THE CULTIVATOR. 
291 
INQUIRIES. 
Ribbon Houses. —T. C. (Sullivan, N. Y.) We are 
not in possession of any more particular information in 
regard to this kind of buildings, than we gave in our 
Feb. No., (page 42 of this vol.) 
Charcoal.—B. S. (and others.) That from hard 
wood is considered best for agricultural purposes, and 
we believe that from maple is as good as any. Pine 
and hemlock make lighter coal—whether the same weight 
of it would be worth as much as that from hard wood, 
we cannot tell. Try both kinds, and you may then know. 
Ice-house.— “ What is the most approved plan of con¬ 
structing an ice-house, where ihe springs at certain sea¬ 
sons of the year, are within lour feet of the surface of 
the ground?” Query by “B. S.” If any one will an¬ 
swer it, we shall feel obliged. 
Burnt Clay.—B. S. We should think unburnt clay 
would be best for a sandy soil, because by burning it loses 
in a great measure its adhesiveness, and its attraction for 
water, which constitute its value for sand. We have no 
personal experience in burning clay, though we have 
partially witnessed the process. It can best be described 
in the language of Mr. Rham, in his “ Dictionary of the 
Farm 
“ To burn clay, it is dug out in lumps and dried; heaps 
are made of these at regular distances in the field, with 
a small cavity in the centre, in which dry furze and 
brush-wood are introduced. This being lighted, the fire 
is allowed to burn slowly, and the smoke kept in by add¬ 
ing a sod or clod wherever it bursts out. When the 
heap is once burning, more clay may be added, even 
without being dry, and the combustion goes on without 
other fuel. It must be so managed as to bake the clay 
without heating it too much; and when the heaps are 
cooled and opened, the whole should appear pulverized, 
and of a red color, if oxide of iron exists in the soil. A 
coat of two or three inches thick, spread on a field and 
plowed in, will greatly improve its texture; but suffi¬ 
cient animal or vegetable manure must be added to make 
it fertile.” 
Soaking Seed-wheat. —A. W. (Huntington, L. I.) 
The length of time the grain may safely remain in the solu¬ 
tion, depends much on the degree of temperature in 
which it is kept. Mr. Campbell soaked his seeds in 
muriate and sulphate of ammonia, from forty to sixty 
hours, in a temperature of 70 degrees. We presume 
there would be no risk in soaking wheat twenty-four 
hours at that temperature. 
Sulphate of Ammonia. —C. F. (Morristown, N. Y.) 
Sulphate of ammonia is often used instead of muriate, in 
steeping seeds. Experiment only can decide which is 
the best. We do not particularly know about I)r. 
Feuchtwanger’s compound of sulphate of ammonia, ni¬ 
trate of soda, &c. 
Sandy Land. —A. W. The soil would probably be 
improved by spreading on clay or any good soil of a more 
compact nature than that of the field. We are not aware 
of any objection to the use of lime where ashes have for¬ 
merly been applied. The lime had better be kept near 
the surface. 
“Hooks.” — L. F. S. (Highgate.) The only remedy 
we have ever heard for this disease, is to cut out the 
gristly substance which grows in the eye. We believe 
this is done by the use of small hooks and sharp scissors. 
Castor-oil Bean.— T. H. (Troy, Miss.,) wishes to 
be informed of the proper mode of harvesting this plant, 
and of manufacturing and clarifying the oil. 
Hussey’s Corn and Cob Crusher —The proprietor 
of this article is requested to give information through 
the Cultivator what speed per minute the machine should 
have, and how to prevent the steel cutter from choking 
8 o as to stop the machine. 
Swamp muck, Charcoal, &c.— B. N. (Ipswich, N. 
H.) Swamps should first be drained. The wild growth 
should then be subdued, and they may be sown with 
grass-seed, or cultivated, as may be deemed most profit 
able. One of the best modes of using muck is to mix it 
with animal manure, especially to absorb urine. Hog¬ 
pens, cattle and sheep-yards, should be covered with a 
layer of it to take all the urine and the soak of the manure. 
