perhaps never possessed by decaying vegetable 
matter under any other circumstances. Below 
this, lies a strata of once green leaves, now half- 
dissolved by long-continued dampness, still retain¬ 
ing their form in a considerable degree, but yielding 
to the slightest effort to tear them in pieces. De¬ 
scending deeper, the moisture decreases, and he 
finds a substance in color and texture much re¬ 
sembling fine-cut tobacco, consisting of separate, 
distinct particles, the whole curiously threaded 
with the yet undecayed veins of leaves; and, lower 
still, of almost velvety softness, lies the finest, 
cleanest, smoothest, prettiest dirt imaginable, if 
that can be called dirt which fingers of the most 
delicate touch experience a sensation of real pleas¬ 
ure in handling. 
If the explorer, after pursuing his investigations 
thus far, experiences anything of the wonder and 
admiration I anticipate for him, and possesses, in the 
smallest degree, the zeal of a curiosity hunter, he 
cannot resist the wish to carry away a specimen of 
his new-found treasure; and if nothing more con¬ 
venient to gather it in be at hand, he will carefully 
collect and tie up in his pocket-handkerchief a few 
handfuls wherewith to puzzle and surprise those at 
home whose ignorance of this substance is proba¬ 
bly as great as his own was an hour before. Then, 
after passing it round for examination, if he remem¬ 
bers to have read of its good effect on grape vines, 
strawberry vines, blackberry and raspberry bushes, 
&c., he will most likely bestow his sample on some 
favorite plant and determine to improve the first 
opportunity to go with his team and fetch home, 
for the benefit of his young trees, vines, bushes, &c., 
a quantity of this said-to-be-excellent, and certainly 
most interesting fertilizer. 
So much beauty as lies hid in one of these rich 
deposits of mold ought not to be unmasked with¬ 
out plenty of appreciative eyes to witness it. Es¬ 
pecially, be sure to have the children present when 
the precious heap is opened. The revelation of its 
contents, accompanied by some account of the 
slow and curious process by which the wonderful 
pile accumulated, would afford them heartier de¬ 
light than many a novelty they are carried miles to 
see, while the exercise of helping collect in baskets 
this substance, which, considered in its origin or 
in itself, is as beautiful and as surprising as a mir¬ 
acle, would yield a vast amount of innocent and 
healthful enjoyment. There need be no difficulty 
about a provision of implements for taking out the 
contents of this sylvan laboratory; children would 
as soon pick up acorn cups, chestnuts, walnuts, or 
apples, with a pair of tongs as gather such pretty 
stuff as leaf mold with any other tools than hands. 
Individuals or parties visiting the woods for 
rural enjoyment, may make an examination of one 
of these neglected leaf banks a most pleasant and 
instructive incident of their excursion. They will 
scarcely find, in the course of a day’s ramble, any¬ 
thing better worth their attention, or longer to be 
remembered. Even the curious inquirer into Na¬ 
ture’s secrets is here presented an interesting sub¬ 
ject for investigation. A common observer could 
give only a rough guess (it would probably fall 
quite below the mark,) concerning the length of 
time a particular mold-bed has been forming; but 
the nice, critical, scientific searcher goes carefully 
to work, separates and removes, with caution, each 
successive layer, as distinguished by the different 
stages of decomposition they have reached, and by 
his skillful anatomy, arrives at a tolerably accurate 
estimate of the number of years through which the 
dead leaves showering down from the surrounding 
trees have drifted against the huge log where they 
lie, each fresh deposit burying deeper its prede¬ 
cessors, itself, in turn, the subject of like sepul¬ 
ture, and transformed by time and damp into the 
very poetry of decay. Truly, there be some things 
belonging to Earth that never lose their beauty, 
and leaves are of them; we do not know when to 
admire them most—in life, in death, or in dissolu¬ 
tion. a. 
South Livonia, N. Y., 1869. 
tical experiment of B. who planted 3 acres with 26 
bushel of the same kind and harvested 100 bushel 
per acre of inferior potatoes ? 
