New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-04-02
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FARMERs' CLUE.

man.
As the Spring opens and springing turf invites the
polished share. some vacant seats show that talk Is
10 be followed up with work. We invite our CORE
spoudentS this Spring to report on the manuTes they
haul out-the number Of loads to the head of stock.
the muck used the bone or other fertilizers pur-
chased. There are two rural maxims on this branch
Of farm economy, and the Club would be giad II tue
actual farmers would enhghten them. Which Is
nearest the truth.
J. He is the best farmer who buys the most manure.
=. lie is the best farmer who makes his Own ma
nure, and buys none.
EARLY ROSE AS A KEEPER-Spencer Sprincstead,
Unonport, y. Y. sends asket from the bin IN his
cellar TO show how well they have Nlntered They
came ont as smooth, firm; and hard, as they were
the day they were dug. He put up 40 barrels and
has not found dozen rotten potatoes
Discussion on DRAINAGE. - This subject was
brought up by communication from A. fearce OF
Arlington Va, who wished to be informed as to the
feasibility Of making tile on his own farm. Would
hydraulic cement answerf The chief object IS 10
save money and inch and half eaTthen tile III that
vicinity is worth So per 1,UJO.
J. L. Snodgrass-The whole region OF country from
which our correspondent writes needs TO be thor
oughly drained; but expect II would be better 10
patronize some public establishment than to under
take 10 manufacture tile or substitute for tile at
home. | am informed that a shTewd Quaker has
recently put up tileactory on the outskirts OF the
Mount Vernon estate. and probably he VIII supply
his ueghbOrs az fair rates.
good quality of clay, and make the usual drain-tlle
If five six farmers Will combine they get a
machine which they could operate themselves at odd
times. have bought much tile at $l5 per l0O0 but
If had occasion TO use $1,000 more, ] should certain
ly get a machine and make them myself, and thus
save money. There Is another idea about drains
which has recently come 10 my knowledge. and that
Is the practice of using hemlOck boards. neIghbOr
lately told me that he had just lifted drain made
of this material, and put down - years ago. and he
found the timber still Remarkably preserved The
drain was put down the same as horseshoe tile, and
he said he likes 1t better than ordinary twonch tile
and that II costs less. l would advise our CORE
spondent TO look about Georgetown and what lie
can buy hemloCk boards for, and II he get them
fayOrably a We can getthem IN Newark ms drains
need not cost him more than cent and half foot
Dr. 1rmble--My convictions the result of many
years close study of the theory of farming well
known. believe IN shailOwness. There Is no Wis
dom in going deep. ! am opposed TO disturbing with
drains or with pcwshares that cool firm subsOh that
never smelled air, never the light, never basked
in the SIM. advise this man not 10 drain at all. II
VIII cost him so per acre and don't think 1t VIII
prove prOhtabe.i IL he has none but land that needs
draining, why he had better seek home elsewhere
Patrick Qunn--And |, a practical farmer, and not
sidewalk tseOrizer advise this man 10 drain by all
MEANS commencing III a small way, with half an
acre-and venture to predict If he does this much
tend the good work over two OF three acres, and SO
Oh until his farm Is entirely reclaimed.
J. b. Lyman-Ihe father Of upland draining in this
country is John johnson of Geneva, y \. In a con-
versatlOn with that veteran agricuturist he told
the other day that his uniform advice 10 farmers ask
ing II is TO dig Que ditch and lay down the usual
it, and does not want better material drain j.
receptacle OF water as well as conduit Tor carrying
IT. The concrete Is used with success IN room of
pump logs Of lead tubing, but not as substitute
Tor the usual drain tile As 10 the distance apart and
other practical questions, Mr.. johnson recommends
one trial drain That will settle more questions than
any book or paper on the subject. As to abandoning
a soil because II needs draining, as has been sng
gested. Mr.. johnson says that no soil Is really good
for wheat that Is not stiff enough To be benefited by
draining. MT. Pedrce had better unite with three or
four of his neighbors and buy tile machine, and
their clay Is free of stones they might also get
ditchinC machine But ] would not recommend this
outlay TILL he and those who JOIN him have demon
strated that their surface Is greatly benefited by
drains. 1t will not pay for them TO import their
drain-tile from any distance, and Virginia needs
local working artisans Ships have been slowly
working her downfall for 2OO years but drain tile
and manure stock, ana diversified industry, Will
build her up again.
