Theory and Practice.

Agricultural Science and Scientific Agriculture.

BY S. W. JOHNSON.

Every farmer has a theory. Every sane man performs all his business, in accordance with some rules which satisfy his mind. The chain of reasons which he is able to assign in justification of his actions, is his theory. A man may strike his horse, or break his plow, without following, and indeed in opposition to theory; but all that he does deliberately, and of his free will, he does because he is convinced of its practicability and lawfulness-- because he has a good reason for it; or he is no honest man.

The farmer may affect to despise theory, and claim that he is a purely practical man; but he is mistaken. For to suppose that a man can carry out the manifold affairs of a farm, through a whole year and through many years, without some mental basis for his operations, is sheer nonsense. This mental basis is theory, and to take pride in freedom from theory," is to boast of inability to think.

A farmer follows the same routine of practice that his father did, or he does as some successful neighbor does, or he adopts the plan of A. who writes for the papers; or, finally, he rejects them all, and takes a way of his own. Why does he follow one or the other course? Because, after thinking the matter over, he concludes it is the best. He philosophizes upon it; he considers the arguments for it and against it; according to his ability, he reasons on the subject. Neighbor B. told him a bit of experience the other day, which favors his view; Squire C., an old farmer, preached the same doctrine in his address before the County Ag. Society, and so he discusses the point until he arrives at a settled conclusion. The mental process may be a long and complicated one, as it will be in a cultivated mind, or it may be so insignificant and summary that the man may not know that he has reasoned. A man may have a microscopic understanding; he may mistake his own prejudices or fancies for arguments; he may worship precedent; he may have such dulness of observation and apprehension, that he has hardly a dozen well understood facts in his stock of knowledge, or his mind may be so undisciplined that he cannot pursue a logical train, yet he must arrive at a mental conclusion before he acts; his reason must consent to these conclusions. The plan carried out is his practice, and the chain of reasons which convinced his judgment, is his theory.

If he himself only adopts a theory proposed by another, because he knows nothing opposed to it; if he be unable to state the grounds which form the basis of his operations-if he can only say "my father did so," or have no other reason than that so common among old women and children, "because "-however faint may be the spark of intellect that lightens his being, yet he has his mental processes, and their result-the conclusion that satisfies his reason, his theory-must inevitably come from them, and he is mentally if not morally responsible for it.

Many of the opinions that are current in the world are very wrong. Many names are misapplied. In common life, incorrect and incomplete ideas of the nature of theory and practice are almost universal, and hence the term " a theoretical farmer," and "a practical farmer," are often abused, and the good meaning which properly attaches to them is torn from its natural connection, and replaced by such as belong elsewhere.

What is a "theoretical farmer," in the common ac

ceptation? He who has wild theories, extravagant notions-be who "goes in" for any thing new,-who laughs at what our fathers did-talks immensely of progress, steam-plowing, &c. -be is what was formerly called a "book farmer," until that name became too respectable for such a use.

"Yes, that's your theorist," says a thick stout-built, short-necked individual-" that's your man of theory. I am a practical man. I was always suspicious of these go a-head folks; they generally smash their heads against a wall. I take it coolly. Reckon experienced old men like my grandfather and my father, and Gen. E., who has farmed it ever since the inst war, know something about it. I am grey-headed as you see, and I have brought up my large family comfortably, and have laid by a good sum against old age, and that satisfies me. I love the good old way."

