ii;..^ UMASS/AMHERST * r •^ MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE SPEQAL COa,ECTJGilg ftAJKIHIVES jrrm I Vol w VHnfEL This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS only, and is subject to a fine of TWO CENTS a day thereafter. It will be due on the day indicated below. ''■\ BO A3" .J 01? fi STATE HO^' THE FARMERS' CABINET, AMERICAN HERD- \\ BOARD OP fAGBlOC-TORE, "TE HOUSE. DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. BY JOSIAH TATUM. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry.— Liebio. Vol. XI.— 1846— 1847. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY THE EDITOR, NO. 50 NOKTH FOURTH STREET. 1847. vol. U la^fe 47 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGB Strawbridge's Syphon Ram, 217 Pruning Trees, ........... 233 Syphon, 247 Syphon and Ram, 249 Birkinbine's Hydraulic Ram, ......... 294 Kephart's Fruit Preserver, ......... 345 CO an TABLE OF CONTENTS. Apple Tree, the 21 Agricultural Transactions, Essex 37 Alpaca 46, 126, 143 Ahhea Rosa 51 Agricultural Statistics of" N. York 57 Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, Minutes 65 Adaptation of Farming to circumstances, 82 Agricultural Society, Premiums 88 Agricultural Society, Report 90 Agricultural Society, Newcastle County .... 97 Agricultural Society, Newcastle 107 Agricultural Fairs 110 Agricultural Exhibition, Bucks County 120 Agricultural Society, Prince Georges' Co. 131, 155 American produce, demands for 148 Artesian Well 158 Advice to young men " Agriculturists of U. S., Memorial 169 Agricultural Statistics of N. York 181 Agricultural Society of South Carolina 187 Agricultural Society, Officers of, Philadelphia 192 Ants, how to destroy 206 Axles, improvement in 212 Alderney Cows 216 Address, Morris Longstreth's 219 Ag. Society, Philadelphia, Premiums 235 Agricultural College, Mt. Airy 243 American Institute 268 Agricultural Colleges 274 Ageof Plants 275 Annual Exhibition, N. Y. Ag. Society 276 Animal Offals 299 Agricultural meeting at Boston 306 Ass and the Mule 307 Address, J. S. Skinner's 314 Apples, the six best kinds 321 African Horses, endurance of 351 Agricultural Meeting, Philadelphia 354 Asparagus, culture of" 364 Agricultural Survey of Washington Co., N. Y. 366 B Beavers 25 Brinckle's, Dr., Strawberries 33 Barnyard Manure and Charcoal 43 Butter, 67," Burritt, Clihu, in England 100 Bucks County Agricultural Exhibition, 120, 173 Boys, a word to 142 Brickyards, deleterious eflects of 151 Blight, what is 152 Blight in the Potatoe 155 British Association 183 Bonedust 210 Bread, white and brown 259 Bread stuffs 283 B PAGE Bridge, Iron Railway 292 Brick making 321.349 Budding fruit trees, time for 324 Birds, sympathy of 350 Birds and the Bird Law 352 Buttonwood, disease of 354 Bees, swarming of 355 Charring vegetable refuse 16 Culture of Roses 17 Corn meal in the West Indies 20 Crops, James Gowen's Report 33 Charcoal and Barnyard manure 43 Cow, small pox in 47 Cows, farming 48 Composition for shoes 52 Coal.&tone 55 Chicken salad 58 Consumptive patients in the cow stable 59 Cows, premium 67 Champney Rose 77 Com, Insect in 105 Chester County Horticultural Society 115 Crops in Great Britain 123 Curing hay 130 Curing hams 131 ('ultivation of fruit trees 147 Cows 148 Carefulness in living 152 Cheese making in Virginia 153 Canker worm, moth 154 Crops in Scotland 159 Crops of corn, fine 163 Cultivation of the Peach 172 Cranberries, economy in cooking 175 Cactus 181 Cattle, how to judge " Cheese making 206, 240 Cows, Alderney 216 Corn, Poudrette on 234 Cotton Gin, Whitney's 239 Construction, &c., of Hotbeds 241 Corn, lime 243 College, Agricultural, Mt. Airy " Cattle, soiling 245 Cranberries, cultivation on upland 246 Cranberries 251, 350 Colman's Tour, proposed extension 256 Composition for peach trees 257 Cow, extra 260 Colleges, Agricultural 274 California planter 275 Corn, fossil 286 Carriage wheels, greasing 289 Conservatory, Duke of Devonshire's " TABLE OF CONTENTS. Corn, Indian, cultivation in Europe 297 ('ultnre oC tender fruits in cold climates 303 Corn, mammoth 305 ( attle, best mode of feeding 317 Coal, Anthracite 320,325 Composition for shoes 325 Cattle, to determine the weight of 332 Cabbages 351 Cucumber, culture of 365 Cattle, disease among 369 College, Mt. Airy Agricultural 377 D Destructive insects 93 Darlington's, Dr. Address II5 Demands for American produce 148 Deep ploughing I49 Deleterious effects of brickyards 151 Decision, important I54 Deep ploughing, experiment in I71 Domestics, good I74 Dairy husbandry 235 Discussion, Agricultural, Albany ]. 251 Dried strawberries 287 Dix Pear !.!!."!!!! 289 Duke of Devonshire's conservatory ... " Daisy the 302, 377 Dutch husbandry 335 Digestion .".'.*.'.'.'. 376 E Editorial Notices 38, 70, 100, 1.32, 166, 197, 229 261, 292, 326, 358, 382 Employment, value of 47 East cannot compete with the West . . . , ! i . 62 Extension of knowledge I65 Earle's planting plough ]8i Economy, importance of 302 Eggs and poultry 336 Experience in farming «. Economy of labour saving utensils ...... . . . 355 F Fruit trees, summer pruning 20 Field of wheat !.!!!..! 24 Fruit, insects injurious to !..!!!!! 30 Farming — Cows .'..'.."... 48 Fruit, gathering and packing 110 Fairs, Agricultural .... " Fruit Trees, cultivation of 147 Fattening hogs ."..".."".." 150 Farmers' tools jgO Farming, progression in 162 Farm in Maryland, large '. 174 Fruit Trees '/[ ■170 Farms, best regulated ...!!!!!!!!.!!!!! .'i " 195 Farm, premium [[[ 204 Farmers, hints to .!.*.! 212 Farming in Holland ...!'..!!..... 237 Farmers' daughters .!!.".!!!',! 260 Farm accounts !!,...' 271 Fossil corn " ' ' ' 286 Farmers' Club, New York" . . .." 302 Fruit trees, time for budding 324 Fruit trees time of transplanting ".*.*." 337 Fruit and Vegetable Preserver . . " ' ' 345 Farming, profits of 3Cq Fruit trees, wash fbr '. .' .".'.'.'. 36g Fibrous covering for land '..'.'.'..'..'.'.'.'." 374 Fruit and Vegetable Preserver 379 Fly, Hessian ogn G Gowen, James, Report of Crops Good nature Great produce of an acre Guano trade Grapes, to preserve Green corn in mid autumn .... Grape Go forth into the country Grub and wire-worm, to destroy Grape, culture of Good housewifery Grape vine, Isabella Greedy mole Gypsum Goosberries, to raise the best . . . Greasing carriage wheels Grafting, cement for Grain crop, the British Grain, Measure of Grape vine, enormous Grain, to prevent from spoiling . 33 51 61 69 122 123 125 160 182 209 256 261 H rape vines and fruit trees, manures for 13 Gum Arabic 25 Horse-rake, spring tooth Horses, diseases in Hussey's reaping machine Horse fork for unloading hay Housewifery, good and evil Hay making Flarvest and the corn market Hyacinths in glasses Hay, curing Hams, curing Hogs, fattening ' Hogs, Chester County breed Holland, farming in Hot beds, construction of Hydraulic Ram 247, Horse, anecdote of ' Hydraulic Ram, its History Horse power [[[ Habits of swallows * '_ Hogs, large * ' " Horse market in Dumfries '. .1'.. .. .. Horse, Insanity in '.'.'.'.'.'.'. Hay market, Philadelphia Horse, remarks on the purchase of Hasty pudding • .• . • Hommony, how to make **'. .][\ *' Horses, endurance of African .'. '.'.'.." Honesty the best policy ! .' .*.*.*.'. '. ! Horticultural Premiums I & J Improvident Society Indian meal cakes J J Iron a remedy for blight in pear trees .'. Insects, wonders of [] Insects injurious to fruit " Ireland, work in '" _\ Ind ian corn \'' I rrigation .".'.V 68, 94, Imported stock Insects, destructive '_ Insect in the corn '.,'.'.'. Improvement in nail making Isabella grape vine "_ Insects, shade and fruit trees '..',.! Insanity in the horse ."' '' Iron railway bridge '.'.'.'.'. Indian corn, cultivation in Europe ..!.!.!!!! Insects injurious to wheat !.'..'..'.,! Incombustible wash .. .......... Ice, exportation of !!.'.'.'.'.! Insect slavery ' ///^ **_'' 289 308 313 342 353 46 52 65 66 78 87 121 126 130 131 150 215 237 241 249 268 282 286 287 288 291 308 322 335 349 351 364 368 14 16 22 30 49 60 145 79 93 105 158 256 281 291 292 297 304 313 338 350 TABLE OF CONTENTS K Knowledge, extension of 165 Keeping house , 308 Kepharfs Fruit and vegetable preserver 345 L Lime for potatoes 114 Laziness an incurable disease 125 Lightning, to protect from 142 Living, carefulness in 152 Lands in Virginia 154,161 Light, moral effects of 166 Lime 181,246 Landlord and tenant 184 Lime, super phosphate of 210 Labour 216 Legs, artificial, improvement in 218 Lime, corn 243 Lime on corn 275 Lettuce 332 Lands, renovation of vvorn-out 342 Land, value of 380 M Manures for grape vines and fruit trees 13 Mense, Dr. James 17 Maize, Italian mode of cooking 51 Milk, adulteration of 64 Musiard plant 78 Moth, canker worm 154 Moral effects of Light 166 Memorial from agriculturists of U. S 169 Mdk for the people - 175 Manures 186 Manures, Report on 192 Mildew 213 Machine for raising water 217 Mole, greedy 261 Mammoth corn 305 Mule and Ass 307 Mule vs. the Horse 347 N No'sette, or Champney Rose 77 Newcastle Agricultural Society 97, 107 Nail Making, improvement in 158 Non-liability to pay rent 172 New countries, settling in 201 Nurseries 325 O Oat fodder for horses 22 Orange Tree 54 Oaks of England 61 Overgrown wheat and tender straw 86 Orange tree, golden fruited 127 Offals of animals 299 Oak, the White 338 Orchard, productive 377 Premiun farm in New York 9 Preservation of roofs 18 Peach trees 23 Potatoes 23, 54, 76, 122, 155, 347 Pear, White Doyenne, or St. Michael 24 Premiums of Pennsylvania Hort. Society 26, 323 Peat lands, improvement of 44 Ploughs and ploughing 47 Pears, winter 53 Piirapeiiicoat, to preserve rosea 57 Plum tree, lilack wart of '58 Premium cows 67 Pin making 69 Polatoe rot 85 Profits of farming 86 Premiums of Philadelphia Ag. Society ... 88, 235 Potatoe disease 92, 108, 143, 177,215, 253, 266, 273 Peach trees, to preserve 107 Poplar — Tulip bearing Liriodendron Ill Pear upon the apple, experiments 112 Potatoes, lime for 114, 338 Poultry, management of 121 Poultry, arrival of, from America 122 Ploughing, deep 149 Progression in farming ^62 Peach, cultivation of l72 Potatoe failure • " Ploughing match in Montgomery, N. Y 178 Potatoe disease, observations on 180 Premium farm 204 Pruning young trees 233 Poudrette on Indian com 234 Peach trees, composition for 257 Pennsylvania farming recommended in Md. . . 258 Potatoes, sweet 271 Premiums, N. Y. Ag. Society 276 Potatoe, preventive of rot 324 Painting houses 339 Potatoes, beets, carrots, parsnips 372 R Roses, culture of 17 Roofs, preservation of 18 Rye grass 50 Roaches, to destroy 87 Report of Philadelphia Ag. Society 90 Reading Rail Road 207 Ram, Hydraulic 247,249 Roses, growing from the seed 290 Roses', Hybrid China 313 Roads, Cottages, Flowers, &c., in England 362 S Strawberry, culture of 28 Steeping seeds 32 Strawberries, Dr. Brinckle's 33 Small pox in the cow 47 Shoes, composition for 52 Stone coal 55 Salad, chicken 58 Seed wheat 65 Seed corn, selection of 66 Soiling, or house feeding 73, 137, 245 Smoke, value of 78 Stock, imported 79 Strawberries 93 Shingles, new material for 109 Strawberries, twenty-five varieties 124 Starch manufacture 147 Scotland, crops in 159 Settling in new countries 201 Superphosphate of lime 210 Salem county, surplus of 213 Syphon for raising water 217 Subsoils and their management 236 Sheep, mountain lands in Virginia 265 Soap as a manure 271 Sweet fwlaloes " Short-horns, history of in America 278 Shade and iruii trees, insect.<>, &c 281 Swallows, habits of 286 Strawberries, dried 287 Skinner's Address 314 Sheep trade 321 Shoes, composition lor " Sulphuric acid, manufacture of" . . '. 329 Selling sheep 333 Salt, quality used in making butter 346 Spring budding 348 Strawberries in Cincinnati ...........!...... 374 TABLE OF CONTENTS. T Tunnel under the sea 32 Tomatoes, preservation of 67 Trees, transplanting large 149 Tree, to renovate an outcast 176 Trees, plant them 212 Trees, pruning young 233 Tea, cottage culture in China 308 Transplanting trees 309, 337 Too much work 312 Timothy grass 368 Tools in their right places 378 V Virginia, prospects for new settlers 41 Vinegar, to have good 99 Virginia, cheese making in 153 Virginia, lands in 154,161 Vinegar making 227, 270 Virginia mountain lands for wheat 265 Vine, propagating 284 Virginia, visit to 382 W Y Wheat growers and millers, statistics for 19 Wild ducks tamed 25 Work in Ireland 49 Winter Pears 53 Wart, Black, of Plum tree 58 Wheat seed 65 Whitewash, a brilliant 70 Well, artesian 158 Weevil 178 Weevils, &c., to destroy on wheat 179 Wages of labour 185 Water, machine for raising 217 Whitney's cotton gin, its effects 239 White and brown bread 259 Woman's cares at home 272 Whitewash, a brilliant 292 Wheat, insects injurious to 304 WhiteOak 338 Wheat, preparation of seed 346 Wheat, to prevent Rust 361 Weight, comparative, of pork and bacon 371 Wheat, to prevent the fly 374 Whitewash 375 Young men, advice to 153 Yellows, remedy for 378 ^% ^mM^fmrnsssf^ ^^fiRlCAN HERD-BOOlC DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Liebio. Vol. XI.— No. 1.] 8lh mo. (August) 15th, 184G. [Whole No. 139. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, B Y J O S I A H T A T U M, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price onedoUarpcr year. — Forconditionsseelastpage Premium Farm in New York. The Stato AsrriciiUural Society of New York offered for the year 1?-15, a premium of $50 " for the best cul- tivated farm of not less than tifty acres, exclusive of woodland and waste land, regard being had to the quantity and quality of produce, the manure and ex- pense of cultivation, and the actual profits;" as well as premiums of smaller amounts for farms of second and third grade. Reports are published in the Socie- ty's Transactions of la-st year, and are highly valuable for their practical details. Not having that volume before us we copy the statement of George Geddes— to whom was awarded the first premium— from the Cul- tivator. Various questions were proposed by the So- ciety, which were to be carefully answered bycoii pelit- ors: and we lliink the following paper will be read with great interest by our practical men who hold the plough, and will understand at a glance, every state- ment and mode of operation. — ^Ed. 1. My home farm consists of three hun- dred acres. Thirty are in wood. About ten acres of the side hills are unsuitable for ploughing, and are only used for pas- Cab.— Vol. XL— No. 1. ture ; the remainder is under cultivation, e.scept what is required for roads, yards, &c. 2. The soil is principally a disintegrated gypseous shale, it being the first stratum below the Onandaga lime, running up to and taking in some sixteen acres of the lime, which is covered with about one foot of soil. This is in the wood lot, and fur- nishes quarries of good stone. There were formerly a few cobble stones on the surface, and one very large granite boulder. A small brook running through the farm is bordered by about forty acres of soil that has been de- posited by the brook, and is not suited to the production of wheat. In t!ie valley of the brook is found marl and prat, and at the springs that come from the liill sides, calca- reous-tufa. 3. I consider the best modes of improving the soil of my farm to be deep ploughing, applicqiion of barn-yard manure, free use of sulphate of lime, and frequent ploughing in crops of clover. 4. Unless I am ploughing in manure, I plough from six to eight inches deep. Deep 'ploughing upon the gypseous shales, never fails to increase fertility. Full trials justify !my speaking with confidence on this point. I 5. I have not used the subsoil plough, as I have no retentive subsoil on my farm. 6. I apply my barn-yard manure in large quantities at a time, preferring to at once do all for a field that I can in this way. About fifty loads of thirty bushels each, of half-rot- ted manure to the acre at a dressing. C9) 10 Premium Farm in JVew Ycrh. Vol. XL My stables are situated on two sides of a square ; the manure, as it is taken from the stables, is at once piled in the centre of the yard, as hig-h as a man can pitch it. Sul- phate of lime is put on the manure in the stables, and the heap, as soon as fermenta- tation commences, is whitened over with it. My sheep are all fed under cover, and most of their manure is piled under cover in the spring, and rotted. As to keeping manure under cover, my experience has led me to believe, that the best way is to pile it under cover — when it is most convenient to do so — and only then as I am compelled to apply water to the heap to rot it, unless it has received the snows and rains out doors. The coating of sulphate of lime, will, I be- lieve, prevent loss of the gases, and in pro- cess of fermentation the heap will settle so close together, that water will not after that enter into it to any considerable depth, par- ticularly if it was piled high and came up to a sharp point. 7. My means of collecting and making manure, are the straw, corn-stalks, and hay raised on the farm, fed to farm stock, and what is not eaten, trampled under foot, and converted as before described, so much of it as goes through the stables. But large quantities of straw never pass through the stables at all ; stacks are built in the yards, and the straw is from time to time strewed over the ground, where it receives the snows and rains, and is trampled by the cattle. Em- bankments around the lower sides of the yard, prevent the water from running off, and confine it in water tight pools, which are filled with straw to absorb the water, except so much of it as is wanted to put on the garden. 8. I make from four to five hundred loads of manure annually, and it is all applied. 9. Most of the manure is put on corn ground. It is drawn on about one-half rot- ted, and spread over the surface, and ploughed under about four inches deep. The reason I do not plough it under deeper is, that I suppose I must plough deeper the ne^t time to bring up the earth into which the manure has been carried by the rains. 10. I have never used lime in any quan- tity, excepting in the form of a sulphate as a manure, believing that there is enough in the soil. Sulphate of lime, I use in large quantities; fourteen tons this year. It is sown on all the wheat, corn, barley, and oats, and on the pastures and meadows in quanti- ties varying from one to three bushels to the acre. All the ashes made by my fires is used as a manure, and I think that it is worth as much as the same bulk of sulphate of lime to use on corn. Sulphate of lime has been used on the farm for many years, and in large quantities, and I think it essential in my system of farming. I have not used salt or guano as manure. I raised this year about 77 acres wheat, yield'g 1,616 bu., averaging pr. a. 20 99 15i " cnrn, " 821 " 52.96 18 " barley, " C65 " 36.94 38 " oats, " 2,249 " 56.55 2i " potatoes, •' 292 " 116.80 5,643 50 acres of pasture and 30 of meadow. 12. I sow at the rate of two bushels to the acre, about the 15th day of September. I summer fallow but little, and only to kill foul stuflf", and to bring the land into a good state of cultivation. A part of my wheat is sown on land that has been pastured, or mowed, ploughing it but once, but that done with great care, and as deep as I can. The oat and barley stubble, as a general rule, is sown to wheat, ploughing only once, having previously fed off" the stubble with sheep so close as to have most of the scattered grain picked up. The ploughing is done as near the time of sowing the wheat as is practi- cable, and the wheat is sown upon the fresh furrows and harrowed in. I have tried va- rious modes of treating stubble, but none of them has answered as well as this. What little grain of the spring crop is left on the ground is turned deep under, and the wheat being on top gets the start of it. The har- vesting is done with a cradle. Corn is gen- erally planted by the 10th day of May, on sod land; most of the manure is put upon this crop. The corn is planted in hills three feet apart each way; from four to six kernels in a hill, and no thinning out is practised. Sulphate of lime, or ashes, is put on the corn as soon as it comes up. Two effectual hoeings are given to it, and a cultivator with steel teeth, is run twice each way of the field between the rows, to prepare it for the hoe. Corn ploughs and cast iron cultivator teeth are entirely discarded. At the proper time the stalks are cut up at the surface of the ground and put into small stocks, and when the corn is husked, the stalks are drawn at once into the barn, without being again set up. In this way they are kept in good condition, and labour saved. Oats or barley is sown the next spring on this corn stubble. Of each of these grains three bushels of seed is put upon an acre. As soon as the grain is up, sulphate of lime is sown. These grains are also sowed on sod land. The reason of this is, I cannot command the manual labour necessary to cultivate one-ffth of my land in corn, and secure it at the proper season. The rota- tion of crops I attempt to pursue, is — first, No. 1. Premium Farm in JVew York. n corn; second, oats or barley; third, wheat on the oat or barley stubble; fourth, clover and herds grass pasture — the seed sown on the wheat — fifth, meadow. But inasmuch as certain portions of my farm are not suited to raising wheat, and as I cannot command the force necessary to cultivate the propor- tion of corn, I am compelled to modify; but I come as near to this rotation as I can. The usual time of sowing barley is as soon as the ground is settled — commonly by the 20th of April. The oats are sowed later, generally early in May. The yield of the crops for this year has already been given, and I think I am safe in saying, that the average of one year with another, upon the system of rotation before given, comes up to that of this year. The pasture will sustain two cows upon an acre, and the hay will generally yield two tons to the acre. 13. This interrogatory has been so far an- ticipated, that it is only necessary to add, that sometimes manure that is not conveni- ent to draw in the spring, is put upon the corn stubble and upon wheat. 14. This interrogatory has been antici- pated, in part. My reasons for applying my manure to corn, are, that I have better means of destroying the seeds of weeds, and from the belief that corn is the best crop to take up that part of the manure that the first crop can use, and that the manure is thus prepared for the crops that follow. Ex- periments that I have made, go to show that coarse manure benefits the second crop as much as it does the first — and the third crop cannot but receive great benefit from it. The fourth and fifth crops probably do not impoverish the soil. By this rotation, three crops are had for three ploughings; and my experience proves that the soil increases in fertility under this management. 15. Potatoes. In consequence of the dis- ease that has injured this crop, there were but two and a half acres planted this year; the disease was very destructive to my crop last year, but thus far nothing has been dis- covered of it this year. I have not been able to discover either the cause or remedy for this disease. 16. Herds grass, at the rate of eight quarts to the acre, is sown on bottom land. Clover and herds grass, mixed in equal quantities, is sown on uplands, at the rate of eight quarts to the acre, commonly. Generally sow herds grass in September, when it is sow-n alone on wheat; but if mixed with clover, sow it in March, on a light snow, if possible ; the sowing is done by hand. The last spring I sowed herds grass seed at the rate of eight quarts to the acre, on a field of wheat that I wanted to mow. Sixteen quarts of clover seed were mixed with the other seed and sown on fif- teen and a half acres. In the fall this field was not fed oft' until the clover headed out, when it appeared finely covered with clo- ver. 17. I usually mow about thirty acres, and expect two tons to the acre. This year the herds grass was killed by a frost late in May, and the estimate made was one ton to the acre. I use the variety of clover known as the "medium," and cut it when one-half of the heads are turned. At this stage a very considerable proportion of the herds grass will be sufficiently advanced for the seeds to mature. The mode of making the hay, is to move it as little as possible. Gene- rally it is put into cock. When the bottom lands are stocked down, clear herds grass used. 18. There is no part of my farm that can- not be ploughed, except the side hills before mentioned. These side hills are in grass and are pastured. 19. I have irrigated a part of my bottom lands. For a few years the grass was very much increased in quantity; but the herds grass disappeared, and a kind of grass took its place of but little value. I now suppose that the water was suffered to remain too long on the meadow, and thus destroyed the valuable grasses. This meadow has been ploughed up, with a view to subdue it, and again seeded with herds grass; when it is to be hoped a second experiment in irri- gation may be made with more skill and better success. The mode of watering the meadow was by a small ditch taken out of the brook, at a point high enough to enable me to convey the water through the middle of the meadow. Lateral cuts from this main ditch, with gates, distributed the water. 20. "Of the bottom lands mentioned, about twenty acres were very wet, and may have come under the denomination of " low peat lands." This land has been thoroughly drained, with ditches from three to five feet deep. Very heavy oats were this year raised upon some of this land, and about one-half of my corn was upon this descrip- tion of land. The next year the whole forty acres are to be planted gr sown to oats. 21. There have been four oxen, seven- teen cows, and sixteen head of store cattle, eighty sheep, eleven horses, and thirty-three swine kept on the farm the past season, with the exception of a short time. The cattle are either thorough bred, or high grade Short- horns. 22. I have made no accurate and careful 12 Premium Farm, in A''eio ForA*. Vol. XI. experiments to test the comparative value of different breeds of cattle. 2'S. No account is kept of the butter and cheese made on the farm, as it is mostly consumed on the premises. 24. There have been but eighty sheep kept on tiie farm the past season. My flock has recently been very much reduced, with a view to substitute pure Merinoes. My sheep yielded a little over four pounds of wool each, for the whole flock. The pure Merinoe ewes each raised a lamb, and they averaged a little over five pounds to the fleece. I think that about ninety lambs may be expected to be raised from one hun- dred ewes. I have heretofore raised mutton sheep, but have disposed of all my sheep whose chief value was for mutton, and in- tend to turn my attention to the raising of wool, as the first consideration. Two dol- lars have been about the average price I have received for mutton sheep fattened on grass. 25. There have been thirty-three swine, of grade Berkshire, kept on the farm this year. About one-half of them have been slaughtered. Our hogs weigh from two hundred and fifty to five hundred, averag- ing over three hundred and fifty, when dressed. 26. No accurate experiments have been made by me, to test the value of roots as compared with Indian corn. I fattened my hogs and cattle on corn ground with the cob. Cooked for hogs, and sometimes cooked and sometimes raw for eattle, being governed in this particular by the amount of grain I am feeding. I think corn the most economical grain I can raise to feed, in view of the prices coarse grains usually bring in market. 27. There are about two hundred apple trees on the farm, most of them grafted — Kpitzenbergs, russets, pippins, &e.,^^most of the approved varieties. 28. Pears, peaches, plums, cherries, quinces, &Le., are raised in abundance for our own consumption; and we have many of the best varieties of these fruits; five or six of pears, twenty of peaches, seven or eight of cherries, and four or five of plums. 29. Various insects common to this coun- try have depredated upon the fruit trees; the most troublesome of all, is the common apple tree worm. Strong soap-suds applied by means of a piece of sheep skin with the wool on, attached to a pole, is the most ef- fectual means of destroying them. 30. My general management of fruit trees is, to prune them annually, keep them free from insects, and see personally to the selec- tion of scions for grafting. 31. I have applied leached ashes to wheat. grass, and corn land, without being able to see any benefit. 32. Besides the mansion house, I have four houses occupied by men that work on llie farm. Two of these houses have barna connected with them. In a central position is a grain barn, fifty-four feet long and forty wide, twenty feet high, with a stone wall under it — making a granary and sheds. Near the mansion house are the hay barn, sheep barn, and a grain barn fifty-four feet long by thirty-four wide. Basement stories to all these buildings, furnish sheds and sta- bles for the stock ; so that every animal I winter, is fed all the valuable food in a rack or manger, and under cover. Besides these buildings, is the wagon- house, forty-two feet long, with a basement under it; and the tool-house, carriage-house, corn-house, milk-house, smoke-house, ice- house, hen-house, &c. A small mill upon the brook grinds my coarse feed. My yards around the buildings near the mansion, are all supplied with water in tubs, sent there by a powerful force pump under the mill, driven by the same wheel that grinds the feed and saws the wood. 33. The common fence on the farm is posts and boards, the posts set three feet or more in the ground. Of red cedar posts I have about three miles — and of other timber for posts, about two miles. I have some- thing more than a mile of stone wall, made from stone quarried from the quarries men- tioned. These walls are built four feet ten inches high, two and a half feet thick on the ground, and eight inches thick on top, having the same slant on both sides, and laid straight and strong. This fence costs me Si 50 a rod, and I build fifty rods or more every year, upon a system of fencing that in time will put an end to further expense. The board fence costs 88 to 100 cents a rod. There is a considerable portion of my fences of rails, mostly cedar, but no new rails are made. As to the condition of my fences, I would respectfully refer to the report of the committee on farms for this year, for the county of Onondaga, a copy of which report is attached. 34. Most of my fields have been measured, but sometimes more than one kind of grain is raised in a field — and thus the amount of ground covered by each kind of grain is not always accurately known. All the grain raised on the farm is measured, and the measurements entered in books kept for that purpose, by proper men. The work hired by the day is entered in these books, and any other thing that appears of suflScient importance. No. L Manures for Grape-vines and Fruit Trees. 13 These memorandum books furnish most of the materials for a farm book which is kept by myself. From the farm book, it appears there have been nine hundred and twenty-seven days work done on the farm, from the 1st day of April to the 1st day of November. This account covers all the work done in draw- ing plaster, sowing it, drawing out manure, threshing and delivering so much of the grain in market as has been sold, and all other men's labour on tlie farm. There have been produced on the farm five thou- sand six hundred and forty-three bushels of grain, aside from garden vegetables. Be- sides this, sixty-six loads of hay. As the grain is sold, entries are made in the farm book, of the price it brings; and that part of the products of the farm that is kept for home consumption, is estimated at the price it is worth in market. Thus ar- rived at, the grain and hay raised this year was worth three thousand five hundred and twenty-three dollars and seventy-nine cents. I have no means of determinmg the value of the pasture, fruit, and many other things produced on the farm, nor the cost of team work. Geo. Geddes. Fair Mount, Onniidaffa Co., N. Y., Uec. 31st, 1845. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Manures for Grape-vines and Fruit Trees. Mr. Edttor, — A few words if you please on this subject. I am very much disposed to be economical in the use of whatever means I employ for the advancement of wealth and comfort. I dislike, particularly, to see our farmers and horticulturists pur- chase high-priced and scarce fertilizers, when by using materials which are lying about them, and sometimes going to waste, they might save the cost of their manure.s while their crops might not be diminished. This fault, as I consider it, is particularly chargeable upon what are called "book- farmers," or those who read agricultural publications. Many of them commence farming with abundant resources, and by throwing away their money for costly fer- tilizers, and neglecting the means they have on hand, which would cost them compara- tively nothing, they waste their capital, get into debt, and finally are obliged to give up farming with injury to themselves, and dis- grace to scientific agriculture. This should not be. Many farmers have mines of wealth upon their plantations which they never take pains to develope, and, indeed, which they often consider a nuisance. But to our subject. Grape-vines and fruit trees do not need stable manure, nor any other manure prepared by animals. The best manures for them, are such as have no more nitrogen than is contained in common vegetable matter. Therefore no- thing is belter for them than plain rotten wood, hay, saw-dust, leaves, chips, shavings, straw, or swamp muck. Tiiese, together with lime and ashes — even leached ashes, and anthracite and bituminous coal ashes — will make vines and fruit trees grow large, healthy, and highly productive. These ma- nures cost little, can be had almost any- where, and may be applied at any time. Tho.se living in the neighbourhood of a saw-mill, have a fine opportunity of getting a cheap and highly useful article. The saw-dust of hard woods, particularly oak and hickory, is the very best manure for grape-vines and fruit trees that can be ob- tained. Scattered over the surface of the ground under the vine or tree, with a due proportion of alkaline substances, it has a most charming effect upon the productive- ness of it. A swamp hole upon a farm might be made almost as valuable as a gold mine. The mud taken out in the fall, and compost made of it with lime, ashes, finely powdered char- coal and plaster, and let lie till spring, with an occasional turning over during the win- ter, will make a manure cheaper and better than nitrate of potash and many other costly fertilizers. Dug or ploughed in among the roots of vines and fruit trees, or even scat- tered over the surface and under the plants, it would have a very beneficial effect upon the prospects of the fruit raiser. When these cannot be obtained, rotten straw, hay, chips, shavings, or leaves, are better than more costly substances. Therefore, when farmers or horticulturists have a swamp, whence they may procure swamp muck, oi live near a saw-mill w^here they can obtain the saw-dust, and neglect to use tliese articles, but instead of this, send hundreds of miles for guano, nitrate of pot- ash, silicate of potash, and other costly ma- terials, we should not at all be astonished at numerous failures among them, and the po- verty which annoys and hampers them at every turn. If they alone were the losers, I should not so much complain, for I should consider their suffering and loss as a pun- ishment for their folly; but they retard the course of scientific agriculture, and by that means check the progress of mankind in knowledge and happiness. Excuse this complaining, Mr. Editor, as it is designed for good, and for that only. Chemico. Wilkesbarre, Pa., July 23rd, 1846. 14 Improvident Society. Vol. X[. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Improvident Society. Mr. Editor, — I forward you the follow ing, trusting it may stir up to a little rcflcc tion, some who are not much given to efforts of this character. If it should enable any of your readers to see themselves as in a glass, I shall not regret having sent it. Y. A portion of a discourse delivered before the Society for " the promotion of agri- cultural improvidence," of Poor County, by A. Poorhouse, Esq. Friends and fellow citizens, also ladies and gentlemen : I am happy to see before me to-day, so large and intelligent an assemblage, inte- rested as they are, and zealous as I have long known them to be, in the great cause we have undertaken. It needs not my as surance to make known to you how modest I feel on this occasion. You have so long known me that it needs not that I should tell you this, but my evident embarrassment will declare it; indeed my modesty you all know perfectly well, far exceeds my talents or my powers of interesting you. Why I have been selected for this remarkable occa- sion I cannot imagine. Nearly all of you have known me from childhood, and not one of you, I can with entire truth and perfect fearlessness assert, will contradict me when I say, that a more simple and ignorant per- son does not exist — one less likely to be of use to his fellow citizens — one less qualified to instruct them in a single thing worth knowing — one more profoundly unacquaint- ed with all the trumpery, science and know- ledge of the day — one who feels himself, however, above the meanness so frequently practiced by those whom I see some disposed to respect, of gaining from men or books the knowledge which it has not pleased Heaven to implant in their minds by instinct and na- ture. Yet with these humble pretensions I have been selected to address you on this interesting occasion. Of one thing I am certain, — and so are you, — that you will have what some of those who are fond of fine language, call the virgin history of my mind. You will have displayed before you, I am proud to say, an intellect totally unem- barrassed by the thoughts of others — one that has never foolishly, I may say, impious- ly, endeavoured to injure by thought or study, the powers Providence gave him. One which, now, afler forty years observa- tion, is as clear of all information as it was at five years of age — one that through all my life has continued to cherish and preserve its early lr,ve of doing nothing, and all the torpor, dullness, and indifference that nature gave it. Of these things I can boast, and it is all that I have to be proud of; and to the results and products of an intellect so trained, you are perfectly welcome. May you gain as much by it as I have done. You will not be astonished when I tell you, that for years I have not opened a book — the last I read was Webster's spelling book, but I found so many things in it that I was expected to re- member that I thrust it aside. A flogging that I received from that silly old pedagogue, the late Stephen Slapbotham, disgusted me, and I determined from that moment to let my mind take its own course. And I assure you that nothing has given me greater plea- sure, than by my own experience to refute the ridiculous idea that some foolish persons have attempted to put about, that activity of mind, and what they call industry, are ne- cessary for one's happiness. It is no such thing — the greatest, fullest source of enjoy- ment in this world, is to do nothing, and do it well. Of this doctrine we are all exam- ples, and to its truth and beauty we can all bear testimony. Continue, my friends, to act upon it; you will find yourselves much the better for it in the end. If any of you should be so unfortunate as to be encum- bered with property, you will in this way certainly rid yourself of it. And you may then move about without anxiety, independ- ent as a bird or a fish, without the perplexity or cares of a home — without the vexation of a wife or a child. Happy condition ! who does not look forward to it with hope and happy expectation. Once rid of your mo- ney, and you have gained a great object. Have we not high authority tor calling it the root of all evil ! Should it not then be our aim to waste it as soon as possible ] Be- sides, why should we be ashamed of begging, or of the poor-house? If the large number of our fellow citizens are disposed to labour and support us, why not allow them the pri- vilege? Every encouragement is given to us to live upon the public. In Philadelphia they have a palace, where two thousand and more of those who advocate our principles can pass their lives without care or thought. Men from all parts of our happy country are there. Many from parts of it with which I was not acquainted, and speaking a language I did not altogether understand — from Ulster, Munster, Connaught, Tyrone, all our free and enlightened fellow citizens. My heart leapt within me at such a noble sight, and at such a strong evidence in fa- vour of our ideas. I asked myself why not multiply these institutions, why not scatter No. 1. Improvident Society. 15 them over the land, instead of urging men to labour and waste their strength by toil ? With these few general remarks I will now proceed to the subject more particularly before iis. You have all, probably, been pestered as I have been, with instructions from ignorant people as to how our land should be managed. You have probably had the Cultivator, the American Farmer, or the more distant Farmers' Cabinet, recommend- ed to you by some of those envious and jeal- ous persons, who saw how quietly you took life, and how little you troubled yourselves with its concerns or your own ; and who hated you for your content, and for being master of your own time, and understanding how to make use of it. These persons for reasons best known to themselves, no doubt selfish ones, recommend you to take these periodicals. What is there in them of any value to you ■? You have placed before you examples of what they call industry, — that is, of men who make themselves miserable with anxiety and toil; of men who strive to get a few more dollars than nature intended they should, by what they call improving their land, and raising a little more wheat, or corn, or potatoes. We stand on an emi- nence so lofty, as to look down on these struggles to gain a few cents. Our aim is ease, quiet — to do nothing, and to let things take care of themselves. Ignorance to us is bliss, then why should we interest our- selves in matters that disturb us, that oblige us to be active and anxious; and which might very probably put on us the cares of wealth. Why should we allow ourselves to be con- trolled by those sordid feelmgs that put in motion and govern so many people ] No, let there be some high minded and generous enough to look with contempt on what weak and foolish people call industry. How did Adam improve his land, or Noah, or Methu- selah, or any of the ancient Christians or pagan philosophers'! Farmers' Cabinet's, Cultivator's, and other expensive publica- tions did not exist in those days. Men were not told to their face, by impertinent and in- trusive neighbours, that their farms were going down, when they were only left to the kind and paternal care of nature. In those days they trusted more in Heaven than they do now. If they wanted water, they struck a rock; if they wanted some- thing to eat, manna and locusts were found for them ; and if they wanted clothes, they made sufficiently good ones from leaves of trees and skins of animals. Were they what we now call industrious? far from it ; and there is no doubt we should be treated as they were, if we did not make our land unfit to bear manna or locusts, by constant manuring, and by other devices that designing men have put upon us. And we surely have trees enough to supply us with leaves, and dogs and cats enough for other garments. Even the hogs in the streets of our large towns, with whose skins they now cover trunks and saddles, would make strong and durable pantaloons. Nature then has provided us with everything; it is only our own per- verseness that causes us to misuse and mis- apply our advantages. But in this improving our land, do not we destroy many beautiful plants — is not the fragrant toad flax far handsomer than a po- tatoe — the daisy than a cabbage — and mul- lens and garlic, than onions or beans? No one will pretend to make a comparison ; yet all these gladdening as they do, the eye of the lover of nature, we must eradicate, un- der this system of improvement, and turn our fields to mere grass or grain. In the neighbourhood of that pretty city, Philadel- phia, there are many who act up to our ideas, and no doubt reap the full advantage of them. You may see there large fields set out with the daisy, and most tastefully interspersed with clover and grass, so as to give a pleasing appearance to the fields, far superior, in fact, to any grain, or to that coarse and vulgar plant, the potatoe. Then the labour and expense of this improving is very great; and if we were willing to go through the labour, which I am thankful we are not, where should most of us find the money? or if we had this, which, thanks to our own exertions, we have not, who would do the work? Those who advocate this wild and ridiculous system, insult you by tellmg you that you must take care of your manure, and make as much as you can. And then our system of managing our cat- tle, differs from that of those who indulge themselves in what is called improving their land. We do not confine our cattle to dirty barn-yards, to trudge all winter through wet dung, up to their knees, and nibbling a little dirty straw; but we let them roam about, and eat the rich, nutritious, dead grass, that lies cither on the public road, or near our own fences. This certainly is a very supe- rior system to that of enclosing the cattle. In some of these agricultural periodicals against which I have warned you, you will find — I understand from others, for of course " I never see them — recommendations as to the preserving what they call the juices or liquors of the manures, as if they were speaking of cider or whiskey. They mean, by this, you will be astonished to learn, the having pits or reservoirs for it to run to, whence it is taken ofl^in carts and sprinkled over the grass or some other crop. This 16 Charring Vegetable Refuse. — ^-c. Vol. XI. absurd operation is, I give you my word, openly recommended to us republicans and free citizens, and is really performed by one or two weak men, who prefer spending their money in this ridiculous manner, rather than to aid in the support of generous and high minded persons like us, by building such noble institutions as those 1 told you of in Philadelphia. It is not to be expected that we shall ever commit such follies, far be it from men of our independence of character, to take such liberties with the designs of nature. What! to throw over our grounds any offensive fluid, that is nothing more than refuse matter, instead of taking the obvious hint, to let it run away. What nfext will these industrious people dol Our plan, on the contrary, appears more rational, we let this mattter sink into the ground, where it naturally goes, or if we can, we let it run into some stream, and if this should chance to be one that goes through our spring-house, so much the better, it will give a taste and smell to the milk and butter, that to many persons may be extremely agreeable. Charring Vegetable Refuse. The great advantage of employing refuse which has been submitted to this process, in the cultivation of plants, is now pretty well known. A simple way of charring the ve- getable refuse of a garden, is this : — take a few dry faggots, mixed with dry straw, and set up for a centre ; around these build up the rubbish, placing the chippings of wood, (fee, next the faggots, and the greener parts together with tree prunings, near the outside. Around this, build with saw-dust or green turf, leaving an avenue for lighting the fire. When properly lighted, the hole at the top is closed by degrees, and holes are made lower down the heap, which are in their turn closed up as the fire draws down, and this is continued to the bottom of the heap. When all is charred the holes may be all stopped, and additional covering laid on, to prevent entirely the access of air ; in a few days the heap may be opened, and the ma- terial will be ready for use; the larger parts for draining flower pots, the smaller for ap plying on the ground. — Practical Florist. Indian Meal Cakes. — Stir to a cream a pound and a quarter of brown sugar, a pound of butter — beat six eggs, and mix them with the sugar and butter, add a tea-spoonful of cinnamon or ginger»— stir in a pound and three-quarters of white Indian meal, and a quarter of a pound of wheat flour, — the meal should be sifted. Bake it in small cups, and let it remain in them till cold. The Apple. — Of all the productions of the earth given us through the agency of a tree or a shrub, by the bountiful Dispenser of every thing that is good, the apple stands preeminent. There are none amongst others of our cultivated fruits, but which some of us would lose with regret; they would, how- ever, be parted with as we part with a lux- ury. The apple, on the contrary, is not alone a superfluity, but has woven itself into our list of necessaries. We speak, of course, comparatively; for the absolute ne- cessaries of life are few indeed. In the dessert, in pastry, in marmalades, jellies, pastes, confections; in medicine and the arts ; in all these departments the apple takes its allotted place. If so multifarious be its uses, it may readily be supposed that its qualities must be variable to meet these purposes. — The Fruitist. Curious Fact. — A farmer in Vermont, last season, was behind his neighbours in cutting the grass in his meadows; at night, some waggish boys went into one of his meadows and cut down all the grass in it. They also went into his potatoe patch and cut a few swathes through it. At the time of digging the potatoes they were found rot- ten, except where the boys had cut off" the tops, and there they were all found good and sound. This would seem to show that the disease begins in the tops, and it suggests as a means of saving a crop the cutting off the tops so soon as the tops begin to die. Iron a Remedy for Blight in Pear Trees. — A correspondent states that he has found iron ore, or cinders of iron, placed round the roots of trees, drives away the in- sect which deposits the eggs that produce the worm. Having tried this remedy in a sandy soil, and in a stiff soil, and in places distant from each other; and having driven off the insect when the trees of others were very much injured or destroyed in the neigh- bourhood, he advises all those who are trou- bled by these insects, to try the use of iron, rather than be under the necessity of con- tinually topping off the limbs which contain tlie worm or young insect. He thinks it probable that the iron is unfavourable to the worm, which drops from the branches and makes its wintering place at the root of the tree, and then the insect avoids an unfavour- able place for its young. But whatever may be the theory, it is sufficient that iron has the desired effect. — Gardeners^ Gazette. Honour and shame from no condition rise; — Act well your part; there all the honour lies. No. 1. Culture of Roses.- — Dr. Mease. 17 For the Farmers' Cabinet. Culture of Roses. To THE Editor, — I send for the Cabinet the followini]^ observations, translated from the French by H. Meigs, secretary of the American Institute, and lately read at the Farmers'' Club. I find them in the New York Farmer and Mechanic. I have always enjoyed the pleasures of the flower garden, and am gratified when- ever I find in the Cabinet some lively article relating to my favourite amusement. I have never believed that the lady who spends her daily half hour among her flowers, or in training her vines, is any the less qualified for the duties pertaining to her household. The mind busily engaged either in labour, or in solicitudes incident to a responsible situation, needs recreation ; without which there may be danger of its elasticity and strength being impaired. To the busy house- wife, where is the walk so delightful as among her flowers? where the labours of the day so easily and enchantingly forgot- ten, as in the midst of this " poetry of na- ture ■?" And none, I am inclined to believe, need conclude that they have not time for these elegancies. Every situation will allow a little time for a Utile nook, and the dress- ing and the keeping of this little nook, will have a happy influence in chastening and refining the heart, and the better qualify us for the discharge of every duty. Please excuse me — when I commenced I did not intend to write this homily to my sex: but it is a favourite subject with me, and if I were not partly afraid to confess it, I would acknowledge the deep interest I feel even in the broad subject of agriculture, in all its operations. The improvement of the land — the growth of the crops — the Bmell of the new-made hay, and the thresh- ing of the grain, all have charms for me, and whenever the Cabinet reads a lecture on garden or field, it is sure to find me at home. Henrietta B. New Brunswick, N. J. "It is now nearly three thousand years since the rose was first called the Queen of Flowers ! I fear not to say, that none of the ancients, not even the Greeks or the Romans, knew truly the merits of this deli- cious production of nature. Even we, until within the last fifty years, were very far from knowing the value of roses. At a late] date we had but quite a small number of roses, of little variety in form and colour in our gardens. There was not among them any to be seen of those varied shapes and splendid colours which have recently been produced by an intelligent and careful cul- ture. And those beautiful flowers were formerly transient — the bloom of only a sin- gle season, so that we were entirely deprived of them for the greatest part of the year. There was but one rose which was vulgarly called the Rose of Four Seasons, which occasionally gave its flowers in tiie autumn, but that was very precarious. Now, how- ever, the whole face of things is changed. Roses have been multiplied in kinds and co- lours by planting their seeds repeatedly and by a more knowing cultivation ; exhibiting now more perfect and diversified varieties of an infinite variety of shades of colour, of perfume, and blooming at all seasons of the year. The ancients called their rose gar- dens Rosaria. " Monsieur Loiseleur Deslongchamps, who visited the Rosaria of Paris and its environs, says that he had examined that of M. Victor Verdier, who has been nineteen years engaged in the culture of roses, and has now annually from twelve to fifleen thousand Eglantine — Sweet Brier — stocks grafted with all the most precious kinds of roses, among them many raised from seed. He has 1500 varieties of roses. "The garden of Mons. Gauthier contains 75,000 Eglantines engrafted with roses, of which 6000 are choice. These Eglantine stocks are about forty inches high, with the roses grafted on their tops, and the ground is everywhere covered with strawberries, chiefly the Alpine. Among the roses are those fine kinds from the Isle of Bourbon. " Monsieur Jacques, chief gardener of the king, at Neuilly, has planted a great many rose seeds and obtained many very fine va- rieties. He sowed the seeds of the rose of Bengal, from which we now have roses called of the Isle of Bourbon. He plants rose seeds every year." Dr. Mease. Agricclture seems, from a very early period, to have been one of Dr. Mease's principal occupations as well as enjoy- ments. To this he gave the active energies of his manhood and the mature judgment of more advanced life. It was to the last his passion. As Secretary, as Vice-President, and at last as President, of the Society es- tablished in this county for the promotion of agriculture, his services were freely given, and always with that kind of zeal that showed that his heart was in the cause. In its promotion he stood side by side with some of tlie chief citizens Philadelphia has 18 Tlie Preservation of Roofs. Vol. XL produced, who have been her pride and or- nament, who e^ave her a character while they lived, and left her one to sustain now they are no move. Tilghman, Rawlo, Peters, Vaux, were among the men with whom he acted — men who, from their characters, eminent talents, and devoted love to their country and city, could but inspire in one so active and zealous as Dr. Mease, the de- sire of emulation, and a feeling of conscious pride that in following where they led, that in imitating their example, in aspiring to their virtues, he would attain a portion of their usefulness, and gain some of the es- teem and regard of his fellow-citizens, which their gratitude conceded to these his prede- cessors. To him the agricultural commu- nity are indebted for the introduction of that beautiful breed of animals, the Durham short-horned cattle. He suggested their importation to Colonel J. H. Powel, at the time in England; and it was fortunate that the intimation was made to one so liberal and so well disposed to serve the interest of his country, lie was also among the first who endeavoured to introduce the cultiva- tion of silk. His labours and his disappoint- ments were very great in this design. It was in advance of the condition of the coun- try; but credit still belongs to him and his coadjutors, of having projected a plan, that at some future time will probably be of emi- nent utility to the interests of the nation. Thi.«, we believe, was, if not the last, yet the most important of his endeavours, to ad- vance the prosperity of his native country. — Saturday Courier. The Preservation of Roofs. In the country, where numerous buildings are indis- pensable for the fanner, and where the roofs are gene rally of wood, it is a matter of great importance to preserve them as long as possible. Whenever they need repairing, or to be laid anew, they make a heavy item in the year's expenses. We hope the foUowin from the Farmer and Mechanic, may prove useful. — Ed. A WRITER in the Boston Cultivator, refer- ring to wooden roofs and their rapid decay, gives the following cheap and simple method of preserving them for many years. Fie ob- serves, "A friend of mine, who unites much close observation with large experience in building, states that the best preservative of shingles that has come within his knowledge, is to soak them in an alkaline solution of quick lime before they are put on. The plan adopted by him for the purpose, is to prepare a box in which to dissolve the lime, similar to that used by plasterers, and have it elevated, so as to permit the lime water to be drawn from it, into another box in which the shingles are to be placed that are in- tended to be impregnated with the alkaline solution. A sufficient quantity of quick lime is put in the upper box, which is slacked and reduced to a thin wash, and well stirred up, when it is permitted to settle. The shingles are set on end, with their butts down, in the lower box, which is suffi- ciently deep to permit the parts which will be exposed to the weather when they are put on in courses, to become soaked, by drawing down the alkaline lime water from the upper box into the one below in which they are placed. They should remain in this solution for some hours, when they are i-emoved and suffered to dry, and others sub- stituted in the box to undergo the same ope- ration before they are nailed on the lath. "No part of white wash or lime should be peftiitted to pass into the lower box ; it being the caustic alkaline solution of the lime only, which is beneficial; it is a powerful antisep- tic, interposing powerful obstacles to the de- cay of wood or vegetable matter of any kind. The presence of the insoluble particles of the lime would tend to clog the pores and inter- stices of the wood, and impede or prevent the entrance of the alkaline solution of the lime, which is perfectly fluid and transpa- rent. " An old roof may have its usefulness ex- tended for many years, by simply spreading pulverized quick lime over it, so as to form a very thin coat of it on the roof; by the absorption of the dew, the alkaline solu- tion will be formed, and will penetrate the shingles, which will be cleared from moss and preserved by it, and on the occurrence of a heavy rain the insoluble parts of the lime will be washed ofl^", leaving it clean. "The tendency of white wash to preserve wood from rotting, is universally acknow- ledged, but it should be borne in mind, that it is the alkaline solution of the lime only, which has this tendency, and that the gross, insoluble particles of the lime which remain for a time in the form of a scale on the sur- face to which it has been applied, has nothing to do with its antiseptic powers, and that where the design of its application is to pre- serve the wood only, it would better accom- plish the object by being much more diluted than it generally is, so that the alkaline quality would be more thoroughly absorbed than is usually the case. It is a very cu- rious and interesting fact, that water at the freezing point dissolves twice as much of the alkaline ingredient of lime as boiling water does, so that the use of hot water to dissolve lime is worse than useless." No. 1. Interesting Statistics for Wheat-growers and Millers. 19 Interesting Statistics for Wheat-growers and Millers. The decline in prices of flour and wheat this spring, has been the source of disap- pointment to a great many wiio operated last winter at very high rates, calculating upon large profits to be now realized, and as it appears that those views are entirely frustrated, a cahn view into the causes, at this particular juncture, may not perhaps come amiss. Af'ter last harvest the crop of wheat was ascertained to be a very large one, and almost every individual engaged in the trade looked for the ruling of low prices, unless something occurred to create an extra foreign demand. Shortly after- ward we began to receive accounts from England of the probable failure of the crops there, which immediately gave a spur to prices, and purchases were made for ship- ment to that quarter — advices continuing to be received confirmatory in that respect, speculation started, until prices ran up in New York to $7 per barrel for flour. It appears that rate could not be continued — although many anticipated .$8 to $10 — and why? — a few figures will show. The an- nual average crops of wheat in Great Brit- ain for the past few years, has been equal to twenty millions of quarters of eight impe- rial bushels of 70 lbs. According to all well informed sources, the crop of wheat there last year was ascertained shortly after harvest to be about nineteen millions of quarters, requiring one million of quarters to be received from other countries to make up said deficiency. The crops on the conti- nent being rather short of previous years, this country was naturally looked to for what Great Britain stood in need of; hence the continued shipments to that quarter even up to the present time. Now what is the state of matters there. By last advices received from that section, per "Hihernia," the quantity of wheat and flour under lock or in bond, in the United Kingdom, made up to the .5th of April, is thus shown ; Wheat, Flour, 1,227,374 quarters. 950,871 cvvt. — reduced to wheat, will equal 330,000 quarters — mak- ing total of wheat upward of 1,.500,(X)0 quar- ters— 50 per cent, more than their actual de- ficiency. The above stock in bond has been accumulating since, and it would not be sur- prising if the quantity increase to near two millions of quarters, before any would be re- leased, which is altogether awaiting the ac- tion of Parliament on the new corn bill. Our crop of wheat last season no doubt was the largest ever gathered in this coun- try. The Commissioner of Patents, who lias for a number of years collected statisti- cal information of such things, puts it down to about 106 millions of bushels, but that is evidently below the quantity: 120 millions would be nearer the mark. With our popu- lation of 20 millions of inhabitants, the con- sumption would be Equal to 90,000,000 bush. Add for seed 10,000,000 " Would leave for export 20,000,000 " The quantity left over of the previous crop is not taken in the estimate, as such may average about the same from one crop to another. The number of bushels put down for export, it will be perceived, is about double of what Great Britain required — say ten millions of bushels of 60 lbs. — our ordinary export demand seldom coming up to ten millions of bushels, or 2,000,000 barrels of flour. Present indications show that the above estimate of the crop in this country is not far, if at all out of the way. The whole error, therefore, has been, that parties did not look far enough to see what Great Britain actually wanted — as that was the only source we could expect to carry off our extra surplus — but went blindly into it, anticipating that they would never be able to send enough there — and because she re- quired a small quantity, a larger amount must necessarily follow. Some would pro- bably say that the failure of the potatoe crop in Ireland, would require an extra con- sumption of flour. The difiiculty in that respect with the poor peasantry of that country, was their deficiency of means to purchase such an article of food — and if any one would take the pains to examine the English papers, they would find evidence of this in the continual arrivals of wheat, &c., at the different ports in England, from the very famished districts in Ireland. No, they wen-t on the coarser articles, such as peas, beans, oatmeal, &c., of which there is an abundance. Again, since the spring has opened, arrivals have taken place in Eng- land, from the Baltic and other ports on the continent, of wheat, notwithstanding the talk of great scarcity there also. Prices will now entirely depend on our next crop — for it is apprehended shipments to England are pretty much at an end for the time being — which to all appearances will be large, if not larger than the last — for the high prices last fall no doubt stimu- lated farmers to put in greater breadth of ground, in conjunction with which nothing has as yet appeared materially to affect its yield ; hence low prices must necessarily ensue — unless we have another famishing 20 Pruning Fruit Trees, SfC. — Corn-meal in the West Indies. Vol. XI. country to supply perspectively, and get up speculation, with its unhappy results, such as are now experienced. — Biiffalo Adver- tiser. From the Cincinnati Gazette. Summer Pruning Fruit Trees, and Thin- ning Fruit. It is singular that so little attention is paid by cultivators to the suminer pruning of fruit trees. This, I presume, is owing to custom having made it a general rule to prune trees in the spring. The system is however a bad one, in a certain measure, which may be readily seen by a little obser vation. For instance, all trees are liable to make suckers from the centre, which ex- haust the substance of it, and are useless ; every one agrees, by common consent, that useless shoots should be cut out, and it is yearly done in tlie ensuing spring after they have impoverished the tree; hence they are deprived of about one-fitlh of their substance annually. If these shoots were regularly cut out early, after making some growth, say in May or June, the substance that they exhaust would go to nourish the other branches and fruit. In the second place, trees, grape vines, shrubs, &c., often become very thick of wood in the summer, especi- ally when they are in confined places; all the young wood that is formed in this state is weak and useless, because it cannot re ceive the sun and air sufficiently to properly mature it; this, too, like the suckers, de prives the tree of a portion of its nutriment, or at least that portion of it that is to bear the succeeding season. This useless wood becomes weak and sickly, the leaves turn yellow, and are a nursery for various kinds of insects, and according to custom is pruned out of the tree the following spring; when common sense tells us it ought to be taken from the tree in summer, in order to give the substance it has deprived the tree of to the proper branches. I do not contend that the summer is the season for the general pruning of trees ; for I prefer the spring for this business; but whenever trees or vines are thickly crowded with summer wood, or any shoots, as suck- ers or straggling branches, that cause trees to grow of irregular shape, it should be a general rule to displace them, in order to keep the tree in proper shape and in a healthy state. Thinning of fruit, when young, is also essentially requisite in order that it may grow to its proper size and quality. It often happens, when the spring is propitious to fruit, that the trees and vines are so loaded that it is impossible for the tree to render it proper sustenance, so that the fruit neither forms into a proper size or quality. This is ot\en the case after a failure the previous season, owing to which the trees are fur- nished in the interval of rest, with a super- abundance of fruit-buds or spurs ; hence we often see alternate crops of fruit, which should be as much as possible counteracted, by trimming out a goodly portion of fruit, when such abundant crops appear. This adds much to the quality and flavor of the fruit, and is also of a material use to the tree, in order to give it vigor to furnish fruit-buds for another season in a healthy state, which are weakened by a superabun- dant crop of fruit, and are often the cause of failure the next season. When sickly trees are overburdened with fruit, which is often the case, owing to weakness, they should be well thinned, in order that what is left may be well matured, for it is very evident that when fruit drops ofi' the tree half grown, it has exhausted it in a measure to a useless purpose. Edward Sayers. Consumption of Corn-meal in the West India Islands. The consumption of corn-meal and other American produce throughout the British West India islands, since the emancipation of their slaves, has considerably increased. The negro, formerly limited by law to a certain quality and quantity of food, has now his choice of both, as far as his means, obtained by labour, will admit; hence the consumption of pork, beef, butter, lard, cheese, flour, bread, etc., etc., formerly lux- uries, are now in general use, and increas- ing to an immense extent, while the con- sumption of corn-meal, the only food during slavery, is again reviving, and its use on the increase, from the following causes. In the Antilles, Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Trinidad excepted, the lands are too valu- able, "under a protective system, and at the low price of life's necessities in the United States," to produce corn, yams, casadas, or other substitutes for bread ; besides which, (he operations of growing and manufactur- innr sugar cannot be accomplished without combined labour; hence the labourer, al- lured by the magic of money, which he can readily obtain for his labour, neglects even the small patch of ground on which, as a bondsman, he was entirely dependent for a few pennies to purchase a bit of pork or white bread — "then luxuries." Barbadoes consumes now from 20,000 to No. 1. The Ajjple Tree. 21 25,000 barrels of corn-meal annually; where- as, previous to the emancipation, not a bar- rel was imported. Anterior to the emancipa- tion of slavery, a great many small farmers, called ten-acre holders, existed by raisinsj corn and ground provisions tor the use of the planter to feed the slaves; so abundant at times were their crops, that I have known corn to be shipped from Barbadoes to St. Thomas. The natural decrease in labour since the emancipation, by the same number of hands, has, in order at all to approximate former crops, caused an increased demand for labourers, which has drawn this class uf agriculturists from their former occupations, finding it more to their advantage to ren- der services for ready money, supplying their wants in market. I do not for a moment pretend to say that Barbadoes is altogether dependent on foreign imports of corn-meal: 25,000 barrels per annum, are but a small portion of sustenance for a labouring popu- lation numbering at present 85,000 souls; but I feel fully assured the same causes which have created the present demand are on the increase. Trinidad has increased her population much since the emancipation of slavery. It has, however, as yet, for its extent of country and fertility of soil, a email population, raising within themselves a good deal of corn, and receiving some sup- plies from South America. The consump- tion can at present only be computed at 10,000 barrels, while that of Deraarara is about 15,000. Jamaica, with a labouring population of about 325,000 souls, consumes comparative- ly less than the former-mentioned islands: 30,000 barrels may at present be considered the extent. Large tracts of lands have, since the emancipation, become divided among tlie labouring classes, producing large quantities of substitutes for cheap breadstuffs. This circumstance, comb ned with the almost spontaneous growth of fruit and vegetables, makes the labouring classes at certain seasons less dependent on foreign supplies; but as the population is and must continue on the increase, so follows an in- crease of wants. St. Croix, vSt. Thomas, and St. John's, are permanent, being fixed by law to eeven quarters of meal for each labourer; which amounts, at St. Croix, ac- cording to a statement furnished by the Royal Danish Chamber of Commerce at Copenhagen, to 9,500 puncheons, or equal to 38,000 barrels. St. Thomas and St. John's consume about 6,000 barrels. St. Croix consumes but few otlier American provisions except flour, of which about 4,000 barrels of Anserican ; the balance of her consumption, about 3,000 barrels of flour, large quantities of beef, pork, etc., are sup- plied by the mother country — Denmark. Vet that island, only 100 square miles, with a population of 34,000, employs yearly about 10,170 tons American shipping. For the genera! trade of the West Indies, meal in barrels is found most .saleable. St. Croix and Porto Rico, however, require their sup- plies in puncheon.^, of 800 lbs. net, — such as shipped from Brandywine mills — both on account of its better keeping, and use for the puncheons for rum and molasses. From the foregoing illustrations, I will now venture upon a general computation of the consumption of corn-meal throughout the West Indies. Antigua, Dominica, Gra- nada, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. I.ucy, St. Vincent, Tobago, Guadaloupe, Marti- nique, the Virgins, and Bahamas, with a population of 184,000 souls, must, in com- mon calculation, consume Anmiaily abniit 200.000 barrels, say 200,000 bbls. Barbailops, 25,000; Trinidad, 10,000 35,000 " Duniarara 15,000 " St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John's, 44,000 " Porto Rico, 40,000; Jamaica, 30,000 70,000 " making 304,000 bbls. corn-meal annually. A branch of trade so easily at our command has hitherto been neglected, or but partially and imperfectly commenced; whereas, with this article, the supplying of every other article of provisions from our port would follow. — New Orleans Bulletin. The Apple Tree. The apple, says Thomas Andrew Knight, a writer of well established authority in fruit and fruit trees — is not the natural produce of any soil or climate, but owes its existence to human art and industry; and differs from the crab, which is a native of every part of England, only in the changes which cultiva- tion has produced in it. The first varieties which were cultivated in England, were, no doubt, imported from the continent; but at what period, is not, I believe, known. Many were introduced by a fruiterer of Henry the VIII., and some at subsequent periods; but I am inclined to think that we are indebted to the industry of the planters of the seven- teenth, and the end of the preceding cen- tury, for most of those we have at present, and probably for all the old fine cider fruits. Of these they have left us a sufficient num- ber; but the existence of every variety of this fruit appears to be confined to a certain period, during the earlier parts of which only, it can be propagated with advantage to the planter. No kind of apple now culti- vated, appears to have existed more than two hundred years; and this term does not at all 22 Oat Fodder for Horses. — Wonders of Insects. Vol. XI. exceed the duration of a healthy tree. Ve- getable, however, like animal life in indivi- duals, appears to have its limits fixed by na- ture, and immortality has alike been denied to the oak and to the mushroom ; to the being' of a few days, and of as many centu- ries. The general law of nature must be obeyed, and each must yield its place to a successor. The art of the planter readily divides a single tree into almost any number that he wishes; but the character of the new trees tlms raised, is very essentially different from that of a young seedling plant; they possess a preternatural maturity, and retain the habits and diseases of the tree of which they naturally formed a part. All efforts which have hitherto been made to propagate healthy trees of those varieties which have been long in cultivation, have, I believe, been entirely unsuccessful. The grafts grow well for two or three years, after which they become' cankered and mossy, and appear, what I consider them really to be, parts of the bearing branches of old diseased trees. When I first observed the unhealthy state of all the young trees of these kinds, I sus- pected that it arose from the use of diseased grafts taken from old trees, and that I should be able to propagate all tJie valuable varie- ties by buds taken from young newly grafted trees, as these can scarcely be said to take any of the wood of the old stock with them; but to remove still farther every probability of defect which might be communicated from the old tree, 1 inserted the young shoots and buds taken from newly grafted trees in other young stocks, and I repeated this process six times in as many years, each year taking my grafts and buds from those inserted in the year preceding. Stocks of different kinds were also used ; some were double grafted, others obtained from the branches of apple-trees which had emitted shoots from cuttings, and others from the seeds of each kind afterwards inserted in them, under the idea that there might be something congenial to the fruits in stocks of this kind. The grafts grew tolerably and equally well in all ; but there was a want of hardness and elasticity in the wood, and at the end of three or four years, all began to canker. Oat Fodder for Horses. At a discussion had at a meeting of the Darlington (Eng.) Farmers' Club, Dec. 8th, on the best and cheapest mode of keeping draught horses, during winter, Mr. Trotter said : " I have paid some attention to the subject of keeping draught horses during the win- ter; for the last three years I have adopted quite a different mode from what I previously followed. My method formerly was, to allow my draught horses each two bushels of oats per week, together with one bushel of beans, and as much hay as they could eat, generally clover hay. For the last three winters, I have fed them almost entirely on cut oat- sheaf — cut into half inch chaff — which has been a very great saving to me. " In an oat crop of about forty stocks per acre, which might yield near 60 bushels, the feed of a draught horse averages two sheaves per day, or fourteen sheaves per week, which would be about a bushel and three pecks per week, if they had been threshed out, which is a saving of a peck of oats per week, each horse, from what I formerly gave them ; be- sides, I save the bushel of beans per week, and the clover hay, which was a very consi- derable item. When I first changed my mode of feeding, the horses improved in con- dition wonderfully, thus showing that it suits them well. When they are very hard work- ed, I allow them half a peck of oats at din- ner time, besides the cut sheaf. " Last winter I had only eighteen acres of oats; these kept twelve draught horses, be- sides four young ones occasionally. This quantity of oats would not have served me through the year, had I not pursued this system of feeding." — London Agricultural Gazette. Wonders of Insects. A SKILFUL naturalist has been able to per- ceive that in the body of the lowest cater- pillar, which in the common opinion, is one of the most degraded existences on earth, there are upwards of two thousand muscles, all of which can be brought into action with as much facility, at the will of that insect, and perform their several offices with as much accuracy, promptitude, and precision, as the most perfect animal. It would be no easy matter to make some men believe that the most minute insect, whose whole life may be calculated for only the duration of a few hours, is, in all parts, for the functions it has to perform, as complete as the majestic ele- phant, which treads the forests of India for a century. Little do they suppose, that, even in its appearance under the greatest magnifying pov^'ers, it is as elegant in every respect, and as beautifully finished, as any of the largest animals. Unlike the paltry productions of man, all the minute parts of these works of God appear in greater per- fection, and aflbrd to us a greater degree of admiration, the more minutely and accu- No. 1. Peach Trees. — Potatoes. 23 rately they are examined. M. de Lisle saw, with a microscope, a very small insect that in one second of time advanced three inches, taking five hundred and forty steps; and many of the discoveries of Leuwenheck were even still more wonderful than this. — Note Book of a Naturalist. Peach Trees. The following letter from New Jersey was read at a late meeting of the Farmers" Club, in New Yurk. We could not agree will) the writer that the yellows is not a serious cause of failure. We have regarded it about as much so as the worm. — Ed. It was about the year 1804 or 5, that the grub began to destroy the peach trees in New Jersey. My father had at that time 30 or 40 acres in fine condition and young trees. They began to fail, and in two or three years were either dead or of no value. We found that in proportion as the worms progressed around the trees the same were more or less decayed, and as such has been my uniform observation ever since I have failed in raising as many trees as would even supply my family with fruit imtil within si.K or seven years, and of kte, have only grown enough to test the certainty of my remedy. Of the many trees which I have examined — I may say thousands — with the exception of one, I have foimd their fail- ure to be from the worm. I do not believe in the yellows as a serious cause of failure in this part of New Jersey. While I was on a farm I tried very many plans for saving my trees, but they all failed. My belief is, that an insect in the course of the summer deposits its eggs in the body or limbs of the tree, and that before winter the eggs are hatched and the insects find their way to the bark of the root about an inch below the surface of the ground. I have found plenty of them singly, or in clusters in crevices of the bark in October and November; and often — if late in the season — when they have pierced and entered the bark: about that locality, and never above the surface of the ground, or far below. I have tried many experiments on scores of these worms to find their bane, and none has answered better than the Corrosive Sublimate. I have pre- pared it as follows: common tar, 2 lbs.; tal- low, 2 lbs.; melt them together, and afler they are cooled .so much as to hold suspend- ed, add three ounces pulverized corrosive sublimate, and three ounces pulverized com- mon salts of nitre. Stir the preparation from the time it begins to cool until the powder is thoroughly diffused through the entire mass. Then the earth must be removed fron) the trees down to the departure of the roots, and the surface well rubbed with a cloth or brush, and all crevices and defects in the bark freed from the soil. The preparation must then be applied, a little warmed, but not enough to allow the powder to separate from the mass. Then with an old brush thoroughly cover every part and crevice of the bark with the preparation, from the branching of the roots to about two inches above the ground. Surround this surface with a sin- gle bandage made of old India rubber cloth, oil cloth, or any cheap muslin well painted and dried for use, or any other covering which will certainly prevent the absorption of the corrosive by the wet earth. Then tie a string around the bandage firmly at the upper end above the ground, and replace tlie earth and pack it around the tree as be- fore. In the early part of next April take off the bandages, cleanse, and save them for use again. You will find the preparation still on the bark, but no grubs alive, and if any are found in newly dressed trees, they will be nothing more than the .skins of worms which had gained an entrance be- fore the dressing was applied. No grub can live under this dressing if applied as is here directed. The corrosive costs about eight slii. lings per pound, which would be sufficient to protect a large orchard. The whole expense of making the application will, I think, not exceed two cents a tree. Potatoes. There is a new potatoe called Thurston's Victoria, of which the most extraordinary stories are told, as to its bearing. I do not doubt the facts — but I saw, I should think, two bushels taken from four potatoes once ; they may be said to have occupied in actual measurement a plot two feet in width and six feet in length ; and this was by the grower multiplied by as many such plots as there were in an acre, and it was given out at once that the said potatoe yielded so many tons to the acre; but the four potatoes were taken infinite pains with, and the place all round them bore nothing, for it was robbed to earth them up; and the mere little plot which they occupied was no criterion of the space required; that plot was all potatoes, and there was no fairness in estimating an acre equally filled, because it would be im- possible to fill it. I do not say Thurston's Victoria depends on any such recommenda- tion— but all stories about a thing yielding "at the rate of," should be road with cau- tion. I consider any good new potatoe an acquisition, therefore inean not to discourage any. — Gardener and Practical Florist. 24 White Doyenne, or St. Michael Pear.— The Field of Wheat. Vol. XL White Doyenuc, or St. Michael Pear. S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, makes the following re- marks in relation to this tree, in the American Agri- culturist. They may equally apply to other varieties of fruit that may seem to be on the decline. — Ed, This fruit, as we learn from the various periodicals, and from our own correspondents, has been infected with disease, not only in the Eastern States and on the seaboard, but throughout the country, in the interior of Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, and through Ohio, and in the State of New York. A short time since, we wrote to various correspond- ents for information on this point, and have received numerous answers to the above effect. We learned that the fruit of this variety was infected also about Albany, and in some localities on the Hudson river. We speak of the fruit being infected, for the tree is evidently untoDched, and grows with as much luxuriance as any other variety. It is now generally acknowledged that this de- terioration in the quality of fruit is owing not to any actual disease existing in the tree, but to the depredations of insects, which it is well known will often prey upon some particular varieties of trees or fruit for successive years. It is, I believe, a fact, that young trees of this variety produce healthy fruit. This is doubtless owing to their greater thriftiness, and to the culti- vated condition of the soil. Our own expe- rience would seem to strengthen this opin- ion, that disease may in a great measure be eradicated by care and high cultivation. Our old Doyenne trees, some forty or fifty years old, had for many years suffered from the common blight. For the last two years the orchard has been highly manured and cultivated, and this year much of the fruit produced is perfectly sound, and with its ancient delicious flavor. The same treat- ment produced the same result in the New- town pippin, which had shown some symp- toms of the same blight. We have every reason therefore, to think that the white Doyenne has not " run out ;" that it is grad- ually improving, and that by care and culti- vation it may be restored to its pristine vigor and perfection. Fences and outbuildings should be white- washed, or coated with some material which, while it serves as a protection against the weather, will also add to the neatness and ornate attractions of the homestead. A very durable wash may be formed by mixing with the water, before the lime is slacked, as much salt as will dissolve, or by boiling rice, and mixing the liquid with the mineral after it is slaked. The Field of Wheat. By H. F. Gould. Field of wheat, so full and fair. Showing thus thy silver hair, Lightly waving either way Where the gentle breezes play. Looking like a sunny sea, How I long to gaze at thee f Pleasant art thou to the sight. And to thought a rich delight; TlKn thy name is music sweet Silken sounding field of wheal? Pointing upwards to the sky, Kising straight and aiming high. Every stalk is seen to shoot Like an arrow from the root ; As a well trained company, All in uniform agree, From the footing to the ear- All in order strict appear; Marshalled by a skilful hand. All together bow or stand. Still within the proper bound; None o'ei-steps the given ground. With its tribute held to pay Jft his nod whom they obey. Each the gem that studs its crown. Will in time for man lay down. Thou with promise art replete. Bearing precious sheaves of vt'heat .' - How thy strength in weakness lies! Not a robber bird that flies Finds support whereby to put On a stalk her lawless foot; None her predatory beak Plunges down thy store to seek, Where thy guard of silver spears Keeps the fruit and decks the ears; No vain insect that could do Harm to thee, dares venture through Armory like thine, to win From the sheath the grain within. What a study do we find Opened here for eye and mind? Who that sees thee as thou art Can disown a grateful heart? Here upon this favoured ground. Faith is blessed and hope is crowned; Charity may find the bread Wide abroad her gifts to spread; Wisdom, power and goodness meet. Beauteous, bounteous field of wheat. John J. Murray, of Springfield, N. J., — says a New York paper — died recently from skinning a poisoned animal ; about two weeks after tlie act, his left arm upon which the intestines of the animal were carried, com- menced swelling badly, and was succeeded by a mortification. Two women Vv'ho assisted in the act, were also in a dangerous con- dition. No. 1. WUd Duchs Tamed — Beavers. — Gum Arabic. 25 From the Prairie Farmer. Wild Ducks Tamed— Beavers. It is a fact not generally known, that it requires three generations of coraipiilsory do- mestication to eradicate the wild habits of the duck. Many years ago, in England, a friend of mine took a fancy to domesticate wild ducks. He first had some very young wild ducklings caught and placed with a brood of tame ducks in a pond of water. The young savages all dived out of sight, and- completely separated themselves from the brood of tame ducks of their own age. Some died ; others occasionally swam with the young tame ones; but on the approach of any person, they concealed themselves closely in the little tussacks of grass and reeds at the edge of the pond. As they grew strong enough they fluttered away and were all lost. He next procured eggs of the wild fowl and set them under a do- mestic duck with an equal number of her own. The young ducks from the wild eggs were as wild as the young ones that were caught, and most of them on attaining suffi- cient size fled ofl" to their wild kindred and were seen no more. In the course of many experiments of this kind, he succeeded in making pe^s of one or two birds. They were not domesticated in the regular way of tame poultry, but were pets about the house — would I'eed out of hand, and like almost all pitied animals, were nuisances about the house. But the annoyance was endured on account of the great advance in domestication that was supposed to have been made. Their eggs were carefully preserved and hatched under a tame duck. The offspring proved as wild as the young ducks hatched from the egg? taken from the wild duck in its original state. On attaining growth they all went off. This he thought conclusive evidence that wild ducks could not be tamed. A person to whom he related these cir- cumstances procured wild ducks' eggs, and proceeded with his experiments in tlie fol- lowing manner : The u ild ducijs and tame ducks were hatched together, as in the former case. They were all put to school immediately. The duck house and small pond adjacent were well fenced in, so that no young duck could possibly creep out. The edge of the pond was kept free from much grass and reeds, so that there was but small chance for them to hide. They were shut up every night, and fed at regular in- tervals. As the young ducks increased in size they were pinioned in some way that prevented their flying. The result of this experiment was, that in the third genera- tion the ducks became wholly dependent on man for their support — had lost their wild propensities, and were completely domesti- cated. Although they no longer flew to the woods, their habits were not completely those of the tame ducks. They were more active and watchful, and would frequently dive on the approach of a stranger. Neither had their domestication been sufficiently long continued to change the order and colour of their plumage. Beavers. — May not the beaver be domes- ticated with a fair prospect of profit? This peaceful animal, from the ruthless war made upon it by man, is fast disappearing, and the whole race is in danger of becoming extinct. The skin of a beaver, when fat and in sea- son, is worth more than the skin of a sheep with the wool on. Alpacas are being im- ported from South America. Surely, to save from destruction our native beaver, and to cultivate his already valuable quali- ties, would be as laudable and patriotic an act as to import new animals from foreign countries. Whoever undertakes it, let him be patient and persevering. Remember the case of the wild ducks. St. Maries, Jasper Co., 111., April, 184G. Gum Arabic. — In Morocco, about the middle of November, that is, after the rainy season, which begins early in July, a gummy juice exudes spontaneously from the trunk and principal branches of the acacia tree. In about fifteen days it thickens in the fur- row, down which it runs, either in a vermi- cular or worm shape, or moie commonly as- suming the form of round and oval tears, about the size of a pigeon's egg, of different colours, as they belong to the white or red gum tree. About the middle of December, the Moors encamp on the borders of the forest, and the harvest lasts six weeks. The gum is packed in very large sacks of tanned leather, and brought on the backs of bullocks and camels to certain ports, where it is sold to the French and English merchants. The gum is highly nutritious. During the whole time of the harvest, of the journey, and of the fair, the Moors of the desert live almost entirely upon it; and experience has proved that six ounces of gum is sufficient for the support of a man during twenty-four hours. — N. Y. Mechanic. The white of an egs is said to be a spe- cific for fish-bones sticking in the throat. It is to be swallowed raw. 26 Premiums of Pa. Horticultural Society. Vol. XL Premiums of the Pennsylvania Horti- cultural Society. The following' will be awarded at the Society's Autumnal Exhibition next month: NATIVE GRAPES. For the best Isabella, six bunches to be exhibited, $3. For the next best do. do. #2 For the best Bland or Powell, do. 3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best Catawba, do. 3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best Elsinborough, do. 3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best of another variety, do. 3 For the next best do. do. 2 FOREIGN GRAPES RAISED IN THE OPEN AIR. For the best Black or Red Hamburgh, four bunches to be exhibited, ^5 For the best Hanstretto, do. 5 For the best Black Constantia, do. • 5 For the best Chasselas, do. 5 For the best White Gascoigne, do. 5 For the best Frontignac, do. 5 For the best St. Peter's, four bunches to be exhibited, $5 For the best of another variety, do. 5 FOREIGN GRAPES RAISED UNDER GLASS. For the best, without artificial heat, four bunches to be exhibited, $5 For the next best do. do. 3 For the best, with artificial heat, four bunches to be exhibited, -$5 For tiie next best do. do. 3 PEACHES. For the best, one bushel to be exhibited, .$10 For the next best do. do. 5 For the best, one peck to be exhibited, 3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best, two dozen to be exhibited, 2 PEARS. For the best Seckel, one peck to be exhib- ited, $3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best Beurre, or Butter, one peck to be exhibited, S3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best Bartlett, half a peck to be exhibited, §=3 For the best of another variety, one peck to be exhibited, $3 For the next best do. do. 2 For the best and most numerous named varieties, $8 For the next best do. For the next best do. do. do. $5 3 APPLES. For the best, one bushel to be exhibited, $3 \ For the next best do. do. 2 For the best, one peck to be exhibited, 2 \ For the best and most numerous named ' varieties, $8 \ For the next best do, do. 5 j For the next best do. do. 3 QUINCES. '. For the best, half a peck to be exhibited, ^3 \ For the next best do. do. 2 NECTARINES. For the best, one dozen to be exhibited, $3 PLUMS. ; For the best, two dozen to be exhibited, $3 ' For the next best do. do. 2 \ WATER MELONS. | For the best, Spanish variety, three in number, $3 j For the next best, do. do. 2 i For the best of another variety, three in : number, $3 \ For the next best do. do. 2 NUTMEG MELONS. j For the best, three in number to be ex- j hibited, $2 For the next best do. 1 POTATOES. For the best, one bushel to be exhibited, $2 ' For the next best, do. 1 j For the best American seedling, of supe- j rior quality, $5 | For the best Sweet, one bushel to be ex- hibited, $2 \ For the next best do. do. 1 ONIONS. For the be'st, four dozen to be exhibited, S2 | For the next best, do. 1 CABBAGE. For the best, six heads to be exliibited, S3 j For the next best, do. 2 I For the be^t red, do. 3 For the next best do. 1 j CARROTS. I For the best, garden culture, two dozen \ to be exhibited, S2 ^ For the next best, do. do. 1 BEETS. ; For the best, one dozen to be exhibited, $2 j For the next best, do. X '■ No. 1. Premiums of Pa. Horticultural Society. 97 LETTUCE. For the best, six heads to be exhibited, $2 For the next best do. 1 ENDIVE. For the best blanched, six heads to be ex- hibited, $2 For the next best do. do. 1 CHARD. For the best, six heads to be exhibited, $2 For the next best do. 1 CARDOON. For the best, six heads to be exhibited, $2 For the next best do. 1 CELERY. For the best, six stalks to be exhibited, $2 For the next best do. 1 SALSIFY. For the best, two dozen to be exhibited, $2 For the next best do. 1 EGG PLANTS. For the best, six in number to be exhib- ited, §f«2 For the next best do. 1 TOMATOES. For the best, one peck to be exhibited, ^2 For the next best do. 1 CRANBERRIES. For the best, cultivated, half a bushel to be exhibited, $2 For the next best do. do. 1 PUMPKINS. For the two largest, For the next do. VEGETABLES. For the best display. For the next best do. For tlie next best do. For the next best do. 'honey. For the best display. For the next bej-t do. For the next best do. GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS. $2 1 $10 7 5 3 85 3 2 DAHLIAS. For the best, fifty named varieties to be exhibited, $5 For the next best do. 3 For the best, twenty named varieties to be exhibited, $3 For the next best do. 2 For the best American seedling parti-co- loured, $3 For the best American seedling self-co- loured, .$3 For the best ten named varieties, grown by amateurs, $3 For the next best do. do. - 2 For the best, grown by amateurs, 2 FOR DESIGNS FORMED OF CUT FLOWERS, &c.. Which are not to occupy at their base more than six feet square. 'For the best and most appropriate, •$^40 For the next best do. 30 For the next best do. 20 For the next best do. 15 For the next best do. 12 For the next best do. 10 For the next best do. 8 For the next best do. 6 For the next best do. 5 0:^ No special premiums to be awarded for designs. I FOR BOUQUETS, To be confined to those suitable for the cen- tre-table, or the hand. For the best and most approved, $7 For the next best do. 5 For the next best do. 3 For the best, formed of indigenous flow- ers, $5 For the next best do. 3 For the best pair of wreaths for festoon- ing, $10 For the next best do. do. 5 For the next best do. do. 3 For a group of twelve of the best, named specimens, §10 For anolher group of twelve of the next best do. $5 Removal of Foreign Bodies from the Eye. — A German writer has recently pro- posed that when a foreign body, such as a particle of straw, dust, &c., gets between the eyelid and the globe of the eye, but without being infracted, a solution of gum arable dropped into the eye, may be advan- tageously employed for its extraction, as the solution docs not produce any disagreeable sensation. Abundant crops of hay have been gather- ed through the country. 28 Culture of the Straiaherry. Vol. XI. Culture of the Strawberry. The strawberry is the most delicious and the most wholesome of all berries, and the most universally cultivated in all gardens of northern climates. It is a native of the temperate latitudes of both hemispheres, — of Europe, Asia, North and South America; though the species found in different parts of the world are of distinct habit, and have each given rise, through cultivation, to dif- ferent classes of fruit — scarlet strawberries, pine strawberries, wood strawberries, haut- bois, &c. The name of this fruit is popularly un- derstood to have arisen from the common and ancient practice of laying straw be- tween the plants to keep the fruit clean. In the olden times the variety of strawberry was very limited, and the garden was chiefly supplied with material for new plantations from the woods. Old Tusser, in his " Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry," points out where the best plants of his time were to be had, and turns them over, with an ab- rupt, farmer-like contempt of little matters, to feminine hands: — " Wife, into the garden, and set me a plot With strawberry roots, of tlie best to be got; Such growing abroad, among thorns in the wood, Well chosen and picked, prove excellent good." The strawberry belongs properly to cold cliiTifites, and though well known, is of com- paratively little value in the south of Eu- rope. Old Roman and Greek poets have not therefore sung its praises; but after that line of a northern bard, " A dish of ripe strawberries, smothered in cream," which we consider a perfect pastoral idyl — as the German school would say — in itself, nothing remains to be wished for. We have heard of individuals who really did not, by nature, relish strawberries, but we confess that we liave always had the same doubts of their existence as we have of that of the unicorn. Ripe, blushing, strawberries, eaten from the plant, or served with sugar and cream, are certainly Arcadian dainties with a true paradisiacal flavour, and fortunately, they are so easily grown that the poorest owner of a \'e\v feet of ground may have them in abundance. To the confectioner this fruit is also invalu- able, communicating its flavour to ices, and forming several delicate preserves. In Paris a cooling drink, havnroise a la ^recqiie, is made of the juice of strawberries and lem- ons, with the addition of sugar and water. The strawberry is perhaps the most whole- some of all fruit?, being very easy of diges- tion, and never growing acid by fermenta- tion, as most other fruits do. The often quoted instance of the great Linnaeus curing himself of the gout by partaking freely of strawberries — a proof of its great whole- soiiieness — is a letter of credit which this tempting fruit has long enjoyed, for the con- solation of those who are looking for a bitter concealed under every sweet. Propagation and Soil. — The strawberry propagates itself very rapidly by runners,* which are always taken to form new planta- tions or beds. These are taken off" the pa- rent plants early in August, and either planted at once where they are to grow, or put out in nursery beds, or rows, to get well established for the next spring planting. When the parent plants have become de- generated, or partially, or wholly barren, we should avoid taking the runners from such, and choose only those which grow from the most fruitful ones. In order to be sure of the latter point it is only necessary to mark the best bearing plants by small sticks pushed into the bed by the side of each when the fruit is in perfection. Some varieties, as the Prolific Hautbois, the Eng- lish wood, and the Large Early Scarlet, are not liable to this deterioration, and there- fore it is not necessary to select the runners carefully; but others, as the Pine strawber- ries, and some of the Scarlets, are very liable to it, and if the runners are taken and planted promiscuously, the beds, so made, will be nearly barren. The best soil for the strawberry is a deep, ricii loam. Deep it must be, if large berries and plentiful crops are desired; and the wisest course, therefore, where the soil is naturally thin, lies in trenching and manur- ing the plot of ground thoroughly, before putting out the plants. But even if this is not necessary it should be dug deeply, and well enriched with strong manure before- hand. The best e.xposure for strawberries is an open one, fully exposed to the sun and light. CnJlnre in roios.-^Tho finest strawberries ore always obtained when the plants are kept in rows, at such a distance apart as to give sufficient space foe the roots, and abundance of light nnd air fiir the leaves. In planting a plot of strawberries in rows, the rows should be tu^o feet apart, and the phints, of the large growing kinds, two feet from each other in the rows; of the smaller growing kinds, from one foot to eighteen inches is sufficient. The runners must be kept down by cutting them ofl^at least three * Excepting the Bti.^/i Alpines, which have no run- ners, and are propagated by division of the roots. No. 1. Culture of the Strawberry. 29 times a year, and the ground mu.-t be main- tained in good order by con^tant dressing. Durinsr the firt^t year a row of any small vegetables may be sown in the spaces be- tween the rows. Every atitnrnn, if the plants are not luxuriant, a light coat of ma- nure should be dug in between tiio rows; but if they ix'e very thrifty it must be omit- ted, as it would cause them to run too much to leaf A ligiit top-dressing of leaves, or any good compost, applied late in the fall, though not necessary, greatly promotes the vigor of the plant, and secures the more tender kindsj against the eticcts of an unusually cold win- ter. Before the fruit ripens, the ground be-j tween the rows should be covered with straw, or light new-mown grass, to keep it clean. A plantation of this kind in rows, will be found to bear the largest and finest fruit, which, being so fully e.xposed to the sun, will always be sweeter and higher flavoured than that grown in crowded beds. A planta- tion in rows is generally in full perfection the third year, and must always be renewed after the tburtli year. Culture in alternate strips. — A still more easy and economical mode is that of growing the strawberry in alternate strips. Early in April, or in August, being pro- vided with a good stock of strong young plants, select a suitable piece of good deep soil. Dig in a heavy coat of stable manure, pulverizing well and raking the top soil. Strike out the rows three feet apart, with a line. The plants should now be planted along each lino about a foot apart in the row. They will soon send out runners, and these runners should be allowed to take pos- session of every alternate strip of three feet — the other strip being kept bare by contin- ually destroying all runners upon it, the whole patch being kept free of all weeds. The occupied strip or bed of runners will now give a heavy crop of strawberries, and the open strip of three feet will serve as an alley from which to gather the fruit. After the crop is over, dig and prepare this alley or strip for the occupancy of the new run- ners for the next season's crop. The run- ners from the old strip will now speedily cover the new space allotted to them, and will perhaps require a partial thinning out to have them evenly distributed. As soon as this is the case, say about the middle of August, dig under the whole of the old plants with a light coat of manure. The surface may be then sown with turnips or epinnage, which will come off" before the next season of fruits. In this way the strips or beds, occupied by the plants, are reversed every season, and the same plot of ground may thus be continued in a productive state for many years. Both of the above modes are so superior to the common one of growing them more closely in bfds, that we shall not give any directions respecting the latter. It may be remarked that the Alpine and European Wood strawberries will do well, and bear longer in a rather shaded situation. The Bush-Alpine, an excellent sort, having Ijno runners, makes one of the neatest borders ji for quarters or beds in the kitchen garden, 'and produces considerable fruit till the sea- j'son of late frosts. If the May crop of blos- soms is taken off, they will give an abun- j dant crop in September, and they are, there- fore, very desirable in all gardens. ;| To accelerate the ripening of early kinds ! in the open garden, it is only necessary to plant rows or beds on the south side of a wall or tight fence. A still simpler mode, by which their maturity may be hastened ten days, is that of throwing up a ridge of soil three feet high, running east and west, and planting it in rows on the south side. The north side may also be planted with later sorts, which will be somewhat retarded in ripening. The best early sorts for this purpose are Duke of Kent, and Large Early Scarlet. Varieties. — The varieties of this fruit are very numerous, indeed quite unnecessarily so for all useful purposes. They have chiefly been originated abroad within the last thirty years. The ditferent species from which the varieties have been raised, have given a character to certain classes of strawberries, pretty distinctly marked. Thus, from our own Wild Strawberry, or Virginia Scarlet, I as it is called abroad, have originated the I Scarlet Strawberries; from the Pine or Suri- [nam Strawberry has been raised the class called Pines. From the common Wood Strawberry of Europe, another class, com- prising the Woods and Alpines. Beside, there are the Hautbois, from a sort, a native |of Bohemia, the Chili Strawberries, from 'South America, the Green Strawberries, and the Black Strawberries. i Of these the Pines and the Scarlets are the largest and highest flavoured. The Wood and Alpine Strawberries are valuable j for bearing a long time, and parting freely from the hull or stalk, in picking. — Down- ins'' s Fruits and Fruit Trees. More than 35,000 tons of coa] were brought down on the Philadelphia and Reading rail- road during one week in last month, and the amount of transportation is increasing. 30 Insects Injurious to Fruit. \^OL. XL Insects Injurious to Fruit. Among the didicultifis which the fruit grower has to encounter, none are perhaps more annoying or more completely b3yon(l his power to remedy, than the hosts of insects which seem ever ready to prey both upon bis trees and his fruit. The following remarks are taken from the Farmer and JIfecAanic, and were made in the Farmers' Club at the Auierican luslitiite, N Y., on the 14lh ult. We would invite, and indeed urge all to close observation, when they come in contact with these pests: but more particularly is it the province of the amateur to watch and report the result of his in- vestigations.—E.). JoNATH.vN L. Hyde in the chair. Chairman — The subject for discussion at this e.vtra meetinor, is exclusively, " Insects injurious to Vegetation." Samuel Allen — An old friend called my attention to his g-arden in this city. He was mourning over the devastation of his plants by insects. His raspberries, currants, goose- berries, had their leaves full of insects, curl- ing-up their leaves around the fruit. Bunches of grapes fallen off" from the bite of insects. His vines of squashes, &c., also bitten oft". His gardener was busy collecting- bugs in a bowl to destroy them. I remark the ravages of insects wherever I go. The prospect is alarming! There seems to be an insect pe- culiar to each fi-uit or plant. This subject of insects opens a wide field, and it is one of immense importance. I pre- sent here for your examination, branches of quince and pear trees, showing the destruc- tion caused by the sting of some insect a few feet below the outward ends of the branches. You perceive that the wood is turned black and hard like ebony or black walnut. I also present some quinces nearly covered with an orange coloured moss or excrescence, the interior of the quince, as you see, full of worms. I caused my quince trees to be whitewashed, body and limbs, and now I have not one-tenth of this mis- chief that I had before, and a neighbour who did not whitewash his quinces, suffers now as I have heretofore. Col. Skinner — Does whitewashing injure trees? Dr. Underhill — No Sir. Lime is used to destroy snails, which are very troublesome in England, and ' sometimes here in very damp weather, in low grounds. A few years since they came on my quince trees, I sifted lime over them and the snails were all dis- solved by the lime, or nearly so. This has been a wet season, but I have no more snails. The blight in fruit trees has been ascribed to other causes than insects. But I am de- cidedly of opinion that blight in pear trees is due to insects. This blight has been talked of these twenty years, and until very recently, without any suspicion that it was caused by insects. The plum tree is affected, especially the Damascene plum. I observe some limbs are killed, similar to the pear and quince. We have long sufi'ered from a class of insects that sting the apple, pear, and cherry, and destroying much of tiie fruit at an early period of their growth. We have an insect among us which has been named the East Winrl, for ten years past, supposed to have curled up the peach leaf and cause it to drop; but a new leaf suc- ceeds. I have this year examined the dis- eased peach leaf with a glass, and I found that these leaves ail had in them great numbers of insects. Tiie nits may have been deposited here by beetles, which were exceedingly numerous at the time the dis- ease appeared. At evening the air about the orchard was darkened by the immense number of these beetles on tlie wing. The oak leaf is also attacked by them. All this is not the East Wind. Formerly some few leaves used to be attacked, now scarce a leaf escapes. This is working an evil in our fruit trees, for although they have new leaves, yet are they enfeebled by it, and the fruit loses its good character.^ The damage to the peach is not all owing to the worm at its root. And our noble pippin is now as- sailed by a similar insect, its leaves are all stung. Proper investigation of this subject may lead us to very valuable results. Vine- yards suffer least from insects. When ca- terpillars attack sniall vines in your yards and eat oft' the clusters, the best way is to have a sponge on the end of a pole, dipped in spirits of turpentine, the least touch of which makes the caterpillar fall. My vine- yard has not suftered from them. The injury to the leaves of the pear trees from the sting of insects, appears to be com- mencing. I have succeeded in destroying rose-bugs in my vineyard, by ploughing late in the fall, in cold weather, thus turning out the larva to be killed by cold. Evening is the time for insect jubilees. Nineteen-twentieths of the beetle tribe and many other insects commit their depreda- tions then. In ancient times fires were made on the high lands north of Egypt, to destroy the armies of locusts. This being supposed a foolish practice, was discontinued, and Egypt again suffered the loss of her crops. Fires made in evening have a happy effect; insects rush into it, drawn by the light. I know a man whose pippin orchard was almost destroyed for two years by can- ker worms ; he made evening fires in the orchard, which destroyed the millers which produced the worm, and then had good fruit. No. 1. Insects Injurious to Fruit. 31 I suggest the making of fires, with proper care, in orcliards, as soon as insects appear, in evenings. An.l I add, plonoh the ground well, laie in fall in cold weather: it will turn out millions of larvaj to perish by cold. Some say turn in hogs — that has done well; they eat up the fallen fruit and insects in them. There is a prodigious increase this year of the insect which stings the leaves of the apple, very sitnilar to the peach. Apple trees should be well scraped in win- ter; millions of eggs and larvae under the rough bark will be killed by it. Leave ca- terpillars unilisturbed and each produces a miller or butterfly to lay more eggs. The nests of these caterpillars are easily de- stroyed, and by so doing you confer a bless- ing on all your neighbours as well as on yourself. When I see a man sitting down, looking in despair at the worm nests in his trees, I feel as if I should be glad to give him a galvanic shock to arouse him to his duty to his neighbour and himself. He might just as properly sit still and see his neighbours' cattle, or his own, breaking into his corn-field, without making an etTort to turn them out. Last year I destroyed some twenty thousand of these worms'-nests in my orchards. In my neighbourhood are wdd cherry trees, which are full of these nests, so that when I get a new supply on my place, I owe it to this neighbour as well as to negligent farmers. All our Agricultural Societies and Clubs ought to take up this insect question. There is a curious excrescence on our wild sweet brier, made by some insect lodged within. The English White Hawthorn is attacked; here is a branch with the young haws upon it, ruined, you see, probably by the same in- sect which stings the quince tree. I believe that I have discovered the larva; of this in- sect, but am not yet positive of it. Mr. Meigs — Some plants are not liable to the attacks of insects — the Ailanthus seems to be one, and a very singular fact is stated relative to the Lycopersicum — th ? Tomato — that when legions of locusts de- vour all plants, poisonous and all — night shade, crows' foot, &c., there has always been one solitary exception, and that is to- mato. This fact was especially noticed in Estremadura in Spain. I venture to hint that such plants as are avoided by the in- sects might possibly be planted around pieces of ground, and afford protection to others. I say this, because in seeking for an unknown result, it is safe to try theories or conject- ures. Col. Skinner — You are aware of the im- portance of the article turpentine, a product of our South, and perhaps also of the fact that the long-leafed pine which produces it, is disappearing. That it seems like the Ab- origines to dislike civilized neighbours. It is disappearing, leaving no young growth to supply its place. And this is also attributed to an insect working at its root. Great numbers of noble pines of three feet in di- ameter and one hundred and fifty high, stand, some of them stretching their naked arms abroad, others prostrate on the ground, and no successors of their kind. Man meets with vast power in insect life. What ravages are those of the little ant. In some countries it is probable that no written document or records can long es- cape their ravages. They devour all. Whole forests have been killed by beetles! In some forests of South Carolina ninety trees out of one hundred have been killed by a small, black winged bug ! The amiable and intelligent ornithologist, Wilson, justly complains of the destruction of birds, more particularly of the woodpeck- ers, red-headed and ivory-billed, whose ser- vices in destroying insects are of such great importance. Chairman — Between Charleston and Au- gusta, some few years ago, I noticed a very fair growth of young long-leafed pines. Dr. Underhill — I must again urge the exceeding usefulness of birds in destroying noxious insects. A cat-bird will destroy for herself and her young, hundreds in a day. In Carolina, it is true, they are compelled to frighten away the rice birds from their rice plantations. Our crows must be preserved. On my place I have a rookery of many thousands ; there are many of them in my orchard all winter. In summer they follow my ploughs all day long, feasting on grubs and worms and beetles. I save one hundred dollars for every one that I lose by my crows. Young corn is easily protected from them. I stretch cotton twine around and across my fields, and the crows never put foot in them; they suspect a trap! During very snowy win- ters, when deprived of food, they trim my cedar trees beautifully. They nip off with perfect regularity three or four inches of the tender extremities of the branches in their efforts to get the ceilar-berry, leaving the_ form of the tree very handsome, and the trees all grow the better for their pruning! If I liad the power, not a solitary crow should ever be killed. Sa7nuel Allen — The observations of Dr. Underhill are of great importance to our farmers, in reference to the ravages of in- sects. Some time since in Ohio I stopped to inquire into the cause of the destruction of a neighbouring forest. I was told that 33 Steeping Seeds. Vol. XI. an army of worms or insects which travelled on the ground from tree to tree had done it. Dr. Field — My orchards are affected in the same way as Dr. Underhill's. No allu- sion has been made to the mode of destroy- ing insects on trees by syringes. Great service can be done that way, even by pure water; but I advise the use of a decoction of tobacco or of soot mixed with sufficient molasses to make it adhere to the leaves. Dr. Underbill's mode of scraping off rough bark is good. I have examined the rough bark and found immense numbers of larvse of insects in it. If we had as proper an an- tipathy to them as we have to snakes, we should soon destroy them. Judge Van Wyck — The insects and their larvfE are many of them so minute and their form so changing, that it is hardly possible to exterminate them. We can only lessen their numbers. I examined some apple trees in Jersey lately, and found the leaves curled lip, and on opening them, out flew small flies of slender forms like wasps. I do not know whether this is a new enemy of the apple. After heavy devi^ or rain sprinkle lime, fresh slaked, in moderate quantity, not enough to burn grain, and the insects in it will be de stroyed or driven away. It has been effectu ally tried on strips of grain, some limed, others next to them not. The limed parts all free of insects, the others nearly de- stroyed by them. This is one of the many valuable properties of lime which seems to have been placed everywhere by the Deity for good purposes. It is the alkali of the lime which does this service. Where lime is not at hand, ashes will do nearly as well, owing to its alkali. Potashes also good Scouring trees well is an excellent practice Dr. Field — We need accurate informa- tion, and I move the adoption of the follow- ing resolution : Resolved — That the members of this Club, and farmers and gardeners generally, be re quested to collect, preserve, and send to the American Institute, specimens of such in sects as are destructive to vegetables, and such remarks in relation to them as they think proper. And also that the Institute be requested to offer a liberal premium for the best preparation of Entomology, for the benefit of the Club. Carried unanimously. Mr. Abraham Wakeman — Twine drawn around and across a corn-field is almost a sure preventive of attacks from crows and crow blackbirds, the latter partaking of the sagacity of the crow. But thus the insect tribes have a feast. Farmers have long tried to kill the insects in corn by dropping alkalies at the roots, and this also increases the crop of corn. On examination you will find some stalks of corn, when about three feet high, having in them at a little distance from the root, a wire worm, which destroys the inside of the stalk. The law of Con- necticut, giving a black bounty of ten cents per head for killing crows, has caused men to visit the rookeries of tliese useful birds, with their muskets, and kill hundreds of them. Man kills the birds, and the noxious nsects then multiply their destructive forces. In the northern and some other countries, you will find numerous large dead pines which are said to be victims of insects at the root; no young pines growing in their places. Chairman — You will hardly ever find young pines taking the places of the old ones. H. Meigs, Secretary. Steepina: Seeds. It appears almost incredible, that the mere steeping of seeds should have any prolonged effect on the plant itself, yet the evidence is so strong, if evidence can be iriven to the proceedings of public institu- tions, that it were idle to dispute the fact; nevertheless, evidence of experiments should be received with caution. Tliat a good deal more has been attributed to steeping than ought to have been, is certain, and that many whimsical nostrums have been put in requi- sition, is also obvious. The best authenti- cated is, perhaps, the effect caused by steep- ing in muriate of ammonia ; and we think that as the fertilizing effects of so small a quantity as half an ounce in a gallon of water — and that used only once in six wa- terings— are proved, it is not too much to suppose that the steeping of a seed which would imbibe a considerable portion, may a.ssist the future vegetation. — Horticultural Magazine. The English, though sometimes said to be less practical in" their philosophy than the French, are yet generally most remarkable for the stupendousness of their schemes. When Brunnel undertook to make a road way under the Thames, it was thought the ultimatum of bold and visionary projects. A far more gigantic one still, has however been broached in Paris — being no less than a cast iron tunnel beneath the sea, to pass from Ca- lais to Dover, a distance of more than twenty miles. Such an undertaking appears at first view, foolishly bold and visionary; and per- haps it is really so: but when we look at the vast achievements of the last quarter of a century, where money, skill and determined enterprise have operated together, we would feel cautious in declaring it was impossible. No. 1. James Gowen's Crops. — Straivherries — Kerc Varieties. 33 For the Farmers' Cabinet. Report of Crops raised by James Gowen iu 1845. Ten acres of corn in a field divided into two plats by an under drain, terminating- in an open ditch, on one side of which was laid off seven acres, and on the other side three acres for corn — intermediate land including drain and ditch, reserved for ruta baga. In the seven acre plat there were 158 rows, three and a half feet apart, running north and south. In the three-acre plat, 67 rows, three and a half feet apart, running east and west, planted in drills or rows, first week in May. The field had been in grass since 1839 — had no manure since, until broken up for corn, when one ton of guano at $40, was applied. Before husking the whole, a number of rows were taken while the corn was yet standing, in difl^erent sections, com- prising a fair sample, to furnish a proper average. The rows designated were husked and measured under the supervision of dis- interested persons. The 158 rows in large plat, averaged eight and a quarter bushels. The 67 rows in small plat, nine bushels, measured according to usage, so as every two bushels of ears should be equal to one bushel of shelled corn — the whole making 1,9065 bushels of ears, equal to 953 bushel of shelled corn, averaging 95 bushels shelled corn to the acre. The seed was dr(^ed twelve inches apart continuously in the drill, was of course worked but one way, and though an old grass field, I might chal- lenge the whole country for a piece of corn land so free from grass and weeds ; and this condition was by no means owing to e.xtra work while the crop was growing, but mainly to judicious harrowing while preparing the land for the seed. Prevention is tar belter than cure. In consequence of the Resolution of the Society debarring those who had been award- ed premiums in two previous years, from competing with similar crops the succeeding year, I resolved never again to present any crop of my raising for a premium ; but hav- ing by way of encouragement, promised the premium to one of my men, should the crop of corn be entitled to one, I now sub- mit it on his account. I take occasion however to state, that I had about seven acres of winter wheat; six of Italian White, and one acre of a peculiar Red, besides one acre of spring wheat — the average of the whole computed at over 40 bushels to the acre. It is worthy of note, that the ground sown with spring wheat yielded the year previous over 900 bushels of carrots. The wheat was sown last spring without any manure, the condition of the land aller the carrots, being considered suf- ficient to sustain the wheat. After the wheat was reaped it was sown to turnips under a light dressing of scrapings of yard, with about eight bu.-iiels of lime — the yield was over lOUU bushels. This will show, in some degree, what land is capable of pro- ducing under proper culture. Here are 900 bushels of carrots at 40 cents per bushel, .$360 00 40 bushels Spring wheat, at $1 40 00 1000 bushels turnips, at 12^ cts. 125 00 $525 00 in two seasons, from one acre of land. 1 had also eight acres of rye, average yield, 38 bushels to the acre. The carrot crop exceeded in quantity all former crops raised by me — the yield being over 1000 bushels to the acre. Sugar parsnip, 800 bushels, and ruta-baga over 600 bushels to the acre. Of potatoes, I had in three acres, the yield, over 200 bushels of choice pota- toes to the acre. I do not submit these crops for premium, for the reasons already stated ; but should the corn be deemed worthy of distinction, yo'i will please award the premium to Solo- mon Unruli, the individual to whom I pro- mised it. Respectfully, James Gowen. Mount Airy, March 18th, 1846. To the Committee on Crops, of Philadel- phia Agricultural Society. N. B. It would be proper, perhaps, to state, that the above Report does not in- clude all that was raised on the farm in 1845 — iu addition, 1 housed upwards of 100 tons of excellent hay, notwithstanding the season was not favourable to the grass crop. This will be considered doing pretty well, on an upland farm of some 100 acres, while maintaining during the summer over fitly head of cattle. J. G. Dr. Brinckle's Strawberries— New Va- rieties. To the Editor of the Farmers' Cabinet : — My Dear Sir, — In compliance with my promise, I now send you a report of some of my horticultural experiments, with a descrip- tion and the parentage of a number of the new varieties of strawberries I have origi- nated. In the formation of new fruit of excel- lence, the most certain mode of proceeding 84 Strau-herries — JVew Varieties. Vol. XI. is by artificial impregnation. By embracing the opportunity thus afforded, of selecting a fine paternal parent, the probability that the offspring will possess superior merit, is greatly increased. But where the whole operation is left to chance, the progeny may have an indifferent or worthless father, and consequently may inherit some of his bad qualities. To insure success and certainty, however, in the artificial process, much cau- tion is required. Early in the morning select a blossom bud that is about to expand, separate the petals and destroy the male organs if they are pre- sent, by extracting every anther with the point of a penknife. The blossom is then to be enveloped in gauze, and tied securely so as to prevent the wind or insects from conveying pollen to the pistils. At mid-day or later, examine the blossoms of the kind with which you wish to cross it. If the anthers of this kind are found covered with a yellow powder which can be rubbed off on applying the finger, then the evidence is conclusive that the pollen is mature and fit for fecundating purposes. With your pen- knife extract one or more of these anthers, and take them to the blossom which had been covered with the gauze; removing the gauze, place the anthers on the pistils, and reapply the covering. If, in two or three days the petals do not drop ofi^, or cannot readily be detached, fecundation has not taken place. But if the process has been successfully accomplished, the petals being no longer of use drop off, and the gauze may then be removed. So far every source of error is avoided ; and there can be no doubt as to the parentage of the new plants so formed. If, however, you apply pollen to a blossom that has already expanded, there is no certainty in your operation, because the wind or insects may have anticipated you. Nor is the use of a brush or camel's hair pencil altogether free from objection, since it may retain pollen used in a previous ex- periment. Before closing these preliminary observa- tions on artificial impregnation, I will add, that in relation to strawberries, with a sin- gle exception, the females of the various classes of Scarlet, Black, Pine, Hautbois, and Wood, and Alpine, may be readily crossed by any male of these several classes. This single exception is the female Haut- bois ; it can only be impregnated by a male Hautbois; while a male Hautbois will im- pregnate the female of any kind. Having premised these remarks, I now proceed to describe some of the new varie- ties of strawberries I have formed. A sin- gle plant of a number of these kinds was obtained by Mr. Edwin Middleton, of Darby, and many of them fruited with him; the re- sult he has kindly reported to me. No. 23, A., was produced from a seed of a berry of Hovey's Seedling crossed with Keens' Seedling. The seed was planted as soon as the berry was ripe, June 17th, 1843. The new plant thus formed, fruited for the first time in 1845; flower small, and with- out anthers; leaf large, with serratures somewhat acute, and hairy leaf stem ; fruit of medium size, round, scarlet; brown seed, in deep indentations, with ridged in- tervals. With Mr. Middleton this plant proved a great bearer, and bore its fruit on an elevated fruit stalk. No. 23, B. — The Abyssinian Prince — was produced from another seed of the same berry as the preceding kind, and was planted on the Same day, June 17th, 1843; fruited in 184.5, for the first time ; flower small and without anthers; leaf very large and round- ish, with curvilinear serratures; leaf stem smooth ; fruit good size, ovate, highly glazed, of a very dark crimson colour, almost black, seed not so dark, and inserted in bold in- dentations; flavour very fine; flesh red throughout. Mr. Middleton exhibited a plant of this kind at one of the meetings of our Horticultural Society this summer, with upwards of sixty very large and mag- i%^nt berries on it. Froi rom other seed of the same berry that produced 23, A., and 23, B., also originated 23, C, 23, D., and 23, E. ; these had perfect male organs, but as they were shy bearers and inferior to the two first, a description of them need not be given. No. 24, A., produced from a seed of a berry of Hovey's seedling, crossed with a very vigorous male plant that grew in a bed of "Hovey's seedling; planted June 17th, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower rather large, with perfect anthers; leaf large; leaf stem hairy; fruit large, roundish, ovate, crimson, glazed; light seed. Like most kinds with perfect male organs, a shy bearer. No. 24, B., — Lizzie' Randolph — so named in honour of the accomplished daughter of Dr. J. Randolph, of this city, produced from another seed of the same berry as the pre- ceding, and planted on the same day; fruited in 1845; flower small, and without anthers; large leaf, with obtuse serratures; leaf stem smooth ; fruit large, roundish ovate, scarlet, with brown seed in deep indentations; some of the berries ribbed. With Mr. Middleton this kind proved to be very large, very fine, and very productive; one plant having borne fifty-one berries. No. 28, C, — Mary — so named afler one of my little daughters — produced from a No. 1. Strawberries — JVew Varieties. 35 seed of a berry of Ilovcy's seedling- crossed with Keens' seedling, and planted June 20th, 1S43; fruited in 184(3; flower of medium size,and vvithoutanthers; leafofmedium size, narrow, with rather acute serratures, and hairy leaf stem ; triiit rather large, coni- cal, bright scarlet; seed in deep indenta- tions, with ridged intervals; fruit in beauti- ful clusters, on a high fruit stalk. Nos. 28, A., and 28, B., were from tw'o other seeds of the same berry, and planted on the same day. The former had no an- thers, and the fruit was of medium size; in the latter the anthers were perfect, with de- fective female organs. No. 29, A., produced by a seed of a berry of spurious Southborough* seedling crossed with the Elton, and planted .Tune 26th, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower small and destitute of anthers; leaf small, and bears some re- semblance to that of the male parent; leaf stem hairy; fruit above medium size, cor- date, light crimson, and a very abundant bearer; but the fruit lies on or near the ground, close to the plant. Five plants growing in a box seven by ten inches, bore 142 berries. Nos. 29, B.,— 29, C.,— 29, D.,— and 29, E., were produced from four other seeds of the same berry. The first had anthers, but was sterile, from imperfection of the temale or- gans; the other three were without anthers, and very productive; fruit of medium size. No. 35, A., was produced by a seed of a berry of Methven Scarlet crossed with the White Wood, and planted June 21st, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower small, and without anthers; leaf circular, dark green, and somewhat cupped; fruit above medium size, roundish depressed, pale scarlet, with brown seed in superficial indentations. Mr. Mid- dleton reports of this kind, "fruit round, good size, elevated, good bearer." No. 35, B., was produced from another seed of the same berry; anthers perfect, but a very shy bearer. No. 4(', C. — The President, — has already been described in a previous number of the Cabinet-! The fruit with me this season was ovate and very fine. No. 40, G. — Emily — so named after one of my daughters, was produced from another seed of the same berry, planted on the same day; fruited in 1845; flower medium, and without anthers; fruit rather large, ovate. * This maternal parent was sent to me for South- borough seedling, but was not true to name. The genuine Southborough has large fruit, this had not; the Southborough has anthers, this had none. t See page 121, last volume. bright scarlet, glazed; with Mr. Middleton large and productive. No. 41, B., produced by a seed of a berry of Hovey's seedling crossed with a wild male strawberry, which came attached to the root of a Balm of Gilead, from the State of Maine, planted June 24th, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower medium, and without an- thers. With me, the fruit was of medium size, roundish conical, scarlet, with brown seed. Mr. Midilleton says of this kind, "large splendid fruit, on a strong fruit stalk, and an immense bearer." Three or four other plants originated from seed of the san e berry ; they all had anthers, but were sterile, in consequence of defective pistillate organization. No. 50, B. — Buisl — so named a^ter the well known florist and nurseryman of this city, produced from a seed of Bishop's Or- ange crossed with Keens' seedling, .and planted June 28th, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower small, and without anthers; leaf very large; leaf stem hairy; fruit large, roundish ovate, crimson ; seed inserted in deep, de- pressions; fine rich flavour. No. 54, E., produced from a seed of a berry of Bishop's Orange crossed with the Elton, planted June 28th, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower of medium size, with a few small imperfect anthers destitute of pollen ; fruit of good size, roundish ovate, highly varnished, dark crimson, nearly as dark as the Abyssinian Prince; seed inserted in bold depressions, flesh very red, with a flne fla- vour. No. 58, B. — Hancock — so named after the distinguished and enterprising nurseryman of Burlington, N. J., produced from a seed of a berry of Hovey's seedling crossed with the White Wood, and planted June 28th, 1843; fruited in 1846; flower large; anthers perfect; leaf large, with obtuse serratures, and hairy leaf stem ; fruit large, roundish ovate, crimson, highly glazed. No. 62, A. — Fanny — so named after my youngest daughter, produced from a seed of a berry of the Methven Scarlet crossed with the Elton, and planted June 28th, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower small, without an- thers; leaf resembles the Elton; fruit round- ish and of good size. In open culture, this is a very hardy vigorous kind, and very pro- ductive. It was grown by Mr. Middleton nearly five inches in circumference. No. 62, B. — Clara Victoria — from another seed of the same berry, has already been described in a previous number of the Cabi- net.* With me this season, the fruit was ovate, and very fine. * Page 121, last volume. 36 Siraioherries — JSTew Varieties. Vol. XI. No. 72, A., produced from a seed of a berry of Keens' seedling crossed with the Red Alpine, and planted July 3rd, 1843; fruited in 1845; flower large; sexual or- ganization perfect; leaf large and drooping; leaf stem smooth; fruit borne on high fruit stalk, very large, round, deep crimson, and fine flavour. I know of no large fruited strawberry, with perfect anthers, that will bear a full crop, except 72, A., and its off- spring the Gushing; but unfortunately the former is too tender for open culture. No. 72, B., from another seed of the same berry, has not yet fruited; it has in its foli- age a strong resemblance to the father, while 72, A., resembles the mother. No. 91, produced from a seed of a berry of the White Bush Alpine, crossed with Swainstone seedling, planted December 8th, 1843; fruited in 1846; flower small, with perfect anthers; fruit medium, conical, pale scarlet. It did not inherit the bush and everbearing properties of the mother, nor the fine fruit of the father. Nos. 119, A., and 119, B., were produced by two seeds of a berry of the true South- borough seedling crossed with the Conical Hautbois. The loaf of both partook strongly of the Hautbois character; and though the flower appeared to have both organs per- fectly developed, not a single fruit was formed. They appeared to be mules. No. 123, A. — Adriana, so named after one of my daughters — produced from a seed of a large berry of Hovey's seedling, grown in the garden of Joshua Longirtreth, Esq., planted May 30th, 1844; fruited in 1846; flower above medium, and without anthers; fruit large, conical, bright scarlet ; seed in deep indentations, with ridged intervals; leaf medium; serratures obtuse; hairy leaf stem. No. 123, D. — Caleb Cape, so named in honour of the President of the Pennsylva- nia Horticultural Society — produced from another seed of the same berry, and planted on the same day; fruited in 1846; flower above medium, with perfect anthers; leaf rather small, with serratures somewhat acute, hairy leaf stem, fruit in clusters, on a high fruit stalk, rather large, conical, hairy, deep crimson, highly glazed, and of beautiful appearance; seed placed in slight depressions; flavour very fine and peculiar. On first tasting the fruit, I was forcibly im- pressed with this peculiarity of flavour: — could it be fancy '! I tried another berry ; still the same flavour was perceptible: on the following day I tried it again, with the same result. This peculiarity of flavour bears a faint but very perceptible resem- blance to that of the Muscat grape of Alex- andria. Another valuable quality possessed by this kind is, that when ripe, it remains long on the plant in a state of perfection. The fruit is solid, with red flesh. No. 136, produced from a seed of a berry of Swainstone seedling crossed with the Conical Hautbois, planted June 3rd, 1844. This plant has not yet fruited. Some of my horticultural friends enteitain the opinion that the Hautbois strawberry will not amal- gamate with any other kind. A glance at No. 136, will satisfy them of the incorrect- ness of this opinion; for tlic structure of the leaf is essentially that of tiie Hautbois, from which it differs only in not being pointed. No. 145, E , produced by a seed of a berry of Buist's prize strawberry crossed with the Old Pine, planted June &th, 1844. It fruited in 1846; flower large, with perfect antliers; fruit above mediuni, pyramidal, dull scarlet, with chocolate coloured seed set on a smooth surface, without indentations; flavour fine; leaf rather large, with obtuse serratures, and hairy leaf stem. No. 147, B. — MidJleton — so named after Mr. Edwin Middleton, of Darby, one of our most skilful fruit cultivators — produced from a seed of a berry of Methven Scarlet, with- out anthers, grown near Cox's Hybrid, Old Pine, Downton, and Southborough seedling, planted June 8th, 1844; fruited in 1846; flower very large, with perfect anthers; leaf medium, rather narrow, with obtuse serratures, and hairy leaf stem ; fruit large, roundish, crimson. No. 198, E. — Cushing, so named as a compliment to J. P. Cushing, Esq., of Bos- ton, to whom I am under a thousand obliga- tions— produced from a seed of a berry of No. 72, A., the anthers not having been ex- tracted; planted May 31st, 1845; fruited in 1846, one year from ihe seed ; flower large, with perfect anthers; leaf large and roundish, like that of Keens' Seedling and Ross's Phoenix; differing, however, from these two varieties, in having a hairy leaf stem ; fruit very large, round, some of the berries with a short neck, light scarlet colour; seed in- serted in slight depressions; fine flavour, and very productive. This plant was exhibited at one of the meetings of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society this summer, with 26 fine berries on it, several of them four and a quarter inches in circumference. Not long since, Mr. J^ongworth, of Cincinnati, offered one hundred dollars for a strawberry with perfect anthers that will bear a full crop of fruit as large as Hovey's Seedling. Such a strawberry is, I think, the Cushing. No. 201, D. — produced by a seed of a berry of Long worth's Iowa, anthers not ex- tracted, and grown among a hybrid — Meth- No. 1. Essex Affricnltural Transactions. 