THE CULTIVATOR. 
41 
ing the two cows with a half a bushel of apples to each cow per day. 
I charged the boy that milked them, to see if the cows increased of 
their milk, and the third day the boy says that the cows gave almost 
double the quantity that they did before I fed them the apples; and 
the young woman that had the charge of the milk, says that the butter 
that was made from the milk of those cows at the time of feeding 
them apples, was of a fine flavor, and a fine yellow colour. 
I likewise commenced feeding them to my pigs; I fed about one 
bushel a day to thirteen pigs, with a small portion of corn, and I now 
defy the state to bring thirteen as good pigs as mine, that have had no 
better keeping. 
I had gathered about 250 bushels of good sound apples, and put 
them into a good bin in my carriage house, with the intent of making 
them into cider; but before I got ready to make them into cider, the 
cold weather came on, and all my apples froze. I immediately cover¬ 
ed them with blankets, and they remained in that situation till the 
thaw, in the latter part of December; I then commenced feeding them 
to my stock of cattle, which consisted of twenty-two head and two 
colts; I fed them about ten bushels per day; I soon found that my cattle 
would not eat half the quantity of hay that they did before I com¬ 
menced feeding them apples, and when the apples were gone, I could 
see that my cattle had gained in flesh, and looked better. I think that 
my apples that I have fed out to my stock of cattle this winter, have 
been worth to me more than though I had made them into cider and 
sold it for one dollar per barrel. This from yours, &c. 
Canaan, Feb. 16, 1836. ELEAZER CADY. 
Note .—A gentleman, of Montgomery, informs us that he has derived 
like benefits from storing his apples, and feeding them in winter, to 
his stock; and that a horse which had for a long time been afflicted 
with the heaves , and to cure which, every previous prescription had 
failed, has been restored to entire health by this apple diet— Cond. 
TO PRESERVE FENCE POSTS—CORN CROP—CORN CRIB- 
OATS—APPLES FOR HOG FEED, &c. 
Mr. Buel —I oflTer a few remarks for the Cultivator, should you 
deem them worthy of publication. My choice is rather to learn by 
the wisdom and experience of others, than to assume the capacity of 
a teaeher: if, however, it may be in my power to communicate a ser¬ 
viceable hint or two to my brethren of the plough, it will be no less a 
pleasure than a duty to impart it. It must be evident to every farmer, 
that in order to the successful tillage of his lands,good fences are indis¬ 
pensable. The increasing scarcity of fencing limber is a powerful rea¬ 
son for using measures to extend its durability. I will here state my 
usual practice in setting fence posts, for the last twelve-years—which 
is, to dig the holes two feet or deeper, and fill with cobble stones, ta¬ 
king care to drive them with an iron bar, and placing a heavy stone 
at the surface, each side of the post—thus preserving it from contact 
with the earth at a point where the rotting process usually begins. I 
have set several hundred in this manner, and have good reason to believe 
their durability will thereby be much prolonged. In 1823, a piece of 
fence was set with beech posts and filled round with earth. In 1824, 
the line was extended, the filling up this year being with stone. In 
about seven years, it became necessary to rebuild the first portion; 
most of the remainder is now standing. I would not recommend beech 
for posts, but state this fact merely to show the result of different 
modes of filling up. 
The last season was generally unfavorable to the growth of corn. 
My planting ground was a piece of wheat stubble, the soil in general 
gravelly, containing about four acres, was manured with twelve loads 
of various kinds, chiefly coarse, to the acre, before ploughing; then 
well turned under and harrowed. About the 20th of May, the ground 
was marked out for planting, by a sort of rake, with four teeth, making 
the rows three feet apart. I have sometimes planted closer, but cannot 
recommend it from my own experience. The seed was soaked, tarred 
and rolled in plaster. The ground being very dry, the tar rather ob¬ 
structed vegetation, and caused the grain to come up quite unevenly. 
The crows took a few hills, though I presume the flavor of tar was 
not very agreeable to them. I hoed twice, and received as a compen¬ 
sation for my labor, about 200 bushels of corn, chiefly sound. Having 
prepared land for planting in several different modes, I am inclined to 
adopt that of a single ploughing, with the mannre previously spread, 
as preferable. 
Permit me here to describe a sort of corn crib, which I have used 
for several years, as combining convenience, economy and security; and 
where eyery farmer can save at least a portion of his crop. Erect two 
poles of sufficient size, near the end of the barn-floor, opposite the dou¬ 
ble door, extending to the joists above, where they should be fastened. 
Then place two pieces of timber, three or four feet in length, from the 
poles to the girt over the back door; throw on loosely, a covering of 
plank or slabs, with a narrow board in front, when commence filling, a 
scoop being very convenient for that purpose. Corn secured in this way, 
has usually, if not always, seasoned better than when spread on a floor, 
Vol. III. 6 * 
A crib of this description will hold from 150 to 200 bushels of ears, 
with little or no inconvenience to the ordinary use of the barn. 
