160 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
At 
APPLICATION OF MANURES, &c. 
Messrs. Editors —Among all the correspondents of 
the Cultivator, whose communications render its pages so 
pleasing and instructive, none rank higher for usefulness 
to the practical farmer in my estimation than Commenta¬ 
tor. It does one good to see the various communica¬ 
tions pass in review before him, and stripped of their 
useless lumber, weighed at their true value in his judi¬ 
cious balance. I am emboldened to send you this by 
observing that Commentator has ever confined his criti¬ 
cisms to the matter and not to the manner of the several 
articles; and no one who has exhibited any degree of 
common sense, has been lashed for lack of scholarship. 
This is as it should be; for but few of us practical farm¬ 
ers have ever been bred to Latin, and are highly gratified 
if we can make ourselves understood in homely English. 
Having been a constant reader of the Cultivator from its 
commencement, there are many articles in the back num¬ 
bers that stand out in bold relief on the memory, and, 
like the prominent objects of a landscape, arrest the at¬ 
tention whereon the various subjects recur to my mind, 
that have been discussed pro and con by the numerous 
correspondents of this most valuable paper. Such an 
article is one signed by James M. Garnet, of Virginia, 
on the application of manures, published in the August 
number for 1839. Now anything from the pen of that dis¬ 
tinguished gentleman and friend of agriculture, prompt¬ 
ed as he evidently is by an ardent desire for the improve¬ 
ment of his brother farmers, and supported by his long 
experience, has almost the force of law with me; yet 
the article above alluded to does so clash with all my 
former opinions and observations on the application of 
manures, that I am confounded and perplexed, and have 
often regretted that Commentator did not commence his 
office sooner. 
One at least will be gratified, and perhaps others may, 
if he will even now review the experiments of Mr. Garnet 
in this instance, and see if the conclusion which he has 
drawn from them is correct—“ that it is always best to 
apply manure on the surface of land.” We at the North 
hardly think those experiments conclusive proof of the 
above position; but it may be so in the latitude of Mr. Gar¬ 
net, and perhaps of Commentator. Mr. G. says —“ I be¬ 
gan by penning my cattle late in the spring, and continued 
it until frost; in pens of the same size, moved at regular 
intervals of time, and containing the same number of 
cattle during the whole period. These pens were al¬ 
ternately plowed and left unplowed until the following 
spring, when all were planted in corn, immediately fol¬ 
lowed by wheat. The superiority of both crops on all 
the pens which had remained unplowed for so many 
months after the cattle had manured them, was just as 
distinctly marked as if the dividing fences had continued 
standing.” That it is best to leave yards in which cat¬ 
tle are penned, and on which they let fall small quanti¬ 
ties of manure on each succeeding night, which is left 
exposed to all the atmospheric influences, under the al¬ 
most vertical sun of Virginia, (for we know not how 
many days) until all is evaporated which constituted the 
chief reason for burying it in the soil, unplowed until 
the following spring, is undoubtedly proved by this ex¬ 
periment; and also one other point is clearly proved, 
that is the vast superiority of spring plowing over sum¬ 
mer fallowing; for the plowed pens were virtually put 
under a summer fallow, and the soil too, perhaps, a loose 
sand. But how does it prove that it is always best to 
spread all green or unfermented manures on the surface 
of land? This is the point on which we should be glad 
to have the opinion of Commentator. 
One other experiment in the aforesaid communica¬ 
tion, in which Mr. Garnet attempts to prove that if any¬ 
thing should evaporate from surface spread manure, it 
will all be absorbed by the tops of plants, and I have 
done. He says—“all the bark was taken off from 
around the body of certain young trees in a ring about 
three inches wide;” and he manifests surprise that the 
part above the decortication increased in size faster than 
below. Think you, Mr. Commentator, the next time 
Mr. Garnet holds out his arm to his surgeon to be bled, 
and sees the vein swelling between the ligature and his 
extremities, he will come at once to the conclusion that 
he takes in food at his finger’s tip? I have observed 
these phenomena frequently, but have always thought 
them proof only of obstructed circulation in both cases. 
