ta w uyMea&g g^EJ W ia 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
143 
at a late period of their vegetation to perfect their seeds 
or roots, then experience has shown that it is best to ap¬ 
ply the manure without any considerable fermentation to 
the soil. Indian corn, potatoes, and the grain crops ge¬ 
nerally, are of this class; the two first particularly. The 
time when corn and potatoes require the most nutriment, 
is at the time when the ears and tubers are forming; and 
when manures but partially fermented, or used fresh from 
the yard or stable, are applied, the decomposition is com¬ 
paratively gradual, and the supply greatest when most 
needed. I cannot reconimenti the application of ma¬ 
nures of any kind directly to grain crops, as it has a ten¬ 
dency to give straw at the expense of the grain, and 
wheat so manured, is far more apt to suffisr from mildew 
or rust, than when the manure, by application to other 
and previous crops, has become perfectly incorporated 
with the soil. In this state, that rapid growth, which is 
the result of first fermentation, is avoided by the wheat 
plant; and the substances necessary to perfect the berry 
are already prepared and within reach of the growing or 
maturing plant. 
Dung varies much in its quality, not only from the per¬ 
fection or imperfection of ti)e fermentation to which it 
is subjected, but also from the animals producing it, and 
the food which animals receive. The richest and most 
effective manure we have ever used, was that from the 
hog yard, and produced by fattening hogs. That from 
cattle, fed on corn meal anti oil cake, will be little in¬ 
ferior; and either will be found 100 per cent better than 
ordinary farm yard manure. The reason of this is very 
plain. Such animals are fed with substances abounding 
in the materials most needed by plants, with very little 
admixture of useless matter, and the comparatively small 
quantities of animal matter anti salts atltled, rather con¬ 
tribute than lietract from its efficacy. The dung of sheep 
is more valuable than that of horses or cattle not fatten¬ 
ing, as the materials are more perfectly assimilated or 
mixed in mastication, anti more fully decomposed. 
GREEN CROPS. 
Next to farrh yard manures, to keep up the fertility of 
his lantls, the farmer may most certainly rely on green 
crops, either fed off upon the land, or turned untler by 
the plow, anti there allttwetl to fci’nient and decompose. 
For a plant to enrich exhausted soils, affording as it does 
both top ami roots to a large extent, there is no plant e- 
qiial to clover; and particularly where it is necessary or 
desirable to have the green crop fed off by animals. I 
prefer letting the clover grow until nearly or quite in 
blossom, and then turning sheep upon it. They will eat 
much of it and fatten rapidly; but they will trample down 
more,'and this, mixed vvifh their dung, forms in its de¬ 
cay a most eulcient top tlressing; and repeated for two 
or three years, forms an admirable preparation of the 
soil for wheat or other grains. When a crop is cultiva¬ 
ted to be plowed in, it should be done at the time w'hen 
the plants contain the greatest quantity of nutritive mat- 
ter. and have least exhausted the soil in which they are 
grow’ing. This, in most cases, will be when the jilants 
have come fully into flower. At an earlier period there 
may be as much weight, but a larger portion of it will be 
mere water; and, if allowed to stand much later, the so¬ 
luble matter is lost in the seed, and the ligneous part of 
‘be stem becomes more difficult of decomposition. Buck¬ 
wheat is a good plant for a green manure; its growth is 
rapitl, and gives a great weight per acre, and two crops 
may be plowed under in a 3 'ear. The best way of plow¬ 
ing in such green crop.s, is to pass a heavy roller over 
them, which lays the jdants close to the ground, and 
greatly facilitates covering them by the plow. It is be¬ 
lieved that corn, sown broadcast, and when just showing 
its tassels, cut and covered bj' the plow, would be one 
of the. best crops that could be chosen for this purpose. 
A man or boy, in this case, would be required to follow 
the plow, to place the corn in the furrow for covering, at 
the next passage of the plow. Taken at this time, corn 
abounds in nutritive matter, and could scarcely fail of 
jjroving a first rate fertilizer of the soil. 
PEAT. 
