^s^i LIBRARY OF THE SPECIAL GUI ft ARCHIVES MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE No._l:i4______DAT..7_:./_^..?A so U RCE -Li>_tiiLfl.Ji.-|^-^-ct-^ c PER S 1 G4 THE GENESEE FARMER: A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE k HORTICULTURE, DOMESTIC AND RURAL ECONOMY. ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS OF FARM BUILDINGS, IMPLEMENTS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, FRUITS, FLOWERS, SHRUBS, &o. ESTA.BLISHED IN 1831. VOLUME XVIII., SECOND SERIES. -1857. ROCHESTER, K Y. : JOSEPH HAREIS, PUBLISHER AND PEOPRIETOR, AlfEBICAN BUILDING, BUFFALO STREET. 1857. ^v:yr V, -I INDEX TO VOLUME XVIII. AsrricaltTiral Fairs, benefit of,. .163, 181, 214 — jouinals, Frv'Ucli, . ^ » 63 '— papers, aud tUc duty of farmers to write for them, v 4S iiilliK-tice of, 8d, 119, 180 — quackery, ^ 2ul a fa!-iner's opinion of, v 246 — reiidiug, .^^.'^ u... 47, 7-6 — Society, Fair of the Roval, 267 N. V. State, J\ir of the, 333 '-^ Winter Meeting, 97 United Strtttss, 3-t, 66, 322 Agriculture, a few thoughts on, , 3t>9 — a glance at Virginia, -v.- 241 — facts in, ^^ 17 — have we made auy progress in, du- riri'.' tlie present year r^-v ^-.. 361 — in Virjrinia, v.. 340 — in Western N. Y., a"? described by an intelligent Scotch farmer, w....^»- 342 ^- its ad vantages, 20 — Ohio State^Board of,...v 35 Ammonia In green-houses, 251 Amusements, Western, 225 Anecdote. Bake^velVs, 279 Angle wortKs, to kill, 3:^3 Animals in winter, ..'., 374 — look to your, , 25 — rules in" fattening, ^, 369 — teaching, , .. 247 Apple, pink-fieshed,..^ -.. 131 — the Ortley, 318 — tree borer and bark-louse, 160 caterpillar, 162, 265 — worm, a new, , 61 — trees 139 dwarf, 133, 139 re-grafting old, 58, 75 Apples, baked, sweet, 16 — cultivation of, , 155 — lime barrels for preserving, ..., ,. 221 -^ peaches, plum and otherfruit, drying, 89 Aibor Yites of the, 372 — ilistemper, 68, 78 — Fh ing.Mo.rgan.. 120 — G- jiLTiaGifford, Jr., 304 — .Ja>tin Morgan, 23 — power, American, in England, 259 — Kii-hardson on the, 15 — wiM, how to bind,... 249 ■Hoises:, blond, 75 .— bois or belly-ache in, 78 i — : coUc in, , 78 I— cyvij; .Ion powders for, 53 .— diu-'wii;:, 49, 75 -Fjvive/i, IS — m:iua;:ement of, 80 — o;-aldV-.r.t for galls on, 374 — or : .S;.;e in farm labor, ■ 150 — Uuiinent for bruises on, 78 — ].. .. -ylUn, — !■■::■ '■.:e3 on, , — F. ;. lialtin, 119 78 4:5 — -.: i -Mr,..; 1)9 — V ,. . m.iuageraent of, 364 Hor.li.u.t. iral Exhibitions, women on committees at, 289 Horticultural operations for Jaauarj', . . 28 February, 59 Starch, 05 April, 124 May, - 159 June, 188 July, 221 August, 251 September, 283 October 319 November, 349 December, 376 Horticulture in Oregon, 192 Horticulturists, rjuestions for, 60, 75 Hot-beds, .'. --- 382 — management of, 124 House, farm-,.. 1^1 Hoven in cattle, 226 Influence, home, - 225 — the wife's, 2-25 Inquiries and Answers, 37, 67, 101, 133, 166 ■ 196, 229, 260. 292, S24, 356, S81 Items suggested by the December No.,. 35 Janu.Hry No., 43 February No., — 75 March No., 109 April No., 138 ■ Jlay No., 171 June No., 205 July No., 238 August No., 289 September No., 299* October No., ...., 335 November No., 365 Kane, Dr., death c^ 109 Labor, price of in England and Ameiica, 130 Lady equestrianism, 142, 156, 157, 245 Land, be.st method of seeding it to tim- othy and herd's grass, 305 — bow nature imparts fertility to, 236 — the tiller of his own, 25 Land.s, working, in the fall, 259 Landscape gardening, specimen of American. 28 Letters from the South-west, 139 Lice on anything, to kill, 105 Lima beans, 75 a plea for, 76 Lime on beans, 79 Linden, European, 93 Location, as it affects temperature and vegetation, 282 Locust seed, sowing, 133 — tree, yellow, 27 — trees from seed, 15 Machine, how it may be easier for it to work than to do nothing, 279 M.ad itch in cattle, 101 Mangel wurzel, cultivation of, 113 sowing in the fall, 195 Manure, appljing and leaving upon the surface, 243 — artificial, frauds in,... 74, 109 — barn-yard, 9, 43 management of, --I'i", 171, 181 — drawing out, 73 — heaps, muriatic acid in, 130 — leached ashes as a, 149, 171 — lime .as a, 87, 131, 272 — other than barn-yard, most economi- cal mode of obtaining, 1-17 — Peruvian guano as a, 184 — plowing in green corn for, 3113 — salt as a, 150 — shade as a, 43 — still and still slop, 17 — swampmuck as a, 181 — question, the, 301 — unleached ashes as a, 149, 183 — value of, for potatoes, 183 Manures, concentrated and guano, 110 — liquid 130 — speci.ai, 221 Marl, hi.story of, as a fertilizer, 79 Marsh and its products, 45, 75 May-beetle, the, 239 Meadowsi, clean, 247 .Meat, consumption of, 65 — hjw much corn or hay is required to produce a pound of, 271 — to make it fresh and sweet, 54 Melons, growing, 162 Mice and fruit trees, 30 — to prevent girdling by, 28 Milking, should ladies do the, 90-, 109, 20?' 276 — wh«> should do the, 164 Millet, cultivation of, 18.5 Monroe County Farmers' Club,., 36- M<>sse.% 251 Mowing machines, economy ot, 227 Mulching, _ ..- 21^ Mushroom culture,... — 3iO National we.alth, , 333 Newspaper statistics, fallacy of, 260 Notes for t.!ie month, bv S. W., 17, 53, 7* 109, 139, 171, 206, 238j 270, 299, S36, 3S6 — liomljidiana, 230 Minnesota, 278 Oats, cBlfkation of, 107, 138, 145- Onions, cultivation of, 84, 182, 320 — hen »>.iaure for, J.. — 1S& — raising, ^, , 4!> — to raise large, 192 Orchard grass, 1 32' Orchards, improving old apple, 26* — location of, — 9*5 — planting, — 377' Ornamental tree, the h^rse chesiuuta.s arr, . 22»' Osage orange seed, — 331 Owls, spare the, '92' — to catch, - 101 Paint, cheap,. „ _ l^"' Parsley, to dry. fur winter use, 378 Parsneps as a field crop, -- 171 — sowing in the fall, HC' Patent Office P*port, - - 4-3 Peas, Japan, 20, 140, 260- Peach, cultivation of the,. ..154, 162 — trees, gum in, 382 the result of care in setting out,. 377 Peaches, — 27 — raising in Massachusetts, 351 Pear roots, l-?ngth of — Correction, 347 — ruht, and cracking of the,.. 61 Pears, dwarf, cultivation of, 121 — grafting on white thorn, 287 — select, on quince stock?,.. 57 Peas, be.st soil for, 128 — cul'ivation of, 31, 154, 163, 184 — forw.arding early, 95 — should be sown early, 161 — to kill bugs in,.. 117 Petunias, a Mst of good,. 192 Pigeons, domestic, 337 Pigs, Cheslsr White,... _ 131 Pig-sty, convenient, 270 Planting early, 140 — prepare for, next spring, 347 — summer and autumn, 253 Plants, protecting, from cold, 375 — starting, earl^, 192' Plaster for clover, 109 Correction, 76' — sowing, 74 Plowing, 74 — and harrowing land, 78 — deep, 180 — fall and spring, 16, iS to kill Canada thistles, 131 — for spring wheat, 47 — objects of, 115 — subsoil, 153i 171 — without headlands, 184 Plums, American 352 — and the curcuUo 171 — cultivation of,. 155, 162 Poll evil, 18S Potato disease, 67 — rot, 322' — substitute for the, 21 Potatoes, ...75, 1C9, 270 — cultivation of, 46, 79, 83, 114, 183 iu Iowa, 140 in Ohio, 178 in Washington Territory, 131 without hand-hoe, 47 — digging and preservmg,. 278 — large and small, 15 yield of, 21 — mulching, with strav,', 15 — on clover sod . 4G — planting, in the fall, 99, 195 — sprouting, 195 Poultry, feed for, 44 — house, Browne's, 208 Prairie fam5, management of, 84, 1-il, 179 [ — hay and white hutter, 233' INDEX TO VOLUME XVIII. Prairies, broaking up, 10, 276, 302 Premiums Tor short essays, 35, 75, 3.">5 Pricus, hiifh, 17 PrOi^ross, a mark of, 64 Pumpkins, 30-t Puritan, Devou bull, 54 Raspberry beds, 95 Kaspbernes, ever-bearing, 32 — tliree good, 348 Rat-trap, 100 Rats and mice, 15, 43 to destroy, 66 — mice and other vermin, to destroy, 85, 100 — to get rid of, 101 Receipts, original domestic, G3, 123, 22(3, 257 189,321,353, 379 Red spider in green-houses, 67 Rennet, to prepare, 3t)5 Residence in the country or city, 258 Rhubarb, I.: 95 Roads, reflections on poor, 272 Root crops, cultivation of, 143 Rose-bugs, sulphur to kill, 192, 222, 290 Roses, a small collection of first-rate,.. 32 Rotation, a proposed, 172 — best system of, 150 Runil Annual, the value of the, 376 — New Yorker, ..194, 258 Ruta bagas and turnips, cultivation of,. 169 Rye, cultivation of, 145 Sawing wood, machine for, 68 Season comparative backwardness of the, 287 Seed, soakin?, 65 Seeding, thick and thin, 323 Shade trees, 252 six good, 230 Sheep, a profitable Hock of, 14, 78 — cost of raising and keeping, and pro- ducing wool, 14 — good, the most profitable, 300 — keeping, on good land, 244 — management of, 80, 113, 119, 120 and breeding of, 374 — profits of, 43 — racks for feeding, 19, 50, 61, 368 — Saxony, 139 — scab in, remedy for, 13 — watering in winter, 365 — 'Wool grows in winter, 114, 139 Short horn bull llajter Butterfly, 131 Shrubs, leguminous, 32 Skunk, 230 Sma* fruits, cultivation of, 155 Soil, advantages of stirring the, 153, 173, 195 — analyses, jiractical utility of, 265, 331 — Ciirbonic acid in the, 322 — how Cfin we most economically in- crease the fertility of the, 297 — quality of, 16 — study the mecbaniciil iiualities of the, 298 Sorghum ...17, 53, 269, 270 South-down ram, great pi ice for a, 290 Sowing and reaping, (poetry,) 120 SpirKa Callosii, 283 Spring work, hints on, 73, 109 Stable, a cheap and commodious, 207 Steers, good two-year old, 180 Stock, care of, in winter, 51 — great sale of imported, 291 — lean, impolicy of selling olf, . 206 ^ on the management of young, 302 and working o.\en, 146 Strawberry plant, its insects, 223 — plants, set out this month, 288 Strawberries, 05 — annual notes on, ., 223 ^ cultivation of, 287 — notes on, 286 Strijicd bug, charcoal a cure for the, 260 Sugar cane, planting, instead of seed,.. 341 Chinese, chrystalized sugar from the, 337 Sulphur to kill rose-bugs, 142, 222, 290 Summer and autumn planting, 253 Swamp muck as a fertilizer, 181 Sweene}', cure for, 182 Swine, management of, 80, 109. 114 TarilT, reduction of, 110 Ta.ste and thrift in Iowa, 273, 353 Thoughts suggested by the May No.,.. 174 Tobacco, on the cultivation and man- agement of, 307 Tomato vines or small shrubbery, racks for, 132 Tomatoes among corn, 238 Tools, take care of, fodder, &c., 3^2 Tree, big, of California, 61 Trees, packing, 382 — planting, on prairies, 192 — pruning, . 3S2 Turnips, 2<50 — among corn, ■. 238, 2T4 — an'1 carrots, 304 — cultivation of, 215 Turnip fly, .195, 196 Underdraining, 68, 151, 301 — clay land, 322 Vegetables, hardy garden, 95 — transplanting, 123 Violet and ita varieties, the, 29 Water, hard, 133 Wax, 259 Weather mid crops in Indiana, 100 of 1857, 368 fuel, 63 Weeds, best means of destroying, 86, 109 119, 131 — how to make grass take the place of, 270 — why they grow apace, 288 West, a lady's opinion of the, 193 Western amusements, 225 — lands, buying, 116, 139 — N. Y. Fruit Growers' Aas'n, annual meeting of, 55 Wlieat, barley and oats, great fecun- dity of, 22 — crop in Indiana, 260 — drilling in, 270, ^78 — eating off, in spring, 118 — Egyptian, 260 — experiments in sowing different va- rieties, 52 — great fecundity of, 275 — growing in Western N. Y., 41, 75 shall we have to aban- don, 76 — in Michigan, 132 — laying out lands for, 132 — midge, average injury from, 116 destroyed by a rain storm, 132 — seed, to clean chess out of, 104 — sowing, after barley, 165 harrowing and rolling, 73 — spring, IIS cultivation of, 107, 144 in Kentucky, 165 — to clean cockle out of, 247 — — prevent smut in, 120 — Turkish Flint, 15 — what shall we raise in place of, 249 — winter, 109i cultivation of, 81, 233, 243, 383 Willow, the, 352: Windows, bay, 100 Winter, the,"... 110 — evenings, how shall we spend them ? 321 — in Iowa, 100 Wire- worms, buckwheat to kill, 278 Woman, influence of, ... 33 Woodland, management of, 147 Wool, that twenty-three pound fleece,. 270 Yellow dock, 271 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. W' DOMESTIC ANIMALS. S, Bull, Short-horn, "Don," 217 — Devon, "Puritan," 64 Cow, Shorthorn, "Adelaide," 185 Goat. Female Ca-shmere, 25 Heads of the Alderney cattle, 330 Ayrshire cattle, 329 Galloway cattle, ,. 329 Hereford cattle S31 Long-horn cattle, 330 North Devon cattle, 331 Short-horn cattle, 331 West Highland cattle, 329 Horse, -Arabian, outline of head, 21 — Morgan, "Gen. Gifford, Jr ," 304 "Flying Morgan," 120 " Paul CUffoid," 24 Black Bantam cock and hen, 345 Dominique cock, 344 wDwarf pear tree, Dorking cock and hen, 344 ' ~ Game cock and hen, 345. Silver-penciled Hamburgh cock and hen, 345 Gold-penciled cock and hen, 345 Heads of Spanish fowls, 344 Polisli top-knotcock and hen, 344 White Bantam cock and hen, 345 FARM AXD OTnER BUILDINGS. Cottage residence of W. H. Aspinwall,. 28 Farmhouses, wood, -421, 216 — hou„2, brick, 248 Haves' farm, Devonshire, 346 Plan of a pig- sty. 270 oullry-house, Browne's, with plans and cross section, . -280, 281 ^able, cheap and convenient, 207 PLANTS AND TREES. Arbor Vita, American, 187 Siberian, .. .. 187 Big tree of California, 62 Cineraria, the, 29 - - _ . 67 Eugenia Ugni, 30 Plorse chestnut, scarlet-flowered, 220 Laburnum, the, 32 Linden, European, 94 SpiKea Callosa, 283 MISCELLANEOUS. Apple, the Ortley, 319 Barley, seven diilerent varieties,. ..106, 106 Curculio, appearance of a plum when stung by the, 218 — four cuts representing the dilTerent transformations of the, 218 Drill-rake, 123 Group of domestic pigeons, 338 Instrument for laying out curves, 60 Moth of the cut-worm, 252 Rack for feeding sheep, 368 Raspberries, Brinkle's Orange, 348 — Fa.stolir, 348 — Hudson River Antwerp, 318 Red spider, natural size and magnified,. 67 Ruta bagas, three different kinds, 169 Settlement in the wilderness,^ com- mencing a, S70 — first summer at the, 371 subsequentj improvements at the, r 2 Tomato rack, and vine as it appears when first planted ..' 188 as it appears when fully grown, 189 Transplanters, 123 Wheat, six different yarieties, 233. INDEX TO CORRESPONDENTS. A.S.B., 19,339 A.H., 19,132 Ahvay W, 35 Adams, J. C, 50, 51, 110, 111, 133, 181, 23i), ' ' ' ' ' ' 276, A Lorer of good fruits, (JO An Old Subscriber, 61 A Farmer, 63, IGt A.G.H., 6" A. F., 1&3, 1^-^ Amateur, 191, 25( A Subscriber, 101, 166, 19'. A Lover of flowers, 19- A Farmer's Wife,. . . .162, lS-1, 193, 208, 221. A. E. B., ...195 Agricola, 211, 277, 2s5 A Mother, 89, 225 A.D., 324 A Country Invalid, ..128, 223, 252, 285, 349 Allen Joseph, SI A. W., 112 A Constant Reader, 131 AnnH., 156 A. J. P., 166 A. J.C.,... 174 A. E. F., 250, 2S9 Allfiither, Henry, 261 A.M., 276 A. J. N., 292 A Young Farmer, 18, 50, 166 Anthony, J. II., 85 Bartlett, Levi, ... 15 B. Niag. Co., N. Y., 16, 43, 75, 109, 116, 138, 161, 171, 205, 23'^, 269, 299, 365 Bement, C. N., 20, 44, 128, 190, 271, 338 B. F., 23, 46, 115, 242, 254 Brunner, H. J., 65 Blakslee, N. J., 68 Britten, M. R., 81 Buijdy , E. O., 99 B., Sandy Lake, 117 Boas, J. N., 118,292 Bently, S. II., 13^ Batr, O. L 183, 256, 324 Bartlett, B. F., 133, 376 Beman, J. E., 144 B., Rochester, N. Y., 155 B. R 261 Bracket!, 0 .274, 275, 302, 840, 3.52 Burroughs, John L., 272 B. 367 Burnes, H. S., 374 :eissell, C. P., 378 Crockett, 27 Cleinent, Isaac, 27 Cooly, Solon, So, 115 Collier. V. L.,jr., 101 aiambejlain, J. D., 114, 119, 163 Chute, Aodrew, US, 120 Clement, J. B 144 Collins, Mrs. C. H., 158 C. A. F., ; 166 Caldwell, Joseph, 2.54 Coryell, A. D., 292 Chapin.W.N., ,,. \ ;341 .Conslalino, 2<)'2 .C. F., 273 C.H.H., 331 D., Gates, N.Y.,15, 25, 28, 1i9, 16'2, ISS, 187, ■■ ■ 192, 198, 207, 208, 246, 255, 260, 262, 278, 303, 367, 369 D.F.K 2s Davison, &., , . . . S3 r>. !c,. 101 Delany, H. F., 131 Denroche, H. R., 261 Decker, B., 165 D. S., 1T4, 207, 869 Elliott, W. U., 67 E. A.B., 90 E. A. H., 91 E.L., 101 E. S...... 132 E. A. T., 1 65, 247 Edwards, D., 261 Smmons, W., 882 Fairbanks, L., 28 Ftnner, B., 4T Fl A. G 49 Francis, Richard, 49, 51, 165 Ford, ChUian, 50,61 F.E 118 Forsyth, W. A.............. 130 Franklin, S. N., 133,823 Fitch, Prof. Asa, 239 Fisk, Miss Addie E., 313 Gardner, W . U., 14 G, TS,114 (Jarnsey, W., 151, l74 G. A. F 229 Given, S. K., 261 t aven, .J. A., 262 rarratt, "\V. B., 303 iarnsey, M., 306, 3'JS i. A. G., 324 }.G., 131 (}. R., 230 Goldsmith, W. T., 31,32,125, 192 Hilton, H 3^ lIou.sl)trger, D. C, 67 n. E. 11 59,96, 154,25(1,2.53,375 Hay ward, E. S., 83,111,144 Hubert, 88, 113, 152, 247, 254 H.M.D., 89 Howe, C. N., 101, tt6 ILJ., 101 H. H. M., 129, 163 Hall, E., 140 Hoy t, A. L., 144 Houghton, Joel, 147, 27-'. llecox, H., 151 Hamilton, J. II 166 Hodges, E., 177, 278, 301 , 313 Hildreth, C. E., 261 H., 262 H. C, 840,341 H. B. S., 878 I. P. I., 261 J.B.B., 38 J. K., 37 Johnston, John, 46, 76, 180, 213, 244, 247, 3R9 Ju veuis, 77 J. P 101, 163 J.S., 19 J.L 129 J. W., 133 J. W. A. K., 133 J, E. B., 161 J, H. B., 173,351 J. B 229, 261 J. F. F., 207,248 J. E. B., 276 Jira, 3ii0 J. IL, 301 J. F., 801, 324, 325 J L. K 3('5 J. C. Mrs., 162 J.B., ,,, 381 Knox, D., 48 Knowles, R. D., 249 Lee, Joseph, SO, ISn Lee, Prof. Daniel,. . . .109, 2.38, 265, 332, 337 Leathcrscich, David, 113 L.,..., ., 128,150 Lc wis, L., .* 1 33 Lyman G C, 155, 277, 369 Lav. F. W 176 Livingston, W., 2.59,261 Lowe, John, 260 Lothrop. D. W., 313, .951 Loring, G., 369 L.C.S 276 La Fontaine, A, 382 Miilcr, J. L., 21, 133 M.L. J 27 M. S. B 33, 66, 142, 192 McPhersoii, John, 37 Mullins, A. G., 81 Martin, Horatio, 84 M.G., 88 Meeker, L. A., 183 Mitchell, 8., 141 McCreery, W. H., 158, 811 Maria, 157 M. W., 161 Mary, , 161 Mitchell, Wm. D.,. 179, 356 McVean, John, 243 McVean, John C, 808 M. D., 310 M. A. C, 38 M. T., 879 M. S., 882 N. N„, 278 N. C, 241 N., ;812 Nichols, D. A. A 51, 80, 178 Order, «f P. M., 31 P. B., 47 P. P., 86 Pvriis, ffl Penn., 117 Perk ins, J., 1 17, 1 Id Palmer, Charles, 118, 229 Purrinton, D., 141 P.C.R., 174 Powers, Stephen, 176, 292 P 2« Prince, William R., 2S3 Parry, John, 262 Peck, S. B., 812 P. A. 8., 320 Parks, M. L., 87T Pv., 15 R. B. S., 21,-32 R.D., ^ R. W. S., 53, 111 Ruby, J. S., 67 Reno, William, 101, 153 Reynolds, P. C, 156, 368 Ruble. W 127 ^ Rockwell, Charles, 183 Randall, Isaac, 146, 149, 261 R.F 166 Klcliardson, M. A 260 R. S , 856, 882 R. G., 261,858 Sm ilh, A. L., 13, 14, 30 S. W., 16, 17, 53, 75, 109, 139, 172, 206, 2.?"6, 238, 270, 299, 86« Salter, Josiah. 28, 60, 85, 95, 124, 133, 1.59, 188, 221, 222. 251, 283, 319, 335, S4U, 376 Sanders, Edgar, ' -^ Senior, 4S 8 61,2§3 Selden, Henry M., 68 Slark, Elijah, lOO Stevens, A ., 116 Sanfield, John, 117, 192, 247, 249, 3o4, 341, 842, 852 S.S.B., 117 S.K.G., 119 Sawyer, W. A., .- 1T9 Sargeant, S. S 133 Street, David, 150, 153, 306,^14 • Starkey, Horace, 165 S. K., 2-29 S. A. W., iS6 S. L., 260 S.G., 271 Smith, Hiram 0. , 274 Sampson, J. G., 142, 149, 155, 175, 183, 215 S. F. T., 868 Spectator, 377 Tunison, G. B,, IS Titus, Alex., 67,8(18 Tavlor, J. C 78 Taylor, H. H., 86,116, 145, 154, 184,195, 206, 209, 218 Tanner, Myron E., 114, 162 T., 177 T. G. S., 279 T. G., 292 Tallman, John L., 323 Thomas, Elijah 260,-340 Thomas, J. J., 347 T. S. T., 138 Terrill, C 882 Temple, A 882 ITncleSam, '. 248 Vinton, James, 892 Viola 821,358 Van Horn, D., 165 Wood, D. 8., 90 W. H. M., 114,246 W. L. B., 115,117, 176 Wilder, Marshall P., 34 W...... 51, 79, 87,174, 247 White, H.B., 68,131 Williams, P. E., 134 Wilson, C. C, 146, 176, 275, 278, 305 W. F. R., 230 W. L., 230 W. D. M., 807 W. 8., 308 W. L. M., 325 ♦Virginia, 87,® *..,:;, 58,147^}^ ■^ -v^ia 'yi.-^- Vol. XVIII, Second Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., JANUARY, ISf)?. No. 1. BAEN-YARD MAIIURE. "" When a plant is burned, the four organic elements, oxyge", hydrogen, nitr. 'gen, and carbon are driven off into the air, while the ten inorganic elements are left as ashes. Consumption by an animal has been fre- ([uently compared to this burning process, and to a certain extent the analogy holds true. It has been supposed, by some at least, that the organic elements of the food passed into the atmosphere in the form of breath, perspiration, &c., while the inorganic, or a.shes, were voided in the solid excrements. This, however, is true only in part, and gives but a faint idea of the actual process of nutrition. It is true that one half the organic matter of the food is given off by respi- ration, &c., but it is not an integral half None of the nitrogen of the food is e.xhaled in the breath, or given off through the pores of the skin. It is only the digestible hydrogen and carbon of the food which are burned in the lungs and thrown off from the body in the form of vratcr and carbonic acid. The greater part of the nitrogen of the food is found in the urine, •while the undiirested carbon compounds, (woody fibre. &c.,) are voided, in conjunction with the inorganic dements, in the dung. Leaving out of the question mechanical action, the composition of the food afTords a true criterion of tlie composition and value of the manure. If clover plowed in would be good manure, clover passed through the body of an animal would be equally good; if straw plowed in is of little value, manure made by animals eating nothing but straw will be no better. Hog and hor^e manures are known to be of more value than cow and sheep manures. They are so because hogs and horses live on richer food, and or no other reason. A cow or a sheep would make is good manure as hogs or horses if both were fed on .he same food and other things were equal. It is important to ascertain, therefore, what foods make the richest raonure. There are many conflict- ing opinions on this point, which our space will not allow us to examine. We believe that the valve of manure tvill be in ■proportion to the amount of nitro- gen the food contains. There cannot be a rational doubt on this point It is well known that clover is cf more value as manure than straw; this is because clover contains more nitrogen than straw. Practical farmers know that manure made by animals eating oil cake and peas is worth more than that made by animals eating nothing but turnips or hay, and this is because oil cake and peas contain such a large quan- tity of nitrogeii. Blood, woolen rags, horn shavings, leather, hair and the carcasses of animals, arc all known to be the best of fertili^cers. They are so, simply because they contain such a large amount of nitrogen. In fact, we know of no substance contaiu- ing much nitrogen, but what practical farmers con- sider, without knowing why, of great value as manui-e. The value of Per-ivian guuno is always estimated by the quantity of nitrogen it contains. The more in- telligent dealers, before purchasing, always have the per centage of nitrogen determined in various cargoes, and buy that which contains the most. On this point' the late Prof. Norton says that during his stay in P^dinbur^h, samples from more than 500 cargoes ot guano were analyzed in the labratory of Prof Johx- STON, and were sold by his analyses, fluctuating ia price as they indicate" more or less nitrogen. " Had there been any mistaive," he justly observes, "in thia method of estimating value, experience would soon have detected it." As nitrogen is such an important element of fertil- ity, we may be justified in giving some account of its action and characteristics. In its elementary state, it i^ always a ga,s. It forms 78 per cent, of atmos- pheric air, acting simply as a dilutent to oxygen. It is inhaled and respired from the lungs without the least change, and is not taken up by plants in its ele- mentary state. M. ViLi.E, indeed has published the results of careful experiments which indicate that plants have the power of taking up nitrogen,, but the bulk of the evidence on this point is against him. It is an indispensable ingredient in all animal and vege- table life. Nothing that possesses organization or vitality, whether animal or vegetable, can be formed without it. As plants or animals cannot take their nitrogen as such, fiom earth or air, it follows that it must undergo some chemical change previous to its entrance into organic life. This change is the conversion of unor- ganized nitrogen into ammonia. This takes place under certain well known circumstances, but the op- eration is so slow and so limited, that it must have taken indefinite ages to form all the ammonia and products resulting from it at pref«nt existing on the earth — unless ammonia was created as such. But, whether this was or was not the case, is of little im- portance. We kno(v that nitrogen is organized, and that by the decay of all o vanic bodies their nitrogen is converted into ammonia — and that this ammonia is taken up by plants and again becomes organized nitrogen. Ammonia is always formed by the nltimate decay or combustion of a nitrogenous substance, 14 pounds 10 THE GENESEE FARMER. of nitrogen uniting with 3 pounds of hydrogen, to form 17 pounds of ammonia. It is a gas much lighter than the air, and rapidly evaporates when exposed in a free state. It is an alkali similar in many respects to potash and soda, forming fixed salts with all the mineral and with most of the organic acids, and has a very strong affinity for them. It is rapidly absorbed by water, for which it has a great affinity, though no combination takes place. As formed from decaying substances it always unites with carbonic acid, form- ino- the volatile salt, carbonate of ammonia. It is this salt which all have observed on entering an ill ventilated stable after it has been closed for some time. It is what ladies sometimes endeavor to keep themselves awake with in church, stimulating the Bostrils when there is little in the sermon to stimulate the brain. If you doubt that the nice clean harts- horn you have purchased of the druggist is the same as that given off from all decaying animal and vege- table substances, get a little moist guano, urine, blood, or any other animal matter, and mix it \vith ashes or lime, allowing it to stand a short time in a covered vessel, and then see if you can detect the least differ- ence in the smell of the two gases — the one purchased In the city, and the one of domestic manufacture. Carbonate of ammonia contains all the four or- ganic elements which compose such a large propor- tion (generally from 90 to 98 per cent.) of all animal and vegetable substances; and it is in this shape that nitrogen is taken 'ip by the plant and and organized into food for animals. This is a strong argument, though we possess a still stronger one, for making and saving as much ammonia on the firm as possible. "We know of no modern agricultural improvement, which experience has confirmed as giving larger crops, but what directly or indirectly, brings more ammonia on to the farm or renders that already there more avail- able as food for plants. As an aid to the farmer who desires to improve Lis manure heap, we have made up from various reliable sources, the following table, showing the per centage of nitrogen, &c., in various substances used as food and as manure. It is worthy the most careful study and consideration: Water Dry Matter iSilrogea in niiiu- rid fhite I^ilrugen in dnj mnlLer Barley straw,... 11.0 S9.U u 2.3 0.2b Oat do 21.0 79 0 0.28 0.36 Eye <1o 14.0 86 0 0.-30 0.35 Wheat do 18.0 82 0 0 a3 0 40 Buckwheat do 11.6 8S.4 0.48 0.54 English meadow hay, 110 89 0 1.15 128 Red clover hay, 12.7 87.3 1 S3 2.10 Pea straw, 8 5 94.5 1.79 1.95 Carrots, 87.6 12 4 0.30 2 40 Potatoes, 74.0 26 0 0.39 1.43 Mangel wurzel, 87.0 13 0 0.29 2.i7 Rutabaga, 88 6 11.4 0.21 1.87 Barley,... 16.0 84.0 1.60 1.93 Malt, 70 93.0 160 1.72 Wheat, 16.0 84.0 1.80 2.14 OatV 16 0 84.0 2M0 2.3S Indian corn, 180 82.0 1.64 2.(10 Malt-dust, 7.0 93.0 4.00 4.n8 Malt-grains, 6.0 94.0 4.51 4.90 Linseed, 12 0 88.0 3.76 4.26 Beans, peas or tares, 16.0 84 0 4.00 4.76 American oil cake, 11.8 88 4 5.04 6.71 Hair, feathers, leather, woolen rags, horn sliarings, dry blood, dly flesh, and fish, from 15 to 17 per cent, of nitrogen. It will be seen that the straw of barley is the poor- est, and that of wheat the richest of all cereals. Pea Btraw is worth five times as much as wheat straw for manure. Clover hay is worth nearly as much again as English meadow hay. We have no analyses of corn stalks that are satisfactory, and therefore have not given them in the table. The analyses which we have, indicate that the dry stalk contains about 1.2 per cent, of nitrogen, and the dry leaves 2 J per cent, showing them to be of high comparative value. Of the gramineous grains, barley is the poorest in nitro- gen, Indian com a little better, and oats the richest. Flux seed contains a large per centage, peas and beans still higher, and oil cake the highest of all vegetable substances used for food. Hair, feathers, &c., are most valuable fertilizers, equal in nitrogen to the very best Peruvian guano, and much better than wh:it is often sold as such for $60 per ton. They would be quite equal to good Peruvian guano, but that their nitrogen is in a far less available condition. In making and preserving barn-yard manure, then, the primary object should be to get as much ammo- nia as possible; and, as we have before stated, the composition of the food is the true index to the com- position of the manure. The more nitrogen the food contains, the more ammonia, or compounds which will ultimately form ammonia, will the jnamjve eon- tain; and therefore, other things beinj equal, the more profitable will it be for feeding purposes; for in all countries having ea,^y access to the great markets of the world, no farmer can afford to feed cattle unless the manure be accounted of some value. The first object of the farmer i i making manure, will be to give his animals those kinds of food which, otlier thing.5 being equal, contain the most nitrogen. The next most important point is, how to treat tiie manure so as to retain all the valuable elements it contains, and at the same time reduce its bulk as much as possible by fermentation. The last coasid- eration is seldom mentioned by theoretical writers, but it must not be forgotten. It is intimately con- nected with the expense and profit attending the ap- plication of manure. If, as we assert, the carbon of the manure is of litile value on a wheat farm, and its wati'r of no value; and if carbon and water compose four- fifths of all unfermeated barn-yard manure, as we knov/ ihf^y do, ii cannot but be to our advantage to reduce their quantity, if it can be done without loss to the valuable portions of the manure. The most valuable part of the excrements of ani- mals is the liquid. More lo.^s is sustained by allow- ing this to run to v/aste than in any other one thing. Rapid fermentation in a loose heap is another source of loss. Allowing the eaves water to run on and leach out the soluble portion of the manure is another common mal-practice. These three evils every one familiar with agriculture must have observed. The loss to each individual farmer by such mismanage- ment is great, and viewed as a national question, is most appalling. The direct loss to the farmers them- selves, in the aggregate, is immense; while the indirect loss to the country is positively inestimable. To pre vent this loss, we must in the first place, save the liquid excrements. This is a problem which ha.s puz- zled the most scientific farmers of the age. The dif- ficulty is much greater in England, where turnips, containing 90 per cent, of water, are used for stall feeding, than with us. Here, if the buildings are all spouted, the greater part of the liquid of the animals and the rain falling on the surface of the yard may be absorbed in the course of the year. To do thia, the bottom of the yard should be covered with diy peat, muck, saw-dust, waste straw, potato vines and numerous other absorbent substances which can be THE GENESEE FARMER n found on most farms, and which, valueless in tliem selves, can thus be niado into enrichiii;;- fertilizers. The bottom of the yard should gently slope to one point where a tank must be built. In this, the su- perabundant liquid of the rainy season can be pre- served, and pumped buck ou to the heap when it needs it In the second place, we must keep up a gradual and slow fermentation, keepin.ijf the heap as near as possible at a temperature of 90° to 100'^. If horse or sheep manure, be thrown up loosel}', so that there is a free admission of air and moisture, rapid and most injurious decomposition takes place, with evolu- tion of carbonate of ammonia and water. This burn- ing process (for it is nothing less than a slow process of actual conihustioH) may be allowed to go on till the heap is reduced to a comparatively worthless maoS of humus and ashes. Ou the other hand, if hog and cow manure be thrown into a solid heap, little or no fermentation will take place, and the mass will remain in a raw state, unsuitable for direct applica- tion to rapid growing plants. The first object of the farmer, therefore, should be to mix these several ma- nures together, so that the horse and sheep manure shall act as a ferment, and induce the desired decom- position in the hog and cow manure. In this way they will be beneficial to each other, and the heap by spring will be in good condition for direct application to corn, potatoes, Sheep do not like to lie on a fermenting manure heap. They should, if possible, have a separate yard to run in at night, and the ma n-s which can bo taken off at pleasure. Such a one aa is represented in the annexed cut. Then when you clean out your stables, do not throw the litter close to the entrance, where it will lie in a loose heap, and spoil by rapid fermentation, but get your new wheel- barrow and take the litter to a distant part of the yard where it will be mixed with the litter of the pig pens, cov/hjuse and sheep fold. The advantages of guch a mixture we have already explained. Tho system of managing manure here imperfectly fetched is adapted ratiier to a wheat growiug section, and for farms where a large quantity of straw is raised, and which is all used on the farm, than to the New England States, where scarcely enough straw is produced for bedding, even when the most rigid econ omy is practised. We have no great love for manure cellars, but where straw is scarce and muck plentiful, they have some advantages. In them, as in the open yard, the chief objects of the farmer must be to ab sorb all the urine, and prevent a too rapid fermenta- tion of the dung. If a considerable number of cows and hogs are kept, and their manure is well mixed with tbe horse dung, the latter will be easily accom- plished ; and by spreading a Rttle muck over the surface of the heap occasionally, all the ammonia can be re- tained; but where horse dung is loosely thrown into the cellar, it will rapidly decompose, and much ammonia will be given ofl". It is vain to suppose that the cellar can be kept so close as to prevent the escape of am- monia. The only way this can be accomplished is by employing the so called fixers — sulphate of lime ( in solution, as we have said, is the best — or by the \ «ae ot ftbaorbents, straw, muck, charcoal, &c. We cannot resist the conviction, however, that far- mers as a general rule, will not employ chemical means to retain the ammonia in manure, and we be- lieve there is less necessity for doing so than is com- monly supposed by scientific writer.s, if the manure heap is judiciously managed. Prof. Wolff says: "By maintaining the manure moderately moist through- out its entire mass, a fertilizer will be produced, pre- serving almost entirely the original virtue of the ma- nure, and in a form well adapted to promote the growth of crops; and this without employing chem- ical fixing-agents, as plaster, sulphuric acid, &c., whose application on a large scale is often too costly and troublesome. Swamp muck, peat, brown-coal pow- der, or any earth rich in vegetable matter may be economically employed to assist in retaining ammonia. Whichever material be used, it should be stre.^ed as a thin coating over the surface of the manure, from time to time during the summer; and be kept mod- erately moist by occasional drenchings with the con- tents of the cistern." Although Prof. Wolff thinks that " where yard manure and compos s are skillfully prepared, the loss of ammonia is vury slight, even without the use of fixing agent.«," yet he cites the experiment of Dr. Krutzsfk to show the extent to which ammonia ia given off when common liquid manure is allowed to ferment unmixed with fixing or absorbing agents. fie found that the solid residue remaiuiiig after the evaporation of perfectly putrid yard liquid, gave 3| per cent, of ammonia, while the same liquid treated with an acid (fixer) tieFore evaporation gave a residue which contained 12 1 per cent, of ammonia. In the Eothamsted experiments, if we recollect right, sheep urine, evaporated without acid, lost even a still great- er amount of ammonia. Tet we should be careful how we apply such results to common practice. It is known that water will hold a large quantity of am- monia, and we believe the loss of "this spirit-like essence ot the farm, ever struggling to be free," from fermenting common barn-yard drainings is much less than the above figures indicate, ytt it is sufficiently great to warrant the use of any cheap method &i fix- ing it, such as the one we have suggested by the em- ployment of sulphate of lime in solution. , We would just add that though we dwell so much on the importance of nitrogen in the manure, we do not underi'ate the value of the inorganic ele- ments, which are of course indispensable to the growth of all plants. We speak more directly about nitro- gen, because we think it of greatest importance, and because we know there is no way of increasi...rr its amount on a farm, without at the same time increas- ing the amount of inorganic elements; and also, that there is no way of judiciou.sly preserving and fermenly- ing the nitrogen without at the same time preserving the inorganic elements aad rendering them in a better- state for assimilation by the plant. Especially is this true ol the phosphates and silicates. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid generally exist in the same ratio in most substances used for food or for manure; while the solubility of the silicates is greatly increased by fermentation in the manure heap. Clover Seed. — The fVorkin^ Man, an excellent agricultural paper, published in Indianapolis, Ind., states that the crop of clover seed in that vicinity waa a complete failure last year, the grasshoppers hajv'mg^ destroyed what little the drouth left. THE GEXESEE FARMER, 13 COST OF K&T IKG CATTLE. The fdllowinif cxtractij from the Patent OJfice Re- port for 13')."), just itwued, will be read with iutcrest: Sami'ici, J. Fletcher, Winchester, Chirk Co., Mo., Bays: " Stock.iii geiioraJ, in this county are very badly treated, beinsf fed rnen'ly on straw and late-cut prai- rie gras-s, with no cov«',r to shelter them during the inclenieut season. I consiiler a cross from the Dur- ham breed the best, bein;^ fine milkers, good work- ers, and pr.^fitaUIe for the butcher. A promisinj^ bull calf from the "Clay" stock, at six months old, is worth about S.'J.i, while one of the common breeds is valued at only $.") or $6. For seven or eight months in the year, our luxuriantly rich prairie grass furnishes such excellent pasturage that I have sold steers to the butchers, giving six hundred and fifty pounds of prime beef at three years old. Prairie gratis, when cut early and salted, also makes excel- lent hay." D. R. StillmaJj, Alfred Centre, Allegany Co., N-T., says: "Calves are usually weaned when two or three months old, when they are turned out to g"ass. The first winter they are fed with hay and a little meal or roots. The sdcoud and third winter they are kept mainly on straw, and the autumn following are sold directly from the pasture, as the fattening of cattle here for the butcher is not extensively practiced. The cost of raising a bullock to three years old, is about $1 a year, at which age he will bring from $2;j to S4(). The cost of transportation to New York, by railroad, when there are more than one, is $13.17 each* A Committee of the Farmer's Club, of Bedford, Westchester County, N. Y., consisting of Messrs. Haines, IIolmks, Howr, Grekn, and Dickinson, says: "A good demand has always existed with us for veal calves for New York market; so much so, that a fat cnlf ti-om fo!.r to eight weelcs old would sell for as much as it would at a year old, treated in the ordinaiy way, say from $10 to $li. Indeed, the demand has been so great, fur a few years past, that buyers are in search of them at a much younger age, at prices from $\ to $i a head. A common price has been from four to six cents a pouml. live weight. The kind ol stock now most profitable for us to raise, is cows, as they are in great demand for milk dairies, for the supply of the New York market. The cost of raising will average, at one year old, about $12, valued also at $12; at two years, $20, valued at $2.5; and at three years old, .$30, and valued at $30 or $4.t each. The cost of tranf^por- tation to New York, by railroad, is about $1..50 a head. We find the Devons to be the best stock for labor, or their cross with otker breeds. John Young, Jr., of Forest Grove, Allegany Co., Penn , says: "Good milch cows, this season, range from $2.5 to $.50; cost of raising to the age of three years is about $15." James McK. Snodgrass, of Mifflin, Allegany Co., Penn., says: "The cost of raising a heifer till three years old will average $15, and the price at that age is from $1.5 to $25. J. S. Gore, of Tippecanoe, Fayette Co., Penn., gays: "It costs about $6 to keep a calf the first year, $8 the second, $10 the third, and $11 the fourth, making .$35. Formerly, they were worth, at that age, from $12 to $25. Many of the farmers resorted to having them giazed in the mountains, where it cost but $1 a summer, during which they lost several head; the cattle were wintered on straw, and some died before spring. But the farmers were satisfied that they cost only .$1 a head at the moun- tains; and the straw had no other value. Our Dur- ham cattle command about $50 a head at two and three years old. ' John B. Brush, of Slieakleyville, Mercer Co., Penn., says: "The cost of raising cattle till three years old is $1:5, which is about the price of good ones at that age. Good Oows bring from $20 to $25 in the spring, and from $12 to $15 in the fall." Charles Foster, of Jasper, Marion Co., Tenn., says: "The Cumberland nixjuntain, at its summit, presents a beautifully rolling table country, about forty miles across, at this point, watered with innu- merable branches, the heads of the valley streams of this region. The climate is unsurpassed in America. As a grazing region, I know of none equal to it Indeed, thousands of cattle and hogs are lattened on the range, which is inexhaustible, every year; and, as a general thing, the temperature and other circumstancds are such that cattle cm be wintered without being fed. I make this statement advisedly, and from positive experience." John Brooke, of Sherma'n, Grayson Co , Texas, says: "The cost of rearing neat cattle till threo years old is about $1.50 per head. This is for the attention given to them, as we do not feed them at any season. Some do not even salt them. The prico at three years old is f.'om $12 to $15. The value of good dairy cows in the spring is from $15 to $20." James E. Kendall, of Poplar Grove, Kanawha CV, Va., says: "I am of the opinion that our "scrub" breed suits our mountain range the best. The cost of raising cattle is about $3 a year. They sell from $18 to $20 at four years old. Steers, when broken, are worth from $S0 to $100 a pair. Mules are raised with as little expense as steers, and are worth from $100 to $150 a head at three years old. Too Much Seed Corn. — Last spring the cold, wet weather and mice d ;stroyed more than half of my seed corn. The result was, one-third of the hilla missed entirelj', another third had one kernel of corn growing, while the other third had two, three, four, and five kernels growing. Where there was one and two kernels of corn to the hill growing, I had the best specimens of corn, for many of the hills that had one kernel growing had a sucker and the main stalk; the sucker wc: Id have on always-, one good ear, and the main stalk would have two and a half ears of well filled corn ; and where I had four and five stalks to the hill, I had no more ears of corn than where I had one and two stalks; and I could plainly see that where there were four and five stalks to the hill the corn was not as sound nor as well filled out in the ear aa where there was a less number. A. L. Smith — JVickols, Tioga Co., JV. Y. Remedy for Scab in Sheep. — G. B. Tunison, of Bellevue, Nebraska, writes us that he has cured sheep of the scab by giving them a mixture of four • pounds salt, and one pound alum. The ingredients should be pounded up fine, and given to the sheep in the same way, and in about the same quantity aa common sali. * 14 THE GENESEE FARxMER. COST OF EAISIKG AND KEEPING SHEEP AND FKODUCING WOOL. AVe extract the following estimate of the expense of raising and keeping sheep, and producing wool, in different sections of the country tiom the last Patent Office Report: D. L. R. Butt, of Centre, Cherokee Co., Ala., eays: "The cost of producing wool, in this section, is about 12J cents a pound, and the market value, 2.5 cents. There is no article that can be produced in this region with so little care and cost, according to the market price, as wool, and I am surprised that there is aot more attention paid to its pro- duction." D. R. Stillman, of Alfred Centre, Allegany Co., N. Y., says: "Sheep are kept in pasture from seven to eight months, and the remainder of the yeir on hay and straw, the younger portion of the flock usually receiving, dally, a small quantity of grain. The cost of keeping a sheep will vary but little from $1 a year, and at two yeais old it will sell for ^2 from pasture, leaving the wool for the profit. Good wool can be produced at a less ex- pense of keeping and labor than poor, as the fleeces are heavier, while the sheep are more quiet and con- sequently require less food. The cost of raising from three-fourths to full-blooded Merino wool, is about twenty-five cents." John Young, Jr., of Forest Grove, Allegany Co., Pann., says: "Sheep are profitable stock with us. We have some full-blooded South Downs and Le:- cesters. From what I have seen of their crosses upon the connnon stock, I think a very great im- provement will be the result. They prosper ia every part of the country. Last year.. 1854, their wool was worth 33 cents p^ef pound. The cost of raising them is 75 cents per head, and when full grows they are worth $2 each." j S. Gore, of Tippecanoe, Fayette Co., Penn., says*: ''It costs about $IM a head to keep sheep properly for a year, while wool \s worth about forty cents a pound; so that it is evident that sheep-clip- pino- at two and a half pounds a head, leaves no profit. But our improved breeds, vfhich yield from four to twelve pounds per head, pay very well. Be- sides this, I find that my French sheep raise about three lambs per head, annually." [" Three lambs per head, annually 1" Is not this a mistake ?J R W. Bayloe, of Wood End, near Charlestown, Jefferson Co., Va., says: "Sheep are very profitably raised in this section, especially the improved breeds, commanding, at home, from $8 to $10 each £,t two years old. We have as good imported Cotswolds and South Downs as England can produce, the latter •being preferred. Their crosses upon our common stock are regarded as highly advantageous. Wool growing amply remunerates the shepherd for his care. Wool cannot be raised under twenty cents a pound." James B. Kendall, of Poplar Grove, Kanawha Co., Va., says: "This is decidedly a fine sheep-rais- ing'county, but the subject has not received the attention it merits. The cost of producing wool, I believe, does not average more than 12 J cents per ' pound Our sheep are seldom fed. They keep in fine condition the wbole year on the mountain range. They are free from disease, and live to a good age Wool is worth from thirty to thirty-seven and a half cents per pound." A PROFITABLE FLOCK OF SHEEP. On the 17th of July, 1855, I purchased of H. LouNSBURY, of this town, twenty jearling ewes, at $1.50 per head. They had been confined, with eighty-eight other sheep, in a field of fiCieen acres up to the day of purchase. In consequence of this strict confinement, they were poor in tlei^h and small in size. By careless management in the previous spring, they all lost their lambs, and were themselves aflected with disease. I drove them home, and turned them into middling fiiir feed for one week, and then changed them again into full IreSh feed. The result was, thay did not scour, but grew and fatted remarkably fast; for, in the following October I was oliered $2.50 per head. Here, you observe, was an improvement of one doflar a head in three months. On the 1st of December I turned .in a buck of the same breed. The first day of May, 1856, I had no lambs, but on the tenth of the same month I had eighteen lambs, all large, fat, and running about. I will here state that these ewes had six quarts of grain per day from the loth of February to the 10th of May. This feed consisted of corn, oats and buckwheat, in equal parts, and as much good timo- thy hay besides, as they wanted. In consequence of careful mauageinent and good feed, the ewes were in line condition when they bought forth their youpg, and gave a large flow of milk, which cau.sed ihe young lambs to grow with great vigor. To-day, November 20th, I was offered $2 per head for the lambs, and $3 for the ewes, and at ten rods distance from the flock you could not tell the Iambs from the old sheei^. These ewes turned off fifty-nine pounds of wool, which was sold for Ihirty-five cents per pound. Now let us figure up the profit on these twenty ewes, from first cost, and throw out all othir expenses. $60.0') ;5G.OO 20.G5 20 two year old l']wes at $3 per head, 18 Lambs at $2 per head, 59 lbs Wool, at 35 cents per pound. Substract first cost on ewes. Total. Profit, $110.05 r^o.tH) §S6.()6 Almost every farmer can judge correctly of the expense of keeping these ewes during the past six- teen months. They are half native and half South- down. They are all healthy to-day. and fit for the shambles. A. L. Smith. — JVkhols, Tioga Co. A*. Y. A Good Dairy. — At the winter meeting of the Cortland County Agricultural Society, premiums were awarded to two brothers named Conable for the best cheese dairy, averaging five hundred and ten pounds of butter per cow. The best dairy of butter was from seventeen cows, .ind averaged two hundred and one and fifteen-sixteenths pounds per cow. Mr. Geo. Miller, with a large dairy averaged one hundred and ninety-eight pounds per cow. What county beats Cortland? W. H. Gardner. — Hornby, JV. Y. TTIE GENESEE FARMER. 15 WINTER EVENING NOTES FitiKNii llAiuus:— To vvhilo aw;iy a stormy even- iug, 1 will sketcli ii few notes on some of the contents of the December number of the Genesee Farmer. TuitKisn Flint Whkat. — The Patent OJjkc Re- port, for IS.");"), says: 'I'his wheut is a heavy fill va- riety, with a drtrkcolored chatt", a Lcavy beard, and long, tiinty, lightrcolored berry, ifce., <.tc. 1 beg to say I received six varieties of winter wheat from the Patent Oilice in the spring of 18;') j; sowed them in the fall. The package labelled "Turkish i'liut V\''heat'' proved to be a white-bearded variety. It most wiiiter-killfed. A package labelled " Pithusian Flint V/heat, from the island ot Ivica," stood the winter very well; short, barley-lookiofj heads, with enormous beard?, from nine to twelve inches long; the chaff and beards as black as the ace of spades. The description in your paper of the Turkish Flint "W'heat is an accurate description of my i'ithusian. There seems to be a mistake somewliere; I am sure I have made none. Rats and Mior, K. N. says, "are very abundant and voracious all over Western ^mcw York, and asks, " what will become of ns if they go on increasing another winter." In the years 1850 and 1851 this section of the country was overrun with " rats and mice;" the damage done to fruit and forest trees, by their debarking the.Ti, and the loss in hay and gi'ain, and other farm crops, was immense. So abundant were they in those seasons, that the boys became wearied out in slaying them; and all our cats were surfeited int ) uselessness by a superabun- dance of mouse-meat. A fact! The following winter, no injury was done to fruit or other trees, or grass-lauds, nor the next summer, Qor since, have they done any damage to the grass- land, either summer or winter. Where such myriads of varments came from, and where they went, none can tell; and what -'besom of destruction" was called into requisition to thus suddenly sweep them from our raidst^ is a mystery that none can solve; all we know about it is, the^ next year they were " non est inventus." Large and Small Potatoes. — -Mr. J. H. Ham- ilton gives a sketch of his experience in planting large and small potatoes. The produce of the large potatoes was one-third greater than that of the small seed. He is " inclined to the opinion that large potatoes are preferable for seed." No doubt he is right in his opinion. It is a general law of nature that '-like begets like," though it is well known there are exceptions to all general rules. In the Irish Farmers Gazette, 8th November, a Mr. Dixon gives the result of his experiments in planting large and small seed potatoes the past sea- son. The large potatoes selected weighed about half a pound each — planted exactly a yard apart, each way; product, a few pounds short of eight tons per acre. The small seed, either whole or cut in the usual way, yielded seven tons per acre. The sample from the large seed were decidedly the best. Sowing Mountain Asn Seed. — My experience in sowing mountain ash seed accords precisely with that of your correspondent, G. Two Modes of Planting and Managing Fruit Trees, is drawn to the life. I'v^ seen the very thing on a large scale, more than once. But my neighbor, « Old Max," says "there's as much differ- ence in folks as tliere is m anything." This Jact explains the difference between Farmer Slapdash and Farmer Forecast;. CniNKsK Suuak Cane.— Col. Peters wrote to me a few days since that he intends to plant about one hundred acres the coming season, for the purpose ol manufacturing syrups. Your " Fair Correspondent's " essay on " cutting hay" is a whole volume in a nut-shell. Please send her two books; it will be cheap at that. Balsam P'ir Trees." — I have transplanted a great many; usually mine have grown but a few inches the two first years after being removed,',but go-ahead after that. IvOcusT Trees from Seed. — To insure germination the seed should be put in a suitable vessel, and near- ly boiling water turned in sufficient to cover the seeds. Let them soak twelve hours; sow about ♦,he time of planting corn, in well-prepared ground, in drills three or four feet apart; by use of the culti- vator and hoe, keep the land light and free from weeds. Levi Bartlett. — Warner, JY. H. Dec. 3 185G. Mulouing Potatoes with Straw. — Eds. Genesee Farmer. — Having seen the advantages of covering potatoes with straw this season, I deem it of sufh cient importance to jot a few lines to your (or rathci our,) paper on the subject. The ground selected for the purpose was a side-hill facing south, and had been in corn the two previous years, without ma- nure. The ground was plowed on the last dxy of March, as deep ac two horses could well do it, and harrowed twice crosswise. The potatoes were plant ed in drills on the fifth of April, and covered by hand. We then left them until a few tops were visi ble^ when we covered them with straw, to the depth of four or five inches. This was on the 24th o) April. We left them to their fate, not stirring the soil in any manner until digging time, when, on tak ing off the straw, some of the finest potatoes that ever greeted mortal eyes, lay at our feet, on the sur face, requiring very little digging. The same piece of land is now in wheat, and ' al- though it was sowed exactly one week later than the other ])ortions of the same field, it has outstrip- ed it in height, and is much more thrifty every way. Any one can see, almost to the inch, where the straw was lain. E.— Cheviot, O., J\'ov. 12, 1856. RicnARDsoN ON TUE HoRSE. — In looking ovc'the catalogue of "Books for the Farmers," which you keep for sale, I noticed one which I possess, and, es- teem very highly. It is entitled, " Horses, their Va- rieties, Breeding, &c., by Richardson." He gives the history of the horse as concisely as po.ssible, and treats, at considerable length, of all the varieties, showing the proper sphere of usefulness of the dif- ferent breeds, &c. Also, on the management of the horse in health, how to keep him so, and how to manage him .when health has been impaired, &c. He mentions the course to be pursued in breaking colts, which, if properly followed, would greatly les- sen the number of balky horses. No man, who in- tends to raise, or even to keep horses, should be without something of the kind, and I would recom- mend this book, as it can be sent by mail, postage free, to any part of the country, by forwaiding to you twentj-five cents. D. — Gates, 16 THE' OENIF^R FAi^MER ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE DECEMBER NUMBER. Though curtailed of " its tV.ir proportions'' by title- page and index, the Farmer for December contains a good many short, suggestive articles. I shall be able to itemize only a few of them. " Make a Note of it." — Farmers find in their ex- perience many things worth " making a note of" for iheir agricultural papers. And they like to read such notes, (at least I do,) from the pens of others. The short items about Corn, Potatoes, &c., in this and recent numbers, will, I hope, be followed by others from ditl'erent pens, and uny fact of interest to the farmer himself, should be noted and sent to tte editor, whose position qualifies him to judge of its general interest, and hence, its fitness for publi- sation. Seed Corn. — I never knew our seed corn to fail before last year, nor do 1 remember ever before our oeing so careless as not to save any. We hired our Dusking done by a family of Prussians, and in the Spring selected our seed from the crib. It was ousked late, and did not dry perfectly before freezing weather, and hence, some of it failed to vegetate. This agrees with the remarks of your New Uaven eorrespondent, and with vvi'at I can learn of the seed corn which failed among tuy neighbors. It should oe saved early and dried ptrfecUy, and then there will be no mistake. Fall Flowing for Corn. — With Mr. Johnston, [ agree in not recommending fall plowing for corn. The crop succeeds best when the ground is plowed im-mediate'y before planting, and the manure well buried un'ler the soil. Only for early-sown crops would I 7>low in autumn, and in no case would 1 plow befo»e seeding. Articf-.kes as a Field crop. — The letter of Mr. Gallowa , on this subject, is an interesting one. I'hat thiv yield well, there appears to be no ques Lion;, b'7. is opinion of their value, both for hogs ,&ad CCV'' 3 at direct contradiction with that of the 'Sout'ir ( ' Planter, quoted on another page. Let us .laave -J r iq facts on the quest ion. Tek"! Furrows and Headlands — The "manner of r.lowing" is an important subject, on-e part of whirik Mr. Adams writes well upon There are gen- erally a great many more dead furrows than are cecdedl, out the headlands have never seemed so ob- jectioiiible to me. T have often wondered why more instead of less grain, grew where the ground was (ramped so hard. That Ittle grows in a dead fur- row, I ha>,^ often noticed, and as often that head- lands produced better than the rest of the field, ex- cept sometimes in hoed crops. Brkaking up PpAiRihS — Id your interesling extracts from Mr. Howard's western letters, I notice the remark that the breaking up " is done whenever it is convenient to do it" This may be so, but we did not so learn from prairie farmers during our trip last sea.Hon. They told us that the first plowing of the prairie sod should be done between the first of May and the last of June, while the grass and weeds were in their most active stage of growth, and that the sod will rot much better, and the after-crops, for several years, be more successful than if broken up at any other time. Baked Swret Apples. — How seldom do we see ithese brougtit on to the table bj our country friends. .For us, thare can be no better sauce, and we would not care if we had them twiee a diiy the year ro>.Bf Raw sweet apples are good, and so are sour onw — they should form a part of our daily food nine mouths in the year. "Bring on the appfef,!" " Farmer Si^apdash." — Many an orchard is matv»- ged on the Slapdash system — planted in a post-holE, pruned by unruly cattle, barked ami broken by the plow — no wonder such fruit-culture is thought a humbug. Look at the pictures, and ^yoa will Lara a lepson worth heeding — if not from Slapdamh, from Fore(;ast and his management. B. — A'iagara Ca, Dec, 1«56, FALL Mil) SPSmG PLOWING. John Johnston, of Fayette, says, never plow even heavy land, 11 the fall, for corn in the spring; the opinion of a man whose superior farming has done so much to set farmers to thiiik'ng, who never before dared to think outside of hereditary prescription, ought to have much weight ; yet there is no doubt but that, under certain conditions of soil, that fall plowing may be practiced to advantage. Joseph Weight got a large crop of corn this sea- son, from a field of three years' clover sod, plowed nine inches deep, last fall, harrowed and planted late in May; no manure. Geo .Allerman, on like soil, with the same surface draining, next field, plowed and planted in the spring, at the same time. Wright harrowed his, using the sume kind of seed. The corn both can>e up at the same lime, but Wright's looked best, and gained on Allerman's until har- vest, when it was acknowledged that Wright "had onc-thinl more in ears and stalks th&n Allekman. He attributed Wrighi's success entirely to the fall plowing, which, he said, enabled the sod to rot better vhan his had done, but that if the season had been wet, this sod would have rotted better, and his crop would have been as large as Wright's. But, on the other hand, Wright attributes his success, in part, to his mode of plowing; Allerman plowed a wide, shallow furrow, turning the sward flat, as if for sum- 'gier fallow. Wright plowed a narrow but deep fur>- row, t,urning the sward edgewise, and leaving a very rough, jagged surface for the spring harrow. To test the disputed point better, WpiciiT haa followed Mr. John.ston's advice by beginning an e\- periment of fall and s-pring plowing, in his own field, for corn in the spring. 1 went wiih him on the 2(1 inst. to see the end of his fall plovsihg; it was a three years clover sod on a gently-rolling stuneJe^'s field of friable clay loam, of a dark color, except where the plow now and then turned up streaks ot yellow, clayij-.h subsoil. Three yoke of heavy cattle were plowing a narrow furrow ten inches deep^ — the plowman said eleven. When the rough surface is frozen, it is to be treated with a thin coat of dis- tillery manure; at the same time a like quantity is to be spread on that part of the field which is to be plowed in the spring; then the plowing is to be done as on the other plot, in the fall; both pieces to be harrowed and planted at the same time and teisded alike. The result will be published. S. W. — Wa- terloo, Bee. 7, 185G. Quality of Soil. — Sands are seldom so rich bnt it may be a matter of gain to increase their fertility; and few tracts are so poor butthat with proper till- age and manuring they may be made t-e abede of 1 plea Tni; ciiiNESEE FARMER. FACTS m AGRICULTURE. " Therp is a dearth in the tigrioultural pross, at this iin-. ?, so far as facts are concerned." — Prairie Farmer. We Iiave come to the same couclusion. Day after day havt! a-c s<'anned over the broad papjes of our nuinerouy exchanges, Eiiropi'an and American, and been compelled to throw down the paper without obtaininu^ oue new idea, one solitary fact. It is mainly on this account that we offer the " Premiums lor Short Essays," to he found on another paj^e. We are satisfied that the million of intelligent, observing farmers engaged in cultivating the soil on this almost boundles.s continent, are in podsessiou oi'fdcts which, could they be induced to connnunicate them to the agricuftural journals, would prove interesting and valuable, anti add materially to our stock of agricultu- ral knowledge. Let us hiive facts, brother farmers 1 American farmers have a glorious future before *hem. LJiiiike the farmers of Europe, they are their own land-owuei's, and not tenants, compelled by some lawj'er-agent to adopt a particular system of culture. They are at perl'ect liberty to make such improve- ments as their own experience dictates, and are cer- tain to receive the full reward of their intelligent labor, with no fear of having the " rent raised." \Ye enjoy the blesi^ings of peace, of free institutions, of rapid, safe, and economical intercommunications, of good soil, good climate, and good prices. Ours is a new country, of great extent^ of boundleEs resour- ces, possessing varieties of soil and climate suited for the production of every plant ujed as food for raan arid beast. It is peopled with an active, industrious, enterprising, and intelligent race of men and women, representing every civilized nation on the globe; and into this favored arena is brought the experience of agriculture from every clime. Surely, we have every thing to stimulate us to study, observation and reflec- tion. W^ith such stimuli to exertion, need we won- der at the restless enterprise which characterizes the •* universal Yankee nation," and which exci^'es the surprise, if not the admiration, of older nations. But is it not a shame to the intelligent farmers of this highly-favored land that there is a dearth of facts in the agricultural press ? If we cannot ob- tain facts here, where shall we look for them? It cannot be said that there is nothing to call out the observed facts and experience of the past year. Almost every state and county has its organized agricultural and horticultural societies. Farmers' clubs, though not as numerous as they should be, are yet not uncommon, while we have more ag- rcultural papers published in this country, than in all the rest of the world besides; and yet, the truth must be told, there is a dearth of facts. We have abundance of organized means of diffusing facts, but are almost entirely destitute of the proper methods of discovering them. Farmers must expe- riment more, and chronicle the result tor the benefit of others. We do not need "Model Farms;" we have them already, in every county in t\\?. Union; but v^-e need " 'rxperimental Farms," where men of science and practice can unite in investigating the laws of vegetable and animal nutrition. The agriculturists of our cov'.ntry would willingly support such an insti- tution in every Sta'e if they could be satisfied that it would '"<^ kept out of the hands of wire-pulling, log-rolling pouticians, who care more for the almighty dollar than for those laws or facts which underlie all rational systems of agriculture. We hope to live to see the day when the farmers of Ameiica will take this mutter into their own hand.s, and when ther(? will never again be occasion to say, "there is a. dearth. in the agricultural press at this time, so far as /acL- are cancerned." HOTES FOR THE MONTH BY S. "W. Still Slop and Still Manure. — Many farmers came ten miles before dayliglit to carry home a wagon load of still slop, which they now get gratis from one of our now hogless distilleries. 'J'o how many of these farmers lioes it occur that a part of the value of this slop is in the superior value it gives to their manure heap, containing, as it does, all the phosphoric acid and protein compounds of the corn itself, having lost nothing but tlie starch, which went to alcohol. It is encouraging to see one of our largest distilleries now for the first time saving the manure from their pens, instead of washing it into the river; the result will be that Joseph Wkight, who hauls it daily to his corn and tobacco grounds, will show such crops the coming season as no fai-mer can hope to more than half equal. High Prices resulting prom Short Farming.— 1 asked a farmer the other day why he did not grow clover seed and sow it more abundantly, to bring back fertility to his now crop-failing soil. He re- plied that when his land was new, and he got large crops with little labor, the price was nothing com- pared with the present cash prices; that he got more money now than he did then, and that if farm- ing was improved and brought back to its former fertility, and large crops were grown with little labor, prices would again fall below all remuneration WuRZEL Beets for Milch Cows. — There is no sweeter beet grown in this climate than small-sized Wurzel beets. They are much sweeter at this time than the large blood turnip-beet. The largest Wur- zels, when fed to milch cows, cause a greater secre- tion of milk than their weight in raw potatoes, as Judge CoE, of Romulus has fully proved by expe- riment. Chemistry shows truly that potatoes con- tain more nutritive matter than beets, or even car- rots; but experiment proves that in the raw state beets develop, in the process of digestion, their full nutritive value; while raw potatoes do not; hence the importance of cooking potatoes. A little Indian meal, oil meal, or good mill stuff strewed over cut beets, adds much to their nutriment, making less dry feed necessary; and it has been truly said that roots fed to stock in winter, perform the office of aiding the digestion of the ultimates of their dry food. But as a necessary condition to economical feeding milch cows to prevent the decrease in their milk, they must be stabled in wet and cold fall and winter nights. This alone will save both milk and food. Chinese Sugar Millet. [Sorghum Sacchara- tum.) — This noble plant bids fair to be a great and valuable addition to our cereal grasses; the more especially as it requires precisely the same soil, cli- mate and culture as our great indigene, Indian corn. If seed can be had, many here will give it a fair trial next season; at the present high prices of sugar, it may be profitably grown for its saccharine alone; and as fattening food for cattle, it may be found an economical substitute for the Indian corn plants cal- tivated for soiling and winter fodder. S. W. — Jfti- lerloo, JV. Y 18 THE GENESEE FAEMER. BEANS AS A FIELD CROP. Messrs. Editors: — Many of your readers have grown beans far more extensively than myself, yet they fail to favor us with tbeir experience in this crop — at least, I notice none reported in your paper. Several farmers of my acquaintance plant from five to ten acres of beans annually, and say they find it profitable to do so. One of them remarked to me that he " planted corn until it was too late to plant more, and then put in his bean crop, which filled up the time until corn was fit for hoeing." I made a small trial of their culture the past season, planting about half an acre, using up all the seed on hand, and thinking even so much of a crop would give me an idea of their expense and profit. The soil was a gravelly loam — was in potatoes last year, and not recently manured. I planted three varieties, though most largely of a small white bean, common in this section, but unnamed, so far as I can learn. A few rows of a large white bean were also tried, and quite a patch of a French bean, (the Ha- ricot flageolet, distributed by the Patent Office, and characterized as a favorite dwarf variety in the vege- table gardens and markets of Paris. They were planted the tenth of June, and har- vested the middle of September. The account stands as follows: Dr. To one-half day's plowino:, $1.00 " one-quar. bu. seed, at $2 per bu., .50 *' 1 day's planting, .75 " 2i days' cultivating and hoeing, 2.00 " 2 days' pulling and threshing, 1.50 " interest on land, at $50 per acre, 1.75_$7.50 Cr. By 9 bushels beans, at $1.41 per bu;, $12.09 " one-half load bean straw, .81 13.50 Profit per half acre, $0.00 This trial shows that it costs eighty-four cents to grow a bushel of beans. Prices range from $1.25 to $2.25, and higher, per bushel. Next season I intend to plant several acres, and for a field bean, think the small white the most valu- able. They yielded very fairly — as well, perhaps, as any other — and ripened very handsomely and evenly, and were, certainly, the fairest and cleanest lot of beans I ever saw in market. Uneven ripening injures the value of any bean, spoiling the straw, and de- tracting largely from the good appearance of the crop when threshed for market. The French beans I shall confine to the garden ; the drouth seemed to have most eftect upon them — the leaves withered and rusted under its influence, and the product was far less fair in appearance. In flavor, whether cooked green or dry, they have no superior. The large white beans ripened later, and imperfectly. We want, for a field bean, one which will mature early, and give time to manure the ground and sow to winter grain, if desired. Such a bean crop may be employ- ed instead of a fallow, to subdue and ameliorate the soil; at least, such is the opinion of A Young Farmer. Eemarks. — In a P. S., our correspondent asks us to call upon the bean-growors to give facts in their culture, as he wisees to learn more in regard to them, and from the experience of others. We willingly do so. In regard to their employment as a fallow crop, there is some difference of opinion among practical farmers in this country. In England, on heavy land, beans are extensively cultivated as a fallow crop to precede wheat, and the experience of practical farm- ers, and the results of scientific experiment, testify to the advantages of the practice. Beans contain a very large percentage of nitrogen — more than any other crop we raise. This nitrogen is obtained, to a great extent, from rain-water and the atmosphere, if, therefore, you raise a crop of beans, and consume them on the farm, and return the manure made by the animals eating them to the soil, the field will be greatly enriched, especially in nitrogen or ammonia, which is the most expensive and natural ingredient of all manures. That beans, peas, turnips, &c., organize a greater quantity of nitrogen from rain-water and the atmos- phere than wheat, we know to demonstration; and we have little doubt that we may include with wheat our great American cereal, Indian corn, and barley and oats also. If we plant half a field with corn, and the other half with beans, and sow them both to wheat after- wards, we do not know that the half on which the beans grew would be any richer than the half on which the corn grew. But if the been crop and the cvo]) of corn were fed to animals on the land on which they grew, there cannot be a reasonal>le doubt that the part on which the beans grew would be much richer in those elements most needed by the wheat plant, than the part on which the corn grew. To obtain the full benefit from beans as a fallow crGp, therefore, it is necessary that they be fed out on the farm. We shall be glad to hear from our experienced correspondents on this point. Sharpening Edge Tools. — A German scientific journal says: "It has long been known that the sim- plest method of sharpening a razor is to put it for half an hour in water to which has been added one- twentieth of its weight of muriatic or sulphuric acid, then lighlty wipe it off, and after a few hours set it on a hone. The acid here supplies the place of a whetstone, by corroding the whole surface uniformly, so that nothing further than a smooth polish is neces- sary. The process never injures good blades, while badly hardened ones are frequently improved by it, although the cause of such improvement remains un- explained. " Of late, this process has been applied to many other cutting implements. The workman, at the be- ginning of his noon-spell, or when he leaves o9 in the evening, moistens the blades of his tools with water acidified as above, the cost of which is almost no- thing. This saves the consumption of time and la- bor in whetting, which, moreover, speedily wears out the blades. The mode of sharpening here indicated, would be found especially advantageous iox sickles and scythes." French Horses. — Linsley says: The best French horses are raised in Limousin and Normandy. Those from the latter province are of large size, with plenty of bone and muscle, large limbs, heavy quarters, sloping croup, deep chest and deep body, but a little flat-ribbed. They are veiy tractable, and possessed of very great endurance, and can carry great weight at the rate of six to sevea milea per hour. THE GENESEE FARMER.' 19 cows AND BUTTER MAKING Eds. Farmer: — 'I'he first cow we ever owned, (I begin wi'.hout ytn'tuce, for I know you dislike them,) is a two year old hi'il'er bon^lit this spring, for which was given "a promise to pay," $20. She is native breed, her mother a good milker, light red with some white spot.s and we call her '-liuby."' ,^\Ve also " took" a three year old farrow heifer, a strongly marked cross of the Devon. Iler milk, we turned toward keeping two calves, bought of another resi- dent of the farm, until the 10th of July, after that keeping them ourselves on skimmed milk. The De- VOH answers to the name of " Dora." " Ruby" had a small calf the 13th of June — this was allowed to suck all her milk until July 10th, when it was sold for $2 — less, I think, ihau its market value. Then commenced our butter making. Both cows were young, one farrow, and the pastures shortened by the drouth; so they gave only from seven to eight quarts at a milking. "Ruby's" mother, five years old, kept in the same pasture, gave double the quan- tity. The milk was strained in two large sized tin pans, and stood about two inches deep therein. It was set in a milk room, built of stone and floored with water lime, and well shaded with trees. In the warmest weather, it was allowed to stand about 48 hours before skimming; in cooler, it sometimes stood three days, or 72 hours. We churned in a common dash churn, about cnce in four or five days — never allowing the cream to accumulate over a week. But- ter generally came in about 40 minutes, less or more, according to the temperature of the cream. The butter w'os salted without w'ashing — worked twice acd packed in stone crocks, containing from three to five gallons, or made in rolls, later in the season. The salt used was the common Onondaga, worked in thoroughly and largely at the first working, and out, or a portion of it, with the remaining buttermilk, at the second. Our customers ask for plenty of salt in their butter. No other use was made of the milk than for butter making; so we are able to give a full account of the product. It would be more complete and satisfactory, had we weighed or measured the milk as drawn from thecovv^. For six months, (April 2-lth to Oct. 24th,) we ca-l-culate receipts and expenses as follows : — Interest on Ruby's cost, $20,6 moa., $0 70 Use of Dora, $G a year, 3 00 Keeping of both, ;J7i]- ets. per week, 10 75 Interest on cost, and use of dairy utensils, 30 Increase in value of calves fed on Do- ra's millv, to June 10, afterwards on skimmed milk. $5 00 Ruby's calf, sold at four weeks old, 2 00 2oS)s butter, at IC cents per pound, 4 00 521tt.s " 22 " •' 11 50- $14_75 $22 50 Left to pay for labor of making, &c., $ 7 75 Several things on both sides are not taken into consideration — among them, money to pay for " Ru- by"— on the other hand, the increase in the value of the GOVTS. 'There is a'good chance to learn " the wrinkles" of making good butter, if one will " take an interest" in trj'ing to do so. We have made some progress, even in a single six months, and hope to make still further improvements. Our butter commands the highest market price — it looks, tastes, and keeps well, anil that is good encouragement. With more and older cows, and larger experience, we hope to rival the befat dairymen. In the management of millc, we think it best to set it in shallow pans, and keep it unstirred until sour and thick, — then the cream rises most perfectly. Jn warm weather, this takes place in from 24 to 36 hours, and a temperature is desirable when milk will thicken in 48 hours. One diiliculty in making good butter in winter, is, that the cream generally rises so slowly, as to become crusted over with a kind of sour, cheesy matter. The cream should be stirred daily, and in summer it is better not to add the last skimming to the churning, but keep it until the next. We never churn sweet cream. The cream should be "just a little warm to the fingc-r," when it is placed in the churn, and the butter will come in from 20 to 30 minutes — and be hard and yellow. AVork it over sufficiently to get the salt thoroughly mixed with the butter, smooth it down, and set it in the cellar two or three days. Then work it again enough to get out all the buttermilk, and no more, and pack down or form into rolls. The latter are preferred, at some seasons of the year, by grocerymen. I did not think to trouble you with so long a storv, and find I might say still more to the point, but will defer it until the end of another three or six months -A- B. B. EACK FOR FEEDING SHEEP. The rack of which I send you a rough sketch, is built on runners, made of 3 inch plank, 14 feet long, and 4 feet wide ; sleepers, 4 by 4, are framed into the runners ; the floor of the rack nailed to them. A post, 3 by 3 inches, at each corner. On the inside Sketch of a Sheep Back of the rack the boards are made fast to them. The bottom boards 4 feet wide, the space 9 inches. The top board 16 or 18 inches ; the edge of the boards rounded and mads smooth. To cli.'ibe this space, boards 10 or 12 inches wide should be used, with the edges made smooth, nailed on the outside. The space for each sheep's head will be 7 by 9 inches. The roof is made of boards and small rafters, 2 by 2 inches. One half of one side of the roof must be hung by strap hinges, (to prevent its warping,) that can turn up, with a small latch to hold it up when filling with hay. An eave-trough, made of two boards, to carry the water off, can be hung at each corner with old chains on hooks, and let down and, answer a good purpose to feed grain in. This kind of a rack will ktep the hay dry and the sheep from trampling it under foot, and can be drawn to any part of the farm with a yoke of oxen or a pair of horses. I have used one for years, and think it preferable to any kind I know, A. 11. — Lenon, Ohio 20 THE GENESEE FARMER. AGRICTJLTIJIIE-ITS ADVANTAGES. Of all the various occupations and p. ofessions which Lave engaged the attention of mankind, there is none that seems to be so preeminently useful, so honorable, in i-hort, so compatible with all our inter- ests, as the cultivation of the earth. There is none that has so many resources within itself, or whiel can furnish from its own means the supplies for all our necessary wants. Food, raiment, and luxuries innu- merable are the fruits of the farmer's labor and care; and in their train follow health, happiness and inde- pendence. And in view of these facts, for facts they are, v/e are led to wonder that so many of our young men are placed behind the counter to learn the arts and mysteries of the scales and yard-stick, to deprive themselves of the bloom and the freshness of youth, and bring early and deep furrows of care and anxiety on their brows, by the difficulties and perplexities attending the prosecution of mercantile pursuits, when .so many and so strong inducements are held out for them to engage in that profession which was the earliest employment of man, and which, as the light of science is spread abroad, and imjsrovements are made in the art, is becoming more interesting, more profitable, and at the same time less laborious. With what different feelings do the farmer and the merchant leave their pillows in the morning. The one bouyant with health and spirits, goes forth with the first dawn of day to his cheerful labors in the field, while the other after a restless, and perhaps a sleepless night, walks in a sober, thoughtful mood to his counting-room, anticipating, with fearful fore- bodings, the insolvency of his customers, or the ill- success of a voyage. With what honest pride and heartfelt satisfaction does the farmer look at his luxurious fields, his richly laden orchards, and his growing flocks, with the happy assurance that with every returning season his sub- stance is increasi-ng, that he is above want, and far from feeling the fluctuations of merchandise or the embarassnients of trade. Who, that has seen the hale and vigorous plowman whistling along as he turns up the furrow, and has not sighed for,the joys of pastoral life? Or, who has enjoyed the privilege of witnessing the internal arrangements of a thrifty farmer's establishment, and observed the care and atr tention evinced in all her domestic economy by his industrious and frugal wife, and has not coveted the happiness and independence of the farmer? Much as the wealth and prosperity of a nation may be pro- moted by its commerce and manufactures, still we are constrained to look upon agriculture as its source and foundation. It is absolutely necessary to our ex- istence; for let men pursue what other business they may, they are still dependent on the farmer for what they eat and wear. And, suppose the farmer, by way of relaxation, occasionally deviates from his regular routine of duties and engages ahttle in horticulture, or the cultivation of the choicest kinds of fruit, will he not be repaid a thousand times for the time and labor bestowed on a few trees, vines or shrubs ? And further, will not the appearance of his house and "front door yard" be immensely improved, himself and family enjoy a large amount of pleasure and gratification, not to speak of the frequent lessons of neatness and order which his children would learn by the cultivation of a few varieties of flowers. And will not these silent monitors, which so beautifully rennnd u:j that "The hand that made tliem is divine,'' also have a moral tendency, and teach us to look "Through nature up to nature's God." C. N. Bemejjt. BKIEF REMAKES ADDRESSED TO FARMEES. BY C. N. B. Independence of the Farmer. — ^The merchant or manufacturer may be robbed of the reward of his labor by changes in the foreign or domestic market entirely beyond his control, and may wind up a year in which he h;is done everything which hiteiligenca and industry could do to insure success, not only with- out profit, but with an actual diminution of capital The strong arm of mechanic industry may be en- feebled or paralyzed by the prostration of those man- ufacturing or commercial interests to whose existence it so essentially contributes, and on whom in turn it so essentially depends. But what has the intelligent and industrious farmer to fear? tlis capital is in- vested in the solid ground; he draws on a fund which has never wholly suspended or repudiated; his success depends on no earthly guarantee, but on the assurance of that great and beniticent Being who has declared that while the earth endureth, seed time and harvest shall not cease. The Farmer's Life. — The pleasures of rural nature are consistent with every period of our lives; and they certainly approach the nearest of all others to those of a purely philosophical kind. Those who are p."*!'- tial to the country — and where is the man of genius who feels not a delight, approaching to ecstasy, from the contemplation of its scenery, and the happiness which its cultivation diffuses ? — those who have paid attention to the process of husbandry, and who view its occurrences with interest; who are at the same time alive to all the minutis of the animal and veg- etable creation; who mark "how nature paints her colors, how the bee sits on the bloom, extracting liquid sweets," will derive from the study of nature a gratification the most permanent and pure. Farmers — Yours are the tnie sources of wealth; yours the fountains from whence flow ihe peaceful streams of contentment and of real enjoyment; yours, though a life of toil and industry, is a life free from the thousand temptations which surround the indo- lent, the vicious, and the votaries of pleasure. Agriculture is an Art. — Man is the artist; the soil his labratory; manure his raw material; animal strength and machinery his power; air, heat, and moisture his agents; and grains, roots, fruits, and for- age his products. Japan Pea. — Our esteemed corresspondent. Dr. Dusenbury of Gates, N. Y., informs us that the Jap- an pea last year did not fully mature with him. It grew most luxuriantly, but did not produce as many matured peas as the seed sown. It is evidently very prolific and where it matures, as in the Southern States, it may prove an acquisition; but v/ill it in this cli- mate? We have no notice of the horse being used in th cultivation of the soil till A. D. 1066. THE GENESEE FARMER. 21 THE PEDIGREES OF THE ARABIAN HORSE. LiNSLEY, in his rremium Essay on the Morgan [Torse justly observes: The earliest records we have of the horse, traee him to Kj,7pt, whence he j^radu- aliy found his way to the various Egyptian colonies. Among the African varieties, tLe Barb is remarkable for his fine and graceful action, and is found chiefly m Morocco and Fez. lie is lower than theAra- bian, seldom exceeding fourteen hands. The shoul- ders are flat, the chest deep, the joints inclined to be long, and the head very ane. lie is superior to the Arab in form, but has not his speed and -endurance, nor his spirit and "countenance." The Barb has chiefly contributed to the excellence of the bfpanish horse. ^ Tlie Godolphin Arabian was a Barb, and from him has decended some of the best racing stock of England. OOTLIKE OP THE HeAD OP AN ARaBIAN HOKSE. The Arabian horse deservedly occupies the very highest rank. So late as the seventh century, the Arabs had very few horses, and those of a very inferior ([uality. The horses that they obtained from Cappadocia and other neigliboring countries, were preserved with so nuch care, and so uniformly pro- pagated from the finest animals, that in the thirteenth century they had obtained great celebrity. The Arabs divide their horses into three classes: the At- tecki, or inferior breed, which are little valued, and are found wild in some parts of the desert; the Ka- dischi, or mixed breed; and the Kochlani, or thoro'- bred. Many of the latter have well-attested pedi- grees, extecdingf more tlian four hundred years, and the Arab confidently asserts that the pedigree of feis favorite mare can be traced distinctly to the stud of Solomon. More care is taken to preserve the pedigree of their horses than the genealogies of their chiefs; these pedigree are always reckoned from the dams. The Arabian hor.5e might not always be acknowledged to possess a perfect form, but no one can fail to admire his head. (See the annexed cut, engraved for the Genseee Farmer.) The broad, square forehead, the short, lean, firm, and delicate muzzle, the bright, prominent, and intelligent eye, the small, sprightly, and almost transparent ears, are universally acknowledged to be unrivalled in any other breed. The fineness of his legs, and the oblique position of his pasterns, may be supposed to lessen his strength; but his legs, although small, are flat and wiry, and they are not required to carry heavy weights. The muscles of the thigh and fore-arm are strikingly developed, and assure us of his ability to perform many of the feats of strength and endup- ance related of him. But in reading of his really marvellous marches, we must remember that the^e are no watches to note accurately the time, nor mile- stones to mark correctly the distances on the path of the desert, and we must make some allowance for the proneness of the Bedouin to exaggeration. The Arabian horse is as celebrated for his docility as for his speed and courage. He rarely exceeds fourteen hands in height, his body is light, his hips and loins excellent, and his shoulders extremely beautiful. It is to *ae Arabian that the English are chiefly in- debted tor their unrivalled breed of horses for the turf and the chase. SUBSTITUTES FOR THE POTATO. The excitement so prevalent, a month ago, respect- ing the Japan potato, {Dioscorea Batatas) having almost subsided, and no friit commensurate with" the great effort made by several prominent horticul- , turists having been reaped, we think it may not be , out of place to present again the claims of our na- tive tuber, the Apios tuherosa. It is now nearly two hundred years since the introduction of thi* plant to Europe, where it has been fully tested. Ifc had not, however, half the notorieiy of the Japa«j root, and we presume it would still stand the test ii i comparison with that celebrated esculent. Were i\\ not, unfortunately, a native of this country, mucli might be said in its favor. The Apios tuherosa ii a leguminous plant, a herbaceous perennial, with tu- berous roots, which are farinaceous when cooked, and when analyzed have been found to contain about half their weight in water. An accurate French ex- perimentalist, professor in the university of Pavia, as- certained that the produce, by careful cultivation, in comparison with that of the potato, would be about one-third. Its further cultivation, on a large scale, was not recommended by him. We presume it will not attain any greater reputation than its more mod- ern Japan competitor, though the amount of produce of the Dioscorea is certainly much greater than that of our more humble Apios. ^ Large Tield of Potatoes. — Last spring I planted three potatoes of the kind called "Lady-fingers," weighing exactly one pound. I cut them in as many pieces as they had eyes, and found that I had 114 pieces. I planted them in a drill about a foot apart, in ground that was plowed the fall previous. I struck out the row with the plow the same as I would corn ground, and put rotten hog manure in the bottom of the furrow, and covered it about an inch with mould, then laid the pieces of potatoes in and covered with a hoe. All came up excepting seven. I hoed them several times through the season. When I dug them I found the yield was little more than half a, crop oo' account of the dry weather, although I had the pleasure to harvest one bushel and a half of potatoes, from the three planted, weighing 90 tbs. I broaghft from Wisconsin, in the fall of 1855, six other kinds of potatoes, weighing together five pounds. From these, planted the same way, I raised two bushels and a half, weighing 147 pounds. J. L. Miller— JSasf Hanover, Pa. THE GENESEB FARMEK FARMERS' CIUBS. It is a fact already recorded on the page of history, thiit those towns that have sustained the best Farmers' Chibs, have made the most progress in the art of good husbandry, and have taken the greatest number of the premiums awarded by the county societies. The Far- mers' Club should, and does sustain about tlie same relation to the county society, that the district school does to the academy. It will be found that the towns that sustain the best clubs, furnish relatively a greater number of active members to the county societies, than those where these primary organizations do not There is not a farming town in this, or any other Commonwealth, that may not, if it will, sustain a club that shall prove highly beneficial to every farmer who interests himself in it, by becoming an active and working member. Now is the time to form these clubs. But, says an inquirer, how can it be done ? The answer is ready. After reading this article, just name the subject to your neighbor, ask him to sugger.t it to his neighbor, and when a little interest and curiosity is aroused, call a meeting at the town hall, school house, or at some neighbor's house, and organize by appointing a presi- dent, vice president, secretary, and an executive com- mittee, whose duty it shall be, with the advice and consent of the members, to arrange the order of busi- ness and entertainment of each succeeding weekly meeting. Select some subject for a public debate, appoint some one or more upon each side to speak upon the suV)ject ; also some one or more to write an essay, or essays, up- on some subject or subjects connected with agriculture ©r domestic econotny, extending the invitation to the mothers, wives and daughters, for without their aid and presence, you wlil not be likely to succeed, while with them you cannot fail. After completing your organization, you will find it profitable to enlist your minister, your lawyer, doctor, and schoolmaster, to lecture occasionally before the club ; and by introducing the system of exchange now practiced among ministers, you may have numerous lectures, while each lecturer will not be under the ne- cessity of preparing more than one good lecture during the season. The club being foi-med, a desire for books for study and for reference, will soon be awakened, and the steps will soon be taken to secure these, which will serve as a nucleus for a Town Library, where such does not al- ready exist. Every club will need a Cyclopedia of Ag- riculture, practical and scientific, developing both the theory and the art of good husbandry, relative to both farm vegetables and animals. There are two good works of this kind now before the public, ready for use, to wit, " The Rural Cyclopedia," by J. M. Wilson, and another, by J. C. Morton.* Either of these is worth more to the farmer than the entire list of publi- cations by some of the modern book-makers and pub- lishers. * * * While it is desirable to have and to read and study good books, all others are worse than useless, for they serve botlr to kill time,' and mis- lead the reader. With an outlay of $50, a club may furnish itself with all the works necessary to begin with. Then let such additions be made from time to time as the wants of the members shall demand. This Is the dictate of good economy and practical experi- ence.— Massachusetts Ploughman. • Tho latter is by far the best work of the two ; in fact, it is the best work extant. Wo heartily unite with the PUni ghman in rec- ommendiug it to Farmers' Clubs, and we will somi it or Wilson's Encyclopedia, or .any other agricultural ar.d horticultural works, to any Farmers' Club at twenty per cent, less than the usual rates, which see ia our advertising colomnB. — Ens. Genesee Fakmer. EXTEAORDINAIIY FECUNDITY OF WIiE/'" EAS- LEY AKD OATS. We have received from Messrs. Hardy & Sons, of Maldon, Essex, specimens of difierent grain in the straw (wheat, barley and oats) grown by them, with a request that we would examine them. They are in- tended to show the effect of their system of thin sow- ing, and of more care than is usually experienced in the cultivation. The specimens were placed in the hands of a jjerson well qualified to examine minutely, and to report upon them, and we now give below the results, with all the details connected with the several parcels ; and without pledging ourselves in the slight- est degree to the applicability of the system upon a broad scale, we feel justified in saying that those rt- sults are such as to deserve the attention of practical men, and a rigid inquiry how far the system of thin and careful sowing or planting of cerearls is capable of being carried out generally under the present course of husbandry : o -, p C-, l*» CO to ^ c O w O g W g s S- o S" s Q. c B ^ ) 1 B CO ^ S 1 1 o B s o o S" <<; P a p '■< f: ■= < 1 . 1 f5 O M 1 1 *» 1 3 ' ^ ^ X 2. * a ■— " 't t^n-. ,_. M 1 ,_. ^^ ,_ t. :r 5 ;, CI' ■— I 5 » 1 O p " " - " " ^ ~ ' 2- S" ^ „ ^~'^"¥' i O M t-" CO c to p - ^^ o t3 to C.3 c: c ? o i I-. <^ --■— _ _ .. 5 o fcc to ^ _, r»- ^ o lO to 5 ? -T' ly^ lO o .* o o to o o o c _f_2,__ ►-^ ^ ^^ t=S M to CO ■X OJ !i Ji 2 3 ^ ff l-» Ot a> *• to X- a '£ CP3 ^^ ~1 >~ to to o 1 1 1 s 1 i to T3 2 O g5 O) o 1 1 e 1 o gcra M, rt- B ^ to CO o to CO -SS" O O o o o o o CD V. N 5 r-^ o S. ?5 o is 1 o en "I ^3- ? » P ^' Cu o p M g y^ CO is en o* a- CO 03 P a p "■;! CO 1" i^ CO ? ." p" .»? i a \^ Explanations. No. 1. Twenty specimen ears of Egyptian wliii'i wheat as cut from one stub, growing at a wide distanv.e casually in a field of five acres. No. 2. Ten ears with thin straw of Hardy's selected and improved red wheat, from one acre transiilanted with plants sown by the sparrows in a stubble in Au- gust, planted in October, at one foot apart, a little more than one-fourth peck of seed per acre. No. 3. Four (out of 8) single roots, 240 ears, aver- aging 35 each, grown casually at one foot apart, on common plowed land and no manure, was very foul ; one peck of seed sown, and thinned out singly quite half, rather blighj.ed. THE 'GENESEE FARMER. 23 No, 4, One huntlrcd cars of prolific red wheat trans- p.:uit,(xl on one foot squaro, or littlo more than three jiints iK>r tu:re, ratlicr blighted, as otlier people's. Es- timated in-oduce, 4S bushels jx'r acre. No. 5, Two ears of skinless barley. No. 6. One plant of barley, sown one-fourth peck per acre, spoiled with the application of strong liquid manure, which caused it to be blighted. No. 7. One plant of (Tartarian) oats, one-half bushel of seed per acre. There are two grains in every husk, twin- like. No. 8. By way of contrast, we have inspected in the same manner, 10 ears of old Norfolk red wheat, grown ft Glandford, which contain 511 grains, weighing one and one-twelfth ounces, averaging 51 grains each ear. The crop is estimated at 48 bushels per acre. Quality very good. All the specimens are of this year's growth. Mark Lam Express. KEEP AN ACCOUNT WITH YOUR FAEM.' £tkry evening for the past seven months I have * posted up " a record of the labors of the day, as each crop was sowa or planted, I have transferred to each its appropriate items, (giving my best estimate of tiieir money value,) and as the season Las advanced, have "closed tlie account" with several crops, and brought them so that I can "see through it" with most others, and I think I find it a very convenient as well as economical course of procedure. In any other business it would be a waste of words to argue the case, for none go into operations of even trifling extent, without keeping an account of outgo and in- come. Why should not the farmer do so ? There is no good reason; and the amount of time and thought it requires can well be spared from more ac- tive labors. No particular system of accounts would suit all cases — mine only suits myself, and I see constant chimces for systematizing and improving it. So, with- out going into details, let me say, every farmer should keep an account witk his farm — should be able at the close of the season to "strike the balance," showing, not by guess work, but in dollars and cents, pounds a.nd bushels, the profit and loss for the business of the year. They cannot tell how they stand with the world; how each plan has resulted, how each crop jiiid animal has repaid the outlay, vi-ithout so doing, with any accuracy or detail 'I'hey may be losing money oa that to which their chief attention is turned, and making a good proCt on another product which they consider of little consequence. An account of capital iuvested, tbs expenses of growth and culture, and tlie receipts or return from the products, would at once decide the true policy of the farmer — his profits i.nd losses, and from whence they flow Bat it is not my intention to bo tedious with ray " preachmenL" My accounts show me, among other things, that it has cost me more to raise a bushel of oats, this year, than to grow one of barley, and that corn will not pay at less than twenty-five cents a busLel, or $1S}6 per hundred for pork. The year is not up with mj- stock — there is a winter expense yet to be borne; I am hoping it will be well repaid by iheir increase in value. The item of Implements is not a small one, though I have no reaper or seed-drill as yeL Taking it all in all, I am bound to know as near as possible, what becomes of the little capital I lave invested in farming, and what plans are successes and v^hat failures, and to make the most of the knowl- edge I bry in one wa^^ and another. Brother farmers, keep an account with your farms, and my word for it, the figures will furnish you many a lesson of value — will give you many a hint by which you can make or save in other years. They will serve as sharp reminders of the folly of attempt- ing too much, or of leaving the finishing touch un- lione, and will show you where you had the comfort- able satisfaction of pocketing the dollars as the re- sult of your well ordered labors. B. F. THE "JUSTIN MORGAN" HOBSE. In the Genesee Farmer for May 1856, we pub- lished a condensed history of the " Justin Morgan " horse, from which the stock of this justly celebrated breed of Morgan horses originated. It was extracted from a lecture of Sandford Howarh, Esq., editor of the Boston Cultivator, to whom the country is in- debted for sifting out and publishing the true history of this remarkable horse. The following description of the " Justin Morgan," (so named after his owner, Mr. Justin Morgan, of Kandolph, Vt,) we condense from Lindsley's new work on Morgan Horses, published by C. M. Saxton & Co., of New York: " The original, or ' Justin Morgan,' was about four- teen hands high, and weighed about nine hundred and fifty pounds. His color was dark bay, with black legs, mane and taiL He had no white hairs on hira. His mane and tail were coarse and heavy, but not so massive as has been sometimes described; the hair of both was straight, and not inclined to curl. His head was good, not extremely small, but lean and bony, the face straight, forehead broad, ears small and very fine, but set rather wide apart. His eyes were medium size very dark and prominent, with a spirited but pleasant expression, and showed no white round the edge of the lid. His nostrils were very large, the. muzzle small, and the lips close and firm. His back and legs were perhaps, his most noticeable points. The former was very short; the shoulder-blades and hip bones being very long and oblique, and the loins exceedingly broad and muscular. Hi3 body waa rather long, round and deep, close ribbed up; chest deep and wide, with the breast-bone projecting a good deal in front. His legs were short, close jointed, thin, but very wide, hard and free from meat, with muscles that were remarkably large for a horse of his size, and this superabundance of muscle ex- hibited itself at every step. His hair was short, and at almost all seasons soft and glossy. He had a little long hair about the fetlocks, and for two or three inches above the fetlock on the back side of the legs; the rest of the limbs were entirely free from it. His feet were small but well shaped, and he was in every respect perfectly sound and free from any sort of blemish. He was a very fast walker. In trotting his gait was low and smooth, and his step short and nervous; he was not what in these days would be called fast,, and wo think it doubtful if he could trot a mile much, if any, within four minutes, though it is claimed by many that he could trot it in three. Although he raised his feet but little, he never stumbled. His proud, bold and fearless style of movement, and his vigorous, untiring action, have, perhaps never been surpassed. When a rider was on him he was obedient to the slightest motion of the reia, would walk backwards rapidly under a gentle rsi THE GENESEE FAEMER. MORGAN HORSE "PAUL CLIFFORD. pressure of the bit, and moved side-ways almost as ■willingly as he moved t'orwiird; in sliort, was peiiectly trained to all the paces and evolution?! of a parade hor.-e; and when ridden at military reviews (as was frequently the case,) his bold, imposing style, and spirited, nervous action, attracted universal attention and admiration. He was perfectly gentle and kind to handle, and loved to be groomed and caressed, but disliked to have children about him, and had an in- veterate hatred for dogs, if loose always cha.sing them out of sight the instant he saw them. When taken out with halter or bridle he was in constant motion, and very playlul. He was a fleet runner at short distances. Running horses short distances for small stakes was very com- mon in Vermont fifty years ago. Eighty rods was very generally the length of the course, which usually commenved at a tavern or grocery, and extended the distance agreed upon, up or down the public road. In these races the horses were started from a 'scratch,' that is, a mark was drawn across the road in the dirt, and the horses ranged in a row upon it, went oft at 'the drop of the hat,' or some other signal. It will be observed that the form' of the Justin Morgan was not such as in our days is thought best calculated to give the greatest speed for a short dis tance. Those who believe in long-legged racers, will think his legs, body and stride were all too short, aod to them it may perhaps seem surprising that he should be succe-.«fal, as he invariably was, in such eonteats. But we think his great muscular develop- ment and nervous energy, combined with his small size, gave him a decided advantage in the first start over taller and heavier horses; just as any ordinary horse can distance the finest locomotive in a ten rod race. When brought up to the line hi.s eyes flash and his ears quiver with intense excitement, he grinds the bit with his teeth, hi.s hind legs are drawn under him, every muscle of his frame trembles, and swells almost to bursting, ai-id at the given signal he goes otf like the springing of a steel trap. His unvarying success in these short races may perhaps be partially account- ed for in this way, though he w£.s undoubtedly pos- sessed of more than ordmarj speed, and was a sharp runner. In harness the Justin Morgan was quiet, but full oi spirit, an eager and nimble traveller, but patient in l)ad spots; and although for a long lime "steadily en- caged in the heavy work ol a new farm, his owner at that lime informs us that he never knew him to refu-* to draw as often as he was required to. but he pithily adds: 'I didn't very often have to ask him but oiice, for whatever he was hitched to generally had to come the first ti .le trying.' This unitbrm kindness at a pull was one of the striking characteristics of the hors*?, and the same trait may be observed in the gn-atcr part of his descendants. ' Pulling matches' and 'pall- ing bees' were as common in those days as ?hfrt races, and the 'httle horse," as he was often called, became quite celebrated for his unvarying willingness to do his best, and for his great power at what is called a ' dead lift.' " Our engraving is a good likeness of the beautiful Morgan horse "Paul Clifford," now owned by Messis. HuxsDE.v & Wilcox, of Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y. He received the first premium at the Fair of the United States Agricultural Society, held at Spring- field, Mass., in 1854. THE GENESEE FARIIER. FEiULE CASHMERE GOAT. EWE CASHlilEilE GOAT. Last month we gave a portrait of a Buck Cash- mere Goat, with a sliort history and description of these celebrated animals. We have great pleasure in presenting our readers this month, with a beauti- ful engraving of a Ewe Cashmere (jruat. 8he is the property of Col. Richard Peters, of Atlanta, Ga. Live weight 102 lbs.; weight of yearly fleece 4| lbs. We hardly dare to hope that these animals will suc- ceed so well in our country that Cashmere shawls will be as cheap and common as woolen ones are at pres- ent, but we have, nevertheless, great e.\'pectation that they will prove well adapted to our climate, and a decided acquisition in many parts of the country. Look to Your Animals. — Most of your readers, I presume, are aware that all animals require, other things being equal, more food in cold weather than is necessary to keep them in the same condition during more moderate winter weather. Therefore, to insure the comfort of our animals, and save fodder, it be- comes imperative (if not already done,) to look to the stables and see that there are no crevices through which the snow and chilling winds will drive, to the great annoyance of the animals it may pretend to shelter. They should have plenty of clean litter, which will help to guard against the cold arising from want of banking around the buildings. They should also have light and a proper quantity of air; for I hold that liffht and air are as necessary for animated as for vegetable nature. They should not be admit- ted, howe er, through holes or cracks, but by prop- erly prepared windows and ventilators. D.— Gates. The Tii.LER of His Own Land. — ^The man who stands upon his own soil, who feels that by the laws of the land in which he lives — by the laws of civil- ized nations — he is the rightful and e.\clui;ive owner of the land which he tills, is by the constitution of our nature under a vdio!e>ome influence not easily imbibed from any other source. He feels — other tilings being equal — more strongly than another, the character of a man as the lord of an inanimate world. Of this great and wonderful sphere, which, fat^hioned by the hand of God, and upheld by flis power, is rolling through the heavens, a part is his — his from the centre to the sky. It is the space on which the generation before him moved in its round of duties, and he feels himself connected by a visible link with tho.se who follow him, and to whom he is to transmit a home. Perhaps his farm has come down to him from his fathers. They have gone to their last home; but he can trace their footsteps over the scenes of his daily labors. The roof which shelters him was reared by those to whom he owes his being. Some interesting domestic tradition is connected with every inclosure. The favorite fruit tree was phiated by hf>; father's hand. He sported in boyhood beside the brook which still winds through the meadow. — Through the field lies the path to the village school of earlier days. He still hears from his window the voice of the Sabbath bed, which called his fathers to the house of God ; and near at hand is the spot where his parents laid down to rest, and where, when his time has come, he shall be laid by his children. These are the feelinj^s of the owners of the soil. Words cannot paint them; they flow out of the deejy est fountains of the heart; tV.ey are lil'e-springs of a fresh, healthy and generous national chaifwter. le THE GENESEE'-FARMEE. iouticultural grpirtmmt IMPEOVING OLD APPLE OSCHAUDS. In all the older settled portions of the country, there are thousands of apple orchards producing an enormous quantity of fruit which is entirely valueless except as food for stock, or for cider-maldng. Can r.ot these orchards be turned to better account ? We believe they can. Even as food for stock, sweet ap- ples would be far more valuable, and though the land occupied by these orchards may yield as much profit ■when the apples are converted into cider, as could be realized from it by any ordinary farm crop, yet we believe a far greater profit may be obtained by graft- ing these old trees with good varieties, that will com- mand good prices for cooking and desert purposes. Apples for cider-making are seldom worih more than eight cents a bushel, and we have known theoi sold for half that price, while tvrenty-five cents a bushel is a low price for ordinary "grafted fruit;" and we be- lieve there is no more labor required to grow a bushel of Spitzenburgs or Baldwins, than of the compara- tively worthless natural sorts now so common in many parts of the eountry. This matter should be attended to during the win- ter months. Now is a good time to get grafts, to decide Vv-hat varieties it is best to get, and to learn which is the best means of performing the grafting aperation. On this point there is some difierence of opinion. We shall recur to it in a future number, giving illustrations of the most approved methods. In the meantime, we hope our correspondents will give us their experience. McIntosh says that, in England, "the process of heading down and grafting old fruit trees is a much neglected part of fruit tree culture." The same may with equal truth be said of this country. It may be said that it is easier and cheaper to get new trees from the nui-series. We would not dis- courage any one from planting young trees of good varieties; we believe that a properly-managed apple orchard, of the right sorts, is one of the most prolific sources of wealth upon a farm; but still, those who have vigorous trees of worthless sorts had far better .re-graft them than to cut them down, or to let them remain as they are. More fruit can be obtained in a given time from one of these re- grafted old trees, than from a young tree; for it is a well established fact that grafting a young twig upon an old stock has the effect of making it flower earlier than it would otherwise do, in consequence of the accumu- lation of sap in the old stock becoming beneficial to the twig, and giving a check, at the same time, to its tendency to produce leaves. "As on example," says McIntosh, "if a seedling apple be grafted the second year of its growth on the extremities of a full grown tree, or even on a stock of five or six years from the seed, it will show blossom buds the second or third year; whereas, if it had remained ungra'ted, it might not have shown buds for ten or twenty years." Another advantage of this mode of gralting is, that the organizable matter deposited in the roots and the trunk of the old tree is thiown with great force into' the scions, causing them to make strong and vigorous sheets. The late Ueorge Olmstead, of llarttbrd, Ct, stated in an early vol- ume of the Horticulturist, that by re-grafting an old apple-tree — beginning to graft the top of the tree firtt, and so working dovv'n, and completing the pro- cess in three successive years — he had obtained from this single tree, in six years from the time he began to graft, twenty-eight and a half bushels of excellent fruit. There are many old apple orchards in the country, which,though of good varieties, yield no profit to their owners, simply because they have been neglected. Such orchards may easily and speedily be restored to abundant and profitable fruitfulness. Sometime be- fore the sap begins to flow in spring, thin out the heads of the trees by lopping off all decayed, stunted, diseased, crooked, or superfluous branches, but avoid the common error of cutting of large limbs, when it is not absolutely necessary. Then in the spring, if the orchard has been in grass for some time, pat on a good dressing of manure,and plow it under as deep as you can go without disturbing the roots of the trees. The best way is to throw a thin furrow slice up to- wards the row of tree?, turning towards you nud fin- ishing in the centre between two rows. 'J"he plow can be put a little deeper each furrow as you recede from the trees. If you have not manure to spare, spread on old leached ashes, at the rate of about one hundred bushels per acre, or half the quantity of unleached ashes; and if a bushel or so of plaster, and ten to twenty bushels of lime were added, so muclAhe bet- ter. Let these be harrowed thoroughly in," and the ground worked into as good tilth as p ssible. 'ilien sow the land to peas, and when in blossom, jJow them in. The ashes, lime and plaster furnish all the mineral elements required by the trees — and of which the soil has probably been impoverished by the re- moval of the fruit — and the peas will supply a large amount of organic matter. By growing nothing among the trees for a year or two, and keeping the ground clean, sowing a non-exhausting crop and plowing it under, the soil may be rendered very rich, and the orchard fruitful. We have been asked whether Peruvian guanc would be good for an old apple orchard, the soil of which is sandy. We have no doubt it would ])rove beneficial Peruvian guano, however, though it con- tains more or less of all the elements of plants, is comparatively deficient in potash and soda. Many sandy soils are naturally poor in these alkalies.and'the removal of the apple crop from year to year, and of the other crops which are — but should not be — rais- ed and removed from the land, also carry with them large quantities of potash and soda, so that it is pro- bable that, relative to other plant food, these sandy soils on which apple orchards have stood for mar.7 years, are^deficieut of that which_ Peruvian guuno, oi THE GENESEE FARMER. 27 all natural inanures, supplies in least quantity. If the orchard could have a dressinp; of fifty bushels of un- icached ashes, per acre, and an equal quantity of lime plowed under early in the sprins^, and then a top dressing of two hundrpd pounds of i'eruvian guano, sown broadcast and harrowed thoroughly in, and be then sown to peas, which are plowed under when in blossom, or eaten off, on the land, by hogs, the soil would be more speedily enriched than if the guano Lad not been used. ■ Still, plowing under a good coat of barn-yard manure, will, in most cases be a cheaper mode of renovating the site of an old orchard than any other plan we can think of. IS THE CULTIVATIOX OF ERUIT ON A MOKE EXTENDED SCALE DESIRABLE? The answer to this question appears so self-evi- dent, that after stating a few facts, but little remains to be said. First, an abundance of good ripe fruit is admitted by all physiologists to be eminently essential to the preservation of health. This being the case, it be- comes the duty and privilege of every one owning a spot of laud, however small, (if not otherwise more profitably employed) to cause it to produce fruit in the greatest quantity, and of the best quality, so that, after his own wants are supplied he may have some to spare for those whose circumstances prevent them from producing it themselves. At present the supply of good fruit is so limited that mechanics and others depending on their labor for maintenance are compelled to use an inferior arti- cle, unripe and unwholesome, or to do without. In either case the health sudfers, and the affluent do not enjoy it as fully as would be desirable. The objections often urged against fruit-growing that it is a business which does not immediately make profitable returns, and that it is uncertain and precarious, are prompted by ignorance. The more common and hardy kinds, as the apple, pear, grape, &c., are easily raised, and with less real hard labor than most of the grains or vegetables. Procure a good variety, plant it with care, and a very little trouble thereafter will insure success. The glutting of the market is another bugbear. This, it must be admitted, ha.s sometimes been the case in plentiful years, in the neighborhood of or- chards, while, at the same time, thousands at the West, and elsewhere, have suffered for want of the surplus. The remedy for this will be found in a better knowledge of the benefit to health derived from the daily use of fruit, (instead of being consid- ered an extravagant luxury,) and also in the increas- ing means of transportation. In the case of this, as in that of every other arti- cle of real value, the demand will keep pace with the supply. Then let every landholder "plant a tree," if no more, take proper care of it, and let no one dissuade from planting largely, and with the spread of light and knowledge, he will find an increasing demand for his crops at just and remunerating prices, himself and the world being mutually benefitted. Crockett. m I ■! All paths should be clean, and the edges of beds and borders should be even ; the paths, and the beds and borders, should be well defined, and paths kept high and dry in the middle. THE YELLOW LOCUST TREE, One of your correspondents asks "how to raise tha locust tree from seed, the time to plant, etc" 1 offer you the following answer: Get the seeds from the trees in the fall, (though they sometimes remain on the trees uninjured over winter,) and keep in a cool, dry^place until spring. If kept warm and dry they will not vegetate as cer- tainly and. speedily. This is true of all hard-shelled seeds. Prepare the ground as for com, and any soil fit for corn will grow the locust tree. Mark out drills four feet apart, and plant from four to six inches along the rows. Put the seed in a vessel and pour boiling water upon them; let them stand twenty-four hours, and those which have swollen slightly will come up the first year. Pick these out for planting, and pour more hot water on the remainder, letting the seed stand another day, when the gi-eater paft will be ready for use. Cover about one inch deep with mellow soil, and the plants will soon appear. May is the proper month in which to plant. The cultivation should be such as is given to root crops. Keep the ground mellow, and free from weeds. Some of the young trees will be fit to trans- plant the next spring, others a yeai- later. Give them a fair chance, and they will grow and do w^ell, unless, as in some localities, the borer attacks them. As a ropid-growing timber tree, the locust is of high value. No other bard wood can be raised as quick — at least, we are acquainted with Do»e. Its use for posts, for carpenter work, for fuel, etc., is not very extensive, because, though a few trees are grown in almost every neighborhood, it is seldom found in any quantity, to supply such demand. It would be well to plant it more extensively, to fill up the waste corners of our farms with it. Once planted, it pro- pagates itself by sprouts and suckers, and retains possession of the soil, unless special pains are taken lor its eradication. M. L. J. — Dec, 1856. PEACHES. The December number of the Genesee Farmer h at hand. In the proceeding of the Pomological Corvention, on the discussion on Peaches, the merits of the Tillotson was discussed. There seem to be different opinions as to its qualities. With me it has always done well, and is considered the best early peach we have, ripening some days before the Early York in the same situation. I received it fiom the nursery of Thomas & Smith, Macedon, Wayne co.. N. Y., several years ago, with a number of othei kinds. The original tree is still living and healthy and bears good crops when the winter is not too se- vere. Varieties differ much in their ability to resist the efiects of cold, the soil and situation being the same. I have one variety named Seabolt, which is the greatest bearer I have, a good freestone peach, ripening with the White Imperial. The Yellow Alberge is also a great bearer, but not so valuable on account of being yellow fleshed. I have some seedlings that promise to be of great value on ac- count of their season of ripening ; one being very early, another very late. The late one is a white fleshed peach, ripe Oct. 1st, and very juicy. We had a fair crop of peaches in this place the past season, notwithstanding the severe winter. Isaac 1 Clement. — Halfkioon, Sa7-atoga Co., JV. F. 23 THE GENESEE FARMER. COTTAGE KESIDEXCE OF W. H. ASPIXWiiLL, STATEN ISLAND SPECIMEN OF,_AMSEICAN LANDSCAPE AND GARSENINU "We extract from Downing's Landscape Garden- ing and. Rural Architecture, the accompaiiyinsr en- gravinjT of the beautiful cottage residence of W. H. AspixwALL on Staten Island. It is a fine specimen of Ami rican Landscape Gardening. The house is in the English cottage style, and from its open lawn in front, the eye takes in a wide view of the ocean, the narrows, and the blue hills of Neversiuk. In the rear of the cottage the surface is much broken and varied, and finely wooded and planted. In improving this picturesque site, a nice sense of the charm of natural expression has been evinced; and the sudden variations from smooth, open surface to wild, wooded banks, with rocky, moss-covered flights of steps, strike the stranger equally with surprise and delight. A charming greenhouse, a knotted flower-garden, and a pretty, rustic moss-house, are among the interesting points of this spirited place. To Prevent GirdliiVg by Mice. — A correspon- dent in Riley, Iowa, gives the following as an effect- ual preventive for the depredations of mice and rab- bits on fruit trees, which, perhap?, is worth trying, al- though we doubt its efficacy. It is as follows: " Se- lect so.7ie fine young crab-apple trees, and plant thera out in rows where you wish your orchard, and wait till they get well growing. Then select your scions, and at the proper season graft the trees, and in due time you will have an orchard of trees which neither rabbits, mice, or any other animals will girdle or bark. If any one doubts the above, let him try the experi- nient on one tiee.' D. F. K. — Riley, Vigo county, Iowa,. CcRR FOR Gooseberry Mildew. — Pcrape off the ronuh bark in the spring, before the buds swell, and apply soft soap freely to the bushes and roots, as far as you can reach them ; afterward.s, a few times wash- ing them, while the fruit is growinsr, with soap-suds. Watering young plants a few times in the summer, will prevent the mildew. L. Faibbanks. — Whitby, aw. HINTS FOR THE MONTH, January is not a month in which much work can be done in the open garden ; but in mild weather, the pruniiig of hardy trees may be proceeded with. The pruning of fully developed garden or orchard standard trees, will consist merely in cutting away any wounded or broken branches that may have hap- pened in the gathering of the fruit, by the ladder or other means ; and the cutting out of all shoots that may have been produc d in the fork or up the ma^n arms or in the middle of the tree. Do not allow the middle of the tree to become crowded with twiggy and nseleps wood ; it chokes up and impedes the free circulation of air among the leaves and truit, and ob- structs the action of the sap, (so essential to the full development of fine healthy leaves and fair fruit,) in the main branches. A convenient and easy method of cutting out these little branches in the middle of the tree is, to take a sharp chisel, on a handte five or six feet long, place the edge of the chisel on the under side of the branch and close to the tree, then a smart tap with a mallet will take it off at a blow. Cut away any pieces that are crossing ar chafing each other. Always make the cut from the under side of the branrh and slanting upM'ards, so that the wet may not lodge upon the wound. I am greatly of opinion that the spot and rust which we see so much of, upon the surface of so many poor specimens of apples, is owing to poor cultivation of the soil and reglect in careful pruning. Attend to the mulching of young and newly planted trees, and il snow has cu'lected about them either throw it away or tread it down hard, or mice are apt to work beneath and girdle the trees. This is, also, the time to mend and repair gar- den tools, paint watering cans, and paint and repair hot-bed frames and sashes. Josiah Salter. Fly on Cherry Trees. — T was once told by a friend that burning brimstone under cherry trees, while in bloom, will preserve them against the fly which deposites its eg^s in the young fruit, thereby destroying the product of the tree for the season. Have any of the readers of the Genesee Farmer tried it, and with what result ? D. — Gates. TTTE ^.F^'!^RT^F, FATr^MER. TJIK , CiXLK.UiU THE CINEEAEI-A. r This beautiful plant cannot be overlookecl at this season, flowering as it does so profusely through the winter months, aad looking so cheerful, with its gay, handsome flowers. The came " Cineraria," is derived from Cineres, ashes, in reference to the downy or ashy appearance of the leaves. It belongs to the natural order Asteracecz. and is nearly allied to our common wild Asters or Starwort. The plant is generally propagated by offsets, after it has done blooming, which will be in the spring. The pots should be placed in a dry sheltered place, and watered moderately. As soon as the offsets make their appearance and have made two or three large leaves, they should be carefully d-etached, takirkg care not to injure the roots; plant them in small pots in a mixture of good turfy loam, leaf rp.ould and sand, with a little old cow dung; then place th m in a cold frame, and shade them from the light for aboitt two weeks, and then about another week from the bright sunshine, and they will then be well rooted and ready for a shift into larger pots. "When they have finished their growth, and the flower sterna hesin to appear, they should be brought as near the light as possible, and if care is taken, all will be well. Should the green fly make its appear- ance on the plants, they may be easily got rid of by smaking with tobacco, taking care not to give them too strong a dose. The following list will be found to include nearly all the best varieties in cultivation and may be relied upon: Brilliant, Catherine Hayes, Cerito, Empress Eugenie, Garland, Lady Camoys, Lady Hume Camp- bell, Lord Btamford, Madame Sontag, Mrs. Sidney Herbert, Picturata, Prince Arthur. The leaves of plants should invariably be kept clean and free from dust; if they a,r-> not, you cannot expect success in plant-growing. The leaves of a plant are like the limgs of an animal; they must be iept free, or it will die of suffocation. TEH VIOLET Alf i) ITS VARIBTIES. The Russian violet is certainly one of the most dfc lightful little flowers, and often comes at the most un promising time of the year ; but those who want tv. be always plucking violets should have all the lead ing varieties. The Neapolitan, the double purple, the tree violet, (so ciilled, but we could never sea why, unless a strawberry can be called a tree,) and the Russian, are leading sorts ; and although any one of them may be sufficient for some people, the whole and even more should be grown, because some one or other of the sorts may be brought to flower at all tisses. The violet loves the shade, buf it wants air and its share of water. It can be forced without difficulty in a one light box, either planted or in pots ; and we prefer pots, because they can be regulated in quantity and as to season by bringing in a few at a time, or at all events by a supplj from out of doors. As soon as one lot goes out o! bloom, they can be removed to make way for othera One box full may have slight bottom heat, anothei may have noue, but the sort which is best wcrtb keeping in succession is the Neapolitan, because its blooms are pale blue and very handsome, and there should be always a few of these to bunch up witj) the darker varieties and with the white. There is no flower more manageable. Thinning of Fruit often makes all the diffe. enee between a fine crop and none, chiefly becau.^e the crop,- when too thick, does not get all the support it ought to have, and zVi fails together ; whereas by dint of attention and timely thinning the crop to half, or a third, or even a fourth of what there was originally, it would meet with a conx'spiiidiiiglj improved sample, and all saved and ripened well. This should be carried down to goosebenies cud currants. By properly checking the growth of a plant, yoi> increase the vigor of its leavea, and size of the fistul so THE GENESEE FARMER. EUGISIIA UGNI This new fruit bearing shrub was introduced into England from Soutli America, and from thence to thir country. It is nearly allied to the common Myr- tle, and is appai-ently about as hardy. It produces a berry as large as a black currant, which is said to equal "in flavor a peach or pine apple. It belongs to a family of plants named after Prince Eugene of Saxony, of the natural ordtr Myrtaceaj. It has stood reveral severe winters in England, without being hurt by the frost, but it will not prove hardy in the States much farther North than Washington. It will, nev- ertheless, be valuable for greenhouse culture, in the North, on account of the excellence of its fruit. In habit it is very graceful, with delicate, globular, white flowers, and, hly manifesjng an interest in all their business. By holding up before them, at all times, a preference for a good farmer, before any other profession. By inciting in them a love for the beautiful — the beauty of flowers, the grandeur of a tree — and at all times speaking of it as most conducive to good health as well as good morals, and as being the most congenial to reflection, religion and study, as well as every part that is manly and noble. By manilesting a love for the domestic animals, remarking on the handsome parts of this horse, and that cow, fineness and beauty of wool, and of the sheep, &c. ^By making little coteries, or visiting parties, intro- ducing historical and benevolent societies,_ and invit- ino- th°era to join you; for, many times, it is the lack ouxcitement, in the quiet, every-day routine of life that makes them dissatisfied. Coleman informs us :hat English ladies do all ths and much more, and that the happiness and resppcia- bility loJ- which the English Farmers are proverbial, are attributed to the inteiest women manifest in the profession. ^- °- ■^- 34 THE GENESEE FARMER. Our January number, ttie first of the New Year. 1857, is now before you, kind reader. Thanks to our numerous and experienced correspondents, it is worthy of your care- ful examination. We feel proud of the paper, and think you will agi-ee with us that no one need be ashamed to show it to his neighbors and ask them to help sustain the cheapest agricultural journal in the world by sending in their names and thirty-seven and a half cents to the publisher. From all parts of our extended country we receive daily indications of the good-will of many true jrieiids of Rural Progress, who are doing their best to circulate sound ag- ricultural literature in their respective neighborhoods. The letters we receive, and, not less, the $3 for a club of eight which accompanies most of them, encourage us to spare no efforts to make our paper worthy of the encomi- ums bestowed upon it, and to hope that as our circulation nearly doubled last year, we shall be able to chronicle a still greater increase during the present year. We are free to confess that were it not for the voluntary and disinterested labors of the friends of agricultural im- provement in this country and in Canada, who have done so nobly in extending our circulation, we could not afford to furnish so good a paper at so low a rate. Our paper costs as much as the dollar monthlies, and more than some of them, and it is easy to see that our circulation must be very large in order to make a tifiy cent paper as profitable as a dollar one. For instance, supposing the actual cost of the paper to be thirty cents, and the lowest club term to be thirty-seven and a half cents, in the one case, and sixty-two and a half cents in the other, the dollar paper makes more than foiir times as much as the fifty cent paper. The dollar papers. therefore, make more with five thousand subscribers thac we do with twenty thousand. Nevertheless, we are anx- ious to provide pood agricultural reading at such a low rate as to be within the reach of all; and as long as our efforts are sustained as they have been, we shall spare no pains to make the Genesee Farmer the best, as it certainly is the CHEAPEST agricultural and horticultural journal in the world. i It has been intimated that the reason why we can afford to make so cheap a paper is because we are engaged in other business, and use the paper as an advertising medi- um. This is a malicious falsehood. There is no one con- nected with the paper that has the remotest interest in any business whatever. The principal editor of this paper was born and brought up on a farm, and has spent his whole life in agricultural pursuits and studies till he took the editorial chair in the office of the Genesee Farmer, in November, 1851. Since tha.t time he has devoted himself to writing for the agricultural press ; and it may not be amiss to state as a fact showing the great interest felt in agricultural literature, that last year he had an engage- ment with one of our shrewdest publishers to furnish mat- ter, at a far higher rate than is paid by the great British Quarterlies, which are supposed to remunerate their con- tributors better than any other periodicals in the world. , There never was a time when good agricultural reading .was so much sought after as at present ; and we are under no necessity to engage in any other business than that of endeavoring to make a good farmer's paper. We have never had any other business — except farming — and as lonsr as our paper is sustained as well as at present, we shall devote ourselves exclusively to its interests, and those of its readers. United States AcnicuLxuKAL Society. — The fifth annual meeting of the United States Agricultural Society will be held at the rooms of the Smithsonian Institute, in the city of Washington, D. C, Jan. 14, 1867, at ten o'clock, forenoon. Business of importance will come before the meeting. The report of the F.xhibition at Philadelphia, and the journal of the society for 185G will be distributed to the members present. At the same time, awards of Premiums on Fie'd Crops will be made; the officers of the society for the ensuing year, elected, and the propositions which have been received in relation to the fifth annual exhibi- tion, acted upon. ?_ A lecture will be delivered on the application of Science to Agriculture, by Professor IIenrt, of the Smithsonian Institute. Another lecture on the Grasses of the United States will be given by Ciiakles L. Flint, Esq., Secre- tary of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. Other lectures and interesting discussions are expected on sulyects pertaining to the objects of the Association. The various Agricultural Societies of the United States are requested to send delegates to the meeting, and all gentlemen who are interested in the welfare of American Agriculture, who would promote a more cordial spirit of intercourse between the farmers in different portions of our land, are invited to be present. MARSHALL P. WILDER, President. Wif. S. King, Secretary. December 11, 185G. Extracts from Complimentary Notices. — Prof. J. A. Nash, of the Plough, Loom and Anvil, says: " The Gtnesee Farmer is one of the olde.=t, the cheap- est, and in our view, one of the best monthlies." The italics are his own. This is high praise from such a man. J. W. Alwat, of Kommoks, C W., says: " I would not be without the Farmer for three times ita price." E. P. Underhill, of Golden rona, j\y., says : " I used to read the Farmer when small, and think it ifl, decidedly, the best agricultural paper published for the masses." J. N. Shepard, of Marion, O., says : " I have taken the Genesee Farmer for seventeen years, and, like man and wife who have been a long time to- gether, cannot afford to part in old age." E. A. Griffith, of Boston, Erie Co., N. T., says :^ " Of late I have taken the , but have concluded to change back again for the Farmc-y. The is too full of music and romance to suit my fastidious taste." Joseph Harris, Esq: — I have taken the Genesee Farmer for three voars, and think it is a very valuable paper and one that ought to be read in every family. I shall endeavor to circulate it among our farmers as much as possible; with little trouble I have formed a club of about forty or upwards; the amount, with subscription, wiU he forwarded, but your answer is first required how you wish it mailed; it can be registered, if you desire; please an- swer as soon as my note is at hand. With plf-asurc I act as your agent, and notwithstnnding the various pajiers published upon the best modes of farming, there is not one, in my opinion, that will be as useful to the farming community as the Genesee Farmer; and I hope it will long continue, as it now is, a blessing to all who take it and read it. I remain your Sincere Friend, Jonathan^ Mil- ler.— Berrysbvrg, Dauphin Co., Fmn., Dec, 4, 185G. To Correspondents. — Many excellent commaniea- tions have been received too late for this number. Tb«j shall appear next month. THE GENESEE FARAfER. Premiums for Short Essays. In the hope of calling out the opinions of the readers of the Gaiesee Farmer, we liave determined to otTer a Book of the value of One Dollar, for the best aiticle (not to exceed one page of the Farmer) on each of the following Bubjects : On the Management of Sheep ; On the Management of Swine ; On the Management of Jlilch Cows ; On the Management of Horses ; On the Management of Young Stock and "Working Cattle ; On the Relative Advantages of Employing Horses or Cattle in Farm Labor ; On Cheese Making ; On Butter Making ; On the Cultivation of Winter Wheat; On the Cultivation of Spring Wheat ; On the Cultivation of K^'e ; On the Cultivation of Barley ; On the Cultivation of Oats ; On the Cultivation of Peas; Oil the Cultivation of Btans ; On the Cultivation of Indian Com; On the Cultiv-ation of Broom Corn; On the Cultivation of Millet ; On the Cultivation of Onions ; On the Cultivation of Crops for Soiling Purposes; On Growing Clover Seed ; On 0 rowing Grass Seeds ; On the Cultivation of Potatoes ; On the Cultivation of Turnips, Ruta Bagas, Mangel Wurzel, and other Root Crops ; On the Best System of Rotation ; On the Management and Application of Barn- Yard TIanure ; On the Use of Lime as a Manure ; On the Use of Unleached Ashes as a Manure ; On the Use of Leached Ashes as a Manure ; On the Use of Salt as a Manure ; On the Use of Peruvian Guano as a Manure ; On the Use of Superphosphate of Lime as a Manure ; On tlie Most Economical Mode of obtaining Fertilizing Matter other than Barn-Yard Manure ; On any Insects Injurious to the Farmer ; On the Advantages of System in Farming Operations ; On the Advantages of Forethought in Farming Opera- tions ; On Cutting Hay, Corn- Stalks, and other Fodder, for florses and Cattle : On the Best Cleans of Destroying Weeds ; On the Management of Permanent Grass Lands ; On Underdraining ; On Subsoil Plowing ; On the Advantages of Stirring the Soil in Dry Weather; On Irrig'ating Grass Land ; _ On thf Best Means of Destroying Mice, Rats, and other Vermin On ths Best Plants for Hedges — their Management, &c.; On the Management of Woodland ; On Planting Trees on the Prairies, for Shelter, Fuel and Timber; On the Management of a Prairie Farm — Commencing in its Natural State ; On the Best Method of Fencing a Farm J On the Benefits of Agricultural Fairs ;• On the Benefits of Farmers' Clubs, and the Best Plan or their Organization ; On the Influence of Agricultural Papers, and the Duty of Farmers to Write for them. IIoKTicuLTuuAi, Subjects. — On the Cultivation of Pears; On the Cultivation of Apples; On the Cultivation of Peaches; On the Cultivation of Plums^, On the Cultivation of Small Fruits — Strawberries, Ba»p< berries. Currants, Gooseberries and Blackberries; On the Cultivation of Cranberries. The advantages of shelter for Gardens, and the best means of providing it; For the best answer to the question, "Why do Farmers so generally neglect their Gardens ? and the best means of rectifying the evil; For the best answer to the question, " Is the Cultivation of Fruit on a more extended scale desirable ? On the Management of a Farmer's Garden; Subjects FOR THE Ladies. — For the best Dozen Do- mestic Recipes ; On the Cultivation of Flowers ; For th-e best reasons why our Agricultural Societies should Ttot offer premiums for a public exhibition of Lady Equestrianism ; For the best article on the other side of the Question ; For the best answer to the question, "Is a residence in the Country or City most conducive to high mental culture, beauty of person, health, happiness and usefulness ?" For the best answer to the question, " Is it right to ask the v/omen folk to milk the cows during the busy season ? {Open to both sexes /)' On drying Apples, Peaches, Plums and other Fruit ; For the best answer to the question, " What can mothers and daughters do to make farm life attractive to their sons and brothers, and prevent them from leaving tke farm to en- gage in mercantile or professional pursuits ?" It is desirable that the articles be as short as possible, — It is far more difficult to write a short article than a long one; a7id other thhigs being equal, brevity will be consid- ered as a mark of excellence. Write only on one side of the paper, and be sure and do not have the lines too close together. Many persons, to save a cent's worth of paper, put us to a dollar's worth of trouble in preparing their manuscript for the printer, and all because it is written too closely. Those who are not in the habit of writing for the printer, should write on ruled paper, and skip every other line. The articles will be submitted to competent judges, and the premiums announced and paid as soon as they make their decision. All articles must be sent in by the first of February. Ohio State Board of Agriculture. — At the An- nual meeting of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, held at Columbus Dec. 3, 185G, the following officers were electee for the year 1857 : President — Alexander Waddle, of Clark, Treasurer — Lucian Buttles, of Franklin, Recording Secretary — John M. Milliken, of Butler, Corresponding Sec. — John H. Klippart, of Cuyohoga. To Single Subscribers. — Those who have sent us fifty cents for a single copy of the Genesee Farmer can have four more copies for $1.50, or seven more copies for $2.50. Those who have sent us $1 for two copies, can have three more copies for il, or six more copies for $2. We will send the papers to any address or post-office yoq wi£h. 86 TIIE GENESEE FARMER. TiiK I? URAL Annual and Horticultural Dikecto- Rr, FOR 1857. — This beautiful work, of 144 pageS; is now ready. It contains, besides a great variety of matter interesting to every farmer and gardener, articles on I>ural Architec- ture, with several beautiful designs of cottage, suburban, and farm houses, prepared expressly for the Rural Annual: On iaying out a small Fruit and Ki*^chen Garden, with a list of the best varieties of fruits, directions for the prepa- ration ol' the ground, &c., with a fine engraving: On the cultivation of Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Currants, Gooseberries, &c., with engravings and descrip- tions of the best varieties, &e. : On the maiiae'ement of Hedges, with illustrations of the best modes of training, &c. : On the Kitchen Garden : On the management of Grapes in cold houses, with engravings showing the best mode of training, &c. : On planting an Apple Orchard, best varieties for different localities, &c. : On the Archi- tecture of Lodges, School Houses, &c., with two beaut-jful engravings: On building a Stable, with plan and descrip- tion: On the breeds and management of Poultry — pro- fuss]-r illitstratod : On Ornamental Planting, Landscape Gardening, &c., with numerous illustrations : On the Ad- vafltages of Shelter, &c. Also, a corrected list of Fruits recommended by the American Pomological Society, with lists of Nurserymen and Agricultural Implement Makers in the United States and Canadas. The whole comprising a work which for usefulness and beauty should be in tke hands of every one interested in Rural Pursuits. "We send it, postage paid, for twenty-five cents a copy. //* Clubs of Eight, we send the Genesee Farmer and Rural Annual for fifty cents the two. To every one sending us eight subscribers to the Genesee Fctrmer, at the lowest club terms of thirty-seven and a HALF CENTS each, we will send one copy of the Rural Annual for their trouble. Our January Premiums. — Tiie names of the success- ful competitors for our January Premiums will be announ- ced in the February number, and the prizes immediately sent. It is not necessary that the club be sent in all at once. Send on the names as fast as obtained. Read over the premiums, and we think you will be induced to com- pete for them. If you try, you will be sure of one of them. rRuiT-GuowERs' Society of Western New-York. The Annual Meeting and Exhibition of this Society will be held in the Supreme Court Room, in the Court House, in the city of Rochester, on Wednesday, January 0, 1857, at 10 o'clock, A. M., when important topics will be dis- cussed, au-l the officers for the ensuing year elected. At many post offices, we have but one or two subscrib- ers. Will not such read over our liberal list of premiums, in thfi advertising columns, and then get us up a club ? There is no way in v/hich a young man can more easily obtain a good agricultural library. Patent Office Report. — We are indebted to the Hon. John Williams, and to the Hon. Charles Mason, Commissioner of Patents, for the Patent Office Report for 1855. We have not space to notice its contents this month. Back Volumes. — We are entirely out of the volume (or 1850. The price of the bound volume is $1 each, and \i sent by mail, twenty-five cents additional must be sen to pay postagCi Every Farmer should take at least Two Agri- cultural Papers. — The Plough, Loom, qnd Anvil well says : " Our opinion is that every farmer should have at least' two agricultural papers, one in his own region, and one more distant and general. Intelligeuce is immensely im- portai t to agriculture. A farmer who is feeble in body, and cannot do hard work, will get on better, if read up in his business, than one as strong as Sampson, without that advantage." We fully endorse this. It is the duty of every farmer to help sustain the agricultural paper published in his ^,wn neighborhood, and if it is not good, to try to make it better by eommunivating his experience ; but he should also take a paper that elucidates principles which can be applied in all countries and climates ; and it gives us great pleasure to add that we know of no better paper than the Plough, the Loom, and tlie Anvil, edited by Prof. J. A. Nash and JNI. P. Parish, Esq., published monthly in New-York price $3 per annum, three copies for f 6. This may be more than many will be willing to pay, and to such we would recommend the Genesee Farmer. It is so cheap that all can afford to take it in addition to half a dozen other papers. It is a mistake to suppose that it comes in competition with other journals. It occupies a field to itself, and has done more to create a taste for agri- eultural literajure in this country t'lan some of our con- temporaries, who are now reaping the benefit, are willing t9 admit. Transactions of the New York State Agricul- tural Society. — We are indebted to the Secretary, B. P. JaiiNSON, Esq., for the transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society, for 1856. From a slight examina- tion, we think this the best volume yet issued by this So- ciety. We shall notice more at length in a future uumbes. Monroe County Farmer's Club. — We are glad to announce that the Monroe County Agricultural Society have organized a Farmer's Club for the purpose of discus- sing agricultural and horticultural topics. The first meet- ing will be held at the Court House, in this city, Decem- ber 30th. A large attendance is desired. Cheap Reading for Farmers. — One volume of the Genesee Fanner contains 384 pages, the Rural Annual 144 pages. In clubs of eight, we send the two for fifty cents. Five hundred and tweuty-eight pages for half a dollar I Can any one desire cheaper reading ? Premiums. — Read over our list of Premiums For sa- 5cribers to our present olume ; it is greatly enlarged. The January Premiuws are an entirey new feature. No one who tries can fail to take at least one Premium. You may by a little effort get $70 ; you are sure of somehing. Kind reader ! if you can induce -any of your ne-ighbors and friends to subscribe for the Genesee Farmer we veiv- ture to say they will not regret it. Speak to them at once. We will gladly send show-bills and specimen numbers to any who are disposed to act as agents. Let all who siiall or a good Agricultural Library malce a little effort to get subscribers for the Genesee Farmer, and they shall have it, and one which tliey wil not feel ashamed of. Owing to a deficiency of water, our paper-makers have been unable to furnish us paper for the Rural Annual as promptly as usual. We shall, however, be able to fiU afl orders for the Annual in a few days. THE GENESEE FARMER. e'l Kolixts of Ntbj Books, ^tn'oliualjs, *c. Tub AMBitioAV Poci.Tfjibr's CoMi'AyioN; A Practical Treatise on the Breeid perhaps more of your readers. W. ALYAY—Lebo, C. IK. We have repeatedly published remedies for warts on cattle, and should be glad of the experience of others. Burning Chalk : — I must troub'e you for a piece of information which I cannot find in an. of the books — spe- cific directions for burnii g chalk. I have a large bai^k o? It, thrown out years ago at my landing, the l.iailast of seme British ship- I propo>e to iiuni it as we do o\ster skells, in a green pine pen. with alternate layers of wood : bat I do not know if it will require more or less heat and t-ieie than shells. Have you ever known a slight dressing of lime — tvro to two and a half bushels hydrate per acre — applied broad- cast, as a remedy for fly. If aye, does it operate to stimu- late the growth, or is the solution v/a.shed into contact with the maggot ? I know a gentleman — two indeed — wl-:<» testify strongly in favor of the practice. One of them had made repeated comparative trials, and always to his entire satisfaction. * — \'irgi7tia. Chalk is a soft variety of lime-stone, or carbonate o5 lime. It is found in great abundance in many di^t^icts of England, but we believe does not exist on this continent. It is used to a great extent, in some parts of England, ia its native state, being spread on grass land, in the winter, as we use marl in this country. The action of the frosi causes it to crumble to piece ■■, and it can be plowed under the next spring, or, still better, the next fall. Chalk is burned and converted into quick-lime in the same way as we burn lime-stone, with this difference, that far less heat is required. We h-ave seen half a dozen rude kilns on a single farm. They are generally made on a side-hil!. and are nothing more than a chimney made of brick. A quan- tity of underbrush, or other cheap wood, is placed at the bottom, and the chalk is laid upon it. Then set fire to the wood, and the calcined chalk or lime is taken out at the bottom. We cannot give " specific" directions for burn- ing chalk, and like sur correspon lent, can find nothing m the subject in the books. Under the circumstances of our correspondent, we should apply it to the land without burning. Will some of our correspondents give us their experi-; eoce oa the other subject alluded to above ? ^ S8 THE GENESEE FARMER. (M. A. C.) Crushing the Chinese Sdoar Cane. — We do not think the Chinese Sugar Cane could be crushed and pressed in an ordinary cider mill, but should be glad to hear troiii those who have experience in the matter. HovEN IN Cattle. — Can vou inform me where I can obtain an instrument first devised by Dr. Monro, and now brought to perfection by Mr. Brae, of the Kegent's circus, ■which is said to be superior to every other method of re- lieving blown or lioven cattle ? Brad's Patent Veterinary Syringe consists of a syringe to vvliich tubes of diit'erent sizes are affi.xed. according to •the purpose and kind of animal to be operated upon. Tliere is a large, flexible tube for giving an enema to horses and cattle, and a smaller one for dogs ; also for sheep. A hollow probange which is armed with a stilet for re- lieving cattle choked with turnip or potato. Asophagus Probange, is about 4] feet in length, to reach from the mouth to the rumtn. You will please inform me what it can be purchased at. J. B. B. — Laurel, Del., Dec. 8, 1850. Y>'!.1I some of our correspondents answer the above ? ADVERTISEMENTS, To 8''cure insertioD in the Fak.mer, must be received as early as the lOt'i of the previous month, 3::id be of such a character aa to be of interest to farmers. Terms - Ttvo Dollars for every hundred worrifl, each insertion, paid in advaa'ce. ■INGERSOLL'S PREMIUM PORTABLE HAY PRESS. Tills Pre-!S combines great- er power and portability, and requires less labor, occu- pies less space, and costs less space, and costs less money than any other machine for balinf; hay ever offered to the liulilic. It is equally convenient for pre.'sir.g Cotton, Hemp, Hops, Briiom Corn, Rags, Husks, &c. jjamples may be seen at our Warehouse, and circulars with cut-: and full descriptions will be furiii^hed upon application 1 y letter or otherwise, to F^VIRBAXK-ij.'M CO Scale Maniifactui-ers, No. 189 Broadway, Jan. 1 — 3t. New York. ANBEE LEEOY'S NUESERIES, AT ANGEES, FSANCE, MU. AXDRE l.EROY, Member of the principal Horticultural and .^glicu!tul■al Societies of Europe and America, and lately promoted by the French Emperor to the rank of Kniiiht of the t.egion of Honor, for ilie best Nursery products exbib'ted at the World's Exhifiition at Paris, befrs leave to inform his friends and the public, that he has just pulilished his new Catalogue for 1856. being moie extensive and complete than that of any similar estab- lishment on this Continent. It contains the prices, &c., of all the Fruii, Ornamental and Evergreen Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Camelias, Shocks, Seedlings, &c., &c., with the necessary information fur im- oorting the same. His experience in putting up orders for Amer- ica, and the superior quality of his plants have been too well ap- preciated during a period of ten years, to require other comment. The Catalogue can lie h.ad on application to the undersigned Agent, who will also receive and forward the orders. Mr. A. Eeroy is ba)ipy in being able to state that his Nurseries were not reached by the inundation whicn so recently devastated a portion of the district in which they are situated. ANDRE LEROY. Anger.s, France. F. A. BRUGUIKRE, Sole Agent, Oct. l^t. 138 Pearl street. New York. PLEASE TO READ THIS. EMPLOYMENT FOR THE WINM'ER. Persons out of employ- ment may find that which is both profitable and pleasant by addressing ROBERT SEARS, Publisher, Jan. 1— 4t No. 181 WiUiam street. New York. LIGHT HOUSE ISLAND, an Original Novelette, by the author of "Zilt^au," &c., will be published m the Saturday Evening Post. Seo Progpectua in another place. Prospectus for 1857. TiE SATURDAY EVENING POST. ESTAEUSHED AUGUST 4tli, 1E51. THE pi.biii^ers of this old and firmly established paper, take pleasuie ii calling the attention of the public to their pro- gramme lor the r ^ming year. Surfeited with polities, the clainrs of literature wiU b( more than ever iipprociated by the reailiifg world. We have, '.acrefore, already made arrangcnieuts with Ihf following brilliani list of writers : WM. nOWlTT (of England.) ALICE CAREY. T. S. AR TIIUR. MRS. SOUTIIWORTH, AUGTSTINE DUtiANNR MRS. M. A. DENISON, the author of •' Ziilah;' 4c. We design commencing in the first number in January next, the following original Novelet: TALLENGtTTA, OR THE SQUATTER'S HOME. By William IIo-ivitt, author of "Rural Life in England," "Homes of the Poets," its will admit, of the Great World. Engravings. — In the way of F^ngravings, we generally pre- sent two weekly — one of an instructive, and the other of a humor- ous character. The postage on the Post to any part of the Uuitod States, pai, Undoubtedly the be.st work ever issued from the American press on the Causes, Nature and Treatment of Diseases and Lameneit i» Horses. Price $1. Every man who owns a horse should own this book. JOHN P. .JEWETT & CO., Publishem, Koy. 1— 4t 117 Washington street, Boston. '' THE GENESEE FARMER. 89 Genesee Farmer for 1857. The circulation of the Genesee Farmer during the past year has been nearly double what it was in 1855. Encouraged by this success, we have deter- mined to make great improvements in the present vol- ume, and to spare neither labor nor expense in our efforts to make this Pioneer Agricultural Journal still more worthy of that extensive patronage it has so long enjoyed. The Genesee Farmer is not a reprint Every line is set up for it, and for it alone, ^ye believe this is true of no other fifty cent Agricultural Paper in the country. The Genesee Farmer is beyond all doubt the CHEAPEST AGPJCULTURAL AND HOR- TICULTURAL JOURNAL IX THE WORLD.— In Clubs of eight, you get three hundred and eighty- FOCR LARGE, AND CLOSELY PRINTED PAGES, illustrated with numerous and costly engravings, for the small sum of thirty-seven and a half cents. Surely no far- mer, for the future, will be without an agricultural pa- per. If there is any farmer icho cannot afford to pay so small a sum, we will, on application, make him a present of the paper for a year, for we are certain he cannot afford to be without it. The large circulation of the Genesee Farv.jcr is mainly due to the voluntary efforts of the friends of agricultural improvement in all parts of the country. W* cannot reward them. The consci jusness of their disinterested labors must be their recompense. Wish- ing to do what we can, however we offer the follow- ing XIBERAL PREMIUMS FOR 1857. 1. To every person who sends Eight Subscribers, (at our lowest terms of thirty-seven and a half cents each,) we will send, postage paid, a copy of our beautiful twenty-Bye cent book the Rural An- nual for 1857. 2. To every person who sends us Sixteen subscribers, (at ayr lowest club terms of thirl ij-scven and a half cents each,) one extra copy of the Genesee Farmer, and one copy of the Rural Annval. 3. To every person sending us Twe.nty-koctr subscribers, as atiove, two copies of the Rural Annual, and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural work valued at 50 cents, postage paid. 4. To any person ordering Thirty-Two copies of the Farmer, as above, three copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultoral book valued at 16 cents, postage paid. 5. For Forty, four copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at $1, postage paid, or four extra copies of the Farmer. 6. For FORTY-EKiUT, five copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at $1,25, postage paid, or five extra copies of the Farmer. For larger numbers, books or papers given in the same propor- tion. S;^" To save expense to our friends, we pay the postage on all these works, and persons entitled will state what they wish sent, and make their selections when they send orders; or if their list is not complete, if wished, we will delay sending until the club is full. Premiums for the Greatest Number of Subscribers. In order to excite a little competition among our friends every- where, as well as to reward them for their voluntary labors in be- half of our journal, we make the following liberal offers. Those ■whs do not get the premiums offered below are sure of the above, 60 that we have no blanks. 1 FIFTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books (at the lowest prices,) to the person who shall send us the largest number of sub- scribers at the club prices, before the 15th day of April next, so that WCt^may annoiutCQ the succeasfal competitors ixi the llay number. '', 2. TUKvTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books, to the pei-son jrho shall stMiil us the si-eond higlieel listi, a* above. 3. TWE.NTY DOLLAK.S, in Agricultur%l Books to the person who shall send the third highest lists, as iibove. 4. KU'TEE.V DOLLARS, iu Agiiculturai Books, to the per.son who shall send us the fourtli highest list, hb .-ibovtt. 6. TEN DOLLARS iu Agricultural Books, to the person who Ehall send us the fifth highest list, as above. Our object iu olfi-riug books is to increa'ie their circulation througliout tlie country. If any prefer the oetth tliey can be ac- commodated. Ci.rB.s .are not required to be at one post office or sent to one ad- dress. We send wherever the members of the club may desire. We are particularly desirous that our friends SHOULD FOKM CLUBS E/VRLY. There are thousands of our readers who every year put off renewing their subscription till several weeks or even months of the new year are gone. by, and who are thus without the paper during the most leisure season of the year. To rectify this as much as possible, we offer the following liberal JANTJAEY PEEMIUMS! Twenty Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person sending us the largest number of subscribers (at tho lowest club price of tliirty-seven and a half cents each,) before the fourteenth day of January, 1S67, so that we can announce the successful compeiitoi-s in the February number. Fii'Ti:E.v Dollars in#Agricultural Books to the person sending us tlie Second highest list, as above. Tk.n Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Titird hijjhest list, as above. Nine Dollars in .Agricultural Books to the person sending the Fourth highest list, as above. EiouT Dollars in Agiii.ultural Books to the person sending ua Ihe Fifth highest list, as above. Skvk.v Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending the Sictk highest list, as above. Six Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Senenth liighest list, as above. Five Dollabs in Agricultural Books to the person sending the Eighth highest list, as above. There is not a town in the LTnited States or Canadas, where any person, by showing his neighbors a copy of the paper and asking asking them to subscribe, might not take some of the above Jan- uary Premiums. The Premiums will be promptly paid. The Books can be selected by*the person taking a premium from the very complete list waich we publish in our advertising columns, or we will get any works v.-hich are required, and furnish them at the lowest retail price of the publishers. Persons who compete for the January Premiums can also com- pete for the April Premiums, and in this way it is not improbable that Two Premiums will be obtained /or the same list of svbscriien. THE RURAL ANNUAL AND HORTICULTURAL DIPvECTORT FOR 1857. — We have made great improvements in the present volume of this work. It is considerably larger than that of last year, profusely illustrated with expensive wood cuts, engraved ex pressly for the work ; printed with new type, on better paper, and the pages surrounded with a neat border; while the originaliiy, practical value and variety of the reading matter are such as to render the Rural Annual for 1S57 worthy a place at every fireside in the country. Every one interested in rural pursuits should have a cop/. Price, 25 cents a copy, postage paid. THE EUEAL ANNUAL AND GENESEE FAEIIES IN CLUBS. Every Subscriber to the Farmer should have a copy of th? Rural Annual. In clubs of eight, we send the Farmer for one year, and a copy of the Rural Annual for fifty cents. In other words, for FOUR dollars we will send ei»-ht copies of the Farmer for one year, and eight copies of the Rural Annual. For eight dollars we will send sizteen copies of the Genesee Farmer and sixteen copies of the Rural Annual, and one extra copy of each for the person who gets up the Club. Any person sending us $3 for a club of eight of the Genesee Far. mer shall receive one copy of th* Rural Annual for his trouble, postage paid. Postmasters, Farmers, and ai^ friends of Rural Improvement are respectfully sohcited to obtain and forward aubscriptiouB. Money may be sent at our risk. Address, JOSBPH HH.AK1!?, 'Rochester, NY 49 IHE GENESEE FAR^fER. Price 26 Price 25 Price BOaSS FOR THE FAEMEP.SJ FURNISHED BY THE PROPRIETOR OF GENESEE FARRIER. Morton"? C.vclopeflia of AcrricuUune. Two volumes beautifully kouivl in Morocco. Price $22. ^-7*1*10 Morton's Cvclopedi.i of A-iiculture, bound m cloth $18. WilsoM-s Ru.al Encyclopedia. Four yois (.ecoud Land; |16. PhiiKi's VV^fVibl^ Kin.'dom, with colored plates. Price $6. Th^lr-r-s Guide. By .-ames Webb P.ice 87>i centa. Hon- to Choose a Milch Cow. Price 62>2 els. ?mith on Uie Consl. uction of CottageH. Price $1. The Farm Kogmeer By B^W^h.e. Pace %3. CuniVs Dmu'Siic Medicine. Price |.i. t, • oc t The Cow D-^ry Hu»raudry, a.-id Cattle Breeding. Piice25et8 Every Lady h..r o«-n Flower frardsm-r. Price 2.3 cents, he Ameiic .1 Kii.hen Gardener. Pi .ce 2o cents. 1'he .Vmerican Rose Culturer. Price 2-3 cenk. Pri.eE.v«.y on Manures. By S. L. Dajia. Price 25 eents. Skiunei'-s Elemert'. of Apiculture. Price 2a cents. The Pests of the Faitn, with diiecUons for extirpaUon **5^i'^;^es— tlieir Varieties, Breeding, Management, &c. *'^TUe Hive and Honey Bee-their Diaeaaea and Remedies ^ m" h'os— itR Di/!ease.a and Miuiagement. Price 25 cents. T!io AmwiCMi Bird Fancier-Breedin.^ Puiising, &c. 25 cte. Domestic Fowls ivnd Ornamental Poultry. I>i-ice & cente -U.^ai«rry made Easy for the U.e of famers Price 25 cts. TfiH AraericAn Poultry Yard. The cheapest and best book pub- "^l-ha'Arawtcan Field Book of Manure.s Embracing all the Fef- W;-2.M-s ItiHiwn, with directions for use. By Browne. $1-5. Baifirs Kitcheo Gardener. Price 75 cents. Sto.ckharf s Chemical Field Lectures. Price 31. Wilson on the Oultin tion of Flax. Pnca 25 cents. Tiie Farmer's Cyclope.. a. By Blake. Price $1.2o. Allen's Rum! Archi ecture. Price $1.-0. „ . „, . PlieWs Bee Keeper's Cliart. Illustrated Price ^^ -cnta. ,. Tnim^^n's Lectures on Pmctical Agriculture. Paper, price 25 *J.*lineton'8 Aftricnltural Chemistry. Price $1.25. .Tol„>.'*j)u's Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. Price ^\ E.iai.MU'sShee.-) Husbandry. Price $1.25. MiiifVs Americin Bee-Keeper's Marual. Pnce_^5a. Piidds A,-nerican Cattle D-ctor. Complete. Price f- Fe"«iepherd'8 own Book. Edited by Youatt, Skmner and Ran- *SrppreaVs*'Bookof the Farm; or Farmer's Guide. Edited by Skinner. Price S4. Allc/i's American Farm Book. Prioe $1. Tlie American Florist's Guide. Price 75 cents. The Ootta.rchard. Pnce $1.25. Gnr.a's Ooraec'cc ..Cedicijie. A book for every mamed man and Won>in. Piice $•'!. , , t • « Na.^li's Progressive Faj-mer. A book for every boy in ttie cxiun- try. Price .50 cents. _ . „- Arson's Diw.a.ses of Domestic Animals. Price 7o centa. Snjvton's Rural Hand-books. 2 vols. Price $2.50. Bf-a-^ne's Southern Ascriculture. Price .SI. Sinith'i Landscape Gardening. Containing hints on aErantnng Paries Plea-sure Grounds, &c. Edited by Lewis F. Allen. Price T^ie Farmer's Land Mea-surer ; or Pocket Companion. Price B>ii.st;p American Flow,,;- Garden Directory. Price 151.25. The American Fruit itrower's Guide in Orchard and Garfien. Be- ing the most complete book on the subject ever nublished. Hnrai Annual and Horticultural Directory. iTlce Z3 cencs. Do In cloth, 50 cents. The above will be s«nt free upon receipt of price annexed. IMPORTANT TO BOOK AGENTS. THE Subscribers, in addition to their large list of Books for gen eral dealers, are now publishing a SERIES OF ILLUSTRATED WOITgS. 'o-lse sold exclusively by Agents, of a style entirely newin subs'.rip Hon book", rende ing Ihein far prefeiabV to anything now in the Hni--i3 of agents. For full pat-ticulars, address M\SO>f BROTHERS, Nov. l-3t. 108 and 110 Duane street, New York. Conttnts of X\\.s Numbti. Birn-yard Manure, ..' 9 Clover Se^'d, H Cost of Raising Cattle, 13 Too much Seed Corn, H Remedy lor Scab in Sheep, It Co.'-t of raising and keeping Sheep and producing Wool, 1* A profitable flock of Sheep, ... . . li A Good Dairy, ' U Winter Evening Notes, IS Mulching Polutoes with .Straw, l.S Richaiilsnn on the Horfe, l.'r Items suggested by the December number, 15 Fall and Spring Plowiijg, 16 Quality of Soil, 16 Facts in Ayricullurr', 17 Notes for the Month, by S. W., 17 Beans as a field crop, 18 Sharpening Edge TojL«, IH French H"rses, IS Cows and Butter Making,.. It) Rack for Feeding Shoe)', I'J Agiiculture— Its Advantages, 20 Brief Remarks addressed to Farmers, 'M Ja pan Pea, 2)J The Pedigrees of the Ara'uian Hor.se, ?"l Substitu-ies for the Potato, 21 Large Yii'ld of Potatoes, 21 Farmers'C'.ubs, 2J Extraordinary fecundity of Whi-at, BarUy and Oats, 22 Keep an account with your Farm, ?.! The "Justin Morgan" Horse, ^? Ewe Cashmere Goat, 'i^ Look to your Animals, ^> The Tiller of his own Land, 2j HORTICULTURAi. DEPAKTMENT, Improvinsr old Apple Orchards, 26 Is the Cultivason of Fruit on a. more Extended scale desirable? ^ The Yellow Lo^usi tree, 27 Peaches, ^ Tt Specimen of American Landscape Gardtning, .. 2S To Prevent girdling by Mice, ._,. . 26 Cure for Gooseberry Mildew, 2i Hints for the Month,... 28 Fly on Cherry Treos, 28 The CinerariH, '. 2?J The Vioh t and its varieties, 29 Eugenia Ugni, . . 30 Dahlias, .%. 30 Glass for Greenhouses, &c., .- £0 Mice ai.d FruitTices 30 Winter flowers for Room.s, .- 31 Cultivation of Peas, 31 The Garden, 31 Leguminous Shrubs, 32 p'ver-l'earing RHspberries, 32 A small collection first- rate Ro.ses, 3Z LADIES' DUfARTMEWT. Influence of Woman on our Social Improvement, S3 Hints for Housewives, SC How to maiie Farm Life attractive, 34 editor's table. ITnited S*ate.s Ag. Society, -- 34 F.xtracts from Complimentary Notices, 34 Premiums for Short, Essfivs, 35 Ohio vSlate Board of Agriculture, 3o To Single Subscribers,... 35 Rural Annual and Horticultural Directnry for 1867 --- 36 Every Farmer -hould take at least two AgricuLural papers, 36 Tran'factions of the N. Y. State Ag. Society, 36 Monroe Co. Farmers' Club,_ 36 Fruit Growers' Society of Western N. Y., 38 Patent Office Report - ST' Notices of New Books, Periodical', &c., 37 Inquiries and Answer*, - "? ILLUjrRATlOKS. Sketch of a Sheep Rack W Outline of tlie H-'.id of an Ar.Tbian Horse, 21 Mnr^.an hor.se "Paul Clifford," 24 Female Cashmere tJoat -- 26 Cnttspe Residence of W. H. Aspinwall, Staten Island, 28 The Cineraria,. - - ;j The Eugenia Ugni, ^ The Laburnum - ^^ WILLIAM HOWITT. the celebrated Knjlisn author, writes for ■rkt Sal' rday Evcninf Poet. TALLEl' GETTA, OB THE EQaAVTJHi's Home. S«e FioBpectiu in another pUc«. ALICE CARY writes for the Satwday Eteranff Pett. THB r.TORY OF A CO\t'^''"V GIlllu See^roBoectus in anbthec ^ pi .ace. TS ARTHUR wl*rs for the Satvrday Fvtmng Post. THB • WITHERED HEART. See Prosdectua in another pW e. Vol. XVIII, Skcoxd Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., FEBRUARY, 1857. No. 2. SHALL WE HAVE TO ABANDON WHEAT GROWING IN WESTERN NEW YORS! Owing chiefly to the depredations of the weevil — or more correctly the wheat midge [Cccidomyia trilici) it is feared that wlieat culture will have to be given np in Western New York, at least for a few years. — The subject is one of great importance, and is at- t-acting some attention. At the late meeting of the Farmer's Club of ^lonroe County, the question for consideration was, " What substitutes for the Wheat crop can be adopted with the most profit in this county?" The fact that such a subject should be se- lected for discussion at two successive Farmers' Clubs in a county which, according to the census of 1845, produced more wheat per acre than that of any other county in the State, and a greater number of bushels in the aggregate than the whole five New England States, is well calculated to create alarm. — Is it true that wheat culture must be abandoned in Western New Y'ork ? We think not. We are well aware that the midge has done serious damage to the wheat crop in this vicinity for the past few years; still we believe the extent of the injury has been over estimated. In 1855, we should have had a full aver- age crop of excellent wheat had it not been for the rainy weather which set in jr.st as the crop was ready to cut, and which continued for nearly a fortnight, causing the grain to sprout to an extent never before known in this country. One of our most experienced millers estimated that at least three-fourths of the crop was destroyed in this way; and from careful ex- amination of the crop in several counties at the time, we believe the estimate is none too high. This grown wheat was vsed for seed to a great extent, in the fall of 1855, and the crop of last year suffered materially in consequence. The failure of the wheat crop in 1855-6, therefore, cannot be ascribed to the depreda- tions of the midge alone, but, in some degree at least, to causes which are of unusual occurrence. While this is true, we cannot close our eyes to the fiict that the midge has made serious havoc with the wheat crop in some sections. On one field in this vicinity, which came under our own observation, last year, at least one-half of the crop was destroyed; but this took place on land which was too low and too wet to grow a good crop of wheat, even under the most fa- vorable circumstances. On another Geld on the same Carm, where wheat waa sown on good, dry, well-pre- pared soil, a little over twenty bushels of good wheat •was obtained per acre. So far as we could judge, t^e vUdge injured one nearly as much as the other. Had not the midge injured either of the fields of wheat, the one would have produced a crop of 10 bushels, and the other a crop of 25 bushels per acre. The midge destroyed 5 bushels per acre on both fields, and left, on tbe low, wet land, 5 bushels, and on the good land, 10 bushels per acre. The midge de- stroyed as much wheat in both cates, though it took half the crop on one field, and only one-fifih on the other I There may be instances where the midge has destroy- ed more than five|,bushels per acre, but wa think that in this neighborhood, except under very unfavorable circumstances, this was the extent of the damage. Now, while a loss of five bushels per aere causes no trifiing diminution of the profits of even an unusually largs wheat crop, yet it is evident that the loss is far less under a good than under a poor system of cul- tivation. It seems to us, therefore, that instead of looking for substitutes for the wheat crop, we should endeavor to ascertain the most economical means of increasing the fertility of our farms, and of concen- trating more labor and manure on those portious of the farm best adapted to wheat culture. On the farm of Mr. E. S. Hayward, of Brighton, in this county, results were obtained, last year, even more favorable to "high farming" than in the in- stance already mentioned. He obtained his seed from Canada (where the harvest weather of 1855 was propitious, ana the wheat was not injured as in this neighborhood,) and sowed two bushels per acre, oa naturally good, dry wheat soil prepared in the best manner. From the quantity of shrunken grains, it was estimated that the midge destroyed about five bushels per acre, and yet the crop yielded over thirty five bushels of very superior wheat per acre. The midge in this instance destroyed as much wheat per acre as in the first case mentioned, where it eat half the crop, and yet here only one-eighth of the crop was lost. We are well aware that it has of late years been fashionable to recommend " High Farming " as a remedy for every evil that afifects the farmer; and though we have more than once shown the ab^-nrdity of such recommendations, it is evident to us that th« best means of alleviating the fearful injuries caiiBed by the wheat midge will be found in a better systera of cultivation, or if you will excuse the term, ia " High Farming.'' It is well known that early wheat is less liable to injury from the midge than that which matures later. The reason for this is well known, and we need not allude to it here. On this account early Bowiiag ia 42 THE GENESEE FARMER. generally recommended, and has been attended with success; but* early sown wheat is more liable to injury from the Hessian fly than late sown. — Early sowing, therefore, cannot be adopted in all ca- sea The object of the wheat grower, it would seem, should be to increase the early maturity of the berry, or to accelerate the elaborating processes after the grain is formed. Anything which increases the we could bring our wheat to maturity a week earlier than usual, we should hare little to fear from the ravages of the midge. We are not, however, about to recommend the farmers of Wesiern New York to use guano,— at the^ present price of guano it would hardly be profitable, unless wheat commands a high price. "We must supply t!ie soil with the elements of guano from natural and more economical soarces.- henlthy growth of the irheat is favorable to this | The plan we have recommended, — ^.growing more roots, clover, peas, &c., and feeding more stock on nitrogenous foods — will bean approximation to this object. Peruvian guano is nothing more nor less than the excremenis of birds living on highly nitro- genous food; namely, fish. The excrements, as we ex- plained in an article on " Barn Yard Manure," in last number, may be considered as fi.^h v, ilh nearly all the carbon extracted from them by the processes of nutrition. Wheat needs but little carbon in its food, and a large quantity of ammonia, and hence guano is one of the very best manures that can be used for wheat. Now fish, in their natural state, may be, and unquestionably are, very beneficial as a manure, but any organized matter is not as natural a manure as the excrements obtained from the consumption of result. Uuderdraiuing is one of the great pre- requisites OQ all land that is not naturally drained. The next thing is to supply the plants with appropriate food. In saying this we would guard against a popular error. The food of wheat is com- posed of the same elements as that of other plants, and, in one sense, therefore, the food of wheat is the same aa the food of other plants. So of the food of animals, however diverse iu form and characteristics it may be, it is all composed of the same elements. — The food of the gentle lamb and the food of the fierce tiger are composed of the same elements, but still there is a vast difference between grass and flesh. So the food of plants is composed of the same ele- ments, though there is unquestionably a great differ- ence between the appropriate food of wheat and' ofj such matter. Animal life cannot exist on inorganic many other agricultural plants. A carniverous ani- mal TTOuld not remain long in health if fed on vegeta- bles, neithercan we expectwheat to attain its maximum healthy growth unless fed on its most appropriate food. What that food is, thanks to the experiments of Lawes and Boussingault, is now pretty definitely understood. The appropriate food of wheat abotinds in ammo- nia, and is comparatively deficient in carbcnaceoiis matter. It also contains less available potash and phosphates than is required in the appropriate food of clover and turnips. It should be the aim of the wheat grower, therefore, t© increase the amount of ammonia in the soil without increasing the quantity of carbonaceous matter. We have frequently stated how this can be most economically attained. Grow clovtr, peas, beans, turnips, ruta bagas, mangel' wur- zel, beets, carrots, parsneps, artichokes, lupins, and Buch other crops as obtain a large amouct of ammo- nia from the atmosphere; feed these crops out on the farm to animals, and if grain is fed to them in addition, let it be such as, other things being equal, contain the largest quantity of nitrogen; (see table in last num- ber, page 10) husband the manure so as to retain all the ammonia, and this will furnish the wheat with ap- vropriat$ food. The object of the wheat grower, we have said, should be to increase the early maturity of the berry. For- tunately, an increase of the appropriate food of the ■wheat plant seems to have this effect. Jamhs Caird, of Beldoon, Scotland, dressed a fifty acre field of wheat ■with 224 S)S. of Peruvian guano per acre, at the time the seed was sown iu the fall, leaving an acre in the centre of the field without guano. The product at harvest was, without guano, 25 ^, bushels per acre, ■weighing 60 lbs. per bushel; with guano, 32 'bushel* per acre, weighing 63 tbs. per bushel. What we wish to call attention to, however, is not the increase of wheat from guano, or the superior quality of the grain on the guanoed portion of the field, but to this remarkable fact; the acre without gaano in the centre of the field, was a week later in ripening thaa where the guano •was used. We think most farmers will agree with as that if matter, and plants cannot live on organized matter. The lifelerjs substances of earth and air, are organized by plants, and are thus made capable of sustaining animal life, with all its pleasures. It is true that there are plants which appear designed to furnish by their decay matter for the support of plants of a higher or- ganization, but there are few if any agricultural plants which properly belong to this class. It la contrary to the economy of nature to use plants which are capable of sustaining animal life for the purpose merely of furnishing food for other plants. It is rea- sonable to suppose, therefore, that decayed vegetable plants do not furnish as healthy food for the high or* der of plants as the excrements of animals living on these plants. For this reason, while we are earnest advocates for the extensive cultivation of clover on all wheat farms, •we think it is con- trary to the laws of nature to plow under such a large amount of matter capable of sustaining animal life for the simple purpose of furnishing food for the following wheat crop. Manure furnished by decayed clover is not as appropriate food for wheat as the ex- crement of animals hving on clover. It contains too mucii carbonaceous matter, and while the nitrogen of of the clover furnishes, by decay, the required ammo- nia— and this ammonia not only increases the crop, but accelerates early maturity — the carbonaceous matter (forming over four-fifths of the clover) is of little manurial value, and at the same time has a tendency to retard the ripening processes. In order to enrich the land, therefore, and at the same time increase rather than retard the early ma- turity of the crop, we would recommend to grow as much or more clover than at present, and instead of plowing it under to convert the organized carbona- ceous matter into beef, mutton, cheese, butter, wool, itc, and to return the ammonia to the soil in the form of manure. We cannot- o-ring ournelves to believe for a mo- ment that we shall have to give up wheat culture in Western New York. It is true that in the Eastern States, and in the eastern counties of this State, ■wheat culture has been to a great extent abandoned. The soil there is not and never -was a good, natural wheat THE GEXESEE FARMER/ 43 soil, and the farmera have found it cheaper to culti- vate other crops than attempt to compete with west- ern c:rowers in the production of wheat. The rava- ges oftlie Hessian fly, it is true, and the impoverish- ment (not exlxtustion) of the soil have also helped to bring about this result, but the case is ditferent with us. Our soil and climate arc exceedingly favorable for the production of wheat. There is no better wheat soil in the worM, and but very little in tlds or any other country that is as good. -In fact the soil which is naturally adapted to wheat is comparatively limited on this continent. 'I'his fact is an additional reason why the farmers of Western Xew York should not abandon wheat culture without an earnest effort to discover some method of counteractinj^ or at least mitigating the ravages of the midge. If the " Gene- see country " will not produce wheat, where shall we look for the " stuff of life?" While nearly a!l the soil of Western New York is well adapted to wheat culture, there are on every farm some fields that are more suitable for wheat than oth- ers. Vv'e must confine the cultivation of wheat to such land. Let the portion of the farm less favora- ble to wheat be cultivated with those crops which, when consumed on the farm, furnish the most valua- ble manure. Let this be used to enrich the soil for wheat. (How this can best be done we leave for fu- ture consideration.) In short, sow early varieties of wheat on the best portions of the farm, underdrain, adopt a judicious system of manuring, and our word for it, wheat culture will not have to be abandoned in Western New Fork. ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE JAKUAEY NUMBEE. Christmas day brought me the Farmer for Janu- ary, so I had a foretaste of the New Year, and some thing to set me to thinking on my favorite topics — practical and scientific agriculture. The volume opens ■with an excellent editorial on Barx- Yard Manure. — An examination, to a con- siderable extent, of wiiat is known — practical and scientific — on this subject, has led me to the conclu- "sion that the dung of animals possesses its greatest manurial value when green, or before decomposition takes place. If the straw and corn stalks fed out and used as litter, were first passed through a cutter, the manure would be perfectly fitted at once for plow- ing under the soil — so far as its capacity to increase the elements of fertility therein is concerned. As we cannot, however, apply wmter-made manure imme- diately, and as the coarse straw, &c., usually mixed with it renders its handling and covering very incon- venient, we must study the best means to prevent loss, and to fit it for use when the season for its applica- tion arrives. Your system is worthy of the adoption of farmers, and it is one which I attempt to carry out as far as my circumstances and farm buildings will allow. Such a wheel-barrow as you describe is in frequent use for mixing manures — for placing as great a portion as is convenient under the sheds which shelter the stock. Profits of Sheep. — Taking the estimate of Mr. Gore, ia the adjoining column, of the expense of keep- ing sheep, the profit of Mr. Smith's flock is about $40. The rise in the market price of sheep has much more to do with it than anything made from wool growing; though the latter seems coming up into the neighbor- hood of other farm products. It may well do so. Rats Axn Mice. — We have heard it remarked that these "pests of the farm" were generaUy more abun- dant after a snowy and steady winter, like the last, and disappeared as rapidly as they came. We are glad to see this confirmed by Mr. Bartlett's experience. Shade as a Manure. — Your (Cheviot correspon- dent brings forward a fact in regard to nmlcliing po- tatoes, and the after wheat crop, which would be tske ken as a comfirmation of the value of shade as a ma- nure. It is a fact that covering the ground closely causes a change in its character and some experiments show that it is produced by the rising of mineral matters of a fertilizing nature from the subsoil. When moisture comes up by capillary attraction to the surface from any cause, it generally brings with it something beneficial to the soil. Fall and Sprixg Pi.owixg. — It seems to me that the manner of plowing had more to do with the re- sult than the time, in the case stated by your corres- pondent, S. W. The depth of the soil prevented the full effect of the drouth, and had Aelerman's field been plowed deeper, and with narrower furrows, the sward would have rotted more rapidly. Still, fall plowing had some effect, and I am glad to see that Wright proposes to apply another test to the question. Beets for Milch (Jows — Though my crop of sugar beets, this year, is hardly worth what it cost me, yet I find them of high value for milch cows. That they are worth more for milk than potatoes, I have little doubt, for the increase in milk from feed- ing raw potatoes, seems always at the expense of its quality. S. W. says that " experiment- proves that in their raw state, beets develope in the process of digestion, their full nutritive value." I cut mine, add warm water and salt, and mix in buckwheat bran, giving about six quarts a day to one of my milch cows. The result is very sj;tisfactory, though an aunt of mine, a notable butter maker, used to say that one beet, boiled, would make as much milk as three fed raw. Beaxs for Stock. — In your remarks upon beans as a fallow crop, you say that to obtain the full ben- efit of it, they should be fed out on the farm. In this country very little use is made of beans for stock — indeed, I do not know that anything except sheep Vt'ill eat them raw. I am feeding bean straw to my sheep— they eat it very readily; and in the fall, when boiling apples, potatoes, etc., for my hogs, I put in a quantity of refuse beans — the screenings, of the crop — which were not refused by these animals. Would it be profitable to feed beans to sheep at $1.25 per bushel, the present market price? Sprixg-halt in ITorses. — This disease, about which J. K. inquires, is little understood by farriers, but ig supposed to be a partial paralysis of the nerves lead- ing from the I'mb to the brain, which is the cauie t»f the peculiar involuntary motion observed. The fol- lowing remedy is simple, and has been used with suc- cess: Rub neat's-foot oil over the cord on the inside of the gambrel, making frequent and thorough appli- cations. In warm weather it is said that it will gen- erally effect a cure, and at any time afford great relief. Patent Office Report for 1855. — There ig a steady improvement in the arrangement and getting up of this document, and the volume for 1855, gent us by Hon. H. Fish, is the best yet issued. Browxe is doing a good work in the Agii cultural Bureau, a« men who are interested in their labor always can and will. B. — Niagara Co, A*. Y. u THE GENESEE FAnMEE. THE JTUMBSK OF POUNDS IN A EUSEEL, The following Table of Weights, obtained by a firm in this citj from the Secretaries of the different States, showing the cumber of pounds which their laws recognise as a bushel of the following article^ will be of value for reference. All States not iLcluded in the table, as well as the blanks, are regulated by the United Ktatts standard : STATBB, M lb 6 O o a a a; .a ■a » c o s •6 CO a- 1 CO •& a O i 30 32 in J4_ 48 48 46 m 43 52 50 46 m 48 60 64 45 56 55 50 50 60 Khw Jemet, Vbbmont, 6u llraeouBi, m 60 m 48 m 56 50 56 60 56 22 22 _»_ J0_ ^ Canada, (Custom,). . -wt; — ^ — ,• FEED FOR POULTRY. Neither fowls, nor anything else, can prosper unless well cared for. No observant person could have the charge of fowls for a month, and not be fully aware, at the expiration of that period, that the growth of the chickea, the accumulation of flesh, and the pro- duction of eggs may be best proriioted by a judicious adaptation of the food to the object specially in view. That; without good shelter for our birds, the con- sumption of food is also increased in proportion to the carbon thus exhausted, will be soon manifested to the dullest intellect. Grain of different kinds forming the main article of our poultry's feed, at the present high prices M-ould seem to indicate increased inquiry as to the relative value of each for that purpose. In estimating the comparative value of the numer- ous items which are more or less a portion of our fowls' " bill of fare," let us take Indian corn as our standard. Now the present price of this grain is 87^ cents; barley $1 25; buckwheat 80 cents, and oats GO cents per bushel. Oats at this price, (30 Bbs. to the bushel,) wo would not recommend, excepting where seme change of diet appears necessary ; but while the relative prices of corn stand as above, we should not be found among the purchasers of oats, to ba given whole, however useful in the form of meal, or crushed. Tke existence of fowls would be of short duration were they confined, or limited to one single kind of food, hDwever excellent of its kind; this would neces- sf\rily imply a state of confinement for the experiment, for a large variety would always be at hand. Many artMes most useful for a change would, if given con- tinuously, prove highly injurious, such as wheat, pea- meal, or animal food; while others, such as barley and crushed oat-e, harmless in themselves, would either be refuBed, or else, if taken, disorder the natural functions of the body. But thoug^i wheat is a dearer article than barley it ismost useful at certain periods; fer colLir-g ex- ceeds it for laying on fiesh, and forming muscle for young birds. Barley sprouted, and malt mixed, could, occasion- ally, be given with excellent effect; and it is excellent for poultry of all ages- — and so is brewers grains, iJ given fresh and hot. Buckwheat must be of the veij best, for samples any way stale, will be rejected; in- deed, we have found our poultry dainty about it even when accustomed to it when young; but many breeders find it otherwise, and use large quantities of this grain, which, when boiled, appears to be moiH; highly esteemed. Indian corn, whole or cracked, the latter probably is most profitable shape, we consider the most 600* nomical, and most highly esteemed. Whenever flesh is to form a portion of the food of our poultry, we should prefer giving it boiled, and not in a raw slate. Poultry eat a great variety of food : all kinds ol grain, and seeds, and preparations made from them; also, most sorts of vegetables, raw or boiled; and, it is well-known, they are fond of a certain quantity of animal food, raw or cooked — insects and worms, grulis and maggots, they search for and devour with avidity, and some persons collect these on purpose for them. Wheat middlings, shorts, bran, corn and oat meal are useful, and are profitably given in combina- tions, particu'arly with boiled or steamed potatoes, in which form they afford a cheap supply of very nour- ishing food; but it is essential not only that these should be boiled or steamed, but that they are given warm, for fowls dislike them if given to them cold. In most houses there are many scraps, and refuse, that will serve for fowls, such as crumbs of bread, fragments of pies and puddings, and even bits of meat, and fish, and vegetables, such as lettuce, endive cabbage, spinach, chickweed and grass. Fowls do not judge so much by taste and smell as by the eye in distinguishing their food, which, when, first swallowed, passes into their crops, and after being there macerated, goes into the funnel-stomach, and then into the cizzard, in which it is triturated, or ground, as in a mill, which appears to answer the THE GENESEE FARMER. 46 same purpose as the teetli of quadrupeds. To assist tliis eifect, fowls pick up and swallow many small j-febbles and stones; and it is proper to lay some of these about in the place where they are kept. Pure water only should be given Ihem, for foul or bad water is certain to cause disease. The fault's of modern feeding, are feeding out of v^sels ot any description, — throwing down large heaps of food, — irregularity, — and too often the s (b- gtitution of anything cheap, for thr.t which is whole- some. Fowls are early risers. In a state of nature, all Birds, at break of day are in search of food, and they find it. What^ an evil it L-^, then, fur them to be fed one day at seven, next day at nine, and sometimes not till mid-day. A still greater evil is, to endeavor to make up for previous neglect by an extra quantity. If whole grain is fed, it is better to throw it far and wide, and scatter it as much as possible — among Straw or grass, spread over the ground, making them work for a living, and you will see the fowls scatter about in a natural way, seeking the stray grains, and there will none be lost. It will cost no more than feeding in troughs, and the condition of the fowls will amply compensate for the little extra trouble. Bkment. ^»...^ PLOWING LAND FOR CORN. Messrs. Editors. — Would you please tell S. W. to tell his friend Mr. Joseph Wright not to plow his sod land too deep in the Spring for corn. I never ^t a good crop of corn when I turned up subsoil. Uis distillery manure was put on far too late. Had it been put on the sod about the 1st of October, it would have told with good effect. He had better, Eow wait until the land is plowed, and then mix the manure with the soil by the harrow. Sod rots much sooner when the furrows are not laid flat, — it is bad policy to lay furrows flat for any crop. You know I advocate rest for land. I will tell VDu how I have managed a 17 acre field, to which I never apj^lied manure, except saU and plaster, and I do not know that they can be called manure. I have taken a crop of wheat from the 17 acres, every third or fourth year; seeded with clover and timothy, and pastured it with either sheep or cattle. The in- tervening years under this treatment the crops of both grass and wheat have been improving. 1 plas- ter it every seventh year and some years sow a barrel of salt to the acre on the wheat. It is wonderful the amount of pasture it affords. I have sometimes fatted 17 large three and four year old steers thoroughly fat, and those wintered with hay only; and some years I have known it make ] 2o wethers very fat. It would not have fatted half the stock at one t«ne. My last crop of wheat on this field was 31 bushels to the acre, notwithstanding the weevil. Considera- bly more than half the field was more or less injured by water, according to the season. It is thoroughly drained now, and sown with wheat. If you will visit me before harvest, I believe you will see a great crop of wheat. It is on the extreme east of my fai-m, and the highway passing along side, so that all who go along the road can see for themselves. I never had a filing crop on underdrained land, and I have no fear Qf tiiis unless too heavy straw. John Johnston. ."^ Near Geneva, N. T., Dec. 14, 1856. A BIAR5H AND ITS PRODUCTS. Ens. Farmer: — About one-half of my farm was originally a marsh, its product dwarf bushes and cianbcrry vines in the centre, and a border of alder, willow, and ])uplar, next the highland. 'J'l.e muck covering it varied in depth from a few inches to several feet — the suljsoil in most cases is a tenacious clay, though there are spots underlaid with light-colored sand, full of small sized cobble-stones. It was nearly cleared and partially drained when it came into my possession, but required still more labor to fit it for profitable tillage. Some attempts were made at draining and cleaning portions of this marsh, nearly forty years ago, by one who still owns the largest share of it, but the want of descent and depth of outlet for ditches, hindered its full success. When the drains were first cut, they carried off the surface water, and fine crops of oats and hay were grown in favorable seasons. But the surface seemed to settle year by year, and the ditches soon became clogged, and the water remained on late iQ the spring, which killed out the cultivated grass, so that the meadows proved of little value after three or four years' cropping. Favorable results, however, always followed the clearing and deepening of the ditches, and the plowing and re-seeding of the grass lands, but it was not until nearly twenty years ago that any part of the marsh was brought into cultiva- tion. The season to which I refer was a very dry one- there was no water on any part of the marbh — and, late in summer, a fire caught there, burning over a great portion of the same; taking out bogs, bushes, and muck from ten to fifteen inches in depth, and leaving the brush, well seasoned, resting on a bed of ashes from four to six inches in thickness. Living near by, many an evening did I spend with " the boys," raking these bushes into heaps and burning them, with the logs which had lain in the muck, roasting green corn by way of interlude. In course of the fall, some thirty or forty acres were cleared, and all that part I now own was thus burned over. — During the winter it filled up with water and formed a grand skating pond, attracting from miles around those fond of that exciting exercise. In the spring, we found the ashes well leached, as the stream into which the water drained showed for miles, and, as I then thought and think still, to the great loss of the land and its owner. Better far had the ashes been gathered ■end applied to the adjacent upland. When the marsh became sufficiently dry (the ditches had been cleared and deepened but a year or two before) the land was plowed and sown to oat*, barley, and some portion planted to potatoep, All gave a bountiful yield, though I noticed that the straw became more and more liable to fall or lodge, and the grain lighter at each successive crop. Grass succeeded well, but corn and wheat gave no product worth mention. But I shall make far too long a story if I dwell on this past history. My first seeding was to oats, but the wet summei of 1855 drowned out the greater share, so I did not get enough to replace the seed. Oats were again sown the next year, and the drouth burned them up, or, at least presented any decent growth, so that 1 was facetiously advised to pull them by a neighbor. The ditches had become filled up, and the water hin- dered plowing ajid sowing until very late, aud the 46 THE GEXESEE FARMER. oats Lad scarcely got rooted when hot, dcy weather came, which they were uuable to conteud with suc- cessfully. Next season I hope for better results I have ex- pended much more in enlarging the ditches and deep- ening the outlet, (in company with those owning the remainder of the marsh,) than I have yet made from ray little farm, and last fall I had the mars^h plowed into narrow lauds, and the furrows nicely opened into the main ditch, so that the water can pass off at once in the spring. The land will be tit for early sowing, and I shall again try oats and seed down to grass, hoping for more profitable returns hereafter. I find that some parts of the field, previously fall-plowed, are in better condition, especially where clay was turned up, and think that mixing muck and clay will have a good effect, and make a soil better fitted for our dry summers; while draining will fix it for our wet ones. It is astonisning to see the vigorous growth the mud thrown out of the bottom of the ditch has produced. There must be great virtue in it, and I have no doubt that, if spread over the land, it would produce effects equal to the best manure. This is partly due, 1 think, to the animal matter it contains, for thousands of small fi.shes perished therein, as the water dried away, and there were also a great many little shells and water insects. The higher portion of this marsh has lain for several years in meadow and pasture. I plowed it up last fall, and intend to plant some portion to corn and sow the remainder to oats and barley. I would like to underdrain this part, but must get some profit from it before I go to that ex- pense— though if I had the money to do it at once, I am quite confident that it would be the most direct route to the farming that pays. B. F. — Jan.. 18.37. CULTIVATION OF POTATOES. The Potato has long held a veiy prominent place f&mong the necessities of man as an article of food, but being easily cultivated, and yielding a large re- turn, with slight care or labor, there seems to have arisen among our farmers a most culpable negligence in raising and propagating so useful a vegetable; most farmers seem to think that it is sufficient to plow the ground, put in any kind of seed, run a plow be- tiveen the rows onee or twice in the season, and let them take their chance. If it should be a good sea- son, an 1 they happen to have the right kind of seed, they have a good crop; but the contrary circumstan- ces, an 1 their potatoes are not worth digging. Now if a farmer would be a farmer, it should be his aim to put in his crops in such a v/ay that he may have at least a remunerative return, even in a bad season. — For instance, in this part of Illinois, this past season, most farmers have but few potatG&=i, and those very "small potatoes," on account of an extremely d.y summer, while two or three, ])rofiting by past experi- ence, had large and profitable crops. Their process was this: They laid their seed on the top of the grround in rov>-s two foet apart, and cover-ed the ground all over with straw six inches deep, in which the po- tatoes grew without any I'urther troulde; for while the potato vine was stout enough to force its way through the straw, weeds had to hide their diminished beads, as the straw was Iroo much for them. But this ■would only answer for very dry sep^sons; and if these .gentlemen repeat the procesa in a very wet summer, they will find the boot on the other leg; for the straw will hold so milch water that if the potatoes are not entirely rotted, they will be found to be only fit for cattle and hogs; but that can be easily remedied.