204 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Johnston, all we can do is to keep up its fertility; even 
modern science can scarcely hope to increase the crops; 
but one thing it may do, it may raise them more econo¬ 
mically and with greater certainty. 
After this notice of Mr. Aitchison's farm, a variety of 
substances lately sent to the Laboratory for examination, 
were mentioned. Among them were a number of lime¬ 
stones from different parts of the country: some of these 
were found very pure and remarkably well fitted for agri¬ 
cultural purposes; others would make admirable cements. 
The economical value of some ironstones was also no- 
ticed. The sprouts broken off* during the malting of 
barley, on analysis have been found to be well adapted 
for manure, and to especially abound in phosphates. 
Large quantities are obtained in the extensive breweries, 
and in some instances they have been advatageously used 
as food for pigs. 
The remainder of the remarks by Prof. Johnston were 
devoted to explaining the action of sulphuric acid upon 
bones. The nature of bone was first considered, it con¬ 
sisting of an earthly and a gelatinous part. Each of these 
has been found valuable where applied singly; burned 
bones especially, have been found to produce excellent 
crops of turneps. The sulphuric acid acts upon both 
these parts of the bone, and forms with the gelatinous 
part certain compounds soluble in water and capable of 
entering directly into the circulation of plants. In its 
action upon the earthy part much gypsum is produced, 
and bi-phosphate or super-phosphate of lime. 
Thus many substances necessary to the healthy growth 
of the crop, are presented to it in a soluble state ready 
to supply its wants. Experiments in top dressing wheat 
and clover, have shown in several instances the great 
efficacy of the bi-phosphate. 
The action of the acid is speedy, and soon reduces the 
bones to a soft pulpy mass; they may then either be ap¬ 
plied in a liquid state after very large dilution with water, 
or they may be dried and sown in the drill, or used as a 
top dressing. The latter way is most convenient, but 
some trials have seemed to indicate that the liquid appli¬ 
cation is best. It probably ensures a more complete 
dissemination of the manure through the soil. Water 
should be added, even until the acid taste is not percepti¬ 
ble. Prof. Johnston, in conclusion said, he had been 
thus particular upon the subject of bones, because the 
supply of guano could not always last. When that was 
gone the farmers must have something to supply its place, 
and bones will then stand forth more prominently. He 
recommended the trial with preliminary experiments 
with them immediately, so that they might not in any 
way expose themselves to loss when compelled to find 
a substitute for guano. 
After a few words upon some samples of guano, the 
meeting came to a close. Pi of. Johnston will be at Dur¬ 
ham during the months of May and June, and consequent¬ 
ly there will not be another meeting until July. 
I am yours very truly, 
John P. Norton. 
Preservation of Wood. —Kyan’s celebrated patent, 
it is well known, consists of impregnating the pores of 
wood with corrosive sublimate. Bennett’s Antiseptic 
Solution, for the same purpose, is a solution of one pound 
of chloride of zinc in five gallons of water, and has been 
found superior to Kyan’s patent solution. Another sim¬ 
ple process consists in the application of creosote , along 
with coal tar, and other bituminous matter. The wood 
is thoroughly saturated to the centre of the log with great 
rapidity. A load of fir timber will absorb forty gallons; 
close grained timber less. The price of the creosote is 
3 pence [sterling] per gallon; in some places not more 
than pence. Preserved timber, by this process, is 
supplied for rail-roads at 15 shillings a load more than 
the common price. Wood treated in this way is said to 
become nearly water-proof, and requires no painting. 
[It will of course be understood that the ‘‘creosote” 
spoken of is not the article sold in the drug shops, which 
is very costly, but a much cruder substance, similar to the 
substance sold many years ago, for smoking hams, under 
the name of pyroligneous acid,.] 
domestic ®orrcsponi)ence. 
MARYLAND FARMING. 