Here we have two characters, both nice men; the first not without judgment, but excessively imaginative; his fancy runs away with his reason. He holds theory, doctrine, to be very important, and lets his cattle go without their fodder, while he devours the contents of the Agricultural papers. He hopes sanguinely that the day will soon come, when he may have treatment under all circumstances-when he shall be his soils all analyzed, and obtain prescriptions for their able to buy guano and superphosphate, and poudrette

when his whole farm shall be thorough-drained, to the depth of four, and subsoiled to the depth of two feet-when his pastures shall be populated by Morgans, and Short-horns, and South-downs-when his ham and eggs shall be furnished by full blooded Berkshires and Shanghais. He has his soils analysed; and they are found to contain no phosphoric-acid, notwithstanding they produce corn and oats; he applies $50 worth of superphosphate and an equal quantity of guano, and the increase of his crops is worth but $75. His imported stock are half-bred, and die at that; his Shanghais don't lay, and he becomes a victim to misfortune.'

thought to be very sound, although he never had a Our other friend, is a very respectable man; he is dozen thoughts of his own in all his life. Devoid of imagination, his mind never goes out on foraging excursions, but only reasons on what falls within its way. He is a man of strong prejudices, and one of the corner stones of conservatism. He has immense muscles. more in his stomach than in his brain. He is the type which love to work, and a dull nerve which centers of so-called practical men; and as he occurs in every school district, he does not need further description.

The first is like the dragon-fly. He has a vast preponderance of wings. He is constantly on some adventurous flight. He goes whizzing hither and yon, through the atmosphere of speculation. He is wide awake. He flies with the wind, and wonders at his speed. He is intoxicated with the slightest stimulus, and without excitement is miserable. He soars awhile

gloriously, but his wings are gauze, and in some thunderstorm of reality he falls to the earth, his pinions wet and dislocated. He loves theory, but theorizes wrongly. He chiefly fails because he cannot count the cost of a project—because he lacks business capacity!

The other character is, at best, a flying squirrel. He carries too much ballast for his sail. He makes a desperate spring with all legs spread, and calls it a flight. His sphere of life and ambition is very circumscribed. He dwells in the ancestral homestead and has spotted the beeches which yield the best mast, and knows where ground-nuts are most abundant. He despises theory without knowing that he theorizes. He prides himself on his practice, and never dreams that it might be better.

These characters stand at the opposite extremities of the chain, along which all farmers are strung. The one does not represent theory fairly, nor the other practice. They both have practice and theory, for without the former, they could not be farmers, and without the latter they could not be men. But the two elements

are mixed in wrong proportions. The golden mean is The where we must look for an agricultural exemplar. best theorist is the most practical man, and the best practical man is be who most correctly and largely theorizes-other things being equal.

There is extravagant, unfounded, or one-sided theory; there is practice that is irrational and disadvantageous; there is also theory founded on natural laws, which is just, and deserves all respect; and practice which accords with sound theory, and which is necessarily to the highest degree advantageous.

It behoves the farmer to look after his theories, his doctrines; in so far as they are carefully formed, based on truth, comprehensive, and, to sum up all in one word, sound, in so far will his practice be correct and profitable.

If the doctrines, theories, or ideas, held by a community, relating to farming matters, be made correct, the practice will immediately conform thereto, for it is the mind that leads the body.

It, as I have attempted to show, there is no practice without theory-that even the most old-fogy farmer, has some doctrines, and some thoughts, and that the more extensively and accurately the farmer thinks -or in other words the more correct his doctrines and perfeet his theory, -the more successful he must be in cultivating the soil. Then surely theoretical agriculture is by no means to be despised.

The word theory is used with considerable latitude, and may be properly applied to two things, which, in most respects, are perfect antipodes. A good sound theory, is immutable truth; it is a systematic exposition of the principles of the process or phenomena to which it refers; it is the result of experience, and has been attained by long and patient study and investigation. It is adopted by large-minded men as the basis of their practice. There can be but one good theory of any operation or art. Of bad theories, there may be a legion. They may be bad, because imperfect, though correct in many points. They may be utter nonsense, sheer invention,-may be proposed by men incapable of continued and connected thought, and bear no evidence of being legitimately descended from practice, or confirmed by experiment or experience.

What agriculture wants is sound theory. Its system of doctrine should contain all those principles which are satisfactorily proved to be true, and should reject all such as are demonstrated to be false.

