155 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Answers to Inquiries, $?z. 
Ottr friend J. Trevor, M. D., of Allegany city, Pa. who 
makes some inquiries of us respecting Hamilton, Madison 
co., is informed that the purposes he aims at in the edu¬ 
cation of his children, and their instruction in the prac¬ 
tice of agriculture, at the same time, can doubtless be se¬ 
cured at that place; and perhaps as advantageously as at 
any other. He will find that vicinity healthy; the soil 
generally good and suitable to the cultivation of most 
crops; labor to be had at the rate of from ten to twelve 
dollars per month; and farms doubtless to be purchased 
or leased, as he may desire. Under his circumstances, 
as detailed in his letter to us, we think leasing for a year 
or two, to give some little time for examination of farms 
and localities, would be preferable to purchase. Fifty 
or sixty acres will keep his sons, and one hired man, 
with abundance of employment, as he has suggested; 
small farms and high cultivation, is the true course for 
the farmer, and when this latter condition is reached, 
more land can be added at pleasure. We highly approve 
of Dr. Trevor’s intention to make his sons educated farm¬ 
ers;- and if more of the dwellers in cities, or professional 
men, would follow his example, and thus furnish their 
children the means of honest employment, we should 
doubtless be spared many of those instances of worthless¬ 
ness and profligacy, which now too frequently accompa¬ 
ny the possession of wealth and leisure. 
PLOW FOR CLOVER, &c. 
A correspondent at Selim’s Grove, Pa. says—“ The 
practice of turning over heavy growths of clover is gain¬ 
ing very rapidly in Middle Pa., and its advantages to the 
farmer are very apparent wherever the system is pur¬ 
sued. The task, however, of plowing in heavy clover, is 
a difficult and tedious one, owing to the fact of our having 
here no plow which will run under such circumstances 
without choking or clogging so much as to render it ne¬ 
cessary every few rods to clear the plow of the tangled 
clover, or have a boy with a fork to keep it clear. Even 
with all this precaution and expense, the clover will not 
be completely covered, and the furrow slices will be 
broken and irregular. The object of this communica¬ 
tion is to ask whether you are acquainted with any plow 
by the use of which, the above difficulties can be over¬ 
come. We want a plow which will run in heavy tan¬ 
gled clover without clogging—which shall turn a neat 
unbroken furrow slice, and by laying it flat, completely 
cover up the clover. 
“ One more inquiry. Are you acquainted with any 
plow which possessing the above properties unites with 
them the quality of turning the furrow slices all one way, 
being a right and left hand plow. We conceive the 
matter of having the whole field turned in one direction 
as of great importance. It would have no open or dead 
furrows; it would save the time consumed in walking 
the horses across the ends of the lands in order to com¬ 
mence the next furrow; and in harrowing it would also 
be of advantage, for being- thus plowed, you may with¬ 
out any trouble, keep every spire of grass out of sight, 
and leave the land in the finest condition possible.” 
The best plow we haye ecu or used, for turning a 
a perfectlyqfiat fum :, is the Worcester plow, (Ruggles 
& Mason’s) although Prouty and Mears’ for flat furrows, 
is not much inferior. But we know of no plow which 
will pass through heavy lodged or tangled clover, with¬ 
out clogging, unless some preparatory steps are adopted. 
If the clover stand erect, passing a heavy roller over it, 
in the direction the plow is to run, will lay it smooth 
and obviate many of the above difficulties. If the clover 
is badly lodged or tangled, it has been found a good plan 
to give it a thorough harrowing in the same direction, as 
this will straighten the clover as well as lay it down. If 
either of these methods, howevex-, are adopted, the ne¬ 
cessity of plowing in lands is obvious. 
As a right and left hand, or side hill plow, there is 
nothing equal to Mooer’s Ithaca plow, for ease of draft 
and perfection of work; and unlike the common side hill 
plows, it wox-ks exceeding well on level or plain land. 
