142 
THE CULTIVATOR 
&nst»ers to Stiquirks, &c. 
CASTOR OIL BEAN—CELERY. 
A correspondent in Green Co., Arkansas, “requests 
some information as to the raising of the castor oil bean, 
and the preparation of the oil for use; also some instruc¬ 
tion as to raising and preparing celery for the table. 
The castor oil plant, ( Ricinus palma christi ,) is grown 
from seeds planted in rows in a fertile soil, and kept free 
from weeds while growing. The distance of planting 
must be determined by the height to which the plant 
grows, which in a cool or temperate climate will not be 
more than four or five feet, while in the hot regions of 
the East and West Indies, it will be 15 or 16 feet in 
height. 
There are two ways of preparing the oil from the 
seeds. The plan adopted in France, and which is con¬ 
sidered the best, is as follows:—The fresh ripened seeds 
are bruised, and then put into a cold press, and pressed 
with a force sufficient to extract the oil. The oil is al¬ 
lowed to stand for some time, to deposit the mucilage, 
albumen, &c. and is then filtered. This is the best cold 
pressed oil, and is a clear fine article. The most com¬ 
mon mode of preparing the oil, however, is to strip the 
seeds of their husk or pods, and grind, or bruise them in 
large mortars, bruising being preferred to grinding. 
They are then tied in linen bags, and boiled in water un¬ 
til the oil they contain rises to the surface. This is 
skimmed off, strained, and purified, by standing, filtering, 
&c., but will never be quite equal to the cold pressed. 
The method in the East Indies is more complicated, but 
does not appear to be preferable in any respect, to those 
above. 
In the cultivation of celery, the seed may be sown 
broadcast or in drills, but the best way is in drills, as the 
plants can be hoed, and will have a better growth. They 
should be sown early, say March or April. When the 
plants are two or three inches long, they may be put out 
in a nursery bed, from which in about a month, they 
may be transferred to the trenches. The trenches must 
be made in a rich soil, about a spade deep, and three 
feet apart; the earth dug out to be laid equally on each 
side the trench. Some thoroughly rotten manure must 
then be put in the bottom of the ditch, say three inches, 
and then earth pared from the sides of the trench must be 
fully mixed and incorporated with the manure. Into 
this, the plants, trimmed of their loose or long leaves, 
and the end of their roots cut off, may be dibbled or 
planted, in rows along the middle of the trench, the plants 
six inches apart. They must be well watered at plant¬ 
ing, and will do better if shaded till they begin to grow. 
As the plants grow, the leaves are drawn together, and 
earthed up, by drawing the earth from the bank into the 
trench; a process necessary to bleach the stems and fit 
them for the table. This earthing up must be done in 
about every two weeks, care being taken not to cover 
the crown of the plant. The earthing should not be 
done in wet weather, as it is apt to make the plants rust 
or decay in spots, rendering them unsuitable for the ta¬ 
ble. For more full directions, we must refer our cor¬ 
respondent to works on gardening, «f which “ Bridgman’s 
Gardener’s Assistant,” is one of the best known. 
MEADOWS—GRASS, &c. 
Messrs. Editors —Permit me to make a few inqui¬ 
ries; and in the first place as to Meadow. I desire to 
know the soil best adapted; the most favorable location; 
whether an occasional overflow is desirable or perni¬ 
cious; the best mode of preparing the land; whether if 
it be creek land it should be drained; the best time to 
sow the seed, and the kind and quantity of seed per acre? 
2d. In relation to clover. Will high rolling land an¬ 
swer for clover; and if so, what preparation is necessa¬ 
ry; and when best time to sow the seed, and the quanti¬ 
ty of seed per acre? 
3d. What gives the name to the “ Orchard grass.” Is 
it because of its adaptation to ground on which fruit or 
other trees are growing? Will it grow as well among 
shade trees, as an orchard? What quantity of seed should 
be sown to an acre? 
