To prevent smut in wheat.—Take four quarts of good lye, or a sufficient quantity to wet your seed, and add to it a bushel of wheat, stirring till the whole is alike wet, then sow it immediately, as the strong lye will injure the seed if delayed. The lye may be as strong as you can bare to sow without injury to the hand. A little tallow applied to the hand will prevent injury from the lye. I have continued this practice 12 years out of 20; and have never known it to fail of success. I have frequently made use of smutty wheat for seed, and found my crops perfectly free from smut. Much depends on having the lye sufficiently strong to take off the fuz on wheat.
JOSIAH BENJAMIN.
Berlin, April 26, 1820.
For preserving Eggs.—In March, put about half a pound of quick lime in a stone or earthen pot, and add a gallon of cold water;—next day fill the pot with new eggs, tie a paper over it and put the pot in a cool place. The eggs will be found perfectly good after being kept a year.
It is quite necessary to keep lime in the walks of your hens, as it causes their laying eggs throughout the winter.
FOR THE RURAL MAGAZINE.