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Sugar Cane Seed.

MR. EDITOR :-The State Sorghum Convention is past, and the discussions of that body ended; still it is not proper, nor to be expect ed, that this subject should rest as dead, until resurrected by another assembling of that body, but rather kept alive from discussion by such as are interested' and experienced in cane growing.

It is true that the Convention held at Madison was one of great interest, and no doubt will result in great good to the community at large; 'still it is not reasonable to expect that the resolutions, then and there passed, are perfect in themselves, and to be the guide of the experienced as well as the uninitiated, if contrary to experience and common sense.

matured here to make it a safe thing to plant. I have seen seed grown here that had the appearance of good seed, and planted it, and have known others to plant it, but it proved partially or wholly a failure, and, in all probability, owing to the fact that the seed was not fully matured; while seed grown in Ohio came up and grew thriftily from the beginning. I am in favor of continuing to make the effort to raise our own seed, by selecting the earliest heads yearly, but not to trust too much to our own seed for extensive planting, until we know that we are safe in so doing. I prefer the Sorghum to the Imphee when it ripens. But such seasons as we have had last year I consider that the Imphee seed is the seed to plant-that is, what is termed the small or Black Imphee. But as the future is unknown to us, and it is possible that the season may be long enough to ripen Sorghum, if I were to advise any one in the matter of pro

The Convention was composed only of men like unto other men, liable, of course, to err in their deliberations, and, did they pass a resolution that no cane seed but the sorghum should be planted, or no mill but the horizon-curing seed, I would advise to get about one

tal roller mill should be used, and that cane seed should not be soaked before plantingwhy, this is only the opinion of a majority of a few men, who would not be, of course, selfishly biassed in favor of the resolutions, unless they had mills or sorghum seed to sell.

The subject is sugar cane seed; and I have a few words to write in relation to it. And, although it is not the first thing in order to be considered in the programme of growing cane, as a rule, still there is no one thing of more importance, and it is time to begin to think and act, and procure good seed for spring planting.

It is agreed by many that there is but one kind of Sorghum seed, but many kinds of Im. phee. Still there is a difference in Sorghum as to being early, some being nearly two

weeks earlier than others, owing, it is claimed, to a continued selection of the earliest tufts from the cane field. This may be true in that latitude where the Sorghum ripens, but in this section, as far as my experience carries me, I have come to the conclusion that as yet the Sorghum seed has not sufficiently

half of each kind, and thereby have the opportunity of testing the matter experimentally. The African cane, or Imphee, is from two to three weeks earlier than the Sorghum, and yields well-better than the Sorghum last year in this vicinity, for the reason that the Sorghum did not ripen. It is a harder cane to crush, there being more woody fibre or outside rind, but the juice is very sweet.

Persons intending to plant cane the following season cannot be too careful in procuring good seed, and of the right kind.

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What are we to do for Fuel?

MR. EDITOR:-This, to my mind, is a very important question, second to none in inter

est to a large portion of the people of Wisconsin. The extreme cold weather, the heavy body of snow, and the consequently almost impassible condition of the roads have tended to advance the price of fuel from fifty to one hundred per cent. throughout a large extent of our State, and increased greatly the expenses of housekeeping to a large class of our citizens. That these prices will somewhat recede, on the opening of spring, and for a short time to come, I have no doubt; but we shall never again buy fuel so cheaply as we have

done.

The wood-seller has learned a lesson that he will not forget. Our extremity is his opportunity. And in most of those localities where we have heretofore purchased wood at $2.50 per cord, we shall soon pay, even with good roads, $5 per cord.

providing they are willing to work for a just
compensation. will you please give us light
J. C. B.
on this subject.

DANVILLE, Feb. 12, 1864.
[In next No.-ED.]

First Experiences.

MR. EDITOR:-I wrote you a year ago that I had spent nearly all my life behind the dry goods counter I did not tell you all. Now I will say I did not relinquish mercantile pursuits and adopt farming life as a matter of choice. In my case, it was a change from & business that I delighted in, to one I did not fancy, and of which I felt myself ignorant. I dreaded the experiment.