If Prof. Profundigus, having sowed a plat of 
highly manured land, three yards square, with a 
foreign variety of wheat, and having guanoed and 
plastered the same, finally reaps and threshes it, 
and by nice measuring and figuring triumphantly 
demonstrates that it has yielded at the rate of 74% 
bushels per acre, and immediately sends to Con 
stantinople for a cargo of the same for seed, has 
his name, experiment and speculation heralded 
abroad for the public good,— for the same reason 
ought not the subsequent experiment of Farmer 
Simple to receive a like publicity, and be sounded 
in the ears of an expectant public? He reads 
Prof. P.’s experiment, receives Prof. P.’s circular, 
gets excited, takes to figuring, buys 20 bushels of 
P.’s wheat at $5 per bushel, sows it, and takes to 
dreaming — dreams of harvests both of grain and 
dollars and cents. The land is ordinary, the sea 
son ordinary, the harvest less than ordinary.' 
Simple’s dream is over. He now takes to think 
ing. Thinks he is a fool; thinks Prof. P. is 
knave; thinks farming is a bore. 
Let us hear both sides. If there is sunshine, 
there are shadows; if there is honey, there are 
nimble stingers to defend it; if there is fruit, so 
are there thorns; if there are ups, so are there 
downs. And it was in relation to some of these 
downs in my experience that I took my pen to ad 
dress you, but I must defer it until another time 
Jedadiah East. 
Bed Creek, Wayne Co., N. Y., 1859. 
Remarks. — If Mr. Easy’s initial blast is a fair 
index of his promised “experience,” Rural read 
ers may expect some items tending to enable them 
to strike “ the happy medium.” But we submit 
that, notwithstanding his fine exordium, it is al¬ 
ways wise to “ breed from the best ”—to take your 
cow to the best male bovine — and that care in the 
selection of sires and seeds, as well as a little extra 
expenditure in securing them, (with correspond¬ 
ing pains-taking in breeding and culture,) will 
generally pay large dividends. The cases cited 
by friend Jedadiah are extreme ones, and—but 
we will await his conclusion, and see which end of 
the horn is the largest. 
BRUSH UNDERDRAINS.-THE OTHER SIDE. 
THE TWO ENDS OE THE HORN. 
Eds. Rural : — I lately ventured into a piece of 
extravagance, viz., subscribed for the Rural, and 
as you invite farmers to write to you, I thought I 
would send you a few items of my experience — 
showing my poor success in that ennobling and 
glorious employment in relation to which orators 
and statesmen make so many profound and Bun¬ 
combe speeches, and editors, political, literary, and 
agricultural, say so many beautiful things. If suc¬ 
cess is sounded forth, and by means of the press 
published to the ends of the earth, should not want 
of success be as widely disseminated, that the 
world may strike “the happy medium?” 
If the fact that the Hon. A. D.’s cow had two 
beautiful Durham calves at a birth, which he 
promptly refused to sell for $500, goes the round 
of the papers, ought not the conflicting fact to be 
published as well, that Hon. A. D.’s neighbor J. 
E., after feeding out all his fodder, tried in vain to 
get his cow up May hill, and all he could save was 
her hide, which he sold to the tanner, lest all the 
world buy cows, and go to raising calves under the 
impression that they can sell them for $250 apiece? 
If the papers publish the statement, that C. Cackle, 
Esq., from 4 parent birds raised 19 pairs of Bram- 
shang chickens, which brought him $5 per coop, 
and also supplied a small family with eggs — ma¬ 
king, by nice figuring, a clear profit of $30 in one 
year, —ought they not also to publish Farmer 
Stout’s emphatic statement that his 20 imported 
fowls are a curse to him—that the “tarnal crit¬ 
ters ” eat themselves up four times in the course 
of a winter, requiring a bushel of corn per week— 
that they scratched up two acres of corn for him in 
the spring, besides destroying his garden, tangled 
down three-fourths of an acre of oats in harvest 
time — that he has never a chick to peep, nor eggs 
enough to pay for looking them up ? 
