70 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
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of cropping- and management is detailed. This ad .lress 
■was afterwards printed by the society. Mr. Stimson’s 
farm and management will bear favoi'able comparison 
with those of the best agriculturists in any part of the 
world; his crops are far, very far above the average of 
any country. The soil of Mr. Stimson’s farm is of a light 
quality, and by many would be accounted poor. His ro¬ 
tation is as follows:—1st, corn—2d, barley—3d, hay— 
4th, hay or pasture—5th, wheat; or sometimes, Ist, corn 
—^2d, barley—3d, hay—4th, hay or pasture—5th, peas— 
6th, wheat. About 12 loads per acre of manure, with a 
Small quantity of plaster, was found sufficient to support 
this course; although sometimes, as I understood, he ex¬ 
tended the pasture in some of his fields, to two or three 
years. The peculiar and distinguishing feature of Mr. 
Stimson’s management is shallow plowing, by which the 
manure is constantly retained near the surface of the soil, 
and thereby al-ways within reach of the crop. This,with 
his extraordinary correct tillage, is the great secret of 
his uncommon success. Another peculiarity of Mr. Stim- 
son's marf.gement, is in having a very large garden, an 
acre or two, if I recollect right, cultivated chiefly by the 
plow, -which is never allowed to go deeper in the soil 
than three inches. On stating my doubt as to the suffi¬ 
ciency of this depth for carrots and other tap rooted 
plants, he said it was no way detrimental, but the con¬ 
trary. It is as much as fifteen or sixteen years since I 
had the pleasure of paying a visit to Mr. Stimson, and I 
can never forget his kindness and attention in showing 
me his improvements, and most readily affording me eve¬ 
ry information regarding his management. A like ac¬ 
knowledgment is due to him by many others as well as 
myself. 
The next rotation I shall notice, is that of Mr. Wood¬ 
ward, being on the farm which gained the premium of 
the Onondaga co. Ag. Society, recorded in the Cultiva¬ 
tor, vol. IX, p. 68. This farm consists of 225 acres ara¬ 
ble; the whole kept under a four shift course of 1st, corn 
and potatoes—2d, oats or wheat—3d, wheat—4th, clover 
and pasture—a most profitable course, and well adapted 
to keep the ground clean and in good order. This rota¬ 
tion is similar to the British four shift course, commonly 
known as the Norfolk system, but which has been tried 
in other counties, both in England and Scotland. It has 
been generally found to require more manure to support 
it, without deterioration, than the farm can produce, and 
therefore in most cases has been carried out to a five or 
six, and even to a seven shift, by continuing the grass for 
two or three years longer, and with this modification, is 
now extended over a great part of the island, on all kinds 
of soil excepting strong clays, where turneps cannot be 
raised to advantage. The uncommonly large quantity 
of plaster used by Mr. Woodward, cannot escape obser- 
.vation, and may perhaps contribute greatly to his suc¬ 
cess. The very large stock of horses, cattle, and sheep, 
kept on 47 acres of clover, affords sufficient proof of the 
high condition of the soil. The striking coincidence of 
these rotations with the Norfolk system, as modified 
above, induces me to think that with these modifications, 
as suited to particular soils and situations, there is much 
probability of their gradually gaining ground, and becom¬ 
ing the leading and favorite systems of the easteim and 
middle states of the Union. Mr. Stimson’s rotation, if 
we substitute turneps for corn for the fallow crop, is ex¬ 
actly the system that presently prevails over two-thirds 
of Scotland, and a great part of England. It was my in¬ 
tention to notice one or two more of the rotations record¬ 
ed in the Cultivator, but this paper is already long enough. 
I therefore only add, with best wishes for your success, 
that I am yours, &c. Senex. 
Saratoga co. Feb. l5, 1843. 
P. S. Mr. Stimson’s Address ought, in my humble opin¬ 
ion, to have a place in the Cultivator. Although nine¬ 
teen years old, there is none better of the present day. It 
ought to be preserved. 
MOLE TRAP.—(Fig. 36.) 
Editors of the Cultivator— One of your corres¬ 
pondents having made inquiry for a mole trap, I send you 
a drawing and description of one which I have had in 
use for several years, and which I have found very ef¬ 
fective. The mole which this trap is intended to de¬ 
stroy, is an animal that lives wholly in the ground, mov¬ 
ing generally near the surface, and i-aising the earth over 
it as it passes along, leaving a little ridge, which is hol¬ 
low underneath, as if bored with an auger. 
