1851 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
139 
The mud and leaves would absorb the gases. The com¬ 
post will be very strong, and should be applied with 
caution till it is ascertained how much the crops will 
hear. It should be slightly buried, but kept near the 
surface. Night-soil may be mixed with muck at the 
rate of one load of the former to three of the latter. It 
should be mixed several weeks before being used. It is 
most properly applied to grain crops 9 it is unsuitable for 
potatoes and culinary vegetables generally. 
Drainino-Tiles. —T. H. C. We know of no point 
nearer you than Waterloo, in this state where these tiles 
can be had. Mr. B. F. Whartenby of that place can 
supply the various sizes. 
Mulching for Potatoes. —C. D. S., Junction, Ill. 
We should think the effect of covering the ground be¬ 
tween rows of potatoes, with straw or coarse stable 
manure, would be favorable to the crop. It would tend 
to keep the soil moist, and at a more equable tempera¬ 
ture than if it were exposed directly to the sun. Our 
course would be to hoe the potatoes, carefully, as soon 
as they were fairly above ground, and then spread over 
the litter. If it was laid three inches thick, it would 
probably prevent all growth of weeds for the season, and 
would supersede the necessity of any further cultivation. 
“ Live Forever.”— J. F. G., New Baltimore, N. Y. 
We do not know the plant to which you allude under 
this name, and therefore cannot advise as to the u most 
expeditious way of eradicating it.” Please send a speci¬ 
men of the plant. 
Locust for Timber.— S. H., Amenia, N. Y. The 
yellow loeust, ^Robinia pseudacacia ,) is the best for 
timber. The seed may be planted either in spring or 
fall. If in the former, it is best to soften the hard cover¬ 
ing of the seed by pouring hot water on it, which will 
greatly hasten germination. If planted in fall, this is 
not necessary, as the frost will produce the same effect. 
Make drills, three feet apart, and drop the seed about 
as thick as you would bush-beans, covering to the depth 
of two inches—keep the plants clean from weeds. They 
may he transplanted to the plantation the second or 
third year. The seed is for sale by Emery & Go., at 
$2 per pound. 
Red Cedar for Hedges.—G- M., Lowell, Mass. 
Mr. James Wilson of this city, has the plants suitable 
for transplanting. 
Michigan Sod and Subsoil Plow. —C. W. C., New 
Durham, Ind. This plow is for sale bj 7 Prouty & Mears, 
Boston, Emery & Co., Albany, and Newell French, (the 
proprietor of the patent,) Rome, N. Y. 
Pond Mud. —D. S. O. This would probably he use¬ 
ful in improving your sandy soil. Your best way will 
be to apply several loads by spreading it on and incor¬ 
porating it with the soil, next falL You will see by the 
result whether it would be an object to apply more. 
Mill for Grinding Corn and Cobs. —D. S. 0. Sin¬ 
clair’s corn and eob-crusher, cost, $35 to $40, according 
to size, with extra cutters and plates. It is for sale by 
R. Sinclair, Jr., Baltimore, and Emery & Co., Albany. 
Mineral Paint.—G. A. H„, West Stockholm, N. Y. 
You will find an article on this subject in our volume for 
1849, p. 379. W. H. Starr, 67 Beekman street, New 
York, is an agent for the sale of this kind of paint. 
Gurious Machine.— M. K., Fond Du Lao, Wis. 
u Has the inventive genius of Yankeedom, yet produced 
a machine that will thrash, grind cob meal, and cut straw 
—’two-horse power, and costing not over $100 altoge¬ 
ther?” We rather think not, but if any one knows of 
such a machine, let him speak. 
Sandy Soil. —A. C. C., Spencer, Tenn. The clay, 
pounded bricks, and the muck taken from your u moun¬ 
tain bog,” of which you speak, are good substances to 
apply to your sandy soil. Your stable manure would 
do better made into a compost with the muck and clay, 
than applied by itself on such soil. The “ chips and 
dirt from the wood-house” we think would not be worth 
the carting on the land you describe. 
Plan for Stable and Carriage-house. —A. C. C. 
We would refer you to our volume for 1844, pp. 282, 
385, and the volume for 1846, p. 31. 
Gypsum. —D. S. O., Clarion county, Pa. We are 
unable to refer to any analyses which would show the 
difference in the Nova Scotia and Genesee plaster; hut 
by an experiment on a small scale, you could readily 
ascertain their relative value for your purposes. 
Straw Cutter. —W. E., Jonesboro, Tenn. As a 
cutter for straw or hay, we know of nothing superior 
to Hovey’s. Its price is from $8 to $25, according to 
size-—latter for horse-power. For cutting and mashing 
large cornstalks, Wheeler’s is an excellent article. Price 
$27, for horse power. 
Grass for Sandy Loam. —W. E. We should think 
the orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and perhaps the 
Kentucky Blue grass ( Poa pratensis ,) if your soil is in 
tolerable condition, might do as well as any with you. 
Destruction of House Rats. —W. S., Lahaska, Pa. 
Rats may be decoyed by various substances, and induced 
to enter traps set for them. The oil of rhodium and 
oil of anise are used for this purpose by professional 
rat-catchers. Dr. J. Y. C. Smith of Boston, states that 
he has used these substances with advantage. He states 
also, that ground plaster or gypsum, mixed with dry 
meal, will be eaten by rats, and that it will set in the 
stomach and kill them. 
Corn Planter. —W. S. “ Is there a machine for 
planting corn with accuracy?” Emery’s will plant it 
with sufficient accuracy, unless you want it in rows both 
ways. W. D., Quakertown, Pa. Emery’s machine is 
generally preferred in this section for corn, broom- 
corn, &c. 
Dairy-house. —D. A. L., Bethel, Yt. You will find 
some good suggestions in relation to the construction of 
such a building, in Mr. Craig’s communication in our 
March number. For description of the best modes of 
butter-making, practiced in this state, see Cultivator 
for 1848, pp. 207, 271—also for 1850, pp. 169, 170. 
Bone-mill. —L. B. A., Dorset, Yt. We do not know 
of a cut of such a mill. Should we find one that we 
think would answer the purpose, we will publish it. 
Seed Corn. —J. W. W., Montgomery county, Pa. 
We should think the Yermont improved Canada, the 
Red Blaze, or the Early eight-rowed White, all of which 
could be had of Emery & Co., of this city, would, if 
planted “ from the first to the twelfth of May, ma¬ 
ture in time to be taken from the field and put in shocks 
by the first of Septemberand if the ground was in 
good condition and the crop well cultivated, there would 
be no difficulty in obtaining fifty bushels to the acre. 
