358 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[October, 
'flse IVtimlicr of ff-’eeft, BBotai-tl Meas¬ 
ure, in a ILog;.—An old lumberman gives us the 
following rule for ascertaining the number of feet in 
a round log. It is not absolutely accurate, but near enough 
for practical purposes : “ Take off 4 inches for slab ; then 
square half the diameter, and on a 12-foot log multiply 
by 3, on a 14-foot log by 314, and on a 16-foot log by 
4, etc.” Thus, suppose you have a log 12 feet long and 24 
inches in diameter: Deducting4 inches for slab, leaves 20 
inches. Square half the diameter 10X10=100 feet. Mul¬ 
tiply by 3.100 X 3=308 feet. If the log is 14 feet, multiply 
by 314=350 feet; if 16 feet, multiply by 4=400 feet. If 
the log is 36 inches in diameter and 12 feet long it 
would contain 708 feet, board measure. Thus 36—1=32. 
Square the half, 16X16=256 X 3=768. 
Tni’ning in Clover for “Wisent.— 
“O. A.,” Harrisonville, O., asks: “Will clover plowed 
under while In full bloom be sufficiently rotted by the 
last of August or first of September to bring to the sur¬ 
face as a preparation for wheat? In what way would you 
plow it under, to what depth, and with what plow?” 
Clover turned under in full bloom is full of sap, and very 
soon disappears in the soil. Nothing of it would he left 
by the end of summer to hinder the plow or harrow. The 
proper depth to plow will depend a good deal upon the 
character of the surface and sub-soil, and the quantity o{ 
manure to he used. We always like to air an inch or 
two of the subsoil. In turning under clover, say six or 
eight inches deep, we should not bring it to the surface 
again in cross plowing for wheat. Any good sod plow 
will turn in clover, and if the plow clogs, it. can he reme¬ 
died by heavy chains fastened to the end of the beam and 
to the lower part of the right plow handle. The best, 
farmers of some sections often feed off the hulk of their 
clover before plowing. They claim that the manure left 
upon the field by the cattle is worth nearly as much as if t ho 
whole clover were turned in,while they gain the pasturage. 
Muck B>cposi£. — “ W. W.,” Burlington, 
W. Ya. “ I have an accumulation of vegetable matter, 
made by a spring running over a flat, causing weeds and 
grass to grow and rot. What is the best way to use it as 
a fertilizer?” It can he used in a variety of ways to good 
advantage. 1. As an absorbent in barn-yards, stables, 
sties, and privies. 2. For composting with stable ma¬ 
nure, three loads of the mould to one of manure, upon the 
ground where it will be wanted next spring. 3. For com-, 
posting with lime or with ashes. 4. For spreading upon 
light sandy or gravelly soils as a top-dressing for grass, or 
to he plowed in for hoed crops. For any of these pur¬ 
poses it will he better to draw it out upon dry land and 
expose it to the frosts of one winter. 
SSome MilS. —D. B. Sebold, N. J. If you have 
a bone mill that will grind twelve tons a week, that will 
go by horse or water power, and that you can sell for 
$200, yon will do well to put it in the market at once. 
We know of no mill suitable for this work that can be 
made for twice this sum. Hundreds of farmers would be 
glad to own such a mill if they could afl'ord it. They can 
get hones cheap in the villages, but the trouble is in re¬ 
ducing them. The mill would sell well if advertised. 
Mamtare isa !®astsii*es» 
—“ C. T. S..” Richfield. “ My sheep and cattle drop most 
of their manure near the gate where they lie at night. 
Is there any remedy ?” The sheep can he managed by 
putting them in pens at night in different parts of the 
field. The cattle will change their place of rest by salt¬ 
ing them in various parts of the pasture. A little extra 
feed frequently offered will draw them to almost any re¬ 
quired spot, if it is dry. It is very desirable to have the 
manure as evenly distributed as possible. 
IBrccdiaig’ Eu :imi Eb».—“B. 
H.,” Jamaica, L. I. This practice is carefully avoided by 
the best poultry men. Fowls of the same parentage 
should not he sold for the purpose of breeding together. 
The cocks should he changed every spring. 
ECooBts. —“L. L. G.,” Bordentown, N. J. We 
are not aware that the rook has ever been brought to this 
country. The rooks are highly prized by British farmers 
for the protection they afford to their fields. They live 
largely upon larvae dug Horn among the roots of grass, 
and only plunder the grain fields when forced by hunger. 
