diff options
Diffstat (limited to '59579-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 59579-0.txt | 3697 |
1 files changed, 3697 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/59579-0.txt b/59579-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..916ab75 --- /dev/null +++ b/59579-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3697 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59579 *** + + + + + + + + + + + + + THE + AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. + + [Illustration] + + Agriculture is the most healthful, the most useful, and the most + noble employment of Man.--_Washington._ + + VOL. II. NEW YORK, DECEMBER, 1843. NO. XI. + + A. B. ALLEN, Editor. SAXTON & MILES, Publishers, + 205 Broadway. + + + + +FATTENING POULTRY. + + +As Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, are fast approaching, when +the demand for poultry is at its greatest height, and the quality of +it is more curiously considered than at other seasons of the year, in +order to obtain something choice for the festive days, we have thought +a few words upon the fattening and preparation of it for market might +now very appropriately be given, and perhaps interest our readers more +than at another time. + +The fowls being in good condition a fortnight to one month previous to +the time they are wanted for killing, shut them up in a roomy, dry, +well-ventilated, and warm building, with either a ground, stone, or +plank floor, as is most convenient. This should be cleaned every day, +and straw several inches thick spread over a part of it, especially +where geese and ducks are shut up, for the purpose of giving them +good beds to sit in. As often as the litter gets soiled, remove it, +and put clean straw in its place. A constant supply of food and water +should now be kept before them, allowing the fowls to eat and drink as +often and as much as they please. Gravel is indispensable for their +health, and charcoal, together with a little lime or ground bones, is +beneficial. Fowls fat better when they can get at their food as often +as they please, and are not so apt to gorge themselves and become +surfeited. + +For feed we prefer corn mostly; a little wheat, rye, or barley, is +also very well as a change; oats have rather too much husk about +them. In addition to these, boiled potatoes, sweet apples, pumpkins, +and sugar beet, are excellent food, especially when mixed with a due +proportion of mush or hasty pudding. Where sweet potatoes abound, they +are an excellent substitute for the last. To the above, add daily a +little lean meat, that which is cooked is preferred; and the last +week of their fattening, for a finishing process, rice boiled in milk +and sweetened with molasses, is very excellent. This may be called an +expensive method; but our readers may be assured that the fowls will be +enough better to pay for it. Meat derives much of its taste from the +kind and quality of food that the animals consume; hence gross, fatty +substances, fish, or anything that is disagreeable to the taste should +be avoided in the food given to fowls during the fattening process, +as these invariably impart more or less of their disagreeable flavor +to the flesh of the poultry fed upon them. It is well known that the +celebrated canvass-back duck derives its delicacy of taste from feeding +on the bulbous roots of a peculiar grass growing in the Chesapeake +bay, and that other kinds of ducks are scarcely eatable, in consequence +of their living almost entirely upon fish. These remarks will hold good +to most kinds of birds, both of the water and land, and, indeed, of +all animals; accordingly as their food is good or bad, so will be the +quality of the milk, meat, or eggs. + +We recollect when a boy, of having occasionally seen geese and ducks +nailed through the webs of their feet to planks and floors, and hens +and turkeys tied up and so closely confined to stakes, that they could +not exercise. This was done so that they might fat the faster! How +shockingly barbarous, and any one guilty of such a practice in these +days, ought to be indicted, and severely punished for their cruelty and +cupidity. We are totally opposed to the close confinement of beast or +bird. Without exercise, the system can not be in a healthy state; and +the meat of close confined animals is never as good, to say the least +of it, as when they have plenty of fresh air, and are allowed to move +moderately about. + +The best method of killing fowls, is to cut their heads off at a single +blow with a sharp axe, and then hang them up and allow them to bleed +freely. By this process they never know what hurts them, or endure pain +for a second. Wringing the necks of poultry is almost as shocking as +nailing their feet to planks for the purpose of fattening them, and +follows in the same barbarous category. + +Scalding the fowl previous to picking, injures the feathers, and +makes it troublesome to dry them, and we think the quality of flesh +is somewhat injured by this process, especially if the weather be not +pretty cold at the time. They should be picked as soon as possible +after being killed, and their offal taken from them; be clean rinsed +then in cold water, and hung up to dry, and kept as separate as +possible till sold; packing them together in heaps injures the flesh. +To be hung up and frozen for a few days, or even weeks before eating, +makes the flesh more tender. To keep them the same length of time after +roasting, especially if well stuffed, also adds to their delicacy of +taste and tenderness. + +When the bird is brought on to the table, it is perfectly shocking to +see its head, legs, and feet, left upon it, though we know in many +places this is fashionable, and considered highly genteel; but for +our own part we detest such offal, and the sight of them frequently +destroys our appetite for the time being. The process of carving also +at the table is a dead bore. We like the French fashion of cutting up +the bird in the kitchen or at a side table, and having it passed round +on the dish, every one then helping himself to such pieces as he likes +best. + + + + +FERTILITY OF SEA-MUD. + + +SEA-MUD varies greatly in its composition, dependant something upon +the soil of the neighboring uplands. It is considered a valuable +manure in Europe, and is sought for with avidity, and transported not +unfrequently considerable distances into the interior. We have seen +it used with good effect in the United States, from Massachusetts to +Pennsylvania; and are told that in Delaware and Maryland, and even +farther south, it is highly prized by those who have tried it. On Long +Island, the past summer, we were occasionally shown the fertilising +results, not only of sea-mud, but of the marsh soil also, applied to +the uplands a little removed from the borders of the marshes and the +seashore. Our intelligent correspondent, Mr. Partridge, informs us he +has used beach-mud in various ways with good effect; and that the past +summer, two gentlemen whose country seats border his mill, were allowed +to make use of the sediment from the tide mill-pond, and they found it +added greatly to the productiveness of their gardens. + +Sea-mud may be applied in different ways, according to its +constituents. If it abounds with clay, it should be taken in the fall +of the year, and spread broad-cast upon the land, and thus lie exposed +to the action of the frost all winter. This pulverises it well, and +in the spring of the year the roller should be passed over it in +dry weather, followed by the harrow, and if any lumps remain after +this operation, let them be beaten fine with the dung-beater. This +is considered one of the best top dressings for grass land which can +be given; it also answers well to be plowed in for either grain or +root crops. Where the mud abounds more with sand, it is an excellent +thing to put into barn yards and pig-styes, to be incorporated with +the litter and manure; it may likewise be thrown into a heap until it +becomes completely pulverised, and then spread upon the land. + +As air-slacked lime or small broken lime can be obtained in this city +for about half the price of quick lime, Mr. Partridge suggests that +it would be an excellent ingredient to mix with the sea-mud, for +the purpose of forming a compost. A bushel or two of the lime, to a +cart-load of the mud, he thinks a good mixture. When it abounds with +considerable vegetable matter, we would recommend a greater proportion +of lime, say from one to ten or twenty parts. Ashes and charcoal dust +are excellent ingredients to mix with sea-mud, and when either of these +or lime is used to form a compost, they make it much more lasting. It +is less labor to transport the sea-mud directly to the place where it +is to be used, and spread it broad-cast at once upon the land; and as +the saving of labor is quite an object in our country, we have found +that this method of applying it is the most generally practised. + +With the exception of a few of our more intelligent farmers, sea-mud +and marsh-mud as fertilizers, are not valued as highly as they ought +to be in the United States. They exist in immense quantities all along +our seaboard, and may be had in an unlimited extent for the mere labor +of transportation. We hope that some experiments may hereafter be made +with them by some of our readers on the different kinds of crops, and +that they will give us the results. The time, we think, is approaching, +when sea-mud and marsh-soil will be as highly prized here as they now +are in Europe. + + + + +SKETCHES OF THE WEST.--NO. II. + + +PLANTATION OF MR. GREY.--One of the best plantations, especially +for its farm-buildings, which we visited in Kentucky, was that of +Mr. Benjamin Grey of Versailles. The house, as is usual in the more +southern states, stands near the centre of the domain on rising ground, +and commands a fine view of the country around. It is in cottage +style, large and roomy, and flanked by thick, strong chimneys, built +up outside of the gable ends. A pretty yard of smooth green-sward, +decked with shrubbery and evergreens, is enclosed around with pointed +white palings, and adjoining this is a noble park, formed by merely +underbrushing and thinning out a few of the trees of the original +forest. These are usually termed wood-land pastures in Kentucky; yet +in most instances, they better deserve the name of park, than many of +those on noblemen's estates in Europe. + +CROPS.--Mr. Grey's farm being principally devoted to stock, and what +is rather unusual here, dairy products, the crops are but a secondary +consideration. Hemp is the main one to which he gives his attention; +and in addition to this, he raises a sufficiency of corn and the +smaller grains for his own consumption. The rotation is much like that +described in our first volume, under head of Tours in Kentucky. + +STOCK.--This is very fine indeed, Mr. Grey having been highly spirited +in this matter. His Short-Horns are choice, and quite numerous. We +particularly admired the cow Mary Ann, with the calf at her foot. She +has a fashionable and airy form; an up-head, and deer-like action; +handles well, and in addition to all these, we were informed that she +is an excellent milker. Three heifers of her produce we also admired; +the two youngest were strikingly like their dam. After the Short-Horns, +we were shown a few good Cotswold, and South-Down sheep, imported +direct from England by Messrs. Bagg & Wait of Orange Co., in this +state. The stock-hogs are a cross of the Berkshire upon the Thin-Rinds, +(a grade Chinese), and they make excellent porkers. + +FARM BUILDINGS.--These are among the most complete we have seen in any +place, and we speak of them with the more pleasure, because they are +blameably deficient in farm buildings throughout the whole southwest. +The climate here, it is true, is warmer and much more open than at the +north; but it is in this _very openness_, that consists the principal +suffering of the stock. The ground during this time is muddy, cold, and +damp; and worse, consequently, for animals to repose upon, than when +frozen dry, or covered with snow. Sudden changes are continually taking +place. Mild weather prevails for a few days, relaxing the system; this +is then followed not unfrequently by intense cold; the thermometer +sinking in 48 hours from 55° or 60° above, to zero, and sometimes 8° to +10° below it. These sudden changes are very injurious to man and beast, +and far more to be dreaded than the steady cold of northern latitudes; +and for this reason, more attention should be paid to the warmth of +their dress on the part of the people here, and to the housing of +stock, than is generally done. It would lessen disease, add to their +longevity, and give a handsomer, fuller, and more healthful physical +appearance. But to return more immediately to our subject. + +With the exception of the usually reserved gangway on the barn-floor, +the lower story is devoted to stables. These are planked, and each +animal is accommodated with a separate stall. Behind them is a shallow +gutter, running the whole length of the stable, which conducts the +liquid falling from the animals into a cess-pool in the yard, and is +there absorbed by muck. The solid manure is also equally carefully +saved and applied to the land, and notwithstanding the proverbial +fertility of the soil of Kentucky, Mr. Grey assured us that he +considered himself well paid in the increase of his crops, for the +labor employed in thus saving and applying his manure. Over-head in the +barn are lofts for hay and straw; a straw-cutter to prepare them for +feeding; cribs and bins for grain; and a large square box with heavy +wooden pounders, for the hands to pound up corn and cob into meal on +rainy days, when they can do nothing else. This cob-meal is usually +mixed up with water, and allowed to stand till it ferments, and is then +fed to the stock. + +THE DAIRY.--This is a sufficiently roomy building, of one story, +situated in a little dell a short distance from the mansion. One of +the gable ends abuts against a nearly perpendicular cliff, out of +which bursts a clear gurgling spring, that takes its course through +the centre of the rocky floor of the dairy, and then finds its way +into the valley below. Here is every convenience for making butter and +cheese, in which Mr. Grey excels. We have dwelt thus minutely on the +plantation, stock, and buildings of Mr. Grey, because we consider them +an excellent example to follow in Kentucky; and also for the purpose +of giving our northern readers a general idea of the husbandry at the +west, of which the great majority entertain the most indefinite notions +imaginable. + +MR. HART'S PLANTATION.--After taking an early dinner, Mr. Grey ordered +up his buggy, and we started for Mr. Nathaniel Hart's. This was some +few miles off, yet in order to get there we paid no attention to the +public roads, but took our way over gentle hill and dale, through +woodland-pastures, and among fields containing a hundred acres or more +in each, under a single fence. For the purpose of opening and shutting +the field-gates as we passed, we were accompanied by an ebony urchin, +as out-rider, mounted on the bare back of a high-spirited gray nag, +which he rode with no little address. This seemed quite a gala business +for him; and bare-headed, with his thick woolly locks fluttering in +the wind, and his shirt-collar wide open, he went grinning along, +now advancing at a hard gallop, and anon closing up at a fast trot, +swinging open and shutting to the gates, shaking his pate, and +hallooing to every animal that he thought did not move with sufficient +alacrity from our destined path. + +"Yo! ho! So you no move, Misser Cow--then Pompey make you," and at +her he charged, brandishing a long stick, like a Cossack of the Don +with his spear, the gray nag at the same time laying back his ears, +and opening his mouth, and showing his teeth, as if grinning in fiery +sympathy with his redoubtable rider, and ready to devour the animal +that so sluggishly obstructed the path. But one look from the cow, or +whatever beast it might be, at the horse and boy, seemed quite enough; +and without waiting further hints, they would shake their tails, then +give them a slight curl, and set off at a round scamper, the triumphant +Pompey following up their career a short distance, singing with high +satisfaction:-- + + I tell you so, now Misser Cow; + Yo, ho, you go, bow wow, bow wow. + +Mr. Hart's plantation is a very fine one, and he is one of the largest +hemp-growers in Kentucky. He has done much to introduce a system of +water-rotting hemp in ponds, which we think is the best and most simple +of the kind yet tried. He has promised us a description of this, with +his late improvements, and we trust that we shall be favored with it +soon, for the benefit of those desirous of preparing their hemp for +market by the pond-water-rotting process. There is so much in common +with Kentucky plantations, that it is unnecessary to dwell further upon +particulars. Mr. Hart's stock of cattle is principally derived from the +first importation of the Short-Horns into Kentucky, in 1817. He keeps +a flock of about 800 Merino sheep, which, low as wool is, he thinks +make him as good, if not a better return, than anything else which his +plantation produces. Sheep-husbandry is attracting much attention at +present in Kentucky. It is a very superior region indeed, for sheep, +and if the planters would go judiciously into the fine-woolled breeds, +wool would soon become an article of large export with them, and a +source of considerable profit. Let it be remembered, that the cheaper +and better wool can be produced, the more there will be consumed of it; +and the cheaper and better, woollen cloths will be furnished in return. +We need not fear overstocking the country in our generation. + +Mr. Hart keeps quite a herd of deer in his park, and several head of +elk. These last, with their large branching horns, and lofty, erect +heads, have a noble appearance. He