cus
IAD**
Live Stock*
HOLSTEIN CATTLE.
There is, perhaps, the least known
about this breed of cattle of any in the
country, and especially is this true of the
West. The first we hear of them in
this country were the importations by
the Dutch emigrants along the Hudson
and its tributaries in the early settlements of New York. English stock
writers give us precious little concerning
this breed. The fact that the Holstein
breed is now capable of transmitting,
with unde viating certainty .constitutional
characteristics to their progeny, is proof
that they were bred with great care, perhaps more than a century ago ; for it is
well established that it is only by fixed,
continuous, and systematic breeding for
a great period that any breed obtains this
power.
As a breed they excel as milkers.
Invariably they are black and white in
color, and are reckoned among the best
dairy breeds. A Mr. Le Roy, of New
York, imported in 1823, some of these
cattle, and they were afterward taken by
his son to the Genesee valley in that
State. They were remarkable for the
yield ana richness of their milk. But
they in a few years orossed with Short-
Horns, by which the purity of the breed
was lost. It was from this that the fine
grades now so much esteemed in parts of
Orange county, New York, sprang.
There are at present in that section of
the State some of these Holstein grades
which scarcely have a superior forthe
butter dairy anywhere in this country.
The only pure blood Holsteins of
which we have any knowledge in this
country, are the get of those imported
by a Mr. Chenery, of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1861, and placed on a farm near
that city. This importation was certified by oflicial authority in Holland, as
being pure. A four year old bull
weigiied 2,465 pounds, height five feet.
The cows imported averaged each 1,325.
One of the cows, by test of six days'
milk, produced seventeen pounds, fourteen ounces of good butter. As a dairy
breed they promise to equal any known.
For beef, though heavy, they have not
been tested long enough to determine
their relative merits with other breeds.
Colonel Will Cumback, of this State,
we hear is about to make a purchase of
some Holstein cows, and to give them a
trial. We note this feet with pleasure,
as we should like to see them introduced
into the West and tested for dairy purposes. We hope to have a description
of these new-comers when they arrive,
as well as a report of their qualities.
SHEEP
. HUSBANDRY
DOGS.
AND   THE
Editors Indiana Farmer:—I see
an article in your issue of the 4th inst.,
headed "No Dog Tax," dated Crawfordsville, Ind., and signed " J. S." The
writer says: "No doubt but sheep-husbandry needs some protection." I would
ask, how shall we protect sheep-husbandry without a dog tax ? But he says
make the owners of the dogs responsible
for the damage done. This is the case
at present. The first trouble we meet
in making the_ owners' of dogs responsible is to identify the dog, and then prove
the ownership. The second trouble is,
after you have found the dog and owner,
ten to one if he is worth three hundred
dollars, and if not, you could not colleot
the worth of one old ewe off of him.
" J. S." asks if it is right that I should
help pay for a crop of corn that my
neighbors' cattle had destroyed, just because I am the owner of a cow? He
then says that in his judgment the owner
of a cow should be just as liable for damage done by his nfiighbors' cattle, as the
owner of a dog is for the damage done
by his neighbor's dog. We answer, no;
it would not be right for the owner of a
cow to help pay for damage done by his
neighbor's cattle for
several reasons :
First, because there is no trouble in
identifying cattle and the owner, and the
owners of cattle are as a general rule
responsible; second, cattle, sheep and
hogs have a value and are taxed ad valorem for the support of the State, county
and township governments: third, cows
can not well be dispensed with. The
high and the low, the lich and tho poor,
have need of them, and the more a man
has of cattle the better off he is._ The
.more dogs he has, the worse he is off.
Dogs have no value, and can not be
Jtaxed advalorum. Suppose the assessor
{should attempt to assess a dog ad valo-
rum, and ask the owner what he is worth.
He would answer, " oh, nothing—he is
nothing but a dog." And yet there are
men that keep more dogs than cattle or
sheep. The man that keeps .many dogs
seldom has many cattle or sheep; and
the man that keeps many cattle and
sheep, keeps but few dogs. . One cow is
worth more to a poor man's family than
a thousand dogs; and yet there are poor
men who will keep two or three dogs and
no cow.
Now, Mr. "J. S.," I do not think
your comparison a good one. You think
dogs ought not to be taxed; and yet they
do more damage to property than all the
cattle in the country. And were it not
foi* the tax on dogs, the owners of sheep
killed by dogs would lose the value of
their property so destroyed. The dog
tax is scarcely sufficient to pay for the
sheep killed by them.
