166 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
the materials at hand to be burnt clay, spent ashes, char¬ 
coal, pond mud and stable manure, in what order would 
you place them, and in what proportions? Would you re¬ 
commend the introduction of charcoal into the heap, or 
would you rather use it as an absorbent in your stables? 
Supposing a compost made of the above materials now, 
when would it be fit for use? (&.) 
Another question. What is the best method of root¬ 
ing out the wild onion? I am much plagued with it. (c.) 
Again. What do 5^00 and your correspondents mean 
by a load of manure 1 Is it a one horse, a two horse, or 
four horse load? 
P. S. A correspondent in one of your late numbei-s, 
wishes to know how to prevent dampness in brick walls. 
Tell him, (if he is about to build,) to make his walls hol¬ 
low, as it is called, or to leave flues or open spaces in 
the center of the wall, about 12 inches apart, and of the 
size of half a brick, running from the foundation to the 
top, the lower openings being on a level with the sleep¬ 
ers, the upper opening into the roof. This prevents the 
outward moisture from striking through to the inner wall, 
inasmuch as the currents of air circulating through these 
flues, can-y it off as fast as it penetrates to the center. If 
your correspondent's walls are already built, the only pre¬ 
ventive that I know of, is to wash the exterior with a 
composition made (as common w'hitewash is made,) of 
equal portions of lime and hytlraulic cement, colored with 
copperas, or any other coloring material that may suit 
his fancy. I need not be more specific in my directions, 
as there are no doubt many operatives within your reach, 
who know much more of the matter than I do. If I did 
not suppose that the method of preparing and applying 
this invaluable wash was known to you and a majority^ 
of your readers, 1 would take pleasure in communica¬ 
ting it. 
Chapel mu, N. C., Aug. 21, 1843. 
(a.) The deposit spoken of by our correspondent,would 
seem to be what is called swamp or pond mud; composed 
of vegetable matter, and earth or clay. Its value depends 
on the quantity of the first article. We should have no 
doubt of its fertilizing qualities, and should make it into 
compost with stable manure. If too stiff when dry, use 
it when moist, or before it becomes dry, after being taken 
from the pond. 
(b.) The burnt clay and the charcoal produce their 
greatest effects as retainers of ammonia for the use of 
plants, although the slow decomposition of charcoal also 
furnishes some carbonic aciil gas for the same purpose. 
The compost heap may therefore be considered as made 
of swamp mud, ashes, and stable manure. A compost 
made of one-half muck or mud, one-foui'th ashes, and 
one-fourth stable manure, would doubtless be a good one; 
although no definite proportion could be given until the 
character of the mud or muck was ascertained. If in the 
fermentation of (he compost considerable ammonia should 
be thrown off, a covering of burnt clay or charcoal would 
be a good application. Hut in whatever way any of 
these substances are used, the effect can scarcely fail of 
being beneficial. 
(c.) Thorough summer fallowing is the best remedy 
for the wild onion that we are acquainted with; careful 
weeding' of the fields, and purity of seed wheat, the next. 
(<?.) By a load of manure, is generally understood, a 
load drawn on a wagon with two horses, and containing 
usually half or three-fourths of a cord. 
One word as to wliat our correspondent says about clo¬ 
ver. We think if our southern friends would bring to 
the surface some of the clay wipch underlies their sands, 
and incorporate it with them, remedying the unproduc¬ 
tiveness of this subsoil when first taken iqq by a dressing 
of such compost as he has described, that one, if not the 
only serious obstacle to the culture of clover, would be 
at once removed. Look at the experiments on (he sands 
of New Jersey and Virginia, with clay marl, under the 
direction of such men as Cooper and Ruffin. The great 
success in these cases, is ample encouragement to others. 