— The plan I shall adopt will be this: Put down three rows of seed two feet apart in beds six feet wide, leaving one foot wide outside of the outer row on eacii side, and dig a trench two feet wide and nearly as deep between the beds, throwing the beds, just barely covering the seeds; then put on straw five or six inches deep. If it should be dry weather, the straw performs its office by retaining moisture; if an extremely wet season, the surplus water drains off into the trenches. A very important object in planting potatoes is to have sound seed, of a good variety. All who have planted the same kind of potato a number of years on the same farm, know that the potato will run out or get watery and hollow in the heart, and the evil increases every year whatever the season may be. Such potatoes can be restored to their former soundness, with the loss of only one season, in the fot lowing manner: Save back two or three bushels of potatoes for six or seven weeks after the usual time of planting, say until the last of June; then plant them in the usual manner. They will not be ready to dig till a frost has wilted the vines. On digging them then, they will be found to be quite small; save them carefully till spring, and plant them at the usual planting time, and if il;e sc^-sou is favorable, they will produce large potatoes and as sound as ever that variety was ori si iiiJIy. Charles Seagar. — ffor verly, Murgmi Co., III. POTATOES ON CLOVER SOD. " IS''o i)lant enriches the soil so much for potatoes as red clover. But a tough clover sod, turned over im- mediately before planting, prevents, more or less, that thorough after-working of the soil, with the horse and hand hoe, which is essential to the production of a good crop. IIow can we get the enriching advantages of the clover sod without this drawback ? — Eds. Gen- esee Farmer, March, 1856. That clover sod prepares the land well — ^in fact first-rate — for potatoes, I know from experience. But that there is any material difficulty in pisjper after cultivation, I have never found, though I know it is not quite as easy hoeing as in a mellower soil. Let me give you my method of growing potatoes — one I have practiced for many years. The same soil and preparation which will produce good corn, with me, brings a good crop of potatoes^ and very generally the soil is fitted for both at one operation. I take a good clover sod, on a loamy soil, and apply from twenty to thirty loads of barn- yard manure — leaving it in heaps as drawn out, and spreading it immediately before plowing. Plow it but a few days before planting, from six to nine inch- es deep, taking care to make no balks, and to turn under the manure as perfectly as possible. I then harrow throughly, lengthwise the furrow, then, per- haps, across, so as to get the surface in as fine tilth as may be. But very few sods are torn up, and the tougher they are, the better, in my estimation. The ground is then marked out and the potatoes planted — in hills, so as to give chance for cultivating both ways. I have never tried rows or drills, and think it would require more labor. To get the most THE GENESEE FARMER. 47 potatoes put in half a dozen eyes to the hill, or one whole potato, but to p:et nice, larpre ones, do not put in more than three eyes in any instanco. The culture is simfily passing through tliem twice each way with the horse hoe and tilling with the hand implement. If I expect to hoe twice, I make small hills at lirst, and finisli them up on the second hoe- ing. I think it would be a capital plan to harrow the whole surface as soon as the plants appear, with alight harrow, but have not yet tried it. 1 generally find it pretty mellow hoeing, am very little troubled by sod?, if the plowing was done properly, and generally keep a clean surface without exlra labor. After hilling, 1 find it a good plan to top drees each hill with a spoonfall of plaster. Have never been troubled with the disease, more than those who plant without fresh manure, and in all cases have as good crops as are produced in the neighborhood by &ny course of treatment. F. B.—J\'iagara Co., A*. Y. Cultivation of Potatoes without the use of the Hano IIoe. — Messrs. Ens: — lu the summer of 1855 I hit upon a plan of cultivating potatoes with as lit- tle labor as any I have seen reconmiended. The ground (the sward having been turned, manured and planted with corn the year before) should be plowed as sooH as it is dry enough in the spring, and if time permits allow the weed seeds near the surface to ger- minate. Then give it a thorough plowing again, mark it with a plow three feet apart each way; drop one medium sized potato in each cross, covering with light mould about two inches deep, the seed having been selected carefully, using nothing smaller than a hen's egg, and if twice as large, split in two, none the worse; neither should they be planted untU the ground is dry, if it is in May. When they get out of the ground about four or six i&ehes, take one horse, and a half mould board plow, go through them both ways, plowing two furrows in a row as close to the hill as practicable, turning the farrows from it, and be not afraid to let the plow run in, as now is the time to protect the crop from the ef- fects of drought. At intervals of about one week, stir the ground three times with a small plow, turn- ing the dirt towards the hills, kicking the dirt oil' with the foot where it pushes the tops over two much. — The ground by this time is thoroughly pulverized, and there will be no weeds except, perhaps, a few in the hill which are speedily removed by hand, taking two rows at a time. From a Young Farmer who PRBFER3 DlGGINO POTATOES TO PuLTJNG WeEDS IN Autumn. — Yorktoum,, If 'est. Co., JY. Y. WIl^TEEING CALVES. Messes. Editors: — As i was attending to my four calves, the other day, a looker-on said to me, " Why take so much pains to stable your calves — many peo prle let them take their chance with the other stock through the winter." A mighty poor chance, I tho't ft would be; for a farmer who would do that, would not take much pains for the comfort and thrift of any of his cattle. There is " a more excellent way," — one more satis- iictory to the " merciful man," and in the result which follows. Calves "that take their chance," are the »ame breed which furnish crows with bait and the tanners with hides in spring time. If they live it ti^^ all summer for them to get ready to grow again — if ^OHi^''' enough, they will stand another winter and fill the ranks of the bony cows and unruly steers, which are the pests of our highways. My calves don't need lifiina; to get them up, — open the door and ihey are leadj to run and jump, and all sorts of •'co'.v-capers." I'll tell you how I keep them — and it is at a small expense, too. They have a stable partitioned oDT in one of the sheds, 14 ftct square, with rack and man- ger in one corner. 'J'heir apartment is close, except an open window on the east side, to let in light and air, and so sheltered that the wind does not blow in on that side three times through the winter. I feed them good hay twice a day, oat straw and chaff once, and water them daily. It would be better if they could have running water close at hand to drink at will, but tltte winter water is a scarce article; our wtU is dry, and the pond frozen nearly to the bottom. — Their stable is kept well littered and level, but at one time, the weather being pretty warm it got rather soft, so I changed them into another shed until this got frozen dry again. Their coats arc smooth and sleek, and have a very diiJereut appearance from that i presented late in the fall, when kept out of doors, be- I fore I got the stable ready for them. There will be a lot of first-rate manure in that ata- I ble in the spring: former trials have convinced me that one load of it is worth three ef common yard manure, and it is worth while to get as much good manure as you can — it tells en the yield amazingly — and, do you know, — all you increase the product above a certain point (the cost of production) is clear profit. Then, brother farmer, give your calves -a chance, don't wait for them to take it — you will firid it to, pay in more ways than you think of. Fap.meb B —Jan. 13, 1857. AGKISULTUEAL EEADmG. ^ Editors Generbe Farmer. — Having spent con- siderable time in getting subscribers for an agricul- tural journal in this neighborhood. I have observed that those who have taken an agricultural paper this year have never refused to subscribe for the ensuing year. But where the land looks poor I always think that no agricultural paper ever enters the owners house, and that he reads little, if asj,,butis willing to do as his fathers did before him. I will give an inci- dent of my experience with one of thai class. In going my rounds, I approached the homestead of Mr. , and after the compliments of the day were over I drew from my overcoat pocket a specimen copy of an agricultural journal with the request tkat he would subscribe for it, after looking it over for aAvhile he handed it back saying " he guessed he would'nt take it, for he did not believe it would be any use to him, for all they, (the papers,) talked about is to dr&iu! lime and manure your land, and I know that already." His last wheat crop belied his knowledge of agricul- tural science, for his land yielded at the rate of ten bushels per acre, while his more intelligent neighbor obtained twenty bushels per acre. Farmers "must Ftudy if they wish to raise remunerating crops. But "just as the twig is bent, the trse 's mclined:" eo be- gin young. The importance of good reading for farmere' sona and daughters, is not appreeiated as it should be. Home must be made attractive if you wish to see your sons and daughters grow up intelligent men and 48 THE GENESEE FARMER. Tfomen. And how cau it be done better than by furuirihing good books; not works of fiction which poison •^he mind, and leave it in a worse condition than it was before, but works v;hich contain fj^oodjSub- staa'iiid reading, that inform :md invigorate the^mind. I have often thought tha,t it would be a good idea for farmers to expend the money they receive at the a'dtu;nusil fairs for premiums, in books and papers a.'Qapted to their busines-J, and 1st their families have fi'ee access to them, for the more they read the better v/ill they be fitted to follow what Washington calls " the m.ost healthy and honorable, as it is the most natural and useful, pursuit of man." D. Knox. WIKTES BASLEY Eds. Farmeu: — Some inquiry has been made in regard to the cultivation ot \Vinter Barley, but as yet we hear no reply. It is well known that ia the milder districts of Europe, and even in the south of England, some varieties of barley are sown in the fall. Watson s Practical Husbandry says, " this tillage may be pursued in any country which is not exposed to severe changes of freezing and thawing, which produces heaving of the land; or, when the earth remains covered by snow during the winter." — ^his would indicate that it is peculiarly sulyect to winter-kill, and that the soil for it should be a well- drained one. The winter barley is beginning to be cultivated in Western New York, but as yet little is known of its adaptation to this region. In southern Indiana this crop is one of the most profitable. It is sown the last of August or early in September among the standing corn, (so stated by a writer in the Patent Office Report) from on^ to one and a half bushels per acre, and covered with a iight plow or cultivator. Borne farmers, when the corn will admit, plow it in one way and cross with the cultivator. The yield is from 40 to 50 bushels par acre. It ripens the last of June, and is used for feeding horses, coarsely ground and mixed with cut barley straw; or fed to fattening hogs, cooked or fermented. The barley fields are used as pastures for colts and calves during the winter, and afford a good Eupply of excellent fodder. Some winter barley was sown last fall in this neigh- borhood; I shall be able to give you some experi- ence in season for next autumn's sowing. — B. S. F. AGPvICULTURAL PAPSRS, AlfTD THE DUTY OF FARSIEES TO V/S,IT£ FOK THEM. Agricultural Science h still in its infancy. "Darkness as darkness it?elf" hangs over the path- way of him who attempts to tApioie its fields. In itd present stage of development, some of its most important truths are incapable of demonstration. What one approves both in theory and practice, an- otU?-r condemns. Philosophical deductions and prac- ti'al experience are arrayed against each other. And yi. t its principles are as fixed in their operation as are the pnuciples of any science; and when they shall have received the careful and philosophical attention which the coming years are destined to bring them, tkey w"ri be found as deaionstrable as are the truths of mathematics. In attaining so desirable and important a result, we must rely in no small degree upon agricultural papers. It is their peculiar proriucs to awaken in- quiry, direct it in proper channels, and stimulate the energies of the laboring masses. That they hare accomplished very much in this respect during tllfe last decade, cannot be denied. We are indebted tb them to a great extent for the increased attention which has of late been given to agricultural science; But broader and richer fields, sparkling with rarest gems, are opening before them; all the sciences are coming to their aid in clearing away the mists that have so long enveloped the great truths of Agricut ture; educated intellect is anxious to pay its devoirs to those truths; the best disciplined minds of the age are reckoned in the lists of practical Agriculturista But whatever offerings science may bring, whatever discoveries she may make, actual experience must attend her pari passu. Upon farmers, therefore, devolves a sort of moral obligation to give to the world, through the medium of agricultural papers, the results of their experience. And, dear farmer, when you experiment let me per- suade you to do it with the utmost care and exact" ness — thus the refiex influence of your experiments will be no small part of the benefit resulting there- from. "When we can bring to bear upon the dispu- ted points of Agricultural science the careful experi- ence of thousanils of practical' men, we shall ha'v^ done much towards their settlement, and therefore, much for the benefit of the world. Xo subject offers a richer reward to patient investigation. Senior. EXPERIMENTS WITH iHS CHINESE SUGAR CANE EnxTORS Oenk^-.^ Fakmkr: — On the 5th of May, I planted some seed ot the Chinese Sugar Cane, ih rows three feet apart. It came up, and [ ihii.ued it out to six inches in the row. It grew to the height of eight to ten feet. I fed part of it to my cows and hogs, and they eat it with great avidity. On the IGth of September, I cut 40 stalks, and pressed the juic'e out by passing them through a pair of tinsmiths' rollers; the produce was seven quarts of juice, which I boiled to one quart of good syrup, or at the ra,t6 of 181 J gallons per acre. I concluded to try it again, in order to determirie at what stage of its growth the stalks contain the greatest amount of sugar. On the 23d of October, the seed being fully ripe, and after some light frosts I cut up 60 stalks, stripped off the leaves and pressed the canes as before, but as the rollers are very small, fully ten per cent, of the juice remained in the stalks; I also spilled four or five quarts of the juice. After all mishaps, the result stands thus: weight of 60 canea 102 lbs.; juice 14 quarts; good molasses 5 1 pints; dry fodder 4 tbs. ; seed 6 quarts. Rate per acre of cane 49,368 tbs.; juice 1,694 gallons; molasses 332 gallons and 3 quarts; dry fodder 1,936 tbs.; seed 90 bushels — good seed weighs 40 tbs. to the bushel. Farmers keep up your spirits for the sweet times are coming. R. D. — Deerfield Street, JV. Jersey^ Remarks. — AYe are much obliged to our corres* pondent for the results of his experiments. The Chinese Sugar Cane is attracting considerable atten*- tion, and it is desirable to ascertain from careful ex- periments what are its true merits. There seems to be no doubt that in the Southern States it will prove useful for the production of molasses, — as it has in France for the manufacture of alcohol; but that it will be as useful for this purpose at the North as sftme THE GEXESEE FARMER. Ad appear to imfin^ine we thiuk incoii'^istcnt with the laws of vegetable physiology. However, we hope it will have a fair trial. The cxpcrinients detailed above by onr correspondent were'Jinadc^ on too small a plot cff grouml.to be perfectly satisUctory. Affiicultural journals often contain records of enormous crojis obtained in the way adopted i>y our correspondent in estimating the averagt* pvoHuction of the Chinese Sugjir Uane, but it is well known that uo such crops have been, or can be raised, on an acre. We know a gentleman wiio estimated a crop (rf potatoes on this principle; he found that he hud almost 1,300 bushels per acre, and yet on digging the whole he obtained onli' 230 bushels per acre. One of our correspondents, some years ago raised an enor- mous crop of turnips, as follows : The rows were two feet apart, and the turnips on^^ foot apart in the rows. " This gives," said he. " 21,780 turnips on an acre. The turnips weighed 10 fts. each, which makes about 109 tons per acre." The absurdity of such a method of estimating a crop is apparent to all, and yet whenever a new thing comes up, it is frequently adopted. The last Patent OiTn-e Report contains an account of an enormous yield of green corn estimated from the weight of two or three of the hills. The product of Dwarf Pear trees is sometimes estimated in the same way, and the enthusiastic cultivator being "afraid to look the figures in the face," reduces them one-half, to meet all contingencies, and then finds that the trees will yield over a thousand dollars per acre annually. — Ens. DOCKING HORSES A EARBAECUS PRACTICE. Messrs. Editors : — T was considerably amused, and not a little gratified, to see t!ie " Petition of the Horses," in the November 'number of the Farmer. The evils against horse flesh that are there enume- rated are sufficiently plectiful, one would think, to complete the whole category. But there is one ill which horse Mesh is heir to, that has not been men- tioned ; I mean cutting off ihe tails of horses. Whoever first introduced this barbarous practice deserves to have a monument of braided horse tails erected to his memory, and a leather medal struck o'ff for every one of his numerous imitators. I have heard it said that the more ridiculous a custom was, the more followers it would find ; and in this instance have come to the conclusion that it is about so. Few, Row-a-davs, esi>eciai!y those who are good judges of horses, like to see a bob-tailed horse ; yet, there are those who pretend to be great horse fanciers, (and I am sorry to say they are by far the greater portion of the community,) who seem to think that a horse is not thoroughly " got up," until his tail is off. Sometime ago I was with an acquintancc of minvorc useless appendages, and whotlta.t has the least spark of humanity in his composition, when he sees a horse worried by gnats and flies until he is almost frantic, docs not inwardly curse the man who first brought into practice tliis barbarous fashion ? But thero ia one more argument, and not the least important, against this practice. Cutting off the tails of horges weakens their strength. This is a well known fact, and for this reason, if for no other, the cuatom should be stopped. Sometime ago, I read an account of an English gentleman who had a splendid liunt the snow bank that melts away and leaves a rich sed- iment of pulveriz'id earth: to the rain and to the sun as its rays are re.'iected from the fence; to the careless farmer who suffers his ground to be heaped in this particular spot, to the detriment of the rest of the field ; to the plow boy that invariably stops his team there, for a drink, or to have a chat with the boy in the nest field. These and many other things, too numerous to mention, contribute their mite to the enrichment of the headland. — J. C Adams, Sey- mour, JV. Y, DISEASE IN THE FEET OF CATTLE Editors Gexesee Farmer. — Perhaps you are aware there is a complaint among cattle occasionaltyi in this part of the world, and it may be in many others. I have heard of it in Canada. I do not know the correct name. It is not the hoof ail although it attacks the hind feet of cattle, and, if not arrested, the limb will rot off, up to the second joint of the leg, and the animal must be killed, or it will dio— after it has proceeded so far as to be incurable the only way is to knock in the head. I write this to inf(>rm your numerous readers of a cure we have here, althout;h, perhaps, the remedy is generally known. It is to cut off the toes of the hind foot (in which only it appears,) about an inch horizontal, so as to open the foot sufficiently there for the blood to come oat; then put the foot in a stock- ing with plenty of tar at the toe. If taken in time> this will effect a cure. It must be done early, how- ever, when the animal first shows symptoms of the complaint, by a frequent and slight kicking out of the hind foot, as if prickeil with something. I have heard the cause attributed to poisonous hay such as smut. Do you, or any of your correspond- ents know anything about it ? If so, let us have your, or their, experience. Chilton Ford. Morristown, St. Law. Co., N. T. The Sheep Rack, figured in the November num- ber, pleases me very much on trial. There is no waste from their treading the fodder into the mud and snow — they eat all clean before them. I would not be without them for twice their cost. I was told that the sheep would fill their necks with chaff ineat- ing out of a rack — but the small depth of mine pre- vents this, as they cannot pull out hay without " standing from under " the rack. B. H. J. THE (5ENESEE FARMER. 51 CARE OF STOCK IN WIKTER. Editors (Jk.xesee Farmek. — What farmer is there who has failed to notice the vast difference be- tween stock, whether cattle, sh.ep or lior^es, reared b}' the industrious and careful faniicr, uud those of a slack and careless man who talv^.'s no pains to make his animals comfortable or p.ovic!e llieui with shelter? The stock buyer diseovci-s iha dillerenceif the farmer does not, and the no small dilierei.ce in the price paid for a thin, humpbacked, poor, shivering- animal, compared with the sum paid lor a robust, lively one, M'ill not fail to convince the owner which is the most profitable. Any farmer h ivinj^ more .'■tock than he can keep comfortably through the winter, and keep them as' they should be kept, will, if he has foresight enough, er.ibrace a favorable opportuuity, and dispose of his surplus in the fall, which he can usually do to advantage at that season of the year, and be enabled by so doing to feed well what he does keep. Cattle should have shelter fro;n ihe cold winds and storuTS so prevalent in this latitude; such undue ex- posure engenders disease, and will not fail to terminate io the ruin of a good animal. Y'oung stock ieel the effects of such treatment and it is easily detected in their stinted growth, rough hair, and unhealthy appearance, from the effects of which they seldom, if ever, recover. W. Mich. Cultivation of Beans. — " Young Farmer," in the columns of the Genesee Farmer, calls for the experience of agriculturists in bean raising. I give my plan, which is as follows : After having ploughed and harrowed the ground smooth, take a plough and mark light drills, or furrows, two and-i-half or three feet apart; then take Marrowfat be^ms, which are the best I know for field planting, throw them along in the furrows by hand almost as thick as peas; or at the rate of a bushel, or bushel-and half, to the acre, re- membering to make allowance for the seed worm. — They may be covered with the ])lough. The best tSme to plant is from the 25th of May to 1.5th of June. The Marrowfat is a very early kind; growing and ripening sooner than many other ones. Pull before dead ripe; stack around a pole four or five f^et high in single file, roots and tops out, with bits of boards or sticks underneath, to keep them off the ground, with straw on the top. The writer has learned from good authority that a man raised 20 bushels of this kind on one-fourth of an acre. Beans should be hoed, or cultivated, when dry, as hoeing when wet injures them. If kept clean with the cultivator, hilling them up will be unaecessarv. — B. Francis, Virgil, Cort. Co., JV. Y., Bee. 30. Racks for Feeding Sheep. — For a flock of fifty sheep, build a shed forty f et long, and twenty feet wide; posts fourteen feet long; double roof; inclose it tight, excepting, of course, doors, cte.; divide it by 3 flioor into two stories; the lower for the sheep and racks; the upper for hay; racks of two boards, eight inches apart, all around the shed — on the inside, of course; instead of drawing a rack full of hay, with a flock of sheep in chase, all over the farm; draw your hay on wheels, put it into the shed, in summer; in the winter put it down through the floor into the racks 93 needed; saving one-fourth of the quantity, and treating your sheep as they deserve to be. D. A. A. N„ JFestfield, jY. Y. Headropes fob Cattle. — For the benefit and comfort ot those who suffer with cold fingers in tying and untying cattle, 1 would suggest, that lh"y jirocnre a common lirast-snap. a stiip (- ous eaj'iug and unequal length of stem in mixed wheat; and that is that the ears l)eing less crowded get more light and air, and their flowers can consequently more easily expand, and are thereby alone rendered more fit for impregnatiou. This accords with what we find in practice, for wheat which is a little thin is gen»- erally better fertilized than that which is too thick. " This hypothesis of more easy impregnation natr> rally leads to the supposition of better maturity, and the examples furnished by meslins of wheat and ryrj, of barley and spring wheat, seem to confirm the notion. We find in these mixtures that each grain is generally muclx finer than the grain of the same kind of wheat gro-^vn nniuixcd. Is not this owing to tliB fact that the ears, uot being all on one level, are moce free, afford more protection to each other, and derive more advantage from light, and so escape that early ripeness which we call scorching ? Scorchiug, whicll is so common with very full wheat, ai-ises from tliB formation by the ears of a compact mass not traversa- ble by the sun's rays, which are reflected from the sue^ face, and thus ripen the ear without penetrating to or ripening the root, as is indispensalvle to perfect culti- vation. In mixtures again, may not crosses be obtained, which, under favorable circumstances, may lead to new and valuable varieties ? " In a practical jwint of view, one of the greatest advantages in sowing mixtures, is the removal of all uncertainty as to the particular kind it will be best & select. For even if in a roixture of 15 sorts, three or four are not adapted to the soil and climate, the spaces which will be left by them will be readily filled by the other sorts, and even if some of these skould be bad, coarse, and not fruitful, they will still be useful as a protection to the weaker and later kinds." These experiments are confirmed by results ob- tained in England, with what is knovvu as the " Fea- ton White Wheat," a variety originating as follows: About eleven years ago, a plant of wheat bearing three ears on a remarkable stiff and short straw was pulled by Mr. Geokge Hope, of Fentcn Earns, E. Lothian, Scotland, out of a qaany in his farm, onths debris of which it had accidentally gi-own. The grains which these ears contained on being sown for a few successive years produced enough to seed a field; ami as the wheat retained during that time the characters which distinguished it at first, Mr. Hoi'e sent it into the market as a new variety, and it is now known in every part of Great Britain. Tt is characterized by a moderately large ear of even shape on a straw not only remarkably short, but remarkably various in length. The consetjuence of this latter peculiarity is that its yield of grain generally exceeds the expecta^ tion formed of it by those who see it before harvest for the first time. This abundant yield is no doubt the retult of the distribution of the ears through THE GENESEE FARMER. 53 various heights above the land; there is not that crowding of them whicli there wovihl he if t:',ey stood oil on one level. And thi.n one sort aci^ordin^ly ex- hibits in itself a result which can he obtained in other cases only by mixing two or 1 hree sorts togtitlier which grow straw of various lengths. NOTES FOR THE KONTH BY S. W. Thh "Weathhr anh Fuel — December rras the coldest and most snowy December we have had since 1825; the mercury fell one night to 6 degr«ea below zero, which is very unusual in this lake warmed re- region. Kight before last it again fell to zero, and last night, 7th January, it was S"* above; which is very cold winter weather for this regioii. The outle J3 now dammed at the lake by anchor ice, and our mills are short of a full supply of wat«r. But thanks to the antediluvian age of cai-bonic acid gag, which made both ferns and trees grow, like Jonah's gourd, to form coal for subsequent man, we are now blessed with Pennsylvania anthracite from Tthaca and Elmira, at the cheap price of $4.50 to $5,25 the ton, to the evident dismay of the wood.seller, who has heretofore had it all his own way. Despite the severe cold weather, our lemon tree is thus early in full bloom, with sotne incipient fruit, as if to give a beautiful aod fragrant acknowledgement to the all quickening anthracite. Sorghum Saccharatom. — The Bulletitt cTAcclitna- tation of Paris, has a notice in its September number of the North China Sorgho a Sucre, or Sugar Mil- let, from the pen of Dr. Tuxrsl, Secretary of the Agricultural Committee of Toulon ; he sayg that in the vine growing proprietaries in that region, ihe juice of the Sorgho has been profitably mixed and fer- mented w'iih the juice of the grape, and without im- pairing the flavor of the wine prodiicecL He, also, speaks of another species of Sorgho to which IjEO- PGLD Wrat gives the name of Sorgho at 'Impky, or Sorghum of the Caffres ; it is an earlier variety thia the Chinese, and its cereal product is more abundant; hence M. Nayot who growa it Buccesefully at Atarti- nique, says that the grain is there grouad into flour which is more nutritive than v'xoe, and is preferred by the Coolies there to rice, as palatable food ; its leaves also make an abundant and escellent forage, and the juice of the canes, the best of rum, [tajia.) Frkxch Agricultuhai. Jour.vals. — The Agricul- ture Pratique, of the 5th August, contains the fol- lowing summary articles. The Absorption of Azot«, (Ammonia.) by Plants, Fiditorial. Letter from the Emperor on the late inundations. Cattle market of London. Merino's at the great National Show of 1856. Secretion of Ozone by plants. Fjxperiments on the comparative merit of Beets, for Sugar and Alcohol Great Agricultural S^ow at Chelmsford, Eng. Agricultural tour in France in 1854 among the Pyrenees; The Maratime Pine. The bovine race of Biittaay and its antecedents. Remarks in the Galine broods at the World's Agricultural Show. — Agricultural summary by the conducting Editor, J. A. Barral, for the last two weeks of July. Ksgay on the harvesting machines exhiViited at the Universal S'aow of 1856 at Paris; Ergot in Wheat. Commer- cial review, &c., with fine wood engravings of Pinus Maritimus, cane and leaf; Prize Cov/ of Brittany, exhibited at Universal Show of 1855; Bull Breton, ditto; Plan of a Park for Fowls, a birda ey« Ti«w of the same completed, ;n.v"<._T. G. Yeomans, Walwortii ; John J.Thomas, t mo» Spr.igs ; M. Mackie, Clyde ; E. W. Herendeen, Lnion Spring,. Onon,faga—x^. B. Smith, Svracuse ; Mr. Ilauilin, Clay ; h. P. HoiJkms, C,onda"-a, ' r/ioH/at/7«''— Lincoln Fay, E. S. Bartholomew, Port- land ; A. H. Moss. Orleans— S. Burroughs, M dnia. iri/ow/n^— Hugh T. Brooks, Pearl Creek. Aliegmiy—'ilwwwn Llovd, Arglica; AVilliam IJowe, North Almond; John Atherton. Philipsvillo. Livmgsloti—'M. Colbv, Nunda; J. K. Murray, Mount Morris ," Rev. F. D. W. Ward, Geneseo. Steuheii — Tndge Dcnniston, William B. Pratt, Pratta- burg ; R. B. Van YalUenhurgh, Bath, ,sVj(?rrt— n. C. Silsby. William Langworthy, Seneca Falls; George Dunlap, Ovid. C/tem/m,?— Harvey Luce, Elmira ; George W. Buck, Chemuni;-'; Albert Owen, Big Flatts. Schw.der — E. C. Frost, Catharine; John Woodard, North Hector ; Dr. Nelson Winton, Havana. Oswego— '&. Worden, Minetto ; A. Stone, S. S. Gillett, Hitmiansville. * Tioga — George J. Pumpelly, Ovrego; Johs S. Nichols, Spencer. Cortland— V. Barber, Homer ;. Nathan Boughton, Vir- gil ; B. J. Campbell. • Messrs. Barry, Ryan and Harris were appointed a committee to prepare business for tlie meeting, and reported the following subjects for discussion, which were adopted : 1. Small Fruits— Which of them can be grown oa an extensive scale profitably ? _ _ 2. Shelter of Orchards and Fruit Gardens — Is it im- portant, and if so, what trees, plants and shrubs are most suitable, and what form of plantation ? 3. Hardy Grapes — Can their culture, in the open air, be made profitable ? 4. Is it better to top graft old apple trees, or to plant new ones ? , •■ j- .5. Is it a good practice to renew peach trees by heading them down? G. Winter Pears — Can they be grown profitably ? SMALL FRUITS. The Currant — Mr. Barry, of Rochester, said the currant was seldom cultivated properly. The com- mon White and Red Dutch were greatly improved by proper training and manuring* In reply to an inquiry, he said there were several new varieties that were a decided acquisition. He mentioned the White Grape, Cherry, and Victoria, — the latter valuable on account of its lateness. He thought the cultivation of the currant might be safely recommended to farmers — it bears transportation to market without inpirv, erows well on all soils, and requires little care and cultivation. Good crops, by good management, could be obtained in one year from cuttings. Mr. Ellwan'ger, of Rochester, presented some wine made from the White Grape currant this full, which was, for its age, really excellent. Dr. Long, of Rochester, found port wine, made from Black currants, very useful for medicinal pur- poses. When three or four years old, it was as good as any port wine he could obtain. Mr. Barry was informed that large quantities of black currants were bought in New Tork for the purpose of making 2?f)ri wine. The Raspberry. — H. E. Hooker, of Rochester, said the best kinds would not bear traniportation, as they soon lost their flavor, and had to be picked every day. He found the common Black Cap, with good cultivation, the most profitable variety for markRt. Col. Hodge, of Baftalo, agreed with ^Ir. Hooker. The Antwerps had to be covered in winter at much labor and expense. He thought that the Black Caps might be greatly improved, and would then be best suited to one's wants. He, also, spoke highly of the Allen Ra.=pberry, a native variety cultivated by L. F. Allex, and others, at Black Rock, N. Y. 5(5 THE GENESEE FARMER. Mr. Barbt thought that in this part of the country, E8ar large cities, the Red Antwerp was the best, as it always yielded good crops. They always bend the canes down in tha fall, and cover them slightly — it was but little trouble. For delicacy of flavor the Black Cap could not compare with the Red Antwerp. Some new varieties, such as Brinckles Orange would sell for four times as much as the common kinds. Mr. lIoosBR found that the grocers always prefer- red the common to the Red and Yellow Antwerps, imd always purchased them first, they were extensively used for cooking and preserving. Dr. Roach said that the first man who commenced raising raspberries near Geneva, N. Y., could only get eight cents per quart, but when many had gone into tJie business, the price rose to from twelve to fifteen CfiBts per quart. '^ The Gooseberry. — Mr. Hooker thought the fjfooseberry very profitable on his grounds. Som« that he sold in this city, brought the large price of eiahteen cents per quart — a man siigbt make, he thought, an independent fortune at that price. Mr. Ellwanger said that some kinds, such as the Grown Bob, Whitesmith, and Houghton's Seedling, seldom mildew. Mr. Hooker said that he planted his bushes first on sandy ground, and found that they invariably mil- dewed— when he removed them to a clayey soil, and they were entirely free from it. He said that those on the clayey soif were shaded some, while those on the sandy soil were entirely exposed to the sun. Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, found in 20 or 30 kinds, that ia two or three years they were always destroy- ed; even on clay, they would in time mildew, and he thoHght that the English kinds could not on this ac- count be recommended. It would to be sure have a tendency to prevent mildewing if they were trans- planted every three or four years, and that with severe pruning the damage might be considerably reduced. Fully one-half of the vines ought to be taken off every year. Mr. Babry said that the English Gooseberries ought to have a cool soil — that was the reason why they grew so well in England. They succeeded near Chicago for the same reason; as, also, in Canada East, Maine, and the northern counties of this State. Some persons near this city had no difficulty with them. R. B. Wareen, of Alabama, Genesee Co., had had good success in cultivating the Gooseberry on light, gandy soil. He planted on the north side of a Doard fence. SHBLTER FOR ORCHARDS AND FRUIT GARDENS. Col. HoDGffi, of Buffalo, thought this a very im- portant subject. Peaches could not be raised around Buffalo, not because of the cold as was generally 8appo8ed,but because of the bleak winds from the Lake- Ai the lower end of Grand Island is a tract of land ©ailed Peach Haven. It is protected from the west winds by a natural forest. There the peach succeeds wftlL He invariably found in his travels that situations protected from cold winds always produced much batter than exposed ones. The best kind of screen for protection to fruit trees, is the Norway Spruce. It grows rapidly, and is used extens^ively in Boston, both for it« protection, and as an ornament. The wind which does the most iujury, is the west wind — nost, the north and north-west. Mr. BuRTis, of Rochester, would plant an orchard on the coldest, bleakest hill he could find, the fruit buds were usually killed in the spring, and the object should be to ke*-p back vegetation as late a.=; possible. He never feared lor peach trees in wititer unless the thermometer sunk more th8.n 12 below zuro. He thought trees needed shelter, but should be planted on elevated places. Mr. B. Fisn, of Rochester, thought the buds were killed in winter— never ia spring; he had seen water frozen in the blossoms in the spring, and yet the trees bore a good crop of fruit. Dr. Roach, of Ontario County, had two orchards, one of 300 tiees is espof^ed to the west wiuds^ The other of 108 trees in a sheltered situation — from the former he obtained three pecks of fruit, from the latter 150 baskets. The outside Ireea yielded the least fruit Mr. S'iONE, of HiBmanville, Oswego County, had noticed that old oreh;ir{ig with thick tops, bear fruit when ycBDgcr tretss would not; and that trees usually do betit on hJlh. Mr. Barry had found in all his reading and expe- rience, that shelter v. .«! DBcestary — animals needed it — everythingtender lAfcdud it. During the late severe winters hemlock t; ■ t-s were killed on the west side, and the hardy privec hedges were frequently killed on their western e: ; usure. It was not remarkable then that tender fruit trees should need protection. On their grounds, jntrt of their pear trees v?ere exposed; on these they facidom obtained njuch ^ru't; while on the remainder, which were sleltertd, fine crops were produced. He thought that the Norway Spruce was the best for protection, — though the European Larch was also very good. Col. HoDGS said, if he were setting out an orchard, he would, if he could, have a forest all around it. H. N. Lansworthy, of Rochester, had found that for peaches, the west and east exposures yielded but little fruit. He thought that the cold and frost did not do much harm while the fruit was in bloom; but that afterwards, when it was larger, the cold wind killed it. Dr. Roach thought the best way was to plant high and then protect by trees. Hardy Grapes. — H. N- Langworthy had often observed the best grapes were produced where vines had run up high on some apple or other trees. He argued from this that sun was not particularly needed to ripen the grape — it needed warm air. They sel- dom mildewed on trees. Mr. BiTRTis said the best grapes he ever saw, grew in Philadelphia, on tall vines by the sides of houses, and he was of opinion that they would grow best on tall trees. Mr. Barry thouglit that grapes needed heat; if he were to plant a vineyard, he would plant the vines on tlie south side of a tight board fence, to secure more heat. Mr.McKay, of Naple?,Ontario County, had suc- ceeded perfectly in raising grapes, and as there were gentlemen present who were well acquainted with Mr. McKay's process, he hoped they w'ould favor the society with a description of his method- [To be Continued.] Tomato plants, for early fruiting, may very early by sowing a few seeds in a^r^e pot, or small box, in good rich soil. / THE GENESEE FAKirKR. 67 DWABF PEAK FREE. ,Dra-srti from a Louist bonne dt Jersey, growing on the Quinoe stock, in the grounds of a successful amateur cultivator, in this city. SELECr PEAS3 ON THE QUINCE STOCK. Much difference of opinion prevails, and frequent discussions take place among planters of fruit trees, ondent would like to know " if the Suffolks can beat this." The Rural Annual tor 1857. — The first edition of the Rural Annual and llorticiiUural Directory for 1?57 was exhausted before half our orders were supplied, and many of our friends had to wait longer for the woik ihaa they or we desired. As it was unavoidable, however, we trust they will excuse the delay. We think they will find it worth waiting for. Commendatory notices of the wurk are pouring in upon us from every (juarter, and it iirornises to rival the circulation of the moat popular works of tlie day, in the other departments of literature. It contains, besides a great variety of matter interesting to every farmer and gardener, articles on Rural Architec- ture, with several beautiful designs of cottage, suburban, and farm houses, prepared expressly for the Riirai AnnuaU On laying out a small Fruit and Kitchen Garden, with a list of the best varieties of fruits, directions for the prepa- ration of the ground, &c., with a fine engraving: On the cultivation of Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Currants, Gooseberries, &c., with engravings and descrip- tions of the best varieties, &c. : On the management of Hedges, with illustrations of the best modes of training, &c. : On the Kitchen Garden : On the management of Grapes in cold houses, with engravings showing the beht mode of training, &c. : On planting an Apple Orchard, best varieties for different localities, &c. : On the Archi- tecture of Lodges, School Houses, &c., with two beautii'ul engravings : On building a Stable, with plan and descrip- tion : On the breeds and management of Poultry — pro- fusely illustrated : On Ornamental Planting, Landscape Gardening, &c., with numerous illustrations: On the Ad- vantages of Shelter, &c. Also, a corrected list of Fruita recommended by the American Pomological Society, with lists of Nurserymen and Agricultural Implement JMakera in the United States and Canadas. The whole comprising a work of 141 pages, which for usefulness and beauty should be in the hands of every one interested in Rural Pursuits. We send it, postage paid, for twenty-five cents a copy. In Clubs of Eight, we send the Genesee Farmer and Rural Annual for fiftx cents the two. To every one sending us eight subscribers to the Genesee Fai-mer, at the lowest club terms of tiiikty-seve!» and a HALF CENTS each, we will send, one copy of th& Rural Annual, postage paid, for his trouble. Profits of Butter Making. — We have received a communication from an anonymous correspondent, criii- cising "A. S. B.'s" article on "Cows and Butter Mnking" in the last number, and asking if -'Dora" and "liuby" will knock under to his cow "Jessie;" biit he f(:r;:<.ts to tell us the amonnt of butter obtained from "Jessie,"' ihe quantity of food consumed, cost of keeping, &c. Widi- ont these particulars, we are unable to judge. If mr correspondent will give us his name, we will reiurn the article for his correction in these resjects, and will then publi?h it. An Egg within an Ego. — H. J. Buinner, of Nazr.reth, Pa., says that some 12 years ago a neit^hlor's hen laiti two eggs, as large as a common sized goo?e ^g^ ; inside one of which was contained anf>ther of the size of an ordinary hen's eg^, the interstices between the shells of the smaller and larger eggs being filled wi^h the white of egg 'albu- men). The smaller egg was perfect in every respect. After laying the second egg, (which wa« not examined,) the hen laid down and died. THE GENESEE FARMER. Annual Meeting or the TJ. S. Agricultueal So- ciety.—The Fifth Annual Meeting of the United States Agric-ultnral Society wa=i held at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, January 1 (t'l. The receipts of the Society during the past year have been about $40,000 ; expenses, almost the same. The next Fair of the Society will be held at Louisville, Ky. Its citizens Iiave raised a guaran- tee fund of §30,000. Resolutions were adopted recom- mending the purchase of .Mount Vernon, and the estab- lishment of an Agricultural College and Experimental Farm by tlie National Government. A great trial of im- plements (except reapers and mowers, for which some other place will be designated,) is to be held in conjunc- tion with the next Fair at Louisville. Committees were appointed to take the matter in charge ; and also other Committees to memorialize Congress in respect to an Ag- ricultural Department ; to examine the merits of the Chi- nese siigr,r cane ; and one to inquire into the cause and care of the '• Hog Cholera," w hich is making sad work among the swine in some parts of the country. The fol- lowing officers were elected : President — Mafsh.^l P. Wilder, Mass. Secretary — B. P. PoOEE, " Treasurei- — B. B. Fkench, Washington, D. C. Executive Committee — Goy. King, N. Y. ; Gibson Mal- lORY, Ky. ; Dr. Elwtn, Pa. ; D. J. Bkowne, D. C. ; Fkederick Smith, N. H. ; Dr. Stevenson, Ind. An Interesting Fact. — The recent investigations of Prof. Way, Chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, have brought out a curious fact, which may throw light upon the rationale of some important prac- tices in agriculture. Rain water contains ammonia and nitric acid, and it is from these two substances that the ni- trogen of plants is obtained. A series ©f examinations of the water discharged from underdrains, shows that it con- tains less ammonia and more nitric acid than rain water. Rain water filtering through the soil, then, parts with its ammonia, but dissolves out nitric acid from the soil or ma- nures. How is this nitric acid formed in the soil ? Pro- bably, says Prof. Way, from the oxidation of nitrogenous manures ; and he recommends a more perfect admixture of manures with the soil sS the most likely means to pre- vent the formation of nitric acid, and the loss of nitrogen from leaching. It appears to us, too, that if the manure •was thoroughly decomposed before applying it to the land, it would not only be easier to mix it ultimately with the 6oil. but there would be less nitric acid formed, and con- sequently le.^s loss. .-•< Bound Yolvmss. — In reply to several inquiries, we ■would say that we can furnish bound volumes of the Far- mer for the years 1847, '8 and '9, and for 1S52, '3, '4, '5 and '6. Tiiey are handsomely bound in half sheep. The price is $1 per volume. If sent by mail, 25 cents additional must be sent to prepay postage. We have a few volumes for 1S5G, bound in paper, which will be sent, postage paid, for 75 cents a volume. Those who wish them should send early. .-♦«• Cheesy Butter.— If the writer in the last Farmer, on butter-making, wishes to avoid the cheesy substance, as he chooses to call it, by allowing milk to stand some time for the cream to rise, he can skim it every day, and thus let it stand as long as he chooses. But, of course, butter will not be as good when cream or milk stands too lono-. M. S. 'Q.— Aurora, N. Y. ° Osage Orange Hedges at the West. — The editor of the Boston Cultivator, Sanfoed Howard, Esq,, wKb made a tour through the Yf estern States last year, was diSh- appointed with the appearance of the osage orange hedges of Illinois and Iowa. He says : " Of many miles of whjJt are railed hedges, we scarcely saw a rod that would Bte considered a fence." This is attributed to careless cultivtf- tion ; but even where they had been well managed, " thelrfe were various dead spots, caused, probably, by the winter." We are sorry to hear such a poor account of the hedges of the West, from such good authority. We still hope, hew- ever, that a better system of cultivation will yield mofe encouraging results. In regard to the dead spots, it would seem that they are a necessary evil in all hedges ; even ib England it is rare to see any considerable length of hedgfe without imperfect spots, and yet no one doubts tho adapt!*- bilitv of the hawthorn to the climate of England. Thanks, Kind Friends ! — We are under great obliga- tions to the numerous friends of agricultural and hortf" cultural improvement for their disinterested labors in ex- tending the circulation of the Genesee Farmer. Up fb this date (January 29) we have on our books more thtfn double the number of subBcribsrs we had this time last year. We have had to reprint the January number three times, and our paper this month is delayed a few days in consequence of this unexpected demand. We shall spare neither labor nor expense to make the Farmer tllfe present year worthy of this great circulation. We must remind our friends, however, that the " old Genesee Far- mtr " has always been " The Practical and ScientiS) Farmer's Oum Paper," and while we make it the cheapest, it rests mainly with them to say whether it shall be th« Best farmer's paper in the country. If they will make £t their medium for a free interchange of ideas on the va- rious topics of rural life, our labors will be comparatively light, and the interest and usefulness of the paper greatly increased. Designs for Cottages, Farm Houses, &c. — H. J. = Brunner, of Nazareth, Northampton Co., Pa., writes nsr. that the " designs of cottages, farm houses, &c., in the Genesee Farmer, have been turned to good use in our neigli<- borhood, — several houses having been built during the past year, and several others now in contemplation to be built, according to plans and designs laid down in your useful journal." This is encouraging, and we shall endeavor to make this department of our paper still more valuable. Spare the Birds. — A bill has been introduced into tHe New York State Senate, which provides that it shall net be lawful for any person to kill or destroy, upon any land not owned by himself, any of the following birds, under a penalty of $10: The robin or redbreast, bine bird, swallow, martin, or mosquito haw, woodpecker, cat bird, high-tailed thrush or brown thrasher, mourning dove, meadow lark or marsh quail, summer red biid, hanging bird, spider bird or wax bird, ground robin, bobolink or rice bird, and sparrow. Cure tor Warts on Cattle. — Rub tar on them nirdl they are removed. This is an effectual remedy. E. D.»f- JacksOn, Pa. To Destroy Rats and Mick. — The best plan I can devise, is to remove everything they can subsist on out of their reach. Amos Clift. — Albion, N. Y. THE GENESEE FARMER. 67 A Gooi> Hint. — Order is said to be Heaven's first law, ahd would it not be well for every one who tills the soil to note down on paper every item of practice he intends to pursue the coming season — prepare a list of whatever seeds he desii^ns to plant or sow, and the times at which it should be done — note where they may be obtained, and have them ready and labeled — prepare strips of shingle, pointed at one end and smooth on one side, to mark the name of the thing sown with a lead pencil ? They will last, as we know from experience, the season through ; and when you wish to giither seed from any article, they are very handy as a means of reference. These, and many other similar expedients, your readers will find productive of much convenience and Order. inqutiUjB anH ^n£b3U«. The Connecticut Biddy Outdone. — One of my hens (a mixture of the Shanghai and common breeds) laid an egg in September last, which was nearly as large as a goose egg. "We kept it several days to show to the neigh- bors that came in, on account of its uncommon size ; it was then broken open to cook, when out dropped another egg of full size. It was then kept several days longer to exhibit, on account of its still greater curiosity. The shells of both were hard, and their contents perfect. Cer- tainly this is an age of wonders and improvements, and the biddys don't mean to be behind the times. J. S. Ruby. — Gaines Basin. The Annual Meeting of the New York State Agricul- tnral Society will be held at Albany, February 1 1th. There will be an exhibition of fiuit, grains, fat meat, &c. The new Rooms of the Society will be dedicated on Thursday, the 12th, and addresses delivered by several gentlemen. It is hoped that there will be a general attendance of farm- ers, and all friends of agriculture. Potato Disease. — Alex. Titus, of Yorktown, West- chester Co., N. Y., writes us^that with him " potatoes that grow nearest the surface of the ground are the ones that rot the most." Does this correspond with the observations of others ? Rural Annual for 18oG. — We have still on hand a few copies of the Rural Annual and Horticultural Directory for 1856, which will be sent, postage paid, for 25 cents. Noluijsf of Njto 33oofejj, ^«rioIJual5, ^c. ITORS. By the author of "Amy I-ce" and "Grace Hall." New York : D. Appleton & Co. 1S57. An interesting novel in two volumes, illustrating some of the good and bad features of English aristocratic so- ciety, and the injurious tendency of a narrow and exclusive System of education. The author's style is agreeably flu- ent, but somewhat discursive. Had the work been pruned dawn to one volume, it would have been more acceptable. Webster's Counting-House and Family Piction- arr. — Webster's Dictionary needs no commendation. Its great merits are fully appreciated wherever the English language is spoken. The Couiiting-House and Family edition, recently published by G. & C. Merriam, Spring- field, JIass., cannot be recommended too highly. For sale by D- M. Dewet, of this city. Price $1.50. Red Spider in Green Houses. — I wish to inquire through the pages of your highly valuable paper for a method of exterminating that jiost of the green house, the red s])ider. Tiie fumes of tobacco have proved very effi- cacious in destroying the "green fly," but are of no avail for the destruction of the red spider. _^W. H. Elliott. — Kenawee, III. The red spider (acarus tillarius) is one of the gardener's greatest pests, though so small as to be scarcely visible to the naked eye. Color sometimes yellowish, at others brown, but often a dull red ; on each side of its back is a blackish spot. We annex a cut of one the nsit ral size, (which our engraver has male somewhat too l;ige,) and RED spider, natural SIZE AND MAGNIFIED. one as seen through a powerful microscope. The follow- ing method of destroying them will prove efficacious in a mixed collection of green house plants : Take half a peck of quick lime in lumps, dip the lime into water until it is pretty well soaked ; then place it in a tub and put upon the lime one pound of sulphur. Allow it to stand in the green house until it has done steaming ; keep the house shut up close while steaming. Then add three gallons of soap-suds, or water with soft soap in it; let it stand until quite clear. Then to half a gallon of the clear liquid add one gallon of clean water, and syringe the plants all over, and especially under their leaves. Re- peat this two or three evenings. Repeated syringing will keep them away. Currant Bush Worm. — I would beg to call your at- tention to a green worm, which proves very destructive to our currant Lushes in this section. It makes its ajipear- ance early in June. In the tir.st plate it is very small ; it eats the leaves, and in about a month the buslies are completely stripped of their leaves, at which time the worms are about an inch in length. If you, or any of your readers, would be so kind as to inform us how to prevent the ravages of this destructive little worm, you would no doubt confer a great favor on many of your readers in this community. D. C. IIousbeeger. — Rain- ham Center, C. ^V. The description of the appearance and habits of this worm, given by our correspondent, is so general that we are unable to decide definittly what it is. In this vicinity, the currant bush has no such enemy — in fact, few of any sort. Loudon mentions the grub of a small saw-fly ( Ne- matus ribesii) as being very destructive to the gooseberry and currant in some parts of Great Britain ; and as large quantities of these plants are annually importtd into this country, it is probable that the grub is here also, although 68 THE GENESEE FARMER. it may not be the one mentioned in the inquiry. The fol- Lawing is Loudon's description — but as there is a ditfer- euce in climates, the dates mentioned will not apply here : " The grub is of a green color, shagreened with minute black tubercles, which it Ic^es at its moult. Early in March, if the weather is favorable, the first flies issue from fheir chrysalis, a few inches below the soil, at the foot of the bushes. Soon afterwards, the females deposit upon the under surface of many of the leaves, along the ribs of each leaf, a series of eggs, which appear like strings of small, pellucid, delicate, oblong beads. A single fly will fill up the ribs of many leaves ; and as several generations are produced in one season, the destruction of a single fly at an early period, is the prevention of some thousands of voracious successors. The following times of hatching, &c., may be relied ujioa as accurate : On the 9th of April the eggs were laid; on the 19th they were hatched ; and i£ the temperature is mild the caterpillars grow rapidly and from their number soon destroy the foliage of the cfliosen bush. They usually continue in the caterpillar state about ten days ; when, dropping to the earth, they penetrate below the surface, and change into a small brown chrysalis ; in which dormant state they remain from fourteen to seventeen days, and then come forth as flies, which in a day or two lay their respective quantities o(f eggs." The remedies recommended, are diligently killing the flies in early spring, and collecting the egg- bearing leaves and burning them. After the worms are hatched, we should think dusting the plants M'ith ashes, when the dew is on, would be beneficial in preventing their ravages. Our correspondent would do well, the coming season, to study closely the habits of this enemy, and, if possible, discover some method of destroying them, and comniuuicate to us the result of his invest! Mtions. (n. B. White.) Horse Distemper. — If your horse is but sliL^litly affected, he will probably recover without the aid of medical treatment. If he has a had cough, with considerable discharge of mucous from the nostrils, ener- getic treatment should be resorted to immediately. If the pulse is strong as well as quick, it is well to bleed. The throat should be well stimulated, externally, with tincture of cantbarades (Spanish files). If the bowels are costive, two or tliree drachms of aloes may be given ; but other- ■wise, the following ball may be resorted to at once, and administered night and morning, for several days : Salt Petre. ----- _ o drachms. Tai-tarized Antimony, - - - 1 drachm. Digitalis, powdered, (Foxglove. 1 scruple. Linseed meal, ----- 3 drachms. To be made into a ball with Barbadoes tar. Bran mashes, carrots, and other soft food, should be given ; and if the horse is qxiite sick, oatmeal or linseed gruel. Underdraisiko. — I fear you will think me troublesome, but I want some information about thorough draining. I see the drainers are at issue about draining slopes: some run across, others perpendicular, to the slope. On a very moderate slope — say two or three feet to the hundred yards — on stiff, impervious clay and subsoil, which is "What difference is made here, or has practice shown any to be necessary, in the size and distance of the openings, in consequence of our heavier rains and greater heat? J see that Mr, Meohi allows as a task in " honest " i. e. clear of stone — clays, 22^ yards of five foot cutting, averaging four feet, to each laborer. "With drains 20 feet apart, that gives to each hand, it seems, only 2 perches per day, since 3| yards only in breadth are drained by eaeji ditch. This seems dreadfully slow. I am only operating for experiment, on a garden affd one or two plots, and I shall drain according to the Essex plan, as given by Mr. Puset, in Wilson's Rural Cyclrt* pKdia, page 92 — article. Draining. Has the difference in evaporation here and in England ever been determined ? It would seem that a greater de*- gree of evaporation would justify a shallower system qf drains. * — Virginia. Will our esteemed friend, Mr. Johnston, of Geneva, dt some others who have the requisite experience, answer ^^ above ? James Williams.) Machine fok Sawing Wood.^-^ Mr. E. D. IIallock, of this city, has invented and is manufacturing a machine which, we think, will be ju^ the thing you wish. It is a drag and circular machine, combined — the drag being used to saw up the bodies of the large trees, while the circular is used for sawing tblB limbs and small trees. It can be driven by any of the o& dinary Horse Powers. For further information, see Sfp, Hallock's advertisement, in this number. (Henkt M. Selden, Haddam Neck, Ct.) Tellow ISi- cusT Seed. — You can probably get Yellow Locust seed from Thomas Meeuan, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa,>^ (N. J. Blakslee.) Dr. Harris' Treatise on Insects fe out of print, and cannot be had. Tan-bark as Manure. — Can tanners' spent tan-bSrk be converted into manure ? What is the best method.of treating or preparing it ready for use ? A. G. H. ADVERTISEMENTS, To secure insertion in the Farmer, must be received as early as &e 10th of the previous month, and bo of such a character as to bB of interest to farmers. Terms - Two Dollars for everj hundrefl words, each insertion, paid in advance. PEACH TREES. WE have on hand, for spring sales, a larjre Rtnck of the aboVe, consisting of a .few of the best varieties, which we offer. ,ft3 follows : Yearling Trees, 1st size, S70 per inoo. " 2a " $50 per 1000. For general assortment of Nurserv Stock see advertisement afid Catalogues. ELLWAXGKR & RARRY, Mt. Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N.'Xi January 20, 1S57 J;^" By atypoffraphical error in the Spring edition of our wholig* pale Catalogues, Peach trees were designated as "two 3'ears old" ixt stead of one year, as intended. febl — It E. & B. FKUIT TREE SCIONS FOR SALE. ^r\rv Scions of Choice Ajiple, ten kinds, twenty of each, fit- /^\J\J eluding King and I'rimate, for $1. Also, ten kinds irf Cherries, including Kirtland's varieties, fifteen of each, for Ji. Also, ten kinds of Pears, fifteen of each kind, for $1. Also, ten kinds of Plums, ten of each, for SI, Willow Cuttings, $1.60 pgr 1000. Horse Chestnut Seedliugs $10 per 1000. "W. T. & E. SiHTH, Geneva, N. "Si Feb. 1— It* NEW CHINESE POTATO. DTOSCOREA BATATAS.— Roots from 4 to 9 inches long, at ;?3 per dozen, and small Seed Tubers (can be sent by mail) at $J per dozen, or §7 per 100, with Description and Directions for Culture. J. M. THORl^URN & Co. feb — It 15 John St , New Yorfc. 0 THORBURN'S "WHOLESALE PRICED LISTS F VEGETABLE, Field, Tree and Flower Seeds for 18e7, O^ be mailed to DeaUrs. enclosing a 3 cent sUimp. J. M. THORBURN & Co^ feb — It lo John St., New Y&dft THE GENESEE FARMER. FRUIT AND OENAMENTAL TBEES. J^-'LI.TTAXfiKR & BARRY, rROrRII-TORg OF Mr. IinrK J XcHSKRiKS, Rooli<-ster, N. Y., solicit ihe allention nf N"ur- Renin.Mi, I'laiitcis aiui DeiUcrs to tlie exlensive stock now on their Grounds, which they are prepared to oiror for the ensuing Spring Trade. Tneir Nurseries were established eighteen years ago, and now occupy 4C0 acres of hind, closely jilanted. The stock now growing s the most varied .^nd extensive ever ollered io this country, in- cludinsr — Standard Apples for Orchards; DwLirf Apples on I'jvradisa and Doucain .stocks; f-taudard Poars on free stocks 1 and 2 years ; Dwan and Half Standard Pears on Quince Stoclis, 1 and 2 v.i'-s from bud; Staiadard Cherrios on Ma?^; ird Stocks, 1 and 2 years from bud. Dwarf do. on Malialeb " " " Plums, Dwarf, Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, Quinces, &c. Grapes, ll.udy .V.ttiveaud h'orfijn variftics; Strawberries, G-ooseberries, Currants, Raspberries, Khubarb and Asparagus. T>ie collection of bearing Specimen Trees is the largest in the United Slates. Besides, the proprietors devote fhoir entire time and attention to the business, and they are thu-s enabled to guar- antee the correctness of articles sent out. THE ORXAMENTAL DEPARTMENT Is equally complete, and comprises Oilx.\..mi:ntal DECinrous Tkebs of all kinds, including the most elfe'gant Weeping Trees for Lawns and Cemeteries. EvEKGBKEN Tkees of all the most desirable species, and of all ages and sizes. More than a million of trees are in a saleable slate, und are offered low, in quantities. EvEKGKEK.v AXD DEoiDrocs FLOWERING Shruhs, inf-luding al- most everything suitable for the climate of the United States. Roses — Upwards of three hundi-ed of the most beautiful va.rie- ties, carefully selected during many years culture and e.xpeiiment. P-EO.\iKS— About eighty superb varieties, including many new and very distinct sorts. \ Phloxes — Seventy-five select and beautiful sorts, aU of recent ihtroduction. Chrvantuemums — Fifty of the finest Pompone or Daisy varie- ties, newly introduced. CATALOGUES. The following' Catalogues will be sent gratis to all who apply and enclose a stump to pre pay postage : — Ko. 1 — A Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits. Ko. 2 — A Descriptive Catalogue of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, &c., &c. Eo. 3— -V Catalogue of Dahlias, Verbenas, Petunias, and select green house and bedding plants. No. 4 — A Wholesale-priced Catalogue for Nurserymen and Dealers. feb — It TO FARMERS AND GAEDENEES, THE Subscribers offer for sale 40,000 barrels of their New and Improved POUDRETTE, manufactured from the night-soil of New- York city, in lots to suit purchasers. This article (greatly improved within the last two years) has been in the market for eighteen years, and .still defies competition as a manure for Corn and Garden Vegetaliles, being Cheaper, more powerful than any other, and at the same time free from disagreeable odur. Two barrels (.*3 worth) will manure an acre of corn in the hill, will save two-thirds in labor, will cause it to come up quicker, to grow fiister, ripen earlier, ar.d will bring a larger crop on poor ground than any other fertilizer, and is also a preventive of the cut worm ; also, it dries not injure the seed to be put in contact with it. The L. M. Co. point to their long-standing reputation, and the large capital ($100,000) invested in their business, as a guarantee that the article Ihey make shall always be of such quality as to command a rtady sale. Price, delivered in the city free of charge and other expense — One barrel, - . - - $2.00 Two « 3.50 Five " 8.00 Six " 9.50 And at the rate of §1.50 per'bbl. for any quantity over 6 bbls. fT^A Pamphlet, containing every information, will b« sent (Feee) to any one applying for the .same. Our address is — THE LODI MAXUFACTUKING CO., feb 1— It OtJice, 60 Cortlandt St., New York. FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS. ~ rE EXHIBITION SPEAKER. AND GYMNASTIC BOOK, illustrated with Seventy Engravings ; contains Pliys, Farces, Tableaux, Tragedies, Dialogues, Comic and Humorous Pieces, Sen- ate rial Speechei?, &c., &c. The action is all described and written out so that Teachers and Scholars have no difficulty in performing them well on tlie rostrum. The Gymnastics and Calisthenics r.re of great importance to Teachers and Pupils in Schools and Acade- mes. Remit Eighty-seven cents in stamps, and you will get the book by mail, free of postage. Address . D. M. DEWEY, feb 1— 2t Rochester, N. Y. EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A COPT OF THE gural gnnmtl u)i fjorticultur;i,l gircrti)tn For IS.'JT. IT contains a valuable ivrticlc on Rural Architecture, accompanied by beautiful deaigus of Farm Houses, Cottages, Subuibau Resi- deBcea, &c. Also, practical treati.ses on the management of Fruit, Flower and Kitchen Gardens; Cultivation of Grapes, Slrawbei riea. Raspberries, Blao.kliorries, Gooseberries, Currants, Ac; Plan for laying out a Fruit Garden and Ornamental Grounds, with the beel Location for Fruit Trees, VegclaWes, *c., together with useful ar tides on the Benring and Management of Poultry, and various other subjects of interest to every lover of rural life. It contains, »1ho, a very full and correct List of Nurserymen in the United .'States and Canada ; a List of .Agricultural Implement M.iki rs, &c., together with a List of the Fruits Recommended by the Aiuericnn Pomological Society as corrected at its last meeting held at Roch- ester September 1866. It is a work of 141 p.-vges, illustrated with eighty engravings, and is alike attractive and useful, containing as much matter .and more information thau many dollar books. This beautiful and valu;ible work will be sent, postage paid, to any address, on the receipt of 25 cents in postage stamps. JOSEPH 11\RK.E.«;, Pub. of Genesee Farmer, ) ROCHESTER, N. Y. and Rural Annual. 3 NEARLY READY— WITH SUGAR CANE SEED GR.ATI3 I CM1U5.D Sugar (ILaiie, ^ Supr ^M\\^. ITS mSTOKY, CULTUEE, AND ADAPTATION TO THE SOIL, CLIMATE AND ECONOMY OP THE UNITED STATES, "With an account of the Tarious processes of manufacturing SUGAR. Dr.awn from Authentic Sources, by Charles F. Staxsbcet, A.if.. lattf C'ommis.s'r at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, at London. Price Twentv-five cents. PuMished by C. .M. SAXTDN & Co., 140 Fulton St., New- York. C^^To persons enclosing 25 ceuts and a three-cent P. 0. Stamp to us, we will send the above book and Seed ennu^h to Plaid two rods dijuare C. M. SAXfoN & Co., feb 1— It 140 Fulton St., New-York. CHINESE SUGAS CAKE SEED.' THE Subscribers have made arrangemonts for, and have now on hand a moder.ite supply of the seed of the above jdant, well ripened, and may be relied on as GE.VU1NE. Sutbcieiit to plant about one-fif»h of an acre in drills 4 feet by 18 inches, put up in strong liuen packages, sent by mail, post paid, on the receipt of One Dollar, or a proportionate quantity by ex- press, at purchaser's expense. Order early to secure the seed. Also, a full a.ssort.ment New and Fresh GABDsa^ Seeds, imported and Ameiicau growth. Field Seeds and Crnin of the most desirable kinds. Flower Seeds, the finest variety. Full Catalcgues, gratis on .application. HE.VRY D. EMERY k Co., feb 1— 2t No. 204 Lake St., Chicago, I.I. SUGAE CANE SEED. EiKRY BROTHERS have, at much expense and trouble, ol> tained a supply of Genuine Seed of the Chinese SUGAR C.VNE, or '■'■Sorghum SacchartUum," successfully grown, fully ma- tured, and sure to vegetate, from Mr. K. Petehs, of (Jeorgia, which they will supply in strong linen packages, with full directions for its culture, for one dollar, each containing sullicient quantity for one-fifth of an acre. All orders should be accompanied with TWELVE CENTS, or Stamps if to be sent by mail. Pam[iblets con- taining a compilation of reliable information, experiments and success of the jdant bince its iiitroduciion in this country, funii-^h- ed gratis (post-paid^ upon receipt of a three c*nt postage stamp. EVIERY BROTHERS, Propnetors Alb. Agricultural Works, 62 State St. Albany, feb 1— 2t LlNN.a2AN GARDENS AND NirESEan:S,' FLrsHi.-fG. N. Y. Founded 1743. Wm. K. PRINCE & Co. will send to applicants their Descriptive Catalogues of Fruit and Ornamentai Trees, Bosos, Bulbs, Seeds, &c. 70 THE GENESEE FARMER. { HALLOCK'S COMBINED CaOSS-CUT AND CIRCULAR SAW MILL. PATENT APPLIED FOR. TAis Machine receive! the First Premium at the New York State Fair at £lmira, lSo5, and again at the Sncicty's last Fair, held at fVatcrtoicn, Oct. 1S56. THE above cut reprei?ents a new and useful Maohice recently perfected by the subscriber. It is made stronsj and durable, and is very simply constructed, requiring little skll to operate it, and is not liable to get out of order. It can be driven by any of the ordinary Horse Powers used in threshing. The saws can be botli used at one time, or separately, as may be desired. In sawin? wood the limbs and small tree.? can be cut by the circular saw, while 1he crosa-cut is .sawing the bodies of the larger trees : it is useful in sawiQg barrel heading, stave and shjngle bolts, slitting fence stutT. boring caps, and a variety of other purposes for which such saws are employed. Within the last year some important improvements have been made — such as strengthening the castings, attaching a balance wheel to the circular saw, flitting the main shafts to receive augers for boring cip^. He also furnishes a band with the combined Mill, not included heretofore, and as now manufactured, can be fulh recommended and jvarranted to he durable and substantial. It has been tli^roughly tested — about fifty of them having been sol 1 with- in the last year, which hive given entire satisfaction. With the recent improvements, it will be found superior to any likeniac'iiine- ry. TheCombined Machine ha.s one circular saw for cutting cord wood, limbs, poles, &c ; and one cross-cut or drag-saw, for sawing logs into stove-wood or other lengths ; the .single Machine has only one cross-cut or drag saw; the double Machine has two drag saws, whii'h are mide to order, to cut any desired length. The prices of the Improved Machines are as follows : Combined Machine, with cue circular and one drag saw, SSo 00 Single Cross-Cut, with one drag saw, 40 00 Double Cross-Cut, with two drag saws, 55 00 Cap, Auger and Slitting arrangements, extra. The Combined Saw Mill is capable of cutting from 30 to 40 cordi: of stove wood per day, it properly driven. II: is warranted to be well ma.de, of good m.aterials, and to work as represented. Wkbster, Jan. 4, 1856. Mr. E. D. Hallock— near Sir :— The Cross-Cut and Circular Saw Mill Combined, which I purchased from you, works to my entire satistaction, and I can cheer.*'ully recommend it as a ve:'y useful and labor-saving machine. It can beoper.ated with three or four horses on the sweep power, in running either saw separately ; and five or six horses will furnish sufQcient power to run both ,at the .same time, sawing wood as fast as the same number of men can furnish it to th.e machine. Very respectfully yours, &c., SHERMAK FERRiS. Pembroke, Sept. 12, 1856. Mr. Hali.ock :— The Combined Saw .Mill I bought of vou works first rate. I attached it to Emery's tv/o horse power, which runs a single saw as fast a-s two men can get the wood olf. I am satisfied with sufiicient power the combined mill can cut all the wood in a day that any man could desire. Yours, E. D. LON'G. We have been using during the summer one of Hallock's Sawino- Machines', fir making railroad wood ; it is constructei] for twocros * cut Saws. Our power is a portable engine of five horsp. With this pcwer we have driven both Saws through three feet lojii with the greatest ease, and have cut from 20 to 30 cordj of wood per ^d. the hoe used, &o 'I'he Dutch, or t^cufile hoe, is much the most expeditious and eflvc- tive inij'lenient, when the land is nor too hai'd or fmil. S;)WiN(} Fi.ASTEK — It will expedite spring work to fov plaster be ore the busy season of plowing and fowing commence.-. Son e farmers in VVeslern Ncm' ■^ or.i are in the habit of sowing plaster on their wiu- t r wheat, for tie benefit it has on the _\oung clover. The plaster, however, has a tendency, it i.-s said, to re- tard the rij e iirg of the wheat, and the practice, tberefore, cannot be recoHimended iu districts affected with the wheiit midge. Where plaster can l)e ob- tained for !e.-s than 1^5 per ton, a bushel per acre may usually be ?own with much benefit on all the clover la id An easy and expeditious way of sowing plas- ter, is to take a one horse wagon, and place a half birrel or v ash-tub at the hind end; into this put the plaster. The sower seats himself on a board laid across the box, with his back to the horse. A boy drives the horse at a moderate pace, and the man 8'Uters the plaster from sixteen to twenty feet in br -id h. Plowing — It is desirable to plow as early as pos- sbie, I'Ul it is a great mistake to commence before t le sod is iu good working condition. Luud plov.-en wh le wet can never be got into fine tilth. For win- ter wheat this is not of such great importance, as the fr( sts of winter mellow the gr((und, and winter wheat requires a somewhat rough "pasture;' but for the growth of maximum spring crops, it is absoluttly es- Benti,>il to have the land thoroughly pulverized and indlow. On this account, the piucti'-e of flopping over wide furrows is poor economy. Better plow an acre a day, in a thorough mtuiuer, seven inches deep and ten inches wide, than three acres iu the balking way adopted by some farmers. It is next to impos- eibie to make a good seed bed on laud plowed|in this manner. Fences. — If any new fence is to be made, it should be atttncied to this month, and the old fences should be examined and repaired. This work should not be delayed. Fuel for Summer. — If not already done, saw up and store away iu the wood-shed a siifucieut quantity of fuel to last at least through the summer. Black- a.^'h, bassvrood, elm, &c., split up fine and well sea- soned, may be used in summer; reserve the hard wood for winter. FEATIDS IN ARriFICIAL MANURES. Prof. S. W. Joiixsox, of Yale College, recently delivered a lecture on "Frauds in Mauuie," before the ijoui ecticut State Agricultural Society, from which we make a few extracts, as given in the Home- stead: * " The concUision being arrived at, that our farmers do, and will coi tinue to use artiticial fertilizert;, the leutartr upiroaclK d the question, 'Can we command thy bUjiplics we need without danger of frr.ud?' In answer, h« replied, ' The fai-mer is entirely at tlie jpercj of tliQ manufacturer, or dealer. The tempta- tions to dishonesty are very strong on the one hand, and on the other the ignorant blunders of tlie nianu- i'acturer make abundant phice for the farmer's money to leak away.' "A fraud is selling to the farmer an adidterated or damaged fertilizer of established name, or imposing upon liini worthless or inferior fertilizers under names Calculated to deceive, and at esorLitant prices'.' The points being granted, that where there is a clauice tiiere will be m«n found to deceive, and that where accurate knowledge is not necessary in a business, it will not be employed, Mr. Johnson proceeded to state the extent to wliich the manufacture and sale of fraud- ulent manures had been carried in England, France, and Germany, especially in the first named country. W ' cannot do ju.stice to these extracts without giving them entire; they showed, liowever, a depth and in- genuity of villainy hardly conceivable witliont a know edge of the facts. As we Yankees are not ajit to acknowledge our inferiority to the English in anything we shuU jirobably not have to wait long before a dc- velopeme .t of American ingenuity in this line will show our equality, even sujiposing that proof of no such frauds can now be shown. He said, ' The readers of the agricultural papers know the liistory of the Cliilian guano fraud, wliich Joseph Harris, Esq., now of the Geyiesce Farmer, detected and traced to its source with so much fearlessness and ability. The rtsult of my own numerous analyses of manures, which have been jmblished in the Homestead, during 18;)t), show undeniably that there are yet among us men who tbiiik the farmer fair g .me for their plucking; and if any are disposed to excuse dealers generally from intention to defraud, the matter becomes perfectly plain, when certain of these who have never denied tlie accuracy of these results, thus virtually admitting their justness, covertly try to intimidate agricultural editors from coiiyiug them.' " In England there are large manufactories of a sub- stance called the ' The Artiol',' which under this jiame is sold to dealers, wherewith to adulterate guano. — ■ And besides, guano is adulterated in many other waj-s. Mr. Ncsbit estimates the lowest sum of which the English farmer is defrauded in guano alone at .£100,- 000 per annum. " Manufacturers get their wares analysed and the chemists state their analyses in such a tray as to mishnd the bv-vev, ^ ^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^ " Not only is it impossible often, to judge by analyses as they are stated, but a sample of a tertilizer sent to the chemist, the analysis of which, arranged so as to favor the dealer as nuicli as possible, is published, may be a very difterent substance from that sent to market, " The manufacture of manures has but just com- menced; companies are forming all over the country. In Boston, New York and Philadelphia, companies have been recently formed with capitals of $100,000 each, for the conversion of slaughter-house refuse, blood, etc., into manure. The speaker went on to say and to show, that it is for the farmers by a united eliort now to dictate to the traders, least by the creejiing in, of a multitude of ' tricks of the trade,' the matter gets beyond their control. We should say, ' we know what we want, and you must fullill your promises — we will be huniLugged neither by names or by prices —good goods at fair prices we want, and these only will we have.' This stand we may now take, by hav- ing such manures as are in market extensively ana- lyzed. He went on to show how these samples should be taken from diffe rent lots sold to farmers, and at dif- ferent tiuK s to test the uniformity of mauutactnre, etc. Chemical Analysis is a much surer test than the application on the lield for reasons already specified, THE GENESEE FARMER. 75 and in tlio long run on a soil, and with a crop aclaptod to the usr of any ivirticular fcrtillizor, it will agree periVct'v with practical ivsnlts. In fact, niidor any circumstances wliich would give any value to practical results, chemical analysis will pjve the same in a Jhc days time.'' ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE FEBRUARY NUMBER. Ijast month's Fanner seems to me one of the most valuable uuuibers yet issued. Most of the ar- ticles are of a practical eliaracter, and not the least in importauce is the leader ou the question of aban- doning Whbat Growing in Western New York. — Very nearly hud I come to the conclusion that "it did not pay" to grow wheat, but another year's experience convinces me that it will prove prolitable under cer- tain circumstances. What these circumstances are, your article well indicates. It is a fact which every farmer should -take to heart," that rich, well drained soils hasten the mnturity of crops. In corn, this is often oltserved, but it is no less true of other grains. Sow only those lands best adapted to wheat, putting them at first in the best condition lor the crop, and selet;tiiig eaily maturing vashels; the midge injuring it pioba- bly about five bushels per acre. Let every farmer study your article, and sow just as much wheat as he can on right soil — As to fertility, character and drain- age-—in season, and in good order, and no more. A Marsh and its Products. — This calls for no special comments at my hands, only I would suggest to "B. F." that the mud thrown from the bottom of the ditches is one of the most valuable "products" of his marsh. If he will take pains to spread it around — not leave it, as is too often the case, on the banks of the ditch — he will find it of the very high- €8t value for any crop, and there will be a marked diff>!rence in the \ield of the ground to which it is applied, if well mixed with it, for several years. Potatoes, Etc. — Here are three good bits of ex- perience in raising potatoes — dull indeed must the reailer be, if he cannot profit from them all. I pre- fer growing "potatoes on clover sod," for I oaa do so with the least expense and trouble. Agricultoral Reading. — An interested- reader of agricultural papers is always getting ahead of his neighbors who do not read. But it is a fact, not to be disputed, that some who read make a very poor use of their learning. Their practice lacks common •sense, and so results in a failure many times, while the man of practical gense succeeds with only obser- vation to guide him. How much t^etter might he do ■with the added observation of hundreds as sensible as he, which a good paper would bring before him? Docking Horses — "A barbarous practice," surely, and one which ought to be reformed altogether. Thaf, and the tight check-rein, are unnecessary inflic- tions on this valuable animal. Ki: Graktixg Old Apple Trees — It is too often thought that all one has to do to renovR,te and renew in olii apple orchard, is to cut backhand re-graft it to new varieties. But this' is not so. Well does " H. 6. H." remark: "The result is ginply to cause what life there is in llie whole tree to be expended in a 'course of sprouts,' which in another year become more feeble than the old limbs were, and the tree, galvanized into life for a time, falls into incurable de- cline." Manuring and cultivation are retpiired ; plenty of the one, and the other of a thorough chur- ucter. IjIma Beans. — One of your Rochester correspond- ents says: "Lima beans are good, but unless started in a hot-bed very unceilain." I never had much dif- ficulty m growing Lima beans in my garden, since the first few years. But I save my own seed, and carefully save the earliest ripe for planting. Three years since, I started some early on pieces of inverted sod, and when warm weather came the third and fourth leaves started. They were planted out, and at the same time a few additional hills of dry beans, and the one I'ipened beans as soon as the other. As to the Horticultural bean, I never tried it. For a dwarf bean, the China Red-eye is excellent and early. The Premidm Ess.ays. — The March number prom- ises to be one filled with articles from new pens, called out by your liberal offer. I anticipate a rare treat from their perusal, and will not e^itend my "Items" farther, that you may have the room for better mat- ter. B. JYiagara Co., JV. Y. NOTES FOR THE MONTH BY S. W. Blood Horses. — It would seem that there is much diversity of opinion among the magnates at the An- nual Meeting of our Slate Agricultural Society at Albany, where, just now, the breeders of bovine ani- mals are death upon the trial of fast horses at ouf County Fai?s! Verily, they contrive to manage these things more profitably, if not better, in Vermont, where fast, blood horses are the great paying staple that puts millions in the pockets of Vermont fai'mers, while our New York fanners, vulgarly speaking, have to 'dance in the hog-trough." Since the advent of railroads, fast horses have been growing more and more into favor, at enormously increased prices, and the canny Vermont Yankees have not been slow ia reapipg the golden harvest. It is w^ell known that fat, sleek horses and serious coachmen are no longer tolerated in the thorough- bred city of Boston, and that even quiet families there, must now have fast horse.s, even at exhorbitant prices; and why should our New York farmers be discouraged from com- peting vvith Vermont for the trade ? Chinese Sugar Cane — The New York Tribune recommends the South African variety of the Sor- ghum as better for syrup or sugar than that from North China. So far from this, the Cafraiian plant is earlier than the variety contributed by M. Mar- riGNY from China, and it is said to be better for its cereal and forage product, but les? rich in .^nceliarine than the Chinese. See BuUeiin d'Jlcclimatalion of the 9th of September, page 4.t1. A Question for Horticulturists —Your Roch- ester correspondent plowed a piece of virgin soil that had lain twenty years a village common; the escu- lents he got from it the first year astounded him by their rapid growth. His mistake the second year was in applying that crude hor.sc manure; this friable loam did iiot need its mechanical efTects, as it might, had it been tenacious clay; and its chemical effects were injurious to all delicate plants, from their very 76 THE GENESEE FARMER. incipiency, as it disturbed that happy equilibrium of organic matter which nature leaves in her best virgin soils. Crude, unfermented manure, if I mistake not, destroys what Berzelius calls the " electro chemical relation of bodies," and the proportions with which -they combine with each other. Unfermented ma- nure is worth more intrinsically than that which is fermented, but it ia not so readily available; hence, I trench mine in deeply for those gross feeders, sweet corn, mangel wurzel, &c., planting cucumbers and cabbages on the same ground next year without manure. If cabbage plants are set out early on such a soil, every cabbage will head well, without a single exception, and many of ihem will have to be turned down in early fall to prevent the head from cracking open. Cucumbers and melons will do nearly as well, but I can say with your correspondent that the maxi- mum crop of cucumbei's I ever got was among Urge oak stumps, on a pure virgin soil of vegetable mould. Hence, it is safe to say that the analytical chemist is not yet born whose receipt for soil ingredients can equal Nature's mechanical and chemical combinations, when she is supplied with the means in the debris of her own organism. Shali, we Abandon Wheat Growing in Western New York ? — Your February leader was to the point on this subject. Your plea for more nitrogen, as the indispensable renovator of this cereal, than the plowing in of green clover can give, is well sus- tained by experiments in this best of wheat-growing counties. Here is an old Pennsylvania Deutsche farmer, who has paid for two or three large farms from the avails of wheat and clover seed, sold from his two hundred acre clay farm on the Cayuga Lake shore. I asked him why he could not get the same bright, plump wheat he did twenty-five years ago. — Strange to say, instead of charging his failure to the weevil, he replied that he had depended too much on manuring with green clover, because this system an- swered 80 well at first he thought it would last al- ways ; hence, he kept no other animals than four heavy plow-horses, two or three cows, a few sheep, and hogs to make his family pork, on his two hun- dred acre farm. When his wheat began to deterio- rate, it wa3 too late — his habits had been too well confirmed for him to turn stock farmer all at onCe, and he is now too old. He now admits that he al- ways kept too few sheep; and that had he kept more stock, plowed in less green clover and pastured it sometimes instead, his wheat crops would not hare thus sadly deteriorated. I well remember the time when this man exchanged his beautifui ridge farm of friable clay loam, only one hundred acre?, for this clay farm of two hundred acres. Some shiftless farmers thought he had made a hard bargain, but the Ger- man knew what he was about. He set two steel- coultered Pbacock plows to work in one large field, plowing that virgin soil which his predecessor had only harrowed over, and then the interminable drag- ging and rolling. That quiet farm, which seemed to enjoy a perpetwal Sunday before, now seemed to me in a fair way to be plowed and harrowed and rolled to death; but at harvest the wheat came ofl", not in hundreds, but in thousands of bushels, and then the green clover was turned under in full bloom, while other large fields were cut before wheat harvest for hay, and again in the fall for seed. That this fine surface drained farm now fails to produce even me- dium crops of inferior wheat, only gives significance to the old Scotch adage, " N o cattle, no manure- no manure, no corn." A Plea for Lima Beans. — Your correspondent recommends the Horticultural bean as the best pole beau. Without disputing the fact, I must gay that the Lima bean is the greatest bearer and the best pole beau I have ever cultivated, and as early as any other pole bean; yet, like a tropical plant, it bears early and late, and to hare early beans you must ?ave for seed the earliest ripe and the largest pods. Pinch off the vines after they have reached the top of an ei,^ht foot pole. A few of the later product ma.y be killed by an October frost, bnt the yield without them is legioa. Along this outlet they may be planted by the 20lh of May, but farther back a week later. Plant shallow. S. W. Waterloo, JV. Y. eOKEECTIOK-PLASTER FOR CLOVES, &c. Editors Geneskk Farmer. — I notice you have made a great mistake in my aiticle in the February number. You say I plastered every seventh year; it. should have said every year. Plaster, I consider, has done a great deal of good on my land. It was the first thing that enabled me to raise good erops. Plaster gave me plenty ot clover; clover hay made good cattle, excellent sheep, good manure, and this made good corn and wheat, and plenty of straw, and this kept increasing my manure, and still increasing my crops, or, at least, keeping them up when the crops of those who did not take the same course were failing. I sow all my grass land with plaster nearly every j'ear, and it gives me abundance of grass, which not being too closely fed off, enriches, at very little expense, the land for grain crops. Thirty years ago I said I would sow plaster if it cost forty dollars a ton, and I would do so still. I never pay over four dollars, and generally but three, per ton, and yet, strange to say, many fanners never sow a bushel I The true way is to sow plaster on all the grass land every year. By so doing you are feeding for grain. At least all the grass and clover land that is dry should be dressed with plaster; on wet or very damp land, it has little or no effect. Thirty-five yearsi ago, a very worthy neighbor told me I should ulti- mately ruin my land if I sowed plaster; but I find he was mistaken — it conlinvally increases in fertility. When I said Mr. Wright should not plow up sub- soil in spring for corn, 1 did not wish to be under- stood as opposing deep plowing. When I want to deepen my soil, I do it when I fallow, — and that I can best do after corn, being less draft than breaking up a sod. I have noticed for some twelve years that the plows are generally made for easy draft, in place of doing justice to the land ; that is, they are made rather to please the plowman than to make good crops. The land-side is made to run a good depth, bnt the right hand side of the share runs quite shal- low. It makes the plowed land look smooth, but it is a great injustice to the crops. It makes the plows sell well to those who do not look under the furrow. I suppose you have seen ribbing done before sowing peas, in order that they might be thoroughly covered. I have done it for both peas and wheat; but, thanks to large wheel cultivators, we can loosen the surface at one-fifth the labor. Now, many plows in use are ribbing the lan<3 under the furrow. This fault should be remedied without loss of time. The first time I THE GENESEE FARMER. 77 dSfe noticed this was in the Trial of plows at the State Fair at Poughkeepsie, in 1844; but I have always felt a reluctance to come out against it; boiny; some- thing new, I expected to have many to oppose me; but you cannot have a very easy draft, and do justice to the soil. In spriiii^, go into a field where you see a team plowing stiff sod with case, turn up a few pieces of the furrows, and 1 think you will find it ribbed under them. I cannot answer " Virginia" about draining, for I cannot tell what he wants. We are busy getting out clover seed — have al- ready got one hundred bushels, and expect fifty or sixty more. Draining pays in clover as well as in wheat; it does wonders for both. Tell the fanners in Monroe county to drain and manure, and they will not have to give up wheat raising. When I was draining against the freezing ont of wheat, I little thought that I was draining against the wheat midge, but such has proved to be the case. On some black muck soils, however, I find that draining is not a sure preventive against the midge, but I think clay or sand put on the surface, after draining, would help it John Johnston. JVear Geneva, JV. Y. A FEW FACTS FOR THE GENESEE FAEMER. Messrs. Editors: — In response to your call for facts, I will attempt to pen a few which have fallen ander my observation in my brief experience in ag- ricultijral matters, which you can use as you think best. The first fact I will notice, and one which may not be of much consequence in itself, but give more significance to some other facts, is the fact of my "whereabouts." I "hail from" Northern Pennsyl- vania, a hilly country, with a cold climate, where winter prevails about six nonths in the year. There ia quite a variety of soil within a few miles circum- ference, from sand and gravel to heavy clay and loam. The soil most common in this section, and with which mj facts are mainly connected, is a heavy, clayey loam, mixed with stones and gravel, and resting on a subsoil, very hard and impervious to water, and usu- ally called "hard-pan." This hard-pan varies in depth from one to two feet from the surface. Un- derdraining has been tried a very little here, but enough to convince those who have tried it of the great benefit resulting from it — rendering the soil more tillable arid productive, by draining off the sur- plus water held by the hard pan, and which must otherwise pass off by the slow process of evapora- tion. My neighbor G., influenced by the high reputation and flattering recommendations of the subsoil plow, a few years since purchased the " arimal," and has used it on his land, which is of the same '• hard-pan" aforesaid. His neighbor B. considers it a failure, and thinks that U.'s crops are growing less instead of viore where the subsoil plow is used, the advocates of said plow to the contrary notwithstanding. Will those who recommend the "subsoil plow" be kind enough to state the kind of soil on which it is used ? I believe it will not work equally well on all soils. Will any one give their experience in the use of it on the "hard-pan land" that I have mentioned ? On the use of ashes, leached and unleached, I can •P^k with confidence, having seen very encouraging results from their use oh grass. On a meadow of the aforesaid soil, which had been in grass several years and nearly run out, leached ashes were spread on in the fall at the rate of about forty bushels to the acre. The next season the hay crop on that part treated with ashes was more than double what it was on the rest of the field, according to the extent; and the season following the effects of the ashes were nearly as great — the grass growing more luxuriantly, and keeping green longer than the rest. Unleached ashes were tried in smaller quantities, with similar efiect. For reclaiming grass land that has been cropped for years, I think there is no manure, accessible to all farmers, that is aa beneficial as wood ashes, as they contain, to a great extent, those elerrents which have been exhausted from the soil by the growing plants. More anon. Juvenis. Jdckson, Pa. [Remarks — We are much obliged to our corres- pondent for the above facts, and hope to hear from him frequently, We have never known subsoil plow- ing injurious ; but we have in several instances seen diminished crops on land that was plowed unusually deep for the first time. The Michigan double plow is frequently called a subsoil plow, but it is a misno- mer. The true subsoil plow follows in the furrow made by an ordinary plow, and breaks up the subsoil without bringing any of it to the surface. The V ichigan double plow, on the other hand, brings the .subsoil to the surface. This, though generally bene- ficial, is sometimes injurious for a tew years. Will our correspondents, in writing on this subject, please bear this distinction in mind, and inform us which of these two plows is used ?j — Eds. ERGOT THE CAUSE OF FOUL IN THE FEET. Messrs. Editors : — In the February number of your useful paper, at page 50, 0. Ford makes an in- quiry concerning a " Disease in the Feet of Cattle," and asks, " Do any oi your correspondents know any- thing about it ? " I have formerly known much of this disease, but of late years, since our farmers have paid more at- tention to the rotation of crops, there has been com- paratively little of it in Western New York. I have visited many herds of cattle where this disease pre- vailed, and in some instances where the whole herd was affected, and in every instance have been able, by examining the mow, or stack from which the cattle were fed, to point out the cause, which has been no other than the ergot, or smut, upon speargrass. The speargrass so affected was cut, in most instances, from fields that had been in grass many years. In some years the grasi* produces more of this smut than in others, on the $ame land. Farmers are hardly aware of the injury done to their crops and stock by the Cryptogamous plants, most of which are poisonous, and some very injurious to crops, as rust on wheatf smut on spring rye, wheat and oats, rust or disease on potatoes, &e ; and in some instances, I have known the health of families injured from the use of food which contained parts of those plants. I was once consulted by a family where every member was com- plaining of pain in the feet and limbs. I was con- vinced that some part of their food was the cause, and therefore inquired Into and examined all articles of their diet, and found that they were making use 78 THE GENESEE FARMER. of spring rye for bread; and on examining the rye, befoi'e ground, found a large portion of ergot, or spurred rye, in it, and on inquiry found ihey ha9 ta- ken no pains to separate it before grinding. They afterwards separated the ergot, and all recovered, al- though they continued to use the rye for bread. I ouce raised' a fine crop of spring rye, which had much ergot upon it. I had it drawn to the barn in dry v/eather, when much of it shelled ofl' and dropped apon the barn floor. After the rye was all in the barn, the floor was cleaned up, and the rye and ergot which dropped upon the floor wag cleaned from dust and put into the swill barrel, without my knowledge. The next morning ray hogs were fed from the barrel; towards evening I noticed the hogs were all lying down, and seemed to have nearly lost the use of their limbs. On inquiring into the cause, I found the er- got in the barrel from which they were fed. If Mr. F'oRD would avoid the disease in cattle that he complains of, let him pay proper attention to his rotation of crops; and should ho find any piece o( speargrass with ergot upon it in his mowing grounds, he had better allow it to remain upon the land for manure than put it in his barn to feed to stock. JVew Haven. G. . A DOZEN RECEIPTS WOETH SAVING. An esteemed correspondent sends us the following receipts. They cannot be allowed to compete for our Premium for the Best Dozen Domestic Receipts, and we accordingly publish them aa an ordinary oommunication: Scratches on Uoeses. — Rub the part affected with plaster of Paris, once a day, until a cure is ef- fected ; or, v/ash the part effected clean with castile soap suds, and oil it well with curriers' gurry every other day. In either case, keep the horse out of the mud. Grafting Wax. — One part beeswax, two parts tallow, four parts rosin. Mix together, and work it like shoe-maker's wax. Cure for the Sting of a Bee. — Saleratus, wet with water; or fine salt applied in the same way. To Curb Horse Distemper. — Tar, fed with a paddle. For Bots or Bellyache in Horses. — Half pint new milk, half pint molasses, one table-spoonful sale- ratus; or the following may be used: half pint vine- gar, half pint soft soap, half pint gin, half pint mo- msses. Put ihem together and shake them well, and pour down while foaming. Fob Curing Hams. — -Half pint molasses, quarter ' pound sugar, three ounces saltpetre, two ounces sale- ratus, one quart salt, to each pail of water. Make enough to cover the meat. Liniment for Wounds or Bruises on Horses or Cj^tle.— Half pint alcohol, one ounce oil spikenard, one ounce British oil, one ounce oil gannum, one ounce spirits turpentine, one ounce camphor gum, one ounce soap, made fine. Put all in a bottle, and cork tight. For Colic in Horses — Tie a small piece of to- bacco on his bit, and exercise him moderately. To Make Yellow Butter in Winter. — Feed carrots; or grate two ounces for each quart of cream — ^put it ia water, and strain it in the cream. To Keep Bugs foom Vinks.-^"ix a table-spoon- ful of spirits of turpentine with a quart of plaster; put it in the hiil every other day, as long as necessa- ry. Or what is better, coop a hen with young chick- ens; the chickens will soon destroy the destroyers. To Make an Excellent Salve. — Take alum, cas- tile soap, and camphor gum, of each a lump as large as a walnut; pulverize them well, and mi^s with a gill of honey, cold; then melt a lump of beeswax and a lump of rosin, the size of a hen's H'-^g, together, add them to the first, and stir until cold. ANOTHEE I'SGIFITABLE FLOCK CF SHEEP. Messrs Editors : — I am decidedly opposed to large stories about crops, stock or any thing else ; but seeing an article in your January Number, head- ed a " Profitable Flock of Sheep," 1 thought perhaps it might interest many o! your readers to see the ad- vantage of good markets, and also whether "anj good thing could come out of Jersey," I give at pre- sent the following example. In the fall of 1854, Mr, Garret Leming, of Monmouth Co. N. J., purchased sixteen ewes from a drove of western or native sheep, for ^2 50 a head; he put a pure blooded South Down buck Vv'ith them; in the spring of 1855 they produced twelve lambs, which were sold for $105 in June; the sixteen ewes averaged a little over one dollar per head tor wool; in September these ewes were worth S4:.50 -per head. Lambs sold for $105 00 "Wool, ■_. 16 00 Septembsr ewea worth 7'2 OQf $193 00 First C0it:ewes, 40 00 Profit, $153 00 Gain per head, 9 56 Gain per head $9.56 against a little over $4 ia Mr. Smith's flock. To show that this was not an extreme case, he last spring had 20 lambs from 16 ewes which sold for $100 00 Wool, - 18 00 Ewes Bold for 72 00 $1S8 00 First coat 40 00 Profit, - $148 00 Gain per hoad, 9 25 Now this gain was in eleven months, whereas Mr. Smith's were kept sixteen months. They ran to a stack of second crop clover hay through the winter, besides which they were fed about one pint of meal apiece for about three months. I may send you other examples, but this must answer for the present. P. S. — These lambs were sold to butchers,- not for stock, but meat. J. C. Taylob. Holnidel, A". J. PLOWING AND HASEOWING LLHH. Editors of Genesess Farmer: — Have any of yam numerous correspondents tested the virtue of harow- ing land that has been plowed in the early part of October, with a view to be plowed in the spring again ? In plowing laud there are two objects to be gained — -to destroy weeds, ond to turn "p row portions cf soil, and it is a question whether the soil thus turned up in a rough or lumpy state, would be better if left THE GENESEE FARMER. 79 in that cnnriiiion to the action of the winter frosts, or pulverized thoronnhly witli the harrow, with a view to have it ready at the earliest moiuetit for spring operations. With what lirile knowled^o of farming I possess, with heavy poil;-', I would prefer tlie former, and with tit^ht soils, the latter mode of treatment. In the December number of the Genesee Fanner, Mr. J. C. AoAMS, of Seymour, N. Y., makes some remarks resr.irdinpf plowinjj, which might very profit- ably be taken nutice of by some farmers, although it is a very rare thing in this country to see what he des- cribes. He says, " leave about six furrows wide for a smgle team, and more for a double team." Would Mr. Adams enlighten ns as to the width of his fur- rows, for it is certain, a horse cannot turn on much less than six feet, and then the ploww-ould naturally be three or four feet behind. Also to draw a furrow and return in the same track, appears to me a waste of time and labor. \ .The benighted Canadians, when they are about to plow a field, if the headlands are not already marked out, proceed the first thing to mark them out not less than fifteen feet wide, and when the body of the field is finished, plow the headlands in the same manner as any other of the ridges of the field. Andrew Wilson. ■Augusta, near Prescott, C. W. CULTIYATION OF POTATOES. Haul out and spread your manure about the first of April; then take a plow and run a furrov/ about the middle of your patch, from end to end ; drop your potatoes into that furrow, about ten or twelve inches apart, and then turn it over and cover the potatoes with it; then run the plow on each side, throwing the turrows towards each other, and drop potatoes in each furrow, and each furrow covering a row of potatoes, until your ground is all planted ; then cover with pine shats, three or four inches deep, and your work is done until digging time, when you remove the shats before digging. 1 can raise more potatoes per acre by this method than by any other, and with a great deal less labor. The shats keeping the ground moist arid cool, the potatoes flourish and grow during the dry, hot weather of summer. Laurel, Delaware. W. HBTORY OF MAEL AS A FEKTHIZEE. The use of marl as a fertilizer appears to have been known from the earliest ages. It is spoken of by the early Roman authors, but does cot seem to have been used in Italy. Pliny mentions it as having been "found out in Britain and GauL * ^' * It is a certain richness of earth, like the kernels in animal bodies that are increased by fatness." (What does he mean by this ?) M*rl, he says was known to the Greeks, '■ for is there anything," he adds, " that has cot been tried by them? They call the marl-like white clay leucargilloji, which they use in the lands of Megara, hui only where they are moist and cold." But if the Romans had not discovered marl in Italy, they were aware, as Varro and others informs us, of its value in h )sbandry. " When I marched an army," iwys Varro, " to the Rhine, m Transalpine Gaul, I pa.ss:ed through some countries wh "e I .saw the fields manurt'd with white fossil clay." ''hispeems to have been what would now be uv "erstoor! by us as mial_ This mineral manure was used by the ancient inhab. itants of England before the time of Pliny A stat- ute, passed in the year 122.') (10 Henry HI,), give* every man leave to sink a marl-pit in his own irround without being fined ; a proof of an early practice ©f improving land by means of marl. There are leases on record, granted in the reigns of Edward I. and H., which compel the tenants to make use of marl. In the first English treatise on hu!-bandrv by Sir A Fitg- herbcrt. entitled The Bank of Ihishandry, A.D. 1523. lime, r.'if//7, and fallowing are strongly recommended ; and in The Book of Snrveyinge, by the same author, and at the same date, lime and marl are mentioned as comm m manures. In a treatise on rural ecoi;omy, written in the reign of Elizabeth, marl is said to have been discovered by Cole, a Frenchman, in the llielft.h century. The histoiian prized it in his day, for he says, '-It will carry barlie, wheat, and pea#continua!ly for twentie years without dung." This clay-marl is described as being of a " blewe collor,sometimes redd," fat and clammy, more adapted for loosedry land than moist, where " ly.,ie rather serveth than this," It wa.si considered much more durable than sand or lime, for the old adage v.'as, " that a man doth sand for hira- felfe, lyme for his sonne, and marl for his grandchilde." Farmers were then mistaken, however, in expecting that it could supersede the use of dung: they .?old their hay and straw, but found that no second marl- ing would restore the quickly exhausted virtue of their land, until it had been repeatedly manured with dung; so that Barnaby Googe, in the middle of the six- teenth century, cites an old saying, that " lime and marl are good for ihe. fathe", but bad for the son." — The Vv-hite chalk-marl used in ^T^orfolk, England, np- pears to have been in u-?e for c( nturies, Irora the size of the oak trees growing in the old marl-pits, while the use of clay-marl seems to be of much later date. CoMPosiTiox OF Fat — The fat of animals is amix- ture of several chemical organic compound', which are all distinguished by containing a. very large pro- portion of carbon, united with hydrogen and oxygen, and by the absence of nitrogen and inorganic matters, which occur in almost all other parts of the animal body. In the more liquid animal fat elaien, and in the more solid, margarine or stearine preponderates. Train oil, oil of almonds, and rape-oil, consist principally of of elaine; butter, lard, human fat, principally of mar- garine; and stearine, the hardest of the three, is found in larger quantities in siiet than in the softer fata The same constituents which are found in the ani- mal fats, exist in the vegetable oils and fatty matters. Thus, both animal and vegetable oils and fats contaia- carbon, iiydrogen, and oxygen only. LiMT3 ON Be.vns — Leguminous cropf? of all kinds are greatly benefitted by lime— whether beans, peas, or vetclies, as it not only increWs the bulk of straw, but also greatly improves the quality of the grain. — Peas grown on newly-limed land are excellent boilers — a point worthy the attention of those who grow these for culinary purposes. Some farmers in E'lg- land spread hot-lime over their beans when two or three inchf s above the surfiice. and afterwards woik it into the land by means of the horse or hand hoe. Plasthk (j.n'' '-ate of lime) has a greater effect o» leguininou.=« p!:ii;is, shcIi as clover, pe i.«, &c., ha i oa such p'aats as ,»heat, barley, and the common g.aijjfi,. 80. THE GENESEE FARMER. inic5cc ^farmer |)ri;/ (bssaiii ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. "Winter. — In the first place, there must be pro- vided sufficient sheds and yards to accommodate all the sheep comfortably — with good running water, easily accessible. 4'he sheds shoidd be enclosed tight, and the feeding racks be placed in the sheds, for two reasons: first, that the sheep may have dry hay 'at all times, without being exposed to winds and storms; and second, that the hay may be saved, as it is a fact that full one-fourth more hay is re- quired if it is fed to sheep out of doors. If corn is not worth more than one dollar per bushel, it will pay to f^d all store sheep a half gill each per day; and iambs should have as much as that, (a gill each would be belter,) or its equivaleiat in some other grain, no matter what it costs. Towards spring, commence feeding the ewes with roots cut fine — or what is better, clover rowen — to induce a secretion of milk sufficient for the young lambs. Clover rowen will produce as much milk as grass — so that, by pro- viding plenty of it, the ewes can drop their lambs in March, and they will be much larger the next fall, and consequently worth much more, than himbs dropped in April or May. In a large flock of ewes, there are always some that drop dead lambs; but if the sheds are tight and well littered, the loss of lambs will be trifling. As soon as the lamb has dropped, see to it that he gets on his feet and sucks the dam immediately. If he has not strength of his own, he must be assisted. If the dam is healthy, he will seldom require assistance more than once. Spring. — Great care must be taken with sheep in the spring. They should be driven to shelter from every cold storm; grain must be given to them until the pastures get good; they must have salt once a week ^during the whole summer, and once in two weeks during the winter. About the first of June in this latitude, or in the South in April or May, ac- cording to the climate, the sheep must be washed in running water until clean, recollecting that the water must be warm enough to make the men, standing in it to wash the sheep, sivcai at their work; if colder, it is abusing both men and sheep. As soon as dry, or in about one week, they must be shorn by good hands, who do not get angry and handle them rough- ly while shearing them. The fleece should be folded up, flesh side out, very neatly, and packed in close, ckan bins or boxes, until disposed of. The ram laijibs must be emasculated, and all the lambs should have their tails cut off", at least as soon as they are four weeks old, as they bleed but litte, and it does not hurt them so much as when they are older. Be- fore turning out to ^rass in the spring, all the sheep should be tagcred — that is, have all the wool on each side of, and under the tail, and some distance down between the hind legs, sheared close — to keep them from getting dirty and sickly. After the sheep are shorn, they should be marked with the owner's name, and put back to their pastures. They should be changed from one pasture to another as often as once a month. About the first of August, take the lambs from the ewes, and put them into good pasture, that they may not get poor. If you wish your lambs to -come in March, put the ram with your ewes in Octo- ber, (the average gestation of the ewe being one hundred and fifty-two days.) As soon as he has given a ewe one leap she should be thrown out, as more than that injures both the paren; and the off- spring. Use the best ram you can get, and the lambB will be good. He should be at least four or five years old — tor if younger than this, or over ten years old, his lambs will be weak and puny. He should have all the grain he can eat, or he will get pooE. As soon as he has served all the ewes, put him in a pasture alone; and it is better that he be kept hy himself the whole year. Never use the same ram more than two seasons. JYever sell the best ewes at any price. Whenever you buy a ram, buy the best, whatever it costs, and the flock will improve in quali- ty, will be hardy and profitable. For Marking Sheep. — Put into a pan a quarter of a pound of lampblack, two ounces of Venetian red, and linseed oil enough to make a good painl Mark either with a stamp or brush. To Cure the Foot- rot. — Put into a quart bottle a quarter of a pound of blue vitriol, one ounce of verdigris, and fill up with chamber-ley. Put a quill through the cork, turn the sheep on its back in a trough, open the hoof and scrape out clean with a knife all the diseased flesh, put on a few drops of the above mixture, and a cure is effected If there are but two or three lame ones in a fiock, put some of this mixture in the feet of all the sheep in the fiock — with this mixture, im ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. To Cure iite Stretches. — Administer a tabte- spoonful of pulverized saltpetre immediately, or the sheep -^^-ill soon be past all cure. To RK.srscirATE Lambs when Chilled. — Give a tea-spoonful of Thorasonian No. 6 in some warm milk, a little at a time, and wrap him in warm flannel. Wesljidd, JV. Y. D. A. A. Nichols. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF HORSES. The colts should be kept tame. The field in which they are kept should be surrounded by a good fence, or they may acquire unruly habits, and much time be lost in hunting them when strayed from the pasture. The first and second winters keep them in a warm stable; if of brick or stone, it must be well ventilated from the top. Feed with good hay, and some bran, turnips or carrots, but not on grain, either whole or crushed, for it is binding, and will make tender-footed if not crippled horses. The third winter, if large and strong, the colt may be harnessed and driven be- fore a light sleigh, to get it tame and used to drawing* The fourth winter work it, but not too hard, and A: not forget to feed well, but not too much grain. "Wit! this treatment, colts will, by this time, make good serviceable horses. Water often, and but little at i time. In handling, be mild, but not timid. Do no drive too fast, nor load too heavy; groom well, an< bed at night, to prevent rolling in the stable and gel ting fast; many a good horse has been lost in cod sequence of neglect in this respect, after being drive in the storm or till bathed in perspiration. Canada West. J. loca. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SWINE, Take a pig eight weeks old, that was dropped tl first of March, and feed it nearly what it mil eat milk, slop, and a little corn. About the first of Ni THE GENESEE FARMER. veniber, turn it ia with the boar ; note the time. After th:it, feed it two-thirds as niucli as it' fatting. She shoiUd not be confined in a small ])!ace. A week before she drops her pig's, fiive plenty of litter, and feed all she will eat, especiallj- when sho begii s to build her nest. Give all the slop she will eat. After farrowin?, do not feed anytliin-- under twenty-four hoars, and then about three quarts of lukesvarm slop. Feed sparing for ten days, after which give a little oom, and all the slop she will eat. As soon as the grass ^Tows, turn the sow and {liirs into a i?ood pas- ture of clover and timothy, with ranninjf water. Turn your r:iilk and dish-water into a cask with bran and shorts, and let it ferment; feed this pegularly twice a day, morning and evening, and not ofiener. As soon us corn begins to ripen, feed all they will eat, and no more. When the ground freezes they should be provided with a warm pen, and slaughtered about the first of January. I usually slaughter when the hogs are about ten months old, and they dress from 2.-)0 fts. to 300 lbs. 1 have just slaughtered two that were two hundred and seventy-five days old ; one weighed 21)0 lbs., and the other 306 fts. The.j were well fed, but 'nothing extra. M. R. Bkitten. Spring Prairie, Wis. COLTIVATION OF WINTER WHEAT. [We have been unable to decide which of the two following essays is the best, and therefore award the premium to each of them.] Two methods suggest themselves to my mind : — First, take a piece of land that has laid in clover two or three yeai-s, and graze the first crop with stock, let the second crop grow up, manure the land in the fall with all the manure you ean spare, putting most on the poorer places, then later in the fall or early winter plow under the manure and clover in the following manner : Let one team go first and turn over the sod, and let a second team go behind and throw tl:^e soil upon the sod. The first plow will throw the sod and manure to the bottom of the furrow, and the second will bury them several inches deep. Plow the whole field in the same manner. In the spring, plant the field with corn, and give it good and cl< an culture through the summer. As early as posssble in the fall cut the corn near the ground and remove it from the field, if possible, ©r if not, shock it up, and plow the ground in the manner above stated. The second plowing will enable you to plow deeper than the first, and to mix the manure more thoroughly with the land. Harrow until the soil is well pulverized; then sow five or six pecks of seed wheat to the acre, and turn it undar about three inches; then harrow, and the work is done. The second method is to take a piece of land, sod is the best, and manure, and plow it in May or June, in the same manner as above. In all dry weather during the summer, when it cannot be injured by tramping, turn the cattle and sheep on it at night, until the latter end of August, when it should he well cross plowed and harrowed ; then about the middle of September plow it again and sow about the first of October, in the manner above 8t»ted. About the first of October is the best time to sow wheat in this latitude, north of this, the middle of September. The first method I think has greatly the preference to the second. It requires but little more labor, you get a crop of clover to feed down, and a crop of clo- ver to turn under the first season; a crop of corn of sixty to seventy-five bushels to the acie the second year, with but little labor and nearly or quite as good a crop of wheat the third year as if the field had laid fallow; and if you want it, your field is ready set in clover, which will be sufiiciwntly thick from the seed previously turned under. Thus you may continue in rotation any length of time — clover two years, corn, manured on clover sod the previous year, followed by wheat. Our land will improve under this rotation. The deep culture above described has a wonderful effect on the wheat and corn crops, and on tlie soil ; it gives a good loose soil for the plants to grow in, the best protection from drouth, and draws the water from the surtace in wet weather, consequently pre- vents, in some measure, the throwing out of the roots and winter killing. The best remedy against rust that I know of is to furnish the plant with the necessary food, which en- ables it to come up thick and grow up quickly upon the land. This food can be more cheaply and easily furnished here, by plowing under clover, and such manure as we can obtain at home, than in any other way. Larger crops may be obtained by more ex- pensive culture and manures than by the above meth- od, but I am confident for general cultivation, and in a rotation of crops, it cannot be excelled. If the land is wet and water is liable to stand on it, sow in lands of convenient width, in a suitable direction for the water to run off; leaving the lands open in the mid- dle. The head lands should be left open that the water may pass off easily. I am told by an extensive cultivator of wheat, that to take recently slacked lime and mix it with water to the consistency of thin white-wash and wash seed wheat in it, that it will entirely prevent the smut. — He has practiced it for years, and not a particle of smut is to be found in his wheat. A. G. MULLINS. Cheshers Store, Anderson Co., Ky. CULTIVATION OF WINTER WHEAT. Winter wheat in Western New York is the bread and money crop of the farm. Its culture is a subject of more importance to the farmers at the present time than any other that pertains to their occupation. All classes in the community are interested in its pro- duction, and are affected more or less by the pecuni- ary loss that results by its failure. The greatest ene- my the farmers have ever had to contend with in raising wheat is the fly which attacks the head ; all other flies or worms are harmless in comparison. There are towns in Monroe county where the destruction of the wheat crop is so certain, that its cultivation has been almost entirely abandoned. The evil is not a partial one. What is true in regard to such locali- ties will soon be so in regard to all others where wheat is grown. It will eventually reach every farm in the wheat growinar districts of the country, and the pro- fitable cultivation of the wheat crop will be at an end. In view of these facts, it becomes the farmers to be awake to the discovery of some remedy, and ready to use any means by which this evil can be prevented. 82 THE GENESEE FARMER. The application of lime to the heads of the wheat has been thoron^^hly tried, and the result proves that it is only casting dust in one's own eyes. The only re- medy I have seen sug-^ested, that has much promise of success, is to plow the wheat Gchi after harvest. — Thi>^, when the work is well done, I believe will be effectual. At harvest time, before the grain is drawn from the field, the greater part of the worms descend to the ground where, according to a Scotch writer, thsy burrov/ to the depth of about half an inch. — From this time they are in a dormant state, until changed into a fly, when they firise into the air, and are ready to re-produce and perpetuate their race by making a deposite in the heads of the wheat — which in due time becomes a worm that destroys the grain. If the land should be thoroughly plowed the larva would get buried so deep that it could not receive the amount of heat and air necessary to ils transfor- mation, and consequently it would be destroyed. The worms that might get carried with the grain to the barn, would probably be destroyed in the manure If more convenient for the farmer, and he did- not wish to sow winter rye, the plowing might be omitted un- til spring. The rule should be to plow the land deep- ly any time before the jly leaves the ground. With winter or spring rye or barley should be sown clover seed, and plaster the succeeding year. This gives a heavy growth ol clover, which, in the month of June, should De plowed under for wheat. By this course there is a crop every third year. If it should be con- sidered an object to raise wheat every second year on the same land, some broad-leaved annual plant should be grown, to be plowed under ibr manure ; and for this purpose, perhaps, there is nothing better than the ruta baga or Swedish turnip. In adopting this system of rotation, it is supposed that the soil isingood condition atthe commencement, and capable of producing remunerating crops of wheat by the green crop. If not, the farmer ought to know it and apply such manure as experience has taught him is the best. If compost or decomposed barn- yard manure is used, six loads to the acre is ordinari- ly sufQcient. This should be spread directly and evenly from the wagon at seed-time, and then the manure and seed can, \rith the gang-plow, be buried together. Notwithstanding the danger from the Iles&ian fly, wheat should be sown as early as from the last day of August to the sixth or seventh of September. More wheat has been lost bj late sowing than by the Hes- sian 8y- When a green crop is jjlowed in for wheat, it should not be turned back again to the surface by deep plowing, but the land should be superficially worked with the cultivator or gang-plow. More or less wheat is yearly destroyed by snow — which drifts by the fence running north and south on the west side of the wheat-fields. If a wire fence can be niaiie eco- Domically any where on a farm, it ought to be placed on such lines. In order to carry out successfully the plan proposed, for the destruction of the wheatfly, it would be neces- sary that there should be a concert of effort amongst the farmers. If the wheat-growers of Monroe county would meet and pledge themselves not to leave any land unplowed, on which they had raised wheat, the result would be the exeniption of their fields from the ravages of the tiy, and good crops of wheat as in form- er years. JosEPu Allen. Adams Basin, Monroe Co., JY. Y. CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN. I HAVE made three successful experiments in the cultivation of Indian Corn. The first was on a peicQ of about four acres, that had lain as an old slashing and pasture, and never been plowed, and but recently cleared off. The .soil was a dark, marly-clay, mixed with sand and gravel. I commenced breaking it up the first of July, and put the plow about six inches deep. I then harrowed itlengthv.'ay's of the furrows, and on the first of August, harrowed it again, across the furrow, and cross plowed it eight inches deep, and on the 10th of September, harrowed and cross plowed it again ten inches deep, intending to sow it with Vi'heat. On the day set for sowing, it commenced raining, and continued so wet that 1 gave up the idea of sowing it, and concluded to sow it with spring Vv-heat. It lay all winter in seven paced lands with deep dead furrows. Early the next spring, I cross plowed it full ten inches deep, but was again prevent- ed sowing it with wheat in consequence of the heavy spring rains. I then concluded to try corn, and, on the 2d day of June, I commenced to plow it for the fifth and last time, ten inches deep, and harrowed it fine, and furrowed it lightly, with a one-horse plow, three feet apart, and planted in rows, two feet apart, the other way, v/ithout furrowing across, putting four grains in each hill, of a large eight-rowed 'yellow variety. Ten days afterwards I harrowed it lengthways with two horses, and a three cornered harrow, taking out the forward teeth, so as to pass on each side of the corn plants. One week after this, I went between the rows with a one-horse plow turning the furrow to the hill, and on the 4th of July, I passed through the rows with a cultivator and leveled down the furrowB, Then, with a hoe in hand, I went through it, and carefully removed every weed that was to be seen, and leaving the earth as even as possible. At tuis time tLe stalks had began to joint at, or near the root, — after which I consider it injurious to plow or cultivate a'uong the corn, as the roots extend from hill to Iftll. At the setting of the ears, I passed over the field, and removed every weed by hand that could be found. The produce was 118| bushels of shelled corn per acre. The second experiment was on three and-a-half acres of nearly the same character of soil as the first. It had been plowed ten inches deep and sown with wheat, producing a crop of 35 bushels per acre. I then took off a good crop of clover and timothy hay, and in the fall covered it evenly over with yard and stable manure, which, together with a good growth of after-grass, I turned under ten inches deep. This was in the month of October. The following spring, I harrowed and cultivated it till it was quite mellow, and then cross plowed it about five inches deep, being careful not to disturb the sod underneath ; and, after smoothing the furrows down with a harrow, furrowed it lightly four feet apart, north and south, and three feet east and west, and planted it the 24th day of May, one acre with the Red Cob Ohio Dent, and the other two acres and-a-half with the Twelve Rowed Dutton. When the plants were well out of the ground, I sowed broadcast over the field a compost prepared as follows : fifteen bushels of dry hen manure; fifteen bufhels of good unleached ashes; five bushels of plaster; and three bushels of fine dry salt, mixed well together and made fine. THE GENESEE FARMER. 83 As soon as the rows could be plainly seen, I passed orep them with the three cornered harrow in the manner before di'scribod. From the acre planted with the Ohio variety I harvested 130 busiiels of cars of sound corn, of which, three half bushels of ears, would pve a busnel of shelled corn, makincf nearly WT bushela ef shelled corn per acre. The Dutton yiehkJ about the SuTnc number of bushels of ears per acre as the Ohio variety, but not as many bushels of shelled corn. The third experiment was on five acres of land from which I had taken a crop of wheat strati- — (he midge havino; destroyed nearly all the grain. About the middle of May, I spread out on the land a good coat of manure, and plowed it under, full ten inches deep, together with a good start of young clover that was sown the previous spring. I then harrowed it till it was finely pulverized, which required far less la- bor than in the former case, where the land was plowed in the fall. The land was then furrowed and pianttd . with the same varieties, harrowed and cultivated, arid 1' top dressed, as in the second experiment. The yield 1 vfasjive bushels per acre more than in the previous trial with fall plowing, and which required mort? attention than this. S. IJavidson. Greece, .V. F. ON THE CUXTIVATION OF POTATOES. The cultivation of the potatoe has, for the lasi few years, become of vast importarice to those farmers who are situated near a market, and has proved very remunerative. So important has it become, that time spent in the investigation of best methods of caltiva'.ion, and best varieties, is well and profitably spent. There exists a very great diversity of opinions in regard to the manner of cultivation, quantity of seed used, time of planting, and the varieties most profitable. Almost every kind of soil will produce a — large ' or small — crop. The soils, however, which are best adapted for the cultivation of potatoes are sand loam, chestnut loam, and gravelly loam. Dry land is the surest to produce a erop of sound potatoes. To prepare a field for a good crop of potatoes, select a sandy loam, seeded with clover, which was mowed, or pastured the year previous, if such is on the farm, and plow it twelve inches deep, about the middle of May; by that time the clover v.-ill have started well, and it will furnish a good coat of manure to turn under. After plowing is done,»ro]l with a heavy roller, and then harrow thoroughly; after which, mark out the field with a small corn plow, in straight rows, both ways, about three feet apart, and as deep as the plow will run and not disturb the sod. The field is then ready for planting which should be done immediately. The potatoes may be cut a few days before planting, to save time. About six or eight bushels to the acre should be planted. Cut a middling sized potatoe into four pieces, and put two pieces in a hill. Drop them by >. hand, and cover with a hoe three or four inches deep. '■ Before the potatoes break through the ground, harrow the field thoroughly with a light harrow to distroy all the weeds that may have started, which will greatly facilitate the first hoeing, and disturb the potatoes but v^ little. For the first hoeing use the corn cultivator both ways between the rows, and if the weeds are not to be feared, let them grow a few days longer and culti- vate attain, and follow with the hoc, putting a very little dirt up to the potatoes, and leaving a flat hilL The second hoeing, use a shovel plow, or a horse hoe, which will throw up the dirt on each side of the hills, and leave a peifect hill and very little to be done with the hoe. After this the ground should be kept clean from weeds, and if very dry weather, the horse cultivator should be used between the rows as ba- foi-e. The kinds to plant for fine quality and that command the highest price in market, are Mexicans, Purple Mercers, Carters, and Blue and White Fink Eyed. For early potatoes. White Mountain Junes, and Early Junes. For late crop. Long Johns, English Whites, Flesh Colored and Bound Pink Eyed. Some farmers plant in drills, and it is a very good method, and m.ay produce larger crops than planting in hills. For drills, mark the ground one way three and-a-half feet apart, and about four or five inehta deep, and drop the potatoes, one piece in a place, about a foot apart; two good eyes in a set is enough, and if the grouiid is rich, one eye is sufficient. They may be covered very expeditiously and well m\h a small plow; and just before they come up the ground should be harrowed, as before described. After cultivation, the same as when planted in hills. Late planting is almost sure to produce the largest crops; but early planting is the best preventive of the disease. I have rai^pd Early Junes for twenty years, and never knew thenr diseased. My experience, since the rot commenced, has been that early planting, on dry ground, gives the soundest crops. The Purple Mercer, with me, are the most liable to decay. • Many new varieties of potatoes have been, and arc being introduced, and some of them may prove a valuable acquisition to our already well tried stock, and otherr^i, like the Rohan may run well for a season and then sink never more to rise. The Fluke Kidney lately brought from Europe, and circulated through the 'Patent Office, and by the New York State Agricultural Society, two years since, bids fair to be popular, and should be placed on the list that " promise well." I recpived a few tubers from B. P. JoRKSON, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, two years since, and the first year ihey were not fairly- dealt by, and were quite small, but 1 planted them again with better success, though they received no better care, and this spring I mean to plant and care for them, the best I know how, and bee what they will do. 1 have another variety, which promises well, that I obtained at the State Fair, and from two potatoes planted, I dug a bushel of fine large potatoes. They are called the Oregon. I intend to try them another season, and if they meet my expectation, you shall hear from me. Eve«y new variety should be well tried before recommending to the public. No new kind should be recommended unless, on trial, it prpves to be superior to some of the old varieties; nothing is gained by multiplying varieties unless superior, and tben five or six are as many as will be profitable to plant. The same variety does not always do as well one year as another, and for this reason it is better to plant more than one variety. % Harvest as late in the fall as frost will permit, and if buned in pits cover M'ell with straw, and a little dirt, then another coat of straw, and, finally, a heavy coat of earth. E. S. Hayward. Brighton, Monroe County, JV. Y. 84 THE GENESEE FARMER. CULTIVATIOISr OF OKIONS. A GOOD crop of Onions may be grown with as much certaioty as corn, if rightly managed, but to do this three things are necessary; first, the ground must be rich, made so by a plentiful Kupply of hog manure; second, the Onion seed must be sown early, say last of March, or first of April; and thirdly, ihey must be hoed often, and kept free from weeds. The seed should be soaked twelve hours in rain water; the water should then be turned off, and the seeds kept moist until they sprout, which will be in two to four daysi, according to the temperature. Tf you wish them to sprout soon, place them on a mantle piece where they will feel the warmth of the fire. In case it should rain, and make your soil so wet that it can not be worked, and the seeds are likely to sprout too much, put them in the cellar or some cool place. In this way you can manage to have them sprouted just as you may require. Next prepare your ground by plowing, harrowing and rolling, until it is very fine and clear of lumps. Then lay off your beds three feet wide, raised slightly in the middle; mark the rows across the beds with a rake having teeth twelve inches apart for the purpose. The seed should then be sown with the thumb and finger, and covered with the hand. Nothing now remains to insure a good crop, but sunshine and showers, and diligent culture, keeping them clean of weeds, and stirring the ground often with the hoe. Horatio Martin. Greenhush, Iowa. * ON THE MANAGEMENT OF A PEAIRIE FAEM. In compliance with a request, in the January number of the Farmer, I will endeavor to give you my modus operandi, with five years experience in the State of Illinois, in the management of a prairie farm. Buildings and Fences — Taking it in the natural state, the first thing after purchasing, is building a house, and other necessary out buildings, the details of which the circumstances and taste of the owner, himself, will suggest. The next thing to be taken into consideration, is fencing. As timber is scarce and difficult to be procured, the most economical mode is to get good White Oak, or Walnut posts, and set upon the boundary line of the farm, according to the length of the boards; supposing them to be Pine, expressly for this purpose, fourteen and sixteen feet is the most desirable length, putting two posts to the panel, and as hogs are not suffered to run at large, three boards, six inches wide, nailed to the posts, will turn all stock; even two boards will ansvier a good purpose. The fence should be set outside of the line five or six feet, so as to leave room t'^ set a hedge in the line, the following spring, after breaking. Breaking — The best method of breaking prairie sod, is to get three yoke of cattle, and with a sixteen or eighteen inch plow, one man and team will break from two to two-and-a-half acres per day, which, if hired done, will cost, at the present prices of breaking, two dollars and fiity cents per acre, and board for hand and team. The plow should not go deeper than two or three inches, as the shallower the furrow the sooner the sod will rot. While breaking is going on a boy should follow the plow, and, in every third furrow, drop three to Pve grains of corn, which without any further attention, if it should be a good growing season, will make a fair crop of corn. WheB breaking is done, the cattle will do to fat the coming winter. Fall Crop — In the fall, a portion of the newFy broken land should be sown, with good clean winter wheat. The best way of pieparing the ground for this crep, is to take a common scouring plow and ruti lengthwise with the furrows, a little deeper than broken the f5rst time. Orchards, kc. — Arrangements should be made for setting out an orchard the following spring, and for planting hedges, groves, &c. As soon as the frost is out of the ground, in the spring, an orchard should be plantei^ with fruit trees, of the best varieties tt>. be obtained, and suitable shade trees ought to be planted about the house. Hedges — The next operation demandingimmediate attention is setting out hedge, for a living fence; tb'e ground where the hedge is to grow should be well worked, the fall previous, by plowing a ridge four feet wide; in the spring, say the month of April, take the center of the ridge, for the line of the hedge, and with a team of horses, run a straight furrow, six or eight inches deep. I would recommend the Osage Orange, as it is hardier, and will make a fence quicker than the Thorn. The plants can be purchased in this vicinity for two and-a-half dollars per thousand. Set the plants up against the landside of the furrow that has been made, and as the roots are straight, they may be pressed a little deeper down; then, with a hoe, draw the dirt up to them, packing them with the foot. There are differences of opinion about the distance plants should be set; my distance is ten inches apart, or twenty plants to the rod — this, I think, is plenty close enough; if properly treated they will make a tight wall, and a barrier against all stocky hogs included, but the latter should not be turned into the field without ringing. Groves — Planting groves has been too mucb neglected, by the farmers of Illinois; there is nothing so much adorns a prairie farm as a good locust grov^ and no time should be lost in commencing it; in ten or twelve years from the seed, it will furnish material for fencing and building, which will always be required on the farm. Vegetable Gaedex— By no means neglect fencing a suitable piece of ground for a garden, at least half an acre; a whole acre would be none to much. My motto is, more vegetables, and less hog and homing Second Year. — Spring Crops. — Now comes the ;^ar for the first full crop of all kinds of grain. — What land is not wanted for corn, this season, should be well prepared for spring wheat and oats, by being well plowed before sowing, if not plowed in the fall previous; by fall plowing there is the advantage of sowing a little earlier, which is always desirable. Stock, Sheds, ht diillars per barrel; in New York from three to five dollars per barrel, and in the greater part of Canada they cannot be had at any price, and undoubt ediy the .'lame is true of very many localities through- ouo the Union, without referriuir to the new States at the west, which comparatively speaking, are entire- ly de.stilute of fruit, except such as is indigenous. In localities where there. is a tolerable .supply, it is usually of the veiy poorest kinds, grown on needling trees, and such as no one who has been in the habit of using good fruit would deign to touch. Peaches, during the last ten years have averaged a dollar per basket, (three pecks) in this market; in the plcntiest seasons the [)rice ot good peaches has not been less than fifty cents a basket, and that only for a few days when there ■was the largest quantity in the market, and both at the commencement and at the close of those seasons they have commanded from one dollar and fifty cents to three dollars per basket. In the fail of 1855, when the prices of ppaches in this city went down to seven- ty-five cents and fifty cents per basket, an exten.^ive fruit grower in this section contracted his entire crop in the city of Buffalo for one dollar and sixty-two and a half cents, and at the difTerent port.? in the Canada?, they brought from two dollars to two dollars and fifty cents. At th'-it time an experienced raid jntcllieing common prices for good fruit. Tea cents is a common retail price for a good pear in thia city, and in New York or Bo.^-tou they go current at iwfiity-nve cents, ^mr/-/<-«n coin; while, in Cliicago a first rate article is sold, two for a d()() to 5;'80O per acre profit. Mr. Hodge remarked that there could be no (juestion about making pear culture pay; a tree in his vicinity bpre forty bushels last season, and another belonging to his brotiier, bore twenty bushels, which were sold at two dollars per bushel ; it was an inferior variety. In \m address before the .American Fomological Society, held in this city last September, the President, the Hon. Maksiiai,!. ^. Wilder, says: "A gentleman in the eastern part ot Massachusetts planted in the years 1848 and 1849, aa many dwaif pear trees as he could set on an acre of land, at the distance of eight by twelve feet, and be- iween these rows he planted quince bu.-hes. In the fifth year irom planting, he gathered onehundied and twenty bushels of pears, and sixty bttshels of quinces. Of the former, he sold seventy bushels at five to six dollars per bushel; and he now iulonnes me that he ha.s lost only three per cent, of the original trees, and that the remainder are in heel^hful condition."' Most persons will, no doubt, consider these state- ments slightly exaggerated, but if they will take the trouble to make the projier inquiry, they can verify them for themselves. Without mentioning other varieties of fruit which, under certain circuni.<-i&nceg, are not less -^vorthy the attention of the cultivator, we cannot but conclude from the above facts, that the cultivation of no crops, in a pecuniary point of view, can be more desirable than our hardy fruit. Many ol)ject to planting orchards because it is so long, they say, before anything can be realized that they are discouraged from making the attempt, and they thus pass a life time, long enough to bring into bearing a dozen orchards, without raising enough fruit to supply their own families, or even themselves. Again, for many years past, there has been in the minds of many a fear that the nimkets would be overstocked with fruit, but we certainly have not yet arrived at that point, and from all indications are further from it now than vre were ten years ago; prices of all kinds of fruit run higher now than then; the demand has multiplied in a more rapid ratio.than the supply; the increased circulation of agricultural and horticultural literature, and the establishment, all over the country, of societies for the exhibition of fruit, and other i'arm and garden products, has created a discriminating and apprechitiv* taste in the public mind for good fruit; a barrel of Northern Spy. or Norton's iNIelon Apple, will sell as quick as offeied in the market at five dollars, while, a few years sgo, when an apple was an apple and nothing niore, ;t would bring scarcely more than one of commoia fruit. 88 THE GENESEE FARlVrER. Too large a proportion of tlie fruit now grown, is such as quickly decays, and is, consequently, rushed into the market, reducing the prices, and not giving as satisfactory results tp the cultivator, as would accrue from an orchard of suitably selected varieties. Many of the best sorts of apples and pears now grown may be kept until April and fully retain their flavor, in fact, some varieties are not in perfection until that time; the Pomme Grise and Russets we all know can be kept until harvest apples are ripe, yet after the first of January, in the greatest fruit growing vicinities, the supply of apples begins to fail, and by the first of April, they are nearly or quite out of the market. Those making new plantations should look to this point, and make such a selection of varieties as would enable them to have a constant supply the year round, and they will find it greatly to their advantage. The cultivation of the smaller fruits, raspberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, &c., is very generally neglected, and almost entirely, I must say, through carelessness; where is the locality in the United States, or the Canadas, where, with the exception of goosberries, they may not be grown in perfection, and that with little labor or time bestowod upon them. Yet, how many of our farming population have only enough of these fruits, to make them long for more, without the possibility being supplied, jnd how many more never taste them for years. By some, to grow a strawberry is considered an incomprehensible horticultural feat, while if they would only try their hands at it, they would find it a little easier than raising potatoes. It seems unnecessary, at this time, to refer to the wholesomeness of ripe fruit, as an article of diet; we all know how necessary it is to a healthy, and regular condition ot the physical system,especially in the warm season. Other cogent reasons may be urged for a more general attention to fruit culture; as food for stock, apples deserve more attention than they have yet received, and when their value is more widely known they will be largely used for this purpose. — Let farmers and others then, plant more trees and cultivate them well; they must be fed if you would have them feed you; plant none but the best varieties and such as you know are well adapted to your particular locality, and you will have the satisfaction of seeing your orchards bending with beautiful fruit, and feeling your pockets heavier for your enterprise. Rochester, JV. Y. Pykus. WHY DO FARMERS SO GENERALLY NEGLECT THEIR GARDENS ? AND THE BEST MEANS OF RECTIFYING THE EVIL. Why do farmers so generally neglect their gardens? No particular answer would, in all cases reply to this question, and there are several reasons that are pro- minent in my mind. With some, I think it is an in- ordinate thirst for worldly gain; they are in haste to become rich ; gold glistens in their eyes, and as the garden brings but little of it to their coffers, (unless they live near a market, where garden products find a ready sale,) they deem its cultivation beneath their notice. They consider the time thus spent wasted, and can even sneer at their neighbor, who devotes time and attention to his garden. They relish the luxuries derived from this source, as well as other men. And those who will scarcely raise a hill of beans, or cucumbers, will devour with gusto the luxuries of the garden, when provided by others; and will suffer their children even to make depredations upon their neigh- bors' premises, with imj^unity. Another cause often is, want of system in their business operations. They do not consider the work of the garden as coming within the routine of their daily labor ; no provision is made for this, in their plan of operations, if indeed they have any plan, but consider it a work to engage their leisure moments, when no other business pres-ses. But leisure moments with the thorough farmer are few, and when his busi- ness is not planned and e.xecuted systematically, it is generally thrown into cotil'usion. One thing crowds upon another, and in the hurry and bustle, the gar- den is neglected. It may be planted, perhaps in the spring, but its cultivation is neglected, until the weeds and grass oveirun the vegetables. A few spasmodic efforts are made to subdue them, when he gives up, and concludes, as Farmer Slapdash does respecting fruit culture, that gardening is a humbug. Indolence is ofien a cause, why men neglect their gardens. The process of weeding onions, or carrots, or flowerbeds, is too toilsome. It is more congenial to their feelings to sppnd their time in lounging in the shade, in conning o^r^ the newspaper, or in idle gos- sip, with their neip' ^^or. Again the labour is on too small a scale to mi t their dignity ; if their wife or children will do tKe labour, they will readily enjoy the luxuries obtainfd by them, but cannot soil their own hands with the dirty work. The want of a refined raral taste, is another reason why horticulture is neglected. Some men have but little appreciation of the beauties of nature or art ; a lovely landscape has no charms for them, and a garden neatly laid out, and properly cultivated, pos- sesses but little more attraction than a patch of Cana- da thistles, or dwarf elders ; they despise it, as well as the neat gravel walk, bordered with shrubbery and flowers ; they often look with pity and contempt up- on the man who engages in such business ; they can eat and drink, and sleep, they say, as well without them, and so can the swine that would render such a scene, all deformity and desolation, could they gain access to it. Such I deem some of the principal reasons why gardening is so much neglected. The cause of the evil being pointed out, the reme- dy is readilv suggested. Whatever will tend to counteract this thirst for vrealth, and lead men rightly to appreciate the great object of existence, will lead them to act in accordance with its design, and to ac- quire and enjoy the blessings a wise Providence has placed within their reach. In order also to prosper in all our afiairs, business must be planned and exe- cuted systematically. The garden must be included in the plan of farm operations ; time must be set apart for its cultivation, as well as for planting and hoeing corn, or sowing wheat, and the cultivation must be done as thoroughly. No part of the farm pays better when properly cared for, than the garden; it may not afford as many dollars perhaps as other crops, but it affords much that renders a family com- fortable, and this is of more importance than to horde money for posterity to quarrel about. Amore general dissemination ot intelligence among the farming population, particularly intelligence re- specting agriculture and horticulture, would tend to remedy this evil ; the man ol intelligence is more gen- erally a man of refined taste, and seeks to have things comfortable and pleasant around him; this knowledge THE GENESEE FARMEll. 89- may be spi-ead by the circulation of well managed agriculturii] papers, and every man who desires im- provement iu this respect, should lend his influence i-n circulating such works, especially among the rising generation ; children should he early led to notice and admire the beautiful, and also to accjuire a taste for gardening. Impressions niay be made in child- hood, that will be lasting as life, and that cannot be easily counteracted by habits and dispositions acquir- ed in later years. A taste may thus be formed that will lead to practical results, and prove a blessing to community. Hubert. ON DEYING APPLES, PEACHES, PLUMS AND OTHER FKUIT. Among the good things which can not be consid- ered merely as luxuries, but which our habits, if not our natures, have rendered necessary to a high degree of health, fruit is not unimportant. The art of pre- serving it by drying, may to some persons appear too simple to require the explanation of any process ; nevertheless few housekeepers are so well skilled in these matters, that they may not learn something of value and interest^ by the experience and practiees of others. Fruit, of different kinds, evidently requires difier- ent treatment. Apples should be pared, and those of medium size cut in eight or ten pieces, and dried quick- ly, by the fire; cutting them finer makes more surface to be rinsed, and the more water that is used for this purpose, the more is the flavor washed away. Peaches may be dried in a similar manner. Pears send gooseberries, (the latter before they are very ripe,) are better stewed tender in one fifth their weight of sugar and a little water, and dried after the liquor is boiled thick and poured over them. Cherries should be stoned and scalded in their own juice, without Bugar, and dried slowly. The method of drying plums in the sun after opening and stoning them, without scalding or sugar, probably cannot be surpassed. — Strawberries, raspberries and currants, retain most of their original flavor when mashed with one-fourth or one-fifth their weight of sugar, and dried as quickly as possible without scalding them. Pumpkin should be stewed till quite dry, sifted and spread on buttered plates, and when partially dried, broken fine, that it may soak quickly in milk when wanted for use. Gansevoorts, Saratoga Co., JV. Y. H, M. D. WHAT CAN MOTHEKS-AND DAUGHTEES DO TO MAKE EAEM LUE ATTRACTIVE TO THEIR SONS AND BROTHERS, AND PREVENT THEM FROM LEAVING THE FARM TO ENGAGE IN MERCANTILE OR PROFES- SIONAL PURSUITS] Labor is not exactly like virtue, "its own re- Ward ;" and where can a farmer enjoy the fruits of his labors except in a happy, well ordered home. — There he should find himself surrounded by those best of all ornaments, cheerful human faces. There is seldom a farm so small and poor, but these may be cultivated with great .-success, if woman could only be made to feel the great necessity and duty of it. In order to attach young men to farm life, moth- ers and si;>ters should first of all love it themselves ; as it is always impossible to inculcate a sentiment we do not ourselves feel. If a young man sees his mother and sisters pining for city or village life, lamenting the want of oi)])()rtunitie8 for disiday, despairing, instead of develojiing the recources with- in their reach, he will certainly feel the spirit to be very infectious. Cheerfulness, order, and cleanliness, go far to- wards making home happy, and let there be added to these a well sjiread table. Mr. Gkeely was more than half right lately in his severe comments on country cooking; 1 hojje it has })roToked an agitation of the subject which will be useful. The stereotyp- ed dish of baked beans is well enough, also the boiled dinner, but variety is not studied ; day after day brings the same dishes upon the table, till the appetite is cloyed ; an agreeable surprise is never thouglit of, and any thing new seldom attemjtted. Many young ladies seem to think inditTerance in re- gard to food is a mark of refinement ; I shall caution my boys to avoid such young ladies. Farmers' daughters, I have generally observed, have greater advantages for improvement, and are apt to possess more refined tastes than their brothers. (Let niebeg of them to exert their influence in elevating the character and manners of the young farmers. " 0 ! don't come into the parlor boys, with your dirty boots ! you have been among the horses, don't come so near 1" I have heard such things said ; and seen young men actually driven from tlie companionship of their sisters, and made to feel that their occupa- tion rendered them disgusting to them and their young friends. It is easy to imagine the conse- quences likely to arise. I know young farmers, whose slippers are always at hand when their work is done, whose cotton overalls and frocks are easily slipped off, and they are in as fit condition to enjoy a book or pleasant conversation, as a lawyer from his office. Personal appearance has a very great influence upon manners ; when a young man feels conscious that he looks like a gentleman, he is much more likely to endeavor to merit the name of one The work of a farm is fatiguing, vrhile the mind is in a measure unemployed ; consequently, the appliances for finding relaxation, and mental ac- tivity should alway? be at hand. A well lighted table, with books and papers, ])resents an agreeable inducement to spend an evening profitably. There is perhaps no class of men, to whom a love of read- ing is more essential than to farmers. Vacuity of mind is an intolerable evil ; it is frequently the en- emy from which men fly when they rush into dis- sipation. The uneasiness it engenders, is frequent- ly mistaken by farmers' boys for a taste of other pursuits, and the true comforts and independence of a farmer's life is forsaken for all the uncertainties of a profession. Mothers and sisters can do much in forming a love of reading, by reading aloud to boys before they have sntiicient scholarship to enjoy a book by themselves. Time would be much better spent in this manner than in embroidery and crochet work, which adds nothing to the comfort of the family. They are pursuits eminently selfish, and there are few farmers' girls who can afford the time for them. Rural life loses half its attractions when there are no out of door embelishments, no shrub- bery, no flowers, and only the coarser vegetables in the gardens. The apology is often made for the lack of every thing beautiful about the house, that " our boys don't care for such things, they wont do anything about the yard and garden." Now, the «0 THE (GENESEE FARMER. fact is, "our boys,'' liave no time to do it; they work hard emmKh without, and though they vvouhl be willing to lend a s|)are moment, tiiey will not do it all, or even commence it. It is an appropriate employment for woman, even if they iiave considerable housework to do, thev would find the change of employment very beneficial to both mind and body, and alter workintr out of doors an hour or two, thciy would not be half so apt to ask the tired boy to bi ing their wood or v,'ater, as they would after sitting the same time, diligently em ployed on some useless needle work. While the men of a family, labor for the general good, in providing the necessaries and comforts of life, women should also labor for its embellishment, not only preserv^nu' their own beauty, but making everything about theii' home beautiful and attractive. There is no fear but the men would appreciate the improvement, let it he ever so small, and every sacrifice of merely selfish pleasures would meet an abundant reward. A Mother. IS IT RIGHT TO ASK THE WOMElJ FOLKS TO DO THE miKING DURING THE BUSY SEASON ?' Undoubtedly it is; but it is not always safe to do it. It is not only right, but very reasonable to muke Buch a reqiiest of your wife, or daughter, — certainly in a busy time of the year, and one cannot very well ask it at any other time, in this section, for let him do it under any circumstances, and ever so meekly, he will have a busy season, and a very waim one too, right away. The subject is "open to both sexe,-'," and my wife already — for I am a married man, ol course — is quite prepared to show the impropriety of the whole thing, and wishes to write out an argument at length, but is prevented from doing so, hecaus-e she is confined to a single page in the Genesee Farmer, and if she once begms to talk it up, she wont get throvigh till after the '-cows have come," &n^ it would not be decided who should milk them. When we say it is right for the women to sometimes milk the cows, and are told by them that it is highly improper, we still feel it to be right, without going into an argument to prove it if we could, and are like the small boy, who, when he was one day asked by the minister who was visiting at his father's house, if he could tell him how many were two times two. replied that it made four. But the parson wanted it explained, and asked him how he knew it was so. The boy said he did know it, and that was enough. Still the good man insisted upon an explanation, or a reason for it, when the boy, out of patience, said pretty sharply, " Because I do know it, and so do vou, you d — 1 — h old fool. You only want to talk to near yourself talk." Whether the women talk against milking to hear themselves talk or not is of no consequence, so long as they are unwilling to perform so reasonable a task — if it is not a duty. Moreseriously, and with all reason, let us show the justness of our cause. We have in view just now, the man in haying or harvest time — the busy season, • We have received a great number of answers to this question Affer mucli liesit.^ti(jn, we have selected out two, nuf in favdr cf the practice and the other ag.inst it, and award a premium nf a dollar booli to each of them. We shaU endeavor to m;ike room next month for smue portions of the other e?.say8 on tliis suliject, all of which are very good — especially thnsp written liy the la^.iei It may be wortliy of remark that nearly all the ladies who have writtea talie the affirmative side of the nt;tfide the aiisAer to the following question. Is il riiihl to violate the Sabbath in hajing liinf, and in harvest? We answer i o. The prohibition is t'oiind in thai same great directory; and written there lor the good of all. Vary the question a little, and say the Sabbaih is the only sunny day in the seven. Then what? Why, then, it is also our duty to obey, since there is no proviso, for such an smergency. Just so in respect to asking the women to milk the cows because the appropriate work of the man demunds his special attention. The question implies that, this work does not properly belong to the woman. And il' so, then it is right that she farm, he must study a profession; he must no longer be seen using the plow or scythe. Do you wander then why farmers do not place a higher estimate upon education? but the larmers of the pret-ent day are beginning to see the true dijitiily of. their profession, beginning to know the resiUts of thorough scientific farming, and their sons are seeing it too. They are discovering that tliey can u.-e their education in improving the soil, and in mukina' known the results of their experience through a<:ricultural journals, instead of compounding medicine, or studying law. We are sure, that as a general thing, the real personal beauty to be found in the city, is not equal should not ' ^°°'*«t'^-" has finished a course of studies, (and often sooner,) Yes, he can render his name memorable for hia he despises the, so thought, degrading labor of the good deeds, and his exemplary life. E. A. H. d<2 THE GENESEE FARMER. lortinilliiral JSrpitiuiit. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WESTERN NEW YORK FEUIT-GROV/ERS' ASSOCIATION. ■[Continued from last number.] Mr. J. B. Johnson said Mr. McKay had If acres of grapes, one acre of which had been set out but recently. He sold the crop this year for S1200. — The vines were one rod apart each wa_y, making 160 per acre. At the time they were planted he placed a large quantity of the carcasses of animals under the vines. His grapes ripened perfectly and became quite black. The soil was gravely with a clay sub- soil, situated in a valley with a warm exposure. At- tributed much of his success to close pruning. Mr. Flower, of Onondaga Co., said grapes were raised very easily around Syracuse. One gentleman had sold the produce from half an acre for #800 — Had known the fruit on one vine to sell for #12. Cultivated the Isabella principally. The Catiwba did not always ripen well. Mr. AiNswoRTH, of Bloomfield, said Mr. McKay pruned very closely both summer and winter, and thus exposed the sun to the light and air. In reply to an observation, he said the leaves should not be cut off. lie, Mr. A., cultivated g^rapes pretty exten- sively; thought from $.500 to .$800 per acre might be depended on. He trained his vines on trellis from five to six 'eet in height; had always found the grapes better near the ground than high up; the best grapes were found about half way up the trellis. His vines were planted seven feet one way and fif- teen feet the other. The first year he allowed two vines to run in opposite directions horizontally under the trellis. In the spring cut them back to within two buds and when they broke he pinched off one of them, throwing all the force into one vine, which he trained perpendicularly. Pruned generally two or three times more during the summer, keeping ofi" all extra vineg, but allowing plenty of leaves to elaborate the sap for the fruit. In November of each year he cut away nearly all the old wood. People generally do not prune enough; they allow too many useless vines to grow, which exhaust the plant. The ground should not be cropped, but should be thoroughly cultivated once a week. The manure should be put on in the fall and plowed in in the spring. Deep culture was desirable. He obtained from two to three bushels of grapes from each vine. Mr. H. E. Hooker thouglit a sheltered location absolutely necessary. He had never seen a ripe grape which grew in an exposed situation; shelter was necessary m the winter and spring. Col. Hodge thoughtthat high manuring, especially with carcasses, was more necessary than with any other crop. A friend of his kept a slaughter house, and every year he opened the ground around his vines and poured in a quantity of blood, and found more benefit from it than from any amount of barn-yard manure. TOP GRAFTING OLD ORCHARDS. CoL. HoDGH, of Buff'alo, said that if the trees were old, far advanced in life, and had commenced decay, he would by all means cut them down. But if they were young and vigorous, he would graft them. A friend of his had an orchard — some of the trees were old and mossy, many of them had commenced decay- ing and the fruit was gnarled and poor. An itinerant grafter came and grat'ted them, using his own grafts, and setting many of them twenty feet above the ground. In a few years, when the grafts grew, his trees looked so bad and ill-shapen that he became discouraged and cut them down. He dug up the stumps, thoroughly broke up the ground, manured it and planted out a young orchard, and^ in a few years obtained a fine orchard of handsome trees. In 1848 a neighbor of his planted 100 apple trees; a year ago last fall, he picked from the orchard 127 barrels. — Some of the Baldwin trees yielded three barrels to the tree. Mr. Luther Barber, of East Bloomfield, had fol- lowed top grafting extensively for more than twenty years. Soon after he commesnced grafting, he adopt- ed a different method from the one in general use, and his experience fully confirmed him in the belief that it was by far the best. It was to saw oS" the limbs of the trees low down — no matter if they were six op eight or ten inches in diameter, and then insert a row of grafts around the limb about an inch apart. This should be done early in. the spring he fort the sap starts at all, or it will not succeed as well. He did not saw off all the top the first year, but left a por- tion to help sustain the tree for a year or two. Of the grafts which were put in thick, a few of them soon took the lead and made the future top of the tree. One great advantage of inserting so many is, that it keeps the whole limb alive and does not form nny dead spots on the sides of the limbs. These grafts, by getting the whole force of the tree, grew rapidly and very soon formed a good top. He had known three barrels of apples to be picked from trees so grafted in three years grafting. He had never ex- perienced any ill results from this method, or dis- covered that it injured the tree in the least. He ought to say, however, that he always used kinds which grow rapidly in preference to the slower grow- ing sorts, as they supplied a top much sooner. He found it always revived an old orchard to put a flour- ishing young top on it. He had known trees grafted in this manner, to bear good crops of apples for twenty-five years past. He once saved a pear tree which had apparently been killed by the fire blight, by sawing it off below the disease, and putting in several grafts — the tree revived and lived a longtime. He sometimes cut his stocks during the winter, and grafted them early in the spring, before the snow went oS". Mr. H. E. Hooker, of Rochester, said that in his father's garden a pear tree was struck with the blight — seeing no other way of saving it, he sawed off the trunk, some five or b\x inches iu diameter, and insert- THE GENESEE FARMER. 9$ ea several Hartlett jjrafts, which grew and made a good top. Bat lie would not follow the plan in apple orchards unless the tree^ were very thrifty. Another method is to bud the sprouts which are thrown up around the larger limbs, which &oon make good tops. The great diiliculty in top grafting old trees, was that it always made more or less unsound and rotten wood where the limbs were cut off. Mr. B. Fisir, of Rochester, thought there could be no general rule for grafting old trees — if they were fDung, and had been properly pruned, there would be no difficulty; if they were old and disejised, he would not do it. Tiiere was one other consideration, — after the first three or four years, the young trees were growing better each year, while the old trees were, growing worse continually. Mr. Maxwell, said there were a number of old apple trees near Geneva, planted in the olden time, by the Indians. As the story goes, these trees were cut down by Gen. Sullivan, on his expedition to drive the Indians from this section of the country. They show signs of having been cut down, as many of them have two trunks. These trees were grafted fifteen years since, and are now bearing profitable crops of fruit. Mr. Barry thought the method adopted by Mr. Ba.rber was a good one, and perfectly consistent with the laws of vegetable physiology. Still he would not advise persons to re-graft old trees that had com- menced to decay, except in special cases, as for in- stance when a person takes possession of a farm des- titute of fruit, if there were a few old apple trees on tlie premises he would re-graft them, as good fruit could be obtained in this way earlier than by plant- Jag out new trees. WINTER pears. jSTr. Barry being called upon, remarked that the ctrttivation of Winter Pears eminently deserved the Btttention of the farmers of Western New York. — They could be grown as easily as Autumn Pears. — Formerly he was of the opmion that there was great difficulty in ripening them, but latterly he had found that they could be kept and ripened nearly as well as apples. The great point was to get well grown, fully matured fruit. It was impossible to ripen im- perfectly matured specimens. Last autumn they packed their pears in barrels, in the same manner as ihey did their apples, and they kept ami ripened vp heautifully. People were now going into the culti- vation of the Lawrence quite largely; he thought this somewhat a mistake; the Lawrence, although a very fine pear, ripened about Christmas. He thought a succession of winter pears which would ripen throughout the winter, much preferable; among other fine kinds he would recommend the Winter Nelis and the Easter Beurre. They had fine specimens of the Easter Beurre on exhibition, which had received only the treatment of apples. Col. Hodge apprehended that the principle diffi- culty in the cultivation of winter pears, was in not selecting good varieties. Many kinds were fine flavor- ed but poor bearers. He now only cultivated a few kinds, which were the Vicar of Winkfield, Easter Beurre, Lawrence, Glout Morceau, and Winter Nelis. He had no doubt that they might be made a very profitable article of cultivation, and that he practiced what he preached. But to succeed we must cultivate the ground thoroughly — aa well as we would corn or potatoes. Mr. Barrv thought that wc of Western New York had unusual facilities for raising Winter I 'ears, for our numerous railways alforded the best nsarkets with ease. There was no diiliculty in packjng them for market. He would add that tinnier pears are not so good on yomig trees as on old ones; for instance, the Glout Morceau did not bear perfect specimens, even on the quince, till eight or ten years old. Mr. H. E. lIooivER agreed with Mr. Barry in the statement that it was absolutely neceasary to have large and good specimens to succeed in ripening them. He thought that we were not, as yet, prepared to recommend a list of varieties to farmers. He was cultivating the Lawrence and Winter Nelis. He thought a very general knowledge of fruits would be absolutely necessary before we of Monroe County could hope to succeed perfectly in the cuUivatiun of Winter Pears and other fruit. There was some desultory remarks in legard to the cultivation of pears on the quince stock. Mr. R. R. Scott remarked that the bulk of the fine pears exhi- bited at the different Agricultural and Horticultural Fairs, and which were so generally admired were grown on the quince, and the greater proportion of pears which found their way to market from this section, were grown on dwarf trees. Col. Hodge said that several kinds of pears succeed- ed well on quince — for instance the Glout Morceau an Louise Bonne of Jersey. But we have been trying to raise too many kinds, many of which will after a few years dwindle out and die. The proper kinds on the quince for garden culture will do well, but he thought that the pear on its own stock would be the kind to be principally depended upon. THE EUROPEAN LINDEN. The best botanical authorities divide the genU3 Tilia of the natural order Tiliacte into two species, Tilia Europea or the common Lime tree, or Linden, audTilia Jlme7-icana,or the commonAmerican bass- wood tree. We annex a beautiful cut of the form- er species. The American Basswood is of a more robust habit, with larger leaves than the European tree. The latter is much more fragrant than our common Basswood, and makes a very fine pyra- midal tree. There are several beautiful specimens growing in this vicinity, and there is no tree that is more suitable for planting along the streets in cities, the heat reflected from the pavements and buildings increasing the fragrance of the blossoms. It is a rapid growing, vigorous, pliant, well balanced tree, with a great number of lateral branches of an easy and graceful habit. It likes a rich, sheltered soil, and should not be planted on dry, poor soils in ex- posed situations. It is better adapted for avenues, than almost any other tree. The Linden was known to the Greeks and Ro- mans. Tiieopiirasttts states that the leaves are sweet, and used as fodder for most kinds of cattle. It was highly esteemed by the Romans as a sliade tree, and for the numerous uses to which its wood might be applied. Evelyn commends the Linden for its " unparalleled beauty" for walks.and because "it will grow in almost all grounds, lasts long, soon heals its wounds when pruned, affects uprightness, stoutly resists a storm, and seldom becomes hollow.'* He alludes to the large trees " at Basil and that at 64 THE GENESEE FARMER. ^i ^. y'^^ .t^ f^ »^- '1^^?^^: THE EUROPEAN LINDEN. Augsburg, under whose sliade they often feast and celebrate their weddings; because they are all noted for their reverend antiquity ; that at Basil branching out one hundred paces in diameter from a stem of about twenty feet in circle, under v/hich the German emy>eror.s have sometimes eaten; and to such trees, it seems, they paid divine honors, as the nearest emblems of eternity." At Neustadt in Wirtemburg, tliere is a prodigious Linden tree. — It is said by Evelyn to have had, in his time, a trunk above twenty -seven feet in circamference,and the diameter of the space covered by its branches to have been 408 feet. It was '" set about witli di- vers columns and monuments of stone (83 in num- ber, and formerly above 100 more,) which several princes and noble jiersons have adorned, and which, as so m.uiy pillars, serve alike to support the_ um- brageous and venerable boughs." lie adds copies of many of tlie inscriptions on tlie colujnns, the oldest of which is dated 1550; and the column on which it is inscribed supports one of the largest limbs, at a considerable distance from the tree, which must have been o\' enormous size over three hundred years ago. In the wars which have desolated the country since the time of Evelyn, this tree sufiered isevereiy, but it is still in existence. The name LiNrx-Etrs, the great Swedish botanist, ia taken from an ancient Linden tree, of great mag- nitude, wliieh grew near His dwelling, linn being th* Swedish name of the lime tree, or linden. Honey produced by the linden blossom^!, is con- sidered superior to ail other kinds for its delicacy. « The lje« Sits ou the bloom, oxtr&cting liqiud sweets deliciously." "Who tliat has seen noble specimens of the Amer- can Lindeii, or Basswood trees, fall one after tha other before the ruthless axe of the hardy, unpoet- ic pioneer, does not recall to memory the passage in "Landoe's Conversations: "Old trees in their living state are the only things that money cannot command. Elvers leave their beds, run into cities, and traverse mountains for it ; obelisks and arches, palaces and temples, ampitheatres and pyramids, rise x\p like exhalations at its bidding : even tha free spirit of man, the only thing great on earth, couches and cowers in its presence ; it passes away and vanishes l)efore venerable trees. What a sweet odor is there! Whence comes it? Sweeter it ap- pears to me and stronger, than the i^ine itself. I imairine, siid he, from the linden. Yes, certainly. O. Don Pkpino, cried I, the French, who abhor whatever is old, and whatever is great, have spared it. The Austrians, who sell their fortunes and their armies; nav, sometimes their daugliters, have not si)l(l it. Must it fall? O, who upon earth coidd I ever cut down a linden?" THE GENESEE FARMER. 08 HOSTICULTUJSAL OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. This is the rommrnccnient of the busy season. Tlie mcst iniporhiiu \vi>ik to be done now, as soon as llie Beverily of llie weallitT is past, will be to msike uf) ilie Lot-bi'ds, for eurly cucumbers, lettuce, vadis-lies, pota- toes, h and eighteen iiichis apait.and plant one pot of peas in the cc^ntrp of each hill. '1 nin it out without l)rraking the roots, and plant the ball entire. Stick them as soon as planted, and protect in cold nighls with a little littery straw. Uardv (Jakdkn VKai(len vepelables may be sown; such as Early Kent f eas, Uovnd Seeded spinach. Shorthorn cariot, Extra Cvrled pvu'sley, onions. saL^ify, parsiiep, potatoes. Arc. If the season and soil be wet at time of sowing, let the seeds be lifihlly covered. If a liglit, sandy soil, and the weather dry, such seeds as carrot, onion, parsnep, &c., should be lightly covered and gently liod in, just so as to press the soil upon the seeds, for if the soil be loose, and drying winds prevail, they may never vege- tate. New beds of Asparagus and Eiiubarb mat bb MADE — For Asparagus, the ground .'^houid betrench- ed eighteen inches or two feet in depth, and nine inches or a foot of good manure worked in the bot- tom of the bed, for this is the only time you will have an opportunity of manuring the bottom of the bed. The most convenient size for asparagus beds in gar- dens is about five feet wide and any length. Plant four rows in a bed, one foot apa"t, the plants nine inches apart in the row, and buried two inches below the surface. Plants of one or two years old are best, or sow seed and thin out to the proper distance. Ehubarb may be planted in hills lour feet apari Dig a hole two feet deep and two feet wide, and till it full of good, rich compost, or mix plenty of niar,ure with the soil which came out of the hole; fill in, aiad plant in the centre, the crown an inch below the sur- face. Rhubarb has large leaves and large roots, and ,is what is called a gross feeder, and unless it has very rich soil to grow in will not half develop itself. Raspberry beds may be made l'ow, as soon as the ground is in condition. A light, loamy soil, highly manured suits them best. Plant four canes in a hill, and the hills four feet apart each way. Cut them down to within a foot of the ground, and allow them to bear no fruit the first year. Pinch out every flower as soon as seen. Drive a stake in the centre of each hill and tie the young ones loosely to the stake as they grow. FastotJ, Hudson River Antwerp, and Brinkles Orange, are considered among the beat varieties. Strawberries. — Spread well decomposed manure between the plants, and lightly fork it in without dis- turbing their roots. Prepare for making new planta- tions, by digging the ground a foot or eighteen inches deep, incorporating plenty of manure. Plant in rows two feet apart, and one foot apart in the row. In very small gardens they mJf be planted at half this distance, but they wjU be more trouble to keep clean and will not do so. we 1 after the first year. A rather stiff loamy soil will grow the largest f uit. Large Early Scarlet, Burr's JVtw Pine, Hoveys Seed' ling, and Hooker, are of tJie best varieties. 96 THE GEIS^ESEE FARMER. Cold Graperies. — The buds of the vines will show signs of burstiag toward the end of the month, retard them as much as possible by keeping the vines shad- ed and the house ventilated on all mild ocaasions. Rochester, JY. Y. Josiah Salter. LOCATION OF 0KCHAED3. All the best writers upon fruit growing, agi-ee that the location of trees has much to do with their pro- ductiveness and the flavor and beauty of the fruit. — The experfence of cultivators also confirms the opin- ion thiit much of the value of a fruit tree depends up- on where it is planted as well as upon the cultivation it receives. The planter of trees, therefore, may well stop to consider whether he ha^ a proper place to plant before he proceeds to buy and spend time and labor upon something which will never remunerate him. There are now many orchards of old trees which have never been, and never will be worth the labor bestowed upon them. The reason for the ill success of these plantations is sought for sometimes in the climate, the aspect of the ground to the sun, or the exposure to winds; and in each of these considerations there is much to instruct, and much that is worthy of consideration in choosing a location; but by far the most potent diificulty — and generally ©ne of the most difficult to overcome — is the nature of the sub soil. There are many orchards now growing upon a fertile surface soil, but with a sub-soil of mingled clay and stone, so hard and impenetrable to water that wet remains about the roots for such a length ©f time that no good fruit is ever produced. — A good tree must have a dry, permeable sub-soil, tj' it is ever to become projitable. After much examination and observation, we have thought that among all the drawbacks upon success- ful fruit culture, in this vicinity at least, no cause is so destructive of every good quality in fruit trees, as the want of a proper under drainage. Want of good under drainage, often exists where it is not suspected by a superficial observer. It is often the case that extensive slopes, having various inclina- tions, all of them sufficient, if good channels existed, to carry oil' water rapidly, are nevertheless ruined for fruit growing, and indeed for almost all farming pur- poses, by the fact, that whilst the surface for a foot or more in depth, is mellow and porous, the soil be- neath is hard-pan of the most impervious sort. The surface becomes saturated and remains full of cold water, until, by gradual evaporation, or by slowly soaking along from the high to the lower land, it be- comes firm enough for the plow — too late, however, to be available for fruit trees. Unless some remedy is found, such land will always remain unfit for orch- ards. Thus it frequently happens that the man who be- lieves he has a fine hill for an orchard, has by no means as good a site as he imagines; hills having as often as bad sub-soils .as flat lands or valleys, and if the sub-soil be bad, the fact that it is a hill,"will keep the lower portions of the slope wet the longer. Hill sides are therefore often tl?8 worst of locations. The planter of trees should make it his first study to ascertain the nature of his sub-soil ; look for springy places, and go over the land frequently during the spring and autumn rains and snows, and ascertain carefully where the land is firm and dry soon after heavy rains, where it will do to plow and plant early in the season, and select such, and such land only jQ the place for orcharding. It will surprise many men to find that surface soil is so often deceptive in regard to the character of this sub-soil. A man looking over his farm after a flood, with this in view, will frequently find himself up to hh ancles in water, upon what he supposed was a gravely^ dry place ; gravely it certainly is upon the lop, but not so below, whilst the patch of clay which he feared would swamp him is quite firm; he did not know that gravel lay below here, and the water had fallen through very readily. Sandy surfaces are also often found saturated with water, held there by the clay sub soil beneath. The depth to which the natural drainage of waftr exists is, in our view, a most important considei^ tion. The roots of large trees extend to considerabte depth, an i will, of course, be effected by the water iu the soil, if they reach it, and if water exists in super abundance at some considerable distance from the surface, it wiU effect the surface so as to sensibljr diminish the temperature early in the season. A Boil dry to a great depth, then, we think desirable. We have spoken only in favor of soils naturnlty underdrained to considerable depth; we know it will be said that we have the means of making any soil dry enough for fruit where there is sufficient fall for the use of draining tiles. Without asserting thai this may not be done, we must beg planters of trees for orchards not to be too sanguine before trial of the benefits of draining tile, and if they do drain, to drain deeply, and at no great distance apart. Apple trees in orchards are expected to grow large and their roots to extend a corresponding depth intb the earth, and to cover a large surface. To drain fOr such roots is quite a different affair from draining for grass and grain, or even for dwarf fruit trees, and small fruits. From some experiments in the use of drain tile, ■fio carry off the water from an unprofitable appte orchard, we are satisfied that if accomplished at aU^ the w.ork of draining a springy piece of land, so thoroughly as to make it valuable f^or orcharding is a serious undertaking, and that, although it is not very difficult to make the soil useful for grass or ordinaiy crops, it is much more difficult to get good, melloviE, fine flavored and fair apples to grow upon such a hard pan bottom, than it is to select a proper goil before planting the trees. The season is now at hand when many of our farmers will be planting new orchards, and enlarging their old ones, and we throw out these hints to induce watchful care in selecting a proper basis for those operations which must, from necessity, be long in producing results, but which will be very profitable if carried out with sound judgment. It is a well established fact that the apple orchards of Western New York are the best investments our farmers can make, and we hope to see the good work of planting extensively, go forward upon Bonud principles. H. E. H. . — ■ I ■ Beet Leaves were blanched by the Romans mncji in the same way as gardeners blanch endive at thfl present day, by laying a tile over it. These were esteemed preferable to lettuce. THE GENESEE FARMER. »V Winter Meeting of the New York State Agricultural Society, The Annual Meeting of tlie New York State Agricultural Society, was lieid at Albany, February 11—13. The occa- sion brought together a more general representation of the farmers of the State than usual, and the discussions were df an interesting character, somewhat varied from the old routine, but marked by much good feeling. Being unable to attend, we make the following extr'Jtts from a full wport in the Country Gentleman. The Treasurer's Keport having been read, showing a balance in the Treasury of $1,140.70, the Report of the Executive Committee followed, referring to the Fair and (fther proceedings of the year as very satisfactory, the OOndition of agriculture, the crops and the prospects of the fkrmer as cheering, and mentioning th" progress thus far made in organizing and locating the " Agricultural College" at Ovid — commending both it and the Society to flie support and fostering care of the farmers of the State, in the future, as they have enjoyed them in the past. These reports having been adopted. On motion of Mr. Clarke, of Otsego, the rules of the Assembly were taken for the government of the meeting, and at the instance of Mr. Peters, of Genesee, members were confined to five-minute speeches, and only one on any fingle subject. Mr. Clarke, of Otsego, then brought forward the afnendment to the Constitution, proposed by him last year, ■with reference to the permanent location of the Fairs at rbch points, one, two or three in number, as a majority at this meeting might determine. He merely expressed a rtrong desire that this question, so many years a matter of discussion, should be " no longer dodged," but set at rest by a final vote. He cared not what places were selected, but hoped that the friends of those best adapted for the purpose, would combine to support a measure which ■would, he believed, be so advantageous for the Society and all it8 interests. Mr. Burroughs, of Orleans, would be equally glad to «ee the subject decided, and thought that the decision could but be in the negative. He opposed the project at some length, by reference to the past successes of the Society, asnd various other considerations of importance to its pros- perity. When he concluded, Mr. Richardson, of Albany, endeavored to obtain a hearing for the amendment to the same purpose, as pro- posed by him, — to which it is only giving justice to add, that it had been carefully worded with a view to do away ■»rtth many of the objections urged in respect to the dj^fficulty of deciding on Permanent Locations, and to pro- vide for every emergency that might ari^e in so doing. There seemed to be too strong a disposition to take the "■^nal vote" that had been asked, directly on Mr. Clarke's proposition, to pay much attention to any motion tending to complicate the question, and after further remarks and arguments in opposition, by Messrs. Cheever, Randall, NoTT, Dickinson, Allen, Peters, and others, the roll was called, showing 20 in favor and 132 against a measure requiring a two-third vote to be carried. The Committee appointed to nominate officers, and select the next place for holding the Fair reported in favor of Buffalo, and nominated the following otticers for the ensuing year. President— Ron. ALONZO S. UPHAM, of Genesee. Vice Presidents — Jonathan Thorne, "William C. McCouN, Herman Wendell, John M. Steven.son, B. E. BowEN, Francis M. Rotcii, Willard Hodoes, Lewis F. Allen. Corresponding Secretary — B. P. Johnson. Recording Secretary — Erastus Corning, Jb. Treasure^ — B. B. Kirkland. Executive Committee — G. W. Tifft, E. C. Dibble, C. S. Wainwright, Solon D. Hungehiord, C. Moi*- RELL. Mr. James Lawrence moved to amend the Report by substituting Syracuse for Buffalo, but after some discussion the Report of the Committee was agreed to with great unanimity. Trials or Speed at Agricultural Fairs. — After some remarks on the proclivity manifested in our State and County Agricultural exhibitions to give undue and almost monopolizing precedence to horses, trials of speed and equestrian exercises, and showing the evil results to which such customs must tend, Lewis F. Attk, of Erie, offered a resolution deprecating the introduction of the system at the shows of the State Society, discouraging its farther extension at County Fairs, and earnestly recommending that no ring be hereafter laid out at either, of a larger diameter than 150 feet. He thought the race course on the Show ground as demoralizing as it was elsewhere, while it could but destroy the general interest in other departments of exhibitions, and weaken the public regard for societies permitting it. Judge Terrill, of Oswego, Mr. Hilton, of Albany, and Mr. Burroughs, of Orleans, were among those who opposed the resolution on the ground that speed ought to be encouraged in horses; that, if anything, justice had not yet been done them, and that it was for the interest of the State to have the breeding of the best (fastest :) hoq^s promoted by every possible means. Mr. OsBORN, of Albany, was in favor of the spirit of the resolution, but didn't quite like the dictatorial tone he thought it assumed towards the County Societies. Judge Cheever considered the size of tiie ling men- tioned too small, but, without assuming to determine tlie proper size, would vote to leave the whole subject with the Executive Committee. Mr. Peters, of Genesee, asserted that the value of the horso to the farmer was in reality less than that of any other domestic animal, and while he looked upon these trials of speed as only demoralizing in ti.eir influence, also considered the prominence thus given to the horse as unjust to all the other interests of Agriculture, and as anything but promotive of the objects of the Societies. Mr. Perntice, of Albany, followed in some very "pointed and effective remarks, concurring entirely with the intent of the resolution, and only regretting that it had not been made to cover still greater ground; he spoke of the Vermont State Fairs — to which reference had been made as proving that horse-racing and successful exhibitions were not incompatible — as merely triak of speed; mentioned a recent 98 'THE OENESEE FARMER. failure of his own to find a g-ood sevviceaMe aniniJil in that state, and aigued that the characicr of its horses for use bad beeh over-rated. In respect to the " Female Equestri- anism,'" so prevalent and popular, its effect was to place our dauglners on a level with professional circus riders; with tliein they were forced to eompefe, although they could not do Ko siiccesi«full.v, as a matter of course. Mr. BuiiiiouGns, of Orleans, followed, expressing the belief that premiums could not be properly decided on a course of less than a quarter of a mile, and stated th t even If the euliject had been already brought forward by others. U was his intention to have offered a resolution, directing the Jxecutive Committee to provide a track at the next Show of at least the length he had specified, and full forty feet in width. Hon. A. B. Dickinson, of Steuben, expressed some very pracricnl views in definition of " thorough- breeding" for the fanner — v, hat it is and should be, and justly claimed more excellence for New York horses than had been allowed them — introducing the results of his long experi- ence and oliservanon on this and other suliiects in connec- tion, and m iking some happy h)ls, which were responded to by much merriment and applause. It was voted to leave the matter with the Executive Committee, and adjournment was had for supper. Dr. Fitch, the Entomologist of the Society, delivered a Tery interesting address in the evening, followed by a de- sultory discussion on Dwarf Pears. Mr. Ar.f.KN mentioned the ravages of the mice in his orchards, gaidens and. pastures last- winter, stating that they ate off the roots under ground, so that no preventive applied on the surface had the least effect. Dedicatio."* of tiik Aguicui.tuhal Rooms.— On Thursday evening, the new and commodious rooms of the Society, in the (Jeological Hall, were dedicated, in connec- tion with the usual inauguration of the new President. B. P. Johnson, the Secretary, reviewed the past as related to the peculiar features of the occasion, and argued the prospects of a brilliant future from the previous success #nd still more important position now assumed by the Society. Ex-President Chekveb followed, tracing the history of Agriculiuriil progress for the past half century, together with that of the Society, in the estimation of the people, and the attention received from the State — very justly attributing a great influence for good to the Agvictdtural Journals, alluding to the old Gevesee Farmer s.x\(\ Cvlliva- tor. The State Society from the time it was awakened to life in 1841. had effected much, and taken a stand at the head of similar institutions throughout the country. After addresses from V. H. Bog art, of Cayuga, and the Hon. T. C. Pktkrs, of Genesee, who took the position that the wheat crop is rapidly diminishing thrfiugh the State, and that its cultivation will soon have to be given up, except so far as requisite for the domestic wants of the farmer — arguinge. There is still abundance of time to canvass for subscvibers, and we hope tiur friends will still urge all their neighbors who have not already done so, to join the club for the (renesee Farmer and Rural Ainiual. There are thousands and tens of thousands of farmers in the United States and Can- aria, who take no agricultural paper whatever. Th« Genesee Farmer is so cheap that all can afford to take it, and though our circulation is now very great, there is no reason why we should not count our su'sscribers by hun- dreds of thousands, instead of tens of thousands. Still, as too many farmers prefer a paper devoted mainly to sillj charadt!S and stories, we shill have to be content for the present with somewhat less than fifty thousand subscri- bers ; but \e hope that the time is net far distant, when a paper fill< with the practical experience of fiur best farmers and gardei./TS, and puliHshed at a price within the reach of all, will hdse at least one hundred thousand regular subscribers. Premium Es!>..rs. — Our offer of a dollar book for the bfcst essay on vari^ us subjects connected with rural pur- suits has elicited i.-\uch useful and practical information, with which we hope \o enrich the future pages of our jour- nal. This month wt give the e?says to which the premi- ums have been awai led ; and we hope ths writers will inform us what book o? books they will have, and we will ser.d them, postage pa'd, by return of mail. Much diffi- culty has been experienced in deciding on the relative merits of the respective essa\s. Without excejnion, all the articles received are i'rief, practical, and to the point, and our only regret is that we cannot award a premium to each one of them. We trust that every one of the writers will betiome regular correspondents of tiie Genesee Farmer. We would remark in this connection, that we must not be held responsible for all the views set forth in the pre- mium essay"!, any more tlian in ordinary conimuuicationa. Correction. — In the article on page bD of last num- ber, four lines from the bottom of second column, read •* cut out the joung wood," instead of "set out," &c. TUE GENESEE FAPJfER. 99 TuK KuitAL Annual AND Hdijxioultuuai, DintCToKT. — The dtiiiaiid for our Ruial Annual, is far greater tliari our most Banguine ex[)ectations. Two editions hftve al- ready been exhausted, and at this moment we liave not a eini^Ie copy left. We are striking off a third edition, and all orders wiU be filled as promptly as possible. The work giTes great and universal satisfaction. It contains more matter than many dollar books ; the arricles are on vaj-ious topics, and written expressly f^ir it. The work contains reliable, useful, interesting and practical infor- mation, and any one of the articles are worth more than the price of the book. In clubs of eight, the Rural Annual and Genesee Farmer are sent for fifty cents the two, and we prcpny tiie post- ag« on the Rural Aimual. "SVe did not do this last year, except to thuse who sent twenty-tive cents for the work. This year, though the book is much larger and contains twice as much matter, we prepay the postage to club labscribers. Every one about to build, to lay out a garden, to plant fruit or ornamental trees, should have a copy. At this season of the year especially, when gardening operations are about to commence, the information coi.tained in the Rural Annual on the kitchen garden, the cultivation of the strawbeiry, the raspberry, the gooseberry, the currant, the blackberry, &c. ; on ornamental gardening, on the management of grapes in cold houses, or planting hedges, and on various other branches of special interest at this time to all interested in the ennobling pursuits of horticul- ture, the Rural Annual and Hortia..ltural Directory will be worth ten times its cost. "We annex a few extracts from the many complimentary notices the work has received from the press. "Mr. Joseph Habris, editor of the Genr.see Farmer, has issued his " Rural Annual" for 1857. It is a capital tDor/c of 144 pages, full of valuable matter, beautifully il- lustrated."— Rural American. "A most valuable little work of 144 pages, that will be f :■ .■.- Int, ,; "A valuable manual, ■f * * coutainiiig useful informa- tion on luial arcliileciure, cultivatioii oi vuiiius kinds of fruit, n,aiiagcmcnt ol poultry, &c., liie while forming a work of 144 pages, with eighty engraviiig8."^/ic;4/0M Cul- tivutor. " Our farmers cannot do better than send 25 cents to Joseph tiariis, of the (Sene.'^ee'' I'arnier, Rochester, N. Y., and obtain the "Rural Annual and Horticultuml I)irecto- ry,' a neat little book of 144 jJHges, replete v\iih just such informaiion as every farmer nttds. li is iliuttiatcd with eighty engravings, and is worth do]l.^rs instead ot cents to the ffirmar. Twenty-five cents will insure it sent, post paid."^-iSa/ewi ( N. V.) Pess. "A combination of useful things, with regard to build- ings, fruit and shubbtry, plans for gardens and ornamen- tal grounds, garden and farm implements, &c. &c." — El- gin (111- J Gazette. Planting Potatoes in the Fall. — Mr. E. O. Bundt of 0.vford, Chenango Co., N. Y., writes us that he plants his potatoes in the fall, and obtains larger crops, and larger, earlier and better flavored potatoes, than when planted in the spring. His method of planting is as follows : Select a piece of good dry ground, prepare it as ior spring plant- ing, any time in the fail when the ground is in good order, taking -care to plant the potatoes a little deeper than in spring planting. Throw a shovelful of coarse manure upon, or still better into, each hill ; or better still, cover the surface of the ground with a coat of ttraw, where mice are not too plenty. The straw helps to protect the pota- toes during winter and forms a mulch in summer, and checks the growth of weeds, so much so that ti.e potatoes scarcely need hoeing or plowing. Mr. B. says: "I have raised my potatoes in this way for several years past, and they are invarialjly free from 'the rot,' and at least two weeks earlier, and two or three sizes larger than in spring planting. The ground is frozen this winter unusually hard, and mice are unusually plentiful, and should I fail for once it will be owing to one or other of these causes. If I do not fail this year, there can be no doubt this way of raising potatoes is the best. I will write again, and inform you whether the potatoes were frozen or eaten with mice during the cold winter of 1857." We hope Mr. B. will do so ; and we should be glad to hear from others who have had experience in this matter. Winter Barley. — The experiments which have been made with winter barley in this vicinity have been very generally successful. Last fall, a considerabV breadth of land was sown — one farmer in Greece sowing 25 acres, and which he informs us looks well at the present time, and has aparently suffered little from the winter. In Indiana and Southern Oliio, winter barley is rapidly taking the place of spring barley. It is said to do well on land which will not produce winter wheat, though as a general rule, the soil which is best adapted for winter wheat is also best adapted for winter barley. In regard to the comparative productiveness of spring and winter barley, we have been furnished with the following experiment made by a care- ful farmer in Indiana. He had four acres of corn ground, from two of which he removed the corn in October, and sowed winter barley ; the other two acres were sown with spring barley the following spring. The two acres sown with winter barley produced 121 bushels, and the two acres . sown with spring barley only 42 busiiels. V/e should ba glad to hear from any of otix readers that have had expe- rience with this crop. 100 THE GENESEE FARMER. The Usefulness of the Gbneseb Farmer not con- pined TO ONE Section of the Country.— T. E. Tate, Esq., of Osyka Miss., writes us as follows: " HaTingbeeii a subscriber to vo«r valuable paper, during the past year, and found so much in its pages to. interest and benefit the farmer, I beg leave to send you $1 for two yeara' sub- scription. Though living at a great distance from your place of publication, and working soil and raising products of a very different character from yours, still I feel that in many leading features the same rule will apply to all. — Your articles on the subject of underdraining have awak- ened witliin me a new inijiulse, and I have laid eighty rods of underdrains since I became a reader of your pages. I believe these are the only underdrains in the county, and if they prove advantageous — as I am confident they will — several others will try similar experiments." Premium for the best dozen Domestic Receipts.