THE CULTIVATOR 
113 
wheat put in with shovel plows; and although the soil 
was better, it did not produce more than 20 bushels per 
acre. I should like to have the opinion of others upon 
the subject.” 
HEATING CONSERVATORIES BY HOT WATER. 
We visited in February last, the the neatly-managed 
conservatory of Mr. James Wilson, near this city. 
Among other objects of interest, we particulary noticed 
a mode of heating hot-houses by hot water. A boiler 
is placed at one end of the room, and a copper pipe, 
four inches in diameter, is inserted in it; carried from 
thence around one side of the building, connecting at 
the farther end with a vat or reservoir. From this re¬ 
servoir another pipe of the same size as the first, is car¬ 
ried back to the boiler, and inserted into it about six or 
eight inches above the other. The two pipes are placed 
vertically to each other, observing the same distance be¬ 
tween them as at their connexion with the boiler. As the 
water in the boiler is heated, it rises, the colder water 
of the pipe flows in at the lower insertion, giving place 
to the warmer, which flows out at the uppermost inser¬ 
tion, thus keeping up a regular circulation till the whole 
is heated. The smoke-flue is carried round the room 
in the same manner as formerly; thus using to the best 
advantage, all the heat which is generated by the fire. 
The largest of Mr. Wilson’s houses is heated by one 
of these boilers with the pipes as described. The house 
is forty-three by twenty-seven feet, and 15^ feet high, 
with span roof, both sides of which are of glass. Two 
boilers, each with pipes, were first provided, but one 
has been found amply sufficient, even in the coldest 
weather of the past winter. The cost of the two was 
$150, but as one has proved to answer, the whole cost 
of the necessary apparatus for heating the house is actu¬ 
ally only $75. 
C0MP0S0TI0N OF SALERATDS—CURING MEAT. 
We have received a long communication from “C. 
D.” (on which fifty cents postage was charged us,) whose 
object is to show that saleratus consists largely of sul¬ 
phate of potash, with bi-carbonate of potash. He quotes 
Thatcher’s Dispensatory, who states that pearlash, (the 
basis of saleratus,) contains “ a considerable proportion 
of foreign salts,” which C. D. affirms are almost entirely 
sulphate of potash, as may be seen from his prescription 
for purifying them—by driving off the sulphuric acid by 
the heat of a crucible.” Now it happens that sulphate of 
potash, according to chemists, decrepitates, but is not de¬ 
composed by heat. Hence this reasoning fails. He also 
says, so large is the proportion of sulphate of potash, 
that “ the potash maker invariably uses lime to clarify his 
ley from the sulphuric acid.” Now, it happens again, 
that sulphuric acid has a stronger affinity for potash than 
for lime; hence lime cannot decompose it. And hence, 
too, this reasoning fails. Our correspondent must excuse 
us for not publishing his reasoning at length, as a few 
accurate analyses of saleratus, which, so far as the pres- 
enee of the sulphate is concerned, is one of the simplest 
operations in chemistry,* will settle all disputed points 
much better than any abstract reasoning. 
Most of the cases which C. D. gives of the supposed 
efficacy of sulphate of potash in curig meat, are from the 
use of the mixture of common salt and wood ashes, the 
latter being supposed to consist largely’ of sulphate of 
potash. Admitting this to be so, the use of salt at the 
same time destroys the distinctive result of the experi¬ 
ment. But one experiment related is of a different cha¬ 
racter, which is as follows:—“ Twenty-five years ago 
I had a quantity of pure sulphate of potash; I gave some 
to a friend, who cured his hams with it to his most per¬ 
fect satisfaction. It imparts to them as much tenderness, 
and the same redish appearance which saltpetre does. 
In fine, the sulphate of potash has, in curing meat, all 
the good effects that saltpetre has, without its bad ones.” 
[resulting from the poisonous nature of saltpetre.] 
Human Blood —Iron is found in venous blood alone, 
and no where else in the human body. 
4 See Draper’s Kane, p. 489 ; and Macnevin’s Brande, p. 339. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
String Halt.—A “Subscriber” at Shoreham, Vt., 
inquires whether there is such a disease as “ Spring halt.” 