37 ven Scarlet, crossed with Ilautbois. The seed was planted June 4th, 1845; fruited in lb46; flower medium, with perfect anthers; fruit rather large, roundish, with a large thick neck, occupying nearly half of the berry, deep crimson, with crimson seed. The fruit begins to turn red on the lower part of the neck, while the seeds are green. Leaf rather large, with obtuse serratures and hairy leaf stem. No. 201, E., produced by another seed of the same berry, planted on the same day; fruited in l!;<4(); flower rather large, wiih perfect anthers; fruit quite large, roundish depressed, bright crimson, with brown seed in deep indentations; leaf large, with ob- tuse serratures, and hairy leaf stem. No. 216, B., produced by a seed of a large berry of spurious British Queen, no anthers; grown near the Percival and Keens' Seed- ling; the seed was planted June 9th, 1845; fruited in 1846; flower medium, and with- out anthers; fruit large, conical, scarlet, with brown seed; leaf large, narrow, with smooth leaf stem. No. 226, E., produced by a seed of a berry of the President; anthers not having been e.\-tracted; planted June 12th, 1845; fruited in 1846; flower medium, with perfect an- thers; fruit above medmm, long ovate, with a neck, crimson, glazed, flavour luscious; leaf small, leaf stem hairy. No. 226, G. — Will. Henry, so named after one of my sons — produced by another seed of the same berry, and planted on the same day; fruited in 1846; flower above medium, with a lew perfect anthers; fruit rich look- ing, glazed, large, cordate, crimson, with light -eed, and line flavour; leaf medium, serratures not deep; hairy leaf stem. No. 229, B., — Virginia, so named afler one of my daughters — produced from a seed of a berry of Lizzie Randolph crossed with Myatt's Eliza, and planted June 13th, 1845; fruited in 1846; flower medium, with a few small, pale, defective anthers; fruit of beau- tiful appearance, large, roundish, conical, ribbed, crimson ; leaf medium ; hairy leaf stem. No. 235, R., produced by a seed of a berry of the President, anthers not having been extracted ; planted June 14th, 1845 ; blos- somed April 15th, 1846; the plant at the time being exceedingly small; flower me- dium with perfect anthers; fruit highly var- nished, large, roundish, some cockscomb form, crimson ; seed mserted in slight de- pressions; flavour fine; leaf large, roundish, with obtuse serratures; hairy leaf stem. No. 244, B. — Keyser, so named in honour of the chairman of the fruit committee of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society — produced by a seed of a berry of 53, D., — Bisiiop's Orange crossed with conical Ilaut- bois— without anthers. The seed was plant- ed June 16th, 1845; fruited in 1846; flower above medium, without anthers; fruit large, ovate, with a neck, crimson ; leaf medium, serratures obtuse, slightly hairy leaf stem. It will be perceived that the last described nine varieties fruited in one year from the seed. I had 254 kinds from seed planted last summer after strawberries were ripe. Of these 254 kinds 62 blossomed this summer. Of the 62 kinds that blossomed in one year from the seed, 43 fruited, and 19 were ste- rile from imperfection of the pistillate or- ganization. Of the 43 that fruited, 30 had perfect anthers. Very truly yours, W. D. Brinckle. Philadelphia, August 3rJ, 184G. Essex Agricultural Transactions. DANIEL Putnam's statement. To the Commitlee on Ihe Dairy : Gentlemen, — 1 offer for your inspection, two boxes of September butter, containing 2&lbs., being a sample of 615 lbs., made be- tween the 20th of May and the 20th of Sep- tember, from the milk of eight cows, some of which have been nearly dry a part of the season, having calved last autumn. The milk of more than one cow, has been sold and used in the family, so that it would not be more than the average milk of six cows. Their feed has been a poor pasture, one quart of meal per day, with some mown grass or corn stalks. Process of making the butter. — The milk is kept in tin pans. Afler standing from thirty-five to forty-eight hours, the cream is taken off and put into tin pails. We churn twice a week. When the butter milk is drawn from it, we thoroughly rinse it in cold water; it is then taken from the churn, worked in part, salted, an ounce of salt and one-fourth of an ounce of loaf sugar to the pound. In about twenty-four hours it is worked the second time. Daniel Putnam. North Danvers, Sept. 24th, 1845. Wash your teeth at night, of course. Why sleep with minute decomposing par- ticles in your mouth, affecting your teeth, your breath, and your health 7 Wash also afler every meal, when convenient. 38 Editorial JVotices, Vol. XL THE FARMERS' CARIWET, AND Philadelphia, Eighth Month, 1846. With this number commences the eleventh volume of the Farmers' Cabinet. In entering upon it, it is natural to turn back, and look a little over the volume just closed. In doing so, the editor may be indulged in the expression of the belief, that he has given to his subscribers a volume which cannot fail to be abun- dantly more valuable to them than the price it has cost them. We are not prepared to say that the Farmers' Cabinet is the best agricultural paper in the world, or to boast of our tens of thousands of sub- scribers; but we are willing— and we acknowledge some degree of pride in the feeling— to place our little favourite along side of any of its cotcniporaries, and so far as plain, matter of fact, substantial usefulness to those it is intended for, is concerned, let it speak for itself, and make its own quiet declarations. As to our list of subscribers, we^lhink it is not half so large as we deserve, and we are sure it is not one quarter as full as we would like. We enter upon a new year, disposed to do our best, and while we wish our subscribers multiplied, we also wish for them health, happiness, and agricultural suc- cess. We omitted to state in our last number, when a list of premiums \vas published, that our Agricultural So- ciety will hold its approaching Annual Exhibition at the Rising Sun, on the G'-rmantown road, where it has been many times heretofore held. It may not be amiss to repeat, that the time is the 30th of next month, and the 1st of Tenth month. The ploughing match to be on the second day of the Exhibition. James S. liAWRENCE, of New Egypt, Monmouth co., N. J., two or three years ago, informed us of his sue cess in the prcsirvation of apples. He puts them down in dried oak snindust. The editor of the Princeton Whig, was shown apples a few weeks since, preserved in this way, gathered in 1844 and 1845. The Horticulturist and Jpumal of Rural Art mid Rural Taste, edited by A. J. Downing, author of Land- scape Gardening, Designs for Cottage Residences, Fruits, and Fruit Trees of America, &c.,&,c., has been received upon our table. It will be published monthly, by Lu- ther Tucker, at Albany, in pamphlet form, at $3 per annum, and may also be obtained of G. B. Zeiber &. Co., of this city. It is the object of the editor to assist as far as pos- sible, in giving additional impulse to the progress of horticulture, and the tasteful in rural life. His ability to do this, has been very well established by the works above named, which he has already published, and which are doing much to spread among all those inte- rested in country pursuits, that kind of taste, the cul- tivation of which will be found materially to add, in almost every position of life, to its comforts. The first number of Vol. 4, of the American Quar- terly Journal of Agriculture and Science, is on our table. It is conducted by Dr. Emmons, A. Osborn, and O. C. Gardiner, and published by Huntingdon & Sav- age, New 'STork, at $2 per annum. This number, like its predecessors, contains a large amount of valuable matter, and we wish the editors increasing success in their enterprise. In the last number of the Southern Cultivator, pub- lished at Augusta, Ga. — an excellent paper, by the way, and one we have had frequent occasion to refer to, — we found a slip containing a proposal of our friend Mc Donald, of Eufaula, Alabama, that he would be one of a thousand who should each procure twenty subscrib- ers, and thus place the Cultivator upon a pretty high horse. We were also requested to "call attention to this proposition ;" but whether for the purpose of serv- ing our own interests, or those of our Augusta friends, they do not explicitly state. We however take plea- sure in assuring agriculturists of the South, whether 20,000 or twenty times that number, that after having subscribed for the Farmers' Cabinet, they can hanily appropriate another dollar bettor than by ordering the Cultivator; but let thein be sure to supply themselves with the Cabinet first. We regret to be obliged to state, that frequent men- tion is made in our exchange papers from Delaware, of the appearance this summer of the potatoe rot. Our friends in Jersey inform us, that it is much feared in some neighbourhoods on that side of the river. We also learn that it has made its appearance in our own immediate vicinity. The corn crop, from present appearances, very gene- rally promises well in this vicinity. This is also the report from more remote sections. TREES FOR SALE. The Subscriber has for sale at the Mount Laurel Nursery,— established by J. Needles— an extensive as- sortment of Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, and Cherry Trees and Grape Vines. Also, a great variety of ORNAMENTAL AND EVERGREEN TREES, Which are of the best quality, and good size for trans- planting. Orders left with Josiah Tatum, No. 50, N. Fourth street, will be punctually attended to, where catalogues may be procured. EZRA STOKES. Mount Laurel, near Moorestown, JV. J., Eighth month 15th, 1846. Persons wishing trees,— particularly Southern pur- chasers—are invited to notice the above advertise- ment. Orders sent to this office, will be promptly at- tended to, and every care taken to have them faith- fully complied with. Catalogues will be forwarded by mail, as they may be requested. No. 1. Editorial Notices. 39 The rennsylvania Horticultural Society will hold its seventeenth Exhibition on the 10th, 17lh, and 18th of next month, in the Philadelphia Museum, corner of Ninth and George streets, and will occupy the two grand saloons of that building, which will afford ample space for the most extensive display of objects in hor- ticulture, &c. Contributions from a distance may be transmitted by public conveyance, and the cost of transportation will be cheerfully defrayed by the Society. It is desir- able that all articles should have a list accompanying them, and be in hand previously to the day of opening, that they may be appropriately arranged, and be in time for competition, as the premiums will be awarded on the first day. Every article will be returned to its contributor, or instructions lefl for its disposal prior to 12 o'clock, M., on the 19th. Competition free to all persons. For list of premi urns, see page 26. Tne quantity of rain which fell in the 7th month, 1846, was a little more than four inches and a half. 4.60 inches. Penn. Hospital, 6ik tno. ist. irf- SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted at the rate of one dollar for each insertion often lines or less; and so in proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. Agricultural Implement & Seed Warehouse, No. 194^ Market Street, Philadelphia. For sale as above, Cultivators from $3 50 to $5 50 each; Cultivator Ploughs for working among corn, potatoes, roots of every kind, digging potatoes, &c., &c.; Horse Rakes; Centre -Draught Ploughs for 1, 2, 3 or 4 horses; Cutting Boxes in great variety; Corn Shellers; Grain Fans; Grain Cradles of the best make; Scythes, Snaths, Scythe stones. Rifles, Grass Hooks; improved Barrel Churns, Cheese press- es,&,c.,&c. Garden and Flower Seeds of all kinds, for, sale at wholesale and retail, by D. O. PROUTY. March 15— tf. SEED STORE, No. 23 Market Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. A so, in season. Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1846. tf. COATES' SEED STORE, OF MORE THAN FORTY YEARS STANDING : Just received the present year's crop of TURNIP SEED, Of the most approved varieties for cattle and table use, WITH A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF GHiA.SS & GAUHHN SEUDS, Of the finest duality and best Varieties, JOS. P. H. COATES. JVo. 49, Market st., Philada. July 15th. rniLADELPHIA AGRICULTURVL WAREHOUSE, iVb. 291 Market Street, North side, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has just received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsnil and other Ploughs, which have been so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self-Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Shellers, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c, to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. 1 yr. NEW Horticultural and Jlgricultural Ware-house, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscriber has for the better accommodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Sweede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th, 1846.— ly. R. BUIST. CO All. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the usual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Eighth month 15tA, 1846. 40 Editorial Notices, Vol. XL We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in leallior;— Trice $3 50 YOUATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BUIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37i THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; 37^ DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sots of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-hound, 10 vols. DOVVNING'S Landscape Gardening, Dovvnino;'s Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, BOUSSINGAULTS RURAL ECONOMY, FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, STABLE ECONOMY, BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, BUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, SKINNERS CATTLE & SHEEP DOTOE, AMERICAN FARRIER, THE FARMER'S MINE, HOARE ON THE VINE, HANNAM'S Econo~niy of Waste Manures, "lIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, FAMILIAR LETTERS, As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour — or single numbers sold. 23^ We are prepared to bind books to order. 8 50 3 50 1 50 50 1 25 1 50 1 00 1 00 1 00 3U 75 50 50 50 75 02i 25 25 25 12i GUANO. TwENTY-nvE tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrLls, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN & CO., No, 7 South Wliarves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Poudrette» A valuable manure— of the best quality, prepared in Philadelpliia, for sale at the office of the Farm- ers' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or more, $1 75 per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any num- ber of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or thirty five cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on hoard of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. It is found excfdient for buckwheat and turnips. We are now able to supply the demand for wheat. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. PAGB Premium Farm in New York, 9 Manures for Grape Vims and Fruit Trees, 13 [niprovident Society, 14 Charring Vegetable refise.— Indian meal cakes.— Iron a remedy for Blight in Pear Trees 16 Culture of Roses. — Dr. Mease, 17 Preservation of Roofs, 18 Statistics for wheat growers and millers 19 Summer pruning fruit trees, and thinning fruit.— Consumption of corn-meal in the West Indies, 20 The Apple-tree 21 Oat Fodder for Horses— Wonders of Insects, 22 Peach Trees.— Potatoes 23 White Dovenne, or St. Michael Pear.— The Field of Wheat 24 Wild Ducks Tamed — Beavers.— Gum Arabic, 25 Premiums of Penn. Horticultural Society, .-..-. .. . 2ij Culture of the Strawberry, 28 Insects injurious to Fruit, 30 Steeping Seeds — Tunnel under the Sea, 32 J. Gowen's Report of Crops.— Dr. Brinckle's Straw- berries, 33 Essex Agricultural Transactions 37 Editorial Notices 38 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fifteenth of every month, in num- bers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri- ately introduced. Terms.— One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in advarice. All subscriptions must commence at the heginving of a volume. Having lately struck off a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become exhausted, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-five cents half-bound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, & complete set of the work will be furnished in numbers, including the lltli volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-bound and let- tered. Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon >he same terms. Hy the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office within thirty miles of Philadelphia, they will go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer. ^^ERICAN HERD-BOOli DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Liebiq. Vol. XI.— No. 2.] 9th mo. (September) 15th, 184G. [Whole No. 140. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY JOSIAH TATUM, EDITOR AND PROPKIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per year.— For conditions see lastpage For the Farmers' Cabinet. Prospects in Eastern Virginia for neiv^ Settlers. To THE Editor, — It is extremely gratify- ing to the writer, to find the subject of these essays exciting attention in many parts of this and the neighbouring States; because he is well satisfied, that if settlements are properly made in judicious locations, great good must result both to the emigrants and to the neighbourhoods where they settle. The extent of country is so great, and the natural advantages of different parts so va- ried, that it is very desirable ail those who are disposed to emigrate, should take time enough to make a careful and thorough ex- amination, before they fix upon a spot to set- tle. I would caution all against too much haste in coming to a decision, and especially in making purchases. One of my corres- pondents in a recent letter tells me of some Pennsylvanians, who recently purchased a tract of land in the Southern country, " which Cab.— Vol. XL— No. 2. only a year ago sold for -SI G2 per acre. The persons I speak of paid $2 62 for it, and were so anxious to secure it beyond contin- gency, that they insisted on paying the mo- ney before possession could be given. It has some water power, which has been long neglected, and it is their intention to erect a woollen manufactory, and to raise their own wool on the farm as far as they can." I am strongly opposed to a disposition to chaffer and huckster for a lower price, for any article which is offered at a reasonable rate — but think there is no need of too much haste where the supply is so abundant. Although I have no doubt that individuals would receive the utmost kindness every where, from the natives of the State, yet I deem it a' matter of the first importance to the future well being of the new settlers, that they go in sufficient numbers together to form communities of their own — so as to have their own schools, places of worship, l&c, &c. It will be impossible, in my view, jto accomplish much good in any other way; ifor even if those of the present generation 'are strong enough to maintain their North- !ern habits while they live, their children ! would almost inevitably, — if they have none to associate with but those whose habits 'have been formed there — learn to think la- jbour too vulgar and onerous for the white |skinned race: they would forget the maxim of an intelligent labourer in this cause, him- self a Southern man, that " No idle white j'Ojndation can Jiourish.'^ This maxim I 42 Prospects in Eastern Virginia for new Settlers. Vol. XI. consider as sound and irrefutable; but it does not apply to whites exclusively — it might be more properly and broadly stated, that " 710 idle population can prosper." All the intelligent Virginians with whom I had conversation on the subject, expressed a strong desire that the settlements might be made in the mode I have hinted at; their greatest concern being to introduce a total change in their habits. As a member of the Society of Friends, I was greatly gratified at the uniform testi- mony of those who live in the vicinity of the old settlements of Friends, to their hab- its of industry, morality, &c., and the re- grets expressed, that they had left the State. Several of my correspondents in different parts of the State, express strong desires that companies of Friends would settle among them. One of them says, " nearly all the members of the former Yearly Meet- ing of Virginia, removed to Ohio and Indi- ana, to get clear of the presence of slavery; but I feel very certain that not many of them have bettered their condition in a temporal view. We may keep aloof from it here, as well as there; anJ no community has ever existed in Virginia who have been more highly respected than Friends. I have taken every occasion to let it be known that you are Friends, and I am certain the interest that has been felt in your move- ments has been much increased, instead of bemg diminished, by a knowledge of the fact. If you should at any time want la- bour, there will seldom be any difficulty in obtaining it amongst the free people of co- lour, of whom tliere are considerable num- bers in many parts of the State. Some of them are industrious and respectable, though many are worthless."* The old Wyanoke (VVainoak) settlement, where the Yearly Meeting of Virginia was formerly held, is in a beautiful country, bor- dering on the James river, below Richmond; these ancient homes of Friends are now nearly all deserted — many of their houses are still standing, and the place is a desira- ble one for a new colony; it is but a short distance above Sandy Point, the delightful and productive plantation of Robert B. Boi- ling, described in my first essay in the Cabi- net, an inspection of which will satisfy any one of the fertility of the soil of that region, and prove the practicability of restoring the impoverished surface at a very small cost of money and labour. * In the vicinity of Petersburg, free coloured labour- ers can be had for 25 cents per day, for ordinary work ; and 31 to 37-J- cents, for extra work in harvest, &c. — Tbey cut and cord wood for 31 cts. per cord. Much excellent land may be had in con- siderable bodies in the immediate vicinity of Richmond ; and in almost every direction around, within a few miles, enough may be had for a large settlement. An estate in Hanover county, 20 miles north-west of Richmond, of 1700 acres, with fine and ample buildings, grist and saw-mills, and plenty of woodland, is oflTered for about $10 per acre — the buildings on this land are said to have cost from $12,000 to $15,000. Much more land in the vicinity of this can be had at lower prices. In Orange county, the soil of which is reckoned equal to any, a very beautiful es- tate, formerly owned by one of the most dis- tinguished men our country has produced, " containing 1767 acres, nearly one half in the original growth of oak, hickory, tulip poplar, chesnut, locust, and black walnut;" with fine and ample buildings, saw-mill, and a profusion of fine fruit trees, is offered for sale on very accommodating terms; or it would be leased to suitable tenants. Other valuable and highly improved properties are offered in the same county. In Cumberland county, which borders on the James river, some 30 or 40 miles above Richmond, much excellent land is offered for sale or rent. One correspondent offers 1127 acres with good buildings and improve- ments, for $7000, on very accommodating terms of payment; or — at my suggestion — he will divide his estate into portions to suit tenants, and lease it to them on easy terms, with the provision that they may purchase within a given number of years, if they choose. He says a number of his neighbours will be willing to do the same thing. In Rockbridge county some very fine farms are offered with spring-houses, lime-stone, mills, and abundant water-power, with good and ample buidings, for $7 to $12 per acre. I think it needless to describe many more places, as it must be very evident that enough have been given to show that one can scarcely go amiss in any part of the State — all tastes and preferences may be suited — from the mountains to the ocean, almost every variety of situation is offered at prices and on terms to suit the circumstances of all. The spirited members of the Petersburg Agricultural Society have now a committee actively engaged in procuring a list and de- scription of the various properties for sale, or lease, within a few miles of that city. I do not believe any part of Virginia presents greater inducements to settlers than the re- gion around Petersburg. When I receive their report, I may give the substance of it with a description of the country, and the No. 2. Comparative Merits of Charcoal and Barn-yard Manure, SfC. 43 facilities for transportation, in all directions, both by tide-water navigation artd by rail- road ; which with other advantages, are the basis of the opinion I have expressed above. S. S. Griscom. Moorestown, Burlington co., N. J., Eighth month 8th, 1846. The Editor has felt considerable interest in the com- munications of his friend S. S. Griscom, and is unwil ling to omit this opportunity of expressing very de- cidedly, that he coincides in the opinion, " that it is a matter of the first importance to the future well being of the new settlers, that Ihey go in sufficient numbers together to form communities of their own, so as to have their own schools, places of worship," &c., &c. It will indeed be impossible to accomplish much good in any other way. It is not enough that new modes of thinking and of operating be carried into the set- tlement; they must be sustained there from year to year, and from generation to generation, beyond the possibility of being put down, or worked out by any surrounding errors: and this, it is obvious, can only be done by the confidence and strength, and mutual support of numbers. The new community or colony should be independent in itself— we do not mean that it should be altogether exclusive,— but it should have sufficiently within itself the elements of progress, and fhus insure the diffusion more and more widely of its own beneficial influences, without the danger of being driven off the ground by the encroachment of exterior and antagonistic ones. If individual families emigrate alone, the result will almost inevitably be, that instead of turning the Virginians into Northern men, they will themselves, or their children, be changed into Virginians. — Ed. From the Farmer and Mechanic. Comparative Merits of Charcoal and Barn-yard Manure as Fertilizers. In the year 1788, my father purchased and removed upon the tract of land in Hanover township, Morris county, N. J. The land, owing to the bad system of cultivation then prevailing, was completely exhausted, and the buildings and fences in a state of dilapi- dation. The foundation of the barn was buried several feet beneath a pile of manure, the accumulation of years: little or none ever having been removed upon the lands. Even the cellar, beneath the farm-house, was half filled with the dung of sheep and other animals, which had been sheltered in it. The former occupant of the farm had abandoned it on account of its supposed sterility, and taken up the line of march for the Valley of the Miami, along with the first caravan of pioneers who accompanied Judge Symmes. The barn, before referred to, was removed to another situation soon after its foundation was uncovered, by the removal of the ma- nure to the exhausted fields; and its site, owing to the new arrangements of the farm, became the centre of one of its enclosures. During the seventeen years which I aft;er- wards remained upon the farm, the spot could easily be found by the luxuriousness of the grass, or other crops growing thereon; though the abatement in its fertility was evident and rapid. On revisiting the neigh- bourhood in the autumn of 1817, I carefully examined the corn crops then standing upon the spot, and was unable to discover the slightest difl'erence in the growth or product, upon that and other parts of the field. This was about twenty-eight years after the re- moval of the barn. Upon the satne farm and upon soil every way inferior, were the remains of several pit-bottoms, where charcoal had been burned before the recollection of any person now in the vicinity, and most probably, judging from appearances, between the years 1760- 70. These pit-bottoms were always clothed, when in pasture, with a luxuriant covering of grass, and when brought under tillage, with heavy crops of grain. Eleven years ago I pointed out these facts to the present occupant, and his observations since, coin- cide with my own, previously made; that they retain their fertility, very little im- paired, a period probably of about seventy or eighty, certainly not less than sixty-five or seventy years. Here then is an excellent opportunity of observing the comparative value of charcoal and barn-yard manures, as a fertilizer of lands. The former has not, after at least sixty or seventy years exposure, exhausted its powers of production, while the latter- lost its influence entirely in twenty-eight years, and most probably in much less time. I have since had many opportunities of observing the effects of charcoal left in piti- bottoms, upon vegetation, one of which only, I will relate. The last season, in the north- ern part of Ohio, was one of uncommon frost and drought. In May, the wheat fields, when promising a luxuriant crop, were cut off by frost; — especially in the valleys, and very much injured in the high lands — which was succeeded by the most severe drought ever experienced in the West. The moiety which escaped both these scourges, was afterwards very much injured by rust. Near the vil- lage of Canton, upon a farm on high ground, which had been mostly cleared of its timber by its conversion into charcoal, it was ob- served that upon the old pit-bottoms, the wheat grew very luxuriantly — was clear of rust — and had ripened plump in the berry; while in the adjacent parts of the field it was short in growth, the stem blackened with rust, and the berry light and shrivelled. 44 Improvement of Peat Lands. Vol. XL The hint has not been altogether lost upon Bome of the farmers in the vicinity, and some of them are preparing to make an ap- plication of charcoal upon their lands; the result of which, when fully ascertained, I shall be happy to communicate to the public, especially if the facts above stated succeed in attracting the attention of agriculturists. Lewis Vail. Speedwell, Morris Co., N. J., July 26th, 1846. Improvement of Peat Lands. The improvement or redemption of peat lands, essentially concerns the farmers of the United States, as, in many parts of the country there are extensive tracts of peat land, now producing nothing valuable, which might be made eminently productive, as ad- vantageously to the health of their vicinity as to pecuniary profit. Upon a small scale great improvements have already been made in this way, in several parts of New Eng- land, within my own knowledge, with a skill, intelligence, and success, highly hon- ourable to those persons who have accom- plished them. One of the greatest enterprises of this kind probably ever undertaken by individual effort, was that of Lord Karnes, sixty or seventy years since, at Blair Drummond, in the neighbourhood of Stirling. This was not an improvement of the peat soil, but an actual removal of it. Underlaying the peat was a bed of deep and rich alluvion. From the walls of peat, or the cuttings which ap- pear at the sides or bounds of this improve- ment,— for, though an immense body was taken away, an extensive tract is still to be found, — the depth of peat removed, as it ap- peared to me, must have been six feet or more. It is stated to have been in some places full sixteen feet. It was necessary to obtain a command of water sufficient to carry the turf into the river Forth. A wheel twenty-eight feet in diameter, and eight feet wide, was employed to raise the water, which it did at the rate of six and a half tons per minute. The water thus raised was directed into channels cut in the moss, along the sides of which men were stationed, cutting the moss into pieces, and tumbling it into the current of water, by which it was floated into the river, and thence much of it into the sea. This was really a vast undertaking. VVhe^ ther the expenses were met by the advan- tages gained, I am not able to say; but a large tract of most excellent land was un- covered and brought into cultivation, and which, as I had the pleasure of witnessing. now yields as good crops as are ordinarily grown in the country. Enterprises of this nature must, of course, be rare, and in but few circumstances prac- ticable ; but such a work does infinite hon- our to the boldness which conceived, and the perseverance and labour which executed it. The interesting and extremely picturesque neighbourhood of Stirling is all classic ground, made memorable by acts of prowess and heroism in the civil wars which pre- vailed here, and by dreadful and bloody af- frays. In looking at this magnificent im- provement of Lord Kames, in comparison With these memorials of revenge and hate, of misery and murder — for aggressive war deserves no milder name — I could not help feeling how infinitely higher is the honour of subduing the earth, that it may be ren- dered more fruitful, and serve the purposes of life and happiness, than any of the tri- umphs of military glory, any of the bloody conquests of revenge and unbridled ambi- tion. These serve no other purpose than that of scattering abroad agony and desola- tion ; glutting the most hateful passions of a depraved nature; and marking their pro* gress, not by the displays of genius and skill, and the brilliant and rich fruits of civ- ilization and humanity, but by laying waste the improvements and refinements of sci- ence and art, and pouring out everywhere a turbid flood of unmitigated wretchedness and death. In England, Ireland, and Scotland, vast amounts of peat land have been subdued and redeemed, and, from being wholly waste and unproductive, are converted into well-tilled and fruitful fields. Thousands and tens of thousands of acres have been recovered in England ; and in Ireland, improvements of this nature are in progress on a most exten- sive scale. The single territory of Glene- aske, near Ballina, consisting almost wholly of peat bog, and which was to me the object of a most interesting visit, embraces about 3,500 Irish acres, or upwards of 5,600 Eng- lish acres.* This, a public-spirited compa- ny, called the Waste Land Improvement Company, and possessing an ample capital, have undertaken to reclaim and cultivate, and have already made a considerable pro- gress. There is, indeed, in Ireland, am.ple scope for this species of improvement, as the area of peat bog is estimated at no less than 2,833,000 acres, almost the whole of which is deemed capable of being redeemed, and brought into productive cultivation. I know nothing in the United States re- sembling the bog land of Ireland and Eng- An Irish is to an English acre as 121 to 196. No. 2. Winter Pears. 53 Winter Pears. In answer to the query, "which he considers the best five varieties of winter pears?" M. P. Wilder, the President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, names as " the result of many years experience," the Beurri d'Aremberg, the Winter JVelis, the Columbia, the Olout Morceau, and the Passe Colmar. The first of these he considers the "prince of pears." We take the following descriptions of these fine varieties from Datcning's Horticulturist. This opportunity is em- braced to remind our farmers in this vicinity, that Philadelphia is very scantily supplied with winter pears. Indeed, it is scantily supplied with pears of any kind. They always, therefore, command a high price, and are well worth the attention of the enter- prising farmer. — Ed. 1. Beurre d^ Aremberg. — This variety has, for the last ten years, never failed to yield me an abundant crop of its delicious fruit. It has often been exhibited at the rooms of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, al- ways receiving the unqualified approbation of our most experienced amateurs and cul- tivators. Possessing all the characteristics of a first rate table pear, it retains at matu- rity its flavour and champagne sprightliness, with all the freshness of a specimen just plucked from the tree. The foliage and fruit adhere with a remarkable tenacity, re- sisting the frosts and gales of autumn better than those of most other varieties. As a constant, prolific, hardy sort, the d'Arem- berg is unsurpassed, and whether on the pear or quince stock, proves admirably adapted to this climate. It keeps as well as a Russet apple, and requires no ftirther care than to gather in a dry day, and pack at once from the air, in close boxes or bar- rels— with no other precaution, it has been found in a state of perfect preservation in the month of January. Season, December to February. The Beurre d'Aremberg is a fruit easily excited to maturity, and may be brought into eating in November, or retarded until March. 2. Winter Nelis. — This is classed second in my list, not from any inferiority to the first named variety; for in fact, as a sweet, melting winter pear, it has no equal. Con^ noisseurs generally prefer the brisk, vinous juice of the d'Aremberg, but some of our good judges esteem the Nelis above all others of the season. The growth of the tree is not strong, but more so on the quince, to which it seems well adapted ; it is hardy and thrifty in rich soils, otherwise the shoots are more stinted and feeble than is usual with most other sorts. To obtain specimens above medium size, requires high cultivation and some thinning of the fruit. Keeps and ripens well, and bears good crops. Season, No- vember to January. 3. Columbia. — This excellent native va- riety has proved with me a fruit more uni- formly smooth, perfect in shape, and free from the depredations of insects, than almost any other sort. The tree is thrifty and hardy, not prolific when young, but a great bearer on mature subjects, the fruit being regularly distributed over the branches, and of very uniform size. I was so much pleased with this variety when it first came to my notice, that I despatched a special messenger from the city of New York to the owner of the original tree in Westchester county, for half a bushel of the pears; and I did not regret the expense of twelve and a half dollars, when I consider the acquisition of such a fine American variety. My Beurre Diels were then in eating, and I judged the Co- lumbia of equal quality; since which, how- ever, I have seldom seen it so good. Ripens about the first of January; of a clear lemon yellow, very handsome, and may be kept two or three weeks in this state. Its beauty will give it a ready sale, and its quality and its merits, on the whole, if not as high as our first impression, will prove perfectly sat- isfactory. 4. Glout Morceau. — This pear, under the name of Beurre d'Aremberg, is more univer- sally cultivated in France as a winter fruit, than any other variety. It is truly an ex- cellent, rich, sugary pear, and is not unwor- thy of the appellation given it. Tiie tree is hardy, a great and constant bearer; but it requires, like most pears, good cultivation. Few varieties succeed so well on the quince as the Glout Morceau ; a tree of which, in my own ground, annually produces a barrel of large perfect fruit; this is clear waxy yellow, and very handsome at maturity; keeps into the winter months, with ordinary care; commands as good a price in the mar- ket, and is esteemed by many equal to the Beurre d'Aremberg. It varies much in form. In growth, it is more luxuriant on the quince; the large specimens frequently having a very thick, short stem, set angu- larly on the fruit, with the peculiar knobby appearance of the d'Aremberg. On the pear stock and under medium cultivation, the stem is smooth and straight, as figured by Thompson in the Gardener's Chronicle, and Downing in the Fruits and Fruit Trees of America. From this circumstance the present subject has been confounded with the Beurre d'Aremberg. Season, December and January. 5. Passe Colmar. — As a hardy, vigorous, excellent pear, the Passe Colmar has few superiors. It is prolific to a fault, and re» 54 The Potatoe. — The Orange Tree. Vol. XL quires judicious management. To insure fruit corresponding to its character, in the Catalogue of the London Horticultural So- ciety, " first size, and first quality," it is ne- cessary to commence the trimming process as early in the season as the best specimens can be distinguished, or the pruning out of half the fruit bearing spurs in the month of March, as recommended by the late Mr. Manning, will contribute to relieve the tree of its overbearing propensity. The French make two varieties of this pear, viz: Passe Colmar gris, and Passe Colmar dore. I have never discovered any difiference in the fruit of these trees, that only which is ex- posed to the sun, having the golden colour alluded to, the beauty of which is some- times with us further enhanced by a red cheek. This tree makes long weeping branches, and frequently sets a second crop of fruit, which should always be removed. Ripens gradually from November to Feb- ruary, but may be kept later; large and beautiful specimens having been received by me from New-Bedford, as the Colmar d' Hiver, on the 18th day of March. Without the adoption of the system of culture here recommended, this variety will generally prove unsatisfactory. An inquiry will no doubt arise in the minds of some of your readers, why the Easter Beurre has not found a place in the above list. My answer is, that although we obtain some specimens of first rate excel- lence, yet this variety has generally proved so variable and uncertain that it cannot from our experience at present, be recom- mended for general dissemination. It how- ever succeeds better on the quince. Respectfully yours, Marshall P. Wilder. Boston, June 1st, 1846. For the Farmers' Cabinet. The Potatoe. Mr. Editor, — Various as have been the opinions in regard to the blight in the pota- toe, I have been unable to find any thing that has been said in reference to the cause of the disease, that meets the views I have long since taken, which affirm it to be caused by the atmosphere. For the last two years I have made examinations, and found that the sap which circulates freely through mi- nute ramifications of the whole vegetable, contains charcoal, hydrogen and oxygen, and they embrace all the alkalies the vege- table derives from the earth. So long as the tissue of the plant remains unobstructed, the potatoes will be healthy and sound ; but when the vessels that percolate the sap through the whole organization of the plant become diseased, they suspend operations, and the stalk turns yellow and dies. Now, in my researches 1 have found this to be the case. A large majority of farmers plant their potatoes upon barn-yard manure that has not been properly prepared. The manure contains ammonia which escapes from the hill, and in coming in contact with the heated atmosphere, forms miasmatie par- ticles, extremely poisonous in their nature, and they settle down upon the stalks and leaves of the plant. The moment these particles fall upon the stalks, the sap vessels become paralyzed, and the respiratory organs are impregnated with a foetid substance. In a short time these effluvia mingle with the secretions of the plant, and not until then, does the plant undergo any decomposition whatever. In the potatoe these vessels are more easily affected, and consequently a smaller portion of poison will accomplish the work of death. The stalk being diseased, the sap ascends to the poisoned part, receives a por- tion of it, returns with it to the healthy part of the plant, and thus distributes the poison to the tubers, and the whole vegetable be- comes a worthless thing. Now the remedy is this: When a farmer sees his potatoe tops thus withering, he should lose no time in mowing them ofF be- low the blight,, and by this means he will save his crop. The experiment has been effectually tested. Yours, &c., D. W. Belisle. Honesdale, August 7th, 1846. The Orange Tree. — Any accident to the Orange tree, would be regarded in Flo- rida as a serious calamity. In 1835, more than ten years ago, they were entirely de- stroyed throughout the State, as well as some of the most hardy frost trees, by a few days of intense cold afler a few weeks of warm and wet weather. The loss which our citizens then sustained is just beginning to be replaced. Extensive groves of this beautiful tree abound throughout the State, and within the last two years they have reached maturity, and generally bear their fruit in abundance. The yield of the orange trees in this section was of more value the last season, than it has been for a number of years. The fruit itself was much larger and of a better quality, and much more abundant, owing to the full maturity of the tree. We look forward to the day when this delicious fruit will be a large item in the exports of the State. — Talahassa Jour- nal. No. 2. Slone Coal. — Agriculture. 55 For the Farmers' Cabinet. Stone Coal— Agriculture. Mr. Editor, — There are few who are aware of the effect which the burning' of stone coal has upon agriculture. The con- nection between the two, is one of vast im- portance. The use of stone coal is destined to cause a great change in the system of ag- riculture. Perhaps you are surprised at my stating this, but I will attempt to make the matter clear to you. You are aware that the principal food of all vegetables is car- bonic acid gas, and that for the purpose of supplying their vegetables with this gas, farmers put themselves to a great deal of trouble, inconvenience, and expense, to ac- cumulate, preserve, and apply their manures — the decay of these manures furnishing the gas. You are also aware that stone coal is composed principally of carbon, which, in the process of burning, enters into chemical combination with the oxygen of the atmos- phere, forming carbonic acid gas. From the consumption of stone coal by our factories, furnaces, rolling-mills, machine-shops, steam- boats, &.C., we have an extremely large ad- dition to the supply of carbonic acid. This carbonic acid has, until very recently, been locked up in the bowels of the earth, and is now being added to our former supply; for the wood which has heretofore been used for many of the purposes for which coal is now substituted, goes on still to decay, and thus supply its own quota of carbonic acid. Hence, I say, that the carbonic acid which is now supplied by the stone coal, is addi- tional to the supply we have formerly had. Now this additional supply cannot remain in the atmosphere, nor can it remain in the form of carbonic acid, for the vegetation will absorb it, and if the other circumstances be favourable, the result will be an increase in the size of the vegetable. This is the result so ardently desired by the farmer, and for which he applies his manure, his time, his labour, his money, and his talents. The extensive and rapidly extending consump- tion of stone coal, is therefore destined to relieve the farmer from much of his labour and trouble in the procuring and applying of manures, when his object is to furnish his plants with carbonic acid. But the benefits do not stop here. His plants also need nitrogen, an element which they derive from ammonia. This ammonia is often of the nature of an alkali — so much eo as to be called a volatile alkali. It is a very precious substance, and is much needed in the culture of grain. It is therefore very valuable, and much care is required for its preservation and use. The sulphur of stone coal in connection with oxygen, forms, du- ring the process of burning the coal, sul- phuric acid. This acid will readily enter into chemical combination with ammonia, and fixes it, so that it loses its volatility. The sulphuric acid is deposited on the grain, grass, and fruit trees of the farmer, along with the carbonic acid. The sulphuric acid not being needed in any large quantity by the plant, is thrown off by its roots in the form of excrement, and remains in the ground. In times of rain and snow, the volatile alkali, — ammonia, — which has been condensed in large quantities by the water of the rain, is thrown to the earth, and as the water sinks into the ground it carries the ammonia with it; and if nothing pre- vents, when the water evaporates the ammo- nia again becomes gaseous, and escapes to the atmosphere. But if an acid be in the soil, it will enter into chemical combination with this ammonia, and retain it until some power sufficiently strong to break the force of the chemical attraction, being brought to bear upon it, succeeds in wresting the ammonia from its grasp. When this acid is the sul- puric acid, the compound is called sulphate of ammonia. This sulphuric acid which has been expelled by the plant is close at hand, and if the plant cannot absorb and assimi- late all the nitrogen contained in the ammo- nia supplied by the rain, the sulphuric acid retains it; and when the plant is prepared for the remainder of the ammonia, the roots absorb the sulphate of ammonia, and the plant possesses the power of destroying the chemical affinity, and after assimilating the nitrogen contained in the ammonia, expel- ling the sulphuric acid as before, only to perform its office over again. Thus we see the consumer of stone coal benefits, and will continue to benefit — and that too, to an enormous extent — the agri- culturist. The increasing consumption of stone £oal, induces me to think that the time is not far distant when the farmer will have to desist from hauling manures upon his fields — this part of his labour being su- perceded by the supply of gases furnished by the atmosphere, Tliis will be effecting a great change in the system of agriculture, for much of the labour and capital of the farmer are devoted to the procuring and ap- plying of his manures. Relieved from this liard and disagreeable task, his business will be more profitable and far more attractive than it has been heretofore, and prosperity and happiness crown the board from which, they have too long been absent. But we must turn from so agreeable a view of this matter, for the reality of the case requires it. Would that the happiness 56 Stone Coal — Agriculture. Vol. XL of man were unalloyed with misery — but in this case as in all others, there is a dark as well as a bright side of the picture. It is my province to show this up as well as the other. I am induced to believe that much mis- chief is caused by the increase of carbonic acid, caused by the consumption of stone coal. There can be no doubt that it vitiates the air, and renders it less fit for respiration, resulting in weak constitutions, and perhaps in a great loss of health. But its ill effects do not stop here. The excessive supplies of this material to the vegetable creation, cause plethora and other diseases in plants, when those plants are not prepared for its recep- tion. The carbonic acid possesses infectious properties, which have a tendency, when nothing prevents, to cause the plant to de- cay, and this brings on disease and death. This decay in this, as in all carboniferous substances, commences with the saccharine fermentation, which produces a sweet sub- stance— this sweet substance attracts insects, which bore into the plants, destroy ing their or- ganism, and hastening that death which is ra- pidly approaching; or assisting to produce it, when the vital power of the plant would perhaps be sufficient to prevent it, if it had nothing but the carbonic acid to resist; but when suffering from both causes combined, is unable to v.-ithstand the shock. As this decay progresses, if it be much accelerated, putrefaction takes place, producing a sub- stance which is the favourite food of the fungi. The seeds of these fungi being pre- sent wherever vegetation is, take root and grow; and thus, by depriving the plant of a part of its nourishment, and by destroying its organism, hasten that death which would otherwise require more time. We may see this effect produced all around us at this early day, and it is yearly growing worse and worse ; and unless it is stopped or checked, the effect will, in a kv,' years, be disastrous. It is this cause which is year after year destroying our potatoe crops. It is this tiiat rusts and smuts our wheat — that ergots and blights our rye — that mildews buckwheat — induces the insects to attack our fruit trees — causes the mildew to attack our grapes, and destroys the hopes of many who have laboured for years in planting and rearing orchards and graperies. It is this that causes fruit trees to drop tlieir fruit be- fore it ripens — it effects this in part by mak- ing the sap sweet and inviting the presence of insects, and partly by diseasing the tree. It is this that causes the fruit to shrivel up and not attain half its size, and in this and in other ways lessens the produce of the tree. It also causes timber to be predisposed to rot, and thus decreases its utility. It is felt most severely, however, at the present time, in its effects on the potatoe crop. Thou- sands upon thousands of bushels of this valu- able esculent have been thus lost every year; and, if I am not much mistaken, the loss will be unusually severe this season. This is truly a deplorable picture, and one which, if accompanied by no ameliorating circum- stances, would be of a painful nature. If there were no way of avoiding these re- sults than that of preventing the mining and using of stone coal, the extremely bad re- sults would justify even this severe measure. But thanks to the noble science of agricul- tural chemistry, we are so placed that, so far from this powerful agent doing us harm, we may so direct it that it may do good, and good only. By the judicious use of alkaline substances, &c., the vegetable creation may be so assisted as to be able to assimilate all of this carbonic acid, and thus fix it in such manner that it will be powerless to do ill, and all the good that it can do will be se- cured to the animal creation. By the use of lime, ashes, salt, and other alkaline sub- stances, plants will be able to absorb all the carbonic acid; and in such manner that dis- ease may be prevented, and the attacks of insects and fungi be warded off. By placing pulverized charcoal in the soil, the carbonic acid and ammonia which is conveyed to the earth by rain, snow, &c., will be absorbed by it, and thus be prevented from being absorbed by the plant to its injury. This charcoal will hold the carbonic acid and ammonia until the plant can use it, when the plant by its roots can extract it from the charcoal, and leave the charcoal to absorb a fresh sup- ply, whenever that supply is more abundant than suffices the plant at the time of the de- posit of the carbonic acid and ammonia. Charcoal possesses the power, to an eminent degree, of absorbing these substances, as you will perceive by reading my communi- cation on that subject, as contained in the Cabinet of January last. To agricultural chemistry, then, is due the credit of saving us from an event that would otherwise over- whelm us, but which may now prove of in- calculable good. Yours, &c,, Chemico. Wilkesbarre, July 28tli, 1846. In pruning shrubs, vines, &c., special ob- servance should be paid to neatness. Al- ways cut near a bud, for whatever remains beyond, is certain to die, and has ever an unsightly appearance. No. 2. Work in Ireland, — Independence of the Farmer. 49 this is an unmixed native or not. In the account which is on record of the famous Cramp cow in England, a remark is made deserving the notice of all milkers and farm- ers— "Milch cows are often spoiled for want of patience at the latter end of milking them." The question has often been asked — what is the average produce of a cow in milk? An experienced milk man in Essex county, says it is five beer quarts daily, -when well fed; others say one gallon. It is said a cow requires two tons of hay in the season — and should have from one to two quarts of meal a day, and about a peck of vegetables. Soil- ing is well adapted for the cow ; grass, oats, and corn, cut green, furnish excellent food for this purpose. Carrots are invaluable through the winter. Our farmers would render a great service by furnishing at our annual fairs, written statements of their own experience in the management and produce of their cows. May they not be fairly called upon to do so? — Springfield Republican, Work in Ireland. In Ireland, on the river Foyle, below Lon- donderry, where it widens into a lake, a great work is going on in redeeming a large extent of land from the sea. At the reces- sion of the tide, an extensive surface is left exposed. The plan is simply to enclose the land by a strong stone wall, or embankment, which will effectually exclude the sea. The work is as yet in embryo, though a large ex- tent of wall is visible. I was told it would include full 2,500 acres ; but the source of my information was more casual than au- thentic. After it is once securely enclosed and brought into cultivation, it appeared to me there would be no difficulty in irrigating at least a considerable portion of it, by water from the neighbouring hills. I do not know that this is a part of the plan. The example is one of bold enterprise, and is undertaken by one of the city compa- nies in London, who have large funds at their disposal. I refer to it, hoping to in- duce my readers to reflect for a moment upon the essential difference, in the invest- ment of capital, between that which is ac- cumulative and productive, and that which is unproductive and deteriorating. If a man spends one hundred thousand dollars in the erection and adornment of a house far be- yond his needs, the capital invested makes no return ; the house is liable to continued wear and decay; and a large expenditure is required, not only to live in keeping with the establishment, but to keep up the estab- lishment; and if some allowance is to be made for the pleasure enjoyed in this display of the owner's vanity and gratification of his pride, it must be regarded as a pleasure not of a high character, and almost purely selfish. On the other hand, capital expend- ed in the redemption of land from the sea, or in the improvement of waste lands, be- comes at once recuperative ; the crops soon give a greater or less return ; production quickens and increases production; power in this case, as in many others, grows by the action of its own energies; useful labour is called out ; human food is increased, and human comfort is provided for. The eye of the observing traveller rests with grateful delight upon these beneficent triumphs of human art and industry. The performers of such good, and oftentimes grand works, in the works themselves, erect to their own honour monuments far more glorious, in the estimation of true philosophy, than eques- trian statues, or marble mausoleums, or even the mighty pyramids of Cairo — the altars where human toil and life were recklessly and criminally sacrificed to despotic pride, and to an ambition of renown which has no place among those virtues which truly adorn and elevate our nature; a desire of a vain immortality, which, in this case, seems to have met with a remarkable moral retribu- tion, in that even the names of the founders of these wonderful erections remain beyond the deciphering powers of human skill. — Colman''s Tour. For the Farmers' Cabinet, Independence of the Farmer. To THE Editor, — It has always been a source of gratification to me, when I enter a farmer's residence, to see lying upon the table or on the shelves of his library, one or more -of our valuable agricultural periodi- cals. It follows as an almost invariable rule that thai man — if he but carefully reads them and fully appreciates the value of their contents — is, or soon becomes an intelligent and thrifty farmer — realizing with pleasure, the fruits of his industry and enterprise. He is aroused to a sense of his own interest, and will not be found turning a deaf ear to the friendly admonitions or in- structions of an enlightened member of his fraternity, saying — he does not need the knowledge or experience of this man, or of that, to assist him in conducting his agricul- tural affairs; his knowledge is sufficient for him ; and that he will not be humbugged with the result of the experience of others, through the medium of agricultural papers, 50 LoUum Perenne — Rye-Grass. Vol. XI. and thus made a " book farmer" of, &c., — but stands ready to receive any information that may be of advantage to him, and to communicate to his fellow labourers the re- sults of his own experiments. Therefore, I would advise every gentle reader, not to settle down under the errone- ous impression, that he is too old to receive anything new — that he can conduct his own agricultural affairs to the best advantage without any information, further than that derived from his own labours. I believe it is not always best to pursue the same old course, undeviatingly, year after year, with- out any regard for the experience of others. Agriculture has not yet been brought to such a state of perfection as not to be sus- ceptible of great improvements: therefore let every one be on the alert, doing all in his power towards the advancement of his honourable and dignified calling. I call it honourable and dignified, because such is certainly the case. What occupation is there to be found more honourable or more independent than that of the farmer — the proprietor of the soil of an enlightened na- tion—he who earns his own bread by the sweat of his brow] The question needs no answer — it is self-evident. D. H. Trenton, N. J. We are not disposed to branch off into a broad lec- ture on political economy, or to meddle much with the vexed questions connected with it; but the last sen- tence or two of our correspondent, above, reminds us of what we have long believed to be the fact, viz: that we are not accustomed to view the farmer's independ- ence of other occupations in quite so strong a light as the case will justify. Who, indeed, so independent as he? Do not all manufactures and trade of every kind, depend entirely upon the labours of the farmer? or perhaps more properly, upon the surplus produce of bis labours? If we take an isolated community of farmers, and suppose their labours to produce from the earth no more than sufficient to satisfy their own wants, where can the manufacturer and the merchant operate? The surplus of the earth beyond the wants of the producer, is what feeds all others: the farmer must first be fed, before he will purchase of others, and feed them. Let him keep out of debt, and though he may not get rich, he can scarcely help living, in spite of tariffs and monopolies. Yet, such is the beautiful connection of one calling with another, that the farmer cannot be prosperous and flourishing, while manufacturers and traders are depressed, for these purchase his surplus^ produce — neither can these latter long subsist, if the short crops of the farmer give him nothing to spare, with which to purchase their wares. Jf short crops yii Id no more than barely to feed the producer, how can the city subsist? — Ed. Salt or brine, is good for tiie Plum tree, Asparagus, and Onions. liolium Perenne~Rye-Grass. Enquiries have sometimes been made of us, respect- ing the Rye-gr4ss, which is to be met with occasionally in our grass plots, and in our fields. The following is taken from Parnell's Grasses of Scotland, and may be valuable to some of our readers. — Ed. Specific Characters. — Florets not awned. Glume shorter than the spikelet. Description. — It grows from fifteen inches to two feet high. The root is perennial, fibrous. Stem erect, round, smooth, and finely striated, bearing six or seven leaves with smooth striated sheaths; the upper sheath longer than its leaf, crowned with a short obtuse ligule; the lower sheaths short- er than their leaves. Joints four or five, smooth, often purplish, the first and second rather remote. Leaves dark green, lanceo- late, acute, flat, smooth on the outer surface, and roughish on the inner. Inflorescence spiked. Spike compressed, erect or slightly curved, about one-third the length of the stem ; rachis smooth. Spikelets sessile, ar- ranged on the rachis alternately in two rows; of six to twelve awnless florets. Ca- lyx of one glume of an oblong-lanceolate form, smooth, and five-ribbed ; situated on the outer side, and shorter than the spikelet. Florets of two palese, the outer palea of low- ermost floret shorter than the glume, smooth, five-x\hheA, membranoui?, and entire at the summit. Inner palca linear-lanceolate, equal in length to the outer palea, with two green marginal ribs delicately fringed. Fil^ aments slender, shorter than the palea. An- thers cloven at each end. Germen obtuse. Styles very short. Stigmas featherly along the upper side. Seed elliptic-oblong, chan- neled in front. Of Lolium perenne there are a great number of varieties known to farmeis by various appellations ; all more or less valu- able for agricultural purposes, viz: Slender rye-grass, Broad spiked rye-grass, Pacey^s rye-grass, RusselVs grass, Whitworlh'' s grass, Slickney''s grass, Panicled rye- grass, Doitble-floivered-rye-grass, Vivipa- rous rye-grass, be.sides a great number of others, amounting to at least seventy varie- ties. Mr. Sinclair states, that there has been much difference of opinion respecting the merits and comparative value of rye- grass. It produces an abundance of seed, which is easily collected, and readily vege- tates on most kinds of soils, under circum- stances of different management. It soon arrives at perfection, and produces in its first years of growth a good supply of early herb- age, which is mucli liked by cattle: but the after-crop of rye-grass is very inconsider- No. 2. Italian Mode of Cooking Maize. — Althce Rosea. — S^c. 51 able, and the plant impoverishes the soil in a high degree, if the culms, which are in- variably left untouched by cattle, are not cut before the seed advances towards per- fection. When this is neglected, the field after midsummer exhibits only a brown sur- face of withered straws. For permanent pasture, the produce and nutritive powers of the rye-grass, compared with those of the cock's-foot grass, {Dactylis glomerata) are inferior nearly in the propor- tion of five to eighteen ; and inferior to the meadow fox-tail {Alopecurus pralensis) in the proportion of five to twelve; and inferior to the meadow fescue {Bucetum pralense) as five to seventeen. The rye-grass is but a short-lived plant, seldom continuing more than six years in possession of the soil, but is continued by its property of ripening an abundance of seed, which is but little mo- lested by birds, and suffered to fall and ve- getate among the root-leaves of the perma- nent pasture-grasses. It is only within these last forty or fifty years that other species of grasses have been tried as a substitute for the rye-grass in forming artificial pastures, it having been the favourite grass with most farmers from the time of its first cultivation in 1674 to the present period. The rye-grass, when not more than three years old, flowers in the second week of June, and ripens its seed in about twenty- five days after : as the plants become older they flower much later, sometimes so late as the beginning of August. It is a very common grass throughout the whole of Brit- ain ; also a native of Lapland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Portu- gal, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, North of Africa, and West of Asia. It occurs also in the United States, but it is stated to have been introduced from Europe. Its litpit of altitude seems to be about 1000 feet above the sea. Lolium (cmulentum — the Darnel — differs from Lolium perenne, in the glume being longer than the spikelet, and the outer palea furnished with a delicate awn; — whereas in L. perenne, the glume is shorter than the spikelet, and the florets have no awn. Italian Mode of Cooking Maize. — While journeying in Italy some years ago, I was delighted with the admirable mode in which the polenta or Indian ineul is prepared in that country. I think, with a recent cor- respondent to the London Gardener's Chro- nicle, that the only fault of tiie Italian me- thod is, that or.e is apt to eat too much, as he says, '* I am ashamed to say it has been my case at the Hotel de la Couronne, at Brides, near Moutiers. The landlord is re- nowned for his culinary skill ; but could he only make, or had he never made any other dish than Timballe de Polenta a la Savo- yarde, that alone should render him famous." "Take Polenta (Indian meal) perfectly dry and fresh, moistened with boiling water, and perfectly mixed by stirring with a wood- en spoon until the mass is reduced to a tho- roughly smooth paste, of consistence to ad- mit boiling. Keep it just below a boiling temperature until, by tasting, you find it to be perfectly homogeneous ; about ten min- utes suffice; stir the whole time. Remove it from the fire, and add as much fresh but- ter, strong brown gravy, grated Parmesan cheese, and as much garlic as suits your palate; grated ham is an excellent adjunct. Simmer ten minutes, stirring the whole time; pour or turn the mass into a well- buttered mould ; serve with brown gravy. I defy the world to produce the equal of this as a farinaceous dish. — South. Planter. AlthjE R3SEA. — The Hollyhock, says Maund''s Botanic Garden, for several years pa», has had much to complain of, from the undue neglect with which it has been treat- ed. Here and there it has found a discern- ing patron; but, generally speaking, the flo- ral world has been influenced by a Dahlia excitement, from which it is now subsiding, in sober disposition to judge all flowers by their respective merits. The Rose is again the queen, and the Hollyhock is again at court. As society has changed, so have flowers, and the Hollyhock has now to frame its costume to the fashion of the times. Good Natire. — One cannot imagine any quality of the human mind whence greater advantages can arise to society than good nature, seeing that man is a sociable being, not made for solitude, but conversation. Good nature not only lessens the sorrows of life, but increases its comforts. It is more agree- able than beauty, or even wit. It gives a pleasing expression to the countenance, and induces a multitude of the most amiable ob- servations. Were it not for good nature, men could not exist together, nor hold inter- course witli one another. For this reason, men invented that species of artificial ur- banity called good breeding, which is nothing more than an imitation of good nature; for what is it but the reducing into a system of affability, complaisance, and easiness of tem- per! Good nature is an aptitude of the mind on which objects act in an inexplicable way, and which discovers itself in universal be- nevolence to the whole creation. 52 Disease in Horses. — Water Prcof Recipe. Vol. XL From the Cultivator. Disease in Horses. According to promise, I proceed to give a description of a disease that many horses were troubled with the past winter in this and the adjoining counties. As a general thing, it did not prove fatal, but produced abortion in mares in every case of which I have had any knowledge. I shall give the particulars of those cases only that occurred in my own stable, seven in number, five being mares in foal by a fine English blood horse. Symptoms. — Stiffiiess in all the legs, moving only with difficulty; running of the eyes, with an inclination to keep them closed, and but little appetite ; one, and sometimes both hindlegs swollen and quite sore to the touch of the hand, with a rapid falling off in flesh. These symptoms continued four or five days, when the animals would again resume their former condition. Three of the above mentioned mares worked steadily in the team ; two of these did not lose their fgals until four weeks or so after their recovery, when they had regained their flesh and spi- rits. The last of the three, lost hers imme- diately after beginning to recover; the other two in foal were driven occasionally. One of these lost hers like the last of the three above mentioned ; the other kept hers two or three weeks. One young mare, driven part of the time, but which was not with foal, exhibited symptoms like the others. The seventh and last, a colt, two years old past, lay upon his side nearly the whole of the time, four or five days. He occupied a stable where there were three other colts and a mare with foal, none of which were affected, I thought it was evident that they took it from each other, and were taken about two weeks after being exposed ; but the case of the colt in the second stable would not warrant that conclusion. I also purchased a working mare about that time, and put her in the first stable, where the six first mentioned cases occurred, and she was not aflfected ; she being the only one in that stable that escaped. These cases occurred from first of Second month to the first of Fourth month. The horse spoken of, by which these mares were with foal, was purchased late last season by myself and one of my neigh- bours. He died suddenly last First month, while I was a few days from home. He was driven one or two miles in the evening, seemed very lively and playful, and was put in his stable about nine at night. When first seen in the morning, he was rolling, tumbling, and pawing, frothing at the mouth, sweating, &c., and died in one or two hours. He had always appeared well and hearty since he came into our possession. At the time he was taken, he was thought to be healthy and gaining in flesh. I am told by those present, that a part of the contents of the stomach were found to have exuded through the maw, which organ looked more like a sieve or network of thread than any thing else. I cannot think he was killed by worms, because they were unable to find any, except a very few bots, which I think could not have so wholly destroyed the maw in so short a time ; and if they had been long at work, the horse must have shown some symptoms of distress. I have tried to be as particular as possible in describing all the above cases, that those having any knowledge of such things may be able to suggest the causes. I want to ask of the contributors to your columns more attention to the interests of the horse ; more information in regard to the best breeds, and directions in breeding and rearing them, that we may learn to raise less worthless nags, and lose less valuable ones. We have enough to risk in raising horses, to warrant our taking time and trou- ble in learning to avoid as many mishaps as possible, and have the best animal when reared. One way we sometimes miss of having a valuable horse, for sale or use, I consider altogether needless; I mean a miss in training or breaking. Although there are various dispositions among horses as among men, yet if we deal justly with the colt, while in training, the horse will most cer- tainly do us justice in turn. John Keese. Peru, Sevenlli month, 13th, 1846. For the Farmer's Cabinet. Water Proof Recipe. — Either for boots or other leather: One pint Tanners' oil, half pound tallow, a lump of rosin size of a shellbark. Burgundy pitch size of an egg, beeswax size of an egg, lampblack three cents worth, all mixed together, and gradu- ally melted over a slow fire. When to be applied, the mixture should be made about milk warm, and put on with a sponge. The leather to be made a little damp, but not wet. M. Lightning-rods cannot bo relied upon unless they reach the earth where it is wet, even in times of the severest drought. Do not stop till you reach this point of moisture. No. 2. Improvement of Peat Lands. 45 land. Much of it, indeed, is on a level sur- face, but extensive tracts of bog are elevated into hills of considerable height, composed wholly of peat, and that often, as I have seen, to the depth of six, and even ten feet on the summit. Peat, properly so called, as my readers well know, is a deposit of vegetable matter, composed, in general, of a particular kind of plants, which have decayed under water, and containing much of the element which is called tannin, which preserves it in the state in which it is found, often impregnated with iron, or other mineral substances, and charged with acids unfriendly to vegetation. In its natural condition, it produces only a coarse kind of herbage, distasteful and in- nutritious, or is covered with a short moss ; in Ireland, in many cases, by heath, alike worthless for any purpose of feed. It is re- tentive of water like a sponge, and is very difficult of being reduced, so as to furnish a good bed for a sweet and healthy vegetation. In a wet condition, it is scarcely accessible; in a dry state, it becomes too light and hard; and though composed wholly of decayed ve- getable matter, is in an inert condition, or deficient in some elements essential in order to render it productive. It is found of very different depths; in some cases only a thin stratum of decayed vegetable matter, of six inches or a foot in depth, overlaying a bed of white sand or gravel ; in others, a bed of black spongy matter, of many feet, and often of unascertained depth. Much of this land in England, Ireland, and Scotland, has been redeemed, and made highly productive. An eminent Scotch farmer, to whom I had the honour of letters of introduction, states that land which, in its natural state, was not worth more than six- pence an acre, in its improved condition is now fully equal to three pounds per acre This refers to the annual rent or income of the land. This farmer has recovered two hundred acres of peat bog. Much of it was redeemed at a great expense, as it had been cut over for fuel, and it was deemed import- ant to fill up the holes which had thus been left. Much of it was reclaimed at the ex- pense of j£30, or $150, per acre ; but the farmer considered himself amply remune- rated by the improvement. Other lands, which gave him not more than Is. 6rf., or 37^ cents, per acre, now give him 12s. to 14s., S3 to S3 50 per acre, annually. A similar improvement is stated by a farmer in West Somersetshire, whose peat land, before comparatively valueless, now lets for j£3 to £4 per acre. The improvements in the fen land of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, which is in many parts a species of peat land, have been followed by results equally valuable. The extensive tracts of bog land in New Jersey, lying between the city of New York and Newark, in New Jersey, over which both the turnpike and the railroads now pass, open a field for improvements of the same kind and of the most valuable description. Partial attempts have been made already, and their success is sufficiently encouraging. But when the whole of this great extent shall be dyked against the tide, and the power of steam applied to its effectual drain- age, the obtaining of a soil of the richest description, so near to some of the best mar- kets in the country, will be likely to afford an ample compensation for any expense which may be incurred. It may be said that such improvements must be very dis- tant in a country where immense tracts of unoccupied land of the richest description, remain to be had at very low prices ; but the proximity to a great city, and to several large and thickly inhabited towns, continu- ally increasing in population, business, and wealth, with almost unparalleled rapidity, must give a value to such lands which can scarcely be calculated, and keep far in ad- vance of the competition of even the most fertile lands in a remote interior. Indeed, a slight inquiry will satisfy any one that the value of lands in the neighbourhood of our cities, for agricultural and horticultural pur- poses, in spite of all the predictions founded on the improved and unlooked-for modes of conveyance by canals and rail-roads, has been continually rising, and has by no means reached the zenith. Three difficulties may be said to present themselves in the redemption and improve- ment of all peat lands; the first is their wetness, and draining must be the first ope- ration to be applied to them ; the second is their want of compactness, for they are often too light and spongy for the growth of plants, though this defect will be partially remedied by the draining of them ; and the third is the removal of some pernicious quality, some mineral acid, which is preju- dicial to the growth of the best vegetation, or the supply of some element of vegetation which is requisite in the cultivation of any other plants than that of which the moss itself is formed. Peat, though wholly a ve- getable substance, and properly speaking, a compact mass of humus — in itself furnish- ing, under a proper form of preparation, a useful manure, — is still deficient in the ele- ments necessary for the growth of the finer grasses, the esculent vegetables, and the 4G Spring-tooth Horse-rake. — The Alpaca. Vol. XL cereal grains.* What, in particular, these elements are, remains for agricultural chem- istry to discover. The philosophers have approached the promised land, but have not yet got possession. — Colmmi's Tour. Spriug-tooth Horse-rake. Seventeen years ago we met with a Re- volving Horse-rake which was left by some one, interested in the patent, witli Mr. Wil- liam Marshall, of Bowman's Point, Hallo- well, who then owned and carried on an ex- tensive farm at that place. It was the first one ever introduced into this State. We had one made, and carried it on to a farm which we then cultivated in Starks, Somer- set county, and although we met with some good natured ridicule for attempting to do raking by horse power, we have had the sat- isfaction of seeing it come into general use. It is an admirable instrument on smooth lands, and at that time we never expected to find any thing of the rake kind that would equal it. Last week, for the first time, we tried Dewey's Patent Spiral Spring-tooth Horse- rake, manufactured by Duncan and Paddle- ford, Lyman, N. H. We were determined to put it to a severe test, and we did so. We had a piece of rough land that had never been ploughed, and where the stumps were still standing, and the "cradle knolls," as they are called, all over the surface. The grass was mowed in the morning, averaging from half to three-quarters of a ton per acre. In the afternoon the Spring-tooth Rake was applied, and the ease and despatch with which all the hay was raked up, astonished not only those who did not believe it would work, but those who thought favourably of it before trial. It scraped it all up clean, excepting now and then a lock of the bay * Professor K^ne, in his instructive work on tlie In dustrial Resources of Ireland, remarks, that " it is by the gradual formation and decomposition of this body (nitrogen), that the organic matter of the soil becomes so powerful an agent in its fertilization. The roots and fibres of a crop left in the soil, gradually rot, and become thereby the means of absorbing from the at- mosphere a quantity of nitrogen, which is rendered available for the sustenance of the next generation of plants. In estimating the fertility of a soil, therefore, it is most important to determine the quantity of these organic matters, and particularly the amount of nitro- gen which they contain. The mere presence of organ- ic matter indicates nothing ; thus a peaty soil may be absolutely barren, if the decomposition of its organic matter has been carried on under water, where the oxygen and nitrogen of the air have not access, and consequently only inert ulmine, destitute of the power of evolving carbonic acid and ammonia, be produced." that would be caught by some snag of a stump as the driver had to "haw" or "gee" to avoid going over them. We counted the stumps on one of the acres which we raked over, and found eighty-two of them, averag- ing a stump to every two square rods. It was amusing to see the iron fingers of the machine accommodating themselves to the inequalities of the surface, apparently as accurately and as faithfully as the fingers of the human hand. On level land it will rake as clean as the other kind. We do not think it is held quite as easy as the revolvers, nor is it discharged quite so easily, but then it can be used in situations where the revolvers could be hardly moved. Next week we shall try it on a bog-meadow, and see how it will rake among the tussacs and brake roots, and will report the results. — Maine Farmer. The Alpaca. Description, Habits, Food, fSfC. — The Al- paca, when fully grown, is about 37 inches high to the shoulders, and 59 inches to the top of the head. It possesses many proper- ties in common with the Llama — belongs to the same natural family, to the same coun- try, possessing a similar disposition and man- ners, and bears much resemblance in figure, but is smaller in stature. Its legs are short- er, with larger muscles, and its wool finer, and more abundant ; but it is less robust in its habit, being able to carry a continuous burden of only 50 to 70 pounds. In a wild state it is never known to asso- ciate with any other animal, but keeps toge- ther in herds of 100 or more in number, feeding, through choice, on a sort of rushy grass or reed, called ycho, which grows in abundance on its native hills, where, it is said, these animals are never known to drink, so long as a sufficiency of green, succulent herbage, can be obtained. They resort to a particular spot to drop their dung, which greatly resembles that of the goat, the sheep, or of the giraffe, and which often proves fatal to them, from betraying their haunts. When domesticated, they possess the same grega- rious habits, and are strongly attached to their birth-place, to which they return at night, evincing little or no inclination to stray away, or to mix with other flocks. They are gentle, docile, and contented in their dispositions, and are as readily re- strained as the common sheep, with which, it is said, they perfectly agree. They adapt themselves to almost any soil or situation, provided the heat is not oppressive, and the air is pure. They will live and thrive on the same sorts of food as eaten by cattle and No. 2. Smallpox in a Cow. — Value of Employment. — Ploughs, SfC. 47 sheep; but the inferior kinds of browse, grass, or hay, with a due proportion of pota- toes, or other succulent roots, are preferred to rich pasture and farinaceous grains. Too liberal an allowance of rich and stimulating food to an animal extremely abstemious, and habituated to live on coarse and light herb- age, and that in small quantities, cannot be regarded otherwise tiian injurious. — Ameri- can Agriculturist. Smallpox in a Cow. The possibility of communicating any of the diseases to which man is incident, to the lower animals, would not meet with much favour from medical philosophers. However, a gentleman of close observation, who re- sides in Iowa, has favoured us with the fol- lowing circumstances. " The enclosed [a crust] is the scab from a yearling calf that has had the smallpox. That disease broke out in a family residing about twelve miles from Burlington, some five weeks ago. They all had it, and two of its members died. A cow and a calf were in the habit of coming round the door of the house — drank the water in which the family washed, smelt the clothes that were cast off by the sick and thrown out, and also inhaled the infection and took it. Our physicians held a consultation over them two days ago, and pronounced it to be the genuine small- po.x. They were not informed of the fact until it was so late that they could hardly tell whether the scabs were primary or se- condary. [The specimen is evidently of the latter kind.] There were some two hundred pustules on the calf, about the head and legs, and more on the'cow. Some thirty persons were vaccinated with a scab from this source, in this town, but sufficient time has not elapsed to develope its true character." At Rainsford Island, in Boston harbour, where cases of smallpox abounded for half a century, when not permitted to exist any- where in the city, no way could be devised by which the matter from the most virulent form of smallpox, would show any effects whatever on cows, oxen, dogs, cats, or horses. — Boston Medical Journal. Value of Employment. We take the following from a speech not long since made by Daniel Webster, in the Senate of the United States.— Ed. "Sir, — I say it is employment that makes the people happy. This great truth ought never to be forgotten ; it ought to be placed upon the title-page of every book on politi- cal economy intended for America, and such countries as America. It ought to be placed in every farmer's almanac. It ought to head the columns of every farmer's magazine and mechanic's magazine. , It should be pro- claimed everywhere, notwithstanding what we hear of the usefulness — and I admit the high usefulness — of cheap food, notwith- standing that, the great truth should be pro- claimed everywhere; should be made into a proverb, if it could, that where there is tcork for the hands of men, there will be work for their teeth. Where there is employment there will be bread ; and in a country like our own, above all others, will this truth hold good; a country like ours, where, with a great deal of spirit and activity among the masses, if they can find employment, there is always great willingness for labour. If they can obtain fair compensation for their labour, they will have good houses, good clothing, good food, and the means of edu- cating their families; and if they have good houses and good clothing, and good food, and means of educating their children from their labour, that labour will be cheerful, and they will be a contented and a happy people." For the Farmers' Cabinet. Ploughs and Ploughing. Mr. Editor: — Although I have no desire to resuscitate the controversy on the subject of the "Corn Breeder," yet I have thought that friend Stapler* might, perhaps, be glad to learn, that the present season affords an opportu- nity to set the vexed question to rest, by comparing the work performed by the Moore and Prouty ploughs, on lands almost adjoin- ing each other, on the public road leading from Wilmington to Newcastle and Dela- ware city ; Bryan Jackson being at this time engaged in turning under a heavy crop of clover with the Centre-draught, while Chauncy P. Holcomb is performing the same operation in a field in the immediate vicinity with the Moore plough. It is there- fore only requisite for us to examine the present state of the work, and watch the progress of the growing crops to maturity, noting their comparative yield at harvest; and we shall then be able to form a correct estimate of the value of these rival ploughs in the hands of these masters in the art of husbandry. But it must be confessed that present ap- pearances are very dissimilar; for while the Prouty plough breaks up the furrow-slice and carries it so high and over, as that a furrow of six inches in depth, when turned will measure eleven inches deep of tho- * See last volume of Cabinet, page 183. 48 Farming — Coirs. Vol. XI. roughly pulverized earth, with every vestige of vegetable matter packed into the bottom of the furrow, the Moore plough turns the soil close and smooth, and but little deeper in staple than before the earth was removed. So that time, which proves all things, will enable us to hold fast that which is the best; no one, it is presumed, wishing for more than a fair opportunity to form his judgment; and that he will obtain, at the hands of the best men, engaged in the performance of the best work, on their own account. W. D. Brandywine Hundred, Del., Aug. 2Jst, 1846. Farming — Coavs. Nothing upon a farm is so valuable as a good cow. And it should be a constant ef- fort with every true farmer to seek the best breeds and to feed in the best manner ; for herein lies the soundest economy. Very much has already been accomplished for this important interest ; but much remains to be done. While we are strongly inclined to believe that no better cows can be found — we mean for milk — than selections from the natives, we feel quite sure that great advan- tage is also to be derived from the best im- portations, provided the mode of keeping be imported and understood also. For here is the real secret — the feeding and keeping of the animal. And strange as it may seem, nothing is more difficult than to ascertain this. Of the imported breeds, we have the opin- ion that the Ayrshires are to be preferred. They are the best stock in Scotland, and are generally regarded in the same light through- out England. They are not so large or hand- some as the Durham; but they are a hardier race; keep themselves in good condition, and are easily fatted. Mr. Phinney declares them to be, from his experience, greatly superior to the Durhams, for dairy properties. There have been numerous importations of the Ayr- Bhire breed into our State; and the last year, a large importation was made by the State Society. To show what can be accomplished, and the manner of doing it, we refer to the fa- mous case of the Cramp cow in England, of the Sussex breed. During her first year for milking she produced 540 lbs. of butter; the largest amount in a week was 15 lbs. In forty-seven weeks her milk amounted to 4,921 quarts. In her third year she pro- duced 5,782 quarts of milk and 675 lbs. of butter; the largest amount of butter in a week was 18 lbs. In her fifth year, her milk was 5,369 quarts, and her butter, 594 lbs. Largest quantity of butter in a week, 17 lbs. The feeding of this cow was, in summer, clover, lucerne, rye, grass, and carrots — at noon, four gallons of grains and two of bran mixed, in winter, hay, grain, and bran, five or six times a day. The famous Oakes cow, owned in Dan- vers, in this State, may be mentioned also as very remarkable; she produced 19^ lbs. of butter in a week. In 1816 her butter was 484^ lbs. She was allowed 30 to 35 bushels of Indian meal a year; she had also potatoes and carrots at times. A cow owned in Andover, in 1836, yielded $67 38 from the market, besides the supply of the family. The keeping was good pas- ture, the swill of the house, and three pints of meal a day. A cow owned by Thomas Hodges, in North Adams, produced in 1840, 425 lbs. of butter. Her feed was one quart of rye meal and half a peck of potatoes daily, besides very good pasturing. Putnam cow, at Salem, averaged for a year 12 quarts daily. In 1841, witJi two quarts of meal daily, she averaged in one month 18 quarts daily. A cow owned by S. Henshaw, formerly of Chicopee Falls, gave 17f lbs. of butter a week, and in one case 21 lbs. This was a native without any mixture. A cow in West Springfield is recorded as having given in sixty days 2,692^ lbs. of jmilk, which is equal to 22^ quarts daily, A cow owned by O. B. Morris, of Spring- field, some weeks afforded 14 lbs. of butter, 'besides milk and cream for family. Her jfeed in winter was good hay, and from two !to four quarts of rye bran at noon ; in sum- mer, besides pasture, four quarts of rye bran ■at night. Judge remarks, in the account of jhis cows, that "many cows, which have been considered as quite ordinary, might by kind and regular treatment, good and regular feeding, and proper care in milking, rank among the first rate." J. P. Gushing, of Waterton, has several native cows, which give 20 quarts a day. Dr. Shurtlefl^, of Chelsea, owned a small cow which gave 21 quarts daily. The Ho- bart Clark cow, at Andover, gave 14 lbs, of butter a week. A cow of W. Chase, Somerset, R. I., in 1831, gave most of the season 20 quarts of milk daily; averaged nearly 14 lbs. of but- ter during the season. The Hosmer cow, at Bedford, Mass., gave 14 lbs. of butter a week. The foregoing list consists of natives. We may also add, that there is now in West Springfield a cow owned by an excellent farmer, which has aflbrded 19| lbs. of butter a week. But we are not informed whether No. 2. Seed Wheat. — Phila. Ag. Society. — Reaping Machine. 65 paper. Indeed, a chemist alone could con- duct it; while the two former modes may be easily performed by any person of com- mon observation. — Agriculturist. Seed Wheat. Whatever difference of opinion may ex- ist as regards the wisdom of the recent al- terations in the laws respecting grain, there can be none as to the necessity of adapting ourselves to our present circumstances, and endeavouring to make the best of them. It is a known fact that in high latitudes ihe growth of plants is very rapid. The burst of spring, the splendor of summer, and the maturity and incipient decay of autumn, fol- low each other with a switlness scarcely credible. The grain sown to-day, is, in a very few weeks, ready for the sickle; and the higher the latitude where it can be made to grow, the shorter is the period it requires for its growth and ripening. Grain which has been grown in the extreme north, when used as seed in a southern country, gives its first produce more speedily, ripening in a much shorter time, although at a second sowing it loses this quality. The fact has been recognized, and is acted upon pretty extensively in this country, it being com- monly recommended to obtain seed from colder situations than those in which it is intended to be sown. In Sweden grain is I annually brought for seed from Torneo, in the north of the gulf of Bothnia, and almost within the arctic circle — and sown in lands so much exposed that the sowing time is thrown so late that corn, excepting from seed llius obtained, has no time to ripen. Districts formerly on this account utterly barren, are thus rendered fruitful. Is it not then worthy of the consideration of some of our enterprising agriculturists, especially of those who occupy high cold districts, whe- ther they might not profitably import their seed corn from the northern European nations, and thus, perhaps, obtain a harvest in Sep tember, where now it is commonly thrown into October or November ] With this re- source it might be found that wheat could be grown more extensively and more profit- ably than it is to the west of Sir Robert PeeFs line drawn from Southampton to In- verness.— Gardener'' s Chronicle. Mr. S. C. Ford gave an account of the progress of the potatoe disease. In some parts of Connecticut this season, he stated that some of the potatoes had become hard and tasteless at the time the vines were fresh and thrifty ; and in other instances the vines and potatoes both decayed in a very few days. In some parts of this county the disease had made its appearance, suddenly destroying the crop. In some instances a portion of the crop remained good, whilst the other had rotted, and had entirely disap- peared. Some remarks were made by Mr. Gowen on the subject, sustaining his opinion as formerly given, attributing the cause of the disease to a particular state of the weather, inducing a second growth. He recommend- ed deep planting on dry soils, as the best and most likely means of avoiding the rot. Statements were given by Messrs. K. Smith, Eyre, Roberts, and others, on the subject, many of which were of a quite contradictory nature, causing much embar- rassment in forming an opinion as to the true cause of difficulty. Mr. Ford had applied two bushels of air slaked lime to each of his Newtown pippin apple trees, with great success; the quality of the fruit being greatly improved. Mr. Blackburn had noticed the same improve- ment in his fruit, but had applied no lime. Extract from the minutes. A. Clement, Rec. SecWy. Philadelphia, Sept. 4th, 1846. Philadelphia Agricultural Society. A STATED meeting of the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture was held on the 2nd inst, — K. Smith, Vice-president, in the chair. Hussey's Wheat Reaping Machine. To the Editor of the American Farmer : Sir, — I have this year for the first time, purchased one of Hussey's Reaping Ma- chines— the smaller size, at $100. I have so oflen been disappointed in the too early purchase of new labour-saving and economi- cal inventions, that in this instance I waited patiently, until it might have received the best impresB of the inventor's skill, and I am now gratified, afler a fair and full expe- riment at my late harvest, to make the fol- lowing report of its performance, in common justice to the inventor, and for the encou- ragement of those who have not yet availed themselves of its advantages. I have used the machine throughout my late harvest, and under very unfavourable weather, I have witnessed its expedition and general economy. The harvest was pro- longed by continued rains, and the machine was not worked any entire day, from that cause alone; but being desirous to know the extent of its daily operations I noted the 66 Selection of Seed Corn. — Horse-fork for Unloading Hay, Vol. Xl.i hours of beginning or finishing a lot of twelve and a half measured acres of heavy wheat, viz : from five o'clock to a quarter to four, that is, ten and three-quarter hours; breakfast and dinner time included, say about two hours, will leave eight and three- quarters working hours for the cutting of twelve and a half acres, or the rate of| eighteen acres per day of thirteen vv'orking hours, which is nearly the time in the mid- dle of June, when the work was done. I used with the machine, one pair of mules the whole of my harvest, about eight days, and without any apparent distress to them — this was done from the difficulty of breaking in any of them, they being all young, to bear the rattle of the machine in motion, and then too, though driven by two men, ran away with it, and luckily or surprisingly without injury to any person or thing — I had for a time, eight binders, but was compelled to add two others. It will be seen that I had a saving, by means of the machine, of twelve or fifteen dollars per day, for scythes- men's wages, besides their board, and the work was better done — the cost of binders, stookers, &c., the same necessarily, in either case, in the proportion of wheat cut. I verily believe the amount of the seed wheat was saved by the superior perform- ance of the machine. I loaned the machine to a neighbour, who appreciates it as highly as I do. Joseph E. Muse. August, 1846. Selection of Seed Corn. To the Editor of the American Farmer : Dear Sir, — As the time approaches when the corn crops should be gathered, I wish to suggest to each farmer who reads your paper, and through them to every neighbour of their's who may not read it, the necessity and advantage of selecting seed corn in the fall, as they gather their crops of that great staple of our country. I wrote to our friend, Mr. Skinner, a long letter on this subject some twenty odd years ago, which was pub- lished in his American Farmer, and soon thereafter distributed to many, some of my seed corn, the increased product of which all acknowledged, and some of them pro- fited considerably, no doubt, by the sugges- tions; and selling their seed corn at high prices — Mr. Baden, tor instance: and some five or six years ago, I again wrote a short note, also published in the same paper. To the many who never saw those letters, who now read your paper, I would advise, that in cutting the tops off their corn this fall, to leave the top on those stalks having two ori three fine ears, and which are very forward,, and the shuck or husk dry and white, there-' by showing their forwardness. By tlie top,, they can easily distinguish at gathering tirael the seed corn, and gather and house it toi itself, and not take the shuck off until plant-* ing time in spring, keeping it until then se-i cure from rats and vermin. And by contin-i uing this process a few years, they will raa-i terially increase their corn crops, with soi little trouble that no practical farmer shouldl fail to try it. I have never known one to try it, who did| not acknowledge its benefits and increased! yield of corn. Several have lately rodei through my corn crop, and every one ex-' pressed his great surprise at seeing vastly* more stalks with four and five fine large* ears on each, than they ever saw before;; and not one in many dozens without two or* three fine ears on them. I ask all to try itl a few years, and if not pleased with the re- utes, I will inform you of a case. It con- No. Preservation of Tomatoes. — Premium Cows — Butter G7 sists of a fork, rope, and two pulleys — the latter being attached to the rafters of the barn, and the rope fastened to the fork and passed through them and down to the floor, md by passing the end under a pulley-wheel and attaching a steady horse, one man may discharge a load of hay in the short space of time above mentioned, simply by placing the fork in the hay and directing it to the mow by means of a rope attached to the end Df the handle. Now this is no humbug, for [ had the pleasure of seeing it in operation to-day. Our intelligent and enterprising neighbour, George B. Abbott, for the pur- pose of showing the advantage and capabil- ity of it, stationed it in my barn, and dis- charged three loads in short order. Now I believe if any farmer who has much hay to gather, knowing the hard labour and time it requires to discharge a load of hay, could but see one in operation, he would not do long without one, as the cost is so small. Mr. Abbott thinks he can discharge with it, with ease, thirty or thirty-five tons in the course of the afternoon, from two till six /clock — the usual time allotted among farm- 3rs for hauling — and I suppose by the hand fork the ordinary quantity would not exceed seven or eight; it would depend in some measure on the height of the mow. But with the horse fork, the height makes but little difference, or even the depth, for it is capable of placing the hay all over the mow, md thus dispense with the necessity of more than one person in the mow, and he only to tramp the hay down. Yours respectfully, W. B. A. We sbould be glad if some of our friends who have used this machine for unloading hay, would inform us of its operation. The editor has not seen one at work.— Ed. Preservation of Tomatoes. — The pow- der of tomatoes, presented at the exhibition of the Royal Society of Horticulture, of Paris, in July last, reminded us of a mode of preservation pointed out last year, by M. VHmorin. We think we ought to report it here. " M. JuUien, President of the Society of Agriculture of Joigny, has pointed out to us a mode of preserving tomatoes for several months. It consists in gathering at a late period, the fruit which has reached its full size, but which is yet green. Leave eight or ten inches of the stalk, and tie them in bunches of six or eight, taking away most of the leaves. These bunches are after- wards hung in an airy and dark place, where they will keep all winter. When it is re- quired to use them, take the necessary num- ber of bunches and place them near the windows of a living room. The fruit red- dens and ripens in a few days. This method suggested to us another, which will preserve them a shorter time, but which may also have its use. Green tomatoes, gathered the last of October, and set upon the latticed shelves of a well lighted fruit room, ripen there in succession; and at the moment when v^ write, such tomatoes have sup- plied our consumption for nearly six weeks. They are deprived of their leaves, like the other?, and eight or ten inches of stalk left upon them. — Revue Horticole. Premium Coavs — Butter. In the Report of the Essex County Agri- cultural Society, Mass., we find the cows to which premiums were awarded, belonged to the native breed. The following is a state- ment of the produce of the cow receiving the first premium of the Society. She be- longed to Henry Cressy, of Salem, and was six years old. She calved the 21st of May, and gave milk as follows: From 21st May to 21st June, 1,469 lbs. 4 oz. 21st June to 21st July, 1,264 0 21st July to 21st Aug., 1,127 8 21st Aug. to 21st Sep., 956 8 Total, 4,8171bs. 4oz. It required nineteen pounds of this cow's milk to make one pound of butter. She was kept mostly on grass, but received during seven weeks two quarts of shorts per day. The second premium was awarded to Warner Averill, of Ipswich. This cow was six years old, and gave on an average through four months, 35 pounds of milk per day. After she calved she- received two quarts of meal per day for about six weeks. During September she received one quart of rye meal every night. A seven-year old cow belonging to vVil- liam Williams, also received a premium. She calved Feb. 6th, 1845. This calf was sold to the butcher for ten dollars when six weeks and three days old. After the calf was taken from her she gave from 14 to 15 quarts of milk per day, for about four months. In September she gave 8 quarts per day. The first two weeks after she calved she gave 10 quarts per day more than the calf could suck. Butter exhibited for premiums was in pound lumps, in tin cases or boxes, so con- structed that the whole was kept cool by lumps of ice in the centre box. The process for making the first premium butter was as follows : The milk was strained into tin pans, in 68 Irrigation. Vol. XI. which it stood from 36 to 38 hours. It was then skimmed, and the cream was then put into tin pails, standing on the bottom of the cellar. A little salt was put into the pails before the cream, and stirred when cream was added. It was the practice to churn twice a week. The buttermilk is worked out by hand, without the addition of water. The buttermilk being thoroughly*vvorked out, the butter is immediately salted with one ounce of ground rock salt to the pound, and after twenty-four hours is reworked, packed in layers of five pounds each, and salt sprinkled between them. The second premium butter — the process pursued was to strain the milk into tin pans, and place it in a cool stone cellar, where it stood from 36 to 48 hours, when it was skimmed and the cream put into stone pots. Churn twice a week. When churned, the buttermilk is drawn off, and the butter washed twice with cold water. A mixture of rock salt and sugar is used in the propor- tion of one-fourth pound of sugar and three- fourths pound of salt, and one ounce of the mixture used for every pound of butter. Af- ter twenty-four hours the butter was re worked, and weighed in pound balls. The tin marketing boxes have ice coolers in the centre. The third premium butter was made as follows: The milk strained into tin pans and placed in a cool cellar. Previous to churning it is lowered into the well and cooled. It is then churned, after the churn is soaked over night in cold water. The Randall cylinder churn is recommended. Churning once a week. Buttermilk re- moved wholly by the hands, and is never rinsed with cold water. The next day it is worked into pound lumps for market. It is salted with about three-fourths ounce of salt to the pound, to which is added some sugar and saltpetre. The fourth premium butter was made as follows: The milk was strained into pans in which it stands from 24 to 36 hours in a cel- lar; the cream is kept in tin pails; churning performed once in four days in the early part of the season, and once a week in the latter part. The cream is strained through a cloth into the churn. The time required for churn- ing averages only seven minutes. The but- ter is put into an earthen pan and water added and repeated till the buttermilk is thoroughly rinsed from the butter, or until it returns colourless. The butter is then worked over. Then it is put into an earth- en pan and salted with one ounce of sedt to a pound of butter. It is afterwards worked over again, piece by piece, and made into balls and put into the cellar till sent to mar- ket. One cow made from the 20th day of May to the 20th day of September, 211 pounds and two ounces of butter. The fifth premium butter was made much as above. Water was employed in forcing the butter from the buttermilk. It was salt- ed with one ounce of salt and one-fourth ounce of loaf sugar to the pound. — Ameri- can Quarterly Journal. Irrigation. By J. J. Thomas. The application of water to the surface i of lands, for the promotion of vegetables growth, has been practised, in warm coun- \ tries, from the earliest ages. Its indispen- j sably essential use in ancient Egypt, and the'- great benefits derived from its introduction^; at a later day into Italy, sufficiently estab-^' lished its eminent utility. But being lessR necessary in the cooler and more moist cli-- mate of Britain, it was afterwards less ex- ; tensively practised in the system of agricul- ture which spread to the settlements ofP America. The summers of the northernki and middle States, are equal in warmth ton those of northern and central Italy ; but int^ copying the practice of agriculture froraij England and Scotland, the wide differenceil in the heat and dryness of summers has< been too much forgotten. The great advantages resulting from ak due proportion of moisture in the soil, musti be evident to every one on a moment's re-* flection. Who does not know that nearly^ all farm crops, during vigorous growth, aret benefited by frequent showers'! Who hasi not noticed the great diminution in thei amount of pasture and hay, in potatoes, rutai bagas, and other farm products, resulting! from long continued or unusual droughty What farmer is ignorant of the fact thatJ meadows and pastures in wet or moist situ-« ations, or which are occasionally overflowed! by streams, are covered with a growth ofi herbage far heavier and more luxuriant thani the diminished products of dry and unwa-i tered uplands'? Who, then, can question,) that during the heat and drought of our sum-« mers, not unfrequently quite severe, ourl root crops would be greatly assisted in theiri growth, and our crops of grass double ini weight, by artificial watering through chan-l nels spread over the surface of the land"? There appears to be but very few exam-i pies in this country, of well conducted andl systematic irrigation. A few, however, havel sufficiently shown its advantages. E. D. Andrews, of Pittsford, N. Y., says:i "In the hilly country of Vermont, I owned! a farm over which I carried the water ofi ? No. 2. Successful Gardening, ^-c. — Celebrated Oahs of England. 61 From the Cultivator. Successful Gardening— Produce of One Acre. The capability of our soil is but partially jnderstood. With skilful management, it nay be made to yield great burthens and srofitable returns, where good markets are ivailable. A few days since, a person — I an not allowed to give his name, for fear lis landlord will raise his rent ! — gave me ;he following as the produce of one acre of and within one mile of the capital, in 1845. The soil is a tenacious clay, and has been cultivated as a garden for many years, but aever considered remarkable for its fertility. It must be remembered that prices ranged iiigh last year, which will account for the ^reat amount received for the articles, viz., in round numbers : 100 bushels potatoes, sold at 43. $.50 00 32 do. corn in the ear, 3s. 12 00 65 do. onions, 4s. 32 50 13 do. carrots, Ss. 4 87 8 do. parsneps, 4s, 4 00 7 do. beets, 3s. 2 62 900 cabbag es, 3c. 24 00 Horse radish, sold for 42 00 Fruit, sold for 10 00 Pigs fed on refuse of garden, 26 00 $207 99 No manure was applied except what was made by the pigs ; but the great produce is ascribed to the use of oyster-shell lime, at an expense of one dollar and fifty cents per year for three years. " It was wonderful," he says, " to see how the ground would heave and swell after every rain.". Lime, for agricultural purposes in this section, has not been very extensively used. Judge Buel tried some experiments with the Helderburg stone lime, but could never per- ceive any beneficial results from its applica- tion, and therefore abandoned its use. Pro- bably if he had tried it in a clay soil, the results would have been different. In Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, lime has been pretty extensively used, and the lands have been nearly quadrupled in value in consequence. In advertising a farm for sale, as a recommendation, the amount of lime recently applied is particu- larly set forth, as well as the proximity of limestone. It is not generally known, I believe, that a kiln for burning oyster-shell lime has been erected within a few years in the south part of the city, by Mr. Warner «& Sons, where it is afforded at six cents per bushel. I am informed by the proprietors that their sales have increased very considerably for the past year, and their future prospect is quite flattering. Many of our farmers have been experimenting with lime, and appear well pleased with its operation. Several thousand bushels have been taken down the river to enrich the soil, and it is hoped that those who have tried it, whether successful or unsuccessful, will communicate the re- sults through the medium of the Cultivator, for the benefit of others. There is one fact that has been communi- cated to me, which is entirely new, in regard to the action of lime, and that is, its effects are greatest in a lime soil or lime region. Can our chemists account for this] C. N. Bement. Bement's Amer. Hotel, Albany, Aug., 1846. Celebrated Oaks of England. We copy from an English publication the following brief sketch of some of the most remarkable English oaks of which we have at present any record. It probably will be both curious and interesting to some of our readers. " The oldest oak in England is supposed to be the Parliament oak — from the tradition of Edward I., holding a parliament under its branches — in Clipstone Park, belonging to the Duke of Portland — this park being also the most ancient of the island ; it was a park before the conquest, and was seized as such by the Conqueror. The tree is sup- posed to be 500 years old. "The tallest oak in England was believed to be the property of the same nobleman; it was called the 'Duke's walking stick,' was higher than Westminster Abbey, and stood till of late years. "The largest oak in this country is called Calthorp Oak, Yorkshire ; it measures 78 feet in circumference, where the trunk meets the ground. " The ' Three Shire Oak,' at Workshop, was so called from its covering part of the counties of York, Nottingham, and Derby. It had the greatest expanse of any recorded in this island, dropping over 767 square yards. "The most productive oak was that of Gelono?, in Monmouthshire, felled in 1810. Its bark brought 200 pounds, and its timber 670 pounds. " In the mansion of Tredegar Park, Mon- mouthshire, there is said to be a room 42 feet broad, and 227 feet long, the floor and wainscots of which were the production of a single oak tree, grown on the estate." — Farmer iSf Mechanic. 62 PPTiy the East cannot compete with the West. Vol. XI. Why the East cannot Compete Avith the West. By Col. T. J. Carmichael, Sing Sing. Having spent my early life in the State of Ohio, where the farmer suffered so much for want of a market, before the days of steamboats, canals, and railroads, and wit- nessed the immense change which these in- ventions and improvements have made in the wealth and prosperity of the West, by affording a ready market for the lighter and most valuable products of the soil, I confess I was surprised on taking up my residence on the North river, to find the farmers here trying to compete with the great West in the same products, instead of turning their attention to the more bulky and perishable articles, for which they have a good market, and against which they may defy all West- ern competition. Now let us try my position mathemati- cally. And for that purpose, give a farmer on the Hudson river one hundred acres of the best arable land, at a cost of one hundred dollars per acre, and a Western farmer, say in Wisconsin, the same quantity at five dol- lars per acre — which is a full price for ara- ble lands in that country under improve- ment. Now let each farm be located within the same distance from navigation, and al- low the expenses of seeding and gathering of crops to be the same, and let the whole premises east and west be put into wheat. First, the eastern farmer must manure at an expense of at least $5 per acre, and if he is very fortunate he may raise 25 bushels per acre, or 2,.500 bushels in all. This is good for 500 barrels of flour. Take flour at Is per barrel, and he has $2,500. Now de- duct ten cents per barrel for transportation, $50. Now deduct the interest of cost of one hundred acres $700, and manuring $500, and you have $1,250. Now let us look at the operations of the western farmer, who with the same labour, minus manuring, is .sure of an average of thirty bushels per acre — say 3,000 — which is equal to 600 barrels of flour ; deduct $1 per barrel for freight, and at the same price in market he has $2,400; deduct interest on the cost of land $35, and he has $2,365 ; now deduct the proceeds of the eastern farm, $1,250, from that of the west, $2,365, and you have $1,115 balance in favour of the western farmer, nearly the entire pro- ceeds of the eastern farm. Our eastern farmer asks then what shall we do? Our fathers used to make fortunes in raising grain! It is answered that your fathers lived in another age of the world, and were governed by circumstances; you see the progress of the means of transportation — you see the enormous growth of the west — you feel the competition of that quarter in the lighter articles — you also see the high prices of bulky and perishable products in your market, without taking the advantage j of such a state of things. By perishable ( products, I mean potatoes, turnips, beets, I carrots, cabbage, fruit, and all other vegeta- bles— together with fresh beef, mutton, pork, &c. Now let us cultivate a farm on the North I river, with some of these articles, all of which are about equally profitable. Sup- pose the same farmer should plant 50 acres in potatoes, and the same number in turnips, after manuring as for wheat. The potatoe should produce 200 bushels per acre, 10,000* bushels. These at three bushels to the bar- rel, are equal to 3,333 barrels, worth at leastti as many dollars in market, clear of freight.,; Now your fifty acres of turnips should yield! 400 bushels per acre, 20,000 bushels, orfi 6,666 barrels, worth half a dollar per barreU clear of freight, $3,333; to which add theij crop of potatoes $3,333, and you havei« $6,666. From this sum deduct manuring} and interest $1,200, and the balance iai $5,466 from one hundred acres. Now instead of marketing the turnips— ( which are a bulky article — let us adopt the! European practice of purchasing stock in I the interior of the country from the breed- > ers, and fatten it for the market. It haai been demonstrated that sixty bushels of tur-i nips, and six hundred weight of hay properly fed, will fatten ten sheep, or one cow, in the best manner for the shambles, in the space of two months. Sheep and cattle can be purchased in the interior of the country, in, low condition, for half their market value* when fattened. This process here, as welli as abroad, will yield the farmer a liberal in-^ crease. • On my late visit to Europe, I found that^ they adapted their business and products toj their locations. In districts at a distancOj from market, they raise grain and breed, stock, while those more convenient turiv; their attention to growing vegetables and, fatting stock; and it is to this practice of, making two professions, viz: fatting andi breeding, that I attribute most of their suc-,j cess. In farming, like every other business,; a man should never have "too many irons i in the fire at once," some of them are liable^ to get burned. He who turns his attention : either to one branch or the other, is the; most likely to come out successful in the; end. Who employs a physician to perform; the duties of a surgeon, or a carpenter to; build a brick or stone wall 1 And with def- ' Vo. 2. Whi/ the East cannot coinpete with the West. 63 irence I submit to intelligent farmers, whe- her there is not as much difference in the nodes and rules of breeding stock and fat- ing it, as in that of raising grain and bul- )Ous roots "? It seems almost incredible to an American, hat in many parts of Great Britain and ?'rance, the farmers pay $20 per acre rent )er annum, by tlie hundred acres, and yet hey drive a thriving business, by adapting heir products to their location, and yet it ieldom happens that similar articles are ligher there than in the New York markets. I am inclined to think there is a mistaken )pinion very general among our farmers, jiat they should produce at least as much of jertain crops as they consume; as well may I t be held, that every farmer should doctor I lis family, or plead his law, — when he can jurchase cheaper than produce, or realize a greater income by selling one thing and juying another, why not do so. Men are the sport of circumstances, when Circumstances are the sport of men. That farmer must play a loosing game, who will not adapt his business to circum- stances and location. In connection with this subject we should not lose sight of the different breeds of stock. One is best adapted to the dairy and another to the shambles, but neither possesses both properties in the highest degree. And while it is admitted that the Leicester, Southdown and Cheviot sheep are the best mutton breeds, yet I see our farmers trying to compete with the West in raising Merinos for wool. The Durham it is demonstrated is the best breed for beef, on account of its size and early ma- turity, and we are fatting and breeding dairy cattle, though we see the great West flood- ing the country with butter, cheese and fine wool. But in choosing breeds of stock in this country, I find great care must be taken ; we have as inuch quackery in this line as in medicine. And this is one reason, I im- agine, why the best arc not more esteemed by our firmers; tlie truth is, they are seldom met with in our quarter, though so many profess to have them, we are often led astray by the name, without having informed our- selves as to the true form or figure of these animals. I find we labour under another difficulty of quite a serious nature. The United States has a great variety of climate, vary- ing in many respects from that of Great Britain, in its products, the habits of the people, and modes of agriculture. These facts should be carefully considered by the American farmer; while I would give Eu- rope all the credit for her fine breeds of stock, I must insist that, aside from fatting and breeding, very little of her system of farming is adapted to this country. And yet most of our works on agriculture are either reprints or compilations of British publica- tions. I grant it is true in the main, " that the modes and rules of culture which are successful in one place will be so in others, provided we adapt them to the varying con- ditions of climate and situation,'" but this adaptation seems to be the trouble or diffi- culty we have to encounter, and hence the necessity of a system of our own. But while our farmers are in the habit of reading the penny news, instead of our ag- ricultural papers and quarterly reviews, which may cost them from one to three dollars per annum, and are loosing as many hundreds by bad management, there is but little hope for improvement. Even England never woke up to this sub- ject, until George the III. turned farmer, and thereby made it fashionable in that country — *' necessity is the mother of in- vention," and the time is not far distant when our farmers will realize the applica- tion. What gave Bakewell his local im- mortality and wealth, but his genius in pro- ducing an improved breed of mritton sheep. Have our farmers less skill in this artf Let farmers consider that book-making in the present age, both here and abroad, has become a trade of the printer. That au- thors think much less than they write, and practice less than either. Therefore it is that their works are of so little value to ihe practical man. I find on experiment, that the pumpkin is even a better feed for sheep than the turnip, when run through the cutting machine, and every American farmer knows its utility in fatting cattle, and that it may be grown abundantly in a field of corn without injury to the crop. I hope soon, however, to see the day when our practical farmers in different sections of the country will perceive the importance of thinking and writing more on their prac- tice, with a view of seeking information and imparting knowledge to each other; by this means, and this only, we may soon es- tablish an American system, however varied may be the climate, soil, or location. — Ame^ rican Quarterly Journal of Science. Dec. 19th, 1845. Hilly pastures with running waters, are better than meadows for the dairy: and cows should be driven gently from the pasture, not worried by dogs or unruly boys. 64 Adulteration of Milk. Vol. XI. Adulteration of Milk. The subject of the adulteration of milk, was some time since investigated with great care, by M. Barruel of Paris. Although his observations were intended to apply only to the milk of that city, yet there is little doubt that they will also be found applicable, in a greater or less degree, to all large towns and cities. He commences in stating that all instruments for ascertaining the purity of milk, which are designed to attain this end by indicating differences in its density or specific gravity, are inaccurate and use- less. For on the one hand, pure milk differs much in its density, according to the fodder used by the dairyman for his cows, the buty- raceous matter which imparts lowness of density, being made to preponderate by some kinds of food, and the caseous part, which increases its density, being made preponder- ant by other kinds. And on the other hand, although water, the ordinary substance with which milk is adulterated by the dealers in the French metropolis, would alone cause a great diminution of density, the dealers know ■very well how to prevent that eflect, and thereby render the aerometer or lactometer useless. For this purpose it is only neces- sary to dissolve in the milk a little sugar or sugar-candy, which is required at all evencs, in order to correct the flat taste imparted to milk by diluting it with water. The result of M. Barruel'e inquiries on the adulteration of milk in Paris, was, that no positively noxious substance was, in any case, found in it; that a common practice was to remove a considerable portion of the cream, by al- lowing the milk to stand for a limited time, and then to dilute the remainder, or skim- med milk, with water, and to give it the ap- parent qualities of new milk by one or other of the methods now to be mentioned. The opacity of the milk being much diminished by the water, so that it acquired a bluish ap- pearance, it was at one time usual to correct this defect, by previously mixing wheat flour with the water with which the milk was adulterated. But this deception was too obvious to the senses. Any person, even of indifferent delicacy of palate, could detect the altered taste of the milk; and besides, after two hours' rest, the flour precipitated to the bottom, and the translucent blueness was restored again to the milk. To prevent this inconvenience, the dealers boiled the flour in the water before mixing it with the milk; and in this manner an opaque mixture was obtained, which retained its opacity on standing. As even with this addition, the fabricated liquid had a fiat taste, sugar or sugar-candy was dissolved in it, by which means the peculiar sweetness of the milk nearly restored. This adulteration, however, had become so easy of detection by means of iodine, which renders a mix- ture of bojled flour and water blue by its action on the fecula of the flour, that M. Barruel was in a belief, that the fraud now described had been but little practised in Paris. Driven from this species of adulter- ation, the dealers resort to another mode, so ingenious, that M. Barruel conceived they i could not have discovered it without the aid | of some scientific person. The method is so simple and cheap, that for one franc — 18| cents — the opacity and colour of milk may be imparted to fifleen quarts of water, and so far secret that no disagreeable taste can be detected. This is nothing more than the employment of an emulsion of almonds, for which some dealers, more greedy and less cautious than the rest, substituted hemp seed, which, however, is liable to impart' an acrid taste. By either of these means milk may be diluted to an indefinite extent; and the only corrective required is a little sugar or sugar-candy, to remove the fliat taste. A peculiar advantage possessed by the latter I mode of adulteration over every other, is, that the vegetable animal matter, or vege- i table albumen of the emulsion, by which Si the oil of almonds is held in suspension, is n coagulated or curdled, precisely like casein, j by the addition of acids. This mode of| adulteration, however, may be readily de- I tected by the two following circumstances, viz. — the coagulum or curd, formed by acida in the mixture of milk and almond emulsion, as compared with that formed in milk alone, i is but a little more than one-half; and the* facility with which, by kneading the coagu-cj lum with the fingers, oil may be squeezed^ out of the almond curd, while none exists in^ that of the milk alone. _ i Another adulteration to which milk is] subjected in Paris, is to add a small quantityij of sub-carbonate of potash, or of soda, which;* saturating the acetic acid as it forms, pre-j vents the coagulation or separation of curd ;, and some of the dealers practise this with? so much success as to gain the reputation of^ selling milk that never turns. Oflen when; coagulation has taken place, they restore thei fluidity by a greater or less addition of onei or the other of the fixed alkalies. The ace-i tate of potash, or of soda, thus formed, has: no injurious effect on health, and besides,i milk naturally contains a small quantity of acetate of potash, but not an atom of free carbonated alkali. Hence the detection of this mixture is evidently the most difficult of the processes recommended in the various adulterations mentioned in M. Barruel's No. 2. To preserve Rose Bushes. — Ag. Statistics of JV. York. 57 To Preserve Rose Bushes. The Horticulturist takes the following from Profes sor Lindley's Gardeners' Chronicle of the Seventh month last. It may prove useful to the lover of flow- ers.—Ed. What is a Parapetticoat? We are asto- nished at the numerous inquiries thit have reached us about this article. Its name re- veals its nature. It is a hybrid between a parasol and a petticoat. This is not banter but fact. And why should there not be such a thing ? What is there in rerum natura to prevent an ingenious person from apply- ing those two needful articles of shelter and dress to gardening purposes! They will fade, and wear thin, in the custody of the most economical gentlewoman, and to find 1 use for them afterwards is an adaptation Df means to end which cannot be too highly commended. Let us give a receipt for making a Para- petticoat. First find a good sized parasol, or small umbrella, covered with cotton, and not rubbed into holes. Then select a cast- aff petticoat, not a crinoline, which Mrs, Malaprop calls a Kremlin, nor yet a flannel, but some other form of the vestment ; it need not be very full ; indeed, it will be setter for being scanty; sow up the opening, md it is ready for attachment to the parasol. For this purpose the latter instrument must ije opened, and kept so; then the upper end Df the petticoat is to be sowed to the edge )f the parasol, and a staff" six feet or more ong is to be secured to its handle. Thus ;he parapetticoat is constructed. But what a word ! cries Sir Erasmus Ver- jal. What a barbarous compound of Greek ind Saxon ! The thing may be well enough, )ut its name is unendurable. Pray call it a )arachiton, or a parachitonisk. We can lave no objection to the change, if the world ^refers it ; and we agree with Sir Erasmus, liat it will be as well to adopt it when para- sol is called paraholion, and parapluie a jaraombrion — but not till then. And what is the Parapetticoat for? For, Madam ! for a most important purpose. It s an instrument of execution; it is the shirt )f Nessus ; it is the robe of Atropos. It is ;o enable the gardener to dispatch his mor- al enemies. It is to relieve his rose bushes rom that foe which he assails in vain with ;nufl^, gas water, and smelling salts. It is 0 kill the green-fly, {Aphis.) The instrument is used thus. In the first )lace the petticoat is drawn up till it rests ipon the outside of the parasol. The staff )f the latter is then introduced perpendicu- arly into the centre of a rose bush, and se- cured in its place by being pushed into the ground. The petticoat being then drawn down, the bush is completely covered in by the garment. rigot horrida tergo Palla . The gardener then blows his tobacco smoke beneath it : in a few minutes the rose bush is enveloped in a cloud which has no outlet; the green-fly seeks in vain to escape from the fatal atmosphere which enters every fold and lurking-place; he clings in vain to his beloved rose-buds; his grasp relaxes; he falls; he dies; and with him Unnumbered corses strew the fatal plain. Five minutes suffice for the execution. The veil may then be raised, the instrument removed, and the operation repeated upon a new horde of delinquents. Beware, however, of leaving the poison which killed Aphis, upon the leaves of the rose tree. Let them be immediately syr- inged abundantly with lukewarm water, so as to remove the odor, or it may be found that in destroying our enemies we have also ruined our friends. Agricultural Statistics of N. York. — The N. Y. Herald publishes from an official source, the Agricultural Statistics of that State, and gives the following aggregates : Acres of improved land in the State, 11,767,276 Acres of Barley under culti- vation, 192,.503 Bushels of Barley raised, 2,108,764 Acres of Peas under cultiva'n, 117,379 Acres of Rye sown, 317,099 Bushels of Rye harvested, 2,936,322 Acres of Oats sown, 1,026,915 Bushels of Oats harvested, 26,323,051 ■' Peas raised, 1,761,503 Acres of Beans under culti- vation, - 16,231 Bushels of Beans raised, 162,187 Acres of Buckwheat under cultivation, 2.55,495 Bushels of Buckwheat raised, 3,364,679 Acres of Turnips under culti- vation, 15,322 Bushels of Turnips raised, 1,250,332 Acres of Potatoes under cul- tivation, 2.55,762 Bushels of Potatoes raised, 23,65.3,418 Acres of Flax under cultivation, 46,089 Pounds of Flax raised, 2,897,062 Acres of Wheat sown, 1,013,665 Wheat harvested, 958,233 Bushels of Wheat raised, 13,391,770 Acres of Corn sown, 595,134 Bushels of Corn harvested, 14,722,114 58 Remarls on the Black Wart of the Plum Tree. Vol. XL From Downing's Horticulturist. Remarks on the Black Wart of the Plum Tree. In a recent number of the Boston Culti- vator, there appeared a reply to the question of a correspondent, ^^for a remedy for warts on Plum trees" in which the editor recom- mends the use of salt, and cites the practice of Dr. S. A. Shurtliff, of Brookline, who, he says, "excels in raising plums; his trees being free from black warts," etc. I may fairly claim to have had some experience with salt, as I have probably used as much or more of this article in the cultivation of the plum as any individual, having applied in February, 1845, five hogsheads on an acre, and the year previous about one-third of this quantity; and for the last two sea- sons, my trees have produced greatly, par- ticularly the Green Gage Plum. My main object, however, in writing you at this time, is to give you an account of my trees as they appeared this spring. Soon after the flowering season, I observed a great number of the warts or excrescences, of a light brown colour, upon the branches — in many cases, to an extent of at least ten inches in length — breaking out generally upon the joints. They are not confined to those shoots of small growth, but I find them upon strong and weak shoots indiscriminate- ly. I have carefully cut at least fifty of these excrescences, and have not been able to detect a single loorm or insect. That an insect may be sometimes found in these knots, would not be surprising, as they are of a softer nature when they first appear than the bark, and insects may then find it a good situation for their eggs. But I do not believe they are produced by one, and least of all the curculio. My fruit has been most satisfactorily preserved for two years past, from the curculio, by the use of salt. The varieties of plums which have been the most affected by knots this season with me, are the Frost Gage, Prince's Imperial, and the Red Gage ; the Green Gage but little affected; Roe's Autumn Gage only somewhat touched by the disease. Those not at all affected are Dana's Yellow and the Wilkinson Prune, a large oblong blue free- stone, a native of Beverly, Mass. I ventured to suggest, in the " Book of Fruits," that these knobs may be produced somewhat as the excrescences are, which we find upon the Azalea or Swamp Pink, by an extravasation of sap. My opinion — and we all have a right to that — now is, that it is caused by a diseased state of the sap ; and as Governor Lincoln said of the potatoe rot, " it is death to the plant at last, if not cut off." I trust that the Horticulturist will contain the opinions of your cultivators and j yourself on this subject. I have cut from ! about fifteen trees as much as could ba | wheeled in a common garden barrow, of , limbs, &c., containing these unsightly ex- ] crescences. , Yours truly, John M. Ives. , Salem, Mass., July SOth, 1846. ; Remarks. — Two of our correspondents, ' who are very acute observers and zealous ; cultivators, are pursuing a series of experi- \ ments with a view to clearing up the un- 1 certain state of existing information respect- ! ing this disease, which is fatal to the Plum i tree in some parts of the country. We ■ hope by the close of this year, to be able to : lay before our readers some interesting re- ''- suits on this subject. If we recollect rightly, Dr. ShurtlifTs ' practice was the application of brine to the < wounded branch, after the wart had been \ cut out. 1 The Plum is naturally a marine tree, and i it is surprising how much salt it will assimi- i late and thrive upon. We have, ourselves, ; given a single large tree a half bushel of \ salt in a season, applied to the surface of the i ground in the spring, over an area as wide ' as the extent of the branches. The tree ] was in a sickly and enfeebled state, and it ; had the effect of restoring it to a healthy ' and luxuriant condition. But we considered i this an extreme case, and should not recom- \ mend the abundant use of salt every year. ' Mr. Ives' garden, as we know, is raiher ■ celebrated, in a neighbourhood not remark- able for plums, for its abundant production i of this fruit ; and he attributes it to the de- : structive effects of the salt on the curculio. | This coincides with our own experience. — ' Ed. of Horticulturist. Chicken Salad. — Boil a chicken that i weighs not more than a pound and a half. ' When very tender, take it up, cut it in | small strips, and make the following sauce \ and turn over it : boil four eggs three min- j utes — take them out of the shells, mash and I mix them with a couple of tablerspoonfulls ' of olive oil, or melted butter, two-thirds of, a tumblerfull of vinegar, a tea-spoonfull of' mixed mustard, a tea-spoonfull of salt, a j little pepper, and essence of celery, if you | have it — if not it can be dispensed with. In \ making chicken salad, the dressing should : not be put on until a few minutes before the i salad is to be eaten ; as by laying in it the | chicken and celery will become hard. ; No. 2. Consiunpiive Patients. 