If we must needs hear that Mr. Brisk killed a 
pig ten months old, weighing 400 pounds dressed 
weight, would it not be as well to be apprised of 
the fact that Mr. East, on the adjoining farm, next 
day killed ten of the pointer breed twenty months 
old, averaging 225 lbs.? If A cuts a Rohan potato 
into sixteen pieces, and raises half a bushel of un¬ 
common fine large potatoes, which he by figuring 
calculates to be at the rate of 700 bushels per acre 
and the papers blow it broadcast, should they not 
give a few puffs to the equally conclusive and prac- 
Friend Moore : — I have been an ardent friend, a 
constant reader, and I suppose my name has been 
on your books as a subscriber for your valuable 
Rural for eight years. I have read accounts of a 
number of experiments made by correspondents 
after one year’s trial, which have proved their ex 
perience or conclusions to be erroneous. They 
jump at conclusions in the outset, whereas they 
should “ wait a little longer,” or until they know 
more positively whereof they affirm. 
In the Rural of April 30, our friend W. L. Logie, 
under the head of “ Cheap Mode of Underdrain¬ 
ing,” says that for the want of tile he made use of 
brush. After his drain had lain for one year he 
examined the brush, found it as fresh as when first 
putin, and says—“Now, sir, this brush will last 
for at most twenty years, and my drains will have 
only cost the price of digging.” 
Now, sir, I call this jumping at conclusions—for 
sixteen years at least. Six years ago I laid about 
eighty rods of brush drain, the same way as Mr. L 
I have a field of five acres, sloping to the south at 
about G inches to the rod—wet, spongy, the soil 
mostly producing grass. Having plenty of brush, 
I tried the experiment of brush draining. I cut a 
ditch two feet wide and 18 inches deep. Com¬ 
menced to put in brush at the mouth of the drain, 
hut-ends foremost, the tops resting on the buts 
of the others. The thickness of the brush was ten 
inches, covered with a coat of straw, put inverted 
turf on the straw, then filled in with earth thrown out 
of the ditch. I plowed deep; the season was dry; 
plowed no more, but cultivated often. Sowed to 
wheat, Sept. 4th; harvested a good crop. 
I felt as much overjoyed as does W. L. L. at his 
success in cheap draining, and put about 16 rods 
in each branch, draining into a large open ditch. 
The first and second year it worked well. The 
third year, however, the water made its appearance 
through my brush drains, on the top. I examined 
them; found them pressed together, and the earth 
from the top filled into the brush, completely 
choking the drains. The fourth year I dug them 
out, and let the water have free course. W. L. L. 
says you may probably hear from him again on the 
subject of draining. With due respect I advise 
him to wait six years, and then report progress. 
Stafford, N. Y., May, 1859. E. Bixby. 
MOON FARMING.—AN INQUIRY. 
Eds. Rural :—I have recently become a reader, 
and consequently an admirer of the Rural. I con¬ 
sider it one of the “ institutions ” of the American 
farmer. One of its happiest and most instructive 
features is the interchange of thought it elicits 
from its numerous readers throughout the country, 
giving each an opportunity to benefit his brother 
farmer by his own experience. It is emphatically 
the people’s paper, the farmer’s instructor, and as 
I am one of your pupils I beg the privilege of ask¬ 
ing a plain question through its columns. It is 
this— What time “ in the moon ” should we sow our 
seed this Spring, to insure a good crop next Fall? 
It is held by many good and wise people, that 
sowing the seed in the “ wrong of the moon ” has 
a disastrous effect upon the crop; if this is so it is 
time we all understood the theory and philosophy 
of the fact. If Mrs. Luna smiles upon a seed one 
day, and frowns upon it the next, it behooves us 
all to study her disposition. Again—it is said this 
very fastidious old lady is immoderately particular 
about her diet, especially pork, “ shriveling it up 
in the pan,” if it is not killed just the time her 
fancy dictates. Soap is also under her especial 
care, and obstinately refuses to “ come ” except at 
her bidding. 
Now, Mr. Editor, I ask this question seriously, 
for I am in a dilemma. I have heard that certain 
seed ought to be sown either in the full or old of 
the moon, and that it would either come up or rot, 
—I have forgotten which. Will some of your kind 
readers please tell us how we can call down the 
blessings, and avoid the curses, of this crop, pork, 
and soap regulator, Mrs. Luna ? 
Nelson, Mad. Co., N. Y. D. D. IIoldbidge. 
PORTABLE STEAM ZENTGrlTUE. 
^Agricultural illtsccllanp. 
May opened warm and brilliantly, the first seven days 
being exceedingly pleasant, with a higher temperature 
in this region, than has been experienced, so early, for 
many years. As a consequence, Vegetation made most 
remarkable strides in garden, field and forest, and the 
Rural World is already decked in summer array. 
