3dly, That to lime moorish soils is a hazardous business, unless dung is likewise bestowed; but to repeat the application upon such soils, especially if they have been severely cropped, is almost a certain loss, and that a compost of lime and rich earth is, in such cases, the only substitute. but almost wholly incumbent upon a close bottom. | best to plough first, and to summer-fallow in the We ploughed this field from old grass, and second year, when lime can be applied. On new sowed it with oats. It was summer-fallowed in and clean grass land, hesitation is superfluous; it the second year, and dressed with lime, which may be limed at the outset, that is, before the was mostly applied hot from the kiln; being drawn plough is admitted. from the cart in regular sized heaps of five pecks each, or thereby, and spread the moment it was slaked by rain, or atmospherical moisture. About two-thirds of the field received 50 barley bolls, or 300 bushels per acre; the remainder from 60 to 70 bolls per acre; and the operation appeared to be in direct proportion to the quantity applied; nor was there any distinction discernible, betwixt what was applied hot, and what was completely effete; some of it, indeed, the season being remarkably wet, was nearly in a mortar state: the whole answered well, and operated immediately. 4thly, That strong loams and clays require a full dose to bring them into action; such soils being capable of absorbing a great quantity of calcareous matter. Lighter soils, however, require less lime to stimulate them, and may be injured by administering a quantity that would prove moderately beneficial to those of a heavy nature. It was noticed, in this field, that a few ridges, on which the lime was spread in a windy day, 5thly, That upon fresh land, or land in a proper carried crops rather inferior to those of the con- state for calcareous application, lime is much sutiguous ones: we apprehend that the most valua-perior to dung. Its effects continue for a longer ble particles of the lime had been carried off; and period; while the crops produced are of a supewould recommend, that spreading should be dis-rior kind, and less susceptible of injury from the continued, when a high wind arises. Much difference of opinion having prevailed, relative to the quality of the several limestone quarries in the neighborhood, a trial was made of lime from each of them, upon six adjoining ridges of the above field. Though a difference to the eye was visible in almost every one of these samples, yet the effect upon the ground was, from all of them, precisely similar; nor could the most accurate judge say which was the greatest. The quantity applied in each case was the same; and the operations of laying on the lime, spreading it, and ploughing the ground, were all carried on in an uniform manner. Field, No. 13.-Consisted of loam of different varieties, upon a bottom inclined to wetness, and the ridges lying in a broad and serpentine state. We ploughed for oats, and then took drilled beans, which were succeeded by wheat. The first and last crops suffered much from the grub. We fallowed the field in the fourth year, cleaving in different breadths, and cross ploughing the ridges, alternately, till the surface was completely levelled; then formed the ground into eighteen feet ridges, applied twelve double cart loads of dung, about one ton each, and fifty barley bolls of lime, to the Scots acre. The lime was laid on hot from the kiln, and spread as fast as it was pulverized. This quantity was found rather too much for the softest part of the field, which, after all, is a circumstance that rarely happens; but on the remainder the fermentation was not greater than necessary; and from this part of the field, the best crops have been procured, though the ridges were both higher and broader, and required more levellings than the other. We may now draw a few plain and practical inferences from what is stated. excesses of drought and moisture. Finally, the ground, particularly what is of a strong nature, is much easier wrought; and, in many instances, the saving of labor would almost tempt a judicious farmer to lime his land, were no greater benefit derived from the application, than the opportunity thereby gained of working it in a perfect manner. It may be added, that though strong soils require to be animated with a good dose of lime, those of a light texture will do equally well with little more than half the quantity requisite on the others, especially if they are fresh, or have not already received an application of calcareous matter. In every case it is the farmer only who can judge of the quantity to be given; but, as a general principle, it is safer to exceed the proper quantity than to be below it. In the latter case the application may prove useless, and the whole expense be lost; whereas it rarely happens that injury is sustained from an excess, especially if more or less dung is soon after administered. PRICE OF DURHAM Cattle. From the Genesee Farmer. Many consider it a sufficient proof of false estimate of the value of Durham cattle, that the price is ten times greater than the animals would bring as beef in market, or than their proceeds amount to in the dairy. In deciding this point, it must be remembered that their value does not depend on their qualities for immediate use, but on their means of increasing the breed. Two things should therefore be considered in determining their price. 