NEVER GETS FULL PAY.
In cases where dogs kill fine sheep,
the owner never gets full pay. I have a
neighbor that has just_ bought eleven
head of fine ewes, for whioh he paid $156.
if the dogs should kill them, he would
never get more than half their worth.
" J. S." thinks the tax ought to be taken
off of dogs. I think it ought to be
doubled, to encourage the raising of fine
sheep, and to discourage the raising of
worthless dogs, which eat the bread and
meat that ought to be given to the children.
TO SHOW THE DAMAGE
These worthless dogs do, I will give a
a statement from the Township Trustee
of my township:
For the last_ three years and ten
months, sheep killed, 216.
Valuation, $648.00. Dog tax, per year,
$165.00.
Township in debt for sheep killed,
$153.00.
It is estimated that there has been
2,000 sheep killed by dogs in Montgomery county in the last three years. Estimate them at $2.50 per head, acd you
have a total of $5,000, With all this
staring us in the face, "J. 8." says "No
dog tax." I say tax them double, and
make the ownsers responsible also. I
am a farmer, granger, and a raiser of cattle, sheep and hogs, on a small scale—and
a. dog hater. . Greenback.
For the Indiana Fanner.
PHILOSOPHY   OF   STOCK-BREED.
ING-NO. 2.
It is evident to every one that all that
is in the animal system is first obtained
from the food that has been eaten. The
material of which the body is composed
is constantly changing; new matter is
continually beitg absorbed and assimilated, while that which has served its purpose in the animal economy, is eliminated and excreted from the system.
A constant supply of food is necessary
to supply this constant drain on th.e system; and as all parts of the body are
subject to these changes in a greater
or less degree of rapidity, it is evident
that in order to maintain a_ healthy condition, the food must contain all the elements that enter into the animal frame.
The bodies of animals consist of both
solid and fluid parts. These!vary, slightly
with different species. The solid parts
consist chiefly of muscle, fat and bones.
The muscles contain, in 100 parts, about
23 of dry matter, and 77 of water. There
is but little difference between the muscle and the blood of an animal, as appears from the following:
Dry Matter. Water.
Muscle 23 77
Blood ~ - 20 80
lt will thus be seen that there is but
three per cent, more water in the blood
of an animal than in its muscle. All the
substances of the animal body exist first
in the blood, and by that are carried to
the various parts of the system.
The bones are composed of both organic and inorganic matter, in varying
proportions, the following being about
the average proportions:
Gelatin „ „.  35
Phosphate of lime 55
Carbonate of lime _   4
Phosphite of lime _  3
Soda, potash and common salt    3
100
Besides the bones, the solid parts of
animals are composed of fats and oils,
fibrin, gelatin, and albumen, with various
earthy phosphates and salts' in small
quantities. In order that the condition
of the animal may be maintained, the
food on which the animal feeds must
contain them in quantities sufficient to
meet the demand of the system, and if
any particular part, as the fat or bones,
is to be especially developed, the food
furnished should be especially rich in
that kind of food that contains these
elements in the greatest quantities. In
general terms, there must be sugar or
starch, to supply the carbon for respiration. Oil, in some shape, to supply fat
to the body; gluten or fibrin, for the
muscles or cartilages; phosphates, for
the bones, and sulphates and chlorides,
to meet tho demands of the system for
these elements. These elements are
found in varying proportions in the different articles employed as food for stock.
It is the province of the feeder to investigate this subject, and select that which
most fully meets the demands of his particular case. We wish hereafter to- take
up tha different kinds of food, and by a
careful examination of their elements,
determine both their general value as
articles of food, and also their special
adaptation to the demands of particular
parts of the animal system. ■
It is only by this careful study of the
wants of the animal system, and the
adaptation of ths various kinds of food
to meet those wants, that we oan engage
in stook-feeding intelligently and economically. L. J. Templin.
For the Indiana Farmer. >
Visit to Center-Grove Farm—the Home
ofthe Berkshire.
A. S. Gilmour and J. W. Craig's Center-Grove Farm, the residence of Mr. A.
S. Gilmour, is situated in Decatur county, Indiana, one and a quarter miles
from the thriving city of Greensburg,
and is one of as line farms as there is in
the county, and is well watered and very
finely [adapted to the raising of stock.
