MESSRS. EDITORS-Some weeks have elapsed since I promised a reply to your request for a plan, &c. Granary and Wagon-shed; but circumstances beyond my control have prevented an earlier fulfillment of my promise. I now, however, wish to bring to the notice of farmers in general, what I esteem a very complete plan of one of the most important buildings in the farm establishment, and submit the following plan and elevation, together with the sketch, for your approval. My granary was erected in the earlier days of my apprenticeship in agriculture, when I had not yet learned to appreciate the importance of keeping accurate accounts of all farm expenditures. I am therefore unable to furnish your correspondent with the expenses of erection; but I think it will come within what he proposes as his maximum limit of outlay You will observe the posts are placed upon blocks of granite. These are sunk three feet in the ground, and rise fifteen inches above it; the former is to resist the action of frost; the latter to prevent decay in the foot of the post, from the effects of moisture from the earth, this having been determined as the necessary height. DIRECTIONS FOR BUILDING. Building to stand north and south, for purposes of ventilation. One window in each end, 12 lights 9 by 12, under gallows girt. The space d, in elevation of end, to be floored for storage purposes. The braces c, c, to be dispensed with in the two middle bents. The bins to be lined with half-inch stuff, jointed only. The bin posts should be plowed, that the bin boards on the hall may be taken out, or slide freely up and down, to lessen the labor of filling and taking out grain. The floor timbers should have a slight camber on the upper edge, to prevent the floor from becoming concave by the bur The then it may have to sustain. building should be well framed, to! enable it better to resist the force of the wind, to which it is very much exposed by its peculiar build. The posts are to be provided with a belt of tin one foot below the inter-ties. The siding of the corn crib at n, to be made of strips, 2 inches wide, and placed one inch apart, same as floor. The corn crib should be placed in the south-west corner, if possible, or better perhaps, in that exposure which would best protect it from the prevailing storms of the district of country. The stairway is closed by a trap-door, the steps hung between the two first floor timbers, which are placed three feet apart for that purpose; hooks are secured to the end of each side strip, and caught into staples on the side of the timbers. These serve as hinges; and the other end is sustained by a counter weight, when they can be let down or put up at pleasure, thus cutting off access to rats and mice. THOS. B. ARDEN. Beverly, Pul. Co., N. Y. Our New Publication. THE ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER OF RURAL AFFAIRS and Cultivator Almanac for 1855, containing Brief and Practical Suggestions for the Consideration of the Farmer and Horticulturist, embellished with ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ENGRAVINGS, including Houses, Farm-Buildings, Implements, Domestic Animals, &c. 144 pp. duodecimo. REGISTER Cannot be better expressed than in the following extract from its preface: "It is intended to offer, in the present and succeeding issues, in a plain, simple and intelligible form, (rendered more so by ample illustrations,) the best information in relation to all the principal details of Modern Improved Farming, according to the most approved and established practice of the day, and to afford such hints on Rural Economy generally, as may enable every farmer, in some particulars at least, to effect important improvements. The construction of farm buildings generally, the breeding and management of domestic animals, the manufacture of manure, the cultivation of crops; the planting, training and culture of fruit trees; laying out door-yard grounds and ornamental planting, kitchen gardening, the construction and use of improved farm implements and machines; and, in short, every department of practical knowledge immediately connected with modern agriculture, will be presented in a condensed form, and in a practical manner, to the reader. It will be continued annually, with such im This work is new ready for circulation. We flatter ourselves that its typographical taste and mechanical execution have been seldom equalled and never excel-provements as experience shall suggest in each suc led in publications of the kind. In regard to its contents it is sufficient to say that they have been prepared by Mr. JOHN J. THOMAS, of Macedon, N. Y., t author of the "American Fruit Culturist," "Farm Implements." &c, &c., with the usual taste and ability which mark bis works. His chapters on Country Dwellings, Improving and Planting Grounds, the Culture of Fruit, &c., embrace suggestions and directions that cannot fail to interest and profit every resident in the country, treating as they do of the chief means by which Rural Life is rendered attractive, and a Rural HOME comfortable and pleasant, and containing more information on all the accessories of a country dwelling, than any other publication with which we are acquainted has ever supplied, in so small a compass, and with such variety of illustration. cessive year, so that it may constitute an authentic ANNUAL REGISTER of the true progress of Rural Improvement." CARROTS FOR MILK AND BUTTER.