I of four iu tlic line, sold ono hundred and 
seventy broadcasters. At least 1,000 were 
sold in tiie town. Of broadcasters, as of 
reapers, the name is legion. I do not pro¬ 
pose to advertise any favorite, which would 
be understood to bo simply my favorite. 
I believe iu the drill. The hoes of the 
broadcaster hollow out parallel furrows, 
throwing thence the seed, and slightly cov¬ 
ering all on tiro intervening ridges, to bo 
made naked by the first wind or rain. The 
drill deposits the seeds in the bottom of sim¬ 
ilar furrows, to bo constantly covered more 
deeply. I believe my crop on some strong 
All this time you have been raising remu¬ 
nerative crops, you have incurred no extra 
expense, It is the buckwheat that gave the 
death blow to tbo weeds; the rest only 
proved the efficacy of the blow. 
Or instead of following with wheat, seed 
down when 11,e barley Is sown. Do this it 
there is any doubt of tho full efficacy of the 
buckwheat.. Aa only winter Intervenes be¬ 
tween tbo buckwheat and tho barley, there 
is no chance fur weeds to make their appear¬ 
ance, the fall or (carlj 1 ) spring plow ing being 
a bar to resuscitation. 
Favor the clover. Be particular about 
tb; 3 . II the soil is old, and has been long 
cultivated without ashes, sow on ashes after 
the clover is sown. Bow as much as 3-00 
please, from five to twenty bushels per acre. 
This will tell on tho barley as well as on tho 
clover; and sow a bushel of plaster per acre 
on tho clover after the barley is removed. 
Vv e have adopted tins plan, with some vari¬ 
ations, and have always found it more or 
less effectual. f. o 
mxofcw 
raps 
NOTES * 
Cu Mowers, Teddeya and listsea. 
Oun correspondent. X. A. W., sends us 
full notes on the mower trial at Amherst, 
from which, iu adddition to extracts pre¬ 
viously given, wo segregate the following; 
There are some novel machines here, 
among which we may mention the “ Eureka,'’ 
which 1 m its cutter-bar between the wheels 
and immediately back of the horses. In 
mowing with this machine, one horse walks 
in the grass, and the advantage claimed over 
ordinary mowers is that tho grass Can 1 all ue 
cut from ono side of the field. This con¬ 
struction of machines needs to be more fully 
tested. Tiie “ Advance” also has peculiari¬ 
ties, one of which is that tho parts can, in a 
moment, be separated and put together. 
The " Young Y7arrior,” of the Little Fulls 
Manufacturing Company, has also groat 
merits in its construction, and is attracting 
great attention on account of its simplicity 
and case of action. 
The “Oranito State,” and tho “Perry 
Mower” are peculiar in having the pitman 
red working through the drive wheel. The 
Reminotoxs also bring out a new machine. 
On Wednesday tho hay tedders got into 
Hue and went to work. There are five 
machines entered, tho “ National,” the “ At¬ 
lantic,” the “Amorioan,” “Ballard’s,” and 
“ Brown’s.” 
Tno Atlantia differs from others !n carry¬ 
ing tho hay in a cirelo around with llm 
revolving arms, throwing-it off at top. Iu 
r *ht grass iu operation, was vary fine. 
