Last spring I planted about hall' an acre of ruta attention is much turned to grazing, therefore, baga, on land that was manured with long manure grass, oats and rye, both green and cured, are from the barn-yard, and before the plants got fairly equally as important as corn. (The word maize, started, the weeds got ahead of them, and being is with us nearly obsolete; we say corn, wheat, busy about other matters, I neglected to hoe them &c.) A few days past I finished spreading on until they were completely overrun with weeds; and my intended corn-land, the remains of my last seeing my neighbors' plants entirely devoured with winter's stock of nanure, amounting to 242 hea the garden flea, I felt but little disposition to neg-vy ox-loads; and next spring the remainder of lect other work to weed mine, from the impression the plat will be manured with the accumulation they would meet the same fate. One day I dis- through the winter, of the cow and horse yards. covered a few straggling plants making their way My mode of depositing the loads, is according to through a thin spot of weeds, which induced me to the rule of Col. Taylor, as laid down in his Araexamine the piece. I found the plants to be per- tor; and the piles are not spread till there is much fect and entire, not one having been molested by likelihood of rain. After a soaking rain, I believe an insect of any description. I hoed and thinned there is but little, if any evaporation at this seathem out, and in ten days I had the handsomest son of the year. Indeed I have spread manure and forwardest yard of turnips in the town, and I in the months of August and September, on a have no doubt that by my negligence in not hoeing stubble or other unappropriated field, and supthem, I have gained over one hundred bushels of posed that I had sustained no loss. fine roots. Many of my neighbors will not have forty bushels from a piece as large as mine, while I shall probably get two hundred. I would therefore suggest whether neglecting to weed turnip plants until the 20th or 25th of July, will not prove an eflectual safeguard against the depredations of those insect intruders. CYRUS SLACK. PROMISCUOUS REMARKS. For the Farmers' Register. The maturing of corn hastened by early ceasing to cultivate the crop.-In the October No. of the Farmers' Register, page 588, a Fairfax cultivator treats on the above-mentioned subject, in a recommendatory manner; from which I beg leave to dissent. Taking into the count both latitude and departure, my locality is about equal to that of Fairfax, and I am certain I have ever profited by cultivating my corn to the 10th or 15th of July. About 25 years past, I cultivated a crop of corn till about the 10th of August, which proved to be too late, although planted at the usual time; for it was caught by frost. Would the author of the above communication please spare a few more moments, by responding to the following. What kind of soil was your crop on? What kind of corn was planted? Do you suppose the produce was equal to what it would have been, had you given late tillage? If the produce was less, do you suppose the "saving of time" was equal to the loss of graint? By early ceasing to cultivate, would not a host of weeds and grasses appear to the injury of the crop, and to the impediment of putting in small grain? Never mind Mr. Fairfax, this stricture may be of service, both to you, myself, and the community; particularly if said stricture may be refuted. Your laying out, and cultivation of the corn crop, is my practice on po rous levels. My bottom lands are fallowed and put in some crop nearly every year, (meadows excepted.) Those crops are, promiscuously, Indian corn, wheat, rye and oats; and whenever and wherever any of the small grains fail to produce a profitable crop, they are turned under for improvement. So soon as those grains begin to ripen, this operation is performed, and if seasonable, heavy second crops may be expected. I sometimes sow rye after rye, wheat, corn or oats; oats after oats, rye, wheat, or corn; wheat, after corn or oats. I also sow some millet, which shall go hereafter in part to improvement.* I am now collecting, and intend to collect a goodly supply of tobacco stalks, and other tobac co offal, which are to be ground in a bark mil if practicable, if not, pounded in a trough, to be used as manure, a handful mixed with gypsum, in each corn hill. The whole of my corn crop is intended to be watered from a creek; the greater portion of the ditches have been made and used for this and other purposes for fifteen years. So soon as the culture of the crop is over, the water is let on the fields, and the corn at this stage of its growth is much benefited thereby. Natural grasses grow so luxuriantly amongst the watered corn, that there is no cliance of seeding either fall or spring, till the fallow plough has been used. I have never yet sowed any kind of small grain at the last dressing of corn, to be watered for the purpose of grazing; but am inclined to think that rye and oats would answer the purpose; either of which would head before winter. at