THE CULTIVATOR. 155 
Correspondence, Inquiries, &c, 
Oil from Com. 
In reference to a remark of ours in a former number 
of the Cultivator, (page 135,) Hon. H. S. Ellsworth, 
of Washinton city, says:— 
“ I have been endeavoring to collect all the information I 
could on that point, with reference to the West, where corn is 
very cheap. I believe it will undoubtedly repay cost and trouble 
to grind and ferment the maize, take off the oil, and then feed 
the mash to animals.” 
Mr. E. asks for further information on this subject, 
and we will, if possible, procure such an account of the 
process of saving the oil, from the individual who 
made that to which we alluded, as shall be satisfactory. 
In the mean time, if others have experimented on the 
subject, we should be pleased to hear from them. We 
think the suggestion of Mr. Ellsworth a reasonable one, 
and if the oil can be separated without the develop¬ 
ment of the alcohol, it would be a great point gained 
for the west. Some valuable hints on the formation of 
the oils, during the chemical changes of fermentation, 
may be found in Liebig’s Organic Chemistry. 
In answer to Mr. Ellsworth’s inquiry, “ whether there 
is, to our knowledge, any mills for making oil from 
broom corn seed in the country ?” we reply, we know of 
none such, nor have we ever heard that an attempt has 
been made to produce oil from that seed. That it con¬ 
tains oil cannot be doubted, whether insufficient quan¬ 
tities to pay the cost of manufacture could easily be 
ascertained in those districts of New-England where 
the plant is extensively grown. 
Farming in Tennessee. 
We make the following extracts from a letter received 
from a gentleman in Maury county, Tenn. enclosing 
some inquiries, 8tc.: 
“I have 350 acres of land, 130 of which are under cultivation 
—divided into fields of about 30 acres each. Balance in heavy 
woodland. Well watered; a running stream flowing through 
the middle of the plantation. Corn and cotton raised on it 
chiefly for the last 30 years, and no manure or clover. Thirty 
to fifty bushels of corn to the acre considered a good crop. 
Land, limestone; soil light and liable to wash; clay subsoil. 
I put the last year, 60 acres in corn, 30 in clover, 15 in oats, 
and 12 in wheat. * * A neighbor of mine, raised, as an ex¬ 
periment a few years ago, by manuring, SO bushels of corn from 
an acre of land. * * * I have no meadow, use mules for 
labor, land timbered with poplar, whiteoak, hickory, walnut, 
&c. No use has been made of manure : stables and barn yard 
full of it. * * Can we not farm it in Tennessee so as to make 
it a source of profit? B. M.” 
Unquestionably you can ; your description of the land, 
timber, &c. is proof; and the reason why it has not 
been more successful, may be traced to the two causes 
mentioned, the continued culture of cotton, and the 
neglect of manure. If B. M. will discard the culture 
of cotton, altogether; procure some good Durhams and 
Berkshires ; use clover liberally with wheat, oats, and 
other small grains suitable to the region; make and use 
all the manure possible, not allowing it to accumulate 
in the yards and stables; plow deep, and introduce a ro¬ 
tation of crops adapted to his circumstances ; he will 
not tail of making money by farming. “ B. M.” asks 
whether he shall not clear more land. We say no ; not 
until every acre he has cleared is so improved as to give 
him 70 or 80 bushels of corn. The great fault with 
the farmer, is cultivating more land than he can culti¬ 
vate well. Corn, wheat, clover, cattle, hogs, sheep, all 
good, and a farm so managed and tilled that no labor is 
lost, and ample crops are certain, should be the aim of 
the owner of the soil. Two truths must be impressed 
on the mind of every farmer: without manures no fer¬ 
tility; without stock no manures. Secure these two 
things, and with such a soil as B. M. has, a man can 
do more than “ gain a mere livelihood” by tilling the 
soil. — 
Ashes and Meadow Lands. 
Our friend, “ W. J. D.” of Petersburg!!, (Ya.) has 
transmitted us the following queries, on the use of 
ashes, and the general management of meadow land : 
“ At what season of the year, are the leached ashes or other 
manures applied in meadows, and how, and in what quantities 
per acre?” 