Where is the source of good theory? Theory is the result of reflection, and of the study of facts and phenomena. To make a theory, are wanted, 1st, facts or knowledge; and 2d, mind, which revolves these facts and discovers their relations and causes. The more numerous the facts, and the more powerful and numerous the minds that reason on them, the more rapidly and perfectly will the theory be developed.

Facts must be genuine It is not sufficient that they seem to be facts. Every one knows that thousands of statements are received as facts by one class of people, and rejected as delusions by another. It is not difficult at this day to find men who are perfectly convinced that the earth does not turn round once in 24 hours, or in any time longer or shorter; and the fact that the water in Dea. Jones' mill pond has not spilled out long ago, is to them an argument of the strongest kind. He who will be able to judge of the authenticity of statements,-to decide whether they be facts or not, must seek to know as many facts as possible. Facts are related to each other, or agree together in certain points-these relations and agreements, are means of deciding in how far opinions are correct, or presumed facts genuine. A subject of which we are entirely ignorant, is like a dark chamber. Every fact learned with regard to it, is a light set burning therein. The more facts the more light. A bit of looking-glass might at first be mistaken for a light, but by and bye, as the room becomes better illuminated by the genuine flames, there is light enough to see

that it is a looking-glass, and only reflects, does not emit radiance.

The mind that discriminates between facts and false statements, and spins the former into threads of principles, and weaves these into the web of theory, must be cultivated, must be trained to its work.

There is one word which includes the whole business of making sound theory, the finding out new facts, examining the pretensions of old ones, arranging them," and developing theory in the greatest possible perfection. This word is one, here extravagantly extolled, there intensely despised: it is the word SCIENCE. There is a mind trained by years of study and thought to fitness for being the instrument for developing theory, and making it useful to mankind. This mind is that of the Scientific Man.

What is shallow or false, does not belong to science. The mind that is narrow, illogical, visionary or prejudiced, is not that of the scientific man.

Genuine Facts are of slow accumulation, and sound Theory is of still slower growth. Men have breathed through a space of almost 60 centuries, and only within the last hundred years, has it been possible to lay the foundation of a theory of respiration that promises to be endurable. The same is true of agriculture. We have just begun. Human progress has just reached the point at which it is possible to begin this work. It is but yesterday that the means and methods were discovered, by which we may hope to erect the pyramids of agricultural science. They will cover immense ground. The masons who know how to build in their But the work walls, are few, and they often blunder. goes on, and every man may in some way hasten its consummation. Encouragement must not be withdrawn, because flaws appear, or bad materials are sometimes used. To err is human. Encouragement will help, mend and rectify mistakes.

A few words on Practice. Practice is, like theory, good or bad. Good practice may be in part accidental, and independent of good theory; but good theory, if it become active, must work itself out in good practice. Bad practice is the result of erroneous, or imperfect (want of) theory. Bad theory can hardly fail to produce disadvantageous practice.

Practice and theory ought to go together. They ought to be inseparably associated in the mind of the farmer. He should boast of his strong muscles for practice, and of his well stored and cultivated mind for theory. He should be on the alert for new items of good theory, wherewith to improve his practice, and for new practical methods whereby to test and correct his theories. He should accept no theory as genuine and established, unless practice gives it the right hand of fellowship, nor be satisfied with any practice without finding a sanction for it in theory.

Rational Agriculture is the result of such a union. Theory is the produce of mind. Education, adapted for farmers, is the means of fertilizing the soil in which this goodly growth shall flourish.

Facts are the materials to theory. They come from practice. Either they may be found by observation in ordinary practice, or more abundantly by investigation in experimental practice.

Experimental investigation is the great means of improving agriculture. By its aid, Theory and Practice will be alike harmoniously developed. No successful course of investigations can be planned, without some theoretical guide, nor carried out without well determined facts.