In the use which we have seen made of this plow, it did 
not lay the furrows as flat as the Worcester plow, which 
in plowing in clover would be an objection, while on 
some soils, it would be a decided recommendation. 
Our expex-ience, and that of many farmers in the wheat 
growing districts of New-York, would lead us to feeding 
off the clover, after it had attained a heavy growth, by 
sheep, or rather breaking it and ti-ampling it down, pre¬ 
vious to the use of the plow. We prefer sheep to any 
other animal for this purpose, as the clover will be fed 
or trampled more equally, and all the manure will be 
left on the field. But however the clover may be used, 
we can assure our Pennsylvania friends, that by its libe¬ 
ral use, they are in the sure way of enriching their farms 
and themselves. 
CHESS. 
Mr. T. Hudson, of Ohio, a gentleman who our read¬ 
ers are already aw.are, is a firm believer in the ti-ansmu- 
tation of grain, writes to us that he has commenced a se¬ 
ries of experiments with wheat, rye and oats, for the pur¬ 
pose of satisfying the community that chess may be pro¬ 
duced from other grains; and he adds—“With regard to 
my experiments, I intend they shall be accompanied with 
such proof as will satisfy the most sceptical; and the x-e- 
sult, with such proof, may hereafter be forwarded for 
publication in the Cultivator.” We perfectly agree with 
our friend Mr. H., that it is very desirable this vexed 
question should be settled, (we indeed consider it to be 
so most conclusively,) and shall expect to hear, if his 
experiments are so conducted as to preclude the possi¬ 
bility of mistake,, that he has wholly failed in the pro¬ 
duction of chess. 
OIL FROM HEMP SEED. 
We regret that we are xmable to inform our subscriber 
at Canton, Fulton, Ill. of the quantity of oil a bushel of 
hemp seed will produce. Others have made the same in¬ 
quiry ; and if any of'our subscribers have practical know- 
edge on the subject, and will communicate it for the 
Cultivator, we shall consider them as conferring a favor. 
The great increase of the hemp crop at the west, the 
present year, renders this information very desirable. 
SOWING CLOYER SEED IN THE FALL. 
G. T. Thompson, of Addison co. Vt., asks —“Is it a 
favoi-able season to sow clover seed in the month of Sep- 
tembei’, with rye, after the first harrowing and before the 
last, so as to be covered with the said last hai-rowing? 
The doubt felt is, whether it will not come up before 
winter sets in, and being too tender to endure the severe 
frosts of our climate, be lost.” The instances in which 
we have known clover sown in the fall at the north, have 
not spoken much in favor of the px-actice; the frost usu¬ 
ally destroying the young plants, and invariably so on 
ground liable to heave. The di-outh will sometimes de¬ 
stroy clover sown in the spring, but we have rarely known 
it to fail, when a dressing of plaster was given the field 
after the young clover plants were up. Our practice is to 
sow all gx-ass seeds in the spring, either on winter wheat 
or with spring grains. 
CHINESE PROPAGATION OF FRUIT. 
An article has been going the rounds of the newspa¬ 
pers of the country, stating in substance that the Chinese 
propagate fruit by selecting such limbs as can best be 
spared from choice fruit trees, and by means of strips of 
cloth, binding around them two or three quarts of moist 
earth. This is not allowed to become dry, and in a few 
months it becomes filled with small roots and fibres 
thrown out from the branch. The branch is then sepa¬ 
rated below the earth and planted, thus forming a young 
tree. J. King, Esq. of Dubuque, Iowa, has called our 
attention to this statement, and asks “wliether we have 
ever known this method practiced in the U. States, and 
if so, with what success?” Personally, we have never 
seen this operation performed; but we have noticed se¬ 
veral accounts of its successful performance. Indeed 
there can be no doubt of this, as it is only the mode of pro¬ 
pagation by layering, with this difference, that instead 
of the branch being brought to the earth, the eai-th is 
brought to the branch. The shooting of the roots may 
take place without ringing, but to ensure success, a nar¬ 
row strip of the bark should be removed from the branch 
before the earth is appl ed. This operation will succeed 
but when the leaves are well developed, as their presence 
is necessary to elaborate the sap for the formation of the 
roots at the place of separation. 