me for being a than that offered by my corn crib, yet I am very a * My own preparations and intentions for 1940. Nearly all the ground intended for corn next year, was fallowed in July, August, and September last, and is now in oals, rye, and wheat, either sowed or volunteer; which has been grazed, and the grazing will be continued till spring. The Our correspondent will render good service to the oats are yet green, are the best grazing, and will cause of agricultural improvement by furnishing parnot be killed by the frost till about Christmas, ticular and detailed statements of the operations which shall not cultivate more than one-third of my us he here mentions generally. There are but few subal quantity of ground in corn, but by neat tillage,jects of more importance than green manuring, and I intend to make my usual quantity of bread. My none on which there is less information.-ED. F. R. ately, again in March, and again immediately before planting? Shall I plough it twice, and when? Or shall I plough only once, and when? Shall I use the cultivator and harrow, and when? The ground is already well pulverized, and from this time till April, a considerable flock of sheep will be on it.* Oat pasture &c., by W. Young.-It was this writing of Mr. Young, which first started me to making experiments on oats, and I am pleased to see the publication in the Register, this being sufficient evidence of the editor's approval. I know thar the editor will excuse me for the following correction, October No., page 583, for "it is to be expected, &c.," read, "it is not to be expected, &c." See Memoirs Phil. Agr. Soc., page 194, vol. ii. Judge Peters says in unqualified terms, that the oat crop is a great exhauster. I wish I were half so good a farmer as Judge Peters, but with due deference to his better judgment, I beg leave of his honored ashes to say, that oats on clay is an improver, until by oats, the clay is made sufficiently porous for the production of other crops. The most formidable disease to which this noble and useful animal is addicted, and there is none more alarming in its attacks, is the bots. I had consulted the highest authorities in the veterinary art for the treatment of this disease, and faithfully used the remedies laid down, without any benefit. I was induced from interest, and also for the very high regard which that noble animal, the horse, held in my estimation, to use every expedient in my possession, to cure this formidable disease. I had another motive--I had lost several very fine horses by this disease, which · induced me to use and try every experiment which my ingenuity could invent, to arrest this disease among my horses, and prevent if possible, its recurrence among them. I am satisfied, and feel convinced, that I will offer to the public, an infallible remedy for the bots. Some six years since, I purchased a very fine horse, but had the appearance of laboring under some disease. 1 commenced a course of treatment, which I thought would relieve him, and which I had pursued in the treatment of some other horses which had the appearance of being Beets. This year, I cultivated three-fourths of diseased in a similar manner to the above menan acre of ground, on the top of a high mountain, tioned horse, with decided relief; but in this case in beets, which produced about 420 bushels. They all my remedies failed of their desired effect. were sowed quite late in consequence of which, I was induced to try the use of lime in the and the then drought, they were not over half treatment of his case, as I was confident he was thick enough; and the after drought must have filled with grubs or bots, as he had discharged reduced the production at least 50 per centum. several. I commenced by giving him a tableThus, it is found that I made at the rate of 560 spoonful of slaked lime three times per week, in bushels to the acre, but under favorable circum- bread mashes. After pursuing this course near stances, I would have made nine or ten hundred two weeks, the bots began to pass off in quantibushels. They were on black virgin soil. The ties varying from 10 to 20, which he would expel greater portion was white sugar beet, second, man- during the night, from his intestines. In the gel wurtzel, third, yellow sugar beet. The white meantime his appetite began to improve, and in was best, yellow second, mangel wurtzel sorry; six weeks he was one of the finest looking geldwhich inferiority in the last mentioned I attribute ings I ever saw. From that day to this, I have wholly to deception in seed. They are intended kept up the use of lime among my horses, with for hogs, and are now secured. The patch being decided benefit. As an evidence of its good efsome two or more miles from any residence, Ifects, I have not lost a horse since I began to use it. much dreaded their destruction by wild animals, but they were not touched. I again solicit the editor's attention and remarks on my intended corn crop, or any, or all this hasty scrawl. MOUNTAINBer. Amherst, Nov. 11th, 1839-Snow storm from east. BOTS IN HORSES. MURRAIN IN CATTLE. From the American Farmer. It is the duty of every person who has any experience in the treatment of diseases in that noble and useful animal, the horse, to communicate it to the public. It was my province a few years since to have much to do with that noble animal, and of course among the number in my possession, I would find a number that would be diseased, and very often my skill and experience would be taxed to find a remedy for some of the diseases to which they would be very often subject. * There are too many circumstances involved in the case submitted, and some of them too imperfectly known, for us to presume to offer any opinion, or answer to the above questions.