270 
THE CULTIVATOR 
By this chemical change all the substances are render¬ 
ed valuable to the plant, and the volatile gases of the ma¬ 
nure are fixed and carted to the field. Prof. Rogers 
suggests that lime mixed with the sour marls would render 
them valuable, which is certainly worthy of a trial. 
The improvement upon lands contiguous to the maFl 
beds, by its use, has been almost incredible, especially 
where care has been taken in preserving the farm-yard 
and stable manure. A large amount of Guano has of late 
been applied, with most satisfactory results—crops of 
wheat and buckwheat being often doubled by the applica¬ 
tion of one or two hundred pounds per acre. 
Since the rot has ruined the potato crop north, this 
has become an important article of culture in West Jer¬ 
sey. The yield is not large, ranging from 50 to 150 bush¬ 
els per acre—but better flavored, or fairer sized potatoes 
are seldom met with, the disease never having invaded 
that region; and at ready sales at 75 cents to $1.50 per 
bushel the crop is a paying one. This season many 
farmers are planting from 10 to 40 acres, which will 
doubtless find a ready market, unless this vegetable re¬ 
gains its health in more northern regions. What this 
county is agriculturally, it has been made by improve¬ 
ment alone, and with its fine climate, the growing zeal and 
intelligence of its inhabitants, and a good and accessible 
market, it certainly bids fair to become a region of great 
fertility. There is still much vacant land, once cultivated 
hut now overgrown with cedar, dwarf pine, oak, &c., 
among which the last corn hills are still visible, that can 
be bought at reasonable prices, and by judicious manage¬ 
ment readily brought to a fertile condition. Without 
marl, by the use of guano, bones, lime, plaster, &c., va¬ 
luable farms have been reclaimed from this worthless 
condition, and rendered productive and beautiful. Gor¬ 
don Evans, A. M. June, 1852. 
Wool Growing in Michigan. 
Editors Cultivator —In looking over the former 
numbers of the Cultivator, I notice that Mr. Petti bone 
throws down the glove to the whole west, for raising 
sheep and wool. Now we have no wish to disparage 
either the luxuriant pastures, or the good management, 
of our Vermont brethren, hut we should be happy to let 
them and ethers know the advantages we do possess. 
These advantages are found in our soil and climate. 
Our soil is a mixture of silica, of carbonate and phos¬ 
phate of lime, of organic principles, with a small propor¬ 
tion of sulphur, iron, 8tc., constituting all the earths and 
metals necessary to give a rich and nutritive vegetation. 
On our Burr Oak plains and oak openings, which cover 
a large proportion of the peninsula, the heaviest rains 
are quickly absorbed by the earth, giving sheep and oth¬ 
er animals a dry, healthy surface on which to repose. 
On the other hand, a mellow fallow, kept clean of vege¬ 
tation, absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, and never 
becomes dry and hard, as I have seen in New-England. 
We have more lime diffused through our soil, than in 
any of the states east and south, to the Atlantic, and 
the Ohio River, and doubtless more than in the prairie 
states to the west. 
But it is mostly in our climate that our advantages 
consist, T he radiation of the caloric, (heat,) from the 
Aug, 
vast bodies of water, surrounding us on all sides except 
the south, renders our climate more mild than any part 
of the United States of corresponding latitude, east of 
the Rocky Mountains. Northern Ohio, though south of 
us, has more snow. Kentucky and Western Virginia, 
I have been told by persons who- have resided there, 
have, for snow and cold weather, quite as severe a 
climate as we have in Jackson county; but their springs 
are earlier. It was stated some time since, in a news¬ 
paper, that at a certain time, the thermometer, on the 
Wisconsin side of lake Michigan, stood at 16° below ze¬ 
ro. On the Michigan side, at the same time, 3° below; 
wind not noticed, but direction probably from west to 
east. We have a less amount of water faffing in- rains 
in Michigan, than at the east. This the topographical 
situation of our state indicates, and experience proves to 
be a fact. Our straw stacks in this wheat growing region 
give us some advantages, as sheep will do better with a 
change of straw, than confined wholly to hay. The less 
amount of rain, with the excellence of our soil, causes 
our feed to be rich for fattening purposes. Where 
small flocks have been kept, thirty pounds of tallow from 
a grass fed wether, have frequently been taken. But the 
question will be asked, how long must yon fodder sheep 
in each winter, in Michigan? Having lived here 17 win¬ 
ters, I think that in four out of five winters from two to 
six weeks foddering may be necessary, where there are 
reserved lots for winter pasturage, or where the meadows 
or summer pastures, will afford feed. The other part of 
the winter they will do better on pasture, being housed 
at night, than on any description of dry feed. R. Wat¬ 
kins. Napoleon, Michigan, June 4, 1852. 
Wens- 
Mr. Tucker — I sent you a communication, which ap>- 
peared in the March number of the Cultivator, for 1851, 
respecting a wen, on the jaw of one of my cows; and 
doubtless, many of your readers are anxious to know 
what finely became of the poor creature. 
After the March number was issued, I received a pri¬ 
vate communication, from Mr. Watson, in which he gave 
me some information, in regard to the treatment of dif¬ 
ferent kinds of wens; and from what he wrote me, I soon 
came to the conclusion that my cow was a c ‘ goner.” But 
as she had a young calf by her side, I concluded to let 
her raise it, if possible; although I often thought it 
would be an act of humanity, to knock them both in the 
head ■ for the calf by sucking her milk, emitted an ef¬ 
fluvia as offensive as the wen itself. 
This wen was attached to. or appeared to be an en¬ 
largement of the jaw bone; and it was with great diffi¬ 
culty that she could eat. Fed with potatoes, she did 
much better than when fed with other roots. When fed 
with tuvneps and corn meal, her wen would assume an 
angry, inflamed appearance, and smell very offensive. I 
discontinued the application of caustic potash, as it would 
increase in one day as mueh as a daily application of 
potash would diminish it. 
As soon as there was a supply of grass, I turned her 
into the highway to “ live or die.” But to my great 
surprise, she soon improved in flesh, so that it was thought 
best to take her into the pasture. About the first of 