F.'tcrwu'o tedder is somewhat similar in prin¬ 
ciple, the arms revolving in an opposite 
direction, and b more apt to dog. Indeed, 
it worn 1 itself up several times in heavy 
grass. The “National,” from some cause, 
w 3 hauled off tho field, and hue not boon in • 
operation to-day. Thu “Bullard” and the 
“ American”are so well known to the public 
that we need not specially refer to their con- 1 
Btraction. Both operated well. < 
Thera were six otitrles of nkasTim ] 
Streeter Wheel Rake of Worcester, Mass.; i 
tho Ithaca (X. V.) Wheel Rules 1 White- j 
man's B.-lf-Looking Rake; Burt's Self-Ad- < 
justing Rake of the Ames Plow Co.; flow- » 
r.rd’3 Revolving Whoel Rake, Kingston, N. c 
.•ad Warner’s Sulky Revolving R .ko, 1 
.factored by il. J. Pay A Co., North I 
JAPAN CLOVER 
A few days siuce I noticed for the first 
time iu nij r yard a slender little plant with a 
small yellow blossom. I did not remember 
to have seen it anywhere before. Ono of 
my neighbors who had obtained some seed 
of tho Japan clover and carefully watched 
tho product was surprised to find that the 
sumo thing was growing abundantly in his 
garden. Soon after my discovery of tho 
I new plant, a friend visited me and directed 
I my attention to tho fact that it was growing 
. all through our section, and was t he veritablo 
Japan clover. On examination I found it 
trifoliate and evidently belonging to the 
clover family, Sonic persons say they have 
noticed it for many years. I think they are 
not correct In this. Others say they have 
not known It until within a few years. I 
doubt whether any of them ever noticed the 
identical growth before. In traveling since, 
I seo it everywhere—in yards, in meadows, 
about towns, In old fields, and in forests. 
It b unpromising in appearance, certainly, 
the leaves being very srftall, few and scat¬ 
tered. The bloom is not much larger than 
a buckshot. Richness in the soil seems to 
lengthen tho branches without developing 
the plant otherwise to advantage. Nor does 
it prove, os yet, in our latitude likely to root 
out the straw, &?., of the old fields. 
lit this p :rt of North Carolina, I think wo 
may consider another 
when the end gate is raised irrigation ceases 
on the first level. The second ditch is filled 
•nd managed precisely like the first.. Small 
side gates arc put in on the lower embank¬ 
ment, tho better to control the flow and dis¬ 
tribution of water. From thirty-six to forty- 
eight hours is long enough to have moving 
water on any surface at one time. Hence a 
spring or brook of fair size will irrigate more 
End tbau one, at first thought, might sup¬ 
pose; and as many springs rmd brooks flow 
oa with considerable uniformity, day and 
night, too year round, if one gets all of their 
fertilizing salts, sediment, gases and water 
where they a:a most needed, the positive 
gala ! i often a thousand ibid more than it 
costs. 
Diiches and gutters may bo filled or 
broken and need repair, but this labor is 
UNDEEBR AIMING — ADVANTAGES, 
Yes, II. L. B. 
I do want somebody to 
"pitch in because, seriously, I have my 
doubts whether the theory of irnderdraining iu 
in all cases sustained. I doubt very much the 
point said to bo gained in stiff, hard pan 
clay by making uuderdrains every thirty 
feet, or, in other words, I question the 
advantage, compared with cost, over the 
simple practice of plowing tho land so os to 
leave it rolling, and with open, ready surface 
drains, not ditches, for ditches aro not 
necessary. I speuk of this in collection with 
growing of the grape, or, if yon will, dwarf 
pears, etc., for of course tho class of land, 
viz., thin clay, surface soil, and hard puu or 
shale below, would be v.usuited for growing 
market garden crops. 
The “ philosophy " on which I make rny 
base is that the subsoil unstirred, end below 
tho action of light, offers 
common, familiar 
growth as worthy of being thought ft rival 
of tho Japan Ibr public flavor. "l refer to 
the old plaut called by tbo various names of 
dove weed, sheep’s clover, fox tail, &c. It 
also Ih iriioliato, its leaves resembling those 
ot tbo Lucerne as much qs the loaves of 
tho Japan resemble thoso of white clover. 
Tire flower b much larger than that of the 
Japan, is very soft and fleecy, of a light 
greenish purplish color, and about the size 
and shape of tho fruit of the mulberry. 
