The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-17
AGRICULTURAL.
SALTPETRE FOR CORN.

A friend has placed in our hands news
paper, from which we have copied the follow
ing article from the Watertown Standard. As
confederation of the statement there made,
we were lately informed by Deacon Samuel
Raynold, for many years an intelligent and
careful farmer of Long Meadow, Mass. now
of West Haven, that he has long been in the
habit of soaking his seed corn in solution of
saltpetre, and that its effects, as a prot ,cton
from insects. and in giving rapid and heal
thy growth to the plants, were such as TO as
tonish all who were not accustomed TO use 1T.
Mr.. Claudius Allen, one of the best farmers in
New Haven county, also stated 20 us a few
DAYS since, that he had occasionally, for Il few
years past, applied to his corn in the hill
small quantity of earth taken from under his
barns and other buildings; that the application
was always followed with gratifying results =
sometimes with as marked cffcctsas those sta.
ted in the Standard. On one occasion. sever
al years since, Mr.. Allen took a quantity of
car h from the bottom of his cellar, and pla-
cod il around the apple trees in his orchard;
Ihc consequence of which was, a luxurant
growth of grass, which has continued annual
H. up 10 the last season. 1t is well known
that the earth taken from beneath old buildings
IS strongly mpregnatcd with nitro; and this
satisfactorily accounts for IFS fertilIZing cilets
SO fully is Nh. Allen convinced of the value
Of saltpetre, that he and one of his neighbors
have together ordered from Boston half ton
of the article in IFS crude state, which they
propose 10 apply TO different crops during the
coming season, in various ways. The re ults
of their experiments we hope TO publish in the
fall Conn. Farmers Gdz.
The following is the article from the Wa
tcrtown Standard, alluded to as above:
IMPORTANT To FARMERS.
Hart Mussey, Esq, of tins village, took
small portion of the seed corn with which he
planted field, and soaked il in a solution of
salt nitro, commonly called saltpctre, and
planted five rows with seed thus prepared
Now for the result The five rows planted
with corn prepared with salipetrc, yielded
more than % rows planted without any pre-
paration. The five rows were untouched by
the worms, while the remainder of the field
suffered severely by their depredations. We
should Judge that not kernel saturated with
saltpctre was touched, while almost every Kill
in tke adjoining row, suffered severely. No
one who will examine the field, car .Ioubt the
efficacy of the preparation. lie will be as
tonishcd at the striking difference between the
five rows and the reminder of the field.
Here is a simple fact, which if seasonably
known would have saved many thousands of
dollars TO the farmers CT this county Alone in
the article of corn. Ii is a fact which should
be universally known, and, in all probability,
one Of the greatest discoveries of modern
times in TIE much neglected science of agri-
culture. At all events, the experiment should
be extensively tested, as the results are deem
cd certain, while the expense is comparatively
nothing.
Mr.. NJ. also stated as to the result of anoth-
or experiment tried upon one of his apple trees
last spring. 1t is fine thrifty, healthy tree,
about 25 years old, but never has in any one
wear produced over about two bushels OF ap-
pies. While in blossom last spring, he ascen-
ded the tree, and sprinkled plaster freely on
the blossoms, and the result is, that it will this
wear Weld twenty bushels of apples. Now if
the plaster will prevent the blast, it is dlscov
cry of great Importance. MIR. NJ. was led to
make the experiment by reading an account of
the production of trees adjoining a meadow
where plaster had been sown at time when
there was light breeze in the direction OF the
orchard, the trees contiguous to the meadow
bearing well while the others produced no
fruit.
Root CropS.--The tone of the Agricultural
press for several years past, has been decided
ly in favor of cultivationg roots TO be eaten by
cattle and swine. Many farmers, of accurate
observation and sound judgment, after years
OF experience with these crops, prize them
highly and continue their cultivation. There
are some, however, of good Judgment too, who
after years OF trial, have abandoned their cul.
tivation. Our opinion is in favor of these
crops. We find our minutes of past years,
that allowing forty dollars per acre for manure
including the cost of spreading, that carrots,
sugar beets, and ruta bagas, can be raised for
about 10 cts. per bushel, taking the crops as
they averaged for four successive years. The
carrots have not cost more than the Others -
Though in some seasons and on some -soils,the
beets and ruta bagas have given larger crops
than the carrots, yet they have about as often
been less productive. The beet is liable to
suffer, and ruinously suffer, from drought, and
and theruta baga will blight or be injured by
worms. The carrot is less liable to suffer from
the extremes Of wet and dryness, and it has
ever enemies. We have raised it about as
cheap per bushel as any root, taking the crop
VI several successive years into account
Our crop has averaged $50 bushels per acre
or more.-N. E. Farmer.