— We have received twelve " Dozen Domestic Receipts," and they are all so go(5d that the committee to whom we referred this matter, have not been able to decide which is the best. The •' proof of the pudding is in the eating^' and they cannot decide without testing the receipts. "When they come to a decision we will make it known and send the premium. From the fact that the committee cannot determine which is the best, it is evident to us that all of them are deserving of a premium, and therefore award to each of the writers a 25 cent book. They will find a con- siderable number of such books in our list published on the last page, and we hope that each of our fair correspon- dents will write us immediately which of them they would prefer, and they shall be sent, postage paid, by return of mail. The 'Wbather and Crops in Indiana. — Our winter, from the middle of December last to the first of February, has been of a lower degree of temperature, to take the average, than last winter — j-et we have had no single day or night as cold as last season ; 10"^ below zero was the , lowest point reached this winter. The fruit buds are all safe, thus far. We have at this time pleasant weather, the mercury standing at U0° to-day, and a prospect of an early spring. Our wheat crops look very bad at present, owing, I think, to the dryness of the ground last fall when wheat was sown. I think there was much of the grain that has not sprouted yet. If that should be the case, it may yet ▼egGt ite when warm rains fall. Elijah Stark. Versailles, Ripley Co., Ind. Prf-mium.'? for Essays. — There are very few readers of the Geueaee Farmer, who cannot furnish valuable practical information on some of the many subjects embraced in our premium li't a» published in our last number. We trust that our fiienr's will not neglect to write on these subjects immediately, while they have leisure, and mail their let- ters so as to I'each us by the first of April. We shall award the premium, even though there is but one essay received. Disposed to be Facetious. — In reply to our oflFer of a Premium for the "Best Means of Destroying Weeds," a correspondei t writes : " Pull them up and shake the dirt off, and lay them on a stump to dry." Doubtless a very effective, if not an expeditious method. To Destroy Rats. — An esteemed correspondent, We% William Reno, of Newscastle, Pa., sends us the follo'Vf*' ing amusing description of his plan of destroying rats >»- I build my corn-crib* on post^ about j eighteen inches high, made rat-proof by putting a broad board or she€t iron on the top of the posts. Make everything secure against rats except the granary, and have this rat-proof except at one of the back corners. Here, where they will like it best, make a nice hole with a spout five inches long on the outside, where they can go in and out and eat at pleasure. Then, if I think the rats are too numerous, I take a bag, after dark, and slip the mouth over the spoir* on the outside of the granary. Then send ' Ben ' in at the door with a light, and the rats and mice will all rnQ into the bag. Then slip the bag off the spout and slap it once or twice against the side of the granary. Turn out the dead, and in an hour or two repeat the process. Afteir all are killed, stop up the hole till new recruits arrire, which catch in the same way. Try it, and my word for i4 you will save enough to pay for ,the Genesee Farmtr as long as you live. »«< 1 Bay Windows. — Speaking of the form of windot*^ Henry Ward Beechek well observes: " Our common, small, frequent windows in country dwellings are coi> temptible. We love rather the generous old English win*- dows, large as the whole side of a room, many-angled, or circular ; but of what shape, they should be recessed-*— clorious nooks of light, the very antitheses of those shady converts which we search out in forests, in hot summet days. These little chambers of light into which a group may gather, and be both in doors and out doors at the samtt time ; where in storms, or in winter, we may have full »(?»■ cess to the elements without chill, wet or exposure — ^theA are the glory of a dwelling." A Rat-Thap. — A humorous correspondent at Oxfori^ Chenango Co., N. Y., writes us that he has invented a ra#>- trap which has caught a great many old, sly, crafty fellows^ so slick, that if they could speak and were made to tell the truth for once, they would have to confess that thty could not help being pleased with it themselves ! Wa must have a drawing and description of that trap, with the half admiring, half despairing expression of a sly old rat when he finds himself fairly caught at last. Best Essay on the Management of Bbes. — A correal pondent calls our attention to an omission in our " Prem^ ums for Short Essays." There is nothing said about bee* This was an oversight, and we noyf offer a premium of a dollar book for the best essay on the Management of Beettk All essays to be received by the first of April. The Winter in Iowa. — Our correspondent, EDWifift Linne, of Toronto, Clinton Co., Iowa, writes, that th» winter in Iowa has been very severe, and that a great number of cattle are dying from disease and starvation.— He adds, " long will the winter of 185G-7 be remembered by the farmers of Iowa." .-•♦ Back Numbers Wanted. — We will pay four cen'te each for clean numbers of the Genesee Farmer for June, August, September and October, 1854. Send them fcj mail, and we will remit the money forthwith. THE GENESEE FARMER. 101 To GKT KID OF Eats. — Mr. C. M. DzTON, of Sellers- burgh, Ind., sajs the best way to disperse ruts from a build- ing where they cannot be caught, is to jmt in their holes Terr strong unslacked lime. This should be done in damp, rainy weather. The lime will stick to their wet feet, and produce an itching sensation which causes them to knaw their feet, and passing through the lime only aggravates the matter. They will soon vacate the premises, leaving behind no offensive smell, as in ordinary method of poisoning. BoiLDiNG Fenc»:s. — A correspondent says that if farm- ers in building a fence, (a worm fence especially,) would "begin down hill and work up, they would gain enough in one year to make them life subscribers to the Gtneste Farmer." »«« To Catch Owls. — Raise a pole near the hen-roost, on which the owl will alight to watch for his prey. Set a trap on the top — and you have him. William Reno. Newcastle, Pa. -♦♦♦ — CuBiMQ Figs. — A correspondent wishes to know the best mode of curing figs. Will some of our readers inform him ? InijufruK anU anstofijff. Will you, or some of your correspondents, inform me in regard to the foilowinsr queries : 1. How can evergreen trees, say Arbor Vitse, Norway Spruce, &c., be safely transported from a distance — say from Rochester Nurseries to this place ? It is said that even a very sliort exposure of the roots of evergreens is fatal. 2. What is the proper time to trim forest trees so that they will sprout well ? I have reference to heavy trim- ming. 3. What is the difference between our White Cedar and American Arbor Vitae ? 4. What is the best grass seed for seeding down a lawn, ■andy soil and among large evergreen trees ? 5. Is coal tar the same as gas tar ? 6. Will Osage Orange stand our cold winters, where the murcury went down to — iO ^ this winter, and we get frost nearly every month in the year, except June, July and August? and what would be the next best hedge plant for this latitude ? John Pakkt, — Argyle, Wis. 1. Evergreen trees can be transported safely a great dis- tance, if they are well packed with moss among and around the roots. Our nurserymen here, send out large quanti- ties every season, with as good results following their trans- planting as that of fruit trees. 2. The best time to prune trees so as to induce them to •prout vigorously, is after they have shed their leaves in the autumn, or early in the winter ; a plant continues during the winter to absorb food from the earth, which is distri- buted equally throughout its system, and if pruned early the sap is stored up in the remaining parts, enabling them in the spring to push with great vigcr; on the contrary, when late pruning is had recourse to a large proportion of the sap that has been accumulated during the winter, will be thrown away. 3. Cupressus thyoidies — White Cedar. This tree grows from 70 to 80 feet high, and is rarely more than three feet in diameter, and when growing in masses, the trunk is straight, perpendicular, and destitute of branches to the height of 50 to 60 feet ; it grows naturally only is low, wet ground and marshes ; the wood, besides for other pur- poses, is used in manufacturing shingles, pails, washtubs, churns, &o. Thuja oecidentalis — American Arbor Vitas, is a tree which attains a hight of 15 or 50 feet, with a diameter from 1 to 3 feet. " The full grown Arbor Vitit is easily distin- guislied from all ether »rce», by its shape and loliage. The trunk tapers rapidly from a very large base to a fcry slen- der summit; and it is furnished with brahches for four- fifths of its height. The principal limbs are widely dis- tant from each other, placed at right angles with the trunk, and have a great number of drooping, secondary branches." It grows on the high banks of rivers, as well as in marshes; we haveieenit flourishing on the bank* of the Hudson, the Genesee, and the Niagara ; it abounds in the tract of swampy land between Rome and Montezuma, in this State, and in numerous other localities in the Northern States and Canadss. 4. Kentucky blue grass or red top. 5. Coal tar and gas tar are the same. 6. We have never seen or heard of the effects of a tem- perature of — 40° on the Ossge Orange plant. Winter be- fore last, in this vicinity ,the murcury went down to — 'Id ^ , and this winter to — 20 ° without injuring the shoots, except at their extremities. We are not prepared to advise any oiher hedge plant for your locality, but if any of our read- ers know of any that is suitable, we shall be happy to re- ceive their report. (V. L. Collier, Jr., Gallatin, Tenn.,) Tou can get the Earth Almond from Thorbukn & Co., New York. — See advertisement in last number. We know but little of the process by which the French make "bran from wheat straw." One thing we do know, straw contains compar- atively little nutritious matter, and no mere mechanical or chemical process can make it as nutritious as good wheat bran ; they may render the matter it contains more diges- tible but they can create nothing. Scott & Hodges, of Cincinnati manufacture a good mill for grinding corn in the cob. (J. P.) Mad Itch IN Cattle. Give the animal affect- ed, as much soot and salt as it will eat ; soon after give half pound of sulphur, and eight hours afterwards, half a pound of Epsom Salts. If the animal is large, from three fourths to one pound of sulphur and salts, may be given. We should be glad to hear from our correspondents who have had experience with tbis fatal disease. (E. L., Toronto, Iowa.) Allen's Diseases of Domestic Animals, Cole's Veterinary, Youatt and Martin on Cattle, Dadd's American Cattle Doctor, are all good works. For price, see advertisement on last page. (C. N. Howe, Homer, N. Y.) You will find an article on Osage Orange Hedge, in the Rural Annual. See ad- vertisement in this number, in regard to the Chinese Su- jrar Cane. (D. K., Mt Healthy, Ohio.) For wheat we would sow " tafew" broadcast. We have not much faith in it. See an article " Facts about Nightsoil." in the April number of last year. (H. I.) The Chinese Sugar Cane and the Sugar Millet, are the same thing. For seed, see advertisement in this number. ( A Subscriber, Eden, N.Y.) The experiments which have been made on the application of electricity to crops, have not sustained the expectations that were entertained on its first introduction, ^g 102 THE GENESEE FARMER, ADVERTISE MSNT3, To Beeure insertion in the Farmer, must be received a? early sa tht 10th of the previous month, 8id be of such a character as to bt of interest to farmers. Terms ■• Ttvo Dollars lor everj hundred, words, each insertion, paid iff advance. TO NXTESEEYMEN AND OTHERS. FOR SALE AT GENESEE VALLEY JTURSERIES, ROCHESTER, N. Y. WE offer to the trade the following Nursery articles at ex- tremely low prices, affording rare inducements to Nursery- men and Dealers : 10,000 Fontenay Quince stools — the best siock for d-n-arfing Peafp — three years old, strong plants. Tbese plants yielded 50,000 well-rooted layers this pa«t summer. This is tlie only sure method of propagating Quince stocks.' Price, $25 per thousand, 80,000 Plum .Stocks, extra fine. Price, -SIS per thousand. 10,000 Pear Stocks, two years. Price, $15 per thousand. 25,000 Western, or Wild Plum Stocks Price $12.50 per thousand. 25,000 Quince SiM;ks — Augers and Fontenay— first choice. Price, $20 per thousand. 25,000 Peach Tree.s, one year old, very fine and choice budded va rieties. These trees are perfectly fi'se fiom Yellows and other diseases. Piice. $70 per thousaDd. '5,000 Apiicots, one year old, extra. • Price, $10 per hundred. 10,000 Cuerries, second size, two years old, three to five feet high, part with heads, be.tt varieties. Price, $8 per hundred. 10,000 Pear.s, dwarf, second size, one and two years old, 2>s to 3 feet, best sorts. Price, $14 per hundred. 8,000 Pear.s, standards, second size, two years old, 3 to 4 feet, very best varieties. Price, $160 per thousand. 10,000 Horse Chestnuts, one year. Price, $10 per thousand. 85,000 ArborvitK, 2;.^ te 3 fVet, for hedges, very fine plants, and very cheap. Price, $60 per thousand. 50,000 Norway Spruce, two years old, suitable for transplanting, four to six inches. Price, $18 per tluiusand. 600 Dfuizia gracilis. Price, $12 pei hundred. 1,000 Wi^relia rosea. Price, $18 per hundred. 1,000 Bi)jQonia radicans. Price, $8 per hundred. 3,000 D-ililias, splendid collection, dry roots for propagating. — Price, $10 to $25 per hundred. 2,000 English Yews, 5 inches. Price, $S per hundred. 1,OOT Sibciian Arborvits, 6 inches. Price, $8 per hundred. 600 Cr, ptomeria Japonica, 12 to 18 inches. Price, $25 per hun- dred. 600 Eu mymus Japonica, variegated, 12 to 18 inches. Price, $8 per hundred. For more full and complete information, the proprietors refer to the folio winji- Catalogues now ready, gratis, to those who enclose a one cent stamp for each : No. 1. Descriptive Catalogue, Fruits. No 2. Descriptive Catalogue,()rnamental Trees, ?hrubR,RoseH,&c. No. 3. Descriptive Catalogue, Dahlias, Verbenas, Green-house Plants, &c. No. 4. Wholesale Catalogue or Trade List. A. FROST & CO., Genesee Valley Nurserie.s, Rochester, N. Y. March 1.— 2t. SPRING GARDEN SEEDS, &c. The best vat ie lies of Prtzb CrcujinERS And Mbi.o.vs, for frames. Improved New York Egg Plant, Early Tomatoks, Cabhages and Lbttucbs. Ea !y Paris, Nonpariel, Lenormands, and other approved CAtiLi- TLOWIRS. Peppkus, Crlertf.s. Carpoon. Feas— Early Daniel O Roifke — Emperor, Cedo Nulli, Prince Albert, Champion of Eiiirlaiid, and the recently introduced ani very superior later sorts. Lord Raglan, JEpp's Monarch, Harrisoji's Glory and Perfection, i(C. ifC. Gkkk.n GLoiit; Aki-jcuoke — Wind.-soe Beaxs— Beets — Brocolis — Radish Ks. Carrots— Early forcing and other sorts. Mush (COM Spaw.v— Hkkh Sbkds— .Spring Turntps— of all sorts. LvniAN COK.N— Extra Early Burlingtor., King Phillip an'i Dar- ling Sugar, E irly Canada and Tuscarora, Evergreen, Old Colocy and .Uamuuith Sugar, &c. *;c. Christina Mu.sk and Nkw Orange Watermelon. FoTATOKS — Karlv Sovereign, Kaily .June. &e. Beans— E Illy Snap Sliort.' Valentine, and other buoh varieties. Polk liKA.NS--Large and Smill Lima, Horticultural. Cia.iberry, &e., and every other desir^lile variety of Vegetable Seed.s .all of the very finest qualities, and growth of 1856. Flowkr Skbiks — The largest coUeiition to ^>e found in the Union, oomprisintr standard Borta and novelties, both of doaiestic and for-. «ign growth. Kv.vf CniNESK SoGBR Cank, 75 cents a pound, and in pp.ckactea at '25 and 50 cent- e.ich. iirepaid, by mail— .Nkw t'm.N'ESK Potato, (Diuarorea batatas) — Cuvfa.s,, or E'aktii Almoxd.s— .[apan Pkas — SI''^l.^G A.M) Wi.vTKR Vi;t(5hi S, orTAKKS— Osauk Ohaxgi:, YkllovT LuCt'ST, BcClvTUoKN, HoNliY LOCDST, XOKWAY CJiKUCJi, SCOTOK Flit, and othei Tree and Kvergreen Seeds. Fruit SEeDS— Pear, Peach, Plum, kc. k.c. ToiiACCO Seed — Maryland, Virginia, Floiida, Connecticut Seed Leif — Imported Havana, &c. &c. Dyer's Madder SiBD^-SpuKBY — White Lupins — Filler's Tba- SLES. Bird SsEDiS — of all kinds, Agrkujltukal Skedm — Field and Ruta Baga Turnips — Long Or- ange, "White Belgium and Allringhara Carrots — M.mgel Wurtzel, Sujjtar Beet. (JRARS Seeds — Ttali.an and Perennial Rye, Sweei-seented Vein,al, Red Top, Blue. Frstucas — French Mixed, and other desirable mix- tures for Lawns — White Honeysuckle, Lucerne, and other Clo- vers, &c. .Fruit, Evergreen and Ornamental Tree3-;-Giant AsPABAons RooTy, RuuiiAKB, Arc. Garden Syringes, Bpddtng and Pruning Implements, and a general assortment of Hokticoltural Tools. Catalogues un applicntion. If by mail, enclose a three cent stamp lor return postage. The smallest orders by mail promptly responded tn. J. il. THOKBURN & CO., 15 John S reet, New Y'ork. JUST RECEIVED from Holland, in the finest condition, larg« and sound, an assortment of Hnltis for S|pring planting, viz : AMARVJLl.S, (Jacobean Lilies.) KORMO^ISSIMA, ard LUTEA. Gl..-\D10LL'S Psitacinnus, F'.oribundus, Gandavensis and Ramo- sus, named and mixed sorts. TIGER FLOWERS, (Tigrida.) Red and Yellow. TUBEROSES, MADEIRA VINES, &c &c. Msrchl.— It. THE BEST BOOK FOR AGENTS. TO PERSONS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT. An elegant Gift for a Father to Present to his Family I tTgT' Send for One Copy, and try it among your Friends ! „^3 WANTED, Agents in every section of the United States and Canada, to circulate SEARS' LARGE TYPE QUARTO BI- BLE, for Family Use— entitled THE PEOPLE'S PICTORIAL DOMESTIC BIBLE, With about One Thousand Engravings II This useful book is destined, if we can form an opinion from the Notices of the Piess, to have an unprecedented circulation in every section of our widespread continent, and to form a oistinct era in the sale of our works. It will, no doubt," in a few vears become THE FAMILY BIBLE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. {j2^ The most liberal remuneration will be .alb we 1 to all per- sons who m.ay be pleased to procure .subscribers to the above. From 50 to 100 copies may easily be circulated and sold in each of the principal cities and towns of the Union. IT WILL BE SOLD BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. ^^^ Applications should be made at once, as the field will soon be occupied. {[T^ Pel sons wishing to act as agents, and do a fafe business, can send for a specimen c.npv. [[^" "n r-'ceipt of the established price. Six Dollars, the PICTORIAL FAMILY BIBLE, with a well bound Subscription ''•ook, will be carefully boxed, and forwarded per express, at our risk jind expense, to any central town or villaga in the United States, excepting those of California, Oregon and Texas. ^^^ Register your letters, and your money will come safe. 2;^^ In addition to the Pictorial Bible, we publish a large num- ber of Illustrated Family Works, very popular, and of such a high moral and un xceptionalde character, that while good men may safi'ly engage in their circul.alion, they will confer a PuuLlo Bknh- FIT, and receive a Fair COMPENSATiON for their labor. Jjjg*" Orders respectfully solicited. For further particulars, ad- dre.;s the suliscriber, (post-paid.) ROBERT SH .\RS, March 1.— It. 181 William street, New York. CHINESE SUGAR CANE SEED. NEW, pure, and well ripened, hy mail, in packets at 50 cents and $1 each. All the best Vegetalile anrl Flower seeds, by mail, sixteen packets for $1. Also, aU the finest Roses, B ilbs, ,Vc. Address W. T. GOLDS ilTH, March 1.— 2t. ' Rucln'Ster, N. Y. PLEASE TO READ THIS. EVIPT^OTMENT FOR TITS WINTER. Persons out of employ m^ut may find that which is tioth profitabli- and |)|pasaut by addres.sing KOBEKT SKAUS, I'lihli.sher, Jan. 1— 4t. No. 181 WiUiam btreet, New York. THE GENESEE FARMER. TOS TO FARMERS AND GARDENERS, Tlir, S.iUa.-.nli-rs Co H,il.' 4 1.00(1 lurmlN oMlu-ir Ni-w iind linpp'v.-a POL'HUK I'Tl'., ummifiictuic-(l {ro coiiiu up qui.;lier, to ti.t,>w fitjittr. ripH'i i'.jilifr. a d will I'ling a 1 irfjiT CKip I'n pimr gnmiid than Hny "tliiT f.-i Hti/cr, ami i~ also .i pr-.veiitivc of the cut woiin ; »lsn. it (J'leK not inju e the .«efd tis labor, occu- pit3 less sp.ace, and costs le.ss «l ice, and civts U'." inouey tlnn any otl;er machine fur b.ilinc hay ever oflered to the piihlic. It is eqimlly conven-'ent for pre^sin'T Ootton, Hemp, Hops, Bmom Ciirn, Hags. Hiisk«, Ac. pamjiles may he seen at our \V iiehou je, ami circulars wii li cuts and full descnptiiuis «ill be fu'ni-iheil ujion application by letter or oiberwixe, to FAIRBAMC^ h CO. Scale .Vaii'ifMcturers, No. 189 Broadway, Tm.l— nt. NewYoiU. CHINESE bliGAIi CAJSE tEED. THE Siibpcrilieis have m^ide arrapgcnieir.'s fi r, and have now on h.and a m-nierate S'lpWy of the seed nf the above jdint, well rijienpd, ami raa» be tebed on a< ormune. Sutriciciit to plant al)'>ut one-fiffli of an acre in drilN 4 feet by IS iiicl es, put lip in strong Uiieu piickages, sent by raail. p^st paid on the receipt nf One Holla , or a proiiortionate quantity by ex- press, at tuiiidiaser's exi>ena.i. Order early to secure ihe se 'd. AlS'i. a f"li assor inent New .aud Fresh Gardkn Seeds, imported and Anieiicaii giowih. Field S--! ds and fJinin of the ranst desirable kinds. J Flower Seeds, the finest varietv. Full Catuli gues, giatis on appliaition. HKNRY P. K\reRY fc Co., feb 1— 'it N" 2('4 Lake St... Tbi'-a-^.'. Td. SDGAE CANE fcEED. EMERY BROTHERS have, at much expense and trouble, oh- 1 tained a fupily of G. nuine Seed of the Chinese SL'.J.aR C.XN'E, or •• Sorghum Siiccharutum." succe.'.sfully ?rowii, fully iiia- tuied, mill suie t" vegi-tate, from Mr. H. PhTKKs! of (Jeor^ia, which they "ill su ply in sironc' linen pa kases. with full dir' o i' us fir its cnl'ur., for o>K j.oli.ar, -ach c ntainin? suffieient quantity fur Oiie-lif;h "f an acre. All ordeis «li'.iiM be accunp oiied vvitli TWKi.vK CI-NT.S. or Stamps if io be sent by mail. Paniidilets con- fining a c ini] ilii'i'in ol leliable irf^irmiiriiui, experiments an-i succes,s f;f the plaid sin -e irs iutrod i'- uui io this counrrv, furnish- ed gratis (po.sl-jaid) upon receipt of a three cm' pos'sije stauap. KMERY BROTHER-;, Prupni'tors Alb. Agricultural Works, 52 State St. Alban-. fe'-i 1 - 2t FOR, SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS. THR EXHlRITiO.Nf Sl'KAKErt. AND (JYMNVSTIG ROOK. illusliateii with -^eventv Eii^>ie'>t Kiid .Seholnrs Imvo m> difli'ulty in |i.-rfiii-miii.: tbrw well i>»i Hki i-HS-rHBi. The (iyiiinasticR and Oal sthenics- : i «f s^e&f. iinpt.rruiee lo Te.i'lier' aiid Pupils iu .Stliiol.s :iiid Acad.- mie.s. ReiaiT l-'iph:y-feven reels >a stamps, and y.iu will get the book by mail, ftie of postaff. .\dd-ess fcb 1— 2t D. il. DiiWEY, Rochester, N. Y. GtNESEE FARMER PREMIUMS FOE 1857. 1. To every poison who sends EuiiiT Subscribers, (at mtr luice$$ teT'ms of tkirty-stvcn and a half cents each,) wo will send, postogo paid, a Copy of our beautiful twenty-live cent bojk the Rural Ait- iiual for 18.5". 2. To every person who sends us SiXTEK.v subscribers, (at ou» lowest club terin-i of lliirlij-stven and a half cents each,) one extra copy of the Genesee Farmer, and one copy of the Rural Annval. 'i. To every person .sending us TwKNTY-FOtiR subscriber.', as aliove, two copies of the Rural Annual, and one extra copy of the Farmtr, or any agricultural work valued at 50 cents, postage paid. 4. To any person ordering TiiiRTY-Two copies of the Farmtr, OS above, three cop.es of the Rural Amiual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at 75 cents, postage piiid. 5. For Forty, four copies of the Rural Annual and one extrft oopy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at $1, postaff» paid, or four extra copies of the Farmer. 6. For FoKTY-KlonT, five copies of the Rural Annual and on* extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at §1,25, postage paid, or five extra copies of the Farmer. For larger numbers, books or papers given in the same propor- tion. ^^^ To save expense to our friends, we pay the postage on aU these works, and persons entitled will state what they wish sent, and m-J.ke their selections when they send orders ; or if their list is not complete, if wished, we will delay sending until the club ia full. Premiums for the Greatest Number of Eutscribers. In order to excite a little competition among our friends every- where, as well as lo reward them for their voluntary labors in be- half of our j.iurnal, we make the following liberal ofi'ers. Those whj do not get the premiums offered beloiv are sure of the above^ so that we have no blanks. 1 FIFTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books (at the lowest prices,) to the person who shall send us the largest number of sub- scribers at the club prices, before the loth day of Apm next, so that we may announce the successful competitors in the May number. 2. THIRTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the second highe&t list, as above. 3. T\?ENTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books to the peraoa who shall send the third highest lists, as above. 4. FlFfEEN DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send Us the fourth highest list, as above. 5. TEN DOLLARS in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the fifth highest list, as abova. Our object in offering books is to increase t'aeir circulatiott throughout the country. If any prefer the cash they can be ac- commodated. Clubs are not required to be at one post office or sent to one ad- dress. We send wherever the members of the club may desire. THE ETISAL AliTKUAL AND GENESEE FAEMEB IN CLUBS. Every Subscriber to the Farmer should have a copy of tt-j Rurtd Annual. In cluhs of eight, we send the Farmer for one year, and a copy of the Rural Annual for Gfty cents. In other words, for KOUK DOI4LAKS we will .send eight c/ipics of the Farmer lor one year, and eiilit cO|,ies of the Rural Annual. KorKiGiiT dollar.s we wiU send sUteen co/iies of the Genefce Farmer and sixteen cupies of the Rural Annual, and one extra copy of each for the person who get* up toe t-'lub. Any person sending us $3 for a club of eight of the Genesee Far- mer shall receive one copy o'' Wi'i Rural Annual for his trouble, , Hsta-^e paid. Postin:isei», Farmers, and as. friends of Pi ra' Tmprovem'*nt are respectfully solicited lo obtain and forward i ubacf-jjlioas. Monftj 'liar be sect at our rta cents. The Farm liagineer. By Ritchie. Piice $3. Gunn's Domestic Medicine. Price $3. The Cjw, D.iiry Hasljandry, and Cattle ftreeding. Price 25 ctfl. Eyery Lady her own Flower Gardener. Price 25 eents. Phe American Kitchen Gardener. Price 25 cents. The Araeric^a Hone Culturer. Price 25 centH. Prize iimay on Manures. By S. L. Dana. Price 25 cents. The Pests of the Farm, with directions for extirpation. Price 25 cents. Horses — their Varieties, Breeding, Management, 4c. Price 26 eents. The Hive and Honey Bee — their Diseases and Remedies. Price ^5 cantt). The Hog — its Diseases and Management. Price 25 eents. The American Bird Fancier — Breeding, Raising, ck Numbers Wanted, - 100 To get rid of Rats, ...101 Building Fences,... 101 To Catch OwLs, - 101 Curing Figs, ..101 Inquiries and Answers..^ 101 ttLDSTRATIOW. The European Linden, '94 p,yryr:^o jit 901 Vol, KVIIT, Second Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., APRIL, 1857. No. 4 CULTIVATION OF BAKIEY, The cultivation of barley is receiving more and more attention every year in this section. The un- certainty of the wheat crop since the prevalence of the midge, and the increasing consumption of La- ger bier, render barley one of the most profitable crops that can be raised on many farm?. The geo- graphical raiige of barley is greater than that of cither wheat or oats; it is cultivated under the scorching suns of Africa and Central Asia, and in the northern re- gions of Europe and America. Its susceptibility of ra- pid and vigorous groTj^fh, without in- jury to the perfect development and maturity of the seed, fits it admira- bly for ripening un- der the intense and steady heat of the South, or the short- lived summers of the North. It is probable that all tlie kinds of barley in gene- FiG. 1. ral cultivation are varieties of one species, of v/hicb the Hordaim di^tichuni of Linn-bus is the type. The spikelets of this ge- nus always standing in threes, and the threes being placed back to back, it is evident that every ear of barley must consist of six rows of 3pikelets. If the middle spikelet of each set of threes is alone perfect, the side spikelets being abortive, we hnve the common two rowed barley (H. di.Hichvm) and its many varie- ties ; it' the two lateral of each fet of three is perfect, and the central J spikelets imperfect, as sometime? hap- ptns^, then we have four rowed barley ; if, on the other hand, all the spikelets are perfect, we have six Fig. 2. rowed barley (H. hexastichvm) ; but the cases of four rowed barley being merley accidental, they may be referred to the six rowed form, and thus we have only two principal kinds of barley, the two rowed and six rowed. The former is the only kind of barley that has been found apparently wild. The annexed engravings (figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,) represent some of the best varieties of the two rowed bar- ley. The drawings were taken from specimens grown under circum- stances equally suitable fa them re- spectively, and they may thus be com- pared with seme confidence. The common two rowed barley (figl) is perhaps cultivated to a greater ox- tent in this country and in England than any other variety. It is re- markable for its early maturity and adaptation to a great variety of soils. Haxton, an English writer of great experience, says : " For light soils of an inferior nature, this barley is undoubtedly bet- ter adapted than almost any other kind; and even on cold clay land, its early maturity and free manner of growing give it a decided superi- ority over those varieties which, although of finer quality, are later of coming to maturity." The Chevalier barley (fig. 2) has thicker and stifler straw than the common two rowed barley, ripens later, and on a rich soil will yield a heavier crop. In England it has a higii reputation with- the malstcrs, who will pay five or six cents a bushel more for it than for the for- mer. The soils best adapted for this variety are a black and rich sandy loam, though a rather heavy clay soil that breaks down readily into a fine, loose mould frequently, when the season is favorable for self ing the land into good condition and sowing early, produces large crops. Fig. 3. 106 THE GENESEE FARMER "/ Italian barley (fig. 3) is a remarkable variety, both in appearance and general habit of growth. The cars are short and broad, and the grains are extraor- dinarily plump and round, having a clear yellow, transparent husk. The straw is of a bright yellow hue, (hence this variety is frequently called Golden barley,) and is stiffer, taller and more erect than any of the other varieties, and on this ac- count is particularly adapted for sowing on rich black or soft soils, which are apt to produce too much bulk. It was introduced into Scot- land from the Alps some years ago, and was extensively cultivated, but it is found to degenerate so rapidly when grown for two or three years on the same farm, that its cultiva- tion is now nearly abandoned there. It might suit our climate better. The result of several experiments in England ?how that it is very pro- ductive, yielding, in one experiment, 52 bushels per acre, while the Chevalier yielded only 43 bushels per acre. Weight per bushel the same (49 J lbs.) in both cases. The Common Four or Six Rowed barley (tig. 4) differs very materially from any of the foregoing two rowed varieties. The ears are short- er and thicker, and the grains are arranged around the rachis in two single and two double rows. The single rows are opposite each other, and when the double rows are re- moved the appearance of the ear is exactly similar to that of two rowed barley when deprived of the chaffy-like matter (barren florets) between the rows. The grains of the single rows are straight, and in the plane of the rachis, while those of the double rows diverge angvdarlyfrom each other. Each double row is generally dis- tinct at the base, but the grains gradually assume a more upright position towards the top, where they merge into one. For this reason four rowed barley cannot be considered, as before stated, a distinct species. In Ireland this variety is usually sown as a winter crop. A Scotch writer, speaking of this variety, says : " When bere is cultivated on good land, situated in an early climate, the produce is often greater than that yielded by the two rowed barley ; yet not- withstanding this, the price which it fetches is so much lower that the gross return per acre is less, while at the same time the labor of threshing and cleaning the graiu is greater." In this vicinity, four or six rowed barley is considered by many farmers more pi'ofitable than the two rowed, the yield being greater, and the lualsters paying nearly as much for one as the other. An improved variety of th? coniaion four or six Fig. rowed barley is cultivated in Great Britain under the name of Victoria Bere, (fig. 5,) of which Lawson says: " Its introduction may be considered as the first step to the acquirement of superior varieties of the old big, or bere, (fig. 4,) compared with which it pro- duces longer straw, is longer eared, more prolific, and-i produces a finer sample, sometimes weighing 56 lbs. ' per bushel." The true Six Rowed barley (H. hexastichurn) — fig. G — is interesting in a botanical point of view, but of little value to the practical farmer. It differs from the two former varieties (figs. 4 and 5) in having all the rows equi-distant from each other. The ear is short, and contains on an average only about thirty- two coarse grains. It is hardy and prolific, and caa be sown either in the fall or early in the spring. Four or Six Rowed jS^aked barley (fig. 7) diflera from the common four or six rowed barley (fig. 4) in its seeds, which separate from the chaff in tbreshingi^. but the form of the ear is similar, although longer. It is cultivated in the North of Eu- rope, where its earlincss and rapid growth suit the short summers, but in England its cultivation has met with but I ffl jlljlflj'i'l'l' little encouragement. It is sometimes called Siberian barley. One of our correspondents, a short time ago, sent us a sample of grain, wishing us to in- form him what it was, but neglected to give us his post-office address. We think it is Siberian barley; and if this meets his eye, we should be glad to hear from him in regard to it. We think it will prove valuable in this country. It was introduced into Eng- land in 17G8. LA\ysoN states that two bushels of it were grown in 1769, weighing 132 lbs., or 66 ft»s. per bushel ! These were tent to mill, " and yielded 80 lbs. of fine flour, equal to London seconds, 40 lbs. of coarse sort, and 12 lbs. of bran, superior to that of wheat. The best flour made excellent bread, and so retentive of moisture as to be as good at twelve or fourteen days after baking as wheat- en bread on the fourth day." (Wheat bread in the moist climate of England keeps moist and good much longer than in this conn- try.) Twelve lbs. of barley and the samo of wheat Sour, being made into bread and baked in the same oven, the wheaten loaf weighed 15 lt)s. and the bar- ley loaf 18 lbs. It is said to make good malt. ■^' Another variety of barley, similar to the Siberian; ' was introduced into England from the Himmalayan Mountains in 1817, called Nepaul barley, or Nepaul wheat (H. trijiircatvm). It is not cultivated to any extent in Great Britain. The same variety has been introduced into this country and extensively dis- tributed during the last two or three years, by Mr. I. W. Briggs, of West Macedon, N. Y., under the name of "Beardless' barley. Whether it will prove of any more value in this country than it has in Eng- land, remains to be eeen. The soils best adapted for barley are those which are naturally dry and easily reduced to a fine tilth. It should never be sown on pod Ir.nd. It is vain to hope for a good crop unless the soil is thoroughly pulver- ized. Some of the best crops of barley we have Fig. 7. THE GENESEE FARMER. 107 seen in this nei :hhnrhood, were errown on land plowed in the fall, and cultivated and harrowed thoronc;hly in the spring, without plowing. It is desirable to sow as early as possible, but it is better to wait till the soil is in pood condition than to plow or culti- vate it farly when in a wet state. It does best, per- hap.«, after corn than after any otiier prain crop. If the corn has been well manured and the pround kept clear by the repeated use of the horse-hoe, no bet- ter preparation could be desired. Two bushels per acre is th'^ usual quantity of seed. We should prefer a little more, unless it is sown with the drill, when two bushels is rmply sufllcient. In Enpland, from three to four bushels is the usual qnan- •tity. After sowivip, the laud should be well harrow- ed lengthwise, and afterwards across, or obliquely, then roll, sow the clover seed, (if desired,) and finish off with a lipht pair of harrows lengthwise of the furrows. The practice of rolling the laud when the barley is just out of the ground ia very common in England, but in this country it is apt to cause the soil to bake on the surface, if it is somewhat wet. For this reason it is better to roll before the last harrowing, if the ground is dry enough to admit the use of the roller without clogging. When barley coromauda one dollar per bushel, we think Peruvian guano might be used as a manure for this crop with considerable profit, though the results of experiments which have been made with it are somewhat conflicting. It should be sown broadcast, say at the rate of one hundrd and fifty pounds per acre, and harrowed in, before or at the time the seed is sown. CULTIVATION OF OATS. For the production of oats of the best quality, a moist atmosphere and a low and equal range of sum- mer temperature is required. An insular position, too, is desirable. The best oats we have ever seen in this country were grown on a piece of new land, entirely surrounded by extensive woods. Oats will flourish on nearly all kinds of soil. Land that is too poor to produce wheat or barley, will often yield a fair crop of oats, and soil which is too rich for these crops will not unfrequently produce an enormous crop of oats. For the production of a large crop, irrespective of qnalilvv, a soil of a black mucky nature, abounding in organic matter, is well adapted for oats. If too rich, however, the crop may fall down before the grain ripens. To avoid this, reduce the fertility of the soil by taking a crop or two of Indian corn off first. A good dressing of lime, too, will often etrenglhen the straw of jthe oats on such soil and enable it to pro- duce an immense crop. Three or four bushels of salt per acre might also be useful, but we have had no experience with it. Clayey soils, when well prepared, frequciitly yield good crops of oats, and of a superior quality. Loose, black, mucky soils, which are too low and wet for barley, may be sown with oats, and the same may be said of cold, heavy clay land. Oats are frequently sown on sod ground with good results, though as a general rule, if the land is in good con- dition, they do better after a root or grain crop. Two bushels per acre is the usual quantity of seed eown. We think two and a half and even three bush- els might frequently be sown with advantage. Oats should be sown as early as the soil and season will admit, barley, however, taking the precedence. The Common White oat, and Black oat, are the two varieties most extensively cultivated. They are hardy and productive, and weigh from 30 to 34 lbs per bushel. The latter is perhaps most popular in this section. The White Poland oat is a very su- perior variety in some respects, weighing over 40 fta per bushel; but the yield per acre is small, and it shells out easily. For these reasons many farmers have abandoned its cultivation, finding the Common Black or White oat more profitable. CULTIVATION OF SPRIKG WHEAT. So far as chemical composition is concerned, the soils most favorable for raising winter wheat, are also best adapted for the cultivation of spring wheat But the mechanical condition of the soil most favo- rable for the production of these crops varies very materially. Winter wheat requires a seed bed of a somewhat hard and compact texture. It is easy to pulverize the soil too much. In fact, a somewhat cloddy seed-bed is desirable. For spring wheat on the other band, the soil cannot be made too fine and loose. Repeated harrowings are required. The soil must be dry, warm and active, so as to enable the pl^it to grow rapidly during its early stages. It is desirable to sow early, but it is better to wait till the ground can be got into fine tilth, even if the wheat cannot be sown till the middle of May, than to plow and harrow the land before it is dry enough to crum- ble to pieces readily. Varieties should be selected with reference to the character of the soil, and time of seeding. This point is too much neglected. For loose, low, somewhat mucky soils the Fife is perhaps one of the best varie- ties cf spring wheat at present known. It can be sown quite late. Good crops have been raised in this vicinity, on land that was not dry enough to sow till the first of June. The Canada Club, on the other hand, should be sown early on dry uplands, of a firmer textu'-e. The Siberian, Black Sea, and Tea or China are also excellent and well known varieties of more 'or lees repute in different sections. The Magnum Bonum or Zimmerman wheat which took a prize at the Annual Meeting of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society in 1855, and which was sold foa- fifty cents a quart, proves, as we stated at the time, to be nothing more than the African or Mummy wheat, introduced under a new name. A cut and description of it will be found in the Genesee Farmer for May, 1852. It has been known in Germany for 240 years. It has been cultivated to some extent in England as a winter wheat, and according to Loudon, ia "m little estima- tion'' Our climate may be more suitable for it, but it is hardly worth fifty cents a quart ^ i-^i^ Carrots. — An esteemed correspondent at Crow- land, C. W., informa us that he raised last year 99 bushels of carrots on a quarter of an acre of ground, and add.a, " Beat this who can." We should consider 336 bushels per acre rather a small crop in this vicinity. Eight hundred bushels per acre is not an uncommon yield. Our correspondent's mode of cultivation is as follows: Plow under, eight inches deep, about 40 loads of well rotted barn yard manure per acre in the fall; and in the spring plow under about 24 loads of horw manure more; and about the middle of May plow the land again, and mix the manure thoroughly with the soil. Then sow the seed in drills, ten inches apart Hoe them three times. 108 THE GENESEE FARMER, AN INrERESTlNa LSirEE FEOM PKOFESSOS LEE Influence of A^riruUural Papers. — The Gexesee Far- mer a cheap Eiiuralioti I Institution. — Premiums for Short Essay 1. — Chinese Sui;ar Cane. — Corn Stalks and Cotton Seed for Cows. — Climate and Soil of Georgia. Athens. Ga., Feb. 2;). 18:)7. Frirnd Harris : — Since I have been cull i vat iiif;; the soil in uppjr Geurgia, I have read tlie Genesee Fanner with increased interest to avail myself of the many valuaV)le sugy:eslions which it contains. It is a inarvel to tne how sensible men enijatred in tillage of any kind or instoek-husbandi^.so often deny them- selves the advantaffes placed within their roach by the numerous agricultural papers ol" the dc*y. Such neglect is ia many respects a piblic mislbriune; for it not only diminishes the aggregate uealth of the country, compared with what it would be if all farm ers both read and labored to improve, but it tends to keep them in ignorance to their gieat discredit, and to the lasting injury of society. JJow to accoinpli.sli a perfect reform in this matter has lonir been the sub- ject, of thought and study with the writer; ami I am pleased wiih your plan of ofierinir small premiums for short oriiiinal comnninieations on a variety of faj-m- ing processes most familiar to your readers, and easy to discuss. This can hardly fail to impart Jiddilinnal interest to your paper, and increaee its cirt-ulMtioii; and I trust every friend of progie.'-s in agricnltnriil knowledge, ami of inif)rnvement in nuinkind, who now takes the Genesee Fanner, will cooperate with you in enlarging its already wide sphere of usefulness. If the "mite" of the poor widow was acceptable and valua!)le on many accounts, as evincing an excellent heart, and a true christian di.-positidii, letnoone with- hold hi.> (•ontril)uiion to the rural literature of the dis tinguislied age in which he lives. 'J'o youu« per.eons of biith sexes, few accompiihhments are more desira- ble than the ability to wiite propeilyfor the f)re.-s; and this etpially : gr eable and useful attainment, iw acoquir il only l\v practice and due care in lefeience alike to t//t/»J is wriiten, and how h is written. In America, more persons can speak and write with nearly gi-Hmmatical accuracy than in any other ])art of the world; and as a const(juence, we have more popular orator,-!, and a larger number of iiew.-paj)ers than all the rest of the liuman f.imily. To cultivate this ho"Oiab|e feature of our rt'pnblican in.«tiintions. and still farther elevatelhe maa>e.s, who till the earth, what Ri-liool is liHtterihan that, cheaj)est of all schools for ailults, the Genepee Farmer ? As an old and bumble pupil, who has learned much from its enlightened correspomlence during the last tweniy-iive years, 1 cherish for it a proluund rcL'ard aw 1)11 educational institution. Viewed in this Sight, It IrdS all the claims that age, chara ter. and good conduit ever impart to public .^vinpathy tind support. Tiirough the medium of its monllily visits, thousands and tens of thousands may teach <>ue another the sound [)racMcal wisdom that grows up from the eul tivated comti'on sen.-^e of persona earnestly devoted to a noble ami common cnllinir. This is levcliiij: a whole comniutiity vpimrd. without piillino- down otK^ member trf so(;iety. It lusters a close dbservaiioii of all au.ricuitnral iiitert'stp juid f)ractices. and a livelier •ppfeciation of both their merits am! their dtifeet.s to extend the one. and corieet the oihtr. }^npp(>se all the Mind, now le>s th«n half tievelopvd, that is em- ployed in tillage, husbandry, Uorlicuiluie, and tiuit- culture, in the United States, were as fully enlighten- ed as is clearly practicable? Who does Jiot see the benehts that must, in that case, accrue to this young, growing, and aspiring republic? As one of its citi- zens, 1 would not neglect the duty of reading and studying to learn, nor that of extending a word of encouragement to my brother farnieis that they may do likewise. All must learn before they can teach; and nearly all have learnt many lessons from experi- ence, if not otherwise, which enable them tu instruct others in some things that are worth knowing. Not to prolong these introductory reffiarks, I would stale that the cultivation of the Chinese Sutjar Cane is just now the most favored theme of discussion among progressive planters. In the south part of this Stale, two crops from one planting are grown in a year. 1 saw ripe seed at Savannah last autumn from the second growth of the plants, just as a second crop of clover is often produced, with manure seed, at the North. The .«yrup of the Chinese cane has kept well up to this lime, and rei^enibles that made from the sap of the maple tree in taste more than the syrup obiained from the common sugar cane of Louisiana. It is to be regretted^ that the saccharine matter in this recently introduced cane is not, when expressed, in a condition to ciystalize, or only partly in that state. It is in the chemical condition of maple sugar after the buds of the tiee are somewhat developed, when the sy.up refa.ses to "grain," or granulate. In a word, the sugar is partly that of grapes in charac- ter, and partly that of the profier sugar cane, and crystal izable. As a forage plant, and especially for soiling cows, it jiromises to supersede corn. I spent a part of the months of November and December in W^ashington, and saw the crops grown to sup{)!y the Patent Office with seed, and was satis- tied irom personal ol)servat!on that Mr. Browne, (the successor of the writer in taking charge of the Agri- (iultural Department of that Bureau.) has rendered tlie country an important service, by introducing the seed of this new suuar plant fiom Fiance, where it first attracted his attention. Mr. WHrrxKY, the first projector of the Paciiic Railway, raised most of the seed for government distributicm. lie Keeps a fine herd of cows, and .^ells milk in the federal metropolis; and such was the obvious value of the Chinese cane fur dairy purposei^ and fattening dry cows, avS to leave no doubt in my mind that the plant is a great acqui- sition to tlie country. Members of congress will dis- tribute somethinsr over one hundred bu.hels of the .'seed; and it is to be hoped that it will fall into good hands, bnch cs liave if, should plant it on good land, and not too closely so as to injure the lull maturity of tlie seed. The writer will plant, and cause to be plant* d. over sixty acres this season. Mr. Petkrs, who made several barrels of the syrup last \ear, will; plant. I am told, one hundred acre.e. Soutliern plant*: ers will oive the crop a fair trial soon. In this quar'ter> of ihe Union, where hay is so expensive, a good sub- stitute for Ijtgii-h era.-j.'jes is a great desii^eiatum.— T made a good sized barn fnll of corn hpy last season, which answers all rny expectations this winter. That and cotton seed keep cows in fine condition. Their butler, however, is very white: but the seed gives it no unpleasant taste. Not raisinir any co ton, I pay ten cents a bushel for seed, which yiekls excellent manure. 'I'his region is favored with nn admirable climate^ having pure air and water, and a mediuai tenvpera* THE GENESEE FARMER. 109 tare between heat nnd cold. The soil is none of the richest^ being formed mainly of primitive and transi- tion rocks, in situ-; and not^ as in all hgher latitudes, tnainly from drift depositions. The geology of (Jeor- gia is quite interesting, viewed in its agricultural re- lations, as is the study of this science everywhere. — Having a fondness to talk and write of rocks and soils, you may hear from me on this subject. D. Lke. ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE MAECH NXmCBEE. The " I'rfee Essay" number is before me, and proves I was not destined to be disappointed in my anticipations of a " rare treat from its perusal." Let me itemize as usual: Hints on Spring Work. — Yes, we must now be ttt it. Spring is here, and its tvork has come with it. About the first that can be done is to build new, and re-lay old, fences. Don't forget to put up a gate or two on the most frequented routes. Sow your clover seed, and be sure you have fresh seed, of last sum- mer's crop. If older, its growing is doubtful. For corn and potatoes, manure should now be drawn out, but I would not spread it until the day it was to be plowed in. Get iu spring crops as soon as the sea- eon will admit. It is important that they get rooted before the early summer drouth. Frauds in Artificial Manures. — The success of the self-styled Professors, in humbugging farmers, is lai^ely due to their neglect to look and think for themselves. Let them search out and save up the fertilizers wasted upon their own farms, and they would not need to go abroad for artificial manures to enrich their soils. If they do, chemical analysis will 'nform them truly of its value. Plaster for Clover. — Knowing that some Seneca county farmers think plaster can be used too* freely, I thought perhaps Mr. Johnston coincided with them in opinion, and sovved plaster only once in seven years on his farm. It is three years since we have sown any, and we have had only half a crop of clover, and very ppo; success in seeding, during that time. I am glad to know what Mr. J.'s practice is, and must have two tons of plaster for my grass lands this spring. For corn, I think ashes better than plaster, though many mix the two for a top dressing, and commend it highly. Foul in the Fekt. — Many years since, some of our cattle were seven ly afflicted with this di?ease ; they could scarcely stand, and it seemed as though their hoofs would rot off. There was plenty of ergot in our Bpeargrass hay. Of late years, we have grown only timothy aud clover hay, and have seen noihing of the disease. I have no doubt that its cause is fcruly stated by your New Haven correspo; dent. Managejiknt of Swine. — I like Mr. Britten's re- marks on this suliject, because he " winters his pigs in the pork barrel." It is a gvc it nuisance, this feed- ing a lot of pigs ill! winter, and then not making bet- ter pork of tiiem in December than spring pigs ought to make, though at more than one-half additional expense. Winter Wheat. Indian Corn, and Potatoes. — The prize aniclis on the cultivation of these crops, ere each of then' worth the price of the Fnrmer for several years. Yet there are hundreds of farmers who can write "ust as well — \T^ho can rnis'^ as good i •rops, aiid knmv how to do it every iim:; QX\rv -u.- ^aries excepted. Will they, too, write out theiJ^ fci- perience ? It will enable you to give, every month, a " Prize Essay number." Fencin(5 — Sweet Briar Hedges. — One of your correspondents suggests a trial of sweet briar hedgea This plant would seem pretty well adapted to hedging purposes. It hiis a " quick, thick, and thorny growth," aud on good soil I have seen the stems an inch in diameter, and ten iieet high. Actual trial, howeve]r» must be had to test it Bkat Means of Destroying Weeds. — The short essay (twenty-five lines) on this subject, suggests a very thorough remedy for a very serious evil. It will not be very expensive to give it a trial, and I think it will succeed. Women's Rights as to Milking. — Give us more light on this question, if you have any in reserve j not that I need it in my own case, for my " women folks" do not need asking to milk in the buisy sea- son. I think it is a busy season any time iu the year with women who have their own housework to do and children to care for, and so does any kind and thoughtful husband. » Fruit-Growers' Association. — The discussions of this body I look upon as of much value to the pub- lic, and hope the Society may receive every encour- agement from the agricultural as well as horticultural community. Yours is the best report, so far, I have seen of its proceedings. The Horticultural Depart- ment of the Farmer is well sustained, and filled with practical matter, though I have, heretofore, seldom offered any remarks upon its contents. My present garden is but just commenced; it is half a dozen years since circumstances have permitted me to pay much practical attention to the subject BL JViagara Co., JV. Y. ROTES FOR THE MONTH BY S. W. The Death of Dr. Kane. — Since my last oar country is deprived of a son, in his prime, by death, of whom it may well be proud. His Artie expedi- tion, as lately published, is one of the most stirring narratives of Artie research and discovery yet pub- lished. His graphic details of the toil, exposure, and famine of himself and shipmates, are animated by the enthusiasm and indomitable courage of tlje man. — AVhile journals of other Artie voyagers are tame aud meagre from the paucity of material and incident to be found in a bold, icy, hyperborean region. Dr. Kane enlivens his journal by making the most of every thing that came under the notice of his ever stcl'ivo,. expanded, philosophical and observant mind. He not only gives the moral and physical individuality of each of his associates, and shipmates, but to eveir praiseworthy Esquimaux friend, with a detail of their truly philoFohpical habits of life. Of the country^ ice bourd and barren as it is, he makes the m.ost sad best by describing its geology, its stinted s^^lva, meagre herbaceous plant?, mosses and flora ,* its mammalia, birds, cetacea and fishes, with the inspired, pea of a 1rne master. But alth lugh the mind, through the aid of divine Providence, lifted up and sustaii.ed the severely tried body in every privation and expo- sure, the eHort was too nneqaa' ; the material has fiuc- cumbed, and the spirit has go;je to Go9 who gave it. I repeat the world has lost ia Dr. Kane, a hero, th»- like of whom i he present generation may not see agaiiu The Prisle L^says. — The Miicli r-nir-bf^r of tbft Farmer ia enriciied by a serieaof eiiort, grapbia t-\i-^ 110 THE GENESEE FARMER. sayg; the most important of whiqji detail farm experi- ments of manuring, tilling, culture and crops ; but there are others not less interesting, and hardly less important to domestic comfort on the farm. The best of them is the one over the signature of "A Mother," and a true mother she undoubtedly is. I would bet a cookej that her daughters are not of the number of those scary creatures, who are " afraid of seeing their own shadows in the milking yard." She evidently does not feel at all scandalized atGREELKy's comments on "Country Cooking." My word for it, her breakfast cakes, well made aromatic Java, and white table cloth, cannot be eclipsed even in Gotham. Me- thinks a boy who is so fortunate as to have such a mother will always leave his stable boots outside the kitchen door. It is important io detailing those farm experiments in manuring and cultivating crops, that the surface and subsoil should be described, and also whether the field is either surface drained or undef- drained, or both, which is still better. The Winter. — December and January were the coldest months we have had here since my recollec- tion, although the mercury sunk but one night as low as 24° below zero, and on very few nights before or after the 18th January, was it more than 2'^ or 3° be- low; generally many degrees above. We have had none too much snow, sleighing was good from the middle of December to the 6th of February. Fqb- r.iary was one continued thaw night and day, the wheat looked well as the snow left it, and the grass grew in sheltered slopes, putting on its richest green. March came in like a lion, but a north-east snow storm covered the wheat again like a garment, so that al- though the mercuiy fell to 5° above zero on the mor- ning of the 2d, and it was now again on the morning of the 7th as low as 7° above; the ground is but lit- tle frozen, and the promise of the wheat crop was never better. Our Isabella grape vines are safe. GU.VNO AND COKOENTRATED MaNPRES. It IS truly coinfortable to those who have been pained so often with the idea of the destruction and waste of organic matter in our great cities, which if persisted in must eventually bring sterility to our rural domains, to read the numerous competing advertisements of highly con- centrated manures for sale at New York, all, except Guano, made from the night soil, dead animals, and offal of the city. A new company at Brooklyn adver- tises Tafeu, which may be supposed to be still richer in ammonia salts, than that of her sister city, where that great diluant and solvent Croton water, is in such active force; but all depends on the skill and honor of the manufacturer. Much praise is due to Meinheer ScnwAGER for his unique enterprise in turning the lit- tle sea girt barren Island into a laboratory of fixed salts, made from the excrements of defunct animals, and offal of the city. Bat methinks if he looks to his permanent interest, he will not set the price above that of Peruvian guano ; true the latter holds its am- monia as a volatile carbonate,* but some of our best practical farmers prefer stable manure after it has arrived at that same ripe and volatile con- dition. The Reduction of the Tariff on Imposts by Con- gress.-—While this important concession to free-trade. is an honor to the improved intelligence of the coun- try, it cannot but fail to redound to both our agri- cultural and manufacturing interests. Our carpet manufacturers, so long discouraged by taxation, now get their coarse wool and dye-stuffs free; and the farmers best customers, the manufacturers of the finer fabrics of wool, have their dye-stuffs free;, hence they will be better able to compete with the foreign man- ufacturer, and to shut out of the country much of that loool in the cloth, which will be a true protection to our fine wool growers. S. W. Waterloo, JV. Y. * Onr esteemed correspondent will permit na to ssvy that this idea, ihongh held by nearly all agricultural writera, is without founda- tion. A good, sound sample of Peruvian guano eeldom containB as muili M ace per •^ent of carbonate of ammonia. If it contains two or three per jent of ammonia in tho form of a carbonate, it is safe to asBume that the guano his been damaged by water. The am- monia of PeruWan guano eiisLs in the form of urea, urate of am- monia and other fixed salta, and ig converted into the carbonate of ammonia by fermentation. Keep guano dry, and there will be but little loss of ammonia, however^much it is exposed to the air. If it in moistened and placed in a warm temperature, rapid fermenta- tiou soon takes place, Mrboii»te of aouaoei* ia forme dnce a greater amount of cream than the same milk if in but one pan; the reason of this is the greater .^ surface. 3. Scalding is quite an important feature in the way of making butter in cool weather ; the cream rises much quicker, milk keeps sweet longer, the but- ter is of a better color, and churns in one-half the time. 4. Skimming shonld always be done before the milk becomes loppered ; otherwise much of the cream turns into whey and is lost. 5. Churning, whether by hand or otherwise, should occupy forty or fifty minutes. 6. Washing in cold soft water is one of its pre- serving qualities, and should be continued until it shows no color of the milk by the use of the ladle ; very hard water is highly charged with lime, and must in a measure impart to it alkaline properties. 7. Salting is necessarily done with the best kind of ground salt ; the quantity varies according to the state it is taken from the churn ; if soft, more — if hai-d, less ; always taking the taste for the surest guide. 8. First working, after about twenty-four honrs, is for the purpose of giving it a greater compactness. ^ 0. Second working takes place at the time of pack- ing, and when the butter has dissolved the salt, that the brine may be worked out. 10. Packing is done with the hands or with a but- ter-mall; and when butter is put into wooden vessels, they should be soaked two or three days in strong brine before using. After each packing, cover the butter with a wet cloth, and put a layer of salt upon it ; in this way the salt can easily be removed at ' any time, by simply taking hold of the edges of the cloth. Butter made in this way will keep any length of lime required. J. 0^ Adams. Seymour, Allegtmy Co , A*. T. THE GENESEE FARMER. Ill CULTIVATION OF CARROTS. Thh carrot requires a deep, mellow soil, well ma- nured, and if not dry enough naturally it should be well under drained. Chestnut sandy loam, or deep black soils inclining to rauck,arc the best for this root. It should be well worked with plow and cultivator to make it fine, and subsoiling would improve it much. To prepare the ground for sowing, after plowing and cultivating, take a email core plow and ridge the ground, turning two furrows together, leaving them about two feet apart from top to top. I have practiced sowing in rows about fourteen inches apart, but have concluded from trial of both methods to sow this season in ridges. The advanta- ges are, first: the soil is more mellow for the young plants to start and grow. Second : the rows can be more easily followed when the plants are small, which is very important. Third: they can be cultivated with a horse after they are large enough, and at har- vesting they can be worked out mostly with the plow. I think the above are sufficient reasons for the latter method. I think the greatest crop might be raised by sowing them oa a level surface, about twelve or fourteen inches apart, but the work is nearly double. It is very important to sow good seed, which should always be tested before sowing for a crop, which may be doue by sowing a little in a hot bed or in a little box set in a warm place in the house. The best time lor sowing is about the 25th of May, but a good crop may be raised sown as late as the 15th of June. My rule is, to sow as soon as the ground is ready and the the weather warm enough to start the seed quickly. The seed should be soaked in warm water two days before sowing, and if the weather should be unfavo- rable, then the seed may be taken from the water, rolled in plaster, set in a cool place and it will not take any hurt for a week or ten days; if it is sprouted when sown all the better. If the weather is dry when the sowing is commenced the soil should be rolled after sowing, or the seed may be trod by fol- lowing on the rows immediately after it is sown, and then lightly covered with a rake. I do not think any definite rule can be followed as to depth of sowing, but it must depend on the weather and the moisture or dryne?s of the soil; usually from half inch to one inch is deep enough. I have always practiced sowing by hand, but there are machines that do the work well, and are said to be labor saving. The seed must be dry to work well with a machine. If the weather is favorable the plants will be up ready for the first hoeing in about two or three weeks, which should be done lightly as soon as it is possible to distinguished the plants — as a little work at this time will save much hard labor two weeks after. The first hoeing should be lightly done, just deep enough to cut up the weeds, as that is the principal object. Follow the second time in about a week, stirring the soil deeper and more thoroughly eradicating the weeds ; after this the hand weeding must commence, which should now be done as soon as possible; do not wait to finish hoeing « f iece of corn or potatoes, for by so doing you may fiav«! many days hard work weeding. When weeds begin to grow in the carrots, and they are large enough to weed, that must be done, if nil other work stop for a day or two; on;' or twodi'v.-! delay r^t;^ make a week in weeding; it the weather should te rainy, then look at the carrots all over grown with weeds, and the labor of weeding increased four fold. After the second hoeing and first weeding, the hard work to this crop is done and they can if properly tended be kept nice and clean the remainder of the season. When they are about two inches high they should be thinned so as to stand four or six inches apart in the rows, if the ground is rich, if not, they may stand nearer. This thinning is very important and should not be neglected, for much depends on it They may be harvested as late in the fall as Novem' ber, and I think they keep better by being put up late, and are not so liable to decay. If sown late they will continue to grow till the ground freezes. This crop should be cultivated extensively by far- mers generally, and may be raised at a cost of from seven to ten cents per bushel. A good crop is eight hundred bushels per acre, and if cot more than four or five hundred bushels are raised the crop will pay as well as any other on the farm. The greater the yield the less the cost per bushel, and vice versa. As food for horses, cows, neat cattle, and hogs they are not equalled by any other root; store hogs will winter well on them, and horses are very fond of them in the spring of the year when warm weather commences, and some value them as highly aa oata. If worth only half as much, which is about my esti- mate, how much better is it than oats? Oats eighty bushels per acre on the same ground as the carrots at forty cents would be $32, and 600 bushels of car- rots at twenty cents would be Si 20, leaving a difier- ence in favor of the roots of $88; deduct $40 for cost of cultivation more than the cats and we still have a balance of t'48 per acre in favor of the roots, which is profit enough to induce farmers to extend their cultivation as much as circumstances will permit. — They are excellent feed for fat cattle fall and spring, winter being too cold for profitable feeding. Brighton, JV. Y. E. S. H. PLOWING, Mr. Andrew Wn.soN of Augusta, near Prescott, 0. W., in the March number of the Genesee Farmer, says: " Would Mr. Adams enlighten us as to the width of his furrows, for it is certain a horse cannot turn on much less than six feet and then the plow would naturally be three or four feet behind. Also to draw a furrow and return in the same track, ap- pears to me a waste of time and labor." My furrows are twelve inches wide, which make six feet of the ten he thinks necessary for a "horse" and " plow" to turn on. Three for the balk, between the fence and ground after it is plowed, make nine. The other foot is gained by dodging the corners ; and room to spare. Mr. W.'s plan of " marking ouf and plowing head- lands will answer for the " benighted Canadians" and also for a double team. But for a single team to draw a furrow both ways on the headland, packed as it always is, appears to me both useless and cruel. Seymour, JV. Y. J. C. Adams. Sow Lbttuck with Cabbage. — Lettuce seed sown with cabbpgf^ -v- ■" '■ene;'c;liv prevent the destructioa of the latter by t1>!- fly. The lettuce should lie ; lull- ed up assoou a.« ih'j 'jabbage plants are out of dnpeer. Try it. R. W. S. JFoodstock, Ft. 112 THE GENESEE FARMER. THE BEST METHOD OF FENCING A FAEM. Editors Genesee Farmer: — The question of the relative'amount of division fence necessary on a farm, may be passed with little more than the general re- mark, that as much only should be made as the most judicious arrangement and farm management require, for the obvious reason that more would be a wasie of land, labor, and means. It is plain that the amount required must vary according to the particular branch or branches of farming pursued. A farm, every acre of which will produce from thirty to forty bushels of prime wheat every two years, w^ill be cultivated in wheat and clover exclusively, (the last to be plowed under,) will require but little division fence. When it is desirable to cultivate most kinds of grain, as well as rear and keep most kinds of stock on the same farm, much more is necessary. Between these ex- tremes will be ranged all other grades of farming af- fecting this question. In all cases the above general rule should be adhered to; for a great amount of di- vision fence is maintained throughout the country at an immense yearly expense, which is neither necessary nor convenient. But the kind of fence best suited to general use, 18 the question sought to be determined. It may be remarked here, that no one method can be devised which shall be the best adapted to all cases, for it is evident that the best mode of fencing any particular farm, must depend upon its available resources for lencing materials — not necessary or valuable for other purposes. The Common Worm Fe.nxe. — Some kinds of fence, long in common use, are so well known that they need only be mentioned to make apparent their compara- tive value. Such, perhaps, is the common rail, or worm fence. This, in countries covered with suitable timber, must always be the fence of the pioneer, (v.'hat- ever may be its defects,) as it is almost the only avail- able one of any value. This fence, once upon a farm, will of course remain until it decays, and the timber to replace it is exhausted or become too valuable, when other kinds less objectionable and of more per- manent value will be sought. Stone Walls. — This may be had in properly con- Btructed stone walls, which is conceded to be the best fence known. This is vatuable for its durability and the little land occupied. The first cost is not great, when it is considered that the cost of laying the wall only, is justly charged to the account of the fence; clearing the fields of stone being necessary, were no fence required. Where there are materials for this$^ none belter need be sought. Board Fence. — A very neat, and not expensive fence is made of posts and boards. Let durable posts and boards, sixteen feet long, and a full inch in thick- ness be procured. The bottom board may be from ten to twelve, and the other two from six to eight inches wide. The length is completed by a three-by- four scantlmg being spiked firmly to the top of the posts. Three boards and a scantling, with spaces properly arranged, makitig a strong fence four feet high, with about fifty feet of lumber per rod, exclu- give of the posts. Any one may easily calculate the cost of such a fence, v;hich will vary with the cost of lumber in the locality. Wire Fence. — Wire fence, ha.s so far, proved un- satisfactory in the experience of most who have tried it It has some qualities to recommend it, bat there are serious, if not insurmountable objections to it. — • Beside the difficulty of guarding against the temper- ature, it is expensive, easily gets out of repair, i^ not claimed to be the most durable, and is not an effect- ive fence. Such being the general verdict in regard to this kind of fence, it cannot be recommended for general use. The above kind of board fence is pr&- fered, where suitable lumber can be had at any thing under extreme rates. The Lowell Pannel Wire fence is less objectionable, but the objections from tempe- rature and cost lie against it with equal weight. Hedges. — The next and last kind of fence I shall mention, is the hedge. This is a cheap, durable, beautiful, and most effective fence. The main ob- fections to it are, liability to injury by mice under the snows of winter in northern latitudes, and the great amount of land necessarily occupied by it. The first it is confidently believed will be remedied, if not in the manner of construction, yet by the use of hedge plants only which mice will not attack. A supply of these may be had, it is believed, in all respects suited to hedging purposes. Several kinds' of these have to some extent been tested. Among these are the Buckthorn, Newcastle thorn, and the whole family of evergreens. The thorns mentioned grow rapidly, making a strong fence in four or five years. Among the evergreens, the Norway Spruce and Norway Fir, are said to be of equally rapid growth, and to make, in all respects, a desirable hedge. An evergreen hedge is always beautiful, and by allowing a high growth, is also a good protection from the wind. The second oVyection, it must be admitted, is of some weight in localities where land is very valuable. But I doubt not that it could be successfnlly shown, and allow its opponents their most extravagant claims as to the amount and value of the land occupied, that, in the end, (except stone wall,) it is the cheapest and best fence known. Most other kinds .subject the far- mer to constant expense for repairs and losses, becansB they are imperfect, and to the cost of a periodical re- construction, and all this to be repeated as time pro- gresses, without limit. It is therefore claimed that when its light cost and after expense, its perfect effect- iveness and everla.sting durability are considered, this will be apparent. I would, therefore, bring to the notice of farmers a hedge constructed after the following plan. Where it is desirable to have a permanent fence,let the ground be deeply plowed, and a compost of swamp muck, leaves, ashes and barnyard maimre be well worked in. Draw a line for a guide in setting your quicks, that your hedge may be perfectly straight. Set your quicks in a line, from six to twenty-four inches apart, accord-" ing to the hedge plant used. Quicks should be of two years growth in the nurseiy. Cut them off twenty inches from the ground. Keep the soil, for a few feet on each side, mellow and clear of weeds, which is all that is required the first year. Ascertain if any have failed to grow, and replace such with vigorous onea from the nursery. Then draw a line two feet from the' hedge and parallel with it on the side where an open drain would be most useful. (Let division fence be located with reference to the efiiciency of these drains, so far as can be done without detriment to the ordei;* beauty and convenience of the arrangement of the' fields.) Along this line open a ditch four feet wide on the top, .six inches wide on the bottom, and two feet deep. Let the earth removed fiom the ditch b« thrown around your Ledge, raising a bed twenty THE flENESEE FARMER. 119 inches hiijh, with slopes corresponding to the slope of the ditch, and forming a regular grade with it on that side. Cut back your hedge to within three or four inches of last year's cutting, and your work is done for another year. If the })lashing syj-tem be not Eursued, cut bar-k again to within six inches of the ist, when it may be allowed to grow, only shearing to give it the desired shape. The third year the part cultivated on each side of the hedge, and also t>!ie ditch, may be thickly seeded to timothy to keep out weeds and prevent the falling of the drain. . Some advantages claimed for this M'ay of construct- ing hedge, are, that its position, on the top of this ridge, is a good security against mice; and this bed forms a deep rich soil, which will give a i-apid and vigorous growth, and consequently early maturity to the hedge. And without adding to the width of land occupied, it furnishes also a drain ; thus answering the double purpose of a fence and drain. Where it is desired to make them a defence against wind, as well as a fence, a plant which attains con- eiderable height and of rapid growth should be sought. The American Elm, ( Ulnus Americann,) it is thought is such a plant It is easily propagated, and grows well on all soils adapted to cultivation. The plan, already de.scribed may be followed, setting the quicks two feet apart. At the commencement of the third year let the plashing be done, which should, if possi- ble, be done without much use of the knife. The shoots may readily be bent down without cutting, and fastened by a little twisting together. Leave a vig- orous shoot, at every other setting, to grow up with- out further rare, except what is necessary to give it a low bushy top. Thus, a fence, and at the same time a screen from the winds, would be secured, which in fifteen or twenty years would tell in the most happy results in the bleak regions af our western prairies. Perhaps some of the evergreen?, if they can be pro- pagated with facility, may be more desirable for this purpose. From the south, we hear no objection to the hedge, where they have the most desirable of hedge plants in the Cherokee Rose and Osase Orange, Leicester, Livingston Co., JV. Y. A. W. CULTIVATION OF THE MANGEL WITEZEL, Fob the profitable cultivation of the mangel, two things are iudispengable: first, a strong, deep soil; eecond, thorough tillage. Sward, when rotted, pro- duces the best of soil for every root crop. The ground designed for mangel wurzel should be plow- ed in July or August preceding, and tilled as for wheat. In the spring, as soon as the ground is in working order, apply ten loads of good barn-yard manure to the acre; spread it evenly over the sur- face, and plow un agorly; horsop, cows, sheep, hogs, geese and hens, all eat and get fat on it. i have raised it on a stnall scale for 5ears. It never fails. Jblo?s can be rai-ed from shucking pigs on this vege table alone, except water. I have hud them shut up wh Te they could get nothing but arlichokee lor many weeks at a time, and they grew beyond all example. The artichoke stands cirought ai,d even'thiiig else but shade, better than any oilier crop. (It does not root well if too much shaded.) It grows on the poorest of land, niay l>e planted at any time front Octol>ertill the middle of June; and if planted early, and pasture is scarce, it may be pastured till other pasture comes forward. The tops nuxke better fod- der than hay. It may be propagated by planting i he branches when seed is scarce, either early or late, l)ut if this is done as late as July or August, the plants will only grow large enoug-h for .^eed; but if it is done in May or June, the plants will root well. The plants do not form much root till late in the fall, and the ground should not be plowed after harvest, as many of the shoots on which the roots grow run some distance, and the plowing would cut thym off. If artichokes are planted ou rich ground in rows about as close as corn, they will be too thick and riiade the ground too much; but this may be obvia- ted by catting off some of the stalks and curing them for fodder. The yield of tubers will still be good — five time as much as corn. If planted in poor soil, they will not have much top.Jiurwill root well. The hogs may be turned into the field and they will root np the artichokes for themselves. Penn. CULTIVATION OF INDIAN COEN. Whatevkr difference of opinion may exist among farmers in regard to the cultivation of Indian corn, nearly all agree on one point, viz: that green-sward, plowed eitlrer in the spring or fall, conctilutcs the be.'^t foundation to commence on. I plow green-sward late in the spring, that is, al- lowing only sufticieiit time for planting in season, having previously applied all the manure. By this late plowing, the grass is easier kept in subjection Uian by plowing in the autumn. Depth of fuirow according to circumstances, the nature of the soil, (fee. Plowing done, the ground should be thoroughly pulverized with the harrow or caltivator; I prefer the former implement, as the cul- tivator too frequently tears up the seed. Plant from 25th of May to first of June, in this lattitude. Rows three and a half feet apart, atid hills two feet in the rows. Some plant three feet each way, but this does not give so many hills, and although the labor of hoeing mav be le.ss, I do not consider it sufficiently so to pay. In hoeing, u.ee the cultivator exclusively — ^thc plow disturbs the roots too ranch. Hills should be made flat or hollow on the top in order to catch the rain. F«r a ferliiiKer I consider ashe^ as good as any thinar Xwe the corn a good start. If leached, apply af- a«d incorporate by harrowing. If un- p?it a handful on each hill at the first hoeinff. When the corn had begun to glaze on the small end of the ear, cut and set up in stocks of six or eight hills each to cure. • JS. S. B. PoUdam, JV Y. ,r<«A»4t»k DEVON AND DURHAM CATTLE In a district of country where feeding, milking and working are re<|uired in the same animal, the North Devon is superior to all others, being hardy, speedy, and easily lirokc to work. The oxe. , wlun turned out from work feed ea.«y. The cows, when dry, ac quire flesh easy. As a general thing, the lievon cows rank among the highest cla.^s for dairy cows, their milk being very rich. 'I h<\v will stand the ex- tremes of heal and coUi wo'll, and will live well on rough pastures. In fact, I believe the North Devon, or ilB cro^s with the Durham, is the best calculated for all di^tricts of country in the United States, north of 40 or 41 degrees of north latitude. 'I he DevQna are very muscular, and of a unilorm color, (d:irk red,) and their hoiHS an o''nameut to working cattle. In a di,y Hacket horse, g. sire, Gifford, g. g. sire, Woodbury, g. g. g. sire, Justin Morgan. Dam sired by Woodbury. Flying Morgan is 14 hands high, and weighs 900 lbs; color, blood bay, with white hind feet. AVhen five years old he was sold to Dr. Wm. RussELi,, of Middlebury, Vt., but Mr. Adams repur- chased him the following year and has owned him ever since. He is a horse of a great deal of bottom and power; trots perfectly square and fair; goes smart; is perfectly sure for all he can do, and generally makes his best time the last heat. From heating and over- work, his eyes have been injured, and he can see but bat little In March, 1850, a race on the ice, mile heats, best two in three, was won by Flying Morgan, in two straight heats, beating Tramp. Time 2m. Sis.— 2m. 483. In a race over Cambridge Park Course, Octo- ber 2d, 1851, mile heats, best three in five, between Flying Morgan and Cleopatra, the former was victo- rious in three straight heats. Time, 2m. 51s, — 2m. 51|9. — 2 m. 57. In this race Flying Morgan was called Burlington. — Linsley's Morgan Horses. Shkkp Should not be kept too Lonq in a Small FiKLD. — Sheep have a great relish for the sweetest and most fattening productions of the earth; no an- imal has a greater dislike to coarse, rank grass, con- sequently, they run over and tread it down in search of the best and sweetest food. This, however, is not all, sheep are a strong scented animal, and wherever the) huiiiiie for any length of time, they spoil the grass, and do not thrive, which plainly shows that they require plenty of room. If the fields are small, change them often. G. — iVoodstock, C. W. To Prevent Smut is Wheat.- — ^Wash the wheai thoroughly till the water becomes clear — or in other words, till it will no longer rile the water ; then take blue vitriol, an ounce for every bu.shel of wheat you have washed, and dissolve it in hot water, and pour it into the tub, cask, or whatever your wheat is in, as the wheat must be covered, with clear water at the time, and let it soak in this vitriol water for not less than six, or more than twelve, hours. This process should be carried through in the morning, and at night drain off the water, and the wheat will be fit to sow the next morning. It will be necessary to stir the wheat occasionally with a shovel while it is soaking in the vitriol water, as it tends to scour it» and makes it look bright. If this is done thoroughly, it will be a permanent, cure for smut, either in spring or fall wheat. Andrew Chut& Vienna, C W. SuKKi", when first turned out to grass in the spring, should \>.t housed on cold nights. If troubled with tlie scours, drench with half a pint of milk porridge ihifkcnel wilh two table-spoonfuls of wheaten flour. We have rarely known this remedy to fail. If two or throe doses do not oflbut a cure in as many days, add tea drops of laudanum. SOWING AND REAPING. SoTT with a generous band, ' Pause^ not for toil or pain. Weary not thro' the heat of summer. Weary not thro' the colli spring rain; But wait till the auttitnn comes For the sheaves of golden grain. Scatter the seed, and fear not A table will be spread ; What matter it if you .ire too weary To eat yonr hard-earned bread r Sow while the earth is broken. For the hungry must b» f«d. Sow — while the Reeds are lyin^ lu the warn-.' earth's bosom deep. And your warm tears lull upon it, They will .stir in tht-ir ijuiet sleep, A)|d the green blades riwe the quicfcer^ Perchance, fur tho tears you weep. Then row — for the hours are fleeting. And the seed mu.it fall to-day ; And care not what hands shall reap it. Or if you sliail have pa'sed away Before the waving corn-fields Shall gladden the sunoy day. Sow, and look onward — upward— . Where the starry light iippean; — Wliere, in sjiite of the coward's doubting^ Or your own heart's trembling feara. You shall re^p in joy the haive.'-l You have sown to-day in tuars. THE GENESEE FARMEE. 121 FARM HOUSE — FRONT ELEVATION. DESIGN FOR A FAEM HOUSE. The erection of good, substantial, conveniently arranged farm houses, is a pleasing iudication of the GROUND FLOOR. increasing taste and wealth of the agricultural com- oianity. Men, it is said, are the architects of their own fortunes, and, in America, women are the archi- tects of their own houses. The former are acquired little by little, the latter are built quite freqaently in the same way. 8ome of them are curious specimens of architecture, but nearly all of them are convenient. We have not the slightest hesitation in saying that American farm housep, for adaptability and comfort, are not excelled by those of any other coun- try. Still there is room for great improve- ment, and the knowledge , acquired in altering and enlarging our old houses can- not fail to be of great service in design- ing new ones. The accompanying design is supposed to be built of wood, in the usual manner of a timber frame, covered with clapboards or mill-worked flooring, and covered with a shingle roof. The chief idea in it is to get as much variety of outline as possible, with as many conveniences and comforts as are needed, at a moderate expense. FIRST STORT. Entrance porch, with seat, glazed sash, and outer door. 2. Kitchen, 19 by 15, with three closetsu 3. Family room, 19 by 15, with closets at the sides of the window, forming a bay on the iuside. 4. Parlor, 19 by 15, with a bay window at the end, and two French windows at tbd side, opening on a veranda. 5. Dining room, 19 by 15, with ample closets. Th© side windows are shaded by a canopy roof. 6, 7 and 8. Closets. 9. Wash room, or back kitchen. 10. Wood-house or dairy. SECOND STORT. The second etory contains two large and four smal- CHAMIiKK FLOOR, ler chambers, with an abundance of closeta 11. Bed room, 15 by 13. 12. do. 10 by 8. 13. ^ 15 by 10. 14. do. 16 by 15. 15. do. 19 by 15. The estimated cost of the above is $3,000. *:H n '^^' THE GENESEE FARMER. iiortirultural frjiartniciit. CULTIVATION OF DWAKF PEAKS. ■ As a general rule, anything which retards the growth of a tree has a tendency to force it into pre- mature or unnatural fruitfulness. To attain this ob- ject, various methods are emploj'ed, among them root pruning, and grafting on a slower growing stock. Thus the apple is dwarfed and thrown into early fruitfulness by grafting on the slow growing Doucain or Paradise stock, the plum on the myrabolan or sloe, ■^ the cherry on the Mahaleb, the apricot on the plum, ^- and the pear on the quint^e. Trees so "worked," or grafted, are in an exceedingly artificial condition, and require very careful and judicious cultivation. Ap- ples, cherries, plums, apricots, &c., are all cultivated in this country as dwarfs, but to a limited extent only as compared with the pear, which, in its natural • condition, is much longer than any other fruit in " coming into bearing. Pear trees budded on quince stocks Qa.n be pur- chased in the nurseries in the spring, planted out in ^^. our gardens, and fruited the following summer or autumn. True, it is not advisable to let them bear fo early; but the second or third year froEi planting, the trees, if vigorous, may be allowed to bear con- siderable fruit, though not full crops. It will be readily seen that dwarf pears are peculiarly adapted to a new country, where this delicious fruit is scarce; and it is not to be v/ondered at that hundreds, and even thousands, have rushed into their cultivation, without adequate knowledge or experience. The artificial condition of pears on the quince stock renders great care and skill necessary for their suc- cessful cultivation, and it is not surprising that we hear of many failures. But because some cultivators have been urifortunate in their choice of varieties, in their selection of Boil and Htuation, and in their method of prunit5g, manuring and general manage- tnent, they are hardly justified in raising tl>e cry of "humbug," with-out stopping to inquire whether others have not been more successful. During the last six or eight months, an animated discussion has been oarried on in some of the agricultural and horticul- tural journals on this suljject, which has clearly demonstrated that while m;uiy cultivators have failed to obtain satisfactory results, others have succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. We have Jiot the remotest pecuniary interest in this matter, and take pleasure in saying that the leading nursery- men in this city who advocate the extensive cultiva- tion of dwarf pears, are sustained in their position v>y the fine crops w^iich thev annually obtain from ftbeir extensive orcharda of specimen dwarf pear trees. No one can walk through the grounds of Messrs Ellwanger & Barry, H. E. Hooker & Co., and other skillful and intelligent nurserymen, without being satisfied that dwarf pear trees are not only eminently ornamental, but that their judicious culti- vation is a source of great pleasure and profit. We may also add that the profitable cultivation of dwarf pears in this vicinity is not confined to nurserymen; there are amateur cultivators who have been equally successful, and who are annually increasing the num- ber of their dwarf pear trees. A short time ago, Mr. Wii. Stoms read a paper before the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, in which he strongly condemned dwarf pears, and alluded to some remarks made at the last meeting of the Ameii- can Pomological Society in this city, by the Presi- dent, Hon. M. P. Wilder, of Boston. Among other things, Mr. Stoms says: " When the friends of dwarf pear culture shall come forward, and, with ' bill of particulars,' show me an orchard of five hundred dwarf pear trees that have been ten years planted, which have borne fruit success- fully and paid cost, I will give up the contest." After alluding to his own orchards, which are very extensive, and contain many hundreds (and we be- lieve thousands) of pear trees on quince stocks, some of which are thirty years old, Mr. Wilder in rej)ly to the above, says : " Now we cannot carry our orchards to Ohio, but if friend Stoms will take the cars next August for Boston, and advise me of the time and at what depot he will arrive, I will have a carriage in readiness, talve him to my liouse, have a good chat with him in the evening .on pomology, give him the best bed and board we have, and in the morning he shall see my pear trees and the memoranda of my sales of fruit for tlie past few j^ears. " I will then take him to my neighbor Austin's, the treasurer of the Massachusetts horticultural society, who has five hundred and ten pear trees. All tlicse are on tlie quince root, witli the exception of one or two dozens which are on rtie pear root ; but as the.se latter have borne but little fruit, Mr. S. will not object to their being counted in the lot. These trees are from eleven to thirteen years of age. One hundred of them are Louise bonne de Jerseys. These trees commeiict •i bearing about three years after planting, have borne regular and abundant crops ever since, and are now in a very vigorous and healthy condition. No account of the crops was kept until the year 1851, but Mr. Austin has kindly furnished me with the amount of his sales sinre that date. The total sales for six years, was $.3,408. 7G. The original cost of these trees was about fifty cents each, or ^250. Mr, Austin' is a mer- chant, and goes to tlie city every day, and the only help he has had, is the service of a man who also takes care of his stables and grounds. He has, liow- ever, given tliemhis personal attention, and good cul- tivation, but I think, without further estimate of 'co.«?,' we maj' reasonably conclude that these 'five hundred trees' have ' borne succesufuUy^ and paid cost.' '■* We will then take a ride over to the Messrs. Ho- vey's, whare we shall find a much larger number of pear trc£s, on the quince root. Their beautiful avenues are lined with them, some of which are from fifteen to twenty years of age, but as it will occupy perhaps too much time to examine all of them, we will t.ike one walk as an example. How delighted Mr. S. must be to see 220 pear trees, 110 on each side, loaded with their luscious fruit, only eigb.t or nine years planted, and all independently on the quince root. The pro- THE GENESEE PARMER US duct of those treos in 1855, was twenty Larrols. The highest price obtained was twenty dolhirs por barrel, the lowest eight dollars. Then we can (uill on Mr. Stick:sey, and look at liis ^ dwarf ■ pear trees. We shall see some magnilicent specimens of Urbanistes and Louise bonne de Jerseys. The crop of the latter he sold the last season at ten dollars per bushel. Thou we will go to Mr. Manmxg's, who has some pear trees on the quince of very large biz(% being from thirty to forty roars old, and which ' still live,' and produce annual crops. Then we will pursue our journey and call on Mr. Carot, the President of the Mass. Horti- cultural Society, Messrs Bacon, Downkr, Uiciiardsox, Johnson, and otliers who have splendid collections of ' dwarf pear trees, which have beeu ^planted ten years.' " Our space forbids further quotations from Mr. Wilder's interesting letter; but the above is suffi- cient to prove that dwarf pears are no " humbug." GARDEN SEEDS SHOULD BE SOWN IN DKHLS Wheh a boy, we have spent many long, weary hours in the back-breaking labor of weeding the onion and carrot beds, which, because it°required less time, were sown broadcast. We cannot help think- ing now, that had the man who prepared the beds acd sowed the seed been obliged to do the weeding, he would toon have discovered that the little extra labor required to sow the seed in drills was amply at- toned for by the ease with which, as compared with the thumb and finger process, weeds could be de- stroj'ed by the hoe. Nearly all garden crops, when sown in drills Bufficiently wide to admit the use of the hoe, are not only more easily kept clean, but the con- stant stirring of the soil in hoeing is found to be ex- ceedingly beneficial. On soils that are not too sandy, the constant use of the hoe is a great means of alle- viating the injurious effects of drouth. It also keeps the ground loose, so that the plants can I^bow out abaudance of roots, and at the same time the decom- position of the organic matter and the disintegra- tion of the mineral matter of the soil are accelerated, and it is found that though there are fewer plants on a given space, they are more than enough larger to make up for this deficiency. Where a considerable breadth of land is sown with earrots, onions, and similar crops, it is advisable to use a drill, but in ordinary gardens, where only a few beds of these crops are sown, its use is not desirable. Drills made lengthwise of the beds present the best appearance, but it is not so convenient to hoe them as when the drills are made across the beds. The beds, too, may be made wider, say five to six feet, in the latter case, than when the drills run lengthwise of the beds. Various con- trivances have been em- ployed to economise lime in making the drills. The drill-rake, shown in the an- Bexed engraving, is one of the simplest and most effi- cient. It is constructed of a headpiece of wood, into which broad, flat wooden teeth are set, tapering towards the points, and at such distance apart as the drills are to be drawn. Sometimes the head is in two flat pieces, to admit of the teeth being set at dif- ferent distances. The pieces are screwed together at each end ; or if more than three drills are lo be DRILL-RAKE. drawn at once, a third screw is placed in the middle. The first drill should be made by a line; afterwards the drill-tooth on the right hand side jliould be run in the last drill formed. Tins will keep the drills straight and equi distant. I5e very careful not to make the drills too deep. This is a very common error. For onions, carrots, «fec., from half an inch to an inch is quite deep enough. TRANSPLANTING GAEDEN VEGETABLES. Nearly all our culinary esculcHts can be trans- plated with impunity. Some plants, such as cabbage, cauliflower?, celery, &c., are amazingly improved by transplanting from the seed-bed once or twice before their final planting out. I> increases the formation of extra roots, and renders "The plant more " stocky." It frequently enables the cultivator to detect the club or " finger and toes," and also affords opportu- nity for throwing out mal-formed plants. Onions ad- mit of it with impunity; leeks with singular advan- tage. The former, however, should not be transplant- ed too deep or they have a tendency to run to top. Lettuce admits of it freely, and the plants, being de- prived of part of then- tap-root, throw out a great number of lateral roots, in consequence of which the production of radical leaves is encouraged, and the tendency to run to flower is retarded; while a more succulent growth is induced, owing to the plants being placed in newly pre- pared soil. In transplanting it is desirable to pre- serve aa many of the small roots or spongioles as possible, and the more so when the operation is to be carried out without checking the growth or vigor of the plant, as in transplanting lettuces at any age. In removing any young plants from the seed-bed to the nursery plantation, the ground should be well watered if dry; and instead of pulling up the tender plants as is usu- ally done, the ground should be loosen- ed with a transplanting fork, similar to the one shown in the accompanying cut, (fig. 1.) It is also of gi«at use in facilitating their removal from the nursery bed to their final place of planting. In transplanting large plants from the nursery rows, it is very desi- rable to have a bail of earth round their roots, and for this purpose a serai-circle trowel will be found useful, if not indispensable. Where a large number of plant* are to be transplanted, the operation may be faciltiated by the employment of some such an instrument as figured in the annexed engraving, (fig. 2.) — The blades are opened by pressing the lever a towards the handle when they open outwards, and in this state are thrust into the ground, having the plant within them; a counter pres- sure causes them to collapse, and to embrace the ball 'firmly, and in this state, the transplanter being drawn upwards brings with it the plant and ball entire. It is then taken to its new site and set in its place, when h FlQ. 1. Fio. 2. 124 THE GENESEE FARMER. the lever a is ajjain pressed inward?, and the blades opeu and are wiihdrnwri, leaving the plant and its ball entire, to be filled around with earth, and the operation is repeated on another subject. In this way larire plantH can be transplanted with great ease, OQd without retarding their growth. HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. Attend to the hot b^ds. See that the heat is kept np well, if it should decline too much, as it most likely will, apply a good lining of hot manure as re commended last month. A good way of doing this is to prepiiie the manure na advised for the hot-bed, and apjjly a lining at the back and one end of the bed one week, and at the front and other end the next week; l>y this means a regular warmth will be kept up. As the cucumber vines advance in length, all the strong and fruitful branches should be trained out at distances of twelve or tifleen inches from each other so as to cover all the space in the bed. To keep them in their places they must be pegged down with little hooked sticks. All the small and fruitless branches must be cut away. As soon as the first young fruit is set and beginning to swed, the end of the vine should be pinched out two leaves above the fruit By the time this first fruit is ready to cut the vine wilt have pushed a second time and another young fruit will be set, and wiil commence to grow as the other is removed. If it be desired to have fine, long and straight fruit, it will not be advisable to leave morf) than one fruit upon a vine at the same time and that should be laid into a small bo.x about two inches v.ide and eighteen or twenty long, to keep it straight. I have a variety that I have, by this means, frequently grown two feet in length, and sweet, tender and crisp to the very stalk. Towards the end of the month, the seeds sown in boxes on the hot-bed, as tomatoes, purple egg-plant, celer}', peppers, &c, will have grown large enough to require pricking out, and where there are not proper hot-bed frames and sashes, a substitute may be made in this way: In some rather elevated ajid dry spot, dig out a trench eighteen inches deep and five feet wide and of sufficient length to take the required number of plants, then drive down a post at each corner and place some boards all around on the brow of the pit and bank the earth up to the boards on the outside. Now fill the pit full ot hot manure, as high up as the bottom of the boards, well mixing it, and beat it down firmly with the back of the fork. Cover the manure with four or five inches of the best garden soil that can be had; rake it soomth and press it down gently with the back of the rake; cover it over with some old boards or mats to keep cold wind and wetoff, and in a few days it will be nicely warmed through. The best way of transplanting or pricking out, will be to take the plants separately between the fore finger and thumb of the left hand, and with a common dinner fork in the right hand gently lift the {jlaut up without breaking the roots, then, with the ore finger (>f the right hand, or witli a dibble about the same size, make a hole in the new bed and place a plant in about up to its .seed-leaves without break- ing it and press the earth gently down about its roots. Plant the rest, or as many as are wanted of each kind, in the same way about four inches apart; when done give a gentle watering with water of the temperature of about 60^. This planting should be done in mild, j dull weather, to avoid drying the roots. Shade a little at first in sunny weather, and cover up in cold or wet weather, and at night. Skkps of Hardy "V'EGETAm.Es in open Ground. — If the weather be favorable in the first or second week in the month, select a warm sheltered spot: manure and dig it well, and if the soil be mellow rake it finely. Lay it out in beds five feet wide with alleys two feet wide between. One bed may be sown with early cabbage lettuce, one with scarlet short-top rad- ish, one .with early short-horn carrot, one with onions, and a sinall patch of early June potatoes. It is a little more trouble to sow these seeds in drills, bat it is a great deal the best way. For lettuce, strike a line the length of the bed and six inches from the edge, then make a drill half an inch deep, with a stick; make the.=e drills six inches apart; sow the seeds thinly in (he drills, and just cover them by pulling the earth from the edge of the drill over them with the back ot the rake, and press it gently upon the seeds.' When up, thin out to four inches apart; and as they get fit for use pull every other one, leaving the main crop eight iriches apart. The radish seed can be sown in drills in the same way, but buried a little depper, say half an inch; four inches apart for the radish drills will be sufficient. When they have made the two first rough leaves it will be seen \\hich will bulb and which will not; pull out those that will not bulb, leaving the others two inches apart; the thiiP nings will make very nice salad. The onion seed may be sown in the same manner as the radishes, and if to be used small for salad, the drills may be made six inches apart, but if any are to remain to come to ma- turity, they mu.st be made twelve inches apart, and the onions thinned to four inches apart in the rows. Early short-horn carrot may be sown in drills twelve inches apart, and to the same depth as the radish. If the weather should be windy at time of fowing, it will be well t^nb the seed with a little damp sand; this will prevent it from being blown away and will facil- itate the work a great deal. When the carrots are two inches high thin out to two inches apart, and ast they grow large enough for use, say half an inch in diameter, at which time they will be sweele.'-t, pall out the largest for use, and leave the small ones to grow larger. Plant a few early June potatoes in rows two feet apart, and one foot apart iu the rows; plant with a large dibble so as to cover the sets four inches deep. All these may be sown, if the weather be favorable and the frost out of the ground, first week in April; but there will be nothing gained by sowing while the ground is wet and cold. A good place lor the.se first seeds will be a rather elevated border, slop- ing a little to the south, and on the south side of a . board fence, or sheltered by some buildings. Pro- tect them by covering the beds at night with a little light litter, and pull it off during the day, until they have got large enough to be in danger of being pulled out by the litter. Some Karly York or Early Winningstadt cabbag* may be sown on a gentle hot-bed, al.so Early Pari* cauliflower. Choose the richest and best piece of rrount' you have got for some early peas. I am aware that p any writers recomtnend rather jioor ground for pea^, but I have always used the richest and deepest tht t I could command, and alwajswith the best result.*. On poor ground they are apt to mildew when the crop is about in its best condition, ii the weather should THE GENESEE FARMER. 12« ?rove hot and drj; but in deep, rich ground never, 'lant the rows five or six feet apart, this will leave room for the celery trenches between them; which will be planted before the peas are cleared away. If some old barrel^ with the heads knocked out, be placed over some of the rhubarb plants and the barrels hanked round with warm manure, about two feet thick; the rhubarb will bo fit for use a week or two beforL* that in the open ground without protec- tion, and much nicer. 'I'he barrel should be covered eveiT night with old mats or boards, and uncovered in- warm days. Asparairns beds should be lightly forked up and dressed with a little rotten manure, lluspberry canes should be taken out of their winter covering, tied to stakes and the strongest cut to four and the weakest to two or three feet in length. Josiau Salter. FLOWERS FOR SPRING SOWING. Ix this climate where late springs, and hot, dry, sum- mers so offer occur, recourse is generally had to an- nuals for the adornment of gardens, on which, indeed, in a great measure we depend for flosvers during the mwnmer months., but so little judgment is shown in the selection of kinds, oflimes through luck of forethought, but generally through an imperfect knowledge of what is being planted, that I have thought, at this time, that a short sketch of a few of the best annual;;, tc, would not be unwelcome to your readers, especi- ally the lady portion of them. The double balsam is one of those annuals, which, when well grown, is one of the most beautiful pro- ductions of Flora, and yet how seldom do we see it entering into the composition of the flower garden, and when there, is seldom more than semi double, and ortencT single. Now, it c^b's no more to raise good plants, than it does to grow poor ones, and we should no longer have such a^thing as a single balsam in the garden. Piocure your seed of reliable persons, and if it does cost si.xpence more than you can get it for e sewhere, do not hesitate to pay it and take out the pay afterward in satisfaction at having good flowers, and in laughing at your neigh- bors who would not buy good seed and got cheated. The balsam, to do well requires a warm, moist spot. and should never be allov;ed to flower where the seed was sown. The plants should be raised in the house, or in a warm spot in the garden, and when about three inches high, transiplanted to the place where they are to bloom. It requireB rich soil and liberal treatment, and cannot brook starvation. The colors are scarlet, crimson, purple, white, yellow and mottled. The plants should never be grown nearer t^an two feet a{)urt. Sow seed 1st to middle of May. The China astec is the greatest ornament to our flower gardens in the autumn, that can be well grown; like the balsam, the plants should be raised early and when about two inches high be transplanted where they are to flower. They may be grown in rows or in masses, and the plants should be about eighteen inches apart. Colors — crimson, red, pink, white, blue an 1 purple, and variegated, all the above colors in different varieties, being mixed with white. Should be grown in good soil. The Drummond phlox, is an annual, unrivalled by any other for beauty and diversity of color, and should be grown in masses, by which method it becomes very effective. The seed should be sown about the 2nd week in May, where it is to flower, in a warm, sunny spot, and in dry weather it should be carefully watered. The centaurca too, is but Fcldom grown, although deserving of attention from the unique shiipe of the flowers, they being of all shades of blue, purple and crimson and sometimes white. Plant seed same time as Phlox Drummondii. Mimulus cardinalis, or cardinal monkey ilowei, should be in every good garden. The seed is very minute and should be planted early, in a well pre- pared bed, and shaded from the bright sun till tba pl.ants are up. The Marvel of Peru, oi four o'clock, is a large spreading tuberous rooted annual, well known, but not sufiiciently planted. The plants should he grown about three feet apart in a warm sunny spot. Th« improved varieties are beautifully striped pink ami white, purple and white, and orange and crimson. Candytuft should be in every garden, especially the tall white and purple sorts, which are fine for growing in masses. The sweet pea is u.=eful fofr hiding fences or bare spots, the flowers being not only extremely gay, but also very fragrant. It also looks well planted in cir- cles, with a large branch or other support for them to cling to. Nemophila, insignis and maculata, are very deli- cate and pretty, and useful for sowing in shady placea where other things will not thrive. Portulacca is indispensable for growing in hot, dry places, for no sun can be too hot, or weather too dry for it. Colors — scarlet, crimson, yellow and white. Plant seed about the middle of May, in clumps or masses. The petunia, although a perenial, blooms the first season from seed, and makes one of the most showy flower beds imaginable, the flowers being large, and varying in color from dark crimson to white. The dout)le flowered china pink, is also worthy of general attention, the flowers being beauti.''ully varie- gated and the colors extremely gay. All the foregoing, with a few others for winter or- naments, such as Gnaphalium, Xeranthemum, Amar- anthus, &c., together with a well chosen coll'ction of perennials, if well grown will make a display through the whole season that will be hard to beat, and will require but little attention other thin keeping clear of weeds and watering carefully during dry weather. Rochester, JV. Y. \Y. T. Goldsmith. EIRDS-THEIR UST FULNESS, &c. It is a well known fact that the alarming increase of insects and worms in making ravages upon our fruit trees and fruit, not only paralizes the efi'orts, and disheartens the hopes of the cultivator, but tlireatens total destruction to many of the most delicious fruits. So extensive are their ravages, that but very few of our apYicots and plums ripen without premature de- cay from the worm generated by the beetles which surround our trees in the twilight of the evening, in great numbers, when the fruit is quite young. And when the produce of our apple, pear, or peach tr&ca is small, but few of th?se escape the same fate. The birds are to the farmer and gardener of gTeat value. They were designed by the Creator to check the too great increase of insects, and no farmer should sufier them to be wantonly destroyed on his premiaea 188 THE GENESEE FARMER. The nuaiber of insects, -worms and larvtc, destroyed by the robin, cat bird, swallow, sparrow, wren and other small birds, is astonishing. One little family of sparrows will destroy several hundred inaects in a sin- gle day. The most casual observer could not help to ob- serve that the various tribes of insects have increased in proportion to the decrease of birds, who are their natural enemies; the equilibrium of nature has been disturbed by our cruelty and ignorance, in refusing protection and succor to our best friends, and the annual losa sustained by the country would be dffi- oult to estimate. Wheat, Indian corn, garden vege- table, fruit trees, and even the grass, and the trees of our forests, annually furnish conclusive evidence of the great disturbance in the equilibrium of nature produced by those cruel, ignorant, loafing savages, and even'boys, who may be seen skulking and creeping round tho fences with an old rusty musket or fowling piece, killing without discrimination, every bird they gee. It is a mean and contemptible business, to say the least, to destroy the little songsters that render the fields vocal, and beautify creation. During the past fifty years the various tribes have been diminishing with a frightful rapidity, and if it should progress in the same ratio for the next fifty years, it will be a serious question whether the pro- duce of the country can be kept up so as to supply the wants of the inhabitants. Where is the farmer that followed the plow fifty years ago, that does not remember the floclis of birds that crowded the furrows of the newly turned up earth, devouring every grub and worm that was ex- posed to the surface? They seemed to be fearless of man, each one appearing anxious to be nearest to the foot of the plowman to destroy his inveterate and in- sidious enemies. Now what has become of those faithful guardians of our property? The answer to this question can be given by every farmer in the country. As soon as they begin to make their nests in the spring, a set of idle, miscreant boys commence annoying them, take their eggs, and often destroy their nests ; and at all seasons of the year a set of ruthless vagabonds prowl through every neighbor- hood, with their guns, ever ready to shoot down a robin.catbird, 8{)arrow,and even the diminutive, harm- less wren, either of which are rendering more service to community, in proportion to their abihty, than their numerous persecutors. In addition to the important usefulness of these birds, their musical notes in 'the twilight of the morning, are peculiarly delightful; awaking the farm- er to the sublime contemplation and enjoyment of all the infinite beauties of creation. What is more plea- sing to a lover of nature, than to rise at the dawn of day in the month of May or June, and when sallying forth, 10 be greeted and cheered with the lively notes of the sparrow, the melodious song of the robin, and the musical and queer notes of the bobolink? Birds are the best of entomologists. No ornitho- logist ever hunted sj)ecimen birds with the industry and perseverance exhibited by birds themselves in their researches. " They desport in the air," says a writer, " penetrate everj* nook and corner of thicket, htsdge and shrubbery; they search the bark, pierce the dead wood, glean the surface of the boil, watch for the spade trench, and follow the plowman after ■worms and larvae. A single bird in one season des- troys millions of insects for its own food and for that of its own nest. No computation can be made of the insects which birds can devour. We cannot think of another theme more inspiriting ihan the plowing ficason in this respect. You will find bluebirds in the tops of trees, practicing the scale; crows are cawing as they lazily swing through the air toward their com- panions in the tops of distant dead and dry trees; robins and blackbirds are wide awake, searching every clod th^t the plow turns, and venturesome almost to the farmer's heels." Birds are also the best of scavengers, the nimblest hunters, and adroit butchers. They have no Graham- ite scruples to agitate this worm and bug-loving tribe. They do not show their teeth to prove that they were designed for meat. They eat what they like, wipe their mouth on a limb, return thanks in a song, and wing their way to a quiet nook, to dose or meditate, snug from the hawk that sails about in the air above. To be sure, birds like men, have a relish for variety. Birds are likew;;t', the best of pomologists. We charge every man and boy with positive cruelty and dishonesty, who drives the birds from the garden in fruit time. Does not the fruit belong to them as well as you? Did they not watch and take care of it as well as you? If they had not eaten egg, worm and bug, your fruit would have been pierced and ruined. Besides, on investigation it has been discovered that they never disturb sound cherries, and none but those that have worms in them. We say proteet and spare the birds, and they will destroy millions of your great- est and worst enemies — the insects. " There is scarcely a farm in Eugland,"says a writer, "without its rookery; the humid atmosphere multi- plies every species of insect, and those birds reward man for his forbearance and protection, by ridding him of legions of his foes." Treat the birds kindly and they will become almost domesticated — follow the plowman, and pick, up all the grubs and worms turned up from their subterranean abode. For doing so they deserve well of the farmer, and no honest man will cheat them out of their part of the crop — much less kill them for trying to get it We repeat again, spare the hirds. In vain will be all our labor and toil; in vain the united efforts of the horticultural societies for increas- ing and perfecting the cultivation of the most deli- cious varieties of fruit, unless we can increase or at least cease to diminish these useful and melodious birds. We would appeal to the self-interest of the own-ers and cultivators of land. They muse surely be igno- rant of the injury which is in progress when they al- low it to go on unreproved before tht'ir eyes. We would also appeal to their own selfishness and love of gain, if no higher motive will leach them, and entreat them, as their influence gives them opportunity, to lend themselves to a work, the first conseciueuce of which will be their own welfare; the second, the wel- fare of their country. They are supreme, each one over their own territory, be it large or small. Let them resist and punit^h every trespass of the wanton slaughterers of birds: let them declare war against the whole tribe of truant murderers, whose daily sport is the spoiling of the nest, the invention of new, and the use of their old and destructive snares, and the more immediate devastations of the gun. Let our sturdy farmers hold themselves forth as steadfast re- sisters of eveiy such act, and particularly of every en- croachment for this purpose, upon the lauds for which, THE GENESEE FARMER. 127 as stewards of our country's prosperity they are more immediately responsible; let them do this work with all their might, and ai^ain we say, we look not beyond them lor ultimate success. Wo are not, however, over ganguine of success of any or all these schemes and appeals; we look high for the source of assistance and remedial action, to which we think the way lies clear. Wo look then to legislative enactment for our remedy. It protects the birds in our cemeteries, and game for sportsmen, who disregard all fear of tres- pass in its pursuit. In many iStates it offers large rewards for the destruction of the noxious birds, whose numbers are small, but whose paid destruction is of evident injury to the farmer. Those who take ad- vantage of the bounty offered, being usually low mis- creants, who care no more for the laws of property than for the lives of the myriads of servicenble birds which fall in common with the proscribed species. — We look to legislative power for the uprooting and extermination of this evil. Let stringent and sum- mary laws be enacted, inflicting fines and penalties. Let the power be put into the hands of ihe farmers to arrest any person found on their premises with a gun and birds in their possession ; aye, let them have the power to take the gun from them as security for the fine or penalty. With half the ingenuity which is yeatly expended upon more favorite enactments, the power of offended government might be readily brought to bear upon offenders, by a well contrived system of rewards to discovery and prevention, and punishments for trans- gression. This, united with and enforced by the la- bors of possessors of the soil, and trainers of the young, would soon be effectual in the attainment of our object. In concluding these remarks, we hope to be par- doned for again reiterating the importance of the >>ub- ject The injury done by insects is often unseen and unknown, but enormous; the number of their des- troyers is fast decreasing, and can never be renewed; without them we are helpless, and agriculture de- prived of servants and services which can not be re- placed. Bkuent. Rochester, JV. Y. FBUrr GKOWING IN OREGON, Messrs Editors: — I have over one thousaad fruit trees of various kinds, some of which are in bearing and promise well, being thts result of my own labor of three years residence in this territory. Having a somewhat elevated situation of 800 feet above the level of the Wallamett at Salem, and 1000 feet above the level of the sea, surrounded by a valley from ten to thirty miks wide, and from six to nine hundred feet below the highest part of my plantation. Soil red clay loam; subsoil a redish clay. As I have been a careful observer of all matters pertaining to horticulture in this territory, it may not be amiss for me to state a few things for the benefit of my fellow horticulturists. Apples, pears, plums, cherries and apricots, have already thown themaelves capable of profitable cultivation ; peaches, grapes, nectarines and gooseberries, furnish an ambiguous re- sult thus far, with an occasional promise of success. Of apples we have over 150 varieties in cultiva- tion, the greater portion of which are well known to joa; but there are a few Tarkties highly approved with you that are nearly worthless here, among which I will name the Sweet Bougli, while there are others that arc seconii rate with you that are first quality with u in England, and at as much profit for the labor employed. I hope you will notice this subject as soon as convenient. Drydeii, March, 1867. W. A. Forstth. [We have not time or space this month to give our views on this subject. The amount of rent and taxes paid by English farmers does not affect the question. We pay our hired help in this country about as much again per day as the English farmers. Let us assume that it costs, per an- num, three dollars less to feed a cow on the soiling system than in the ordinary way. If the extra labor costs tvro dollars per cow per annum in England, and four dollars in this country, it is evident that, other things being equal, the English farmer can adopt soiling with more profit thaa the American farmer. Nay, it is possible, even, that the system will yield the English farmer one dollar per cow profit, and the American farmer one dollar per cow loss.] —Eds. Bees. — Look to your bees at this season ; eleaa off all dead bees and live moths from the board of the hive, and feed any hivo that is short of honey. A few davs neglect of this may cause the loss ot the hive. Liquid Manures. — Mr.ToRTER, in his report on "The Saving and Application of the Liquid Manure of a Farm," gives the following general result: — "The urine-manure of the farm is easiest managed, and pays best v/hen mixed with the dung ; but as there will generally be plenty to do to carry the half of the dung to the fields, we must there- fore dispose of the remainder some other way. The next best mode I have found is to mix it with composts, as be- fore described ; and this is, doubtless, the preferable plan for all sorts of an inferior description. When compost, however, is diffif^ult to get, ana the land of a fair average nature, the urine may then be applied in the liquid form to new grass or corn early in spring, and always in damp rainy weather. By giving a dressing of 2^000 to 3,000 gallons of the diluted liquid, I have sometimes succeeded in increasing the hay crop to nearly double the average quantity ; but the nature of the weather affects it so much, and it is so difficult to regulate its application, that I think it better to dispense with the system as far as possible, and to mix the urine with the dung and compost heaps." ♦•■» ■ — - The April Premiums. — Our agents will please bear* \x\ mind that the time for competing for our large premi^ urns, expires on the fourteenth of April. The ccmpetitiou ia very clcse, and it should be borne in mind that a sinale additional name may secure a prise. THE GENESEE FABMER. ISl Feeding Cotts. — A correspondent thinks there has bean a good deal of talk in the Farmer lately in regard to milk- ing the cows, and rery little in rej^ard to feeding them. nifl practice is as follows : Give them as much hay as they Tflll eat } water them early in the morning ; give each cow per day four quarts of carrots, beets, or potatoes, and one quart of Indian corn meal ; feed them three times a day ; water again at sunset. See that they are properly fas- tened ; curry them, and keep the stables clean, and well littered with straw. The meal adds materially to the quality of the milk, and keeps the cows in a good, healthy condition. Cows cannot bo kept profitably on dry fodder, without roots. The lice are sure to find a poor cow ; it seems as if they held a heavy mortgage on all half-starved animals, and it is not an unfrequent occurrence for them to foreclose «-•♦ SiiOBTruonn Bull " JIaster BuiTBBrLT." — This oelebratad animal, winner of the First Prize at the last Fair of the Koyal AgTicultural Society of England, and at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, and which was sold to Mr. Ware, of Camperdown, Australia, for the unprece- dented sum of 1,200 guineas, arrived at his destination in safety, and in good condition. We gave an excellent por- trait of Master Butterily in our last volume, page 2S0. We chronicle his safe arrival with the more pleasure, from the fact that many fears were entertained that he would not survive tlie voyage. Indeed, it was rumored sometime ago that he had been thrown overboard a few weeks after leaving England. " Feeding Cows for Butter — New Views." — "We have received an article, under this caption, from a scien- tific gentleman in Philadelphia. It contains some good ideas, bnt none of any great importance, we believe, that have not been presented to the readers of the Genesee Farmer. Why tliey should be termed " new vietcs" we do not exactly see. They are not new to us, or to any one acquainted with the agricultural literature of the last de- cade. The results of the experiments referred to aa " re- cently " made in England, were given in a book which we read ten yeart ago. »-^- TouKO Faemkbs should take the Genesee Far- mer.— A friend writes : — "As well might the young stu- dent Buaceed without his dictionary in learning the mean- ing of words, as those who are in the incipient stages of agriculture or horticulture without the timely aid of a well directed and able periodical, whose every page is de- voted to enhance the interest, not only of those who culti- vate their scores of acres, bnt the mechanic or professional man who wishes to make the most of his one or two acres. As such, we have welcomed the Genesee Farmer, as a time- ly friend from month to month for the last two years, often fe«ling the reading of one number amply paid us for the coat of the volume." To Destroy Weeds. — On some soils, a good method of destroying weeds ii to plow, in the fall, as shallow as possible the first time, and then shortly afterwards to plow again quite deep, being careful to Imry completely tlie first, furrow. G. G. [The Michigan double plow would effect the above at one operation.]— £d«. Lime as a Manure. — A Canadian correspondent writes that on clayey soil, lime should be applied in the caustia state, on the wheat fallow, about the middle of July, and immediately harrowed in, and the land plowed up into ridg(j3 as soon after as jiossible. Let it lie in this state fly« or six weeks and then sow the wheat. He finds from ex- perience that lime so applied enriches and mellows clayey land. On sandy soils he thinks lime is best applied " in a mortered state, as it cools the land and it makes it firmer." For pasture or meadow, it is better to compost it with soil and barn-yard manure, than to apply it in the clean state, nis opinions are derived from forty years' experience. Cultivation op Potatoes in Washington Tebbi- tobt. — Jami;s F. Hunt, of Laport, Washington Territorj, sends us an article on the cultivation of potatoes, from which we make a faw extracts. " The cultivation of po- tatoes requires considerable care ; the soil should be thoroughly plowed and manured, and if dry irrigated. Plant about the first of May, and when the plants are about four inches high plow them under ; and when they get out of the ground the second time about four inches high, hoe them thoroughly, and repeat tlie process three or four times during the summer." Fall Plowing to Kill Canada Thistles. — H. B. White, of Sterling Village, C. W., writes us that a neigh- bor of his had a piece of land completely covered with thistles. He plowed up a portion of it in the fall, and a portion in the spring, and sowed both with oats. " That plowed in the spring was all thistles, while on the part plowed in the fall there was scarcely a thistle to be seen." It is suppose'd that the thistles were killed by the severe cold. To Secure Male or Female Progeny at Will. — 1 have seen several articles on this subject lately in the agri- eultural papers. It is stated that a heifer calf is invariably produced when the cow is put to bull before milking, and a male calf if put to buU immediately after she has been thoroughly milked. What do you think of it ? A Constant Bsadsb. [We think it is all nonsense. — Eds.] Pikk-Flsshed Apple. — H. F. Delany, of Valley Forge, Pulaski Co., 111., writes that he has an apple tree in his orchard which produces fruit of " a pale yellow on the outside, but when cut open is of a beautiful bright pink, and some quite red. It is an early autumn apple, very good for eating, but does not cook well. It is quite a curiosity in this part of the world." Chester White Pigs. — In our allusion to the beauti- ful "Chester White" pigs exhibited by Mr. Thomas Wood, at the Fair of the United States Agricultural So- ciety last fall, we made a mistake in the post-office address of Mr. Wood, which is PcnningtonviJle, or Steeleville, Chester Co., Pa., instead of Bemington. Lice on Calves. — A correspftndent writes that he finds nothing so good for killing lice on calves as a strong de- coction of tobacco — Gay about half a pound to each calf. Wash the calves all over with it once, and again, if need be, after two weeks. 132 THE GENESEE FARMER, Dbting Fruit. — Our method of drj'ing fruit is to take four sticks, three and a half feet long, halved together at the ends and pinned ; then take black ash splints and weave on basket fashion, leaving half an inch between each splint ; this we hiy on poles over the kitchen stove, OP attach strings to the corners and bring them together at the middle, and attach to a pulley over head ; this we ean raise or lower at our pleasure. We dry our apples in January. We consider the Baldwin, Greeiiuig, and oth- ers, if dried in January, much better for sauce than if dried in October, and there are no fly specks on them then, and a warm fire soon dries them. On these mats you can dry peaches, plums and pears, when too ripe to be dried on the string, and it saves considerable labor. Our mats have been in use over fifteen years, and are good yet. Wesleyville, Erie Co., Pa. R, S. Cure for the Hog Cholera. — A corespondent resid- ing in Ohio, writes that he has discovered a remedy for the malady among hogs which has proved so fatal in that and other States. His remedy is two quarts of flax seed boiled in ten gallons of water till the seed is thorougly cooked ; let it stand till cold, then give it to the hogs as fast a-s they can diink it' — turn it down if they refuse to drink. Repeat the dose for a week or so, and it will efl^ect a cure. Pulverized charcoal and sulphur mixed in milk, I know to have cured the bogs of this fatal disease last fall in this neighborhood. E. S. Pittsfurd, N. Y. »••♦ Layinq out Lands fob Whi£at. — An esteemed Cana- dian correspondent says ihat " lands for wheat should run sorth and south, for if they run ea.st and wes* the wheat "will be the best on the south side of the land — especially if ridged up high — and thinner and of a poorer sample on the north side." Have others observed this effect ? Gdano in England. — Since the introduction of guano, in 1S41, there has been imported into Great Britain 2,120,- 445 tons. The largest quantity in any one year was SO.'j,- 061 tons, in 1855. Last year the imports were 200,000 tons. The price has recently been raised in England £2 per ton. Rack for Tomato Vines ou Small Shrubbery. — Take four staves and one hoop of an old barrel, turn the •tares insiile out, and nail them inside of the hoop with ihingle nails. It makes a first rate frame. Sharpen the lower end of the staves, so that they can be driven into the ground a little. A. H — Lennx, Ohio. »•* The Wheat Miook Dksthoted by a Rain Storm. — A correspondent of the Maine Farmer states that the wheat midge was nearly exterminated in Maine last year by a heavy rain storm, which occurred just at the time the ipsect was depositing itii eggs in the newly-formed grain. Wkkat in MieiiiGAN. — A correspondent in Delhi, In- graham Co.. Mic'l-.., informs ns that the wheat looks ex- ceedingly well in that sectiwn, and there is a good prospect of a large crop. The wheat midge has not, as jet, made (t^ appearance in central Mirhignn. »«« Jonathan HAWortrii seadi us a dollar for tho Geaetee Fmri»^, but does not give bis post-ofUce address. Read the Advertisements. — Those who are abont to purchase fruit or ornamental trees and shrubs this spring, should read over the advertisement of A. Frost & Co. of this city, W. R. Prince & Co. of Flushing, L. 1« W. T. & E. Smith, of Geneva, N. Y., and H. A. Misn, of Harrisburg, P ■. Orders may be sent to any of the above firms with confidence. Those in want of agricultural im- plements, threshing machines, horse powers, &c., willread the advertisement of Wheeler, Melick & Co., of Alba- ny, N. Y. This firm is one of the oldest and most respect- able in the country, and their machines are all that they claim for them. Good seeds of all kinds can be obtained from J. M. Thorburn & Co., New York. This firm k too well known to need any commendation from ua. In this connection we would say that it is our object ts make our advertising columns interesting to our reader^ and as our space is very limited, we should be glad if our friends would make their advertisements as short as pos- sible. We believe the circulation of the Genesee Farmer is larger than that of any other purely agricultural or hor» ticultural paper in the world, and though our terms for advertising may be consi ed high, they are low in pro- portion to our circulation — far less than many of ourcon- temporaiies, and the pressu/e upon our advertising columns proves that this is well understood. Ewes and Lambs. — As lambing time is getting near, a few hints may not come amiss. In the first place, provide the ewes with a comfortable building, and when the ewci commence lambing be sure to give plenty of time befow interfering ; if straining very much, she must have some help, but first ascertain if the lamb is all right. As soon as the lamb is drawn, lay it before its mother so that she may lick it; then examine the ewe if she has milk in both teats. Next take the lamb and let it get its belly full of milk, and there will not be much fear but that it will stand more cold than any one might imagine. I had ewes come in to lamb last year in the middle of February, which never took any harm. This year they came in the same time, but being such beautiful weather it gave them a good chance. Give plenty of roots, and a few peas and oati mixed, and a little hay. i' es should have a plentiful sup- ply of water or their milk will soon fall off. Be sure and feed the ewes well ; — the better fed the more profit inbolk wool and mutton. J. K. — Gnelph, C. W. »•« Prize Essays. — We have received a vast number of communications on nearly all the subjects included in on» prize list. The Prize Essays will be published next month, and our readers may expect a rich treat. BRKAKiNa Colts. — One of our readers is desirous of hearing from our experienced correspondents in regard to the best method of breaking colts. Correction. — In the ai tide on page 95 of last number read " sow a little uhite mustard," instead of winter mos- lard. . *■*■» Errors ik Mailing. — If any of our subscribers faB to get their papei'S, we hope they will immediately make it known. THE GENESEE FARiTER. 138 DuuiiAM Catti.k for Califokma. — Messrs. B. & C. S. 1Iaim;s, of Elizalii'lh, N. J., have just made a sliipnieiit of Short-hoins to Gkorge II. IlowAiin. of Siin Fruncisco, tJie first of this breed of cattle sent to that State. The lot embraces one bull, two years old, and one about six inontlis old ; and two hei'ers, a year and a half old. M'e shall lo >k with much anxiety for the success of thii first nndertaking' to introduce improved cattle into that great State, so well adapted to the business of stock raising, A Gooi> Cow. — I began feeding a small-boned grade Du.-ham cow, five years old, the fifteenth of October last, with half a bushel of oat and corn meal per day, and led until the second of March, when she was butchered. Her live weight was 1,450 fcs. ; dressed weight, 1.075 R)S., as follows : the four quarters weighed 838 Ris , tallow (rough) 1(55 lbs., kidneys 80 fcs., hide 72 lbs. This cow raised a calf last ^ieason, and gave milk until three weeks before being killed. S. N. Fkarklin. Ledyurd, March, 1857. A PitAiain Faumeu's Opinion of the Genesee Far- mer.— Before closing this communication, permit me to Bay that I havo been a constant reader of tlie Genesee Farmer for seven years. Perhaps it would be extravagant to say that it is worth its weight in gold ; but I will say that its value cnnnot be estimated by dollars and cents. 1 have received more information from this journal, than from experience, observation, and all other sources com- kmed. W. H. Bentley. Brimfidd, III. "^^^ m ■ Jnquirujs Kn& a,nsh)M». (O. L. Bake, Milford, Ind.) OKcnARi> Grass. — You can obtain Urciiard grass seed from E. D. Haij.ock, of this city, for three dollars per bushel. The botanic al name id Dactylit g nmerala. There are a great variety of opin- ions in regard to its value, and we should be glad to hear from our corrospondtnts on the subject. It is called Cocks- foot gra.-s in England. Sinclair, who conducted the celebrated Woburn experiments on grasses, says that '• if one species only is thought preferable to another in the alternate husbandry, that species is the Dactyt/s glomera/a, from its more numerous merits." This is higher praise than the experience of farmers generally will sustain. LouTiON s:!js of orchard grass : " It has been found highly useful as an early sheep feed. It is early, hardy, and pro- productive, but is i coarspr plant than rye grass, and re- quires even greater attention in regard to being cut soon or fed close." American as well as English writers agree that it must be eaten close, or mown when quite green, or it becomes coarse, hard, and unpalatable. A writer in the Ohio Cultivator tried it. and says: " It grew tolerably well, at}d ceitainly is the best grass I ever had to keep, for nothntg will eat it." This is owin?, probably, to neglect irf close cro])ping. At all event", we have seen this grass on good farms in Ohio, yielding three tons of hav per acre, and those who raised it spoke of it in the highest terms. It is well adapted for sowing with red clover, as it matures about the same time. It flourishes best on deep, rich, moist soils, fnot wet.) and does not objei't to a little shade. It is on this account, probably, that it is termed '• orchard gra.ss." Manv appear to supjioise that it \^ less injiirious to orcharrls than any other grass, but of this there id, to say the least, no proof. (J. C. A.) " Hard Watkr" contains sulphate and car- bonate of lime; seldom auy free m-'ul. When (lotiiiili or sods is added to water containing sulphate of lime (plaster,) the sulphuric acid leaves the lime and unites with the potash or soda, and the lime falls to the bottom, and the water i» rendered " soft." If soaj) is used, the »an)e chango takes place, except that 'he lime unites with tie oil of the soap and rises to the surface. Water wliiili is " hard" from containing carbonate of lime, may be reduced foft by ad- ding a little quick lime to it, and allowing it to settle be- fore it is used. (S. S. Saroent, Girard, Penn.) Dwarf ap])le trees will bear in three years from the bud. You can purchase trees from the nui-sery this spring and obtain a little fruit next fall, though it is not advisable to let them bear so soon. The same variety is said to be larger and finer on dwarf than on standard trees. You can obtain almost any vari- eties you wish. (B. F. B.) The cut of the " properly trained hedge" in the Rural Annual, is not " a fancy sketch." It is a cor- rect representation of a beautiful osoge orarge hedga growing in front of the grounds of Messis 11. E. Hoo&sa & Co., of this c ty. (Charles Rockwell, lladley, N. Y.) Italian Bdck- wiiKAT. — The '• Italian buckwheat" proved to be nothing more nor less than Italian tnitlet. (J. W.) The fluke and buiscuit potato is the same. J. S. Clark?,, of Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., has them for sale, we believe at $1.60 per bushel. (J. W". A. K.) "We cannot insert your advertisement at, any price, believing your receipts to be a bun. bug. (T. S. T.) See advertisements of the Chinese Sugar Cane Seed in this number of the Farmer. (B. F. Bartlet.) Vines in the Cold Grapery, that were not disbudded in the fall, had be'ter now be allowed to remain until they have started into growth and havo m ide shoots four or six inches long, or leaiestwo or three inches in diameter. Then those buds that should havo been cut out in the fall may be broken out now without danger of causing the vine to bleed, as the rapidly expand- ing foliage will take t!'e super-abundant ssp. But where there are two shoots starting fiom the same bud, as it were, or double bud, then the shoot to be taken away had better be cut away to half an inch of its base, as the bienking of the one is liable to break the other. Josiaii Salter, Sowing Locust Seek. — In answer to J. L. Miller's inquiry I would state from twenty years' exjierience what 1 concieve the best method. Put the locust sefu iii a shal- low wooden vessel and pour on boiling water from a tea- kettle till covered, at the same t'me stir briskly with a wooden spatula until tlie water cools ; — repeat the second an 1 third time. Plant in the spring, and the seed will all vegetate as readily as corn. The like trtaiment destrojS the csage orange. L. A. Meeker. Foot Corn Planter. — I want some inform.ition about the " F' ot Corn Planter " Is it w hat it is represented to be, and will it do the business as it onulit ti) be dfine f Where can it be obtained, and :it what prce? Bv an- swering the above, you will confer n. lavor "n your Canai- dian subscribers. L. Lewis. — Spnrfa, C. W. Will some of our readers — who are not interested — an- swer the above ? 1S4 THE GENESEE FARMER. Hedges. — I want to plant out gome hedges to a con- siderable e-xtent, and not thinking the Osage Orange to be hardy enough for our locality, would like the opihion of your correspondents in regard to the Buck or Hawthorn — where to obtain it, and how to plant the seed ; also in re- gard to the Norway Spruce as a shelter for orchards, and if the thorn would not do well planted between them for a fence, thereby obtaining two objects. P. E. Williams. —Palermo, C. W. ADVERTISEMENTS, To geffare Insertion in the Farjceh, must be reoeiTed w e&rly »« the 10th of the previous month, sad be of such a character aa to bs of Interest to farmers. Tbrms ■* Two Dollars lor every hundred word«, each insertion, paid rs advaxob. HEW YORK STATE AGRICULTTJSAL SOCIETY. PREMIUMS ON FARMS— 1857. Oraln Farms, Premium $50 and $30 Dairy and Grazing, " 50 " 30 Competitors are desired to give notice to the Secretary before the first of Julv, so that the farms can be visited by a Committee appointed for that puroose. FIELD CROPS.— Competitors should obtain the Regulations of the Society, bo as to have their statement"? properly prepared. H. Greeley's Premium on one acre of Carrots is continued. Regula- tions will be furnished on application to the Secretary, and also a list of Premiums for 1857. B. P. JOHNSt)N, ^ AoRictiLTUKAL Roojts, Albany, March 2, 1S57. Secretary. AprU 1.— 81. C. M. SAXTOH & CO., '^AGRICULTURAL BOOK PUBLISHERS, 140 Fulton Street, ITew York, HAVE just added to the number of books published exclusively by thom the following valuabla works : Waring's Elements of Agrieulture . 75 Dadd's Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse, plain plates, .. $2.00 do do do colored do.,... 4.00 Dadd'B Modern HoTso Doctor, 1.00 Cole's American Veterinarian, 80 Cole's Americ:iii Fruit Book, 60 Schenck'a Gardener's Text Book, 60 Leucbars on Hot Houses, .- 1-25 Breck's Book of Flowers, 1.00 Bridijeman'a Young Gardener's Assistant, 1.50 Bridgeman's Kitchen Gardener's Instructor, — 60 Bndgem.in's Fruit Cultivator's Manual, 50 Bridgeman's Florist's Guide, 60 Stansburv'B Chinese Sugar Cane and Sugar Making, 25 Hyde's Chine-ie Sugar Cano, 25 The Cotton Planter's Manual,. 1.00 ^^" Sent free of postage on receipt of price. April 1. — It. BOOKS FOR THE SIASOH. FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 5^P° Sent free of postage on receipt of price. Cherlton's Complete Grape Grower's Guide : , For the Vinfeyard, Cold Grapery and Forcing House, 00 Allen on the Grape : A well known and reliable work, $1.00 Re«melin's " Vine-dresser's Manual :" For out-door Culture and Wine-making. SO Persoz's New Process for the Culture of the Vice. Paper, 25 Elliott's American Fruit Grower's Guide : The latest work on Fruits, 1.35 Cole's American Fruit Book, 60 Eastwood's Cranberry Culture, 50 Pardee on the Strawberry, 60 Buiiit's Kitchen Garden, 75 Buist'g Flower Garden Directory, 1.25 Breck's Book of Flowers, i 1.00 Bridgeman's Young Gardener's Assistant, . 1.60 Catalogues of all our Books sent free to an addrcs*. C. M. SAXTOy k. CO.. Agrioult\iral Book Publisheri, AprU 1.— It. I'lO Fulton street, New York. " CSmESE SUGAR CAITE AHD SUGAR MAKING," NOW READY, AND SENT FKKE OF PO.STaGE FOR 26 CENTS, and for 8 cents additional, enoaeh seed to plant two square rods. C. M. .-^AXTON & CO., jAjfricultural Book Pablishers, April 1.— It. f 140 F«1I»B ttiMt, Kow Xoik. (SORGHUM SACCHARATUM.) JUST RECEIVED. A LARGE QUANTITY, PURE AND GENUINE, From the original source, and for sale at $1 per pound, and Ib packets, prepaid by mail, at 25 and 50 cents each. IC^° Two pounds aie required to seed an acre. J. M. THORBURN & CO., 15 John St., ^ew Yotk. VEGETABLE, FLOWER, FIELD, FRTJIT, AND TREE SEEDS, Of the most approved sorts and best qualities, at WTiolesala and April 1.— It. ReUil. FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES INCLUDING EVERGREENS, the finest colleetion in the Union; 1,700 Ihe. Chinese Sugar Cane, and also parcels of 8,000.Seeds, postpaid, for $1.25; Chinese Imperial Ric* White Potato, the most valuable of all esculents, and the only ones for sale of American growth, at $3 per dozen, $5 per twenty, $20 per hundred ; Imported Tubers, uncertain v.'Jrieties, $1 per dozen; Osier Willows, eight finest kind.i, $2 to $5 per thousand ; Lawton Blackberry, $1S per hundred, $3 per dozen ; Grapes, Goo.seberries, Raspberries, Currants and Straw- berries, at lowest rates; I,inn!Eus and Victoria Rhubarb, $9 per hundred ; Arbor Vitte, small, for hedges, and up to eight feet high ; all the species of Erevgreens, of .small size.i. for Nurseries; all tl^ new varieties of Native Grapes; Tree and Shrub Seed.s ; Vegetable, Flower, and Evergreen Tree Seeds; Earth Almonds: Yellow and Honey Locust, and Osage Orange Seeds. Priced Catalogues of every department sent to applicants who enclose stamps. W. R. PRINCE k CO. Flushing, N. Y., April, 1S57.— It. TO NURSERYMEN AND OTHERS. FOR SALE AT GENESEE VALLEY NURSERIES, ROCHESTER, N. Y. WE offpr to th« trade the following Nursery articles at ex- tremely low prices, affording rare inducements to Nursery men and Dealers : 10,000 Fontenay Quince stools — the best stoek for dwarfing Pears — three years old, strong plants. These plants yielded 60,000 well-rooted layers this past summer. Thus is the only sure method of propagating Quince stocks. Price, %2t> iier thousand. 20,000 Plum Stocks, extra fine. Price, $18 per thousand. 10,000 Pear Stocks, two years. Price, $15 per thousand. '25.000 Western, or Wild Plum Stocks. Price $12.50 per thotisand. 25,000 Qninea Stockn — Angers and Fontenay— first choiee. Pric«, $20 per thousand. 25,000 Peach Trees, one year old, verv fine and choice budded va- rieties. Thess trcee are pfifeotly free from Yellowa and other diseases. Price, $70 p« thousand. 6,000 Apricots, one year old, extra. Priee, $1Q per hundred. 10,000 Cherri&'J, second size, two years old, three to five feet high, part with heads, best varieties. Price, $3 per hundred. 10,000 Pears, dwarf, second size, one and two years old, 2% to 3 feet, be.^t jsort*. Price, $14 per hundred. 8,000 Pears, standards, second sice, two years old, 3 to 4 feet, very best varieties. Price, $160 per thousand. 10,000 Horse Che.';tnut?i, one year. Price, $10 per thousand. 25,000 Arborvitar, 2>i te 8 feet, for hedjeii, very fine plants, and very cheap. Price, $60 per thousand. 10,000 Norway Spruce, two years old. suitable for transplanting, four to six inches. Price, $18 per thousand. 500 Deutzia gracilis. Price. $12 per hundred. 1,000 Wigelia rosea. Price, $18 per hundred. , 1,000 Bignonia radicans. Prioe, $S per hundred. , 8,000 Dahlias, splendid collection, dry roots for propagatinor. — Prioe, $10 to $25 per hundred. 2,000 English Yews, 6 inches. Price, $8 per hundred. l.OOO Siberian Arborvit«E, 6 inches. Price, $8 per hundred. 600 Cryptomsria Japonica, 12 to 18 inches. Priee, $25 per hun- dred. 600 Euonymns Japonica, variegated, 12 to 18 inches. Price, $8 per hundred. For more full and complete information, the proprietors refer to the following Catalogues noir ready, gratis, to those who enclose a one cent stamp for each : Ko. 1. Ppsfiipt'iTe Catalogue, Fruits. No. 2. DesciiptiTe Catalogue,Ornsniental Trees, Shrub8,Ro»es,&o. No. 8. Descriptive Ctitalsgue, Dahlias, Verbenas, Green-houaB Plants, &c. No. 4. "Wholeaale Catalogue or Trade List. A. FROST k CO.. VLtnh. 1.— 3t GwMtt VftUex NniMriM, RoehMt«r. V. T ' THE GENESEE FARMER. 1S6 NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL WORKS. ^ BY WHEELER, MELICK 8l CO. ?£,S£f_|_t^ DOrrilLE POTTEK, AlfD COMBINED THRESHER AND ■WINNOWER, IX OPERATION. WE are Manufacturers of Endless Chain Railway Horse Powers, and Farmers' and Planters' Machinery for Horse Power use, and are owners of the Patents on, and principal makers o^ the fol- lowing valuable Machines : WHEELER'S PATENT SINGLE HORSE POWER, OVERSHOT THRESHER with VIBRATING SEPARATOR. Thi» is a One Horse Machine, adapted to the wants of medium ftnd small irrain trrowers. It separates grain and chaff from the gtraw, and threshes about 100 bushels of wheat or twice as many oata per day, without changing hnrses ; b'' a change nearly double the quantity may be threshed. Price, $128. WHEELER'S PATENT DOUBLE HORSE POWER, OVERSHOT THRESHER with VIBRATING SEPARATOR. This Machine is like the preceding, but larger, and for two horses. It does double the work of the Single Machines, and is adapted to the wants of large and medium grain growers, and per- sons who make a business of threshing. Price, §100. WHEELER'S PATENT DOUBLE HORSE POWER, COMBINED THRESHER AND WINNOWER. (SHOW."f IN THE CUT.) This is also a Two Horse Machine. It threshes, separates the grain from the straw, and winnows it at one operation, at the aver- age rate of 150 bushels of wheat and SOO^bushels of oats per dar. In out door work, and for persons who make a business of tlireau- ing, it is an unequaled ilachiue. Pticej $!245. ALSO, Clover HtiUers, Feed Cutters and Sawing Machinea Our Horse Powerrf are adapted in all respects to driving every kind of Agricultural and other Machines that admit of being driven by Horse Power, and our Threshers may be driven by any of tlie ordinary kinds of Horse Powers in use. Either are sold separately. JT^ To persons wishing more information, and applying by mail, we will forward a circular containing sucli details as purchasers mostly want — and can refer to gentlemen having our Machines in every Slate and Territory. Our firm have been engaged in manufacturing this class of Agri- cultural Machinery 22 years, and have had longer, larger and more extended and successful experience than any other House. All our Machines are warranted to give entire satisfaction, or may be returned at the expiration of a reasonable time for trial. ^^^ Orders from any part of the United Stafes and Territorico, or Canada, accomiianied with satisfactory references, will be filled with promiitness and fidelity. And Machines securely packed, will be forwarded according to instructions!, or by cheapest and beat routes. WHEELER, MELICK & CO., April 1.— It. Albany, N. T. TO FARMERS AND GARDENERS, THE Subasribers offer for sale 40,000 barrels of their New and Improved POUDRETTE, manufactured from the night-soil of New-York city, in lots to suit purehieters. This .irticle (greatly improved within the last two years) ha.s been in Xha market for eighteen years, and still defies competition as a manure for Corn »ud Garden Vegetables, being Cfieaper, more poioerful than any other, and at the same time frea from, disagrtdable odirr. Tvo baiT«l3 ($3 worth) will manure an acre of corn Ln the hill, will B!ive two-third-i in labor, will cause it to come up quicker, to grow faster, ripen earlier, and will bring a larger crop on poor ground than any other fertilizer, and U also a preventive of the cut worm ; also, it does not injure the seed to be put in contact with it. The L. M. Co. point to their loog-atanding reputilion, and the li»rge capital ($100,000) invested in their business, as a jiuarantee that the article they maJio shall always be of aucU quality as to coDimaad a ready sale. Price, delivered in the eity free of charge and other expen.'!« — One barrel, ... - $2.00 Two « a.w Five " 8.00 Six « 9.50 And aJ; the rate of Sl.EO per \\>\. for any quantity over 6 bbls. J^^A Pnmphlet, confainiuR evoty information, will be sent (TBEit) to any one xppWinij for the fmne. Our address is— THE I,ODI MANUFACTUUING CO., fob 1— 4t Offica, 63 Cortkadt St., New York. FRUIT, OiiNAMSNTAL TREES AND SEEDLINGS. W, T. & E. SMITH, Proprietors of the Geneva Nursery, Geneva, N. Y, CALL the attention of Nurserymen, Planters and Dealers to their gener.-il assortinent of Trees and Plants, consistinsr of a large stock of Standard and D.varf Cherry, Dwarf Apple, Dwarf Pear, Apricot, Peach, Raspberry, Strawberry and Currant Plants, Ro.^es (largo variety). Evergreens, he. Standard Apple, one and two years, cheap, t"> d'ai'the ground. Also, a large stock of Seedlings and Stocks of liahaleb Cherrj-, Mazzard Cherry, Freneli Quince, Plum, Pear, Horse Chestnut;, .^.rborvita;. Basket Willow Cuttings, $1.S0 per thousand. Quince Cuttings. Scions, of all kinds, furnished to order; terras low. March 1. — 2t* CHINESE SUGAR CANE SEED. NEW, pure, and well ripened, by mail, in packets at 50 cents and $1 each. All the best Vegetabln and Flower seeds, by mail, sixteen packets for $1. Abo, all the finest Roses, Bulbs, &c. Address W. T. GOLDSMITH, March 1.— 2t. Rochaater, N. Y. PLEASE TO READ THIS. I EMPLOYMENT F'>K THE WINTER. Persons out of employ- _/ m^utmiy Oud that which is both profitable and pleasant by addre^King ROBERT SK.VRS, Pulilisher, Jtui. 1— 4t. No. 181 William street, New York. ISO THE GENESEE FARMER. CHOICE FLOWER & VEGETABLE SEEDS, AT GllEATLY REDUCED RATES. MR. JAMES ViCK, the former publisher of the Genesee Far- mer, inipovled from France some very choice Flower and Vegetable Seeds, which jiasseii itto the hands of the subscriber in his purchase of the establihhracnt. The seyda are aJl good, and of "toe ver^ best and rarest kinds, and will be sold at a reduced price. Any of the following kinds of FLOWER SEEDS will be sent, postage paid, to any address in the Uniled States, /or /tmr cents per packaire : DOUBLE BALSAM— Large flo-i-era, splendid colors. CEN1'A(.REA— Unique and beautiful. CALAXDKINI A— Delicate and pretty. RED AMARANTH— Fine for dj-ying-y^verlasting. WHITE ORANGE " " CHINA ASTER^Large, double^ and Bne colors. . STOCKS— Very sweet scented. CHLN'A PINK— Beautiful colors. PETUNIA— Fine for masses. MIMULUS— Uare and showy. CANDY TUFT— Very showy and sweet. PHLOX DRUMMONDII— Elegant and profuse flowerer. COREOPSIS— Very graceful and efTcctive. NEMOPHILA— Modest and beautiful. PORTULACCA— Very gay, and very hardy. SWEET PEA— Elegant and sweet. MIRABILIS — Large and very handsome. The following rare and valuable VEGETABLE SEEDS will be tent for siz cents per package : EARLY BROCO LI— Unrivaled for early use. WHITij; SOLID CELERY— The best ever introduced. EARi.Y SHORT-HORN CARROT— Best for cooking. EARLY PARIS CAULIFLOWER— The only good one for this climate. LARGE LENORMAND CAULIFLOWER— Very large and fine. LARGE LATE DUTCH CABBAGE— Better than Drumhead. EARLY YORK " —The best early. DARK RKD OrTCH " —The best red. WIXNlNiiSTAOT " —Splendid Summer Cabbage. EARLY SAVOY " —Rare and Cue. LARGK PURPLE EGG PLANT— Unequaled for table. WHITE LISBON ONION— I'ho best white. ROUND MADEIRA- Takes two years to mature. BLOnD RED PORTUGAL ONION— The best red. CELERIAC, OR TURNIP ROOTED CELERY— Unique and fine. ^^ All orders promptlv :ittended to. Money may be sent at txy- risk. Address JOSEPH HARRIS, Rochester, N. Y., Publisher of the Genesee Farmer. "EVERY FARMER SHOULD OWN THEM." ALLEN OH THE DISEASES OE DOMESTIC AlilMALS. • THIRTY-FIRST THOUSAND. Price 75 cents, and sent free of postage on receipt of price. " Its'greatest worth is -as a 'complete Farrier.'" — Farmer and Jdeckanic. " It ought to be in every family where Dairying is carried on." — fTorcester Transcript. " Worthy of a place in every Farmer's Library." — Jeffersonian. " JuFt what is needed by every good Farmer." — L. I. Farmer. " A very excellent book on Domestic Animals." — Maine Farmer. " A most admirable practical work for every day use." — Indez. "The work ought to be in the hands of every Planter." — jV. O. Delta. " When such men as R. L. Allen take up the pen, something Sows from it which .ioeshis fellow men good." — Imca Advocate^ "Here is a Book for the Million, written by a gentleman of sci- ence and experience." — JSmlvrypcrt Watchman. ALLEN'S (E. L.) AMEEIGATI FAEK BOOK. The American Farm Book : or, a Compend of American Agricul- ture, being a Pnictical Tre.atise on Soil.^ Manures, Draining, Irri- gation, Grasses, Grain, Roots, Fruits, Cotton, Tobacco, Sugar Cane, Kice, and every Staple Product of the United States; with the beat methods of planting, cultivating, and preparation for market. — Illustrated by more than ore hundred engiavings. By R.L. Allen. One of the most complete Books upon American Agriculture tiiat has yet been published. Price One Dvllar. Sent free of poat- Kpe. Address C. M. S.aXTON * CO., April 1. — It. 140 Fulton ?trof>t, Nr-r York. t^tnitnts of tlis Numier. fj \ vr NEW STHAWEEEBIES. PRINCE'S PRIMaTE, 75 centsper dozen, S- for fifty, $.3Tierhun- dnd; Prince's Impieiia'. Scarlet, $1.60 per -w Native kin Fnnii Mouse, with Diagrams for First and Second Floors, 121 DriU-Rnke. 123 Transplanting Foik, 123 Transplanter, 123 .^x-i? ^K'^^/T u '^ ^^^:^ ^v-'v^^V Y^ \ Vol. XVIII, Second Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., MAY, 1857. No. 5. lEOTATION OF CEOPS. That there is no absolute necessity for rotation of crops in all cases, is abundantly proved. Indian corn has been grown on many of the rich bottoms of the West, year after year, for half a century. Onions are grown every year on the same land, with mani- fest advantage. On the Rotharastead experimental fields, wheat has been grown on the same land for fourteen successive years, and in 1855 the yield on one of the plots was firty-five bushels per acre. Tur- nips have been grown annually on the same land for fourteen years. Beans, peas, tares and potatoes are also grown on the same land each year, without any ill eflects being observed. The advanioge of rotation cannot be doubted, and many theories have been propounded to account for it. Decandolle thought that plants excreted matter from their roots, which was injurious to plants of the same species and beneficial to some others of a dilFereut species. This may be true in regard to some plants, but the facts we have alluded to above prove that it is not true of all ; and we may safely conclude that nearly all our commonly cultivated ag- ricultural plants do not excrete matter at all injurious to the same plants when sown the following year on the same eoil. However great the advantages there- fore, there is no necessity for rotation of crops. All agricultural plants require the same food, with this difference: that one needs more of this or that particular element than another. For instance, tur- nips require more phosphoric acid than wheat, wheat more ammonia than turnips, beans and clover more potash than either of the former, &c. It is easy to see that these crops can be alternated with each other to advantage; that the soil which does not contain sufScient phosphoric acid for a good crop of turnips may contain enough for a large crop or wheat, and that the soil which lacks sufficient ammonia for the production of a maximum croji of wheat may yet have enough for a maximum crop of turnips. Barn-yard manure contains all the elements of plants. We may, therefore, by its use in sufficient quantity, grow the same crop, on a soil having the requisite meclianical conditions, every year. But it is evident that this would entail a loss of some of the elements of manure. For instance, if we add sufSeient barn-yard manure to a soil to furnish the requisite quantity of ammonia for the growth of a large crop of wheat every year, we provide in this manner much more carbon and more phosphoric acid than the wheat requires. If, on the other hand, we add enough barn-yard manure to a soil to furnish the required amount of phosphoric acid for the growth of a large crop of turnips every year, we add more ammonia than is necessary. But if, instead of growing wheat after wheat, we grow turnips, or some other similar crop, the excess of carbon and phosphoric acid provided in the barn-yard manure for the wheat crop is taken up by the turnip plants, which, as we have said, require more of these sub- stances than wheat. On the other hand, if we grow wheat after turnips, instead of turnips after turnips, the excess of ammonia which it was necessary to add to the soil in the barn-yard manure in order to sup- ply sufficient phosphoric acid for the turnip crop, will be just the very thing required for the wheat. The same remarks hold good where little or no barn-yard manure is used. The soil contains all the elements of plants — if it did not, no agricultural plant would grow — but this food is held in an insolu- ble condition, and we have to till the land and ex- pose it to the influence of the atmosphere in order to render this insoluble matter available for plants. Now if, by summer fallowing, we render enough of this plant-food soluble to furnish the wheat plant suiScient ammonia for the growth of a good crop, it is quite probable that we render more phosphoric acid soluble than the wheat requires. And hence, if we were to follow up the system of summer fal- lowing for wheat, without taking any intermediate crop, we should lose more or less of this valuable fertilizer. But if we should grow an intermediate crop of clover or turnips, this phosphoric acid would not only be saved, but prove very beneficial to either of these crops — especially the latter. There are scarcely any two plants that require the elements of their food in precisely the same propor- tion; and hence, by substituting some other of the fourteen elements of which all plants are composed for the ones we have instanced, the above remarks will hold true for nearly every crop we cultivate. It is easy to see, therefore, that, at present a judi- cious system of rotation lies at the very foundation of all good practical agriculture, though, when we have learned from carefully conducted scientific field experiments what are the exact requirements of our difjerent crops, we may be able to dispense with it by supplying the particular manure M'hich the plant ^ requires. This, according to Liebig, is the "single ' problem worthy of scientific agriculture at the pres- ent time;" and he justly remarks: "How simple a form would the labors of the farmer assume, could 138 THE GENESEE FARMEK. be continually cultivate the same plant on the same field." The efForts of this great chemist to attain this end have hitherto failed, because he propounded his scheme on the assumption that the raanurial re quirements of plants were correctly indicated by their chemical composition. This idea has been proved er- roaeou?, and we have to obtain this knowledge by inductive experiment. Our knowledge of this matter has been greatly en- larged by the experiments of Lawes, Boussingault, and other agricultural chom.ists who have united " practice with science," but we are still very much in the durk; and these able writers themselves tell us that, at present, practical experience is our safest guide. In fact, their experiments, up to this time, have done little more than to explain the rationale of systems of rotation which experienced farmers had already adopted. Where artihcial manures are not used, we may safely assume that it is poor economy to sow one grain crop after another. Science and practice alike teach that all the cereals should be alternated with root crops, or with clover or other leguminous plants. Of course, the precise method of the rotation will vary with the nature of the soil and climate, and with the price of the various farm products. We a-e aware that good wheat is fiequently ob- tained after Indian corn and after barley, and that this fact militates against the law we have laid down. We are also aware that there are several practical difficulties to be encountered if we adopt the rule of never sowing two grain crops in succession. Still, it is a violation of sound theory, and farmers should endeavor to meet and overcome these difficulties, as far as possible. An esteemed Canadian correspon- dent gives us the following rotation, as well adapted to a light, loamy soil : 1, hoed crops, either roots or Indian corn, well manured ; 2, spring grain, either barley, spring wheat or oats, and seeded down — (the latter are not as good for seeding down with as the former ;) 3, meadow ; 4, pasture ; 5, pasture with sheep ; 6, wheat after one plowing. We should pre- fer to seed the barley or spring wheat with clover, and let it lie only two years, following with wheat also seeded dorvn with clover. For a heavier soil, our correspondent recommends : 1, fallow, or peas ; 2, wheat ; 3, hoed crops, either roots or corn ; 4, spring grain, seeded down ; .\ meadow ; 6, pasture. "We should, in most cases, prefer to seed the wheat ■with cluver, and let it lie one or two years, instead of folio niut' it with corn. Mr. H H. Taylor, of East Rodman, Jefiferson Co., X. Y., gives us the following rotation, which he says is decidedly the best system for that se(;tion of country, and whicli may safely be followed wherever clover and timothy thrive well. We give it in his own words : " First year turn over the sod in the fall or spring, (we prefer fall plowing,) and plant Avith corn, potatoes and beans, or sow with [leas. Plow in the fall after the crop is taken off. The second year sow with spring wheat or barley. Plow again as soon as the crop is secured. In the spring, give it a coat of barn -yard manure, well plowed in. If the previous crop was wheat, sow b-T'li'v : it' barley, sow oats or sprint^ rye, and seed ^wn with timothy and clover, Mow or pasture truia ilnee tv) seven years. Sow a bushel of plas- ter per acre, at least every other spring. When tii« f raw begins to run out, turn over the turf again, and go through v.ith the same system of ro- tation, and, with thorough cultivation, the land will pay well, and increase in productiveness. Soils, like animals, require rest, vviiich they obtain while in grass — especially if in pasture. A few yeara since we came into possession of a piece of land which was considered entirely ran out by bad cul- tivation and succesgive crop[)ing. The year pre- vious the oat crop was not considered worth har- vesting, and the cattle were turned in to secure the crop. We plowed the land two or three inches deeper than it had ever been before, sowed it witli oats early in the spring, and seeded d( wii with timothy and clover, and harvested IHveniy bushels of oats per acre. We then let it lie in pasture five years, the most of the time fed by sheep, when it was turned over in the fall, and the next spring planted with corn and potatoes, yielding sixty bush- els per acre of the former, and two hundred of the latter. We plowed again in the fall, and the next spring sowed with wheat and seeded down again. Not having any manure to put on, the yield was twenty-five bushels per acre. The next spring we sowed one bushel of jilaster per acre, and cut a ton and a half of hay. The land is now in good condition for meadow, or any kind of grain." ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE APEIL KTJMBES. The month was ushered in by a snow storm, but none the less prompt was the Genesee Farmer. Nearly a hundred practical articles are contained in this number. Let me remark, as usual, on a few of ihem. Cultivation of Bart.et. — Among the first crops to be sown comes this, now popular, grain. It should be sown if possible in April, out not before the soil is fit for working. Barley has been sown in this vi- cinity in March the present year, but in miserable order, on fall-plowed land, without previous harrow- ing. The culture you recommended agrees with the practice of our best farmers, and has been generally successful. Last season we seeded our barley sow- ing to clover, but with very poor success. I think grass seed does much better with wheat and rye than with any spring grain. In any case, a dressing of plaster should be given to insure a better growth. Cultivation of Oats. — On sod ground we seldom have very good crops of oats. Last year, we thought by plowing early, and harrowing and gang-plowing betbre sowing, to get a good crop, but it was a very poor one. On mucky soils we have had very good success, when the season suited, but the oats are gener- ally of light weight I have tried the White Poland oats for several years, but got only small crops — generally of first rate grain, however. Ten Rules for Making Butter. — These rules agree with our practice very well, except in regard to skimming tjiilk and working butter. We had rather the milk would be loppered — take off a little of the sour milk, it will do no harm. If ash the churn as much as you please, but keep the water out of the butter. Working it as much as is here reconmiended will get out all the butter-milk — at least we keep butter for months thus made. Cultivation of Carrots. — I tried to raise twenty bushels of carrots last year, and got about four, at a cost of some seventy-five cents a bushel Shall try it again pn a different plan, and think E. S. H. gives THE GENESEE FARMER. 139 some valuable suggestions on the subjeet. Will he tell us how to keep them through such winters as we have lately ? Whkx 00K3 Wool Grow? — This question receives a very pla isible answer from J. 1). (J., and if gener- ally believed would tend to a better care of these animals. Don't let sheep get poor in the fall or early winter, if you would have them keep easily, and prove profitable either in wool or lambs. Large vs. Smat.l Beaxs — The question of beans with me is, " If ill they ripen earl 1/ and cvenli/?'" and then size is to be considered. But is it prolita- ble to grow beans and corn together ? Both crops cannot be good ones — as good as they would be grown separately. Buying Western Laniis. — Talk as you will, friend Sanfield, capital will look out for the most profita- ble investments. If money can be made in buying Western lands, there is no infraction of the law of honesty in thus investing it, as a speculation. Too great greediness, however, defeats its own ends. Cultivation of Indian Corn. — From repeated trials, I am satisfied that good corn can be raised in the way described by S. S. B. I would plant ear- lier, if the season allowed, and top dress with ashes after the first hoeing, loilhont fail. It " gives corn a good start," which is very important. KwEs AND Lambs. — One snowy morning in Feb- ruary, I found an ewe with twin lambs in my flock at the barn. It was altogether unexpected, but the little fellows seemed smart, and determined to make the best of it. So I partitioned off a roomy shed for them and their mother, and have fed the sheep once a day with one pint of oat meal, (con- taining one-third corn,) scalded and salted, watering once a day besides, and supplying all the hay she would eat. The ewe and lambs are doing well — the latter growing finely, and they will be worth almost a year's growth more than May lambs, next season. I never knew that sheep required half the attentions which J. K. recommends, and still have some doubts about it. Dwarf Apple Trees. — I had one of these, but it did not bear under six years from the bud, and then died a year afterward, though cared for to the best of my knowledge and ability. But it v/as a very beautiful object when full of ripe apples. The crop wa? not a very large one, nor would it prove profita- ble to depend on such trees for fruit, in my opinion. JViagara Co., JV. Y. B. K0TE3 I'OR THE MONTH, BY S. W. Birds — their Usefulnfs.'?, &c — Bement's article on this subject, in the last Farmer, should be read, learned, marked, &c., by every one who tries to grow a tree or vegetable. But he has neglected to notice how much of the blame for the paucity of birds about the house, fruit-yard, garden and orchard, is to be attributed to the murders of the domestic cat. Where a vigilant grimalkin and her kittens are do- mesticated, no robin and sparrow has any resting place, either on bush or tree; and their fledglings are almost invariably devoured by these feline mousers, either before or after they begin to have the use of their wings. If we could ci)ntrive to prevent the marauding horde of rats from invading the premises, BO that the watchful cat might be dispensed with, robins, sparrows, blue birds, &c., would increase and multiply, and, in addition, every house would have its swallows and martins. If it is provoking to have a May Duke cherry tree stripped of its fruit in one day by birds, it is still more so, after driving off' the birds and picking the fruit, to find your tree dying the next j-car, its inner bark completely eaten out by concealed worms. But a propos of insectivora, I have lost within the last two years three out of four young bearing apple trees, killed by invisible borers, although the trees were washed with strong su is, and and the caterpillars burned out. Not a peach tree can I grow of late that is not stung on all sides as soon as it has attained the size of a whip-stock. Trees that got their growth before insects were bo destructive still continue to live, both trunk and limbs full of sores, bearing only a little sickly, wormy fruit. Yet I remember the time when it was no more trouble to grow peach trees than pig weeds; in Ovid und Romulus, thousands of bushels of peaches were fed to the hogs — now, owing to the iusec t en«- mies of the tree, very few peaches are grown. The Profits of High Farming. — Our amateur farmer, Joseph Wright, who has so long astonished the cigar makers by his extra large, superior crops of well cured tobacco, sold the last week to Shbl- DON, a New York drover, eleven yeailiugs, coming two years old, for 8G0 each. Such veal as some of us were favored with to-day from one of his yearling calves might founder an alderman. It had all the appearance of young beef, only fatter; it was C( m- pletely mottled with that carbonaceous tissue which represented the sugar of the perfect corn fodder on which the animal had been fed and wintered — Ohio Dent corn, sown in drills, and cut and cured as soon as its full saccharine state was attained. Apple Trees. — The best apple trees, and the best fruit in this county, grow on the friable clay loams near the deep ravines which debouch in the lakes. On digging into the side of one of those ravines, ap- ple tree roots were found more than twenty feet b«- low the tree's base. This fact shows that apple trees require a very deeply drained soil, and that they should never be planted where spring water rises nearer than twenty feet to the surface. The famed Wayne county apples grow on gravelly ridges of the Onondaga group, ttie richest of all loose soils in or- ganic remains. Saxony Sheep. — It is said by a man of experience in the premises, that no sheep would be more profita- ble to the farmer, if he would only take good care of them, and separate them from other sheep to keep the blood pure, than the Saxony; but when crossed with the Merino, the progeny is less hardy, and ma- terially deteriorated both in constitution and wool; hence the notion that the Saxon is not a hardy sheep. Ten years ago, Perkins & Browi , of Akron, Ohio, had a large flock of pure Saxony sheep, which, by good treatment, became both hardy ind large sized; many of their fleeces weighed six pounds, and such wool has now, in our day of amalgamation, become rare indeed. Letters from the South and West— It wjw pleasant to read in the last Farmer Dr. Lee's very interesting letter from Georgia, the mure especially as he now dilates with satisfaction on the rise and progress of the Genesee Farmer, a paper which h« so long and ably conducted. Letters from farmers lately removed to the far West, would be of double importance if almost every man or wouiaa ther« did 140 THE GENESEE FAEMER. Bot write as if they wished to encourage emigration. They describe the matchless soil, the tall corn, the redundant prairie grass, the prairie hens, the pigs and poultry; but they neglect to complain of wet prairies, the mosquitoes, fever and ague, and the paucity of timber. They tell us how fat the prairie fed cattle are in autumn, while they neglect to say how much of their corn rotted for the lack of shelter, how many of their sheep were killed by prairie wolves, or how many of their bovines had to be lifted up by the tail in the spring, after the winter's exposure to the bleak winds and low temperature of the prairies. The whole truth, if told, v/ould give an interesting panorama of life in prairiedom, which would enliven the scene, and add that romance to isolated monotony by which alone the young and energetic make a play- spell of the battle of life" Evidently under this spell a man writes from Iowa, saying that "those who have failed to succeed at the East may honorably succeed there, and experience that joy which the world cannot give." Eauly Planting. — It is time now, (April lOth.) if not done before, to sow onions and plant peas and potatoes. Beans, although wanted early, should not be planted, owing to their tender nature, until the 20th of May, as we generally have the last Vv-hite frost as late as the last days of May. But some Limas, and a few rows of Early Dwarfs, may be planted by the lOth, if care is taken to cover them on the night of a frost; an inch board is effectual, while they freeze under cloth. Limas may be covered with the hoe when two inches high; a sprinkling of soil on the leaves will protect them. Early planted beans, like early planted corn, attain strong roots and go ahead of the late planted, particularly in warm dry weather. Waterloo, A". Y. CHHIESE SUGAS CANE-JAPAN PEAS, Messrs. Editoes : — Having of late seen some doubts expressed in regard to the successful culture ot, and manufacture of sugar and molasses or syrup from, the Chinese sugar cane, as well as to the profita- bleaess of its culture for its saccharine products, I have concluded to give you an account of an esperi- ment 1 made with it last year. Between the 20th and last of May, 1856, I re- ceived a small package of seed of the South African, or Caffrarian, variety, v,'bich I planted the day I received it, on one rod of land, as near as it could be mea- ' sured, three feet apart one way by about two to two and a half the other, ten seeds in a hill. All that vegetated (say five out of seven) I let stand, and cul- tivated carefully, same as corn or broom corn. Owing to the extreme dryness of the season, and the cool- ness of the weather in August, together wi:h the closeness of the plants, only about one-half of the seed matured. I saved, however, about seven pounds of tolerably well matured seed, besides losing eight of the best seed-heads, which were taken from the lot liefore cutting. Ou the evening of the l-ith of October, antici- pating a heavy frost, I cut the canes and placed them in a henp in a s-^care place, under shelter. About a week after I manufactured the whole into syrup, or mVl'asses, by passing a few of the canes by hand through a tinner's cylinder, by which means I ex- pressed about two quaits of juice, making about ous quart of thick syrup, or molasses, in about thirty minutes' boiling. The balance of the canes were cut into pieces from one to three inches long, and boiled in pots of water, (only being put through that pro- cess twice, and not pressing the stalks in any manner whatever,) which, after removing the stalks, was boiled down to syrup, making in all about three gallons of an excellent article, equal, if not superior, in color and flavor, to the best quality of Boston syrup. My yield was equal to four hundred and eighty gallons per acre, and I am satisfied that if I could have thoroughly extracted the juice, it would have ex- ceeded five hundred gallons per acre. I expect to plant six or seven acres this season, and more fully test its profitableness, both for sao- charine purposes and as a forage plant; and would be glad to procure information respecting the pur- chase or manufacture of a cheap and efiective ma- chine for extracting the juice. Perhaps you, or some of your correspondents, could give me the infor- mation. Japan Peas. — I planted about fifty Japan peas last year, in the latter part of May, which grew luxu- riantly and bore profusely, considering the intense drouth of the season. I gathered about a peck of mature peas in the fall, after having a part destroyed by my own and my neighbors' fowls. We used some of these peas last winter, and found them good for culinary purposes. Our fowls also seem to esteem them higtily, as they eat them with avidity. There can be but little doubt of their maturing in this cli- mate, if planted in May. E. Hall. Berlin, Ohio. POTATO EAISIKG IK IOWA. Messrs. Editors: — The potato loves a loose soil, with decaying leaves, grass roots, or other vegetable matter. If the ground be foul with grass and other weed seeds, plow early, and in a week farrow out. As often as weeds start in the furrow, run the fur- row afresh, till time to plant ; and just before the potatoes are up, straddle the rows with a cultivator, set narrow, and the front tooth out. Work them often and deep till the blossoms begin to show, and not afterivards. If the weather is very dry plow often, or else your potatoes will grow shallow and precocious, being affected by the vicissitudes of the weather, and will be ill-shaped — knotty and forked, with watery ends. Plow the last time v/ith a ten or twelve inch shovel plow, as deep and as close to the row as possible. Move the hills a little, but not tear them loose. Split the rows with a shovel plov/, big enough to loosen all the middle. You will have a surer and better crop to leave the ground as level as possible; but if your variety grov/s scattering in the trround, you will dig with less work if the row be ridged. Manner of Planting. — If the ground is loose, not inclined to cake and bake, drill — one foot is a good distance. If the ground is heavy, cross three feet one way and two feet the other. Plow mostly the wide way, but once at least across, to break the I r' Jge under the row. ' Plant early as possible, if you fear the rot; but the first of June planting brings a better crop than a month earher. Early varieties do well here planted as late as the twentieth of June, Potatoes vs ill keep better, and be of better quality for spring and suia- THE GENESEE FARMER. 141 mer use, to be planted so late that the tops will be a little greeu when frost comes. As a precaution against rot, I should, in theory, thoroughly ripen the seed. 1 have not experimented in that particular. Varikties. — The Neshannock is ear;y and pro- ductive, and, when raised on new ground, is of good quality, but is, both in growth and keeping, and in every way, a tender potato. The white fleshed Pink Eye is a late and excellent-keeping potato, but grows scattering in the ground, making laborious digging, and is usually small; but in grounds highly manured two or three years previously, and planted with pieces of from one to three eyes in a hill, if well cultivated, produces a good crop of good sised potatoes, of the very best quality. It will bear as rich a soil as In- dian corn. It is in every particular a hardy potato, and will bear more plowing, more manure, more drouth, more wet, more heat, and more cold, than any other kind, and is always of good quality. These two are the leading varieties here. Neshan- noeks are most popular in the market. I have done best with seed ends of large potatoes cut into pieces ot two or three eyes, and dried a lit- tJe before planting. Dig with a bright steel hoe. Muscatine, Iowa. David Pukinton. MANAGEMENT OF A PEAIEIE FARM. The first operation in making a prairie farm is to turn the sod over, which should be done from the first of May to the first of August, or while the grass h growing and fall of juice — the green grass causing the sod to rot and be in good condition for crops the next spring. If it is broken earlier, it does not rot as well, and the j;rass and weeds grov/ up and make the land foul; if broken later, it does not rot so as to produce a good crop the next season. The sod is sometimes turned over in the spring and immediately planted to corn, which sometimes produces fifteen or twenty bushels per acre, but freq ".ently fails to pro- duce anything. There is a field of thirty acres in this vicinity that did not produce half as many bush- els. From two to seven yoke of oxen are generally used in breaking, but sometimes two, three or four horses are used. The plows used in breaking turn from ten to tiiirty inches wide, and are made of steel ; the share and cutter are kept sharp, by filing and hammering. In breaking, thin furrows turned up rough are gen- erally preferred, as they harrow up mellower than thick, flat furrows. The proper way is to turn the furrows medium depth, and not very smooth. Par- ticular care should be taken to cut and turn over all the sod. After the ground is broken, it is better to let cat- tle run on it at pleasure, as they feed down all grass and weeds, and tread the surface down, which has a good effect on the crop. Our soil, instead of being too hard and heavy, is too mellow and light ; conse- quently, packing the surface makes it produce better crops. The ground that is broken one summer should be Bown as early as possible next spring. Where old ground is sown to small grain, it should be plowed the previous summer or fall; the best way is to plow it immediat«,'ly after the erop is off, so that what grain is scattered will come up and make excellent pastuie. The ground should be thoroughly rolled after the grain is sown. The roller Bhoukl also be used on com ground after the corn is planted, as it leaves thj ground smooth and maslies all the lumps, so that the cultivator can be used in the corn when it is quite small, and before the weeds get the start of it. The best way to keep our soil rich is the pro- per rotation of crops — corn, wheat, clover, &c. — Every prairie farmer should plant groves of timber around his buildings, for a protection against the cold winds of winter. Cotton wood and locust are well adapted for that purpose ; the former is raised from cuttings, the same as currants, and the latter from seed. Four or five years are sufScient to raise a grove that will be a great protection and ornament to a residence. L. (jbh. JYt'ar JFyoming, Jones Co,, Iowa. EOREKS-VmE BUG3-SULPHUE ON COEN, &C.! Messrs Editors: — My apple and peach trees, es- pecially those growing upon a loose gravelly soil, have been much infested, just at the edge of the ground, with the borer. 1 have tried many experiments to des- troy them; and once I succeeded admirably by the free application of spirits of turpentine to about a dozen fine peach trees; and from actual experience I can recommend it as a certain remedy to kill grubs, only it had this little draw back — it killed the trees. Last year I tried ashes around my peach trees. I re- moved the dirt down to the roots and heaped a quart of unleached ashes around the body of the tree and then drew the earth back again. Thus far I have seen no grubs, and the trees have received no injury from the application. I have used soft soap and Scotch snufi" upon my apple trees, applied from the roots upwards about a foot. If applied two or three times during the summer, no eggs are deposited. — Before taking these precautions I lost many trees, and those that lived made but little growth. Vine Bugs. — I preserved my vines last year from the ravages of this little pest by placing little wads of cotton saturated with spirits of turpentine among the vines near the roots, using care not to have them touch the vines. The turpentine should be renewed from time to time. Crows. — The time is near at hand to bring out the scare crows, (which never scare any crows.) Three years ago I planted a piece of corn in a small lot bordering on the road, and right opposite my house. I supposed it would be safe, but 1 soon found that the crows were earlier risers than I, for at the earliest dav/n of day they would be iu the field. I put up a frightful image with an old musket resting across a stump. As if to show their contempt, they pulled up the corn under its very muzzle. I then tried twine without success, for they still continued to make their morning visits. I then soaked some corn in water with arsenic, and strewed it about the field, which was soon picked up. The next day there appeared to be quite a disturbance in the camp over among the hemlocks. From the amount of " cawing" and flut- tering among the tree tops, I concluded they were holding a coroner's inquest, or perhaps confabulating as to the safety of pulling up corn. I think it must have been decided to be a safe operation, for they were soon at it again. The result was, by planting over two or three times, 1 got less than half a crop. That trouble is ended now, for I have found a scare crow that is effectual. For the last tv/o years I have applied about a pound of sulphur to the acre, mixed 142 THE GENESEE FARMER. with plaster and ashes; a handful thrown upon each hill, just as the corn begins to prick through the grounrl. Although crows were daily flying over and around my corn field, never during that time have I seen a spear of corn pulled by them, or one light in the field. Farmers try it. S. Mitchell. Cameron Mills, Steuben Co., JV. Y. CULTIVATION OF BEAKS. Messrs Editors : — Beans are not cultivated as a field crop so generally as they deserve to be, when their value for table use as well as for other purposes is considered. Soil. — Any soil that is dry, and rich enough to pro- duce corn, or wheat will answer for beans, bward ground that is intended for wheat will not be im- poverished any more by growing a crop ot beans during the summer before sowing to wheat, than by fallowing in the fore part of the summer, and laying exposed to the scorching rays of the sun until fall. Preparation. — In plowing sward for beans, be sure to turn the furrows down flat, so that the grass may be smothered and prevented from growing. Har- row lengthwise of the furrows, taking care to pass around the land just as the plow went. Harrow thoroughly in this direction and then across, if you can without disturbing the sod. Next use the gang plow, taking care not to let it run so deep as to dis- turb the furrows. Planting. — Plant from the first to the middle of June. Where the quantity to be planted is large, procure a machine for that purpose, to be drawn by horses. A man and boy with a machine will plant about twelve acres per day. The usual distance apart to plant is thirty inches one way, and ten the other. The only kind recommended for general field culture is the White Medium. Keep the ground well stirred, and free from weeds. Harvesting. — If the season is favorable they will be ready to harvest in about ninety days. Commence harvesting when the pods are about two-thirds ripe. Pull and throw five rows in a winrow, in dry weather, ■atid let them remain three or four days; then turn thei.n and let them remain until the beans are per- fectly dry; then throw in bunches of convenient size for j>'iteliing. They should never be housed until per- foctlj dry. Tbkeshing. — This is done with horses. A man and a pair. of horses will average about forty bushels per day, if the crop was housed dry. Average yield per acre, about twenty bushels. — Average price $1.00 per bushel. Fodder worth S2 00 per acre. John Gr. Hampson. LaceyvHle, Harrison Co., Ohio. Reasons why Premiums should not be offered TO Lady Equestrianism. — 1st. It does not tend to improve the intellect, or promote good morals. 2nd. It attracts the attention from the more important ob- jects, for which agricultural societies were formed. — ord. It ia uncomely and undignified for a woman thus to expose herself. 4th. The horse jockey is undesi- rable and unbecoming in man, much more so in wo- man. Many more reasons will suggest themselves, to a delicate mind, which we would not put on papjr. Aurora, Cayuga Co., JV. Y. M. S. B. CHEESE MAKING IN A SMALL DAIRY, Strain the milk in a tub or kettle at night, and if the weather is so warm that the milk will be in danger of souring before morning, add the rennet immediately, and Ijreak up the curd in the morning previous to setting the morning's milk. If the weather is not very warm, let it stand until morn- ing and stir the morning's milk with it. Some of tlie milk should be put in a kettle and warmed suf- ficientl}", that when added, ii may all be about millt warm. After tlie milk is set let it stand about an hou?, or until the whey separates from the curd, which, can be told by running a knife through it. Breafe the curd up fine with the fingers or curd-breaker; dip it into a strainer placed in a cheese-basket ; lei it stand until the whey has drained off. Take some of the whey and heat it until the hand can scarcely be held in it. While this whey is heating, cut the curd into small pieces; put the hot whey into the kettle or tub and put the curd into it — stir- ring it continually, that it may scald even. As soon as the curd will scj^ueak between the teeth, it is su^ ficiently scalded. Then place it again into the cheese-basket and press out the whey ; put the curd into a tray Or wooden bowl, and cut it fine with a knife. Salt to the taste ; put it into the hoop and press it an hour ; take it out, turn it and press again until night.- — Then turn it again and let it remain in the press until morning. Set the niglit's and morning's milk tlie same as before, and after the curd is scalded take the cheese from the press. Cut oflf the outside of the u|)per surface, and put it into the hot whey from whicBi the curd was taken. T.nke the pieces which have been cut from the cheese, cut them up fine, put- them int© a bowl and pour on some hot whey, and let them stand. Put the cheese into the hoop, with the cut surface up, and put the new curd on top, with the pieces from the bowl in the middle, and press as before. If you have but few cows, and the cheese is not yet large enough, you can add again, as before, as often as you choose. Newfane.^ Niagara Co.., N. Y. Mrs. S. M. W. drucsrt J^armcr |ui^e QJssagi ON THE CULTIVATION OF BARLEY. Bari^ey, like most other grains, has been known and cultivated from the earliest times; and in coun- tries and localities that are favorable to the growth of wheat, rye and oats, it is, and always has been quite extensively raised. It also succeeds in certain soifu that are not favorable to the production of the above named grains. The main qualities to be looked for in the selecffOQ of ground on which to sow barley, are (I.) A deep, rich soil. A black loam, if not too loose and porous generally produces a good crop of barley. (2.) It should be a light soil. Stiff* and heavy soils that pro- duce toleiable good wheat, seldom produce anythiiig more than a second rate crop of barley. (3.) It should be moist, but not a wet soil. The prepara- tion of the soil should be thorough. If barley be gown on ground prepared in the manner that land is THE GENESEE FARMER. 148 frequently prepared for wheat, (by persons calling tliemselvea fanners,) it will most certainly result in a partial, if not an entire, failure. A clover sod, if plowed in the fall or duriufi^ the winter or first spring months, so that freezing and thawing may assist in niellowing and pulverizing the earth is nearly certain to produce a sood crop of barley, if the soil and lo- cation be judiciously selected and the ground pre- pared in the best manner in the spring, before the Bced be sown, and then tliorougly harrowed in. There are several varieties of barley — the most prominent of which are the " two-rowed,"' the " four- rowed," the "six-rowed," and the beardless. The " sii-rowed"' is generally supposed to be the best, from the fact that it is the hardiest, and withstands the rigors of the northern latitudes better than either of the other l)earded varieties. The beardless is as yet, not much known. It was discovered in the gulches of the Himalayan mountains, and it promises to be SI valuable acquisition, as it is entirely free from b«ards. Barley should be sown as tarhj as the season will admit of the necessary preparation. The amount usually sown per acre varies from two to three bush- els— poor soils when sown early, requiring less, and rich, well prepared soils, especially if sown a little late, requiriutr more seed. Generally there is more danger from sowing too nmeh, than from a lack of seed. I ]Iu harvesting barley, it is very important that it be cut at the proper time. If it be cut too green, the grain Vi'ill shrink, and consequently lose in weight, and if too ripe, it will waste in the cutting and hand- ling, as it shells out very easily. The main use to which barley is applied in this country, is in the manufacture of malt liquors; but there are other ways in which it can be used that will ultimately give a better return to the consumer. In Europe it is quite extensively used in feedmg horses. When boiled and mixed with cut straw, it acts as an excellent aperient, as well as sudorific — opening the system, and softening the skin. The pre- judices which have long existed in this country against it as food for horses, (from the supposition that it is too heating for them) would vanish if these persons would reflect that the best horses in the world are raised where barley forms one of the principal ingre- dients in their food. It is also an excellent food for hogs, if ground and mixed with their swill. The average number of bushels per acre is about tv,-enty-*ive — costing the producer about fifty cents per bushel. It ranges in price at present from $1.00 to $1.37 J per bushel, leaving a net profit of from 50 to 87 1 cents per bushel It leaves the ground in good condition for wheat. There should not be two successive crops of barley raised on the same held. Laceyville, Ohio. John G. Sampson. ON THE CULTIVATION OF KOOT CK0P3. Beets. — I have had some experience in the culti- vation of all the different kinds. For field culture, I Mangel Wuizel, White and Yellow Sugar; for gar- den, Long Blood Bassano and Blood Turnip are the best varieties. For garden culture, the seed may be «own early in April for early, and in June for fall and (Winter use. The Bassano is the best early, and the Blood Beets follow so.jn after. They all require a ^eep, warm, rich soil, and should be sown about tjrenty inches apart in rows, and stand about four or six inches apart in the rows. The Geld beets should be sown about the first of June on a well prepared soil, on ridges about three feet apart, and thinntil to eight inches in the row. The seed should be soaked in warm water three or four days before sowing ; then roll in plaster, sow, and tread in the seed as you sow, and cover lightly with a rake. This method of sowing will make sure work, if the weather and ground are dry; if wet, the treading in may be omitted. The beets will make their appearance in from four to eight days. As soon as large enough, pass through the rows with a hoe, and weed and keep them clean. The proper time ^or thinning, is when the plants are about two inches high, when the ground is moist after a rain. The cultivator can be profitably used as soon as the plants are large enough, and the last working should be with a small shovel plow or horse hoe. I know of no better way of harvesting than pulling them by hand and top- ping with a knife, and this should be done before hard frosts in the fall. Parsneps. — Very little attention has been given to the parsnep as a field crop, it being confined prin- cipally to the garden in a small bed, designed chiefly for the table, and in ray opinion is one of the best garden vegetables raised for winter and spring use. Cannot they be profitably grown as a field crop ? I think they can. Its culture requires much the same treatment as the carrot, but should be sown very early, as soon as the ground is warm and dry, ynd in the same manner.* The seed should be f-own dry. You must wait patiently for them to come up, for, as every one who has raised them knows, it takes some- time for them to vegetate, but if once up and clean from weeds, they wifl .grow most luxuriantly. They should be thinned to about four inches in the row. They should be kept clean through the summer, and they will grow till snow comes, and can be left in the beds all winter without injury, which is convenient if you are short of store room. When the frost be- gins to come out of the ground in the spring they are ready for use; or if wanted in the winter, some may be dug in the fall and covered over in the cellar with dirt. A good crop will produce five or six hundred bushels per acre; ai-d as food for cattle and hogs, they are most excellent. They may stand where they grew till the ground is wanted for another crop, and then harvested and fed after all other roots are gone. Working cattle are very fond of them, and will eat them as greedily as they will corn meal. It small, they may be fed whole; if large, slice them with a spade. They usually grow deep in the ground, and may be leadily harvested by plowing close to the side of a row and pulling them out, and then plowing again till all are finished. EuTA. Bag.a. — This crop is not cultivated exten- sively in this country, although a profitable crop for a farmer to raise. Still, it is not without its draw- backs. The fiist is, they are a very small plant when they first come out of the ground, hardly discernable, and many times the small black ground flea devours them before the cultivator gets sight of them, and more than likely he will say that the seed was bad and never came up, when the fact is it came up the second time before he thought of looking for it. This flea is a great drawback to the cultivation of • See an article on the Cultivation of Carrots, in last aumbw, page 110.— Eds. 144: THE GENESEE FARMER. ruta bagas, turnips, cabbages, &c. Several remedies have been proposed, one of which I will mention : Soak the seed in tanner's oil two days, and roll it in plaster before sowing. I have tried it, and sometimes it failed and sometimes not, so that 1 cannot say tliat the remedy is certain. A great help is to watch about the time the seed is coming np, and scatter plaster on the rows. If they get tv/o or three days ahead of the flea, there is not much danger. Second, some seasons they will not make good bulbs, and produce light crops. The reason I cannot give, but it is attributed to old seed, and sometimes to dry, hot weather. The best soil for this crop is a deep black muck, manured lightly, and well incorporated with the soil. The ground should be ridged about two feet apart, and seed sown on the rid:es and raked in. It will come up in three or four days, if the v/eather is good. Sow about the fifteenth of June. Keep them clean, and thin, when quite small, to about six inches in the rows. Use horse and cultivator when large enough, and for the last time use double mould-board plov/ or horse hoe. If the season is good, eight hundred bushels per acre may be expected, and will not cost more than four or five centa per bushel. The best way I have tried for harvesting is to pull and lay two rows in one, laying the tops all one way; then take a sharp spade, and walk along and clip them off. A man will top in this way from three to fire hun- dred bushels per day. Drive your wagon along side and throw them in, and the work is finished. They make good feed for fat cattle during fall and spring, and mild weather in winter. Sheep will do v/ell fed with them during winter and spring. Cows like them, but if giving milk they impart to it an un- pleasant flavor, and also to the butter made from it. They are first rate winter and spring turnips for ta- ble use, and will keep good in the cellar till June. Turnips. — The common turnip is raised more or less by almost every farmer and gardener in this coun- try, or at least they sow some seed expecting to find turnips in the fall. Some very wisely sow extensively for feeding cattle; others scatter a little seed in the garden, corn or potato field, hoping to raise some for table use. This crop, seemingly neglected more or less, and so little trouble taken to prepare a piece of land on purpose for it, may be made a very profit- able one by proper attention and selection of varie- ties. It will grow on almost any soil, if well pulver- ized; but the best is black muck, new land, sandy and chestnut loam. They may be sown from the first of July to the fifteenth of August. After wheat, oats and barley, plow the ground immediately after harvest, harrow thoroughly, and wait for the grain to come up; after it has well started, cultivate thorough- ly to destroy it, and then sow your turni])S broadcast; harrow them in, and roll if the weather is dry. Soon as up, sow plaster, and if the ground is clean nothing excepting thinning will be required; but if weedy, use the hoe, and weed. A good crop may be ex- pected, and not to cost over three or four cents per bushel. The best varieties are the White Stubble, Red Top, Strap Leaf, and White Dutch. They may be fed to all kinds of stock except horses. If fed to milch cows, the tap root should be cut off and not given to the cows, and the milk will not taste. Feed iat cattle once a day, abont three pecks each, and once with corn meal, and they will thrive well. Brighton, JY. Y. E. S. Hatwaud, ON TEE CULTIVATION OF EEANS. The cultivation of the white bean as a field crop, does not receive the attention in this country, that its importance demands. As a rotation crop, especially with wheat, its value is not properly estimated. Beans impoverish the soil but little, yet are rich in nitrogen, and more nutritious food can be ob- tained from an acre of beans than of almost any other crop. Beans flourish best in a light, warm soil. They will thrive on any soil that will grow corn. If a clover sod, it should be turned over as soon in the spring as the ground is in good condition; and, for beaas as well as for any other crop, the surface should be well pulverized. The soil should be moderately rich; if too rich they grow too much to vines, and do not bear well. Some recommend 'planting as soon as the middle of May, but in most seasons this is too early. They should not be planted till late spring frosts and long, cold rains ai-e over — say from the 25th of May to the 5 th of June, when the ground is warm and dry. The seed should not be covered more than one inch. The plants will be up in five days, and in two weelis will be ahead of those planted earlier. Beans should be cultivated in drills two and a half feet apart, that the cultivator or shovel plow may be freely worked between them ; and if the land is free from weeds the hand hoe need be httle used. Planting beans by hand, is a slow and tedious job. Where they are extensively cultivated, of course the planter will be used, but the small farmer who has not the facilities afforded by these implements, can yet grow his half acre or acre of beans profitably. The labor of dropping may be greatly facilitated by a little Yankee ingenuity. Take an old tin coflee pot or tin pail, (one with a cover is better;) fix it to a handle sufficiently long to enable you to walk erect, while holding the dish near the ground. Punch a hole in the bottom large enough to let the seed through freely, and you have an implement that will not have cost you half an hours labor, and will do the work quite efficiently. Mark out the drills, drop the seed from three to six inches, (the richer the soil the less seed) in the drills, when they may be covered by hands, or an ex- pert plowman will cover them with a common or shovel plow. Beans should be well cultivated; the ground fre- quently stirred and kept free from weeds, and my word for it they are a crop that will pay well. Try it farmers and report the result in the Genesee Far mer. A. L. Hoyt. Walton, Delaware Co., JY. Y. ON THE CULTIVATION OF SFEIKG "WHEAT. Spring Wheat is now cultivated to a much greate extent in this section than it ever has been befon Not having the severe winter to battle against, it i generally a more certain crop than winter whea The modes of cultivating spring v/heat are various, persons expect to raise good crops, they must pn pare the land well. Land that is intended for sprin wheat, should be summrr fallowed and manured tb previous year. Plow the land three or four^tim< THE GENESEE FARRIER. 