THE CULTIVATOR. 
101 
THE WHEAT CROP. 
Our letters from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and the far west, are not fa- 
favorable to a great product of the wheat crop, this grain having been 
seriously injured by the winter; and we very seriously apprehend, that 
the grain worm, which our legislators have considered too insignificant to 
notice, will lessen the crop of our own state to a most alarming extent. 
We do not mean to become croakers, but we seriously believe, that the 
high anticipations of an extraordinary abundant wheat harvest, which our 
newspapers have encouraged, will not be realized—this year. 
HAY GRASSES FOR THE SOUTH. 
Edward H. Bryan, of Vicksburgh, in the state of Mississippi, writes 
us, that clover will not succeed there, in consequence of the excessive 
heat of summer; that they want something that will furnish a winter 
supply for stock, and he begs us to indicate such grasses as will answer, 
and asks particularly our opinion of lacern. The soil, says'Mr. B. is a 
stiff clay loam, the climate humid, the nights cool. If the tap-rooted clo¬ 
ver will not withstand the Summer heat of Mississippi, the fibrous-rooted 
grasses of the north can hardly be expected to succeed. The lucern is 
articularly adapted tq a light, deep and dry soil, and on such a soil we 
ave no doubt it will do well there. It will withstand heat well. We 
recommend its trial, and also the gama and Guinea grasses, particularly 
the gama. 
SPIKED ROLLER. 
Mr. J. Boyle inquires, what should be the diameter of the spiked roller, 
if made of solid wood ? If of plank, what thickness—how long the spikes, 
and how many rows? The size may depend upon convenience or fancy, 
and may range from twelve to thirty inches in diameter. Any deficiency 
in the weight of the roller,—for the spiked roller must be so heavy as to 
press the spikes or darts into the stiff soil where it is intended to operate, 
—may be made up by stones or other heavy substance, placed upon' the 
frame. The object is to break and pulverise the ground, and raise a tilth 
—and conseouently the spikes ought to project three inches, and be suffi¬ 
cient in number to affect the entire surface. It will therefore require 
from five to eight rows upon a roller two feet in diameter* Concklin’s 
Press Harrow, which very much resembles the spiked roller, has 12 
rows of spikes. 
Indian Pond Scythe Stones are obtaining a decided preference in our 
market, on account of their superior quality, and are the principal stones 
now found in our stores. They are obtained at Bradford, Vt. and are 
manufactured and sold by Filers & Co. 
Foster and Van Vleeck’s Patent Curve Cistern. —Mr. Foster put down 
one of these for us last year, which has so far fulfilled the patentees pro¬ 
mise, and, for aught we can see, will prove good for a century.—as the 
cement hardens with time. The materials required for a cistern to hold 
forty barrels, are three barrels of water lime, five loads of cobble or bro¬ 
ken sfone, or bioken'brick, and forty bushels sand. Wherever these cis¬ 
terns have been adopted, we believe they have proved satisfactory, as is 
indicated by the certificates of many respectable citizens. 
Lime, we mean the carbonate, whether in the form of powdered lime¬ 
stone, effete lime, chalk, marine shells or marl, differs in one particular 
from the other common earths—clay and sand:—it decomposes and dis¬ 
appears in the soil—sand and clay do not. Hence the advantage of re¬ 
applying calcareous matters to soils at intervals of a few years—of re¬ 
liming, re-marling or re-ashing tillage lands. 
CORRESPONDENCE.. 
BONE MANURE. 
J. Buel, Esq:— Dear Sir-— I have been highly interested in reading 
the letters of Dr. Humphrey, recently made public, and as a farmer, par¬ 
ticularly so with those relating to British agriculture. 
In his 57th No. he remarks:—“ The prodigious agricultural resources 
of the country, are developed, with extraordinary industry, skill and suc¬ 
cess. The richest and most profitable kind of dressing, which has been 
tried, and which is a new source of agricultural wealth, to Great Britain, 
is hone manure. In Yorkshire and Lincolnshire,-its influence has been 
almost miraculous,” &c. 
Now I observe that the richest and most profitable manure to the 
English farmer, is almost entirely disregarded by the New-York and N. 
England farmers. 
My object in this communication, is to get information. I ask, then, 
has not the time arrived, when bone dust may be profitably used in the 
older states, where it can be obtained in considerable quantities, particu¬ 
larly on hills, where it is difficult to carry coarse manures, and in districts, 
as in this vicinity, where plaster must be carried from 25 to 35 miles by 
land? If so, I wish to know if they can be prepared for use in common 
plaster ipills? Also, what is the relative value of bones that have for a 
year or two been exposed to the atmosphere? And finally, in what way 
can it be best employed ? Should this subject be thought of sufficient 
importance, a little informa'ion would be received with thankfulness, by 
an attentive reader of your excellent paper. 