When it first cornea itp In tho spring, it 
looks very much like young clover—so 
much eo that I mistook it for that in a field 
where I had sown red clover last epruog. It 
is not killed by tbo plough, as it never fails 
to reappear with tho wheat in fields which 
alternato between corn and wheat. Cattle 
cat it well t;t first, but seem to grow tired of 
it. Some days since 1 saw them eating it on 
the commons with quite as much avidity 09 
the Japan clover, 
no increased 
amount of food support when under drained 
ovor that cf surface drained; tho roots feed 
mainly in the surface soil, and the bare cf 
those roots is oftener free of stagnant water 
when well surface drainedthaa when under- 
drained in the common manner without 
surface drainage. Whether I am in. fun cr 
not, the subject will bear a little more venti¬ 
lating and comparing cf lands underdrained 
with those surface drained. 
, Filank Amok. 
FANCY GATES. 
we continue our illustrations of fancy 
gates for front yarjtg, The first one herewith 
given is designed to be the game height as 
the pickets, and is a strong, serviceable gate, 
adapted to a passago where a gate la much 
used 
mana; 
Wdliston, Vt, 
This last, to our mind, was the be 3 l rako 
on tha ground, and indeed the best, on tho 
whole, of any rake we have seen. Its work 
and action in ovary place on the field was 
mo 3 t execlLut. 
The groat objection to the wire tooth rake 
is that it collects a good deal of dirt in the 
hay, and we faiiod to s»o any marked im¬ 
provement in this class of rakes on the 
grounds. 
Iu the Warner Bulky Revolving Rake the 
rake fallows the sulky, and tho whole nr- 
rangemeat is a mod ft of simplicity—strong, 
durable, no parts liable to break or get out 
of ordor, of light draft, easy of operation, 
and altogether jugf such a rako os commends 
it 10 tho minds of practical fanners. 
TILE DRAINS. 
In answer to inquiry “IIow to luytilo 
drains,” I give my wayTo dig the drain, 
commence at the lower end. If water is 
moving you will have no trouble in getting 
the desired level. Dig about two mud a half 
feet deep. To lay the tile, commenco at tho 
upper end, and lay on the bottom of the 
drain, if hard; if in quicksand, on boards; 
be sure and break joints where tho boards 
meet 
I find the best way to cover tho tilo is to 
Invert sod at each joint. It not only keeps 
out the dirt, but keeps from freezing. Cut 
the sod so as to fill the bottom of tho ditch, 
and it will help to keep the tile in place, and 
large enough to cover the tile, 
I find the best size for draining low places, 
where water is liable to stand, is three or 
four iuch; for draining upland, two-inch is 
sufficient. J. a. Choate. 
which was growing near. 
It appears a little too early fi r wheat, as it 
blossoms about harvest. I cm watching tho 
effect* of rod clover upon it. I also intend 
plowing down some with plaster this soason 
r.s an experiment. The loaves arc quite 
small, but their greater length, and greater 
number, may make them better than the 
Japan. It has a rnuoh stouter stent, and 
stands more erect than tho latter. 
As to Japan clover, if I cm not in error 
ns to its identity, and am not pronouncing 
ontenoo prematurely, it is like many other 
things much talked of—a small affair, with 
small merit and large reputation. 
North Carolina, 18G9. 
gomg to and no during the spring's work, 
and earlier—here is, comparative]}-, a worse 
road than in the hard beaten highway. We 
seldom work our roads on the farm; this is 
the difficulty. It is a mere passage way, ns 
any part of the farm might be made, and 
often is, aa the bad condition of such roads 
requires turning out into the field, cutting 
up that. also. 
A little trouble will secure a good passa¬ 
ble road. And it is yours,—used by you 
alone,— and you can keep it good — you aro 
not working for another. Simply run a 
ditch along each sido of the road. It quito 
clayey and wet, sink tho ditch well ‘and 
throw on the road; have a narrow road — 
there L no turning out hero—and have a 
little higher in tho center. This is draining, 
aud will chain your land immediately con¬ 
tiguous. 
