THE CULTIVATOR. 
Aug, 
'288 
Painting Tin Roofs. 
In your July number, D. Tomlinson inquires respect¬ 
ing the use of paint on tin roofs. If the atmosphere is 
sufficiently dry to prevent rust, they do not require paint, 
as a painted tin roof will retain the heat, and cause the 
sleeping rooms in the attic to be much warmer than with 
the bright tin, on the principle of radiation. If the at¬ 
mosphere is damp, to cause rust, the paint will adhere 
better after the tin is partially oxydized, than when paint¬ 
ed on the smooth surface. Yours, S. G. Gilbert. New - 
York , July 9, 1852. 
On this subject the Scientific American says;—It all 
depends upon the climate. In the interior of our coun¬ 
try there is no necessity for painting tin roofs, but near 
the sea-board there is a positive necessity for so doing. 
In New-York, tin exposed to the rains and mists, with¬ 
out any paint or other covering, soon oxydizes—the iron 
soon appears through the tin. The reason why this is 
so, is owing to saline matter being brought from the ocean 
with our eastern winds. In the Island of Britain, where 
there is such a moist saline atmosphere, the farmers never 
feed salt to their cattle; but, at the same time, the 
farmers there cannot use tin for roofing—it rusts in a few 
days. In the interior of our country, where the atmos¬ 
phere is free from saline matter, we have noticed that 
there was but little use in painting tin roofs. Observa¬ 
tion is the only way to acquire correct information about 
such things. In our city it would be better if tin roofs 
were not painted for at least six months after they were 
put on. Tin, when new and handled by the roofers, is 
greasy, which prevents the paint (unless a great quanti- 
to of turpentine be used, which spoils it) from adhering 
to the tin, and it soon wears off. The exposure, before 
painting, also, serves to bite into the tin, and affords a 
good ground for the more intimate union of the paint 
with the metal. 
-- 
Orchard Grass. 
Eds. Cultivator —Your correspondent H. B. H.,Bris- 
tolville, Ohio, asks in the July number of your journal, 
respecting the value of Dactylis glomerata (Orchard 
Grass.) 
I have tried this, very thoroughly, for several years, 
and I shall never, with the utmost care in its extermination, 
recover entirely from its effects. I was led to use it from 
its reputation in doing well under trees. The difficulty 
is to make it come in evenly ; the most careful sowing 
and the greatest quantity of seed will not produce a sod. 
It comes in sparsely and irregularly, in bunches or tufts; 
and as it matures earlier than either red clover, timothy, 
or red top, it must be cut before these grasses are ready, 
which prevents its being combined with them for hay 
fields. 
The only manner in which I can conceive of its being 
used advantageously, is sown by itself at the rate of one 
to two bushels to the acre, and never allowed to seed, 
but cut two or three times a year for soiling. It is very 
early, and makes a strong nutricious, but not close or 
abundant pasture, and if allowed to seed, gradually over¬ 
runs, in single spires or stools, one’s whole place. My 
lawn is very much injured in this way, and the roots 
being stocky and long, they are difficult to destroy. 
My experience, and that of my neighbors, (whose 
fields have suffered from my seeds wafted over,) is very 
much opposed to it. It makes very coarse hay. H. W. 
S. Fishkill Landing , July 5, 1852. 
Information Wanted. 
Burning Lime for Agricultural Purposes. — I wish 
for information as to the best mode of burning lime for 
agricultural purposes. I want directions as to the method 
of building a kiln—the most durable material to build it 
of—also the difference between what is called a perpetual 
kiln, that is one in which a constant fire is kept. I will 
have to use wood for fuel. I wish to build a kiln that 
will hold say 1,000 bushels, and want to know the shape 
and dimensions. What is the cost per bushel for burning 
lime? Answers to the above, or any other questions in 
regard to lime, or the mode of applying it, will much 
oblige a seeker after improvements. Isaac A. Clark. 
Marion, N. Y., June 17, 1852. 
Artesian Wells. —Where can I get a scientific and 
practical Artesian well borer? What is the expense of 
boring? 
I have a well about 12 or 18 feet deep, and would like 
to bore for water in it, but do not know where to get an 
experienced man, or the tools, or the tube. If I could 
be successful in finding a bountiful supply of water, I 
have no doubt several of our neighbors would give em¬ 
ployment to a successful man. The soil here is general¬ 
ly clayey or gravel. Elias A. Brown. Minaville, 
Montgomery co., N. F., July 9, 1852. 
Changing the Growth of Horns. —I have a yoke 
of valuable three year old steers. One horn of one of 
them, lops about three inches at the point below the 
level of the other. If you or any of your correspon¬ 
dents will inform me of any way that I can bring the 
horn up to a level with the other, without endangering 
the life of the horn, I shall feel very much obliged. N. 
W. Moore. West Turin, Lewis co., N. Y. 
The use of unleached Ashes. — I have heretofore 
received a heavy addition to my crops of grass, in con¬ 
sequence of using unleached ashes, but am not satisfied 
whether the use of them does not tend to impoverish tho 
land, and should be glad to have some one of more ex¬ 
perience reply to such a question. 
My method of using them has been to sow them on the 
old sward in the spring, at the rate of about 15 bushels 
to the acre—doing nothing more than to sow them as even¬ 
ly as convenient with a shovel. I have used them on 
different soils, some of which has been gravelly and 'warm, 
and have received the greatest benefit when I have put 
them on a soil which is rather cold and heavy, having a 
little clay intermixed. D. G. W. 
Fertility in Clover Roots. — R. W. Currier in¬ 
forms us in the Granite Farmer, that he has found by 
experience, that the roots of a good thickly sown crop 
of clover, by two years’ rotting, is worth as much as 12 
or 15 loads of manure. 
Salt for Cattle. —The Prairie Farmer asserts from 
experience, that in the malarious region of the west, 
more disease maybe prevented by salt among cattle, than 
by any other one thing. 