Mr. G. also informed me that the whole
farm was tile-underdrained. After taking a look at the farm buildings, including
the c«,rn-cribs. which are well-filled with
the very choicest of yellow corn. We
were shown
THE STOCK OF BERK8HIRES.
At the head of the herd stands " The
Queen of the West, (a cut of which appeared in the Farmer of some time ago).
She is an "exceedingly fine proportioned sow, and an excellent breeder—has
been in the show-ring for the Jhree years
past, and has been very successful in
taking most all the premiums in her
class at the leadingfairs of the State, as,
also, at the State Fair. She now has a
fine litter of pigs six or eight weeks old,
all finely marked. She now weighs
close on to six hundred pounds—(who
says Berkshires are too small?) Next
we were shown "British Lady." This
is also a show hog—not as well known as
"The Queen ofthe West," but in no
way inferior to the Queen. She jnso'-
has a litter of very Bile 'pigs,'and at this
writing weighs 550 pounds. (Fact, for
there is a scale on the farm, and she was
■weighed.) We then went to see "Matoh-
less." This sow is one among the best,
and had at her last piging, fifteen pigs,
of which twelve were raised, and without any extra care, were taken from the
sow, shipped ever 150 miles, were on the
road two days, taken from the cars and
shown at the fair, where they received
the first Ipremim [over some ten entries.
Among the young sows are '' Indiana
Maid," bred from importation of J. R.
Craig, of Canada; also "'BourbonGirl,"
from imported stock and bred in Kentucky. They are as fine sows as it is
possible to get; and the last pig we
looked at was "No. 1," and her litter of
eight, all .fine, and not as with common
hogs—there was no runt in the whole
lot. Mr. Gilmour has some Poland-
Chinas, of which we will speak hereafter. After passing through and seeing
all the joung hogs, some 40 or 50 in number, Mr. G. hitched up his buggy and
we soon foundjourselves on the road to
J. W. Craig's (one of the firm) farm,
which is situated two and a half miles
east of Greensburg. The house is situated in the middle of the farm with a fine
slope in all directions—Mr. C. being
near the road, we alighted from our
buggy and commenced the inspection of
his ■   ,
HERD OF   BERKSniRES.
Among those whioh are the most worthy
of nqtice we will mention " Oxford Lady." She is from J. R. Craig's, (of Canada), herd, is two years old past—she
was sired by " Sambo II " (imp.) dam
" Oxford Queen " (imp.)—both sire and
dam being prize animals. She received
the second premium at the London Provincial Fair in 1873—ber half sister taking the first. She now has only three
pigs, the others having met with a misfortune. Her last 'litter consisted of 12
good pigs. " Dew Drop " is also a fine
sow, with pigs eight or ten weeks old.
Also "Craig's Beauty" (his we had the
pleasure of namiDg) ; she is a young sow
of one year, as also " Queen the Second,'
(we also named this one), bred from
"Queen of the West," and sired by
" Bob; " Bob is four years old, and will
weigh in good flesh 706 pounds—has
been in the show ring for three seasons,
and has never been beaten in his class
except once, and then by John B. Craig's
" Lord Humphrey." "Lord Humphrey"
since sold for $600. " Bob" is too well
known to the readers of the Farmer to
need any further description.
PREMIUMS TAKEN.
Messrs. Gilmour & Co.informed us that
they have taken forty-nine premiums on
Berkshires in the fall of 1875 at leading
fairs in this and other States, and also
that they have sold within the last
month over forty head of pigs, including
several fine brood sows. The nnmber of
young Berkshires is now close on to 100.
The number of Berkshire sows bred by
Messrs. Gilmour & Co. was 31 in all, 22
at Mr. C.'s, and 9 at Mr. G.'s.
POLAND CHINAS.
"Betsy," an uncommonly fine specimen of this breed, will weigh between
700 aod 800 pounds, and has proved herself an excellent breeder. She has competed at four fairs, winning four premiums, one being a sweepstake prize. Next
is " Hoosier Lady," almost as large, if
not quite. But as she has not been
weighed lately, only an estimate can be
made. She is a good breeder, and one
whioh does honor to the Poland-Chinas.
There is a lot of fine young animals,
and all we can say for them will be that
we have never seen their superiors. The
number of Poland Chinas is about 30.
After inspecting the pens, we were invited to the house, where we found a
most excellent dinner awaiting us, such
as hungry hoosiers could wish. Our
time to remain being rather limited, we
thanked our host and hostess, and took
our departure, with our first (but by no
means our last) visit to Mr. Craig. But
we could not come away until we had
made a purchase, whioh we hope all will
do who visit Messrs. Gilmour & Craig.