Let the farmer ask himself-Do I know what is the true theory of my profession? If not, how am I sure that I follow the best practice?

It may be urged-does not the best practice often conflict with theory? It may apparently disagree with true theory-or actually be opposed to false or imperfect theory. In the first case, practice is at fault; it is not correctly applied, or some unnoticed circumstances stand in the way of its success. In the second

case, the imperfect theory is indeed to be rejected, but only until it can be replaced by one more perfect; but in neither case must we lose our confidence either in theory or practice.

In particulars, practice is in advance of theory; it accomplishes much that theory cannot satisfactorily explain; but, in general, theory is ahead of practice; it teaches what practice neglects to perform.

It is a common idea that many things are good in theory, which are impossible in practice. This notion is perhaps derived from the fact that many machines which work admirably in the model, fail when developed on the large scale. It is a fact that a purely scientific theory may be industrially inapplicable, and for the obvious reason that there is one element which in science is of no account, but which in industry is of the highest moment, viz, cost. A scientific truth has no more scientific value, because it costs thousands of dollars and centuries of toil, nor is it of less importance because some lucky accident revealed it. Its scientific value consists in the number and importance of its scientific applications. These applications are purely intellectual, and involve no cost, for mind knows none of the physical laws of gravitation, friction, nutrition, waste, &c, &c. But the industrial value of a truth, depends very much on what it costs, for an industrial or practical application is of no value when the expense of making it equals the return it yields.

To prevent confusion, and enable our language to convey the idea of cost, included or excluded, I propose to the Agricultural press, the constant use of the term AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, to signify the scientific theory-the abstract doctrines on which agriculture is based, independent of profit or economy; and SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE, to denote the practical theory, the applied doctrines of agriculture, founded on natural laws, taken in connection with economical considerations. The former can be cultivated in the study and laboratory; the latter must be learned in the field, and sustain the ordeal of practice. The former is the intangible offspring of mind; the latter is the mental brood made incarnate. The one is satisfaction to the philosophical intellect; the other is profit to the practical purse.

Agriculture will flourish from that day, when practical men shall be philosophical enough to appreciate the philosopher's thoughts; and philosophers practical enough to calculate the farmer's profits. Munich, March, 1855.

Raising Chickens, Gapes, &c.

It is now a good time to make arrangements for raising chickens. The first step to be taken is, to exchange cocks with one of your neighbors. Then be careful that your hens do not commence setting too early.

Chickens should not come out until the earth is sufficiently warmed to produce slugs, bugs, and worms, te furnish them a moderate supply. The first food given to them, should be boiled egg chopped fine; then follow up with milk curd, it being similar to white of egg, boiled. After a few days, wheat screenings, cracked corn dry, or buckwheat, may be added to their diet, alternating with curd. Keep them in a warm, dry place, with a shallow dish of pure water near. Feed them often, and as they get strength mix whole corn with their other food, increasing the proportion as they take to it, and when they can fill their crops with corn you may let the hen have the liberty of the pastures, keeping up the supply of grain at regular intervals.

The above rules, closely adhered to, will prevent gapes, nine times out of ten, at all seasons. And the reverse will induce gapes, just as surely.

It has often been asked whether gapes could be cured, and I would answer, yes! There are different methods of curing chickens of the gapes. All agree that worms in the wind-pipe cause irritation, and the chicken gapes and flirts its head to get rid of them; the more it flirts and gapes the weaker it grows, and the more the worms increase and thrive, until at last, too weak to take its food, it dies.

Some remove the worms by inserting a feather, and twisting it around a few times, draw them forth. Others use tobacco smoke, almost suffocating the chicken, and, they say, killing the worms. But the best and most efficient cure is one practiced by an elderly lady of great experience in chicken raising. She usually follows the rules first laid down in this article, but occasionally a few of the weaker ones are attacked with this difficulty. They are caught, and if too weak to feed from the dish, are crammed with whole corn, one grain at a time, and out of twelve or fourteen cases in a season, not one is lost. I was induced to try the plan, and occasions being rather more frequent than agreeable, I selected the most desperate, the subject having made numerous ineffectual attempts at picking up its food. There was no difficulty in getting the corn in his mouth, as it was constantly open. It was a slow business, but resulted so favorably that it was repeated three times in two days and saved his life.