Where ashes, or other manures, are applied directly 
to meadows, the spring is found the best time, as the 
effect of the application is more immediately felt. The 
quantity is regulated by the amount of ashes or manure 
available, or the the sterility of the land. We have 
used from 30 to 90 bushels of ashes per acre, and in all 
cases with the best effect. We have applied it to plow 
lands by spreading and plowing in; to meadow lands by 
spreading it equally as possible in the spring. Wet 
lands are benefited by draining previous to its use, but 
is valuable in correcting the acidity of even such. It is 
not common now, however, on well cultivated farms 
to apply the ashes or manures directly to the grass crop. 
It is given to corn and roots, followed by grains and 
grasses, and the meadows as well as tilled lands fol¬ 
low the course of rotation. 
“Are your meadows ever grazed in the autumn after sow¬ 
ing ?” 
They are either mown for the second crop, or are 
grazed ; at least this is the usual practice. Some far¬ 
mers turn their animals into their meadows as soon as 
they are mowed ; but this is a very bad practice, as the 
roots should have time to recover from the check they 
receive from the cropping, and this is best done by the 
undisturbed growth of "the aftermath. In no case 
should meadows be grazed close, and no animal should 
be admitted into them in the spring. Our experience 
would show, that unless pressing necessity exists, it is 
better to never allow meadows to be grazed, as the se¬ 
cond growth preserves the roots from the effects of win¬ 
ter, and in their decay, constitute a valuable top-dressing 
for the coming crop. 
“ Are your meadows ever coultered to open the soil?” 
Meadows which it is inconvenient to subject to a course 
of rotation, have been found to be greatly benefited, by 
a dressing of ashes or manure, followed by a thorough 
harrowing. In such cases it is an excellent plan to sow 
new grass seeds, which is in fact a renewal of the mea¬ 
dow. 
“ How long do they usually remain before they are cultivated, 
and what are the indications of a want of cultivation ?” 
No definite time can be given for allowing meadows 
to lie in grass ; every thing is depending on circum¬ 
stances, such as the condition and quality of the soil, 
the kind of grasses in cultivation, &c. Where a rota¬ 
tion is used, as always should be where practicable, 
the length of the course will determine the period the 
meadow lies in grass. The indications of a want of re¬ 
newal in a meadow, are the appearance of weeds not 
suitable for hay, the coating of the earth with moss or 
lichen, the disappearance of the valuable grasses and 
then the succession by inferior or less nutritive ones, 
the general lightness of the crop of hay made, or in 
short, any thing which proves a deterioration of the 
plants or the soil cultivated, shows that the meadow 
would be benefited by plowing up, manuring, and new 
seeding. 
“ With whom could I open a correspondence with the best 
prospect of obtaining a few pure Durham heifers?” 
Gentleman having such animals to dispose of, may 
address “ W. J. D.” Petersburg!!, (Va.) postage paid. 
Prospects of Agriculture iu Georgia—New Grass. 
From the letter of a correspondent at Sparta, Ga. we 
make the following extract. It is gratifying to observe 
the brightening prospects of the farmer throughout our 
whole country ; of the spread of knowledge on agricul¬ 
tural topics ; and the consequent spirit of inquiry and 
improvement manifested. The grass alluded to by our 
correspondent is probably one of the stoloniferous va¬ 
rieties, which are propagated by the roots or joints, and 
which have within a few years been extensively used 
for turfing over and binding down the drifting sands 
that were encroaching on parts of England and Ireland. 
All grasses it is believed produce their seeds, but some, 
and this class in particular, sparsely and rarely. 
“ We are beginning to see the necessity of raising less cotton, 
and more grain and stock, and making more manure. We are 
writhing under the scourge which we have brought upon our¬ 
selves, by permitting Kentucky to furnish us with pork, mules, 
and horses; and what is stranger still, we who have been great 
enemies to the grasses, and have made it our business to kill 
all that came in our way, now begin to believe that their 
cultivation is essential to our prosperity. You may ask what 
has produced this revolution in opinion and practice? I with 
pleasure inform you that it is the circulation of the Cultivator 
and Farmers’ Register. 