They take great pride in showing their
stock to visitors, and making their visits
aa pleasant as possible. Messrs. G. &
C. informed me the£ had disposed of 40
head of pigs in the three weeks past.
T. W. W. Sunman.
Spades, Ind.
Who Can Beat It.
Editors Indiana Farmer :—On December the 7th, 1875, Henry Elier, of
Van Buren township and county of Monroe, weighed fifty (50) hogs of his own
feeding, (taking his whole lot excepting
one), whose total weight was 17,573 lbs.
being an average of 351 23 50 lbs. and no
ho£ weighed less than 3201bs.
The above lot of hogs averaged on the
12th of September last 1601bs.—were fed
eighty-five days, their gain being on an
average of.191 Jibs. Sold to Wm. N.
Roseberry (ex-Representative of Monroe
county) for $7,40' per hundred. Said
lot of hogs were weighed one at a time,
and I tallied the weights of the same.
W. M. A. Kikby.
Bloomington, Ind.
 ■     »    e	
Plymouth, Ind., Dec. 10th.
Editor Indiana Farmer :—You will
confer a favor on the undersigned by
publishing the" following: ■■•■•--.-
A cure for the epizootic, discovered
and used by John Jacoby, of Pylmouth,
Ind., who has treated many horses during the past season with good success.
Sunflower seed one (1) tablespoonful
twice a day. mixed with bran or oats.
Commence givingas soon as cough commences. Give twice a day for three days,
and then once'a day until the cough subsides. _ Moderate working during the
time will not injure the horse.
John Jacoby.
AMENDMENTS   TO  THE
TTJTION.
CONSTI-
Warsaw, Ind., Dec. 6th.
Editor Indiana Farmer : — John
Hinkson has sold one litter of twelve
pigs, Poland-Chinas, weight on Dec. 4th.
three thousand pounds; pigged the 30th
of March last, to J. Fisher.
Isaac Brady.
Green Fodder.
In Europe, experiments with green
corn stalks and rye buried close in pitp,
have shown that the oorn stalks after
being buried four months kept perfectly
well and in good condition, but the rye
did not keep as well. The corn stalks
kept so well because they contained the
largest proportion of water, or 80 per
cent. The green rye only held at 70 per
cent. Pits filled in December with a
layer of ice in the top, before covering,
kept down to the low temperature till
the last. _ We are informed that Professor Miles designs to try this system
of saving fodder at the Illinois Industrial University during the present winter.
t  ■ »» *	
Is Drainage Needed?
What are the effects of drainage?
Thorough drainage deepens the soil.
Of what use is it to plow deep and
manure heavily, while the soil is full of
water? The roots of plants will go
down into*stagnant water ; the elements
of plant food are not all on the surface,
many of them have been washed down
by the rains, some of them are found in
the decomposing rocks themselves.
Take away the water and the roots will
find them. Drainage lengthens the
seasons. In our climate this is an important point to be gained. If by
drainage one .or two weeks could be
gained it would be quite a relief in our
backward springs, when there is so much
to be done in a short space of time.
Drainage increases the effect of tho application of manure. The soil being
dryer, is more easily worked fine. The
manure is also more evenly distributed.
The water also passing through the soil
carries fertilizing matter down to the
roots of the plants. Where there is
stagnant water manure must decompose
slowly, if at all,' but let the water pass
off, the air is admitted, and decomposition takes place. What observing man
is there tnat does not know that his
crops are improved in quality by drainage? Sweet English grass and clover
take the place of sedge and rushes.—
Ploughman.
Proposed at the Ninth Annual Session of
the National Grange of the Patrons of
Husbandry, at Louisville, Ky., November, 1875. 	
1. Amend the preamble, nnder the head of "State
Grange," by Bubstituting the following for section 1:
"Section 1. Fifth Degree. Pomona (Hope).
Composed of the Masters and Past Masters of Subordinate Granges, and their wives who are matrons:
provided that Past Masters and their wives who are
matrons shall be honorary members, eligible to office, but not entitled to vote; and provided that when
the number of Subordinate Granges in any State becomes so great as to render it necessary, the State
Grange may, ln such manner|as it may determine,
reduce its representatives by providing for the election of a certain proportion of those entitled to
membership in the State Grange from each county,
and the members so chosen shall constitute the voting members of the State Grange."