145 during the summer, leaving it ridged \ip in the fall. Or where people cannot aflbrd, or have not time, to sumnier fallow as much as they ro([uirc for spring wheat, they can often raise very good crops by taking pea or potato land, plowing it as soon as the crops are off, giving it a dressing of manure, and ridging it up before frost s;'ts in. In the spring, run a cultiva- tor over it until it is well stirred up to the depth of three or four inches. Spring wheat requiies a fine, mellow soil, but not deep; hence it is better to culti- vate iu the spring than to plow. Sow about the tenth or tiftceuth of May, and you will generally evade the midge, the fly being gone before the wheat is' far enough advanced for them to injure it. — Sow one and a half bushels per acre. If your land is in good order, this will be plenty thick enough. The Fife wheat is the favorite among the farmers here, as it never rusts, however late it is sown. JS'eu'castle, Durhan Co., C. W. J. E. Bkman. ON THE CULTIVATION OF EYE. Op this grain we have but one species and but two varieties in this section that we know of, namely — winter and spring rye. Laud containing a large pro- portion of sand is best adapted for rye, which is said to be the only grain that will mature on land con- taining over eighty-five per cent, of sand. Lands of this nature may be very properly called " rye lands." But rye is not confined exclusively to sandy soils; it ■will grow on almost any soil that is dry enough for cultivation. While it will produce better than any other cereal on poor lands, the richer the soil the more vigorous and luxuriant will the crop be. Perhaps your Genesee farmers would do well to substitute winter rye for wheat in some instances. As a general rule, land that will produce but a light crop of wheat will produce a heavy crop of rye. It may be sown about the same time as wheat, not less than two bushels per acre, well harrowed in. It needs but a slight covering, and the land should be well pulverized with the harrow before sowing. Good land will generally produce thirty bushels per acre. We think rye is the most certain crop that can be sown on all soils. Rye may therefore be considered a great boon to the inhabitants of sandy and poor countries. Without it, many districts would have been almost uninhabitable. When fully ripe, the grain is easily shelled ; therefore rye growers should observe Cato's maxim: "Secure your crop two days too soon, rather than two days too late." H. H. Taylor. East Rodman, Jefferson Co., JY. Y. ON THE CULTIVATION OF OATS. The common white oat is most generally cultiva- ted with us, and is probably besfadapted to the soil and climate of this latitude. The chief peculiarities of this grain, and which distinguish it from nearly all others, is that it will grow on almost any soil, and may be sown year after year on the same soil with tolerable success. It will flourish on the coldest soils and on the most tenacious clays, as well as on poor sands and gravely land. The reason of this probably is that oats appropriate to their nourishment every particle which the soil will yield, and which would not be absorbed by other plants without time and tillage. When cultivated on a fertile soil, however, they are nuich more profitable. Oats may be sown from April to June, but like all other sprmg grain, the earlier the better after the soil is dry enough to work. It is a well established fact that early sown spring grain, with very few ex- ceptions, is heavier anil better than late sown. A good way to raise oats, is to plow the land in the fall, and in the spring cultivate thoroughly with a two horse cultivator, and sow not less than three bushels of good clean seed per acre. Harrow in and roll down, and when a part of the heads are turned, cut and cure well, and the straw will make very good fodder especially if not more than half threshed. — The yield will be from ten to sixty bushels per acre, according to the season, richness of soil, &c. H. H. Taylor. East Rodman, Jeff. Co., JV. Y. ON THE CULTIVATION OF BROOM CORN. The first thing of much importance in raising broom corn is the selection of a soil, and its proper preparation for the seed. It is asserted by some that any soil upon which Indian corn will grow and thrive, is equally as good for broom corn. This, however is hardly true. All coki, stiff, and wet soils should be avoided, also those which are infected with roots or noxious weeds. A warm, rich and finely pulverized soil is needed for the growth of broom corn, and after it has got started, great care must be taken to sub- due and keep the weeds down, or the weeds will sub- due the broom corn, and instead of tall, handsome stalks, you will have a few pale, sickly looking plants. Take my word for it, if you would have your broom corn tall and thrifty, you mvst subdue the weeds. The ground should be manured, plowed and har- rowed the same as if prepared for Indian corn, except perhajDS, a little more pains must be taken in prepar- ing and mellowing the soil. Plant as early as the weather will permit, say from the 20th of April to the 15th of May, in rows three feet and a half apart, and hills about twenty inches apart in the row. I generally plant about a dozen seeds in a hill, and at the second hoeing when the broom corn is about eighteen inches in height, thin out each hill to seven or eight stalks. Ashes are very beneficial to broom corn, if strewed around each hill, but care must be taken not to have them lie against the stalks, or they will do more harm than good. The ashes will serve to keep the com ahead of the weeds, which otherwise might over-run and destroy it. I cultivate my broom corn three times during the summer, hoeing it each time, and at the last time hiU up the plants a little as this will serve to keep them from being blown over by the August winds. As soon as the seed has perfectly ripened, I go through my fields and " table " the head, which in other words means the breaking down of the top of each plant so as to remain iu a horizontal position. Before severe frosts come on, I go through the field with a good sharp knife and cut off the brush just above the upper joint. The brush is spread out on a kind of rack or trellis prepared for the purpose. — As soon as the brush is perfectly dry, the seed should be separated from it which is done iu various ways. I use the " comb," which is made by sawing a board 146 THE GENESEE FARMER. in the end so as to make teeth, through which I draw the corn until it is cleaned of its seed. List year I raised two acres of broom corn, but this year I intend to plant about five acres. Lockport, JY. Y. J. B. Clement. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF MUCH COWS. Some difference of opinion prevails among dairy- men as to the best method of managing milch cows. In this article I shall simply give my views, which are the result of some fifteen years' experience and observation. First, then, I prefer what is termed the native cows to those imported, as being more hardy, easier kept, and producing more milk, butter and cheese, with the same amount of feed and care. To make cows profitable for butter and cheese making, they should come in about the first of March, and be furnished with good warm stables, plenty of pure water, all the salt they will eat at least once a week, plenty of good hay twice or three times a day, and half a bushel of yellow carrots, each, once a d-Av, until there is abundance of good feed in the pastures. Some feed corn meal, but carrots are de- cidedly preferable. The meal will increase the flesh, and is preferable to any other feed for fattening pur- poses; but carrots will produce more milk and better butter than any other feed, and at one-half the ex- panse of feeding meal. Every dairyman should raise carrots enough to feed his cows from the time they come in, in the spring, until they are turned out to pasture. Cows should be milked at six o'clock in the morn- ing and at six o'clock in the evening, thus dividing the time equally. The milk should be drawn as quickly as possible by the milkers, and every cow stripped perfectly clean, as the last gill contains more butter than the four first; and if any milk is left in the udder, its effect will be to dry up the cow. Cows that come in the first of March, should be dried up about the first of December, and fed all the good bay they will eat through the winter. Good native cows treated as above indicated will pay well until they are from fifteen to eighteen years ol(], when they should be well fattened on corn meal, and they will sell for as much as they cost when five or six years old, which is the best age for dairymen to buy. H. H. Taylor. Hast Rodman, Jefferson Co., JV. Y. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG STOCK AND WOIiK'NG OXEN. In the first place the calf should be kept growing, and never suffered to get poor and stunted in its growth. If the calf is permilted to suck the eow, it will no doubt do well enough; but as the milk is generally wanted for butter, a cheaper way should be pointed out — which can be done by taking the calf from the cow — the sooner the better — and learn ing it to drink new milk. After it is accustomed to drinking, its feed can be gradually changed to skim- med milk, warmed to the proper temperature, with the addition of a little buckwheat flour or Indian meal, with a little salt occasionally. Should the calf get the scours, a feed or two of new milk will generally cure. When the calf is two weeks old, if in winter or early spring, give a litthi hay as it will by that time begin to eat. As saon as the grass is sufficiently grown, let it have the run of the calf pasture, and change its feed gradually to sour milfc. In about three or four months wean it from milk, but continue to feed meal, and under no circumstances, let it fail away and get poor, but keep it continually growing. The first winter the calf should have all the hay it will eat, together with oats, bran or meal, or little of each mixed together, and a few carrots or other roots once a day, will well pay for the trouble; and your calves will come out in the spring as ?lick and spry as race horses; and by the next fall, will be as lar^ as two-year olds generally are. The second winter they can have the run of tBe yaid and coarser feed; but at this period a little meal with roots, once a day, will pay better than money at interest. A young, and growing animal of any kind, in tliQ winter season, needs a greater variety of food, and of a more nourishing character than the one of mattire age. While the animal that has its growth, onfy needs food enough to keep up the natural wear of the system; the young one needs food sufficient, and of that character, as will furnish an increase of bone and muscle, in addition to the natural wear of the systems, And here I would speak of the advantages of good warm sheds and stables for all kinds of stock. 'I'he food answers the same purpose for the animal, that the wood does for the stove; the warmer the rooio, the less wood will be required for the stove; the warmer the stable, the less food will be required to keep up the animal heat; and if a young animal, the greater will be the baiance, to give a supply of bone and muscle to increase its growth. AVoRKiNG Oxen should be stabled nights in t6« winter, especially towards spring, before the working season commences. If they are not worked much in the winter, they will not need grain until about the first of March, when they should be stabled and fed grain, or meal, but by no means feed corn, as it is too heating and produces fat, when muscle is what is wanted. They should be kept up either in the stable or yard, until the spring's work is all finished; and should not be turned out to grass while it is young and tender. If you want them to stand the heat, keep them up and feed them oats, as you do your horses; or perhaps a better way would be, to cut hay, wet it and sprinkle on oatmeal, and you will not only be as- tonished at seeing them plow, "bout for bout" with your horses, but they will also hold their tongues, and keep them in their mouths, where Ihey should be. JVewfane, JV. Y. C. C. Wilson. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES. I SUPPOSE that you wish as many to write on the subjects mentioned in your list as will, so I will write you a few lines on the honey bee. The Construction of Proper Hives. — I make my hives of common inch boards, two about fourteen inches wide, and two sixteen inches. This makes the hive just square. I make them twenty-two inches high with a partition eight inches from the top.-*- This gives plenty of room for the bees, and also fo? good sized boxes. I make a notch in the front board at the bottom one-third of an inche deep and three inches long. Then four inches above this I make om half inch hole, and another in the back side close up to the partition. These are for the free circulatiaa THE GENESEE FARMER. 147 6f air in the winter when the front entrance is liable to be clof-cd up with snow. 1 tintl that hives where there is a free circuilation of air are not so liable to be destroyed by frost. Unless there is vsome outlet for their breath it will soon form ice and fieeze them to death. Always before hivinir, be careful to see that the boxes are bottom side us. If this caution is not taken, the bees will sometimes commence to work iu the boxes, and form their brood comb there. The boxes may be turned over the third day, as by that time they will have begun to work below. Ox THE Hiving of Bees. — Our bees commonly settle on a bush or tree. If on a low bush, I place a board on the ground and place the hive on that; but if a high bush or tree, I use a table. At all events, I place my hive with the front side next the bees, and raise it on two small blocks aliout an inch. Then bend down the limb in front of the hive and jar them oS on the board. They will soon all be in the hive. If the limb cannot be bent down in front of the hive, it is a good plan to spread a cloth on the table; that prevents hurting the bees when they fall on the board. I always keep perfectly still while they are swarming and let them have their own way. On the Management after thet are Hived. — Oar bee house stands east and west, with an open front to the south. As soon as it begins to grow dark, I take them and place them in the house where they are to stand, with their fronts to the south. — After this they need no further care, except to ex- auiine for millers and worms, and give them frequent- ly a lump of salt. In the spring I turn them up and e:samine them, aid break cut about one half of the Gomb, taking it clean as far as I go. The next spring break out the remaining side, in this way the bees al- ways have new comb. The bees may be kept quiet during the operation by blowing some tobacco smoke ipto the hive previous to turning it over. They will ■oon come to activity again and feel as well as ever. Heme,; JY. Y. C. A. Howe. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF WOOD LAND. Wood land where there is plenty of wood for fuel and other purposes, as in new and unsettled districts, generally receives but little, if any attention; but in older settled places, where the native forests are be- coming scarce, and wood is iu demand for fuel, the farmer begins to turn a little attention to his wood land, and finds to his sorrow that all his best and nicest timbered land is cleared and he has not an *cre of good wooded land on his farm. The above is the condition of a number of farms in this vicinity, but it will not apply in all cases. All wood land that is desirable to save requires some attention, especially where fire is apt to be let out into the woods in drj times by some careless or knavish person, and burn the woods over every few years. I would say guard wood lands with a watch ful eye against fire; and in cuttiug timber for fuel and other purposes, be sure and not cut young and thirifiy trees, if there i« timber down and decaying trees that mU. answer your purpose. In catting trees out of your wood lot, cut first those in the most exposed aituation that are liable to be blown down by hard winds. Preserve with care young and thrifty sprouts and saplings. Cattle should be kept cut of woods of small growth where young Bprouts are continually growing up and forming new trees; and I should re- commend to keep nil cuttle out of M-ood land ; and keep the underbrush thinned out where it is growing up thicker than it should stand to form a nice second growth grove. By a judicious management I think a reasonable sized wood lot will keep a farm iu fuel and timber, and grow all the time sullicieut to replace that which is taken out for use. Isaac Handali* MasonviUe, JV. Y. ON THE MANAGSMEKT OF BARN-YARD MANURE. The great object to be attained in making manure is to preserve all the strength (I will not use any big, Idiuding terms) of the manure. This comprises the whole thing, and it is easily done by never letting it ferment above ground Horses, cows and oxen should always be stabled in our cold climate in win- ter. Their stables should have plenty of space be- hind them, a tight floor so as to place muck, saw dust, chip dung, or soine other absorbent to retain the urine. The young stock, sheep and hogs should have a large yard, tight, warm sheds and plenty of straw, and other absorbents. There should be a tight bin or box under the shed and through the yard, having cross pieces two or three feet apart, so that one ani- mal should not intrude without some diilieulty on the next ones rights. These bins will prevent the fodder from getting "under foot" and prevent the hogs from rooting it. After the stock have eat what they will, clear the bins out, scattering it over the yard. To this add the manure and refuse from the stables and a fjuart of shelled corn to each hog. The hog is a wonderfully industrious animal, if there is plenty of corn for pay. They will turn the whole contents of the yard over once at least every day, mixing the whole together and add something into the bargain. Add to this in the winter as much swamp muck as you please — the more the better. In the spring take this whole mass clean to the ground and carry it on to your land before it fer- meiits. This is the secret. Spread it over the land intended for spring crops, or your summer fallow and plow the ground six or eight inches deep, taking special care to haul into the furrow and cover it all up. Here it will decompose; the roots of vegetables will find it and you get it back again to your garner without any loss of the organic substances. Some advocate the doctrine of top dressing. There may be very wet seasons when it may do good, but I venture to say that one load of manure plowed in fairly below the surface is worth six loads laid on top of the ground to dry and blow away. Look at the droppings of cattle and horses on meadows, lying all summer in a dry mass and the giass no larger near them than any where else. Joel Houghton. Adamt' Batin, JV. Y. ON THE MOST ECONOMICAL MODE OF OBTAINING FEilT^LIZERS, OTHER THAN BASN-YARD MAT^TJRE. This subject is too important and extended to be fully discussed in one short article, and I hope some of your able correspondents will do it full justice. — Having had some experience in the use of the vari- ous artificial fertilizers I will give you my views, not SO much in hope of taking the " premium " as from a 148 THE GENESEE FARMER. desire to contribute my mite to the general fund of agricultural knowledge. Peruvian Guano. — I consider this one of the most valuable fertilizers yet discovered. It is used to an enormous extent in England, and all the efforts which have been made to manufacture an artificial fertilizer equal to it for wheat and other grain crops, have as yet proved abortive. Its use on the im- poverished soils of Delav/are, Maryland and Virginia has increased the value of these lands in the aggre- gate millions of dollars over and above the cost of tie guano. On this point there can be no doubt. — Yet it must not be inferred from this that the use of guano on all farms will be profitable. In fact I am well satisfied that it \yill not. If the land without any manure will produce fifteen bushels of wheat per acre, 200 pounds of Peruvian guano would make it yield twenty bushels per acre. The guauo would cost $6, and where wheat is worth not more than ^1 per bushel, the use of guano entails a loss of $1 per acre. If wheat is wotth $2 per bushel, there will be a gain of ij?! per bushel. The economy of using gu- ano on such lands, therefore, depends on the price of wheat. The case is somewhat different on the im- poverished farms of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The land there, in many instances, produces little more than the seed, and its cultivation would have to be abandoned but for the aid of artificial fertilizers. The use of 200 pounds of guano costing $6 produces a crop of fifteen or twenty bushels per acre, on land that could not be profitably cultivated without it. — Farmers there must either use guano or abandon their farms, and it is easy to see that v>'e should be wrong in concluding from the fact that guauo is there used with profit, and has doubled and trebled the value of farming lands, that its use would be profitable in sections where wheat can be grown with jwofit with- out the aid of artificial fertilizers. But cannot guano be used with advantage on other crops than wheat, in sections where the land will yield fair crops without guano, but which never- theless will produce much larger crops by the aid of guano? I believe it can. Take for instance pota- toes: In ordinary seasons an acre of potatoes yields more money, (not, necessarily, profit,) than wheat. In the case of wheat, we have assumed that 200 lbs. of guano increase the crop one-third. If the same amount of guano will increase the crop of potatoes one-third, and a crop of potatoes is worth more than a crop of wheat, it follows that there is more profit from the application of guano to potatoes than to wheat. This is not a speculative conclusion merely. I have known 300 pounds of Peruvian guano increase the field of potatoes 100 bushels per acre. In other words, without guano, the yield was 100 bushels, and with guano 200 bushels per acre; and I might men- tion that the potato grovrers around Albany are per- fectly satisfied that the use of guano is very jjrofita- ble on their poor sandy lands. The same remarks apply with equal truth to onions, carrots, tobacco and many other crops. On onions especially, I have found guano a very effective man- ure, and the relative high price of the crop makes its use very profitable. Superphosphate of Lijie. — I have not had much experience in the use of the manures sold under this name in nearly all our large cities; but I have made superphosphate from bones, burnt and ground, and used it with considerable advantage. I made it after a receipt given in the Genesee Farmer. Take 100 pounds of ground bones, (the finer the better,) and wet the bone dust with thirty pounds of water, and then add forty pounds of common oil of vitriol. la a few days this will form a plastic mass of rich man- ure, which I dry by mixing with it coal ashes, (wood ashes will injure it unless they are leached.) For let- tuce, turnips, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, melons, and nearly all garden vegetables, except potatoes, this manure will be found very beneficial. It may be placed in immediate contact with all seeds without injury, and has a remarkable effect on the production on the small fibrous roots of the plant and pushes it forward rapidly to maturity. This effect is veiy marked on turnips. I may here say that I would not be without super- phosphate of lime or guano for my garden vegetables if it cost double its present price. Both these man- ures act rapidly, and are therefore under more imme- diate control. They can be applied at any time du- ring the growth of the plant either in the dry or liquid state. They have the additional advantage too of being free from weeds. PouDRETTE, Tafeu, &c.— Every farmer should man- ufacture this article for himself, and not lose his money in purchasing the commercial article sold under these names. I have no hesitation in saying that a good, cheap commercial poudrette has yet to be made. Compost Heaps. — No farm or garden should be without its compost heap. The limits prescribed to this article, precludes allusion to their management ia detail, or to the substances of which they might pro- fitably be composed. I may be allowed to say, how- ever, that leaveSjWeeds, and decayed vegetable and ani- mal substances of all kinds should find their way to the compost heap. The soap-suds and other waste liquid from the house should be thrown upon it, and if you have sufficient loamy soil to prevent all possibility of escape of ammonia, the spare wood and coal ashes, lime, &c., might be scattered on it from day to day as they accumulate. Pieces of woolen rags, scraps of leather, hair, dead animals, &c., when thoroughly de- composed without lofs, as in a com.post heap, afford the best of all fertilizers — more powerful even than the best Peruvian guano. I consider the compost heap oue of the " most economical modes of obtain- ing fertilizers, other than barn-jard manure." Mineral Manures. — Ashes, leached and unleach- ed, lime, plaster, marl and other mineral manures, may be so used as to add much to the fertility of the farm. As a general rule, they are most useful applied to clover, peas, beans, turnips and other crops which ob- tain nearly all the'r ammonia from the atmosphere. Mineral manures seldom benefit wheat and other grain crops, but when applied to clover, peas, grass, &c., they increase their growth; and these crops, consum- ed on the farm, furnish an increased quantity of fer- tilizing matter of great value to the high priced cereals. Irrigation. — In England and many European countries, nearly every farm has its water meadow, which is made to produce an immense amount of hay by irrigation. Boussingault considers these irrigat- ed low lands the most economical source of manure. There can be no doubt that we have in this country thousands of acres of land that might be irrigated at little expense, and which would furnish, without man- THE GENESEE FARMER. 149 tire, immense crops every year. ITay so obtained would not only be valuable food fof stock, but the manure obtained from its consumption would serve to enrioli the ujiland por*,ion3 of the farm. The same remarks apply to low land which only needs a little draiiiin;i: to make it produce immense crops. Nature has locked up in many of our swampa and swales, mitios of fertilizing matter. Peat and Swam? Muok;. — On many farms it is easy to get these valuable crganic manures. I have had but little personal experience iu their use, and ehonld be very glad to hear from those who have, especially in regard to the best manner of using them. Bo.NES. — T had nearly forgotton the old bones which might readily be obtained iu considerable quantity in many districts merely for the picking up. That they are a valuable m.anure all who have used them admit, and it cannot be doubted that if collected aiid crash- ed they would be a " most economical " fertilizer. ON THE USE 0? LEACHED ASHES AS A MAnURE Thk time has been when leached ashes were con- sidered a great nuisance, so much so that ash hop- pers were placed in some out-of-the way place, and let remain there until the leached ashes formed such an embankment that it became absolutely neces- Bary to remove the hopper to some other place. But those days have passed away, and leached ashes are now as highly esteemed here and elsewhere as plaster, and they do not cost farmers anything except the hauling and spreading on the ground. They have been found excellent for gardens, if put on at the proper time, and in the right quantity. I would recommend putting them on iu the fall, and digging them in; if put on in the spring, there should not be as much used, and great care should he taken to have them tvell mixed with the soil. There is nothing better for grape vines: apply them every spring and fall, with other manures. jSTo farmer or gardener should be without a com- post heap, and leached ashes should always be one )f the principal ingredients. Leached ashes have jeen found valuable for wheat, if sown over the ground in the fall. Let a field be all of precisely the iame kind of soil, sow it to wheat, and then ash one lalf and leave the other half unashed, and the dif- erence is distinctly visible as far as the wheat can be ecu. The part on which the ashes were applied will le greener aud more thrifty during the whole sum- } ner, and when harvest comes the difference will be f that character which will convince you that ashes re not to be despised as being a nuisance ; and iin- ■ke most other manures, their benefit lasts from three 0 four years, at least. On a slaty loam, leached shes will perhaps have as much effect as on any •ther. On this kind of soil, if one half of the field i left without a dressing of ashes, and they are ap- lied to the other half, there will be a marked differ- nce in the two grain crops; and if then sown to lover, the half on which the ashes were put will i»ld at least one-third more hay than the other. In the cultivation of the strawberry, leached ashes re very beneficial as a manure, as they make the round open and porous, — a very desirable con- deration. ' Leached ashes are used with advantage on almost TOry class of crops, but especially as a dressing for grass, grain and Indian corn, though their inmiediate eflects are most perceptible on clover, peas, beans, &c Meadows that have lain out until they have become covered with moss, and consequently produce but small crops of grass, may ollcn be renovated by the application of leached ashes. Indian corn will be very materially benefited by the application of a lit- tle around the hills, while it is small; they should not be suffered to come in contact with the plants. They may be applied to thin, sterile soils, in small quanti- ties, with good eff^.'ct; larger quantities would be too exhausting, and should be applied only to soils that are rich in vegetable matter, unless in connection with other manures. They should not be applied after lime has stimulated the land to the utmost, nor two years in succession, unless mixed with other ma- nures supplying organic matter to the soil, and thus benefiting instead of exhausting it. In those soils which already contain much alkali, the soluble parts of.ashes will be of little utility, and the leached parts will be very beneficial, if judiciously applied, for few soils contain so much phosphoric acid as not to be benefited by its application. John G. Sampson. Laceyville, Harrison Co., Oltio. ON THE USE OF UNLEACHED ASHES AS A MANURE. Unleached Ashes, iu my humble opinion, are of far more value than many people imagine. I have used ashes as manure every year since I commenced fariTiing, and so satisfied am I of their fertilizing value that I would not sell a bushel for twice or thrice the price paid for them at the asheries. I will give a little of my experience in the use of them, as the best that I can say in their favor. The greatest in- crease caused by ashes that I have known, by actual measure, was on potatoes, used as a top dressing, ia the year 1846. After dressing my corn v.'ith ashes that year, I had one bushel left, which I put on eight rows of potatoes, which yielded at digging time one bushel to the row more than any other rows in the field. It was a sod land, turned over in the spring, and planted without manure of any kind. I have no doubt that the one bushel of ashes increased my crop of potatoes eight bushels. The rows were about fourteen rods long. For corn, I think ashes and plaster, mixed at the rate of two parts of ashes aud one of plaster, and a small handful of the mixture put into each hill, the best way to use them. This mixture I prefer to either alone, or both, used as a top dressing. I think it has made one-half difference in the value of a piece of corn, judging from one row left without the ashes and plaster, not from actual measurement. It wag on ground without manure of any other kind. Ashes alone, as a top dressing, are very beneficial to corn. After it has come up, I find where I have used it so the stocks are larger and taller, the ears usually longer and better filled out, and the corn sounder and some earlier. For spring wheat I have found ashes beneficial, sown broadcast as a top dressing, but my experience has been small with them on wheat, — limited to a couple of trials. On grass, such as meadow, (I have never tried ashes on any other,) if it has run out, so that it yields but light crops, a dressing of ashes, fifteen or twenty bushels to the acre, has increased the crop of hay 160 THE GENESEE FARMER two, three, and even four folci, and for several years after good crops ol grass have been obtained. I have never used ashes on wet land, nor with any other manure, with the exception of plaster. I. Eandall. Masonville, Delaware Co., J\t. Y. OH THE USE OF SALT AS A MANURE Salt has been used as a manure for grass lands, meadows, «fec., in all parts of the world, with varying success. It is said to sweeten the herbage, and it is •well known that when salt is sprinkled over a portion of a pasture, cattle, sheep, and horses will immedi- ately repair to the salted part in preference to any other portion of the field. It evidently renders grass more palatable to live stock. Upon consulting the old treatises on agriculture we find that salt has been used in various agricultural operations from a very early period. Salt renders the earth capable of ab- sorbing the moisture of the atmosphere, a property of the first importance, since those soils whicli absorb the greatest proportion of the moisture of the atmos- phere, are always the most productive. Salt v,'hen applied to land in small quantities promotes the de- compositions of animal and vegetable substance; and it destroys vermin and kills weeds, which are thus converted into manure. It is a direct constituent or food of some plants, and it has been clearly ascer- tained that if salt is applied to a soil the vegetables afterwards growing thereon are found to contain it in increased proi^ortions. It acts upon vegetables as a stimulant and preserves them from injury by sud- den transitions in the temperature of the atmo?*phere. That soils do not freeze so readily as usual when salt is applied to them is well known. Salt also pre- serves crops of turnips, cabbage, &c., from injury by frost. Joseph Lee. — C. IF. ON THE RELATIVE ADYAKTAGES CF EMPLOYING H0aSE3 OR CATTLE IN FARM LABOR. Although I am decidedly of the opinion that cat- tle are the cheapest animals of the two, yet horses can- not be dispensed with; and the farmer should em- ploy both. Horses are quicker and will get over more ground in a day than cattle, and this may be considered one advantage in employing them. But if cattle are slow, they are sure, and they have many great advantages over horses for farm labor. They can be kept at a much less expense; are not as liable to accidents as horses; will not run avray if you can- not be close to them all the time ; can be taken through the woods, swamps and other places where horses would be almost sure to get injured in some ■way. As a general thing they are truer at a heavy load, and are much more easily managed than horses. Suppose a farmer has a span of fine, well- trained horses which he uses in his farm labor, and changes drivers, or in other words, employs new hands, ten chances to one, they will soon be ruined by the awkwardness or ignorance of their new masters, for no two men manage horses just alike; and there are compara- tively speaking, very few who know how to "pull" liorses properly. I have seen steady, valuable ani- mals almost ruiued by the ignorance of new drivers who would balk and overload them. To "start" a pair of horses with a heavy load, especially if one is a little the " quickest," requires an amount of judg- ment which many hired men will not exercise. In- stead of having the dull, sleepy drones which farmers generally have, when they do use horses, they should have the best kind, strong, active and spirited; but it muRt also be remembered that every ignoramus who hires himself to the farmer at ten or fifteen dol- lars a month, cannot work them, and the farmer must either employ dull horses, or always drive them him- self. These difiBculties are in a very great measure ob- viated by using cattle. An ignorant hand can be taught to work them easier than he can horses. They are not half so liable to be injured under his manage- ment, and there is not so much difi'eience between men in working them, so that they soon understand a new hand. They are so slow and steady that they are not worried with a heavy load like horses, and consequently do not need so much attention. HorLes are also liable to a great variety of diseases, from which cattle are entirely free. David Street. Salem, Ohio. — ' -i^* ■■ ■ ON CUTTING HAY, COPN-STALKS AND OTHER FOD- DER FOR HORSES AND CATTLE. The general way of feeding hay, straw, corn-stalks, &e.,is very waste fid, and far from economical. Hay and straw are geneially fed by the fork-full, and the stocit are left to eat what they choose and trample the rest under their feet. But if all their feed is cut and mix- ed with a little meal, they will eat it up clean; and the amount thus saved would appear almost incredi- ble. Even though a farmer raise the most abundant crops, he cannot expect to " get rich " if he wastes them ; and there is a vast of amount of money thrown away every year by careless feeding. Cattle will not eat corn-stalks up clean in their whole state, but when cut into pieces an inch or two in length and mixed with shorts or corn meal, they are eaten very readily. " A penny saved is two pennies earned," and I know from experience that cutting "long feed " for stock is an excellent way of saving pennies. It also pre- pares the food better for the stock, as it requires much less mastication. Unless a horse-power cutting-box is used, the old fashioned long-knife box is tue best I have ever met with, and I think I can cut as much with one of them in good order, as can be done with any patent, high- priced machine. David Street. Salem, Ohio. ON THE BEST SYSTEM OF ROTATION. It is useless at this day to adduce any arguments to prove the propriety, economy or necessity of a rotation of crops, this being, I believe, universally conceded, except, perhaps, by the possessors of the rich prairies or allutial bottoms of the West. The subject, then, comprises only the best rotation of crop.s ; and this will vary according to the pro- ducts cultivated in different sections of the country. Where Indian corn, oats, wheat and hay are the sta- ple productions, and where grazing is practiced or cows kept for dairy purposes, the best rotation un- doubtedly is the cultivation of those products in the order they are named, it being undei stood that the farmer depends on his own barn-yard manure as ft fertilizer. The first crop, then, should be Indian corn, planted THE GENESEE FARMER. 151 on the uliiost p«isturo luiul — universal experience haviiiL^ proved that such land is the best adapted to thi? crop, owing, no doubt, in a ^reat measure to the Ion J rest of the soil from cultivated crops, and to the rich food furnished by the decaying sod. And in order to preserve the fertility of the farm, no more land should be plowed for corn than can be ma- nured at the proper time in the course of the rota- tion. The next crop should be oats, because they will grow on the par;ially exhausted soil better than any other crop. .Some farmers sow wheat after corn, but it is not advisable, as the crop cannot generally be got in until too late in the season; and because it is attended with a great deal of labor, and when done the produce is generally small, unless the ground is manured; and because, if the laud is sown with grass seed, grass will fallow too soon after grass. Again, some farmers let the laud lie fallow till the following season; but a sufiicient objection to this practice is the lensfth of time the ground remains unproductive. Oats, however, are a crop soon got in, and on ordi- nary land they are remunerative, and are harvested in time to give ample opportunity for getting in the wheat in season. Besides, the additional plowing and pulverising of the soil prepares it better for the grass which follows. It is the practice with some to sow clover seed with the oats, and in the following season to plow down either a crop of clover or the depastured sod, and sow with wheat. This will almost always insure a better crop of wheat than can be raised on oats stubble; but grass doe,! not succeed so well after it, and that is a very important matter. I pursued this course for eleven years, but was obliged to abandon it on account of the grass; for although the grass sometimes took finely and produced well for a year or two. yet it always would run out sooner than when sown along with wheat after oats. It is objectiona- ble, also, because sowing clover with the oats and again with the wheat is clovering too much, and the land is apt to become '• clover sick." Again, it is objectionable because the year that the ground lies in clover is in a measure lost. It is true it may be pastured in the fore part of the season, but cattle are not fond of clover alone, and do not thrive so well on it as on a mixed pasture: and if a crop of hay be taken off, it will at best be light, and will also be ex- hausting. Wheat, then, should succeed oats, the ground havin? been well manured. With wheat, timothy seed should be sown, and, in this latitude, at the same time, and clover seed in the spring following. The grass, in ordinary seasons, will be good, and the timo- thy, or natural ^rass, will keep a sod on the ground till it is again plowed for corn- Farms on which this system of rotation is adopted should be divided into seven or eigjht enclosures, having one for each of the crops of corn, oats and wheat, and the rest for hay and pasture. Here in Chester county, where this rotation is practised, and where farmers mostly turn their attention to grazing and feeding cattle, as well as raising grain for market, and where, too, it is customary to apply a coat of liuje OQce In every course of crops, the land main- taius its fertility, and large tracts of worn out land have been redeemed from sterility and made highly productive. L. Chester County, Pa, ON CHEESE MAKlKG. TiiF.RB are three principal objects to be kept in view in making cheese. (1.) To obtain as much cheese as pos^illle from the milk. (2.) To make the cheese of such a flavor as to suit the prevailing taste, and (3) to make it so as it will preserve its sound- ness till marki't time. The quantity of cheese depends upon several items: (1.) The preserving of the n-ghts milk so as to pre- vent the rising of cream. (2.) The cave used in work- ing in the cream. (3.) The care in breaking the cnrd, and (4.) Settling it so as to prevent any of it frompats- ing off in the-whey and in the first pressing. The flavor depends: (1.) Upon the quantity of rennet. (2.) The care in keeping the nights milk from the least souring. (3.) The finely pulveiiziog of the curd. (4.) The height of the scald, and (.").) The quantity of salt. In large dairies the nights milk should be strained into a tin vat, which is placed in a wooden one a few inches larper, so as to admit a quantity of cold water to stand aronud it to keep cool. In case there is not a strtam of running water, in very warm weather it is best to change the water once before retiring for the night. In the morning what cream is up should be skimed and warmed, and then added after the mornings milk is strained in. — Some take off the cream. This not only reduces the quantity of cheese from two to two and a half pounds for every pound of butter the cream will make, but materially injures the quality. The milk should be at about 70° Fahr. when the rennet is introduced, and enough rennet used to bring it to curd in thirty- five to forty minutes. "When it is properly curdled, cut it up finely and carefully with a curd cutter, and after setting a few minutes, work it up carefully with the hand until the curd begins to harden and becomes well separated from the whey, dip off the most of the whey and rai&e the the heat to about 100'-' (many say 115 or even 120) by hot water around the vat, stiring it constantly. Then dip it into a sink in the bottom of which is a rack with a strainer cloth over it; some prefer scalding in this sink. The whey is then drawn oft", and the curd well pulverized by rubbing with the hands. The ialt is now introduced and thoroughly mixed with the curd. The curd is then put iu the hoop in which is a cloth of rather close texture, and pressed moderately for two or three minutes; then press harder, increas- ing the pressure gradually for about five or six hours. Then take it out of the first cloth, put on the band- age, which should be drawn over the corners about an inch, put a fine cloth, cut to shape about as large as the cheese, on the top and bottom, turn the cheese the other side up aiid press from six to twelve tons, until the press is wanted for the next cheese. South Rutland, Jeff. Co, JV. Y. H. Hecox. ON UNDEBDEAINING. Underdraining, though practiced but by compara- tively few, is one of the best investments a farmer can make, if he has land which requires it. Its effects are almost magical; if properly done it converts stiff clay and boggy mudholes, that would produce nothing but coarse water grass and " pollywogs," into a looee porous soil that will repay liberally the labors of the husbandman. Nature has been depositing her wealth in these low places during all time; and as they have not been cropped since Adam was a little boy, we aeed not be at a loss to account for their exceeding --»^ 'aMfiiiiSjAiiw.^ 152 THE GEISTISEE FARMER. fertility, whan the elements contained in them are developed. In many sections of the country, draining tile can- not be procured at present Vv'ithout incurring great espense, but this need not be an obstacle in the way of underd raining, as a durable and effective drain may be made by filling with small stone. When stone are to be used, the drain should be dug one foot in width on the bottom, and in depth as the case may require, say from two and a quarter feet to three and a half feet. If the descent be not too great, lay a row of stones of uniform size, and as near square as they can be produced, on each side of the bottoni of the drain, leaving a space of about four inches in width between the rows of stone; cover nicely with flat stone, and then fill with small ones, to within ten inches of the surface. Many who have had experience in draining, argue in favor of throwing all the stones in loosely in all cases. Where the descent is very rapid, this is decidedly the better way; but where there is no lia- bility to wash, I prefer laying in a regular water course. When this method of draining is practiced on springy land, it serves a threefold purpose. It clears the land of small stone; it converts cold springy places into dry productive soil; and last, though not least, where- ever a drain discharges, there will be good cold water for stock during the dry weather of summer. Middlthurs-li, JV. Y. W. Gaensey. ON THE advam:ages of fosethought in faem- ING OPEEATIONS. " Look ahead," says the tar to his comrade, when nearing the shore, " Watch the breakers." So say we to the farmer. In all your business, look ahead. No business can be successfully pursued without sys- tem, and least of all the management of a farm; and a well regulated plan of operations, is not the result of a random thought, but of reflection, based on knowledge, derived from experience, reading, or ob- servation. The man who works his farm at random, labors to but little purpose. He may toil early and late — even to weariness, but disappointment will be the result. Much that he intended to do will be left undone for want of time, and what is undertaken will "be but half performed, and often out of its proper season. Such a man wastes his time, his energies and his strength, in a round of toil and anxiety, without accomplishing much that is of any profit. System requires a regular plan of business, proper- ly digested by forethought, and the benefit of such a plan must be apparent, even at a casual glance It saves time and money and strength, and avast amount of vexatious care. Let a farmer, during the long evenings and stormy days of winter, aided by two or three reliable agricultural papers, plan his business for the coming season, and he will be prepared at the return of spring to enter upon it with vigor and ration- al prospect of success. He has well calculated the relative strength of his forces, and will therefore un- dertake no more business than can, in ordinary cir- cumstances, be successfully accomplished. His work, therefore, invites rather than drives him. He has settled beforehand what fields to plant, what to sow with the%'arious kinds of grain, where and in what manner to apply his manure and^other fertilizers, and the best method of cultivating the various crops. — Each branch of business is therefore attended to at the proper season and in the best manner. The vari- ous crops are not cultivated in a hurried and sloven- ly manner, but the work is well done. He also reaps the benefit of forethought in another respect He is not only up with his business in point of time, but his tools are all in working order at the proper season, i ; Having a place for every thing, and every thing in its place, he knows where to find each article when wanted. His tools have been examined during his leisure, broken ones have been repaired, and new ones that are needed purchased. When ready to engage in any business, he does not have to waste time by running to the blacksmith or to the carpenter to get his tools repaired nor to bis neigh- bor to borrow, where he is liable to disappointment, and to have his work thus hindered. The same principle will lead him to have his seed in readiness for planting and sowing. Care is neces- sary in this respect, in order to have that which is free from a mixture of foul seeds, and such as will readily germinate. The prudent, thoughtful farmer will save his own and not depend upon his neighbor. He thus knows the article he sows or plants, and is not liable to have his calculations disappointed by a poor one. If he wishes to exchange with a neighbor, or is under the necessity of purchasing, he does it in season, before the market is drained and is compelled to take an article comparatively valueless. He se- cures the best that can be obtained, and is not there- fore liable to disappointment in harvest. As a part of a systematic course of farming, the fences will all be put in repair at the opening of spring; timber will be cut at the proper time, and not left until the moment needed; and thus the owner is not necessitated to leave his plow standing in the fur- row, nor his scythe in the sv.'ath to mend a dilapidat- ed fence, to keep his own or his neighbors cattle out of mischief; he can lie down and sleep quietly at night, feeling that his crops are secure. The advantages of forethought are also seen ia the management of stock. The prudent farmer will keep no more than can be kept in a thriving condition. — He calculates well the amount of feed his farm pro- duces, and therefore regulates his stock accordingly. He considers that an animal that is well housed, and regularly fed, and all its wants cared for will thrive on much less food than one that is fed at irregular intervals, and is left without shelter during storms and cold; he therefore provides comfortable shelter for his animals, as well as for himself, and a sufficient- quantity of nutritious food. He is not obliged to spend all his income to purchase feed to keep his half starved stock through the winter. Thus the advantages of forethought may be seen in every part of farm management; while the random farmer fails in his crops, exhausts his soil and spends his time in hurried, fretful, anxious toil, without hard- ly securing a comfortable livelihood, the man of pre- concerted system grows rich, his farm increases in beauty and value, he has more money in his pocket, more leisure for making improvements, and for the enjoyment of social life, and less anxiety and vexa- tious care. His farm becomes a model for imitation and he a benefactor to his race. His abundant har- vests furnish a supply for his wants and those of his family, as well as the animals dependent upon his care; and when dreary winter approaches, they are all well cared for, and he can enjoy his comfortable fire side, and eye the gathering storm, or hear the tempest howl without, and heed it not. H'jbest. _ THE GENESEE FARMER. 159 ON SUBSOIL i PLOWING. llfccn might be said on the subject of subsoil plowng; for instance, we might go on and state many expeuuieuts, and make many assorlions, wliich should weigh very light unless backed up with reason. It is a well known fact that soils vary much in character; hence it is necessary that a ditVerent mode of culti- vation ae adopted to suit dilierent soils. Home soils are of t rich loam, on a subsoil of sandy gravel; to stir up this subsoil would be worse than useless, as the loan is already loose enough, and the surplus supply of water will readily sink in such a substratum and draia off. The same may be said of very sandy subsoils. But, on the other hand, if it be a claij soil, then the subsoil plow becomes necessary; and should the subsoil be what is commonly termed hard-pan, then the subsoil plow would b3 absolutely indispen- sable to good farming. For illustration, suppose we take a clay soil, plow it four or five inches deep, pul- verize it well, and sow it with winter wheat; when the heavy fall rains come, the whole field will be covered with a bed of mortar ; the wheat cannot grow; the subsoil is so compact that the water can- not sink; winter sets in, and the wheat is frozen up in a perfect bed of frozen mortar. When a thaw comes, then the soil is again almost in a liquid state ; consequently, by the alternate freezing and thawing, the plants are nearly all destroyed. Then under the dry wind and hot sun of summer, the soil becomes perfectly hard, and the few remaining plants cannot grow. To prevent these evil consequences, very deep or subsoil plowing will have a good eS'ect, by causing the water to sink below the roots, thereby causing the grain to grow vigorously; and when the drouth comes, this water will be brought back by capillary attraction to the support of plants. Such being the case, we may expect a luxuriant growth and a good crop. Subsoil plowing also admits the air; the soil be- comes deeply pulverized ; consequently the roots will reach to a greater depth for food. The above rea- sons are applicable to all other grains, but more par- ticularly so with respect to Indian corn. If the sub- soil be deeply plowed, heavy showers will quickly sink, enabling you to attend the corn crop more steadily; and when the drouth comes, the w-ater will agdn be brought back to to the surface for the use of the plants. Hence it will be seen that deeply pulverizing all clay soils will greatly increase the chance of a good crop of any kind of grain. JVewcastle, Lawrtnce Co., Pa. Wu. Reno. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF STIRRING THE SOIL IN DRY WEATHER. That frequent stirring the soil is the cheapest and most effectual way of protecting crops against drouth, is proved by the fact that a soil plowed or cultivated often in dry time is moist almost to the surface, while land that is neglected, is dry to a great depth. Some farmers from false reasoning infer that if a new sur- face is continually exposed to the sun and air, the ef- fect will be to dry the soil still more. But the at- mosphere in the hottest and dryest weather is more or less charged with moisture, to prove which we have only to present a cold surface to the atmosphere, as a pitcher of ice water for instance, when the mois- tufe of the air will be condensed and form in large drops on the outside of the pitcher. By frequent stirring the soil it is kept loose and porous, the air can penetrate to a greater depth and coming in con- tact with the cold earth is robbed of its moisture by condensation, in the same manner as in the example of the pitcher given above. The oftener the soil is stirred the more new surface will be presented for action in the same manner; but when land is suffered to remain idle, a crust is formed on the surface which is impenetrable to the atmosphere and no such effect can take place. C. C Wilson. J\*ewfane, jViagnra Co., JV*. Y. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM IN FARMING OPERATIONS. System is very necessary and important to man, in whatever occupation he may be engaged, but es- pecially so to the farmer, whose business is composed of so many parts. It is a thing of every-day occur- rance to see plows lying in a corner of the field where they were last used, a hoe or a rake leaning against the fence, or a fork sticking in a manure pile in the barn-yard. Now this is not as it should be; every farmer should have, and every systematic farmer will have, a tool-house, and his tools carefully housed in it (except when in use)— a place for everything, and everything in its place — a time for everything, and everything in its lime. A farmer who thus manages his business, will find that he can get along without being hurried; he is always ready for his work as soon as it is ready for him — while his less systematic neighbor is in a con- tinual hurry and bustle to keep up with his work, which, of course, is left in an unfinished state. Every farmer should adopt some regular system of business, and live up to it at all times, as he will lose more time and money in leaving his tools and utensils lying around exposed to the weather for two or three years, than would enable him to build a tool-house and do everything necessary to carry on his business with system and economy. Mahoning, Pa. W. H. McCreeky, Jr. ON THE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. 1 Agricultural Fairs are calculated to have an influence of the most beneficial character upon intelli- gent farmers, affording them an opportunity of know- ing what is going on in the agricultural world around them, and enlightening them by the experiments and improvements which are continually being made, and which are shown to the public at these places. Ag- ricultural implements of every description are here exhibited; stock of all varieties and degrees of value meet his eye; and he has not only the advantage of perceiving the progress which is continually being made, but by comparing the different khids of im- plements, and examining the comparative merits of stock, he may obtain great pecuniary advantages in his subsequent operations. If he wants any kind of stock, from a pair of fancy rabbits or Shanghai chickens to a blooded stallion or Durham bull, here is the place, and the only place, where he can find any and every kind, and take his choice from the very best of the country. If he wants an agricultu- ral implement, from a cutting-box to a mowing ma- chine or steam engine, here is the place to find all o£ l/)4 THE GENESEE FARMER. the most improved kinds together, aud he is left to choose. In short, Agricultural Fairs are the great repositories of knowledge to the farmer, where he may improve bis own coodition by taking advantage of the skill and genius of his bretheren. When properly conducted, they are among the most valua- ble institutions of the country. David Street. Salem, Ohio. ON THE CULTIVATION OF PEAS. There are several varieties of peas cultivated in this country, of which we think the large Black-eyed Marrovrfat has the preference; it prpduces as well as any other, and is decidedly preferable for cooking, and commands a higher price in market, being worth at the present time two dollars per bushel. Although it must be admitted that peas thrive best on a loose, well pulverized soil, yet they do well on some of the heavier soils. We generally get good peas on land that will produce corn or wheat. S.vard land almost invariably producing good crops, pro- vided it is turned over in the fall and plort'ed deep, thoroughly cultivated in the spring, and the peas sown as early as the land will permit, not less than three bushels per acre, well harrowed in and rolled down. They will yield from fifteen to thirty bushels per acre, aud will be ready to harvest early, leaving the land in fine condition for winter wheat or rye. Would not your Genesee farmers do well to turn un- der their clover in the fall, sow peas early in the spring, aud follow with wheat, instead of summer-fallowing, and get their pea crop almost clear gain. If sown thick, say four bushels per acre, they will leave the land when harvested almost as clean and mellow as a summer-fallow. H. H. Taylor. East Rodman, Jeff. Co., JV. Y. ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PEACH. For many years past the dwellers in Western New York have relied upon their peach trees to furnish annually a full supply of the choicest specimens of this most delicious of all fruit; and in former times this result seldom failed. The comparative exemption of this region from late spring frosts, and very severe cold in winter, tiave contributed much towards this state of things; and perhaps, more even than these, is the fact that we have been free from the destructive etfects of yellows, which reduces the lifetime of orch- ards south ot us to a few (say four or five) years du- ration. Id this county it is not now difficult to find trees thirty years old and healthy still. Of late years, we are aware of a very decided fall- ing otf in the productiveness of the trees, and also in the vigor of their growth; the trees do not retain that perfection of health in all cases which we formerly saw, and we look to the future with much solicitude. The remarks which we have now to offer will have reference to cultivation of the fruit in our own region, and be somewhat affected by the facts above nieu- tioned, but which we have not space to dwell upon. To succeed well in growing peaches, it is necessary jSret of all to secure a favorabfe location for the orch- ard; this should be upon land having a very thorough natural underdrainage; if sandy loam can be had it is preferable. A very thin sand will not give best quality of peache ^ or most durable trees, but a warm, dry and rather rich soil should if possible be secured. The earliest varieties should have warmest exposure to bring the fruit on in good season. Secun- tlrifty, one or two year old budded trees, of a few well p oved varieties which will ripen i:i succession, from theearli- est good hardy varieties, to the latest that is aire to ripen off handsome, well flavored fruit. Thoe are many kinds of good peaches which are too un-jroduc- tive to be worth planting, except to thecuricus ama- teur. If praticable secure the judgment of an expe- rienced man in making up your list, and buy trees where you will be sure to get the kinds correct. Plant the trees in April, or the first of May, shortening the heads well back, and using care that the roots are never exposed to wind or frost. The land should be deeply plowed before planting, and cultivated with some hoed crop all the time un- til the trees are in bearing, when no crop should be taken off, but the land kept clean and mellow with plow and cultivator, manuring with stable manure if the trees are not vigorous enough. Avoid planting too closely — twenty feet apart each way is near enough, and twenty-four is better. When the trees come into bearing do not spare a little pains in thinning the fruit on very heavily load- ed trees, do this when the fruit is half grown and the superior size andViuality will be reward enough; over- loaded trees always have insipid fruit. Examine the collar of every tree in June and see that all the grubs are dug out, follow them under the bark with a stout knife and kill them. They destroy many trees, but never give them the "yellows." Peach trees require but little pruning besides the removal of dead wood; we do not approve of the sys- tem of " shortening in," except in case of very ram- pant limbs, which disturb the proper form of the head. The fourth summer after planting a fine crop may be expected, and with good caie ten years of bearing ought to be secured from hardy sorts. The obstacles to peach culture here are mainly the curling of the leaf, which occurs just after the commencement of the growth of leaf and blossom, and the destructive effects of cold upon the tree and fruit. I am not satisfied that the cnrl is not caused by the cold of winter so affecting the buds as to prevent a healthy development of leaf. But whatever be the cause, the effect upon the tree is very injurious, causing the loss of foliage and a large sliare of the fruit. If it be very severe, the tree languishes for a considerable time, aud only regains its vigor after a new growth of leaves and wood. I am not able to give any remedy for this disease ; but the best counsel I can give is to plant only those sorts least affected hy it, (for there is a great difference,) and to plant trees enough to an- swer as a protection to one another, it being always ti>und that detached trees are far Avorse affected than those standing in the orchards; indeed, this has become so manifest that we cannot lielp obser- ving crops upon the peach orchards, while our g;arden trees are entirely destitute of fruit. The effects of winter and spring frosts upon peach trees Ave have so little power to avert, that we can only say, plant and run the risk. The following varieties answer very well for the cultivator for market purposes : EirlvYork, fserrated leaf,) 25 Crawford's Early, 25 Olfimixon Freestone, 25 Olilniixon Cling, ,.,,« 10 Eed Cheek Melocoton, ,..,,.,.., 15 iCO THE GENESEE FARMER. 155 tap To these I would recoinineiid tlie aniatour to add Faj'y Early Autumn, Early Nowington, or (Jeorgo the Fdurtli, or Haines' Early, Cooledge's Favorite, Hills Chili, t^colt's Koupariel, Langworthy's Late Karovipe, and Noblesse, or Malta. II. E. U. Modicster, N. Y. ON THE CULTIVATION OF APPLES. Let your field have a northern exposure if possible. Spread, in tlio spring, at least fifty loads of good barn- yard manure on the acre; let it remain until tlie grass is at least knee high, and then turn under; ])Io\ving at least ten inches deep. Back-furrow in beds sixteen feet in width, taking care to give the deadfurro^vs guilicient descent to drain well, but not so steep as to gully. As soon as you have plowed under the grass and manure, sow one half bushel of buckwheat to the acre and harrow in well. In the fall just before the buckwheat gets sufficiently ripe to grow, roll down and plow under, plowing the same way, making the back and dead furrows come in the same places as in the tlrst plowing. By so doing you will make dry beds for your trees, and the furrows will take off the surplus waters. In the spring plow same way as be- fore, but not deep. Dig holes in the centre of the beds twenty-five feet apart, taking care to have the koles no deeper than the trees set in the nursery — Place the tree in the hole and fill in with one-third compost and two- thirds soil, putting the dirt two inches above the level of the ground. Plant in the quincunx form, by doing which you save ground. Now you may cultivate beans and root crops gene- lally in your orchard, but never grain or grass. Man- are once in three years, forking it in around the trees. Do this and you will never regret it. I know what I say. G. C. Ltman. Lynn, Pa. ON THE CULTIVATION OE THE PLUM. ^ The great drawback to the cultivation of the plum, tas been, and stiil continues to be, the ravages of the curculio, which is well known to every person who has ever attempted to cultivate plums. The next great evil is the black knot, which troubles trees in most localities. The best remedy for this is thorough cultivation, and to cut out clean all spots as soon as they appear. It is generally known that the curculio will not deposit its eggs over paved walks, water, or any place where their young will not thrive when they fall to the ground. The most eflectual way to exterminate this pest, (as practiced,) is to spread sheets on the ground, and jar the fruit that has been stung upon them. The following scientific plan, which is not univer- sally known, will bear considerable experimenting: It is well known that the plum is a marine plant, and where the salt spray breaks over them the whole crop ripens finely, while upon the heights above the •whole crop is lost. For a remedy, apply sftlt Ije or salt brine to the earth pretty freely, as far out as the branches of the tree extend. The young of the cur- culio cannot live in ground saturated with the above described liquid. If this proves to be an effectual yemed)-, it will be an important era in fruit culture. Rochester, JV. Y. B. ON THE CULTIVATiON OF SMALL FRUITS. STRAwiiKURiEs havc cxcitcd considerable attention of late from horticulturist.^, and this has been in- creased by observing the im])roveniont resulting from cultivation, and the enhanced value of the fruit. Much has been written about the necesi^ity of select- ing stauiinate and pi.stillate plants, or male and fe- male; and so particular have some writers been as to prescribe precisely the number of each to be i)lautcd, in order that a specific ratio be observed. Ilowever true this may be ihcoretically, I am inclined to doubt the utility or superiority of the rule in its applicar tion. I believe that the following method of plant- ing strawberries, and cultivating them, to be more practicable, certain and comprehensible than any I have seen : Prepare the ground (which should be rich, sandy scil,) by the application of good barn- yard manure, leached ashes, or any other compost ; after which plow deeply, mixing the manure weU with the s n\. When the ground is pi'epared care- fully, as above stated, set your plants in rows, about four feet apart, the plants two feet distant from each other. If ever desirous of enlarging your strawbei ry bed, after the first plants are set out, go while the plants are bearing, and select the largest and health- iest, (those which bear the largest berries,) and if the wetither is favorable you may immediately transplant them; and having sufficient female plants, the stami- nate, in sufficiecit abundance, will invariably be pro- duced. A far more important consideration than the pistil- late and staminate rule in the culture of strawberries, is the entire destruction of weeds. 1 am inclined to doubt the aavantages of that plan which prevents the vines from covering the entire bed, as I think experi- ments have demonstrated that they yield better when new vines are being added, and it is a known fact that in an uncultivated or natural state, this is the case. By the removal of the Bon-bearing plants and weeds, the remaining plants will have ample room for development, as well as being in a state to receive ths light and heat of the sun. Raspberries are not so profitable as strawberries; and though they require let-s h.bor in their cultiva- tion, are not so universally cultivated. A little exer- tion in planting some cuttings along your fence, and then of placing a ghght frame to prevent them falling to the ground after they have attuiued a large size, will amply repay any one. To increase their number, you may thrust the tops of the bushes into the ground, and they will thei-'iby take root. Currants generally thrive in almost any kind of soil, and are very easily cultivated. In setting cur- rants, the soil, in the first place, should be well pre- pared by plowing or digging, and reduced to a very fine tilth, and should then be stinaulated by warming and invigorating manure. A porous, or not too re- tentive subsoil, is desirable, with a small per centage of clayey matter in the surface soil. When the lat- ter is deficient, it may be well to supply it. Into soil thus prepared, the cuttings from old plants — the fresh, vigorous wood of the previous year's growth — may be set, with an almost certain assurance of suc- cess. These should be cut ofl' near the surface, and inserted in the lines or beds to the depth of six or seven inches, and the soil well compressed about them. The surface should then be covered with old, well-rotted chip manure, hay, leaves or straw, so a3 156 THE GENESEE FARMER. to keep the ground at all times moist. They should be kept well weeded. GnosHBERRiES. — With good trealment, none of the small fruits produce more abundantly than the goose- berry. It succeeds best on a deep, sandy loam, with a northern aspect. It should be trenched, or else worked two spades deep, and enriched with well- rotted manure. To prevent mildew in gooseberries has been the object of horticulturists for several years past. If they are fully exposed to the rays of the sun, nothing short of mulching will prevent the mildew. In order to prevent the necessity of mulch- ing, plant them on the north side of a board fence hedge or stone wall, two or three feet from either. Give them a liberal dressing of compost fall and spring, and keep down the weeds, in order that the air may circulate freely. Blackberries, like all other small fruits, can be greatly improved by cultivation. The principal va- rieties are the Lawton and llighbush, the latter of which is a native of New England, and is generally very large. John G. Sampson. Laceysvitle, Ohio. ON THE MANAGENENT OF A TAEMER'S GAEDEN. Being a farmer, and something of a gardener too, I thought I would attempt an article on the above importatat subject. I will premise by saying that no one should consider himself qualified to manage a farm until he has learned to manage a garden. The first thing in laying out a garden, is to select a proper site and soil. If a deep, rich sandy loam, with a southern or south-eastern aspect can be found with- in a reasonable distance of the house, there plant your garden. That the soil be rich and mellow is of the first importance, for few farmers will have the perse- verance to make a good garden on a cold, compact, shallow soil. The < arden being located, do not enclose too much ground in your plat. The farmer must depend upon raising a good many vegetables upon a small space, otherwise his garden will very likely be overrun with weeds. These cautions being observed, first select the ground for your permanent beds, such as strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb or pie plant, &c. If you care nothing for these luxuries yourself, the wife and child- ren will, and the sight of their enjoyment will amply repay you for all your labor. Strawberries. — You may transplant roots from last year's runners of the Large Early Scarlet, Burr's New Pine, Hovey's Seedling, or any variety that you Jcnoiv to be better than the above, in the poorest part of your garden, during the month of April. If you want luxuriant vi7ies and few berries, plant on deep, rich soil, but if you prefer the berries to the viaes, do as I tell you. Asparagus. — Make your asparagus bed as early as practicable in the spring, from roots two or three years old. Be sure to dig deep and manure heavy. Pie-plant. — For your rhubarb patch, procure from half a dozen to a dozen plants two or three years old, and divide the roots according to the number of eyes, and set them in rows four feet apart, two feet in the TOW. By proper care you have here the material for the most delicious spring pie. If properly attended to, these beds will keep good for many years, with the exception of strawberies' which require renewing once in three or four years. The better way is to set a kw plants every year, and then you are never without this delicious berry Currants, Gooseberries and Raspberries should be planted m the garden — not round the fences — and kept cleanly cultivated. By the way, a correspon- dent of the Genesee Farmer asks for a remedy for the Currant Bush Worm. I had a row of currant bushes in sod along the fence, and several rows througb the garden at right angles to that one. The latter were hoed several times in the season. For several years the bushes in the sod have been regu- larly stripped of their leaves during the bearing sea- son, by a little green worm, while the cultivated ones have escaped untouched. IIoTBEn. — A farmer would do well to make a small hot-bed to forward a few Tork cabbage, tomatoes, cauliflower, celery, and a few hills of cucumbers. — The latter can be started on inverted sods and trans- planted without injury. This process not only pro- duces fruit much earlier, but enables one to get the start of weeds. I would not recommend raising large beds of such vegetables as require much hand weeding, such as carrots, parnepp, beets. Black- seed onions, &c. ; it costs too much labor. The English potato onion, or Top onions require much less labor and are earlier. Peas. — The farmer should have a succession of peas from the middle of June until the family gets tired of them. Beginning with the Early Kent, fol- lowing with the Early Washington, and closing with the unrivaled Marrowfat. Beans. — I prefer the bush varieties of beans as you save the labor of poling them. Then, growing near them should be some of the beat sweet corn, and then if the good wife don't make some succotash that will rejoice the children, it will be because she never heard of " down east." But space will not permit me to notice all of the different vegetables which it is desirable to have in some nook or corner of ihe farmer's garden, so I will say in general, cultivate all the varieties that will be readily consumed in the family, and above all keep up a succession throughout the season — yes, throughout the year — and be assured it will improve the health, refine the taste, elevate the morals, and augment the happiness of the whole family. JVear Palmyra, JV. Y. P. C. Reynolds. REASONS WHY OUR AGRICULTURAL SOCrETIES SHOULD OFFER PREMIUMS FOR A PUBLIC EX- HIBITI9N OF LADY EQUESTRIANISM. Years ago, T rem.ember to have seen a beautiful engraving of Cupid riding a lion, to show the power of love in subduing and controlling the most un- governable of the lirute creation. But may it not be questioned whether a skillful lady, riding a noble horse, does not present a more striking representa- tion of power controlled by gentleness ? Ideas of beauty and taste are as varied as the hti- man race, and yet I may safely assert tliat the sight of a woman gracefully, yet fearlessly, riding a spirited horse, having him entirely at her command, as if anir mated by her own ideas of grace and beauty, would excite admiration in every beholder. More than this : female equestrianism is not only THE GENESEE FARMER. 167 a deliirhtful art, hut it is of all others the most in- vigonitinn; and healthful. All iut(.'lli!;Tnt pbysiciuiis agrey in the fact tluit horse-back riding is strongly coudtu-ive to health, and especially so to the health of ladies, whose occupations, for the most part, de- prive them, by far too much, of the health-giving in- fluence of [mre, fresh air. Why, then, should not every honorable induce- ment be presented to ladies to perfect themselves in the equestrian art ? Why is it not only proper, but l*est, that our Agricultural Societies should encour- age the " art ? " I know there are some whose ideas of " the eter- nal Gtness of things" are somewhat shocked by the appearance upon our "Fair Urounds" of lady eques- trians. But let me ask all readers, what rule of pro- priety is thereby violated ? and what dictate of modesty is disregarded ? Tou whose tiue ( ? ) sense of female delicacy is so much disturbed by a public exhibition of lady equestrianism, would be highly pleased with a private exhibition of the same ; but where is the line of demarkation which makes the one censurable and the other praiseworthy ? I know that public exhibitions of lady equestrian- ism, like all other good things, are liable to abuse; but I most earnestly contend that, of themselves, they are " right and proper," and should be encour- aged by Agricultural Societies. Ann H. Madison, Ohio. KSASOlSrS WHY DUE AGSICULTUEAL SOCIETIES SEOULD KOT OFFES PEEMIUMS FOS A rDBLIC EXrllBITION OF LADY EQUESTEIARISSI. 1. The place and occasion of these Annual Fairs are not suitable for an exhibition of lady eques- trianism. The crowded state of the Fair Grounds with horses and carriages, and the throng of spectators surroundin? a course of short cui-ves, and many times actually blocking up the way, renders the place too much confined for a successful and safe exhibition of this kind. Under such circumstances, there cannot be, with either horse or rider, unaccustomed to such scenes, that unrestrained freedom which is essential to a fair and satisfactory trial. Timid and shrinking, the rider is compelled to the most public display — to meet the gaze and hear the vulgar jest, often at her expense, of the lowest of the other sex. No young lady appears as a com- petitor under these circumstances, but does violence to those tender sensibilities which are a part of her nature, and to that delicate sense of propriety which she is so wisely taught to cultivate and foster. 2. It proves inadequate to secure, tn any tolerable degree, the object ostensibly sovght. Few prizes are oftcred, and few therefore can be awarded. Few compete for the premiums, because few have lieen induced to prepare for the exhibition. These prizes, therefore, act as inducements to only a few to improve their equestrian skill. Those who are possessed of a well-trained pony are occasionally in- duced to try the experiment and compete for the prize. With much eSbrt, from six to twelve have been found willing to brave the unpleasant circum- stances of the exhibition at a State or County Fair ; and these constitute the majority of all those who have been induced to pay any extra attention to the matter. Say from ten to twenty, in counties num- bering twenty, flfty or one hundred thousand inhabi- tants, have spent a few afternoons to improve their skill, preparatory to the exhibition. At this rate, how very soon all the young ladies of the country will become expert equestrians! Let it not be said that all this is equally true of prizes offered for other objects. Otlier ex"hil)itors have stronger induce- ments than the prizes, which rarely cover the una- voidable expense of the exhibition. The owner of a farm finds his inducements in the enhanced value of a " Premium Farm ; " the owner of stock in the in- creased value of " Premium Cattle ; " while the suc- cessful lady equestrian, in addition to a little silver, has the honor of a degree only of skill above her sisters, which will not greatly add to her market value. 3. It is not necessary to secure the object. It may be desirable and important that this health- ful and invigorating exercise should be more gener- ally practiced, but no encouragement of this kind is needed to make it a popular recreation. If this is made to appear, no good reason can be adduced for offering premiums. And that this ia true, will, I trust, require little argument to pro^e to the satisfac- tion of those who have observed (and who has not?) with what delight young ladies and girls seize every opportunity for a ride on horseback. Indeed, they may be said to have a passion for this exhilarating exercise, so congenial to buoyant youth. Now, will such wait to have some Agricultural Society offer prizes before they wiU venture upon the experiment of a horse-back ride ? They will wait so long as they are obliged to wait for a chance to ride, and no longer. How many fathers can testify to the impov- tunity with which they have been beset by their daughters to let them have " Old Dick " to go riding. We may, therefore, safely affirm that for fathers to furnish their daughters with pony, bridle, side-saddle, riding dress and whip, with an approving smile, are all the premiums needed to secure ihe practice to any desirable extent. If there are any young ladies so stupid, who, with these at hand, will not readily use them, no premiums need be offered. They will fail to bring them out. If you wish your daughters to become skillful equestrians, furnish them with means of gratifying their love for this active sport. We ask not for prizes, nor for the honors of successful public con- test. We are content with the privilege to gallop with our friends through the pleasant and quiet streets of our own dear village or neighborhood. With this, our success shall more than gratify the vanity of doting fathers, who may too much value this masculine amusement. 4. There can be no object gained which will jus- tify £0 questionable an innovation. We have seen that it is not necessary to secure the practice. What objects, then, are to be pro- moted by it ? W^e see none, except it be to bring out the crowd, and to add a few dollars to the funds of the Society, by seeking to make its Annual Ex- hibitions more attractive by a display of lady eques- trianism. This, we have reason to believe, is the real object sought in offering prizes. We cannot believe that intelligent men regard this m-easure at all neces- sary, even to make the practice universal; and we think they will not seriously pretend this to be their object. But, acting upon a well known principle^ they hope to increase the interest, and fill the tresb 158 THE GENESEE FARMER. sury, by introducing a circus of ladies upon the course. Now, it requires no stretch of the imagina- tion to see that this is a public endorsement of the eircus. Why, these circusses must be useful institu- tions to merit imitation and draw imitators from so high a source ! They must soon become indispensa- ble institutions of every town, so important are they ! Is it well for these Societies to bedim their hitherto fair fame, even by a seeming recoo;nilion of so un- worthy an aspirant for public favor and patronage, for the little that is to be gained to its funds ? Is not this paying too much for the whistle ? May not these exhibitions be made sufficiently attractive, in the pursuit of proper objects, to amply sustain them, without a resort to anything which can be regarded of doubtful propriety ? Societies have not only lived, but flourished, before the introduction of this practice. What Societies have done, they may still do. So we do not find any good purpose answered by an exhibition of lady equestrianism. 5. It is not the legitimate ivork of these Societies, and can receive premiums from their funds only in molalion of the law creating them, and of the rules regulating tlieir management. 'i'he New York State Agricultural Society, in con- formity to the act of incorporation, has for it objects the " Improvement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanic and Household Arts." The County So- cieties which have been organized under the law of 185.1, aud in conformity to it, have for their oV)jects the " Advancement of Agriculture, Horticulture, the Mechanic Arts, and Household Industry." And the Board of Managers, in appropriating their funds, are restricted to these objects. Now, to which of these departments belongs lady equestrianism ? Very clearly it belongs to neither, and therefore can share the attention aud funds of these Societies only in violation of their design and rules. This is a departure from the clearly defined pursuits of these Societies — a breaking over the bar- riers raised to secure the objects of their organiza- tion. It is opening a door through which otber in- terests, of a more questionable character, may come in and claim their aid ; for if they may leave their proper field of operations to promote one object for- eiga to their designs, they may also to promote others. And where can you fix a limit ? It is readily seen, allowing this latitude, how easily the funds might be prostituted to the encouragement of cock-fighting, pugilism, horse-racing, and almost any- thing else which might promise aid in replenishing the treasury. Is it not better that these Societies be confined to their appropriate work, which is so vastly important, and not squander their energies ftnd means upon foreign objects, however desirable they may be regarded ? 6. It will prove injurious to the proper objects and general interests of the Societies. Much of the interest felt in seeino the proper obr jects of the Society promoted will necessarily be transferred to this, as it becomes the predominant CJiaracteristic of the exhibition; and the time and attention so necessary to give succes-s to other de- partments, mu6t be divided with the Riding Match. This is true, not only in regard to the arrangements of the Board ot Managers, but to the Examining Committees, and the exhibition itself In these re- apects it is not only a neglect of the just claims, but an iofringement of the rights of exhibitors, of which they very justly complain. Its demands, also, on the attention of the community of spectators, draws them from the consideration of what is substantial and useful, and calculated to make them more suo cessful farmers, fruit growers, mechanics and house- wives, to what is mere amusement — thus defeating ih a measure the grand object of these Societies. It will prove injurious to the interests and usefulness of these Societies, by repelling and driving fiom their support many of their most efficient friends and pat- rons. The admirers of consistency will neither sup- port nor countenance the Society which leaves its ample, honored and proper field of eflbrt, in violation of its great design, for the encouragement of any mere atnusement, however specious. The cautious and prudent, the lovers and promoters of good order and morality, will not feel at liberty to give encour- agement to anything of so doubtful a tendency. This alienation of so large a class of the fi lends and patrons of these Societies, cannot but prove injurious to their continued prosperity and success. A con- sistent and faithful adherence to the great design of these Societies, alone, can conmiand the respect and secure the confidence of all classes of community. Moscow, JY. Y. Maria. ON THE CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS. Every woman has, or thinks she has, a taste for flowers ; that is, she loves them when they are in bloom, admires their fragrance, their rich and gor- geous colors, and their endless variety of form and size. But, comparatively few know the real pleasure of cultivating flowers, and why ? Because so many depend on their husbands, brothers, or gardeners to do for them what they ought to do for themselves, viz : prepare the ground, sow the seed, and keep the beds free from weeds. Now this would, for me, de- stroy half the pleasure of flower gardening. Nothing imparts more vigor to the body, and recreation to the mind, than a few hours spent early in the morning in the garden. I have heard many women oliject to this, on the plea that they could not find time in the morning. But let me say, few have had more cares titan I have, with a family of nine children, all healthy and vigorous; aud since my childhood I have ever had the care of a flower garden, doing the -work with my own hands from first to last, with the help, in latter years, of my daughters — all busy, in doors and out, from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof And well have I been repaid; for I have not only seen my flowers bud and blossom, but I have seen my daughters grow up healthy and active, their cheeks vieing in bloom with the roses they eul- tivate, and their minds improved and invigorated by appreciating all that is beautiful and lovely in nature, teaching them to "look from nature up to nature's God." Then let me urge all women, old and young, to cultivate flov«ers. Perhaps some city miss will say, " Oh, some coun- try woman wrote that, who has plenty of ground to cultivate." But let me tell such, that all my life lime, till within the last three years, has been spent within the bounds of a city. Not a few have said to me, " How is it your children look so healthy, aud uulikg other children brought up in the city ? " I only need to point to my garden and say, there is the secrete- there is my fountain of health. C. H. CoLLlNa, Clay, fVashitigton Co., Iowa, THE GENESEE FARMER. 159 s£: Ijortlrultural gfj);iriniciit. HOaXICULTUSAL OPERATIONS FOR MAY. The multiplicity of little thincrs to be attended to this month, such as ventilating and sliutting up green houses and hot bed frames, at sudden changes of the weather ; shading, watering, fumigating with tobac- co to kill the green fly on plants under glass; sticking and tying, cleaning and turning, washing the leaves, re-potting some and planting out other plants, make it for the gardi ner the busiest one in the year, As a general thing, all the garden ground, where not already done, should be highly manured and spaded up as soon as possible ; for this is the time for sowing the main crops of hardy vegetables. For email seeds and dawrf-growing crops, as onions, car- rots, parsneps, dwarf beans, spinach, salsify, lettuce, radish, mustai-d and cres^, &c., the ground should be laid out in beds five or six feet wide, with alleys two feet wide and their edges cut even to preserve a neat appearance. For tall growing plants, as peas, Lima beans, sweet corn, and others of procumbent habit, as cucumbers, melons, squash, &c., the ground can be laid out in large squares. Peas — As soon as the ground is ready, stretch a line across the square and draw drills, with a hoe, two inches deep and four feet apart; and if the drill be fifty feet lon;i:, it will take about one pint of peas. — To supply a family of six or eight persons with a dish every day, sow of the following varieties: Early Kent, Champion of England, and Knight's dwarf marrow. Three rows of each sown at the same time will come in succession and continue fit for use for a month or sis weeks. Sweet or Spgar Corn. — Hoe up little hills three itichcs high and one foot square and four feet from centre to centre. On the top of each hiil sow the corn; bury it one inch deep; if three grow it will be enough; should it mis^, sow again. LixfA Beans — Dig holes two feet square and one foot deep, and four feet from centre to centre; mix two or three shovelsful of good rotten manure with the earth that comes out of the hole, and fill it in again ; drive a pole leu or twelve feet long in the centre of each hole and plant five or six beans around it; bury them one incli. Three plants in a hill will be enough. S*iw again if they miss. String Beans — In some sunny situation, sheltered from co'id winds, draw a drill as recommended for peas tpd sow early six weeks beans, about a pint to a drill of fifty feet. If more than one drill be wanted at the first sowing, make them two feet apart. To have a Btificession repeat the sowing in three weeks. As these beanM are very impatient of wet and cold, it is possible that the first sowing may parti. illy fail Kxt- amine thein in five or six days and if found to be de- cayed, sow again directly. Onions. — To secure a good crop of onions it ia necessary that the ground be deep, rich and moist, and the seed sown early. Make the beds about five feet wide. Stretch a line six inches from the edge of the bed and the whole length, make a drill with a piece of stick, one inch deep; sow the seed thinly in the drill; draw the earth over the seed with the back of the rake. When up six inch.'?, thin them to four inches apart in the row. These thinnings may be planted in rather poor ground or in the shade of Io\y spreading trees, and will come in well for pickling.— Plant them in moist weather, or give a good soaking of water. Make the drills for the main crop one foot apart. Red Batch and Red Portugal are good vari- eties; the former is the best keeper, but the latter thjB mildest flavored. Parsneps and Beets. — Sugar or Hollow Crown parsnep, Early Bassano beet and the Long Blood beet may be sown in drills as recommended for onions, but two feet apart. When up two or three inches thin the parsneps to nine inches apart in the row, and the Long Blood beet to a foot apart from plant to plant. The Early Bassano beet may be thinned as wanted for use, pulling out the largest first and lear- ing the small ones to grow larger. Early Short-iiorx Carrot. — Sow in good ground in drills a foot apart, bury the seed from half an inch to an inch deep. When up keep clear of weeds; they may be thinned as wanted for use, pulling the largest first and leaving the smallest to grow larger. Salsify. — Sow a good bed of salsify. It will be found very useful for winter and early spring use. — Sow thickly in drills one foot apart, as reconnneiided for horn carrot; bury the seed about one inch deep; when up thin out to four inches apart in the row. Spinach — Sow a bed of round seeded spinach in drills a foot apart; bury the seed about an inch deep; when up thin out to eight inches apart from plant to plant; keep the ground stirred with the hoe, and clear of weeds. Cucumbers. — For ridge cucumbers dig a hole two feet square and one foot deep: fill it with decomposed turfy sods and rotten manure, or mix rotten manure with the soil that came out of the hole and fill it in again. This will raise the hill three or four inches above the surrounding soil. Sow six or eight seeds about the centre of the hill and press them mto the soil with the finger about one inch deep; cover them with soil and place a small frame, to be covered with glass, over them. It will also be well to cover the fiame with milenet or gauze to keep off the bugs. Ventilate a little on all warm, sunny days, by tilting the sash of glass a little on the opposite side from which the wind blows, so as to prevent any cold air from blow- ing in and chilling the plants. Ventilate a little soon nher the sun has begun to shine upon the glass, and shut up again about four or five o'clock in the after- noon, before the sun leaves the glass. Do not allow it to get burning hot in the morning before you vea» tilate, for it is the sudden changes which do the mis- chief. Where no milenet is used, they may retjuire a little shading in very bright sunshine for a few Lours in the middle of the day by shaking a little short grass or litter over the glass. Water when dry with lake- warm water. When they have made thraa 160 THE GENESEE FARMER. rough leaves pinch the top out of each plant to make them branch, and leave but three plants in a hill. Melons and S(}uash. — These same reniarks hold good for musk melons and water melons. Make the hills four feet apart in the rows, and the rows six feet apart for Cucumber and Early Christina musk melon; for Orange water melon six feet apart each way. The same remarks also hold good for summer crook-neck squash, and the Boston marrow or winter squash, only that they will require no pinching, and the latter planted eight feet apart each way. Tomatoes. — About the first or second week will be time to plant out tomatoes. Plant them four leet apart each way. Choose the warmest and sunniest piece of ground that can be spared for them. Drive a stake, tvro inches square and four feet high out of the ground, at the foot of each plant; directions for training will be given next month. When planting, if it can be had, mix about a table- spoonful of Peru- vian guano in the soil about their roots. Purple Egg. — For vegetable egg dig a trench one foot wide and one foot deep; put in four or five inches of good rotten manure ; fill the trench to its former level, with soil that came out of the trench; then dig and mix well together. The remainder of the soil lie along each side of the trench and form a sort of gutter to hold water, in hot weather. Plant your plants two feet apart alon<,' the middle. Cauliflowers. — Early cauliflowers may be plant- ed in the same way, only make the trench two feet wide. Cabbage. — Early cabbage, or lettuce plants can be planted between the I'ows of peas of the second sow- ing. The spaces between the rov7S of peas of the first sowing should be left for the celery trenches; directions for which will be given next month. JosiAH Salter. . THE APPLE TREE BORER AND BASK LOUSE. Messrs. Editors: — In reading the accounts of the ravages made by the borer and its kindred families, it occurred to me fiat perhaps a short account of the methods that had been successfully practiced as a remedy and protection, would not fall into utterly barren soil. We all love good fruit; we all kiow that there is no fear of glutting the markets; we know, too, that paying $1.50 per bushel for good, eatable apples, as has been customary the past winter, cannot be af fox'ded by those of moderate means. In Dr. FiTcn's Report on Insects, in the Transac- tions of the JVetv York State Agricultural Soeiety, page 7iG, (1854.) it is stated that an intelligent fruit culturist at the West, (Illinois,) who had kept a pretty accurate account of his fruit trees, found that he had lost one in eight by the borer. A gentleman in the eastern part of this State, who had purchased a lot containing ten young apple trees, was told by the former proprietor that he must not expect fruit trees to do well there, as the soil was not congenial to them. On closely inspecting his purchase soon after- wards, and going to work with his knife, from these ten 'trees he dug out sixty worms. Several of the trees were almost girdled, and doubtless would have been so entirely, had not a timely check been put upon their operations. The same trees show for them elves that it was not the fault of the soil that tiiey did not grow before. The borer, in its winged state, as all observers are aware, deposits its eggs upon the bark, at or near the surface of the earth, but sometimes in the first forks of the tree. Each egg hatches a maggot, with no feet; this maggot eats its way directly downwards in the bark. At a later period of the season scrape off the outer dark colored surface, and you can easily trace the path of the young worm. A little black- ish spot, like a wheat kernel, will show the place of deposit, and by cutting a little into the bark he may be found. Now, how shall we protect our trees from his at- tacks ? Experiments show that alkaline washes are directly poisonous to insects and their eggs and larvie, and one of the best of these, which every one has, or may have, is good common soft soap. A. B. Dickinson says that a handful of it, placed in the axils (forks) of the lower limbs, is an infallible pre- ventive. Whether it is so or not, experience shows it is beneficial. Downing recommended painting the body of the tree and the axils with a mixture of soap, sulphur and tobacco water. Dr. Fitch recommends a remedy, as tried by himself, as simple, sure, and easy of application: "The upper end of his burrow may easily be found by puncturing the bark with an awl, or even a stiff pin, directly above the orifice whence his castings have been ejected ; then, with the point of a penknife, cut away the dead bark covering the upper end of the burrow, loosen the castings as much as can conveniently be done, and finish by pouring hot water from a tea kettle, or other convenient uten- sil, into the hole at intervals for a few moments, until you are certain, by its oozing out from the lower hole or otherwise, you have reached him." There is a beautiful instance of the application of a chemical fact in the above practice. Albumen (white of aa egg) composes a large proportion of the substance of larvai and grubs. It is coagulated at a tempera- ture of 180° Fahr., so that at a heat considerably below boiling water the destruction of the worm is certain ! The bark louse is probably the most destructive pest of all, and its ravages are increasing so rapidly, particularly at the West, that unless one is willing to work, and work faithfully, to defend his trees from their attacks in sections of country infested by them, he will reap but little reward for time and labor in planting out an orchard. Mr. Kimball, of Kenosha, Wis., uses the follow- remedy: "He boils leaf tobacco in strong lye till it is reduced to an impalpable pulp, which it will be in a short time, and mixes with it soft soap, (which has been made cold — not the jelly-hke boiled soap,) to make the mass about the consistence of thin paint, the object being to obtain a preparation that will not be entirely washed from the tree by the first rains which occur, as lye, tobacco water, and most other washes are sure to be. The fibres of the tobacco, diffused through this preparation, cause a portion of its strength to remain, wherever it is applied, longer than any application which is wholly soluble in raia water can do. lie first trims the trees well, so that every twig can be reached with the paint brush, and applies this preparation before the buds have much swelled in the spring. Two men, strictly charged to take their time, and be sure that they painted the whole of the bark to the end of every twig, were oc- cupied a fortnight in going over his hundred and fifty young trees." THE GENESEE FARMER. Ten THS EARTH, OR ANGLE-WORM Messrs Editors; — Most olJ gardens, and rich soils geueriilly, are inlestcd by the connuoii earth, or angle- worm, much to the detriment of the appearance of the former, where neat walks and alleys are always desirable. These worms usually come to the surface after rains, bringing with them a portion of the soil, and leaving their casts and trails wherever they move. They also come up in heavy dews, (and are hence called dew-worm) with the same result. These facts are generally noticed, but few have studied their uses or sought out the part they perform in the economy of nature. The following, in substance, is drawn from competent authority. A very important creature in the operations of na- tm'e,isthe common earthworm [hnnbricus terreslris.) Destined to be the natural manurer of the soil, and the rea.ly indicator of its improved state, it consumes on the surface of the ground, where they would soon be injurious, the softer parts of decayed vegetable matters; and conveys into the soil the more woody fibres, where they moulder and become reduced to a simple nutriment, fitting for living vegetation. It is also serviceable as furnishing the food of many ani- mals, and is an example of an individual race being Bubjected to universal destruction. The very aut seizes it when disabled and bears it away as its prize; it constitutes throughout the year the food of many birds; fishes devour it greedily; the mole pursues it ia the pastures aud along the moist bottoms of the ditches, and burrows after it wherever it may hide. — And, though inhabiting the earth, many aquatic ani- mals seem acquainted with it, and prey on it as a natural food whenever it falls in their way; frogs eat it, and the great water beetle is sometimes drawn up when it is the bait of the angler. Domestic fowls, having access to gardens, pursue it unceasingly; but with all the destroying agencies working against it, they seem constantly to increase in suitable situations. These worms are tender creatures, and water re- maining a few days over their haunts drowns them ; they easily become frozen, unless they enter deeper into the earth to escape the cold. In the same way they go down to a depth of eighteen inches or two feet in extreme dry weather. We have found them knot- ed into a compact ball ia the dry, hard subsoil — so hard as to require a pick to penetrate it. They are thought to deepen the soil — to make it more permea- ble, their holes serving as drains for surplus moisture. No doubt more h known of their habits, uses and abuses, but little or nothing is said of them by your gardening coiTespondents. We hope this imperfect attempt may call out something more satisfactory. J\'iaga7-a Co. B. — ■ ^^» tt*. • Peas Should be Sown Early. — Peas can be sown much earlier than the usual time of making garden in the spring. I have sown them sometimes, in a warm spell in February, sometimes in March, and never failed having peas proportionably early from them. They need not be covered deeper than in the spring, with earth, but should have a covering of straw, leaves, or barn-yard manure. There is little danger of frost, as they bear cold equally with wheat, rye or the grasses. I once saw an esperiment made of sowing peas in November; they grew well the nc-xt spring, yet I think they vegetate as early if sown in February as in November. M. W. Bradford County, Pa. BLACK KNOT-HOGS VS. CURCILIO, &c. Messks Editoks: — For many years a good plum upon a fanner's table has been a rare sight in cen- tral Now York, from the fact that the black knot made such havoc with the trees as to induce culti- vators to give up in despair. But as we have been sulVered to eat our fill from newly jjlantod trees, for two or three years past, wo will give our cxiicrionce so that that those who are hesitating wholher to set out plum trees or ntit, may take courage. And here let nie say that the inost'formidable antagonist to the i)lunis is not the black knot, but the curculio. We had given us a dozen nice young plum tre«s some years since, and after jolting the dirt ofl" the roots in a twelve mile ride, replaced them in tlic soil, which was a good loam. They grew well and in due time blossomed, but in a few weeks the plums came tumbling from the tree. The next year we saved a fev/ by sowing ashes and lime in the trees, and made a ied in the yard for a favorite rooter icho disposed of the u'ormy 2>litms as fast as they came doicn. The result was that the next year, despite the tumbling down of many, we had eight bushels of green gage and blue sauce plums. Now if you have plum trees, or intend to set them out, fix your arrangements if possible so as to give hogs a chance to pick up all the wormy plums', which I think decidedly the surest way to circum- vent the curculio. Manure your trees with sink slops — they delight in that kind of treatment. Give them a sprinkling of salt, two or more quarts to a large tree, every spring, which will usually keep the knots from ap- pearing, but if they do appear, and on some part of the tree Avhicli cannot he pruned off, then shave close with a knife, aud rub on turpentine. It will "jfic V??z." Now reader, if you can obtain some thrifty young plum trees, plant them ; treat them as above, and if you do not feel repaid in a few years, I shaU be disappointed. N. D. C. CULTIVATIONOF CURRANTS. Messes Editoes: — The cultivation of currants does not come under the head of " Subjects for the Ladies," nevertheless, as it generally falls to their lot to gather them, prepare them for the table, and help to eat them, it is no more than just that they should know something about their cultivation. Much has been written about growing currant bushes as standards. My exj^erience goes to show that, in these parts where we have deep snows, tliis is not the proper mode, for two reasons : (1) the weight of the snow splits down the branches. (2) the insect often kills the hush outright by working in the body. I can point to rows of bushes nearly worthless from the first cause. One will say have them dug out of the snow. I have seen that tried, and the remedy was worse than the disease, for the limbs were broken and barked. My plan is to place the cutting on rich, deep soil, with all the eyes in, and let them grow as they will. Every spring, after all the danger of mice is over, cut out all old and decayed branches and keep the sides of the rows raised on poles, which are let doWn in the fall, and the snow bears doAvn the branches but does not brenk them. Keep them well mulch- ed with chijis or saw-dust, as that keeps the ground cool and moist, and they need no other culture. Saratoga Co., JV. Y. Maby. 162 THE GENESEE FARMER. THE APPLE TEEE CATEEPILLAE. Messrs Editors: — The common apple tree cat- erpillar is beconiiiijj; so prevalent that I tliink it ehould be noticed more frequently by the agricultu- ral journals of the day, and the best means to extir- pate the evil more thorou.^ldy disseminated among fanners. I have seen a noble orchard entirely stript of leaves by these insects. No orchard can flourisli where these pests are allowed to have clean swing. Fruit cannot mature where the trees are stri])t of their leaves, even if the blossoms escape, which rarely happens. The trees so infested must event- ually die, and should it so happen that the insects become less in numbers by being "Avinter killed," or otherwise destroyed, the trees will require a num- ber of years to recover the thrift and vigor lost by one season's neglect. One method of ridding our- selves of them is, when pruning in the spring, to give a little attention to this siibject, and cut off all the eggs that may be discovered. They are easily distinguished, and once seen, will never be forgotten. They' resemble a cluster of small eggs compactly glued together. If cut off at this time, the bud will not burst, so the little miscreants will starve before they can find food in another direction. Should you be so unfortunate as to overlook a few, they may very readily be detected by watching your orchard, when, on a bright sliiney morning before the dew has dried off, you will discover a small nest of a silvery appearance. These I invarialdy cut off with the twig to which they are attached and burn them. I think they will leave no seed behind them to perpetuate their kind, and if all would do so we should see but few of them in a few years, even on the wild cherry. D. — Gates^ N. Y. CULTIVATION OE PLTJM3 To have thrifty plums trees, and free from disease, procure stones from the common blue or horse plum. Freeze through winter, and in the spring crack what stones have not been cracked by the frost. Plant in beds close together. When two years old, take them up, cut off the tap roots, and plant in nursery form. If they grow thrifty, they «ill do for budding that summer. Bud about the 20th of July. If the buds do not grow, they can be grafted the next spring When two or three years old from bud or graft, set them in your orchard, fifteen feet apart, always se- lecting a clayey soil. Most varieties of the plum are subject to the black excrescence commonly called black knot. The best remedy for it is to cut off the diseased limb and de- Btroy it, as soon as it appears. The trees are often injured by slugs. They come on the tree about the end of Jane. If left on they destroy the leaves, which injures both the tree and fruit. They may be destroyed by scattering dry ashes or lime on the tree when the dew is on the leaves. The curculio, one of the chief enemies of the plum, is a small brown fly, which stings the fruit when about the size of peas, causing it to fall soon after it is stung. There are several ways in which the fly may be destroyed and the fruit saved : one is to place a sheet under the tree, shake the tree, and the insects will fall on it, and they can be thus de- stroyed. J. E. B. J\'ewcastle, Durham Co., C. Jf, CULTIVATION OF PEACHES. To BEGIN with, pits taken from healthy trees, natural fruit, are the best. Lay them out doors, where they will freeze, during the winter, and cover sliglitly with dirt to prevent their drying outk Crack, and plant in May, in rich soil. Bud frorti July to September, and cut the t(,)ps off tlie next spring. Transjilant when two or three years old. Cultivate the ground very well every year, and prune off all surperfiuous sprouts. When the trees commence bearing, enrich thB ground well with manure, and sow a peck of ashea around each tree in the spring. The orchard should be jilowed sometime in May or the first of June, and again in the fall, after the peaches are gathered, taking care to disturb the roots as little as possible. Beans and rye should never be raised in a peach orchard, and the grass and sods should be cleared away from around the trees. High culture after the trees commence bearirrg will tell on the cro])s, both in quantity and quality. Clarhstown., N. Y. Myron E. Tannek. ^ CiTRRAST Busn "Worm. — In the February Na of the Farmer.^ a correspondent asks for informatioti respecting the currant worm. I think by tlie des- cri[)tion it is the same that has ajipeared here in some gardens. They are easily got rid of, but re- quire daily attention while they last, (wliich is a short time,) in order that none may escape. Ab soon as they show themselves, which they do gene- rally in one colonj^ spread cloths under the bushes, and jar, when they will instantly web themselves down. Then with a stick break oif their webs, and draw out the cloths and dispose of tlie worms. Fol- low this up a few days, and there will none be left to tell the tale. They turn into a white miller that may be seen flying at night. There is also here a species of borer, that works in the stem, though I have never seen the insect. Hy the holes they make, they must be very small. Mrs. I. 0. Saratoga Co..^ N. Y. Growing Melons, &c. — In the February num- ber, you ask for the experience of your readers on the subject of soaking seed previous to planting.-— We used to practice that, but now have a better way for such as have no hot-beds With a knife cut thin sods eight inches square, lay tbem on an old pan, or any vessel that can be kept in a warm place, with the grass side down. Put two or three inches of soil on the top and plant your seeds, a hill on each sod, a few days before you make garden. They will come U|) quickly. Transplant them by \)\x\i>- tinijthe hand under the sod and i)laciiigitin the hilk Cover the hill v/itli a box having m(is(iuir<) net on the top, which may remain on until tbe iilontsara too high for tlie box. Tliis will jjrotect tbi-m from the bugs, and keep the cold night air and winda from injuring them, and they will be nmch earliei;, A Farmer's Wife. Saratoga Co.., N. Y. Celeriao, or turnip-rooted celery, is cultivated in the same manner as celery, exte[)t that it not need earthing up. THE GENESEE FARMER. 163 AN OHIO FARMERS GARDEN. t* Messrs Editors : — In the first ])lace I take one acre ot' groiuul, lay it otY iu strips six to twelve feet tvide one way ; Inick furrow each strip three or four times until a diteh is formed between them some eighteen inehes lower than the bed. Then I back furrow a head-land at each end wide enough for two or three rows of ])Otatoes. Now the garden is ready tor the manure. I fill tlio ditch with any kind of rough maimre to the depth of six inches, one or two ditciies at a time, as needed. I begin and back furrow, plowing from the center of the bed each way, aud ct)ver the man- ure to the depth of twelve inehes, using a hoe and ghovel a little, and make the ditch where the center of the bed was. Then I mark out lengthwise two feet, three feet, or any other width that I need, .ac- cording to what I wish to sow or plant. I plant al- most every thing in drills. I like a row or two of beets, a row or two of parsneps, carrots, peppers, cabbage, potatoes, corn, melons, cucumbers, &c., all deep routed vegetables, over the center ; beans, &c., in the side rows. When I wish any thing early, I fo to the horse stable and with two good loads of orse manure fill a ditch, cover it as before, sow or plant over the center. This is my hot-bed: take two wide boards and set them along the rows, like the roof of a house, using them only when the weather is cold or during a cold rain. I back furrow the head-lands for potatoes. I dress out a little with the hoe once, then with a amall handy sbovel plow. I plow almost every thing, even peppers. The second year I fill, at leisure, the ditches with Sny kind of rough manure, except tliC one I wish for a hot-bed, and alternately change the center of the bed ever year. I liave uniformly had the earliest, largest and best of every thing that grows in the garden. Onebc(^t weighing (leaves trimmed ofi:' and washed clean) eighteen pounds; a cabbage head (every green leaf taken otf and stump cut otf close to the head) weigh- ing fifteen pounds. "When I commence my garden I deem 100 bushels of lime an indespensable reijui- lyte to make cabbages head, and make turnips sjveet. J. D. Chamberlain. Waterford^ Ohio. Cultivation of Peas. — Plow or dig the land deep and mellow, and rake lightly; then plow or dig a trench one foot deep and one foot wide; cover the bottom of the trench with hog manure, two inches deep; then cover the manure with dirt four inches deep, and drop the peas lengthwise of the trench, about four inches apart, having two rows in a trench. Make the trenches about a foot and a half apart; cover tlie peas till the trench is nearly full. Sow about the last of April. When they are about four inches high, hoe and laish them. At hoeing, fill the trench full. A little plaster on the manure will improve the croj) in a dry season. Be careful to keep the weeds down between the trenihes throughout the summer; it will take a good deal of pains, but the crop will be so much improved tixat it will pay. I prefer the Marrowfat. E. G. Rockwell. German, Chenango Co., JY. Y. CHERRY BIRDS. Messrs Kditors: — Your correspondent Bkmeni, in the last number of the Farmer, makes a very elo- quent plea in favor of the birds, to which I give my hearty assent. But your corrspondent has lorgotlen to name one, whose labors 1 have watched lor seve- ral years. I refer to the Cedar bird, or as he is com- monly called Cherry bird, or Currant eater. Al- though he may not destroy as man) in.'iects as some others, yet I assure you he is of vast help in gather- ing cherries. A few years since when my Bauinann'a May first came into bearing, I was fearful ihiit some rogue might be tempted to steal them before I had a chance to taste, and so I covered the tree with a net. But one afternoon having occasion to leave home, I found on my return that the birds had crept under the net and taken every cherry; doubtless to keep them from the ravenous worms. A friend of mine had a fine large tree loaded with the same vari- ety, and as soon as they begsn to turn red, the little warblers began their benevolent work, and although my friend would gladly have relieved them of a por- tion of their labors, yet with all his efforts he was hardly able to tell how a ripe cherry would taste. — But enough; I wish some of your able correspond- ents would give us a complete history of the li!e and labors of this insect destroying specimen of natural history. J. P. -^«-«^ MY FIRST DAHLIA IMesses. Editors: — Thinking it may interest and encourage some of your readers to persevere some- times against hope, 1 will give a short history of my success in raising my first dahlia. 1 had but one ti> ber. After placing it in a box, only one sprout ap- peared; this I had put in the ground, and also the remaitjiug part of the tuber, which was without a sprout, and apparently without an eye. In about six weeks it germinated, producing a feeble plant which struggled along for weeks. I concluded to atsist it in its life struggles, and cut off all its under leaves and branches, retaining only the upper ones, and con- tinued to prune it for a month. In September it had become — not a giant, neither was it a dwarl^ — but a medmm sized plant, containing twenty- five blossoms and three distinct varieties, and about sixty buds, all on the stock at the same time. Many of the blos- soms were quite circular, and so perfect were soma of them that the eye. or disc, could not be seen; a few of them would have measured as large around as a common tea-saucer; but an untimely fiost prevented many from blossoming. As this was my first eSort, of course I was not capable of judging its compara- tive excellence, but I would like very much to have amateurs give their experience. H. 11. M, Liverpool, March, 1857. Black Pepper, dusted on cucumber, melon .and other vines, when the dew is on, is said to drive away the striped bug, r.nd will do no harm to the plants. "A Good TTotjsewife," s.ays Pliny, "will go into her herb garden instead of a spice shop for her seasoning, and thus preserve the health of her fam- ily by saving her purse." 164 THE GENESEE FARMER. (gHt0r's faille April Premiums. — The following are the successful eompetitors for the premiums offered for the largest list of subscribers bj the 15th of April. 1. I. W. Briqgs, West Maeedon, N. Y., 200 subscri- bers, $50. 2. J. Little, Seneca, C. W., 150 subscribers, §30. 3. J. H. Manning, Morristown, C. W., 103 subscribers, t20. 4. John Horton, Eaton, Ohio, 100 subscribers, $15. 5. Samuel Gray, Keily, Ohio, 83 subscribers, $10. The above premiums are to be paid in agricultural books, and we desire the winners will inform us what works tiiey wish and by what routes they shall be sent, and they shall be immediately forwarded. Prize Essays. — We have the pleasure this month of presenting our readers with a " Prize Essay number." — The essays are all short and practical, and cannot fail to be read with interest and advantage by every one interest- ed in the cultivation of the soil. We hope the^ respective writers of these prize essays will inform us what dollar book (or books) they wish and it shall be forwarded immediately. Old Seeds. — We are not aware the fact has ever been piiysiologically accounted for, but it is certain that some seeds are much improved by keeping. For instance, gar- deners not unfrequently carry melon and cucumber seeds in their pockets in order that the necessary maturation may be accelerated by the warmth of their bodies ; and it is found that old seeds of these plants are more productive of fruit and less prone to run to vines than new seeds. Cauli- flowers and most of the cabbage tribe are less lialde to " bottom" or run prematurely into flower, wliile turnips bulb better, produce less top, and are not as liable to run to seed when grown from seed several years old as when raised from new seed. The Powers of Reproduction bt Seed are im- mence. A single capsule of the tobacco plant coiiiains about one thousand seeds ; or,e of the common medicinal poppy, eight thousand ; while the vanilla plant has been computed to contain from ten to fifteen thousand. Each of these produces from twenty to thirty capsules on each plant. Cryptogamous plants possess the power of repro- duction to a still greater extent ; common splcenwort is eetimated to produce one million of seeds. To Detect Diseased Potatoes. — It is not always possible to tell by the eye wh.ether a patato is entirely free &om all disease or not. Prof. Way says that a slice of a diseased potato will curdle milk in three or four hours if kept in a. warm place, whereas a slice of sound potato has no euoh effect. To Canada Subscribers.— We understand that some of our subscribers in Canada have been compelled to pay postage on the Genesee Farmer. This is manifestly con- trary to law and should not be submitted to. Acknowledgements. — We are indebted to Prof. S. W. J011N.SON, of Yale College, for his excellent lecture " On the Relations that Exist between Science and Agri- culture ; " to C. L. Flint, Esq., Secretary of the Massa- chusetts Board of Agriculture, for a copy of his address delivered before the Franklin County Agricultural So- ciety, and also for a copy of the Transactions of tlie Board of Agriculture for 1855 — (Mr. Flint's article on the grasses we consider a valuable acquisition to our agricultural liter- ature ;) to the editors of the California Farmer for the " Official Report of the California State Agricultural So- ciety's Third Annual Fair, Cattle Show and Industrial Exhibition, held at San Jose, October 7 to 10, 1856" — (it is an interesting pamphlet of 80 pages, and an honor t* the State; to M. B. Bateham & Co., Columbus, Ohio, for one of the Spring Catalogues of their Nursery stock ; to B. P. Johnson, Esq., for a pamphlet containing the proceedings attending the Dedication of the New York State Agricultural Rooms, at Albany, February 12, 1857 ; to Eben Wright, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, for the Reports of the Committees of the Society for 1856, and a Schedule of Prizes for 1857 ; to Robert Russell, Esq., of Kil- whiss, Scotland, for a copy of his lecture before the Agri- cultural Society of Scotland, on the Agriculture of Canada and United States ; to the Hon. W. L. Marcy, for a copy of the Army Meteorological Register — a most valuable work, which we shall notice more at length at a future time; to J. M. Thoeburn & Co., of New York, for a package of Chinese sugar cane seed. V/no Should do the Milking? — Our offer of a pre- mium for the best answer to the question, "Is it right to ask the women folks to do the milking during the busy sea- son ? " called out a number of replies. In the March num- ber we promised to give extracts from these essays, and have to apologize for not doing so — at present. We stiH continue to receive articles on this subject. The essay of Mr. Wood is the occasion of many of these communica- tions. We give, at random, an extract from one as a spe- cimen : "Mr. D. S. Wood says, "shame on the man that asks a woman to milk the cows." Now a few queries arise in my mind and I will give them vent. I wonder if " Mr. W." is married ? I v.-onder if he built the house he lives in ? and if so, if his heart did not exult over the though.t that there he could cage his v.ife, and that although she might hop from base to dome at will, if she opened the outer dooi' for a,ny]usefid purpose she was " cut of her sphere ?" Furth- more, I wonder if 3Irs. W. ever dare ask her leige lord to hold the baby, put some wood on the fire, or fetch a pail of water farther than the door ? Wonder if said " W." does not think that the maidens of the olden time, who drew water for the camels, as REBEKAH.or gleaned in the fieldai as Ruth, were ratlier low lived? I wonder if Sir. W. thinks there are bounds to the usi'fuhiess of either box %— He says, 'the question imples that this woric does not pro- perly belong to the women." I grant it; and so indbor work, because esteemed less hard, is not considered man^ business, but he is not a true man who feels himself i7isulted when in an hour of leisure he is .-iskcd by a hurried wif^ lo assist lier, and (the ladies at my elbow say) she is net a rt-JMj wom.Tiu who refuses to assist her husband or brotliers in anything which she ean do without slighting her acoBs- tomed work." Our columns are so crowded this month that we have been obliged to leave out several cuts engraved expressly for thia number. THE GENESEE FARMEK. US' ]>i:ANa IN lIiLis ou Diur.LS. — One of our correspon- dents residing- at Asliton, Wis., gives us the result of an CTpeiiment ia iilanting beans in hills or in drills. The rows in both cases were three fset apart. The hills being two feet apart in the rows in the one case, and in the other the beans were scattered along the row " nearly as thick as peas." The result was that those jilanted in hills required much more labor to keep them clean, and the jield was onl}' eighteen pushels per acre, while those planted in diills yielded thirty-six bushels per acre. He finds it best not to plow the land till just before planting, say the first of June, as the land turns up loose mid mellow and the beans get the start of the weeds. Male ok Fkmale Progent at will. — 1 have noticed. a number of articles on this question in the agricultural papers, and will give my experience, which 1 think will bo a " settler" on this point. My practice is to put the bull to the cows after milking. Last season I had from five cows five male calves, but old " Spec" got in -with the bull late in the afternoon, before milking time, and she produced IX pair of bulls. W. L. B. lirando7i, Vt. Tke Principles of Agricultdre Universally Ar- rciCABLE. — Most of our farmers have an idea that the matter contained in an agricultural magazine published in Western New York is not api)licable to prairie farming ; but my experience is that good farming in the State of New York is good farming in Illinois or New Hamp- shire, and vice versa. With some allowance for soil, cli- mate, and a hundred other things which the experience and judgment of every good farmer (in every location) will make, I am certain that our Northern Illinois farmers will lose nothing, and gain much, by having the experience and experiments of the able, scientific agriculturists and horti- culturists of Western New York. Horace Starke y. Spring W'iieat In Kentucky. — Mr. B. Decker, of California, Ky., sends us his method of cultivating spring wheat. Take a three or four year old blue grass or clover seed, break it up eight or ten inches deep the last week of August or first of September, and let it lie all winter. — Tlie following March give another thorough plowing, turning the sod up again. Then harrow well, and about the middle or last of March sow from six to seven pecks of wheat per acre, and harrow crosswise or both ways. — The yield is usually from eighteen to twenty-four bushels per acre. ' ♦♦♦ ■ Spring Wheat. — An esteemed correspondent at Springliill, Bradford Co., Pa., writes that spring wheat is frequently sown too early in that section — the ground is plowed when too v.-et, and the consequence is that at har- vest it is difBcult to tell whether it was intended to sow wheat OT timothy grass. In ISoi there was an unusual snow storm about the middle of April, and in consequence o*ir correspondent did not sov/ his wheat till the Gtli of May. This was considered entirely too late ; but at har- vest it was admitted by all to be one of the finest lots of spring wheat they had ever seen. The liuRAL Annual should be in the hands of all about to commence gardening operations. It contains just the information they need, and more of it tlian many dollar books. Sent postage paid to any address, on the re- ceipt of 25 cents in postage stamps. Bound in cloth 50 cents. Address Joseph Harris, Rochester. N. Y. To Kill Lice on Anything. — Take half a cents worth of Scotch snuff for each animal, dry it thoroughly and rub it into the hair the whole length of the back and both sides of the neck, just forward of the shoulders ; re- peat in eight or ten days, and the work is done. Brandon, Vt. »■»« The wheat crop in this section does not look as promis- ing as it did when the snow passed off in February. There are some complaints of winter-kill, yet as a general thing the prospect of a fair crop is favorable. Mucli less breadth of land, however, has been sown to wheat than usual in Western New York. »«-► Black Beans. — Mr. D. Van Horn, of Bennettsvile, Chenango Co., N. Y., sends us a sample of Black beans, which he obtained nineteen years ago in Sullivan Co., N. Y. He has cultivated them ever since, as well as many other varieties, but he thinks the Black the best string bean he has ever seen. We will give them a trial. Keep the Milk Roosi Sweet. — La-st fall, when tli« fruit was gathered, a quantity was placed in the milk room, and soon a change in the flavor was perceptible. Upon removing the fruit, no more of the unpleasant flavor was observed, showing conclusively its effect upon the butter. E. A. T. ♦♦.. Fall Plowing for Barley. — Mr. Andrew Wilson, of Prescott, C. W., informs us that he has made several experiments in regard to sowing barley on land plowed in the fall or in the spring, and in all cases the fall ploined land gave the heaviest and best crops. Soaking Barley in Nitbe Water. — Our esteemed •orrespondent, Mr. IIichard Francis, of South Cort- laaid, N. Y., says he once soaked some seed barley in wa- tar containing saltpetre, and " Avas surprised at the ' in- ereftsed langth of the head, some having betv/^ecn p.inety and a hundred kernels in them." It was the six-rowed kind. Soak about twenty-four hours. . ►•-» Sub.tects tou Prize Essaysj. — We intend to continue our offer of premiums for short essays, and shall feel i obliged if our readers would suggest subjects. ' The quantity of water requisite to cause germination in some seeds is very great. Decandolle found that a French bean, weighing 544 milligrammes absorbed 736 milligrammes of water. The promise of an early spring has proved delusivB. We are now (April 21) enjoying (?) a heavy snow storiii which will delay fp.rmirg and gardening operations for some time, even under the most favorable circumstances. Choice Flower and Vegetable Skedb by Mail. — See advertisement on last p»ge. ♦e'« A NUMBER of Book Notices, as well as much other matter, are necessarily omitted this month. 166 THE GENESEE FARAffiR. New Advertisements this Month. — A. Gordon & Co., of the Rochester Agricultural Works, manufacture Pitt's justly celebrated Horse Powers and Threshing Ma- chines, with the latest improvements, as well as IItde & Wright's Horse Hoe and Cultivator Plow, the Roches- ter Cutting Box, Hildketh's Gang Plow, &c. Farmers in want of any of these articles would do well to give them a call. James M. Thorbuen & Co., of New York, offer a Taried assortment of Agricultural Seeds, as well as of the Northern Sugar Cane Seed. Saxton & Co., of New York, the Agricultural Book Publishers, offer a number of valuable and seasonable Books, which they will send by mail, free of postage. John S. Dye, of New York, offers his Weekly Bank Note Detector, for one dollar a year. JnquirUs anU ^ns^txe. (A Subscriber.) We know of no certain remedy against the turnip fly. The best method is to sow them Tery thick, say one or two pounds of seed per acre, and thin out the plants when they are in the rough leaf and out of the reach of the fly. Anything that will stimulate the growth of the young plants can be used to advantage. Plaster will probably be of some benefit ; but superphosphate of lime sown in drills with the seed is the best of all man- ures for turnips, and will push them forward so rapidly that the fly cannot hurt them. We have never seen a crop hurt when sufficient seed was sown along with superphos- phate. (A Farmer, Corinth, N. Y.) We know from actual ex- periment that sheep will not fat as fast when they are not permitted to drink all the water they wish. For an ac- count of this experiment see Genesee Farmer for 1852, page 383. (A Young Farmer.) Plant the Chinese sugar cane as you would corn. Asparagus beds, if not already done, should be forked over and raked smooth, being careful not to hurt the crowns of the plants. (A. I. P.) We have had no experience with unleached ashes as manure for broom corn, but think they would be ■beneficial. See prize essay on the cultivation of broom corn in this number, page 145. (C. A. F., Newburgh, N. Y.) Your plums fall off the tree because they have been stung with the curculio. The top branches of my cherry trees are affected with bla.'k accumulations having a grub ii:side. 1 should be gla 1 if your corrcs[)ondents would inform me of a remedy. R. ¥.— Trenton, C. W. Information Wanted. — I am naturally a little inqui- sitive, and sometimes charged wifii asking foolish questions and being diffii'ult to satisfy. If at present you thirik my que=itions foolish, you may answer me according to my folly or not answer me at all. 1st. If it is so (as many believe) that buckwheat » ill kill hogs and give old hoys the scr.atches ; whv is it? and woul i it remedy the evil to grind it or ciok it ? 21 Last fill] whde husUing my corn I found several well formed cobs almost entirely without corn, three of them eontaining about as follows : No. 1, one grain ; No. 2, two grains ; No. 3, twelve grains. If there is a natural cau^ for every thing, why is it that cobs are generally covered with corn, while some few grow with none or very little ? 3d. Why is it that the rows of grain on corn-cobs ar» sometimes crooked, while as a general rule they aix straight? L;ist fall I found a middling sized ear on which the TO\t% made a complete circuit of the cob, both ends being oti one side, and the middle on the opposite side. 1 intend tB f)lant a few grains from this twisty ear to see if it will pr(^ duce twisty corn. ' J. H. Hamilton. — Mercer Co., Pa. ADVERTISEMENTS, To secure insertion in the Farmer, must be received a.'' early as tiU 10th of the previous month, s-ad be of such „ character as to l» of interest to farmers. Terms - Two Dollars Icr everj hundred words, each insertion, paid in advance. NEW YORK STATE AGBICULTURAL SOCIETY. PREMIUMS ON FARMS— 1857. Grain Farms, Premium $.50 and $39 Dairy and Grazing, " 50 " 3d Competitors aie desired to give notice to the Secretary befoi» the fir.it of July, so that the farms can be visited by a CommittjB^ api oiiited for that puroo.se. FIKLD CROPS. — Competitors should obtain the Regulations cf the Society, so as to have their statements properly prej ared. It Greeley's Premium on one acre of Carrots is continued. Regul2»- tions will be furnished on application to the Secretary, and also a list of Premiums for 18'i7. B. P. JOHNSON, AoRicrLTURAL Rooms, Albany, March 2, 1857. Secretary. April 1.— 3t. TO LOVERS OF FLOWERS. BUIST'S FLOWER GAEDFN DIRECTORY, $1.25 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS 1.08 Will give you the directions you need for selecting the rarest and best flowers, and for their successful cultivation. These are ti<* bi'gt hooks for amateurs. jj~^^ Sent free of postage on receipt of price. CM. S.\XfON & CO., Agricultural Book Publishers, May 1.— It. 140 Fulton street. New York- NORTHERN SUGAR CANE SEED- ^ HAVING purchased from Mr. Wray his importation of Chineige Imphee or Sorgho Seed, grown in France, under his own im» mediate inspection, (thereby insuring the utmost purity,) and d«- scribed editorially by Mr. Greei.v.y. in the Tribune, we offer it for sale in quantities, at ONE DOLLAR A POUNH. and in packeta^ prepaid by mail, at 25 cents, £0 cents, and SI each. This seed,.** superior to any othtr in market, can be procured oyily from J. M. THORBLRN &- CO., May 1. — It. 15 John street, New York. AGRICULTURAL SEEDS. ~~ g^^ THE subscribers offer the following seasonable Seeds |^j9| ■S^i^the growth of last, year, and of unsurpassed qualitirs. Vv^ .,^'L- Dealers and others requiting large quantities, will be-°>-«:^ served at pries ronsideiaWy below the rates quoted : Best quality Red Top Turnip, 75 cts. per I{h Red Top Strap Le.nf do., 75 ." " Large White English Globe do £0 •' " " " " Norfolk do., 50 " " '. I,ong White Tankard do., 75 " " Yeihiw Stone do., 75 " " Yellow Aberdeen do., "5 " " Best American Improved Ruta Baga do , 75 " " Imported do. do. do., 50 " " ' " Purple Top do. do,, 60 " * , And twelve other varieties of Turnips, from 50c. to $\.C0 " Early Scarlet Short-horn Carrot 1.00 « Improver) Long Orange do. l.no " Long White do., 75 cts. " Wliite SuL'ar Beet, 50 " « s Yellow do 50 " " , L.-ng Red Mangel Wurzel do,,... .50 " « Yellow Globe do, do., 60 « " Fine Mixed French Grass Seed, for Lawn", $5.(0 perbushefc And other Mixtures for Lawns, at .f.3.00 and 4.fO " " Also, the finest, qualities of Red. White Dutih. Lucerne, and other Clovers; Tlmo-hv. Red Top, Blue Grass, English aud Italian ''av Grass, Oicbard, Sweet Scented Verr;il, the Figfiies, rvrd other Grnssps: with a Ijirire and enmplete assortment of VEGETABLB, FLOWER AND FIELD SEEDS of the best qualities, at reasoB»» ble rntes. t^" Catalogues on application. JAMES M, TRORBURN k CO., May 1.— 2t. 15 John street. New YoA. THE GENESEE EARLIER. 167 ROCHESTER AGRICULTURAL WORKS, ox. dollar a Y«AR.-c.RcoLATKmovK,noo.ococori«WBSKLT. ATTE\TIO!V, TIIIli'.SIlKKS 1 PITTS' PEEMIUM SrPARATORS, & DOUBLE PINION HOESE POWERS. iN" O-v.^- The above cut is a rfpi' the justly celehratod PITTS' MACHINE FOR THRE-! l . A \>i CLEAXIXfJ GRAIN at ( ne opentioD. It is the btsl ilackiiic lor IhiesUing and cleaning grain in exi.steuce. The following cut represents PITTS' DOUBLE PINION EIGHT OR TEN HORjE POWER. As a superior and every wa\ stands unrivaled. se Power, the atove We call attention to the foct that we are now manufacturing the ahove Machines at Rochester, N. Y., in a more substantial and du- rable manner, and of a larger capacity than any hitherto iiuilt in this city, having all the latest improvements made by John A. Pitts. We can furnish the hitest and best all iron Power, for eight, ten •r less number of horses. We invite all who intend purchasing to examine our machines ; they will more than equal the best expectations of the public. FARMERS, YOUR ATIFNTION IS ASKED TO HYDE & WEIGHT'S PATENT HOESE HOE OE CUL- TiVAiOH PLOW, Designed and better adapted than any other implement for hoeing Corn, Broom Corn, Potatoes, Cotton, or any other crop requiring the use of the Horse or Hand Hoe. It has proved itself the most Talujii.le implement yet invented for the purpose intended. It has been in use in Western New York for the past four yeais — hun- dreds of thtm having been sold on trial, and none returned. Its great utility has been dtmonstrated in the fact that one day to the acre, with a man and horse, is all the expense of cultivating and hoeing a field of corn for the season. II used as directed, hand hoeing, in nine casts out oi ten, may be entirely dispensed with. We have numeious ceitilicates of the most s.itisfactory character, which we would be happy to show the public. Farmers may rely on realizing their be-t expectations from the use of the Horse Hoe. Price, $S ; if ground and polished, $8.50. Ko farmer should be without one. They are having an unlimited tale. Sold at wholesale and retail. EOCHESTEE CUTTING EOX. All who are in want of a Feed Cutter, adapted equally well to the cutting of all kinds of fodder, will tinU our Cutting Box iu all respects to answer their wants. lEON GANG PLOW. ' We are Agents for the s-ile of Hil.DRETH'S GANG PLOW' irhich has superior advantages over every other Gang Plow. Price, $20. 53^ We shall be happy to impart any further information that may be desired. Orders are respectfully solicited. May 1. A. (iORDON & CO., 68 South St. Paul street, Rochester, N. T. FLOWEE SEEDS., &c., FRO if the be.st European coll ctious — 16 papers for $1. Chinese bugar Cane Seed, Roses, Bulbs, Strnwherries, kc. Addiess W. T. GOLDSMITH, May 1.— It, Rochester, N. Y. 25 WITNESSES; OR, THE FORGER CONVICTED. JOH.V S. DYE IS THE AUTIIOH, Who has had ten years' experience as a Banker and Publisher, and Author of A Scries of Lectures at tlie Broadway Tabernacle, When, for ten succc8*ivo nights, over t:;^ 50,000 PEOPLE _^gJJ Greeted him with Rounds of Appl.ause, while he exhibited the manner in which Counteifeiters execute their Fiamls, and the Surest and Shortest Means of Detecting them ! The Bank Note Engravers all say that he is the Greatest Judge of Paper Moneij living. Greatest Discovery of the Prctsent Century FOR DETECTING COUNTEUPEIT BANK NOTES, Describing every Genuine Bill in Existence, and Exhibiting at a glance every Counterfeit in Circulation ! 1 Arranged so admir.ablr that REFERENCE IS EASY, and DE- TECTION INSTANTANEOUS. J|:tF" ^0 I-^'DEX TO E.X.tMI.VE I NO PAGES TO HU.NT DP I ,^g^ But so simplified and arranged that the Merchant, Banker and Business Man can see all at a glance. Englisli, Freneli aiid German. Thus each may read the same in his own Naliye Tongue. 31ost Perfect Bank Note List Published. Also, A List of all tlie Private Banfeers in America. A Complete Summary of the FINANCE OF EUROPE AND AMERICA will be published in ea-th edition, together with all the Important NEWS OF THE DAY'. Also, A Sejles of Tales From an Old Manuscript found in the East. It furnishes the Most Complete History of ORIENTAL LIFE, Describing the Most Perplexing Positions in which the Ladies and Gentlemen of that Country have been so ofien found These Sti.ries will continue throughout the whole year, and will prove the Most Entertaining ever offeied to the Public. ^i^l^ Furnished Weekly to Subscribers only, at $1 a year. AU letters must be addressed to JOHN S. DYE, Bkoker, Publisher and Proprietor, 70 Wall street, New York. May 1, 1857.— ly. TO FARMERS AND GARDENERS. THE Subscribers offer for sale 40,000 bxrrels of their New and Improved POUDRETTE, mauufiictured from the niglit-s lil of New-York city, in lots to suit purchasers. Thi-j article (greatly improved within the last two years) b:is been in the m irket for eighteen yetirs. and still defies competition as a mitnure tor Corn and Garden Vefretaliles, being Cheaper more powerful than any other, .iTid at the same time free from disagreeable odur. I'wo barrels ($3 worth) will manure an acre of corn in tlin hill, will save two-thirdi in labor, will cause it to come up quicker, to gi.tw faster, ripen earlier, ai d will bring a larger crop on poor ground than any other fertilizer, and is also a preventive of the cut woim ; also, it does not injuie the seed to be put in contact w^ith it. The L. M. Co. point to their long-standing re| utation, and the large c^i-ital ($lbO,B is— THE LODI MANUFACTURING CO., feb 1— « Office, 60 Cortlandt St., Wew York. 168 THE GENESEE FARMER. dHOICE FLOWER & VEGETABLE SEEDS, AT GHEATLY HEDUCEU RATES. MR. JAMES VICK, the former publisher of the Genesee Far- mer, imported from Fr.'ince some very choice Flower and Vegetable Seeds, which massed icto the hands of the subscriber in his purchase of the establishment. The seeds are all good, and of the very best and rarest itiuds, and will be sold at a reduced price. Aay of the foUowin;? kinds of FLOWER SEEDS will be sent, postage paid, to any address in the United States, for four cents per package : DOUBLE BALSAM— Large Sowers, splendid colors. CENTTAUPlEA — Unique and beautiful. CALAXDillXIA— Delicate and pretty. RED AMARANTH— Fine for drying— everlasting. WHITE " " ORe prop&rl; taiiea THE GENESEE FAKMER. 171 care of before harvest, as they need to be hoed twice; the fiist time wiieii they are in the first leaf, thinning them out to nine inches, the second time to clear them of any weeds that may be among them. A narrow cultivator or s-hovel plow can be run thro igh the rows, which, if straight, allow you to go very near the plauts, thereby leaving little ior the hoe to do. A man can hoe cue-third of an acre the first, and one acre the second hoeing." A Canadian correspondent who cultivated twenty acres of ruta bagas last year, and who intends sowing thirty acres this year adopts the following method : " I plow the land in the fall very deep, thinking it important to stir some of the subsoil. During the winter draw manure into the field and put it in a round heap, with a flat surface to catch all the rain. As soon as the ground is in working condition in the spring, plow again; work down fine with cultivator and harrow, and about the first week of June com- mence ridging twenty-eight inches apart ; fill the ridges with good rotten dung; then split your rows to cover the dung; roll down with a light roller, and from the lOth to the 20th of June drill in about a pound of seed per acre. Skirving's or Laing's improved are excellent varieties. Last year I tried a new kind called Marshalls, which is very good. " When the plants are nicely in rough leaf go through them with scuffler or horse hoe; then hand hoe, leaving the plants twelve inches distant from each other — if the ground is very rich a little more. When the plants have got a little hold of the ground scuf- fle again, and go over them with the hand hoe, cut- ting out all weeds and double turnips. I consider turnips and ruta bagas the most profitable crop the farmer can raise." Mr. Mtron E. Tanner, of Clarkstown, Rockland Co., N. Y., says: "For laising ruta bagas, after breaking up your land, ridge it and let it lie so for a while; then run a deep furrow through the center of each ridge and fill it with fine manure, after which cover it slightly with earth and sow your seed. Keep your land well worked between the rows, and when the tops are large enough so that they are out of the way of the flies, thin them out to about eight or ten inches in the rows." ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE MAY NTJMBEE. Mat-day is here, but the Farmer was one day in advance, ready for the leisure given by a stormy af- ternoon for its perusal And it has been some com- pensation for the delay in the work, to see the grass grow greener beneath the rain, and to get some sug- gestive ideas from our worthy farmer's club — for your journal, with its host of practical farmer cor- respondents, is better than any farmer's club ever yet organized. Rotation of Crops. — Some ideas contained in the leader are new to me. I accept them, thankfully. Circumstances must guide the thinking farmer in the course to be pursued; and if he has a clear idea of the principles on which crops should rotate, he can act intelligently in the matter, and give that rotation best and most convenient. Now, I meant to have grown clover after wheat, but the seeding failed fiom eitreme drouth, so I shall apply barn-yard manure and plant corn and potatoes, and seed again to clo- Ter on barley nest spring. This "leaves over" a green sward one year longer than intended, and I sliall try, if possible, fall manuring, to bo plowed under for corn next season, as recommended by Mr. Johnston and I'rof. Voecklkr. CRow-srAREKS. — The application of sulphur to the hills of corn is a nev/ notion — we find coating the seed with tar efl'ectual. Place your seed in some convenient vessel — we use an old half bushel — put in good tar, enough, when stirred with the corn, to coat thinly each kernel, then add a handful of plaster, stirring again until the corn does not stick together. I am sorry to say, that last year it did not keep red squirrels from digging up out corn. Bean Fodder. — Perhaps, if cured in the way Mr. Sampson recommends, bean straw would not be worth over $2 per acre, but good bean fodder is worth three times that sum. I value it equal to common hay for sheep, and other stock can be learned to eat it readily. Paesneps as a Field Crop. — I join in Mr. Hay- ward's recommendation of this root for stock. It can be raised with as little trouble as any other, and the keeping in winter is much easier and safer. Management of Manure. — To keep the strength of the manure, as Mr. Houghton says, is the great object with the farmer, and to prevent fermentation aioye ^rown(/ will accomplish this. This "prize es- say" is worth a dollar to any farmer who will put its recommendations into practice. Ashes as a Manure, — The yalue of ashes for ap- plying to all crops on dry land, is not overstated by Mr. Randall. Selling ashes for ten cents or less a bushel, is getting a very little money for what, ap- plied to the crops, would bring a much larger return. Mr. E. got eight bushels of potatoes, extra, from the use of one bushel of ashes. I have done as well — and have found them of much benefit to corn, grasSi and grain crops. Subsoil Plowing. — Ought not draining to pre- cede subsoil plowing on such clay and hard-pan lands as the writer of the prize essay on this s ibject describes ? The suosoil, when loosened up, would soon become saturated with water, which, without drainage, would find no better outlet than before, and hence pass off' by evaporation. First drain, and then deepen, and the character of the soil will be changed from compact and retentive to friable and quickly drying, and yet keeping Bufficient moisture for the uses of the crop. A Farmer's Garden. — ^Every farmer should have a garden — one receiving, and therefore worth, some attention. They are too often neglected, to the great loss of the family — for garden vegetables are necessary to perfect health in summer, and a great luxury besides. Plums and the Curculio. — Dare we hope to eat our plums again ? Xot many yetrs since we raised fine ones, by the bushel; but first eame the curculio, and then the black knot, and not a tree is left alive. N. D. C. encourages us to try again, and we will do so. My First Dahlia. — This was growm some sii er eight years since, from a root transplanted the 4:!h of July, and I thought it a fine one. My last dah- lias were only buds, and for three years 1 have had them cut off by early frosta. So I gayed no roota last year. B. Niagara Co., N. Y. 172 THE GENESEE FAEMER. NOTES FOR THE MONTH, BY S. W. All that is changed now. — To day, the 7th of May, the canal has been open two days here, and not a single loaded boat has passed our locks. Twenty years ago, the day before the opening, our village was enlivened by the coming sound of the Kent bugle and the boatsman's horn, sent forth from scores of boats loaded to their utmost capacity on deck and below with wheat, flour, pork, whiskey, &c., &c., the rich products of Seneca, Ontario, Yates, Steuben and Tompkins; but up to this time there are no arrivals in our canal from Geneva and the lake ports above; while more than twenty freightless boats that winter- ed here, now line our basins, sighing aloud for em- ployment; the dry dock is also full of boats, so tard- ily repairing that the music of the caulking mallets is no longer heard in full accompaniment as af old. Wheat was formerly the great paying staple of the farmer of this reigon, but the continued deterioration of the crop as the soil gave up its wheat pabulum, succeeded by the midge, has induced farmers to re- duce their wheat fallows to the smallest compass. This is the main cause of the failure of our canal ex- ports; but the competition of the rail roads have also contributed very largely to the result. Now instead of large accumulations of pork, whiskey, manufactured articles, &c., during winter, to be forwarded by canal at the opening, all now goes in the winter by rail road. Several hundred barrels of whiskey alone are forward- ed by rail road weekly from this place, from the close to the opening of the canals, to say nothing of the thousands ol live hogs, slaughtered carcasses, &c., &c. ; so that most of our boats of late years have to go to Oswego and Bufi'alo for that employment which for- merly at this season of the year was pressed upon them at high rates of freight. But those of our farmers who have not too reck- lessly impoverished their farms, never made money faster by the products of their industry than at this time. Many who grew two hundred bushels of po- tatoes to the acre last season, are now selling them at one dollar a bushel. Hay, which was not a short crop on well treated meadows, has been sold at from $15 to $20 the ton; and beef, pork, but. er acd cheese at almost fabulous prices. Suffice it to say that very blue veal sells at 10c. a pound in our market, and the best pieces from poor beef at 14c. the pound. When ■will farmers learn that it costs double to make the game weight of skin, bone and lean flesh, than it does to make fat or carbonaceous matter? Planting Potatoes in June — Early and late QoRN. — An Iowa correspondent ot the Farmer says, that late planted potatoes " bring the best crops, " and that the early varieties planted as late as the 20th of June do well in^'Iowa. Itmay do for those who are blessed with a deep, porous, absorbent vegetable soil in the virgin west to follow such advice, but we who live on the calcareous soils of western New York, where the original vegetable matter has been long since worn out, should by all means plant potatoes early, that they may get their growth of stems and leaves before the trying droughts of summer over- takes them. June planted potatoes in our region can only do well in cold, wet seasons. Corn also should be planted early so that its cereal product only has to be made in a drouth. I have always noticed that cora which has not perfected its stalks before the ijroutlia of July and August ^have commenced, is invariably a short crop; but although potatoes grow in the fall months and perfect tubers, corn comes to a stand still as soon as the cool nights of September commence. Frost, as much as some behind-hand farm- ers may dread it, rarely ever injures corn that would have ripened had the frost kept off until December. ; The Emigration to Kansas. — A lady writing from near Ossawatamie, says that they were two nights and three days going about seventy miles with a light wagon load of traps, drawn by six mules with a color- ed boy driver; part of the way good roads over dry prairie, and comme ca hotels by the way ; then sloughs, muddy and deep, through which they had to have the aid of oxen; then the steep banked, bridgeless creeks, into one of which she and her trunks and baud box were precipitated from the top of the load. They saw some coarsely dressed men who looked like bor- der ruffians, but they only grumbled at the Yankee crusade as they quietly passed by. When stuck fast in a slough, some Missourians passed them by like the priest and Levite of old, when lots of Yankee wayfarers immediately came to their aid. The Mis- sourians doubtless reserved their sympathy for their own border clan. Near Ossawatamie they went into their brothers' unchincked haekberry log house, but in two days the howling prairie north-wester was chinked and daubed out; they got a board for a table, set up the cook stove, and began to live with that best of Kansas sauce, a good appetite. They then bought an adjoining claim of a Hoosier, sat out cur- rant bushes and made a garden; when the Hoosier rued his bargain and would have his claim back.— The great advent of live Yankees with their pockets full of money now bidding over each other for claims, quite turned his head, and set his honor and honesty adrift. Not another claim to be had in many miles for less than $400, add the government price to this and then the betterments, and you have a new farm at old prices. Bat here you can relish hog and hominy, wear your old clothes, and laugh at the latest fashions; laugh at or ignore fever and ague until it comes, then shake and bear it. The Season. — April has been a cold, snowy month for the season, and the present month. May, has been very wet to the Gth; but the long warm rain has brought the grass forward very fast, and to day, the 7th, is warm and very growing weather. Peas plant- ed 26th of April on a heavy soil are up and ready to hoe; even a well underdrained soil if heavy, needs two days dry weather after such soaking rains, be- fore it is fit to move with the hoe. I shall plant a few rows of Sorghum and King Philip corn, if warm and dry, to-morrow. Waterloo, JV. Y. A PKOPOSED KOTAnON. Messrs. Editors: — Allow me to propose the fol- lowing " four-course rotation," through your columns, for the consideration of farmers of Western New York. It has no particular claims to originality, though, in one respect, it differs slightly from the usual practice, and looks to a decreased attention to the wheat crop, once our great staple product: 1. Corn, on green sward, with the bulk of the winter's manure. 2. Barley, land fall-plowed, sowed after harrowing in the spring. 3. Wheat, with composted manure, rye the spring THE GENESEE FARMER. iU folio winjr, beans on any stubble nnused for these; the whole seeded to clover or herd's grass. 4. Fasturc and meadow, three or more years. The crops of the first and second years are those now commonly employed. For corn, apply twenty or thh-ty loads of barnyard manure per acre, plow it under ei!::ht inches deep, roll and harrow, plant ia May, and give clean cidture. For barley, plow the corn stubble late in the fall, attend to perfect surface drainaire, harrow and sow as early in April as may be, roll after sowing and harrowing in. Grreen manure applied to corn and plowed under, as above recommended, reserves a portion of its strength for the next crop— the barley needs and will tind the same. For wheat, the harley comes off in ample time for preparing thoroughly, To the stubble intended for and best suited to this cr'-p, apply fifteen or twenty loads of decomposed manure per acre, plow lightly, and sow early iu September. With good seed, of some early maturing variety, the crop will be less liable to injury from the wheat midge, and a rapid growth, from good soil, is stronger to resist the at- tacks of any enemy. Rye may be sown on the lighter portion of the barley stubble, when the land is of varying charac- ter. Sow by the middle of September. In the spring, seed both the rye and wheat ground to grass, 'with a mixture of clover and timothy, and dress with plaster, at least one bushel per acre. Do not fail in this application, if you would secure a "good catch" of your grass seed. If any portion of land remain unused for these crops, some would sow to oats, and seed down; but we would plant to beans early in June, and after harvesting them, use the gang plow, harrow, and sow on our grass seed, following with the roller. The earlier this is done the better, and a dressing of plas- ter should be given as soon as the grass appears above ground. We have spoken of sowing mixed grass and clo- ver. We think it better for pasture, also for hay; and if circumstances should make it advisable to let the land lie in grass more than two or three years, the perennial grass will fill the space left by the death of the clover. This course is marked out with the fact that less wheat must be sown, in view, and proposes to sub- stitute corn and barley as the staple crops in their stead. We must have more corn, and feed it upon the farm, that we may have plenty of manure — we want barley to bring us the ready cash. Some wheat is a necessity, so let us select our most favorable soils, and give it our best preparation. We shall find rye a valuable crop for feeding stock and swine, while beans pay well, bat require considerable labor; and the three — wheat, rye and beans — will about fill up the acres we wish for cora and also barley, as sin- gle crops each year. It will be seen that the size of the corn-field de- pends on the amount of the manure, or should do 80, and that of the barley also. To carry this course out, would require at least eight fields fit for the corn crop, of which three would be in grass each year. This would allow the keeping of a due proportion of stock, with proper attention to corn fodder, straw and roots, and the use of the corn for fattening beef, pork and muttoa during the winter. Brother farmers, what think you of this ? Please write out your comments for the pages of " our pa- per ! J. H. B. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF STIRKING THE SOIL IN DRY WEATHER. [Wb have received several excellent communica- tions on thi3 subject, and think our readers will be interested iu a few extracts.] — Eds. I HAVK known instances where a narrow strip has been left unbroken in a summer-fallow during a dry summer, and after harvest it was all cross-plowed to- gether. The unbroken strip would appear almost destitute of moisture, while that which was plowed and frequently stirred with the harrow or cultivator exhibited quite a contrast. It is the common experience of farmers, that wheat sown in a dry fall upon fallow ground is much more liable to come up well, than when sown on stubble. Again, in hoeing corn in very hot weather, when you could fairly see the corn grow, upon leaving the field at night I have measured some hills that were hoed and some that were not, and the next night com- pared their growth during the twenty-four hours. — The result was that the hoed had made about twice the growth of the unhoed. Two years ago la.st summer I planted rather late in the season a small piece to cucumbers for pickles. The soil was dry, sandy loam, with a warm, southern aspect. I determined to rely entirely upon frequent hoeing to resist the effects of that unusually severe drouth. The piecejyielded a fini.Jot of pickles, the vines remaining greeu and bearing well until destroy- ed by the frost ; while vines in the neighborhood treated in the ordinary way were dried up and bar- ren. So much for facts. Now how are these results to be accounted for. We have seen that the soil frequently stirred had gathered moisture, and had also received from some source, nutrition. From what source, and by what powers were those supplies of moisture and nutrition derived? It is a well known fact, that the dryest atr mosphere contains vapor, which is usually deposited in the night upon any substance that is sufficiently cool to condense it into water in the form of dew. — At the close of a hot day, when the air is calm and the sky clear, vegetation soon radiates suSicient heat to reduce its temperature to the dew point. The naked earth does not possess this power; hence we often find dew upon vegetation, when the bear ground is dry, not having cooled enough to condese the va- por in the proximate atmosphere. But if the ground is mellow, the air will penetrate its surface, carrying its vapor until it reaches a cooler soil where it is con- densed into dew, which diffuses itself through the mellowed earth. Your agricvdtural readers have probably noticed that fresh plowed ground is frequently cc 3red with dew, and sometimes with frost, when the adjoining iground is dry. I think I have succeeded/in accounting for the presence of moisture in soil frequently stirred, when almost entirely wanting in compact ground ; yet I believe that water is not the only ingredient that soil frequently stirred, derives from the atmosphere. I am convinced with you, Messrs. Editors, that ni- trogen is an important element in the pabulum of J crops. Nitrogen is present in the form of ammonia m THE GENESEE FARMER. to a certain extent in the atmosphere, and as it has a strong affinity for water, being absorbed by it in large quantities; is it not reasonable to infer that it is combined with the vapor, and with it conveyed to the roots of growing plants to minister to their urgent necessity? Like favorable effects may be produced in mellow soil by the light showers that frequently occur, even in the dryest weather. The difference in the depth to which light showers will penetrate in soils frequently stirred, and those left hard and baked, i£ very appreciable. In conclusion, allow me to exhort my brother far- mers to keep the plow, the hoe, and the cultivator pretty busy in their corn, potatoes, root crops, and even their wheat fields, believing it will do more to counteract the injurious effects of our severe drouths, than any other means which they can employ. Palmyra, JV. Y. P. C. R. That there are advantages to be obtained by stir- ring the soil in dry weather, no person can doubt who has ever tried it, and as there certainly is some cause therefor, every enquiring mind well seek to know what those causes are. I am convinced that by the stirring, the soil causes the moisture from below to rise to the surface, and also prepares the soil by loosen- ing it to absorb and retain the moisture of the atmos- phere, which is so very essential to the growth and maturity of the growing crops, keeping it green and in a flourishing condition during the dry weather. Whereas if the soil is not stirred, (but let alone to wait for rain, as some farmers have done to my knowl- edge, because they were afraid they would kill, or at at least very materially injure their crops,) after a few days it will become so dry that the moisture from be- low the surface will not rise even during the night season sufficient to keep the crop green and flourish- ing, and the soil will fail to absorb and retain the at- mospheric moisture; hence the crop becomes wither- ed and begins to show signs of failure much sooner tiian where the soil was stirred and kept loose, proving conclusively (to my mind at least) that stirring the goil in dry weather is a great advantage to the grow- ing crops. W Laurel, Delaware. The effect of the hot sun upon the soil is to ren- der it dry and hard, and prevent the absorption of moisture which would otherwise take place from the dew and atmosphere. If left unstirred, this dryness descends continually, and each day finds the soil less able to absorb and retain that moisture which is ab- solutely necessary for the growth of crops. The con- sequence is they cannot come to maturity, and the hot sun scorches them " to deatlu' But if the soil is frequently stirred and kept loose and mellow, it can —somewhat like a sponge — not only absorb a much greater quantity of moisture, but also retain it, than if it is left in that hard, impervious state which is so very frequently permitted. D. S. Salem, Ohio. I HAVE observed to but little purpose if I am not convinced of the necessity of stirring the soil in dry weather. The garden and grainfields of every farmer of any experience, have taught him a lesson in this respect which he cannot forget Weeds and foreign plaat? are entirely subdued if the ground is properly stirred in dry weather; hence it gives to the crop a greatly increased supply of food and drink. Pulver- ization of the soil can only be thoroughly effected at this time, and here is an advantage that is not likely to be overestimated. It is to the vegetable world what mastication is to the animal; — much depending upon the thoroughness with which this has been ef- fected. A neighbor's cucumbers failed last year, and he said to me "he thought they had been hoed too muchr The only trouble was, in my opinion, they had not been thoroughly hoed. An inch of the sur- face, although better than nothing is not enough to stir in dry weather ; it should be deep as well as thorough. It leaves the soil in a proper state to receive warmth and moisture, and to retain them longer. How soon and evenly Nature's supplies of water are distributed where the ground has been stirred in dry weather, benefiting every plant alike, and there is not that rapid evaporation which takes place where the ground has become hardened from any cause. The Alwiee often witholds the rain, and sometimes even the dew, yet He has not left the farmer to be consumed in the drouth, but has provided a substitute. — deep and thorough pulverization of the soil We do not wish to be understood as affirming that this will avail in oil cases; but that it will greatly mitigate the evils of a severe drouth, and that an ordinary spell of dry weather will be really an advantage to the farmer. Scipio, A'. Y. A. J. C. THOUGHTS .SUGGESTED BY THE MAY NUlOEa. Messrs. Editors : — I do not intend to turn item- izer for the Genesee Farmer, as that position is al- ready ably occupied; but some of the prize essays coincide so well with my notion of things, that I can- not refrain from noticing them, and also of venturing a few ideas of my own. First, " On the Management of Milch Cows." .The method there described is en> phatically the way milking should always be done in stables, each cow tied in her place. " But," says one " that is too much trouble."' Let ue presume_we have a dairy of thirty cows. They very soon become ac- customed to being milked in the stable, and the mo- ment they are brought in will seek their respective places, where they m.iy be fastened by a spry boy in a very few minutes. This being done, the milkers have a dry, clean floor under foot at all times. They do not have to follow their cows about the yard. — They have their milk stools on hand and always dry; also hooks in the back part of the stable, upon which to hang empty pails to contain the milk of each cow as soon as milked. Then they need not sit down to a cow with a pail nearly full, and possibly have it turned over. Thus we leave each cow where she was when we commenced milking; no hooking, no running, no turning over the milk pails, no scolding; but all the milking done comfortably, quietly and speedily. Give them a little salt occasionally before letting thera out of the stable, which will make them anxious to get there again. But now let us milk in the yard. The thirty cows are brougnt in and probably it is raining with a ven- geance; five hands or less to do the milking; yard littered with droppings mixed with mud; stools hang- ing on the fence well soaked, &c. All the old coats, old hats, and all other old dudsjthat can|be mustered, are brought into requisition ; the consequence M THE GENESEE FARMER. IT^ friglitened cow?, spilled milk, cross milkers, a thorough wetting and an utter dread of milking in rainy weath- OT. These pictures are not overdrawn, as I have seen them both carried out to the letter, and the in- eonveniences named suffered because " it is too much trouble " to tie up the cows at milking time. " On the Advantages of Forethought in Farming Operations," is full of valuable practical truths, and if followed we should see more good farmers, conse- quently more good farms, better crops, better stock, and a general improvement in agricultural affairs.— We frequently hear it remarked of some farmer, " he is a hard working man, but some way he does not prosper." The essay in question divulges the whole secret, if it may be considered a secret. He does not give his business a thought until it is time to execute it, and then he is as likely to commence wrong aa right, does not discover his error till it is too late to remedy it, and probably meets with serious loss in consequence. The e&say "On the Advantage of Stirring the Soil in dry weather," is full of sound reasoning, and worthy ilie attention of every farmer and gardener ; it is a Aeor)' that has been tested and proved by many, al though the " false reasoning" referred to still prevails lo a great extent. W. Gahnset. East Cobleskill, JV. Y. BROOM COEN IN OHIO. Messrs. Editors: — There is quite an extensive business done at raising broom corn, and manufac- turing brooms, in some of the valleys of Ohio. Any soil that will produce good Indian com, will be found to be favorable to the production of broom torn. But supposing it is true that any soil which will produce one will produce the other, it is very necessary that the after culture be thought of, as broom corn, whea it first makes its appearance, is verj' small, and if the ground had previously been polluted by the seeds of noxious weeds, it will re- quire a great deal more hand and hoe labor than would have been required if the selection had been judiciously made. The best soil for its perfect growth and early ma- turity is a warm, sandy loam; clay lands, or those of a wet and tenacious character, should be avoided. A green sward, if turned under in the fall, has been foand most productive, and easiest cultivated. The ffround should be deeply plowed, and well harrowed, before planting the seed. A dressing of hog dung Mid leached a«hes, spread on broadcast before har- rowing, has been found to be beneficial. Mark the ground oif three feet apart each way, if to be planted in hills; if to be drilled, mark the rows about four feet aparL The hill planting is preferable, from the feet that it diminishes the hoe labor. Aa soon as the plants are up, commence running the cultivator, in order to get ahead of the weeds, (for, as Dr. Franklin says, " a stitch in time saves nine,") and keep the soil well stirred around the TOung plants. Thin out to eight or ten plants to a hill the second time you go through with the culti- Tator, which should go through at least four times; and, if the ground be disposed to throw up weeds, run it through to the entire destruction of these crop rob- h- 2.1 a- ^ ^;^ o g 5 w-^ g I f 2. 5 o o o O " O 2. 3 .^!]1' |W;''^ ^ ■in ^'liiMk ^m 2 "a ■5 "3 ^ B S S 186 THE GENESEE FARMER. lartitiiltiiml J)f|jartnuiit. SIX HARDY EVER6EEENS. In a climate where deciduous trees are destitute of foliage for nearly three-fourths of the year, it is sur- prising to witness the tardiness with which farmers plant out evergreens. Take a sleigh ride in almost any direction, and you will find set out along each sid^ of the road, at regular distances, tall, straight, branchless sticks — a cross between a hop-pole and a telegraph post — which you will be surprised to hear are intended for shade trees; but where will you meet with a grove of evergreens surrounding a farmer's quiet homestead ? The glaring white houses look cold and cheerless, as the fierce north-wind whistles around their unprotected gables. The atmosphere becomes colder as you gaze, and you drive on, thinking it less strange that so many farmers' sons and daughters are willing to leave such bare and desolate scenes for even the dingy walls of a crowded city, than that in- telligent, industrious, prosperous farmers should so far lose sight of their own interest as to neglect to ornament their rural homes, by planting out a few of the hemlocks, firs, pines or cedars which are to be found in great numbers in their own woods, and which could be transplanted with a ball of earth around tiieir roots, at little expense, during the leisure season of the year. There has been much difierence of opinion in re- gard to the best time for transplanting evergreens, from the fact that if the operation is performed with care they can be transplanted with safety at any sea- i8on of the year. In removing large trees from the woods to another part of the same farm, and when a considerable quantity of earth ia taken up with them — as should always be the case in transplanting large evergreens — probably the best time is in the winter, because the farmer has then more leisure and it is easier to remove them with a large ball of earth. Setting aside all considerations of leisure and facility, the best time to transplant evergreens is during the present month, or just as the buds are "swelling to burst." The point of most importance in transplanting is to avoid exposing the roots to the air. If the roots are exposed to the sun and wind till they are dried the tree may live, but the chances are very much lessened. Nearly all evergreens prefer a rather soft, moist soil, but not wet with stagnant water. They will do well, however, on nearly all soils by judicious manage- ment. Dig the holes of good size and depth, and if you have any muck or peat that has been thrown up a year or two and is thoroughly decomposed— -if it has been decomposed with ashes or lime so ranch th« better — put a small barrowful under each tree and mis it up with the soil, and then plant the tree on the top, spreading the roots out carefully and cover- ing them with light, moist soil. Mulch the ground round the tree, and you will be abundantly rewarded for your labor. In regard to the best kinds of evergreens, it is dif- ficult to make a selection from so many worthy candi- dates. We have, however, concluded to name six that are perfectly hardy and every way desirable, forming an agreeable contrast in color and habit The Norway Spruce (Abies excelsa.) This is a rapid growing, hardy and most beautiful tree. Even in old specimens its fringed branches are gracefully spread out on ihe ground and ascend pyramidically to the top, with its leader pointing to the Bkiee. — There are some beautiful specimens of this tree grow- ing in the grounc's of Aaron Ericsson Esq., of this city, which we never see without exclaiming with Richard Hooker, " the goodliness of trees when we behold them delighteth the eye," and recalling the remark of a more modern bat less orthodox writer, that " without trees the world would be a desert; with them it can be made a paradise." It is the loftiest tree indigenous to Europe, attaining in some instan- ces the height of 180 feet. It derives its nourish- ment chiefly from the surface and luxuriates in soil which is cool and moist; and with a surface-soil of ordinary quality, is one of the few trees that will thrive where the sub-soil is wet and retentive. There is a noble specimen of this tree at Studley, England, 150 years old. In 1853 it was 124J feet high and at a yard from the surface of the ground, the trunk was 14| feet in circumference. It is still healthy and vig- orous with branches and foliage nearly to the ground. It stands in a sheltered situation on a rich alluvial deposit, and has at no period of its growth sufiered from confinement. The late A. J. Downing says, " there is no ornamental evergreen, on the whole bo satisfactory, so hardy in all parts of the country, and so well adapted to all soils as the Norway Spruce." Thb Black Spruce (Abies nigra.) is indigenous to this country, and closely resembles its Norway Con- gener in habit, though differing from it somewhat in the richer color and increased deasity of its foliage and its less rapid growth. The tree is abnndant in all the northern States, and farmers cannot plant it too extensively? It is from this tree that the genuiiie and wholesome "spruce beer" is made. The Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvesiris.) This is also a hardy, vigorous and rapid growing tree ; its dark color and general habit forming an agreeable con- trast with other evergreens. If a native is prefered the Weymouth or White Pine (Finns strobus,) ia every way suitable, though its growth is not so rapid as the Scotch pine. Though indigenous to America, it has become extensively known as the Weymouth pine, from the fact, that at the beginning of the last century large numbers were planted by Lord Wey- mouth on his estate in Wiltshire, England. It is the American White pine of commerce. The Austrian Pink (Pinus ./3wsi?-?acaj was intro- duced into England in 1835, and is now more exten- sively propagated than any other foreign pine. It is also rapidly gaining favor in this country. It is, per- haps, the hardiest of all pines, thrives on a great variety of soils, and is of robust growth and handsome habit In Austria, it sometimes attains Ite height of 100 THE GENESEE FARMER. ni feet, and produces a stroug, resinous timber, superior to that of the other varieties of the species. TnK Amkrioan Auhor Vit.i: (Thuja occidcntalis) is indispensable in all ornamental grounds. For forming a screen, it has no equal. It transplants AMERICAN ARBOR YIT^. easily, grows freely and quickly, and makes a beautiful hedge, though not strong enough to resist animals. (Jrown singly on a lawn, it forms a handsome, pyra- midal tree. There is a beautiful specimen growing iu the grounds of S. Matthews, Esq., of this city, of which the annexed cut, drawn and engraved for our Rural Annual, is a correct likeness. The Siberian Arbor Yitm (Biota pyramidalis,) is the hardiest variety of the species, and, we were SIBERIAN ARBOR YIT^. about to write, the handsomest. That it forms a beautiful pyramidal tree the accompanying engraving drawn from one of three fine specimens growing in an exposed situation on Mr. Matthews' lawn abund- antly proves. The branches are flat, and very densely set around the atom. It is of slow growth, but re- tains its color so well during even the severest winters, and has withal such a handsome form and Ibliage, that it deserves a place on every lawn. RABBITS AND FRUIT TREES. Messrs. Editors: — In the December number of your useful paj)er, I see that considerable complaint is made about the injury done to young apple trees by the mice and rabbits. In later numbers, also, their mischief is spoken oti and some preventives made known. I have a young apple orchard that I have taken some care to protect and bring on. My trees were transplanted from the nursery in the spring of 1855, and have passed the two last winters almost entirely without injury from the rabbits, which are as plenty as the boys that hunt them could wish. The mice, though very plenty, never meddle with our trees ; but the rabbits sometimes spoil half an orchard in a single night, if not prevented. The mice attack our corn-cribs and out-stacks; but I have two big torn cats who know well enough how to catch them, for of late they are becoming very scarce about their usual haunts. And to keep the rabbits from my ap- ple trees, I rub them thoroughly with soft soap. This has proved a complete preventive against the depredations of the rabbits in my orchard. I take a mop of woolen rags, late in the fall, with which to apply the soap to each tree which I do to the height of two and a half feet; and in case of much rain in the early part of the winter, I make a second appli- cation. This remedy need not be doubled, for I have tried it two winters with complete success. My trees are now smooth barked, and look as though they had really been benefitted by the soap. J. N. Boaz. JVear Exchange, Ky. WHY FARMERS NEGLECT THEIR GARDEN& Messrs. Editors: — The half acre devoted to gar- dening by the farmer is to him the least attractive of any other part of the farm, yet it is the most profita- ble in a small way, should he count the cost and the return. I am certain that no other half acre will yield near the nett profit of the garden, yet it is the most neglected, and why ? Because Jtoivers are en- tirely banished from it. There is nothing to cheer the flagging spirits after a day of toil, nothing to draw the owner during an idle hour to while away the time among the beautiful sentiments of nature. Hia mind is engrossed wholly by the larger and more marketable productions; therefore is the garden dele- gated to the boys, who, having projects of their own, are very apt_ to slight it. Besides, the garden re- quires attention at a time when a farmer, who him- self leads the laborers in the field, can have but little time to spare. Now to remedy the evil, for surely it is an evil of magnitude, is first to persuade them to subscribe far, and read, the Genesee Farmer, or some kindred joup- nal; and next, invite the girls to assist in planning the grounds, and let them have a variety of beauti- ful flowers successively through the season. Then would the garden be no longer the shunned part of the farm. J). Gates, jy. Y. 188 THE GENESEE FARMER. HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS FOR JUNE. Search diligently for bugs and carefully watcli their operations upon the cucumber, melon and squash vines. They will be found in every little crack and cranny immediately about the collar of the plants and will eat them completely through just at the sur- face, and sometimes below the surface of the soil be- fore one is aware of their existance. As the weather gets warmer they will be found flying about from plant to plant and then will be more difficult to catch. The easiest and quickest way to catch them 18 for two persons to take a piece of gauze about a yard square, then each person walk on one side of the row of plants with the gauze stretched between them; walk qui'.^kly and spread the gauze over the hill of plants before the insects have time to fly away. You will then have time to roll it up gently and kill them as they make their appearance. Repeat this night aod morning for a short time and you will soon les- sen their numbers, neglect it and doubtless you know the effect from previous experience — you may loose all your first plants. This is the only effectual method of getting rid of them; save covering the plants tighly with miUinet or glass boxes. I have tried soot, wood ashes, air slacked lime, scotch snuff, tobacco water and Peruvian guano, and nothing has been so thorough as catching and killing. The guano has had a better effect than any of the others, either by invigorating the plant and enabling it to out grow the bugs or keeping them away by offensive smell. S<}UASH Bugs. — Search for the " big squash bugs." Take a pail or watering can half filled with strong brine or strong guano-w^ater, catch them by hand as soon as seen and pop them quickly into the liqui d. Tou must be resolute and make no compromise if they do stink or they will cheat you and get away. I have often thought that if a few tons of them could be col- lected they might be serviceable as an article of ex- portation to China for the purpose of manufacturing into stink-pots, especially now in time of war, for I know of nothing that can be more oflensive. A Constant Supply op Vegetables. — To have a constant supply of tender kitchen vegetables it will be necessary to repeat the sowings of peas, string beans, early Bassano and Long Blood beet, sweet corn, summer crookneck squash, spinach, early short- horn carrot, lettuce, radish, mustard and cress. In order to have these vegetables in the best condition for the table, they must be sown on warm, rich ground that they may grow and come to maturity as quickly as possible, for the quicker they grow the more sweet, tender, delicious and wholesome they will be; and the glower the more coarse, hard and strong, especially the lettuce and radish. Lettuce.— When the lettuce are about half grown, or a week or ten days before they are wanted for use, take each plant and collect its leaves together and tie a piece of string or bass-wood bark around it and in a few days it will be as white as the heart of a cab- bage and quite sweet, tender and crisp. Cabbage. — If a few early cabbages be tied in the game way it will forward their hearting up a few days. Cabbage and Cauliflowers. — Plant a second ga|iply of early cabbage and early Paris cauliflower as recommended last month. Also a good quantity of Drumhead or Flat Dutch cabbage for winter Peas. — When the peas are up three or four inches high it will be time to hoe earth up to their stems, and when they are six inches high it will be time to stick them, by placing fan shaped boughs along each side of the row for the peas to clime upon. Preparing the Celery Trenches. — About the first of June will be the time to plant out the celery in the trenches. So prepare the trenches betv/een the first rows of the peas that were sown five or six feet apart. Stretch a line and mark out the trench two feet wide, then dig it out one foot deep and throw the earth alternately on each side. Now wheel io about five or six inches thick of good rotten manure; spread it in, well mixing it with the bottom soil. — When done, if dry weather, give it a thorough good soaking of water and rake it smooth. Planting out Celery. — Choose a dull day, if possible, but do not wait too long; stretch a hne down the middle of the trenches; then with a little garden trowel take the plants up separately from the nursery bed, being careful to preserve a ball of earth about their roots ; pick off all the decayed, crooked or broken leaves and suckers about the collar of the plants; then plant them a foot apart along the mid- dle of the trench; press them in pretty firmly with the hands and give a good soaking of water. If the weather should prove hot and dry they will require watering every afternoon as soon as the sun has pass- ed off a little, say five o'clock or so; give a good quantity so that the water will soak to the bottom of their roots. Directions for earthing will be given next month. Tomatoes. — If a stake was driven to each plant at the time of planting, as recommended last mouth, it „iemm TOMATO RACK, AND VINE AS IT APPEABS WHEN FIRST PLANTED. will be time now to nail on some strips of wood to form a sort of an espalier to train the plants upon. Take a stout strip of wood and nail along on the top of the po3ts that will keep them in their proper places; THE GENESEE FARlVfER. led vMi•,^■V;ww.■wV^'!^^.lii»■';.,"^" '■'^ TOMATO RACK AND VINE AS IT APPEARS WHEN FULLY GROWN. en nail others at a foot apart lower dovro, to with- a foot of the ground. If sawed strips cannot be id, long thin polls will answer perfectly well. It will en form a trellis, somewhat resembling the above graving, which is a correct likeness of a plant •own by me in 1856, and is but a fair representa- m of a great many, only that it does not show half e number of fruit which had ripened and been pick- !, for it was taken late in August. I have grown em so for many years and find that they ripen more srfect fruit this way than any other. Train the ain stem right up the post, and when it has set the st bunch of fruit pinch out its leading shoot to one «f above the bunch of fruit; it will immediately ush another leader and also throw out laterals from e bottom. Train out one of these laterals on each ie of the main stem as shown in the cut, and when iQj have set the first bunch of fruit pinch out the ader to one leaf as advised for the main leader. — hey will immediately push again and as soon as aether bunch of fruit is set repeat the pinching. — rain out other laterals a foot above the lower iir, and so on to the top of the trellis. Cut out '■ery superfluous shoot as soon as seen; cut them it to the axil of the leaf but do not injure the To Save Tomato Seed. — Save the first finest, noothest, roundest and largest fi-uit Repeat this few years and you will soon have a fine sample of )matoes. I have adopted the plan, and I now have lem, not flat or wrinkled all up, but as round as an range, and as smooth and large as the largest North- m Spy apple. Josiah Salter. Rochester, A*. Y. BIRDS -AGAIN. Messrs. Editors: — I have always been an admirer of birds — the denizens of the air. TLey have always appeared interesting to me, not only from their song, but their lively, interesting habits and beautiful plum- age. In my youthful days I was taught that it was wrong to harm birds. Flowers have been called " the poetry of nature,* a compliment which might be applied with even more justice to birds; which not only vie with the tulip and rose, in the splendor and beauty of their colors, but in their sprightly and joyous movements, their elegant and graceful forms, and more than all, in the variety and sweetness of their melody, may be said to em- body the very soul of poetry. To study the charac- ter and habits of this most interesting portion of" an- imated nature," has been to me highly pleasing and instructive. Singing birds are undoubtedly for the most part, found near the habitation of man, and commonly fol- low the track of cultivation. This is part owing to the protection which he aflbrds and the greater faci- lity of obtaining food. I consider birds are benefactors as well as injurious to the husbandman. They destroy millions of grubs, caterpillars, larva, and aphides, which would have ravaged his crops; but at the same time, some com- mit depredations and havoc upon his fruit and seeds. The wisest course is to frighten them from the trees and garden at such times, or from the portion of it in which they can be prejudicial, but to leave them to visit it unmolested whenever and wherever they cannot be miBchievous. Thus in early spring, and 190 THE GENESEE FARMER. dming cherry time, one or two boys will drive them away and keep them off from the fruit during certain geasons, and the gardener may protect himself from injury at a very trifling expense, without depriving hioiself of the services of the most sharp sighted and successful of all insect-destroyers. Farmers and gardeners are beginning, however, to find out that birds are their most useful allies. Nothing in the in- sect tribe comes amiss to them, from the aphides of the rose bush to the hedi )us caterpillars. And if they do sometimes treat themselves to a cherry, who can blame them, if after such a dinner they fancy a little fruit for a desert, and who know but their quick eye perceived a worm in the very cherry you grudge them? "The laborer is worthy of his hire," and man can well afford this compensation for their tireless industry. The Cherry Bird, of which your correspondent "I. P." desires "a complete history," is of a brown- ish grey color, with a deep black line from tho nostril, over the eye, the hind head, bordered over by a slen- der line of white. Chin black, gradually blending into greyish brown. Six or seven, and sometimes all the secondaries furnished with a ]jrolongation of their shafts of a vermilion color, and resembling sealing wax. Occasionally these appenages are seen on the tail-feathers, and sometimes individuals are found with- out them. This well known bird has various popular names. Those of " Cedar bird," but perhaps better known as " Cherry bird," are most common in this State. In Massachusetts it is called "Canada robin," and by the French Canadians it is known under the name of RecoUet, from the color of it crest resembling the hood of that religious order. It is also called the " brown bird." It is distinguished for its beautiful silky plumage, the gentle fondness of its disposition, and of its gluttonous habits. They arrive from the south about the middle of April, generally in fiocks, and feed principally upon insects until the ripening of mulberries, whortleberries, grapes and cherries. At ihu season they are well known pests in the garden. Thoy are best known, however, for their fondness of cherries, which they devour with great greediness. — They are not, however, exclusively frugiverous, but repay the comparatively unimportant injuries which they inflict on man, by ridding trees of the small beetles, caterpillars and canker worms with which they are infested. At the time of the ripening of cherries they are well known to horticulturists as great pests. And should we stop here in our investigation into the character and habits of the Cherry bird, we should be com- pelled to admit they had but little to recommend them to the tender mercies of the cultivator of Ox- Hearts and May Dukes, But we are happy, however, to notice that the usefulness of this bird to the cul- tivators of fruit, is at the present time more generally acknowledged than it was when Mr. Wilson wrote its history. The author supposed that " the use of the Cherry bird to the farmer consists principally in their agency in the transporting various kinds of seeds and berries on which they feed, the action of the stomach not injuring their vegetative powers. In other respects, however, their usefulness to the farm- er may be questioned; and in the general chorus of the feathered songters. they can scarcely be said to take part. We must rank them, therefore, far below many more homely and minute warblers, their neigh- bors, whom Providence seema to have formed both as allies to protect the property of ths husbandr from devouring insects, and as musicians to cheer h while engaged in the labors of the field, with thi innocent and delightful melody." Such was I Wilson's opinion of the merits of the Cherry bird. Since this distinguished ornithologist's time, the ch: acter of this bird is in better repute, we trust, amo intelligent and discerning horticulturists; it havi been found that the Cheriy bird is very useful in d* troying the canker-worms. The period from thi arrival, which we have said was about the middle April, to the time of their pairing, which takes pla about the first of June, is spent by these birds cc gregated in small flocks, in procuring their insect foe principally the canker-worms and small caterpilla And in this connection we would notice the soc habits of the Cherry bird, as observed by ourself well as others. We have seen a flock, containi some six or eight of these birds, after having silen fed upon the canker-werms to repletion, seat the selves in a row on a dry limb, in a state of listlessne pluming their wings, and occasionally lisping th feeble note, and thus quietly digesting their meal. Presently one of their number, more vigilent than t rest, discovers at a short distance from the perch well-fed insect, which he at once seizes and politt presents to his neighbor on his right, who declini to partake of it passes it to the next, who also fuses to eat it, and it is in this way sometimes pa?? round several times before one can be found to s cept it. Notwithstanding this disinterested trait the character of the Cherry bird, they are sometin gluttons in the extreme, gorging themselves with frc until no more can be swallowed, and even in soi cases, filling their throats so full as to cause suffoc tion, resulting in death. Although we have said \ fore, that these birds are the personification of m chief to ^the cultivators of fruit, more especia the cherry, yet, in view of the many insects, partic larly that pestiferous one, the canker-worm, whi they destroy from the time of their first arrival, the ripening of our early fruits, we should pause wh meditating some murderous design upon their live! Springside, May, 1857. Beuen's. WHY DO FAEMEES SO GENERALLY NEGLECT THE GABBENS I Messrs. Editors: — There are leisure moments fl a farmer to cultivate a garden if he will, and hayM good one too, but A angles after a warm shower, when he should II transplanting. B begs his seeds of his neighbors, and is either c short or must wait until others are done seeding. C cuts and hauls his wood, which should hai» been done in the winter. D drives a fast horse, and must as frequently i possible show himself on the road, believing himse to be the most important personage in the coaimunit; E either dislikes garden sauce, or is too lazy t attend to it. F forgets to manure his garden in the fall wit* decomposed manure, and is obliged to use that whic is unfeimented, and altogether unfit for the purpose G goes to law with his neighbor for some imag nary damage done him or his, getting fleeced twio once in time and once in money, but is sure to " gain the suspicions and distrust of the oeighborhood. THE GENESEE FARMER. til n has many irons in the fire ; some are sure to iirp. and among those are his garden. 1. ijjnorant man, would not pay the postage on 'St agiicultural paper in the country, even if it forwarded gratis His judgment is very great lae management of tx farm or a garden, and his »!i'!s come to the Bame couclusioa while visiting his ■emi.seg. J jobs it for moaied men. !v iineela to the shrine of the curse of the vforld, ebt, and is obliged to run at every man's call. L looks to his own interest, by watching his em- irrassed neighbor, in order to know when to trike " a good bargain, and double his money. M manages to run his face for a little more land, lile he has twice as much as he can properly till, d must of necessity give hia whole time and at- Dtion to some saleable crop, in order to free him- 1£ N now and then pettifogs a little, and gives his are momenta to the law. 0 on all such occasions risits the bar-room or ocery. P preaches occasionally in the Echool-house, and ist look well to his text, depending on his hearers bring in the sauce on donation days, or when endly visits are made. Q questions the utility of eating so much fodder, len pork and corn-dodgers are so easily made, and . so well on the stomach. R rather inclines to speculation; thinks he will 1 or let his farm and go into trade, and makes his culations accordingly. S sleeps the best part of his time away, which is in i morning. T takes a trip to the Far West, is delighted with i country, sells out and moves off, and the next we ar of him is that the "shakes" have a mortgage him, U underrates the value of agricultural papers, af- • returning crumpled and soiled the one he has . rrowed; knows the biggest part to be lies, got up , purpose to cheat the farmers. V varies somewhat from the rest; holds town of- e, and is fond of political strife. W watches the signs and the times, has his alma- B days, and plants in the moon, whether the ground fit or not !X ia about X — can play on a fiddle, and sings in nrch, and ail leisure moments are spent on his Bws," and sol do rols. Y yearns to be somebody else, or in some other ^siness, is very much out of health, can't eat but ile, for the reason that he " don't raise it." Z, zounds! makes up his mind as he looks through 3 open window and discovers the tops of his last •ar's onions, parsneps, beets and carrots sticking up it of the ground, that if he hoes theoa a little he .11 have as good a garden as his neighbors, and ach better than he had last year, for they have a hole year the start. &c. is persuaded to subset ibe for an agricultural iper, which ia " the best means of rectifying the iL" The first year there is created in him a love r the beautiful, which grows with his growth, and rengthens with his strength; he is soon posted in le treatment of soils and manures, the effects of ihich will first be visible in his garden. Seymour, Allegany Co., JY. Y. J. C. Adams. CUSRANT WOBM, Messrs. Editors: — I have been noticeing an inquiry in the February number of the Genesee Farmer frotn D. C iJousBKRGER, Ualnhaui Center, C. W., in regard to the currant worm. 'I'he worm he alludes to is no doubt the gooseberry caterpillar that has proved so destructive in many parts of Canada, that the goose- berry and currant bui^hcs have nearly disappeared. I will give my remedy which has proved so satisfac- tory to me that I think your correspondent and all those troubled with the wormy pest may benefit by the same. About five years ago I found my currant bushes infested with multitudes of these caterpillttrs. I could not bear the sight, so I declared war and set to work to kill them. I found that my chance was a poor one amongst the miserable old fashioned hedge row system, crowded against the fences amongst the grass, weeds and briers so commonly seen in Canada. I consequently dug up my old hedge row by the fence and cast it over board and changed the sight into a vine border. I pr^ared a portion of my garden by trenching and filling the trenches with surface soil and fertilizing substances. I then selected strong, healthy currant shoots of the previous years growth, cutting away all the eyes closely to the desired height, leaving several buds at the top. I planted them in rows six feet apart and four feet apart in the rows, from the following improved varieties, large Red and White Dutch, White Grape, Victoria, Cherry, Black English and Black Maples. They all rooted freely. By clean cultivation and regular pruning, I not only have fruit of double the ordinary size, but also much improved in flavor. I cultivate with clean stems; this give8 them the appearance of a miniature little orchard and adds largely to the ornamental part ot the garden; it also gives me free access to all parts of the bush, and when the worms make their appear- ance I generally prepare myself with an old tin dish, and on jaring or shaking the bushes they will all fall to the ground or else be found in a suspended form by a silky thread. In this form the old tin dish will be found an excellent means to secure them with. Those that fall to the ground may be easily destroyed by the foot, or by spreading a cloth under the bushes you may take them nearly all. By watering and pay- ing attention to my bushes in the proper season, and probably spending not more than five or six hours ia a summer season, I have nought to fear from th« wormy pest. S. S. Humberstone, C. W. GRAFTixa THK GoosEBEET. — In the Farmer, YoL IX, page 234, a writer speaks of grafting the goose- berry on flowering currant. I have thought I might graft the currant on the gooseberry prepared as for standards, to stop its propensity for throwing up suckers; I am down on every shrub or flower that haa that propensity. The flowing currant is a favorite of mine ; it far surpasses some of the new shrubs, but I would not admit one into a good yard, unless I eould grow it on some stock that would not sprout. I have a tree sixteen years old, eight feet high, length of body five feet, the limbs droop naturally and makea perfect weeping tree ; a mass of flowers when in bloom; it is slender, and has to be kept tied to a stake. I have never suffered a sprout to grow, as it stands alone I can keep them down. Amaieuiu 192 THE GENESEE FARMER. ik^ PLAlfriKG TREES ON PRAIRIES. Messrs. Editors: — A lonesome place is the prai- rie wisliout trees, shrubs, or rocks to fence the field or furnish shade i'or man or beast. The plantintr of the peach will prove, I doubt not, profitable both for fruit and fuel. It grows rapidly here, and through ordinary winters in most localities resists the frost suc- cessfully. Few kinds of timber will grow the same amount of fuel in so short a time and with little care as the peach. The cotton wood grows readily and rapidly when cuttings are stuck in the soil, and soon forms consid- erable shelter for animals. Groves of these could be grown in low places in a short time, so as to protect animals considerably. These also furnish fuel rapidly, and in a few years form stately trees. In many places this species of wood has grown in fifteen years to six inches in diameter and thirty to forty feet in height. For the growing of fence posts, the locust is the most vigorous and certain grower, and when put out upon a well pulverized soil, soon makes a handsome tree. Where timber is the object, the locust after the first year should be closely pruned of ail side shoots. This will cause them to grow tall and straight. It is not so long a job as many imagine to grow fence post, or even rails in this way. The western farmer should pay as much attention to the planting of trees as of corn, and give them as close attention as he gives his most remunerative crop. If the prairie laud holder looks not to the growing of timber, the broad acres which he may leave to those who come after him will be of little value. Illinois. Jno. Sanfield. Starting Early Plants.