-ED. A large number of the bots which he would expel from his intestines, had the appearance of being dead. I was induced from this fact, to put some of them in a strong solution of lime-water, as I had frequently put them in spirits of turpentine, without producing any effect on them; but all those that I put into lime were perfectly dead in eight and forty hours. Lime is a certain preventive in keeping cattle from taking the murrain. As an evidence of this fact, I have used it among my cattle three times per week, mixed with salt, for three or four years. In that time, I have not lost a single cow, or steer, or ox, by this disease; in the meantime, some of my neighbors have nearly lost all the cattle they owned. I will give you a stronger case than the one above mentioned. One of my neighbors who lost all his cattle, had a neighbor living within two hundred yards of him, who had several cattle which ran daily with those that died, and his cattle all escaped. He informed me he made it an invariable rule to give his cattle salt and I'me every morning. I have no doubt it is a sure and infallible reme dy for bots in horses, and a preventive of murrain among cattle. J. W. J. Red House, N. C., Nov. 16th 1839. DIARRHEA IN HORSES. From the Frankfin Farmer. 1 W. MESTELLE. ANNA AGRI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. proper time to plant the best peach stones; as those which fall on the ground when the fruit is ripe, and are buried by hogs or any thing else, most Mr. Elitor. Some days past, a person, who, certainly grow better than if we plant the dry seed doubiless, had h sard that I could advise him what which we generally plant without success. As to do with a col' taken with a looseness of bowels: 'soon as you see and eat such peaches as are worth after having satisfied him as far as my knowledge having, put the kernels in the ground, in a trench permitted, I thought that the information might of six or seven inches deep, cover them well and be serviceable to others. Colts are subject to the they will all or nearly all come up the following diarrhea two or three days after their birth, like spring. To rub a pear or apple tree with fish of children, by the accumulation of matter in the in-alter scraping, is, I think, advisable, as a pear tree testines during their stay in the womb. Their ex-5 feet circumference, thus treated, has revived this crements are yellow and foetid. This evacuation year, and instead of an almost dead condition, was is accompanied by a failure of appetite and weak- of superb foliage and bore fine fruit which it had ness, lasting for a short time. If the looseness not done for the last three years. continues, the colt becomes very poor and dies. These accidents often proceed from the unhealthy state of the mare, or a too great indulgence of green food towards the last two or three months PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTH before foaling. It may have been observed that all the horses permatted to pasture in the spring, or fed on green grass in the stable, are more or less subject to a diarrhoea, which in most cases stops | The inclosed communications were made to the of itself after having purged naturally the animal; North Anna Agricultural Association, at a late but in other cases it may become inveterate and meeting. In compliance with a resolution adopted and fatal, according to the previous state of health by that association, I now transmit them to you. of the animal, who might have had a begin-Should you be of opinion, that a publication of ning of that disorder, which is often the case af- them will in any respect promote the interests of ter foaling or abortion. It is prudent to watch agriculture, you are at liberty to give them a place closely and guard against a diarrhea that lasts in your valuable periodical. more than two or three days, but avoid to contradict nature, which might produce worse consequences, for this looseness is caused in foals and (calves) by the purging quality of the mother's milk. When, however, it lasts too long, I use for colts from 3 to 4 oz. of rhubarb mixed with molasses or endive syrup, or assafedita, for three or four days only; one ounce of this last for each dose diluted in warm water. If the colt is older, the disorder may be caused by worms, in which case chimney soot in new milk, from half an ounce to two ounces according to the age of the colt, should be given to him. When the