59 Consumptive Patients. The Horticulturist of the present month, in noticing Bernan's IRstory and jirt of Warming and Ventilating Rooms, dj-c, makes the following extract from the work. It is, to say the least of it, quite amusing in its cha- racter, and we apprehend will not be likely to do barm. We all know that the freshness of the healthy milch cow's breath is proverbial; ami the editor very well remembers to have heard it long ago observed, that the atmosphere of the cow-stable w'as wholesome. The subject of warming and ventilating our apart- ments, is by the way, one which we seem to know but little about. We forget that we too frequently econo mize the fuel we use, at the e.xpense of health. It can- not be heallhy to live in our coal stove rooii.s, where all the heat is retained, and no circulation of air kept up. A little extra fuel is cheaper than the Doctor's bill, or diseased lungs,— Ep, " After an illness, says Madame Meze- ray, during which I took little care of my- self, I fell into a consumption. At length I spit blood in clots, and had other bad symp- toms. I lost my sleep; and being as ill as possible, I had several consultations with the first physicians in Paris. They concluded my complaint was too far advanced to leave any hope of a cure; but they prescribed ass's milk, and exercise on horseback; which last I was too weak to take. " I was nineteen. I beheld my end ap- proach with deep dismay. One day, when I was bewailing myself, a very sensible friend of mine paid me a visit. In the midst of his condolence he said, since all the physicians abandon you, let me bring you a man who is treated here as a charla- tan because he is not known, but who in my opinion is a man of merit. He brought him. I spit blood in clots. I was in such violent pain, and my fever was so high, that I cried out, 'Ah, if there be yet time, save me!' He promised to do all in his power; but I heard him say, in a low voice, that it was very late. He made me promise to follow his orders exactly, how painful soever they might be; and I kept my word. Finding that a remedy he prescribed had not the de- sired effect, he gave orders for a cow-house to be prepared for me, which was finished in a day, in a coach-house belonging to my house. They broke open a window, and contrived stalls for three cows; a wooden railing, high enough for me to lean upon, was all that separated me from the animals. My bed was placed upon planks about a foot from the ground, the better to let the filth run under; and the planks were purposely ill-joined, that the vapour miglit rise through them ; and this was so strong, that every thing white which was brought in became reddish in a short time. " My apartment was divided into two rooms. That which I lived in was pretty large, and held a bed with curtains, sur- rounded by a gauze blind to keep away the flies, which always abound in stables, and are particularly insupportable during illness, a wooden table, two straw chairs without cushions, and bare walls — such was my chamber. There was a sort of anti-chamber for the woman who took care of the cows. My surgeon and waiting-maid lodged over head. I had bells to call them at pleasure. "I soon spit less blood. After being a week in the cow-house, my legs ceased swelling. Other symptoms improved. The night sweats I almost always had continued long after, but finally left me. From the moment I entered it, I renounced every species of food except milk : I did not taste bread even for nine months. People came to see me as an object of curiosity. The Duchess of Orleans paid me a visit; and, after my recovery, she recommended Doctor SaifFert to the Duke, which was the means of making his fortune. Here I remained nine months without intermission, with the exception of a few rides in a close carriage. In short, he saved me at the expense of my hair only, which all fell off. It was neces- sary to repair my fore teeth, which I had neglected in my illness; and I was abso- lutely forbid to play on the harp, which had made my breath very short ; but what is all this in comparison with life] I am now be- come quite a strong woman ; and although not so vigorous now at thirty-six as when I was nineteen, for all that I think I shail weather life out very well." " In daring to commit such cases to the public," says the benevolent and enthusias- tic Beddoes, " I feel that I am preparing a feast for those who resort to ridicule, if not as a test of truth, yet as the supreme delight of rational and immortal minds; but I hope also to inte'rest those whom no ludicrous ac- cessories can prevent from viewing with complacency the first awkward and unsteady advances towards an useful object." A daughter of the celebrated Priestly having applied for advice: "In her case, to have placed the smallest reliance on medi- cine," says the doctor, "would have been to encourage a fatal delusion ; and there only remained the choice between a sea-voyage and a constant residence with cows. She asked me which alternative I should prefer in her situation. I told her undoubtedly with cows." And she made the experiment un- der his direction. The stable provided for this lady was twenty-fourfeet long, fourteen feet wide, and nine feet high. A space partitioned off, waa 60 Consumptive Patients. — Indian Corn. Vol. XI. sufBcient to contain a bed, a table, and allow a little room to move about in. Its floor, formed of rough boards, was raised a few inches above the ground of the stable. The windows were ill-placed ; they faced the north, on account of the convenience of communicating with the house. They should have faced the south. Two cows were placed in it for a month, and three cows for the remaining five months. There was a small stove in the part where Mrs. Finch lay, which was used for two months, for nearly half the day, but after- wards only in extreme frost, or on the room feeling damp. The temperature for two months was kept from 60° to 65°, afterwards fi-om 65° to 70*, but in general at 68°. The temperature was found best between the two latter temper- atures, and the air at a medium between ex- cessive damp and too dry heat of a stove, The stove lighted in the morning to dry a little of the moisture collected during the night, was pleasantest to her feelings. Suc- cessive generations of flies were found to be a great nuisance, and the cordage and other parts of the bed were speedily rotted. The vapors, however, gave nobody cold, nor did any attendant suffer from a longer or shorter continuance in a medium so much warmer than the external atmosphere. On the con- trary, one lady who paid many and long visits, had her symptoms of chronic rheuma- tism much alleviated. The management of the cows was found to be a matter of some importance. For a month or six weeks they were allowed very little straw, nor was their standing cleaned; afterwards they had plenty of straw, and their beds were kept tolerably dry. Hay of the best quality and free from dust, was found preferable on all accounts, and straw that was clean and dry. The cows were watered twice a day, but not so sparingly as they might have been. The better the hay they were supplied with, the less water was necessary. Their horns were noisy, par ticularly during the night; on that account young cows without horns would have been more desirable, and such as were young in calf; and halters better than chains to tie them with. Mr. Finch observed, that if the patient could have been on a low floor above the cows, many disagreeable circumstances would have been avoided. The eff'ect of their wet was all along- nauseous to a stranger, but the feelings of the patient should alone be consulted. The genial warmth relieved oppression on the chest, took off restlessness, and produced a feeling the lady described by comparing it to nourishment conveyed through the pores of the skin ; and so different were her feel- ings in the cow-house to what they were j before, that she would have been reluctant j to have changed her apartment for the night, ; however she might have wished a cleaner ! and more cheerful one for the day. After the first night, the air was, to use her own expression, balsamic. In this she remained through autumn and , winter, for six months, with three excep- \ tions. About a week after her entrance, ' she slept a night out of the cow-house, i when the hectic symptoms and night sweats \ which had left her, returned. Six weeks afterwards, she lived for three days in an : apartment three degrees warmer than the cow-house. The night sweats did not re- ; turn until the third night, and her breathing became laborious ; instantaneous relief took i place on returning to the cow-house. On a ' subsequent removal for a week no relapse occurred. The effect on the cows living in a climate at this temperature was not observed by the ! doctor, but it is pleasing to reflect that while i alleviating human suffering, the second mo- thers of mankind were benefited them- '■ selves. "A cow," says Anderson, "to enjoy existence, requires a temperature not lower \ than 50 degrees, nor higher than 70." But \ he sets one limit too low: a cow does not! appear to feel pleasure in a climate under 60 j degrees; and we have seen them in a north- j easterly wind prefer a moist warm cow- i house at 75 degrees, to one 10 degrees j lower. During the following winter, Mrs. Finch confined herself to an apartment heated ar- ■ tificially by a stove; but she then said, "Ii still prefer the air of the cow-house to my ; warm room, although it is of a good size, and j lies to the sun." Indian Corn. — We have more than once ' recently referred to the popularity which | Indian corn, as an article of food, is attain-; ing in this country. It will prove, ere long, ! a valuable export. The Government is mostj anxious that it should supersede, to a great i extent, the potatoe amongst the labouring j poor, and the recent scarcity of that escu-i lent is favourable to its introduction. Car- goes of Indian corn are daily reaching the j British ports from the United States, and ; large quantities have been released from \ bond, dutyfree, under the Treasury order. j Shops for its exclusive retail sale, are being i opened in many of the large towns, and the ! American mode of using it is generally. I adopted. — Liverpool Times. \ No. 2. Pin Making. — The Guano Trade. 69 a small stream in artificial channels, more than a mile. Lands that did not yield half a ton to the acre, were thus made at once to yield two tons ; by which means I added to my crop six or eight tons.", E. Wilbur, formerly of Yates county, N. Y., while a resident of that county, watered, artificially, a very dry and unproductive seven acre lot, by means of side channels from a stream which passed through the centre. About one day's work was needed in arranging and ploughing these furrows. " The efi^ect was such," said he, " that it paid me a hun- dred fold for the seven acres, after the first year. It produced for several years, while I owned it, from two and a half to three tons of hay to the acre ; and the man I sold it to, told me last year that he hardly ever saw such grass — there was hardly room on the ground to make the hay after it was mowed." In the vicinity of Philadelphia irrigation has been occasionally practised. Permanent meadows are selected on the two facing slopes towards a stream, from which the water is diverted by successive parallel channels, carried as high up the sides of the valley as the head of the water will ad- mit. Two and a half tons of hay to the acre, are a common crop on lands thus treated. A brother of the writer, by spreading a small stream over the surface of his meadow, tripled at least the product from the land. A successful farmer of western New York, by allowing the wash or liquid manure from a barn on elevated ground to spread over about five acres of meadow, cut from a part of it no less than five tons of dried hay. Dr. Kirtland, of Cleveland, says that during the past parching season, a field was made to produce two tons of hay to the acre, by turning on it the wash of the yards and road, and the water from two small springs. He also states that an intelligent farmer purchased a farm consisting mostly of barren side hills, and dry, sterile, sandy flats. " He discovered, with the eye of an engineer, that a stream of some size might be turned from a deep glen, by means of a dam, and conducted upon one side of the glen, so as to be accumulated upon the back part of the farm. From this point it discharges at plea- sure, upon different fields, in different direc- tions. It is an interesting spectacle to view his different dams and canals, and to see the brook discharging from level to level, divid- ing and subdividing, over many acres, spread' ing fertility through all its varied meander ings. At this time the farm sustains a flock of 500 or 600 of the best Merino sheep. Twenty years since, it would not have fed a twentieth part of that number. Accidental instances often exhibit strong- ly the advantages of watering. In a meadow belonging to the writer, a part of the land was occasionally overflowed by a large stream ; another portion, of similar soil, was left dry. The watered portion was usually double and sometimes triple in product; and so clear was the line of demarcation between these portions, that high-water mark could be distinctly traced by the difference in growth, at any time before cutting the hay. Meadows on the lower side of the Erie canal in Niagara county, were noticed last summer, when water had escaped from the canal, to be at least double in growth in consequence ; and a farmer who allows the wash from the public road, during all rains, to pass upon his adjacent meadow, cuts an- nually two and a half tons of hay to the acre. — N. Y. Agricultural Transactions. Pin Making. — A Pin Manufactory has been started at Cabotville. Benedict & Ball have in successful operation three ma- chines of their own invention for making the solid head pin, and one machine for sticking them on paper. They now make 240 pins a minute in each machine, and calculate, when they have perfected some parts of their machine, to make 300 pins a minute, or with three machines 54,000 per hour. Their sticking machine has caused them some considerable labour to perfect. They now stick 1200 pins per minute, the roll of paper rolling out to any length that may be desired, with a wider margin every ten rows, where it should be divided into the common paper. The Guano Trade. — It appears from a statistical document on Guano, published by the Peruvian government, that in the year 1841, the. first year of commerce in this manure, there were 6,125 tons exported from the coast of Peru in twenty-three ships. In the following years the exportation was con- siderably augmented. Thus, from the year 1842, to the month of February of the past year, 106 vessels left Peru with about 32,000 tons; of which 2,522 were exported to France in eight French vessels, 300 to the United States, and 300 to Italy and Austria. The rest, nearly nine-tenths, took the direction of EnMand. We have an abundant season for for fruit. Of peaches there has been an overflow. About the first week in this month, prices were extremely low. 70 A Brilliant Whiteivash. — Editorial Notices. Vol. XL A Brilliant Whitewash. — " Take half a bushel of nice, unslaked lime, slake it with boiling water, covering it during the process to keep in the steam. Strain the liquor through a fine sieve or strainer, and add to it a peck of clean salt, previously dissolved in warm water; three pounds of ground rice, ground to a thin paste and stirred and boiled hot; half a pound of powdered Spanish whiting, and a pound of clean glue, which has been previously dissolved by first soak- ing it well, and then hanging it over a slow fire, in a small kettle, within a large one filled with water. Add five gallons of hot water to the whole mixture; stir it well and let it stand a few days covered from the dirt. It should be put on quite hot; for this purpose it can be kept in a kettle on a port- able furnace. It is said that about one pint of this mixture will cover a square yard upon the outside of a house, if properly ap- plied. Brushes more or less small, may be used according to the neatness of the job required. It retains its brilliancy for many years. There is nothing of the kind that will compare with it either for inside or out side walls." THE FARMER§' CABITVET, AND Philadelphia, Ninth Month, 1846. The Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, it will be remembered, holds its Annual Exhibition at the Rising-Sun Tavern, some three miles from this city, on the Germantovvn road, on the 30th inst., and the ploughing match will take place the next day. A list of the premiums offered, &c., will be found in our No. for the Seventh month last. We anticipate a large gathering of our friends, as well as a fine display of cattle, &c., &c. Our Horticultural Society is busy in its preparations for the Exhibition which commences to-morrow, as does also the Annual Show of the New Castle County Agricultural Society, near Wilmington, Del. The New York State Society commences its Exhibition to-day at Auburn, and continues to-morrow and next day. George S. Appleton, No. 148 Chesnut street, has published for 1847, Everijbodifs Jlhnanac and Diary which, besides the usual calender, list of the United States officers, &,c., has a diary with room for memo- randa for every day in the year. It is a very conveni- ent Almanac for the business man. We think it a mistake, not to have given the Dominical letter. It may often be made use of when an Almanac is not at hand. We have them constantly for sale, price 37i cts The Horticultural Society of New Jersey will hold its Annual Meeting and Exhibition at Princeton on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th inst., when premiums will be awarded for a great variety of fruits, flowers, &,c. We refer our friends to the advertisement of Ezra Stokes. Catalogues of his trees may be obtained here, and orders forwarded to this office will be promptly at- tended to. Agency for the Purchase & Sale of IMPROVED BREEDS OP CATTLE & SHEEP. The subscriber takes this method of informing his friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, &c., for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AARON CLEMENT. Sept. 15th, 1846. FOR SALE, A BEAUTIFUL FARM, Nearly adjoining the city of Annapolis, Maryland, containing 350 acres of land, naturally of good quality, and during the last four years, I have had it highly improved with clover, plaster, ashes, lime, and other manures to the amount of upwards of fifteen hundred dollars. The fences and buildings are all in good re- pair, and divided into ten departments, including one peach orchard, containing upwards of 1500 trees, in fine health of three summers' growth, and an apple orchard in full bearing. About 150 acres of this land are covered with the best sort of building timber. I have a good wharf, where a large schooner can lie and receive or deliver produce. This farm is very pleasantly situated, high and dry, and about rolling enough to cast off extra rain water,— also has good spring water in several of the fields. The buildings consist of a good dwelling, nearly new, two brick ser- vant houses, one house for the manager, two large to- bacco houses, 30 by 70 feet each, one is used for a barn ; stabling, corn, milk, and hen houses. From the above dwelling I can go to the Annapolis market in about fifteen minutes, where we have a tolerably good mar- ket for hay, peaches, sweet potatoes, milk and butter. Of milk about $2000 worth may be sold annually. Freight is cheap to Baltimore, which is an excellent market, with which we have daily intercourse, both by steam and otherwise. But few farms have the same opportunities of doing business to profit, being now in good order to make money, and only on account of ad- vanced 8. For the next best, to C. S. Smith, for Kempton, $4. For the best bull of Devon blood, to Wil- liam Blackburne, for Governor, ^8. For the next best, to Judge Longstreth, for Doctor, 84. Ayrshire and Alderney bulls — none of- fered. For the best Durham cow over four years old, to Mr. Gowen, for Miss Model, $8. For the next best, to Mr. Gowen, for Ellen Kirby, $4. For the best Durham cow, between two and four years old, to Samuel Overn, for Miss Lucy, $8. For the next best, to Mr. Gowen, for Bessy Bell, .f4. Durham heifers between two and three years old — none offered. For the best heifer of mixed breed, be- tween two and three years old, to Samuel Cooper, for Lady Jane, .$4. For the next best, to Jacob Serrill, for Rose, $2. For the best cow of Devon blood, to Judge Longstreth, for Rosa, ^6. For the next best, to Owen Sheridan, $3. For the best Ayrshire cow, to George H. Thompson, for Ayrie, $6. For the best Alderney cow, to Philip Physick, for May Flower, $6. For the next best, to C. S. Smith, for Cynthia, ^'3. For the best cow of mixed blood, to Sam- uel Cooper, for Fair Hellen, $4. For the next best, to C. S. Smith, for Fanny, ^2. For the best cow of native breed, to George Martin, for Carey, $4. For the next best, to George Martin, for Strawberry, -12. For the best yoke of working oxen, refer- ence being had to their performance, to Mr. Blight, .«ilO. No fat ox, or steer, or heifer offered. Many very fine Durhams were exhibited by Mr. Gowen, in addition to those to which premiums were awarded — among them hia bull Bruce, and cow Cleopatra — the latter of which was by the rules excluded, having heretofore been honoured with the Society's iiighest premium. The Judges are also pleased to observe a considerable improvement in the Devon breed exhibited. Some fine cattle of the mixed and native breeds were exhibited by S. S. Richie and others. The committee have to express regret that the number of cattle exhibited was No. 3. Imported Stock. 81 cious, broad and square, stretching forward, and neither fleshy, low hung, nor coarse; the milk veins large and prominent, teats short, and all pointing outward ; skin thin and loose ; hair soft and woolly." This is an accurate description of the Ayrshire stock imported some seven or eight years ago by the State Agricultural Society. The improved Ayrshire stock of the present day, which are descended from the famous Stcinley stock, and of which the recent im- portation by the Society consists, differ in some respects from those above described by Aiton. The head is shorter, wider be- tween the eyes and horns, thinner in the fore-quarter; the shoulders finer and more closely set; the limbs and body shorter, and the joints more closely and firmly set; the abdomen deeper and more capacious; the udder broader, the milk veins more promi- nent, and the teats hanging directly down ; hair longer, though more silky, and finer in the handling; and are altogether a hardier race of animals than the Ayrshires of former days. " The colour," says Robertson, " is gene- rally a brown of many hues, from dark to yellow, intermixed and mottled in many a varied form and proportion with white ; al- most none are of one colour. In a herd of forty or fifty, there will no two of them be alike in colour — in this respect exhibiting a diversity not unlike a bed of tulips, and of as many hues and shades, in an endless va- riety of beauty." The North Devon stock has long been celebrated as a breed of cattle beautiful in the highest degree. For the dairy, they cannot be considered equal to the Ayrshires; but, viewing them as uniting the three qual- ities of working, fattening, and milking, they may be considered as unrivalled. Some of the writers upon English stock give them a high rank as milkers, and Mr. Conyers, of Capt Hill, near Epping, a district almost ex- clusively devoted to the purposes of the dai- ry, preferred the North Devons, "on account of their large produce, whether in milk, butter, or by suckling." " The North Devon oxen," says an Eng- lish writer, " are unrivaled at the plough. They have a quickness of motion which no other breed can equal, and which very few horses exceed. They have also a docility and goodness of temper, and also a stoutness and honesty at work, to which many teams of horses cannot pretend." Such is the character given of the breeds of cattle — a bull and four cows of each — which the Society have imported with a view of improving the stock of the country; and in order that there should be no mistake or disappointment as to the character of the respective breeds for purity of blood, and with a view of obtaining the best animals upon the most reasonable terms, the trus- tees decided on sending out an agent for the purpose of making the selection. And ac- cordingly, Mr. Alexander Bickett, of Low- ell, a gentleman of intelligence, and an ex- cellent judge of cattle, who had resided for some years in Scotland, and personally known and higlily respected by most of the owners of distinguished herds of cows in and about Ayrshire, was engaged in July last to proceed to England and make the purchase. Mr. Bickett had, within a few years past, attended some of the cattle shows in Scotland — had noticed the best stock, and knew where he could place his hand upon the best cattle in the country. The acquaintance of Mr. Bickett with the respective owners enabled him to treat with them upon terms much more favourable to the Society than could have been done by a stranger. The four Ayrshire cows and the Ayrshire bull selected by him, are probably equal, if not superior, to any other five cat- tle that could be purchased in Scotland. They are all descended from the purest and best blood of the Ayrshire stock. In the selection of the North Devon stock, Mr. Bickett applied directly to the Earl of Leicester, from whose beautiful herd of North Devon cows he hoped to be allowed to make the purchase. When it was made known to the young Earl that the stock was wanted for the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, he generously and very readily fell in with the views of Mr. Bickett; and, possessing all the kind feel- ings of his father, the late venerable Earl of Leicester, toward the people of this country, he allowed Mr. B. to select from his flock, at a very moderate price, a cow and three beautiful heifers, all in calf by one of the most celebrated North Devon bulls in the country. The Earl having no bull that he could part with, he recommended a young bull of Mr. Blomfield, which Mr. Bickett succeeded, after much importunity, in pur- chasing. The cattle were all shipped at Liverpool, about the first of September last, and arrived in Boston about the first of October. They were attended on the voyage by Mr. Bickett, and with so much care and fidelity on his part that no injury happened to them, and they were in as fine condition when landed in Boston as when put on board the ship at Liverpool. The North Devon cow calved on the passage from Europe, and the three 82 On the Adaptation of Farming to Circumstances. Vol. XI. North Devon heifers have calved since their arrival — the four calves furnishing a fine specimen of this beautiful stock. The appearance of the cattle on their ar- rival in Boston was very gratifying to the trustees and all who saw them, and such as was highly creditable to the skill of Mr. Bickett, and to his indefatigable care and attention to them while on shipboard. The cattle on their arrival were placed under the care of the subscriber, at his farm in Lexington, where the public are respect- fully invited to call and view them. From the American Quarterly Journal. On the Adaptation of Farming to Cir- cumstances. An article which appeared in the April No. of your Journal* has arrested my atten- tion, on the impossibility of the East offer- ing any competition to the West in the ordi- nary products of the farm, and if I had time, I should take pleasure in investigating the matter at large, in some important points which I think the author of that communi- cation has neglected. The fact is a very important one, that farmers in the middle and eastern States are wasting their ener gies, and throwing away tlieir resources, in the hopeless effort to produce the same arti- cles that are grown in the new States, and to sell them in their own markets at a price which will ])ay the interest on the value of their land — then, the expense of cultivation — and lastly, the cost of getting them to market — and after all this, yield a fair pro- fit. These four particulars must strike you, as they perhaps often have, as obstacles of no small magnitude in the way of the east- ern farmer. The greatest of them is unquestionably the first, and is fairly and satisfactorily ex- amined, quite at large, by your April cor- respondent. Col. T. J. Carmichael. In fact, he has done justice, as far as possible in the short space he employs, to all these hin- drances, and it really strikes me that if our farmers would now '■'■think on these things," a cliange of immense magnitude would be brought about. It seems to be a settled conviction in the minds of all our agriculturists now-a-days, that if a farmer does not grow a certain ar- ticle for the market, yet, if he is a consumer of that article, he must at least grow as much as he consumes. No idea can be more false, nor founded upon more fallacious grounds, as may be shown in very few words, not in * See last No. of the Cabinet, page 03. I the shape of argument, but appeal to every man's own practices in his pursuits. It would be considered very ridiculous for a farmer to tan his own hides, and make his own shoes, simply because he is obliged to wear them. There was a time when our farmers' wives carded and spun, and wove, oftentimes, the materials for their husband's coat and pantaloons. But they did it be- cause they were obliged to, and because they could do it cheaper than they could buy the materials. There are few or none who do this now, and they would be set down as possessed of little prudence or economy if they were to do it. They would be throwing away their time, which could be employed to better purpose. They would be throwing away the materials, which they could sell for more, in proportion, than they are worth in their homespun fabric. They know they can sell the material, and employ tlieir time and labour in the production of other things, which will purchase the cloth- ing they used to manufacture, and will leave tliem a handsome profit. This is a view of tlie case perfectly on a parallel with the farmer who continues to raise, at the present day of universal and far-reaching competi- tion, an article of food simply because he is a consumer of that article. He is infinitely more foolish who grows an article for mar- ket, when he can buy it cheaper than he can grow it, or can raise an article which lie can barter for it, at a large profit. As well should the cotton manufacturer be also a manufacturer of linens, and woolens, and silks, only because he wears shirts and pan- taloons, and his wife and daughters wear dresses of the latter material. • Must you sow no wheat 1 Not a bushel. No rye] None. No corn; No, nothing that another can raise cheaper than you, while at the same time you can raise on the same amount of land anything else which will purchase all you want of these and leave you a profit. If you do, you show a lamentable want of foresight, and it is not to be wondered at that you are not making money, and that your farm is getting behind hand. You need not run away to the West to avoid the evil, as so many have already done. You have the ability — the skill — ail but the enterprise — to revolutionize your bu- siness and put yourself at once in the way of becoming a rich and thriving flirmer. And how 1 That is the question we are about to answer, and we hope to do so in a way to open your eyes to the truth. The products of a farm must be adapted to the peculiar circumstances under which it is situated — its value in money — its con- tiguity to, or remoteness from market — the No. 3. On the Adaptation of Farming to Circumstances. 83 cost of growing, and the price in market, &c. And here is the point where our lead- ing, or would be leading men in agriculture, have missed the mark. I have already made it sufficiently manifest that, because a man owns a farm and cultivates it, is no reason why he should raise every product which will grow under his latitude. Better by far would it be for him, if he would grow some one product which would pay him. The character of the soil — its chemical and mechanical properties, are important to be known and understood, but the character of the market is a matter of greater moment. By the proper application of manures, and good cultivation of the soil, a man utterly unversed in the science of the thing, may gather large crops and remunerating ones, if he has an eye to the market he is to sell in, otherwise he will find it a losing game. It should be the object of leading men, to show the practical farmer the true extent and the proper bearing of his resources, be- fore anything else. If, in the State of New York, the same efforts had been made to induce farmers to adapt their labour and skill to the circumstances under which they live, that have been made to induce them to become scientific men, we should now pro- bably see a large part of the State a gar- den, compared with its existing barrenness. There has been too much loose and indefi- nite and unpointed direction to the business of farming, for a few years past. Instead of pointing out distinctly the direction in which the labour of the farmer can be applied so as to be most productive; instead of investi- gating dispassionately the condition under which the farmers in the different parts of this widely-extended country are placed, all efforts to improve his position and to advance the art have been a sort of vague induce- ment to him to try to increase and improve himself in the production of those very arti- cles in the production of which he has to compete with new soils and cheap lands, and every other disadvantage. It appears to me that the first step to make our farmers improve, should be to persuade them to give up the growing of such articles, and enter upon the cultivation of such as they have a manifest and real advantage in. And what are these articles'? In answering this question^ I might enu- merate a long list of what may be called perishable products of the soil, which I think will exclude all our grains, and the growth of wool, and in connection with them I would also include the raising and fattening of ani- mals for the butcher, and perhaps, collaterly the growth of the mulberry and the raising of silk worms. I say collaterally, because I think this business may be made profitable to the farmer, as a secondary occupation for his family during hours which they can rea- dily spare for the care of worms, without in- terfering with other avocations, and that in at least some cases, it may be a valuable ad- dition to the labour of the farm to fill up ac- tually vacant time, when the farm is devoted to such objects of culture as do not fill up the whole time. Such will be preeminently the case in the instance of farming under the necessity of circumstances which I am about to mention, and which it strikes me is the species of farming adapted to the Hud- son river valley, and the other great valleys and thoroughfares of this eastern part of this continent, which have ready — easy — and ra- pid communication with the great markets of the country, and especially with foreign markets. But I am an Orange county man, and I am looking now principally at the in- terests of the river valley in which I live. If my views appear to those farmers who live in other sections as applicable to their condition and circumstances, it is the easiest thing in the world for them to apply the suggestions, which I can assure them they are fully welcome to, with the wish that they may profit by them. I have spoken of regulating farming ac- cording to the circumstances in which a farmer is placed. In this I will not include the character of his soil, for he may make his soil what he pleases. Yet this might be, and actually is a circumstance of consider- able importance. But I shall have special reference to the farmer's proximity to mar- ket, including of course the value of his land and the cost of producing. And these circumstances alone should demand a serious consideration in the mind of any man who makes the Hudson river the means of trans- porting his produce to the market in the city of New York. It has been demonstrated, I think, that he can not grow wheat and offer any reasonable competition to the West. He may live by raising it, and that he could do if he had no market. But his object is to sell and make money, and he should not be content to do this at a disadvantage. What then shall he growl I must divide my answer in order to suit my circumstances. And in the first place a large portion of the early vegetables which are consumed in the city of New York are brought from a great distance, compared with many places on the river, where they might be grown to advantage. There is scarcely a little village, or landing place, which has not its market vessels, running a week or oftener, to market with the pro- ducts of the neighbourhood. Whenever, 84 On the Adaptation of Farming to Circumstances. Vol. XI. then, the place is in such proximity to the city that vegetables can be gathered in the afternoon and sent to market by daylight next morning, a considerable portion of the land and the industry of the inhabitants should be diverted to the growth of such articles as are now raised in the gardens about the city, to be sold as green vegeta- bles. I know that some will open their eyes in alarm, and tell me at once that I will have the market glutted and the produce all thrown into the river. I will have no such thing. A contingency of this kind may happen, that if all were to enter upon this branch of husbandry at once, the first year might exhibit a glutted market, for the pop- ulation of our large cities are not prepared for a sudden expansion in the quantity of any article of food. But as soon as it is as- certained that the amount in market is greater, and for sale cheaper, the demand will be increased, and prices will again be- come firm and profitable. The fact now is, that far less of wholesome vegetables, in the spring of the year, find their way to the large cities than the health of the popula tion demands, and with the health are im- plicated still more important considerations, of morals, &c. A vastly increased quantity might be consumed, and would be, if it were to become so plenty as once to become more necessary than it now is. The city of New York now depends for its usual supply of fresh vegetables for its vast populace, upon the few acres of ground cultivated for this purpose in its immediate vicinity. It is ca- pable, with advantage, of absorbing a much larger amount, and it w^ould afibrd a profit- able and endless market for thousands of acres of land within sixty miles. Again, the supply of articles for winter food, is gathered from all parts of the coun- try. The production of these is not even confined to the State, but they are brought from the far West, and with all the appa- rent abundance there is actual need for more. When we see the single article of potatoes alone, brought from all parts of this country not only, but even imported from Ireland and France, we ought to be stimu- lated to greater energy in our agricultural afluirs. If the fields in the Hudson valley, now bearing a profitless and foolish harvest of wheat and rye, were planted with this great staple, as it may be called, the grow ers would find their pockets heavier after they send their produce to market this fall But I have what appears to me a far more important and profitable article to mention, and that is fruit. The raising of fruit for the supply of our great markets at home is a business of no little consequence, and it is not half done. Half do I say"? The begin- ning is hardly made. Look for a moment at the quality of fruits with which the mar- kets are supplied. They are by no means of the best character. Thousands of barrels of poor fruit are every year sold and bought in the city of New York alone, because the purchasers can get no better. Good fruits are always saleable. The market is never glutted with them. There is never enough. I have heard Doctor Underbill, of Croton Point, relate his experience in the cultiva- tion of the grape for the New York market. His friends endeavoured to dissuade hira from going so largely into the enterprise, for fear of glutting the market. But he was too farseeing for that; and he has not been disappointed, the fact being known that good grapes could be had, and there are not yet enough to supply the demand, though the doctor sells many thousand dollars worth every year. The people only want to know that they can get good fruit, and it seems as if the more you send to market, the more is wanted. There is no such thing as glutting the market now-a-days. Suppose our large cities will not consume all : suppose such a thing to happen; what will be the conse- quence"? Simply this: the communication with Europe is so speedy now, that many fruits deemed now too perishable to send so far, would be exported to England and other countries in a fine state of preservation. To some of our good fruits the market of the world is open, and the quantity to be con- sumed is unbounded. I wish therefore to call the attention of farmers on the Hudson river, every one of them, to the cultivation of the best fruits they can raise. There is no sort of danger of overdoing the matter. The whole river valley would not grow more than can readily be sold, and no crop can be raised which is so profitable. The objection urged by many tliat trees are slow in growing, and that it will he a number of years before they be- come productive, is no argument against me. The difficulty may be obviated in many ways, which will suggest themselves to the mind of any thinking man ; as by going gradually into the business ; by growing those kinds which come soonest to maturity, and soonest fail, in the intervals of those kinds which are intended to form the permanent orchard ; or by connecting with the business some other kind of husbandry, which becomes immedi- ately profitable. In any of these ways, and in others which will suggest themselves, the difficulties may all be obviated. I know of no branch of husbandry which can be so profitably connected with fruit No. 3. Tlie JVbisette cr Chompney Rose. 77 But we come to the most important part of the communication alluded to above, viz : the remedy for the dreadful disease which is now destroying the potatoe crop. Mr. Belisle's own words are, " The remedy is iRis : When a farmer sees his potatoe tops thus withering, he should lose no time in mowing them off below the blight, and by this means he will save his crop." There is no doubt that under favourable circum- stances, cutting off the tops will prevent the disease, but the crop must be shortened, and the potatoes rendered not fit for use, or at least they will be lessened in nutritive matter. If Mr. Belisle will call on me I will show him potatoes that were perfectly healthy when they w-ere dug up, but after remaining up a few days, became diseased, and are now rapidly rotting. Now at the time these became diseased they had no tops to cut off, consequently the tops did not cause the disease, and " //je remedy" could not be used. I will also show him a portion of those potatoes which had commenced rotting, but which I have stopped from rot- ting; and if he will remain with me long enough — say two months — I will take otliers of those halt-rotten potatoes and stop the rot immediately, and the potatoe shall be in ex- cellent order for planting, or for domestic purposes. And I will guarantee that the entire cost of stopping the disease and re- storing the vegetable to health, shall not be more than twelve and a half cents per bushel — at any rate I am prepared to take a few hundred thousand bushels at that rate of charge for my services, if I stop the disease; if I do not, I will charge nothing. If Mr. B. had said that his process was "a remedy," I should not so much object; but to say that it, and it only, is " the reme- dy," I must beg leave to put in my protest. I should like to say more of this gentleman's views, but my article has grown to a much greater length than I had at first intended to make it, and must therefore close it. Chemico. Wilkesbarre, Pa., October Isi, 1846. The Noisette or Champuey Rose. Rosa Champneyana. Perhaps no new roses ever excited more attention than the two varieties which were first produced of this interesting family. When first received in France, the Parisian amateurs were enraptured with it, its habits being so peculiar and distinct from every other class. The origin of the first varie- ties of this remarkable group, has been an- nounced erroneously to the world by various writers. The original variety is the Champ- ney Rose, or Champney's Pink Cluster, a rose long well known and very widely dif- fused. It was raised from seed by the Inte John Ciiampney, Esq., of Charleston, S. C, an eminent and most liberal votary of Flora, from the seed of the White Musk Rose, or Rosa Moschata, fertilized by the old Blush China, and as he had been for a long period in constant correspondence with the late William Prince, he most kindly presented him with two tubs, each contain- ing six plants, grown from cuttings of the original plant. From these an immense number were propagated and sent to Eng- land and France. The old Blush Noisette Rose was a few years after raised by Phil- lippe Noisette froin the seed of the Champ- ney Rose, and this he sent to his brother Louis Noisette, of Paris, under the name of the Noisette Rose. It is more double than its parent, and of much more dwarf and compact growth; the flowers in very large dense panicles. The old Chamjmey^s Pink ClusUr, although not full double, is still quite a favourite for its rapid growth, its ap- propriateness for pillars and other climbing positions, and for the profusion of its flowers, wliich are in large panicles much more dif- fuse than the preceding variety. The sub- sequent varieties have been produced from both the primitive ones I have named, but as the Champney rose produces seeds far more abundantly than the Blush Noisette, it has doubtless been the parent of much the greater number. To develope the beauties and admirable qualities of the Noisette Roses, proper at- tention must be paid to their culture; the soil must be warm, dry at the bottom, and well mellowed and enriched with old well- rotted manure, or black mould from the woods to the depth of two feet; they will not flourish in a wet soil, and if the location is eit-het a wet or heavy soil, a quantity of sand must be mixed with it sufficiently to lighten it, and render it completely perme- able, so as to allow of the free passage of all rains through it. The perfume of the Musk Rose is very apparent: its tendency to bloom in large clusters also shows its affinity to that old and very remarkable rose, but since its in- troduction to France so many seedlings have been raised from it, and so many of these are evidently hybrids of the Tea-scented and other roses, that some of the roses called JSoisettes, have almost lost the characters of the group; for, in proportion as the size of the flowers have been increased by hybrid- izing, their clustering tendency and the number of them in one corymb has been di- minished.— Prince's Manual of Roses, 78 Good Housewifery and Evil — The Mustard Plant. — Smoke. V^ol. XI. Good Housewifery and Evil. By Thomas TnssER. Ill huswifery lieth Till nine of the clock : Good huswifery trieth To rise with the cock. Ill huswifery trusteth To him and to her: Good huswifery lusteth Herself for to stir. Ill huswifery careth For this nor for that : Good huswifery spareth For fear ye wot what, 111 huswifery pricketh Herself up in pride : Good huswifery tricketh Her house as a bride. Ill huswifery one thing Or other must crave : Good huswifery nothing But needful will have. Ill huswifery moveth With gossip to spend : Good huswifery loveth Her household to tend. Ill huswifery brooketh Mad toys in her head : Good huswifery looketh That all things be fed. Ill huswifery bringeth A shilling to naught : Good huswifery singeth — Her coffers full fraught. Ill huswifery rendeth, And casteth aside : Good huswifery mendeth, Else would it go wide. Ill huswifery craveth In secret to borrow : Good huswifery saveth To-day, for to-morrow. Ill huswifery pineth, Not having to eat : Good huswifery dineth With plenty of meat. The Mustard Plant. The following paragraph is found in an Address de- livered by Jacob Green in Albany, in 1814, before the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts. In confirm- ation of the sentiment there expressed more than thirty years ago, that this plant "might yield no trifling pro- fit to the American cultivator," we would refer to the 99th page of our last volume, where the account of a crop raised by J. H. Parmlee, of Ohio, is given by C. J. Fell & Brother, of this city.— Ea. ^ The Sinapis, or Mustard, is a plant which might yield no trifling profit to the American cultivator. Small clusters of it are seen growing in our fields and gardens; but whe- ther it is a native of the country, or merely the fruit of chance, I am not able to deter- mine. In some catalogues, however, it is marked as an exotic; but our climate is con- genial to its habit, and almost every soil is adapted to its growth. A gentleman from Orange county, in this State, has informed me, that he collected from half an acre of but tolerable land, fourteen bushels of the seed, which he believed equal in quality to that of the Sinapis Arvensis, commonly known by the name of Durham mustard. There are many species of this herb, but it would be well for the cultivator to confine his at- tention to the one just mentioned, the seed of which is more abundant and of a better quality than in the other kinds. The high price given for imported mustard, and the facility with which it can be raised, induce a belief that farmers generally might find their account in making it an article of cul- ture and traffic. Value of Smoke. A late number of the British Quarterly Review, has the following statement. Ingenuity and a disposition to turn every thing to account, sometimes bring about curious results. A great deal that is now abandoned as useless, will one day be made subservient to our wants, and perhaps become important agents in min- istering to our pleasures.— Ed. The British Quarterly Review for March, contains the following paragraph : "A striking instance of economical talent came to our knowledge in the District of Alston Moor. From the smelting earths of one 'house' an arched tunnel conducts the smoke to an outlet at a distance from the works, in a waste spot, where no one can complain of it. The gathering matter or ' fume' resulting from the passage of the smoke, is annually submitted to a process, by which, at that time, it yielded enough to pay for the construction of the chimney. A similar tunnel chimney, three miles in length, was erecting at Allendale. Its fume will yield thousands of pounds sterling per annum. In this case smoke does not end in smoke." No. 3. Impai'ted Stock. 79 Imported Stock. The following description, &c , of the stock recently imported by the Massachusetts Society for prouioliiig Agriculture, is written by E. Phinney, one of the ac- tive officers of that Society, and we copy from the Farmers' Library. It wilt be read with much interest, and we cannot but commend the public spirit of our eastern friends.— Ed. The trustees, with an honest desire of promoting- the interests of agriculture and improvement in the various branches of ru- ral economy, had, for many years, devoted the income of the Society's funds to premi- ums on the best cultivated farms, on the va- rious kinds of farm produce, farm stock, and to such other objects as they believed best calculated to promote the interest of the great body of farmers, pf the effect of their labours, the public can the best judge. It seemed to the trustees that very little progress had been made, particularly in the dairy stock of the country. They could point to no particular object, no decided mark of improvement or permanent change, upon which the future and progressive im- provement of our dairy stock could, with any certainty, be calculated. Thousands of dollars have been offered and awarded in premiums for the best milch cows within the commonwealth, during the last twenty years, and, as appeared to the trustees, to very little benefit. Whoever has attended our cattle shows will have oc- casionally met with a cow remarkable for her milking properties, which the fortunate owner purchased from some drove. This accidental cow is exhibited at tlie cattle show; well authenticated proofs of her great yield of milk or butter are produced; the owner takes the highest prize, and puts the money into his pocket; the calf is sold to the butcher; and the cow the next year is put into the beef barrel. And this has been the beginning and the end of most of the native cows to which the highest prizes have been awarded. The writer knows not a single instance where the offspring of any one of these high-premium native cows has inherited the valuable properties of the dam in a sufficient degree to induce the owner to raise it, with the exception, perhaps, of the famous Groton cow, whose descendants, in the hands of Colonel Jaques, might have added greatly to the value of our dairy stock, had the Colonel possessed the means of car- rying out his plans ; and, in this instance, the valuable properties of the dam were transmitted to the prog-eny solely by the means of crossing with the pure breed of a foreign stock. The cautious farmer will not run the risk, nor incur the expense, of rais- ing a calf from stock, of the origin of which, and of the blood of the various breeds that runs in the veins of his favourite cow, he knows nothing. Acting from a belief in the truth of the old adage, which has been taught him from his youth upward, that " a good cow may have a bad calf," he can have no assurance that the descendant of his native cow will not take its character from, and inherit the inferior properties pf, some near or more remote ancestor. He had rather take his chance in the next drove that comes along, knowing that he shall at least avoid the expense and trouble of rearing a calf upon whose good properties he can make no certain calculation. Now it will hardly be pretended that the offering and awarding of premiums for this description of cows has, or ever will have, the effect to improve the dairy stock of the country. The writer would by no means de- tract from the value of these accidentally good cows, the natives of the country. There are, no doubt, to be found among the farmers of Massachusetts, many cows of na- tive origin, possessing as valuable properties for all purposes, except for breeding, as any that can be imported from abroad. And they are not without their value as breeders, where they and their descendants may be crossed with the pure blood of some long and well established race of foreign animals. In this way we may chance to perpetuate the rare qualities of our native cows, united with the with the well established traits of character of the imported .stock. It may be contended that we need not the aid of foreign stock to raise up one of the best breeds of cattle in' the world. This may be true; but who will undertake it? What individual farmer has the patience, the skill, the intelligence, and the capital, to engage in a task that will require many years and much capital to bring to any con- siderable degree of perfection 1 And where would be the propriety or the economy of undertaking a work of this kind, when, by a little extra expense at the commencement, we may find the work already done to our hands! Many farmers in this part of the country, though depending principally for their in- come upon their milch cows, are not aware, it is apprehended, of the small produce de- rived from them ; and would, no doubt, be surprised on learning that their cows gene- rally do not yield an average daily produce of more than two to four quarts of milk for the year. The average price of milk for the year, when drawn from the cow, will not exceed three cents per quart, either for the purposes 80 Imported Stock. Vol. XL of manufacturing into butter or cheese, or to sell in the market. Let the farmer set off the expense of keeping against his six- er twelve cents a day income from his seve- ral cows, and lie will see but a small chance of acquiring wealth from the income of his dairy. But let liim have a stock that, with the same keeping, will yield a daily average produce of six or eight quarts of milk, and he will find the produce of his dairy, which before gave him hardly enough to pay for the feed of his cows, now affording him a net profit, which will more than meet the extra expense which he may incur in the purchase of his improved breed of cows. It may be said that the expense of keep' ing the improved breed will be greater than that of the native cows. This may or may not be the case. But the question with the farmer should not be, which will require the most food? but rather, which will give the greatest net profit on what they consume ? it is the greatest capacity which the animal possesses of converting her food to milk, which ought, in the estimation of the judi- cious farmer, to constitute her relative value. It was with a view of introducing among our farmers a dairy stock that should, with proper care and management, remunerate, and more than remunerate, the expense of keeping, that the trustees were induced to appropriate so considerable a sum to this object. What they have now done forms but a nucleus or starling point, from which, with the aid and countenance of a liberal public, they hope in due time to diffuse among the farmers of Massachusetts, not only an im- proved race of animals, but also an ambition to excel in everything that relates to this important branch of rural economy. The breeds of cattle which the trustees be- lieved, under all the circumstances, to be best adapted to this country, best calculated to promote the object they had in view, and to subserve the wishes and wants of the farmer, were the Ayrshire and North Devon. The Ayrshire cows have been, for nearly or quite a century, distinguished as deep milkers, and at the same time are known to be a hardy, mild-tempered, and docile race, easily kept, with a disposition to fatten when not in milk, and having a capacity of con- verting their food to milk beyond that pos- sessed by any other breed of cows in Great Britain. The venerable Alton, who may be justly styled the pioneer and champion of improved husbandry in Scotland, and particularly of that branch which relates to dairy stock, says: "The Ayrshires are the most improved breed of cattle to be found in the island, not only for the dairy, in which they have no parallel, under similar circumstances, but also in feeding for tiie shambles. They are, in fact, a breed of cows that have, by judi- cious selection, cross coupling, feeding and treatment, for a long series of years, been brought to a state of perfection which fits them, above all others yet known, to answer in almost every diversity of situation where grain and grass can be raised to feed them, tor the purposes of the dairy, or for fattening them for beef." In the dairy establishment of Mr. Harley, at Glasgow, consisting of 150 cows, they were principally of the Ayrshire breed, to which he gave a decided preference over any other breed. The average quantity of milk given by the cows in his establishment, for the year, was eleven quarts per day from each. In the famous dairy establishment kept by Mr. Rhodes, near London, of 400 to 600 cows, " he had tried the Ayrshires, to the number of 150 at a time, and by him they were highly approved — affording a large quantity of rich milk — fattening in a very short time, when they left off giving milk — and producing beef which was more highly valued, and sold for a higher price in the market than that of the Short-horns." Alton asserts that many of the Ayrshire cows, in their best condition, and well fed, will yield at the rate of 1000 gallons of milk in a year, or over ten quarts per day. Ran- kin, however, states his opinion that Alton had given the daily average produce too high, and thinks that few herds of twenty cows or over will average more than eight hundred and fifty gallons, or about nine quarts per day. He also states that he had seen thirty-six quarts of milk drawn from a cow in one day, and that he had a three-year old quay that once for six weeks after calv- ing gave twenty-eight quarts per day. The dairymaid predicted that " there had been o'er-muckle talk about her for ony luck to come of her," and he states that she soon afterward received an injury which caused one of her quarters to become dry of milk. The characteristic points of the Ayrshire cow, when Alton wrote, were: "Head small, but rather long and tapering at the muzzle ; the eye small, but smart and lively; horns small, clear and crooked, and the roots at considerable distance fi"om each other; neck long and slender, tapering toward the head, and no loose skin below; shoulders thin; fore-quarters light; hind-quarters large; back straight ; broad behind ; joints rather loose and open; carcass deep, and pelvis capacious and wide over the hips, with round, fleshy buttocks; tail long and small; udder capa- No. 3. JVewcastle County Agricultural Society. 97 much water before the land is saturated, and will allow the water to flow evenly over it, that much loss of time occurs in the next crop of grass." I have thus touched upon the principal points connected with this groat agricultural improvement, though there are some otliers to which I shall recur before I quit the sub- ject ; and I now proceed to spoak of some principal experiments, which have come particularly under my observation. — Col- man's Tour. Newcastle Couuty Agricultural Society. This Society held its Annunl Exhibition on Wednesday, the 16th ult., on the farm of Major John Andrews. At an early hour in the morning, the farmers from all parts of the county, accompanied, many of them, with their families, flocked to the city, and by nine o'clock the streets presented an ani- mated and exciting appearance. At the time specified, the procession formed at Mr. John Hall's Hotel, and proceeded to the ground. The procession reached from the Bridge to Fourth street, consisting of about one hundred and fifty horsemen, and fifty carriages. On arriving at the ground, the President, Mr. James Canby, organized the meeting. Dr. Kennady addressed the audience in an eloquent manner; we presume the ora- tion will be published, and we will not an- ticipate its appearance by any remarks of a general character. Previous to leaving the stand, the president read the report of the committee on gardens, and awarded the pre- mium to William Rittenhouse, gardener to Samuel Richardson, of Christiana Hundred. Nathaniel Settens was favourably noticed. Mr. Foote addressed these gentlemen, com- plimenting them on their industry and admi- rable success. The company then adjourned to the cold collation, in a furm-house near by, which was attended to by Col. Glazier, Mr. Boies, and several other gentlemen, who volunteered their attentions. The ground on which the cattle were ex- hibited, was immediately in the rear of Ma- jor Andrews residence, commanding a dis- tant, but beautiful view of Wilmington and the surrounding country. The number of cattle was not as large as was expected ; we obtained as complete a list as possible — many of the pens were not marked, and the names of the owners could not be obtained. The display of agricultural implements was also small, and many were disappointed to find Hussey's Reaping Machine was not on the ground. The committee on crops reported but little competition for the premium. Their report stated that the wheat crop has fallen short in the State this year, about twenty per cent., and corn in the same proportion. The potatoe crop was also noticed, which is very poor, owing to the rot. Bryan Jackson re- ceived a premium for raising three tons of hay on an acre of ground. The number of people at the exhibition throughout the day, was very larse — at one time it was supposed nearly five thousand people were present. The road to this city was lined with vehicles of every description, and presented a very lively appearance. The Horticultural and Mechanical Exhibition in the Citv Hall, was crowded with visitors presenting a scene of beauty seldom excelled. The arrangements were perfect, and the committees did everything to render a visit pleasant and agreeable. — Delaware Journal. Report of the Committee on Ploughiug at the Neivcaslie Couuty Agricultural Society. At two o'clock, tiie exhibition grounds were deserted for the ploughing field, where the ploughmen had already re.-ortod, and were busily engaged in different parts of the field, followed by crowds of their friends, in trying then- ploughs, regulating their set, and in practising their teams. At half-past two, they were called up to make their entries and draw for Ian is, ready for a start. The immense crowd of specta- tors in carriages, on horseback and on toot, took position on the four sides of the grounds laid out for ploughing, embracing six or eight acres, and forming an amphitheatre or hollow square. There were fifteen entries, as follows: — E. A. Collins, Wiley Plough, land No. 1. Richard Carter, Prouty Plough, No. 5^, land No. 2. John Hoi lings worth, Moore Plough, No. 8, land No. 3. Francis Sawdon, ftloore's Plough, No. 8, land No. 4. George Lofman, Moore's Plough, No. 8, land No. 5. David T. Morgan, Moore's Plough, land No. 6. John Newlove, Prouty Plough, No. 5, land No. 7. William Neville, Beach's Concave Plough, No. 11, land No. 8. George Piper, Beach's Plough, No. 11, land No. 9. James N. Cleland, Moore's plough, No. 8, land No. 10. William Banks, Prouty Plough, No. 5J, land No. 11. John Evcrson, Moore Plough, No. 8, land No. 12. Thomas Truitt, Prouty Plough, land No. 13. Robert Foun- tain, Moore Plough, No. 7, land No. 14. Charles Carter, Moore Plough, No. 7, land No. 15. 98 JVeivcastle County Jlgri cultural Society. Vol. XI. Each ploughman first struck out his own land as it had been previously staked, by going one round ; and here it was that the great skill of our ploughmen in running straight lines, exhibited itself — never did Paul Hoover line a bee to a hive straighter than they went to the opposite stakes; and without flattery, and with truth, it may be said, that the compass itself would in refer- ence to many of the furrows drawn, have indicated no deviation from an entire straight line. The fifteen teams now came up abreast, and every ploughman had his position, ready for the word "go." The committee may here state, that the ground selected for the match, was such as was calculated to tax- to the greatest possible extent, the skill and perseverance of the ploughmen. So far from being a smooth green sod, which is generally selected, the ground was covered with a heavy matted crop of clover, blue grass, and fox tail, and in addition to all this a straggling crop of tall weeds. It was a clay soil, and for the most part very tenacious, and rendered particularly hard and compact by the drought of the season. The first round seemed to have satisfied the ploughmen of what they had to do: few seemed sanguine, and none appa- rently confident of the result, though among the entries were no less than four first pre- mium men, the successful candidates on other fields. Indeed there was an anxiety felt by some of the ploughmen, and a doubt expressed, as to whether they would be able to overcome the obstacles that opposed them, so far as to make the performance even cre- ditable in the eyes of the thousands that be- held them, and who could only judge super- ficially of the difficulties with which they had to contend. The committee, for these reasons, permitted the use of chains to the ploughs, and also allowed to each a cleaner. At the word given they got under way. The teams were so well trained that the heavy draft oflTered no opposition to a fair pace. There was no halting or pausing, but furrow after furrow was rolled up, each as true and perfect as the last, or if marred in the slight- est, from any cause, the comments of the spectators soon announced the fact in tones even audible to the ears of- the ploughman himself. But the remarks were all gene- rally in a friendly and encouraging spirit, and indeed it was not a little interesting to hear the comments that greeted the plough- man as he each time came out, as "That is well done," " You are doing well — stick to it," " Keep cool," &c. The ploughman himself with every nerve braced, a strong arm, a quick and ready eye, apparently unconscious of every thing around him, directed his plough with his utmost skill — at most a furtive glance, as he turned at the end, down the ribboned furrow he had just cut, was the only instant he was at- tracted from his task, and as if gathering trom the view, hope to encourage him to greater eflxjrts. Again he would push down liis land apparently watching his plough and coaxing his team with a " Wha, padder, Wha," for an eflx)rt that should surpass the last. But now all is accomplished but the last furrow, the cleaning out furrow, the great test of the ploughman's skill — all, however well done, may be marred in an instant by the slightest balk here. The spectators crowd up — the voices of friends are heard encouraging to coolness and to take time but the good ploughman has already half antici- pated his task ; but a single narrow stripe, not varying one half inch in width the whole distance, is all that remains — his Plough is pitched, and the completely inverted sod is upturned, leaving the land with the appear- ance of having heen handsomely divided not ditched or gullied, but neatly separated by the furrow and giving to the whole a beau- tiful and perfect finish. Such certainly was the performance, and such the result on most of the lands ploughed at this match. It was this description of ploughing, that the committee were called on to judge and to decide upon — to decide as to the relative merits of each performance. The task was by no means easy. That they might secure for their award on the part of all, the con- cession of perfect impartiality, the commit- tee designated three of their number to act as a sub-committee and to retire from the ground, and not to come upon it, until after the ploughing was completed. They were Washington E. Moore, Francis Sawdon and .John Smith. Without knowing who plough- ed the particular lands, but called on to ex- amine the fifteen that had been ploughed, and to designate the four best among them, these members of the committee, after the most careful examination, and taking the merits and defects of each into account so far as their judgment and experience would enable them to do so, came to the conclu- sion that was announced on the ground, namely, that John Newlove was entitled to the first premium, William Banks to the se- cond, John Everson to the third, and Tho- mas Truitt to the fourth. There were several other lands that were remarkably well ploughed. The committee would not designate except in one instance, and they do this to point out on the part of No. 3. To have good Vinegar. 99 the individual a merit deserving special no- tice, namely, that of receiving and abiding, without murmur or complaint, the decision of the committee appointed to judge and decide between the competitors. None doubted that Robert Fountain's land was ploughed well ; he had made a most spirited, and as some probably thought, a successful effort for one of the premiums. But the committee decided otherwise, and with this decision Robert Fountain was the first to e.x'press his entire satisfaction, and to con- gratulate his successful rivals. The grace of acknowleding a defeat may equal the glory of winning a victory. The committee would point out this example as worthy of imitation on all future occasions. Let the opinions of the committee be respected as the just and impartial judgment of those called to decide. The committee deem it but justice to one other of the competitors for the premiums, to name the peculiarly embarrassing circumstan- ces under which he carried on the contest. The ground ploughed e.xtended across from one slight hill to another. The land in the cen- tre of the valley, being land No. 10, was drawn by James N. Cleland. The great growth upon it of grass and tall weeds was obvious to the eye, but this held out no ter- ror to so good a ploughman as Mr. Cleland. It was not till he entered upon it and dis- covered from the wash, &c., not only a va- riety of soil, but from the water that must at times have lain upon it, that it turned up in many places in very large clods or flakes of earth, that Mr. Cleland fully contemp- lated all the difficulties he had to contend with. Mr. Cleland, as having been the suc- cessful candidate last season, and having borne off the Society's first premium, was looked to as one whose reputation was es- tablished, and from whom the most finished work might be expected. But he soon saw that both his skill and strength would be taxed to the utmost to perform any thing even respectable, and not to allow the gene- ral appearance of the field to be marred by a rough and unsightly land. His efforts to this end — for the credit of the field — aided by his fine and well trained and powerful team, were so far successful as to make his work quite respectable, and that is the most that can be said of it, and which is indeed high praise, considering what he had to con- tend with. The committee congratulate all the plough- men on the result of the match : they con- gratulate them and thank them for the inte- rest they contributed to the day, and they conclude in the language of the beautiful Ode written for the occasion, " God bless Columbia's yeomanry, And give them happy homes." A second match came off between the boys. There were five entries, namely : George Jackson, George Grebby, Thomas Jackson, John C. Clark, Jr., and Henry Bird. The premiums were taken by the four first named, in the order they are given — three of them using the Prouty plough and one the Wiley. The ground was so very hard that it taxed the strength of our young friends severely, still they stuck to their work and persevered to the end. It was surprising almost that they could plough there at all, but they did plough, and some of them made highly re- spectable ploughing, and nothing could ex- ceed the enmlation they evinced to excel. The influence of all this upon their future character cannot but be highly beneficial. John C. Clark, Chairman. Bryan Jackson, John W. Andrews, Washington E. Moore, Francis Sawdon, John Smith, Committee. Sept. irth, 184(>. To have Good Vinegar. The cowherds on the Alps and in several parts of France use milk whey to make the sharpest vinegar, and they also extract from it a salt called in pharmacy sugar of milk, which the Swiss doctors consider as the best detergent to purify the blood and cure radi- cally the most inveterate cutaneous com- plaints. The method they use to prepare this salt is this: afler having separated all tiie caseous and oily parts, the whey is cla- rified and boiled until reduced to one-fourth part of the whole, which they deposit in wooden or earthen pans in a cool place. In a short time the saccharine particles are crystallized, the phlegmatic part is then de- canted slowly and the sugar is dried upon pieces of grey paper. This operation may be accelerated by boiling out the whey en- tirely, but the sugar which remains at the bottom of the kettle is coloured and unfit for pharmaceutical purposes : it might, how- ever, answer well for veterinary uses. The process for making vinegar out of milk is very simple. After having clarified the whey, it is poured into casks with some aromatic plants or elder blossoms, as it suits the fancy, and exposed in open air to the sun, where it soon acquires an uncommon degree of acidity. The Russians and Tartars make with the whey of their mares' milk a strong and in- 100 Elihu Burritt in England. — Editorial JVotices. Vol. XI. toxicaling liquor, which they call Koumis, and also vinegar, by suffering that substance to pass from the vinous to the acetous fer- mentation.— Transactions of the Society of Arts, N. Y. Good vinegar is one of the necessary luxuries of the table, and with a little care it is always attainable by those who have apple orchards and cider of their own, and ought to be more generally supplied in our market than it is. When once a cask of ^ood vinegar is pro- cured, there need be no difficulty in keeping it filled with that of the same quality. The farmer should put away his good strong cider in substantial casks under cover, with the bung hole open to admit the air, and let it gradually undergo the necessary fermentation. If the casks are frequently shaken, and their contents occasionally drawn from one to another, the process is hastened. Mix nothing with it; let it be the pure cider. Draw from the hogshead to a barrel, and from the barrel to a five gallon keg, aad from that again f(jr the table. It is thus kept stirred, and comes in contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere, which will the more speedily sharpen it. Keep filling the hogshead with strong, sound cider, as you draw from it to fill the barrel, and the housewife need never spoil her pickles, nor mine host his cabbage, for lack of good vinegar. — Ed. Eliliu Burritt in England. This individual, so well known as the learned black- smith, is now we hope, enjoying all the gratification anticipated in the following annunciation made some time previously to his embarkation. Who shall esti- mate the influence of such a man, in throwing abroad his Olive leaves along the hedge roves, among the hay- ricks and turnip fields of Old England! Millions of the middle classes whose arms are brawny as his own, may have afresh opened to them— and that without the aid of his Hebrew, his Sanscrit, or his Norwegian, — in the powerful language of his powerful mind, a glimmering of the blessings in store for them in the proper pursuit of their own high calling. — Ed. " About the first of June, we propose, un- der certain conditions, to take the steamer or packet for England. On our arrival, we propose to take a private hickory staff and travel on, like Bunyan's pilgrim, through the country, at the rate of about ten miles a day, " ' With a pocket for my wheat, and a pocket for my rye. And a jug of water by my side to drink when I am dry." Passing thus leisurely on foot through the agricultural districts, we anticipate tlie op- portunity of looking through the hedges and into barn-yards; sometimes into the kitciiens of the common people, once in a while into a blacksmitli's shop to smite at the anvil. In fact, we intend to pull at every latch- string that we find outside the door or gate, and study the physiology of turnips, hay- ricks, cabbages, hops, &c., and of all kinds of cattle, sheep, and swine. We propose to avoid the lions of the country, and confine our icalhs to the low lands of common life; and to have our conversation and commu- nion chiefly with the labouring classes. Per- haps we might get together a knot of them some moonshiny night and talk to them a little on temperance, peace, and universal brotherhood. During such a pedestrian tour, we tliink we might see and hear some things which a person could not do while whizzing through the country on the railroad at the rate of thirty miles an hour." THE FARMERS' CABINET, AND Philadelphi.\, Tenth Month, 1846. Our Philadelphia Agricultural Society, agreeably to public notice, held its annual Exhibition of stock, &c. at the Rising Sun tavern, on theGermantown road, on the 30th ult., and the ploughing match on the following day. Those who could see and feel their way through the dust, as many hundreds did, were richly rewarded for their perseverance, by the fine display of choice animals on the ground. These were perhaps not quite so numerous as on some former occasions, but their appearance indicated great care and judgment, as well as success in the production of beautiful animals. The Durhanis, the Devons, the Alderneys, the Ayrshire?, and the Natives, were there to testify for themselves: and the breeders of this vicinity, who produced them, are not the men to allow them to make a weak report. Some of the horses would do credit to any part of the Union, and the sheep and hogs on the ground, would compensate in appearance and quality, for what was lacking in number. They would add respectability to any Exhibition in the world. The productions of the garden, the field and the orchard, were really luxuriant, and sufficient to satisfy the wishes of the cultivator; our agricultural implement makers were on the ground and made an exceedingly interesting display of their wares. It was particularly gratifying to witness the e.\cellent, and apparently perfect workmanship of many of the articles. They were not however made purposely for the show, but only in the ordinary man- ner. They could not fail to tempt the farmer to do his work well, and he who wishes first rate implements has only to apply to our friends of this city whose ad- vertisements will be found in this paper. The society dined together at three o'clock on the 30th; an excellent dinner was honestly discussed, and good feeling, enlivened by enthusiasm in their honor- able calling, made it an occasion for the sparkling of wit, and much good speaking. No. 3. Straivberries. — Destructive Insects. 93 apple — although that should be persevered in, to obtain varieties — and the produce could be always depended upon to be the same sorts as those from which the cutting's were taken. If landed proprietors and Horticultural Societies would encourage this mode, and if farmers, nurserymen, market-gardeners, and every cottager who has a few yards of spare fresh ground, would immediately practice it, I believe that in two or three years — through the blessing of Heaven, ever ready to second man's instrumentality, — the whole of the united kingdom would have more abundant crops of this nutritious root, much improved in quality, and the different sorts distinctly classified. It is also highly probable that if cuttings of these new plantations were, from year to year planted in fresh ground, the plague of this mysterious disease might be entirely eradicated. I am planting cut- tings of the stalks of those growing from the result of my last year's experiment, and expect that the offspring will be superfine. W, Whitehouse. Spittal, Berwickon-Tweed, July 29th, 1846. StraAvberries. Cincinnati appears truly to be in the region of this fruit. Her people luxuriate in them, and her garden- ers understand their propagation. The Gazette of that city of the 27th of Fifth month Inst, gives the follow ing description of an abundance, which makes us wish we "had been there to eat." The supply in our own market, however, was a liberal one, and prices reason- able. The general flavour, owing probably to the con- tinued wet weather, was not so fine as usual.— Ed. " Our market is well supplied with this delicious fruit. Probably one hundred bush- els were on Fifth street yesterday. One man had thirty bushels, and several others ten and twelve each. The price ranges from five to twenty cents per quart; Hovey's Seedling selling quick, at the latter price, and one must rise betimes to get these at any price. It is a fact well illustrating the importance of raising good fruit only, while you are about it, that Hovey's Seedling strawberry is in greater demand here at twenty cents, than common kinds at five. One gentleman from Chillicothe paid ^6 20 yesterday for a bushel of the seedl ing, and took them home, via the river, to show his friends what can be done in the strawberry line. There was hardly an imperfect berry in the lot; the size varying from four to five inches in circumference." It is said a plantation of the Alpine straw- berry yields fruit the same season it is made. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Destructive Insects. Mr. Editor, — Though almo.'-t out of sea- son, my promise made in your July No. must yet be fulfilled. Early in last month, a per- fect insect one and a half inches long, with fiUiform antennae half an inch long, colour the same as its head — beautiful brown — si.\ ringed abdomen ; short thorax, densely co- vered above and below with scales; black eyes; and four rudimentary wings — exter- nal pair brown, internal, ash coloured, made its appearance. From its inability to fly, it is probably the female of the canker worm of New England, adverted to and a plate given — much smaller than the natural size — by J. J. Thomas, in his late excellent " Fruit Culturist." For a more extended notice of its habits and modes of destruc- tion, your readers may refer to the article, Span- Worm, in the American Farmers' En- cyclopedia. July 26th, I took a number of larvse of the above soon after their first existence, and in six days they were all dead and changed in appearance. Their death was caused by the larvse of another insect in their interior. In two weeks — August 9lh — it emerged a most beautiful ichneumon fly: its length half inch; antennae filliform black, and as long as its body; four anterior legs yellow and white, two posterior yellow, white, and black; rings of abdomen white and black alternately; wings membranous; colour changeable. They have a sting. It is gratifying to know that we have this beautiful little assistant to keep in check the ravages of those devastating loopers. If, however, these last hymenop- terse produce but one brood in a season, which is probable, then we must still be on the alert, as the loopers, or span-worms, ap- pear at different periods in the season. I have not yet succeeded in procuring the perfect insect of the second variety of cater- pillar described. I am, however, convinced the two kinds are essentially different — the one spins a cocoon, the other descends into the earth. I have them now in their pupa state, spun in cocoon, and may succeed next season. Both kinds are rapidly increasing in this section. Let us then not be idle. You, Mr. Editor, may write and print, but how shall we get the great mass to read and acf! Would that every owner of an apple tree would even effect as much as the little fly which I have attempted imperfectly to describe ; then should we soon be divested of these destructive insects. J. K. E. Paradise, Pa., September 15th, 1846. 94 General Principles and Directions for Irrigation. Vol. XI. General Principles and Directions for Irrigation. Some points respecting irrigation may be considered as well established, to which it is proper that I should refer. It is settled that simple water, without any admixture, is in itself a great enricher of the soil, or perhaps, more properly, a great promoter of vegetation. If the water of irrigation is charged with enriching matters in a state of solution, its beneficial effects are of course increased. Waters charged with mineral substances, such as water strongly impreg- nated with iron from peat bogs, or water from copper mines, is pernicious to vegeta- tion, as any one may see, who will visit the outlets of the copper mines of Cornwall. It is established, likewise, that water in irri- gation, in order to produce its best effects, must not be suffered to stagnate upon the land, but must pass in a steady progress over it; and that this progress should be comparatively gentle, and not sudden and rapid. It is equally well established, that lands which it is proposed to irrigate, should be thoroughly drained, so that the water poured upon the land should not be suffered to stand in the land, nor upon it. The effect of stagnant water upon the surface, or the complete saturation of the soil, is to change the nature of the herbage, and to produce those grasses, which are coarse or innutri- tions, in place of the finer, sweeter, and more healthful. Yet it is not the mere transition of the water over the surface that is to be sought. It is desirable to have it soak into the ground, but not to remain there. Its speedy transition over the sur- face is to be effected by the inclination of the land from where it is received to the trench, furrow, or ditch, by which it is to be carried off. Its passing into the ground, and finding a speedy passage off, is to be effected by a system of thorough draining and subsoiling; for if the subsoil is impervi- ous, the irrigated field becomes converted into a marsh. One of the most eminent farmers in Scotland, whose hospitality I had the pleasure of enjoying, but whose death since that time is deeply to be lamented, — Mr. Oliver, of Lochend, near Edinburgh, — who had a large extent of meadow, irrigated by the sewerage water from the city, found that, after his fields were thorough drained, the benefit of the irrigation was greatly in- creased ; for by the descent of the sewerage water into the soil, as well as over it, the enriching portions of the manure in a state of solution were carried to the roots of the plants. In the irrigated meadows of the Duke of Portland, — ^for its extent one of the most beautiful and finished agricultural im- provements which can be found — he showed me, that portions of his irrigated lands, which had even been drained, continued to affect his sheep with the rot ; and this evil was not remedied until the draining was carried to the depth of eight feet or more. Before that, without doubt, the stagnant water at the bottom prevented the water of irrigation from passing off, and may be said to have poisoned the whole ground. In irrigation skilfully managed, the in- crease of product is often very great — two- fold, fourfold, in many cases even fivefold. Even sands which were barren, have, by ir- rigation, been made productive. Plants, in such cases, having once found a footing, by the spread and decay of their own roots, have at length formed a soil, and created around themselves the elements of fertility. The effect of pure water, I have already said, is considerable; but when this water brings with it the refuse of the streets and habitations of a town in a state of solution, the effects, as we shall presently see, are most remarkable. I have seen it stated, that water issuing from a limestone soil, and strongly impregnated with lime in the form of a sulphate or other combination, has been employed with great success in irrigation. Such instances have not come under my ob* servation; but I cannot doubt the effect, where the soil was of a nature to require that element. In respect to manures, or any of the constituents of plants, it is evi- dent they can be taken up only in a state of the finest solution. Here homoepathy tri- umphs, and no human sense is acute enough to discern, no human scales are fine enough to measure, those infinitesimal atoms out of which the rough substance of the gnarled oak is formed. It would be idle, in a work of this nature, to attempt to lay down any thing more than the general principles of irrigation. In the accomplishment of any particular work, all the localities are to be considered, and the effecting of it upon any large scale would re- quire considerable engineering skill. Irrigation of land and inundation are not the same. The inundation of land resem- bles what I have already described under the process of warping, where, the land being enclosed by embankments, the water is admitted to flood the land, and is held fast until its floating riches are deposited. This can seldom be done without disadvantage upon a growing crop, unless when in its earliest stages of growth. Irrigation is the gradual filtering and spreading of the water over the soil, and, where not too rapidly ap- plied, may be done with safety at any period No. 3. General Principles and Directions for Irrigation. 95 of the crop. This, however, can only apply to pure water. The application of turbid water, where a considerable amount of mud and earthy matters is held in suspension, or the application of sewerage water to a grow- ing crop, would be liable to the same objec- tions as inundation. I am referring, as must be obvious, to fields in grass, to which irri- gation is applied; and not to fields under arable culture, to which it may be, but to which I have never seen it applied. What are called catch-meadows, is a form of irri- gation upon side hills, where the water, after passing over a certain poition of the land, is caught in a trench, and again used for the irrigation of other portions of land. In a plan of irrigation, the first thing to be considered is the command of an adequate supply of water, and this, of course, at a level above the land to be irrigated. This may be obtained from a brook, whose course may be turned, or a portion of whose waters may be diverted for that purpose ; or, as it is here sometimes obtained, by the collec- tion of the water of springs bursting out upon the high lands into a common recepta- cle or reservoir, which may be tapped for the purpose of letting out the water, as it maybe required. I recollect at Canterbury, in New Hampshire, at the establi.'^Lment of the United Brethren — certainly among the best farmers in the world — that these indus- trious people, for the sake of establishing a mill power, much needed among them, had, by an embankment or dam between two high clay hills, formed a large basin or res- ervoir, which the melting of the snows in the spring, the rains, and some springs on the sides of these hills, would completely fill with water, furnishing a supply for the season ; and which, passing into successive basins as it descended the hill, was used five times for mill purposes; such us a flouring mill, a threshing mill, a mill for sawing wood, a mill for grinding bark, and a mill for the dressing of leather. I could not help admiring the ingenuity of these people in creating a mill power where none existed before; and it is perfectly plain that, by such an arrangement, they might have executed an extensive system of irrigation, had it been thought proper so to apply the water. In some situations, where fuel and labour are not expensive, steam power might be employed with advantage to force water and to form a reservoir at the height necessary for irrigating the land below. On a farm in Dedham, Massachusetts, situated upon an acclivity, at the foot of which ran a small brook, I saw that the farmer had formed a reservoir above his house and barn. Into this reservoir, through leaden pipes of a small bore, the water of the brook was forced up, by means of an hydraulic ram and forcing pump, itself operated by the running brook; and a supply of water was always maintained in the reservoir amply sufficient for the domestic purposes of the family, and the supply of the cattle in the yard. The water was forced a considerable distance, and the expense of the machinery was very trifling. The cost and labour of keeping it in operation were nothing, ex- cepting that of opening and shutting the gate. The expense of the whole apparatus, excepting the reservoir, did not exceed five pounds, or twenty-five dollars. The farm would, in England, be considered a very small one, not exceeding one hundred acres; but it shows, just as much as a larger one, to what advantage the most simple contriv- ances may be applied. This water, thus raised, might have been used for the pur- poses of irrigation. Where the supply of water is sufficient, it is carried along on the upper margin of the land to be drained in a trench or furrow ; and when it is required to throw the water over the land, the end of this trench or fur- row is to be stopped, either by a gate or a damming up for the occasion, so that the water entering it may flow gently and evenly over its sides. It is plain that the water trench or furrow should be carried nearly upon a level ; first, that the flowing of the water over the sides of the furrow or utter may be equal and uniform; and next, because any variation from a level would force the water to a particular point, cither to prevent its equal diffusion over the field, or to occasion, perhaps, a rupture of the side of the trench, and an injury to the field itself. The variation from a level, recom- mended by some persons with a view to giving the water an easy flow in the trench or gutter, is only one inch fall in every ten feet. Besides the formation of the trench or furrow, the surface to be irrigated requires to be made even, the knolls reduced, the hollow places filled, and the holes, occa- sioned by vermin of any kind, stopped, that the water may flow evenly over the whole. The degree of inclination desirable in a field to be irrigated, is stated to be about ten feet in ninety; but although this may be found desirable, it is obvious that it cannot be under the control of the farmer to any considerable extent, but at a very great ex- pense. We must take the land as we find it ; for few things are more costly than at- tempts materially, or to any great extent, to alter its shape. It would be prejudicial ■to undertake to irrigate our lands without 96 General Principles and Directions for Irrigation. Vol. XI. the means of getting rid of the water, and without having a gradual, though not a ra- pid, transmission of the water over the sur- face ; but in cases where the inclination is too great, the supply must be more gradu- ally rendered. The frequency with which water may be applied to meadows, and the length of time which it maybe suffered to remain on them, are points lo be considered. At Welbeck, at the Duke of Portland's, after the prepared land was sown with grass seeds, the water was brought upon them as soon as it was thought they would bear it ; i. e., after they had become sufficiently rooted, and the ground consolidated around them. This would vary, according to the season, from one month to six. The great danger to be apprehended upon newly-sown lands is the washing away the dirt from their roots. The duke himself remarks that, " short of that, they cannot be watered too soon, or too long at a time, unless the land has very recently been drained, in which case it would not be well to increase the natural strength of the springs until the land had forgotten its wet propensities. On really dry land there are only two limits to the length of irrigation, viz., the want of water, and the want of consistency in the soil, so that it shall not be washed away from the roots of the grass." After the grass had become sufficiently strong, the water was kept going over it for about four days, and then taken off. The grass was mown as soon as it was ready for the scythe, and the water again turned over. The same course was pursued upon the old grass land. About once a month, the water is turned on for three or four days at a time, according to the supply, and this throughout the year. When the water is abundant, it is applied oftener than once a month ; but how long it should be kept on, is somewhat matter of judgment in reference to the wea- ther and the state of the ground. The man- ager of the works chooses to keep it on until he sees its effects upon the grass. Lord Hatherton, on his meadows at Ted- desley Park, informs me, that they com- mence irrigation about the 1st of Novem- ber, and the water remains three or four days on the land. If the supply is sufficient, it should be renewed once a fortnight. In a dry season, it is advisable to apply it im- mediately after cutting the grass; but it must not then be allowed to remain many hours in the same place, especially if the sun is powerful. Mr. Oliver, at Lochend, where the sewer- age water of the city was used, deemed it unsafe to apply the irrigation immediately after the cutting of the grass, but considered it altogether advisable to wait until the grass had acquired some growth. The sewerage water, in this case, was of great strength, and a different rule was applicable from a case where the water of irrigation was pure. Mr. Reals, who farms some cold land one thousand feet above the level of the sea, in Somersetshire, and who has improved a con- siderable tract by irrigation, says, that " the water should never be suffered to remain in one place over the grass more than two or three days at a time without being changed; nor be turned upon the land in order to re- main there during frost; but should the frost set in while the water is on, by no means alter it until the frost is gone; for if the surface is exposed, and the frost continues, it will most likely lift the land and kill the grass." These observations will have peculiar value in New England, where the frosts are severe, and where grass lands, upon which water stands in the winter, or lands upon which grain has been sown in the autumn, if particularly wet, are sure to suffer most severely from freezing. I have already spoken of the quality of the water used for irrigation. At Lord Hatherton's, it is the water gathered from the different drains, in different parts of the farm, whose position was such that their supplies could be turned to this purpose. At the Duke of Portland's, a small river, called the Maun, running through the neigh- bouring town of Mansfield, supplies the wa- ter of irrigation. After strong rains, when the washings of the streets and sewers of this town are' poured into the river, its wa- ters become quite turbid, and have a supe- rior efficacy. The sediment deposited by a single watering, in such cases, is very ob- servable. I shall presently speak more at large of the application of sewerage water. "In the management of the crops of grass upon irrigated meadows," says one whose practical knowledge of the subject allows him to speak with authority, "experience has shown that to let the grass grow to be too old, viz., until the seed of it is in a for- ward state, is productive of very great in- jury to the land. When the grass has been cut for hay in this state, and brown at bot- tom, the land does not recover for a great length of time. It is also found very desira- ble, after beginning any meadow, or portion of a meadow, which receives the water from one carrier, and at one time, that the con- sumption of it in a green state should be carried on as quickly as possible, so that in dry weather the water may not be kept off of it too long ; for in that case it requires so No. 3. Premiuyns of Philadelphia Agricultural Society. 89 much smaller than on former occasions, and call on farmers and others, not to relax in their exertions to make these periodical ex- hibitions interesting-, by sending- their stock. Thomas S. Woodward, Henry Chorley, David George. ON HORSES. The undersigned, a committee appointed by the Society for the Promotion of Agri- culture of the County of Philadelphia, for the examination of horses, respectfully offer the following report: For the best thorough bred stud horse, they award to Mercer, property of James Hammel, first premium, ^10. Next best — none offered. For the best stud horse adapted to field or road, they award to John Consul, pro- perty of W. Cottman, the first premium of For the next best do., to Prince Albert, property of W. Cottman, a premium of ^4. For ihe best thorough bred brood mare, to James Hammel, for his bay mare Stella, they award the premium of $8. Next best do. — none offered. For the best mare, adapted to field or road, to the bay mare Nelly, property of Manuel Eyre, the first premium of 5*8. Next best do., to S. S. Richie's brown mare, Jenny Blackburne, premium of S4. For the best horse colt, between two and four years old, to Perry's Victory, sired by American Perry, Sr., property of J. Mich- enor, first premium of $6. F'or the next best do., to Alfred, property of W. Blackburn, a premium of $3. For the best filly or mare colt, between two and four years old, to Cornelius S. Smith, for his sorrel mare Fanny, first pre- miuui of S6. For the next best do.. Fairy, property of Owen Sheridan, a premium of $3. For the best filly or mare colt, between one and two years old, to Caleb Haines, for his roan filly, by Edward Harris's Norman horse Diligence, they award the premium of S4. A. L. Elwyn, Chairman. Abraham R. Culp, N. R. Woodward, of Md. W. W. W. Bowie, do. AGRICULTURAL LMPLEMENTS AND PRODUCE. The committee on Agricultural Imple- ments and Produce, having examined the different articles under their notice, beg leave to report: — In fulfilling their duties they have found it very difficult to decide as to the relative merits of the diflferent ar- ticles. They award the following premi- ums: To Gattling's Patent Wheat Drill, first premium, $4. To D. O. Prouty's next best do., second premium, ^2. To D. O. Prouty's best Straw Cutter, first premium, $4. To D. O. Prouty's second best do., second premium, $2. To Mr. Urmer, best Straw and Corn Cutter, first premium, $6. To Mr. Urmer, second best do., second premium, S3. To E. Chandler, best Corn Sheller, first premium, $4. To D. O. Prouty, second best do., second premium, $2. To E. Chandler, best Wheat Fan, first premium, $4. To D. O. Prouty, second best do., second premium, $2. To D. O. Prouty, best display of Agricul- tural Implements, $10. To E. Chandler, second best do., $5. For Birkindine's Water Ram, a premium of i3. For C. H. Farnham's do. do. $i3. For white Mediterranean wheat, to James Taylor, Bucks county, $3. For red do. do., to J. C. Ford, JjS3. For do. do. do., second best, to J. New- ton, $1. For Flint corn, to Morris Longstreth, first premium, $2. For the best mixed do., to Isaac Newton, first premium, $2. For the second best do., to C. W. Harri- son, second premium, $1. For the best Oats, to J. S. Huber, first premium, $2. For the best Mercer potatoes, to J. Whart- enby, first premium, .$2. For. the second best do., to J. C. Ford, se- cond premium, $1. For the best Agricultural display, to G. Blight, $8. For very fine display of Apples, twelve varieties, to A. Cornell, $3. For Floral horse and plough, to Robert Henry, gardener of G. Blight, $3. For an elegant display of agricultural products of field labour, from Mr. Charles P. Duval, of Germantown, the committee award a complimentary premium of $3. Morris Longstreth, CK'n. Samuel Williams, Jesse George, Thomas S. Davis, Robert T. Potts, G. Emerson. 90 Rep&rt of Philadelphia Agricultural Society. Vol. XI. SWINE AND SHEEP. The committee on Swine report, that after carefully examining the entire herd pre- sented for exhibition, they award the first premium to Godfrey Hague, for the best boar, $4. For the next best, to John Jones, .^2. For the best boar, over six months and under one year old, to James Esray, for his boar J. O. E., $4. For the next best of the same age, there was no competition. For the best sow, of Chester county breed, to George Blight, $4. For the second best sow, to G. Blight, $2. For the best sow over six months and un- der one year old, to Philip Garrett, $4. For the second best of the same age, there was no competition. For the best boar pig, between two and six months old, to Philip Garrett, $3. For the next best, to the same, $2. For the best sow pig, between two and six months old, to Philip Garrett, $3. For the second best, to the same, $2. For the best five pigs, under two months old, to Reese Pyatt, ^4. For the next best of the same age, to Ja- cob Whartenby, f3. The committee cannot but commend Phil- ip Garrett for the spirit which he manifested in bringing his Stag Billy to the exhibition for display. The committee were also much gratified with the fine lot of pigs, of the Chester Co. breed, displayed by Samuel Woodward The same committee beg leave respect fully to offer the following report on sheep It is considered a matter of regret that so few sheep were offered for exhibition. For the best Leicester buck, the commit- tee award to Aaron Clement, $4. For the next best, to George Martin, $2. For the best Southdown buck, over one year old, to Aaron Clement, $4. For the next best, to Aaron Clement, $2. For the best improved buck, of mixed breed, over one year old, to Aaron Clement, §j»2. For the four best ewes, over one year old, to Aaron Clement, $4. For the second best there was no compe- tition, y Mr. Isaac Newton exhibited two very fine ewe lambs, of mixed breed, of which there was not a sufficient number to compete for a premium. All of which is respectfully submitted. John Lardner, David Whitall, Anthony T. Newbold, Committee PLOUGHS AND PLOUGHING. First premium for ploughing, to Croasdel Warner. Second do., to Samuel Cox. First premium for ploughs, to Mr. Prouty. Second do., to B. Wiggins. BUTTER AND POULTRY. The committee award the first premium for fresh butter, a silver butter knife, the value of $.3, to Philip Physick of German- town ; the second premium of $3, to John Johnson, of Lower Merion. The butter ex- hibited fully sustained the character of Phila- delphia county, in the production of that ar- ticle. That for which the first premium was awarded, is judged by your committee to excel any heretofore produced. The committee award to Samuel C. Ford the premium of a silver butter knife, of the value of $5, for a jar of salted butter of a superior quality, made in the month of June, and retaining all its original sweetness and flavour. The committee award a premium of $2 to Joseph Davis, of New Jersey, for the best pair of Jersey Blue fowls. To A. T. Newbold, of Bridesburg, a premium of $2, for the best pair of improved breed of fowls. To J. S. Huber, the second premium of ^1, for the second best pair of improved breed of fowls. To A. T. Newbold, the premium of $2, for the best pair of capons. To Philip Physick, of Germantown, the pre- mium of $2, for the best pair of turkeys. To William Blackburn, the first premium of S2, for the best pair of ducks; and to Philip Physick, of Germantown, the premi- um of %\, for the second best pair of ducks. Which is respectfully submitted. Samuel C. P^ord, AsHER Moore, Cornelius J. Smith, George Blight. Sept. 30th, 1846. Isaac Newton furnished the Society with Ice Cream at their dinner, for which the Society awarded him a complimentary pre- mium of $10. Report. To the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture : — The committee of arrangement appointed in May last, to prepare for holding the An- nual Exhibition of the Society at the Rising Sun Village, on the 30th of September and 1st of October, offer the following report : — That in pursuance of notice given, the exhi- bition was held at the time and place men- tioned. The exhibition of animals, in con- No. 3. Report of Philadelphia Agricultural Society. 91 sequence of the extreme drought and dusty condition of the roads, was not numerous, but generally of excellent quality. A very respectable number of horses of the different breeds, were on the ground. Many of them were high bred, and others displayed excellent qualifications for coach and road horses; and some cross breeds, well adapted to the use of the farmer. The display of Durham cattle was more limited than on former occasions ; but their quality, size, and beautiful appearance, at- tracted the notice of visitors, and it must be acknowledged by all, that they are entitled to a great share of credit, for the interest manifest on the occasion. The Devons were well represented, and their appearance attractive. There was a few Ayrshires and Alderneys of good quali ty, and some cows and heifers of mixed and native breeds. Also some good calves, the progeny of the above. Showing that a laudable spirit still exists among farmers, for the improvement of stock, according to their preference for any particular variety. With regret the committee are obliged to state, that but one pair of working oxen was to be seen on the ground ; they were of fine size, superior form and quality, and perfectly tractable, and were attached to a cart containing a variety of farm products Your committee would recommend to farm- ers the more general use of those valuable animals, as being more economical than horses, and for many purposes more conve nient and efficient. But few sheep were on the show ground; they were mostly of Southdown and Leices- ter blood, of the best quality, and attracted much notice. There was a good collection of swine, and their appearance creditable; they con- sisted generally of the Chester county breed, and their crosses, some of the mixed, Hamp- shire, Lincoln, and Berkshires, were of good quality. The exhibition of poultry was more nu- merous and various than on any former oc- casion, and evinced an increasing spirit of emulation among their breeders. Samples of fresh butter of superior flavor were produced ; and also a jar of salted butter of excellent quality, the first of the kind exhibited before the Society. The display of machinery and farming utensils was large and very interesting; showing that our ingenious mechanics are untiring in their efforts to accomplish a re- duction of the labour and expenses of culti- vation. Some good samples of different varieties of wheat, oats, corn in the ear, «SiC., were to be seen ; but the display of roots, the committee regret to state, was very defi- cient in quantity, and they would beg leave to recommend their more general cultiva- tion by farmers for the use of their stock in the winter season. Your committee having obtained and pre- pared some ground for ploughing, by staking off the proper allotments for each competit- or, the trial of ploughs and ploughing took place on the second day of the exhibition. The ground, from the long drought, was rendered so hard, that any attempt of the ploughman to force his way through it seemed almost hopeless, but as farmers al- ways have shown good courage on the field, a determination was manifested to make the attempt, and contrary to the expectations of most present, the work was done in a rea- sonable time, and in a manner that displayed to the large concourse of people the great skill of the ploughmen, and the superior quality of the ploughs entered for competi- tion. It was pleasing to notice competitors from the neighbouring counties, and some from the State of Delaware, who had honoured the Society with their presence on former occasions. In a short time after returning from the plough field, the different committees hav- ing prepared their reports, a large concourse of persons assembled around the stand on the show ground, where the chairman of your committee announced the premiums awarded to the successful competitors. Excellent dinners were provided by Mr. Hamill, on both days of the meeting, and the Society was honoured by the presence of many distinguished guests, among whom were H. B. M. Consul at Philadelphia, Mr. Peter, Hon. Charles B. Calvert, Col. H. Ca- pron, Col. W. VV. W. Bowie, Dr. Thomas, and Mr. Woodward, of Maryland, Bryan Jacksoj], Esq., of Delaware, and John Gill and David Whitall, Esqrs., of New Jersey. Some excellent speeches were made by Mr, Peter, Col. Bowie, and others. The plan adopted on the present occasion, of disposing of animals by private, instead of public sale, proved highly successful. Many sales were made at fair prices. This cir- cumstance will ofier inducements to many farmers to bring out their best stock for ex- hibition and for sale ; and a fair or market may be established that will bring persons from a distance, and prove to be most conve- nient and advantageous to all parties. The committee are happy in stating that the exhibition throughout was conducted in the most orderly manner, and passed off in such a way as to be highly creditable to the 92 The Potatoe Disease. Vol. XI. Society; and they feel assured, that with a harmonious combination of the members, and a determination to come out on future occasions with all their force, their ex- hibitions will be rendered highly useful and attractive. Algernon S. Roberts, Chairman. Aaron Clement, Rec. Sec'y. Philadelphia, October 7th, 1846. The Potatoe Disease. The following very curious article we take from the Berwick Jidvertiser of 8th of Eighth month last, which was kindly handed us by a friend, who is personally acquainted with W. Whitehouse, the writer, and says his statements may certainly be relied on. It behoves every one to throw all the light he can upon the dis- ease, and its remedies, that is so widely and seriously affecting the Irish potatoe. Wherever it can be done, we would advise the farmer to lime his potatoe ground. For many years, while on a farm, the editor never failed to have a good crop of potatoes on ground which he had limed : he uniformly believed that lime was es pecially favourable to that root. This, however, was before the appearance of the potatoe disease. Instead of tracing the cause of this malady to a particularly wet season, or particularly dry season, or hot season, we apprehend — like epidemics among ourselves and our cattle — it must be attributed to circumstances which have hitherto entirely eluded our perceptions. There may, however, be an antidote. Let us seek it industriously, by experiment and observation. Lime your potatoe ground.— Ed. To the Editor of the Berwick Advertiser : Sir, — Allow me to lay before you a state- ment respecting- an e.xperiment which I made last year, and am following up this summer, as a probable means of renovating and im- proving the qualities of our second necessary of life, potatoes — which have been degene- rating for several years back. Aware that many garden shrubs and her- baceous plants have their qualities main- tained and improved, by propagating them by cuttings of the steins, rather than by di- viding the roots or by seed; in the latter end of June, 1845, I planted, in a good light soil, without manure, cuttings of the green stalks of early potatoes. I scarcely cher- ished a hope that they would produce tu- bers; yet in autumn I found a crop — some of them the size of boys' playing marbles, and most of them from two to four times that size. These were planted the 23rd of last Feb- ruary; and now, removing the soil from part of a root, the first and only one that I in- spected is full larger, and of finer appear- ance, than those growing in the same ground and planted with tubers of the same sort. The cuttings were the tops of the stalks, four or five joints from the top, and cut close under the joint with a very sharp penknife, and with a quick, clean, sloping cut. All tiie long leaves were clipped off, and such of the buds of the stalks as were growing into leaves, shortened a little, except the top buds — taking particular care not to do this so close as to pinch the bud off, or bruise the stalk — as it is out of these buds that the young tubers grow. They were planted in a sunny aspect, and shaded, and watered every evening in dry weather, for two or three weeks, until they began to grow. This summer I am planting about half, or two-thirds of tlie whole stalks ; laying them nearly horizontally, under two or three inches of soil, with the top buds only above ground. The seed will no doubt be more abundant in this length of stalk and hori- zontal position. I ain planting them in por- tions of ground the size of onion beds, lay- ing a row of plants three inches asunder the whole breadth of the bed, and another row directly opposite, with the top buds of both rows meeting each other. In this way they will need little shade, and will be easily weeded and watered. As it is rather diffi- cult to furnish shade, I plant some behind any large culinary herbs; and even behind, and between, ridges of growing potatoes. The broad leaves of the former, and the luxuriant stalks of the latter, are a sufficient shade. But these growing potatoes, or herbs, are such as will be dug up in the course of three weeks, as this new crop must have sun to mature it. Latterly I find that by bringing the top buds very near to- gether, they need no shade except a few stalks and leaves thrown over them, of those weeds, herbs, or cuttings of leafy shrubs, on which earwigs and reptiles do not lodge, so that there is no expense, and little trouble attending this attempt to improve potatoe seed. The cuttings should be taken from healthy plants and planted without manure in ground that has not been recently set with potatoes. I now find young sets growing upon stalks of early potatoes which I planted only three weeks ago. It is, therefore, not too late to plant cuttings of second earlies and the later sorts. I also find that the small stalks produce as well as the thick stalks; so that those who would hesitate to cut the main stalks of their growing crops for this pur- pose, might succeed by using the small ones. It may be advisable to cover the crop with an addition of light soil, and leave it in the ground until setting time next spring. This method of endeavouring to improve the potatoe will be more expeditious than that of doing it by the seed of the potatoe- No. 3. Editorial Notices. 101 The Long Island Horticultural Society had quite a spirited exhibition at Flushing, about the middle of last month, and awarded numerous premiums. VVm. , R. Prince and Co. sent from their garden and nurseries,! more than fllty varieties each, of apples and peaches, and upwards of sixty varieties of pears, besides flow ers in abundance. Cattle are sometimes choked with an apple or po- tatoe. A friend lately informed the Editor, that a cow of his, was this summer greatly distressed by getting an apple in her gullet, and which, with all his efforts he was unable to remove either upwards or downwards. As a last resort, thinking she must die, he placed the part of the throat where the apple lay, over a solid block, and with a blow of a mallet, mashed it. She swallowed the broken fruit, and was instantly reliev- ed. Considerable swelling and inflammation of the parts, naturally followed, but with proper care, he had no doubt, she would entirely recover. A VERY serious disease has within a few weeks, ap peared among the horses in the vicinity of New York. It was for a time pretty much confined to King's Co., on Long Island, but subsequently extended to Flush- ing and Statcn Island. From a letter dated at Bergen Point, N. J. the 19lh ult., we learn that it had reach- ed that neighborhood. A friend from Salem, in the Odr friend C. W. Haywood, of Germantown, left at lower part of Jersey, informed the Editor, some three i this office a few days ago, an ear of last year's corn, weeks since, that a number of horses had been seized i many of the grains of which, had been curiously per- with this distemper in that county, and that it had nforated, and a good deal of the inside eaten, as we of- proved alarmingly fatal. Its seat is doubtless in the ,t6n see the pea eaten in the spring of the year, by a head. In a case on Staton Island, relief was produced i worm or moth. The corn was lying in bulk in the ear , when a copious discharge was obtained from the head' '" ^^^ garret, and some five or six weeks since, num- of very offensive matter. The brain, on dissection, ;|berless moths were observed on the wing, and it was has appeared like a mass of clotted blood, and it has' 1^0°" discovered that they had made their escape from been suggested, that immediately on discovering thej^''" grains of corn. It is of course, much injured; and attack, the first symptom of which is indicated by a pc- ^^ould the insect spread itself widely over the country, culiar drooping of the animal, the forehead should be, '' '^ ''"P''^^''''^ to estimate the amount of injury which shaved between the eyes, and a powerful blister ap'j'^ '^ '^^P^'''^ of inflicting- plied. Let this be accompanied by steaming with'] The Editor very well remembers something of the vinegar and hot oats— moderately bleeding, and reliev- 1 I^ind that attacked the corn in the ear in the crib, some ing the costiveness always attendant uponlhe disease, I fi^'e and twenty, or thirty years ago, particularly in if it even be by resort to the mechanical process oflithe lower part of West Jersey. Is the moth we now raking. Our friend from Salem, called it the blind|^P<^*l'°''^i™i'" i" character and habits, to that which staggers, and believed it was occasioned by some dele- j ''PP'^^red a quarter of a century ago, and which then terious substance procured in the pasture, and would 1 excited a good deal of alarm ? If our memory is not strongly advise the stabling of horses, without letting them run in the field. It is not believed to be conta- gious, as instances have occurred where horses have died, while others standing by their side, have escaped. It was recently stated by a member of the Farmers' Club in New York, that he had known a similar epi- demic in Spain, and that cures had been effected by wrapping the head in blankets steeped in hot water, and following it up by copious bleeding. A committee was appointed by the Club to investigate the matter, and ascertain the remedies, if any really effective, had been discovered. in fault, it did not continue more than two or three seasons. Who can tell us all about it? C. W. Hay- wood said he had upon enquiry, not been able to hear of it among bis neighbors. A H.tNDSOME display of fruits, flowers, vegetables, &.C., was made at the rooms of the New Jersey Horti- cultural Society, in Princeton, at its annual meeting on the 2,3rd, 24th and 25th of last month. The fruit was splendid, and the attendance, such as manifested a lively interest in the concerns of the Society. Occasion was taken four months ago to mention the excellent location for an Agricultural School, offer- ed by a property which lately belonged to the estate of W. G. Rogers, deed, and which had been purchased by our enterprising friend James Gowen. It is adjoining his homestead at Germantown, and seems admirably adapted for such a purpose. James Govven, we have understood, has it in contemplation to open such an establishment, should his health admit of it. We can- not but believe the Sjuth and Southwest might derive lasting benefits from a school of this character in this vicinity. We heartily wish the enterprise may be prosecuted, and with all success. William R. Prince, proprietor of the Linncean Bo- tanic Garden and Nurseries at Flushing, and author of the Treatises on Horticulture, on Fruits and on the Vine, has lately published a 1VI.4Nual or Roses, com- prising the most complete History of the Rose, includ- ing every class, and all the most admirable varieties that have appeared in Europe and America, together with ample information on their culture and propa- gation. We have received a copy of the work,— a neat duo- decimo— and have no doubt the lover of the Rose w'ill find in it, as expressed in the title page, every thing almost, which it may be desirable to learn, regarding its cultivation and management. " During the last ten years" says the preface, " the acquisitions made to the family of Roses, have been so remarkable for their splendor, fragrance and other qualities, that the public attention has been awakened to their culture in a degree, almost unprecedented in the annals of Flori culture," and those who most par- ticipate in this awakened interest, will most need and enjoy such a manual as is now off* red to them. Our fellow-townsman, Robert Buist, so well known among us for his enterprise and good taste as a florist, it will be recollected, also published a couple of years ago, an excellent Rose Manual, which is widely circulated among amateurs. 102 Editorial JVbtices. Vol. XL The publishers— Harper and Brethers, New York, have forwarded a beautiful octavo volume, "The Trees of America, Native and Foreign, Pictorially and Botanically delineated, and scientifically and po- pularly described; being considered principally with reference to their Geography and History; soil and situation; propagation and culture; accidents and diseases; properties and uses; economy in the arts; introduction into commerce; and their application in useful and ornamental plantations; illustrated by nu- merous engravings. By D. J. Browne, author of the Sylva Americana." They will accept our thanks, and allow us to congratulate the intelligent farmer^ as well as the city and country gentleman, on this addition to our means of becoming more fully acquainted with the trees we have all our lives had around us, and with which we may have supposed we were already tolerably familiar. Who will ever tire in studying the forests of America 1 A LOT of new corn, the first of the season, was in the Baltimore market on the 23rd ultimo. It sold for 74 cts. In a letter dated at Liskeard, in Cornwall, the 15th of Eighth mo. last, a friend remarks, "we are using at present some excellent American flour; the cost is about 30s. or $7 per barrel. The wheat crop here proves a very good one, and is nearly all secured. Barley and oats are thin, and the potatoes are even more defective than last year. The farmers are much discouraged about planting them again. Meat is from 6d. to G^d. per lb., or 12 to 13 cents." The seventh number of Colraan's Tour has been re- ceived and distributed among our subscribers. It will be found of equal interest with any of those which precede it. We are not able to perceive that the public good would be promoted by the publication of the letter from a " Friend to inventive genius"— W. S. of Balti' more. Had we thought otherwise, it should have ap peared in this number. TuE Exhibition of our Horticultural Society last month was a very splendid affair. Many thousands visited the rooms, and so far as we have learned, all were gratified, and, as it seems to us, must have come away with feelings mellowed, and more than ever ena- moured with the endless variety of nature's beauties. One could hardly stroll around the tables— or, to give the idea more correctly— could hardly force oneself through the crowd, without being increasingly sensible of the richness of the gifts bestowed by a beneficent Creator in fruit, flower and vegetable. We cannot par- ticularise either the articles or the contributors. The pages of a whole number of the Cabinet would barely suffice to do so. A BEAUTIFUL portrait of the late James Wadsworth, the great landed proprietor of Genese, with an inter- esting sketch of his life, will be found among other valuable matter, in the last number of the Farmers'' Library. This number also contains a splendid en- graving of E. L. Colt's Mansion at Patterson, N. J. FOR SALE, A BEAUTIFUL FARM, Nearly adjoining the city of Annapolis, Maryland, containing 300 acres of land, naturally of good quality, and during the last four years, I have had it highly improved with clover, plaster, ashes, lime, and other manures to the amount of upwards of fifteen hundred dollars. The fences and buildings are all in good re- pair, and divided into ten departments, including one peach orchard, containing upwards of 1500 trees, in fine health of three summers' growth, and an apple orchard in full bearing. About 150 acres of this land are covered with the best sort of building timber. I have a good wharf, where a large schooner can lie and receive or deliver produce. This farm is very pleasantly situated, high and dry, and about rolling enough to cast off extra rain water, — also has good spring water in several of the fields. The buildings consist of a good dwelling, nearly new, two brick ser- vant houses, one house for the manager, two large to- bacco houses, 30 by 70 feet each, one is used for a barn; stabling, corn, milk, and hen houses. From the above dwelling I can go to the Annapolis market in about fifteen minutes, where we have a tolerably good mar- ket for hay, peaches, sweet potatoes, milk and butter. Of milk about $2000 worth may be sold annually. Freight is cheap to Baltimore, which is an excellent market, with which we have daily intercourse, both by steam and otherwise. But few farms have the same opportunities of doing business to profit, being now in good order to make money, and only on account of ad- vanced age, infirmities, and residing at a distance, am I induced to part with it. It will be sold cheap. Per- sons desirous of seeing the place, will please call on me, near Baltimore, Md., and I will go and show it. ROBERT SINCLAIR, Nurseryman. August 28£A.— 4t. Agency for the Purchase & Sale of IMPROVED BREEDS OP CATTLE & SHEEP. The subscriber takes this method of informing his friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, &c., for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AARON CLEMENT. Sept. 15th, 1846. FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, EVER- GREENS, SHRUBBERY, &c., In great variety, for sale as heretofore, bj^the sub- scriber, at his Nursery, near Haddington, four miles west of Philadelphia. Orders sent by mail, or left at the oflice of the Farmers' Cabinet— where catalogues may be obtained — will be attended to, and the trees well packed when ordered to distant places. City gardeners supplied with trees suitable for the streets, at a liberal discount. SAMUEL RHOADS. Tenth mo. 15th, 1846. No. 3. Editorial JVotices. 103 TREES FOR SALE. The Subscriber has for sale at the Mount Laurel Nursery,— established by J. Needles— an extensive as- sortment of Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, and Cherry Trees and Grape Vines. Also, a great variety of ORNAMENTAL AND EVERGREEN TREES, Which are of the best quality, and good size for trans- planting. Orders left with Josiah Tatum, No. 50, N. Fourth street, will be punctually attended to, where catalogues may be procured. EZRA STOKES. Mount Laurel, near Moorcstown, A". J., Eighth month \5th, 1846. EJ" SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted at the rate of one dollar for each insertion often lines or less; and so in proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. SEED STORE, No. 23 Market Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. Aso, in season, Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Pbilad., Feb., 1846. tf. FOR SALE, AT D. O. PROUTY'S No. 194^ Market Street, Philadelphia, Corn-Shellers in jreat variety, price from $1 50 to $50 each; Hovey's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Grant's Patent Fan Mills, for chaffing and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to $18 each. Whitman's Horse-powers and Threshing Machines with Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached ; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may be taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, &.C.; Centre Draught, Self sharpening, Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation. September 15th — tf The quantity of rain which fell in the 9th month, 1846, was one quarter of an inch 25 in. Penn. Hospital, lOth mo. 1st. Last month is said to have been more remarkable for heat and drought, than any corresponding month since 1804. COATES' SEED STORE, No. 49 MarJiet Street, FRESH TIMOTHY SEED, Of various qualities, from good comvion seed to the purest and finest that can be produced, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF GRASS & GA^HHir SSSDS, Of the finest Quality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &.c. JOS. P. H. COATES. Successor to Oeorge M. Coates. Sept. 15th, 1846. PHILADELPHIA AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE, jVo. 291 MarJict Street, North side, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has j ust received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Rugglcs, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have been so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement ; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Shellers, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c., to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. 1 yr. NEW Hortienltural and Agricultural Ware-house, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscriber has for the better accommodation of hia customei's, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Svveede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th, 1846.— ly. R. BUIST. CO AI.. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con^ stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the usual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers" Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Tenth month 15th, 1846. 104 Editorial Notices. Vol. XI. We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in leather; — Price $3 50 YOUATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37^ THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; "ill DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sets of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, STABLE ECONOMY, BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, CUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, SKINNERS CATTLE & SHEEP DOCTOR, AMERICAN FARRIER, THE FARMER'S MINE, HOARE ON THE VINE, HAN NAM'S Economy of Waste Manures, LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, FAMILIAR LETTERS, As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour — or single numbers sold. 25' We are prepared to bind books to order. 8 50 3 50 1 50 50 1 25 1 50 1 00 1 00 1 00 31j 75 50 50 50 75 G2i 25 25 25 12i GUANO. Twenty-five tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrels, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN &: CO., No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Pondrette. A valuable rasnurc— of the best quality, prepared in Pltilad(;.phia, for sale at the office of the Farm- ers' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or more, $1 75 per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any num- ber of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or thirty-five cents a bushol. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for wheat. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTESTS OF THIS NUMBER. PAGE Soiling, or House Feeding, 73 The Potatoc, 76 The Noisette or Champney Rose, 77 Good Housewifery and Evil. — Mustard Plant. — Value of Sm(jke, 78 Imported Stock, ►^-t 79 Adaptation of Farming to Circumstances, ..' 82 Potatoe Rot, 85 Overgrown Wheat and tender Straw. — Profits of Farming, 86 Hay-making.— To destroy Roaches, 87 List of Premiums of Philadelphia Ag. Society, 88 Report of do., 90 Potatoe Disease, 92 Strawberries.— Destructive Insects, 93 Irrigation, 94 Newcastle County Agricultural Society, 97 To have good Vinegar 99 Elihu Burritt in England.— Editorial Notices, 100 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fifteenth of every month, in num- bers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri- ately introduced. Terms. — One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in advance. All subscriptions must commence at the beginning of a volume. Having lately struck ofl" a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become cvhauEled, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-five cents half-bound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, a comptoeset of the work will be furnished in numbers, including the 11th voluu;?. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-bound and let- tered. Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be hound upon the same terms. By the decision of the Post Master General, the " Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office v.'ithin thirty miles of Philadelphia, they win go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer. AMer ICAN HERD-BOOTi' DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry.— Libbio. Vol. XI.— No. 4.] 11th mo. (November) 16th, 1846. [Whole No. 142. PaBLISHED MONTHLY, BY JOSIAH TATUM, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per }'ear. — For conditions see last page Insect in the Corn. Our readers will recollect a reference in the last number of the Cabinet, page 101, to a worm or moth, found in the grains of corn, by C. VV. Haywood, of Germantown. The presence of this insect, as indi- cated in the ear left at the office, was viewed by the editor with considerable alarm. On the 14th nit. he addressed a letttr to Dr. Harris, so well known for his researches in natural history. The importance of the matter to which it refers, will e.xcuse the publication of the following extracts from it, in cotuuction with the leply so kindly and so promptly returned. The letter refers to the " fly weevil, that destroys wheat in Virginia and some of the Southern and Western States." Is this weevil confined to Southern parts of our Union, or is it identical with that which is but too commonly found in this vicinity ? We have frequently known granaries of rye very much injured by a wee- vil in New Jersey. It was our practice, when its ap- pearance was feared, to sprinkle a little very fijiely powdered air slaked lime through the bin. among the grain. We have also heard it said, that the presence of sheep in a barn where grain is kept, is particularly offensive to tbe grain w.^evil. Cab.— Vol. XL— No. 4. The appeal made at the close of Dr. Harris's letter, will, we trust, be freely responded to. Great inconve- nience results from the depredations of the worm in the locust tree. The value of this limber is perhaps not exceeded by that of any giovvn among us, yet it seems hardly worth while to attempt to cultivate the tree, as it is so soon, and so certainly, and so seriously injured by the worm. A remedy would be of great general benefit.— Ed. The following is an extract from the edi- tor's letter to Dr. Harris: "I received a day or two ago, from a friend at Germantown, in this vicinity, an ear of corn of last year's growth, most of the grains of which were perforated in a very singular manner, by an insect which has drawn its nourishment from the softer part, and of course, greatly diminished its value. C. W. Haywood, who gave it to me, stated that his attention was first directed to the matter some five or six weeks ago, by observing that his garret, where some five and twenty or thirty bush- els of corn lay in the ear, was swarming with a dun coloured moth, which he soon ascertained had escaped from the grains. I enclose a few grains, from some of which I think it will be found tiie moth has not yet made his escape. Yesterday, while holding a grain in my hand, one came leisurely out, and I put a pin through it, intending to for- ward it herewith, but this morning it is mouldered to pieces. It would be gratifying to me to receive any information relative to this insect. My friend said he had not (105) 106 Insect in Corn. Vol. XL learned that the corn of any of his neigh- bours had been similarly attacked. "It is impossible to estimate the amount ot injury that might be done to the great staple of our country by the depredations of this insect, should it widely extend through our corn-cribs." Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 16th, 1846. Respected Friend, — Your letter of the 14th instant, reminds me of the pleasure that I took in reading those numbers of the Farmers' Cabinet which you had the kind- ness to send to me from the 15th of March, 1844, to the 15th of IVIay, 1845, inclusive. You have some reason to be alarmed at the appearance of the insects in the corn- crib of your friend Haywood. Should they prevail to any extent in our country, they Tvould prove a terrible scourge; now more than ever, since the potatoe is likely to fail us entirely, and we have nothing to supply its place save corn. Bread is the staft' ot ■Jife: we must lake care that it be not broken. The little dun-coloured moth which you eaw come forth from a kernel of corn in your hand, is " the fly-weevil, that destroys wheat" in Virginia and some of the Southern and Western States. Shall I give it a more fearful name, by acknowledging that it is the Angoumois moth, the same insect that ap- peared in the provinces of La Vendee and Angoumois, in the west of France, more than a hundred years ago; that it continued to increase there for many years, till its ravages in 1760, attracted the attention ot the government, when it was found to swarm in all the wheat fields and granaries of these provinces; when by its ravages the people were not only deprived of their principal staple, wherewith they were wont to pay their annual rents, their taxes, and their tithes, but were threatened with starvation, from the want of good and wholesome bread. Let us hope to be saved from the like ca- lamity. The great and good Linnseus, was filled with alarm on finding the pea-weevil in a parcel of peas received from America, fear- ing that he might be the means of intro- ducing into his beloved Sweden so great an evil. How much more have we reason to dread the spreading of this Angoumois moth in our own country. You will find some account of this moth in my Treatise on Insects Injurious to Ve- getation, published in 1842. At that time the habits of the insect were not known to me from personal observation ; all my at- tempts to obtain samples of infected grain containing living specimens, having been ineffectual, and my numerous letters and applications on the subject having remained unnoticed. Since then I have been more fortunate, and have had the insects in all their stages, living under my own eye. It does not seem to be generally known that this insect attacks maize, or corn, as we call it, as well as wheat. The tact was made known to me nearly two years ago. A friend in Worcester, Mass., told me that he found some corn that had been stored in his garret some time, contained insects in it ; and he brought me two ears of this corn for examination. The corn, then appearing to be sound externally, was rolled up in se- veral sheets of strong brown paper, and was tied securely and laid aside in a safe place. Some months afterwards, on opening the parcel, I found nearly a gill of dead moths in the paper, and three or four living ones. Every kernel appeared to have been perfo- rated, and many had three or four holes in each of them. Some contained the insect in the worm state, and some had the chry- salis fully formed within them. The two ears were then put into a wide-mouthed glass bottle, which was corked tight, so as to prevent the future escape of the moths that might be developed from the worms and chrysalids remaining in the kernels. The moths have continued to come forth, and, as they were prevented from escaping, they paired and laid their eggs upon the corn in the bottle. Two broods have been produced in a single year; the first brood coming out of the corn early in March, and the second in September and October. Pro- bably the appearance of the first brood was accelerated by the insects being kept in a warm room during the winter. Having made accurate drawings of the insects in their several states, and written a scientific description of them, I have been trying to collect the statistics relative to them, in those parts of the country where they have heretofore appeared, with the de- sign of drawing up for publication a memoir on the history of this depredator. Commu- nications on the subject, addressed to me, will be very acceptable. The moths are easily killed by the fumes of burning sulphur, and of charcoal, by steam, and by moderate heat otherwise ap- plied. From experiments made in France, it would seem that violent agitation of the grain, continued during several hours, will destroy the insects in all their stages. I have, however, much more confidence in the application of heat, by drying the dam- aged grain in an oven or a kiln, heated to 160 degrees of Fahrenheit, in which the grain should remain during twelve hours. No. 4. JVewcaslIe Co. Ag. Society. — To preserve Peach Trees. 107 This will effectually kill both the larvae, or worms, and the egg's. Proposals have been made to me to pre- pare another edition of my Treatise, with figures. I am therefore very desirous of obtaining the means for completing the his- tory of two or three destructive insects no- ticed in the work. Permit me to ask your attention, and that of your correspondents, to the insect that bores in the pith of the locust tree, and causes the swellings of the young brandies, described on page 295 of my Treatise ; and also to the wheat cater- pillar, of which a very imperfect account, extracted from various agricultural papers, is given on pages 445 to 457, of my work. My official duties in the University at Cam- bridge, have been such for some time past, as to deprive me of that leisure which the successful study of our destructive insects demands. I must therefore rely upon those of my agricultural and scientific correspond- ents who are interested in such subjects, to furnish me with such specimens and facts as are necessary to make another edition of this book more complete and useful than the former one has been. In the hope that this appeal and this com- munication will be favourably received, I remain, very truly. Your obliged friend, Thaddeus William Harris. Newcastle County Agricultural Society. At the eleventh annual meeting of the Agricultural Society of Newcastle County, held at John Hall's Hotel, Wilmington, Oc- tober 15th, 1846, John C. Clark was called to the chair; and John W. Andrews ap- pointed Secretary. A resignation was received and read, from James Canby, declining to be re-elect- ed president of this Society, also one from James Webb, declining to be re-elected re- cording secretary, both of which were ac- cepted. The following gentlemen were then duly elected officers for the ensuing year: President — John C. Clark, Vice Presidents — Joseph Carr, John H. Price, James J. Brindley, M. B. Ocheltree, Rathmell Wilson, Giles Lambson, Philip Reybold, William Rothwell, John Jones, George Tybout. Cor. Secretary — Dr. J. W. Thomson. Rec. Secretary — Bryan Jackson. IVeasitrer — James Canby. Counsellor — Edward W. Gilpin. Dirctors — Anthony Higgrins, Samuel Can- by, Z. B. Glazier, John W. Andrews, Dr. R. M'Cabe, Richard Jackson, William Ro- binson, Henry Latimer, James N. Cleland, Henry Du Pont, J. S. H. Boies, Jesse Gregg, Philip Reybold, Jr., Wm. Tatnall, Wm. S. Bouldin, John Higgins, Francis Sawdon, Edward T. Bollah. On motion. Resolved, that the Horticultu- ral Society be hereafter separated from this Society, and that it be recommended to form a Horticultural Society, and that the exhi- bition of manufactured articles be at the same time. On motion. Resolved, That this meeting will hold its next annual exhibition at the grove by Hare's Corner, and it is also re- commended that the meeting in 1848 be held at the Brandywine Springs, in 1849 at St. Georges, and in 1850 at Newark. The Horticultural Society having been separated from the Agricultural Society, it was Resolved, That it is expedient to hold the exhibitions of the Agricultural Society some four weeks later than they have been form- erly held ; say about the second week of October. JjHN C. Clark, President, John W. Andrews, Sec. For the FarnierB' Cabinet. To Preserve Peach Trees. To THE Editor, — In the Cabinet of Au- gust 15th, is a letter that was read at a late meeting of the Farmers' Club, in New York, concerning the mischief done to peach trees by insects, and the way to prevent their rav- ages. I have now peach trees full of fruit in my garden, that were recovered by the free use of quick lime around the root, after having laid them bare for some distance around the tree. A friend informs me that he has saved a fine Nectarine tree, by pouring strong to- bacco juice, boiling hot, around the roots, laid bare, and sand put around the tree in- stead of ■ the earth that was taken out. These trees never bote until they were treated in this way; the leaves were yellow and apparently full of insects, and finally all dropped off". Yours, &c., Louis S. Gilliams. St. Mary's co., Md., Sep. 3rd, 184G. Cotton in Turkey. — The Sultan of all the Turkeys has resolved upon an extensive experiment in the cultivation of cotton in his Asiatic dominions. Dr. Davis and Dr^ Smith, both of South Carolina, have already departed for Constantinople, to make the experiments in the service of the Sultan. — Ledger. 