formerly had a few buffaloes, but +they became so troublesome in breaking down fences, and sallying out +whenever they pleased, to the great terror of the country round, +that he was at last obliged to kill them. Buffalo bulls get somewhat +ferocious as they grow old, and are rather dangerous animals on the +plantation. While in Kentucky, we picked up some comic anecdotes of +their doings as they turned out; but a feather's weight in the other +scale might have made them equally tragical; and upon the whole, unless +enclosed within a fence that they could not break down, we should +advise our friends to eschew keeping buffaloes. + + + + +BREEDS OF FOWLS. + + +IN perusing the American Poultry Book, which we noticed in our October +No., we find the following recommendation for selecting a stock for the +poultry-yard:-- + + The better practice would seem to be, in order to make the + poultry-yard most profitable, to select _no particular breed_. + Commence with pullets and cocks of the first year, of all the breeds + mentioned above, except bantams, and without any regard to color + excepting those of a pure white. It would be well, if possible, to + select the cocks from the same yard. Every year exchange a nest-full + of eggs with your neighbors, or such as have good fowls. By pursuing + steadily this practice of exchanging eggs, you will yearly infuse new + blood into your stock, and avoid the inconvenience of breeding in and + in. Without being aware of this fact, many farmers find their stock + _running out_, &c. + +Now the above plan for forming a stock for the poultry-yard we hold +to be perfectly absurd, and one might with just the same propriety, +advise mingling all the different breeds of horses or cattle together, +for the purpose of forming a good stock, as the different varieties +of fowls; and we need only consider for one moment, the incongruity +of the materials which form them, to be convinced of this. There is +the pugnacious Gamecock; the pheasant-shaped Top-knot; the coarse +Malay; the thick-skinned Negro-fowl; the tender Chinese or Merino; +the tailless Rumpless; the Friesland, with reversed feathers; the +short-legged Creeper; the five-toed Dorking; &c., &c.; all thrown +into one helter-skelter mass, the progeny of which would prove as +contemptible a race of mongrels as ever graced a dung-hill, and beyond +the precincts of a dung-hill they would scarcely be worth removing. + +Those who have most eminently succeeded in breeding fowls, have +adopted the same course in doing so, which is followed by judicious +breeders of animals; and that is, by sticking to the breed, when it +is a good one, in its utmost purity; choosing the best of the flock +from which to propagate, and thus continuing. In-and-in breeding, to a +certain extent, when pursued by those who thoroughly understand their +business, has been productive of the best results. The finest, the +largest, and the most _indomitable_ game-cocks have thus been bred; +and if we possessed a good breed of poultry of any kind, we should be +very careful how we exchanged eggs with our neighbors for the purpose +of improving them. If they had a superior stock to our own, of the +same breed, we would select from among them grown birds only; we +should then know what we got, and be able to make improvements upon +those we already possessed. It is by mingling all sorts of breeds +together, without any definite notion as to the results, that "many +farmers find their stock _running out_"; and if every one were to +follow this course, we should soon be without a single good fowl in our +poultry-yards. We really regret to see a book like this on American +Poultry, which in the main is a good little work, recommend such a +course of breeding; for in our humble judgment it is the very worst +which could be pursued. + +We can not say that we much like the author's advice either, as to the +choice of a cock. Why he should be "restless, not very large, with a +thick and stout bill, long spurs," &c., we can not divine. The best +cocks we ever kept, and those of the most indomitable courage, when +fighting was necessary, were the most quiet, attentive, and polite in +their seraglio: they were also of rather large size for their breed; +with fine heads, bills, feet, and legs. + + + + +NEW YORK FARMERS' CLUB. + + +THE FARMERS' Club resumed their meetings, on Tuesday, Nov. 13th, at the +Repository of the American Institute. + +The meeting commenced by reading a communication from the President +of the Manhattan Gas Light Company, David C. Colden, Esq., inviting +the attention of farmers, and all interested in agriculture, to the +value of the refuse of gas-works as manure. Extracts from the works +of Liebig, and Johnston were then read, setting forth the powerful +fertilizing properties of ammoniacal liquor, with which the refuse of +gas-works is found to be strongly impregnated. After some conversation +on the subject, in which Mr. Stevens, Commodore De Kay, Mr. Meigs, and +Mr. Wakeman, took part, as to the best method of disposing of this +communication, it was resolved that it be referred to a committee +consisting of Gen. Tallmadge, Mr. Prince, Gen. Johnson, Col. Clarke, +and Mr. Townsend, to report at the next meeting of the club. + +Mr. William R. Prince, of Flushing, presented to the meeting, specimens +of nineteen different varieties of apples, among which were several of +very large size and superior quality. + +Mr. Meigs presented seeds of a new variety of squash, the _Cucurbitur +bicolor_. + +Mr. Ward, cuttings from a vine which produced ripe Isabella grapes on +the 5th September. + +A desultory conversation then ensued as to the future proceedings +of the club. Much diversity of opinion appeared to exist as to the +propriety of holding the meetings weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, when +a committee was appointed to report upon the subject. + +Dr. Field next called the attention of the club to a subject which +he considered deserving their serious attention, viz: the present +condition of the children now in the alms-house on Long Island. He +thought they might be employed advantageously to themselves and +the public, either in the cultivation of the mulberry, and general +management of silk, or in horticultural occupations. He then proceeded +to describe with feeling eloquence, their present deplorable condition, +both morally and physically, arising from the system of idleness they +are now allowed to pursue. + +He was followed by Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Carter, who both agreed that it +was high time some steps should be taken to ameliorate the condition of +the poor children, and it was finally resolved: + +That a committee consisting of Dr. Field, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Carter, +be appointed to investigate the subject, and petition the corporation +that the pauper children of this city, now on the Long Island farm, be +employed in horticultural pursuits generally, and also in the raising +and manufacture of silk. + +Mr. Stevens then made some remarks on the subject of wax-flowers and +fruits, a specimen of which was exhibited by Mr. Lane. Mr. Stevens +thought that a model of every new variety of fruit ought to be taken in +wax, and preserved at the Repository of the Institute. + +A motion was made and carried that the executive committee be +instructed to consider the subject. + +Gen. Tallmadge suggested that a list of donors of fruits, &c., be +kept by the secretary, and placed on the records of the club at every +meeting, which was unanimously agreed to. + +The meeting then adjourned to Tuesday, the 28th November. + +The following are the extracts on refuse gas, sent to the club by the +President of the Manhattan Gas-Light Company:-- + + "If the properties of manure, and its agency upon the growth of the + vegetable world, can be explained by chemistry, we shall find the + ammoniacal liquor produced in gas-works, to be a valuable substitute + for those manures, by the application of which it is intended to + supply the soil with nitrogen. + + "One of the most valuable manures is urine, and its excellence + depends almost entirely upon the ammoniacal salts which it holds in + solution. The relative value of urine as manure, depends upon the + quantity of nitrogen the different kinds yield. Thus human urine is + the most esteemed, and that of horned animals the least."--_Clegg's + Treatise on Gas-Making._ + +According to Liebig, 547 pounds of human excrement contain 16.41 pounds +of nitrogen; a quantity sufficient to yield the nitrogen of 800 pounds +of wheat, rye, oats, or of 900 pounds of barley. How much more, then, +will be supplied from an equal weight of ammoniacal liquor! + +Mr. J. Watson, the manager of the gas-works at Kirriemuir, has favored +me with the following facts:-- + + "The ammoniacal liquor on the surface of the tar-well has been found + a very great improvement as a manure for raising crops of grass in + this quarter, by being sprinkled on the field in the same way as + water is put on public streets in large towns, to keep down dust in + dry weather. I have myself seen an experiment of this tried, and + can say that part of a field of grass sprinkled in this way, after + the first cutting, was far superior to any other part of the field + receiving manure of any other kind, and that the part so sprinkled, or + showered over, was ready to be cut down a second time in the course + of between fourteen days and three weeks; whereas, the other part + of the field cut at the same time, was only beginning to spring or + rise from the roots in that time. It must be mixed up before use with + four parts of common water. In particular, the said experiment of the + gas-water has been used by David Nairn, Esq., Doumkilba, near Meigle, + in this neighborhood, with success; and I am informed that he has + purchased and taken a lease of the ammoniacal liquor from different + gas-companies in this country. + + "I am convinced much good might be derived from different qualities + of the refuse products of gas-works as manure. An inquiry into this + subject would remunerate the engineer or agriculturist to the full, + and would besides confer a considerable benefit upon his fellows, and + give that practical proof of the correctness of a theory so welcome to + the man of science." + + "The fertilizing power of gypsum has been explained by its supposed + action on the ammonia which is presumed to exist in the atmosphere. If + this be the true explanation, a substance containing ammonia should + act _at least_ as energetically. At all events, the action of foldyard + manure and of putrid urine, is supposed to depend chiefly on the + ammonia they contain or give off. + + "Now among the substances containing ammonia in large quantity, + the ammoniacal liquor of the gas-works is one which can easily be + obtained, and can be applied in a liquid state at very little cost. It + must be previously diluted with water till its taste and smell become + scarcely perceptible. + + "I would propose therefore, as a further experiment, that along with + one or more of the substances above mentioned, the ammoniacal liquor + of the gas-works should be tried, on a measured portion of ground, + and, if possible, in the same field. + + "Soot as a manure is supposed to act partly, if not chiefly in + consequence of the ammonia it contains. In Gloucestershire, it is + applied to potatoes and to wheat, chiefly to the latter, and with + great success. In the wolds of Yorkshire it is also applied largely to + the wheat-crop. In this country it is frequently used on grass land. I + am not aware that it is extensively used on clover. I am inclined to + anticipate that the sulphur it contains, in addition to ammonia, would + render it useful to this plant. At all events comparative experiments + in the same field with the gypsum and the ammoniacal liquor, are + likely to lead to interesting results. + + * * * "Of ammoniacal liquor 100 or 200 gallons per acre, according + to its strength, for this is constantly varying. It must also be + diluted with so large a quantity of water as will render it perfectly + tasteless, and is likely to prove most beneficial if laid on at + several successive periods."--_Johnston's Agricultural Chemistry_, + part 1. + + "Sal ammoniac is probably too expensive an article to be employed; + but sulphate of ammonia may be had of the wholesale chemist at a + price considerably more reasonable, and the ammoniacal liquor of + the gas-manufactories, through the distillation of coal, is a still + cheaper commodity."--_Liebig's Agricultural Chemistry._ + + "Its efficacy as a manure is vouched for by many who have made trial + of it upon their land. See a communication by Mr. Paynter on gas-water + as a manure."--_Journal Royal Ag. Soc._, No. 1. + + + + +THE NEXT ANNUAL SHOW OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. + + +As the annual show of the New York State Agricultural Society is now +sure to bring fifteen to twenty thousand strangers into the place where +it may be held, to pass three or four days there, and spend their +money pretty freely, it has become quite an object with the different +towns situated on the great thoroughfares, to have the exhibitions +within their boundaries as often as possible. Strong movements will +be made for these hereafter; but we trust that the Society will weigh +well the different claims preferred for its favor, and that no other +consideration than the public good, and the spread of its influence, +will have weight in its decisions. + +Albany, Syracuse, and Rochester, each having had the advantage of one +of these meetings, other towns now are soliciting the like favor; and +among those which are preferring their claims for the show of 1844, +we understand that Buffalo, Utica, and Poughkeepsie, are the most +prominent. Perhaps as the northern and western parts of the State have +now had the benefit of three of the exhibitions of the Society, it +is no more than fair that some attention be paid to the southern and +eastern portions. We have heard this city named as a very suitable +place for the show of next year, and the only objection we can +anticipate to it is, that it is an extreme end of the State. Granted; +and is not Buffalo the same? Yet, notwithstanding this, we contend that +New York or Buffalo is just as fairly entitled in their turn to one +of the exhibitions of the Society, as Albany, Syracuse, or Rochester. +However, as our own interests might be somewhat served by a meeting of +the State Society in this city, we shall waive advocating its claims +to one for the present, and content ourselves with stating those of +Poughkeepsie. + +1. This town is 210 miles by the usual travelled route, northwest from +Montauk Point, the southeast end of the State. This is as great a +distance as from Poughkeepsie to Syracuse, and 41 miles further than +the railroad route, though a circuitous one, from Syracuse to Buffalo; +so that it may fairly be said to be the hither-end of a third-part of +the limits of the State. + +2. The population, from Dutchess county, south and east, includes about +one fourth of that of the whole State. + +3. Poughkeepsie is easy of access by land or water, and being situated +on the Hudson, hundreds of strangers from the neighboring States, +especially the southern ones, would visit a show here, when they could +hardly be induced to go farther north or west, and as these visiters +are always purchasers to a greater or less extent, it is quite an +object to get them to attend. + +4. This town is the capital of one of the oldest, wealthiest, and +most populous counties of the State, and the one whose general system +of agriculture is probably more highly advanced than any other. +Dutchess, and the neighboring counties, have also considerable improved +stock--much more than we had any idea of till our recent excursions in +these parts. Durham, Devon, and Ayrshire cattle abound; superior road +and blood horses; Cotswold, Leicester, South Down, and numerous flocks +of Merino sheep; the products of the dairy; agricultural implements, +and roots, seeds, fruits, flowers, and domestic fabrics. + +5. Poughkeepsie is ready at her own expense, to build pens for the +stock, and furnish all other needful accommodation for the Society, +which will be a saving of expense to it of at least $1,000. + +Lastly, there is more accumulated wealth in the southern, than other +parts of the State, and the Society, by holding a fair proportion of +its shows in this quarter, will make itself many staunch friends, and +be introduced to thousands, who would otherwise be ignorant of its +great public merits. The Agricultural Society of the State of New York +is looked up to as an example throughout the country, and it should +be careful to avoid even the appearance of being partial or local in +its proceedings. The national societies of Great Britain and Ireland, +adopt the course of holding their shows in, not only the central, but +the extreme parts of the kingdom; and this is one great reason of their +popularity among all classes. + + + + +Tour in England. No. 15. + + +THINKING that our readers had become somewhat satiated with so +much upon foreign matters as have hitherto found place in this +journal, we had desisted for several months past, giving sketches +of the agriculture of England; but having recently received so many +solicitations to continue them, we again take up the subject, and shall +pursue it pretty regularly through the whole of our third volume, +if such seems to be the pleasure of a majority of our subscribers. +Perhaps, to these, we may also add sketches of some things we saw in +Russia, the recollections of which are very pleasant, at least to us, +yet whether we shall make them equally so in relating them to others, +remains to be seen. + +CHATSWORTH, SEAT OF THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.