406 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
EXPERIMENTS WITH MANURES. 
Mr. Editor In the Rural of the 19th 
ult., I noticed the publication, from the 
Country Gentleman, of my experiments 
with the various manures in raising Indian 
corn, and also extensive remarks of your 
own. These experiments wero undertaken 
for my own individual benefit to test the 
relative value of the different manures, and 
the best method of their application. They 
wero carefully, and accurately conducted, 
and as carefully stated. In giving them to 
the public, I appended a simple statement 
of my own of the results, as I conceived, 
wero clearly shown, not intending to give 
any advice nor wishing any one to adopt 
my conclusions in tho matter, and if tho re¬ 
sults, as you fear, “ mislead ” any one, it 
must bo him who “ does not read and digest 
for himself.” You common coy our romarks 
by awarding to “Mr. Eastman much credit 
for what ho has done to throw light on this 
subject.” This is sincere praise , for which 
I am much obliged, and is tho only kind of 
compensation I expect for tho labor and 
expense of experimenting for the benefit 
of others. But tho closing paragraph of 
vour remarks leads mo to question tho sin¬ 
cerity of tho above praise, and to conclude 
it is only ironical after all. You say—“We 
make these remarks from fear that the re¬ 
sults might mislead, and not from any un¬ 
kind feelings towards Mr. Eastman, who wo 
think is entitled to much praise for showing 
tho inaccuracy of such a system of experi¬ 
menting.” 
You allege, then, that tho system adop¬ 
ted by mo in theso experiments is inaccu¬ 
rate and liable to mislead, and as a proof of 
tho allegation you undertake to point out 
discrepances in the sevoral experiments.— 
If you deem tho system objectionable, and 
can produce no good and reliable results, 
will you point out a better ono, and ono 
that is practicable ? If an eighth of an 
acre is the smallost portion of land, as you 
allege, which should bo occupied in each 
of theso experiments, how many such ex¬ 
periments shall wo have ? how many fai*- 
mers will bo to the trouble and expense of 
experimenting on so large a scale ? To ar¬ 
rive at correct rosults in experiments of this 
kind, several things are necessary. Tho 
soil should be as nearly alike as possible.— 
Tho plowing, tho planting and tho hoeing 
should be uniform. Tho corn in tho vari¬ 
ous stages of its growth should bo kept 
constantly under tho oyc of tho experiment¬ 
er. Could all these, and other indispensa¬ 
ble requisites bo bettor obtained on an eighth 
of an aero, containing 1210 hills than on 
tho one hundred and ninety-third part con¬ 
taining 25 hills ? If causes interfere to 
chango tho result could they not be moro 
readily detected are checked on 25 hills 
than on 1210 hills ? As further proof of the 
inaccuracy of tho system, you undertake to 
point out discropanccs in tho various ex¬ 
periments. Theso discrepances, where thoy 
appear to exist, and vory naturally account¬ 
ed for by reasons which do not, in my judg¬ 
ment, prove tho inaccuracy of tho method. 
You rofer, first, to tho two unmanurod 
plots, Nos. 1 and 18. It should bo borne in 
mind that those rows were in different parts 
of the field. This shows two things only: 
1st. That tho two soils were differently adap¬ 
ted to tho raising of Indian corn. This is evi¬ 
dent from tho uniform increaso of yield in 
all the rows in that part of tho field with 
No. 18. 2d. That experiments on a small 
portion of land aro moro reliable on account 
of the variation of the soil. Why did you 
not compare Nos. 18 and 20 ? This would 
have been fairer. You next coinparo Nos. 
12 and 19 with guano in tho hill, and pro¬ 
fess to discover discrepances hero. Had 
you noticed my statement I am sure you 
would not have rnado this comparison. In 
that statement you aro told that guano in 
the hill, in contact with the seed, killed tho 
seed. This shows what might have been 
nferrod from tho statoment -— that moro of 
tho seed was killed in No. 10 than in No. 
12, which is tho fact. You compare Nos. 