ALL ABOUT AspARAGUs-A Perrine of English
town. y. j. would cultivate field Of asparagus, but
hasn't copy of Peter HendersOns book, and so
came to the Club What SOIL, what 1eIt4lZeI. now
deep. how far apart.
=. I. Quinn-Deop sandy loan, well-rotted barn
ward manure. In the absence OF that, something
that comes as to IL possible. Plant either IN
Spring or FALL in hills 3X3 OF IN rows four feet apart
and hills two feet distant using COnoyers colossal,
and covering the crowns only four or i've inches
deep speak OF the last point because If he intends
to send TO market he Will get II eight or ten days
sooner than II he follows the advice of some, and
covers foot or more. Getting into market early
with asparagus IS apt TO make great difference III
the price, and consequently IN the profits
Mr.. Bruen-l nave the DtSt asparagus Deu IN lnis
OF any other country there can be no doubt about
IL: put 1t down with my own hands, u inches
apart using well-rOtted COW manure. never allow
the sun TO shine their roots. apply bushei or
so of salt each year, and when the sprouts die IN
Autumn. cut them of and cover the surface with
four inches of mulch.
}. MOultOn-HOw long Will Oed last Wheh once
fairly put down
Prot. Nash-On the Mount Pleasant property, in
Amherst Mass. there was an asparagus bed winch |
know to have been IN full bearing and excellent for
80 wears at least. But very successful grower near
London told NE he found II best to renew every 20
years. ,, :
was born there was at least 30 years Old.
| T. Trmble-I can 20 30 more Oh Mr. BALDWIN,
and the very spot was the estate OF the OLD Living
''I TaT D6croRs DISAGREE on LIcE.-A dainty
topc was introduced by Asa w Weldon of Rock
ford, ILL.,, who, seeing an inquiry 10 XIII lice
ON cattle" said he would venture To give opin-
ion that will be of twofOd beneht. that u.s. corn
meal viii remove the pesky creatures complained o.
and improve the cattle al the same time. Dr M0uI-
ton would inquire whether the corn meal was 10 be
applied as a pOultlce. or rubbed into the skin ike
hair inyIgoratOr or taken internally lie doubted
the meal, but IN his own case had iound reIIei
from strong decoctiOn Of tobacco DR.. SnOdgIass
said carbolic compounds. DR.. Williams advised
auguntum. Dr. Snodgrass protested against auguln-
tum. DR.. TTimble remarked that as acarl breathe
through pores of the skIn and as auguIntum and
similar oily mixtures Obstruct these pores, he TOO
would have to protest against the mercury III auguln-
tum. but not against hogs lard. Dr. Fuller would
like to ask if II isn't disgrace for any farmer 20
have lousy animals about his place." and he eX-
pressed the opinion that unetenths OF the cases can
be traced TO careessness and neglectpOOr food and
no shelter. Some of his neighbOrs have horses
afflicted with wire-wOrms. They feed bog -hay-he
feeds good timothy and clover neither is he spaTing
with oats and his horses never need vermifuge.
Dr. Reade thought good feed Is not always a pre-
ventlve though it may DO much. For instance, sheep
have been kept on the farm lie now occupies for the
past century and well kept, too, nevertheless they
would occasionally have ticks and he would mention
in passing that the best way to manage THESE peso Is
IN din the sufferer in a preparation OF tObaccOJuce
wetting every part except the nose and eyes.
J. b. LynaL-Un Unfortunately, am not doctor.
1 and shoud not put In "a word but Will give a