A variety of decomposed vegetable matters, or those 
partially decomposed, are used as manures. The fallen 
leaves of trees are of this class; but the instances are few 
in which they will rejtay the expense of gathering; per¬ 
haps never, in the United States, where the other sour¬ 
ces of an abundant sujjply of manures are so numerous. 
If collected, the best method of using them, is to litter 
stables, or form beds for pigs, or mix at once with other 
manures; as, in such ways, they absorb urine and other 
fluids that mignt escape, and together undergo decompo¬ 
sition. But the most important source of decayed vege¬ 
table matter, and one, the value of which is not yet bj' 
any means sufficiently understood or appreciated, is to be 
found in the great deposits of this substance in sw’amps, 
low meadows, and peat bogs, in all parts of our country. 
On the subject of this kind of manure, there is no au¬ 
thority equal to Dr. Dana of Lowell, Mass. According 
to him, peat consists of soluble or insoluble geine or hu¬ 
mus, with a few salts. From an analysis of ten speci¬ 
mens from different parts of Massachusetts, the highest 
and the lowest in the scale of soluble geine, is selected 
and given here, as well as two specimens of pond mud. 
This is done, as the value of neither peat or such mud is 
sufficiently appreciated by the farmer; and they are neg¬ 
lected when they might easily be made a source of the 
greatest fertiliiy: 
Peat 
Pond Mud. 
•s 
lity : 
Soluble 
Insoluble 
Total 
Salts and 
Geine. 
Geine. 
Geine 
Silicates. 
10.15 
49 45 
59.60 
40.40 
48.80 
43.60 
92.40 
7.60 
; 6.10 
8.90 
14. 
86. 
' 8,10 
6.60 
14.60 
84.40 
comparison with cow dung. 
In his analysis of various manuies, he takes for his 
standard, cow dung; and it is not a little remarkable that 
the constituents of peat and cow dung, should so nearly 
coincide. Dr. Dana’s estimate of the several parts of 
peat of average quality, and of cow dung, is as follows. 
The peat was fresh dug, in this case; before, it was dried 
at 300°. 
Peat. Cow Dung. 
Water,. 85. 83.60 
Salts, .. 1. 95 
Geine,... 14. 15.45 
FEAT COMPOSTS. 
But notwithstanding this decayed vegetable matter is 
so rich in the organic elements of plants, experience 
proves that, applied in its natural state, it is almost val¬ 
ueless as a manure, compared with stable manures; and 
hence the reason it has been so little prized. Science 
has shown the cause of this result, and the means of ob¬ 
viating it; 01 ’, in other words, of unlocking the fertili¬ 
zing powers of these vegetable deposits. To be able to 
give out ammonia, the peat or swamp muck must be fer¬ 
mented; and this may be eflected by the direct addition 
of alkalies, or by making the peat into a compost with 
fresh manures. If alkalies are added, the quantity neces¬ 
sary to bring a ton of fresh peat into the same condition, 
so far as regards ammonia, as cow dung, would be “ 92 
lbs. of potash, 61 lbs. of soda, or 16 to 20 bushels of 
common house ashes.” But tlie farmer will usually find 
the best method of using peat, will be to combine the 
peat with manure, by mixing it with dung in his yards, 
or making it into compost. Many experiments have 
been made by some of the best farnjers and gardeners of 
Massachusetts, in relation to the use of peat; and all u- 
nite in pronouncing it most valuable. Mr. Pbinney of 
Lexington, saj's, that “ a cord of green dung converts 
twice its bulk of peat, into a manure of equal value to it¬ 
self; that is, a cord of clear stable dung, composted with 
two of peat, forms a manure equal in value to three cords 
of green dung.” Mr. Robbins of Watertown, though 
owning a large s'oek, makes no use of their manures. 
These he sells; but keeps his farm in a high slate of fer¬ 
tility, by mixing swamp muck or peat with spent ashes 
from his soap and candle faclory. The proportions he 
uses are, one part of spent ashes to three of peat, dug up 
in the fall and mixed with the ashes in the spring. After 
shoveling over two or three times, it is spread and plow¬ 
ed in. The eliect is felt at once; and so far the manure 
has proved durable. 
(To be continued.) 
