THE CULTIVATOR. 
141 
opinion, we are in the same latitude as the best tea coun¬ 
tries of China—that our soil is similar, and its natural pro¬ 
ductions the same. He thinks the ingenuity of our coun¬ 
trymen would soon enable them to understand its cultiva¬ 
tion and the mode ot curing it, as well or better than it 
is done by the “ stupid Chinese.” He suggests that some 
of our wealthy capitalists commence a trial of it. 
Hams. —Mr. G. Butler of Clinton, N. Y., made an ex¬ 
periment to ascertain whether hams gained or lost in cu¬ 
ring. He took four hams, that when ready for pickle, 
weighed 1.15 pounds; after lying in pickle six weeks, 
they weighed 125 pounds; when smoked, they fell back 
to their original weight. He made a former trial, which 
did not vary materially from this. 
Threshing Machines. —We are informed that Mr. 
T. D. Burrall, of Geneva, N. Y., manufactures excellent 
threshing machines, which will answer for from four to 
eight horses, at $140 each. He is also making a new one, 
which it is said will be a great improvement in many re¬ 
spects, the price of which will be only $80. 
K. L. on Turkies. —Your correspondent K. L. says 
very little, if any, Indian meal should be given to young 
turkies; but he omits to state what their food should be. 
As, within the range of my observation, Indian meal made 
into dough, is the principal food of young turkies, I 
should be pleased for one, to know what substitute for it 
K. L. would recommend. Would he recommend them 
to be confined during the season of incubation, and 
through the period of nursing while the young is yet 
small, to the poultry yard; or does he let them go at 
large in search of food for themselves, while sitting, and 
for their young when hatched, only keeping them up un¬ 
til the dew is off the ground? Some of these questions 
may have been anticipated in his previous communica¬ 
tion, which I have not before me; but I hope he will in¬ 
struct us at least as to the best kind of food. J. S. S. 
Turning in weeds or other green crops with 
the plow.' —In plowing stubble grounds, the weeds fre¬ 
quently choke the plow, and it is found difficult to bury 
them entirely. The same difficulty attends the plowing 
in of clover, or buckwheat, &c. Various contrivances 
have been adopted to obviate this trouble. Some fasten 
one end of a chain to the plow-beam, and the other end 
of the off-end of the “ double-tree,” as it is called; which 
being thus dragged along before the plow, bends down and 
draws forward the weeds in such a manner that the plow 
turns them fairly under. Plows have also been made very 
“ high in the beam” to obviate the difficulty of choking. 
They are called Crane plows,” and are much used in 
western Virginia and southern Ohio. 
Mr. Sidney Weller, of Halifax, N. C., informs us that 
he uses a very simple instrument for the purpose above 
named, and which answers better than any other plan he 
has seen. He says: te It is merely a sufficiently heavy 
piece of wood, like a common rake-head, with a few 
short teeth therein, and short handles at each end; to the 
end of which handles, ropes or small chains, put through 
holes, fasten the instrument to the end of the whiffle-tree, 
if a single-liorse-plow, or to some part of the two-horse- 
tree, if a two-horse-plow. This instrument straightens 
and levels down the weeds, &c., immediately under the 
plow-beam, and before the furrow-slice. It answers with ‘ 
us every desired purpose.” 
Black-Sea Wheat. —Mr. S. N. Hawes, of Shoreham, 
Vt., writes us that from his acquaintance with the Black- 
Sea wheat, he can recommend it as being superior in 
hardiness and productiveness, to any other variety of 
spring-wheat he has known. He says there is a spurious 
kind sold as Black-Sea wheat. The difference in the true 
and spurious kinds, he describes as follows: “ The true 
kind may be known by its unusually sturdy and thrifty 
appearance in both stalk and head; is of one pure kind, 
with dark-red chaff, and tillers more than any other kind I 
have known; frequently producing ten stalks froma single 
grain, and it is conceded by the best grain-growers who 
have tried it, that a bushel is sufficient seed for an acre. 