My unexpected success induced a thorough examination of the subject, and among the "why's and wherefore's," came up the question of origin. What produced the worm? Was it that peculiar louse of which we hear and read, produced with the chicken, and having its home near the nose, propagating its kind by depositing its eggs within the nostril of the chick ? Was it the young of the common hen louse? Was it the egg of some insect picked up by the chick at a certain season of the year, and finding its way to the wind-pipe, hatched there?

Did not that mystery which surrounds the origin of the fluke in the liver of the sheep, and worms in the intestines of children, surround this also?

Now I do not believe that "something" is produced from "nothing," any more than that "chess" is from "wheat," or apple trees from quince seed. But what has research proved as to the origin of intestinal worms, and those that find a home in the liver of the sheep, or wind-pipe of the chicken?

We find by experiment, that a good and sufficient supply of nourishing food enables the chicken to keep off, or where no constitutional difficulty arises, to rally and overcome the disease. But when the system becomes enfeebled from any cause whatever, then this one difficulty, or disease of gapes sets in. No pepper corns need be thrust down the throat-no turpentine mixed with their food. No corrosive sublimate dropped on their heads, nor oil of tansey put in their food, nor feathers plunged down into their lungs, but one of nature's own remedies furnishes a cure. Food, foodgood wholesome food, and a plenty of it. C.

FRUIT IN OREGON.-A subscriber on the Pacific, informs us that it is estimated that the fruit crop of Oregon last year sold for $200.000. He says that one grower whose oldest trees were brought across the Plains in a wagon, imbedded in soil, about ten years since, and then no larger than pipe stems, sold his crop in San Francisco, for the comfortable sum of $20.000.

Agricultural Statistics of Scotland.

In the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN of April 19th, we gave a statement of the average of the wheat crop of Scotland for the last year, ranging from 28 to 36 bushels per acre in the best districts, and from 214 to 28 in the worst districts. This information, we doubt not, wil! be of some interest to a considerable number of your readers, and this interest would be increased if the averages of the wheat crops in different counties or districts in this and other wheat-growing states could be ascertained and compared with the above. We hope some approximation will be made to such an average and comparison, by friends furnishing estimates for their several vicinities, as invited to do, in the No. referred to.

If the statistics of the wheat crop of Scotland are likely to interest numbers of the readers of this journal, it has occurred to us that it might be equally interesting to them to learn the averages of some of the other crops of that well-cultivated country. We have accordingly collected and condensed from the C Returns" made to Parliament, information as to the principal crops, and herewith submit it. It would add to the interest of these statistical facts, if the average crops of this country could be ascertained or approximately estimated, that the averages might be compared.

Barley. The average produce of barley in one county is 46 bushels per acre, and in the best district of that county as high as 54 bushels. The lowest average produce of any one county is 29 bushels.

Oats. In the acreable produce of oats, the same county which stood highest in barley, (Haddington,) stands highest in this also, having an average of 48 bushels and 2 pecks. In two districts of this county the produce is 60 bushels, 1 peck. The lowest average produce of any county is 31 bushels, 3 pecks.

Beans. The highest average produce of any county is 34 bushels and 3 pecks; and the lowest 16 bushels.

Turnips.-The average weight per acre for the whole of Scotland is 14 tons, 13 cwt.; the highest produce in any one county being 22 tons, 15 cwt., and the lowest 10 tons, 10 cwt. As no distinction was kept between the Swedish and other varieties, the above weights are the average of the whole. Last year's crop of turnips in Scotland, was smaller than usual, and has been estimated at fully 2 tons under average. Potatoes.-Average acreable produce for the whole country, 3 tons, 13 cwts. The largest produce per acre in any one county was 5 tons, and 10 cwts. As however, the distinction between sound and diseased tubers was not made in some districts, the above must be held as above the average of sound tubers.

