the thing. It is a pity that the excitement 
ran so high as to darken out of sight all the 
good qualities of the plant in the inevitable 
reaction which followed. It is a very good 
plant in its place, and it is worth while now 
for people to throw aside prejudice and see 
wlmt value there is in it. So extensively is 
it scattered throughout the country, and 
planted on such a variety of soils and situa¬ 
tions, that no one need he blinded as to 
what it needs or will do. On dry land it is 
worthless, because its growth is feeble, and 
sistence of common putty. 1 have mixed 
them with a pile of fine manure, which is 
thrown into a compact heap, and during the 
winter, when the whole is frozen solid, I 
propose to “ chip it" with an axe, so as to 
ensure a complete mixture of the whole, and 
then “ you will see what you will see." 
Another method, which I have not tried, 
commends itself: Take a kettle holding a 
barrel or more; fill with bones; pour caus¬ 
tic lye over to cover them. A gentle fire is 
built for two or three successive days, to 
Bresee’s new sorts—a variety not yet sent 
out, but known to amateurs as Buesee's 
No. 6, and now, I believe, named “ Peerless.’’ 
The result of the test causes me to say that 
here is a potato of great promise to lake the 
place of the Peach Blow. In quality it is 
almost, if not quite, equal to Neshannock; 
and in productiveness on clay soil it has, 
with me, outdone the Peach Blow and ri¬ 
valed Cusco. It is a handsome potato, with 
a moderately rough thick skin, cooks dry, 
with a white, fine-grained, mealy flesh, and 
when offered to the public at a fair price 
should be extensively tried. Addl 
arm ireonmmi 
CAHOONS’ HORSE POWER BROAD 
CAST SEED SOWER. 
ABOUT POTATOES 
Some farmers use drills in order to secure 
an equal distribution of seed; but on some 
lands, and especially in the West, where 
critical care in tilth does not always obtain, 
a broadcast sower is popular—not only 
because it secures an even distribution of the 
seed, but because In the short space of lime 
devoted to seeding the .large areas to lie 
sown are best and quickest seeded. On the 
American Bottoms in Illinois we have often 
seen them in operation on the large farms. 
And in Iowa and Wisconsin they are popu¬ 
lar. As a matter of economy, where broad¬ 
cast seeding is preferred, it will be lound 
profitable to use them. Think of seeding 
twelve acres per hour?—that is what the 
manufacturers claim; and with the horse¬ 
power machine herewith illustrated it can 
he done; but if even but. half that number 
are sown, sixty acres in ton hours is a feat of 
labor not easily accomplished by .other 
means. The manufacturers also claim that, 
with the hand machine, elsewhere adver¬ 
tised, five acres per hour may tie seeded. 
GRASS EXPERIMENTS. 
How Shall We Increase Our Grass Crop? 
This is a question t hat needs putting often. 
, I do not know what is the average per acre in 
t he State, hut I do know there are hundreds of 
acres that do not cut over one to one-fourth 
tons per acre. And I refer now not to land 
that is worn out, and needs renovating, hut 
to good, rich soil, that, at the same time, 
having been long seeded or neglected, will 
not produce a satisfactory crop. 
Shall we plow ? There arc risks in plow¬ 
ing some of our moist meadows that need 
uuderdraining but don’t get it. They may 
not “ take seed’’ well, besides it is expensive 
seeding the best of our land. I had a 
meadow containing three acres, probably the 
best piece of ground on the farm, that, had 
become “hide hound,” and did not produce 
more than half a crop. The neighbors said 
I would have to plow it up! I am naturally 
obstinate, and of course concluded not to 
plow it. In the fall of 1863 I covered part 
of the field with a light coat of manure and 
waited. The next season I could not see the 
least effect from the manure. The grass—I 
do not know wliat to call it—was short, 
thick, fine and tough. It was like mowing 
a sheep’s fleece! And I suppose the “ clip ” 
from a small flock of American Merinos 
would outweigh the hay we got. 
But I did not give it up. The rest of the 
field was covered with manure, say ten loads 
per acre. Then I carefully went over that 
previously manured, and spread a load here 
and there, so as to make it all as near alike 
as possible. In the spring, before the grass 
started, I sowed seven hundred pounds of 
gypsum on the piece. Here I made a mis¬ 
take, for 1 know now that four hundred 
pounds would have done just as well. To¬ 
wards the last of June we mowed this field. 