Tills Is till. But not even this is done, 
pave by a few farmers. They prefer the 
mud, A good form has good roads of this 
description, that it is a delight to see and go 
over, Cattle love to walk them, and so do 
horse®. Such roads have good gates where 
needed, and you do not dread to go to the 
most distant parts of tho farm. * * 
Com Wheat Sweat t—A correspondent of tho 
Western Rural discussing this question taysi 
I can eco uo good reason why wheat stacked dry 
in a dry place ■will sweat, but kno w from expe¬ 
rience that if stacked damp it will become 
tough cud warm, (or, as some S3y, go through a 
sweat.) In ISC) I exit ten acres Of wheat quito 
green, set It up in round shocks—ten sheaves and 
two caps. 1 noticed in passing through this 
field a few days after It was cut that the wheat 
In tho heads exposed to tbo sun were shrunken, 
while those under tho caps were bright and 
plump. Istaoked this wheat In a barn when it 
was dry, and examined it often, und never found 
it fn tho least chimp or " sweating." Tho same 
season I tlmishod fifteen acres out of the shock, 
and put the wheat in a bln In the bam —I was 
told to put it on the barn door, as It would sweat, 
heat and spoil; but I did not believe that dry 
wheat, in a dry place, would sweat. 1 examined 
tills wheat often, but if it over sweat I was uu« 
able to find It out. 
MODERN IRRIGATION. 
The London Spectator Bays tirat Sir 
Rqseut Katies, in Uia Abyssinian expedi¬ 
tion, compelled “a lofty African dessrt to 
yield water by an American da vice not 
twelve months old.” “A ball' a dozen 
mules aro drawn up, loaded with thin etpcl 
tubes. Tap, tup, tap goo« a hammer, rigged 
up in five minutes, and iu ten the curse of 
Africa has been conquered as if a new 
Hoses bad smitten the rock, and pure water 
for an army is spouting among the atones.” 
Considerable geological knowledge is nec¬ 
essary to enable one to judge wisely where 
water may be had by boring a reasonable 
distance, and where the earth may bo pen¬ 
etrated four thousand feet, as at St. Louis, 
and no water found. It is not the purpose 
of this letter to discuss tiro geological fiiets 
Which boar on the question of obtaining 
water by artesian wells or otherwise for tho 
irrigation of farming land. Not one spring 
or brook in a thousand that nature supplies 
above ground, ready for our daily use, is ap¬ 
plied to the improvement of tho soil by j 
being diffused over and through it. In a 
previous latter the fact has been stated that 
nil such water contains fertilizing suits held 
in solution—some more, some less. It may 
not be a inks to remind the reader that water 
or its elements, and carbon derived from the 
atmosphere, form an average of over ninety- 
five per cent, of wheat, com and cotton— 
throe of our most important staples. The 
water of springs and creeks supplies tho 
mineral food of plants as well as ikes?. 
Hence the banks of all water courses—lands 
irrigated by nature—are remarkable for their 
productiveness. , 
The great end and aim of all farm irriga- ■ 
ton is to multipl 
The second illustration is designed to be 
mada higher than the fence, and ia simple, 
cheap, light and beautiful in design, and 
easily made. Each illustration tells its own 
story. Any carpenter will know how to go 
to work to make these gates. 
Canada Thistles.—A correspondent Jn Michi¬ 
gan asks If the Camicia. Thistle ecu be extermi¬ 
nated,—says there aro but two patobes of thorn 
In the county. The Canada Thistle can be ex¬ 
terminated, Tiie only way wo know for doing 
it is by complete and constant defoliation as 
often as It appears above ground. If It can bo 
done easiest and surest by constanc plowing, 
that is the best way; If by vigilantly cutting It 
off at tho surface Whenever It shows Itself, that 
Is the best. way. If there are but two patches In 
Lenawee Co., Mich., tho farmers of that county 
can well afford 1 o employ and pay men to do 
nothing else but watch and defoliate it until it 
is oxtinot. It will be money well Invested. 
CLEARING LAND OF WEEDS. 
If you have a weedy lot that you wish to 
treat without extra expeuse, plow it and sow 
to buckwheat. Plow when the weeds aro 
in full growth; and if sod, all the belter. Sow 
immediately after, and harrow and mellow 
thoroughly. If your land is good, this will 
do; if not, there should be a little manure or 
some fertilizer used, the manure spread to 
harrow in with tha grain. 