But my health had failed. I was a confirmed dyspeptic. All remedies had failed to cure. My friends thought me past recovery. I was discouraged, and therefore the adoption of the

farm life.

And now, after one year's experience on a My refarm, I find myself renewed to life. covery has been so rapid that I am a marvel to myself.

Strength has returned to my nerveless arms, and muscle has developed on my emaciated frame, and a degree of courage and hope has

In a large section of the State, the original forests, now few and far between, are fast disappearing before the woodman's ax, and will soon disappear entirely. It is not surer that the Dutch have taken Holland than it is that they have taken hold of a large portion of the timbered lands that lie along the borders of our little streams, that have not here-driven away the clouds of despondency. I tofore been considered very inviting locations for agricultural purposes, and in their persevering hands will soon be denuded of their timber, and the forest will give place to the reaper and the plow. A large class of farm-to again confine myself between two brick ers who have thus far fed their fires from the walls, shut out from the pure, life-giving atscattering timber that grew upon their openmosphere of heaven, and God's own sunlight -from inspiring and healthful intercourse ings, can do so no longer. with Nature, in which she, with unrivalled charms, is constantly inviting man back to his normal state.

now feel possessed of more manhood, in its full sense, that at any time in many years gone by. Now I am a farmer from choice. No reasonable compensation would induce me

Coal cannot be furnished as a fuel, but at an enormous expense to the consumer. Mr. Editor, we shall have to grow timber to feed our So much in regard to the hygienic influences fires. And the inquiry is pertinent, what are the most valuable kinds to grow, and what the and experiences of my first year of farm life. And I wish I could open the prison doors to most practicable manner of doing it? And, in the mean time, let us be saving of the many more such forlorn specimens of volunwood, and also ascertain what relief our rail-tary captives as I was, and, taking the "scales road corporations could furnish our people by the transportation of wood on their roads, from those localities where wood is plenty,

from off their eyes," direct them on the high road to health, which said road does not direct its course through "Broadway," or "Lake

Street," but through the fertile prairies and quiet groves, amid sheep pasturing, and sing. ing birds, and rippling streams. And there are no stage coaches or railway trains on said highway, but often weary foot-traveling, and oft times heavy loads to carry. But O, how sweet and refreshing are rest and sleep to the the weary, and food to the hungry!

But, pardon me for betraying myself into this extended strain on chords that have been tuned by abler hands than mine. I would say something about my successes and failures in this first year's experiment, my ideas of the "pathology" and "remedies" of practical farming, as I find it and view it, but I should intrude on your patience.

Accept my best wishes for the success of the FARMER. CHAS. H. TOPPING.

DELAVAN, Jan. 13, 1864.

Making Roads in deep Snow.

[The following comes rather late for this senson, but, if not forgotten, will serve the Wisconsin public another winter.-ED.]

some.

MR. EDITOR:-As the snowy season is not entirely passed, I will tell you how I make roads where snow is so deep as to be troubleIt may not be new to you, but I find it is to some. I chain a bundle of hay or straw, as large as a man's body, under and crosswise of each sleigh runner, by hooking around the bundle on each side and close to the runner, passing the chain over the runner and forward of the forward knee or bearer, to keep it from sliding too far back. If properly adjusted, the bundles will keep their places.

One sweeping will press the dryest snow down so that, with one night's hard freezing, there will be a nice road ready for drawing heavy loads on, and a nice wide path for each horse to walk in-provided always that the wind keeps still so long; but should it blow, there will be far less danger of such a smooth and wide track being filled up, than one with abrupt edges.