POULTRY INQUIRIES. 
An “ Inquirei-” has submitted to us a variety of que¬ 
ries in relation to Poultry; the nature of which will be 
sufficiently indicated by the x-eplies, without occupying a 
column by their insertion. 
1. As to buildings, it matters not how cheap and sim¬ 
ple the poultry house may be, if it is made to combine 
the qualities of security fi-om vei-min, ventilation in sum¬ 
mer, and indeed at all times; and wax-mth in winter. We 
would not advise any farmer who does not intend to make 
the rearing of poultry an important part of his farm bu¬ 
siness, to make any expensive structures for their use. 
2. Hens should not lay near those that are setting, or 
with them, as trouble will most assuredly ensue. If two 
hens wish to set together, shut one of them up for a few 
days, and there will be no difficulty. 
3. Boxes for hens to lay, or set in, are best when 
placed around the lower part or floor of the building, ra¬ 
ther than in tiers above each other, as they will be less 
likely to interfere with each other. The front part of 
the boxes should be partially closed, as fowls on their 
nests dislike notice. 
4. Hens might escape small vermin by having their 
nests on the ground, but eggs will rarely hatch well in 
that position. Straw or hay should form the nest. 
5. The best preventive of vermin we have ever known, 
is a box of sand and ashes for them to dust themselves in 
at all seasons. We have never known fowls injured by 
vermin, that had access to such boxes; and if provided 
with these, and limestone gravel, they will be rarely 
troubled with the gapes. We have kept poultry for thir¬ 
ty years, and have never, to our knowledge, lost a fowl 
from this disease. We have little doubt, that where the 
premises occupied by poultry are once infested with ver¬ 
min, removal will be useful; or a thorough cleansing 
and whitewashing may be adopted. 
6. We know of no way of preventing hens from lay¬ 
ing where they please, unless by confining them to their 
houses or yards. An egg placed in a nest will frequent¬ 
ly attract them to that spot, but not always. Fowls will, 
however, always do better with the same feeding, to run 
at large at all seasons, the coldest weather excepted, than 
if confined to houses or yards. 
7. The Malay and the Molucca are the same, or with 
vexy slight variations. The Dorking originated in Sur¬ 
ry, England, is pure white, and is distinguished from all 
other varieties by having five toes on each foot. The 
Game breed of fowls is slender in form, and their eggs 
small, but their flesh is superior to all other kinds in rich¬ 
ness and delicacy. Their pugnacious disposition is the 
great objection to this breed. 
8. Breeding in and in, affects fowls as it does other 
animals, very injuriously; and a change of cocks occa¬ 
sionally, or as often as every second year, is necessary. 
9. With the breeds of fowls commonly reared in Vir¬ 
ginia, we are unacquainted, and know not whether the 
Dorking or Poland breeds exist there in purity or other¬ 
wise. 
10. Eggs may be kept for a long time in salt; but eggs 
intended for setting, should always be as new as possi¬ 
ble ; keeping them in any method injures them for this 
pui-pose. Neither cox'n meal, bran, or sand, will pre¬ 
serve eggs as well as salt. Salt prevents that increase or 
variation of temperature that all these allow. Protection 
from atmospheric change, and a low temperature, are 
requisite for the keeping of eggs; and where salt is used, 
a few inches of this material is all the covering neces¬ 
sary. 
11. Sulphur is one of the best substances for freeing all 
animals from vermin, by feeding it to them occasionally. 
Although we have never known the slightest injury re¬ 
sult from its use, excessive quantities might possibly 
prove hurtful, and they are certainly useless. 
