I 180 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
June- 
Answers to Inquiries. 
Cement Pipes. —I observe an inquiry relative to the 
use of hydraulic cement, or water lime, for water pipes. 
Having tried various experiments with this article, in 
view of laying an aqueduct, I came to the conclusion 
that it would answer no purpose at all, and was glad to 
sell off my remaining stock of cement, and purchase 
lead pipe. The recommendations in the Agricultural 
Report of the Patent Office, of this article, apply only 
to continually descending grades, as it will submit to no 
pressure without leaking, for the reason that the lower 
strata of the pipe, sets in a measure, before a thorough 
combination of the top strata can be effected, however 
expeditiously the work may be done. If your corres¬ 
pondent is prejudiced against the use of lead, I would 
recommend Ball's water pipes, as being cheap and dura¬ 
ble. These are made with tubes of sheet iron, coated 
on the inside with this cement, and when laid down, are 
also laid in cement. Gutta percha makes very good 
pipe, but is much dearer, costing $1.50 per rod for half 
inch. 
Speaking of the deleterious effeets of using lead for 
the conveyance of water for culinary purposes, I will 
say, that where the water is kept continually running, 
the amount of lead dissolved in the small proportion of 
water used, would scarcely be perceptible. My aqueduct 
of 40 rods, with 400 pounds of three-eight ineh pipe, 
discharges twenty-five barrels per diem, or about three 
tons of water, making over 1,000 tons per annum, or 
25,000 tons in twenty-five years. Allowing the whole 
amount of pipe to dissolve in that time, which is not at 
all probable, then you would have 400 pounds of lead 
dissolved in 25,000 tons of water. We leave it for medi¬ 
cal men to say how injurious this solution might be. 
But it is evident that solution ceases when an incrusta¬ 
tion of the oxide is formed on the inner surface of the 
pipe. Lead will bo superseded by glass at no distant 
day. It is a wonder that some cute Yankee who desires 
a fortune, has not started the business of manufacturing 
glass water pipes in this country. Junk bottles are 
blown for three or four cents, with an amount of mate¬ 
rial sufficient for five or six feet of water pipe. Hones - 
tus Stearns. Felchville, Vt., April 20, 1853. 
White and Yellow Corn.— With regard to the in¬ 
quiry about the mixing of white and yellow eorn, I 
would say, in the first place, that the mode of mixing 
is by the flower from the tassel, falling or blowing upon 
the silk of the corn. Every kernel has a silk, and the 
neighboring tassel sends its flower by wind or insect upon 
the silk of another, thereby deciding the complexion 
and nature of the corn. The reason why the yellow will 
not mix with the white corn, is because the white corn 
generally blossoms about two weeks before the yellow 
corn does; therefore, there is no silk on the yellow corn 
for the blossoms of the white to fall upon. R. R. Ful¬ 
ton, April 8, 1853. 
I have known white corn to mix with yellow, when 
planted at the distance of one-fourth of a mile, as well 
as <c adjacently.” B. Dublin, IV. H., April, 1853. 
Sulphate of Ammonia. —Will you please to inform 
me whether the Sulphate of Ammonia should be ap¬ 
plied to the earth , around peas, strawberries, Ac., or 
should it be applied to the foliage? A Farmer’s 
Daughter. Hockaman, Ct., April 20, 1853. 
The sulphate of Ammonia should be prepared by 
dissolving half an ounce in a,gallon of water, and may 
be applied to plants in moderate quantities every sixth 
day. It may be used in an ordinary watering pot, and 
applied to both the foliage and the earth. 
Bone Mills and Bonedust. —Where can I purchase 
the best machine for grinding or crushing bones, and 
what is the price of bone dust in Albany? W. S. II. 
We have inquired for bone mills at the Albany Ag 
Warehouse; but Mr. Emery informs us that they have 
never kept them,and he does not know where they can be 
had, or which is the best if there is more than one kind. 