“ We, apparently by the merest accident, have, in my opinion, 
one of the finest and best grazing grasses in the world. It is 
called Bermuda grass, from the fact of its being brought from 
that Island. A gentleman in the southern part of the state 
brought it from there as a yard grass; it found its way into the 
interior of the state for that purpose; all animals are fond of 
it, and it is believed to contain as much or more nutriment than 
any other grass. We are beginning to cultivate it. It grows 
well on poor land, resembles what is called the wire grass of 
this region, takes root at every joint as that grass does, until 
the land becomes covered anil a thick turf formed. It will 
grow on the poorest worn out clay, and eventually reclaim it, 
for when the turf is once formed, nothing is lost to the land by 
washing. It has to be propagated from the root or sprig, as it 
has no seed. When once planted it remains for all time, "unless 
shaded or disturbed by the plow or hoe. The grazing or tread¬ 
ing of stock has no effect upon it after turf is well formed, the 
more exposed to the sun the greater its luxriance, and mixed 
with white clover, which grows well with it, it affords good 
pasture for ten months in the year. The herbage is at all 
times very thick and tender. Some have objected to it, be¬ 
cause of the difficulty of destroying it; but one of my neigh¬ 
bors has fine cotton growing -where two years since this grass 
was as finely set as I ever saw it. It will be the salvation of 
the worn out lands of Georgia. We have a flourishing Plan¬ 
ter's Chib in this county, the annual meeting of which and the 
fair, is held on the 1st Monday in December. Premiums will 
be awarded on stock and domestic manufactures, and there 
will be an address by a member. The thing takes well and 
will do good. Next year we shall award premiums on crops, 
our organization being too recent to do it this. Crops here are 
very good. Farmers talk of making from 40 to 75 bushels of 
com on good land without manure; and on much worn land, 
that never had a shovel full of manure, where the rain has been 
plenty, they speak of 25 bushels; this is great cropping for 
Georgia.” — 
Tan Bark—Inquiry. 
“Messrs. Editors —Will you, or some of your correspon¬ 
dents inform a young farmer whether tan bark is valuable as 
a manure—and if it be, what is the best mode of applying it ? 
I have several hundred cart loads of tan bark, much of which 
has been lying in heaps for twenty years or more. Can it be 
rendered valuable without lime ? If lime is to be used, how 
should the preparation be made? If valuable, will it be better 
to apply it on a clayey or sandy soil ? and what would be its 
value as a litter for stables or cow yards, compared with straw 
or leaves? F. Minor.” 
Albermarle County, Va. 
Tan bark, to be of value as a manure, requires de¬ 
composition, when it has the same effect as any other 
vegetable matter. Like fine chips from the wood yard, 
its influence at first can be only mechanical, but as de¬ 
cay commences, its value as a manure is felt, and as the 
decomposition is gradual, its beneficial effects will re¬ 
main for years. There is usually more or less acid in 
the bark or wood of trees, and the addition of lime 
would doubtless be beneficial, though the quantity 
to be used, if thoroughly mixed with the bark, 
need not be great. Ashes would answer as well 
as lime, or indeed any other alkaline substance. 
The best way of using the lime would be to make a com¬ 
post, or place the bark and lime in layers, which when 
stirred, would effectually incorporate both. Bark, on 
account of the mechanical effect it has in keeping the soil 
loose, as well as its effect as a manure, is best on clayey 
ground, as it renders light sandy soils still more loose 
in their texture. As a litter for the pig pen, cow yard, 
or stables, it would be valuable ; acting as an absorbent 
of fluids and salts that might otherwise be lost, and 
having its decomposition hastened, and its acid proper¬ 
ties corrected at the same time. We have noticed a 
case reported in one of the eastern states in which tan 
bark was used in this way :—There was a strong clay 
subsoil, and the soil itself tenacious. Bark was spread 
on this to the depth of three or four inches, and then 
turned in with a plow, cutting to the depth of twelve 
or fourteen inches. Then another similar dressing of 
bark was laid on, and turned under in the same man¬ 
ner. The crops have been excellent since, and the tex¬ 
ture of the soil much improved. It is evident, howev¬ 
er, that the immediate value of bark, as a manure, must 
depend on its state of decomposition. 
Chess. 