T. W. represents the track of a mole. F. F. are two 
sets of spikes, made like a hetchel. The points of the 
spikes are sharp, and they are placed directly over and 
lengthwise the track, but so that the points do not enter 
the'^hollo-ft' path underneath. The back or board into 
which the spikes are inserted, is 6 by 3 inches, and 1 
inch thick. The spikes are 4^ inches long below the 
board or back, and two-tenths of an inch in diameter, 
made of iron wire; 10 in each board. Directly over the 
spikes, hangs a weight; being a wooden box containing 
pieces of old iron, and weighing 15 pounds. Its dimen¬ 
sions are 14 inches long, 3^ wide, and 4 deep. Round 
the middle of the box, at S., is strapped an iron hoop. A 
wire passes from the hoop at S. to C., (5 inches long,) 
where it forms a loop which hooks over the end of a wire 
leading from C. to D. This last wire (0. D.,) is 12 inch¬ 
es long, and two-tenths of an inch in diameter. From 
D. to P. is another wire 16| inches long, hooking on to 
the wire C. D. at D., and at P. hooking loosely on to a 
screw which is fastened to the catch E. H. The catch is 
of wood, 12 inches long, and half an inch square; flat¬ 
tened at the end E., where it is let into a notch in the 
post. At the end H., it has a sliding pin, b}"- which 
may be made longer or shorter, as occasion requires. 
This pin slides in a hole bored the length of a gimblet, 
into H. E., and is let into a notch in the spring bar H. 
W., at H. The spring bar is 18 inches long and three- 
fourths of an inch square. It moves upon a pivot at N., 
in a mortice at the bottom of the post. From the pivot 
to the end of the bar at H., is 4^ inches. The end of the 
bar at W., is run into the mole’s path under the ridge. 
Some attention is required to adjust the bar properly. If 
it goes too deep into the mole’s path, he will crawl over 
it and not spring the trap. If it is run into the upper 
side of the hollow track, the mole will raise it up as he 
passes along. The effect of raising the bar at W, is to 
lower the end H.; that lets off the pin at H. The weight 
then tips up the wire 0. D.; slips off at C., and falls up¬ 
on the spikes, driving them into the mole. In order to 
give the weight a good purchase upon the wire C. D., 
the wire passes over the head of a screw at X., standing 
up from the cross bar two-tenths of an inch. At C., is a 
mortice through the cross bar, 4| inches long, and half 
an inch wide. The cross bar A. D., is 23 inches long 
and 2 wide, loosely dovetailed at A., into the post A. B. 
The post A. B. is sharpened at B., and drove into the 
ground so as to stand firm. It is 30 inches long, 2^ wide, 
and 1 thick. The other post, D. N., has a wire driven 
into its upper end, and running up 1 inch into the cross 
bar at D. This post is 25| inches long, 2 wide, and 1 
thick. It stands upon a fiat stone or chip, and is kept 
firm by the braces O. M., M., which are sharpened and 
run into the ground at M, and catch into notches in the 
post at O. The braces are pieces of lath, 32 inches long. 
To keep the weight perpendicular over the spikes, it is 
necessary to stick up a couple of stakes on one side of it. 
If the wind blows hard, four stakes may be necessary. 
When the trap is set, it is well to press your foot into 
the mole’s track, on both sides of the trap, so that it may 
be known whether the animal passes without springing 
it. The spikes must be set so that they will not hit the 
bar when they are driven down. They must stand up¬ 
right; if they lean, they will not be driven into the 
ground. Noyes Darling. 
New-IIavcn, Ct. Dec. 12, 1842. 
surface COVERING OF WHEAT AND CLOVER. 
Messrs. Editors— My continued experiments in the 
use of pine straw and other litter, as a covering to wheat 
after sowing, and as an antidote to clover burning out in 
sandy or any soil, more than realize my expectations. 
By four years trial, I have now found it always benefits 
the wheat; sometimes increasing the product one-half at 
least; and ever guards the clover against the misfortune 
of burning out in hot dry summers. Several in this re¬ 
gion have adopted my plan, and are encouraged by the 
results to go more fully into it. Light four-tined iron 
forks, which we procure from Baltimore, greatly facili¬ 
tate the gathering and loading in the woods, and the 
spreading the pine straw or leaves over the ground. We 
take due care to spread it a proper thickness, say not o- 
ver an inch. I have tried with the happiest results, co¬ 
vering oats and clover sowed together in the spring, and 
also clover covered the spring or winter following the 
time sowed. And Irish potatoes here, thus covered, 3j 
4, or more inches thick, are greatly increased in product 
and effectually guarded against drouth. 
As to double and tripple crops, these I continue with 
ever favorable results; instead of rye, I have sowed 
wheat, buckwheat, and clover, the beginning of August, 
and all did well. The buckwheat cut first of October, 
and wheat following summer—and clover then in a fine 
growing state. The 1st of August, is too early here to 
sow wheat, other than with the buckwheat, to shade and 
keep it back. All three essentially benefited by said co¬ 
vering of pine straw, immediately after sowing. 
Respectfully Yours, 
Sidney Weller. 
BrinMeyville, Halifax co. N, C., Feb. 24, 1843. 
^Department. 
HORSE DISTEMPER, &e. 
