THE CULTIVATOR. 
185 
FOREIGN ITEMS. 
The latest accounts from England, represent the pros¬ 
pects for the grain crops as favorable. March was cold, 
and the fore part of April was dry. blit timely showers 
came on the latter part of the month, and the weather the 
beginning of May was auspicious. Complaints are still 
made of the introduction of foreign live stock, “ under 
Mr. Peel’s famous tariff,” and the British agriculturists are 
pronounced “as a body in a more depressed state, than 
has been the case for years past, showing the mischievous 
effects of the withdrawal of protection since 1842.” A 
competition with the British farmers in the corn trade from 
abroad, particularly from the Baltic, is much feared, and 
it is said “ there can be no doubt that during the summer, 
supplies to an extent seriously to injure the English 
grower, will reach them.” Importations of bread-stuffs 
are not expected from Holland or Fiance, as they are 
dearer than in England, neither are they looked for from 
the Mediterranean ports. Respecting the inducement 
for shipments of flour from this country to England, the 
Farmers’ Magazine says—“ comparing quotations there, 
with the prices here, the encouragement to make con¬ 
signments to Great Britain is not very great.” The re¬ 
ceipts from Canada, it is anticipated will “ increase from 
year to year, as a stimulus has been given to the cultiva¬ 
tion of wheat by the Canada Bill, which, however favor¬ 
able to the colony, must pi*ove extremely injurious to 
the British grower.” 
Rotation—theory of vegetable excrements.— 
Dr. Playfair, in his late lecture before the Royal Agri¬ 
cultural Society, remarked that rotation was not a means 
of improving the soil. The soil remained in. the same 
state, as far as the plant was concerned, and the great ad¬ 
vantage of it consisted in the fact that one crop could be 
grown while the soil was preparing for another. The 
theory of De Candolle, with regard to plants throwing 
out excrementitious matter injurious to themselves, and 
beneficial to other plants, was now generally exploded, 
and many facts were entirely opposed to it. Thus in 
Hungary, there was never a poisonous effect produced on 
the wheat crops, although in some districts, wheat had 
been sown in succession for centuries. 
Flour from Wheat. —The following table, interest¬ 
ing to farmers as well as to millers, shows the quantity of 
first, second, and third rate flour, produced from wheat 
of various weights per bushel, with the bran and waste. 
The numbers of parcels in the experiments tried, and the 
quantities of each, are given in the first and second co¬ 
lumns. 
FLOUR. 
<D 
£ 
No. of 
Wt. 
c§ 
r 3 
o 
o 
J 
bush. 
perbu 
Fine. 
2ds. 
Ms. 
Total. 1 
Bran. 
£ 
EH 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
4 
480 
56 
45.8 
45.8 
9 
1.2 
56 
5 
760 
58 
40 
5.5 
2.3 
47.8 
9 
1.2 
58 
8 
1400 
59 
41 
5.8 
2.2 
49 
8.8 
1.2 
59 
7 
1600 
60 
42.5 
5.5 
2.0 
50 
8.8 
1.2 
60 
15 
2192 
61 
44 
5.2 
1.8 
51 
8.8 
1.2 
61 
7 
1088 
62 
48.5 
2.5 
1.5 
52.5 
8.5 
1.0 
62 
Birds vs. WTre Worms. —A correspondent of the 
Sporting Magazine states that no fewer than 1225 of those 
destructive larvse were taken from the crop of a hen 
pheasant in January last. This of course could have 
been only about one day’s consumption. (That number 
could not have formed a mass much smaller than half a 
pint—said crop must have been closely packed. Could 
there have been a mistake of one figure ?) 