1. Their products for beef and the dairy; 2. The time 1st, That lime operates equally well, whether required for them to increase so as to afford a genapplied in a hot or effete state, provided the con-eral supply for the country. dition of the ground upon which it is used, be such 1. To determine their value for immediate use, as to render a calcareous application beneficial. it is requisite that we know how much the proceeds 2dly, That, in respect of operation, it is imma- exceed the cost and keeping. One cow may proterial whether the lime be used upon grass land duce but one-half more milk than another, and or summer-fallow, and that objects of conve-yet be ten times more profitable. If, for instance, niency ought chiefly to weigh with the farmer in the cost of keeping be $15 a year in both inascertaining the most proper time for applying stances; and the produce of one be sixteen, and of this article. Upon old grass land, it is perhaps the other, nine dollars. This shows the great im portance of those animals which will produce the largest quantities of milk and butter. When it is considered that Durham cattle, for beef and the dairy taken together, are much superior to any other breed, their value for real use may in some degree be appreciated. 2. Suppose that their ultimate price will fall to only twice the present value of our common cattle, and that half a century will be required for them to increase sufficiently to supply the whole country, a little calculation will show the safety of paying ten times that amount for them now for the purpose of increasing their number. For when we remember the enormous increase from a single cow in that period of time, it will be evident that the present price of such an animal, though it be a thousand dollars, will bear an exceedingly small ratio to the ultimate value of her progeny. probably lost from their colony: and I once had a swarm come forth on the sixteenth day of August. I know of no rule by which the exact day of their first swarming can be known with certainty. The apiarian will estimate near the time by the number of bees in and about the hive, as it will become very much crowded. The day of second swarming, and all after that during the same season, may be most certainly predicted as follows: Listen near the entrance of the hive in the evening. If a swarm is coming forth the next day, the queen will be heard giving an alarm at short intervals. The same alarm may be heard the next morning. The observer will generally hear two queens at a time in the same hive, the one much louder than the other. The one making the least noise is yet in her cell and in her minority. The sound emitted by the queens is peculiar, differing materially from that of any other bee. It consists of a number of monotonous tones in rapid succession, similar to those emitted by the mud-wasp, when working her mortar and joining it to her cells, to raise misswasps. If, after all, the weather is unfavorable to their swarming several days while in this peculiar stage, they will not be likely to swarm again the same season. This subject may perhaps be rendered clearer, by supposing an analogous case. Suppose that a variety of wheat may be obtained which will produce, with the same culture, five bushels more to the acre than our common wheat. Of course the farmer who sows a hundred acres, would gain by the use of such seed, from five hundred to a thousand dollars annually at the present price. In buying the seed, therefore, (two hundred bushels Experience and observation have taught that or less,) he could well afford to pay more than the queen leaves the old stock first, and her colony twice the common price of wheat. Consequently, rapidly follow. They fly about a few minutes, in buying wheat for the exclusive purpose of grow-apparentely in the greatest confusion, until the ing for seed, he could pay twenty times the common price. Reasoning in this way, it will be seen that a single pint, for increasing as seed, would at first be cheap at a thousand dollars; and until the country were generally supplied, the price might safely be put at many times its ultimate value. Analogous reasoning will show that the price of Durham cattle is not fictitious, but depends on their real value. J. J. T. RECEIPT TO CURE AN EGG-SUCKING DOG. From the Franklin Farmer. Many a brave and good dog has lost his life by too great a fondness for eggs, to avoid which hereafter, take three grains of tartar emetic and a tea spoonful of grated or scraped Indian turnip, stir them well together in an egg, give it to your dog and he will ever afterwards turn off in disgust if you offer him an egg--a simple, safe and certain remedy. W. P. HART. MANAGEMENT OF BEES. From the Maine Farmer. swarm is