1854 . 
THE CULTIVATOR 
181 
Harrows. 
May I be allowed to ask you a question : Which is 
the best Harrow? its form, dimensions, &c. By an¬ 
swering the above in the Country Gentleman you will 
greatly oblige, A. M. B. Essex, Vt. 
The Geddes harrow is undoubtedly the best one in 
use. The teeth being situated considerably back of 
the point of draught, its motion is more even and stea¬ 
dy, and consequently easier for the team. In conse¬ 
quence of its wedge-form, it passes obstructions more 
readily. The center or draught-rod forms a set of 
hinges, by which it becomes adapted to uneven ground, 
or by which it may be easily lifted to discharge weeds, 
roots, or other obstructions. Or it may be doubled 
back and carried easily in a wagon. The accompany- 
The Geddes Harrow. 
ing figure renders its construction perfectly intelligible 
without further description. To prevent its rising in 
the middle, as it has been found to do when the draught 
traces are as short as easy draught requires, the chain 
is attached to the bar on each side, as shown in Fig. 2, 
The Scotch or square harrow, when made of light 
timber, and numerously furnished with small teeth, 
is a capital implement on land free from stones for fine 
pulverization. 
An improvement, at increased cost, is made in Har¬ 
row-teeth by passing the upper end of the teeth through 
from below, until they reach a shoulder and washer, 
when they are secured with a nut on the top. Harrows 
will run easier, if the corners, and not flat sides of the 
teeth, are placed foremost, so as to cut like a wedge. 
We do not see why cast-iron teeth for coarse harrows 
might not be adopted, made flat, and cutting with the 
sharp edge. 
Bone Dust. 
Messrs. Editors —I write you for information 
about bone-dust. In what way should it be applied to 
corn? Will bones that have been lying on the ground 
for a long time, answer? How fine should they be 
ground?—also the superphosphate of lime^what is its 
cost, how should it be applied, and where can it be got 
at the most reasonable rate ? A Genesee Subscriber. 
For the purpose of tryiug its specific effect, bone 
manure should be applied alone and well mixed with 
the soil; for all other purposes, it operates best by 
forming a constituent of compost, made of stable ma¬ 
nure, turf, peat or loam, and a small proportion of ash¬ 
es. Old bones contain the same fertilizing ingredients 
as fresh bones, except a part of the gelatine has disap¬ 
peared. The difference is very slight. The finer they 
are ground the better. Unbroken bones will remain 
in the soil for centuries, and as a consequence they im¬ 
part but little benefit to any crop; as the fineness in¬ 
creases, the more rapidly they act, till reduced to the 
nature of flour. 
TAe super-phosphate is sold for about $45. or $50 
per ton in New-York, at several establishments. It 
should be applied in the same way as ground bones. 
Our correspondent will find some further information on 
this subject on p. 24 current volume of the Country 
Gentleman, or p. 52 of the Feb. no. of the Cultivator. 
Coal Tar and Paint. 
Messrs. Editors —Having read in your valuable 
monthly paper, something in relation to the use of 
coal tar for the roofing of buildings, I wish to know 
whether this will preserve the siding of a barn as well 
as paint and oil; and if so, which is the cheapest in 
the end—or in other words, how much the cost will be 
per hundred square feet, and where it can be obtained. 
Please give me the desired information in your next 
number, and you will confer a great favor. A Sub¬ 
scriber. Carlisle, April, 1854. 
Coal tar is an excellent preservative of wood exposed 
to dampness, probably quite as much so as paint, and 
when applied warm on a well dried surface, more so. 
There are two objections of considerable magnitude 
to its use,—one, its black and disagreeable color—and 
the other the large amount of solar heat absorbed by 
this color, producing warping and cracking. It has 
been proposed to lessen this evil by mixing it with 
whiting or yellow ochre, but we do not know the result 
of experience. 
Coal tar is very cheap, the price varying with the 
demand, but not often over 2 or 3 dollars per barrel, 
and it may be had at any of the gas works used for 
lighting cities. 
Putnam Co. Ag. Society. —The annual fair of this 
Society for this year, is to be held at Carmel on the 26th 
and 27th of Sept. Their premium list, we are glad to 
see, embraces quite a number of agricultural works, 
including a goodly number of copies of tbe Country 
Gentleman. The officers of the society are— 
President — Thomas B. Arden, Philipstown. 
Vice-Presidents —Leonard D. Cliff, Carmel; Johm M. 
Towner, Patterson; Coleman Townsend, Kent; Thomas 
Brew, Southeast; Ezekiel Hyatt, Putnam Valley, and H. A. 
Pelton, Philipstown. 
Secretary —G. Mortimer Belden, Carmen 
Treasurer —Saxton Smith, Putnam Valley. 