Our correspondent could probably procure one, by ad¬ 
dressing B. L. Allen, New-York, who we think has 
advertised them for sale at his Warehouse. The price 
of bone dust is about two cents per lb. 
Nova Scotia and Western Plaster.— A. F. S. 
inquires in the last number of the Country Gentleman, 
(i the difference between Nova Scotia and Western 
plaster.” 
In 1849, I analyzed samples from Nova Scotia, and 
also from Springport, Cayuga eo., N. Y. That from 
Nova Scotia was white, but r.ot crystalized in the stone. 
It was nearly pure sulphate of lime, containing in diffe¬ 
rent samples, from 33.5 to 34.1 per cent of lime—44.5 
to 47. of sulphuric acid—18.9 to 20.4 of water, with 
very slight traces of iron and alumnia. 
That from Springport, varied in different samples. I 
examined different specimens of stone as they were sent 
to be ground, and also the ground plaster, as it was fur¬ 
nished in market. They contained from 34 to 37 per 
cent of lime—30.5 to 42.1 of sulphuric acid—2.9 to 4.4 
of oxide of iron and alnmnla—3.7 to 6.5 of silica—4.8 
to 5.2 of magnesia, and 13.6 to 21.5 of water. There 
was, also, a little bitumen or other similar organic mat¬ 
ter, which gave it a blneish color. Some specimens 
contained carbonate of lime, which would somewhat 
diminish their value. 
We see by this, that the Nova Scotia gypsum is the 
purest, but the impurities of the other are not in suffi¬ 
cient quantity to materially injure their value. That of 
Cayuga Lake, (Springport) is said to contain free sul¬ 
phur, which would Increase the value. 
I have seen no account of experiments, to accurately 
test their comparative values, but have heard farmers 
say, who have used both, that there was little or no 
difference in their effeets, although each is preferred by 
some persons, without, perhaps, any very definite rea¬ 
son for the choice. Wm. H. Brewer. Ovid, N. Y 
Taxidermy. —In replyto your correspondent from 
Salisbury, I will give one way, the best of which I have 
any knowledge, for preparing birds for a cabinet. The 
requisite materials are a sharp knife, some annealed 
wire of a size suitable to support the bird to be set up, 
a dish of Indian meal or fine sawdust, for rubbing the 
hands dry occasionally, so as not to grease the feathers, 
and some arsenic wet into a paste with alcohol. 
Birds in this latitude have their best plumage in May, 
June and July. The bird should be taken In hand be¬ 
fore it has been dead long, or the skin will be tender. 
If the feathers have been ruffled in the poeket or hunt¬ 
ing-bag, it is almost impossible to re-arrange them so 
that they will look natural. 
In skinning, begin at the point of the breast bone, 
part the feathers, and run the knife back, cutting only 
the skin, until you have.gone so far that by cutting off 
the extremity of the bird, there will be enough flesh to 
retain the tail feathers. Strip the skin up to the wings, 
and take the wings and legs off, at the joints nearest the 
body. Strip down the skin of the upper joint of the 
legs and wings, and take off the flesh. Strip the skin 
up to the head, and take off the head with the skull in 
it. Take as much of the brain out as you can with a 
crooked wire or other suitable instrument. Put the 
arsenic paste into the skull, wings, legs, upon the flesh 
holding the tail feathers, and rub it over the flesh side 
of the skin generally. If you are collecting for some 
one else, the skin is now readyto be laid away, or 
packed and sent to a distance, after putting in a little 
cotton to keep it in shape. 
If you wish to set it up immediately, sharpen two 
pieces of wire, and run them down the.whole length of 
the legs, following them wjth the thumb on the outside, 
so that they may not pierce the skin. The same course 
to be pursued with the wings, only the wires need run 
but half the length, unless you wish the wings exten¬ 
ded. Another wire should be inserted in the skull, and 
another in the tail, and a block should be whittled out 
something the shape of the body of the bird, into which 
the wires of the skull, w ings, legs and tail should be 
