66 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
composed, and the lime taken up, by the gradual formation of ve¬ 
getable acid, until the lime and the acid neutialized and blanched 
each other, leaving no considerable excess of either. There are 
several of the vegetable acids, and among them the oxalic, which 
abound in sorrel, that have a stronger affinity for acids than car¬ 
bonic acid, and when coming in contact with carbonate of lime, 
would of course decompose it and unite with the base. These 
acids, Mr. It. contends, are poisonous to cultivated crops. The • 
burning of newly cleared lands is so essential to the first crop, 
that no good return is expected unless there has been “ a good[ 
burn,” and spots of a new fallow which escape the fire are com-! 
paratively barren, until the soil has been broken up and ameliorat- I 
ed by atmospheric or other influence. The fire does not add to 
the vegetable matter in the soil ; it diminishes it; but it produces 
some chemical change beneficial to the crop, either by the solvent 
quality of the ashes, which it produces, or by neutralizing some 
noxious property in the soil. 
In discussing the 3d and 4th propositions, our author shows, that 
“siiicious earths can have no power, chemical or mechanical, ei¬ 
ther to attract enriching manures, or to preserve them when ac¬ 
tually placed in contactand that they “ give out freely all 
they have received, not only to a growing crop, but to the sun, 
air and water, so as soon to lose the whole;” that “aluminous 
earth, by its closeness, mechanically excludes those agents of de¬ 
composition, heat, air and moisture, which sand so freely admits 
and that therefore although clay lands retain manure longer, they 
only retain it mechanically. The means by which calcareous 
earths act as improving manures, are, “ completely preserving pu¬ 
trescent manures from waste, and yielding them freely for use 
—“ their power of neutralizing acids,” and of “ altering the tex¬ 
ture and absorbency of soils.” 
We will close our notice of this valuable work, for the present, 
with another extract, explaining the author’s views of the ope¬ 
ration of manures in the soil, which strongly inculcate the pro¬ 
priety of applying dung in its unfermented, or partially fermented 
state, of ploughing it in, and of cropping the ground with hoed 
plants, which come to maturity in autumn. We propose, however, 
unless admonished that we are trespassing upon the publisher’s 
rights, to copy some of Mr. Ruffin’s experiments with marl, to 
show to the readers of the Cultivator the positive and important 
benefits which have resulted from marling, and to serve as a 
guide in some measure to their practice. 
“ Cxcept the very small proportions of earthy, saline anil metallic matters 
that may be in animal and vegetable manures, the w hole balance of their bulk 
( nd the whole of whatever can leed plants,) is composed of different elements, 
which are known only in the form of gases —into which they must be finally 
resolved, after going through all the various stages of fermentation and decom¬ 
position. So far from sinking in the earth, these final results could not be 
possibly confined there, but must escape into the atmosphere as soon as they 
take a gaseous loim, unless immediately taken up by the organs of growing 
plants. It is probable that but a small portion of any dressing of manure re¬ 
mains long enough in the soil to make this final change—anil that nearly all 
is used by growing plants, during previous changes, or carried ofi by air and 
watpr. Outing the progress of the many changes caused by fermentation and 
decompostion, every soluble product may certainly sink as low as the rains 
penetrate: but it cannot descend lower than the water, and that, together with 
the soluble manure, w ill be again drawn up by the roots of plants. One excep¬ 
tion, however, seems probable. Should the soil need draining, to take off wa¬ 
ter passing beneath the surface the soluble manure might be carried off by those 
springs: ami this supposed result receives strong confirmation from the complete 
loss of fertility winch is often observed in spots over a foundation that is springy 
in wet seasons, but which have been kept under tillage, without being drained. 
We areas yet but little informed as to the particular changes made, and the 
various new substances successively formed, and then decomposed, during the 
whole duration of putrescent, manures to the soil—and no field for discovery 
would better rew ard the investigations of the agricultural chemist. For want 
of this knowledge, we proceed at random in using manures, instead of being 
enabled to conform to any rule founded on scientific principles: nor can we 
hope so to manage manures with regard to their fermentation, the time and 
manner of application, mixing witholher substances, &c. as to enable the crops 
to seize evert/ enrichmg result as soon as it is produced, and to postpone as long 
as possible the final results of decomposition —w Inch ought to be the ends sought 
in every application of putrescent manure." 