--In returning from +Yorkshire to London on the North Midland railroad, we stopped at +the Chesterfield station, for the purpose of making an excursion to +Chatsworth, to view the celebrated gardens and immense conservatory of +this superb place. It was a raw morning in August, and as we jumped +from a confined seat in the rail-coach, we were glad to be on our feet +once more, and have an opportunity of rousing our blood by a smart walk +from the station into the town. We stopped at the Angel inn, took a +hearty breakfast, and while waiting a gig being made ready to convey us +to Chatsworth, stepped out for a stroll over the place. Chesterfield +is a dingy old town, of about 6,000 inhabitants, and has little to +recommend it to the notice of strangers, save the spire of All Saints' +Church. This rises to the height of 230 feet, is curiously channeled, +and covered with lead, and is so much out of perpendicular, as to +attract marked attention in passing it, even when at a considerable +distance. It being market-day, the town was thronged with farmers from +the country, exposing stock and agricultural products in the square +for sale. There was little in these, however, deserving particular +attention, and after giving them a hasty look, we returned to the inn. +As we came up, a dapper waiter announced the "oss and gig as _h_all +ready;" when in we jumped, and set out for Chatsworth at a round pace, +distant, if we recollect right, about 8 miles. + +Derbyshire possesses the wildest and most broken scenery of any county +in England, and after passing over the flat surface of Yorkshire, it +was quite a relief to find ourselves trotting up and down along a road +winding picturesquely around high hills, and over deep narrow dales. An +hour's drive or so, brought us to the pretty little village of Edensor, +close by the inn of which, is the entrance to Chatsworth. The village +is situated within the park, and is the property of the Duke, and +certainly it is the most charming one we ever saw. Every cottage is of +stone, and no two alike in their architecture. One is a mimic Gothic +castle; another a cottage ornèe; a third in the Elizabethan, a fourth +in the Swiss, and perhaps a fifth in the Tudor style. Everything then +was so complete about them--the pretty gardens full of flowers--the +hedges so neatly trimmed--the yards, laid down with the greenest and +softest of turf, and the shrubbery so tastefully planted! These were +the residences of the laborers on the estate, the possession of which +any one might envy them, and desire to be able to call his home. +Attached to the village is a fine old church, and around it an ample +yard, handsomely walled in with strong mason-work. Altogether, this +village is quite a gem in its way, and we were going to add, an epitome +of its owner's heart; for on all his estates, whether in England or +Ireland, the Duke of Devonshire has made it a point to protect and +bountifully provide for his people. There is no want, or suffering, or +seeking the poor-house, by the tenantry, allowed by this kind-hearted, +benevolent man. + +Turning from Edensor, and ascending a mound-like hill to the left of +the carriage-road, the palace and the grounds of Chatsworth appear to +the greatest advantage. Immediately below is the river Derwent, tracing +its sparkling course through a rich vale, where were perhaps 1,500 deer +browsing or taking their gambols. A handsome stone bridge spans the +river, and just beyond, the ground rises in terraces to a narrow plain, +where stand the noble palace, with its out-buildings, and the immense +conservatory, in magnificent grandeur. Back of these rises a lofty +hill, the steep sides of which are thickly planted with forest-trees, +and the summit is crowned with a high tower of octagonal shape, built +of stone. We were received at the palace-gate by a servant in handsome +livery, and passing into the gallery of the court, a fine hearty girl +made her appearance to conduct us over the building. The front of the +palace is 350 feet, and one of the side wings about 400 feet long, and +this whole area contains a series of apartments called the drawing-room +suite. An entire number of this paper would hardly suffice to give +the reader a complete description of these magnificent rooms, and the +treasures of art they contain, we therefore pass them over in silence. +From these we strolled into the orangery, which is about 30 feet wide, +and 200 feet long. It is full of beautiful exotics, and among them +were several specimens of the Rhododendron Arboreum, which bore, the +preceding summer, over 2,000 flowers. We now walked out to the lawn +in front of the palace, where one of the under-gardeners appeared +to conduct us over the grounds. These are extremely beautiful, with +walled terraces in the Italian style, and fountains. One jet d'eau +throws up a column 90 feet high. But the great show here in the way +of water-works, is the cascade. It is entirely artificial, and must +have been made at a great expense. The water rushes out from a series +of lakes on top of the hill, and comes pouring down its side, taking +a leap of about 80 feet from one of the arches, and then falls for a +length of 300 yards over a series of 24 ledges, and disappears amidst +masses of rock, on the edge of the lawn. Here it finds a subterranean +passage to the river Derwent. These water-works are looked upon by some +critics with affected contempt; not so with us, however, we greatly +admired them in their way; and yet we have seen Niagara a thousand +times, and had a peep at most of the other water-falls worth looking +at in the United States. We have no sympathy with such hypercritics +as profess a distaste to the cascade at Chatsworth: as a work of art, +it is a magnificent thing, and to our eye, in keeping with the palace +and grounds; and we viewed it with interest. A bronze tree a little +farther on, excited still greater curiosity with us than the cascade, +for it was made to act the part of a fountain, by throwing water from a +thousand sprigs and leaves all around in a shower of spray. + +But leaving this and the exquisite scenery of the lawn, we passed on by +a winding carriage-road to a short distance to the conservatory. This +was 350 feet long, 150 feet wide, and nearly 70 feet high; and when +fully completed, is to have an additional length of 150 feet. The roof +is an arch, and is covered with plate glass of the best kind, and so +thick as to resist the heaviest hail. It is heated by iron tubes of hot +water, and to these are added others for cold water, and the whole, +if stretched out to a single length, we were informed would extend +nearly six miles. The plants and trees here are distributed in open +borders, each class being placed in the soil most proper for it, and +the temperature so regulated as to suit their natural state as nearly +as possible. Not far from the centre is an immense rockery rising about +50 feet high, and from the fissures of the thick slabs of stone that +compose it, the cactus and other plants grow out as in their natural +state. Half way up this huge precipice is a little lake with islets, +and in this, water-lilies and other aquatic plants of the rarest and +most beautiful kinds. A wild goat path leads to the top of the rockery, +and beneath it is a wide, deep cave. The variety of shrubs and plants +in this immense conservatory is very great; some of the trees already +reach nearly to the top of the roof, and others presented dimensions +gigantic in the extreme for those within a green-house. There are wide +folding-doors at each end of the conservatory, and any time he pleases, +the Duke can have a drive with his coach and four horses through it. +Taking it altogether, it is by far the most magnificent thing of the +kind we have ever seen. The whole cost of it is not less than half +a million of dollars, which is but a little over the present annual +income of its wealthy possessor. + +After leaving the conservatory, we took a zig-zag road, and ascended +through the forest to the crown of the hill by the octagonal tower. +A peasant family was residing here, who permitted us to ascend it to +the top. The view from this is no less extensive than beautiful, of +Chatsworth and the wild broken country around. Descending from this +high perch we had quite a chat with the peasant's wife. She informed +us that the tower was built by a predecessor of the present Duke, for +the purpose of giving the ladies at the palace an opportunity of seeing +the fox-hunting which formerly took place at Chatsworth. Upon taking +leave, the good woman directed a little rosy-faced daughter to show +us the lakes on the hill, the sources of the cascade and fountains +below. After something of a stroll through the woods, we found two +large expanses of water belted in by thick rows of the larch and fir, +and apparently as isolated as if in a wild forest of our own country. +The white swan and the black are kept here, and most other kinds of +curious water-fowl. Our pretty guide answered all our inquiries with +intelligence, and at parting we gave her a small guerdon, for which she +returned a grateful "thank'e zur" and a low courtesy, and then, with +the lightness of a young fawn, skipped into the woods, and immediately +disappeared. Descending the hill toward the palace we came to the +stables. These are very extensive, of quadrangular shape, and large +courtyards within. At a distance, with their imposing architecture, +they might almost pass for the palace itself. + +We now bent our steps to the house of the celebrated Mr. Paxton, the +head gardener of the Duke of Devonshire, editor of the Magazine of +Botany which bears his name, and one of the first botanists of England. +His residence is within the park, about a quarter of a mile from the +palace, and is a roomy, beautiful cottage, completely enveloped in +flowers and flowering shrubbery, with a handsome little conservatory at +the end. Much to our regret, he was not at home; but a sub-gardener, +quite an intelligent man, volunteered to show us the gardens. They +occupy 12 acres, and are enclosed by a thick, brick wall, about twelve +feet high. Here are the experimental and kitchen gardens, and hundreds +of fruit-bearing espaliers, trained up the walls. In addition to these +there are forcing pits in abundance, and upward of 20 hot-houses, about +300 feet long each, devoted to different purposes, one of the most +extensive of which is the growing of pine apples. All these things may +be considered very extravagant, but in supporting them, the Duke of +Devonshire has done much for the cause of science, and has conferred a +lasting benefit on his country. + +We left Chatsworth with regret; the day we spent there we would have +gladly prolonged to a week, and then we should have gained but an +imperfect knowledge of the treasures of nature and art which are stored +up here for the admiration of thousands of visiters. Mary Queen of +Scots was some time a prisoner here; so also was Marshal Tallard, who +was captured at the battle of Blenheim. What were the thoughts of the +beautiful Queen upon taking leave of it, history does not record; but +the Marshal, no less gracefully than happily, said: "When I return to +France and reckon up the days of my captivity in England, I shall leave +out all those I have spent at Chatsworth." And so thought we, pausing +on the mound-like hill again, as we retraced our steps to Edensor, and +cast a last lingering look upon the park, and palace, and forest hills +in the background, lit up by the clear, glorious sun just sinking +beneath the horizon. + + + + +AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. + + +THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY held its annual show at the Lamb tavern, +October 4, 5, and 6. The Germantown Telegraph states, in the _Report +of the Committee of Arrangements_, that the display of horses was +unusually attractive, exhibiting the various breeds for the turf, road, +and farm, in considerable numbers. The Durham cattle seem at last to be +getting the better of prejudice in that quarter, and in their superior +forms and deep milking qualities, have shamed nearly everything else +from the ground, save a few fine Devons and capital grade Durham +milkers. Of sheep and swine, there were very few present, which is +the more to be regretted, as these animals exist in considerable +numbers and of superior breeds throughout the neighboring counties +of Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, and Lancaster. Of Agricultural +Implements and Products there was a good show, and the Plowing-Match +proved an interesting affair. Peter A. Browne, Esq., delivered the +address, which we find at length in the Farmers' Cabinet. Among +other things, he contends no less strenuously than justly for the +establishment of Agricultural schools and Professorships. From another +part of the address we subjoin a few suggestions. + + First, then, it is feared that our agricultural friends have not yet + paid _all_ the attention that the subject demands, to a judicious + rotation of crops, adapted to our climate; particularly in regard to + _roots_. + + Second. Much has been done, that is beyond all praise, in insuring the + best breeds of cattle. While we hear pronounced with gratitude, the + names of Mease, Powell, Brantz, Clay, Gowen, and Kelley, let us not + forget that the task is not finished. + + Third. Soiling, it is apprehended, has been too much neglected by most + American husbandmen. + + Fourth. Irrigation has also been too little attended to in the United + States. + + Fifth. Proper care and precaution have not been sufficiently bestowed + upon the selection of seeds. This is a subject of the greatest + importance. + + Sixth. Much is yet to be learned in regard to the preservation and + economical use of manure. + + Seventh. The introduction, more generally, of labor-saving machinery, + and particularly of the itinerant thrashing-machine, deserves to be + mentioned. + + Eighth. Gardening and raising fruit are much neglected by our farmers. + + It is respectfully suggested that special committees might, with + advantage, be raised upon these and other useful topics, to report at + the next annual meeting. + + Pennsylvania contains nearly thirty millions of acres. According to + the census of 1840, she had a population of one million seven hundred + and odd thousands, which is nineteen acres and a fraction for each + inhabitant. In 1842, she raised, of grains of all kinds, upward of + sixty millions of bushels; of potatoes, nearly thirteen millions of + bushels; of hay, upward of two millions and a quarter of tons; of flax + and hemp, upward of three thousand three hundred tons; of tobacco, + four hundred and eighty thousand tons; of silk, upward of twenty-one + thousand pounds; of sugar, nearly three millions and a half of pounds; + and of wines, nearly eighteen thousand gallons. + +THE HENRICO SOCIETY held its third annual show at Richmond, Virginia, +November 1st. The proceedings are published in the Richmond Enquirer. +The Executive Committee reports, that although there is a falling off +in its receipts, there is an increased interest and attention to its +proceedings by the planters. Mr. C. T. Botts, Editor of the Southern +Planter, made the address, from which we subjoin an extract. + + This society was organized and has been chiefly supported by a few + public-spirited gentlemen in the neighborhood. Its beneficial effects + are felt and seen by all of you. To form a proper appreciation of + them, you have only to ride in any direction about the suburbs of the + city. Rude grounds have been converted into productive gardens, and + barren wastes into smiling fields. I recollect a lady's saying to me + last summer, that she meant to make her husband become a member of + this society, because it had done so much to beautify the rides and + walks about the city. She declared the time had been when it gave her + a fit of the horrors, (she was a nervous lady,) to order her carriage + for an evening drive; but that now, there was nothing that she and her + children enjoyed so much. But this is not all. Let him who has been + familiar with your market for the last eight or ten years, compare its + present abundant supplies of the finest fruits and vegetables, with + the meager exhibition of former days; and, after all, let us be as + sentimental as we will, a good market plays a very important part in + the comedy of human happiness. Our merchants and mechanics too should + remember, that these exhibitions are annually becoming more and more + attractive, and that they are by no means inefficient in increasing + the trade of the city. But, over and above all considerations of + dollars and cents, let us, one and all, come forward and enrol our + names as members of this association, which represents the great + agricultural interest of the state, and which should be the pride and + ornament of its metropolis. + +LAKE COUNTY SOCIETY.--The show of this society took place at Medina, +Ohio, and a complete account of its proceedings may be found in the +Painsville Telegraph. In addition to the usual show of stock, &c., an +extensive procession was got up of wagons and carriages, preceded by +bands of music. One of these held no less than 35 ladies, engaged in +the laudable occupations of knitting, sewing, spinning, and various +other domestic employments. We wish we could chronicle more such +industrial displays, for we consider them an excellent feature in +agricultural shows. + +BOURBON COUNTY SOCIETY OF KENTUCKY.--We learn from the Paris Citizen, +that the Eighth Annual show of this Society took place near Paris, +and continued three days, and is said to be the largest and most +varied ever held in Kentucky. The first two days were devoted to the +exhibition of domestic animals, agricultural products, and farming +implements; the third day, to that of domestic manufactures. The +show of horses present was considered very superior; they were of +all varieties, from the mettlesome thorough-bred, to the enormous +cart-horse. The Durhams and other horned stock were well represented, +and gave evidence in their splendid proportions of the superiority of +Kentucky pastures. The descendants are said to be an improvement over +the original importations from England. Mr. Clay was present, and had a +superb pair of blankets presented him by Mrs. James Hutchcraft. These +were made from the wool of Leicester sheep, and were of uncommon size +and thickness, weighing 23 lbs. the pair. On the presentation of these +blankets, Mr. Clay was addressed by the Hon. Garrett Davis, M. C., and +he replied in his usual elegant and happy manner. + +HAMPSHIRE, HAMPDEN, AND FRANKLIN SOCIETY, MASSACHUSETTS.