SUGGESTIONS, INQUIRIES, &c. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —As the time is ap¬ 
proaching when your State Ag. Society holds its annual 
meeting, I have one suggestion to make in relation to 
the statements of those who apply for premiums on field 
crops. I think those statements should specify the vari¬ 
ety of grain grown. There are several varieties of wheat, 
corn, barley, oats, peas, &c., and frequently much of the 
farmer’s success depends upon the variety of seed sown 
or planted. Important as this information is, it is almost 
invariably withheld in the statements alluded to. 
When I read Mr. Physick s theory on raising corn, 
in the last vol. of the Cultivator, I was ready to sa.y he 
was not a practical farmer. But if we are to credit the 
statement of Sam’l Phelps, to whom was awarded the first 
premium on Indian corn, by your State Society, it goes 
farther to support that theory than any thing of a practi¬ 
cal nature I have ever witnessed. 
There are, I am persuaded, but few practical corn 
growers in the United States, that would expect even a 
moderate crop when planted as thick as Mr. Phelps plant¬ 
ed his, and I cannot reconcile his success with my ex¬ 
perience, except upon the supposition that he has a dif¬ 
ferent variety of corn from that usually grown. At any 
rate, if any of our common varieties will produce 122 
bushels of good sound corn to the acre, when planted two 
feet apart each way in the I'ows, with three stalks in the 
hill, I should like well to know it, and I will alter my 
practice accordingly. 
Sorrel.—T) o you say (hat land cannot be freed from 
sorrel, by thorough hoeing or summer fallowing? I sup¬ 
posed that it grew from the seed or root, the same as oth¬ 
er weeds, and that the soil could be freed from it by tho¬ 
rough cultivation. If this is not the case, I wish to know 
what quantity of lime is required per acre or square rod, 
for its destruction, and also when and how it should be 
applied? 
Should it he applied in the same manner and in the 
ame quantity on meadow, pasture and summer fallow? 
Should it be quick lime, and is it necessary to apply it in 
sufficient quantity to injure other vegetation? 
I have some patches of sorrel in my fields, and I do not 
wish to raise it for meadow or pasture, so long as I can 
grow timothy or clover, and I discover that it is fatal to 
wheat. Is there not lime enough in some soils when 
new, if plowed deep and thoroughly mixed, to correct 
the acid tendency without an external application? 
I wish also to make some inquiries in relation to the 
use of plaster. 
1. Does plaster have the same effect on new, as on old 
and worn out soils? 
2. Is there any difference in the plaster that is found in 
different localities, with regard to its value as a manure? 
3. How should it be applied as a top dressing, after the 
plants are up, or at seeding time; or should it be mixed 
with the soil previous to seeding? 
4. What quantity should be used per acre on meadow, 
pasture, or on different kinds of grain? 
6 . Is there danger of using too much, or of applying it 
too often to plants. 
6 . I can obtain Grand River plaster for about $3 per 
ton. Is it good economj^ to purchase any quantity for ag¬ 
ricultural purposes at that price? 
7. I have tried manuring corn and roots with long ma¬ 
nure, without deriving any benefit. The land being new, 
the manure cannot be thoroughly mixed with the soil, 
and in a dry season I get the best crops where there is 
no manure applied. Cannot the essential properties of 
manure be retained by occasionally scattering plaster in 
the yard, until it can be applied in a fermented state to 
the wheat crop? Last season I applied the manure tliat 
was obtained by scraping the }"ards during the summer, 
after the long manure was removed in the S])ring, to the 
poorest spots in a field that was summer fallowed and 
sown to wheat in the fall, and the wheat where the ma¬ 
nure was spread was decidedly better than in any other 
part of the field, though the wheat was generally good. 
The soil is gravelly, and not subject to an overgrowth 
of straw. 
Perhaps I may remind you of the man that Dickens met 
with on his western tour. But I really desire informa¬ 
tion on the matters that I have made the subject of in¬ 
quiry, anti there may be other of your readers that will 
be benefitted by the answers that you or some of your 
able and exi)erienced corresjiondents may make to these 
inquiries. Alonzo Sessions. 