The change in one season was wonderful. 
It was no trouble to cut the grass now, fine 
and thick still, hut entirely clover; mostly 
red, with a little white. I do not believe 
there was a quarter of a ton of all other 
kinds of grass put together. Wc had no 
“tedder," but by “poking" diligently, got 
it, fit for the cock that day. The cocks al¬ 
most touched, and I took a little pride in 
letting them stand over one day for people 
to look at. The day after that we got in 
the hay. 
There was more than double the crop of 
former years—fully lentous of cured hay; 
some estimated it higher. Besides, when 
October came I had a second growth that 
would cut more than the whole product of 
'63 or ‘64. But I did not cut it, for I con¬ 
sider it an unpardonable sin to mow a 
meadow twice in one season. The cows 
and oxen mowed it beautifully. This was 
in 1865, and for three years following there 
was no apparent decrease. Last season 
(1809) the decrease was apparent, but the 
product was still above two tons per acre, 
with no outlay since 1864. In the meantime 
I have experimented on other fields, and 
have uniformly obtained the best results 
with manure applied in the fall and winter, 
and gypsum sowed in the spring. That is 
to say, with both; it might do equally well 
to sow the latter in the fall, but I have not 
tried it. 
Now, with labor at $1.75 to $2 per day, I 
prefer the above results to plowing uud seed¬ 
ing, though some may not. They mny pre¬ 
fer to plow every five years and mow ten 
times between. But every one to his notion. 
Connecticut, 1870. James Nvkinkel. 
rich. It is aline, smooth, handsome tuber, 
and when cooked, of a quality superior to 
the Goodrich, but not equal to Neshannock; 
while its thin skin unfits it for clay grounds, 
where it has already, in many places, shown 
disease. Iks thin skin is also against it as a 
keeper, and also as a market sort, where, in 
t ransporting to market, it is subject to rough 
usage. As an early sort, to grow on light 
soils, for a near and immediate market, it 
unquestionably stands just now at the head 
of the potato list. In my own grounds the 
results, as compared with nine other very 
early and noted sorts, it has proved, as else¬ 
where, best. 
Next in prominence, because of the fifty 
dollars a tuber sales last spriug, comes the 
King of the Earlies, the fancied value 
whereof has kept it from general trial; but 
owing to t|ie liberality of Mr. Bur. see, the 
originator, in distributing it to amateurs, it 
has had a fair comparative test iu quite a 
number of sections of the country, in differ¬ 
ent soils and climate. In my grounds it, was 
ready to dig nearly as soon as Early Rose— 
not more than two days difference; but it 
did not, in the light 'soil, produce as much. 
In clay soil, however, it was excellent, and, 
from one year’s test, 1 count it a variety 
promising great value as an early sort to 
those who have only clay soils. It has 
thicker and rougher skin than Early Rose, 
and will therefore keep better, and be less 
injured by rough handling in transportation 
to market. » 
None of the early varieties, however, 
bear any comparative value to the Peach 
Blow for the farmer's staple commercial 
crop; and, hence, while the noise and blus¬ 
ter of advertisers has had a two-fold result, 
viz., sold their potatoes and induced atten¬ 
tion, increased thought, and improved cul¬ 
ture iu the farming community, it yet re¬ 
mains a question as to how much of the 
land designed by the farmer for his main 
crop of potatoes should he devoted to early 
maturing sorts. The Peach Blow in almost 
all soils and locations has proved a profita¬ 
ble variety, and not until within a year or 
two lias it shown any disease. The past 
two years, however, whether owing to wet 
seasons, or deterioration by reason of age, or 1 
^ccuo/m. 
THE TURIN HORSE- HAKE 
there are other plants far better m such situ¬ 
ations for hedging or wind breaks. On 
swampy or very springy soils I know of 
nothing better, for the situation is natural 
for it, and it will speedily form a fence with 
proper care, or a wind break or screen. The 
trouble with it is a too rampant growth, but 
iu such locations this is not always an ob¬ 
jection. A fringe of willows along a swamp- 
side or piece of wet low land is a fine thing, 
and may be had for the pains of sticking a 
few cuttings into the soil. It is probable, 
too, that it would prove valuable to plant 
in swamps as a timber tree. No tree plant¬ 
ing could be easier or cheaper than this. 