diarrhea attacks a full grown horse, it is often necessary to purge before stopping the disease, and to consider what was his general health previous to that particular disease. W. MENTELLE. REMARKS ON FRUIT TREES. Form the Franklin Farmer. Very respectfully, I am, December 3rd, 1839. Cultivation of sugar beet. To the Chairman of the North Anna Agricultural Association. In compliance with a regulation of this associa tion, I make the following communication on an experiment made by me during the present year, in the cultivation of the sugar beet. The ground selected for the purpose was a lot containing 29,123 square feet, (S3 square feet more than two-thirds of an acre,) on which for more than twenty years my hogs had run a part of the time I was fattening them. Throughout this period the lot had borne annually a crop of Indian corn, intermixed with beans, peas, and Irish potaNevertheless the land had been kept in good condition by what came from the hogs, and I gave no additional manure to it. The greater part of the lot lies sloping to the south-west. The soil is what we usually call gray, with a good substratum of clay. toes. The following are equally appropriate to apple and pear trees. Those trees, in order to last long and bear well, should be dug about one foot deep and two feet around towards the end of October. Not having determined to cultivate the beet unThe dry and dead limbs and the bad ones cut off-til early in the spring, I had neglected to have the the outward rough and creviced bark carefully lot ploughed as soon as it ought to have been. scraped, either with a rasp or any instrument for The land was still hard from the trampling of the the purpose. This may be done in February, hogs. In the month of April, after a rain, it was taking care not to hurt or damage the inner bark; coultered as deep as two strong horses could pull if the live bark be touched, the wound should be the coulter; nearly up to the beam of the plough. covered with an ointment made of cow dung and It was then ploughed to about the same depth. clay mixed together with urine. This will do well Afier this it was harrowed with a heavy harrow also to apply upon those parts of any tree that drawn by two horses. By these different operahave been proned. The hole around the trees must tions the land was brought into good tith. To be filled up early in March with new earth. The prepare it for the reception of the seed, ridges were peach tree must be pruned at the end of the win-thrown up, about two feet and a half apart, by ter, and the wound to be covered with the above turning together two furrows of a large plough. composition. Nature has designated the most A harrow was then drawn upon these ridges lengthwise, by which they were considerably flat- How much Indian corn per day will make the tened. Having no drill-barrow, I adopted the fol- milk of a cow as valuable, as will two pecks of lowing expedient for the purpose of distributing beets, due allowance being made for the quality the seed equally. Pins were driven into the wheel and quantity of milk? I am confident that no inof a common wheel-barrow, pointing towards the justice will be done to the corn, by supposing that centre, at such a distance apart, that when the balf a gallon given in the morning, and as much wheel-barrow was rolled lengthwise on the ridges, at night, with other ordinary coarse food, will small holes were made upon them by the pins make her milk equally valuable. Six cows then seven inches and a half apart. Into each one of will consume six gallons of Indian corn in one these holes a single seed (I should rather say cap- day, or 1200 gallons in 200 days. To produce sule*) was dropped by the hand, and covered with 1200 gallons, or thirty barrels of corn, at least fine earth to the depth of nearly an inch. This three acres of land, as well manured as that cultiwas done about the middle of April. Previous to vated in beets, will be required. According to this sowing the seed they were put into warm water, calculation, the product of about two thirds of an and soaked for twenty-four hours. A small quan-acre in beets will go as far in feeding milch cows, tity of ashes was then intimately mixed with them, and yield as great a profit, as the product of three for the purpose of separating the seeds. The sea- acres in Indian corn. How great the superiority son being uncommonly dry, they germinated slow-on the side of the beets, and what a saving of maly, and came up badly. So unpromising indeed nure, of land, and of labo: ! for some weeks was the appearance of the beets, that one time I had thoughts of ploughing up the lot, with a view of cultivating it in some other crop. When the beets were large enough to be distinctly seen, the intervals between the rows were ploughed with a shovel-plough drawn by one horse; the hoes followed, care being taken to pull up with the hand every weed and spire of grass near to, and around the beets. In this manner they were weeded, at proper intervals, three times; though I do not know that the third weeding was necessary. On the second day of November