Ionia, Mich., Aug. 14, 1843. 
Sorrel may undoubtedly be destroyed by good cultiva¬ 
tion as other weeds are, but in a favorable soil, or one 
containing aciil, its hold is very tenacious, and a change 
of the character of the soil by the use of lime, is found 
advisable. Lime should be applietl in the caustic state 
at the rate of from 50 to 80 bushels per acre. It is best 
applied to a fallow, some three weeks before the seed is 
sown, and should be well harrowed in. Deep plowing 
will doubtless in many cases render unnecessary the ap¬ 
plication of lime, and on most soils prove decidedly use¬ 
ful to the crop. 
Plaster produces a more sensible effect on exhausted 
lands than on new and fertile ones, the latter not requir¬ 
ing its aid. It produces more effect on gravelly or sandy 
soils than any other. It may be sown on the fallow be- ■ 
fore or after sowing, but we prefer sowing it on the plants 
after they are well up in the spring. When used on 
wheat after clover is sown, the young plants of clover 
are almost sure to succeed. From a bushel and a half to 
three bushels per acre, may be used. The only injury 
we have known result from the use of a large quantity, 
was so great a growth of clover as to render it almost 
unfit for hay. The common price of plaster at the Onon¬ 
daga mills, is from $2 to $2,50, and immense quantities 
are used annually at those prices; and we should advise 
its use in connexion with clover were the prices doubled. 
Long manure in a dry soil and a dry season, may be 
fatal to corn. In a moist soil it will succeed better, as it 
assists in keeping the ground warm and dry. Long ma¬ 
nures are useless as manures, until decomposition com¬ 
mences, and in a dry soil or season this does not take 
place readily. Plaster is beneficially scattered in barn 
yards, as is swamp muck, or even common loam; but we 
believe the best way to use barnyard manure, is to use it 
for the compost heap with swamp muck, mud from ponds, 
leached ashes, &c. &c., anti fermented in that way, the 
quantity and value of manure is greatly increased. The 
fermentation too destroys what seeds of weetls may be in 
the manure of the yard, and every farmer knows too ma¬ 
ny are scattered with the dung. The scrapings of the 
yard are the most valuable part of its manure, consisting 
of the finer materials, and these saturated with animal 
matters and salts. 
WHEAT CULTURE, &c. 
We give the following from a young friend in Wyo¬ 
ming CO. in this state, showing the method of cultivating 
the wheat crop there. He wilt pardon us for giving an 
extract from his private note, as we would wish to call 
the attention of thousands of our young men to the ne¬ 
cessity of obtaining a thorough knowledge of agriculture, 
and express the gratification we feel whenever an inqui¬ 
ring mind is connected with the practical hand. It is 
from that connexion the most valuable results are ob¬ 
tained; and we feel no difficulty of assuring our young 
friend of ultimate success, if he shall continue, as now, 
to unite theory and practice: 
‘‘ It may not be uninteresting to you to know who your 
correspondent is. He is a farmer’s boi/, who has seen but 
eighteen winters—and many sick days. But possessing 
an inquisitive mind, thirsting for knowledge, he at all 
times is pleased in searching for truth and knowledge. 
And being on the farm most of the time, he wishes to un¬ 
derstand the theory as well as the practice of farming; 
therefore he takes the Cultivator.” 
‘‘ Our soil is generally of a sandy loam, and founded 
upon a rock; this rock comes to the surface in some pla¬ 
ces, and is at the depth of 20 feet in others. It consists 
of layers from 2 to 12 inches in thickness. [Moscow 
Shales of the Slate Geologists. —Eds.] 