Pertn Tone. 
barely warm the liquid through. In a week 
the bones will become softened. Mix the 
mass with three loads of muck, afterward 
adding the leached ashes, from which the 
lye was obtained. Let the whole remain, in 
order to decompose the muck, and apply. 
Shelburne, N. II. John Coeirn. 
A GOOD GATE LATCH, 
FARM MISCELL AN Y.—Ill 
The above sketch represent the best gate 
latch I have ever seen, since it is always 
kept closed by gravity, and is far iu advance 
of springs of any kind. The gate may sag 
several inches from its original place without 
affecting the catch in the gate post. 
A Manure Yard. 
A great deal of manure is wasted in 
barn yards. Drainage, either surface or 
underground, is essential to make them dry 
and comfortable for man and beast, and yet 
much strength is extracted and passed off 
from the manure by the surplus water. It 
needs no argument, only common observa¬ 
tion, to convince any sensible farmer that 
this statement is true. It is no less neces¬ 
sary to save manure than to make it, and in 
both respects the barn-yard and its appoint¬ 
ments are the most important appendages to 
the farm. Dry barn-yards we must have, 
but. bow afford sufficient drainage to effect 
this purpose yet prevent the manure from 
being leached ? 
The best plan that has ever come under 
my observation is the use of what I term a 
manure yard, built out of doors, without 
cover, and of proportionate size to the quan¬ 
tity for which storage may he required. 1 
will endeavor to describe it. It is simply a 
paved, cemented, water-tight shallow basin, 
round, square or oblong in shape, as may 
suit the convenience or fancy of the builder. 
The rim should he level, and the inside 
paving slope from it evenly to the center. 
Directly under this point there should be a 
cistern, egg-shaped, and laid up with stone 
and cemented. From the top of this cistern 
a tube ten inches, or more, square, should 
rise as high as the manure ever will be piled. 
This tube must be perforated with small 
holes, to admit the drainage from the manure 
to pass into the cistern. Inside of the tube 
place a pump with the spout and handle 
above ils top. 
On ibis manure-yard the farmer may store 
all bis manure and make his compost heap. 
It should be located convenient to the 
stables and other places where manure is 
made. At anytime it is ready to receive 
muck, sods, leaves—anything to make a fer¬ 
tilizer. If there is more liquid iu the heap, 
either naturally or from rain fall, than it can 
retain, it drains into the cistern, whence it 
maybe pumped hack on the heap and dis¬ 
tributed, thus preventing fire longing and 
promoting decay. It is at all limes easy of 
access for removing the manure or adding 
THE TIFFIN HORSE-RAKE, 
We have a high regard lor the old revolv¬ 
ing rake. Taking into account the relative 
cost of these rakes as compared with other 
styles, we are not satisfied that they arc not 
the most profitable rake for the hay-field yet 
made. The Tiffin rake, herewith illustrated, 
lias a high reputation for its strength and 
durability, joint bolts with iron nuts being 
used in place of log screws screwed into a 
wooden block; a broad hipping clutch of 
hard wood (birch or maple;) and large jour¬ 
nals on the head of the rake combine to 
make it an improved implement. See adver¬ 
tisement elsewhere. 
The latch is mate of one inch oak, three 
inches wide, having a hole placed so as to 
make the catch eud a little heavier than the 
taper end. The latch eud passes through a 
mortise in the upright of the gate, the mor¬ 
tise allowing a very tree motion of the latch. 
The holes in the latch and in the board of 
the gate must not he in a perpendicular line, 
but as represented in the sketch. The latch 
should be suspended by a wire. w. w. g. 
IlaltoH, Pa. 