7 and 15. This comparison is made, evi¬ 
dently, to prove the falsity of my conclu¬ 
sions as to the value of superphosphate of 
lime as a fertilizer, &c. The best method 
of applying manures is an important matter 
to bo settled. Ono of tho objects of these 
experiments was to test this very question. 
It is shown that the best method of apply¬ 
ing superphosphate of lime is in the hill— 
but applied on tho top of tho hill is not so 
valuable as gypsum. Compare, if you 
please, Nos. 6 and 7 treated with gypsum 
in the hill and top of tho hill, with Nos. 14 
and 22, ti'oatod with superphosphate of 
lime in the hill, and what is tho rosult ?— 
Does it not establish tho entire correctness 
of my conclusions—“ that superphosphate 
of lime applied in tho hill is a powerful fer¬ 
tilizer, and abundantly remunerative to tho 
cultivator of Indian corn,” and gives better 
returns at $50 per ton ? With theso ro¬ 
marks I submit tho question whether the 
results of my experiments or your remarks 
are the moro likely to mislead. 
II. II. Eastman. 
Marshall, Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 1853. 
Remarks. —Our esteemed correspondent 
mistakes our remarks if he thinks them 
ironical. We were as sincere in our praise 
as in our animadversion. Wo meant to 
laud the object, while we objected to tho moans 
used to attain it. Our opinion in regard to 
tho trustworthiness of Mr. Eastman’s ex¬ 
periments is entirely independent of tho ro¬ 
sults obtained. Had wo seen tho plan bo- 
fore tho experiments wero commoncod, wo 
should have pronounced them fundamen¬ 
tally erroneous, or at least that such a sys¬ 
tem of experimenting could not give satis¬ 
factory results. They might bo right, but 
they also might bo wrong. 
English and American agricultural pa¬ 
pers for the last 20 years have abounded 
with such experiments, and wo aro just as 
ignorant now, on tho points they wero in¬ 
tended to settlo as wo were then. Ono ex¬ 
periment shows ono thing, whilo another 
equally trustworthy, shows the reverse.— 
Some time sinco wo wero conversing with 
ono of tho most eminent scientific men of 
tho day—a profossor who has attained great 
popularity as a writer and lecturer on ag¬ 
ricultural chomistry, geology, botany, &c. 
Tho subject of our conversation was the 
value of phosphates as a manure for wheat. 
Wo thought them of no value, saying that 
extensive and long continued experiments, 
as well as practical experience showed this 
to bo the case. Tho professor thought wo 
must bo mistaken. lie had tried experi¬ 
ments and found that tho phosphates great¬ 
ly increased the growth of wheat. The ex¬ 
periments wero conducted by himsolf with 
groat care and accuracy. How much did 
they increase the crop per acre ? we asked. 
He did not ascertain that, but tho beneficial 
effect was very' perceptible. IIow much 
land was occupied by each experiment ?— 
Tho experiment, ho said, at length, was 
made in a very large flower pot! This gen¬ 
tleman had publicly stated that he had 
made experiments with phosphates on wheat, 
corn, &c., and found them valuable. 
We might mention tho experiments of 
Dr. Dauueny, mado on a few square feet 
in the college garden, at Oxford, Eng., the 
results of which have been embodied in 
many a learned treatise, and were supposed 
to be infallible, seeing that they wero con¬ 
ducted with great care and accuracy. Sub¬ 
sequent field experiments, and tho practice 
of experienced farmers prove that these ex¬ 
periments gave erroneous rosults. But let 
theso two instances suffice. Who does not 
know that there aro many such experiments 
made ovory year and published, the results 
of which “ mislead” all who trust them. It 
is high timo that such experimenters should 
cease from their labors. They do much 
harm, and no good. 
Mr. Eastman, perhaps, will not object to 
be placed in tho samo category with theso 
professional gentlemen. His experiments 
certainly belong to the same class. No 
matter how “ accurately and carefully ” 
thoy may be conducted, they aro on loo 
small a scale to bo trustworthy. Mr. E. 
supposes that wo object to them bocauso 
tho two unmanured plots show groat varia¬ 
tion in tho land. This is not so. No ono 
could see that thero was any variation till 
we calculated the acreage results. As Mr. 