We cannot close this brief notice, without asking the intelli¬ 
gent reader to reflect on the incalculable advantage of scientific 
husbandry, when combined with practical operations. Mr. Ruffin, 
we suspect, is self-taught in chemical science ; and yet within 
his limited sphere of operations, he is teaching invaluable truths, 
mostly before unknown or unappreciated, to his countrymen, which 
ere long may, in all probability, lead to the addition of annual mil¬ 
lions to the value of our agricultural products. If such benefits 
can result from the limited exertions of a single individual, who 
is able to devote to the subject but a portion of his time, what 
benefits might the community not expect from the united exer¬ 
tions of twenty such men, specially directed to the subject, in all 
the departments of husbandry—in a school of Scientific and Prac¬ 
tical Agricultural—under the liberal patronage of the state, or of 
associated wealth ? 
HARVEST BRINES. 
Every man of practical experience, at least, knows that mid¬ 
summer laborers in the harvest and hay-fields, must swallow a 
goodly quantity cf liquids in the course of the day, to supply the 
exhaustion occasioned by copious prespiiation. Ardent spirits aie 
now proscribed by common consent and common usage : they in¬ 
flame the blood, increase thirst, rouse and foster the worst pas¬ 
sions, and are too often the cause of fixed habits of intemperance. 
To discover a good substitute is a desideratum. Pure water, in 
large quantities is rather debilitating, and withal often hurtful. 
Any considerable portion of molasses, either with wafer or small 
beer, is also too relaxing, without something additional to coun¬ 
teract this tendency. Our common practice lor two seasons was 
to mix one part sound cider with ihree of water, and to add mo¬ 
lasses, and sometimes ginger, to suit the palate. But last season, 
the cider being scarce, accident led to the adoption of a new har¬ 
vest beverage, which we venture to say is surpassed by no other 
i'or the grateful and healthful influence upon the strength and spi¬ 
rits of the harvest laborer. A Scotchman, not liking our Yankee 
drinks begged a little oat-meal, that he might just make a wee 
, bit o’ Scotch drink. He was indulged ; and by degrees, our Yan- 
ikees, Irish and English, for we happened to have all these about 
us, became so partial to the Scotch drink, that it was adopted as 
| (he field drink by general acclamation. It is cooling, strengthen¬ 
ing, and allays thirst—it is truly victuals and drink. A respecta¬ 
ble Scotch farmer, residing in Montgomery, assured us, that dur¬ 
ing 18 months, while employed as a shepherd among the hills of 
Scotland, he took not a particle of other subsistence, than oat- 
Jmeal and water, and almost entirely without any preparation— 
and that he never enjoyed 18 months more perfect health in his 
life. 
Here then is an excellent substitute for ardent spirits, in the la¬ 
bors of the harvest, which may be accessible to all, and at trifling 
expense—promotive of health, strength and kind feelings. Oat 
meal is becoming an article of commerce ; it is useful, in many 
ways, in the economy of a family, and may be readily kept by 
every farmer. 
To make this Scotch Drink, denominated Crowdy, put a tea¬ 
cup full of oat-meal into two gallons of water, and stir well before 
drinking. __ 
TICKS ON LAMBS. 
When sheep have been shorn, the ticks, with which they are apt 
to abound, seek shelter in the fleeces of the lambs, or are destroy¬ 
ed by the shorn sheep. They are often so numerous upon the lambs 
as not only greatly to annoy them, but seriously to injure their 
health and their growth. The following effectual method to destroy 
them, has been detailed to us by Judge Bostwiek, of Delaware co. 
w'hose statement may be implicitly relied on. 
Finding his lambs, in former years very much injured by ticks, 
he procured 4 pounds of tobacco, boiled it in water,—put the 
strained liquor into a half-hogshead tub, diluted it with water till 
he found on trial that it had just sufficient strength to kill the ticks 
in a minute or two, placed an empty kettle by the side of the tub, 
and when cold, proceeded to apply it to the lambs, in the man¬ 
ner following : One man took the lamb by his fore legs and head, 
and plunged it into the liquid, leaving only his head out—he next 
raised it and held it over the empty kettle, when a second man 
pressed out of the fleece all the liquid which would flow into the 
kettle. This completed the operation. The liquor was then turn¬ 
ed from the kettle into the tub, and the operation repeated upon 
the rest of the young flock. In shearing the present year the 
Judge discovered but two ticks upon his entire flock. 
DISEASES OF THE POTATO. 
In Great Britain the potato has been subject to a disease for 
years called the curl ; but as it has never appeared in our country, 
we refrain from noticing its character, or the modes which have 
been suggested for its cure. More recently, and particularly the 
