THE CULTIVATOR. 
101 
satisfy myself whether it is yet time to form a “National Agri¬ 
cultural Society.” 
I intend to take the journey at that season of the year when 
I can witness and compare the growth of crops between dif¬ 
ferent sections, and see the improved stock to the best advan¬ 
tage, and I hope I shall have occasion to speak highly of eve¬ 
ry poruon of the route. I remain with much respect, 
SOLON ROBINSON, [Post-master.] 
Lake C. H., Ia., April 2, 1841. 
Improved Rake. 
Messrs. Editors— Below I send you a rude drawing of a 
rake, made by myself, which I think is an improvement, 
which, perhaps, none of your numerous readers have as yet 
beheld: 
DESCRIPTION — [Fig. 67.] 
A, head of the rake, six feet long, one and a quarter inches 
square, made of good timber. B, a piece to set on the top of 
the rake in the center, with half inch tenon ; C, handle, to go 
through stick B, with braces running from the head to the 
handle. The teeth are one foot long, six inches apart, going 
through the head with half inch hole. The rake runs flat on 
the ground, like a horse-rake. The advantages of this rake 
are, that, where persons using a horse-rake, and in raking it 
over once cannot get it clean, they can finish the operation 
quicker with this, than two men can with common hand- 
rakes ; and for raking after a wagon, a boy can rake after 
two men pitching with all ease. 
Yours with respect, G. W. T. 
Conesville, Scho. co., March 29, 1841. 
Gapes in Chickens. 
Messrs. Editors— In your April number, a correspondent 
attributes the gapes in chickens to breeding from too old cocks. 
Whether this will have any effect to produce the disease, I 
am unable to say, but I have long since found a preventive, 
and practiced accordingly. This I have communicated to 
others, who have complained of the malady, and similar treat¬ 
ment, as far as my knowledge extends, has been attended 
with the same marked result. 
The disease is prevented simply by scanting them in their 
food. Who ever heard of chickens which were not confined 
with the hen, but both suffered to roam at large and collect 
all their own food, to be troubled with this disease ? The most 
common food for young chickens is Indian meal, mixed with 
water so as to completely saturate it. This, when eaten in 
too large quantities, is almost sure to produce the gapes. 
Great care should, therefore, be observed in the feeding of 
them, and the meal should be previously mixed some few 
hours, or otherwise it will swell in the stomach of the chicken, 
which, when full, is the verv cause of the disease. 
Brooklyn, N. F, April 20. GARRET BERGEN. 
Water Fountains and Sun Dials. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I have read with much plea¬ 
sure an article in the Cultivator, some time since, on the sub¬ 
ject of plans for gardens, from the pen of Mr. Walsh, whose 
name I cannot, with self-satisfaction, pass over without ac¬ 
knowledging the tribute of gratitude, which is due him from eve¬ 
ry memberof community, for the result ofhis perseveringefforts 
to improve the state of agriculture and horticulture. In that ar¬ 
ticle he made very appropriate mention of artificial fountains, 
and of a sun dial, the one as, perhaps, the most beautiful ap¬ 
pendage to an elegant garden, and the other as a cheap, but 
very convenient one; and I would add, to every person en¬ 
gaged in practical agriculture. And I perceive, in the last 
number of your paper, a request from the same pen, to be in¬ 
formed where those articles can be procured. 
I, therefore, take a threefold pleasure in giving Mr. Walsh 
the information requsted; in promoting the interest of my 
friend, Mr. D L. Farnam, by informing the public that he 
manufactures, not only the apparatus for fountains of any de¬ 
gree of elegance, accompanied with directions for setting them 
up at a very cheap rate, and correct sun dials for a mere trifle ; 
but also pumps of most superior construction ; fire and gar¬ 
den engines, and almost every article connected wnth the sub¬ 
ject of practical hydraulics; and I think I confer no small 
benefit on the public, through your assistance, by the vast cir¬ 
culation this information will have in the Cultivator, on a sub¬ 
ject in which every section of country is interested. 
I have consulted Mr. F. on the subject, who has politely 
showed me his apparatus, and various plans for garden foun¬ 
tains, with ornaments of various descriptions, wdiich, 1 think, 
must meet the approbation of every person of taste, who is 
able to be the owner of a handsome garden. 
For the character and utility of his pumps, Mr. F. refers 
me, and I would refer the public to a communication from 
Mr. Phelps, in No. 11 of the Cultivator for 1840. 
In addition to the above, I would beg leave to suggest that 
I think, where there is a handsome enclosure in front of a 
house, one or two artificial fountains, throwing up sprightly 
jets of water, and surrounded with tasteful embellishments, 
would have as pleasing an effect as those placed in the gar¬ 
den, and I should imagine, no person in easy circumstances 
would grudge the expense of both. 