108 The Potatoe Disease. Vol. XL The Potatoe Disease. As the season approaches when the rav- ages of this disease generally make their appearance, it is desirable to know how far investigations already entered into, have proceeded towards the detection of the cause of such an evil, and the suggestion of a remedy. Little has as yet been done on any organized plan in this country. In Eu- rope, the case has been very different. In Holland and Belgium a committee was first appointed to collect facts calculated to throw light on the nature of the disease. In one of the Dutch provinces, Groningen, a sepa- rate commission was appointed for the same purpose. In Germany, Liebig among others has turned his attention to the potatoe, and has lately published some observations on its ni- trogenous constituents. A number of the French philosophers, both alone, and under the auspices of the Central Society of Agriculture, have also attended to the subject. M. Payen has lately published three or four reports con- taining the results of elaborate microscopic and chemical researches. The English government sent a commis- sion to Ireland, of three distinguished scien- tific men, with directions to obtain as much information as possible on the nature and extent of the disease. In Scotland origi- nated the most extended scheme of all. The subject was taken up in its several branches, as it is connected with botany, meteorology, entomology, and chemistry. Each branch was referred to a competent person, and the investigation is still in pro- gress. It is not, as yet, even certainly determined in what form the disease first attacks the plant. A great number of observers have considered that it is first seen in patches of dark coloured fungi on the leaves, thence gradually spreading down to the tubers. Dr. Ferguson, in Paris, and several others in England, think that they have detected the sporules of the fungus passing down through the stem in the ordinary circulation of sap. But there are well authenticated instances where the potatoe tops have re- mained green and flourishing while the tu- bers were much diseased ; it cannot, there- fore, be said with certainty that the disease first appears as a fungus on the leaves. All agree that the nitrogenous compounds in the tuber are afi^ected first, and to a pecu- liar state of these constituents, Liebig and others have referred the origin of the dis- ease. The starch is attacked last, and often remains uninjured when the walls of the cellular tissue that enclose its globules are nearly destroyed. From potatoes which have become even offensive in their smell, perfectly good starch has been extracted. The manufacture of starch becomes of great importance in the economical disposition of the diseased potatoe. The report of the Groningen commission ascribes the disease to the wetness and sud- den changes of the two last years. M. Payen thinks that excessive moisture has predisposed the potatoe to yield to the at- tacks of fungi. Mr. Phillips, of London, has published a pamphlet, in which he as- cribes the whole thing to the same cause. These are only a few of those who advocate this view of the question. All who have experienced much rain, assign this as the cause of disease, not knowing that it has been quite as bad on dry soils, and where there has been little rain. In all the west of Scotland, the summer of 1845 was consi- dered rather a dry one, and in Islay, one of the western islands on the Scotch coast, the streams had not been so low for many years. The potatoes were as much affected in this part of Scotland as on the east coast. These facts seem quite decisive on the subject of wetness, for one well authenticated case where the disease has occurred under cir- cumstances that preclude the idea of its being caused by wet, renders the theory quite untenable. It is not so easy to decide whether atmos- pheric influence is the cause of the disease. In order to arrive at any certain conclusion on this point, extended meteorological obser- vations are necessary. It is a singular fact that three or four counties forming the ex- treme northern point of Scotland were en- tirely free from it, without any essential difference in their season from that of the other counties, so far as was known by or- dinary observers. The overseer of Mr. Fleming, of Barochan, in Renfrewshire, Scotland, lifted froni one of his fields, on the 5th of September last, 1845, about five hundred weight of potatoes; these were stored in the house and remained perfectly sound at the date of his writing, in the mid- dle of winter. From the same field on the 15th of September, were lifted five hundred weight more of the same potatoes. These, after being in the house two days, were tainted and decaying, as was the case before the end of Septeniber with all that were left in the field. In this instance, the crisis in Ihe change from the healthy to the diseased tuber took place between the 5th and 15th of September. If the disease had shown itself at this time simultaneously in every part of that district, this fact would go far No. 4. The Petatoe Disease. 109 to show that it was caused by some atmos- pheric influence ; but the contrary was the case. In some fields it appeared as early as July, even on adjoining farms. The cause then remains still a mystery. Of remedies, a very great number had been suggested; many without due conside- ration. The commissiouers sent by the English government into Ireland, were particularly unfortunate in this respect for want of a little practical knowledge added to tlieir un- doubted scientific attainments. All the means of prevention that have formerly proved successful, failed during the last year. An excellent method has been to change the seed every year, taking it from .a high country to the lowlands, but this was found to have lost its efiicacy. Gypsum and hot slaked lime, have also been of little bene- fit. The greening of potatoes intended for seed, by letting them lay in the sun, has been much recommended, and on cutting up the sun-burned potatoes, it has been found, according to some statements, that the greened parts were never diseased. It may be well to turn attention to this subject. In former years some persons succeeded in in- vigorating the crop by means of certain sa- line manures, and even during the last sea- son it was thought that they were in some degree beneficial. We are not aware that any plan heretofore suggested, has proved uniformly successful over any great breadth of country. The preservation of the crop during the winter has excited the deepest interest, and here also the number of methods proposed defies enumeration. The result of all the trials seems to be that the disease makes very slow progress, and in many instances none at all, when the potatoes are kept perfectly dry and well ventilated. Both of these conditions seem absolutely essential; packing them in dry absorbent earth, and even in charcoal, has proved a signal fail- ure. It is necessary in any case where the disease has made much progress to pick over the heaps frequently, and carefully select all of the affected tubers. Kiln-drying has been resorted to in cases of extremity; this preserves the potatoe for food, but of course destroys its vitality. Of the various plans proposed for the planting of potatoes in spring, none has been found more efficacious than cutting carefully selected potatoes into sets, con- taining each two or three healthy eyes. These sets are sprinkled with sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, diluted in the proportion of one pound of acid to four gallons of wa- ter. Newly slaked lime, or gypsum, is then added so as to form a crust over the cut sur- face. The diseased potatoes have not been found injurious as food. In Scotland all kinds of domestic animals have been fed with them freely, and actually thrived upon them. We have, in the present communication, glanced merely at the principal points of interest hitherto touched, in the researches upon this subject; it is much to know which are false theories, even if we have made little posi- tive advance. Prof Johnson, in a late communication, has informed us that from attentive conside- ration of the analyses of diseased and healthy potatoes made in his laboratory during the past year, he has been led to recommend the application of a certain manure to the potatoe crop, as calculated, in many cases if not universally, to arrest the disease. He does not speak of this with confidence, but as a thing yet to be tried. The publication containing his paper has not yet reached us, and we are consequently unable to say more. We are forced to conclude that the origin and causes of this disease are at present un- known; its mysterious marks have appeared suddenly on two continents, separated by two oceans; under the heat and drought, rain and cold, on wet and dry, light and heavy soils, at every elevation, and in every variety of potatoe. Those who have most carefully investigated its peculiarities, most widely examined its range, are most unde- cided as to its cause. Only by a very long and extended series of experiments, by an accumulation of ac- curate results, can we hope to arrive at a solution of the mysterious problem. No subject of the present day offers more at- tractions to the scientific man, or a wider field of usefulness. The very existence of a crop of incalculable importance seems at stake; practice has entirely failed in its efforts to 'correct the evil, and looks to sci- ence for that aid, which, if within the limits of possibility, should be afforded. — Silliman^s Journal of Science and Arts. New Material for Shingles. — A patent for a new invention has been obtained by Mr. William Beach, of Troy, for the application and mode of using cast-iron plates for cover- ing roofs. "They are about one foot square, and made to fit into another, so as to render the roof water tight, by applying white lead to the joints. It can be afforded at sixteen cents the square foot, and comes at about half the cost of copper. They weigh 3^ pounds a square foot." It is easily attached to the roof, and promises to be of much utility. 110 Gathering and Packing Fruit. — Agricultural Fairs. Vol. XI» Gathering and Packing Fruit. About the autumn of the year 1836 or '37, I had some thirty or forty barrels of apples to pick. In the orchard with some other fruit trees were some Newtown pippin trees, and all in a shocking state of neglect. As it had been let run wild, I set about to clear it up, and make it productive. In March I had the trees scraped with a dull hoe, to which I had put a short handle, to make it the more handy to scrape off the outside dead bark; after this, having trimmed the boughs and branches, I sent to town for a barrel of soft soap, with which I intended to smear the stems and branches of the trees, but when it came, judge of my surprise to find that the soft soap of New York is made of a little of the commonest grease, very little alkali, some salt, and a vast amount of wa- ter, making a quivering jelly; — such is the villainous compound called soft soap in New York; — as this was unfit for my purpose, I had to make some myself With this in a bucket and an old whitewash brush, I sent a man into the orchard to smear all the stems of the fruit trees, and all the other trees which stood near by, knowing or think ing the little depredators I wished to be rid 0^, might lurk under the bark of any tree that stood in the orchard, or near it, as well as in the fruit trees. It was a " bearing year," as farmers call it, and there was a great crop of apples; and I had very few wormy ones. We picked the apples by hand, and did not pour them from one bas- ket to another without putting soft hay or oat straw between them. While pouring them we put straw on the floor of the room in which they were stored ; there was also straw put on the bottom of each basket, and on the bottom of the cart we carried them in ; all this was done to keep them from bruising. After they were all housed, we set to work to sort them, rejecting all which had any defects, and if damp, wiping off the moisture. We next took each apple and rolled it in coarse clean paper, any soft paper will do — the paper I bought was common wrapping paper, straw paper will answer. The paper had this effect — it keeps the ap- ples from rubbing each other, and keeps them at a certain degree of moisture, not allowing them to evaporate or receive damp. In the bottom, and around the sides of the barrels, a small quantity of straw was placed, and the apples laid in, one at a time, and as close to each other as they possibly could be, without jamming them. When the barrel was filled, a little more straw was put on the top, and the head of ^the barrel put in, with an inside lining hoop, to keep the head from being knocked in, by accident; there was besides a lining hoop put in the bottom head of the barrel, before I commenced packing. These apples were put up to or- der, and were to go to Sheffield, in England. After taking all these precautions, I wrote a direction to this effect: " These barrels of apples are not to be rolled or tumbled about ; if carted, or sent any way by land, something is to be put on the floor of the cart or wagon, so as to keep them from being bruised, rattled, or jolted." The apples when packed in this way, were tight in the barrels, and could not be made to rattle with common usage. M. C. W., who ordered them, informed me that they arrived at the destined place, and were all sound to an apple, and much admired by the consignee for their preservation and manner of putting up. I took the lesson from seeing the oranges and lemons which arrive here from Spain and Portugal, packed in the same manner. Those apples which have a close tight skin, will keep the best for the greatest length of time. Of this kind are the New- town pippin, the Lady apple, the Russet: besides, there is the real Rhode Island Greening, which may be kept until the May of the next year. If the precautions which I have laid down are strictly attended to, any of these may be sent to England as well as the pippin ; but the greening is not so good an apple to keep. People may talk as much as they have a mind to about the heat and damp of ships, and so on, being the cause of the apples rot- ting; but who could expect that an apple, or any other fruit or vegetable could be kept from it, if jammed or bruised constantly. — Farmer cjp Mechanic. Agricultural Fairs. We would invite the attention of some of our farm- ers to the follow ing remarks of the Tribune. Stran- gers sometimes perceive our errors more quickly than we ourselves do, and their hints are worthy of all re- spect.— Ed. Auburn, Wednesday, Sept. ICtb, 1846. This is the great day of the Fair, and a brighter, pleasanter, was never enjoyed by mortals. The cloudless sky and the fresh green earth harmonize in producing rare external beauty and cheerfulness; the show- ers of night before last, have cooled the at- mosphere just sufficiently; the people of central and western New York have assem- bled by tens of thousands, and still every train, every thoroughfare teems with hun- dreds more pouring in. Never did nature No. 4. The Poplar — the Tulip-hearing Liriodendron. Ill and man more cordially concur in g-ivinw zest to a popular lioliday. I have been over the grounds, of course, seeing mucli to interest, and but for the enormous multitude gathered, vvhicli seems to me unpara-lleled at any former Fair, I should have seen much more. I could say something of the animals here exhibited, )ut believing Col. Skinner can speak of :hem to better purpose, I leave them to him. ?ox the present, I will proffer a few sugges- .ions on the influences and uses of these innual fairs, or rather a few thoughts which .his one has elicited. Mental indolence is the chief danger of he farmer's condition. It is possible to ex- st in his vocation with very little thought. :*loughing this year and next the fields That vere ploughed, perhaps by his father, thirty ir forty years ago, and harvesting therefrom, ubstantially, the same grains and vogeta- iles, the farmer is in danger of falling into he habit of doing just as his father did, and i)r the reason that his father did it. TI-' I lid round of crops, the old modes of cult''"^ he old implements, even the old smolc ^ Liel-wasting fire-place, are too ofte* C^j"? D, because the farmer is hardly p-v'ar^ that ewer and better means to the sai^e ends ave been devised and adopt"^!- ^\ seems asier to do the old things ii tH old way, lan to incur the expenp^ ai^ trouble ot hanging for the better, -ver if aware of its Yigtpripp The moral of the P"^ ^^ improvement, 'ifly thousand farn^e'^ and farmers' sons, 'ith ten thousand /i-mers' wives and daugh- ;rs, assemble one a year to witness an ex- ibition of the -noicest products of their ailing in our Rate. He who has the coun- irpart of Ph'f'aoh's lean kine, finds at the air the ni^^^st display of neat cattle ever jen : so '^^ horses, sheep, swine, «Sic. Of uits- P'ld grains, there is like abundance of IP best. Is it possible that he who has •ixlged on contented with ten to twenty ishels of grain to the acre, perhaps with 10 or three varieties of ordinary fruit, per- ips with little or none, should be content go on in that way ■! When he sees, as he ay here, squashes weighing 146 pounds Lch — five that grew on one vine weighing 'er 500 pounds — can he go home satisfied grow those of a tea-kettle size onlyl i^hen he sees that other farmers have a ■ofusion of pears, peaches, grapes, quinces, c, from a few acres of land, will he jog 1 with his orchard of middling apple trees ily] It seems hardly possible that one rmer, who ever thinks at all, can go away ora the State Fair without resolving to be better farmer thereafter; without feeling a truer pride in his calling, and a firmer lution to improve and excel in it. here But this is not all. The farm^cently brought in contact with all that Ij j^ aid of been done in the otiier usefuljiegg variety his own calling. Here is an^a^ning mills, of agricultural implemen^^ ^^ ^^ . gg cradles, scythes, forks, ^^^^ o^ens, kitch- alsohousehouldutensilfg ^^^ jegg than a en- ware, &c. riierr^^^^.^g ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^j- dozen newly patent ^g^g„tg ^^ th^ge ex- hem valuable iv Everything invites to hibited last y^flection, and thence to im- comparison,;^ the plough alone, the im- provement.^f. ^,^g j^^^ ^-^ ^^^^^ ^^^.^ g^. P'^o^^^Jf^'ploughing of four acres with the cure i^j power formerly required for Jabour ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ doubtless, is not yet. r\'^%uch Fair as this is worth more to the jple o( a State than a dozen "glorious fcto'ies" in the field of human slaughter. — 'j^ruo York Tribune. The Poplar— the Tulip-bearin§ dendron. Liriodendron tulipifera. Lirio" Of all the deciduous trees of North Ame- rica, the Tulip-tree, next to the Sycamore, (Platanus occidentalis,) attains the amplest dimensions; while the perfect straightness and uniform diameter of the trunk, the more regular distribution of its branches, and the greater richness of its foliage, and flowers, give it a decided superiority over that tree, and entitle it to be considered one of the most magnificent productions of the tempe- rate zones. It usually attains a height of sixty or eighty feet, with a diameter vary- ing from eighteen inches to three feet ; al- though, in favourable localities, it has been known to arrive at a height of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty feet, with a diameter of more than seven feet. The bark of the trunk, till it exceeds seven or eight inches in diameter, is smooth and even; but afterwards it begins to crack, and the depth of the furrows is in proportion to the size and age of the tree. The southern extremity of Lake Cham- plain, according to Michaux, may be consi- dered in its natural distribution, as the north- ern, and the river Connecticut as the eastern limit of this tree. It is only westerly of the Hudson, and southerly of the forty-third de- gree of latitude, that it is frequently met with, and fully developed. It is multiplied in the middle States, in the upper parts of Carolina and Georgia, and still more abun- dantly in the Western States, particularly 112 Experiments with the Pear upon the Apple. Vol. XI. pJCentucky, where it displays its most nesEf"! vegetation. Its comparative rare- and 0."-'^^ maritime parts of the Carolinas LQyjgjj^'jOrgia, in the Floridas, and in lower mer than'^ owing less to the heat of sum- in some part'^^ nature of the soil, which, rens,and in ofi too dry, as in the pine-bar- which border t?. t°° ^'^t' ^^ ^" ^^^ swamps found mingled wfj^ers. It is commonly hickories, the blacfi^'i^'" ^rees, such as the the Kentucky cofree-^J""^, and butternut, nadensis,) and the wild (Gymnocladus ca- sometimes constitutes, aPJ^'J'"'''^®.',^"*, /^ tracts of the forest, as was\ considerable elder Michaux, on the road h§P^^ ^^ ^^^ to Louisville, in Kentucky. ^Beardstone geography of this tree may be sa^^ brace the middle region of Europv/"^' Berlin and Warsaw, on the north, u ,'h" shores of the Mediterranean and Naples the soDth ; Ireland on the west, and Ctitn on the east. It is successfully cultiva* ^„ along the maritime parts of the Unitel on a Brussels, there is a tree which has a clear stem three feet in diameter, with a compact globular head. When Lacken belonged to France, the palace was occupied by the Empress Josephine, who brought her gar- dener from Paris ; and the poor man, while he was gathering seeds from this tree, fell from it, and broke his neck. At Schwobber, near Hanover, there is growing, in alluvial soil, near water, a tree more than one hun- dred and twenty years old, and eighty feet in height, with a trunk two feet in diameter, and an ambitus of thirty feet. In Italy, the tulip-tree attains a height of seventy or eighty feet, flowers freely, and ripens seeds every year. The elder Michaux measured a tulip-tree, three and a half miles from Louisville, Ken- tucky, which was twenty-two feet and a half in circumference five feet from the ground, and from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty feet in height. In 1842, there was felled from the estate of Mr. John ttiuiig me maruime pans or me Unitell^ • • ;, ..-—--.----— . -. States, from Newburyport, in Massachusetts,!^!!,'';'" Llangollan, Kentucky, a tulip-tree ♦^ Q<. i\/r »„ • r^-_'_- ' ;>'dit feet m diameter near the p-round. and to St. Mary's, in Georgia The period at which the tulip-tree was first introduced into England, is uncertain. The honour is said to have been conferred on the Earl of Norfolk, as far back as 1663. It is certain that it was cultivated by Dr. Henry Compton, at Fulham, in 1688, at which time it was wholly unknown as a timber-tree. According to Miller, Mr. Bar- ley, at Hoxton, and Mr. Fairchild, were the first who raised this tree from seeds; and from their nurseries it is probable that the numerous old trees which are spread all over Britain were procured. The oldest tree in England, estimated at over one hun- dred and fifty years of age, is at Fulham palace. It is about fifty feet high, and its trunk, at one foot from the ground, is three feet in diameter. The largest tree in Brit- ain is in Somersetshire, at Hestercombe, which is one hundred feet in height, with a trunk three feet in diameter, and ripens seeds every year The first notice which we have of the tulip-tree on the continent, is in the "Cata- logue of the Leyden Garden," published in 1731. From the number of these trees ex- isting in France, the south of Germany, and Italy, there can be little doubt jt spread as rapidly in those countries as it "did in Brit- ain. Public avenues are planted of it in Italy, and as far north as Strasburg and Mentz. It stands the open air at Vienna, and attains a large size there ; but it will not endure the climate north of Warsaw, nor Moscow, without protection. In tlie grounds of the palace of Lacken, near I'dit feet in diameter near the ground, and ™*^'eet in diameter seventy-five feet above. I" t'mk was perfectly straight and sound, f" Z^^ sawed into boards of common lengths. At Gmet. p^-j^^.^ Bushwick, near New York, on ^q ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ -^^ gj-^g^ ^^^^^ IS a tuJip-tret w.ich has a circumference o\ twenty-one feu. .^ ^h^ee feet above the grounc^ and a hSoMof seventy feet. In 1807, there ex«tod a tulip-"tree in Ham- ilton, Adams county, ^e„ni^ani ^^^,^^^ by John Pearson m a co^^^^jnication to Dr. James Mease, in the " M^m^irs of the Phil- adelphia Society for promotng Agriculture," tor that year, which had a Crcumference of thirty-six feet, with a trunk iijrty or forty feet to the forks, a large head, a,. 4. Editorial JVotices. 133 I LETTER from Salem, Iowa, dated the 23rd ult., 9 that " wheat is worth between 40 and 50 cents a hcl on the Mississippi — corn and oats Id to '20 cts. — ns 50 cents, and buckwheat flour $1 50 to $-2 per .." The increasing demand for bread sliifls in Great lain and on the continent, may probably increase se prices. By the Britannia, arrived at Boston on 7th instant, the report of short crops in Europe is firmed, and the probability is strengthened that ; country will be looked to for a supply of the defi- icy. 'he total amount of coal shipped from the various 1 regions in this State during the present season, :o the first week in this month, has been as follows. From Schuylkill Coal Mines, Lehigh, Lackawanna, Wilkesbarre, Pine Grove, tons cwt. 1,020,221 00 470,714 12 275,-152 16 389,582 06 64,719 12 Grand total, 2,032,690 06 he retail price is $5 50 for Lehigh, and $4 75 for uylkill. f E called a few days ago to see Fitzgerald's newly ented Threshing Machine, which has been highly ken of, and of which, without however being so unate as to see it in operation, we formed a fa- rable opinion. The beaters are plain, instead of [es, and it occupies but little room. It may readily ittached to the endless chain horse power now in , or may be driven by steam, wind, or water. We e told the grain and straw come out unbroken, and I great velocity may be given to the cylinder, with 3asy moderate pace of the horse. T a recent meeting of the New York Farmers' b, a paper was read from the minutes of the Hor- Itural Society of Paris, giving "an account of a •essful experiment of grafting a stem of the tomato n the stalk of the potatoe, by which a crop of to- los was raised in the air, while one of potatoes (V in the earth." wo bucks and six ewes of the Leicester breed — very erior sheep, and in remarkably fine condition, ar- id here last month from Liverpool in the ship Fran- ia,Capt. Smith. They went on by rail way to their ;ination at Ashland, where we could hope they long f live to benefit the Kentucky flock, and do credit Henry Clay, their enterprising owner. Their cost Sngland, we understood was about $100 each, and ir freight about jCa 10s. sterling each. HE Annual meeting and E.xhibition of the Bucks inty Agricultural Society, took place at Newtown the 15th ult., and was largely attended. The day ! pleasant, and the Newtown Journal says it was mated that 3000 people were on the ground. " The )lay of stock," says that paper, " was unusually , as well as that of produce and agricultural imple- jts." The ploughing match took place in the af- loon. Diplomas were awarded to the owners ofi numerous fine horses, cattle, hogs and poultry, as welj as for a good display of agricultural implements and products. Five ploughs were entered and contended for the honour of superior workmanship; but the com- mittee were unable to give any one the preference. Edward M. Paxson delivered a very sensible address, in which he takes occasion to express his surprise that, considering the great proportion of our people who are engaged in agricultural pursuits, so few farmers are sent to the legislature. He thinks it hardly reasonable to raise the complaint so frequently heard, that taxes are oppressively heaped upon them, when they so quietly throw the powers of legislation into the hands of others who may forget their particular interests. A FRIEND extensively acquainted in the state of Ohio, says the wheat harvest there was unusually fine, and that much more ground has been seeded tiiis autumn than ever was before. The Hamilton Jldver- tiser estimates the crop in the Canadas at 12,000,000 bushels. We are also advised that the yield of wheat and corn in Iowa was excellent. We think there is every prospect, that with the increased demand in Great Britain, we will be able to supply it to a great extent at fair prices. Such is the fertility of our soils, and the general character of our seasons, that if Eu- rope will give us one year's notice, we may undertake to supply bread stuffs to any amount. Passing the door, a fortnight ago, of our townsman John Hagey, confectioner, in Market street, we ob- served three large boxes with Isabella grapes, packed in nice clean leaves. He was selling them at twelve and a half cents per pound. They came from Heading, some sixty miles in the interior, and were in good or- der. Will our farmers avail themselves of the hint? O* A YOUNG man with a family, acquainted with the farming business, would be willing to take charge of a farm as overseer, or manager, and thus promote as- siduously the interests of the owner. Address the Editor. Norman's Southern Agricultural Mmanac for 1847, edited by Thomas Affleck, of Adams county, Missis- sippi, has been received. There is much in it highly valuable to the Southern farmer and planter. The Farmers' Library for the present month, is val- able as ever. The plates are fine. Our friends Gree- ley & McElrath, with their Editor, really deserve to succeed in their enterprise, they throw so much liberal expenditure into it, as well as industry and good judg- ment. When we looked at the cut on page 213, we made upourmind pretty conclusively, that agriculture must be in its nature a progressive art. The price of the work is $5 a year. In a letter from a subscriber at Johnstown, Cambria county, dated 30th ult, he says, "The potatoe disease is general in our mountains ; most farmers have not gathered more than they planted. They are selling here from 37^ to 50 cents, and cannot be had for that in any quantity." 134 Editoj'ial Notices. Vol. XI. The North American stated a couple of weeks ago, that New Jersey had this year produced some of the finest apples ever seen in the United States. — New Jersey is famous for her good fruit, as well as her Teal. M. F. Maury, of the U. S- Navy, in a letter dated at the National Observatory, Washington, on the 2C>th ult., and directed to the Secretary of the Navy, says he has observed and verified the newly discovered planet Le Verrier. Ue gives its right ascension and southern declination for the three preceding days. The probable distance of this new planet is believed to be not less than three thousand millions of miles from the sun, and its period of revolution is upwards of two hundred years. "The discovery of this planet," says Lieutenant M., "may be considered the greatest achievement of theo- retical astronomy. Astronomers had long since ob- served that Uranus sufiered perturbations in its orbit, for which they could not account by any known cause of disturbance. They conjectured, indeed, that it might be owing to the attraction of a planet out upon the confines of the system, perhaps, but which was considered beyond their reach. " A Frenchman takes up the subject in his closet, and there, with the perfection of mathematical skill, creates his hypothetical planet, gives it a mass, as- signs an orbit, and a period of revolution ; and then sets it in motion at a distance inconceivably remote. "He tries his problem, varies h^s conditions and tries again. At last the position, mass, orbit, motion and places are such that its attraction satisfies the anomalies of Uranus. Astronomers are astonished at his depth of research, and amazed with his results. He tells those at Berlin where to turn their glasses; they point them according to his directions, and the new planet Le Verrier is there." The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has been famous for its great display of fruit. At the Annual Exhibition in Boston in the Ninth month last, some of the contributors produced more than one hundred varieties of both pears and apples. We are aware that a man's orchard or garden is not necessarily val- uable in proportion to the number of kinds of fruit which he cultivates; but the inference we draw in the matter before us, is, that where so much attention is bestowed on the subject, great success and general benefit must result. Dr. Darlington, one of the first botanists of the country, having furnished us with a copy of his Ad- dress before the Chester County Horticultural Society at West Chester, on the 11th of Ninth month last, it is with much pleasure we embrace the opportunity to transfer it to the columns of the Cabinet. We believe there is not a sufficiently general appreciation of the conveniences of the vegetable garden as an appendage to the farm, to say nothing about the meliorating and refined influences of the nicer branches of Horticul- cure— the Corinthian order of human attainments and pursuits. Let us remember we live in a world where there is abundant room for improvement, and one of whose great watch-words should be— Progress. FOR SALE, A BEAUTIFUL FARM, Nearly adjoining the city of Annapolis, Maryland, containing 350 acres of land, naturally of good quality, and during the last four years, I have had it highly improved with clover, plaster, ashes, lime, and other manures to the amount of upwards of fifteen hundred dollars. The fences and buildings are all in good re- pair, and divided into ten departments, including one peach orchard, containing upwards of 1500 trees, in fine health of three summers' growth, and an apple orchard in full bearing. About 150 acres of this land are covered with the best sort of building timber. I have a good wharf, where a large schooner can lie and receive or deliver produce. This farm is very pleasantly situated, high and dry, and about rolling enough to cast ofi" extra rain water, — also has good spring water in several of the fields. The buildings consist of a good dwelling, nearly new, two brick ser- vant houses, one house for the manager, two large to- bacco houses, 30 by 70 feet each, one is used for a barn; stabling, corn, milk, and hen houses. From the above dwelling I can go to the Annapolis market in about fifteen minutes, where we have a tolerably good mar- ket for hay, peaches, sweet potatoes, milk and butter. Of milk about $2000 worth may be sold annually. Freight is cheap to Baltimore, which is an excellent market, with which we have daily intercourse, both by steam and otherwise. But few farms have the same opportunities of doing business to profit, being now in good order to make money, and only on account of ad vanced age, infirmities, and residing at a distance, am I induced to part with it. It will be sold cheap. Per- sons desirous of seeing the place, will please call on me, near Baltimore, Md., and I will go and show it. ROBERT SINCLAIR, Nurseryman. August 28fA.— 4t. ' Agency for the Purchase «& Sale of IMPROVED BREEDS OF CATTLE & SHEEP. The subscriber takes this method of informing bit friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, &c., for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AARON CLEMENT. Sept. 15th, 1846. FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, EVER- GREENS, SHRUBBERY, &c., In great variety, for sale as heretofore, by the sub- scriber, at his Nursery, near Haddington, four miles west of Philadelphia. Orders sent by mail, or left at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet — where catalogues may be obtained — will be attended to, and the trees well packed when ordered to distant places. City gardeners supplied with trees suitable for the streets, at a liberal discount. SAMUEL RHOADS. Tenth mo. 15th, 184G. No. 4 Editorial JVotices. 135 TREES FOR SALE. The Subscriber has for sale at the Mount Laurel Nursery,— established by J. Needles— an extensive as- (ortinent of Apple, Pear, Peach, Pluin, and Cherry Trees and Grape Vines. Also, a great variety of ORNAMENTAL AND EVERGPvEEN TREES, Which are of the best quality, and good size for trans- planting. Orders left with Josiah Tatum, No. 50, N. Fourth street, will be punctually attended to, where catalogues may be procured. EZRA STOKES. Mount Laurel, near Moorestovm, J^. J., Eighth month 15th, 1846. S3- SHORT ADVERTISE.MENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted at the rate of one dollar for each insertion of ten lines or less; and so in proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. SBED STORi:, No. 23 illarket Street, Philailelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Polatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. Aso, in season, Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1846. tf. FOR SALE, AT D. O. PROUTY'S No. 194 J Market Street, Philadelphia, Corn-Shellers in great variety, price from $1 50 to $.50 each; Hovey's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Grant's Patent Fan Mills, for chaffing and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to 318 each. Whitman's Horse-powers and Threshing Machines, with Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may be taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, &c. ; Centre- Draught, Self sharpening. Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation. September 15th— tf. The quantity of rain which fell in the lOlh month, 1840, was nearly two inches and a half. 2.44 in. Penri. Hospital, lllh mo. 27id. COATSS' SS£D STORr, No. 49 Market Street, FRESH TIITIOTHY SEED, Of various qualities, from good common seed to the purest and finest that can be produced, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE ASSORT.MENT OF GRASS & QiLRDi:!? SXIUDS, Of the finest Quality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &:c. JOS. P. H. COATES. Successor to Oeorge M. Coates. Sept. loth, 184C. PHILADELPHL\ AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE, A'b. 291 Market Street, A^orth side, between Sevenllt and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has just received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have been so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement ; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Shelters, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c., to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THO.MAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. 1 yr. NEW Horticultural and Agricultural Ware-house, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscriber has for the better accommodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Svveede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th, 1846.— ly. R. BUIST. CO AZ.. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the usual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Tenth month 15th, 1846. 1315 Editorial Notices, Vol. XL We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bounil in Icathi'r;— Price $3 50 YOU ATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37^ THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; 37* DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sets of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. 8 50 DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, 3 50 Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 1 50 SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, 50 AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, 1 25 BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, 1 50 FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, 1 00 MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, 1 00 STABLE ECONOiMY, 1 00 BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, 31i BUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, 75 THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, 50 SKINNERS CATTLE & SHEEP DOCTOR, 50 AMERICAN FARRIER, 50 THE FARMER'S MINE, 75 HOARE ON THE VINE, 62i HANNAM'S Economy of Waste Manures, 25 LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, 25 ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, 25 FAMILIAR LETTERS, 121 As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour— or single numbers sold. |lj=" We are prepared to bind books to order. GUANO. Twenty-five tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrels, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN & CO., No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Poudrette. A valuable manure— of the best quality, prepared in Philadelphia, for sale at the office of the Farm- ers' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or more, .fl 75 per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any num- ber of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or thirty-five cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for wheat. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. PAOE Insect in the Corn -•■« 105 Newcastle Co. Ag. Soc— To Preserve Peach trees, 107 Potatoe Disease, 108 New material for Shingles, 109 Gathering and Packing Fruit.— Agricultural Fairs, 110 The Poplar— the Tulip bt'aring Liriodendron Ill Experiments with the Pear upon the Apple,- 112 Lime for Potatoes, 114 Dr. Wm. Darlington's Address before the Chester County Horticultural Society, 115 Bucks County Agricultural Exhibition, 120 Management of Poultry.— Harvest and the Corn Market, 121 To Preserve Grapes.— Potatoes. — Arrival of Poul- try from America, 122 Green corn in mid-autumn. — Crops in Great Britain 123 Twenty fine varieties of Strawberries, 124 Laziness, an incurable disease.— Grape, 125 Hyacinths in glasses.— The Alpaca, 12G Golden- fruited Orange Tree, 127 Curing Hay Tid Curing Hams.- Ag. Society in Prince George's Co.,Md., 131 Editorial Notices, 132 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fiflei'nth of every month, in num- bers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri- ately introduced. Terms. — One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in adi^ance. All subscriptions must couimencc at the beginning of a volume. Having lately struck ofl" a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become exhausted, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-five cents half-bound and lettered. Forseven dollars paid in a.(\\ar\ce,di complete set of the work will be furnished iu numbers, including the 11th volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-hound and let-' tered Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon 'he same terms. By the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office within thirty miles of Philadelphia, they will go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer, ^^ERICAN HERD-BOOTi DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Libbio. Vol. XI.— No. 5.] 12th mo. (December) 15th, 1846. [AVhole No. 143. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY JOSIAH TATUM, EDITOR AND PROPUIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per year.— Forconditions see last page. Soiling, or House-feeding. We have from time to time drawn liberally from the various No's, of Colman's Tour. In the Cabinet for Tenth month last, we gave an extract on the above subject, and now offer to our readers, or such of them as do not take the work, still further remarks and statements in relation to it. From some cause or an- other, soiling has not succeeded, or been ailopted per- manently, to much extent in this vicinity: and no doubt there are sufficient reasons why it has not been. We are entirely of the mind that it should not be lost sight of, or be looked upon as entirely abandoned. Every farmer must judge for himself, and form his conclusions or adopt a practice accordingly. The edi- tor does not doubt but there maybe situations and cir- cumstances that would with judicious management, render the plan highly advantageous. There is an e.xpression in the following extract that we must ask leave to repeat here. " TTie moving spring be transplanted ; and that, if this is ne- lected, it becomes altogether a matter of lance whether the tree lives or dies. A ee twenty or thirty feet high, which has Iways been in a thick wood, is thin, tall, id fragile — quite a different plant, indeed, om the thick, sturdy tree of the same age id species Vv'hich has grown up alone in a eld ; and it would be as absurd to expect le to flourish if transplanted to the forest, 5 it would be to look for a long life in the ;her if removed to the orchard. Again, fferent soils produce different habits; and le maple that has grown up in a loam, will irdly grow if transplanted in the sand. An ik, accustomed to the sunny side of a hill, ill not long survive its removal to a bleak larshy exposure. Yet how often are these ,cts disregarded in transplanting even young ees. How then can large trees be ex- 3cted to flourish after transplantation, when ich outrages on their habits are perpetrated f those who ignorantly undertake to remove lem. It is as easy, however, to transplant trees lirty feet high, and secure their permanent ealth in their new position, if proper atten- on is paid to the habits of the tree, as it 1 to remove water from one cistern to an- ther, or keep alive exotics by the simple xpedient of preserving them in a warm )om in winter. As early as 1823, Sir [enry Stewart, of Allanson, Scotland, de- lonstrated the practicability of transplant- ig trees of the largest size; and succeeded 1 covering a large estate with elms, syca- lores, horse-chesnut, &c., in clumps and lone. His plan was very simple, and will ear detailing : After he had selected a tree which, from le soil in which it had grown and its gene- ral habits, he deemed suitable for trans- plantation to the spot he wished, he pro- ceeded to bare the roots from the earth, paying the utmost attention not to injure the smallest fibre in the process. A mass of soil, however, was left to form a ball close to the stem, and two or three feet of the original sward was carefully allowed to adhere to it. In this state the tree was lifted from its position, and borne to the place where it was to be planted. This was effected by a machine, made of a long pole, fixed between two high wheels, the pole moving on a pivot, so that it could be raised vertically in order to fasten to it the tree while standing. The latter yet stood in the ground. The hole in which the tree was placed was generally prepared a twelve- month before ; and into this the tree was as carefully set as possible. The roots were then placed as near as could be in the same position as formerly; the lower tier was first arranged, the earth sifted around them and worked in with the hand; the next tier fol- lowed ; and the process repeated until the tree was firmly fixed in its new position. By this means the largest trees were trans- planted with safety, and at a comparatively trifling expense. About three dollars is the cost of transplanting trees in this manner in Scotland. — North American. Deep Ploughing. At the last monthly meeting of the High- land Agricultural Society, Sir. Girwood, Featherhall, Corstorphine, read a report of experiments in deep ploughing, by Mr. Wil- son, Eastfield, Penicuik. Mr. Wilson re- marks, that among the various improvements which have followed the introduction of tho- rough draining, subsoil ploughing is one of the most important. Besides being a valu- able auxiliary to draining, by breaking the tenacious, till and facilitating the escape of water, it enables the farmer gradually to increase the depth of vegetative mould by the admixture of virgin earth from the sub- soil. The farm on which Mr. Wilson's ex- periments were made is nearly level, with a northern exposure, and a soil varying from gravelly earth to tenacious clay. It had for many years been ploughed from five to six inches deep, and at that depth a hard crust or pan had formed itself, which in some places was almost impervious to water, and in a great degree neutralised the effects of furrow-draining. The first field experi- mented upon consisted of 13 acres, partly heavy on a clay subsoil, partly light on a gravelly subsoil. It was subsoiled across the drains in October and November, 1844 ; 150 Fattening tiogs^, Vol. XL a depth of six or seven inches having been first taken by the common plough, which was followed up by the subsoil plough to an additional depth of seven to eight inches. Two acres were ploughed in the usual way. In preparing for a green crop in spring, no difficulty was found where the subsoil plough had been in working through the crust or pan. The whole field was equally manured with a moderate supply of farm-yard dung and guano, and was sown with yellow tur- nips. The appearance of the whole crop was similar till August, when that portion of it in the subsoiled land took the lead, and when it was lifted in the end of October, the produce per acre where subsoiled was 26 tons 17 cwt, and only 20 tons 7 cwt. where ploughed in the old way, yielding, at 12s. per ton, an excess per acre of £3 18s. consequent on the experiment. The second experiment was made on a field of deep earth inclined to sand on a subsoil of sandy clay. Two acres were subsoiled 15 inches deep, two were ploughed six to seven inches, and two ridges were trenched ploughed 13 inch- es. The field was ploughed across in spring, manured in the drill, and planted with pota- toes. The crop was lifted towards the end of October, when the quantity yielded by each portion per acre was — subsoiled, 7 tons 9 cwt. 2 qrs.; trenched, 7 tons 1 cwt. 2 qrs.; ploughed, 6 tons 14 cwt. 1 qr. ; which, at £2 5s. per ton, gave an excess per acre to the trenched land of 16s. 3|fZ., and to the sub- soiled of £1 14s. 3§(/. Another experiment was made on a field intended for barley after potatoes. The barley was sown about the Ist of April : the subsoiled portion kept the lead throughout; the crop was cut on the 22nd of September, and when thrashed, the produce on the subsoiled land was 8 quar- ters, 3 bushels barley, and 36|- cwts. of sti-aw, and on the ploughed, 7 quarters, 4 bushels 3 pecks, and 28 cwt. of straw, the difference in money being about £2 9s. per acre in favour of the subsoiled. Another small experiment was made when ploughing a field in February, two ridges of which were subjected to subsoiling to the depth of 12 inches. This was not followed by any beneficial result, and the author questions the propriety of subsoiling for a grain crop when the ground is in lea, as it is diflficult to lay the furrows so completely as they should be for the reception of seed. Deep or trench ploughing, he thinks may be ad- vantageous to soils of a deep nature, but sometimes injurious to those which are thin, with a sterile and tenacious subsoil. Sub- soil ploughing, however, if judiciously per- formed, he considers can seldom do harm, and that a great variety of soils, especially after furrow draining, will derive much bene- fit from the operation, Mr. Girwood remarked, that he agreed with Mr. Wilson, in his views of the soils which should be subsoiled. The operation had not been followed by any great change in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh; that, however, he attributed to the previous drain- ing and deep cultivation, which had gradu- ally affected what subsoil ploughing is meant to produce. The immense crop of barley detailed under one of the experiments was well worthy of notice. — Kelso Chronicle, From the Farmer and Mechanic. Fattening Hogs. To fatten a hog or an ox where there is plenty of corn and potatoes, requires no great skill, but to do it in a manner that will render the animal more valuable to the farmer when fit for market than the sub- stance consumed in fattening would be, be- sides paying for the trouble of doing it, is a matter worthy of consideration. The summer of 1836 being very dry, my corn and potatoe crop came in light, and compelled me to try an experiment, which I found to work so well that I have since followed it to my entire satisfaction. It was this; I adopted the feeding of apples, of which I had an abundant crop mixed with pumpkins, a few potatoes, and a small quan- tity of meal prepared in the following man- ner. For convenience I set in my swill- house adjacent to the stye, a large iron kettle holding about nine bushels, and then had a wooden cylinder made that held from twelve to fifteen more, and hooped with iron bands, just large enough to set upon the arch outside of the kettle, and by putting a little clay or mortar on the arch before setting on the leak — as I called it — I made it perfectly tight, I then had a cover or lid fitted to the top, which was also made tight or nearly so, by laying on a piece of cotton cloth or canvass underneath it, before putting it on. Into this kettle I first put about three bushels of potatoes washed clean, then filled to the curb with cut pumpkins, and filled the curb to the top with apples, adding two or three or more pails of water, in propor- tion to the quantity of meal that I intend to mix with it after mashing. After letting this boil a while I remove the cover and fill again with apples, and again make tight. The apples and pumpkins you will notice are steamed by this process, and when all are sufficiently cooked, they are taken out, well mixed, and a half bushel of corn meal or a bucket of ground oats and peas, or of buckwheat and rye instead, added to the No. 5. Deleterious effects of Brick-yards. 151 mixture while hot, and thus rendered more valuable for being cooked with the mass. I think that sweet apples fed in this way to hogs, are worth nearly as much as potatoes, and sour ones more than half as much. I never made pork with as little expense or less trouble than since I have practiced this method. I now prepare most of my feed in this way for fattening my beef and mutton, and find it equally advantageous, indeed, I be- lieve that I get the best profit from feeding sheep in this way, particularly my old ones. My course is, in the month of October, to select from my tlock all that do not promise fair to winter well, old ewes in particular, which will be likely to die in the spring, as all sheep growers know that they are liable to do, and give them a good chance for fall feed, and also feeding them with the same kind of substances that I do my hogs, and by the first of January have them all first rate mutton, bearing good fleeces. This kind of feed is excellent for milch cows, and cows that come in early, or for ewes that are with lamb. It does well to mix with cut feed, only there should be more water put into the mixture. Wh^n my potatoes get short, I put in beets and carrots for my sheep and cattle, and consider them much better for being cooked. Turnips are easily raised, and are very good food for sheep or cattle during the winter, yet will not compare in value with either carrots or beets. Potatoes or pumpkins are valuable for horses, fed raw. I never knew a horse to be troubled with the botts that was fed with a few raw pota- toes every week. I have made my communication rather desultory, but my principal object in this communication is to show the value of ap- ples for fattening hogs and sheep, when mixed with other substances, and the saving to farmers from picking out their old sheep and fattening them, instead of pelting them in the fall or letting them die in the spring, as many do. When a sheep gets old and the front teeth partly gone or pointed, the best way is to take them out entirely, as they feed better without than with them. Yours, A Vermont Farmer, Windsor co., Vt., Nov. 1st, 18-lG. Deleterious effects of Brick-yards. Dr. Underbill made some remarks upon the above subject at a late meeting of the New York Farmers' Club, and the following notice is taken from the Tri- bune of that city.— Ed, At the time when his attention was first directed to this subject, the following inci- dent occurred to establish his opinion. A friend had observed that, immediately after a severe thunder-shower, all his vineyard appeared in a sickly condition, and no satis- fiictory reason could be assigned for the oc- currence of the phenomenon, until the in- vestigation had proceeded sometime, when Dr. Underbill discovered that the gases of a brick-yard in the vicinity had been blown over the vineyard, and produced the disas- trous effect, turning the leaves to a dark, reddish brown colour. These gases were stated by the Doctor to be more particularly injurious in the latter stage of the burning of the kiln, and derive their noxious property from the anthracite coal used, the proportion of which is, in the interior of the kiln, three pecks of hard coal to a thousand bricks, and on the outside twelve bushels to the thou- sand. This he knew to be the case in at least one brick-yard. If there is a light wind blowing, these gases will extend their deleterious influence for miles, the supply being kept up at the yards for hours. They are particularly detrimental to Newtown pippins, the foliage of which is destroyed for miles. The leaves are turned completely over in many cases, and one side is turned to a different colour, a reddish-brown, ap- pearing as if touched by a vehement fire. By these gases trees are often rendered un- able to furnish healthy sap for the proper sustenance of the fruit. Speaking of pip- pins, he mentioned that one of the finest orchards in the country, in the town of Cort- landt, Westchester county, containing from ICOO to 1500 trees, was entirely ruined, principally by the gases from numbers of brick-yards in the immediate vicinity. This subject was referred to a committee, to re- port to the Farmers' Club. At a meeting O'f the Club held since the above, Dr. Underbill said : The influence of gases emanating from burning brick kilns, injurious to neighbour- ing vegetation, is the subject, and it is more important tlian many suppose, to all farmers and gardeners having such mischief in their vicinit}'. Seven years ago I began to notice this evil, which has since caused a damage of hundreds of thousands of dollars to agri- culturists. I will prove the injury or sub- mit to the jeers and jibes of intelligent men ! Whether it be this or that kind of gas, I will not pretend to say, but numerous fields and orchards from here to Albany, are severely injured or destroyed this last year, by the gases from burning brick kilns. I now exhibit specimens of Forest, Fruit, and garden vegetable leaves destroyed by these 152 Carefulness in Living. — What is Blight? Vol. XI. gases from a brick kiln burning about half a mile from my farm. On one occasion, when my men were at work in the field, there was a gentle breeze attended with fog coming from the kiln, and causing a strong smell, which was perceived all over my vineyard. The men could hardly stay there. On the next day I found the vine leaves greatly injured. The leaves on my orchard were partly killed. I noticed that this occurred on the leaves which contained some moisture. In June, last year, the leaves looked as if fire had passed over them, I had no fruit scarcely in the whole orchard, consisting of twelve acres. Seven- eighths of the young unripe fruit fell off. When these gases come over the farm with- out there being at the time dew, fog, or rain, there appears to be no damage. Last June, the crop of apples in this orchard was very promising, but when they were as large as marbles, the kiln was burning, and there was a fog — the smoke from the kiln spread over the orchard, and the whole crop of fruit was cut off — the apples all fell off. The sap of the trees became diseased; the injury was far greater than any ever caused by ca- terpillars. I found forest trees and crops of grain much damaged by the same cause. If the fruit trees should happen to be in blos- som when these gases were in the air, the destruction of fruit would occur fifteen miles in the direction of the wind. Orchards have been killed ten miles ofi^" by it. During the burning of these brick kilns, great volumes of gas escape for twelve hours together. Whether it be the carbonic acid gas, phos- phuretted hydrogen, or sulphurous acid, I cannot decide, but the injury is felt for many miles. Half an acre of carrots, su- gar beets, &c., were injured in one night. It affects injuriously all vegetation near Haverstraw. Orchards are killed for three miles. The farmers thought the evil was the plant louse or some other insect. Prof. Mapes. — Do the brick burners use coal? Dr. Underhill. — Yes, Sir! Fine coal — but they begin the burning with wood. My Newtown pippins are the most injured. They are rendered rusty, gnarly, spotted with rough and dark spots. John Conklin's orchard has had nearly 1000 trees killed by the kiln gases, a quar- ter of a mile off. Prof. Mapes. — I have listened to the in- genious and no doubt, accurate, observations of Dr. Underhill, and I will endeavour to give the rationale of this case. Coal is ground up with the clay by brick makers, By application of adequate heat, alum is formed from the alumina of bricks and pot ash. The coal contains sulphur, which heated, combines with oxygen, forming sul- phuric acid. Thus from clay — the alumina we have alum, of which infinistessimal atoms are carried off in the air. It is an error to suppose that the gases could travel in the air ten miles. The fine atoms of alum may — which being deposited upon 'eaves moistened by dew, fog or rain, would dissolve and directly damage the leaves. Dr. Field. — I burned some sulphur in my garden, for medical purposes, and found that the fumes had caused immediate injury to plants within twenty to forty feet off. There was not heat enough to do the damage at all. Dr. Underhill. — The smell from the kilns was strong, and plainly of carbonic acid and of carburetted hydrogen. — Farmer and Me- chanic. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Carefulness in Living. I LATELY met with the following senti- ment, or rather, advice of Dr. Franklin, and I think it is so practically valuable, that the readers of the Cabinet might be served with matter not worth half so n)uch. We use our credit liberally, and forget that what it supplies us with is not our own, and are thus led into an expenditure which others too often must pay for. Farmers may find it easier to keep out, than get out of debt. " Beware of thinking all your own that you j7ossess, and of living accordingly. This is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this, keep an exact account for some time, both of your expenses and your income. If you take the pains at first to enumerate particulars, it will have this good effect: you will disco- ver how wonderfully, small, trifling expenses amount up to large sums; and will discern what might have been, and may be for the future saved, without occasioning any great inconvenience." What is Blight 1 — It is a sun-stroke, or a frost-bite, a plague of insects, or of fungi, a paralysis of the root, or a gust of bad air; it is wetness, it is dryness, it is heat, it is cold, it is plethora, it is starvation ; in short, it is anything that destroys or disfigures foli- age. Can a definition be more perfect"! We should expunge the word as a substantive term from our language, and only use it in its adjective sense. — Vr. Lindley. No. 5. Cheese Making in Virginia. 153 For the Farmers' Cabinet. Cheese Making in Virginia. To THE Editor, — I enclose for the Cabi- net the following communication, copied for me, 1 think, from the Soiitherii Planter, by a friend of Petersburg, when recently on a visit to Virginia. I think it will be interest- ing, as showing what may be, and is done inlhat State. S. "There is in this county what in this sec- tion of Virginia may justly be denominated a curiosity — a cheesery ; the novelty of which induced me to accept of the very kind invi- tation of its enterprising and polite proprie- tor to go and examine its operations; and as a history of what I saw might not be unin- teresting or unprofitable to your readers, I propose communicating it, hoping thereby to be able to impart at least a portion of the satisfaction which I enjoyed. " Mr. Samuel Look emigrated from New York to this county in January, 1845. He rents a farm containing four hundred acres, one hundred of which are in wood, for which he pays an annual rent of four hundred dol lars, and furnishes clover seed, plaster, &c. He commenced under very disadvantageous circumstances, having had to make entire preparations for his cheese operations, and he encountered a great drawback in the drought which prevailed to so great an ex- tent, and the consequent diminution of the grass crop; but notwithstanding these diffi- culties, his success was equal to his most sanguine expectations, thereby astonishing his neighbours, who first regarded the pro' ject as visionary, and predicted that it would be a failure. The present year, of which I propose giving a more minute description, he has none of those difficulties to encoun- ter, and is succeeding to admiration. He keeps thirty cow-s, which he manages to calve about the first of April. He fattens all his calves, and at one month old he car ries them to market, where they bring him four dollars per head. At this time he com- mences the manufacture of cheese, which is continued until the first of November, each cow upon the average producing two pounds of cheese per day, making an aggregate of ten thousand and eight hundred pounds, for which he finds a ready and convenient mar- ket, at 10 cents per pound, equal in money to S1080, and from the whey he fattens twenty hogs, which he keeps in pens at a conveni- ent distance from his cheesery, and from which he accumulates a quantity of good manure. The whole of this operation is conducted without interfering in the least with the other business appertaining to the farm. The cows are milked whilst the horses are feeding, and then the milk is turned over to the females, who convert it into cheese. In addition to this, Mr. Look cultivates quite extensively, and I might add, from present appearances, profitably. He seeded last fall one hundred bushels of wheat, which promises a rich return. He has about seventy-five acres of exceedingly fine looking corn. His oats, rye and grass, look remarkably well — indeed, everything presented a most prosperous appearance. He designs as soon as he succeeds in getting his land well taken in grass, to extend his cheesery, believing that he can thus realize more than by the cultivation of the soil, par- ticularly when the additional labour and ex- pense attending the latter are taken into consideration ; and besides, he says, by that system he can greatly increase the fertility of his land ; for although Mr. L. lives upon rented land, he seems never to disregard his landlord's interest. Mr. Look expresses himself delighted with Virginia, particularly with her climate, and says all that is re- quired to make her a great State, is better roads, and a more enlightened system ot education. I hope Mr. Look's success will be the means of inducing some more of his friends to follow him. I am satisfied that no portion of Virginia ofiers superior induce- ments to emigrants than Prince William county. The exceedingly low price of her land, its natural fertility, easy access to mar- ket, health, society, &c., are advantages of v^hich other counties cannot boast. But, Mr. Editor, I have digressed from my sub- ject. My object in writing this communi- cation was to attract the attention of the farmers to the subject of making cheese, and I think Mr. Look, by his experiment, has demonstrated beyond cavil the practica- bility of manufacturing it in this county. The question now naturally arises, would it not be infinitely better for, at least, a por- tion of the farmers of this county to imitate the example set them by Mr. Look, and give this branch of business some attention. Whilst the farmers generally in this section who rent land and hire labour, cannot make "buckle and tongue meet," Mr. Look is re- alizing, after paying all expenses, the hand- some sum of a thousand or twelve hundred dollars per annum ; the reason is obvious. If you abstract the amount realized from his cheesery, the products of his farm would not more than pay expenses and support his family. He says the art of making cheese is very plain and simple, even more so than that of making butter." S. B. H. Prince William, June 12tli, 1846. 154 Canher-Worjn Moth. — Lands in Virginia. Vol. XL For the Farmers' Cabinet. Canker-worm Moth. Friend Tatum, — From an article in the third number of the current volume of your paper, page 93, 1 infer that the canker-worm is unknown in Pennsylvania. We have suf- fered so much from it here, that we are glad to find any of our agricultural friends are exempt from its ravages. During the last two or three years, the number of these in- sects has been very small ; but the race is not extinct. The creatures are now coming out of the ground ; and every morning the females may be seen on trees and fences pa- tiently waiting the approaches of their vola- tile mates, or creeping along in search of a place whereon to deposit their eggs. These females are three-eighths of an inch long, They are plump and oval in shape, have two threadlike horns or antennse, and six slender legs; but they are absolutely wingless. They are of an ashen grey colour above, and light grey or whitish beneath. The males are also ash-coloured, but they have wings. Their fore-wings are darker than the hinder pair, have a white spot on the outer edge near the tip, and a few blackish spots, frequently indistinct, upon them. They expand one inch and a quarter. A more full account of this insect is given in the article Span-worm, in the Farmers' Encyclopedia, and in the original work from which that article was wholly copied. It will be seen by the foregoing brief description, that the "insect one and a half inches long, head beautiful brown, four rudimentary wings, external pair brown, &c.," supposed by your correspondent to be " the female of the can- ker-worm of New England," is entirely dis- tinct therefrom. Yours, respectfully, T. W. H. Massachusetts, Oct. 18th, 1846. Lands in Virginia. From a letter from S. S. G., of Moorestown, N J., dated the 17th ult., we make the following e.xtract. — Ed. " My recent visit to Virginia furnished me with abundant evidence that the advantages of that country have not been overrated. Indeed I believe they are not yet half ap- preciated. The intelligent people there are satisfied that they cannot hope for improve- ment without the aid of industrious freemen, and they hold out every encouragement for Northern farmers to come and settle among them. I accepted the invitation of R. B Boiling, at whose house in Petersburg, 1 was very kindly entertained, to make an other visit to Sandy Point:* to any one fond of agriculture, and interested in the improve- ment of the soil, a visit to this noble estate would of itself amply repay the journey. In a communication to the Cabinet,! I de- scribed the wheat crop as it appeared in the beginning of the fifth month — he sold 14,000 bushels of wheat, after reserving about 1400 for seed ; the latter part of the harvest was exceedingly wet, and the loss of grain in consequence very heavy — this fall he is seeding about 900 acres, and on ground which he thinks in better heart: we rode through the corn-field of 525 acres, from which he expects a yield of 50 bushels per acre, and I think he does not overrate it. The wheat seeded this year is in beautiful order, as indeed is everything about the farm. There needs no stronger proof of the susceptibility of this country for improve- ment, than this estate affords — a few years ago it was so poor as scarcely to meet the expense of cultivation ; now it is highly productive, and must return a large reve- nue—15,000 bushels of wheat and 26,000 bushels of corn, besides the fine stock and other crops, produce a handsome sum. This estate is in the S. E. corner of Charles City county, on the north side of James River — the county of Surry is on the south side of the river, having its N. W. corner opposite Sandy Point: this county abounds in inex- haustible beds of the richest calcareous marl, is as little cultivated as any other of the eastern counties, being now chiefly val- ued for its timber. The land is much of it vv to be had for $2 per acre, and is susceptible of high improvement and pro- ductiveness. As soon as Northern far- mers become acquainted with this region, I think it must be filled up and become one of the richest agricultural sections in the Union." When a crack is discovered in a stove, through which the fire and smoke penetrate, the aperture may be readily closed in a mo- n)ent, with a composition consisting of wood ashes and common salt, made into a paste with a little water, plastered over the crack. The effect is equally certain whether the stove be cold or hot. — Maine Farmer. Let the sun's first rays shine upon your head in the morning, and you will not lack a good hat to defend you from its scorching rays at noon. * A notice of this estate may be found on pages 19 and 70, Vol. 7, Farmers' Cabinet. t See last Volume, page 339. 0. 5. TJie Potatoe Blight. — Ag. Soc. of Prince George Co., Md. 155 The Potatoe Blight. A WRITER in the Globe estimates the lue ot' the potntoc crop in the United ngdom at i;)23,000,000, and sets down the !S to Ireland, in conseqnence of last year's lure, at £10,000,000. The Cork Reporter Iculates that out of 130,880 acres planted th potatoes in that country, 100,666 are •eady blighted and destroyed. No means exist of testing the accuracy these calculations, but the mere flict of ch enormous estimates being made, is fficiently expressive of the gravity of the estion. It shows, conclusively, that un- r the most favourable point of view, the struction of food must have taken place a most alarming extent, especially when is borne in mind that similar losses were stained in all the great potatoe countries both hemispheres. The disease was introduced into Genoa in 45, with English potatoes, and we know ) well how fast it spreads ; besides which, : see from the French papers tliat in the partment of the Var the potatoes, although t much diseased in the fields, were rotting jidly as soon as they were stored — July th — that the crops raised from northern id have enjoyed no immunity; and that i coast line — we presume from Toulon to aguignan — is now infected, as well as 3 hilly districts. The farmers in the territory of Nice were eady, on the 11th of July, pulling up their tatoes, in order to save them from the irrain, which had attacked their second Dp. We may add, that since the Neapoli- 1 potatoes planted in England, have proved be as diseased as our own, there is reason fear that no supplies can be had from Na- 3S this year. Add to this that the mischief s reappeared in Germany, that wheat is tually dearer in Holland at the present iment than in England, and we have as •ly a symptom of impending scarcity as e amateur of high prices can well desire, ^fortunately, too, this is but a portion of the ;ture. Wheat is a solitary article of undance. Turnips are but half a crop; 3 same is true of other roots, and of beans d peas ; barley is short and oats not heavy, id where is our fruit? the apples, and ars, and plums of tlie cottagers and small •mers; they, too, have failed! Even in s isle of Jersey there is not more than o-thirds of the usual quantity, and Jersey a favourable example. All these things Q articles of food, either directly or indi- ctly. We consume them in the form of 3at, if not of bread, and their places must supplied, or the consumers must be put on short allowance. The labourer who feeds his children with apples gives them food, not luxuries; they stand in place of something else, and must, therefore be re- placed. In the present instance it appears impossible to do so, except with corn. The continent seems but little capable of assist- ing us in the article of grain ; it will have enough to do to feed its own population. In fact, we understand that wheat is actu- ally exported to Antwerp at the present mo- ment, and we must remember that the great continental harvest is gathered in. Mean- while, in the course of last week, rice and oats have advanced in price from Is. to Is. 6d. ; wheat, 4s. or 5s. a quarter ; flour. Is. 6(1. a barrel, and meat of course is partak- ing of the dearness. — Daily News. In the speech of the Queen, read by the Lord Chancellor at the prorogueing of Par- liament, on the 28th of eighth month last, she says : " Her Majesty has to lament that a recur- rence of a failure in the potatoe crop, in an aggravated degree, will cause a serious defi- ciency in the quantity of a material article of food. "Her Majesty has given her cordial as- sent to measures by which this calamity may be mitigated in that part of the United Kingdom where the cultivation of the po- tatoe has hitherto afforded the chief supply for the subsistence of the people." This is conclusive proof that the disease is of a very grave character. — Ed. Agricultural Society of Prince George County, 3Id. We have received through a friend the proceedings of this Society, containing an Address by John H. Bayne, from which the following extract is made. Our friend A. C. gave some account of the .\nnual Exhibi- tion in our last number, page 131.— Ed. In no occupation can a healthful activity of the mind and body be more happily blended than in the pursuit of horticulture. Its manual operations are so promotive of health that the professional man, and even sedentary females, may devote advantage- ously a portion of their time to it in each day. The perfect order and beautiful ar- rangement in the vegetable kingdom are calculated to inculcate the lessons of love, kindness and philanthropy. As a scientific pursuit, it strongly recom- mends itself to the contemplative inquirer. Whether we regard it as an art or science, administering substantially to our wants, or difl^using useful knowledge, it merits our highest consideration. 156 Ag. Soc. of Prince George Co., Md. Vol. XI. The study of the organic laws of nature, of the culture of fruits, flowers and vegeta- bles, should be familiar to all. It is a say- ing of old, that he who succeeds in making two blades of grass grow where but one grew before, merits the appellation of bene- factor. The same doctrine will apply with equal force in reference to the introduction and cultivation of valuable fruits and vege- tables. The sails of commerce which whiten the ocean, may bring back riches for the merchant. The name of the philosopher who makes discoveries in the abstract sci- ences, will be handed down through succes- sive ages. And even immortality will be acquired by the military chieftan who has distinguished himself by the extermination of thousands of his fellow beings. But all this is "the bubble reputation," and when compared with the names of the true phi- lanthropist and benefactor — those who have made valuable improvements in horticulture and agriculture — should sink into the shade. But we rejoice to say a new era is dawning upon us. A taste for these pursuits is per- vading the whole Union. Every grade ot society is becoming interested — and we hail it as a happy omen of progressive refine- ment. The possession of wealth is not ne- cessary to their enjoyment. The pictur- esque scenery; the varied landscape, and the fragrance of the sweetest flowers, can be enjoyed by those in humbler walks of life. The beauties of Flora and the boun- ties of Pomona are within the reach of the humblest cottager. Says Lord Bacon, "God first planted a garden ; and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures; it is the great- est refreshment to the spirits of man ; with- out which buildings and palaces are but gross handy works." In the departments of floriculture and or- namental gardening, we find many persons who recoil at the mere mention of them They oppose them on the ground of yielding no revenue, as if the only design in our creation was the accumulation of wealth. But shall we reject those pursuits which are so well calculated to soften the asperities of our nature, and which have been the choice of the virtuous and enlightened from time immemorial. There is no surer evidence of cultivated taste, or of rural happiness, than we see in those floral ornaments, whether appended to the humble cottage or to the splendid palace. Nature, in the display of her inimitable floral gems, will always af- ford a fascinating employment. No pursuit is more congenial with female character, or tends more to elevate and refine it. In the shades of rural retirement, her virtues expand ; woman is rendered more lovely, and domestic happiness is consummated. To afford you occular proof of the won- derful achievements of horticulture, I would refer you to our large cities and their sur- rounding country. Their markets are crowd- ed with the choicest fruits, flowers, culinary productions, and ornamental plants in count- less profusion. Their environs studded with villa residences, elegant gardens, ornament- al grounds, conservatories and graperies — affording comforts and luxuries to millions, and profits to tens of thousands. The introduction of new and valuable fruits seems to be an absorbing subject with Pomologists throughout the civilized world, and it is certain that nothing contributes in a more eminent degree to the comforts of the consumer, or affords a greater profit to the cultivator. Ripe fruits are healthful, light, nutritious, and of easy digestion; pro- ducing a chyle admirably adapted to the functions of the human body. From the qualities which they possess, their habitual use, according to Mr. Knight, destroys tbe artificial appetite for strong fermented li- quors and the preparations for alcohol. But to go into a classification of the various fruits of standard excellence, and to give directions for their cultivation, would re- quire a volume. For all necessary informa- tion, I refer you to the works of Lindley, Thatcher, Kenrick, Downing, and Hovey's invaluable Magazine of Horticulture. Loudon, Lindley and Knight of England, and Van Mons of Belgium, by their unwea- ried labours and profound researches in Po- mology, have left enduring monuments to their memories. Knight and Van Mons in establishing their respective theories, have originated more valuable fruits within the last forty years, than had been done previ- ously by the whole world during a period of twenty centuries. Knight's plan was ac- complished by cross fertilization. The pol- len or fertilizing powder is delicately re- moved from one flower and transferred to some tree bearing flowers strongly related to the first, and is there carefully placed upon the summit of the pistillum in the flower intended to be fertilized. This pre- pared flower is then protected with thin muslin or gauze, to exclude the bee or in- sects which would otherwise frustrate the process. The seed produced from these hy- bridized fruit are carefully saved and plant- ed, and according to the qualities of the pa- rents, you obtain new and valuable varieties. The immense collection of fruits added to our lists by the indefatigable labours of Van Mons, has been astonishing. His theory for No. 5. Ag. Soc. of Prince George Co., Md. 157 the multiplication and improvement of the various fruits originated with himself. And had it not entered into the conception of that extraordinary man, in all probability it would have continued to this day locked up among the arcana of nature. No predeces- sor had left a ray for him to begin with. The lights of science could not be called in to his aid. It was only to be demon- strated by unwearied perseverance tlirough the protracted and inexplicable operations of nature. It was the suggestion of his own mind. The result of his experiments has established an important era in the history of fruits. Van Mons ascribes the success of his experiments, by which so many fruits of such great merit were obtained, to this prin- ciple: That in proportion as a fruit becomes removed from a state of nature by repeated regeneration — that is, by always planting the seed of the last production — in the same degree will the fruit become ameliorated, until it attains the highest perfection of which it is susceptible. In the application of this principle, he has ascertained that the Pear, when raised from the seed, requires seven generations to arrive at its highest perfection. The first generation, or the pe- riod from planting the seed of the domesti- cated pear, to the time of its first fructifica- tion, required a period of fifteen years. The second generation embraced a period of ten years; and so on with the period for every successive generation in a decreasing pro- gression. The whole period to accomplish his theory requiring about forty years. The Apple, upon the same principle, re- quired a period of four generations. The Peach, Apricot, Plum, and Cherry, required three generations. From the astounding results growing out of the experiments of this man, we have a legacy bequeathed to us, which affords us an advanced position, to prosecute our experiments with a certainty of success. It will be the privilege of future generations to determine the limits that na- ture will go in the amelioration of fruits. In illustration of this theory: who, for in- stance, could detect the relationship between the delicious class of Beuerres and the little austere wild pear, which grows spontane- ously in your field 1 What resemblance can you trace between the magnificent Gage Plum and the savage Sloe; or between that king of apples, the Golden Pippin, and the sour Crab? And last, though not least, who could recognise in the native Strawberry the type of that splendid variety denomi- nated Hovey's Seedling. But as astonish- ing as these transmutations are, they have been produced by this ameliorating process. I have enumerated these seminal produc- tions to show that the Pomologist has been richly rewarded for the prosecution of his employments. Time will be usefully and honourably occupied in the origination and introduction of fruits based upon these theo- ries. This pursuit recommends itself strongly to the young — and to create a taste for it should be the effort of those who feel an in- terest in their happiness. Children soon be- come deeply interested in employments of the garden or field, and acquire a stability of character and firmness of purpose which enable them to resist the seductive influences of vice; and in future time, as you examine the annals of natural science, you will find their names recorded as distinguished pa- trons. But of the diversified productions of the field and garden which it is our privilege to enjoy, few are indigenous to America. Of the cereal grains, for instance : Wheat and rye were originally brought from Siberia ; buckwheat from Asia; rice from Ethiopia. Of our vegetable productions: The arti- choke from Brazil ; the cauliflower from Cyprus; asparagus from Asia; the pumpkin from Astracan; the ruta baga from Sweden; and the tomato from South America. Our fruits from countries equally remote. The pear came originally from Europe; the peach from Persia ; the apricot from Arme- nia; the plum from Lyma; the cherry from Pontus; the quince from Austria; and the almond from China. It is evident that in the distribution of the bounties among the various nations of the earth. Providence has designed to show us our mutual dependence upon each other. In the discharge of the obligations imposed on us for these blessings, we should disseminate those productions of the garden and field extensively. For all men will cat fruit, says Sir William Tem- ple, so that the choice is only whether one will eat good or ill — and of all things pro- duced in-a garden, whether of vegetables or fruits, a poor man that has one of his own, will eat better than a rich man that has none. And I rejoice to say that a poor man has the privilege of enjoying those luxuries almost in an equal degree with the rich man. " Be active, be active — Find something to do, In digging a clay bank Or tapping a shoe. Don't stop at the corners To drag out the day — Be active, be active — And work while you may. 158 Artesian Well. — Improvement in JVail Mahing. Vol. XI Artesian AVell. _ An attempt is making at East Boston, to sink an Artesian well. The process was by boring a sufficient depth to obtain a supply of water for the accommodation of the citi- zens upon the island — the population of which is so rapidly increasing in numbers. The operator has abandoned the common earth auger, and has invented a cast iron tube, about eight inches in diameter, and about ten feet long. It is armed at the end with two prodigiously strong chisels, and just above them is an ingeniously devised valve. At the other extremity is a wrought iron handle, fastened to which is a stout, Bhort-linked iron chain to raise it up and down. When in action, it operates upon the principle of a common chopping knife so familiar in mince pie manipulations. The engine raises it and then lets it fall, like the perpendicular movement of the dasher in the obsolete method of churning butter. As the bits of stone or other materials accumu- late every time the massive tube drops, they are forced up into the tube and retained. Finally, when enough has been chopped to fill the cylinder of the drill, — the name given it, — the engine draws it to the sur- face to be emptied. The cost of the one Mr. Higgins is labouring with was $600. The Boston Transcript gives the following account in relation to this invention : Before resorting to this unique contriv- ance at all, an ordinary well was dug 140 feet, to a stratum of hard, compact gravel, interspersed with water worn stones of va- rious sizes. On this Mr. Higgins set a cast iron tube of 10 inches diameter; and an- other on the top of that, secured by water tight joints, and so on, to the very outlet above ground. This long, ponderous cylin- der is carefully braced on the outside all the way, to keep it exactly perpendicular, and within it the mighty battering ram is let down and set in motion against the realm of Pluto. As fast as the hole was deepened, the weight of the superincumbent pipe pressed down farther, paring the sides as it ground along. All accumulations from that source, with its own chips, were secured by the valve. After passing through 10 feet of the mixture described, the instrument struck a hard, blue slate stone, through which Mr. Higgins urged his way at the average rate of six feet a day for 145 feet. Next he came upon a bed of talc, of a greenish grey colour, greasy to the touch, one variety being recognized among tailors under the name of French chalk, and used for marking on cloth the course of the shears. Finally, on Saturday evening last, the cutter had penetrated eight feet into that stratum, making the entire depth at this date 303 feet. The tube rests on the slate by which it is sustained ; and water, soft and agree- able in flavor, rises in it to the height of 200 feet; probably it comes from between the seams and fractures of the rock, since none can possibly be forced in laterally. — American Rail Road Journal. Improvement in Nail Making. We have recently examined the drawings of a machine for manufacturing horse shoe, and other nails, on a new and ingenious plan, patented by Mr. Jedediah Holcomb, of Brandon, Rutland county, Vermont; and also have seen some specimens of nails manufactured by this method. They are made from hammered plates, with the grain of the iron lengthened, and the nails and proportions appear as perfect as those made by the usual hand process. By Mr. Hol- comb's method a good mechanic can make 400 lbs. of horse shoe nails per day. The machinery is simple in its construction, and promises to work an entire revolution in the nail manufacture. He has taken measures to secure patents in England and France for his invention. In addition to the above, which we copy from the Eureka, we can speak in the most favourable terms of the invention, and from a personal interview with Mr. H., of the above machine, we are convinced that the utility of the invention is very great. From data in our possession we estimate the quan- tity of horse shoe nails used annually in the United States at 2000 tons, and if by this invention three cents per pound can be saved in their manufacture, the gain would be quite a desideratum for those interested. — Farmer and Mechanic. Advice to Young Men. — "Let the busi- ness of every one alone, and attend to your own. Don't buy what you don't want; use every hour to advantage, and study even to make leisure hours useful ; think twice before you spend a shilling, remember you will have another to make for it: find re- creation looking after your business, and so your business will not be neglected in looking after recreation : buy low, sell fair, and take care of the profits ; look over your books re- gularly, and if you find an error, trace it out: should a stroke of misfortune come upon you in trade, retrench — work harder, but never fly the track; confront difficulties with unflinching perseverance, and they will disappear at last; though you should even fall in the struggle, you will be honoured: never shrink from the task," No. 5. Crops in Scotland. 159 Crops iu Scotland. We insert the following, taken from the Keho Chro- nicle, not entirely on account of the infurniation it gives in relation to the crops, but partly as an illiis- iration of the careful estimates made by our Biitish friends, of every thing that throws light on the amount of so important a matter as bread stufls. With their dense population, and the consequent vast amount daily consumed, these are all important to the welfare and even existence of the people. With our vast ex- tent of country, prolific soil, and sparse population, we can scarcely comprehend the causes of anxiety that exist in the older countries, about what seems scarcely to cost us a thought.— Ed. The harvest being- now concluded, not only in tliis district, but with few or unim- portant exceptions, all over the coiinly, and having had sufficient deliveries of the new grain to enable us to judge of the quality of the crop, and from the best information we can collect to form an opinion of its extent, we now do ourselves the pleasure of submit- ting to you the following observations. In regard to the general course of the weather during the season, we may remark that oats, and the earlier sown barley, were got into the ground under very favourable circumstances, between the middle of March and the middle of April; after which, owing to rainy weather, the ground was never in very good condition to receive the later sown barleys; from the last week in May until the last week in June, the weather continued very fine, and during many days it was oppressively hot, in fact, much more so than is usual in this climate. Towards the end of this time the spring crops on all dry lands appeared to be suffering from the drought. During all July and the greater part of August, although we had a high temperature and occasionally fine dry days, tiie general character of this period was un- usually moist with severe thunder storms and deluges of rain, frequently sufficient to raise the streams as high, or even higher than during the winter floods. The first week of August brought us to partial har- vest, and in two weeks thereafter the whole crop had ripened with extreme rapidity, but the cutting down and carrying was much interrupted by the unsettled character of the weather, until the last week in August, when it then became very favourable for harvest operations, and has continued so ever since; in fact, notwithstanding the partial interruptions during August, we have never known a season when the crop was better secured, or with greater facility to the farmer. Wheat occupied fully its usual breadth. It is of fair quality, and with the exception of a small portion carried too hastily, has been all stacked in fine condition. The yield per acre maybe estimated at one-sixth under an average produce, and the straw is deficient in bulk. Some samples weigh 64 lbs. ; but best runs will not much exceed 61 lbs. to 62 lbs.; second, about 60 lbs. per bushel, while some will come a little under that. Barley held beyond its ordinary breadth. It has all been stacked in fine order. In bulk of straw it is very deficient. The yield per acre we reckon to be a full fifth under an average. Being well ripened, it is of good colour, and has been found to malt re- markably well. In weight it is nearly 2 lbs. per bushel under last year's, but it is thought its intrinsic quality will compensate foj the deficient weight. Our best samples weigh only 54 lbs.; good runs, 51 lbs. to 52 lbs.; ordinary about 50 lbs.; and inferior as low as 47 lbs. per bushel. Oats. — The breadth sown this year cer- tainly did not exceed that of last year. This crop has been well secured, and appears bulky in the straw. The yield per acre, is variously esfimated, and we have much diffi- culty in forming an opinion; on hard soils it is probably very deficient, while on the freer or lighter soils, and even on high ground, we consider it fully an average. On the whole, we are disposed to estimate it at not more than an eighth or a tenth below an average. The weights, per bushel, are — best, 42 lbs. ; second, 38 lbs. to 39 lbs. ; and inferior down to 85 lbs. per bushel; being from 2 lbs. to 3 lbs. per bushel lighter than last year; notwithstanding which, their mealing quality is much better than the weight indicates. Beans occupied much more than their usual breadth, and in some parts of the county nearly double; but the yield per acre, will not be half the usual average. They have, doubtless, been well secured; and the quality, of such as we have seen, is satisfactory. They became prematurely ripe, and appear to have been peculiarly af- fected. Many think they sulliered during the season in a manner analogous to the po- tatoe, as the leaves were similarly blackened about the same time. Peas. — The quantity sown in this district is so very unimportant that we deem it un- interesting to offer a remark on this portion of the crop. Potatoes, whether planted whole or cut, or whether the seed was tainted with dis- ease or seemingly sound, seldom brairded better, or had a more promising appearance until about the third or fourth week in July, when the tops were universally blighted, and disease appeared among the tubers, 160 Farmers' Tools. — Go forth into the Country. Vol. XL manifesting itself in many of the larger or later kinds in immediate and complete rot- tenness, and in otliers, probably of the firmer sorts, causing a dry brownish discolouration under the skin; while in some of the earlier varieties the roots remained sound. The crop we can only estimate as a total failure, although doubtless many of those not en- tirely rotten, may be used for cattle-food or otherwise; while perhaps a twentieth part of tolerably sound potatoes may be selected out of the crop. It is difficult to offer any useful opinion as to the cause of this inscru- table disease : it appears to us to depend on some unusual state of the atmosphere, and we are led to form this opinion from believ- ing that several of our hardy forest trees, ferns, and even the common nettle of the country, appeared by their leaves as if af- fected in a similar manner to those of the potatoe. Turnips occupy a large breadth. The crop is very various — on really good turnip soils — where sown in good time — they are fine, while on hard or wet soils they are a poor crop. They have improve! a good deal within the last few weeks. There is a considerable quantity of old wheat held by the farmers, but little or none of any other kind of grain. Comparatively high prices will probably rule until another harvest; but we may expect very heavy im- portations of foreign grain, which will serve in some measure to moderate them. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Farmers' Tools. To THE Editor, — It is a common saying, as old as one of the Grecian philosophers, that "time is money;" and old Richard said that a " penny saved is as good as two pence earned." Inasmuch as the income of the farmer under ordinary circumstances are slow, and are laboured for in the sweat of his face, before they come at all, it is all-im- portant that his outgoes should be few as possible. In order to reduce them within as narrow limits as practicable, he must make on his farm, and within himself as many of the articles he may need, as he can, without making them cost him more than their actual purchase would. A word to the wise, may be improved upon, and I venture, though perhaps rather deficient in the matter myself, having but little mechan- ical turn, to suggest to my fellow farmers, the importance of providing our sons and labourers with tools, and a convenient place for using them, so that simple articles ne cessary in our business may be made, as well as repairs done at home, without the waste of time occasioned by taking them to, or of money in bringing them from the me- chanic. We need hardly be reminded how much may be done in this way in stormy weather by our boys, when they could do but little else. But to carry out these views, a workshop as well as good tools, should be provided. The necessity also of keeping these tools in their places, should not be lost sight of, or habits of carelessness may grow up in youth that will be hardly overcome in manhood. To me the buildings on a farm kept in good repair — the gates and doors, and latches, &c., all as they should be, give a tidy feeling to an observer, and where boys are accustomed to the use of tools, this is apt to be the case. Thrifty. Go forth into the Country. Go forth into the country, From a world of care and guile; Go forth to the untainted air, And the sunshine's open smile ; It shall clear thy clouded brow — It shall loose the worldly coil That binds thy heart too closely up. Thou man of care and toil! Go forth into the country, Where gladsome sights and sounds Make the heart's pulses thrill and leap With fresher, quicker bounds. They shall wake fresh life within The mind's enchanted bower; Go, student of the midnight lamp, And try their magic power. Go forth into the country, With its songs of happy birds. Its fertile vales, its grassy hills. Alive with flocks and herds. Against the power of sadness Is its magic all arrayed— Go forth and dream no idle dreams, Oh, visionary maid! Go forth into the country. Where the nuts' rich clusters grow. Where the strawb'ry nestles 'mid the furze, And the holly-berries glow. Each season haih its treasures. Like the air, all free and wild, — Who would keep thee from the country, Tliou happy, artless child 1 Go forth into the country. It hath many a solemn grove. And many an altar on its hills, Sacred to peace and love. And whilst with grateful fervour Thine eyes its glories scan, Worship the God who made it all. Oh holy Christian man ! Dublin University Magazine. No. 5. Virginia Lands. 161 Virginia Lands. A FRIEND who feels a lively interest in the resusci- tation of Virginia lands and tlie proniotion of Virginia interests, has copied the following from the American Farmer o{ last month, and forwarded it for insertion in the Cabinet.— Ed. Mr. Editor, — I herewith give you some extracts from a letter I received from a friend of mine, who is now living' in Surry county, Virginia. You are aware that much is said and a great deal written and published about the advantages of going to Virginia to buy land, and farm — feeling an interest in giving the experience of others well calculated to judge, for the benefit of your readers, I have copied part of the letter in order that some might be benefited. The writer is a gen- tleman somewhat advanced in life, raised a farmer, and always followed it ; he had a good training and good land to operate on, in a part of Chester county, Pa., that will compare with any other land in the State, at least in any other part of Chester county; added to this, he is an agricultural statistic, a plain blunt man, who writes what he thinks and sees, without fear of being called in question by any. I had written to him and stated several points that I wished in- formation on ; his letter takes these sepa- rately, and answers them very satisfactorily. "Sept. 1st, 1846; Never in my recollec- tion, have I enjoyed good uninterrupted health so long, as since I came here, and all the family have been well except M., who has had something of her old complaint — I believe Erysipelas. I see nothing here indicative of sickness; if people anywhere would live as many do here, they would be sickly; out late at night hunting, and going home drunk and reckless of every means to preserve health ; if not so, why the un- due proportion of sickness and death among the males, which is about four to one; in most countries they are about equal. I do believe, all things considered, there cannot be a better place to live, or a more delightful climate ; I have felt far warmer weather in Pennsylvania than here, and my Philadel- phia newspaper says it has been warmer at New York than here. We have as kind neighbours as ever honoured a neighbour- hood; some of them have endeared them- selves to us, beyond what you could imagine. I speak advisedly when I say, a man can fix himself here better for SIOOO than he can for $10,000 in Pennsylvania. Two gentle- men, one from near Lancaster and one from Franklin county, were here to see the place, through a letter I wrote to the Rev. M. B. — they all like the place very much, and won- der why I should be the first discoverer; one of them was looking at a place of 600 acres, price $4000; he told me while looking at the land, that he could sell his place of 120 acres, before he got home for $!l31 per acre, $15,720, and he was sure if he was a young man, in seven years he could make the place here as good as his own ; only look at that! he is a man of intelligence, and owns one of the best farms in Lancaster county, and was attracted here by M. B. sending to him a paragraph of my letter. Why sir, there are inexhaustible marl beds here, that on ana- lyzation contain 97 per cent, pure lime. Pe- qua lime, Chester county, Pa., contains 20 per cent, magnesia, a very deleterious arti- cle in agriculture. I have seen the western part of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the eastern part of Ohio, and have read and heard much of other parts, and am free to say, there is none equal to this. One Penn- sylvanian has already bouglit 1300 acres here for $2,600, and is to move here in Oc- tober; he is now on his way, and stopping in your city at present. I have built myself a small house, cleared some of the land near it, and planted some corn, oats, vines, &c. ; much of it had a stump, or perhaps two, to every square yard, and it was almost impos- sible to scratch up the soil ; the soil is far beyond anything I could expect, beans and field-peas excellent, pumpkins not good, po- tatoes tolerable, oats poor; you can hire a man, horse and cart, to haul for about thirty cents a day. Hay, there is none in the county; blades sell for seventy-five cents per hundred. In fact there is no such place in the United States, where the Supreme Being has done so much and man so little. Slavery or something has paralized every nerve, and the choicest blessings are over- looked and unappreciated ; some have marl lying on the top of the ground, which is about equal to a heap of dung and one of lime, inexhaustible in their nature, and will not use it, because those who do use it, make use of a great deal of dung; and say they, if marl is what it is said to be, why do they use dung. There are some great bargains in land offered here, such as would astonish the most sceptical ; the people here are aware of their deficiency in farming, and are anxious for Northern men to settle among them ; continual applications are made to me to sell land for them ; there is an apple-still in blast now on about every other farm, most of them are without shel- ter; they set up attending to them all night; they are fifty years behind the age; in proof of this they count their money in shillings and pence, think there is no hospi- tality without spirits; big-hill their corn, as was done when I was a boy ; they are igno- 16^ Progression in Farming. Vol. XI. rant of any of the facilities of betterinjr the condition of mankind; as their fathers did, so do they." — American Farmer. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Progression in Farming. To THE Editor, — We do not perhaps hear so much said now-a-days against book farming, as we did a few years ago. I am inclined to think, however, that we yet hardly appreciate to their full extent, the labours of the enquirer into agricultural science. If we would save labour — and who has more need to do that in his opera^ tions than the farmer? — we must avail our- selves of all the light which the experience, and even the speculations of others, can throw upon the means of accomplishing our object. There is so much good sense in the following remarks, which I find in the T^eio York Journal of Commerce, that I conclude the readers of the Cabinet may not altoge ther escape profit by looking them over. It is therefore that I send them. O. "Farming, like all other things, and per haps nfiore than other things, is in a revolu tion. We once knew as much about groW' ing corn, potatoes, and grass, as our farming neighbours; but we have glanced at enough of the science in its modern improvements, to feel that all we knew is of very little worth, and that in attempting to write about farming now, we are more likely to get laughed at than admired. But no matter, farming has become a science. If a farmer wishes to grow wheat on his land, he sends wheat to a chemist to be analyzed, that he may find of what it is composed, or rather looks into some modern work on chemistry, and reads it there. He then sends a sample of earth from his lot to the chemist, to as- certain of what ingredients the soil is com- posed; and whatever of the component parts suited for wheat is not found in it, he pro- cures and spreads upon his land. A field may have in abundance all the ingredients for the production of wheat but one, and yet not be able to produce wheat. By science, the Grahams have discovered the appalling fact, that butter and beef are in the grass and the fruits; that the cow is only the manufacturer; and that she, like the trans- muting priest, abjures butter and beef, and yet eats butter and beef all the while. The farmer who has no science, will perhaps, at great cost, add those ingredients of which there are already enough ; but that will not cause a crop to grow. This accounts for the fact which is often so surprising, that manure which has produced great crops on one soil, has no good efl'ect at all on another. A scientific farmer knows little oi poor land. All land is good to him, for it will produce well if only furnished with the proper in- gredients. So land that would only produce a very poor crop, has been made to produce a very large crop, by spreading upon it one or two deficient ingredients. These ingre- dients are, some of them, to be found in al- most all substances: lime of oyster shells, ashes even of anthracite coal, charcoal dust, fish, bones, &c. Everything is composed of ingredients which must be had for the repro- duction of itself, and many other things. Fruit trees cease to bear often, because they have exhausted the soil of one or two of the ingredients which compose their fruit. Give them but these, and they will at once return to production. A pear tree may grow in a soil which has not all the qualities necessary to constitute pears, and it can no more make pears without the necessary ingredients, than the Israelites could make bricks with- out straw. One crop exhausts one set of in- gredients, and another to some extent a dif- ferent set; and so farmers learn the fact without knowing the cause perhaps, that the same crop should not be grown for suc- cessive years on the same land. Yet there is no difficulty in growing the same crop in- terminably, if only the exhausted ingredi- ents are supplied. " A great deal has been learned about the mode and time of cutting and curing hay and grain. Grass, which while lying out to be thoroughly dried, perhaps may get re- peatedly wet, makes much better hay if, with much less drying, it is preserved with a bushel of salt to a ton. Salt is often cheaper than hay, so that the farmer makes a profit by putting it in, while the labour of curing is much diminished, and the good qualities of the hay much increased. Wheat cut in the milk has been found to weigh more pounds to the bushel than when left to ripen to the usual time, and oats were still more increased in weight. So farmers have perhaps been suffering great loss for ages, by cutting their grain at too late a stage of its progress. "The application of science to agriculture has developed wonders in the capabilities of the ground, which have lain froin the crea- tion unobserved. Men are astonished when they see what boundless blessings the Crea- tor has spread thick around, and how slow the race has been in observing them. They have spent century after century in shedding each other's blood, in creating and spreading poisonous superstitions, and in every possible way destroying all that was good. Despis- [o. 5. Fine Crops of Coi-n. 163 igthe blessings of creation and Providence, ley have sought their happiness in the em- loyments of fiends; and if the malice of len could but have had its way, the race ould long since have been extinct, and the irth would have rolled on to the end of her )urse, her treasures unexplored and useless, cience shows us that the capacities of the irth have hardly begun to be developed, id the human fan^'ly hardly begun to exist, ther in numbeis or individual enjoyment, vidently no sort of conception has been irmed in the minds of more than a very !\v, of the swarming millions which this irth is capable of sustaining in luxurious enty. Land and labour have been brought > ignorantly together, that nothing almost IS been the product. The meagie stinted •ops which have so poorly repaid the la- )urs of the farmer, have exhibited the mea- ire of man's ignorance rather than of irth's barrenness. We are opening now 3on an era, when every field will be a sci- itific laboratory, most interesting in its )erations to every noble feeling. The lange will operate to compensate the farm- 's near the great markets, for the competi- on they endure from the cheapness of t^estern land. In proportion as the quan- ty of crops is increased, the value of prox- lity to market is increased. If the crop 'wheat were doubled per acre, the expense " transportation per acre would be doubled, id this would go to enhance the value o. nd near to market, to the amount of the ipital upon which this saving would pay le interest. But when we come to fruits id vegetables, which decay rapidly, or are ijured by much travelling, or are of great ilk, compared with their value, then we ive another element of value for land near I markets. " VV'e are indebted for the most of these iggestions to Mr. Pell, whose fruits, vege- bles and grains, attracted much attention ; the late Fair, and now constitute a mu- lum at the store of Mr. J. B. J\hirray, No. 3 Old Slip. We do not however mean to lake Mr. Pell responsible for any blunders hich we have committed, in repeating from lemory a little outline of the very interest- ig conversation of lialf an hour which we ul with him. We do not suppose these lings are as new or interesting to every xly as they were to us; but they will pcr- jps set some of our readers upon a track )at will bring them to more thorough and sact information." In London there are markets for tlio ex- usive sale of poultry and game; in Dublin, lere is one wholly devoted to that of eggs. For the Fanners' Cabinet. Fine Crops of Corn. Mr. Editor, — Having a little leisure, I concluded to employ it in giving you an ac- count of the corn crop grown this season on the farm of the brothers Samuel J., Ebene- zer J., and David D. Dickey. Field No. 1, containing eight acres and one hundred and forty-two perches, produced 1037 bushels of corn, averaging 116 bushels and 21 quarts to the acre. Field No. 2, con- taining fourteen acres, three roods and tiiirty perches, produced 1145 bushels, averaging over 76 bushels to the acre. No. 3, contains sixteen acres and fitly-six perches, and pro- duced 1,110 bushels, averaging over 68 bush- els to the acre ; maldng in all 3,292 bushels of shelled corn on forty acres and twenty- eight perches, averaging 82 bushels to the acre. Lest some persons should think there was some guess work about measuring ei- ther the field or the corn, it may be proper to slate, that the person Vvho surveyed the ground, has been qualified to the measure- ment of the same ; one person measured all the corn on field No. 1, and has been quali- fied to the accuracy of his account : as also the persons who measured the corn on fields Nos. 2 and 3, are willing to be qualified to the accuracy of their accounts. I will now state the manner in which the corn was planted, worked, and manured. Seven acres of field No. 1, had sixteen cart loads of manure to the acre, of rough ma- nure from the barn-yard spread on the sod, and ploughed in about seven inches deep, with the Prouty plough. I do consider it very important that the ploughing should be well done, that all the ground should be turned up, and to a good depth, for any crop, but more particularly for corn. The ground was then rolled with a heavy roller, and harrowed over once with a spike-tooth harrow; it then got two strokes with a large cultivator; about five feet wide, with nine teeth in it, similar to the teeth in the small cultivators. I value this implement very highly, and it is one I think no farmer should be without; it pulverizes the ground, and leaves it in a better state for planting than any other harrow that I have seen in use. I always harrow the ground well before planting corn, as it can be done more effect- ually and at less expense than at any other time. There were then spread on five acres of the field 15 bushels of crushed bones to the acre, and 30 bushels of ashes on the bal- ance of the field, with the exception of about an eighth of an acre, that had neither bonedust nor ashes. It might be well to state here, that judging from that part of 164 An Important Decision. Vol. XI. the field that had neither bonedust nor ashes, there was no perceptible difference in the corn at any time in the season ; nor do I be- lieve that the crop was increased five bush- els to the acre, by either of the above men- tioned manures ; but on the two acres that had no barn-yard manure, there was a shade of difference, and the corn was not quite so good there, as upon the rest of the field. The roller was then put to work again, and followed with the corn-drill, which, by the way, is the manner we plant all our corn, and I am satisfied that more corn can be raised planted in this way, than by planting in hills. I was induced to try this way of planting corn some eight or nine years ago, on account of having a field that was very hilly, and wishing to put it in corn, and being unable to work it more than one way, I con- cluded to drill it in by hand; but after plant- ing one or two rows, I found it rather a slow way of doing business. I set to work, and knocked together a kind of machine for dropping, which answered the purpose very well, the ground having been marked out with a plough previously. When we came to take off the crop in the fall, 1 found that we had so much more corn than usual, from the same number of acres, that I concluded I would make a drill that would perform the whole operation of marking, dropping, and covering, which, from some little alteration made on it since, does its work about right; one man and a good horse will plant about eight acres a day with the drill. On field No. 1, the corn was planted in rows, three feet nine inches by six inches, and thinned out after it came up to about one foot. After the corn comes up, we go over it twice generally, with the large cultivator, taking out the middle and two front teeth, and in this way doing double duty; and when the corn gets large enough we pass through it twice with the small cultivator, never, in any case, allowing a plough to go in it after the ground is ploughed. Fields Nos. 2 and 3, were drilled in, four feet by twelve or fourteen inches, and worked in the same way, with the exception, that no manure of any kind was put on either of them. E. J. Dickey. Hopewell, Chester co., Pa., Dec. 8lh, 1846. The above statement showing a j'ield of nearly 3,300 bushels on 40 acres, gives a very favourable spe- cimen of Chester county corn raising. It is a highly interesting account, and should stimulate all of us who hold the plough to aim at similar results. We hope the leisure spoken of by our friend in his private note, will be found, and that his promised communica tion will be forthcoming.— Ed, Au Important Decision. We make the following extract fi-om the opinion of the Hon. Ellis Lewis, given in a recent important case, brought before the Court of Quarter Sessions in fhis County, (of which he is the presiding Judge.) A man by the name of John Lutz, had leased lands of Henry Hildebeitler. After the expiration of the lease, a dispute arose between them as to which was entitled to the straw of the " way-going crop." Hildebeitler insisted that the straw belonged to him, and that it should remain on the premises for the purpose of enriching the land — while the other as strenuously contended that half of it rightfully belonged to him, as well as the grain crop, and was about carrying the grain, in the sheaf, from the premises. Resistance was made to this; and the result was a prose- cution against Lutz for assault and battery. In giving the charge of the Court, Judge Lewis made the following remarks, — for which we are indebted to the Union <^ Tri- bune. " The moment the relation of landlord and tenant is created by the parties, the law en- ters into the contract and forms part and par- cel of it, and the rights and duties of each are established by law, without any expressstipu- lation in the contract. It requires no provision in the lease to bind the tenant to keep the pre- mises in repair, to prevent waste, and to farm the land in a husbandlike manner. These are obligations implied by law, and growing out of the relationship of the parties. Nothing short of an express contract can relieve the tenant from the performance of these, the ne- cessary duties of his tenure. The principles of good husbandry require that the straw raised upon the premises should be returned to the land with the accumulations arising from the stock kept on the farm. This is the general custom of the State. It has existed from the earliest settlement of the country. No two intelligent farmers, acquainted with the busi- ness of agriculture will differ in opinion on the subject. Any other course will impov- erish the land and thus operate injudiciously to the tenant — to the landlord — and to the general interests of the community. It is no answer to say that lime, and other means of enriching the soil, may be procured. These are well enough in aid of the natural sus- tenance ot the land, but they are not regarded as a substitute for it. There may be cases where the owner may find it to his advantage to exchange straw for manure, or for the means of purchasing it. But these are ex- ceptions to the general course of husbandry. The interests of agriculture, the custom of 5. Extension of Knowledge. 165 state, the principles of good husbandry, ], as I believe, the law of the state is linst the removal of the straw from the imises, unless the tenant has secured this vilege by the express provisions of his itract. Entertaining this opinion, and be- ving that the decision in Craig vs. Dale 11 not be adhered to by the Supreme court, 1 nnot advise that this defendant should be nvicted of a crime, for no other offence in the moderate assertion of what nine- iths of the farming community believe to his right — a right sanctioned by custom — lintained by good husbandry — and which thin"' but ignorance or infidelity in the nant would induce him to dispute." Lan- ster County Farmer. Extension of Knowledge. At his opening lecture at Guy's Hospital, ondon, in 1813, William Allen made the Rowing remarks : «' The circumstances in which we are aced in the present state of our existence, rove it was the intention of the Supreme eing that we should be actively employed ; pery thing about us is in motion ; import mt changes are constantly going on, and )me of them, by their very nature, are cal- ulated to stimulate mankind to exertion, 'his change is impressed upon our garments ?hich are continually wearing out — upon he habitations which protect us from the i-eather, which are constantly requiring re- lair ; it is obvious on the very face of na- ure, and proclaimed in the succession of easons ; it seems to be a law of our being, hat whatever is capable of fixing our at- ention to usefiil pursuits — whatever stimu- ates to the exertion of intellect— whatever rives spring and activity to the powers of 'he mind, must, if properly directed, con- luce to the happiness of man. Surrounded IS we are by the comforts and conveniences 3f civilized life; born in an age wherein the useful arts are carried to a high degree of perfection, — it requires some abstraction of mind, and a certain degree of reflection, to appreciate properly the advantages we en joy. We are apt to consider the situations in which we find ourselves, as perfectly na- tural, and have but a faint idea of what we owe to the labours and exertions of those who have gone before us ; without their la- bour and skill, however, we might yet have been obliged to clothe ourselves in the skins of beasts, — to seek refuge from the vicissi tudes of the weather in the caves of the earth, and feed upon any digestible sub' stance that might be thrown in our way. The influence of knowledge upon the hu man mind is prodigious. A reference to the page of history will not only sliow the gra- dual advances which have been made from rude beginnings to the present improved state of society, but it will strongly incul- cate the important lesson, that the happiness of our species is intimately connected with the diffusion of knowledge. Where do we behold cruelty in its most terrific form, but in the uninstructed and neglected part of the community? by whom are our jails prin- cipally inhabited, but by the ignorant 1 — by those to whom society has failed in its duty. In the higher ranks of men, ignorance as- sumes not unfrequently the shape of bigotry, and manifests itself in deep-rooted prejudice: whenever you see a man more than ordina- rily censorious of others, indisposed to make allowance for the circumstances in which they may have been placed, positive and un- charitable in his opinions, whatever may be his rank in life, be assured that he is lament- ably ignorant. Knowledge, properly understood and ap- plied, sheds a benevolent influence over the mind of the possessor; and when we consi- der that it tends to increase our powers of usefulness, and thereby to add to our own [happiness and that of others, we shall feel it almost a duty to make such an arrange- ment of our time, as to devote regularly a portion of it to the improvement of our minds. Of all the varied branches of knowledge, those relating to material objects are most important. In former ages the powers of the human mind were exhausted in useless metaphysical disquisitions concerning es- sence and substance, and ethereal forms, — things which it was impossible to compre- hend or apply to any good purpose. To our illustrious countrymen, however. Bacon, Locke, Newton, Boyle and Hook, we are in- debted for a more rational system of philoso- phy; rejecting idle speculations, they direct- ed their attention to watch the processes of nature, and to attempt to discover some of the laws by which her operations are go- verned ; they built upon facts and experi- ments, and the progress since made in every department of science, has proved the cor- rectness of their views. Few are sufliciently aware of the benefi- cial consequences likely to result from an endeavour to induce a habit of attention even to minute circumstances, and how much misery is produced in the world by those unhappy prejudices, which owe their origin to a careless and superficial view of facts. Men who have not been in the habit of thinking, and carefully investigating the grounds of their opinions, are most of all 166 Moral Effects of Light. — Editorial JVotices. Vol. XL liable to be carried away by their passions. The influence of the habit which I now re- commend, on the comfort of society, is in- calculable; the pleasure arising from the cultivation of our rational powers, would amply repay the efforts necessary for the purpose; indeed, it is only by an accurate examination of things, and reflection upon them, that we learn the comparative value of the different objects presented to our no- tice, and give to every one that precise de- gree of attention to which it is, by its na- ture, entitled." — Life of William Allen. Moral Effects of Light. — Dark and sombre dwellings and streets are the well- known resort of the most depraved classes in all cities and towns. This may be said to be a universal law of our social economy, and hence it becomes a matter of some impor- tance to consider whether it would not be ad- visable, on moral grounds also, to attend with greater care to the construction and improv- ment of the residences of our labouring pop- ulation. Darkness produces carelessness and depression of mind, and of the whole nervous system, especially if it be conjoined with idle- ness, its almost necessary companion. A dark house is generally a dirty house; and it is in dark corners that the poor accumulate filth, which they are too idle to throw out of doors. If such dwellings were e.xposed to the light of day, a sense of shame would often induce a superior degree of cleanliness; and the cheerfulness of mind which a light house tends to foster would be productive of still greater advantages. Mr. Clay in his Report on Preston, has well said, that " something may be hoped for a people who can feel ' a joy in flowers;' " but the poor can seldom pos- ses even this small advantage in the misera- ble residences provided for them. — Liverpool Health of Toions' Advocate. Currants may be forced by placing them in any forcing department in the first or se- cond month. They will ripen in the last spring months. THE FARMERS' CABINET, AND jeLMSmCiklT ISSHD-BOOK. Philadelphia, Twelfth Month, 1846. In a private letter from T. Wm. Harris, of Cam- bridge, Mass., dated the I9th ult., after alluding to the various and extended efforts he has made to perfect for a new edition, his "Treatise on Insects Injurious to Vegetation," he says, "There are still several insects which I am desirous of obtaining; and among them, the wire-worm and the beetle that produces it, both of which, according to the late W. Gaylord, Esq., are found in the Middle States. It may be, that they are identical with a species found here, and this it is de- sirable to ascertain." We make this note in orvI<^r to call attention to the matter, and to solicit those whose situation and pur- suits give them the power, to lend their aid to this dis- tinguished naturalist, in his highly interesting pur- suit. FiTZGERALti's Hewly invented Threshing Machine was mentioned in our last number, as having been visited by the Editor. Since that time we have seen it in motion, and it certainly made a very favourable impression as to the efficiency of its operations. It threshed with great rapidity, and did the work well. The grains were unbroken. A sheaf of wheat was thrown in the water and then passed under the beat- ers. It was out in a twinkling, with perhaps every grain separated from the straw. itf- SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted at the rate of one dollar for each insertion often lines or less; and so in proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. SSED STORE, No. 23 3Iarket Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. Also, in season, Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1846. tf. Agency for the Purchase & Sale of IMPROVED BREEDS OF CATTLE & SHEEP. The subscriber takes this method of informing his friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, &:c., for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AARON CLEMENT. Sept. 15th, 1846. No. 5. Editorial JVotices. 167 FOR SALE, A BEAUTIFUL FARM, Nearly adjoining tfie city of Annapolis, Maryland, containing 350 acres of land, naturally of good quality, and during the last four years, I have had it liighly improved with clover, plaster, ashes, lime, and other manures to the amount of upwards of fifteen hundred dollars. The fences and buildings are all in good re- pair, and divided into ten departments, including one peach orchard, containing upwards of 1500 trees, in fine health of three summers' growth, and an apple orchard in full bearing. About 150 acres of this land are covered with the best sort of building timber. I have a good w harf, where a large schooner can lie and receive or deliver produce. This farm is very pleasantly situated, high and dry, and about rolling enough to cast off extra rain water, — also has good spring water in several of the fields. The buildings consist of a good d« elling, nearly new, two brick ser- vant houses, one house fur the manager, two large to- bacco houses, 30 by 70 feet each, one is used for a barn ; stabling, corn, milk, and hen houses. From the above dwelling I can go to the Annapolis market in about fifteen minutes, where we have a tolerably good mar- ket for hay, peaches, sweet potatoes, milk and butter. Of milk about $2000 worth may be sold annually. Freight is cheap to Baltimore, which is an excellent market, with which we have daily intercourse, both by steam and otherwise. But few farms have the same opportunities of doing business to profit, being now in good order to make money, and only on account of ad vanced age, infirmities, and residing at a dista»ce, am I induced to part with it. It will be sold cheap. Per- sons desirous of seeing the place, will please call on me, near Baltimore, Md., and I will go and show it. ROBERT SINCLAIR, Nurseryman. August 28«A.— 4t. FOR SALE, AT D. O. PROUTY'S No. 194 J Market Street, Philadelphia, Corn-Shellers in great variety, price from $1 50 to $50 each; Hovey's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Grant's Patent Fan Mills, for chaffing and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to $18 each. Whitman's Horse-powers and Threshing Machines, with Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may be taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, &c.; Centre- Draught, Self-sharpening, Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation. September 15th — tf. The quantity of rain which fell in the 11th month, 1846, was nearly eight inches 7.97 in. Penn. Hospital, IWt mo. 1st. COATES' SEED STORE, No. 49 Market Street, FRESH TIinOTHY SEED, Of various qualities, from good common seed to the purest and finest that can he produced, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF GRASS & GiLRSISIT SSSDS, Of the finest duality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &c. JOS. P. H. COATES. Successor to Oeorgc M Coatcs. Sept. 15th, 1840. PHILADELPHIA AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE, iVo. 291 Market Street, North side, between Seventh, and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has just received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have been so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement ; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self-Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Shelters, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c., to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. 1 yr. NEW Horticultural and Agricultural Ware-iiouse, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. Thesubscriberhasfor thebetteraccomraodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to liispure stock of Svveede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th. 1846.— ly. R. BUIST, CO AI.. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the usual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Tenth month 15th, 1840. 168 Editorial JVotices. Vol. XL We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in leather;— Price $3 50 YOU ATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENERS ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37^ THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; 37^ DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sets of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. 8 50 DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, 3 50 Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 1 50 SKlNNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, 50 AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, 1 25 BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, 1 50 FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, 1 00 MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, 1 00 STABLE ECONOMY, 1 00 BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, 31^ BUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, 75 THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, 50 SKINNERS CATTLE & SHEEP DOCTOR, 50 AMERICAN FARRIER, 50 THE FARMER'S MINE, 75 HOARE ON THE VINE, 62J HANNAM'S Economy of Waste Manures, 25 LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, 25 ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, 25 FAMILIAR LETTERS, 12^ As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour—or single numbers sold. jf|p We are prepared to bind books to order. GUANO. TwENTY-nvE tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrels, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN & CO., No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Poudrette. A valuable manure— of the best quality, prepared in Philadelphia, for sale at the office of the Farm- ers' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or more, $1 75 per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any num- ber of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or thirty-five cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for wheat. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. paqb Soiling, or House-feeding, ■ *.- 137 A Simple Method of Protection from Lightning. — A Word to Boys, 142 Observations on the Potatoe disease. — The Alpaca, 143 Irrigation, 145 Starch Manufacture.— Cultivation of Fruit Trees, 147 Demands for American produce. — Cows, 148 Transplanting large trees. — Deep ploughing, .... 149 Fattening Hogs, 150 Deleterious effects of Brick yards, 151 Carefulness in living.— What is Blight? 152 Cheese Making in Virginia, 153 Canker-worm Moth. — Lands in Virginia, 154 Potatoe Blight. — Ag. Soc. of Prince George Co. , Md. 155 Artesian Well. — Improvement in Nail Making. — Advice to Young Men, 158 Crops in Scotland, 159 Farmers' Tools.— Go forth into the Country ICO Virginia Lands, 161 Progression in Farming, 162 Fine Crops of Corn, 163 A n Important Decision 164 Extension of Knowledge, 165 Moral effijcts of Light. — Editorial Notices 166 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BT JOSIAH TATUM. No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fifteenth of every month, in num- bers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri- ately introduced. Terms. — One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in advance. All subscriptions must commence at the beginning of a volume. Having lately struck off a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become e.xhausted, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-five cents halfbound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, a comp^cfesef of the work will be furnished in numbers, including the llth volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-bound and let- tered. Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon 'he same terms. By the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office within thirty miles of Philadelphia, they ivill go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer, ^^£KICAN HERD-BOOlC DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Liebiq. Vol. XI.— No. 6.] 1st mo. (January) 15th, 1847. [Whole No. 144. POBLISHED MONTHLY, BY JOSIAH TATUM, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per year.— Forconditions see last page. Memorial from Agriculturists. We find the following in the Twelfth month number of the Farmers'' Library ^'^v.hich states that it is in course of circulation through the country. Our friend Skinner is disposed to leave no stone unturned in his indefatigable efforts to serve the interests of the agri- cultural community. And it were well to bear in mind, that when those interests are served, all others partake of the benefit; for " perfect agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry."— Ed. Memorial from the Agriculturists of the United States to their respective State Legislatures. The undersigned, on behalf of the agri- cultural interest, to which they belong, beg leave to request your attention to what they feel to be their just, but too long neglected claim on the General Government. Not wishing to deal in vague generalities, the meisure we solicit, is tiiat you would urge our Representatives and Senators in Congress, to use their influence to procure Cab.— Vol. XL— No. 6. an appropriation from the proceeds of the \puhlic lands, or from the general treasure, for the use of each State, in proportion to its representation in Congress, to be applied, in each State, expressly to the establishment of a Normal School, for the instruction and preparation of teachers in agricultural chemistry, mineralogy, vegetable and ani- mal physiology, civil engineering, rural architecture, and practical surveying — in such arts and sciences, in a word, as will enlighten practical agriculture, and render more efficient and profitable the capital and labour employed in it. Teachers thus pre- pared, would be ready to take charge of minor agricultural schools, in each county in every State of the Union; and thus would the foundation be laid for spreading among the mass of the people a knowledge of those sciences, on the application of which, accord- ing to the opinion of the ablest writers of the age, "Agriculture must hereafter depend for all material improvements." In the name of justice to the landed inte- rest, and in anticipation of objections as to want of means or power, the undersigned would refer to the very large expenditures under all administrations, not only for the establishment of naval and military acade- mies and schools, and the publication of sur- veys, maps, and journals, without number, of military officers, exploring sea and land, but to the boundless acquisition of foreign territory, by acts of Congress. We may also refer to large and repeated appropria- (169) 170 Memorial from Jlgriculturists. Vol. XI. tions, not merely for the establishment of Observatories, and lines of Telegraph, un- der the control of the General Government, but to an object strictly analogous to the one we seek, to wit, the annual Agricultu- ral Reports from the Patent-Office. All these appropriations of the public mo- ney— chiefly, it is true, as connected with the military operations of the Government — have been avowedly for the purpose of col- lecting and distributing warlike or other in- formation. These facts and considerations induce your memorialists to hope that Congress will not now refuse to the people a portion of their own money, for the 'purpose of providing within each State, conformably witli its own policy, institutions and courses of industry, schools for the instruction, also, of the rising generation of planters and farmers in the principles of that great pursuit which has been well pronounced "the nursing mother of all the arts," — a pursuit upon which Con- gressional Reports, useful though they be in their way, xan yet throw but the partial light of fac^ and statements promiscuously gathered up, not always well digested, and, after all, distributed or not, according to the individual pleasure and discretion of mem bers of Congress. For the warlike machinery and purposes of this Republican Government, embracing the objects above referred to, several hun- dred millions of dollars have been expended since our last war with a trans-Atlantic power; and this enormous expenditure has really been collected, in very large j^ropor- tion, from the landed interest, since it is that class which has cliiefly consumed the imports on which the revenue has been levied. Your memorialists are far from repining at the liberal pay, life commissions, certain promotion, pensions, residences, hospitals, schools and academies built, provided, and kept up, at the public expense, for the two military branches of the Government ; but they humbly think that the time has arrived when the people, the yeomanry of the coun- try— those by whose toil its solid wealth is dug out of the ground — may inquire why, in what view of the " general welfare," it is that since any amount can be found to pro- mote advancement in the science, and suc- cessful practice in the art of war, nothing can be granted for the better instruction of the rising generation of freemen in the sci- ence and practice of that great peaceful pur- suit which employs, feeds, and pays all others? Under the most despotic monarchies, men of genius who have conferred signal benefits on the industrial pursuits of the people, by scientific discoveries and useful inventions, have been lavishly rewarded, and raised to the highest honours. Mechanics, chemists, astronomers, great naturalists, and learned and enterprising men in every walk of civil life, have been there endowed with titles and fortune. If, under such Governments, stars and garters, and badges of power and respect, have stimulated to heroic deeds in fields of battle, so have they been held up as certain prizes to intellectual excellence, and great accomplishments in the arts and employments of peaceful industry. If schools have there been maintained for training youth in the art of war, so have they been main- tained for teaching the application of the arts and sciences to all the industrial pur- suits of life. As republican freeholders, then, we would respectfully inquire whether it be becoming or politic for this nation, whose Government rests for security on the popular intelligence, to imitate European Governments only in the favour and patronage they confer, with self-preserving instinct, on that executive department of their power upon which they lean to protect their existence against the progress of free principles, and the force of public opinion seeking to carry them out? It would indeed be passing strange, as it seems to your memorialists, that in a Go- vernment called free, deriving so chiefly all its resources from the agricultural interest, its powers should be so organized as to pre- clude the application of any portion of the public treasure to confessedly, and by far, the greatest of all public concerns! We would respectfully forbear from remarking, as it would seem to deserve, on that mon- strous perversion and abuse of sovereign authoritj', in a Government called republi- can, which should reserve all life tenures, and all pensions, and all enlightenment, for the military, while it renounces the glorious faculty of aiding and rewarding the labours of intellect in the humbler, but so much more useful paths of peaceful, laborious and pro- ductive industry! In behalf, then, not so much of themselves, as of the rising generation of agriculturists, on whom our country and its liberties must mainly depend under all vicissitudes, we call upon you, to whom we have consigned for the time the sovereign authority of the State, to demand from the General Govern- ment that something be now, at last, done to foster Agriculture, by diffusing that know- ledge which is power, no less in tlie field of labour than of blood. They believe tliey have a right to expect for this great national purpose, £0 identical with the general wel- No. 6. Account of an Experiment in Deep Ploughing. 