146 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
will convert this sandy light soil into one durably produc¬ 
tive? The answer to this question seems to be furnished 
by the analysis of Nos. 3 and 4. 
Thus, No. 3 contains a large per ceniage of carb. lime, 
besides iron, alumine, and magnesia, the latter of which 
is undoubtedly a valuable element in soil. But No. 4, I 
think, will be more vatuable than No. 3, inasmuch as it 
contains 5 per cent of potash, and a fair proportion of 
phosphate and carbonate of lime; and as the writer inquires 
whether burning might not aid in increasing the value of 
Nos. 3 and 4, I answer that it probably would, as No. 4 
is an indurated marl; and besides aiding in giving it the 
requisite degree of fineness, it would render its elements 
more soluble, and quicken its action upon the soil upon 
which it might be employed. 
Both Nos. 3 and 4 are strictly marls. The first contains 
a few fragments of fossil shells; the latter bears some re¬ 
semblance to the green sand of New Jersey both in col¬ 
or and composition, though the peculiar green particles 
are wanting in the small specimens which were examined. 
No, 2 is the ordinary soil of the alluvion of rivers, and 
is rich in vegetable matter. 
To remark farther in relation to No. 4, I would recom¬ 
mend that this material be raised and made into suitable 
sized heaps, and then exposed to air and moisture, when 
it will probably undergo a slow disintegration, which 
will fit it for use. Or let it be burned and exposed, when 
the peculiar changes will take place more rapidly, and 
perhaps be fitted for immediate use. This contains also 
a pretty large amount of sulphate and chloride of lime, 
each of which it is easy to detect in a watery solution af¬ 
ter boiling. 
Upon the whole then, I believe that both Nos. 3 and 4 
will prove (if in sufficient quantity and easy of access,) 
very important materials for renovating the light sandy 
soils in their vicinity, and even applicable to soils simi¬ 
lar to No. 2, and probably an early application of them 
before exhaustion has taken place would be the best eco¬ 
nomy. 
The only question which remains to be answered, is, 
what quantity of No. 4 will be required per acre? From 
what I have seen of the New Jersey marl, I should re¬ 
commend from 20 to 25 cart loads per acre. It may be 
used with perfect safety in larger quantities, but it appears 
to me that this is about the quantity which economy 
would require. Respectfully yours, 
E. EMMONS. 
POULTRY. 
At a late meeting of farmers and others at the State 
House in Boston, the subject of poultry was discussed. 
Mr. Cole, of the Boston Cultivator, stated that the value 
of poultry in the United States, was, at the time of the 
late census, $12,000,000. In four of the New-England 
states, the value of poultry was more than that of swine. 
Fowls are as important as hogs, and should receive more 
attention. Our Agricultural societies should offer premi¬ 
ums for the best breeds, and the best management, show¬ 
ing the largest production in proportion to the expense. 
He spoke of the Bucks county fowl, and said some 
capons of this breed had recently been sold in Boston at $3 
per pair—or a shilling, (a sixth part of a dollar,) per 
lb. They weighed 18 to 19 lbs. per pair. He thought 
the Dorkings were on the whole as good as any breed in 
the country. The Liberian, or Russian fowl, with a long 
beard, like a Jew, are esteemed good layers—there is 
only a few of them in the country. 
Col. Thayer, of Braintree, spoke of his experience in 
keeping poultry for the last forty years. He had kept 
various breeds of hens—he liked the Dorkings., He 
thought hens would lay no better, and were even more 
inclined to sit, if kept without a male. Hens are very 
profitable. There is more nett profit in six hens than 
in a cow. When eggs are cheap they should be kept till 
they are dear. He knew a man who made his fortune 
in eggs. They are preserved as follows: Take one quart 
of salt and three quarts of lime, stirred up and dissolved 
till it is of the consistence of cream ; then put in the 
eggs. He thought the keeping of poultry a very profita¬ 
ble business. He had raised geese. He liked a cvoss of 
the wild with the Mountain geese, and he had sold these 
mongrels at three dollars apiece. They weighed eighteen 
pounds each. [We presume the e{ Mountain” geese spo¬ 
ken of are what is sometimes called the India, or Afri¬ 
can, or Swan goose.— Eds. Cult.] The Bremen geese 
are very large, but they lay and hatch while it is too cold 
for the goslings. His hens lay well in winter. He has 
a tight hen-house, so that water will not freeze in the 
coldest weather, though the door for them to go out is 
left open. He thought the gapes were caused by small 
worms in the wind-pipe that sometimes crawled up and 
choked them. He had destroyed them by applying 
spirits of turpentine on a feather, but he sometimes killed 
the fowls by it. Turkeys are much inclined to wander. 
He thinks they are not generally profitable; but he once 
saw a hundred or more at Mr. Webster's, in Marshfield, 
running on the salt-marsh, with a wide range, feeding 
on grass-hoppers. He thought they might in such a case 
be raised to advantage. 
Mr. Gardner had sometimes raised turkeys—had kept 
100 to 150 and when fed with curd they did well; but 
if they got loose and wandered about, they nearly all 
died. 
Mr. Dodge thought fowls should have meat in winter. 
Any kind of meat, cooked or raw, chopped fine, is 
good. 
Col. Thayer said he had not found white-washing hen¬ 
houses, as had been recommended, effectual in destroy¬ 
ing lice. He had been so much troubled with them, that 
on going into his hen-house, a thousaud would come on 
him. He shut up the house close and kept a fire of 
charcoal in it one night, and it destroyed them all. 
We have condensed the above from the Boston Culti - 
vator. 
NEW WORK ON SHEEP. 
Mr. L. A. Morrell is preparing for the press a work 
on sheep, to be entitled the (< American Shepherd’s 
Guide.” The different divisions of the work will em¬ 
brace copious remarks on the philosophy of wool, the 
history of the sheep, with appropriate notices of all the 
different breeds and races in the world—full directions on 
the management of sheep—a chapter on breeding and 
crossing, and one on the best mode of fattening sheep for 
market—the diseases and anatomy of sheep, with cuts, to 
be compiled from the most unquestionable sources, and 
from eminent practical sheep-breeders in the United 
States —cuts of the Merino, Saxon, and the distinguished 
English breeds, drawn from life, &c. &e. 
The object of this announcement, is to enable Mr. Mor 
rell to obtain by a correspondence with wool-growers, 
such information on the various branches of sheep-hus¬ 
bandry, as will enable him to perfect the work; and we 
trust the friends of this important interest, will promptly 
render him all the aid in their power. 
Mr. Morrell hopes to complete the work by the early 
part of the coming winter, when it will be submitted to 
the examination of the Executive Committee of the N. 
Y. State Ag. Society. 
Such a work as is here proposed is needed, and we are 
very glad that the execution of it has fallen into the hands 
of Mr. Morrell, whose thorough knowledge and well 
known practical acquaintance with every department of 
sheep-husbandry, we consider a sufficient guaranty that 
every thing will be done right. 
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT. 
At the last monthly meeting of the Executive Commit¬ 
tee of the New York State Agricultural Society, in the 
old State-house, in Albany,—the President, J. P. Beek- 
man, in the chair: 
After some remarks in reference to the losses the So¬ 
ciety had lately sustained by the deaths of members,—a 
brief memoir of H. D. Grove, of Rensselaer, having 
been read, and Mr. J. B. Nott appointed to prepare a 
memoir of Willis Gaylord, it was then, on motion of 
Mr. Alexander Walsh, of Lansingburgh, 
Resolved, That the members of the Executive Com¬ 
mittee wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days* 
in token of respect for their deceased associates, Willis 
Gaylord and Henry D. Grove. 
