THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
AU6. 34 
JOTTINGS AT KIRBY HOMESTEAD. 
COL. F. D. CURTIS. 
A gentleman called to-day to see the pigs. 
He remarked that he thought “ a swill pail was 
the best breed.” We replied we could show 
him “Bwill pails," and that “ it was not much 
satisfaction to show any one different breeds of 
pigs, who had such an opinion.” Before we got 
around he said “ there was a difference in pigs,” 
and “ it was not alt swill pail.” We confess his 
first remark was not a very pleasant '• send-off" 
to go the rounds of the pig pens, for in any case 
such talk is not agreeable to a man who has 
spent hundreds of dollars trying to improve and 
perfect pigs. It shows a lamentable ignorance 
of the characteristics of breeds or a determina¬ 
tion to hang on to old notions and prejudices, 
which are a disgrace to the man and the age in 
which he lives. 
Mr. David Wicks is removing the old picket- 
fence in front of his house. The house is large 
and built of brick and surrounded by trees. 
The effect of taking away the fence and opening 
up the grounds to an unobstructed view is a 
vast improvement. The fence had Btood forty- 
five years and was getting dilapidated. He is 
going to follow the example of several others 
on the same street and not have any fence in 
front of his house, and so improve the appear¬ 
ance of the place and save the expense of a new 
fence. The law in New York makes its unlaw¬ 
ful for animals to run at large on the highway, 
and so a road fence is not necessary. If any 
one must have a door-yard fence, the prettiest 
kind is to make it of wire number nine, which is 
bunt in the form of pickets and run through 
ribs. It is durable, much more so than pickets, 
and not any more expensive. It has a light and 
airy look, and does not hide the yard or grounds 
as a more clumsy fence will do. The end posts 
should be square and solid and not large. The 
old-fashioned eased post is going out of style 
and ought to, for it is not tu good taste, unless 
expensive things are considered in good taste, 
without reference to durability or harmony. As 
a rule, the simpler the surrouudings and the less 
fuss about a farm-house, the better it will look. 
Beauty does uot consist of a lot of fences, and 
gravel walks fnll of wends and grass, but is 
rather found iu an open lawn well cut, on which 
the eye may glance with vistas uobroken, save 
by the house or the fields and sky beyoDd. 
If we have made a discovery, or if everybody 
knew it before us, we will tell it all the same. 
As Boon as the cream Bhowa eigne of “coming," 
pour into the churn two or three quarts of water 
—as near ice-cold as it is possible to get—and 
the butter will gather a great deal quicker and 
come hard and firm. We tried the cold water 
(ice water) on the start aud found it made the 
cream too cold and kept the butter from coming; 
but put, iu at the last end it iB a capital idea aud 
will save hours of churning in the course of the 
season. Butter will come iu fifteen or twenty 
minutes, as a rule, if the cream is in the right 
condition and temperature. A cool cellar is cool 
enough to start the churning, and as near right 
as most farmers can get it without thermometers 
and ice, and cold well-water will lower the tem¬ 
perature for gathering. The temperature of 
our cellar is 61 degrees, aud the butter invaria¬ 
bly comes quick with the help of the cold water, 
which is probably two degrees colder. When the 
cream standB too long on the milk before skim¬ 
ming, the butter will not come so quickly and it 
is always poorer, and Buck butter will not keep 
well. This is one reason, and the main one, why 
there is so much rancid butter. Better churn 
oftener and have good, sweet butter, and skim 
oftener also. 
How pleased we are that the English walnuts, 
planted last fall, are coming up and doing well. 
The two trees set last year are also growing fine¬ 
ly. If we can get these excellent nuts up here 
in our high latitudes it will be an event. There 
are now none nearer than Westchester County, 
not far from New York. 
A hen was driven from the nest, where she 
was sitting, by the myriads of lice on her. We 
found her drooping and weak, and rubbed pow¬ 
dered sulphur ail through her feathers, and shut 
her up in a coop with three inches of dry ashes 
over the bottom, We have since been told that 
a little kerosene oil poured on the roosts, and in 
the nests, will clear lice away ; a little put on 
the body would do no harm, aud would, un¬ 
doubtedly, clear out the lice. 
-» « ♦- 
NOTES FROM MAPLEWOOD FARM. 
HECTOR BERTRAM. 
SOWINO WHEAT. 
It is time that land, calculated for wheat, 
should be in course of preparation for the recep¬ 
tion of the seed. Many of ub do not sow our 
wheat early enough. Last fall was an exception ; 
but, as a general thing, wheat sown in the latter 
part of September does not, on the hills, obtain 
sufficient top to protect the roots before cold 
weather checks the growth. I have noticed the 
best results, in this locality, from that sown the 
very first days of September, or the last of Au¬ 
gust. There is much less danger of the plants 
getting too large a growth in fall than not 
enough, and the field may be pastured off if too 
forward, altbough this is scarcely necessary. 
