6 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Stolens are the roots on which the potatoes form, and are distinct 
from those which penetrate deep,- and supply food to the plant. 
But all weeds should be carefully destroyed ; as one of these if suf¬ 
fered to ripen its seed,'takes as much nourishment and moisture from 
the ground as a stem of the potatoes. This crop should not be 
planted twice on the same ground in succession, as the second year 
the product will be greatly diminished. 
Grafting is a mode of propagating varieties of fruit of esteemed 
quality. Grafts may be cut any time after the fall of the leaf in au¬ 
tumn, and before the buds begin to swell in the spring. They should 
be of the preceeding year's growth, are best from bearing trees and 
exterior limbs. They may be preserved by embedding their larger 
ends in clay, a potato, or in moist earth, in a cellar in winter, or in 
the open ground, partially or wholly covered, in the spring. Grafts 
are annually sent across the Atlantic. The great care should be 
that they are not kept too warm or too moist- so that the buds swell 
before they are wanted for use. The rationale of grafting will sug¬ 
gest the time and the manner in which it should be done. The 
scion and graft are to be so adjusted that the sap wood of the stock, 
by which the sap ascends from the root, comes in contact with the 
6ap wood of the scion ; and a like adjustment must be observed be¬ 
tween the inner bark of both, through which the sap descends from 
the graft to the stock after it has been elaborated in the leaves. 
Without the first precaution, the sap will not reach the graft, which 
will consequently shrivel and die. Without the last, the graft can¬ 
not knit or unite to the stock ; for it is the descending sap which 
forms the new wood, and which indeed causes the graft to send its 
roots down into the earth, upon the outside of the wood, but under 
the bark of the stock. The union can only take place after the sap 
has begun to circulate in the stock, which is when the buds are 
bursting. The clay or composition is applied to exclude the drying 
influence of the air and sun, and also rain, from the wound until a 
complete union has taken place. The graft does not become injured 
by being somewhat shrivelled before it is inserted; but rf it appears 
too much so, it maybe buried a few hours in moist earth before it is 
used. The compositions used as substitutes for clay are many. A 
good one is one part tallow, two parts beeswax, and four parts rosin, 
melted and incorporated like shoemaker’s wax. If the weather is 
cold, this will require to be Softened by immersing it a time in warm 
water. A thin layer of this, covering the end of the stock, and the 
slit, will suffice. With the addition of a little more tallow, the com¬ 
position may be spread upon linen or cotton cloth, when warm, and 
the cloth cut to the requiied size for a graft, and applied with less 
trouble in the form of a prepared plaster. The different processes 
of grafting are so generally known that we need not detail them; 
our object being only to throw out such suggestions as may tend to 
render the success of the operation more certain. 
Canada Thistles. —Of all the expedients which we have seen re¬ 
commended to destroy this troublesome and prolific plant, a writer 
in the Genesee Farmer recommends a mode entitled to a preference; 
because he has, in successive years, found it to be efficient in prac¬ 
tice—and because the result is in perfect consonance with the laws 
of vegetation. The method is, to plough and plant the field where 
they have obtained a footing with corn, and to go over the field 
twice a week, as soon as the thistles appear, and carefully cut every 
one with a hoe, as far under the sufac.e as practicable. In August, 
says the writer, they began to become thin and scattering, and ap¬ 
peared of a sickly yellowish hue. The operation was continued 
till October. In September, the roots were found, on examination, 
in a state of decay, and of a blackish color. The whole were de¬ 
stroyed. Leaves are as necessary to the growth and being of a 
plant as lungs are to an animal. Plants cannot grow without the 
agency of leaves ; for it is in these that the food of the vegetable is 
elaborated and fitted for its wants. Trees are often killed by ca- 
terpillars that destroy the leaves, when the sap is in free circulation, 
and the plant most in need of their active offices. The ascending 
sap becomes stagnant, ferments, and destroys the vitality of the 
lant. Thus with the thistles, by constantly destroying the leaves, 
efore they elaborate the food collected by the roots, although very 
tenacious of life, the roots die for want of nourishment. Where 
the thistles are confined to a small patch, a pile of manure left 
on them a few weeks will effectually destroy them, as will any 
other covering which excludes the light and air wholly from the 
leaves. 
