THE CULTIVATOR. 
Mode of Applying Nitrate of Soda. 
Masses. Editors —In previous communications we 
have stated such results from the application of this 
chemical manure as will most probably induce some of 
your readers to make some trials of its remarkable 
fertilising powers. It has produced such increase in 
crops of grass, hay, oats, barley, wheat, and such pro¬ 
fits, that it seems well deserving of farther trials in 
this country. To those who intend to experiment with 
it we would offer the following hints, gleaned from the 
reports of those who have been the most successful in 
applying it in England and Scotland. 
Nitrate of soda is found especially useful for those 
soils which are deficient in condition, where both soil 
and subsoil are light, with a tendency to deficiency of 
straw. 'On such soils it has been found quite profitable 
to apply nitrate, whether the crop is hay, grass, wheat, 
barley or oats. When intended for hay, an equal mo¬ 
ney-value of guano, viz., 2 cwt. along with 1 cwt. of 
the nitrate will usually be more profitable than the ap¬ 
plying of 2 cwt. of nitrate alone. 
Nitrate of soda should not be applied when the land 
is saturated with moisture, but when it is rather dry 
than otherwise. Just before a rain is a most sutiable 
time for its application. Until the nitrate is dissolv¬ 
ed by rain or a heavy dew, and thus washed into the 
soil, it must of course remain inactive. Two applica¬ 
tions, two to four weeks apart, are found to be better 
than one application, the quantity being no greater in 
the one case than in the other. If grass is to be cut 
green for soiling, so that there is no danger of lodging, 
a double quantity (2 cwt.) may be applied with or with¬ 
out an equal quantity of guano. The nitrate is best 
applied to wheat, oats, &c., when the blade is up 3 
or 4 inches. To prevent too heavy a growth of straw, 
and consequent lodging, 1 cwt. of the nitrate and 2 
cwt. of common salt will, generally be found the most 
profitable quantity, applied at two separate times. To 
assist in its more equal distribution, saw-dust or some 
equivalent dry powder may be mixed with it. Com¬ 
mon salt is sometimes used in larger proportions—as 
much as 3 cwt. per acre—it being claimed that it thus 
keeps down weeds, and gives to wheat, &c., a stiffer 
and firmer straw, preventing lodging, rust and mildew. 
The average quantity of nitrate to an acre is 1 cwt. 
In conclusion w.e would state that last year only 
about 100 tons of nitrate were used in Scotland; where¬ 
as orders and sales this year show that more than 500 
tons at least will be disposed of. This, at 1 cwt. per 
acre, will manure 10,000 acres. * 
Agricultural Education. —The trustees of the 
University of North Carolina have, in compliance with 
the demand for more practical education, established 
professorships of Analytical and Agricultural Chemis¬ 
try and Civil Engineering—the department of Chem¬ 
istry, by Prof. B. S. Hedrick, and that of Engineer- 
ing, by Prof. C. Phillips. We were gratified to learn, 
as we do by a letter from Prof. Hedrick, that his de¬ 
partment is in successful operation, the number in at¬ 
tendance being larger than was anticipated. 
National Cattle Show. 
Arrangements have been made for a national exhi¬ 
bition of Cattle, to be held under the auspices of the 
United States Ag. Society, at Springfield, Ohio, on the 
25th, 26th and 27th days of October next. The time 
has been fixed at so late a day, in order not to inter¬ 
fere with the State and County Shows ; and no doubt a 
vast many of the prize cattle of these different shows, 
will be present on the occasion. The Executive Com¬ 
mittee say; Six thousands dollars will be distributed 
in premiums for the best stock of the various breeds of 
Cattle, subject to competition without territorial limit. 
Springfield is centrally located as regards the cattle re¬ 
gion; it is most convenient of access by railroad from 
every point of the compass. The means for accommo¬ 
dating, at very moderate charges, a large number ot 
persons are ample.. Private houses will be opened for 
the reception of guests. There are also eighteen cities 
and towns within reach by an hours’ ride on the rail¬ 
roads, on which extra trains will be placed to accom¬ 
modate such as wish to go elsewhere for lodgings. 
About twenty acres of ground have been enclosed, and 
more than three hundred stalls will be prepared for the 
shelter of cattle during the convention. It is expected 
that very liberal arrangements will be made by all the 
railroad companies, both for the transportation of cat¬ 
tle and the conveyance of passengers to and from the 
Plaster for Potatoes. 
Messrs. Editors —I beg the privilege of stating to 
the readers of the Country Gentleman, an experiment 
which I have tried in raising potatoes. I have plant¬ 
ed on all kinds of land; and to my satisfaction, have 
found that dry, poor land is best; because they are 
much less subject to be destroyed by that baneful 
scourge the potatoe rot I last year planted the driest 
and poorest part of my cornfield to potatoes without 
any application until after the first hoeing, when, hav¬ 
ing some plaster left after plastering my corn, I ap¬ 
plied it to about half of my potatoes on the hill. At 
the second hoeing a vast difference -was perceptible in 
the vines. The plastered part continued in advance 
through the season. At the time of digging, there 
proved to be double the quantitiy, and of a much 
larger size. There were some indication that some had 
decayed among the whole, but no more of the plaster¬ 
ed ones than the other. I shall try the same plan this 
year. Lucis Griswold. Milton , Ct. 
Meat for New-York. —The New-York Tribune 
furnishes a variety of interesting statistics in relation 
to the number, weight and value of the animals butch¬ 
ered weekly in New-York. The number of beeves 
slaughtered during the first three months of the pres¬ 
ent year was 36, 249, the estimated value of which 
amounts to $2,120,562, or an average of $167,280 per 
week, which the city pays to the country for beef 
alone. The number of sheep and lambs butchered du¬ 
ring the same time was 90,616—swine, 67,763—calves, 
10, 376. 
