1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
127 
Of oats, it has formerly been the practice to sow on¬ 
ly about two bushels per acre, and in some instances 
less ; but so far as we are informed, all the large crops 
of this grain, have been obtained by sowing from three 
to four bushels per acre. It is not very uncommon, of 
late years, for from eighty to a hundred bushels of oats 
to be raised on an acre, but we have never heard of 
any such yield, when less than three bushels of seed 
was used. 
Of barley, it is usual to sow about four bushels of 
seed per acre. The best soil for this crop is a warm 
loam. We have been informed that a fly similar to the 
wheat midge, commonly called the barley midge, has 
latterly attacked the barley crops in the western part 
of this State. Not having had an opportunity to exa¬ 
mine the insect, we cannot speak in regard to the pro¬ 
per mode of preventing its ravages. 
It is common to lay down lands to grass in connexion 
with most spring grains. If the object is hay, and the 
soil is of a medium character as to dryness, we would 
recommend the use of the following mixture for one 
acre: 
Red clover, {Trifolium medium,) 8 lbs. or 4 qts. 
Timothy, {Phleum pratense ,) 8 qts. 
Red-top, {Agrostis vulgaris,) 1 bushel. 
If the object is pasturage, we should use the following: 
Medium clover, 2 qts. 
White do 2 qts. 
(If white clover comes up in the soil without sowing, 
it may be omitted.) 
Kentucky blue-grass, (Poa pratense,) 8 qts. 
Timothy, 4 qts. 
Orchard grass, ( Dactylis glomerata,) 1 bushel. 
Red-top, % bushel. 
On wettish soils, the red clover may be omitted. The 
orchard grass requires a very large quantity of seed, 
on account of its light and chaffy nature. The differ¬ 
ent kinds of seed may be mixed together, by slightly wet¬ 
ting them, and may be readily sown by mixing ashes or 
plaster to prevent their sticking together. It is best to 
sow them after the grain has been harrowed in, and they 
will be sufficiently buried by a brush harrow, or a very 
light iron-tooth harrow. 
Improvement in the Rake. 
Eds. Cultivator —Being a mechanic as w T ell as 
farmer, I would take the liberty of suggesting a small 
improvement in the manufacture of the hand-rake. 
Instead of the wooden bow, take wire of a suitable 
size, cut it off the right length, and bend it round so as 
to form a loop at each end, and in the middle, as re¬ 
presented in the annexed drawing; flatten them down a 
li . le, and after the handle is made fast in the head lay 
on the curved wire and insert wood screws through 
the loops into the handle and head. Rakes are more 
expeditiously made in this way than any other; they 
are cheaper, more durable, and much easier repaired. 
Jason Smith. Tyre, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1849. 
Sausage Stuffer. 
Eds. Cultivator —The following is intended to re¬ 
present a sausage stuffer, which is in very common use 
in this section of country, and I think would be a pro¬ 
per accompaniment to the sausage cutter mentioned in 
the January number of The Cultivator, page 26. I 
think it preferable, in some respects, to the one men¬ 
tioned in the December No., 1846, as almost any per¬ 
son can make one for his own use. 
A. B. is a piece of scantling, about 4 inches square 
and 3^ ft. long, with four legs, about 18 inches high, 
something like a carpenter’s trestle; C. is an upright 
piece, about 2 -§ inches square, and 18 inches long, mor¬ 
tised into A. B. tight, about 6 inches from the end; D. 
46 —SAUSAGE STUFFER. 
a small box, about 10 inches from C., 9 inches high 
above A. B., and fastened to the same, and four inches 
square inside the box, in which the sausage-meat is to 
be put. There is a small tin spout on the side, near 
the bottom, through which the meat passes into the 
skins. E. about 2 i inches square, 14 inches long, mor¬ 
tised into a block 4 inches square, with a moveable 
joint, the block to fit pretty tight in the box D • and 
F. H. a lever, 5-§ feet long, inches square at one 
end, and round at the other; which is used as a handle 
to work up and down the block on the end of E. which 
fits in the box D. A Subscriber. Loudon Co., Va., 
Feb. 12, 1849. __ 
Benefits of Wool Depots. 
Eds. Cultivator —In conversation with gentlemen 
from different parts of the state during the winter, I 
find that the facilities for selling wool are far greater 
with us, than in many other sections, and that the de¬ 
pot system is imperfectly understood and appreciated 
by many. In view of these facts, I thought it might 
not be amiss to suggest some thoughts for the informa, 
tion of those who are unacquainted with the operation 
of that system; believing as I do, that if they under¬ 
stood the advantages to be derived from it, all who have 
to depend on the agents of manufacturers, or the spe¬ 
culator, for purchasers, would patronize the depot. 
The greatest objection I find to this course, is a want 
of confidence in the responsibility of the agents. Three 
depots only have as yet been established, and I can 
speak of only one of the agents, as I am unacquainted 
with the others. 
With Mr. Blanchard, the agent at Kinderhook, I am 
well acquainted, and know him to be well qualified in 
all respects to conduct such an establishment, and that 
his experience for several years past has added greatly 
to those qualifications; that.he is a man of sterling in¬ 
tegrity, that he has given general satisfaction, and en¬ 
joys the confidence of all who have patronized his es¬ 
tablishment; and I recommend him to all who approve 
of the depot system, as every way worthy of their pat¬ 
ronage. 
The depot system is conducted upon the well known 
principles of all other commission business, and facili¬ 
tates the sale of wool by collecting large Quantities of 