— As very few of your readers will make a hot bed to start plants for early fruits, the following may be of service. On reading an old Iowa Fanner, (which by the way is a good pajjer,) I noticed a rather ingenious, as well as (to me at least) a new method of forwarding plants, such as cu- cumbers, melons, &c., simply taking the flat turnip and dig out the fleshy part, leaving the shell, which is to be filled with soil, and place in a box, (an old raisin bos will do,) filling in sufficient to hold the cups in position steadily; plant the seeds in the cups, which may be placed out as soon as the weather will permit, and not disturb the roots of the plants in the least Tomatoes may also be started in the same way, and the fruit obtained earlier than by the old process of pulling and transplanting. This is not a good and seasonable article, I am well aware, but having recently seen it, the suggestion appeared to me practicable, I concluded to give it to you to pub- lish or light your cigar. D. Gaies. HoETiccLTCRE IN Oregon.- — Tree planting is still carried on very enthusiastically in Oregon, as Califor- nia buyers still take all the apples they can get at from five to ten dollars per bushel ; all the last crop are gonoj and I understand some are willing to enter into engagements for the next season. There is also quite a trade carried on in nursery trees to that market, I have heard it intimated by nurserymen at three millions of trees this' season. This I think is too large a number, but still it is considerable, with signs of tte increasing. J. M. ^ Salem, O. T.\ Sulphur to Kill Rose Bugs. — When visiting and around Richmond, Ind., last autumn, I was lighted with the abundance of splendid roses that e^ met my view, and which seemed then to be in th glory. I enquired of several if the bug had not vis ed them. The reply invariably was, " oh yes, but' destroyed them with sulphur." The plan for so doii was to put sulphur (the hard) on a plate under 1i bush, and set on fire, and then cover something 6\ the bash while the fumes lasted. I remarked thats^ phuroiis inhalations must agree with the bush, for tb appeared extremly healthy, a few of the under lea^ only dropping off. M. S. B.» Aurora, JV. Y. i A List op Good Petunias. — Prince of Wales' large, dark purple. Hermione — large, lavender a white striped. Glory of America — small, but Y< pretty, striped. Alfred — bright salmon color, good form and substance. Beauty of Torkville bright pink, white throat, very pretty, Great W tern — large and fine. Hebe — veined, very handsoi Amazon — dark, purplish crimson. Eclipse — yt fine. Enchantress — large and showy. The abc will be found to comprise a superb collection of t showy bedding plant, and may be relied upon length of duration and beauty of bloom Rochester, JY. Y. W. T. Goldsmith. Spare the Owls. — In the March number of 1 Genesee Farmer, I observed an article headed, " Catch Owls." The plan proposed, I doubt not woi be very efficient for the purpose; but from the 1 quent complaints made by your correspondents of i destruction of fruit trees by mice, I should think more advisable for all keepers of poultry to prcpi \. a place for them where they would be safe from ov and let the owls live to destroy the mice. A Subscriber. To Raise Large Onions. — Sow the seed at 1 usual time in the spring, very thickly, and in pc soil, generally under the shade of a fruit tree; and such situations the bulbs in the autumn are ran found much to exceed the size of a large pea. Th( are then taken from the ground and preserved till t succeeding spring, when they are planted in ro fourteen or fifteen inches apart, and a foot apart the rows, and they afford plants which differ or from those raised immediately from seed in possess! much greater strength and vigor, owing to the qua tity of previously generated sap being much great in the bulb than in the seed. The bulbs thus raisi are often of greater size; and, being more matui they are with more certainty preserved in a state perfect soundness through the winter than those rais* from seed in a single season. " Pliny says, the Romans sowed the seeds of Bat with maledictions and ill words, believing that tl more it was cursed the better it would prosper; an when they wished for a crop, they trod it down wit their feet, and prayed to the gods that it might n( vegetate." ■ I M Hoe all your crops as soon as the drills can be di tinguished. Recollect that more weeds can be de troyed in an hour when young, than in a day whe they have obtained a good foothold. THE GENESEE FARMER. 19S Iessus. Editors : — During a four years' residence owa, I have watchod with some interest the ways doings of our western farmers, comparing them . the same class at the east. Though most of n have emigrated h°re from the eastern states or 0, candor compels me to say they have degener- 1 from neat and thrifty farmers, to shiftless and euly ones, and for this there must be a cause. y come here with a desire and determination to rich, even at the sacrifice of those social qualities :h are so essential to the well being of any com- lity. They take up large tracts of land which • cannot possibly cultivate. Break up and fence I portion for immediate use; the rest lies a bar- ;nd unoccupied prairie — making of course a wide- lattered population. Even when this is not the ■and men are content to live without owning all d that joins them, there is a lack of desire for improvements. This mania for large farms IS to be on the inci'ease. Men are wishing to sell ;• farms of one or two hundred acres, and go ler west, where they can get more land, when they now have, has nes'er been half cultivated. , it seems to me, is a great error. The west is niably a country of vast extent, unequalled fer- of soil, and unbounded resources for wealth, to ho choose to emigrate hither. Its beautiful un- ing prairies actually seem to woo the plough, if men could or'Iy be content to own but one or hundred acres of land, and cultivate it well, the would indeed in a few short years be the garden merica. But notwithstanding the natural ad- iges the western country possesses over the east 01 j he purposes of gardening, such as a rich and y soil, freedom from stones, &c., few avail them- Ej| 3 of the privilege which nature has thus thrust them. A good garden here I have never seen, will understand I am speaking of the country if towns.) It is true you will now and then see ill spot fenced off with rails perhaps, planted with age, a few beets, and may be a few vines, strug- with the weeds for the mastery, and the weeds ■ally come off first best in the contest. Now 3t every farmer will concede that a good garden ! most productive part of the farm; why then is strangely neglected? Is not a neat yard filled shrubbery, and a well kept garden, indicative of and refinement in its owner? But our western ;r3 seem to have little idea of the influence that attractions have on the minds of their families. forget that the little ones they are rearing will be men and women, with as little cultivation as )rairies given them as an outfit. We have not aciUties of the eastern states for education, for chools are as yet in their infancy; where then are ) look for the training of our future men and ^n of the west, to habits of taste and refinements , at home. Then let me iterate and reiterate to irmers of the west, and those who mean to emi- here, choose a location you mean to make a , plant trees around the homestead, help your } and daughters to cultivate flowers— protected the cows and pigs by a good fence, drudge k'few shillings for choice seeds; spend an hour be* A occasionally with them in the garden, suggesting new improvements, aiding them by advice, and what will be more ellectual, a little digging with the spade; and rest assured in a few years there will be a new era in the life of the western farmer. The comforts of home are not to be weighed in the balance with your uncultivated acres; and if you are in haste to be rich, choose that best of earthly riches, springing from a well balanced, well culTivatcd mind, for with- out this, the best filled purse only jilaces you a little above the scale of creation, with the brutes that perish. Clay, ffashingivn Co., Iowa. Yiola. THE CULTIVATION OF FLOWEKS. Messrs. Editors: — Since the earliest history of the world, the mythological goddess. Flora, has had her worshippers, and has probably contributed more real happiness to mankind than has sprung from al- most any other source. She has been the means of refining the human heart, and rendering it suscepti- ble of all the softer emotions of our nature, and has a language peculiarly her own — speaking in accents soft and low — of brightening our pathway through this vale of tears, and causing our thoughts to turn toward the great God who created such exquisite and diversified beauty for our enjoyment, and renders the world in one sense a prelude to what we may expect In a brighter and better sphere. If I ever am inclined to feel sad or troubled, and there are flowers dispensing their fragrance near me, I go among them, and in admiring so many of the Creator's blessings bestowed upon me, soon dispel any unpleasant thoughts, and forget that they ever existed. The cultivation of these sweet emblems of purity and innocence, is well calculated to render our hearts happier, and make us wiser and better. It begets a kind of enchantment — a feeling which those only who love flowers can fully appreciate. It makes me sad to think that any one should ever grudge a little spot of ground on which to grow those lovely companions of prosperity or adversity. We know there are some such, but hope for humanity's sake they are few, and that as refinement advances all such will be converted to the loving of flowers. For what were they cre- ated, unless to adorn this earth, and command our admiration and reverence for the exquisite workman- ship and manifold design of their Maker ? It seems as if the person who would spurn a flower, would spurn the richest blessing as a gift of Heaven. Lockport, J\\ Y. A Lover of Flowers. Forest Flowers. — In vol. XIII., page 288, of the Farmer, an authoress of Canada asks, " Where are the lilies of the woods, the lovely and fragrant Pyro- las, the Bloodroot, the delicate and sweet scented Milchella repens, the spotless Monotropa, with Orchis of many colors ?" I can tell you where some of them are, and they seem to be perfectly at home — not in Canada, but in Saratoga county, N. Y. The north side of our garden, a little lower than the other part, is a soft black soil, the depth of which I have never fathomed. Currant bushes are growing six feet from the fence; close to the fence I have planted every known wild flower that was an inhabitant of low woods that I could get. The soil, with the constant shade from the currant bushes, makes as good a spot for them as could be desired. Tney want no ma- nuring or hoeing; merely weed them by hand, if any- thing intrudes upon them. A Farmer's Wife. THE GENESEE FARMER. €Ht0r's faille The Rural New Yokkek. — For some time past we have foietlj submitted to great injustice from our neighbor of the Rural New Yorker, and know no better way of ob- taining redress than to appeal to our readers — to the farm- ers of the country — and fo our brethren of the Press. We have written an article stating what we believe to be the facts of the case ; but on consulting a legal friend he advised us aot to publish it, for fear of an unpleasant libel sait — for though we have no doubt as to the trutli of the statement, yet it is one thing to knotc a fact, and another to prove it. "We have concluded, therefore, to give such facta only as admit of easy aad unmistakable proof, and leave our readers to draw their own inference. Last year we expended several hundred dollars in pro- earing original drawings and engravings of houses, plants, trees, &e., having secured for that purpose the services of &ae of the best draftsmen in the country. Some of these cjigravings were given in the Rural Annual, and others in fehe Genesee Farmer. We also allowed several of our B«r8orymen te use them in illustrating their show-biJls, be, and they have thus b?en rather loosely scattered around tfae various printing establishments of the city. In the last issue of the Rural New Yorker, (May 23,) there appears a beautiful cut of an American Arbor Vitae, ta all respects a fac timilt of one we had drawn and en- graved for our Rural Annual, from a specimen growing iu the suburbs of this city. It will be found in the columns eC the Farmer for this month. Those of our readers who ittke the Rural can thus compare the two cuts, and see if *hey can discover the least differe«ce. Iu the Rural of May 9 there is a cut of Sweet "William, which is marvelously like a cut engraved for the Farmer, and which appeared in our last volume, page ICl. The Rural man has, apparently, taken his knife and cut ofiF the engraver's name. Otherwise the cut is precisely the same, *ad is given without a word of credit. In the Rural of May 2 the editor says : " A correspondent, after examining the engraving which %ee gave in the last number of a Dwarf Fear Tree, asks if dwarf trees always grow as straight limbed, and of so beautiful and graceful a form," &c. Now, on turning to the " last number " of the Rural, (Apiil 25,) it will be found that the cut which " w«" (the Rterat) " gave," is none other than the cut which we (the Genesee Farmer) gave in our February number. To dis^ ^sise the cut as much as possible, however, the stem has been shortened a little, at an expense, perhaps, of fifty cents, whereas it cost us twelve dollars, having been drawn from an actual epecimen with great accuracy, and engraved with much care. Our file of the Rural is here incomplete, and we will eoatinae our examiuatioa no further at this time. "We wcmld ask if such conduct is reputable and honest T Oue word more. In the February number of the Far- mer for last year, we alluded to an intimation in the Rural iVei* Yorker of Jan. 26, that the cuts in a single number of tti3.t paper cost nearly 850. "We showed conclusively that the ijtota did sot cost the Rural one-tenth of that sum ; that in fiWJt dia Rural %oai paid eight dollari for tasertiHg on« cut, or more than it paid for all the other cuta. To thi article the Rural has made no reply. It could make nowi "With all its boastful pretensions, the Rural notorious] i expends next to nothing on agricultural and horticultun i illustrations. It appears to be perfectly satisfied with an old, cast-off cuts of the Genesee Farmer ; and the fr« i quency with which these are inserted in ita pages, indJ cates its high appreciation of the source from which th«: are derived. Let us look over such of the papers of tliii year as we now have on hand : i In the Rural of February 21, there are cnt8 of Ilovej"!: Seedling, British Queen, and Elton strawberries. Thcill will be found in the Genesee Farmer for 1852, pages 91 and 91. |» In the Rural of March 21, there is a cut of Phlox Drnaif \ mondii, which wUl be found in the Farmer for 1852, pag. 159. In the Rural of March 28, is a cut of Golden Bartontl which will be found in the Farmer for 1852, page 191. In the Rural of April 4, is a cut of Salpiglossis, wkk' will be found in the Farmer for 1852, page 222. In the Rural of April 11, is a cut of Petimia, which yr. be found in the Farmtr for 1851, page 75. W In the Rural of May 2, is a cut of a Gothic Farm Co tage, which will be found in the Genesee Farmer for 185 page 249. In the Rural of May 2, is a cut of a Dwarf Pear Tut* which will bo found in the Genesee Farmer for 1856, paj 351. Of this cut the Rural man says : " We give a very co rect portrait of a tree growing near this city. Althoaj| different from the engraving we gave last week, [also tahM from the Farmtr without credit,] it is a beautiful tree," &| In the Rural of May 9, are cuts of a Dwarf Apple ai* Dwarf Cherry, which will be found in the Farmer f 1855, page 351. "We do not say that the Rural did not come honestly these engravings. As cast off cuts it may have paid small sum for them ; but, be this as it may, it is certaii r a new development of the law of " Progress and I provement " — of which the Rural boasts so much — to gi ' these cuts as though they were original. Thk fHends of the Gtn^esie Farmer will be glad to b« that our circulation this year far exceeds our most eangrri CTpectations. This nnlooked for success, though grateM to our feelings, is attributable mainly to our numerous «< respondents.and other friends who voluntarily act as ageo Subscribers are still coming in freely ; — we have to-day j ceived from N. J. Sloan, post master at FredericksbOT C. "W., a club of one hundred and twelve ; and from Cfli McGlabhaw, Esq., of Moore, C. "W., a club of one hon red and nineteen subscribers ! Such has been the demand for back numbers that ^ are entirely out of the .January number, and have b«« compelled to send off these and many other orders \ out it. "We are. however, havin? a new edition struck Two Dollars Icr eveiy hundred woxds, each insertion, paid in advai^cb. A. LONGETT, Ws. 34 CLIFF STRFET, NEW YORK, D BALER in Peruvian, Colombian and Mexican Oaaao, Supei- phosphate of Lime, and Eone Dust, Jane 1. — iX. OR SELF-RAKING REAPER AND MOWER, 83=° BEST MACHINE IN USE. .^O 1 (tlie first) bnllt In 185». 40 used successfully In 1853. 300 in difft-rent States In 1854. 1,200 well distributed In 1855. 2,800 tbrougliout the Union In 1856. 5,000 building for 1857. THERE are six good reasons for this unparalleled increase and great popularity. Igt. It is strong and reliable, and easily managed. 2d. It saves the haid labor of raking. 3d. It Baves at least another hand in binding. 4th. It saves shattering by the careful handliug in raking; besides, the straw being laid straight, it is TTell secured in the sheaf, and does not drop in the after- handling, and the heads are not exposed in the stack, so that the GRAIN saving even exceeds the labor saving. 6th. It is a good Mower, being one of the best convertible Machines in use. Cth. lA has a knife that does net choke. Cvsr 80 First Premiums Eeceived in Four Years. £[~^ Price of Reaper and Mower, $190 — $50 cash, balance in no Is due Jan. 1. 1S58. Price of Reaper only, $165 —$10 cash, balance hi note due Jan. ], 1858. For cash, 12 per cent, discount from the above prices. To secure a Machine, order immediately. Though bo little VnoTm the past seagon, and none ready for delivery till the first of May, yet not two-thirds of the customers could be supplied. The repu- tation of the Jrachine is now widely established, so that 5,0G0 vi'iH not as nearly supply the demand as 2,800 did last year. ^^ Order early, if you would not be disappointed. Pamphlets, giving impartially the OPINIONS OF FARMERS, together with orders, notes, he, mailed to applicants, and prepaid. 8:Sr H. P. HAPGOOD, of Rochf Rter, N. Y., is the General Agent for the above Machine in New York, to whom all letters relative to sales, kc, in this State should be addressed. Traveling and Loc^ Agenta wanted. June 1. — 3t. EVEEY MAN HIS OWN AECHITECT. The way To Build a Country House is to get RICH'S AMERICAN ARCHITECT. Price, $6. Published bv C. M. SAXTON & CO., No. 140 Fulton-st., New Yori. RURAL ARCHITECTURE. By L. F. Allen. Embracing Oui Buildings as well as Cotiagea and Farm Houses. Price, $1 .26. A* SAXTON'S, No. 140 Fulton-st. LAY OUT YOUR GROUNDS by DOWNING'S LANDSCAPB GARDENING. Price, .S3.50. Published by C. JL SAXTON & CO., No. 140 Fulton-st., New York. POULTRY— LOOK OUT FOR YOUR CHICKENS; and tb« best way to do that is told plainly in THE AMERIC.-\N POULTRY YARD. Price. Si . Publijhed by SAXTON & CO., 140 Tulton-st., New York. PUT UP GOOD GREEN-HOUSES THIS SUMMER, And get ready Jor Winter. I.EUCHAR'S HOW TO BUILD Gives full directions. Price, $1.25. To be found at SAXTON & CO.'S, No. 140 Fulton-st., New York, J^P" Sent free of postage on receipt of price. June 1. — It. FLOWER SEEDS., &c., FROM the best European collections — 16 papers for $1. Chinese Sugar Cane Seed, Roses, Bulbs, Stravi-berries, &c. Addresa W. T. GOLDSMITH, May 1. Rochester, X. 1. THE GENESEE FARMER. 1»9 ROCHESTER AGRICULTURAL WORKS. ATTKNTIOV, TIIRKSIIEKS I ms* premium: stparators, & double pinion HORSE POWER* The »bove cut is a repies»nt;ition of the justlr celebrated PITTS' MACHINE FOR THRESHING AVD CLEANING GRAIN at one •pentioD. It is the best MacliiHe for threitiiug and cleaning grain ht existence. The foU'OTinp cut representa FITTS' DOUBLE PINION EIQHT •R TEN HOK:een demonstrated in the fact that one day to the ecre, with a man and hnrse, is all the expense of cultivating and hoeing a field of corn for the season. If used as directed, hand hoeing, in nine «ai>irs out oi ten, may be entirely dispensed with. W« hjnr* numerous cettificatea of the most satisfactory chaiacter, lebich we would be happy to show the public. Fanners may rely on realizing their best expectation* from the Its* of the Horse Hoe. Price, $3 ; if ground and polished, $8.50. Sa £armer should be without one. Tuey are having an ualiouted irfo. Sold at wholesale and retail. ROCHESTER CUTTING BOX. Alt who are in want of a Feed Cotter, adapted equally well to &« catting of all kinds of fodder, will lind our Cuttac^ Box iu all rei^p«eta to aiuwer their wants. IRON GANG PLOW We are Agtnta for the gale of HILDRETH-.S GANG PLOW «tuch has superior advantages over every ather Gang Plow CERTIFICATE. Hildreth'g Gang Plow is one of the best implements I have ever haA on my farm. I have used it on corn and oat stubble, and on l^otato ground for putting in oats and bailey. The wheels r«gu- *J.f* the depth so r.icelT thst thp f?ed is nil ervered, ind at a nci- fjvrca depth. I thirik tny crop «as neaily doubled from what it vo»Id have been if put in with a drag. The wheels va»ke it an easy draft for a team, and it requires no holding. For the above T^i ttf work, I thick there is no implement equal to it. JoMATHAJf Wadhams, East Clarkson, N. Y. ^T" We shall be happy to impart any further Information that tanf bo fieiirsd. Ordeia are respectfully solicited. A, GORDON & 00., Mar 1> 08 Soatb St Fftai atreet, {lochwt«r,;N. T. Olt« DOLI^R A YbAR.— ClBCULATION OVKU 100,000 COPIES WeBKMT. 25 WITNESSES; OR, THE FORGER CONVICTED. JOHN S. DVE IS THE AUTHOR, Who has had ten years' experience as a Banker and Publishtr, aad Author of A S«rle« of hectares at tlie BroadTray Tabemaelr, When, for ten successive nights, over 1:^50,000 PEOPLE .^3 Gr«eted him with Rounds of Applause, whiU he exhibited t'hs manner in which Counterfeiters execute their Frauds, an4 the Surest and Shortest Means of Detecting them I 7%e Bank Nott Engraven all say that he is the Greatetl J-udg% tf Paper Muney living. Greatest Discovery of the Present Century FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES, Describing every Genuine BiU in Existence, and Exhibiting at a glance every Counterfeit in Circulation 1 1 Arranged so admirablv that REFERENCE IS EASY, and DiE- TECTION INSTANTANEOUS. 8^° No LVDIX TO EXAMINB I NO PAGES TO HCTNT XTT I ,^J But SO simplified and arranged that the Merchant, Banker fifid Business Man can see all at a glance. English, French and German. Thoa each may read the same in his own Native TongoA. Aloet Perfect Bank Note \Aat Published. Also, A lilst of all the Private Bankers In America* A Complete Summary of the FINANCE OF EUROPE AM5) AMF.RICA will be published in ea-;h edition, together with all tiio Important NEWS OF THE DAY. Also, A Series of Tales From an Old Manuscript found in the East. It fumtohaB th« Uost Complete History of ORIENTAli XilFE, Describing the Most Perplexing Positions in which the Ladies and Gentlemen of that Country have been so often found These Stories will continue throughout the whole year, and will proro the Most Entertaining ever offered to the Public. 11^°" Furnished Weekly to Subscribers only, at $1 a year. Adl letters must be addressed to JOHN S. DYE, Broker, Publisher and Proprietor, Id Wall street. New York. May 1, 1S57.— ly. . AGRICULTURAL SEEDS. ~ j^KA THE subscribers ofTcr the following seasonable Seeds, t^g^ v'Spthe growth of last year, and of unsurpasised qualities. "^^^ •••'^"=» Dealers and others requiring large quantities, will be ■ *>'' served at prices considerably below the rates quoted : Best quality Red Top Turnip, 75 clii. perlt). Red Top Strap Leaf do., "75 « tT Large White English Globe do., 50 " « • " " " Norfolk do.,... SO " • " Long Whits Tankard do 75 « «« '' Yellow Stone do., '.75 «< « ' Yellow Aberdeen do., 75 « a Best American Improved Ruta Baga do , ......75 « •» Imported do. do. do.,... 60 " •• " Purple Top do. do., 50 " * And twelve other varieties of Turnips, from 50c. to $1.00 * Early Scarlet Short-horn Carrot, . 1.00 * ' Improved Long Orange do. 1.00 * Long White do., .".'.'...74 cts. " White Sugar Beet, 50 « « Yellow do,. 60 « " I^ng Red Mangel Wuiiel do., 60 " •« Yellow Glebe do. do., 60 " « Fine llixed French Grass Seeo, lor Lawn* ij-i.i'O per'onsljd. And other Mixtures for Lawns, at ?3.0tl and 4.0O " * Also, the finest qualities of Bed, White Dutch. Lucerne, aad other Clovers; Timoihy, Red Top, Blue Grass, English .-lud Italian Ray GraB», Orchard, Sweet Scented Voroal, the Fescuos, and otbei' Graasps; with a large and complete aasortment of VEGETABLE, FLOWER AND FIELD SEEDS, of tlio best qualities, at t^mA- We rates. 2^^ Catologoss on applloation. JJUCES JL THOSBURN h CO, U»r l,-8t. 16 John Btra«t, Kew T«|fc. THE GENESEE FARMER. CHOICE FLOWER & VEGETABLE SEEDS, AT GREATLY REDUCED RATES. MR. JAMES VICK, the former publisher of the Clenesee Far- mer, imported from France gome very choice Flower and Vegetable Seeds, which passed into the hands of the subscriber in Uis puTchiise of the esfciblifchment. The seeds are ail good, and of the very best and rarest kinds, and will be sold at a reduced price. Any of the following kinds of FLOWER SEEDS will be sent, postage paid, to any address in the United States, for four cents per package : DOUBLE BALSAM— Large flowers, splendid colors. CENTALTREA— Unique and beautiful. CALANDKIXIA— Delicate and pretty. RED AMARANTH — Fine for drying — everlasting. WHITE " " ORANGE " " CHINA ASTER— Large, double, and fine colors. STOCKS— Very sweet scented. CHI.VA PINK— Beautiful colors. PETUNIA— Fine for masses. MIMULU3— Rare and showy. CANDY TUFT— Very showy and sweet. PHLOX DRUMMONDII— Elegant and profuse floTverer. COREOPSIS — Very graceful and elTective. NEMOPHILA— Modest and beautiful. PORTULACCA— Very gay, and very hardy. SWEET PEA— Elegant and sweet. MIRABILIS — Large and very handsome. The following rare and valuable VEGETABLE SEEDS will be sent for aij: cents per package : EARLY BROCOLT— Unrivaled for early use. WHITE SOLID CELERY— The best ever introduced. EARIjY SHORT-HORN CARROT— Best for cooking. EARLY PARIS CAULIFLOWER— The only good one for this climate. LARGE LENORMAND CAULIFLOWER— Very large and fine. LARGE LATE DUTCH CABBAGE— Better than Drumhead. EARLY YORK " —The best early. DARK RED DUTCH . « —The best red. WINNINGSTADT " — Splendid Summer Cabbage. EARLY SAVOY " —Rare and fine. LARGE PURPLE EGG PLANT— Unequaled for table. WHITE LISBON ONIONT— The best white. Round M ADEIRA— Takes two years to mature. BLOOD RED PORTUGAL ONION— The best red. CELERIAC, OR TURNIP ROOTED CELERY— Unique and fine. 113^ All orders promptly attended to. Money may be sent at my risk. Address : JOSEPH HARRIS, Rochester, N. Y., Publisher of the Genesee Farmer. ^ The Practical and Scientific Farmer^s Own Paper. THE GENESEE FARMER, A MONTHLY JODRNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, ILLrSTRATED WITH NTMEROrS ENGRAVINGS OF Farm Buildings, Animals, Implements, Fmits, &c. VOLUME XVIII. FOR 1857. Fifty Cents a Year, In Advance. Five Copies for $2 ; Eight Copies, foj- $3 ; and any larger number at tbe same rate. ^^^ All subscriptions to commence with the year, and the en- tire volume supplied to aH subscribers. f^^ Post-Masters, Farmers, and all friends of improvement are respectfully solicited to obtain and forward subscriptions. Specimen numbers sent to all applicants. Subscription money, if properly enclosed, may be sent at the risk of the Publisher. Address JOSEPH HARRIS, June, 1857. Rochester, New York. IJEW YOSK STATE AGRICULTUEAL SOCIETY. PREMIUMS ON FARMS— 1857. ©rain Farms,.,....'......'. -.-., Premium $50 and |30 Dai i>y and Grazing,...'...!. — " 50 " 30 Competitors are desired to give notice to the Secretary before the first of Julv, so that the farms can be visited by a Committee appointed for that puroose. FIELD CROPS. — Competitors should obtain the Regulations of the Society, so as to have their statements properly prepared. H. Greelev's Premium on one acre of Carrots is continued. Regula- tions will be furnished on application to the Secretary, and also a list of Premiums for 1857. B. P. JOHNSON, Agricultoral Rooms, Albany, March 2, 1867. Secretary. ^ April 1.— St. ©onttnts of t]&ijf Numfitr. Cultivation of Ruta Bagas and Turnips, Items Suggested by the May Number, NotHS for the Month, by S. W., A Proposed Rotation, On the Advantages of Stirring the Soil in Dry Weather, Thoughts Suggested by the May Number, Bro im Corn in Ohio, Cultivation of Broom Corn, Management of Bees ; or, Plain Common Sense the Secret of Success, Management of Bees, Hoeing Corn in Dry "Weather, Butter Making,... Cheese Making, Advantages of Forethought in Farming Operations, Cultivation of Potatoes in Ohio, On the Management of a Prairie Farm, commencing in its Natural State, Deep Plowing for Corn, Drink for Young Calves, Influence of Agricultural Papers, Deep Plowing, Good Two Year Old Steers— The Wheat Crop The way I made a Fence on Heavy Ground, Swamp Muck as a Fertilizer in Dry Seasons, Management of Manure, To Destroy Weeds, The Benefits of Agricultural Fairs, Hints on Building a Farm House, An Acre and a Half of White Beans, Be Kind to thy Cattle, Cultivation of Onions, Rearing Calves, Cure for Sweney, Cultivation of Millet, Value of Manure for Potatoes, Planting Beans in Drills or Hills, Ashes as a Manure, Don't Thin your Carrots, Culture of Potatoes, Poll Evil, Cultivation of Beans, Plowing without Headlands, Peruvian Guano as a Manure, Selecting Seed Corn, . Why Butter is Dear, Peas, .^ Bone Spavin, Cultivation of Corn in Indiana, Beans, 169 171 172 172 173 174 175 176 176 176 176 177 177 177 178 179 179 179 180 ISO 180 ISO 181 181 181 181 181 182 182 182 182 182 183 183 183 183 183 183 183 184 184 184 184 184 184 184 184 184 HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. Six Hardy Evergreens, . . 186 Rabbits and Fruit Trees, 187 Why Farmers Neglect their Gardens, 187 Horticultural Operations for June, 188 Birds — again, 189 Why do Farmers so generally Neglect their Gardens? 190 Currant Worm, 191 Grafting the Gooseberry, 191 Planting Trees on Prairies, 192 Starting Early Plants, 192 Horticulture in Oregon, . 192 Snlj.hur to Kill Rofe Bugs, 192 A List of Good Petunias,.. 192 Spare the Owl?,... 192 To Raise Large Onions, — 192 lADIES' DBPAJJTMEWT. A Lady's Opinion of the W^est, 193 The CuHivation of Flowers, . 193 Forest Flowers, 193 194 editor's tabue. Rnr.al New Torker; Increase of the circulation of the Genesee Farmer: Devon Herd Book, . '. Drv Weather with frequent Hoeings better for Garden Vegeta- " bl(-s than a Wet Season ; Turnip Fly ; Hen Manure for Onions; Cure for Garget; Cabbage for Stock; Planting Potatoes in the Fall; Sprouting Potatoes; Carrots on. the same Ground every Year ; CoiTCCtion ; Sowing Mangel Wurzel in the Fall ; Cheap Paint, 195 The Turnip Fly ; The Rural Annual ; Complimentary Notice of the Genesee Farmer; Book Notices; Inq. and Answers, 198 illustrations. Three Figures, representing different varieties of Ruta Bagas, 169 Short-horn Cow Adelaide, 185 American Arbor Vit», — - — 187 Siberian Arbor Vitae, 1°7 Tomato Rack and Vine as it appears when first planted, 188 Tomato Rack and Vine as it appears when fully grown, 18» Vol. XVrn, Sec-ond Series. ROCKESTER, N, Y., JULY, 1857. No. 7. AGRICULTCFAL QUACKERY. Thougk sgricqiture and horticulture hasze attracted the attention of some ef the wii^iest and best of mer in all ages yot it is only during the past twenty years that much •progress has •beeB made in sd animal growth; and practical experience. The result was, as might have been forseen, an entire failure. The prejudice created in the minds of farmers by these unfounded speculations, is aow gradually melt- ing away before the rising Ifght of true, experimental scienca Many earnest seekers after truth have been quietly investigating the laws of vegetable and ani- mal nutrition, and tne number is annually increasing; ,,,,,. ... ,. . ., . 1 numerous pvtblic and private experimental farms «ud the hundreds of patient mvestigators that are k^^^ i^ Europe, and before many vears now busijy engaged in studying agricultural and hor- ^^ 5,^^,1 j^^^^ gg^g^al in efiicvfint operation in this tecultnral .phe^Jtoniena, are anniially bringing out new facts, which serve as stcnd-ipoints for further research into the unknown. The immense practical value of tiiese invc^stigations at-e readily perceived by every reflecting Hiind. The single truth that phosphate of lime, as found in bones, apatite, coprolites, and other minerals, can be rendered soluble by proper treat- ment with sn'phuric acid, has already added millions of pounds to the agricultural wealth of , Esq., President of the American In- stitute, and which has been copied with high com- mendation by several agricultural papers. We can- not believe that the editors took the trouble to read over the article before copying and commending it. We would, therefore, call their attention to the fol- lowing extracts: " If the soil has but a small proportion of the phos- phates ill it, and a great qnantity of the silicaces, [silicates,] wheat will ruin it more rapidly than bar- ley, fir the reason that a single crop of wheat viiU removt a larger portion of the phosphates than three crops of of practice, excited hopes which have proved illusive, and recommended practices which entailed much loss on those who were enterprising enough to adopt j barky them. The principal cause of these failures, is at- ^t .1 p . • ,1 ., ,., . , . t^ibutable to the fact that some of the more popular I ^''^' ^}^ '^^l^^ *^^^^ ^^^ p^™^ quantity of barley and leading scientific men left the slow but certain j '^/"^''^^ '^'^"II*^^ soil more phosphates than a crop of wheat of forty-two analyses by reliable chemists. paths of exporimental investigation, and startled the j ""l T"*^'"" ^^® ™^^^. this statement on the streGgtk agricultural v-'orld by a series of the most brilliant I md seductive speculations, that were confidently ex- 1 ''If we grow plants that are not intenied to go to peeled to revolutionize thosp systems of cultivation se*d, they will require no phosphate." which had been the slow growth of close obeeryation j This is a great mistake. No agricnltnral pla»t 202 THE GENESEE FARMER. will grow without phosphates. Turnips, which are " not intended to go to seed," although they do not contain as much phosphoric acid as wheat and other cereals, "require" for their maximum _ growth a greater quantity of phosphates in the soil than any other eommonly cultivated crop. " The urine of man is mucli more vahialjle than that of the sheep, cow or horse, as it contains over eight per cent, of the phosphates, which are not found in the iiriue of other animals, except possibly the hog." According to a large number of analyses made and collated by Lawks and Gilbert, the " urine of man" does not contain half of one per cent. (0.37) of phosphates ; and the assertion that phosphates « are not found in the urine of other animals," is still, farther from the truth. " A soil should never be idle— plant your crops keep the land from weeds, and depend mainly upon the inorganic compounds elaborated by nature for their success. You may rest assured that more atten- tion should be paid to the inorganic constituents of crops than has been. As, for example, I prepared an inorganic manure for wheat, thus : to five pounds of silicate of potash in solution, add five pounds of bone- dust ; when dry, incorporate with it fifteen pounds of common Turks Island salt, and thirteen pounds of plaster of Paris. This composition produced gi-eat results, not only in the yield of the grain, but in the beauty of the straw, which was thicker than a pipe- stem. I then added the following year to the same Qpmpound, twenty pounds of wheat bran, and ten pounds of the ash of wheat straw, and the production was enormous. If land was so manured, eighty bush- els of wheat would result from an acre. I have grown, by another process, at the rate of seventy-nine and three-quarter bushels of wheat to the acre." We cannot of course contradict this statement. Mr. P. may have obtained an " enormous " crop from such a dressing ; but we have seen essentially the same manure applied, without any particular benefit. It is certainly absurd to suppose that " if land was so manured, eighty bushels of wheat would result from an acre." " Last year I was desirous of increasing the bones of several calves, and not having sulphuric acid at hand to dissolve bones for that purpose, I tried an ex- periment with lime-water, that proved to be perfectly effectual. The bones were j^laced in a large iron ket- tle, filled with slacked lime in solution, and boiled four hours, reducing them to a powder, which was used with irrigating water on grass land from which the calves fed, adding to it the necessary amount of phospliate of lime." However true it may be that Mr. Pell's calves had plenty of bone in them, it is absurd to suppose that the process he adopted had anything to do in "increasing the bones" of the calves. In the first place, boiling the bones in lime-water would not dis- solve them — and even if it would, there is not the slightest evidence that soluble phosphate of lime will increase the proportion of this substance in the grass; or if it did, that grass containing an unusual quantity of phosphate of lime would increase the growth of bones in animals feeding on it. " Farmers often complain of long protracted drouths in s\immer ; much to my surprise, as I glory in dry weather, because it restores the constituents of suc- ceeding CYops, and renovates the soil by increasing the mineral matters that have beon dissipated by growing grain and occasional ram — and were it not for drouths, a barren waste would in time result. God thins coun- teracts man's thriftlessness by evaporating moisture from the earth's surface, and tlms inducing lower stratums of water to rise by capillary attraction, which carry in solution soda, potash, lime, maguesia, &c.,to the earth's surface, when evaporation carries off the water, and leaves these vahiable substances for man's Crops. I discovered this fact by having a sample of soil analyzed in the spring, when a mere trace of these matters was found ; in the fall following, after a very severe drouth, a portion of soil from the same spot was analyzed again, and contained them all in very appreciable quantities — showing that they liad been freed from their siliceous coatings by atmospheric in- fluences." Whether water ascending from the subsoil brings with it "soda, potash, lime, magnesia, &c.," or not, we will not undertake to say. The somewhat re- cent experiments of Prof. Way, however, indicate that water percolating through a soil dissolves out far less of the elements of plants than had been pre- viously supposed, and it is, therefore, probable that ascending water is not over-charged with these in- gredients. Be this as it may, however, we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that no chemist in the world, by the most rigid analysis of the soil, can determine the point. " If you wish to manure a field of potatoes advan-' tageously, and produce remarkable results, use the;' manure of hogs fed on potatoes." > Nonsense. The manure made by bogs fed on corn,' or still better, on peas, would be far richer in those elements which experience proves are most required by the potato, and would produce more "remarkable results." " Wisconsin, thirteen years since, produced forty bushels of wheat to the acre — now only twenty." We should like to see the statistics. The average crop of wheat in Western New York, in her palmiest days, was never twenty bushels per acre. " Tliousands of acres in our own State might pro- duce admirable crops, if their owners would analyze the earth, and add the missing requisites, which, nine cases out of ten, would be found to be lime, phos- phate of lime, or potash." The ingredients mentioned, and in fact all the con- stituents of plants, exist on all soils capable of pro- ducing a blade of quack grass or a Canada thistle. The soil may not contain them in sufficient quantity to enable it to produce good crops, but chemical analysis is incapable of determining whether it does or not M^ I tt^ CULTIVATION OF BUCKWHEAT, Buckwheat requires and receives but little culti- vation. It is often sown on the roughest and the poor- est of soils, and in favorable seasons produces good crops; yet, with buckwheat as with any other crop, good cultivation is usually the most profitable. A well prepared, mellow soil, is desirable. Even a lit- tle manure may be applied on poor land with advan- tage. We have seen one hundred pounds of gu,ano, used on a light, dry, poverty-stricken hill-side field in Massachusetts, more than double the yield of buck- wheat. " No crop," says an experienced writer, " will feel manure of any kind, or in any state, so quick as buckwheat" THE GENESEE FARMER. 203 In England, where, on account of the coolness of the climute, buckwheat is rather a precarious crop, it is fa*qaently sowi in drills one foot apart, and hand hoed; and some experienced farmers sow it in drills two feet apart, in order that the horse cultivator may be employed. In this country, audjn most parts of Europe, it is sown broadcast. The quantity of seed per acre varies somewhat with the character of the soil and climate, and the purposes for which the crop is grown. When raised for seed on soil of medium quality, the rule is to sow about half the quantity of seed used in sowin? wheat — say from three pecks to a bushel. The richer the land, the less seed is re- quired, as a general rule; if too thick, on rich land, it runs too much to straw. Buckwheat is very susceptible of cold. It must not be sown till all danger of the slightest hoar frost is past. The usual time of sowing, in this State, is the first week in July. If sown too early, say the middle of June, it is liable to blast ; if too late, it is frequently injured by early autumn frosts. The seed should not be covered too deep. Tuaer mentions the curious fact, that he has found the use of the roller in covering the seed injurious. An experienced German writer says: "The suc- cess of buckwheat is remarkably afi'ected by the weather to which it is exposed in the several stages of its growth. In this respect it is more susceptible than any other kind of grain. It requires dry weather immediately after sowing, and springs up during the time of greatest drouth; but after putting forth its third leaf' it requires rain, in order that its leaves may be developed before the appearance of the flower, which soon follows. During the long time for which it continues in flower, this plant requires alternate rain and sunshine, to facilitate its growth and enable the flowers to set. The flowers drop off" during thun- der storms, or even on the occurance of electric phe- nomena unaccompanied by rain. Buckwheat is also incapable of withstanding violent easterly winds, which cause it to wither before its flowers are set. After flowering, the plant again requires dry weather, to bring all its seeds to maturity at the same time, and insure an early harvest The success of buckwheat is, therefore, very precarious. It depends not only on the general state of the weather throughout the sea- eon, but also on the particular time which may have been chosen for sowing. A week earlier or later often makes a very great difference. Hence, those who wish to make sure of their crop of buckwheat, sow it in three or four separate portions, and at dif- ferent times." Buckwheat will not thrive on cold, clay land. On all the poor, light, sandy soils of the Atlantic slope, it grows with great luxuriance, when well put in and stimulated with a little manure. On such soils, buck- wheat has been used to a great extent, and with con- siderable success, for plowing under as a green ma- nure. The plant possesses many qualities which ren- der it valuable as a renovator. It can be sown late in the season; requires little cultivation; is of rapid growth; will grow on the poorest soils, and, in fact, succeeds best on light, poor soils, which are destitute of the organic matter needed for other crops, and which the buckwheat, when plowed in, supplies in considerable quantity. Nevertheless, we think buck- wheat will not enrich land so rapidly as clover, peas and other leguminous plants. Where these can be grown, we would never grow aud plow in buckwheat solely for its fertilizing effect. On soils which are too poor to grow clover and peas, buckwheat may be employed for the purpose of enriching the soil in or- ganic matter, and, by its judicious use, the land will in a few years be capable of growing clover, peae, <.tc. Buckwheat is often sown on land infested with wire worms. Two crops, sown in succession, M-ill some- times starve out these pests. We should be glad of the experience of our readers on this point. CTTITING AND CTJRmG CLOVER AND GBASS FOE FODDER. Red Clover is raised with much greater care and certainty in many parts of this country than in Great Britain, yet it is held in far less esteem as a forage plant This is probably owing, in some degree, to the manner in which it is cured. In England it is never spread out, but is allowed to remain unbroken in the swath, to prevent the leaves from falling off; and after being turned in the swath, is put into small cocks, and afterwards into large ones. Cured with- out much exposure to the sun, it is sweet and green, and horses prefer it to English meadow hay. The objection so often made against it in this country, that it. is dusty and induces heaves in horses, is sel- dom heard in England. It is important that clover should not be too ripe. It should be cut when in full bloom. A few days' delay often injures the crop, as the flowering stems rapidly grow tough and unpalatable. We are aware that a less quantity of hay is obtained — in fact, it has been proved that there is a gain of ten per. cent in weight of hay by allowing the clover to form its seeds before it is cut — but in this case much of the saccharine matter is changed into woody fibre, and the quality of the hay is impaired more than the in- crease of quantity will counterbalance. Clover may be allowed to stand without loss till the lower leaves show symptoms of decay, but' it is better cut too early than too late, especially if the after crop is in- tended for seed. If the weather is favorable, and the crop not too heavy, clover may be cured advantageously as fol- lows: Mow in the morning, as soon as the dew is off; turn it carefully in the swath about noon, and put it into neat small cocks before the dew comes on. When sufficiently cured — say in three days — turn the cocks upside down, when the sun is well up, and draw in during the afternoon. If the crop is heavy, and the weather cloudy, put it into larger cocks, and allow them to stand out a little longer. The opera- tion of curing may of course be expedited by spread- ing out the clover as soon as it is cut, but there is con- siderable loss of leaves — the best portion of the fodder. It is possible by chemical analyses to determine with much certainty the best time to cut hay so as to secure the greatest amount of nutritious matter; but the analyses which have been made afford no satisfactory information on this point. In the famous experiments of Sinclair, the amount of nutriment was estimated from the quantity of soluble matter in the various grasses cut at different stages of their growth. Such a method of analysis cannot give reliable results. Much of the crude, imperfectly or- ganized matter of immature plants might be soluble, but no one will contend that it is nutritious. More recently, the nutritive value of food has been estimated by the proportion of nitrogen it contains. S04 THE GENESEE FARMER. Mr. Lawes' experiments on sheep, pigs, &c., proves that tliis method leads to erroneous results. Up to the present time, therefore, chemistry has aiforded us BO satisfactory data for determiuitig the best tiine to cut the various grasses for fodder, so as to secure the greatest quantity of food. We must look to the ex- perience of practical farmers. Unfortunately, bow- ever, it is difficult to ascertain how far the recorded opinions of farmers od this point have been influenced by the statements of scientific writers. There is, too, some diversity of opinion on the point, though the majority of farmers appear to be in favor of cutting the grasses when in blossom. Undoubtedly a less quantity of hay is obtained, but it is said to be enough more nutritious to make up for this loss. C. L. Flint, Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, has published extracts from numerous practical farmers on this pomt. We will try and ae- lect out a few, as representatives of the whole. One of the most intelligent farmers of Middlesex county says: "I prefer to cut grass when in blossom, because it will make more milk and more fat, and cattle prefer it to that standing later. It keeps them loose and healthy." A farmer of Worcester county says: " When de- signed for milch cows, store, or fattening animals, I prefer to cut in the blossom, because it makes more milk, more growth, and more beef. For working cattle and horses, I cut about six day. it, there is little danger of hurting after it is wilted." Another experienced farmer of Berkshire county says: " My way of making hay is to cut when in blos- som, in the morning, shake it out evenly over the ground, turn it over at eleven o'clock, and get it into the baro on the same day, if the weather is good. But if the grass is very heavy, I pat it into cocks over night. I consider it made, as soon as dry enough not to heat in the mow. To get drier than this is an injury to the hay." A farmer in Hampshire county says: "My method is to cut with the mowing machine, which leaves the grass perfectly spread. It is turned over between one and two o'clock in the afternoon, and while still warns, and before the evening dew falls, it is put into cocks. It is spread and turned the next moraing, and at one o'clock is ready for the barn." TO CLEAN CHES3 OUT OF SEED WHEAT. - In the August number of the Farmer for last year, we published a method of removing chess out of seed wheat, adopted by our esteemed correspondent, John John-ston, of Seneca Go., N. Y. The process is simple and effectual, and its adoption cannot be too frequently urged upon wheat growers. We have received an article on the vexed question of " wheat tuniing to chess," from Mr. J., in which he gives an account of his method of cleaning wheat, and we are glai') to be able to present it to our readers in his own vi'ords. Mr. J. says: "f^ome twelve or fourteen years ago, two farmers aud myself -weut to call oa au enterprising, farmer, not THE GENESEE FARMER, 905 fifty miles from whore I now write. We found him sowing wlieftt He quit his work, and politely showed UB over iiis farm, out-buildini^s, ikc, all of which were Tery neat and well arranged — fliowod us what itn- provemeiits he had made by uiukrdraining, «tc., and a?l,ed us politely to stay to diimer, which we declined, as we had other arrangements. We accompanied him into the field where he hud been at work, and I put my hand in a ba^^ of wheat and took out a handful to look at it. but what was my surprise to find it full of chess! I said I was astonished to find a man of his reputation as a farmer sowing chess. He looked me right in the eye, evidently irritated by my abrupt re- proof, and said, ' How the h — 1 would you help it, when it was there ? ' I told him I would blow it out. He looked up again, evidently a good deal irritated, »nd said 'Neither you nor any other man can clean it out.' He had a first-rate mill, and had put it four times through, and yet there it was; and he said he would bet me one hundred dollars that I could not dean it out. I told him it would not be justice in me to bet with him, as I had done the same thing so often that I knew I should have no difiieulty in doing it; but if he would take a bag of wheat to the barn, if I did not clean out all the chess in going once through the mill, I would pay hiln five dollai's for his trouble. Hi said ' done,' and took the bag on his shoulder and •tarted for the barn ; but before he got out of the field he threw it down, saying he had 'plenty of the same kind in the granary.' After gjing to the barn, I took the nhaking-rod of the. fanning mill, and took 9*it the riddles. We carried the fanning mill into the granary, and I requested one of my companions to turn the mill steadily, not very fast, and not to stop until I notified him that it was all out of the hopper. I put in the wheat, and we run through about two bushe's. Tbe owner carried it to the barn floor, near the door, and all the three gentlemen got on their knees and ex- amined it, and they cmdd not find one chess seed. After examining thoroughly, the owner ro:=e from his knees, saying, in a subdued tone, ' I see a man can never be too old to learn, aud I have learned something.' I then said, ' Gentlemen you had better look behind the mill — perhaps there was no chese in tite wheat 1^ The owner said he knew ' there was plenty of chess in it.' To make sure, I went and swept up behind the mill, fcnd I should think I got at least four quarts of clie?s. The owner then said, ' Gentlemen, your horses shall go in &nd be fed, and you shall not leave until you take dinner. I have got paid for many dinners.' So we dined, and got an excellent dinner, and left with- out saying ' chess ' again. "I have never had the pleasure of calling on the gentleman since. I have thought I should like to see his wheat, to ascertain if he rai?ed chess. I have teen him often since, but I never mentioned 'chess' to him, as I knew he felt a little grieved at his obsti- nacy in not believing me. I have been thus particu- lar in making a long story out of a little matter, to try, if possible, to induce men to clean their seed, so that there may be no more 'wheat turning to chess;' l;ut as long .18 chess is in your neigliborhood, you are always liable to occasiunally having a little. Your neighbors' cattle may get on your fallows when they have been eating chaff with che?s in it, or swine when thev have been eating screenings of wheat with chess in it. You may in this way get chess from their droppings, but still that will only be a trifle. " Is'ow, brother farmers, I beg you will try blowing the chess cut of your wheat for a few y^ars, and I know j'ou will never again say wheat produces chess. I wish you, Messrs. Editors, would go up the Genesee Viiiley about seeding time, ([ mean wlieat sowing,) and see that they sow clean wheat. I know that some of the best wheat growers in the country believe wheat that is damaged by the treading of horses or cattU, or nibbled oti' close by sheep, geese or turkeys, pro- duces chess. Now, I know they are mistaken. It is only because the wheat is killed, that the chess gets a better chance to grow. Those who sow chess, get chess ; those who do not sow it, do not get it." ITEMS SUGGESTED BY THE JUNE NTJMEER, Only thirty days to the 4th of July, and the ap- ple trees but just fairly in blossom ! Summer here, and the balance of the country's corn aud potatoes yet unplanted ! And every hour of seasonable weather improved ! Heaven grant us " growing times "' and late frosts, and there will yet be a plen- tiful harvest. While i rest from hoeing in " viy new garden," let me note something of your June con- tents. RcTA Baoas and Turnips. — The cultivation of roots, particularly if successful, j repares the land ia the best manner for the following crop. Success in root grotving requires high manurin/, thorough til- lage, and clean culture; it results in plenty of food for stock, and hence plenty of manure — with thig, farming becomes profitable. If we are to have winter until May, American farmers should give increased attention to root crops; they will find them just the thing for spring feeding. A few beets and carrots, raised last year, were found of high value {nearly equal to their cost) for milch cows, by the writer. A Proposed Rotation. — The third year in the course, is sadly blundered by wrong punctuation — ^it should read: " Wheat, with composted manure; rye; the spring following, beans, on any stubble unused for these; the whole seeded to clover, or clover and herd's grass." Stirring the Soil in Dry Weather. — The ad- vantages of constant culture are well brought out by your correspondents, I have found it easier to grow good garden crops in very dry, than in very wet seasons, by using the hoe freely. In wet seasons, it is almost impossible to keep down the weeds — in dry seasons, it is done with little difiSculty — and the same rule and result hold good with our field crops. Management of Bees. — The great trouble in keep- ing bees, is the use of new-fangled hives, bee-honses, etc., and want of common sense in caring for them. Give tbem plain box hives, an airy place, sheltered from the heat and cold, and a little " wholesome neg- lect," and they wili be sure to prosper. Butter Making. — My neighbor, T., gives many valuable hints on this subject. I know she makes the best of butter, but a little less " washing " would suit my taste, though the great care used in working leaves little chance for injury from that source. Forethought in Farming. — It is a good idea to lay plans for work, but it is better to be able to change any of these plans in case of emergency. The farmer has great use for forethoitgJu, but cases come up frequently when the ready thought is called in play, and one who cannot turn back to first prir- ciples and plan anew, will be pinched sometimes pretty badly. F.iK.M House Cei-lar. — One of the most impor- tant dcsideratums of a farmer's home \s a good cel- lar, and any reader v/ho intends? to build soon, will do well to study Mf, LAaxms' commuiiicatioiL THE GENESEE FARMER, Rearing Calves. — Our method, almost precisely, is that described by W. S., of Canada West. Of course, we think it one of the best which can be fol- lowed. There are many other brief and excellent articles in this number, but time fails me for further item- izing. Since I commenced, we have had " growing weather," and farmers are thankful, and busy as need be. B. JViagara Co., JV. Y. NOTES FOE THE MONTH, BY S. W. Fallacy op Newspaper Statistics. — A Lowell hebdomadal says that the Bay State Mills, in Law- rence, raanul'acture 400,000 shawls yearly, valued at upwards of a million and a half of dollars, and that the mills consume 40,000 lbs. of wool per day, or 12,000,000 ft)s. a year, requiring 3,000,000 fleeces. Now, as the Bay State Mills have only one hundred sets of cards, and 60 lbs. of fine wool per day being a fair average for a set, there can be only 6,000 lbs., and not 40,000 lbs., of wool manufactured there in one day. This is not the first exaggeration of Lowell's industry from the same weekly — strange as it may seem, when we reflect that Lowell is the cap-sheaf of a manufacturing town, and as such needs no puffing. Transplant Beets and Sow Corn Fodder as a Second Crop. — Any one who, on the 4th of July, ! has beet plants the size of the little finger, will do | well to transplant them in vacant spots, or on ground where green peas have been grown, and the soil forked over. If the month is not too dry, they will be as large on a good soil as early planted beets, be- cause they grow in the fall long after the advent of early frosts. Two thirds of the leaf should be cut off when transplanted. If dry and warm, set them towards evening, and pour on water that has had hen dung dissolved in it; they rarely require more water- ing— a little hoeing, to let in dew and atmospheric gasses, is better. Corn for fodder or soiling milch cows in the fall, may also be sown after peas are re- moved ; but if we have a long drouth in July and August, it retards the growth of late planted corn as much as it favors the finishing and perfecting of the early planted. And as beets grow long after corn is chilled and stationary, they are more certain to pay sa a late or second crop. Excavate Draining Ponds in Flat Fields — While on a short tramp across lots to Fayette, when the roads were impassable, in April, I encountered, in .a large flat meadow, a pretty little artificial pond, filled with water from large open ditches; the pond iwas circular, not more than one hundred and fifty feet across, and about four feet deep. The Deutscher 'told me that it evaporated water very fast, even in cold, rough weather, and that the yield of his meadow was nearly double the last year — an untoward grass season, as farmers' stock this spring generally bear witness 1 Why are not more ponds excavated in the fiat fields, and tenacious, stoneless alluvium of Western New York ? Late Planted Corn. — Some writers advise wait- ing until June to plant corn, lest the cold weather of May should rot the seed in the ground. I take it that any soil in which good seed com would rot planted as late as the middle of May, would be alto- gether too wet to plant this ninth day of June, as more rain has fallen ia tb« last twenty-four hours than in three weeks before. Let no man in the ge- nial sections of Western New York omit to plant corn as soon as the soil is dry enough after the tenth of May; the notion that corn rots in a well under- drained soil after the middle of May, is ignored by continued experiment. I have corn and. sorghum up and hoed that was planted on the tenth of May, al- though it was wet, cold and frosty for the next twelve days. Corn that is up on the first of June, luxuri- ates in a July and August drouth, it' well tended, and the soil has been well manured ; while corn planted on and after that day, will be pinched by the same drouth. The IsrpoLiCT of Selling off Lean Stock — We often hear of a city butcher fined for selling bad meat; methinks the day has come when those farm- ers should be fined who sell to our village butchers starved cattle and blue veal. It is found _to be not only humane, but good economy, to add hasty pud- ding to a calf's mess, as two cents' worth for three weeks would make the veal white and fat Some farmers say "there is no profit in feeding corn to stock." How much more profitable is it to let them become poor and worthless for want of food ? John Johnson, of Fayette, feeds the whole of his always large corn crop to stock. He has paid at the oil mill here $1,200 for oil-meal to feed to cattle and sheep, within the last twelve months. He says it was the best investment he ever made — much better, perhaps, than those farmers have done who sold their corn at sixty cents a bushel, and invested the pro- ceeds in Western lands. It enriches land amazingly to keep fatting cattle; while to sell off lean animals, is a sort of agricultural or chemical suicide. The Blessings of a Grass Country. — I have seen large fields of corn at the West, and an extra large breadth of cotton at the South ; yet I have been far more impressed by the evidences of rural picturesqueness, and true domestic comfort, in grass- growing Western New York — even in those high, re- gions where corn is reduced to the early stunted va- riety, yielding barely enough to make the johnny cakes and fat the pork of the family — for here is creamed cheese, and clover- scented butter, and every other substantial article of food that the epicure might envy; fat, sleek cattle, fine wooled sheep, and laughing milch cows ; with plenty of white clover pasture in summer, and the best of shelter and sweet hay (not straw) in winter. While at the South and South-west there is little cultivated grass, and less timothy and clover hay, with only the coarse, inedible corn-stalk, never saved ; no shelter for cattle in win- ter from sleet and rain, and of couree little butter in spring and summer, and less cheese. I have red clo- ver this ninth day of June not yet in blossom, but heavier than I saw it, even in Southern Michigan, at hay harvest, and farther west it was still lighter. Waterloo, JY. Y. Harvesting Carrots. — Grind a hoe sharp, and send a hand along between the rows to cut off the tops, while another hand, with a team, plows a deep furrow along side of the first row, close to the car- rots; the next furrow will turn them out. Two boys, with a large basket, can follow, pick up the carroty and put them in the wagon. When your carrots are harvested, the ground is fall plowed. East Bodman, JY. Y, H. H. Tatlob. ^ THE GENESEE FARMER. 207 DESIGV FOR A CHEAP AND C0M5I0DI0US STABLE. A CHEAP AND COMMODIOUS STABLE. Messrs. Editors: — Having noticed for some time back that our agricultural journals, with very few ex- ceptions, give nothing in the shape of stable plans, except those which are too expeosiv^e for the farmer in moderate circumstances to erect, I have been in- duced to send you the enclosed plan of a plaiu and convenient stable, which, as far as cheapness is con- cerned, can be erected by almost any farmer. Al- though I do not claim for it anything oq the score of beauty, yet it has a snug and comfortable look, and, if erected in accordance with the plan, will not fail to give the animals occupying it the comfort and convenience they require. The main building, containing the stable, grain and harness rooms, is twenty-five feet square, and 25 fi 9Si GROUND PLAJf. ten feet in height It contains two single stalls, each five feet wide, and two double stalls, each seven and a half feet wide. The grain room, B, is seven feet square, and is lighted by a window opening into the stable, A. The harness room, C, is about the same size, and is lighted by a window in front. It has a door opening into the stable, and also one commu- nicating with the carriage house, D. The carriage house is sixteen feet in length, nine feet in width, and tea in height, and will hold two carriages, (as many as the generality of farmers keep.) It is lighted by two windows on the side. Back of the carriage house is a stable for cattle, E, eighteen feet in length, and the same in width and height as the carriage house. It has a door leading into the barn-yard, and also one into the horse stable. It is divided into four stalls, each four and a half feet wide; or it can be used as a work-shop, or storage room for machinery, &c. The loft above the stable is six feet at the eaves, and twelve at the ridge. The stable is constructed of wood. Over each crack a long slat is nailed, which effectually keeps out all cold winds. The large doors of the stable are hung upon iron rollers, which are fastened to the top and bottom of the door. Those at the top are constructed so that the wheels project from the door, and rest on a long beam fastened to the front of the barn. The lower wheels run on a groove, just below the surface of the ground. The doors move right and left, and thus there is no need of the long movea- ble pole which is generally placed in the centre of the doorway to fasten the doors to, and which is so un- handy to use. When the doors are opened, there is no slamming together by the wind. The other doors can be hung in this manner, or in the old way, as suits the taste of the builder. J. F. F. ^ • ^ CTJLTTJEE OF BUCKWHEAT. Messrs. Editors: — This is the month to sow buck- wheat, and, as it is much sought after during the win- ter months as a luxury, I think farmers will do well to cultivate a portion, however small, of their foul meadows, &c., with this grain. It will perform a treble duty. In the first place, we raise it as much for the crop, as any other which we grow. Next — a great desideratum — it will subdue blue grass, or other foul grasses, more effectually than any other means, in the same space of time. Wire worms will evacuate the premises on the first assault from it, and we can plant or sow any crop after buckwheat without fear of molestation from them, at least for a few seasons. It also leaves the land in fine tilth — more so, perhaps, than any other crop. These qualities, I think, are worth all the trouble and cost, even if we get a light yield. Buckwheat is excellent for breakfast cakes, par sot THE GENESEE FARMER. ticularly when dressed with plenty of good butter and maple sugar, honey, or even our common sugars. Who would not be at some trouble for such break- fasts ? It is good to make the hens lay, even in the coldest weather, if a good supply is given, and they have free access to lime and water daily. It makes good feed for pigs, notwithstanding a prejudice for- merly existing against its use. The straw makes excellent bedding for the stables. It absorbs and re- tains moisture to a considerable degree, if kept under cover, as all manures should be. The bran is an ex- cellent feed for milch cows, increasing the flow of miik quite perceptibly. D. Gates, JV. Y. ^ » fc . CUTTING HAY AND CUEING CLOVES. Messrs. Editohs: — As haying is approaching, it may be well to talk the matter over a little before we ccfmmence operations. Some good farmers think that timothy should be cut while in bloom; otheis, equally as good cultivators, are of the opinion that the seed ^ould be nearly mature before cutting. There are asrguments in favor of both of these propositions. M^ own experience is, that it should be cut neither too ripe nor too young. I think that hay holds its weight better if cut while the seed is in the milk, than at any other time; there is more nutriment in it tlian when cut in the bloom. If left until too ripe, there is in the stalks so much of woody fibre that more or less of the nourishing qualities are lost. One word in regard to clover, which is very highly prized by English teamsters — ^so much so, that they oare very little about " corn," while there is plenty of clover hay in the loft. Their method is to cut as the first blows begin to turn brown; never spread, bat pitch into small cocks, say fifty pounds each, or vAat will make about that after being cured ; leave it in this manner for a couple of days; then turn it over, and draw in. When cured in this way, we do not hear of so much dust — besides, the leaves are all saved, and they are the best part of the fodder, yet horses and cattle will eat the greater portion of the stalks, which they will not do if cured in any other manner, unless driven to it by starvation. D. Gates, JV. Y. IS rr BIGHT TO ASK THE WOMEN FOLKS TO MILK THE COWS DURING THE BUSY SEASON? [The following extracts from some of the numer- ous answers we have received to this question, will be read with interest] — Eds. I THINK it is quite right to ask the women folks to do the milking, or help do it, during the busy season. If farmers' daughters were all taught to milk, it would not be any detriment or disgrace to them, as a general thing; but, on the contrary, it might many times be aa advantage to them and their parents. What farmer's wife, who feels an interest in her husband's affairs, has not witnessed how perplexing and weari- some his business is at many times, especially at that hurrying season, haying and harvest ? The weather is frequently bad for curing hay and grain, and per- haps but little help, or that which is very poor, can be had. We ought, in Buch casep, to make onrselvefi very useful, for we know, if we but observe things H9 they are, that our husbands are tired enough at ■night to find the cows milked, or if they are not «aUked, to find ihem in the yard, and bis wife and daughters ready and willing to help him, and make him pleasant and cheerful by their little kindnesses in doing a chore here and there. 1 have witnessed many times, with regret, the husband and father, on his returning from town or some other place where he has been necessarily de- tained, go perhans at nine o'clock at night to hunt after the cows, and perhaps not find more than half of them then; he drives them into the yard, milks them, strains the milk, and uflerwards feeds the hogs, &c. All this time his family are quietly sleeping, un- conscious of him who is laboring for their support All men are not of this stamp. 1 know of some who never milk a cow when at home. This, in my opin- ion, is not right. The millking should not be all done by either sex, but as it is most convenient All children should be taught to milk as soon a* they have sufficient strength in their hands to milk fast enough to keep the cows from shrinking. Farm- ers' daughters are being brought up very wrong in many respects. In the first place, they are not more than half dressed after they are two years old. In this way they are exposed to heat and cold, and, it" they survive this usage, nine-tenths of them are puny children; and by the time they are seven or eight years old, (or ten at most,) they are placed on a stool to take music lessons, and, of course, their hands and fingers must be very limber to reach an octave on a piano. Mothers had better have them stand on a stool at the si7ik, and take lessons in dish-washing, and have them do all kinds of chores they are capa- ble of doing, in doors and out. They should also be taught to knit their own and their brothers' stock- ings, mend and make papa's shirts, and piece bed- quilt:?, and, for .aught I care, they may be taught em- broidery, crotchet work, &c. After they are twelve years old, if their parents wish them to learn musie, they should buy a piano or any other instrument ot music they may see fit and have them take lessons and practice at home, so they will not forget that their parents are olten fatigued with many cares and much work. Mothers should endeavor to teach their daughters to love and respect their father and bro- thers, who have to toil almost incessantly. Especially should they love and respect their father, for often be has to undergo many privations in order to give them a proper education. This he is generally willing to do, if they only repay him with their love and kind- ness. What parent who has a taste and an ear for music, does not like to hear some choice pieces of music, after his labors for the day are done, in his cheerful and happy home ? and all will be happy and cheerful, as a general thing, where parents have doae their duty to their children. I think there is a great error afloat in respect to the training of our childrea "The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. ' I heard a father remark the other day, that he " suppose-d girls ought not to wash dishes when they were taking music lessons, because it made their hands stiE" He had been told so, perhaps, by his wife or daughters. Such a parent would not of course, ask the '■ women folks " to help milk the cows at any time, let the case be ever so urgent, because it is instilled into his mind that they cannot or ought not to milk v.itL their limber, white hands. Oh ! what a pity that he does not let his judgment teach him better; children ca« play the piano if their hands are a little slifil or ccJ- ored with the sun's raya Do not fathers like t© see THE GENESEE FARMER. 809 their cbildren look fresh and healthy ? If they tlo, they should take them out into the open air, and set them at some light work, or they will never be healthy. Parents, let your children's hands get somewhat stiff, 80 that they may know how your hands feel at times; and also have them help you milk v.henever it is necessary, and do anything else that you think is best for them to do, that they may love and respect you. Jamestoum, A*. 1'. A Farmer's Wife. YocR able correspondent, !>., of Niagara County, juks for more light on this (to us dairymen, especially) important subject. If we do not succeed in impart- ing any light on the subject, we will at least have the pleasure of expressing our views, and of correcting some of the many errors into which your Michigan correspondent has fallen, in his or her premium arti- cle in the March number. The essayist confidently asserts, that "woman's appropriate labor is strictly confined to the inside of the farm-house. ' This false notion, which has pre- vailed to a great extent in our country for the last quarter of a century, is the primary cause of the early decay of American women. In Europe, where women perform a vast amount of the lighter kinds of out-door work, they are strong, rosy and healthy, with fully developed physical organizations, which are the admiration of sculptors and physiologists, and which contrast beautifully with our pale, sickli/, ca- daveroits. wasp-like, hooped substitutes, for help- meets. If our country-women desire health and beauty, and to make themselves worthy of the re- S])ect and admiration of mankind — a blessing to (themselves, their country and the world — they must imitate, to a certain extent, their Puritan gi-aud- mothers, who were worthy help-meets of the men. They cheerfully and sweetly bore their share of la- bora and trials; they were the housewives, spinners and weavers, tailors, nurses and doctors of New Eng- land. They were dairy-maids and cooks, as well as friends and sweethearts, in the good old primitive times. The young ladies of that time were not the *vwkward, timid creatures referred to by the essay- ist, who are doubtless like the city belle, who in- quired of her country cousin how they obtained the milk — " if they took hold of the cows' tails and pumped it out!" The essayist's quotations from Scripture to sustain his or her false reasoning, re- minds us of his sooty majesty's quotations to our Sa- v'iour on the mount, and we trust will be as effectually rebuked by all right-minded, industrious women. The women in Scripture times not only milked the cows, but tended the flocks, and some of the most eminent of them made love at the wells while drawing water tor their flocks. (See Genesis xxix: 11; Exodus ii: 16.) Our Saviour informs us that it is not only lawful, but our duty, to do good on the Sabbath day; and again, that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. In this section, where nearly every farmer keeps from ten to sixty cows, the women folks (to their honor be it said) generally help milk, without being asked, and consider it a sJuttne to those %Fomen who refuse to maintain their right to share in the labors and toils the joys and sorrows, of their husbands, brothers and lovers. H. H. T. East Rodman, Jefferson Co., JV. Y. 1 WAS not a little surprised to see such a question {^(iposed as the one cow before me — " Whether it is right," &c. If the question implies that the wonaen should milk the cows without the men troubling themselves about it, I have nothing to say against it.; but if it means the contrary, I am of a different opinion. I think it is the duty of the farmer's wife, or housekeeper, to see that the cows are milked, either by herself or by her servants. Woman was intended to be a helpmeet for man, and I do not know in what belter way a farmer's wife can assist him, than by taking charge of the dairy. Farmers have so many things to attend to, that I think they can very well dispense with milking the cows; if they have a little time to spare, I think it could be better employed in the garden, which is too much neglected. Perhaps my views are owing to my education. In this part j of the country, the women milk the cows. I was brought up a farmer's daughter, acd am now a farm- er's wife, and am quite content, while my husband follows the plow, to attend to the milking and manage the dairy. E. N. JYassagiiceya, C. fV. In a farmer's family there should be no drones ; and if there is more work out of doors than in, wo- men should not object to milking cows, or otherwise lending a helping hand to whatever they can do. It only exercises the same muscles that are required in making lemon custards, or whipping Italian cream ; and in no way will a young man be more impressed with a love of rural life, than to see his sisters taking an active part in the useful, as well as ornamental, work of an orderly, pleasant, attractive home. East Groveland, Ohio. Cousin Alma, If favored with health, when man is actively en- gaged in their common good, woman should be wil- ling to attend to her appropriate duties. If the barn- yard is properly cleaned, it will neither injure her dress nor person in the least. It is no more beaeath her dignity to milk, than to do the work afterward attending upon it, for surely it is not more laborious. Ballston Centre, JV. Y. Mrs. M. C. L. Ladies, milk your own cows. It will improve your strength, increase your cash, improve your com- plexion, remove your pride, strengthen your diges- tion, and hopefully relieve your consciences. Granville, Fa. Mrs. M. L. B, nVoman's sphere of action is in the domestic cir- cle; there, she may be frugal and industrious, invest- ing everything with cheerfulness, and dispensing hap- piness on all. This makes a country home charming and attractive. If the women folks are obliged to milk during haying and harvesting, I think it would be better for them to consider milking their duty: then, perhaps, by practice, they may become fitted for that capacity. But when the busy season comes on, were a woman asked to leave her proper place and milk the cows, could she do it without neglecting her household work ? Surely, all who have experi- ence know the numerous cares of a dairy. But sup- pose she makes the attempt, what are the effects ? She goes^out, with a fluttering heart, among a drove of cows, who, perhaps, at the sight of a strange per- sonage, will jnstantly present an example of perfect confusion. Here is a proof — the cows show by their actiom that it is no place for a woman. And in 210 THE GENESEE FARMER. milking, she finds the hands she once supposed so strong, are weak, very weak, indeed. Now I ask, has not a woman a busy season ? Me- thinks there are few, at this enlightened age, who are ignorant of it, especially as it has been pictured in such glowing colors by the " lords " of creation. V^ould it not be unreasonable, as well as ridiculous, in "house-cleaning" time, to ask the men folks to get supper, and do up the dishes, because we had a piece of work to be done, (for instance, to finish papering or painting,) which must be done by Saturday night, and we are almost " dead " from fatigue ? We doubt not you would say, " The world was not made in a day." Now, you must not work so late ; then you will have time to do your milking — for this is not women folks' work, any more than it is man's work to get the supper and do up the dishes during our " busy season." Neither can do this without neglecting their separate duties; the men are needed out of doors, and the women are needed in the house. Yet, if a women chooses to milk, then let her milk; but, from what experience I have had, I know there is seldom to be found a woman who thinks it her place to miik, though she may do it from necessity. I am a farmer's daughter, and have had my expe- rience in milking; and this I know, that the " busy season" comes quite often during the summer — and perhaps this is why I have so little charity. How- ever, I shall never admit that it is women's place to " milk the cows during the busy season." Onondaga Hill, JV. Y. T M. W. In answer to the question, "Is it right," &c., al- low me to say that I am most decidedly of the opinion it is not, and will briefly give my reasons for so thinking : 1. If the " busy season " calls a woman to the milk-yard, will she not do the milking for the whole jear ? Of course she will; for indus- trio IS farmers find very little cessation in the labors of the farm. 2. Admitting, for argument's sake, that there are "busy seasons" for out-door workers, is it not correspondingly so in-doors ? Most certainly it is. Then, of course, there is no more reason for wo- men milking one season of the year than another. 3. A woman is completely out of her sphere in the milk-yard, with it wild cows and other unruly cattle, and its nasty and unpleasant covering. In short, milking is man^s work, and ought to be performed by him, at all seasons. G. Clearville, C. W. BTJXTEK MAKING. Messrs. Editors: — In writing upon a subject like this, upon which there are so many conflicting opin- ions, I shall do as I think duty requires, and that is, merely give my own. In the first place, I would remark that I think there are very few people who have been engaged in regular butter dairies, who do not understand the main principles of making good butter — that is, so far as attending to the milk and cream, and churning are concerned. But I consider there is a gi-eat amount of knowledge yet required by many, and by far too many, to teach them that when they have made a quantity of good butter, to stop the process in time to allow it to remain good until it can be taken to market and used. I think I hazard nothing in saying, that no person who ever ate a particle of rancid (called by some strong or frowy) butter, ever called it good. Now. all thig rancid butter that is so much u?ed by people who buy from the markets, (for the very good reason that they are generally troubled to get any other,) was once sweet, and probably very nearly all of it would have been pronounced by good judges to be good butter. Now, I have discovered the means of keep- ing it good, or rather allowing it to remain good, any reasonable length of time — say five years. Now for the process. Be neat and tidy abou^- your milking; milk twice in twenty- four hours, at in* tervals of twelve hours ; set in middling sized tin pans, not over two-thirds full, especially in warm weather; have your milk room large and airy, and OQ the side or corner of the house from whence comes the prevailing wind, or draft of air, in the latter part of the day; have it shaded with trees, if you caa. When you set your milk, be careful to set your fresh milk over the previous mess, if it be warm weather, (on the contrary if cool,) as the warmth of the new mess will often affect the old. Skim as soon as the milk becomes loppered, or thick. If the cream is not to be churned immediately, set it in pans in a cool place; if it is to stand more than one day, stir it gently each day a little. Churn it at a tempera- ture of about 55*^ Fah., moderately, so that it will come to butter in fi-om thirty to forty minutes. If it comes tolerably hard, churn it thoroughly after it comes, as it will take less time to work it; if it comes too soft to work conveniently, pour on cold water, and set it in a cool place until it is right to work I have no objection to your washing it, if you can get out the buttermilk sooner, easier or cleaner by so doing— for if the water does the butter no good, it will be sure to do it no harm, and in warm weather it generally expedites the process. Now mix in evenly, and as quickly as possible, as much fine salt as will render it palatable for table butter, and no more (probably a trifle less) than one ounce to the pound. Then immediatdy pack it in a wooden tab or firkin. I fancy I hear many, who have made butt«r for years, cry out, "Why, you have not told us to '^tvork it over.'" Yery true, and I now tell you not to " work it over," for this " working ox'er " is the sole cause of ninety-nine hundredths of all this rancid butter in the markets. Take notice: I wish it dis- tinctly understood, that in no case should butter be worked a particle after the salt is dissolved, (as the term "worked over" is generally understood,) and all the working that is done must be done before the salt is introduced, except barely sufficient to work the salt in evenly. This, to many, is probably a new idea, so I suppo.se I cannot reasonably get off with- out giving the reasons for not working it. There have been various ways tried to preserve butter with little or no salt. This is truly an age of invention, and I would not risk myself so far as to say that it cannot be prevented from becoming rancid by any process other than salting. This much I can say: it has never been done with any advantage to mankindj and further, I know of no reason why butter is not better, under any circumstances, with a moderate quantity of salt. Now, I am not accusing any per- son of not salting their butter; but the trouble is, they allow it to dissolve, and after it becomes brine, or pickle, they work it out again, for pickle is full as easy to work out of butter as buttermilk or water; THE GENESEE FARMER. 211 and here I would observe, that although pickle may be easily worked out of butter, it is impossible to work any in. Now, when you have worked this pickle out, the saving power is gone for ever. " Why, no ! " many are ready to say, " alter we work our butter over we generally taste it, and it is true we find it quite too fresh to be palatable for table butter, but we then invariably add another dose of salt, and then pack down."' Just so; but look here, my friends — your first dose of salt hits absorbed all the moisture in the butter, and it is now like any other oil, and will not dissolve any more salt; and dry salt in its granu- lar state is not a preservative of any thing, any more than so many grains of dry sand — and I would nearly as soon have my table butter saturated with the sand as with the salt, provided the salt is not dissolved. The finding' of so much dry salt in butter usually sold in the markets, is the reason why there have been so many ways tried to save butter without it. Pickle, or brine, is a certain preservative of butter, if left evenly distributed through it, in the manner it will be by the above process. As each particle or globule of brine will be in the position in which the salt was deposited, of course the finer the salt the better, as it will bring more butter in contact with the brine. The finer the salt, the less time should be occupied in working it in, as it will commence dissolving imme- diately. Now, if the butter is worked after the salt is fairly dissolved, these small globules of brine are displaced, and brought in contact with each other. The moment two or more come together they form one larger, and so on, and as often as they come to the outside they run olt" Many, mistaking this for buttermilk, and having, very erroneously, got the idea that butter can be kept from becoming rancid, even without salt, provided that every particle of the but- termilk is worked out, they keep on working until they have deprived themselves of the only possible means of ever keeping the butter sweet. This but- ter has now become an oil, almost as perfectly as though it had been rendered so by heat; and I shall find few that will dispute me when I say, that no kind of oil (except some essential oils) can long be kept from becoming rancid. I think there is nothing so good to pack butter in as wooden vessels. Many have tried stone crocks, but they are perfect conductors of heat and cold, whereas wood is not. Tubs with covers are the most convenient, on account of inspecting the butter by buyers; but when a dairyman once gets the credit of his dairy well established, the best way is to put it in firkins and head it up perfectly tight. I think it will pay every butter dairyman well, who has eight or ten cows, to procure a press and make cheese through the hot weather. I have found it so. South Rutland, Jefferson Co., JV. Y. H. H. BEETS AND CAKEOTS. Messrs. EniTOEs: — This article is a little out of season, but I trust it will do no harm. I have no- ticed many articles of late on the subject of beets and carrots — the manner of raising, their value for fiseding, &c. — but still 1 judge, from the many in- quiries made, that this branch of husbandry is not very well understood. Analyses show these esculents to be a little infe- rior in nutriment to potatoes and apples, and much leas so, poJind for pound, than hay, but a little more so than turnips. Still, we cannot always tell pre- cisely the value of an article for food by its analysis. The innutritions portion may act favorably, or un- favorablv, upon the digestive organs. An occasional change of food is desirable, for man and beast The substance of the body is made up of many simple substances, and scarcely any article of food supplies the whole in the proportions which the body needs them. I have heard persons condemn beets, because, as they say, they are not worth their weight in hay; and 1 have heard others say that carrots were worth more per bushel for horses than oats. Now, I have raised carrots (and generally beets, too) for feed, nearly every year for the past twenty years, and my experience is that no crops can be raised more sure to pay well on the investment. They should, of course, be fed on the farm. Beets are li ible to be injured early by insects — but much less so than turnips — and if not totally de- stroyed by them, I have never known them to fail ot a fair crop. Carrot seed is a little liable to fail, from causes which are not well understood, but I am satis- fied that it is not always the fault of the seed; they are, however, seldom or never injured by insects. They will both grow in almost any soil not too wet, but thrive best in a deep, dry loam. There is less danger of sowing them too thick than many imagine, though they may be so thick as to diminish the yield; but analysis and experiment show small ones to be worth more by weight than large ones. The greatest enemies to these roots are weeds; and the great secret of success in raising them, is to keep the weeds down. To do this economically, they should be sown at a time when they will be likely to come up quickly, and, as soon as they appear, the ground should be stirred about them to keep the weeds back. The rationale of this is, that diflerent plants require different degrees of heat for vegeta- tion; most grasses and weeds will vegetate at a lower temperature than beets or carrots — consequently, they are very apt to get the start, if the temperature is too low for the beets and carrots. Then, there is a great difTerence in plants as to their hardiness and tenacity of life, and, if planted together, the strong- est and most hardy will run out the weakest. Every one knows that buckwheat will exterminate many weaker plants. Beets and carrots, (especially the latter,) on their first appearance, are very feeble, and, if not protected from their more hardy neighbois, will surely be run out by them, or so enfeebled as to be worthless; but give them ten or fifteen days the start of the weeds, and they will take care of them- selves as well as corn and potatoes. To raise these roots economically, they should be sown at a proper time, on a deep, well pulverized soil, in straight, true •Irills, so that, on their first appearance, the hoe can be passed rapidly, close to the rows; what few weeds are then left in the rows can do httle harm, and may be pulled out, with little trouble, later in the season. The great difficulty is, that farmers, in their first experiments, expect too much from these roots. My own opinion is, that they are very healthy and economical food for cattle, horses and sheep, but that it will not do to rely upon them for fattening, or even for sustenance. They should be fed with hay, stalks or straw, and not too many at a time, especially at first. If any one expects them to be as valuable, per weight, as hay or grain, he is very foolish, as he may know by experiment that from 600 to 1,600 ii2 THE GENESEE FARMER. btxshels of carrots, and about two-thirds as many beets, may be raised on an acre. They will better compare with pumpkins in nutriment, but have the advantage of a greater yield, and are longer keeping. .With turnips, I have had less experience. I think them economical, but they are less sure, less palata- ble, and less productive, and, for cows, objectionable on account of the flavor they give to the milk and batter — but they are more hardy, and require less care. Cattle should never be fed enough of these roots to destroy their appetite lor hay or corn stalks ; if they are, you may expect them to grow poor. My breeding cows were ted less than a peck each, per day, thj^past winter, with hay once and stalks once, per day, and on the loth of March were fair beef; but, like most of my neighbors, I did not calculate for so late a spring, and they lost flesh in April and May, for veant of their full feed. Agricot.a. Gorham, JV. Y. SOWING WHEAT AFTER BAELEY. Messrs. Editors : — I understand a great quan- tity of barley is sown west of the Genesee River this season, and suppose many intend sowing the barley ffTOund with wheat next fall, as the farmers in general did in all the counties east of them alter the advent of the wheat roidge, hoping that, from the two crops, they might get pay for their laboi*. But, in my opin- ion, they were only making bad worse. The true way would be to seed heavily with clover along with the barley, and then give the land rest for two or more years. There is not a farmer in the country, who, if his horses or oxen were so exhausted by hard work that they could not do a day's work in ten hoars, would be so cruel as to make them work thir teen hours to make up, and that, too, day after day. Xo; they would give them rest, and feed them well, so that, after a time, they would be enabled to per- form their usual labor. Now, if farmers would do the same by their land as I know they would do by their horses and oxen — or rather if they had done so by their land — no county in the State would have been obliged to give up the raising of wheat But the truth is, the land was worked more and longer without food than it could endure, and at last it gave crat producing the great staple of our country. Every farmer knows that if he keeps his cattle, .sheep and horses poor, they become overrun with iice, and so it is with the human species. I have always observed that animals and vegetables need the same kind of care — that is, they both require to be kept dean and fed well-^mxA then they will both look well, and both do all that can be expected of them; and I have no doubt that, if the land had been properly fed, and not overworked, the cry of weevil, or rather midge, would not have been so long, or so loud, at least. This is ifiy candid opinion. Now, to sow wheat after spring crops, is making matters still worse. The business of the farmer ought to be, to improve the condition of his land, by rest anfl good food; and the land only asks the refuse and filth of his farm and yards for food. And if every farmer would only prefer a load of good manure to a dollar, and would give the laud more rest, with a good covering of grass when rest- ing, my word for it, you would soon see a different state of farming. Far better feed ten acres to raise three hundred bushels of wheat, than to starve thirty Botjl they can only raise the same amovint. Now, this can be done. / do it ; and I know what I can do, others can, if they try. i^ut you will hear many say, " My land is rich enough — I get plenty of straw, but the weevil takes the wheat." But the land is like the starved sheep and cattle; the skin and bones are there, but the lice, together with hunger, have taken the flesh — so the straw is left on the laud, but the lice have taken the wheat. Farmer?:, drain your land, and put all your manure on one-fourth the land you formerly did, and, if your land is a natural wheat soil, you will have paying crops ot wheat. Give the re- maining three-fourths of the land rest; stock it lightly with cattle or sheep, and it will make them fat, and the land will be getting fat at the same time. / /aiow it uiU, and there is no arguing against experi- ence, if the experiments are thoroughly laadc. Letting timothy get ripe is a great scourge to tte land, and I would rather have good straw, for either sheep or cattle, than have timothy cut, when it is seeded on mowing land. When the gi-ass is cut white green, I think it does not impoverish the land macL But farmers must have hay, unless they feed largely on grain. I am convinced that I can keep any kind of stock better, and far more profitably, with part grain and part hay, than with either separately. Such is my experience, after many years of trial. It is over thirty years since I commenced feeding grain to all my stock during the winter, or oil-cake, which k as good. In that way I feed my land— and it has been very grateful, for it baa repaid me bouatifnlly. JYear Geneva, JY. ¥. John Johnston. THE ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM IN FAEMING. System seems to have been the great aim of the Creator. Eyes that see, and minds that reason, dis- cover and admire it in the heavens above us; minds that philosophise, discern a geological system below us; the schoolboy learns the system and harmony of bodies, animate and inanimate, around us. The sys- tem of the upper world is such, that the deviation of a planet a single hair, in each turn of its accustomed round, would, long ere this, have created the wildest disorder and the most lamentable results-^a collision of worlds would have beea the fearful consequene*. The creeping babe loves order ; see the system as be arranges his marbles in squares. God gave the wild bird an instinctive system, with which to build her nest— the beaver to build his dam — and the fox to dig his hole. Why, then, shall we not wonder to see the farmer so loose and unsystematic in his modus operandi ? It is to be deeply regretted that many of my brother farmers convert the enchanting face of a beautiful mound — that which might be an earthly paradise — into an Egyptian ruin, as the serpent of the Garden of Eden converted that bMssful garden into a scene of misery. Farmers, let me address you with all the power of a sincere and earnest tongue. Do you not all see whereiEf you can improve your system (or rather want of system) in farming ? Is it not policy for you to exercise those God given qualities of taste in the arrangement of your buildings, the grading, seed- ing and cleanliness of yards, the building of fences, tributes, it will net generate grains. This leads me ■to suggest the policy, and vindicate the propriety, of establishing more Agricultural Schools, thus giving agriculture the msrit'it has so long deserved — a syste- matic development. Our sons should be thorough •masters of agricultural chemistry. Then we should cot see — &s we now often do — a sickly field of bar- ley, striving vainly to mature on a heavy bed of clay, "vrhere the hand of ignorance strewed it. We should •not see so many oats weighiiTg twenty pounds to the bushel. We should not see so many potatoes regem- •bling marbles and puffba!ls. 'Give us a, scienti-Sc cifstetti, and these difficulties will disappear. The traveler mil then be able to feast his faculty of taste upon the loveliness of nature, beaming forth from among the artistic polishings of the systematic farmer. A want of system is symbolical of ignorance Many of our loveliest vales and grandest table-lacds aje con'.'ertcd into African deserts. What a shame— yea, wbat a sin — to destroy the only means by v.'hich the inhabitants >f the earth are kept in organic ex- istence. The scii of this eaith may be considered the great salver which is served out to eight hundred million.'! of persons; and how amply would the plat- ter be filled— how much more beautifully would life be enhanced — if each tiller T^ould bring kis wisdom into a systematic focus, I have not space to parti eularize, but \ do claim indulgence while I expose some few faults sequent apon a want of system. Brutes, like ourselves, are subject to frigid intensity, and when the mercury -shrinks to thirty degrees bek).v zeio their eafiering ■roust be excruciating, when kept Id some of the old, rickety bams, wlrich have a ventilator to every p'lank, board or shingle, stanrling, perhaps, alone, on a chilly, bleak elevation. The nicest skill of the mechanic must be employed in building and arranging habita- tions for our comfort, while the brute must be given •the very generous opportunity of a hardening pro- cess. Gould t'h-e brutes speak, a;hey would call for a system in the arrangement of their buildings, so as to form a complete enclosure, bidding defiance to the raging winds of our latitude; they would ask you to double board joTir barns, to line the floorstightly, &e. The indubitable fact that your cattle will require much k'ss food, ought to have a strong pecuniary in- fluer.cc. If you Ijave a heart that throbs for animal suffering, then let a moral prompting incite you to the means of prevention. Finally, if you arc a man, end desire to do right in every action, remember that the best way to do all things, is the systemoUc way. George W. Campbell. PincJcney, Letcis Co., JV. Y. FARM ACCOUNTS. Messks. Editors: — Nine years ago T commenced farming for myself, and from the first resolved to know just how much I should gain or lose by the business. Friends predicted that 1 would soon get tired of keeping an account with my farm, and aban- don the attempt; but I have persevered, for nine years, and do not now feel inclined to change for the ordiosry loose way in which farmers conduct their operations. Being unacquainted with book-keeping, I adopted a plan of my own, which I have improved from year to year, in accordance with the suggestions of experience. In keeping an accurate farm account, we first want to ascertain what is justly chargeable to the farm. As a ■general rule, it should be charged with all those expenses that are caused, directly or indirectly, by the farm — the interest on its cost, the depreciation in its value, (if any,) the real estate taxes, the interest on and wear of implements, the seed, the fertilizers pur- chased, the labor of men and teams, always including board, &c. The farm should be credited with the value of all its products, pasturage included. I have not attempted to keep an account with my kitchen garden, as that, for obvious reasons, would be almost impossible. I think the best way to manage that, is to credit the farm the amount for which yotrr house and garden would probably rent. At the beginning of every year, the farmer should take an inventory of bis stock and farming utensils, and enter it on his farm-book at the commencement of the year's account. When balancing his account at the close of the year, he should charge the farm the interest on the cost of utensils, the cost of repairs, and the wear of utensils. The amount to be charged for the wear of implements may be anived at -with sufficient accuracy in this way: let him estimate the number of years any implement will probably last, with the wear to which it will be likely to be exposed 00. his farm, and assess a just proportion upon each year. For example, supposhag a plow cost eight dol- lars, and will last foar years — the annual charge for ■jf-ear would be two dollars. The interest on the por- tion unpaid, and the expense for repaira, should like- wise be added. To keep a debit and credit account with the farm, two account boots will suffice — one, a day-book, or journal, in which should be entered, every evening, the nature and value of the day's labor, thus: May 1st.— To 1 day's -worfc, self, sowing oats, (six acres,) on lot No. 4, containing ten acres, . $1.0fl •' " 1 day's woik, A, dragging in oats,; 75 " " 1 day's work, tetini, •' " 1.00 " " 12 bushels seed oatB, at 60 cents per buBhel, 6.08 At the end of the week, copy the value of the week's labor, seed, (fee, in your weekly book, or ledger. Tb« products may be credited when harvested, at the market value at home 214 THE GENESEE FARMER. At the end of the year, you have a plain record of your operations before you, from which you can col- late such tables as you wish. Tou can know the profit or loss of the whole farm, and also of every crop; you can know the cost of every bushel of grain, fruit and vegetables — the value thereof, and the re- sulting profit or loss. But the intelligent agriculturist will not stop here. He will wish to make experiments, and keep a care- ful record of them, and all the attending circum- stances and results. In this way he may be acquiring knowledge from year to year, which, if he is liberal, he will be ready to impart to others, through the ag- ricultural journals. The judicious farmer will keep other accounts besides these, which I will not stop to indicate. So you perceive, Messrs. Editors, that the farmer has opportunity, in his own vocation, for the vigorous exercise of his intellect, which he will find a certain antidote to that stupidity, that rust of the mind, to which farmers, as a class, are so much exposed. It keeps him in the practice of writing and composing, both of which farmei'S too generally neglect. If young men, who have received a liberal education, and have chosen for their vocation the noble and honorable one of cultivating the soil, would apply their int-ellect to their business, I am certain they would find it much more attractive, and better cal- culated to develop the spiritual man — which is the great end of life — than is generally conceded. JVear Palmyra, A"". Y. P. C. Reynolds. »-♦-• BENEFITS OF AGKICULTUEAL FAIRS. Messrs. Editors: — No fact is more apparent to the reflecting mind, than the immense benefits Agri- cultural Fairs have contributed to our material pros- perity. They have contributed more to our vigorous growth as a nation, than all the gold California can pour into our country for ages. They have awakened a spirit of inquiry in the breasts of thousands, who have elaborated and made known their experience to the world — through the Agricultural Press — con- tributing their experiments to the general stock of information (which at best is made up of atoms) gar- nered together, — a rich legacy of facts, from which the principles of Truth shall be deduced by the hand of the future historian. All this has been done qui- etly. The silent step of agricultural progress has not been noted by the world — as it should have been — for the simple reason that it took time to nurture in man the high obligation he owed to his Maker, his country and himself, to so use and de- develop that which was intrusted to his hand, that it might be improved, and the true design of our Creator carried out. And what is an Agricultural Fair ? Is it a place where the most superior specimens of agricultural products are exhibited to the view of the visitors ? Yes. What then ? is that all the object, the aim, the end, to be accomplished ? If so, let them go by the board. But a higher object is to be accom- plished— has been, and will continue to be — the in- terchange of thought among those who have pro- duced the articles on exhibition. It is in this light that Agricultural Fairs are accomplishing the grand results which will continue to rank us as a practical farming and progressive people. It is not enough that we should see the superior crop of grain, &c., but we should have the man with us, that we may know by what process he produced it, so that his co- laborers may know and realize the facts which are brought before them in its most practical form. It is not enough that we see fat cattle, but that we see the husbandman who produced them, that our less fortunate husbandmen may, by inquiry and observa- tion, be aroused to the necessity of doing likewise — so that the object of the Fair may be the means of perpetuating the progressive tpirit of political and rural economy. Fairs, rightly conducted, are great stimulants to good and thorough cultivation of the soil. Nothing is so well calculated to create as healthy a feeling, or develop so thoroughly the true dignity of Nature's noblemen, as this theatre, where all may meet in the exhibition of the arts of ptace and usefulness: where those who have failed to realize their fond anticipa- tions from the exhibition of their products, rejoice in the success of their neighbors. It is this feature which endears them to all good men who know the wants of our farmers, and who have, from the earliest f-tage of their existence, stood by them, believing they were destined to accomplish as much good io their sphere of usefulness, as Education has in hers. The benefits accruing from Agricultural Fairs are of a two-fold natr.ie, and apparent to all. Where the Fairs are made an object of attraction, you will find the greatest amount of thriftiness and prosperity prevailing in the sections which contribute to, and take an interest in, their prosperity. The benefits flowing from them are not to be estimated in a pe- cuniary sense. There are benefits conferred on the agricultural interest through the influence of this in- stitution, which command our most hearty admiration and respect for those public benefactors of our race who Lave nurtured and expanded this germ, so that agriculime should take once more her rank as one of the most honorable pursuits of man. ff'illiumsburgh, JY. Y. T. C. W. A FEW WOKDS ABOUT FEKCES. Messrs. Editors: — When this part of the country was new, we had plenty of fencing timber, such as white oak, red oak, while ash, black ash, white elm, red elm, basswood, and a very little whitewood and butternut. Our fences were uniformly made of rails, into what is called a " worm fence." This is made by putting three or more stakes in a straight line where the fence is to be made — -one at each end, and one in the centre. If the ground is level, these stakes can all be seen from either end of the line. In order to make a straight fence, the man who lays the bot- tom rail uses a fence gauge, viz — a stake six or seven feet long, the t-ize of a good hand.^pike, sharpened at the lower end, with a hole one and a quarter inches in diameter — and a stick three feet long, to give the fence a crook, or angle, of six feet. Beginning at one end, the slake is stuck in the ground to range with the stakes above mentioned ; then put each corner of the fouce, at the end oi the three feet stick, or gauge, to the right or left. The fence is laid from five to eight rails high, and staked and ridered, or not, according to circumstances. Since oar limber has been cleared off, fences are very liable to blow down, unless they are well staked and capped. When farmers began to get their farms cleared ap, they put up boai-d leaces ia front> and acaund their- THE GENESEE FARMER. tl5 houses, aud occiisioiially pickets arouiul tlieir gardens. At length tlie po^t and mil fence was introduced. This was considered a great saving of timber, and was made by cutti;ig and splitting ouk posts, six and a half feet long, and making tive holes with a post- axe, aud setting each post about two feet in the ground, leaving about four and a half feet above. The rails were split flatwise, shar[)ened, and driven together ia each post This kind of fence did well for a few years, aud took up but a small space of ground; but it was much exposed to the wind, and the posts soon retted r, lighted by three large windows. Back of the parlor are two bed-rooms, each eight feet by nine. On the left of the parlor, at the front, is a closet c. The stairway is also on the left of the parlor. The entrance to the stairs is towards the back of the hovm. A door commooicates with the kitcbeu, which is twelve leet square. On the left side are two bedrooms, each six leet by eight. Back of the kitchea is a passage leadiag tO' the v/ood-shed; on die left of the passage is a iayge pantry, 'i'he wood- shed is twelve by sixteen feet, it Riay be used as a. kitchen, if desired ; and the kitchen m the wing caa he used as a sitting or diniiig room. We think the house eould be made still more con-- venieut, by constriicticg a hall in the main building, where the stairway is, having the ft-oat door uear I where the left front window is situated. The halt I should be at least eight feet v/ide. This wosld stii! ] leave a large parlor. The chamber floor is to be divii^ed into oae large- chamber,, the size of the parlor, and two smaller ones, corresponding with those below ;. or it caa be ar- ! ranged to suit the builder. The house is to be constructed of wood or brick, as suits the builder's wishes. The lower rooms should be nine feet high ; the upper chambers seven feefe. The interior finish should be plain, to aorreapond with? ihe general expression of the house. Although no window blinds are given in the er.graviag, yet we think there is nothing adds more to the appearance of a bouse. They give it a look of comfort that is always pleasing to see. A house without them, always seems to us to be staring at something; and< in winter it has a cold appearance. Inside bliads, to be sure, do away with this appearance somewhat, and are, in our opinioa, much more convenient thaa outside ones; bot they are more expensive thaa the- others, aad therefore are seldom seen in our country houses. Yet, if iherg are inside blinds, there is no- need of curtains, and in the end, perhaps, they are- the cheaper. A house like the above should be situated on a level piece of ground, and well surrounded with trees and shrubs, which will not only add greatly to the appearance of the house, but will serve as a protec- tion from severe winds, and make it much mom f leasaut in both winter and summex. THE GENESEE FAJRMER. 11? 2 4 ■7, cr B ^= 2 a r 2. ffl 5' — 3 2. ^1 § 5" •>! 218 THE GENESEE FARMER. lortirultural Scpvtmnit. THE PLUM CURCUnO. The plum weevil, or curculio, (Khynclieenus nenu- phar,) is a small, dark brown beetle, scarcely one- fifth of an inch io length, and of a nature so shy and re- tiring that he is seldom seen, unless searched for pur- posely. He is, however, a most mischievous little scamp, and has been the subject of more newspaper articles than any other insect injurious to fruit trees. He is the uncompromising enemy of all smooth stone fruits, and, in many sections of the countiy, has caused the cultivation of the plum to be entirely abandoned. The habits of the curculio are pretty well known. It deposits its eggs in the plum shortly after the email cap formed by the blossom falls off, making a semi-circular or crescent-shaped mark on ihe side of the young fruit. In four or five days after the egg is laid, a small bluish line, near the skin, may be seen extending from the incision, which affords conclusive evidence that the egg is hatched. The larva, or grub, consumes the juices of the plum, and causes it to shrivel and fall from the tree. Almost immediately after the fruit has fallen, the grub leaves the plum and burrows into the ground, where it remains in the pupa form till the next spring, when it undergoes its fast transformation, and comes out of the ground ready to ascend the tree and commence its work of destruction by the propagation of its species. The acconipanyiag engravings will illustrate these traus- FlG. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. formations. Fiff. 1 represents the larva, or worm, as round in the fruit when it falh; fig. 2, the pupa, or fortfj in which it lives in the ground; fig. 3, its ap- pearance ia the perfect or beetle state; fig. 4, its as- sumed form when shaken from the tree. The annexed cut shows the crescent-shaped mark on a stung plum, magnified to about twice its usual size. Our engraver has placed a curculio on the plum, which, we are free to confess, is not a very ac- curate likeness. His antenna3 are usually bent be- tween the fore legs, and not lifted up, as in the en- graving. No certain recaedy against tlie injurous attacks of the careuiio hags yet been discovered. Good crops ^f plums, apricot^ oectarines, and ether smooth stone fruit, however, can be obtained by the diligent use of processes founded on the well known habits of the ■' Grand Turk." The most efficacious, is that krowa as "jarring the tree." As soon as the insects make their appearance, or when the plums are about the size of j)eas, spread white cotton sheets under the tree, and shake off the curculio. The plan usually recommended, is to strike the end of a limb that has been sawed off with a mallet or an axe, or to rap the branches with a long pole having a bumper at the end, such as an old India rubber overshoe, to prevent injury to the ba k. The insects will drop from the tree, and should be summarily disposed of by pinching them gently with the thumb and fingec If the cotton sheeting is spread out and tacked to a light frame, six feet wide by twelve long, and doubling in the middle like ihe Ijaves of a book, it will be much more convenient. Two such frames, one on each side of the stem, will be large enough for a good sized tree. The sheets can be easily doubled to- gether, and the curculios pouied into a pail of hot water. This process must be repeated every morn- ing, as long as any curculios are found on the trees. A sharp rap is requisite to jar them all oS. Another method, nearly if not quite as efficacious, and requiring much less labor, is to dig up the soil around the trees in the spring, and tread it smooth and hard, and sweep up all the stung fruit as soon as it falls from the tree. It is not too late to adopt this method the present season, and our object in writing this article is to urge our readers to give it a trial. True, it will not save the fruit this year; but if the plums are picked up as soon as they fall, the larvce will not get into the ground, and next year there will be but few curculios to molest the fruit. Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, of this city, we believe origi- nated this method, or at least adopt it in their exten- sive nurseries with great success. All their plum trees last year were loaded with fruit. We recollect especially a Bradshatv tree that was so completely covered with large and beautiful plums as to be the admiration of all who saw it. The efficaciousness of thife process is corroborated by the well known fact that where hogs and poultry have free access to the plum trees, and eat the plums as soon as they drop, the curculio is not troublesome. It has also been observed, that where trees are sur- rounded with a close brick or stone pavement, and where, consequenth', the larva) cannot burrow into the ground, the fruit is not injuriously attacked by the curculio. Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati, has twenty-seven trees so situated, and which have borne crops for the last twenty-five years, while trees ia other parts of his grounds, where the soil is culti- vated, have only borne two crops in the same period. PRESERVING FRUITS WITHOUT SUGAR. All the successful methods of preserving fruit without sugar, though perhaps empirically discovered, fire based on principles which it cannot but be inter- esting and useful to understand. A few of these we will briefly state. As a general rule, no substance can ferment or de- cay without the presence of air and moisture, and a temperature above the freezing, and below the boil- ing, point of water. Substances which contain no nitrogen, such as pu,re sugar, starch, gum, oil, &c., will not fermeni qt decay. THE GENESEE FARMER. «1« All nitrogenous compounds, undor favorable cir- curastanccs, not only undergo rapid fermentation themselves, but have the power of disturbing the ele- ments of non-nitrogenous bodies with which they are ia contact. A compact and insoluble nitrogenous substance is not as liable to ferment, or to induce fermentation in other bodies, as one which is porous and soluble. Heat renders many nitrogenous substances more compact, and otherwise retards fermentation. For instance, fresh milk soon curdles in a warm room; its nitrogenous ingredient, caseine, or curd, absorbs oxy- gen from the air and ferments, and in this state rapidly converts the sugar of milk into lactic acid. This acid neutralizes the soda which holds the caseine in solution, and the milk becomes curdled. Now, it is well known that if milk is boiled, it will keep sweet much longer. In fact, if milk is boiled every day, it may be kept sweet for an indefinite period. AH fruits contain a nitrogenous substance, gener- ally albumen (the white of egg) or gluten. In a perfect fruit, this is separated from the sugar, starch, gum, and other non-fermenting ingredients of the fruit by cellular matter. In compact fruits, too, such as the apple and pear, the skin protects the albumen from the atmosphere to some extent, and it is, there- fore, but slowly decomposed. Crush the apple, and the albumen, being brought in direct contact with the atmosphere and with the sugar, rapidly absorbs oxygen, and induces decomposition. The porous fruits, such as the strawbeny and raspberry, have little ce Ilular matter or skin to protect the albumen from the air, and hence, though the fruit remains in- tact, decomposition soon sets in. In the former case. Nature partially excludes the air, and thus the preser- vation of the fruit is easy; in the latter, the air must be excluded by artificial means, and hence the preser- vation of the fruit is attended with considerable dif- ficulty. The oxygen of the air is undoubtedly the exciting cause of decomposition; but it would appear that, under certain circumstances, when the albuminous matter of the fruit has commenced to decay, the ex- clusion of atmospheric air does not completely arrest it — probably the water of the fruit is decomposed, and thus furnishes oxygen. To preserve fruit, there- fore, we must not only exclude atmospheric air, but must arrest decomposition before the fruit is sealed up. The only practical ivay of doing this, is by the ap- pliciition of heat. This fact has been generally over looked by writers on this subject. Couverchel made numerous experiments on the preservation of fruits in vacuo and in nitrogen, and the results led him to the conclusion that " the taste of fruits can- not, under any circumstances, be preserved." Mul- der, another eminent chemist, is of the same opinion, and says : •' Apples, sent from Holland to India, packed in vessels free of air, became perfectly taste- less, although not a trace of putrefaction could be perceived." The fact that gooseberries, currants, cherries, peaches, and other fruits, have been pre- served without sugar by expelling the air from the vessels containing them, and which retained their flavor but little if any impaired, cannot be doubted. The failure of these chemical experimenis is attributa- ble, in all probabilit}', to the cause we have alluded to. It is essential to cook the fruit sufficiently to ar- rest all decay, and to coagulate the albumen before the viess^ls are sealed. . A lady who has had considerable success in pre- serving cherries without sugar, has kindly furnished us the following recipe: "Take the common red cherries, and remove the stones. I'ut them in wide- mouthed, light glass bottles. Then set the bot- tles in a boiler of cold water, within an inch or so of the neck. Let them boil from fifteen to twenty minutes. Put the corks in the bottles as tightly as possible, while the water is boiling. Then take out the bottles, tighten the corks, and seal them with a wax made of equal quantities of rosin and beeswax." This method has proved quite satisfactory. The rationale of the process will be readily perceived. The heat coagulates the albumen of the fruit, and arrests all change which may have taken place by the absorption of oxygen, and at the same time expels the ?,ir from the bottles. The corks, being put in while the bottles are filled with steam, and quickly tightened and sealed, effectually exclude the air, and with it all exciting cause of fermentation. The rea- son why the bottles are placed in cold water, is to prevent them from breaking. If tin cans are used, there will be no need of this precaution. Sometimes, too, the bottles break after being taken out of the water, and it is advisable to wrap a cloth around them for a few minutes. Green gooseberries and currants may be preserved in the same way, except that they do not need so much boiling. If the bottles are heated sufficiently to drive out most of the air by expansion, and care- fully corked and sealed while hot, nothing more will be required. In fact, they are sometimes kept by simply putting them in tightly sealed bottles, without any boiling. In this case, the gooseberries, not being ripe, absorb the oxygen from the small quantity of air in the bottles without injury. If the bottles, after be- ing sealed, are placed in hot water for a few minutes, this absorption of oxygen takes place much more rapidly, with the formation of carbonic acid. Unless the fruit is quite green, the former method is un- doubtedly the best. Green peas can be preserved in the same manner as gooseberries and currants. In England, green gooseberries are frequently pre- served by placing them, when dry, in a stone jar or other vessel, and burying it in the soil, below the reach of frost. MuLCHixG. — In our dry, hot climate, reQlching is of great benefit to all garden crops on light, sandy soils. Its effect is to check evaporation, and keep the soil moist. Spent tan-bark is probably the best of mulches, but sawdust, chip manure, peat, coal aslies, &c., answer a very good purpose. All recent- ly transplanted trees are much benefitted by mulch- ing on such soils. Strawberries are greatly improved, and the necessity of weeding obviated, if the mulch is thick enough — as it should be — to smother the weeds. Mulching is the best preventive of mildew on the gooseberry yet discovered. On rather heavy, retentive loams, mulching is also beneficial, but a different mode of application is de- sirable. We should mnlch with the soil itself. li> other words, stir constantly the surface soil with th© hoe or forls;, three or four inches deep, and it will be the best of mulching, not only retarding evaporatioa^ but drawing fertilizing gases aud water froia tits aV mo3phere. m THE GENESEE FARMER. THE SCARLET-FLOWEKED HORSE CHESTNUT. THE HOUSE CHESTNTIT AS AN 02NAMENTAL THEE, At this season of the year, when in full bloom, there is no tree to us more beautiful than the com- mon Horse OhestHut. There are many fine speci- mens in this city, and we rarely pass one without fctipping to admire it. The rapidity of its growth afier the foliage begins to expand, is truly astonish- lu?. It exhausts itself, however, in a short time, and, on the V(?hoIe, is rather a slow-jjrowing tree. Still, there are few, if any, trees at the North, having blossoms so rich and beautiful, that attain to such dimensions. Imaginative writers have termed it the "<3igantic Hyacinth," the "Lupine Tree," &c. Others, to point a moral, alluding to the gaiety of its blos- sc;mg, and the prodigality with which it scatters them on the grass, and the comparative uselessness of its fruit and timber, have regarded it as a fit emblem of ostentation. The principal value of the horse chestnut is as an arnamental tree. In point of floral beauty, it is un- ©qualed by any tree of equal size that will endure onr Northern winters. Still, it is not without other Tiseful qualities. Though not of a spreading habit, xiy Hriiple foliage affords considerable shade; charcoal made from it is used in the manufacture of gun- powder; the bark is employed for tanning, and also for dyeing yellow. In some coutries, the nuts are fe.d to goats, sheep and deer; and when ground and mixed with other food, they are said to he good for feroiven winded horses. The horse chestnut is easily propagated from seed. Well ripened nuts sJiQuld be sowc in a rich, djeep, free loam. A bushel of nuts is suiBcieut for a bed four feet wide anil .sixty feet long. When one year old, the seedlitigs should be transplanted into nursery rows, two feet apart, and one foot in the rov.'s. In three years, they will require to be removed to more commodious quarters. Any farmer may easily raise all he requires. The fibrous nature of the roots of this tree, particularly after being frequently tranp- planted in the nursery, prepares it for being removed with safety when of considerable size. This valua- ble property fits it for immediate effect in decorating grounds and in forming avtnues of verdure. The scarlet-flowered horse chestnut (Msculus rv- hicunda) is a smaller tree than the conmion horse chestnut, and of a less vigorous growth. It flowers it an earlier age, and the leaves are of a deeper green than those of the common horse chestnut. The ac- companying engraving hardly does it justice. Lon- noN justly observes: "It is, without doubt, the most ornamental sort of the ^-enus." The double-flowering white horse chestnut, figured in the Genesee Farmer for January, 1852, (we ob- serve thn.t the same cut is given in last week's Rural JVeiv Yorker!) is a variety of the common horse chestnut, with double flowers. It is a new and bean- tiful tree, and, though still scarce, can be obtained, probably, at any of the leading nurseries. The Ohio Buckeye belongs to the Horse Chestnut family. In fact, Loudon thinks it only a variety of the common horse chestnut, and '• far inferior to it in point of beauty." He judged from two speciinen* whii'h had been taken to England. THE GENESEE FARMER. 221 SPECIAL MANU&ES. Unokr this heatl, the llorliadlurist publiislies u letter I'roin L. ^\'yMAN, Jr., of West Oambriilge, Mas&, in wliich Gdui-d's Muriate of Lime is recoiu- inended to horticulturists as the very best of nil ina- tiurts for fruit trees. It may be well to inform our horticultural readers that this manure has been ana- lyzed recently by Prof. Joumson, of 1' ale Collage, witi the loUowiug result: Analysis of Goulds Muriate of Lime. Orjifanic matter, mostly coal-dust, 6.48 Siuid .■ 608 Soluble Silica, coiuliiueii witU lime oralkalien, 6.79 Sulphuric Acid,.. 62 Lime, ,.. 43 06 Mu{;ne.'-i;i, 2.07 I'ei-oxyd of Iron and Alumina, 4.12 Potash, 210 Soda, 45 Chlorine, 1 27 Water, mostly combined with lime, 6 03 Cai'boaic Aoid, 19 54 100.00 Two analyses of the article wei-e made, and the re- ults were the same in both cases. Prof. Johnson is one of the ablest and most reliable chemists in the country, and it is impossible to doubt the accuracy of Qie above analysis. No one at all acquainted with the composition and value of manures, and the re- quirements of plants, can for a moment doubt that Goulds Muriate of Lime is an unmitigated humbug. There is scarcely a trace of " muriate of lime " in it, 00 phosphoric acid, and no ammonia, actual or po- tential. Prof. Johnson well observes: "If the specimen I examined was a fair one, it is evident that the ' mu- riate of lime ' is chiefly remarkable for its supplying to the farmer a stuff having a value inferior to leach- ed ashes." DWAEF TREES OF CHIITA. All have heard of the dwarf trees of China. The dense population, the low price of labor, and the general taste for horticulture, all conspire to ren- der the cultivation of dwarf trees particularly attrac- tive and profitable to the Chinese. Anything which retards the free circulation of the sap, prevent.^, to a certain extent, the formation of wood and leaves. The Chinese understand this principle perfectly, and, as a general rule, their system of dwarfing is founded apon it But in a recent work, China and the Chi- nese, a description is given of a mode of dwarfing, emtiodying a somewhat diflerent principle. The branch of a grown tree is covered with mould, which is bound round with cloth or matting, and kept con- stantly wet ; the fibres of the branch thus covered soon shoot into the mould, and then the branch is carefully cut from the tree, the bandage is removed, and it is planted iii new earth. The fibres then be- come roots, and thus that which was previously a branch on the^ parent tree becomes a trunk, bearing flowers and friiit. The buds at the extremity of the branches which* are intended to be dwarfed, are torn off as soon as they appear, and by this means the branches are arrested in their growth, and other buds and branches shoot out. After a certain time, sugar juice is applied to the truck of the dwarf tree, by which means insects are attracted, and thus the bark 8 injured, and that knotted appearance, peculiar to eld tfees, is produced. The author says he has had in his possession an oak, two fee t high, bearing acorns, and it^s trunk exhibiting all the exteinal marks of an aged tree. He has also had oruiigc aiul citron trecH, not over two feet high, bearing fruit of vciy fine fla- vor. One of these orange trees had on it, at the same moment, incipient buds, blossoms in full llower, fruit newly set and of full size, in a green state and ripe. He has also had a baniboo tree, two and a half lieet high, so distoited as to represent a dragon with a boy seated on his back ! -^^♦^ LiiiK Barrkls for Pukskrvino Ai'Plvs.— a cor- respondent of the JYczv Jersey Farmer says: "1 had occasion to overhaul some apples the other day. 'I'hey were picked in the same orchard, and on the same day, and were put away the same day; and some in flour barrels and some in lime barrels. Those m the flour barrels were much decayed, while those in the lime barrels were sound, and but very few showed any signs of decay. The apples were of the same variety." Under certain circumstances, it is well known that lime acts as an antiseptic, though under other chf- cumstances it accelerates decomposition. For i»- stance, it will preserve dry straw, but decompose wet straw. In the above instance, the lime on the bar- rels probably excluded the air, and absorbed the moisture given off by the apples, and thus countoj- acted two of the principal causes of decay. HOETICTJLTURAL OPERAnONS FOR JULY. It will not be too late to repeat the sowings of peas, string beans, sweet corn, spinach, lettuce, radish, mustard and cress. Peas. — To have a late supply of good peas, it will be necessary to give them the best piece of ground that can be commanded — for when sown on poor, shallow, or very dry soil, they are almost sure to be spoiled by the mildew; therefoie let the ground be deeply spaded and highly manured — if trenched two spades deep, so much the better. Dwarf Blue Imperial, and Knight's Dwarf Marrow, will be the best varieties for laie Eowings. They grow three feet high. Dwarf Beans may still be sown, and will do moderately well on poorer ground than almost any other crop, although the better the ground the bet- ter will be the success. Should there be more sown than are wanted for the table, they will come in ea- cellently well for pickling. ywF,ET CoRX may still be sown, up to the middle of the mouth. There will be no occasion to hoe the soil into hills; it will be better to sow the corn on the flat surface — for there will be no danger of the ground b'eing too wet or too cold at this tims of the year. SriNACH.— Another sowing of spinach may still be made, for summer use ; but it will be necessary to give it a rich, moist piece of gro.uid, to enable it to make large, succulent leaves. It will be found very useful all through September. Radishes, Mustard and Cress will do excellently well when sown on the north side of a wall or board fence at this time of the year. They should be w,ir tered every evening, in dry weather. Purple Egg, Cauliflower and Celery, in dry and hot weather, will require frequent waterings. If the eggplant aad cauliflower were planted in tronche*, '^n THE GENESEE FARMER. as recommended, it will be well to stir the earth im- mediately about their roots, and hoe earth up to their stems a little, still preserving a gutter to hold water. Pick off any decayed or broken leaves, if there be any, and give a thorough soaking of clear manure water or soap-suds twice or three times a week, in hot, dry weather; give at least half a pailful to each plant. For the celery, stir the soil with the hoe a little in the trench, and apply the water a few inches from the plants, to avoid washing the earth into the hearts of them, which would be liable to rot them out. Give a thorough soaking, so that the wa- ter will penetrate to the extremities of their roots. It will help them a great deal, if a little Peruvian guano be mixed in the soil in the trench, before the application of the water. Earthing up tue Celery. — About the last week of the month, it will be time to earth up a few of the best plants for early use in September; but for tlie main crop, the last week in August will be early enough to begin. Before earthing, clear away the soil a little around the collar of each plant, if neces- sary, and pick off all the broken and cracked leaves and suckers, if there be any, leaving nothing but straight, strong and upright leaves. Now give a thorough soaking of water ; then take a number of pieces of string — as many as you have plants in a row — about eighten inches long, and take each plant separately, collect its leaves together ard hold them tightly in the left hand, keeping its heart well pro- tected by the outer green leaves, and with the right hand tie a piece of string around it, with a slip-knot, that will easily untie. Tie as many plants in tliis way as may be wanted for early use. 'j'hen, with a spade, earth them up about four inches, leaving the earth falling a little from the plants, to prevent the appli- cations of water from washing it into the hearts. Repeat this operation every two weeks for the early crop, and every three for the late. Keep the ground between the crops frequently stirred with the hoe, and all clear of weeds. Keep the edges of the beds neatly trimmed, and the walks scrupulously cleao. Nothing tends so much to the good appearance of a place, as neat walks and a smooth lawn. Josiah Salter. SULPHUR TO KILL ROSE BUGS. Messes. Editors: — In looking over the June num- ber of the Genesee Fanner, I noticed an article headed " Sulphur to Kill Rose Buga" Your corres- pondent says: " When visiting in and aiound Richmond, Ind., last autumn, I was delighted with the abundance of splen- did roses that ever met niy viev/, and which seemed tlieu to be in their glory. I inquired qf several if the bug had not visited them. Tlie reply invariably was, 'Oh yes, but we destroyed them with sulphui".' The plan for so doing was to put sulphur (the hard) on a plate under the bush, and set on tire, and then cover something over tlie bush while the fumes lasted. I remarked that sulphurous inhalations must ag:ree with the bush, for thej' appeared extremely healthy, a few of the under leaves only dropping off." Now, gentlemen, with much deference to your cor- respondent, I feel constrained, from knowing the ill effects of the fumes of burning sulphur upon the tender foliage of plants, to make one or two re- marks. Ist. When sulphur is burned, sulphuric acid gas is produced, which, if it eomes in contact with the foliage of plants, is as surely destructive as im- mersing them in boiling water. I have seen it tried many times. 2d. I would advise amateurs to use burning sulphur very cautiovsly among their pets; and if they wish to try a few experiments, to try them on the smallest possible scale. If I am not taking up too much of your valuable space, I will instance one or two cases in my humble experience. In the year 1846 I had a very splendid gooseberry tree, of the Warrington variety, four feet high and four feet in diameter, and perfectly sym- metrical in all its parts. It was a picture of useful- ness and beauty, for it was laden with luscious fruit, which we desired to preserve as late in the fall as we could. But they were so attacked by the birds and wasps that it was evident we should soon have no gooseberries left, unless something was done to pro- tect them. We therefore covered the tree with thin canvas, but the wasps found their way in at the bot- tom, by hundreds, and it was evident that something else must be done. I thought this time I would give them a settler. I loosened the canvas at the bottom, and placed a tea-saucer with some burning brimstone in it directly under the opening, so that the fumes would go up into the tree. The wasps came tumbling down by scores, and we laughed and danced over our fallen victims. But, alas ! the next morning we laughed on the " other side of the mouth," for the leaves came tumbling down by te7is of scores. The fruit, what was left of it, hung on longer than the leaves; but the tree was ruined for the season, and it did not feel very well the next, for it looked as though it had the fever and ague all the time. Again, in 18.52, 1 had the care of a vinery of exotic grapes, which had been somewhat neglected the year before, and consequently the vines had on them a few more fritters, thrips and red spiders than I liked to see. Not 'having any fumigalor, I took some thick, soft blue paper, and saturated it in strong saltpetre wa- ter. When the paper was dry, I divided half a pound of cut tobacco into three parts, and rolled it up in the paper; I then laid them at equal distances from each other on the floor, and set them on fire. They burned very well, smoking without flaring, and filled the house with smoke, and had the desired effect so far as the killing of the insects. But at the end, near the door, we had a nectarine tree growing, which har- bored the red spiders; and knowing it to be very difficult to drive them away with tobacco alone, I ventured to put on the roll of burning tobacco near- est the tree about a table-spoonful of the flowers of sulphur, and stood with my face over it all the time, ready to jerk it off the instant I could detect the smell of burning sulphur. I did not smell it, and al- lowed it to burn out, but the fumes of the tobacco nearly made me vomit. On oper^ing the door the next morning, to my great consternation, the house smelled as though a great pile of green leaves was just beginning to ferment. I looked up, and beheld all the leaves on the upper part of two of the vines as literally dead as though they had been dipped in boiling water, and was very sorry to be obliged to cut off eight or ten splendid bunches of Hamburgh grapes, about half grown, to save the vines. I have been very cautious in regard to burning sulphur among plants ever since. Where there are insects on rose trees out of doors, I would advise you to syringe your plants all over and under, and on each side of the leaves, with clear tobacco w«j;viT/\fr, THE GENESEE FARMER. 223 water, every evening for a week or two, or from the time the insects are first seen until they have disappeared. It will not hurt even the tenderest leaves of any plant, if applied in a clear state. It is certain death to thrip and fritters, and all the family of aphides, and is very annoying to even the red spider and the rose bug. It will make even a pig sick, although I have seen men chew tobacco. Josiau Salter. IN "MY NEW GARDEN." -No. L It may be, Mr, Editor, that you will not refuse to walk with me occasionally in viy new garden, and let me tell you of some things suggested by the " working and watching " I perform therein. Any one, with half an eye for the operations of Nature, may find much food for reflection, as well as business for the hands, in such a place. The growth of plants, the operation of manures, the ever active insects, harmful and harmless, the thousand things I can only wonder at, not understand, seem to me worthy of careful study, and I am sorry I am so illy prepared to talk upon them. May I not hope for the assist- ance of yourself and correspondents upon the themes on which experience enables you to throw light, as such may be brought before us in these 6r/., cohl meats, &c., and of a quality to suit even the fas- tidious appetite of Horack (^kkki-kv Inmsc'lf- — for we boast of cooks in this neighborhood who know how to make sweet bread, and boil potatoes. After we all had refreshed ourselves, we prepared to gather our plums, which grow spontaneously in the woods, or "timber," as it is here called; after which we separated to go to our several homes. Viola. Clay, Washington Co., Iowa. THE WIFE'S INFLUENCE. WivKs and daughters, strive to make your home a cheerful and happy one; do all you can to make it comfortable and pleasant. When the husband and father returns weary from his labor, 0 then remenv ber, if you feel for his happines-, that it is you, and you alone, who can soften and subdue the care-worn features, can calm the ruffled brow, lighten his coun- tenance with a smile, drive from his bosom the cares of the day, and give new life and animation to his de jected spirits, burying the fatigues of the do-y in the tide of love and respect. You have the power to make his home pleasant and attractive. 'Tis your smile that sheds a gleam of joy and contentment through his household; or *tis your frovvn that dark- ens his prospects, dampens his brow, makes his home unpleasant and unattractive, destroys the charm of rural life, and drives him from his home, to spend his evenings elsewhere. And sisters, fail not to exert your influence (which is great) in keeping your brothers at home. Strive to amuse them, and thus keep them from spending their time in the barroom, imbibing habits of dis- sipation, which grow upon them — which habits, once formed, are hard to shun. It is our op nion, that if you felt the interest in your brothers you should feel, there would not be so many farmers' sons seeking employment in the city. W. HOME INFLUENCE. Messrs. Editors: — Having seen an article in your valuable agricultural magazine respecting the en- couragement to be given to the sons of landhoidere who labor upon the farm, I must concur in the opin- ion broached by a fanner's sensible wife, that the oc- cupation of a farmer is of a most manly and honora- ble character, and that every possible comfort ought to be afforded them after enduring the fatigue and labor of the day. Mothers and daughters ought to vie wilh each ether in arousing every latent energy to entertain and interest them, so that, in long evenings and incUiment weather, they may tiiijoyilie lei.-ure and freedom from toil which the city clerks and me- chanics invariably si^h for. I have known many families where social happiness is enjoyeil, in which the mothers and siisters of such worthy young me» 226 THE GENESEE FARMER. have read aloud to them biography, travels or his tory, when they have been too weary to read them- selves, or, by the sweet strains of music, have softened, refined and animated their feelings. Oh, let there be as much emulation shown by American mothers and sistera to solace and amuse their partners and sons, to mental actions, as the Spartan matrons showed to stimulate their sons to the highest execution at the Olympic ga'iies. There will not then be so many sous wandering to the Far fVest for employment, and leaving the family homestead to be managed by the hands of strangers; all that roughness and un- couth behaviour, so often attributed to the farmer, •will be done away, and in its place will be the utmost genial courtesy, and refinement of mind and manners. The longer I live, the more I see how much depends upon wives and daughters — their domestic kindness promoting intelligence, as well as virtuous actions and mdustry. A Mother. Ogden, JY. Y. "Thb Homestead." — How many associations clus- ter around this word, yet how few of the farms are owned by the sons or grandsons of those who cleared them of their forests. I wish not for the laws of some countries to entail the landed estate to the old- est son, but there should be enough veneration in every child to desire the possession of the homestead. But as only one can have it, it should be the one who means sacredly to keep it, because it was the home of his forefathers. I am in favor of small farms — and many of the old homesteads are much too large ; divide them, and thereby render them doubly valuable with improvements. Never be afraid to plant a tree, for fear you cannot eat all the fruit yourself. Make permanent fixtures, and bring up your children, by example, to so love the homestead that nothing would be thought a worse calamity than to have it pass out of the family. A Farmfr's "Wife. OEIGINAL DOMESTIC RECEIPTS. Strawberry Jelly. — Take of the juice of straw- berries, four pounds. Add two pounds sugar, and boil down. Apple Jelly. — Take of strained apple juice, four pounds; sugar, two pounds. Boil down. Currant Jelly. — Mash, and strain the currants through a cloth. To one pint of the juice, add one pound of sugar, and boil. The time for boiling will depend upon the quality of sugar used. If loat^ two minutes is sufficient; if an inferior quality, containing moisture, is used, from two to twenty minutes. Jelly will not always seem hard on first cooling; but if it forms over the top and around the sides of the dish, it will be hard enough in a day or two. Currant Jam. — Take of the quantity of fruit re- quired, one-half, from which squeeze the juice. Add the remainder of the fruit to the juice, and, with an equal weight of sugar, boil twenty minutes. To Preserve Currants. — To a pound of fruit, add a pound of sugar (cold). When sufficient juice is extracted to prevent them from burning, put them over the fire, and stew until they are cooked through. Put them away in tumblers, with paper pasted over theffi. Currant Wine. — To each quart of juice, (pressed out cold,) add three pounds fine loaf sugar, and as much water as will make a gallon. Fill the cask with this mixture, and permit it to woik. Draw it oft" the same as cider, and bottle. Put in no spirits. Wine made in this way cannot be beaten for mildness and agreeableness. We have some five years old. Black Currant Wine. — Pick the currants when fully ripe, and squeeze the juice from them. To one gallon of juice, add six quarts of water; and to each gallon of this mixture, add nine ounces of sugar. Then strain, and put into a ventilated cask until the fermentation is passed, when it may be corked tight, and, as it improves by age, it may stand upon the lees for years, unless sooner called for. Pickled Tomatoes. — Take small, smooth tomatoes, not very ripe; scald them until the skin will slip off easily, and sprinkle salt over them. After they have stood twenty-four hours, drain oft" the juice, and pour on a boiling hot pickle, composed of one pound of sugar to every quart of vinegar, and two tea-spoons- ful, each, of cinnamon and cloves. Drain off the liquid, scald it, and p';ur it on them again, every two days for a week, and they will require no further cara Tomato Catsup. — Take one-half bushel of to- matoes, scald them, and press them through a common seive. Boil them down one-half; then add two table- spoonsful of salt, one of black pepper, one tea-spoon- ful of cayenne pepper, one-half of cloves, one-half of cinnamon, and one-half of mace. Mix well, and add one tea-cupful of vinegar. Bottle and seal, and set in a cool place. Preserved in this way, they retain their natural flavor. To Preserve Cherries. — Add to the cherries an equal weight of nice loaf sugar. Melt the sugar with the fruit, taking care not to boil. After the sugar is melted, let them stand in a hot place for three hours; then pour out in soup plates, cover them with a thin cloth, and set in the sun for several days. By preserving this way, the fruit retains its natural flavor and color, and will keep the year round. To Preserve Strawberries. — To one'pound of strawberries, add one pound of sagar. Put them into a preserving kettle, and let them remain until warm, so that the sugar will dissolve. Then seal them in glass jar.', and bury them in sand. By this method, their flavor is entirely preserved. To Seal Preserves. — Beat the white of an egg; take good white paper, (tissue is best,) cut it the size you require, and dip it in the egg, wetting both sidea Cover your jars or tumblers, carefully pressing down the edges of the paper. When dry, it will be as tight as a drum-head. To Remove Fruit Stains. — ^Let the stained part of the cloth imbibe a little water, without dipping. Hold the part over a lighted common brimstone match, at a proper distance. The sulphurous gas which is discharged by burning the match soon causea the spots to disappear. Indian Bread. — Two quarts sweet milk, eight cups Indian meal, four cups flour, one cup molasses, one tea-spoonful saleratus, and one of salt. Bake three hours in a slow oven. Johnny Cake. — One pint buttermilk, one eup of cream, one egg, a little flour and soda; thicken with Indian meaL Add a little salt, and bake. I THE GENESEE FARMER. 227 (gHtor's SaHc. state Fairs for 1857. Ohio, Cincinnati, September 15- 18. CiiuaJa E:i8t, Montreal, September 16 — 18. lilin.iis, Peoria, September 2 1—26. Pennsylvania, Sept 29 to Oct. 2. Wisconsin, Janesville, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. New Jersey, New Brunswick, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Gn.tda West,.... Brantford, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Vermont, Montpelier, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Uni:rd States, Louiiville, Ky., October 1—6. Indiana, Indianapolis, October 4 — 10. New V'ork, Buffalo, October 6—9. 1 .^^^^ Muscatine, October 6—9. M■(lli.'^n, Detroit, New Hampshire, ConcorJ, October 7— 9. Kentucky, Henderson, October 12 — 16. Connecticut, Bridgeport, October 13—16. E.Kt Tennessee, Knoxville, October 20—23. M,»R*ac .ufietts, Boston, October 20— 24. Mtrylmd, Baltimore, October 21—25. Wen Tennessee, Jackson, October 27— 30. Aliiara% Montgomery, October 27 — 30. Virginia, October 28—31. Premiums for Short Essays. Several of our correspondents have acceded to our re- quest to name subjects for short essays. "We give them below, and offer a book or books, of the value of one dol- lar, for the best essay on any of the following subjects : For the best answer to the question, " Why do so few Farmers write for Agricultural Papers ? " For the best answer to the question, " Why is Farming considered by many a Degrading Vocation ? " On the Advantages of Agricultural Schools. On the best time for Cutting the various Grasses for Fodder. On the best time for Cutting the various kinds of Grain. On the best time to Cut Timber for Building and Fenc- ing Purposes. On the Propriety of Agricultural Societies offering Pre- niiuD^s to Practical Farmers for the Best Essays on vari- ous Agricultural Subjects. On the Benefits to be derived from Competition for the Premiums offered for Short Essays by the Genesee Farmer. For the best essay detailing Experiments in the use of Muck applied Unmixed to the Soil. On the use of Muck in Composts, and as Litter for Sta- bles and Yards. On the best method of Seeding Land to Timothy or Herd's Grass. On the Management of Calves. On the best means of Escaping Injury from Drouth. On the JIanagement of Barn-yard Fowls. For the best answer to the question, " Should Farmers' "Wives be Educated ? " For the best answer to the question, " Is it Proper for Ladies to assist in the Garden ? " On the Cultivation of the Chinese Sugar Cane. On the Management of Dwarf Fruit Trees. On the Cultivation and Management of Tobactro. For the best answer to the question, " How can Fathers render Farm Life Attractive to their Sons ? " For the best answer to the question, " Is it desiraljle to Plant Fruit Trees in the Highway ? " For the best answer to the question, " How much Edu- cation, and what kind, do Farmers need ? " For the best answer to the question, " Is the Raising of Barley to be converted into Beer a Proper Employmnt for Temperance Men ? " For the best answer to the question, " How can Setting Hens be taught to forsake the lazy habit ? " The essays should n^l exceed one page of the Geiiesee Farmer — say eight pages of foolscip — and must be re- ceived on or before the first of September, so that they can appear in tlie October number. "We shall be glad if our readers will furnish us more subjects. Molasses from the Chinese Sugar Cane. — Mr. Isaac H. Couv\in, of Newark, Wayne Co., has shown ua a sample of molasses made last year from the Chinese su- gar cane. It is a very superior article, of agreeable fla- vor, and well calculated to supersede ordinary syrup. Mr. C. had but twenty-seven hills of sugar cane. It was planted the first of June, and cut about the first of Octo- ber, before it was ripe. He pressed the stalks between a pair of rollers, such as blacksmiths use in bending tire. The juice was strained, a little milk added, and then boiled down, and the scum removed as it arose to the surface. From three to five quarts of juice gave one of molasses. National Trial of Reapers and Mowers. — A great Trial of Reaping and Mowing Machines will be held the latter part of this month near Syracuse, N. Y., under the auspices of the U. S. Ag. Society. We learn from President Wilder that 24 machines had been entered up to Jui;e 4th. The precise time of the trial will be announced as soon as it can be ascertained when the crops will be ready for harvest. The crowded state of our columns forbids farther notice ; full particulars can be obtained by ad- dressing H. S. Olcott, Mount "V^ernon, N. Y. Economy of Mowing Machines. — The editor of the Aericultural Department of the New York Observer, says that last season he made a fair test of the relative economy of cutting hay with the scythe and with the mowing ma- chine. Having marked off parallel strips of standing grass of the same dimensions, a driver and team, with one of Hallenback's mowers, commenced in one, while six good mowers made their best efforts on the other. The machine finished its acre some minutes first. That cut by the mow- ing machine was beautifully and uniformly spread. It re- quired two persons to spread that cut by hand as fast a« mowed. «•* — ■ — — More Good Stock for the West. — We learn from our English exchanges that the Illinois Cattle Importing Association have recently made extensive purchases of cat- tle, sheep and pigs from some of the most celebrated breeders of Great Britain. They were shipped at Liver- pool for Philadelphia on the 20th of May, and we hope to hear of their safe arrival in a few days. The Liverpool Daily Post speaks of this shipment as " the most valuable exportation of breeding stock ever sent from Liverpool." It consists of 32 head of Short-horn cattle, 3 horses, 25 sheep, and 35 pigs. It is said that the cost of these 95 animals, including freight and forage to Philadelphia, will not be less than $40,000. . ., . ,; 228 THE GENESEE FAKMER. Instinct ok Pigeons. — On the 6th or 7th of October, IS50, S'r John Koss dispatched a joiing pair of pigeons from Assistance B;iy, a little to the west of Wellington Sound, and on the 18th of October a pigeon made its ap- pearance at the dovecot in Ajrshire, from whence Sir John bad the two pairs of pigeons which he took out. The distance direct betweeh the two places is about 2,000 miles. The dovecot was under repair at thi« time, and the pigeons belonging to it had been removed, but the servants of the house were struck with the appearance and motions of this stranger. After a short stay it went to the pigeon- house of a neighboring pr'>pr!etor, where it was caught and sent back to the lady who originally owned it. She at once recognised it as one of those which she had given to Sir John Koss : but to put the matter to the test, it was carried to the pigeon-house, when, out of many niches, it directly went to the one in which it had been hatched. No doubt remained in the mind of the lady of the identity of the bird. By what extraordinary power did this bird find its way, and by what route did it come ? Peohfic Goose. — The Boston Cultivator states that " Da. Eben "Wight, of Dedham, Mass., has a goose — a •ross of the Bremen and large Chinese (sometimes called the Hong Kong) — which, from the middle of February to ^6 middle of May last, laid sixty-five eggs. She laid about the samo number last year. The greater portion were disposed of by being set under hens and other geese, but when the goose in question showed a disposition to attend to maternal duties, the proper number of eggs were •.Ilowed her. and in due time she brought out her annual brood. It should be noticed that this goose is a hybrid between two very distinct varieties. Some naturalists have even contended that the stock to which the male pa- rent of this specimen belongs, is a different species from other geese. We have rot rooin to go into the merits of the case, but will simply remark that several members of the same brood as the goose mentioned, have shown the same prolific character, and we offer the fact for the con- sideration of persons who hold that crossing tends to aterility." "Scientific." — The Plough, the Loom and the Anvil has a " Scientific " Department. The editor. Prof. Nash, in publishing an article on guano, says : " We place it under the head of Scientific, as it illustrates the science of spunging, an 1 that is certainly a great science." We are sometimes asked, " Is the editor of the as great a scientific man as he pretends ? " We are always glad to »peak vvell of our contemporaries, and, taking Prof. Nash's view of the subject, shall for the future answer i/es, — as we can do so with a good conscience. D^.sioNS FOE Houses, Barns, &c. — We shall feel f^reatly obliged to anj' of our readets who will send us de- signs for farm houses, barns, &ic., especially of those which have been erected and which prove convenient. Let. us have a sketch of the outside — no matter if it is a rough one, we can get it drawn over — Jnd an accurate ground plan, with a full and detuled description of the interior ammgemsnts, with such hints in regard to the construc- tion as may nrove usefui to those who raacy wish to build firom the design. Sagacity of Rats. — The Lojidon Qunrteily Revhw, speaking of the sagacity of rats, says : '• Incredible as the story may appear of their removing hens' eggs by one fel- low lying on his back and grasping tightly his Ovoid bur- den with his paws, while his comrades drag him away ^J^ the tail, we have no reason to disbelieve it, knowing as vr« do that they will carry eggs from the bottom to the top of the house, lifting them from stair to stair, the first push- ing them on its hind, and the second lifting them with its fore legs. They will extract the cotton from a flask of Florence oil, dipping in their long tails, and repeating the manceuvrc until they had consumed every drop. We have found lumps of sugar in deep drawers at a distance of thirty feet from the place where the petty larceny waa Committed ; and a friend saw a rat mount a table on which a drum of figs was placed, and straightway tip it over, scattering its contents on the floor beneath, where a score of his espectant brethren sat watching for the windfall." «•« Portuguese Cattle. — The King of Portugal has re- cently sent over to England a present of cattle of a very peculiar breed to Queen A'"ictor!a, consisting of a bull, two heifers, and a bull calf. The animals are of the most perfect symmetry, and very diminutive, standing ecarcftly forty inches high. They are of a dun color, and in fine condition. The cows are very docile ; but the bull, on being driven from the station to Prince Albert's model farm at Frogniore, where they are now installed, exhibited a disposition rather the reverse of that of his companions, by tossing an unfortunate donkey about his own size, which happened to come in his way These Lilliputian animals much resemble the Alderney or Jersey breed, but appeaj- to be scarcely more than half the size. The Plough, the Loom and the Anvil. — This excel- lent monthly commences a new volume this month. The price is $2 per annum, but the publi-shers say that ** for the purpose of bringing the future volumes into accord- ance with the year, the tenth volume will comprise bnt six months, ending with January, 1858. It will be oom- plcte in itself, with title page and index ; will contain 400 pages, (half the usual number,) and will be sold at $1 t« single subscribers, and 7<5 cents each to clubs of four." The P., L and A. is edited by Prof. J. A. Nash and M. P. Parish, and is an instructive, interesting and reliable ag- ricultural journal. Give it a trial for sis months. Cure For Ringbone. — The editor of the London Field says there is nothing so likely to cure ringbone as an ointment composed of two drachms of biniodide of mercury and one ounce of lard. On the following da; apply soft soap, rubbing it on gently with the hand ; leave it there until it falls off itself. Be sure to purchase the biniodide at a first-rate druggist's, and keep it in a glass- stopped bottle. Sheei" for California. — A. Austin, of California, has purciiased four French Merino sheep — tv/o rams and two ewes — from J. I). Pattehsom. Westfield, Chautanque Co., N. Y. They were talen out in the last California steamer from New York. We hope to hear of their safe an'ivuL The price saiU to have been paid for them waa THE GENESEE FARMER. 329 Notes kkom Minnesota. — We have hud a coUi, back- ward spring. The fiinners have but just completed their needing. Our soil, however, is so warm and quick that we expect good crops. But little fall wheat was sown; that looks well. The spring wheat already shades the yround, and grows finely. Considerable of the corn is already up, but some has only been planted for a few d4ys. Tlie Dent corn is mostly raised here ; I have planted a va- riety of the Dent, and some of the Dutton. More oats have been sown this spring than last, but not enough to supply the home consuuiiition. They do well here, sixty to eighty bushels per acre being a common crop. All of the grains are scarce here now. Wheat, corn, oats and [Wtatoes are each selling for over one dollar per bushel. Our spring wheat makes as good and as white flour as tlie best Genesee ever did. Our wives make snow-white bread with it. I would like to give some of the Monroe county people a sample. It is true that our winters are cold, but the sumn ers and autumns are delightful. E. Hodges. Ma'iou, Olmsted Co.. Minni^sota, Miy SO, Api'LTixG Manuue on the Surface in the Au- tumn.— Our esteemed correspondent, John Johnston, in a private letter, says : •' I like your friend B., of Niagara Co. I am much pleased that he is going to try my plan of manuring. I know fall manuring will have a hard struggle to get into use ; but it is like any other improve- meat that does not coiTespond with the notions of old fo- gies, theorists, and of professors of agricultural science, falsely so called. I would rather have two loads of ma- nure applied to the surface in the fall, than five plowed under." A Psodtfm:; Sow. — T have a sow, three years old last March, which, in nineteen months, or a little more than a year and a half, has dropped 70 pigs, of which 3-i have lived, as follows : In September, 1855, she had a litter of 13, of which 10 lived ; in April, 1856, a litter of 23, of which 4 lived ; in Septemqer, 185G, a litter of 12, of which 10 lived ; in April, 1857, a litter of 22, of which 10 lived ; and she is now with pig to drop the last of August. Her pigs are large, healthy and vigorous. II. Harris. Jackson, Pa. Profits of Rhubarb Culture. — The Boston Culti- vator is informed that a noted cultivator on Long Island sold this season from four acres of rhubarb, two hundred dollars worth per day, for four weeks, and would probably average a hundre.d dollars a day for two weeks more. The variety was the Linnean, which, we believe, originated in England. .»««. . New Advertisements. — H, E. Hooker & Co. offer Quince Stocks for sale, at low rates ; Robert Sears wants Agents to sell his Pictorial Bible : Dunham & "Wood can supply thorough-bred Stock ; T. J. Paterson will supply all orders for McCormick"s celebrated Reaping and Mowing Machines ; and 0. 11. Seymour will furnish one of the best Seed Drills that we are acquainted with. «-»» The Boston Cultivator .says it has been observed that Umber exposed to the elements in the South, will decay »RO years earlier than the same kind of timber equally aK{iosed in the Northern States. A Good Cow. — The Rural Intelligencer, published at Augusta, Maine, says there is a cow ownlid by Capt. Paul Brown, of that city, wliich, from ftlay 1, 1850, to May 1, 1957, suj)plied his family of three pei-sons with all th« butter, cream and milk wanted for the year, and enabled him, in addition, to sell four hundred and twmty pound* of butter. Bro. Drew, of the Rural, asks, " Who among the great breeders in Kentucky, Ohio. Pennsylvania, Nevr York or Massachusetts, can produce a better cow thao that?" The cow had no extra feed. Dii. Dadd recommends equal parts of salt, sulphur and charcoal for the hog cholera. A table-spoonful per dftjr should be given in the food. «.«■» Inquirus anir anjstotr*. (G. A. F., Virginia.) Egyptian Clover. — We are not aware that this clover has been tried in this country. If it has, we should be glad to hear from those who have had experience with it. In Egypt it is universally cultivated, and forms the best and principal fodder for cattle. It i* an annual. It is sown when the ground is wet, either from artificial irrigation or from the overflowing of the Nile. When cut for fodder or for soiling, two or three crops are obtained in a season, from eighteen inches to two feet high. When raised for seed, only oT;e crop is ob- tained, and the usual practice is to sow it with wheat, harvest and thresh both together, and separate the clover seed by means of fine selves. Some years ago this clover attracted much attention in Great Britain, and in 183;; the Messrs. Lawson, of Edinburgh, imported a considerable quantity of seed, but, on trial, it was found less produc- tive than had been anticipated. In the warmer sectiona of this country it might prove valuable on our river bot- toms, and we would advise you to give it a trial ia Virginia. (J. R.) Tour suggestion is not new. The fact that ves- sels engaged in the lime trade lasted a long time has been observed, and the experiment of impregnating wood with lime-water, in order to increase its durability, has been tried ; but, according to Dupin, {Ann. de Chbnie. t. xvii., p. 286,) the result did not answer expectation. In fact, the timber treated with lime did not last the usual time. (S. K., C- W.) Mr. Adams simply quoted the phrase " Benighted Canadians " from the communication of one of our Canadian correspondents in the preceding number of the Farmer. Mr. A., we are certain, did not intend to give offence. How should Lime be Applied. — I have a farm of good land, part beech and sugar tree, and mixed with wal- nut, cherry, buckeye, &c., in the richer part.s. I think, from short grain crops, and other indications, that there is a deficiency of lime in the soil. I cannot obtain lime at a less distance than thJrty miles, at twelve and a half cents jier bushel, or pay at Mai,stieki, to which place it is brought by railroad, twenty-five cents. I \\M\ to apply a tew loads of lime to a field or two this fall, and if 1 find it pays, lime in succession all. but do not know how best to apply it. Some of my neighbors talk of scattering a load or two on the manure in tlie barn-yard ; but I tiiink I have read somewhere that tliat mode of applying it causes a loss by chemical process, (of ammoQia, perhaps,) — at any rate, that it was injurious. If you have any knowledge on the subject, will you please inform me, in *be Genesee 230 THE GENESEE FARTSfER. Farmer, the best mode of applying lime to such land, and also the quiiitity necessary and that will pay? If not, a few remarks from you in the Farmer will elicit from some of your intelligent correspondents the desired informa- tion. I have a small farm where I live, near Mansfield, differ- ent from the other, being high upland, and good. The timber has been chestnut and oak, mixed with poplar, su- gar and black and white walnut. I wish to apply lime to a field of five ac^res, which I propose putting in wheat this fall. This farm has been worked out in corn and grain, till the constituents of grain are exhausted. On coming to it, a year ago, I sowed two fields with clover, but the drouth destroyed it ; and I expect that dovering. with the addition of lime, will renovate the soil, and I wish to do it as quickly as possible. The prompt modern fertilizers — guano, poiidrette, &c. — are of course out of the question here, and I have not heard of anything but barn-yard manure being applied anywhere about here, except a small amount of plaster. Charles Palmer. — Mxnsjieid, Ohio. We hope some of our correspondents will give us their experience on the use of lime. If we had such a farm, thirty miles from a lime-kiln, we should, as our friend pro- poses, try it at first on a small piece of land. At the same time, we should try, by good tillage and the use of plaster and ashes, to raise a crop of clover. We think our cor- respondent can do this without lime ; and if you can raise clover, you can raise wheat. We place a high value on lime as a manure, but there are circumstances when its use is not profitable — when, in other words, the same ob- ject may be attained in a cheaper way. Since the intro- duction of guano into England, the use of lime has been discontinued, to a very great extent. The principal value of lime is not in supplying lime to the plant, but in liber- ating ammonia, potash, &c., from the soil, and it is quite probable that our correspondent can provide these substi- tutes in a cheaper form. Still, we are not certain on this point, and should be glad to have the opinion of otliers on this important subject. Six Good Shade Trees. — I was much pleased with your article on Evergreens, in the last number of the Farmer. I like ynur idea of naming half a dozen of the best kinds ; and the object of my present writing is to re- quest you to name six of the best deciduous trees for orna- mental planting and for shade. G. 11. — Rash, N. Y. We would gladly comply with our correspondent's re- quest ; but there are so many circumstances to be taken i ito consideration, that it is very difficult to answer the question with any degree of satisfaction. On repeating the question to a friend whom we consider one of our best authorities in such matters, he named the following : Hard IMaple, Silver-leaved Maple, Elm, Oak, Horse Chestnut, White-barked Birch. Some, he thinks, may object to the last, who have only seen poor specimens, but, when well grown, it is a beautiful tree for the lawn. All these trees are undoubtedly good — perhaps the best ; but we do not like to omit the Linden — the European, especially. Where the borers do not trouble it, we should also plant the Locust, and the Mountain Ash. Skonk. — If D., of Gates, has not rid himself from the effluvia of that " striped woodchuck," the best means for so doing is as follows : Dig a place in the ground suffi- ciently large to receive the clothes when spread out, say fonr inches deep ; wet them thoroughly, spread them in, cover with dirt, and leave them for five or six dajs. J. C. Adams. — Seymour, N. Y. Will you throw some light on the following queries ? 1. In order to effectually protect an orchard from winds, how wide a belt of trees is nece-ssary ? 2. How should they be planted — in rows, or irregularly, as they grow in the forest — and how thick ? 3. In a high, ary, gravelly and bleak sitiiation, what kind will make the quickest and most effectual protection ? 4. Is there any tree that combines tlie double jiroperties of shelter and hedge, or that will protect from winds, do- mestic animals and thieves at the same time, and that grows quickly, and is hardy ? 5. How long does it reqiure before it affords ample pro- tection ? Horticulturist. — Auburri, Pa. I SHOULD be obliged if some of your correspondents would answer the following questions: (1.) Is buckwheat straw worth anything for manure ? (2.) What is the best remedy for ringbone on horses? also (3) for the heaves? (4.) Is there any other way to prevent a sow from having pigs, except the common, murdering way of cutting r W.L. Will some of the correspondents of your valuable pa- per inform me of the best time to cut chestnut timber for rails and posts, so as to have them durable ? K. Hakkis. — Jackson, Pa. ADVERTISEMENTS, To secure insertion in the Farmer, must be received a.' early as the loth of the previous month, sad be of such a character as to b« of interest to farmers. Teems ~ Two Dollars Icr ever) hundred words, each insertion, paid in advance. DUNHAM & WOOD, JETNA, TOMPKINS COUNTY, N. Y., BREEDERS OF PURE SHORT HORNS— of choice pedigrees. PURE LKIOKSTKR SWINE— tine large hogs. PUKE BERKSHIRE SWIXE— medium sized hogs. PURE DOMESTIC FOWL'='— of choice varieties. PURE WILD TURKEYS, domesticated— valua- ble Farm and Park ornments. jj^^ Choice single animals, and breeding pairs, supplied. July 1.— It* GRAIN DRILLS. SEYMOUR'S GRAIN DRILL, capable of sowing .all kinds of Grain, from Peas to Grass Seed, and also fine fertilizers, either brnadca-!t or in drills; and SEYMOUR'S GRAIN DRILL FOR ONE HORSE, arranged and completel.v aiiapted to drilling among Com while it stands on the ground as it grew ; also, SE\ MOUR'S BKOAHCAST SOWING MACHINE, capable of sowing all kinds of Grain and Seed, and all fine fertilizeis, broadcast; are all sup- plied to cider, by C. H. SEYMOUR. Tho;:e wishing further in- fnrraution, «i 1 receive our Circular, and a prompt reply to all in- quiries, by adJressmg C. H. i^EYMOUR, Manufacturer, or P. SEYMOUR, Inventor, July 1. — It. East Bloomtield, Ontario County, N. Y. THE BEST BOOKS FOR AGENT& E:MPL0YMENT for the year.— please to READ THIS. —AGENTS WANTED.— All persons in want of employment will at once receive our catalogue of books for the New Yeai, pre- paid, by forwarding us their address. Particular attention is re- quested to the liberal cfTerswe make to all persons engaging in the fale of our large type Quarto Pictorial Family Bible, with about 1000 engravings. Our books are sold only by canvassers, and are well known to be the most saleable. NoTicB TO Agents. — The season for selling hooks has now ar- rived, and we feel assured that our Illustrated Volumes are among the best adapted for general circulation, especially the PictoriiU Family Bible. We wish competent Agents in all parts of the country to engage in the sale of it immediately. Send for a sam- ple copy, and try it among your friends. Those who have not the means, or do not wish to order a supply of books to commence with, can send us $6, (in a registered letter,) carefully enclosed in a whole sheet of writing paper, and we will at once forward, prepaid, by- express, to any centril point, a copy of the Pictorial Bible, with a bound subscription book, and canvassing circulars, for securing the names of subscribers. With these he can get up a list, and after- wards order the Bibles to supply them with. Please addrefs, post- paid, ROBERT 6EARS, Publisher, July 1.— It, No. 181 William street, New York. , THE GENESEE FARMER. 231 MCCORMICK'S REAPING AND MOWING MACHINE. ri^HEKK is no Maoliine i>f the kind :is simple in it.s conslructitjn, X JUS Ntmnnly h\ ilt mil liurable, that roiiuii-es .is liltlf i-cpiiiring, or that will perform as much with loss luirse power. I'utchasera who see the Machine will be readily convinced of this. No other Machine h»s the wrought iron Unger beam and nl.^ll^ul>le iron Gngers, which add greatly to its strength and duraliility. I con- sider it perfect as a Kesper and Jlower, having the aiivantage of a sickle edge, that icquires but little grinding, the side delivery and reel — cutting a wider swath with ea«e. and iinioh fn.ster, than most other Nfaohines. It took the Cnuncil Medal at the iViirlds Fair at London, and the GRAyD MF.D.IL OF IJOriOR at the Great French Ethihitiun at Paris, and the only First CtafS Mfdal aicnrded <<) anu Airriadlural Implement at either place. SIai\ny's Machine and .itkiu.s' St-ll'-raker stood in the Third and Foui th Classes, and received Silver Med;ils only. After the repeated tri ils and triumph of niv Machine, the Emperor purchased it. As a test of my conti- nence of the greater simplicity and superiority of the Machine, I will let resjioDsible applicants take it on trial with any other, and keep and pay only for the one they prefer; tho Machine in suuh case to be tested as a Ri'aper and Mower by the farmer, in the ab- sence of agents and mechanics. The unparalleled succe.ss of the Machine, both at home and abroad, makes an extendid notice of it unnece.ssary, and I will only refer to my handbills for a more par- ticulir account of it. The broad warrantee which permits a trial of it, is a sure gu.irantee that it is what it is recommended to be. Machines will be forwarded to any jiart of New York and the Canadas, if ordered earlv and in season of TH03. J. PATERSON, General Agent, at Kochesttr (oflic:u at the National Hotel). Price of Reaper and Mower, 8151); SoO payable on delivery, and the balance, with interest, in December; or $145 cash. Machines sub. ject to f eight from Buffalo. rr?" Loail Agents wanted, to sell in the unoccupied districts. c. H. Mccormick, Rochester, N. Y., July 1.— It. ByTitoa. J. Pateksox. OxE Dollar a Year.— CiRcrLATioN over 100,000 Copies Weekly. 55 WITNESSES; OK, THE FORGER CONVICTED. JOH\ S. DYE IS THE AUTHOR, Who has had ten years' expeiienee as a Banker and Publisher, and Author of A Series of Lectures at tlie Broad-way Tabernacle, When, for ten successive nights, over t^- 50,000 PEOPLE ,^J3J Gi«eted him with Rounds of Applause, while he exhibited the manner in which Counteifeiters execute their Frauds, and the Surest and Shortest Means of Detecting them 1 tlte Bank Note Engravers all say that he is the Greatest Judge of Paper Money living. Greatest Discovery of tlie Present Century FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES, Describing every Genuine Bill in Existence, and Exhibitijg at a glance every Counterfeit in Circulation 1 1 Arranged so admirably that REFERENCE IS EASY, and DE- TECTION INSTANTANEOUS. ^^ No IxDEX TO Examine I No Pages to Hunt up I ,^^31 But so simplified and arranged that the Merchant, Banker and Business Man can see all at a glance. EnglUli, French and German. Thus each may read the same in his own Native Tongue. Slost Perfect Bank Note List Published. Also, A List of all the Private Banliers In America. A Complete Summary of the FINANCE OF EUROPE AND AMERICA will he published in ea".h edition, together with all the Important NEWS OF THE DAY. Also, A Series of Tales From an Old Manuscript found in the East. It fumishea the Most Complete History of ORIENTAL LIFE, Describing the Most Perplexing Positions in which the Ladies and Gentlemen of that Country have been so often found. These Stories will continue throughout the whole year, and will prove the Most Entertaining ever offered to the Public. g^° Furnished Weekly to Subscribers only, at $1 a year. All letters must be addressed to JOHN S. DYE, Broker, PubUsher and Proprietor, 70 Wall street, New York. Ksf 1, 1857. -ly. ROCHESTER AGRICULTURAL WORKS. ATTENTION, THKESHEKS ! PITTS' PREMIUM SEPARATORS, & DOUBLE PINION HORSE POWERS. The above cut is a representation of the justly celebrated PITTS' MACHLXE FOR THIiESHING AND CI.EANIN(4 GRAIN at one operation. It is the best Machine tor threshing and cleaning grain in existence. The foil >wing cut represents PITTS' DOUBLE PINION EIGHT OR TEN HORSE POWER. ..' As a superior and every way reliable Horse Power, the alor* stands unrivaled. We call attention to the fact that we are now manufacturing the above Machines at Rochester, N. Y., in a more subslantial and du- rable manner, and of a larger capacity than any hitherto built in this city, having all the latest improvements made by John A. Pitts. We can furnish the latest and best all iron Power, for eight, ten or less number of horses. We invite all who intend purchasing to examine our machines ; they will more than equal the best expectations of the public. FARMERS, YOUR ATTENTION IS ASKED TO HYDE & WRIGHT'S PATENT HORSE HOE OR CUL- TIVAIOR PLOW, Designed and better adapted than any other implement for hoeing Corn, Broom Corn, Potatoes, Cottou, or any other crop requiring the use of the Horse or Hand Hoe. It has' proved itself the most valuable implement yet invented for the purpose intended. It haa been in use in Western New York for the past fonr years — hun- dreds of thtm having been sold on trial, and none returned. Its great utility has been demonstrated in the fact that one (lav to the acre, with a man and horse, is all the expense of cultivatfng and hoeing a field of corn for the season. If used as directed, hand hoeing, in nine eases out oi ten, may be entirely dispensed with. We have numerous certiticates of the most satisfactory chaiacter, which we would be happy to show the public. Farmers may rely on realizing their best expectations from the use of the Horse Hoe. Price, $S ; if ground and polished, $8.50. No farmer should be without one. They are haying an unlimited sale. Sold at wholesale and retail. ROCHESTER CUTTING BOX. All who are in want of a Feed Cutter, adapted equally well to the cutting of all kinds of fodder, will find oux Cutting Box in all respects to answer their wants. IRON GANG PLOW We are Agents for the sale of HILDRETH'S GANG PLOW which has superior advantages over every other Gane Plow Price, $25. " CERTIFICATE. Hildreth's Gang Plow is one of the best implements I haTe ever had on my farm. I have used it on corn and oat stubble, and on potato ground for putting in oats and barley. The wheels regu- late the depth so nicely that the seed is all covered, and at a uni- form depth. I think my crop was nearly doubled from what it would have been if put in with a drag. The wheels make it an ea,sy draft for a team, and it requires no holding. For the above kind of work, I think there is no implement equal to it. Jo.\ATHAN Wadhams, East Clarkson, N. Y. O^ We shall be happy to impart any further information that may be desired._^ Orders are respectfully solicited. . U»7l. A. GORDON & CO., 1 South St. Paul street, Rochester, N. T. 232 THE GENESEE FARMER. A '1' KINS' AUTO M A TON, SELF-EAKTNG REAPER AND MOWER. B^ BEST MACHINE IN USE. .^J 1 (tlie first) built In 1853. ■40 usetl successfully In 1853. 300 In dlffertnt Stntps In 1851. t.aOO well distrlljttted In 1855. a,800 tlirouslxoul tlie Union In 1856. 5,000 building for 1851. r|"*nEKE are six gootl reasons for this unparalleled increase and X great populaiity. Ist. It is strong and reliable, and easily ttianaged. 2d. It saves the ba-d l«bor of raking. 3d. It saves at jeaet another hand in binding. 4th. It saves shatleiing by the <:a.reful handling in raking ; be.sides, the strav? being laid straight, it is well secured in the sheaf, and does not drop in the after- handling, and the heads are not exposed in the stuck, so that the o/*Ai.N saving ev«n e.xceeds the i,abok saviug. 5th. It ia a good Mower, being one of the best convertible Machines in use. 6th. It 1 as a kuife tbat does not choke. Over 80 First Premiums Eeceived in Four Years. 5°^ Price of Reaper and Mower, $190— $50 cash, balance in note »iae .fan. 1. 1858. Price of Keaper only, $165 —.$40 cash, bahince in nole due Jan. 1, 1858. For cash, 11! per cent, discount from the atiove prices. To secure a Machine, order immediately. Though so little known the pa.st season, and none ready for delivery till ihe first, of May, vet not two-thirds of the customers could he supplied. Therepn- iition of the Machine is now widely established, so that 5,000 will »rt as nearly supply the demaud as 2,800 did last year. Jl"^ Order early, if you would not be disappointed. V*.\MPnLKT,s giving IMPARTIALLY the OPINIONS OF FARMERS, t.ngelher "''h orders, notes, &e., mailed to applicants, and prepaid. ^['^ H. P. riAFGOOD, of Rochfster, N. Y., is the General Agent for the above Machine in New York, to whom .all letters relative to sales, *c., in this State should be addressed. Traveling and Loc-il Agcntii wanted. Ji^ne 1.— 31. 'IVie Practical and Scientific Famier^s Own Paper. THE GENESEE FARMER, A MONTHLY JOURNAL OK AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS KSGRAVINGS 07 rarm Buildings, Animals, Implements, Fruits, &o. VOLUME XVIII. FOR 1857. Fifty Centa a Year, In Advance. rive Copies for $2 ; Eight Copies for S3 ; ana any larger number fcl the same rate. 5"^" .^11 subscriptions to commence with the year, and the en- ti^; volume supplied to all subscribers. {T^ Fost-Mastkrs, Farmeus, and all friends of improvement we respectfully solicited to obtain and forward subseriptions. Specimen numbers sent to all applicants. Subscription money, if properly enclosed, may be sent at the risk ©f the Publisher. Address JOSKPU HARRIS, Jtine, 1857. Rochester, New York. A. LONGETT, No. 34 CUFF STREET, NEW YOP.K, DTfJALKH in Peruvian. Colombiijn and Mexican Gi-.ac, Scper- 1 iio.sph.ite of Lime, and Bone Dost. June 1. — It. S^ontents of tfitiS ICuwixi. Agricultural QuacUtry,... £0J Cultivation of Lluckwheat, 208 Cutting and Curing Clover and Grass for Fodder, ^. 203 To Clean Cti-ss out of Seed Wheat, 204 Items Suggested by the June Number, 208 Notes for the Month, by S. "W., 206 Harvesting CarroLs, 206 A Cheap and Commodious Stable, 207 Culture of Buckwheat, 207 Cutting Hay .md Curing Clover... 208 Is it Right to ask the Women Folks to Milk the Cows during the Busy S.MSon? 20S Butter Making, 210 Beets and Carrors, 21] Sowing Wheat after Barley, 2ia The Advantages of System in Farming, 212 Farm Accounts, ". 213 Benefits of Agricultural Fairs, . 214 A Few Words .about Fences, 214 Subsoil Plowing, 216 Fainiing a Science. 215 Culiivaiion of Turnips, . 218 Design fnr a Farm House, ^W HORTICULTURAL PEPARTMEHT. The Plum Curculio, "1% Preserving Fruits without Sugar,. ... "18 Mulching, 219 The Horse Chestnut as an Ornamental Tree, 220 .Special Man ures, . 221 Dwarf Trees in China, 221 I.iiue Barrels for Pre.serving .Apples, 221 Horticultural Operations for July, 221 Sulphur to Kill Ko.se Bugs .". 222 lu "My New Giirden " — No.], 22S Tlie Strawberry Plant— Its Insecis 223 Dying Fiuit 224 Old Varieties of Fruit Wearing Out....... . ... 2'J4 LAT)IE8' DKPAKTJTKirr. Western AmuseraeD ts, 22S The Wife's Influence, 226 Homelnlluenee, 22S The Homestead 22« Original Domestic Receipts, 236 KDITOR'S TABLB. Stiite Fairs for 1857, 227 Prc-miums for Short Essays, 227 Molasses from the Chinese Sugar Cane, 227 iVational Trial of Reaper? and Mowers, 227 Economy of Mowing M-ichines, 227 More Oood Stock for the West, 227 Instinct of Pigeons, 228 Prolific Goose, 228 "Scientific," 1 228 Designs for Houses, Barns, &e., 228 Sagacity of Rats, 228 Portuguese Cattle, 228 The Plough, the Loom and the Anvil, 22S Cure for Ringbone, 228 Sheep for Califcpnia, 2iS Notes from Minnesota, . 229 .\pplyir\g Manure on the Surface in the Autumn, 229 A Prolific Sow 229 Profits of Rhubarb Culture, 229 Notices of New Advertisements, 229 A Gflod Cow, 229 Cure for Hog Cholera, 229 Inijuiries and Answer.s,... 229 ILltTSTRATIOKS, i Design for a Cheap and Commodiou.". Stable, 207 I Design for a Farm House, 21B I Short-horn Bull Don, £17 j Four Figures illustrating the different transformations of the Curculio 2M Figure showing the appearance of a Plum when stung by the j Curculio, — 2M I The .Scarlet-flowered Horse Chestnut, 22# IMPORTANT NOTICE TO NURSERYMEN. QUINCE STOCKS FOR SALE. W' K iiiivc on band a laqie i.1snU )'.an.« or Fou'enay Qiiinw Stockf, ra.'ed I'y ourselves from Stock* .and f'ro'ii Cuttings', Isnth of whicli we will sell on more reasonafcl*, lermp lUjin fliey^ran be imported. Early orders are solicited. H. K. HOOKER k CO., July 1. — it. Commercial Nurseries, Rochester, N. T. ffftPlv ' r^'iT'A •^^siK^ananiBaiBanvn Vol. XVIII, Second Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., AUGUST, 1857. No. 8. CULTIVATION OF WHEAT. SoMK years ago, ]Mr. B. P. Johnson, Secretary of the New York 8tate Agricultural Society, sent the Messrs. Lawsgn & Son, ot Etlinburgh, a considera- ble Humber of the most approved varieties of wheat cultivated ia this couDtry. On trial, they were found to be well-known European kinds. The probability is that nearly all the wheats at present cultivated in this country and in Canada were derived from Eu- rope, and it is much to he regretted that we are un- able to identify them. We have been examining the subject bat cun make nothing of it, and have aban- doned the investigation in inextricable confusion. It is interesting and useful to know the true origin and correct name of any of our commonly cultivated va- rieties of wheat, and we shall be thankful for any in- fornjation our readers can give on this point. In the mmm mi Fni. 1. Fis. Fiu. i^antime, we will give cuts and descriptions of a few of the most popular kinds cultivated in Great Britain. The Chiddam Wheat (fig. 1) is an old and highly esteemed English variety of white wheat ; « a Ifree Fio. 6. glower, tall strawed, fine square ear, singularly free from awns, grain round."' It ripens early, is not lia- ble to lodge, and is remarkably well adapted to loose, rich soil'. It is one of the best Englitrh varieties, weighing, in dry summers, 66 ibs. per bushel. A 2cnt!eman in Michitran who sowed a sample of it, lirought over, in 18.51, by Mi-. B. P. Johnson, re- ported it as "a most capital wheat." Mr. M. B. Batfham, of the Ohio Cvltivalar, also imported and distributed a number of varieties of British wheats, the Chiddam among them, in 1851, but we have not heard ihe re.«ults. Fenton Wheat (fig. 2) has a plump, round grain, of a pale white color; ear of moderate ienirth, but very square and evenly shaped. In the February number of the Genr^r/r Former of this year, will he found an account of the origin of this variety. The 234 THE GENESEE FARMER. straw is not only very short, but of very unequal height. It yields abundantly, ov/ing, it is thought, to the distribution of the ears through the various heights above the land. On this point, our readers will recollect the account, published in the same num- ber, of s^me experiments made last year in France with some fifteen varieties of wheat. A mixture of all the varieties produced a larger crop than any sin- gle variety, — a result which the experimentor, M. RoossEAU, attributed, in a great degree, to the fact that the " ears, not being on one level, are more free, aflFord more protection to each other, and derive more advantage from light." The Fenton wheat gives the same result, in this respect, as would be obtained by sowing a number of varieties having straw of various heights. Hunter's Wheat (fig. 3) is one of the oldest and most esteemed varieties in Scotland. It is hardy, tillers well in the spring, and is remarkably well suited to medium and inferior soils. The ear is thickish in the middle, a little awned and tapering to the neck and point; grain of a brownish color, a little elon- gated in shape, but of a fine, hard, close, flinty tex- ture, and weighing sometimes as much as 66 lbs. per bushel. White Irish Wheat (fig. 4) has long been culti- vated in Ireland, under the name of the Old JVhite Irish. It is exceedingly hardy, and very productive, but somewhat late. Straw taH, and more like that of rye than wheat; ears very long, loose, pointed and ojjen; chatf white, smooth and slightly awned; grain large, oblong, and of a brownish, dull color. It is best suited to inferior and medium soils. On rich soili; it is apt to lodge. It has been introduced with ^e^l advantage into Scotland, and John Haxton, of (Jupaa Fife, says he is " satisfied that no sort can compete, in point of profit, with the White Irish, when cultivated on light, easy soils, or even on clays, situated in an early climate." Pearl Wheat (fig. 5) is not very hardy, but of moat excellent quality. It has long, stiff straw; ear square, and free from awns; grain small, round, plump and white. It is early, and well adapted for sowing on rich, loose soils. It is sometimes sown as a spring wheat. Spalding's Prolific Bed Wheat (fig. 6).— This is said to be the " best of all the red wheats." Straw tall, strong and stiff; ear long, sfjuare, and free from awn; grain round, plump, and of a yellowish color. Morton's Cyclopedia of Jigricvlture says: "On the clay soils of the eastern district of Fifeshire, it has been known repeatedly to produce 64 bushels per acre." It is quite probable that some of these wheats have been introduced into this country and Canada, aad are cultivated under new names. The most ap- proved varieties of wheat in this section at present are the Soule's, or the English Flint, a bald, white variety; the Improved White Flint; the Blue Stem; and the Hutchinson, or Canada Flint Some object to the latter on account of its liability to shell out when not cut early. It should be sown thicker than the two former kinds, as it does not tiller so much in the spring. The Australian wheat does not sustain its reputation in this vicinity. On the east end of Long Island, it is cultivated with much advantage. ^nce the advent of the midge, the chief object in Meeting varieties of wheat has been to get the earli- <«st Oa this aoGount^ the Mediterraueaa is becoming every year more and more popular. It is a coarse, bearded variety, with a thick skin, and yielding a dark flour; and on good soils, in districts where the midge is not troublesome, is far inferior to the other kinds. It is, however, earlier than any other kind, and fre- quently escapes the fly when the later varieties suflfer much damage. It is productive, and though the flour is dark, it makes excellent bread. As we have said, the great object with wheat growers, in many sections of the country, is to g^ varieties that mature early. On this account, the in- troduction of seed from more northern and southern latitudes is worthy of more attention than it has yet received ; for, paradoxical though it may appear,- there are many facts which indicate that wheat is earlier when brought either from a warmer or colder climate. In no other country have farmers such fa- cilities for the interchange of seed as in America, and we entertain no doubt that great benefits will accrue from the practice. Soil best Adapted for Wheat. — A friable loami- or a calcareous, clayey soil, naturally or artificially drained, and abounding in all the elements of plants,- is what is generally understood by "a good wheat soil." In England, this phrase always indicates a dry, firm compact soil, of considerable depth. In this country', many of our most profitable wheat farms are some-' what sandy, though the calcareous clays are the more durable, and, when well tilled and drained, the most productive. No one, however, who has seen the magnificent crops of wheat which are now raised on the light, sandy soils of Norfolk, or the fens of Lin- colnshire, or on the thin chalks of otiier districts of England, can doubt that any kind of soil, when drain- ed, cleaned, and enriched by judicious manuring, caa be made to produce paying crops of wheat. Preparation op the Soil. — If there is one fact more prominent than another in regard to the culti- vation of wheat, it is that the wheat plant requires a firm foot-hold. The soil must be compact. It is quite easy to work land too much for wheat. This may be one reason why a modification of the old summer fallow is becoming more general on the lighter soils of Western New Tork. Instead of plowing^ the land three times, as formerly, a clover sod ia broken up the latter part of June or first of July, and this is all the plowing that is done. The weeds and grass are subdued by the use of the harrow and cultivator, or gang-plow. The cost of preparing land for wheat in this way, is much less than by re- peated plowings, and the crops, in most cases, so far as we can learn, quite as good — though there are many good farmers who prefer the old practice. Fallowing on light land is not as beneficial as on rich, clayey soils. Its chief object on such soils is to destroy the weeds. This can be done by growing corn, potatoes, beans, and other crops, in rows which admit the free use of the horse-hoe. It is, however, a mistake to suppose that the growth of any crop does not impoverish the soil. The advantage of growing clover, beans, peas, turnips, &c., is owing to the fact that they obtain considerable fertilizing gases from the air, dews and rain. But if these crops are removed, the soil is not enriched. They must be plowed under, or consumed on the farm, and the ma- nure made from them returned to the soil — other- wise the land will be made poorer, instead of richer. Soils containing a portion of clay, or, more definitely, the double silicates of alumina and lime, soda, &e. THE GENESEE FARMER. 235 toe much benefited by summer fallowing, from the fact that, when exposed to the air, they attract and retain ammonia. Hence, summer tallowing on such Boils actually enriches them. Sandy soils, to a great extent destitute of the double silicates, cannot ab- sorb and retain ammonia ; and summer fallowing does not increase the ammonia in such soils, though it may, and probably does, render available some por- tion of the ammonia locked up in the organic matter of the. soil. But as light upland soils are generally deficient in organic matter, it is unwise to resort to summer fallowing, even though, for a few years, it may be followed by good crops of wheat. It is far better to grow clover and other crops which obtain ammonia from the atmosphere, and plow them in, or consume them on the land. Sowing the Seed. — In districts affected by the midge, wheat should be sown the first or second week of September. If earlier than this, there is danger of injury from the Hessian fly. We are advocates of thick seeding. When wheat is sown thin, it til- lers considerably in the spring, and its ripening is re- tarded frequently a week or ten days, and is, conse- quently, more liable to injury from the midge. Two bushels per acre is none too much. If wheat could be hoed in the spring — as we believe it might in many places, with considerable advantage and profit — it should of course be sown with the drill, in rows ten or twelve inches apart. Where wheat is not hoed, there is not much advantage in sowing with the drill. la our opinion, it is better to have the grain scattered a3 evenly as possible over the whole ground, as it is then more likely to keep the weeds in «heck than when a portion of the land is bare, as is the case when the wheat is drilled, or cultivated, or plowed in with the gang-plow. Many good farmers, however, entertain a different opinion, and we should be glad to hear from any of our readers on this point, who are not interested in patent drills, cultivators, or gang-plows. Where wheat is liable to injury from smut, the seed should be prepared by wetting it with diluted, fer- mented chamber lye, and drying it with quick lime. Moistening the seed with a solution of blue vitriol, (sulphate of copper,) is an effectual remedy. For each bushel of wheat, dissolve three or four ounces of blue vitriol in a quart of hot water. Let it cool. Then spread out the wheat on the floor, six inches thick, and sprinkle the solution over it, and turn over the wheat till it is all moistened. It may be sown in two or three hours, but it is better to do it over night, as the vitriol has then a better chance to kiU the spores. This remedy is more effectual, simpler I and cheaper than chamber lye, or salt and water and lime. SaJt and water, when too strong, we hare known to injure the seed. It is, however, frequently used. PREMIUM CROP OF CARROTS. Thb Kew York State Agricultural Society has awarded the premium for the best crop of carrota to John Brodie, of Rural Hill, Jefierson Co., N. Y. The last Journal of the Society contains an inter- CBtrng statement of the method of cultivation, from which we make a few extracts: " The soil sandy loam, and when the farm mt&s pur- Aased, in 1852, by father of applicant, the ground from ■which the carrots were taken was a worthless •▼amp, of about threo acres, through "whiah cattle could not jae8 — it being overflowed spring and autumn. In the sinnmor of 1852 it was drained — stone draina beinj^ laid — at a cost of $32.33 per acre. In the spring of 1853 it was plowed and planted with corn, which j'ielded 8) bushels per acre. In the spring of 1864, twenty horse cart loads of manure per acre, and aowed to cjirrots. In the spring of 1855 it was Eowed again to carrots, without manure, and on one measured awe the yield was 1,700 bushels. la the Bpring of 1856 one acre was surveyed, tliirty horse cart loads of mixed horse and cow dung, and four barrels of bone dust, spread and plowed in. Carrot seed was drilled in with a Scotch machine, that sows and rolls at the Bame time — using half a pound of large orange and one and a half pounds of white carrot seed, in rows nine inches apart. On the 3d of July passed through with a eul- tivator, and on the 12th of July gave it the first weed- ing. July 16th, went through with the cultivator a second time, and on the 18th and 19th of August gave it the secisnd weeding. "The yield from the measured acre was 1,610 bush- els of carrots, weighing 60 lbs. to the bushel. The yield of the white carrots was much greater than that of the orange. No difference was perceived in the yiftld of those parts where bone dust was or was not applied. "The cost of the crop, including interest on land, (§S,) was $49.21 The value of crop, at 20 cents per bushel, 3^3.00 LeAving a balance in favor of erop of . $272.79 "The above statement waj verified." THE HORSE CHARM; OR, THE GREAT SECRET FOR TAMING HORSES. We find the following going the rounds of the agricultural papers. We give it to our readers for what it is worth: "The horse-castor is a wart, or excrescence, which grows on every horse's fore legs, and generally on the hind legs. It has a peculiar, rank, musty smell, and is easily pulled off. The ammoniacal cflGluvia of the horse seems peculiarly to concentrate in this part, and its very strong odor has a great attraction for all ani- mals, especially canine, and the horse himself. " For the oil of cumin, the horse has an instinctive passion — both are original natives of Arabia — and when the horse scents the odor, he is instinctively drawn towards it. " The oil of Rhodium possesses peculiar properties. All animals seem to cherish a fondness for it, and it exercises a kind of subduing influence over them. " The directions given for taming horses are as follows : " Procure some horse-castor, and grate it fine. Alec get some oil of Rhodium and oil of cumin, and keep the three separate in air-tight bottles. "Rub the oil of cumin upon your hand, and ap- proach the hoi'se in the field, on the windward side, bo that he can smell the cumin. The horse will let you come up to him then, without any trouble. "Immediately rub your hand gently on the horse's nose, getting a little of the oil on it. You can th*n lead him anywhere. Give hira a little of the castor on a piece of loaf sugar, apple or potato. "Put eight drops of oil of Rhodium into a lady silver thimble. Take the thimble between the thum and middle finger of your right hand, with the fore finger stopping the mouth of the thimble, to prevent the oil from running out while you are opening th« mouth of the horse. " As soon as you hare opened the horse's mouth, tip the thimble over upon his tongue, and he is your «ey- rant. He will follow you like a pet dog. S36 THE GENESEE FARMER, " Ride fearless and promply, with your knees pressed to the side of the horse, and your toes turned in and heels out ; then you will always be on the alert for a sliy or sheer from the horse, and he can never throw you. "Then, if you want to teacli him to lie down, stand on his nigh, or left side ; have a couple of leather straps, about six feet long; string up his left leg with one oi them round his neck; strap the other end of it over his shoulders; hold it in j'our hand, and when you are ready, tell him to lie down, at the same time, gently, firmly and steadily pulling on the strap, touching him lightly on the knee with a switch. The horse will immediately lie down. Do this a few times, and you can make him lie down without the straps. " He is now your pupil and friend. You can teach him anything — onl}' be kind to him, be gentle. Love him, and he will love you. P'eed him before you do yourself. Shelter him well, groora him yourself; keep him clean, and at night always give him a good bed, at least a foot deep. " In the winter season, don't let your horse stand out a long time in the cold, without shelter or cover- ing; for remember that the horse is an aboriginal na- tive of a warm climate, and, in many I'espccts, his constitution is as tender as a man's." HOW NATUEH IMPAETS FEETILITY TO LAUD. EvKRY farmer who would master the science ol' Agriculture, aud rise to the full height and dignity of his noble calling, should diligently study the v/ays and means employed by Natuure to impart fertility to land, aud bring both its vegetable and animal products to the highest perfection. He should learn, if practicable, what elements, and in what conditions, give rise to the great diversity of soils witnessed in all countries. From a few very common and abundant substances, like air, water and earth, Nature forms an endless variety of plants and animals, and soils in every respect adapted to the peculiar wants of each species. The natural requirements of plants and animals, how- ever, are mainly uniform and simple; so that less than twenty elementary bodies, and ordinarily no more than fourteen, enter into the composition of all or- ganized beings, whether they belong to the vegetable or animal kingdom. Indeed, judged by their cellular structure and early growth, the vital germ in a seed, and in an egg, appear to have no other difference than the obvious luct that one is endowed with the life of its plant parent, and the other with the life of its animal parents; so that, as development proceeds, from one may emerge an oak, and irom the other a reptile or a bird. Viewed in their relations to plants, soils may be said to grow as much as a forest tree, not in the same way, nor does a child or a pig grow like a plant, yet both grow, nevertheless, as does also the natural fruit- fulness ot the land that supports them. If we in- quire what substance most promotes the develop- ment of all the organized and varied beings in the world, water will be found fairly entitled to that dis- tinction; for it not only constitutes, in its elements oxygen and hydrogen, over forty per cent of their solid.x, but it alone dissolves their aliment, and gives that freedom of motion without which no seed could possibly germinate, and no ovum produce its young. Water being an universal solvent, is no less active :;nd U3?ful in preparing land for the support of plants and animals, than in preparing tho prirsary cells in the genus of tha latter for aJi th^jir subseqaeat evo- lutions and parental functions. It is water that con- veys carbonic, sulphuric, silicic and phosphoric acids, unted with potash, soda, lime aud magnesia, from a soil into the trunks of gigantic forest trees, to reniaia there for centuries, until they dis and decay; it also carries into the earth which surrounds their roots ii full equivalent of the substances named. Hence,- when an aged oak, poplar or walnut has largely drawn on the soil for two or three hundred sumaiers for the alkalies stored up in its roots, body aud numerous, limbs, the ground is not exhausted, but, in the wise economy of Nature, ths water that has come up- from the earth belosv to supply the place of that evaporated from its countless leaves, has brought with it the elements of fertility annually consumed by this long-lived aud gigantic plant. Sand, clay, and rocks, which are pervious to water and air, never refuse to yield some minerals needful in the growth of both vegetables aud animals, when rain or snow- water percolates through them. Water charged with carbonic acid, derived partly from the atmosphere and partly from passing through vegetable mould in the soil, has a much greater solvent power over both the carbonate and phosphate of lime, the silicate.