1848. 
65 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
and in late autumn and early spring, manure may safely 
lie at or near the surface, and its soluble parts will de¬ 
scend deep enough into the earth. But in a dry soil, 
and during a dry warm season, it can scarcely be 
plowed to deep, for benefitting the roots of plants. 
Indeed, by a shallow covering, it will be likely to do 
no good at all, the moisture of the earth being insuffi¬ 
cient to dissolve it, and hence the reason that manure 
in dry seasons sometimes does more harm than good. 
And hence, too, why a thorough harrowing, to break 
it fine and mix it with the soil, after it is spread, and 
before plowing in, is found so useful. 
Manure. 
Good farmers know the great gain resulting from 
applying the manure which is made daring the winter, 
to the corn and other spring crops. If left to ferment 
in the yard through summer, one half at least of its 
value is lost in vapor, &c., and the corn crop receives 
none of its benefits. But if plowed under in spring, 
the corn is enriched, the vapor as it escapes is absorbed 
by the earth, and a double benefit is thus received. 
But a difficulty occurs where corn fodder is largely fed, 
which mixing with the manure binds it together so that 
it cannot be drawn and spread till the stalks have 
rotted. All this is obviated by cutting the stalks fine 
in a machine, and more nutriment is obtained from 
them by the cattle. 
Sheep manure is difficult to separate and load, being 
dry, hard, and crusty in its nature. In order that it 
may be separated by the fork, take a second-rate axe 
and chop parallel lines across the heap a foot apart, 
and cut these again at right angles, which will give 
blocks a foot square, which may be easily loaded and 
drawn. 
When manure from its coarseness must necessarily 
be left to ferment a few weeks or months, much of its 
value may be saved by mixing it, or merely covering 
it with plenty of muck, turf, earth, saw dust, &c., with 
gypsum, unslacked lime, and other ingredients of good 
compost. Gypsum is usually regarded as one of the 
best absorbents of the gasses of manure; but in draw¬ 
ing out the most foetid of all manures, we have found 
covering it with air-slacked lime, far more effectually 
to destroy the unpleasant odor, than the use of gypsum. 
Advantages of Agricultural Associations. 
The following judicious remarks, are taken from a 
preamble to some resolutions passed at a late meeting 
of the Yates County Agricultural Society. A copy of 
the proceedings as forwarded to us by the secretary, 
but we have only room for this extract: 
“ It is conceded by all classes that the science of ag¬ 
riculture is, of all subjects, the most interesting, and, 
indeed, absolutely necessary to the existence of the hu¬ 
man family; therefore it should claim the greater share 
of their attention. It is a self-evident truth that in 
union there is strength, and that by associated action 
the standard of agriculture may be very much advanced 
among us, not only in theory, but in attaining to more 
perfect and certain results in practical farming than we 
have yet aspired to. Knowledge, the motive powel* of 
every science, must be brought to bear upon this sub¬ 
ject. This can only be done in the science of agricul¬ 
ture by experiments—these must be extensive, and 
carefully and accurately compared, until effects can be 
traced to their causes. Agricultural knowledge can in 
no way be so well disseminated, and experiments so 
well compared, as by agricultural societies.” 
The Corn Crop.— In 1845, it was 417,800,000 
bushels in the United States. In 1847 it is estimated 
at 600,000,000. 
Answers to Inquiries; 
Tares or Vetches.— J. M. N., Lewisburgh, Pa„ 
By reference to the March number of the Cultivator , 
for last year, page 84, you will find out what these 
are and what are their uses. 
Straw Cutters. —S., Jordanville, N. Y. A cutter 
for corn-stalks &c., is manufactured by Wheeler & 
Co., and for sale at the Albany Agricultural Ware¬ 
house, that might answer your purpose. There are 
two sizes—for hand-power and for horse-power—the 
price of the former, $16, and that of the latter $25. 
A drum maybe attached to the smaller machine, by 
which it may be propelled by horse-power. 
Composition tor wounds made in Pruning —A. 
C., Edgartown, Mass. The recipe you refer to says; 
“Take a quart of alcohol and dissolve in it as much 
gum shellac as will make a liquid of the consistence of 
paint.” As to the quantity of gum shellac, it appears 
obvious that it is necessary to apply it till the mixture 
becomes “ of the consistence of paint.” Keep the brush 
in water when not in use. 
South Down Sheep.' —C. C., Meriden, N. H. The 
average dressed weight of South Down sheep, may be 
set at from sixteen to twenty pounds per quarter. The 
mutton is of the finest quality. The price of ewes 
here would be from ten to fifteen dollars each. The 
wool sells readily at about the price of half-blood Me¬ 
rino. The South Downs are rather more likely to shed 
their wool than Merinos. A cross'of the Bakewell or 
Leicester and South Down, would fatten as well or 
better than either breed, in its purity. 
Steel teeth for Cultivators. —J. A. C., Grand 
Isle, Vt. Steel teeth for Cultivators can be had at the 
Albany Agricultural Warehouse, at 62g cents each, 
or cultivators with the same kind of teeth, suitable for 
one horse, can be had at $7| each. They are of the 
kind that is used in the western part of the State for 
working summer fallows. The teeth are fastened by 
a key, and may be readily taken out and placed in 
another frame—the same teeth answering for a culti¬ 
vator for one horse, or two or three horses. 
Swamp Muck. —O. P., Cananadaigua, N. Y. The 
information you ask for is given very fully in the Octo¬ 
ber number for last year. 
Stallion. —“ Baltimore, Md.” Such a stallion as 
is inquired for, of the Morgan or the Morse’s Grey 
stock, would cost from $400 to $800—according to 
quality and value. 
Tar Paint or Gas tar. —J. W., St. Stephens, Ala¬ 
bama. The article advertised as “ tar-paint,” is pro¬ 
duced from anthracite coal in the process of making 
gas. It is generally used about the consistency of 
common paint, and is applied to the outside of build¬ 
ings, such as barns and stables, also to fences, bridges 
&c. A common whitewash brush is used for laying it 
on. The coal-tar is also used as a coating for iron, 
but for this purpose it is boiled to the consistency of 
pitch. 
Buckthorn Plants and Seed.—J. W. P., Wyo¬ 
ming, N. Y. This seed can be had at the Albany Ag¬ 
ricultural Warehouse. 
“ A Cord of Manure.” —J. I. K., Sing-Sing, N. Y. 
In measuring manure by the cord, the same rule is 
adopted as in measuring wood—that is, 128 cubic feet 
make a cord. 
Cranberries. —J. I. K. We notice that Mr. Win- 
throp Low of Essex, (Mass.,) obtained a premium 
last fall for a crop of cranberries, and we presume he 
could furnish roots, but at what prices we do not 
know. 
Answers to several other Inquiries will be give® 
in our next. 