Chemistry in the Kitchen. —Why is it necessary to mix lime witfe 
ashes in soap making 1 The answer to this question will explain the 
reason why the process often fails, and suggest a remedy for the 
evil. Common soap is a compound chemically united, of alkali, or ley 
from potash, and grease, fat or tallow. The alkali is naturally com¬ 
bined with carbonic acid, for which it has a stronger affinity than it 
has for grease ; hence while it continues united with the acid, it will 
not unite with the grease,- and produce soap. But lime having a 
stronger affinity for the acid than the alkali has, extracts it from the 
ley, and the alkali then readily unites with the grease, and forms 
soap. From this it will be seen, that the lime should be spread over 
the bottom of the leech tub in order that the ley may filter through 
it; and also that the lime be fresh burnt, as it then has a greater 
capacity for the acid. 
The Swine, in many parts of our state, are of a bad breed, with 
long legs and snouts, and sharp back, of a roaming propensity, and 
slow and expensive to fatten. The method of improving, where a 
good breed cannot be readily procured, is pointed out in the direc¬ 
tions for improving farm stock, under the head of the Science of 
Agriculture, an article which we particularly recommend to the pe¬ 
rusal of our farmers. 
Have you planted a Vine ?—If you have planted one that produces 
good fruit, take care of it, and propagate it by cuttings and layers, 
and its fruit will richly repay your labor. If you have not, buy or 
beg one, and plant in the present spring. If you buy, it will cost 
you two or three shillings; if you beg one, I don’t know how much 
it will cost, you to requite the favor. The second year after plant¬ 
ing it will produce you fruit, which will every year increase as the 
plant enlarges. The fruit will be found to be wholesome and grate¬ 
ful, and you will realize the pleasure of silting under your own vine, 
during the intense heat of summer; and you will wonder that you 
have lived so long without enjoying this pleasure. The native kinds 
most worthy of cultivation, are the Isabella, Winne and Catawba, 
all hardy, thrifty and abundant bearers, and their fruit ripening in 
the order in which they are named. If you want foreign fruit, 
the Sweet-water, Chasselas, black cluster, and other early kinds 
are to be preferred. These demand more care than the native 
kinds, and the vines will require a slight covering of earth during 
the winter. A little experience will make you familiar with their 
management, and convert the labor required for their care into a 
recreation. 
Rearing Calves. —The following is the general method of rearing 
calves in Britain, and differs not materially from that followed by 
Bakevvell, the great cattle breeder: 
“The calves sucked for a week or fortnight, according to their 
strength : new milk in a pail was then given a few meals : next new 
milk and skim milk mixed, a few meals more ; then skim milk alone, 
or porridge made with milk, water, ground oats, &c. and sometimes 
oil cake, until cheese making commenced, if it was a dairy farm ; af¬ 
ter which, whey porridge, or sweet whey, in the field, being careful 
to house them in the night, until the warm weather was confirmed. 
Bull calves and high bred heifers, however, were suffered to remain 
at the tile until they were six, nine, or perhaps twelve months old, 
letting them run with their dams, or more frequently less valuable 
cows or heifers.” 
It is to be remarked that they have no Indian meal in Britain. 
This is substituted with us, for oat meal, and even oil-cake. A hand¬ 
ful put into skim milk or whey, for calves, improves their condition 
greatly. 
Massachusetts Vremium Crops. —Among the premiums recently 
awarded by the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, were the fol¬ 
lowing : 
To E. H. Derby, of Salem, for the best crop of turnips. Product 
on two acres one quarter and seven poles, 1,7301 bushels. Seed 
sown with drill barrow. 
To Payson Williams, of F'tchburgh, for spring wheat, on one acre. 
Product 55 bushels three pecks. Seed sown, 2$ bushels. Variety 
from Black Sea. 
To William Carter of Fitchburgh, for potatoes. Product 677 
bushels on an acre. Seed 55 bushels, long reds and blues. 
To the same, for barley. Product on one acre, 55 bushels. Seed 
5 bushels, of the two rowed kind. 