Great care should be exercised in the selection 
of seed. It should be perfectly clean, and free 
from the seed of all noxious weeds. The seed 
from a single plant of cockle, scattered over ten 
acres, will nearly spoil the crop of wheat for mar¬ 
ket. Clawson has lost favor with us. It brings 
less in market tban many varieties, and. unless 
cut quite green, shells badly. 
I learnt something about sowing broadcast by 
hand this summer, and shall hereafter, when 
sowing by band, follow this plan : Instead of the 
usual manner of sowiug around a land, sow four 
paces wide across the field with one hand, then 
back with the other, throwing the grain all one 
way, and with the wind, if possible. Grain can 
be sown much more evenly arid rapidly in this 
rnauuer, and although to some it may prove 
rather awkward at first using the left hand, a 
little practice will overcome this difficulty: at 
least I found it so. Farmers differ as to the 
amount of seed required per acre, some sowing 
two bushels or two and a half, while others 
claim one and a half bushel to be amply suffi¬ 
cient. If the grain is threshed by hand, oue and 
a half is probably pleuty; but machine-threshed 
grain is injured to quite an extent, at least so 
much bo that much of it will not germinate, aud 
therefore it should be sown thicker. 
Manure can be applied to wheat with returns 
as good as any crop yields, and it is the oue 
where top-dressing is most practicable, I think. 
Besides the beneficial effects upon the soil, it 
forms a useful protection to the roots of the 
plants. The best wheat land is that strongly im¬ 
pregnated with lime and to that which lacks tkiB 
element, the fertilizer should be applied, if large 
returns are expected. Wheat land should be 
well under-drained, and in localities where field- 
stones are plentiful, they auswer the purpose al¬ 
most or quite as well as tile, and are much more 
easily procurable. 
In the assertion in regard to lime, I do not 
wish to be understood that it is impossible to 
raise a crop of wheat without it, but that the 
largest crops are raised on soil of which lime 
forms & prominent ingredient, either naturally 
or artificially. Probably no fertilizer will show 
its beneficial effects upon the soil for so lung a 
time, which fact makes it one profitable to 
apply, even where it commands a medium price. 
BEMOVAl OF WEEDS ANO STONES. 
August is the month for cutting briers, weeds 
and thistles. Even fallows cut now will »prout 
lesB than at any other season of the year. It is 
a fine time for farmers to clear out the corners 
of the old zig-zag, rail fences. The weeds aud 
briers should he gathered into heaps and burn¬ 
ed, thus removing tho unsightly nuisances en¬ 
tirely. The best time to remove loose stone 
from meadows, is immediately after haying, be¬ 
fore the aftermath conceals them. Those of any 
consequence are loosened by the rake, and 
seem to invite a removal. It is much better iu 
drawing them, to have them laid into a wall im¬ 
mediately, turning w hat before was a nuisance 
into a benefit. I noticed a wall which had stood 
many years uninjured, the durability of which 
was attributed to two layers of split white-oak 
staves, laid cross-wise, one a foot aud a half 
from the bottom, the other a foot below tho top. 
The wall was built three foot thick at the bot¬ 
tom, four feet high, tapering to a foot in width 
at the top. The staves bound it perfectly, aud 
the action of the frost in spring had no inju¬ 
rious effect upon it, which is generally the most 
serious difficulty attending building a permanent 
and durable wall, on hill land. 
RYE SOWN WITH BUCKWHEAT. 
Last year Mr. Parcell sowed a bushel of ryes 
with his buckwheat, and I watched the result 
with no little interest. Tne buckwheat did fine¬ 
ly, giving a good ciop. After tkiB the rye, 
which had come up nearly as fine as timothy, 
began growing more stocky, and looked well in 
the fall. This year he harvested, rather earlier 
than usual, a fine crop; the beBt, he informed 
me, that he ever grew. The rye was nearly a 
complete profit, requiring no labor for plowing 
or seeding. 
SUPPLEMENTARY FALL FOUD FOR MUCH COWS. 
At this season, owing to sun-burnt pastures 
and the unceaeiug diligence of flios, cows are 
very apt to shrink of their milk aud grow poor 
in flesh as well. A small piece of sowed com 
for soiling, fed nights, the only time cattle can 
feed with any degree of comfort, will keep up 
the flow of milk and keop the cows in good con¬ 
dition, until fall pasture gets well started. Mr. 