171 fare, appropriations bearing some proportion to the amount which the products of agri- culture bear to the aggregate wealth of the nation, and to the dec'ree of dependence of the Government itself, and all classes under it, on that class for employment, protection, safety, and support. Account of au Experiment iu Deep rioughiug. BY jnaN JAFFRAY, DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN. The experiment was made upon a small field, which is sixty-five feet above the level of the tta. The soil is sandy, resting upon a subsou of sand and gravel of great depth, and so thoroughly drained by the declivity of the surrounding lands, the want of moist- ure is its natural eflect. There is but little difference between the soil and the stratum on which it rests beyond what culture and manure have made ; but, from sinking of gravel, treading of horses, and pres=^ure of the plough, year after year, and age after age, the subsoil had become crusted, hard, and beaten, as a road. In short, from shal- low ploughing, tliere was but little of culti- vated earth ; and, as on all such soils in dry seasons, the crop was scorched and scanty. With a view to render this field fruitful in any season, it was subsoiled with the Dean- ston plough, eighteen inches deep, and sown with wheat for crop in 1S37. The great vigor and luxuriance of the crop attracted general notice; and it must have yielded an extraordinary increase, if it had not been lodged by wind and rain shortly after the ear appeared. Therefore it gave only thirty- eight bushels of grain to the acre, but three tons of straw, which proved its great strength. To this crop, one of potatoes and two of wheat succeeded ; but it is the culture of this field for crop in 1S41, and the result, which chiefly constitute this report. It was all equally dressed with seaware; and four acres of the same quality and de- scription were measured and staked off. Two of these acres were ploughed twelve inches deep, with two horses, and two of them eighteen inches deep, with four horses. These two portions in all other respects, were cultivated and managed exactly alike. They were planted with potatoes of the Don species in the last week of April, eight inches deep, twelve inches asunder, and in drills thirty inches wide, running at right- angles to the furrows of the experimental ploughing. The potatoes were planted deeper than usual, therefore the shoots were longer in coming through the ground; but when they did appear, it was with great strength and regularity. They expanded their broad deep-green leaves, and grew vigorously in the dry sandy soil, in a very severe and long continued drought. It was soon evident that tlie deepest ploughed portion had the advantage. The stems and branches of its plants were stronger, and they first covered the ground. The potatoes were lifted in the last week of October, when it was found that the land ploughed twelve inches deep produced fifty- seven bolls per acre, and the land ploughed eighteen inches deep produced sixty-nine bolls per acre, being a difference of twelve bolls per imperial acre, of four cwt. to the boll. The potatoes from the deep tillage were larger, more of one size, had fewer small ones, and not so many of a green colour as those from the other division. 'i'iie quantity on the deep tillage is eighty- seven bolls per Scots acre, which is a good crop for any year; and it will readily be granted that it is far above the average of the district this year, many fields not pro- ducing half a crop. But though this is a greater crop for the season, j^ must have been still greater if the field had been less exposed, as it has no shelter; and three days of very violent wind in the first week of August broke down the plants, which, from their great luxuriance, were then very ten- der, and checked their growth. The practical conclusions to be drawn from this experiment are — First, that deep ploughing increases the produce. Next, that, as both portions of the land used in the experiment were opened up eighteen inches deep by the subsoil plough for crop in 1837, the full benefit of that ope- ration is not obtained till the earth so loosen- ed is again ploughed up. And the reason is evident ; for it is then only that the soil is deepened, by an addition from the subsoil with which it is intermixed, and rendered more fruitful. Lastly: if deep ploughing increases the produce, it increases also the supply of ve- getable manure; and a greater portion of manure, added to improved culture, must produce a progressive increase of fertility and of produce. Children. — Speak to a child — any child — in a calm, positive, clear voice, and he will be sure to obey you, if you speak once, and only once. — Mrs. Sigoitrney. The Eureka says that the oldest evidence of the application of steam as a power in England, is a patent granted to Thomas Savery in July, 1698. 11^ Cultivation of the Peach. — The Potatoe Failure, <^c. Vol. XI. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Cultivation of the Peach. Probably it is not saying too much to assert that the peach flourishes as well, if not better, in this country, than in any other part of the world. And yet the tree is sub- ject to diseases and the ravages of insects, which shorten its life. The peach worm generally attacks the tree near the roots, the first or second year after being taken from the nursery. The usual method of managing is to examine the trees and cut out the worms with a sharp knife; but this is a tedious pro- cess, particularly for those who cultivate large orchards of one hundred acres or more. A better method of managing is to pre- vent the worm from ever getting at the trees. This is easily accomplished by put- ting around each tree, when the orchard is planted out, three quarts of fine charcoal dnst, and the same quantity of slaked lime. Mix the two articles together, and place in contact with the tree in the form of an ant- hill. Where. wood ashes are more easily obtained, four quarts placed around the tree in the same manner will answer the purpose. Four quarts of poudrette will also answer a like good purpose. Peach trees are sometimes attacked with a disease called the yellows. Our opinion is, that if trees are propagated from healthy stocks — if kept free from worms, and in all other respects properly cultivated, they will escape the yellows. If, however, any trees are attacked, the only method of arresting the disease in the orchard, is to dig up by the roots all diseased trees, and burn them at once. One of the greatest faults in the general cultivation of the peach, is that most growers permit the trees to exhaust themselves, by letting all the fruit remain on the trees when one-half, and sometimes two-thirds of the crop should be picked, or shaken, or raked off, when the fruit is about one-quarter grown. The re- maining fruit will grow to a larger size — ripen better, and command more money in market, than when the whole crop is suffer- ed to remain on the trees. An orchard treated as above, will produce good crops for twenty years, instead of only four to seven years, which is the longest pe- riod trees will continue in bearing with or- dinary culture. Some of the old varieties of the peach appear to be running out — this, without a doubt, is owing in many cases to propagat- ing from old and unhealthy trees. Fortu- nately for the lovers of this delicious fruit, ^many new varieties have been brought out, vyhich for size, beauty, flavour and produc- tiveness, surpass the best of the old varieties. The Milk, of Maryland, is a larger and finer fruit than the old Morris White — the flesh of the former is white to the stone. Crawford's Early Malacaton, ripe last of August; Crawford's Late Malacaton, ripe last of September; John's Malacaton, ripe middle of September; tlaston's Malacatoii, ripe last of September, are all superb fruits that cannot be excelled. Scott's Nonpareil, is a similar fruit to the four Malacaton's last mentioned, and is a September variety. Temple's Late Free, ripe the middle of Oc- tober, is the finest late variety within our knowledge. George the Fourth, and La Grange, are also valuable new varieties. Red Rareripe, Yellow Rareripe, Ward''s Late Free, Smock's Late Free, Fool's Late Free, Early York, Troth's Early Red and Early Ami, are among the best old varie- ties. The above named are all freestones. The following are clingstones, and valuable for ripening late in the season, Lemon Cling, Oldmixon Cling, Late Heath Cling, Rod- man's Cling, Tippecanoe, and Algiers Winter. We state for the information of new be- ginners, that our old and experienced peach growers always plant out trees in the spring — in no case will they plant in the fall — ex- perience has taught them that trees planted in the fall, do not come into bearing so soon by two or three years, as those planted in the spring, and the trees never do as well. B, G. BOSWELL, Nurseryman and Fruit Grower, No. 230 Pine street, Philadelphia. The Potatoe Failure— Non-liability of a Tenant to pay Rent. An important case — Macdonald v. Wilkie — came before the Justice of Peace Court at Dundee, on Monday week, which excited considerable interest, upwards of fifty others being contingent on the decision to be given in this one. The principal facts involved in the case are as follows: — Mr. Macdonald is the principal tenant of the Forthill of Bal- gillo; and he, as well as many other farm- ers throughout a great portion of Forfar- shire— and who joined issue in the trial — has been in the practice of sub-letting de- tached portions of his farm to parties resid- ing in the neighbourhood, for the purpose of growing potatoes. It seemed that the pur- ser ploughed the ground and supplied the manure, and that the sub-tenants afforded the seed, and attended to the cleaning and culture afterwards. In consequence of the failure of the crop, the sub-tenants this year No. 6. Bucks County Agricultural Exhibition. 173 refused to pay the stipulated rent, which, of course, is much higher than the rent paid by the purser to his landlord. In this form the case came before David Milne, Alexan- der Balfour, and William Thoms, Esqrs., the presiding Justices, at the instance of Mr. Macdonald, for the purpose of fully trying the question. On the part of the defenders, reference was made to the law on the point as laid down by Erskine, by which it ap- pears " that, though the tenant should have got possession, and sown his arable grounds, the landlord cannot, by the Roman law, claim any part of the rent, if inundation, the ca- lamity of war, the corruption of the air, or the inclemency of the weather by earth- quakes, lightning, &c., had brought upon the crop damage phtsquam tolerabile" and that though it is not exactly defined "what degree of sterility or vastation makes a loss that cannot be borne," it is said to be the common opinion that "the tenant is lia- ble for the rent, if the produce of the crop exceed the expense of the seed and the til- lage." To carry out this point, therefore, the defenders led evidence to prove the al- most total failure of the crop in question ; and the Justices, with reference to the fore- going authority, assoilzied all the defenders, with one exception, in which case it appears that the crop had been taken up early, and while in good condition — the defender in this instance pressing his willingness to pay. — Kelso Chronicle. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Bncks County Agricultural Exhibition. A COMMUNICATION appeared in the fourth No. of the Cabinet, page 120, over the sig- nature of J. P., in relation to the Bucks County Agricultural Exhibition, which may require a passing notice. Although the writer appears to have been well pleased with viewing the "excellent stock, and good show of produce and vege- tables" exhibited at Newtown, yet he was not so well pleased with the fact, that the plough for which the diploma was awarded, was a Bucks County plough, and he attempts to cast odium upon the Society through their committee, by asserting that the committee on implements awarded their diploma "be- fore trial." Now I have the best evidence — that of the committee themselves — all of whom were of " the old Bucks County class of husbandmen," for saying that the ploughs were stopped at their request, before the furrows were cleared up, that they might view the ground before the spectators ran over it, and that they were unanimously of the opinion that the diploma plough was the best plough, and that the decision was made with special reference to the work done. Notwithstanding Prouty's plough ia so highly recommended for turning under the stubble, yet much anxiety was manifested to attach a chain to it, and complaint was made of the decision of the committee on ploughing, that it should work without one, as the others did. This certainly furnished evidence of the existence of doubts whether that plough could successfully compete in this respect. It might here be added, that for turning under a heavy coat of vegetable matter without choaking, the diploma plough stands unrivalled by the Prouty plough, the peculiar construction of its side cutter giv- ing it advantages in this respect which that plough does not possess. J. P. remarks that the committee " might have added the Prouty plough, after carry- ing a furrow two and a half inches deeper and two inches wider, finished her task, leaving the Wiggins plough five furrows to turn ;" but it appears they were men who did not choose to make such an assertion. The space ploughed has been measured and the furrows counted. The Prouty plough plough- ed 22 feet 6 inches, turning down the sod at 22 furrows; the Wiggins plough ploughed 23 feet 6 inches, turning down the sod at 24 furrows, making a difference of about one-half inch, instead of two inches, in the width of furrow. For this fact I refer to Edward Leedom, who owns the soil plough- ed, and assisted in measuring it. "The depth ploughed cannot now be accurately mea- sured, but I have conversed with many indi- viduals upon the subject, some of whom paid particular attention to it at the time, and none of them believe that the Prouty plough ploughed more than one inch deeper, and some of them not near that much. The time of ploughing depends very much upon the speed of the team, and the committee did not limit the ploughmen as to time. That the Wiggins diploma plough is not entirely destitute of merit, appears from the fact, that the second premium was awarded to it at the exhibition of the Philadelphia Agricultural Society, where Prouty had three ploughs entered; and I believe the plough and those who entered it, were en- tirely unknown before the exhibition to every member of that committee; therefore I think the premium in this case was not awarded "before trial." In conclusion, if the Prouty and Mears plough " performed the best work that J. P. liad witnessed the present season," and "it called forth the admiration of the congre- gated mass of spectators, without a dissent- 174 Good Domestics. — Large Farm in Maryland. Vol. XL ing voice," why he should have returned with his ploughs again to Newtown, com- plaining that he was not satisfied, but wished them tried again, I cannot conjecture. I be- lieve there are still dissenting voices after his second trial. As a member of the Bucks County Agricultural Society, I ex- tend to J. P. a cordial invitation to meet with us again at Newtown at our next ex- hibition, hoping that the committee on ploughing will correct the error into which they fell, that of not arranging the list of ploughs in their report according to the or der in which they ploughed in the field. A Bucks County Farmer. Twelfth mo. 17lh, J846. lay in his integrity, which in one shape or another generally met with its reward in the world, and could not fail of giving the highest pleasure, by consciousness of virtue, which every man feels that is so happy as to possess it." — Journal of Commerce. Good Domestics. We have observed that persons much ad dieted to complaining of servants, and to dismissing them for real or imaginary of- fences, seldom find their own condition im- proved by the change. On the part of em- ployers, the habit of fault-finding too often but aggravates the evils of neglect and diso- bedience on the part of domestics, and those will seldom be pleased, who show no dispo- sition to be pleased. It is human nature to be seldom amiable when unhappy. There are but few ungenerous, obdurate persons, who will not be more moved and swayed by a pleasant smile and ten words of kindness and encouragement, than by long lectures on the duty of servants, or whole volleys of censure. It is ever bad policy, as it is un- just, to have a quick eye to faults and to be blind to good actions. And in families as in States, those govern best who govern little, and rather by invisible influences and the contrivances and circumlocutions of discre^ tion and charity, than by unmasked autho' rity and force. In fine, in the domestic cir cle affection must be law, and domestics must come within the circle of a deep and generous regard. Who can estimate the value of a long tried and faithful servant? Nearly a century ago Lady Montague wrote " I would not every day tell my footman if I kept any, that his whole fraternity were a pack of scoundrels, that lying and stealing were inseparable qualities from their cloth, that I should think myself very happy in them if they confine themselves to innocent lies, and would only steal candles' ends; on the contrary, I would say in their presence that birth and money were accidents of for- tune, that no man was to be seriously de- spised for wanting them; that an honest and faithful servant was a character of more value than an insolent and corrupt lord; that the real distinction between man and man For the Farmers' Cabinet. Large Farm in 3IaryJand. To THE Editor, — The intelligent and wealthy citizens of our country have it in their power to do much good, particularly those who have travelled in Europe, and have closely observed the manners and ha- bits of the people, and their mode of living and conducting business, whether in agri- culture, commerce, or manufactures. When such individuals, after having availed them- selves of the advantages of their position, fix their minds on the accomplishment of any great object for the benefit of others, their good judgment, perseverance, and am- ple means, will generally bear them cut in such an undertaking. The truth of the above remarks were veri- fied, when on a visit a few weeks since, in company with a friend, to the extensive and highly cultivated farm of George Patterson, Esq., near Sykesville, Carroll county, Md. We were indeed astonished at the magni- tude of his operations, and the apparent evi- dences of his success. The improvements made on his farm of near 1800 acres, — 1200 of which are under cultivation — in the space of a few years, are truly wonderful. He informed us that it was destitute of grass of any description, and some parts covered with moss, at the time he commenced farming. It is now producing heavy crops of wheat, corn, oats, hay, &c., &c. Many of the fields are laid down permanently in grass for graz- ing purposes, and have the appearance of the fine lands in parts of Chester county, Pa. This wonderful change in the fertility of the soil, has been brought about principally by the use of lime. The practice of Mr. Pat- terson, as he informed us, was to spread on the surface about 100 bushels per acre, which af\er lying from three to five years, was ploughed under, and the ground planted with corn, and after undergoing a course of farming, is sowed liberally with grass seeds. Many of his fields have had a second dressing of lime, equal to, or greater than the first, making upwards of 200 bushels of lime to the acre. On such, the natural grasses are forming a good .sward of the best quality of grass for grazing. The farm is undulating and well watered. The low grounds are neatly and perfectly No. 6. Milk for the Peo2)le. 175 undcrdrained. Handsome belts of woodland are left in different places for protection from storms, as also for ornament, forming a pic- turesque and beautiftil sight. Mr. Patterson informed us that he had applied nearly one hundred and eighty thousand bushels of lime; and witli the large stock that he is now enabled to keep, he makes in addition, a great quantity of manure, which he uses principally in top-dressing, considering that the best mode of applying it. His fields are necessarily large, but well fenced. On the farm are upwards of 18,000 pannels of post- and-rail fence, all appearing in good condi- tion. In addition to the main farm build- ings, there are a number of hay-houses on different parts of the estate, for greater con- venience of storing ha\', &c., and for feeding. The principal roads over the farm are turnpiked, for the purpose of enabling the teams to do more hauling during the wet season. Gates neatly hung, are used in place of bars, affording a great convenience and saving of time. The regular stock of cattle kept on the farm are of the pure Devon blood, chiefly descended from his own imiMrtations, and obtained from that celebrated farmer and breeder, Mr. Bloomfield, of Norfolk, Eng- land. A more magnificent herd could not perhaps be found in any country at this time. I believe they number about 60 head. We examined a young bull of beautiful form, possessing all the fine points of his race — he had just arrived from England. Mr. Pat- terson informed us that it was his practice to import a young bull about every three years, in order to keep up a steady improve- ment in his herd, thereby evincing much skill as a breeder, and great liberality and spirit as a citizen. In addition to the above, a large number of cattle are purchased annually and fattened for the markets. We v.'ere shown several large flocks of fine sheep of mixed blood, and also some superior Southdowns. Also a large number of swine of the Berkshire breed, which were preferred to any other kind, on account of the superiority of their meat for the table. We saw on the farm in different lots, a number of fine blooded brood mares and their colts, and some crosses with a fine Northern bred horse, producing highly valu- able and splendid road horses. The skilful management displayed by the spirited owner of this noble estate, was highly gratifying, and caused my friend and myself to wish that hundreds more of our countrymen possessing talents and fortune, were engaged in the same honourable and usefiil pursuit. After having spent some hours with Mr. Patterson in riding over the estate, and par- taking of his kind hospitality, we leti to meet the cars for Baltimore, highly gratified with our visit. A. C. Philadelphia, Dec. 22nd, 184C. Milk for the People. There exist on Long Island, near Brook- lyn, several manufactories q^ m\\k — the pro- cess of which should be known. One of these dairies covers a space of 600 feet front by 300 deep, carefully fenced in, so as to be as private as possible — the business of the people being to drink the milk, not to know how it is made — in which enclosure 400 cows are kept the whole year round. These cows are fed on the refuse slop of the whis- key distilleries, and it is given to them warm. Each barrel costs six cents, but being adul- terated with water and cheap feed, brings the price still less. Such is the fondness of the cows for this vile compound, that aft.er having fed upon it for a week or more, their appetites become so depraved that they will take no other food. The result is their milk- producing organs are stimulated to a won- derful degree; they yield enormously, but soon become diseased; their gums ulcerate, their teeth drop out, and their breath be- comes fetid. Though thus diseased, they do not fall away in flesh, but on the contrary puff up and bloat to an appearance of great fatness; their joints become stiflj so that they cannot lie down, and rarely or never come out alive. Bad as this is, the milk is afterward mixed with molasses, water and whiting, and then sold to the people of New York for pure milk ! Any one may observe the thirty-six vans that carry it around every morning. It is of course very injurious to children, who use it in much greater quan- ties than adults. Some idea may be formed of the profit made by computing one barrel of slop to a cow, costing sixpence, and the milk produced being eighty cents! — New York Paper. Economy in Cooking Cranberries. — To each quart of berries, very shortly after the cooking of them is commenced, add a tea- spoonful of sal seratus. This will so neu- tralize the acid which they contain, as to make it necessary to use only one-fourth part as much sugar as would have been re- quisite, had they been cooked without using sal seratus. Lands should be well drained before they are manured. 17G How to Renovate an " Outcast." Vol. XI. From Downing's Horticulturist. To Renovate an "Outcast." It is very rarely that experiments are pro- perly made or accurately reported. The following one, on a subject highly interest- ing to every cultivator of the Pear tree on the sea-board, appears to us highly satisfac- tory in both respects. Such of our readers as are familiar with the Appendix to our work on Fruits, are well aware that we do not believe in the natural " running out" of varieties. In other words, we are confident that wherever a variety, once productive and excellent in a certain soil, fails, it is for the want of certain conditions necessary to its success. Either it has exhausted the soil of those constituents necessary to health and pro- ductiveness ; or if the tree is a young one, and immediately shows signs of decay, it is evident that it has been propagated from an unhealthy and diseased stock. The hints we gave our correspondent be- low, were based on some chemical notions, which were only vague theory then, but which subsequent observations have given us greater confidence in. The renovating substances that we recommended in this case, were intended to be adapted to the peculiarities of the soil of J. B. W.; but all the alteration which we are able, even now, to suggest for other sites, would be to sub- stitute air-slaked lime for charcoal, in hea- vier soils, that are naturally deficient in the former substance. The salts of iron, and especially sulphate of iron, have a specific action upon the dis- ease which attacks, in unfavourable soil or climate, the epidermis of the pear and other plants, both on the leaf and fruit. Obser- vations of the occasional results of black- smith's cinders, applied to this tree, in va- rious parts of the country, first drew our attention to this fact. We have lately seen a paper, read before the Academy of Sci- ences at Paris, by M. Boussingault, bearing directly on the diseases of plants as affected by the salts of iron, which confirm and ex- tend our own crude views on this subject. The substance of this essay we shall, at some convenient moment, lay before our readers. In the mean time, we beg the attention of our readers to the plain and simple mode adopted in the experiment below. If, as we are convinced, a tree, which some have condemned as an "outcast" from pomolo- gical society, may be renovated so easily as this, it is quite worth while to "spare" it. The quantities of the substances added to the soil to renovate it, were, it should be remembered, applied to a tree nearly full grown. One-half, one-fourth, or less, should, of course, be used to trees of corresponding- ly less size and age. A hint may be taken from this treatment of old trees, for the better culture of young ones on soil naturally unfavourable. — Ed. To the Editor of the Horticulturist. You will remember the conversation we had together three years ago, about the ap- parently worn out condition of my Virgalieu or St. Michael pear trees. I spoke of them then, in the language of Knight and Ken- rick, as "degenerate outcasts." Though they had once borne me excellent crops of fruit, which I have never seen surpassed, yet for several years they had only produced cracked, blighted, miserable fruit — indeed such as was absolutely worthless, I remarked to you, that I considered the variety worn out, and good for nothing in my neighbourhood, and that I intended to cut down my trees, which were large and fine, and ought to yield every year several bushels. My situation is a sheltered one in West- chester county; and after some inquiries about my soil, which is a light, though ex- cellent, sandy loam, you told me that you believed the trees had exhausted the proper elements from the soil ; that in consequence the fruit failed, and recommended me, in- stead of cutting them down, to renovate them. Struck with the force of your reasoning at the time, which I have not leisure now to repeat to your readers, I determined to make a trial with two trees. I did so in the fall of 1843. I have now the pleasure of repeating in writing, what I told you ver- bally, that I have now had two crops of beautiful fair fruit, as excellent as the finest that grew upon my soil twenty years ago. As many persons about New York and Long Island, have trees of the Doyenne or Virg-alieu pear in the same degenerate con- dition in which mine were, I comply with your request to give a simple statement of my proceeding with my trees, premising in the outset, that it is entirely based upon the hints I received from you. In the month of October, 1843, I took in hand two large and thrifty Virgalieu pear trees, about twenty or thirty feet in height. I first scraped off all the rough outer coat of bark, and coated the trunk of the tree over with soft soap, put on with a paint brush. I next cut out about one-third of all the poorest branches, and shortened the head of the tree one-third, by "heading back" the principal limbs, covering the wounds after No. 6. Potatoe Disease. 177 paring them, with the " shellac solution," — the best thing I have ever tried — recom- mended on page 32, of the " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America." I then dug a trench four feet wide around the whole ball of roots, very much as if I were going to transplant it. I left a ball of roots untouched, about six feet in diameter. The roots — all the roots, large or small — that extended beyond this ball, I cut off; and I should judge that I cut oft' about one- third of the roots; or, as you advised me, about an equal proportion to the branches reduced. The trench itself, which was four feet wide, I dug twenty inches deep; and carted away all the old soil from it to another part of my garden. I next carted in an equal quantity of soil from a field of good pasture, where the sod had "not been broken up for several years. I drew this earth, composed pretty largely of the sod itself, and filled the trench around both trees. To each tree I then applied the following substances, viz., two bushels of refuse or scorijB from a blacksmith's forge, two bush- els of charcoal pretty well broken, and two pounds of potash well pulverized. These substances I had on the spot, and mingled them with the fresh soil as it was put in the trench. After the trench was full of soil containing these stimulants, I had the whole of its contents thoroughly intermixed, by turning them over and over again with the spade. This is the whole of the process. Now a word about the results. The first summer after the trees had been operated upon — that of 1844 — I was sur- prised and delighted with the luxuriance and vigor of the new growth. It was very healthy, and had the appearance of that of a very fine young tree. Suffice it to say, the tree had formed a new and handsome head. Next season, 1845, it blossomed mode- rately. But almost every blossom set, and gave me a fruit. Every fruit, to my great joy and satisfaction, was large, fair and smooth ; the growth was clean and healthy, and the leaves dark green in colour. This year I have had a fine crop: two bushels from one tree, four bushels from the other. They were superb fruit — genuine, oldfashioned Virgalieus; and I cannot doubt that my trees will continue to bear such for many years. I need not say, that I and many others are convinced by this experiment, that the pear tree, of many sorts in my neighbour- hood, have failed from a want of proper sus- tenance in the soil. Whether the recipe you gave me, may be improved upon or not, I cannot say; but I can say, that, so far, it has answered perfectly ; and it is my belief that every old and enfeebled pear tree that bears cracked fruit, may be restored to good health and a fine bearing condition, by fol- lowing the same rules. J. B. \V. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Potatoe Disease. A GREAT deal has been said about the dis- ease of the potatoe, and many have been the conjectures concerning the cause, and various the remedies proposed, all of which prove abortive at times, owing to the differ- ent circumstances under which the remedies are applied. If we knew exactly the cause, it might not always be in our power to apply the remedy, because the season, over which we have no control, influences the potatoe to a great extent. In the observations that I have been able to make, it appears that the disease is produced by one main cause, and various contingencies may induce that cause. The grand cause of which I speak, seems to be the rupture of the sap vessels. The many things that contribute to bring this about, are rich soil, heat, moisture, dark co- lour in the soil, and anything else that aids the growth of the plant, especially if that growth cannot be kept uniform ; for it may be after all, sudden expansions and contrac- tions that cause the rupture of the vessels. Well does Chemico say, that large heavy tops imbibe certain elements destructive to the potatoe. It must have been observed by all, that low situations are the least calcu- lated to produce sound potatoes, owing to the great variety of temperature ; the val- leys being warmer than the hills when the sun shines, but colder at night. Have potatoes ever rotted that were grown on high ground, thin light coloured soil, in a cool dry season 1 if they have when properly taken care of, I will give the question up. In the spring of 1845, I planted a small lot of potatoes very early; in a few days they were up and looked well; — a frost killed them to the ground — they grew again — were cut down — and a third time were cut down by frost. By this time vitality was nearly exhausted, and the next growth was very weak and small, not half the usual size, and they continued dwarfish all the season; the produce was only tolerable, but there was not the least symptom of disease about the potatoes; though most of the circumstances by which they were surrounded were unfa- vourable. Any ingredient that tends to re- tard decomposition in the soil, would, no 178 Ploughing Match. — Fruit Trees. — Weevil. Vol. XL doubt, secure the potatoe against the rot in a great measure. M. T. Johnson. Short Creek, Ohio. Ploughing Match. A PLOUGHING MATCH took placc in Mont- gomery, Orange county, on the 28th of Oc- tober, at which $50, a sum which had been contributed for the occasion, was awarded in premiums. A correspondent who was pre- sent at the trial, furnishes us with the fol- lowing account : The day was fine and the attendance large. The competitors numbered sixteen ; the ground was very smooth and in excel lent order, and some of the work was most admirably done. Capt. Robinson, of New- burgh, was here with a highly finished plough of Minor & Hotton's, No. 22. His team — horses — were well trained to the work, and the ploughman understood his business. He ploughed his land, one-quarter acre, in thirty-four minutes, and in a style that no connoisseur of ploughing could find fault with. From beginning until the last, each and every furrow was as straight as a drawn line, and turned handsomely over. Our friend, Capt. R., takes great interest in ploughing, and ofl^ers to make a large bet at considerable odds, that he can beat any one in the county, — the judges to come from a distance. John Wait" held a plough that was got up in beautiful style by Minor & Horton, — No. 21, — for the occasion. The team was horses, a pair of poor, jaded hacks; but the plough was of such light draft that it required but little exertion for the team, and scarcely an efibrt for Mr. W. to hold it, so level and even did it run. The furrow- slice was not as wide as Capt. R.'s, and was cut and turned with the utmost neatness and precision — not the least shadow of any devi- ation from a straight line could be perceived. There was a plough from the shop of Speer & Wilson, Newburgh, held by Edward Wait. This plough, but little known, even in tliis county, made excellent work, and by many spectators was thought to be equal to any in the field. There were some four or five others that made very good work; and all the competitors ploughed their one-fourth acre within the hour. Everything passed off satisfactorily until the report of the judges was read, when nuich disapprobation was shown ; not so much by tlie competitors as by the specta- tors. The judges were selected in the morning, just before the ploughing began, and are generally good practical farmers and well-meaning men; but their views of what constitutes good ploughing, are sadly at variance with what we have been learn- ing through the columns of the Cultivator, and other works on agriculture. We have been taught that good ploughing consists in turning a straight furrow, with great exact- ness of width and depth, either flat, or slightly lapped. But our friends, the judges, at the grand match, would have us believe this is all wrong; that the right ploughing is that which leaves the furrow on the edge, or in as rough a state as possible. They say that this is the best way " to plough for a crop." Now, if this is so, if the rough, Ijroken furro.v is the best ploughing, we shall have to discard the so-called improved ploughs, and return to the old-fashioned " hog-plough ;" and as to having ploughing matches, they would be a great farce ; for who wants to witness a thing where neither skill nor judgment is called into exercise. — Cultivator. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Fruit Trees. — One of the greatest drawbacks with which fruit raisers have to contend, is the late frosts in the spring ; against which there appears to be no com- plete remedy. But in order to have as great security as possible, we should plant our trees on the most elevated portions of land we have; for cold, like water, seeks the lowest ])laces. If any one wants a familiar illustration, let him hang a kettle of water over a fire sufficient to heat it, and thrust his hand to the bottom, he will soon disco- ver the philosophy of it. Near large water courses fruit is fre- quently preserved by the fog, which rises in consequence of the great difference between the temperature of the water and the at- mosphere. M. T. J. For the Farmers" Cabinet. Weevil. — I spent the year 1830 in Charles City county, Va., and there for the first time became acquainted with the destructive ef- fects of the weevil, to avoid which the in- liabitants threshed out their wheat — or trod it out with horses — and let it remain in the chaff until it was needed for use — it was got out very soon after harvest. The corn vvas permitted to stand in the field until the stem connecting the ear and stalk was completely dry, then housed with the husk on, and kept so till needed for use; this course seemed to afford protection against the weevil. M. T. J. No. 6. A Method for destroying Weevils, Moths, Sfc. 179 For the Farmers' Cabinet. A 3Iethod for Destroying Weevils, Moths aud other insects injurious to Wheat. JNIr. Editor, — Having read in your No- vember Number your article on insects de- stroying- corn and wheat, and Dr. Harris's letter on the same subject; it brought to my mind an article which I had read in the Atinales de Roville, an excellent book from the pen of the late Matiiieu de Dombasle. Although, in m}^ opinion, it is useful to us farmers to be able to identify the enemy, still WG are not much benefited, unless fur- nished with a means of destroying him. I have therefore translated and herewith send you the abovementioned article. If you think it may be of any use, you may insert the whole, or part of it in your paper. B. Dec. 12th, 1846. " A multitude of means for destroying in- sects that devour wheat in granaries, have been suggested at different times; but it must be acknowledged that we are still in want of an easy and economical process, which should fulfil with certainty the in- tended object, without presenting objections of a nature precluding its constant and habit- ual use. I have some hope of these requi- sites being found united in the method I am going to describe, which has been communi- cated to me by an enlightened and trustwor- thy farmer who lives in my neighbourhood, and who has been completely successful in its application. " The idea must have occurred frequently of applying sulpliurous acid gas — the vapour which escapes from burning brimstone — to the destruction of insects injurious to grain; we know, indeed, with what promptitude this gas occasions the death of all insects exposed to it: the only difficulty might be in finding a simple and easy way of tho- roughly penetrating with this gas the mass of infested grain. Should there be merely brimstone burned in the room where the grain is stored, it is probable that only the surface of the heap would be penetrated at a very inconsiderable depth: it would be- sides require the production of an enormous quantity of gas, as the whole contents of the granary must be filled with it, to obtain even such an incomplete effect. The above mentioned farmer has contrived an ingeni- ous way of applying the gas, which I think will answer every purpose with ease and economy. He proceeds as follows: — he makes use of two empty casks, containing each two or three hectolitres,* which are An hectolitre is equal to 23 gallons English mea- placed on two joists ten or twelve feet long, laid on the floor as they are usually disposed in a wine cellar. This apparatus should be placed in the granary so as to have sufficient space to circulate all round. The casks have an opening a little larger than a com- mon bung-hole. Through this opening the cask is filled with sulphurous gas, by burn- ing a brimstone match, in the same wav as coopers do for wine casks.f The wheat is then by means of a funnel poured into the cask until completely full, and it takes the place of the gas. While the match is burn- ing in one cask, the other is filled with grain and being rolled to the extremity of the joists, which ought to be raised one foot above the floor ; tiie wheat is poured out on the floor, when it is raked in a heap to one side. Two men working in this way, may, in a few hours, saturate with sulphurous eras a considerable quantity of grain; for this operation is about as speedy as that of mea- suring wheat. " It is easily understood that, in this pro- cess the grains of wheat separating from each other when falling through an atmos- phere of sulphurous gas, are impregnated with it all over, and that it is impossible for one single grain in the whole not to be reached by it. The air which fills the in- terstices between the grains is so impreg- nated with this gas, that no insect can pos- sibly live many seconds in it. " This method seems to me to insure the destruction of all insects that may be con- tained in wheat, whether they are in ihe state of larva or in the state of perfect in- sect ; but I am not as certain that the eggs shall lose the faculty of hatching. This question will demand new researches. At any rate, admitting that the eggs might withstand the action of the gas, the per- formance of this process is so easy and re- quires €o little expense, that even if it had to be repeated when new insects should have hatched, the inconvenience would be trifling; and the evil would be cut in the root by destroying at once a whole genera- tion, as no new eggs could be produced. "To take off the smell that the grain might have contracted by this operation, it will be sufficient to stir two or three times in the space of a few days, the heap of sul- phurated v.heat, acid sulphurous gas being eminently volatile; and the farmer who fThis operation is performed by fastening the match at the end of a wire which is introduced at the bung- hnlc. The match must be placed as low as may be without danger of setting fire to the cask. The floor of granaries in France are generally laid with bricks. On board floors some precautions should be used. 180 Observations on the Potatoe Disease. Vol. XI. practised it assured me, that no taste or odor is preserved in the flour or bread pro- ceeding from that wheat. " Some precautions ought to be observed in using this process, in order that the la- bourers should not be suffocated by the gas emitted in the granary. The latter should be well aired by two large openings situated at opposite sides ; and the operation should be performed when the wind blows hard enough to create a strong draught. The person who pours the grain in the cask being the most liable to be incommoded by the gas which is displaced, must always put himself to the windward side of the cask, " For the use of large establishments an apparatus might be easily contrived, by means of which the operation could be per- formed in a continuous manner, by intro- ducing a stream of sulphurous gas in a ver- tical tube made of four boards, through which the grain would be sent from the upper to the lower story; but for the use of a farmer, or of any other person not having a very large quantity of grain to be operated upon, I think the use of casks will be the most commodious application of this me- thod. " I think it probable that the germinative faculty shall not be affected in the grain by the application of sulphurous gas; but it may be interestiing to inquire whether this ap- plication would not be more efficacious against the propagation of smut, than the other methods hitherto employed. If it be indeed true, as is generally believed, that the action of lime and of sulphate of copper destroys the seminiform buds of smut, we may anticipate the same and a more ener- getic effect from acid sulphurous gas ; and the application of this process would be cer- tainly the easiest and the least expensive of all those, that have been hitherto suggested to answer the purpose." For the Farmers' Cabinet. Observations on the Potatoe Disease. Mr. Editor, — You are aware that many persons believe that the potatoe disease is caused by wet weather. This is more par- ticularly the case in Europe. There, the wet weather that has preceded and attended the disease, has been, sq far, very constant I have before me a paper giving the most distressing accounts of the disease in Ire land, in which it is stated that about the commencement of August, there were a few very foggy nights, and that during this time the potatoes became attacked with the disease, and in less than a week, the fields which at that season should present a vivid green, looked as black and as withered as if the month was October, not August. This fact, with many others of a like nature, in- duce them to think that the fog and wet weather are causes of the disease. I have mentioned in one of my communi- cations that heat and moisture are necessary for decay. In the early part of the month of August there is always sufficient heat for decay, and the only remaining ingredient, moisture, being furnished by the fog, we should not at all be astonished at the rapid progress of the disease, and that the fields which had looked so beautiful, should so soon change and put on the livery of death. The decay of other vegetation, and other causes generated carbonic acid, which killed the potatoe tops ; these rotted and increased the supply of carbonic acid. The potatoes themselves absorbed the carbonic acid, and they, too, began to rot; and unless the heat and dampness were decreased, there would hardly a potatoe be seen at the commence- ment of October. Decomposition, however, may progress without moisture, but in such cases it re- quires more heat. Fire will decompose wood and other vegetable matter, even when very little moisture be present; in fact, the less moisture there is present, the more ra- pidly the decomposition progresses. This decomposition generates carbonic acid, as in the slower processes. But decomposition will progress very fast with much less heat, provided there be moisture present. The hydrogen of the water seems to aid the de- cay. Thus, when the water is sufficiently abundant to supply the full quantity of hy- drogen that' can be used by the decaying vegetable, even if the heat be not very great, the work of decay progresses very rapidly, generating carbonic acid, and dis- easing and destroying the potatoes. Hence the reason is obvious why the potatoes de- cayed so rapidly in Ireland at the time of the fog. Had the potatoes been supplied with fresh and strong alkaline substances, they would have been enabled to absorb all the carbonic acid, and appropriate it to the formation of starch, and thus escaped death and decay. But being starved out of this substance, which enters largely into their formation, they were weakly, and where they were thus exposed, they could not do anything else than yield to the powerful influence of the disease. Thus the cause which should have been the farmers' friend, and increased his crop, has, in consequence of his want of knowledge of its nature, been to him a most dreadful and unsparing enemy. May No. 6. Cactus. — Earle's Planting Plough. — Jg. Statistics of JV. Y. 181 intelligence progress, and may our sufferings from this cause soon come to an end. Chemico. Cactus. — The Cactus tribe, as such of our readers as are familiar with Mexican pro- ducts are aware, is not a family of plants merely curious to the botanist or plant col- lector. On one of the species, C. cochinil- lifera, the Cochineal insect feeds, that in- sect which produces the splendid scarlet dye, so well known in commerce. Mexico has the entire monopoly of this product, and the fertile district of Oaxaca is that in which it is chiefly cultivated. Some idea of the value of this little red insect, apparently so insig- nificant, may be obtained, when we mention that the annual export of it now amounts to above one million of dollars, and according to Humboldt, two millions dollars worth of it have been exported in a single year. — Horticulturist. Agricultural Statistics of N. York. — The following statistics of agriculture are furnished by the Marshals employed to take the census of 1845: Acres of improved land in the State, Acres of barley under culti- vation, Bushels of barley raised, I Acres of peas under cultivation. Bushels of peas raised. Acres of rye sown, Bushels of rye harvested, Acres of oats sown, Bushels of oats harvested. Acres of beans under cultivation. Earle's Planting Plough. — A. B. Earle, of Broome county, New York, has invented a planting plough, of interest to those who have seeds to plant. It has a pretty con- trivance by which corn, pumpkin seeds, and some kinds of manure may be at one time de- posited in the same hill, or only one may be used, at the option of the user. The rows or hills will be at equal distances one from the other, and may be regulated to suit oc- casion. The machine may be made so as to plant several rows at the same time, if drawn by a horse. The single machine, however, may be urged forward by a nian, as he would force a common wheelbarrow, and in that way he will plant, that is, open a drill, depo- sit one or more kinds of seeds, any given number in a hill, as fast as a man can walk. The machine can be made and sold for $20. Patent pending. — Eureka. How to Judge Cattle. — In all domestic animals, the skin, or hide, forms one of the best means by which to estimate their fat- tening properties. In the handling of oxen, if the hide be found soft and silky to touch, it affords a proof of tendency to take meat. A beast having a perfect touch will have a thick loose skin, floating, as it were, on a layer of soft fat, yielding to the slightest pressure, and springing back towards the finger like a piece of soft leather. Such a skin will be usually covered with an abun- dance of soft, glossy hair, feeling like a bed of mossy skin. But a thick set, hard, short hair, always handles hard, and indicates a hard feeder. 11,767,276 192,.503 3,108,704 117,379 1,761,503 317,099 2,966,.322 1,026,915 26,323,051 16,231 Bushels of beans raised, 162,187 Acres of buckwheat under culti- vation, 255,495 Bushels of buckwheat raised, 3,634,679 Acres of turnips under cultivation, 15,322 Bushels of turnips raised, 1,350,332 Acres of potatoes under cultivation, 2.55,762 Bushels of potatoes raised, 23,653,418 Acres of flax under cultivation, 46,089 Pounds of flax raised, 2,897,062 Acres of wheat sown, 1,013,655 » wheat harvested, 958,233 Bushels of wheat raised, 13,391,770 Acres of corn sown, 595,134 Bushels of corn harvested, 14,722,114 [American Agriculturist. Lime. — Lime, commonly called calcareous earth, is never found naturally in a pure state, but in combination with the acids — chiefly with the carbonic, for which it has so strong an affinity that it attracts it from the atmosphere. The burning of limestone is undertaken for no other purpose than to expel by heat this gas, and reduce the base to a caustic powder, in which state it has a strong tendency to absorb first moisture, and then the carbonic acid of which it had been deprived. Lime blends the qualities of clay and sand, occupying a middle place between the two. In its caustic state it is a power- ful promoter of putrefaction, or decomposer of animal and vegetable matter, to which circumstance is owing, to a certain extent, its efficacy as a manure. Lime also helps to fix the carbonic acid which is generated by the fermentation of putrescent manures in the soil, or which floats in the air on the surface of the earth, and it freely imparts this gas, in union with water, for the nou- rishment of plants. Lime is therefore an exceedingly valuable ingredient to the farm- er; and, accordingly, wherever agriculture is carried on with spirit, it is eagerly sought after, though it sometimes bears a very high price. — Chainbers's Information, <^c. i82 Destroying the Grub a7id Wire-worm. — The Grape. Vol. XI. Destroying the Grub and Wire-worm. In a recent conversation with an intelli- gent farmer of Cayuga county, N. Y., he described the method by which he saved his corn crop from the destruction of the wire- worm and grub. The former of these de- predators had appeared in prodigious num- bers— something less than a bushel per square rod of land, and their ravages were great. He ascertained by observation that they did not descend deep into the soil at the usual time of ploughing sward land for corn, but continued mostly among the roots of the grass. His object, therefore, was to bury them alive. This he accomplished by turning over the sod with a powerful team, to a depth of at least eight inches, the soil being rather heavy. The surface was then pressed down evenly and firmly with a heavy roller. By this process several inches of compact soil lay above the region of the wire-worms, and as a consequence, when- ever they attempted to pass upwards to the surface, they met with too formidable a re- sistance to penetrate. Hence, they contin- ued with the grass below, and perished with its decay. Whether this be the true expla- nation or not, one thing was certain, — that where the corn was formerly almost wholly destroyed, it is now full and even in the rows, without the usual numerous vacant spaces over the field, always existing under the old practice. By a similar process of observation, he was enabled to destroy the grubs. He dis- covered that these depredators, instead of remaining at the surface, like the wire- worm, descend deeply, and hence that deep ploughing brings nearly all of them to the surface. Hence by the use of a heavy rol- ler, many of them were crushed, and the remainder immovably compressed in the so- lid earth, till a fine toothed harrow passing over the surface, tore out and destroyed them. The utility of this practice, like that of the former, has been amply proved by successful experiment. Another practice of the same farmer, though not new, is worthy of notice. He has been enabled to keep his flock of sheep of the very finest animals only, by always doing his own picking for sales, instead of leaving this to the purchaser, as is too fre- quently the case. Or, at any rate, no sheep buyer is permitted to select from his flock, unless he is willing to pay fifteen or twenty dollars per head, which, of course, he will not do. A perseverance in this course for a long series of years has so improved his sheep, that though originally nothing un- common, they will now compare creditably with many of the very finest in market. — Cultivator. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Culture of the Grape. For many years we have thought the cultivation of the grape, both for table use and the manufacture of wine, might and ought to be increased an hundred fold. It may not be known to all your readers that Europe is not naturally a grape grow- ing country. All the vines in the first in- stance, having been brought from Asia; — and yet France alone, produces annually twelve thousand millions of pounds of grapes, giving employment to several millions of the French population. The citizens of Paris alone consume ten millions of pounds of grapes annually for the table ; a quantity probably much larger than all that is raised in the United States : and yet the grape is indigenous in our coun- try, growing spontaneously in every State and territory in the Union. It is true some of our varieties are small, sour, and of little value, but we have many kinds that are ex- cellent both for table use and for wine. The Isabella, although originally from the South, is perfectly hardy in the middle and eastern States, and thrives well in all parts of the Union, except in the vicinity of Cincinnati and some parts of North Carolina. As an abundant bearer, either in the garden or the vineyard, producing a delicious and whole- some fruit, it is unsurpassed in this or any other country. It also produces an excel- lent wine, equal to the best pure Lisbon. The Catawba is considered by many per- sons a richer and finer grape for table use, than the Isabella. At Cincinnati it is the favourite for producing a rich wine, similar to the finest Hock wine of Europe. Cham- paign has also been made from the Cataw- ba, which readily sold at Cincinnati at $15 per dozen bottles. It is a fine bearer and thrives well as far north as Croton Point, on tlie North River, forty miles above the city of New York. It is not quite as hardy as the Isabella. The other favourite grape cultivated at Cincinnati, is there called the "Cape grape;" at Vevay, Indianna, it is called the "Con- stantia;" at York and Reading, Pa., the "JMndoira;" at Philadelphia, the "Alexan- der;" at Flushing, N. Y., the "Schuylkill Muscadel ;" and at some other places, the " Winne grape." It is a constant and abundant bearer, perfectly hardy, and pro- duces wine which is equal to good Madeira. The White Scvppernong has long been celebrated at the South for producing a rich No. 6. British Association. 183 light coloured wine, similar to fine Hock. A single vine has often produced one hun- dred and fifty gallons of pure wine in a sea- eon. It is not sufficiently hardy for the eastern or middle States. The four varieties above named, are the most celebrated for wine. Elsinborough, Longworth's Ohio, Nor- ton's Viii^inia Seedling, Weller's Halifax Lenoir, Vine Arbour, Hansteretlo, Alissou- ri, and Herbemont, are fine table varieties, but so far have not proved so valuable for wine as the four kinds first named. Until within a few years, it was consider- ed a settled point, that wine could not be made in this country without the addition of sugar or alcohol. There was never a more egregious error ; and tlie first to teach us in this matter, were the German vinedress- ers, when they commenced the vineyard culture in this country. Now at Cincinna- ti,— the vicinity of Reading, Pa., — and in other principal vine growing districts, nei- ther sugar nor alcohol is used; and the wine is in higher repute than ever, and commands a better price. At the Hermitage vineyards in France, the annual average vintage is from 210 to 260 gallons per acre. At Cincinnati, the average is from 450 to 500 gallons per acre. In France the average price of lands is 8200 per acre. In this country the average price would not amount to .$50 per acre. It is true, that once in a few years the crop of grapes fails; but this is the case with all crops. This failure happens oftener in France than in this country; but notwith- standing this and the high price of land in France, the cultivation of the grape is the most profitable culture in the kingdom, and the hands are better paid for this, than for any other agricultural employment. Our American wines have to be sold at lower prices than foreign wines of the same quality, in order to introduce them. Cataw- ba, one year old, now sells at Cincinnati at about one dollar and fifty cents per gallon. In bottles, the usual retail price is from forty to fifty cents per bottle. Last season an analysis of Catawba wine and some of the best Hockheimer of Europe, was made by Dr. W. B. Chapman, one of the first chem- ists of Cincinnati, which proved that our Catawba was the purest and richest wine. In 1845, 23,219 gallons of wine were made in Hamilton county, Ohio. Many of the vineyards being young, bore for the first time, and more than half of the crop was cut oft" by the frost and rot — a fiiilure that may not happen again for ten years. William Rasor, near Cincinnati, has a vineyard of one acre — it came into bearing in 1837, and for nine years produced an average annual yield of four hundred and seventj'-sevcn gallons of pure wine, and at an average annual expense not exceeding one hundred dollars. B. G. BOSWELL, 230 Pine St., PhiVa. Dec. 22nd, 1846. British Association. The following extract is given from the proceedings of the Sixteenth Meeting of the British Association. " Professor Daubeny communicated a pa- per ' On the Rationale of certain Practices employed inx\griculture,' specifying amongst the rest the use of quicklime and of gypsum as fertilizers to the land. The former of these substances he supposes to act in part, by rendering those inorganic substances which are present in the soil more soluble, or — in accordance with the views laid down by the author in a memoir which he has published in the Philosophical Transactions of last year — by converting the dorviant constituents of the soil into active ones, or into a state in which they become immedi- ately available. He appealed to the autho- rity of Professor Fuchs, confirmed by that of Mr. Pridcaux, of Plymouth, as showing that the alkali may be extracted from gra- nite readily by water, after the rock in a pounded form has been heated, together with quicklime; and he stated that a soil exhausted by long-continued cropping, was found by himself to yield to water twice as much alkali, after having been mixed with quicklime, as it had done before. Hence the frequent application of lime tends to produce exhaustion in the land; — not only because it supplies in itself no fresh alkali, but likewise because, by rendering that which the soil contains more soluble, it causes it to be washed away more readily by atmospheric water. Ploughing, and other mechanical methods of pulverizing the soil, appear to act in the same way; and so, also, may we suppose to do the sprinkling of the soil with sulphuric acid, as is practised in some parts of the continent. The author then alluded to the various modes of ex- plaining the advantage attributed to gypsum, which certain leading agricultural chemists had proposed : one ascribing its virtues to the direct influence of the salt; another to the indirect good resulting from it, owing to its property of fixing ammonia ; a third, re- garding its acid constituent as of the princi- pal utility, and a fourth, its base. Dr. Dau- beny gave reasons for rejecting the third and fourth of these hypothesis; but consi- dered that the use of gypsum may be in 184 Landlord and Tenant. Vol. XL part attributable to the first, and in part to the second, of the causes pointed out. He supposes that this substance is generally useful to all plants, from its property of fix- ing ammonia; and also especially service- able to certain species, by supplying them with a salt which they require for their de- velopment. He was principally anxious, however, to bring forward this subject, in the hope of inducing chemists to institute such experiments for the purpose of setting the question at rest. A long discussion followed; — several ag- ricultural gentlemen remarking on the ef- fects of carbonate of lime on wheat crops, and on the resulting weakness of the straw, owing to a deficiency of the silicate of pot- ash necessary for the formation of the sup- porting epidermis of the grass. Some spe- cimens of the disease in turnips, commonly called fingers-and-toes, were exhibited; and it was stated that the superphosphate of lime was a remedy for that disease. The Bishop of Norwich, however, remarked that the cause assigned for this disease was not that to which he believed it must be attributed. The flow of the sap was checked by the ac- tion of an insect, and then an abnormal con- dition developed. This year, in many parts of the country, this and similar diseases were very prevalent ; and the reverend pre- late was disposed to regard the existence so abundantly of this insect as in some way connected with the electrical condition of the atmosphere during the exceedingly hot weather which has prevailed — producing with extreme rapidity the decomposition of animal and vegetable matter. Dr. Faraday made a few remarks on our general igno- rance of the chemistry of vegetable life, and on the importance of such meetings as the present, where the chemist and the ag- riculturist might meet and compare results. Since the days of Davy the science of agri- culture has considerably advanced ; but all that he heard convinced him of the fact, that we were only standing on the very threshold of an inquiry which would even- tually, now that attention was so generally turned to the subject, advance our know- ledge in an extraordinary degree. Professor Grove spoke of the decomposi- tion of water into its constituent gases by heat, and in the first place, called attention to the fact, proved by Cavendish and the French philosophers, that oxygen and hy- drogen being exposed to a high tempei'a- ture, or the electric spark, immediately com- bined to form water. He then announced his discovery that all the processes by which water may be formed are capable of decom- posing water. A description of ' the Fairy-rings of Pas- tures,' with which most persons are familiar, was given by Professor J. T. Wray ; and it was stated that the grass of which such rings are formed, is always the first to vege- tate in the spring, and keeps the lead of the ordinary grass of the pastures till the period of cutting. If the grass of these fairy-rings be examined in the spring and early sum- mer, it will be found to conceal a number of agarics, or 'toad stools,' of various sizes. They are found situated either entirely on the outside of the ring, or on the outer bor- der of the grass which composes it. Decan- dolle's theory, that these rings increased by the excretions of these fungi being favour- able for the growth of grass, but injurious to their own subsequent development on the same spot; — was remarked on, and shown to be insufficient to explain the phenomena. The author's view of the formation of these rings, is as follows: A fungus is de- veloped on a single spot of ground — sheds its seed, and dies: on the spot where it grew it leaves a valuable manuring of phosphoric acid and alkalies — some magnesia and a lit- tle sulphate of lime. Another fungus might undoubtedly grow on the same spot again ; but upon the death of tfie first, the ground becomes occupied by a vigorous crop of grass rising like a phoenix on the ashes of its pre- decessor. It would thus appear that the in- crease of these fairy-rings is due to the large quantity of phosphated alkali, magne- sia, &c., secreted by these fungi; and whilst they are extending themselves in search of the additional food which they require, they leave, on decaying, a most abundant crop of nutriment for the grass." For the Farmers' Cabinet. Landlord and Tenant. To THE Editor, — In the last number of the Cabinet, page 164, under the head. An Important Decision, the statement of a case is given, involving the question, whether in the absence of an agreement on the subject, a landlord is entitled to retain on land leased by him, the straw of the crop raised during the tenancy, so that it may be consumed on the land, or whether the straw belongs to the tenant absolutely, so that he may re- move it from the land and dispose of it as he pleases. According to the report of the decision of Judge Lewis of Lancaster, the landlord's right was sustained. Near the close of the extract from Judge Lewis' opinion, he al- ludes to the case of Craig vs. Dale, ruled in the Supreme Court of our State, and which is in direct opposition to his opinion, No. 6. Wages of Labour. 185 and says that he believes tlie decision in Craig vs. Dale, will not be adhered to. Now it so happens that the Supreme Court had at that very time re-affirmed the doc- trine of Craig vs. Dale. This was done in Iddings vs. Nagle, 2 Watts and Ser- geant's Reports, page 22. Craig vs. Dale, is reported in 1 Walts and Sergeant, 509. Atler ttvo concurrent decisions of the highest court of judicature upon the same point, is it reasonable to regard the law on that subject as unsettled? I have made this communication to you very hastily, from the apprehension that a reliance on the opinion of Judge Lewis — a Judge of a Court of Common Pleas, whose decisions are liable to review by the Su- preme Court — might lead some worthy farm- ers into litigation, which must end in defeat. In conclusion I transcribe the syllabus of the respective decisions of the Supreme Court above alluded to. " The way-going crop to which a tenant is entitled upon his leaving demised premi- ses, includes as well the straw as the grain, which he may remove and dispose of as he pleases, being subject only to the terms of his contract, and not to any supposed custom of the country on that subject." — Craig vs. Dale. "A lease between a landlord and tenant is to be construed by those rules which go- vern the construction of contracts, and not by the custom of the country. A tenant is entitled to the straw which grew itpon the land, or not, as his contract provides." Iddings vs. Nagle. G. M. S. December 23rd, 1846. Wages of Labour. From an instructive article on the subject of agricultural labour in different countries, its wages, and the comparative condition of the labourer, in the London Mark Lane Ex- press, we condense the following facts: In our estimates we have called the shilling sterling 22 cents, though its value is a trifle less; and the comparison, though instituted with the English labourer, can be easily made with those of this country. In England, the average rate of agricul- tural wages for an able man, with a family, is nine shillings, or $1 98, per week. From this is to be deducted cottage rent, at 35 cents per week, leaving $1 63 per week, to provide himself with the necessaries of life. In France, a labourer in the same situation receives ^1 04 per week ; in Prussia, 66 cents; in Germany, $1 02 per week; in Holland and Belgium, $1 20; in Italy and the Austrian States, $1 15. It will be re- membered that these averages are those of the common labourer — shepherds, carmen, and mechanics, receiving rather more. The food which the wages named above will purchase in the several countries, is stated in the "Express" as follows : In England the labourer can obtain for his 163 cents, or his week's wages, either 39 lbs. of bread, or 11^ lbs. of meat, 7^ lbs. of butter, 12^ lbs. of cheese, or 174 lbs. of potatoes. In France, with his 104 cents, he can buy either 46 lbs. of bread, 13^ lbs. of meat, or 261 lbs. of potatoes. In Prussia, with his 66 cents per week, the labourer can buy either 36 lbs. of bread, 16 lbs. of meat, or 8^ lbs. of butter. In Germany, with 102 cents he obtains either 43| lbs. of bread, 18 lbs. of meat, 11^ lbs. of butter, 24 lbs. of cheese, or 54 quarts of beer. In Holland and Belgium, 120 cents will buy either 58 lbs. of bread, 22 lbs. of beef, or 460 lbs. of potatoes. In Italy and the Austrian States, the la- bourer, with his 115 cents, can buy either 50 lbs. of bread, 22 lbs. of beef, 8 lbs. of butter, 8 lbs. of cheese, or 168 lbs. of pota- toes. This table is interesting, as showing not only the prices of labour in the countries named, but also the price of bread, meat, butter, cheese, &c. It is true, the bread is stated by the pound instead of grain by the bushel ; but as the flour of a bushel of wheat, say 40 lbs., will make from 63 to 65 lbs. of bread, an estimate may easily be made of the quantity of wheat or flour a man in any of the countries named would receive for a week's work. The labourer in this coun- try, who receives his bushel of wheat a day, or other articles in proportion, will readily conceive the meagre fare, and slender chance of "laying by anything," which must attend the foreign agricultural labourer. In all these cou'ntries it will be seen the value of provisions is at least as great as here, and in some instances much greater. It is only by the comparisons which such authentic statements enable them to make, that the free labourers, the farmers or mechanics of this country, can fully appreciate the advan- tages of their position. — Cultivator. The principal distinction between animal and vegetable products, is the presence in the one case, and i\\e absence in the other, of nitrogen. Many animal secretions, how- ever, such as the fatty oils, are destitute of nitrogen, and many vegetable products, such as gluten and the organic alkalies, contain it. 186 Manures. Vol. XI. Manures. By repeated cropping, the best soils be- come exhausted of their fertile properties, while naturally indifferent soils require the administration of certain qualities, before they will yield a due return to the labours of the husbandman. There are, no doubt, soils so naturally rich in some parts of the world, that, though used for twenty or more years in growing successive grain crops, they show no indications of impoverishment; yet even these must in time be exhausted, and therefore, in all circumstances, manures, or artificial fertilizers, require the conside- ration of the husbandman. In our own country they are of the first importance. Manures are of two classes, both of which have distinctive characters, and perform dif- ferent offices in the economy of vegetation. The first of these comprehends all animal and vegetable decomposing matter, and is principally employed in feeding the plant, augmenting its size, and sustaining the vital energy. The second operates more on the soil and decomposing matter than in directly contributing to the support of the vegetable. The first kind has been called animal and vegetable, and the second fossil, manures. Under this second class are ranked not only lime, marl, and gypsum, but sand, gravel, and clay, so that all the meliorations which are effected on soil by blending and com- pounding the original earths, are compressed within its limits. The animal and vegetable manures, which are putrescent in their nature, are foremost in importance and dignity. They consist of certain elementary parts of animal and ve- getable substances, elaborated by a natural chemical process in the course of the de- composition or decay of the bodies. The excrementitious matter, or dung of all ani- mals, is no other than the remains of the vegetable or animal food which has been re- ceived into the stomach, undergone there a partial dissolution, and been thrown out as unserviceable for the further nutrition of the system. From this universal decay of or- ganized matter, and its conversion into fluids and gases, it would seem that animal and vegetable substances, and excrementitious matter, are resolvable into each other, and are only different parts of the same original principles. The essential elements of them all are hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, either alone, or in some cases united with nitrogen. Conveyed by liquids or moist substances into the ground, these elements are sought for as nourishment by the roots of plants, and so form the constituent principles of a new ve- getation. Inasmuch as flesh consists of a greater concentration of these original ele- ments than vegetables, the manure produced by carnivorous animals — man included — is always more strong in proportion to its bulk than that discharged by animals who live only on herbage. Experience fully proves that all animal and vegetable manures are but varieties of one kind of principles; their actual shape and appearance being of much less consequence than the degrees of strength in which these principles reside in them. Whatever be the value of the elementary principles of manures, practically they are of no use as manure till they are disengaged by putrefaction. It may be further observed, that putrefaction is in every instance pro- duced by the elementary principles being set at liberty either in a fluid or volatile state. If a quantity of stable dung be piled into a heap, and freely exposed to all varie- ties of weather, it soon heats and emits a stream of vapour, which is often visible as a cloud over it. These vapours, and also the odours sent forth, are gases escaping, and the heap is constantly diminishing in weight and volume; at the end of six months, if there have been alternate moisture and warmth, not above a fourth of the original essential material remains to be spread on the field; there maybe in appearance nearly as much substance, but it is comparatively of little value — the real manure is gone, and what remains is little better than a mass of unputrefied rubbish. It may be safely averred, that no principle connected with agriculture is so little un- derstood or thought of as that which has been now mentioned. We therefore crave the most earnest attention to it by every reader of these pages. Generally speaking, the excrementitious matters thrown to the dung-hill are treated with perfect indiffer- ence as to the effects of exposure and drain- age away in the form of liquids. It cannot be too strongly stated that this is a gross abuse in farming. The putrescent stream contains the very essence of the manure, and should either be scrupulously confined within the limits of the dunghill, or con- veyed to fresh vegetable or earthy matter, that it may impart its nutritive qualities. A knowledge of this important truth has led to the practice of making compost dung- heaps, in which the valuable liquids and gases of different kinds of manure are ab- sorbed by earth, or some other substance, and the whole brought into the condition of an active manure for the fields. Hitherto it has been customary to speak of dunghills, but there ought to be no such objects. The collection of manure from a farm-yard and offices should form a Axing-jnt, not a dung- No. 6. Answers to the Queries of the State Ag. Society of S. C. 187 kill; and tlie manner of making and man- ig-ing the contents of this pit on the best principles is well worthy of our considera- ,ion. The situation of the dung-pit sliould be lear the stables and cow-houses, and placed ;o low that all streams of urine from them ihould flow at once into it, so that nothing )e lost. It may be three or four feet deep, .nd of a size proportionate to the stock of ;attle usually kept by the farmer. It is not lecessary that it should be built round with . wall, or have a perpendicular descent, as t may slope gently inwards, and deepen gradually towards the centre. It should, if lossible, be covered by a roof, to prevent the ction of the sun. If the bottom be found irm, impervious, and capable of containing he juices, no further trouble is requisite, nd the work is complete; in many in- tances, however, it will be necessary first 0 puddle with clay, and then line the bot- om Vv'ith flag-stones. Into this pit, earth, lith refuse straw, should be brought and trewed over the bottom and sloping sides, 3 the thickness of nine to twelve inches, nd this will form an inferior layer to absorb 11 that portion of the liquid manure which aturally runs to the bottom. The pit is ow prepared to receive all kinds of animal nd vegetable manure, which, when brought, !iould be always laid evenly over the sur- ice. In Scotland, such dung-pits are com- lon, and in the course of accumulation, a oung or wintering stock of cattle is allowed ) go at large upon the whole; the animals sing at the same time fed on a proper al- fwance of straw. Care is also taken to lix, in laying on, the dung brought from le cow-house, stable, and piggeries, so that le rich excrement of the well-fed animals lay be incorporated with that of a poor de- ;ription from others. It is likewise of the tmost importance, though too frequently sglected, to convey to the pit the entire quid refuse of the farm-yard, provided the jantity be not so great as to make it ad- isable to have a separate pit for its recep- on. It is customary to cart away the material 'the dung-pit at convenient opportunities — sually during the frosts in winter — to a ace in the fields, near where it is to be :ed, and there pile it up in a quadrangular 3ap of about four feet in height. Dung irted out in this manner, is ready for the rnip husbandry in June, and the practice otherwise convenient. It may, however, ! stated, that for want of attention to prin- ples already explained, such dung-heaps, ' exposure for months to the weather, must se some of their valuable properties. In every instance, the dung-heap in the fields should be placed in a hollow situation, with a substratum of earth, and should have a scattering of a few inches of earth over it, and around the sides, to keep in the volatile gases. When the dung-pit has been thus emptied, it may again be progressively filled as before ; and when it is carted out in any of the spring months, it will be found neces- sary to turn it once, or oftener, for the pur- pose of accelerating the decomposition of the strawy part of the mass. It may be of use to know, however, that the dung re- quired for fallows for wheat in autum, may be less putrefied than that for turnip crops. The urine of cattle is of great value as a manure, and this is so well known to the farmers of Belgium, that they use tanks for collecting the liquid from the cow-houses, and thence they pump it up, and pour it over the land at the proper season. When mixed with vegetable refuse, moss, or earth, it forms an excellent compost. It is deeply to be regretted that so little is known on this subject ; and such is the carelessness of farmers and cottagers, that the urine from their cattle-stalls is in most cases sufiered to go completely to waste. The value of night soil and human urine as manures is equally great, but both are much neglected in Brit- ishvagriculture. Without entering minutely into details on this point, it may be stated, that the offensive odour of all excrementi- tious matter may be neutralized by an inter- mixture of gypscm, or lime and earth, and in this state be used as most valuable ma- nure. Bone-dust is now used as a highly nutritious manure on light soils; and it is reckoned that 100 bushels are equal to forty cart-loads of farm-yard manure. Common sea salt, when judiciously administered in moderate quantities on arable land at the time of fallowing, has been found of great value for its manuring and cleaning proper- ties. It 'promotes fertility, is a remedy against smut and rust, preserves the seed from vermin, and is particularly useful in increasing the produce of grass lands. — Chambers's Information for the People. Answers to the Queries of the State Ag- ricultural Society of S. Carolina. We have not seen the queries to which the follow- ing communication of our intelligent neighbour and excfcllcnt farmer, M. L., refers; — we copy from the South Carolina Temperance Advocate. — Ed. The questions propounded on agriculture by the " State Agricultural Society of South Carolina," indicate an accurate perception of the points requiring investigation, and would, consequently, require a degree of 188 Answers to the Queries of the State Jig. Society of S. C. Vol. XI. scientific knowledge in reply, to which few can pretend. To the queries, regarding matters of fact, there will be no difficulty in making a reply, though it must be borne in mind, that in a State, presenting so vast an agricultural surface as Pennsylvania, much diversity of practice as well as theory, must prevail. Dry statistical details, which can be ob- tained from published documents, it will not be advisable to refer to, except for occasional illustration : for if I rightly appreciate the tenor of several of the questions, the informa- tion required can be afforded by a practical man of observation and experience. It is only in this connection that my lo- cality or identity can interest the parties who require the information; but the dis- tance to Philadelphia being only twelve miles, it will, of course, be understood that my observations more especially refer to Eastern Pennsylvania. There are some vestiges yet remaining, to prove that this was a favourite agricultu- ral region of the native Indians; and I have seen clearings in the extensive woodlands of the Moravians, fifty miles north of Philadel phia, which were known to have been Indian corn-fields. That these tribes did not raise sufficient for their sustenance, is proved by the thousands of tons of oyster shells on the inlets of Chesapeake Bay, and the perfectly straight Indian path leading from this re^ gion to that; which is yet distinctly per- ceptible in the remnant of primeval forest on the route. When this region was first settled by the Swedes and Dutch, they chose, for obvious reasons, locations on or near navigable waters. But when William Penn parcelled out the country among his followers, many of the original colonists were from Wales, and the hilly districts of the West and North of England. They were rather accustomed to pasturage, than a strictly agricultural people ; and in conse quence they settled on hilly ground, well watered by springs, passing over the primi tive limestone valley, which is now the gar den of the country, because it was heavily timbered and not so well watered. Most of these settlers were Friends or Quakers, and notwithstanding the abolition of the laws of primogeniture, many of the descendants of these old families yet remain in possession of the estates bequeathed from an antiquity remote for the United States. It is to this people we are chiefly indebted for the hereditary reputation and superior quality of the Philadelphia butter, the flavor of which is also due to the very ancient pas^ tures, well set with green grass and white clover — Poa Pralensis and Trifolium Re pens — Poa Pralensis or smooth stalked mea- dow grass, is identical with the famous Ken- tucky blue grass; the writer having had seed ent him from Kentucky, and verified this fact, which was before discovered by Dr. Darlington, of Westchester. Many other species contribute to the luxuriance of these old green fields; especially the sweet vernal grass, — Anthoxanthum Odoratum, — which is highly aromatic, and according to respect- able authority, is itself the primary cause of the excellence of the butter. Land in per- manent grass, from the cheapness with which it can be kept up, requiring only at long in- tervals a top-dressing of lime and plaster, may be considered as in a condition more profitable, than under any description of til- lage performed by hired labour. The more ancient the sod of grass, the better is it rel- ished by the cattle, and the more productive is it in milk and butter; resembling, in this respect, the pastures of Devonshire, where fields which have been but twenty-five years in grass, are not considered equal to those which have remained unbroken for fifty or one hundred years. It is but fair to state, that though the writer, under certain limita- tions of distance from market, considers the views laid down as undoubtedly correct, yet many intelligent agriculturists, justly appre- ciating the value of the crop of Indian corn, are in the habit of breaking up their old grass fields in rotation, and planting them with corn. The approved method is, to fol- low this crop with oats the ensuing spring — then to manure heavily, plough three times, and sow with wheat and grass seed in the fall, followed by red clover seed in tlie spring. The course of rotation varies, ac- cording to the division of farm land, from five to eight, or even ten years. Indian Corn. — The average crop of In- dian corn in well improved and naturally fertile soils, may be set down at 50 bushels per acre, and if stimulated by the applica- tion of lime, plaster, ashes, or manure to the hill, 75 busliels per acre may occasionally be obtained. Taking this whole region, how- ever, 30 bushels per acre may be considered nearer the true average, under the actual system now pursued. Much diversity pre- vails also in regard to the particular descrip- tion of Indian corn — Zea Mays — which is cultivated, varying in fact from the small yellow Flint corn of Canada, which ripens in three months, to the large dog-tooth Southern corn, which in this latitude will scarcely ripen in six months. The writer has experimented upon corn from Tennes- see, South Carolina, Maryland, Canada, China, the Baden corn, and other varieties, without a " local habitation or a name." No. 6. Answers to the Queries of the State Ag. Society of S. C. 189 This experiment answered a double purpose. 1st. It afforded him an opportunity to fur- nish the agent of a German Agricultural Society with a great variety for transmis- sion to that country, as samples; and 2ndly, induced him to settle upon the old Pennsyl- vania Yellow eight-rowed Flint corn, which has been cultivated in Montgomery county. Pa., for a period of a century, and was very probably the corn of the Aborigines, as it is found that every description of yellow corn has a tendency to identify itself with this variety, after a few years cultivation. Many 3o not consider it so productive as the Gourd Seed corn, but I have raised 65 bushels per icre on large fields, and it will command 10 per cent, more in price than the Gourd Seed. The Philadelphia Agricultural So :iety awarded a premium for a sample of this corn at their late exhibition. It is par ticularly adapted to feeding cattle, after haV' ing been ground with the cob, which, from :ts small size and texture, and extreme hard- less, amalgamates perfectly with the corn, md makes handsome meal, almost as much prized as meal from corn and oats mixed. ^Ve usually plant four grains to the hill, and t has a tendency to produce two, and even hree or four ears to the stalk, and in very jroductive seasons, sprouts only twelve or jighteen inches high, are frequently crown- jd with a small ear. I always plant from (talks that produce two to four ears each. Dn the whole, therefore, I prefer this corn, Mewing it in every economical light. Its )roductiveness, its adaptation to every va- 'iety of soil, its acknowledged superiority or meal and bread, and in fact for every bing but hominy, in which capacity I have lot seen it tried. It is admitted that Indian ;orn, in such varieties as were adapted to he great diversity of climate, existed in ilmost every part of the American conti- lent on its first discovery. But much inge- lious speculation has been resorted to, to )rove that it was not known in the Old tVorld previous to the discovery of Ameri- ;a. Recent travels in Central Asia, how- !ver, with the facts previously known, seem 0 incline the more mature opinion of en- iuirers to admit the existence of " Zea Mays'^ in some parts of Asia, from a re- note epoch. Oats. — The oat crop, which succeeds In- lian corn, possesses many and important ;laims upon the good opinion of the farmer, hough not used in this country as in the ^ortli of Britain, as the food of man; and n the Southern part of Pennsylvania, de- generating in weight and value from the ligh temperature of the climate, yet as bod for horses, it is unsurpassed. Not pos- sessing the nutritive properties of corn, it has not its heating and feverish tendencies, and is especially valuable as food for horses on a journey. It succeeds well on land rather cold and wet, and perhaps the best oats produced in Pennsylvania, grow upon the table lands of the Alleghany mountains. It is indeed from these more inclement and cold regions, that we are forced to. procure a renewal of our seed. It is sown ronghly, — three bushels to the acre — after a single ploughing, in the month of April, and ia harrowed in ; it is rolled occasionally, after being up two or three inches. This crop has the valuable property by its rapid growth of overshadowing and discouraging the growth of weeds, and consequently leaves the ground in an admirably clean condition for the wheat and grass crops which follow it. The straw of oats is much esteemed as winter fodder, and used with the blades of corn and a small proportion of hay, will carry cattle in good condition through the winter. As high as 60 bushels of oats have been obtained per acre, though 25 to 30 bushels may be considered a fair crop. The writer this season had about 40 bushels per acre of very heavy oats, say 36 lbs. to the bushel. There are several varieties of oats culti- vated, called by various local names, as Bar- ley oats, the seed of which I have bought at •$2 per bushel, but found it to degenerate. The Black oats, a heavy good grain, and the one-sided or Tartarian oats. WJieat. — There can be no doubt that we owe the various descriptions of wheat to the varieties of soil and climate in which it is cultivated ; and it is in vain for the agricul- turist to attempt to force nature. The wisest course for him to pursue, is to adapt the crop skilfully to the soil, climate, and geological formation in which it may be his lot to so- journ. After experimenting with the beau- tiful white Genesee and beardless wheats of several" kinds, and especially with some magnificent grains of wheat, brought from the vicinity of the ancient Jerusalem, all either were destroyed by the ordinary ene- mies of the wheat, viz. : fly or mildew, or exhibited a decided tendency to be resolved, or at least approximate to the old Pennsyl- vania Red Chaff bearded wheat, a sound good grain, producing rich flour, but not commanding the highest price in the mar- ket. This change is especially observable, in respect to the Mediterranean wheat, which about ten years ago, when introduced among us, was a coarse, flinty grain, more nearly resembling rye than wheat. Its value consisted in an exemption from the ravages of the Hessian fly and mildew, so that it almost entirely superseded every other de- 190 Answers to the Queries of the State Ag. Society of S. C. Vol. XI. cription of wheat. Every year, while im- proving in quality, it is losing its exemption from the assaults of the enemies of the wheat, so that it is evident that in a few years its peculiarities will disappear, and we shall have only the old Red Chaff bearded wheat again. There has not been an unexceptionable wheat year since 1835, when the crop aver- aged 40 bushels per acre, on lands that have rarely reached 30 bushels since, and gene- rally not more than 25 bushels per acre. The approved system, when it is intended to lay down oats stubble to wheat and grass, is to plough three times, and harrow as often. The accumulated manure of the year is spread, after the first ploughing, at the rate of twenty large ox-cart loads to the acre, which is ploughed under and suffered to lay until it is nearly time to seed the land, when it is again ploughed, and the sowing at the rate of two bushels to the acre, is then per- formed. After the grain is harrowed in once, grass seed, mostly Timothy — Phleum Pratense — at the rate of eight quarts to the acre, should be sown and lightly harrowed once. The seeding is finished by sowing- red clover, — Trifolmm Pratense — in Feb- ruary or March, at the rate of six quarts to the acre. This being a biennial, leaves the sod at the end of two years, in exclusive possession of the Timothy, which is consi- dered so valuable for horses, that it not un- frequently brings §i20 per ton in Philadel- phia. Rye. — Rye is sometimes introduced in the system of rotation, either as a substitute for wheat, or more usually as an independent element in the course succeeding the crop of wheat, and being followed by grass, as above described. The straw of rye is con- sidered the most valuable of any for manure and the various purposes of the farm, as thatching, making bands for bundles of corn fodder, &c. Rye, of admirable quality, is produced in the more Northern and hilly re- gions of Pennsylvania, but it is observed speedily to degenerate in the Southern part of that State. This grain, for several years, has not been productive, and the cultivation in this vicinity is on the decrease. Fifteen or twenty bushels per acre may be the ave- rage yield, and its cultivation is chiefly con- fined to lands of second quality. Buckwheat. — This grain is extensively cultivated in Pennsylvania, and is frequently as low as fifty or sixty cents per bushel. The straw is of very inferior value for the production of manure, and its cultivation is chiefly confined to lands recently cleared, as it is an excellent tamer of wild lands, or to those of inferior quality. Barley. — This grain is not extensively cultivated in our State, and is being gradu- ally superseded by other more highly es- teemed crops. Potatoes. — This most important crop has been failing gradually for several years, and in my apprehension exhibited a gradual de- terioration in constitutional stamina, long before it was overtaken by the fatal rot, which is novi7 producing such disastrous consequences in the Old World. The im- portance of agriculture, in the eyes of states- men, has never been more strongly developed than now, when kingdoms are convulsed, and empires may be overthrown by the fail- ure of a single esculent. This, like some great convulsion of nature, may be the means of ultimate benefit, as the whole en- ergy of science is now employed to disco- ver a remedy for this fatal disease ; though hitherto, unfortunately, without success, and what is more discouraging, exhibiting by disagreement a total failure of fixed princi- ples. My own opinion is, that we shall have to renew our seed from the Andes, or wherever the root can be found in a state of nature, as I apprehend that by propagating almost exclusively from tubers for so long a period, a diminution of vigor has gradually taken place, which is but partially remedied by reproducing from the seeds of these en- ervated plants. Long before any public no- tice had been taken of the failure of this crop, I had almost ceased to attempt its cul- tivation, even from sets recently produced from the seed, because of a partial failure of the crop, very perceptible in the premature death of the vines, which instead of continu- ing green until late in September, frequent- ly died in July or August. It may, I think, be laid down as a prhiciple, that any plant propagated only from shoots or layers for a long period, that is capable of reproduction from the seed, will exhibit a tendency to de- terioration, or in farmers' phrase, "run out." This crop has not been, however, much worse this season than last — and I have found by cutting off the tops, and allowing the root to remain in the earth up to No- vember, we got a better article than by early digging and exposure to the air. Those infected, "die in the earth, and leave only a mass of corrupt matter, which may amount in some cases to twenty-five or fifty per cent of the whole crop. Low, moist grounds are much more liable to blight, than high, dry light soils; and I know of an instance on the latter description of land, where a very large and healthy crop has been produced this season, by using horse stable manure, very pure from the city. Two hundred bushels to the acre, are considered a very No. 6. Ansicers to the Queries of the State Ag. Society of S. C. 101 large crop with us, and of late less than one hundred bushels come nearer the mark. Manures. — It is only of late years that science has discovered and partially applied, the animal and vegetable refuse of the man- ufactures to the use of the farmer. A com- mencement has now been fairly made, and the glue-boilers, tobacco manufacturers, co- lour manufacturers, sugar refiners, wool combers, skin dressers, button makers, and mimerous other tradesmen, are made to con- tribute to the fertility of the soil, what but recently was a public nuisance. Poudrette, also guano and bone dust, are coming into extensive use. All this, added to our plas- ter and lime, with the ordinary manures of the barn-yard, certainly give ground to hope for great ultimate benefits. All these ma- nures and stimulants I have seen applied with manifest, but various advantage. My own experience has been rather in favour of a compost or marsh mud, with plaster, lime, and stable manure. Bone dust has not, on our heavy rich soils, produced anything like the effect described in England, and the consequence is, that bone gatherers are con- stantly travelling far into the interior col- lecting bones, which are ground in Philadel- phia, and shipped in great quantity to that country. lie who uses or consumes upon his own land, the straw and hay of his fields, selling only a proportion of his grains and fet cattle, may keep his land in an improv- ing condition, especially with the aid of those invaluable stimulants, lime and plas- ter, and need look no further for manures. This process of returning to the land the culm or straw it has produced, is recupera- tive, and is a wise provision of nature, with- out which all lands would have a rapid ten- dency to sterility. Rotation of crops. — A judicious rotation will, of course, have reference to the par- ticular article of produce of the greatest value in each district ; — as a general rule, in all wheat lands, this will be wheat. Some years ago, on an agricultural tour in the interior, about fifty miles, I heard of a German, who had introduced an improved system of cultivation, then generally adopted in that region. On visiting this man, Jacob Shcimer, of Northampton county, Pa., I found hirn a plain, practical old farmer, who in about thirty-five years, on a farm of 100 acres, with two hands, had realized about four times its value of $80 per acre, besides raising and educating a familj\ His process was as follows — his great ob- ject being wheat — having originally divided his farm into eight fields, of about twelve and a half acres each : — 1st. Manure and lime; plough in May, .Tmie and August; harrow and seed one and three-quarter bush- els of wheat to the acre, which put in with a plough. 2nd. Clover seed, sown on wheat in the spring, six quarts to the acre, and pasture after harvest. 3rd. Plaster the clover in the spring ; one bushel to the acre; cut clover in June; plough down second crop, and seed again with wheat. 4th. Wheat — Same treatment as No. 2. 5th. Pasture early in the season. Plough in August, and sow wheat. 6th, Wheat again. 7th. Plough stubble, sow rye, one and a quaster bushels to the acre : sow clover in the spring on rye. 8th. Plough clover sod and plant corn, and next season recommence the system on the fallow ground. By this system, it will be observed that there were always three fields in with wheat, one in with rye, one with corn, two with grass and one fallow. His crops ave- raged about 1,400 bushels of wheat, 600 bushels of corn, 300 bushels of rye, and his land, when I saw it, appeared in excellent condition. Breeds of Cattle, Hogs and Sheep. — Gentlemen in the vicinity of cities, prefer the stately Durham. Practical farmers still continue the native breed, a complete mix- ture of every race, though of late years the Eastern or Devonshire breed, is received with much favour. My experience is in favour of the last mentioned. The Chester county hogs are a highly improved and al- most a perfect breed, and are fast supersed- ing all others. Sheep are yet of the old un- improved sort, though many are crossing with the Southdown and other improved breeds. There are also admirable breeds of heavy farm horses. Labourers. — These are hired by the year, month and day. Good hands by the year, are worth .$125 to $150. Monthly hands for the summer, are worth $15 per month ; and the daily wages during harvest, are about $1 ; at other times, about 50 cents, all exclusive of board. The German agri- cultural labourers from the interior, are ex- cellent hands — industrious, trustworthy, and in the line of their business, intelligent. Many of the sons of independent German farmers are willing to hire themselves in the Anglo-American settlements for the pur- pose of learning the English language. Agriculture neither asks nor receives aid from the State. There has been a geologi- cal survey of the State, at a vast expense, the final report of which is withheld. We have no 192 Philadelphia Agricultural Society. — Report on Manure. Vol. XI. regular agricultural survey, though the re- ports accompanying the census of 1840, con- vey much information. Improvements. — In no part of the world perhaps, are more substantial farm buildings to be found than in Pennsylvania. Built chiefly of stone, both barns and houses will last for ages. Many barns are from 100 to 200 feet long, 2.5 feet high, and 40 feet wide, being in proportion to the size of the farms. It is characteristic of our admirable German population, to build a good barn, and to get rich before erecting a house to correspond. In fine, though farmers are not growing rich in cash, yet the progress of improve' ment is most manifest. Handsome, conve- nient farm buildings and fences — heavy wagons and light carriages, churches and meeting-houses — roads, lined with vehicles, conveying produce to mill or to market; and above all, a contented, well-fed, well-clothed, and happy population, all indicate a degree of prosperity unsurpassed by any other com- munity on the globe. Morris Longstreth, Valley-Green, Whilemarsh Township Montgomery cc, Pa., Nov. 10th, 1846. Officers of Philadelphia Agricultural So- ciety. At the annual meeting of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, held at their room, Washington Hall, January 6th, 1847. Kenderton Smith, vice president, in the chair. Present twenty-six members. The minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted. A letter was read by A. S. Roberts, in- forming the meeting that Professor Walter R. Johnson was about to deliver a course of lectures, to commence this evening, in this city, on Chemistry applied to agriculture, horticulture and animal economy. After which, the following resolutions were offered by him, and adopted unanimously : Resolved, That the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture have learned, with great pleasure and satisfaction, that Prof Walter R. Johnson contemplates delivering a course of lectures on Chemistry applied to agriculture, horticulture and animal econo- my. Resolved, That in the opinion of this so- ciety, Mr. Johnson's course of lectures will be not only interesting to the community, but also highly promotive of the sciences of which he treats, and is worthy of the patronage of this and every association whose object is the advancement of scientific knowledge. Resolved, That the treasurer be authorized to subscribe for fifteen tickets on behalf ot this society. Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be published, and that a copy of them be transmitted to Professor Johnson. A letter written by Mr. John Brooks, of Princeton, Massachusetts, and published in the Monthly Journal of Agriculture, on the subject of Guenon's Treatise on Milch Cows, was read, expressing great confidence in hia method of testing their milking properties. A circular received by the secretary from J. S. Skinner, Esq., enclosing the form of a memorial to the legislatures of the different States, on the subject of obtaining aid for the cause of agriculture firom the general gov- ernment, was read ; and, on motion of Dr. A. L. Elwyn, a committee was appointed to ob- tain signers thereto. The following amendment to the By-laws of the Society was offered by A. S. Roberts: Resolved, That no person shall be eligible to the office of president for a longer term than three successive years. Which, on motion, was amended by sub- tituting two years in place of three, and agreed to. After which, on motion made and second- ed, it was agreed to go into an election for officers to serve the society the ensuing year; when the following named gentlemen were duly elected: President — Algernon S. Roberts. Vice Presidents — Kenderton Smith, Dr. A. L. Elwyn. Recording Secretary — Aaron Clement, Assistant Recording Secretary — P. R. Freas. Corresponding Secretary — James Gowen. Treasurer — George Blight. Curators — Samuel C. Ford, S. S. Richie. Librarian — Aaron Clement. On motion, adjourned. Extracts from the minutes, Aaron Clement, Recording Secretary. Report on Manure. On looking over the Transactions of the New Castle County Agricultural Society, for the past year, several parts appeared to the editor highly valuable and of general interest. We are quite apt enough to travel on in the old beaten road, without turning aside to inquire whether or not it be the most direct one to the goal we are aiming at. The following Report on Ma- nure may rouse some of us up to thinking, and possi- bly thence to action, and to a change in some of our modes of management. Without endorsing entirely all the views of the committee, there is no question but we are too apt to think that any spare grass on the farm is lost or wasted, if there be not some kind of stock to eat it up —Ed. The Committee on Compost and other Manures report, that they have had some experience in collecting and combining dif- No. 6. Report on Manure, 193 ferent materials for the purpose of making manure, and tiie results have not produced a conviction favourable to the system as a means of improving the soil. The expense of carting out and mixing the different sub- stances, added to that of removing them to the fields, is a very considerable item ; that it will pay the expense your committee are not disposed to doubt, for any plan of manur- ing, the most awkward and expensive, ap- pears to be better than none. The late George Simmons owned a farm about five miles from Wilmington: he im- proved one of his fields by drawing manure from the city, which cost him, delivered, three dollars per cart load, and spread it at the rate of twenty loads to the acre, making sixty dollars for the manure, which was more per acre than his farm would have sold for, yet the increase in the crops justified the expense. The question, therefore, is not whether a certain application of manure is profitable, but whether the expenditure of labour and capital in any particular applica- tion of manure, such as making composts in New Castle county, has advantages great enough to recommend it as a preferable means of improving the soil. To this ques- tion, your committee answer in the negative; they do not believe that any known plan of making compost has advantages sufficient to recommend it to the farmers of New Castle county as the most profitable means of ferti- lizing the soil. But we do not wish, by this opinion, to prevent making composts after the plan recommended by John Jones, (whose letter to the committee we subjoin to this report.) Gather up every kind of decompo- sible refuse, leaves, twigs, scrapings from the wood pile, straw, chaff, old hay and weeds, and, if the expense is trifling, draw and upon clay, and clay upon sand, but take all direct to the fields and turn it under the nd. Keeping of stock, which has hitherto been considered the best means of enriching tlie soil, has, from the results of some well-at- tested facts, led to the opinion that it is a cure way to impoverish it. Your committee believe that second crop clover, hay, straw, and chafl^ will make more manure, left upon the land, than when passed through the ani- mals. i William Polk, of Cantwell's Bridge, a I strong minded, sensible man, who has obtain- " ed a large stock of practical information on this subject, says, he increased his corn crop ten bushels per acre by turning in the second -rop clover, over other parts of the field which was mowed for the purpose of obtain- ing seed. Your committee believe that the manure of New Castle county is greatly diminished by the burdens of animals, under which the land seems to groan. It is the great object of every prudent man to investigate and in- quire into the circumstances that surround him, and accommodate his practice to the most profitable employment of his labour and capital; and the interest of no one is greater than that of the farmer in carrying out this principle. In the far West, and in the interior of the large States, where land is cheap, and almost inexhaustible in fertility, the raising of ani- mals may be the most profitable course; it is an indirect way of transmitting their heavy crops of grain to a good market; but in New Castle county, where a few cents per bushel will carry their grain to the highest market, a calculation of profit and loss will show a different result. The vegetation consumed in raising the thousands of cattle and hogs in New Castle county, would make double the profit in grain if permitted to die and decompose upon the soil. A yearling calf, not stinted in winter feeding, well sold, will bring as much as it would have done if sold to the butcher at six or eight weeks old. A fat hog will sell for about the sum that the corn he has eaten is worth, so that the vast amount of vegetable matter consumed by those animals is a total loss, a drawback upon the manure heap. Your committee, therefore, suggest the propriety of testing some of those facts in relation to stock im- poverishing the soil instead of making com- posts. There is a field of eight or nine acres of corn within one and a half miles of Wilming- ton. Some of the acres have been measured, and found to yield more than ninety bushels of sound corn; it has not been limed, nor received more manure than other land upon the farm, that has never produced over sixty bushels of corn to the acre. It was manured last spring with a dressing of unmanufactur- ed poudrette, a powerful manure it is true; but it is nothing more than is applied every year to much of the land around Wilming- ton, without any such results. The cause of this extraordinary crop, therefore, must be found in some other quarter than the appli- cation of manure drawn upon the soil. This field has not had a hoof pastured upon it for six years; it was mowed every year, and the second crop allowed to die upon the ground. The clover soon worked out and was supplied by a strong, deep sward of green and other grasses. In grain growing districts, and such, in the opinion of your committee, is New Cas- tle county, most of the inner fences may be dispensed with, which is an item of great 194 Report on Manure. Vol. XI. expense in grazing districts ; a few acres of low land containing water, (if it can be con- veniently found,) may be permanently en- closed for the animals necessary to carry on the farming operations. It is very difficult to remove old customs and habits, and so in- veterate is the propensity to follow on in the path of our ancestors, that some people even love an old error better than a new truth; and in the case before us, we are aware that the prejudice is strong and deep against any plan tending to lessen the manure heap in the farm yard. The experiments of Liebig, Johnson and others, have, of late years, given a new spring to investigation into the ferti- lizing properties of urine and the excrement of aninials, all of which we feel no disposi- tion to disprove; we would rather make use of them as em argument in the support of our theory. It must be evident to the most su- perficial observer, that whatever the animal leaves behind, in the shape of urine and ex- crement, it carries away with it more ferti- lizing properties in the shape of beef, pork, tallow and lard; all of which are extracted from the soil. The prejudice is strong against cropping as a means of impoverishing the soil, and we admit this prejudice to be founded in fact; but we deny it to any thing like the extent that is attributed to it. We believe the real cause is to be found in the droves of all kinds of animals, which, like the locusts of Egypt, "eat up every green thing." The moment the last sheaf of grain is out of the field, the destroyer comes in the shape of hogs, sheep, horses, colts, donkeys, horned cattle, geese, ducks, turkeys, fowls, that come and go when and where they please. If upon an old worn out field a tiny stalk of clover sur- vives the spring frost and summer suns, it is snapped up or trampled down, and its fer- tilizing root and multiplying seed lost to all future time. The impression is almost universal that any spare grass upon a farm is lost, if some kind of stock cannot be procured to devour it, which is, as we think, a very great mis- take. This hasty sketch of what we believe to be a mode of manuring land, far preferable to composts, or the accumulation of large heaps of barn-yard manure, manufactured mostly by animals, is respectfully submitted; and if it produces no other effect than inves- tigation and additional facts, that should even prove your committee to have overlooked some counteracting results, they will feel themselves compensated, having full confi- dence that the surest guide to knowledge in agriculture, as in every thing else, is free investigation, connected with a regular and systematic course of experiments. Samuel Canby, Dr. James Couper, John W. Andrews, Henry du Pont, J. R. Brinckle. The following is the letter from Major Jones, referred to in the above report. — To the Commiftee on Compost l^Jannre Heaps: The subscriber begs leave to state, that on the 9th May last, he put up a compost heap on the Bommer principle nearly. That on the 18th, after the heap was set, the ther- mometer stood at 142° of Fahrenheit, when placed in a hole, made for the purpose, two feet below the top of the heap; that on the 27th, the mushrooms were growing out of the side and top of the heap and that in twenty days from setting, the heap, which was put up of dry wheat straw, would have done very well to haul out, if immediately ploughed under. The subscriber would respectfully further state, that he set a compost heap on what he considers a much more economical and effec- tive plan than the Bommer, the base of which consisted of a lot of near one hundred acres. The principal ingredient was clover seed, sown afler wheat and oats in the spring of 1845, at the rate of about one bushel of seed to five acres, on a good portion of which a light dressing of manure was spread, the autumn following the sowing of the seed; that in the spring of 1846 he gave this lot or compost heap a further dressing of one bushel of plaster to the acre. That during the month of August last he turned this said clover ivcll under with a centre draft plough; and to facilitate the complete covering of which, a heavy harrow was used to comb down the grass previous to ploughing; and that during the early part of the present month, (September,) he harrowed this land well with a set of small, light harrows, lengthwise with the ploughing; then sowed with Pennock's drill 88^ bushels of Mediter- ranean wheat on seventy-five acres, includ- ing a part that was an oat stubble. This lot or compost heap had received a dressing of lime about ten years ago, not exceeding about forty bushels of lime to the acre, but has neither been pastured nor mowed the present reason. This the subscriber considers the most economical and regular mode of making up, getting out, and spreading a compost, or dressing a field preparatory to sowing wheat, and gives a much better yield of wheat, and much less liable to fall, if of rank growth, than if manured in any other way. J. Jones. No. 6. Best Regulated Farms. 195 Best Regulated Farms. We take the following from the American Farmer of this month, and though without a date, we presume it refers to a recent transaction. These reports on the iiianageii;ent of farms are highly valuable in various respects; not only showing the degree of success that has attended the enterprise and industry of farmers, but, what is more important still, the means by which success has been obtained. There is one part of the statement which it would be gratifying to have ex- plained. If the soil of C. B. Calvert's farm is naturally so unpromising, and was exhausted by the tobacco culture, and in its natural state incapable of producing any thing, what means did he take to enable him to apply barn-yard manure so bountifully? Did he con- irive means to make it on the farm, or did he purchase It in Baltimore or elsewhere.— Ed. The undersigned, the Committee on best Regulated Farms, appointed in contbrmity with the rules of the Prince George's Agri- cultural Society, beg- leave to report: Tiiat they entered upon the discliarge of the duty assigned them, as soon as they were notified bv the competitors for the premiums, that tiieir farms and plantations were in order for their investigation. Walter W. W. Bowie, Richard S. Hill, Charles B. Calvert and Robert Bowie, Escjs., are the gentlemen who presented themselves as competitors, and invited the attention ofi the committee. The farm of Charles B. Calvert, Esq., his fvstem, his investments, and the highly gra- tifying results of the whole combined, chal- lenged the closest attention of the committee, and merit the most profound consideration not only of this society, but of every Agri- culturist in the lower counties of Maryland. .Mr. Calvert has entirely given up the culti- vation of tobacco, and directed his attention delusively to the conversion of his farm into a grass-growing and dairy farm. In this he has completely succeeded; and this success is the more wonderful when it is borne in mind, that the soil on which this change has lieen effected is a cold, barren, cadaverous clay, in its natural and broken state produc- ing nothing, defying all well directed efforts of the hoe and plough, and incapable of pro ducing any thing. On this land, gypsum, ^0 powerful and magical in its operation elsewhere, has no effect whatever; nor has aoy perceptible improvement from heavy ap- plications of lime, made years ago, been at anytime seen. So that your committee are "f opinion, that no land in any portion of Maryland can be found, whose soil is poorer and less inviting to the noble efibrts of the agriculturist. But this dead soil has been Irought to life, and made to teem with the most useful and wealth-producing vegetation by the application of barn-yard and stable manure combined; and to the credit of Mr. Calvert let it be recorded, that this great mass of manure, producing such exten.sive and decisive results, is the exclusive produc- tion of his own farm. As one item of evidence on which the opinion of the committee is founded, we deem it not improper to let Mr. Calvert speak in his own words. In his prepared statement in answer to the fitleenth interro- gatory, he says: " In answering this interro- gatory, I beg leave to state, that I cannot ascertain precisely the amount of butter made on my farm, as I have no means of arriving at the amount consumed in my own family; but supposing that the object of the inquiry is to ascertain the amount derived from the dairy, I have to state that I have turned my attention particularly, during the last year, to making my farm a dairy and grazing one; and considering all the disad- vantages which one has to contend against in every new pursuit, I think I have been quite as successful as I could expect for the first year. My dairy has yielded me from the first of January, 1S46, to 1st October, 184G, in milk, cream and butter, §2,391 98; and this leaves out about the best quarter of the year, so tiiat the revenue of the whole year may be fairly stated at three thousand dollars, or more." In addition to this, there are from one hundred and fifty to two hundred acres in grasses, yielding from one to two tons per acre, and producing a revenue, after the cows and horses are abundantly supplied, nearly, if not quite equal to that of the dairy. The committe have taken but little into consideration the wheat, corn and cats, as the former was injured in common with all the wheat in this region, and the latter by frequent and heavy freshets, which were so disastrous to all flat lands having bold streams running through them. The root crops, which are extensive, it is presumed are planted with a single eye for the benefit of the cows. From this very hasty view, there is one reflection that na- turally arises, and it is a cheering and con- solatory one to every man who is even pos- sessed of the very poorest species of poor land, and that is, never to despair of his land ; a reflection that is akin to the high-toned patriot's resolve — never to despair of his country, though danger may be on the wing, and the clouds may darken and lower around it. If Mr. Calvert has not found out the phi- losopher's stone, he certainly has tlie road to wealth and an honourable fame, by the judi- cious application of barn-yard manure to the 196 Best Regulated Farms. Vol. XL most sterile soil. An example well worthy the emulation of every man. The plantation of Col. W, W. W. Bowie, from its rapid and high state of improvement under its public spirited proprietor, merits the highest encomiums of the committee. It has already, in sharp competitions, received the second and third honours. It presents to those that have known it long, some most pleasing considerations; bespeaking man- agement, system and untiring industry. — Galled knolls have been re-invigorated, gul- lies have been levelled, stumps and roots grubbed up, briars eradicated, wet swamps ditched and reclaimed, embankments to hold the Patuxent in check, erected at heavy ex- pense and with indomitable perseverance, new meadows made and well set in timothy, ornamental trees, and fruit trees of the best varieties, planted out, woods have been felled, and the land cleared and cultivated. Great attenti-^n has been paid to manures, and the effects of this great right hand prop of the farmer is clearly discernible on every part of this well arranged, highly cultivated and beautiful plantation. Col. Bowie has over- come many and serious difficulties, showing to the committee and those around him, that he is possessed of the spirit of enterprise, with a head to plan and a hand to execute. The plantation of Mr. Richard S. Hill evinces much labour and industry, although there is not that beauty and neatness of man- agement which are so pleasing to the eye. This great omission may in charity be attri- buted to the fact, tliat the worthy proprietor is a bachelor, and lacks that stimulus and taste for the beautiful and ornamental, which in some cases can only be supplied by the kind and witching influence of a neat and tidy wife, an article in the way of domestic comfort and happiness, your committee with perfect unanimity recommend Mr. Hill to possess himself of right speedily. For his soil is first rate, and its yield abundant. The plantation of the worthy president of this society, is another evidence of the spirit of improvement which is abroad in the land He has given to the committee ample evi dence, that his efforts are most judiciously applied to the enriching of a soil, which, in its nat'iral and uncultivated state, offered but few temptations to the spirit of enterprise. His system appears well arranged, his houses and farming utensils in good order, his stock well provided for, and every thing around him appears cheerful, contented and happy. Your committee regret exceedingly, that the limited time allotted to this report pre- vents them from going into an extended re view of many facts and circumstances, well calculated to excite great interest in the mind of every Agriculturist. But they trust that they have presented sufficient consider- ations to demonstrate, that great good grows out of a worthy and laudable spirit of compe- tition. There are but few honours that con- fer more real satisfection, than the honours of an Agricultural society, impartially be- stowed; as the evidence of skill and industry, of management and labour. In the quiet of his family, and surrounded by his friends, the successful competitor points with laudable and heartfelt pride to his premiums, as so many monuments, which to him cannot be valued in money. In this he has a higher and holier pleasure than the successful chief- tain, whose renown is written in the blood of thousands slain. Your committee now proceed to the most delicate part of their duty, and that is, to award the three premiums. It is due to say, that, in many instances, they considered the merits of Col. Bowie and Mr. Calvert equal, and their only regret is, that they cannot award to each; but upon a review of every fact and circumstance brought to their con- sideration— and mainly based upon the writ- ten answers of each of those gentlemen to the interrogatories propounded — they have, after due examination and consideration, una- nimously agreed to award the first premium to Mr. Charles B. Calvert, for his farm of fourteen hundred acres. As the committee consider it their duty to award the other pre- miums under the rules and regulations pre- sented to them for their government, a ma- jority have accordingly awarded the second to Mr. Richard S. Hill, and the third to Mr. Robert Bowie. Under the rules, it will be borne in mind that Col. Bowie, having here- tofore obtained the second and third, could only compete for the first. The first named of your committee would here take the liberty to suggest, that the spirit of competition could be rendered sharper and keener, by extending the bounds of competition. As at present constituted, the competitors must be confined to Prince George's county. There is a little river well known as the Patuxent ; let that be crossed in the spirit of generous rivalry, and many a gallant spirit, with polished plough and prun- ing hook, will be found on its eastern banks, ready and anxious to enter the lists. Your committee cannot conclude their report, without expressing the great plea- sure they have derived from their excursion. Social feeling and generous hospitality pre- vailed at every place where they sojourned. They have derived much pleasure from the general evidences of improvement that were manifested on all sides. There were only one or two spots that presented themselves No. 6. Poultry. — Break Bad Habits. — Editorial JVotices. 197 in their ride, to mar the general harmony of the scene, and to proclaim that the abode of the sluggard was nigh. All of which is most respectfully presented. John S. Sellman, VVm. C. Ogle, James JVIullikin. Turkeys, Geese, Poultry, &c. — The number of articles of this description, the produce of the surrounding country, which were brought into the city yesterday, almost defies calculation. The wagons along Se- cond street extended as far south as Chris- tian, and north to the junction of Second street with the Germantovvn road, being a continuous line — with the exception of the square between Chesnut and Market streets — of not less than three miles in length. Allowing 20 feet to each wagon and the horses attached, there must have been con- siderably over 700 vehicles, containing on an average, say, six turkeys, six pairs of fowls and two geese each. If this presum- tion is correct, there were 4,200 turkeys, 8,400 chickens, and 1,4(10 geese, displayed for sale from the wagons in Second street alone. This is exclusive of an equal quan- tity offered in the various markets and other stands for wagons, of which there are seve- ral. The price of turkeys was moderate, considering the existing demand, varying, according to the size and weight, from 62^ cents to $3. Almost every one had a pen- chant yesterday for carrying home a line fat turkey, preparatory to the feasting incident to Christmas. — Ledger. Break Bad Habits. — We often hear per- sons excuse a bad habit, because, they say, it is impossible to break it. This is not so. The late Mr. Loudon, the celebrated writer on gardening, &c., during the time he was suffering severely from the pain in his arm, found no ease but from taking laudanum; and he became at last so habituated to the use of this noxious poison, that he took a wine-glass-full every eight hours. After the amputation of his arm, however, he wished to leave off taking it, as he was aware of its injurious effects upon his gene- ral health ; and he contrived to cure himself by putting a wine-glass-full of water into his quart bottle every time he took out a wine-glass-full of the potion, so that the mixture gradually became weaker every day, till at last it was little more than water, and he found that he had cured himself of this dangerous habit without experiencing any inconvenience. — Exchange Paper. THE FARMERS' CABINET, ATltHmCAN HERD-BOOK. Philadelphia, First Month, 1847. Since the publication of our last number, we have bade adieu to the old year and welcomed the new. Ii is a season of congratulation and enlivened hope. The young and buoyant are happy in extended life, and the old— even the grey-headed and tottering— view with more or less of complacency, the privilege at- tained, but which they had scarcely ventured to look to, of dating another year still further down in the century. It may be well for us to have these fresh starting points— and it may be well that one of them at least, is a liveljfcand animating one. If we glance backward on the past year, and find, as too many of us, alas! must acknowledge, that our progress in what is essentially good, has not kept pace with the revolu- tions of time's wheel, our bosoms may be stimulated by the cheering impulses around, to increase our dili- gence, and more thoroughly to appreciate and improve the many advantages of our respective positions. It may be also well to remember, that while his own heart is the garden in which the Christian is most as- siduously to labour, and for his own household that he is most carefully to provide, yet " we do not live for ourselves only." It behoves us to watch all our step- pjngs, that we may discharge all our duties. May the year on which we have entered be better spent by all our readers and ourselves, than the last, for then it will be happier— and may every department, both in the heart and on the farm, give evidences of that im- proved management, which will at least be a ground of hope for progress. The American Herd Book, containing pedigrees of Short-horn cattle: to which is prefixed a concise history of English and American Short-liorns, compiled from the best authorities, by Lewis F. Alien — has been kind- ly forwarded. The long list of pedigrees, both of bulls and of cowb, will be highly valuable to the breeders of these noble animals, and the history of the breed, which precedes the Register, will be carefully read by every admirer of this celebrated breed of English cattle. It is hand- somely got up, and apparently with great care. Throcgh the politeness of the publisher, George S. Appleton, No. 148 Chesnut street, we find upon our table Experimental Researches, on the Food of Ani- mals and the fattening of Cattle, with remarks on the food of Man: Based upon experiments undertaken by order of the British Government. By Egbert Ddndas Thomson, of the University of Glasgow. VVe have found opportunity to look but little into this work. Its title, however, indicates its object, and it will doubtless be valuable to observing and calcu- lating feeders, who study and reflect upon all the operations connected with the distribution of the fruits of their labour. 198 Editorial Notices. Vol. XI. By reference to the minutes of the Philadelphia Ag ricultural Society, on page ]02, it will bo perceived that Professor Johnson is delivering at the Hall of the Academy of Natural Sciences, a course of eight Lec- tures on Chemistry, applied to Agriculture, Horticul- ture, and Animal Economy. Besides the general views of the subject included in the Introductory Lec- ture, which was delivered on the evening of the Cth inst., they will embrace — 1. An enumeration of the elementary substances which compose organized beings, with experimental demonstrations of their properties, and their relations to vegetable life. 2. The chief pro.]i??m(c constituents of plants— their chemical characters, relations and distinctire forms. E.xperimental proofs of their respective properties. 3. Soils, their origin, nature and varieties — their or- ganic and inorganic constituents, — chemical reactions of their elements. Analysis of Soils. 4. Supply of food to plants; — causes which facilitate or impede it, — different organs concerned in its recop tion. Important considerations to the florist and or cliardist. 5. Improvement of soils — in their physical proper ties and chemical constituents — Manures, mineral, ve getable, and animal. Irrigation and drainage. Am inonia in soils. 6. Animal bodies— chemical constitution— Nutrition Growth, distinct oflices of the several elements of food Practical application. 7. Agricultural and horticultural products as food for men and animals, — Results of experiments. .8. Chemical transformations of animal and vegeta- ble substances- natural and artificial. Applications to various economical and domestic arts. We have no doubt these Lectures vi'ill be higldy in- structive, and sincerely hope our friend will have a class, before whom it will be his ambition to throw out his whole strength. We have received a Memoir on Maize or Indian Corn, compiled with a good deal of labour and research, un- der the direction of the American Institute, by D. J. Browne. It is preceded by Barlow's poem, written many years ago, on the Hasty Pudding. Now that the extended introduction of this grain is allowed into the markets of Great Britain, its history and uses become more than ever important, both here and in Europe. A MEPTiNQ of the citizens of Burlington county, N. J., to be held at Mount Holly tomorrow, is called for the purpose of taking into consideration the expedi- ency of organizing an Agricultural Society. The farmers and cattle dealers of Chester and Dela- ware counties. Pa., held a meeting at West Chester on the 29th ult., to take means for petitioning the Legis lature to pass a law authorizing the Governor to ap- point an Inspector of cattle intended for the Philadel- phia market, whose duty it shall be to examine the same, and distinguish between such as are fit for the knife and those that are not. It is said the business of the grazier and fair dealer is greatly injured by the slaughtering and introducing into market the beef of cattle entirely unfit for the table. Enquiries are frequently made in relation to the effects of Poudrette on the corn crop, and the manner of using it. Reference to several of the last volumes of the Cabinet will afford the desired information. We may, however, repeat, that its mode of application is as simple as can be. If spread broadcast over the ground— and this is the preferable plan, if considerable permanency of effect is looked for — it should be at the rate of 20 to 40 bushels per acre, and harrowed in just before planting time. Should the first cost be a matter of importance, a gill or a little more may be dropped in the hill when the grain is dropped: let it spread about a little, and cover it up with the corn. This will require 10 or 12 bushels to the acre. The demand last spring was greater than our ability to supply, and the eftects were so generally satisfacto- ry, that we anticipate again on the opening of the season, a similar lively market. We hope to have plenty on hand for all, and all are invited to give at- tention to this cheap manure. See advertisement on the last page. Grigq & Elliott have published a Rural Register and Almanac for 1S47, in which our townsman, D. Landreth, the f-eedsman. No. 65 Chesnut street, has thrown together a great deal of valuable matter for the fanner and gardener. The quantity of rain which fell in the 12th month, 1846, was nearly three inches and a half 3.437 in. Penn. Hospital, Ist mo. \st. Ti'E Bridgeton Chronicle says that a hog raised by Thomas Tice, of Deerfield, was lately slaughtered, whose weight alive, was 844 lbs. — when dressed, 731 lbs. We learn from a Scotch paper, that an enormous turnip was taken up on the farm of Hume Mill, last autumn. It weighed 23 lbs., and measured 39 inches in circumference. It was of the tchite globe species, and the seed was raised by Brumlees, the tenant. HJ= SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted nt the rate of one dollar for each insertion often lines or less; and so in proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. SEED STORE, No. 23 Market Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass soeils; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. Also, in season. Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1846. tf. No. 6. Editorial JVotices. 199 Valuable Farm at Private Sale. The subscriber offers for sale tlie valuable FARiNI on which he has resided for a number of years past, situated in East Bradford Township, one mile west of the flourishing Borough of West Chester. It comprises about GO acres of naturally fertile and well improved land, under good fence, and well watered. The build- ings are of stone, large, and in good repair. The man- sion is pleasantly situated, possesses many conveni- encies, and is of modern finish, 44 feet front by 3ii feet deep, with an eight feet entry, two rooms on each side, besides kitchen and wash-house, and si.x rooms in the second story. Pure water is introduced into the house and barnyard by means of a force pump and water wheel propelled by a never failing stream. The grounds are planted with fruit, ornamental trees and shrubbery, with a good orchard in full bear- ing. There are also a three-story barn, 40 feet by 56 feet, a carriage-house, work-shop, icehouse, wood- houso, and an excellent and convenient milk-house. This property is eligibly situated on the main road ft-om West Chester to Lancaster, in an unexception- able neighbourhood, and offers considerable induce- ments to one wishing to retire from active business, or to engage in agriculture on a moderate scale. Apply to the subscriber, residing thereon, or to John Lippincolt, No. 05 Marshal street, Philadelphia. CHARLES LIPPINCOTT, 2t. West Chester, Chester county, Pa. Agency for the Purchase & Sale of IMPROVED BREEDS OF CATTLE & SHEEP. The subscriber takes this method of informing his friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, &c., for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AAROy CLE.MENT. Sept. \5th, liiC>. FOR SALE, AT D. O. PROUTY'S No. 194J Market Sfreet, Philadelphia, Corn-Shellers in great variety, price from $1 50 to $30 each; Ilovcy's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Granfs Patent Fan Mills, fur chaffing and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to S18 each. Whitman's Horsepowers and Threshing Machines with Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may be taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, &c. ; Centre- Draught, Self sharpening, Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation. September 15?A— tf. COATrS' S£22D STORE, No. 49 Market Street, FRESH TIinOTHY SEED, Of various (qualities, from good common seed to the purest and finest that can be produced, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF aRilSS & G-ARBIIN' SEEDS', Of the finest Quality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &c. JOS. P. 11. COATES. Successor to Ocorge J\I. Coates. Sept. 15th, l?4ij. PHILADELPHIA AGRirrLTIRVL WAREHOUSE, A'o. 291 Marhtt Street, North side, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has just received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have been so nmch approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self-Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Phellers, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c., to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15ih, lejO. 1 yr. Horticultural and Agricultural Ware-house, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscrrber has for the better accommodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Swecdo Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. 3Iarch 14th, 1846.— ly. R. BUIST. CO AZi. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal— carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at~the vfual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Tenth month 15tA, 1846. 200 Editorial Notices. Vol. XI. We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in leather;— Price $3 50 YOU ATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37i THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; 37^ DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sets of the FARxMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. 8 50 DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, 3 50 Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 1 50 SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, 50 AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, 1 25 BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, 1 50 FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, 1 00 MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, 1 00 STABLE ECONOMY, 1 00 BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, 31^ BUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, 75 THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, 50 SKINNER'S CATTLE & SHEEP DOCTOR, 50 AMERICAN FARRIER, 50 THE FARMER'S MINE, 75 HOARE ON THE VINE, 62^ HANNAMS Economy of Waste Manures, 25 LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, 25 ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, , 25 FAMILIAR LETTERS, 12i As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour— or single numbers sold. Uj" We are prepared to bind books to order. GUANO. Twenty-five tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrels, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN & CO., No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Poudrette. A valuable manure— of the best quality, prepared in Philadelphia, for sale at the office of the Farm- ers' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or more, %l 75 per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any num- ber of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or thirty-five cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers lo the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for wheat. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. Memorial from Agriculturists of the U. States page to their respective State Legislatures, 169 Experiment in Deep Ploughing, .-.« 171 Cultivation of the Peach.— The Polatoe Failure— Non-liability of a Tenant to pay Rent, 172 Bucks County Agricultural Exhibition, 173 Good Domestics. — Large Farm in Maryland, 174 Milk for the People.— Economy in Cooking Cran- berries 175 To Renovate an " Outcast," 176 Potatoe Disease, 177 Ploughing Match in Montgomery, Orange County, N. Y.— Fruit Trees.— Weevil, 178 How to destroy Weevils, Moths, and other insects injurious to Wheat, 179 Observations on the Potatoe Disease, 180 Cactus.— Earle's Planting Plough.— How to judge Cattle.— Ag. Statistics of N. Y.— Lime, 181 Destroying the Grub and Wire-worm. — Culture of the Grape, 162 British Association, 183 Landlord and Tenant, 184 Wages of Labour, 185 Manures, 186 Answers to Queries of the State Ag. Soc. of S. C, 187 Officers of Philad. Ag. Soc— Report on Manure, 192 Best Regulated Farms, 195 Editorial Notices, 197 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fifteenth of every month, in num hers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri ately introduced. Terms.— One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in advance. All subscriptions must commence at the beginning of a volume. Having lately struck off a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become exhausted, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar "twenty-five cents half-bound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, a complete set of the work will be furnished in numbers, including the 11th volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-bound and let- tered. Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon the same terms. By the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office within thirty miles of Philadelphia, they will go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer. ^Mer ICAN HERD-BOOli' DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry.— Liebio. Vol. XI.— No. 7.] Slid mo. (February) 15tli, 184T. [Whole No. 144. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY JOSIAII TATUM, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per year. — For conditions see last page. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Settling in NeAv Countries. Mr. Editor, — In No. 6, of last volume, I commenced a series of papers adapted to that portion of farmers who were contemp- lating a home in a new — and to them unex- plored— country. Owing- to an uncommon epidemic that has prevailed throughout all this region, my labours at tiie time were in- terrupred. I now propose, since the arrange- ments of a benign Providence in the ele- ments of nature, have caused the influences of one season to neutralize the poison of an- other, to continue my communications. In commencing with some advice to those about opening new homes, and other fields of labour in a new country, we would say in the first place, do not be too much under the influence of former experience and hab- its; they should have their influence with you here to be sure, but they should be regu- lated by circumstances. Cah.— Vol. XL— No. 7. I Before effecting a permanent location, — before you have squandered all your means, stop and reflect; take a good look around [you — do not be in such haste as to fix your- self in a moment, for you have a great deal at stake, and when you are fixed, if you have made a bad bargain, it is not so easy a matter to extricate yourselves. Now the first and greatest consideration to bo kept in view, is to secure a healthy situation, so that yourself and family, and those around you may enjoy health; for health is one of the greatest blessings that Providence has bestowed upon us. Without health, life is scarcely enjoyed. In all nev/ countries, a certain portion, or all, more or less, are subject to extremes of sickness and fatality. Many people, ignorant of the laws that govern human life, have had the hardi- hood to tell us, there is no difference between a river or a marshy situation, or a high and dry one for living. But we have noticed, from long observation and experience, that jthe foolhardiness of those people, finds its [termination in premature sufTering and death. In a word, the sickness of a new country is manufactured by local causes — rotten, de- caying vegetable matter, which has been collecting in stagnant pools and marshes for centuries. Avoid all such locations, and flee from them as you would from the hydra headed monster. Do not look so much to the advantages of being near a market, or just such rich black soil, as to sacrifice your health. Secure then, a high and dry situa- (201) 202 Settling in JVew Countries. Vol. XL tion, remote from stagnant ponds and marsh- es. In the next place, pay but little atten- tion to what strangers say to you ; their ob- ject is speculation; have a mind of your own. Do not be fascinated with the notion of spending all your means in rich land, be- cause it is cheap, for you will soon find that wild land will need extensive improvements before it will bring much money in return ; and during the time you are improving your land, and fitting it to yield an income, you will find many necessary wants and require- ments, that were never thought of in the old country. We have seen new settlers become hastily entangled in embarrassments and trouble, on account of spending every dollar of their means after arriving, before they had facilities for income. This, no doubt, was brought about by the luxuri- ant appearance of the country and soil, — these were so flattering, that the mind be- came absorbed in the contemplation of wealth which never could be realized. Another land mark which should elicit much solici- tude to be avoided by the new comer, is those sharks that infest the borders of a new country, and who have learned by necessity and sad experience, to study plans of art to entrap the unwary traveller, in the guise of friendship. We have known many an hon- est man, who had toiled on with an accumu- lating family of children, just living from hand to mouth in an old country, and who by dint of industry, had hoarded sufficient to enable them to reach the far West, cheered with the expectation of obtaining a home to make his family comfortable, and crowning his years with happiness, soon stripped of every dollar, by a set of crafty speculators, who always are contriving to lay their bait, by flattering pretensions of friendship and plausible stories. Let the emigrant bear in mind that friendship built upon the calcula- tion of dollars and cents, invariably turns out to be little better than enmity. After this preliminary advice for the first and opening steps of a new comer, we will proceed to devise what should engage his attention in the way of cultivation and im- provement. It has been a general custom from the early settlement of this country, for farmers to depend mainly for their in- come on raising wheat. The reason of this practice we cannot account for; it however is an error which every resident is aware of Although the chemical principles of the soil are well adapted by nature for growing- wheat, yet it is our opinion, founded on ob- servation and experience, that the climate is too changeable to make wheat the staple crop of dependence. For nine years past we have only known three fair yields, or crops, that would pay the farmer for his la- bours, including all the contingencies. The fault of depending exclusively upon the growth of wheat is, as we have already mentioned, the uncertainty and variableness of the climate. We have seen a hundred acre field of wheat, well sprouted, grow and survive the winter, in "living grain," and owing to the thaws and breaking up in the spring, toge- ther with the frosty nights, and heaving of the ground, during the months of March and April, to become so nearly killed, that not ten acres of the hundred were harvested. So great a loss as this to farmers of lim- ited means, — and by far the larger part are such in a new country — produces general distress and depression. This fact has been fairly demonstrated the past season. The wheat crop was cut oflT by rust and blight, so that no more than one-fourth of an ave- rage crop has been realized. This, together with the unusual sickness, produces hard limes. It has been remarked by some of our agri- cultural writers, that our farmers can afford to raise wheat for fifty cents per bushel. This is a great error; even if the yield was 20 bushels per acre, it could not be done, for obvious reasons. In the first place, the wheat harvest comes in equally, at once, through every section of country; it must be instantly secured or lost. But few have sufficient help within themselves to secure the amount grown. To hire cannot be done at present, as the country affords but few spare labouring hands that depend on hire- ing out for employment ; the harvest wages are ten shillings per day, which, added to the threshing, cleaning, the cost of seed, and the transportation to market, say fifty miles to each man, taking the country through, the crop would all be consumed in expenses. We do not intend to condemn the grow- ing of wheat throughout the country entire- ly, by any means, for it is essentially neces- sary. The only system of farming that we think can be adopted with safety and pru- dence, to insure success and a prosperous and onward growth of the country, is the mixed system of farming. Indeed, the only sure way in this country, is for the farmer to raise as much as practicable of every thing within himself; and this constitutes the true mixed system. He should lay out to grow a portion of every kind of grain that can be made use of for his own con- sumption, which will invariably insure a portion, at least, of that which is most sale- able to part with. For instance, if the corn crop should be abundant, and on that account bear too small a price to sell at a profit, he No. 7. Settling in JVew Countries. 203 should be prepared to fatten pork, which may pay well for the consumption and la- bour. At any rate, by following this plan, he will raise a sufficiency of one or other of the grains, either wheat, buckwheat, rye, barley, corn, or oats, fur his own consuaip- tion and to part with, of that kind that may be the most saleable, and pay the best profit, to meet all his necessary wants and increase his revenue. Should it be that wheat de- mands the best price, then he can afford to live on the other grains and part with his wheat, or otherwise, if it should be that oats, corn, rye, &c., command the best price. Another advantage in this system of farming is, that neither of the crops will require to be planted or harvested at the same time ; at any rate, they can be so arranged as not to crowd immediately upon one another in harvesting. Again, anotlier great advantage in this kind of farming is obtained in the small, or manageable amount of his crops, so that he will be able to peribrm all the harvesting witljin himself, without the e>c- pense of hiring labour. To carry out this system of farming, much attention must be paid to the raising and keeping of good stock of every kind. From the refuse of the crops, the straw, chafF, fod- der, &c., can be fed a large number of ani- mals, without any expense, which will al- most be an entire gain. To clothe himself and family, the requisite number of sheep should be kept; for the purposes of milk, beef, and farm labour, a certain number of cows and oxen; and while he finds it neces- sary to appropriate a part for the consump- tion of his family, his stock is kept up from the progressive increase, and at the same time he is adding to his income, by the sale of butter, hides, tallow, &c. Wc are already surprised at the facilities ifforded to the farmer in the establishment of woollen manufactories; within a day's ride, the farmer can now take oft" his wool and exchange it for ready made cloth, at a much fairer advantage than he can manu- facture it in his own family. With a well ordered system of manage- ment, our country affords every advantage and encouragement for the prudent and in- dustrious, to become the happy, prosperous, and independent freeman. While we are surrounded with all the blessings that na- ture can bestow, we cannot but stop and re- flect on the suffering and death now wit- nessed in all Europe, by a large mass of her population. There we find a scarcity of the necessaries of life, of which our luxuriant soil affords an ample supply. A more befitting season than this, the commencement of a new year, cannot be had, for us, who are comfortably situated at the warm fire-side, in the possession and en- joyment of those blessings, to extend with open arms those aids to suffering millions, that may result in a timely relief. But humanity compels me to take another view of the evident suffering 1 see going on among the comfortable and independent fanners I have described. I mean the suf- fering of liis cattle and animals. It is a no- torious fict, known through all the West, that farmers that were, previous to coming to this country, kind and attentive to the comtort of their animals, become negligent and indifferent after residing in this country for a length of time. It is almost univer- sally the practice to let neat cattle and sheep stand out, exposed to the blasts of the elements, through the coldest weather we experience. This practice is not only cruel but inhuman, and cannot be too strongly re- probated ; for, with a few exceptions, there can be no excuse for it. Every farmer has a sufficiency of straw around him, together with other necessaries for erecting good comfortable sheds, without any other ex- pense than his own labour, which with little repairs will remain good for years. If this practice has become common from the influ- ence of example, which we suppose to be the case, it gives but little credit to him that adopts it, for no prudent man will suffer himself to be influenced by bad example. Every farmer knows, or should know, that it is as much his interest to make his ani- mals comfortable, as it is his duty and plea- sure to promote the enjoyment of his own family; for it is upon them that his prosper- ity and means of living depend. No animal can thrive or keep in good plight, or yield any income, when it is continually pinched and frozen with the cold. It is a common complaint among farmers' wives that they get but little milk at this season of the year. Is the thing to be wondered at, when the cows are exposed to the pelting storms, and covered with sleet and ice, as we fre- quently see them 1 In a future number we shall take up this subject again ; in the mean time we hope the reader who may be interested, will re- flect on what has already been said. Andrew Stone, M. D. Crown Point, Lake co., la. Jan. 12th, 1847. A correspondent of the London Morning Chronicle recommends Egyptian beans as a nutritious and cheap article of food for the poor. The American beans are equally wholesome, and are free from dirt and wee- vils; while the Egyptian beans are apt to be foul. 204 Premium Farm. Vol. XI. Premium Farm. We are glad to find our indefatigable friend Jones still in the field. The following letter to the commit- tee on farms of the New Castle Agricultural Society, shows no diminution of energy, or confidence of suc- cess. The report of the committee on crops, gives valuable information. — Ed. To THE Committee on Farms : Gentlemen, — I again propose for the val- uable premium offered by the Society for the best and most economically improved and productive farm, all circumstances and systems considered. Wheatland is situated mostly in St. George's Hundred, New Castle county, Del- aware. It is bounded on the North by the State road, which leads across the peninsu- la, from Reedy island, head of Delaware bay, to Town point, at the junction of Bo- hemia and Elk rivers; and on the West by the great Eastern Shore of Maryland road, which runs parallel with, and about 200 yards distant from the State, or what is known as Mason & Dixon's line. Wheatland, in shape, is nearly a parallel- ogram; being something over one mile long from East to West, and a little over half a mile in width from North to South. The farm is all arable ; not having any wood or other waste land on it. The buildings, which are not very good or convenient, are situated near the road, on the North side of the farm, and in a position about central from East to West. The land is gently sloping to the Southward, and the elevation, near the house, about eighty feet above the tide water. At present, the farm is divided into two grand divisions, by a lane of about one hundred and fifty yards in width, and running from the building upon the North side of the farm to the South, at which point it encloses the head of a branch of the Bo- hemia river, where there is a constant stream of spring water. This lot is designed to contain about fifteen acres; it is now well set with clover, timothy and orchard grass, and at present constitutes the only pasture for all my stock, except hogs. The stock consists of ten work horses and one colt, a yearling, and seven head of horned cattle, all told, from calves to milch cows, except two small beasts that I design killing ofi' this fall. The two grand divisions of the farm are tilled to an imaginary line at pre- sent, running from East to West. The two North fields, or tillages, which are nearest to the buildings contain about eighty acres each. The Southern tillages, which are furthest from the building, about eighty-five acres each. The reason why the fields are smallest near the house, is because my plan is never to haul manures a long distance whilst I have poor land near, and of course the small fields will fare best; the distant tillages, however, will get the best share of lime, clover, and plaster. The fields, or tillages, are now occupied and named as follows : The North-west field I have called West, after that honest man and good farmer, W. West, the first that introduced the use of clover and plaster into Pennsylvania. This field is now sown with wheat, with Pen- nock's drill, upon one of the very best turned clover lays I ever saw. The field south of, and adjoining West, I have called Garnett, after that celebrated agriculturist that never would leave his native State, Virginia, not- withstanding the reported productiveness of the South-western States. This field is now in clover, near forty acres of which was sown after wheat, in 1845: the balance is sown upon oats last spring, the whole of which lies over without being pastured or mown, to be turned under next August for wheat. Tull is the North-eastern quarter of the fiirm. About twelve acres of this field was subsoiled last autumn, preparatory to corn this season, after the manner of Jethro Tull, who may be justly styled the father of tho- rough tillage and drill husbandry. This field is partly — about forty acres — in corn ; three acres are in timothy, which yielded a heavy crop the past year, for the tenth suc- cessive crop; the residue of the field is well set in young clover, that followed wheat. I am now engaged in cutting oft" this corn and carrying it in rows thirty yards apart, with the view of sowing wheat between the shocks of corn, to be followed by clover next spring. This plan I consider more profitable and less exhausting than the sow- ing of oats, formerly the usual course. Skhmer, so named after the oldest editor of our agricultural papers, and advocate of the rights of the tiller of the soil, the fourth tillage, is South of, and adjoining Tull, and is designed to contain about eighty-five acres. This field is now well set with clover, that followed the wheat that was taken from it last harvest. According to my system, this field goes in corn next spring. Of the amount and value of the product of the farm the present year, I am not now pre- pared to form an estimate, as I have not got out my wheat, which is my principal crop.* The corn looks well ; the oat crop was short ; the grass very abundant. The grounds upon which I claim the pre- mium for the best farm, is from the system adopted — the improved and improving state No. 7. Premium Farm. 205 of the farm, with the economical mode by which it has been raised to its present fer- tility. That is, from an average of less than five bushels of wheat to the acre ten years ago, or in 1835-6, to an average of twenty bushels, its present annual average, 1846. This increased product has been made by an application of only forty bushels of lime to the acre, and not exceeding two entire crops of clover turned under. You will perceive I have adopted the four-field rotation. Wheat follows clover, corn upon wheat stubble, — no oats after corn, — but wheat sown amongst the standing corn, or otherwise the corn cut, and carried some thirty yards distant from each row, and then plough and sow with wheat. I much prefer this plan, as the wheat is not such an ex- hausting crop as oats, and besides which, the clover grows much better after wheat than oats. It is upon this tillage, or field of young clover, that I put my manure, which I generally haul out after I have done seed- ing with wheat, and before the corn is fit to gather. This I try to spread thin and evenly over the young clover; and the next August turn this clover, manure and all, under, as the best possible chance for wheat. I have stated that I keep no more stock of horses or cattle than what is actually neces- sary to work the farm and to supply the family with milk and butter. I keep no sheep. This year I have thirteen head of hogs, which I keep up in a large pen ; the meat of which I expect will cost me per haps twice the market price, owing, proba^ bly, to the fact of my being too neglectful of them. I have not yet been able to get that breed of hogs, the manure from which will pay for their keep ! I have been led to this course — as regards the keeping a small stock of cattle — from the fact of believing that the over stocking the farms on this peninsula has tended much to the exhausting of the soil. I consider the over stocking with horned cattle, sheep, &c., as one of the four principal evils that have operated against this otherwise favoured section of country. The first of which was slavery, which makes the people lazy and careless; second, rum, which led to dissipa- pation, and extravagance, and neglectful- ness; third, the horned cattle, which eat off every vestige of vegetation, and left the land exposed to the scorching rays of the summer suns; and in winter they consumed all the straw and fodder of the farm. The fourth and last of these evils, is the want of a judicious government; one that would prO' vide us with a steady home market for the products of our soil and toil ; creating con- sumers to use up the surplus products of our farms. John Jones. Exhibition Grove, Stnckford, ]oth September, 184G. THE COMMITTEE ON CROPS Regret that farmers will not more generally report their crops, or compete for the valua- ble premiums offered by the Society. This apathy may arise, in part, from the fact that but few have, as yet, got out their wheat or oat crops; and also from the fact obtained from the most reliable sources, that the wheat crop is at least 20 per cent, short of the crop of 1845, both in Delaware and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Enough, however, is unofficially reported to justify the committee in believing that many crops, both of corn and wheat, have exceeded the standard for premiums, as adopted by this Society. The Wheat Crop. The Mediterranean variety, as usual, has succeeded best. The late varieties have, in many cases, scarcely produced the amount of seed sown. The Washington and Etrurian varieties have also sufl^ered much from fly, rust and scab. The Oat Crop is also short of an average crop at least 20 per cent., although appear- ances, previous to ripening, indicated an abundant crop. The Corn Crop bids fair to be a full crop in New Castle County, at least. Benjamin Webb has a lot, that, it is supposed by those who have seen it growing, will yield near one hundred bushels to the acre. It was planted on an old timothy and green grass sod, of six years' standing. The particulars of its culture, and amount of product, it is hoped will be furnished before the reports are published. The Potaloe Crop. The early crop, we are sorry to hear, is affected by the rot, par- ticularly when early dug. The crop is also represented to be short of an average one. It is hoped the late crop may be gathered in a sound state. The Hay Crop has been abundant. Bryan Jackson reports over three tons to the acre, and is entitled to the premium for the best two acres, clover and timothy grass. The lot upon which it was grown was subsoiled a few years ago, and a heavy growth of su- gar beet taken therefrom, after which wheat was sown, followed by grass. Sugar-beet and Ruta-baga Crop. But few of either of these crops are grown in Delaware. Our farmers and dairymen have discovered that yellow corn meal and good clover hay, cut and mixed together, are pre- ferable on all accounts. 206 Making of Cheese. — To Destroy Ants. Vol. XI The committee notice with regret, the exceedingly low prices at which our great staples, the wheat, oat, and corn crops, have ranged in the grain market of our Atlantic ports. At Baltimore, wheat has ranged at 50 to 75 cents per bushel, as in quality, during the most of July and August; corn from 40 to 55 cents ; and oats from 18 to 2.3 cents per bushel — the freight, commission, &c., of four or five cents per bushel at the farmer's cost. Grain in the West has also been very low. At St. Louis, for several months, wheat has ranged from 30 to .50 cents ; corn from 17 to 20 cents ; and oats at about the same price per bu;^hel. And at the town of Davenport, on the Mississippi river, corn would scarcely command 12^ cents per bushel. But within the last few days the price of grain has gone up a little, owing to the reports of the failure of t!ie potatoe crop in Ireland. John Jones, Henry du Pont, Bryan Jackson, John Smith, James N. Cleland, Joseph Carr. Making of Cheese. In conversation with one of the largest wholesale cheesemongers and provision deal- ers in the country, he suggested that there were two great faults of the American cheese, which somewhat prejudiced its sale in the English markets. He is a person in whose character and experience entire con /idence may be placed. He was pleased to say that he had cheeses from the United States as good as any he had ever seen, and that the general charac ter of the article was greatly improved since the first importations. But the first fault was the softness of the rind. It often cracked, and the cheese be came spoiled from that circumstance. This he considered as owing to the cheese being too rich ; if so, it is a fault which may be remedied. The English cheeses soon ac- quire a great firmness. I think proper, however, to add the directions of a most ex- perienced and successful dairy farmer in respect to this matter. He says that the rind may be made of any desired hardness, if the cheese be taken from the press and allowed to remain in brine, so strong that it will take up no more salt, for four or five hours. There must be great care, however, not to keep it too long in the brine. The second fault is the acridness, or pe- culiarly smart bitter taste often found in American cheeses. He thought this might be due, in part, to some improper prepara- tion or use of the rennet, and, in part, to some kind of feed which the cows found in the pastures. Both these matters are well worthy of investigation, and that alone can determine. He was of opinion, likewise, that Ameri- can cheese would sell better if it were co- loured like the English cheese. The mar- ket for it was fast becoming most extensive. In respect to American butter, he consi- dered that which usually came here as a most inferior article. Much of it, I believe, is used in the manufacturing districts, solely for greasing machinery. Salt butter, or butter strongly salted, is not saleable in the [English market; and especially the salt imust not appear. I cannot doubt however, jthat presently some of our best June or Sep- 'tember butter, put up in lumps, would find a good market here, — if, in truth, we have any to export. The very best fresh butter in London market, however, does not bring so high a price as I have often paid for the best article from the county of Worcester, in Boston market; and I have frequently known the best butter to be sold in Balti- more, and even in Cincinnati market, for half a dollar; a little more than two shil- lings sterling per pound. I have seen in England none of the admi- rable spring-houses which are to be found in Pennsylvania. — Colman's Tour. How TO Decoy and Destroy Ants in Dwelling Houses. — When practicable, place as near the end or passage on a level, a basin or bowl filled with dry mould ; then put a bone or bones of fresh meat in the bot- tom— such as are discarded from the dining room. You will soon find your tormentors congregate thousands strong; for I assure you they are first-rate bone-polishers. Forty years ago, when a boy, whenever I wanted a particular bone of a duck or goose polished, I always found the ant-hill the best manu- factory. Have in readiness a strong solu- tion of boiling salt and water, and when you perceive your enemies begin to retreat, cover them with it. Salt and water cold will destroy them poured into their haunts; but the better way is to decoy them out of their strongholds. It will be good policy to wash out the basin or bowl, and fill it with fresh mould previous to a second decoy, as it will be perceived salt is not a favourite. — Gardener'' s Chronicle. The imports of tea into the United States from China, during the years 184.5 and 1846, were respectively, twenty and a half mil- lions, and eighteen millions of pounds. No. 7. The Reading Rail Road. 207 The Reading Rail Road. A BRIEF history and description of this great public work may prove interesting to the citizens of Pennsylvania as well as the public generally, of more distant communi- ties, whose only ideas of the road, are con- fined to the weekly reports of its immense business. The rail road was projected in 1833, a charter obtained in 1834, surveys made the same year, and forty-one miles put under contract and construction in 1835. It was originally designed for its present purpose, an outlet or avenue to market, for the Schuylkill coal region ; but its first charter extended only to the Borough of Reading, fifly-nine miles from its terminus on the Delaware river, near Philadelphia; as the right of constructing a rail-road be- tween Reading and Port Clinton, twenty miles, had already been granted another corporation, "The Little Schuylkill Rail- road Company," terminating at the latter point. From insufficient means, this Com- pany was unable to extend their road, and yielded their Right and Charter to the Read- ing Rail-road Company, which with a further extension of their Charter, beyond Port Clin- ton to Pottsville, went into an active prose- cution of the whole work, from Pottsville to the Delaware, ninety-three miles, under one charter, now known as the Reading Rail- road. Every Pennsylvanian is familiar with the great embarrassments to the business of the country, checking commercial enterprise, disastrous to every branch of industry, and fatal to public and private credit, during the period from 1838 to 1842. Notwithstanding all these difficulties, the friends of this Road pushed steadily on with its construction, tax- ing their energies, their means, and their credit to the utmost, to insure its speedy completion ; and on the first day of 1842, the first locomotive and train passed over the whole line, between Pottsville and Phil- adelphia. From that date to the present, its business, its revenue, and its credit, have increased in a degree scarcely paralleled by any similar improvement, until its tonnage and its re- ceipts are measured, as at present, by mil- lions. Two continuous tracks of railway extend the whole distance of 93 miles, from Mount Carbon, near Pottsville, to the Delaware river, three miles above the heart of the city of Philadelphia; with a branch also laid with a double track, one and a half miles long, connecting, by the State Road, with the principal business street of the same city, for the passengers, merchandize, and city coal business. The rail used is of the H pattern, with both top edges alike; and weighs 45|, 52^, and 60 lbs. to the yard ; the lightest having been first, and the hea- viest last used. A few tons of other rails, purchased before a further supply of the pattern adopted for the road could be ob- tained in England, and varying from 51 to 57 lbs. per yard, are also in use. The track is laid in the most simple man- ner, the lower web, or base of the rail, being notched into 7 by 8 white oak cross sills, and these laid on broken stone, 14 inches deep and well rammed. This method is found admirably calculated for the enormous ton- nage of the road, being rapidly and econom- ically repaired and replaced, securing a tho- rough drainage, and preserving its line and level true, at all seasons of the year. The grades of this road are the chief ele- ments of its success in revolutionizing pub- lic opinion, on the subject of the carriage of heavy burdens by railway. From the most important branch. Coal-feeder of the road, at Schuylkill Haven, to the Falls of Schuyl- kill, a distance of 84 miles, the grades all desend in the direction of the loaded trains, or are level; with no more abrupt descent than 19 feet per mile. At the Falls, an as- sistant locomotive engine of great power pushes the train, without the latter stopping, or any delay, up a grade of 42^ feet per mile, for one and four-tenths miles, leaving it on a descending grade, within four miles of Richmond, whither it is readily conveyed by the same engine which started from Pottsville, never leaving her train. The bridges on this line are of great va- riety, in plan, and material of construction, stone, iron, and wood. The most perfect and beautiful structure on the road, if not in the State, is a stone bridge over the Schuyl- kill near Phoenixville, built of cut stone throughout, with four circular arches, of 72 feet span, and 16J feet rise each, at a cost with ice-breakers, of $47,000. There are 75 other stone bridges and culverts, varying from 6 to 50 feet span ; all of circular arcs, spanning water courses, branches of the Schuylkill and roads. There are seven bridges from 25 to 38 feet span each, built of iron, trussed after the "Howe" plan, with wrought iron top, and bottom chords, wrought iron vertical ties, and cast iron diagonal braces. These bridges are stiff and light, and present a very neat and handsome ap- pearance. As, however, the flooring is of wood, and therefore liable to decay and ac- cident, they have only been used where the width and depth rendered stone bridges im- practicable; the latter being always used in 208 The Reading Rail Road. Vol. XI. replacing wooden structures, wherever it was practicable. There are twenty-two long wooden bridges varying from 41 to 160 feet span, built on various principles, chiefly of lattice work, assisted by heavy arch pieces. Of this latter description, the bridge over the Schuylkill at the Fall, is a fine specimen. It is 636 feet long, consisting of four spans of 134, two of 152, and one of 160 feet above the river. There is one bridge built on Burr's plan, with double arch pieces of 149 feet span; and one on " Howe's" plan, ir36 feet span, also assisted by arch pieces. Besides the above, there are twenty-eight wooden bridges of short spans, from 14 to 39 feet, built of King post. Queen post, " Howe's truss," and joists. There are four tunnels on the road. The longest of these is near Phoenixville, 1934 feet long, cut through solid rock, worked from five shafts and two end breasts ; deep- est shaft 140 feet ; size of tunnels, 19 feet wide, by ll\ high; total cost, $153,000. Another tunnel at Port Clinton, is 1600 feet long, worked from the two ends only ; mate- rial, loose and solid rock mixed ; 1300 feet are arched ; depth below the surface of the ground, 119 feet; total cost, $138,000. The Manayunk tunnel is 960 feet long, through very hard solid rock, worked from two ends; depth below surface 95 feet; total cost, $91,000. Another tunnel under the grade of the Norristown rail-road, and through an embankment of the latter, is 172 feet long, formed of a brick arch, with cut stone fa- cades. The depots on this road are all substan- tially built, but with a view to use, rather than ornament. At Schuylkill Haven, three miles from Pottsville, is erected a spacious engine house, round, with a semi-circular dome roof, 120 feet diameter, and 96 feet high; with a 40 feet turning platform in the centre, and tracks radiating therefrom, capa- ble of housing sixteen second class engines and tenders. At Reading are located the most complete, extensive, and efficient work- shops and rail-road buildings of every de- scription to be found in the country. The Company's property covers here, besides the rail-road tracks, 36 acres, the greater part of which is already in use for the various operations required to keep this vast ma- chine in lite and motion. The main ma- chine shop is 159 by 70 feet, filled with the most valuable tools and machinery, all made, with the exception of three or four lathes, in the Company's workshops, by their own mechanics. Other machine shops, one 87 by 40 feet, are used for fitting iron and brass exclusively. The iron foundry is 164 by 32 feet, with two cupolas. The largest blacksmith's shop is 121 by 31 feet, 57 smith's fires being in daily use on the works, all blown by fans driven by steam. .-fThe main carpenters' shop is 140 by 46 |jfet, with a pattern shop in the second story.:' The iron coal cars, tenders, and smoke pipes are made and repaired in a shop 123 by 83 feet. A merchandise depot just completed, is 124 by 84 feet, to accommodate that rapidly increasing branch of business. About a mile below the Reading depot, where the rail-road is nearest the river, most efficient water works have been lately constructed, consisting of a reservoir on the Neversink Hill side, 51 feet above the rails, holding 700,000 gallons of water, supplied with a force pump worked by a small steam engine. Attached to this station are also two sepa- rate tracks, with coal chutes beneath, 300 and 450 feet long each, for the use of the town; two wood and water stations; a small portable steam engine for sawing wood, a refreshment house, for crews of engines stopping to wood or water; a brass foundry, passenger car house, passenger rooms, offices, &c., &c. All the machinery of the main shops and foundry, is driven by a very hand- somely finished stationary engine, with dou- ble cranks, of 35 horse power, built entirely on the works. At Pottstown station, 18 miles below Reading, extensive and efficient shops have also been erected, chiefly for work connect- ed with the bridges and track of the road, and new work of various descriptions. The principal shops here, are 151 by 81, 101 by 41, and 81 by 44 feet. The first shop is co- vered with a neat and light roofj built of an arched "Howe truss," forming a segment of a circle, 78^ feet span by 16 feet rise. At Richmond, the lower terminus of the road, at tidewater on the river Delaware, are constructed the most extensive and com- modious wharves, in all probability, in the world, for the reception and shipping, not only of the present, but of the future vast coal tonnage of the railway; 49 acres are occupied with the Company's wharves and works, extending along 2,272 feet of river front, and accessible to vessels of 600 or 700 tons. The shipping arrangements con- sist of seventeen wharves or piers, extend- ing from 342 to 1,132 feet into the river, all built in the most substantial manner, and furnished with shutes at convenient dis- tances, by which the coal flows into the ves- sel lying alongside, directly from the opened bottom of the coal car in which it left the mouth of the mine. As some coal is piled or stacked in winter, or at times when its No. 7. Good Housetoifery. 209 shipment is not required, the elevation of the tracks by trestlings, above the solid sur- face or flooring of the piers, affords sufficient room for stowing 195,000 tons of coal. Ca- pacious docks extend in shore, between each pair of wharves, thus making the whole river front available for shipping purposes; ninety-seven vessels can be loading at the same moment, and few places present busier, or more interesting scenes, than the wharves of the Readmg rail-road, at Richmond. A brig of 155 tons, has been loaded with that number of tons of coal in one hundred and thirty minutes, at these wharves. A very convenient and neat Engine house, has lately been erected at this station ; it is of a semi-circular shape, with a forty feet turning platform in the centre, outside; from which tracts radiate into the house, giving a capacity for 20 engines and their tenders of the largest class, the building being 302 feet long on the centre line, by 59 feet wide. It is built in the simple Gothic style, the front supported by cast-iron clustered pillars, from the tops of which spring pointed arches, and the whole capped with turretted capping. Immediately adjoining, are built spacious machine and work shops, for repairs of engines and cars, all under one roof, 221 by 63 feet. A visit to this chief outlet of the Pennsylvania coal trade, will give the best idea of its magnitude, and of the vari- ous branches of industry connected with it. The business of this road requires a large amount of running machinery. Tiie latter consists of seventy-one locomotive engines and tenders, including five in constant use on the lateral rail-roads in the coal region ; 3,020 iron and 1,.539 wooden coal cars; 482 cars for merchandise and use of road, and seventeen passenger cars. The engines vary from 8 to 22J tons weight ; two very powerful engines, of 27 tons weight each, are used exclusively on the Fall's grade, before mentioned. The iron cars weigh two and four-tenth tons empty, and carry five tons of coal. The average load of each engine, during the busy months of the year, is about 410 tons of coal, of 2,240 lbs. The cost of hauling coal on this road, is about 35 cents per ton. Freight or merchandise, 75 cents per ton, and passengers 41 cents each, through. Its grades have chiefly secured this great econ- omy in transportation. The total length of lateral rail-roads con- necting with the Reading rail-road, under other charters and corporations, but all con- tributing to its business, using its cars, and returning them loaded with coal and mer- chandise, is about ninety-five miles. Some of these rail-roads are constructed in the most substantial manner, with the best su- perstructure at present used in the country. By the monthly reports which have been made of the business of the Company, it appears that the receipts from Dec. 1st, 1845, to October 31st, 1846, have been $1,707,312 2.5. The receipts for the re- maining month of the fiscal year, which ended Nov. 30th, 1846, will be sufficient to swell the gross receipts to about 81,900,000. In the last Annual Report, the managers estimated that the gross receipts would be, for the same period, 81,725,000. From this statement it appears, that unless the expen- ses vastly e.xceed the estimate given in the same report, the result of the year's busi- ness will prove very gratifying to the stock- holders. Our colliers have now to congratulate themselves on having between their mines and tidewater, two transporting works by land and water, unsurpassed by any other rail-roads or canals in the world. It remains for them by a firm and prudent course to se- cure to themselves and their customers, the full and free use of both these works, un- trammelled by the quarrels or jealousies of either. — Miners' Journal. Good Housewifery. Our good friend Sk nker, of the Farmers' Library, often holds a pen that "shys," as we sometimes say of a horse that does not stick to the track. The high blood of the one and the overflowing mind of the other, that is continually impatient for opportunity to vent itself, make them look at every thing on the road, whose shadow they can catch a glimpse of, and hence it ig that our friend's descriptions we find not only highly instructive in themselves, but enlivened with digres- sions that seem determined to give one a chance to be wise, whether or not. In a memorandum of a hretiTsj'ast-tahle conversation with B. A. Hall, at whose post, in the neighbourhood of Lebanon Springs, our said friend had " hung" up his horse the evening before, and engaged a glass of fresh buttermilk for the morning, we have a variety of items in the farm management of his host, as well as a glance" at the thorough inside cleanliness and comfort of his hostess. He breaks away into the following remarks, which we cannot omit to throw before our own read- ers. The farm of B. A. Hall, by the way, consists of two hundred acres, one hundred and eighty of which are arable. His staples are butter and pork. Ofthelatter he S(,IIs some fifteen thousand pounds, of the former about four thousand pounds. His average number of cows is twenty-two, and he sends a great number of pigs to the Boston market. He certainly appears to be a very successful farmer; and the preat secret of this success is doubtless revealed in the single fact, that 210 Bone Dust — Phosphate of Lime. Vol. XI. he helps to milk his own cows! But to the remarks we promised, which are taken from the last number of the Library. — Ed. Who can avoid — for the life of us we never could — on entering a dwelling, the true pro- vince and dominion of a good huswife, from slyly casting around to see how things look in her deparlment — whether the windows are washed, paint scoured, hearth cleanly swept up, cupboard neatly arranged, mantle and chairs and chair-boards dusted, cobwebs not a speck to be seen — all, all " set in or- der," and neat and clean "as a bandbox?" But, gentle ladies, even all that, let us warn you, does not satisfy the judgment of men who, while they may closely scrutinize your housewifery, entertain, as we profess to do, the highest possible respect for the important, the noble station which Providence has as- signed you in the eyes of all men of sense, andwhich honour and duty alike enjoin upon you io fulfil, with care and with pride, what- ever, whether high or low, may be your rank or fortime; but, if possible, with more obli' gatory force and necessity in the country than elsewhere. Too well are all men of observation aware that all is not gold that glitters — the fairest looking apple is sometimes rotten at the core The hall, the parlour, the show-rooms, and all apartments in common view, may indi cate minule attention and good taste on the part of the mistress, whose eye is best of all brushes; and yet, as it sometimes happens, the chambers of such a house may be the receptacles of filth — the cellars the conveni- ent repository of every offal — the kitchen the scene of waste, and lounge of every idle loafer about the place — the dairy be poisoned with the bad odours of superfluous moisture and half-scoured utensils. We have seen such establishments with disgust; but much more doth it rejoice us to say, that we have known and enjoyed establishments (when we had one to enjoy) where " the lady of the house," like the truly brave soldier who, when roused at midnight, springs at once to his arms, ready to do battle — so can such a woman, in proud defiance of the strictest scrutiny, take husband or stranger by the light of the lamp or the light of the sun, by day or by night, from the garret to the eel lar — open every closet and every drawer — and demand, •' Where do you find, in 7ny de partment, a pin or a feather out of place, a mickle of waste, or a garment without a but tonl" But, to achieve all this, she should have all needful help. Such only is the vifoman who deserves the name of a good housewife; but he who possesses her pos sesses a treasure of inestimable value, and bad indeed must be his own management if, with her thrift and her example and encour- agement, he fail to thrive. " She lookelh well to the ways of her household, and eat- eth not the bread of idleness." Bone Dust— Super-phosphate of Lime. It has long been known here, that a dressing of bone dust is considered almost essential in England to make a turnip crop; and that it is also extensively- used for other purposes. Here— we mean more par- ticularly in the vicinity of Philadelphia— bones ap- plied as a manure, are but in poor repute. We have heard many farmers say they have used them without any beneficial effects whatever. In some parts of Delaware and Maryland however, they are used to good purpose. Why should there be this dif- ference in their effects in different locations? While we are seeking them out of the country, why should the English farmer be seeking for them three thousand miles distant ? Doubtless it must be owing to the difference in climate— in soil, and in the mode of ap- plication. In England, the climate is very much more moist than ours, and therefore more favourable to their use. In our high dry soils, where there is a scarcity of acids, the bones in their natural state, can not be expected to act favorably, inasmuch as they are very insoluble— or in the language of Spooner in his Prize Essay— extremely indigestible. Now it seems to us, that an exceedingly interesting and valuable hint, of altogether a practical character in relation to this matter, may be gathered from the following re- marks, taken from the last number of Coleman's Tour. Let us avail ourselves of every means to retain oa our soil, the thousands of tons which we have long been in the practice of exporting, to add to the an- nual fertility of England's fields. Let us rather make the article available for ourselves, and export the eat- able material.— Ed. Bones, broken and ground, have been a long time employed as manure in England, and with wonderful efficacy. Indeed, the extraordinary improvements in some parts of the country have been wholly ascribed to the application of bones. It was found, like- wise, contrary to all expectations, that bones which had been through the hands of the soap-boiler, and from which all the animal and gelatinous matter had been thus ab- stracted, and that even bones which had been calcined, were of equal efficacy with those which were applied in a green state, and fully charged with animal matter. It was also ascertained that bones applied as a manure, beyond a certain point, were not efficacious in proportion to the quantity ap- plied; and that sixty bushels of bones to an acre, produced no more beneficial cfi^ect than sixteen or twenty. Here experience and inquiry were confounded, and here science came triumphantly to their aid. No. 7. Bone Dust — Phosphate of Lime. 211 Upon examination, it was ascertained that what gave the efficacy to bones was the phosphorus contained in them, connected with an acid. It was not ascertained that the animal portion of the bones was of no importance ; but it was slower in its effects, i n ameliorating the soil, than the inorganic portion of the bones ; and that what was mainly important, in the application of bones, was to supply this inorganic portion in a form that it should speedily be taken up. In an ordinary state, this phosphorus was com- bined with lime, in such proportions that it was not easily dissolved : but, Professor Liebig, to whom agricultural science is so greatl}' indebted, discovered that, by the ap- plication of sulphuric acid to the bones, a portion of this lime would be abstracted, and go into another form ; and a salt would be left containing a much larger proportion oi pliosphorus, — and so called the super-phos- phate of lime, — which was soluble in wa- ter, and would be at once taken up by the plant. " Phosphate of lime is a substance very difficult of solution : and thus, in a very dry season, the effects of bones are slight and imperfect. Super-phosphate of lime, on the other hand, is extremely soluble, so much so that the vitriolized bones can be entirely dissolved or suspended in water, and thus applied. This at once explains the cause of the valuable properties of the preparation. The bones in their natural state are ex- tremely indigestible; the acid cooks them — converts them into a species of soup, which can readily be eaten and digested by the young turnips. The adamantine fetters, with which the various elements composing bones are bound so compactly together, are by means of this new agent burst asun- der— the compact is broken, and each con- stituent element is left to pursue its own course, arid exercise its own natural affini- ties."* The effects of this preparation of the bones has answered every expectation ; and where before sixteen and twenty bushels of bones were applied to an acre, in the growth particularly of turnips, four bushels, pre- pared with sulphuric acid, are found now to be even more effectual. The advantages of such a preparation are very great, — first, in stimulating and forwarding the growth of the plant; next, in the cheapness of the appli- cation; and next, in its so forcing the plant, as soon to place it beyond the reach of the fly, which never attacks it after the third leaf is formed. *Spooner'3 Prize Essay. Journal of tlie Royal Ag- ricultural Society, vol. vji. p. 1. The best mode of preparing the manure has been matter of various experiments, and deserves inquiry from the acrid nature of the acid employed — the oil of vitriol. Mr. Pusey advises, to erect a heap of fine mould, and, forming a basin or crater in the centre, to place the amount of bones to be dissolved in it, and to apply gradually an amount of sulphuric acid equal to half the weight of the bone.^, which, after a short time, will completely dissolve them; and then, shovel- ling and mixing the mould together, the manure will all be in a condition to be dis- tributed by a machine in the drills prepared for sowing the turnip seed. Mr. Tennant, of Shields, one of the best farmers in Scotland, puts twenty-five bush- els of bones into three old iron boilers, and next pours in two bottles of acid, containing one hundred and seventy pounds each, and adds eighteen gallons of water to each boiler. In a day or two they empty the con- tents of the boilers into two cart-loads of light mould, with which it is thoroughly in- termixed ; and, being turned over three or four times, after seVen or eight weeks the compost becomes dry and mealy, and can be spread by the hand. Mr. Spooner advises to place the bones in a hogshead, and pour the acid upon them at the rate of one third of the weight of the bones in acid, that is, to one hundred and eighty pounds of bones sixty pounds of acid ; and, after it becomes sufficiently dis- solved, to mix it with ashes, and apply it in that form. He recommends, likewise, that, first of all, the acid should be mixed with one fourth of its weight of water, or perhaps half as much water as acid, which will raise it to the temperature of 300° Fahr., and will much assist the dissolving process. Too much care cannot be taken to guard against the effects of the acid upon the clothes or skin of the operator. The beneficial effects of this application are now beyond question. Mr. Spooner cites a case in which two bushels of vitriolized bones, with ashes, gave as good a crop as sixty bushels of bones unprepared. To Swede turnips it seems more congenial and efficient than to white turnips. Where the crop of turnips is of so much importance as here, this discovery is of immense conse- quence. Whether it will be equally benefi- cial to other crops, — to wheat or grain crops, — is to be decided by further trials. The experiments reported by one farmer, in re- ference to a crop of carrots the second year after its application, and to a field sown with barley one year after its application, showed most decidedly, so far, its permanent I beneficial influence. 212 Improvement in Axles — Hints to Farmers — Plant Trees. Vol. XI. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Improvement in Axles. I have believed that an advantage would result from calling the attention of your numerous readers, to an improvement in AXLES, which has recently been invented, and which in my humble opinion, is likely to form a new era in wagon, and carriage making. The inventor, Isaac Slack, of Avondale, Chester county, Pa., has secured the invention by letters patent; and al- though from the very liberal views of some, we might infer that they would disapprove this course, — yet the decided advantages likely to result from the improvement, and the circumstances under which the disco- very was made, render in the view of his friends, an ample apology for this course. I will here briefly refer the reader to some of the advantages claimed by the inventor for this construction. And although there is here and there a chance individual, who, from prejudice, or from other motives, very difficult to appreciate, will strenuously oppose the introduction of this improvement — yet I firmly believe, that every man who has fairly examined it, is in candour com- pelled to yield the validity of these preten- sions. 1st. The friction is much lessened. The axles revolve with the wheels; each wheel having its separate axle or spindle extend- ing to the centre of the machine ; thus the leverage of the spindles is equal to half the length of the ordinary axle, or about two and a half feet, instead of six to twelve inches, as is generally the case. So that by this contrivance, the hind, or friction on the spindles, occasioned by sideling ground, or side motion, is diminished to less than one sixth part of that exerted in the com mon hub. 2nd. The noise and waste of oil, occa sioned by the play of wheels hung by the usual method, is entirely avoided ; for by this improvement, they may at all times be kept free, yet so tight as to make no noise in running. 3rd. All dust or sand is effectually ex- cluded from the boxes. 4th. A wagon constructed on this plan, may be oiled at any time, whether loaded or empty, by the simple process of pouring it in from a can. 5th. The oil having no access to the out end of the hub, a disagreeable collection of grease and dirt is avoided, and a neat and graceful finish introduced in its stead. 6th. The hub is of cast iron, and subject to no friction, and is therefore almost im- perishable. The mortices may be made larger and the spokes driven tighter, than can be done in wooden ones ; and the tenons of the spokes are eflectually protected from the oil ; thus making a stronger, and much more lasting wheel. These are undoubted advantages, which combine in this new construction, to form a compact, simple, neat, and durable machine. 1 will here add for the satisfaction of any reader feeling an interest in this matter, that several carriages and wagons of differ- ent weights, are in use, and being made by the inventor in his vicinity; and a reference to which will I trust satisfy any one that the above is in no wise too highly wrought. A Friend to Improvement. Chester co., Pa., Feb. 4, 1847. Hints to Farmers. — The farmer's life is shunned by many because it seems one of mindless drudgery. It ought not so to be. If our farmers would study and reflect more, they might do less hard labour, and yet ac- complish more in the course of a year. Ten hours' work in summer, and eight in winter, ought, with good management, to give any man a good living. He who works so hard that he cannot read or reflect after the la- bours of the day are over, because of fatigue, does not plan wisely. Let no man shun work when work is to be done ; delve, delve, forever, is not the end of man's life. The farmer's evenings should be devoted to men- tal acquirement and rational enjoyment. To sup and tumble into bed is a hog's fashion, and highly injurious to health. But let a farmer have about him the choicest works of his own auxiliary avocations; let these form the subject of study and conversations at least two evenings in a week, while the newspaper, the newest and oldest volume, each have their allotted seasons. Two or three dollars, contributed by each family in a neighbourhood or district, would go a great way in the purchase of standard books at modern prices. These are but hints which each reader will modify as his judg- ment shall suggest. I plead only for the essential thing of making home pleasant, and its hours of relaxation, hours of instruc- tion also. H. Greely. Plant Trees. — Plant trees everywhere, we say : let them shade our streets, and grow wherever there is room for them. Especially plant them in the country, where open fields will admit, and be sure that in the end they will surprise the planter by their growth whilst he and his cliiklren are sleeping! In evidence of this, let us quote an anecdote to the purpose. It is related of a farmer in Long Island, that he planted an No. 7. Surplus of Salem County — Mildew. 213 ordinary field of fourteen acres, with suckers from the locust (a native of this country) in the year of his marriage, as a portion for his children. His eldest son married at twenty- two. On this occasion the farmer cut about fifteen hundred dollars worth of timber out of his locust wood, which he gave to his son to buy a settlement in Lancaster county. Three years after he did as much for his daughter. And thus he provided for his whole family; the wood in the mean time repairing by suckers all the losses it suf- fered.— Boston Transcript. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Surplus of Salem County. The following statement compiled by Ro- bert G. Johnson of Salem, for the Historical Society of New Jersey, showing the large amount of surplus produce obtained from the. soil of Salem County, during the year 184.5, over and above the amount consumed, I ex- tract from the National Standard of Salem. The extent of the County is only three hun- dred square miles, and the number of inha bitants 16,024 in 1840; since that time there has probably been some increase. Exports of Salem County for the year 1845:— Wheat, 68,919 bush. 90 cts. $62,027.10 Corn, 386,254 " 50 " 193,127.00 Oats, 174,574 " 31 J " 54,117.94 Buckwh't, 6,000 " 60 " 3,600.00 Rye, 2,322 « 60 " 1,392.00 Amount, 638,069 Hay, straw and brooms, Meat of various kinds, Grass seeds, Truck and fruit of all kinds, Ship timber and productions of the forest, more than $314,264.04 28,400.00 83,325.00 17,500.00 67,975.00 $511,464.04 200,000.00 Total exports, $711,464.04 The corn crop of the year 1846 has been perhaps the heaviest ever grown in Salem County, and the oat crop much heavier than in 184-5. The surplus for the year 1846 will probably reach near a million of dollars, and the productions are rapidly on the in- crease. D. P. Salem, N. J. We have long known Salem County, as among the most prolific in New Jersey. With abundance of tide meadow; a soil easy of tillage and naturally good, the farmers have made large quantities of manure, which has brought up their lands to a high state of pro ductiveness. The facility of obtaining lime, and the free use of extensive marl beds, have also been seized upon and improved till the surplus of her soil amounts as we see above, to nearly four dollars per acre: or, deducting the amount of timber, to something less than three dollars. The aggregate spared from this small County, seems large, especially to us who know that no inconsiderable portion of it is still unim- proved by tillage: but we believe that Salem County need not, and that she will not, stop short and be sat- isfied with this aggregate:— let her double it,— and when that is done, she may shake herself to further exertion, and double it again.— Ed. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Mildew. The following opinions on mildew, gather- ed from various sources, and modified by my own observations, I offer for publication. Mildew is a parasitic fungus growing upon the culms, sheaths and leaves of grasses, particularly wheat. Plants of the large sub-class /«n^z, are many of them very mi- nute, and vary so much from other plants in their growth and fructification, that some persons doubt their organization as vege- table bodies: and the mildew or fungus, growing on wheat, being one of the minute fungi, not capable of being examined well, except under a high magnifying power, it is by many believed to be an exudation of the sap from the stalk, arising from disease. Tlie office of plants of this class, seems to be to hasten the destruction of vegetable matter; for from the time that the energies of vegetable life decline, until the body has been nearly reduced into its elements, some of the many species of fungi, are engaged in the work of destruction, if in situations fa- vourable for their growth and production; but when the principle of life in vegetables, is vigorous and healthy, the fungi seldom succeed in obtaining a place upon them. That plants of this class will grow, and that they can be cultivated and propagated, if not by' true seed, yet by their sporules, or by parts of their substance, may be shown by the culture of the common edible mush- room, Agaricus Campestris, a fungus of sufficient size for examination — this mush- room is raised by the gardeners for market, with about as much certainty as other vege- tables, by introducing the spawn or gills of this species of mushroom into a bed of earth and manure properly prepared ; for a de- scription of the process, see M'Mahon's Gar- dening,*— "Kitchen Garden in October." Another instance may be made the subject of experiment. The mouldiness sometimes found on bread, is a fungus ; take two pieces of bread not sufficiently baked, put one of *Sce also Farmers' Cabinet, vol. 10, page 29. 214 Mildew. Vol. XL them in a clean cupboard, in which there is no mouldiness, in the summer season — and put the other at the same time in a similar place, but near or in connection with a piece of mouldy bread ; it will be found that the mouldiness will be sooner and more abun- dantly communicated to the latter. That both will become mouldy at length is true, because in the season that this fungus will grow, its sporules will be conveyed by the atmosphere in small quantity, but the mouldiness will be completed much sooner when the sporules are furnished at first in quantity. In plants that flower once, bear seed, and die, including annual and biennial plants, of which wheat is one, the,^ital energy begins to decrease shortly aftef the formation of the seeds and before its ripening ; the absorb- ents of the root cease to draw any support from the earth; the lower part of the culm or straw, becomes ripe, rigid and sapless, whilst the upper part remains of a green colour, and full of juices, which pass gradu- ally from below upward, into the ears or seeds; the straw gradually ripening upward, as the sap in the straw goes, (probably by capillary attraction) to perfect the grain. The mildew is frequently found upon wheat before, or at the time of flowering, when the stalk and sheath being in a vig- orous growing state, do not suffer from it, and it obtains no hold upon them ; but the leaves having fulfilled their purpose, are weak and become mildewed; the only dam- age is, that the sporules are remaining on the dead leaves in such quantity as greatly to peril the crop, if circumstances favour- able to their growth should take place, when the straw becemes weakened before ripening, and I very much doubt whether in any case, a field becomes entirely discol- oured with mildew in half a day as some- times happens, except the leaves and sheaths, had been mildewed previously. The particular fungus called mildew in England, has been figured and illustrated by Joseph Banks, President of the Royal So- ciety, by coloured plates much magnified, showing its growth, form, action and devel- opement, and exhibiting the insertion of its root-like appendages among the vessels of the culm — this work, an octavo of a few pages, I have not seen for years; and it is probably scarce. It is in the Philadelphia Library, No. 3759. I do not remember the name given by Banks to the species described, but I believe we have two species known as rust or mil- dew. I have not examined them for some years, having given up microscopical e.v- aminations, except in cases of great neces- sity. I find in Eaton's manual of Botany, two species marked as rust; viz. Puccinia graminis and Uredo linearis. For the production of mildew on wheat, it is necessary — 1. That the growth of the wheat through age, poverty, or disease, be weak and not vigorous. — 2. That the spo- rule or seed of the mildew be present. — 3. That from rain, or heavy dew, so much moisture be present as will enable the spo- rule to adhere to the culm. — 4. That the heat be sufficient for its growth. When all these circumstances are present, the growth of the mildew on the straw is rapid, as the colour of the straw is changed in a short time — but several hours elapse before the root-like processes of the mildew, inserted between the plates and tubes of the culm, are so large as to compress the vessels of the culm and prevent the ascent of the sap. As an evidence of this, it will be found possible to clean the straw by rubbing or vvashmg. But after a short time the root- like processes, force themselves through the plates and tubes of the straw, preventing any movement of the sap. The stalk re- tains its green colour, and does not ripen — the grain receives no further addition from the sap — the soft part evaporates and shriv- els— and the injury seems to be nearly irre- parable. The only mode of relief that I have heard proposed, is to cut the grain im- mediately when dry, bind it up, put it in close shocks, and let it stand till dry. I have tried this twice, and can only draw upon my memory for the result, once with partial success, and once without any: the weather succeeding being not entirely dry. I still believe, that if the straw and grain were clear of any wet except the sap, and the process of cutting and shocking care- fully done, and the weather should remain dry for a week, that the wheat would ripen, and it is well established, that no advantage is obtained by letting it stand uncut after being mildewed. We can easily conceive, that if the mildew is a fungus of the na- ture of a mushroom, the close compression in the sheaf and the exclusion of light and air, may destroy it ; and when that is done, the compression on the culm may cease, and the attraction of the sap to the head be resumed. It is now known that Indian corn cut before it is entirely ripe, and put in shocks, continues to ripen for a considerable time. The poisonous nature of many species of fungi — their action on the salivary glands, and the suddenness of their appearance, lead me to suspect that the slavering of horses No. 7. Large Hogs. — Observations on the Potatoe Disease. 215 at pasture, in some seasons, is owing to this or some other species of fungus on the grass. A belief has long existed in this coun- try, and in most countries of Europe, that wheat growing near to a barberry bush — Barheris Vulgaris — is liable to blight or mildew, and I have for years suspected, that a fungus usually found on the barberry, ap- pearing like a black speck on the smallest branches, is the same that is found on the wheat. It would give me much pleasure if some person fond of microscopical observa- tions, would examine it, and prove the truth or falsity of my suspicion. If the foregoing views are correct, the means of preventing mildew upon wheat, so far as it can be prevented, will be those that shall cause a healthful and vigorous growth, of which suitable and sufficient ma- nures, draining and culture, are the most effective — and no land should be sown with- out such culture and manure — for if a part of the crop should become so weak as to be mildewed early — then the sporiiles or seeds thence derived, are always ready to be placed in destructive activity, when the other circumstances are favourable thereto. Alan W. Corson. Montgomery co.. Pa., For the Farmers' Cabinet. Large Hogs of the Chester Co. breed. To THE Editor, — In a letter received from my friend John Worth, Jr., of Chester County, he gives the following account of the weight of four hogs recently slaugh- tered, raised and fed by Moses S. Carpen- ter, a neighbour of his : — The largest barrow, 653^ lbs. " second " 647^ " third " 523i " fourth (a sow) 465^ Total, 2290 lbs. They wanted six days of being twenty- one months old. The sow has had two lit- ters of pigs — the last of which were weaned only twenty-four days before she was slaugh- tered. Mr. Worth was not present at the time of weighing them, but supposes it to have been done correctly. He adds that he had estimated their weight at 2300 lbs. Respectfully, &c., Aaron Clement. Philadelphia. Jan. 28th, 1847. The above were certainly four noble grunters, and had reason to be proud of themselves. Even in a pen of sixty hogs lately killed by Isaac Woolston, the steward of the Burlington County Poorhouse, in New Jersey, they would have made themselves conspicu- ous. These sixty, as we learn from the Mount Holly Mirror, weighed 24,131 lbs., making an average of 402 lbs. The largest weighed 542,— the smallest 304 lbs.— Ed. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Observations on the rotatoe Disease. Mr. Editor, — I have already given you some of the results of my observations on the potatoe disease. I will now give you others. You are aware that there are those who hold, that the potatoe disease is caused by the hot weather. I will make an eflbrt to show what influence the heat has upon the disease, and thus add another proof of the truth of^ my theory. I noticed, this season, after the disease had well commenced, when we had a few very hot days, that the disease progressed much faster, and threatened to destroy every potatoe in this neighbourhood that was exposed to it ; but afler a few days the weather became cooler, and being some- what dry, the disease was checked, and a portion of the crop was saved. Now there must be a cause for this, and I will attempt to show that cause. In order that decay should progress, it is necessary that a certain quantity of heat and moisture should be present. The more of these, the more rapid will be the decay. The products of this decay are carbonic acid, &,c. When the weather was very hot, there was sufficient moisture in the ground and in the air for the purposes of decay. During the night the moisture in the air would be precipitated in large quantities upon the plants, and in the morning there would be a heavy dew. These circum- stances, then, being highly favourable for rapid decay, all those plants which had al- ready seeded, (and there were a host of them,) and had commenced decaying, now rotted very fast, and filled the air with car- bonic acid gas. This supply so vitiated the air, and rendered it so unwholesome, that a large portion of our population became af- flicted with fever and ague, bilious fever, intermittent fever, and other diseases, so much as to check, in a great degree, the business operations of the community. Many kinds of plants, also, suffered severely, but particularly the potatoes — they rotted very fast. Shortly after the weather became cooler — a portion of the carbonic acid be- came absorbed by the forest trees and other living plants, and the conditions essential for decay not being present in so large quanti- ties, the decay progressed more slowly, making the supply of carbonic acid not so great. The beneficial effect was almost immediately felt by the potatoes — thoy suf- 316 Alderney Cows. — Labor. Vol. XI. fered less, and the drought continuing, and the weather remaining cool, the disease was almost entirely stopped. Nor was the bene- ficial influence of the cool air and drought felt alone by the vegetable creation. Our population becnmc healthier, and we now hear of comparatively few cases of descase. And what remains of the fruit and other crops have ripened finely and been gathered in good order. Chemico, Wilkesbarie, Oct. 20, 1846. Alderney Cows. Some gentlemen have not thought the Alderney cow handsome ; but in truth, she is the handsomest of cows for the dairy, al- though she may not fill the eye like a tho- rough-bred Durham, in good condition, so much esteemed by every experienced dairy- man ; yet there are thousands of families who want one or two cows, rich in milk and butter, mild, gentle, and intelligent, on ex- cellent terms witli the milk-maid, and the Alderney, of all others, is the coiv. She is well adapted for the lady of a snug rural mansion, and all dairymen would find it to their interest to keep two pure Alderneys to every twelve cows, the advantages of which are well understood in some parts of Scotland, and perhaps a dairy of twenty well-chosen animals of this breed would compete with any twenty cows in the United State?, when butter of superior qual- ity fetches a good price. In short, the finest specimen of an Alderney is a true emblem of a milch cow, and any person keeping this breed merely for the dairy, who once gets one, feeds and treats her properly, will never be without one. A good Alderney cow in Jersey, is ex- pected to yield 7 lbs. of butter a week, and many have been known to produce double that quantity for a short period. Some give from IG to 18 quarts of milk per day, dur- ing the months of May and June; and I was told of numerous instances of cows which yielded frcm 10 to 14 lbs. of butter each, in a week. Major Barns, the Gov- ernor, informed me that he had a cow which gave 25 quarts of milk a day ; but ordinary cows did not average more than 10 quarts a daj'^, yielding 7 lbs. of butter, each, in a week. It was stated, that, in summer, 9 or 10 quarts of milk would produce a pound of butter, and, in winter, when the cows are parsnip-fed, the same quantity of butter may be obtained from 7 quarts. The general average yield of each cow, old and young, is rather more than 36.5 lbs. of butter in a year, or about 8 quarts of milk per day. The cows there, are universally tethered, and are moved, watered, and milked, three times a day. They are fed principally on lucern or clover, but the quality of their butter is never considered so good, when thug fed as when they range on a natural pasture. The milk, when strained stands at about 10 inches deep in the vessel, till the cream has all risen, which usually occupies three days in summer ; and in winter, in order to hasten its rising, the vessels are covered and placed on the hearth at bed-time. Con- sequently, skimming is never performed but once, and then not before the milk has be- come coagulated or turned sour. In the operation of skimming, the cream is first detached from the edge of the vessel all round, and then is raised up together, as much as possible, and by inclining the whole mass over the vessel intended to receive the cream, the latter will sometimes slip off at once from the coagulated milk. At the bottom of the vessel there is a small hole stopped with a peg, which is occasionally withdrawn, in order to drain off the serous or watery portion of the milk, and thereby separate it from the cream. — American Ag» riculluralist. Labor. — It is labor which puts the great- est value upon land, without which it would scarcely be worth any thing; it is to that we owe the greatest part of all its useful pro- ducts: for allow the straw, bran bread, of that acre of wheat is more worth than the product of an acre of as good land, which lies waste, is ail the effect of labor ; for it is not barely the ploughman's pains, the reaper's and thresher's toil, and the baker's labor, that is to be counted into the bread we eat; the la- bor of those who broke the oxen^ who dio-ged and wrought the iron and stones, who felled and framed the timber employed about the plough, mill, even, or any other utensils, which are a vast number, requisite to this corn, from its being seed to be sown, to its being made bread, must all be charged on the account of labor, and received as an ef- fect of that; nature and the earth furnished only the almost worthless materials, as in themselves. It would be a strange catalogue of things, that industry provided and made use of, about every loaf of bread, before it came to our use, if we could trace them ; iron, wood, leather, bark, timber, stone, bricks coals, lime, cloth, dyeing drugs, pitch, tar, masts, ropes, and all the materials made use of in the ship, that brought any of the com- modities made use of by any of the workmen to any part of the work ; all which it would be almost impossible, at least too Ion"-, to reckon up. — Locke. No. 7. Machine for Raisivg Water. 217 For the Farmers' Cabinet. Machine for Raising Water. I AM pleased to find by the frequent notice taken of Montgolfier's Hydraulic Ram, in the. agricultural newspapers and magazines short leg of the syphon and descend the leg B D, in a continual stream, with a force am- ply sufficient to set the machine in opera- tion. In this manner, by employing a syphon instead of a straight pipe, conducting from of the North, that this simple, effective, andlthe pond or spring to the ram, a fall of six inexpensive machine, is likely to be here-|'or twelve inches, which would not aflbrd after more generally used for the purpose of sufficient power to work the ram, may be raismg water. It is a matter of surprise that so beautiful a contrivance should have become so obsolete and neglected, as to be scarcely known except to the scientific. A few years ago, before these machines had come into use in the United States, 1 caused one to be constructed near Coving- ton, La. The fall of water requisite to work it being very small, I continued to in- crease it by the improvement which I am about to describe. A B D is a leaden pipe, bent into the form of a syphon and carried over the bough of a tree, the short leg A B resting in the; pond or spring that feeds the machine, and! the longer leg B D, conducting to and ter-' minating in the machine itself, which \s placed a few inches lower. C is a funnel communicating with the interior of the sy- phon through an air-tight three-way cock B, of the same calibre as the syphon itself At! A, under water, and at D, a few inches lower down than the end of the pipe at A, are stop-cocks, also of the same diameter as the interior of the pipe. The cocks A and D being closed, the cock at B is opened, so that water poured into the funnel C, will fill both legs of the: syphon. This being completely filled, the| cock B is turned so as to cut off" all commu- nication with the funnel, leaving the syphon etill open. The cocks at A and D are then opened simultaneously, when the water of increased in power so as to equal that of a jnatural fall of many feet. A fall of one ifoot or more may be obtained in any situa- tion, by partly burying the ram, so as to place it lower than the feeding reservoir; and the escape of the waste water will not impede the working of the valves, for I have made it work at a depth of two feet under water, by simply lightening the escape-valve at H, of a part of its weight. A fall of five or six feet, is amply sufficient for all ordinary purposes. The power will, of course, be in proportion to the perpendicular height of the syphon; which cannot, however, be made to act, if its elevation exceeds thirty-two feet. This will give a power of 14 pounds to the square inch, if merely the dead pressure be taken info consideration, but a much greater power if the momentum of the descending column of water be calculated. The forcing power of the air vessel, like the power of a Eramah press, will increase in proportion to the enlargement of its horizontal area. An air vessel twelve inches square, with a head of 32 feet, would exert a power on the wa- ter within it greatly exceeding 2000 pounds. For the information of those unacquainted with the machine, it may iiere be well to sketch briefly its operation. Suppose B D H to bo a pipe leading from an elevated spring to lower ground, and closed at the lowest end. H is a valve of leather, metal, wood, or caoutchouc, opening inwards and the spring immediately begins to enter thel|downwards, loaded with a small weight, and 218 hnprovement in Artificial Legs. Vol. XI. covering, when closed, a hole in the upper surface of the pipe. G is another valve opening- inwards and upwards into the air vessel E, from the lower part of which a and escaping- from it, drives up and closes smaller pipe, K J, conducts to the place to which the water is to be raised. The force of the current descending the pipe B D H, the valve H. The escape of the water at H being thus checked, it is compelled to re- coil and find an issue by raising the valve G, and forcing its way into the air vessel E. Meantime the valve H, relieved for a mo- ment of the rush and pressure of the water, is forced downward by its own weight and re-opens the hole. But the compression of the air occasioned by the water rushing into the vessel E, quickly shuts down the valve G, and forces a portion of the water in the vessel up the pipe K J, the only escape that it can have. The water rushing down from B, is thus driven again to seek egress at the valve H, until that valve is forced up by the current and closes the aperture, when the water again recoils and enters the air ves- sel through G; and is once more, when G is shut down by the compression of the air, driven to escape at H, which has re-opened by its own weight, while a part of the water left in the air vessel is forced by the expan- sion of the air up the pipe K J, in a contin- ual stream to its destination. This process continues until accident or wear stops the working of the valves. The valves make from 25 to 80 regular and measured strokes per minute, and are set in motion by press- ing down the valve at H. My first machine was made entirely of wood, including the air vessel, and worked well. But when the syphon was applied and the descending current set the valves in motion, so great was the power obtained that the machine burst with an explosion like that of a swivel. The perpendicular height of the syphon when this experiment was tried, might have been about ]0 or 12 feet. Another put together more strongly, with cross-bolts and rivets of iron, withstood the pressure, although the water was forced through the pores of the wood and stood like dew on the outside. I believe that Hydraulic Rams are now manufactured of cast iron by Reeves, who had seen my wooden machine at work in 1843 or '44, and afterwards took out a patent. He has the credit, and I hope, the profit, of first introducing it into general use. This invention dates from 1796, and due to one of the brothers Montgolfier, who invented the air balloon. My adaptation of the syphon — a device entirely my own — merely renders it more eflTective, and en- ables it to be used in almost any situation, avoiding the expense of high dams and large ponds to create a head of water. The height to which the machine can raise fluids, is probably limited only by the power of valves and pipes to resist the pressure. A mode- rate sized one has been made to send water to a perpendicular height of 300 feet. H. H. Strawbridge. New Orleans, Jan. ]st, 1847. Improvement in Artificial Legs. This is the title of a most ingenious in- vention, for which letters patent were grant- ed to Benjamin F. Palmer, of Meredith, New Hampshire, November 4th, 1846. Mr. Palm- er's Artificial Leg cannot be spoken of in terms of too high praise, it has received the unqualified admiration of gentlemen of the medical profession, and of every skilful ma- chinist who has examined it, for the simpli- city of its construction, and the perfection of its movements. The inventor having had the misfortune to lose one of his legs, — am- putated above the knee — made use of vari- ous artificial substitutes therefor, and finding how very imperfect they were — the joints clumsy in their articulation — inclined to creak and get rickety — presenting an un- natural and unseemly contour, as they were operated, with gaps and rough edges for the destruction of the clothing encasing them : he resolved on trying to invent something better and more perfect. His mechanical ingenuity, aided by ex- perimental tests, produced the artificial leg and foot for which he has obtained a patent. To give an idea of its perfection, I would remark that Mr. Palmer visited Washington during the sitting of the great "National Fair," last spring, wearing one of his own artificial legs; and that no one had the least suspicion of his being supported and walk- ing on other than natural and handsomely proportioned limbs : the articulation of the joints was so perfect, and he managed his artificial limb with such freedom, that only a slight limp could be detected in his gait. The joints preserve a smooth and natural contour in all positions — not straining or in- juring a silk stocking at the toe or ankle joints; they make no noise in their move- ments, and can be used for years without re- quiring repair. A foot and leg, to be applied above the knee, is composed of only seven parts: it will therefore be perceived that its mechanical construction is remarkably sim- ple.— Eureka, No. 7. Agricultural Address. 219 Address Of Hon. Morris Longstreth, before the Jeffersonville Agricultural Association, of Montgomerrj county, Pa. In rising to address the "Jeffersonville Agricultural Association," you will allow me to express my hearty congratulations, that you have at length followed the exam- ple of the intelligent of other States and countries, by making an united effort in the great cause of agricultural improvement. " /rt union there is strength;''^ and this axiom is especially applicable to the tillers of the soil, who, from the nature of their employment, must habitually live and la- bour, in a measure isolated — and therefore eminently feel the necessity of stated meet ings, to discuss matters appertaining to this greatest of all temporal interests. In thus associating, you have not only consulted your true advantage, but you have also followed the instinct of the age, in con- centrating the light of many intellects on a given point; and for the benefit of others, it may be suggested that your deliberations in future should be recorded, and transmitted for publication to some agricultural journal. In this facility of preserving facts by print- ing, lies our greatest advantage over past generations, and the germ of improvement in all time to come ; for no hand can write, no tongue can tell, what sublime discoveries in the science of agriculture, may have per- ished with the myriads who have gone be- fore us, from the period when the command went forth, " In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread." For in the midst of his toils, the agriculturist may derive new vigor to his nerve and new strength to his arm, from the reflection, tiiat his occupation, blended with that of the herdsman, has been especially appointed to man, as the condition of his existence, by the fiat of his Creator. Labour, moreover, has been blessed by Heaven; and the enjoyment of Paradise it- self, without the occupation of the faculties bestowed upon him, was totally incompati- ble with the happiness of man. This is proven by the fact, that when he was cre- ated and placed in the garden of Eden, he was not to eat the fruits of idleness, but he was enjoined "to dress it and to keep it." It is therefore an ordinary error to imagine that the necessity of labour involves also an onerous burden ; — whereas, all whose fate it is to have no occupation, are among the most miserable of mankind. Idleness on the one hand, and excessive labour on the other, constitute the extremes, and which is the greater evil of the two, is a problem very difficult of solution. The happy medium is moderate labour and an adequate reward; and this condition, which incidentally in- cludes sufficient leisure for the cultivation of the social relations, literary pursuits, and po- litical duties, is attained in this common- wealth, as perfectly as under any system of government with which we are acquainted, ancient or modern. Labour, being of divine institution, and necessary to the well-being of man, is there- fore honourable; and as nations emerge from barbarism to the light of civilization, tliis truth is fully recognized. And while we accord to the manufacturer, the mechanic, and the miner, the reward due to their use- ful pursuits, it will not be forgotten, that to the tiller of the soil they owe the very staff of life, and that his vocation lies at the root of human existence. Pre-eminently honourable, therefore, be- cause pre-eminently useful, is the life of the honest farmer; and if he ever should be tempted to repine at bis lot, and covet the luxuries of city life, let him beware of the thorn that lies concealed under the gaudy exterior of fashion ; and of the vices that lurk in the precincts and purlieus of our cities. Of the vicissitudes of mercantile af- fairs, I can speak with the advantage of much personal experience in earlier life; and may safely say of my own knowledge, that of every ten individuals who devote themselves to commerce, under the credit system, not more than one is eventually successful. Let him remember, on the other hand, that in the refined, but highly artificial state of society in our cities, our most eminent citizens propose to themselves, as the appropriate reward for editorial, legal and medical ability, artistic merit, and mer- cantile success, an evening of existence, de- voted to the innocent, natural and pure en- joyment of life in the country. Cato says, — and we can have no higher Pagan authority, — " That the country man has fewer bad thoughts, and as his property binds him to the state, not so much as a pledge, but by the stronger and better ties of feeling; so it is natural that a labour wholesome to the body, whose powers it keeps in exercise; and not performed in gloomy dwellings, but in the unrestricted life of nature, in the sunshine and the storm, should preserve the mind in perfect sound- ness, and thereby cherish a sobriety and acuteness of observation, a calm and unbi- assed judgment. The free country man, who cultivates and reaps his own field, en- joys in the progress of the seasons, and the nature of his employments, an ever-varying and liberal relaxation, without which it is 220 Agricultural Address. Vol. XL almost impossible that soal and body can be maintained in unbroken soundness." In the present enlightened state of the public mind, it is requisite that we cultivate the intellect as well as the soil ; and restore to our profession a shadow of its ancient dignity; when prophets, poets, and states- men, gloried in an art which has been trampled upon and despised, only in ages of ignorance and barbarism. There is in fact no better standard, by which to measure the intelligence of a people, than to observe the estimate which is placed on agricultural pur- suits. Illustrations from classical literature, as well as sacred history, crowd upon us at this juncture. All the polished heathen na- tions of antiquity placed agriculture under the special superintendence of some favour- ite deity. The Isis of the Egyptians, and the Ceres and Proserpine of the Greeks and Romans, presided over every production of the hus- bandman: and the beautiful allegory of the retirement of Proserpine to the shades of Pluto, for half the year, typified the dormant condition of nature in winter, and her re- turn, its brilliant revival in spring. Abra- ham, David and Elisha, the latter of whom was found ploughing in his field, with a yoke of oxen, are sufficient e.xamples of the prac- tice of the Hebrews. Hesiod, the contem- porary of Homer, wrote in its praise, and Xenophon, one of the great names of anti- quity, not only was a farmer, but the author of a beautiful account of rural life 2,200 years ago. The Romans practised the arts of tillage, with a zeal only secondary to their military pursuits, as the example of Cincinnatus, and the writings of Cato, Colu- mella, and Virgil, sufficiently attest. There cannot be a better illustration of the honour attached by the Persians to the art of agri- culture, than the account given of the inter- view between the younger Cyrus and the Greek General, Lysander, who being led by Cyrus through his grounds: "All these," said the Persian, " I have myself planned, and even planted many of the trees with my own hands;" and when the Spartan General replied, by an incredulous glance at his splendid robes and chains, and armlets of gold, he sware to him by Mithras as a good servant of Ormuzd, that he never tasted food till he had fatigued himself by labour. Tradition has rescued from oblivion and transmitted to us, the rudiments of almost all we yet know and practice, notwithstand- ing much that must have been lost. The remains of ancient sculpture and pictures, also help to enlighten us, and it is interest- ing to view the first rude attempts in form- ing the hoe, spade, reaping hook, and plough. The plough, especially, exhibits every grade of improvement, from the wooden beam, with a hard knot for a coulter, down to the efficient and scientific implement manufac- tured in this village by your friend and neighbour, Seth I. Roberts. The tyro in agriculture may also be sur- prised and enlightened by the discovery, from the few agricultural works that have come down to us, that nearly all our ordi- nary manures were well known to the an- cients. This is sufficiently exemplified by a description of a Roman manure heap that would do no discredit to our own times: " Almost every material capable of decom- position, which modern science or experi- ence has suggested, animal, vegetable, or mineral, was carried to the manure heap. Their manure yards were slightly hollowed and paved at the bottom." They were also favourable to ploughing under green crops ; drill husbandry was in full operation, and threshing machines were invented more than two thousand years ago. Though we do not find any direct mention of plaster, yet the use of lime was common in various nations. Thus it will be seen, notwithstand- ing our astonishing strides in other branches of knowledge, which consists, however, chiefly in the combination and application of well known principles, — yet that in the science of agriculture, we are still in our infancy. We are indebted for much that has been handed down, to the monasteries of the mid- dle ages; whose sacred character preserved them from the violence of the feudal Barons, in whose libraries were sheltered the ancient books, and on whose lands were carried on almost all the agricultural operations that could be safely practised. In one important branch of our profession we are indeed far inferior to the Egyptians and Assyrians, and that is " irrigation." It is true, in this region, favoured by the late and early rains, we are not under the abso- lute necessity of following this system, though we know its benefits, from the high value of our watered meadows. In Egypt, there are yet rude attempts made to follow in the ancient track, by pumping the waters of the Nile into reservoirs and canals. But the system of artificial irrigation, was per- haps best understood in Mesopotamia, the land first inhabited by man ; a region famous for its early civilization and fertility. That country, lying between the Tygris and Eu- phrates, and which must have been the granary for the stupendous cities of Babylon and Nineveh, is now almost a desert, and its teeming population replaced by tribes of wandering Arabs. The happy situation of No. 7. Asricultural Address. 221 this region, and the circumstance of the bed of the Euphrates lying on a higher level than that of the Tygris, enabled the wise Chaldeans to open a perfect net-work of sluices and canals from the former river, which after irrigating the country, were ab- sorbed by the soil, or discharged into the Tygris. Even the use of the artificial grasses, which is sometimes claimed as a modern improvement, was familiar to the ancient farmers of Italy and the provinces, as we are informed by Gibbon ; particularly the Lucerne, which derived its name and origin from Media. Other descriptions of clover were no doubt introduced with the alternate system of husbandry, which must have ac- companied the seeding of the artificial grasses. Thus do we find ourselves forestalled, in the adoption of the artificial grasses and al- ternate husbandry; and there is reason to believe that we should rather regret our ig- norance of the methods of tillage practised by the ancients, than deplore their ignorance of our improvements. Lucerne is not yet fairly domesticated, and there are individuals yet living who have witnessed the introduc- tion of red clover into our system of rotation of crops. This great ameliorator, I was in- formed by the late James Vaux, was first imported and sown by him, on a farm in this vicinity, — now partly belonging to John Shearer, Esq., — previous to the American Revolution. From hence it rapidly spread throughout the State. Some years ago, I tried the experiment of importing white clover seed from Germany, in some parts of which country it is used instead of the red. It added much to the beauty of the pastures, but the excess of it was found too difficult to dry, when making hay. Our country likewise claims to have been the first in which plaster was introduced to stimulate crops. The venerable General Scheetz, now in his 84lh year, remembers when he was yet a boy, that a vessel arrived at the wharf in Philadelphia, containing some lumps of plaster among the ballast. A German pas- senger, having hired with a farmer in White- marsh, informed him of its virtues when ap- plied to grass; whereupon a specimen was procured, reduced to powder, and spread, with such benefit, as to insure for the fu- ture, a regular and constantly increasing demand. Farmers have been accused of parsimony; and are perhaps prone to err on the side of extreme caution, not only in reference to novel modes of tillag-e, but especially do they demur to the adoption of new and untried breeds of animals. This is not surprising, for the farmer has no superfluous cash to throw away on doubtful experiments. His money comes hard, and is held tight. To succeed in his business he must economize; moreover, experiments in farming are unlike those in chemistry or optics, whose results are instantaneous — they are the work of time ; and long years may be consumed in doubtful, or disastrous researches. Though every good farmer must possess habits of ac- curate observation, his attention is neverthe- less constantly distracted, by the various du- ties of the farm. He has seen speculations — that of the Morus Multicaulis, for instance — explode like the South Sea bubble. The introduction of Merino sheep, likewise, was an era of wild and ruinous speculation, which some of you may remember. Both of these experiments will probably result in permanent benefit to the interests of the country; but accompanied as they were, by so much individual suffering, it is too much to require us to repeat the dose very often. We are now invited to introduce the Alpaca from South America, on account of its supe- rior wool. From its history, and an exami- nation of a specimen now in the menagerie in Phikdelphia, it would appear to unite the characteristics of the sheep and camel. It has been introduced into Europe, and through the medium of a company formed in Boston, we may ere long add it to our list of domes- tic animals. It cannot be expected of individual farm- ers in this country, to perform a duty, which, if undertaken at all in foreign nations, is the work of government. An intelligent friend who travelled last summer through Spain, informs me that so attentive is that govern- ment to this object, that it has recently im- ported from Africa large herds of elephants and camels, to inhabit an extensive tract of waste land, on the banks of the Guadal- quiver. To these have been added, with more doubtful expediency, a species of tiger, comparatively harmless, for the sake of its brilliant skin : so that our amateurs need only visit the vicinity of Seville, to witness, as did my informant, the habits of some of these animals in a state of nature. Closely connected with our subject, I may mention on the same undoubted authority, that throughout Andalusia there is now a general revival of agriculture. The famous Vegas of Granada and Malaga are once more blooming gardens, as they were in the times of the Moors. The accumulated wa- ters of the hills, are during the day dammed up in reservoirs; and under the sujierin- tendence of a public officer, they are distri- buted through thousands of sluices, to irri- gate the fields at night. As a natural 222 Agricultural Address. 70L. XI. consequence of the revival of agriculture, navigation, commerce and manufactures, are again flourishing. This gentleman himself wore a beautiful cloth manufactured at Bar- celona. Spain has long been treated as a colony by England, for the production of wool, which England kindly undertook to manufacture and return to her, increased ten fold in value. The expulsion of Espar- tero broke this dependence, and if she can succeed in re-annexing Portugal, Gibraltar must follow. Then may the noble race, which produced a Gonsalvo de Cordova, and a Ponce de Leon, afler ages of oppression and apathy, again commence a career of prosperity, which was extinguished in the avalanche of gold and silver in the sixteenth century, from the new world. The most eligible mode, in our country, for the introduction of whatever is benefi- cial, would be the formation of a company, in some central position, for the establish- ment of Botanical and Zoological Gardens ; which, located in the vicinity of a great city, would soon pay their own expenses Here animals, as well as plants, might be gradually acclimated, and when proved by experience to be valuable, there would be no difficulty in getting them adopted by farmers. I am happy to be informed, that several liberal minded gentlemen of Phila- delphia have had such a plan in contempla- tion, to be carried into effect in the vicinity of that city. The formation of extensive libraries, is not the only method of diffusing knowledge among men ; and it is a subject of regret, that the Smithsonian Institute, at Washing- ton, connected as it is with Government, could not be made subservient to this vital interest. But, after all, gentlemen, it becomes us as intelligent men, whose prosperity depends upon our own efforts, to institute an inquiry as to the best method of obtaining the ways and means. We see ourselves beset with difficulties, but we do not labour like those without hope. Our greatest burden is ex- cessive taxation. This is indeed the burden of the farmers' song in all ages ; and arises from the fact that land can always be found, while money and jewels can always be con- cealed. Our legislature, aware of the in- justice done to the farmer, has made an effort to tax personals; we all know with what success. The interest of our public debt could readily be paid, if taxation was equal- ized in proportion to value and protection. But the operation is so much the more se- vere upon us; inasmuch as our taxes are en tailed upon us, to support canals and rail- roads, whcge principal business it is, to transport commodities which come in com- petition with, and reduce the price of our own productions. If it be true, as the poet says — that " Partial evil 's universal good," we must not complain. We do not dream of repudiation : but we demand of our bre- thren, for whose benefit we suffer, a just and honest equalization of the burden. So much for the present: and as a guarantee for the future, we propose an amendment to the constitution, requiring that the State shall contract no debt, without a special appropri- ation for its speedy extinction. On the other hand, it must be frankly ad- mitted that our advantages do much predom- inate. We have one of the best markets in the world, which takes at a fair price, every description of our surplus produce. We have a soil which only requires good management to be highly productive. We have the means of procuring manure, which is the very life of the land, in abundance. The duty on salt, an article so essential to the farmer — which was abolished in Eng- land in 1823, and which we have patiently borne for more than half a century — has re- cently been reduced. We have plaster at a price which is al- ways reasonable. Above all, we have lime at our doors, cheaper than it can be produced elsewhere. This is an immense advantage, of which we have not failed to profit. The high and increasing value placed upon lime, may be estimated, from a passage in a late work on calcareous manures, by an eloquent French author, M. Puvis. "The Supreme Being," says he, "appears to have placed lime everywhere, at the dis- posal of the industry of man : he has left him to labour in its employment and some- times in its preparation : but this is not an unrequited labour; for the established laws of vegetation almost always recompense him by excellent results," You are however practical farmers, and each one of you has, I doubt not, his own peculiar views about manuring the soil, ploughing the land, seeding wheat, and planting corn. "Many a time and oft" have you discussed the origin of mildew, smut and cheat. Amidst much diversity of opin- ion among farmers, you have perhaps never known a miller who would admit the dog- ma, that wheat could turn to cheat. In this, the millers are supported by the bota- nists; who assert that like produces like, all the world over. If, however, wheat will not produce cheat, it will be admitted that the seed of cheat like that of some other grasses, must lie dormant for generations; No. 7. JlsricuUural Address. 223 until ploughing' or other change of circum stances, produces vegetation. It would be a poor return for your kindness in inviting me this day to address you, were I to take advantage of my position, which by courtesy admits of no reply, to force upon you my crude ideas on these disputes "never end- voured to invite your attention to efforts made ing, still beginning." I have rather endea- in your noble calling in by-gone days. In taking a short review of our principal crops, it will be necessary to refer to my own opinions and practice. I shall do so with due deference to the more matured ex- perience of others; for of all subjects it least becomes a man to dogmatize on agri- culture. So various are the qualities of land, and the proportions of vegetable and mineral ingredients of soils, even in the eame vicinity, that opposite results often oc- cur in contiguous positions. Experience is, therefore, the safest teacher, and will re- main to be so, even when our country shall be filled with agricultural societies; and farmers shall carry a portion of their soils to the laboratory of the chemist, to ascertain the kind and quality of manure or stimulus required for any given crop. Indian corn is usually our first crop after it is considered necessary to plough the sod; and consequently commences our system of rotation. According to the able report of the Commissioner of Patents for 1845, whose statistics I shall hereafter quote, the yield or Pennsylvania, that year, was 17,126,000 bushels. The relaxation of the British corn laws and the failure of the potatoe crop, have made Indian corn an article of immense commercial importance. Though long cul- tivated in the south of Europe, yet every effort of enlightened and scientific men to introduce it into general use, had failed. Joel Barlow's poem in praise of hasty pud- ding, or mush, as we call it, and William Cobbett's extraordinary efforts proved alike unavailing, until the anathema of the latter upon the potatoe, seemed realized by the universal blight. It is probable that some inferior descrip- tions of corn were indigenous in both Asia and Africa — though on this disputed point much ink has been shed, without settling the question. It is however certain, from the testimony of the early navigators, that Indian corn was in universal use among the native tribes of this continent, from Canada to Patagonia. Botanists have likewise dis- covered it in a state of nature, especially Humboldt and Bonpland. By the kindness of Peter A. Browne, Esq., of Philadelphia, who has written an interesting essay upon Indian corn, I am enabled to exhibit to you an ear of native corn ; each grain of which is covered with a husk or glume. There is evidence that this corn has been found at the base of the Rocky Mountains ; and it is certain that it grows wild in South America. Upon being cultivated it loses the husk on the grain, and assumes the appearance of several varieties. To the same gentleman am I indebted for the rare specimen of fossil corn from the neighbourhood of Wheeling. The large sample of Gourd seed corn is a specimen of the yield of Oregon; this ear having however been produced from seed, introduced from that country last season. After having tried many varieties, as the Baden, Jackson, White, Gourd seed, and Dutton corn, I am convinced the old Penn- sylvania eight-rowed yellow — the King Philip corn of New England, is in this latitude safest and most productive. Safest, because its hardy habits and early maturity secure it from frost; and most productive from the extraordinary number of ears to the stalk. I have for many years selected seed from the most fruitful stalks, which sometimes produce four perfect ears. Ma- nured in the hill, its yield is, according to the season, from 60 to 70 bushels shelled corn to the acre; not guessed at, but mea- sured. When to these advantages is added 10 per cent, additional price, which is usu- ally realized upon this variety of flint corn, and the preference given to it by millers who grind corn and cob together, have we not made a strong case ! The cob has been estimated to contain more nourishment than bran ; and distillation proves it to produce both oil and spirits. I have fed largely in this way for several years by substituting the cob in place of oats, usually chopped with the corn — which is too concentrated and heating, without some admixture. It must be borne in mind that the capacious stomach of the ox or cow requires disten- sion, as well as strong nourishment. For milch cows, we always add one-half of wheat bran to the mess — and to all kinds of feed, a proportion of at least one-eighth of cake meal. The only author that I know of who has vilified Indian corn, is the famous Charles Dickens, in his "Notes on America;" who declares that our corn bread laid like molten lead upon his stomach: which is the best apology he has yet made for the atrabilarious character of his book. The oat crop, which usually succeeds that of corn, has important claims upon the good opinion of the farmer — its yield in Pennsyl- 224 Agricultural Address. Vol. XI. vania in 1845, was estimated at 19,826,000 bushels, being greater than that of any other grain. Though not used in this country as in North Britain, for the food of man — and in our climate degenerating in weight and value ; yet as food for horses on a journey, it is unsurpassed. It does not possess the nutritive properties of corn, but it is exempt from its heating and feverish tendencies. It Bucceeds well on land rather cold and wet, and perhaps the best oats produced in Penn- sylvania, grow upon the table land of the Alleghany mountains. It is indeed from these more inclement and cool regions that we are forced to procure a renewal of our seed. There are several varieties of oats cultivated, called by various local names, as Barley oats, Black oats, and the Tartarian or one-sided oats. This crop has the valu- able property by its rapid advance, of over- shadowing and discouraging the growth of weeds; and consequently leaves the ground in an admirably clean condition for the wheat and grass crops which follow it. Wheat, the most important of the cereal grasses, is, and always has been the great object of the farmer. In all countries capa- ble of producing it, the best lands are de- voted to its cultivation. So long has it been under the dominion of man, that it is sup- posed all traces of wheat in its wild, or na- tive state have been lost. Mr. Buckingham, however, in his travels in Mesopotamia, near Orfah, the » Ur of the Chaldees," found the plains covered with a plant, which on com- paring it with wheat, he considered to be that grain in its native state. In very early periods, wheat was a luxury, the use of which was confined to the wealthy The ancient kings of Persia, who drew from each province of their vast empire, the pro duction for which it was most distinguished, selected Syria as their granary for wheat; and the most beautiful specimen I have ever met with, was brought from the vicinity of Jerusalem. Thirteen grains were sent to me, and every effort was made to propagate seed from them. Several germinated, throw- ing up stems and developing heads of extra- ordinary size. But it was'struck by mildew, and after the second season ceased to repro- duce. The result of this and other experi- ments of the kind, are the less to be re- gretted, as there is reason to believe that any variety of wheat will soon adapt itself to the soil and climate in which it may be introduced. You must have observed what a change has come over the Mediterranean wheat so generally adopted by us a few years ago. It has lost its exemption from the fly and mildew, and it is with difficulty a pure sam- ple can any longer be obtained : it being ap- parently absorbed into our old red chaff bearded wheat; which was doubtless intro- duced upon the first settlement of the coun- try, and found to be well adapted to the soil. Pennsylvania, though producing 12,580,000 bushels of wheat in 1845, was surpassed by Ohio and New York; and as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa are entering into the arena, it may be wise in us to look to some other crops, in which we shall not be sub- jected to such dangerous competition. Though we all know by sad experience, that a season seldom passes during which this crop is not assailed by some of its legion j of enemies, yet perhaps our average produce is nearly as much per acre as in England. The weight of the straw is estimated at about twice that of the grain; and early cutting is found to be both safest for the wheat and best for the straw. We never sow of late years less than two bushels per acre. Rye, which is sometimes substituted for wheat in the system of rotation, appears to be a particular favourite, as Pennsylvania produced, in 184-5, 11,929,000 bushels, or nearly four times the amount of any other State. The quality of the grain is admira- ble in our more northern and hilly regions, but like oats, degenerates south of the forti- eth degree of latitude. Rye straw may be considered the most valuable for the produc- tion of manure and the various purposes of the farm. Buckwheat is extensively cultivated in those parts of our State most distinguished for oats and rye. A large annual exporta- tion of buckwheat meal is made to the sea- ports, both north and south of Philadelphia. The crop of 1845 produced 3,322,000 bushels. Barley has almost been banished from the list of our staples, and the Philadelphia brewers are forced to depend chiefly upon New York for a supply. The crop of 1845 was estimated at only 141,000 bushels. In these statistics we are surprised to find the very larsre amount of 1,600,000 lbs. of sugar, 535,000 lbs. of tobacco, and 41,370 lbs. of silk cocoons, credited to Pennsylvania. The potatoe crop has been failing gradu- ally for several years; and in 1845 was esti- mated at 5,497,000 bushels. The potatoe had exhibited a gradual dete- rioration in constitutional stamina, long be- fore it was overtaken by the fatal rot; which is now producing such disastrous effects in the old world. The importance of agricul- ture in the eyes of statesmen, has never been more strongly developed than now, when kingdoms are convulsed, and empires fo. 7. Agricultural Address. 225 my be overthrown, by the failure of a crop f potatoes. It may perhaps be laid down as a princi- le, that any plant propagated only from )0t3 or layers for a long period, that is ca- able of reproduction from the seed, will egenerate and finally fail. And the seed om these emasculated plants, will natu- illy partake of the weakness of the parent ;em. We shall therefore be under the ne- sssity of renewing our seed from the An- es; or some other region where the pota- )e can be found in a slate of nature. In le mean time, as the blight has not visited 3 with anything like the destructive effect , has had in other countries, we may, by le choice of light and dry soils, succeed in using a sufficiency for our domestic con-: jmption; for without the potatoe, the din- er table would be a desert. Though the laws of vegetation require a ertain variation and succession in the cul- vation of all crops that are not natural to le soil, yet the skill of man can so modify lese laws, as to bend them to his necessi- es. There is living in Northampton county, 'ennsylvania, on the banks of the Leiiigh, very aged man, whose success in falling pon a system of rotation, by which he could btain the greatest possible yield of wheat, 1 a given term of years, has caused it to be enerally adopted in that fertile region. It ! called Sheimer's system, after the disco- erer, Jacob Sheimer, whom I had the curios- ,y to visit at his most substantial homestead 3me years ago; and from whom I obtained le following account : When a young man with a large family f children growing up around him, and de- endent on him for support; he plainly per- eived that under the rude practice then xisting, he would not be able to maintain bem. He often thought over his difRcul- ies while following the plough, and at 3ngth determined upon his plan; which allowed up without faltering, has conducted ,im in the decline of life to ease and afflu- nce. When I saw him he had resigned the ctive duties of his farm to a son, who was Dllowing in his footsteps; afler having him- elf practised his system of rotation for 35 ears, with a constant improvement in the uality of his land; which indeed had the inmistakable stamp of fertility upon it. The farm contamed one hundred acres, vhich was divided as nearly as possible into light fields of twelve and a half acres; each if which was carried through an eight years' otation. Commencing with a fallow field, he 1st year. Manured and limed ; ploughed three times, in May, June and August; har- rowed and seeded one bushel and three pecks per acre of wheat, which was plough- ed under. 2nd. Clover seed sown on wheat in the pring, six quarts to the acre, which was pastured after harvest. 3rd. Plastered clover in the spring, one bushel per acre ; cut in June, and ploughed under second crop, and seeded again with wheat. 4th. Wheat — same as No. 2. 5th. Pastured early in the season, plough- ed under second crop in August, and sowed wheat. 6th. Wheat again, and rye sowed on stubble. 7th. Sowed clover seed in spring on rye. 8th. Ploughed under clover sod and plant- ed corn ; and next season recom.menced. It will be observed that there were every year three fields in with wheat, one with rye, one with corn, two with clover, and one fallow. The produce had one season reach- ed as high as 1,400 bushels of wheat, 600 bushels of corn, and 300 bushels of rye. It is only of late years that science has discovered and applied the animal and vege- table refuse of the manufactories of Phila- delphia to the use of the farmer. A com- mencement has been fairly made ; and the glue boilers, skin dressers, colour manu- facturers, wool combers, and sugar refiners, now contribute to the fertility of the soil, what but recently was a public nuisance. Poudrette, guano, and "bonedust, are also considerably used. All these manures I have seen applied with manifest, but various advantage. My own experience has been in favour of a compost of marsh mud, plas- ter, lime, and stable manure. Bonedust has not on our heavy, rich soils, produced anything like the eflects described in England ; and the consequence is, that bone gatherers are constantly travelling far mto the interior, collecting bones, which are ground in Philadelphia and shipped to Liverpool. From this we may infer that the field of Waterloo is exhausted. He who uses or consumes upon his own land the straw or hay of his fields, selling only a portion of his grain, his flit cattle, and butter, may keep his land in an improv- ing condition ; and aided by lime and plas- ter, need look no further for manures. The process of returning to the soil the culm or straw it has produced, is recuperative and reproductive, and is a wise provision of na- ture to save land from a tendency to steril- ity. Whoever sells hay or straw, should replace every ton sold, with an equal weight 226 Aifricultural Address. Vol. XI of manure. For actual experiment has proved, that each ton consumed or Jittered in stables, produces much more than its ori- ginal weight in manure. After all that has been said about com- posting, candor obliges me to confess, that lontr research, enquiry, and some practice, incfine me to the opinion, that the most eco- nomical method of applying manure, is di- rect from the stable to the soil. I have thus applied raw manure to corn ground and ploughed it under, and as a top dressing for grass sod at all seasons, except the depth of winter and in mid-summer, with results that were not only satisfactory, but surprising. Shakspeare, from whom even farmers may gather instruction, says: "Do not spread the compost on the weeds to make them ranker," which proves the practice of top- dressing in his time. If we could conveniently get our manure from the stable spread upon the field where it was wanted, and ploughed under, the field itself would be the great compost heap, or laboratory, saving to the soil an^ immense amount of gaseous evaporation. This prac- tice has been introduced into England on a large scale; and some of its advocates go so far as to attribute to it a saving of one- half the manure. The experiment is worth trying, because it could not result in any ]oss;^but as the question is important, and our time too limited to go fully into it, I beg leave to refer you to an admirable article on the subject, in vol. 7, p. 585, of the " Quar- terly Journal of Agriculture"— which can be o'btained in the Philadelphia Library, and perhaps in that of Norristown. In approaching the conclusion of this long, and I fear tedious discourse, I am also ap- proaching a branch of our subject, upon which it is probable I shall have the misfor- tune to diflfer from many, for whose judg- ment I have great respect. In advocating the careful preservation of old pastures, and even recommending a large increase of permanent natural grasses, it will be understood that I confine my views to a marketable distance from Philadelphia. This area is, however, constantly extending with the annual increase of that great city; and a consequently augmented consumption of the products of the dairy. The fine taste displayed in favour of ice cream, its recom- mendation by the physicians in many cases of illness, and above all the submission of the patient in swallowing it, indicate a tre- mendous increase in its consumption. To supply this demand many milk and butter farms are already appropriated; and the production of butter will necessarily be from a greater distance. When to this is added an acquaintance with the famous clotted cream of Devonshire, which requires only to be tasted to be perhaps more popular than ice cream ; you will perceive the ne- cessity of a vast addition to our pasture lands, of fine natural grass, for which this vicinity is so celebrated. The abundance and sweetness of our pas- tures, and the peculiar variety of grasses of which they are composed, seem to indicate that nature intended to afford us every aid, in the adoption of a system which has the additional and indispensable merit, of being also the most profitable. Many farmers may be deterred by the ap- prehension, that there is not a field upon their plantations that could be made to re- tain grass. They imagine it would run out. Let them try the experiment, at one-half the labour and expense bestowed upon land devoted to tillage, and in due season they may find their pastures the most profitable and least expensive parts of the estate. It is difficult to introduce new systems, and when in pursuance of a conviction that this was the true plan, I commenced top- dressing old timothy sod, instead of plough- ing it for corn, I was told that our land was not natural to grass, and that top-dressing would never answer. The result has been however so encouraging in producing green grass, that at this time we plough but one field a year, and hope ere long to be able to sustain a cow on every two acres of sod, with pasture in summer and hay in winter. Isaac W. Roberts, Esq., of Lower Merion, well known as an eminent farmer, has a field in grass, which has not been ploughed for nearly a quarter of a century, and which he considers the most profitable on his place; and there are examples in England, of pas- tures being preserved for a century. It must be a source of high gratification to the German population of Pennsylvania, that in the career of experimental and sci- entific agricult'ire, their father land is in advance of the other nations of the world. Ignorance and egotism have too long with- held from Germany, the homage due to the highest order of intellect, and a persevering industry unparalleled by any other people; and in addressing an audience, many of whom claim that country for their father land, it may be pardonable to advert to her titles to respect. In Agriculture: Liebig, Thaer, and Bur- ger. In Poetry: Goethe, Schiller, and Klop- stock. In History and Antiquities: Niebuhr, Heeren, Hurter, and the brothers Schlegel ; and that model of travellers, Baron Hum- No. 7. Vinegar Making. 227 boldt; with a host of authors, whose annual literary labours equal those of France and England combined; all vindicate her title to the respect and gratitude of mankind. She also from remote periods of antiquity, by her conquests and emigrations, scattered lar and wide the seeds of liberty, and it is , equally to Germany, that Franks, Goths, I Lombards, and the Saxons of England, owe the spirit and substance of free institutions. And though Germany dwells at present in apparent apathy, yet we have reason to be- lieve that the intelligence of that land is silently preparing for a bloodless revolution The immigrants from no other country slide with more alacrity and ease into their du- ties as citizens of this republic. But it is as farmers, that we desire to speak of the German population of Pennsyl- vania; and surely no man who has travelled and observed, can doubt that in the particu- lar line of farming which seems most con- genial to their habits, viz: the production of wheat, they are surpassed by none. It may be remarked that they follow this up by their skill as rriTllers, and persevering to the end, we find them established in our towns and cities, as bakers, to the exclusion of all competition. Among the many disparaging stories cur- rent with a class who measure all by their own puny standard, was one some years ago, which attributed to Pennsylvania a tendency to Agrarianism. An eminent ju- rist of a neighbouring State, who yet sur- vives to do honour to his country, listened . to these charges, and at length decided to become personally acquainted with a people from whom such evils were expected. I met with him on his return from a tour through one of the richest agricultural dis- tricts of the State; perfectly relieved from his apprehensions and amused at his own , credulity. «' Sir," said he, " I fear no politi- cal danger from a population with such wives and children; with such barns, houses and lands, and with the habits of persevering industry, peculiar to your German popula tion." For the attention and kindness with which you have this day honoured me, you will please to accept my hearty thanks. It is however but an additional instance of your readiness to welcome to hospitality and '^freundschafl,^' all who with honest views and fair intentions, desire to enlist them- selves in the ranks of the Montgomery county farmers. Our winter has not been a severe one, yet little opportunity has been afforded for the plough to operate. Vinegar Makiug. By Prof. L. D. Gale. Good vinegar is not universally found amongst the farmers of our country. In the Western States it is rare to meet with a good article, and yet it is as easy and prac- ticable as any other product of the farm. In New England, vinegar is generally made from apples, by throwing aside into an empty cider barrel stationed in the garret, all the drippings of cider, sour beer, &c., and draw- ing out from time to time for the uses of the table, and for pickling. In the Western States it is oflen made of diluted whiskey, mixed with sour beer and other fermenting liquors. In Texas ic is frequently made by sour or green grapes, and the washings of whiskey barrels. This makes an interior article, being a mixture of acetic acid or true vine- gar, and a combination of tartaric ncid and potash. Vinegar is an article of great an- tiquity, it is often mentioned in tjje Old Testament, and is manufactured both here and in Europe, by two general processes, all others are but modifications of the one or [the other of these. The first is the distilla- tion of wood in iron cylinders, and conden- sing the acetic vapor by cold water: the se- cond consists in the acetic fermentation of saccharine or alcoholic liquids. In England the vinegar is made either from the distillation of wood, or from the fermentation of malted liquors. In France it is manufactured from sour wines, and hence the name vin-aigre — wine- sour. * In Germany it is made both from sour wines and from whiskey. English vinegar generally contains sulphuric acid. Indeed, this is allowed by government to the amount of two to five per cent. As this prevents the formation of mother, which is a vegeta- ble substance, I presume this object must constitute the basis of the permission. I am somewhat strengthened in this view, from having been applied to by an Ameri- can, who had shipped vinegar to England, desiring to know how he could prevent the formation of "mother" in vinegar, as much had accumulated in the article sent out, which could not be sold on that account. The remedy in such a case is sulphuric acid two or three per cent. Many years ago it required months to make good vinegar, but by the aid of sci- ence and much practical skill, the Germans have introduced a process by which the work of months is brought within the com- pass of a few hours. The best of vinegar is now made in from two to four hours. 228 Vinegar Making. Vol. XI. In a standing cask eight feet high, and four feet in diameter, it is practicable to make thirty to forty gallons in a day of twenty-four hours. The apparatus used in the quick, or Ger- man process, is very simple in its construc- tion, and is easily made. It may be made of one length of stave, as here represented, or of two whiskey, or mo- lasses hogsheads; or lastly, it may be made of two wnie butts: the latter, perhaps, is preferable. The chines of the lower one, and the lower chine of the upper, are to be trimmed off, so that the upper casks may be received into the lower one. But previous to this operation, the upper part of the lower cask, and both heads of the upper one should be removed, and the cask made clean. Now set it in its place, and bore eight small holes, say half an inch in diameter obliquely down- wards, for the purpose of supplying air to acidify the vinegar stock. The direction being for the purpose of preventing any vinegar from running out at the holes. We will suppose the stand set up in its place, the next step is to fill it with beech or other shavings. This wood is the best, but other wood may be substituted, as black birch, ash, white or black oak, white poplar, &c. The last is often used, but soon be- comes bad and should be renewed at least once in three years, and besides, the vinegar has a slight bitter taste. Any kind of maple that splits well will do. The shavings should be made in a particular way; they should be the thickness of an eighth of an inch, twelve inches long, and rolled into a coil. They should be an inch or an inch and a half wide. They are best made by planing with a wide and open-mouthed plane from the edge of a plank cut into twelve or fourteen inch lengths. The next thing to be done, is to fill up the stand to within eight inches of the top, and there support by means of wooden pins, a hoop on the inside, sufficiently thick to support on it a false head filled with quarter holes; say two inches apart, and with two chimney holes one and a half inch diameter, for the purpose of ventilation. The stand is now ready for working, and is put in ope- ration by procuring sufficient good vinegar to thoroughly wet the shavings, by pouring it on the false head. The attainment of this point is known by the liquor running out freely through the faucet below. Put a thermometer in one of the chim- neys, lay a cover over the top and leave the stand to itself The temperature of the room should be from seventy to eighty de- grees. In from forty- eight to seventy-two hours the thermometer will begin to rise, and will stand from eighty-five to ninety degrees. When it has reached eighty-six degrees, draw out from the faucet a pailful of the vinegar, and pour up as before, and if there be not enough to run again freely through the shavings, more vinegar must be sup- plied. For a few of the first feedings it may require more than a pailful. The ther- mometer in the chimney will now sink se- veral degrees, and must be left quiet until the heat comes up to eighty-six degrees, which at first will require several hours; now draw out and pour up again, and so continue to do, at intervals of an hour, until the liquid and shavings are sufficiently sour- ed ; which is ascertained by the taste of the vinegar, but still better by analysis. When the shavings are once well acidi- fied, they will ordinarily heat up so as to require feeding once in an hour, and may be managed in the following manner: Pour into a reservoir for stock one mea- sure of proof whiskey, and nine measures of pure soft water, and if you have any old cider, or sour beer, you may add one. mea- sure of it to the stock reservoir. Of this mixture you may pour up two and a half gallons, and when it has run through, and the heat has again come up to eighty- six degrees in the chimneys, — say in about an hour — draw out from the faucet and pour up, and let it run through a second time, when if the stand be in good order, the vinegar is finished ; otherwise it must be run through a third time, when the heat has again come up to eighty-six degrees. Sup- pose the vinegar to be finished with the se- cond run, then stock will be fed when the heat reaches eighty-six degrees. The strength of vinegar is a matter of much importance to the buyer as well as to the manufacturer — it is the absolute quantity of acid contained in a given measure or weight of it, and is generally ascertained by carbonate of potash, which neutralizes the acid. The vinegar to be tested is poured into a glass measure, and a wide-mouthed two ounce vial filled with dry carbonate of potash, and exactly balanced in a small apothecary's scales, and small portions of it added to the vinegar until litmus paper when immersed becomes violet blue, instead of red. Weigh again the carbonate of pot- ash, and deduct the quantity used — it is the representation of the strength of the vinegar tested. Good commercial vinegar will neutralize thirty grains of carbonate of potash — very strong vinegar, such as is used in white lead works, will neutralize thirty-six to forty fo. 7. Editorial Notices. 229 rains, Tlie former requires ten per cent, roof whiskey, and the latter fifteen or twen- jr per cent. When a person makes his own vinegar ccording to the directions here given, he light, if he chose, siibstitnte for the stock lade of whiskey and water, — sour beer, ider slops, the washings of cider barrels, :,c., &c., and instead of working the stand ourly, or every two hours, as when it is lade a business, the vinegar would be drawn ut and poured up every time any new ma- srial is added to it; and in this case the air oles, instead of being bored eight inches rom the bottom, should be at or above the ulge of the lower cask, so as to allow of oom for the vinegar to be kept on hand, n this case, the size of the holes for supply- Dg air should be one-eighth of an inch in- tead of one-half an inch. It may be re- narked, that these directions are sufficient jr the purposes of the farmer or any one I'ho desires to make his own vinegar, but hey are not critical and minute enough for tie manufacturer. Much skill and experi- nce are requisite to compote with those Iready in the business. For it is a distinct nd large business, especially in the neigh- iourhood of New York, where not less than ifteen or twenty thousand gallons are daily nade in and about the city, consuming some ifteen hundred or two thousand gallons of •roof whiskey. — Eureka. We have never seen any vinegar manufactured in his artificial,— ox if our readers would rather,— this cientific manner, at all to equal the genuine article lade from good substantial cider. This it is true, 3 not made in one day, nor in a hundred: it requires ime. In order to procure a good article, we have itterly been in the habit of obtaining from our rocer, say a couple of gallons of his best cider vin- gar, and mixing that with another gallon of wine inegar. This makes a condiment worthy of any nan's cabbage, and we recommend the city lover of ;ood vinegar to try it. — Ed. IIOW TO TRE.4T BREAD WHEN TAKEN FROM rHE OVEN. — Never set it flat on the table, is it sweats the bottom, and acquires a 3ad taste from the table. Always take it out of the tins, and set it up end way, leaning against something. If it has a :hick, hard crust, wrap it in a clotli wrung 3ut of cold water. Keep it in a tin 30X, in a cool place, where it will not freeze. THE FARMERS' CABIIVET, AND ATSII1B.1CAN SERB-BOOK. Philadelphia, Second Month, 1847. The distresses in Ireland and Scotland, on account of short crops, do not by any means appear to abate. We who are here in the midst of plenty, and pros- perity, cannot realize the horrors of neighborhoods suftering for lack of food, or of individuals dying with starvation. In her speech from the throne at the meeting of Parliament on the ]9th ult , the Ciueen calls the attention of her legislature with the deepest concern, to the dearth of provisions which prevails in Ireland, and in parts of Scotland. In Ireland es- pecially she says, " the loss of the usual food of the people, has been the cause of severe sufTciings, of disease, and of greatly increased mortality among the poorer classes." Louis Philippe, also in his addresses at a late opening of the Chamber, adverts to "the suffer! tigs which this year press upon a portion" of the French population, and asks that every facility may be attbrded to his government, to administer the needed relief. Bread stuffs and provisions, generally, have taken a still further rise in our markets, and large amounts arc continually shipped to England. Contributions throughout the country are liberally handed over to be transmitted for the alleviation of the necessities of the destitute and perishing. Wheat flour is worth $G to $7— wheat, $1,20 to $1,40 per bu.— corn, 80c. to inOc, while pork and beef are from $5,50 to $7, per hundred, according to quality. We have seen it stated, that ten thou- sand barrels of onions are annually raised in the adjoining towns of Salem and Dan- vers, in Massachusetts. We would invite attention to the article on the improvement in carriages— more particularly in so far as the axles are concerned. See p. 212. A month ago we published Morris Longstreth's an- swers to certain inquiries made by the State Agricul- tural Society of South Carolina. In our present num- ber will be found an Address delivered bj' the same individual on the 11th ult. before the Jeffersonville Agricultural Association. The Society requested a copy for publication, and one was kindly forwarded for insertion in the Cabinet. We copy from the JVor. ristown Register On comparing it with the article referred to above, a little repetition may be observed, but we concluded it were a pity to diminish its value as a whole, by any omissions: it is therefore given entire. Since the publication of our last number we have been advised by the Chairman of the Committee, whose names appear to the Report on Manure on page 192, that that Committee do not endorse the senti- ments expressed in that Report— that they never saw it before its publication— and that their names were used without their authority or consent. We look it from a pamphlet containing the transactions of the New Castle Agricultural Society. The quantity of rain which fell in the 1st month, 1847, was 4.73 in. I Penn. Hospital, '2nd mo. 1st. 230 Editorial JVotices. Vol. XI. Through the courtesy of our friend Thomas B. Flo- rence, Secretary of the Board of Controllers of the Public Schools of the city and county of Philadelphia, we have been furnished with detailed accounts of the operations of the Board for the year ending the last of 6th mo., 1846. We have looked over them with great interest, and could not avoid being favourably impressed with the advantageous working of the extended machinery. The statements in relation to the Central High School are particularly valuable. The aggregate expenditures of the Public Schools of the county for the year, was $247,418.34. The num- ber of children in the schools at the date of the Re- port was 37,025, and the nun)ber of Teachers 561, of whom 80 were males, and 481 females. Three months ago on page 131, we gave an excel- lent receipt for curing hams. Many of our readers know that after they are cured and smoked, it is often- times no easy matter to Keep them satisfactorily through the warm season. The Editor's plan — and it is the best we have fallen upon in a practice of mtiro than thirty years— is, to envelope the ham completely in two or three newspapers, and put it in a muslin bag. Let there bo a string put through the hock, say six or eight inches long, by which it may be hung up —draw the mouth of the bag tight, and tie it round the string. It is better to let the ham, when sus pended in the closet or cellar, bear upon its own string, rather than upon that of the bag in which it is enclosed. The bag will be injured, if the ham bears upon the bottom of it. The 8th No. of Colman's Tour, treating of Crops, Live stock, Dairy Husbandry and Manures, has come to hand, and will be found of equal interest with any of its predecessors. H. Colman is now on the conti- nent, and the succeeding two Nos. will probably treat on the agriculture of the parts he may visit. We would much like to furnish more of our subscribers with this highly valuable work. Price complete in 10 Nos., $5. B^- SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted at the rate of one dollar for each insertion often lines or less; and so in proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. Fruit & Ornamental Trees. The subscriber offers for sale an extensive assort- ment of Fruit &. Ornamental Trees of the most ap- proved varieties, of tine size and warranted true to their respective names. Orders may be left with J. Tatum, No. 50, N. Fourth street, where catalogues may be obtained or E. P. Middleton, No. 9 Market st. EZRA STOKES, Mt. Laurel, near Moorestown, Burlington co., N. J. Second month 15th, 1847. SEED STORE, No. 23 Market Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. Also, in season. Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1846. tf. PRAIRIE FARMER, Devoted to Western Agriculture, Mechan- ics, and Education; Vol. 7, 1847. Published monthly, at Chicago, Illinois, by JOHN S. WRIGHT: Containing' 32 very large octavo pages, besides a coloured cover of 16 pages, with advertisements, anecdotes, ^-c, and liable only to single newspaper postage. JOHN S. WRIGHT & J. AMBROSE WIGHT, Ed's. TERMS— $1 per annum, six copies for $5, thirteen for $10, payable invariably in advance. All commu- nications must be sent free of postage. Every intelligent person at the East or South wishes to know, or should wish to know, the condition and progress of the West. Therefore they should take and read the Prairie Farmer, which will supply them with more reliable information than they can obtain in any other way, unless they spend hundreds of dollars in travelling. This is no ephemeral publication, for it has reached its seventh year, and has a circulation of nearly 5000 copies, chiefly at the West, and has at least a respect- able standing among kindred publications. The mat- ter is almost wholly original, and a large share is sup- plied by correspondents, more than 350 in number, from all parts of the West, which makes the paper practical, and western in its character; and being published chiefly for home circulation, there is no at- tempt to exaggerate or deceive. The information can be relied upon as truthful. The SIX BACK VOLUMES, stitched in covers, sub- ject to newspaper postage, and the 7th, as issued, will be sent for $5; and there are no works published which furnish so large an amount of information concerning the West, or its agriculture. We really think there is abundance of truth in what our triend J. S. Wright says above of the value of his paper; and certainly every farmer west of the mountains, and many hundreds east of them, after liaving always of course, first subscribed and paid for the Farmers' Cabinet, can hardly spend a dollar to better purpose, than by securing it at once. It will give us pleasure to receive subscriptions at this office for the Prairie Farmer. — Ed. No. 7. Editorial JVotices. 231 Valuable Farm at Private Sale. The subscriber offers for sale the valuable FARM on which he has resided for a number of years past, situated in East Bradford Township, one mile west of the flourlsliing Borough of West Chester. It comprises about 60 acres of naturally fertile and well improved land, under good fence, and well watered. The build- ings are of stone, large, and in good repair. The man- sion is pleasantly situated, possesses many conveni- encies, and is of modern finish, 4-1 feet front by 3iJ feet deep, with an eight feet entry, two rooms on each side, besides kitchen and wash-house, and six rooms in the second story. Pure water is introduced into the house and barn yard by moans of a force pump and water wheel propelled by a never failing stream. The grounds are planted with fruit, ornamental trees and shrubbery, with a good orchard in full bear- ing. There are also a three-story barn, 40 feet by 56 feet, a carriage-house, work-shop, ice-house, wood house, and an excellent and convenient milk-house. This property is eligibly situated on the main road from West Chester to Lancaster, in an unexception- able neighbourhood, and offers considerable induce, raents to one wishing to retire from active business, or to engage in agriculture on a moderate scale. Apply to the subscriber, residing thereon, or to John Lippincott, No. C5 Marshal street, Philadelphia. CHARLES LIPPINCOTT, 2t. West Chester, Chester county. Pa- Agency for the Purchase «Sr Sale of IMPROVED BREEDS OF CATTLE & SHEEP. TnE subscriber takes this method of informing his friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, Ewine, poultry, &c, for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AARON CLEMENT. Sept. 15th, 1846. FOR SALE, AT D. O, PROUTY'S No. 194^ Market Sireef, Fhiladelphia, Corn-Shellers in great variety, price from $1 50 to $50 each; Hovey's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Grant's Patent Fan Mills, for cliafling and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to $18 each. Whitman's Ilorse-powers and Threshing Machines, with Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may be taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, &c.; Centre- Draught, Self sharpening. Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation. September I5th — tf. C0ATJ2S' SEED STORE, No. 49 Market Street, FRESBI TlillOTIIY SKED Of various qualities, from good common seed to the jmrest and finest that can be produced, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF aHjA.SS & Gi^RDSXT SEI^DS, Of the finest Quality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &c, JOS. P. H. COATES. Successor to George M. Coates. Sept. 15th, 1846. PHILADELPHIA AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE, No. 291 Market Street, North side, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has just received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have been so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters. Corn Shelters, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c., to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. i yr. NEW Horticultural and Agricultural Ware-liousc, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscriber has for the betteraccommodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Sweede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th, 1846.— ly. R. BUIST. CO AI.. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the vsttal cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Tenth month 15th, 1846. 232 Editorial Notices. Vol. XI We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in lealhnr;— Price $3 50 YOU ATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Adilitions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37^ THE FARMERS LAND MEASUPtER; 37J DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sets of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. 8 50 DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, 3 50 Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 1 50 SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, 50 AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, 1 25 BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, 1 50 FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HANDBOOK, 1 00 MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, 1 00 STABLE ECONOMY, 1 00 BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, 31^ EUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, 75' THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, 50 SKINNER'S CATTLE & SHEEP DOCTOR, 50 AMERICAN FARRIER, 50 THE FARMER'S MINE, 75 HOARE ON THE VINE, 62i HANNAM'S Economy of Waste Manures, 25 LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, ' 25 ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, 25 FAMILIAR LETTERS, 12i As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's .Agricultural Tour— or single numbers sold. Ilj" We are prepared to bind books to order. GUANO. Twenty-five tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrels, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN & CO., No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Poudrette. A valuable manure— of the best quality, prepared in Philadelphia, for sale at the office of the F.\RM- ERs' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or more, $1 75 per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any num- ber of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or thirty-five cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for wheat. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. PAGE Settling in New Countries, 201 Premium Farm, .-«-. 204 Making Cheese.— How to decoy and destroy Ants, 205 The Reading Railroad 207 Good Housewifery, .' 209 Bone-dust— Super- phosphate of Lime, 210 Improvement in Axles. — Hints to Farmers.— Plant Trees, 212 Surplus of Salem County, N. J.— Mildew, 213 Largo Hogs of Chester County Breed.— Potatoe Disease 215 Alderney Cows. — Labour, 216 Machine for Raising Water, 217 Improvement in Artificial Legs 218 Address of Morris Longstreth before the Jeflferson- ville Ag. Association of Montgomery County, 219 Vinegar Making 227 Editorial Notices, 229 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fifteenth of every month, in num hers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri ately introduced. Terms.— One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in adraiice. All subscriptions must commence at the beg-inving of a volume. Having lately struck off a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become p.xhausted, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dolliir each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-flve cents half-bound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, a co?/i;)toe set of the work \^ill be furnishi^d in numbers, including the 11th volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly hnlf-bound and let- tered Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon 'ho same terms. l!y the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office within tiiirty miles of Philadelphia, they will go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer. "^^ERICAN HERD-BOOTi DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Likbio. Vol. XI.— No. 8.] 3rd mo. (March) 15th, 1847. [Whole No. 146. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY JOSIAH TATUM, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per year. — For conditions see last page. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Praning Young Trees. As the time will soon be here when many commence to mutilate their orchards and nurseries, it may not be inappropriate to make some remarks on the best manner of, and time for, performing this important ope- ration. The following system I have practiced for years and taken some pains to inculcate, and if its importance can be brought before a class who rarely read, and never purchase, such valuable works as Downing's, Thomas', or Elements of Vegetable Physiology, my object will be accomplished. Trees of two years growth — and here let me remark, that if trees of proper form — not too high, and sufficiently thick near the earth to sustain their height, were more in demand, interest, if no higher motive, would soon prompt nurserymen to furnish such, in- stead of the switches now offered — are pre- ferable. These, if properly grown, will re- quire, when transplanted, no stakes to destroy Cab.— Vol. XL— No. 8. their bark, retard their growth and circula- tion of sap, but may be fastened by raising around their base a hillock of earth six or nine inches high. Discrimination and judgment now become necessary, because the stalk increases in thickness only as the number of branches and leaves increase; therefore, permit all new shoots to grow one year, — at least enough to keep up a due proportion between thickness and height. The ascending sap undergoes changes in the leaves, and only then returns as proper juice, to deposit a layer of wood; it will therefore be perceived by the annexed rude drawing, that if the branches b and c be removed early in the- season, the trunk will then receive a woody C233) 234 Poudrette en Indian Corn. Vol. XI. layer only from d and e ; but if b and c had not been removed, then an additional layer 1 and 2 from them would have increased the thick- ness in proportion to their amount of leaves. After the first year's growth, we may occa- sionally remove or shorten some of the largest branches, — permitting young shoots to grow, — about midsummer, or at any time while full of leaves ; because then the de- scending proper juice will soonest repair the injury. The reason for removing some, and permitting other shoots to grow, is ob- vious. If removed before attaining to large size, the injury to repair will be less and sooner accomplished. After the trunk has size and strength to sustain a good top with- out growing crooked, at what height should be the first branches'? When ploughing and thorough cultivation are to be performed (and in orchard culture they always should) seven feet from the ground is quite low enough. Some prefer eight or nine. There is a difference, too, in the growth of trees. The yellow Bellfleur and Smokehouse, both well adapted to — and the latter originating in — this State, require to be trimmed high. How long, some one asks, will it require to do all this; and will not early bearing be thereby retarded 1 There are trees in this neighbourhood of eight years growth — five from the nursery and three when pro- cured— which are twelve and a half inches in circumference one foot from the ground, and nine at the first limb six and three-quar- ter feet from the ground, perfectly straight, which have never borne fruit it is true; but is it not preferable to have trees grow rapid- ly while young — which is always antagonis- tic to the production of fruit buds — and form fine large heads that will eventually bear a greater quantity and finer fruit? After the head is properly grown, large branches should never be removed, and if properly attended to annually, it will never be necessary. It will facilitate reparation if some water-proof composition be applied when branches are removed. Tar and brickdust, (Thomas) gum shellac dissolved in alcohol, (Downing) or equal parts of lard, tallow and beeswax, melted together and stirred while cooling, will answer very well. J. K. E. Lancaster co., Feb. 22nd, 1847. From the Cultivalor. Poudrette on Indian Corn. I SELECTED a part of my field, an acre of ground, and manured one half of it in the hill, with five bushels of poudrette, manu- factured in Philadelphia. The rows and hills were each four feet apart. The ground selected was, as near as I could judge, of the same quality; if there was any differ- ence, it was in favour of that part not ma- nured. The soil was a light micaceous loam, but quite thin, as you will see by the yield. It came up finely; the corn on the part that Was manured, grew vigorously, keeping far ahead of the other, throughout the season, and ripening at least one week earlier. When harvested, the part that was manured yielded thirty-three baskets of ears, inaking sixteen bushels of shelled corn, and the other half only seventeen baskets, or eight bushels — leaving me eight bushels of sound corn to pay for the poudrette. The Dr. and Cr. account would stand thus: 8 bush, corn at 60 cts. per bush., is $4 80 Extra fodder — there was at least double the quantity on this part that there was on the other, 1 00 Dr. To 5 bus. poudrette, 35 c. is 1 75 Spreading the same, 0 10 Husking, hauling and shel- ling 8 bus. 3 c. 0 24 $5 80 2 09 Gain by using this manure (per ^ acre) $3 71 A part of the same field was manured in the same manner with guano, and at the same cost per acr«. One barrel of guano was mixed with two of unlixiviated ashes, and the same quantity of clear sand, and spread on one and an half acres of ground. This part neither grew so well, nor did it yield so well as that along side of it, which had been manured with poudrette. Although we took great pains to sift and mix it tho- roughly, yet many of the hills were killed, and some so stunted that they did not reco- ver throughout the season. One of my neighbours seeing what pou- drette had done for me, for two years in suc- cession, on my wheat crop, planted some two or three acres, of as poor land as you could find anywhere — in fact the soil had been en- tirely washed away — with what we call Canada corn, and manured it in the hill with this manure; a part he left unmanured. On the first part he had a fair crop; but upon the other there was not enough, I had al- most said, to pay him for his seed, certainly not for his labour. What these manures may do, when used upon soils of a more productive quality, I do not know, but I am well assured, that when used upon thin soils, this is a most valuable manure ; and those of us in this neighbour- hood, who have used it in this manner, firm- ly believe that we receive the price of our No. 8. Premiums of Agricultural Society. — Dairy Husbandry. 23^ labour and expenses, in the increased value of onr provender alone. The coming sea- son I shall plant my corn on soils of various degrees of fertility, and shall then test the matter more fully. Pennepack, Lower Dublin, Pa., Dec. 19th, 1846. Prenniatns of Agricultural Society. At a stated meeting of the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, held on the 3rd inst., A. S. Roberts, President, in the chair. After the minutes of the last meeting were read, the committee appointed at a former meeting to prepare a list of crops for which premiums should be offered the ensuing season, made the following report, which was adopted, to wit: For the best field of wheat, not less than three acres, SIO. For the best field of rye, not less than three acres, 88. For the best field of oats, not less than three acres, ^6. For the best field of corn, not less than five acres, $10. For the best lot of potatoes, not less than one acre, $10. For the best lot of sugar beets, not less than half an acre, 86. For the best lot of ruta-baga, not less than half an acre, $6. For the best lot of carrots, not less than one-quarter of an acre, $6. For the best lot of parsnips, not less than one-quarter of an acre, ^Q. For the best lot of field or flat turnips, not less than half an acre, $6. For the second best crop of each of the above, a copy of Colman's Journal will be awarded. On motion of S. C. Ford, a committee was appointed for the purpose of fixing the time and place of holding the Society's an- nual exhibition, and to report thereon at the next stated meeting. Extract from the min- utes. Aaron Clement, Rec. Sec. Philadelpliia, March 5ih, 1847. Dairy Husbandry. England has long been celebrated for its dairy products, at least for the quality of its cheese; and this is often of a superior de- scription. 1. Butter. — The butter in England is, much of it, delicious, especially that which is made in private families, where it is churned from new and sweet cream every morning, and brought fresh from the churn to the breakfast table; and more particularly when the butter is made from the cream of an Alderney cow. The common market and shop butter, however, is of the same va- rious character with that in our own mar- kets, with no larger proportion of very ex- cellent butter than is to be found in the markets of Boston, New York, and Phila- delphia. Indeed, much of the butter found in the market of the last named city, for its freshness and deliciousness, is nowhere sur- passed. The butter in England is generally sent to market fresii, and you are left to salt it at your pleasure, ns you use it. The salted butter, in tubs or firkins, is mostly imported from Ireland, or the continent. Even this, however, is not heavily salted. In most of the markets a good deal of butter made from the whey of cheese, is sold at a reduced price. It is of inferior taste and quality, and is bought by the poor, or to be used in cooking, where, like a good many nameless things, it may be thoroughly disguised, and pass without detection. The Dorsetshire butter, which stands at the head of the market, comes packed in neat casks of about thirty pounds each; but is very lightly salted, and of course will not keep long. It is likewise sent up to London in lumps, perfectly fresh for the table. Its quality is excellent. The table butter like- wise, from Epping, and especially Aylesbury, is of the best description. The Devonshire butter is almost univer- sally made by first heating the milk, just so much as to cause the escape of the fixed air. In twelve hours the cream is all brought to the surface, and in a state of consistency to be easily taken off. It is a disputed point, whether as much butter is obtained in this way as by the ordinary mode of letting it stand, without being heated, a much longer time. The butter is thought to acquire in this way a peculiar taste, but it is by no means unpleasant. The skimmed milk re- maining is perfectly sweet, and appears the richer for being heated. In this way is ob- tained the famous clotted cream which is to be found on the hospitable tables of Devon- shire, and is a great luxury. Glass milk-pans, made of bottle glass, are much approved, and with proper care, are in no danger of being broken. They re- commend themselves by their cleanliness and incapacity of rust, or corrosion, or de- composition. In some dairies I found shal- low leaden troughs used for setting the milk, with a tap at the bottom, so as to draw the milk off and leave the cream. Some per- sons maintain that, the more shallow the p;in, the more cream in proportion will be obtained ; but in a large dairy in Scotland, the milk is always set in deep casks and 236 Subsoils and their Management. Vol. XL tubs. Such is the diversity of opinion every where prevalent. The Scotch had no fears that the cream would not find its way to the surface unless the principle of gravitation were to be reversed. One of the best dairy women in the country never suffers any wa- ter to be applied to the butter when taken out of the churn, a practice not uncommon. 2. Cheese. — English cheese has long been celebrated for its excellence, but it is far from being all equally good. The Stilton cheese stands, by general admission, at the head ; the Cheshire, the Cheddar, the Glou- cestershire, and the Wiltshire, have their different partisans, and though they differ from each other, are preferred according to the particular tastes of those who eat them. The celebrated Dunlop cheese of Scotland, which is certainly excellent, is made with one fourth part of ewes' milk. It cannot be expected that I should go into all the processes of the dairy. My re- marks must be general. All dairymen seem to agree, that, in cheese-making, much de- pends on the character of the soil upon which the cows are fed. Wet and low grounds, producing a rank and coarse herb- age, are unfavourable, and so are the artifi- cial grasses given to the cows green. An old pasture and a dry soil are most desired ; and it is said, that the poorer the pasture, the better the cheese. Wet and cold pas- tures have been converted into good cheese grounds by thorough draining and cleaning. The quality of the cheese depends, more than upon anything else, upon the skilful and careful management of the dairymaid herself. This is to be learned by practice, and very little useful direction can be con- veyed in words. The making of cheese is a chemical operation. We shall be glad when chemistry is so applied as to deter- mine the rules by which success may be made certain. The average quantity of cheese made is reckoned at one hundred and twelve pounds to one hundred gallons of new milk. Few cheeses arc made wholly of new milk, being in general what are called two meal cheese, and the cream being taken off the previous night's milk, to be converted into butter. In this case, according to the practice of an ex cellent Vermont farmer within my know- ledge, the buttermilk would go back to the cheese and serve to enrich it. The cheeses in general are made very hard, which is owing, in the first place, to cutting the curd very fine, and next, to the severe pressure which is given to them. The rennets are here called veils; and the best are imported from Ireland. At one of the principal dairies which I visited, it was customary to put six skins, at the beginning of the season, into two gallons of brine, and use this liquid for forming the curd, in such quantities and at such time as required. A quantity of lemon was also put into the liquid, to correct the taste and give it a flavor; but I believe with no advantage to the cheese. It is strongly urged not to use the rennets until they are a full year old, as otherwise they cause the cheese to heave and to be full of holes. In most dairies it is customary to scald the curd with hot whey, but by the best dairywomen this is disapproved, as tending to impoverish the cheese. The colouring the cheese with anatto is not universally practised, nor does it much benefit the sale, where the charac- ter of the dairy is known. — Colmari's Tour. Subsoils and their Management. The efficiency of soils for producing good crops, depends much on the subsoil. If this consists of impervious clay or hard-pan, so as to oppose a ready escape to the water, it is evident the accumulation of the heavy rains will materially injure the vegetation above them ; for it is certain that while no- thing is more essential to productive crops than an adequate supply of moisture to the roots, nothing is more injurious than their immersion in stagnant water. When such is the character of the subsoil, it should be under-drained if possible, or if this be not practicable, it should be broken up and loos- ened by the use of the subsoil plough. A variety of ploughs have been construct- ed for this purpose, but unless it be intended to deepen the soil by an admixture of ma- nures, care should be taken to avoid bring- ing up the subsoil to mix with that on the surface. In addition to the more ready es- cape of water thus secured by breaking it up, the air is also admitted, which enables the roots to strike deeper, and draw their nourishment from a much greater depth. The increased distance through which the roots penetrate, furnishes them with an ad- ditional moisture during a season of drought, thereby securing a luxuriant crop when it might otherwise be destroyed. This is fre- quently a great item in the profit of the farmer; as besides the increase of crop which follows a hot dry season when a full supply of moisture is furnished, the product is usually of better quality; and the general deficiency of agricultural produce which en- sues from seasons of drought, makes his own more valuable. As a result of this practice, there is also a gradual increase in the depth of the soil, as the fine and more soluble particles of the richer materials above are constantly work- No. 8. Farming in Holland, 237 iiig down and enriching' the loosened earth below; and in time this becomes good soil, which in proportion to its depth increases the area from which the roots derive their nutriment. So manifest are the advantages which have followed the use of subsoil ploughs, that they have been extensively introduced of late years among the indis- pensable tools of the better class of agricul- turists. When the subsoil is loose and leechy, consisting of an excess of sand or gravel, thereby allowing the too ready escape of moisture and the soluble portions of ma- nures, the subsoil plough is not only unne- cessary, but positively injurious. In this case the surface soil sliould be somewhat deepened by the addition of vegetable ma- nures, so as to afford a greater depth, through which they must settle before they can get beyond the reach of the roots; and the sup ply of moisture is thereby greatly augment ed. It is better, however, to keep lands of this character in wood, or permanent pas- ture. They are at best ungrateful soils, and make a poor return for the labour and manure bestowed upon them. If there be a diversity in the character of the sub and surface soil, one being inclined to sand and gravel, and the other marl or clay, a great improvement will be secured by allowing the plough to reach so far down as to bring up and incorporate with the soil some of the ingredients in which it is want- ing. This admixture is also of remarkable benefit in old or long cultivated soils, which have become deficient in inorganic matters and in their texture. The effect of long continued cultivation, besides exhausting what is essential to the earthy part of plants, is to break down the coarser particles of the soil, by the mechani- cal action of the plough, harrow, &c., and in a much more rapid degree, by the chemi- cal combinations which cultivation and ma- nuring produce. A few years suffice to ex- hibit striking examples in the formation and decomposition of rocks and stones. Stalac- tites and various specimens of limestone, in- durated clays, sandstone and breccias or pudding stones, are found in favourable cir- cumstances, almost under our eye; while some limestones, shales, sandstones, &c., break down in large masses annually, from the combined effect of moisture, heat and frost. The same changes on a smaller scale, are constantly going forward in the soil, and much more rapidly while under cultivation. The general tendency of these surface changes is towards pulverization. The par- ticles forming the soil, from the impalpable mite of dust to the large pebbles, and even stones and rocks, are continually broken up by the combined action of the vital roots and the constituents of soils, by which new ele- ments of vegetable food are developed and become available, and in form so minute, as to be imbibed by the spongioles of the roots, and by the absorbent vessels, they are after- wards in their appropriate places in the plant. Where this action has been going on for a long period, a manifestly beneficial effect has immediately followed from bring- ing up and mixing with the superficial earth, portions of the subsoil which have never be- fore been subject to cultivation. A subsoil which is permeable to water, is sometimes imperceptibly beneficial to vege- tation, not only by allowing the latent moist- ure to ascend and yield a necessary supply to the plants, but a moisture frequently charged with lime and various saline mat- ters, which the capillary attraction brings from remote depths below the surface. It is probably from this cause that some soils produce crops tar beyond the yield which might be reasonably looked for from the fer- tilizing materials actually contained in them. This operation is rapidly going forward du- ring the heat of summer. The water thus charged with saline matters ascends and evaporates at and below the surface, leaving them diffused throughout the soil. After long continued dry weather, a thin white coating of these salts is frequently discern- ible on the ground. Where rain seldom or never falls, this re- sult is noticeable in numerous and sometimes extensive beds of quiescent — not shifting — sand. Deposits oftimes occur several inches in thickness. Such are the impure muriate of soda and other salts in the arid deserts of California; in the southern parts of Oregon; the nitrates found in India, Egypt, Peru, and various parts of the world. — Allen's Ameri- can Agriculture. From the Cultivator. Farming in Holland. Antwerp is not at a very great distance from the Dutch frontier. The border land between Holland and Belgium, is a wide desolate looking tract of sandy moor, for the greater part entirely neglected. There was, however, in many places, a considerable thickness of organic matter above the sand, which would go far towards making an ex- cellent soil. In some places I saw holes where a substance resembling marl or clay, had been raised to the surface and laid in. heaps. Were it either marl or clay, it would be highly useful on such light sandy soils. Great improvements are commencing 238 Farming in Holland. Vol. XI. here, and some flourishing farms begin to appear amidst the surrounding desolation, The Crown Prince has large possessions on these moors, and energetically promotes and encourages everything promising to ad- vance cultivation there. I was not able to ascertain, except by a hasty glance in passing, the system upon which these improvements proceed. Each one of the fields was enclosed by an open ditch, that indispensable accompaniment of a Dutch farm. In many cases, the turf, bushes, &c., &c., were burned, being col lected in heaps; and the ashes afterwards spread over the whole surface. After passing Grootrunslert, the first tovvn in Holland, we entered a fine agricultural district. The crops were all tlirivmg, and the fields bore evidence of careful ar.d labo- rious attention. This district, North Bra bant, seems to be all drained as thoroughly as the nature of the case will admit. The summer level of the water is generally not more than 18 inches or two feet below the surface, and there is scarcely any fall ; in the winter the whole country is frequently covered with water for months. The houses placed on slight elevations, and the roads on embankments, are alone visible. Such was the case in January of the present year, when I passed through this very district, These circumstances all united, render it necessary to make the drains large and open, thereby interfering, of course, to a considerable degree with economical culti vation. These ditches become grown up and choked with weeds every year; in all directions we saw men cleaning them with a species of rakes, drawing the vegetable masses brought up directly into boats, or forming heaps on the land. These clean ings of the ditches must form an important item in the Dutch farmer's list of available and effective manures. In some places 1 have seen men dipping up the black muck from the bottoms of the canals, and laying it up in heaps on the banks. This mud, from its black appearance, must be rich in vegetable decomposing matter, and very well fitted to form compost heaps, or even to spread directly upon the land, after a winter's exposure to fro.st and warmth alter- nately. The large ditches on almost every farm form a kind of canal, navigable by boats carrying several tons; in these ma- nure is often carried from one part of the farm to another, and the products of the va- rious fields brought home. On some of the farms, horses would scarcely be necessary, except for ploughing. Farm vehicles seemed very few in number, and those few awkward in shape, especially the wagons, with high and narrow bodies, grea.tly elevated from the ground, and rising at both ends. From the forward axletree a stick three or four feet long turns upwards, and curls over to- wards the front board of the wagon box ; this is generally terminated by a brass knob, which, in well regulated establishments, is kept scoured to a great degree of brightness. I had no opportunity of seeing any of the farming implements. I expect to find the Dutch far behind in this respect. About half way between Antwerp and Utrecht, we passed through Breda, a large and very strongly fortified town. It is en- tirely surrounded by low, marshy ground, and in winter the water in the ditches is nearly on a level with tlie streets. After leaving this place we came to a broad tract of rich, fertile land, partly a rather stift'clay, but afterwards becoming a fine light loam in appearance. Both of these kinds of soils appeared to be of great depth. The drain- ing was as perfect as possible under the cir- cumstances, and as I have described above ; the water standing from eight to eighteen inches below the surface. The crops on the whole of this tract were remarkably luxu- riant. Of course we could say nothing as to the grain crops, but the grass and the turnips parj;icularly arrested our attention. The turnips seem universally to be sown broadcast, and are not thinned out; and the consequence is a great mass of leaves and stalks. How large the roots were we had no opportunity of judging. A large farmer living in the neighbourhood of Breda, rode with us some miles, and gave us much in- formation as to his own farm and the prac- tices of the country. I think the Dutch farmers and proprietors in genera] can hard- ly equal this gentleman, who spoke l"'rench, German, and Italian, and read English with ease. The learning of foreign languages is, however, in so small a country as Holland, a matter of necessity to any one who ever goes a hundred miles from home. We learned from this gentleman that in his section, at least, the Dutch are very de- ficient as to rotation of crops; in fact they have no rotation at all; they take as many successive crops of grain as they choose, or as they can. The land there is so good that this system may be carried on for a long time; but in many sections of the country I should think that they would be driven to a different course. Yours very truly, John P. Norton. Ulrocht, Nov. 20th, 1846. A vegetable seldom seen, and little known, the Celeriac, was lately produced at our Hor- ticultural Society. No. 8. Whitney^ s Cotton-Gin. 239 The effect of Whitney's Cotton-Gin on the Cotton Husbandry of the United States. In 1793, the year of the invention, the whole coUon crop of the United States was 5,000,000 lbs., and the total exportation 487,600 lbs. In 1795, when the cotton-gin was first extensively introduced into Georgia and South Carolina — then the principal re- gion of that production — the whole crop in- creased to 8,000,000 lbs., and the exporta- tion to 1,601,760 lbs. In 1800, when the machine had been thrown open to the people, without limitation, from regard to the legal rights of the patentee, the total production of cotton in the United States during the year amounted to 35,000,000 lbs., of which 17,789,803 lbs. were exported. In 1805, the whole production was 70,000,000 lbs., and the amount of upland cotton exported 29, 602,428 lbs.— (value, $9,445,000.) In 1810, the crop was increased to 85,000,000 lbs., and the exportation of upland cotton to 84,657, 384 lbs. In 1815, the whole of the United States crop was 100,000,000 lbs., and the exportation of upland cotton 74,548,796 lbs. In 1820, the whole United States crop was 160,000,000 lbs.; the exportation of upland 116,291,137 lbs., valued at $22,308,667. In In 1825, crop 255,000,000 lbs., exportation of upland 166,784,629 lbs. In 1830, crop 350,000,000, exportation 290,311,937. In 1835, crop 475,000,000, exportation 379,000, 000. In 1840, crop 880,000,000, exportation valued at $63,870,307. In 184-5, the United States cotton crop was 1,029,850,000 lbs., and the exportation of cotton 862,580,000 lbs.; the domestic consumption being 167, 270,000 lbs. The recent annexation of the immense cotton lands of Texas, the abolition of the import duty on American cotton in Great Britain, and the vast and rapid increase of the manufacture of cotton fabrics in all parts of the United States, are evidences of the certainty of a further increase in the pro- duction of cotton in this country. Enor- mous as has been the progress of this staple, from 1791 to 1845, it is destined to a yet greater extension in amount and value. The exclusion of East India cotton from its previous monopoly of the markets of the civilized world, from the beginning of the present century, was mainly due to the in- troduction of the cotton-gin in the Southern States of the American Union, which sub- stituted the rapid operations of machinery for the tedious and costly labour of human hands in the preparation of the crop for the use of the manufacturer. The recent at- tempts of the British Government and the East India Company to restore the success- ful production of cotton in Hindostan, have consisted largely in the introduction of Ame- rican improvements, especially of " The American Cotton-Gin," into those pro- vinces which are adapted to the culture. The greater cheapness of labour, and even the superior quality of the product — in the province of Dharwar, — were found to avail nothing, without the advantages of Ameii- can machinery. The pecuniary advantage of this inven- tion to the United States is by no means fully presented by an exhibition of the value of the exports of cotton — amounting to more than $1,400,000,000 in the last forty-three years, — nor by the immense proportion of the means which it has furnished this coun- try to meet the enormous debts continually incurred for imports from Britain and the European continent, — cotton having for many years constituted one-half, three-fifths, or seven-tenths of the value of the exports of the Union. But it was the introduction of the cotton-gin which first gave a high value and permanent market to the public lands in the South-West. The rapid settle- ment and improvement of almost the entire States of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, is mainly due to the en- larged production of cotton consequent upon the invention of Whitney. The States of Georgia and Tennessee have also been largely benefited by the same means in the disposal of their domain, a vast portion of which must have remained unoccupied and valueless, but for the immense increase of facilities for the preparation of cotton for the market. In the three States of Ala- bama, Mississippi and Louisiana, the sales of the public lands of the General Govern- ment amounted to 18,099,505 acres, during the eleven years ending on the 30th of June, 1844 — yielding to the national treasury more than $30,000,000. The sales of upland cot- ton lands by the United States land offices have amounted to many tens of millions of acres; and none have been sold at a lower rate than $1 25 an acre — a large proportion at a higher rate. It is to be remarked, finally, that the cot- ton-gins now in use throughout the whole South are truly the original invention of Whitney — that no improvement or success- ful variation of the essential parts has yet been effected. The actual characteristics of the machine — the cylinder and brush — the sole real instruments by which the seed is removed and the cotton cleaned, rernain, in cotton-gins of even the most recent man- ufacture, precisely as Whitney hft them. The principle has not been altered since 240 Observations on Cheese-making. Vol. XL the first cotton-gin was put in motion by the inventor, though great improvements have been made in the application and direction of the moving forces, in the employment of steam-power, in the running-gear, and other incidentals. Every one of the various cot- ton-gins in use, under the names of different makers, contains the essentials of Whitney's patent, without material change or addition. The brush and the cylinder remain, like Fulton's paddle-wheel, unchanged in form and necessity, however vast the improve- ments in the machinery that causes the mo- tion. A more imposing result of mechanical in- genuity directed to the benefit of a whole nation, and, through it, of mankind, has not been recorded in the history of the human mind. Certainly there is no patriotic Ame- rican who will not rejoice to accord to this eminently useful, though basely wronged inventor, the judgment so well expressed by Mr. Lanman — that "Whitney earned the credit of giving a spring to the agriculture of the South, which has been continued, un- impaired, to this day — a credit that will en- dure while the cotton-plant whitens the plantations of the South with its snowy har- vests, or the machinery of the cotton-factory clatters upon the waterfall !" — Skinner's Farmers'' Library. Observations on Cheese-making. Cheese may be made from cream alone, or from the whole milk; the main object in either case being to separate the serum from the other materials. This is effected by curdling the cream or milk by the infusion of an acid, the refuse being serum or whey. No acidulous substance is found so suitable for curdling milk as rennet, which is formed of the gastric juice o? a calf that has been fed on milk. There are various methods for preparing rennet for use, most dairymen having a favourite process of their own; the following can be recommended by the writer as a simple and easy process. Take the maw of a newly killed calf and clean it, salt the bag, and put it into an earthen jar for three or four days, till it forms a pickle; then take it from the jar and hang it up to dry; after which it is to be replaced and tied down, the covering being pierced with holes to admit the air; and al- lowed to remain in the jar for twelve months. When wanted for use, a handful of each of leaves of sweet brier, dog roses, and bram- ble, with three or four handsful of salt, are to be boiled together for a quarter of an hour, when the liquid is to be strained 08" and allowed to cool. The maw is then to be put into the liquid, together with a lemon stuck round with cloves; and the longer it remains in the liquid, the stronger and bet- ter will the rennet be; half a pint of this liquid is sufficient to turn fifty gallons of milk. There are various kinds of cheese made in England under the name of Gloucester, Dunlop, Cheshire, &c., each having proper- ties peculiar to itself. I shall confine my- self in these remarks to the cheese made in the county of Cheshire, and hence called Cheshire cheese. It has been remarked, that although good imitations of the cheese made in some of the English counties have been produced else- where, yet in no trial has a cheese possess- ing the true Cheshire flavor ever been made. This is attributed to the abundance of the saline particles in the earth, resulting from the numerous salt springs in that county. Cheshire is almost entirely a dairy county, its arable husbandry being neither extensive nor of a superior character. It is said to possess from thirty thousand to forty thou- sand dairy cows ; the quantity of cheese made annually is estimated at twelve thou- sand tons. In making the cheese the practice follow- ed is this ; set the evening's milk apart till the following morning, then skim off the cream, put two or three gallons into a brass pan, which must be immediately placed in hot water and rendered scalding hot. Half of the milk thus heated is poured upon the nighVs milk, and the other half mixed with the cream, which is thus rendered thinner. This is done by the dairy woman while the others are milking the cows; the morning'' s milk being immediately added to that of the previous evening, the whole mass is set to- gether for cheese. The rennet and colour- ing being added, the whole is well stirred, and a wooden cover put over the tub, with a clean linen cloth thrown over it. It in gene- ral requires one hour and a half before the milk curdles; and if the cream should rise to the surface in this time, the whole must again be well stirred, which is done every time the cream rises, until coagulation takes place. When the curd is formed, if it be firm, it is cut with the cheese-knife, and then cut across, making the incisions about an inch distant from each other. The curd is then broken by the dairy woman, until every part of it is made as small as possible, about forty minutes being generally spent at this pro- cess, after which the curd is left about half an hour to subside, covered over with a cloth. It is then put into a favourable position into the tub to drain, and a weight of about sixty No. 8. Construction and Management of Hot-beds. 241 pounds put upon it, in order to press out the whey, which is drained to the lower side of the tub and ladled out. When well drained the curd is turned upside down, and pressed as before. It is now cut into pieces, about nine inches square, which are piled one above another, and pressed both with the hand and the weight, so long as the whey continues to run out. The pieces are then cut and broken very small, and salted at the rate of three hands- ful to each. They are then put into a cheese vat, furnished with a coarse cheese cloth. The curd is heaped in the vat in a conical shape, the cone being covered with cjoth, to prevent any curd falling off. As soon as the curd adheres together, a weight of about sixty pounds is put upon it, and several iron skewers are stuck through it by holes in the sides of the vat. These holes are made in order to allow any whey remaining in the curd to escape. The weight and skewers are then removed, and the curd is broken as small as possible half way down the vat. The pressing and skewering are again re- peated, and a clean cloth is put over the upper part of the curd, which is then taken out of the vat and put into it again upside down, and broken half way down as before. When no more whey can be extracted, the curd is turned into the vat, and rinsed in warm whey. The curd is still kept above the edge of the vat, being bound round with strong tape to keep it in a proper shape. The cheese is now put into the press which has generally the power of about fif- teen hundred weight, and is then well skew- ered with strong pointed wires, eighteen or twenty inches long. The vat is furnished with holes at the sides to receive the skew- ers; and after being about half an hour in the press, the cheese is again turned, and supplied with a clean cloth. It is in like manner turned again and again several times for forty-eight hours, each time supplied with a clean cloth, after which it is put mid-deep into salt, where it remains for three days, its position being reversed each day. When taken out of the vat, it is put into a wooden hoop of the same breadth as the thickness of the cheese, and is placed on the salting bench for several days, as above mentioned. The cheese is then washed in lukewarm water, and after being wiped, is placed on the drying bench, where it remains about seven days, being carefully turned each day, after which it is again washed and dried as before, and rubbed over with sweet butter. After this it is placed in the warmest part of the cheese-room, and rubbed each day with sweet butter for seven days. These cheeses vary in size, being in some dairies nearly one hundred and forty pounds in weight. The quantity of salt made use of during the process is uncertain; three pounds to a cheese of sixty pounds is thought to be about the amount; but much of this ia lost in the salting house. Whether the cheese acquires much saltness during the steeping and rubbing, is uncertain, though much salt is expended in these operations. In operations so critical as those of the dairy, where any material alteration in the temperature will affect the quality of the cheese, this ought at all times to be carefully attended to. A thermometer ought not only to be in every milk house, but also in every byre, as extremes of heat and cold, or sud- den changes in the temperature, have a great effect upon the secretion of milk. The temperature of the milk house ought never to rise above fifty-five nor sink below fifty degrees. The usual colouring for cheese is annatto, one pound of which is sufficient to colour half a ton of cheese. Cheese making in large dairies is very laborious employment. It is said to be work that is never done, and like most other kinds of labour, it is ill remunerated. — A?nerican Traveller. Construction and Management of Hot- Beds. The prevalent opinion among farmers re- specting hot-beds, is, that they are expensive articles, requiring the skill of professed gar- deners to manage them, and almost entirely outside the range of farming economy. Both suppositions are decidedly erroneous, and we hope that every one who reads this will ar- rive at such a conclusion. We do not pro- pose that every farmer should go into the regular routine of forcing vegetables, at ex- traordinary seasons; but that every one, however humble his circumstances may be, should, at least, have one hot-bed to forward such plants as he may want to cultivate in his garden, and which he has either to pur- chase from gardeners — and then get poor, badly grown things — or else wait for the regular process of open garden culture, which, in our climate, under the most fa- vourable circumstances, will not allow him the taste of a vegetable until the summer is half gone. We are surprised to see farmers come to the city and purchase a dozen of poor, weak withered cabbage, tomato, or celery plants, when they might have raised an abundance at home, far superior, and in better season. The value of culinary vegetables, as we have often said, is not at all appreciated by 242 Construction and Management of Hot-heds. Vol. XI. those who, of all others, ought to appreciate it — the professed cultivators of ihe soil. No etFort, worth speaking of, is bestowed upon them, as a general thing. We have seen what is called the gardens of some of the best field farmers in this county, produce little else but weeds, at a season when they should have been teeming with all the va- riety of healthy, nutritious vegetables. Let us urge upon them, for their own sakes, and for the credit of our agriculture generally, the importance of a reform in this regard. In the midst of the improvements of the day, the vegetable garden, that may contribute so largely to the health and comfort of every family, should surely not be neglected. Let it participate, largely and fully, in the im- provement, and it will yield ample compen- sation. This is the season to make prepara- tions while there is leisure. A simple hot-bed for forwarding plants, such as cabbage, tomato, celery, brocoli, cauliflower, egg-plant, pepper, melons, cu- cumbers, &c., may be constructed by any man having but ordinary ingenuity. The size may be adapted to circumstances. For raising such plants as we have mentioned, a frame of about twelve feet long and six wide, which will allow of three sashes, each three feet wide, will be found large enough for any family. It should be made of com- mon two inch plank — the back about three feet high, the front about half that, the ends having a regular slope from back to front. This will give an angle sufficient to throw off rain, and give the full benefit of external heat and light to the plants within. If the beds are narrow the front must be higher in proportion. The sides and ends are simply nailed to a strong post, four inches square, or more, placed in each corner. For the sashes to rest and slide upon, a strip six inches wide is placed across the frame, the ends mortised or sunk in the sides of the frame, so as not to cause a projection. The sashes are made in the ordinary way, but v/ithout cross bars; and in glazing, the lights are made to overlap an eighth or quarter of an inch, to exclude the rain. Such a frame, costing a mere trifle beyond the labour, will last for years. Where so large a frame as the dimensions here given, may not be wanted, an old window may be used for sash, and all expense of glazing be avoided. Hot-beds should occupy a dry situation, where they will not be affected by the lodg- ment of water during rains or thaws. They should be exposed to the east and south, and protected by fences or buildings from the north and north-west. Where it is intended merely to grow plants for transplanting to the garden, they may be sunk in the ground to the depth of 18 inches, and will in such a case require not more than two feet deep of manure; but when forcing and perfecting vegetables, a permanent heat must be kept up, and the bed must be made on the surface, so that fresh and warm manure may be added when necessary. A depth of three to four feet of manure will in such cases be wanted. Ma- nure for hot-beds should go through a regu- lar process of preparation. It should be fresh stable manure, placed in a heap, and turned and mixed several times, promoting a regular fermentation ; thus it is made to retain its heat a long time, otherwise it would burn and dry up, and become useless. Those who wish to force cucumbers, rad- ishes, salad, &c., should begin, if the wea- ther be favourable, about the latter end of February. For raising plants it is time enough to begin in March. In forcing cu- cumbers, Bridgeman says : " The substance of dung from the bottom of the bed should be three to four feet, ac- cording to the season of planting, and the mould should be laid on as soon as the bed is settled, and has a lively, regular-tempered heat. Lay the earth evenly over the dung, about six inches deep; after it has lain a few days examine it, and if no traces of a burning effect are discovered, by the mould turning of a whitish colour and caking, it will be fit to receive the plants, but if the earth appears burned, or has a rank smell, some fresh sweet mould should be provided for the hills, and placed in the frame to get warm ; at the same time vacancies should be made to give vent to the steam, by run- ning down stakes. " After the situation of the bed has been ascertained and the heat regulated, the hole should be closed and the earth formed into hills; raise one hill in the centre under each sash, so that the earth is brought to within nine inches of the glass; in these hills plant three seedlings, or turn out such as may be in pots with the balls of earth about their roots, and thus insert one patch of three plants in the middle of each hill. The plants should be immediately watered with water heated to the temperature of the bed, and kept shaded till they have taken root. " The temperature should be kept up to CO degrees, and may rise to 80 degrees without injury, provided the rank steam be allowed to pass ofi^; therefore, as the heat begins to decline, timely linings of well pre- pared dung must be applied all roimd the frame. Begin by lining the back part first; cut away the old dung perpendicularly to the frame, and form a bank two feet broad, to the height of a foot, against the back of No. 8. Coj-n — Lime, ^c. — Mount Airy Agricultural College. 243 the frames; as it sinks, add more; renew the linings round tlie remainder of the bed as it becomes necessary, and be careful to let off the steam, and give air to the plants at all opportunities. " Give necessary waterings, mostly in the morning of a mild day, in early forcing; and in the afternoon, in the advanced season of hot sunny weather. Some use water im- pregnated with sheep or pigeon dung. As the roots begin to spread, and the vines to run, the hills should be enlarged by gather- ing up the earth around them, for which purpose a supply of good mould should be kept ready at hand, to be used as required. "When the plants have made one or two joints, stop them, by pinching off the tops, after which they generally put forth two shoots, each of which let run till they have made one or two clear joints, and then stop them also; and afterward continue through- out the season to stop at every joint; this will strengthen the plants, and promote their perfecting the fruit early." Radishes, lettuce, &c., may be forced in beds similar to that described for cucumbers, and the earth in tlie dung bed should be a foot deep. They do not require so much heat. The plants require to be well thinned out, air to be regularly admitted, and water gently and regularly supplied In admit- ting air to hot-beds, a mat should be thrown over the opening to prevent the plants from being chilled. Earth for hot-bed plants should, in all cases, be good rich friable loam, mixed with a third of well rotted manure, and some coarse sand to make it porous. — Chicopee Telegraph. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Corn — Lime, &c. To THE Editor : Sir, — In the 6th No. of your last volume I addressed you a note under the signature of " A New Subscriber," and your corres- pondents having answered my inquiries, ably, in my opinion, I now feel bound to make all due acknowledgment. I say 7iow, because I am somewhat more able to judge, by ex- perience, of the advantages of their plans and recommendations. "Barn." The answer in regard to this is published in Volume 10, No. 8, in March, from Chalkley Gillingham. I have never seen a plan of a barn to compare with it, and if the cost of the work done by his own hands and own materials are included, it is very cheap. I had commenced mine when the Cabinet came to hand with the plan, or I should iiave adopted it. "Lime." The answer to my enquiries will be foimd in Vol. 10, page 218, from Dr. Elwyn. To be brief, it is worth more to me than all the information I have heretofore collected on the subject. "Fattening Hogs," by A Vermont Farmer, Vol. 11, No. 5, page 150. I consider the combination of ingredients economical and good; but I am not instructed as to the mode of building the furnace, and it does not appear in what manner the contents are taken from the cylinder, which is probably ten feet high. A concise account of the whole, and the modus operandi, would confer a favour on, Yours truly, E. Lewis. Bloomsbury, near Havrede-Grace, Md., Feb. 24th, 1847. Can some of our correspondents supply the informa- tion asked by our friend ? The directions in the arti- cle referred to are not explicit. — Ed. Mount Airy Agricultural College. The undersigned, having for a series of years devoted himself to the pursuit and practice of Agriculture, and having with deep concern regarded its condition as a Profession or Calling, could not but perceive that there was wanting, something indispen- sable to give Character and energy to an occupation, acknowledged to be the most useful, and embracing in its extended range the most numerous class of the people of these United States. He has therefore been long convinced that the great desideratum to be supplied, is an Education, commensu- rate with the high destinies of the Landed Interest — a training in Rural Economy pend- ing the progress of the Student in Litera- ture, so that when he shall graduate, he may not only have achieved the usual attainments acquired in mere literary Institutions, but exhibit-a thorough and well grounded know- ledge of practical and theoretical Agricul- ture and Horticulture, and possess in a su- perior degree, the presumable addition of good health and habits; being thereby the better fitted to enter upon the general duties of life, or into any profession as well as that of Agriculture. This presumed felicitous condition of the Graduate needs no demon- stration, for it must be admitted, that the training and exercises of a properly con- ducted Agricultural College, will be natu- rally promotive of the priceless blessings of robust healtii, industrious habits, and a well regulated mind. In the Eastern and middle States many laudable efforts of late years, have been made to improve and elevate the position of 244 Mount Airy Agricultural College. Vol. XI. the Farmer, but in the main, all have proved futile. In vain were Clubs and Societies formed ; these could but invoke or inspire others to associate, and spend as they did, a little time and money in the cause ; for all must now7 perceive that Education is the one thing needful, without which all efforts are unavailing, in furtherance of the great ob- ject in view. In vain did Capitalists, charmed with the Rural, and desirous of setting an example, purchase Farms, and quit the Cities; for they soon returned in disappoint- ment, if not in disgust. Why? Because they had not been fitted by education for the pursuits of Agriculture. They had to de- pend on Hirelings, and no money could pro- cure, for it is not procurable, the intelligence and skill adequate to the superintendence of the Yards, Stables and Stock — the Soils and Manures — the Crops and Cropping. Every Planter or owner of a Farm, should there- fore be able to direct and instruct in all the leading interests and operations on his es- tate, for it as much as he can hope, or under the circumstance, expect, if his labourers carry out his orders in the detail. To educate youth in the leading branches of popular learning as taught in our Colleges, with the addition of practical and theoretical Agriculture and Horticulture, with their at- tendant sciences, the Undersigned contemp lates Founding an Agricultural College at Mount Airy, his residence, eight miles from the City of Philadelphia, a site favourably known for its Healthiness and Beauty, and as having until recently been, for many years, a seat of Learning, and now, in Gar dens, Grounds, and Buildings, admirably suited for the purpose^ Stadents will be admitted at ten years old and upwards. The younger Pupils in the elementary branches of the Scholastic de- partment will receive special and particular attention. The more advanced in years and learning, on entering will be classed accord- ing to their qualifications, and all will be carried forward as rapidly and understand- ingly as practicable, to a perfect and tho- rough completion. In the Agricultural de- partment, a similar classification will be made in view of the age and capacity of the Students, and their exercises proportioned accordingly. Each little Boy will have his Budding and Pruning Knife, his miniature Rake and Hoe, and in fine weather will daily repair to the Gardens and Nurseries, and there be taught the nomenclature of Plants, flowers, &c., their culture, habits, and properties, and the necessary manipula- tions of producing: after an hour spent in this healthful recreation, he will return to the Class-room, and resume his studies. As he advances in years and strength, he will be introduced to the more weighty and im- portant concerns of Agriculture, in which the senior Classes will be engaged. The exercise or labour of all, however, will amount to no more than will be deemed ne- cessary for healthful recreation and change, to diversify and lighten the monotonous and depressing drudgery of the mere student. In this way, by a varied course of study, rural exercise, and popular Lectures, it is intended to accomplish the important work, and to give to Agriculture an impulse that cannot fail to raise it to the rank it should assume, and ought to hold throughout the land. The Graduates of this College will be Scholars, and Gentlemen, who, if they in- herit an Estate, will know more than their Gardeners, Overseers, or Land Stewards, — be conversant with the Breeds, Character, and properties of Stock, the mechanism and use of Implements,— the quality of Soils, and the adaptation of Manures, and withal, practical Surveyors; while the taste acquired for Rural Life, will render the management of their Plantations a pleasing occupation, combining both pleasure and profit. If on the other hand they should have to acquire an Estate, what other Graduates could hope to compete with them in the acquisition of Property and honourable fame? These views are respectfully submitted by way of Prospectus, affording a glance at the aims and merits of the contemplated In- stitution, and for the purpose of eliciting such share of patronage as will encourage the undersigned to carry out his long cher- ished design. If, therefore, eighty students shall offer, on or before the first day of July next, he will open the College on the first day of September following, with a Faculty combining the best talent, both in Literature and Rural Economy. The Terms will be Two Hundred Dol- lars per Annum, for Board and Tuition, pay- able half-yearly in advance — no extras, ex- cept for Modern Languages, for which it may be necessary to make some additional charge, all of which, when properly ma- tured, will be stated in a special prospectus, when the requisite number of Students shall appear to be forthcoming. Parents wishing to avail themselves of this plan of educating their Sons, will please address JAMES GOWEN, Mount Airy, Philadelphia, stating age, and acquirements in learning. It is requested that early ap- plication be made, as the opening of the College is contingent upon the number of Students offering, and as much of the mate- rial necessary to its perfect organization No. 8. Soiling Cattle. 24S must be withheld, until it is ascertained that sufficient patronage will be accorded. A word as to the Undersigned himself. — To those who know hira, 'tis needless to say, that this great undertaking is prompted by no interested motive whatever; for all the capital to be employed, and all the trouble and anxiety incurred, he expects not a dollar by way of profit or remuneration for his ser- vices. He therefore wishes to stand in the proper attitude before all, and leave to all the means of making a fair estimate, and coming to a proper determination so far as they may feel interested. Respectfully, James Gowen. Feb. 22nd, Washington's Birth day, 1847. Agricultural papers will please copy the above.— Ed. Soiling Cattle. By Dr. Field. [Read before the Farmers' Club of the American Insti- tute, and communicated for publication.] The soiling of cattle has been highly re- commended by our agricultural writers, and by many distinguished farmers who have employed the system advantageously. Daring the last three years, I have kept my farm stock partially after this plan. I have seen many advantages result from it, but yet have become fully satisfied that soil- ing can be economically practiced only un- der certain favourable circumstances. If land is valuable in consequence of its contiguity to a market, where a good price and ready cash can be obtained for its pro- ductions, especially milk; or if the grounds are laid out in lawns, covered with shrub- bery, nurseries, young orchards, &c., then, if it is desirable to keep stock at all, it would be unquestionably best to soil them, so also it would be, under almost any circumstances, desirable to soil or keep up working cattle and horses, for they are then always ready for the yoke, or harness, without the trouble of going in the pastures for them ; besides, it is much better to feed the animals with that kind of food which would be more pro- per for them while at work than grass only. Again ; much would depend upon the de- Bcription of produce that the farmer expects to obtain from his cattle. If he intends making butter, or cheese, then the soiling system would not answer. The only plan to obtain a good article of fine flavoured butter or cheese, is to afford the cows an unrestrained range in a good pasture, I think there must be, and it is the opinion of others, much better acquainted with the sub- ject than myself, certain plants growing in the pasture, which give to butter and cheese their rich colour and flavor, which the cows find when they roam at large. At any rate, I never yet have seen finely coloured butter made while cows were kept up on any feed, and I have fed grass, clover, green oats, rye, and corn, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, beets, &,c. I intended, to-day, to exhibit to the club a specimen of butter made from a cow fed with warm swill and hay. It was as white as lard, and almost as tasteless. A few days since I was in the cellar of a coun- try merchant and saw there a number of specimens of butter from some of the best farmers of Dutchess county. Almost every parcel was of a white colour. I am aware there are large quantities of fresh butter sold in the winter and spring that possess a good colour, but only a little experience in the art of colouring is sufficient to give either cheese or butter any desired colour. The greatest advantage to be derived from soiling cows is the quantity of manure that can be obtained from them, and a regular and abundant supply of milk. According to the experiments of Mr. Pell, which he communicated to the State Agri- cultural Society, published by them in their Transactions, for 1844, it would appear, that to keep cows, except for their manure, would be attended with ruinous expenses. Five cows gave, each, under the most favourable circumstances, sixteen quarts of milk. Four- teen quarts of good milk are allowed for one pound of butter. I do not believe that six- teen quarts of milk, from soiling, would more than make a pound of butter — at any rate, a cow that would average one pound of good butter per day, is a first rate cow. Estimating this butter at Is. 6d. per pound, his five cows would yield 7s. 6d. per day. What v;ould such an income do towards paying the expenses of the animals, build- ings, land, seed, labour, &c. He made, however, a large quantity of valuable ma- nure, but the bulk of this was straw, weeds, leaves, &c. To make manure from the stock, it is ne- cessary that they should be either enclosed in a yard, or tied up. The only reason as- signed why the manure does not give its full benefit in pasturage is, that a great propor- tion of it evaporates. Those who soil their cattle, and turn them in a lot, therefore, lose the most valuable substances in the manure. It is, no doubt, better to give the animals the benefit of a small enclosure for exercise, &c., but yet, if it is desirable to make manure, these advantages must be sacrificed. 1 have always found it was better to keep stock tied up constantly than to sufl"er them to roam a part of the season ; and then confine them at other periods — for they would al- 246 Lime — Cultivation of Cranberries on Upland Soil. Vol. XI. ways show its bad effects in their milkinof, and appetite for food. When animals are tied up constantly, but suffered to go to drink at stated intervals, they after a time, become accustomed to it, and do as well, as far as I have observed, as if turned out, especially when the pasturage was not regular, as it sometimes is in dry hot seasons. But yet this was only in reference to their condition and quality of saleable milk, not for the making of butter. I would recommend that the ordinary crops of the farm, even such as clover or grass, should not be depended upon for soil ing. The ground should be especially aS' signed for the purpose. It should be as near the animals as possible to save labor, and put in the best condition for producing a succes- sion of luxuriant crops. A dry or wet sea- son will then never disappoint the farmer, for if the land is ploughed thoroughly and deeply and highly manured, it will be so loose as to permit the roots to strike deep and obtain sufficient moisture, raised by ca- pillary attraction from below, in case of a drought; or so porous as to permit the ready percolation of water in a wet season. All the crops for soiling should come in in regu- lar order, and not too much ground should be sown or planted at a time, so that the crops may be fed before they are too old and strong. It is often said that these crops are too watery, and that they scour the animals; they do so oftentimes, because the feed is changed suddenly, but after a time they be- come accustomed to it. Feeding a little dry meal, and giving the animals the privilege of licking clay, will soon check the disorder. Lime water is also very good for that pur- pose. I believe that the following plan for raising crops for soiling would be found to answer the desired object. Let a proportion of land be prepared by deep thorough tillage and abundance of manure, and sown with rye. Thrice the quantity of seed should be used, and it should be sown about a fortnight earlier than usual. This rule affords the first cutting in the spring. A piece of clover should next be prepared by top-dressing and plaster; this would come after the rye. It could be cut until corn was ready, or as soon as the frost is out of the ground in the spring. Oats and field peas should be sown on rich well prepared ground. This crop will come in after clover, anl, I think, would be a good substitute for English tares. It was the most abundant crop I have ever raised on my farm. When the weather is sufficiently warm, corn should be sown broadcast. This will give an abundant supply of feed until late in the fall. I prefer sowing corn broadcast to drills. ■It is much less trouble, and the stalk is made more tender. I prefer, too, to cut the corn when it is in full leaf, and not wait any longer. I have conversed with our largest dairymen, who have partially soiled with corn for several years. They all unite in the opinion that it is the best feed to give an abundant yield of milk. — Farmer and Mechanic. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Lime* In the January number of the Cabinet, is an article on lime, from " Chambers' Infor- mation, &c." in which it is stated that "lime helps to fix the carbonic acid which is gene- rated by the fermentation of putrescent manures in the soil, or which floats in the air on the surface of the earth, and it freely imparts this gas in union with water for the nourishment of plants." It is well known that lime unites with carbonic acid and thus soon returns to its primitive condition of carbonate of lime or lime stone; but that it freely imparts the carbonic acid for the nour- ishment of plants, is an assertion which ad- mits of a doubt. The lime stone will yield up its carbonic acid when submitted to the action of a stronger acid, or when heated to a high temperature, as in lime burning. Lime stone is soluble in water, which is impregnated with carbonic acid, but it re- mains lime-stone and does not part with any carbonic acid. The excess of acid in the water is not an effect, but the cause of the solution. When carbonic acid has united with lime, water cannot dissolve it out. Farmers are deeply interested, and attention being ea- gerly turned to the subject of the operation of lime as a manure, every explanation is seized with avidity. It is better that expe- rience in its use and effects should be our guide, however imperfect, than any false theory of its operation, which can only lead to erroneous practice. Respectfully, Ellwood Harvey. Chadd's Ford, Pa., Feb. ]7, 1847. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Cultivation of Cranberries on Upland Soil. The attention of the public having been called to the culture of this delicious fruit, and Mr. Gardner, of Massachusetts, having produced three hundred and twenty bushels to the acre, on upland soil ; I proceed to give his mode of cultivation as follows: "I se- lected a piece of cold wet land that will keep moist through the year — remove the No. 8. Hydraulic Ram. 247 top soil to the depth of two inches; this prevents all grass or weeds from growing, and the plants will require no cultivation after they are set out. After the top was removed, I harrowed the ground smooth and marked it out in drills, eighteen inch- es apart, and set in the plants four inches apart. Some I set out on sods fourteen inches square, placed in holes a little below the surface. They all flourished far beyond my expectation: the first year they put forth runners three feet long, and every vine was loaded with fruit. The plants can be set out from September to December, and from April to the last of June." Yours, &c. B. G. Boswell, For ihe Farmers' Cabinet. Hydraulic Ram. In the last number of the Cabinet is an article recommending the application of a syphon to the supply pipe of a hydraulic ram. It seems to me that the principles upon which such a modification depends, should be carefully examined, before any person incurs unnecessary expense in intro- ducing iL It is a settled principle in hydraulics, that the total efficacy of a water power is found by multiplying the quantity of water by the height of the fall. Now as no mechanical contrivance can increase power, it is evident that were there no loss from friction and im- perfect application of the water to machine- ry, the whole effect would be of easy calcu- lation. The only diflerence tlien, that results from the use of different kinds of machinery, arises from the more or less perfect manner in which they use the power of the water. Now I think it will be apparent from the following remarks, that the use of a syphon is a less perfect mode than a straight pipe, and of course should be discouraged. If it is a fact that a larger quantity of water was raised by H. H. Straw bridge when he used his bent pipe, it would no doubt be interest- ing to the "readers of the Cabinet to have the discrepancies between practice and theo- ry explained. First — We shall endeavour to explain the principle on which the syphon acts; for it is plain the whole argument must be based on this, H. II. S. appears to suppose that the fall of water is increased by the employment of the syphon. He says, "The fall of water requisite to work it being very small, I con- tinued to increase it by the improvement I am about to describe." And again, "In this manner, by employing a syphon instead of a straight pipe, conducting from the pond or spring to the ram, a fall of six or twelve inches, which would not afford sufficient power to work the ram, may be increased in power so as to equal that of a natural fall of many feet." Again, — "The power will of course be in proportion to the perpendicu- lar height of the syphon; which cannot, however, be made to act if its elevation ex- ceed 32 feet. This will give a power of 14 lbs. to the square inch, if merely the dead pressure be taken into consideration, but a much greater power, if the momentum of the descending column of water be calcu- lated." I now propose to show that the theory de- veloped in these remarks is not sound. The whole moving power in the syphon depends upon the difference in the perpendic- ular height of the columns of water in the two legs. Let A B C be a syphon, the longer leg being B C. The whole moving force, I and of course the only force applicable to working machinery of any kind, is the col- umn D C, A and D being on a level. The water in B D can exercise no effect on the machine— except from its momentum ; a point to be considered hereafter — its whole force being expended in supporting the wa- ter in A B. This must be evident; for were the leg B C to terminate at D and be slight- ly turned up as at C, to prevent the water from dripping out, no water would be dis- charged by the syphon. This being the case, and the law, that every effect is in pro- portion to the force which produces it, being of universal application ; the addition of the column D C cannot cause an action by the machine equal to that which would be pro- duced by the whole water in B C. I am aware that there is a popular notion, that the water in the shorter leg being raised by atmospheric pressure, the whole of that in the longer may be applied to the moving of machinery. This, however, is fallacious. It is true that the water is forced up by at- mospheric pressurp, and it is also true that the water in the longer leg is supported by atmospheric pressure to precisely the same amount. The two columns being thus kept in contact by the pressure of the air acting at the two extremities of the tube, the ac- tion of the water is, so far as its dead pres- sure is concerned, perfectly analogous to a 248 Hydraulic Ram. Vol. XI. rope hanging over a pulley; and certainly H. H. S. will not contend that it requires a force at A equal to the weight of the rope B C D, to prevent the rope running over, but only a power equal to the weight of C D, A and C being on a level. V^y But the whole matter may be reduced to experiment, — if we place the finger on the end of a syphon, in order to stop it, it will be found that it is by no means necessary to apply a force equal to the weight of a col- umn of 32 feet in perpendicular height. It is sufficient to apply a power equivalent to the weight of a column whose length is the difference of the perpendicular heights of the two legs. Inasmuch then as no contrivance can in- crease the power of the fall, it might be supposed that the ram would work equally well, whether placed close to the spring, or at some distance from it: this however would be a hasty conclusion. A certain time, depending on the structure and size of the ram, is requisite for the perfect opening and closing of the valves ; and to give that time, a long pipe is necessary. Could the valves be opened and closed instantaneously, it would be best for the pipe to be as short as possible ; the diminished discharge from each stroke being more than counterbal- anced by their increased number. But time is necessary; and as we must get it, it is best of course to do so in the most economi- cal manner possible. A certain velocity is necessary to close the escape valve. Now the whole moving force being that due to the perpendicular fall, the time necessary to acquire that velo- city will depend on the length of the supply pipe, and be exactly proportional to that length; no allowance being made for fric- tion. Consequently with a supply pipe 40 feet long, the strokes will occur about half as often, as when the pipe is 20 feet. But the column being twice as heavy, each stroke will discharge twice as much water; it being assumed that, in both cases, the valves have full time to act. The moment- um and the number of strokes depending upon the length of the column; the height being supposed invariable, it will manifestly be best to use a straight pipe, because it is a well ascertained fact, that all curvatures di- minish the discharge. If then the above principles be correct, the effect of H. H. S.'s machine would be increased by straighten- ing his pipe and removing his ram to a dis- tance from the spring equal to the length of his syphon. It may be asked if it will make no differ- ence whether the strokes take place at long or short intervals. It undoubtedly does. The escape valve is closed by the water pressing against its lower surface. This action depends solely on the velocity of the discharge. It can therefore make no differ- ence in the time occupied by a stroke, whe- ther this velocity is suddenly or more slowly acquired. Suppose we have two precisely similar machines worked by springs havino- the same fall, the supply pipes being re- spectively 40 and 60 feet long. Now in these cases the strokes will be made in the same time, while the intervals between them will in one case be twice as great as in the other. If then an interval of two seconds be required by the ram supplied by the shorter pipe, it will evidently require four seconds to acquire the necessary velo- city in the other; therefore, if half a second is occupied in closing and again opening the valve, it is evident in one case the strokes will be made every two and a half seconds, and in the other every four and a half se- conds ; the number of strokes are therefore as nine to five, and consequently the ma- chine with the longer pipe will discharge the most. No accotmt has been made of the effect of friction, which, if the pipe is ex- tended much will so far diminish the dis- charge, as greatly to lessen the efficacy of the machine. The most economical length will depend upon the size of the supply pipe. From 40 to 50 feet is thought to be the best length for pipes of two inches bore. There is one other remark in the commu- nication of H. H. S., which, as it may possi- bly lead to unnecessary expense in procuring large air vessels, requires a passing remark. He says, "The forcing power of the air ves- sel, like the power of a Bramah press, will increase in proportion to the enlargement of its horizontal area." He certainly could not have considered that it is only the pressure per square inch, that is to be taken into con- sideration; a pressure of 2000 pounds on a surface of 144 square inches, would produce no greater discharge than one of 500 lbs. on a surface of 36 square inches. S. Alsop. Wilniingion, Del,, Third mo. 1st, 1847. No. 8. Hydraulic Ram. 249 For the Farmers' Cabinet. Hydraulic Ram. The statements of H. H. Strawbridge in the last Cabinet relative to the working of this machine, are so completely at variance with our old notions of things, that if they should be confirmed by future experiments, they will entirely "confound all our philoso- phy." It will afford occasion for inculcating some philosophical truths, to inquire what this new philosophy is] " By employing a syphon instead of a straight pipe, a fall of six or twelve inches may be increased in power so as to equal that of a natural fall of many feet. The power will, of course, be in proportion to the perpendicular height of the syphon — not exceeding 32 feet. This will give a power of 14 pounds to the square inch, if merely the dead pressure be taken into considera- tion— but a much greater power if the mo- mentum of the descending column of water be calculated." — says H. H. S. Let a represent the spring or reservoir, h the induction or feeding pipe, c the air cham- ber of the ram, d the escape valve, e the eduction or raising pipe, f g h a syphon. Now the dead pressure or effective weight of the water in the tube 6 is equal to a simi- lar perpendicular column of the height h i. The power of the syphon is known to be equal to the difference between the perpen- dicular heights of the ascending and de- scending columns — that is the difference be- tween h k and f I, which is also equal to h i. Therefore the effective powers of the straight tube and of the syphon are precisely the same. The motive power of the water is derived from the force of gravity acting upon it. In the syphon the columns / g and g in being of the same altitude and weight, exactly equipoise each other, and remain at rest; but when the additional column h in is ap- pended to g m, it preponderates the opposing column fg, and the whole is put in motion. Whatever may be the motive power em- ployed, the motion produced will be in an inverse ratio to the quantity of matter moved. Now if the quantity of water in the straight tube be equal to 10, and that in 250 Hydraulic Ram. Vol. XI. the syphon equal to 30, it will follow that the same power will produce three times as much motion or velocity in the short tube, as it will in the long one. If the motion in b is equal to 9, that in fg h will be only 3. Now the momentum is found by multiplying the weight by the velocity or motion — there- fore 10 X 9=:90, the momentum of the wa- 'ter in b: 30 x 3=90, the momentum of the water in fg h. Hence the acting force of the straight tube and the syphon are exactlyequal. "A fall of one foot or more may be ob- tained in any situation by partly burying the ram, so as to place it lower than the feeding reservoir, and the escape of the waste water will not impede the working of the valves; for I have made it work at the depth of two feet under water." We have already seen that the motive power of the ram is equal to a perpendicu- lar column of water of the height of the fall employed — or h i. Now suppose the well i n 0 p to be dug on a level plain / p, and the ram placed in it ; it is evident that the waste water would accumulate upon the machine. The effective power would now be a variable quantity, constantly diminish- ing as the water accumulates, until the well is filled to the level of the reservoir, when the water would cease to flow through the pipe b. If the fall h i was more than the ram required, it would continue to work for a longer or shorter time beneath the surface of the waste water. For instance, if the fall q i was sufficient to move the valves, it would continue to operate until the water rose to q r, and then it must stop. It is therefore entirely fallacious to talk of bury- ing the ram and then drowning him, unless there is more than the requisite fall at com- mand— and then it would be unnecessary. " The forcing power of the air vessel will increase in proportion to the enlargement of its horizontal area." It is the momentum with which the water enters the air chamber, which compresses the air, and imparts to it its spring, or fore ing power. The column of water in the eduction pipe, is a counterpoise to this mo mentum, and affords a correct barometrical measurement of its force. This force can not depend in any degree upon either the form or size of the chamber — there can be no relation whatever between them. By increasing the superficial area of the chamber, we add greatly to the expansive force or bursting power of the air and water contained in it — for it is known that fluids press equally in all directions, and conse- quently, that equal areas of the vessel will sustain equal degrees of pressure. The bursting power of the chamber is represent- ed by the quotient of the area of the educ- tion pipe, divided into the superficial area of the chamber, multiplied by the weight of the perpendicular column of water in the eduction pipe. I will make two suppositions: 1st. A cubic chamber of 3 inches, area, = 54 " area of pipe, .25 " weight of column, 20 pounds, -51- = 216 X 20 = 4320 » .25 ^ 2nd. A cubic chamber of 18 inches, area, = 1944 " area of pipe, .25 " weight of column, 20 pounds, 1944 ^g- ^ 7776 X 20= 155520 " Hence it appears, that by increasing the linear dimensions of the air chamber six fold, the bursting power of the air is increased thirty six times. Or, as the squares of its linear dimensions. This may be a useful hint to operatives, and will perhaps explain better than the syphon can do, why Straw- bridge's " machine burst with an explosion like that of a swivel." Montgolfier. Sylvania, Second mo., 1847. In addition to the two preceding Communications on the syphon, another was subsequently received from a much valued friend near West Chester, Pa. It did not seem necessary to insert the whole of this last. In the course of his letter he says: — "There is no occasion for any one to hesitate about introducing the Ram for want of fall, for almost any farm will yield fall enough for the purpose by a little digging, and three feet, with a good head will be ample for slight elevations, say to thirty feet, or even more. I placed one on my farm last spring, which has been in operation since' that time; the fall for the working of which was gained by sinking the ram three feet or more below the surface, and carrying the waste water away by means of a drain. The length of tren- ches dug to attain eight feet fall in this way, was something more than 260 feet. With the fall thus ob^ tained, my supply of water is driven through about 1400 feet of lead pipe to an elevation of 115 feet, at the rate of fourteen barrels per day. The cost of thus in- troducing water to my barn, has been $225, as near as may be; the interest on which is $13.50, a cheap method of insuring a constantly flowi)]g stream of water, to which your cattle can resort at pleasure. " For trifling elevations any of the many rams now offered to the public would be found efficacious, but when considerable height and great distance are com- bined, it would be advisable to consult some one who is scientifically acquainted with the laws of the mo- tions of fluids, least the too hasty adoption of false principles should end, as it surely will, in disappoint- ment." In the first column of page 218 of last number of the Cabinet, and the 35th line from the top, an error oc- curred ; 80 should be 30.— Ep. No. 8. Cranberries. — Jgricultural Discussion, Albany, JV. Y. 251 Cranberries. This communication is sent for the pur- pose of calling more efScient attention to the cultivation of cranberries. While there is so much inquiry as to the best method of re- claiming peat meadows, it seems strange there should be so little in regard to making them productive, with the least possible al- teration from their present condition. It is curious to see how far nature may be led by ingenuity from the original form of her ser- vitude; but like other good servants, she will be more useful, when she has partly her own way, and her character studied while imposing duties. — The cranberry is a prominent natural pro- duct of these meadows; of its superior value as compared with any of the other fruits used for pastries and sauces, there is no ques tion, while its beauty of color and fine flavor obtain this preference. Its keeping qualities allow of its being shipped to any part of the world. In England, millions of bushels of goosberries are grown at greater cost for the same purposes, and are of less value in all the respects above mentioned, especially in the all-important one of keep- ing. The market for the cranberry may be stated as co-extensive with conmiercial in- tercourse; and to preclude diminution of price from over supply, even if every acre of peat land in New England should be de- voted to its production. The indigenous crop of this fruit affords much encouragement, and many instances show it to be the best use of these meadows. The greatest value of natural production has always been in the indications afforded by it to the cultivator. The writer has seen rod square of cranberry vines, in a peat mea- dow belonging to Frederic Tuder, Esq., in West Cambridge, from which were picked upwards of three and a half bushels of the fruit, and it is supposed if every cranberry had been gathered, there would have been four bushels, or 640 bushels to the acre. What is produced by accident may with more cer- tainty be produced by design. With this view, the gentleman above named, has planted upwards of five acres; and from his perseverance and sagacity in all his under- takings, there is no doubt that this enterprise will produce valuable results. Some gentlemen have placed in the hands of the Society of Middlesex Husbandmen and Manufacturers, forty dollars, to be added to their premium of ten dollars " for the best product of cranberries in 1847, obtained through artificial cultivation from four rods square of peat meadow, to be accompanied by a full and clear statement of the methods adopted." — Boston Cultivator. Agricultural Discussion, Albany, N. Y. Mr. Johnson, Secretary of the State Ag- ricultural Society, said he would at this time Jmake some remarks on the Agriculture of England. It was a subject, to an American, replete with the greatest interest, especially if he views it for the first time — it being so entirely different from what he sees in his own country. It is essentially an old coun- try ; and you look in vain for the trees and stones and stumps so common on our farms, and in our country generally. Every thing in England is under the best cultivation; and the land is in the best condition for the farmer. The stones are all removed from the land, if we can suppose they ever were there. There is nothing to interfere with the prose- cution of his plans. The manner in which the work is done differs essentially from the way of this country. The utmost care and precision, and neatness in every respect, are in their judgment the very best way to pro- duce a great crop; a kind Providence has given them the land, and the very utmost preparation for the furtherance of the crop, which they derive from it, is alike their duty and their interest. English farming seems to have attained perfection, and yet they say it is but just begun — and they calculate on large advances; but how they are to make it, is not easy to perceive. In the spring of the year, there will be seen on the farm a large collection of females, some of mature age, and some of tender years — frequently twenty, or thirty, or forty, in a field — following some old men with scuffle hoes, cleaning out the rows of wheat. Every where is witnessed the nicest care in cultivation, such as would be given here to the finest garden bed ; and this is general— both where the drill is used, and where the seed is sown broadcast — the same attention fo extract every thing calculated in any degree to impede the beautiful culture of the grain. He had found this very gene- ral, and in many fields which he saw, there was not to be seen a single weed. And when they are asked the reason of this ex- treme care and nicety, the answer is very readily given. They pay so much for their lands, their manure costs so much, that it will be readily seen that there is a necessity for the culti- vation of every part of their land. None of it is to be lost, if they would have any remu- neration whatever for their labor ; and we may well take into consideration, if the same perfect and systematic method is not the very best way for a good farmer in all 252 Agricultural Discussion, Albany, JV. F. Vol. Xr. places. The wages of these females thus employed are, of course, lar lower than wages with us, and it cannot be expected that we should adopt such practices with the usual price of our grain crop. But, in the process of ploughing, there is no reason why we should not do as well as in England. Their furrows are from eight to ten inches wide — seldom exceeding ten very straight — made with the greatest nicety and precision — the slice is of the same thick ness all the way through, so that the sod does not decompose quicker in one place than the other, and the soil becomes equally pulverized ; nor does the grain start une- qually, nor the farmer lose as with us, a third of his crop by its unequal growth. They plough with horses, usually from three to as many as six, in single file, with one or two drivers — sometimes very young lads at the plough. The use of horses, as with us, is evidently becoming more frequent. This work is done with perfect neatness and care; often the result of the labour and experience of years on the part of the ploughman. In England, each individual does one kind of work, so that he understands it perfectly. There they have no such character as a man of all work. The ploughman attends to that work alone. He goes to his work early in the morning and breaks off about two, and then has the charge of his team. If any sods remain undecomposed, these females again appear with their baskets and gather them into heaps, when they are consumed, and the ashes scattered about the land. The roller and the crusher, the latter of which is very heavy, are freely used. The best cultivators distribute the seed by drills, and seed is saved by this, and the grain deposited and covered more uniformly — and the broad cast system seems on the retrograde. There are no fences in England — the scarcity of timber is a sufficient reason — the hedges are very neat, and are attractive in their appearance to the stranger. Some farmers there are who, like some in our own country, let things go to loose ends, but in the midst of so beautiful and fineJy culti- vated lands, those exceptions make but a poor appearance. He had visited, with great satisfaction, the dairy districts of England, especially those of Cheshire and Worcestershire, our strong- est competitors. One great principle per- vaded them all. The first and second and last thing in the English dairy was neatness. Every thing about them was neat, and noth- ing unsavory was allowed to be there. This extended to the care and keeping of the cattle, and he had seen many stables, where the cattle were kept with the utmost nicety. This was a principle with the English in the manufacture of butter and cheese, and it would be in vain for our farmers to seek there a market for these commodities, unless these excellent qualifications had a rigid compliance. The salt they use appears to give them an advantage over us. It is chiefly the Liver- pool and of the Ashton brand. This appears absolutely necessary for the preservation and preparation of their fine butter. Our farmers, many of them, are following this example, and are incurring the expense of procuring foreign salt, rather than to buy our own at Salina. The great objection there to our butter was that it was salted too much. The Eng- lish had seen but little of our good butter. Most had reached their country under the denomination of grease. Even with us, the proportion of salt is often so great, that with the butter we take in our mouths, comes a lump of undissolved salt. Such carelessness must forever destroy our hopes of a market in England. The condition of their cattle is most ad- mirable. They are fatted to perfection. They vary from eighteen months to three years; few being sold in market over three years of age. You may see often 5000 fat cattle at once in the market at London, and out of the whole, there are every week im- mense numbers equal to the splendid speci- mens exhibited at our shows, such as would receive with us the first premium, and this not of one breed alone, but of several. The black cattle. Galloways and West Highland- ers, may be said to stand at the head of the market, and command the highest price. The Herefords are next to the Scotch cattle, and are very fine animals. The Short Horns and Devons are also very choice and superior animals. There were three descriptions of the black cattle, which I saw. The Galloway, without horns, the West Highland, and the Runts, equal to either, though of a much smaller size. Similar cattle are common in Angle- sea in Wales, The sheep are enclosed in hurdles on the ground, and fed on turnips, vetches, clover, early grass, and whenever one part of a field is finished they are taken to the other, which, after they leave it, is plowed up and used for grain. They go to market by railway, and are in the finest condition, 30,000 of them arrive in London weekly. Go and look at the immense number, and you would suppose there was enough to feed all England. On Monday morning early, you will find them all paraded for sale, and when you go at twelve o'clock you will find them all gone) i No. 8. Tlie Potatoe Disease. 253 not one left, and the next week the same scene will be presented. Of the different breeds the Southdown may be considered among the best. There is a little Welsh sheep whicli is very popular. He had noticed them from the deck of the steamer in passing the coast of Wales, and they were as small ap- parently as lambs; and though the hills seemed almost bare of vegetation, yet small patches of pasture might be discerned, and by the aid of the telescope, paths by which the sheep finds its way from near the waves of the ocean to the top. These make the finest mutton in England. Then there are the Leicester and the Cotswold, and another black and white faced variety from Scotland, with long wool, which is a very superior sheep. The condition of their laboring popula- tion is a very peculiar one, having striking features. He went among the laborers on a great many farms with perfect freedom. The name of America was every where a passport ; and though it was then in the midst of the Oregon excitement, yet he did not hear, from high or low, rich or poor, any other feeling expressed towards America but the kindest. They all seemed to say, they would rather give all the disputed land up than have one day of war. Nothing but national pride would have ever led to diffi- culty. His only difficulty had been to get from place to place, such was the hospitality shown — such the anxiety manifested to hear all about America, that every where he re- ceived an English welcome. All of them work, from the smallest child to the man of great age. They must all do so to live ; for, except on some favored localities, where the landlords give liberal recompense, the wages of the best of them will not admit of their laying up more than about eighteen pence or two shillings ster- ling per week, when all were able to labor. Their food differs from ours chiefly in this — that the laboring population eat very little meat. Their breakfast is of coffee, bread, oatmeal, &c. In Ireland they are very fond of potatoes ; but he very seldom saw them use meat — certainly not on week-days — per- haps on the Sabbath they would have a little. And yet they are almost universally heal- thy. He freely confessed that he had seen no finer looking set of men than were the English — and he credited the assertion that perhaps the finest looking race of men in the world were the English nobility. Their constant exercise out of doors contributed to make them remarkably healthy. He visited Ireland — which was a remark- ably fertile country — more so even than England; and if agriculture was carried there to the same perfection which it has attained in England, Ireland conld support itself from its own soil with perfect ease. He was there in August, when the potatoe plague had just made its appearance. In July, when he had before seen the fields, every thing looked well, and every heart was filled with joy and gladness at the prospect. In three or four weeks the blight began, and there was exceeding distress in every part of the country. No one can conceive how much the pota- toe is planted. To every small cabin there is a potatoe patch. It appears to be almost their only subsistence. They raise a pig, sometimes some poultry, eggs, and now and then a cow ; and out of all this they have to pay the landlord. So that their chief depen- dence is on the potatoe. In travelling from Dublin through Drog- heda to Belfast, he had met many very fine farms, some as good as could be found in the entire kingdom of Great Britain — all in fine order and looking very beautifully. The tenantry are in a very low condition. In this country we have no human beings who live as many of them do. The shanties on our canals, compared to them, are splen- did edifices ! An Irish hut is made of mud. Sometimes there is a hole in the top for the escape of the smoke, but in many instances the only ventilator is the door. Pig, cow and hens all live in the same domicil with the children. They sleep all together, and he had never seen, in examining these abodes, any thing like a bed. And yet they all ap- peared happy and contented. All made him free of their house, and all received him kindly. There were evidently warm hearts found there. — Ev. Journal. From the American Farmer. The Potatoe Disease. It may be concluded by many of our readers, that we devote more than a fair pioportion of room to the consideration of this subject. Our excuse is in its vast importance. If we advert to the fact, that not only are districts in our own country seriously affected by this visitation, but that also kingdoms are convulsed with famine and fearful forebodings of the future, we cannot fail to perceive in a moment the reasonable- ness of giving toil a large share of attention. We have no theory of our own. Wo believe it is among the inscrutable dispensations of Divine Providence. If science or experiment or any thing else can disco- ver a remedy, it will be viell. We feel bound to throw before our readers, much of what seems calculated to give information in the matter. — Ed. To Robtrl Sinclair, Jr. Esq., Baltimore. December 20th, 184G. My Dear Sir, — Your very kind letter reached me in due course of mail, but really mv time has been of late so occupied by sun- 254 The Potatoe Disease. Vol. XI dry claims, (wherewith it was wholly absorb- ed,) that between law, farm, and private affairs, I have hardly had the time to kiss the little girl, box the boys, and say a gentle word to the " belter half'' of my humble self Christmas is coming and so too I trust is a little leisure for me. Therefore, here the fourth day from that best of days in the year, I find a moment to answer your letter. I wish that my ability and experience allow- ed me to answer it as becomes the subject matter of yours to me. " The Potatoe Dis- ease," is a prolific source to exercise the mind upon — it has engaged the ablest pens irr the world — it has fired the imagination of the poets, and called out the deepest philoso- phers in the most learned and abstruse de- tences of favorite theories. And it has at the same time called out the honest thoughts of the truly practical and intelligent among our honest and intellectual Farmers. Hence, I have never written a line or a word on the subject, and should not now, but that cour- tesy required me to answer your letter, if for no other reason, to thank you for the excellent treatise you sent to the " Farmer," for December. Your views and suggestions are excellent, as every reader will admit, who reads and reflects upon your treatise I now refer to. Not one of the many writers have found out the cause or even the probable cause of the disease, therefore no specific remedy has been discovered, and cannot be discovered till the cause is positively known. I am too unlearned in the sciences to at- tempt an explanation of the large portion of natural phenomena coming under my daily observation ; or to explain the connection that exists in many cases between cause and effect. To those more learned, I leave the truth after I have stated my views, based upon experiments and ascertained data, I give you my opinion, upon what it is found- ed, but the why and wherefore it is so, you must get some one far greater than I, to ex- pound to you. The cause of the potatoe disease is from using too much manure and planting too long a time the same sort or kinds, without often enough resorting to the seed for newer and different kinds. The kind of potatoe I have raised, by sowing the seed eight years ago, which I call '•'■Bowie-Seedling," have now arrived at hardy perfection, and become nearly akin to the Mercer, from tlie seed of which it was raised. But it is becoming now for the first time, subject to the disease. For the first few years it was very imperfect, being of various forms, and of difl^erent color, and small, but free of disease, until this year. This year, slightly affected, but not near so much so as other kinds on my own farm and on my neighbors. Like every other object in the vegetable, and indeed I might say also animal kingdom, it having reached a certain stage of perfection, can be carried no farther in improvement, and must dete- riorate. It must be crossed, or aided by some change, or it will in a ?qw years deteriorate into utter worthlessness. Breed animals in and in, and they will become good for noth- ing. It is true, that by skill, care and proper means, flowers and fruits, and vegetables, become, from useless, trifling eye-sores and unwholesome non-descripts, large, luscious, and beautiful ; but there is a stopping point ! the peach will never become as large as an eighty pound pumkin, and I venture to say, there never will be seen a grass-green horse. It has been said " thus far shalt thou go and no farther." While the Supreme Being has placed a limit to human means, I cannot believe that he has prepared an article of human subsistence, which is so necessary for the support of millions, and will permit it to become totally useless, and as some seem to fear, will in a short time eradicate it from the earth. The potatoes I raised from the seed, are free from disease, in comparison with other kinds, but will become diseased I have no doubt in a few years. Quere — would not seed now from them, be productive of a po- tatoe free from rotl Too free use of manure is hurtful. Ani- mal and vegetable manures are particularly productive of weeds, worms, flies, and stim- ulate tlie vines to great and rapid growth, whereby, from all these causes combined, smut, mildew, and other diseases are gene- rated. The first year the crop may be slightly affected — the nest year it becomes more so — and thus members of the same diseased family are again planted to become still more impregnated with the distemper, by the same appliances which first caused it, and thus, fuel is added to the fire year after year, until they become so diseased, that the farmer is compelled to "change his seed." It is a well known fact, that until a few years before the appearance of this potatoe rot, but little attention was paid to the rais- ing and using of great quantities of manure. And those who first used manure extensive- ly, used it upon their root crops; from seeing a great increase in these by its lavish use, they were led to use it in quantity upon other crops. Again, the potatoe disease commenc- ed in Europe first, where heavy manuring of them with unrotted manure, had been long practised, and so in this country. It began first in the north, with those farmers who had first caught the flame of improvement ^0.8. The Potatoe Disease. 255 n agriculture, by means of manure, which he immortal Buel had lit up in a land where he people were more easily persuaded to ook well to their own interests, than our )eople are, who had been already for years inlightened by the " American Farmer," hough they but seldom practised its pre- septs. Of late years, our people have ma- jured heavily, and lo! the rot affects our wtatoes, for we bought " Mercers" from the lorth, and practised northern cultivation vith them. Another fact — all scientific writers pro- rose the use of plaster, lime, salt and other nineral manures; but there they stop — it »ot occurring to them that unfermented, or >ther vegetable and animal manures are lurtful. They say, that where plaster, salt, >r lime, &c. have been used, the potatoes are ess, and in some cases not at all diseased, rhey then account for it by going into the iffects of these substances upon the air, the lews and a thousand other chimerical causes, lut all conclude at last that nothing can be rrived at with certainty. Now for my other acts ; — I had last year several rows of pota- oes, (Mercer) manured with tobacco stalks lone; there was hardly one diseased pota- oe, — the rest were alongside manured with I'ell rotted stable and hog pen manure, many f the potatoes were rotten, others unsound, '^ow it is well known that there is a great eal of nitre in the tobacco stalk, and the ■egetable parts are so woody, that they did lot fully decay while the potatoe was matur- ng, consequently the only benefit the potatoe erived was from the nitre in the stalk. I sold to a neighbour some from my seed- leap. He planted them in April, upon a dry, andy or gravelly soil, that was poor, but no [lanure but a light sprinkle of ashes unslack- d, over them. He had splendid, sound po- atoes, and they were from time of planting, n eight weeks, as large as hen eggs, with, s he says, not one diseased. In 1845 I raised some of the soundest and inest potatoes in my neighbourhood. My leighbours bought this spring most of them ar seed, although some were touched by the ot, I made about 160 bushels, and 1 lost of hem 8 or 10 bushels. Half of these potatoes cere manured in the drill with stable ma- ure, and other drills with tobacco stalks, chile some had nothing but a good sprinkle f plaster. Where the plaster was, none cere rotted, were the fewest but largest; hose least injured by rot were where the to- acco stalks were; and where a heavy coat f manure was placed, there was a large rop, but much disease. One of our most successful potatoe grow- rs, and excellent managers, Mr. B. D. M. never had the rot in his potatoes, until he had used the same seed, or his own kind, for many years, and had resorted to heavy ma- nuring, with long manure, and other barn yard and stable manure. Then he, as was formerly his practice, selected his poor knolls and barren spots for his potatoes, and used no other manure than tobacco stalks; he made great crops, and the most splendid, mealy, delicious potatoes, — outselling every body; and he made large crops. One year from seven pecks planting, he gathered 170 bu- shels of fine potatoes. This is a strong fact. The soundest and best potatoes raised in our county, are made upon our poorest lands. In what we call " Chinquepin Hundred," we hear but little or no talk of " the rot;" but while they boast not of large crops per acre, they always can give you fine, large, sound potatoes to eat. And they do not use much manure. This is another strong circum- stance. An old writer, as far back as 178.5, when no rot was heard of, says, " to make good potatoes, take old worn out stubble land and plow it up in the fall, in two furrows back to back, so as to leave drains about two feet apart, by this means it becomes thoroughly dry." * * * " When you plant, put a piece of dung as big as your fist upon each potatoe set, and let them be the length of a man's foot apart in the drill." This you see is not hea- vy manuring. From all these facts and circumstances, I have come to the following conclusions, with- out, I candidly confess, being able to assign a scientific reason why it is so, and why it should be so; but I know it is so, and seeing and feeling make us have faith, although we may not be able to explain the mysteries of that we feel to be true. 1st. Conclusion — We do not often enough^ with sufficient care, propagate new species of potatoes from the seed. 2ndly. We use too extensively vegetable and animal manure upon our potatoe crop, especially upon our rich lands. 3rdly. We should be careful to select dry ground for this crop. Not high, hilly land, but dry soil, one which retains not water long, but is deep and dry, because the water can easily penetrate it below the roots, and pass off" without injury to them. If I am right in my conclusion, the remedy for the disease I would suggest is, to wit: 1st. Let every farmer select a ^ew fine potatoes free of rot, and plant them in only thin soil, without any manure, and save the seed ; from this, let him propagate a new variety for himself, saving and planting from the product of this seed the handsomest and best specimens annually, for four or five 256 Extension of CoIman''s Tour. — Isabella Grape Vine. Vol. XI. years. If at that time his production should not be valuable, it will not have been with- out profit to him, for his example will have urged others to a like course, and from the many efforts, he will no doubt derive great be- nefit, as some one or other will have succeed- ed in procuring a superior kind of potatoe. 2nd. The land intended for potatoes next j'ear, to be broken up this winter and sub- soiled. The poorest land to be selected, and given, say not more than twenty loads of manure per acre, spread over and ploughed in this winter. If the land be of good qual- ity, no manure at all. Next spring when you plant potatoes, be sure to put no manure, except this mixture, sowed over the potatoe sets, so as to make the bottom of the trench look white. Mixture — one bushel of lime, one of salt, one of unleached asches, half a bushel of saltpetre, half a bushel of soot, or charcoal. Let them have no other manure, except when they come up above ground, give them a good dressing of plaster, sowed just over the top of the drill. The potatoes used should be sound, and small ones select- ed, as they are commonly most freed from disease. I do not contend that by this course more potatoes can be raised, but I believe that by such a course, the rot will be cured, and many new and superior kinds of this excel- lent vegetable be the result. These suggestions and deductions of my own, drawn from facts coming under my own observation, I offer with great diffidence, as they are at variance with the most learned of the writers upon this important subject. I should never have advanced them, perhaps in public, had I not been called upon by your letter, for my views in relation to the mat- ter. I now give them to you for what they are worth — and have the pleasure to be Your friend, Walter W. W. Bowie. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Extension of Colman's Tour. I AM a subscriber to Colman's Agricultu- ral Report, and have been much interested in the Numbers as they have appeared. I know of few books of travels through Great Britain, which contain so much interesting and valuable information; and as the work draws towards a conclusion, I feel great re- gret, that while much remains untold about the agriculture of our Father-land — all the interesting and important details concerning the Continent of Europe, will have to be crowded into two Numbers. If the subscri- bers to the Tour, think with myself on the subject, there would be a general expression of regret on this account, and an effort made to induce the author to extend his Report to! three volumes. The present might then be occupied with the conclusion of the Report on England, and the third volume devoted to the Agriculture of the Continent. The price i of the additional volumes, I am sure, would I be cheerfully paid by a majority of the sub- ' scribers, who would thus receive, instead of a compendium of information, so brief as to be of little practical value, a full and detailed report, perhaps more interesting, because more new to us, of all that is most worth knowing, respecting some of the richest and best cuftivated countries on the globe. D. B. S. We freely endorse the suggestion made above, and would be much gratified, if it could be so responded to by the subscribers to the Tour, as to determine our To^irist to give more time on the Continent, and more detailed information in relation to its Agriculture, than we fear he can give in the two remaining Num- bers. We know comparatively but little of that agri- cnlture, yet we are aware that there is much which it is important we should know;— and who can more thoroughly or more pleasantly inform us, than our good friend Colraan ?— Ed. Planting the Isabella Grape Vine. The most favorable season for planting the Isabella grape-vine in the United States, is when the red-flowered maple is in bloom, which usually occurs in Georgia, from the 20th to the last of February, and five or six weeks later near Philadelphia and New York. In selecting the cuttings for a vine- yard, they should be of one variety, and taken from the most fruitful part of the vine. Let us not content ourselves with single clusters, but those which are the most prolific. The greatest proportion of fruit grows from the buds on the last year's shoots next to the old wood, with the exception of the nearest eye, the top buds being unfruitful and seldom bearing at all. Some prefer to plant cuttings containing a considerable portion of the old wood ; but, as it is not always prudent nor economical to mutilate a favorite vine too much, it is best to select fruitful cuttings of the last year's growth, with the wood well ripened. They should be of a moderate size, short-jointed, and containing from six to eight eyes or buds in each. They should be cut off transversely from the vine, with a sharp knife, close to the old wood, and not less than two inches of blank wood should be left for the protection of the terminal buds. The ends of the cuttings that are to remain above ground should be cut in an oblique direction, and the sloping side should be op- posite the side containing the uppermost bud. If possible, they should be planted in calm weather, immediately after separation from lo. 8. Composition for Peach Trees. 257 le parent vine, and be obtained from a soil, tuation, and climate, similar to those in 'hich they are intended to grow; but if any ifference in these respects should unavoid- bly occur, it will be better to transplant om a poorer to a richer, and from a dryer ) a moister soil, as also from a colder to a 'armer climate. But should it be necessary ) convey the cuttings from a distance, their )wer ends should be immersed in a compo- tion of fine earth, well mixed with linseed r other oil, of about the consistence of tar, 3 soon as they are cut oft' from the parent ;ock, at the same time, taking the precau- on not to cut oft" the top ends till the mo- lent they are to be used. If the situation of the ground be on a lain, or in a valley, it should be dug two ;et in depth, and on rising ground three ; ut on a hill-side, somewhat steeper, it should e turned up at least four feet, in order that le roots may penetrate beyond the reach of rought. If the cuttings are intended to be lanted in drills or rows, let there be formed renches three feet in length, two feet in epth, and the width of a spade, leaving in- jrvals or baulks, a yard in length, between le trenches till the row is finished. Then, ath good virgin soil, if it be at hand, if not ;t it be procured from the woods, and fill up le trenches therewith, mixing it at the ime time with a due proportion of leaf lould or well rotted manure, or what is still etter, the leaves and husks of vines, or grape seds, in order to quicken and strengthen the Towth of the plants. If a vineyard be the bject which we have in view, let the rows r drills be trenched from five to ten feet sunder, according to the surface of the round and the latitude of the place. If the ituation be on a plain, in a high degree of ititude, the rows should be eight or ten feet part ; but if it be on the side of a very steep lill, or in a low degree of latitude, five feet n\\ be sufticient; and on moderately inclined urfaces, or in higher latitudes six or eight eet apart will be all that is required. With egard to the direction of the rows, and the leight to which the vines should be trained, hey may run in a manner that will allow hem to face any point of the horizon be- ween south and east; and they may be sup- (orted on props, or trellises from six to ten eet in height, and even more, according to he vigor of the vines. But in cities, or ibout houses in the country, single vines nay be trained on the sides and ends of luildings, along the sides of fences, or the runks and branches of trees. The ground having been prepared in the nanner before described, the cuttings are lext to be planted in the centres of the trenches, so that each terminal bud will be even with the surface, and directed towards the south. Then the earth must be firmly pressed round each plant, and should it sub- sequently settle and leave more than one bud above ground, more earth or mould must be added to bury them up. As soon as the season becomes hot and dry, it will be ne- cessary to protect the cuttings from the mid-day sun, by means of matting or other materials, which should be removed towards evening, and allow them to remain uncover- ed until the next morning, at about the time of the disappearance of the dew. Strict attention must now be observed in keep- ing the soil around the cuttings continually moist, and should not this be effected by natural means, it must be done by sprinkling rain or river water over them, or what is still better, soap-suds, or other stimulating fluids, especially prepared for the purpose, but not too strong. Soon after the cuttings begin to take root, which may be known by the swelling of the buds above the surface, young shoots will gradually protrude, and the plants will require but little attention during the remainder of the season, except an occasional hoeing to destroy the weeds, and to loosen the soil in order to admit the air and moisture, about the roots. Should the season prove dry, however, and the earth around the plants become parched, it will be necessary to irrigate them frequently with rain or river water, or with prepared liquids as suggested above. Early in autumn, rub oft" all the buds from each plant, except two, which are to be reserved for training the ensuing year. — American Agriculturist. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Composition for Peach Trees. Mr. Editor, — Some time since, on visit- ing Mr. Gushing of Watertown, near Brston, I was struck with the vigour and freshness of foliage of his peach trees — some of which before the use of the following receipt, he was about to cut down, thinking them good for nothing, viz : One-third soot; one-third lime; one-third sulphur — mixed with water to the consisten- cy of paint — to be laid on all the tree, before the buds appear. I am not quite sure that the same will an- swer for plum and other fruit trees, but as the season is at hand for using it, I propose trying it. Respectfully, &.c. Robert Ralston. Mount Peace, March 10, 1847. Would you avoid one great cause of ill humor in your neighbor? Keep your fences in good order. 258 Pennsylvania Farming. Vol. XI. Pennsylvania Farming Recommended to be practiced in Maryland, naturally a better wheat country. The following letter was written by a plain, practical, working farmer, giving his views in plain terms — as one neighbour does to another — without any view of appearing in print. It need not be read with the less attention or profit on that account. We are sorry to understand that farming is not im- proving as generally as might be wished, in a region so blessed by nature with a rich and enduring soil and pure healthy atmos- phere. If she does not keep pace with other sections, query, is it that her inhabitants de- spise book-knowledge; or is it, as some would contend, that they read too much of what is going on in the wide world of agriculture? On reading, we solicited the favour of being- allowed to publish it. If there be in it no- thing absolutely new, there is that which cannot well be too often repeated. — Editor Farmers'' Library. Utica, January 29th, 1847. Dear Sir, — In my last letter I mentioned something relative to the improvement of land in Lancaster county. I am fully con- vinced that, if a proper and judicious mode of improving land was introduced into Fred- erick county, that in the course of six or eight years it would produce double what it does at this time. I consider that part of this county, where I am acquainted, a much belter wheat land than that of Lancaster county, and under similar cultivation would bring more wheat to the acre. I would not dare to say that every farm would bring double. No doubt there are many good farmers here, as well as there ; yet, I must say, I have been unfortunate in not meeting with many of that kind. The most of all the farms within my knowledge, both in the limestone, as well as the red-lands, have become deteriorated and inert from the circumstance of a wrong mode of farming. A uniform mode of shallow ploughing, say five to seven inches deep — and that almost continually under the plough — with now and then a little starved crop of clover, and often the cattle turned on before it is six inches high: is it any wonder that these complaints are heard about bad crops'! Nothing is a more convincing proof to me that plants derive a great deal of their nou- rishment from the air, seeing the crops, and considering the manner of cultivation. All land that has a good subsoil and what is generally called loam, is susceptible of im provement ; and the only time it can be made available is late in the fall, after the subsoil has become saturated with the fall rains, the wetter the better. There ought, by all means, to be a heavy coat of some- thing to turn down. The ploughing must be a foot deep. Three inches or four of the subsoil which lies under seven inches, if well applied, would soon pay the State debt. What a pity to have so much hidden trea- sure unemployed and unproductive! When the genial rays of the sun spread a benign influence around in the spring season, caus- ing man and beast and bird to rejoice, vege- tation also rears its head to praise its Alaker. This is the time also to prepare food, first for plants, and afterward for man and beast. Fermentation and decomposition then take place. I would now say something about the deep ploughing: A considerable quantity of the five inches of subsoil turned up last fall, and frozen last winter, will now become available for the food of plants: amelioration takes place, it becomes friable and moulders down, becouies commingled with the top soil, undergoes now a state of fermentation — a kind of chemical process ; and here is also going on, at the same time, the decom- position of the vegetable matter turned un- der in the fall. Here is a fine range for the corn roots to seek their supply — instead of six or seven inches, here are twelve. Here is a place to hide the roots from the sun, and here is a little cistern to hold water when there is a little to spare, to be drawn up by the rays of the sun when wanted. As we have got through with the fresh start for improving the land — especially if it is possible, before planting the corn, to put a little manure on, as also fifty bushels of lime to the acre — this would be doing the thing right — we will now leave you with this advice: Work the corn well early; be sure to have no work to do in it after it be- comes a foot high. The next crop to be put in is wheat, the next summer. Commence ploughing in May, harrow in Jime, plough in July, harrow in August, plough the third and last time the first week in September, and sow about the middle of the month. As soon as you have finished harrowing the wheat, sow to each acre eight quarts of timothy seed ; then on with your roller, and roll all down smooth. Then in the spring, to every six acres, one bushel of clover seed. The next sum- mer there must be no slock put on before the first of July, and be sure none the fall before except a few hogs, if they do not root, after the wheat is off The next summer mow the first crop about the first of July; land let the second crop stand, to be turned under as before, a foot deep. Now you have No. 8. IFJiite and Brown Bread. 259 got one once through. This plan may be altered and changed to suit circumstances, as may be required. If wished, it may be put ill rye after the wheat ; or it might re- main three years in grass. The field might be put in wheat the same fall, by cutting off the corn, but the grass will never succeed 60 well, and therefore I would never advise that plan. It is large crops of grass that will improve the land cheaper and faster than any other mode of improvement. As I have spun out a pretty long yarn already, I will soon come to a close, after saying something about tiie subsoil and deep ploughing. If the land is light and dry, and the subsoil land is open and porous, pervious to water, with a large proportion of sand, such land might be ploughed a foot deep in the spring for corn. Tiie fall, however, is the proper time for all subsoil ploughing, and no other time will answer for land when the subsoil is of a hard, stiff clay. The frost is the only and proper agent to commence the work of deepening the soil, I really feel as if the boy was making an attempt to instruct the master. Well, if it should be so, I know yon will attribute my saying what I have said to a pure intention. To conclude the whole matter, a deep rich soil is indispensable, if you want good crops. Now, the great point is, let every farmer go to work. Let him not only work, but read and study; and the man that shall find out the most judicious plan of deepen- ing and improving the soil, let him have a great monument raised to his memory. 1 am sure he would be more deserving than if he had killed a thousand Mexicans. Respectfully, Wm. Todd. White and Brown Bread. Several years ago, we threw out the sur- mise that the separation of the white from the brown parts of wheat grain, was likely to be baneful to health. We proceeded upon theoretical grounds, believing that Provi- dence must have contemplated our using the entire grain, and not a portion only; se- lected by means of a nicely arranged ma- chinery. It struck us forcibly that to go on for a long course of years, thus using a kind of food different from what nature designed, could not fail to be attended with bad conse- quences. We have since learned that our views have some recognized support in sci- ence. The following paragraph from a re- cent pamphlet will at once serve to keep the subject alive in the minds of our readers, and e.xplain the actual grounds on which the separation of flour is detrimental. "The [general belief," says the writer, " is that bread made with the finest flour is the best, and that whiteness is the proof of its quality; but both these opinions are popular errors. The whiteness may be, and generally is communicated by alum, to the injury of the consumer, and it is known by men of sci- ence that the bread of unrefined flour will sustain life, while that made with the refined will not. Keep a man on brown bread and water, and he will live and enjoy good health ; give him white bread and water only, and he will sicken and die. The meal of which the first is made contains all the ingredients necessary to the composition of nourishment to the various structures com- posing our bodies. Some of these ingredi- ents are removed by the miller in his ellbrts to please the public ; so that fine flour, in- stead of being better than meal, is the least nourishing; and to make the case worse, it is also tlie most difficult of digestion. The loss is, therefore, in all respects a waste ; and it seems desirable that the admirers of white bread, but especially the poor, should be acquainted with these truths, and brought to inquire whether they do not purchase at too dear a rate, the privilege of indulging in the use of it. The unwise preference given so universally to white bread, leads to the pernicious practice of mixing alum with the flour, and this again to all sorts of adultera- tions and impositions; for it enabled bakers, who were so disposed, by adding more and more alum, to make bread made from the flour of an inferior grain look like the best or more costly, and to dispose of it accord- ingly; at once defrauding the purchaser and tampering with his health. Among the matters removed by the miller are the large saline substances, which are indispensable to the growth of the bones and teeth, and are required, although in a less degree, for daily repair. Erown bread should therefore be given to nurses and to the young or the growing, and should be preferred by all, of whatever age, whose bones show a tendency to bend, or who have weak teeth. It is be- lieved that brown bread will generally be found the best by all persons having slug- gish bowels and stomachs, equal to the di- gestion of the bran. But v.ith some it will disagree; for it is too exciting to irritable bowels, and is dissolved with difficulty in some stomachs. When this happens, the bran should be removed either wholly or in part; and by such means the bread may be adapted, with the greatest ease, to all liabits and all constitutions." Mr. Smith, in his late remarkable work on fruits and farinacea as the food of man, 360 Farmers' DaugJders. Vol. XI. gives some illustrations of this doctrine. " Bulk," he says, " is nearly as necessary to the articles of diet as the nutrient principle. They should be so managed that one should be in proportion to the other. Too highly nutritive is probably as fatal to the prolon- gation of life and health, as that which con- tains an insufficient quantity of nourish- ment." It is a matter of common remark among old whalemen, that, during long voy- ages, the coarser their bread, the better their health. "I have followed the seas for thirty- five years," said an intelligent sea-captain to Mr. Graham, " and I have been in almost every part of the globe; I have always found that the coarsest pilot-bread, which contains a considerable portion of bran, is decidedly the best for my men." " I am convinced, from my own experience," says another cap- tain, " that bread made of the unbolted wheat meal is far more wholesome than that made from the best superfine flour, the latter al- ways tending to produce constipation." Capt. Dexter, of the ship Isis, belonging to Provi- dence, arrived from China in December, 1804. He had been about one hundred and ninety days on the passage. The sea-bread, which constituted the principal article of food for his men, was made of the best su- perfine flour. He had not been long at sea before his men began to complain of languor, loss of appetite, and debility. These diffi- culties continued to increase the whole voy- age ; and several of the hands died on the passage of debility and inanition. The ship was obliged to come to anchor thirty miles below Providence; and such was the debility of the men on board, that they were not able to get the ship under weigh again, and the owners were under the necessity of sending men down from Providence. When she ar- rived the owners asked Capt. Dexter what was the cause of the sickness of his men ] He replied, " The bread was too good." — Chambers' Edinburg Journal. It is not education we have reason to fear, but the want of it. The thoroughly edu- cated woman understands her duties and re- sponsibilities better, and is far better quali- fied to discharge them than she otherwise could be; neither do I believe want of em- ployment to be any part of the reason. Our girls hear much said of the safety of the agricultural profession — of the almost sure independence of the farmer; but have they ever seen, or ever heard of independ- ence for the farmer's wife? Do they not see that for her there is no cessation from toil — that, as their father's lands increase, so do their mother's cares'? They hear that their father has worked hard long enough, and intends to relax from labour, and only oversee his business, with- out hearing it even hinted that their mother could live more comfortably. Though they see their father employ extra help when his work becomes troublesome — which makes the mother's task still harder — they see no indication of her toil being appreciated as long as she can endure it ; and if help must be employed, it is not that she may live easier, but because she can not do what must be done. And when the farmer finally determines to take his ease, and sells or rents his farm, he prudently suggests to his wife the neces- sity— as he has given up business — of her managing in such a manner as not to depend on him for funds; perhaps proposes to keep an extra cow, a few sheep, or something of the kind, to enable her to supply herself with necessaries. Who ever heard of a farmer's wife being' able to live without work, while she had the use of her feet and hands 1 There is no class of women of whom so great an amount of care and labour is re- quired as among farmers, nor where the de- pendence of wives is more thorough. — Gen- esee Farmer. Farmers' Daughters. It is often remarked with some surprise, that farmers' daughters seldom prefer hus- bands of that profession ; and many farmers believe that educating girls, produces a dis- relish for rural life. Others have thought the blame was with mothers, in not confining them to business sufficiently to make it agreeable to them, or that they had neglect- ed to impress them with the idea, that farm- ers were the only men suitable for husbands. In my humble opinion, if they would look to themselves for the cause, they would be quite sure of finding it. An Extra Cow. — Dea. Quartus Smith, of Sunderland, has a cow ten years old, which on the 5th of December last, weighed 1,520 lbs. She came in on the 31st of Jan- uary, and on the third day thereafter, she gave in twenty-four hours forty-eight pounds and three ounces of milk, from which were made three pounds and two ounces of buttei of the first quality, a specimen of which has been sent us, and appears equal ir every respect to the best made in the spring She has since given fifty-one pounds o milk in twenty-four hours. — Amherst Ex- press. A fo. 8. The Greedy Mole. — Gypsum. — Editorial Notices. 