214 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
JtJNE. 
which will serve as a key to understanding some passages 
which will be likely to attract attention: “ It is un¬ 
pleasant to a stranger to be always called upon to admire 
and praise what he sees in a foreign country; and it is a 
part of the perversity of human nature to withhold, upon 
urgent request, what, if unasked, would have been free¬ 
ly and spontaneously given.” 
The work is for sale by Little & Co., Albany. 
The Pocket Companion, for Machinists, Mechanics, 
and Engineers. By Oliver Byrne. 
The author of the above work is known as the Editor 
of the Dictionary of Machines and Mechanics—Professor 
of Mathematics in the College of Civil Engineers, Lon¬ 
don, &c. The publishers are Messrs. Dewitt & Daven¬ 
port, Tribune Buildings, New-York. It contains a 
great amount of information of the most valuable kind, 
in reference to natural philosophy, mechanics, Sic.— 
among which may be mentioned an Almanac for all 
time—past and future; a universal Thermometer, show¬ 
ing the sensible heat of many substances according 
to the three most approved thermometers; the most ac¬ 
curate Planetary tables; tonnage of Ships; the thick¬ 
ness of Water Pipes of Iron, Cast Iron, Copper, Lead, 
&c.; dilation of Solids by Heat; Wind and Windmills 
—pressure of the wind moving at given velocities; the 
Weights of different countries compared; Torsion, 
Twisting, and Cohesive Powers of Bodies; Alloys and 
Compounds; the Retardation of Railway Trains; Me¬ 
chanical Powers, &c. &c., with many other things which 
we cannot notice here. It is for sale by P. L. Gilbert, 
of this city. —- 
A Practical Treatise on the Construction, Heating, 
and Ventilation of Hot-Houses; including Conserva¬ 
tories, Green-Houses, Graperies, and other kinds of 
Horticultural Structures; with practical directions for 
their management in regard to Light, Heat, and Air ; 
illustrated with numerous engravings, by Robert B. 
Leuchars. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 
This book is from the pen of a highly intelligent prac¬ 
tical gardener, whose able contributions to the Horti¬ 
culturist and other periodicals, have made him favorably 
known to the public. Mr. Leuchars has produced the 
best work on horticultural structures that has yet been 
offered to the American reader. His remarks in rela¬ 
tion to constructing, lighting, heating, and ventilating 
hot-houses, based as they are on his own experience, are 
particularly valuable, and will be of great benefit to 
beginners in this branch of horticulture. It is a hand¬ 
some volume of 366 pages, and is sold at the low price 
of one dollar. 
The Western Agriculturist. —This is the title of a 
monthly journal devoted to agriculture, published at 
Columbus, Ohio, edited by Professor W. W. Mather, 
Corresponding Secretary of the Ohio State Board of 
Agriculture. Prof. M. has been favorably known to the 
public as a geologist of high standing, and his general 
knowledge of the sciences which relate to agriculture 
well enable him to impart much useful information 
through the periodical placed under his charge. Each 
number of the work contains thirty-two pages octavo. 
It is published by J. H. Riley & Co., at one dollar a 
year, in advance. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
Raising Chestnut Trees.—I n answer to our request 
for information on the subject of raising chestnut trees 
from seed, we have received several communications, 
the most essential portions of which will be given to our 
readers in time to guide them in regard to the planting, 
which cannot be done till the next crop falls from the trees. 
Irrigation. —■“ Have any of your correspondents had 
experience in irrigating side-hill land, of a light loamy 
texture, in winter and spring?” C. S., Shelburne, Mass. 
We think there can be no question that the irrigation 
of such land in spring would be beneficial, but should 
have doubts as to its expediency in winter. (See Col. 
Lincoln’s communication on this subject, page 55 cur¬ 
rent volume.) 
Field Peas. —A. B. It is best to sow them as soon 
as the soil is in condition to be worked. Three bushels 
to the acre is the quantity usually preferred for seeding. 
They may be worked in with the cultivator or harrow, or 
buried with a small plow. The Canada field pea, and 
the Golden field pea, are considered the best varieties. 
The pea makes a valuable crop for early feeding, 
coming in before any other crop. As soon as the peas 
are fairly filled, the vines may be cut and fed to hogs 
in pens; or the hogs may be made to harvest the crop 
for themselves by fencing off, by boards or hurdles, a 
small part at a time, and allowing the hogs to gather all 
the peas before another piece is enclosed. 
Leached Ashes and Muck. —“Will leached ashes 
that have laid for fifty years, and muck from a cedar 
swamp, make manure for grass-land and other land? 
The muck is of excellent quality. Would it be profit¬ 
able to draw it on land by paying an Irishman $10 a 
month? distance not over fifty rods.” The value of the 
ashes depends much on the situation in which they have 
laid for “ fifty years.” If they have been much spread 
about, and have been thoroughly leached by the rains, 
there is not, probably, much potash left in them—and 
potash is the essential element in decomposing the peat. 
But if, as you say, the peat “ is of excellent quality,” 
it may be worth applying as manure, by itself. But our 
advice would be to make three experiments. 1. Take 
equal quantities (say a cart-load each) of the peat and 
old ashes and mix intimately together, in a heap. 2. 
Put two loads of peat in another pile. Let these two 
piles lie till fall, and then apply them to equal portions 
of the same quality of soil, as a top-dressing for grass 
or wheat. 3. Apply the same quantity of the old ashes to 
the same quantity of land at the same time. Govern 
your future action by the results obtained in these cases. 
You can also try other experiments. This will be bet¬ 
ter than to hire the “ Irishman at $10 a month,” for 
much length of time, specially to do the work you pro¬ 
pose. You will find it will pay to put the peat or muck 
into your barn-yards in sufficient quantity to absorb the 
urine and the liquids from the manure. 
Paving Barn-Yards. —If your yards have an open, 
loose soil, paving or flagging, laid on a coating of clay, 
will prevent the waste of the liquids by soaking into the 
ground. 
Plan op a Barn.— Various queries by W. D. S., 
Westchester, Pa. “ In building a barn on a hill-side, 