“ It does not appear as plain as the nose on a man’s face,” 
that Mr. Garnet is right in either of the above conclu¬ 
sions; but I am young, and I reckon that I may change 
my opinion yet on many things if I shall live to be old, 
and shall wait with some anxiety for Commentator’s 
opinion. If anything in this communication should ap¬ 
pear disrespectful to Mr. Garnet, I hope he will not 
think it designed; for he may be assured there is no ag¬ 
ricultural writer of the day whose opinions, in general, 
are more highly valued. Yours, &c. 
Kingsbury, Wash, co., N. Y. L. B. Armstrong. 
TOAD FLAX. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker— Agreeable to your re¬ 
quest, I will give you my views and experience in re¬ 
gard to the best method of destroying the toad flax, more 
commonly known among us Dutchess county farmers, by 
the name of snap dragon. Two spots of some size were 
discovered on my farm a few years back. My attention 
was immediately turned to their destruction. I made 
frequent inquiries of my neighbors and others as to the 
best mode of destroying them without success. In the 
mean time, I was determined that they should not bear 
ary seed to spread from that source. I commenced in 
the early part of the summer, not far from the first of 
June, to tear or rather pull them ofl by hand. This 
done, I waited until the second growth came, and 
then repeated the pulling; and I think in the latter part 
of the summer, the third was repeated. I found at each 
successive pulling they grew less in number, and were 
more feeble in their appearance. The following sum¬ 
mer but very few made their appearance. I pursued the 
same course of pulling some two or three times, which 
made a complete finish of them. I have not seen any¬ 
thing of the kind on my farm since that time, which is 
about six years. This method is much easier than to 
destroy them by tilling, where spots occupied by them 
are not too extensive. The proper time to destroy 
these noxious weeds is when they first make their ap¬ 
pearance ; and not wait until acres together are covered 
with them, which is the case in many places in this 
county. In this case, I would recommend my brother 
farmers to try the plan which you have recommended— 
by frequent tilling; which plan I think would succeed 
if thoroughly done. P. R. S 
La Grange, Dutchess county, June 17, 1842. 
BOOK KEEPING FOR FARMERS. 
Messrs. Editors —Agricultural book keeping natu¬ 
rally divides itself under several distinct heads,—as you 
may wish to ascertain the net profits of the farm; the 
profits of a single field or crop; the relative value of dif¬ 
ferent crops of grain or grass; or the net profit or loss of 
your whole business, including family expenses and all 
others, and every item of income, whether from the farm 
or any other source. 
The profit and loss of your whole business, is readily 
ascertained, by entering daily, in a journal or day book, 
each item of receipts and expenses. The source of the 
income and the object of the expense must be stated, that 
in footing up, it may be carried into the right column. 
At the end of the year these are carried into two chief 
columns, and the difference is your profit or loss. A long 
running account with your hired men, might be kept on 
separate sheets of Dr. and Cr., and the sum be transferred 
at the regular times of settlement. 
The income and expenses of the farm, comes under 
another head, with which your miscellaneous receipts 
and family expenses have nothing to do. To have this 
correct, you will in going over your journal at the close 
of the year, (the last of March,) carry each item of your 
farm account into a column by itself. 
These are the chief items: 
Receipts , 
Rent, if any, to tenant. 
Grain sold or used in family. 
Pork do. do. do. 
Beef do. do. do. 
Wool, sheep, &c. 
Butter and milk sold or used. 
Hay. pasture, &c. sold. 
Increased value of stock.* 
Expenses. 
Labor. 
Stock purchased. 
Seed purchased. 
Plaster. 
Decreased value of stock. 
Wear and Tear. 
Board of workmen. 
Taxes on the land. 