the beets were taken up. This was done by running a single furrow of the plough on each side of every row of the beets, and then pulling them up with the hand. The product was at least six hundred bushels; nearly eleven ox-cart loads of fifty-six bushels each. I have said that the lot contained 29,123 square feet. There are on an acre of land 43,560 square feet. Consequently the lot produced at the rate of eight hundred and ninety-seven bushels per acre. Nothing has been guessed at; the beets were measured, and the lot carefully surveyed. The product would have been greater, if the beets had stood well. In various parts of every row there were spaces of eight or ten feet with not more than four or five beets. In addition to this disadvantageous circumstance, a strip of flat land on one side of the lot was made much too wet for the beets, by repeated rains in the latter part of July, and throughout the month of August. On this strip the beets were very small, and added but little to the product of the lot. Chaptal, the eminent chymist, and practical agriculturist, after an experience of many years in the culture of the beet, thus expressed his opinion of it: "I believe this plant may be cultivated as food for cattle, more advantageously than any other." I can say from experience that cows fed on the sugar beet yield rich and well tasted milk. A peck of the beets given in the morning, and as much at night, with other ordinary coarse food, is a good allowance for one cow. Six cows then will consume three bushels in one day, or six hundred bushels in 200 days (6 months and 20 days.) Almost every farmer in this part of Virginia must have felt the want of some root crop for his live stock, during the winter months and early in the spring. I know of none so well adapted to our climate as the beet, It is less injured by the long droughts of summer than any root that I know, and produces a larger crop. The late able conductor of the 'Cultivator,' I think, doubted the propriety of cultivating this crop in the southern states; believing the country "north of 42" to be the favorite region of the beet. The experiment, which is the subject of this communication, shows, that on soils adapted to the beet, and well manured, even here about the latitude of 38, as much as eight hundred and ninety-seven bushels per acre, in seasons as favorable as the last, may be reasonably expected; or, supposing the beets to weigh on an average 50 lbs. per bushel, rather more than twenty tons; an amount of product much more than sufficient to compensate the farmer for the labor and attention bestowed on it. But let it not be forgotten, that good preparation and careful culture are absolutely necessary to success. "The produce of a field which is well taken care of," (says Chaptal,) "is at least double that of one which is neglected."* W. HOLLADAY. Spottsylvania, 28th Nov., 1839. ON UNDER-DRAINING. To the Chairman of the North Anna Agricultural Association. I have thought proper to bring the subject of under-drains to the notice of this society, having myself experienced some loss of labor from the want of them, as well as profit from their use. It is well known to you, sir, and to all present, that wet sobbed land, while in that condition, is generally the most unprofitable portion of the soil to its owner. If he attempts to derive a profit from it by grazing, its product, being very rough and coarse, is rejected by every species of stock, so long as they can get a tolerable supply of that which is more tender and succulent. Only when pinched by hunger will they resort to the product of such land. If he attempts a profit by culture without draining it, his effort will be in vain. †The body of the cart even full contained 56 bush-Should he leave his drains open, they (being els. The loads were heaped. seed. One capsule contains generally more than one Chemistry applied to Agriculture, page 130. . Chemistry applied to Agriculture, page 321. small) will, after a winter's freeze, and a sum- | able for nothing but a battle, fought between the mer's rooting of the hogs, be nearly filled up. Indians and a French crew that had been cast Consequently before he can plough again to pro-away, in which the French were horribly murderfit, he must re-open his drains, and so continue to do at every rotation. ed, and from that circumstance it took its name. It is composed entirely of coral rock, and is of only 12 acres in extent at low water. The southeast side is composed of rugged rocks, but these are not destitute of verdure; in the fissures of the rocks a saline succulent plant, known under the name of sesuvium, takes root and brings a vine, soon covers a large part of the otherwise barren My method is to make the drains eighteen inches wide at the top, eight at the bottom, and eighteen deep. I cut the drains at the lower edge of the hill, and fill them to the depth of ten inches with rocks of any description, except very large ones, thrown in promiscuously; reserving such as are flat for a top layer to prevent the earth from get-rock; it is much like the barilla. The remaining