E. published them, no discrepances wero 
manifest. Mr. E. said the soil was “ about 
the samo.” J\ r ow he attributes the differ¬ 
ence of 27 bushels por acre, to the variation 
of the soil. Wo say the method of ascer¬ 
taining tho acreage yield is inaccurate, and 
therefore tho results do not provo whether 
tho soil is or is not variable. The fact 
that Nos. 18 and 20 wore identical did not 
escape us. It is a remarkable coincidence 
to which wo have no parallel in our expe¬ 
rience. Mr. E. thinks if an eighth of an 
acre is tho smallest area that should be used 
wo should havo few such experiments. This 
is probably true. Wo know that to make 
trustworthy experiments is an expensive 
business. A princely fortune is required 
to make oven a few satisfactory experi¬ 
ments. Mr. Lawes has been spending 
about $15,000 annually for tho last ten 
years, in this labor of love, and has really 
proved but very littlo. His wheat experi¬ 
ments aro each on a fifth of an acre, and 
he thinks, aftor ton years experience, that 
this area is quito small enough. What then 
would he say of the one hundred and ninety- 
third part, or to an experiment in a large 
Jlower pot ? 
Prop. Nash. — This gentleman returned 
from an eight months tour in Europe on 
the 3d inst. During his tour he has fur¬ 
nished the Country Gentleman, and other 
papers, several interesting letters on Euro¬ 
pean Agriculture. Tho Professor howovor 
has doubtless many moro valuable notes 
which we hope will shortly bo given to the 
public. Ho has resumed his chair as Agri¬ 
cultural Professor at Amherst College, Mass. 
INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS. 
Stump Raising Machine. — Can you inform 
m© where the best stump extractor is built, and by 
whom, and at what price ? I. C. H. Swann. 
Crawfordsville, Ind. 
Parsnips.— It is well known that parsnips are 
uninjured by being left in the ground all winter. 
Can you or any of your correspondents inform me 
whether parsnips sown in the fall would stand the 
winter, and whether this method would give a 
larger crop? In the spring it is seldom that my 
soil allows parsnips or carrots to be sown early 
enough, and if the frost would not kill the young 
plants, fall sowing would be a great advantage. 
John Williams. 
We havo never sown parsnips in the fall, 
but havo frequently seen it stated that fall 
sowing givos a better crop of parsnips than 
spring sowing. But as wo havo no personal 
experience on the subject, wo should bo glad 
to hear from those who havo. 
Knitting Machines. —Being a subscriber and 
constant reader of your most excellent Rukal, and 
seeing the interest you take in improvements of 
all kinds I take the liberty of asking you to give 
us through the columns of your paper a descrip¬ 
tion of the most approved patented “ Knitting 
Machine”—the price, size, where they may be 
purchased, and any other information you maybe 
pleased to give. I believe all kinds of patented 
machines have found a place in your Rural, ex¬ 
cept those which might be made useful to your 
lady Subscribers. 
Weston, Mo., Nov, 1853. 
We aro not conscious of having neglected 
tho interests of our lady readors—“ Heaven 
bless them” — and certainly havo novel’ 
done so intentionally. Will some ono prop¬ 
erly postal on tho subject, ploaso answer 
tho above inquiry ? 
Millet. —Can yon or any of your correspond¬ 
ents inform me in respect to millet. The proper 
time to sow, how much seed per acre, tho soil best 
suited to its growth, and the general treatment re¬ 
quired, &c. R. l. 
We havo had but little experience in tho 
cultivation of millet, and should be glad if 
some of our readors who havo would ans¬ 
wer the abovo inquiry. Tho editor of tho 
Farmer cj* Planter, Pendleton, S. C., in an 
article recommending tho moregenoral cul¬ 
tivation of millet in the South, says he 
sowed half a bushel of millet seed, a gallon 
of red clover and a peck of herd’s grass to 
tho acre. This was in July. Tho millet 
came up in a row days and grow finely till 
tho timo of cutting, 3d Oct., when about 
half of it was in head. Ho estimated tho 
yield of hay at four tons per acre. A Mr. 