The spurions is a mixture of two kinds in about equal 
parts; the one bearing a partial resemblance to the true 
kind, but compared with that is far inferior both in length 
and size of stalk, head, and berry. The other part of the 
spurious sort has a white chaff; the stalk and head about 
medium size, with a berry longer and more slender than 
either its associate or the true; ami it requires the same 
quantity to seed an acre that is required Of other kinds 
of spring-wheat; that is two bushels. Hence those on 
whom it is palmed off, frequently lose their first crop by 
only half stocking their land.” 
Dampness in Brick Walls. —In answer to an in¬ 
quiry heretofore published in the Cultivator, Mr. D. 
Tomlinson says:— Ci I have no doubt that if hard burnt 
bricks, such as are used for paving side-walks in our 
streets, and are water-proof, are laid on the outside 
course, in mortar made of water-proof lime, they would 
not absorb the rain and become wet. All walls, even 
wood, exposed to severe frost, in very cold weather, 
will become wet on sudden changes to warm south wind, 
by condensation of the moisture in the air, they being 
colder than the air in contact. In the city of New York 
some brick houses, whose gable end is exposed to the 
N. E. rains, have been covered with weather-boards, to 
prevent the rain from falling on the brick walls. Some 
of the cellars in Pearl and Water streets in that city, are 
flooded by the high tides. The corner store, on the east 
side of John street, at the head of Burling Slip, I have 
observed to be lined, both sides and floor, with boards, 
calked with okum, and covered over with pitch, to ex¬ 
clude the tide. Hard burnt, water-proof bricks, laid in 
mortar of water-proof lime, would have been much 
more durable, and would shut out water.” 
Carrots. —Mr. Henry Weston, of Rensselaer, Indi¬ 
ana, says:—- c< Are you aware that carrots may be left, like 
parsnips, through the winter with impunity ? They 
seem to undergo no material change. I think it a very 
important fact; for they may be left in the ground as they 
grow, and after turneps are consumed in spring, they will 
be found admirable in aid of the young grass. I mention 
it, supposing the fact may possibly have escaped your ob¬ 
servation; knowing that in N. Y. carrots are always bu¬ 
ried or housed in fall.” 
Inquiry.—Mr. H. Hull, of Columbia county, N. Y., 
states that he intends to plant corn this season on two 
fields; one a light gravel, the other a retentive heavy 
soil inclining to clay; and he asks “ which of those fields 
will be benefited by a compost of plaster, lime, leached 
and unleached wood ashes ?” He also inquires “ wheth¬ 
er the compost had better be applied in the hill at 
planting time, or around the plant after it is above 
ground?” We should expect the greatest benefit 
from ashes on light land, and so far as our observation 
has extended, the effects of plaster have been less favor¬ 
able on gravelly land than on clayey or loamey; still, we 
do not believe that any positive rules can be laid down 
for the application of plaster; its operation is very vari¬ 
ous in different locations, and evidently depends on cau¬ 
ses not yet discovered. We should prefer proving the 
efficacy of that substance and lime, by a small but careful 
experiment in the first place, and having done so, should 
feel more confidence as to what course to pursue. We 
should use the compost alluded to, either on or near the 
surface, and should not be very particular whether it was 
applied with the seed or around the plant soon after it 
made its appearance above ground. 
Nut Grass, or Bitter Coco.—A subscriber at Ha- 
vanna, Greene county, Alabama, wishes information on 
the subject of destroying this plant. Not having any ac¬ 
quaintance with it, we are unable to furnish such infor 
mation. We cannot find any thing more definite on the 
subject than he will find in the Jan. and Feb. Nos. of the 
Cultivator. We should feel obliged if any of our friends 
will tell us of a good mode of destroying it. By a com¬ 
munication in another part of this number, it will be seen 
that salt is recommended for this purpose, to be sown at 
the rate of 40 or 50 bushels per acre. 
The Season.' —Extract of a letter from O. Phelps, 
Esq., dated Canandaigua, April 17 — (( The season, thus 
far, is very favorable for the farmer, and the winter grain 
on the ground, in this vicinity, never looked more prom¬ 
ising and encouraging at this season of the year. Ifnoth- 
ing injures it hereafter, we shall have a great crop oJ 
wheat.” 
