The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-09-21
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Boston Cultiuator.
TRY HALF AN ACRE5SOW GRASS
SEEn

TRY HALF AN ACRE-SOW GRASS
SEED.
A farmer who has but very little capital and
no team may do much 10 improve his lands at
this season. A wheebarrow will make as
quick work as any cart when the soil to be
removed lies nigh the place where it is wanted.
We see thousands of acres of good land with.
in short distance of this city, which now
produce but trifie to the owner, yet with a
little outlay these acres may be made to pro-
duce stout burthens of grass.
Many of these acres can be reclaimed at
small expense, and when they are properly
done they are well worth two hundred dollars
each. They will yield annual income which
will pay the interest of that sum yearly. If
any one has doubts on this subject let him try
half an acre; and if he will proceed on our
plan, faithfully and carefully, we will engage
either to sell his first crop of hay for him for
enough to repay the whole cost of preparing
the land, or we will never trouble him again
with our advice.
Farmers are now engaged in many places
in ploughing under their green crops-their
oats and their buckwhcat-but the soil has been
so dry that the grass seed should not be sown
before we have rain. The green crop may be
covered much better when the soil is sufficient
ly moist, but those who have many acres to
be seeded cannot delay their ploughing, though
the seed may be delayed.
A large, or at least broad plough, is neces-
airy to cover the green crops well, and yoke
of oxen may as well draw good sized plough
as small one in lands which were ploughed
in the spring. Don't forget to lash a withe or
a bush under the plough beam to sweep down
the green growth, that all may be nicely bu-
ried.
| GATHER UP MATTER FOR MANUREs.
Those who have low pasture lands may of.
ten find rushes, coarse grass, weeds and other
matter which is worth gathering to be put in
the manure, heap, or in a stack to be used as a
litter for cattle and horses and hogs. The
roadside also furnishes an abundance in man>
places, and now is the time to gather the same.
Soil from the roadside may often be taken
away without detriment to the road; q quaint.
ties of this should now be laid by the side OF
the hog pen and the back house, to be thrown
in two or thee times a week, to bury up all the
matter which would cause an unhealthy efflu-
via about the house. When this is practiced
these sinks of foul matter never become often.
sive to the inmates of the house, though they
are placed very near it. The wash of the drain
should also be carefully buried with loan al
this season both for the purpose of increast
ing the manure heap, and for keeping the air
pure about the dwelling house.
A few loads of loan should now be carted
into the cowyard and as soon as the COWS arc
turned away shovel full should be thrown
upon each heap of fresh manure which is found
there this will increase and preserve the vir.
tue of the manure, while it will render the
cowyard more suitable place for the milk.
pail.
| IMPROVED PRoDUcTIoNs.-One of the great
est, and frequently the cheapest means of i'm
provement in agriculture is obtaining superior
productions, vegetable, animal, and mechanical.
As much may be accomplished in this way, as
by improved modes of cultivation; and superior
articles can frequently be obtained as low as
those of an inferior quality. If high price
be paid for excellence in vegetables, and ami
mails, there will generally be a large amount
soon produced from a small stock, which will
amply repay the enterprising who go forward
in this business and in machines and tools
there is generally great economy in procuring
the best, by savingslabor despatching business
and the durability of the articles. So, on the
whole, no method of improvement claims great
er attention from the cultivator than improved
productions. -Farmer's Journal
Scientific Fdcts.-A medium between heat
and cold, the internal heat of the earth is LIS
degrees.
One pint Of water converted into steam fills
space of nearly 1000 pints.
Salt cracks in fire, owing to the water of
Capitalization in it being expanded as it is
converted into vapor.
One foot of atmosphere will hold - grains
of water in solution.
When closely confined, the explosive force
of gunpowder is six and half tons the square
inch.
The duck selects its food, not by sight or
smell. but by the touch of the tongue.
| Rocks leave trees as they are marked for
telling.
Lightning can be seen by reflection 200
miles.
The mean annual debth of rain that falls at
the equator is SO inches.
One hundred pounds of the dead sea con.
tains 45 pounds of salt.
PREPARATION OF FOOD FOR HoGs.-Grain
is worth far more, as food for animals, ground
than unground. Cooking food, also adds
greatly to its value. Some have estimated
cooked meal at fifty per cent. more in value
than uncooked. There can be no doubt that
grinding and cooking grain will make an i'm
provement, far excelling in value the cost of
these operations. They will probably add
nearly 100 per cent. to the value of food.
1t is well to have mixture of food for hogs;
it is less cloying, and induces more thirst
Roots of various kinds, with apples and meal,
make an excellent and cheap food. Pump.
kins may be added, or pumpkins, meal and