Our correspondent, E. Link, Esq. Greenville,(Tenn.) 
requests our opinion on the following statement of facts, 
which we take from his letter to us :— 
“I have a meadow that twelve months ago was pure timo¬ 
thy, with the except of a few bushels of red clover. Early 
in July of last year, before it was mown, we had a flood me¬ 
morable in the annals of this county, that swept over it, leaving 
much of it covered with mud, resembling the botton of a mill 
pond. It being in a valley through which a small branch some¬ 
times passed irregularly, I cut a ditch on the subsiding of the wa¬ 
ter, and by fall a greener and more beautiful piece of meadow I 
have never seen. But what was my surprise this year to 
find the whole meadow one mass of cheat or chess, as well 
where the water flowed over for a short time, as where it 
stood two or three weeks. * * Such cases I find not uncom¬ 
mon here. Many meadows that were inundated last year, 
have produced little else than chess this. A far more than 
usual quantity is this year in our wheat, Indeed, in some crops 
that was sowed from the very imperfect seed generally raised 
here last year, chess seems to have striven not unsuccessfully 
for the mastery.” 
Remarks. —The chess in the meadows was unques¬ 
tionably produced from seeds brought down from the 
cultivated fields higher up on the stream, and the rich 
mud in which they were deposited gave them a start 
when germinated which caused them to quickly over¬ 
power the timothy and clover of the field, just as 
chess sown with grass se.eds in wheat will soon 
overtop and master them. The fact stated that the 
wheat crop last year was “ very imperfect,” is a 
key to the whole. The chess grown with this im¬ 
perfect or impure wheat crop, furnished not only the 
seed that covered the meadows of the valley, but that 
which gained the mastery of the wheat crop of this 
year. 
Mr. L. adds the following queries ; 
“ What is the best method of securing a large crop of pump¬ 
kins from frost or rotting until used? Is buckwheat a hard 
crop upon land, and does it make a valuable meal for stock?” 
Pumpkins to be preserved require to be kept dry and 
at a temperature above freezing. We have kept them 
in layers with straw, under cover, better than any oth- 
er way we have tried ; indeed there is no difficulty in 
keeping them any desirable time, if you do not let them 
touch each other; keep them dry and safe from frost. 
Buckwheat does not reduce or exhaust land faster 
than any other crop which is permitted to ripen its 
seeds ; perhaps not so much as some. We have never 
used buckwheat meal for feeding any other stock than 
hogs; for these it is excellent, and would doubtless 
prove so for other animals. 
Purchase of Farms, Books, &c. 
“ Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker— I take the liberty of asking you 
a few questions, which I hope you will consider as sufficient¬ 
ly connected with your great object to answer. A Reader. 
‘1st. Where would you advise a young man who has a small 
capital of say $3,000, and who intends to be a farmer, to lav it 
out?” '-. 
If we intended to have a large family of boys, and 
wished to provide a farm for each, we would go to the 
west, and purchase accordingly; if our expectations 
on this point were moderate, we would expend the mo¬ 
ney in the purchase of a small but good farm in the 
vicinity of a certain market for farm products, culti¬ 
vate it well, and thoroughly, and when this was done, 
convert the profits into more land if wished, since there 
will always be land to be bought by those able to pay 
for it. • 
“ 2 d. In what part of the country can cultivated farms be 
purchased the cheapest ?” 
In the interior, doubtless, and in the northern state's 
there will be no great variation when the location, soil, 
and facilities for market are taken into consideration. 
We have been favorably impressed with the inland or 
upper counties of Virginia, so far as climate and soil is 
concerned, but the northern laborer may meet with 
some things not quite so pleasant to him in that region. 
“3d. What works on agriculture doyou think best fora young 
farmer to have or read?” 
Of European practical works, “ The British Hus¬ 
bandry,” 2 vols. and Prof. “ Low’s Practical Agricul¬ 
ture,” are perhaps equal to any. Of those devoted to 
the science of agriculture, “Liebig’s Organic Chemis¬ 
try,” andChaptal’s Agricultural Chemistry,” parti- 
cularly the American editions, are superior to any oth¬ 
ers. Few volumes on agriculture have yet been publish- 
