The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-10

A cross killing machine is like a heavy
roller. with projections from its surface
which break clods; it also congresses ard
packs the soil. 1t is run over wheat in
early spring, to counteract the effects OF
heavy freezes. We append the following
extract, to show how the machine is OPP
Grated in England:
Now is the time to Crosskill the light
land wheat, to preserve it from wireworm.
Nv Crosskill is 80 years old and still has a
good constitution, although | have placed
on its back (raiD five cwt. of iron to bal
ance the shafts and increase its pressure
power. How can folks continue to farm
wirewOrm lands without this implement ?
1t would repay its cost in a single season.
Wireworm is simply ruinous on many farms,
which could be avoided by C~rosskilling
early, before the mischief is commenced.
Besides, my experience has taught me that
the soliditicaticn of light lands is most
beneficial to wheat, irrespective of wire
worm. | have frequently made my wheat
land Subject to wireworm) as hard as a
board by Crosskilling and sailing. and, in
consequence, secure splendid outstanding
crops of wheat. On such fields [ had last
year 61a qrs and, in another, 5 qrs. of fine
wheat and tall, strong straw.-L0adOn Far
mer.
Please state "wether buckwheat can be
practically cultivated in this climate; the
most economical, and shortest method of
tanning sheep skins with the hair on, and
a good recipe for vinegar for home use.'-
I'll. p, Abbeville, S. c.
Answer:
Buckwheat cannot be successfully grown.
for its SEED, except in the mountainous por-
tons of the South. The trouble is, that in
our climate, the Towering Of the plant ex-
ton1c fbrnyrb n lave -nrIDl ,,J a. .o.J-
consequently do not ripen together. This
can be partially obviated by sowing late
say last of July or first of Augustine ad-
vent of cool weather about the time of
Towering seems then to hasten the process,
and the seeds ripen more uniformly togeth.
r.-SoutheJn Cu}trotor.
Good Tneg0r.-Take parings of apples
or other fruit, or the whole fruit sliced up,
and weighting them down in a vessel. pour
on enough boiling water to come up just to
the top of the mass. Let it stand 3 or 4
days, then pour off into a cask or other YES
sci, filling it very nearly full, so that scum
or impurities may work out and escape
add some mother Of vinegar and set in a
warm place. A little moiasses OF other
sweetening added to the mass at first, will
increase the strength of the vinegar.
q Tan SheepsAins.-Take one spoonful
OF alum and two Of saltpetre, powder ard
NIX thoroughly-then put Oh flesh side of
skin and double the skin on itself bringing
bringing the flesh side togetber-now fold
up tightly and hang in dry place. In three
or four days or as soon as dry, scrape the
flesh side with a dull knife until it is clean
and supple.
We copy the following extract, giving
another method of tanning skins:
Speaking of tanning with the fur on, an
English writer tells Tie C0untrY that be
has a cats skin, pliable as kid, free from
smell and the bair still c~linging firmly.
which, two years ago, was dressed accord
ing to the following recipe, which he saws
IS equally safe and unfailing in all such
cases: Nail the fresh skin tightly and
smoothly against a door, keeping the s.skin-
ny side out" Next, with a broad bladed
blunt knife, scrape away all loose pieces of
flesh and fat; then rub in much chalk. and
be not sparing of labor; when the chalk be-
gins to powder and fall off take the skin
down, Till it with Underground alum, wrap
closely together. and keep it so in a dry
place for two or three days; at the end Of
that time unfold it, shake out the alum and
the work is done.
LOUISIANA has more thar $40 600 OOO in