Mangold Wurzel.-This is a comparatively new crop in Scotland. The weight of roots is largest in one district of Fife, being 23 tons, 14 cwts. In no other county or district does the average weight of this root come up to the average, as grown in England.

Carrots -The largest weight per acre of any one county is 12 tons.

Cabbage.--There are more acres under cabbage than under carrots in Scotland, notwithstanding that the cultivation of this plant for stock is only recent. It is thought that its cultivation is extending, and will continue to extend rapidly, as the value of the plant becomes more known. The largest produce of any one county was 31 tons, 15 cwst.

Turnip Seed.-Large quantities of this are grown in Scotland for home, English and American consumption. The average produce of the Swedish variety may be taken at 22 bushels, and of yellow and whites at 14 bushels.

The area under cultivation in Scotland is generally known to bear but a small proportion to the extent under mountain pasture; but it will surprise many to be informed that only about one-tenth of the entire area of Scotland is under cultivated crops.

Draining and manuring have increased the productiveness of the soil sufficiently to warrant farther outlays.

ter.

Culture of the Potato.

(Concluded from page 146.)

4. TIME AND METHOD OF CULTIVATION.-After the ground has been plowed, and has become sufficiently dry, let it be dragged over once, only just enough to level the comb of the furrow slice. Then take a marker and set out the hills four feet apart, center and cenPlant two sets, 9 inches apart, in each hill, and place them in the same direction as the dead furrows. This will allow the cultivator to go lengthwise of the lands, and may cut within 3 inches of the sets. It is not wisdom to drop the sets on a heap in a little h le for the purpose of letting the cultivator go both ways. Plant the sets on the top of the ground, scatter on them one handful of air-slacked lime, and cover them up with two inches of soil. Many farmers will condemn this method, for, say they, if a dry season come, your potatoes will be very small. But it must be remembered that these dry seasons come very seldom, whereas ordinary wet seasons are what we have to guard against in attempting to grow sound potatoes. Early planting, to a certain extent, also disarms this objection. As soon as the rows of the young plants can be discerned by their leaves, let the cultivator be put through the rows, taking care to gauge the teeth so that they shall cut as near as possible to the sets without actually upturning them. The more care taken in marking out truly, the easier and more complete will the cultivator work. The advantages of the spring steel-toothed cultivator over the plow and hoe are known to every one who has used both. If the season be forward and growing, let the cultivator be put through the rows again in about a week's time after the first cultivation. The object in cultivating is to keep the soil light, open and lively, so that rain water can percolate freely, and the sun have a proper effect in warming up the soil, so that when you hill up, the new plants shall be suppplied with a covering of soil in the very best condition, for supplying and nourishing all the elements of re-production.

As soon as you perceive that the tops are almost

large enough to drop, put the cultivator through once more twice in a row, and let the teeth cut down as low as 6 inches, and then with the hoe, let the hills be formed of a proper shape, not high and conical, but flat and shallow, and as large superficially as possible, taking care to have all the channels betwixt hills open, so that rain water can have a free passage to the dead furrows. After making "grips," or small drains, in low flat places, with which our country abounds, the farmer has done all that is possible for a healthy crop of potatoes. The result will now depend upon the season. In a very wet season he will have to dig a few rotten potatoes; in a moderately wet season his crop will be certain and the tubers large; in a dry season they will be small but all sound.