Maxwell is said to have raised five tons per 
acre of millet hay. The editor adds :— 
“Why any man should abandon its culture, 
producing as it doos, of good hay, double 
or treble tho amount of tho best northern 
moadows, we cannot imagine.” 
Mr. Editor :—Tho timo is at hand again 
when farmers aro obliged to commence fod¬ 
dering their stock, and where it is dono out 
of doors, as is commonly the case, there is 
often a great waste, from not having some 
convenient place or fixture to put tho fod 
dor in. I have had a very simplo contri¬ 
vance for tho last four years that answors a 
very good purpose, and which I do not re¬ 
member to havo seen anywhero else. It 
recommends itself on account of its cheap¬ 
ness and the short time required to con¬ 
struct it. 
I make (first) a crib of long, heavy polos, 
say from six to eight inches through, 5 feet 
wide and two and a half feet high. For 10 
or 12 head of cattle it should bo about 30 
foot long. Then, through the middle, 
lengthwise, on the top of tho last cross 
pieco lay a good, stiff, straight polo, a with a 
cross piece under it in the middle. This dono, 
take common fence stakes, or small poles, b, 
b, 7 foot long, and cross thorn on tho mid¬ 
dle polo, a, on each side alternately, until 
tho whole crib is filled, then lay another 
polo, c, c, on each side of the crib well 
notched into tho cross piecos, d, d, to pre¬ 
vent their being pushed out of place; and 
the rack is completed. 
Tho abovo sketch shows an end viow.— 
Tho space, a, botwoon the rack and sides 
of the crib forms a manger into which 
all tho scattering fodder falls, so that thero 
is no possibility of tho cattle Heading on 
any. I think it far preferable to square 
boxos, or any other barn-yard apparatus 
that has evor come under my observation. 
J. W. Peirce. 
Alabama, N. Y., Nov., 1853. 
THE DAIRY INTEREST. 
A writer in your paper of March last 
had a rather limited idea of the extent 
to which the dairying business is carried on 
when ho remarked that “ tho dairying busi¬ 
ness had so increased, that near two hun¬ 
dred thousand lb3. of cheese wero made por 
annum.” Dairying is tho chief business of 
the farmers in this section of country ; and 
“Herkimer county cheese” hasawidoco- 
lobrity. Tho dairymen in this town keep 
from twenty to ninety cows each, forty be¬ 
ing about the average. Tho census of ’45 
shows that thero wore kept in this town 
(about six miles square) during the provious 
yoar, three thousand nine hundred and ten 
cows, and that there were made during tho 
samo yoar 1,355,967 lbs. of choese, and 94,- 
713 lbs. of butter. Theso figures would 
give an averago of about 347 lbs. per cow, 
on tho supposition that cheese was mado 
from all the cows, which was not the case, 
somo boing kept for milk alone. Five 
hundred lbs. por cow, in a good season is 
frequently made, sometimes 600 and thero is 
one woll authenticated instance where a man 
in this county made 712 lbs. por cow, in a 
dairy of 20 cows. On account of tho in¬ 
creased skill in making cheese, and in the 
management of cows, it is not unreasonable 
to supposo that tho amount now mado is 
ono and a half million lbs. por annum, or 
about four hundrod lbs. per cow; this at tho 
average markot price this year, nine cents 
por lb., would amount to ono hundred and 
thirty-five thousand dollars. 
Most of the cows milked are not raised 
here, but aro purchased during tho winter 
and spring in tho western and northern por¬ 
tions of tho State, whore but little cheeso is 
mado, and tho cows so purchased are gen¬ 
erally of an inferior quality, their owners 
boing too shrewd to sell their best cows.— 
The farmers will undoubtedly find it for 
their interest in future, to raise their own 
cows, on account of thoir superior quality, 
though the cost por head should be increas¬ 
ed. The large quantity of cheeso made per 
cow does not arise so much from the supe¬ 
rior quality of the cows as from tho peculiar 
adaptation of the soil. Tho fact is pretty 
well established that a given quantity of 
land hero will koop moro cows during tho 
tho year, than tho samo quantity in almost 
any other portion of tho Union. During tho 
latter part of summer our pastures are al¬ 
most as green and flourishing as in spring, 
whilo in most other portions of tho State, 
particularly tho western, they are parched 
and dry. This arises both from tho capaci¬ 
ty of tho soil to retain moisture, and from 
tho frequent showers which fall during tho 
latter part of summer. Actual observation 
shows that about one-tliird more water falls 
hero during tho month of August than in 
the vicinity of Rochester. 