The balance of these two columns is your profit or loss 
on the farm, and aids in estimating the value of land, la¬ 
bor, &c. The net proceeds, above a moderate interest, 
shows the value of your labor and skill. 
A third head refers to the relative value of different 
crops, &c. and, although it cannot be carried out with 
such accuracy, yet it helps guess. To this end, let there 
be entered in a journal, the number of acres of each par¬ 
ticular crop, with its products and value; seed sown, and 
labor expended, as far as can be estimated; the number 
of acres in meadow and in pasture; the amount of stock 
kept, and various other items which might be mentioned. 
These all should be exact, where it is possible, and where 
it is impossible, there should be an honest estimate, as no 
one wishes to deceive himself. There should be no guess 
work, for it is not every man can guess nearer than he 
can measure. 
Fi'om this last journal, kept for a series of years, you 
learn the annual average produce of your different crops, 
and their value; the relative importance of grain and 
grass, of cattle and sheep; the value of different soils, 
and the value of any particular plan of farming. 
N. B. These accounts for a single year are of very lit¬ 
tle value; it is the average annual result that informs the 
judgment. It is not only very gratifying to know these 
results, but it is of the highest importance, especially to 
the young farmer, and he will constantly refer to the 
back pages of his book, as a guide to his future opera¬ 
tions ; and let me add that the time and labor of keeping 
these accounts is very small. I speak from ten years ex¬ 
perience. Newton Reed. 
Amenia, Dutchess co. June, 1842. 
LAMP FOR BURNING LARD. 
Messrs. Editors —Mr. Ellis S. Archer, of No. 32 
North Second st., Philadelphia, has invented a lamp for 
burning “ hog’s lard.” The lard is warmed sufficiently 
to run, and then put into the lamp, which is all the pre¬ 
paration required. The lamp when lighted, burns with 
a most beautiful brilliant and clear light, and throws off 
none of that offensive smoke that is frequently produced 
by lamps burning sperm oil. This invention, will, I 
have no doubt, enhance the price of lard, and thereby 
make the growing of swine much more profitable to the 
farmer. Mr. Archer, I presume will attend the Cattle 
Show and Fair to be held at Albany, the last of Sept., so 
* These items in regard to stock, will not of course be found 
in both columns, but as the annual inventory of stock shall m- 
picate. 
that the farmers of your state will have an opportunity 
to examine his lamp for themselves. 
Thos. Hancock. 
WINTERING SHEEP. 
Messrs. Editors— Upon page 97, of Cult. vol. VIII, is 
given an experiment and statistical account of wintering 
sheep, by C. M. of Ludlowville. I admit C. M.’s expe¬ 
riment may be a good one; but shall we be satisfied with 
good, if better be as easily obtained, and even with great¬ 
er certainty? I trow not. C. M.’s economy, is Oat Straw 
and Oats; mine is, Pea Straiv only. Pea straw, say you? 
What, pea straw, and nothing else? Though this inter¬ 
rogative seems perfectly natural, from the appearance of 
the pea vine, and though many, very many, have been 
astounded by its nutritive qualities when being informed of 
them, yet have I not been less surprised in seeing all these 
qualities wasted, which might otherwise be the support 
of animal life. Yes, gentlemen, pea straw alone, of it¬ 
self, is first best to winter sheep upon. It sustains life, 
and answers that end more effectually, than the best of 
hay can do. This position is based upon fact; it is not 
conjecture. By those who have tested them, and to whom 
credence may be given,peas are said to be superior to corn, 
or any other grain for fattening swine. I think them excel¬ 
lent, when pulverised, as feed for cattle designed to be 
slaughtered. Though the horse does not at once eat the 
pea when ground, (it being too hard In its natural state for 
mastication, without being soaked or softened in water,) 
yet when a taste or fondness is acquired by him, it seems 
as magical, as that of persons forming a liking for tomatoes, 
alcohol, or tobacco. Peas are easy and profitable to raise. 
