The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-12
Gusniilg State 9oarnal.
FRIDAY EVENING, MAY ~, 1871.
New York Farmers, club.


chop it fine and spread thin on plates, and
turn it over every day till it is thoroughly
dried. This must be done after the flies
are gone into winter-quarters. Beef dried
thus must be soaked eight or ten hours in
a little cold water, just enough to have
the beef absorb it; it then may be made
into broth, or hash, or meat fritters. Beef
prepared in this manner and kept in jars
il very convenient on a sea voyage, or In
any place where fresh beef cannot easily
be obtained. The liquor that it is boiled
in can be preserved any length of time by
boiling it down very strong-say till one
gallon is evaporated to one pint, and then
adding -four and making it into thin cakes,
half as thick as crackers, and drying them
in an oven till they are like rusks. Then
pound them fine when used as gravy or
beef BROTH"
SALT FOR CoRN.-J. B., Spring Mills,
N. Y, wrote telling how large crop of
corn was raised: "The ground, sand,
gravel, and loan first had thirty loads of
manure. Then was plowed eight inches
deep, thoroughly pulverized, then planted
with the rows each way. spatting the hills
with the hoe as planted; then, as soon as
possible after the planting was done, be
applied a composition of salt, gypsum,
and ashes, thoroughly mixed together at
the rate of one bushel of salt, two bushels
of gypsum, and four bushels of leached
ashes to two acres. Two rows left with
out any of this composition were cut up,
shocked and husked, as were the two adj
joining rows by themselves, and both
weighed. The result was 3S per cent.
gain by the use of the composition, aud
the increase in fodder was worth enough
to more than pay the cost" Mr.. Reade
On sandy soil, think, within We
years, salt will be used more extel-
sively than any other fertilizer. Salt
is very good when used with
plaster and lime. Mr.. Whitney When
salt is applied tosandy land, it decomposes
and forms hydrochloric acid, which dis
solves the silica of the soil, and prepares
it for absorption by the plant. This silica
gives stiffness and gloss to the stalk, aud
also forms an essential part of the kernel.
In England, salt is used as manure for
mangel wurzeI, at the rate of from 500 to
500 pounds to the acre. The smaller
quantity generally produces the best re-
suits. 1t is a valuable top-dressiug for
rich lands where the grass grows rank. No
reliance is to be placed upon its use for
cereals, or upon stiff clay soil. 1t would
be well for farmersto try experiments with
salt mixed with ashes. lime, plaster, barn
yard manure and cubic nitre. Mr.. Will
liams--The Pennsylvania fruit-growers
seem to think that the use of salt in nur-
series keeps the trees in healthy condi-
ton, and prevents blight.
ACTION OF SALT IN PLANTs.-Mr.
Whitney also said /: "There is no doubt
that salt dissolves many other matters he
sides silica, and helps to carry them into
the circulation of plants with more readi-
ness than the organic solutions commonly
present in the soil. Salt differs from am
monia, potash, and other constituents of
plant-nutrition in this that whereas ammo
mia, potash, ETC., are assmiated and COM
bined to form new vegetable matter, the
salt in solution often circulates through the
plant without being assimilated at all, and
can be obtained by proper analysis as pure
as when it was applied to the grouLd, hav-
ing undergone no change whatever"
A Poke AT THE SEcRETARY.--Be Before
reading the next letter, Mr. Ely remarked
that the secretary had long ago promised
to write paper on the subject of bee cul-
ture, but although he had been punched up
about it on divers and sundry occasions he
failed persistently to come to time, and
that if be continued in this rebellious
conduct be would feel called upon to dis
charge him from being any longer COM
mittee of one on bee keeping.
A LETTER ON BEE-KEEPING.--M FL
len S. Upper, Of. Brighton, Iowa, well
known as an extensive and successful bee
keeper wrote as follows: "Many letters
have reached me the present spring from
persons who are interested in Bookkeeping,
asking information on various points.
Most of these | have answered, but some
have neglected to give their address, and
these perhaps may be reached through
you. One question repeatedly asked is
this: 'Will Bookkeeping pay Que who
has no experience 2 To this l answer
that it will undoubtedly, if one is content-
ed to begin in small way and only ia
crease as they gain knowledge and expe-
rience. Begin in this as in anything else
by degrees Purchase one or two stands
of bees, take care of them yourself and
study their habits, and experience comes
as rapidly as the bees increase Be con-
tented to take the counsel of Others
as your guide until you know
something yourself by actual observa-
ton. No enterprise requires less capital
or experience in making successful b.
ginning. The trouble with most who com
mence is, they find it so much easier than
they expected, that they are soon too con-
fident and go faster than more experienced
bee-keepers dare advance. l have seen
beginners often who knew more the first
season they kept bees, than Quinby or
Langstroth ever taught them; but /
usually remark they know less after year
or two, aud rely more on the experience
of others. Another question is: Is there
any advantage in an improved hive over
an old-fashioned box hive?' have no
wish to dec de upon the merits of patent
hives. Their name is legion--every
one the best in all respects if you
take the word of the patentee-while
the practical bee keeper finds most of