principally out of the hive. They then alight, generally on the limb of some tree, shrub or bush, or some other place convenient for them to cluster in a bunch not far from the old stock, and make their arrangements for a journey to a new habitation. Perhaps not one swarm in a thousand know where they are going until after they have left the old stock, alighted and formed into a compact body or cluster; and not then until they have sent off an embassy to search out a place for their future residence. Now if the bees are hived immediately after they have alighted, before they send off their embassy to seek a new tenement, they will never fly away, admitting they have sufficient room, (for it is want of room that makes them swarm in the first place,) and their hive is clear of every thing that is offensive to them. No confusion or noise which is uncommon to the bees should ever be made during their swarming or hiving. The only effect of noise, ringing of bells, &c. that I could ever discover, was, to render them more hostile and unmanageable. A clean hive is all that is needed for a swarm of bees, with careful and humane treatment. treatment makes them irritable and unmanageble. A cluster of bees should never be shook or jarred any more than merely to disengage them from the limb or place where they are collected, Bees.-The following remarks on the manage- nor should they fall any great distance, because ment of bees, we copy from a small treatise on their sacks are full when they swarm, which renthis subject by J. M. Weeks, of Salisbury, Vermont.der them both clumsy and harmless, and harsh Bees swarm from nine o'clock in the morning to three o'clock in the afternoon on a fair day, differing in the season according to the climate. In Vermont they generally swarm from the middle of May to the fifteenth of July; in late seasons, some later. I have known them to swarm as early as seven in the morning, and as late as four in the afternoon. I have also known them to come forth when it rained so hard as nearly to defeat them, by beating down many to the ground which were When a swarm comes forth and has alighted, cut off the limb if convenient, unless a hiver is used-shake it gently, so as to disengage the bees and let them fall gently on to the table, board or ground, (as the case may be,) place the hive over them before many rise into the air, taking care at the same time to lay one or more sticks in such a manner as to raise the hive so as to give the bees rapid ingress and egress. If the bees act reluctantly in taking possession of their new ha- | dition to, or an improvement on, our herbage plants bitation, disturb them by brushing them with a ought to be encouraged. Our idea is, that the time goose-quill or some other instrument not harsh, is not far distant when, in the best cultivated disand they will soon enter. In case it is found ne-tricts of Britain, the only animals pastured in the cessary to invert the hive to receive the bees, fields will be sheep; and that these will be folded (which is frequent from the manner of their on portions of verdant surface not larger than they alighting,) then first, secure the drawers down to can crop in a day or two, when they will be moved the floor by inserting a handkerchief or some- to a fresh portion. Hurdles or net-fencing will be thing above them; now invert the hive and shake used as substitutes for permanent fences; and then, or brush the bees into it; now turn it gently right of course, hedges and walls will no longer be wanend upon the table, or other place, observing the ted on most farms, except for an enclosure or two rule aforesaid, adjoining the farmyard. This will be a saving of the ground occupied by the fences, of their first cost, and of their annual keeping; while it will, at the same time, destroy the source whence are dispersed innumerable insects and seeds of weeds. In hilly countries and in valleys, which can be more profitably kept under perpetual grass than under the alternate system of herbage plants and corn, we do not say that fences will not continue to exist; but we have no doubt whatever of their sooner or later disappearing from all countries which can be subjected to the alternate husbandry; and more particularly where GEESE AS BAROMETERS. From the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture. A recent tourist in the Highlands mentions a novel mode an inn-keeper had of ascertaining what would be the state of the weather:-"He has only to send his fleet of geese to the loch-side, and if they put out to sea, it will be fair; if they anchor on shore, it will be rainy." MANUFACTURE OF CHEESE FROM POTATOES.