Schutt sows the Horse-tooth variety, as fur¬ 
nishing much more feed than the other sorts, 
the foliage being denser. 
- ♦ - 
N0TE3 FROM A BACKWOODS FARM. 
Freedom, Outagamie Co., Wls, Aug. 15. 
CROPS. 
Those farmers among us who were so fortu¬ 
nate aB to have winter wheat, have harvested a 
splendid crop. Spring wheat is badly injured. 
First, the weevil damaged it to some extent; 
then the hot weather and rain seemed to ripen 
up the grain prematurely; the heads were soft 
and light; some fields were hardly worth cut¬ 
ting ; others may possibly yield ten bushels to 
the acre. Altogether there will scarcely be a 
third of ft full crop in this part of the State. 
Barley was sown here quite extensively last 
spring; the crop and the price are both good- 
Oats promise an average crop, although there 
was not so largo an acreage as usual of this 
grain. We have cut more hay this year than 
ever before in one season. The hot weather 
has brought corn forward so that it is just big. 
It is oaring up finely and promises a heavy yield. 
Potatoes do no uot promise very well. I think 
the heavy rains have been too much for them. 
A light crop aud high prices. The beetles have 
not been very numerous this season ; about one 
or two applications of Paris-green have kept 
them under. The weather during Laying and 
Ike most part of harvesting has been hot, with 
frequent heavy rains. A little cooler now. 
FARM MACHINERY. 
But a few years ago our farms were covered 
thick with stumps, now wo could hardly secure 
our crop without the aid of farm machinery; it 
is used on almost every farm. Good farm labor¬ 
ers are scarce and hardly to be had at any price. 
Threshing machines are beginning to run now. 
Spring wheat is yielding from five to fifteen 
bushels per acre, while winter wheat will go 
from 20 up to 30 bushels per acre iu some 
fields. 
BEE NOTES. 
Starting with seven swarms last spriDg, I have 
now 16 strong natural swarms. I have taken 
from them 100 pounds extracted and about 200 
pounds of cap honey with a few raoro caps to be 
removed yet. I do not propose to rob my bees 
for tho sake of making a big show in honey, al¬ 
ways making it a point that my bees shall go 
into winter quarters strong in honey. Honey is 
cheap this year, only selling at 10c. for extracted 
and I5o. per pound for box. The homo market 
is the beet, as my neighbors, although afraid of 
bees, like honey, and think they can afford to 
eat it at present piicep. John Rusncus. 
Jfarm <£tononm. 
NOVEL AND USEFUL FARM GATE. 
I berewtth preseut to the readers of the 
“ Rural ” a drawing and description of a farm 
gate possessing novel and useful features. 
Not long ago, I published a description of a 
gate of my own invention, in which, by means 
of a lever, the whole gate could be raised bodily 
from the ground to clear obstructions of snow, 
etc. 
In this gate, recently designed, and which, I 
think, the accompanying cut clearly illustrates, 
the main part of the gate Bwings around upon 
its hinges iu the ordinary way; but there is an 
auxiliary part, shown at A.A., which is hinged 
or pivoted to the main gate by the bolts B.B. 
and free to swing on the same, except when 
fastened by the pins C.C. When it is desired to 
clear obstructions of snow, etc., the auxiliary 
part may be turned up on its pivots, and held in 
place by means of a strap or cord and hook. 
Also, when it is desired to allow free communi¬ 
cation between one inclosure and another, for 
small animals, like sheep and pigs, or to drive 
the same through, and yet by the upper gate 
obstruct horses and cattle. It will be seen by 
the intelligent readers to bo a very convenient 
device. I offer it for their use freely. 
Prof. William R. Brooks. 
Ontario Co,, N. Y., July 30,1878. 
-- 
DRAINING THE SALT MARSHES. 
The value of lands now lying useless along 
the sea-coast and which can easily be drained 
and reclaimed by shutting out the tide aud 
otherwise using the tidal flow for pumping, 
is almost above computation, aud should be 
made to give employment to many idle people 
at no distant day. These salt marsheB extend 
from Maine to Texas, hut not with sufficient, 
rise and fall in the tide at some southern points 
to complete the work by utilizing the tide alone, 
while the swamps under a hot climate are less 
habitable. But from the Chesapeake to Maine, 
the work of reclaiming the laud is practicable, 
and when so doue will add very largely to the 
acreage of fertile lauds adapted to market 
gardening, cranberry growing and other crops. 