I trust I shall not be deemed officious in making these 
inquiries, as I am new in the business of farming, and 
am desirous of the best information. W. II. W. 
Rocky Hill, Halifax co. N. C. 
The soil best adapted for meadows, is that which is 
neither too wet or too dry. Very light sandy soils are 
not suitable for meadow, unless made more retentive by 
the application of clay, or clay marl. No land is fit for 
meadow, unless in the first place made very rich. The 
most favorable location will of course be near the farm 
buildings, where strong reasons do not forbid; unless it 
is intended by a rotation, to have all parts of the farm 
alternately mowed and cropped. Overflows are not in¬ 
jurious, unless they bring on dirt and gravel after the grass 
is grown, which will injure the mowing. Irrigation is 
always beneficial to meadows in dry weather. Spring 
floods improve, but summer floods destroy meadows. 
Wet land should always be drained for meadows; none 
of the fine grasses for hay, will grow on land subject to 
stagnant waters. For meadows on soils that can be 
cropped, the best way is to sow the seeds with winter or 
spring grain; where this cannot be done, any method 
that will cover the seeds, such as thorough harrowing, 
may be adopted. Clover is one of the best grasses for 
meadows, combined with others that will give a close 
thick covering to the ground; but it must be remember- 
. , ' . .. t 
ed that the seeding for permanent meadows must be dif¬ 
ferent from those in a course of cropping. If in rota¬ 
tion, clover must be the grass relied on; if permanent, 
the clover must be less, and the other grasses in a great¬ 
er proportion. With clover may be mixed, Timothy, 
(Phleum pratcnsc,) Orchard grass, ( Dactylis glomerata ,) 
Red top, (Agrostis vulgaris,) and some have strongly re¬ 
commended the Rye grass, ( Lolium perenne ,) or the Oat 
grass, (Avena clatior.) Where the dependence is on clo¬ 
ver, from eight to ten pounds of seed per acre, may be 
used; it being remembered that the more plants can be 
made to grow, the finer and better will be the hay or 
pasture. The other grasses we have named may be 
mixed at pleasure; say two pounds of timothy, five or 
six lbs. of Orchard grass, and five of clover. Where 
plaster can be used, there is no herbage plant equal to 
clover, and on this the good farmer will mostly rely. 
In answer to the 2d query, we say that light rolling 
lands will grow good clover, but not poor lands of any 
kind. There must be sufficient depth for the long tap 
root, and if the soil is dry and not exhausted, clover will 
flourish. On clover grown on dry sandy soils, plaster 
produces a magical effect. On such soil ten pounds of 
seed per acre, will not be too much. 
Orchard grass has received its name, from its adapta¬ 
tion to orchards and groves, where it thrives in the shade 
well, making excellent pasture, alone or mixed with 
other grasses. The seed of this grass is very light, and 
if sow T n alone, two bushels to the acre, will not be too 
much. Orchard grass and clover go well together; one 
bushel of Orchard grass, and six lbs. of clover seed; al¬ 
though some use a less quantity. To ensure the germi¬ 
nation and success of grass seeds, it is an excellent plan 
to follow the sowing of them with the roller. 
WATER LIME—CISTERNS. 
Charles Merriwether, of Graysville, Ky., requests 
some “ information as to burning water or hydraulic lime, 
the best sand to mix with it, and the mode of making 
cisterns.” 
Hydraulic lime is burned in the usual manner, but as 
it will not slake like common lime, it is ground to fit it 
for use. Hydraulic lime varies so much in quality, that 
no general rule can be given as to the quantity of sand it 
will bear in making cement. When good, three bush¬ 
els of sand to one of lime, will be the proper quantity, 
although some use more sand. The sand should be sharp, 
and clean. There should be no loam or clay among it; 
since if these are present, the cement will not have the 
requisite hardness, or set quickly. The best method of 
making cisterns, is to dig the excavation of the proper 
size and depth; then make over the bottom a firm floor 
of stone, or brick laid in cement, (a single flat stone like 
those used for paving, that will make an entire bottom, 
is the best,) and on this foundation, build the wall of 
stone or brick for the reservoir. Whatever may be the 
material of the wall, it should receive one or two coats 
of cement on the inside, to insure its being water tight. 