ting through. I then put on a layer of shavings, if convenient; if not, inverted sods. (The rush dug up with the roots answers very well.) The earth, which has been dug out of the drains, is then drawn back; and the work is done for years, and for aught that I know, for ages. I would recommend in all cases to commence filling at the upper end of the drain; and should any earth fall in below the rocks, let it be removed; and also the thick mud that may accumulate before filling in with the rocks. The advantages of drains thus made, Mr. Chairman, are briefly the following. The work once done is permanently done; the higher lands above the drains are cleared from the obstruction of rocks and stones; the mud below becomes dry and tillable; and the hopes of the farmer are more than realized in the abundance of his crops. November 28th, 1839. L. JOHNSON. part of the island, instead of being covered with grass, is carpeted as it were with an aromatic herb called tea binkum, resembling the thyme of the north; pepper grass in a wild state is also abundant. The common weeds are the periwinkle or Madagascar rose [vinca rosea,] the yellow prickly poppy, [argemone mexicana.] the white prickly poppy, and different varieties of the morning glory. On a Christmas morning, instead of a waste of snow greeting our eyes, we look only upon ever blooming, ever green foliage. On the north-east side of the island, extensive wharves are built out; on the west is a sandy beach with a large sea side grape tree, [coccolope urifera,] whose roots are even washed by the flowing tides; the fruit tastes much like the cherry, but grows in clusters like the grape. On the south, there is a large hotel, which is now open for the accommodation of travellers; and from the salubrity of the climate and the pleasantness of the island, which has been happily styled a "gem of the ocean," affords an inviting resort for invalids from the north. Near the centre of the island, there is an open square which I suppose might be denominated the village green; on the north-east side of the green, are built four very neat cottages and a large store; Mr Editor:-Perhaps it may not be generally on the western side, is the dwelling of the inspec known that the more expeditious, as well as econ- tor of the port, whose yard is well stocked with mo omical method of drying pumpkins for domestic rus multicaulis trees which are covered with their use is in the following manner. Prepare the luxuriant foliage the whole year round. He bas pumpkin and stew it the same as for immediate a young guava tree, which is now loaded with use, then lay it on trenchers or tiers and dry it (not bake or scorch it) before the fire, or in the oven moderately heated, after baking. Care should be taken after it is dried to keep it as much as possible from damp air in wet weather, otherwise it may mould. All that need be done to prepare it for use is to soak it in milk or water some six or eight hours previous to its being wanted. It should not be spread out like a Jennie cake on the tin, but rolled after the manner of biscuit, as it will frequently be necessary to turn it while drying. The above is communicated at the request of a good housewife whom you may call HOW TO DRY PUMPKINS. West Sidney, Sept. 1839. From the Maine Farmer. PRISCILLA. fruit in its different stages, from the blossom to the perfect fruit. He has also the fig, the fast grow ing pride of China, [melia sempervirens] the Paradise or [moringa pterigosperma,] horse radish tree, the coidia sebestina or geiger, the princiana pulcherima, the agati coccinea or scarlet dragon tree, castor oil tree, and last, though not least, the Spanish bayonet, [agave floridana.] It was transplanted from one of the adjacent islands in March of 1839, it was then about four feet high and the leaves two feet long; in the last of August it be gan to send up a straight green stem about six inches in circumference, it is now 25 feet high. and crowned at the top with a large bunch of flower buds; it is a curiosity which might well be an object of envy to proprietors of green houses at the north. Opposite this yard is another in BRIEF NOTICE OF INDIAN KEY, WRITTEN BY which may be found five species of cotton, at this A YOUNG GIRL. Communicated for the Farmers' Register. Indian Key, T. F., Nov. 15, 1839. The islet of Indian Key, is situated in latitude 24° 48', longitude 80° 55', distant from the gulf stream 6 miles, from Key West, 19 north and 60 east, from Cape Florida, 53 south and 35 west, and from Cape Sable, 13 south and 14 east. It was settled in 1824. At that time it was remark time in blossom; the Indian almonds, [terminalia catappa,] the mamey apple, the aligator pear, the pine-apple, the sapodilla, the dwarf banana, [or musica toccinea.] the heliconia bihai, the hedychium coronarium, the achania malvaviscus, the tecoma capensis, cobela inflata, &c. &c. On the north-east side of the island is situated the house and yard of the proprietor of the island ; it is shaded by the splendid cocoa-nut palm of different sizes. The oldest were planted in 1825, and are now bear |