-It is only a few years since we had various recommendations for coloring butter to a deep golden yellow, by grinding up and mixing in the pulp of the orange carrot, but the best way that we found for giving the carrot color, was to pass these roots first through the cow. We have, with nothing more than an average decent cow, made seven pounds of butter per week, much resembling the best grass butter, in the depth of winter, besides using a small portion of the milk daily on the table. This was accomplished by the use of about a peck and a half of the white variety per day. We hope such of our readers as can, will experiment in the use of this root, Our purposes in the publication of the ANNUAL the present winter, and let us know the result. Osage Orange Insect. The fitness of the Osage Orange in every respect for hedges, and its superiority to all other plants for this purpose, has become more and more established, as experiments have been more widely made. The fact that the Illinois Central Railroad Company has contracted for a hundred miles of this kind of hedge for enclosing their road, shows the high estimation in which it is held in that region of the country. Its rapid growth, formidable armature of thorns, its natural hedginess, and more especially its reputed freedom from the attacks of insects, have all combined to give it a high and increasing reputation. It was therefore, with some alarm, that we learned a few days since on a visit to the nursery of DELL & COLLINS of Waterloo, N. Y., that their young hedges had been attacked at the roots by a white ant, perforating the wood, and resulting, as they thought, in the death of the plant. The plants were set out last spring, in a very light and loose sandy soil, and about midsummer were observed to be dying. On examination, the ants were discovered perforating the roots, and were believed to be the cause of the disaster. No change was observed in their appearance, and only a decrease in numbers from this time till late in autumn at the time of our visit. We procured from H. COLLINS a vial containing a portion of the soil surrounding the roots of the plants, and filled with the insects in question, and immediately forwarded it to Prof. T. W. HARRIS, of Cambridge, Mass., who has furnished us with the following communication in relation to it. The importance of the subject, and the necessity of knowing this insect, its habits, and the best mode for its destruction, should it appear in other places, induce us to publish Dr. Harris's letter entire; and we hope the opinion may prove to be true, that the insect is only the result and not the cause of the death of the plant. The bottle containing insects and samples of the roots of the Osage Orange, which you sent to me, came to hand yesterday. The insects, about fifty in number, with the exception of one individual, are white ants. The single specimen, referred to, is the larva or grub of one of those beetles that live in decayed wood. It was alive, and quite active when received, and measured a little more than one fifth of an inch in length. The white ants were apparently torpid, if not really dead. They vary slightly in size; but the largest are not more than three twentieths of an inch long. Two of these ants differ remarkably from the rest in the shape, proportion, and color of their head and jaws. The prevailing color of their bodies, like that of the other specimens, is yellowish white. but the fore part of the head is brownish, and the jaws are nearly black. The head of these individuals is nearly one third the whole length of the body, and is of an oblong square shape; and the jaws are long, sharp-pointed, and cross at the ends like the blades of scissors. The other white ants have a round head of moderate size, and small curved jaws, which are only slightly brownish at the tips. The big-headed individuals are what are called the soldiers, and the others are the laborers. I judge all of them, though fully grown, to be young insects, or such as have not yet taken any active part in the business of the community. Among all the white ants that I have seen, including the celebrated hill-ants of Africa, the adult laborers and soldiers have brown heads and blackish jaws. Your specimens resemble such as I have often seen in decayed trees, and in the bottoms of fence posts, and even in the sills of old houses; but, without having before me the winged males and females, I cannot determine whether they are of the same species. A gentleman in Dorchester lately sent me some adult white ants which had spoiled the bean-poles in his garden, had destroyed his gate-posts, and were attacking the wood-work of his house. No instance has ever fallen under my observation of living plants or the living parts of plants being attacked by white ants. The Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Savage, who passed some years at Cape Palmas, in West Africa, and has carefully studied the habits of the white ants of that region, says that "shrubs or small trees are frequently seen growing up through the hills" of the white ant, called Termés bellicosus; that "such trees are never seen dead, consequently are not eaten by the insect." In Mr. Henry Smeathman's account of the white ants of Africa, the following remarks are found. "If a stake in a hedge has not taken root and vegetated, it becomes their business to destroy it. If it has a good sound bark round it, they will enter at the bottom, and eat all but the bark, which will remain, and exhibit the appearance of a solid stick. Sometimes, though seldom, the animals are known to attack living trees; but not, I apprehend, before symptoms of mortification have appeared at the roots; since it is evident that these insects are intended in the order of nature to hasten the dissolution of such trees and vegetables as have arrived at their greatest maturity and perfection, and which would, by a tedious decay, serve only to encumber the face of the earth." From such observations as these, I conclude that the roots of the Osage Orange hedges to which you refer, were probably dead or dying before they were attacked by the white ants. In the samples of the roots, sent to me, the insects have preyed upon the wood, leaving the bark mostly entire. beg leave to suggest that if the plants had been in a vigorous or healthy condition, had been properly set out, and had been kept well mulched, they would have survived the extreme drouth of the last summer, and have resisted the attacks of the white ants. I have somewhere seen it stated that salt-water or brine was a preservation against attacks of white ants. It may be well to try the effect of it on some of your injured Osage Orange plants. Yours respectfully, THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS. Lying rides upon debt's back; it is hard to find an empty bag stand upright. Indian Corn-Increased Demand and Supply. No country can ever rival the United