--The united +show for the three wealthy and populous counties above, came off at +the beautiful town of Northampton, on the 18th and 19th October, +and we much regret on more accounts than one, that we could not, be +present. The Boston Cultivator furnishes a full report. A large number +of working-oxen of course were present, and to these were added some +superb fat oxen, exhibited by Mr. Sumner Chapin. The committee who +reported upon this subject, attributes the superiority of the cattle +to the large infusion of Short-Horn blood in their veins, and hence +their fine symmetry, light offal, and increased weight of flesh on the +more valuable parts, as compared with native stock when fattened for +the shambles. Mr. Paoli Lathrop exhibited some choice Short-Horns. Of +native cows the committee thus speak:-- + + Of the ten cows entered for the premium as _native_ animals, nearly + or all have an intermixture of Short-Horn or other foreign blood. We + awarded to Mr. Minor Hitchcock the first premium in this class. In + his written statement to us it appears that her average product in + milk for the six months, ending 1st October, was 49 lbs. per day, + and in the months of June and July, 58 lbs. per day. In butter, her + average product in the same time was more than 11 lbs. per week, + and in the month of July alone, nearly 14 lbs. per week; yet in the + same time he used the necessary milk and cream for his family of + four persons. Your committee have entire confidence in the statement + of Mr. Hitchcock; yet it is proper here to remark, that from his + account of her, and though awarded, a premium as a native animal, she + partakes highly of the blood of the Short-Horns. In the two classes of + animals entered as of _native and foreign origin_ it is obvious that + a proper discrimination was not made; for in some of the former there + is evidently more of the blood of distinct imported races than the + latter. Yet your committee deemed it their duty to award the premiums + of the society to the two classes as they found them. + +Now here it is, most everywhere that our native cows are found +excelling as milkers, we can trace a portion of their blood, (usually +the greatest share,) to the Durhams, and yet there are those who are +constantly decrying the Short-Horns for not being _milkers_. Verily +a few particular people are very hard to be convinced. It is our +intention hereafter to make up a table of the milking qualities of the +Short-Horns and their grades, and any one possessing information upon +this subject, we shall be glad by their communicating the same to us. +Mr. Paoli Lathrop of South Hadley took the first premiums on Durham +bulls and heifers. Mr. Ira Fenton of Belchertown on Durham cows. Mr. +Sumner Chapin of Springfield, the first premiums on Fat Cattle and +Working-Oxen. + + + + +SALE OF RAMBOUILLET MERINOS. + + +--Mr. Nathaniel Hart, Jr., of Kentucky, has just passed through this +city on his way home, having in company with him three Rambouillet +Merino bucks, purchased of Mr. D. C. Collins of Hartford, Connecticut. +Mr. Hart has kept a large flock of the old-fashioned Merinos for +some time, on his plantation at Versailles, Woodford county, and has +purchased these fine bucks, as the best animals which could be found, +for the purpose of making improvements upon them. Kentucky will have +in these Rambouillets a valuable addition to her sheep stock, and we +recommend their produce in advance, to the breeders of the western +country. We understand Mr. Collins has recently met with a great demand +for his sheep, and that he has now disposed of all he has to spare this +year. We congratulate him upon it, and take some credit to ourselves, +for calling public attention to his very valuable imported flock. + + + + +SHEEP-DOGS. + + +--The price of a well-broke sheep-dog is $25 to $30. They ought always +to be accompanied by their shepherds, as they are taught to manage +sheep in a peculiar way, which none but regularly-bred shepherds +understand. + + + + +ANNUAL MEETING OF THE N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. + +--The annual meeting of the New York State Agricultural Society, will +be held at the Society's room in the Old State Hall, Albany, on the 3d +Wednesday, (the 17th,) of January, 1844, at 10 o'clock, A. M. + +Persons intending to compete for the Society's premiums on field-crops, +essays, &c., are reminded that their statements and essays must be sent +to the Recording Secretary, Albany, before the first of January. + +Presidents of County Agricultural Societies are also requested to +transmit the reports required by the statute, to the Recording +Secretary, previous to the annual meeting. + + LUTHER TUCKER, Rec. Sec'y. + + + + +LIST OF PREMIUMS + +_Of the American Institute._--_Continued_. + + +FLOWERS. + +William Kent, Brooklyn, L. I., for superior dahlias, including some +extra-fine American seedlings--gold medal. + +George C. Thorburn, 15 John street, N. Y., for a rich display of +dahlias--gold medal. + +Daniel Boll, Bloomingdale, N. Y., for a fine assortment of dahlias, +including some fine American seedlings--silver medal. + +Thomas Hogg & Sons, 79th street, N. Y., for a good assortment of +dahlias--Mrs. Loudon's Flower Garden. + +William R. Prince, Flushing, L. I., for numerous varieties of +dahlias--Downing's Rural Architecture. + +Thomas Addis Emmet, Mount Vernon, N. Y.--T. Cremmins, gardener--for a +superior display of dahlias--Downing's Cottage Architecture. + +William Phelan & Sons, 5th street, N. Y., for a fine display of +dahlias--Hovey's Magazine. + +William Reid, 34th street and 4th avenue, N. Y., for an excellent +assortment of dahlias--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +William Laird, 17th street, N. Y., for an ornamental frame, decorated +with flowers--Hovey's Magazine. + +James L. L. F. Warren, Brighton, Mass., for a beautiful bouquet of +flowers--silver medal. + +Mrs. Jeremiah Brown, Brooklyn, L. I., for a beautiful vase of +flowers--Mrs. Loudon's Flower Garden. + +J. B. Mantel, 46th street, N. Y., for an ornamental frame, decorated +with flowers--American Flower-Garden Directory. + +Daniel Boll, Bloomingdale, N. Y., for numerous varieties of the rose, +and other rare flowers--Mrs. Loudon's Flower Garden. + +Samuel M. Cox, Bloomingdale road, N. Y., for a beautiful stand of +flowers--American Flower-Garden Directory. + +William Beekman, 110 Ninth street, N. Y., for a fine supply of +dahlias--Hovey's Magazine. + +Isaac Buchanan, 29th street, N. Y., for two vases of rare flowers--1 +Vol. of American Agriculturist. + +To Alfred Bridgeman, J. Boyce, A. P. Cummings, William Davison, J. +Ettringham, William V. Legget, Mrs. McFarlane, George Maine, William +Ross, Samuel Ruth, Grant Thorburn, Jr., L. Van Wyck, Edward White, and +John W. Wood, for supplies of flowers for ornamenting the Horticultural +room, to each a copy of the Report of the American Institute, on the +subject of Agriculture. + + +VEGETABLES. + +Robert L. Pell, Pelham, Ulster co., N. Y., for the choicest assortment +of culinary vegetables--silver medal. + +John Beekman, 61st street, N. Y., for the best and greatest variety of +vegetable roots for cattle--silver medal. + +Joseph Clowes, Harsimus, N. J., for twelve superior blood beets--United +States Farmer. + +Robert L. Pell, Pelham, Ulster co., N. Y., for twelve superior sugar +beets--1 vol. American Agriculturist. + +John Beekman, 61st street, N. Y., for twelve superior mangel-wurtzel +beets--1 vol. of the Cultivator. + +Christopher Allen, Staten Island, N. Y., for six fine heads of +cauliflower--Buel's Farmers' Companion. + +Peter Hulst, gardener to Lambert Wyckoff, Bushwick, L. I., for the best +field of cabbage--silver medal. + +L. Wyckoff, Bushwick, for twelve large heads of the drum-head +cabbage--Transactions of the State Agricultural Society. + +Thomas Bridgeman, Jr., Dutch Kills, L. I., for twelve fine heads of +Savoy cabbage--Faulkner's Farmers' Manual. + +Thomas Prosser, Paterson, N. J., for twelve superior carrots for the +table--United States Farmer. + +J. Clowes, Harsimus, N. J. for twelve fine roots of white +celery--Transactions of State Agricultural Society. + +Frederick Bonnicamp, Harsimus, N. J., for twelve fine roots of red +celery--Dana's Muck Manual. + +Robert L. Pell, Pelham, Ulster co., N. Y., for six large +egg-plants--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +John Brill, Jersey city, N. J., for a peck of superior yellow +onions--Faulkner's Farmers' Manual. + +William Ross, Ravenswood, Queens co., N. Y., for a peck of superior red +onions--Smith's Productive Farming. + +Joseph Clowes, Harsimus, N. J., for twelve fine parsneps for the +table--American Agriculturist. + +J. Beekman, 61st street, N. Y., for twelve large parsneps for +cattle--United States Farmer. + +Alexander Walsh, Lansingburgh, for superior seedling +potatoes--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +T. B. Wakeman, Bergen, N. J., for superior Mercer potatoes--silver +medal. + +William J. Townsend, Newtown, Queens co., for a superior lot of table +potatoes--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +S. B. Townsend, Newtown, L. I., for three large cattle pumpkins--Buel's +Farmers' Companion. + +R. L. Colt, Paterson, N. J., for a peck of superior potatoes for +cattle--1 vol. of Cultivator. + +John P. Haff, Yorkville, N. Y., for a peck of superior white flat +turneps--1 vol. of Cultivator. + +Peter Wyckoff, Bushwick, Kings co., for twelve superior roots of long +white turneps--Bridgeman's Gardener's Assistant. + +S. Pabor, Harlem, N. Y., for superior cream pumpkins--Smith's +Productive Farming. + +F. O. Wakeman, Bergen, N. J., for twelve superior roots of +salsify--American Agriculturist. + +John Brill, Harsimus, N. J., for three fine winter squashes--Faulkner's +Farmers' Manual. + +John A. Miller, Little Falls, N. J., for a fine large Valparaiso +squash--Dana's Muck Manual. + +H. W. Tibbets, Yonkers, N. Y., for half a peck of large +tomatoes--United States Farmer. + +Robert L. Pell, Pelham, Ulster co., for a fine sample of hops--American +Agriculturist. + +Robert L. Pell, Pelham, N. Y., for superior specimens of sweet +potatoes--diploma. + +P. Hegone, 206 Greenwich street, for superior specimens of pickles and +catsup--diploma. + + +FRUITS. + +R. L. Pell, Pelham, Ulster co., N. Y., for the best fruit farm--gold +medal. + +R. T. Underhill, Croton Point, N. Y., for successful vineyard-culture +of the native grape--silver medal. + +J. L. L. F. Warren, Brighton, Mass., for twelve superior table +apples--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +R. L. Pell, Pelham, Ulster co., N. Y., for twelve superior winter +apples--Kenrick's American Orchardist. + +T. H. Perkins, Brookline, Mass., for twelve superior varieties of +house-grapes--gold medal. + +R. S. Field, Princeton, N. J., for three superior varieties of +house-grapes--silver medal. + +J. F. Allen, Salem, Mass., for six varieties of superior +house-grapes--Downing's Cottage Architecture. + +Rev. Dr. Wm. Patton, 110 Sullivan street, N. Y., for fifty-two superior +bunches of Isabella grapes--Downing's Rural Architecture. + +R. T. Underhill, Croton Point, N. Y., for superior specimens of Catawba +grapes--Kenrick's American Orchardist. + +J. L. L. F. Warren, Brighton, Mass., for twelve superior peaches +(freestone)--Kenrick's American Orchardist. + +John J. Van Wyck, 140 Twenty-first street, N. Y., for twelve superior +peaches (clingstones)--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +M. P. Wilder, Dorchester, Mass., for sixty-five choice varieties of +pears--silver medal. + +George C. DeKay, 25th street, Seventh avenue, N. Y., for a superior lot +of table pears--Kenrick's American Orchardist. + +D. Henderson, Jersey City, N. J., for twelve fine magnum-bonum +plums--Buel's Farmers' Companion. + +C. M. Graham, Jr., Content, Harlem lane, N. Y., for fifty-five quinces +gathered from one tree--Kenrick's American Orchardist. + +Jacob Hendrer, Glenham, Dutchess co., N. Y., for fine specimens of +grapes--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +J. W. Hayes, Newark, N. J., for a lot of grapes and fine +pears--Farmers' Companion. + +John Couzens, Dobb's Ferry, Westchester co., N. Y., for superior +specimen of grapes--United States Farmer. + +Wm. R. Prince, Flushing, L. I., for two bunches of native grapes, and +fine specimen of apples--Hovey's Magazine. + +William Reid, 37th street, 4th avenue, for a fine collection of pears +and apples--American Agriculturist. + +Charles M. Graham, Jr., Content, Harlem lane, for a fine lot of +Isabella grapes--Transactions of State Agricultural Society. + +J. J. Morris, Batavia, N. Y., for fine specimen of pears--Farmers' +Manual. + +Nicholas Wyckoff, Jr., Bushwick, for fine specimens Isabella +grapes--The Planters' Guide. + +J. B. Mantel, 46th street, N. Y., for 53 varieties of pears and other +fruit--two vols. of the Transactions of the State Agricultural Society. + +Joseph L. Franklin, Flushing, L. I., for twelve extra large +apples--Dana's Muck Manual. + +H. & L. Hotchkiss, New Haven, Conn., for one pear weighing 33 oz.--1 +vol. of the Cultivator. + +Samuel Walker, Roxbury, Mass., for superior varieties of pears--silver +medal. + +Henry Steel, Jersey City, N. J., for a lot of extra-fine early +grapes--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant. + +Miss Louisa Bennett, L. I., for a basket of native +strawberries--Bridgeman's Florist's Guide. + + + + +MAKING CAPONS. + + +THE following article on making capons, is the best within our +recollection. It is taken from the directions accompanying the sets of +instruments for caponising, made by Mr. John Mendenhall, Philadelphia:-- + + FOWLS intended to be cut, must be kept at least twenty-four hours + without food, otherwise the entrails will fill the cavity of the belly + and render it almost impossible to complete the operation; besides, + when they have been starved the proper length of time, they are less + liable to bleed. + + The chicken is taken at any age, from five days old until it begins + to crow, or even after. Lay the fowl on its left side on the floor, + draw the wings back, and keep it firm by resting the right foot on its + legs, and the other foot or knee on its wings. (The table with the + apparatus does away with the necessity of this stooping position.) Be + careful that the head of the fowl is not held down, or even touched + during the operation, as it would be sure to cause it to bleed. Pluck + the feathers off from its right side near the hip joint, in a line + between that and the shoulder joint; the space uncovered should be a + little more than an inch square. Make an incision between the two last + ribs, having first drawn the skin of the part backward, so that when + left to itself it will cover the wound in the flesh. In some fowls the + thigh is so far forward that it covers the two last ribs; in which + case, care must be taken to draw the flesh of the thigh well back, so + as not to cut through it, or else it would lame the fowl, and perhaps + cause its death in a few days after the operation, by inflaming. + + The ribs are to be kept open by the hooks--the opening must be + enlarged each way by the knife, if necessary, until the testicles, + which are attached to the back bone, are entirely exposed to view, + together with the intestines in contact with them. The testicles are + enclosed in a thin skin, connecting them with the back and sides--this + must be laid hold of with the pliers, and then torn away with the + pointed instrument; doing it first on the upper testicle, then on the + lower. (The lower testicle will generally be found a little behind the + other--that is, a little nearer the rump.) Next introduce the loop; + (which is made of a horse-hair or a fibre of cocoa-nut;) it must be + put round the testicle which is uppermost, in doing which the spoon is + serviceable to raise up the testicle and push the loop under it, so + that it shall be brought to act upon the part which holds the testicle + to the back; then tear it off by pushing the tube toward the rump of + the fowl, at the same time drawing the loop. Then scoop it and the + blood out with the spoon, and perform the same operation on the other + testicle. Take away the hooks, draw the skin over and close the wound; + stick the feathers that you pulled off before on the wound, and let + the bird go. + + REMARKS.