With regard to the culture of oats, it has been my practice for some 
years, to seed with three bushels to the acre. Some of my neighbors 
differ with me in this, and prefer a less quantity. My reason for ad¬ 
hering to it is this—the crop is almost invariably ten or fifteen bushels 
greater per acre, than it was when in the habit of seeding with two or 
two and a half bushels. I will here correct a small error in a former 
note, as the thrashing was not then completed. Instead of 60 bushels 
per acre, 1 73-100 acres yielded 113 bushels, or 115 by weight. I hope 
yet to reach the standard in the Cultivator for January. 
During the past season, I made considerable use of apples in fatten¬ 
ing swine. This I consider good economy. My store hogs have been 
wintered thus far chiefly on sweet apples, 50 bushels having been stored 
in the cellar for that purpose. In estimating the value of apples for 
hogs, however, it should be borne in mind, that pork made in this way 
is not of equal value to grain fattened; but as that is an expensive bu¬ 
siness, it is the farmer’s duty to make the most of those perishable ma¬ 
terials, that more or less abound during the autumnal season, and thus 
prevent their entire loss. Yours, &c. G. BUTLER. 
Clinton, Oneida co. N. Y. February 25, 1836. 
A housewife sends the following method of making Indian cakes, for 
publication in the Cultivator:—To one pint of milk, add a tea-cup full 
of cream, one egg, two table spoonsful of molasses, a tea-cup full of 
flour, a tea spoon full of saleratus, and a quart of Indian meal, with 
salt sufficient to season. Mix well, and make into balls about the size 
of a goose-egg, drop them into hot lard, and fry 15 or 20 minutes. 
CRITICISM—VALUE OF THE RUTA BAGA. 
J. Buel —Dear Sir—I observed in your February number, 2d vol. 
page 163, a communication from Pittsford, Monroe co. Jan. 9th, 1836, 
representing an account of agricultural labors this season, so far as 
they are connected with the cultivation of Indian corn, the carrot, and 
ruta baga crops. It is thus, through the medium of so valuable a pub¬ 
lication as the Cultivator, we receive information from the industrious 
and scientific cultivators, to the general benefit of the agriculturist. 
In communicating the success which attended your correspondent’s 
experiments, in the produce of corn, the carrot, and ruta baga turnip, 
reflects the highest credit, and serve to stimulate the young and aspiring 
agriculturist. In observing my attention particularly solicited to the 
account of the ruta baga crop, and having devoted many years and 
great expense in the cultivation of ruta baga, in England and America, 
on the level as well as four furrow system, which must depend upon 
the nature and depth of the staple and knowledge of the fei'tile qualities 
of the soil, so cultivated, for that vegetable, I feel it my duty, (in which 
I am involved,) for the benefit of aspiring cultivators of the ruta baga to 
state my impression, that there has been an unintentional mistake as 
to the weight of the turnips, and if so, will lessen the value of the 
of the crop materially. * * * * 
The motive of this communication is, that I am fearful some agricul¬ 
turists who may be disposed to cultivate the ruta baga, and not having 
experienced its cultivation, may feel themselves disappointed with their 
produce and solidity, when compared with the statement of your cor¬ 
respondent, and discontinue the cultivation of one of the most profita¬ 
ble, valuable and useful roots, that a farmer can cultivate for his stock 
—which will, with proper management in feeding them away, continue 
the growth of young stock through winter, with all the glossy appear¬ 
ance of coat, and advantages of summer, promting symmetry, size and 
qualifications for the use of the dairy or labor—providing them with a 
comfortable dry shed, and allowing plenty of straw for bedding. From 
the produce of one acre cultivated by E. Holbrook, Esq. we have sup¬ 
ported 16 head of young stock, with hay at intervals during the day, 
to this period, and have a sufficient quantity to feed them this severe 
winter, until they are turned out into rough land. I might write much 
upon this subject, which would be useful to young and inexperienced 
cultivators of the ruta baga and the management of young stock; but 
I am fearful its length would preclude its admission in your valuable 
paper. I am very respectfully yours, THOS, MIDFORD. 
Hyde-Park, March 10, 1836. 
GRAIN WORM—CHINCK BUG—DUTTON CORN. 
Goochland County, Va. January 9, 1836. 
Dear Sir— What is it you call the “ Wheat Worm?” Is it a catter- 
pillar? Does it prey first upon the blades, and then upon the chaff of 
the green heads—or does it eat up the green grain in its forming 
state?”* I ask these questions merely to state a fact that has twice 
* It eats the grain in its green state. A small fly punctures the inner sheath 
of the young kernel, in the same way that the young pea is punctured, and 
deposites its eggs, which soon produces small yellow worms, sometimes a 
dozen in one sneath, which do not appear to the naked eye to have motion. 
They do not emigrate, but invariably consume the kernel to which they are 
attached. In some heads the grain of the ear is but partially destroyed, in 
others wholly.— Cond. 