* of potash and soda, and other earthy salts, than pure distilled water would have. The decay of annual weeds, grasses and forest leaves, yields not only valu- able organic acids, including carbon, but ammonm, which, like potash and soda, according to Prof. Way, renders silica soluble in water. All the food of plants being dissolved in water, and that having the most perfect freedom of motion between its particles, we have only to find adequate physical causes for the general distribution of water to account for the almost universal productiveness of tlie earth. The daily evaporation that takes place from oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, plants and the naked earth, and the fall of water in rain, snow and dew, are too well known to need any remarks in this con- nection. They often give rise to an excess of water in many soils, which need draining; for it is movm^ water that feeds and enriches land, not that which i» stagnant. To facilitate the ascent of water through a hard- pan, or some imper\iou3 stratum, of more or less .thickness, it should be perforated on the same prin- ciple that Artesian wells are bored in Alabau)a, France and other countries. Science teaches the art and wisdom of fertilizing soils equally from the earth below, and the air above. This is precisely what Nature does in recuperating the old fields of the Southern Atlantic States, without the assistance oi man. With his aid, if skillfully rendered, the it?- sources of partially impoverished land iuay be more rapidly improved and augmented. lie must assist Nature, not counteract her beneficent purposes. la all hot climates, irrigation has been found, by the experience of ages, most conducive to agricultural production, especially \7here water is highly charged with the elements of crops. Some rocks yield an ia-^ culcalable amount of the earthy constituents of plants, and thus fertilize not only the land in their immedi- ate vicinity, but sometimes soils thousands of miles distant from them. There are alkaline springs near the summit of the Rocky Mountains, some that yield ,.^ potash, others soda, in large quantities, more or les.'; of which will be left in every rood of low land cov- e.-^d by creeks and rivers as their waters Qow eaot- eriy into the Gulf of Meixico, or westerly into the THE GENESEE FARMER. 437 Pacific. It is easy to understand how the food oT RHg&r cane may be taken from the mountain gorges in New York and Founpylvauia, whore the Allegany Rirer ri«es, and conveyed down the Ohio and Missls- sipt, to be finally left in the loam and clay of Louis- L.■■ him when informed that it is not his original baptib mal name. Such names, in science, are termed syno- nyms. Though many of the readers of the Genefcr Farmer may already be familiar with this subject, i presume others of them will understand more clearl\ what is to follow, from the explanation now made. As the May-beetle is one of our most injurious in- sects, it is particularly important that its correct sci- entific name be well ascertained and definitely estab- lished. And we regret that the position in which this matter at present stands is such that we are obliged to make an unpleasant exposure, yet one which it is impossible to avoid in elucidating the topic before us. As to the generic name of this insect, some con- fusion has arisen among authors, from a most disin- • The custom of calling all insects " bngs," is often denounced as being an Amerieanism ; but tliis, like many others of these re- puted Americanisms, we obtained from our father-land. Thu», tJse European analogue of the insect we are treating upon, we see in termed the 'iAa.j-bug in the English translation of Kollak'& Treatise — a clear evidence that we have obtained th« name whici we give to our insect, from England. And in several other in- stances, the name bug vrill be met with in British publicatioms, ap- plied to beetles. Still, every-person intelligent ujen this »ubjtei is aware it will be an improvement in our language toj give tli«- name beetle to all hard, crustaceous-eoatcd in.s€€t«, which b«l»n^ to the order Colkoptera, and restrict the name }mg to the ordri Hrmipter-A., or those flat-backed insets which em«it thesaMe (lit>- gusting scent as the well-known bed-bug. ir40 THE GENESEE FARMER, geouons statement (to use as mild a term as the cir- cumstances will allow) made by Dr. Harris, in his Treatise on Injurious Insects, page 28 of the first edition, 26 of the second, where he says the genus Phyllophaga was "proposed by me in 1826. Dk JEAN subsequently called this genus Ancylonycha."' Now, the number of the Massachusetts Jlgricultural Repository in which Dr. Harris' essay appears, (vol. X., pages 1 — 12,) bears the date of July, 1827 ! and tie name Phyllophaga is there merely suggested for this insect and its kindred, without any statement of the marks by which the group can be recognized. In the year 1827, also, a distinguished British ento- mologist, Rev. F. W. Hope, published the first part of his Coleopterisfs Manual, in which this same group is distinctly set apart and clearly character- ized, and the name Lachno-sterna {i. e., hairy-breas.ed) s given it This, name, therefore, is clearly the one which the established rules of scientific nomenclature will give to the genus to which our insect belongs, Dejean's name, mentioned above by Dr. Harris, not having been proposed until some years later. It is tnily painful to meet with such instance s of a lack of candor, which must ever remain as blemishes upon the reputation of one now in his grave, who ha.s done so much to advance this branch of science in our country, and done it so well. Let it impress upon us who come after him the maxim, that, in all cases, " honesty is the best policy." This insect has hitherto been generally entered «nder the specific name quercina, but Dr. Leconte has recently ascertained that nearly ten years before his name was given to it, Feohlich, a German natu- alist, had in the year 1792 described it, under the me of fusca. We thus reach the conclusion that Lachnosterna usca, a term meaning blackish hairy-breast, is the orrect technical came of our common May-beetle, which has so often hitherto been called Phyllophaga uercina in our agricultural periodicals This insect is also frequently termed " horn-bug," being confounded with a larger, perfectly smooth and more flattened beetle, [Lucanus capreolvs, Linn/eus,) which comes out later in the season. It is thus called more particularly, when, like the true horn-bug, it flies in at the open windows of our dwellings upon warm evenings, which both of them frequently do, to tie great annoyance and even terror of the female portion of the household. Neither of these insects, however, can harm our persons; and when they in- trude into my room in this manner, I find the quick- est way to dispose of the pests, is with my fingers to hold their heads in the candle a, moment or two, and then toss them out the window. The May-beetle is a very thick-bodied, glos?y in- sect, somewhat less than an inch long and nearly half as broad, varying in color from chestnut-brown to black, its legs of a lighter mahogany-red, and its breast pale and coated over with grayish-yellow hairs. Two or three straight^ elevated linea are also discerni- ble, running lengthwise upon ils wiug-covers. Early in spring, in spading or plowing the ground, these beetles are frequently exhumed, or sometimes, in turning over a large stone, one of them will be found beneath, lying in a smooth cavity or little round hollow in the dirt, like a chicken in its shell. This cavity, or cell, is formed by the grub in the pre- eediog autumn. Turning itself around and around, it presses spoB and compacte the dirt aad moulds it into this cell, for its winter residence; and in this state it changes first to a pupa, in which the legs and wing-cases of the insect are seen in their rudimentary state, and afterwards to a beetle, such as we have above described. This beetle lies dormant in its cell until the warmth of the incoming summer penetrates the ground sufficiently to awaken it into activity. It then breaks from its prison, and works its way out of the ground. These beetles begin to make their appearanoe each year about the first of May, and become most numerous iu the middle of that month. They are sluggish, inactive, and seemingly stupid in their move- ments. They repose during the day-time, hid in the grass, or any other covert which they find. At dusk, they awake and fly about slowly, and with a hum- ming noise, hitting among the leaves of the trees and clinging thereto, and feeding upon them. They are most fond of the leaves of the cherry and plum, which trees they every year injure more or less, and occasionally they congregate in such numbers as to wholly strip them of their foliage, destroying all hopes of any fruit from them that season. An instance of this kind was communicated to me four years since, by MiLO [ngalsbe, Esq., of South Hartford, at thai time President of the Agricultural Society of this (Washington) county. He had seventy plum trees, and a number of cherry trees, of the choicer varieties, which never gave fairer promise of an abundant yield of fruit than at that time. But a swarm of these May-beetles suddenly gathered upon the trees, many of them being then splendidly in bloom, and and iu two nights, the 15th and 16th of May, wholly stripped them of their foliage, so that many of them were as naked as in winter. With their humming noise, these beetles were flying about the trees every evening until about ten o'clock, when they would settle in clusters of ei^ht, ten, twenty or more, and would thus remain until daylight, when they would tumble down from the trees, flying but little, how- ever, and hiding themselves wherever convenient, to st^y through the day. These observations are im- portant, showing that between midnight and daylight is the best time for spreading sheets beneath the trees, to shake and beat these insects into them. In a sub-sequent letter, dated June 29th, Mr. I states that these beetles had then disappeared from all his trees except an Ox-heart cherry, on which about a dozen were found, this being the choicest variety among his cherry trees — indicating that thoagh seemingly such stupid creatures, they are good con- noisseurs in selecting their food. And among his plums, it was the Washington, Jeffei-son, Lawrence, and others of his best kinds, which had been attacked with the greatest avidity. Apple trees, which were standing alternately with his plum trees, were not in the least molested. Meeting Mr. I. a few days ago, I learned that lii.s trees have never been re-invaded by these beetles since that time. These insects are numerous all over our country. In my own neighborhood they have been common every year,.I think, since I first became acquainted with them, more than twenty-five years a^o; yet I have here never known the trees to be stripped O'f their foliage by them, or the turf to be severed by their larvs, although two or three instances of the latter have been related to n)e as having occurred in this town, and I have several times heard of the sajoe phenomenon ia other places. It appears to be a THE (3ENESEE FAR\fER. 241 most singular and remarkable circumstance in the economy- of these insects, that, while it is their ordi nary habit to live dit^perscd and apart Irom each other, they at times become gregarious, both in their larva aud their perfect sta'e, niuUitudcs of them as- «erabhug together in a flock, and by their conjoined labors utterly devastating what they attack. Some other inswts, however, show this same habit. It is only occasionally that the niigratoiy locust of the East, so renowned in story, congregates together in swarms and flies ofl' to a distance. And instances have occurred in which the common red-legged grass- hopper, which is scattered about the fields of our own country, has done the same, in years when il has been unusually abundant. The history of our Maybeellc, and its transforma- tions, have never been fully observed; but everything known respecting it, concurs to show that it is ex- actly analagous to the cockchafl'er or May-bug of Europe, [Pulyphijlla Mdulontha, Li.vN.,) and oc- eupies the place of that species upon this continent. The grubs of that insect are about five years in ob- taining their growth. The beetles pair soon after they come from the ground, and the male lives but a few days. The female crawls back into the ground and there drops her eggs, which are nearly a hundred in number, after which she again emerges, and being now decrepit with age, she feeds but little and dies in a short time. Among the natural destroyers of our May-beetle is the skunk, whose food appears to consist of these insects almost entirely, during the short period of their existence. Some cats will also eat them, though 1 suppose it to be more for sport than food that grimalkin is frequently seen at twilight stealthily creeping through the grass of the door-yard, and springing upon these beetles as they crawl therefrom to take wing. Our domestic fowls are also very fond of the grubs. But of all the destroyers of these iu- gects, no other animal can vie with the crow, which frequently follows the track of the plow, to feed up- on the grubs of the May-beetle which are turned up thereby. With regard to remedies, we may observe that in Europe the experience of centuries has failed to dis- cover any efficient measure for destroying a similar insect during the larva period of its existence. And eoacealed in the ground as these grubs are, it is not probable that any substance can be applied to the soil, of sufficient power to destroy them, vvithout de- stroying also whatever vegetation is there growing. Bat where these grubs are so numerous as to sever tie roots of the grass and pare the turf, in the man- ner related by Mr. Adams, I think there is a measure which may readily be resorted to, whereby they may be exterminated ; wherea,s, if they are permitted to remain unmolested, their ravages will probably con- tinue to extend farther and wider, and another gene- i-ation will succeed them, wkich perhaps will be more numerous than the present I would recommend the placing of a temporary fence around that part of the meadow or pasture which is so thronged with these grubs, and enclosing a number of swine therein, thus for a while converting the patch into a hog pas- ture. The propensity of these animals for rooting and tearing up the turf, we are all aware, is for the very purpose of coming at and feeding upon the grubs and worms which are lurking therein; and who knows but this rooting propensity, which has all along been complained of as being the most trouble- some and vicious habit which bclonjrs to swine, may after all turn out to be the most valuable and neces- sary to us of any of the habits witli whirh they are endowed ? At all events, it is one of man's greatest achievements to so observe aud study the habits and instincts of the lower ciiiinals, as to devi.se ways whereby tho.se habits and instincts, instead of being exerted to his injury, are brought into his service and made to work for his benelir. Therefore, do not l«t us, lords of creation, allow these vile field grubs to rob us of two or three acres of grass, wathout oblig- ing them to give back to us an equivalent for it. Let us have the value of that grass returned to us in the increased size and thriltiness of our swine. I catmot but think these animals, confined upon a spot so over-stocked with grubs, would in a short time ferret out and devour every one of them, leaving the soil cleansed, mellowed, manured, and well prepared for being immediately laid down to grass again, or for receiving any rotation of crops for which the proprietor may deem, the spot best adapted. It should be observed that when cold weather ajv proaches, these worms sink themselves deep into the ground, so as to be beyond the reach of frost during the winter, and return back to near the surface again when spring returns; so that at this date there wiU probablo be none deeper than hogs are accustomed to root. It will be interesting to know how long a given number of swine will be occupied in cleansing an acre of ground containing from twelve to twenty of these grubs in every square foot. And I earnestly hope those who have lauds which are devastated in the manner spoken of, will try the experiment which I have now proposed, and will make the result known to the public, whether it be successful er otherwise. When these grubs have completed their growth, and come abroad in their perfect state, another op- portunity is presented for destroying them and pre- venting their future increase. Every year, when thie middle of May is approaching, cherry and plum trees should be inspected each evening, particularly our choicest varieties of these trees, to ascertain h the May-beetle is collecting in numbers upon them; and if they are, they should immediately be shaken off upon sheets spread beneath the trees, and emptied into bags or covered pails, and should be killed by immersing them in boiling water, or pouring this ap- on them; after which they may be fed to the swine and poultry. Many years ago, a writer in the New York Evening Post stated that trees could in this manner be entirely freed from these beetles in a very few evenings. Trees from which two pailsful were collected the first evening, furnished a much less number upon each succeeding night, until the fi.fth, when only two beetles could be found upon theta. Salem, JV. Y. Asa Fitch. A GLANCE AT VISGIWIA AGRICTJLTUEE. Messrs. ICditors: — A recent visit to a portion of the tide- water country of Virginia, inclines me t^ write a few lines for your paper. At the North, v;e are apt to have incorrect ideas of the quality and profit of Southern agriculture, and we find it diificalt to reconcile slave labor with that thorough develop- ment of the resources of tillage which we think we have in our own region. One fact is evident, both North and South, and that is, that tne earth Is, as a THE GENESEE FARliklEIl^ rcneral rule, very inadequately cultivated, and that the bounteous bosom of our common mother is made to yield far less than it should. Superficial and even ruinous cultivation are far too frequently seen, and hence lands " run out," lose their productiveness, are left to waste, and their occupants seek other virgin soil, where the same destructive experiment may be repeated. A more frequent interchange of personal views, and more frequent observation of various sections of our country, by the residents of other portions, would serve to correct many errors, and show us that our preconceived ideas were baseless. A mere cen- sus return, which rates New York land many dollars sn acre more than that of Virginia, may yet not t-'how that New York tillage is therefore proportion- ately the more profitable. Labor and the price of living may be proportionately higher here, and thus the net returns of the investment be much diminished. The high price of land, is not always the symbol of prosperity or thrift • It is undoubtedly a mystery to a Northern man, how the Southern farmer can exist and make money, with so many hands to support, and yet the South- erner does this, end, in multitudes of cases, without ever resorting to the sale of any portion of his la- borers, as he might do where the " peculiar institu- tion" exists. In tide-water Virginia, the products are corn, wheat, oats and potatoes. Fifty bushels of corn to the acre, or twenty of wheat, are regarded as a good yield. The farms are large, often of one thousand acres, but more frequently of from three hundred to seven hundred acres. The farmers own from thirty to three hundred slaves — and a fair per centage of field hands is one to seven or eight, often not more than one in ten or twelve. There are farms on which may be found over fifty slaves yet too young to work, and as many more who have passed the age of active labor, and all these to be sustained by the labor of the few field hands I have named. The farmers have plenty of horses and mules of fine quality, and num- bers of cattle of fair quality. Hogs are abundant, but small — one hundred and fifty pounds at killing time being the ideal of excellence for Virginia bacon. Plows and hoes are hardly up to our Noi'thern standard, but the first quality of reaping and mowing machines is used. The land is underlaid with de- posits of marl, but the farmers find it cheaper to buy guano, and this they use freely. No where, is scien- tific agriculture more thoroughly practiced, so far as fertilizers are concerned. The negroes are comforta- bly housed, fed and clothed, and the wliitewashed " quarters " are like the bumble cottages of our suburbs. We see, occasionally, tumble-down and rickety buildings, but the hand of the slothful man curses towns and settlements everywhere. There is in tide-water Virginia, an appearance of thrift and prosperity which is calculated to surprise a Northern man who turns from the prejudiced observations of jon;e books and newspapers, to look at life as it ac- tually presents itself. Land here is worth from Sl2 to #40 an acre. The latter price bringing a well cultivated place, with buildings in perfect order. Some land is cheaper, even, than the lowest price I have named, but it is worn-out land, unfavorably located, and with poor buildings, if, indeed, it has any at all. I am ac- quainted with one farm in the region referred to, which, eight years ago, cost about $4,200, and in- cluded over three hundred acres. It has in this time paid for itself, and sustained thirty slaves, of whom five were field hands. It is now in prime order, with good buildings and " quarters," and is valued at over ■$12,000. It has been a handsome source of revenue to its owner, who is justly proud of the results of a prudent management. I know another farm, in which the investment is $17,000, and which yields a reve- nue, yearly, over and above its expenses, of $10,000. In this case, the proprietor uses the labor of hired slaves, and of course does not have a host of unpro- ductive young and old negroes to support. These two instances,, out of many others, I have noted down, not as extreme cases, but as good examples. Virginia has a milder climate than ours. Its rivera teem with fish and oysters. It is generally healthy. It is an agricultural State, emphatically, and it re- turns a handsome support to those who cultivate its soil lovingly and prudently. Its houses and furniture are plain, bui Hs jjeople are given to hospitality, and their tables groan under a profusion of good things. Virginians delight in showing up strangers, and not less in exhibiting to them the peculiarities of the system under which they live. It would require time to break in a Northern farmer to their way of doing^ things, and perhaps he mi^ht never succeed as well as they do, with the class of labor they employ. But some might learn lessons of patience and content- ment, to say nothing of the effect that might be pro- duced upon a too common, and really stupid, preju- dice against "book- farming," as they style scientific agriculture. The rewards of agriculture are rarely as large and tempting as those of other professions, but its fail- ures are less disastrous and less numerous. The true policy, is a small farm and a careful tillage, which shall cause the willing earth to do its best, and which shall make many ears of corn to grow where only one is now produced. North and South, the evil of large and unmanagable farms is too common. Acres of land are to the cultivator like the Sybilline book?, of which a portion was successively destroyed, till out of the original twelve only three remained, and for these the same price was asked as for the whole original number. More money is often made from fifty acres than from two hundred. Deep plowing and steady care are essential. P. Western JVeto York, duty, 1857. OBJECTS OF HOEING. Messes. Editors: — The publication of my crude thoughts on the " Objects of Plowing," in the April number, encourages me to send you a few remarks on the use of another implement — one often in my hands, now-a-days. I mean the hoe — that univers^ soil-stirrer among all nations which till the ground. "What are the objects of hoeing?" They are three, and may be stated as follows: 1. We hoe to mflloiv the soil. 2. We hoe to deslroj/ weeds. 3. We hoe to form hills. Hotv shall we use the hoe to best secure these objects ? 1. The cultivator, the horse-hoe and the like, are a pre-requisite to the hand-hoe in all field culture. Let them "do their perfect work" in mellowing and cleaning the soil, Then "take up the hoe" — ba^ THE GENESEE FARMER. 243 first, look at what there is to be done. The soil in, and immediately around, the hill, remains unstirred. Jt is to he mdlowed. Sliike the comer or side of the hoe, well in, first on one side of the plants, and then the olher, and draw it toward you, so as to loosen the soil without much displacement, at least two inches deep. Do this a,s often as is needed to thoroughly loosen all the soil, untouched by the cul- tivator or horse-hoe. 2. On good ground, planted and hoed in season, to destroii the weeds will be a secondary consideration — there will be so few to de.stro3'. But when plentiful, fiist cut them up, scrape away the surface earth which contains them, and in the course of the week bury them out of sight. Very weedy ground re- quires careful hoeing — such hoeing and culture as will kill the weeds, in one way or another. 3. The tliird ase of the hoe — to form kills for plants — is fast getting obsolete or out of date. Po- tatoes only require hills — and these should be slight mounds oaly, net steep pyramids of «arth. How does an unskilled workman undertake to hill pota- toes? He strikes in his hoe so near the roots as nearly to dig them up, he chops and haggles at ran- dom, forming a botch in the end. A skillful hand, (myself, fjr instance!) first, with two strokes of the toe, clears away the weeds; with two or four more, mellows the soil in the hill; and with about six more, forms a perfect hill, regular in shape and slightly dishing iii the centre, to take a little extra share of the rain to the roots. It is done quickly, easily, and philosophically, or, with a reason for every move- ment. The hoe — par exeellence-^m light and thin in the blade, and "set right" on a long, smooth, springy handle, with a sharp edge, well tempered, " too hard to batter, and too soft to break." Th« blade should not be too long, hut nearly twice &s wide as long, so that when v^'e strike with the side, we make a narrow, djep cut — so convenient in ■melloiomg the hills. In conclusion, " The Objects of Hoeing" can only be accomplished by keeping these implements bright, and their handles shiney, by constant ttsuge for at least six weeks after planting. Co?-n grows by hoe- ing— by agitation of the soil. Make the horse-hoe do all that it can — let the hand-hoe finish up the worL But my Sorgho sucre calls for the hoe, so I will lay down my pen, take that up, and go at it. B. F. APPLYISfG AND LEAVING MANUEES UPON THE SURFACE. Messrs. Editors:— I have been in the practice of applying manures free from noxious weeds, by spread- ing and leaving upon the surface, at any and all times of year when most convenient; but prefer to apply npoa close-cropped grazing or meadow land, in the autumn, winter or early spring, as grass, when much grown, is partially and temporarily killed by the ap- plication. When manures (of the ordinary quality and quantity) come in close contact with the soil, the grass readily penetrates and thickens upon them, the manure ope- rating at once as a mulch, a fertilizer, and a retainer of ammonia, or other atmospheric elements, and form- ing a greatly increased nnd productive turf or sod, of unappreciated value to the succeeding crops, whether taken oae or many ^ears after the applicaiioo. In this way, farmers who choose may have the barn-yard mostly cleaned out before the busy season comes on, nor need there be any fear of dissipation oC values, as the rains and dissolving snow will distribu'e the more soluble portions among the soil, and the growing grass will seize upon the substance with as much avidity as a hungry pig will upon clover, and the sun will evaporate nothing but pure water. As to the gases, are they not evolved from all manures when brought into a state of fermentation, and to a greater extent than when manures are in contact with the appropriating activities of living vegeta- tion and with the soil ? I have long been in obscurity as to the natural processes which, as is claimed, take so much value from manures spread and left upon the surface, and have given limited snggestien to the practice recom- mended by your correspondent, John Joh.nston. — Nature, a someweat respectable and reproductive " institution," of long standing, and which, as pro- ceeding from an all-wise and beneficent source, never makes a mistake, invariably spreads her manures in the autumn. She draws her nurslings under cover, and lays down her leaves and surplus grasses to pro- tect them from the cold, and yield their substance to the next year's product; and mark how uniformly, in our climate, a blanket of s.iow is laid upon the earth before the advent of a cold snap. I believe the recommendation of Mr. Johnston, that manures should be applied in the autumn, will be sustained by experience; and that on this subject the Doctors of Agriculture are wise beyond what is written. • John McYean. ScottsviUe, JV. Y. CULTIVATION OF WINTEE WHEAT. Messrs. Editors: — ^The cultivation of wheat un- d€r different circumstances or in different localities, like various diseases incident to the human system under different circumstances, requires different treat- ment He who assumes to write a specific routine, or prescription, for the cultivation of wheat upon the hard granite hills of New Hampshire, upon the deep alluvial prairies of Illinois, upon the cold, clayey hills of North-eastern Pennsylvania, upon the deep rich loam of "Western New York, will find, in my opinion, to say the least of it, an " up hjll " business, or rather, perhaps, they who attempt to grow wheal in all these localities from the same specific formula, will fail in some of them. I know nothing about the raising of wheat in New Hampshire, Illinois or New York, but I wish to speak of North-eastern Pennsylvania. The soil here is not peculiarly adapted to the grow- ing of wheat. It is wanting in lime, I suppose, and other ingredients that go to make up the elements of a good wheat soil Though some good crops have been grown here, especially when the country was new, yet now, as our lands grow older, one of our most implacable enemies is a certain Mr. Frost, more familiarly known, perhaps, as "Jack Frost." For us, in most cases, to sow winter wheat on old ground, thoroughly summer fallowed and pulverized, woukl be equal to throwing the wheat away, and losing all trouble and expense of preparing the ground. And in order to avoid the action of the said Mr. Frost ah much as possible, some of our farmers pursue a course something like the following: tiU TlIE GENESEE FARMER. Select a good, dry, warm and rkh field, of two 7f?ars old dorer sod; javeit it sometime between the miMle of Jnlj and the middle of Augost, with or m^on^. tlie crop of clover, as job caa afford, (bet- tier wjth, no dovjbt) to the deptii of from four to sis iacbea — not Ycry deep, unless the soil is deep and strong, because tbe eoid s«b?f>il will retard the starting and growth of the plaals. This plowing can be done ^€(B Of3d and }owerj days doriag haying time, when the weather is ^inpropitions to mow or gather in, and not to© wet to work the ground. After the ground has bfjea nicely and everdy turned, and lain till the sar- feee feas beeojse dry and warni, pat 025 a barrow and ^jre \i a tboroisgh harrowing, arid then, if you have ht, ^Iraw thereon ten or twelve loads of thoroughly decomposed roasure, or osie bnndred and fifty to two hnndrsd ponads of gaano, to the acre, and spread it eyeriy and harrow in well. This will supply food for tSi£! plant till it can support itself, and give it a good st-sri Do not allow the harrow teeth to cut in deep e5af>agh to disttsrb the sod. As to the seed, procure only the nsost hardy and prodractJTe yarieties, combined v/ith good qnality. If yon raise toh? own seed, so much the better. To j>Tepare seed, select froni yoar growisg wheat a part of the field where it will ripen early and well, (not ja'Sffisttjrely, fronu a want of depth of soil or other- Trise,} aad where the plant, bead and kernel will be faOj deyeloped; from this, clean out all rve, chess, cockle, or other vicioas seeds, and let this plant stand 8 week longer than that yoa cut for Jamily use, or at lesst ■QEtil M fully maivres ; and when jou thresh it, do it ^vith that old-fashioned threshing machine, to -mi, the ^,aj7— then yon will have no cracked or byciea seed. With a fanning mill, separate it trow tlie chsiJ" clean the chaff from the floor, and prepare t3>e miii for running the wheat through again; rei>eat this operation till yon have reduced the bulk of the wheat one half, and separated all the smaller and ahriyeled se:d, leaving nothing at the tail erid of the mill biit the largest, plumpest, healthiest and most vigorons kernels of wheat. Of this, sow abont one and a half bushels to the acre— some prefer more, soiae lesa With a light plovr, plow it in vi^ith light farrows, to the depth of two or three inches; and I have knowa it c iltivated in with a corn cultivator, ■»oth first-rate sncccsa Drilling, perhaps, would be l>€tter, bat Tve are snacqnainted with that mode of seeding. If it should be plowed in, do it in that di- rection that "nill raost readily conduct the water from ti« field ; if han^owed, ^p over it afterwards with a good roller, and then, if there should be any hollows or gpongy places where water would be likely to stand, oat some shallow farrows throngh them often enough lo prevent any possibility of water being left staad- «3g. Sow from the 25th of August to the 5th of September. The coltars of rye is similar, only an older god and more impoverished soil can be sown. An old pas- tare or meadow, with a crop of hay Srst taken ofC will do. I have known au old pasture, probably of thirty years' standing, so treated with excellent suc- oess, and one, too, so flat that water on it did not know which way to run, but throngh the wetter part of the season stood npon the ground — that is, in the isidJsad? and hollows. A good sod tends to keep it above the water, while it serves as a " backbone " s^gr-^lnst frost Sow from the first to the middle of September. Something after this manner we treat winter grain in this section, and I have no doubt the same method would be beneficial in other parts where the soil and obstacles to be overcome are the same. Susquehanna^ Pa. Unct.b Sak. KEEPING SHEEP ON GOOD LAND. Messes. Editors : — I have heard it said by many for several years past, say at least for fifteen, that sheep could not be kept profitably on our best lands, and I hare heard the same in addresses by learned and fluent speakers. But I have always dissented from such doctrine. I have seen the beginning and end- ing of many undertakings to keep sheep on our most valuable lands, and believe I know why they did not make them profitable, and have long had a wish to publish my views on the subject, but they being so much at variance with the opinion of some of our moat learned men, I felt a diffidence in giving them. I never saw a farmer begin with a small flock of sheep, in this neighborhood, who was not surprised how much they paid him for their keeping; but when- ever he increased them to hundreds, and still kept hia former stock of cattle, then came the time that they would not pay. They were turned into the fields as soon as the snow was off the ground, to run around to get their living, and often they would al- most eat the surface of the earth; consequently, they became very poor and overran with ticks, and the ewes had no milk for their lambs, and, of course, few lambs were raised. They sheared light fleeces, which would not pay; for having been tamed out six weeks before any grass began to grow, they ate ofi" all the old wool, if there was any on them, and when the grass began to grow, they picked it up as fast as it appeared. Then they would be put on fallows, wood- land and pasture, alternately, through the summer, and after hay was cut, put in the meadows to keep them alive, which will almost always ruin the next bay crop. They went in to wint-er poor, and of course, many would die during the next winter. The ownei~ then concludes that sheep do not do well kept long on the same farm, and he will sell them for whatever be can get for them, and abandon sheep farming. Now, I do not here state only one case, but I have known a great many such cases during the last twenty years. I have also heard learned men gay, that ow low, rich land was not congenial to keeping sheep; they wanted high, hilly land. Now, Messrs. Editors, I never saw land too low to keep sheep, if dry; and j the bills, if icet, will not answer for sheep. j The way to keep them profitably on good land, or any other land, is to keep them as gi>sd farmers keep their cattle. Give them good-, dry yards and sheds for shelter in winter, with feed enough to keep them [ thriving — ^yes, improving — all winter, keeping them in the yards until there is a full bite of fresh grass, and give them enoygh of it during summer and fall-, and I have no doubt that every farmer on the best, or worst farms, will find they will pay as well for what they consume as any stock he keeps. It was perfectly absurd for men to think they could begin and keep from one hundred to two hundred sheep over and above their usual stock, jet many, very- many, undertook to do so some twenty to twenty-fiva years ago; hence, sheep would not pay on -.cod land. Seven or eight sheep should have as much feed aa a four year old steer, and with that they are a safer ib- THE GENESEE FARMER. 245 vestment than the steer, and in genonil will pny bet- ter; bnt so lon^ as farmers expect to keep sheep in woods and fallows in summer, and pick around straw Ftacks in winter, they will not pay. The true way to ^winter sheep by wheat raisei-s, is to food straw very pleiitit'iilly for tbdder, and jrive a bushel of corn, or its equivalent in other grain, to each sheep during the winter. In this way they will come through win- ter far better than when fed on ripe timothy hay, and •Rt much less expanse. And if he wishes them to pay .s and sills should be o{ iron, or heavily wrought wood, and all the wood-work should be made in a substantial manner. The house* should be situated in a moderately level country, facing the west and south. It should be pretty well surrounded with trees and shrubs, which will serve to give it a pleasant appearance. It is impossible to JISMI determine definitely the cost of erection, as there is Eo much difference in the price of labor and mate- rials at different points. Here the cost would be from .^1,.5(>0 to $2,000, according to the manner of building. Desoeiptiox of the Ground Plan. — A, main hall; B, parlor; C, bed room; D, living room; E, dining room; F, principal stairway; G, kitchen; H, pantry; T, bedroom; J, back stairs. A wood-house should be erected back of the kitchen, but which is not shown in the plan, j^ The second story is arranged as follows: Over the parlor, (B,) is a bed room, 12 by 1& feet. Over C is a bed room, 10 by 12 feet Between these rooms are two closets, 4 feet wide, one communicating with each room. Over D is a bed room, 12 feet square, and over E is another of the same size. Be- tween these rooms are the stairs leading to the attic, and under these stairs are closets communicating with each room. Over the kitchen are two large bed rooms, and a store room. Although in general so little is said of cellars, yet they are as im)x>rtaut as any other part of the house. For a house like the above, I would arrange the cei- THE GENESEE FARMER. 24^ lar in this manner: The inside entrance should he under the haek, or kitchen stairway. There should also be 11. ppaeious entrjnce from tlie outside, or from the wood shed, leadinjr into the cellar. Under the kitchen, there should he one larsre room for storino; prorisioiis, &c., for family use. Under 1), I would have a milk room, 12 by If) feet, with stoao slielvcs, GROUND PL.4N. tables, &e. Under E, should be a room of the same size, with wo )d shelves, for pickles and sweetmeats. The reinaiiid-r of the cellar I would keep for the storage of apples, potatoes, roots, &c. If the houge id intended to be heated with a furnace, I would build the furnace room under the front stairway, with the ash and coal room back of it. The cellar should be at least seven feet from floor to ceiling:. Floors made ol water lime and small gravel I think are bet tev than common ground or boards. J. F. F. Rodiester, A\ Y. (|ucnce has been, that, when this insect did come, it luuud hundreds depending upon their wh«at crop for the means with which to meet their pecuniary lia- bilities. The question, " What can we raise ?'' is one of se- rious importance to the farmer; but still, if he is in- tcUigfUt and wideawake, he can easily answer it. We propose to name a few products, which the "signs ot the times" indicate may be profitably raised, hoping thereby to call the attention of oui farmers, not only to these, but to many others which may be sought out. Raise Stock:. — Any one, on looking at the present price of meals in Nev/ York, can but realize that such prices nmst afford immense prohts to the stock raiser; and the prospect is that meats will be just as high, one year hence, as at the present lime. Who, then, can doubt for a moment the profitableness of raising stock ? Eaisw Cork. — Corn is now selling readily at one dollar per bushel, and in some localities it has been sold, for seed, as high as one dollar and a half. This shows another source of profit to the farmer. But supposing the price is not as good another year as this, will it not pay you abundantly to raise it and fatten stock for market, thereby enriching your land with most valuable manure, which will enable you to raise larger crops, and, consequently, increase your income ? The stalks will also furnish a most yaloa- ble fodder. Raise Potatoes. — The present price of potatoes, renders this, also, a moat profitable crop to raise for market; and, indeed, they would pay a handsome profit at a considerably lower figure than that at which they are now selling. Upon good ground, well manured and thoroughly cultivated, large crops may be raited, and crops which will most surely " pijy-" Raisk Roots — for, by so doing, you not only save much hay and other fodder, but your stock v*ill d© better upon a change of food, and you will not be as likely to be " short" of fodder, as were many of our fanners last spring, which caused rather a larger sup- ply of hides in market than there would otherwise have been. There are many other sources of profit that might be sought out in the present emergency, but of which we have not space to speak; and if our farmers will use them to their own advantage, we shall not suffer lonsr from " hard times." R. D. Knowles. Wilson, A". Y. WHAT SHALL WE RAISE IN PLACE OF WHEAT? Mkssiw?. Editors: — The question has often been asked, oC late, by our farmers, " What can we raise in place of wheat ? " We answer, many things, that will pay you equally well. You have farmed it too long without adapting your crops to the market. Y'ou have, year after year, raise! wheat, because each year there has been a market for it. It is be- cause you have depended solely upon this crop, that its destruction spreads such panic among you. Year by year yon saw the nearer approach of the midge, but still you kept on sowing wheat; and the coose- How TO Bind the Wildest Horse for Shoeing-, AND tbe W'ildkst Cow FOR Mii.KixG. — The way to do it is simply this: Put around the animal, just back of the fore legs, a strong rope, or chain; into this twist a stick, so that at every turn the rope will be drawn tighter, until the animal will submit to being handled at your pleasure. The most unmanageable animals can be subdued in a few miautes in this man- ner. «Jno. Sanfieli>. "I SAT, Sambo, does you know what makes de corn grow so fast when you put de manure on it ?" " No, 1 don't know, 'cept it make de ground stronger for de corn." "No — I just tell you; when de corn be- gins to smell de manure, it don't like de 'fumery, so it hui-ries out of de ground, so it can't breathe de bad air." -' " 250 THE GENESEE FARMER, lortitiiltiirat Dr|avintnit. ANNUAL NOTES ON STflAWBEREIES. The recurrence of the strawberry season is now an event in the annual history of almost everybody. After a fast of some months from such luxuries, the nnifersal nation seem to rage for strawberries, and the consumption, while good berries can be had for twelve or fifteen cents per quart, is enormous. Even the moderately rich buy berries daily in our market; and to all the j'ich, strawberries are an indispensable article of diet. While they last, Strawberry Parties, Strawberry Festivals and Fairs, are all the rage. For ourselves, we think the case quite justifies the enthusiasm, and hold that all information which helps on the good cause, and aids to make the enjoyment richer and more universal, should be brought out and placed in the hands of the public. Our contri- bution this year seems small; but every little is said to help, so we make a note of it. Juue was a very wet month, and had an unfavora- ble effect upon the fertilizing process; consequently, pistillate varieties have, many of them, been inferior, and imperfect in form — but the varieties having per- fect flowers were g,'cnera]ly good. All, however, have been somewhat more acid than common, and less finely flavored than in a drier season. We have heard complaints from several market cultivators of the loss of considerable portions of their crops from this cause. It has been commonly supposed that wet weather was very favorable to a crop; but it has not proved so this time. We are inclined to the opinion, that only when a drouth and great heat oc- cur just at the ripening off of the berries, do straw- berries, under good management, in rows two and a half feet apart, require artificial aid by watering. We may secure more bulk, but it will be at a loss of quality more than enough to balance. Strawberries do not need diluting, but being well fed at the roots, mellow soil and good exposure to the sun will do the rest, in ordinary seasons. The exhibition of the Genesee Valley Horticultu- ral Society brought out some splendid dishes and col- lections of strawberries. Some of the foreign sorts shown were superior in size to any of our natives, and a few of those exhibited may be of value, but it is not generally supposed that they are equally profit- able for cultivation. We shall notice some of them as we proceed. There were many of our old varie- ties shown, but they did not seem to change their relative positions much, in regard to size, quality, &c. We shall, therefore, omit notices of some, because nothing has transpired to show them better or worse than common. We have before urged our objections to all varie- ties having imperfect or pistillate blossoms, and must again say, that as fast as equally good varieties having perfect flowers can be procured, the pistillate sorts should be discarded. We have long held on to one, (Burr's New Pine,) because of its superior flavor, but the experience of this season is decidedly against it. Among the varieties requiring notice of us are the following: Large Early Scarlet. — We have found nothing yet equal to this for a good, early berry. It haa perfect flowers, grows strongly, bears abundantly, and most uniformly. It is indispensable. Boston Pine. — Blossomed profusely, and produced a few fine and early berries; the balance of the crop entirely failed. It never has been reliable with us. Burr's New Pine. — Plants looked well in the spring, but have grown feebly, and borne very im- perfect fruit. Gushing. — Has borne a very great crop of large berries, which sell well, but are quite deficient in fine flavor. Flowers perfect. A strong grower. Crimson Cone. — One of the best for market, d.- though a pistillate variety, and successful only when well fertilized. Its great vigor and handsome color recommend it to the market gardener. Genesee. — Is beautiful, very vigorous, productive, and ripens early. Will be good for marketing, but flavor not first rate. Perfect flowers. Walker. — Grows moderately, but bears very abun- dantly. Berries all perfect, but of only medium quality. Will not be popular, although it has good points. Scott's Seedling. — Rapid grower, perfect flowers, very handsome, long, conical berries, of bright scar- let color, and bears abundantly, but is quite deficient in flavor. Would undoubtedly be profitable for marketing. McAvoy's Superior. — This berry, although beau- tiful when in perfection, is worthless for cultivation, because a pistillate variety which it is exceedingly difficult to fertilize. It ought to be discarded. Hovey's Seedling. — As usual, very large, very handsome, moderately productive, but not first-rate quality. A pistillate sort. Hooker. — This is our pet, and, perhaps, we do not judge it fairly, but we have found it, of all our sorts, the most satisfactory. It is vigorous and productive, berries very large and of the finest quality, the flow- era are perfect, and, in a word, it is adapted to all purposes, both for the amateur, and the gardener who wishes to sell fruit of good quality as well as good appearance. Triomphe de Gand. — A most magnificent berry, when well grown. To the amateur, who wishes to secure great size and beauty, this will probably prove an ac(iuisition. Vigorous grower, and hardy. Has perfect blossoms, (as all the foreign sorts have,) and bears moderate crops. Trollope's Victoria. — Is also very large, and of fine quality, but has not been as productive with us as the above. Le Reine. — Bore indifierently, and was not large. Brighton Pine. — The first berries were good, and of good size, but all the rest failed. We do not see much to recommend it. Flowers perfect THE GENESEE FARMER. 291 KSt MoYAXiExsiNG. — Bcafs well when fertilized, but cannot be highly recommended. From the above varieties, a selection of five can be made which will comprehend the whole season and all the most valuable point? for the amateur and gardener. For this locality, and our methods of cul- tivation, we prefer the following, but would also like to add one or iwo more, if space and convenience did not forbid. Our choice would be — Large Early Scarlet — Earliest, and very sure bearer. Hooker — Best quality, and fine bearer. Triomphe de Gand — Handsome, and very large. Hovet's Seedling — " " " Crimson Cone — Vigorous, late, productive. We would like to add — Burr's New Pine — For superior flavor, of pecu- Bar character. Genesee — For eeirly berry for marketing. H. E. H. ,^«.^ Ammonia in Green Houses. — " A little dilute liquid aTDmouia, poured upon a hot plate in a green house, has a wonderful effect in developing flowers and leaves." — Scientific Aynerican. May we be allowed to ask the Scientific American, if liquid ammonia has been actually tried, or if the statement is made on theoretical considerations ? We are well aware that carbonate of ammonia has a good effect in green houses, but we have always queried whether ammonia itself would not be too caustic and scorch the leaves. Whether this is so or not, how- ever, liquid ammonia is far too expensive to be used for this purpose. It would be far more economical to mix a little lime with sulphate or muriate of am- monia (sal. ammoniac), or still more sc, with Peru- vian guano. Such a mixture in a moist state, would give off large quantities of ammonia. Till the mat- ter is settled by actual trial, however, we would ad- vise our readers to act cautiously. The ammonia in the atmosphere is in the form of a carbonate, and if it is desirable to increase the quantity in the air of a green house, the best way is to scatter a little Peru- vian guano on the floor, or to mix a little in a vessel with water. This will soon ferment and furnish a constant supply of carbonate ammonia. HOETICULTURAL OPEEATIONS FOE AUGUST. It will be too late to expect any great results from the sowing of any very tender crop at this season of the year. But any quick-growing, moderately hardy vegetables may still be sown, such as radishes, let- tuce, spinach, turnips, &c. Radishes.— Let the radishes be sown on light, rich soil, and, while growing, copiously watered two or three times a week, or every evening in hot weather, in order that they may grow quickly and come to maturity in as little time as possible. They will then be as delicious and tender as at any other tjme of the year. Lettuce may be sown any time during the month for a fall supply, or planted out between the rows of other vegerables that are soon to be cleared away. But lettuce is very impatient of transplantation in hot weather ; therefore it will be necessary to water transplanted plants at such times. It is better to ^w the geed in a bed of deep, rich soil, where it can remain, and thin the plants out to their proper distance. Si'iNATii may be sown between the rows of peaa, early cabbage or dwarf beans, that are soon to be cleared away; and if the ground is not rich enough, manure can be wheeled on and spaded in between the rows after the other crops are cleared off. Turnips. — Tlie first week in August is the best time to sow rutabaga or Swede turnijjs for spring use. It requires a strong, moist soil to produce tine turnips. Sow in drills eighteen inches apart, and when the plants are up an inch high, thin them out to one foot apart in the row. Stir the ground fre- quently with the hoe. White Turnips. — The first week of the month is also the best time to sow seed of the white varieties for early fall use, and the last week for a late supply. Sow in light, rich soil, in drills fifteen inches apart, and thin out to a foot apart in the drill. Early White Dutch is a good variety, and will be ready for use in six or seven weeks from the time of sowing. Melons will now require some attention to pruning. If watermelons have three plants in a hill, two mel- ons to a plant will be sufficient — that is, one melon npon a branch. Train them out at equal distances, diverging from the centre. Stop the branch three leaves above the fruit, and cut away all weak and useless branches which are not bearing. Muskmelons may be treated somewhat in the same way, only four plants may be left in a hill, and three melons upon a plant. Train out three main branches, and leave one melon upon each branch. Pinch the top out three leaves above the fruit, and all the small lateral branches produced upon the main branch should be kept cut back to one leaf, and all else cut away aa soon as produced. Cucumbers may be allowed to run, unless very fine fruit is wanted. Then the same treatment as recom- mended for muskmelons will answer, only that the branches will require pegging down to the ground, as they will root at every joint, and consequently produce finer fruit. They will require copious wa- terings every evening in hot, dry weather, but water would spoil the flavor of melons while ripening. Strawberries — This will be a good time to make new strawberry beds. Let the ground be trenched at least two spades deep, and the bottom of the trench loosened up with the pick-axe, and the stones thrown out. When the ground is selected, dig a trench three feet wide and two spades deep, and the whole width of the piece of ground to be planted. Let the earth be wheeled to the opposite end of the piece to fill in with at finishing. Then pick up the bottom of the trench as deep as the pick can be sent down, and put in a layer of any vegetable rubbish — as weeds, leaves, peastraw or potato tops — and a small layer of manure. Then mark out another trench three feet wide, and throw the top spit of soil to the bottom of the open trench, then a layer of manure and a layer of soil, and so on until the second trench is as deep as the first, and the whole piece finished. Let the stones be picked out as the work is proceeded with, and the ground raked level. Al- low it to settle a day or two; then, if dry weather, stretch a line the whole length of the piece, and draw a drill with a hoe, and give a good soaking of water in the drill. Make the next drill two feet from this, and water in the same way. When all is ready, take plants of this year's runners — the best that can 252 THE GENESEE FARMER. he had — and plant them a foot apart in the drill, and give another good v/atering, to settle the earth about their root.?. Water a little every day in hot weather, nntil the plants have become well established. If this is well done, with good plants, and the beds pro- tected in winter, a moderately good crop of fruit may be bad the followicg season. Varieties. — Large Early Scarlet, Hooker, Burr's New Pine, Ilovey's Seedling, and Triomphe de Gand, are of the best varieties. The latter is a foreign va- riety, of excellent flavor, and produces the largest fruit we have ever seen. It is said to be very pro- ductive and perfectly hardy — but it requires further trial Some splendid fruit of this variety was ex- hibited by Messrs. Kllwanger & Barry, at the Sum- mer Exhibition of the Genesee Valley Horticultural Society. Josiah Salter. m "MY NEW GAEDEN."-iro. 2. That this is "a growing time" you may see, Mr. Editor, if you will walk again with me in my new garden. We have had frequent showers — both weeds and garden plants witness to that — but this stony, gravelly soil soon dries off; and yet retains a due share ©f moisture. Look first at those Round Parsneps — Of which a square rod was planted May 9lh. These were grown from plants, raised from seed imported from France, and dis- tributed by the Patent Office. My first trial of them resulted favorably, except that they were grown too thick. I now have the rows eighteen inches apart, and shall thin to from four to eight inches in tiie row. i try them now, more for stock-feeding than for my own use; for ahalf^bushel of parsneps would be am- ple allowance in my family for a year. I hope to give you a taste of them next spring. Caui'.ages. — -These are but just transplanted — some are yet very small— the large "late Dutch cab- bage " seed, I got from you, started very slowly. Some other kinds are larger, and all are doing " as well as can be expected.'' Cabbages, like corn, '• grow by hoeing and not without."' So every day or two, I stir the soil thoroughly around among them, as also ajnong the Cauliflowers. — The '-Early Paris — only good one for this climate" — you sent me, grows finely. Though planted May 9Lh, they have made double the growth of the cabbage plants, and bear transplant- ing, with less check of growth. But here let me tell you about that pest of cabbage, cauliflower, onion 4ind polatoe. Cut Worms. — I never knew them so thick, as they are this season, I believe they have destroj'ed one-fifth of my cabbage plants, already, though I have car-efully raked and dug the ground several times over and killed a great many of them. A oouple of big toads are helping me, but they find too many worms to be very good hunters, I fancy. It may not generally be known that the insect parentis a moth, and there are several species varying slightly in size and character, but in the caterpillar or grub state, alike destructive to many plants. The wings of the moth lay horlKontal when closed. They ap- pear in July and August, in large numbers and de- posit their eggs in the earth. These generally hatch in the fall, and descecd into the ground, to pass the winter, and are ready in spring to commence their destractive work. Salt, it is Bai<^, will kili them, so it will the plants upon which they feed. We hunt them out and crtt^h them; it is a certain preventive froin further ravages. But it is decidedly unpleasant NV" MOTH OF THE CUT WORM. to find your handsomest cauliflowers cut down, or your finest cabbage plant with its heart eat out^ so that you must commence anew again. Celeriac — Is not yet large enouuh to transplant I hope to give you a good account of it in the fall. Radishes — How long will radish seed retain ita vegetative power ? My first sowing all failed to grow, and a part of my second — the seed was old, however having probably been " imported" a dozen years ago. I think the scarlet turnip radish, one of the best kinds, and find no trouhle in growing fine ones on my new soil — when th( y grow at all. Lettuce. — " Blessed he the man who invented " Lettuce, I say, lor I hold it a good thing, especially when other " greens" are not to be had. There is a great difference in varieties — that brown kind wag sown last, but is double the size of the light green kind, sown a week earlier. It likes a rich soil, and to make such, I think one good thing is Hen Manure — I mix this with ashe^ and fine, dry chip dust from the wood shed, and reduce it to powder. It is capital for starting ahead cabbages, onions, peas, etc., and potatoes and corn immediately acknowledge its influence. Perhaps it will help them out of the way of their insect enemies, if it does not repel the same. But I must not lead you by too long a route through the New Garden of A Country Invaijd. Maple Hill, June 2.3, 18.57. SHADE TREES. Messrs. Editors : — The July number of th« Farmer contains a short article on '• Six good Shade Trees,"' which suggests a few remarks upon the sub- ject of planting ornn mental trees and the care of them, which, I have thought, might be worth record- ing for the benefit of your readers. Tour remark that " it is difficult to answei the inquiry with any degree of satisfaction," is emphati- cally true: for v;e find upon going the rounds of our hardy forest trees, that there is not one of them but under some circumstances will fill a niche in the great field of planting, better than anv other individual. The various peculiarities of different trees adapt themselves to the varying situations and surround- ings of the place where it is desirable to locate them; and the very air and manner of one quite unfits H for planting where aiiotlier will answer admirably. The graceful and sweeping forms of elms and birches, are beautiful in spacious and elegant lawn?, or ample pastures, whilst confined upon a seven by nine front of a city lot, where nothing larger than a shruhly grower should be tolerated, their lean and leggy appearance soon justifies their removal in dis- gust Soil and exposure, have also a very great in- THE OENESEE FARMER. 253 fl'ience upon the beautlfal developement of forest tree.?, and care must he taken to plant only i.pon eolls adaptoil to the tree pUmteil. Deeji alluvial soils develop the elm to its greatest perfection, while the hard maple will crown the rough hillside with Bweet and dense shade. Some varieties of the oak, eiijoy a sandy and ex- posed situation, while other spu-ies are not to be persuaded to grow there, but will tlourish with great beauty upon a moist bottom. These peculiarities of species and varieties, have been very little dwelt npon by writers, and, in fact, are scarcely known well enough by any person to justily a very extended list of sorts adapted to peculiar localities; but I am per suaded that attention to the subject by planters, will develop important facts; and a careful exercise of taste in the selection of trees well adapted to the place they occupy, will make a great diiference in the appearance of our grounds, and in the satisfaction with which the planter views his work of ten years The difficulty of removing some trees with success, is greatly felt by some, and few men can be found who can say that they have successfully transplanted the oak, the walnut and the chestnut, from their na- tive wood?-. This difficulty is partially overcome by the nurserymen, who remove them when very young, and sell small trees which can be removed safely. But in spite of these improvements, the above men- tioned trees will always be discarded by many plant- ers, because they cannot readily be transplanted. The man who plants trees for ornaaient, should carefully study not only the peculiarities of the speciee, and the variety he is to plant, but also the peculiarities of the individual tree. It is well known to about all persons, that the trees they plant are raised from a seed. Now the seedling trees, although alike in their family appear- ance, differ greatly in size, thriftiness, size of foliage, form and arrangement of branches, density or open- ness of the head, &c. Some are upright, some spreading, others drooping, and all coming under the head of elm, or maple, or ash, &o. It is not enough to secure the variety ; you must get a handsome tree o-f the kind, to have the best success. The above remarks apply with equal and even greater force to evergreens, which vary so much in form and color, as to pass all the way from extreme beauty to utter deformity, in the same patch of seed- ling trees of one species and variety. Ornamental trees are not many of them budded or grafted in the nursei'ies, except to perpetuate some very desirable and peculiar individual, as, for instance, the weeping ash, weeping mountain ash, &c., there- fore, care should be exercised to select maples, elms, &c., with reference to their appearance. Lindens are uniform in appearance, becaused raised from layers, and the horsecbestnut, although raised from seed, seldom departs widely h-om a dense and globular form. There ia a great evil under the sun in the care of ornamental trees, which I must notice. Trees are planted and grow ; at first the desire to secure shade and relieve the bare appearance of his grounds, induces the owner to plant thickly; by de- gress the trees become larger, and, perhaps, encroach upon each other slightly, but the possessor of the s"hade, walks beneath, and congratulates himself. If any branches are in the way, he trims them ofi^ the lower branches become feeble, by reason of shade and die off ; the?c arc removed succossivcly, until at last the man wakes up to the fact that he has a good many trees on a small lot, but not a good looking one amongst them. The real object in planting, namely, satisfaction in the beauty and usefulness of the tree, is entirely lost. Nothing but timely thin- ning out of ornamental trees, so that they each shall have full room to develop their forms upon all sides, will secure the plantation from ruin. How often do we see this lamentable lack of taste and judgment, in our streets and front lots of good dwellings. There is not this day one tree in twenty, upon our best avenues, and in what are esteemed fine places, but is injured before it has ten years growth, by crowding upon some other tree or building. In this city, so famed for rural improvements and shady streets," what we need most, is a judicious culling down of shade trees far more than further planting. If some man, with the pen of a Downing, would write down a multitude of trees which writers have succeeded in getting planted, the benefit to taste sii>d comfort would be immense. Shade is good to a cer- tain extent, but the damp, dark and mouldy precints of some of our rural residences, are an offence to gocrd taste, good health, and the spirit of improvement which ornamental planting should always promote.^ H. E. JI. ^ SIT&IMEE AKD AUTUMN PLAHTmG. Messrs. Editors: — The months of August and September are the preferable periods in the State of New York, and in the States to the north of it, for trausplating the following articles, and the months of September and October for the States adjoining on the south, as far as the Potomac, and the months of October and November for the more southern States. Strawberriks. — These, if planted at periods above stated, will produce a fair crop the ensuing summer. They should be planted in beds of three feet wide, with four rows of plants lengthwise, and at a foot each way. This width will admit of all the fruit being gathered from the sides. A path of about fifteen inches wide should be left between the beds. Rhubarb, Asparagus, Horse-Radish, Sea Kale, Globe Artichoke, and Patience Dock, the latter the best of early greens, and very hardy and perma- nent All these will, when planted thus early, be- come well rooted and establistied before winter. They should have frequent waterings during the first two weeks after planting. Bulbous and Tuberous Flowers of all the hardy species, such as the different varieties of Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilies of all kinds, except the Speciosum varieties, Crown Imperials, Fritillaries, Crocus, Single and Double Narcissus, Polyanthus Narcissus, Jon- quils, Gladiolus Communis, and other hardy varie- ties, Snowdrop, Snowflake, Ornithogalum, Colchicnro, Squills, Bulbous Iris, of different kinds, Allium, Amaryllis aurea. Arum, Dens Canis, Calochortos, Ran^iuculus, Anemone, Bulbocodium vernum, Con- vallaria, Trillium, Uvularia, Oypripedium, Yellow Aconite, and many other species, and all the magni- ficent varieties ofHerbaceous and Shrubbery Peo- nies. All these splendid Flowering plants, when planted thus eariy, will become more vigorous, in- crease more freely, and bloom with much greater vigor. It is to be understood, that before planting 254 THE GENESEE FARMER. any of the preceding, the ground should be well plowed or dug, and plentifully manured for the Her- baceous, and moderately so for the Bulbous Flowers. "'-Fruit and OrxNamkntal Trees, Shrubbery and EosEs cannot be safely transplanted in this latitude until the 1st of October, and those intended for the South should not be forwarded until the 1st of No- vember, at which time vegetation will have become sufficiently dormant for their safe removal. To the Western States inland, they may be safely forwarded the beginning of October. Wm. R Prince. Flushing, JV. ¥. CELERIAC OE TURNIP - ROOTED CELERY. Seeing this garden vegetable advertised as " unique and fine," in the Fanner, I procured a package of seed, and am now growing the same. Perhaps some directions for its culture may be of service to your readers — it was some time before I found any thing relative to its growth and uses. From the Gardner's Text-Book, I compile the following : Celeriac — J}pium rapaceum. — Sow in drills at different times during the spring months, so as to ob- tain a succession of crops. Water in dry weather, as the seed germinates slowly. Keep the soil clean and mellow — when the plants are six inches high, re- move to their final quarters. This should be a mel- low, rich soil, M'here they may be planted sixteen inches apart, each way. Water freely in dry weather, increasing the quantity with the growth of the roots. When nearly full grown, earth up the bulbs four or five inches — in about a month they will be suffi- ciently blanched for use. The roots can be preserved in sand during the winter. For Use. — The following are the modes of pre- paration : — Boil until tender, cut in thin slices, and put in soup, or meat pies. Or after being scraped and sliced, they may be boiled very tender and then etewed five minutes in just milk enough to cover them; after which butter and salt to the taste. Five weeks since my seed were sown — cauliflowers are large enough to transplant, the celeriac is just petting the third leaf, and is half an inch high. When will they be fit for transplanting ? B. F. CULTIVAnNQ THE EGG PIANT. Messrs. Editors: — In answer to D. L., of Cali- donia, N. Y., on the cultivation and preparation of the egg plant, I have cultivated it for a number of years successfully. I sow the seed in a hot-bed, about the first of March, and as soon as the second leaves appear, 1 pot them off into half-pint pots, putting three plants in a pot, and plunge the pots in a good hot-bed, up to the rim, and let them remain till the plants are four or five inches high. I then put them in pint pots, putting one plant in each pot and plunge them in the hot-bed, and let them remain to the middle of May, giving them plenty of air in fine weather; and from that to the tii-st of June, I keep hardening them by keeping the glasses off night and day, in fine weather. About the fii-st of June, I make holes two and one half feet apart, and put a good shovel full of well rotted manure in each hole, mixing it well with the earth taken out, and put the plants into it, giving them a little water before filling in the earth. If the weather continues dry, I water tb^rn', apd about three weeks after planting oat, I remove the earth round them (but not so as to ex- pose the roots), and sprinkle a little guano round them, and give them a good watering, and draw the earth round them. They require little more, except to keep clean and water occasionally. There are several ways of cooking the eggs. The best method I know of is, to slice them about a quar- ter of an inch, or three eights thick; peel off' the rind; shake a little fine salt over them, and edge them up half an hour to drain off. Dredge them with fine flour, and fry in butter or lard to brown, and eat while warm. Joseph Caldwell. Troy, JY. ¥., June 1857. THE CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS. Messes. Editors: — Among men we find a great diversity of opinion respecting the beauties of na- ture, and consequently we see a great diversity in their feelings and practice. By some, they are admired ; by others, despised. The man who makes gold his idol, esteems of little worth everything that does not contribute to its acquisition. A beautiful landscape awakens no emotion in his bosom. The tasteful cot- tage, ornamented with walks, and flowers, and shrub- bery, hardly secures a passing glance; if noticed, it is only to condemn the practice. He considers the cul- tivation of flowers beneath his dignity, and the time thus spent worse than wasted. But such an individual sadly misjudges in relatioQ to the subject The taste that leads a person to ad- mire flowers, and to delight in their cultivation — that leads him in this way to adorn his home, and render it pleasant — is fraught with good rather than evil It gives rise to actions and states of mind that not only serve to mould his present and future condition, but that silently tell on the welfare of community. As the mind acts on everything around it, so a reflex influence is exerted upon it from objects with which it is familiar; and these objects tend to bring it into sympathy with themselves — they leave upon it their own impress. Where all is deformity and disorder within and without a dwelling, no wonder if we sec character and actions corresponding — no wonder if we hear the profane oath, the vulgar jeer, and witness man- ners that are coarse and rude. In the absence of all that is chaste and beautiful, we must expect this. But where taste and beauty are manifest— where tha honeysuckle, the climbing rose and the jessamine are gracefully trained over the cottage, and the wall^ are adorned with flowers of varied hue — we may look for the opposite. The beautiful will impart its im- press, as well as the rude; and under its mild influ- ence, what is coarse and vulgar will be held in check, and the delicate and refined be invigorated. You may augur the character of the inmates of a house by the scenery around. Where neatness, order and taste reign without, you may expect refinement and intelligence within; even the child that meets you will exhibit a character moulded by the influences around him; and the stranger may expect civility and a hospitable welcome. Place the child unaccustomed to admire the beauties of nature, but rather to de- spise them, in the family where intelligence is culti- vated, and each one is taught to admire what is lovely and beautiful, and what restraint does he feel, what a restlessness does he exhibit. Gladly he breaks away from the influence, to associate with the Tulgar THE GENESEE FARMEJI, 255 and rude, and to engage in pursuits and pleasures fit only for the brute. While one accustomed to the opposite course, moves with ease surrounded by such objects; the relish of his soul has been formed to find enjoyment there; and he exhibits a sensibility, a refinement of manner, not found in those of an oppo- f-ile character. And the mind thus conversant with tlie beauties of nature, will be better prepared to relish moral beauty. AVhile it looks through nature up to nature's Uod, conscience will recognise in virtue that which should command esteem. And the mind will bo better prepared to derive enjoyment from all the works of God. The worldling may complain that the time spent in cultivating flowers is wasted, and that it fosters idleness, and leads to the neglect of more important business. But this is false; a cultivated taste is more generally the ally of industry. Seldom do you find Sie tenants of a cottage tastefully adorned with shades, and flowers, and evergreens, among the idle, lounging around taverns or gambhng saloons, or the inmates of the poor-house. The man of taste em- p'oys his leisure moments in these pursuits; while the fault-finder spends his in sleep, in idleness, or in slan- dering his neighbor. And thus, while his business thrives, his cottage and garden assume an air of neat- ness and comfort; and his children, instead of being left to patrol the streets in search of company or mis- chief, are taught to find enjoyment amid the beauties with which they are surrounded, and to engage in the active labor of adorning their homes. The trees and flowers cultivated with their hands, become, as it were, the companions of their childhood; and an at- tiu.bment is thus formed for home, that holds in check the restless, roving disposition often manifest in those brought up without such influences or restraints. Habits of industry are thus cultivated, that are the precursors of success in future. And the influence thus exerted will spread, and become, as it were, con- tagious. As inanimate objects act upon the miud, so one mind will act upon another. The influence will extend from one cottage to another, and each ■will vie with others in their efforts to remove deformi- ties apd cultivate the beautiful. And who will say that society will not be rendered happier ? Children are generally fond of flowers, and in the forming period of life it needs but little effort to give a right directiop, in this respect, to their feelings. The exertions of the parent seem only seconding na- ture in her struggles tor development. But, alas ! how many opening germs are crushed by the though t- k'S3 and unfeeling parent ! The love of gain having effaced from his mind the love of the beautiful, and blunted the finer feelings of his soul, he would fain destroy the same in his offspring. He thus not only robs them of their inherent right — a love for the beauties of nature — but he robs society of the influ- ence they might exert in cultivating what is attrac- tive and beautiful. Instead of training them up to become the benefactors of mankind, he would fain wrap them up in selfishness, and inculcate the feeling that the acquisition of wealth is the great end of man's existence. But such is not the part of wisdom. Among other preventives of idleness, vice, and prof- ligate manners, let the parent instil into the mind of his child a love of the beautiful and sublime. "While he trains him up to industrious habits, let him teach him, both by precept and example, to cultivate those little adornmeuts that render home attractive. Flowers are the alphabet of nature; from them we may read the glory of the Creator of all things — the wisdom that planned and formed the universe. While their influence tends to soften and refine the feelings, they point us upward to their great original. Who, then, will not love flowers, and learn to admire their beauty? Who will not adorn his cottage, his garden, and his yard with these gems, and thus set an example for others to imitate ? Hubert. : APPLE TREE CATEEPILLAES. Messrs. Editors : — I have noticed the apple tree worm as being vastly more numerous this season than usual, in this vicinity; and 1 also notice, at this time, there are hundreds of them attached to the underside of rails on the fences near the orchards; they being dead, hanging about half the length loosely, while the other half (the posterior half,) are clinging with considerable tenacity. They are full grown, and their skin is apparently empty, or nearly so. I call your attention to this phenomenon for the purpose of making the inquiry, is it generally so, and what is the cause ? Has this circumstance been noticed previous to this year, or is it confined wholly to this immediate vicinity? D. Gates, JY. JY. GAKDENIKG AT THE NORTH POLE. "WoEN the late Sir E. Parry was wintering in the Arctic circle during 1821, scurvy, the great enemy of the polar voyager, was kept at a distance by the us« of antiscorbutics, liberally supplied to the expedition. To these was added a reguls^r growth of mustard and cress, in boxes filled with mould, which, owing to the superior warmth of the ships, was now carried on a larger scale than before. An amusing incident is cou- nected with the preservation, during the voysge out of the mould in which these vegetables were grown, While the ships were detained at Kirkwall, a boat came off to the " Fury " with some sackfuls of earth, which the ship's carpenter (an Aberdeen man, who had formerly belonged to the merchant service) was ordered to stow away below. At this he yeutvired somewhat to grumble, and to question the utility of the article in question. "Never mind!" says his mate, Johx p.^ , from whom the account comes, " never mind ( Depend on it the Captain has something in his head, and it '11 be all right !•" The obnoxious sacks were, accordingly, stowed away, but, during the voyago across the Atlajitic, Ihey proved too much for the car- penter's patience, and, at length, he ordered P to throw the lumber overboard, as a mere fancy on the part of the Captain, no longer remembered. P >• shook his head, but his superior was determined, and away went the bags. — not, however, into the sea, but, at ail events, out of sight. Days and months passed, and the affair was forgotten. Winter Island was reached, and the ships were frozen in. One day aa order was given to the carpenter to provide some long, shallow boxes. This done, — "Now, then, my man," says the Captain, " for those sacks of earth! " Down comes the unfortunate carpenter to his mate, in a state of ludicrous perplexity. " Eh ! P— -, but what will we do, man? here's the shipper singing out for the sacks we heaved overboard!" "We, indeed!" says P , "but never mind, it's all right; they never went overboard at all ! " and, doubtless, many of hia messmates had cause, at Winter IJand, to be grateful to him that it was all right. — Memoirs of Sir W. M, Parry. 256 THE GENESEE FARMER. Saints' gtprlmciit. LADIES SHOULD DO THEIR OWN GARDENING. ^?KSSR?, Editors: — I holil that all amateur florists should be their own gardeners, unless they are able to keep a professional man constantly in their em- ploy; for what is the use of having help to do that which we can do ourselves. I cannot send any one into my yard to work in the spring, unless I am with him to keep his spade or fork out of the bulbs or perennials that have not appeared above ground; and while I am watching him, I might do the work myself. "What!" says one, "do you spade?" I certainly do, end, moreover, 1 think I can do the work to suit myself quite as well as Pat or Jimmy, and am not ashamed to be caught in the act by any one. I have watched some men when they were spading, who were so afraid of their strength, that, with one foot on the spade and the other on the ground, they would bob about something as a frog Blight be expected to do under like circumstances. Here something must be said relative to the outfit fiw gardening. Mrs. Loudox says " a lady should provide herself with clogs, or a tramp," which is de- s&ribed as a plate of iron, fastened under the right foot by means of a strap. All the clogs I find necessary, is a pair of stout, thick soled laced boots, (and if the ground h wet a pair of rubbers over ftem,) a pair of thick gloves, and the other dress ac- cording to the weather. A few tools will be wanted, such as a trowel, a small garden rake, a pair of gar- den shears, different kinds of hoes, and a hand syringe, for the insects. Trusting others to work among your flowers, re- minds me of au incident related to me by an amateur friend a few years since. She was unwell, and thoug-ht it not prudent to go out, and it became necessary that the gladiolus bulbs should be planted; so she de- scribed the pUce where they must be planted to her husband, and he performed the work as well as she could have done it herself, and was highly gratified with his success. Shortly after, there was another kind that had sprouted in the house, which required planting out. She told him to plant them in any spot where there was nothing growing. It so hap- pened that the first bulbs planted had not shown fhemsslves, and, forgetting his first efforts, he planted the others above them ! The mistake was not dis- covered in time to remove them, and they presented a beautiful illustration of the "mixed system" of growing flowers. Amateur. A SESIDENCE IN THE COUNrEY OR CITY. "In a residence in the conntr^' or city most conducive to high mental culture, beauty of person, health, happiness and use- fulness ? " In the economy of the human system, certain con- ditions are requisite to the proper exercise and de- development of each and every power of the body or the mind. A chief condition, is health. Racked with disease and emaciated in frame, humanity loses much of its beauty of person, and, instead of being useful, man becomes a burden to himself and to those around him. His happiness is gone, and the vigor of his mind decays, or, at loast, his languid frame will not sustain him in the acquisition of high men- tal culture. If these assumptions be admitted, the. question resolves itself into the habitation most con- ducive to health. Our health depends upon a va- riety of circumstances, among which are pure air, proper exercise, proper food, cleanliness of {lersoq, and a happy, pleasant frame of mind — all of whioh. are more easily and naturally attainable in a country , than in a city life : air, unmixed with the effluvia^ of a dense population — exercise, in which every mus- cle is brought into requisition — food, fresh and un- tainted, from the virgin earth — the rippling brook inviting to cleanliness, and the natural scenery woo- ing us to cheerfulness and happiness. In our country home, the ever- varying scene is suggestive of thought — monotony is forever excluded. " The rolling year "* brings with it one long, unbroken spell of enchant- ment The icy crystals, wrought into mosaics in the leafless tree, reflecting in the sun a thousand ray&— the joyous notes of spring — the waving grain — tb« ripening fruits — the "sear and yellow leaf" — each and all impart a charm, healthful and invigorating, to, our moral, intellectual and physical nature. The po^ etry of nature is written on every flower, and every grove is vocal with its melody. The crystal spring, the murmuring insect, the chirping bird, and the air fragrant with the odor of flowers, all contribute to make a country residence the home of health, happi- ness, contentment and peace. S. A- W. Meadville, Pa. THE FARM HOUSE, Who does not love the farm house ? I A) not mean its shadow, but the real farm house, with long dairy, filled with delicious butter and cheese ; its large kitchen, where, over the " great cook-stove." the rosy-cheeked lasses are at work, and passing to and from this to the great dining-table, upon which is spread all that heart could wish, selected from the produce of the farm; and beyond this, the spaciotia " sitting-room," (leaving out the dainty parlor,) where the family so often assemble, and the children listen to words of instruction from the lips of their re- vered parents. Plere is the cradle of Liberty and Independence. Here are hearts that breathe free air, and will make brave patriots in the struggle for their entire Freedom. It is true, they must be edu- cated; but who is better prepared to do it than the farmer? Who more independent? All that he de- sires, he can obtain directly, or indirectly, from his farm. Ye daughter.^, nursed within the walls of the farm house, envy not the city belle. God has blessed yon with privileges which she can never enjoy. Look well to your duties; make the farm house a pleasant home for all those connected with it. A. E. F. Girard, Pa. AN EXCELLENT WAY TO PEEPARE GREEN CORN FOE WINTER USE. When the corn is sufficiently advanced for cooking boil on the col', in the fame manner as it is generally prepared for table use. When it is done, cut it from the cob carefully, spread it on a cloth, and put it m the sun to dry. When it is wanted for use. wash it, and put it in sufTicient waer, slightly salted, to boil for an hour. Then add a little new milk and but- ter, and it is ready for the table. It can also be cooked with beans. 0. L. Baeb. Mllford, Ind. THE GENESEE FARMER. 257 OKIGINAL DOMESTIC RECEIPTS. To Prkskk\-e Larok Cujumiucus — T;ike large and freslily-gatlicred ciicurahers. Sjjlit them down, mid take out all the seeds. Lay th.Mn in salt and water that will bear an egg, three day;'. Set them on a fire with cold water, and a small lump of alum, and boil them a few minutes, or till tender. Drain thcni, and ponr on them a thin syrup. Let them lie two days. Boil the syrup again, and put it over the cucumbers; repeat it twice more. Then have ready some fresh clarified sugar, boiled to a blow. Put in the cucum- bers, simmer it five minutes, and set it by till next day. Then boil the syrup and cucumbers again, and set them in glasses for use. To Preserve Small Cuccmbers. — Weigh equal portions of small green cucumbers and of fine loaf sugar. Rub the cucumbers with a cloth, scald them in hot water, and put them into the syrup, with some white ginger and the peel of a lemon. Boil them gently for ten minutes. The folio .ving day just let them boil, and repsat this three time, and the last, boil them till tender and clear. To Preserve Damsons. — ^To every pound of plums, rflow three-quarters of a pound ot pounded loaf sugar. Put into jars, alternately, a lajer of damsons and one of sugar. Tie them over with bladder or strong paper, and put them into an oven after the bread is withdrawn, and let them remain till the oven is cold. The following day strain off the syrup, and boil it till thick. When cold, put the damsons, one b.y one, into small jars, and pour over them the syrup, which must cover them. Tie them over with wet Wadder. To Preserve Damsoxs — Another Way. — Prick them with a needle, and boil them v.ith sugar, the same proportion as in the above receipt, till tiie syrup will jelly. Carefully take off all the scum. To Preserve Green- Gages. — Put the plums into boiling water, pare off the skin, and divide them. Take an equal quantity of pounded loaf sugar, and strew half of it over the fruit Let it remain some hoars, and, with the remainder of the sugar, put it into a preserving pan. Bail till the plums look quite dear, take off the scum as it rises, r.nd, a few minutes before taking them off the fire, add the kernels. To Preserve Apples. — Pare, core and quarter fix pounds of good, hard baking apples. Finely pound four pounds of loaf sugar, and put a layer of each, alternately, with half a pound of the best white finger, into a jar. Infuse, for half that time, in a ttle boiling water, half a pound of brui.sed white ginger. Strain, and boil the liquor with the apples till they look clear, and the syrup rich and thick. I which may be in about an hoar, 'i'like off the scum as it rises. When to be eaten, pick out the whole ginger. To Pkeservb Apples — Another Way. — Weigh equal quantities of good brown sugar and of apples. Peel, core, and mince them small. Boil the sugar, allowing to every three pounds a pint of water. Skim it well, and boil it pretty thick. Then add the ap- ples, the grated peel of one or two lemons, and two or three pieces of white ginger. Boil till the apples fall, and look clear and yellow. Apples preserved iu this way will keep for yeara To Preserve Peaks. — Pare the fruit, and pnt it into a kettle with a little water, and boil. When quite soft, take (he sams quantity of loaf sugar and melt it into a syrup, taking care not to have it boil. Put the fruit into the syrup, and set away in jars. When pi'eserved iu this way, they retain their nato- ral flavor and color. PuMpKT>r Batter. — AVash the pumpkins clean, take out the seeds, and scr.apc the inside out with a strong iron spoon. Boil till soft, and rub it through a coarse seive. When strained, put into a kettle and boil slowly all day, stirring it often. Put in a large handful of salt. When nearly done, add a pint of molasses, or a pound of brown sugar, to each gallon of pumpkin. Before it is quite done, add allspice, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, one or all, as you may fancy. Put it into jars, when done — large ones are best. Tie it up tight, and it will keep until April or May, in a cold place, if you scald it when spring corns on. It is a good sauce for table u,se, and ie always ready for pies, with the usual addition of eggg and milk. It is much less trouble, and far better, than " dried pianpkin." To Bake Apples — Gouge out the eyes, and fill them with sugar. Set the apples iu a pie plate, poor in a tea-cupful of water, and bake. Eat with cream, and the juice found in the dish when done. To Remove New Fruit Stains. — Hold the cl«th tightly over some vessel, and pour boiling water through it, and they will soon disappear. Delicate Cake. — Add to the whites of sixteen eggs, beaten to a a stiff fioth, three-fourths of a pound of flour, one pound sugar, ten ounces butter. Flavor with lemon or rosewater. GixGER Cookies. — One cup sugar, one of butter, one of molas,ses, one table-si^oonful ginger, one of cinaamon, and two tea-spoonsfuls of saleratus dis- solved in three table-spoonsful of hot water. Bake quickly. Rye Drop Cakes. — One pint milk, three eggs, one tab!&-spoonful sugar, a little salt. Stir in rje floar till about the consistency of pancakes. Bake in bat- tered cups or saucers, half an hour. HoNEV Cake. — One cup nice sugar, one cup rich sour cream, one egg, half a tea-spoonful of soda, two cups flour. Flavor to the taste. Bake half an hour. To be eaten while warm. CoMMOx Soft Ginger Bread. — One cup molasses, one cup Pour cream, one and a half tea-spoonsful gin- I ger, one heaping tea-spoonful salerulus, three cups i flour, a little salt. Bake in a moderately heated oven. ri.AiK EicE PuDDixG. — Swell a tea-cupful of rice , in a (|uurt of boiling water; add a cup of sugar, i three quarts of milk, and a little salt. Bake three hours. To TAKE Wagon Gf.eask from Clothes. — Lay tlie article on a linen towel, pour a little spirits of tnr- p^'utine on a cloth, and rub it until quite dry. This will not injure the most delicate colors. To Clean Floors and Erase ( rKK^isK Spots — To a paili'ul of hot son.p sud.=, take three table spoonsful of spirits of turpentine, and you will have a clcac floor. 258 THE GENESEE FARMER. (gHt0r's ®aHe. Hew AdvertiBements this Month. '' Pratt's Automaton Apple Slicer. — A. M. Collins & Co., Fhila- delphia. Auction Sale of Imported Stock.— W. S. G. Knowles, Guelpb, CW. Clover Hulling and Cleaning Machines. —Mansfield & Whiting, Ashland, Ohio. Agents Wanted. — Robert Sears, New York. First-class Family Journals. — Fowler & Wells, New York. * To Lyceums, Literary and Agricultural Societies. — J. 0. Miller, Jr., Montgomery, N. Y. New Work on the Chinese Sugar Cane — C. M. Saxton &Co.,N. Y. New Eochelle Blackberry.— C. P. Bissell, Rochester, N. Y. ' Virginia Lands for Sale. — B. H. Robinson, Lancaster C. H , Va. State Fairs for 1857. Ohio, ..Cincinnati, September 15— 18. Canada East, ^..Montreal, September 16 — 18. Illinois, Peoria, September21 — 26. Pennsylyania, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Wisconsin, Janesville, ...Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. New Jersey, New Brunswick, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Canada West^ Brantford, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Vermont, Montpelier, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. United States, Louisville, Ky., October 1 — 6. Indiana, . Indianapolis, October 4 — 10. New York, Buffalo, October 6 — 9. Iowa, Muscatine, .. October 6—9. Michigan, Detroit. New Hampshire, Concord, October 7 — 9. Kentucky, Henderson, October 12 — 16. Connecticut, Bridgeport, ..October 13 — 16. East Tennessee, Knoxville, .October 20 — 23. Massachusetts, Boston, October 20 — 24. Maryland, Baltimore, October 21 — 25. "West Tennessee, ..Jackson, October 27 — 30. Alabama, Montgomery, October 27 — 30. Virginia, October 28— 31. The Rural New Yorker — Once More. — After our July number was issued, the Rural New Yorker attempted to reply to the serious accusations we were compelled to make against it in the June number of the Genesee Far- mer. It will be recollected that our charges were distinct and definite, as follows : 1. That the Rural had clandestinely obtained possession of three of our latest and best cuts, and had, without our knowledge or consent, inserted them in its columns. To this grave charge, the Rural attempts no reply whatever 1 2. That the assertion that the cuts in a certain number of the Rural cost nearly $50 was untrue — that they did not cost $5. To this charge, also, the Rural makes no reply. 3. That the greater proportion of the engravings with which the Rural man had been embellishing his paper for the past few months, were old cast-off cuts of the Genesee Farmer. To this the Rural replies as follows : " Now, the simple but stubborn facts are, that of the fourteen engravings named, twelve were got up by the conductor of the Horticultural Department of thisjournal." If we are to infer from this that they were " got up " for the Rural A'ew Yorker — as is the evident intention — the assertion is utterly untrue. They were engraved for the Genesee Farmer and Rural Annual, and, as can be easily proved, were given in our volumes for 1852, '3, '4, '3 and '6, on the several pages named in our June number. "We did not wish to do the Rural injustice, and distinctly tated that " we do not say that the Rural did not come honestly by these engiavings. As cast-off cuts, it may have paid a small sum for them," &c. The Rural seema to suppose that we intended to accuse it of stealing these old cuts. We did not intend to convey any such idea, as the language above quoted shows. It was the cuts of the Dwarf Pear Tree, the American Arbor Vitae and the Sweet "William that we accused it of appropriating with- out our knowledge or consent. The others it may have purchased from some of the former publishers of the Farmer. Our object in alluding to them, was merely to show that it was " a new derelopment of the law of ' Progress and Improvement ' — of which the Ru> at boasts so much — to give these cuts as though they were original." The Rural man cannot deny the fact that he has taken three of our newest and most valuable cuts that he has not the shadow of a right to, and has also given some fif^ teen or sixteen of our old, cast-off cuts in the Rural of the present year. If we should take twenty-five dollars* worth of his property, wc think he would deem it an inju- ry, and could hardly be blamed for asking his readers and contemporaries if such conduct was " reputable and hon- est." And yet he seems surprised that we have felt ag- grieved at similar conduct in him 1 i. We incidentally alluded to the fact that the Rural had charged eight dollars for inserting, in its editorial columns, a cut of " Hallock's Cross-cut and Circular Saw Mill." This the Rural denies, and says : " It is a fool- ish fib, as we [the Rural] neither charged nor were ever paid a farthing therefor." Now, our information was de- rived from Mr. Hallock. himself. He agreed to pay this sum ; and if it was not charged in the bill, he has to thank the timely expose of the Genesee Farmer. It is very " foolish " in the Rural to accuse us of fibbing, as, from fifteen months' editorial connection with the Rural, we are too well acquainted with its practices to be thus silenced. When the writer was the agricultural editor of the Ru^al, we know that its publisher and pseudo-e6.itoT did not scru- ple to take money for the insertion of cuts and descriptions of patent machines, &c., in its leading editorial columns. That he has not abandoned this practice, we have abun- dant and unquestionable evidence. For instance : In the Rural New Yorker of January 31, 1857, there is, on the first page, in the leading editorial columns, a drawing and description of " Burnett's Improved Portable Field Fence," for the insertion of which we have, now lying be- fore us, the written authority of Mr. Burnett himself for saying that the Rural charged and was paid fifly-tvoa dollars and fifty cents. In the Rural of March 14, 1857, a cut and description of the same fence is again given in the leading editorial columns, for which Mr. B. obligingly informs ns, in the same letter, he paid the Rural man sixty-six dollars and twenty-five cents. In the Rural of May 23, 1857, there is, on the first page, in the leading editorial columns, a cut and description of " Hildreth's Iron Gang Plow," for which the manufao- turers, Messrs. Hildreth & Charles, of Lockport, N. Y., paid the Rural, as they themselves state, in a letter now before us, thirty-three dollars. In the Rural of June 20, 1857, there is, in the editorial columns, a cut and description of " Vandemaek's Self- fastening Portable or Field Fence," for which the Rural THE GENESSK FABMER. 2W wa« psid, 83 Mr. V. himself informs us, suct^-ltco dollara and ^fi/'y rents. y\e could name mony other parties who have paid the Ruiitl man large sums for the insertion of cuts and de- Bcfiptions of patent machines in his editorial columns, but the above will suffice to show that it was "a foolish fib" in the Rural to deny having been " cTor paid a farthing " for the insertion of cuts and articles in its editorial columns. AVe sincerely hope that we shall not be under the neces- Bity of ajjain calling our readers' attention to this subject. If the Jiural man will not take our cuts, we will let him have tliem for nothing. We desire to lire at peace witli him, and with all men, and will, for the future, neither allude to his practices nor pretensions. Indeed, we should not hare made the aboTO expose, had he not accused us of falsehood. *•« Working Ltyv ii» the Fall. — A "Practical Farm- er," in the Mark Lane Express, gives, among others, the followins: novel reason for working land in the an- tucan. Speaking of the preparation of falloTvs for the turnip crop, he says : " The first process should commence in the autumn, as early as possible after the remoTal of the crop, and should consist in breaking up the soil at a slight depth, just sufficiently deep as to procure a mould on working it, to cause the vegetation of all the seeds of weeds, and insure the uprooting of all the roots, both of ■weeds and crop, growing near the surface. The subse- quent scarifying and harrowings should suffice to reduce the whole to a fine tilth, and to shake out and bring to the ■urface all the rubbish, which should immediately be col- lected, either to be burnt, or carried into the fold-yard for conversion into manure. The advantage gained by this autumn process In culture, is the destruction of the seeds of annuals and other weeds common to the soil, the re- moval of all the refuse of the last crop, so that the land is cleaned from surface weeds, that no obstruction occurs in the future management ; to which must be added the very Taluable aeration of the soil which takes place from this repeated working at this precise season of the year, when the atmosphere is more fully charged with the effluvia arising from so much decayed and decaying vegetation arising from the ripening and decay of all the straw crops, the stubbles, the falling leaves, the ditch roadings, the nu- merous grasses and the like, at this season ; which efflu- Tia, it may reasonably be supposed, are deposited in the Boil thus prepared, and there retained for future serrice ; but if this process is neglected, and the soil remains un- broken, the morning's sun spee-dily dissipates the nightly deposits, and no benefit is derived." "Wax. — On the exterior parts of many plants •wo find several kinds of wax. It constitutes the purple bloom of grapes and plums. It may be abundantly procured from the skin of apples. Straw contains a chrystallisable kind of wax ; and a crystalline wax may be abundantly col- lected from the surface of the sugar cane. But it is no- ticed that cane which contains most wax contains least iugar, and vice versa. This would indicate that wax is formed from sugar, or sugar from wax. Thb vine crop of Europe promises to be unusually abondsmt this year. American IIokse Towers in England. — The Ameri- can Endless chain Ilorso Power has at length been intro- duced into England, and is attracting much attention. The last number of the Agricultural Gazette (June '27th) contains a cut of one ; alid Mr. CuiiiwiCK, in his lecture on " Small and Neglected Mechanical Powers," delivered before the Royal Agricultural Society, speaks of them in the highest terms. " Our brethren in America," he says, " have struggled with difficulties of scarce and dear la- bor, and high-priced money. My friend, Mr. Whitwobth, our Commissioner appointed to examine machinery at the Great Exposition in New York, has expressed his general admiration of the cheapness, simplicity and efficiency of the mechanical contrivances with which they have met these difficulties. To one of these contrivances, a horse power machine, he has 'directed my attention, and it cer- taii.ly appears to me to be commended as of extensive application. The machine consists of a moveable in- clined platform for one or two horses, on which the farmer may put his horses, and get a direct action to work any machinery for one, two or three hours. It has the advan- tage over the gin, as being cheaper of construction, and in being more compact, and in requiring less space ; in being easily removed from place to place ; in having, for the time of its work, greater power than any other in bring- ing to bear the weight of the horse in combination witk its direct action." Mr. C. also alludes to our " dog powers," and says, in America, " where the lowest farm helps cost a dollar a day — and I could wish that, for the sake of extension of machinery into agriculture, as well as the working classes, it cost almost as much here — they will not allow the dogs to eat the meat of idleness. They consequently set Caesar or Pompey, the house dog, to churn or to washing. * * Mr. Whitwobth was informed that, after these dog powers were introduced, the Yankee dogs, not relishing the work, disappeared early on the churning days, and were shouted for but made no manner of response, and only re-appeared after some biped or other had been obliged to perform the labor." We have for several years urged some of our manufac- turers to make powers on this principle for the English market, to be worked by donkies 1 " Neddy " can work, but does not relish it ; and if he was placed on one of these machines, he would be as unable to shirk as felons on the old-fashioned English tread-mills. Donkies can be bought in England for $5 a piece, and are as plentiful as blackberries. By means of these machines, they might be made useful in pumping water for irrigating purposes, cutting bay and straw, grinding grain, &c. The Rubal Annual for 1857. — Our esteemed corres- pondent, W. Livingston, Esq., of Laurenceburg, Pa., writes ; " Have received the Rural Annual for 1857. I am exceedingly pleased with it. It far surpasses my expecta- tions. 1 first had an idea that it was about the same aa the one for 186G, and hence, as I had that, it would not bo of any benefit to me. But I find it entirely different, and superior to the one for '56. Indeed, I consider the Rural Annval for '57 as good — containing as much information — as ' Pardee on the Grape,' the price of which is GO cents. Eyery cultivator of a foot of land should have it." 2^0 THE GENESEE FARMER. Egtptiajt Wheat. — The Scotsman says that '• some »talks of wheat were laid before the Paris Academy of Sciences on the 2d of March, derired from five grains found in an Egyptian tomb by a Monsieur Deouilaud. (since deceased,) sown in 18i9, and which yielded a return 9( 1,200 for 1. Since 1853, grains of this wheat have been pretty widely disseminated ; and the results of various ex- periments upon it. made under the direction of the local authorities, and of certain members of the Agricultural Society of Morlaix, nominated by the Sub- Prefect to in- qaire into the subject, were submitted to the Academy. Tliey were in substance as follows : Sown broadcast on ooe-half of a piece of land, of which tlie other half was sown with the common wheat of the country, the return was GO for 1, while that of the latter was 15 for 1 ; and the mean return in France is 7 or 8 for 1. The same Egyptian wheat, sown grain by grain in a line, gave a re- turn of 6.S0 for 1. The wheat, since its fecundity became known, has been much in request, and is sold at four or five times the price of common wheat. The stalks sub- mitted to the Academy were more than two metres (six and a half feet) in length, and each carried from twenty to forty fine ears." «-•-. . Mk. Tixus Salt, an eminent English manufacturer, has SQCceeded in introducing the Alpaca sheep and the Ano-o- ra goat into the mountainous region of South Australia. Mr. S. was the first to demonstrate that the wool of the Alpaca could be worked up into a woven fabric, and it is now in considerable demand. The weight of fleece is said to be about ten pounds, and it brings about sixty cents per pound in the raw state. The wool of the Angora goat is worth about seventy cents per pound. The animals were obtained with considerable difficulty, on account of the jealousy of the Peruvian government, in whose coun- try the Alpaca is only found. They were taken to Eng- land and kept for some time on a farm, prior to being shipped to Australia. The Wheat Chop in Indiana. — Our esteemed corres- pondent, Elijah Thomas, of Independence, Warren Co., lad., writes that " the wheat crop looks very well ; like other crops, it is backwaixl, and we have not yet com- menced harvesting, but, if nothirg befals it, there will be more wheat raised in this portion of Indiana than has ever been grown in one year heretofore. The prospect for oats and grass has never been better." Pkojlific Lawton Blackbereies. — We had the plea- sure of seeing, a few days since, a fine plantation of New Rochelle blackberries, on the grounds of Mr. C. P. Brs- SELL, of this city. On one stalk, by actual count, thera were three hundred and sizty-two perfect berries, and there were other stalks in the same hill covered with fruit. The bearing plants were set out last year. ' The Great National Trial of Keapers and Mow- ers AT Stkacdse is in progress at the time we go to press (July 21). Though fewer machines were entered than was expected, the trial has been one of great interesst. We understand that the awards will not be made till tb« meeting of the United States Agricultural Society, to b« held at Louisville, Ky., October 1 — 6. i Quality of Beef.— At the International Fat Cattle Show, at Paris, the beef of the prize animals was brought to the table roasted. The .Tudges awarded as to quality : West Highland ox, Scotch, first ; Devon ox, second ; French ©X, third ; Short-horn and Angus, Scotch cross, fourth ; Angus, Scotch, fifth ; French ox, si.xth ; Short-horn, Eng- lish, seventh ; French, eighth. For soup and boiled beef, tiie English Short-horn English ox, first. PeoK Butter. — The Committee on Dairy Products, at the Worcester Co. (Mass.) Agricullural Society, say in their Report : " Phap.aoh, with all his ingenuity, never invented for the Children of Israel a more intolerable in- fiiction than he could have done if he had imposed upon liiem tljo penalty of being obliged to eat poor butter." Japan Peas. — The editor of the North Western Fanner an excellent monthly published at Dubuque, Iowa, has tried to raise Japan peas for three years in succession ; but though he got plenty of vines, he obtained only a few half grown peas. They will ripen in this section under very favorable circumstances, but must be regarded as very an- certain. " Charcoal a Cure for the Striped Bug. — It may be implicitly depended upon. Dust it on from a seive or coal-sifter. If the rains wash it off, put it on again. "We have used soot with good effect, but recommend charcoal- dust on the strength of the most reliable personal testis mony — there is no humbug in it." So says the Homesimd. Turnips may be sown to good advantage on placea where early vegetables have ripened in the garden ; and by doing so, we may have a good many excellent dinners some of the cold days that we expect during the winter. Gates, N- ¥. D. — *•« — Receipts fob Pkeservinq Fruits, &c. — We should feel greatly obliged to any of our lady readers for season- able receipts for preserving fruits, Tegetables, &c. Edward Everett will deliver the address at the New York State Fair, to be held at Buffalo, October 6th to 9th. (John Lowe, Fayetteville.) In this section, the Bntisii Queen strawberry is not worth cultivating. In the South- ern States, it is said to do better. W^hen well grown, it is considerably larger than Hovey's Seedling. The Boston Pine will fertilize Hovey's Seedling equally as well as the Early Scarlet. The Hooker is one of the largest and best staminates we are acquainted with. It may not do as well with you as with us, bat it is eminently worthy a trial. (M. A. Richardson, Sherman, N. Y.) The cheapeat way of deodorizing night-soil is to mix it with dry Binek. Wo know of no chemical process that can be profitably applied. (S. L., Windsor.) The best way to destroy rose-bng*, is to sytinge the under side of the leaves with tobacco wa-^ ter. S«e &Ir. Salteb's article in last Qam]i>er, pags 322. THE GENESEE FARMER. 2dl (J. li., alichi^an.) Gas Limk. — You are mistaken in sup- posing tint jjas liiuc contains a l;ir_:.'e quantity of ammonia. We lire uware tliat some writers have inaJe such u state- ment, but it is certainly nitliout foundation. Cliemical »ualv-;ls indicates — or we wouhi rather say demmistratcs — that gas lime is of less value than common lime. Practi- «a! experience confirms this. In England, where many eiperinients have been made with it, gas lime sells for less \A\\\\ frf^h lime from the kiln. (II. li. Dknkochk, PJielpsville.) Hemlock tan-bark is an excellent muloli for strawberries ; we do not think it has much fertilizing value. Some " special manure " writers have argued that its tannic acid is Tery valuable for strawberries. Of this, however, there is no evidence. You had better get the tan-bark now, and put it in a heap where it will dry. If turned over occasionally acd ex- jHwcd to the air, so much the better. We regard tan- baik as the best of all waste substances to mulch with. (R. G.) TuKXip Fly. — As soon as the turnip plants appear, dust them with a little air-slacked lime. A quart of slacked lime to the square rod, or five bushels per acre, is about the proper quantity. This remedy has proved very generally effectual. If yon try it, please report the result. iB. K., C. W.) You can obtain the New Rochelle or Lawton Blackberry at most of the leading nurseries. Mr. C, P. Bi.ssELL, of this city, who is making the cultivation of this fruit ?omewhat of a specialty, will undoubtedly be able to satisfactoril? fill vour order this fall. (G. E. HiLDRETH.) The oat crop is one of the worst tliat can be sown in an orchard. If you must sow some crop, let it be beans, potatoes, corn, or some other crop that can be horse-hoed. Best Time to Cut Chestnut Timbkr fob Kails iND Posts. — In reply to the inquiry of Mr. Hakbis, an experienced correspondent says : " Tlie beat time to cut chestnut timber for rails and posts, is — when the farmer seldom has time to do it — in July and August, when the bark peels ; and if he will fall a few trees then, and take particular notice, he will find that all the little limbs will season hard, and remain sound longer than those cut in the following spring." GAKaKT. — In reply to the inquiry in your paper, I would state that I have, on two occai'.ons, inserted a piece of garget root in the dewlap, and it effected a perfect cure. 8. K. GTiviiX. — Sheepscot Bridge, Me, backward springs? I would suggest tliat we do moat of our plowing in tlie fivll, so that, v^hcn the ground is dry enougli, we will loae no time in putting in our crops. You may s ly, underdrain it ; but will it |)ay on our Inlly, hard- pan land, where tlie hard-pan is from six to twenty inches under the surface, and not much of it over one foot, and farms sell at from fifteen to twenty dollars pur acre, ana no drain tile to be had? Now, Messrs. Editois, jou maj suggest something that might benefit us. By the way. would you recommend the use of the subsoil |)low on tlie above described land ? 1. llANDAi.L. — Masouviile, Dtla- wai-f Co., N. Y., Jane 15. We hope some of our correspondents will discuss this- subject. Cux.TUKB or GuAi'ES. — I would like to see an article ia the Parmer on the cultivation of the grape, commencing in the spring when the cutting is planted, and then give tb» work of each year distinct until after the vine has com- menced to bear fruit ; and to designate the sort of grape whose cultivation they are describing, as there is a differ- ence in pruning best suited to different varieties. Dr. Ward lilt, in the Rural Annual for 1856, wrote well on grape culture, but his remarks are mainly in reference to- the Catawba, and I think on that he might have beeu more definite. All that I have seen written on the grape, appears better suited for the instruction of those w1m> have had some experience, rather than for the new be- ginner. W. Livingston. — Laureiueburg. Pa. Will some of our readers give us an article on the cul- ture of the grape ? I WOULD inquire through your columns for the best anA cheapest method of improving my lanl. The soil is a gravelly, sandy loam, intemixed with slate. Timber — oak, chestnut, sugar, and some hickory, with a little birch, beech and ash. Subsoil well mixed with sand and gravel. Would it be well to plow deep ? The soil is only about four inches thick. Lime and plaster have been applied with very little success. Lime has, in some cases, helped a little. Manure will not last long. Would buckwheat and clover be beneficial as a manuiing crop, to be plowed- under? Sorrel prevails to some extent. If lime should be applied, please state the number of bushel per acre. Uenky Allfathek. — Berlin, Sumerset^Co., Pa. Will some of our experienced correspondents answer the above ? I WISH to inquire through the Genesee Farmer if it i» necessary to underdrain land consisting of alluvial, loamv soil, two feet deep, resting on a layer of loam and gravel, quite compact, of about a foot in depth, then loose gravel, the depth of which is not known. We have dug thirty feet, and gravel continued. Water does not usually re- main on the surface, even after heavy showers. Would a garden be materially benefited by underdraining on such land? Our garden is on such land, and it sometimes bakes- pretty hard. How can that be prevented ? or, what is the cause? for it did not formerly bake at all. There are thousands of angle-worm.s, sometimes called " crawlers ; " do they do any mischief? D. Edwards. — Little Genesee, N. Y. The weather is such that it is an excuse for not working out of doors ; so I have concludod to write a few lines to you, for the purpose of obtaining a little information. The weather here has been exceedingly wet, and vegetation came forward very late and backward ; for example, ap- ple trees have but just shed their blossoms. Many people have not planted their potatoes ; some are but just done sowing oat^, and several have not sown all they wanted. The reason of their being so late is — first, the lateness of the spring, when they could commence their spring's work ; and second, the uncommon quantity of rain, and wetness of the ground. There has been but a small part of the time that the ground has been dry enough to work. Now, what caa we do to forward our work, sucb oold, wet and The grading of our street has removed all the surface soil, and left me nothing but a miserably pi. or, cumpaet I slate, in which to plant street trees. IJow shall I do? I And what trees wiJl do best in such a locality ? Your item in regard to •' Six Good Shade 1'rees," in the July Parmer, leaves me in the dark as to which of the varieties is best adapted to my slate, and my hard, tough clay. Will the sugar maple do well ? And does the American e!«i bear clipping well ? 1. P. I. — HoUidaysburg, Pa. Wou/.D it not be good policy to build dams across shower broolcs, and other small streams, to stop Itaveiand other substances that are carried down and lost to th« ' farmer ? Perhaps some of your correspondents oan tall ^ whether it would pn.y to dam_such streams for the ma- nune. C. E. Uiia>KiLTH. 262 raS GENESEE FAEMER. No DOUBT many of the very numerous readers of the Genesee Fartner know sometliing about the cause and treatment of horses that are stove in the shoulder. I would like very milch to ask, through its columns, for some information about it, as I have a valuable horse quite lame in the fore feet, and I am told that this is the cause. The lameness is scarcely perceptible when he is in motion ; but let him stand still for some time, and he moves off quite lame. By inserting this, and drawing out the opinions of some of your many intelligent readers, you will much oblige a subscriber. J. A. Gatin. — Bluffton, Ind. Can you inform me of a remedy for small red ants in fruit and vegetable gardens, and also how I can raise good radishes ? I cannot get any free from grubs. A small white grub makes them good for nothing ; and the ants are very injurious. John Parby. — Fort Edward, N. Y. Grass for Low Lands.~I have heard it said that Rib- bon grass (I do not know the scientific name) will grow well on marshy grounds, and form a smooth, tough turf, that will bear up a team, and makes good hay or pasture. Have your readers had any experience with it ? H. I HATE an excellent cow, that loses a large portion of her milk by leakage. If you, or any of your thousands of readers, can g-ive a remedy, through your jonrnal, by which I can secure the milk, they will confer a favor on more than one individual. D. — Gates, N. Y. Mushrooms. — Will some of your correspondents in- form me where mushroom spawn can be obtained, and at what price, together with some hints in regard to the cul- tivation of this delicious fungus? Conslatino. — Nassa- giwega, C \V. ADVERTISEMENTS, To sectiTe insertion in the Farmer, must be received a:> early »s the 10th of the previous month, and be of such a character as to b* of interest to farmers. Terms -"Two Dollars kr everj hundred words, each insertion, paid in adva:«ob. TO LYCEUMS, LITERARY AND AGRICULTURAL SO- CIETIES. THE unJersicmed, grateful for past patronage, renews the offer of his services as a Speaker at County and Town Fairs, and as a Lecturer on Horticulture, " Natural Beauty," Moral Beauty, and " The Science of MaJiing Homes Happv." Address JAMES 0. MILLER. Jr., August 1. — It.* Montgomery, Orange Co., N. T. VALUABLE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN VIEGINL&. THE undersigned, acting as Agent, has a large number of FARMS FOR SALE, of all sizes, many of them on the Rappahan- NocK,PiANK]TANK and Potomac Rivers. I will enumei-ate a few : There is one, containing about 400 acres, lying immediately on the K appahannock, about eight or ten miles from its mouth, level as a floor, .and in good condition; one on the Piankitank, about fif- te en miles from its mouth, containing about 1,700 acred, on which is a considerable quantity of Cord Wood, where vessels of the largest clasBl can load with the greatest ease — there is on this Farm a great abundince of the finest Marl ; and one on the Potomac, a b eautiful residence, where Fish, Oysters and Wild Fowl abound in their seasons. It is unnecessary for me to give a list of all the Estates at this time in my possession for sale ; suffice it to say, that whether those Vo want desire either Arable or Timber Land, I can supply them. tt^AU letters promptly answered. My post-office is Lancatier Court House, Virginia. B. H. ROBINSON. August 1. — It. IXIENSIVE AND IMPORTANT SALE OF IMPORTED AND PURE-BRED SHORT-HORNED CATTLE, Cotewold and South-down Rams, Berkshire and Yorkshire Pigs, MR. W. S. G. KNOWLES has received instructions from FREnERICK yVU. STONE, Esq., to sell bv AUCTION at MORETO.V LODGE, on WEDNESDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF SKPTI'^MBER NEXT, upwards of SO head of Imported and IHire-bred Short-horned Cattle, comprising Bulls, Cows and Heifers, of different ages. Also, 15 Imported and Pure-bred Cotswold Rams; 1 Ram and 10 Imported Southdown Ewes, and 10 Ram Lambs ; 3 Imported Berksliire Boars, and a nAmb»r of Berkshire and Yorkshire Pigs, of the Small Breed, from s'ock imported in 1856. The greater portion of the stock at Moreton Lodge are imported animals from the Herds af Sir Charles Knightly, Col. Kingsoote, Capt. Gunter, Messrs. Tanqueray, Bowly, Jonas Webb, Bolden, Sandy, Mortons, and Henry Ambler, selected by James Kuowle*, Esq., whose judgment in the selection and management of the celebrated Tortworth Herd (late Lord Ducie's) us a guarantee of the Moreton Lodge Herd, as respects first class blood, fine qualitj-, good symmetry, and milking qualities. This sale ofi'ers to the Breeders of North America the rare op- portunity of obtaining FIRST CLASS STOCK, without the risk of a sea voyage, and great expense connected therewith; and of- fers to our American friends a selection from many of the First Herds of England, at a small cost of time and money to obtain them. The Cotswold Sheep are from the Flocks of Messrs. Slatter, Ruck 'and Beale Brown; the South-downs from Sir R. Thock- raorton's Flock, and from the same stock as the Prize Wethers for several years successful winners at the Birmingham and Smithfield Shows ; the Pigs fjom Sir R. Thockmorton's and Capt. Guntar's stock. Jjl^" Parties from Lower Canada and the Eastern States, reach- ing Toronto on the 15th, can leave at 8 A. M. on the 16th by the Grand Trunk Railroad and arrive at Guelph at 10 A. M. ; and from the Western States, via the Great Western Railroad leaving Wind- sor in the early morning train on the 156h, reach Guelph the sam« afternoon. Terms.— Uncer $200, ca-sh; $200 to $500, four months; over $500, six months, on approved endorsed nott^s, with interest, or a discount of 10 per cent, for cash. ffT^ Refreshments at eleven ; sale to commence punctually at twelve o'clock. 2;^^" Catalogues are in preparation, with Pedigrees, &c., and vill be ready for delivery by the 15th of August. Morton Lodge, Guelph, C. W., Aug. ), 18S7.— 2t« ATKINS' AUTOMATON, SELF-RAKING EEAPER AND MOWER. 8^-BEST MACHINE IN USE. ^,^8 1 (the first) built In 1853. 4.-0 iisrd snccessfuUy In 1853. 300 In fllffertnt States In 1854. 1.300 well distributed In 1855. 8,800 tUrougliout the Union In 1836. 5,U00 building for 1857, THERE are six good reasons for this unparalleled increase sod great popularity. 1st. It is strong and reliable, aad easily managed. 2d. It saves the hard labor of raking. 3d. It saves at least another hand in binding. 4th. It saves shattering by th« careful handling in raking; besides, the straw being laid straight, it is well secured in the sheaf, and does not drop in the after- handling, and the heads are not exposed in the stack, so that the GRAIN saving even exceeds the labor saving. 6th. It is a good Mower, being one of the best convertible Machines in use. 6th. 14 has a knife that does not choke. ^ Over 80 First Premituns Received in Four Tears. JTg'^ Price of Reaper and Mower, $190 — $50 cash, balance in nota due Jan. 1. 1858. Price of Reaper only, $165 — $40 cash, balance ia note due Jan. 1, 1868. For cash, 12 per cent, discount from the above prices. To secure a Machine, order immediately. Though so little known the past season, and none ready for delivery till the first of Ma^ yet not two-thirds of the customers could be supplied. The repu- tation of the Machine is now widely established, so that 6,060 witt not as nearly supply the demand as 2,800 did last year. ^^ Order early, if yon would not be disappointed. Pamphlets, giving impartially the OPINIONS OF FARMERS, together with orders, notes, &c., mailed to applicants, and prepaid. ff:^ H. P. HAPGOOD, of Rochester, N. Y., is the General Agent fbr the above Machine in New York, to whom all letters relative to sales, &c., in this State should be addressed. Traveling and Local Agents \raiited. June 1.— St. THE GEi^ESEE FAll^rER. 263 PRATT'S AUTOMATON APPLE SLICER. NKW WORK! NOW IN PRESS I SORGHO AND IMPHEE, THE CHINESE AND AFRICAN SUGAR CANES. A COMPLETE Treatise upon their Origin, VarietieH, Culture and Us(ia; their value as a Forage Crop, and directions for making Sugar, Molasses, Alcohol, Sparkling and Still Wines, Beer, CidirT, Vinegar, I'ajier, Starch and Dye-Stults. KUl.LY ILMlsrUATED with Dhawinos of ArrnoTED Ma- OJInkhy; witli un Appendix by Leonard Wray, of Caffraria, and a description of liis patented process for crystiilizing the juice of th« Imphee ; witli the latest American experiments, including those o( 1867 in the South. By Hbnry S. Olcott. To -which are added translations of valuable French pamphlets received from the lion. John Y. M:ison, American Minister at Parij. Price O.vd Dollar. Sent by mail, post-paid. Orders taken inmiediately. Those firi received will be tirst tilled. C. M. SAXTON & CO., Agricultural Book Publishers, August 1. — It. 140 Fulton street. New YoA. TO PERSONS OUT OF IMPLOYMENT- WANTED, in every county in the United States, active, indus- trious and enterprising men, a-s Agents for the sale, by sub- scription, of valuable and interesting Books; all of them being expressly adapted to the wants of every family, and containing nothing of a pernicious or injurious tendency. Our publication* are among the best in the country, and good agents can realize a profit of from $2 to $3 per day by engaging in the business. A small capital of only $20 to $50 is required. For further partica- lars, address ROBERT SEARS, Publisher, August 1.— 2t. No. 181 William street. New York. OsE Dollar A Year. — Circulation over 100,000 Copies Weeklt. THE accompanj ing cut represents a Machine for Cutting and slicing Apples, patented by E. L. Pratt, November 11th, 1865. Perhaps in no class of articles or utensils for family use, has as manifest an improvement been attained as in Machines for Paring and Slicing Apples. Five years have bardly elapsed since a patent was granted to the same party for a Machine for Paring Apples. — Such has been its popularity, that many hundred thousands have already been manufactured and sold. The introduction of the Parer enables one person, or even a child, to accomplish as much labor as eight or ten persons could do ty the old process of paring by hand. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SLICER proves equally advan- tageous, as by its use one person can slice, in a much better man- ner, EIGHT OR TEN TIMES as many apples as can possibly be done by hand in the game time. Such is the speed and rapidity loitA tcliich it operates, that an apple can he sliced in. twenty equal parts ia about three seconds. This Slicer has been made expressly to accompany the Parer. It is strongly and handsomely construct- ed, sold at a LOW PRICE, and, when once used, must prove to the Parer a companion never more to be separated. It is particularly adapted to those who prepare DRIED FRUIT for market, as the slices produced by this Machine retain their flavor to a surprising- degree, and are dried in about half the time usually required. Jltp^I^or iale at all the principal Hardware and Agricultural Warehouses. For further information, apply to A. M. COLLINS & CO., August 1. — It. 606 Minor street,'^Philadelphia. THE ASHLAND CLOVER HULLING & CLEANING MACHINES, THE BEST liV THE WORLD I They hare taken the First Premium at the TVorlis Fair, Ohio and Michigan State Fairs, County Fairs, and wherever exhibited. THESE Machines are vrai ranted to hull and clean from 20 to 50 bushels of seed per day. They have been long tried, and found to be the most reliable and durable. These Machines, with all the improvements, are made only by the subscribers, who have on hand a large number for the season of 1857. S^W Send for a Circular, and order early. Price from $90 to $100, Jl^" We are also manufacturing Horse Powers and Threshers, wilh straw Separators, designed for farmers' own use. Every far- mer should have one. MANSFIELD & WHITING, Proprieiors of the Ashland Agricultural Works, Angnst 1. — It* Ashland, Ohio. NEW ROCHEILE (OR LAWTON) BLACKBERRY. PLANTS FOR SALE AT rWO DOLLARS AND A HALF PER DOZEN, SIXTEEN DOLLARS PER HUNDRED, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS PER THOUSAND. C. P. BIS3ELL, Rochester, N. Y., East Avenue, near H. E. Hooker & Co.'s Com'l Nurseries. August 1.— 3t. 55 WITNESSES; OR, THE FORGER CONVICTED. JOHiV S. DYE IS THE AUTHOR, WTio has had ten years' experience as a Banker and Publisher, and Author of A Series of Lectures at ttie Broadway Tabema«l«, When, for ten successive nights, over 113^50,000 PEOPLE ,^^3 Greeted him with Rounds of Applause, while he exhibited tlu manner in which Counterfeiters execute their Frauds, and the Surest and Shortest Means of Detecting them ! The Bank Note Engravers all say that he is the Greatest Judge if Paper Money living. Greatest Discovery of llie Present Century FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES, Describing every Genuine Bill in Existence, and Exhibitiiig at a glance every Counterfeit in Circulation ! 1 Arranged so admirably that REFERENCE IS EASY, and DE- TECTION INSTANTANEOUS. I^° No Index to Examine I No Pages to Hust tip I „^3 But so simplified and arranged that the Merchant, Banker aod Business Man can see all at a glance. Englisli, French and German. Thus each may read the same in his own Native Tongue. Most Perfect Bank Note List PnbllsIiecL Also, A List of all tlie Private Bankers In America. A Complete Summary of the FINANCE OF EUROPE AND AMERICA will be published in ca-;h edition, together with all the Important NEWS OF THE DAY. Also, A Series of Tales From an Old Manuscript found in the East. It fumiahaa the Most Complete History of ORIENTAL LIFE, Describing the Most Perplexing Positions in which the Ladies tm Gentlemen of that Country have been so often found. TIi '■■'■» Stories will continue throughout the whole year, and will pro v the Most Entertaining ever offered to the Public. JJ^ Furnished Weekly to Subscribers only, at $1 a year. ^ letters must be addressed to JOHN S. DYE, BKoiiR, Publisher and Proprietor, 79 Wall street. New Yoi*-, May 1, 1857.— ly. 264 THE GENESEE FARMER. Prices of Agricultural Preclucts at the Principal Markets in the United States, Canada and England. NEW YORK, July 20th. PIIILADELP'IA, July 18th. EOC HESTER, July 20t,h. CHICAGO, July ISth. TORONTO, July ISth. LONDON, ENQ,, July 6th. Beef, per 100 lbs do mess, per bbl., . . Pork, per 100 lbs...... do mess, per bbl.... Lard, per lb., Butter, do Oheese, do Flour, per bbl., Wheat, per bush iiora, shelled, per bu.. Eye, do Oata, do Barley, do Clover Seed, do Timothy Seed, do Flax Seed, do $10.00 @ $12.00 28.00 31.00 7.75 8.'25 19.25 19.50 .U% .15 .15 .24 .05 .09 6.25 10 50 1.50 1.95 .83 .8b 1.15 1.16 .58 .65 $11.50 @ $12.50 $5.75 @ $6.00 $7.00 @ $8.00 $7.00 @ $7.50 $8.25 @ $18.00 8.00 .ti)4 .12 .08 7.00 1.85 9.00 24.00 .15 .16 .10 8.75 1.90 .88 10 50 15.00 19.00 23.50 .15 .16 .14 .19 .13 .18 .13 7.92 1.62 1.08 .90 .57 1.1 1 .17 .25 .10 6.25 1.61 .95 .70 .30 8.00 1.S5 1.00 1.00 ,75 1,00 .21 .06 6.75 1.21 .68 .07 6.00 1.75 .71 .18 7.00 9.50 1.85 1.93 .85 .87 1.05 1.10 .55 .56 8.6i 2.19 1.17 1.00 .50 .56 1.00 .75 6.50 2.63 ..54 .80 7.00 2.75 .99 1.32 7.00 7.50 4.00 4.50 1.95 2.04 2.16 8.00 .86 4.50 13.00 .40 5.00 20.00 .25 25.00 .40 16.00 .30 20.00 .31 .36 .42 .85 .623^ Wood, hard, per cord, i![,oviUnts of t^is Numitr. Oultivation of Wheat, - Premium Crop of Carrots, . The Horse Charm, How Nature Imparts Fertility to Land, Items Suggested by the July Number, Notes for the Month, by S. W., The May Beetle - A Glance at Virginia Agriculture, .... Objeets of Hoeing,. Applying and Leaving Manures upon the Surf:ice, CultiTation of Winter Wheat, Keeping Sheep on Good Land, Cattle Disease in Ohio, Sound Corn, -. A Farmer's Opinion of "Agricultural Quackery" Eeasona why our Agricultural Societies should and bhould not offer Premiums for a Public Exhibition of Lady Equestri- anism, Teaching Animals, - Clean Meadows, To Clean Cockle out of Wheat, Design for a Brick Farm House, What shall we Raise in place of Wheat? How to Bind the Wildest Horse for Shoeing, and the Wildest Cow for Milking, — HORTICULTUBAL DBPARTMKNT. Annnal Notes on Strawberries, 250 Ammonia in Green Houses, 251 Horticultural Operations for .\u gust, 251 In " My New Garden "—No. 2, 252 Shade Trees, 2.52 Summer and Autumn Planting, 253 Celeriac, or Turuip-rooted Celery, 254 Cultivating the Egg Plant, 254 The Cultivation of Flowers, 254 Apple Tree Caterpillars, 255 Gardening at the North Pole, 255 T.AmBS' DKPARTMENT. Ti«diea should do their own Gardening, 2oS A Re.^idence in the Country or City, 256 The Farm House, 256 An E.\;cellent Way to prepare Green Corn for Winter Use, 256 Original Domestic Receipts, 267 bditor's tablb. Rteto Fairs for 1S.57, The Rural New Yorker— Once More, Working Land in the Fall, Wax, American Horse Powers in England, _ The Rural Annual for 1857, Egyptian Wheat, Snti-odnction of the Alpaca Sheep and Angora Goat into Aus- tralia,.. • '•■ 2.i8 258 259 259 25P 259 260 260 The Wheat Crop in Indiana, . 260 Quality of Beef, 2«0 Poor Butter 260 Prolific Lawton Blackberries, 260 National Trial of Reapers and Mowers at Syracuse, 260 Japan Peas, 269 Charcoal a Cure for the Striped Bug, 260 Receipts for Pre.serving Fruits, &c., 260 Inciuiries and Answers, 280 ILLtrgTRATIONS. Six Fignre.% represanting different vaiieties of Wheat, 253 Brick Farm House 248 Moth of the Cut Worm, 2.52 FIRST CLASS FAMILY JOURNALS. —LIFE ILLUSTRATED: A Fiivst-Class Pictorial Paper, weekly. $2 a yenr; $1 for half a year WATER-CUKE JOURNAL: Devoted fo the Laws of Life and Hfalth. $1 a year PHRE- NOLOGICAL JOURNAL: Devoted to the Improvement of Man- kind. $1 a year. The three Journals sent one year for $3. Ad- dress FOWLER AND WELLS, No. 308 Broadway, New York. August 1. — 2t. A. LONGETT, No. 34 CLIFF STREET, NEW YORK, DEALER in Peruvian, Colombi.^n and Mexican Guano Super- phosphate of Lime, and Bone Dust, June 1. — 4t. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO NURSERYMEN, QUINCE STOCKS FOR SALE. WE have on hand a Large stock of the best Angers and I'aris or Fontenay Quince Stocks, rased by ourselves from Stocks and from Cuttings, both of which we will sell on more reasonablt terms than they can be imported. Early orders are solicited. H. E. HOOKER k CO., July 1. — 4t. Commercial Nurseries, Rochester, N. T. The Practical and Scientific Farmer's Chun Paper, THE GENESEE FARMER, A MONTHLY JOtJRNAL OF A.GRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, ILLrJKTHATKD WITH KTJMEROtJS EX0RATING3 OP Farm Buildings, Animals, Implements, Fruits, &e. VOLUME XVIII. FOR 1857. Fifty Cents a Year, In Advance. Five Co]nes for $2 ; Eight Copies for $3 ; and any larger number at the same rate. f!^^ All subpcriptions to commence with the year, and ths en- tire volume supplied to all subscribers. in^ Post-Mastrrs, Farsieks, and all friends of improvement are respectfully solicited to obfctin and forward subscriptions. Sppi'imon numbfrs sent to all applicants. Subscription money, if properly enclosed, may be .sent at the ridt of the Publisher. Address jose:fh harkis, June, 18d7. Rochester, Neva Verk. Vol. XVIII, Secoxd Sekies. ROCHESTER, N. Y., SEPTEMBER, 1857. No. 9. THE FKACTICAL XJULITY OF SOIL ANALYSES. Friknd Harris: — I have just read your leading editorial in the July number of the Farmer on "Ag- ricultural Quackery;" and while agreeing with you in feeling and sentiment on the principal points dis- cussed, it strikes me that you have been less guarded in your remarks in reference to the value of soil an- alyses than the importance of the subject demanded. Still taking an interest in the reputation of the Gen- esee Farmer for the extent and accuracy of its in- formation, as well in the science as in the practice of agriculture, I shall regret to see it undervalue anal- ytical chemistry as applied either to the investigation of manures, or the composition of vegetable and ani- mal products, or of the soils from which these products are necessarily derived. You justly commend the anal- ysis of Gould's Muriate of Lime made by Prof. Johx- sox, and confidently appeal to forty-two analyses of barley and wheat by " reliable chemists," to show that the former takes more of phosphates than the latter from the soil; and at the same time you tell your readers, in positive terms, that "no chemist in the world, by the most rigid analysis of the soil, can de- termine the point whether water ascending into a soil in dry weather, by capillary attraction, brings with it salts of soda, potash, lime and magnesia, &c., or not," as stated by Mr. Pell. In many cases, the difference in the amount of so- luble salts in the earth, at and near its surface, in dry and wet weather, may be inappreciable; but that such is always the case, there is no good reason for saying or believing. On the contrary, the subject deserves a more thorough' investigation than it has yet received in any country. If true, the fact would be extraordinary, that a chemist of the experience and attainments of Prof. Johnson should be able to determine the value, as plant-food, of an earthly "stuff inferior to leached ashes," consisting, like soils, of six or seven per cent of " organic matter," of "sand, eoluble silica, alumina, iron, lime, potash, soda, mag- BBsia, chlorine, sulphuric and carbonic acids, and water," and not be able to give any useful infonua- tton in reference to the presence or absence, scarcity w- abundance, of any of these constituents of crops in cultivated land. Destroy the value of chemistry in its application to the organic and inorganic food of ^ricultural plants in the soil, and you virtually dam- age it to an equal extent in its application to these substances when organized in the bodies of all living beings, although life may be extinct Certainly, you did Qot contemplate aoy such injury to agricultural chemistry, but only wished to shield it from the abuse of quacks and quackery, and protect unscientific readers from imposition. All upright men will ap- preciate and applaud this purpose; and at the same time, they would wish you not to intimate that all knowledge derived from the analyses of soils is a humbug, unless you have good proof that such is the fact Even in that case, the proof should follow closely the mere assertion of what chemistry can or cannot do in all questions of doubt and controversy. Athens, Ga. D. Lee. Remarks. — We thank Pro£ Lee for his friendly criticism. His views on this important subject are worthy of respectful consideration, and we cheerfully accord his letter a prominent place in our columns. We do not " undervalue analytical chemistry as ap- plied either to the investigation of manures or the composition of vegetable and animal product*."' We believe that correct chemical analyses afford a true criterion of the value of manures, and furnish im- portant and satisfactory information in regard to the amount of plant-food which the various crops remove from the soil. On these points Dr. Lee and ourselves are perfectly agreed. It is only in regard to the practical utility of soil analyses that we diflffer. Here is a soil too poor for profitable cultivation. Ten acres of it do not produce grass enough to keep a cow, and the last time it was sown to wheat, it jielded only four bushels per acre. "Now, Mr. Chemist, I want you to analyze this soil, and tell me what it lacks to make it produce good crops. Can you afford me the desired information ?" Saeh in- quiries are frequently addressed to us. We always reply: " We can make an analysis of your soil, but, to be candid, we think it will be of no use to you. It will not shoic you what your soil needs to make it ■productive. The analysis may afford some interest ing information — it may point out the presence of some deleterious substance — but it wiU not furnish you the information you desire." Oar reasons fox this advice we will briefly state. In addition to the four organic elements, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon— and of which tiie at- mosphere is the original source — all our commonly cultivated plants contain potash, soda, lime, magne- sia, phosphoric and sulphuric acids, silica, and chlorine. When a plant is burned in the open air, the foor former are dissipated in the form of oarbonie acid, ammonia and water; the eight latter substances are found in the ashes. They are usually termed " inor- ganje «lem^t&," or eoil eonstituents. Plants csui ob- 266 THE GEI^ESEE FARMER, tain them only through their roots, from the soil. If a soil is destitute of even one of these erght sub- stances, no agricultural plant will grow on it. Ml cultivated soils, therefore, contain every one of these inorganic substances. If they did not, no plant would grow upon them. All naturally fertile soils contain a full supply of these substances in an avail- able condition, or in such a state that they are ren- dered available by the ordinary processes of tillage. Poor soils may be unproductive, and even incapable ©f profitable cultivation, from a deficiency of tome one or more of these substances — but they are not entirely destitute of any one of them, if capable of producing a blade of grass or a Canada thistle. It is unnecessary, therefore, to resort to chemical analysis to ascertain the presence or absence of any of the inorganic element of plants. Messrs. Bram- Ba.E, Thistle & Co. assure us that they are all present in the soil, and their authority on this point cannot he questioned. If an analysis of a soil, therefore, is of any practi- cal value, it must be in determining not the presence or absence of this or that particular substance, but whether it exists in sufficient quantity for the growth ©f maximum crops. JVe think that the most thor- ough chemical analysis cannot determine this point. For instance, we have seen, growing side by side, two crops of turnips. One crop yielded less than seven ]mndred pounds of hxxlhs per acre, while the other yielded over ten tons of bulbs per acre. One soil was evidently too poor to grow turnips, while the other gave a fair crop. Now, what was the differ- ence between these two soils ? Simply this: the one had been manured with superphosphate of lime and Uie other had not. In all other respects these soils were alike. One acre contained ffty pounds more sf phosphoric acid than the other. Could any chem- Mt in the world have determined by the most rigid analysis which soil contained the extra fifty pounds ©f phosphoric acid ? Let us see. An acre of soil seven inches deep, weighs at least two million pounds. Fifty pounds of phosphoric acid mixed with it would be one part in forty thousand. Such a minute quan- tity is far beyond the rang^e of quantitative analysis. The determination of phosphoric acid in a soil is so difficult that a chemist congratulates himself when duplicate analyses of the same soil agree^within one part in a thousand. If our friend J)v. Lee should make two analyses of the same soil, and one analysis gave the percentage of phosphoric acid as 0.1 and the other as 0.2, he would consider the ^alysis a good one, and, taking the mean—say the soil contain- ed 0.15 per cent, of phosphoric acid. This, at least, is the usual way. Now, according to one of these analyses, an acre of the soil, seven inches deep, con- , tains 2^000 pounds of phosphoric acid, and according, to the other 4,000 pounds. The actual quantity present in the soil probably lies between these figures, but the exact amount it is impossible to tell, and tijere is no certainty whether it is nearest to two iheztsond or four thousarji pounds per acre. How utterly impossible is it, therefore, to determine the dffierence between two soils, one of which contains fifty pounds more phosphoric acid tlian the otLer, aiid yet one ir poor and tke otlier productive. Ad- mifLlng that it is sometimes }iOjsible to get duplicate ^jijjiv.ses to agree wiihin one teii- thousand th, the chemist would be still utterly incapable of telling the (Jilftreuce between these two soila. These same remarks will apply to ammonia. We have seen, growing side by side, two crops of wheat,, one yielding thirty -five bushels per acre and the other fifteen bushels. The only difference between the two soils being that one contained one hundred pounds- of ammonia per a^^re more than the other, v,'hich had been applied in the f&rm of sulphate and muriate of ammonia. This one hundred pounds of ammonia mixed with an acre of soil seven inches deep, 7;ould be one part in twenty thousand. We hazaid noth- ing in saying that no chemist could determine so mi- nute a quantity. It is far less difficult to determine the amount of ammonia in a soil than phosphoric- acid, bnt if duplicate analyses agree within one-tenth of one per cent, (O'.I) it is considered good v/ork.*' la other word.5, if one analysis showed a soil, when cal- culated to tht acre, to contain 2^,000 pounds of am- monia, and the other 4,000 pounds, the chemist would think this a very accurate analysis, and, taking the mean, put it dowa at 3,000 pounds. It is evident, therefore, that the one hundred pounds of ammonia, which changed the comparatively poor soil into an unusually fertile one, could not be detected by the analyst. Chemists who undertake to prescribe for a sick soil, frequently say: " Your soil, according to analy- sis, is deficient in potash and soda, and phosphates- and ammonia; you should, therefore, apply twenty bushels of unleached wood ashes, a bushel of salt, four hundred pounds of the improved superphosphate of lime, and two hundred pounds of the best Peru- vian guano. These will furnish what your soil lacks, &c." Now, no honest chemist will claim that her could tell, by analysis, v/hich part of the field had been so treated and which had not. The facts whick we have mentioned above show that it is utterly im- possible for the most rigid analysis to determine the least difference. These considerations lead us to the conclusion not only that five dollar soil, analyses are a great humbug, but that the best soil analyses that can be made are, in the language of I}oussingaui,t," more curious than useful." Dr. Lee thinks it strange that we should admit that a chemist can give us reliable and useful infor- mation in regard to the composition and value of ma- nures, and deny his ability to "give useful informa- tion in reference to the presence or absence, scarcity or abundance," of the same ingredients " in cultivated laud." The cases are very different. The quantity of ammonia, phosphates, potash, &c., in a manure, can be determined with sufficient accuracy for practical pur- poses, but such is not the case in regard to the soil. For instance; here are two samples of guano. Their value is in proportion to the amount of ammonia and « So^Eie years ago, an English gentleman employed a London cheiD;L3.t to determine tbe nitrogen (ammonia) in a number of samples oi" turnip.s grown upder different manurial conditions. }Ie agreed to pay ten dollars a piece for them, provided duplicate an- alyses of the sjune turnip agreed within one tenth of one per cent. Duplicate samples of the turnips were furnished, marked Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., the .chemist not knowing which were the duplicate sapiples. Id due ;ti;»e the analyses wejo completed, and tho rP- KultK furnished: hnton rnmy-nrMig the .an;il_ysM,-i of Ncis. 1 .-n.d 3. "•liirli v.'Oi-i- ••;:);4,pits .ot' Ihe ,-;imo lundp, it whs foun-t tr at U uilierrd •jonsideiiiblv ino;;e than ouf-tt'nUi of one per cent, .and otheis ditTeied as muc^l as 0.2 and 0..3 per cent. Such .inalypes were of no value to the fentleman, and he refused to pay for them. The matter was TbdnTed by the consent of both narties, to I'rofe.s.sor Grau.im, and he decided that the .analyses were .-is n«- curute ua they'cottld he made-; t;iat the variation was within the usu.ll rang" ; and that the money ought to bo paid. Tho money »as paid, ^500,) but the analyse.s wore never used. THE GENESEE FAR\fER. 207 phosphates which they contain. One is found to contain 18 per cent, of ammonia and 20 per cent of phosphates, vliilt^ the other contains 1) per cent, of ammonia and 10 per cecit. of phosphates. "We say one is worth as much again as the other. Now, the fact that a chemist cannot determine the amount of ammonia and phosphates with any degree of certainty nearer than 0.1 per cent, does not afiect the value of the analysis at all. If it can be determined within 0..') per cent! or even within 1 per cent, the analysis still indicates the value of the manure with sufficient ac- curacy for practical purposes. But in soil analyses, if there is the slight variation of 0.1 per cent, the analysis is utterly valueless i for when calculated to the acre, it causes a variation of ^jOOO pounds — a quantity of ammonia that it would take six tons of guano, or two hundred tons of barn-yard manure to furnish. The same is tru3 of phosphoric acid, pot- ash, and other constituents of manures and soils. Dr. Lee is surprised that we doubt the ability of a chemist to " determine the point whether water as- cending into a soil in dry weather, by capillary at- traction, brings with it salts of soda, potash, lime, and magnesia, .moa uatee of re of Europe, having been introduoed into the TJEited Statics. Gsiffits, however, ia his medical 'festany, says it is a eative of tkls CGUotry. It is ■very commoia, inkabiting not only waste plases, bxd often to the giieat annoyance of the faemer, t^kiiiig possessbn of, and literaLiy over- CTinniug, his ricihest fields. Wbea it has ooee t'hor- oaghly obtained a foothold, it is not aagy to pradi- cate it It ic very tetiaeioffis of life, zsid will oftem take root aEd grow after having beea exposed for several days to the hot rays of the sun, should any iOf the -siaaU fibrea of the root liap.pea to be covejred with the soil. Pescription. — ^The etalks .rise frora two to throe ■feet, and sometimes, in \erj rich soil, to thi-ee and a iealf feet in heigkt — wavy, smooth at base, but 5>e- comiug sti'aightsned as you ascead. The flowej's are numerous, in a large panicle of auxiliary racemes, made up of lislf wheels, spirally arranged. The leaves are lanceolate, acute, and slightly wavad, .par- ticularly along tieir margias^-radical ones large, h&ving very loag petioles. The leaves have a eligbtly pungect, bitter, astringent taste, with aa Gdo;iv when braieed, of sorrel. They also contain a small amount of ozalie aad taanie acid. The seeds are stringent, like the root, b.ut less bitter, containing considerable tanaie aeid. Root per^nial, fjisiforni, yellow, having from three to five rows of ro-stlets extending its whole lecgth, sUghdy spiral ia their couirse, covered with a loose epidermis, easily saparated, and having but lit- tie taste. In this vicinity., (Poisglikaipsie,) this plant flowers in June, and the seed ripieas the last of July and the fiist of Aagaet. "Uses ako MEDiCAiL PaoPEETiEg.— The leaves are sometimes ^ised for greens. They are somewhat laxa- tire;, avd form an excellent diet in scorbutic com- plaints. Ti\e roots contaio a yello\y d^f, and are said 10 be sometimes used in coloring. The dye, on exposure to the atmosphere for some time, changes to a 'ividdi&h yellow color. "Tldough this species is not officinal, yet it has en i;. Our attention was first directed to tliis sulDJcct oa being applied to for the privilege of taking the dock from our fieids. This we ver^ readily consented to, rgoieif?g in the fact af bavin"; them taJiCD fj-om our fields without any troubie m' .eji-pense. The proper tune to puU them is wliea in flower, and iraaifidiaiely aftej- a rsia, while the soil is moist,, as tkey can then be raised with greater ease. The roots should be washed, if from a tcnaceous soiJ, or the earUi .shakea oS, if from a sandy ^oil. This discovery we conceive of a^me imporlance to the former, as it will enable hioi to clear his f elds of a pestiverons planJ^ and, if he chooses, make it pro filabla Now, if some of onr chemists would discover eonoe useful piurpose for which the Canada thistle, the daisy, and the .sca|3-dragon, (sometimes called toad-fiax,) might be appropriated to advactage, they would be haiJed as benefactors of the aga Sprmgside, JV. Y. C. N. Bemekt. EOW MUCE CORjN, OH HAY, IS KE^UISED TO PBil>- BUCE ONE POUMD OF JSE&It Messks. Editors: — What guide have we to forns: an estimate, or an opinion, as to h&m much meal may be produced by feeding certaiti kinds of food to ani- mals? This question is one of much interest, afid worthy of more attention than has been givio ).i. With the present high price ot meats, it is a n atter of rouch interest to know how much meat m; y be produced by feeding a bujshel of corn, or a toa ot hay; and it either, or both of these be fed, what quantity, and what proportion of the one to the other, ought to be given to produce the Vest re- sults. From the best information which the writer has been able to gather, it it assumed that, as a com- mon measure of food for animals, Indian corn should be the standard, and that it possesses double the value of hay by weight — that, in nutritive value, one pound of com meal is equal to two pouads of gocd bay— and that, with good £tock in fiir ccr(('Jtio n, ei!.;hc poundeof corn, or itu equivalent iu otbu' food,' will produce one pound of heei', and that ooe-fourtk less will province one pound of pork, wheu H e ani- mals are fed under cover. It is obvioag x'^^t t'ne quantity of food required by -an animal daily, depends joyed at ditferent limes considerable reputation as a on its weight, in u great measure; and it is t* und medicine. Its medical proijerties are those of an as- j that one and a half p<3r cent, of the live \i eight of tringent and mild tonic. In this respect, it has some the aaimal, in corn, or its equivak':it amount an other resemblance to rhub&cb. It is supposed to possess ) food, is necessary as food for wagi;iug horais, w oikia"- an alterative properl}^ and has been employed in de^ cootion and ointment in scorbutic disorders and ca- taoeoiis eruptions, aad has attracted some attention J for an animal being fed witk eorswaeai; and a bid- oxeH, animals being fattened, or cows girajg milk. A certain portion of hay, or other ladder. U uecesaaxy 272 THE GENESEE FARMER. lock weighing ten or twelve hundred pounds live weight, should not be fed more than three to five quarts, or six to ten pounds, of corn-meal daily, and the balance of his food should be made up with hay, or other green fodder. A larger proportion of corn or corn-meal than this, will not be fully digested or assimilated; for when a larger quantity of corn-meal is fed, a portion of it may be detected in the drop- pings of the animals. By an experiment made on two lots of steers, each fed thirteen months wholly on hay, Boussin- GAULT found the one lot averaging 955 ft)S. at first at the end of thirteen months weighed 2,090 lbs. In- crease, 1,135 lbs. They consumed, per head, 15,972 lbs. of hay; and one ton of hay produced 143 lbs. of increase of animals, or 14 ibs. of hay increased the • weight of the animal one pound. The second lot, at the commencement of the experiment, averaged 896 ibs. each; at the end of thirteen months, the ag- gregate increase was 994 lbs. They consumed, per head, 14,553 ibs. of hay; and one ton of hay pro- duced 137 ibs. of increase weight of animals. The second lot of steers were not allowed salt, which the first lot got. Thus the steers receiving salt increased G ibs. more on a ton of hay than those which were not allowed salt, and the coat and hair on the steers having salt were much smoother and more shining than the coat of those not having had salt. It will be found from these data that the steers con- sumed about 37 ibs. of hay per day, and gained daily about 2 1 ibs. If, however, instead of being confined wholly to hay, they had been allowed a suitable por- tion of hay, or corn fodder, with corn-meal — say 8 ibs. corn-meal and 21 ibs. hay daily — it is probable that their gain would have shown a larger per cent. From the above data, as per first lot, we have to conclude that 14 ibs. hay, or 7 ibs. corn-meal, will produce one pound of beef. Therefore, if we assume the price of corn fifty-six cents per bushel, or one cent per pound, and hay ten dollars per ton, or one- half cent per pound, the cost for feed in the produc- tion of beef would be seven and four-tenths cents per pound. Thus, Feed for one day, 8 Its. corn-meal, at one cent per pound, 8 cts. do , do 21 lbs. hay, at one-half cent " lO^e " 1S>^ cts. Cost of feed for one day, eighteen and one-half cents, and this producing 2^ Bjs., would make the feed, per pound of meat, cost seven and four-tenths cents. Are there not, among your many readers, some practical farmers who have useful data or re- marks to ofler on this subject ? S. 6. Lebanon, Pa. KEFLECTIOKS ON POOS EOADS.~NO. L Messrs. EorroRS : — As my business calls me to travel much (making and selling grain cradles and barley forks,) as I travel along " soHtary and alone," I see a great many roads — get a great many jostles, and have time to reflect, being stirred up to the sub- ject more or less every minute. We are a progres- sive people, but we progress faster in almost any other thing than we do in traveling or improving our highways — or rough ways more properly speak- ing. There are sad defects in our road laws — new path master (" cow path" it should be called) every year — what one does this year the next one undoes — (^ mafitera and nobody tg obey. Now tbia ig all wrong and should be reformed. Among the many wrong things are these — 1st. Too much ploughing auu heaping up. 2nd. Too little care in constructing water courses across the road. 3rd. Not precision or mechanism enough in the general features of them, etc., &c. There should be a law to appoint, say three permanent residents— men of strong, practical ingenu- ity and taste (not whiskey taste) in each town in the State for the term of, say, 5 years — to superintend the roads — they should go on and make and mind the roads on a scientific, permanent plan, perhaps like this. Draw a line precisely in the middle of the road, regardless of old structures — then plow at a proper distance, say 12 teet from the center line and scrape up, raising the road one foot higher in th€ center than the bottom of the ditches with a nice convex from ditch to ditch 24 feet. Next for water courses. — Dig away 1 foot lower than the ditches from one to the other across the road — bed down large fiat stones, or bed down timbers and lay a plank floor across the road 20 feet long and wide, enough for the sluice and walls to rest on, raise the walls high enough to give the water a free passage (though the whole should be dropped below the ditches to prevent the action of the frost in winter,) cover the sluice with thick flat stones and round up with earth to a level with the road. This reform in roads would take up considerable of the taxes for a year or two, but after that time not more than one half or one third of the tax would be required tx> keep the roads in even better condition than tbey now are. Well, says one. What shall be done with the surplus labor ? I will tell you— draw gravel — > draw gravel and put 6 to 12 inches in the centre with a gentle slope to the ditches. A certain num- ber of inches, or some definite distance should be taxed or extracted every year from every day's as- sessment on every road beat in the Slate for making a grand road on the part of said beat that is used the most till the whole country has grand roads. — > Plank roads — turnpikes — pavements or any thing discovered yet are all thrown in the shade by graveled roads. AVho that has ever gone over the Eidge Road from the Genesee to the Niagara will dispute this doctrine of gravel roads. Most of the districts have^more or less gravel within them, and those that have not are in a deplorable condition and need the assistance and the sympathies of those around them, as much as those that are doomed to the poor house. There should be a new ordinance to read thus : — " Woe to those that withhold gravel ft'om those that live on the clay, for their lots are hard and their road full of mud holes." Much more might be said on the subject, bat short yarns are preferable, and short routes too, espe- cially if you have to travel on clay roads. Adams' Basin, JV. Y. Joel Houghton. UME AS A MANUBE. Messes. Editors: — After reading Mr. Palmer's letter requesting information in regard to the use of lime, I have concluded to give you our experience. In 1843 we bought the farm where we have since re- sided, for a trifle over $3,000; since that time we have used, I should judge, about six thousand bush- els of lime, and of late have used considerable guano and phosphates, but consider that the lime has paid ug the be«t. If I should say now that we could get THE GENESEE FARMER. 273 $12,000 for our farm, I tlo not think I should exag- gerate at all. Well, geutlemen, lime has done by Far the most of this. To be sure, property has raised in value in our vicinity, as well as elsewhere. I think that property has increased in value more through here than almost any other place in New Jersey, on account of raising peaches, which, it is ad- mitted, will equal the best that are sent to "New York. But to tell you about the lime. Lime costs us about sLxteen dollars per hundred bushels, delivered, and we always calculate to get pay for our lime in the first crop of oats. We lime whenever it is cou- veuieut, but would prefer it put on at least one year before we plowed the ground. If the ground is liuied over the suiunier before plowing, the first crop will be benefited; but if put on so late, it will not always show in the first crop, but will show itself in the oats and grass. ^Ir. P. must not abandon or condemn Hme, if his wheat should not meet his ex- pectations. Lime, when put on so recently, hinders wheat from ripening. Xow I will give you the rotation of crops as suc- cessfully practiced with us; Lime on the sod, from twenty-five to forty bushels to the acre, (I mean stone lime, but nicely slacked, of course, before spreading,) in the fall; plant with corn the following summer; next spring sow with oats and clover; and the next summer plow under the clover, and sow with wheat and timothy. We do not let our ground lie more than two years, unless it best suits our convenience, but consider that it is never in a better state to plow than as soon as it is in a good sod. I notice that a number of your correspondents speak of the ground as getting " clover sick." Well, ours used to do so too, and we had to quit sowing clover after clover; but since we have sowed timothy after clover, and clover after timothy, we have had no cause to com- plain of the land becoming clover sick. We have a variety of soils, from a sandy loam to a stiff clay, and are certain that lime will pay on all or any of them. Some of the farmers of the best laud in our county commenced liming when the lime cost twenty-five cents per bushel, and these farms are ahead yet, 1 should judge, more than the lime cost; and I am certain that if Mr. P. commences using lime at twenty- five cents per bushel, he will get so far ahead of his neighbors, while they are looking on, that they will never catch up. Pennington, JV. J. John L. Burroughs. M^*'^ TASTE AND THRIFT IN IOWA, Messrs. Editors: — I have seen an article from the pen of "YiOLA," of this county, reflecting severely upon the want of taste, thriftlessness, &c., of the liawkeyes. For the sake of my adopted State, and the county of my choice, I will say a word for the fai-mers of Iowa. It is less than thirty years since the first white settler was fighting the savage for a foothold in this State. Then there were not twenty legal settlers in our territory. Now we have 600,000. Then there were no buildings for the abodes of civili- zation. Now the cities of Dubuque, Davenport, Mus- catine, Burlington, Burin, Keokuk and Washington can each number their thousands of citizens, and their imposing edifices of wood, brick and stone. Then we had only the Indian trail and buffalo path for roads. Now we can boast of our common high- ways, our numerous railroads and magnificent bridges. We have spanned the Father of Waters with the no- blest bridge in America, save one. * * * * Will "Viola" travel with me to some neighbor- hoods in Iowa, and see our waving prairies of green- ness marked by the hedge row, dotted with orchards and groves, bedecked by neat white CQttages amid 1 looming flowers and green trees, and tell me where bus the sun seen a land of better promise ? True, we are careless, and, with our hands full of bounties, we drop some that should be saved. Our faults are of the bountiful order. In the eager, onward rush of myriads, conquering nature, crowning art, extending science, developing " manifest destiny," and coronating popular sovereigcty, we may not be so penurious and saving as the witch burners of Salem, or so C[uiet as the Rip Van Winkles of Sleepy Hollow. This can- not be helped. We are in a fast age, and those who don't " get out of the way " will be jostled out or run over. True, trees grow but little faster than ia olden times, owing to the ignorance of the age re- specting agricultural chemistry, and we cannot yet build houses by any railroad process; yet in all these respects we are making commendable improvement upon our forefathers. Those who come to Iowa ex- pecting to find farms in cultivation, houses built and furnished, churches, mills and school-houses at the first half mile stone, with artificial bowers of luxury on every place, and all for one dollar and a quarter per acre, will be disappointed. If "Viola" will confine her complaints next time to the audience that is reputed to listen to curtain lectures, she may do good. But she has not traveled if she imagines Iowa inferior to New York two hun- dred years ago, or one hundred years after that. This county (Washington) alone furnished 15,000 fat hogs and 30,000 bushels of grain to a foreign market in 1855. What if a few hogs did get away to the woods, and a few bushels of g,-rain go back to dust, outside of the regular channel. The earth caught it all, and we will save it when necessity is as hard up- on us as upon the unfortunate dwellers between the ocean and the lakes. To say that we do not plant trees, is to make a mistake. True, we are too busy to take the care of ornament, luxury or secondary comforts necessary for their best success. But thousands of trees are planted annually in every settled county of Iowa; and if the frosts freeze some, and the water drowns some, and the rabbits and grashoppers take some, we are gaining, and "Viola" might have written her article with apples, grown in lowa,^ by her side, or under the shade of a planted grove, if she had visited her neiglibors. I like the ambition of " Viola " for the improve- ment of our State. She does not consider the neces- sity upon us which drives all new communities to make a home first, and adorn second. The most bountiful gardens for private use I have ever seen, were in Iowa. Green peas, lettuce, beets, radishes, cucumbers, beans, onions, potatoes, strawberries, &c., are common luxuries now, (June 30,) with many of our citizens, and most of these articles have been on hand for some time. "Viola" complains of our large tracts of laud to one kind-owner. She ought to remember that, with our improved implements of labor, and with our kind and tillable soil, one man can cultivate three times the amount within the power of a New Yorker. _ As to our large farms, our Eastern friends have in times 274 TEE GEWESEE FAPJIEE. past get ufi no It^etter essmple. SeiTjember tbe im- ffiieBse grairtg to the origfnal proprietors, the great ! pstron fights of 'Ne\f York, «.l'c. ,' and if tiie children ! are arjy copy of tbehr tatbers> osr prairies TfOuld de- ' Kand in Jfew York sach notice and anxiety for pos- 1 jPSBJoa as ibeir grave] biJls seTsr receiyert. We will [ bstter these patent faults as we grow older. [ ilopJBg ttat icair? of jonr, readers will visit, for j themselves, oui- g-xeat yalley, S will brfog tMs article j to a close. C F. Wdshmgi'on, Iowa. TSEHIPS AMONG C0E2?-B-aTTEE FEOM PEAIEIE 'BiBAm-TfRAllSmQ, &«!. Edttof.s Gekssee FARJum : — " S. W." of Water- loo, N. Y., in tiae Angijst nnmber of tbe Farmer, vmlses some statements ob Trbich I will take tbe lib- erty to make a few conjEseata. From sowing taraips .•jmong com, if he plasts his coin at the dxtaaee of tbiee and a half feet, he should not expect a good crop for farajly use, bat he may rely upon improving ibe land by it for the next crop, even if he keeps ?heep eaough to eat of all the taroips after the corn 33 garnered. In our dry climate we raise tamips which keep good in otjr cellars till the middle of May to the first of Jnne sweet and sound. For late keeping they should he sown late; even as late as tbe last of Au- gust one will often get a crop of tnrnips v/hich are tender, and keep weH till the German May turnip is .grown lit for use the next year. We sow usually here fer a field crop from the 20th July to the mid- dle of August It is a crop that every farmer should hare. "S. W." says: "But the butter from prairie grass IS white and aronialess, and in stinted supply at that." J have heard that same story for twelve years past, and believe it much less now than when I first heard it. It is always the case that when poor butter is brought to market, the fact of its being poor is at- tributed to the pasture. But is it not a fact that natural pastures produce the best butter and cheese ? I believe this is so from all I have noticed about the matter, and I have lived in a prairie region for the past twelve years. Those who make good butter in this region (and Borae of us Hosiers So make good butter) never com- plain of our natural pastures; but here, let me re- mark, that we have it in great abundance. Our cat- tle are not confined to one particular locality, but have the range and choice of the numberless varie- ties of herbage which grow in such profusion in this part of Hosierdom. How is it they seed meadow and pasture in the dairy districts of England ? not as of old with only one sort of grass. Men know that stock will not thrive on timothy, clover, blue grass, red top, or any single sort of grass, no matter how much grain they may have. That variety is the spice of life, and a change of pasture makes fat calves, is true now, and ever has been; and applies as well to quadrupeds as to bipeds. We have here no draining tile, but as a substitute use rails, and split boards and brush. Thus— first we dig our ditch deep — not less than four fefit; two feet wide at top and bottom; lay rails of most dura- ble timber in the bottom, one on each side— having ready split boards from twenty to twenty-four inches long; cover the rails, laying the boards across; then throw JD- a little 3t?aw or prairie bay. Over this put m your brifflh, tramping dowa close. Cover all with thfi soda wjth the grass side dowr^, and your ditch is complete and vCTy dir-rablfi — mufh more so than some tile drains I have- heard of. Tbe brush is not mcessary, but adda to effectivensss. Ditches must be deep, and should run directly t© the gpriag. I have a piece of prairie that was ditch- etl twelvs years ago, but always remained boggy, s© that at its highest part a rail could be thrust down ten feet. I dr?g this spring a diteh four feet deep, run- ning directly io the highest and boggiest part of the prairie; the resuli' is that I have a fine spring of watsr at the outlet, ajQd a piece of pyairie Iq fine order for any sort of graia. I find I am cossiderabJy off the track I started OB, but will return by asking " S. W." if he means thai his cows eat tomatoes. 0, Bkaceet^. Rwheaier, Fultcm Co., Ind, ADTANTAGES OS FORETHOUGHT IN FAEMmO. Mess5rs. Epitors: — lljere is no pursuit in whicli our countrymen are engaged, wherein such great aix3 lasting advantages may be attained by a rigid adhe- rence to the proposition that forethought is the all- important lever in successful farming; while a neglect or absence of thinking hefcrehcmd, is as sure to lead to disastrous consequences as that when the " blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch.'* I would not DOW say that it is a settled questios that the agricultural community, as a body, has been injured more than benefited by the attempts at enlightenment by the great mass of scribblers who have no practical knowledge of the subjects on which they write, and hence have only tended to mislead the farmer, discourage the young beginner, and en- courage a resort to experiments by the credulous, without ihovght or reason, simply because some flip- pant writer, whose sole consequence is in the use of his pen, has caused to be spread out in pi-int the re- sult of an experiment based upon a dozen hills of corn or potatoes, which, if carried out according to his little pet theory, would give three hundred bush- els of corn, and twelve hundred bushels of potatoes, to the acre But that it has been seriously injured, there is no doubt; the extent is not now necessarily in question. One moment's reflection is sufficient to convince any reasonable man, that the successful attainment of an object in which are so many details, and such a combination of arrangement, good judgment, coupled with a nice discrimination, is not only essential, but actually necessary, and consequently requires a per- petual fore-tliinlung. Agriculture may properly be termed the king of all sciences and purs^tils, as upon it our individual as well as national prosperity mostly depends. And a? there is no royal road by which any one can at- tain position and eminence in any science without mental labor, and well-directed eflbrt, all must labor for the prize, if they hope to win. Besides, the soil and climate of our country is so various — so wonderfully diversified — that no general chart can be followed with success, and hence nearly every farmer must, in a great measure, rely upon hia own judgment, and carefully study all the surround- ing circumstances of his case. A proper selection of the field to be cultivated, THE GENESEE FARIVIER. 275 with the kiad of crop desireJ, is not all that the farmer must take into consideratien. Ilis time and means, the present and future use of that field, to- gether with the manner he desires to cultivate the remainder of his little domain, ought all to be an- ticipated— thought of beforehand. Again, upon the subject of rotation of crops, and the proper amount of manure, as also the kind of manure most practical for the intended use, nothing should be left to chance or guess tvork. He should study incessantly, that he may hit right the first time, and not lose his seed and labor by ill-digested and senseless experiments. The country is full of professing philanthropy towards the farmer; yet many of these eminent Pro- fessors are, in fact, his deadliest foes, who use their eminence of position to aid in robbing him of his money. Lurking enemies meet him at almost every corner. The inventor, and the vender of tools, im- plements, labor-saving machines, instruments, special manures, seeds, and humbugs of every description, like Satan, are constantly tempting him. I would not place all these things in the same category of humbug. Some are of real, practical utility, with- out doubt; but the fact is equally true that some are impracticable, while others are not only humbugs, but arrant frauds — vide the leached ashes shipped from Rochester to New York, and there transformed into guano and sold at forty dollars per ton; also, the saw-dust scraped up in the marble yards near New York, and sold to farmers as No. 1 plaster. These swindlers accomplish their frauds by sheer foroe of mental action over the credulous, unsuspect- ing and unthinking farmer. " Those who think will always govern those who toil." To think beforehand — to anticipate in the mind — is the Pole star to successful husbandry. Thought — tJiought systemized and subjected to regular laws — is the key-stone in the arch, without which labor and toil are uselessly spent Labor, without method and forethought, is like casting the mariner abroad upon the trackless ocean without a rudder or compass. It is as much the attribute of man to use his brains as his hands — it is his mental power that distinguishes him from the brute, excites in him a laudable spirit of ambition, fires his soul, and rouses all his latent energies to action. Thought, systemized, succeeds — captivates the eye with extensive landscapes and splendid scenery — whitens our hills and valleys with the ripening grain — in short, invigorates life by the pleasing prospects it throws around us, and elevates the farmer to competency. Hiraji C. Smith. Oakland Lodge, Fairport, JY. Y. ^ »■— — ■ How TO Cleak and Keep Faeming Tools Bright. -^Take No. 2 or 3 corrundum sandpaper, and rub off all the dirt and red rust, and continue until quite emooth. Then use a little spirits of turpentine, with the same paper, until polished and dry. Nothing more is necessary to clean hoes, forks, plows, culti- vator teeth, (fee, to have them work nice and easy. Bat to lay up and keep from rusting, first clean them as above, then rub over with a preparation made by dissolving beeswax in spirits of turpentine by a gen- tle heat. It fills the pores, and keeps water from af- fecting the parts where the wood and iron come in contact. N. N. Barien, A*. Y, GREAT FECUNDITY OF WHEAT. Messrs. Editors:- — In an article on "The Age of Seeds," from the Springfield Ttepuhlican, mention is made of some wheat which was found with some mummies. The wheat, supposed to be 2,000 years old, "produced the astonishing amount of 1,200 grains to one." This seems almo-st incredible, yet I doubt not is true, since, from a field of Mediterra- nean wheat which I have growing, I took a root bearing twenty-five stallvs, each containing fifty-nine perfect grains, making a product of 1,475 from one. This goes far to verify the Tullian plan of hand-hoe- ing this grain, giving plenty of room for the grains to tiller. AVill not some of our careful farmers try one acre, or half an acre ? In my middle field, I pulled out a root of rye having forty-nine stalks, and an average head of one of these stalks produced fifty-six grains, giving 2,744 gi-ains from one, or 2,744 bushels from one. Corn sown broadcast at the rate of two bushels to the acre, yields from eight to fifteen or twenty bushels of nubbins per acre. The same two bushels, planted on sixteen acres, pro- duces from thirty to one hundred bushels per acre, or from four hundred and eighty to sixteen hundred bushels from the two '^bushels. Will not wheat do the same ? I think it will — in fact, I know it will. The fact is self-evident. The grains and stalks of rye were carefully counted in the field by Messrs. F. Kendrick, J. Miller, Moyer and myself; yet Kk.v- DRioic will not admit that the rule which holds goou for corn is applicable to wheat or rye. But this is a mere matter of opinion. I have a head of wheat from my middle field, the grains, Kexdrick has just count- ed, are eighty-four, and I will demonstrate to hiir. with those eighty-four grains the truth of what I have written above, by planting a bed in my garden, in rows both ways, eighteen inches apart, that wheat, as well as corn, will produce a thousand fold, more or less, according to season, &c. The editor of the Springfield Republican proba- bly has never paid very close attention to these mat- ters, as he says " it is suggested that the immense- productiveness of this wheat [the mummy wheat] is owing to the long rest of the seed." That is, as th^ seed had been so long idle it was necessary that ir should make up lost time by increased fecundity. But let us give Jethko Tcll his due, and raise mort- and better wheat, with a saving of seven-eighths ot the seed. Charles Bsackett. Rochester, Fulton Co., Ind, CHESS AND COCKLE. Messrs. Editors: — I can cheerfully add my feeble testiniony to that of your experienced correspond- ent, John Johnston, of Geneva, with regard to sow- ing clean seed, if we wish to raise wheat free from chess and cockle. I have not been much troubled with the pests since I got them out of my land, it being very foul when I purchased it about twelve years ago. Many farmers (and this was the practice of the one of whom I purchased) when harvesting their wheat throw out the cockle, and leave it upon the land, and by so doing, they leave plenty of it in the next crop, and then vronder where the cockle comes from, as they are sure they sowed clean seed. Others feed their screenings to their hogs in their barn 276 THE GENESEE FARMER yards; more or less of it gets mixed with the manure, and is drawn out upon the land, thus seeding and re- seeding their fields with cockle and chess. I have two screens to my farmiug-raiU, one coarse for cleaning wheat for seed, which takes out all the cockle and small shrunken grains, the other finer for cleaning for market. I do not, nor never have be- lieved, that wheat turns to chess; and by sowing clean seed, and not feeding my screenings unless ground, I have raised but very little, yet T have seen some examples of raising chess that almost staggered my belief. I have seen fields that would produce twenty bushels of chess and not more than three of wheat to the acre. " But," you will say, " this was upon some old pastured field, and the chess had been sown there from the droppings of hogs and cattle." But that could not have been the case, for it was in Michigan, upon timbered land, in a newly settled neighborhood, and there had been but one crop rais- ed on the land previously; and I found there were intelligent farmers in that vicinity who are firm believ- ers that wheat turns to chess. I would like to have you, or some of your numerous correspondents, tell how so much chess came in that soil. C. C. Wilson. JVewfane, JViagara Co., JV. Y. ONE WOED MORE ON THE MILKING QITESTION. Messrs. Editors : — There has been much written for the Genesee Fabmer on both sides of the milk- ing question; yet, perhaps the better way lies be- tween the two extremes. Whoever in the family has most leisure ought to do the milking. Yet I have often seen that it is not so. Mr. A. has a family of nearly a dozen children — their ages varying from six months to twenty years; yet the wife milks five or six cows, while the husband and sons sit in the porch smoking, or are lounging in the tavern or shops. Mr. B. has several daughters, but they are too delicate to soil their hands; so their feeble, worn mother must bear the burden of the work in the house, and their aged father must do the milking. These young ladies say they do not know how many cows their father milks, but they believe their mother makes cheese ! But not like either of these is the family of Mr. C. He has three highly educated and lady -like daughters; but their mother has long been at rest. Sometimes when they have company, Mr. C. says : •' Girls, I'll milk to night." But the girls say, " No, father, you'll not milk when we are all at home." These young ladies will be prizes to those who can win them. Education makes ladies better daughters, wives, and mothers, and fits them for their duties in any station. But if we see a young person lacking in kindness to parents, even in household labors, we may be sure the head, or heart, or both, are not well educated. A. M. — »^» ■ Breaking the Prairie. — I noticed in the January number of the Farmer an article on breaking the jirairie, and I can say, from an experience of eighteen years, that your correspondent is somewhat mistaken in the time thereof, as I have never yet known any prairie breaking done before the middle of May, or later than the first of August, with the exception of some hazle rufl'. L. C. S. Flint, loiva. SOUND COKN, AGAIN. Messrs. Editors : — I notice in the August number of the Farmer an article written on this subject by your correspondent " W. H. M.," of Indiana, Penn., in which he writes down his plan of securing corn and cornstalks in autumn, which will, no doubt, set to rights any or all " mistaken views" thrown out by me in an aaticle on the same subject, found in volume 17, page 116, of the Genesee Farmer, to which he takes the trouble to allude. In the article referred to will be found : " When the corn is well glazed, I cut ofi" the stalks close to the ear, bind and shock them in the field for winter use. I consider corn left to ripen in this way (on the hill) will yield better, and be much sweeter and heavier, than when cut up by the roots." He " thinks" 1 must be " mistaken," for he says: " It has been pr ved by actual experiment that corn cut up by the roots and cured in shocks, is about four pounds per bushel heavier than the same variety, on the same kind of ground, left to ripen in the hill." I will inform " W. H. M." and others con- cerned how I came to be " mistaken," if mistaken I am. I find by referring to my diary that I have en- deavored to till the soil eleven years " on my own hook," (the present year included,) and that I have planted more or less ground to corn every year. Of six of the best crops, three were treated precisely as stated in " W. H. M.'s," plan and three left to ripen on the hill. The soft corn at husking time wa?, cut up by the roots, 9 to 30 of sound; on the hill, 1 to 30 of sound. Weight of corn when ready for market averaged, cut lip by the roots, 55 pounds per bushel; on the hill, 59 pounds per bushel strict measure — one year weighing CO^ pounds. Now, if Mr. " W. H. M." has a kind of corn that will weigh G4 pounds per bushel, cured in the shock, I should be glad to get seed of him for another year. One thing more. I have found by " actual experi- ment," that corn shelled immediately before grinding is one third sweeter than when shelled a long time. I practice putting away in tight boxes corn in the ear, for family use. J. C. AoAiis. Seymour, JV. Y. ^ I w • FARMER'S CLUES. Messrs. Editors: — There is a vast amount of in- formation to be obtained by farmers forming them- selves into Clubs. Let all the farmers within five miles (or more or less, as the place is inhabited,) form themselves into a Club. Let one and all join; those who cannot give advice to others, can there get information which will prove most valuable to them; but every man can learn, for there is no such thing as perfection in farming. We are always improving by the experience of others. The practical man's views and experiments are what we require the most. The Club-room presents a good place to discuss subjects upon the different and best ways of culti- vating the various kinds of grain and other crops^ and the different varieties of seed which will be the most profitable to raise and least injurious to the land. Where there is a change of seed required, let the Secretary, or some member, get all that is re- quired in a lot; it can then be obtained much cheaper than if each person sent for his own. Farmers can^ there ditcuss upon the diSerent kinds of stock — the^ THE GENESEE FARMER. 277 different breeds of horses which are the best adapted for farming purposes — and see which liind of cattle are the most profitable for the dairy, and which for beef, or working oxen — and all other aninuils the same. They can there discuss upon the merits of each, and which arc the best and most profitable for the farmer to raise. Another thing that is very im- portant to farmers, is to know which kind of imple- ments will work well, and which will not; for instance, reaping and mowing machines, two of the best la- bor-saving machines we have, providing we have good ones — if not, they are only a great bill of expense to keep in repair. It would be better to be without th,em, and all other implements we use that are im- perfecta Then, how are we to distinguish those which arc good from those which are useless ? for they are all extolled by the makers and their friends. We cannot afford to procure them all, for the sake of as- certaining which are the best. We must learn it from our fellow farmers. Let fai-raers have trials to test the diflerent machines and implements, and see which will do the work best, and is the lightest in draught Let their decisions be made public, for the benefit of others. In the Club-room, too, farmers could regulate the rate of wages; for they are often imposed upon by laborers, especially in haying and harvesting, who will club together and say that they will not work for less than so and so. But it is the farmers' place to say what they will give. Let them fix upon some fair price, and then pay no more, and there would not be so much strife among farmers as there often is. There are many other advantages to be derived from Farmer's Clubs, which cannot be appreciated except by belonging to one. J , E. B. FARMING GOING UP. Messrs. Editors: — That the business of farming is going up, is evinced in more ways than one. That it is gaining upon other branches of business, is shown by the increased demand for all farm products over those of the mechanic, manufacturer, and mer- chant. Everything seems on the rise, but nothing (unless it be the streams the past month) so much as the products of the farm. The general rise in price is owing to the diminished value of money, but as this is a subject of political economy rather than of agriculture, and more fit for other journals than the " Farmer," I will dismiss it for the present. The increase of the price of farm products over every other kind of property is caused mainly by the great drawing off from the ranks of its labors, to the mining interest, and to the building and running of Eaih-oads. Another cause is that farmers have con- sidered their business more laborious than other occupations, and as they have generally prospered and become independent, they have fitted their sons for what they have considered higher stations. The consequence is that the profits of farming have come up, till they are ahead of anything else. The product of an acre of land has in many cases the past season, planted with only common field crops, been sold for $50, -SCO, $75, and even up to $200. A few years since this would have been astounding, and set the whole country in a fever, but now it is too common to excite more than a casual remark. That farming is looking up by mutual consent, is aJio shown by the fact that farmers are now often, made the heroes in our popular tales ; formerly, if they were introduced at all, they came in aa clod- hoppers and bushwhackers, and it was considered entirely out of character to make more of them than plain, honest, blunt, homespun men ; but now novelists allow them to talk logic and science, and smart and accomplisheil young ladies to fall in love with them. This may look like a small mutter to many a matter of fact man, but it is really a signifi- cant feather in the cap of the tiller of the soil, and like straws, shows which way the wind blows. The habits, manner, tastes, and tendencies of an age, are shown by its popular literature. I do not make these remarks so much for the purpose of con- gratulating my brother farmer with the fact that we are getting on to the top of the shelf, as for the purpose of showing to the aspiring young man, vv-ho thinks to leave the old farm on which his father has prospered, for some wide and more dazzling field, in which to distinguish himself, that if wealth, happi- ness, fame, and long life is his aim, that it is well to pause and consider whether he should not remain. — The old farm, I will warrant you, will bear an increased investment beneath the surface soil, iu improved stock and implements, and will pay for considerable more labor, if judiciously employed. — It is true that the chances for farmers' sons, in the learned professions, are above mediocrity, for having been subjected in early life to a sound physical train- ing, they are the better fitted for that severe mental discipline that the professions require. It has been said, that " he who lives within doors, does not more than half live." This may not appear literally true in the first generation, but will be pretty sure to be shown up in the second. I would by no means detract from the merits of the learned professions ; I do not hold that every man should be his own lawyer, doctor, or blacksmith ; but I do think that whoever leaves the farm in these times, thinking to "go up," had better consider first whether he i^ not more likely to go down. It is not every young man who has the physical capacity to be a working farmer, and those who have it should prize it as a permanent capital. Agkicola. Gorham, JV. Y. SCABCITY OF FODDER AT THE V/EST. Messrs. Editors: — We have suffered very much the past winter and present spring, from the want of fodder. Hundreds and thousands of cattle have died from want of food, and those which are left are mere ghosts of their former selves. Now, the truth is, that last September there was fodder enough in the country to keep every hoof of stock comfortably untU grass grew this spring, had it been properly toiken care of. But no small amount of straw was burned as soon as the grain was thresh- ed, and the remainder was stacked (for not one in five hundred thinks of housing straw) in so careless a manner that two-thirds of it was vrasted. Corn- stalks are seldom cut at all, but left to the frost and winds, so that by the time the cattle are turned in there is little more left for them than there would be on so many bean-poles. I want you men of goose quills and printers' infc to teach us farmers to take good care of the straw, and at least top the corn before the frosts come. Empire, III. (x. 0. Lvmax. 278 THE GENESEE FARMER. DRAINING WITHOUT TILES Eds. Genesee Farmer : — Your correspondent, I. Eandall, wrote in the August No. because it rained. So do I. He suggests f'uJl ploughing as a palliative for late and wet springs. A very good j)lan, par- ticularly on strong land, that is likely to be mellowed by thawing and freezing. He questions as to the propriety of draining hard pan land, worth only $1.5 to $20 per acre. I think that is just the one expedient by which the value of such land may be increased. The want of draining tile is an objection. Has he no substitute ? No stone ? No brush ? No rails ? Where pine lumber is cheap, a very good drain may be formed by 2>loughing out a semi-circu- lar groove on 2 by 4 inch scantling, 1 inch deep, and 2 inches wide ; two of these, placed face to face, form a cylinder of 2 inch bore. It is better to let each piece project one above, the other below. By thflt means they keep each other at the same level, and " break joint." These will serve with a narrower ditch than is required for poles or stones, and, being less subject to displacement, they do not require to be buried so deep. By these means the expense of digging is diminished. Whether the drain is increased in value, thereby, is another question. Innisfil, C. fV. T. G. S. 'DIGGING AND PRESERVING POTATOES. This is the month to expect frosts sufficient to kill onv potato tops, corn, &c. I think it as well to con- sider the best method of digging and storing them for winter use, as the quality of this bulb is preserved ©r considerably impaired by the manner in which this process is performed; and I may say the time of digging has its bearing on the quality for future use. Potatoes, to retain all their preserving and nourish- ing properties, should, I believe, be harvested soon after the frost has killed down the vines, or, should they die from maturity, the sooner they are dug the better, before the ground becomes wet and muddy. They should be stored in the pit or cellar; if in the latter, put them in a dark bin in a cool part of the cellar — the cooler the better, if above the freezing point. I do not believe the practice a good one of digging potatoes^out of the ground to lie strewed, ex- posed to the sun for several hours before they are stored. "D, Gates, JV. Y. NOTES FROM MINNESOTA. Messrs. Editors : — How I would be pleased to have some of my Monroe county friends look upon this portion of Minnesota now. It is a pleasure to look upon the fields of grain just ready for harvest- ing. The wheat heads are long and well filled — the Btraw perfectly free from rust. There are six or eight reapers within three miles of me, (well done for a three-year old settlement,) and they will find plenty ©f work in a day or two. There will be a fine crop of oats. Potatoes are doing well. Corn has grown rapidly within the last six weeks, and is tassling out as tall as a Vermonter's head. There will be a good crop if the frost does not come too early. Such vines as grow here I never saw. Pumpkins, squashes, and melons are already large. I have had plenty of green peas since the fifth of July, although I sowed late. We raise ruta-bagas, carrots, &c., without weeding — the tops already cover the ground. It does the farmer good to observe the growth of hi» crops from day to day. But we have drawbacks. It is expensive living, while the pioneer is making a farm from the virgin soil. We hear of the devastations of the grasshoppers northwest of us, and the threatened inroad of the In- dians from the west. The latter I do not fear, but we have no known means of protecting ourselves from the ravages of the grasshoppers, if tbey should make us a visit next season, as is predicted by some. They have entirely destroyed the crops where they have been this season. K Hodges. Marion, Olmstead Co., Minnesota. BUCKWHEAT TO KILL WIRE-WORM& Messrs. Editors: — You ask for the experience of your readers about growing two or more successive crops of buckwheat to starve out the wire-worm. Having Jiad some experience in this matter, I will give it. In 1854 I had an old pasture, containing twelve acres, all infested with this pest, eight acres of which were broken and sown to buckwheat. As it was a very dry season, the crop was light. In 1855 the remaining four acres were broken, and the whole sown to buckwheat. The season was favorable, and a good crop was the result. In the spring of 1856 the whole field was sown to oats. The result was, the four acres which had grown only one crop of buckwheat were considerably injured by the worms, while the eight acres which had grown two succes- sive crops of buckwheat were scarcely touched by them. N. N. Darien, JY. Y. DRILLING IN WHEAT. Messrs. Editors. — Iii your article on the cultiva- tion of the wheat in the August number of the Farmer, you state that, in your opinion, there is not much advantage in sowing wheat with a drill un- less for the purpose of hoeing, and wish the opinion of farmers upon the subject. Having had some experience in sowing wheat with a drill, I will give you my opinion founded on that experience. I have used a drill in sowing wheat upon a hard, stony soil, also upon a light sandy and loamy soil, and could see no difference in the yield of that which was drilled in or that sown broadcast Four years ago this fall, I sowed one half of a seven acre field broadcast, and the other half was sown with a drill. A portion of that which was drilled in, I harrowed across the ridges, for the pur- pose of levelling them down, as the advocates of the drill system claim, as one of its advantages, that the washing down of the ridges around the roots of the plants answers the purpose of hoeing, and also pre- vents winter killing; but I could see no difference either in Ike looks of the crop ivhile growing, or when harvested. Some seasons, upon some soils, wheat sown with a drill would be better than that sown broadcast, and the next year, perhaps, that sown broadcast would be the best, it all appearing to depend on the condi- tion of the soil and season. I have also used the drill THE GENESEE FARMER. 279 in Bowino: barley, wrA no beno not shorten the young canes, but allow them to grow the remainder of the fall and thoroughly ripen their wood ; for from these the fruit will be expected the following season. This month will, also, be a good time to prepare the ground for new plantations — this fall or next spring ; but I very much prefer fall planting to that of spring, if the ground be not too wet so as to subject the newly planted plants to severe winter freezing and heaving. But if they are carefully planted in the fall, in moderately dry ground and fine weather, and without exposing their roots very much to the atmosphere, the earth has time to become settled about them and they start into growth, in the following spring, with as much vigor as though they had not been removed, and make fine caues for fruiting the year following. Let the ground be thoroughly trenched twenty-four or thirty inches deep, throwing out the stones and incorporat- ing plenty of manure as the work is being proceeded with. See directions last month. Cabbage. — From the first, to the tenth of the month, will be a good time to sow seed of early York, or early Winnings'adt cabbage, to be wintered over for early summer use. If properly managed, they will be a week or ten days earlier than those from the spring sowings. Prepare a piece of nice, light, rich soil, and sow the seed in drills, burying them half an inch ; press the soil gently upon the seeds, and, if dry weather, water them every evening. They will be up in eight or ten days. Should they fail, sow again immediately. Some cauliflower may be sown in the same way. Directions for wintering will be given next month. Another sowing of Early Scarlet Short-top radish may be made. Sow in drills four inches apart, and half an inch deep ; press the earth on the seed lightly, and water in dry weather ; when up, thin out to two inches apart in the rows. Carefully proceed with the earthing up of the Celery. See directions in July number. Attend to the pruning and training of the toma- toes, and should they be in danger of being nipped by the frost, toward the latter end of the month, some of the best plants may be puUed up and hung by their heels in a dry shed, and many of the greea fruit will still ripen. Josiah Saltks. SPIR.EA CALLOSA. This beautiful shrub proves perfectly hardy in this countiy. We have frequently recommended it to our readers, and now present a portrait of the flowa* which we have had drawn and engraved from a plant growing in the grounds of Messrs. Ellwamger & Barry, of this city. The leader in the last Gardeners^ Chronicle, (the best horticultural journal in the world,) fully sustains all that we have said in favor of this plant. We cojjy it entire. What is toe handsomest flowering hardy sheub of July, after the Rose ? Some may say the Fuchfia, but it is scarcely an ornament of July ; others nwiy point to the Scarlet Geranium, but it is tender ; a third will po=isibly contend for the Berberis aquif'ilium ; and we should acquiesce in the decision if flowers constituted the beauty of that glorious Evergreen ; but it is a fruit, and not a flower of July. For our- selves we contend, without the least hesitation, for Spirtea callosa. 