Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-27
AGRIC LTUR E.
ryre.cTs FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OIL
THE COMMISSIONERS OF PATENTS.

fret pronounced the sugar from corn stalk to be
Crane sugar only, and hence crystallizatlon could
hardly be expected. Much disappointed in The
result, transmitted TO Boston some OF The sugar
made by Mr. Webb of Delaware and requested
another ANALYSIS. The second analysis was en-
1irely successful, proving the sugar from corn
stalk 10 be equal TO the best Muscavoda sugar
In reviewing this subject, il appears that the
Juice Of corn stalk cut 100 early will not Sranu-
late; and this was the cause OF the hrst failure
There is every reason 10 believe that all DIM
cu,es in making good sugar from this vegetable
will be removed, while the reports OF this year
show the quantity OF saccharine matter suitcieh'
10 class the crop among The best ior prom.
To Dr. Jackson we are also indebted lof an
ANALYSIS OF several grains. The superiority OF
one kind of Indian corn over another Is sur
prisiney manifest One is filled with OIL The
other has no trace of il hence The superiority OF
the former for fattenins animals. Some grains
contain a large quantity OF phosphate, (such rs
beans, SC. y and hence their consumption lends
greatly Ia increase the bones oil animals. Dys-
peplics will learn from this why some meal (lhat
which contains oily is so difficult OF digestion.
DEEP PLowINa-Few individuals are aware
of the extension OF roots in pulverlzed soil. Won
Thaer mentions finding roots OF sainioin IRON III
TO Is feet deep in the ground. There are now IN
the National Gallery corn roots taken from one
presented by the Hon. J. s. skinner 10 The Ma
tjonal Gallery The corn was planted on The 2Oth
Of Nav and roots gathered the 18th July, lSl2.
In sixty DAYS, some of the large roots extended
more than feet covered with lateral branches.
have caused the roots to be measured The ag-
eregate OF the length OF the roots in hill is, by
Mr.. SINNERS estimate, over eigat thousand ftef.
The specimen alluded 10 is open for examination.
This fact is here mentioned 10 show the impor-
lance OF deep blowing, 10 enable The plant 10
find nourishment so much below the surface as
may avoid the effect Of drought give support 10
the stalk, and not expose The roots TO be cut by
needed cultivation. Soil is made BY exposure OF
earth to the atmosphere and whoever wishes To
make permanent improvements will not TAIL 10
P.o,c deep.
SMUT IN WnEAT-ln the last agricultural re-
port some suggestions were made with reference
10 the disease called smut, in wheat and other
grain The importance OF the subject jnslifles
further remarks in this connection. We notice
that, in recen, lecture, Professor Johnston gives
the following account OF this disease, which is
species OF fungus, the sporules OF which are 50
exceedingly minute, that they are taken up, and
ascend through the pores and sap vessels OF The
plants.
Professor Johnson observed, il is said 'that The
smut had received The name OF nrtdo Scettnm
that these puff balls or sporules were SO minute,
that would take 800 Of them 10 cover an inch
There was no doubt that they assembled through
the plant BY examination, il could be seen
where they had come up. The tubes OF the stalk
were filed with black matter, thai had come
through the vessels affecting first The straw, and
then getting into the ear, where il spreads tseall
over. After passing through the stalk, The smut
fixed itself under The root OF The flower which il
rendered barren; and as The grain approached
perfection, the puff balls became light, and burst,
showing black dust, OF very minute particles, 50
minute that il took about !, 100 900 Of them 10 lie
across single inch He then went on 10 speak of
the manner in which smut was propagalel. IL
was in the first place sown along with seed. Very
often il was SO minute that thousands OF the par
ticles might attach Ia single grain, and YET not
be- visible 10 the naked eve Oats are more sub.
lect 10 smu, than other grain. Rye is never al.
