1846 , 
THE CULTIVATOR 
T7SE OF THE RCLLER—(Fig, 31. 
There is scarcely a more useful implement of agri¬ 
culture than the roller. The purposes effected by it are, 
—1st, the breaking of clods and lumps on grounds, pre¬ 
paratory to sowing or planting; 2d, pressing the earth, 
in some cases around the newly sown seeds, and at the 
same time giving more compactness to too light soils; 
3d, smoothing the surface of grass grounds,—by which 
operation the stools of grass which may have been 
raised by the frost are pressed into the earth, the growth 
of the grass increased, and the surface better fitted for 
the scythe. 
The first of these purposes, is one of great importance; 
yet we apprehend that but few, comparatively, of our 
farmers are in the habit of using a roller to effect the 
pulverization of the soil. Taken in a proper state of 
moisture, that is, when the lumps are just softened, but 
not so wet as to pack on being crushed,—the most clod¬ 
dy field may be brought by the roller and harrow, into 
the finest tilth. It may be observed that the weight of 
the roller should be proportioned to the tenacity of the 
soil. 
In the construction of the roller, it is now common 
to use plank, making a cylinder of three to four feet in 
diameter. One of this kind is represented in the above 
cut. The advantages of this plan are, that the imple¬ 
ment is drawn with less force, and the pressure is ap¬ 
plied in a more perpendicular direction. It has been 
objected, however, that less pressure is given to the 
soil by a roller of large diameter, than one of the same 
weight of smaller size, because the large one bears on 
a greater surface. This objection may be easily over¬ 
come by having a box attached to the frame, into which 
may be placed any additional weight required to make 
the roller effective. Another essential advantage of the 
large roller, is, that in turning, it does not move the 
surface of soil so much as a small one—thus avoiding 
the injury of tearing up the sward on grass-lands, or of 
working the seed into bunches and leaving bare spots, 
on land freshly laid down. 
The roller is best made in two parts, or with a di¬ 
vision in the middle, as shown in the cut, so that each 
part may revolve by itself. This much facilitates their 
turning, and obviates the liability of disturbing the sur¬ 
face of the ground. The length recommended for the 
roller by Low, and other British authors, is five feet; 
but we have known them to be made six feet in length; 
and when divided in the centre, as before mentioned, 
we think there is no objection to that length. 
FARRIERY 0 
Mr. Editor —A farmer of this town has given me 
the following receipt for curing wounds and running 
sores in horses. Take corrosive sublimate and red pre¬ 
cipitate in equal proportions, powdered, and put them 
into a vial. Wind a little tow or a rag on the end of a 
stick, wet it and apply it to the wound, touching all parts 
with the mixture. If a running sore, it should be probed 
with the wad. He has never had occasion to make 
more than one application, and has never known it fail. 
He had a horse which had a swelling on the shoulder, 
111 
supposed to have been caused by the harness while 
working on a long sweep horse-power. He had it 
opened and tried several remedies without success. He 
tried the above, and in three days the whole matter 
sloughed out, and it healed in a short time. 
I have heard of a new cause of heaves in horses. 
One subject that died was opened, and on each side of 
the wind-pipe, where it joins the head, were formed 
two bags as large as walnuts, filled with pus. Where 
these lay near the throttle valve, the pipe appear¬ 
ed of an unnatural color. Every other part appeared 
healthy and sound. Afterwards another horse, which 
had become worthless on account of the heaves, was 
killed and opened, and found to be affected in the same 
way. Afterwards an experiment was tried on another 
horse, in which the bunches were found. Taking hold 
of the bunch with a pair of blacksmith’s tongs, an iron 
was held at the under side, and a blow given with a 
hammer on the upper side. Since that the horse ap¬ 
pears to be doing well. But I should think it would be 
better to open the skin and take out this bag. Farriers 
may know this disease by another name. B. W. R. 
CAN WE TAME MORE OF THEM? 
Mr. Editor: —There is no doubt, I suppose, that all 
the water fowl that we now have in a domestic state, 
were obtained from the w r ild varieties of this or the 
other continent. They are valuable to us, and the ques¬ 
tion has often arisen in my mind, cannot more of them 
be domesticated? There are many species yet to be 
found in our waters, interesting not only for their valua¬ 
ble qualities for the table, but also on account of the 
beauty of their plumage, which can probably be do¬ 
mesticated if suitable pains were taken. Mr. Bement, 
in his work on Poultry, says, experiments are being 
made with the celebrated canvass back duck, and Dr. 
Delcay, in his report on the Ornithology of New-York, 
(a work which does honor both to the Dr. and to the 
state that employed him,) says that the beautiful wood- 
duck has been domesticated successfully. 
Has the American Sw'an, (Cygnus Americanus,) been 
domesticated by any one in your state? 
Dr. Dekay, in his report, p. 353, says—“In the 
uninhabitable regions of Hamilton and Herkimer coun¬ 
ties in this state, this species, as I was informed by 
trustworthy hunters, remains during the whole year, 
where it must necessarily breed. The outlets of Pas- 
kunganeh, or Tupper’s lake, was specified as a spot to 
which they were particularly attached.” If this be true, 
it would seem that these birds are not so migratory in 
their habits as most of the aquatic fowls, and this trait 
would be favorable to domesticating them. Perhaps 
some of the people of these counties have already tried 
the experiment. If so, it would give your readers 
great pleasure to learn the fact. I think it would be a 
noble addition to the poultry-yard, as it is a large and 
showy bird. I may write to you on this subject again, 
and in the meantime would solicit information through 
your columns in regard to it. E. Holmes. 
Winthrop, (Me.,) Feb. 9, 1846. 
Note. —We have noticed at the Bowling Green, in 
New-York, several kinds of our wild water-fowl, 
among which are the Wood Duck, (Anas spotisa,) spo¬ 
ken of by Dr. Holmes, the large Dusky, or Black Duck, 
(Anas obscura ,) and the Brant Goose, (Anser bernicla .) 
They all appear to be well domesticated, but whether 
they breed or not, we do not know. We have been 
told that they and other kinds are domesticated, and 
are bred on Long Island. The residence ot Dr. Dekay 
is at Oyster Bay, L. I., and we presume he could furnish 
information as io the breeders of these birds. Respect¬ 
ing the American Swan, we have heard of its being do¬ 
mesticated in several instances. A man in Delaware 
county, Ohio, succeeded, as we were told, in breeding 
them for several years. T. H. IIyatt, Esq., of Roches¬ 
ter, informs us that a man in Niagara county, in this 
state, now has them, but has not yet been able to in¬ 
duce them to breed. We have known no instance in 