* such countries have long dry summers, as is the case in most parts of the continent. On the greater From the Quarterly Journal of Agritulture. part of the continent, indeed, there is no way of Cheese, it is said, of extremely fine quality, is procuring manure sufficient for farming to admade from potatoes in Thuringia and part of Sax-vantage, but by consuming the herbage crops ony, in the following manner:-After having col- under cover, and saving and fermenting all the lected a quantity of potatoes of good quality, giv-liquid matters produced in the farmyard and in the ing the preference to the large white kind, they are boiled in a cauldron, and after becoming cool, they are peeled and reduced to a pulp, either by means of a grater or mortar. To five pounds of this pulp, which ought to be as equal as possible, is added a pound of sour milk, and the necessary quantity of salt. The whole is kneaded together, and the mixture covered up and allowed to lie for three or four days according to the season. At the end of this time it is kneaded anew, and the cheeses are placed in little baskets, when the superfluous moisture is allowed to escape. They are then allowed to dry in the shade, and placed | in layers in large pots or vessels, where they must remain for fifteen days. The older these cheeses are, the more their quality improves. Three kinds of them are made. The first, which is the most common, is made according to the proportions above indicated; the second, with four parts of potatoes, and two parts of curdled milk; the third, with two parts of potatoes, four parts of cow or ewe milk. offices of the house. In this view of things, it will readily be conceived that we attach great importance to the improvement of old, or the introduction of new, herbage plants; and more especially of those tap-rooted or deep-rooting kinds which are adapted for countries having long dry summers. We have great pleasure, therefore, in introducing the following extract from the letter of an enlightened and scientific correspondent :-" [ have four or five species of heracleum in cultivation, of the value of which I entertain great hopes, and some new grasses; one from Siberia. Alopecurus nigricans, seems to be valuable for its bulk and earliness, beyond most graminea whch we have hitherto had in cultivation. I think, too, that among several species of sonchus hieracium, which I am now trying, there are several which will be useful fodder plants on light silicious soil; of which, at a future time, when I see more about them, I may perhaps trouble you with an account.” W. P. T. April 4th. 1839. Any of our reaThese cheeses have this advan-ders who have seeds of new herbage plants, or of tage over other kinds, that they do not engender plants which they think might prove useful as worms, and keep fresh for a great number of years, such, will greatly oblige us by sending a few, in provided they are placed in a dry situation, and in order that we may forward them to our esteemed well closed vessels, correspondent, W. P. T.-Cond. PERFECT AGRICULTURE ADVERSE TO FENCES, From Loudon's Gardener's Magazine. As the tendency of agricultural improvement in every country seems to be to stall-feeding, or, rather, to feeding in court-yards with sheds, instead of pasturing in fields, every attempt to make an ad An earlier and more full account of this practice was translated from a Belgian journal for the Farmers' Register. See page 268, vol. i.—ED. F. R. BUILDING SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD то To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. Surry C. H., Va., May 28th, 1839. I consider it a duty incumbent upon all, not only the farmer, but the doctor, lawyer, merchant and the mechanic, in short, every individual in the community, whatever his vocation may be, (as he is either directly or indirectly dependent for his support on the farmer,) to lend their aid in support of this all interesting subject, our mother agriculture, I have thus, in obedience to my well wishes I This aid and support from the larger portion of the ployments that will take their attention away from farmers, I mean the little farmers, those with little their farming operations, for, (as they seem to education, may be expected to be limited; they think) the more honorable distinctions of, Mr.have not the ability to do much, if they have the Esq.-Colonel-Major-Captain, &c., who make inclination. Their plan is a kind of a rote, a mo- so bold and conspicuous a figure among us, the notony, the practices followed by their fathers, farmers, the little ones. their grand-fathers, and their great-grand-fathers; they seek no improvement, but remain perfectly re-have for agriculture, attempted to contribute my conciled to their poor crops and their land-mur- little, toward the advancement of that great source dering systems. The idea of the study of che- of human support. Should you excuse the rough nistry, botany, vegetable or animal physiology, and hasty manner in which it is jumbled together, geology, &c. with them seems as foreign to their and consider it of any value to your readers, then business as law or physic. But to the intelligent, give it a place in the Farmers' Register, and at the reading class of our citizens, we must look for some more leisure day I will offer some words on support. But with this class, how entirely negli- a subject better deserving your attention. gent they are of their real interests! How few By the Register's reader, out of the many who are able to assist in the cause, ever take up a pen