2. Amend the preamble, under the head of "State
Grange," by adding the following: " The wives of
the delegates elected to the State Grange, as provided
for in the preceding section, if matrons, shall be
voting members of that body."
3. Amend the constitution, nnder thc head of
' Organization of State Granges," in the 4th line
of page 4, by striking out the words " not to exceed
three.
4. Amend the preamble to the constitution under
the head " National Grange," by inserting between
tlie words " Master" and " of," where they occur in
the second line of said paragraph, the words " Past
Masters and their wives," and also by adding at the
close of said paragraph the words following, to-wit:
" Provided that only those members of the National
Grange who are Masters of State Granges, and their
wives who are matrons,- shall bc entitled to vote
therein; and provided further, that Past Masters and
their wives who have taken the Degree of Pomona,
and all former members of the National Grange,
shall be honorary members of the National Grange,
and eligible to office therein, but shall not be entitled to vote."
5. Amend article 1, section 1, of the constitution
by inserting the word " District" between the words
" State " and " or," where they occur in tho second
line of said section.
6. Amend article l,Fection2, of the constitution
by inserting between the words " practicable "and
" in," where they occur in the fourth line of said
section, the words following, to-wit: " In the District Grange annually at such time as each District
Grange may determine."
7. Amend article 1, section 2, of the constitution
by striking out the word " three," where it occurs in
the sixth line of said section, and inserting in lieu
thereof the word " two."
8. Amend article 2, section 2, of the constitution
by inserting between th& words "annually" and "at,"
where they occur in the first line of said section, the
words "or biennially," and by striking out the words
"from year to year," where they occur in the second
line of said section.
9. Amend article 6 of the constitution by substituting the following therefor: "Each State Grange
shall fix the fee for membership iu its own jurisdiction."
10. Amend article 5 by adding thc following after
the word "refunded," in the seventh line of said article : "And no petition shall be received from a rejected applicant until six months shall have elapsed
after such rejection."
11. Amend article 7, section 1, of the constitution
by substituting therefor the following: "Eacli member shall pay into the treasury of tbe Subordinate
Grange to which he belongs a monthly due, to be
determined by the State Grange to which it is attached."
12. Amend article 7, section 2, of the constitution
by substituting therefor the following: "The Secretary of each Subordinate Grange shall report
quarterly to the Secretary of his State Grange the
number of persons initiated since his last report, and
also the number who, by death, expulsion, removal,
or otherwise, have ceased to be members within the
same time; and shall paytotheSecretaryto theState
Grange such an amount of dues on each member
and fees for each person initiated during the quarter
as the State Grange may determine; provided that
any State Grange may require such reports and payments to be made through the Secretaries of the
County Granges."
13. Amend article 7, section 3, of the constitution
by striking out the word "ten," where it occurs in
the third line of said section, and Inserting in lieu
thereof the word 'thirty."
14. Amend article 8, section 7, of the constitution
by striking out the word "one," where it occurs in
the first line of said section, and inserting in lieu
thereof the word "two."
The committee recommend that thc Secretary be
instructed immediately after the adjournment of
the session to cause to be printed on slips of paper
the proposed amendments to the constitution, numbered as above, and to forward a copy of the same
to the Master of each State Grange and a duplicate
copy to thc Secretary thereof, and that each proposed
amendment shall be considered by the State Granges
as distinct and substantive propositions; that the
Master of each State Grange be instructed to submit
the proposed amendments to his State Grange at the
next session thereof for ratification, and cause the
Secretary of his State Grange to communicate to the
Secretary of the National Grange, under the seal of
the State Grange, the result of the action of his
Grange upon each proposition. When the Secretary
of the National Grange shall have received official
information that any one or more of said proposed
amendments have been ratified by three-fourths of
all the State Granges lie shall communicate the same
to the Master of the National Grange, who shall at
once make official proclamation thereof; and the
Executive Committee shall cause to be printed such
a number oi the amended constitution and by-laws
as in their judgment the good of the Order may de-
NEV7S OF THE WEEK
There were 32 deaths In this city last week.
Oakland City, Gibson county, is afflicted
with small-pox.
The postmaster at Noble, 111., is in arrest for
robbing the mails.
Three students were last week expelled
from Wabash College for gambling.
A Ripley county farmer raised 879 bushels
of corn en 10 4-6 acres the past season.