Finh Wool. —Mr. E. Munson, of Tyre, N. Y., has 
favored us with samples of Spanish Merino wool of 
superior quality. 
The Perey and Castile Ao. Society, (Wyoming Co., 
N. Y.,) has the following officers:— President— Alton 
Palmer, Perry; Vice Pres't— Walter Gillespie, Cas¬ 
tile ; Sec'y— S. M. Howard, Perry Centre: Treasurer — 
Eussell Mordoff, Perry. 
Warts on Animals.—C. II. W. writes thus: —“Here 
is a cure for warts on animals - cheap, and easy of ap¬ 
plication. I saw a young horse with a bad wart in the 
face, which was entirely removed by a few applications 
of common pine tar—just rubbed on.” 
The above cut represents a Portable Steam En¬ 
gine, as manufactured by A. N. Wood & Co., of 
Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y., whose reputation as 
builders is well established throughout the coun¬ 
try. The uses to which these engines may be ap¬ 
plied upon a farm, are various. Upon a large 
farm or plantation, where much grain is threshed, 
wood sawed, <5cc., they are considered almost indis- 
llural Spirit of % fJrcsu. 
To Compel a Cow to Yield. Her IVtillr. 
A correspondent of the Country Gentleman, 
having taken a lesson from the calves, states that 
in every case a cow may be made to let down her 
milk by striking the udder with the clenched fist. 
He says:—“When a boy, my business was to 
suckle the calves night and morning. I noticed 
after the calves were of some size, and when first 
admitted to the cows, and after, when the milk 
was nearly exhausted, particularly if the supply 
was scant, that they made a most vigorous but¬ 
ting of the cow’s bags, causing them to kick about 
lustily.” From this he took the hint, and has 
never failed, by a judicious use of his fists, to 
bring the milk speedily down from the most ob¬ 
stinate holders up. 
Dairy Salt. 
S. P. Joslyn, of Waitsfield, Vt., sends to the 
New England Farmer the following method of 
preparing dairy salt:—“ Take the best crystal salt, 
wash it, dissolve, strain, settle, and turn off; boil 
it down in some perfectly clean iron vessel, skim 
as boiling; when stirred off dry, it will produce 
fine salt, white as the drifting snow, which, if stir¬ 
red up in a glass vessel of water, will produce no 
sediment, and will be dtjj^ict from any mineral 
or other possible impurii M Salt is offered in the 
country markets for frp •ne and one-fourth to 
one and one-hal^ cental i^^pound, whiph looks 
like the model of peri*i^^K. After the above 
method of manufacture,^^®!! cost nearly double 
that amount. For two j^^Hpastwe have manu¬ 
factured salt in this way produce of about 
three tuns of butter each yuir.” This mode was 
introduced to Mr. J. as being practiced by an ex¬ 
perienced Scotch dairyman, and such faith is 
placed in the purity of the salt after preparation, 
that Mr. Joslyn, after his two years’ experience, 
purposes to continue the experiment. 
“ liiglx Farming.” 
An Ohio correspondent of the Prairie Farmer 
gives it as his opinion that “what is done on a 
small scale, with ordinary means, may be done by 
the acre.” To sustain this position he remarks 
that, “on a square rod of land, occupied for the 
second year only as a garden, and consequently 
well manured, a neighbor raised, last year, nine 
bushels of carrots—or at the rate of more than 
fourteen hundred bushels per acre.” Taking this 
as his text he gives us the following brief dis¬ 
course :—“ Did any one ever fully appreciate the 
value of a single bushel of carrots to a cow giving 
milk and making butter in winter ? If so, such a 
one may understand the benefit which may be de¬ 
rived from a herd of twenty cows, the whole of 
which receivq a half bushel per day each all win¬ 
ter from a crop of fourteen hundred bushels. If 
worth twenty-five cents a bushel in saving hay, 
improving the condition, and increasing milk and 
butter, the whole crop would be worth $350. Yet 
the cost of raising need not be $100, at ordinary 
prices of manure in most localities. ‘ High farm¬ 
ing’ in some matters will not pay, but it will emi¬ 
nently do so in this; and one of the great points 
of skill in successful farmers, is to know when it 
will, and when it will not.” 