“Messrs. Editors —^Will you be so kind as to an¬ 
swer the following- queries? What is the best remedy 
for the horse distemper? Symptoms-.-swelling of the 
glanas of the throat, running at the nose, and refusing to 
eat or drink. Is there any preventive to the worm which 
destroys the common locust by boring in the bark and 
wood? Are there any of the Dorking fo-wls to be had in 
your vicinity? And if so, what would be the Cost of a 
pair, and the expense of sending them to this place? 
What is the best kind of salt to feed stock? 
Shoreham, Vt., 1843. E. H. Northeup.” 
The “ distemper” in its commencement is febrile, and 
during this stage, bleeding is useful. If there is much 
swelling of the glands and the throat, blistering them 
should be resorted to at once, or setons may be intro¬ 
duced. The progress of the inflammation of the nose 
and throat to a favorable crisis, may be hastened by fre¬ 
quently placing hot mashes in the manger, or what, is 
still better, hanging them, when he will permit it, under 
his nose in a nose bag. For drink, he should have a pail 
of thin gruel; and he will sometimes drink this if sweet¬ 
ened, when he will not taste it without. In bad cases, it 
is necessary to drench the animal with gruel to save his 
life. For food, mashes of malt or bran, moistened hay, 
fresh grass, roots cut fine, particularly carrots, must be 
frequently offered. 
It is affirmed that washing trees with a liquid made of 
whale oil soap, will effectually prevent the attacks of the 
locust borer. Whitewashing has been recommended, as 
also planting in clumps with other trees. The worm may 
he killed, or drawn out, with a barbed wire, but the pro¬ 
cess is slow and tiresome. 
The query in relation to the Dorking fowls we cannot 
answer. 
For salt to give cattle, sheep, &c., that which is fine, 
will be the best. Animals will lick salt if fed to them 
in lumps, but they are far more apt to waste it when gi¬ 
ven in this form, than when it is fine. We never use 
any other than the Onondaga salt of fine and good quali¬ 
ty, at present, though we have formerly used other kinds 
for stock, dairy, and culinary purposes. 
CURE FOR FOOT ROT IN SHEEP. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker— I take the liberty of 
sending you the following very simple remedy for foot 
rot in sheep. 
I had occasion to procure a Spanish Merino Buck, a 
few months ago, from a distant part of the county, and 
on going into nay sheep yard soon afterwards, I founol 
him very lame in two of his feet, so much so as scarce¬ 
ly to be able to walk. I immediately removed him to 
the barn floor, and on examination found that his lame¬ 
ness was occasioned by that scourge of the Ovine race— 
the foot rot. I cleansed the hoofs thoroughly with warm 
soap suds, and fled to my books for a remedy. I sooh 
found in the “ Complete Grazier,” p. 165, several reme¬ 
dies for this disease, but as I had not at hand the ingre¬ 
dients of which they were composed, I laid aside my 
books, and took down that “ Cure all,” among farmers, 
my bottle of spirits turpentine, and with a feather applied 
it to the parts affected, quite plentifully, twice or three 
times, in the space of three days, (keeping him upon the 
dry floor,) when I found that a perfect cure had been ef¬ 
fected, and put him with the flock again, and have seen 
nothing of the lameness since. 
Now, Messrs. Editors, this is a simple remedy, and 
found in every farmer’s medicine chest, and I can safely 
vouch for its efficacy. Ji R. Speed. 
Caroline, Tomp. co. March 6, 1843. 
MANGE OR ITCH IN SWiNE. 
This is a disease which shows itself by making the 
animal restless and uneasy, and the eruption or formation 
of small pimples or watery excrescences, which spread 
rapidly, and from the rubbing of the animal, the itching 
or irritation is evidently severe. Pigs of only a few 
weeks old, appear to suffer most from it, as, if not cured, 
they will rub hair and skin off, and most of them die. 
When once introduced on a farm, like the foot rot in 
sheep, and similar complaints, it seems difficult to getrid 
of it, as the contagious or infectious matter appears to re¬ 
tain its reproductive powers for a long time. It fre¬ 
quently occasions much loss among the pig growers of 
England, and instances have occurred in this country, in 
which farmers have had the greater part of their stock 
destroyed by it. Brimstone, or sulphur, mixed with 
lard, and well rubbed in by the hand, may be considered 
a specific for all such eruptive diseases, and has been 
found effectual in this. It is also perfectly safe, which 
cannot be said of all the lotions, washes, he. prescribed 
at times for such complaints. 
Lice on Fowls.— In your Oct. No. I observed some 
remarks on using sulphur to destroy lice on fowls. This 
I have tried in former years with entire success. Mixed 
with Indian meal and water, and fed in the proportion of 
1 lb. of sulphur to 2 doz. fowls, in two parcels, a few days 
apart I have found that it would soon exterminate the 
lice and produce a remarkably healthy and glossy appear¬ 
ance in the fowls. They should at the same time be sup¬ 
plied with proper dusting places. H. A. P. 
For notices of Jaundice, Lampas, &c. see p. 63. 