New-York, May, 1841 
S. BLYDENBURGH. 
AYRSHIRE 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker—I have enclosed the profile of an 
Ayrshire Bull, (fig. 58,) that was sired in Scotland, in the dis¬ 
trict of Ayrshire. The dam was imported by John P. Cushing, 
Esq. of Watertown, Massachusetts. The bull was dropped 
soon after landing, on the importer’s farm, two years last 
grass, wdiich is full middling size. Color —deep cherry red, 
with some spots of white, variegated and interlaid with the red 
on the fore leg and hind quarters, and some white in the face. 
Eye —the smallest that I ever noticed in a beast of its size, but 
very clear, bright and prominent, looking well behind. Fore¬ 
head —broad and flat. Cheek and muzzle— small. The nose 
very small, and of a clear yellow; if possible like the horns, 
which stand forward, crooked, and raised a little at the points, 
and their roots at considerable distance from each other. 
Legs —straight, short, flat and small below the knees, standing 
well before and behind, with firm joints. Neck —middling size 
and tapering towards the head, which is small. Body —barrel 
form. Tail is set on a level with the back, round and tapering, 
BULL.—i Fi s- ss.] 
quite slender as it tapers towards the round bunch of hair at the 
bottom. The general figure compact, and well proportioned. 
The bull from which I sketched this portrait is owned by Wight- 
man Chapman, of this town—a valuable present. The donorwas 
Mr. Cushing, who is noted for his liberality and encouragement 
to agriculture ; liberality, at home and abroad. 
This breed of cattle are in high repute as a dairy stock, and 
also for their quick fattening properties. They will keep fat 
on shorter feed, and where many breeds would not thrive at 
all. It is said that no other breed in England is considered so 
valuable for the purpose of milking, excelling equally in quali¬ 
ty and quantity; they are called the “best possible poor man’s 
cow,” from their ability to shift on very scanty keep). This 
bull has the appearance of hardihood, and more profitable in 
this dairy zone than other larger breeds that have been intro¬ 
duced here. SOLOMON W. JEWETT. 
Weybridge, Ft., February, 1841. 
Eamar Pointed Asparagus Knife. 
In cutting asparagus with a common knife, it must be obvi¬ 
ous to every one that it cannot be done, without frequently de¬ 
stroying tlie younger shoots below the surface. Moreover, as 
the knife is passed down nearly perpendicularly and then late^ 
rally, to make the cut it necessarily leaves a long scarfed portion, 
which must be trimmed off in preparing the bunches. The lu¬ 
nar pointed knife obviates both the above objections to the usual 
[Pig, 59 ,] mode of cutting, and makes a considerable saving 
of time. The blade and handle are like a long spa¬ 
tula or spreading knife. The blade may be from 
six to seven inches in length, and from three-quar¬ 
ters to an inch in breadth, so as to embrace the larg¬ 
est stalks. The end of the blade is cut and sharp¬ 
ened in a crescent or lunar shape. The edges of 
the blade, and also the extreme points or horns of 
the crescent edge must be blunt and smooth, to pre¬ 
vent injury to the rising shoots, and the crown of 
the roots. In using this knife, the blade is passed 
down near and parallel with the stalk, and by in¬ 
clining the handle a little from the stalk, the cut is 
readily made, at least from one to two inches lower 
, than by the usual method. The drawing will af- 
| G ford an idea of the instrument. The edges a, a, of 
the blade are blunt and smooth, as also the points 
b, b, while the crescent edge is kept sharp. I have 
given this knife a fair trial, and am confident that 
any person using it, would never alter be willing to 
dispense with it. 
C. G. PAGE, M. D. 
Washington, D. C.,May4, 1841. 
Feeding Silk Worms, &c. 
Messrs. Editors —In answer to the inquiry of your corres¬ 
pondent, “ Whether silk worms, partly reared on the white 
mulberry, may be fed with safety on the large leaf Canton or 
multicaulis, and also whether they may be fed with these kinds 
together or alternately, with advantage ?” I reply, that for the 
two last seasons I have fed a few silk worms merely as an 
experiment. The last season, getting short of white Italian 
mulberry leaves, I procured, from my neighbor, L. A. Spal¬ 
ding, Esq., some morus multicaulis and fed my warms; I fol¬ 
lowed feeding the two kinds alternately for ten or twelve days, 
and frequently both kinds together, without perceiving any 
difference in the health, or growth of the worms. I have 
also on one or two occasions, fed them common lettuce, with¬ 
out its producing any injury; but they will not readily eat it. 
It is pretended by some that the worms are more fond of the 
leaves of the China than of the Italian mulberry; but I could 
never discover that they gave either kind the preforence, 
when fed to them together. Yet I cannot see that any thing 
would be gained by feeding them alternately. 
I will also add, that as far as my experience extends, the 
white Italian mulberry is preferable to the multicaulis, for the 
reason that it stands our climate better, and is reared with less 
trouble, and although the leaves are much smaller, yet they 
are heavier, and not so porous as the China, and a leaf of the 
Italian will afford as much food as one of double its size of the 
China. 