--If the operation be performed without sufficient skill, many + of the fowls will prove not to be capons; these may be killed for use + as soon as the head begins to grow large and get red, and they begin + to chase the hens. The real capon will make itself known by the head + remaining small, and the comb small and withered; the feathers of the + neck or mane will also get longer, and the tail will be handsomer and + longer: they should be kept to the age of fifteen or eighteen months, + which will bring them in the spring and summer, when poultry is scarce + and brings a high price. Take care, however, not to kill them near + moulting time, as all poultry then is very inferior. The operation + fails, principally, by bursting the testicle, so that the skin which + encloses the soft matter, remains in the bird, and the testicle grows + again. + + Birds of five or six months are less liable to have the testicles + burst in the operation than younger fowls, but they are also more apt + to bleed to death than those of from two to four months old. + + A skilful operator will always choose fowls of from two to three + months;--he will prefer also, to take off the lower testicle first, as + then the blood will not prevent him from proceeding with the other; + whereas, when the upper one is taken off the first, if there should be + any bleeding, he has to wait before he can take off the lower testicle. + + The large vein that supplies the entrails with blood passes in the + neighborhood of the testicles; there is danger that a young beginner + may pierce it with the pointed instrument in taking off the skin of + the lower testicle, in which case the chicken would die instantly, + for all the blood in its body would issue out. There are one or two + smaller veins which must be avoided, which is very easy, as they are + not difficult to see. If properly managed, no blood ever appears until + a testicle is taken off: so that should any appear before that, the + operator will know that he has done something wrong. + + If a chicken die, it is during the operation by bleeding; (of course + it is as proper for use as if bled to death by having its throat cut;) + they very seldom die after, unless they have received some internal + injury, or the flesh of the thigh has been cut through, from not being + drawn back from off the last two ribs, where the incision is made; all + of which are apt to be the case with young practitioners. + + If the testicles be found to be large, the bamboo tube should be used, + and it should have a strong cocoa-nut string in it,--for small ones + the silver tube with a horse-hair in it, is best. + + When a chicken has been cut, it is necessary before letting it run, + to put a permanent mark upon it; otherwise it would be impossible to + distinguish it from others not cut. I have been accustomed to cut off + the outside or the inside toe of the left foot,--by this means I can + distinguish them at a distance. Another mode is to cut off the comb, + then shave off the spurs close to the leg, and stick them upon the + bleeding head, where they will grow and become ornamental in the shape + of a pair of horns. This last mode is perhaps the best, but it is not + so simple and ready as the first. Which ever mode is adopted, the fowl + should be marked before performing the operation, because the loss of + blood occasioned by cutting off the comb or a toe, makes the fowl less + likely to bleed internally during the operation. + + It is very common, soon after the operation, for the chicken to get + wind in the side, when the wound is healing, between the flesh and + the skin; it must be relieved by making a small incision in the skin, + which will let the wind escape. + + Those fowls make the finest capons which are hatched early in the + spring; they can be cut before the hot weather comes, which is a great + advantage. + + Never attempt to cut a full-grown cock; it is a useless and cruel + piece of curiosity. I have never known one to live. + + Be not discouraged with the first difficulties; with practice they + will disappear; every season you will find yourself more expert, until + the cutting of a dozen fowls before breakfast will be a small matter. + + It may be well to give a warning against becoming dissatisfied with + the tools. A raw hand, when he meets with difficulties, is apt to + think the tools are in fault, and sets about to improve them and + invent others; but it is only himself that lacks skill, which practice + alone can give. I have spent money, besides wasting my time in this + foolish notion, but have always found that the old, original tools, + which came from China, and where this mode of operating was invented, + are the best. + + Take care that the tools are not abused by ignorant persons attempting + to use them; they will last a person's life-time if properly used; but + if put out of order, none but a surgical instrument maker can repair + them properly. + + The object in giving publicity to this, is to have the markets of + Philadelphia well supplied with capons: they have ever been esteemed + one of the greatest delicacies, preserving the flavor and tenderness + of the chicken, with the juicy maturity of age. In the Paris and + London markets, double the price of common poultry is obtained for + capons. + + Considering the abundance and excellence of poultry in the United + States, it seems surprising that the art of making capons should be + almost entirely unknown--it is hoped that this deficiency will now be + supplied. + + + + +GRAFTING AND BUDDING. + + +For what follows on grafting and budding, we are indebted to that +excellent family paper, the New World. The article was prepared for it +by J. S. Skinner, Esq., of the Post Office Department, Washington, from +an English work, which, he adds, "is not published or much known in +this country." + +GRAFTING.--The process of grafting consists in taking off a shoot from +one tree, and inserting it into another, in such a manner as that both +may unite closely, and become one tree; the shoot or cutting thus +employed is called a _scion_, and the tree on which it is inserted or +grafted, a stock. The process of budding has precisely the same object +in view as that of grafting, differing from the latter process only in +the insertion of a bud, instead of a shoot or cutting, into the bark of +another tree. To execute either process with adroitness and success, +considerable practice is required. To excel in either, instructions +should be received from some competent person, who is both willing +and able to impart the necessary information. More knowledge can be +acquired in a short time in this manner than can possibly be attained +by the most attentive perusal of any treatise expressly written upon +the subject. Impressed with the difficulty of the task, many writers +have indeed asserted, that description alone must ever fail to convey +an adequate knowledge of the process; but the intelligent author of +the English Gardener has, with his usual ability, treated the subject +in so clear and comprehensive a manner that we are induced to give the +details of the process in the author's own language. + +Before entering upon the subject of grafting and budding, there is +one thing which is equally applicable to both processes, and that is, +that the _stock_ ought to stand the whole summer upon the spot where +it is grafted, before that operation is performed upon it. If stocks +be planted out in the fall, the sap does not rise vigorously enough in +the spring to afford a fair chance to the growing of the graft; another +remark of equal importance is, that fruit-trees stand only _one summer_ +on the spot whence they are to be removed to their final destination; +because, if they stand longer than this, they will have large and +long roots, great amputation must take place, and the trees suffer +exceedingly. + +_The Time of Grafting_ is generally from the beginning of February to +the end of March,[1] beginning with the earliest sorts of trees, as +plums, cherries, and pears; and ending with the latest, as apples. +But seasons are different, and in a backward season, the season for +grafting will be backward; and in such case, the fulness and bursting +appearance of the buds of the stocks, and the mildness of the weather +must be our guides. However, it is certain that the mild weather, with +occasional showers, is the best time for grafting. + +[1] In this climate, April and May are the best months.--ED. AM. AG. + +_The Mode of Preparing the Scion_ comes next. Take from the tree from +which you mean to propagate, as many branches of last year's wood as +will cut into the quantity of scions that you want; but in choosing +what branches to take, let the vigor of the tree guide you, in some +measure. If it be a healthy, flourishing, and young tree, take your +branches from the outside shoots, for the upright ones at the top, or +those near the middle, are more likely to produce wood than fruit. Yet +do not take branches from the very lowest part of the tree, if you +can avoid it, as these are sure to be more puling in their nature. In +case the tree be old or weakly, then choose the most vigorous of its +last year's shoots, no matter where they grow. Keep these branches +uncut until you arrive at the season for grafting, keeping them, in +the meanwhile, buried in dry mould; and when that season arrives, +take them up and cut them into the proper lengths for grafting. The +middle part of each branch will generally be found to be the best; +but your branches may be scarce and few in number, and then make use +of every part. Each scion should have from three to six eyes on it, +but six will, in all cases, be quite enough, as there is no use in +an extraordinary length of scion; but, on the contrary, it may be +productive of much mischief, by overloading the head with young shoots +and leaves as summer advances, and thereby making it more subject to +accident from high winds or heavy rains. + +_The Operation of Grafting_ is performed many ways, though none of them +differs from any of the others in the _main principle_, which is that +of bringing the under or inner bark of the scion to bear upon the same +bark of the stock. The sap of the stock flows upward toward the scion, +and it will flow on into the scion, provided it find no interruption. +Here, therefore, is the nicety--to fit those two barks so closely, the +one upon the other, that the sap shall proceed onward into the scion, +just as it would have done into the amputated branch, causing the scion +to supplant the branch. I shall only mention and illustrate two modes +of grafting, viz., _tongue-grafting_ and _cleft-grafting_. These two it +is necessary for me to speak of separately, and thoroughly to describe, +for they are not both of them applicable in all cases; the former being +used in grafting on small-sized stocks and small branches of trees, and +the latter on large stocks and large branches. + +[Illustration: TONGUE-GRAFTING.--(FIG. 58.)] + +_Tongue-Grafting._--Suppose you have your stock of the proper age for +grafting, you cut it off at three or four inches from the ground, and +with a very _sharp, straight, and narrow-bladed grafting-knife_, cut +a thin strip of bark and wood upward, from about two inches below +your already shortened stock. Make this cut at one pull of the knife, +inserting the edge rather horizontally, and when it has gone through +the bark and into the wood a little short of the middle, pull straight +upward, (2, _a, b_;) then at rather less than half way down this cut, +and with the blade of your knife across the cut, and downward, cut a +very _thin tongue_ of not more than three eighths of an inch long, (2, +_c_.) Proceed nearly in the same way with the bottom part of the scion; +cut first a narrow strip of wood and bark out, but not putting the +knife in horizontally, as you have done with regard to the stock, (at +2, _a_,) nor bringing it out straight to the end, to make a shoulder +or angle, as you have done at (2, _a b_;) but make a sloping cut (1, +_a b_,) of about the same length as the cut in the stock, or rather +a little less if anything; then make a tongue (1, _c_) to correspond +with that of the stock, but recollect that this must be cut _upward_ +instead of _downward_; then place the scion upon the stock, inserting +the tongue of the scion into the tongue of the stock. Bring the four +edges of bark, that is, the two edges of the cut in the top of the +stock, and the two corresponding edges of the cut in the bottom of the +scion, to meet precisely; or, if the scion be, in diameter, a smaller +piece of wood than the stock, so that its two edges of bark can not +both meet those of the stock, then let only one meet, but be sure that +one meets precisely. But observe, that this can never be unless the +first cut in the stock and that in the scion (2, _a b_,) and (1, _a +b_,) be as even as a die, and performed with a knife scarcely less +sharp than a razor. Take a common pruning-knife, and attempt to make +a cut of this kind, and you will find when you come to fit the scion +on, that, squeeze them together as you may, you will, in most cases, +see light between the parts of the stock and the scion that you are +trying to join, so effectually, as that the sap shall flow out of the +one into the other, unconscious of any division at all! But I will +not suppose anybody so ungain (as it is called in Hampshire) as to go +about so nice an operation as this without being prepared with the +proper instruments for performing it; and therefore, I now suppose the +scion put on properly, and presenting the appearance as in (3, _a_.) +But this is not all; the operation is not yet complete. The two parts +thus joined must be bound closely to one another with matting, or bass, +as the gardeners call it, (4.) A single piece tied on to the stock, +will, if well done, almost insure the junction; but lest parching winds +should come and rip up all vegetation, it is usual to put on besides +the bandage of matting, a ball of well-beaten clay sprinkled over +with a little wood-ashes or the fine siftings of cinders, to cover +completely the parts grafted, that is, from an inch below them to an +inch or so above them, (5;) and, even to prevent this ball of clay from +being washed off by heavy rains, it is well to tie around it a covering +of coarse canvass, or else to earth up the whole plant as you do beans +or peas, drawing a little mound around it so as to reach nearly the top +of the clay. Mr. Harrison prepares his grafting clay in the following +manner: Take two parts of clay and one of horse-dung, free from straw, +mix them together, and beat the mass until the whole is thoroughly +incorporated, then temper it with a little water till it is reduced +to the consistence of stiff paste. This composition _never cracks_ on +drying! + +_Future Treatment._--Something now remains to be said on the future +treatment of the grafted plant. In a month's time at least, you will +see whether the scion has taken; it will then be either bursting +forth into leaf or be irrecoverably dead. In this latter case, take +off immediately the canvass, clay, bandage, and dead scion, and let +the stock push forth what shoots it pleases, and recover itself. In +the former case, however, you must, as soon as the scion is putting +forth shoots, cut off, or rub off, all shoots proceeding from the stock +between the ground and the clay, as these, if suffered to push on, +would divert the sap away from the scion, and probably starve it; then +carefully stake the plant, that is, put a small stick into the ground +at within three inches, or thereabouts, of the root, and long enough to +reach a few inches above the scion, which you will tie to it slightly +with a piece of wetted matting. This is really necessary, for when the +shoots proceeding from the scion become half a foot long, they, with +the aid of their leaves, become so heavy as, when blown to and fro by +the wind, to break off immediately above the clay, or become loosened +down at the part joined to the stock. The staking being done, you need +do nothing more till near the end of June, when you should take off the +whole mass of canvass, clay, and bandage, but be careful in taking off +the clay not to break off the plant at the junction. It should be done +by a careful hand, and after a day or two of rainy weather, as then the +clay is moist and comes off without so much danger to the plant as when +it is not. On taking off the clay, there is found a little sharp angle, +left at the top of the stock; this should now be cut smooth off. The +bark of the stock and that of the scion will heal over this, and the +union is then complete. Lastly, it is frequently found that mould, and +sometimes small vermin, have collected around the heretofore covered +parts of the plant, according as the clay has been cracked by the sun. +Rub off all mould with your fingers, (no instrument does it so well,) +and kill all vermin in the same way; and it is not amiss to finish this +work by washing the joined parts with a little soap and water, using a +small paint-brush for the operation. All these things done, you have +only to guard against high winds, which, if the plant be not staked, +as is above described, will very likely be broken off by them; and, in +this work of destruction, you will have the mortification of seeing the +finest of your plants go first. + +[Illustration: CLEFT-GRAFTING.