Boss Tweed has not yet been found. It is
thought he has not "jumped" his native heath.
The 84th Indiana Regiment will hold a reunion on the 8th of February next, at South
bend.
The resignation of President Shortridge of
Purdue University has been accepted by the
Board of Trustees.
The Bedford, Ind., High School, by a festival held last week, contributed $167 to the
Centennial fund.
A new $30,000 M. E. Church edifice was
dedicated at Greensburg, on Sunday last, by
Rev. Bayliss of this city.
Mrs. Sallie M. Parker, of Greensburg, has
receiveved an appointment of a clerkship in
the Treasury department.
The opposition in the M. E Church to
Bishop Haven's nomination of Grant for a
third term, is wide-spread.
The periodic riot between whites and negroes in Mississippi, has just occurred again.
A few of each were wounded.
Milwaukee contributes two more cTooked
whisky men for the State prison—in persons
of Burback and Reynolds, rectifiers.
James Ferguson, recently convicted of murder at Madison, Ind., and sentenced to prison
for 21 years, escaped from the officers on Saturday last.
Burglars have been getting in their work at
Noblesville. Cracraft's fancy grocery store
was robbed of $500 worth of goods on Saturday night last.
And now it is the operators ofthe Western
Union Telegraph Company whose wages are to
be reduced January lst and they are not well
pleased thereat.
The Spanish appear greatly excited over
Grant's allusions in his message to Spanish
and Cuban affairs. They misapprehended the
meaning of the message.
Gen. Babcock, the President's private Secretary, has given bail in the sum of $7,000 for
his appearance for trial at St. Louis, for complicity in the whisky frauds.
A lad in Adams county, Ind.; put a cartridge
in his mouth and tried his dental formations
on it. It exploded the ball splitting his tong-
gue and knocking a tooth out. Fortunately,
the ball was in the position to escape at the
mouth.
Postmaster Denny and family, of Vincennes
were poisoned at supper on Saturday last, by
arsenic having been placed in oyster soup. It
was placed there by a servant boy who did it
in revenge for some offense. Prompt medical
aid saved the family.   The boy escaped.
Attorney Henderson of St. Louis, who was
retained by the Government to assist in the
prosecution of the "crooked" spirits trials,
took occasion last week during his argument
of a case, to refer to the President in not the
most complimentary sort of way, for whicli
he was dismissed by the President.
The crooked whisky trials in progress before
the U. S. Court in this city, are developing,
even in these wild times, an astonishing
amount of perjury, theft, downright lying and
other deviltry generally. None have been
sentenced as yet, but quite a number arc booked for the penitentiary. The frauds on the
revenue are perfectly amazing.
Over-Feeding.
A correspondent of the Country Gentleman has this to say about over-feod-
ing for exhibition:
I think the leading breeders of Short-
Horns, as well as other breeds, begin to
see the folly of pampering their breeding stock for show purposes, if an
animal will not on a whole summer's
pasturing, look well eneugh for the
show ring,_ then the breed is scarcely
worth owning._ This is the keynote to
successful rearing of stock for the masses,
and the true reason why small breeders
with limited means have not dared to
bring their cattle to exhibitions of any
sort, where they would have to compete
with meal-fed animals.
mand.
Respectfully submitted.
Useful Article.
Catlin, Ind, October, 5, 1875.
This is to certify that, having used F. F.
Brown's   Rein   Holder,  for  the  last   three
months on my buggy, I am fully convined of
its utility and safety, and hereby cheerfully
recommend it to all whom it may concern.
Thomas Bartlett,
lt.   Pastor M. E. Church, Yountsville, Ind.
How to Eaise Early Potatoes.
The process is called the Felliez plan,
and comes_ to us from France, and consists in being able to have new potatoes
in January and February, equal to those
ordinarily produced in May and June.
Having selected a light friable soil, at
least twelve inches in depth ; make a
hole ten inches deep, place a little
manure, then fill in the soil. The holes
ought to be two feet apart. The seed
potatoes should bc preserved in charcoal
dust till the first of August, the moment
for planting, and to be steeped for one
hour beforehand, in a solution of half
a pound of salt and one quart of water;
about the middle of September, mould,
and at the same period in October
weed, and earth up irrespective of the
faded stems ; then cover with a little
straw; the tubers will increase underground, independent of all exterior
vegetation, and may be gathered in tbe
early part of January, although they,
will not be fully ripe till the close of
February.
W^-