Now that the road is ready for use, who! will tell us of a cheap, convenient and effect

ual brake for sleighs, to relieve the team of the hard labor and danger in having to hold back heavy loads while going down steep or long hills? Teams are often sadly abused for the want of a suitable brake to relieve them of the load that they must either hold, at all hazard to harness and limbs, or run to avoid, which may be equally dangerous. Standing on the common iron hook or dog, attached to the rear end of one runner, is better than nothing; but this is inconvenient and often dangerous to the driver and team, as his feet are liable to be knocked off by stump, stone or rut, and, if his feet escape injury, he may lose control of his team in the tumble.

I have made a little improvement on this way of using the dog, by having a short post or standard attached to the rear end of the dog, and to a horizontal lever at the top of my load, so that I can use the dog without the trouble of getting off, and with the additional advantage of being up where I can select the best part of the road, and have the use of both hands to guide the team. Who will improve upon this plan? W. P. UNDERwood.

RICHLAND, Minn., Feb. 8, 1864.

Turnips.

MR. EDITOR:-Perhaps if I should give my experience in growing roots, especially turnips, some of my brother farmers might be induced to try them also. A year ago last spring I planted one-half of an acre, from which I harvested three hundred and thirty bushels, which I found to be good and cheap feed for making beef.

Last spring I planted two acres, and, although not yielding as well as the year before, I have sold one hundred and seventeen dollars worth, and have about one-half of them left, which will fat a yoke of oxen that I am now feeding. The trouble and expense of harvesting are but little more than potatoes. They are of the White Russian variety, and will keep until June without becoming spongy, and for table use are the very best.

SHOPIERE, Wis.

SAM'L MILLER.

How to make Cattle eat Straw.

MR. EDITOR:-I will admit that it is rather late in the season to talk about feeding straw, but when we notice hay selling at from $20 to $25 a ton it tells us plainly that hay is going to be scarce before our stock is wintered. So I take this method of informing the many farmers who have stock to feed that if they try the way suggested below, I venture to say, it will give better satisfaction than any other. In the first place, we never thresh our grain until the corn fodder is all fed. The fresher straw is fed after threshing, the better cattle will eat it. When threshing, all the straw that can be is crowded back into the barn before it gets wet; besides a good share need not go out at all, as it can be thrown on the mow from the separator. I separate all the chaff from the straw that we possibly can, as chaff is considered as good as hay. As soon as the separator leaves the barn floor you have room for the chaff, which we feed the first thing after stalks.

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ED. FARMER:-I noticed in the FARMER an inquiry in reference to raising wheat with oats. I can say that I have sown oats and wheat together for the last six years, and think I am benefitted for doing so. On good land two and a half bushels of oats and one

half bushel of wheat is seed enough per acre to raise for feed only. I have always noticed, as your inquirer says, that the wheat is of superior quality. How it would be, grown half and half, I am unable to say, but am of the opinion that the effect would be the same.

Now comes the feeding of straw, by mixing it thoroughly with hay, say about one half of each. It may be thought a great deal of work, but after trying it you will find it easy enough, especially when you see how nicely your cat-portion of wheat with oats are: I get nearly

tle will devour it.

The way I do it is this: I throw down upon the barn floor, at night feeding, as much hay as will feed the stock night and morning. I then spread the hay first on the floor, shaking it well, so that it will readily mix when you come to apply the straw. Now spread the straw as evenly as possible over the hay; then commence at one end with a fork and shake the whole until it is thoroughly mixed. The best way is to go over it twice. When it is thus prepared, feed it out. The balance is all ready to feed in the morning.

Another benefit is derived from shaking the hay—the dust is all removed, which is known to be injurious to all domestic animals. The grass seed that can be collected, by sweeping the floor once a week and running through the fanning mill, is quite an item. We always

I noticed last year that the fly did not trouble the wheat, but paid their respects to the oats. The benefits of sowing a small pro

as many oats per acre as without the wheat; it makes heavier feed. There is no better feed for mares with foal. It grinds much better for feed. I never feed whole oats when putting in spring wheat. R.

METOMEN, Feb., 1864.

The Gentleman Farmer.