Mr. Editor —In one of your last letters you requested 
me to give you a sketch of any farms I might visit in 
Maryland. Last summer I made a short visit to my friend 
Thomas J. Dorsett, at “ Roedown,” in Anne Arundel 
county, West River settlement, Western Shore of Mary¬ 
land. Mr. Dorsett has 400 acres, 100 wood and 300 
arable land, divided into four fields ; and he farms on the 
four course system. First, wheat after clover. Second, 
corn and tobacco—the latter always on the lightest and 
driest soil. Third, wheat on the tobacco stubble, and 
oats on the corn stubble. Fourth, clover. Product, 15 
to 20 bushels wheat, 35 to 50 bushels corn, one hogshead 
tobacco, 40 bushels oats, per acre. Clover is the principal 
fertilizer. The land is remarkably adapted to clover, 
and since its introduction, some ten years or more, the 
land in this region has been progressively improving. 
Mr. Dorsett drove me a circuit of twenty-five miles, 
between South and West river, over a fine undulating 
country, well farmed; and, with one or two exceptions, 
the land all laid down in clover, looking almost as well 
as the western lands of good quality, (for it is not all 
good, you know.) There are no lanes here, but gates on 
the public road. We passed through sixty-six of them 
in a drive of twenty-five miles. 
Mr. Dorsett has some good stock. I saw two fine 
blooded brood mares, one of them, a Naragansett, a pic¬ 
ture. Her colts are good, and sell for high prices. Also 
some good grade Durhams, a flock of mixed sheep, cross 
of the common, Merino, South-Down, and Leicester— 
forty-eight ewes amt two rams. The clip averaged eight 
pounds and fourteen ounces, unwashed. One ewe that 
bore lambs for two years, gave a fleece which weighed 
twelve pounds. Finer mutton I have never tasted than 
at his table, from this flock. 
Mr. Dorsett manages his own farm, and has made it 
very productive. His sales have amounted to $3,300 per 
annum. Baltimore is the principal market. Butler, and 
small marketing, is sold at Annapolis. He observes 
system in all of his farming operations, care of toots, 
implements, &c. 
Doct. Stewart, whose farm adjoins, was from home, 
which deprived me of the pleasure of seeing him and 
his large farm of some two thousand acres. It is highly 
cultivated, as I saw in passing through it. I have made 
the Doctor a promise to visit him some future time. 
Slave labor is used in this neighborhood altogether. 
Yesterday I returned from a visit to George Patter¬ 
son, Esq. who resides at “ Springfield,” twenty-two miles 
west of this, in Carrol county. He is a wealthy gentle¬ 
man, and is extensively known for his fine stock, and 
enterprising character. His farm contains 1735 acres, 
about 1200 under cultivation, and 500 in woodland. It 
is rolling land, and well watered—a branch of the Pe- 
tapsco running through it, supplies water for a grist mill, 
on the farm, where all the grain raised on the farm is 
ground for the family and stock. The woodland is ad¬ 
mirably located to shelter the many fields from the 
northwest winds, and presented a beautiful and diversi¬ 
fied landscape. The timber was formerly oak, but as it 
is removed, is supplanted by a spontaneous growth of 
hickory and chestnut, principally the latter. Mr. Patter¬ 
son has cut out much of the old timber to burn lime, and 
also with a view to get rid of it to admit the young 
growth of chestnut. 
When Mr. P. took possession of this farm, twenty 
years since, the land was poor, much of it very poor, and 
barren of vegetation, except briars,—with scarcely any 
buildings. Since then he has put upwards of one hun¬ 
dred and sixty thousand bushels of lime on the land, and 
erected fifty buildings of various kinds, all permanently 
and neatly built, and now all yellow washed, presenting 
in contrast with the green fields and woods, a picturesque 
appearance. His plan is, whenever a field is brought 
into cultivation, and made to produce clover for mowing, 
to erect as many barracks as will hold the hay. These 
i I barracks, or barns, are made of frame, some 20 by 30 