Cows aro usually worth here in the spring 
from $30 to $35 per head. 
Dairying has some advantages over grain 
raising; tho roturns aro more, since tho land 
is not impoverished, and what is particular¬ 
ly important, it pays hotter. 
E. R. Porter. 
Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Dec., 1853. 
SAW-EUCK EENCE-AGAIN. 
Eds. Rural :—A correspondent, in a late 
number of your valuable paper, furnished 
a description of his saw-buck fence. Tho 
idea of such a fenco is not entirely new in 
this section. I havo built somo of it, and 
find it much better and choaper than tho 
old fashionod board fenco. My manner of 
building is to have posts two and a half 
inches square (instead of six by two.) Those 
aro sufficiently strong and save at least half 
tho timber. Thoy may bo of elm, boocb, 
black or white ash, or hemlock 5J feet long, 
notched together about ono inch deep, at 
tho proper angle, say 3 feet apart at the 
bottom. Board up on one side. Nail tho 
posts at tho lock with a “ 20 d. nail;” and 
to prevent sheop, swine, or young cattle 
from disturbing the posts on back side, nail 
a narrow refuse board about midway from 
tho ground and cap tho wholo with a polo 
of any length and of moderato size, and tho 
fonco is completed. 
Two men may frame 200 pairs in a day, 
and three may set up from 30 to 40 rods in 
the samo time. I have not, as yet, esti¬ 
mated tho expense, but am assured that it 
is by far tho cheapest fonco I can build with 
posts and boards. G. Hoskins. 
Meridian, Cayuga Co., N. Y., 1853. 
To Make a Balky Horse Draw.— In India 
when a horse can and will not draw, instead 
of whipping, spurring or burning him, as 
is frequently the practice in more civilized 
countries, they quietly get a rope and at¬ 
taching it to ono of tho fore foot, one or two 
men take hold of it, and advancing a few 
paces ahoad of tho horse, pull their best.— 
No matter how stubborn tho animal may bo, 
a fow dosos of such treatment effects a per¬ 
fect cure. 
ECONOMY IN THE WEST. 
A correspondent of the Boston Cultiva¬ 
tor, who is traveling out west, says—“On my 
way to Portage, Ill., I noticed a man feeding 
some 20 or 30 “ porkers” by tho side of the 
road, among which I noticed some very fine 
Suffolks. I know Yankoes who would get 
rich on what farmers waste hero. Nature 
yields her gifts so bountifully that they 
never think of being economical or saving.” 
Thero is much matter for serious reflection 
in this short sentenco. Feeding hogs by tho 
road side cannot bo good oconomy even on 
tho rich prairies of Illinois. Wo are aware 
that it will not pay to bo at much expenso 
in erecting buildings and drawing out ma¬ 
nure, &c., but tho porkers might at least 
have been fed in some lot where their ma- 
nuro would bo dropped on tho soil ready 
to bo plowed under for tho next crop. Ma¬ 
nure will not poison tho fertile soil of tho 
west, and will sooner or later bo needed to 
obtain good crops. Husband it, therefore, 
in time. 
RISING PRICES. 
Evert thing is going up—except morals, 
in this City. Houses are going up. Streets 
are going up. People are going up—up 
town. Rents are up. Wo do not know 
that they can go higher. Every thing eata¬ 
ble is constantly going up, up, up. Flour 
is so high at tho grocer’s, that it refuses to 
riso in tho kitchen. A good many will bo 
put to it to raise bread, if flour rises any 
higher. Coal is so high that many people 
cannot get it to go down tho coal slide to 
tho cellar. Notwithstanding it is constant¬ 
ly falling through tho grate—it takes a great 
deal of money, seven dollars, to raiso a ton. 