They will yield from 20 to 30 bush, per acre, varying in 
price from 4s. 6d. to 6s., averaging 65t cents; besides, 
peas, so far as I have been able to observe, impart, or 
add (instead of detracting, impoverishing, and making 
sterile, the lands off from which they are taken,) proper¬ 
ties which give vivacity and fertility to the soil, favora¬ 
ble to wheat. Generally wheat looks best this spring, 
where sown earliest in the fall, (lands being equally 
fruitful, and rotation of crops alike pursued, and tillage 
the same,) but though my fallow ground promises a full 
harvest, my pea ground, only separated from it by a road, 
bears the appearance of the more productiveness. Lest 
I weary you by my digressions, or over particularity, I 
will add only a single remark. To fill the mouths of 
from 3 to 500 sheep, I have found to be by sad experi¬ 
ence, a great tax by feeding them upon hay: yes, gen¬ 
tlemen, take warning. To feed such voracious jaws with 
hay, is too expensive. Well, I'll try them a day or two on 
pea straw. What was my expectation? Why,that my sheep 
would all look thin and meagre, and gaunted up, but the 
reverse was my astonishment. The past winter I have fed 
my sheep on pea straw entire, and never was my flock more 
hardy, hearty, or in better condition, than they now are. 
I’ve lost none, nor has there been a sick one in my whole 
flock. If farmers will keep their sheep in unbroken 
numbers, and in a healthy and growing condition, a 
cheaper, or more safe guarantee to such a result than the 
culture of peas, is not to be found. A ton of pea straw, 
well secured, will feed as many sheep as a ton of hay. 
Old Castle, Ont. co. N. Y., Ap. 16, 1842. H. C. G. 
ODDS AND ENDS. 
Scrap Book _If young men, I have a good mind to 
say young women too, who lack wherewithal to amuse 
themselves during the long evenings of winter, would 
procure a few quires of paper, (that called “ post office 
paper,” is suitable,) and stitch them neatly together, and 
commence saving scraps from the newspapers, and past¬ 
ing them in, they would in the course of a few years ga¬ 
ther a large bundle of Odds and Ends, more interesting 
perhaps than mine, although my first lot have proved in¬ 
teresting enough to cause them to be copied into many 
other papers. What a gratification to think I have been 
able to interest and amuse my fellow creatures, and light¬ 
en the toil of the laborer—to enable them to improve the 
mind, as well as the soil. 
Storing small Grain.— You in the east, who have 
large barns and graneries, and convenient saw mills and 
lumber yards, cannot conceive the difficulty that you 
might encounter when settled on a new farm in the west, 
forty miles from a saw mill. How would you store a few 
hundred, or a few thousand bushels of thrashed grain? 
Easy enough, if you only knew how—so could Careless 
have sealed his letter, if he had only known how. I will 
tell you how, and when you emigrate to the west, don’t 
forget. Take fence rails and lay down a floor, a little 
from the ground, and build up the sides by notching 
straight rails so they will be steady, and then take fine 
straw or hay, and tramp a layer smooth upon the floor, 
and caulk the cracks between the rails, and pour in the 
grain, and stack some straw over the top to keep out the 
rain, and your grain will keep better than in a close 
granery, and not waste a bushel in a hundred. 
Buckwheat may be thrashed upon just such a rail 
pen, covered over with rails, much better than upon the 
ground; the grain falling through the rails into the pen 
below. . 
A love of Reading, is one of the passions, which like 
all other passions not so good, grows by what it feeds 
on; and that parent who can, and does not furnish the 
means of whetting an appetite so salutary, when well di¬ 
rected, is guilty of the grossest injustice to his children. 
Newspapers are the mustard of food suitable for such ap¬ 
petites. Reader, do you take one? 
Solon Robinson. 
Lake C. H. Ia., 1842. 