--(FIG. 59.)] + +_Cleft-Grafting._--This is a species of grafting adopted in cases where +the stock is large, or where it consists of a branch or branches of a +tree headed down. In either of these cases, saw off horizontally, the +part you wish to graft, and smooth the wound over with a carpenter's +plane, or a sharp, long-blade knife, (1.) + +Prepare your scion in this manner: At about, an inch and a half from +the bottom, cut it in the form of the blade of a razor; that is, make +it sharp on one side, and let it be blunt at the back, where you will +also take care to leave the bark whole, (2, _a_.) Having thus prepared +the scion, make a split (1) in the crown of the saw-cut downward for +about two inches, taking care that the two sides of this be perfectly +even. Hold it then open, by means of a chisel or a wedge, (or when the +stock is but a small one, your knife,) and insert the scion, the sharp +edge going inward, and the bark side or razor-back remaining outward, +so that, on taking out the wedge or chisel, the cleft closes firmly on +the scion, (3,) the two edges of bark formed by the cleft, squeezing +exactly upon the two edges of bark formed by the blunt razor-back. To +make the two barks meet precisely is the only nicety in this operation; +but this is so essential, that the slightest deviation will defeat +the purpose. In this sort of grafting, the stock on which you graft +is generally strong enough to hold the scion close enough within +its cleft, without the aid of binding, and then it is better not to +bind; but as it is also necessary to prevent air circulating within +the wounded parts both of the stock and the scion, use grafting-clay +to cover them over so as to effectually exclude the air; and cover +the clay with a piece of coarse canvass, wetting it first, and then +binding it on securely. In this way, the stock being strong, you may +insert several scions on the same head, by making several different +clefts, and putting one scion in each; but this can only be to insure +your having two to succeed, for if all the scions that you put on one +head take, you must choose the two most eligible, and sacrifice the +rest, as more than two leading limbs from such head ought not to be +encouraged. The season for performing this sort of grafting, and the +mode of preparing the scion, and the future treatment of the tree, are +precisely the same as in _tongue-grafting_. + +_Crown, or Bark-Grafting_ is a very ready method of grafting upon +large, uneven, old stocks and branches. It is practised somewhat later +than the methods above described, that is, from the end of March to the +third week in April, because, in that period, the separation of the +bark from the wood is more easily affected; a circumstance of primary +importance in this case. The tree is to be headed down, the cut being +made horizontally, and the section bored quite even and smooth; then +make a slit in the bark two inches in length, next with the handle of a +budding-knife, carefully open the bark for about a quarter of an inch; +then cut the scion about two inches in a sloping direction, in the form +of a tongue, leaving the bark entire on the outside. The scion thus +prepared, is pressed downward between the bark and the wood as far as +the incision in the stock extends; the bark of the stock readily yields +to the pressure employed, and the scion is supported in its situation +by a few coils of bass-matting, the whole being surrounded by clay. + +_Dove-Tail Grafting._--This is a very neat and successful mode of +grafting, originating with Mr. Malone, who gives the following +directions for its performance. The scion is to be selected so as to +have two or three buds above where the knife is to be inserted to +prepare it for the operation; a slip is cut off the end of the scion, +sloping it to the bottom as long as it may be decided to insert it into +the stock. On each side of the cut, as far as it extends, a part of the +bark is to be taken off, leaving the under part broader than the upper, +on which upper or back part always contrive to leave a bud. The stock +or branch to be worked is thus prepared: Being first cut off smooth and +straight, two parallel slits, distant from each other nearly the width +of the scion and the length of its cut part, are then made in the bark +of the branch, observing particularly to slope the knife, so that the +under edge of the cut next the wood may be wider than the outer edge. +The piece of bark between the slits must then be taken out, separating +at the bottom by a horizontal cut. The scion will then slide into the +dove-tail groove thus formed, and, if the work is well performed, will +fit neatly and tightly. A small quantity of the grafting-clay must then +be carefully applied, securing it on with list, or any other convenient +bandage, fastening it at the end with two small nails. The top of the +stock should be entirely covered with clay, sloping it well up to the +grafts, and should be examined often to see if any cracks or openings +appear, which should be immediately filled up with some very soft clay. +The proper time for performing the operation is from the beginning +of April till the middle of May, or earlier if the sap is in motion. +(Gardener's Magazine, Vol. VII.) + +[Illustration: BUDDING.--(FIG. 60.)] + +BUDDING.--Budding is performed for precisely the same purpose as +grafting, and, like grafting, it is performed in many different ways; +and as long experience has ascertained the best method, namely, that of +T budding, (1,) so called from the form of the two cuts that are made +in the bark of the stock to receive the bud, or _shield-budding_, as it +is sometimes called from the form of the piece of bark (2) on which the +bud is seated, assuming the shape of a shield when it is prepared to be +inserted within the T cut in the stock. + +The only solid difference between budding and grafting is this, that +whereas in grafting you insert on the stock a _branch_ already +produced, in budding, you insert only the _bud_. I shall proceed, in +treating of this matter, in the same way that I did in the preceding +article, namely, _as to the season proper for budding, the choosing +and preparing of the bud, the operation of budding, and the future +treatment of the plant budded_. + +_The Season for Budding_ is generally from the latter end of July to +the latter end of August, the criterions being a plump appearance of +the buds formed on the spring shoot of the same year, seated in the +angle of a leaf, and a readiness in the bark of the stock to separate +from the wood. + +_In Choosing and Preparing the Bud_, fix on one seated at about +the middle of a healthy shoot of the mid-summer growth--these are, +generally speaking, the most inclined to fruitfulness. Choose a cloudy +day, if you have a choice of days at this season, and if not, perform +your work early in the morning, or in the evening. The time being +proper, you sever the branch on which you find the buds to your liking. +Take this with you to the stock that you are going to bud, holding the +branch in your left hand, the largest end downward; make a sloping cut +from about an inch and a half below the bud to about an inch above it, +suffering your knife to go through the bark, and about half way into +the wood, cutting out wood and all. This keeping of the wood prevents +the bud and its bark from drying while you are preparing the incision +in the stock, and if you wish to carry buds of scarce sorts to any +distance, you may do so safely by putting their ends in water, or in +damp moss, but it is always safer, as well in grafting as in budding, +to perform the operation with as much expedition as possible, but +particularly it is so in budding. + +_Operation of Budding._--Cut off the leaf under which the bud is +situated, but leave its foot-stalk, (2, _a_,) and by this hold it +between your lips, while with your budding-knife you cut two straight +lines in the stock at the place where you wish to insert the bud, and +this should be where the bark is smooth, free from any bruises or +knots, and on the side rather from the mid-day suns. Of these lines +let the first be horizontal, (1,) and let the next be longitudinal, +beginning at the middle of the first cut and coming downward. Let them, +in short, describe the two principal bars of the Roman letter T. You +have now to take out from the bark on which the bud is, the piece of +wood on which the bark is, and which has served you, up to this time, +to preserve the bud and bark from drying and shrinking. But this is a +nice matter. In doing it you must be careful not to endanger the root +of the bud, as it is called, because in that is its existence. The +bark, (if the season be proper for budding,) will easily detach itself +from this piece of wood, but still it requires a very careful handling +to get it out without endangering the root of the bud. Hold the bud on +your fore-finger, and keep your thumb on the wood opposite; then with +the fore-finger and thumb of the other hand, bend backward and forward +the lower end of the shield, and thus coax the wood to disengage itself +from the bark; and when you find it decidedly doing so, remove your +thumb from it, and the whole piece of wood will come out, leaving you +nothing but a piece of bark of about two and a half inches long, with a +bud and foot-stalk of a leaf on it. If the root of the bud be carried +away with the piece of wood, you will perceive a small cavity where it +ought to be. In this case, throw away the bud and try another. + +Having succeeded in the second attempt, now open the two sides of the +longitudinal bar of the T with the ivory haft of your budding-knife, +but in doing this, raise the bark clearly down to the wood, for the +inside of the piece of bark belonging to the bud must be placed +directly against this. Having opened these sides wide enough to receive +the longest end of the bark, insert it nicely, taking especial care +that its inner side be flatly against the wood of the stock. Then cut +the upper end of the bark off, so that its edge shall meet precisely +the edge of the horizontal bar of the T (3, _a_.). With your finger and +thumb bring the two sides of the longitudinal bar over the bark of the +bud, or rather the shield, and with a piece of well-soaked matting, +begin an inch below this bar and bind firmly all the way up to an inch +above the horizontal bar, taking good care to leave the bud peeping +out. Bind in such a way as to exclude the air, for that is the intent +of binding in this case. Tie your piece of matting on first, and wind +it round and round the stock as you would a riband, taking care not +to twist the matting; wind it slowly, and every time you have gone +completely round, give a gentle pull to make it firm. + +_Future Treatment._--In a fortnight's time from the operation, you will +discover whether the bud has taken, by its roundness and healthy look; +and, in a fortnight after that, loosen the bandage to allow the plant +to swell, and in about five weeks from the time of budding, take away +the bandage altogether. In this state, the plant passes the winter, +and just as the sap begins to be in motion in the following spring, +you head down the stock at about an inch above the bud, beginning +behind it, and making a sloping cut upward to end above its point. +Some gardeners leave a piece of the stock about six inches long for +the first year, in order to tie the first summer's shoot to it to +prevent its being broken off by the wind. This may be well when the +plant is exposed to high winds, but even then, if you see danger, you +may tie a short stick on the top part of the stock, and to this tie +the young shoot, and then the sap all goes into the shoot from the +bud, instead of being divided between it and six inches of stock left +in the other way. There are some advantages which budding has over +grafting, and these I think it right to mention. In the first place, +universal experience has proved that certain trees succeed much better +when budded, than the same trees do when grafted, such are the peach, +nectarine, apricot, plum, and cherry; indeed, the rule is, that all +stone-fruits do better budded than grafted, that they are, when budded, +less given to gum, a disease peculiar to stone-fruits, and often very +pernicious to them. You may also, by budding, put two more branches +upon a stock that would be too weak to take so many grafts, and you +may bud in July when grafting has failed in March and April. The +disadvantage of budding is that the trees are rendered one year later +in coming into bearing than when you graft. + +Mr. Knight has recommended a mode of budding, (Hort. Trans., vol. I.). +He thus describes the process: In the month of June, as the luxuriant +shoots of my peach-trees were grown sufficiently firm to permit the +operation, I inserted buds of other varieties into them, employing two +distinct ligatures to bind the buds in their places. One ligature was +first placed above the bud inserted, and upon the transverse section +through the bark; the other which had no further office than that of +securing the bud, was applied in the usual way. As soon as the buds had +attached themselves, the ligatures last applied were taken off, but +the others were suffered to remain. The passage of the sap upward, was +in consequence much obstructed, and the inserted bud began to vegetate +strongly in July, and when these had afforded shoots about four inches +long, the remaining ligatures were taken off to admit the excess of +sap to pass on, and the young shoots were nailed to the wall, being +there properly exposed to light, their wood ripened well, and afforded +blossoms in the succeeding spring. + + * * * * * + +We should be pleased if any of our readers could give us further +information about the shrub described below. + + _From the Yankee Blade._ + + + + +HIGH CRANBERRY. + + +A gentleman of this place having occasion some twenty years ago, to +make an excursion into the northern part of the state, near Lake +Umbagog, where the Magalloway empties into the Androscoggin, passed +through a large piece of low land, comprising many acres, which was +covered with the high cranberry as far as the eye could see, exhibiting +the most beautiful and splendid appearance, perhaps, ever displayed +from any of the spontaneous productions of the forests of New England. +He says that some shrubs which had acquired the magnitude of trees of +several inches diameter, were literally bent to the ground, under the +weight of their luxuriant fruit; and such was their abundance, that a +single individual might have gathered more than thirty bushels in a day. + +The high cranberry in dense forests, sometimes acquires the respectable +altitude of 15 or 20 feet; but in more open places, its height is +generally from 6 to 8 or 10 feet. Its stem and leaf very much resemble +those of the snow-ball; and the flower, while it lasts, is but little +inferior in elegance and beauty to the flower of that highly ornamented +and much esteemed shrub. The fruit is smaller than that of the running +cranberry, of a bright red color when ripe, and grows in large, flat +clusters on the ends of the branches. Its taste is very acid, and +rather austere. It contains a large, hard, flat seed, which is an +objection to the use of it without sifting or straining; but being +sifted or strained after stewing, it is excellent for sauce, pies, and +tarts. Prepared with sugar, in the usual way, it makes a most delicious +jelly. + + + + +ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +FINE WOOL SHEEP. + + _Buskirk's Bridge, October, 1843._ + + +I HAVE read the article headed "Sheep, Paular Merinos," over the +signature of Examiner, in the May number, page 52 of your paper, +purporting to give us plain farmers an insight into sheep breeding, +&c.; and what fine flocks used to be, when the "old fashioned Merino +sheep" were in their "glory." What they were a quarter of a century +ago, I cannot say, that was before I had any thing to do with sheep +in this country; but I presume that _fine_ flocks were then not so +numerous as they are now. I can not agree with the writer, "that the +fine flocks of the United States are sadly deteriorated, indeed, nearly +run out." Since 1825, I have been acquainted with fine sheep in this +country, and I venture to say, that there are three, four, or five, and +in this section, _ten_, fine flocks, where there was but one 18 years +ago. + +If Examiner will honor me with a visit, an invitation I herewith +cordially tender to him, I will show him _fine_ flocks, consisting of +more than a few individuals--a dozen or two, or may be a few scores, of +picked sheep together, and kept in the very highest possible condition; +no, but flocks from 500 to 1,000--even more--which might alter his +judgment, if that is not swayed by prejudice. Many of these large +flocks shear on an average 3 lbs. and over, of wool, well washed on +the sheep's back, the quality of which is superior to the "Paular," +and "old-fashioned Merinos;" and I doubt not, should Examiner make +a comparison between the two kinds himself, he would pronounce it +_superfine_; and besides the quality, he would also discover a great +difference in the condition and cleanliness of the wool. These flocks +are high-grade Saxons, and show a result not quite so "unfortunate" as +Examiner would make us believe. My own flock of 240 ewes and lambs and +a few bucks, pure, unmixed Saxons, whose pedigree can be traced back +to the importations of the Elector of Saxony, from the royal flocks of +Spain, sheared this year 2 lbs. 13 oz. per head; last year 2 lbs. 14 +oz. clean wool. If I had had a proportionate number of weathers among +them, the average would have been at _least_ 3 lbs. I repeat then, that +the wool of the "Paular," or "old fashioned Merinos," does not compare +with the Saxons and their crosses in quality and condition. If the +fleeces from the former are heavier than from the latter, let it be +borne in mind that they contain more _gum_, and _yolk_, dirt, &c.,; are +not so fine, and that the sheep _consume a greater quantity of feed_. +These are facts well known to every good judge of wool, and to every +experienced, practical shepherd. + +I would ask whether Examiner had his eyes closed against them when +he was examining the fine-wooled flocks of the United States, and +declared them "sadly deteriorated, indeed, nearly run out." I do not +pretend, Mr. Editor, that I am acquainted with all "the fine flocks of +the United States, but allow me to say, that my acquaintance among +the wool-growers is pretty extensive. I am a purchaser, as well as a +grower of wool, and handle no inconsiderable quantities yearly. My +purchases this year amount to over 130,000 lbs., and I have examined at +least 300,000 lbs., and a great variety of flocks of different grades +and character, have come under my observation--sheep kept in the very +lowest up to the very highest condition. I have always found, that +where the blood of the "old fashioned Merinos, Paulars," or whatever +their possessors are pleased to call them, predominated, there also I +found _gum_, yolk, dirt, and other substances adhering to the wool, +in great abundance, _unfit to make cloth_ of, which goes far to make +up the greater weight of fleece over the Saxony. Indeed, sir, when +gentlemen talk of fine fleeces weighing 8, 9, or 10 lbs. they forget to +mention "_including gum, yolk, dirt, and other substances adhering to +the fleece_." + +Some years since, I saw a lot of "old fashioned Merino" wool at a +factory in Massachusetts, which the manufacturer assured me would lose +55 per cent. in cleansing. "Indeed," said he, "we can never estimate +the dirt in such wool correctly; it always exceeds our estimate, and +we invariably suffer loss." And recently, a gentleman, a dealer in +wool, told me that he sent this season, a large quantity to Boston to +be sold, and that on making sale of some 36,000 lbs., the manufacturer +who bought it, rejected all gummy, dirty fleeces, declaring that he +would not have them, as such wool would lose more than 50 per cent. +in cleansing. And to use the gentleman's own words, "there it lies, +in a corner of the wool room, and I do not know what to do with it;" +observing at the same time, that the manufacturers were "getting more +cunning." There was a time when the supply fell short of the demand, +and almost any wool, however gummy and dirty, found ready purchasers; +for manufacturers were often compelled to buy it, in order to keep +their machinery in operation; but that time has gone by, and they are +now more choice in their selections, and when they come across a lot of +such wool they pass it by, with observations like these: "I do not want +it, it is too dirty, let him keep it for some body else"! + +In your July number, page 130 and 131, Mr. Editor, you have made a +calculation of the number of sheep, and the quantity of wool obtained +therefrom. The census of 1840 shows, say 20,000,000 in the United +States. Of this number you estimate only 11,000,000 shorn sheep, +yielding 24,500,000 lbs. of wool, and the lambs at 9,000,000.