Firewood must have grown on tall trees, or 
it never could stand up at present prices. 
Butter is so high—two and six pence per 
pound—that it will not go down poor folk’s 
throats. Tho supply comes from so far “up 
country” thoro is nothing low about it, ex¬ 
cept quality. Potatoes have been getting 
up ever since they wore put into their beds. 
They took a rise when they were dug, and 
it has been hard digging to make a raise to 
reach them ever since. Beef, though nei¬ 
ther high led, nor lvgh bred, is high priced 
enough to make up for both. Sixteen cents 
a pound for steak, warranted as tough ;:s 
any white oak. Our mutton all comes from 
mountain sheep. Tho price is abovo any 
thing in the low lands. The price of pork 
is enough to mako tho buyer do what the 
pig did when ho was seized to bo killed.— 
Chickens aro all of the Shanghai breed.— 
Thoy are high enough. Turkeys havo grown 
quito out of reach. Even geese, short as 
their legs are, are able to rise on wings above 
tho vulgar herd. Ducks have got up. like a 
flock out of a frog pond. Wo cannot raise 
a quack, without a dollar. Water, that 
used to run down bill to tho level of com¬ 
mon people, has now got a way of getting 
up abovo their reach. You havo to come 
down ton dollars to mako it come up from 
tho Croton pipes. Dry goods used to be 
low ; “ selling off at cost.” We never hear 
of such things now. Evon brandy, that 
used to run down so easy, is up now. A 
shilling for a drink. Every thing we cat, 
drink, and wear is—Heigh-ho, ho, how high ! 
— Tribune. 
COST OE CROPS IN ENGLAND. 
The following estimates aro given by the 
London Agricultural Gazelle, as the average 
cost of {various crops at Cirencester, Ag. 
Collego, including rents and taxes : 
1. Potatoes—Crop, from 30 to 200 bush¬ 
els per acre ; cost £11 16s. 6d. or $56 por 
acre. 
2. Carrots—€9 Is. or $43,50 por acre. 
3. Mangolds—£7 7s. 8d. or $35 per aero. 
4. Turnips—Crop, 13 tons per acre, cost 
£5 13s. 3d. or $26.50 per acre. 
5. Grass seod for meadows, $2 per aero. 
6. Barley—Crop,40 imperial bushels per 
acre ; costs ready for market, £2 12s. 3d. or 
$17 per acre. 
Live Hogs. —3,773 live hogs for tho N. Y., 
market, were brought over tho Erie Rail¬ 
road yesterday. Tho daily receipts of hogs 
over this road for the past month, havo 
averaged about or over a thousand. A con¬ 
siderable amount of other live stock conies 
to the city over this road, and notwithstand¬ 
ing the immense receipts of country produce 
by tho different avenues of transportation, 
the prices of most kinds of provisions are 
higher than ever known in the city. Noth¬ 
ing seems to warrant this stato of things, 
and tho secret of it appears to be monopoly 
and profit.—JY. Y. Courier. 
It is stated that tho pest of Now Eng¬ 
land farmors. the white daisy, may bo exter¬ 
minated by Guano. If it is in land that can 
be plowed, break it up and sow 250 pounds 
of guano per acre, with oats or wheat and 
clover. If it is in pasture, sow tho guano 
with half a bushel of plaster to each hundred 
pounds of guano, and the daisies will disap¬ 
pear. Or, if thoy don’t, a good deal of gu¬ 
ano will disappear, to mako room for further 
importations, and keep up tho price.— Bos¬ 
ton Post. 
Coal in Abundance. —Hero is a para¬ 
graph from the Fairmount Virginian. “It 
would astonish pcoplo who pay twenty 
cents a bushel for coal, to seo that article 
dug out of our streets in giading thorn.— 
Such was tho caso last weok. In grading 
tho stroot leading to tho bridgo, Mr. Mar¬ 
tin, tho contractor, struck a vein, from 
which ho allowed persons to dig and haul 
away what they wanted, at the rate of 
cents per bushel.” Wish thoy would do so 
hero. 