States in the production of Indian corn. And large as is the crop of the whole States taken together, being, according to the census of 1840, as much as 377,531,875 bushels, and according to ceusus of 1850, 592,071,104 bushels, there is good reason to think that, were there a demand and a market for it, thirty, fifty or even a hundred fold this quaniity could easily be raised. The demand, ripest ears can scarcely escape some injury. Indeed there is great temptation to prevent corn from getting much dried, for then there would be a shrinkage both in size and weight, and thus a loss, whether sold by measure or by weight. If corn is ground in this imperfectly dry condition, it is almost sure to heat and be injured on account of the moisture which it contains. Inasmuch then as we might sell to Europe much more of this article than we do, if this hindrance were taken out of the way, it must be evident that it is short even though it should come from all parts of Europe, sighted policy indeed to send either corn or meal in a and be greatly increased at home, could readily be supplied. And as it costs a great deal less to produce a bushel of corn than a bushel of wheat, (estimates of the cost of production of both have been given in this paper,) we might supply the demands on such terms as to leave a handsomely remunerating profit in the hands of the producers. condition in which it is sure to become injured. Some who have been at pains to secure this articie fresh and free from injury, have been so pleased with it in the form of cake, pudding and otherwise, as to express themselves as thoroughly persuaded that it would soon become a favorite article of diet, if it were only imported in an uninjured condition. Were it not for the slovenliness shown in the care of this crop, and the "We are persuaded that a greatly increased demand might be created if only one or two obstacles were taken out of the way. The prejudices against the use of short-sighted policy to which we have referred, our maize as an article of food, which exist in most of the countries of Western Europe, and more especially in England, are not without reasonable foundation. Were it not for these prejudices and the causes which have ipated them, the laboring population of these countries would gladly avail themselves of a kind of food cheaper and more nutritious than wheat, and of a kind of grain which holds out greater prospects of a regular supply than any other. The peculiar flavor and taste of corn meal, especially of the yellow variety, is one cause of the European dislike to this cereal or prejudice against it. But this would soon be overcome, as it has been among the descendants of Europeans in this country, who now generally prefer the yellow corn, the meal of which has the strongest flavor. The great cause of the dislike and prejudice which limit the European demand for this article is this :corn-meal in a good condition, is hardly ever to be found. It is very generally musty, showing that injury has been sustained either in the crib, or in the granary, or vessel during transport. A considerable many samples which were at one time examined on Corn Exchange, would have been declared unfit for human food in America. This is the great reason why corn meal has not been more extensively introduced as an article of food in England and other countries of Europe, and why the demand for this staple article of American produce has not been much greater than it is. One principal reason why corn and corn-meal suffer injury by heating or getting musty, is the fact that they naturally—that is without special pains in drying -contain a large proportion of water Ripe corn, it is said, contains about 37 per cent of water, while that in a condition fit for grinding should contain only from 12 to 14, so that 25 per cent. should be previously evaporated. This, it is very well known, is not done successfully in the crib, or before being taken to market: on the contrary, corn is often put up with so much moisture in the cobs and in the soft ears, that even the foreign market for corn might have been much greater than what it now is. To have a greater demand and a more certain market, we must of course pursue an opposite course. A good article will be sure to find a market; whereas musty meal will always find a dull sale. The course which would so obviously benefit ourwould also be of great benefit to others. Especially selves, by creating a greater market for our produce, would we thus confer a benefit on the laboring populaand their consequent privations and sufferings. tion of England, by diminishing scarcity, high prices, In closing this article we would state that a Mr. Bulkley of Kalamazoo, Mich., has patented a kiln and process for kiln-drying corn-meal. Whether any meal or any corn so dried has ever! een sent to Europe, we are not informed. We should be glad to hear form Mr. B. himself. Wheat Prospects as to Prices. Notwithstanding the abundant harvest in England and the north of Europe generally, the English do not expect to obtain their wheat and bread at low prices, nor to get along without the necessity of importing from other countries. Had their own harvest proved less bountiful, nothing could have saved them from famine prices. Old stocks were so completely worked up in all parts f the world, that it would have been impossible to obtain large supplies from any quarter, except at exorbitant rates. The war with Russia cuts them off from their usual supplies from the ports of the Black Sea and Azoff; and Holland and Belgium will more probably require supplies for themselves, than have any wheat or other grain to spare. A recognition of these facts has led to a rise in prices at our latest advices. This advance is ascribed by the best English authorities, not to the effect of speculation and large purchases, but solely to the supplies falling short of the quantity needed for actual demands. The trade is consequently supposed to be in a sound position, and no prospect of any sudden reaction is en tertained. Notwithstanding an anxious desire on the part of the farmers to profit by the high rates current, they have not been able to bring forward