--With due +deference to your superior opportunities for information, I beg leave +to say that you are over estimating the number of lambs, for every +practical wool-grower knows, that that proportion is too large--if +you had said one third, you would have come nearer the truth. I think +you are mistaken also that the census of 1840 included lambs, it was +exclusive of lambs.(_a_) You are, however, perfectly safe in estimating +the average weight of fleece in the United States at 2¼ lbs. This is +certainly too low by one fourth of a pound.(_b_) In this region it +exceeds 2¾ lbs. Then you say, that by producing a superior quality +of wool, its value would be increased nine cents per pound; this +certainly is attainable; but the way in which you propose to bring it +about, namely, by crossing with the "Paular, or old-fashioned Merinos," +you would not obtain that end, thousands of fine flocks would be +reduced in quality.(_c_) In this section it would reduce the quality +as much as you wish to improve it. Coarse sheep would be improved by +the cross; but to apply it to all the sheep in the United States, as I +understand you to say, you would find yourself very much mistaken in +the result. I venture to say, that on the same quantity of feed, you +can not increase the heft of fleece of a fine flock shearing from 2¾ to +3 lbs., by your cross up to 3¾ to 4 lbs. per head, and have the wool in +equally good condition.(_d_) An increase of feed will do much toward +increasing the heft of fleece. A few words more and I have done. + +Examiner, page 52, says: "As to Paular Bucks, it strikes me that you +might, for any practical purpose, just as well have advised a cross of +the fabulous Unicorn, for it would be just as easy to find the one as +the other at the present time in the United States; for depend upon it, +there is no such thing now existing, as _a Paular Buck_, nor _any thing +deserving the name_ in the whole country." And you say that "there are +still large and valuable flocks scattered over the country."(_e_) + + H. D. GROVE. + +(_a_) Immediately upon the receipt of this letter of Mr. Grove's we +wrote on to Washington to ascertain the facts in the case, but were +answered that the census bureau was abolished, and they could not tell. +We know that when the person for taking the census in the district in +which we were then residing, called upon us, he required the number of +colts, calves, lambs, and pigs, although some of them were only three +days old at the time; and to our objection of rendering an account of +such young stock, he remarked, "never mind, they will be grown when +the census appears, and it is the law." Most of those to whom we have +put the question about rendering an account of the lambs in their +flocks, say they did so; others do not recollect. If there has been +irregularity with sheep-owners in giving an account of their lambs, of +course we are incorrect; and we think, upon reflection, we may have +estimated the number of lambs too high; though, on the other hand, we +are quite certain Mr. Grove has set them down as entirely too few; for +we know flocks that produce within a fraction as many lambs annually as +there are breeding ewes. + +(_b_) Perhaps when Mr. Grove has travelled south and west more +extensively, and seen in the months of March and April, as many +half-bare sheep as we have, which shed their wool from disease, want of +care, &c., he may come to a different conclusion. We have often seen +flocks in the same condition at the north too, leaving many of our +farmers little to boast of in this respect. + +(_c_) We have turned to the article to which Mr. Grove alludes, but +really, we do not find that we used the expressions attributed to +us. We said "Spanish Merino," also, "unadulterated Merino;" meaning +thereby, the Rambouillets more particularly. We also spoke in general +terms, in recommending the use of these. Such a flock of Saxons as Mr. +Grove's we would _especially except_; and if the accounts which we hear +of them be correct, and we have no doubt they are, we would not cross +them with anything less fine than themselves. They are unquestionably +superior animals, as is proved by their superior weights of fleece, and +the high price the wool commands; and we wish, since the name of Saxon +has been so basely misused in this country by miserable counterfeits, +that Mr. Grove would give his flock the name of Electoral; for they +and their descendants are probably the only ones entitled to it in +the United States. With this name, they would then fairly stand aloof +from the common herd, as they deserve, and not be associated in idea +hereafter, with the miserable riff-raff of the country, passing under +the general name of Saxons. It is our intention next season to call and +see Mr. Grove's flock. + +(_d_) We meant to be understood as alluding to a cross on the coarser +and more restiff sheep of the country, when we spoke of obtaining an +increase of weight of wool on the same food, and we know that this can +be done. + +(_e_) True enough, but we did not say these valuable flocks were +Paulars; nor did we go so far as to assert that they were pure Merinos +of any distinct name. We wish it understood, that we do not endorse all +the opinions of Examiner any more than we do other correspondents--he +speaks for himself, and we for ourselves. + + * * * * * + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +SEA-MUD AS A FERTILIZER. + + _Flushing, L. I., November 8th, 1843._ + + +CAN you inform me whether the sea-mud which is found on the shore, +below high-water mark, is of any value to the farmer; and if it is, +in what way would you advise that it should be applied? Do you think +that it would answer in a compost heap, or would it be preferable to +put it into the cattle-yard or hog-pen? I have thought that the only +objection to using it would be on account of the great quantity of +salt, which it contains; although Leibig and other celebrated writers, +speak in very favorable terms upon the application of salt. And here +arises another question. Are not those farms which are situated upon +the sea-shore sufficiently supplied with salt by the winds which are +constantly sweeping over them? Johnson remarks that this is the case, +and if this is so, would not the application of this sea-mud be too +strong? although I am inclined to believe that by drying the mud, +much of the virtue of the salt would necessarily be destroyed, and as +sea-water contains, as Leibig states, many very fertilizing qualities, +this mud which perhaps has been accumulating for ages, must have +imbibed a large quantity of all those properties, of which sea-water is +composed. By answering these questions you will greatly oblige one of +your subscribers. + + R. B. C. + +For an answer to the above see page 322. + + * * * * * + +The following communication was read before the New York Farmers' Club +by the Hon. Henry Meigs at its meeting August 29, and is obligingly +furnished us for publication. + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +FARM OF HUGH MAXWELL, Esq. + + +GOOD EFFECTS OF MARL.--In a conversation with Hugh Maxwell, Esq., some +short time since, he stated some facts in relation to the fertilising +power of a red marl abundantly existing at Nyack, which induced me to +visit the spot. I found Mr. Maxwell's farm of 110 acres bounded by the +Hudson, well worth a visit. The whole was in excellent fence, made of +the loose stones found on the land, neatly piled about 4½ feet high, +forming fields of from 4 to 8 acres. The formation of these fences has +used nearly all the stones which were on the surface of the lands. And +in this it would seem as if Divine Providence had caused the rocks to +be distributed of the proper size for fencing. Had the pieces been much +larger or smaller they would not have answered the purpose so well as +they now do. If they had been planted two feet under ground, or had +been piled in larger masses, the labor of fencing would have been very +greatly increased. + +This farm, as well as all those about Nyack, lies on the singular mass +of sandstone included by a front of about five miles on the river. +All the surrounding rocks are of other materials. This sandstone, +when quarried, exhibits strata of a kind of red marl of many feet in +thickness, lying between strata of the sandstone. The quarry-men throw +it out of their way, and millions of loads are lying near the water's +edge, so that in many places vessels can lie alongside a bed of it, +and slide it on board. On Mr. Maxwell's farm, the former proprietor, +desirous of making extensive hard walks through his garden, caused +this marl to be put upon them about one foot deep. Soon after this +was finished, the walks began to produce clover; the white in such +profusion and persevering succession, that all prospect of using the +paths in that condition was abandoned: they could not be kept in order +by the hoe. Mr. Maxwell being strongly impressed by this occurrence, +determined on applying it to the surface of his farm. I saw a field +of corn of several acres which had been top-dressed this year with +the red marl, now bearing not less than 80 bushels of shelled corn +to the acre--as great a product as is obtained from the best city +manure, costing at Nyack nearly 37 cents per load. I saw an upland +field of wheat, on which, as an experiment, Mr. Maxwell had top-dressed +with this marl a space of three rods by two, from which I pulled an +average bunch of straw-stubble, that is more than double the size and +weight of any like parcel of stubble, to be found in the whole field +of several acres. Unfortunately the husbandman had cradled all the +wheat indiscriminately, which prevented Mr. Maxwell from examining the +separate product of the wheat. I should not hesitate to pronounce it a +double product. Mr. M. top-dressed a field of oats with this marl, and +the yield was 70 bushels per acre. He top-dressed a field of clover +with it the third year from the seeding, and the product is heavier +than the crop of the _second year_. This field was dressed with ten +loads of marl per acre. The corn is large 12-row yellow, and the stalks +are about 10 feet high. The corn-blades never curled during the late +drought, while other fields all curled. The corn was worked with the +hand-harrow once, with the cultivator twice, and was hoed twice. No +plowing between the hills. Mr. M. thinks that in dry weather it is +very injurious to run the plow through, for it cuts the smaller roots +of the corn. He has tried 25 bushels of hickory ashes, against 25 of +anthracite coal ashes, and found no perceptible difference in the +result. + +The general effect of this red marl is perceptible in almost every +plant and tree in that vicinity. Fruit-trees are especially vigorous +and free from disease. Flowering shrubs, roses particularly, seem not +to have been touched by any insect. I pulled up a mullein stalk growing +on a naked mound of this marl, which measures nine feet in height, and +the flower stem, which is covered with buds, is four feet in extent. +The trees, excepting peach alone, are more thriving than those I have +anywhere seen. The peach-trees have the yellows. Moss roses growing +in rich grass are remarkably strong; Mr. M. finds that they do better +closely surrounded by grass than in clear ground. He has ten kinds of +healthy cherry-trees, including the red and white ox-heart, and the +bull's eye. He has freely given, and wishes to distribute buds and +grafts to all those who ask for them. Mr. M. has very healthy apricots, +which have yielded fine fruit. _He smoked the blossoms with sulphur and +pitch_, and all the fruit was perfect. _This smoking was done in the +evening._ + +Some of the fields had never been but partially cultivated, on account +of being so swamped that cattle mired in them. He made in one four-acre +field a drain ten rods long, and three feet deep, filled in with coarse +stone. This drain formed a _perpetual spring for his cattle_, and this +barren field has now buckwheat of at least _thirty bushels per acre_. +_One and a half bushels_ of seed was sowed per acre. No manure needed. +This drain cost $1.75. Twelve acres were drained in the same style at a +cost of $150; this field is now fine, and asks for no manure from New +York, or Nyack marl. He prefers the same amount of marl to best New +York city manure for all grains and grapes. + +Mr. M. has the old English yew thriving in open air in winter. The +European mountain ash, white and red linden, red maple, weeping ash, +weeping beech, weeping elm, Madeira nut, (one five years old bearing +fruit,) Spanish chestnut now in fruit, (this tree has also some +blossoms on it at this time.) Apricots grafted on plum stock are very +thrifty. + +A REMARKABLE HORSE.--In passing through Mr. Maxwell's barn-yard, I +noticed a couple of horses, one of which was hoppled with a strong iron +chain. What mischievous young horse have you there? He replied, it is +my old family mare Kate, who has carried me, and my wife and children, +safely for the last one and twenty years! I bought her when she was +about four years old, but she will break fences now (wooden ones) with +her irons on, she is so active and cunning. + +LOCUST EGGS.--I remarked at Nyack the work of the locust, and Mr. M. +and Thomas Addis Emmet, Esq., examined with a good microscope, a twig +worked by the little insect. The twig being split in the line of the +work, exhibited the whole process of the egg deposite. The twig is +pierced nearly to its centre at every three quarters of an inch, or +nearly so; the wood is rendered fibrous, it is then lifted up, and +the eggs, which are of a long, oval form, are deposited side by side +at an angle of about 45 degrees to the grain of the twig, and the +fibrous tuft of wood placed over them, with its end sticking out; these +incisions being repeated every inch on a line for some few inches in +each twig. With the microscope, we saw the eyes of the young locusts +always heads to the centre. The general outline of the young animal was +perceptible through its delicate membranous cover. They moved slightly +on being disturbed. Almost every twig so operated on by the locust was +entirely dead. The magnifying power of the microscope was perhaps 40 or +50. + +VALUE OF AN ORCHARD.