Dvitcli Dutter-NI airing. 
We are indebted to Lichens' Household Words 
for the following description of the process pur¬ 
sued in the manufacture of butter by the best 
Dutch Dairies :—“ There they come, the milkmaid 
and the boy. The boy is towing a little boat along 
the canal, and the maid, with her full blue petti¬ 
coat and her pink jacket or bedgown, walks beside 
him. Now they stop; she brings from the boat 
her copper milk pails, as bright as gold, and, with 
a cooing greeting to her dear cows, sets down 
her little stool on the grass, and begins to milk. 
The boy, having moored his boat, stands beside 
her with the special pail, which is to hold the last 
pint from each cow; the creamy pint which comes 
last, because it has risen to the top of the udder. 
Not a drop is left to turn sour and fret the cow. 
Thte boy fetches and carries the pails, and moves 
as if he trod on eggs when conveying the full pails 
to the boat. When afloat, there is no shaking at 
all. Smoothly glides the cargo of pails up to the 
very entrance of the dairy, where the deep jars, 
appropriate to this “meal” of milk, are ready— 
cooled with cold water, if it is summer, and warm¬ 
ed with hot water if the weather requires it. 
When the time for churning comes, the Dutch 
woman takes matters as quietly as hitherto. She 
softly tastes the milk in the jars till she finds 
therein the due degree of acidity; and then she 
leisurely pours the whole — cream and milk to¬ 
gether—into a prodigiously stout and tall upright 
churn. She must exert herself, however, if she is 
to work that plunger. She work it!—not she! 
pensable. They are convenient for steaming milk 
for dairy purposes, and feed for fattening stock — 
for running a grist mill, grindstone, washing-ma¬ 
chine, corn-sheller, sausage-cutter, &c. The steam 
may also be used for heating shops, tanneries or 
buildings where stoves are not safe or convenient. 
See announcement of the manufacturers in our 
advertising department. 
She would as soon think of working the mills on 
the dykes with her own plump hands. No—she 
has a servant under her to do it. She puts her 
dog into a wheel which is connected with the 
plunger; and, as the animal runs round, what a 
splashing, wolloping, and frizzing is heard from 
the closed churn ! The quiet dairymaid knows by 
the changes of the sounds how the formation of 
the butter proceeds; when she is quite sure that 
there are multitudes of flakes floating within, she 
stops the wheel, releases the dog, turns down the 
churn upon a large sieve, which is laid over a tub, 
and obtains a sieveful of butter, in the shape of 
yellow kernels, while the buttermilk runs off for 
the benefit of the pigs, or of the household 
cookery.” 
Inquiries anb ^Insiucrs. 
Wind Power. — I would like, through the Rural or 
otherwise, to get a little more information abont wind 
power for sawing wood. Will some one that has such 
a machine please describe its construction, tell the cost, 
whether it pays, &c.?—O. D. H., East Rodman, N. Y. 
Cement Roofs— Inquiry.— A rumor has reached us 
that in New York State, water lime cement has been 
used for barn roofs, and that it has stood the test of 
years. Will some one who is in possession of the facts, 
tell us, through the columns of the Rural, all about it ? 
Please not forget the disadvantages and objections, if 
any.—P. H., Milan, Ohio, 1S59. 
( -+- 
Sod Fences.— In a late Rural, Mr. Wm. H. Chaffer, 
of Byron, Mich., asks for information about sod fences. 
Our English friends who came to this country and set¬ 
tled in Stafford twenty-five years ago, commenced build¬ 
ing sod fences on dry land, in marshy places and 
swampy grounds. The freezing in winter and the ac¬ 
tion of thawing in spring soon laid the fences in the 
place where lovers of strong drink arc often found—in 
the ditch.—E. B., Stafford, N. Y, 1859. 
Cellar Above Ground. —I would like to inquire 
through the Rural, what is the best plan for building 
a cellar on top of the earth, where stone is plenty, and 
it is not possible to dig down? Will a wall 18 inches 
thick, with scantling set upright on the inside, and 
lathed and plastered, keep things from freezing—or 
what is the best plan to build a cellar above ground ? 
Also, what is the best plan to build a door yard fence 
where it is impossible to set posts on account of rock ? 