As we are turning our attention to the cultivation of roots, it appears 
to me we cannot raise the amount desired, without more manure. Per¬ 
mit me to mention one method of making it which I have found profita¬ 
ble, but is greatly neglected by our farmers. 
The present is to be an extraordinary season for potatoes, at least for 
the vines. I find that by carting these to my hogs, and allowing them to 
work them over, and mix with their-manure a few days, then throwing 
them in a pile to remain till spring, a large quantity of manure can be 
made. If not thoroughly decomposed, it makes an excellent manure for 
ploughing in for corn, or dropping in hills of potatoes. If left on the sur¬ 
face of the field, they are nearly lost for manure, and are very trouble¬ 
some in tilling the following spring. 
Straw is often used for this purpose when it should be used for fodder. 
■Respectfully yours, L. FOOT. 
Lee, Berkshire co. Mass. July 15 th, 1837. 
remarks of the conductor. 
We have adverted to the subject of bone manure in our second and 
third volumes, and stated our mode of obtaining and preparing it. We 
have been less urgent upon this matter, because we saw little hopes of 
our farmers regarding this source of fertility, while they remained reck¬ 
less, as too many of them do, of their dung and other sources of fertility 
which abound on every fqrm. The subject shall receive our early atten¬ 
tion. In the mean time, in reply to Mr. Foot’s questions, we answer, 
first—the time has come for every farmer to husband and apply to his 
lands, all the means of fertility at his command. Bone dust will not prove 
serviceable upon clays. It is applied at the rate of 20 (o 40 bushels on 
an acre. Bone mills can only be profitably erected near navigable wa¬ 
ters. Secondly—bones can be crushed in plaster mills, so as to answer 
well. Thirdly—bones that have been boiled are deemed as good as those 
which have not been boiled, and old bones nearly as good as fresh ones. 
And fourthly—not only potato tops, but sedge grass, weeds, straw, and 
every sort of vegetable matter, or earth abounding in it, as that from 
swamps, ditches, ponds, &c. leached ashes, soap suds, urine, &c. may all 
be profitably commingled in the dung yards, which should be made con¬ 
cave in the centre, in order to retain the liquids of the yard, and which 
these vegetable matters will absorb. And the yard should be thoroughly 
cleaned every spring, and the contents fed to hoed crops. 
AN AMERICAN SIROCCO. 
Newark, (O.) June 17,1837. 
Dear Sir—O n Tuesday the 6th instant a very violent wind, almost 
a tornado, swept over our country, to a very wide extent, filling the air 
with a cloud of leaves, dust and other light matters. I was not out du¬ 
ring the wind, which lasted some ten minutes, but those who were, said 
that it produced upon them a remarkable sensation, and nearly suffocated 
them. A gentleman of Canton, informed me yesterday, that he was on 
horseback whilst the wind was blowing, and that its effects upon him 
were similar to those described from the sirocco, in the south of Italy 
On his return.home, he said, he observed, first that his green gage plum 
tree seemed to have been scalded by hot water; its leaves were wither¬ 
ing and turned black. He inquired of his family, if hot water had not 
been thrown upon the tree, and on being answered in the negative, be¬ 
gan to suspect it was the effect of the wind, and upon extending his ob¬ 
servation, discovered that other trees in his garden, and even orchard 
grass exhibited like appearances; he afterwards noticed like effects upon 
some of the tender forest trees. In his journey from Canton to this place, 
about 100 miles, he traced this appearance along the whole distance I 
noticed in my own garden, that the blight commenced about that time, 
(upon my ornamental shrubs more than upon fruit trees,) and made rapid 
progress. A Tartarian honey-suckle withered to the ground, and is dead; 
a flourishing sumach (Rhus typhina,) commenced withering, as though 
scalding water had been poured upon it; it seems to be now slowly reco¬ 
vering, but the young branches are shrivelled. Many similar appearan¬ 
ces can be traced in my garden; the tender points in young branches, in 
several trees, are thus affected. Are we to attribute the blight which 
for some years.past, has been destroying our fruit trees, to such a cause? 
I will not, however, theorise at present. Our facts are too few for a ra¬ 
tional theory as yet; but it would be well that farmers and horticulturists 
would notice the condition of their trees, and the state of the weather, 
that should the blight attack them, it may be ascertained whether the 
cause is atmospheris or otherwise. Yours truly, 
__i__ ISRA EL DILLE. 
NUTMEG POTATOES—LAKE SUPERIOR CORN. 
Lake C. H. Ia. July 12, 1837. 
Dear Sir—As soon as I can possibly find leisure, I intend to send 
you a description of the several kinds of prairie, as to appearance, vege¬ 
tation and cultivation. I hope to send you “ prairie flower seeds.” 
I have (to us,) a rare kind of potatoes, called “ nutmeg potatoes 
which ripen in about six weeks, grow small, about the size, and as smooth 
as hen’s eggs—very dry and rich—valuable for garden culture. Have 
