, 1860-12-27
agriculturs.
Miscellaneous Iesms,

kAsty manner, and huddled together in pro
miscuous heap, without regard to variety
size or condition. Great care should be
taken thai they oe thoroughly cried, and
have no damp soil Clinging to them when
stored away. Again, they should be care.
fully assorted, and all decayed ones removed
in order that the others may not become in.
fected. Many contend that potatoes should
Be spread out for several days to "sweat," "
but We think this unnecessary. II new ap.
Piles be barreled up tightly, on opening in a
Few days they will be found to be covered
with perspiration, which would soon induce
decay. It 10 not 80 with potatoes. They
are not properly sweating vegetable, and
as soon as dried and assorted, can be safely
slowed away. Were it not for extra labor,
and also The difficulty Of securing light and
eOik it would be the best plan to bury them.
This is generally the practice in England.
They are deposited in beds called "ples,"
where they are less liable to shrivel, and
more blooming In the spring. In olden
Tins, cellars were kept totally dark, and as
little heat allowed as possible. Now, much
light Is admitted, and often furnaces are
built in them By means Of the light and
heat, the eyes are stimulated into growing,
md consume the starch which would other
wise be devoted to making the potato mealy
6ud well favored. The heat also causes an
evaporation Of the succulent matter, and,
when spring comes, it will be found that
the reproductive energies Of the plant are
much enerVated. II potatoes must necessar-
ily Be kept above ground, they should be
slowed away in dark, cool cellars IN as large
quantities as possible, and not be spread
over large surface, as is frequently done.
They are thus less exposed 70 air, and less
liable 10 freeze. Many also cOver the heaps
with Grf and cod. u il Is found that they
are 1ecayilE ventilation will assist some
what IN preventing it. This can be secured
By placing them IN large bins OF boxes, with
slais ct he bottom and sides. IA ~
sonl HmFs ADour BuTTER.-A good
brine Is made for butter by dissoIving quart
Of 6ne ealt. 4 pound Of loaf sugar, and o
tsasb booafdl &c saltpstre IN two quartz. Of
WarsF, and then strain % on the butter.
Packed butter is most perfectly preserved
swee' By setting the 6rkin into larger fr.
klp, and lilIing in with good brine. and GOV.
sring Il Butter will keep sweet . year,
BVitsrmiIk kept 10 pOtter's ware dissolves
he glazing, and becomes poisonous.
Never scaldl straineFs or milky vessels
IN thofoughly washed. % the milk or cream
nufiR. them will Be injured BY it. The best
1ag lbl aclld sach vessels Il %. plunge them
al over into scAlding water, and then every
spot b bcslded., fFF1lftTFsa ~
Butter viii sometimes not come because
De air il loa much excluded from the chnn.
DnAuIno.--Ths great advantage Of land
drainage, ADD ffom that circulation Of the
fssdlpg agent through The soil which Il pro.
molt1, depends, no doubt, On the immediate
pensh alton -ef he spring and summer show.
en-, and their conveyance Of the atmOsphe. ic
Temperature into the soil and subsoil, which,
vilkoui none such agency, would retain the
winter spason fvr the roots Of plants. while
ths,F leaves md stems were rejoicing In the
aummer sun and air. Their Influence 10
hardly injured By any merely surface cooling
vhich evaporation may produce, and the pro-
liability that drained land experiences, during
aummcfs even more OF tnl9 ourtoco cOottnB
fl1ilAnd that ismdrained, isthusn0 difficulty
N the way ofoHr understanding the immense
inanenee II land drainage on fertility. e
The Russian method of preserving grain
n pits may possibly be Of use In some Of
our Nv Slsies c1lefe itis; i5TCH
The pits are dug N dry soil, and instead
II masonry, TIE tldes ere hardened BY . lUng
continued exposure 70 wood FIRE. Before
ths corn . introduced, the air In the pit is
I.rr6ld by bdnihB sOms straw u n Aher
which Tie grain. is thrown Ia, packed close
and the pit tightly enclosed. Corn has been
preserved IN such pits for forty years.
5oms of our Washington farmers, who raise
large crops Of grain, should try this methUd
q preserving d during years when there 10
: nrn1I Weld. n order 10 Law M store for