Some, in making cisterns, place the cement on the earth 
of the pit, using neither stone or bricks. Where the 
ground is very dry, and the sides can be made smooth, 
this method, where two or more coverings of cement are 
used, may answer; but in general, die best way is to 
construct a wall as above directed The cistern when 
made, must be covered so as to be secure against frost. 
In making the cement, it must not be wet up, or pre¬ 
pared, faster than it is wanted for use, as lying for any 
considerable time spoils it. 
CORN CHANGED BY CLIMATE. 
Otj r correspondent, R. S. Hardwick, of Sparta, 
Georgia, has given us an account of the effect which a 
change of climate has produced on some Chinese Tree 
Corn, which he purchased in New-York, and first plant¬ 
ed in 1838. That year it grew about six feet high, had 
abundance of suckers, and bore from four to six small 
ears. In the succeeding years, it was planted and ma¬ 
tured as before, there being a decrease in the number of 
ears, but the stalks and the ears increasing somewhat in 
size. “ This year I planted it in my garden in April, in 
rows 3 feet apart, and the grains sixteen inches apart in 
the rows. The growth was most luxuriant, and I pro¬ 
mised myself an early supply of roasting ears, but to my 
surprise, it put out no suckers, and continued its growth 
until it attained a size greater than my field corn, (the 
gourdseed,) most of the stalks being ten feet high, and 
five and a half inches in circumference, between the first 
and second joints. Most of the stalks have two ears, 
smaller than the gourdseed, but the grains, though pre¬ 
serving the form and the peculiar white flinty appearance 
of the Chinese corn, are much larger than the original 
seeds. In this patch in my garden, there are eight stalks, 
about the size of the original ones, but having no suck¬ 
ers, and only two ears to the stalk, these being one size 
smaller than those on the large stalks. I can hardly 
think these changes have taken place in consequence of 
mixture with other varieties, as great care has been ta¬ 
ken to guard against such a result, by not planting it near 
any other kind. The things I have deemed most worthy 
of notice, are, the change that has taken place the pre¬ 
sent year in the size, and the few stalks that have re¬ 
tained their original size under the same circumstances 
with the large ones. Will you give me some of the 
whys and wherefores, of these changes?” 
Perhaps we can best answer our correspondent, by re¬ 
lating our experience in the Chinese Corn. We ob¬ 
tained some the same year as Mr. H., and planted it in 
our garden. The growth was enormous, almost rivaling 
the stories told of western corn, in height and largeness 
of stalk. The suckers thrown out, made the patch thick 
as a cane swamp. From three to five ears were on a stalk. 
Since that time, it has decreased in size, until it is now no 
larger tt an the Dutton, or other common northern corn, 
has no suckers, and oftener only one ear to a stalk, than 
more than two. To us, this result proved that this corn 
was a native of a warmer latitude, and the diminishing 
in size the result of acclimazation. Such too, we consi¬ 
der the change taken place in the corn of our corres¬ 
pondent. It may, too, have been in some degree influ¬ 
enced by a cross with other varieties of southern corn, 
although under the circumstances, it is not probable. 
Planting in Georgia, has gradually restored it to the state 
in which it existed in its most favorable condition. 
SWARMING PF BEES. 
“ Messrs. Editors —Can you tell me any thing re¬ 
specting the best method of managing bees when swarm¬ 
ing? It is the practice with some who have bees, when 
they are swarming, to commence beating on tin pans, or 
kettles, to ring bells, &c. &c. I should like to know 
whether it is of any use, or whether it is best to let them 
take their own way? Agriculturist.” 
Brandywine, Del. 