284 THE GENESEE FARMER. "Spiraea callosa! wbat may that be?" cries some ^ager reader. "I never heard of such a plant. I know Spirseas, bnt they are not so very remarkable; Spirasa aritefolia is now in flower, and it is pretty enough, but not at all striking ; Spirjea Lindleyana is no doubt a finer thing, but it is tender and rather coarse, and white-flowered also ; but what can Spirtea callosa be ? I never gaw it advertised ; I don't see it in the nursery catalogues ; I have not seen it in my late visits to the great nursery gardens near town. — What can it be to be placed on such a pinnacle of fame?" That all this is true we have no doubt; for Spiraea callosa is not a novelty, nor an exhibition plant ; nor a florist's flower. Its leaves are not speckled and spotted, nor its flowers as red as a Pffiony's, or as big as a Dahlia's. But it is a gem for all that, when care is taken to cultivate it well Imagine a shrub about 4 feet high, and as much in diameter, most gracefully branching from the gi-ound. Let its slender shoots be dull red, and its simple leaves a quiet green, such as the most fastidious artist would select for a contrast with brighter colors. Then let every branch burst out into spreading twiggs loaded with tiay flowers arranged like those of a Laurustinus, but more loosely, the youngest dull red and as large as a pin, others more grown, with a vivid crimson eentre, when the gay petals are preparing to burst their dingy calyx, and looking like rubies in a rusty setting. Such is the infiincy of Spirrea callosa. More mature, the crimson petals begin to spread and reveal their still more rosy centres ; and at last the ring of «rimson stamens gradually unfolds and forms a glowing halo round the centre. Should the reader be able to receive all these things upon his mind's eye, he will thea begin to know what Spiram callosa is like. — lliough each of these tiny flowers does not occupy the fifth part of an inch, yet their number most amply compensates for their smallness. Each truss is full 2 inches across, and every branchlet bears about 3 such trusses, of which that in the middle is full blown, while the side ones are still closed up ; and at least a month's supply of flowers of all ages is provided at the time when the bush first breaks into blossom. Does not a plant like this deserve a niche in the temple of Flora Juliana? Spiraja callosa is a native of Japan, whence it is said to have been introduced by Mr. Fortune, through Messrs. Standish & Noble. It derives its name from the presence of a small red callosity seated on the end of each of the numerous notches that border its leaves. CULTIVATION OF GEAPES IN THE OPEN AIK. Messrs. Editors: — "W. Livixgston, in the Farmer of last month, asks for information on the culture of the grape, and complains that communications on this subject are not sufficiently definite, &c. I pre- sume that he is, as /have been on the subject, grop- ing somewhat in the dark, notwithstanding the many writers I have consulted; and as I am now getting to see lighc, I offer him and whoever else of your readers it may concern, my experience, not presuming that my method is perfect, but hoping and expecting that some one or more of your correspondents or readers will criticise my practice — a thing much eas- ier of performance than the laying down of a definite and intelligible system of culture. I will first preface, by remarking, that all grape vines cultivated in the open air in this latitude, espe- cially if the soil be rich and dry, incline naturally to frow too thick for the production of much perlect nit, unless allowed a full and free range on living trees — a thing impracticable to any great extent. The first thing, then, after planting your vines on a rich, deep, dry soil, with an aspect other than north- ern, is to counteract this tendency, which is more eas- ily done in the early training and pruning than after the vines get large and stiff. In the spring of 1855, I purchased 30 vines of one yeai's growth from the cuttings — one Clinton, one Catawba, and the rest Isabella. I prepared my ground by very deep plowing, and manured with barn-yard manure, and dried muck buried in the bot- toms of the furrows; planted my grapes eight feet apart each way, and sowed the ground to carrots. I paid little attention to the vines, but took good care of the carrots, and had a fine crop. In harvest- ing them, the same system was pursued — little atten- tion paid to the vines. They were cut with the spade, broken off, and trod into the ground, where they lay untouched till the following spring of 1856. I thea got cedar posts eight feet long; set them two feet in the gfound, in the rows east and west, midway be- tween the vines; put four inch boards or slats on the top sixteen feet long, lapping them over each other at the ends, and fastening them to the posts with a four-inch carriage bolt and nut. Cedar does not hold a nail very well, and I thought to myself, what a pickle I should be in should the slats blow off while loaded with grapes. The centres of the slats I fast> ened with nails. I then put on three wires, so as to make with the slat four spaces of about equal dis- tances, cutting off the wires at every third post, (16 feet,) and twisting the ends around nails, fearing thai; if I left the wires longer, the contraction in the win- ter would draw the nails. On the centre posts I fas- tened the wires by driving two nails so as to cross each other. I then used a tight plow and cultivator between the rows, and sowed two rows of beets and carrots between each two rows of vines. I allowed three branches to grow from each vine root, training one perpendicularly and two horizontally; one each way on the bottom wire to the posts, and then perpendic- ularly, pulling off all the side branches as fast as they got an inch or so Icng. For training horizontally on the wires, I used cotton twine doubled, and tied loosely; for training perpendicularly on the wires, I found the twine would slip as the wind blew, and wear off the twine, and injure the vine, and that by first tying or noosing the twine to the wire, it would rust in the next rain, and remain fast. For twining up on the posts and horizontally on the slats, I used strips of India rubber cloth, obtained from the scraps at the carriage-makers, (bits of leather from the shoe or harness makers will do.) and nailed them with 12 or 14 ounce tacks. The vines mostly reached the slat, and were turned horizontally a few inches, se- curely fastened and cut off. This was the end of this year's work with the vines. They remained on the trellises, and none of them were injured, notwithstand- ing the severe weather — mercury 2 to 22° below zero for two or three weeks in January. I should add that on first planting the vines, I planted a thick row of honey locust seed across the west end of the vineyard for a screen to break the wind. They are not yet any protection, but are growing finely, and have stood the winters without the least injury. They do not grow as fast as the Osage orange, but, in my opinion, are decidedly preferable for a hedge fence. I think they will not throw up suckers on plowing near TEE GENESEE FARMER. 28» them like the common locust. My beets and carrots yielded over 500 bushels to the acre, measuring the whole ground, notwithstanding the small part of the ground occupied by them. In the spring of 1856, 1 enclosed my vineyard, and have followed the same course. The past spring, 1857, I used the plow and cultivator again, and planted two rows of carrots between each two rows of vines. I pulled off the suckers that came up from the roots as fast as they appeared ; allowed all the branches to grow till the fruit clusters appeared. I then trained up perpendicularly about every alter- nate branch from the horizontal vines, and cut off all the rest from the old wood ; those which had no fruit on, close, and the others about two leaves above the fruit, pulling off all the lateral branches from the shoots I threw up. In the forepart of July, and again about the last, I went over them, and twined np all the perpendicular branches, and pulling off all the side shoots, and cutting off all above the trellis. In this way I have taken off about half of this year's growth, allowing nothing to grow that is not wanted for the maturing of this year's fruit, or producing fruit next year. My trellises are now completely filled, most of the upright branches having reached the top, and been cut off. The grapes look fine, and will produce, I think, about one bushel to eight vines. During the winter I intend to cut off close all branches except those I have twined up, and perhaps a part of them, as I think they aje too thick; and hereafter I can renew these perpendicular branches, by allowing new ones to grow when I think best. I find that Mr. MgKat, of Naples, in this county, and other vine-growers, do not let their vines bear at this age; and perhaps his course is better in the end. Mr. McK. is certainly very good authority; but I am not fond of long credits, and am too fond of grapes to miss any opportunity to eat of my own raising. I thhik my vines are too close to each other for rich land; and if I had to do the work again, I should make the rows at least ten feet apart, and the vines about twelve feet in the rows, and should allow but two branches from a root, and train them horizontal- ly each way till they meet, and then perpendicularly. Next year I shall allow the vines to monopolize the whole ground, using the cultivator often. I think the three kinds I have mentioned require about the same kind of culture, but it is useless to try to make much of the Catawba here, unless you can give it some extra heat, as it will not ripen on the average more than once in three years in ordinary exposures. Oa the south or east side of a building, or high, tight fence, with a warm, rich soil, you will generally suc- ceed. Of the Isabella little need be said. It is doubt- less the grape for this region. The Clinton is at home here, being early, hardy, and productive, and mine are of a fine flavor; but I have tasted them from other vines, looking and growing like mine, that were like those the fox couldn't reach, " poor sour things." I think they are not genuine. I have a few other kinds which I tolerate for the sake of variety — one of them, the Connecticut Wild, is a large, hardy, ear- ly kind — excellent for cooking, makes good Port wine, but worthless for eating, and drops off when ripe. I have never seen the Charter Oak, Concord, Rebecca, or Northern Muscadine, but shall get one or two of the last mentioned next spring, if I can. A word more on manuring, and I have done. I think, and I have good authority for saying, that if the leaves and branches from the summer pruninga arc immediately covered, even slightly, with earth, no other manure need be added to keep up the fertility, as the nutriment of the fruit is furnished through th« leaves and branches, they must contain, if cut white in full vigor, all the nutriment necessary for the fruit; and if buried at once in the soil, a greater share of it will be retained for the use of the plant. The nu- triment in these unripe prunings will be more readi- ly assimilated than that from the ripe autumn foliage. I have practiced on this principle with my Rhubarb or Pieplant, (a plant akin to the grape in its acid quality,) requiring all the leaves and refuse of the stalks used to be immediately placed under the re- maining leaves in the hill, where the gases escaping from their decomposition come into contact with the living plant, and the mineral part will sink into the ground, and reach the roots, and with scarcely any other manuring, have measured leaves 29 inches broad, and have just counted over seventy-five fully developed leaves on a single hill that has been fully cut from till the middle of July. Agbicola. Gorham, Ontario Co., J\\ Y. IN MY "NEW GAKDEN."-NO. 3. These very warm days are of rather too ardent a temperature for your invalid scribbler, but they are just the thing for "My New Garden." Mornings and evenings, and the cloudy days rather frequent of late, generally find me there, for there is abundant op- portunity for work at this season of the year. I now sit down to my pen after using the hoe until weaiy enough. You know that handsome but trouhl©- some weed, PuRSLAiN. — The dictionary says it is " an annual plant of the genus Portulacca, with fleshy, succulent leaves, often used as a pot-herb, and for salads, gar- nishing, and pickling." I wish there was a demand for it for any of these purposes in this neighborhood. I could soon grow a sufficient supply. It is some- times used for coloring purphsh blue — a fast, but homely hue for stockings, etc., costmg but a trifle for dye-stuffs. Purslain is quick to grow and slow to die, and one must be sure its roots touch no moist ground, or, like " that old fellow so much was about in the newspapers," it starts up and exclaims, " I ain't dead yet !" and you have all your work to do over again. Hoe it up and rake it off, and you have done with one crop, at least, although another will start up in a day or two, if the ground once gets seeded. Cabbage and Cauliflowek. — What plants the cutworms left are doing well; the cabbages beginning to head out. Either the seed was wrongly labelled, or I made a great mistake in remembering where_ I sowed it, for cauliflowers prove cabbages and vice versa. So please correct your understanding of_ the growth of the two, as mentioned in No. 2, for it is the cabbages that come up and grow so rapidly— and that were the least troubled with insects. Second Crops — Are now growing in the place of my bush and dwarf peas. I set cabbages among the first, some weeks before they were removed, and sow- ed turnips in the place of the latter, the last of July. Though watered, my turnips vegetate but slowly, but make a good growth as soon as up, and a portion are now, Aug. 5th, m their third leaf. Celery — Is a new vegetable with me, my first sowmg was last year, but the seed did not grow. This S86 THE GENESEE FARMER. scjason I sowed three times — the last time left the seed without covering — and the following week prov- ing rainy, a portion came up. That sowed before was but just covered; it appears that it needs, or will bear no covering at all. When some were three inches high, I prepared my trench, and after it had stood through a heavy rain, set my plants. They have rooted well. I keep them shaded through the keat of the day, and water in dry weather at evening. I doubt getting much of a crop, it is now so late. Lima Beaxs — Promise an abundant crop. I find ^«'e in planting pays — care in placing the eye down, aud covering with mellow earth. A few planted when the ground was rather wet, could not lift the erust— breaking in the effort. Fifty hills planted over a small shovelful of fine manure, have already formed pods and sent out vines ten or twelve feet long. I tied the poles on two rows together tent-wise, and I find they s^and the wind much better, as well as looking more symmetrical. Table Esculents. — I have now from my garden. Beans, (China Red-eye,) Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Radishes, and Lettuce. Have had Peas and Pie Plant, and shall soon have Green Corn, Li- mas, and Summer Squashes. I fine it already begins to repay my labor; in a year or two I shall have much greater varietj', with a little extra attention. Pleasure. — Real pleasure, aside from profit, I find in my garden. Let every man, woman, and child, have so:Tiething of one, if it is no more than a few foet of earth, or even a box or a broken pitcher full of it. My first plant grew in a broken bowl, and I found a great deal of enjoyment in watching its growth and blossoming: and if I had not outgrown rhymes, might copy the partial biography written at Ihii time for your pages. But I will not thus tres- pass. A CoDNTKY Invalid. Maple Hill, JV. T. THE CURCTJLIO. This little insect is the greatest pest the horticul- turist has to encounter. For his terror or destruc- tion, the ingenuity of man is well nigh exhausted. He who can discover a perfect and forcible remedy aguinst his bold and predatory inroads, will be de- set'ving a monument. Though I have the weakness myself of desiring some such memento, I do not ex- pect to acquire one on these hard conditions. I will therefore state, not how I have baflled the little Turk, l.>«t how I ha vent. In the first place, I will allude to the two most popular checks, viz., paving and shaking. Paving ijfider the plum tree I think of but little benefit in a garden where there are other fruit trees; for the cur- aulio may burrow in the ground, from the fallea fruit, under most all of them, and in the summer come out an^l take possession of the whole garden. Besides ©ue of my neighbors has tried it to no purpose. As to shaking or suddenly tapping the trees, and catch- ing the enemy in the sheets, that is too much trouble, even if it were effectual; but, in my opinion, it is not sffectual — saying nothing of the fruit jarred off in tte operation. The last spring I had four trees set full of plums, and I determined to use my best endeavors to save them. Hearing that alaked lime was good thrown on in the blossom, I tried this, though without the least faith in it, and was not happily disappointed. Before my plums were as large as peas, the enemy was at work. I next dissolved some assafa>tida in a bucket of water, and ordering the tin-worker to make me a syringe about 18 inches long by one and a half in diameter, perforated like a watering pot at one end, I threw the offensive liquid into the trees, with the hope that it would leave a slight sediment on the fruit not agreeable to the curculio. But what water does not readily run off will hang in a drop under- neath the plum, and here it evaporates and leaves the sediment, if any where; yet what is it worth on so small a portion of the surface as this ? I thought nothing. Besides, I had to take considerable of it on myself, which was not very agreeable, while I sus- pected it would hardly be effectual, even if it coated the whole plum. I, however, gave my trees a few doses, though the enemy still continued to work. I now thought I would determine to remedy the evil after it was done, by attempting to destroy the egg in the fruit. For this purpose I threw salt water into the trees. But lo ! while it would immediately hang on the lower part of the plum, it killed the leaves of the trees, and made them very unsightly, and thus retard- ed the growth of both tree and fruit. I next threw on lime and ashes while the trees were wet; but it is a very difficult matter to hit and cover the fruit, and I have not much faith in the operation. Now I cannot say if any of these attempts at rem- edies did any good ; but I can say that all of half of the plums were punctured, and afterwards fell, and the rot has taken about a quarter more, which leaves me one quarter of the fruit to ripen ! The curculio dislikes a wet tree, therefore syring- ing the tree with water every evening may be bene- ficial. I think if there is a remedy for the ravages of this insect, it will be'found in some pungent evap- oration, which will perpetually envelope the whole tree. Another season I shall try guano thrown under the tree, and placed wet in a crotch, and wait the result with more fear than hope. D. W. LOTHROP. JK Medford, Mass., Aug.. 1857. NOTES ON STRAWBEEEIES, Messrs. Editors : — The largest and most splendid of all American strawberries is the Scarlet Magnate — a pistillate and highly productive. It will produce double the quantity that Peabody's or any other starainate can do. The best early varieties for mar- ket are the Eclipse, Jenny Lind, and Triumph ; the highest flavored and most delicious family strawberries are the Le Baron, Ladies' Pine, and Perfumed Scar^ let ; and the standard market varieties for the medium to late crop are Malvina, resembling Hovey, but po- sessing great advantages over it, the Scarlate Mag^ nate named above. Imperial Scarlet, Diadem, Impe- rial Crimson, Hovey, Crimson Cone, Primate and Wilson's Albany, the two last being staminates. Burr's New Pine is surpassed in productiveness by the Superlative, and is infinitely surpassed in flavor by all the three delicious varieties I have referred to above. No man possessing full information is now so silly as to cultivate the Large Early Scarlet as a main crop, and we therefore see but few in the markets of Philadelphia, New York, Boston or Cincinnati.— The Boston Pine, Cushiug, I^righton Pine, Triomphe de Gaud, TroUope's Victoria, and La Eeine, are too THE ge:n^esee farmer. 287 nnproductive for market, and the Genesee and Scott's Eix'dliug are much less productive than many other varieties. McAvoy's Superior, on the contrary, is a Biost excellent and productive family berry, and ri- pens next to the earliest varieties. It is never diffi- cult to fertilize and unproductive when attended by ft suitable staminate, and is only so where the culti- vator thoughtlessly relies on the Early Scarlet as the fructifier, whose blossoms expand much too early for the purpose. The Hooker is a very good berry, rather large, sweet, and of fine flavor; a very good family fruit, but, hke most of the other staminates, not suited for field culture to supply the markets. Moyamensing is a seedling of the old Hudson, of medium size, not sweet, and with but little flavor. The Crimson Cone, which has been so abundant in the New York markets for years, is too acid, and is gradually yielding place to the other standard varie- ties of better quality. W. R. Prince. Flushing, JV. Y. CITLTIVATION OF STRAWBEEEIES: Messes. Editors : — I have been surprised to see how little attention the majority of our farmers pay to the cultivation of strawberries. No fruit is more easily raised, and yet very many of our farmers have sever seen a cultivated strawberry. They think it a very small business to spend time with such things; b^it I would say to those gentlemen that I can take an acre of suitable land, and cultivate with straw- berries, and make more clear money off of that one acre than any of them do off of twenty-five acres of corn. Now this may sound rather strong, but it is true; and this is not the only consideration. The small fruits, such as the strawberry, the raspberry, the gooseberry, not forgetting the fine Ijawton black- berry, are among the greatest luxuries we enjoy; but too many of our farmers have not sufficient energy to make one effort to partake of the choicest of blessings with which a bountiful Providence has sur rounded them. Elijah Thomas. fVarren Co., Ind., 1857. ANGLE WORMS. Messes. Editors : — In reply to the inquiry of ilr. Edwards, of Little Genesee, I would state that the trouble with his garden, no doubt, is attributable to the " thousands of angle worms" spoken of by him in bis inquiry. Many gardens in this vicinity are nearly mined. Experiments of various kinds have been tried to clear them from the ground, but to little purpose. Land once light and dry soon becomes heavy and wet where they take up their abode, and altogether unfit for garden purposes. They delight in a rich, wet soil. If the ground is too dry for them, they soon fix it by boring thousands of holes up through the surface, that the rain and dew may not escape. They are no great, favorites of light and heat. But at any time of night, or early mom, by simply stepping over the ground, may be heard draw- ing themselves down these holes to get out of harm's way. The noise thus made resembles falling drops of Fain. Thus, by ascending and descending, they draw the soil together in such a way that it has the ap- pearance of being baked. Having had some little experience with the "crawlers," I would recommend to impoverish the soil, by cultivating some crop that draws hard on the land. Keep of all manures uQtil such times as they have left the diggings, as they are not to be found in poor soils thtit I know of. Some seed down for a few years, but it provr.^ to be of no use whatever. J C. Adams. Sepfiour, JV. Y. COMPARATIVE BACKWARDNESS OF THE SEASOR. Messrs. Editors : — Much has been said about the backwardness of the present season, and in support of the general opinion, I make a few notes from ray garden book, showing the time of maturing of some of the leading vegetables for -five years. 1S.53.. Sowed Veas March 28. Blossomed May .31. Picked June 18. is:>4.. " " Aprils. " " " " »6. 1*55.. « " " 10. " Junes. " " 20. 1S5G.. « « "10. " *' 2. " '• 16. 1857.. " " " 11. " " 5. " " 29. It will be seen by the above table, that this year and 1855 were more backward than the others men- tioned, and that this year is, at least, nine days be- hind two years ago. We will take radishes, which I usually plant as soon as the frost is out of the ground. 1 S53 Sowed Eadishes At>ril 8. Pnlled Mav 89. 1S54 " " "" 19. " June 8. 1S55 " " " 12. " Mav 25. 1S5G " " " 11. " "■ 24. 1S5T " " " 11. " June 9. The growth of early radishes depends more upon the temperature of the month of May than any other time, while peas require a warm and not very wet June for their early maturity. Cucumbers. — Picked full grown ones July 1st, 1853; the same time, 1854; July 9th, 1855; July 14th, 1856; July 13th, 1857. Last year my cu£THn- bers were much retarded by late frosts. Tomatoes. — 1853 — picked first ripe ones Julv 24th ; 1854— July 23d; 1855— August 8th; 185G— July 28th; 1857— August 19th. If I should continue my extracts, they would bat sustain the general opinion that the present is the most backward season we have experienced in macy years. P. C. Reynolds. JVear Palmyra, JV. Y. Grafting Pears on White Thorn.— In the Jnn« number of the Genesee Fanner, I see "D. F. H."' v/ants to know about grafting pears on the whi'fee thorn. My experience you and he can have grati?. Some twelve years ago I grafted my first on the white thorn in the following manner. I selected a thorn about three-fourths of an inch in diameter; cot it off with a saw about one inch above the surfa©* of the ground. Put in a pear scion, covered with grafting wax, &c., and that svmmer it grew six feei four inches. One week in June it grew six and a half inches; and I have now a very handsome pear tree well loaded with pears. I think it bore fruit m four or five years. My reason for cutting off tb« stock so low is, that a pear tree grows faster than th© thorn, and therefore by raising a mound of earth up above the stock, the graft forms its own roots, and becornes a more permanent tree. I have a graft of two years old, doing well, on a service, or as some call it, June berry. What th« fruit will be, I cannot tell; but I should think that it will do well. The berries, when ripe, have a little oi the peiir flavor. Hugh Rainet. Cotjield, Mercer Co., Penn. THE GENESEE FARMER. SET OUT STEAWBEERY PLANTS THIS MONTH. If the weather should continue as wet during September as it has been during the past few weeks, we would recommend those who have not already done so to set out strawberry plants. Under favorable circumstances plants set out at this time will be- come suiSciently rooted to endure the winter, and will bear a moderate crop of fruit next summer. An underdrained, deep, rich, somewhat loamy soil is best for strawberries. It should be dug at least two feet deep. It is better not to bring the lower spit to the surface — as in ordinary trenching. It should be broken up, and have as much manure dug in with it as possible. You cannot make the subsoil too rich for strawberries. Plant in rows two and a half feet apart, and from twelve to eighteen inches apart in the rows. Water the plants, if necessary, and let it be done thoroughly, so as to reach the roots. A light sprinkling on the surface is worse than nothing. Keep the soil loose and free from weeds, and in JTovember spread a light coat of fresh manure on the surface between the plants. This will enrich the soil and protect the plants during the winter. For best varieties, see article in last number, by one of our most successful and experienced cultiva- tors [ GATHEEING AND EIPENING mmT. We make a few extracts on this subject from an excellent article in the August number of the Maga- zine of Horticulture : " Pears. — It should be distinctly understood that no summer pear should be allowed to ripen on the t-ree ; there is no exception to this rule. There are a few which are barely eatable, but in most instances tliey are nearly worthless. Some become as dry and mealy as a baked potato, and not near so good ; while others rot at the core, though seemingly sound on the surface. It is because most of the summer pears are allowed to ripen on the trees that many of the best varieties have been pronounced unworthy of cultivation. * * * The only requisite is that the fruit should have attained its growth, and the sooner it is picked afterwards the better. This may be known to the cultivator by the change which takes place in the appearance of the fruit. Some of the defective specimens will assume a smoother and paler surface ; the coloring on the sunny side will be brighter, and the stem will become swollen, par- ticularly at the junction with the tree. These indi- cate that the period of maturity is approaching, and the fruit may be gathered and ripened. We have found that very few early pears will ripen well when exposed to the air on open shelves, even in a tolera- bly close fruit room. At this season of the year the atmosphere is too dry, and the currents of air too great, and the juices are too rapidly exhausted. It is far better to place the fruit in boxes of mode- rate size, and let them stand in the fruit room or some other cool and dark place, where they retain their juices better than if exposed on shelves. * " As a general rule, we should advise all early pears to be placed in boxes or drawers, covered with one or two thicknesses of paper, and kept excluded from light and air, where the temperature is cool and as even as possible at that season. A damp, cool cellar is not so favorable a place as a cool, dry room, as the former checks the ripening process too suddenly ; such a situation will do for the autuma and winter pears, but not for the early kinds. "Apples. — Some of these are about as goed when they fall from the tree as by any process of keeping. The Eed Astrachan, Porter, and some of the more acid kinds, seem to acquire their highest flavor in this way. But as a general rule they should be gathered a few days before eating. The sweet varieties, particularly such as the Bough, Golden Sweet, and some others, become too mealy if allowed to hang too long. "Peaches and Plums, except clingstones and prunes, are only fit to eat as they drop from the trees. The only objection to this mode of gather- ing, is, that it bruises and disfigures the fruit. They should not, however, be picked unless they part from the stem upon the least touch. Clingstones and prunes may be kept in the fruit room for one or more months." a » Transplanting Evergreens Early in Autumn. — In an account of the Fair of the New Jersey State Agricultural Society, in the October number of our last volume, we noticed a number of beautiful ever- green trees, exhibited by S. J. Gustin, of Newark. They had been taken from the nursery, and were "laid in by the heels" on the show grounds. Mr. G. informs us that at the close of the exhibition, the evergreens, some twenty in number, were sold to a gentleman of Newark, and planted on his grounds. Only jive of the number died. They were taken up in hot, dry weather, about the 10th of September, and transplanted twice in the course of a few days. Mr. G. thinks that " this shows that evergreens may be successfully transplanted early in autumn." "Why Weeds Grow Apace.— There may be 130 flow^ ers having seed-vessels on a single plant of groundsel, and in each seed-vessel there are 50 seeds. Thus, oae groundsel seed is father to 6,500 sons, more than tliere are of visible stars in the firmament. Many of these settle where tliey cannot live ; many exist to be eaten by birds. It is not meant that all seeds shonld pro- duce plants — very many are as much bread to the birds, as seeds of corn are bread to us. If, however, by ac- cident, every son to which a thriving groundsel seed is parent, grew up, throve, and produced new seed m the same proportion — an impossible assumption — the descendants of a seed of groundsel in the second gene- ration would exceed in number 40,000,000; the tele- scope itself has not enabled us to see so many stars. Chickweed is less prolific, though, indeed, even that may produce as many as 500 seeds upon each plant. But, then, look at tiie red poppy. It can yield 100 flowei's from one lOot, and from each flower can de- velop not less than 500 seeds ; 50,000 may, therefore, by chance, be the number of its offspring. Black mustard and wild carrot produce families of magnitude about equal one to another. One may, when in ]■>€?- fection, produce 200 flowers with six seeds in each, the other 600 flowers, with in each two seeds. One dan- delion root may have 12 flowers, while each dandelion flower yields 170 seeds. The seeds of one sow-thistle may number 25,000. One plant of stinking chamomile may yield 40,000, one plant of mayweed 45,000 seeds. — Dickens' Household Words. Knight found that the bark of the birch tree con- tains more sugar the farther it is taken from the roots. THE GENESEE FARMER. 289 WOMEN ON COMMITTEES AT HORTICITLTURAI EX- HIBITIONS. OuK Agricnltural and Horticultural Societies miss it in not putting ladies on their Committees. There are, in every community, ladies who are at least as good judges of fruits and flowers as the men ; and there can be no doubt that it would not only add to the interest felt in the exhibitions, but increase the con- fidence of competitors in the correctness of the de- cision?, if ladies, with their exquisite taste and keen appreciation of the beautiful, could be induced to act in concert with gentlemen. The Essex County (Mass.) Agricultural Society last year, for the first time, included the names of la- dies on their list of Judges, and the fact called out the following lines from one of the ladies: At the first Cattle Show of which we read, Has, sole Committee, over all presided, Till the Great Husbandman, who saw the need Of Woman's gentler counsel, thus decided : " It is not good for man to be alone ; " And straight a help-mett formed to share his throne. In this display, where Nature, fresh and fair. To Eden's bowers tempts back the roving will, The olden precedent is brought to bear. And Eve's quick tact is blent with Adam's skill. To trace the hand of GOD in fruits and flowers, And scan the product of man's feebler powers. I^ in the judgment thus conjointly rendered, Error, like evil, craftily creeps in, That same old plea, which father Adam tendered. Can now be urged to palliate the sin, And every blunder written, thought or said. Be visited on luckless woman's head. ORIGINAL DOMESTIC RECEIPTS. How TO Keep Preserves. — Apply the white of an Qgg with a small brush to a single thickness of tissue ptiper; the paper must be sufiiciently large to come an inch or two over the jar, and will require no tying. To Preser-ve Peaches. — To every pound of large, white freestone peaches allow one third pound white sugar. Make a thin syrup; boil the peaches HI it until tender, but not till they break. Put them in a dry, cool place and let them stand two days. Then make a new, rich syrup, allowing % lbs of sugar to a pound of fruit. Drain the peaches from the first syrup and boil them, until clear, in the last syrup. The first syrup must not be added, but may be U5ed for some other purpose. Ceeap Ice Cream. — Two table spoonsful of corn stanch, or common starch, for one quart of milk and one pint of cream; one fourth pound sugar. Boil the milk and cream together, and add the starch nude smooth with a little milk. Flavor to the taste when cool. Maxgoes. — Take large green peppers and melons, melons that are half ripe are very good,) take out inside and put them in weak brine for four or five days. Then fill them with nasturtions, cabbage, green tomatoes, and onions chopped. Season with iBMitard seed, cloves and cinnamon, and cover with coid strong vinegar. They require no scalding. Blackberry Jelly. — Half a pound of sugar to a pint of syrup. Made like currant jelly. Brandy Peaches. — Pare your peaches and weigh them. To one pound of peaches put three fourtba pound of sugar. Make a syrup of one third of your sugar tveighd, and boil your peaches gently in this syrup. When they are cooked to the pit take them out and drain them on a seive. Then fill your glass jars one half or three fourths full of peaches. Take the remainder of your sugar and make a syrup, with but little water, and while it is hot mix equal parts of syrup with white brandy, and pour over your jars of peaches. I^et them stand twenty four hours and then seal them up. The " Morris White Peach" is the best for this use. Preserved Peaches. — To one pound of peaches one pound of sugar. Pare your peaches nicely and halve them. Sprinkle your sugar over your peaches and let them stand over night. Put them over the fire and let them strike through. Take out the peaches; boil up the syrup; skim off the skum; pour it over the peaches hot. Use the "Yellow Crawford Peach" or '-Lemon Cling." Pickle Peaches. — To one quart of good vinegar, put three pounds of sugar. Boil and skim it. The liquid will cover a peck of peaches. Rub the peach with a coarse towel; stick two or three cloves in each, and boil them a dozen at a time (or more) in the vinegar and sugar until they are well cooked. Take them out with a fork and place them in a jar. When they are done strain the syrup over them. "First rate." Ripe Cucumber Pickles. — Pare and take out the seeds; cut them in strips; then put them in good cider vinegar twenty-four hours. Take them out; wipe dry. Make a syrup of two pounds of sugar, one ounce of cassia buds. When the syrup is hot put in the cucumber and cook ^fifteen or twenty minutes. Cucumber Pickles. — Place the cucumbers in a jar; throw a little salt on them; then pour boiling hot water over them, and let them remain twenty four hours. Then drain them and put them into vinegar, and let them scald up. Add cinnamon, cloves, red peppers, and a little pulverized alum. Pickle Pears. — Leave the stem upon the pears. Make a syrup of one quart of vinegar, three pounds of sugar. This quantity of syrup will cover a peck of pears. Cook the fruit in the syrnp until they are soft to the core. Then take out the fruit; place them in jars, and pour the syrup over thein. Throw in a little mace in the syrnp when hot. —^^-^^ — Learn to Cook. — Tn my opinion the most import- ant knowledge that a " housewife" can possess, is that which relates to the " art of cooking." It is true there are other duties which mast be attended to, but if necessary, they can far more properly be left to others tiian the cooking. The wife knows better what food is most healthy and palatable for her family. And what husband, when he returns from toil, weary, would not rather feel that his " meal" had been prepared by the hand of her who was particu- larly interested for him, than to know it had been placed there by a servant Truly every " housewife" ought to oversee her own cooking; and mothers should train their daughters to this, if it be to the neglect of some less important branches of "house- wifery." A. E, F. ««0 THE GENESEE FARMER. €lrit0r's ®aljU„ Hew Advertisements "Qiis MontJi. Genesee Valley Nurseries.— A. Frost & Co., Eoehestcs-, N. T. How to Behave.— Fowler & Wells, New York. Hickok's Keystone Cider Mill.— W. 0. Uickok, Kan-isburg, Pa. New Catalogues for 1S.5T.— Wm. E. Prince & Co., Flushing, N. Y. To Plauters & Dealers in Trees.— Isaac PuUen, Ilightstown, N. J. Fruit and Ornameatal Trees. — Ellwangcr & Bariy, Koetiester, N. Y. Small Fruits.— EUwanjter & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. TlyaciKths, Tulips, Doubie OaMtaa, &c.— J. M. Thorburu ■& Co., New York. Ei">che8ter and Lake AvcK^e Commercial Nurseries.— J. Donel- ten & Co., Rochester, N. Y. Old Rochester Nurseries. — Samuel Moulson Rochester, N. Y. To Seedsmen, Plante'iS, &c.— J. M. Thorburn, New Yw'k. Lawton Blackberry PlaTits.— C. P. Bisseil, Rochester, N. Y. To Nurserymen.— Ellwauger & Barry, iiochester, N. Y. New and Rare Oraaia-eatal Trees. — KUwanger & Barry, Roches- tor, N. Y. Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &e. — William King, Rochester, N. Y. Grape Vines.— Josiah Salter, Eochenter, N. Y. Buffalo Nurseries, amd Oaklands Gardens and Green-houses. — Manley & Mason, Buffalo, N. Y. Peach Ti'ees, Grape Vines, itc. — Jas, Lennon, Rochester, N. Y. Strawberry Plants for Sale.— C. W. Seelye, Rochester, N. Y. Bulbous Roots, Roses, Strawberries scad Trees,— Wm. E, Prince & Co., Flushing, N. Y. Strawberries. — .John Wilson, Albamy, N. T. QuiiiOG and Apple Stocks for Sale.— Penfield, BuTwell & Co., Lock port, N. Y. The Amerieaa Farmer's iSacyclopedla. — C. M. Saxton & Co. JTew York. Does "WiiEiT Txten to Chess? — To settle a contro- versy on this subject, Benjamin Hodsb, of Buffalo, N.Y., ©ffered a premium, some months since, of one hundred doilart, to any one who would demons-trate that wheat ■wwttld turn to chess — to be awarded "Uinder the supervision of She New-York State Agricultural Society, and under swjoii rules as a Committee appointed by the Society should prescribe. This premiumwas lately claimed by Samuel Datidson, of Greece, in this county, who had in his pos- session, ag fee believed, the evidence of transmutation. — A Committee, appointed by the Society, consisting of Prof. Dewey and L. B. Lanswouthy, of this city, and J. J. Thomas, of Union Springs, with Col. Johnson, Secretary ©f the Sociaty, met at Rochester recently to examine the evidence. Mr. Thomas is one of the editors of the Conntry Gaitlfrmen, and we copy the following account of the examination from that excellent paper. The experiment to prove transmutation was the follow- Hig : — A quantity of earth was passed through a fine seive, to separate all chess seeds. It was placed in a pan, and several heads of wheat planted in it. When the wiieat came up, it was subjected to all the hard treatment that usually produces winter killing, viz : flooding with water, and alternately frpezing on^l thawinjj for ceviral timf^s. L:ite ii! tlui spring, ilie whole (.■(intriitfi of the pan wwa removed and set out in open ground. When the p4ai»ts of wheat threw out their heads, thsre appeared ch'j.s.i liends also. Tl'.is mass of whe.'it and chess plant* wa'i brought in and ]>!.iced before the <'oinmittee. Stalks of chess were shovvn, the roots of whii:h were found to oroireed dire<'t!v front the ])lanted heads of wheat, which -t remained entire, and in some instance* they Avere found o proceed directly from tlie planted head* of wheat, ficli yet remained entire, and in some instances they Afere fnmid to issue from tlie half decayed grains of wheat themselves. This was looked upon as conclusive. The roots were taken by the Committee and first soaked in water, and afterwards gentiy washed, by moving them backwards and forwards slowly through it. They were then carefully examined by microscopes. The roots of the chess were now perceived to issue, not from near th« end of the grain of wheat, as is usual in sprouting, but from the sid^, and in fact from almost any part. Furth.er examination showed that they merely passed through crevices in the decayed wheat grains, and they were sepa- rated from the grains without tearing, being merely in contact, without any adhesion or connection. Some of the more minute chess fibres were observed by an achro- matic microscope, to extend over the inner surface of the bran, where they had gone in search of nourishment, (which is known to abound just within the bran,) in the same way that grape roots have been observed to sprea/d over the surface of a rich decaying bone. But they easily separated, and had no connection with the grain. It was satisfactorily proved that the chess plant could not have come from these grains, by the fact that tlie same single stalk of chess was thus connected with five or six differ- ent grains, — which could no more have originated it, tbaa tive or six cows could have one calf. This examination, therefore, did not prove anything in favor of transmuta- tion ; and as there were many possible ways in which the chess might have become scattered on the soil, the whole experiment was admitted by all parties to be inconclusive. The claimant is, however, perfectly " satisfied" that tb« wheat turned to chess ; and he is also so well satisfied with the candor and accuracy of the Committee, that he is confident he will yet convince them of the fact of trans- mutation, as experiments, conducted by them with great care, are to be performed under his direction, another year. »«.• Gbeat Peice fob a South Down Ram. — At the last Annual letting of Jonas Webb's South Down Rxuns, at Babraham, England, one of the rams was hired by i&. LiNSLEY, of Connecticut, for one hundred and ninety »ev« HiRTORIOAL SkETCUFS. BV T. BaEINGTO!* Macavlat. New York : D. ArPLETOx & Co., 1S57. This is the first of a series of books, entitled the •' Ameri- can Railway Library." It is a very valual)le work, of .304: pac^es, and contains ninety interesting but somewhat i'.ete- rogenons sketches. 292 THE GENESEE FARMER. The Biographical History of Peilosopht. By Geqese H. Lewks. New York : D. Appleton & Co., 1857. This handsome volume of nearly 800 pages, is by one of the ablest writers of the present day. It traces the History of Philosophy from its origin in Greece, down to the present time, and discusses briefly the theories, various and conflicting, of the master minds of the Ages. PijxcHS' Pocket Book of Firs. The Essence of Punch. Being cuts and cuttings from the wit and wisdom of twenty-live volumes of Puni-li. lilnstrated with 75 engravings. B. 8. P. AvEKV. New Yorlc: D. Appleton & Co., 1S57. All the above works are for sale by D. M. Dewey, of this city. ♦♦•»• Intuitu* anir Snstotr*. SuPEKpnospn ATE OF Lime. — (T. G.) You cannot con- vert bones into superphosphate without grinding them. We will give an article on the subject in a future number. Wheat Dbill. — (A. D. Coryell, Vernon, Ind.) The grain drill manufactured by C. H. Seymour, of East Bloomfield, N. Y., is one of the best we have seen. Sore Shoulder in Horses. — In reply to the inquiry in your paper concerning horses that are sore in the shoulder, I can say that I have seen a mixture compounded of verdigris and grease applied with success. Stephen Powers. — Rutuford-, Ohio. Smut in Wheat.— What is the cause of smutin wheat? When the cause is known, what is a preventive ? I have been trying some experiments, which I will give after a while, but I would like to hear from you or some o€ the numerous readers of the Genesee Farmer, espe- cially the wheat growing portion, so that actual experi- ence can lie given. None of the causes which I have beard assigned agree with my experience. A. J. N. Cleves, Hamilton Co., Ohio. Smut in wheat is caused by a fungus, which you will find fully described in Mof.ton's Cyclopedia of Agricul- ture. We alluded to the best remedies in the last num- ber, page 235. W^e shall be glad to hear the result of your experiments. Underdraining. — Will it pay to naderdrain land that fe quite broke, and full of ravines, the soil being a hard, tenacious clay, underlaid with slate ? There are no drain tiles to be had in this part of the country. The timber fit for _ draining purposes is not very plenty. The only material that is in abundance is the limestone, which has to be blasted, as it lies in a stratum of about five feet in thickness. It can be broke and sjilit into any size re- tjuired. A. D. Coryell. — Vernon, Ind. Apple Disease. — Can you or any of your correspond- ents tell us wh.at causes our apjdes to rot so baaly, and wt at will prevent it? For tour years we have had no good apples. They first become speckled, then spotted, w>en rorten entirely. They have now begun to rot again Chis year, and we shall have no fruit for winter use. J. K. Boas. — Neur Exchange, Ky., Aug. 8, '57. Canada Thistles — How can the Cannda Thistle be €Kterminated ? Having been troubled with this nuisance for some time, and different ways of managing having fcwled to lessen them, I resolved to ask of jou and your Humerous correspondents a little information in the mat- tec. Will some one be so good as to answer tiiis through ycmr paper at the earliest opportunity. S, — Ehia, Erie Oa. N. Y. Potato Digging Machine. — As the potato digging season approaches, I would like to hear from some pe*^ son who has seen, in operation, the machine recently got up for that purpose. Does it take them out clean from dirt, where the ground is lumpy ? Does it leave any potatoes in the ground ? In short, all its merits and also the demerits, if there are any, belonging to the instm- ment. D.— Gates, N. Y. I have an apple tree, the fruit of which becomes ecv- ered, on one side, with a black scale ; the apples then crack and become nearly worthless. Now will you or some of your horticultural readers be kind enough to tell me, through the Genesee Farmer, what I must do to re- deem the fruit for another season as it is too late for th-is ? D.— Gates, N. Y. Growing Evergreens from Seed. — T wish to inquire through the columns of your valuable paper how to grow Evergreens from seed, such as Hemlock, White Pine, and Balsam Fir, with full directions, from the time of gather- ing the cones to the transplanting from the seed bed to nursery row. James Vinton. — Manchester, Mich. State Fairs for 1857. United States, Louiiville, Ky., September >— 6. Vermont, Montpelier, September &— 11. Ohio, Cincinnati, ...September 15 — 18. American Institute, ..New York, September 15— 29. Virginia, Western, Wheeling, September 16 — 18. Canada East, Montreal, September 16— J8. Illinois, Peoria, September21 — 24. Pennsylvania West, Pittsburgh, September 23 — 25. ""tLl^fKLllvn, \ --Alton, lU S;ptember 2^ Maine, Bangor, Sept. 29 to Oct 2. California, Stockton, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Sept. 29 to Oet, 2. Wisconsin, Janesville, ..Sept. 29 to Oct 2. New Jersey, New Brunswick, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. Canada West, Erantford, Sept. 29 to Oct B. Michigan, Detroit Sept. 29 to Oct 8, Indiana, Indianapolis, October 4 — 10. New York, Buffalo, October 6—9. Iowa, Muscatine, .. October 6—9. New Hampshire, Concord, October 7— 9. Kentucky, Henderson, ..October 12— 16. Tennessee, Nashville, October 12 — 16. Connecticut, Bridgeport, October 13—16. North Carolina, Raleigh, October 20—28. •; East Tennessee, Knoxville, October 20 — 28. Georgia, Atlanta, October 20 — 24 Massachusetts, Boston, ..October 21 — £8. Maryland, Baltimore, October 21 — 25. West Tennessee, Jack.son, October 27—30. Alabama, Montgomery, ..October 27 — 80. Virginia, October 28^S1. South Carolina, Columbia, November lO^—lA ADVERTISEMENTS, To secure insertion in the Fakmer, must be received a.' early 9fl tb« 10th of the previous month, and be of such a character as to be of Interest to farmers. Terms -^Two Dollairs Uz every hnndred words, each insertion, paid in advancz. H ICKOK'S KEYSTONE CIDER MILL, M.iNTTF.lCTCRED BT THE EAGLE WOEKS> HAEEISBimG, PA. THIS sterling machine has within the pa.st year been pafe& se- vere actual tests, and been very niucli inifroved by the f/^sil- tion of a 22 inch fly-wheel, new {rearing, joint-bolts, and oti)er minor improvements, and is now otTered to the public with the cei»- tainty that it is made in the very bent manner, and that it vJXi grind and press easier and faster than any other Mill in the mar- ket Dealers and others supplied on liberal terms. Address W. 0. HICKOK, geptember 1.— 3t Agent Eagle Works, Harrisburg»rBB, THE GENESEE FARMER. 293 STRAWBERRY PLANTS FOR SALE. OK ALL THK NEWKST AXD liKST VAKIETIE.S. NE^V SORTS at $1 per (hveii^ $3 per hundred. Hooker's Seedling, Scotl's Seedlins, Triomphe tie Gand, Iiigraiu's Triuce of Wales, I TroUopo's Victoria, Jenny Lind. STANDARD SORTS at $oOc. per dozen, ?2.00 per hundred. Bieton Tine, McAvoy's Extra Red, Boston Tine, McAvoy's Superior, Black Prince, Monroe Scarlet, Burr"8 Ne^¥ i'ine, Moyamensing, Crimson Cone, Ohio Mammoth, Gushing, Eiral Hudson, Genesee, Sohneickes Pistillate, llovey's Seedling, Longworlli's Prolific, Large Early Scarlet, Walker's Seedling. Particular attenti'm is paid to packing the plants in such a manner that they may be sent any distance by Itailroad or Ex^ press. Orders addressed to the subscriber will meet with prompt attention. C. W. 8EELYE, Stpt.— It. Rochester Central Nursery, llochester, N. T. BULBOUS ROOTS, ROSES, STRAWBERRIES AND TREES WM. R. PRINCE & CO., Flushing, N. Y., offer their most extensive collection of Bulbous Flower roots in their priced catalogue tor IS57. The new descriptive catalogue of the finest Strawberries, 105 varieties, and new catalogue of Roses, Tree and Herbaceous PEeonies. Carnations, Phlox, Iris, Chrjsanthemunis. Dahlias, &c., and a descriptive catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, are ready for applicants who enclose stamps. Chinese Po- tato tubers will now be contracted for, deliverable 1st of October, with a Treatise on Culture. 10,000 Liunaus, Victoria and Early Tobolsk Rhubarb; 50,imjo German Asparagus ; 250,000 American Thorn, Arbor Vitas, Osage Orange, Honey Locust, and Privet for Hedges ; 10,000 Cherry and Province Currants ; 50,000 Lawton and Imperial Blackberries; 30,000 Orange, Antwerp and other Rasp- berries ; 20,000 Hardy Grapes, English and Houghton Gooseber- ries, and Cranberries' All in quantity at lowest rates. N.L'. — The collection in every department is unequalled ; and many of the varieties of Fruit Trees, and of Strawberries, &e., cultivated by others, are shown to be worthless. Sept.— It. STRAWBERRIES. PEESO!NS in search of a good Strawberry — one unequalled in productiveness, flavor, ifcc. — should order a few of the '• Wil- son's Albany." Plants ready for delivery last of August and first oi September. Price $2.00 per loO. All information cheerfully given. JOHN WILSON, Albany N. Y. A good lot of FRUIT AND ORNAMENEAL TREES, and all sorts of Currants, Gooseberries, Grape vines, &c., of good size and quality, on terms as favorable as at any other establ&hnaent. Sept.— It, I HAVE for sale Fifteen Hundred large, well-grown. Peach Trees, of superior sorta. — ALSO — Two Thousand Grape vines, from one to two years old. Cur- rant Bushes, Gooseberry Bushes — Roses and Rose Stocks. The above wU be sold cheap for cash — packed and sent accord- tog to ordtr. JAMES LENNON, No. 12. Gorham st. Sept.— It. Rochester, N. Y. s MOUNT HOPE AVENUE, ROCHESTER, N. Y. rr»HE PROPRIETOR offers for sale this fall and coming spring X. a large assortment of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, such as Apple, Dwarf Pear, Cherry, Peach, Plum, Ajiricot. Gooseber- ries, Currants, Raspberries, Grape Vines. Quince, Cherry and Plain Stocks. Rhubarb, Asparagus, ifcc. Shade Trees, Ever- greens, Flowering Shrubs, Roses, Vines, Dahlia Roots, I5ulbous Soots, Green-house Plants. Address WILLIAM KING, S-^tember 1.— 2t. Rochester, N. Y. TO PLANTERS AND DEALERS IN TREES. TEIE Bub.scriber would inform his fiiends that his Descriptive and Wholesale Priced Catalogue of Fruit and OrnamBntal trees, for the autumn of 1S5V, will be sent, after the 10th of Au- gust to all applicants who enclose a stamp. Address ISAAC FULLEN, September 1. — 2t. Hightstowa, Mercer Co., N. J. QUINCE AND APPLE STOCKS FOR SALE. THE subscribers offer for sale, of their own raising, 100.000 Quince Stocks (Angers and Fontenay) at ?15 per 100. 200,000 Apple Seedlings, at $5 " 10,000 Peach Trees, ' Loefeport, N. Y., 8ept,-2t. PENFIELD, BUREELL & CO. HYACINTHS, TULIPS, DOUBLE DAHUAS, &c. THE subscribers olTer this geii."!on a raore extericive atifiorlBipnt than usual of DUTCH BCLBOUS ROOTS, imported from the Uert Flower Nurseries of Europe, in the tincst coudilion, and all fiint cla.03 bulbs— euihraciiig every desirable variety of DouuLK Axu SiKOLK Hyaci:«tu3, aelapted for house or ont-door flowering, Eahlv a-nd Late, Doudle and Si.ngle Tclips, of every shade and hue, PoLYA:t 1. — It. Mount Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N. T. NSW AND RARE ORNAMENTAL TREES. MESSRS. ELLWANGER & BAERT solicit the attention of gentlemen who are interested in new and rare Ornamen- "cal Trees, to the following, viz : Kilmarnock Weeping Willow, with pendulous brown bronches and large glossy leaves — an elegaflt tree. Ajibkican Weeping Willow— A beautiful small tree with a ]wofu.sion of light, graceful, drooping branches and small Silvery green foliage. Rosemary Leaved Willow^,\ very striking tree with featb- -ery branches and bright silvery foliage. Weeping Poplar — -A remarkably graceful tree ; the tremulous fottage and drooping habit combined, are quite expressive. Cut-Leaved Weeping Biecii — No other tree possesses, in erery particular, so much of lightness and elegance as this. Pueplk-Leaved Sycamore — A very striking tree, having large rich purple foliage. Aucuua-Leaved Ash — Quite a novelty, having the leaves all jwofusely sprinkled with golden blotches. Gold-Striped Weeping Ash — A variety of the common \Teeping Ash, with golden stripes and blotches on both foliage and branches. EtMS, Purple-Leaved, Nettle-Leayed, Pyramidal, Hun- TTSGDON and several other remarkable and beautiful species and varieties. These are but a few of the many r.ire and fine trees which E. & B. now offer. In new and raTe Shrubs, Roses, Paconies, Phloxes, and other popular classes of plants, their collection is •squally rich. For particulars they must refer to the following Catalogues, •which will be sent prepaid to all who enclose one stamp for each : — No. 1 — Fruits. No. 2 — Ornamental Trees. No. 3— Green House and Bedding Plants, Dahlias, &c. No. 4 — Wholesale. Sept— 1-t. Mt. Hope Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. , 1S57. BUFFALO NURSERIES AJ,000 3 and 4 year old Apple Trees, choicest kinds, 140,000 2 " '• '* " 1.^0.000 1 " « « « 11 1(1,000 2 " Peach " " " 10,000 1 « " " " " with an equal quantity of Pears Plums, Cherries, &c. We liave also lOn.ono Maneila Stocks for lioscs, first qualify. 50,11011 extra '2 year old Apple Slocks. I 40,1100 " Mazzard Cherry " I .%.(iOO 1 and 2 year old Horse Chestnut Seedl'gs. I IfSF" Descriptive and Price Catalogues (urnished gratis. I Rochester and Lake Avenue Com'l Nurseries, Sept. 1, 1857,— 2t THE GENESEE FARifER. •2^5 FOR AUTUMN OF 1957. ELLWANGKR .t KAUKY ln's t.. aunonnoo that thcT offer for tlio ensuiiijj I'all TraJo their ustial extensive slock of Dursery articles, embracing Staxpaiu) and Dwai:k Fruit Tkei'.s of all kinds. Small Fuiits, embracing the finest Currants, Gooseberries, EoLspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, ifcc. ite. Ni:ts, ineluiling Walnuts, Filberts, Chestnuts, &e. KnuKAKB— Linnaeus, Victoria, itc., all the best. Giant Asparagus, ">>r s Fine of tlie items offered, see adverlisemcut ia the Horti- cuUurisl, and Hovey.s Magazine, for September, 1857. September 1. — It. EXIENSIVE AND IMPOKTANT SALE OF mPOETED AND PURE-BRED SHORT-IIORNKD CATTLE, Cotswold and South-down Rams, Berkshire and Yorkshire Pigs. MR. W. R. G. KNOWLES has received instre^^tions from FRi^DEKICK WM. STONE, Esq., to sell bv AUCTION, at MOKKTD.V LODGl?:, on WEDNESDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER NEXT, upwards of 50 head of Imported aud Pure-bred Short'iiorned Cattle, cor/iprising Bullsj Cows and lleifere, of dilTerent ages. Also, 15 Imported and Pure-bred Cotswida Rams ; 1 Ram and 10 Importeil South-down Ewes, and 10 Rnm Lamli-;; 3 Imported Berkshire Boars, and a number of Berkshire and Yoi-kshire Pigs, of the Small Breed, from stock imported m 1856. The greater portion of the stock at Jloreton Lodge are imported animals from the Herds of Sir Charles Knightly, Col. Kingseote, Capt. Gnnter, Messrs. Tanqueray, Bowly, .foiias Webb, Bolden, Saudy, Mortons, and Henry Am^lder, selected by JiiBies KuowVea, E>q., whose judgment in the selection and m:;u.agement of the celebrated Tortworth Herd (late Lord Dude's) is a g'O'drantee of the Moreton Lodge Herd, a-s respects first class blood, tiae quality, good symmetry, and milking qualities. This sale oflers to the Breeders of North America the rare op- portunity of obtaining FIRST CLASS STOCIi, without the risU of a sea voyage, and great expense connected therewith; and of- fers to our American friends a selection from many of the Firist Herds of England, at a small cost of time and money to obtain them.. The Cotswold Sheep are from- thw Flocks of Messrs. SlaJtjr, Ruck and Beale Brown ; tlSe- South-downs' from Sir R. Thock- morton's Flock, and from the same" stock a-s the Prize Wethers for several years successful winners at the Birmingham and Smithfield Shows ; the Pigs faom Sir K. Thockmorton's aud Capt. Gaater's stock. JT^ Parties from Lower Canadat and the Eastern States, re.aeh- ing Toronto on the 15th, can leave at 8 A. M. on the 16th by the Grand Trunk Railroad and arrive at Guelph at 10 A. M. ; and from the Western States, via, the Great Western liailroad le.avang Wiad- Bor in the early morning train on the loth, reacii Guelph the same afternoon. Tek.ms.— Uncer S200, ca«b; $200 to $500, foar months; over S500, six mouths, on approved endorsed nMes, with interest, or a diecniint of 10 per cent, for cash. Z^^ Refreshments at eleven ; sale to commence punctually at twelve o'clock. 5i^p" Catalogues are in preparation, with Pedigrees, &c., and will be ready for delivery by tlje 15th of August. Morton Lodge, Guelph, C. W., Aug. ], 1857.— 2t* KEW EOCHELLE (OR LAWTON) BLACKBERRY. PLASTS FOR SALE AT TWO rOLL.\P.3 AND A HALF PER DOZEN, SIXTEEN DOLLARS PER HUNDRED, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS PER THOUSAND 0. P. BISSELL, Rochester, N. Y., East Avenue, near H. E. Hooker & Co.'s Com'l Nurseries. August 1. — 3t. NEW WORK I NOW IN PRESS I SORGHO AND IMPHEE, THE CHINESE AND AFRICAN SUGAR CANES. A COMPLETE Treatise upon their Origin, Varieties, Cultara and Uses; their value as a For.age Crop, and directions. Sjr makiug Sugar, Molasses, Alcohol, Sparliling aud Still Wines, Beer, Cider, Vinegar, Paper, Starch and Dve-StutTs. FULLY ILLUSTRATED with Dkawij^gs oj- Appeotbd Ma- Cin.MKY ; with an Appendix by Leonard Wray, of Calfraria, anJ a description of his patented proce.sa for crystalizing the juice of the Iraphee ; with the latest Anierican experiments, including those of 1S57 in the South. By Hexrt S. Olcott. To which are added translations of valuable French paraphleta received from the Hon. John Y. Mason, American Miniiter at Paiis.' Phice O.vd Dollar. Sr.nt &y mail, post-paid. Orders taken immediately. Those firs received will be first filled. C. M. SAXTON & CO., Agricultural Book Publighers, Auirnst 1. — 5*;. 140 Fniton street, >'h\t iofk. TO PERSONS WAXUiJ), in every c< tnous and enterpri scription, of valualile uni e.spres.dy adapted to the noiliing of a pernicious o are among tlie best in the profit of from $2 to %^ I smg mc-u. as Ajents for the sal*', by ^i^lj I interesting Books: all of them lit-riig wants of every fanuly, and conlaiiii-Mi^ r injurious tendency. Our publiciliocp country, and good aeents can re.'Uiz* u ler day by engaging iu the husiues.^.' A to ^30 is rei|uired. Vorlurtber particu ROBEKT SEARS. Publi.slif-r, No. 181 WiiUiuu street, New Yerk. 296 THE GENESEE FARMER. Prices of AgricTiltural Products at tlie Principal Markets in the United States, Canada and England, NEW YORK, Aug. 22d. PHILADELP'IA, Aug. 22d. EOCHESTEE, Aug. 22d. CHICAGO, Aug.22d. TOEONTO, Aug. 20th. LONDON Aug. ,ENa, 2d. Beef per 100 lbs., .... do mess, per bbl.,.. $10.00 @ $12.00 16.50 81.00 $5.75 @ $6.00 $7.00 @ $s.oo $6.50 @ 25.00 $7.00 26.00 $8.25 @ $i8.oe .$19.00 @ $19.50 8.00 .13 MM 6.75 1.80 9.00 26.00 .15 .13 MM 8.50 1.S5 .90 10 50 15.00 do mess, per bbl., . . Lard, per lb., 21.50 .15 .06 6.20 1.45 .85 .86 .40 20.50 .I6J4' .25 .10 9.00 1.75 .90 1.05 .63 25.00 .15K 25.50 .16 .13 .18 .11 7.20 1.44 1.03 .90 .60 1.11 .IT .16 .06 5.75 1.13 .67 .13 .07 6.00 1.50 .72 .20 .09 6.25 1.20 .86 .66 .30 .12 8.00 1.72 .92 1.00 .80 1.00 .26 .IT Flour, per bbl., Wheat, per bush. Corn, shelled, per bu.. Rye, do Oats, do Barley, do 4.50 1.50 .87 .28 9.25 1.72 .91 .95 .44 8.16 2.04 I.IT 1.08 1.00 6.50 8.00 .55 1.12^ 7.00 3.50 .57 .75 6.50 2.63 .61 .80 7.00 2.75 1.09 1.35 7.25 3.74 7.50 8.75 Timothy Seed, do 3.37,'^ 3.75 2.04 2.16 Hay, per ton, 15.00 .85 10.00 .55 T.OO .80 4.50 11.00 .40 5.60 5.00 .31 10.00 .45 13.00 18.00 .82 .40 .65 Wood, hard, per cord, €;onttnt« of tfits Numitr. The Practical utility of Soil Analyses, 265 Fair of the Royal Agricultural Society, 267 Ten Esopntials to Good Farming, 26S Butter Making in MaBsachusetts, 268 Items Suggested by the Ausust Number, 269 Growth of tlie •' Sorgluim," 269 Notes for the Month, by S. W., 270 Convenient Pig-Sty, 270 Yell"w Dock (Rumex crispus), 271 How much Corn, or Hav, is required to produce One Pound of Meat? 271 P.eflections on Poor Roads. — No. 1, 272 Lime a' a Manure, 272 Taste and Thrift in Iowa, 273 Turnips among Corn — Butter from Praii'ie Grass — Draining,&c., 274 Advantages of Forethought in Farming, 274 How to Clean and Keep Farming Tools Bright, 275 Great Fecundity of Wheat, 275 Chess and Cockle, 275 One Word More on the Milking Question, 276 Breaking the Prairie, - 276 Sound Corn — Again, 276 Farmer's Clubs, 276 Farming Going Up, -77 Searcity of Fodder at the West, 277 Draining without Tiles, 278 Digging and Preserving Potatoes, 278 Notes from MinnesofA, 278 Buckwheat to Kill Wire-worms, 278 Drilling in Wheat, 278 Bakewell's Aneodnte, 279 How it may be Easier for a Machine to Work than to do Nothing, 279 Browne's Poultry-house, 280 New York Premium Butter, 281 A Boy's Corn Crop, 2.';i Slosges, - 2S1 HO'?TI0ULTtTRAL PEPARTKENT. Location as it affects Temperature and Vegetation, 2^2 Horticultural Operations for September, Strir Callo 2S3 Cultivation of Grapes in the Open Air, . 284 In " My New Gard-en " — No. 2, 2-^5 TheCurculio, 2S6 Notes on Strawberries, 286 Cultivation of Strawterries, 287 Angle-worms, 28T Ciimp.ai-alive Backwardness of the Season, ..,-. 2S7 Onifling Pears on White Thorn, 287 Set dut Strawberry Plants this Month, 288 Gatliering and Ripening Fruit 288 Transplanting Evorgreens in EtirLy A.utumn, 288 Why Weeds Grow Apace, 288 LADIES' DEPARTMENT. Women on Committees at Horticultural Exhibitiou?, 289 Original Domestic Receipts, 889 leaxn to Cook, ^ 289 EDITOR'S lABUE. Does Wheat Turn to Chess? 290 Great Price for a South- don-n Ram, 2^0 ■rrait Growers' Soeiety of Western New York, 290 Sulphur for Rose Bugs, 890 "Tile FvUial Annual and Horticultural Diieetory for 1S53, 219 The Dioscorea Batatis, 291 Corrections, 291 Great Sale of Imported Stock, 291 County Agricultural Fairs, 281 The Ohio Pomological Society, 281 Prize Essays. 291 Notices of New Books, Periodicals, &c., 291 Inquiries and Answers, 233 State Fairs for 1857, 292 ILLUSTRATIONS. Convenient Pig-sty, . . 270 PerspectiveView and Ground Plan of Browne's Poultry-house, 280 Transverse Section of " " 281 Spirffia Callosa, 2S3 FIRST CLASS FAMILY JOUKNALS. —LIFE ILLUSTRATED : A First-Class Pictorial Paper, weekly. $2 a ye.Tj; $1 for half a year.. ..WATER-CURE JOURNAL: Devoted to the Laws of Life and Health. $1 a year PHRE- NOLOGICAL JOURNAL : Devoted to the Improvement of Man- kind. $1 a year. The three Journals sent one year for $3. Ad- dress FOWLER AND WELLS, No. 808 Broadway, New York. August 1. — 2t. A. LONGETT, No. 34 CLIFF STREET, NEW YORK, DEALER in Peru\-ian, Colombian and Mexican Guano, Soper- phnsphate of Lime, and Bone Dust. June 1. — 4t. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO NURSERYMEN. QUINCE STOCKS FOR SALE. WE have on hand a large stock of the best Angers and Paris or Fontenay Quince Stocks, rased by ourselves from Stocia and from Cuttings, both of which we will sell on more reasoaabiS terms than they can be imported. Early orders are solicited. H. E. HOOKER & CO., July 1. — 4t. Commercial Nurseries, Rochester, N. T. TTie Practical and Scientific Farmer's Own Paper, j THE GENESEE FARMER, A MONTHLY JOURNAL OP /^.GRICULTURE AND HORTICULTTJRE, ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAri.VGS OP Fann Buildings, Animals, Implements, Fruits, &«. VOLUME XVin. FOE 1857. Fifty Cents a Year, Sn Advance. Five Copies for $2 ; Eight Copies for $3 ; and any larger number at the same rate. j;^^ All subscriptions to commence with the year, and the en- tire volnme sui'plied to all subscribers. t^W° Post-Master.s, Farmers, and all friends of improv€«nent are respectfully solicited to obtain and forward subseriptiona. Specimen numtjers sent to all applicants. Subscription money, if properly enclosed, may be sent at Qie ridt of the Publisher. Addres6 June, 1837. Rucheater, ifeto York, Vol. XYIII, Second Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., OCTOBER, 1857. No. 10. HOW CAN WE MOST ECONOMICALLY INCREASE THE FEETILITY OF THE &OIL? It is high time this question was asked by every land-owner. la many sections of the country it is beginning to force itself on public attention. It is the great problem which American farmers have to solve. This is a new country. Our climate and circumstances are very different from those of Eu- rope. We have comparatively little experience of our own to guide us, and cannot safely adopt prac- tice3 which rest simply on the experience of Euro- pean farmers. We must develope a system of agri- culture adapted to our own peculiar circumstances. To do this we require more science than the farmers of any other country. European farmers have the recorded and traditionary experience of centuries to guide them. Less than half a century ago, the soil, where we now write, was covered with pri- meval forests. The chief aim of the farmer has been to clear the land, and, without regard to perma- nent fertility, to get from it with as little expense as possible such crops as M^ould furnish the greatest amount of ready cash. He has drawn heavily on the natural fertility of the soil. We do not blame him for so doing. It was doubtless the best thing that could be done under the circumstances. But now things are changed. The first flush of fertilizing matter in the soil has been abstracted. The same cultivation will not produce as good crops as former- ly. fFe must find means to enrich the soil. Our ex- perience on this point is limited. We know thai manure will enrich it, but which is the most econom- ical way of making manure we know not. We mean by this that we do not know what crops we ought to grow for the purpose of plowing under, or for feeding to animals on the farm. We possess certain information in regard to the value of manure mada from this or that particular kind of food, but w e do not know what food can be grown with least injury to the soil. In other words, we do not know what plants used as food for animals remove from the soil the least quantity of those substances most required for the growth of wheat and other plants used as food for man. Without this knowledge it is impos- sible to adopt the best system of rotation of crops. On this point we are < ntirely dependent on European experience. In England we know that turnips, clo- ver, peas, beans and vetches impoverish the soil but little, and are the best crops that can be raised for feeding ou the farm. But who can tell us what crops are best for similar purposes in this country? The first rational attempt to institute experiments that shall throw light on this subject has yet to be made on the American Continent. Till we have a series of experiments, scientifically designed and carefully executed, we must grope our way in the darkness of ignorance, with what little aid we can get from the fitful and uncertain Ught of accidental and undefined experience. To answer the question at the head of this arti- cle, in the present state of agricultural science in this country, is impossible. If it were true that the manurial requirements of plants were indicated by their chemical composition, there would be little difficulty in deducing a rational system of rotation and manuring; but this is not the case. The experi ments of Lawes demonstrate that all conclusions in* regard to the substances best adapted for the growth of plants drawn from their composition, are at best uncertain. Peas and beans contain three times as much nitrogen as wheat, and yet it has been demon- strated that beans and peas require for their maxi- mum growth far less nitrogen than wheat. The ash of wheat contains five times as much phosphoric acid as the ash of turnips, and yet we know that a soil must be richer in available phosphoric acid for the maximum growth of turnips than for wheat. The only way, therefore, in which we can ascertain the, relative proportion in which the elements of plants should exist in a soil to render it the most product- ive for the diCFerent kinds of crops, is by actual ex- periment. "We can hope to make little advance in this direction, till we can have a properly conducted " expeiimental farm." Our comparative ignorance in regard to the best systems of rotation and manuring, however, is no ex- cuse for the unskilful processes of agriculture practiced by so many farmers. It would seem useless to de- sire more knowledge, when so few avail themselves of that within their reach. We know quite well that the best system of rotation, of tillage and of ma- nuring, will not enable a soil saturated with stagnant water to produce good crops. Until such land ia underdrained, it is vain to expect an adequate com- pensation for the expense incurred in applying mar nures. It would also seem useless to point out the means of increasing the quantity and value of ma- nure, when so many farmers allow the little manure they make at present to run so shamefully to wasta But such farmers are not readers of the agricultural papers, and the remarks which we have to offer are intended for that enterprising and intelligent class of farmers who avail themselves of every meani of in- 298 THE GENESEE FARMER. creasing the fertility of their soil, but are unable to make ii as productive as is desirable. In the majority of ca.--e3, underdraining is the first stop to be taken in all attempts at increasing the fer- tility of the soil. It will do more for Americ'an ag- riculture than it has for that of Great Britain. Our rains are heavier and more prolonged, and our droughts longer and more intense. Underdraining •carries off the water when it is in excess, and increa- ses the supply when it is deficient. Where land is not worth more than $10 per acre, it may not be profitable to exj.end from $^20 to $30 per acre in un- derdraining; but where land that needs underdrain- ing is worth $50 per acre, nothing can be more pro- fitable. Underdraining is a permanent investment. It frequently doubles the crops. The soil can be plowed earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Underdraining inci cases the temperature of the soil, and crops mature much earlier. The entire in- crease of the crops is net profit. In other words, if it costs $10 per acre to raite a crop of wheat on un- drained soil, and the crop sells for $15, there will be $5 per acre profit; while on the undordrained acre, if the crop sells for $.30, there will be $20 profit. The crop is only doubled, while the profit is quad- rupled. To increase the quantity and quality of the ma- nure should be the next object. The mineral ma'ter in a ton of ordinary barn yard manure can be pur chased in the form of ashes, plaster and bone-dust, for levss than 15 cents; and the carbonaceous matter can be obtained in the form of peat, muck, &c., for 5 cents. All the substances iu a ton of manure, therefore, except the ten pounds of ammonia that it contains, can be purchased for 20 cents. If manure id worth a dollar a ton, the 10 lbs. of ammonia is worth 80 cents, or four times as much as all the other ingredients of the manure. We may add that there is no artificial source of ammonia from which it can be obtained for less than 12 cents per lb. In making manure, therefore, the great object is to get ammonia. The atmosphere" and rain water contain it, and plants can obtain it from these sources. Some plants can obtain more than others. Other things being equal, we should grow those plants which ob- tain the most from these natural sources. It has been ascertained by experiment, that clover, peas, beans, vetches and lupins, obtain a considerable qiiantity of ammonia from the air, rain, dews, &c., while wheat, barley, and probably other similar ])lants, do not. The more we can grow of the for- mer and the less of the latter, the richer will our soil become, provided they are consumed on the farm by animals, and the manure returned to the land. The more ammonia a manure contains, the more valuable will it t>e. The quantity of ammonia in a minure bears a con.stant proportion to the nitrogen (ammonia) in the food consumed by the animals. Other things being equal, therefore, we should not only grovv those plants which obtain the most am- nionia from the atmosphere, but should feed out on the farm those foods which, other things being equal, contain the most nitrogen (ammonia.) Among these, peas, beans and oil cake hold the first rank. Either of the?-e^foods contain nearly three times as much nitrogen as barley, oats, rye, &c., and the ma- nure made from their consumption would be nearly jthree times as valuable. Clover hay contains twice is m^ch nitrogen as timothy hay; pea and bean straw twice as much aa wheat, barley, oat and rye straw, and the manure made Irom them would be correspondingly valuable. Among the most economical means of increasing the fertility of the soil at present known, therefore, are underdraining, good tillage — svhioh not only de- stroys weeds, but renders the ujerl matter of the soil available, and enables it to absorb more ammonia from the atmosphere; growing less wheat, barley, oats, rye, timothy grass, &l- , and more clover, peas, beans, vetches, lupins, and other leguminous plants, as well as more turnips and other root crops; keep- ing more stock, and feeding them wiih the laht named plants, and carefully preserving and applying the manure. STUDY THE MECHANICAL QUALITIES OF THE SOIL. AVhile we can hardly be said to have paid tcM tmich attention to the simple elements of plants which a soil contains, we may safely aver that we have given far too little attention to the mechanical condition of the soil — to its power of absorbing moisture and fertilizing gases from the atmosphere, to its retentive and cnpillary powers, and to the qujin- tity of water required to saturate it. Led away by the delusive fascinations of the '• Miierai" and " Spt- cial'' manure theories, we have neglected for the past ten or fifteen years to study these characteristics of soils; and, indeed, many writers at the present day appear to have forgotten that soils have any such qualities. It is known that soils which contain much humvs or decayed vegetable matter, have great power in drawing moisture from the air. Clay, too, possesses this power to a great extent, but it should be well pulverized in order to allow the air to permeate through it. Pure sand does not possess this powt r at all; and yet sandy soi's which contain a little clay and humus, often suffer less from drouth than tenacious clays, owing doubtless to their permeabili'y. Sir HuMPHRKY Davis says: "The soils which are most ffficient iu supplying the plant with water, by atmospheric absorption, are tho^e in which there is a due ndxture of sand, finely divided clay, and carbon- ate of lime, with some animal or vegetable matter; and which are so loose and light as to be freely per- meable to the atmosphere. With respect to this quality, carbonate of lime and animal and vegetable matter are of great use in soi's; they give absorbent power to the soil without giving it tenacity. Sand, on the contrary, which also destroys tenacity, gives little absorbent power. I have compared the ab- .sorbeut power of many soils with respect to atmos- pheric moisture, and I have always found it great- est in the most fertile soils; so that it affords one method of judging of the productiveness of land." There is a rich field open for investsgatiou in this direction, and we should be thankful for the experi- ence of our readers. The quantity of water required to thoroughly .■saturate the various earths, is a question of much importance. Schubler found that a cubic foot, when thoroughly saturated, contained of water as follows: — Silicious sand, 27.3 lbs.; gypsum powder, 27.4; calcareous sand, 31.8; carbonate of lime 47.5; fine slaty marl, 35.6; pure grey clay, 43.3; stiff clay or brick earth, 45.4; garden mould, 48.4. The fact that " garden mould" imbibes more water than any THE OENESEE FARMER. 299 •other soil, and the poor " silicious sand" the least, iudicates that rich soils are les** easily saturated than sterile :g Corn. — C. Brack- ett, of Fulton Co., North Indiana, grows turnips successfully among corn. That tbey do not jjruw pithy, must be owing to their slow growth and snail size. Is Mr. B.'s a limestone or granite soil? It a limestone soil, and devoid of vegetable mould, nie- thinks a crop of English turnips in the sunny climate of Indiana must be very uncertain. The best and largest tomatoes I have this season are seedlings that came up antong early planted King Philip Corn. The corn was picked green, and the stalks up by tke 5th of August Last year it was fit to cut by the 20th July. Planted lOih May each year. Soil, lieh glcareous clay. Mr, B. asks if a. go,w viill eat toma^ SCO THE GENESEE FARMER. toes? Certainly, and with as much relish as bipeds, men, women, and chickens. That the coarse wild grass of the prairies makes as good flavored yellow butter as either the white or red clover, or June grass (agrostis) of the dairy regions of New York, perhaps even Mr. Brackett does not believe. More than one woman has written from the all fertile Kansas prairies that perfect but- ter cannot be made there. Indian Corn and Sorghxtm. — Com has improved much in ihe last three weeks. Although the long cool nights have been a great drawback to the unfil- led ears, the prospect is now fair for a middling crop of corn. Sorghum has triumphed over the spleen of its con- servative enemies; and if it will ripen in this region, this cold wet season, it will in any other season. I measured stalks to-day twelve feet to the top of the seed panicle, which is now turning brown, this 9 th September. The ratoons are not as tall as the main stalks, but they generally bear seed. The maximum thickness of the stalks is 1| inches in diameter, but when planted to stand less than sis inches apart, in the four foot rows, an inch only is attained, and the suckers will be less. Thus far the juice is no sweeter than that of sweet corn stalks, but much more abundant. That planted tenth May, seeded a week earlier than that planted first June. A few trans- plants are now full size. Potatoes. — There is a general complaint that the vines of late planted potatoes are prematurely dying, and the rot is increasing. I planted some Mexicans on a well manured sandy knoll, which are now so rotten that they are not worth digging. Blue Mer- cers are yet unripe, with dead vines. Inferior round potatoes escape the rot better. ^ Making and Saving Manure. — Throw potato or pumpkin vines, or any other vegetable refuse, on the top of the ground, and it is soon lost in the air, its ashes excepted; but put them in the hog pen or a calf pen, and you soon have a quantity of manure that will make your back ache to throw out. It is said in Rhode Island, that every hog makes seven dollars worth of manure yearly; and yet who in Western New York ever heard a Western farmer deduct anything from the cost of an animal's keep- ing by giving credit for the manure it makes? On the drift formations at the Eiist, where they have but little vegetable refuse to compost, a kind Providence has given to almost every detritus farm its swamp, the muck from which abounds in plant food, which to be made truly available, must be composted with the unfermented manure of the stable, or the still more nitrogenous fish or dead animals, by wiich means all the organic matter of the pile is held, by chemical afiinity, ready for the use of growing plants. I asked a farmer, the othe;.' day, if he did not reflect that every load of distillery slop that he hauled home was worth more than three loads of fire-fanged sta- ble manure? He replied that he had never thought of it before, but it " stood to reason." He, however, had noticed that the poorest knolls in his field, when slop was fed out, soon became black and muddy, and would hardly become dry in the hotiest sun. Such is the invariable effect of nitrogen, particularly on those alluminous soils, which are so quick to dry up and bake when wet with water only. The scrapings from those ammoniated knolls would be the best of manure for wheat The Coming State Fair at Buffalo, 9 to 12th October. — Great preparations are making at BufiFa- lo, to accommodate the State Fair aa its increased magnitude requires. The last State Fair at Bufialo was the best up to that date, and an earnest is now given that a greater display, or, as the French say, exposition, will be made there this year than ever. As hberal premiums are offered to all out- siders, Canada, Ohio, and the whole lake region will be well represented. S. W. Waterloo, Sept. ' 10th, '57. GOOD SHEEP THE MOST PROFnABLE. Many farmers when they want to purchase a flock of sheep, enquire of A. B. and C. who has sheep to sell. " Well, Jim has a beautiful flock of sheep, and I heard him say that he would sell a few of them to a farmer that would improve them and give the re- sult to his brother farmers through the medium of the Genesee Farmer." " What price does Jim ask for them?" " Five dollars per head." "Outrageous! Jim has no conscience! I won't pay such a price for sheep anyhow.'' " Well, Jack has some sheep to sell." " What does he ask for his sheep?" " One dollar per head." " What kind of sheep are they?" " Well, rather small, but they have been starved." " Well, I'll go and see them ; I can feed them up." And, sure enough, there he comes, driving hia little runts home, and carrying one of them in his arms. Before spring one-half of them are dead, and the other half are so lean that they have no milk, and their lambs are starving. The foolish man hangs hia head, and mutters " rotten sheep." Mr. Lookout comes to Jim and says, " III give you 25 dollars for five of your best ewes, and promise to show the best pen of sheep at the next County Fair." " Tou shall have them." " How can I get them home? They are so fat that if I run them they will melt. I'll take them home in my sleigh. Don't catch them by the wool; it will injure the sheep. Take hold of the hind leg, and I will put my arm under her neck. Don't hurt her. Be cautious. Don't turn her over. Another and another is caught, with the same caution- The winter is past, and the spring has come, and what a beautiful sight! Five large ewes and ten fat lambs. " Mr. Lookout, what will you take for your lambs?" " Don't want to sell them, sir." " Well, what are they worth?" " Twenty dollars." Shearing time has come. " What amount of wool did your brag sheep shear?" " Twenty pounds." " What did you get for it?" " Thirty cents per pound." " A very good investment, Mr. Lookout." Brother farmers, I leave it with yourselves to de- cide who made the best purchase; Mr. Lookout or his brother farmer. Jol THE GENESEE FARMER. 301 "THE MANURE QUESTION." Eds. Genesee Farmer: — The management and application of manures has been fieely discussed in your pajjes — and very properly and profitably &o, in my opinion. Perhaps the following may throw some light on one phase of the question: In removing the contents of an earth-floored calf pen or stable, a few days ago, I found the manure which was made therein last winter and which had accumulated to some two feet in depth, still vnfer- mented andfresh^ and in its best condition for com- posting with swamp muck, or other refuse vegetable matter. The pen was kept level and well littered and become packed down hard, so that there was no chance for the admission of air — indeed the readiest method of getting it out was to cut it in chunks with an axe — hence fermentation and loss was im- possible. I have piled this with an equal quantity of muck and intend to apply it to green-sward, the last of September, as a preparation for corn the next season. I have also spread some decomposed manure, already, for that purpose, as I am bound to try Mr. Johnston's method. Now, I think this shows that manure can be kept without loss, as long as we design, for some treated in the same manner, two years ago, is scarcely changed. Let us then have plenty of shed room and remove thereto the stable manure, keeping the sheds at the same time well littered for the shelter of stock, which will tread it down solid, and prevent all loss. Then we can remove at any season most convenient. Bat I need not farther remark in this connection. J. H. JS'iagat-a 60., JV. Y. BUTTER FROM PRAIErE HAY. Editors Genesee Farmer: — I take my pen to correct an idea advanced by your excellent corres- pondent " S. W.," in his notes for August. It is under the head " Prairie Hay and White Butter." Referring to a lady writing from Kansas, he says: — " The butter from prairie grass is white, aromaless, and in stinted supply at that. She advises her brother not to bring his Chautauque horses to Kan- sas, as they are too quick for the sloughy roads, and may not relish, much less thrive on, prairie hay." Now, I have resided in the West and on the prairies in Wisconsin or Minnesota for more than five years, where the tame grasses are not grown, and have had butter upon my table every day, and still have not found it " white, aromaless, or in stinted supply." I have eaten what was pronounced by good judges to be good butter in all of the New England States, in New York and in Pennsylvania, but have found the butter from prairie grass to be of as good quality and color. In the spring of 1856 I drove one cow from Eastern Wisconsin, turned her upon the prairie weak and poor, with two sucking calves, weak and poor from the efiFect of the drive and scanty feed while on the road. The calves run with the cow onmolested until August 16th, (when my family ar- rived) at which time I found them growing rapidly and in good condition. I then muzzled them, and made butter enough to supply my family (of from three to four grown persons) until she came in again in the spring. The calves did well all winter on prairie hay, and so did the cow. The eamo cow with another, both ordinary cows, have supplied my family (averaging five grown persons) with milk and butter since spring, besides keeping two calves (which we still feed with milk) in good condition, and furnishing most of the food for one hog, and some butter to sell, and some to put down for winter and spring. Cows that are not milked regularly of course do not do as well. Horses do better on our prairie grass, after the first year, than on the tame grasses; they never have the heaves here. I am giving my oivn experience. It may be different in Ossawatainie, as they have the milk fever in some portions of Illinois and Indiana; but it should not be inferred from that, that it is universal in prairie countries. We have lately had much rainy weather. Wheat and oats are not all harvested, though some have been marketed at one dollar per bushel. Corn will be fit for harvesting in a few days. Potatoes, car- rots, turnips, &c., growing rapidly. E. Hodges. Marion, Olmsted Co., Minnesota, Avg. 17. UNDERDRAINING. It is time that underdraining was thought of more, talked of more, and practiced more than it is. The value of underdraining is almost unlimited. Land properly drained, will produce double crops. A drain is not like a load of manure; once placed in the earth it will last for ages, while manure must be applied every year or two; and besides that, ma- nure is not half so valuable on undrained as it would be on properly drained land. And, besides getting more value for your manure when your land is drained, you save half your labor, because you can produce just the same amount of grain on half the number of acres. The proper way of constructing a drain on land descending a little, is to dig a ditch 18 inches wide, and about two feet deep; then place stones four, five or six inches square against each side on the bottom of the drtch. Then lay flat stones across the top of these; then throw small stones on the top of the flat ones; then haul in your dirt, and your dra'n is completed. If you have no fiat stones, round stones will answer, placed in the fane way. Duanesburgh, Schenectady Co., JV. ¥. PRESERVING BUTTER. Editors Genesee Farmer: — I see in the July No. a very sensible article on butter making, from the pen of H. U., of Rutland, N. Y. I was also much struck with a plan of preserving butter by boiling, as practiced in Switzerland, taken from a work of Dr. John Forbes, entitled a Physician's Holiday, or a Month in Switzerland. The modus operandi is as follows: Into a clean copper pan (better, no doubt, lined,) put a quantity of butter. Place it over a very gen- tle fire, so that it may melt slowly, and let the heat be so graduated that the melted mass does not come to a boil in less than two hours. During all this time the butter must be frequently stirred, say once in five or ten minutes, so that the whole rciass may be thoroughly intermixed, and the top and bottom change places from time to time; and when the melted mass boils, the fire is to be so regulated as to 302 THE GEJTESEE FARMER. keep the batter at a gentle boil for two hours more, the stirring being still continued, but not necessarily so frequently ag before. The vessel is then to be re- moved from the tire and set aside to cool and settle, etill gradually — this process of cooling being also supposed to require two hours. The melted mass is then, while still quite liquid, to be carefully poured into the crock or jar in which it is to be kept. In tie process of cooling there is deposited a whitish, cheesy sediment, proportional to the quantity of butter, which is to be carefully prevented from in termixing with the preserved butter. These cheesy grounds are palatable and nutritious, and may be used as food. It is said that butter so prepared will stand for years perfectly good, without any particular precau- tion being taken to keep it from the air. That it is good at the end of one year is a fact What think you of the plan? J. F. Liberty, Tioga Co.,- Pa. Remarks. — One hundred pounds of ordinary fresh batter contains: Water 12 lbs Cnrd or caseine 1 " Pure oil 8T " 100 Pure oil will keep fresh for any length of time. It is owing to the presence of water and curd that butter becomes rancid. Salt preserver butter, by saturating all the water— the less water it contains the less salt is required to preserve it All that is necessary to render butter capable of being kept fresh for any length of time in a freeh condition, is to remove the water and card. This can be done in the way stated by our correspondent. Tbe butter must be boiled till all the water is driven off, which is marked by the cessation of violent ebulitioni. The castine, like albumen, (white of egg) is coagulated by heat, and will, on cooling, settle at the bot- tom of the vessel; or it may be separated by strain- ing it while hot through muslin. Butter is often prepared in this way for tise on ghip-board. It is also the usual way of preserving it in India, where it is called ghee. Similar methods are also employed in many parts of the continent of Europe. The boiling, however, destroys much of tlie flavor of the batter. — Eds. BREAETKG PBAIREE LAND IN THE FAIL. Mbbsrs. Editors: — "L. C. S.'' says, in the Sep- tember number of the Genesee Farmer, that he has< " never yet known any prairie breaking done before the middle of May, or later than the first of Au- gust" What does he mean by this ? Does he mtean that because he has never seen it done at other times, frgo it should never be done at other times ? A strange doctrine; yet I would like to know what hiis "eighteen years' experience" has taught him. It has taught me (three year^ experience) that heavy, wet prairie had much better be broken after vegetiv tion has ceateJ in the fall. Then the frosts of win- ter pulverize it thoroughly, and make it a fit bed for aeed to vegetate in the next spring, (of course after liorough drainage, for wet prairie is only fit for wild grass, knd produces none of our cultivated grasses. If not plowed in the fall, do so in early spring. Plant in com, in rows eight feet apart, the stalks six inches in the row. Cultivate thoroughly with the harrow till the first of July. 'I'hen sow buckwheat between the rows, and you will have your sod thoroughly pulverized; or you can wait till the last week in August and sow between rows with wheat or rye, and get a good crop, and the land in fine tilth for succeeding crops. I cannot get a plow that breaks heavy prairie well, but hope to find one that will operate satisfactorily. Rochester, Fulton Co., Ind. C. Brackett. P. S.— In my letter on covered ditches, in the September number, I meant to convey the idea that it is better to leave the covered ditch a little con- cave, so that it might run off the surface water, if at any time the rain should be so abundant as to super- saturate the earth, thus preventing water from stand- ing on the surface at all. C. B. TAKE CABE OF YOUB TOOLS, FOBDER, tx. Messrs. Editors: — The season of hard labor is past, and now comes the season of care. First and foremost, the tools that will be required no more this fall, should be oiled, (such as are of wood,) and laid by in some safe place until needed next spring. Scythes, harrows and such plows as will not be re- quired for fall plowing should be housed secure from dampness, so as not to rust. Keep no more pitch- forks around than are needed for convenience; tbe remainder should be laid by, and so with the rabea; as only one will be needed on the barn floor during the winter. After the tools are disposed of, attend to your stock. See to it that your corn stalks are well taken care of, for I believe we shaU need all the fodder for use next winter, that we have. There are strong reasons why we should use what we have with econ- omy, and not join in, nor be deluded by, the cry of superabundance of fodder. True we have a good, average crop of hay, perhaps as much of straw, of the various kinds, as we had last year, but there is less corn stalks, besides being of an inferior quality to those of last year's growth; if from no other cause, many pieces are injured by the frost, which was the case with very few pieces last year. There is no old hay in the country to fall back upon in case of necessity, as there was last winter, and still we have the same amount of stock to feed. These are a few of many reasons why I would urge economy in feeding. Let there be nothing wasted, nor, as is too customary, leave the carrot and turnip tops to rot on the field. D. Gates, JV. Y. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF r?OUNG STOCK. Messrs. Editors: — The thought this evening struck me that I would give you my ideas on the management of young stock, commencing when we begin to fodder in the fall. I would say if yoa do not stable your young stock, (as but few in our sec- tion do) prepare sheds covered with slabs, if nothing else, to break off the cold winds, and hard storms. Do not at first begin to feed straw, and coarse fod- der; feed as good as you have, and when very cold weather comes, feed your coarse fodder once or twice a day. By this process your stock will be kept in good heart the forepart of winter, which is the very worst time in the year for them to get thin. I If yon commence about the 15th of February t« THE OENESEE FARMER, 30J f ."ed. say one quart of graiK per fe.e*d each day, there will be no nieuey lost, for your stock fviili come out ia a thriving sn ia tbesprinir, aiid wfka you see them rang^lRg tte &?W the first day «<■ Juiie, with tkeir cid oo£ts eatirely oJ[f, aud tfcekr new osKfs g^lifJeoK^g like a new Af'Sst'^B doiHur, you will feel yourself tfenee-l'oid paid ifer «ire ie^w shiUings^ worth of graJE tiey 4;ave consumed. Some jyeopk ia: fisirf vicinity are m the habit of keeping their bUh^ '0«>vfijAoj jn a email yani, untsapporL Tfce sudden chacfe Prom hearty hay "t® fresh, fistiiy pastsine, is too muc^ for them; it.ifitoo physiciaj and fn^akea- ing, — they will io«4: jf^r some time tike a 6fe;a5d<»w "by QKKWjJigiiL i prefer -^viag them a large rsmge frms &b3 eat, when you carry it out. Do not foyget'to salt ywir stock ocrce e-viety week. I'-i aiy opinion that is often enough, aad nasae too oftea, I think it a first rate plan to change from one pastsee ifco another occasioni^'iy; once is tViree or four weeks is offw a eiiosgh, nsalees the feed gets too short to afford & £c:ScieQ.t supply for them. W, B. Oaratt. S^Jencer, A*. Y. 2LTW1KG IN GEEEN CORN TOR MATSUEE. To -wltat Bjesms sWl ^rcners resort for the clieap- est and <^uic'ke!!t i£e£.ni 'sf keeping thek farms 'm a high state of cultivafiGti'f This is a subject in whicli every farmer sb&'&M 'be int-ere^ed, and one whicl Should cali os-t tie ezperi- Cftce of 8<-ieotific and practical farmers. It ia a, 'k- mentable fact^, that most of eur farms are deterioirat- iog, and are growifig poorer. The farmer who iias ODO hundred and sixty s&ms of Isisd under eultiva- iioB, 13 not able to manure more thao fifteen or twenty acres .each season witTi his barfi-yapl macure, and this is not enough to keep up the farm, witb aa ooca-slcnal crop o1 clover plowed under as a gi'eesi manure, unless it is perrcltt-sd to lay over several years, wticTi but few tblnk I'ney chti afford to do. The means to which I shall resort are these:— Feo- ■winter crops I shaFl break the fallows early, say about tlie fixst of June or soon after, using the jointer plow, BEd barrow it d>own very smooth, and theo drill two bushels oTJcorn per a/^re., or sow two and o.ne i^f broadcast, and harro^v it in,- bm I should prefer to have it drilled, and then harrow afterwards if necessary. The driti covers almost every kerneL AftftT it has grow^ s£ krge as can be plow-ed un- der, which I ■shouid judge will «ou8t begun to t&esel. Now, suppose sucfe a Jwdy as this ghoald ■be plowed »B<56r, what isust be the result? It must certainly be w orth as much as three or four crops of dover, *Gd has many other advaevsges. It fs grown in two or three montfes, aed is vecyeSectaal ia ekj.kinf grasses ,acd otiier obaeiious weeik Tke ejcpense of, the seed is aat, very great at present, and when tli.; sorghum is moine getner aijy cultivated, ii may bo ua&i, and the eJcpeD.^^e wiii be very maJt&iia.lly legoeoed. Another advatitaf^s ia this JK«de of maaariKg h. tiiCJe is no carting >*m be dooe, whidii atnoaato to if j swttK eJii&, especially k here ilta distance is gi'^st. I have 8*ets and heard of many wbo aow 6«cfewbes.'(, and plow jl, ar»fe.r, for manure, but if [ am not very m«ch mistakea, xJms ^s. would lea^,-© it entiteiy in the eiiade. I have Bi€ffitMfs,9^' Kiaoyring to several farmers, vim ^^tirely agree witbt me that ikis wiil aaperiede any Q^hesr greon crop as ^ manure It EEiiay fee tikat tkis plaa has beero trie^ by eij-saf' one. If so, 1 shoald fee g\sd to hear from tb€» t'japosgfe your columns, i havie foartfiea acres wherv. 1 ^ic-tetM! to test it next season, and see if it proves t'j« be as -vailiBtiaSife in practice as it appears in theorj. We heser m^dk imw s. days about the detsdwslitm of the ■wfeat «n©p, «,n4 e£ tc Ky opiijion that it is t*Hr most .entirelf saesod 'by ibW datefioraijaa of ck^ farms for the wjiM, ^f majavwe, ScottMnlle, Monroe Co., TV*. F. TKELL MTE TUBS TO CHESS* I ASK the ciaestion becausft by many ta this p&^t of the country it is believfed taat it rsHt, althou;.t» ■not by me. A few years sa^o I was in a mill wiwa a man of my ac^nLaimtaioee bron^t in a griist tlsat be calleS wheats there was certaiijlj as much cof grains grown from the same number of seeds S6«s-ii, explains, probably, the true cause of the npvtKe^a change of wheat and rye to ehess I had a piece of rye the last season that was bad>y winter -kUled. I-n fa«t there was mere chess than n-e on the grmind, aJlfnongh ^kfev% maa but iitt^e ehesf;*-ia the rye when sown. This *hows that -white the -n^ was killed by the winter the ehess was more hardy, and escaped. Farmers should not sow cockis. or cfcess with their wheat or rye. If they do, and res*p. they mil be suxfi and £jid the .ciieat, i'faot the wl e*i ±. TlTtS. • Yarktown, W^stdkester Co., J^. V. Natiokat. Wealtb.— '= T^ene seems to be," say? Frankun, " but three ways for a nation to acqiR>e wealtL _ The first is by war, aa the Romans did. ia pIoadefiEg their neigtborg ; this is robbery, lie second by commerce, ivhich is fiequestly cheat kvg^. The third by agriculture, the oaly honest way, wliere- JQ a snan receires a real iflcrease of the seed thrown icto the groand ia a kiiKl of coatiaaed miracle wrought by the fcaud of Guo in his favar, ad a re- ward for iis innoniier ^ri^c (£ssiip. ON THE BEST METHOD OF SEEDING LAND TO TIMO- THY OS. HERD'S GRASS. I HAVE very little acquaintance with Herd's Graiss, but can speak from a number of years' experience with Timothy.* Timothy is one of our favorite frasses in this location, latitude 38, and I am satis- ed will always pay well when put in rie;ht. In the first place it is all important to procure good, clean seed, and the surest plan is for farmers to save their own seed, when it can be done. When the Timothy is quite ripe, cut it carefully with sickles; tie it up in small bundles, some three inches in diameter; set them up in small shocks, of some 10 or 12 bundles each, out in the field, where it should remain expose! to the weather until it will rub off pretty freely with the hands; if necessary, change the bundles, that is, put the inside ones outside, in order that it may all have thp rains, sunshine, &c., until it will rub out freely. Then, when it is dry, rub or thrash it out, (a careful hand could sow it in the chaff very well) but it is preferable to have it carefully cleaned with a good mill, when it will be ready for use, and should be kept in a cool, dry place until sown. The next and most important step is to prepare the ground, which should ke pretty thoroughly broke up in August Oat stubble is preferable to most other ground, but it must be clean of all extra straw or litter, &c., before plowing. (Ordinary stub- ble will not hurt.) As soon after the first of Sep- tember as the ground can be got ready, if season- able, is the best time to sow, but it will do very well daring all the month of September, and even until the middle of October, but after that it will be rather difficult for the young grass to get a good start to stand the winter. In our latitude, 38, the weather is generally two dry and hot before the first of September to sow, and frequently some time later; but the first seasonable weather in September is the proper time. It is useless to lay down any certain or definite rules about how much plowing, rolling, harrowing, &c., the ground should have, for we must be govern- ed by circumstances. It should be thoroughly plowed, and as much rolling, harrowing, dragging, &c., as may be necessary to pulverise and level the soil; and if in any ways inclined to be wet, it should be drained. (Such land is excellent for Timothy.) Underdraining, of course, would be preferable, but surface draining will answer. It can be pretty well done with the plow in breaking up, or the last time it is plowed, if plowed more than once, by making the lands about 18 feet wide; and just before tlie last harrowing, preparatory to sowing, open the val- leys or old furrows^again with a two horse plow, and complete them, if necessary, with hoe and spade; also a few cross furrows if needed, for it must be distinctly understood that no surplus water is to re- main on the ground. Should there be stumps or similar obstructions that cannot be got out handily, they should be dug around and leveled, and so of every little abrupt knoll or hollow, in order to give the machine or ^ * Timothy is called Herd's Graas in New England.— Era. scythe a good bottom to work upon. The last thing to be done before sowing is to lay off the ground. A stick of wood will answer, soiiicthing like a short, thick sled runner, with a clevy luid single tree for a horse in the forepart, and a handle for the driver iu the afterpart, which will make a broad, flat mark, that can be seen without any trouble. The lands should be five feet apart for sowing by hand. Some prefer laying off and sowing both ways, but a good machine or a good steady hand can sow it very ac- curately one way. One more important point to be observed is the quanitity of seeg jvoiot, and -wJubo g«ifficient?y coof, fe&d; bat this le move trooWe thas to feed cora meal, aad no bet- j^i'f. 'ilie feeJ?.!5g sbould not be ?eft altogether to rhe bOTs, bat thej shoald be carefairy vratched, and 3r tb-srs' ftre aiiy ^ympLcrng of scinmrug', immediately t^tarn to new mi?k, fresh from the cow. Thh h-ds Hi ways cyred wJtifi me, Fut if tbe c?iarff^es of feed Bi'ie njade grddaaUy, and the- calf is fed regalarly, aiid Bet too nmcb at a time, and provided witii good )*ese that have been bat half fcil and cared for will require half the gammer to make them as good as they were in the fall; and when once slanted in their •{Towtli, as they often are the firpt winter, they never recover, but always remain inferior animals. It should always be borne in mind, in feeding jottng and growing animals of any kind, that nothing fe gained by stinting their feed. They need a greater v^iety of food, and of a more nourishing nature, than the one of mature growth, for in addition to tiae Balnral wear of the system, their fi-ames should he continually enlarging; and where are they to ob- tain this increase of bone and muscle hat from the food which is given them ? C. C. Wilson. SVtwfane, JViagara Co., JV. Y. 0^ THE MANAGEMENT OF CALVES The managemert of calves must necessarily de- pend much upon the object the owner of them has in view. If they are designed for the butcher, the quickest and cheapest method is to let them take the milk from the cow in the natural way. If they are to be raised, and their value is to be the only con- sideration, by all means let them run with the cow. Lettmg them mn with the cow is objected to by some, " because," say they, " the calf does not allow the udder to fill with milk, consequently it becomes f)erraanently contracted and materially irjured." This kind of reasoning may, at first, appear correct. But eases that have come under my observation fail to prove it so. When we consider that Nature's laws are perfect, and that we are infringing upon one of them by removing the young from its parent, we are led to doubt the theory altogether. Many far- mers attempt to raise a calf from each cow, and make butter from her at the same time. This is like trying t& raise two crops upon the same ground at the sa?r>8 time; one or the o-ther mvst be deJkieTit, Calves should never be fed with sour milk. Thev wiU sometimes do " very w«lL," but they will do much better if the milk be aweei It is very important that calves be well fed aa«] careiJ for during tbe first year of their livea. if \\aey p.re ts be raised by hasd, tbey should have the milk that ja takeii from the sow, tbe first four days after &h:t eO'is'sg- in, as it is particularly adapted to their wants at this age. Aft^r this, they may be fed with mji'fi skimrjied before k k> sour, and H>ixed with an equal quantity jraai takes fecra tltie C!?»w. Tbey &!aoul<3 be fed in this roaaney uaVJl tbsy a?e at least two moBitbs old, wh«& the sew milk may be daspf »• sed witb, and a bandfal of oat nveal sifted frosn Uhfc hulls aad stirred iato the skimmed milk. In skiro- ruing mVA for caJves, if aosae of tbe cream aeeident- ally escape with it, it need Bot eau&e alaica, as it will not injure thesa serioasly. Calves sboaSd not b« weaned entirely nntiS they are foar months old. Milk once a day, with a piot of o-aS meal, will cle to help themselves, and each one will be worth more than any three raised dish-water fashion. M. Garnsey. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BARN-^YABD FOWLS, Farmkrs are generally too apt to neglect their poultry department, taking good care of their other stock, but leaving their barn- yard fowls to care for themselves. Like everything else that is worth caring for at oU, it is to the owners' advantage to take care of them toell. They should be provided with a commodious, clean, well ventilated house to lay and roost in; the apartments for these purposes separated by a par- tition. The nests should be large, and made of clean straiv — renewed every spring — as hay is more in- clined to breed vermin. In the winter they should be regvlarl]/ fed with corn, twice a day, in the morning and evening, and an occasional meal of boiled potatoes, meat, old bread soaked in wnrm water, &c., will be highly relished, and add to the number of eggs. Lime and gravel should be al- ways within their reach. When the ground is cover- ed with snow they should be fed in the poultry-house. In the spring when the weather has become set- tled, those hens that wish to set should be provided with from ten to fifteen eggs each — according to the size of the hen. When the chicks are two or three days old, they may be removed, with the hen, to a THE GENESEE FARMER. SOY eoof) with a board Jioor; as roosting on the damp grouud is u prolific source of disease, and hundreds of young chickens die annually for the want of a little care in this respect. The coop may be placed in any convenient situatioQ in the yard, where the chicks may run in and out at pleai^ure, to catch the flies and insects, so numerous at this season of the year. They should be fed regularly twice a day — early in the morning and aiiout four o'clock in the evening — with corn meal well nii.\ed with water; and the hen should be supplied with a little shelled corn every day. When the chicks are about a week old, they may be permitted to roam at large with the hen, when the dew has dried off the grass, and on pleasant days; but must be returned to the coop every evening at feeding time, as they should always be fed where the elder fowls cannot deprive them of their allowance. Fresli water should be supplied them every morning in a shallow vessel. When five or six weeks old, thej may be consid- ered out of danger, and left at liberty to roam with the other fowls. I neglected to state that the poultry must have a constant supply of fresh water, «s it is indispensable to their health and productive- oess. As the farmer who adopts this plan will have many fowls to dispose of annually, he should always keep those which incline to lay and roost, in the hen-house, and one cock to every twelve or fifteen hens will be sufficient. Hens which roost about the barn or other out buildings, and steal their nests in some secret place, cause more trouble than they are worth, and shouid be the first to be parted with. By feeding in the manner recommended, they will be in good order for the table at all times. Salem, Ohio. David Strket. OW THE CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF TOBACCO. Before any one undertakes to cultivate tobacco, he should consider well whether he is so situated that he can make it profitable. And to arrive at a sore conclusion, he should understand thoroughly the whole modus operandi, for there is no crop that requires such constant attention, nor any that suffers more from neglect. Best Soil foe Tobacco. — New land is the best for tobacco, not only that it is more free from cut worms and weeds, but the soil is not liable to bake, but remains loose, no matter how much rain falls. I always prefer oak land to the bottoms, for though it does rot produce as heavy tobacco, it will bring a finer article, and is much easier handled without in- Preparing thk Seed Beds. — When clearing the land, it is best to pile some very large brush heaps to be burned as soon as the frost is out of the ground, and it becomes sufficiently dry. Care should be taken to have plenty of them, for they are for plant beds, and better have five times too many plants than to be lacking. When these heaps are burned to ashes, dig the ground, ashes and all together; rake and pulverize thoroughly; mark it off in equal distances, that you may sow your seed as evenly as possible; then sow about one table spoonful of ieed to thirty feet square. The seed should be mixed wjth dry ashes, that they may be more equally dis- tributed. Now press the bed all over with the feet. This presses the seed 8uffi;iently deep in the gronnd Cover the beds with brush as a protection fiom lat** frosts; and after the plants are up, if the weather I* dry, water occasionally with water in which good manure has been soaked. It is desirable 1o hav*-. the plants large enough to set as soon as possible otherwise a season may be lost, as has been th-^ case here this year. Prhparinq the Land and SfiTTiNa out rar. Plants. — As soon as the ground is in plowing ord-i, the tobacco ground should be broke. Then aboiu the first of June or earlier, if the plants say so, cnw-' plow, and do it well; then harrow completely; tli ■ ground should be put in the best possible order. I should next be laid off, or what is b( t'er, two I'urrov s thrown together, forming a ridge. 'I'hese furrows 'ir ridges should be three and a half feet apart. Th* crop will be easier managed if the gp und is maikt press the earth well to the roots. It is betier "t* have hands enough to set all the ground pre[8!t;i, at once, than to depend on future season.?. A f-r the plants are set, all that is necessary is to keep rlw ground clean until they have shown ten or tw«,!-e leaves. Topping the Plants — Now the cultivator inn -t begin to use hi-i best judgment-, for the plants mus; !>(» topped, and if top^^ed too low there is waste; ii t,> > high there is danger of their growing too long i ii i being caught by frost; but, as a general rule, at. c breaking off a few of the bottom leaves, whc h U called priming, pinch out the top or bud just abo.e the tenth leat With a little practice it will not !>« difficult to determine where to top. It will be doc s- sary to go over the patch several times befoie f '«• process is completed, as the plants are not all tS,.- same size. When the top is broken out the suckt.^ start, and show themselves directly at the I utr. fS every leaf. These should be pinched out, tnd \l.ti patch should be gone over every week for tl.is p :,- pose. In about three or four weeks after topping, tl"» tobacco will become of a lighter hue, and son.ewhii; spotted. The time to cut can be ascertained It doubling a small portion of the leaf; if it breuk .i will be found to be ripe. Cutting, Housing and Cueing. — Now we have got through with the cultivation of the weed, Lut what we have done is almost nothing. Now con.+** the tug, the cutting, housing and curing. If the it • bacco is generally ripe it is better to cut all clean ;i< we go, than to have unripe plants for another cutlii g. Great care should be taken in handling not to bruise the plants, as every bruise will show when curtd. When cut it should be laid with the butt to the tuh, and as soon as wilted it should be drawn to tie barn, where the hands are ready to stick and harg. The speediest way is to have one end of the sti(i sharpened, that an iron spear with a socket may be put upon it, the other end to be put in a large au}.er hole at a proper height. 'I'he plant can now be run on the stick over the spear quite fast. Ten or twelve large plants will be enough for a four feet stick. When a quantity of sticks are filled, they should be hang. Begin at one side aod ^ from top to bottom, 303 THE GENESEE FARMER. putting the sticks tolerably close, say six inches apart. When the barn is filled much depends upon the state of the atmosphere; if warm and clear, it ia not so difficult as when rainy, or even damp and cloudy. In a day or two, if the weather is fine, the tobacco will be considerably yellowed. Small fires should be built all over the barn, under the tobacco. This hastens the colouring. When the ends of the leaf begin to curl, the heat must be increased grad- ually. It is impossible to give a certain time in which to increase the heat, as all depends upon the colour of the tobacco. Experience is necessary here, for if the heat is raised too soon the tobacco will be of a greenish colour; if too late it will be red. Mottled or yellow stlls best. But after hot fires are under it, keep the house as near one heat as possible until the ribs and stems are dried; you may then slacken the fires, for now there is danger of burning it up; but do not take the fire entirely away until the stalk is dried; if you do, the leaf will change colour and become red. Now, whenever there comes a damp spell of wea- ther through the winter or spring, the tobacco will become soft and may be stripped from the stalk, and about ten leavds tied together, by wrapping them tightly around the butt end with another leaf. This is tying them in hands. These hands should be kept smooth and straight. While stripping it should be the business of one man to sort or separate the tobacco, making first, second and lugs. The tobacco should now be hung up again, unless it is required to be taken away soon, in which ease it should be put in bulk, and should be bulked at least a foot above the ground, and in a part of the barn where it cannot get wet. When the stems will break one half way up the leaf, it is in good order to bulk down, provided the weather is not too cold. If it has to stay in this condition long it must be noticed often, for it may get too high in case, and spoil di- rectly. It is now ready for the manufacturer, and the quicker you get the money for it the better for all concerned. W. D. M. Pinoak, Warren Co., Mo. ON THE BEST MEANS OF ESCAPINO INJUKY FROM DKCUTfl. Drain your land of all surface water; keep it in a high state of fertility; work it only when it is dry; plow your manure under, on heavy soils, in an unfermented state; but on lihgt sand when it is well rotted; plough as early in the spring as the land is dry enough. If you have a green sod to turn under, ail the better. Keep all hoed crops and fallows free from weeds, by destroying them as soon as they are visible; stir the surfixce of the soil frequently during a drouth, whether there any weeds or not. On all high land apply plaster early in the spring to clover, peas and barley, and to buckwheat, and all hoed crops as soon as the plants are up. In order to have a second crop of grass on mead- ows, either for seed or pasture, the first crop should be mowed early, as the ripening of grass seeds draws from the earth a great amount of moisture, and it is admitted by chemisits that after grass has attained its size it loses by delay in cutting, and makes hay of poorer quality as it grows riper, and the injury done to the soil for the time being is easily shown by the following experiment; Mow one part of a field of clover as soon as the first blossoms begin to turn, and let the remainder stand until most of the heads are black; then mow it, and note the growth that each will make in a certain time after it is mowed; and if showers and other circumstances are alike fa- vorable, the part mowed first will have as good an after growth in two weeks as the last part will in four. ,W. S. Canada West, A-ug. 25 th, 1857. ON THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM COMPE- TITION FOR THE PREMIUMS OFFERED FOB SHORT ESSAYS BY THE GENESEE FARMER. It bnngs out much valuable information which might otherwise remain unknown, and scatters it broadcast over the land. It enables us to profit by the experience of those who have established facte, by actual experiment. For instance, there is a pointt in dispute between two farmers in regard to manur- ing corn. One contends that it is much the better way to manure it in the hill, while the other declares, that it is not as good nor as expeditious a method, as it is to spread the manure on the land and then plow it under. But neither of them knows to a cer- tainty, as they have not experimented carefully, and then as carefully compared results. Both being slightly prejudiced, each recommends his own meth- od. In the meantime, some more enterprising far- mer, and one who does not do business by guess, has experimented, for his own satisfaction, upon the subject in dispute. He has weighed and measured accurately; kept debt and credit carefully, and as there was a premium offered for an essay on that very subject, he has given us the whole modus ope- randi, with its result. Thus the theory of one or the other of the disputants is forever exploded ; the facts in the case established, and placed at the dispo- sal of thousands of other agriculturists. Competition for premiums bring out Essays which aSord us ample evidence that although agricultural science has for ages been wrapped in the serpent- like coils of Ignorance and prejudice, it has at length burst its bonds assunder, and is traversing our fair domain with giant strides, to the joy and admiration of those who appreciate its value, but to the terror and dismay of old fogyism and all its votaries. Not- withstanding the clamorous outcry made by some farmers against science, in its application to agricul- ture, or " book farming," as they term it, the Essays with which we are favored through the medium of the Genesee Farmer, prove beyond all reasonable doubt, that it is possible to establish a rule of action which would apply generally to every branch of ag- riculture. And that it is in fact a science to properly cultivate a field of wheat, or to rear a domestic ani- mal, as well as it is to measure the distances to the planets, or to calculate the period when eclipses will occur. Agricultural science has indeed enabled us to unlock the earth as it were, and thereby placed within our reach priceless and inexhaustable treasures. Competition for premiums tend to increase confi- dence in agricultural literature, and thereby to pro- mote the circulation of agricultural journals. Much of the agricultural matter in circulation has emana- ted f(om the pens of men who possessed unlimited means; men who could build upon an extensive- scale; lay out and adorn pleasure grounds; plant and train ornamental trees; cultivate a great variety THE GENESEE FARMER. J09 of fruit, &c., withoiit any regard to expense. The writings (and may we have more of them) of such men have given birth to expressions like the follow- ing: " It is all well enough for rich men to take agri- cultnral papers and to write for them. If I was able to follow out their plans, and do as they do, I should like it well; but since 1 cannot, I must be content with doing the best my means will allow." The great expense attending the operations of the former so obscures the mpntal visions of the latter, that he does n<.»t discover that the same principle which ena- bles the man of wealth to rear five hundred beauti- ful and profitable trees, will enable him to rear five. So he consoles himself for the deficiency, with the idea " I must be content with doing as well as my means will allow." But soon he discovers that some of his neighbors, whose means are as limited as his own, have devinfed from that " good old way." One is rearing much better stock than formerly; another is nnderdraining; a third is subsoiling, and making various other improvements, which he never consid- ered his means would allow him to make, and in fact never saw the propriety of making. He sees the wonderful eflect of these "new notions," and his cu- riosity is so much aroused, that he determines to as- certain where his neighbors obtained them. Conse- quently, one fine morning he walks over to where neiorhbor B. is plowing with two teams. One of the teams turns a furrow in the usual manner, only a little deejier. B. follows with the other one, a sub- soil plow, loosening up the earth in the bottom of the common furrow to the depth of one foot. After the usual salutations, A. says, in rather a deprecia- ting tone, " You appear to have some curious ideas in re- gard to farming; where did you get them?" "O. I take the Genesee Farmer; I have taken it nearly three years. It contains many short Essays, written by common farmers, like you and me. These Essays are written in competition for prizes, and treat of a great variety of subjects, subsoiling among the rest." A. almost says " fudge," but restrains himself, and asks, " Do you expect your crop will repay you for all this extra trouble and expense?" " [ have no doubt of it. You know Mr. C has experimented two seasons with the subsoil plow. Two years ago he planted two acres with corn; treated it all prec^isely alike, except that one acre was plowed in the usual manner, and the other was sub- soiled (the subsoil being a gravelly hard-pan.) The result was, the heavy rains which came on just after planting, deluged the corn upon the acre which was not subsoiled, while the loosened subsoil upon the other acre drank in the water, leaving the corn to grow and come to maturity, without any interrup- tion. " Well, I do not know but it would be a good plan in a wet season." " Yes, and in a dry one, too. Last season Mr. H. experimented in the same manner and to the same extent. The season, you recollect, was extremely dry. The corn upon the subsoil land struck its roots deep into the moist, pulverized earth, and seemed to bid defiance to the scorching rays of the sun, while that upon the other acre drooped and withered so much that it proved a total failure, with the excep- tion of a few puny stalks, and a little unsound corn." , A. feelB the force of such reasoning, and mentally determines to subscribe for that paper, and read for himself. How often is the paper of which you speak issued, and what does it cost? " It is published monthly, and costs fifty cents a year." A. starts for home with some new idea working upon his brain. He begins to believe that if Mr. B. can subsoil, he can too. He traces many of the " new notions," which he finds among his neighbors, to their origin, and ascertains that they were derived from that little paper which costs but fifty cents a year, and contains so many prize Essays. Con,se- quently he improves the first opportunity to become a subscriber, and is now zealous in recommending it to others. He has also come to the conclusion that " doing as well as my means will allow," is doing much better than he formerly supposed it to be. The prizes competed for should not be passed over in silence. It may safely be presumed that very few farmers would take the pains to write Es- says in competition for the prizes offered, were the mere value of such prizes, in dollars and cents, the only consideration. But their character is such as to lender them worthy an effort by every farmer who wishes to make additions to his library of such works as may throw much light upon the various branches of his occupation. In many a time of need, they will prove to be his true and steadf-ist friends; friends which no enemy can alienate, and which he may safely introduce and recommend to the rising generation. M. Gakxset. Middleburgh, A*. Y. HOW CAN FATHERS RENDER FARM LIFE AT- TRACTIVE TO THEIR S0NS1 Standing on the dividing line between childhood and manhood — with the joys and sorrows of the first still fresh in my memory, and the strong hojres cf the second firmly rooted in my heart, I claim a hearing in this important matter. First of all I say " remember;" remember your own boyish days, with their lights and shades, their days of toil and of relaxation; remember your own thoughts and feelings as a "son," toward your father. Ponder well his system of farming and also of gov- ernment, and then, 'after having added the weight of experience which the years since gone have given you, study diligently to know whether his plan can be improved, whether your own homestead cannot be made still pleasanter than the one your memory calls " home." How few that have reached the posi- tion of father, but can recollect distinctly some peri- ods in their minority when the parental will clashe - with their own — when in their heart they said " he is unreasonable." Now, when the youthful fire has departed, and calmer, maturer years have come in- stead, is the time calmly to review those sconces and pass judgment. If the father was right, then, as a father, follow his footsteps; but if still the voice of judgment says "I was right," then be careful never to place your own son in the same or like predica- ment. I speak candidly when T say that the aged are quite apt to cling to ideas cherished in younger years, even though science and experience teach somewhat differently. Many a son who reads in an agricultural paper of some new and valuable discov- ery in the vegetable kingdom, or some rare improve- SIO THE GENESEE FARMEIL ment in the animal, or some hint thrown out for ex- periment, get only a " humph'' for his pains when he submits it for consideration to his parent. " I bad rather have fifty more than fifty less," says old uncle P., when his reading, reflecting boy, " Jim," had been telling him of the products of certain acres, devoted to the cultivaticn of grapes, cran- berries, rhubarb, hops, &c. ; and so the old gentle- man and " Jim'' still toil on, on their hondr^ odd acres, trying in vain to keep the endless rods cf fence in repair, the countless uptarned stones picked oif, the thistles kept subdued, and the crops gathered in proper season. Man, it is true, was made with reason far above the brutes: with powers astonish- ing. But one man cannot do everything; tuo can- not, and he is not implanting a love of farmiBg in the hearts o-f his sons, who renders them slaves to "■ work." There is no use in the farmers grumbling that "- boys don't like to work." Pew of us really like to woik, merely for the "fun of the thing."'' The law- yer, laboring night and day to clear s client — the physician riding miles in a s-tonu to visit the sick — the mechanic and artisao, each and ever}' one labor for a reward. It rr.ay be money, or it may be an equivalent in some other form, but still a reward. So the farmer works early and late that he may pro dace grain, meat, and all things neces.sary fur the sustenance of himself and family. So bojs, if they are not, should be presea'ed with some inducement to be steady, active and useful. Make men of your boys; tell them your plans of improvement; tell them how much you are in debt, if any, and ask them to help with a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull alto- gether, to remove the incumbrance. If they have a taste for the beautiful, assist them to use it in a proper manner; if a love of fruit, grant them space to plant their grape vine, dwarf trees, strawberry bed, «tc, &c.; you will not regret the time, no, aever. Is it from the neat, shaded house, with its noble trees in front, its well swept walk, lined with fruits and papers, and ils open window, displaying a table loaded with books and papers, that the '^boys run away?'' I answer, no! Is it the boy who has been sent to school and advised to gel knowledge, and, furthermore, hag been av=sisted in this pursuit at home, that gets discontented with Ifhat home? Again I say no. But the boy who is jawed at by his father for every accident — the one who never has a recreation day — the one who never has a cent to call his own — the one who is kept from school except now and then a day — the one who has ever to work with dull tools, milk kicking cows, and drive superannuatea horses, — these and many othei-s do leave, and oft times with reason. How oft I have remembered with gratitude my own father's habit in r 'gard to aB accident. He sometimes enquired how it happened, and volunteered a woid of advice, but no threatenings passed his lips; no angry lecture on boys' careles.«nes3 and waste. No "government" do you say ? I challenge the world to beat it. He was as firm as the everlasting hills, but he had the entire control of his temper and his tongue. He kn 'w that a child who has had bad luck feels bad enough, and will be more careful of offending a kind fa her thin a cross one. Have I been obtuse or lengthy in my statements? T.ien I will sum up as briefly as possible. Teach j your boys by your own example that you are inter- ' ested in your business; that a farmer may be a gen- lleman; enlist their efforts with your own; arrange your business in such a manner that each and ail may have some time to devote t® hortieulturCr readicg, and self improvement; gratify them some- what it your means will admit, by using a good team and having a pocket book &i their own. LaK'gh if you will, or frown, and say it's the way to- ruin them; make them penurious, vaiu, and all that sort of thiag. I say it is not so. Who will like farming the best — the young man who has a good horse and carriage to use on a holiday, or the on© who is sent to mill with patched breeches, astride a mulf, with a grist oa behind? Echo atiswers, who? McLean, JV. Y. M. D. WHY IS FARMIKG CONSIDEEEU A DEGEADIIia VOCAIIONT AoKicuLTUBK 13, and must ever continue to be, th» most important secular employment of man. The very existence of the human race depends upon the labors of those engaged in it. This alone should be suSicient to shield it from the reproach of the term "degrading." i^ut it is of the earliest date, and of the highest origin. We can trace it back to the "Garden of Eden." Its author was the Creator of the Universe. It was in man's state of original in- tegrity, that he was placed in the Garden, " to dress it and to keep it." And it must have been consider- ed by the Al'-wise, himself, a most hotoi-able em- ployment. How foolish then, nay, how sinful, for man to consider that degradfijg which God in His infinite wisdom, has instituted for the bentfit of His rational creatures. Why, then, is this vocation, of such sacred origin, considered by man degrading ? It must be because of the depravity of the hun)aft heart PJut this shows itself in so many different ways, and is found running in such innumerable^ channels, that it will be necessary to meutioa some- of the most prominent of them. Pride, which holds such universal sway over man- kind, but especially those whom fortune has loaded with wealth and affluence, makes them despise all who are so much beneath them, as to labor for aa honest living. The farmer and his vocation are de-. spised among the other laboring classes. Indolence, with its long naps, and easy chairs, ia- duces many to consider the labor of a farm life de- grading, and entirely below the dignity of a gentleman. Othei-s, again, are influenced by the love of money, which is the root of all evil. They seek for some employment by which they can speedily gain wealth, ana hoard up riches. They despise the slow and steady gains of the farmer, and consider his vocatioQ a degrading one. Another great reason why many consider farming a degrading vocation, is, because they are ignorant of its true nature and character. There is a true dignity in labor, which they do not appreciate; a se- cret feeling of pleasure, to which they are strangers. Certainly, no one, who knows and feels the important position it sustains to man — its high and holy origia — its health-promoting qualities, and the happiness it sends home to the heart of the cheerful husband- man, can consider it degrading. The reasons which induce men to consider farming a degrading vocation are so numerous that it would be entirely out of the question to attempt an enume^ ratioa of them all, in such a limited Essay. But I THE GENESEE FARRIER. 8U miKst bej< j)anloii for metitioniiig one more reason, whioh must have a good deiil of weight with those dispofieii to regard the farmer's busiiiess as degrading. It in the maHLer in which fanning is coti(hi<;ted by fn;iiiy who are eiigag;ed in it Slovenliness seems to be the order of the day. We tind fences old and broken down, and patched only with the natural growth of bushes and briars. We find fields grow- ing poorer with every crop, until the owner can 8c;irctly raise enough of grain frotn them to remune- rate his toil. This is rather hard on the constitu- tion, and often induces a disease called the " West fever.'' We see the few farm buildings small, badly arranged, and in a very indifferent state of repair. When we come to examine the stock, we shall prob- ably find some of the breed that is used for making baits for the crows and leather for the shoemakers. Fruit culture, too, is much neglected by farmers. We often see, instead of a beautiful, thrifty orchard, loaded with delicious and carefully selected fruit, a few trees, rapidly decaying for want of timely care. The farmer's garden, too, is generally much neglected. That spot of ground, which should receive such particular attention, is often suffered to be sadly defaced by weeds, instead of being decorated with flowers. All these things combined, cannot fail to leave an unfavorable impression upon the mind of one unacquainted with farm life. Let farmers carry on their business with system, neatness and order, and the number who consider their vocation a de- grading one will be greatly diminished. Mahoning, Penn. W. 11. M'Creery. HOW MUCH EDUCATION, AND WHAT KIND, DO FAEMERS KEEDI TnK answer to the first part of this question need be but short. All they can get; but the pertinency of this response may perhaps be made more appa- rent by a proper answer to the last part of the ques- tion— " what kind ?" — which cannot be so readily told ; but, by your leave, I will attempt a concise flescription of what, to me, seems necessary for the complete farmer to understand. First, the common branches, reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic, with perhaps geography and graminar as an adden- da, depending somewhat upon circumstances. Next in importance, if he is an American, is a full and thorough knowledge of the English language, as this opens at once the doors to all the arts and sciences. and without which these portals remain in a manner closed. In connection with the foregoing and following, should be pursued and never neglected, a physical education; for the farmer, whether he is to labor with the axe and scythe, or superintend the labor of others, needs the full development of every nerve, bone and muscle, with a full knowledge of the most economical manner of applying their forces in him- self, his laborers, and beasts ol burden. This physi- cal develoyment, education, and training, need not interfere with any other occupation, for the mind cannot always labor, nor can it ever labor to advan tage while the body lacks energy and force. It is this physical development which gives to the sons of farmers their superiority in every station of life. It 18 a true saying that " you can make anything of a farmer's son, but you can make a farmer of nothint; fiae." Since the decline of the Roman empire the value of muscular strength and agility has been un- appreciated, but the next generation must and will restore its popularity. With these foundatione to rest upon, he is pre- pared, if he be able to purchase or borrow book.^ even independent of teachers, to enter upon the studies of the more abstruse sciences, not e-sential, it is true, to a laborer, but deeply essential to a di- rector of his own power and that of others, to the economical employnirnt of time, strength, and moiiey. Me should study Botany, for a great share of his business is the rearing of shrubs and plants, the na- ture, habits, classes, and descriptions of which are essential, lie should study Zoology, for another part of his business is the rearing or employment of animala the natures, habits ond peculiarities of which he should understand. He should study Entomolo- gy, for he will have myriads of insects to contend with, and unless he combats them with that skill and discretion which a knowledge of their habits alone can give, his victory over ihem is at least doubtful. He should study Geology. It gives him a knowl- edge of the raw material, upon which be must work diligently and understandingly would he win success. He should study Meteorology and Climatology, for there are adverse as well as genial winds, rains, snows, hails and frosts for him to counteract, or ap- ply to his aid. He should study Chemistry, animal, vegetable, and mineral, for there are constant chang- es around him, in every kingdom of nature, for him to seize upon for his benefit, or turn to his advan- tage. Physiology, both animal and vegetable, is im- portant as a study for him, for he must have a care for the health and prosperity of his beasts and plants, and a knowledge of their structures, and the the functions of their piwts is indi-pensable. Phi- lof^oph}', as apidied to his implements, carriages and machinery, comes also advai tageously into use. Does any one say that my standard is too high, that it is unattainable by any one who labors on a farm, and earns his bread? I reply that there is no insti- tution so well adapted to the study of the higher branches as home; no teacher so faithful, impartial, thorough, and successful as ones self; no halls so well adapted to study in as the broad vault of Hea- ven, and the chimney corner; and no place where the education of the body and mind can be so con- veniently and profitably alternated as on the farm. Do you wi?h to study Botany, here are the plants in bloom in your very path. Do you wish to study Zoology, here are the animals, your daily compan- ions. If you would study Entomology, the insects swarm around you, and their habits cannot be a matter of indifference. Does Geology entice you, here is mother earth at your feet, inviting you to an acquaintance. Would you study Meteorology and Climatology, your farm has its obs' rvatories; what better place would you have? If Physiology inter- ests you, every animal you slay for domestic use or for the market, is a subject for dissection. Would you study Philosophy, remember that Newton's first lessons were taken in a solitary siesta under an ap- ple tree. Would yon hold communion with your own thoughts; would you reflect upon and digest what you have read, take hold of the plow, the hoe, or the scythe, and your mind will be the more clear for your bodily exercise. It h not necessary to study, that the hook should be always in hand; the broad book of Nature is always open before you, 312 THE GENESEE FARMER. and he who sows and reaps, as well as " he who runs, may read." Do you say that these studies are unnecessary to successful tanning? Remember that the cultivated portions of the earth are fast losing "their fertility, under the old traditionary sys- tem of farming, and that science alone, aided by ex- periment, perseverance and economy, bring them up to, and even above, their early standard. The far- mer who discards science as unnecessary, must emi- grate to the newer portions of the earth, and be content with the society and the luxuries they af- ford; while he who would be surrounded by all the comforts and improvements of the age, must remain where they flourish, and should add his mite of mind and talent fer their promotion. S. B. Peck. Gorham, JV. Y. HOW CAN SETTING HENS BE TAUGHT TO FOKSAKE THE LAZY HABIT 1 Make a small open pen, of laths, or some similar material, in one corner of your hen house, about eight inches wide, and of any convenient length and height. Let one of the laths or slats be so secured t'lat it may be easily taken out or moved one side, so that a hen may be conveniently passed into or taken out of the pen. On the bottom of this pen, and run- ning lengthwise through it, set up a couple of laths on edge, and fasten them about the same distance from each other and from the sides of the pen. Run a small perch across the pen and the work is done. When a hen wishes to set, put her in there. She will soon find that she can walk leisurely upon the floor, or roost comfortably upon the perch, but she can't set without " riding on a rail," and that, they seem to think, isn't decorous. The length of time for which ^they will have to be confined will vary somewhat, and in obstinate cases it may be necessary to put a few pegs or tacks into the edges of the laths. N. WHY DO SO FEW FARMERS WRITE FOR AGRICTJL- ITJRAL PAPERS! Being a farmer myself, and the son of a farmer, and having always resided among and sympathized with the humble cultivators of the soil, I may be permitted to give some of the reasons why so few farm.ers write for agricultural paners. Let me premise, that to be able to express one's ideas with ease, and elegance, and perspicuity, upon paper, requires no inconsiderable mental discipline; and that, in years gone by, when the experienced farmers of to-day were educated, the common school Bystem was not matured as it now is, and they finished their studies without becoming expert and correct •writers. In fact, in those days, none but students of the higher schools were taught to express their ideas npon paper, and those but indifferently. The writer of this Essay has found, within a few years, while teaching in Western N. T., men who refused to per- mit their children to devote any portion of their time to writing Essays, on the ground that it was a useless expenditure of time among farmers. This class of farmers are usually healthy and muscular, with active and practical minds, and frequently quick to discover any improved process adopted by their neighbors, and ready to investigate and appropriate to their own use any new labor-saving machinery which they may see or hear of; but they never write for agricultural papers because of their inability to do so with perspicuity and elegance. Our fathers who write for agricultural papers, are mostly those who have not always been practical farmers. But there are only a few of the younger class of farmers who write for agricultural papers. Why is that? They received, many of them, a better edu- cation than their fathers. Some of them at school were polished writers, and close, accurate thinkers. They have been cultivating farms for ten or fifteen years, generally successfully, with profit and pleasure. They study agricultural works, read the periodical literature upon the subject, adopt the improvements of the day, and in fine are industrious, intelligent and wide awake farmers. But they seldom or never write for the press. At first they will plead a want of time. Their farm demands their attention and labor every fair day during the season adapted to the cultivation of the soil. The rainy weather finds them occupied in the barn or the work-shop. Their odd moments are all occupied in reading. They have a farm to pay for; cannot afibrd to hire their work done or to be idle themselves. During this season they have no time. How is it in colder months? Do not the agricultural journals point out en^gh "work for the month" to keep the farmer bi^ each of those cold and dreary months? You, who read so many exchanges, cannot doubt this. Besides, this is the only season of the year which can be devoted to the cultivation of the social vir- tues. Friends and relatives must be visited; societies attended; social re-unions held; lyceums formed; lectures listened to, and libraries read. The family circle, too, drawing them by the most sacred bonds, demands their attention during the long evenings. Home must be made pleasant and profitable. The bonds of love and friendship cemented more closely. The wife must be relieved from the care of the prat- tling infant. The husbandman must be a Peter Parley in giving amusing instruction to the child- ren, and pleasing, intellectual entertainment must be afforded to the elder sons and daughters. At this season of the year, even, he finds no time to write. It is emphatically true that, commencing with mod- erate means, " He, who hj the plow would thrive. Himself must either hold or drive." After a few years, if the young farmer succeeds by industry and economy in obtaining a competence, and has more leisure time, he has lost his inclination to write. His muscles have become hard and fixed; his fingers have lost their former pliancy, and the mechanical portion of writing becomes irksome. He even neglects to correspond with his old friends and his aged parents. You would not expect him to write for the press. Again, farmers are a modest and unassuming class of men. They doubt their ability to impart useful information. They prefer to receive instruction. They look to those who make a business of writing and speaking for their daily supply of mental aS- ment, to the editors of agricultural periodicals to keep them posted up in the agricultural improve- ments and experiments of the time. Such are what I conceive to be some of the more prominent reasons why so few farmers write for agri- cultural papers. I think it would be better on all hands, were they THE GENESEE FARMER. 313 to take lime to write. It would keep them in the practice of expressing their thoughts upon paper — which is an item of importance to every one — and would be of vast benefit to their brother farmers. Something new can be learned upon every farm, and by studying the ways ^and means of every farmer, however humble he may be. No farmer can write his experience upon his farm for a month, without adding to the knowledge of and benefitting others. We would say, let it be put down as the indispensa- ble duty of every farmer, that he must write; as much as that he must read and labor. Let every farmer fully appreciate its importance, and he ivitl write for Aigriailtvral Papers. E. Hodges. Marion, Olmsted Co., J\lin. Ter. ON THE PROPRIETY OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OFFERING PREMIUMS TO PRACTICAL FARMERS FOR THE BEST ESSAYS ON VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL SUBJECTS. It is not only proper, but in our humble opinion it is the duty of Agricultural Societies to offer hbe- ral premiums to practical farmers for Essays on Ag- ricultural subjects. The object of all Agricultural Societies should be to disseminate agricultural knowledge among the masses, which we think would be accomplished to a great extent by offering premi- ums, which would have a tendency to create a spirit of inquiry among farmers, inducing them to study standard agricultural works. The effect of such of- fers would undoubtedly be to call out a vast amount of varied talent which now lies dormant, and be the means of giving to the public a great mass of prac- tical agricultural knowledge which is now confined to individuals or localities. If our National, State, County, and Town Societies could be induced to offer liberal premiums to practical farmers for the purposes above indicated, and publish the prize Es- says in their Reports and Transactions, it would doubtless do more to advance the science of practi- cal Agriculture than all the premiums offered for the finest horses, the best cattle, sheep and hogs, the longest beet, largest pumpkin, and biggest squash, with all the rest of the stereotyped list too numerous to mention. Every farmer knows it to be his inter- est to raise the best horses, cattle, hogs, crops of all kinds, etc., but bow to do it in the best, cheapest, and most economical manner is what every one wish- es to learn. H. H. Taylor. E. Rodman, JV. ¥. THE ADVANTAGES OF AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. In whatever business we engage, we feel it our duty to be prepared to enter it. And if the respon- sibility connected therewith be great, we are led to doubly exert ourselves, in order that we may be fully competent to undertake it. There are many things connected with farming that require sound judgment. And the farmer ought to possess a good knowledge of all that he is to be en- gaged in; for he does not wish to be making experi- ments, when he does not know that they will profit him anything. It is true, good farmers can educate their sons in all that pertains to agriculture. But our future farmers will not be confined to farmer's sons. There ai;e sons of mechanics and professional men who will not think it below their calling to be addressed with the honorable title of " Farmer." And these must be educated for this station. They can no more enter it unprepared than though it were a " learned profession." Who would think of giving his son to such a profession without educating him? And as we think the farmer's station fully as impor- tant as a literary or scientific one, he must also be prepared for it. Our " Common Schools," at the present day, would come far short of giving the instruction needed in the education of the farmer. Here is the advantage of Agricultural Schools. Those who wish to be- come farmers may be made thoroughly acquainted with all that is necessary for them to understand. It is hoped that such schools will flourish and spread widely; that our land which yields so bountifully under the blessing of the Great Giver, may never cease to do so for a lack of knowledge to cultivate it properly. Addie E. Fisk. Girard, Pa. " IS IT DESIRABLE TO PLANT FRUIT TREES IN THE HIGHWAY ?" If the above question were put in a school room of boys, there would be but little doubt respecting the answer. But it is not so put, but to the farmer, as a question of profit, or of ornament to the street or highway. On this ground, then, I conceive it should be answered. It is commonly reported, that in Europe fruit trees are generally planted by the road-side, and the fruit of some of the trees is left to the passers-by. This may be exhibiting a good heart, if not good husbandry. These trees are protected by law, and there may be instances where men of small means are enabled to plant a few more trees than they otherwise would, and reap more benefit. An intelli- gent German informed the writer, that in his country the government plant cherry trees and English wal- nuts by the road-side, and that they' are under the eyes of a vigilant police. Perhaps the most ornamental and desirable fruit tree for street planting opposite dwellings, is the cherry, as mentioned above. By the common law of this country, any fruit growing on trees set be- tween the land of the owner and the travelled road, belongs to the abuttor. Hence some farmers have advised the planting of such trees as profitable; while others have done so for the benevolent pur- pose of giving cherries to the public. Now cherry trees require considerable care, though not so much as other fruit trees; and for a farmer to plant such trees by the road-side with the prospect of their being mutulated and the fruit stolen, (as would certainly be the case in a thickly settled district) would seem to exhibit a slight redundancy of humanity. Everybody knows of the charge against farmers, that they do not properly attend to the trees planted in their own enclosures. Would it not, then, be requiring too much of them to plant and care for trees by the road-side, where ihey must lose the fruit, or wage war against pilferers? On Boston Neck, leading to Roxbury, there is nearly a mile of stately Elms on each side of the broad avenue. Had cherry trees been planted in- stead of Elms, they would have been abused by the boys, in spite of the extra police; and if, perchance 314 THE GENESEE FARMER. they might have escaped this, would any one pre- tend to say that a visia of hollow-hearted, deformed and iintiqiialed cherry trees would be as great an enibell'shiiient to the place, or as desiruble to the citizens, as the present graceful forest trees? So of the shai e trees on the Western Avenue, or Mill-dam; supplant them by cherry trees, or fruit trees of any kind, and in a few years, comparatively, the place Would verge upon the hideous— saying nothing of the premium on truancy. Near the city of Boston I know of no fruit trees planted by th ■ road-side Every one readily sees the impropriety of it, as or chards and gardens need close watching, and it is Bearly impossible to keep even horse-chestnut trees free from the stones and clubs of boys Far back in the interior, where the population is very sparse, and where forest trees are seen on every hand, it might be safe to plant truit trees on the highway — thus giving more numerous tokens of the progress of civilization, and affording to the traveller a happy contrast wiih the surrounding scenery. In such cases cherry trees would be the most ornamen- tal, but lae apple trees would be the most profit- able. Wild districts, however, are rare in Massa- chusetts, though they may not be in Western New York; but in both places they must be growing rarer. Our cative forest trees are beautiful, and merit preservation. They should have a place around our d^vellings and along our highways. The Elm, the Maple, the Tulip tree, the Pine and Hemlock, and " Lord of the woods, the loDg-sarviving Oak," aj-e not the least de.serving objects for street-planting. Many foreign trees, also, should not he neglected in the highway. Forest trees generally grow with vigor, furnish ample .-hade, while the blasts of a cen- tury will not mar their beauty. In a thickly settled countrj', I am of the opinion th?.t good taste would sooner permit ornamental trees to intrude upon the garden, rather than fruit trees upon the street. If we had no valuable forest trees, the case would be far diSereut. Our forests are rapidly disappearing, to make room for the plow, and in a few years their noble representatives will eeldom be seen if not in our highways and around our public buildings. The construction of a highway is a permanent th'n?, to which we set no liinit; and the durability of the trees set upon its borders should be in har- mony with this idea — tre"s that will not perish in hilf a century, but move their tops in unabated vigor when the hand that planted them shall have been trai sformed into the elements which give them vitality. D. W. Lothrop. fV. Medford, M ms., Au^., 18.0 7. "S30TJLD FARMERS' WIVES BE EDUCATED T' iKDEEn they should; and no man of a sound and caliiva'ed micd could answer it in the negative. The wives, not only of farmers, but of every other class of men. are the great builders of the nation's char- acter; and its destiny lies within the hands of the wives and mothers, who implant the first seeds in the minds of the embryo men they rear, which must ere lonsj hear good or evil fruits. They occupy the most important station that it is pofisible for mortals to hold. Keep woman in igno- rance, and she will rear a race of ignorant, degraded aaen-^a scourge to the country, which generations could not remove. On the other hand, educate and refine her, and her influence on all around hei- — hus- band, children, friends and nei^ibbors — will not only be pure and holy, but conducive, in the hi^he.st de- gree, to their pTo-iperity and happiness. The station sui-h a woman occupies, as ^ promoter of the coini- tr\'s prosp«;rity, no language cun describe. Aid farmers wives — the wives of one of the most -useful, classes of society — why should not thfy he educated as well as those of any other cla-^s? Their education shoidd indeed be more extended than that of any other class, for her sphere is more extended. She should understand every branch of house- keeping, for her home should be as neatly and taste* fully arranged as that of any other individual; and iis she has the entire control of the cooking depart- ment, is in need of a better knowledge of philosophy chemistry and physiology, than many of her city friends. She should be refined and polite, that her home may be a happy one; for truly, ignorance is a ino>"t fruitful cause of misery and trouble. This is a subject on which little can be said with- out a repetition of ideas, which may be summed up as follows, viz: In a maternal point ot view, it is as useless to argue the importance of a good education as it is to discuss the neces.sity of virtnous and intel- ligent men in a prosperous community. The '■ oB- scour- ing" of the land spring from the hovels of ignorance. She has as many duties to fulfil a,« a woman of any other class — luid more than the generality; and no ignorant wife could conduct the multitude of affairs comiccted with a thrifty fanner's household. As a conipanioii for her husband, who has the means of enjoying liR^ more than any other man, slie should be well educated, and refined in her manner.-- — for what man of any mind and heart would want an '■'igvm-a- mvs'' for a wife? A well stored mind is an inex- haustible source of true hapjjiness, while ignorance is continually leading astray ; and miserable mugt that farmer be, who ha? a "blockhead'' for a wife! iSalem, Ohio. David SxREFrr. IS IT PKOPER FOR LADIFS TO ASSIST IN THE GARDEN 1 M \.\Y in our day, and age of the world, have ar- rived at the determination that it is out of the lati- tude of a lady to help in the garden. AJthouyh they may have condescended to assist in the should- be delightful household duties, yet to go into the ganlen and cultivate vegetables is entirely beneath their dignity. And why is this so? Surely it is a very healthy occupation; far more so than work which is prepared within doors. Is it because they fear they will per- form more than their .share of the work? But this should not be, for in the beginning (iod created wo- man as a helpmeet for man — a sharer of all his joys and sorrows; and shame on the woman, who, when the man is forced to neglect the garden, will let it run to ruin. But this is equally true with the man who does not deign to assist when convenient in the house; and there is as much accordingly in this sphere for him to do. as there is, on the other hand, for the lady And the man who despises the woman who is above working in the garden or milking the cow.s, &c., should, before expressing his dislike, first examine his own habits, and see if there is not as large a beam in his own eye. Miss S, E M. dirard, Erie Co, Pa, ^ THE GENESEE FARMER. 31S fortiniliural J^P^^^'^^^^^^^^- MEETING OF THE "WESTERN NEW YOEK FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. Thk exhibition and meeting of this Society was held in this city Septembt r 18th anil I9t"h. There wa^^ a fine show of fruits and a fair attendance of fruit ^roA-ers. The foliowino; t^ubjects were recommended for discussion, and adopted: I. Pea hfs. Can the culr.ivatton of the Peaih exteii- sivelv t'or market lie recoimneiideH as protitahie ? If pro- fitahle, Nflint varii--tiesi can I'e lecommerided ? '2 'What is the cause "f thp riMukiiit;- nf the Pear — and of the leaf hliyht (so ciilledt ? What varietifs anionjj arative advuntaeps of raismsi; nnrserv trcf-s on fresh soil. previouJ, under prt^ciaely the same circumstances. W. P. 'I'ow.tsKNn, of Lockport, said that up to tJie 6th of the pre-^ent month, (Sept.) the season had Ijeen favorable to the growth and healthy develop- ment of both fruit and trees. At that time a change occurrfd in the atmosphere, and much of the time aince, it has been close and damp, causing mildew on P. Barry, of Rochester, stated that the Virga- lieu was cracking this year on the grounds of Mr. Yeo.mans, of Walworth, and in the town of Urcijc©, and in other localities of Western New York. II« would, however, state, on the authority of a gentle- man present, that Mr. Ykomans h;nl sold some of these very trees to his neighbors which were entirely free from leaf bliglit, and the fruit from cia/king. lie believed the leaf blight and cracking to be cau-v ed by the same or analagous causes, and that to be fungi or a fungus, tjome varieties buffered badly some seasons, and again others were attacked that had never been before. Wiiy thi.n was, no one had been able to tell, any more than they had why these phenomena occurred at all. Mr. Smith, of Geneva, thought it might be an ia- sect, as it appears to spread most rapidly after rain, succeeded by warm weather, which is tavorable to the propagation of insects. Mr. Hooker said that if he remembered right, th» soil of Mr. Yeomans, in which these trees grow, is a heavy clay, with a hard pan, which has been under- drained, but is not now a good pear soil, and that none but a naturally well drained soil would ever be found to be favorable to a healthy condition of the Pear. Mr. Barry would state the Duchesse d'Argouleme as in fine condition on Mr. Yeomans' ground?. J. J. Thomas, of United Springs, had made many observations in reference to this subject, but the nc-e he ma le the less he thought he knew respecting it ; had examined it with powerful microscopes, and believed it to be a fungus. The leaf blight and cracking usu- ally accompany each other, but not always, as some- times there is leaf blight without ciackiug of tlve fruit. A small Yirgaliea Pear tree, planted soisie years since, prod -.ced its first crop badly cracked, but ever after it has been fine, and the cause cnnLot therefore be, as some have thought, the e.i.hausiica of the soil. Thrifty varieties are opt to be exempt, such as Beurre d'Amalis, t>sband's Summer, Binrtlett, &c. On the contrary, Oswego Beurre sometimea cracked. Ananas d'Efe sehlom crocks. The whole >!ubject was enshrouded in darkness. Mr. Smith, of Geneva, would enquire where t^ fungus commences its growth ? Mr. Thomas had examined the rust of wheat, and was satisfied that it was propagated by pacing through the sap pores, and that the fungus under consideration was produced in a similar manner, aiid largely increased by budding and grafting, the seed being much smaller than the pores of the wood. W, P, TowNSENP would state that he had a smaM bed of pear seedlings, through which ran a furrow which v/ag wet, and he noticed that the blight at- tacked only those stocks standing in the furrow, dis- tinctly marking the water cours-e. Mr. Thomas said that several years since many at- tempt's were made by numerous parties, among whon| were Mr. Hovky, of Boston, and Mr Zkra BtRR, of Perriuton, to eradicate this disease by ti;o n^e of va- rious solutions, but all had proved unsucco£»ful, Mr. Barry thought that the practical qucstJDO the grapes. On the evening of the 6th inst. the j was, how this disease waste be avoided? lie knew o( leaves of the Beurre Diel, on his grounds, turned black, and soon after, those of the Virgalieu and Oswego Beurre, and the fruit commenced to crack. Other varieties growjng in the same rows with these, uot affected. no way. If any varieties are known to be particu- larly liable to it, they should not be planted. The Chair would ask if there was any difference in the cracking of the Virgalieu on the Quince ao4 OH the Pear stQck? Si6 THE GENESEE FARMER. Mr. Berkmans, of New Jersey, had found that Virgalieu trees that had been subject to this disease, when grafted with other varieties became exempt. With him, Glout Morceau and Vicar of Winkfield had been most apt to blight For twenty years he had attended to this subject, but the result was un- satisfactory. Cracking was most common in wet seasons. Beurre Diel, Ohaumontel, and Stevens' (ienesee all cracked badly. The next subject taken up was that in reference to rearing nursery trees on fresh soils previously unoc- cupied with them. Mr. Downing said that he had had no experience in raising trees on new soils, but knew that very good trees could be raised on old soils. H. E. Hooker had seen just as good trees raised on old soils as ever were raised, but believed in a ro- tation of different sorts of trees. Mr. Thomas said that there was much difference in soils; some being able to produce good crops for a long time with good cultivation, while others never were profitable. Mr. Barry supposed that no one doubted that trees may be grown a century on the same soil; but the question is, are these trees as good as on new land? His experience is in favor of new land. — The roots of the trees were more fibrous, and conse- quently the trees could be more easily transplanted; believed that many diseases of trees were owing to vicious cultivation and bad manures. Mr. Hooker thought that all the soil was pretty old, and that with proper rotation it could be always cultivated. Mr. Berkmans had cropped land in France with trees, and then followed them with potatoes and other root crops, and dressed with potash, and then again raised good crops of trees. This had been done several times in succession. Mr. TowNSEND thought that a succession of varie- ties was desirable, as it is the method pointed out by Nature. Mr. Langwoethy thought that there was a princi- ple in new soils peculiar to itself, and which was not in manures, and could not be applied to old soils. Mr. Smith, of Geneva, was in favor of new soils, and thought it impossible to grow good trees twice in succession on the same soil, even with heavy ma- auring. After a crop of Pear trees he had planted Peach trees, which grew feebly the first season, and were manured the winter following, (last winter) and BOW were only about two-thirds average size. The next question taken up was, can the Pear or Quince stock be advantageously cultivated on a large scale for market? Mr. Thomas would make a report of an estimate he had made of a quantity of Virgalieu trees on Ellwanger & Barry's grounds, occupying about one half acre of land. The trees were six years from the bud, and now have on them at least sixty bushels of Pears. He thought that the Virgalieu should not be planted largely for market, but would prefer Louise Bonne de Jersey and Duchesse d'An- gouleme. The great cause of failure among tree planters is the want of discrimination in reference to the varieties which they plant. Much information is yet also needed on this point. Mr. Yeomans, of Walworth, Wayne Co., had an orchard of Pears on Quinces of three thousand teees. Those of Louise Bonne and Duchesse d'An- gouleme produce from one half to one bushel per tree, but the Virgalieus are badly cracked. Evening Session. President Thomas in the Chair. The question taken up for this evening was, what form of tree is best for the Standard Pear in orchards? Mr. Berkmans thought the limbs should be kept short, and the tree trimmed into the pyramidal form, for the first ten or twelve years, and then allowed to take its own course. The pyramidal form is the one found by experience to be the most practical, one. If the limbs are allowed to grow long, the weight of the fruit is apt to break them down. Pear trees are more apt to straggle than Apples. Pro£ Mapes' trees are allowed to straggle, and they split up. Mr. Barry remarked that there were several con- siderations in reference to the forms of trees, among the most important of which are the liability of their being affected by high winds, the gathering of the fruit, and the safety of the trunk of the tree. The Standard tree is usually trained with a trunk from four to six feet high. This form is not so well suited to the Pear as to the Apple. The sun in winter is apt to affect the bark of the trunk and seriously in- jure the tree. Trees trained in the pyramidal form are less aSected by high winds, and the fruit can be much more easily gathered; and trees growing in open spaces naturally assume the pyramidal form. He had also found that trees trained in this manner bore earlier than tall ones, and were not liable to as many accidents. Mr. Hooker agreed in the main with Mr. Barry, but thought that trees should be trimmed high enough to cultivate easily about them, and that the shade afforded by the limbs was sufficient to protect the trunk from injury by the sun. Mr. AiNswoRTH, of West Bloomfield, is cultiva- ting trees in both the forms mentioned by the previ- ous speakers, and also in a middle form. Some with limbs commencing five feet from the ground, others about two and a half feet, and lastly, branching from the ground. The trees are now all in bearing; pre- fers the middle form, because the trees are more easily cultivated. The low limbs protect the trunks from the rays of the sun, and also from reflection from the snow. When trees are injured by the sun, it is always on the north side, and on the under side of the limbs. A year ago last winter his trees re- ceived the most injury in this way; and at the same time the faces and hands of the men at work on his grounds were severely blistered by the reflected rays of the sun from the snow. Those of his trees that at that time were protected by the low limbs were not injured. The trees trained four and a half or five feet high he found to be much more affected by high winds. He did not like the pyramidal form, but preferred to keep the head down and make the limbs throw out. Had found the lowest trimmed to bear the earliest. Mr. Berkmans had seen one tree in France branch- ed low, so that the limbs on every side braced into the ground and acted as stanchions, so that it was impossible for any wind to move or affect it. Mr. Townsend's method was similar to the middle course adopted by Mr. Ainsworth. Mr. Fish plants stocky trees, and keeps them trained low. Mr. Barry said there was no difficulty in cultiva^ THE GENESEE FARMER. 317 ting clean, underneath low trees at least close enough for all useful purposes. Weeds do not prow when the limbs are low, and it is an injury to the roots of the trees to plow close; thought low training a great reformation. Western people seemed now to under- stand this point, and all planted low headed trees. The PRp:sinENT remarked that he had found that the extent of the roots of Pear trees corresponded to their height, and a tree about eight feet high, for instance, had a breadth of roots of about eight feet, or four feet on each side, and the trees should not be cultivated so close as to much disturb these roots. He did not regard high trained trees in the light of St. Pierre, who when walking through a grove with a friend, remarked that he thought that it was a be- neficent dispensation of Providence that the trees in the grove grew just high enough for people to walk under conveniently, without thinking that the lower branches had been broken off by cattle running underneath, and had decayed and fallen off by being too close. The next subject discussed was that of the Proper Age for Transplanting Apples and Pears into Or- chards. Mr. Maxwell stated that nine years ago a neighbor of his, planted some large apple trees, which grew well, and that four or five days after he (Mr. Max well) planted some little whips of the same kind, and in four years they were the largest trees, and bore the most fruit. C. P. BissELL, five years ago, planted some large cherry trees, which have done very well; but at the Bame time he planted some large apple trees and some whips, and the small ones have made the largest trees, and are bearing good crops for their age, while the other trees only show now and then an apple. Mr. AiNswoRTH said a neighbor, some years since, bought a wagon load of large apple trees, and plant- ed them and manured them well; but they never throve, and have all died out. A few years after the same person planted a quantity of quite small trees, and they have made a fine orcharcj. Another neigh- bor, a few years since, bought some very small trees, which have made large, fine trees, fifteen feet high ; while a lot of large trees, planted at the same time by another neighbor, have not grown six inches. Large trees have large roots, and when they are transplanted these roots are cut off, and, consequent- ly, the tree is starved to death ; on the contrary, small trees have a quantity of fibrous roots, which are nearly all removed when they are transplanted, and the tree scarcely feels the shock. Mr. Barry said this subject was a very important one — that it was the first thing usually spoken of by purchasers of trees — they must have large trees, and, in most of these cases, large means quite large. He had found that two years was the most favorable time for planting pears, cherries and plums, and three years for apple trees. There are exceptional cases, where large trees are moved only a short distance. Mr. Hooker coincided with the remarks of Mr. Barry. Mr. Barry would not cut back yearlings nor two year old trees when transplanted, but would let them remain a year, and then cut back severely. Mr. AiNswoRTH agreed with Mr. Barry. His ad- vice wag not to cut back too far, as the buds at the base of the shoots are small, and will make but a feeble growtk Mr. IToAG out back severely some small trees when he planted them, and the first two or three years they made no growth, but have since done well. Adjourned. Second Day. — Morning Session. W. P. TowNSEND in the Chair. The subject first discussed this morning was in re- lation to the Profitable Culture of the Small Frnita Raspberries. — Mr. Downing stated that the Hud- son River Antwerp was found most profitable in his section. It is cultivated there in fields, like corn. Mr. Hooker sold this year, off from one-tenth of an acre of the Hudson River Antwerp, to the amount of $14 80, making the average tor an acre about $140. His neighbor, Mr. Bissell, found the profits somewhat larger. Mr. Smith, of Geneva, said that a party near Ge- neva realized $200 per acre from the common Black Cap. Mr. HoAG preferred Brinckle's Orange. It is a delicious fruit, bears abundantly and long after others have ceased, yet it will not bear carriage as well as the Hudson River Antwerp. It is, however, much hardier than the Hudson River Antwerp, which killed down very badly by the cold. Mr. Ellwanger remarked that Brinckle's Orange did well with him, and that he heard very favorable reports from it at the West. Mr. Barry thought that the raspberry could, with- out doubt, be cultivated with profit; but can mar- ket be found for it, if cultivated largely? If suiaScient market was at hand, it would be found profitable, even at six cents per quart. Mr. Hooker remarked that it was impossible to transport raspberries many miles, either in wagons or cars. He preferred, for his own use, the Fastolf, but thought the Hudson River Antwerp preferable for marketing; and another advantage this variety has, is that the berries are all perfect, even to the smallest and last. N. Draper, of Rochester, planted five kinds of raspberries about thirty years ago, but found only two kinds worth preserving, which were the White and Red Antwerp. These bushes, for most of the time, stood under peach trees, and were cut down last spring. The product was usually about fifteen bushels for sixty square rods. They were never ma- nured, but had clean cultivation. Besides what he used in his own family, he sold annually about twenty- five dollars' worth. They could not be profitably transported ten miles. Vir. Hooker said that, although raspberries did not want to be starved, yet he had found high ma- nuring to be unproductive. Mr. Downing remarked that where they are culti- cultivated on the Hudson for the New York market, they are carried by land only from one to four miles, and then sent down the river in barges. Mr. Smith had sent to B iffalo and Syracuse quite a quantity in two quart baskets. He thought good cultivation necessary, and that the plant preferred a moist soil. He laid the canes down in the fall, and covered only the tops, which he found sufficient. N'ew Rochelle Blaclcberry. — 0. P. Bissell, of Rochester, had an acre in cultivation for market. It bears profusely. Must be thoroughly ripe to have a good tiavor. The distance he planted was six feet by four, but thought it would be better to S18 THE GENESEE FARMER. ]>\ int eight feet bj four. He trained it on wire trel- I1809. It should be cut back in the S])ring to five feet, and the laterals shortened in. The laterals only bear, and they are apt to break if not short- ened in. Mr. Hooker said that Mr. Caepenteb advises wire trellises, and tljat the old cases should be trained on the lowest wires, and the new canes trained up. Mr. Penfield, of Lockport, found that the ber- ries are apt to drop off before they are fairly rii)e. Mr. HoAG planted half an acre a year ago la^it spring. They were set six feet by four, but they were too close ; eight or ten feet by h)ur would be better. He had some fine fruit this year. Eectini' mended cutting back, as the plants bear better. The berries should liang a week after turning black. It is very prolific. Mr. BissEi.i, said that this plant fills a vacancy which has long been felt — it comes in between the raspberry and the commencement of the peach sea- &<>n, and when there is a scarcity of fruit. "With him, each pljint bears from two hundred to four hundred berries. _ Mr. HoAo said that his berries were not yet all ripe, but he found them good, when eaten with plenty of sugar. Mr. Fj'.ost stated tliat he had found great diffi- culty in telling when they were ripe; that those who cultivated largely about New York, placed straw on the ground between the bushes, and, by jarring tlie i)lants, the berries fell on to the straw, and were t'len gathered. Mr. Scott remarked that when it will foil it is too ripe — it is too sweet, and too soft to be carried to market. Mr. Barey thought the Dorchester, or improved High Bnsli blackberry, a very pu})erior sort, and would advise, it in preference to the New Rochelle. Mr. Downing thought tha New Rochelle much the best for market, but the Dorchester is the highest flavored, and Newman's Tliorrdess variety had a better flavor than either. Mr. Ho AG said that the New Rochelle made ex- cellent wine. The subject of Preserving Fruits elicited quite a number of remarks, but nothing decidedly new was brought out, except by Dr. Bristol, of Dansville, who had found much difficulty in preserving fruit so that it would not mould on the top, where there was always a va- cancy, caused by the shrinkage during cooling. His method to obviate it is briefly this : He uses a glass bottle, with a covk perforated to admit of a metal- lic tube, the upper end of which also passes through another cork, fitting into a small vial, which is filled with syrup. The jar is filled witli the fruit, and tmdergoes the usual method of standing in boiling water to exclude the air, when the cork and aii- paratus just described are applied, and, a^ the con- tents of the vessel shrink as they cool, the syrup from the vial runs in, and kee]!s the jar full. "When it is quite cool, the tube is cut with a pair of sharp shears, and, if nicely done, it is quite tight. A lit- tle wax on the end of the tube and over the cork completes the oi>eration. Tfie ballot for a list of the 12 best varieties of apples, and 12 best pears, and 6 best peaches, for Dj^ket purposes, resulted as fpUo^s; Apples. — Out of 19 votes cast, the Rhode Island Greening received 19 ; Baldwin, 18 ; Roxbury Rus- eett, 17; Red Astracan, 14; Talman Sweet and King of Tompkins Co., each, 13; Northern Spy and Esopus Spitzenburg. each, 12 ; Fall Pippin, 9 ; Sweet Bough, 8; Primate and Cayuga Red Streak (20 oz.), each, 7 ; Golden Sweet, Gravenstein, and Early Harvest, each, 6 ; Golden Russett and Yel- low Be'lflower, each, 4; Swaar, Jonathan, Rambo, and Seek-no-further, each, 8 ; Cooper's Redling, Duchess of Oldenburgli, Peck's Pleasant, Porter, American Summer Peurmain, and Vandevere, each, 2; Colvert, Early .'oe. Early Summer, Hawley, Prince's Harvest, Fall Orange, Sops of Wine, Hill'i Sweeting, Green S\\ eet, Auiunin Strawberry, Gold- en Pippin, Red C;.nada, Benoin, Melon, Pound Sweet, Wagener, Jersey Sweet, Newtown Pippin, Ribstou Pippin, M.immoth Pippin, Spicy Sweet, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Large Yellow Bough, and Maiden's Blush, each. 1. Pears. — Out of 21 votes cast, the Bartlett re- ceived 19; the Louise Bonne de Jersey and the Duchesse d' Angouleme, each, 18; White Doyenne, 17; Easter Beurre and Lawrence, each, 16; Vicar of Winkfield, 1.3; Seckel, 12; Flemish Beauty, 11 : Beurre d' Anjou, 9 ; Beurre Diel and Tyson, each, 8 ; Sheldon, 0 ; BufFam and Bell Lucrative, each, 5 ; Glout Morceau, Beurre Superfine, Urbaniste, Blood- good, Brandywine, and Beurre Giffard, each, 3 ; Theodore Van Mons, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurre Bosc, Onondaga, Rostiezer, Stevens' Genesee, Os- band's Summer, and Ananas d'Ete, each, 2; How- ell, Ontario, Dearborn's Seedling, Beurre d' Amalis, Gris d'Hiver, Brown's i^utumn, Comstock's Beauty, Comstock's Mammoth, Winter Nelis. Jalouse deFon- tenay, Doyenne Boussoch, Nouveau Poiteau, aod Bergamotte Lucrative, each, 1. Peaches. — Out of 15 votes cast, Crawford's Eai'ly recjived 1-5; Crawford's Late, 13; Early YcH-k (serrate), 11; Old Mixon Free, 10; Morris' White, 5 ; Coolidges Favorite and Large Early York, eacli, 4; Honest John, 8; Old Mixon Cling, White Im- y)erial. Red Cheek "Meloco ton, Durock Freestone, Geerge IV., Walter's Early, and Early Barnard, each, 2 ; Ward's Late Free, Jacques Rareripe, Early Tillotson, Lemon Cling, and Columbia, each, 1. THE 0RTLE7 AIPLE. As a general rule, varieties of fruit are best adapted to the locality in which they originate. Tlie Ortley apple seems to be an exception. It is a na- tive of New Jersey, but does not succeed well there, or in the Eastern States, or in New York; but at the AVest, according to Elliott, on strong, rich soils, " it proves one of the hardiest, most productive, profitable, as well as best known varieties. Mr. Eknst, of Cincinnati, stated at the last meeting ©f the American Pomological Society, that the Ortley " was a great favorite at the West, where it is culti- vated mostly under the name of White Beliefleur." In New York, according to Mr. Saul, of Newburgb, '• it is a miserably mean tree and a poor bearer." Mr. Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., said "it was fii>e. at the West, but not in this locality." When growa on strong, rich soils at the West, according to Elli- ott, the fruit is very much larger than when grown at the East. '• Skin, smooth; form, oblong, oval, poro^tiroes rQtmdish conical; color, pale jello wish at THE GENESEE FAKMER. »3» THE ORTLEY APPLE. the North; South it becomes a rich yellow, with specks of dark red, and a vermillion tiuge surround- ing when exposed to sun; stem, varj-in^ from short and stout to long and slender; cavity, deep, narrow; catyx, small, closed; basin, furrowed or plaited from the surrounding angles or ribs that are often appa- rent in the fruit; flesh, yellowish white, tender, crigp. sprightly, mild acid; core, large, open; seeds, abun- dant, loose in the capsules. Season, January to Apfil." HORTICTJLTUEAL OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. Cauliflowers. — From the cauliflower and cab bage seed, sown in September, will, by the first of October, be produced some nice plaiitii, for early spring use. About the fiist week of the month se- lect a nice sheltered and dry piece of ground, some elevated border on the south side of a board fence or wall, is the best situation, with some protection at a short distance on the southwest, as a hedge or build- ings, that will break off the souihwept winds in the winter — and yet fully exposed to the sun. M ark out the bed six feet wide and twenty or thirty feet long. according to the number of plants wanted. A bed thirty feet long will hold about a hundred. Spread over the surface four to six inches of good rotten manure, and spade it in eighteen inches deep. Now drive down some stakes at the corners, (pieces of 2x4 setuitling are as good as anything,) leaving those in front one foot out of the ground, and those at back eighteen inches. This gives a fall to the water on the glass of six inches in six feet. Set more stakes along the sides, if necessary, according to the length dt' the boards. Now nail on old boards or thick plank, making it as tight as possible, to exclude cold wiii4, &Q(1 frost, and mice. Now throw tip a bank of earth eighteen inches thick, and to the top of the boards all round; make the bank solid, and pat it smooth, to throw off the rain. This frame is to be covered with close boards, or shutters, or vhat is still better, glass sashes. In a week or ten d y-. as soon as the bed has settled, it will be lime lo plant Take up the best plants carefully, with a ba)i of earth, and without breaking their roots, if possible, and plant in the new bed, eighteen inches apart each way, up to their leaves, first breaking off any decayed leaves that may be on them; press the earth firmly to their roots with the hands, and give a good wa- tering if diy weather, and shade a little at first if necessary. Between the rows may be planted some hardy kind of lettuce, as Green ITammeri^mith or Brown Dutch, kc. Those of the tewier varieties are apt to damp. They will come into uf-e during the winter and spring, before the cauliflowers spread much. Cover up in rainy and stormy days and cold nights, but give air on all mild and favorable oppor- tunities. As soon as the weather begins to m t in severely, the whole frame must be covered over eighteen or twenty inches thick with littery straw, and kept on night and day in very severe weather. In bright and mild days the covering must be takt^a off, and air given, so as to beep them hardy anositive proof. One gentleman who has no doubt that wheat will turn to chess, urges '• the readers of the Genesee Farmer to make experiments for themselves, and they will then be convinced," We are in favor of this jiroposition, but would ask leave to amend, in one particular. Let the object of the experiments be to turn chess to whecU. It is a poor rule that will not work both ways. If chess is "degenerated wheat," ij is not improbable that good culture wo«li « " 15 " 4}i " « 18 " 5K « « 40 « 6^i » » 60 » S " " 80 «' Sole Tile Cut 14 Inches Long — Pieces. 2 inches rise, $12 per lOOO 3 •« " 18 " 4 «' « 40 " 5 " " 60 « 6 " " 80 " Also on hand, 6-iuch calibre Octagon Pipe, $20 per 100, and S-inch cilibre Round Pipe, f 30 per 100, for large drains Cornice Brick, of the pattern used in the city of Washington, also on h: nd. Or- ders solicited. Cartage free. C. & W. M'CAMMON, (Late Babcock & Van Vkchten,) Albany, N. Y. RICH'D H. PEASE, Agent, Excelsior Ag. Works, Warehouse and Seed Store, October 1.— 2t. 359 and 371 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. FRUIT TREES AND FRUIT. THE subscriber being extensively engaged in the Nursery bnsi- ness, and having planted over l(/(l acres of Orchard, em- bracing more than 10.000 Trees, enabling him to test and compare varieties and propagate only those of real value, is prepared to furnish Trees in large quantity, at prices heretofore unknown to the Tree trade. The present stock embraces about 300.000 Apple Trees, of vari- ous sizes among which is an abundant supply of Baldwins and Greenings. 15,ij00 i;herry Trees, one and two years old. 4 to 13 feet. 20,1)00 Peach Trees, of best m.irket sorts. 4."),0'i0 two years old, and 100,000 one year old. Dwarf Pear Trees, of very superior quality; the termor are beWeved to be the lest lot in the United States, and warranted equal to the best. Als", a general assortment of other Fruit and Ornamental Trees and Plants, at low prices. Persons visiting the grounds before October, can see several himdred Dwarf Pear Trees in full bearing; and any who doubt their success for orchard culture, are especially invited to examine them. T. G. YEOMANS, October 1.— It. Walworth, Wayne Co., N. Y. MORGAN HORSE FOR SALE. GENERAL 6IFF0RD, Jr. This beautiful Horse is three years old past. Color, chestnut, with no marfts. Is 15,^2 hands, and weiglis over 1,000 lbs. Is thouglit by good judges to he in no way inferior, and in many respects superior, to his splendid sire. General Gitlord. For peuigree, see cut. For further particulars, address ELIAB YEOMANS, October 1.— It* Walworth, Wayne Co., N. Y. NEW ROCHELLE BLACKBERRY. t^ GENUINE.„,CJ Q K CENTS each, $2 50 per dozen, $16 per hundred, with dis- /^t) count to the trade. Also, Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Stocks, &c. &c. Address J. C. TEAS, October 1.— It* Raysville, Ind. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO NURSERYMEN. QUINCE STOCKS FOR SALE. WE have on hand a large stock of the best Angers and Paris or Fontenay Quince Stocks, rased by ourselves from Stocks and from Cuttings, both of which we will sell on more reasonablt terms than they can be imported. Early orders are solicited. H. E. HOOKER & CO., July I. — 4t. Commercial Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. QUINCE AND APPLE STOCKS FOR SALE. THE subscribers offer for sale, of their own raising, 100.000 Quince Stocks (Angers and Fontenay) at $1.5 per 1000. 21 0,000 Apple Seedlings, at $5 " 10,000 Peach Trees, Lockport, N. Y., SepU-2t.* PENFIELD, BUEEELL Sc CO. S28 THE GENESEE FARMER ^GENESEE VALLEY NURSERIES.^ FEUIT TREES, ORNAMENTAL TEEES, SHRUBS, ROSES, &c. &c. THE Proprietors of these well-known Nurseries have on hand a large and well-grown Block of FEDIT TREE^, ORNAMENTAL TREES. SHRUBS, ROSES, GREEN-H"USE AND BE1>DING PLANTS, DAHTJaS, PHLOXES AND OTHEK HAKDY BORDER PLANTS. The assortment of Rt>SES is very extensive, and embraces all variitiie which could be obtained, and which are considered worthy of cultivation. Our collectioii of HYBRID PERPETUALS is the most comjilete in the country. the (iKEE.V-HOUSE DEPARTMENT receives particular atten- tion, aiif! the stock of Fuchsias, Geraniums, and other Green- house Plants, ie lartje and varied. In the FRUIT DEPARTMENT, OUB STOCK CONSISTS OF APPLES, of the leading varieties, Dwarf and Standard. PEARS, of all di-sirahle varieties, on Quince and Pear Stocks. PLUifS — A choice selection of well grown trees, of popular sorts. CHKKRIES — All the popular sorts. Dwarf and Standard. PEACH KS — A choice a.s«ortment. NEOTAllINf':S, APRICOTS and QUINCES, in variety. GRAl'E-i — A complete assortment of both Native and Foreign Berts, including many of recent introduction. SMALL FRUITS. CURRANTS — Twenty-five choice sorts, including many new va- RASPBERRTES, GOOSEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES and STRAvVBr-RRIES, of all new and approved varieties. We b.ave, tor the accommodation of Nubsehymkn, STOCKS and Si<;EDLlN(;S, including APPLE, PEAR, PLUM. CHERRY, QUINCE, &c. &c. Also, SEEDLIN(;S OF EVERGREEN TREES, inclnd'Rg Norway f^pruce, Balsam Fir, Scotch Pine, Austrian Pine, Larth and Hedge Plants. ORNAMENTAL. DEPARTMENT. The stock of Ornamintal Trees and Shrub*, both Deciduous and Evergreen, will be found to embrace all that is desirable among LAWN and STRERT TREES and SHRUBS. ROSES— Consisting of Hybrid Perpetual and Summer Roses, Mi).ss, BcLirbon, Noisette, Tea, Beug,al or China, and Climbing or Prairin Rosefi. HARnV HERBACEOU=! or BORDER PLANTS, and BULBOUS FLOWER ROOT.S— An extensive a.«soitmeut. All the above will be disposed of at low rates, and on advanta- geous terms For further details, we refer to our full set of Cata- logues, which will be mailed to applicants who enclose a one cent Blamp for each. No. 1. Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits, Ac. No. 2. Descriptive Catalogue of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, &c. No 3. Descriptive Catalogue of Green-house and Bedding Plants, Dahlias, &c. No. 4. Wholesale or Trade List for Nurserymen and Dealers. 1^*" Amateurs and others interested in Horticulture, are re- gpeetfully invited to visit our Show Grounds and Green houses, at )S3 South Sophia street, a short di^tance from the central part of the city. tr^ All communi nations to be addressed to *'^ A. FROST & CO., Sept. 1. — 3t. Genesee Valley Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. J. DONNELLAN & CO., OF TUB BOCHESTEB AND LAKE AVENTJE COMMERCIAL NURSERIES, ROCHESTER, N. T., WISH to inform their friends and custonw^rs that they have on hand for Kail Sales the following select assortmeat of Standard and Dwarf Fruit Trees, Evergreen and Weeping " Ornamental Deciduous and Climbing Shrubs, A numerous variety of select French and Domesfic Eoses, Pajonies, Phloxes, A.C. &c.. Hardy Ilorbaceotis and Hedge PlarJs, Bulbous Koot«, Double Diihlias, &c., &c., which they will sell in quantities to suit purchasers, and on moder- ate terms. lO'.OOO 8 and 4 year old Apple Trees, choicest kinds, 140,(I(M) 2 " '• '' " " 180,000 1 " u « « " 10,000 2 " Peach « « « 10,(100 1 " " » " ti with an equal quantity of Pears Plums, Cherries, ifcc. We have also lOo.OOO Manetta Stocks for Koses, first quality. 50.000 extra 2 vetir old Apple Stocks. 4n,0ck of — FRUIT TREES. Apple, Pear, Peach, EMBKACINQ Plum, Cherry, Apricot, Nectarin3 Quince, &C., JiC Apple, Cherry, and Quince Stocks. Strawberries, Gooseber- ries, Raspberries and Curriints. The Ornaincntid Department is full and extensive, including a superb stock of Evergreens and Hoses. fW Special attention is called to the Pear trees, both staudard and Dwarf, as we have a large and unusually fine stock. Catafognes will be sent to persons requesting them. Office on Ferry street, Buffalo, N. Y. Sept.— St. MANLEY & MASON. NEAV ROCHELLE (OR LAWTON) BLACKBERRY. PLANTS FOR SALE AT TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF PER DOZEN, SIXTEEN DOLLARS PER HUNDRED, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS PER THOUSAND. C. P. BISSELL, Rochester, N. Y., Ea.st Avenue, near H. E. Hooker & Co.'s Com'l Nurserie». August 1. — 3t. MOUNT HOPE AVENUE, ROCHESTER, W. Y. THE PROPRIETOR offers for sale Ihis-fall and coming spring a large assortment of Fruit ami Orflamental Trees, such as Apple^ Dwarf Pear, Cherry, Peach, Plum, Apricot. Gooseber- ries, Currants, Raspberries, Grape Vines, Quince, Cherry and Pluin Stocks. Rhubarb, Asparagus, &c. Shade Trees. Ever- greens, Flowering Shrubs, Rosea, Vines, Dahlia Roots. Bulbous Roots, Green-house Plants. Address WILLIAM KING. September 1.— 2t. Rochester, N. T. I HAVE for sale Fifteen Hundred large, well-grown. Peach Trees of superior sorts. — ALSO — Two Thous.Tnd Grape vines, from one to four years old. Cur- rant Bushes, Gooseberry Bushes — Roses and Rose Stocks. The above wil be sold cheap tor cash— packed and sent accord- ing to. order. JAMES LENNiiN, No. 12, Gorham et October 1.— It* liochester, N. T. TO PLANTERS AND DEALERS IN TEEES. THE suhKoriher would inform his fi lends that bi.s Descriptive and Wholesale Priced Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, for the autumn of 1867, will be fent, after the 10th of Au- gust, to all applicants who enclose a stamp. Addr>'ss ISAAC PULLEN, September 1. — 2t, Hightstown, Mereer Co., N. J. THE GEIIfKSEE FARMER. 327 BOOKS FOR THE FARMERS.' rURXISIlKl) RY TltK ritOI'RIKTOK OK CK.NKSKE FARMER The F:irm Kripin-cr. Rv Riti-.hie. I' ice $5. (lunn's Diirn.-mic \feilii:iiie. Price $,!. Tue C 'V. O.iirv Hiisbamiry, ami Ontilp hreetlin)?. Price 25 ctH. Every I.adv her nwn Flower Ga'iieiipr. Price 2n ceuts. Vie A'nericiia Kose Oulturi-r. Price "26 ceiitn. Pnz," i'l^n IV nn M»mirps. Br :^. 1,, O.tnH. Price 26 ct'ntx. T!ie PuMUlof th- H'lrra, with ■lirectiouH tor extirpiitiou. Price 26 OiMlls. H .rses — tlieir Vjirieties, Breeding, Management, Kc. Price 25 CrtUTS. The Hive and Honey Bee — their Diseases and Rmiieilien. Price i5 cents. Tile Hog — its DiseaseB and Manairenient. Pricn 25 cents. Tl\e Aiueric.m Hiid Fancier — Brceriiriif, Kaisin^, *c. 25 ctH. Domestic Fowls ami Urnauiental Poultry. Price :1^'> cents. CUemistiv- ma'e K.asy fur Uie t'se if Farraei-H. Piice 25 «ta. The American I'oultrv Yajd. Price $1. The Aiui'ncan Field Book of Manuivn. Einliracinjj; all the Fer- ilizers known, with directions for use. By Browne. $1.26. Bnist'.s Kit hen iiard>-n'T. Price 7'> cfntJt. Stociihifrt'-' Chemical Finld I^pctures. Price 91. Wds-.n on ♦h'? Cultiwuon of FInx. Price 2o t*nt«. Tne F.i mern Cvfilope. la. Bv BUke. Price $1.25. AUeo'H Roril .\-chi'ecture. Price «!. 25. Pnyl ..ss Hoe K'.-eper'.< Chart. Illustrated. Pric* '.-'■'i cents. ,Tohnritu!i 8 .is;ricullaral Chemi.stry. Price $1.25. .ri»UiBit»o"8 El«ui«nt.sof .tijricultural Chemistry and Geology. P-ioe *1. RinJjU'i .Sheep Huutwndry. Price $1.26. Miaor'.'i Ajiieric;ui Bee-Keeper'a .Mjmual. Price $1. Fo^we.aden'R Complete Farmer and fiardeaer. 1 vol. Price fl.26. Alleu'n Trcati.'»e on the Culture of the Grape. Price %"1. IT matt '.n the Bieeils and Management of Sheep. Price Toots. Touatt on the ilon. Cmnplete. Price 60 cents. Touatt and \I;irtin on Cattle. By Stevens. Price $1.25. The Sheoherd's own Book. Edited by Youatt, Skinner and Ran- Jail. Pric^ f2. Allen's Americjia Farm Book. Price $1. The Ara ricjin Florist's Guide. Price "■"> cents. The Citti^e and Farm Bee-Keeper. Price 50 cents. Countrv Dwelling; or the American .Architect. Price $<5. ^f;lsll's Pro^en.sive Fanner. A book for every boy in the coun- try. Price .11 ceiit.s. Beatti^'s Southern Asriculture. Price $1. Smith's Lan isc.ipe Gardenin?. Contiining hints on arranging Parks, Plea.-.ure Grounds, &c. Edited by Lewis F. Allen. Price $1.25. Tlie \mericaa Fruit Grower's Guide in Orchard and Garden. Price $1 25. Tho nas' F.irm Implements. Price $1. Ceechar'i Domestic Receipt Book. Price 75 cents. " " Econorav. Price 75 cents. Bemenfs .\-neriean Poulterers' Companion. Price $1.25. The Chinese S ipjar Cane and Sugar Making. Price 25 cents, Linsley's Morgan Horses. Price -$1. Liebig's Animal Chemistry Price 25 cents. Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained, ^rice $1. Reenelin's Vine Dressera' .Manual. Price .50 cents. Chorltm's Grape Growers' Guide. Price fO cents. Miner's \m»rican Poultry Book. Price 50 cents. Ouenon's Treatise on Milch Cows. Price 38 cents. The I.adiM^' Guide, or .Skillful Housewife Price 25 cents. . I.eihig's Fa"\iliar Letters on Chemistry. Price 12!^ ceuts. Skinner's Llements of Agriculture. Piice 26 cents. The Horse's Foot, and How to Keep it .Sound. Price 25 cents. J hnson's Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. Price 2t cents. Genesee Farmer for 1856. Bound in paper, 75 cents: in half calf. $1. Thaer's Piinciples of Agriculture. Price $2. Downing's Landscape Gardening and Rural Architecture. Price $;! 50 Golibetfs American Gardener. Piice 50 cents. Breck's Flower Garden. Price .$1. Cranberry Cultuie. Price 50 ceu's. Pardee on Sfra^berry Culture. Price 60 cents. Ghorlton's Exotic Grapes. Price 50 cents. Waning's Elements of Agriculture. Piice T5 cents. Cole's American Fruit Book. Price .50 cents. Cole's n seises of Animals. Piice 50 cents. Schi-nck's Girdener's Text Book. Price fO cents. The Farmer's Lund Measurer. Price 50 cent*. Rodger's Scientific .\grii;ulture. Price 75 cents. Dana's M ic.k'Maniiah Price $1. How to Build and Ventilate Hot-houses, Graperies, ic. Price $1 2^ Tnom: «on on the Food of Anima's. Price 75 cents. S.e« ai I's S'able Book. Price $1.10. Did I's .Anatomv and Phvsiologv of the Horse. Piice $2. Youat' on the H rs^. Price $.25. Norton's Sci n'ific A.'riculture. Price 60 cents. Bridge nan's Young Gardener's .Assistant. Price $1..50. Bridgen.an's Kitchm Gardeners Instructor. Price 50 cents. Bridge.Dan's Fruit Cultiyator's Manu*!. Price SO cents. Bridgeman's Florist's Guide (nn e^c llent wor)i). Price 50 cent*. New Process for the ("ultiire of tin- Vine. Price 25 cents. L'-ibig'- Reply to Lawes. Price 25 cents. Lfitiig'a Kesearches on the Motion of the .Juices In the Anili •! Body, and Ellect of E>iipoiation of Plants I'rice 2.'> ci-nts. .1 Kurai AnnuaJ and liorticultutal Dliectory. frice ^Jacenia. !>•. in idoth, 60 cents. The above will be sent free upon receipt of price aonex.eiis for making Su^'ar, Molas.ses, Alcohol, Sparliling and Still Wine.s, BekT, Cider, Viiii'tjar, Paper, Starch and Uye-StuUs. FCl.LY 1LLUSI'K.\TED with Ukawincs of Api-iiovkd Ma- OHI.vkkt; with an Appendix by Leoinrd Wray, of CalVrana, and % description nf his patented process for crvstaliziug th" juice of the Imiihi-e ; with the latest American experiments, inciud'inn tlijseof 1857 iu the South. By HBNKr S. Ol.COTT. To which are added translations of vaUiible Fnnch pamidilett received from the Hun. John Y. Mison, American Minister a Puria. Pbiok O.vd Dollar. Sent by mail, post-paid. Orders taken immediately. Those fir* received will be tirst tilled. August 1. — 3t. C. M. 'AXTON & CO., Agricultural Book Publishers, 140 Fulton street. New York. New Hind-Books for Home Improvement, by Mail. HOW TO BEHAVE.— A New Pocket Manuai. of ETrtJDtTTK. At Home, At Placks of AMPSKsiiaT, Oi> Tilts Street, At WjiDDi.Nos, L\ CoMPA.Ny, At CHrncH. At Takle, Whilk Traveling, At Picnics, I.\ CouRTsuiP, etc. How To Bkuavk, the third number of our " Ha.nd-Book vott HOMK iMpiiovKMtMT."— uow read) —is a complete )>ncor^ 6.00 1.45 .87 9.66 28.50 .20 .093^ 7.50 1.50 10 50, 15.00 do mess, per bbl.... Lard, per lb., 20.00 @ $25.75 .14 .15 .15 .22 .08 M)4 5.40 8.00 1.05 1.50 .80 .85 .80 .86 ,86 .75 .95 .13 .18 .11 7.20 1.29 1.03 .90 .60 1.11 .17 $0.18 @ .06 4.25 .80 .52 .55 .26 .75 $0.22 .07 1.20 .55 .60 .30 .80 .20 .09^ 5.00 .75 .85 .70 .50 .50 .30 .12 6.25 1.38 .80 .55 .80 .26 .17 Flour, per bbl., Wheat, per bush., Corn, shelled, per bu., Rye, do Oais, do Barley, do Clover Seed, do Timothy Seed, do Flax Seed, do Hay, per ton, $5.50 @ 1.18 .74 .75 .35 $6.00 1.40 .75 .38 8.16 l.SO 1.17 1.14 .38 .80 6.50 8.50 .40 7.00 4.50 1.112 1.35 7.87 3.10 3.25 2.25 1.75 1.87 12.00 16.00 1.80 2.07 7.00 .30 4.50 11.00 .40 5.00 6.00 10.00 16.00 20.00 .32 Wood, hard, per cord, (JTontjents of t^l« Numiitr. How can we most Economically Increase the Fertility of the Soil? - 29V Study the Mechanical Qualities of the Soil, 298 Items Suggested by the September Number, 299 Notes for the Month, by S. W., 299 Good Sheep the Most Profitable, 300 "The Manure Question," 301 Butter from Prairie Hay, 301 Underdraining, 301 Preserving Butter, 301 Breaking Prairie Land in the Fall, 302 Take Care of Your Tools, Fodder, &c., 302 On the Management of Young Stock, . 303 Plowing in Green Corn for Manure, 303 Will Rye Turn to Chess? 303 National Wealth, 303 General Giflford, Jr., 3C4 Turnips and Carrots, 304 Miinagement of Milch Cows, 304 Pumpkins, .......... . , . . ...... 304 GENESEE FARMER PRIZE ESSATS. On the Best Method of Seeding Land to Timothy or Herd's Grass, 305 On the Management of Calves, 305 On the Management of Barn-yard Fowls, 306 On the Cultivation and ManagemKnt of Tobacco, 307 On the Best Means of Escaping Injury from Drouth, 308 On the Benefits to be derived from Competition for the Premi- ums offered for Short E.ssays by the Genesee Farmer, 308 How can Fathers render Farm Life Attractive to their Sons?.. 309 Why is Faming con-idered a Degrrading Vocation ? 310 How much Education, and what kind, do Farmers need? 311 How can Setting Heus be Taught to Forsake the Lazy Habit? 312 Why do so few Farmers Write for Agricultural Papers ? 312 On the Ppropriety > f Agricultural Societies offering Premiums to Piactical Farmers for the Best Essays on various Agri- cultural Subjects, 313 On the Advantages of Agricultuaal Schoels, 313 Is it Desirable to PUnt Fruit Trees in the Highway ? 313 Should Farmers' Wives be Educated ? 314 Is it Proper for Ladies to Assist in the Garden? 314 HORTICnLTURAL DEPARTMENT. Meeting of the Western New York Fruit Groweas' Assoeiation, 315 The Ortley Apple, - 318 Horticultural Operations for October, 319 Mushroom Culture, 320 Cultivation of Onions, 320 ladies' department. How Shall we Spend our Winter Evenings? 321 Original Domestic Receipts, 321 EDITOR'S TABLE. Fair of the United States Agricultural Society, 322 Potato Rot, 322 Will Wheat Turn to Chess? 322 Underdraining Clay Land, 322 Carbonic Acid in the Soil, 322 Lime and Sulphur for the Curculio, 323 A Rose on an Apple Tree, 323 Large Currants, 823 To Kill Angle Worms, £23 To Protect Cucumber Vines from Bugs, 323 Prize Essays, 323 Book Clubs, 323 Hail Storms in England, 323 Thick and Thin Seeding, S23 Large Hail Stones, 323 Notices of New Books, Periodicals, &c., 323 Inquiries and Answers, 324 ILLUSTRATIONS. General Gififord, Jr., 304 The Ortley Apple, 319 GROVER & BAKER'S FAMILY SEWING MACHINES- THESE MACHINES are unquestionably the best in the mar- ket. No well regulated familv can afford to do without a GROVER & BAKER SEWING MACHINE, made expressly for FAMILY SEWING. Merchants in good standing from abroad visiting New York or Boston, can now secure the sale of Grover & Baker's Sewing Ma- chines ia their seveial localities, with great"pro(it"to themselves and advantage to their customers GROVER & B AKEB, Sewing Machine Co., 495 Broadway, N. Y. 18 Summer street, Boston. 