lacked By it, and wheat seldom. Grasses are
sometimes attacked by il, and much injured
"Certain substances have been employed for
the prevention Of smut. The substances used
are; sulphate of Cooper, or blue vltrlol, wine,
common SALT wood ashes, lime water, and some
times arsenic The application Of these sub
stances 10 the seed grain destroys the black dust,
or The spores of The fungus; and, in addition 10
this they make the grain grow better Professor
Johnston mentions An instance where large
field Of oats was divided into several parts, and
the seed doctored in different ways-some not
being doctored al all. other portions being dressed
with Suano, and others stepped in the following
composition: phosphate Of soda, supha,e Of mag
nesa nitrate of potash, common salt sal ammo
MAC, or sulpha,e of ammonia. One pound OF
EACH in ten gallons Of wafer 10 steep 300 pounds
OF seed the moist seed 10 be l:ied with gypsum
quicklime.
ION looking at that field, it was found that The
grain 10 which nothing had been done was smut
ted that which was dressed with guano was also
smulled, as was likewise portion where Camp
bells steep had been used but there were only
Two or three stalks affected with smut in The grain
stepped in the composition above mentioned
"rhe smut which is sometimes found in wheat
called dust 6roni, or pepper braIld is supposed by
some 70 be different species OF uFtdo from that
above spoken OF. Ii is sometimes called msdo
t.tti9a. Blu, The same remedies against It's attacks
are used with equal effect"
In an agricultural paper, We find also the fol
lowing statement as 10 an approved mehod OF re-
meiying this evil "A gentleman near Baltimore
has Tor several years been in The habit oi washing
his seed wheat in 4 strong solution OF glauber
salts (sulphale OF Soda.) with the view OF pre-
venting smut, with complete success. tie says
he makes the solution strong enough 10 bear an
egg, fills tub half iull of il, and then pours in
hal. hushei OF wheat at time, shrs il iound
well with The hand, skins on all The floating
grains and other tonl matters, dips out The wheat
with colander, lets il drain, spreads il ont on
The harm floor ill not quite dry, then rolls il IN air
slahed lime, and sows il. One man can wash and
prepare in this way as much as dozen men can
pu, in the ground. Every description OF foul
seed, garlic, and flth Except cockle,) IS eec-
lnalv taken ont OF the wheat by this process
He has no smut in the wheat since he adopted
this plan Glauber salts can I've purchased by the
barrel al about one cent and halt pound. The
wheat swclls while undergoing the process about
% per cent; thai is, tour bushels will become FIVE.
It, after washing, be left upon the harm floor all
night and thus become drv, it will lose a large
portion OF is increased bulk. 1t is better, how
ever, TO put il in the ground while somewhat
moist, as termination will take place sooner and
the quicker any seed terminates after being PIT
in the ground, the better. Besides the .re.i d.
ject in view the getting rid Of smut and other in
purities, there can he no doubl that most sa!h
able nuiritve AM stimulating principle i aided
10 the seed grain, in the soda that is absotbc,.-
Farmers will do well 10 Try the experiment. They
NAV b. assured il will do no harm, and il is not
very costly Probably dollars worth of the
salts wonll I've sufficient for fifty OF hundred
Bushels of seed"
A distinguished agricuurist recommends the
following recipe, on the information OF one who
slid he knew il 10 be iniallib!e, after many expe
riments:
"Dissolvc pound of blue stone in rs mnch
wafer as will cover five bushels OF wheat, aud let
il remain about eighteen hours before il is sown,
and you will never have smut in your wheat"
To DESTROY SNAlI.s.-As 4 means Of destroy
ing sugs (naked snails) OF worms, which some
times do great damage in England, salt is very
highly recommended in the English Farmers Ma
cazine in the volume of which, for 1913, may I've
found an account OF the experiments Of Mr..
B2ske, which were extended over some hundreds
al acres He says an every situation, al every
time, the effect appeared equally beneficial; The
quantity used per acre was four or i've bushels,
sown out of common seed shuttle in the even
iny. In the morning, each throw may be dis
tnsushei by the quantity OF slime and number
of dead slugs on the ground In some fields, !,
has certainly been the means of preventing The
drS,ruction of The whole crup"