261 The Greedy Mole. The extreme voracity of the mole is well nown. The shrew, which belongs to the ime natural group as the mole — the insec- vorous carnivora — would seem to resemble ; in this peculiarity, according to a state- lent furnished to me by my esteemed friend /Ir. Selby, of Twizell. He observes, in a 3tter received February, 1843, "What reedy gluttonous animals the shrews ap- ear to be ! One was caught alive, upon he snow, here, tiie other day, and brought nto the house and placed in a glass box. A liece of raw mutton was given to it, which t attacked with the greatest voracity, the aoment it smelt it, and continued eating al- nost without intermission, till it had de- oured the whole of it. The piece, I should hink, could not have weighed less than half ir three-quarters of an ounce. When the hrew first seized it, it shook it as a dog loes a rat, and then began to gnaw it with ts sharpened grinders on one side of the nouth. It lived for a couple of days, almost ;ontinually eating; and previous to its death, vhich was very sudden, seemed in perfect lealth." — Jenyii's Observations in Natural History. Gypsum. — How does gypsum act? This s an inquiry which has often been made, and which is answered in various ways, even by ;he learned. True science can alone ration illy direct the practical farmer. "All else," )bserves an erudite author, " is mere cxperi' •nent — hazardous, expensive and conjectur il." The beneficial effects of gypsum, or slaster of Paris, on growing crops, is to be referred exclusively to the power it possesses Df fixing ammonia, and holding it for the gradual use or progressive appropriation of] plants. It has been correctly demonstrated by the most careful and accurate scientific experiments, that one hundred pounds of gyp- sum will fix as much ammonia in the soil, as six thousand two hundred and ffty pounds of horses' excrement would impart to it. Ammonia is always present in the atmos- phere, and hence the beneficial effects of this mineral, which absorbs and fixes it so as to render it available to the growing crop. Maine Farmer. THE FARMERS' CABINET, AND Philadelphia, Third Month, 1847. It will be observed by a odmmunication from James Gowen, on page 243, that he is making arrangements for the opening of an Agricultural College at Mount Airy, Germantown, about eight miles from Philadel- phia. An establishment of this character, in this vicinity, has been a subject of conversation among many of our intelligent citizens for years past, and numerous evi- dences have been furnished from agriculturists and others, at a distance— particularly in the Southern States, that many advantages were anticipated from the realization of such a scheme. The location— in itself an important consideration — is every thing that could be desired. The readers of the Cabinet need not be informetl of the capital— the industry — the enterprise, and sound judgment, which James Gowen has brought to bear upon his farming operations, nor of the successful results which have crowned his efforts. In the Cabinet of the sixth month of last year, under the Editorial head, will be found some remarks which are not foreign to the subject, though the plan now in contemplation, had then barely been suggested. This is a matter of no ordinary importance to the agricultural community, independent of the results of the enterprise as it may affect our friend. It is an ar- duous undertaking, and must involve considerable risk of capital, as well as bodily and mental exertion. Most men would shrink from it, and perhaps but few incur the responsibility. James Gowen is prepared and willing to meet it in its various aspects. Our hope is that the public will appreciate the efiort, and meet him in a generous spirit: that not only his indi- vidual interests will be promoted, but that also those of our common country will be so benefitted, that he shall be enabled to feel in after life that he has not lived in vain. Our brethren of the Agricultural press throughoiit the country, as well as other papers, are respectfully requested to copy the circular on page 243, andthua serve our common cause. Warts on the udder and teats of cows may be easily removed, simply by washing them in a solution of alum and water. We have known this application to result favor ably even after all other prescriptions had failed, and the disease seemed to have ad- vanced beyond the possibility of cure. Try it. A SPIRITED and enterprising friend of ours, a farmer of "little Delaware," informed us a few days ago that he was preparing to plant 120 acres of Indian corn this spring, and that he had just purchased seventeen tons of guano at a cost.of about $G00, which he should apply to the ground. A FRIEND— J. Y., of Towsen Town, Md , — makes the enquiry, if any of our "readers have been successful in destroying Couch-grass, that greatest of all pests." We apprehend there is no better mode of destroying this pest, than by thorough ploughing. lie also asks for information from those who liave practised soiling: their method, and the results. We would be glad to receive communications on these matters. 2G2 Editorial Notices. Vol. XI. O* It is an unpleasant task to be obliaed to put our friends upon their guard in relation to a young man of respectable appearance, who has been active in en- deavouring to procure subscribers and collect bills due for the Farmers' Cabinet. Two receipts have been shown us, signed S. P. Colman, both given to persons in the vicinity of Camden, N. J., and both dated "Dec, 2-ith, 18-16." The Editor knows no such person, and has given no authority to any such person to act for him in the promises. He feels at a loss for words to characterise such evidence of meanness and dishonesty. Swindling is a wretched business for a young man to begin the world with. Our friends are particularly requested to be careful in this matter, and to pay money on our account to no one, unless they are satisfied he is authorised to re ceive it. Those to whom it is inconvenient to call at the office, either as new subscribers, or for the payment of bills, can rea^lily remit by mail. It is fair, we think, that they should pay the postage; if they tliink otherwise, the editor will do it. It is probably not much more than a rough guess, but we have seen it stated, that the surplus of corn in the State of New Jersey is worth $1,500,000. The quantity of rain which fell in the Ond month, 1847, vias a little more than four inches and a half 4.57 in. Penn. Hospital, 3rd mo. ist. irr SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS, The subject matter of which, may correspond with the agricultural character of this paper, will be inserted at the rate of one dollar for each insertion often lines or less; and so In proportion for each additional line. Payment in advance. Fruit & Ornamental Trees. The subscriber offers for sale an extensive assort- ment of Fruit & Ornamental Trees of the most ap- proved varieties, of fine size and warranted true to their respective names. Orders may be left with J. Tatum, No. 50, N. Fourth street, where catalogues may be obtained or E. P. Middleton, No. 9 Market st. EZRA STOKES, Mt. Laurel, near Moorestown, Burlington co., N. J. Second month 15th, 1847. SBBD STORE, No. 23 Market Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Red Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-grass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheat, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-corn. Also, in season. Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1847. tf. A FARM FOR SALE. A FARM in Gloucester county, N. J., containing about 175 acres of upland and meadow, and some young timber, Is oflfered at private sale. The soil Is well adapted to the growing of wheat or grass, and a large proportion of it is in a high state of cultivation. There are on the premises a large stone house and kitchen— a large stone barn, with other out buildings, and also a young apple orchard just come into bear- ing. It is about ten miles from Camden, — four from Woodbury, and a short njile from the river Delaware. On the South and North, respectively, it Is bounded by Oreat and Little Mantua creeks; and the Paulsborough road from Camden, runs through it. A steam-boat to and from Philadelphia, ran dally up the creek last summer, stopping at a landing on the premises; and the same convenience will probably be continued hereafter. This farm is well worthy the attention of a man who would make an investment in property of this character. Enquiry may be made of Joseph Whitall, N. E. con of Buttonwood and Marshall streets, Philadelphia, — of Benjamin Whitall, near Woodbury, — of David Whitall, on the premises, or of the Editor, at this office. Tliird mo. It5h, 1847. HOUSE AND LOT FOR SALE. The subscriber oflfers at Private Sale, a lot of half an acre of ground, on which are a two story brick dwelling and kitchen, barn and other out buildings. It is pleasantly situated at Marlton, in Burlington Coun- ty, New Jersey, about eleven miles from Camden, and five from Medford. Enquiry may be made of EZRA EVANS, or CHARLES STOKES, in the neighborhood, or of JOSHUA WHITALL, 147 Coates Street, below Fourth, Philadelphia. Third mo. 15, 1847. R. SINCLAIR & CO. Plough and Agricultural Machine Ea/aKlli3[?ia©=ir(t9[^[ll^© ^ ©llSE^EaSKIfl BALTIMORE : Have for sale the Maryland Self-Sharpening Plough, several sizes, warranted the most durable and simple Subsoil Plough in this country; also Corn and Cob Crushers, Cylindrical Straw and Corn stalk Cutters, Burr Stone Mills, Corn Shellers, for hand and horse power. Horse Powers and Threshing Machines, Fann- ing Mills, with a numerous assortment of Ploughs, Drill Machines, Harrows, Fanning and Garden Tools, Seeds, &c. 515' See Catalogues for particulars, to be had of us gratis. Bait. March 15, 1847.— 2 times. WANTED, 50,000 Apple, and 20,000 Pear trees, one to three years old. Apply to J. Moulson, Eighth and Chesnut streets, Philadelphia, or by mai], post paid, March 15th. No. 8. Editorial JVotices. 263 Valuable Farm at Private Sale. The subscriber offers for sale the valuable FARM on which he has resided for a number of years past, situated in East Bradford Township, one mile west of the flourishing Borough of West Chester. It comprises about 00 acres of naturally fertile and well improved land, under good fence, and well watered. The build- ings are of stone, large, and in good repair. The man- sion is pleasantly situated, possesses many conveni- encies, and is of modern finish, 44 feet front by 3^ feet deep, with an eight feet entry, two rooms on each side, besides kitchen and wash-house, and si.x rooms in the second story. Pure water is introduced into the house and barn-yard by means of a force pump and water wheel propelled by a never failing stream. The grounds are planted with fruit, ornamental trees and shrubbery, with a good orchard in full bear- ing. There are also a three-story barn, 40 feet by 50 feet, a carriage-house, work-shop, ice-house, wood house, and an excellent and convenient niilk-housc. This property is eligibly situated on the main road from West Chester to Lancaster, in an une.xception- able neighbourhood, and offers considerable induce- ments to one wishing to reiire from active business or to engage in agriculture on a moderate scale. Apply to the subscriber, residing thereon, or to John Lippincott, No. 65 Marshal street, Philadelphia. CHARLES LIPPINCOTT, 2t. West Chester, Chester county, Pa- Agency for the Purchase & Sale of mPROYED BREEDS OF CATTLE & SHEEP. The subscriber takes this method of informing his friends and the public, that he will attend to the pur- chase and sale of the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, &.C., for a reasonable commission. All letters post paid, addressed to him at Philadelphia, will be attended to without delay. AARON CLEMENT. Sept. 15th, 1846. COATSS' SEED STORE, No. 49 Market Street, FRESH TIMOTHY SEED, Of various qualities, from good common seed to the purest and finest that can be produced, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OP GBiLSS & GARDEN- SS£DS, Of the finest Quality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &c. JOS. P. H. COATES. Successor to Oeorge J\I. Coates. Sept. 15th, 1846. FOR SALE, AT D. O. PROUTY'S No. 194^ Market Street, Philadelphia, Corn-Shellers in great variety, price from §1 50 to $50 each; Hovey's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Grant's Patent Fan Mills, for chaffing and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to $18 each. Whitman's Horse-powers and Threshing Machines, with Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may be taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, &.C.; Centre- Draught, Self sharpening, Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation. September 15th — tf. PHILADELPHIA AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE, A'o. 291 Market Street, N^orth side, between Seventli and Eighth Streets, Philadelphia. The subscriber has j ust received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortment of Rugglos, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have been so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement; Grain Cradles, fee; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self-Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a largo assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Shellcrs, Grain Cradles, Scythes, &c., to- gether with Garden Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. 1 yr. NEW Horticultural and Agricultural Warc-Iiousc, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscriber has for the better accommodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; he calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Sweede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th, 1S4C.— ly. R. BUIST. COAX.. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the usual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the diflerenl kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Third month 15th, 1S47 2C4 Editorial Notices. Vol. XL We keep on hand at this office, and will supply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which are THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in leather;— Price $3 50 YOUATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 37i 3Vi 50 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; Complete sets of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, STABLE ECONOMY, BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, BUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST, SKINNERS CATTLE & SHEEP DOCTOR, AMERICAN FARRIER, THE FARMER'S MINE, HOARE ON THE VINE, HANNAM'S Economy of Waste Manures, LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, FAMILIAR LETTERS, As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour— or single numbers sold. Hj" We are prepared to bind books to order. 8 50 3 50 1 50 50 1 25 1 50 1 00 1 00 1 00 31i 75 50 50 50 75 62i 25 25 25 12i GUANO. Twenty-five tons first quality Ichaboe Guano, in bags or barrels, for sale in lots to suit purchasers, by S. & J. J. ALLEN & CO., No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street, Philadelphia. October 15th, 1845. tf. Pondrette. A valuable manure— of the best quality, prepared in Philadelphia, for sale at the office of the Farm ERs' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, neur the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Price, until 1st of next month, for seven bar rels or more, $1 87i per barrel, containing 4 bush, each, Any number of barrels leas than seven, $2 each, or 37J cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos ing the cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for corn. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. PAGK Pruning young trees, -..,-. 233 Poudrette on Indian Corn, 234 Premiums of Philadelphia Ag. Society.— Dairy Husbandry, 235 Subsoils, and their management, 236 Farming in Holland, 237 Whitney's Cotton Gin,— its effijcts, 239 Cheese making 240 Construction and management of Hot-beds, 241 Corn, Lime.— Mt. Airy Agricultural College, 243 Soiling Cattle, 245 Lime.— Cultivation of Cranberries on upland, 246 Hydraulic Ram, 247,249 Cranberries. — Agricultural discussion, Albany, 251 Potatoe Disease, 253 Extension of Colman's Tour. — Isabella Grape vine, 256 Composition for Peach Trees 257 Pennsylvania Farming recommended in Md., 258 White and brown bread, 259 Farmers' daughters.— Extra cow, 260 The Greedy Mole.— Gypsum.— Editorial Notices, 261 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. It is issued on the fifteenth of every month, in num- bers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri- ately introduced. Terms. — One dollar per annum, or five dollars for seven copies — payable in advance. All subscriptions must commence at the beginning of a volume. Having lately struck off a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become exhausted, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-five cents half bound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, a coTnptoesei of the work will be furnished in numbers, including the 11th volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-bound and let- tered. Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon the same terms. By the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post ofliee within thirty miles of Philadelphia, they will go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer. DE VOTE D TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Likbio. Vol. XI No. 9.1 4th mo. (April) 15th, 1817. [Whole No. 14T. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY J O S I A H T A T U M, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per j-ear. — For conditions see last page. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Sheep, 3Ioniitain Laiid»i, England two bulls of the short-horn breed. These also have been spoken of as the stock of 1817, and are remarkably fine animals. " The names of these importations stand thus: " Bulls. — Sam Martin, Teeumseh, Comet. Cows.— Mrs. Motte, The Teeswater Cow, The Durham Cow; imported by Mr. San- ders. " Bulls. — Prince Regent, and John Bull ; imported by Mr. Prentice. " These cattle were bred pure until other short-horns of later importations were intro- duced, which were extensively crossed upon their descendants." Previous to the revolutionary war, — A. D. 1775, — a Mr. Heaton emigrated from Eng- land to New York, at which latter place he was for many years a butcher. In the year 1791, he went to England and obtained se- veral short-horn cattle from George Culley, of Grindon, Northumberland. Afterwards, in 1796, he obtained from Charles Colling, a short-horn bull and a cow, all which he- brought to his farm in Westchester county. New York, where he then resided. Mr. Heaton bred these cattle some years in their purity; but after his death they were scattered, and there are many of their grade descendants now in Westchester county. About the year 1815-16, Mr. Cox, an Englishman, imported from England a bull and two heifers — which were pure short- horns— and settled in Rensell'aer county. New York. The heifers are said to have been remarkable for their milking qualities. Uix>n his death, or removal, — wo are not certain which, — these cattle and their pro- duce were purchased by Mr. Matthew Bul- lock, of Bethlehem, Albany county, who bred them many years. About the year 1822, Mr. Bullock, in connection with a Mr. Wayne, imported two short-liorn bulls; one a light roan, called * Comet," or "Cor- net," for he went by both names ; the other a red, called " Nelson.** These bulls were used alternately on the Cox stock, and from them descended the valuable tribe locally known as the "Bullock" stock, remarkable tor their robust size and extraordinary milk- No. 9. Tfie Short-horns in America. 279 ing qualities. In 1830, Mr. Bullock pur chased " Copson," just imported by Mr Smith, of Upper Canada, with which he again crossed his herd. These cattle have been widely distributed in the river counties of New York. In the month of July, ISIS, a yearling bull and heifer were imported into Boston, Massachusetts, by Mr. Cornelius Coolidge, a merchant of that city. They were bred by Mr. Mason, of Chilton, Durham, whose lierd was justly celebrated for its high breed- ing and purity. The bull was called Coe- lebs, and got by Jupiter (1^42) ; his dam by Wellington (679). Tlie heifer was Flora, called by some Old Flora, and got by La- -fon's bull, which was got by Comet (1.55). Flora's dam was also got by Comet, and gave 33 quarts of milk per day. Lafon's bull weighed, when two years and three months old, 1950 pounds. These particu- lars we gather from the papers of Mr. Cool- idge, accompanying the importation, kindly copied for us by Mr. Sanford Howard, assist- ant editor of the Albany Cultivator. In a letter accompanying the above, Mr. Howard remarks: " CcElebs and Flora were sold to Col. Samuel Jaques, of Charlestovvn, in 1820, and remained his property until they died. While with him, Flora had fourteen calves, from 1819 to 1833 — ten of which were by Coelebs. One of these, a heifer, Europa, I afterwards owned. Most of her calves I knew, and they were e.xcel- lent animals. I frequently saw both Ccelebs and Flora, while in the possession of Col. Jaques.* He was a large, deep-bodied, and heavy bull — red-roan in colour, and a fine handler: his live weight, in fair condition, about 2,400 lbs. Flora was chiefly red, with a few white spots; a fine eow, and a good milker." We are indebted to Mr. Howard, also, for particulars touching other early importa- tions. " The late Gorham Parsons, Esq., of Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1818, imported a bull called " Fortunatus," — afterwards ^'Holdcrness." He was bred by George Faulkner, Esq., of North Allerton, York- shire, England. He was warranted to be a * CcElebs was the original sire of Col. Jacques' noted family of cows, which he styled " Cream pole" on ac count of the exceeding rich quality of their milk. He crossfid them high up in the blood of Cffilebs, We saw them in lf^37, some fifteen or twenty in number. They were remarkably nice eows, generally red in colour, and symmetrical in shape. Ther milk, which we saw in pans, was remarkable for the thickness and weight of its cream. This quality, Col. J. assured us, was pe- eutja^- to the eoue descended from Ccelebs. thorough-bred short horn, and bore all the char;icteri.st:cs of the race. Hi s descendinta, frum both thorough-bred and native cows, were disseminated cojisiderably through New England. " In 1820, Theodore Lyman, Esq., of Bos- ton, imported a short liurn bull, wliich he aUcruanls sold to I.«»? respett— with the accompanying Pipe, Reservoirs, Baths, Water Closets, Fountains, &c., &c., when required. Persons wishing Rams sent to them, by measuring the amount of water their brook, or spring affords per minute, the head or fall, they can procure, the elevation to be overcome, and distance to be conveyed; can have the proper Ram and Pipe sent them with Directions for putting it up. If the supply be unlimited, the amount of water required should be stated. Rams may be had at the shop from $15 upwards, with directions to put them up. The expense of a Ram and necessary Pipe is so small as to be within the reach of every one; in most case* being less than that of a Well and Pump. Manujactured and for sale by HEIVRY P. M BIRKINBINE. Central Block, Broad gtreet, beticten Race and Cherry, PhiCa. No. 9. Editornal Notices. 295 SEED STORE, No. 23 Market Street, Philadelphia. The subscriber keeps constantly a supply of White and Ued Clover, and other grass seeds; fresh Perennial Rye-erass, and Lucerne seed. Field seeds, consisting of choice Spring Wheal, Barley, Potatoe Oats, North- ern and other seed-c«in. Also, in season, Fruit and Shade Trees. Garden and Bird seeds generally. Gua- no in parcels to suit purchasers. M. S. POWELL. Philad., Feb., 1847. tf. Fruit & Ornamental Trees. The subscriber offers for sale an extensive assort ment of Fruit &. Ornamental Trees of the most ap proved varieties, of fine size and warranted true to their respective names. Orders may be lefl with J Tatum, No. 50, N. Fourth street, where catalogues may be obtained or E. P. 3Iiddleton, No. 9 Market st EZRA STOKES, Mt. Laurel, near Moorestown, Burlington co., N. J Second month 15th, 1847. R. SINCLAIR & CO. Plough and Agricultural Machine BALTIMORE : Have for sale the Maryland Self-Sharpening Plough, several sizes, warranted the most durable and siniple Sub-soil Plough in this country; also Corn and Cob Crushers, Cylindrical Straw and Corn stalk Cutters, Burr Stone Mills, Corn Shellers, for hand and horse power. Horse Powers and Threshing Machines, Fann- ing Mills, with a numerous assortment of Ploug Drill Machines, Harrows, Farming and Garden Tools, Seeds, &c. n3"See Catalogues for particulars, to be had of us gratis. Ball. March 15, 1P47.— 2 times. COATES' SEED STORE, No. 49 Market Street, FRESH TIMOTHY SEED, Of various qualities, from good common seed to the purest and finest that can be produced, TOGETHER WITH A CO.MPLETE ASSORTMENT or GRASS & GARDXSZT SEEDS, Of the finest Q.uality and best Varieties,— Bird Seeds, &c. JOS. P. H. COATES. Successor to Oeorge M. Coatte. Sept. 15th, 1846. - FOR SALE, AT D. O. PROTJTY'S No. 194 J Market Street, Philadelphia, Corn-Shellers in great variety, price from $1 50 to $50 each; Hovey's Patent Hay, Straw, and Corn-stalk Cutters; Grant's Patent Fan Mills, for chaffing and screening wheat at one operation, warranted to take out cockle, cheat and smut. Also good Fans, for $14 to $18 each. Whitman's Horse-powers and Threshing Machines wiih Straw Carriers and Fan Mills attached; Spain's Improved Barrel Churns, the dashers of which may bo taken out to clean. Cheese-presses, Sic; Centre- Draught, Sulf-sharpening, Right & Left-hand Ploughs, warranted to give satisfaction in their operation, September I5th — tC PHILADELPHIA AGRICL'LTURVL WAREHOUSE, A'b. 291 Market Street, North side, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, PMladelpJiia. The subscribor has just received from Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, an assortmeni of Kuggles, Nourse and Ma- son's improved Eagle, Subsoil and other Ploughs, which have bpen so much approved by the principal Agricultural Societies in New England the several last years; also Bennett's Cultivators and Stevens' Self- Feeding Hay and Straw Cutter, a late and very valu- able improvement in that kind of implement ; Grain Cradles, &c.; an assortment of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason's Self-Sharpening Ploughs of the form and mo- del of those above named, are daily expected. T. F. has and will constantly keep a large assortment of Farming Implements, as Fan Mills, Straw and Hay Cutters, Corn Shelters, Grain Cradles, Scythes, tc , to- gether with Gardeu Tools of all kinds. THOMAS FURBER. May 15th, 1846. 1 yr. NEW Horticultural and Agricultural Ware-tiouse, 84 Chesnut Street below Third, South side. The subscriber has for the better accommodation of his customers, opened the above ware-house, with a large stock of Garden and Field Seeds, crop of 1845. Imple- ments and Books on Gardening and Farming; be calls the particular attention of farmers to his pure stock of Sweede Turnips, Field Carrots, Beets and Parsnips, Pruning Shears, Saws and Knives. March 14th, 1846.— ly. R. BUIST, CO AI.. The subscriber has made an arrangement for a con- stant supply of superior Lehigh and Schuylkill Coal — carefully prepared for family use, which he will fur- nish at the usual cash prices, on application at the office of the Farmers' Cabinet, where samples of the different kinds and sizes may be seen. JOSIAH TATUM. Philadelphia, Third month 15th, l-^l 29« Kdilnrial JVotices. Vol. XI. We keep on hand at this office, and will sapply our friends with Agricultural works generally. Among which sre THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, full- bound in leather; — Price $3 50 YOUATT ON THE HORSE, with J. S. Skin- ner's very valuable Additions; 2 00 BRIDGEMAN'S GARDENER'S ASSISTANT; 2 00 THE AMERICAN POULTRY BOOK; 37^ THE FARMER'S LAND MEASURER; 37i DANA'S MUCK MANUAL; 50 Complete sets of the FARMERS' CABINET, half-bound, 10 vols. DOWNING'S Landscape Gardening, Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, SKINNER'S Every Man his own Farrier, AMERICAN Poulterer's Companion, BOUSSINGAULT'S RURAL ECONOMY, FARMERS' & EMIGRANTS' HAND-BOOK, MORRELL'S AMERICAN SHEPHERD, STABLE ECONOMY, BEVAN on the HONEY BEE, BUISTS' ROSE MANUAL, THOMAS' FRUIT CULTURIST. SKINNERS CATTLE &. SHEEP DOCTOR, AMERICAN FARRIER, THE FARMER'S MINE, HOARE ON THE VINE, HANNAM'S Economy of Wjste Manures, LIEBIG'S AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, ANIMAL CHEMISTRY, " FAMILIAR LETTERS, As well as his larger works on Chemistry and Agri- culture. Subscriptions received for Colman's Agricultural Tour — or single numbers sold. jl3" We are prepared to bind books to order. 8 50 3 50 1 50 50 1 25 1 50 1 00 1 00 i 00 31i 75 50 50 50 75 62i 25 25 25 12i AFRICAN GUANO. First quality African Guano, from the island of Ichaboe, warranted genuine. Also a few tons Peruvian. For Side by J. B. A. & S. ALLEN, No. 7 South Wharves, 2nd Oil Store below Market street. Philadelphia, March 17th, 1847. Poudrette. A valuable manure — of the best quality, prepared in Philadelphia, for sale at the office of the Farm- ERs' Cabinet, No. 50, North Fourth Street, or at the manufactory, near the Penitentiary on Coates' street. Present price, for seven barrels or' more, •SI 81^ per barrel, containing four bushels each. Any number of barrels less than seven, $2 each, or 37^ cents a bushel. Orders from a distance, enclos- ing tl'.e cash, with cost of porterage, will be prompt- ly attended to, by carefully delivering the barrels on board of such conveyance as may be designated. The results on corn and wheat have been generally very satisfactory. Farmers to the south and in the interior, both of this State and of New Jersey, are invited to try it. We are now able to supply the de- mand for corn. JOSIAH TATUM. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. PAQ8 Sheep, Mountain Lands, &c., in Virginia, 2(i5 Potatoe Disease, 26(5, 273 Anecdote of the Horse.— American Institute, 268 Vinegar, 270 Soap as a Manure. — Farm Accounts.— Sweet Po- tatoes 271 Woman's cares at home, 272 Agricultural Colleges 274 Lime on corn.— Age of plants.— California farmer, 275 Annual Exhibition— Premiums, New York, 276 History of Short Horns in America, 278 Shade and Fruit Trees, Insects, &c., 281 Hydraulic Ram, its history, 282 Bread stuffs, 283 Propagating the Vine, ^84 Horse power.— Habits of Swallows.— Fossil Corn, 286 Dried Strawberries. — Large Hogs, 287 To raise the best Gooseberries.- Horse Market in Dumfries 288 Dix Pear.— Greasing Carriage- wheels. — Duke of Devonshire's Conservatory, 289 Growing Roses from Seed, • 290 Insanity in the Horse 291 Iron Railway Bridge. — A Brilliant Whitewash. — Editorial Notices, 292 THE FARMERS' CABINET, IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY JOSIAH TATUM No. 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, U is issued on the fifleenth of every month, in num- bers of 32 octavo pages each. The subjects will be illustrated by engravings, when they can be appropri- ately introduced. Terms. — One dollar per annum, or five dollars for eeven copies — payable in advance. All subscriptions must commence at the beginning of a volume. Having lately struck off a new edition of one or two of the former numbers, which had become c.vhausled, we are now able to supply, to a limited ex- tent, any of the back volumes. They may be had at one dollar each, in numbers, or one dollar twenty-five cents half-bound and lettered. For seven dollars paid in advance, a comp?efeseA of the work will be furnished in numbers, including the 11th volume. The whole can thus readily be forwarded by mail. For twenty-five cents additional, per volume, the work may be obtained neatly half-bound and let- tered Copies returned to the office of publication, will also be bound upon >he same terms. By the decision of the Post Master General, the "Cabinet," is subject only to newspaper postage. To any Post office within thirty miles of Philadelphia, they will go free of charge. Joseph Rakestraw, Printer. ^ AND i "^^fiRlCAN HERD-BOOTi DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. Perfect Apiculture is the true foundation of all trade and industry. — Libbio. Vol. XI.— No. 10.1 5th mo. (3Iay) 15th, 1847. [Whole No. 148. PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY J O S I A H T A T U M, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price one dollar per year.— Forconditions see last page. For the Farmers' Cabinet. Cultivation of Indian Corn in Europe. Mr. Editor, — In looking into a work of travels among some of the wilder and less frequented portions of Europe, I was struck at the extent in which that noble vegetable, the staple of our country, Indian corn, is used. It may be a matter of equal interest and curiosity to some of your readers, to know what are the foreign opinions concern- ing it — what countries make use of it, and in what form, as well as the mode of culti- vation. It is not easy to get at facts that give any clear ideas on those points. Very few of those who travel have any taste for agriculture; they are generally persons of leisure and pleasure, with minds of some re- finement, but of little strength or activity — or idle and rich, and without any knowledge of any one subject of general interest. Their travels are for the purpose of ridding them- selves of an accumulated excitement, that puts them in motion, without any de6nite purpose in view. But their habits of thought Cab.— Vol. XL— No. 10. lead them to remark upon society and its customs, to examine churches, specimens of architecture, and other fine arts — perhaps to speculate in politics ; while that great art, on which rests the welfare of nations, is completely neglected. There is something too humble in the simple and laborious art of agriculture, for such per'sons; and they forget that they themselves would never have reached their present pretensions — that they would perhaps be at the plough, and their fortunes torn to fragments, if it were not appreciated both by rulers and the peo- ple, or held no rank in the economy of na- tions. Arthur Young, who travelled in France more than fifty years ago, says nothing more of the Indian corn than that it is an extreme- ly good substitute for a fallow, but he gives neither its mode of cultivation, nor any one particular concerning it — a seeming con- temptuous neglect, that may be easily ac- counted for, when we consider that the United States had at that time risen to very little importance, that her resources and power were very little known, or her ca- pability of feeding the starving masses of other countries. From this writer, who made what he called an agricultural tour, we have gained very little information. Mor- ris Birkbeck, who travelled in France in 1814, expressly also to examine its agricul- ture, has done no more for us than to make known, that in some parts Indian corn is ^sown in May, as an early fodder, and that (297) 298 Cultivation of Indian Corn in Europe. Vol. XL he saw women and children taking off the tops and blades; on all other points he is entirely silent. James Paul Cobbelt, no doubt a son of the notorious William Cob- bett, visited the same country in 1824, and although a lawyer, he tells us more than either of the farmers. No doubt his resi- dence in this country, and his father's tui- tion, had led him to form a habit of obser- vation on matters of rural economy. He says that he first saw corn in the province of Maine, a part of France, not by any means its most Southern, but in latitude 47° or 48° North. It was reported to him that it grew well, though from the quantity pro- duced an acre, thirty-one bushels, we should infer the contrary; unless the PVench farm- ers have very peculiar ideas as to "growing well," or are contented with a small yield " The people here use it only in the fatting of pigs, for which purpose it is considered.'as it is in America, to be the best of all food. It is planted on ridges, which are about five feet apart; two rows of corn on every ridge. The plants are from a foot to eighteen inches apart in the row, and the rows about the same distance from each other." This is all he has to say, and we infer that from its being so highly appreciated as food for pigs, it is not used as food by the nobler animal, man. As we go further south, it begins to grow in importance, but before we reach Italy, we shall find it uni- versally used by the hardy mountaineers of the Tyrol, a race of men remarkable for their physical strength and high courage, and as they live almost exclusively on it, we may ascribe those noble personal attributes to the power it has of increasing muscular strength,-and giving energy to the charac- ter. The French, who only give it to pigs, felt its power when they attempted to pass these mountains in some of Bonaparte's va Tious invasions. The Tyrolese crushed his troops by thousands in their narrow passes. The late battle of Buena Vista, is another •evidence of what it can do; nearly every man in Taylor's army was a corn-fed West- ern man, and no other men on earth could have withstood the physical weight and strength of five to one. The writer, to whom we have alluded as travelling in the Tyrol, Mr. Inglis, had sufficient taste and sensibility to leave large towns and their sO' ciety, and strike at once into the recesses of the mountains. He travelled, as all men should, who wish to see a country, as a pe- destrian. This gave him the opportunity of seeing those who are emphatically the peo pie, of visiting the retired village, and the peasant's cottage ; and the sketch he draws of a Tyrolese peasant's household, gives an idea of comfort and happiness, and hardy in- dependence, that can but increase our esteem for the character of those mountaineers. He admits that the growth and use of Indian corn, form the sources of this prosperity. On crossing these mountains a storm drove him to seek shelter in a house by the way-side. " It was, as I supposed, the house of a pea- sant; a proprietor of the middle kind, not rich, but with enough for the wants and comforts of a family." As dinner was ready, he took his seat with the family. The party consisted of six persons, but the dinner, which is of more importance, "consisted of soup of Indian corn and milk, a piece of boiled bacon, about five pounds weight, a salad, bread two thirds Indian corn and one third wheat, but- ter, and wine of Botzen." Certainly a very substantial repast. After dinner the proprie- tor and his family went over his little fields with the stranger. The whole land owned by this peasant was about four acres ; one third was devoted to Indian corn ; " of the remaining two acres and two-thirds, about half an acre was in wheat, another half acre in barley, a quarter of an acre in flax, an acre and little more in grass and wood, and about a quarter of an acre in garden, which contained cabbage, potatoes, salad, and a few cherry trees. The Indian corn was all required in the establishment — about one- half for the family, and the other for winter provision for the cow." The wheat and bar- ley were sold, and produced more than suffi- cient to purchase cofl^ee, sugar, wine, such implements as were wanted, and clothmg for the family. They had also formed a surplus in money. The flax was spun and wove and used in the family. The grass served as summer pasture for the cows; the wood sup- plied firing. The ground was cultivated by the owner and his son, and was remarkably clean and in excellent order. No cheese was made — the soup consuming all the milk. There was no stock but the cow, two pigs, a litter of young ones, and several hens. All this seems to us a beautiful picture of indus- try and content, and of wealth too, if we consider their few wants. The whole is due to the crop of Indian corn, that is used three times a day, as a soup; and forms, too, much the larger part of their bread. But we will descend from the mountains to the richer and more glowing climate of Italy; we shall find there that this grain is by far the most important article in the agriculture of that finefcountry. The richest and best cultivated land is in Piedmont, the climate too, probably the most delightful in Europe. It sustains a very large population, chiefly by being divided into small farms of about sixty acres; though few or none of these are No. 10. Aiiimal OJfah. 299 owned by those who cultivate them, but are farmed on shares. The farm descends, hoW' ever, from father to son, as a kind of patri- mony, without any renewal of the lease; the landlord making these small subdivisions of his large estate, for the purpose of having his land better cultivated. In tliis way, the amount produced appears very large, each farm being kept in the highest state of cul- tivation, and the whole of it being brought into use. A farm of sixty acres is divided into fifteen acres of meadow, forty-five ara- ble, and sown with grain and clover, about ten acres of the latter. From this are fed eight oxen, thirteen cows, or young stock and a horse. One of the sources of profit is the fatting every year a pair of oxen. Af- ter being worked, they are at five years of age fed off, and sold often for two hundred dollars the pair. Indian meal is employed largely in bringing them into condition for the butcher. To cultivate a farui of this size, or to be more exact, forty-five acres, two pair of oxen are employed to do the work of two ploughs, a pair of three years old and a pair of steers, to do the lighter work, and a horse to thresh the grain and go to market. All the work seems to be beautifully executed. Chateauvieux says, "that nothing can be more perfect or neater, than the hoeing or moulding up the Indian corn when in full growth by a single plough, with a pair of oxen, without injury to a sin- gle plant, while all the weeds are effectually destroyed." Their course of cultivation is one that we should think in this country too exhausting; or rather too much so for the amount of manure we can make. The first year, Indian corn; second, wheat; third, clover; which is ploughed up after the first mowing and left fallow — fourth year, wheat. The capability of the soil to yield year after year good crops, under such a system as this, is an evidence of its fertility, though much is acknowledged to be due to the abundance of manure; of which the whole is put on the Indian corn. How much of this grain is produced an acre we cannot ascertain; it is spoken of as being considerable, but no particular quantity given. We may assume it to be large, as it contributes "more than any other article to the maintenance of al- most the whole country population of Pied- mont, who eat it in a variety of forms." Two of the modes of using Indian corn for food, are in the forms of farinata and pollenta. The first is made by throwing the meal into a pot of boiling water, and putting butter and oil with it; this makes a kind of soup, which appears the common dish among the people of the South of Europe. Pollenta is made in the same way as the last material. but without oil or butter. It is allowed to remain on the fire till of a consistency to be cut into slices; these are then put on the gridiron for a few minutes, and then we pre- sume every one consults his own taste as to the disposing of them. Having made known the mode of culti- vating one of these snuill farms, it is a mat- ter of curiosity to know what are its profits. It must first provide for the support of eight or nine persons, and maintain twenty-two head of stock; but we must bear in mind that the expenses are probab y very small, and the climate mild and Cdnstnnt. The profits will then be taken from the fattening every year two oxen, a cow, and two pigs; from the sale of silk and a small portion of wine; from sending to market all the wheat and other grain, vegetables and poultry. The Indian corn goes to feed the labourers and fatten stock; none of it appears to be sold. From these hasty details your readers can judge of the importance of Indian corn in the economy of other nations besides our own. It is cultivated through nearly all Italy, and to some extent in Spain ; but as the course of crops appears the same in the different provinces, it is not perhaps of suffi- cient interest to go into any further history of this important grain. A. L. Elwyn. April 29th, 1847. Auimai Offals. Of dried blood. — This liquid — especially when it has been subjected to boiling, which, by coagulating it, retards its decomposition in the ground — is found so useful to the growth of sugar canes, that it has been late- ly sent from Paris at a cost of two dollars the one hundred pounds, to the colonies, where it arrives, costing four dollars. Blood,, in whatever state it is found, and from what- ever animal it comes, offers, therefore, to the inhabitants of the country a valuable re- source for manure, and already, in this view, it has formed the base of an important spec- ulation in Paris. The following is one of the simplest modes of employing it. Some earth free from clods is dried in the oven, after baking bread, care being taken to stir it from time to time with a rake; it requires about four or five times as much as there is of liquid blood; the hot earth is brought to the front of the oven, and is sprinkled with the blood to be preserved, while turned over and over with the shovel; the mixture is then baked over, and stirred with the rake till the desiccation is complete. It can then be put up in old barrels or boxes, sheltered from the rain, to be used when needed. The earth in this preparation is 800 Animal Offals. Vol. XI. useful, especially to present the blood in a suitable state of division, and to render its decomposition slower and more regular. We can know, moreover, what surface these mixtures will cover as manure, by recollect- ing that three thousand pounds of liquid blood give seven hundred and fifty pounds of blood coagulated and dried, which is suffi- cient to manure an acre. One hundred pounds of blood in this state, equal as a ma- nure three hundred pounds of broken bones, or three loads of good horse-dung, weighing together seven thousand and two hundred pounds. It is a manure by far superior to those known and designated by the names of poudrette, oil cakes, &c. ; it is inferior only to the dried and powdered flesh. Of the entrails, ^fc. — All the internal parts of animals, such as the liver, lungs, brain, heart, and the offal of the entrails, should be cut or hashed as fine as possible, and then mixed along with the emptyings of the intestines, with earth thoroughly dried, the latter in the proportion of six times the bulk of the animal matters. When this composition has been well worked over with the shovel, it is spread at the rate of five tons to the acre. This manure gives excellent results, and is particularly favourable to wheat crops. If it cannot be spread immediately after its preparation, it must be preserved in a trench or some other cool place, or at any rate in the shade and covered with earth. Bones: explanation of the various results of their use in agriculture. — None of the hard substances, the remains of animal or- ganization, offer more remarkable examples of various effects in its action as a manure, than the bones in different states. We find in the numerous agricultural memoirs on the subject, the most singular problems which practice could leave to be solved. The bones which are found in masses of any considerable importance at the disposal of agriculturists and speculators, are pre- sented in the following different forms: Fresh, such as have been taken from ani- mals recently slaughtered, more or less broken, or whole: in each of these three states, their decomposition is almost always too slow, stimulated though it be by the well known influences of air, heat and moisture ; but, all things being equal externally, enor- mous differences have been observed, and which seemed inexplicable, in the duration of the decomposition, and consequently in the useful effect produced in a given time. Some particular experiments have led me to discover the cause of these apparent ano- malies. Bones contain in their cellular parts and in various cavities, a fat substance, se- creted by itself, of more or less consistence. This substance is free in the adipose tissue of all the crevices which conceal it, for it suffices to open a passage for it by cutting the bones and plunging them in hot water, to bring it out and see it swimming upon the surface of the liquid. The average propor- tion which can be obtained from the various bones of the butcher, is about .01, although the very spongy parts which enclose the most, contain even ,05. The proportion of fat matter extracted by this process, diminishes gradually as the bones are dried; it becomes almost nothing when the desiccation takes place at a high temperature, either in the sun or by a stove. It appears, indeed, that as fast as the water which filled the interstices of the bone has evaporated, the grease liquefied by the heat has taken its place. One of the effects of this penetration, has been to impregnate the net-work which encloses the phosphate and the carbonate of lime. This net-work al- ready with difficulty decomposed on account of its cohesion and insolubility, protected moreover by inorganic substances interposed, becomes still less alterable when the greasy matter not only impregnates and defends it from the penetration of water, but, becoming gradually acidified, forms with the lime a calcareous soap, which M. d'Arcet has shown to be undecomposable under atmospheric in- fluence. Bones in this nearly undecomposable state should, of course, exert but an insensible ac- tion as a manure, at least, unless very mi- nutely divided. This also confirms and ex- plains the practical remark, that although spread upon the ground for four years, these bones scarcely lost 0.08 of their weight, while, when recently taken from animals and deprived of nearly all their grease by boiling water, they readily permit the de- composition of their organic net-work, and lose in the same time from twenty-five to thirty per cent, of their weight. Let us notice three other curious and ap- parently singular results of the use of bones treated with steam. The broken bones from which gelatine has been obtained by the action of water and heat, in various processes, form a residuum which has often been tried as a manure. In some experiments a number of cultivators have obtained from these residuums, the first year, more beneficial effects than from bones themselves. In others, an action almost equal to that of bones, but less durable, was ob- served. More generally, however, little or no favourable influence upon vegetation was obtained. A great number of analyses, at- tentively examined, have enabled me to per- No. 10. Animal Offals. 3pl ceive the different conditions under which this residuum, apparently the same, produced three sets of phenomena so distinct. Bones treated by the process in question leave a variable residuum ; I have sometimes met with it containing from eighty to ninety- five per cent, of the azotic, organic, decom- posable matter of the bones, sometimes con- taining from twenty-five to thirty-three, but more usually one or two percent.; finally, it sometimes contains scarcely a few thou- sandths. The following are the causes and eflfects of these various proportions: the tem- perature is almost always high in these ope- rations, to the degree of rendering the great- est part of the net-work soluble, and conse- quently the bones are disaggregated and easily broken. But, although soluble, the organic alterable matter can still be held in the interstices, either because the washings proper to draw it out have been operated in- sufficiently, or ill-directed; or further, be- cause the steam may have been chiefly con- densed upon the sides of the digesters. This matter soluble in the proportion of 0.8 or 0.9 of the contents of the bones, will act more rapidly as a manure, since its dissolution and decomposition will be more rapid under the same influences; but, instead of being pro- longed four or five years, its action will be almost exhausted in one season — practice has always confirmed this deduction of the- ory. A washing better conducted but in- complete, easily accounts for the presence and solubility of 0.25 to 0.33 of gelatinous matter in the residuum ; whence, also, we deduce the prompt action, but less and less durable efiect than in the preceding case. As to the reduction of 0.01 or 0.02 at the most in the proportion of the azotic decom- posable substance, it evidently makes the residuum inefficacious as a manure. But this state of the case results, as I have proved, from one of the two following cir- cumstances or their concurrence : When the bones operated upon in the large way have been cut only in the cellu- lar parts and the grease extracted, the divis- ion not being sufficiently thorough, the wash- ing or maceration not being sufficient, only from thirteen to fifteen per cent, of dry ge- latine is obtained ; there should, therefore, remain about fifteen per cent, of fibrous ti& sue, or the products of its decomposition; but these dregs are scarcely thrown into a heap before a brisk fermentation is developed and ammoniacal vapors are disengaged ; thus, the greatest part of the organic matter dis' appears. The second circumstance which equally produces a very poor residuum, is when a well-conducted treatment is applied to bones sufficiently divided, and finally, when they are exhausted by continued maceration, as in the processes of the hospitals. We must not therefore generally expect to find in the manufactories of glue any but impoverished residuums and valueless as manures. Hence the use of them has been abandon- ed by those cultivators, even who at first ob- tained beneficial results; the diSerences, however, are now easily explained, and a simple analysis, consisting in the exhaustion by boiling water of a portion dried and pow- dered, will suffice to test them, a, priori; then drying and weighing anew the pow- dered exhausted substance, we shall find how much the boiling water has diminished the total weight, and consequently the pro- portion of soluble organic matter, all the rest being almost entirely inert as a manure, and able to act only as a calcareous amend- ment. The application of bones to agriculture. — In their natural state bones reduced to pow- der are an excellent manure, which is spread in the average proportion of fifteen hundred pounds to the acre, and the influence of which is felt in a diminishing degree from three to five successive years, according to the soil and the seasons; all sorts of bones moreover are fit for this application, when the distance or want of communications does not permit the better part to be used for the arts which we shall speak of in a future division of the work;* and when, moreover, a machine can be procured to grind them, which is quite ex- pensive in its first cost and requires a large expenditure of motive power. However, in the absence of this machine, we shall often employ with advantage, espe- cially in the intervals of field labour, the processes of breaking by hand, first cleaving the bones with an axe and then powdering them with a heavy mallet or sledge. I have remarked that it is much easier to break bones when thoroughly dried and heated than when fresh; it will be best therefore to put them in the oven immedi- ately after baking bread, and break them afterwards while they are warm. In France broken bones are used as a ma- nure in the department of Puy de Dome; in Germany the practice is very extensive. Twelve bushels are there substituted for thirty-five loads of dung for an acre. But * The bones used for the manufacture of animal black are not lost for agriculture, for we shall see that after having, in the state of powdered charcoal, served to refine sugar, they conceal a portion of coagulated blood, which conduces to render their effect as a ma- nure very remarkable. 302 Farmers' Club, JV. Y. — The Daisy. — Be Economical Vol. XL the English have applied this manure most in the large way. They derive from Russia and India considerable quantities of bones, besides a large part of those which result from their own large consumption of meat. A bushel of coarsely powdered bones costs the cultivators about one dollar and thirty cents; they use from fifteen to forty-five bushels to the acre ; this manuring prolongs its efl^ect during ten to twenty-five years, and enormously increases all the crops, es- pecially those of grass and of turnips. It has been observed that a mixture of wood ashes of equal bulk, or two or three per cent, of saltpetre, renders this manure still more effi cacious. Bones in powder can be placed in the trenches with potatoes, or sown upon seed before passing the harrow or roller which covers it with earth. It is sometimes preferred to mix them with the earth previously ploughed and har- rowed, by passing the harrow and roller over them a second time. If the bones were in fine powder, they could with advantage be placed upon the transplanted plants, and be covered up in closing the hole of the planter. — Farmer^s Mine. Farmers' Club, New York. Osier Willow. — C. N. Bement presents two stalks of Osier Willow, of one year's growth. I have four rows 57 feet long, the rows three feet apart — I have just sold the spring cuttings for ^, to a German, for bas- ket making. Last spring I set out with cuttings one acre and a quarter, which when four years old, if they grow as vigorous and thrifty as then, four rows will produce at the rate of $100 per acre. This willow flourishes best in a wet soil, too wet for grain or grasses. I am informed that laige quantities of this willow are imported from France, &c. If it will command such a price, what crop would be more profitable? D. Jay Browne — On Grand Island, in Ni- agra river, there is an extensive marsh, com- prising about two hundred acres, covered with fir, resembling the Osier Willow. These willows have been used for wicker- work, and were found to be good. Mr. Meigs — Will members please to state where, in this vicinity, they can be obtained? Isaac Underhill of N. J. — James G. King, of Hoboken, has them on his farm. Judge Van Wyck — The Osier Willow, like the whole family of the willows, is at- tached to low wet grounds, and the value of it seems not to be generally known. Mr. Meigs — I found a very few Osier Willow cradles in Philadelphia more than forty years ago, and admiring them for their neatness, for their safety to the infant, which cannot injure itself by contact with its yield- ing nature — I thought it so superior to all the pine, cherry, mahogany, and oak cradles I had seen — I bought one, which has now cradled two generations for me, and is fit to cradle ten more. And if handsome baskets and boxes are made of it to bring any suit- able produce to market, then the farmer will find a profit in the basket or box, as mer- chants formerly did by making regular trunks to send their goods in to this country, and as the Frenchmen do by sending us their choicest prunes in boxes, ornamented and useful for other purposes. — Farmer and Me- chanic. The Daisy. Bright flower, whose home is everywhere ! A pilgrim bold in Nature's care, And oft the long year through, the heir Of joy or sorrow. Methinks that there abides in thee Some concord with humanity. Given to no other flower I see The forest through ! And wherefore? Man is soon deprcst; A thoughtless thing! who, once unblest, Does little on his memory rest, Or on his reason. But thou would'st teach him how to find A shelter under every wind; A hope for times that are unkind, And every season. WorJsteorth. Be Economical. — No matter if your pa- rents are worth millions, it is not the less proper that you should understand the value of money, and the honest, honourable means of acquiring it. What multitudes of young men, particularly in our cities, make ship- wreck of reputation and health, and eventu- ally of property, by neglect of this maxim. They are aware that their parents obtained their wealth by habits of industry, but they are ashamed of the name. They forget that wealth in this country passes rapidly from one to another, and that he who is rich to- day, may be poor to-morrow; or that he who relies on wealth amassed by i)is father, may end his days in a pauper-house. It is for the young man to say, whether by industry and economy he will secure competence and respectability; or by idleness, become worth- less.— Exchange Paper. No. 10. Culture of Tender Fruits in Cold Climates. 303 From Downing's Horticulturist. Cnlture of Tender Fruits in Cold Cli- mates. It is familiar to horticulturists, that warm low valleys, are more subject to night frosts than more elevated localities. Objects at the surface of the earth become chilled by the radiation of heat to the clear sky above, an 1 cool by contact the surrounding air, — which thus becoming heavier, rolls down the sides of declivities, and settles like the waters of a lake in the lowest troughs. This effect is farther increased by the still- ness which prevails in those slieltered places, favouring the more rapid cooling, by radia- tion of the exposed surfaces; while on hills the equilibrium is partially restored by the currents of wind. Independently of these causes, vegetation is more likely to suffer in such places from the succulent or un- ripened growth incident to the warmer po- sition, and to the richer soil which more usually accumulates at the bottoms of val- leys. The mucky soil also radiates heat more rapidly from its surface. The warmth in valleys, during the milder weather of winter, often swells fruit-buds, and severe cold following, destroys them. Higher and more bleak localities are not exposed to these variations, but are more uniformly cold; hence, for these five different reasons, such places are usually much the best for raismg tender fruits. These facts are familiar to many, but still are not so generally appreciated nor applied in practice, as they might be in many in- stances to very great advantage, in select- ing grounds for orchards and gardens. Very erroneous conclusions even, have been adopt- ed in consequence; and large parts of the Northern Stales are destitute of the finest fruits, from mistaken notions as to the prac- ticability of their culture, or of their endu- rance of the climate. Instances, showing in a strong light the principles already alluded to, may be of use to those who have given little attention to the subject. The existence of colder air in valleys, on still, clear nights, has been obvious to every observing person riding rapidly over a roll- ing or broken face of country. The ther- mometer has often shown a difference of many degrees between a creek bottom and a neighbouring hill not fifty feet high. A very striking proof of this tendency was exiiibited, at the time of a severe night frost, early in summer. The young leaves of the hickory had but partially expanded, and the fresh shoots, a few inches long, were succulent and tender. A few trees stood in a hollow about twenty feet deep, and after the frost all the leaves and fresh branches on the lower parts of the trees were black and dead, while all above the surface of this lake of cold air, were green and uninjured. Many years ago, the writer attempted the cultivation of young peach trees, on a rich soil near the bottom of a valley. But every winter the newly set buds were destroyed, or not one in fifty escaped, and one half of the young branches were often killed. Learn- ing the cause, the trees were removed to an adjacent elevation fifty feet higher, when the difficulty was at once obviated. In the winter of 1845-6, when the seve- rity of cold on a clear night sunk the ther- mometer several degrees below zero, after the peach buds had been swelled by a few warm days, trees which stood on a hill thirty feet higher than the neighbouring creek val- ley, lost nine-tenths of their blossoms, while on another hill twenty feet still higher, nine- tenths escaped. The lake of cold air which covered the smaller hill, did not reach the top of the larger. In a large portion of the State of New York, more especially in the region of the southern tier of counties, nearly all attempts to raise the tender fruits appear to have been relinquished. The inhabitants of the larger villages and their vicinity, places mostly situated at the bottoms of deep val- leys, being persons of more enterprise and means, have tried the experiment — and for obvious causes have failed — and hence the conclusion that the climate was necessarily fatal. But there is strong reason to believe, that through all the southern counties of New York, extending from Lake Erie to the Hudson, peaches may be raised with little difficulty, by a proper selection of lo- cality, and by an observance of the principles already pointed out; — that is, by selecting elevated spots, and dry and firm soils, and avoiding mucky ground in valleys. In the town of Spencer, in Tioga county, N. Y., near the head of Cayuga inlet, peaches have withstood the climate and done well, at an elevation of 700 feet above Cayuga lake. A striking instance was shown the writer last summer in Cohocton, Steuben county. The river valley in that town, though many hun- dred feet above the level of the sea, is much lower than the surrounding country, being flanked by hills about .500 feet high. In the valley the peach cannot be cultivated, the trees having been completely killed to the ground in winter. But on one of the neigh- bouring hills, .500 feet above, and probably 1200 feet above the sea, an orchard has been planted on good soil, which entirely escapes, and yields regular crops of fruit. In the 304 Insects Injurious to Wheat. Vol. XI. north-eastern part of Pennsylvania, probably twelve or fifteen hundred feet above the level of the ocean, in the summer of 1835, after one of the severest winters for twenty years, the only two peach trees observed in travelling many miles, were full of peaches; while the same winter, in Stroudsburg val- ley, a large tree was noticed killed down to the ground. While those hills are often covered with snow throughout the winter, the valleys are subjected to thaws, and hence become more unfavourable to tender vegetation. Most of these cases show the great advan- tages of elevated sites. A dry and firm soil is, however, quite important. The influence of a compact knoll, rising scarcely above the rest of the field, has saved the corn which grew upon it; while on the more mucky and spongy portions of the rest of the field, radiating heat more freely, the crop has been destroyed. A successful cul- tivator of drained swamps, told me he could never plant such lands with corn safely till two or three weeks after the usual time oi planting in common soils on an equal level. These influences apply with greater force to tender trees. Succulence and lateness of growth, caused by such soils, are always un- favourable to the endurance of cold ; while a hard, dry soil, at the same time that it produces a less rapid growth, causes also an earlier cessation, and the young wood be- comes matured and hardened before severe frosts. "Many kinds of herbaceous plants and small shrubs," says A. J. Downing, ♦• may be naturalized on dry rock-work, or aggregations of stones mingled with soil, where they are found to thrive perfectly, We observed in the Botanic Garden at Cam^ bridge, an Azalea indica and a species of Erica, that had braved the exceedingly low temperature of 30 degrees below zero, the past winter, having been planted several years previously in a mass of rock work, where they had annually matured their wood in the most perfect manner." The successful cultivation of the peach and grape, on the gently swelling hills called mounds, in the western prairies, while the crops are destroyed by frost on other lands, more fertile, affords another example. In Lycoming county, Pa,, on the banks of the Loyalsock, a creek so rapid that no muck is deposited, but fine dry soil, peaches have been raised, though the cold is often intense. It will be observed that in the preceding remarks, the influence of large bodies of unfreezing water, in softening the severity of the cold, in chilling the dangerous warm air which starts the buds in winter, and which afford great protection by the screen of fog which they spread before the morn- ing sun, has not been taken into account This influence, where it exists, will in some cases, reverse some of the preceding rulea. J. J, Thomas. Macedon, Third mo., 1847. From the Maine Farmer. Insects Injurious to Wheat. Sir, — Being very desirous of obtaining the means for completing the history of some of the insects injurious to grain, and having seen several articles on this subject in the "New England Farmer," copied from the "Maine Farmer," I have taken the lib- erty of addressing you respecting them. There are several different kinds of in- sects which are injurious to wheat ; and ag- ricultural writers are not commonly enough acquainted with natural history to distin- guish and describe the kinds correctly. This is the source of the contradictory statements and unsatisfactory discussions that have ap- peared in the public prints respecting the history and ravages of these insects. One of these insects is the Hessian fly, the grub of which confines its attacks to the stems of the wheat, near the ground. Another is the wheat fly — Cecidomyia Tritici — which, in its first or young state, is an orange coloured maggot, without legs, and growing to the length of one-tenth of an inch only, and never suspending itself by a thread. It lives in the ears of the wheat. A third is a " worm" — probably a kind of caterpillar — color variously described, grow- ing to the length of one quarter of an inch, or more. It is found on the ears of the wheat, and it devours the substance of the grain. I have now some grains of wheat more than half eaten by an insect, said to be of this kind. This " worm," as it is gen- erally called, has been compared to the " clover-worms," which are sometimes seen suspended by threads from the clover in the mow, and it has the same power of spinning threads and of suspending itself thereby. Permit me to refer you to my work on in- sects injurious to vegetation, pages 445 to 447, where has been collected a summary of the various accounts respecting this particu- lar kind of wheat insect. It is possible that these accounts refer to more than one kind; but it is certain that they cannot, if correct, refer to the orange colored maggot of the wheat fly above mentioned. The great dis- parity in the size is sufficient to show tiiat the insects are not the same ; and the habit of suspending itself by a thread, peculiar to caterpillars, is not found in the true maggots of the Cecidomyia or wheat fly. No. 10. Mammoth Corn, 305 There are at least three other kinds of in- sects injurious to wheat in this country; but they are not likely to be mistaken for either of the foregoing-, if ordinary care is taken in examining them. One is the wheat-moth, called in the Southern States the " flying weevil," and at the West the " white wee- vil." It is found both in the fields and in granaries and mills. The young are very small whitish wormlike caterpillars, which live singly within the grains, and devour the substance, leaving the hull whole and untouched, till they are about to come forth. The second is a somewhat larger caterpillar, found only in granaries and in stored grain. It fastens several grains together, and lives in these masses of clustered grains, upon the substance of tlie wheat ; and it turns to a small moth or miller. The third is the " black-weevil of the Southern States, and is rarely found here. It is, when young, a email whitish grub, which lives within the grains of wheat, and turns to a little brown or blackish beetle. These three kinds are described in my work, pages 70, 363 and 365. In the "Essays .on the Grain Worm, No. 2," published in the Maine Farmer, Mr. L. Norcross, of Dixfield, states that some of the worms are one-fourth of an inch in length. He adds, that " two years ago I harvested my grain very damp, and it was heated in the mow. I threshed two bushels, and win- nowed it in the wind ; and after it had lain in the pile an hour, the top of the pile was alive with worms or caterpillars, about three- eighths of an inch in length, with a row of bristles sticking up along their backs and from their sides." The orange coloured maggots of the wheat fly are found in Dixmont, Maine, and proba- bly in many other parts of the State ; but the wheat caterpillars are also found there, and five of them have been sent to me from Dixmont, where they are said to have been taken from the wheat, the grains of which had been much eaten by them. These ca- terpillars were from half an inch to five- eighths of an inch in length. They were of a light brown colour, with three longitu- dinal whitish lines on the back, and a broad white stripe on each side, just above the legs. The latter were sixteen in number, six before, two behind, and eight under the intermediate part of the body. They were in a languishing condition, and all perished without completing their transformations. Had they lived, they would have turned first to brownish chrysalides, and then to some kind of winged moths or millers. If any of these insects remain, it is probable they have already taken the chrysalis form, or are preparing for it, either by burrowing in the ground like canker-worms when they leave the trees, or by seeking a place of con- cealment above ground. It will give me much pleasure to be put in communication with any persons who can provide me with a considerable number of these wheat worms with legs, or wheat ca- terpillars, or with the same after they have taken the chrysalis form. Gentlemen who are able and willing thus to favour me, are requested to make known their intentions by a letter addressed to me by mail. Will you be pleased, sir, to bring this subject before the readers of your useful paper, in such a way as will best promote the object of my inquiries ; by so doing you will greatly oblige. Yours respectfully, Thaddetjs William Harris. Cambridge, Mass , November, 1846. Afammoth Corn. Mr. Editor, — As corn is an article of the most extensive consumption amongst us — without which we could not well live ; and for the special benefit of those of your read- ers, who doubt the advantage of a careful selection of their seed, I would beg leave to state a fact or two, and refer them to the proof at hand. From the specimens shown me, in its growing state, as well as when gathered, I must say, emphatically, it yields more for the industrious and energetic plant- er, than any grain of the kind I have seen or even dreamed of. On an exhausted plantation, near Monticello, on the red hills of Little River, in old worn-out Fairfield, Mr. J. R. D. — I trust he will excuse this liberty, in an old grey-headed man, — has succeeded this year in making corn, mea- suring from twelve to thirteen inches in cir- cumference, and from twelve to fourteen inches in^ length, having forty to forty-eight rows of grains on the ear ! This, however, is a yield of but one ear to the stalk — the ears from stalks bearing five or six ears or more, are, of course, smaller; though as many as three, generally, of the ears from those stalks, will each measure, when shell- ed, nearly twice as much as the largest ear of the common corn. It is mostly of the white gourd-seed corn. The question may naturally arise in the mindsof many — whence did Mr. D. get this seed ] I answer, that he made it by a careful and judicious selection from a variety of seed — the one is, I learn, remarkable only for a grain an inch deep, or a cob the size of your finger, — another, for its thickness of cob, but provokingly short — and the other for its length of cob, provok- 806 Agricultural Meeting. Vol. XL ingly slender, &c., &c. ; either of which, being regarded in its single and separate capacity, would have been looked upon by most planters as hardly worth planting. I believe he obtained the most of these varie- ties when travelling through the Western Country some four years past; the crop from which has yielded him corn which he might well challenge any of the Western States from whence it came, and our own State, to beat. Thus it is, that Mr. D. has made a wonderful improvement in this great staff' of life; and the more credit is due the public benefactor, on account of his age and limited experience. He is a man of untiring ener- gy, good judgment, of an active, grasping and masterly mind, and of a high-toned spi rit of independence, which, I sincerely hope, will soon gain him that reward which he so richly merits. — Columbia Advocate. Agricultural Meeting at the State-house, Boston, April 6th. Hon. Mr. Starkweather in the Chair. Subject " Profits of Farming." Hon. Mr. Denny of Westborough, said the subject before the meeting was of vast importance, and prominent facts had been adduced, showing that the opinion prevail- ing in the minds of some that farming is un profitable, is unfounded. It was not his ob- ject to detract from, or to underrate, other professions, nor to extol too highly the busi ness of farming, but to lead the mind to the great truths that exist in relation to the sub- ject. On one side it had been asserted that farming was not profitable, that a farmer could merely get a living, but no facts were brought forward to support these statements. On the other hand, we have numerous and well authenticated facts, showing that farm- ing is profitable, and many become wealthy in this profession. The community may be divided into two great classes, the farmers form one, and all other professions the other. Farmers have as much wealth as others, and more happiness, better health, and greater longevity. There are some failures and hardships among farmers, it is not all sunshine with them, but they have more sunshine and less storms than others. With the same capital, talent, and industry, farmers are the most successful. Farming is neglected, and too many young men are turning their attention to other pursuits. A mercantile house ad- vertised for a clerk, and in the course of 24 hours it had 287 applications. Mr. David Goodale, of Marlborough, said he was a farmer and the descendant of farm- ers. He said there were other profits in farming than dollars and cents. In his con- dition the prayer of Hagar is answered. He is blessed with a suflSciency and not troubled with a superabundance. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet. If his fare be coarse, he enjoys it with a good appetite. This is the most healthy, and a calling the most favourable to good morals. He is gen- erally free from debts, and the vexatious visits of the sheriff. Farmers are a prudent class; they will wear an old coat rather than run into debt for a new one. They do not count their chickens before they are hatched, nor like the Southern planters, spend the proceeds of their crops before they are raised. Although farming afforded great advantages, he did not think it generally produced so large a per centage as some had stated. Large stories had been told, and they might be true, but they were unusual cases. He would name one of the kind. An apple tree produced in one season 22 barrels of fruit, that was sold at $2 50 per barrel. Hon. Mr. Clark, of Walpole, read a sta- tistical document made up from replies to a circular sent to every town in the State, with inquiries in relation to failures. Re- turns were made from 186 towns, containing a population of 240,000. The failures were 357, only 59 of which were farmers, and we know not how many of these failed from in- dolence, intemperance, speculation, or by attending to some other business. Mr. William Parker, of Boston, said that it might be said that he had at a previous meeting told a great story as to the profits of farming, but it was true. He thought any man who paid strict attention to the bu- siness could make it profitable. In relation to the great profit from one apple tree, as had been named, that could be extended, but many neglected the business. He knew a farmer in Middlesex, who would not set out apple trees, as he would not live to enjoy the products. His son followed him with the same views, but the grandson set an or- chard, and all jLhree lived to drink cider from the orchard. Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, said that he had seen nothing to shake his belief that a good farmer can make ten or fifteen per cent, pro- fit on his capital, and attend to the common business of farming, such as raising corn and other grains, potatoes, hay, and stock. In regard to the remarks of Mr. Everett, who said the other evening that farming in Wor- cester county would not pay more than 4^ per cent, on the capital, he (Mr. E.) has a brother in that county, that informed him that he gained $2(10 a year. Another farm- er in Worcester, who at first thought that No. 10. The Ass and the Mule. 307 his (Mr, B.'s) statement was wrong, said af- ter making an estimate, that he had made 14^ per cent, on his capital for eleven years past. Mr. Buckminster, of the Ploughman, said that generally farms could not be leased so as to pay more than five per cent. This was a fair way of showing the profit, and this was enough. It was better than larger profits, for if a large percentage could be made, capitalists would buy up all the land, and those who were farmers, would become labourers under them, as is the case in Eu- rope, where land cannot be bought. It is well for us that very great profits cannot be made, as that would destroy the happy equality that now exists. Farmers do not work hard generally. He had inquired, and in some sections they do not work more than half their time. Many having farms worth three to five thousand dollars, work only about half their time. He said that one reason that farmers made no more profit is because they are so slow to adopt im- provements. A horse rake may be bought for four dollars, with which a man and boy, or with a steady horse, a man can rake an acre in half an hour. Farmers live better than any other class. Mr. Calhoun said that we were about closing this subject, and we should come to some conclusion. From the numerous facts brought forward showing the profits of farm- ing, we must come to the conclusion that farming is more profitable than any other profession. Farmers who attend to their business succeed well. The exceptions are rare. A stranger remarked that he thought that take farming all over New England, it was not generally considered profitable. Mr. French, of Braintree, said that state- ments had been rather vague, and it was difficult to make correct estimates of farm- ing by single crops, or one year's production. We want something more tangible. He said that farmers in his neighbourhood who commenced with very little, had been dili- gent at home, constantly attending to their business, and they had accumulated estates; a number to the amount of $10,000 or $15, 000. If a farmer saves only a shilling a day, it will amount to a competency in the course of a number of years. — Boston Cul- tivator. The Ass and the Mule. Jacks have sold in Kentucky as high as $5000. Their value at this time, April, 1842, is nominal — 16 hands is the largest size — 15 is quite common — mules of 17 hands are sometimes to be met with. The quality of the mule is improved by the blood of the mare. It is quite common to work mares while going to the Jack, while in foal, and while suckling. Mules should be wean- ed at about five months old — we feed our mules on grain, corn, oats, or rye, the latter in the form of chop, from season to season until sold. I mean during the winter, our blue grass being all-sufficient during the rest of the year. It is necessary, however, to grain feed them on the grass through the summer they are fattened for market — we sell the majority of our stock the fall after they are two — mostly to the cotton planters — a few of late to the Pennsylvania iron works, and a few to Cu- ba ; the remainder we sell at a year older. The present prices at a given age are as va- riant as that of horses, cattle, or any thing else whose value depends upon its quality, and the demands and monetary condition of the country — sales were effected last fall at $35 to $125. I have known mules sell at weaning time for $150, and when grown, as high as $300. They should be broke at the age you would break a horse; and, according to my observation, by the same system. They eat as much as horses, and reward a liberal allowance as well, though he may, when unavoidable, be able to withstand privation better. I have known mules to travel ten miles within the hour in light harness. I drove a pair from Lexington to the Blue Lick in six hours, stopping one hour by the way — the distance is forty miles. What may be the precise difference in " the age of the mule as compared with the horse, under the same treatment, on a plantation," I cannot say; the advantage, however, would be on the side of the former — I know of no particular inconvenience in using them in a carriage. The mule trade in Kentucky is of about forty years' standing. For the first twenty years the number increased gradually, to about eight hundred; during the next fifteen or sixteen years, it went up to four or five thousand ; since when, it has gone back to where it was twenty years ago. Our farm- ers who breed mules, prefer to sell them when they put their mares to the Jack, or at weaning time. The price rose gradually from twenty to fifly dollars for colts. My last lot cost me in 1838, fifty dollars, and the season of my Jack given in. The mares were selected, and the colts bargained for in the season of 1837. When the price went down with everything else a few years back, they discontinued, in a great degree, the breeding of them; so that our present prices result from a greatly insufWcient supply for the ordinary demand. 1 sold my stock of 308 Philadelphia Hay Market. — Tea. — Keeping House. Vol. XL three year olds, — seventy-three head — last fall at $70. I was anxious to retain two or three pair — not the largest — at $250 a pair, but the purchaser objected — but he was equally anxious to select for me some twenty head — and not the least — at thirty-five dol- lars. I declined taking them. The number of mules annually exported from Kentucky, may be set down at the whole number raised — as the small number broke to service in this State, are sure, at least, to find their way to a foreign market — at a rough guess, I would fix the nett average value, in mar- ket, of our mules, at about $70. The reason why mules have been raised in such numbers in Kentucky more than in other States, is the better adaptation of our soil and climate to the production of grain and grass than any other State, and for which we can obtain a market only in the form of live stock. The " cost of raising a mule to be three years old, when corn is twenty-five cents per bushel," charging from the usual time of" weaning, 25th of Septem- ber, maybe computed at about thirty dollars, including a fair equivalent for grazing and salting. I have not known of a case of a female mule breeding. — Youatl on the Horse. Philadelphia Hay Market. We are indebted to the politeness of Mr. H. Whitton, Superintendent of the Farmers' Hay and Straw Market, for the subjoined statement of the receipts of hay at that es- tablishment, during the two years ending 30th of September, inclusive : 1845-46. 1844-45 October, Loads 1,045 1,080 November, 1,000 1,075 December, 1,275 1,215 January, 1,225 1,170 February, 1,112 1,135 March, 1,300 1,185 April, 1,250 1,305 May, 1,104 1,075 June, 1,045 815 July, 850 885 August, 1,140 820 September, 1,235 980 Total, 13,571 12,740 Equal in tons, to 12,225 11,461 The incoming crop of hay is likely to prove abundant, and of good quality. The receipts at the other yards in Philadelphia are inconsiderable — scarcely reaching 3000 loads per annum — but considerable supplies of pressed hay come forward for the river counties, and elsewhere, for shipment. Prices continue steady, and we quote the range at 70 to 80 cents for good Timothy, and 60 to 70 cents for Clover and Timothy mixed. Rye straw is worth six to seven cents. — Pa. Enquirer, Oct., 1847. Cottage Culture of Tea in China. — The green-tree shrub is cultivated in some parts rather extensively, but, if we except a small quantity of tea which is annually sent over to Ningpo and the adjoining towns on the mainland, the whole of the produce is used by the natives themselves. Every small farmer and cottager has a few plants on his own premises, which he rears with considerable care, but seems to have no wish to enter on its cultivation on a larger scale for exportation. Indeed, it is questionable if it would pay, as the soil is scarcely rich enough, and although the shrub grows pretty well, it is far from being so luxuriant as it is in the larger tea districts of the mainland, which I afterwards visited. — Fortune's Nar- rative. Keeping House. — A young married wo- man, who has not had the opportunity of profiting by the advice and example of a good mother, will find some difficulty at first in spending her money to the best advan- tage ; for there is really an art in spending money, though not in getting rid of it. Some women will keep house respectably and plentifully on one-third less money than will be required by others, and without either meanness or illiberal dealing. But, to do this, judgment, forethought, and expe- rience are necessary. One woman shall be able to tell you how much her housekeeping costs to a shilling, while another cannot even guess within ten. The former has method, rule, regularity, and a certain sum assigned to her; with the latter it is all hap-hazard, it comes and it goes, she neither knows how nor cares. And this is almost sure to be the case if the money is doled out by her hus- band in a few shillings at a time. — Exchange paper. Cement for Grafting. — One part of good beef's tallow, two parts of pure bees- wax, and four parts of rosin. Melt all and mix well ; then pour into cold water and work very thoroughly, as shoemaker's wax. We have frequently used cement made with these proportions, and it will not melt in hot weather, nor crack in cold weather. — Exchange paper. No. 10. Transplanting Trees. 309 Transplanting Trees. Wb have at various times suggested to our readers the importance of the cultivation of fruit. VVe have also not been backvi'ard in hinting that a tree of good fruit occupied no more space in an orchard or a gar den, than a worthless one. We now take the oppor tunity to say, that to select good fruit trees from the nursery, is not all that is essential. Careful planting is of great importance, as will appear from the follow- ing remarks taken from Dawning's excellent work on the Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, a work which comes at $1 50, which we have constantly for sale, and which, we think, every farmer will gain by possessing himself of. It contains abundance of valuable practi cal information. And further— there is a great deal to do after an orchard is planted : we mean in taking care to protect it from the cattle, sheep, and hogs. The editor remembers once hearing a nurseryman remark that he believed nearly one half the trees sold and planted were destroyed by the cattle, &.c , and in other ways, for want of care. Why should this be ? Surely a tree that is worth buying, and the labour of plant ing, is worth subsequent protection.— Ed. As nearly all fruit trees are raised first in nurseries, and then removed to their final position in the orchard or fruit garden; as upon the manner of this removal depends not only their slow or rapid growth, their feebleness or vigor afterwards, and in many cases even their life, it is evident that it is in the highest degree important to under- stand and practise well this transplanting. The season best adapted for transplanting fruit trees is a matter open to much diflfer- ence of opinion among horticulturists; a difference founded mainly on experience, but without taking into account variation of climate and soils, two very important cir- cumstances in all operations of this kind. All physiologists, however, agree that the best season for transplanting deciduous trees is in autumn, directly after the fall of the leaf. The tree is then in a completely dor- mant state. Transplanted at this early sea- son, whatever wounds may have been made in the roots commence healing at once, as a deposit directly takes place of granulous matter from the wound, and when the spring arrives the tree is already somewhat estab- lished, f^nd ready to commence its growth. Autumn planting is for this reason greatly to be preferred in all mild climates and dry soils ; and even for very hardy trees as the apple, in colder latitudes ; as the fixed posi- tion in the ground, which trees planted then get by the autumnal and early spring rains, gives them an advantage, at the next season f)f growth, over newly moved trees. On the other hand, in the northern por- tions of the Union, where the winters com- mence early, and are severe, spring planting is greatly preferred. There autumn and winter are not mild enough to allow this gradual process of healing and establishing the roots to go on ; for when the ground is frozen to the depth of the roots of a tree, all that slow growth and collection of nutriment by the roots is necessarily at an end. And the more tender sorts of fruit trees, the Peach and Apricot, which are less hardy when newly planted than when their roots are entire, and well fixed in the soil, are liable to injury in their branches by the cold. The proper time in such a climate, is as early as the ground is in a fit condition in the spring. Early in autumn, and in spring before the buds expand, may as a general rule, be con- sidered the best seasons for transplanting. It is true that there are instances of excel- lent success in planting at all seasons, except midsummer; and there are many who, from having been once or twice successful in transplanting when trees were nearly in leaf, avow that to be the best season ; not taking into account, that their success was probably entirely owing to a fortunately damp state of the atmosphere at the time, and abundant rains after the experiment was performed. In the middle States, we are frequently liable to a dry period in early summer, directly following the season of re- moval, and if transplanting is deferred to a late period in spring, many of the trees will perish from drought, before their roots be- come established in the soil. Spring plant- ing should, therefore, always be performed as soon as possible, that the roots may have the great benefit of the early and abundant rains of that season, and get well started be- fore the heat of summer commences. For the neighbourhood of New York, therefore, the best periods are, from the fall of the leaf to the middle of November, in autumn ; and from the close of winter to the middle of April, in the spring; though commonly, the seasons 'of removal are frequently extended a month beyond these limits. Taking up the trees is an important part of the operation. A transplanter should never forget that it is by the delicate and tender points or extremities of the root that trees take up their food; and that the chance of complete success is lessened, by everyone of these points that is bruised or destroyed. If we could remove trees with every fibre entire, as we do a plant in a pot, they would scarcely show any sign of their change of position. In most cases, especially in that of trees taken from nurseries, this is, by the operation of removal, nearly impossible. But although we may not hope to get every root entire, we may, with proper care, preserve by far the larger portion of them, and more 310 Transplanting Trees. Vol. XI. particularly the small and delicate fibres. After being taken up, they should be planted directly; or, if this cannot be done, they should be kept fronf} drying by a covering of mats, and when sent to a distance by being- packed in damp moss.* Preparing the places. Here is the fatal stumbling block of all novices and ignorant persons in transplanting. An English gar- dener, when he is about to plant fruit trees, talks about preparing his borders, an Ame- rican says he will dig his holes; and we cannot give a more forcible illustration ofj the ideas of two persons as to the wants of a fruit tree, or a better notion of the com- parative provision made to supply these wants, than by contrasting the two phrase themselves. The one looks upon a tree as a living being, whose life is to be rendered long, vigorous, and fruitful, by a good supply of food, and a soil mellow and easily pene- trated by the smallest fibre; the other con- siders it very much in the light of a trun^ cheon or a post, which he thrusts into the smallest possible hole, and supplies with the least portion of manure, trusting to what he seems to believe the inextinguishable powers of nature to make roots and branches under any circumstances. It is true that the terms differ somewhat from the nature of the cul- ture and the greater preparation necessary in planting fruit trees in England, but this is not by any means sufficient to justify the different modes of performing the same ope ration there and here. In truth, in this country, where the sun and climate are so favourable, where pruning and training are comparatively so little ne- cessary, the great requisite to success in the ordinary culture of fruit trees is the proper preparation of the soil before a tree is planted. Whether a transplanted tree shall struggle several years to recover, or grow moderately after a short time, or at once start into a very luxuriant and vigorous growth, depends entirely upon the amount of care and labour the planter is willing to bestow on the soil for his trees. We have seen several instances where, side by side, one man planted his trees in large spaces of deeply moved and rich soil, and another in small holes in the common mode, which uniformly showed the trees of the first, * We Bhould notice an important exception to this in the case of trees packed for shipping across the At- lantic. In this case they should be packed only in dry moBs; the moisture of the sea air being sufficient to keep the roots in good condition, while if packed in damp mos?, they will be injured by rotting or eicessive growth. larger after five years, than those of the last, after twelve. No fruit tree should be planted in a hole of less size than three feet square, and eighteen inches to two feet deep. To this size and depth the soil should be removed and well pulverized, and it should, if neces- sary, be properly enriched by the application of manure, which must be thoroughly mixed with the whole mass of prepared soil by re- peated turnings with the spade. This pre- paration will answer, but the most skilful cultivators among us make their spaces four or five feet in diameter, or three times the size of the roots, and it is incredible how much the luxuriance and vigor of growth, even in a poor soil, are promoted by this. No after mending of the soil, or top dressings applied to the surface, can, in a climate of dry summers like ours, equal the effects of this early and deep loosening and enriching the soil. Its effects on the growth and health of the tree are permanent, and the little ex- pense and care necessary in this preparation is a source of early and constant pleasure to the planter. This preparation may be made just before the tree is planted, but in heavy soils, it is much better to do it several months previously; and no shallow ploughing of the soil can obviate the necessity and advantages of the practice, where healthy, vigorous or- chards or fruit gardens are desired. The whole art of transplanting, after this, consists in placing the roots as they were before, or in the most favourable position for growth. Begin by filling the hole with the prepared soil, within as many inches of the top as will allow the tree to stand exactly as deep as it previously stood. With the spade, shape this soil for tlie roots in the form of a little hillock on which to place the roots — and not, as is commonly done, in the form of a hollow; the roots will then extend in their natural position, not being forced to turn up at the ends. Next examine the roots, and cut off all wounded parts, paring the wound smooth. Hold the tree upright on its little mound in the hole of prepared soil ; extend the roots and cover them carefully with the remaining pulverized soil. As much of the success of transplanting' depends on bring- ing the soil in contact with every fibre, so as to leave no hollows to cause tiie decay of the roots, not only must this be secured by patiently filling-in all cavities among the roots, but when the trees are not quite small, it is customary to pour in a pail of water when the roots are nearly all covered with soil. This carries the liquid mould to every hidden part. After the water has settled away, fill up the hole, pressing the earth No. 10. Transplanting Trees. 311 gently about the tree with the foot, but avoiding the common practice of shaking it up and down by the stem. In windy situa- tions it will be necessary to place a stake by the side of each tree to hold it upright, until it shall have taken firm root in the soil, but it is not needful in ordinary cases. Avoid deep planting. More than half the losses in orchard planting in America arise from this cause, and the equally common one of crowding the earth too tightly about the roots. No tree should be planted deeper than it formerly grew, as its roots are stifled from the want of air, or starved by the po- verty of the soil at the depth where they are placed. It is much the better and more natural process in fact, to plant the tree so that it shall, when the whole is complete, appear just as deep as before, but standing on a little mound two or three inches higher than the level of the ground about. This, when the mound settles, will leave it nearly on the level with the previous surface. Mulching is an excellent practice with transplanted trees, and more especially for those which are removed late in the spring. Mulching is nothing more than covering the ground about the stems with coarse straw, or litter from the barn-yard, which by pre- venting evaporation, keeps the soil from be- coming dry, and maintains it in that moist and equable condition of temperature most favourable to the growth of young roots. Very many trees, in a dry season, fail at midsummer, after having made a fine start, from the parched and variable condition of the earth about the roots. Watering, fre- quently fails to save such trees, but mulching when they are planted, will entirely ob- viate the necessity of watering in dry sea- eons, and promote growth under any cir- cumstances. Indeed, watering upon the surface, as commonly performed, is a most injurious practice, as the roots stimulated at one period of the day by water, are only rendered more susceptible to the action of the hot sun at another, and the surface of the ground becomes so hard, by repeated watering, that the beneficial acce.?s of the air is almost cut off. If trees are well wa- tered in the holes, while transplanting is going on, they will rarely need it again, and we may say never, if they are well mulched directly after planting. The best manure to be used in preparing the soil for transplanting trees, is a compost formed of two-thirds muck or black peat earth, reduced by fermenting it several months in a heap with one-third fresh barn- yard manure. Almost every farm will sup ply this, and it is more permanent in its ef- fects, and less drying in its nature, than the common manure of the stable. An admira- ble manure, recently applied with great suc- cess, is charcoal — the small broken bits and refuse of the charcoal pits — mixed intimate- ly with the soil. Air-slaked lime is an ex- cellent manure for fruit trees, in soils that are not naturally calcareous. Two or three handfuls may be mixed with the soil when preparing each space for planting, and a top dressing may be applied with advantage oc- casionally afterwards, to increase their pro- ductiveness. But wherever large orchards or fruit gardens are to be planted, the muck compost heap should be made ready before- hand, as it is the cheapest, most valuable, and durable of all manures for fruit trees. Pruning the heads of transplanted trees, at the season of removal, we think generally an injurious practice. It is certainly need- less and hurtful in the case of small trees, or those of such a size as will allow the roots to be taken up nearly entire; for, as the ac- tion of the branches and the roots is pre- cisely reciprocal, and as new roots are rapidly formed just in proportion to the healthy ac- tion of the leaves, it follows that by need- lessly cutting off branches we lessen the vital action of the whole tree. At the same time, where trees are transplanted of so large a size that some of the -roots are lost in removing them, it is necessary to cut back or shorten a few of the branches — as many as will restore the balance of the sys- tem— otherwise the perspiration of the leaves may be so great, as to exhaust the supply of sap faster than the roots can collect it. A little judgment only is necessary, to see at a glance, how much of the top must be pruned away before planting the tree, to equalize the loss between the branches and the roots. When it is necessary to transplant fruit trees of large size, the best practice is to prepare them previously by digging a trench round t^he whole mass of roots, undermining them, and cutting off all roots projecting be- yond this line. The trench should be dug at such a distance from the tree as will in- clude all the large and sufficient ball of roots, and it should be done in the spring, or before midsummer, when it is desirable to remove the tree the next year. After all the roots that extend to this circular trench are cut ofl^, the earth is replaced, and by the season following an abundance of small fibres is sent out by the amputated roots, which, when the whole is now removed, will insure the success and speedy growth of the tree. This is more completely the case when the tree is prepared two years before transplant- ing. A variation of tiiis mode, which has been found quite as successful and less labo- 312 Too Much Work. Vol. XI. rious, consists in leaving the trench open, and covering it with boards only, or boards with a top layer of turf. The tree then is somewhat checked in its growth, it throws out an abundance of small fibres into the ball of earth containing the roots, and is the next season transplanted with great ease and safety. The proper size for transplanting varies somewhat with the sort of tree and the kind of culture intended. It is, however, a maxim equally well settled, both among theorists and the best practical men, that health, im- mediate vigor, and duration, are all greatly promoted by transplanting fruit trees of small size — from three to six or seven feet. We are fully aware with what impatience the beginner, or a person who knows little of the culture of trees, looks upon trees of this size — one who is eager to plant an orchard, and stock a garden with large trees, think- ing to gather a crop the next year. The latter may indeed be done, but the trans- planting so affects the tree, that its first scanty crop is followed by a long season of rest and feeble growth, while the plantation of young trees is making wood rapidly, and soon comos into a healthy and long-continued state of productiveness — often long indeed before the large trees have fairly arrived at that condition. The small tree, transplanted with its system of roots and branches entire, suffers little or no check; the older and larger tree, losing part of its roots, requires several years to resume its former vigor. The constitution of the small tree is healthy and unimpaired ; that of the large is fre- quently much enfeebled. A stout and vig- orous habit — what the nurserymen call a good stocky flant — is the true criterion of merit in selecting fruit trees for transplant- ing. Trees intended for orchards, being often more exposed than those in gardens, should be somewhat larger — not less than six, or more than eight feet is the best size. For gardens, all experienced cultivators agree that a smaller size is preferable; we prefer plants two years old from the graft. Most gardeners abroad, when they select trees with more than usual care, take what are called maiden plants — those one year old from the graft, and there can be no doubt that, taking into account health, duration, and the ease with which such a tree can be made to grow into any form, this is truly the preferable size for removal into a fruit gar- den. But we are an impatient people, and it is not till after another century of trial and experience in the culture of fruit trees, that cultivators generally in this country will become aware of the truth of this fact. The facility with which the different fruit trees may be transplanted differs consider- ably. Plums are generally removed with most success, and after them nearly in the order as follows: quinces, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and cherries; the latter succeeding with some difficulty when of large size. In planting an orchard, always avoid placing the trees in the same spot or near where an old tree stood before. Experience has taught us that the growth of a young tree, in such a position, is weak and feeble; the nourishment suitable to that kind of tree having already been exhausted by a previ- ous growth, and the soil being half filled with old and decayed roots, which are detri- mental to the health of the young tree. Too much Work. People do not have relaxation enough in New England. They too generally have a care-worn expression, from infancy to age; and the fact cannot be denied, that anxiety is weariness to the flesh. We are all utili- tarians in this country, especially in the Northern States, hardly affording ourselves opportunity for eating or sleeping, in the manner which nature demands — for she can only conduct her chemical operations pro- perly, and re-adjust the deranged vital ma- chinery, while we are quietly slumbering. We recruit ourselves and grow fat during a refreshing nap — but exhaust the system, both physically and mentally, in pursuing to excess the ordinary round of every-day bu- siness. "All work and no play, make Jack a dull boy," is a proverb based on a profound knowledge of the laws of our being. Females in New England, are worse off than the other sex in the deprivation of out- of-door relaxation, as custom has made it vulgar to breathe the fresh air, unless it is done in a very lady-like manner. Hence they make feeble mothers — look thin, sallow, lank, and die prematurely, of diseases that never would have been developed had there been less education of the mind, and more of the body, in girlhood, A sad mistake is produced by a too impli- cit belief in the adage that "time is money," since the first object of pursuit is in conse- quence, made to be cash. Those who at- tempt to rest reasonably from their labours, at proper periods, are either afraid of not having enough, or are perpetually reminded that idleness ends in want. So the shuttle flies faster than it ought to go; the farmer cheats himself out of all that is worth hav- ing, health, by denying himself and his boys a holiday, because time is money and exara- No. 10. British Grain Crops. — Measurement of Grain. — Roses. 313 pie is everything. We work too much and too long in New England. Not farmers only, but mechanics also. — Medical Journal. The British Grain Crops. A WRITER in the London Times has com- piled the following estimate of deficiency in the grain crops of Great Britain, for the year ending Sept. 1st, 1847: Quarters. Ordinary annual deficiency, 2,000,000 Loss of potatoes in Ireland, value £12,000,000, to be supplied by grain — a food of double the cost of potatoes— value £24,000,000, respresenting, at 50*. per quar- ter, 9,800,000 Loss of oats in Ireland stated by Mr. Labouchre to be one-third the crop, or 5,227,000 Loss of potatoes in England and Scotland, say one-tenth only the loss in Ireland, or 1,000,000 Loss of oats in Scotland and Eng- land, 1,000,000 Loss of barley in the United King- dom, 1,000,000 Extra seed for increased cultiva- tion of grain, 300,000 Extra consumption of railway la- bourers, 300,000 20,627,000 Deduct economies made by star- vation and non-feeding of pigs, 4,627,000 Total deficiency, 16,000,000 Money value of the deficiency at £3 per quarter, £48,000,000, or more than $200,000, 000. Incombustible Wash. — Slack stone lime in a large tub or barrel, with boiling water, covering the tub or barrel, to keep in all the steam. When thus slacked, pass six quarts of it through a fine sieve. It will then be in a state of fine flour. Now, to six quarts of this lime, add one quart of rock or Turk's Island salt, and one gallon of water, then boil the mixture and skim it clean. To every five gallons of this skimmed mixture, add one pound of alum, half pound of cop- peras, by slow degrees add three- fourths of a pound of potash, and four quarts of fine sand or hickory ashes sifted. We suppose any kind of good hard wood ashes will an- swer as well as hickory. This mixture will now admit of any colouring matter you please, and may be applied with a brush. It looks better than paint, and is as durable as slate. It will stop small leaks in the roof, prevent the moss from growing over and rot- ting the wood, and render it incombustible from sparks falling upon it. When laid upon brick work it renders the brick impervious to rain or wet. — Farmers'' Register. From the Pennsylvania Enquirer. Measurement of Grain, &c* We are indebted to Mr. E. Street, for the annexed statement of the amount of grain, &c., measured at Philadelphia during the first quarter of 1847 — to which we have added the amount measured during the same period of the year 1846. The number of bushels of grain, salt, and coal, measured — that came under my notice — for the first quarter of the year 1847 : Corn, Wheat, Rye, Beans, Oats, Barley, Seeds, Salt, Coal, Head Measurer of the Port of Philadelphia. 1847. 1846. 338,297 62,512 57,795 11,758 3,777 2,360 70 1,014 63.935 8,557 4,538 58 1,910 2,843 10,.500 5,835 Eml. Street, Hybrid China Roses. Rosa Indica hybridcB. — The superior va- rieties of this fine division give a combina- tion of all that is or can be beautiful in roses; for, not only are their flowers of the most elegant forms and colours, their foliage of extreme luxuriance, but their branches are so vigorous and graceful, that perhaps no plant presents such a mass of beauty as a finely grown hybrid China rose in full bloom. They owe their origin to the China, Tea- scented, Noisette, and Bourbon roses, fertil- ized with the French, Provence, and other summer roses, and also to the latter crossed with the former; the seeds of such impreg- nated flowers producing Hybrid China roses. These have, in many cases, resulted from accident, but latterly from the regular fertil- izing process, as mules or hybrids have been raised from well known parents. In England, but a ?ew varieties have been originated ; as the common China rose does not in general ripen its seeds sufficiently for germination. The parents of Brown's Su- perb Blush, which is an English hybrid, was the old Tea-scented rose, Rosa indica odo^ rata, impregnated with some hardy summer rose. River's George the Fourth is also an English rose : but as this came by accident, 314 J. S. Skinner^s Address. Vol. XI. its origin is not so well ascertained. Rosa Blairii is also English, and raised from the Yellow China, impregnated with some va- riety of hardy rose. All these roses have the true characters of the family: leaves smooth, glossy, and sub-evergreen : branches long, luxuriant, and flexible. They give a long continuance of bloom, but they never put forth secondary or autumnal flowers, ex- cept in a few insulated cases. This is a most peculiarly distinguishing trait, and an interesting fact. Impregnate a Bourbon, China, or Noisette rose, — all abundant au- tumnal bloomers, with the farina of a French or a Provence rose, and you entirely take away the tendency to autumnal blooming in the ofl^spring. They will grow vigorously all the autumn, and give a long, but not a secondary series of flowers. Some of these Hybrid China roses produce seed abundantly, which is rather a remarkable feature, as so few hybrid plants are fertile. It has been asserted that hybrids produced from the French rose, impregnated with the China rose, are not of such robust and vigorous habits as when the China rose is the female parent; but this is an assertion scarcely borne out by facts, for the exceptions are numerous, and like many other variations in roses and plants in general, they seem to bid defiance to systematic rules. By scientific cultivators the roses of this division have been divided into four classes, Hybrid China, Hybrid Noisette, Hybrid Bourbon, and Un- certain Hybrids. Those that have been raised from Noisette roses have a tendency to produce their flow ers in clusters; those from Bourbon roses have their leaves thick, leathery, and round; those from the Tea-scented have a delicate and grateful scent; but all have those d is tinguishing family traits as before given, and accordingly they group beautifully. It is a difficult task to point out the best in each of these divisions, as they are nearly all well deserving of cultivation. However, by making a few remarks, such as cannot so well be given in a descriptive catalogue, I may perhaps be able in some measure, to direct the choice of amateurs to those wor thy their notice. — Prince's Manual of Roses. Address, Delivered by J. S. Skinner, Editor of the Farmers^ Library, at JSorthampton, Mass., in the Tenth month last, at the request of the Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Societies. We publish with pleasure the following extract, and commend it to the attention of those who may be im- mediately interested, and who have influence to give a tone to public feeling. We know very well that when scientific instruction is spoken of, in reference to the lad who is to earn his livelihood on a farm, we are too generally told, that an efficient education can only be attained by taking off his coat and going di- rectly to the plough, and to every other exercise of the plantation. The truth of this in part, must be admit- ted. We are aware that a man will not be likely to farm profitably, whose only qualification is sound the- ory; he must have practical knowledge:— yet all this is consistent with an education— a training especially adapted to his future calling. This is what is aimed at by our indefatigable and worthy friend of the Farm- ers^ Library. James Gowen's proposed College — see page 243, current vol. of Cabinet— will, to a certain extent, supply a serious vacancy, but the idea suggest- ed below, is to open avenues for agricultural instruc- tion in every direction, and to all classes. — Ed. EXTRACT. My friends, if you will allow me to speak frankly and without reserve, as becomes a friend, who has devoted the best years of his life in the study of how he could best assert the rights and elevate the cause of American agriculture, I will tell you in what I think consists the great impediment to the progress of your profession ; and by that I mean the obstacle which stands in the way of your practically realizing double your present crops from the same land, and with less la- bour. It lies in a deficient and ill digested system of education ! I mean in the gene- ral way, that too many farmers are content with an education, or what is called an edu- cation, that confers merely the power of reading, icriting, and cyphering — without reflecting that these of themselves do not constitute learning or information in the sci- ence of farming, or any other science, any more than the possession of a square and compass, a drawing-knife and a jack plane, gives a knowledge of house-building. Read- ing, writing, and arithmetic, are nothing more than the tools to work with ! You might as well expect a man to cure, without any knowledge of the healing art, the most deadly malady, by putting the whole con- tents of an apothecary's shop into his hands, as your son to profit in the art of farming merely by a knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Will a knowledge of these of themselves, instruct your son in the nature of the soil out of which he is to get his living — its com- position or mechanical or chemical proper- ties] Does this knowledge, of itself, and without using it as the means of extending Jiis researches, let him into a knowledge of the properties of vegetables — of what they are composed, by what they are nourished, and the laws of their organization and exist- ence? In which of the schools, let me ask No. \0. J. S. Skinne7'^s Address. 315 you, are your sons, who are going to follow your pursuit, educated in the knowledge of the nutritive properties of the various kinds of food, and their positive or comparative effect on the animal constitution, and the circumstances and conditions on which de- pend their growth and their health, either of the beasts themselves or the plants on which they live ■? Why the pursuit in which you propose your sons to embark, is in its very nature an art as Well as a science. The farm is in fact a great manufactory; the basis of the machinery is the land, requiring to be repaired, and oiled, and kept in order, with seed, and manure, and air, and water, and the various elements that earth and air contain, with labourers for operatives, and all to be directed with more or less effect, according to the experience and skill of the watchful and accomjilished superintendent over all. The difference between it and other great chemical, or other complicated machinery and laboratories is, that some turn out soap, some oil, some glass, some linen or woollen cloth, some nauseous drugs, while yours turns out the staff of life, without which all others would starve. In behalf, then, of your own sons, I appeal to you if it be fair in those who can afford it, to with- hold, at least from such of them as are to live by this most beneficial of all arts, a knowledge of the chemical elements to be found in the soil, in the air, in the water, and in the animal and vegetable and mine- ral kingdoms, with all which they have every day to deal? If it be easy to find, even in time of profound peace, for the last quarter of a century, some fifteen millions annually, for the warlike use and machinery of this Republican Government, cannot one million, at least, be found for the construction, at the seats of all the State Governments, — or as an appendage to the Smithsonian Institute at Washington — of laboratories where prac- tical instruction might be given to men who, after a few years, might go forth into every county in every State of this Union, and teach practically to the rising generation of farmers the various methods of analyzing minej-als, and manures, and soils, and the methods of detecting the materials taken from the soils by the removal of the crops. Are you aware of what is doing in our mo- ther country on this subject — that country from which we have derived our knowledge of the principles of liberty and our advance- ment in the arts — that country whose won- derful progress in agriculture and manufac- tures is based on her proficiency in the sciences I have been so feebly recommend- ing to be taught in all our schools'? Why, such has been of late years the movement made in sciences connected with and con- tributory to the progress of agriculture, that Professor Johnston, the great agricultural chemist, in a recent lecture, refers to a par- ticular field of 100 acres of land which had, to use his own language, by application of an improved system of farming and the proper application of manures^ been brought in twelve years from an average product of 50 bushels of oats up to 85 bushels per acre; and in Norfolk, England, according to one of those masterly prize essays elicited lately by the wise measures of the Royal Agricul- tural Society, and which are transferred to the Farmers' Library, a large district of fen or boggy land, has been recently so im- mensely improved, that some parts which not many years ago were considered worth not more than $35 an acre, have been sold within the last five years at $225; while others which, says the author of this elabo- rate essay on Norfolk agriculture, were ofier- ed for a gallon of beer, have sold for nearly $200 an acre. Again, then, I repeat, you must overhaul and amend your systenis of education. Why should they remain stationary, while every- thing around is advancing with railroad ve- locity] Let us worship knowledge as we now worship po'.vcr, until knowledge and power become truly, as they ought to be, synonymous. Pay to benefactors of indus- trial pursuits the court you now pay to party demagogues; exalt inventors in the useful arts as you now exalt small men into high places; pay and glorify thorough-bred scien- tific instructors as you now pay and glorify the military, and you will see the whole mass of agricultural population rising from the ground with increased vigor of intellect, as the languishing fields revive after a ge- nial shower, and with an understanding of their rights, which will impart a strength to maintain them beyond the strength of ten thousand, armies, and with a capacity to pro- secute their business and augment the pro- ducts of tlie earth as much above the mere efficacy of strong arms or brute force, as mind is above matter, and all other powers short of the powers of the Supreme Being. But remember the species of education, the sort of embellishment which is now need- ed to keep your interests and pursuits in a line with the advancement of every class and every interest around you, does not con- sist— and I cannot too often repeat it — in learning merely to read, write, and cypher, justly as all New England has a right to boast of imparting that to all her children, but with which it is apprehended they are too generally contented. These are to bo valued only as a means to an end— as step- 316 /. S. Skinner^s Address. Vol. XI. ping-stones to knowledge — to be prized for what they are worth, but not to be confound- ed with knowledge itself. Oh, that I could prevail upon the farmers of the United States, on patriots of all parties, to unite and lay their heads together and their shoulders to the wheel on this great subject of agricultu- ral education, as with all my heart I have been labouring thirty years to do, and am now doing, with more earnestness and more hope than ever, through the pages of The Farmers' Library! a work in which the publishers give me full swing, and place at my command the best materials that money can procure, or art illustrate in any country — a work which, with such materials and a passion for the subject, I may venture to say as the friend of agriculture, not of yesterday or to-day, but of my whole life time, and without fearing the imputation of selfish or mercenary motives, oughL to he placed in the hands of every American landholder, and more especially in the hands of every youth whose destiny is to live by the cultivation of the earth. Were it possible to command for this sub- ject of agricultural education, half the time and attention which are given to party politics, were it possible to compel an appropriation to it of one-tenth that is expended for com- mercial and warlike purposes, who dare say what would be the benefits resulting to the great interests of the country and of man- kind, even in the lifetime of some who hear me] Remember, you who have power to control public sentiment and direct it in the right way, that as you value the character of your sons and the existence of your go- vernment, you must enlighten the mass of agriculturists. In a few years we shall have fifty millions of people. Few are aware of the geometrical ratio by which our population is increasing, and how much the agency of steam, were it only by savihg the time of millions in travelling and en- abling them to employ in productive industry and in creating the means of subsistence, the time that would otherwise be unproduc- tively employed in travelling; few, I say, are aware how wonderfully in this way steam itself has become an augmenter of population, by augmenting throughout the world the means of subsistence on which the increase of population depends. Now, is any problem so fit to engage the head and heart of the statesman and the phi- lanthropist, as the question, how can this great forthcoming mass of human beings be best employed and fitted to make the most of their facu^.ties, and to enjoy the blessings of liberty] For myself, my anxiety is, as it has ever been, for the. agriculturist— for the tillers of the soil. Enlighten them ; keep them sound and virtuous, and you have the best security that human foresight can de- sire or establish. Let them, on the contrary, be steeped in ignorance, and its invariable concomitant, liability to corruption and cor- rupt uses, and you lay the axe at the root of all that is worthy to engage the solicitude and anxieties of the statesman and patriot. The very greatness of your numbers, which, if instructed, would contribute to your na- tional strength, will accelerate the catastro- phe of ignorant and populous nations, throw- ing up their greasy caps and crying hosan- nahs at the moment of falling the miserable victims to the arts of the demagogue, who always flatters the people while he places the sword in the hands of the despot to en- slave them. Finally, let me exhort you to bear in mind that all plans of reform in reference to this first of all earthly concerns, the education of your children, should equally embrace the appropriate education of your daughters as your sons. As the forward movement of civilization, nay, of liberty itself, has been everywhere attended with improvements in agriculture and in all the social arts and' amenities of life, so has it been equally marked by more and more attention to the female sex, and a higher appreciation of the noble office of housewife and mother in every domestic circle. That office of which it was quaintly written three hundred years ago, "Though husbandry seenieth to bring in the gains, Yet huswifery labours seem equal in pains; Some respite to husbands weather may send, But huswife afTairs have never an end." But for her, where should we get all our household comforts'? What stimulus should we have to cultivate the refinements of life'? Why, even in the healing art, her offices are indispensable to raise the head and cheer the drooping spirits of the desponding invalid. Her tender accents and soothing gentleness can minister even to "a mind diseased." So important are her duties and so inimitable her tact in the chamber of sickness, that Doctor Rush being once asked how much the average duration of human life had been increased by the Faculty, answered that it depended oa whether the inquirer meant to include old women nurses among the Faculty, because, if they were excluded, the increase had been of little account. But, my friends, earnest, careful attention to female educa- tion, is your bounden duty in a much higher sense, and for yet more important considera- tions. For, after all, is it not by the mother that the first impress is given to the charac- ter of the son, as the clay takes its form from No. 10. Best Mode of Feeding Cattle. 317 the hands of the potter] It is from her it may be said to take its set. Hence the mu- tual and reflective influence between her and the state of society in all ages. How important, then, to agriculture, regarded as I have endeavoured to present it, as a fit ex- ercise for the mind as well as the body, that daughters who are to be the future mothers of the Republic, should have some insight into botany and natural history, and what- ever may fall within the comprehension of their children until they leave the paternal roof, that they may be early inculcated with a love of floriculture and horticulture, and all the elementary branches of agricultural literature, and so be taught To make a meditative joy, and find Religious meaning in tbe forms of nature. On the best Mode of Feeding Cattle. By Professor Johnston. The following is the substance of a lec- ture delivered at Inverness, before the High- land Society of Scotland. After a few pre- liminary observations, the lecturer observed: That he appeared before the meeting as the representative of the Agricultural Che- mistry Association of Scotland. They had all heard of that Association, and many of them were members of it. The object of the Association in having this meeting was two-fold. Every one, acquainted with the state of agriculture in different parts of Great Britain, cannot have failed to observe certain practices in operation, in various parts, of which agriculturists in general might profitably avail themselves. By going into different counties, they found practical men possessed of knowledge, the diffusion of which would be of the greatest possible ad- vantage to the general mass of the agricul- tural community. Now, the purpose the Agricultural Chemistry Association had in view — in connection with these general ob- servations— was to collect all the inforina- tion in their power, through their officers or organs, or through meetings such as this; and having collected that knowledge, their next great object is to diffuse it in such a way as to be productive of the most benefi- cial results to agriculture in general. Like scattering seed through their fields, the dif- fusion of that knowledge would produce ve- getation in sprmg, and fruit in autumn, and the more liberal the deposit, the more abun- dant the return. They were here met to- gether, consequently, in possession of a mass of knowledge in regard to the objects of the Association, so that the agriculturists present might aid them in the diffusion of knowledge. In selecting topics for discussion at these meetings, they looked at the character of the country, and inquired of practical men in the district, what topics were best suited for the purpose of affording useful informa- tion; and as the question of the use of pre- pared food for cattle was one of very gene- ral interest in this as well as in other parts of the country, it was to form the first sub- ject of this morning's conversation. The second subject, on the other hand, being one rather pastoral than agricultural, had a direct bearing upon questions of great interest to the farmers of Southerlandshire, and in other districts around Inverness, and in this re- spect was peculiarly appropriate. In refer- ence to the first question — the feeding of cattle — no district in the island was more interested than this. He could not tell them how much stock was shipped from In- verness last year, but he trusted Dr. Nicol, or some other gentleman, would be able to furnish them with information on the sub- ject. He believed, however, it was to a very large amount indeed ; and he had no doubt but it was increased since, by the greater facilities of communication with the London and other markets. As a cattle im- porting district therefore, the extension of sound information in regard to the economi- cal use of food, must be of the very greatest importance; that is, in what way they could grow the greatest amount of beef or mutton at the least possible expense. This he was prepared to show was to be effected by the use of certain mixed food, and prepared food. An individual going from one end of the country to another to observe the state of agriculture, will look not merely at the kind of stock, but he will more particularly ob- serve the implements of husbandry in use throughout the various districts. In order therefore, to form an estimate of the degree of attention paid to this matter of prepared food in England, on his visit to Newcastle, at the great cattle-show recently held there, he turned his attention particularly to the examination of the implements exhibited, having a bearing upon this point. Amongst these he found chaff-cutters, a peculiar ma- chine for crushing corn and other seeds, and other instruments; all showing how much regard was being paid to this subject by practical men. There was no doubt but that the subject of the quantity of food which cattle require to produce a certain weight of beef, was beginning to attract general attention ; but before he entered upon the few points which he meant to no- tice in connection with this question, per- haps it would be necessary to explain short- ly the general composition of food. In all 318 Best Mode of Feeding Cattle. Vol. XI. kinds of bread there were contained three different kinds of matter. First of all there was a certain quantity of fat, which the butter they ate represented ; secondly, there was a certain amount of sugar; and then there was besides, the third constituent, which was represented by the white of an egg. Now it was of the very greatest im- portance what description of food was used, and what proportion it contained of these three kinds of matter, as bearing upon the purpose it was intended to serve. Cattle had in their bodies different kinds of matter, also, but particularly flesh and fat; and the farmer should be sufficiently acquainted with the nature of food, to be able to distinguish what he should use when he wished to pro- duce fat, or when he wished to produce fat and lean both together; and the food which was given would effect the one or the other of these purposes, according to its composi- tion. The white of an egg or albumen would supply nothing, or nearly so, to the animal but muscle. The fat went directly to form fat. The starch in food kept the body warm, and when fat was wanted served the purpose of making the oily matter more readily be- come fat in the body of the animal. Now, in fattening cattle, as in everything else, using the proper means produced the proper effects; and after the explanation which he had given, they would see at once that a mixture of food was better than the use of one kind alone. If they wanted to lay on muscle, they would feed with food containing the largest amount of gluten ; and if they wanted to lay on the fat, they would give starch and oily substances, and only a small proportion of the other ingre- dient. Selecting food in any other way would not serve the purpose they had in view in the most economical way. He had a table representing the different proportions of fat in the food which they were in the habit of using; but he would illustrate what he had to say by a few simple illustrations. Wheat contained two per cent, of fat, and sometimes a little more; but oats contained sometimes from four to five per cent., or about double the amount which was to be found in wheat. Oats were next to Indian corn in this respect, the latter of which they were aware contained a large amount of fat. Gluten was the matter out of which the muscle was produced, and there was more of that substance in the bean or the pea, than in the oat ; but the oat was better than wheat. But there was another kind of food used for fattening cattle, namely, oil-cake, which contained a greater amount of fat than the same weight of any other kind of grain, Linseed, from which oil-cake is made, differed from other descriptions of grain, in containing a greater amount of fat, and a larger amount of gluten likewise, with the exception of the bean. Now, prac- tical men have derived great advantage from feeding their cattle on oil seeds ; that food, from the peculiarity of its composition, lay- ing on fat and muscle at the same time. Oil-cake, however, was the best food, only when the greatest amount of fat was re- quired; and according to the purpose which they had in view, farmers would give their cattle other descriptions of food. It was a remarkable circumstance, that the bean and pea contained very little fat, and as the wheels of the animal system required to be greased, these kinds of grain would not serve for that purpose, although they con- tained what made muscle. Although beans and peas were good food, therefore, they were not good as the sole food of animals. Besides, they would observe, that from their different constituents, plenty of oil seeds, and plenty of beans and peas, would be far more profitable than if they were to give either of them singly. That was the prin- ciple upon which the use of mixed food was founded — to give all the substances the ani- mal required, and to give them at the cheap- est rate; and the researches of the scientific man were directed to discovering the means by which these objects could be best accom- plished. He had selected oil seeds, but he might have taken potatoes or turnips for his illustration. He had taken the oil seeds, however, because very great attention had been recently directed to the value of those seeds in the feeding of stock, and to the culture of flax, which they knew was ad- vancing with great rapidity in the neigh- bouring country of Ireland, and which was even progressing in England at a great rate. He might mention a remarkable fact con- nected with the improvement of the flax cultivation in Ireland, that a society which was established for the encouragement of that cultivation, and which had its seat in Belfast, had an annual revenue of between £2,000 and £3,000; while the income of the Royal Agricultural Association of Ire- land was less than one-half of that sum. From the progress the cultivation of flax was making in Ireland, it was very deserv- ing of attention by those who thought a change in the rotation of crops would be useful in other parts of the country. The person who had most directed his attention, practically, to the effects of feeding stock with mixed food, and to feeding on linseed, was Mr. Warnes, of Frimlingham, Norfolk, and he (Professor J.) would point out to them the principles on which he proceeded ; No. 10. Best Mode of Feeding Cattle. 319 and they were sound scientific principles. He commenced by boiling the linseed in water until it formed a kind of jelly; then he stirred in a quantity of cut straw and chaff, and crushed corn. The mixture was then poured into moulds, and afterwards served to the cattle warm, which they liked remarkably well. With this tbod the cattle throve, and acquired beef in an extraordi- nary manner. By this system of feeding, Mr. Warnes said he could compete with any man, whether foreigner or not, as he could eend cattle to Smithfield for A^d. per lb., and pay him an ample return; and in illustration of this, he gives the results of two experi- ments, which he would read to the meeting, and which were as follows : Since he followed out box-feeding, he knew not a single instance where he had not realized £8 for every head of cattle he had kept for six months. At the farm where he now resided, he had reared for market the following cattle, after only six months' box-feeding : 7 Durham steers, cost £8 10*. each, sold for £19 10s. each, £77 0 0 6 Scotch steers cost £S 10s. each, sold for £22 10s. each, 84 0 0 1 Cow cost £5 5s. sold for £15, 9 15 0 4 Scotch steers cost £10 each, sold for £20 each, 40 0 6 £210 15 0 The above cattle were bought in and dis- posed of within six months. They consumed, with the following now in herd, nineteen acres of turnips, about fourteen quarters of linseed, and a few bushels of barley-meal, with several acres of pea-straw: 3 Durham heifers, estimated value above the cost price, £22 10 0 2 Irish steers, 13 0 0 5 Small steers and heifers, 30 0 0 3 Calves, and butter from two cows, 11 0 0 £76 10 0 Deduct for 14 quarters of lin- seed, mostly grown upon the farm, £35, also for barley, £4, 39 0 0 £37 10 0 In reference to Mr. Warnes's experiinents, too, it is to be observed that the value of the manure was very much increased in com- parison with that derived from the ordinary method of feeding. But, besides this, there was another method of feeding of which he would speak from personal observation, and which he had witnessed in the neighbour- hood of Northallerton. He went to that place because he had heard that Mr. Marsh- all was keeping double the amount of stock, with the same quantity of turnips, that he had been in the habit of doing only two years ago; the other food used being ground oats, barley, rye, and old beans, and chopped hay, instead of straw at times ; but the cat- tle did best with the straw. Hearing, as he had stated, that Mr. Marshall kept double the stock upon the same amount of turnips, by his system of feeding, he — Professor Johnston — was very anxious to see the mode of carrying his system into operation, and went down to Yorkshire for that purpose. There he saw about 200 head of cattle feed- ing, a portion of which was sold oft' every week, and their places supplied by others. What struck him as very remarkable, was the state of absolute rest in which he found the cattle. There was not a single beast upon its legs; no motion was observed, which, they were aware, was a circumstance favourable for fattening. In connection with this subject he got the following information, and in order that they might fully under- stand it, he would present it in a tabular form. It was as follows : Linseed, 2 lbs., boiled for three hours in four gallons of water; cut straw, 10 lbs.; growing corn, 5 lbs.; mixed with jelly. To be given in two messes, alternately with two feeds of Swedes. Now, the mode in which the linseed was boiled, was of consi- derable consequence. In the first place it was boiled for three hours. The jelly was then poured upon crushed grain and cut straw, much in the same manner in which a man made mortar, being mixed together with a shovel and allowed to stand for an hour. It was then stirred again, and after a lapse of two hours it was given to the cat- tle in a hot state, and the result was, that if the animals are fed regularly on this kind of food and turnips alternately, they remain in a state of extraordinary quiet. They be- come exceedingly fond of it, and commence bellowing whenever they hear their neigh- bours beuig served before themselves.. The practice was to give them a meal of the lin- seed mixture at six in the morning, turnips at ten, another mess of linseed in the after- noon, and turnips again in the evening. When he saw them first in the morning, it was after they had got their mess, and he was much astonished to see them, on visit- ing them on the second occasion, when they were all on the qui vive for their meal. Two things were to be observed in regard to this system of feeding — first, that it consisted, in addition to turnips, of a mixture of grain, straw and linseed in certain quantities, given 320 Anthracite Coal. Vol. XI. hot ; and the result was double the amount of stock kept on the same amount of land. The proportion of turnips which could be grown upon a farm, usually determined the amount of stock a man might keep; and if by an improvement in the system of feeding, the quantity of cattle could be doubled, by turning the money twice instead of once within a year, the farmer would obtain dou- ble the profit. But this was not the only advantage; he would double the manure which he made at the same time, which would contribute very much to the fertility of his land ; he being enabled, by the use of this linseed, to return more than he took out of it. The proportion of the food had other important consequences in regard to manur- ing the soil. The crushing of the grain and seeds, by reducing them to the minutest particles, made the substances of which they were composed more easily assimilated to the food of plants, and made it belter ma- nure, because of the extreme division which it had undergone. Now they would observe that, by having this large additional amount of manure, they would get larger crops, and introduce a system which woutd go on annu- ally increasing the amount of their produce, and consequently the amount of their profits. This would enable them to farm higher, and by farming high, they would keep that place which, he was sure, they now occupied in the history of the world. He would like- wise direct their attention to the use of lin- seed, and the preparation of food, as being of great value in keeping working animals in good condition; but on this point he would not detain them by giving a special detail of facts, as the same general principles applied in the one case which applied in the other. As he had occupied the attention of the meeting at considerable length, he would conclude for the present, reserving any addi- tional remarks which he had to make, and the replies to any questions which the com- pany might think he could usefully answer, until after the general discussion had ended. — American Journal of Agriculture and Science. Anthracite Coal. The following table shows the quantity of Anthracite Coal sent to market from the different regions in Pennsylvania, from the commencement of the trade in 1820 to 1846, inclusive; with the annual in- crease, consumption,