1854. 
T H EC U L TI V A T 0 R, 
377 
Answers to Inquiries. 
Grass-Seed Harrows. — (A Subscriber , Elliott, 
Maine.) Brush harrows are very imperfect, and con¬ 
stantly liable to get out of good working condition, by 
clogging and matting together. Generally speaking, 
however, we have no substitute for them for harrowing 
in grass seed. There is no doubt that harrows made in 
the ordinary way, but with much smaller and more 
numerous teeth would answer an excellent purpose, 
and far exceed in perfection of work, any brush har¬ 
row. We would make the following as a suggestion, 
which we have never tried, and for which we shall 
charge nothing for the patent-right. Procure pieces 
of inch and a half or two inch plank, four or five feet 
long, and about a foot wide, of hard elm or any other 
firm wood, hard to split. Drive through these at regu¬ 
lar distances, large-sized cut nails; perhaps 12 or 20d. 
nails would be of suitable size. Let them be driven 
in as far as the head, so as to project a few inches on 
the other side. Now let several of these spiked pieces 
of plank be hinged together, and the instrument is 
completed. A harrow is formed with small teeth, as 
numerous as may be desired; and it is evident that a 
single passage of this harrow over on ordinary plowed 
field would give it a surface as fine and as mellow as 
that of the most finished onion-bed ; and that if the 
surface has been previously levelled by harrowing, 
grass-seed may be raked in by means of this instru¬ 
ment in the most even and perfect manner, to a depth 
which may be regulated by the size of the nails used 
in its construction. 
As very few soils are perfectly free from grass roots 
and stones, it will be necessary, in order to prevent 
clogging, that the nails should be driven obliquely , so 
as to 'point backwards. This will enable them to 
mount any obstruction readily, and to clear themselves 
with facility from any matter tending to clog them. 
A strong recommendation of this plan is its cheap¬ 
ness. Fifty cents in all for plank, nails, and hinges, 
with a few hours work, would propabiy complete the 
whole. 
We hope some of our readers will try this plan and 
give us the results; at the same time we intend to give 
it a fair trial, and report. There is no doubt that a 
contrivance, similar to this, at least in its intention if 
not in its details, would prove of great value for many 
purposes besides seeding with grass, among which we 
may mention the harrowing of wheat-fields early in 
spring, preparing onion-beds, mellowing the soil for 
drilling in the seeds of root crops, &c 
Management of Bogs and Peat. — 1. I wish to 
know what is the best course to take with a peat bog, to 
reclaim it after thorough draining—it is covered with 
moss and small roots from two to four inches deep. 
2. What is the best substance or substances to mix 
with peat or muck to make a compost for a clay soil. 
3. Will it benefit the crop to spread muck without its 
being composted, on the sward, and turn it over for 
corn. N. Jenks. Barnston, Sept.26, 1854. 
The first great requisite in reclaiming a bog, is tho¬ 
rough and complete underdraining—this gives full com¬ 
mand to the operator. The next is to seed it with 
timothy, red top, or clover, or a mixture of all these, as 
the case may admit. The drier and firmer kinds of 
bogs only will admit of a good and certain growth of 
clover, unless an application of lime, ashes, or marl, is 
given. It may be well however to mix a portion of 
clover seed in all cases, and give it a fair chance 
Timothy scarcely ever fails, on a well drained bog, with 
a properly prepared surface. 
If moss and small roots interfere with plowing, they 
should be collected into heaps, and either drawn off, or 
burned when dry enough, at some time when there is 
enough of moisture in the peat to prevent its taking 
fire. 
One-third of stable manure, and perhaps a little ashes, 
will form the best compost with peat, applying each in 
their successive layers, so as to give a thorough inter¬ 
mixture of the parts. On light soils, a large proportion 
of turf and loam will be beneficial. 
Generally, the soil is not much benefitted, immedi¬ 
ately, by the application of peat only—in a few in¬ 
stances, we have observed it very considerably so. It 
is however, a manure that remains several years in the 
soil, which should be taken into the account. 
Stabling Cows. —In looking over the columns of 
a recent number of the Country Gentleman, I no¬ 
tice an inquiry to prevent cows from lying in their ma¬ 
nure when in the stable. The remedy is very simple. 
It is by having a gutter drop immediately behind the 
cows, 6 inches deep and 16 inches wide. If cows are 
fastened with yokes, they need about 4 ft. 9 in. to stand 
upon. By having the stalls long enough you have a 
walk back of the drop, which is convenient for walking 
on, setting pails, &c. I have a drop in my steer stable 
nearly like the above plan, and they keep almost as 
clean as cows. A Constant Reader. 
Mediterranean Wheat—Selection of Seed, &c. 
Remarks somewhat of an opposite character, by 
various contributors have appeared in the columns of 
the “ Country Gentleman ” of latter time, in regard 
to Mediterranean wheat. One of your correspondents, 
“ F. D. C.” condemns it so far as to say, that “ if you 
cannot by good culture and early sowing, raise white 
wheat, then give up its cultivation for the present at 
least.” I have raised both white and red wheat, and 
would recommend to your readers who have been un¬ 
successful in raising the former, to give the Mediter¬ 
ranean a fair trial. A number of years since, throug# 
the kindness of a friend, I obtained some two or three 
bushels of the best Genesee white, that could be pro¬ 
cured, and for a time was much pleased with its pro¬ 
duce—the yield was good for a year or two, and the 
flour made from it, of the best quality. It however 
soon depreciated ; the fly made sad havoc with it, which, 
together with the rust, sometimes reduced the crop 
about one half. 
I was then induced to get of a neighbor who had 
raised it successfully, a few bushels of Mediterranean 
wheat. The result was, on that part of the field where 
