96 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
REARING CALVES. 
Messrs. Editors— I would beg leave to drop a few 
remarks on the subject of rearing calves, having had con¬ 
siderable experience in that branch of rural economy. 
When I first commenced farming I had to pay heavy 
crow rates every year (as the term was.) I never could 
get my calves through the first winter without losing 
one or more. They would grow poor towards spring— 
their backs would assume the appearance of an arch— 
the scouers would set in, and they would die in despite of 
all my care and attention. Experience and observation 
have convinced me that lice was the primary cause of 
all the difficulty; and for several years past I have 
adopted the practice of destroying them in the fall, or 
forepart of winter, since which time I ha*ve not lost a 
calf. I have tried many remedies, but the best thing I 
have ever tried is sulphur. I take too parts of lard and 
one of sulphur, melt the lard, and when nearly cold mix 
in the sulphur, and rub it thoroughly on the parts most 
frequented by these troublesome vermin, and they will 
soon disappear. It sticks close to the hide and hair, and 
continues to scent until they shed their coat, and prevents 
any more from getting on them from other animals with 
which they may chance to come in contact. I keep my 
calves by themselves, and have a warm shelter for them 
to go in when they choose, in addition to as much good 
hay as they can eat. I give them each half a pint of oats 
or corn meal ground in the ear night and morning, and I 
never was troubled with having my calves get so fat in 
winter as to die with the black leg as your correspondent 
in the January No. of the Cultivator complains of. 
Tyre , N. Y. Jan . 1844. Jason Smith. 
POUDRETTE. 
The following letter has been sent us by the gentleman 
to whom it is addressed, with the request that it should 
appear in the Cultivator: 
New-York , 1 6th Nov. 1843. 
Anthony Day, Esq., President of the Lodi Manufac¬ 
turing Co.—Some twenty year's pretty close attention to 
the subject of agricultural chemistry, in England, France, 
Belgium, and other parts of the globe, has rendered me 
familiar with the nature of manures and amendments 
generally, as used by various nations. 
For the last eighteen months, I have carefully exam¬ 
ined your system of preparing poudrette from night soil 
and other fertilizing compounds, at your establishment 
on the Hackensack river, in the State of New Jersey, 
near the city of New-York, and I have no hesitation in 
stating that I have witnessed very important improve¬ 
ments introduced by you, into the manufacture of pou¬ 
drette during that period, which render the compounds 
far more fertilizing, than anything I have ever before en¬ 
countered in this country or in Europe. 
I am not, therefore, surprised at the result of your ex ¬ 
periment on Indian corn, grown in the vicinity of New- 
York, and recently exhibited at the Farmer's Club in this 
city. It seems that it was planted on the 27th June, 
1843, during a severe drouth; that it was up two feet 
in three weeks: was lit for the table, as green corn, in 
sixty-six days, and was sufficiently glazed to prevent 
injury from frost in seventy-eight days. All this is easi¬ 
ly accounted for, from the fact that your new combination 
is calculated to absorb humidity, ammonia, carbonic acid and 
nitrogen from the atmosphere, as well as to retain these ferti¬ 
lizing substances in the poudrette itself, giving them out only 
as vegetation requires them for nutrition. This has been 
hitherto a desideratum in manure. In a word, the fruc¬ 
tifying power of your poudrette is greatly increased, its 
operation upon vegetable matter quickened; it obviates 
the effects of a long continuance of dry weather; retains 
the ammonia and other fertilizing gases in the soil; at¬ 
tracts similar gases and moisture from the atmosphere; 
of course ripens crops quicker; is much more lasting as 
a nutritive amendment, and what is of no little impor¬ 
tance to the farmer, I see you mean to reduce the price 
from 40 to 25 cents per bushel. I further undertake to 
certify, that.in your compound there is no raw peat, turf, 
meadow-mud, nor any other article that is not in itself 
highly fertilizing, and consequently it is adapted to eveiy 
climate and to all descriptions of soil, whether calcare¬ 
ous, argillaceous, or silicious. 
I am respectfully, sir, your ob‘t serv’t, 
W. A. Kentish. 
P. S. It may not be amiss to remind agriculturists that 
the best soil is an admixture of chalk or lime, with clay 
and sand, which are, in reality, the component parts of 
loam. It is evident, therefore, that a chalky soil re¬ 
quires the addition of clay and sand; a clayey soil needs 
chalk or lime and sand; and a sandy soil, chalk or lime 
and clay. Where sand is not obtainable, coal and other 
ashes answer the purpose fully as well, but sea sand is 
preferable for lands some little distance from the coast, 
where it can be procured with facility. W. A. K. 
NATIONAL FAIR AT WASHINGTON. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I observed in the last 
No. of your paper a writer, J. S. S., who was anxious to 
have a national exhibition of agriculture and manufac¬ 
tures in the city of Baltimore, during the great political 
conventions which are to be assembled there during the 
month of May next. I have made considerable inquiry 
of the Baltimoreans in relation to this proposed exhibi¬ 
tion, and I find they are opposed to having it in that city, 
but will most willingly unite in a fair to be held in this city, 
where party politics cannot interrupt and prostrate the 
real objects of the friends of these great interests. We 
have every convenience here for such an exhibition, and 
it would amply repay any visitor thereto to have the fa¬ 
cility of seeing the well arranged collections of the ex¬ 
ploring expedition, as well as the thousand curiosities ar¬ 
ranged in order by the enterprising commissioner of pa¬ 
tents. I understand that the Horticultural Society of this 
city will hold its annual exhibition about the same time, 
perhaps upon the same day of the Agricultural fair; and 
combined, they will make as interesting a show as could 
be made in any other part of this country. I throw out 
these hints for your consideration, and I do hope you or 
some of your readers will give us your or their views 
fully upon this highly important national subject. 
Washington City, Feb. 8, 1844. J. F. C. 
VERMONT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Almost every county has formed its County Agricul¬ 
tural Society, in accordance with a law of the late Legis¬ 
lature, which gives to each society formed a sum equal 
to that raised by itself to be awarded in premiums, to be 
paid out of the State Treasury. This will give a new 
stimulus to every branch of agriculture. Can you not 
send a few more Cultivators into every township in this 
State, and thus help yourselves and us at the same time? 
Williston, Feb. 12, 1844. 
O. C. 
We should be much pleased to send at least 15 
copies to every town in the State. By clubbing to¬ 
gether 15 copies may be obtained for $10, making them 
come at only 67 cents each—cheap enough, surely.—< 
Eds. 
FATTENING CATTLE WITH POTATOES. 
Messrs. Editors— There is quite a difference of opin¬ 
ion among farmers, with regard to fattening cattle with 
potatoes-. Some contend that when cattle are fed on po¬ 
tatoes they should be kept in the stable, and not allowed 
any water. They contend that the animals will take on 
fat faster, and are not so apt to scour, as when allowed to 
drink. My own opinion is, that cattle, whether fed on 
potatoes, turneps, or meal, should be turned out of the 
stable every morning, and suffered to drink as much as 
they please. Nature, in this respect, is the best teacher. 
I should be happy to have the experience of others on 
this subject. L- D -d. 
Gates for Barns.— If you have any bars on your 
premises, substitute gates in their stead. These are both 
time and labor-saving fixtures, and have the additional 
merits of being more secure and more convenient. Win¬ 
ter is the time to make your gates. 
