292 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Sept. 
ing season,” or about “ planting time,” and let them 
loose at the dusk of evening, they will quickly have the 
satisfaction of listening to the “ notes ” of the “harsh¬ 
er sex.” They swell out their throats till the sound 
bursts forth with almost as much “ power” and “com¬ 
pass ” as that of a fashionable biped “performer.” 
We have seen and heard all this. 
Annual Address at the State Fair. —The Hon. 
John C. Spencer, of Albany, has consented to deliver 
the customary address before the New-York State Agri¬ 
cultural Society, at the meeting at Buffalo. 
“ The Plow, the Loom and the Anvil.” —An ad¬ 
vertisement of this publication will be found in this 
number of the Cultivator. Its senior editor, J. S. Skin¬ 
ner, Esq., is well known as the pioneer in the establish¬ 
ment of agricultural periodicals in this country, having 
started the American Farmer in 1819. He still wields 
a vigorous and ready pen, and we have no doubt will 
render the work alluded to worthy the public patron¬ 
age, which we trust will be liberally bestowed. 
Materials for Manure. —During the dry wea¬ 
ther of September and October, the farmer will find his 
account in collecting muck or peat, and such loose ve¬ 
getable matters as are to be had, for the purpose of 
covering his barn-yards to absorb the urine from his 
stock and prevent the waste of the liquids from the ma¬ 
nure. Excepting while the weather is very cold, peat 
or muck, if kept tolerably dry, may be used in the sta¬ 
bles, and by absorbing the liquids, converts them into a 
portable form, and by retaining the nitrogenous princi¬ 
ples, and adding them to the compost-heap, a proper 
decomposition of the mass is secured. Thus a valua¬ 
ble article, which would otherwise be wasted, is saved, 
and its addition to other materials increases their value 
also. A good supply of peat and articles for litter 
should be so cured before winter sets in. 
Thompson’s Bank Note Reporter. —We have re¬ 
ceived this periodical several years, and consider it al¬ 
most indispensable to business men. It contains a com¬ 
plete list of all the banks in the United States and Bri¬ 
tish Provinces, with lists of Counterfeit bills, rates of 
exchange, &c. It is published daily, weekly, semi¬ 
monthly and monthly—weekly $2 a year—twice a 
month, $1, and monthly, 50 cents. Address J. Thomp¬ 
son, Exchange Broker, 69 Wall-st., New-York. 
Guinea Grass. —In the Cultivator for 1845, page 
210, “B. M.” of Tuskaloosa, Ala., recommends the 
culture of this grass “for the south.” In the Southern 
Cultivator for August last, the same writer states that 
he is convinced by two years’ experience, that “ it is a 
very serious pest,” and he is therefore, desirous of pub¬ 
licly retracting the recommendation he had before giv¬ 
en. He states that it does not make good hay, and 
that it takes such firm possession of the ground that it 
is almost impossible to eradicate it. 
Seeding Grass Lands. —September is a favorable 
season to sow grass seeds. In many sections, grass or 
hay yields a more profitable return than any other crop, 
and it hence becomes an object to keep the lands in 
mowing or pasturage as long as practicable. On quite 
moist soils, the sward may be kept up, and the pro¬ 
duction of herbage continued without diminution, by 
occasional top-dressings of manure. But on drier soils, 
it often becomes necessary to renew the grass from seed. 
In order to avoid the loss of a crop, it is practised in 
such cases, to plow the sward soon after the hay is ta¬ 
ken off, with a level, smooth furrow, and after using a 
light, sharp harrow, to sow the grass-seeds and brush 
them in. The time of sowing may vary according to 
the state of the ground. If very dry, it is best to wait 
for rain; but if sufficiently moist to insure the germi¬ 
nation of the seed, the latter part of August or fore 
part of September is generally considered the best time. 
Yet we have known lands sown to grass, as late as 
October, with good success. If the weather during 
fall is tavorable, the grass gets so well set that it stands 
the winter, and grows w T ell with the opening of spring. 
The first crop is however, considerably later, though it 
often gives a good burden at the first mowing. It is 
proper to remark that this mode of seeding is not re¬ 
commended for lands that are much acted on by frost; 
that is, lands on which crops are liable to “ winter- 
kill.” ' 
Kyanizing Wood.— The Kennebec Journal states 
that an establishment for carrying on this process has 
been erected at Augusta. The timber is first placed 
in iron boilers about fifty feet long, and steam is ap¬ 
plied to it. The steam is then condensed by ejecting 
cold water, thus producing a vacuum and opening the 
pores of the wood; after which a solution of coal tar, 
(obtained from the bituminous coal, in the process of 
gas making) is let into the boilers from an immense 
vat overhead, and a great force applied to it by means 
of a force-pump worked by steam. After six or eight 
hours from the commencement, of the operation, the so¬ 
lution is drawn off into a vat below, from which it is 
pumped up to the one above, ready to be again used. 
The ends of the boilers are then taken off, and the tim¬ 
ber drawn out all together. 
Appreciation of Agricultural publications.— 
E. Newton, Esq., in his address before the Mahoning 
county, (G.) Agricultural Society, observes:—“Agri¬ 
cultural publications are the best and cheapest mode of 
obtaining information upon all subjects of husbandry. 
They cost but little, and are within the power of all. 
One good day’s work will pay for one, and all have an 
abundance of time to read them- They contain the ex¬ 
perience and observations of the most scientific farmers 
in the country; the prospects of crops in all countries, 
and the condition of the market; facts all important to 
be known and understood. I have been surprised to 
see how few are taken, and have often been told by far¬ 
mers that they were not able to pay for them.* I can 
hardly appreciate the remark. Every one is able to 
pay for that which will immediately return them an 
hundred fold. I believe that a single number of any of 
the publications, if thoroughly read, would be found to 
contain some fact, if adopted, that would more than 
pay for the full year. By raising an extra bushel of 
wheat, it would pay for the year.” 
Potato Disease in England.— The last accounts 
received from England state this malady had made its 
appearance in many districts, and that the loss of a con¬ 
siderable portion of the crop was inevitable. Accounts 
from Ireland, also, state that the disease had appeared 
there in many instances. 
Small Pox in Sheep. —A disease called variola ovi- 
na, or sheep pox. has appeared in many flocks in Eng¬ 
land, and already occasioned great loss. |It is said to 
be both infectious and contagious. The diseased sheep 
are affected with ulcers, resembling the sores produced 
by small pox in man. Tho English veterinarians ara 
giving the closest attention to the disease. 
Ants as food. —White ants, or termites, are eaten 
by various African tribes, both raw and boiled; and it 
is said the Hottentots “ get into good condition on this 
diet.” In India, the natives capture great quantities of 
these insects, which they mix up with flour, producing 
a kind of pastry which is purchased at a cheap rate by 
the poorer people. Some of the Africans prepare large 
quantities of them for food, by parching them in kettles 
over a slow fire. In this condition they are eaten by 
handfuls as delicious food. The traveller Smeathman 
states that he often ate them dressed in this way, and 