This will give you a cloud of growth, 
Pastures. — Tho Ohio State Board of Agricul¬ 
ture ia asking questions of Ohio fanners — such 
as tlilss—It ia assorted that in order to get 11 good 
“set” of bluo grass, Poa pralensls ,—in some lo¬ 
calities known ns June 
Cement Water Pipe.—I contemplate laying 
down it water pipe composed of cement and 
sand, for the purposoof bringing water to my 
house. What is your opinion of it? Would it bo 
durable If laid through dry lands? At wtmt 
depth ought it to be laid ? What kind of cement 
would bo preferable? And what la tho best 
method of construction ?—J. P. D., Deynsit, -V. I". 
Wo know suoh pipo has been laid, but with 
what result wo are not informed. Perhaps some 
of our readers flavo bad oxpcrlonoc, and can 
reply. 
-*-©-*- 
Lime Kiln.—Will sonic lit'n.it reader tell mo 
the bast way to construct a permanent lime¬ 
kiln fur burning lime in largo Quantities, where 
limestone and wood Is abundant? And will It 
pay to burn lime and use It as a fertilizer on still 
day land?— z. s. It will pay to burn llmoand 
use It on stiff clay soils. Will some of our ex¬ 
perienced readers reply to tbo inquiry concern¬ 
ing building lime kilns ? 
grass — wlion first sown 
that clover should bo eowu with It, to not as a 
nurao; that tho clover may bo mown without 
any detriment to tbo blue grass; and that ovon- 
tually tho bluo grass will usurp or supplant* the 
place of all the other grasses or weeds, and have 
o!» possession of tho enclosure. If this asser¬ 
tion istruo,tbeuitl6lmportant toknow whether 
this blue grass, when once in full possession of a 
field or posture lot, remains a good and perma¬ 
nent pasture, or whether it is liable to die out In 
spots and patches and finally disappear, whether 
It Is subject to tbo devastations of the “white 
grub,” or whether it becomes neoessary to break 
up blue grass pastures and start afresh. It is as¬ 
sorted und maintained by others that abluegrass 
pasture mnst be let alone, after It la once fully 
set, and that if broken up it will not fully re¬ 
cover in fifty years. It Is very important to 
know tba experience of practical men In rela¬ 
tion to this matter, because some very excellent 
farmers hold that all pastures should be broken 
up every five or six years. 
the soil; and for its own purpose—to aid 
growth ; ft will have no other “ round the 
throne.” 
_ When fall comes, there 23 your naked soil, 
only the pink stubbles to show. You have 
an ask-hcap of soil above, and a muck of 
grass-roots below. Turn this up, either now 
or iu the spring, and put on peas or barley, 
peas better, unless barley is wanted for feed, 
for buckwheat will still show in the succeed¬ 
ing crop. Peas are best. 
The crop removed, plow and sow to 
while a wheat Your ground will be in good order, 
teeth, not so loose as la a summer fallow, more 
not so loose as in a summer fallow, 
compact, ns it ought to be for wheat, and 
yet mellow and clean. Sow to clover and 
grass, alone. Use proper fertilizers if neces¬ 
sity,—-and plaster or ashes is necessary on 
clover,—and you will desire nothing further 
in tiie line of good crops to follow. And 
thereafter use clean seed. 
Oak Shingles.—An uncle, with whom I am 
living, has a roof of white oak shingles, which 
he tells me were put on about twenty-nine years 
ago; and at that time he took off a roof of 
white oak shingles which had been on thirty- 
three years. The shingles should be shaved 
smooth, leaving the butsabout five-eighth* of an 
inch thick.—J, W. G., Cox’s Creek, AVwn.Ccx, Ky. 
Whim Dutch Clover.—C. Ttutbston — TVs# 
White Dutch Clover Is tha common White Olo- 
ver of our pastures —TrtfdHum repens. The seed 
c-an be obtained ot any first-class seedsman ad¬ 
vertising !a the -Rural, ta any desired quantity 
these watercourses 
no tiling Li easier of cueeessful practice, 