Black Leg in Calves. —We noticed sometime since 
in a Scottish paper, an article on rearing calves, in which 
it was slated that feeding them with oil-cake and turneps 
or potatoes, in winter, was deemed a sure preventive of 
the dreaded disease called Black leg. At a late meeting 
of a farmers’ club in England, several members spoke of 
this disease, one of them stating that a large and excel¬ 
lent breeder effectually prevents it by cutting down to the 
veins of the foot and dividing them just before they 
branch off to each hoof; he divides the vein in every 
foot of the calf. Another member stated that he had 
frequently lost calves by black leg, but believed that by 
proper precaution, the disease may be prevented. He! 
puts a rowel in each calf, and gives each an ounce of 
saltpetre once in three weeks. Since adopting this 
course, he has not lost one. It seems that a healthy cir¬ 
culation of the blood is a great object aimed at, and this 
is much promoted by such kinds of food as keep the bow¬ 
els properly open. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
“ Clock Pump.”— A Farmer. —We know nothing of 
such a pump as is inquired for—should feel obliged to 
any one who would furnish information in regard to it— 
the fixtures, cost, &c. But would it not be belter to work 
the pump by wind ? especially as it is designed for the 
prairies. A notice of a wind-mill for this purpose was 
given in our last vol. page 202. It is made by George 
Parker, Corrina, Penobscot county, Maine—the cost for 
a well, said to be twelve dollars. 
Kidney worm in Swine — “ A Subscriber .” (Green¬ 
ville, S. C.) Lye of wood ashes, or soap-suds, given 
with food, generally counteracts the disease, if taken in 
season. Copperas is also recommended, together with 
slops strongly impregnated with salt and red pepper, at 
the same time rubbing the loins well with spirits of tur¬ 
pentine. Arsenic has been used in desperate cases, but 
we do not know the precise quantity proper for a dose, 
and as it is a dangerous remedy, should never be used 
but as a last resort. 
Harvesting Machines.— J. C. N. (LakeC. H. Ind.) 
We have never seen the operation of either of the ma¬ 
chines you mention. Both Hussey's and McCormick’s 
are probably good, but we cannot say whether either of 
them is used for cutting grass. 
Shepherds and Shepherd's Dogs.— J. P. M. Frank¬ 
lin, Tenn.—Shepherds could be hail from this vicinity, 
and we presume dogs, also, might be had here. Those 
having them for sale, or knowing where they can be had, 
will confer a favor by stating the price, &c. 
Cheese.— Mr. Thayer, (Aurora, O.) We are not cer¬ 
tain what kind of cheese you allude to. If any of our 
friends in Connecticut, where you suppose she article is 
made, can inform us in regard to a kind of cheese of 
eight to ten pounds weight, of particular value for ship¬ 
ping, they will confer a favor. 
Salt and lye for fruit trees.— L. H. M. ( Bristol , 
Ct .)—The quantity of salt which it will do to put round 
a fruit-tree, depends a good deal on the size of the tree. 
If the tree is a foot through, we should not suppose it 
would hurt it to put round a quart. But we have had 
no experience in the matter. As to the strength of lye for 
washing fruit trees, we have seen recommended a pound 
of potash to two gallons of water. A lye of the same 
strength as near as could be ascertained, made from wood 
ashes, would probably answer as well. 
Tobacco.—“ A Subscriber,” will find some informa¬ 
tion on the culture of this article on page 89 of our last 
volume. 
A. N., Westfield, and others.—The person advertising, 
requires capital to the amount of some thousands of dol¬ 
lars. 
Yale Literary Magazine. —This is a periodical pub¬ 
lished under the direction of the students of Yale Col¬ 
lege, New-Haven, Ct., which has now reached its tenth 
volume. Judging from the numbers which we have 
seen, it is an interesting work, managed with an ability 
and judgment which does honor to its youthful conduct¬ 
ors. The number for January contains a well-written 
article on agriculture. The same number has a beauti¬ 
ful engraving of Yale College Libraiy, and also a graph¬ 
ic picture of “ Yale College, and the College Chapel in 
1786.” Published by A. H. Mallby, $2 per annum. 
Indiana Farmer and Gardener.— Agricultural pub 
lications appear to be rapidly increasing in the west. A 
new one has just reached us from Indianapolis, the name 
of which we here give. Rev. II. W. Beecher, an able 
and interesting writer on horticulture, is to have the 
editorial charge of the paper, and it is published by S. 
V. B. Noel h Co., semi-monddy—16 pages 8vo., atone 
dollar per annum. 