I will add further, that there is no difficulty in rearing the 
silk worms in this climate. I have scarcely ever lost a single 
worm, although I have taken no very great pains with them ; 
yet I would advise persons who know nothing about the bu¬ 
siness, to procure a few trees and obtain a small number of 
worms, and feed them for one season, and they will then be 
better prepared to enter into the business more extensively. 
In conclusion, I will add, that at the present price of labor, 
I do not believe the business would warrant a large invest¬ 
ment; I am convinced, however, that farmers and others 
who have large families of children and females, could engage 
in the business to a moderate extent, and raise say from f 100 
to $300 worth of cocoons yearly, without interfering with the 
other operations of the farm, and which would be nearly a 
clear gain to the farmer. It would be something like the 
eggs, poultry, &c. of the house wife, which costs the farmer 
nothing, yet adds very much to his receipts in the course of 
the year Yours, &c. S. H. NICHOLLS. 
Lockport, February 12, 1841 
To Destroy Eiice on Cattle. 
The direction in the Cultivator (February No. page 30, 1841) 
recommends unguentum, or mercurial ointment, to destroy pe- 
diculi, or lice. I am inclined to believe that the virtue of un¬ 
guentum is not derived from the mercury contained in the oint¬ 
ment, but from the grease or fat with which the mercury is in¬ 
corporated. Grease, fat, lard, or any oily substance, if applied 
to neat cattle infested with pediculi, will have the desired ef¬ 
fect ; but it must not be applied by a string around the neck, 
but by being well rubbed into the hair on those parts where the 
vermin are found, and repeated until they are destroyed. In¬ 
sects have no lungs, but breath by spiracles or minute holes in 
their bodies; and if these spiracles are clogged with grease or 
fat, they become suffocated and die. Goose grease, hog’s fat, 
pot-skimmings, will all answer the purpose, and may be ob¬ 
tained in any farmer’s family without cost. Tobacco, also, 
will kill these vermin on cattle, by its operation on them as a 
poison. A simple infusion of tobacco, applied warm and rub¬ 
bed into the neck or dewlaps, or wherever found, so as to com¬ 
pletely wet the hairs, and repeated at an interval of a few days, 
will destroy the nits and lice in a short time, and at a cheap 
rate. The curry comb should be used after the application. 
Richmond. 
The Canada Thistle. 
Messrs. Editors—I was exceedingly gratified to see that your 
attention, and that of your correspondents, had been called to 
the extirpation of that most noxious of all weeds, and most dif¬ 
ficult to eradicate, the Canada Thistle. 
I have determined to communicate my plan of destroying 
them; and having had much to do with them for many years, 
I unhesitatingly declare, that I have never tried any method 
that will do the thing so economically and effectually. 
I usually commence about the first of June, cutting them off 
close to the ground, with a common broad hoe; again in Au¬ 
gust; and if necessary, should any make their appearance, 
early in October. In all candor and honesty, I would say, that 
I have succeeded in two seasons in subduing whole patches in 
this way. 
I cheerfully submit it for the consideration of your Niagara 
correspondent, and all other readers of your valuable journal, 
with a firm belief, if they will but try my plan, that they will 
succeed. C. M. 
Ludlowville, N. F., April 30, 1841. 
The Turnep Fly—-Inquiry. 
Messrs. Editors —I desire, and many of my neighbors 
would be pleased to learn, the best and most effectual method 
of preventing the depredations of the insects upon the young 
ruta baga plant. Three years since I raised about five hun¬ 
dred bushels of ruta baga upon little more than half an acre; but 
for the two last years, the fly has, comparatively speaking, de¬ 
stroyed my whole crop. Last year I sowed twice, and finally 
plowed up the same ground for wheat without any regard to 
the ruta baga crop, it was so far destroyed. 
The proposition for the establishment of the “ American So¬ 
ciety of Agriculture,” meets with my decided approbation, 
and your correspondent, Mr. Solon Robinson, is informed 
that he may rely upon the subscriber to second his views with 
all honorable efforts. 
I am, gent’n, yours, &c., most respectfullv, 
B. A. BIDLACK 
Wilkesbarre, Luzerne co., Penn., May 12, 1841. 
Scalding * 1 Peas for Seed. 
_ Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —In the April No. ui the Cul¬ 
tivator, I noticed an experiment of Dr. Plummer on scalding 
the pea, and I can assure von it may be done with perfect 
safety. I have practiced it for twelve years in succession: my 
method is to put a bushel or less in a tub; have boiling water 
ready, enough to cover them ; pour it on, and stir them in it 
one minute. Pour them out into a basket, and throw a pail¬ 
ful of cold water on them, and stir them; no matter how 
quick, after they have been in the hot water one moment, the 
larvae of the bug will be completely destroyed, and the germ 
of the pea uninjured. If you wish to have your peas come 
forward early, soak them twenty hours in urine, and dry them 
by rolling in drv unleached ashes or plaster; but ashes are 
best. Respectfullv vours, R. JENKINS. 
Glenn's Falls, April 22, 1841 
Agriculture is the most ancient, the most honorable, and the 
most useful of Arts 