Where there are barn cellars, it should be kept under the 
cattle and horse stalls. It will answer a good purpose 
in many cases if applied by itself, but it is better to use it 
as mentioned, or mix ashes with it. Lime is also useful 
in ridding it of acids, noxious to vegetation, which it 
sometimes contains. (Get Dr. Dana’s “ Muck Manual.”) 
Substitute for White lead_ P. (Uniontown, Pa.) 
From experience, we are unable to say what recipe 
would prove best, but prefer the following to any we at 
(Iresent recollect: 
Take one bushel of unslacked lime, and slack it with 
cold water; when slacked add to it 20 lbs. of Spanish 
whiting, 17 lbs. of salt, and 12 lbs. of sugar. Strain this 
mixture through a wire sieve, and it will be fit for use, 
after reducing with cold water. This is intended for the 
outside of buildings, or where it is exposed to the 
weather. Two coats should be laid on wood, and three 
on brick. A whitewash brush may be used for laying it 
on, and each coat must be dried before the next is ap¬ 
plied. This may be made any color you please. For 
straw color, instead of the whiting use yellow ochre* 
for lemon color, ochre and chrome yellow; for lead or 
slate color, lampblack; for blue, indigo; or green, chrome 
green. 
Machine for loading stones _G. B. (Frederick 
Co., Md.,) wishes to learn whether there is in use a 
simple, cheaply constructed machine, suitable for load¬ 
ing stones of four or five hundred weight, that one or 
two hands could work. 
Lawrence’s Lever Buckle _The depot for the 
sale of this article is Cornell & Brothers, 269 Pearl- 
street, New-York. 
The Poppy—Opium.—A Subscriber, (Petersville, 
Md.) We are unable to say how many pots of opium 
can be produced per acre. The somniferous poppy may 
be readily grown in this latitude—indeed several varie¬ 
ties of it are common in flower-gardens—but the narcotic 
juice which it affords, is said to be much less potent than 
that produced in hotter countries. We do not know 
whether it could be profitably cultivated in the latitude 
of Maryland. 
Injury to an Ox’s eye.— A. L. (St. Joseph, Mich.) 
Treat the eye as you would your own, if it had received 
the same injury. If a film grows over it, some fine 
table-salt blown in through a quill, will probably take 
it off. 
Sweet Scented Clover.—A. L. It is not worth 
much for fodder. 
Seed Sower. —J. F. A. (Zanesville, O.) The price 
of Seward’s machine, (mentioned in the April number) 
is $10. It would sow mustard well. There are several 
other machines, varying in price. The Boston agricul¬ 
tural warehouses would be likely to furnish an assort¬ 
ment of such articles. Lewis’ machine is highly re¬ 
commended, and is undoubtedly one of the best. It is 
for sale in Boston. 
Silk Culture —“A Subscriber.” We know of no 
“ periodical ” at present published on this subject. If a 
treatise is what is wanted, a copy of Whitmarsh’s Manu¬ 
al can be had at this office. 
Seeds of the Larch. —J. B. (Van Buren, N. Y ) 
We suppose it is the seed of the Scotch Larch that is 
wanted. They could not be had in any considerable 
quantity without importing them. The best way would 
probably be to import the young trees from Scotland. 
We cannot say what they would cost. If any one in this 
country has them for sale, they would do well to inform 
us. 
“ Mowing Machine.”— J. S. (Prospect Hall.) The 
machines used for cutting wheat are commonly called 
harvesting machines. We are not aware of any reason 
why they may not cut oats as well as wheat. 
Wo ad.— J. D. F. (Schuyler, N. Y.) As it is too late 
for any information in regard to culture to be useful this 
season, we only give from the “Flemish Husbandry ” 
some remarks on curing. The leaves begin to be fit for 
gathering when they turn down, and turn slightly yel¬ 
low. A dry time is necessary for gathering*,'"which is 