The Mark Lane Express says in a recent number: “ The 
experiment has been tried to destroy or banish these 
birds, but it has always been a cause of hitter regret, for 
the immense increase of the insect tribes that followed 
their absence inflicted more injury than the rooks them¬ 
selves would have done. Sucli is the case at this very 
moment in France, where, owing to the war waged 
avainst theso birds, the communes arc paying for the 
destruction of the cockchafers, which in myriads are 
ravaging the fields and woods.” We have a great excess 
of insects in all the older parts of this country, owing no 
doubt mainly to the wanton destruction of our birds by 
amateur sportsmen. Insect depredators arc among the 
worst enemies the farmer and fruitgrower have to con¬ 
tend with, and we need a great increase of birds to keep 
them in check. The birds are easily kept within bounds, 
but the insects are too mighty for man. Literally he is 
“ crushed before the moth.” 
Cutting’ Corn fljy tke BEoots. —“J. G.,” 
Morristown, N. J. This practice has been steadily gain¬ 
ing for the last twonty years, and this is one of the host 
tests of its economy. The grain is heavier than when 
the stalks are cut as in the old method; the labor is 
much less; the fodder, taken as a whole, is more valu¬ 
able. If cut as soon as the corn is glazed, the whole 
stalk will be eaten when chatted. It is Highly prized by 
milkmen, and many consider it equal to the best upland 
hay for producing milk. 
Lima SSeans and Corn.—“F. II.,” 
Lynn, Mass. Limas may be shelled when of a size fit 
for cooking and dried. They are to he soaked over night 
when used. Those that approach maturity had better bo 
allowed to ripen. If you can afford to use them, con¬ 
sidering tlie high price they bring as seed, try some pork 
and beans made with Limas. It is the old Yankee stan¬ 
dard dish glorified. — Or, boil until tender and fry brown 
in butter. Sweet corn has been fully disenssed in past 
months in the household columns. 
TBac Cultivation of SotrfyUaMm.— “ F. 
II. C.,” Ludlow, Mass. “ Does the Sorghum crop pay ?” 
The cultivation of this crop made rapid progress during 
the war, on account of the high prices of sugar and mo¬ 
lasses. It has probably gained a permanent foothold in 
the northern States, especially in the West, as a paying 
farm crop. Large quantities of syrup are made, which 
find a ready home market. The general impression is 
that the crop this year is a small one, but the Sorgho 
Journal claims that the quantity planted the present 
season is much greater than the last, though not quite 
equal to that of 1866. The crop fails frequently through 
poor seed, and those who save their own seed should he 
careful to guard it against frost. Tlie seed may he gather¬ 
ed before it is fully mature, and if kept from frost, and 
thoroughly dried, it will vegetate ranch better than that 
which is frosted, and afterwards ripens upon the stalk, 
fllarly B5»sc l*otnto—E*i-cmiuniss.— 
In another item will he found some account of the suc¬ 
cess of the Early Rose Potato. Since that was in type we 
have had abundant testimony from others, ail of tlie same 
purport. In view of the great interest felt in this variety, 
the publishers have placed it upon the list of premiums, 
upon terms which will enable those who desire to make 
a trial of this remarkable potato to do so, with a very 
little effort expended in procuring subscribers for tho 
Agriculturist— See Premium Lists. 
r I'lae l\>w Eng-lancI B'nai’.—The great 
Fair and Cattle Show of the New England Agricultural 
Society occurred the first week in September. The show 
of neat stock was magnificent, the best herds of each 
prominent breed being well represented. There was also 
competition enough to excite interest, and tlie decisions 
of tlie judges, though made with no little perplexity in 
some cases, met with general approval. No doubt mis¬ 
takes were made, hut on the whole, so far as we are aware, 
all wont smoothly and pleasantly. It was, moreover, a very 
even show, each breed, Short-horns, Devons, Ayrsliires, 
and Jerseys, being from several exhibitors, and most of 
the animals of marked excellence. The great Dutch 
breed (in color, spotted black and white, in size excelling 
the largest Short-horns, and in coarseness rivaling'a post 
and rail fence, groat feeders and great milkers) were a 
novelty to most spectators, and attracted much attention. 
The show of working oxen, usually the conspicuous fea¬ 
ture of Connecticut fairs, was not large, but it was 
very fine, some of the best pairs and “ strings ” coming 
from other States. Mutton sheep were the great attrac¬ 
tion of the small-cattle department, but some of the 400- 
pound Cotswold can hardly come under this designation. 
Tliis breed was shown in large numbers, and of a quality 
we have never seen equalled. There were some good . 
Southdowns, but the average was low, and Merinos were 
there witli wrinkles and grease enough to have satisfied 
even a Hammond. The show of swine was unworthy of 
tlie Society, and a pair of Windsor Suffolks were all we 
remember as above mediocrity. A single exhibitor from 
New Haven redeemed the poultry show from utter failure, 
and his collection was excellent and instructive. Tho 
important feature of the horse show, and one which 
should be everywhere encouraged, was tho exhibition of 
stallions with their progeny. The high-bred trotting 
stallion “Ashland” was shown, with, we should judge, a 
score or more of his colts and fillies of all ages front four 
or five years old to yearlings, showing a very strong fam¬ 
ily likeness. There were an unusual dumber of fine 
breeding horses shown, among them some noble thorough¬ 
bred mares. Tlie Implement Department was not very 
extensive, but literally filled with meritorious articles. 