We presume the disease in question, is what is described 
in British works, as string halt. It exhibits itself in an 
involuntary twitching of the hind leg. Mr. Youatt says 
it is evidently an affection of some of the nerves which 
communicate motion to the muscles of the leg. “ It is,” 
says Mr. Y., “an irregular action of nervous energy; but 
what particular fibril is affected, or what muscle is 
chiefly spasmed, has never been ascertained. It is prin¬ 
cipally observed when the horse first comes from “the 
stable, and gradually ceases after he has been exercised 
awhile.” Mr. Y. observes that “the precise nature of 
the defect has never been determined, nor has any cure 
for it been discovered.” 
Pomegranate Melons —Messrs. Gibson & Richie, 
Seedsmen, Newark, N. J., in a late letter, say—“In 
your January number e W. of Troy,’ inquires ‘ whether 
there is a species of the Muskmelon, called Pomegran¬ 
ate.’ There is. It is about the size of a goose’s egg, 
but more oval, and is worthless as a table fruit. It has, 
however, a most exquisite perfume, and one placed in a 
room, scents the whole air like a collection of the finest 
fruits. We never heard of the Citron Watermelon being 
used for any thing but preserves.” 
Tobacco _In answer to the inquiry of Mr. Young, 
of Fallstown, North Carolina, we cannot at this time do 
better than to refer to an article on the culture of tobac¬ 
co published in our last volume, page 84. 
We cannot answer the inquiries of “ Indicator” in 
regard to Wiard's Gang-Plow. He had belter address 
Mr. Wiard, at East-Avon, N. Y. 
“How much is a < load’ of Manure ?”■—A friend at 
the south asks us this question, and though it is a perfect¬ 
ly proper one, it is rather hard to answer. The term 
“ load,” is probably about as indefinite as “ a piece of 
chalk.” The officers of the Mass. Ag. Society, in using 
the term “ load of manure,” in connexion with some of 
their premiums, explain it as “ meaning not less than 3C 
bushels.” Perhaps this quantity (30 bushels,) may be 
considered as good a criterion as can be given of what is 
commonly understood by the word load when applied to 
manure in this section. Our correspondent suggests that 
it would be a great convenience to express by bushels, 
what is always meant by loads. We recommend the 
suggestion, being satisfied that it would effect an impor¬ 
tant improvement. 
South Down Sheep. —In regard to the value of the 
South Down breed of sheep “ compared with the Merino 
and Bakewell,” about which Mr. Boyd inquires, all de¬ 
pends on the purpose for which the sheep are wanted. 
The flavor of the South Down mutton is considered very 
superior—the wool of medium quality, for short wool— 
average three to four pounds per fleece. The Bakewells 
or Leicesters, fatten very easily, and at an earlier age 
than others—wool suitable for combing or the manufac¬ 
ture of worsteds—average four to six pounds per fleece. 
The South Downs are considered more hardy than the 
Leicesters and Merinos. The South Downs can be 
bought of Messrs. Bement or McIntyre of this city, of 
Messrs. S. & J. Wait, Orange countj^. We do not know 
of any Bakewells or Leicesters for sale, that are unmixed 
with the Cotswold, and it is the impression here, we be¬ 
lieve, that they are benefited by the cross. The Cots- 
wolds, or crosses of these and the Leicesters, may be had 
of Messrs. Corning & Sotham, McIntyre, Merrifield, and 
Dunn. The prices are from $12 to $30 per head, accord¬ 
ing to quality. 
Wm. Battaile, Esq. of Benton, Miss., asks what 
grasses are best adapted to his section of country, and 
whether clover would succeed there. Not being person¬ 
ally acquainted with that region, we beg to refer our cor¬ 
respondent to our friend Mr. Affleck, of Washington, 
Miss., who is in all respects well qualified to give the 
information desired. As to corn sown broadcast for fod¬ 
der, we should think it would do well. The usual time 
of planting, is proper for putting in the crop for this pur¬ 
pose. From two to three bushels seed are here used per 