730 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, 87 Fourth street, St. Louis, Mo. October 1.— 3t. 6 West Fourth st., Cincinnati, 0. BLACKBERRY PLANTS BY MAIL. (fob betting OUT THIS FALL.) BESIDE my very liirge Plants to be sent by Express, I have a. few New Rochelle (or Lawton) Blackberry Phmts of suitable size to be sent by Post, -which I will forward, prepaid, to any part of the United States, with full directions as to culture, on receipt of $2 per dozen, or $1 per half dozen. Address C. P BISSELL, October L— It. Rochester, N. Y. TTie Practical and Scientific Farmer's Own Paper. THE GENESEE FARMER, A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS OK Faim Buildings, Animals, Lnplements, Fruits, &c. VOLUME XVin. FOR 1857. Fifty Cents a Year, In Advance. Five Copies for $2 ; Eight Copies for $3 ; and any largernumber at the same rate. f;^" All subscriptions to commence with the year, and the en- tire volume supplied to all subscribers. P3P" Post-Masters, Farmers, and all friends of improvement are respectfully solicited to obtain and forward subscriptions. Specimen numbers sent to all applicants. Subscription money, if properly enclosed, may be sent at the risk of the Publisher. Address JOSEPH HARRIS, June, 1857. Rochester, Tfeie York. , Vol. XVIII, Second Series. ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1857. No. 11. THE.B/iriSH BREEDS OF ICATTLE.J The most distingaishing characteristic in all ani- mals is the head, and we have thought that correct portraits of some of the more prominent breeds of British cattle would not be without interest to our readers. West Highland. — Any one who has visited Smiihtield Market, must have been struck with the number and excellence of the West Highland or Kyloes cattle. Tlieir beef is of fair quality, and commands a higher price per pound than that of any other breed. They are well adapted to the pecu- liar climate and herbage of the Highlands. They are somewhat slow in arriving at maturity, but are contented with the coarsest pasturage, and will ulti- mately fatten where the daintier Durham would bare- ly subsist. The cows yield a rich milk, but give lit- WEST HIGHLAND. tie of it, and soon go dry. Their skin i-i thick but mellow, and closely covered with shaggy hair. They are exceedingly hardy, and would probably prove a useful breed in the hill districts of the Northern and Eastern States. We are not aware that this breed has been imported either into this country or Canada. (talt.oways. — Closely allied to the West Highland or Kyloe is the Galloway breed. He is in fact, a lar^e Kyloe without horns. He is more docile, with a greater aptitude to fatten when once his frame is matured, and he is a special favorite with graziers and butchers, from the fact that the parts of his car- cass used for roasting, are largely developed. In rich pastures, he cannot compete with the Short-horn for early maturity or fattening properties; and for the dairy he has been supplanted in his native dis- trict by the Ayrshires; but in those districts where the rearing of grazing cattle is found the more suit- able practice, the Galloways still reign unrivalled. They are not quite so hardy as the West Highland, but much more so than the Short-horn, Hereford, Ayrshire, or the Devon. They are good handleis, but are covered with long, black, shaggy hair, and galloways. their hides would make superior substitutes for buffa- lo robes. They have been imported into Canada, and will no doubt prove an acquisition. They should be kept as a distinct breed. ^Ayrshires. — The peculiar function of this breed is the dairy, for which, on medium soils, it cannot be surpassed. P'or this purpose it is worthy of more extensive introduction into the dairy districts of this country. The Ayrshire has little aptitude to fatten, ayrshires, and the beef is rather coarse. A cross with th« Short- horn, however, makes a useful grazing animal In the west of Scotland this cross is resorted to on a large scale, with great success. Alderney or Jersey. — In appearance this breed somewhat resembles the Ayrshire, and it is conjee- tured that the latter are indebted to it for their milk- producing qualities. The chief difference between them is, that the forte of the Ayrshires lies in th« abundance of their milk; that of the Alderneys in 330 THE GENESEE FARMER. tbe richness of its quality. They are much sought after by wealthy gentlemen, who desire rich milk, without regard to cost. For ordinary dairy purpo-' ALDKRNYS. ses they are inferior to the Ayrshires. For beef they are utterly valueless. This breed has been^ exten- sively introduced into the vicinity of Boston, Phila- delphia, and other large cities in this country. At the United States Fair at Boston, in 1855, there was a finer show of Alderneys than we ever saw in Great Britain. Long HORNS — Time was when this was one of the prineipal breeds in the midland counties of England, as they still are in some parts of Ireland; but not- withstanding this wide diffusion, and the compara- LONGHORNS. tive excellence to which they were brought by the genius of Bakewell, they are so unquestionably in- ierior to the Shorthorns, that they have rapidly given place to them even in those district- in which they have been brought to the greatest perfection. Short- HORNS or Durhams. — The ''improved Short- horn" originated on the banks of the Tees some sev- enty years ago. The cattle of this district were large, coarse and ungainly, generally deficient in the fore- quarterg with strong shoulders; they fatted slowly, and the meat was coarse to the palate and uninviting to the eye. The brothers Charles and Robert Col- LT.NGS, undertook the task of improving them. It is to tbnir patient skill in selecting, and perseverence in breeding, and to their famous bull "Hnbback," calved in 1777, and bought out of a b\'-lane for .$40,- that the present breed of Short-horns owe their great and just celebrity. Such vfas the great improvement pro- dueed by these breeders, that at Charles Collings' sale in 1810 his herd of 47 animals brought £7115.17, say $;i5 57i), or $161 each ; and at Robert Coixings' sale in 1817, his herd of 61 animals brought £7858.4, gay S89.291, or S644 each. So much for persever ing aitd judicious breeding. These two sales dispersed the improved Short- horas, and at the present time there are some five or six bundled herds in Great Britain, and from six to sevea thousand head registered every alternate year iii the Herd Book. Pure blood animals of this breed are now found in nearly every country of continental Kurope. In Canada and Cahloniia, in ]N'ew Zealand and New Brunswick, in America and Australia, the Short-horn quietly crops the luxuriant herbage, and (urnishes " the roast beef of old Evigland" to the in- habitants of every clime. The influence of this suurt-hukns. breed it is hardly possible to overestimate. In the language of a high authority, " the Short-horns im- prove every breed they cross with." The most remarkable characteristic of the Short- horns is the rapidity with v,hich they mature. In England vast numbers are now slauphtered at two years old and under, weighing from £C0 lbs. to 1,000 11')s. On rich soils no breed can compete with them in this respect. HEREyoRDs. — The general characteristic of this breed as regards color, is light or dark red, with a white lace — Irequently with white marks on the neck and along the back, and also the under parts of the body. It is supposed that at no very remote period the breed was for the most part self colored, like the Devon. The white faces are said to have been in- troduced by the importation of some cows of that color irom Flanders, and with them commenced the improvements of the breed which for so many years gave it the first rank among the grazing cattle of England. It is now genejally admitted, however, that the Short-horns mature earlier, and they have, to a considerable extent, driven the Herefords out HERKFORDS. of their native districts. In the rich meadows on the banks of the Severn they are still numerous, and are highly esteemed by graziers, and it is undoubted- ly true that to buy (not to rear) and sell again after fattening, they are the most profitable breed. They are better "handlers'" than the Short-horns, and af- ford more first quality beef. In England, both Here- fords and Short-horns have been so long bred exclu- sively for the butcher, that they are ordinarily but in- different milkers; but in both breeds there are some THE GENESEE FARMER. SSI strains which posse.'Js excellent niilkitifjf qualities. An animal that lia^ a jireat temleuc}^ to fatten, however, is seldom a gooil milker. Dkvoxs. — Tlic Devons, or more correctly the J\''orlli Di'cons, constitute an orijfinal bived of, per- haps, the loiin^est standini^ of an}' distinct breed of cattle in England. It is recorded as having been es- teemed for its good qualities for centuries. There is scarcely any breed of cattle so rich and mellow in its touch, so silky and fine in its hair, or so handsome in appearance. It is said that "they have a greater proportioE of weight in the most valuable joints, and less in the coarse, than any other breed, and also consume less in its production." As working oxen they generally surpass any other breed. They are excellent walkers, and perfectly docile. An English NORTH DEVON. author says, " As milkers they are about the same as most other breeds, the general average of a dairy of cows being about one pound of butter per day from each cow during the summer months; although in some instances the very best bred cows give a great deal more." For general purposes — for the yoke, the dairy and the butcher combined, they are probably the most profitable breed of cattle for poor and medium soils. On the rich soils of the West they cannot compete with the Short-horns for beef; neither can they compete with the Ayrshires for ex- clusively dairy purposes; but on the poor soils of New P^ngland, for ordinary farm purposes, they are unsurpassed by any other breed at present introdu- duced. Where known, the Devon is justly admired for his pleasing color, elegant form, agile gait, and gentle temper. THE PRACnCAL UTILITY OF SOIL ANALYSES. Frienp Harris: — You may well thank me for a " friendly criticism," which has given you so fair an opportiuiily to present your views of "the practical utility of soil analyses," in an able manner, to the reajievs of your paper. While conceding the afcility with which you discuss the subject, I still think there u too much ot a partisan spirit in the positive man- ner in which you write, as though perfection had been reached in this branch of science,' and all pro- gress therein were utterly hopeless. (A) Analyti- cal chemistry in its application to the study of soils is too young to be justly condemned for the Httle it has already done in that behalf. All that I have asked, was the proper cultivation of this department of useful knowledge, believing that it will yet bring forth most valuable fruit. If I understand your meaning, it is a sweeping condemnation of soil analy- ees as of "no practical utility." (B) Privately by letters, and publicly through the Genesee Fai-mer, you discourage researches into the sources of fertility, and the cuu--es of inlertility in soils, by competent chemists. You u]i[)ear to believe ih'dt truth and fair dealing demand this course at your hands. You say, " If it is true that soil analyses are of no prac- tical utility, the fact should be known. The cause of agricultural chemistry cannot be promoted by the suppression of truth, nor by unfounded pretensions. It is a good cause, and Irvtk cannot hurt it." In the point and justice ot the above remaiks, I entirely concur. But is it " true that soil analyses are of no practical utility?" I think it is not true, and for tb« following among other reasons: All intelligent persons will admit that it is exceed- ingly desirable to learn all we can know of the pro|> erties, composition, and intrinsic value of the soils we own, or may cultivate. (C) In searching for the philosopher's stone, which was reported to change base metals, like lead and iron, into gold and silver, great benefits incidentally accrued to chemistry, min- erology, and the art of reducing the most refractory ores. Men at length learned to separate the valua- ble from the valueless, and thus literally transformed coal, iron and copper into coined silver and gold. (D) Your error consists in assuming that a chemist is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to en- cumber his analyses of the elements of fertility in soils with the millions of pounds of flint sand, alumi- na, oxide of iron, and vegetable mould in an acre of ground, and within seven inches of its surface. This is not separating fine gold from quartz rock, but simply taking the whole granite mountain in mass. (B) When I said in a former letter, "Destroy the value of chemistry in its application to the organic and inorganic food of plants in the soil, and you vir- tually damage it to an equal extent in its application to these substances when organized in the bodies of all living beings," I had no idea of troubling the analyst with the iriillions of pounds of common sand and clay in an acre of land, but would confine hia researches to those substances which rain water dis- solves out of the ground, and conveys into the roots of plants to nourish them. The available food of plants, both organic and inorganic, may be less thaa one per cent, of the soil; and its study differs very little from that of phints themselves, and still less from the study of manures. Some manures are more soluble in rain water ttian others; and such is the fact in reference to the elements of crops in all tilla- ble land. Nature takes from three to five months ia our climate to extract the food of a crop of corn from the soil in which it grows. A student of Na- ture will act wisely if he imitates her example ia i this respect — carr fully leaching as many cubic feet j of earth as a farmer allows to a hill of corn, say } from nine to twenty. (H) The investigation of the soluble elements of soils, both organic ai d inorganic, presents a wide field for chemical research that dififera materially from the "soil analyses" to which ynu re- fer. (G) Nor can I believe that you will knowingly throw any obstacle in the way of such analyses. If a soil, perchance, abounds in salts of iron, or alum- ina, to an injurious extent, the fact will be disclosed; and if those of potash, soda, linie, or magnesia, be present in mere traces, in hundred pounds of earth, such information will add to our present knowledge on the subject. The way to increase, our present defective knowledge of the true sources of fruitful* 332 THE GENESEE FARMEB. ness in the ground we cultivate, is not to write down the application of analytical chemistry to the study of soils, but direct it into a more promising line of research, where its powers will disclose new facts, and the most important relations that really subsist be- tween plants and the earth in which they grow. These relations are not now so well understood as they ought to be, and will be, if farmers wisely foster the critical study of their calling. No man has a more cordial contempt for quackery, of whatever kind, than the writer; but in rebuking n^iere preten- sion, one should be careful not to depress an earnest desire for more light in the science of agriculture. In no department of this science is light more needed than in that which relates to the fertility and bar- renness of land. Let chemists, then, extend their researches in this direction, and not be discouraged by the agricultural press. (H) D. Lee. Athens, Ga., Sept. 30, 1857. Eemaeks. — (A) We have never presumed to say that analytical chemistry, at some future day, will not be able to afford useful information in regard to the composition and value of soils. Our remarks referred to the present state of the science. (B) This is a fair deduction from our remarks, and if the facts which we have adduced do not sus- tain it, we can bring forward many others which we think cannot fail to convince all candid minds that the analyses of soils which have hitherto been made, or can be made by the best chemists at ike present time, are of no direct practical utility to the farmer. ■ (C) All knowledge is " desirable," but all knowl- edge is not, necessarily, of practical utility. (D) We have no doubt that the analyses of soils, like the search for the "philosopher's stone," may at some future day lead to valuable results. But this is not the question. The chemist has no right to take money from the farmer, under the pretext that an analysis of his soil will afford him definite information of great practical value — information which will enable him to raise larger crops at less cost — and then in lieu of this information, tell him that he did not know but what he might have stumbled upon some fact that would prove valuable. The labors of the alchemists incidentally led to the development of many new chemical laws, and so may soil analyses. But the alchemist of the, dark ages differed at least in one respect from the advo- cates of soil analyses in the nineteenth century. He did not profess to be in possession of the philosopher's stone, and advertise to convert base metals into gold. The chemist who asks the farmer to send him a sam- ple of his soil, (with a check for .$25) does not pro- fess to be seeking the philosopher's stone, but to have already found it. (E) In analyzing a soil it is usual to separate from it the organic matter, sand and clay, before deter- mining the quantity and relative proportion of the more important constituents of plant-food. Our re- marks in regard to the inability of the chemist to de- termine the quantity of these substances with .suffi- cient accuracy for practical purposes, referred to the vei^ best processes at present known. If Dr. Lee has discovered a process that affords more accurate results, we hope he will lose no time in communica- ting it to the world. (F) With all due respect we would say that this JH dodging the question. Who ever before heard of a chemist asking for half a ton of the soil? Where; has it been stated that it would be necessary to leach half a ton of the soil for six months before commen- cing the analysis proper? The chemist who analyzed Mr. Pell's soil, and found in it more potash, soda and lime after a summer's drought, than in the spring, probably never dreamed of siich a process — certainly he nor no other man ever adopted it. Dr. Lee ia too well acquainted with agricultural literature not to know that what is usually understood by analy- zing a soil is a very different process from that which he now alludes to. We very much doubt whether this new process of leaching half a ton of soil would afford any mors accurate results, but this is not the point under discussion. (G) To show what has hitherto been meant by " soil analyses," we may be allowed to quote from an article, written by Dr. Lee himself, in the Gtnesee Farmur for 1846, page 57: " The editor of this paper is prepared to analyze soils in the most critical and satisfactory manner. He has incurred a large expense for apparatus, and devoted, first and last, not a little time to the investi- gation of the subject." "Specimens of soil— a pound or so o-f earth is enough — can be sent, done up in a strong paper, to the office of the Genesee Farmer. An analysis of the surface soil, and the subso'il, will be made at five dollars." " The following is the analysis of General Har- mon's soil, which we made in th elaboratory of Fro Emmons, in Albany, not long since:" SURFACE SOIL. After the soil had been well dried in a warm room for many days, 100 grains had^ "Water of absorption, 4.T>0 grains. Organic matter, 8.00 " Silica 75.67 " Carbonate of lime 1.96 " Oxide of iron '. 4.68 » Magnesia (phosphate) 1.00 "■ t^iiljiliate of lime (gypsum) l.o5 "' Alumina 2.47 " Potash and Soda traces Loss 37 " lOOJX) SUB- SOIL. Water of absorption 4.00 Organic matter 3.40 Silica 78.29 Alumina and oxide of iron 13.08 Carbonate of lime 0.95 Loss 0.2.8 100.00 " " The above analyses are highly valuable in the cultivation of the soil referred to. First, they reveal the important fact that the soil of Gen. H.'s farm contains a plenty of magnesia, lime, gypsum and iron. Secondly, that it lacks potash, soda, and to some extent 'phosphoric acid." Dr. Lee says that his half-ton analysis "differs materially from the ' soil analyses' to which you (the Genesee Farmer) refer." Such an analysis (provid- ing it ever has been, or ever shall be made) also " differs materially from the soil analyses" made by Dr. Lee, as given above, and which are pronounced " highly valuable." When farmers are urged to have their soils analyzed, it is understood that such analy- ses as those given above are referred to. Dr. Leb has never informed the agricultural public that there r baa been any change in his views on this subject THE GENESEE FARMER. 333 since the above article was written; and when we state that soil analyses are of no practical utility, we refer to such as have been made, and to such as are now made, by the best chemists. In the article, quoted above. Dr. Lkk says " a puund or so of earth is etiotiglt," and when we show from facts and figures that such analyses are utterly worthless, our friend gravelv tells us that we ought to analyze from "nine to twcuty aibtc fed," say from 800 to IbOO ftis! Dr. Lee has evidently changed his position, and it is fair to infer from his remarks that he now regards ordinary analyses — made from a pound of soil, and which he formerly considered " highly valuable" — of no practical utility. This is all that we have claim- ed, and it aifords us great pleasure to find so able a writer as Dr. Lee agreeing with us in this respect, though we should be glad to see him take a more definite position, and lend the aid of his powerful pen to correct the many errors entertained on this subject. (11) We entirely agree with Dr. Lee that it is desirable to direct analytical chemistry "into a more promising line of research." We have no wish to discourage invcsligations into the nature and action of the food of plants in soils. Such investigations may lead to valuable results. But such investiga- tions are very different from ordinary soil analyses. In the one case the chemist is searching for scieiiti- Jic truth; in the other he professes, for from $5 to $50, to furnish information of a definite nature that is of great practical value to the cultivator of the soil. We assert that he cannot furnish such in- formation, and think he ought not to make unfound- ed pretensions, for the purpose either of getting money from the farmer, or from the hope that he may discover some new and important truth. In this case . as in all others, " honesty is the best policy."' Let the intelligent agriculturists and horticulturists of America know the truth in regard to the present position of chemistry as applied to agriculture. Let them know in what direction it is desirable to make researches, and we have no hesitation in saying that they ^will not withhold either their sympathies or their money. The "agricultural press" will not "dis- courage" such investigations. It has no wish to " depress an earnest desire for more Hght in the sci- ence of agriculture." On the contrary, it will cheer- fully lend its aid in supporting those who are endea- voring to search out the hidden laws of vegetable growth and animal nutrition. American farmers would gladly support an institution in which scientific investigations could be carried on conjointly in the field and in the labratory, could they be assured that it would not be controlled by mere pohticians. Un- fortunately, the immense sums of money which have been appropriated for the encouragement of agricul- tural science^ have not afforded results at all com- mensurate with the just expectations of the public. Nearly all the money has gone into the hands of wire pulling politicians, and the cause of agricultural science has been retarded rather than advanced by these liberal appropriations. Let scientific men be candid; let the agricultural press be honest; let us not resort to doubtful expe jients; let us fearlessly declare the truth, and the boastful pretenders of sci- ence, falsely so called, will hide their diminished heads, and the sincere searcher after scientific truths will no longer have occasion to complain of the want of sympathy and support from the generous timers of the BolI. FAIK OF THE NEW YOBE STATE AGEICHLTURAL SOCIETY. The New York State Fair at Buffalo was a great success — the weather delightful, the show intrinsically good, the attendance large, and the receipts (.$10,000) greater than at any previous Fair of the Society. The show of Shorthorns was large, but not quite equal in quality to some former fairs. T. Beits exhibi- ted seven head, just imported, which attracted much attention. These two yearling heifers are beautiful Considering that they are just off ship-board they are astonishingly fat. They are for sale. Price $!1,700 a head ! James 0. Sheldon of Geneva, shows five head, all good. This cow is a great beauty, but very fat. E. Marks, Camillus, T. Gould, Aurora, C. P. Woods, Auburn and many other well known breeders exhibited good Shorthorns. There was a fair show of Devons. Herefords were better repre- sented than at any previous fair. M. C. Eemington showed 16 head of very superior animals, S. M. Ely, Ripley, Geo. Clarke, Springfield, A. & H. Bowen, Medina, and E. Cornixg Jr., Albany, also showed good Herefords. The show of Ayrshires was small Patrick, Huj:gerford & Brodie, Rural Hill, Jeffer- son Co., showed some very superior animals, as did also O. Howland of Auburn. The only Alderneys ex- hibited were owned by James 0. Sheldon of Geneva, They are beautiful animals. Here is a Shetland cow — a decided curiosity. She is nine years old, and only thirty inches high. She is not as large as a good Cotswold sheep. She gives three quarts of milk at a time. One of her calves five years old, a cross with the Devon, was also exhibited. She is much larger, but is not improved in symmetry, or in milking and handhng properties. The beef of the Shetland cattle is said to surpass all other breeds in delicacy of fibre and richness of flavor. They are owned by E. Ricketts, of Aurora, Erie Co. N. Y. There was a good show of fine wooled sheep. Wm. Chamberlin of Red Hook, Duchess Co. N. Y. and W. H. Ladd of Ohio, showed their beautiful Silesians — the former 40 head, the latter 34 head. There were some good Saxons, but we heard a lady observe of one pen " these were brought here because they were so thin, I suppose." She had just been looking at the magnificent Leicesters of Messrs Pat- rick, HuNGERFORD and Brodie, who showed 41 head. These Saxons probably belonged to the same flock of which an Englishman, just arrived is this country, observed to a companion, " I had heard that your rabbits were as big as our hares, but I had no idea they were so much larger, or so plentiful and tame." He probably was a relative of the gentleman who re- turned a flock of sheep his bailif had purchased be- cause they had lost all their front teeth in the upper jaw. These are facts ! Seriously, some animals would look quite as well at home as on the show ground, and some persons that talk so wisely on ag- ricultural matters would do well to say less till they know mere about the subject. There was a fine show of Spanish and French Merinos. These four South Down rams, bred by Samuel Thorne of Thornedale, Duchess Co., N. Y., are the best ue have ever seen. Thomas M. Betts shows a fine lot of Hampshire and Sussex Downs recently imported, A. Briggs of WaiTcn, Herkimer Co.,'N. Y., shows some useful mutton sheep. They were obtained by cirossmg common ewes with a Leicester ram, and 334 THE GENESEE FARMER. continuing to use Leicester rams with the cross- bred ewes. There was a superior show of swine but noth- ng calling for particular notice. We understand that there was a very fine show of horses, but they were all locked up in their stalls when we were there. Here we are among the machinery, and there is the Prince of Agricultural Implement Makers, Hoii- ACE L. Ejiery, of Albany. He is posted on his celebrated R. R. Horse Power distributing pamph- lets by the thousand. Now he is showing the ef- ficacy of his Hand Cider Mill in grinding and press- ing apples. — Now, to test the strength of the ma- chine he puts it to its utmost speed and then drops a stone in, to demonstrate its strength and power. There is but a meagre show of plows, and less than the usual number of hay and cornstalk cut- ters, with nothing new that we observed. Here is a cultivator similar to ordinary corn cultivators but seven feet wide and used for putting in wheat. This machine for husking and shelling corn will admit of considerable improvement, before it comes into general use. It is useless to attempt to examine the products of horticultural skill exhibited in "Floral Hall," but we will take a hasty glance at them. Here are eleven varieties of out door grapes, grown by J. B. Fay, Salem Cross Roads, Chautauque Co. N. Y., who has nine acres devoted to grape culture. These Isabellas are truly magnificent. The bunches and berries are nearly as large as ordinary Black Ham- burghs, weighing, it is said, 13oz. It pays to raise such gro.pes. Mr. F. has just sold 500tt)s in Buffalo at 15 cents per lb. That they are productive is evi- dent from a stem exhibited, eighteen inches long bearing eleven bunches which would average nearly ibalf a lb each. They are grown on a ridge of grav- •elly sand, on five feet wire trellises, the plants set ■out 8 feet by 10. There is an unusually large exhi- ' 'bition of pears and apples, the Rochester, Syracuse and Boston nurseries being well represented. Ama teur exhibitors are not numerous. W. R. Prince is •descanting loudly on the extraordinary merits of the Dioscorea, or Chinese potato. Listen: "It is infin- itely the best vegetable which the great Creator has caused to grow upon the earth. It is the only vegetable which is a substitute for animal food. It will prove the greatest of blessings to the poor man. It is the only plant which combines nitrogen with vegetable matter £what nonsense.] Man can live on it alone. This is true of no other vegetable. It will be the only potato <5ultivated in a few years." Such statements are ill •calculated to increase the reputation of the Dioscorea with intelligent, tiiinking men. Here are some stalks of the Chinese Sugar Cane 13 feet high, grown at •Orange-, 111. M * fc PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION OF CANADA WEST. The twelfth annual exhibition of the Agricul- tural Association of Upper Canada was held at Brautford Sep. 29th to Oct. 2nd. Owing to unpleas- ant weather the attendance was not as large as usual, but the exhibition itself was everyway excellent, and a credit to the farmers of the Province. Over twelve thousand dollars were oGered in premiums. Let us take a hasty walk round the show ground and see •what our Caaadiau brethren are doing in the way of agricultural improvement. As it rains, let us first g» into the "grain and vegetable Hall." What a jam. It is next to impossible to see, let alone examine any of the many fine products on exhibirioiu Ii. Canada, as in Western New York, the wheat has suffered con- siderably this year from the rust and midge, but there is nevertheless a magnificent show of wheat. The " Canada Company " offer an annual prize of £30 for the best 25 bushels of wheat — the prize wheat to be given to the company for distribution — There are twenty lots of 25 bushels each entered for this prizek Never have we seen such a fine show of wheat in the "States." For the prize offered for the best Two Bushels of Wheat there are forty eight entries. Here is the prize wheat, grown by J. H. Anderson of Flamboro West. It is a long and plump berry, of a somewhat dark color, and weighs 66 lbs. per bushel. Name of the variety not given. Probably a mixture. Looks some\\hat like the bluestem. What a mag- nificent show of roots. We have never seen it equaled except at the exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Here is a monstrous Squash. There are several that weigh from 130 to 160 lbs, but this one casts all the others into the shade. Ik must weigh at least 250 lbs. This old gentleman here, says that some cottonwick was tied round the stem and placed in a vessel of water, and that the fruit absorbed the water fiom the wick and hence in- creased prodigiously in size, but he apprehends noJ» in solid matter. These Cauliflowers are very fine — some of the heads are 15 inches in diameter' — white, compact and beautiful. The show of fruit is not very good. The ubiquitous Ellwanger & Barry of Rochester, N. Y., exhibit a good collection of pears. Hon. John Young of Montreal shows 20 varieties of pears. These Bart- letts are not as large as some Seckels grown in Roches- ter this season. Judge Campbell of Niagara, as usual, shows a good collection of peaches, pears, ap- ples, &c., and takes a number of prizes. Charles Arnold of Paris exhibits a collection of pears, which proves that as ^ood pears can be grown in Canada West as any where else. There is an excellent show of cattle and sheep, In number and quality. The list of entries are as fol- lows. Shorthorns, 117; Devons, 91; Ayrshires, 23; Galloway, 30; Herefords, 6; Grade 60;' Ffit cattle, 16; Working oxen, 38 yoke. Of sheep the entries were: Leicesters, 193; South Downs, 88; Cotswold,45i Cheviots, 16; Mprinos and Saxons, 28; LongWools— not pure Leicesters, Cots wolds or Cheviots, 62; Fat sheep, 20. The shorthorns, or as they appear to be more generally called in Canada, the Dnrhams, are evident- ly the favorite breed, though the Devons are fraining ground. Last year, at the I'rovincial Fair at Kings- ton there were 88 entries of Durhams and only 15 of Devons. This year there are 117 Durhams and 91 Devons. This increase in the numlier of Devons ex- hibited is the more remarkable when we consider that the Devons are usually considered better adap- ted to the severer climate of the North; and the Dur- hams to the rich lands which abound in the western part of the Province. We have so often given the names of the principal breeders in Canada, and our space is so limited, thi^ we cannot now particularize. The quality of the Durham stock is rapidly improving in Canada. Large importations have been made within the laf* few years, and the rule adopted by the Society fiw THE GENESEE FARMER. 335 or eix years ajo to award preniiuins only to such aiii- luals as could show a satisfactory Herd book pedif^ree have tended to produce this result. The show of Dev- ons is maf!;i)ificeiit. The exhibition of Cvalloways is a pleasing feature of these shows. The AjTshires are i^cuerally good, and some fcw quite superior. The Herefords are nowhere. The show of Leicester sheep is truly magniflcent. There are 40 two year old rains, and 24 one year old rams, nearly all good, and some everyway superior. We cannot help thinking, however, that many of them might have been very appropriately en'ered in the class of " Longwools, not pure Leicesters, Cotswolds or Cheviots."' 'I'he show of South Downs is large, bet there are many of but indifferent quality. Here ar« a few Flampshire Down ewes, perfect beauties, and thi-i three year old Hampshire Down ram weig-h- ing 300 lbs. is a model. They all belong to Joiiy Spenckr of Whitby. Here are a few Crossbre\l Downs and 'Cotswolds — Down ewes and Cotswold ram — tliey partake most of the Cotswold character and are tine mutton sheep. The show of Cheviots is good. That ewe belonging to R. MmnLEMAST of North Dumfries is a great beuuty — the best we have «ver seen. Merinos and tiaxons are at a discount in fJonada. The show of pigs is not l.i.rge. They are divided into two classes — Large and Small breed. Of the former there were 23 entries, of the latter 55. In the former, the most conspicuous is a Y orlg drilled in, and to mine being sown broadcast. This season we both sowed at the beginning of September, and my land being fallowed, that never was excelled by any- thing I ever saw. A drought set in at the time of sowing. His drilled wheat came up luxuriant^, THE GENESEE FARMER. 339 while mine was exceedingly thin. On examining I fouiul that none of mine vegetated except that deep- est in the ground. Then it at once struck me that if .;I had diilU d, the year previous, it would in all probability have gained me 500 or GOO bushels of wheat. However, this year wc have had plenty of rain since the 18th ult., and my wheat is all right, and I prophecy a good crop next season. But I will drill in wheat after this. (>ld as 1 am, I still learn. I expect my wheat will yield about 12 bushels per acre. \V'hen at Canandaigua last week, I found many farmers who said Ontario county would not average six bushels per acre. The barli-y crops are very unequal, many won't give over 10 bushels per acre. Where the land was drained and otherwise well managed, it has given from 25 to 30 bushels per acre, and I know in one instance, where the land was summer fullcwed and sown with barley in the spring, 40 bushels per acre were obtained. The owner said he thoroughly un- derdraiued the land. 1 know of another instance of 40 bushels of winter barley being raised to the acre. The land wus partially (not fully) underdrained, and was thoroughly fallowed, and sown early in Septem- ber. 0;)ts gave a large crop where not drowned out. One farmer, 14 miles south of this, told me that he had a field of oats, one half of which was drained, (not near thoroughly) ; the drained part gave 25 Dushels more per acre than the undrained, and those on the drained land weighing 7 lbs. more per bushel than those on the undrained. He said, '• Johnston, " we don't need you now to tell us draining will pay, "as we now have proof positive, by our own experi- " ence." He said almost every farmer around there wa.5 doing something at draining, and if he only could borrow the money he would have all his farm drained in two years. Our corn crop is mostly all ripe, and not a bad crop. The gt ubs thinned mine very much, but the ears are fine. John Johnston. Aear Geneva, JV. Y., Oct. 6, '57. TOPPING VS. CUTTING UP COSN. Yesterday, when going to town to take out some friends who have been visiting us, we passed several fields of corn which had been topped, i. e., the stalks cut OiFjust above the ear, bound, and stacked. Some of the party inquired "tvhy that M'as done," but I could hardly find reasons for the practice. I said I supposed it caused the corn to ripen sooner, and that the part of the stalks saved, escaped injury from frost, and hence were more valuable for fodder. It was less labor, also, to secure the corn fodder, as there was less of it, and a large bulk of the portion left was fit only for manure. These were about all the reasons I could mention in the favor of topping, and I propose now to leave it to the advocacy of those who practice it, and say u-hy I always cut up my corn. When corn is fairly glazed, it is then fit to cut up at the root, and thus all the fodder is secured, that portior^ " only fit for manure" included, but it is in its place, along with the other manure, and >-)f some value there, which can hardly be said of it when it stands as topped until plowed under. If a severe frost comes before corn glazes, the sooner it is cut Hj the better, but a slight frost often occurs of little injury to the fodder during the time of glazing. As long as the stalks are full of juice, the leaves perfifl-m their functions, and the corn remains umipe, the lat- ter receives additional supplies from the former, whe- ther standing on the hill or cut up and placed in the stack, — hence topping injures the perfection of the crop, and hence my second reason for cutting up is, that I get more and belter corn. Another reason for cutting up is, that it leaves iho field ready for the plow and the succeeding crop. Such stalks as we raise would totally prevent fall plowing, and spring plowing would be difficult unless some means were taken to remove the stalk.s, were the corn only topped above the ears. The labor of securing corn fodder — indeed, that of harvesting the entire crop, is rather hard, but as nmch so in the case of topping as of cutting up, nearly. We cut two rows at a time, placing about six hills together on the ground, to be taken up by the binder following, and tied with a wisp of straw. These bundles are afterwards placed in stooks of from five to eight bundles, and bound with two bauds, a single and a double one, and are then prepared to cure in good order, or even to stand for months, if necessary. But as soon as dry, we husk out, re])la- cing the bundles in the stooks until finished, and then storing them in the barn or stacking near the barn- yard. It is very poor farming to feed them out around the field, in lanes or back yards, where they will be wasted as manure. I have noticed that corn fairly ripened on the stalks was heavier than that husked before i: became properly dry, and that there was some gain in grain, though accompanied with a loss in the value of the fodder, when the corn was well dried in the hill, be- fore cutting. But my story is already too long, so I will close with a caution about stacking corn-stalks. Put them up in small stacks. They keep better; are fed out more conveniently, and are less exposed to injury from storms after the stack is opened for feed- ing. A. S. B. Niagara Co., JY. Y. Oct., 1857. NOTES FROM INDIANA. Messrs. Editors: — I do not think that " B.," of Niagara, and " S. W.," of Waterloo, have read my article in the September number understandingly. The idea I wished to convey was this, that it is a good plan for the improvement oj land to sow tur- nips among corn after the last plowing, and leave them to be eaten olf by stock {sheep especially) du- ring the winter. T said nothing about " growing turnips successfully among corn" as a crop to be gathered, but I say now that I have raised good turnips in tliis. manner, and have now among my corn as good a prospect for a good crop as -where they are sowed by themselves in a soil four feet deep, of vegetable mould, mixed with sand composed princi- pally of lime, with some quartz and silicia, and per- haps feldspar and mica. So " S. W." will know by this that our soil is alluvion, a sort of detritus washed in, and depo.'^ited from both granite and limestone foimations. All the rock we have hereabout are boulders, here and there on the prairies; on the north side of the hills or blulTs, and along the river. There is no limestone, as such near the surface, nearer than the Wabash. I would respectl'ully ask S. W. if he knows what he means by the " coarse wild grass of 340 THE GENESEE FARMER. the prairies?" I don't, and very much doubt if he or any other man does. His much vaunted red clover is about as coarse a grass as we have here, (I have measured stalks of four feet in length,) and he does not think that a bad article for cows. There are so many varieties of grass here that I doubt very much if all have been described. That which I call the wire grass is the only worthless grass for pastur- age we have here, but is a very different article from either the Poa Compressa or Foa Serotina, both of which are called wire grass, and are among the most nourishing of grasses, and grow abundantly here about. The Poa Pratensis (probably his agrostis) is also abundant here; but as I am incompetent to give a description of our different varieties of grass, will say no more on the subject than to renew my query, as to what he means by the coarse prairie grass? If "more than one woman from the fertile plains of Kansas" was well acquainted with the ter- ritory, she would know there of such natural mead- ows of red clover as she never saw equalled in New York or Massachusetts. I made two quarts of first rate syrup of the Sor- ghum last Thursday, from seventy stalks. The stalks averaged nearly thirteen feet in length. They grew in the orchard of Mr. Allen Nixox, near town. We crushed the canes in the crushing machine of the cider mill. Lost full half of the juice; saved sixteen quarts, and made therefrom two quarts syrup. First strained the juice; put one half in a kettle; lohen warm put in a table spoonful of cream of lime, then the white of an ^^g, loell beat vp; brought to boil quickly; as soon as boiling, removed from fire; let settle; skimmed; strained again through flannel; re- duced to syrup of golden color, good flavor, and nearly as thick as ordinary strained honey. The other half was served in the same way, except that it was let boil about two minutes previously to being skimmed. The consequence was, it was of much darker color, though equally good in other respects. E. Hodges is right about prairie grass, horses, cows and " milk fever" as he calls it. To be sure it is not universal in prairie countries, except as to their universal exemption from it. They only claim it in the timbered portions of the country. If my friend from Duanesburgh will drop his ditch from one to three feet deeper, I think he will have a ditch better in every respect. Does D. W. LoTHROP really think the apple and pear short lived trees? I think he must be joking when he intimates that the elm, maple, tulip, pine and hemlock are more desirable because more dura- ble. Commend to me the fruit trees. Let every man plant them, and his children will take good care they are not injured. I am glad to see that a new edition of Downing's "Fruit and Fruit Trees" has appeared. We need it. Chas. Brackett. Rochester, Fulton Co., hid. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CORN FOE FEEDING CATTLE. Messrs. Editors : — As the time is now near at hand when we farmers of Indiana and many other parts of the world, will be (and perhaps some are now) engaged in cutting up our corn, and as I have seen many articles on the subject, I will give to your readers a few remarks on the management of corn for feeding stock as we do it in Indiana, Illinois, loWa and many other places. Many of our farmers keep from fifty to two or three hundred head of cattle through the winter. This every person who has had any experience in stock raising knows, requires no small amount of feed and labor. It would be use- less for us to think of housing a sufficient amount of feed for that amount of stock. Some of us have as good barns as we have ever seen in any country, and we have them filled with hay, (not with prairie hay, as perhaps some of your correspondents might sup- pose, but with the very best quality of hay,) and many of us have from ten to fifty fine stai'ks in our mead- ows, yet this is not sufficient for our stock. Many of us want to stall-feed quite a number of cattle, and in order to do this, we are under the necessity of cut- ting up a large amount of corn. The mode generally practiced here is about as fol^ lows: Immediately after the first heavy frost, the fiirmers who have cattle to feed, raise all the force they can, and commence cutting up their corn, which is shocked in the following manner: We bend the tops of four hills, two hills from a row, together, and tie them, and so on at proper distances through the whole length of the field. This is a very good sup- port to commence the shocks against. We then set up from twelve to sixteen hiils square in a shock, in good order, and tie well, either with a band of straw., or corn stalks tied together. We shock our corn immediately after it is cut, without laying it down to wilt or dry. We have no difficulty in saving our corn sound and good in this way. The fodder is also as nice and bright in the spring as when put up, if rightly managed, but I am compelled to differ with some of your correspondents, in reference to shock corn being heavier than that left to ripen on the hill. As a general thing our shocked corn is not quite as heavy as that on the hill, yet it will keep as sound and good as any way it can be managed rif.'htly. Elijah Thomas. J Independence, Warren Co., Tnd. AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA. " P.," of " Western New York," tells us that " a . mere census return, which rates New York land many dollars an acre more than ihat of Virginia, may yet not show that New York tillage is there- fore proportionately the more profitable. The high price of land is not always the symbol of prosperity or thrift." And yet, in one of his " good examples," the price of the land raised, in eight years, from " about " fourteen to " over " forty dollars per acre, showing that, after all, P. considers the rise in the price of the land as a symbol of prosperity. ' Virginia has 26,000,000 acres of land " in farms' and New York has 19,000,000; but New York has 12,000,000 acres of her's " im.proved," while Virginia has only 10.000,000, hence the average cash value per a3re in Virginia is $8.27, while in New York it is .§29. According to P., the crops raised in Vir- ginia are quite as good as those of New York. But New York raises, annually, nearly 2,000,000 bushels of wheat, 3,-500,000 of rye, 1(3,000.000 of oats, nearly 8,000,000 pounds of wool, 14 000,000 fcushels of potatoes, 3,500,000 of bushels of barley, nearly 3,000,000 of bushels of buckwheat, 68,000.000 lbs. of butter, 49,000,000 pounds of cheese, 3,000,000 tons of hay, 2,500,000 pounds of hops, 9,000,00:0 THE GENESEE FARMER. 341 pounds of maple sugar, and ], 000,000 pounds of beeswax more than Virginia does of the same ar- ticles. New York also produees a greater number of horses, cows, working oxen, other cattle, and sheep; the greatest value of orchard and garden products, ^-c, while Virginia produees the greatest Slumber of asses, mules and swine; the greatest num- ber of bushels of Indian corn, the most tobacco, •rice, cotton, sw-eet potatoes, hemp, flax, and the greatest value ■of home tnanufactures. If anything can be proved by the figuies of the census tables, these figures prove that the agriculture ot New York is far ahead of that of Virginia, — because they make it evident that though she has seven millions of acres more land in farms than New York, yet she falls ehort of producing an equal amount of all the staple products (except corn and tobacco) by millions. Dnjden, A*. Y. H. 0. EXPEEIMENTS "WITH THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE Eds. Genesee Farmer: — As this plant (Sorghum Saccharatum) is now, and has been for the last year, attracting considerable attention among the farming community, and others who have a desire to test its merits, either as a forage crop or for the manufacture of sugar, I give below some experiments made by myself this season, on rather a small scale, however, yet we can judge from it what itg more extensive culture would do subjected to the same treatment, find under a similar season. I procured seed from the office of the Genesee Farmer; planted about the 2oth ot May; made some experiments about the 15th of September. The yield of juice far exceeds our most sanguine expectation, though when suffered to stand a week or t'iro longer, there seems to be a more solid sweetness to it. My mill is simply two hard wood rollers, (beech) fifteen inches in diameter, and turned perfectly smooth. They were then fitted closely in a frame, the upper one adjusted upon mov- able boxes, and so arranged as to admit of its being keyed close upon the lower one, or loosened, to ad- mit the larger canes. I get a yield of about four quarts of juice to twenty-five average canes, and I think there might be nearly a third more juice ex- tracted could the cane be pressed with a screw press after passing a second time between the rollers. By experiment, I find that corn stalk yields a very small quantity of juice or of the saccharine matter, com- pared with the sorghum, having taken twenty-five tbs. weight of each and subjected both to a like treatment. The etalk gave a yield of about one- fourth the quantity of juice that the cane did, and when boiled to syrup was of a very inferior quality. Flushing, Mich. W. N. Chapin. Laying Down Butter for Winter. — It may not be uninteresting to some of your readers to know my mode of laying down butter for winter and spring use. I rinse the milk out of the butter until the water is perfectly clear; salt it; then set in the cellar for 24 hours; then work nicely, taking care not to spoil the grain; after which I add a little salt and a table spoonful of pulverized loaf sugar to about four pounds; then pack in stone jars. I commenced lay- ing down butter in September, 18.56, and used the last of a four gallon jar in July, and it was said by good judges to be preferable to fresh made butter. Clare/ice, Erie Co., JV. Y. N. C. PLANTING SUGAR CANE INSTEAD OF SEED. , Messrs. Editors. — I have watched with interest the discussion of the merits of the Chinese Sugar Cane, and the diflerent methods of cultivating and manufacturing it; and I am quite surprised that all talk of planting the seeds, and nothing is said about planting the canes. In Louisiana the canes are used for seed, three crops being grow-n from one planting, each success- ive crop being richer in sugar for thiee years, when the ground is again plowed and planted. The plant- ing commences in January and continues till April. It is done as follows: The ground being plowed iu " beds," a furrow is made in each, and the canes are placed in the furrow in such a manner that the joints are from four to six inches apart, when they are covered about three inches with hoes. The hoeing is done by the first of August; and about the mid- dle of September, as much as is needed for the next year's planting is cut and put up in "ricks or stacks." The general cutting begins in October. (See Olm- sted's Seaboard Slave States.) It has been stated also that the Chinese bury their canes for seed, du- ring the winter, the better to preserve them. It might be necessary in this climate to plant each year, but it strikes me as quite probable that the juice of canes raised from canes might be more easi- ly made into sugar than that produced directly from seed. Let us have the opinions of your correspond- ents on the subject, and let experiments be made by those who have opportunity to do so. H. C. Dryden, JV. Y. GOOD MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIES. BUYING, SILLING, &c. The farmer is a commercialist — he endeavors to shirk the responsibility. If he consume all that he produces, and no more, or sells and buys nothing, or carries on no exchange whatever, then is he simply a farmer. But every farmer exports and imports more or less. Hence skilful farm management re- quires an education giving a practical knowledge of exchange. He has to understand not only cost of production, but cost of transportation. He needs to have as full a knowledge of business affairs as the merchant. He has to contract — he should understand contracts, and know when legal and safe. He has to transfer — he should know what constitutes a legal transfer. In short, the farmer should understand the minutiae cf business afl'airs. Farmers are sometimes over-reached or victimized. In such cases, remedy lies in the reparation he may gain from the legal profession. Prevention is safer than cure. Business knowledge is prevention. The business man keeps his business in a settled state. He records the business events of the day, ready for the morrow — its events and changes. The farmer has no time for this. Why? Because he is busy; he keeps his accounts in his head, and trusts memory. A poor accountant iu the hour of death. In buying, the farmer consults his own interests, as he should do. If inielligent, he understands where to buy; if a good judge, he knows what and when to buy, with the value of the article. He is gener- ally caught by a "sharper" but once, and shuns after- ward the fire which scorched him. The farmei 342< THE GENESEE FARMER. should be as much of an adept in purchasing as the merchant. He cannot shirk the duty of being a full busiicss man, without individual loss. In selling, the farmer needs to know the probable demand — the extent of supply, and the probable range of price. The price obtained governs bis guccess. He should never seek to obtain an extor- tionate price, and should use equal care not to sell below price. " Honesty is his best policy." He should always seek to sell in large quantities, and not be giving many small credits, which are hardly worth collecting. A large price per bushel dwindles to a small one when time has to be given to the collection of item debts. That farmer who manages his business well, will read the papers care- fully— note the statistics — and calculate the result, Jfo farmer should be the satellite of any other busi- ness man. Be your own man. Be a man. Own your own voice — ^your own mind — your own thoughts — your own out-spoken words — fawn only when you see truth bow to error. Strive to make Agriculture the pillar reaching from earth to heaven, around which the arts and sciences shall cling and twine! Homer, JY. Y. Jno. Sanfield. MIND YOUS BUSINESS. Sovereign Farmer! inside your own line fences you are a Prince, by possession, treaty and conquest ; an absolute ruler and worker with your Maker. You are the mtelligenct, the director and governor of your kingdom. Your adaptcess is shown by your labor — your worth by your success. If a full mm, men know it — if a gieat man, your government will show it. Alind your business. Let it be conducted after the teachings of that Great Volume of International Law, given by your Maker. " Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men." If you act up fully to the teachings of this Book you will be constantly occupied; it contains the counsel of our Heavenly Father, and was given us by Him, when by sin we had been driven from His beautiful garden. Our loss was great, but our gain may be infinite. If you mind your business, you will be interested; you will find no time to be unhappy; your name will be added to the catalogue of the industrious. There is much in the proverb of Solomon: — "Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise." The ant and the bee mind their business. If you mind closely your business, you will culti- vate your mind — you will study the habits of mis- chievous depredators upon your possessions — you will look carefully after the interests, and study the necessities of your subjects — you will look to your common interest in the school — you will, to this end, do what you can. Koads and bridges will receive your care, and you will look closely to your every public interest. If you mind your own business, your Agricultural Society will not be engineered by lawyers, nor your best cow named by doctors, nor your annual ad- dresses be buncombe speeches by ambitious attor- nies. If you mind your own business, it will support you — you will be a man of worth to your country in example and precept — you will be where duty calls, shoulder to shoulder with your fellows, or on your farm. You will perform duty with your whole might — will act, will fill manhood's place, the full, willing man. If you mind your own business you will be loved, respected, looked up to, and honored by those who do not — will lore and respect others. You will be useful, an honored ruler, and enjoy sunshine in life. Your conquests will be peaceful — laurels enduring — victories undisputed — statutes upheld — name lus- trous, and your golden crown contentment. Homer, JY. Y. Jno. Sanfield. AGBICTJLTTJKE IN V/ESTEEN NEW YOEE, AS DE- SCRIBED By AK IKTELOGEKT SCOTCH FARMER. In 1853, Robert Russell, Esq., an interigent Scotch farmer, visited this country for the purpofc of studying our agriculture, more especiidly in reference to the influence of climate in determining the best systems of rotation, &c. The result of his observa- tions are recorded in a work entitled "Nonh Ameri- ca, its Agriculture and Climate," published at Edin- burgh. The following extract will give some idea of the nature of the work, and will be interesting, as indicating the iu)pressions which a hasty glance at our agricultural practices leave on the mind C^ & practical and scientific Scotch farmer: "In company with Mr. Harris, editor of the '^?ne- sce Farmer^ from whom I received much kindness, I drove about twelve miles to the west of Rochester, N. y., to visit some farms in the township of Riga. The sowing of wheat was going on very briskly on many of the farms that we passed, and on some it Was al- ready finely brairded. Wheat is put in very early throughout Canada a. id the United States, and the plants tiller and are well rooted before the winter seta in. In this ]>art of the country the farm burses are a supei'ior class of animals, having a good deal of breeding, and being similar in figure and size to our carriage horses. They are very active, and a good team will sometimes plough 2^ acres of light land in a day. It is common to put three horses abreast in the plough, and to make a furrow fnin 8 to 10 inches in depth and fi-om 14 to 18 inches in bi'eadth. "The system of cullivatiiai wliich is pursued is in- terestinc;. The land dt)es not strike one as being par- ticularly fertile, but rather of middling quality. It consists of a light-coloured sandy loam of considerable depth, and having some boulders strewed over it. But this soil seems to be as suitable to the growth of red clover as the limestone gravels of Ireland are to the growth of grasses, and hence its fertility is main- tained by clovel" as our fields in Scotland used to be by grass. The rotation that is followed is usually clo- ver one year and wheat the next. Thei'e are few or no soils in Britain upon which clover would grow with vigour every second year; but were it not for this property of many of the American soils, much less wheat would be laised than at present. On the litcht soils in this region, 1 was astonished at the fine healthy plants of clover in the wheat stubbles. "When the au- tumns are somewhat moist, a considerable growth of clover takes place before winter; but the farmers do not like to pasture it too close. An intelligent farmer informed me that the common clover would last for ten or fifteen years on these soils if it was cut eaily in the season and not allowed to .'eed. By the system at present pursued, the farmers in this district cannot keep a large herd of stock, nnd the clover fields are worth little money, being chiefly of use in renovating the land. THE GENESEE FARMER. 343 "The clover liokls are preparoil for wheat by being -deeply plmi;hed in Juno, ami the snrfuce beiiii; after- ■wards worked by the hari"<>w and the scarifier to de- stroy the weed-^. Thou-^h this system saerifices a vast quantity of valuable forage, yet, in the circumstances, it is perhaps the best that can be f 'llowed, for it ad- jnits of the wheiit crop being frequently repeated, and involves but a suiiill amount of manual labour, -which is the element that determines tlie agricultural sys- tems of America. "The farmers in the Riga district sow about one- third of the whole extent of their possessions with wheat every year. It is the best paying crop, and every one endeavors to have as great a breadth of it as possible. The plon;ihing up of the clover sod and the cultivation of the surface is called " fallowing," ^liicli is a less expensive system than what goes un- der the same name at home. The winters are ver}' cevere, and field labour is then entirely interrupted ; but the short season for labouring and cleaning the land is more than compensated by the poweiful influ- ence which tlie hot summer weather has in destroying the perenniiil grasses and weeds. These are readily killed by being ploughed up at that season and having their roots exposed to the heat and drought. In this way is the land kept clean by the best farmers in the north western part of the State of New York, which is perhajis the most productive region for wheat in JS'orth America. Ko clean fallows nor any expensive fallow crops, such as turnips, are nece-sary to keep the land in good condition and free from weeds. " On one of the Riga farms which we visited, ex- ten, ling to 2S0 acres, we found 80 acres in wheat, 11^ in barley, 14 Indian corn, 25 woods, the rest pasture and clover. In lS.j3, the crops of wheat averaged 40 bushds to the acre; in 1854, only 25 bushels. As in- dicating the natural capabilities of the land, we were fihown a field on which a heavy crop of Indian corn had grown in 1S52; it was sown next spring with barley, which produced 50 bu?hels to the acre; then sown with wheat in autumn, and this year it had yielded 40 bushels per acre. On this farm a field of clover was in course of being ploughed up and sown with wheat; it had been in wheat this yeai, but the farmer was complaining that the plant of clover was bad, while in our opinion it was a most excellent one. Mr. Harris remarked that this was surely a mei'e excuse for getting a little more sown with wheat, while the pi ices were good. 100 sheep are kept on this fa: m, be=ides 10 or 15 cattle, which are reared and sold when two years old. " On another farm of 208 acres there were 40 in woods, 12 permanent pasture, 7 Indian corn, 12 oafs, 10 peas, 65 wheat, the rest in clover. About 1000 bushels of wheat were, thrashed this year, 600 last, and 2000 the year before. The seasons appear to in- fluenee the yield of wheat far more than they do in Biitain. Tlie flock of sheep yielded 400 dollars last year. Leicester sheep do not seem to thrive well where so much of the land is cleared, for frequently the whole flock are seen during the heat of the day standing crowded together with their heads all down. "It is almost the universal practice to sow clover among the whi-at in spring, and at the same time to give the field a dressing of 100 lbs. of gypsum, which has a wonderful eflect on some crops. The clover is benefited more than anj^ other plant; though peas, potatoes, and Indian corn have often new life imparted to them by a light dres-ing of this substance, which is almost the on'y artificial manure used in the Western States. The manure of the farm is applied to Indian corn, which is pei'haps more grateful than any other crop for liberal treatment." , IMPROVE YOUR STOCK OF FOWLS. Xow is the time to e.xamine your stock of fowls, and to carefully select out the hena and roosters de- signed to be kept for breeding next year. The fe- cundity of hens aPFords the breeder great facilities for improving his fowls. Hy careful and judicious selection, it is easy to correct deficiencies, and in- crease the good qualities of any ordinary stock of bens. This matter should be attended to before winter sets in, as the fowls which may be rejected are now in good condition, and it is unadvisable to keep more fowls in winter than can readily be fur- nished with abundance of food. A few hens, well fed, will always lay more eggs than twice the num- ber, half-starved, during a few months of the year, even though they may have a superabundance of food at other times. See, too, that the hen house is warm and dry. Hens, like sheep, can stand any- thing better than damp places. Let it be thorough- ly cleaned out now, and regularly supplied, during winter, with clean, dry straw. In selecting out hens to keep for another year, choose those under four years of age, having re'- erence particularly to a healthy and vigorous consti- tution, large, well formed bodies, and rather small legs and feet, bright eyes and pendant combs. Early maturity and good laying qualities must not be for- gotten. The form is a good indication of the former, and also, to a certain extent, of the latter. If early maturity, beauty of form and refinement are carried too far, the tendency to lay eggs is supposed to be diminished. If a hen is known to be of an uneasy disposition, or a poor layer, on no account keep her. If you design to change one or more of your roost- ers, now is the time to do it. They will thus have abundant time to get acquainted with their partners before spring. In selecting a rooster we should not look so much to beauty of outline, as to a vigorous and valliant demeanor, strong, muscular thighs, full breast, and plump, heavy body, having more muscle than fat. Color is a mere matter of fancy. White fowls are supposed by some to be delicate; but this has not proved so in our experience, though it is probable, as a general thing, that colored fowls are the hardiest. White or bluish legged fowls are the favorites with some, from the whiteness and apparent delicacy of the meat; but it is admitted that the yel- low legged are the richest and most highly flavored. If a little flesh meat can be cheaply obtained du- ring the winter the fowls will be all the better for it It is a tolerably good substitute for the worms and insects they obtain in warmer latitudes. Be very careful, however, not to give them any salt meat, as it always proves injurious and sometimes fatal. They must have access to fresh water, and if they cannot find food enough from the scatterings of the barn-yard, must be fed as the judgment of the farmer dictates. The following brief description of some of the principal breeds of fowls is condensed from an ex- cellent article written for our Rural Annual, by C. N. Dement. To our numerous readers who have not seen that work, it will prove interesting: " The Black Poland fowls are among the most prolific layers, and their flesh is particularly fine and delicious. They are plump, square, full breasted and short-legged. They bear the restraints of a yard well, laying abundantly, of large-sized eggs, and are slow to sit; indeed, mostly " everlasting layers," but 344 THE GENESEE FARMER. less invariably feo than some other breeds. Sonnini tells us that in Egypt they are in great request for POLISH TOP-KNOT COCK AND HEN. the table, and our own experience confirms the pre- ference. " The Spanish Fowl, the heads of which are to be seen in the annexed cut, is of medium size, and the hens are notorious as abundant layers, and their eggs are very large and very white, very thick at both ends, yet tapering off a little at each, and weigh from one and a half to three ounces each. Their flesh is delicately white, tender and juicy. "Like the Black Poland, the plumage of the Span- ish fowls is of a glossy, sable color, except glancing greenish tints on some feathers. This, with its qual- ity of being one of the everlasting layers, n^akes it a favorite, where eggs only are wanted. Some per- sons complain that the hens are far better layers HEADS OF SPANISH FOWLS. than sitters. Their peculiar disinclination to sit, is regarded as their most valuable characteristic; for in our experience, we have been exceedingly annoyed by the constant propensity which some other hens have manifested in this resj^ect. " The Dorkings are remarkable as having been re- corded in ancient poultry-books, more than two thousand years ago. In size they rank next to the Asiatic tribe. They are short-legged, large bodied, and readily accumulate flesh, which is of good quali- ty. The weight of the Dorking a*: maturity varies from five to eight pounds, and full-grown capons have been known to weigh from ten to twelve. "The original Dorkings are represented as being of an ivory white, and as having uniformly five toes or claws on each foot. Among the early importa- tions of pure blooded Dorkings into this country, white more or less prevailed ; but in later importa- tions the speckled and brown colored — a stronger, larger, and better constitution fowl — has been intro- duced. At the Monroe Co. (N. Y.) fair, held at Spencerport in 1855, we noticed one cock and five pullets, of the speckled Dorkings, which were deci- dedly the best we had ever seen. In England, at the present time, they are great lavoiites, and biing the best prices there, both among the breeders and in the market. They are good though not great layers, capital mothers, and come early to maturity; but they seem to bear breeding '' ir-and-in " worse than any other variety. It is considered, therefore, desi- DUKKINU COCK AND HEN. rable to change the cock every year, or every two years at most, il the stock is to be kept pure and in high vigor. " There is another breed or variety, to be found in almost every poultry-yard, whose merits we would particularly recommend, as they possess some traits not found in the Poland or Spanish. We allude to the Dominique fowl, represented in our engraving, which are good layers, good sitters, and good moth- ers. They are healthy, hardy in constitution, easy to keep, sn all boa;, and plump in their make; flesh ifz52^>*aKi':S57wiB-i'^— ^ ' DOMINIQUE COCK. tender, juicy, and of delicate flavor; besides, they are of beautiful plumage, and in all respects a valu- able foM'l. " For those who do not wish to give much atten- tion to fowls, there is, according to our opinion, no breed equal to the Game. They are hardier, less liable to disease, keep fat with less feed, and raise more chicks with less care than any other kind They are not so great layers as some, but full equia THE (SENESEE FARMER 345 to the average. They are an extremely valuable breed, both ou account of their beautiful form aud ^^^^^^iis;^^^'"' GAME COCK AND UEN. plumage, and their usefulness. They branch out into numerous varieties, of which the black-breasted reds and the duck-winged grays are considered as the best. Both their flesh and their eggs are of first rate quality for the table, though neither attain the bulk of some other breeds. " There are several varieties of the family of Ham- burgh fowls; such as the silver and golden pencilled, SILVER-PENCILLED HAMBURGH COCK AND HEN. silver and golden spangled, silver and golden pheasant, coral or Creole, Bolton bays, Bolton grays, A:c. They are called Creole, from the intermixture of black and white; Coral, because the numerous points of the polished, bright scarlet rose-comb bear no dis- ■=^i^ GOLD-PENCILLED HAMBURGH COCK AND HEN. tant resemblance to grains of red coral; Bolton ^ys, from their being extensively cultivated in and about Bolton, a town of that name in England. All Hamburgh fowls, though scarcely of medium size, are plump, compact, and beautifully marked, which, aure time in the autumn and winter. In the operations of under- draining, trenching and manuring, it is not only con- venient but decidedly best in every way to attend to them at this season of the year. LENGTH OF PEAR ROOTS— CORRECTION. FRiENn Harris: — The clear, concise, and generally accurate report of the Fruit Growers' Society at its late session,. made in the last number of the Genesee Farmer, contains one sentence which I wish to mod- ify or correct, where I was not cleaily understood. I am reported as remaiking in relation to the Stand- ard Fear, " that the extent of the roots correspond with the height, and a tree eight feet high, for in- stance, has a breadth of roots of about eight feet, or four feet on each side, and the trees should not be cultivated so closely as much to disturb these roots." 1 intended to have been understood as saying that the roots extended on each side at least equal to the height of the tree, as I had proved by the applica- tion of manure at different distances; and that a tree eight feet high might therefore be expected to have an extension of roots as far as the outside of a circle sixteen feet in diameter. Also, that allowing the trees to branch near the earth, would not materially prevent the proper cultivation of the trees, as most of the area covered by the roots would be outside of the spread of the branches. I have never felt any fear that judicious and thorough cultivation would cause injury by "disturbing the roots," as 1 have long been satisfied that the loss from a want of proper cultivation is far greater than any that the mutilation by judicious culture could ever produce. If any one doubts the distance I have assigned for the extension of roots, he may satisfy himself by al- lowing a number of trees to grow up to dense grass, so as to check their vigor, and then work into the soil a portion of rich manure, at different distances from each. The distance at which these trees will be affected and stimulated to increased growth by these remote beds of manure, will be surprising. Peach trees are the best for this experiment, as they are more promptly and completely checked by seed- ing to grass, and more quickly started by manure. It vv'ill be understood that these remarks do not apply to pears on quince, the roots of which are much shorter. May I ask the favor of the insertion of this cor- rection in the next Genesee Farmer? I should deem it a matter of less consequence, were it not that a great deal of false practice results from an ignorance of the length of roots, — often witnessed in the appli- cation of manures and mulching in a small circle about the foot of the trunk, where these applications can no more reach and benefit the great network of fibres, than cold water poured into a man's boota could operate in qiienching his thirst. Union Springs, JV. Y. J. J. Thomas. ^ 348 THE GENESEE FAEMER. BRINKLES ORANGE RASPBERRY. IHREE GOOD RASPBERRIES Brixkle's Orange. — Produced in 1844, from seed, by Dr. Brinkle, of Philadelphia. Shoots vigorous, with white spines; leaf irregular; fruit large, ovate, beautiful bright orange color, of excellent flavor, and very productive. Probably one of the best of Dr. Brinkle's excellent seedlings. Hudson River Antwerp. — This is one of the 5r ^ ^^"^fefc ^^'¥^ HUDSON RIVER ANTWERP. very best varieties of the raspberry for marketing. Its firmness of flesh, and parting readily from the germ, together with its fine, handsome appearance, render it everyway desirable to the market gardener. It is an English variety; and it is said that the Duke of Bedford paid a guinea for two plants. It diffora FASTOLFP RASPBERRY. from the genuine European Antwerp prin':;ipally yi THE GENESEE FARMER. 349 the caues, which branch more, and are smoother and of a brighter color. The size and appearance of the fruit is very similar, but the Hudson lliver Antwerp is the most profitable market berry. Fastolff. — A very vigorous and productive va- riety, of large size and tine liavor. Color, bright purplish red. Originated at FastolIF Castle, near X armouth, England. HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. Trenching. — Let all cleared and vacant ground be trenched up into ridges, more especially that wanted for early spring planting and sowings. Let a good coating of rotten manure be wheeled on to the ground and spread evenlj'. Now stretch a line the length of the piece to be trenched, mark it out with the spade up to the line; now shift the line thirty inches from the mark made by the spade, stretch it tight and make another similar to the first. This leaves a trench marked out thirty inches wide and the whole, length of the piece to be trenched. Now commence at one end, place yourself in the middle between the two lines. Take the first spadeful in the middle of the trench and turn it over as in common digging; take the next spadeful from the righthand- side of the trench and bring it towards the left, turning it up- side down and leaving it upon the side of the first spadeful. Now take the next spadeful from the left side of the trench and turn it in towards the right, leaving it upon the left handside and ^top of the mid- dle spadeful. Proceed on so all down the trench; turning the middle spit over in the middle of the trench, then take one from the righthand, bring it to- wards the left and turning up in the middle, then one from the left and bringing it towards the right and turning up in the middle as before. This leaves the ground in ridges, something like celery banks, thirty inches wide at base and about eighteen inches high in middle and the soil quite rough — the rougher it is the more surface there will be exposed to the action of the frost in winter which will pulverise and eiirich the soil amazingly. WiNTF,RiNG TUE Raspberey CANES. — Pruue out all the small canes, leaving three or four, or where the hills are very strong even five canes to a hill. Cut them back to the height of three or four feet. The smallest may be left two feet six inches, the middle size three and the strongest four feet in length. Now, if a little earth be thrown into a httle bank be- tween two hills of canes, they may be bent down over this little bank without breaking them. Bring the ends of the canes of two hills together, and hold them with one hand while yon drive two short pegs across the canes in the form of a fork to hold them down. When all are pegged down, throw some earth over them, with the spade so as just to cover them, this will be sufficient protection. Or tie them close up to the stakes and cover them with straight rye straw. Strawbeiiries. — The strawberry beds should now be neatly trimmed, the dead leaves and runners cut off and a little rotten manure forked in, where not done before. Just before severe weather is expec- ted the beds should be covered all over with littery ma- nure or taa-'bark, saw-dust, &.C., as a winter protection. Cabbages. — Where there is not cellar room enough, cabbages may, sometimes, be wintered very well by digging a trench one foot wide and one foot deep, and stripping the large leaves off the cabbage put the head down into the trench, leaving its roots sticking out, fill the trench full of cabbages in single rows, then put on a little clean straw and cover with earth. Ii is not to be recommended when they can be stowed away in a cellar or shed where it will not freeze much. Cauliflower and Brocoli. — Late cauliflower and brocoli will head up very fairly in the cellar during the winter. J ust before severe frost begins pull the plants and break off all the large loose leaves and carry the plants into the cellar. Set them upright close to the wall and as close as they will stand to each other without crowding, then cover their roots two or three inches thick with moist earth. They will head up here almost as finely as though growing out of doors. Asparagus. — The beds of asparagus will need some protection. Wheel on a covering of rotten manure and lightly fork it in without injury to their crown; then cover the whole bed with littery manure or leaves, six to nine inches thick. Rhubarb. — The rhubarb roots will need some lit- tle protection as recommended for asparagus, they will start the earlier and stronger in spring. Spinach, — The beds of wmter spinach will need the dead and decayed leaves picking off and the whole bed covering with littery manure three or four inches thick. Celery. — Just before severe frost is expected the celery will want its final earthing up. Dig up a suf- ficient quantity of heads to last a month or so: strip off all the loose leaves and trim the roots a little, then tie a piece of basswood bark or string round each stick to keep its leaves from breaking and set them upright in a box in the cellar as close as they will stand and then fill in between them with fine earth. This will keep them quite fresh all winter. That which is left out in the trenches must be banked up, in banks, at least three feet thick and nearly as high as the top of the plants. Then cover their tops over with a good covering 'of clean straw and lay boards upon this to keep it dry and from blowing off. When the first supply is used, from the cellar, or a thaw come s in winter, then get in a fresh supply as recommended first. IN MY "NEW GAIlDEN."-No. 4. Well as I love it, " My New Garden" has been rather neglected of late, save only to gather the fruits thereof. These I must tell you about, and then, per- haps, lay over the pen until another season. Melons. — Of the " water, musk and other millions," as Knickerbocker Clark calls ihem, no mention has been made. AYhen the cherry trees bloomed, the 2.5th of May, I thought it time to plant melons and cucumbers, and it was now too early for cither crop. Both grew well — were but little troubled by bugs and worms — and produced fairly. The melon seed was some saved from the best melons raised last year — some Orange Watermelons; some red-fleshed, some white, a few apple-seed, — all grown together, and of course mixed. I would like to get pure seed of two or three good kinds to plant next year, and to keep them separate hereafter. The best melons were pro- nounced by the friends who enjoyed them with me, "the best they ever ate," but I want to do better next year. Some of the Muskmelons were very fine — others were worthless. 850 THE GENESEE FARMER. Cucumbers. — I can find no cause for cucumber vines dying out, more or less in every hill, as they have this summer. But enough were left to supply us, and some for the neighbors whose hens were too hungry to permit them to grow their own. Onions. — G^rew fdiily with me, but I nearly spoiled one bed, by pulling them and letting them lie out through a long rain. They ivarped badly, so that instead of being round they are hollow-bottomed like a glass bottle, and much more trouble to dress than round ones. My "black seeds," were thick and rather small, but I dried a lot in midsummer to start on next year. To.MATOES — this year, have rotted con-siderably on the vines, and frost came rather early, so I have not had many more than my chickens wanted. I tried the racks described in an early Xo. of the Farmer, and my best tomatoes grew on them. Summer Squashes — were good, coming among our first " garden sauce," and when we were longing for more fresh vegetables. They were the crook-neck variety and bore abundantly. I would not like to be without this excellent table esculent, nor to fail in raising a good store of the winter varieties. I saw but three or four "Srquash bugs" on the vines, and those I killed before they did any mischief TuRMi's. — Some insect pest, has put a quietus on many ol my turnips, and so belated others that I shall have but few good ones. It cares nothing for ashes, as I sowed them on many times, hoping to drive off the fly, without success. Sugar Cank. — There's a patch of " the Sorghum" in one corner of my garden — and it hides all beyond it, for the canes measure from ten to twelve feet high. It does grow greatly when fairly started, but I have my doubts of our getting much good of it, this year. The frost came just as the seed was in blossom. Celery — I have commenced earthing up my celery, but the stalks are so short I give up making much of it this season. I'll try and get plants earlier next year, for I think it a delicious vegetable. The cele- riac is growing finely. Potatoes — have rotted con.^iderably in " ajy New Garden," as well as in the field. The ground shaded mo^t, gives the most spoiled potatoes — the row next the corn i'' nearly worthless. Fruit T :ees — One pear, two peach, and several cherry andj ;pple trees grow in and around my gar- den. Ti ey do rather bet'er this year than usual. I want three or four good plum trees badly, for I have not tasted a plum this season. Our old stock of trees have all perished from the black knot — all, all least, worth anything. Good-bye, Mr. Editor, we shall hardly ramble farther, this fall, in "My New Garden." A Country Invalid. Maple Hill, JV. Y. CULTTJEE OF GRBJPES IN THE OPEN AIR. Grape Vines are raised in several ways. The most common one is from long cuttings, which are made at the time of the winter pruning, and consist of three eyes each, the bottom enfl of which is cut close to a bud, and the upper end is left an inch or two above the top of the bud. These are put into the open ground as soon as the weather will permit in the spring, in a slanting posi- tion, with the upper bud an inch above the ground, and by autumn these will make fine rooted plants. The next method as considerably practiced is frota layers, which consists in bending down shoots of thfe present season's growth, the latter part of July or ill the spring, with wood of the previous year's growth, into the soil, made light and fine by the spade and rake, and with a sharp knife an incision is made al the base of a bud, (on that part of the vine to be layered) through the bark and partly through the wood, slitting the shoot an inch or two in length, and the shoot is laid in the ground with the cat open, and kept down by means of a hooked peg. The earth is then drawn in, covering it two or three inches deep. A long shoot of the vine may be layered at seffe- ral points, thus procuring several r oted plants in a season. By autumn these will be strong, well rooted plants. Another method of raising first rate vines is froln single eye cuttings, made of one eye each, with haff an inch of wood on each end of the bud. These require artificial heat to start them; and the be^ plan where persons have no hot house, is to make a good tight hot bed, with plenty of bottom heat; and in March take pieces of vines, which should be saved for this purpose, from the land in which they have been preserved, (which should be in a dry, cool cel- lar) and cut them up into eyes and place these intt) boxes of sand, far enough apart to allov/ them room to root freely, and cover half an inch deep wilh sand. The boxes after being filled, should be placed ih the hot bed, and put on the sash. In this way many cuttings may be grown in a small place. These require to be kept just moist, giving them an airing when it is quite warm in the middle of the day, and the sash covered with a mat at night. If the ground should not be sufficiently open to make a hot bed in March, they can be planted thB first of Aprii, and make fine, well rooted plants by fall. As soon as they have nicely started and begaJl to root, which will b:- about the latter part of May or first of June, they can be turned out into the open ground, taking the time to do it in a moist day. If at this time any should be found which have not struck roots, they can be put back in the hot house awhile longer, until rooted. Where a person has a hot house, cuttings can be struck in January, and turned out as soon as the weather will permit. The soil, proper for cuttings and layers of the grape vine, should be rich, mellow and dry. Yines raised from single eyes are by far the be^, as they contain more fibrous roots, and grow faster than those grown from long cuttings or layers. We have vines planted the last spring, one year old, from single eyes, which have now, August 20th, a growth of ten feet. We now commence with the vine one year ol^ from the cutting or layer. The requisites for proper grape culture must be a proper soil, and all that can be said is, that it be light and dry, deep and rich, so that if the land is any way inclined to moisture, there should be a drain of stones a few inches thick, two feet below the levgl of the ground. In filling up, put in about one-half compost (matte of equal parts rotten manure and muck,"to which add a good share of leached ashes) and one ha^ THE GENESEE FAR^fER. 351 good soil, and filled up about a foot above the level, to allow for settling. Plant the vine about as deep as it stood in the nursery, takiiiji; care to spread out the roots, and carefully working the earth in among them. Great care is required in tukina; up the young vine to save all the roots, as they .'^hould Jiever be pruned. At the time of planting it should be cut back to within six eyes, which, as soon as they start, should all be rubbed olf but the two strongest, and after these are fairly growing, rub ofl' the weakest, leaving only one. The summer pruning consists simply in keeping off, adl side shoots that may appear, and which tend to check the growth of the main plant. The terminal bud should be pinched about Sep- tember, to mature and strengthen it. SEcoxn Year — The shoot of last year may now be cut back to four buds, and two canes trained up this season. Summer pruning to be performed same as last season, ami in September these canes are to be stopped as before. Third Year. — The canes of last season's growth are cut back at the winter pruning (which takes place in December) to within two or three feet of their base, and laid in on the bottom slat of the trel- lis, for the frame work of the vine. 'J'he bud on the ^d of each will produce a shoot to continue the prolongment in a horizontal direction, and a bud on the upper side of each, near the base of the horizon- tal shoot, will produce a cane, to be trained to one of the upright bars. All other shoots are rubbed off. These canes are tied in as they require it, and the gnmmer pruning continues the same as before. They are stopped in September as before. Fourth Year. — At the winter pruning the canes of last year's growth are cut back, the horizontal cmes to two feet and the upright ones to four feet. The upright canes will continue their growth up- wards, and the horizontal ones outward as before, and this year two more shoots can be trained upright for bearing wood next season. The vine produces fruit on spurs of the present season's growth, which start from eyes on the upright canes. From one to three bunches is sufficient to ripen on one spur, and soon after the fruit is set the Epur should be stopped and tied into the trellis, to prevent breaking. This year several fruit spurs will be produced on .the two canes of last season's growth, on each of which two or three bunches of grapes may be ri- pened. In this way the vine adds every year two new up- right canes until the trellis is filled. The after man- agement being to attend to summer pruning, or to cut back all the spurs to the old wood at the winter pruning, new ones of which are made every year. The trellis need not be made until the second year, if preferred, by keeping the canes tied on to poles. Many may think this plan of cultivating grapes a very laborious and expensive one; but there are none more satisfactory, as the fruit is of superior size and flavor, and will come into full bear- ing quicker than those allowed to ramble every- where, and be pruned once in two or three years, cutting them all to pieces at once, as often practiced. Grapes for vineyard culture should be planted on 417) rich soil, which should have a thorough sub-soil- ing, libeial manuring, and southern aspect. The vines should be planted abnul six feet apart, and trained to j)osts from eight to ten feet high. The vines are planted as before recommended, and for the lirst year or two should be cut back close, to establish good strong plant.^, iind only one cane be allowed to grow. Tho third year this cane can be allowed to ripen some fruit, and a new shoot carried up to bear next year. At the winter pruning the cane that bore is cut away, and then a succession is kept up. As the vines grow older, two or three bearing canes can be taken from each plant. J. H. 13. Brighton, near Rochester, JY. Y. RAISING PEACHES IN MASSACHUSETIS. For the last few years, many cultivators of this delicious fruit have been so discouraged in their at- tempts at success, that they have rooted up their trees, as cumberers of the earth. The primal diffi- culty that they encountered seems to have been cold ivealher — either as sudden freezing and thawing in late fall, intense cold in the winter, or raw, blighting east winds in the spring. Then are added borers, the yellows, and perhups other discouragements. But as good peach.es can be raised in Massachu- setts as in any other State or locality in the Union. To the truth of this my own garden this year attests, though not the first time, nor does it stand alone. We may not raise them so early or so plentifully as New Jersey, but the thing can be done, and it is an important object. The great desideratum is high, warm land, the better with a slope to the south or west. Giving the trees good culture, the advantage of such a'locality will readily be seen. But no po- sition, hov.-ever favorable, will insure a good crop every year, while there are seasons when the worst pr si .ion will yield well. The advantage is compara- tive. In regard to hoiv cold weather destroys the peach crop, is a mooted and diflicult subject, a!mo.-t equal to the potato rot. No theory seems to give general satisfaction. During the winter of 1854-'.': 5, the tbermometer sunk to more than 20 deg. below zero, and the only peach blossoms I saw in the spring were in my garden, three in number! All the buds on the trees could be stripped off with the hand, or shaken down with a slight jar. Yet, few or none of my trees were killed. The last winter the thermometer sunk equally as low, though the continued cold was less. This summer my trees (on a western slope) have done admirably, against my expectations, though I discovered early that the buds were not loosened- Why they were not destroyed is a problem. A va- riety of circumstances which science may fail to dis- criminate, was probably the cause. That ravines take the colder and denser air, is pretty well known, and perhaps their soil generally is not so favorable for the ripening of wood as hill-tops, where the air is more stirring, — both of which may account for the conceded fact that elevatigns are more favorable to the peach. After receiving a good position, there are evils to encounter in peach raising, common to all localities and climates — the borer and the yellows. To keep off the former, I think whitewashing the lower part of the trunk, even below the earth, is the best pre- ventive— to be j^done, say in June. If the borer is 352 THE GENESEE FARMER, already in tbe trunk or roots, cut him out, or destroy him with a wire. Some object to whitewash, but experience will probably show that the borer is more injurious than a little lime on the rough bark of a tree calpable of bearing. As to the yellows — which is merely feebleness — the best remedy is good culture, sufficient to keep up the vilahty of the tree under heavy crops. For tne purpose of ripening the late wood, causing fruit-buds to swell, and keeping the branches from shooting ungracefully into the air,take a grass-cutter in August, and clip ofi" the tops of the vigorous shoots. As to the varieties of peaches which do well here, they are numerous. Those which ripen before Sep- tember, however, are hardly worth raising. Late Admirable is good, and a heavy and early bearer. Crawford's Early is excellent; so of the Late, but it must be well exposed, and is not a free bearer. Ber- gen's Yellow is splendid. Seedlings very frequently are Sue. Peaches, however are very precarious in their quality and appearance in different seasons— varying with the vigor of the tree and the prevailing weather. As a general thing, peach trees do better with us than plum trees, and every cultivator should keep a sup- ply of young trees to fill in where the older ones perish. 'fVest Medford, Mass. D. W. L. THE WILLOW. ' This tree may be propagated very'easily — I mean most especially the (Jolden Willow — either by cut- tings or in the usual manner. For shade, they are graceful and beautiful, at least until old, and they make a more rapid growth than any other tree in our climate. Set along the banks of our rapid, mountain streams, their closely woven roots soon preserve the banks against our torrent freshets, and in this year of " disaster in broken banks," this is no mean office. They will grow anywhere and every- where, in mud and water, gravel and water, on over- hanging banks and rocky precipices. We set a large number tbe past summer, prepared as follows: la the latter part of winter the cuttings were prepared, generally averaging from one to three inches in diameter. They were cut and trimmed, and left in a pile until a leisure hour in June, when we stuck them with a crow bar and beetle. Thanks to the wet summer, they "yet live," but we would rec- ommend that they be set earlier, as a general thing. Ours were set for fence. We have good fence, on low land, of willows. The willow can be made a vigilant sentinel on low banked creeks, and is worthy attention. Mill-dams and banks of earth, stuck full of these cuttings, once well rooted, are much less liable to be destroyed. Jno. Sanfikld. ^ft. • ■«>- . EEMEDY FOR THE CUECULIO. Messrs. Editor^: — The lloosiers in and about this locality have most of us given up the idea of raising plums. The curculio is the worst enemy. The plan I am now pursuing is this: I put all my plum, nectarine and j^pricot trees by themselves; let them grow nnpnined; enrich the soil, taking care to give the trees plenty of salt, and in a sandy soil as mine is, liberal dressings of clay. After the trees are large enough to bear, let the hogs use the lot from the time the trees blossom till the plums are ripe. Protect the trees from the hogs by setting three or four small stakes immediately about the tree, secured by ropes, bark or nails, as is most con- venient. The hogs will take care of all plums and their contents as they fall, and after the first season the plum crop is a sure one. This mode has been frequently recommended, but followed out in prac- tice by but few. Why it is so I can't see, for cer- tainly it is simple, and perfectly efficacious for the fruits mentioned above, as well as for cherries, which suffer from the curculio. A tree grown close to the walk or door, where it is frequently shaken by peo- ple passing, will also perfect its fruit every yeas. There is a tree growing in town, planted by my bro- ther (Lyman Brackett) thirteen years ago, which for the past ten years has not missed one season, perfecting a fine crop of fruit. It is almost or quite in the path. The consequence is that the ground being hard trodden, refuses access to the worms, if any are hatched on the tree, and but few eggs are deposited in the growing fruit, because the tree is subjected to frequent shakings by j^eople passing. Let all them who love good fruit plant according to the plans above described, and I will warrant a perfect exemption from this pest. 0. Brackett. Rochester, Fulton Co., Lid., Aug. 30, '57. Varieties of Fruit for the West. — The recetit meeting of the North Western Fruit Growers Asso- ciation held at Alton, 111., the following varieties of fruit were recommended for general cultivation be- tween the 39th and 41st degrees of North latitude: Summer Apples. — Yellow June, Early Harvest^ Carolina June, Keswick Codlin, Sweet June, Sum- mer Rose, Dana, Summer Pearmain, Golden Sweet- ing, Hocking. Autumn Apples. — Maiden's Blush, Fall Wire, Rawle's Janette, Wine Sap, White Winter Pearraaizi, Rambo, Autumn Swaar, Newton Pippin, Willow Twig. Winter Apples. — Jonathan, Buckingham, Down- ing's Paragon, (new,) Fameus, Snow, Roman Stem, White Bellflower, Early Winter Sweet, Yellow Bell- flower, Swaar, Fulton, Peck's Pfeasant, Sweet Non- such. Cherries. — American Heart, Knight's Earfy Black, Black Heart, Elton, Yellow Spanish, White Tartarian, Ox Heart, Eariy May. Plums. — Yellow Magnum Bonum, Lombard, Green Gage, German Prime, Chicasaw, (N.L. Sha^,) Blue Imperatrice. 1^* ^^ American Plums. — In his "Book of the Garden;" published at London, McIntosh says : "Strange tt) say, America, with only three species of the genus Prunus, P. Maritiina and Pubescens from neither of which a cultivated plum has been raised, has never- theless produced more excellent plums than any other country whatever. The original parent of all cultir vated plums, Prunvs Domesiicvs, is not indigenous to that country but has been introduced." This is undoubtedly true. But we do not see why it should be regarded as " strange " when it is known that the interest taken in the cultivation of fine fruit is much more general than in England. There is a greater proportion of the intelligence of the country brought to bear on fruit culture in the United States than in any other country; and from the diversity of our soil and climate together with the enterprise and skill of American horticulturists great results may tip anticipated. THE GENESEE FARMER. 863 f alius' ^tprtmtut. TASTE IN lOWA-ONCE MORE. Messrs Editors: — In the September No. of the Fanner, 1 notice a stricture on a lady's opinion of the West in the June No. I do not wish to enter into a discussion, much less a dispute wilh my legis- lative friend, C. F., and T am willing to accord to the farmere of Iowa all credit for what they have done and are dcuig; for our s^^allant state. I have no doubt there are liionsiMids v.-ho have made just the improve- ments necessary lo secure to their families the com- forts of life. Within my own town I can number some excellent farmers of substantial means, whose industry and thrift are unquestionable; but where are the flower gardens and shrubbery which should adorn every farmers dwelling ? echo only answers ■where. It is true I have not travelled very extens- ively over the State, but I havelheen to Washington and found it a busy thriving little place— but it is not of towns I would speak. I was talking with a lady not long since on this very subject, and she re- marked that men, and women too, lost their taste for such things (flowers and shiubbery) after coming here. They found so much to do to 'get ready to live that every thing else was neglected. I have no doubt this is true, and it is for this very reason that I appeal to them to begin again to cultivate the taste. C. F. enumerates some things of which I com- plain, and I think justly, and some things of which 1 did not complain. I wish he would stir up the State a Uttle on the subject of bridges, for though they have one noble one (which by the way there is a con- tinual quarrel about) we are very deficient in plain structures for the use of the people. I believe I did not complain of the want of hogs, for no one who has ever traveled from Muscatine to Washington would be guilty of the error, but he admits that far- mers are careless and waste some of the bounties which should be saved — that a few bushels of grain every year go back to dust. We can only hope that the scarcity of feed in the winter of '56 — 7 will con- vince farmers of the necessity of saving their few bushels which are annually wasted for their unfor- tunate cattle. Thousands of cattle, horses and hogs, perished from starvation, and want of suitable shelter, which these wasted bushels might have saved, and how many stacks of straw are annually burned, which might be converted, by proper management, into com- fortable sheds and stables for shelter. I cannot call a man a good farmer who suffers his stock to lie ex- posed to our western storms in winter, for a merciful man is merciful to his beast. Now I do not wish to present to my friend C. F. an apple of discord — but I will give him an excellent, veritable apple, grown by my side, if he will visit me, and he may eat it under the shade of pome boautiful locusts which surround my humble home, and I shall not have to visit my neighbors, to get a very fair sup- ply of this excellent fruit. By the by, I will tell you ■ something of this orchard of mine. Eleven years ago this small orchard of 30 trees was planted on unbro- ken prairie by the former owner, consequently had never grown wood or fruit, but 4 years ago when we took possession, the ground was broken up, and I Vith my own hands, washed the trees as high as I could reach every spring and fall, with strong soap- suds, made with the refuse of tlie soap boiling. The trees started to grow most vigorously, and last year, and this, produced (luite a number of bushels of ap- ples. Two trees of a vciy early variety fruited this season, and I had the pleasure of taking the first ripe apples of the season into Washington. C. F. reminds me of the old Dutch settlers on the Hudson, N. Y., as a precedent for large laud owners, the Van Rcnns- selaers and others of time honored memory — peace be to their ashes — for I claim them for my kinch-ed, and my ancestors. But they had trouble enough, I ween, from their large landed possessions, and I would ad- vise no farmer to own more land than he can culti- vate well: if a man own two hundred acres, and can cultivate v/ith all the help he can get but one hund- red, would he not benefit himself and his country more by seUiug his extra one hundred acres to some- body who would till it, thus producing a large sur- plus of grain for market, rather than letting his land lie useless producing nothing ? But the length of my article warns me to let the subject drop for abler and wiser heads than mine to discuss. I hope to be able ere long to give you our experi- ments with the Sorgho molasses, we have some very fine canes varying from 12 to 15 feet in height — we are only waiting for the seeds to ripen a little more — the fall has been remarkably favorable — no frost as yet in this part of the state, a luxuriant growth of corn well ripened and mostly secured. Yiola. Clay, Wasldngton co., Ioiva,Oct. Wth, '57. ORIGINAL DOMESTIC KECEIPTS. For Washing. — Gut into small pieces a pound of bar soap; put it into a tin pan or iron pot, with one quart water. Keep it hot, but not boiling, till the soap is dissolved, and stir in two large spoonfuls of powdered borax. When cool, it will again harden, and you will have double the quantity of soap, and better for washing all kinds of clothes. The labor of rubbing is very much diminished. Four spoonfuls of borax added to each gallon of soft soap, when first made, will greatly improve the soap for washing, and also prevent its eating the hands, as new soft soap is apt to do. To Make Washing East. — Take one half lb. of hard soap, cut fine and dissolved; one half lb. of soda; dissolve each by itself) and when so done put them together, and boil, adding one tea Cupful of strained lime water. Put this in to boil the clothes. Boil them twenty minutes. 1'his will serve several boilers full. The clothes must be previously soaked, and soap rubbed on the stained spots. You can wash the finest material with this, and colored clothes boiled in this will not fade. To Remove Stains from the Hands. — A few drops of oil vitriol [svlphuric acid) in water will take the stains orTrr.it, dark dyes, stove blacking, itc, from the hands, without injuring them. Care must, however, be taken not to drop it upon the clothes. It will remove the color from woolen, and eat holes in cotton falnncs. To Make Crackers. — Two cups of flour, one cnp of butter, (or half lard and half butter,) two cups of water, two tea-spoonsful of cream of tartar, one tea- spoonful of soda, and a little salt. They require only a common kneading, and are very nice. 9i4 THE GENESEE FARMER Hew Advertisements tMs Month. New Kochelle Blackberry— Linnaeus Ebubarb. — John C. Teas, Uaysville, Inil. Dadd s Modern Ilorso Doctor. — A. O. Moore, New York. Agents Wante-1.— A. O. Moore, New York. Anicrican Farmers' Encyclopia. — A. O. Moore, New York. Guano, Superphosphate of Lime, &c. — A. Longett, New York. TliD Genesee Farmer for ISoS. — Joseph Harris, Rochester, N. Y. The Next Volume of the Genesee Fakiiek. — En- couraged by the extraordinary increase in the circulation of the Farvier during the present year, we have deter- mined to make great improvements in our next volume, and also to offer a greatly extended list of Premiums. "We have procured an entire new dress of type, and have made arrangements for a supply of much better paper, and shall spare no expense in procuring excellent engra- vings. So far as we have been able to ascertain, the Genesee Farmer this year has given very general satisfac- tion. Thanks to our correspondents, it is undoubtedly not only the cheapest but the best agricultural and horticul- tural paper in the country. We are satisfied that by a little timely effort, our friends will enable us to double onr circulation the coming year. " Hard" as are the times, the Genesee Fai-mer is so marvelously cheap that few persons could refuse to subscribe, were they requested to do so by one of their intelligent and influential neigh- bors. In the January number we shall publish a number of Prize Essays on a variety of subjects. This number alone ■will be worth the price of the volume. List year, for the first time, we offered " January Pre- miums." Thousands of our readers neglect to send in their subscriptions till the winter is nearly past, and thus they are without the paper during the most leisure season of the year. To counteract this as much as possible, we not only continue to offer these January Premiums this year, but have increased them in number and amount om-half. Those who take a January Premium can also compete for an April Premium with the same list of sub- scribers. There are so many Premiums offered, that no one who tries can fail to take one, and may obtain two. Hitherto but few of our friends — who act as agents simply from a desire to promote agricultural and horticul- t-ural improvement in their respective nei.sliborhoods — have competed for the premiums. Hence we have thought of discontinuing them ; but wishing to reward our friends as far as possible for their disinterested labors, we have concluded not only to continue them another year, but to offer so many that some of our agents will obtain premi- ums whether they try for them or not. A good Agricul- tural Library, bovrever. is worth a little effort, and we trust that our friends will endeavor to increasetheir lists, go that this increase of Premiums will not entail upon us any loss. Now is the time to commence making up your listi, before other agents enter the field. If any of our readers have fiienda who are not ac- quainted with the Genesee Farmer, we will glndly send ttiem, pre-paid, specimen copies of the paper, if they -VTil] furnish us tlieir namoa. What is Said of the Genesee Parmee — Our con- temporaries are continually saying good words for the Genesee Farmer. Commenda'ion is pleasant to all, buls it is not modest to repeat compliments. On this accoimt we seldom re-publish any of the kind things our contem-i' poraries say of us. If, however, as our friends say, " th'e Genesee Farmer is the best agricultural paper ill the country," the credit must be ascribed to its numerous and able correspondents. There may be many other papers that give more and better editorial articles, but we are certain that no agricultural and horticultural journal in the world has such a list of intelligent, practical corres- pondents. We have, during the present year, published, each month, on an average, at least fifty articles v, ritten by some of the most experienced and best practical farm- ers and fruit growers in the United States and Canada. As our friend " B ," of N agara County, observes, the Genesee Farmer is a " Monthly Farmer's Club," at which we have delegates from all sections of our extended coun- try, who quietly and concisely communicate the results of their experience. Modes of cultivation may sometimes be recommended, which, however good they may be in one section, cannot be profitably adopted in others ; yet no ii>- telligent reader can fail to get hints which may prove val- uable in his own practice. One such hint may be wortTi the price of ten years' subscription. Ascribing the credit to our correspondents, therefore, we may be excused fop giving a few extract? from the numerous complimentary notices of our appreciating contemporaries. " For most of the extracts in this department we are indebted to the Genesee Furmer, a very spirited and valu- al)le ag) K'ultural work, published at Koohester N. Y.. for fifty cents a vear. Farmers should subscribe for it. Theiie is not a sii;,i;jo ijumber but what contains something which will repay a thousand fold the cost of subscription." [Delaware State Register. " We heartily wish that every farmer in this country was a subscriber to the Geneste Farmer. It would repaj them four fold."' — [Virginia Star. " The Genesee Farmer is a monthly publication thai should be taken by every farmer in the country. We are indebted to it for many articles which huve made up our agricultural column." — [Essex Co. (N. Y.) Kepublican. " The contents of any one number is worth a years' subscription to any practical farmer." — [Jacksonian, Piin- tiac, Mich. " Tlie Genesee Farmer ii one of the beat agricultuiil papers for the AVe«t, and ought to be well sustained, and will lie, no doubt." — [Kane Co. (III.) Journal. " This old and well established agricultural paper is one of the very best and cheapest in existence." — [Welland (C. W.) Herald. " The Genesee Farmer is one of the oldest as well as best and cheajicst papers for farmers in the country." [Chicago ©eniocrat. " The Genesee Farmer is published monthly at Rochss- ter, N. y.. by JosEPit Haukis. It costs only fifty cents a year, and is well worth five times the amount, for it ad- mits nothing but what is of practical benefit to its readers. Its unpretending merit desei ves encouragement and sup- port, whicli it receives wherever it is known." — [Rucks Co. (Pa.) Intelligencer. •' We have been a regular reader of the Gtnesee Farmn for a laimber of yeais. It contains more good, sound reading matter — piartical and beneficial to the farmer — than any other monthly of the same size. The Gen^tee Farmer need not come in competition with any other pa- per. 'It lias a field ©t" \U own.' It costs — jwlhing, and every firnic-r may hare it. Three do*en eggs or tw» thickens will pay a year's subscription." — [Putnam Re- publican Banner. THE GENESEE FARMER. 353 " Tlie (ieiiesee Farmer is replete with matter, not only useful and iutel■e^till•^ to tlie aurifultunstsund horticultur- ists, but also to the getu-ral reader. It is published at duly tilty eeuts a year, and is the cheapest journal of its kind published perhaps in the world." — [Commercial Bulletin. The Genesee Farmer, of Rochester, N. Y., is so valuable and cheap, that no one can at^ord to be without it. J. iLuiius publisher — 60 cents a year. — [Pontiac Jacksouian. The Rcral Annual and HokticulturalDuiectory roB lSo8. — This beautiful work is now published. To tiiose who l.uve seen the previous volumes, it will be suffi- cient to say tliat the present volume is fully equal to its predecessors. ISH firmer or fnnt grower should be willi- out it. It contains carefully written treatises on manures for the orchard and garden; on the cultivation of fruit for market; on birds injui-ious and beneficial to the horticultur- ist; on the cultivation of grapes in the open air; on gar- den furniture; on rural architecture; on the cultivation of dwarf and standard pears; on transplanting vegetables, S^c, &c. It is illustrated with appro])riate and beautiful engravings, and is alike attractive and useful; The arti- (iea are all written expressly for its pages by able, practi- eal men. It is not, as some suppose, a new edition of last year's volume. Every line is new. It will be found inval- ttable to the fruit grower, and useful to every one interest- ed in rural pursuits. It will be sent, postage paid, to any address, on the re- oeipt of twenty-five cents in postage stamps. Address, JjOSEph Harris, Rochester, N. Y. Premiums for Short Essays. We will give a book (or books) of the value of one dol- Jar for the best Essay on each of the following subjects : On the Management of Permanent Grass Land; "■' On the Advantages of Cutting Grass or Grain by Ma- ehinery; On the best Method of making Stone Fences; for the ''e-t Practical Hints on building a Farm House; On the best Method of Breaking Steers; On tlie best Method of Breaking Colts; On the best time for Cutting and the best Method of Coring Clover for Hay; On the best Method of Curing Timothy and other Grasses; On the Cultivation of Peppermint; On the Cultivation of Liquorice; On the Management of Woodland; On Planting Trees on the Prairie for Shelter, Fuel and Timber; On the Benefits of Farmers' Clubs, and the best Plan for their Organization; On tlie Use of Superphosphate of Lime as a 'Manure; On the best Method of Pulverizing a Heavy Clay Soil; On the Best System of Rotation on a Clayey Farm; On the Best Svstem of Rotation on a Sandy Farm; On the Best Time for Cutting the various kinds of Grain; On the Best Time for Cutting Timber for Building and Jencing Purposes; * For the best Es^ay detailing Experiments in the Use of Muck applied Unmixed to the Soil; On the U-!e of Muck in Composts, and as Litter for Stables and Yards; * On the Cultivation of the Chinese Sugar Cane; On the Best Method of Destroying Red Root; On the Best Method of Destroying Canada Thistles; On the Best Method of Destroying Pigeon Weed; On the Cultivation of Sweet Potatoes, and keeping them through the Winter; On the Advantages of a Good Agricultural Library, and the best means of obtaining it; On the Ueclaiming and Management of Boggy Land; On the Propriety of Farmers Su[iporting none but Purely Agricultui-al Papers, as stick ; and is their publi- cation monthly often enough ? On the Best Manner of Binding Wheat; On the Duties of Landlord and Tenant to each other; On the Best Method of Raising, Gathering and Clean- ing Clover Seed; What are the Best Pastures for Dairy Cows ? On the Most Economical Method of Keeping Dairy Cows Through the Winter; On Fattening Sheep in Winter; On Fattening Cattle in Winter; For the Best Essay detailing Experiments in Feeding Cattlft or Horses with cut or uncut Hay, Corn Stalks, and other fodder; On Irrigating Grass Land; On Keeping Sheep on the Prairies. Horticultural Subjects. — On the Cultivation of Standard Pears; On the Cultivation of Dwarf Pears; On the Cultivation of Plums; On the Cultivation of Cranberries; On the Advantage of Shelter for Gardens, and the best Means of Providing it; On the Cultivation of Grapes in the Open Air; On the Cultivation of Hot House Grapes in Pots; On the Cultivation of Melons; On the Cultivation of Tomatoes; Ou the Cultivation of Rhubarb; On the Cultivation of Asparagus; On the Cultivation of Cabbage and Cauliflowers; On the Cultivation of Early Potatoes; On the Best Method and Time of Transplanting Ever- greens; What is the Cause of the Failure of so many Frai Trees sent out by Nurserymen ? On Planting Trees by the Roadside. For the Ladies. — What are the Proper Duties of a Farmer's Wife? On ^Making and Packing Down Butter for Winter Use; On Making Cheese from a few Cows; On the Best Method of leaking and Preserving Feather Beds; For the best Three Reasons why it is Desirable that Farmers' Wives and Daughters should write for the Genesee Farmer. For the best answer to the question " How can we most Profitably and Agreeably Spend our Winter Evenings?" How can Mothers best instil into the Minds of their Daughters a Love for Domestic Duties ? On tbe ^lanufacture of Vinejrar. Last rear we offered a dollar book for the " Best Dozen Domestic Receipt?," but it was found impossible to deter- mine which was the best without actual trial, and we awarded a twentv-five cent book to each of the competi- 356 THE GENESEE FARMER. tors. We now offer a Rural Annual, or any other work costing twenty-five cents, for any Dosen of Original Do- mestic Receipts which the committee considers worthy of publication. (The printer is rery anxious that the ladies should write only on one side of the paper.) The Essays should not exceed one page of the Gtnesee Farmer, say eiglit pages of foolscap — and must be received ■on or before the fifth of December, so that they can ap- pear in the January number. The articles will be submitted to competent judges. Brevity will be considered as a mark of excellence. We mean by brevity, not the omission of Avords necessary to make good grammar, but the expression of thoughts in as clear and concise a manner as possible. The prizes will be promptly announced, and the books immediately sent, pre-paid, by mail. «-•» " The Advantages of a Good Agricultukal Libra- KT, and the Best Means of Obtaining it." — One of our correspondents offers this as a subject for a Prize Es- say. It will be found in our list. We are not alloWed to compete ; but if we were, should suggest that the " ad- vantages" are " too numerous to mention," and that "the best means to obtain it" is to get subscribers lo the Gene- see Farmer. Any young man might, by a little effort, take our first premiums for the largest number of subscribers, and would thus obtain a seventy dollar library of the best agricultural and horticultural books. If he fail in obtain- ing the first premiums, he is certain of some of the smaller ones. We have increased the number of premiums to such an extent that, unless there is greater competition than there was last year, a club of twenty subscribers will take our lowest premiums. Last year we offered eight January premiums, and Mr. Edwards, of Centre Lisle, N. Y., took the eighth premium, w\i\\ Jifhj-three subscribers. This year we offer twelve premiums, and a correspondingly fewer number of subscribers will proba- bly take a premium. Let all young men who want an Agricultural Library, ask their neighbors to subscribe to the Genesee Farmer, and they will get it. Be will in this •way not only benefit himself, but greatly enhance the prosperity of the town in which he lives by the spread of agricultural and horticultural intelligence. Ontario Pear. — We are indebted to W. T. & E. Smitii, of Geneva, N. Y., for specimens of this Pear, ■which originated in Ontario county, about .eight miles ■wrest of Geneva, and is cousidered a valuable fruit for market purposes. It is of medium size, elongated, obtuse pyriform ; skin, pale yellow ; stalk, long, curved, inserted by a fleshy ring in a rather large depression ; calyx, par- tially f>losed, or opened in a shallow, irregular, corrugated basin ; ilesh, white, rather juicy, with a sweet, agreeable flavoi-. RippnH abont tho first nf October. Delaware Grapes — We are indebted tn IVfessrs. TI. E. Hooker & Co., of this city, for some Delaware grapes. It is almost impossible to say too much in favor of this variety. It is early, hardy and productive ; the bunches and berries of fair size, and of the most exquisite flavor. Missing Numbers. — If any of our subscribers have failed to receive, or have lost any numbers of the Farmer for this year, we will most cheerfully furnish them. OcR January Premiums. — Now is the time to conft- mence canvassing for new subscribers. The January number will be issued by the middle of December, and tlie earlier orders are sent in the better. We offer twelve liberal premiums for the greatest number of subscribers sent in by the fourteenth of January. A very little exer- tion in procuring subscribers will enable any one to tabe one of these premiums. Only try, and the Prize is yours. Now is the time to commence. ■ ♦♦«. Over Three Hundred Dollars in Premiums fob Subscribers to the Genesee Farmer. — It will be seen, by reference to our prospectus on another page, that we offer three hundred and twenty dollars' worth of books, at the lowest retail rates of the publishers, for subscribers to the Farmer for 1858. In addition t» this, we also offer liberal specific premiums, so that we have all prizes and no blanks. No one who tries can fail to take a premium. To our Agents. — If any of our friends have not received the Rural Afinual for getting up a club for the Farmer, we hope they will inform us, and it shall be forwarded immediately. Mistakes frequently occur, which are very annoying to our readers. These are sometimes our fault, and not unfrequently the fault of the Post Office Depart- ment. We are, however, always willing to send papers or books over again, without charge. To OUR Friends Everywhere. — We will gladly send specimen copies of the Genesee Farmer, and handsome show bills for 1858, to any of our friends who are disposed to act as agents in procuring subscribers. Show-bills. — Those of our friends to whom we seiiid show-bills, will greatly oblige us by posting them in sotas conspicuous place. ►«♦ Inqutritjs aniJ Sitstotr*. What Fruit Trees are Most Difficult to Tran^ PLANT ? — (R. G.) Nearly all our common fruit trees caii be transplanted, when not too large, without difficulty. Plants having long tap-roots, with few fibres, are most liable to injury from transplanting; and those whose soft, spongy roots, when broken or cut, do not readily heal, should be moved with care. The cherry, particularly when large, is perhaps more difficult to transplant than any other hardy fruit tree. Next to the cherry, the aprp- cot, nectarine, peach, pear, apple and quince, are least successfully removed in the order named. With proper care, however, you need apprehend no trouble in trang^ planting any of these trees at the age at which they are usually received from the nursery. The older they are the more care will be necessary. Density of Soils— (R. S., Seneca, C. W.) The defl>- sity or absolute weight of soils varies considerably, as will be seen fro-m the following table : Oni! cubic foot of drv silieious or 'calcareous sand woijrlfe alioiu .' 110 lbs. Half snnd and linlf clav 95 " CnmnKin r.nihle s. .il from SO to 90 " Pure Hgrieiiilnral cl.ny about 7.5 " Oardon mould TO " i Peaty soil ft-om 30 to 50 « Plaster ahd Lime as INIanure. — 1 would desire infcOf- mation respecting- the advantages to be derived from the use of piaster. How to be used on the different kinds of crops and soils, and the quantity to be used on each. Also,' THE GENESEE FARMER. 357 is there any perin;iiieiit beiietit derived from tlie use of lime upon land? It' so, wliat kind of land is biMutitted most, and at what time, ni d in what (]nantitv, should the lime be applied ? I should be extremely glad to see thor- ough answers to these iiuestions in some future number of jour paper. W. D. Mitchell. — Pin Oak, Wirrtu Co., Mo. ADVERTISEMENTS, To secure insertion in the Farmer, muat be received a:< early »fl tht 10th of the jirerious month, and be of such u character as to b( of interest to farmers. Terms -••Two Dollars Icr every hundred words, each insertion, paid in advanob. A. LONGETT, No. 34 CLIFF STREET, NEW YORK, DEALER in Peruvian, Colombian and Mexican GuanOj Super- phosphate of Lime, and Bone Dust. November 1, 1S57. — ly. AMERICAN FAKMEES' ENCYCLOPEDIA. THE most comprehensive work on American Agriculture, and a work of real value Twelve hundred pages, seventeen Lithographic Plates, besides ©tlier illustrations. Price $t. Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. Cata- logue of Asrricultural Books sent gratis to all applicants. A. 0. MOOKE, Agricultural Book Publisher, 140 Fulton street. New York. Kovember 1. — It. NEW KOCHELLE BLACKBERSY. GOOD, fcenuine plants 2.5 cents eacli ; $2 50 per dozen; $16 per hunJred; $150 per thousand. Liberal discount to the trade. LINN.EUS RHUBARB. The very best kind for pies, &c., $2 per dozen ; $10 to $15 per hundred ; $80 per thousand. Also, Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Mahaleb Cherry, Ptar and Quice Stocks, &c., &c. JOHN C. TEAS, Kaysville, Lnd. November 1. — It • YOUNG MEN, FORM A BOOK CLUB FOR YOUR TOWN. Get twenty or thirty gents and ladies, and, by a simple organization, you may have a Course of Lee tures, and also have all the jiopular^EJooks iif the day for circula tion in the Club, at little or no expense to each member. By-Lav.s, and full printed directions for forming Book Clubs, will be sent to any address, on application by mail, enclosing a stamp. Aiidress D. M. DEWEY, ectober 1.— 2t. Rochester, N. Y. ALBANY TILE WORKS, Corner of Patroon and Knox Streets, Albany, iV. Y. rjlHE subscribers, being the most extensive manufacturers of X Draining Tile in the United St;ites, have on hand, in large or araall quantities for Land Draining, the following descriptions. warrant j stiperior to any made in this country, hard bunied. On Sffders for 10,000 or more, a small discount will be made. HoRSE-SHOE Tile Cut 14 Inches Loxg — Pieces. 2% inches rise, -.$12 per 1000 3>i « " 15 " 4M " " — - - ^8 " m " « 40 « c>i « " - eo " 8 « « 80 " Sole Tilk Cct 14 Ixches Lo.v; — Pikces. 3 inches rise, - Si- per 1000 3 •' « 18 " 4 " « 40 " 5 " « 60 « 6 « " 80 " Also on hand, 6-inrh calibre Octagon Pipe, $39 per 100, and 8-inch •^ibre Round Pipe, $30 per 100, for large dmins Cornice Brick, rf the pattern used in the city of Wasliingtrin, also on hand. Or- dec3 solicited. Cartage free. C. & W. M'CAMMON, (Late Babcock & Van Vechtex,) Albanv, N. Y. DANA & CO.. Agents, ; October 1.— 2t, Utica, N. Y. ^GENESEE VALLEY NURSERIES. ^ FRUIT TREES, ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, &o. &e. THE Proprietors of these well-known Nurseries haye on hand a large and well-grown stock of FRUIT TREES, ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, UKEEN-HOUSE AND BEDDING PLANTS, DAHJdAS, PHLOXES AND OTHER HARDY BORDER PLANTS. The assortment of ROSES is very extensive, and embraces all varieties which could be obtained, and which are considered worthy of cultivation. Our eollectiou of HYBRID PERPETUAL3 is th« most complete in the country. The GREEN-HOUSE DEl"'ARTMENT receives particular atten- tion, and the stock of Fuchsias, (leraniums, and other Green-houfi* Plants, is large and varied. In the FRXJIT DEPARTMENT, orR stock consists of APPLES, of the leading varieties, Dwarf and Standard. PEARS, of all desirable varieties, on Quince and Pear Stocks. PLUiMS — A cboice selection of well-grown trees, of popular sorts. CHERRIES— All the popular sorts, Dwarf and Standard. PEACHES — A choice assortment. NECTARINES, APRICOTS and QUINCES, in variety. GRAPES — A complete assortment of both Native and Foreign sorts, including many of recent introduction. SMALL FRUITS. CURRANTS— -Twenty-five choice sorts, including many new va- rieties. RASPBERRIES,. GOOSEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES and STR.iVV BERRIES, of all new ami approved varieties. We have, for the accommodation of Nurserymen, STOCKS and SEEDLINGS, including APPLE, PEAR, PLUM, CHERRY, OUINCE, &c. &c. Also, SEEDLINGS OF EVERGREEN TREES, including Norway Spruce, Balsam Fir, Scotch Pine, Austrian Pine, Larch and Hedge Plants. OUNA3IENTAJL DEPARTMENT. The stock of Ornamental Trees and Shrub.s, both Deciduous and Evergreen, will be found to embrace all that is desirable among LAWN and .STREET -TREES and SHRUBS. ROSES — Consisting of Hybrid Perpetual and Summer Roses, Moss, Bourbon, Noisette, Tea, Bengal or China, and CUmbing or Piairie Roses. HARDY HERBACEOUS or BORDER PLANTS, and BULBOUS FLOWER ROOTS — An extensive assoitment. All the above will be disposed of at low rate.', and on advanta- geous terms. For further details, we refer to our full set of Cata- logues, which will be mailed to ajiplicants who enclose a one cent stamp for each. No. 1. Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits, &c. No. 2. Descriptive Catalogue of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, &c. No. 3. Descriptive Catalogue of Green-house and Bedding Plants, Dahlias, &c. No. 4. Wholesale or Trade List for Nurserymen and Dealers. l;!^ Amateurs and others interested in Horticulture, are re- spectfully invi_ted to visit our Shfiw Grounds and Green houses, at 153 South Sophia street, a short distance from the central part of th6 city. JfT^ All communications to be addressed to A. FROST & CO., Sept. 1. — 3t. Genesee Valley Nurseries, Rochester, N. Y. BUFFALO NURSERIES OAKLAND'S GARDENS GREENnOlSES. THE subscribers offer for sale, the ensuing autumn and spring, a large and flue stock of— FRUIT TREES. EMBRACIXQ Apple, rUini, Pear, Cherry, Peach, Apricot, — Also — Apple, Cherry, and Quince Stocks, rie.s, Raspberries and Currants. The Ornamental Department is full and extensive, including a superb stock of Evergreens and Roses. '0j~ Special attention is called to the Tear trees, both standard and Dwarf, as we have a hirgo and unusually fine stock. Catalogues wiU bo sent to persons reiiuesting them. Office on Ferry street, Buffalo, N. Y. Sept.-3t. MANLEY & MASON. Ncetnrine, Quince, &c., &o. Strawberries, Gooseber. 358 THE GENESEE FARMER. GEJVESEE FARMER DE'osFiL 3.ese. During the present year, the circulation of the Genesee Farmer has nearly doubled. We believe it has now a larger list of sub- scribers than that of any similar journal in the world. This is mainly due to the voluntary effort* of the friends of Agricultunil and Horticultural Improvement, who have kindly consented to act as agents, in procuring and forwarding the names of subscribers in their respective districts. To Postmasters, especially, we are un- der great obligations, for their disinterested labors in increasing the circulation of the Farmer ajid. Rural Annual. Grateful for past favors, and hoping for a continuance of them, we have determined to make great improvements in the volume for 1858. We have purchased an entire dress of new type, have made arrangements for a supply of better paper, and intend to spare no expense in procuring engravings of Farm Houses, Build- ings, Animals, Jfachiues, Implements, new Fruit Trees, Shrubs, &c. The Genesee Farmer is the only fifty cent agricultural paper in this country that is not made up from a weekly paper. It con- tains as much matter as any of the dollar monthlies, and much more than many of them. It hag a larger and more extensive list of correspondents than any similar journal in the woild. It is published in one of the finest agricultural and fruit growing sec- tions in the United States, and we number among our correspond- ents many of the best practical farmers and gardeners in the countr3'. The paper is not local in its character. No farmer nor fruit grower in any section of the Union, or in the aiijoining Provinces, can readJa single number without getting some hint that may prove valuable. Encouraged by past favors, we have determined to offer a much more extended LIST OF PREMIUMS FOR 1858. SPECIFIC PREMIUMS. 1. To every person who seeds Eight Subscribers, {at our lowest terms of thirty-seven and a half cents each,) we will send, postage paid, a copy of our beautiful twenty-five cent book the Rural An- nual for 1858. 2. To every person who sends us Sixteen' subscribers, (at our lowest club terms of thirty-seven and a half cents each,) one extra copy of the Genesee Farmer, and «ne copy of the Rural Annual. 3. To every person sending us Twk.ntt-kobr subscribers, as above, two copies of the Rural Annual, and rme extra copy of the Farmtr, ©r any agricultural work valued at 50 cents, postage paid. 4. To any person ordering Thirtt-Two copies of the Farmer, as above, three copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at 75 cents, postage paid. 5. For Foktt, four copies oF the Rvrnf Annua} and one ffxtr* e<»py of the Farmer, or any agricuitural b:>ok valued al $1, pusiage paid, or four extra copies of the Farmer. fi. For Forty-kight, five cojiies of the Ttvrtd Jnnual and one t^xtra copy of the Farmer, orany agricultural book valued at 51,25, postage ;ia,id, or five extra copies of the Farmer. For larger numbers, books or papers given ia the same propor- tion. £2^" To save expense te our friends, we pay the postage on all these works, aad persons entitled will state what th«y wish sent, and mak« their gelectioai! when they send ordei-g; or if their list is Bot complete, if wished, we will delay sending until the clab is foU. JANUARY PEEMIUKS! For tHe Greatest Number of Subscrifeors. Ia order to exoite a little campetition among »ur friends every- where, »a well as t« reward tliem for their voluntary lahors in be half of our jouraal, we make the following liberal offers. Those who do not get the premiums offered below are sure of the abov^ej 60 tbat we have no blanks. 1. Twe.vty Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person sendinft us the largest number of subscribers (at the lowest club price of thirty-sevon ,T.nd a half cent.s each,) before the fourteenth day of January. 1S68, so that we can announce the successful competitors in tlie February number. (Tlie oroer with the money must be received, not mailed, before the fourteenth of January. Last 3 ear many of our agents mailed letters on the fourteenth, think- ing they would be in time to compete for the January Premi- ums ) 2. FiFTEEJf Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person send- ing us the Second highest list, as above. 3. Fourteen Dollars in Agricultural Books to the|person send- ing us the Third highest list, as above. 4. Tbirtee.v Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Fourth highest li.st, as above. 5. Twelve Dollars in Agrii^ultural Books to the person send- ing us the Fifth highest list, as above. 6. Eleven Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Sixth highest list, as above. 7. Ten Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending U8 the Scvenlh highest list, as aoove- 8. Nine Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Eigldh highest list, as above. 9. Eight Dollars in Agiicultural Books, to the person send- ing us the Ninth highest list, as above. lu. Seven J ollars in Agricultural Books, to the person send- ing us the Tenth highest list, as above. 11. Six Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person sending us the Eleventh highest list, as above. 12 Five Dollars in .\gricult«ral Books, to the person sending us the Twelfth highest list, as above. There is not a town in the United States where any person, l^ showing his neighbors a copy of the paper and asking them to subscribe, might not take some of the above January Premiums. The Premiums will be promptly paid. The'Books can be selected by the person taking a premium from the very complete list wnich we publish in our advertising columns, or we will get any works which are required, and furnish them at the lowest retail price ctf the publishers. Our object in offering Books is to increase their circulation throughout the country. LARGE APRIL PREMIUMS For the Greatest Number of Subscribers. 1 FIFTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books (at the lowei* prices,) to the person who shall send us the largest number of sub- scribers at the lowest club price of 3734 cents, before the 15th day of April next, so that we may announce the successltil competitors 3l the May numl>er. 2. THIRTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall semi us the second highest list, a."! above. 3. TWE.N'TY FIVE DOLLARS, in Agricultural Booka to the persor who shall send the thiid highest list, as above. 4. FIFI'EEX DOLLAR-^, in Agricultural Books, to the person who slial! send us the fourth highest list, as above. 5. Ffi!;",rKi:.N D» Rural Annnal. In cluhs of eight, we send the Farmer for one year, and a o«py of the Rnral Annual for fifty cents. In other words, for FODR noLLAHS we will set li eii;ht copies of the Farmer lor one year, and fio-ht copies of the Rural Annual For eight hollars we will «"o:l sixteen copies of the Genesee Farmer and sixteen copies of Ike Rwal. Annual, and one extra copy of each for the person who gets up the club. Any person sending us $3 for a Hnh of eight of the Genesee Far, mer shall receive «ne copy o'' the Rural Annual for his ti-oubl% posbijie ])aid. Vfp send the club to one address, or write the name of each sufc- Kcriber on his paper, as requested. Our Agents, and Competitors for the above Premiums, will re- member that our terms aie always IN ADVANCE. One copy. Fifty Cents a tear; five copies for $2 ; eight conies tor $3, an4 any irreater number tt the same rate, (TItree Shillings per copy.) iCW Subscription Money, properly enclosed, may be sent ^ mail at mv risk. Names can be added to a club at any time. Address, JOSKPH HARRIS, November, 1857. Rochester, N.T. I THE GENESEE FAKMER. 359 BOOKS FOR THE FARMERS.' rURNISHKD BY THE rROl'RlKTOK OK (JKXESEE FARMER. The Farm Engineer. l?y Ritchie. Piicu $3. Guon's Domestic Mfdicine. J'lice $o. The Ciiw, Dairy Husbaiiilry, and ("alile breeilinit. Price 25 cts. Efery l.ady her owu Flower Ganlener. I'ricB 25 cents. V!i>! Amaricaa Rose Culturer. Pi ice '2-i eeuts. Prize Essay on H:uiares. By S. 1.. Dana. Price 2.') centfl. Tlio Pests of the F.irm, with directions for exlirpatiou. Price "5 cents. Horses — their Varieties, Breediug, Management, Jfec. Price 26 cents. The Hive and Honey Bee — their Diseases and Remedies. Price ^ eents. The Hnpr — its Diseases and Mana;^ement. Price 25 cents. Tile American Bird Fancier — Breedini;, Raising, kc. 25 cts. Domestic Fowls and Oriiament.il Poultry. Price '2'j cent.s. Chemistry made E:u-iy for the Use of Farmers. Price 25 cts. The American Poultry Yard. Price JSl. Tlie American Field Book of Manures. Embracing all the Fer- ifecrs known, with directions for use. By Bx-owne. $1.25. Buist's Kitchen (Jardener. Price 75 cents. Stocls.h:u-t's Chemical Field Lectures. Price $1. Wilson on the Cullivrtiou of Flax. Price 25 cents. TUf F.vrmer's Cyclope.la. By Blake. Price $1.25. Anion's Rural Aichi'ecture. Price $1.25. Pholps'a Bee Kei'pei"s Chart. Illustrated. Pricn '2.'i i-ents. Joliuston's .-Vijricultural Chemistry. I'rice $1.25. Joh»»toQ'B Elements of Agricultural Chemistry aad Geology. Prite $1. Randall's Sheep Husbandry. Price $1.25. Miner's American Bee-Keeper's Manual. Price $1. Fessendeu's Complete Farmer and Gardener. 1 toI. Price $1.25. Allen's Treatise on the Culture of the Grape. Price $1. foiMitt on the Breeds and Management of Sheep. Price 75 cts. Toaatt on the Hog. Complete. Price 60 cents. Touatt and Martin on Cattle. By .Stevens. Price $1.25. The Shepherd's owu Book. Edited by Youatt, Skiuuer and Ran- dall. Price $2. Allen's American Farm Book. Price $1. The American Florist's Guide. Price 75 cents. Tke Cottage and Farm Bee-Keaper. Price 50 cents. C«cntry Dwellings ; or the American Architect. Price $6. hash's Proijressive Farmer. A book for every boy in the c.oun- tay. Price 50 cents. Seattle's Southern Agriculture. Price $1. Smith's Landscape Gardening. Containing hints on arranging Parks, Pleasure Grounds, &c. Edited by Lewis F. Allen. Price $1.25. The Araeric.%n Fruit Grower'iS Guide in Orchard and Garden. Price SI 25. Tbnraas"Farm Implements. Price $1. Beeeher's Domestic Receipt Book. Price 75 cents. " '• Economy. Price 75 ceiit."!. Bement's .American Poulterers' Companion. Price $1.2>5. The Chine.sc Sugar Cane and Sugar .Making. Price 25 cents. Linslny's Morgan Hoi-ses. Pric« $1. Li*big's Animal Chemistry. Price 25 cent.'. Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained. Price $1. Reeraelin's Vine Dressers' Manual. Price 60 cents. CSiorlton's Grape (jrow»>rs' Guide. Piice RO cents. Miner's American Poultry Book. Price 50 cents. Cuenon's Treati.se ou Milch Cows. Price 3? cwiits. Tiae Ladies' Guide, or SUillful Housewife, Price 25 cents. Lei'big's Familiar Letters on Chemistry. Piice )2'2 cents. Skinner's Elements of Agriculture. Price 25 cents. Tiie Horse's Foot, and How to Keep it Sound. Price 25 cents. J- hnson's Catechism of Agricultural Chefiu. plainly. New York and Canada West Fairs. — Do yott think there is improvement in the management of Fairs over a few years ago? It seems to me there is, and there is room for still more. " Young America"' must be held in check, however, for " large receipts '^ are not the great object of Agricultural Fairs. — There may be success in " drawing a crowd," which: shall work great injury to the future of the cause. Domestic Pigeons. — There is a suggestive para*- graph at the close of this article on teaching children- the habit of caring for animals. Pets of this kind/ 366 THE GENESEE FARMER. are of great use in this respect — and it is well that every child should have something to call its own, — something which is partially, at least, dependent on its care. Cutting up Corn. — It saves some heavy lifting in binding corn, as described by "A. S. B.;" to tie the corn rvitJwut taking vp, — a little care by the cutter will leave the stalks sufficiently even. I am versus topping in any case. The Farmer for 18.58 — Will be worthy of " new type and better paper," if of anything like the value of the present volume. That it will be better, we do not doubt in the least, and every present reader should subscribe and ask his neighbor to do likewise. He will benefit himself by increasing the editor's power to make the paper better, as well as by help- ing the cause of rural improvement. Mind your Business. — A truly suggestive Essay, this of friend Sanfield's. The farmer has business enough to occupy his hands, hi? head, and his heart — business for all his strength and skill — all his knowledge and intellect — ail his moral powers and afl'ections. Let him attend to it. Improve your Fowls — Good advice, surely, but too many farmers need to improve materially in their estimate of the needs of poultry, or the best fowls would fail under their system of management. Hens should be cared for at all seasons of the year — should have proper food and shelter — and they will then prove profitable. We mean to try the Black Span- ish for eggs, with the Dorkings for raising chickens. Grapes AND their Culture. — I have tried several times, with but little success, to raise grape vines from cuttings. This year I layered a vine, and have five or six good plants. One old vine bore several bushels, but they ripened later than usual, and some were frosted. These were not lost, however, as they were picked immediately, and thawed in cold water, and came out fresh, and uninjured, at least, for pre- serving. B. Niagara Co., JY. Y. NOTES FOR THE MONTH.-BY S. W. The Genesee Farmer and its Editor. — When, in 1850, I read in the Genesee Farmer a very interest- ing, unique rural article, over the signature of Joseph Harris, I then set him down as an old, thorough- bred farmer, au fait of the chemistry, as well as of the practical and mechanical routine, of his high calling. What was my surprise, then, when, two or three years afterwards, I saw him for the first time, not an old, but a young man — an English farmer's son, not only to the manor born among his father's bovines of Herd Book pedigree, but with a voca- tion and love for his inherited calling rarely to be found even in a farmer's son. His t^ree years' study and daily practice on the Rothamsted Experimental Farm, under the instructions of the indefatigable Lawes and the erudite Gilbert, had filled his mind with a love of truth as it is in nature, counting as nothing all theories that would not stand the test of experiment. Here, also, he acquired those habits of discrimination, and that logical acumen, which he now so often displays in his sometimes rather unsparing criticisms on the agricultural theories of others. He has ever been a watchful sentinel of farmers' inter- ests—so unremitting in exposing the cheat in special manures, that he once dofied his pen and donned the the garb of an Irish laborer, to obtain admittance as a workman into a New Jersey superphosphate and guano laboratory, in order that he might discover the occult frauds, and refute the similated afiidavits by which his own arguments were attempted to be de- feated, and the farmers stultified. This incident alone shows the indomitable character of the man, in his loyalty to the farmer's cause. But aside from his own editorial matter — which is admitted, even by his competing brethren of the craft, as standiag at the head of our agricultural literature — the late ex- tra contributions to the Farmer of Prize Essays by his practical farmer readers, ma)e and female, ars of great interest to every individual who lives by dairy or tillage. Hence, no matter how many other good agricultural papers the farmer takes — and they are all good — he should by no means neglect to join a club and pay the paltry sum of thirty-seven and & half cents for the Genesee Farmer. Mr. Harris also publishes a Rural Annual, at twenty-five cents. No farmer and gardener should be without this well and late-posted and improved repertorial manual. Turnips among Corn — Prairie Grass, &c. — C. Brackett, of Fulton Co., Ind., is right when he sows turnip seed after the last working among corn — not to get edible turnips, but only that the plants may cover the ground when the corn is removed. Their tops then organize the ammonia of the atmos- phere, and are afterwards to be eat down by sheep, whose excrements fertilize the soil. In reply to his querj-, I must say that all prairie grass which ever came under my notice was coarse. All the varieties of Agrostis and Poas are much coarser than the grasses of the same family in this region, to say nothing of the great variety of wild flowering shrubs, which, when in bloom, appear in the distance to over- shadow all that is green and edible. The Advantages of a Grass Country proper. — I asked a farmer neighbor, the other day, how a man of his experience came to make his first farm loca- tion (after leaving his fair island home) in the snowy regions of Madison county, where corn rarely ripened, and wheat was not. He replied that the town of Otselic was the most profitable dairying and stock- growing town in the State of New York. The five years he lived there he never saw pastures suffer from drouth, while here, with the single exception of the past summer, he never witnessed one summer without a trying drouth, which, although it ripened the corn, was always death on pastures, and oftea materially shortened the hay and oat crops. Again, he said they not only had double the crop of oata and grass there, but, when warmly stabled in winter, it took no more hay to winter cattle there than here. True, snow comes in November, and hes until near May; but it keeps the pastures warm, and they have grass there as early as here, and more of it — as oar pastures are too often fed close, when theirs are pro- tected from such bootless economy by the early and late snow. Sorghum does not Ripen its Seed here. — I hacJ two rows of thickly-planted Sorghum, which grew larger and taller than any I saw on exhibition at either our County or State Fair; but, although frost kept off till the iOth of October— a month after the seed and leaves came to a stand — the seed failed to represent those planted, both in color and farina. I There can be no doubt that, with a powerful THE GENESEE FARMER. 36'7 "Crusher, to go by horse or steam power, this very fiweet and juicy cane may be made profitable for syrup, ■eveu at tlie Xorth. For toiliuff cows, it is altogethi,'r 'the most profitable and nutritious Ibragiiig plant ■known here. But how is a supply of plump, healthy seed to be obtained ? Perhaps the tar South can answer the query. I will bury a few Joints of cane to plant next season, as an experiment. In the Paris Bulletin d\']cclii)uil<^lion for September, 1856, we read that the Iniphee of Lkoi'old Weay — the Sor- gho de Cdjfres — l)ears rich, farinaceous seed, and that the coolies on the plantations of Martinique prefer it to Chinese rjce. But there can be no doubt that such seed is only formed at the expense of the sugar of the cane. I\[. Hayot, of Martinique, commends the Imphos mainly for its cereal predict, giving the juice no other character than that of making good flavored spirits, tafia. M. G. Bal- -guerif: also commends the Imphee as being earlier than the Chinese Sorgho a Sucre, which Mons. Martig.vy had contributed to Freoch agriculture from North China. Our seed, from the Patent Of- ■^fice, is of this variety. The Times and the Crisis. — vVe too often hear the banks charged with causing the evils the present ■salutary revulsion brings with it; but the banks are only the iools which, when unskillfully used, bring mischief to those who use them, and death to such •banks as have shaved or gambled themselves, or aided their customers to make railroads Vv^ith paper devices, and build cities on land which had better- been planted to corn. A purely metallic currency may do for a country where the few are privileged to trade, and the mass to labor for a daily pittance; but Young America needs a mixed and larger currency, because here we are all sovereigns, aud feel ourselves such, no matter if we are sometimes poorer than the poorest of legitimate kings. One great blessing attendant on these times, is that retrenchment, reform, and ever-blessed domestic economy are now working such a protective and prohibitory tariff on imports as Horace Greelt, and other high protectionists, never dreamed could be accomplished without the aid of legislation. But the end of the crisis has come; gold no longer bears a premium, and the banks will soon resume specie payments, when all legitimate business will go on agaia as usual ; while specula- "tion, over-trading and stock-gambling will remain in abeyance, for a few brief years at least. S. W. Waterloo, JV. Y. SE2EING TO TIMOTHY GRASS. The fall of 1856, it will be remembered, was one of remarkable drouth; in fact, there was little rain of any amount from July to January. Copsequently my experience in "Seeding to Timothy" must be ta- ken with several "grains of allowance" for this state of things, ae it might have been materially changed by a different seascu. So much of preliminary. Spring seeding, v/ith grain crops, I have observed often fails of success from drouth, from the growth of grain choking the grass, and from weeds, and, as a general rule, the first crop of grass is but a light one. ■So I thought, I would try seeding in August on oat stubble, first harrowing the same thoroughly. But after preparing the ground, I waited for rain until the J20th of September, at which time a slight shower oc- cured, when I sowed some six acres. Expecting more rain soon, T did not harrow in the seed, as prob- ably should have been done, and the growth was de- layed for some weeks on that account. In the mel- low .«pots, it came up promi)tiy and thickly. So I am sure the seed was good, and think enough was sown lor all practical purposes. Si.v quarts per acre, or even four, will cover the ground, ami, by the next fall, give quite a sward, under favorable circum- stances. The continued drouth left the ground fjuife bare of grass, and, in the sjiring, it seemed entirely so. I ought to have said that the soil was clay, with some muck — originally a black ash sv/amp — and hencr^ lia- ble to winter-kill, or rather yj;r//(,g-kill, as it is March and April weather which docs the business. ]>ut the favorable summer has brought on quite a growth of grass, mostly Timothy, and I see that I have about as good success as a neighbor who seeded when sowing his oats in the spring, instead of after harvesting them. There are still some bare spots, and many weeds were intermingled, so that the hay only paid for cutting; but the grass has grown well since mowed, and will, next year, I think, cover the whole surface. If I had harrowed in my grass seed, it would have done altogether better; aud had there been rain also, so that it could have grown fairly in the fall, my suc- cess would have been complete. On some loamy knolls, there is now a good sward of nearly pure Timothy. I see that wet land needs peculiar care in stocking, and that a moist season is essential to com- plete success. Draining would help on the matter materially; in fact, it is the groundwork of all im- provement of such soils, aud should be attended to, if practicable, the first thing in their cultivation. A low corner of my barley lot was sown to Timo- thy m the spring, but " the catch" was a very slight one, and the clover sown on the uplard did but poorly, on account of the extreme drouth. I shall continue my experiments in fall seeding, giving, if possible, better preparation of the ground, early sow- ing, harrowing in, and sufScient draining, at any rate, to carry off the surface water. An experiment in seeding on a marsh, with black muck soil, was rather more successful than the above. But my communi- cation is already sufficiently " elongated " for your pages. B. Roxjalton, JV. Y. Farmers' Debating Societies. — Now is the time to establish a Farmers' Debating Society. Let it be got up in the manner of a Farmers' Club, where the residents of each district will meet and spend an evening every week, so as to enlighten each other in their individual experience in practical farming. Here we may discuss every subject connected with our calling, from the growing of a turnip to the rearing of an ox or a horse, including household du- ties, such as the making of butter and cheese, the best method of curing and preserving butter, hams, pork, &c. The best varieties of the various kinds of fruits, and the mode of culture, may be brought out to a great advantage, in such a manner as to be a lasting benefit to each member of such Club, instead of the useless (and sometimes worse than useless) subjects argued at the school-house by the Debating Society, D. Gates, JV. Y 368 THE GENESEE FARRIER. BACKS FOR FEEDING SHEEP. Ens. Genesee Fakmer: — In the November num- ber for 1856, a correspondent furnished you with a figure and description of one of the most convenient sheep racks with which I have any acquaintance. Please re-insert the cut in connection with my de- scription, as it will make plainer an improvement I have effected. The posts, 40 inches high, are 3 inch scantling. The top board 5 inches wide — the lower board 6 inches, and one foot from the ground. Bottom boards about 8 inches wide, are nailed on each side against the lower edge of the side boards; and two boards, about ten inches wide, the edges nailed to- gether at right angles, are placed upon these in the centre of the rack, forming the remainder of the bot- tom. My improvement consists in putting in a wedge-shaped piece against the side of each post, so as to make the top of the rack flaring, and 4 inches wider than above represented. The top boards for the end? of the rack should be sawed diagonally at each end, (upper edge 30 inches — lower 26 inches,) instead of square as above. The frame is now ready for the slats, 2 inches wide and 22 inches long, head- ed at the top, and nailed against the lower part of the top board, inside, and to the slanting bottom boards in the centre. They are placed three inches apart, and I find sixpenny nails better than eights for nailing them. Ten feet long is perhaps as con- venient as any length, on account of moving. This " trough and rack combined " will pay for its cost by the saving of fodder in two months' use. — There can be no more wasteful method of farming than scattering hay about the yards for the sheep to trample upon until they utterly refuse to eat it. Last year I fed several hundred bushels of oat chaff to my sheep, in the-se racks, also bean straw, clover hay, oats and refuse beans, without a shilling's waste of fodder. Making the racks wider across the top ren- ders them easier to fill — without increasing the chance for the falling of chaff and grass seed into the necks of the sheep. 1 hope other farmers will try them — I will warrant them to please. S. F. T. Niagara Co., JY. Y., JYov., 1857. Cheap Farm-Laborer. — Farmers find it difficult to get laborers; but there is one chap, who so far as he goes, is an admirable workman, whose services may be had for nothing. That is Jack Frost — who if allowed to operate, will reduce much hard, clavey soil of autumn, into a fine mellow condition 'by spring, if turned up by the plow for his harrow to pulverize. This tool of his is remarkable for its myriads of fine, needle-like teeth, which enter be tween the minutest particles and tear them assunder into powder. — [Tucker's Annual Register. THE WEATHER AND CROPS OF 1857. If your numerous contributors, in diiFerent parts of the country, would give an aeconnt of the wea- ther and crops in their vicinity, it would aid us all in forming a correct estimate of the year's productive- ness, and of the effects of diflferent atmospherical conditions upon the same. In this section, the early part of the season was wet and cold, — vegetation very backward. In June the lowlands were flooded, drowning out much of the growing crops. Most of the months of July and August were quite dry, baking hard the heavy soils that were worked when wet in the spring. The months of September and October were mild and pleasant, (a little too much rain during the latter,) affording the corn crop the opportunity so much needed for matu- ring. Killing frosts held off until the l*Jth of Octo- ber. On warm, naturally drained soils, corn i5 heavy; on cold, wet pieces, it is poor. Wheat — a light yield of grHin; straw heavy; ber- ry, much injured by the niidge. Fields drilled in, the best. I wonder that a farmer of the intelligence and sa- gacity of John Johnston, had not discovered the merits of the grain- drill before this. I consider it one of the most useful of our many labor-saving farm implements. Barley was less than half an average crop. There was an unusual breadth sown. Oats — a fair yield, but barley had scarcely left it a growing place on the farm. Buckwheat — a good crop,, and an unusual large breadth sown, as there was much land too wet for spring sowing. The hay crop has been the largest and most profit- able one of the season. And now, if farmers are not too stupid to profit by the sad lessons of experi- ence, stock will not look so miserable next spring as they did last. I'otatoes are a light yield, and on most farms badly diseased. Farmers must learn to plant pota- toes on dry, sandy loam, that has not been recently manured. I never lose potatoes by the rot, except when I plant on sod or freshly manured ground. There is the briskest demand for potatoes in our market — Palmyra — of anything the farmer has to sell. I have just sold my Mercers and Garters for fifty cents per bushel, to be shipped to New York. The products of the garden were not very abun- dant, especially early vegetables. Later ones were more plentiful. There has been a rather scanty snpyly of fruit in this vicinity. Cherries were a failure. Strawberries nearly so. Other berries quite abundant. Peaches, in some favoied localities, were a fair yield, but as a general thing the earlier and better varieties were scarce. Pears pretty good. Apples, except in or- chards located on the east side of hills, were the lightest yield that I ever knew. In the northern part of Wayne county, bordering the lake, I understand the apple crop was good. They have a grand fruit region down there. Now, Messrs. Editors, I believe I have made quite a general view of the season now drawing to a close, as observed in the counties of Ontario and Wayne, (N. Y.) I think we have a plenty of food to sustaia as THE GENESEE FARMER. >69 until another harvest, and a small surplus to spare, which farmers are becomiui; quile ready to dispose of — even at the present reduced prices, so as to pay their dehts, and do their pari towartls reniovinp the heavy pressure resting upon the business of the country. P. C. Rkvnolds. JVear Palmyra, A'. Y , A''ov. Gib, 18.17. A FEW THOUCiTS ON AGRICTJLTUEE. It is proposed, in this and succeeding papers, to give the readers of the Cknkske Farmer the theory and practice oC one of its rcadeis on the best me- thod of conducting a farm, with the hope that some will be benefitted by it, and others led to give their views for the benefit of us all. The farm should be so managed as to pay for all labor bestowed upon it^ and ultiunitely pay for itself. Improvements that do not pay, ouglit, as a rule, to be discarded; and in order to know how that matter stands, every farmer should keep an exact account with every field on his farm. The first great fault, of American farmers is our greed for land. V\'e all uumt more land, while there is nothing we need less. Full nine tenths of us al- ready possess double the laud we can thoroughly and profitably cultivate; else why so many fence cor- ners and fiekls filled with bi'ush, weeds, briars, logs, €tunvps and stones? The men who own such fields have got too much land. Whoever owns such a field, and cannot get time to clear it, and is too poor to hire it done, is too poor to own that field, and would be belter ofl' without it; and the man who has so much plowing, or mowing, or reaping to do that he cannot find time to mis muck with his manure and keejj them prop- erly sheltered, has got too much land. I have known a good many farmers to be so hur- ried that they could fiot find time to put their ma- nure on the land before seeding, and so raised mere shadows of crops — when, if they had expended the liibor put on half of the land, in putting manure on the eihe other half, they would have been the gain- ers. They have most decidedly got too much land. I am well convinced, from what I have seen in travelling through most of the Northern States and Canada, that not one farm in fifty produces more than one-half what it might if properly cultivated. Thirty acres of land will furnish all the labor two good strong men can do. ■ Not that no man should own more, but I do protest ao:ainst farming one hundred acres with the labor that ought to be put on thirty. In fact, no man can afford to own any more land than he can keep well fenced, well tilled, and well supplied with buildings. Lynii, Pa. G. C. Lyman. •> Rules foe Fatteni.vg Animals. — I. Let them have good, clean, nourishing food. 2. Feed them with the utmost regularity as to time — for " hope deferred"" wastes flesh by fretting. 3. Feed often, and never give a surplus. 4 Let the pen or stable be kept clean and sweet — dirt or filih is always ad- verse to thrift. .5. Let the air be fresh and pure. 6. The water they drink must be pure. 7. They should have 7-est most of the time, and only very gentle exercise. 8. Keep them tranquil, and avoid fright and anxiety. If all these are carefully ob- serv.edj they will make a vast difference in results. [Tucker's Annual Register. TO DESTROY CANADA THISTLES. Messrs. KniTons : — " S," in the Fanner of Sep- ten\ber, asks for information in destroying Canada Thistles. I have destroyed them in the following njanner: The large patches I plowed early in the spring, and cross-plowed before the thistles mode their appearance, and so continued to do until they disappeared entirely, which was about three months, I bi-lieve. The smaller patches I cover with old straw about eighteen inches deep, and turn the straw thoroughly once in about ten days, in order to keep the thistles under. They should not be allowed to show themselves above the straw, nor grow up far into it. This method, if well attended to, will de- stroy them in about two months. I think the best time to apply the straw is when they are about six inches high. By so doing they aie dropped to a horizontal position, and are not \\\w\y to grow, and the top becoming sickly and souring, weakens the root. Another method which I have tried on several small patches with good success, is, salt, say half a handful to each thistle. Stamp ihe thistle down to the ground, and drop the salt upon it. My experi- ence with Canada Thistles was in Western New York. We are not troubled with that pest here. Grand Rapids, Mich. G. Loking. GOOD CULTURE FOR CORN. Messrs. Editors: — I will give you my experience in corn raising, this wet, cold, backward season. I had four acres quite wet, flat sand wheat btubble. I put eighty loads barn-yard and cow-stable manure on the piece, and plowed it with Smith's double plow, fourteen inches deep, and planted the sixth of June, in good order. W^ell, it commenced to rain, and it rained for three weeks, and the corn growed slow, whilst many pieces that had been shallow plowed did not grow at all, only yellow. Mine kept its color, and as soon as it came dry, I put it in the cultivator and kept it growing, and now it is as heavy a piece of corn as you often see, whilst those that were croaking at me lor only plowing from three quarters of an acre to one acre per day, and never getting ready to plant, can have the pleasure of harvesting nubbins. My husks have not grown long enough to cover the ears of corn. I planted the Ohio Dent. D. S. Linesville, Pa,. m •■^m' Raising Calves. — The premium essay on the " Management of Calves," in the October number of the Farmer, is to my mind correct in its principles, in these times of economy. It is the course I have pursued for quite a number of years past, with the slight variation of the addition of an egg beat up and incorporated with the milk at each feeding, un- til the calf is some ten or twelve weeks old. I then omit the egg, or give it only occasionally, as I think fitting the necessities of the calf, until I cease to feed, which is usually at about fifteen weeks. By this method, I think I usually succeed in raising calves as good as my neighbors who let their calves draw the milk from the cow twice a day; and at one year old, my calves are generally a little better — by which I mean, in the spring their coats are brighter and smoother, if their bodies are no larger. D. Gates, JV. Y. 370 THE GENES-EE FAR^JER. 'r/ /^^/^;_^/^5^^-iF^ 1 iJ^r''**-'=**'"*««sF^ ^-3 0 c to o ►^ c ^« I ° £. a ^=2. M 2" g £,. td "^ w ce S -M "^ ^ (u -— a> ^ w c 5' 3 o =3 "H DC fl O S. « ». !" o ^ S •= S: o "^ -3 S. ^ W o 3 M ^ ■*^ B . « .- ^ 5 -o "S." & ^ 2: THE GENESEE FARMER. 371 p ? » H H y c (R as -1 •^ V SI O C3 p a :i; c- C- c- s ^ o =^ 3" 5 p £; •3 A _, o c 3 rr* e S *" ^ g. ° H ^ — c ^ ^ ■" o _ r 3 :^ '> B P o ^ ? .3 g (R 2 5" 2 a. ^ 2, 2. 5 CO •s-l i & g 3 2. *^ « B e^ 8?2 THE GENESEE FARMER. DISEASES OF THE HOBSE. The following recipes are given for the most part on the authority of Mr. Spooner, of England; and should be followed only in cases where the advice of a veterinary surgeoa is not considered necessary: Megrims or Vertigo. — Giddiness, the result of determination of blood to the head, produced some- times by a tight collar, often by high feeding. Im- mediate bleeding will restore the animal. Inflammation of the Stomach. — Shown by dull appearance, with swollen eyelids — pulse 50 or 60 in a minute, and rather strong — abdomen rather distended, bowels costive, dung slimy, legs warm, appetite sus- pended, and sometimes great thirst, mouth very hot. cleeding in the first instance, followed by oily pur- gatives, such as linseed oil, a pint of which may be given twice a day till the bowels are relaxed. Plenty of linseed gruel should be given, and with it a small dose of nitrate of potash, such as two drachms twice a day; also small doses of calomel and opium euch as a scruple of each twice aday. Stomach-Staggers consists in distention of the stomach with food, which, from sympathy, produces an oppression on the brain. Treatment. — Oily pur- gatives, assisted by draughts of warm water, and injections containing a purgative. Stomachics may also be given, such as carbonate of ammonia, two drachms; genitian, one drachm; with spirits of ni- trous ether, one ounce twice a-day. The disease, however, is very obstinate and fatal, the stomach being frequently distended beyond its powers of con- traction. Colic. — Gripes; Fret.-^ln flatulent colic the symptoms are sudden and acute pain, which causes the animal to lie down and roll violently, looking round and evincing paroxysms of the most intense agony. The abdomen is considerably distended, which, indeed, distinguishes it from spasmodic colic. Stercoral colic is gradual in its approach, and less violent in its symptoms, though, at the same time, longer in duration and more obstinate. The pulse in colic is not much increased, except during the paroxysms of pain, and this, together with the inter- missions of pain, distinguishes it from inflammation of the bowels. A draught, containing an ounce of tincture of opium, with two ounces of spirit of ni- trous ether, will sometimes afford immediate relief In the flatulent variety, an ounce of sulphuric ether will be better than the nitrous ether, having a greater effect in condensing the gases; to this an ounce of tincture of aloes or valerian may be added. If relief do not soon follow, the horse should be bled rather copiously, and another draught administered, after which oily purgatives, such as linseed oil, one pound, may be given every four hours till three or four pounds are taken, combined with smaller doses of opium, and half a drachm each of calomel and tar- tarized antimony. In stercoral colic, the last men- tioned treatment should be adopted at first. Fric- tions, and hot even fomentations to the abdomen, should follow in obstinate cases, with frequent and copious injections. Inflammation op the Bowels is a much more dangerous disease. Symptoms. — Severe pain, though at first not so violent as in colic. The animal lies down mostly, and looks round at the sides. The pulse quick, and often small and thready; the ex- tremeties cold; the membraoes of the eyelids and nostrils intensely injected. Bleeding is our sheet anchor. As much blood should be taken as the animal can bear, and if the pulse be weak previous to bleeding, an ounce of spirit of nitrous ether, with the same of laudanum, should be given, after which the horse will bleed better than otherwise. Draughts of linseed oil should follow, and a solution of opium every four hours. Hot applications to the abdo- men, and frictions to the extremities should be per- sisted in, with frequent and copions injections. Catarrh, or Cold, consists of inflammation of the membrane which lines the chambers of the nostrils and the throat. Very slight cases will recover with- out the aid of medical treatment, a few bran mashes being all that is necessary. In severer cases we mast treat according to the urgency of the symp- toms. If the pulse is rather strong, as well as accel- erated, it is well to bleed. The throat should be well stimulated, externally, with tincture of cantha- rides. If the bowels are costive, two or three drachms of aloes may be given; but otherwise, the following hall may be resorted to at once, and ad- ministered night and morning for several days: Cough Ball. Nitrate if potas^i, 2 draohms. Tartarizi-fl antimony, I 1. Y. Close of the Volume. — The present number con- cludes the Eighteenth Volume, Second Series of the Geiiesee Fanner. During the past j-ear we have endeav- ored to conduct it in accordance with its motto, " The Practical and Scientific Farmers' Own Paper." How far we have succeeded must be determined bj our readers. We have heard no complaints, and have received many cheering commendations. We have aimed to make the paper useful, — if we have succeeded, the credit is mainl.y due to our able correspondents. Those of our readers who have been pleased with the paper the present jear, will, we trust, subscribe without delay for our next vol- ume, which we hope to make even still more worthy of tlieir patronage. We do not wish to lose a single reader. Thanks to the disinterested efforts of our friends who act as agents, our circulation the present year has nearly doubled. Encouraged by this greatly increased circula- tion, we have determined to make great improvements In our next volume. We have procured an entire new dress of type, and have made arrangements for a supply of much better paper. We shall continue to offer prizes for short Essays, on any subject which our readers may suggest, and shall spare no expense in procuring appro- priate illustrations. By a Hale timely effort our friends will greatly increase th« circulation ar.d usefulness of the Farmer the ensuing- year. The old prejudice against " book farming " has in a great measure died out, and there are few farmers who would not willingly subscribe to a good agricultural paper were they requested to do so. The Genesee Farmer is so cheap that all can afford to take it. even though they al- ready subscribe for several other papers. At miny post- offices we have but one or two subscri- bers. If such have been pleased with the paper the pre- sent vear, will they not manifest their a[)probation by forming a clu'i? We feel deeply grateful to those friends who have acted as atrents. and who have done so much to promote the usefulness and circulation of the paper. We cannot re- pay them. The consciousness of their own disinterested motives must be their only reconi pence. We trust that their live for agricutural and horticultural improvement will still :irompt them to continue their efforts in procur- in"' subscribers, and that they will be enabled to increase their lists. We think that our premiums are so numerous that no one who tries can fail to procure one. We hope they will lose no time in procuring and forwarding the names of subscribers. Our January number will be is- sued by ths middle of December. Farmers should sub- scribe early, so that they can have the paper during the leisure season of the year. Thousands of oor readers neglect to send in their names till the winter is past, for- getting, it may be, that we never, under any circumstances, send the paper till ordered to do so. Our object in offer- ing " January Premiums " is to correct this as much as possible. The fact, however, cannot be disguised, that few compete for these premiums. It cannot be that they consider a good Agricultural Library not worth a little effort in procuring and forwarding the names of subscri- bers early enough to compete for these preniiums? We think it must be owing to an impression that they cannot obtain sufficient subscribers to enable them to take a pre- mium. This is certainly a mistake. Our premiums ape so numerous that a very small club will in all probability be required. We feel satisfied, from past experience, that those who really try, will be successful. Let all commerice tvithoiit delay. Again thanking onr agents for their efforts on our be- half, and our numerous correspondents for their able and interesting communications, and our readers generally fbr their encouraging support, we bid them temporarily good bye, hoping that if our company the present year has been agreeable, it may be speedily renewed, and that we shall have the pleasure of wishing each and all, and thousands more, a " Happy New Year " in our January number. •^^ To OTJB Canadian Friends. — During nine months of the present year we have sent our paper to Canada by express, and we understand that considerable delay has been the result, and that in some cases a few of the papers have been lost. These we will cheerfully supply. Wk shall send the next volume by mail and prepay the Ameri- can postage, and hope there will be no delay or inconve- nience in future. Our circulation is now very large m Canada, and we belive the paper gives very general satis- faction ; if so we hope all our Canadian friends will con- tinue with us another year, and also do what they can to introduce it to new reader. The climate and soil of Up- per Canada are very similar to those of Western New York, and the Farmer is as well adapted to Canada as to any of the States. The extent of our circulation in Canada is good evidence that this is well understood, and we hope for a greatly increased list the coming year. Kind Reader ! if you have been pleased with the Genesee Farmer during the past year — if you think it is doing anything to advance the great agricultural and hor- ticultural interests of the country, aid us by sending hi your subscription for another volume as early as possible, and if you can induce any of your neighbors and friends to subscribe we venture to say they vi ill not regret it. — Speak to them at once. We will gladly send show bills and specimen numbers to any who are disposed to raise 'a club for our next year's volume. Cheap Reading fob Farmebs. — One volume of the Genesee Farmer contains 384 pages, the Rural Annual 120 pages. In clubs of eight, we send the two for fifty cents. Five hundred and four pages for half a dollar t Can any one desire cheaper reading ? Missing Numbers. — We will gladly supply any miB*-- ing or damaged numbers of the Gmetee Farmer, to aoj ' who wish to preserre the Tolume, THE GENESEE FARMER. 381 The Rural Annual and HokticultukalDihkctory »OR 1858.— This beautiful work is now published. To those who have seen the previous volumes, it will be suffi- dent to say that the present volume is fully equal to its predecessors. No farmer or fruit grower should be with- out it. It contains carefully written treatises on manures for the orchard and garden; on the cultivation of fruit for market; on birds injurious and beneficial to the horticultur- ist; on the cultivation of grapes in the open air; on gar- den furniture; on rural architecture; on the cultivation of dn-arf and standard pears; on transplanting vegetables, &c., &c. It is illustrated with appropriate and beautiful engravings, and is alike attractive and useful. Tiie arti- cles are all written expressly for its pages by able, practi- ofd men. It is not, as some suppose, a new edition of last year's volume. Every line is new. It will be found inval- vuible to the fruit grower, and useful to every one interest- ed In rural pursuits. It will be sent, postage paid, to any address, on the re- ceipt of twenty-five cents in postage stamps. Address, Joseph Harris, Rochester, N. Y. Peach Trees for Fire Wood. — The California Far- mer recommends the farmers of the Golden State to plant peach trees for firewood, and says, " Those who have been to the Buenos Ayres country will easily remember that the principal firewood used is peach wood, and the vast pjains beyond the city and port, are one wide extended peach forest, the trees grown principally for fire wood ; and so rapid is the growth of the peach tree, that nothing can be more profitable, and there are those now in that country who have made fortunes by this business. The trees grow rapidly, bear abundantly ; the food is used for swine, and for drying and shipping. Such a similar kind of business do we look forward to, here in California." Rural Affairs. — Such is the title of a handsome vol- ume published by L. Tucker & Son, of Albany, N. Y. and sent, postage paid, to any address for $1. It consists of three numbers of that admirable serial, the Illustrated Annual Register, and is a work which we can cordially recommend to all interested in " rural affairs." Tucker's Illustrated Annual Register of Rural Affairs. — The fourth number of this admirable work (for 1858), has appeared, and cannot be too highly recom- mended. Sent postage paid on the receipt of 25 cents. — Address the publishers, L. Tucker & Son, Albany, N. Y. The Genesee Farmer- CoME all ye people, old and young, who kiiowk'dKC would coinmaod. Subscribe and take the Fakmek, the pHper of the land ; There in the knowledge which you need to make your farming paj^ In first rate shape, for all to read, and learn from day to day. Now, if you'll listen, I will tell a few of its good features — It's destined to promote the good of brother human creatures; You need not look, for you'll not find delusions of the cliaimet But good sub.stantial truths, to (ill the mind of every faimer. It tells about that crop of grass — also that piece of peas — Of squashes that are growing fast, and various kinds of trees; Then tliere's the sugar cane, and oats — the melou8,and the honey— - And all the various ways to make the faimer's honest money. I can't enumerate one-half of the good things it teaches About the cultivation of the apples, pears and peaches — The raising and sustaiting of the finest breeds of swine. Of geese, and ducks, and hens, and sheep, also the stately kina. It tells about a Shetland cow, just thirty inches high, That gives six quarts of milk a day, (that is, when she's not dry ;) Also about the draining of your wet anJ mucky land, To make it bear the finest grain, as tall as it can stand. And there you'll find receipts to make those puddings, cakes and piea That cannot fail to please the taste of every one that tries. But I will close, for, writing more, I might your mind embarrass; Just send your fifty cents right on to Mr. Joseph Harris, And then you will be sure to get a copy of the Farmer — The weather it will make no odd.'?, for be it cold or warmer, It's sure to come for every month, for there is no delay. And now I'll close by bidding all of you, my friends, good day. Homer, N. V. H. Correction. — In the receipt " To IMake Crackers," pdblished in the last number, page 353, it should read time cups of flour, instead of " two." The good lady who furnished the receipt thinks this " a sad mistake for the kneader." ►•-• If any of our readers have friends who are not ac- qtfainted with the Genesee Farmer, we will gladly send them, pre-paid, specimen copies of the paper, if they will furnish us their names. Large Apple. — The California Farmer says a Gloria Mundi apple was recently shown in San Francisco which w^^ghed thirty-seven ounces! InqutrUjs anU anjsteti*. Cabbages, Grape Vines &c.~(J. B.)~The best manure for cabbages is well rotted stable manure, black from old hot-beds. The cabbages not all heading alike is more the fault of the seed than the ground. Grape vines may be set out either in the fall or spring ; if planted in the fall, and the soil is moist, they will require a little mulching with leaves, saw-dust, chips, or anything that will prevent the plants being heaved by freezing ; they will start earlier than when planted in spring. Graft in the spring after the vines have began to grow, or when they have made leaves as large as a half dollar. Graft on the side of the stock near the ground, and allow the heel of the stock to remain on until the scion has taken out the top of the stock. But vines are difficult to graft from their exces- sive bleeding. They are much more readily multiplied from layers. Every branch laid in the ground and covered three inches with fine earth will root. Cuttings are also difficult to root with unpractised hands. The article on the Cultivation of Winter Wheat, in the present number, was published in the September number of i,ast year. We publish it again by request. Osage Orange Seed. — (C. N. H.) — If Osage Orange seed be mixed with moist sand immediately after cleaning from the fruit, and kept moist all winter, and allowed to freeze a little, it will need no soaking before sowing ; but if it has been kept in a dry place during winter it will re- quire soaking in warm water three or four days before sowing. Soak in rain water and keep about 100 ® three to six days, or until the germ begins to start. Then sow in drills in deep, rich soil ; bury the seed one inch and pro- tect from mice. 382 THE GENESEE FARMER. Hot Be7>s. — The size of the hot-bed will depend upon the size of the frame that is to stand upon it. The bed should be about one foot larger every way than the frame. If for an early bed it should be sheltered in every way from cold winds, yet exposed to the sun. The manure should be prepared at least two weeks before wanted to make into the bed. It should be well mixed in an old shed, or if out of doors, well protected with old boards and long litter, or it will not ferment well and evenly, which is very essential. It should be turned and mixed twice, with the manure fork, before making up into the bed. If the manure be prepared about the fifteenth of February it will be ready to make the first of March, and ready to sow upon in one week from making up. It should be made about three feet high at that time of year, which will set- tle down to two feet. It must be well mixed and beaten down with the fork, not trodd.n with the feet. There ia nothing better than good stable manure well prepared. — The frame should be a box made of two inch boards, nice- ly fitted and tight, twenty inches deep at the back, aud one foot deep at the front. The sashes should be well made EVnd nicely glazed. Packing Trees — (C. Terbill, Kingsville, Ohio.) — You had better lay your trees in fine, soft earth or moist sand, in a cool cellar, where the mercury will be about the freezing point. You can then get them at any time in the winter to pack. If their roots be just covered with the earth it will be enough. When you aove to Iowa pack them in cases in dry moss, if you can get it, or very dry leaves, or dry litter. They will then remain safe for two or three weeks. English Agricultural and Horticultural Pa- pees. — (W. Emmons.) The Mark Lane Express is pub- lished at 2-iG, Strand, London. It is the best English ag- ricultural paper, and the very highest authority on the grain market. Price, 83 per annum, sent pre-paid by mail. The Cottage Gardener we regard as one of the best English horticultural journals. It is published weekly at No. 20, Paternoster How, Loudon. Price, $1.25 per an- num. Sent prepaid by mail. Back Volumes. — (M. S.) We have but few of the back volumes of the Genesee Farmer on hand; but if members of your club wish the unbound volumes for 185G or 1857, they can be supplied for the present at 50 cents per volume. Bound in paper, they will be sent, postage paid, for 75 cents per volume, and bound in cloth, for $1 per volume. Gum in Peach Trees. — (Alex Temple, Victoria, C. W.) — The gum exhuding from the collar of peach trees is caused by the grub you have found there ; and the only effectual remedy of ridding the trees of them is to cut them out with the point of a strong knife, in early summer, say last week in June, and first of July. Candle Wick. — (R. S.) Steep wicks in lime-water and [^saltpetre, and dry them. The flame is clearer, and the tallow will not run. First-rate cotton wicking, and clear, pure tallow, are all essential. Lamps will have a less disagreeable smell by dipping the wick-yarn in strong, hot vinegar, and drying it. Pruning Trees — Will you allow me to ask for infor- mation I cannot obtain in the books within my reach? 1st. On pruning generally. 2d. Pruning of forest trees, planted as ornamental, such as maples, birches, beeches, butternut, hickories, &c., and the best time or season" to do it. od. Pruning evergreens, such as the pines, spruces, hem- lock, cedar, baJsam of fir, and tumarac. By what name is the latter known in. the old country? What is the bo- tanical name of our white cedar growing so plentifully in Canada — and the best season to prune all these. •1th. Pruning fruit trees — such as apples, pears, and the best time to do it. 5th. Pruning cherries, plums, and all stone fruits. Also, the hawthorns, and the best season to prune. Last spring I lost several cherry and plum trees 1 had pruned the spring before. I do not want to trespass on your politeness, but I be- lieve such would be acceptable to numbers of the readers of your Genesee Farmer. A. La Fontaine, ^(///«e;-, Ot- tawa Co., C. E. Will some of our experienced correspondents answer the above? The botanical name for the true White cedar is Cupressus thyoides. The tree known as the white ce- dar in Canada and in Western New York is uot prop- erly a cedar. It is the American Arbor Vitffi {Thuja otcidentalis.) ADVERTISEMENTS, To secure insertion in the Farmer, must be received a-i early as the 10th of the previous month, and be of such a character as to be of interest to farmers. Terms •« Two Dollars Icr ever J hundred words, each insertion, paid in advance. "GET THE BEST." ♦<«^E1 TW£ BEST A NATIONAL STANDARD WEBSTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY, Containing THREE TIMES the matter found in any other English Dictionary compiled in this country, or ANY ABRIDGEMENT OF THIS WORK. I^^Ask for WEBSTEK'S UNABRIDGED, ..^J PUntlSHED BY G. & C. MERRIAN, Springfield, Mass. "GET THE BEST." "AU young persons should have a standard Die T I O JVA R Y at their elbows. And while you are about it, ffet ike bcsl ; that Dictionary is NOAH WEBSTER'S, the great work unahridged. If you are too poor, save ihe amount from off your back, and put it into your head." — Phrenological Jouryial. " ANY MAN WHO WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING. OR ANYTHING, AS HE OUGHT TO KNOW, MUST OWN WEB- STEIi'S LARGE DICTIONARY. It is a great light, and he that will not avail himself of it, must walk in darkne.ss. Every young housekepper should lay it in, to occupy the place which was for- merly lilled with decantei'S and wine glasses. " Every farmer .should give his sons two or three aquare rods of ground, well prepared, with the avails of which they may buy it. Every mechanic should put a receiving box in pome con.spicuous place in the hou.se, to catch the stray pennies, for the like purpose. " Lay it upon your table by the side of the Bible — it is a better expounder than many which claim to be expounders. " It is a great labor- .saver — it has saved us time enough in one year's use to pay for itself: and that must be deemed good prop- erty, which will clear itself once a year. If 3'ou have any doubt about the precise meaning of the word clear, in the last sentence, look at Webster's thirteen definitions of the v. t." — Massachusetts Life Boat. I December 1. — It. THE GENESEE FARMER. 383 BOOKS FOR THE FARMERS.' FgUNISilKl) BY Till-; I'K()rKIi;T()R OK GKXKSKK FARMER The Kariu Engineer. By Ritehie. I'lico §3. Ounii'.i Donit'Slic Merliciue. I'rice $3. The C )w, Daily Husbandry, and (Jiittlc llrecJing. Price 25 cts. Every Liuly her own Flower Gardener. Price 23 ceiit«. I'lie .■Vuierican llo.se Culturer. Price 25 ceut,s. Pri/.e E<.say on Manures. By S. L. Dana. Price 25 ceutR. The Pest.s "of tlio Farm, with directions for e.xtirpatiou. Price 25 cenl.s. Horses — their Viu'ieties, Breeding, Management, Jfec. Price 25 cents. The [live and Honey Bee — their Diseases and Rowcdies. Price z5 cents. Tile Hog — its Di.-feases and Management. Price 25 cents. The .•Vmericau Bird Fancier — Bleeding, Raising, &c. 25 cts. Itoiaestic Fowls and Ornamental Poultry. Price '26 cents. CUeniistry maJe Easy for the Use of Farmers. Price 25 cts. The -Vmerican Poultry Yard. Price $1. The Amerioau Field IBook of Manures. Embracing all the Fer- iliziMS kuuwa, with directions for use. By Browne. $1.25. Buisfs Kitchen (Jardener. Price 75 cents. Stockhart's Chemical Field Lectures. Price 51. Wilson ou the CuItivs'Xion of Flax. Price 25 cents. Tlie Farmer's Cjclopei-la. By Blake. Price $1.25. Alien'rt Rural .Architecture. Price .?1.25. Phelps's Bee Keeper's Chart. Illustrated. Price 'Jf) cents. Johnston's .Agricultural Chemistry. Price $1.25. Johnston's Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. Price $1. Pwandall's Sheep Hu.sbandry. Price $1.25. Miner's American Bee-Keeper's Manual. • Price $1. Fessenden's Complete Farmer and Gardener. 1 vol. Price $1.25. Allen's Treatise on the Culture of the Grape. Price SI. Youatt on the Bre.;ds and Management of Sheep. Price 75 cts. Youatt on the Hog. Comjilete. Price 60 cents. Youatt and Martin on Cattle. By Stevens. Price $1.25. The Shepherd's own Book. Edited by Youatt, Skiuuer and Ran- dall. Price S2. Allen's American Farm Book. Price $1. The American Florist's Guide. Price To cents. The Cottage and Farm Bee-Keeper. Price 50 cents. Country D sellings; or the American Arcliitect. Price $6. Nash's Progressive Farmer. A book for every boy in the coun- b'y. Price 50 cents. Beattie's Southern Agriculture. Price $1. Smith's Landscape Gardening. Containing hints on arranging Parks, Pleasure Grounds, &c. Edited by Lewis F. Allen. Price $1.25. The American Fruit Grower's Guide in Orchard and Garden. Price $1 25. Thomas'.'Farm Implements. Price $1. Beecher's Domestic Receipt Book. Price 75 cents. " " Economy. Price 75 cents. Bement's American Poulterers' Companion. Price Sl.2o. The Chinese Sugar Cane and Sugar Making. Price 25 cents. Linsley's Morgan Horses. Price .§1. Liebig's Animal Chemistry. Price 25 cents. Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained. Price $1. Reemelin's Vine Dressers' Manual. Price 50 cents. Chorlton's Grape Growers' Guide. Price 60 cents. iliner's American Poultry Book. Price 50 cents. Gueuou's Treatise on Milch Cows. Price 3S cents. The Ladies' Guide, or Skillful Hou.sewife. Price 25 cents. Leibig's Familiar Letters on Chemistry. Piice 12>2 cents. Skinner's Elements of Agriculture. Price 25 cents. The Horse's Foot, and How to Keep it Sound. Price 25 cents. J' hnson's Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. Price 25 cents. Genesee Farmer for 1856. Bound in paper, 75 cents; in half calf, «1. Thuer's Principles of Agriculture. Price .?2. Downing's Landscape Gardening and Rural Architecture. Price $3.50 Cobbett's American Gardener. Price 50 cents. Breck's Flower Garden. Price Si. Cranberry Culture. Piice 50 cents. Pardee on Strawberry Culture. Price 60 cents. Chorlton's Exotic Grapes. Price 50 cents. AVarring's Elements of ."Vgriculture. Price 75 cents. Cole's American Fruit Book. Price 50 cents. Cole's Diseases of Animals. Pjice 50 cents. Schenck's Gardener's Text Book. Price .^0 cents. The Farmer's Land Measurer. Price 50 cents. Rodger's Scientific Agriculture. Price 75 cents. Dana's Mnck^Manual. Price SI. How to Build and Ventilate Hot-houses, Graperies, &c. Price $1.25. Thompson on the Food of Animals. Price 75 cents. Stewart's Stable Book. Price $1.00. Dadd's Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse. Price $2. Youatt on lhe Horse. Price $1.25. Norton's Scientific Agriculture. Price 60 cents. Eridgeman's Young Gardener's Assistant. Price $1.50. Bridgeman's Kitchen Gardener s Instructor. Price 50 cents. Bridgeman's Fruit Cultivator's Manual. Price 50 cents. Bi idgcMian's Florists Guide (an excellent work). Price 60 cents. New Process for tlie Culture of the Vine. Price 25 cent£. Leibig's Reply to L.awes. Price 25 cents. lA'ibig's Researches on lhe Mutioii of the Juices in the Aoimal I'ody, and Effect of Kvapoiiition of Plants Price 25 cents. Kurai Annual and Horticultural Directory. I'rice :ja cenui. Do. in cloth, .50 cents. The above will be .sent free upon receipt of price annexed. "EVERY BODY SHOULD HAVE A COPY.' FOR 18.5 8. THIS work was started in IS5fi, l)y the puMislMT of the Ot>7>e- nee Farmer. Its sreat success afTonls concln.sivoevidence, not only of its intrinsic merit, but of its adapUibillly to Iho wants of lhe rural pojmlation. A new volume, prvpareil with s;reut care and replete with new and valnable matter, is issued each year. The thiciLiolunie, for li)5it^ has appearcti, and is a book which cannot be too highly recommended— alike bciutiful, interesting, and nsclul. The articles are all written oxprtwsly fi)r its pages by men of experience. It is well ..illustrated with seventy-eight ap- propriate and beautiful engrayirigs. Among its contents may be mentioned able treatises on ManHres for the Orchard and Garden, on tlie cultivation of I'ruit for Mar- ket, on Birds, injiirioiis and beneficial to the Horticulturist, (v/ith jiortraits drawn I'mm life.) on the cultivation of Grapes in the open air, on Ganlen Furniture, on the cultivation of Uwarl and Stand- ard Pears, on transplanting VcLretablcs, ,tc., &.e. It also contains a very full and correct list ot the Nurserymen and Agricultural Implement Makers in the United States and Canada, prepared with great care. The work will be found inviiluable to the Fruit Grower, and use- ful to every one interested in Rural affairs. It is furnished at the low price of Twenty-five Cents,— while it contains as much matter as many dollar books. Evenj mis who owns a rod of ground should have it. It is sent pre-paid by mail to any address on the receipt of iwentv-flve cents in coin or post- age stamps. Address JOSEPH "lIAKlllS, Publisher and Proprietor Of the Genesee Farmer and J'ural Annual, Kochester, N. Y. The back numbers, for 185G and 1857, can be furnished at 25 cents each, postage paid. THESE jMACHINES are unquestionably the best in the mar- ket. No well regulated familv can afford to do without a GROVER c\c BAKER SEWING MACHLNE, made expressly tot FAMILY SKW'I.NG. r .; » Merchants in good standing from abroad vi.'^iting New Y'ork or Boston, can now secure the sale of Grover & Baker's Sewintr Ma- chines ia their seveial localities, with grcitrprolifto thenMelves and advantage to their customers. GROVER & BAKER, Sewing Machine Co., 495 Broadway, N. Y. 18 Summer street, Boston. 730 Chestnut street, Pliiladelphia, " ^ , , „^ 87 Fourth street, St. Louis, Mo. October 1.— ot. 6 West Fourth st., Cincinnati O A, LONGETT, No. 34 CLIl'^F STREET, NEW YORK, DEALER in Peruvian, Colombian and Mexican Guano Suner- phosphate of Lime, and Bone Dust. ' ^ November 1, 18&7.— ly. 384 THE GENESEE FARMER. GENESEE FARMER E'on isso. During the present year, the ci'-culation of the Genesee Farmer has nearly doubled. We believe it has now a larger list of sub- scribers than that of any similar journal in the world. This is mainly due to the voluntary efforts of the friends of Agricultural and Horticultural Improvement, who have kindly consented to act as agents, in procuring and forwarding the names of subscribers in their respective districts. To Postmasiers, especially, we are un- der great obligations, for their disintertsted labors In increasing the circulation of the Farmer and Rural Annual. Grateful for past favors, and hoping for a continuance of them, we have determined to make great improvements in the volume for 1858. We have pur-chased an entire dress of new type, have made arrangements fur a supply of better paper, and intend to spare no expense in procuring engravings of Farm Houses, Build- ings, Animals, Machines, Implements, new Fruit Trees, Shrubs, &c. The Genesee Farmer is the only fifty cent agricultural paper in this country that is not made up from a weekly paper. It con- tains as much matter as any of the dollar monthlies, and much more than many of them. It has a larger and more extensive list of correspondents than any similar journal in the world. It is published in one of the finest agricultural and fruit growing sec- tions in the United States, and we number among our correspond- ents many of the best practical farmers and gardeners in the country. The paper is not local in its character. No farmer nor fruit grower in any section of the Union, or in the adjoining Provinces, can read'a single number without getting some hint that may prove valuable. Encouraged by past favors, we have determined to offer a much more extended LIST OF PREMIUMS FOR 1858. SPECIFIC PREMIUMS. 1. To every person who sends Eight Subscribers, (at our lowest terms of thirty-seven and a half cents each,) we will send, postage paid, a copy of our beautiful twenty-five cent bojk the Rural An- nual for 1858. 2. To every person who sends us Sixteen subscribers, (at our lowest club terms of thirty-seven and a half cents each,) one extra copy of the Genesee Farmer, and one copy of the Rural Annual. 3. To every person sending us TwENTT-FonR subscribers, as above, two copies of the Rural Annual, and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural work valued at 50 cents, postage paid. 4. To any person ordering TniRTy-Two copies of the Farmer, as above, three copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at 75 cents, postage paid. 5. For Forty, four copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at $1, postage paid, or four extra copies of the Farmer. 6. For Forty-eight, five copies of the Rural Annual and one extra copy of the Farmer, or any agricultural book valued at $1,25, postage paid, or five extra copies of the Farmer. For larger numbers, books or papers given in the same propor- tion. trW' To save expense to our friends, we pay the postage on all these works, and persons entitled will state what they wish sent, and make their selections when they send orders ; or if their list is not complete, if wished, we will delay sending until the club is ^'*"' JANUARY PREMIUMS! For the Greatest Number of Subscribers. In order to excite a little competition among our friends every- where as well as to reward them for their voluntary labors in be- half of our journal, we make the following liberal offers. Those who do not get the premiums offered below are sure of the above, so that we have no blanks. 1. Twenty Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person sendfng us the largest number of subscribers (at the lowest club price of thirty-seven and a half cents each,) before the fourteenth day of January. 1858, so that we can announce the successful competilora in the Felifuary number. (The orOer with the money must bp received, not mailed, before the fourteenlh ot January. Last year many of our agents mailed letters on the fourteenth, tliink- ing they would be in time to compete for the January Premi- ums ) 2. Fifteen Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person send- ing us the Second highest list, as above. 3. Fourteen Dollars in Agricultural Books to the^person send- ing us the Third highest list, as above. 4. Thirteen Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Fourth highest list, as above. 5. Twelve Dollars in Agritultural Books to the person send- ing us the Fifth highest list, as above. 6. Eleven Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sendiCg us the Siith highest list, as above. 7. Ten Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending ua the Set'CH^A highest list, aa aoove- 8. Nine Dollars in Agricultural Books to the person sending us the Kigidh highest list, as above. 9. EiGHT Dollars in Agiicultural Books, to the person send- ing us the Ninth highest list, as above. 10. Seven Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person send- ing us the Tenth highest list, ;is above. 11. Six Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person sendiBg us the Eleventh highest list, as above. 12 Five Dollars in Agricultural Books, to the person sending us the Twelfth highest list, as above. There is not a town in the United States where any person, by showing his neighbors a copy of the paper and asking them to suliscrilje, might not take some of the above January Premiums. The Premiums will be promptly paid. TheJBooks can he selected by the person ttiking a premium from the very complete list wbich we publish in our advertising columns, or we will get any works which are required, and furnish them at the lowest retail price of the publishers. Our object in offering Books is to increase their circulation throughout the country. LARGE APRIL PREMIUMS For the Greatest Number of Subscribers. 1 FIFTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books (at the lowest prices,) to the person who shall send us the largest number of sub- scribers at the lowest club price of 37)2 cents, before the 15th day of April next, so that we may announce the successful competitors in the Mav number. 2. THIRTY DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the second highest list, as above. 3. TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books to the person who shall send the third highest list, as above. 4. FIFTEEN DOLLARS, in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the fourth highest list, as above. 5. FOUPvTEEN DOLLARS in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall snnd us the fifth hifrhest list, as above. 6. THIRTKEN DOLLARS in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the sixth highest list, as above. 7. TWKLVE DOLLARS in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the seventh highest list, as above. 8- F.LKVEN DOLLARS in Agricultural Books, to the person who will send us the eighth highest list, .as above. 9. TEN DOLLARS in Agricultural Books, to the person who shall send us the ninth highest list, as above. Those who compete for the .lanufry Premiums can also compete for the April Premiums, and in this way it is not impossible that TWO PKKMIUMS will be obtained/or the same list uf subscribers. Cluks are not required to be at one Post (Office, or sent to ne address. We send wherever the members of the club may desire. THE RURAL ANNUAL AND GENESEE FARMER IN CLUBS. Every Subscriber to the Farmer should have a copy of th^ Rural Annual. In cliil>s of eieht, we send the Farmer for one year, and a copy of the Rural Annual for fifty cents. In other words, for FOUR DOLLARS we will send eig-ht copies of the Farmer lor one year, and eight copies of the Rural Annual. For EIGHT DOLLARS we will semi sixteen copies of the Genesee Farmer and sixteen copies of the Rural Amiual, and one extra copy of each for the person who ggts up the club. Anv person sending us |3 for a club of eight of the Genesee Far- mer shall receive one copy of the Rural Annual for his trouble^ postage paid. We send the clnb to one address, or write the name of each solh scriber on Ins paper, as requested. Our Agents, and Competitors for the above Premium!, will re- member that our terms are always IN ADVANCE. One cop^ Fifty Ce.vts a year; five copies for $2; eight cooies tor $3, add anv greater number at the same rate, (Three ShillingapeT eopiQ frW° Subscription Money, properly enclosed, may be sent ly mail at my risk. Names can be added to a club at any time. Address, JOSEPH HARBlS, November, 1857. Rochester, N.Y. ] THE GENESEE FARMER. 385 PROSPECTUS FOK 1858. iATUSBAY EYSIM'S 3P0ST. ESTA.33ILISla:EZD -A.XJC3-_ 4, 1821. THE PAPER THAT NEVER SUSPENDS. FAMILY WEEKLY — DEVOTED TO LlTEKATUllE AND THE NEWS. In these times of Bank suspensions and Mercantile suspensions, the proprietors of the SATriiPAY Evening Post call the attention of the reading public to their old and hruilv-establislied weekly paper, as the paper that never sus- pends. For over THIRTY-SIX YEARS The Post has been published ; and in all that period — through "good times" and through "bad times," through bank inflations and bank coutracfions. tlirough jirosperous seasons and thionsjh paiii