5. THE TIME OF DIGGING AND METHOD OF PRESERVING DURING WINTER-The best time for digging potatoes is just before the heavy fall rains, say the last of September or beginning of October. I have preserved potatoes in "graves" during winter, by putting over them two alternate coats of straw and earth and this is the only method that can be pursued if cellar room be wanting. Whether they be buried up in "graves" or put into the cellar, be sure to sprinkle a handful of air-slacked lime over each bushel-basket of potatoes. All the good done by the lime, in my estimation, is its effect upon the mould or fungus which adheres to the runners and the eyes of the tubers. Like the fumes of sulphur, it will destroy the fungi, but it will not alter the constitution of the potato, careful cultivation must do that.

In the spring, as soon as frost will permit, potatoes ought to be taken out of the cellar and spread over the barn floor in a layer not more than 9 inches thick; this will prevent any injurious sprouting before planting time, and although those potatoes which are intended for early summer use may wilt a little, still that is better than letting them remain in the cellar, a tangled mass of struggling vegetation.

I may as well state that I never sell any wood ashes, but sow them on my potato ground and garden. Soil for growing potatoes cannot be too rich in potash, as may be inferred from Boussingault's analysis of the ash of the potato and the potato top: Ash of Potatoes. Ash of Potato Tops. 13.4-Carbonic acid, ...... 11.0 2.2 10.8

Carbonic acid,

Sulphuric acid,.

Phosphoric do...

7.1

11.3

2.7

1.8

5.4

51 5

.(traces.)

5.6

0.5

Charcoal and loss,...... 0.7

100.0

1.6

23

1.8 44 5

(traces.)

13.0

5.2 7.6

100.0

course of cultivation laid down my labor will be rewarded. In this case example alone will work upon the masses, for they are, at present, too eagerly bent on finding out some quack remedy for a disease of which they know nothing. JOHN R. CHAPMAN. Oneida Lake, Madison Co, N. Y.

Culture of Carrots,

For the last six years I have raised more or less carrots for feeding to my stock in winter and early spring. When I first planted them in the field, some of my old neighbors shook their heads, and gravely told me that my time and labor would be thrown away. As the season proved wet and favorable to the growth of weeds, I found it difficult to keep the "wee-bits" of carrots sufficiently ahead to give them a fair chance, and began to think my venerable friends correct in their opinions. Imagine my surprise at finding my crop yielding at the rate of 600 bushels per acre and not half attended to at that.

Some time after the above trial, I saw, in The Cultirator, an account of their being raised on inverted green sward, with much less trouble and expense. Being a little inclined to labor-saving, 1 tried the plan; not, however, until last summer. The sod was plowed on the 10th of May, and planted about the 20th. Dry weather having commenced, the seed came up tardily; a few light dashes finally wet the earth sufficiently to give it a fair start. The patch had no manure, was not hoed, cultivated or plowed after planting. What few weeds came in were pulled out, one man cleaning half an acre in a day. So that the care and labor was not expensive; nor was the yield extravagant; 400 bushels per acre. Small as the number of bushels may appear, it is twice as great as an acre of potatoes. The whole expense, interest on land included, was only $16, or 4 cts. per bushel.

I have plowed deep and mixed large quantities of manure with the soil; trenched and manured, and ridged over manured trenches; but have never raised carrots before, for less than 6 cents per bushel; sometimes they have cost me 10 cents per bushel.

The green sward soil was limestone loam. The situation was in the middle of a pasture field where the sod was heaviest. The practice of thinning to 8 inches, single stands, is one that I do not regard as at all favorable to the quantity or quality of the crop. Four to six good sound roots may be grown in that distance if the seed is spread in the drill as it should be. If they are allowed to grow too large, they become pithy. I use the ornnge variety more than any other; it is more likely to yield fair crops in a succession of years. At this date we are feeding milch cows and working teams upon them, with marked benefit. GEO. W. COFFIN. Amenia.

ASHES ON POTATOES.-A correspondent of the Boston Cultivator, has experimented with ashes on potatoes for three years. The ashes diminished rather than increased the yield, and the potatoes where ashes were used were blistered, each year, so as to be unsaleable.