Also, what is the best plan for attaching sheds to a 
barn, where the great doors are on the north and south 
side?—C. II. De Witt, Wood Co., Ohio. 
Brush Underdp.aining — Inquiry. —The very com¬ 
mon error, which you so justly complain of in many of 
your contributors, of not being explicit enough, is par¬ 
tially seen in an article by Mr. Logie, in the Rural of 
30th ult., on Brush Underdraining. He says “ cut the 
ditch as for tile;” but some cut much deeper than others, 
&c., soil making a great difference. Now, will Mr. L. 
tell us how wide and deep he digs, what kind of soil, 
and what kind of brush (hard or soft wood,) he made 
his drain of, and oblige at least one who takes an inter¬ 
est in his article ?—C. D. D., Syracuse, N. Y., 1S59. 
Wire Worm in Potatoes.— Among the multitude of 
“knowing ones ” who fill the columns of the Rural is 
there not one who can give a remedy for the wire worm 
in potatoes? My potatoes were badly pierced with 
them last fall, and I have found some fine sprightly fel¬ 
lows in the soil this season ready for the campaign. 
A small bug or fly, with black wings and golden neck 
and shoulders, is devouring the leaves of my seed tur¬ 
nips and cabbages, and my young radishes. What will 
check them?—O. Sackett, Sherburne, N. Y, 1859. 
Wolf Teeth in Homes.— What are “wolf teeth” in 
horses ? We have a valuable colt of the Black Hawk 
blood, two years old past, and on his upper jaw, on 
each side, immediately in front of the grinders, is a 
small, sharp tooth or tusk, protruding from the gum 
three-eighths or half an inch. Are they what are called 
“wolf teeth” or not, and how should wolf teeth be 
treated? Will they produce injury if let alone ?—C. H. 
W., Raymondville, N. Y., 1859. 
The teeth described are called Wolf teeth by 
some, and by others eye teeth. Dadd does not 
mention them — neither does Youatt — but in 
“Every Man His Own Farrier” they form the 
subject of a very brief chapter. It says:—“This 
is a small tooth appearing on the upper jaw, at 
the distance of about half an inch, or an inch from 
the grinders; sometimes on one side, and at other 
times on both sides. These teeth are seldom found 
in young horses; but old horses are sometimes 
subject to them. They are supposed to affect the 
eyes at different times: they must be removed 
either by the application of a hammer and chisel 
made for the purpose, or by filing them down level 
with the gums.” 
Cattle Statistics. —In 1858 Illinois sent to the 
New York market 53,464 head of cattle, while the 
States of Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan togeth¬ 
er, only sent 53,025 head. Illinois is the greatest 
grass growing State in the Confederacy. 
A Convention of Wool Growers and Manufac¬ 
turers is to be held at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 4th of 
August next. The Ohio Farmer says the “ call ” is 
signed by many of the most prominent wool growers 
in that State—that the premiums will be quitejiberal, 
and a pleasant and profitable meeting may be expected. 
The Spring Snow and Stock Exhibition of the 
Niagara Co. Ag. Society, held at Lockport on the 4th 
inst., is said to have been largely attended, while the 
display made, particularly of horses, was large and 
unusually fine. We are surprised that more of our 
County Societies do not hold Spring Exhibitions. 
The Fourth Annual Fair of the St. Louis Ag. and 
Mech. Association is to commence on the 25th of Sept, 
next. Among the premiums offered are the following: 
For the best thorough bred stallion, $1,000; for the best 
thorough bred bull, $1,000; for the best roadster stal¬ 
lion, in harness, $1,000. Liberal premiums, those, and 
such as ought to call out the best. 
Milking Young Cows.—It is said that young cows, 
the first year they give milk, may be made, with careful 
milking and good keeping, to give milk almost any 
length of time deemed desirable; but that if they are 
allowed to dry up early in fall, they will, if they have a 
calf at the same season, dry up at the same time each 
succeeding year, and nothing but extra feed will pre¬ 
vent it, and that but for a short time. 
Extensive Potato Growing. —A paragraph is going 
the rounds of the papers stating that a Mr. Shoecbaft, 
of Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., Mich., has already planted 
fourteen hundred acres of potatoes ! Though it may 
be true, we beg leave to doubt the statement until some 
of our subscribers in Sturgis verify its correctness. We 
suppose more potatoes are grown in this (Monroe) 
county, than any other in the Union, but if one man 
cultivates 1,400 acres in St Joseph, and others imitate 
him to any extent, the banner must change locations. 