in its behalf-that even give to the public eye, in our agricultural journals their experiments in detail, their inventions, their discoveries, or any idea relating to, or touching that branch of science? I have no experience in farming, consequently what I might say upon that subject, would be of but little avail, and therefore should be little in words; and shall at present only offer some hints. On the construction of garden and lot fences.Upon which, I propose, as I think, an improved plan. It is this: after laying off the size and form of an enclosure, for paling, railing or common rail or worm-fences, plough up with a double-plough to the full depth or a little beyond the soil a space of six, eight, or ten feet in width along the course designed for the fence. Then remove the soil so broken up, to any contigeous spot, and this, though poor and no better than the land on which it is put, will prove a manure in effect, for the depth of soil, good or bad, is very important. And along this trench build the fence. The width of the excavation, will of course, depend upon the kind of fence designed to be constructed thereupon. The advantages to be gained by this plan are, I think, several. The absence of the soil would prevent the growth of noxious weeds, briers and clusters of vines, &c., so common about gardens, lots and other spots of good land; the paling by being thus sunk would be somewhat protected from the winds, from the influence of the shade produced by the thickets of weeds, &c. so destructive to all timber; and in excessive wet weather the excavation would serve as a drain and a reservoir for the excess of water, &c. &c. TWO-CROP D. C. R. SILK-WORMS. FIXTURES FOR FEEDING AND SPINNING, &c. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. Stafford, May 22nd, 1839. DEAR SIR-Yours of the 15th inst., is received, and I embrace the earliest leisure moment to reply to your several inquiries. The variety of silk-worms called in the United States "two-crop," has been reared with success for many years in Connecticut, whence I originally procured my eggs. The eggs of this variety (if good,) invariably hatch twice, without the use of artificial means. Nothing more is necessary than to leave the eggs, procured from the first rearing, exposed where the moths have deposited them, and to notice them every morning between sunrise and 10 o'clock A. M. They usually hatch out in from three to ten days. Such as do not hatch (if any) cannot be relied on for the following year. Eggs for the latter purpose, must be procured from the second rearing. Eggs from other varieties sometimes hatch the same season, but they cannot be relied on for a second crop. I have never known this to occur but once under my observation, and then only four or five thousand hatched out of a lot of thirty thousand eggs. The "two-crop" silk-worm moults four times; but in other respects it answers well to the description given by Dandolo of the three-cast worms. There is no worm as far as I have been able to learn, after diligent inquiry, in the United States that does not cast its skin four times. The "two-crop" worm is hardy, stands atmospheric transitions better than most other varieties, and is not so liable to that terrible disease which the French called the grasserie. Whenever this disease breaks out in a cocoonery, it is vain to look for a tolerable result. It also spins a finer fibre, and for some purposes the silk produced commands from $1 to $2 per pound more than that from the ordinary varieties. The durability of cypress poles, for ordinary outhouse building seems to be not generally known. Poles or logs of this timber are far preferable to any made use of in this section for that purpose. Those who take durability into consideration, when cutting poles, would be well paid for their additional trouble in procuring cypress, if possible to be had in their vicinity at a reasonable expense. A friend of mine has now, in good and sound condition, a stable that was built of these about twenty years ago; and other out-buildings of later date, After three years spent in experimenting, I have promising equal lasting. It is said by some that adopted fixtures with which I am entirely satisfied. the bark should remain on the poles; but this I They are simple, economical, convenient, and (if I consider not important; they are used here both may use the expression,) meet the instinctive views with and without the bark, and with no visible of the silk-worms. I will describe them briefly. difference as to lasting. I place pieces of scantling, extending perpendiOur neighbors are too much of an office-seek-cularly from the floor to the joists, two feet apart, ing people, a fortune craving people, for good measuring across the cocoonery, and six feet disfarmers. Catching at any and all offices and em- tant, measuring lengthwise, leaving intervening alleys of two feet four inches for those who attend the worms to pass. I then bore holes in the scantling, with a half-inch auger, twelve inches apart so as to have six hurdles, one rising above the other. Ropes are then drawn