel seed ; mix 
it well; the plaster will adhere to the crust of salt on 
each grain, still further enlarging it; and thus you have 
in bulk nearly one bushel out of half a bushel of seed. 
Keep it moist in a cellar until you sow it, and take no 
more seed in your fingers but rather less than in the old 
way,\ making longer steps while sowing, and go over 
the eight-pace land three times. I have thus sowed 
twelve acres or more with one bushel of seed, and all in 
good condition. 
For want of plaster, strong dry ashes may be used, 
not over moist; but as I have not fully tested the ad¬ 
vantages of this method, I shall leave it as it is. 
N. B. Those who do not fully understand the prepar¬ 
ing of clover seed agreeably to the above directions, or 
are fearful of using the salt pickle, after having paid a 
high price for the seed, can prepare a water for steep¬ 
ing equally stimulating by boiling a few gallons of snow 
or rain water, and putting into it a fire-shovel full of 
plaster and a fire-shovel full of strong ashes or hot em¬ 
bers, with two hands full of salt. This water when 
cool, drain off and steep your seed in it two days, and 
before you sow it, wet it with milk, of any sort, this 
too will become an agent to encrust the seed with plas¬ 
ter, and so will any water, made slimy or oily; rye-meal 
would be better than milk to render.it adhesive; starch 
and flaxseed put in while warm, might also be used to 
advantage. By following these directions you can sow 
twdee as many acres and have better crops of clover 
without sowing any plaster on it the same summer.” 
Loss of the Cud. —D. L. Dodge, of Plainfield, N. J., 
wishes us to give a more full and connected statement 
of the nature, symptoms, and remedies for diseases in 
cattle, particularly for neat cattle and horses. This re¬ 
quest shall be duly attended to. He at the same time 
apprehends, he shall lose a very valuable bull, inconse¬ 
quence of the loss of his cud. On this subject Lawrence 
directs : 
“ Let the animal fast some hours, then give a warm 
bran or pollard mash, with good hay, and warm water 
with salt. This treatment alone, may succeed with pa¬ 
tience, even should the maw be obstructed by acorns or 
crabs. An aloe tincture, made with brandy and ginger, 
or capsicum, might be of use in this case. After con¬ 
quering the obstruction, bitter infusions, made of cha¬ 
momile, cardirus, horehound, oak-bark, &c. in beer, may 
be required as restoratives, although perhaps good dry 
nourishing food, will have an equal good effect.” 