EARLY AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL WORKS. 
We have before us the volumes that record the labors 
and results of the first Agricultural Society of this State, 
and propose to give some notice of these, and also of the 
Memoirs of the Philadelphia Board of Agriculture. Of 
the first, there are four volumes; the first prinletl previ¬ 
ous to 1800, and the last in 1816. By the Philailelphia 
Society, several volumes were published, commencing 
in 1810; and in both these series of volumes the farmer 
will find much to interest and instruct. He will be gra¬ 
tified at the positive evidence they afford that the prac¬ 
tice of agriculture has made decidetl progress in many 
things since these volumes were produced; and he will 
hardly escape a feeling of mortification that, with the 
increased advantages agricnltme now possesses, it should 
not have been still more rapid. Some things now deemed 
of the first importance to successful culture, he will find 
scarcely noticed; while other things, many are accus¬ 
tomed to consider new, he will find were then old. 
We shall notice the Philadelphia proceedings first. It 
is evident that Judge Peters was the soul of the Socie¬ 
ty,— the most active, if not the most intelligent of its 
members, although it numbered among its supporters 
nearly all the jirominent men of the state. 
Lime, or its use, at that time, as well as at present, fur¬ 
nished a fruitful theme of comment and controt ersy; the 
great battles being fought on the subject of caustic and 
magnesian lime, and there is little probability such con¬ 
troversy will be soon endeii. A better knowledge of the 
nature of soils and the action of alkaliis, would seem to 
be required for such a result. 
The Peach tree was frequently diseased at that time, 
but we should think not so generally as now. In 
the 2d volume, Mr. Phillips, to remedy these evils, pro¬ 
poses to dig ar und them thoroughly, and strew lime 
liberally on the surface. He gives a flattering account 
of the success of his treatment. 
Hedges excited much attention at that time, and many 
papers are devoted to the subject. Most of the plants re- 
comraended, have since received fair trials, and have 
been found unfit for use. Indeed, it may be questioned 
whether any good hedges have been produced from Ame¬ 
rican plants, unless those from the buckthorn must be ex¬ 
cepted. Still, this should not deter from further experi¬ 
ments on a subject of such importance. 
Harrowing Wheat in the spring, is strongly urged and 
recommended. The breaking up the cake or crust formed 
by the winter, and the destruction of the insects and ver¬ 
min sheltered under it, are among the principal reasons 
offered for the practice. 
There is a well written paper on the culture of Indian 
corn, by Mr. Lj'man. One third of his field he planted 
in hills two feet apart each way; another third SJ feet 
each waj"; and the other 3^ feet between the hills, in 
rows 6 feet apart. Three kernels were planted in each 
hill. The two first parts were suckered, the last was not. 
In each part only two stalks were left in a hill. Leached 
ashes were applied to all the hills. The results were 
respectively 105, 98 and 85 bushels per acre. For this 
crop he prefers wood ashes to gypsum, whatever may be 
the soil. 
Mr. Preston has a paper on the Apple tree, in which he 
endeavors to prove from the history of old apple trees 
found in Pennsylvania by the first settlers, and supposed 
to be more ancient than the arrival of Europeans in the 
country, that the apple tree is a native of this country. 
The facts stated are interesting, though the inference may 
be doubted. 
Mr. Taylor (Arator,) of Virginia, has furnished seve¬ 
ral papei’s on Gypsum, and its value in connection with 
clover, as a renovaior of the soil. I'he practice recom¬ 
mended by Mr. Taylor, was to sow clover after Indian 
corn, to exclude all animals, and allow the crop of clo¬ 
ver, which w’as to be plastered annually, to rot upon the 
ground for three years, by which time it would produce 
a fine crop of wheat, to be followed by corn and clover. 
Clover and plaster is as highly prized now as then, as a 
renovator of the soil, but a better method is found to be 
to let the clover first attain a good growth, and then feed 
it off upon the ground by sheep. In this, not only a large 
accession of vegetable matter is gained by the soil, bula 
supply of azotized matter from the animal excretions. 