There have been great improvements in horse-rakes. An 
invention applicable to all mowing machines enables the 
driver to lift the cutter bar quickly and easily with his 
foot, without using his hand. We noticed an admirable 
safety wliiflletree trace hook, several good hay tedders, 
and one of them possibly good, and, if so, very cheap and 
handy; and a self-loading “rigging” for hay wagons, 
which we think will work. This will, with a man to tend 
it upon the ground, pitch on its own hay faster than two 
men can possibly take care of it on tlie load. A reversible 
plow upon a new principle, for use upon level land, struck 
us as very good. Two shares and mould hoards are fitted 
upon one large plate which is the iandside for both, and 
this is easily turned over the iron beam, and thus tho im¬ 
plement becomes either a right or left-hand plow. In the 
Household Department there were many interesting 
things also. The New Haven carriage makers made a 
grand display, but not particularly agricultural. Fruits 
and vegetables were a meagre show—the only interest¬ 
ing article to us being the new grape “Eumeian,” shown 
for the first time. Tlie floral show was in one of tlie fine 
halls of the city, and was most admirable. The walls 
were hung with pictures of great excellence, chiefly loan¬ 
ed, and the sides and center of tlie Halls were filled with 
choice flowers, bouquets, foliage plants, ferns, etc., of 
rare beauty, in great profusion, and tastefully arranged. 
There is usually complaint At such gatherings, and some 
grumbling is expected, often justifiable and frequently 
not, hut on this occasion there was the most obvious 
mismanagement on the part of the chief officers of the 
Society. In the first place, the Society had apparently sold 
itself out to a jockey clnh and turned its meeting into a 
horse race, with an agricultural attachment. The Presi¬ 
dent tried weakly to give dignity to the agricultural part. 
In his great pavilion he maintained a solitary majesty, 
his tables being occupied by a few reporters who escaped 
from the jam of tlie race course for quiet. The show of 
vegetables and fruits was, as we have said, very meagre. 
We heard of exhibitors in tills department who were 
turned away because their contributions were judged in¬ 
sufficient to give them admission, though competing for 
the published prizes. Tlie grounds were occupied in some 
of the most conspicuous places by side shows of fat 
women, learned pigs, and all sorts of monstrosities. 
Spirits were sold freely,and the accompaniments of a race¬ 
course bar, drunkenness, profanity, and noisy ribaldry, 
were thrust before the refined and decorous parties of 
city and country men and women, lads and lasses, who 
came to the show. Here, too, was the open sale of “racing 
pools ” at auction. Pool selling is regarded as the very 
worst form of horse-race gambling, and it is a burning 
disgrace to the officers of tlie N. E. Ag’l. Society that 
they allowed it. If this is the Boston way of managing 
a Society of this kind, it is high time there was a eliange. 
These associations are not such as tlie wives, daughters, 
and sons of New England farmers should be accustomed to. 
Fitting’ for 4Bie Nursery BSusEness. 
“ D. K. M.,” Magnolia, (no State) says: “I wish to fit 
myself for the nursery business ; please inform mo what 
books I had better read.” Reading will lie a good prep¬ 
aration to enable one to learn tlie business intelligently. 
Barry’s Fruit Garden, Warder’s Pomology, Fuller’s Small 
Fruit Cuiturist, Thomas’ American Fruit Culturist, 
Hoopes’ Evergreens, and Fuller and Mohr on the Grape, 
all contain much that would he a great help to a begin¬ 
ner. We assume that of course Mr. M. intends to learn 
tlie practice with some competent nurseryman. 
<C5as Enme. —“A. N.,” Nashua, N. II. Tliis 
article is tolie used with caution, as it contains deleterious 
matters witli the ammonia and gypsum, which are useful. 
It may he spread upon mowing or pasture land, at the 
rate of three tons to tlie acre, with good effects upon tho 
subsequent crop. At the rate of eight tons to the acre it 
kills vegetation. It might he used to eradicate weeds in 
very foul land, and in walks. 
Farmers’ C!ul!»s. —“G. N. T.,” Nicholson, 
Pa., asks : “ Can you tell ns how these clubs are organ¬ 
ized and managed ? The less machinery you have about 
them, the hotter. Meet around at tlie farmers’ houses, if 
there is no better place, appoint a chairman for the meet¬ 
ing, and a secretary for a Jonger time, three months or a 
year, propose a subject for discussion, and let each mail 
give ills experience and ask his questions. Tlie moro 
familiar the meetings can he made, the better. A dozen 
farmers meeting once a fortnight, for discussion and 
to inspect stock, crops, and buildings, could not fail to 
Help one another to he better farmers and housekeepers. 