ABOUT DISSOLVING BONES, 
As various methods are promulgated by 
the agricultural press, it may servo to inter¬ 
est inquirers as to the best means of accom¬ 
plishing the object in view, presuming most 
of your readers are aware of their value as 
a powerful fertilizer. Last April I made ap¬ 
plication to the Agricultural Department, 
Washington, for information as to Hie “ how 
of it," and received from the Department 
Chemist tire following; 
California Steam Plow. — We find in an ex¬ 
change the following description of the manner 
in which the Standish steam plow works in Cali¬ 
fornia : 
“ Crossing back and forth over (Jig adobe flats 
of Sononl'a county, cutting its twelve-feet swath, 
tearing up tho anuis aud boap roots, and leaving 
Castor Bean Culture —A subscriber at Mead- 
villc, Crawford Co.. Pa., asks for “Information 
concerning castor bean culture—the best mode 
of working it, whether it cun be raised and 
worked on a small scale with profit-say one or 
two acres of beans to be raised and expressed in 
the winter for in-door work; and what would 
bo the best press to'be used? Would this busi¬ 
ness pay? If so, whore can beans be bad for 
planting?” Wedo not think it will payinour 
correspondent's locality. 
CAHOONS HORSE-TOWER BROADCAST SEED SOWER 
them free from dirt, to wither ami die in the 
sun; plowing at times two acres per hour, and 
giving the tough, dry, sun-baked adobe such a 
cutting and turning, raking and stirring, mixing 
ami whirling, airing and pulverizing, as It never 
got before; and this, too, with a plow not in¬ 
tended for anything like such heavy work. An 
acknowledged success In ordinary soil, It was 
doubted if (t. would work in adobe. The doubt 
is now exploded. Tho present plow does much 
bettor than the inventor has claimed for it. He 
did not expect, to work In t ins land, for wan I of 
sufficient power and strength, but. set t he plow 
in operation for tho purpose of getting the data 
necessary for the consi recti mi of a plow especial¬ 
ly adapted to Hits stubborn soli; but hystrength- 
ing aoumnf its weak parts, it does it- work in 
such a manner that the proprietor has been 
urged to stay and break up several hum!rod 
acres. 1 Io has applications to plow thousands of 
acres of lighter soil in the San Joaquin Valley, 
The grain is. in some instances, plowed in, no 
harrowing being necessary, the plow leaving the 
surface level and smooth.” 
“If the bones be unburned, every one hundred 
pounds will require forty pounds or sulphuric 
acid, (oil of vitriol.) to eliminate the phosphoric 
acid. 'This should be diluted with four tunes (or 
parts) of water before applying to the bones. 
The bnnes should bo crushed line. Tf bones arc 
burned, then eighty-seven pounds of acid should 
lie employed, tho strength of which should be 
1800" or 08' ltau me. 
“Thomas Antisei.l, Chemist." 
I have Fairly tested the above, and found 
no difficulty in reducing the bones, other than 
considerable time being consumed, owing to 
inability to crush them sufficiently fine, 
thereby presenting so much more additional 
surface for the acid to act upon. My four 
hundred pounds arc now reduced to the cun- 
produecd by growing year after year from 
small tind immature seed, it has shown some 
tendency to rot; and it is well for the farmer 
to look about him for a variety to take its 
place. 
The Garnet Chili is a productive sort, but 
objected to on account of its red skin. 
The Cusco is also an exceedingly produc¬ 
tive sort, but its quality is such that it can¬ 
not be sold a second time to the same con¬ 
sumer. 
Tho Gleason or Pink-eyed Rusty-coat is 
another — productive but not good. All 
these and many others I have tested this 
past season in connection with one of Mr. 
Forage Crop Warned.—What shall 1 sow so as 
to gather the most fodder f<«• stock ? My land is 
rather light and sandy, i wish to make some fod¬ 
der; I have, as yet, no grass started; am lost 
beginning on a worn out farm.—J. U. G Oak¬ 
land. Mill 
If the object Is fodder at the earliest moment, 
wo should sow a part of the land to oats as 
early as we could get them in, and later in the 
season sow corn. 
The Harltxm Potato, after three years’ expe¬ 
rience, has proved neatly worthless us n table 
potato. The Early Rose does not give universal 
satisfaction. Neither are the Early Goodrich, 
Gleason, Cuzco, and twenty other varieties, val¬ 
uable. Some lack in quality aud Others arc UOt 
hardy.—'T rumbull, Ohio. 