The success of reclaiming land in Holland is 
well known, and a few instances exist in the 
rice lands, the cranberry swamps and some 
other places in this country. The Marsh¬ 
field Mar8he6 in Massachusetts, to the extent of 
1,500 acres, have been drained simply by shut¬ 
ting out the tide and fixing a gate for the out¬ 
flow of the inland waters. Several thousands 
of acres have been partially dyked iu the Hack¬ 
ensack, New Jersey, Meadows, both showing 
plainly what good results may bo made to follow 
a perfect drainage of these lands. 
Where lands are below the usual low water, 
the ebbing and flowing of the tide may be made 
to work pumping machinery steadily and eco¬ 
nomically, thus insuring a drainage of such 
lands. In this connection a suggestion of a 
simple manner of utilizing the tidal power may 
be valuable. The turning of a turbine wheel by 
the incoming and outgoing tide would be easily 
practicable during the time the tide was ebbing 
or flowing, and to insure the power while the 
tide was at its bight it would only require an 
additional empty basin to receive water while 
the tide was thus stationary, and tho reserve of 
a basin to be emptied while tho tide was out and 
stationary. 
The construction of these basins would be 
tho chief expense of the operation aside from 
the wheel and pumping machinery, as the work 
could all be make automatic or there might be 
an attendant . The importance of the work in the 
New Jersey swamps would he sufficient to war¬ 
rant tho employment of an attendant at nights, 
aud another during the day, and a systematic 
prosecution of this work. Tho 250,000 acres of 
land which could here he brought into service as 
the best possible for market gardens, would bring 
an .enormous income to the association which 
perfects the work. These additions to tho in¬ 
dustrial operations of the country will he abso¬ 
lutely required by and by. 
Jiflir Crops. 
THE TOBACCO PLANT.-No, 4. 
E. R. BILLINGS. 
SELECTION AND USE OF FERTILIZERS. 
The tobacco plant, (more particularly cigar 
varieties,) requires the most fertile soil attain¬ 
able. If not made fertile by the Creator then 
the grower must make use of manure in no 
stinted measure. Tobacco takes from the soil 
its most fertile elements and, like the grave.cries 
“ give, give.” We And, because tho early Vir¬ 
ginia growers did not so do on the riob soil of 
the old Dominion, that repeated crops soon laid 
waste their fields, and the fertile valley of the 
James became as barren as the sand fl.its along 
Cape Cod. In New England from 10 to 12 cords 
of manure are applied to the acre, or Borne 60 
loads. In the South patent manures are used, 
as is also the case in Cuba, though iu the latter 
the leaf is said to be injured in flavor by so 
doing. In Syria where Latakia tobacco is grown, 
the’dUDg of goats is used, and a. fine leaf for the 
pipe is secured. In Japan liquid manure is used 
iu the cultivation of some five or six varieties 
grown in that country. In nearly all countries 
the tobacco grouod is heavily manured. Ia 
Mexico when the Indians grow the plaut, they 
select a rich clearing in the woods, thereby ob¬ 
taining fine plants. 
Of the great var.ety of fertilizers used doubt¬ 
less the excrements of animals are the best and 
do not permit, the soil to be so readily impover¬ 
ished. Horse manure makes the lightest-colored 
leaf, and hog manure the darkest. Tobacco 
stems—four tons to the acre—produce a dark 
leaf of good texture aud grain. Of the patent 
mauures we have nothing to say, as we do not 
believe in their use on tobacco lends although 
from 300 to 500 pounds of Peruvian guano to 
the acre will doubtless give a good color to the 
leaf. 
Tobacco stems may be applied, half at least, in 
tho fall, and the balance in the Bpring. Stable 
mamire should bo thoroughly composted and 
plowed uuder and replowed to the surface after¬ 
wards, if thought beat. When Havana seed to¬ 
bacco ia planted this will be the better way no 
doubt. Manure is also applied in the hill to 
hasten the growth of tho seedlings. Clear man¬ 
ure is tho best, free from all litter of any kind, 
uot that such matter injures the plant, but only 
that the genuine article will produce tho finest 
plants. 
Some growers use the same field for several 
years iu succession, claiming that a finer leaf is 
secured by so doing. I have seen planters 
try to grow a crop of tobacco without the aid of 
very much manure, but they have never buo- 
ceeded. Doubtless some varieties require more 
fertilizers than others, bat there is no sort with 
which I am acquainted that does uot need a large 
supply in order to yield fine leafy tobacco. For¬ 
tin rly in Now England growing crops were used to 
help enrich the soil, aud there arc some growers 
that do so now. Usually rye is the favorite crop 
to turn under, and whtrn it is Hown very thick it 
answers the double purpose of plant food aud 
affords moisture. Decomposed manure is 
necessary for tho im mediate growth of this 
sturdy-growing plant as well as for all plants. 
Green or raw manure cannot be made available 