through these holes, upon which light and moveable hurdles, three feet long and two wide, rest. As these ropes are supported by timber at intervals of six feet, they may be drawn through a cocoonery 100 feet long, and yet be kept sufficiently steady. I use ropes in preference to timber, because every square inch added to the vacuum in a cocoonery is of importance. My hurdles are made of common pine laths an inch and a half wide and three-eighths of an inch thick. Two of these laths are laid down two feet apart, and then three cross pieces, two feet long, are nailed to them with small wrought nails, one at each end, and one in the middle. On this frame strong brown paper, such as is used in hardware stores, is pasted. You then have an elevated surface, so that the air can pass freely over the worms. Oak bushes with the leaves on, I consider the best accommodations for the worms to wind on. These bushes should be gathered about a week before they are to be used, and spread in the shade in order that the leaves may become somewhat curled. Whenever a considerable number of [commodate the precocious spinners, until a sys- LAYTON Y. ATKINS. that we should be sure of having nearly double as much foliage as would sustain the worms brought out. Last year a gentleman at Washingtor lost his worms in this way. My silk-worms have not yet commenced spinning, but they appear to be doing very well. A few days before spinning, however, is generally the critical period, as to the breaking out of diseases. worms manifest the disposition to spin, all of that caution against "over-cropping," as new beginI will venture to remind you of G. B. Smith's particular age in the cocoonery, should be speedi-ners are in danger of suffering by it. He says ly placed on clean hurdles and arranged near together. Oak bushes should then be placed on the right and left, resting on the hurdles and tied to the upright timbers. The worms usually go to the edge of the hurdle and crawl along, frequently throwing up their heads, in search of something to climb on. By this arrangement, you will see that whether they move to the right or left, they are almost sure to come in contact with the bush. Other bushes must be placed along on one side as they are wanted, one end resting on the hurdle, and the other tied to the rope or timber immediately above. One side must of course be left open to distribute leaves to such of the worms as are still inclined to eat. At the expiration of six or seven days, all the worms in this division that have not risen, must be taken away and accommodated on other hurdles, and three days thereafter the hurdles may be taken down and the cocoons gathered. The oak leaves do not crumble and the cocoons come out clean and in very good condition. Another injury which results from "over-cropping" is stripping of the trees too closely the first season; it has a very bad effect on the aftergrowth of the trees. The morus multicaulis is a very hardy tree; it is, nevertheless, governed as to its growth by the same laws which operate on other trees, and may be injured by excessive defoliation. The leaves should be taken cautiously while the stalks are green and succulent, indeed I should not venture to take any leaves earlier than be ready for early feeding, the tops must be left 20th June, and then very sparingly. In order to on the trees. I am aware that Dr. Stebbins and some others have said you may begin to take the leaves when the plants are one foot high, and that the trees are not injured by it. Dr. Stebbins also recommended that silk-worm eggs be put in botThose who followed his advice brought out their tles hermetically sealed, and placed in ice-houses. eggs and exposed them for hatching, but no worms made their appearance. L. Y. A. Before spinning, the worms void all excrementitious matter; and frequently before this is done, they climb up and assume the position for spinning. Under these circumstances the oak bushes are admirable to protect the cocoons already formed below. The precocious as well as the tardy worms are generally feeble, and must have their METHOD OF CAUSING CABBAGES TO HEAD accommodations furnished them so that they may have but little climbing to do, and indeed whenever any of the worms are found wandering in search of a position for spinning, they must be taken and placed on the hurdles, and then left to do as they are inclined. DURING THE WINTER. From the Maine Farmer. In the fall of the year when it is time to gather cabbages, we always find more or less of them that have not formed any heads. They may have grown well and have a large stock of leaves, but have not closed up in the form necessary to make a good, solid, compact cabbage. The attendant should be at the cocoonery very early every morning to attend particularly to these wanderers because at that time their number will be greatest. William Vance, Esq. of Readfield, has practisBefore a general disposition to spin is manifest-ed for many years the following method, which ed, it is a good plan to have a bush at hand to ac-effectually closes these loose leaves in the course |