Our growers do not plant many hundred acres each, 
but they manage to obtain a good many bushels of 
superior potatoes per acre. 
About Steam Cultivation. —The Prairie Farmer 
says:—“ Mr. Field, of St. Louis, called on us last week 
on his way to Seneca Falls, N. Y., where he has con¬ 
tracted for the building of a steam engine, which is to 
work a series of spades, by which he intends to cultivate 
the prairies of Illinois. His machine is to be completed 
the 15th of June. 
“ Mr. Field, referred to above, has recently seen 
Fawkes’ new steam plow, and says it will not astonish 
him to hear within six weeks that Fawkes is breaking 
up fifty acres of Illinois prairie every twenty-four hours. 
His machine will soon be completed. Mr. F. speaks of 
It in high terms—believes it will be a success.” 
“Nova Scotia Corn.” —We are indebted to Mr. D. 
B. Waite, now of Springwater, N. Y., for a sample (ear) 
of corn, of which he tells this history:—In 1855 he pick¬ 
ed an ear from the stalk on Rock River, III., it being 
the second growth of that year; took it to Minnesota, 
(in latitude 45 degrees,) and planted in garden; from 
thence brought seed to New York and planted last year, 
and this ear is part of the product. It was called 
“ Nova Scotia Corn ” in Illinois. It ears well—not un¬ 
common to find three ears on a stalk, and one on top of 
each sucker. Does well for early table corn. Planted 
it the 22d of May last year, it was tasseled 20th June, 
and used as green corn for dinner on 29th of July. Soil 
not favorable, (clay, cold and wet,) light coating of stable 
manure plowed under, and no extra culture. Mr. W. 
proposes to distribute the seed to any wishing to give it 
a trial—sending on receipt of letter stamp, all the post¬ 
age will cover. Don’t think he intends to “ speculate,” 
or would not notice. The ear is small, eight-rowed— 
and, though it might do for late planting, in case of 
emergency, hardly think it a desirablo variety for profit. 
Tarring Seed Corn — “ Heading ” the Crows .— 
Writing to the New England Farmer, R. Mansfield 
thus speaks of the benefit of tarring seed corn, a process 
frequently recommended in the Rural :—“ Tar applied 
to seed corn before it is planted, certainly will prevent 
the crows destroying it. For more than forty years I 
have not been able to detect a single failure, wherever 
it was done correctly. Not one person in ten would 
probably be successful in their first endeavor in tarring 
corn ; to be known, the operation must be seen. One 
man dare not use boiling water, so ho fails; another 
destroys the vitality of the kernel by too great a degree 
of heat long continued. I have known parts ef fields 
destroyed by poisonous manures, when this single fact 
was overlooked, and tar, or the birds, was erroneously 
supposed to be the cause. Could some President of an 
Agricultural Society, or some pattern farmer, be induced 
to try the experiment of tarring seed corn, I doubt not 
that in less than ten years, scarecrows would bo among 
the missing.” 
The editor of the Farmer adds the proper mode of 
tarring (substantially the same as has been several 
times given in the Rural, and which we know has 
been practiced successfully by a number of “ pattern 
farmers ” and at least one “ President of an Ag. Socie¬ 
ty,”) as follows:—“ Our neighbors practice in this way : 
They fill a pail half full of boiling water, add about half 
a pint of common tar—coal tar is just as good-stir it 
until the tar is melted and thoroughly mingled with the 
water, then add the corn, stirring it well for about ten 
minutes, or until it is completely covered with the tar. 
Take the corn out and roll it in plaster or fine ashes, 
and the process is completed.” 
Another Mode.— R. A. Damon, in the same paper, 
tells “ how to prevent crows from pulling up corn ” in 
this wise:—“ Take two ounces of nitre to a peck of corn; 
dissolve the nitre in half the quantity of boiling water 
wanted to cover the corn, then add as much beef brine, 
and soak the com from twelve to twenty-four hours, then 
roll in plaster or dry ashes. I have followed this method 
for more than five years, and have suffered no loss -from 
crows.” 
£ 