sufficient to check the rise. In such a state of the English wheat market, the following remarks from the leader in the Mark-Lane Express of Oct. 30, may be interesting to some readers : "That we shall require Foreign supplies, notwithstanding the acknowledged abundance of the homeproduce, cannot admit of doubt. Last year the imports of Wheat into the United Kingdom, amounted to 4,949,314 qrs, and during the six preceding years we have required 3,000,000 qrs. annually. At no previous period have old stocks been so completely exhausted as they now are; and making full allowance for the superiority of this year's produce, it may still be questioned whether we shall be able to manage with a smaller supply from abroad than we have been in the habit of consuming annually for seven years past. It becomes, therefore, a matter for serious consideration where this quantity is to be obtained. Russia has, till now, furnished a very large proportion of the entire imports into Great Britain; this resource is entirely swept away. America has been the next largest importing country. Can we depend upon our usual supply from thence? and what prices will it need to induce the Americans to part with what they themselves appear this season to want for their own use? We shall not attempt to answer these questions, but they must suggest themselves to all who reflect on the future. Most fortunate is it that we have been blessed with a bountiful harvest; but, even with this advantage, we cannot reckon on low prices of food; indeed we consider the advance which has taken place as highly salutary, in as much as it will lead to economy in consumption. Does Manuring Usually Pay? That it does, when employed with tolerable good judgment, can be abundantly proved and established. Many, however, have great doubts and uncertainties about the matter; and hence never purchase a dollar's worth of any marketable manure, nor save nor manufacture what they might, without much trouble, at home. The aggregate produce of the country would be much greater, and also the prosperity of the farming community, could these doubts and uncertainties be removed. For these and other reasons it seems desira. ble to call the attention of the public to such facts as go to establish the important truth that judicious manuring will always pay,-always well remunerate the farmer for all the outlay, time or trouble expended in this way on his land. In the columns of the Times, (London,) we find a statement of the results of some experiments, made by a distinguished agriculturist, on the application of ma nure to wheat. In the center of a 50 acre field, one acre was left without manure; all the rest of the field receiving 2 cwt. of Peruvian guano per acre in autumn, at the time the seed was sown. The produce of the acre undressed was tested against that of the adjoining one, which had received Peruvian guano, and the result was that one acre with guano yielded 32 bushels of 63 lbs. per bushel, while the acre without manure yielded 25 bushels of 60 lbs. to the bushel. The difference in money value amounted to £2: 12: 7 or about $13, while the cost of 2 cwt. of guano in 1853 when applied was £1 or about $5. There was, in this case then, a profit of $8 from every acre to which the guano was applied, or $400 if the whole fifty acres had been manured. There was also a superior quality of wheat produced on the manured portion as shown by the weight per bushel, and this additional advantage also that the wheat on the manured portion was a week earlier in ripening than the other. A second experiment is related which was made to test the value of nitrate of soda and common salt as a top dressing to wheat in spring. A whole field, save one acre in the center, was top dressed in April with 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda and 1 cwt. of salt per acre, given in two applications at the interval of two weeks. The result in this case was also extremely profitable One acre with nitrate of soda and salt yielded 42 bushels, worth £13:13; while the acre without manure yielded only 30 bushels, worth £9:15. The difference between the two acres tested was greater in this than in the former case. The difference in money value was nearly $15, while the 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda and the 1 cwt. of salt together cost only £1 or $5. The profit per acre in this case was, therefore, very nearly $10. These experiments are not singular or beyond ordinary in their results. They only corroborate hundreds of others made both in this country and in Great tain. But they are well entitled to attention as they may serve to fix upon many minds the impression that farmers possess the power of greatly increasing both the produce and the profit of their crops. Independently, indeed, of the consideration of profit, the results of the above experiments are interesting. Here are two substances the application of which, in certain known quantities, gives an increase, which may be stated, on an average, of nearly one fourth to the natural produce. Such an addition all over a country is equal to the food of one fourth of the population of that country. In England, it would make all the difference between plenty and scarcity, cheap bread and dear bread, a steady prosperity and a constant drain of gold for the wheat and bread-stuff of foreign countries. Inquiries. MESSRS. EDITORS-I have a piece of meadow that has lain in grass about twelve years. The soil is a sandy loam-rather moist. I think of putting on about twenty loads of yard manure (half cord to the load) to the acre, and plow it in about six or seven inches deep, and plant with corn. And now will it pay the expense of a coat of guano on the furrows harrowed in well, or can I apply it some other way to better advantage. How much is it profitable to put on, if I use any? Will you or some of your numerous readers more familiar with the benefits and the expense of guano than I am, answer the above through "The Cultivator," and oblige an old FARMER. Kent, Conn. The large vine at Hampton Court has upwards of 1600 bunches of grapes this season, and appears to be in excellent health-Gardener's Chronicle. |