Let them take their own way, while swarming, by all 
means. Such noises are as useless, as the making of 
them is ridiculous. When the swarm is out, and lit, be 
ready with a good clean sweet hive for their habitation, 
put them into it at once, and no further care will be neces¬ 
sary. If bees are disposed to go off, as they sometimes 
will, our experience shows that we can do little or no¬ 
thing to prevent it. We can only hope for “ better luck 
next time.” 
VARIETIES—SUGGESTION. 
A correspondent at Buffalo, eC G. P.” has drawn the 
following portrait of what he calls an enemy of book 
farming, a class of men once very numerous, but now 
fortunately quite limited. After noticing the many be¬ 
nefits he has derived from agricultural reading, he says: 
“ The individual I allude to, despised books and papers, 
saying book farming was fit only for fools; other people 
could get along well enough without it. His wood yard 
was in front of his house; the gate was broken down; 
the windows broken and filled w r ith rags; around his 
barn roamed numbers of half starved cattle and pigs, the 
strongest rushing over the weakest, and twice as many 
of all kinds as he could keep with profit. And such pigs! 
They w r ere the true landpilie breed; legs and snouts as 
long as the rest of their body; and might be seen stand¬ 
ing at a rail fence, digging up the third row of potatoes 
on the other side. Improvement of stock, he scorned as 
he did books; mortgages accumulated, and his farm went 
under the hammer of the auctioneer.” 
“I have seen a communication in the Cultivator, in 
which the writer says he always takes away the nest 
eggs, and that he has never known a nest deserted in 
consequence. His experience differs from mine; as I 
have kept some 20 or 30 hens for several years, and they 
almost always leave their nest when the nest eggs are re¬ 
moved. My hens are of the breed called Poland hens, 
excellent layers, and rarely setting until the third year.” 
“ There are many farmers who complain of being too 
poor to purchase and pay for an agricultural paper. As 
I have not seen the thing mentioned, I would suggest the 
propriety of forming- farmer’s associations or clubs, to 
purchase books and papers, relating to agriculture; and 
having meetings at suitable places to take out books and 
papers, to relate their experience in farming, and discuss 
topics relating to agriculture. In this way by the pay¬ 
ment of a very small sum individually, a large circle of 
farmers might be provided for; and I have no doubt 
with the most beneficial results.” 
CAPT. BARCLAY S TOUR. 
We have received from a Staten Island corresponden 
a well written and caustic reply to the remarks made 0 ” 
Capt. Barclay, respecting the ag-riculture and implements 
of that Island. He unquestionably has the tourist fairly 
on the hip; but a formal reply to opinions as hastily 
conceived and carelessly expressed, as many of Capt. 
Barclay’s evidently were, can scarcely be necessary. 
Allowance in all such cases, must be made for prejudi¬ 
ces, and reverence for ancient forms; and the errors such 
prejudices create,, may safely be left to correct them¬ 
selves. Capt. B, tells many truths, mixed up with some 
singular mistakes or blunders, and we read his book on 
the whole, with interest, although compelled at times to 
dissent from his positions or conclusions. Our corres¬ 
pondent will therefore pardon us if we confine ourselves 
to an extract or two from his paper, believing as we do, 
that the strictures of the veteran Captain, will have about 
the same effect in lessening the reputation of Staten Is¬ 
land agriculture, that the disappointment he felt at the 
want of system in Niagara, will have in lowering the 
reputation of the Falls: 
“It is very much to be regretted, that any person 
should be guilty of publishing to the world, so gross a 
misrepresentation of the character and habits of the in¬ 
habitants of a whole county, as this person has done, and 
thereby destroy his own standing in the community, as a 
man of honor and veracity; for I do assure you, that if 
would hereafter be a difficult matter to induce any per¬ 
son acquainted with the agriculturists of this place, and 
the agricultural implements in use here, to credit any 
statement he has made, or may hereafter make: and in 