“ Our procedure of farming is this: In raisingany kind 
of grain, a coat of manure must be turned under or no 
crop. In the spring, clover seed is sown on the wheat 
ground, at the rate of from a pound to two pounds to (he 
acre; after the wheat is cut, the young clover makes fine 
feed for the cattle and sheep, the old pastures being ra¬ 
ther lean. In June we commence breaking summer fal¬ 
low', when (he clover is knee high and in blossom. It 
is then harrowetl, (twice, if it is to be plowed but twice,) 
plowed again about the middle of August, harrowed, 
plowetl the last of Aug. and first of Sept., sowed and har¬ 
rowed tw'ice. Tw’o bushels of seed to the acre; yield 
from 20 to 35 bushels per acre. When we sow flint 
wheat, a bushel and a half is considered sufficient for an 
acre. The wheat crop in this town is quite light, by rea¬ 
son of not having a crop of clover to turn under last year. 
The clover seed did not vegetate. What wheat there is, 
is very good. The wheat that was sown before the rain 
last fall, is considered the stoutest and the least affected 
with the smut. Barley is good. Oats and potatoes arc 
veiy light, caused by dry W'cather. Corn not very stout, 
but better than was expected; just beginning to glaze. 
The timber is mostly oak; a few pines and ash. Would 
it not be better to sow buckwheat on the fallow, after 
breaking up, and turn it under at the second plowing, 
than to let it lie barren through the summer?” 
Uetcriiiarg JBepartnwnt. 
SWINEY IN THE HORSE. 
Messrs. Editors —I will give you such information 
or experience as I possess, concerning the swincy. I 
had a mare that became swineyed in the hip, occasioned 
by fighting with another horse. I was told the part af¬ 
fected never would fill up, unless by the operation of 
some medicine. I therefore bathed the part affected with 
saltpetre, dissolved in water, and effected a complete 
cure. Lansingville. 
Lansing, N. Y., Aug. 18, 1843. 
CURE FOR SPAVIN. 
Editors of the Cultivator— The following I have 
found would cui'c a bone spavin in its first stages, if pro¬ 
perly applied. Add to two table spoonsfull of melted 
lard, one of cantharides, made fine or pulverised, and a 
lump of corrosive sublimate, pulverised, as large as a 
pea—all melted up together, and applied once a da}' till 
used up, confining it to the callous. This quantity is for 
one leg, and may be relied on as a cure. It will make 
a sore, and the joint will be much weakened while ap- 
jdying the medicine. No need of alarmit will all be 
right when healed up. Edw.^rd D. Worbasse. 
Edon Farm, N. J., 8 mo. 26, 1843. 
GRUB IN THE HEAD OF SHEEP. 
Our Ellington, (Chautauque co.) correspondent, will 
ee that we have somewhat condensed his inquiries, 
pace compels us to this course. For the kind words 
nd wishes, he and others are pleased to express, we can 
nly say we are grateful, and shall endeavor to deserve 
hem : 
“What win cure a sheep that has what is called the 
:rub in the head; or what is still better, what will pre- 
ent that difficulty? The symptoms are, ears lop, head 
Iroops, bloody watery matter from (he nose, in a few 
lays scouring, then the loss of their limbs, and they will 
:at for some days after they are unable to rise; and lie 
,n their broadside. We are getting into the wool busi- 
less pretty well in this town, and have lost more^ sheep 
rom the grub than from any other disease. 16 grubs 
lave been found in the head of one sheep.” 
The arub in the head of a sheep, is the larvee or 
naa-got'of a lly, which deposits its egg in the nose, gene- 
•alfy in the month of August. The egg soon hatches, 
ind the young maggot soon makes its way up into the 
javities called the frontal sinuses, where it attains its 
'rowth causing constant irritation and disease, and not 
mfrequently death. Arrived at its growth, it falls to 
he earth, enters it, and in a short time emerges a perfect 
nsect or fly, ready to commence the career of reproduc- 
ion and destruction. We formerly lost many sheep from 
he grub, and could find no cure for them, or but very 
lartial ones, after it became evident they were diseased. 
3ur course was preventive. About the time the fly ^ 
ts appearance, which is easily known by their exhibit¬ 
ing great alarm, running from one part of (he field to 
mother, with their noses close to the ground, &c. wc 
