1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
313 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
Yard for Fowls. —L. M. R., East-Ply mouth. Com¬ 
mon laths would probably be as cheap and convenient 
an article for this purpose as you could use. Set up 
stakes or posts, eight feet apart; nail on these, two strips 
of two inch plank, three inches wide—one strip a foot 
and the other four feet from the ground. Nail the laths 
on these, vertically, two inches apart. You can cover 
the top in a similar way. 
Apples falling from Trees.-— L. M. It. Apples fail 
from trees from various causes. It is usual for many 
more to set, than can be brought to perfection; nature, 
therefore, provides that the tree shall be relieved of its 
superfluous burden. Still it is not uncommon that more 
remain than can reach a full size, and become properly 
ripened. Fruit also drops prematurely from the at¬ 
tacks of insects. Apples are injured by the “ Apple- 
worm,” which is derived from an egg deposited by a 
moth. It eats into the apple, which causes it to perish. 
It is advisable that the apples which drop off. should be 
immediately disposed of in such a way as to destroy the 
worm which is generally in the apple at the time it falls. 
This may be done by feeding them to swine, or allowing 
Swine to run in the orchard. 
Composition for Roofs. —D. D. D., Ilion,N. Y. The 
article in our June number, contains all the information 
we can give on this subject. The article says the tar or 
pitch must be used hot, which, of course, implies that 
it must be heated, but we do not know whether it is ne¬ 
cessary to harden it by boiling. 
Sheltering Manure. —Answer to W. C. A., in our 
July number. Construct a shed, 30 by 15feet, attached 
to a stable for 10 cattle, and have the manure thrown 
evenly over this space, and put upon it six hogs. I will 
engage that the manure will not get “ fire fanged,” or 
heated so as to injure it. He should also put eave 
troughs to his barn, and occasionally, in the warm sea¬ 
son, conduct the water from the roof, on to the manure. 
If he will do this, I believe he may dispense with any 
chemical operation. He will find the swine excellent 
chemists in this matter. Brooklyn, Ct. 
Seeding for Pasturage. —B. H. M., Morris, N. Y. 
We should sow the timothy or grass seed the first week in 
September, and the clover the following March, on a 
light snow. We have known clover sown with rye, in 
autumn, with good success; but there is risk of its being 
winter-killed on many soils, and to avoid this risk, it is 
safer to defer sowing till spring. 
Management of a Reclaimed Swamp. —A Subscri¬ 
ber, Simsbury, Mass. If your ground is sufficiently 
drained, your first object will be to destroy the wild 
grasses, rushes, &c. If it is in a condition to be plowed, 
take a plow designed for a bog plow, which you will find 
at most of the implement stores in Boston, Albany or 
New-York,—and turn over six or seven inches of the 
surface as flat as possible ; then harrow lengthwise of the 
furrows with a very light harrow, and sow it to red-top 
and timothy in the early part of September. If the fur¬ 
rows do not lie even, pass a roller over them before har¬ 
rowing which will press down the edges. If some bull- 
rushes, or other worthless herbage comes up the next 
season, dig them up with a mattock, or some tool with 
a narrow blade, to break the soil as little as possible 
When the cultivated grasses get well set, it will probably 
be beneficial to irrigate the surface in the spring months 
—say April and May; but if the water is continued on 
through the season, it will bring in the wild herbage 
again. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The Book of the Farm ; detailing the labors of the 
Farmer, Steward, Plowman, Hedger, Cattle-man, 
Shepherd, Field-worker, and Dairymaid. By Henry 
Stephens. To which are added Explanatory Notes, 
Remarks, etc., by John S. Skinner. Two vols. 8 vo. 
New-York; C. M. Saxton. 
The Book of the Farm is a work which needs no en¬ 
comiums. The author is Mr. Stephens, editor of the 
Scottish Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, known as 
one of the most sound and practical agricultural writers 
of the day. The edition here offered, was published 
under the editorship of the late J. S. Skinner, Esq., 
who added various notes of comment and explanation. 
The volumes are presented in a very handsome style 
both in respect to typography and binding. 
The Journal of Agriculture. —We have received 
the first number of a paper with this title, published at 
Boston, edited by Wm. S. King and J. J. Mapes. Its 
leading object may be learned from the following extract 
from the introductory chapter; “ So convinced are we 
that science is at the foundation of all improvement in 
Agriculture,—that it is the foundation itself,—that we 
desire and design to give it a foremost place in our pages.” 
We shall rejoice at any aid which the farmer may re¬ 
ceive from this or other sources. The number before us 
contains several very able and valuable articles, and from 
the known ability of the writers, we anticipate the re¬ 
ception of much useful instruction through this medium. 
It is to be published semi-monthly, at $2 a year—each 
number containing 32 pages, octavo. 
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine. —The number for 
August is highly entertaining. The leading article is one 
on the “ Childhood and Youth of Bonaparte,” by John 
S. C. Abbott, with six handsome illustrations. Among 
other good articles we notice “ Village Life in Germany,” 
“ Infirmities of Genius,” “Phantoms and Realities,” 
“ American Notabilities,” by Lady Emeline Stewart 
Wortlf.y, &c. Published monthly by Harper & Bro¬ 
thers, New-York, at $3 a year. 
The Cottage Bee-Keeper; or suggestions for the 
practical management of Amateur, Cottage and Farm 
Apiaries, on scientific principles. By a Country Curate. 
Published by C. M. Saxton, New-York. 
This is an English work of some reputation and will 
be found useful to bee-keepers in this country. Mr. 
Saxton has “ got up” the book very neatly, both as to 
typography and binding. It contains cuts of hives, and 
fixtures necessary to an apiary. 
Sward which is plowed early in September, will rot so 
as to become mellow in spring. If plowed late in the fall, 
it will remain tough, and the grass will grow the next 
season. 