Judge Peters was the first to propose in these papers 
the establishment of an Agricultural Warehouse and Seed 
store; and the jtlan then deemed so novel and doubtful, 
has become one of the most necessary and successful aids 
of good husbandry. This is only one of the many proofs 
that in correct opinions on the subject of farming, and 
the best means of iniproving it. Judge Peters was much 
in advance of the age generally. 
General Armstrong, then Minister at Paris, sent over 
specimens of various grains, seeds, &c. to the care of the 
Sociely, some of which have proved of much value. He 
also sent to the Society a plow with two shares, but on 
trial it was found inferior to an American constructed one 
intended to perform the same work. 
Judge Peters has some notes on a paper by Col. Pick¬ 
ering, on the Mildeic of Wheat. The Judge attributes, 
and correctly we have no doubt, the appearance of this 
disease very frequently to the use of hot and fresh dung. 
This gives a forced grovvth to the straw by over stimu¬ 
lating the plant, and besides affonls a nidus and shelter 
for insects. Fully rotted compost he prefers for wheat. 
Mr. Young of Delaware, has a paper on the value of 
Oats as the means of ameli jrating a sterile c ay soil, im¬ 
poverished by bad culture or neglect. Such soil he 
plows in the fall, putting on such manures as can be pro- 
cui-ed on his farm, and turning under all briers, weeds, 
&c. he can collect. On this, in the spring, he sows oats 
which are pastured on tlie grounti, and never allowed to 
perfect their seeils. By repeated successions of such 
sowings, he soon converts his clays into rich mold, and 
then proiluced wheat and other grain crops with the 
greatest success. 
John Lorain, well known as a valuable writer on ag¬ 
riculture, has a series of pai)ers on mixed husbandry, 
soiling cattle, cultivation of corn and potatoes, &c. Some 
of his opinions have been sustained by experience, but 
others have been rejected. Tl)e saving in soiling cattle, 
and the extended cuiiure of corn and roots reconimeniled 
bj' him, show that he was in advance of farmers gene¬ 
rally on these subjects. 
In a paper on the different breeds of Sheep, by Judge 
Peters, he decides in favor of the Tunisian or broad 
tailed sheep, as the farmer’s sheep. The reasons s 
signed are, tliat their mutton is sujierior to all others; 
that they are very hardy, and free from the disorders in. 
cident to other breeds of sheep; while their wool is in¬ 
ferior in quality only to the merino breeds. Public o- 
pinion, however, ditl not second Judge Peters, and the 
Tinusian sheep are now almost or quite unknown in this., 
country. In a letter from Mr. Parry of Bath, Eng., the 
novel idea is advanced, “that each filament of wool is a 
cone, witk the apex next flic skin.” Consequentl)^, the 
coarsest part is at the extremity, and the finest nearest the 
body. We must be permitted to doubt the entire cor¬ 
rectness of this position. 
The advantages, and the consequent necessity of a fre¬ 
quent change of seed, are well set forih in another essay 
by Judge Peters. That this necessity might be obviated 
by proper care in selection, he does not deny, and in¬ 
stances the case of Mr. Cooper of New Jersey, one of 
the most successful of grain growers, who never changed 
his seeds, but was remarkable for the attention he gave 
to their selection and quality. Our experience would be 
altogether in favor of a change of seeds; and in this most 
farmers we believe will agree with us. 
We take leave of the subject here, merely remarking 
that the Memoirs of the New-York Society will form the 
subject of another paper; and that it will scarcely have 
escaped the notice of the reader, that on the important 
matters of reclaiming wet lands, thorough draining, the 
cultivation of turneps, subsoil plowing, &c. not a word 
is said, leaving the legitimate inference that they were 
comparatively unknown. 
Look out for ready ground Coffee. —Our readers 
are probably some of them aware that coffee packed in 
papers, and ready for immediate use, is to be found at 
many of the groceries and shops of the dealers in such 
articles. Occasionally a good article may be offered; 
but to show of what a large portion of this ready pre¬ 
pared coffee is made, we make the following extract 
from the London Shipping List; “ It has been ascertained 
that sawdust from ipahogany, to the amount of more than 
300 tons, has been used in the adulteration of what ia 
called ready prepared coffee.” 