12. The common duck or mallard is the only variety 
that can be profitably reared, as all others appear less 
hardy, require more care, and being wilder, are more 
disposed to make their escape. We are not aware that 
the wild turktsy has ever been crossed with the domestic 
one, or that a Wfccessful attempt has been made to do¬ 
mesticate them. Such attempts appear to be scorned 
equally by the wild Turkey and the Pai-tridge. 
FEEDING CATTLE. 
Our correspondent “E. M.” referring to our state¬ 
ment of Dr. Mease’s method of fattening cattle, given at 
page 126 of the Aug. Cultivator, asks,—“ Does Dr. M. 
mean in the above, that each animal will consume 30 
quarts of provender a day, and from that up to a bushel 
and a half; or does he mean that he should be fed with 
10 to 16 quarts a day? And is the half peck of boiled 
potatoes with a handful of Indian meal strewed over 
them, to constitute the animal’s daily allowance at the 
expiration of the first ten days, or is it to be added to the 
meal? Will the Editors please explain?” 
The 10 or 16 quarts to each animal, is the quantity for 
each day, to be divided into three feeds. The peck of 
boiled potatoes with the handful of meal, three times a 
day, is a substitute for the meal fed before, and consti¬ 
tutes part of that change of food which the Dr. considers 
essential to success in feeding. This is the case with the 
chopped pumpkins, the sugar beet, or turneps; but if 
“ E. M.” will refer to the August number, he will see 
that whatever may be the nature of the principal food 
given, the corn meal, or corn and oat meal, must be its 
unfailing accompaniment. 
If “ E. M.” can have access to Mr. Colman’s 4th re¬ 
port on the agriculture of Mass., he will find some state¬ 
ments on the feeding of cattle, which will materially aid 
him in understanding the nature of the best process to be 
adopted. In some of the examples there given of stall 
feeding, four quarts of meal, and half a bushel of pota¬ 
toes, with hay, is the daily allowance; in others, eight 
or nine quarts of meal, with hay, is the food given; in 
another, eight quarts with hay, is the daily allowance, 
and ten quarts is considered enough for any animal. In 
all cases, excessive feeding is considered injurious; and 
we have little doubt, should “E. M.” feed his animals 
three times per day, with the daily allowance recom¬ 
mended by Dr. M., he would soon have no animals to 
feed. Experience proves, that we have forestall feeding 
animals, nothing equal to Indian meal, or a provender 
made of one-third oats and two-thirds corn; and as cloy¬ 
ing is the principal difficulty to be apprehended, occa¬ 
sional changes of food, or the usual food in lighter quan¬ 
tities, may be adopted with the best success. Perhaps 
in no part of the world is stall feeding cattle, better un¬ 
derstood or more successfully practiced, than among the 
farmers of the fertile valley of the Connecticut in Mas¬ 
sachusetts; and fi-om them lessons of the greatest value 
on this topic may be received. 
QUEEN BEE—AGAIN. 
Our unbelieving friend, Mr. Palmei', has sent us ano¬ 
ther note on the subject of the Queen Bee, in which he 
asks us whether our opinions on the matter at issue, have 
been formed from experience, or from information ob¬ 
tained from others. We answer, from both. We have 
kept bees for years; and we have also availed ourselves 
of the information in the best works on the subject, and 
we must say that on the subject of the three kinds of 
bees, neuter, di-one, and queen, the knowledge derived 
from both soui-ces has perfectly corresponded. 
We wish to correct a trifling error into which Mr. P. 
in his note, appears to have fallen. He maintains that 
the existence of a queen bee for the pui’pose of depositing 
the eggs, is an anomaly in nature, nothing like it being 
found elsewhere, from the highest to the lowest of ani¬ 
mal existence. Not to mention many other instances of 
this same law of nature, it is enough to refer Mr. P. to 
the Termes fatale, or wliite ant of the tropics, in which 
the female that deposits the eggs becomes a perfect mon¬ 
ster in size while in the gravid state, and Smeathman, 
Edwards, and other writers, estimate the number of eggs 