"Gentlemen" must not have to farm for

profit. The duty of making experiments and establishing models in order to show others not only what to do, but what not to do, is what may be fairly expected of the wealthy territorial magnate. To turn farmer and to spend money patriotically for the good of the farming interest, is the only serious aim of a gentleman's agriculture. It may be followed as an agreeable occupation, and purchase pleasure far more cheaply and healthily than many of the other pursuits whereby the rich

and idle seek to kill their time. Now and

then, too, it may pay; but these latter examples are the rare exceptions to the rule. And

when a gentleman does make his farming pay, it will be found that he devotes to it an amount of personal care and labor which is by no means contemplated by the vast majority of those who take to farming otherwise than as their sole means of winning a livelihood. There is an old proverb, which says that "the best manure is the master's foot."-Saturday (Eng.) Review.

Dwarf Broom Corn.

MR. EDITOR:-At this late day I will comply with your request to report in relation to the Dwarf Broom Corn seed you so kindly

sent me.

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I had wheat on as good ground that only yielded ten bushels. I think we can raise as much wheat on two-thirds of the ground as we now do, by clovering. Then we could keep more sheep and other stock. "But," says one, "the clover kills out so." I will admit that it kills out once in five or six years. Mine killed last spring, but it did not discourage me. I sowed the more.

I forgot to say that when I cut my big

I planted it about the 15th of May, on open-wheat the clover was half way up to my knees ing land, which was rather wet and partially the seed was so ripe when I plowed the closhaded, which was detrimental to the crop. Iver under-and as thick as it could be.

put on about fifteen loads of barn yard manure to the acre. The land had been cropped for six years previous, without manure of any kind. I planted the seed in hills three feet apart each way, and left five or six stalks to the hill. There were about 120 hills, and the yield was 26 lbs. of fine ripe seed and 15 lbs of the best brush I ever saw, all perfectly dry when weighed. The seed was taken off only two or three days ago. I think it was a little mixed, for some of the stalks grew ten feet high, while the shortest were not over three feet, but all good brush. I intend to plant a few acres of it this year, but shall plant none of the old sort. I would sooner pay three dollars a bushel for the Dwarf seed to plant, than to take the common variety as a gift. GILBERT WELLS.

BYRON.

A. N. W.

From "My Farm of Edgewood." Peculiarities of Soils.

I am

erned in a high degree by the character of the Any judicious farm-system must be govsoil, and by the nearest available market. It is not easy to create a demand for what is not soils by culture or by dressings, as to produce wanted, nor is it much easier so to transmute profitably those crops to which soils do not naturally incline. I am fully aware that in saying this I shall start an angry buzz about my ears, of those progressive agriculturists who allege that skillful tillage will enable a man to produce any crop he chooses. perfectly aware that Tull, who was the great reformer of his day, ridiculed with unction what he regarded as those antiquated notions of Virgil, that soils had their antipathies and their likings, and that a farmer could not profitably impress ground to carry a crop against its inclination. But I strongly suspect that Tull, like a great many earnest reformers, in his advocacy of the supreme benefit of tillage, shot beyond the mark, and MR. EDITOR:--I would like to say a word assumed for his doctrine a universality of in favor of clover. In the summer of 1862 II am perfectly confident that no light and friapplication which practice will not warrant. had a piece of clover. I mowed in June, did able soil will carry permanent pasture or not get much hay. I sowed one barrel of meadow, with the same profit which belongs to the old grass bottoms of the Hartford meadMichigan plaster on three acres, and a better ows, of the blue grass region, and of Somergrowth I never saw. When the seed began to setshire. I am equally confident that no stiff get ripe I put four horses before a plow and and clayey soils will pay so well for the frequent workings which vegetable culture inturned it under. The next spring I sowed it to volves, as a light loam. club wheat with a drill. I harvested and threshed 30 bushels per acre of nice plump wheat, threshers' measure. I think it would

STOUGHTON, Feb. 18, 1864.

Clover Pays.

Travelers who are trustworthy tell us that wine is made, at the Cape of Good Hope, is the grape from which the famous Constantia grown from the identical stock which, on the

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