--I visited an apple orchard at Nyack, which +arrested my attention by its regular and healthy appearance. I found +young Van Houton at home, who, with perfect good feeling and true +politeness, gave me the account of the orchard which I desired. When +his father was about fifty years of age, he undertook to plant 150 +winter pippin-trees on that spot. His neighbors thought him an old fool +to plant twigs of apple at his time of day. Young Van Houton, then +about 16 years of age, held the little nurslings in the holes while +his father filled in the soil. The old gentleman continued to prune +them, so that they are widely branched and open for air and sun within +the mass of branches. For twenty or twenty-two years past, the old +gentleman has often received $1,000 a year for his apples. Sometimes $6 +per barrel; sometimes sold in the orchard for $1 per barrel. That old +gentleman and his wife are now, between them, 174 years old. Let no man +be afraid to plant winter pippins because he is fifty or sixty years of +age. + +I have been highly pleased with my excursion. When gentlemen of high +rank in learned professions are found turning that intellectual +force which has influenced the most wealthy and intelligent portion +of mankind, from law, politics, &c., to that greatest, best of all +arts--agriculture, I look for good results and I find them. The old +world is hard at work in this direction, and I hope that we shall watch +her operations with the eye of our own bird, and see to it, that we be +not excelled in any good thing. + + * * * * * + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +MEDITERRANEAN WHEAT. + + _Wheatland, Va., November 2, 1843._ + + +I have noticed your remarks in the October No. of your paper, on the +Mediterranean wheat. Your views coincided with mine when I first sowed +this variety of wheat; but I have sown it now for two seasons, and +the change has been so great in the color, as to convince me that by +cultivating it here, it will lose its dark color, and become as good +in that respect, and yield as much flour as any wheat we have. The two +seasons I have raised it, it has been the best wheat I had. I have +doubts whether it will tiller as much as some other varieties, and +therefore sow it much thicker. + + ROBERT L. WRIGHT. + + * * * * * + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +TOPPING COTTON--MARL. + + _Sumpter District, S. C., Nov. 4th, 1843._ + + +IN those excellent matter-of-fact articles on the cultivation of +cotton, which have appeared in the late numbers of your paper, by Dr. +Philips of Miss., and which, by the way, are the best I have ever seen +on the subject, I do not recollect that he has touched upon the subject +of topping cotton. I have made one experiment in this, and was pleased +with the result. Some planters north of us, I understand, have also +tried this method, and find the cotton is not so apt to shed, as when +it is not topped, especially in wet seasons. Ordinarily we reckon the +first week in August the best time for topping; but this, of course, +will depend upon the season, and the forwardness of the crop--for +sometimes it must be earlier, and sometimes later. + +I tried the effects of what I suppose to be marl, on a small spot in +one of my fields, say about one acre. The marl I judge to be of poor +quality, yet can not say, positively, as I have no analysis of it. +I dug it out in January last, and spread it broad-cast, at the rate +of 30 loads to the acre, as large as an ordinary pair of mules would +carry. It seemed to pulverize well, exposed to the severe frost of last +winter, and I plowed it in deeper than I usually plow, and harrowed the +land well. The result is, I shall get full one third if not one half +more cotton off of this piece than any other part of the field, which +more than pays me for the trouble. + +I need not say that we read the articles on manures in the +Agriculturist with much interest; for many of us are beginning to learn +that it is not only easier and better, but even _cheaper_ to renovate +our old lands, than emigrate to a new country and bring new lands into +cultivation. + + C. MCD. + + * * * * * + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +HINTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF WHEAT. + + _Buffalo, October 25th, 1843._ + + +THERE are four conditions that modify the value of a wheat crop. One +may not only be larger in measure than another, but heavier for the +same measure; yielding more flour from a given weight; and lastly, +affording a greater proportion of gluten from the same quantity +of flour. It is necessary for the farmer to have each of these +considerations in view, if he would attain the utmost success in the +cultivation of this invaluable grain. My object, in this brief article, +will be, to afford some helps to the agriculturist in increasing the +ultimate value of his crop. As a starting point, it will, perhaps, be +most instructive to inquire, what are the constituent elements of wheat? + +Sprengel has analyzed both grain and straw, and the following is the +result:--1000 lbs. of wheat afford 11·77 lbs. and of wheat straw, 35·18 +lbs. of ash, consisting of + + Grain of wheat. Straw of wheat. + Potash 2·25 lbs. 0·20 lbs. + Soda 2·40 ·29 + Lime ·96 2·40 + Magnesia ·90 ·32 + Alumina with a trace of iron ·26 ·90 + Silica 4·00 28·70 + Sulphuric acid ·50 ·37 + Phosphoric acid ·40 1·70 + Chlorine ·10 0·30 + ----- ----- + 11·77 35·18 + +This analysis shows an amount of ash far below the average. Davy found +15·5 lbs. of ash in 100 lbs. of ripe wheat straw; and Johnstone, in one +variety, grown on a soil abounding in limestone, 16·5 per cent. of ash. + +Thus it will be seen, according to the above analysis of Sprengel, +that of the total of grain, less than 1½ per cent., and of straw, +rather more than 3½ per cent. is earthy or inorganic matter; while all +the remainder is composed of the organic materials, carbon, oxygen, +hydrogen, and nitrogen, of which carbon alone constitutes about one +half. All these constituents are absolutely essential to the perfection +of the crop. In the natural condition of a fertile soil when first +reclaimed, these materials are usually found in sufficient abundance +to produce wheat. Such was the condition of nearly all the land in New +England, and the eastern portion of our own state; but a few years of +careless, unscientific cropping, has exhausted one or more of those +constituents which may have existed in an available form; and much +of it, after a very few of the first years of its cultivation, has +been of little or no value for wheat, under the system of tillage +there adopted. It has been asserted by Dr. Dana, that in a soil +purely granitic (and much of the land in that region partakes of this +character), there is potash enough for successive crops of wheat for +3,000 years, and lime enough to last more than twice that period. +But the result is the same for the growing vegetation, whether the +materials do not exist at all, or are locked up beyond the reach of +it. It is absolutely certain, if wheat will not grow with care and +industry, and all the usual appliances of good husbandry, where it +once nourished successfully, there is one or more ingredients wanted, +in such a condition, that the plants can appropriate them to their own +nourishment. And first of the inorganic matters. + +The proportion of straw will vary from 2 to 3½ times the weight of the +grain. Suppose the quantity taken off the land be estimated at 2½ times +the weight of the grain. In a series of crops averaging 20 bushels of +wheat per acre, for 30 years, we shall have as the result 36,000 lbs. +of grain, and 90,000 lbs. of straw carried off the soil, charged with +all the materials above enumerated, and probably sufficient to reduce +the land to a very small capacity for production. + +Some limited portions of the earth, as the plains of Babylon, when +under skilful cultivation, the valleys of the Indus and the Nile, +and the fields of Sicily, almost since the days of the flood, have +produced luxuriantly, without the aid of manure to any extent; but it +must be remembered the former have their fertility annually renewed by +the rich overflowings of the rivers, which are charged with all the +materials necessary to restore exhausted nature; while the soil of the +last, being wholly of basaltic origin, is rich in the alkalies, which +a year or two of rest, is sufficient to replenish in a soluble state, +to be again taken up by the luxuriant crop. Hence, we have witnessed +a drainage of nearly all the products from these fertile regions, for +thousands of years, with impunity. But they are exceptions which only +go to prove the general rule. The farmer must look to it, that all the +ingredients that enter into his crops, are supplied by the materials in +his soil, or a deficiency, or entire failure, will be the inevitable +result. + +Although all the constituents entering into the straw and grain, are +absolutely essential to their perfection, they are not all equally +essential to be contained in the soil. It is indispensable, however, +that the earthy or inorganic portion of them be there, for these can +not be obtained elsewhere. How shall they be best supplied? Ashes, it +is believed, afford the cheapest, as well as one of the most effectual +applications that can be made for grain. Of the ten fixed ingredients +enumerated as entering into wheat, ashes yield potash, soda, lime, +magnesia, sulphuric and phosphoric acids, in large proportions, and +silica and iron in smaller. The chemical operation of the potash, and +carbonate and sulphate of lime, however, when added to the soil, is to +supply the silica, in a soluble state, from its natural condition, (it +being found in abundance for this object in every soil, except in such +as are formed almost exclusively of peat,) for the demands of the crop. + +An increased supply of lime and gypsum, beyond what is found in the +ashes, is frequently advantageous; and when the latter is beneficial, +as it generally is, it should never be withheld to an extent in +the highest degree useful. Of the operation of this last material, +beyond yielding a portion of its sulphur to the gluten, we have as +yet no satisfactory explanation. In respect to the theory of its +concentrating ammonia in the soil from the atmosphere, we have very +contradictory authority. Liebig asserts it, Johnstone questions it, and +Dana denies it; yet the increasing fertility its application produces, +would seem to give the weight of experience in favor of Liebig's views. + +The chlorine and soda, if not furnished by the ashes in proportions +sufficiently large, may be procured by the application of common salt, +which yields both. The phosphoric acid may be obtained in any required +quantity, by the addition of bones, which, dry or calcined, yield +both that acid and lime, phosphate of lime constituting 86 per cent. +of bones. Most soils contain alumina in abundance to furnish the food +requisite for wheat; yet as it is one of the most valuable soils for +this grain, both as seizing upon and retaining ammonia, and furnishing +a firm foothold for the roots of the plants, it is important that lands +intended for this purpose, should be adequately supplied with alumina +as a top-dressing, if naturally deficient in it. + +We have, then, above, all the inorganic materials for the purpose +required. But there is about 97 per cent. of the crop yet to be made up +of the organic constituents, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. +How shall they be provided for? + +First, by the selection of a calcareous or clay soil, which will +furnish a proper bed for the roots of the plant, and by their peculiar +mechanical texture and chemical composition, will not only hold the +manures incorporated with them, but also draw some of the requisite +constituents largely from the air; the former absorbing carbonic acid, +and the latter ammonia. + +Second, by the liberal application of common farm-yard manure, to a +crop preceding that of wheat, which will leave a rich mould highly +conducive to an abundant yield of perfect grain. An instance has been +recently given, of a Maryland farmer raising large successive crops +of wheat, by the application of putrescent manure directly upon the +grain, and all injurious effects were obviated by the use of a moderate +quantity of lime. This is a practice, however, which has not been found +generally to be successful, causing either blight, or such rapid and +luxuriant growth, as to crinkle and lodge. This effect is also produced +in peaty and rich alluvial soils, where the silicate of potash, so +essential to the formation of a strong, upright stalk, is not furnished +in a quantity large enough for the object. + +Third, the liberal use of charcoal scattered through the soil. It is +claimed from its use, that the wheat crop of France has been largely +augmented within the few past years. Several instances of its greatly +beneficial effects, have been noticed in this country; though its +influence has not hitherto been felt on wheat, by an extensive Virginia +planter, in two or three recent experiments. The great power of +condensing gases peculiar to charcoal, was noticed by some of the early +chemists. Murray mentions it, and Saussure gives a table of results, in +which he shows that perfectly dry charcoal from boxwood, will absorb +90 volumes of ammonia; 85 of muriatic acid; 65 of sulphurous acid; 55 +of sulphuretted hydrogen; 35 of carbonic acid, &c. This condensation +takes place in its pores, and does not produce any alteration, or new +chemical compounds of the gases thus stored up; but their use in an +agricultural point of view, is invaluable; for while the coal yields no +fertilizing matter from its own substance, being nearly indestructible, +it takes from the atmosphere in great abundance, and hoards up for the +future use of the plants, one of the most evanescent, as well as most +useful materials for their perfection, viz., the nitrogen contained in +the ammonia. + +A fourth means for procuring a good yield of wheat, is by alternating +with clover, and turning in a liberal share of it as a preparation for +the wheat. This is practised extensively throughout the wheat districts +of the United States, and has resulted in great benefit; for besides +yielding a portion of food to the grain, it keeps the ground in the +best possible mechanical condition. + +A fifth means, is to return all the straw and chaff to the soil, as +they contain a large quantity of the identical materials required for a +succeeding crop. + +With the foregoing causes in full action, and an adequate supply of +moisture, whether from rains, dews, or artificial irrigation, the crop +will draw largely from the atmosphere for the supply of its required +organic constituents. Carbon will be furnished from its carbonic acid; +nitrogen from its ammonia; hydrogen from its vapor, dews, and ammonia; +and oxygen from air, water, and soil. + +The use of all these materials, _together with the selection of the +best varieties of seed_, will give the first three requisites of a +wheat crop; large measure, heavy weight, and much flour. + +Manures peculiarly adapted to the object, will tend in the highest +degree to produce the greatest quantity of _gluten_, the most valuable +portion of the flour. It is true, that climate has much to do in +condensing, and of course, improving the value of wheat. It is a +general principle, that the warmer and drier the climate where it is +grown, the more valuable the grain. Wheat from the south of Europe, +is worth more than when grown in the north; and that from any portion +of the United States, owing to our superior dryness of climate, is +more nutritive than what is produced in Great Britain. This difference +is increased from 8 to 14 per cent. in favor of the American. Gluten +varies in wheat from 8 to 35 per cent.; in rye, 9 to 13; barley, 3 to +6; and oats 2 to 5. The _quality_ of wheat with regard to the quantity +of gluten it contains, is nicely estimated and fully regarded by +accomplished bakers. + +The nitrates of potash, or soda, are frequently used in England to +increase not only the quantity, but especially the quality of their +flour, a practice the high prices of land and produce may render +profitable there, though it is hardly to be expected they could +generally be used in this country to a profit. In an experiment lately +tried in England, one acre of wheat dressed with one cwt. of nitrate +of soda, gave 42½ bushels, weighing 60¾ lbs. per bushel; another acre +dressed with two cwt. yielded 47-3/8 bushels, weighing 60½ lbs.; while +an undressed acre, in every other respect similar to the others, +yielded only 27-7/8 bushels, weighing 61 lbs. Numerous other instances +could be given equally conclusive. + +Although we may not be justified in using these somewhat expensive +salts, so highly charged with nitrogen, there are sources of supply +within our reach, especially rich in this material, and abounding in +many of the other ingredients of fertility. These are animal manures +of all kinds, but more particularly urine, human excrements, and +the offal of animals, such as uncalcined bones, horns, hair, hides, +flesh, blood, &c. All of these contain large proportions of nitrogen, +and if carefully incorporated into the soil, would tend largely to +the increased production and value of the wheat crops throughout the +country. An experiment was made in manuring wheat with cow dung, which +contains the smallest proportion of nitrogen, and this yielded 11·95 +per cent. of gluten. Another parcel, grown on land manured with human +urine, gave 35·1 per cent. Thus it will be seen, that the maximum of +value in wheat, may be reached, by the application of an article, +almost everywhere wasted in the United States. + +It is by skilfully feeding the wheat plant with all the nourishment +that it can take up, that the crops may be indefinitely increased. Lord +Hardwicke stated, in a speech before the Royal Ag. Soc. of England, +that the fine Suffolk wheat had produced 76 bushels per acre; and +another and more improved variety had yielded the astonishing quantity, +of 82 bushels per acre. There is no comparison between the capacity +of an animal and seeds, to produce results; for while the former is +limited to a definite growth, which no effort of science or skill +can augment, a seed may multiply beyond almost any assignable limit. +We have been shown a stool of wheat, originating from a single seed, +the growth of the present season, with 30 stalks, averaging from 100 +to 110 grains on each head. Over 3,000 perfect grains, is thus the +product of a single parent in one season. It requires, then, but the +proper pabulum to produce good wheat, within the wheat latitudes, in +every portion of the Union. Some of our worn-out eastern lands may be +so totally unsuited to its growth, as not to justify the efforts of +reclaiming or fitting them for this object, especially, while we have a +region in the west, every way adapted by nature, to its most successful +cultivation. But we can not for a moment doubt, that when those western +fields become comparatively full, industry and science will combine to +clothe again those hills and valleys (now but partially robed with a +scanty herbage), with teeming crops of wheat, such as gave to them, in +their pristine days, a fame for fertility seldom exceeded. + + R. L. ALLEN. + + * * * * * + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +A PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY. + + _Philadelphia, Nov. 6th, 1843._ + + +NOTICING in your October number an account of a dairy on Long Island, I +am induced to give you a description of one in this vicinity. Mr. Henry +Charley has a dairy farm near Laurel Hill, where he keeps from 40 to +50 cows, consisting of Ayrshire, Holderness, Alderny, Durham, and a +few natives; but mostly crossed with a fine, thorough-bred Short-Horn +bull, and is raising full bloods, and high grades of this breed as fast +as possible. He makes veal of his bull-calves, and raises all his best +heifer-calves from his best cows for his own use. I found the cows +luxuriating in a rich clover pasture when I visited them last summer +between 2 and 3 o'clock, the hour for afternoon milking, from which +they were taken by the herdsman, and driven half a mile to the barn. +This is a stone building 100 feet long, 46 feet wide, with a wing of +60 feet, the same width as the barn, high walls, and steep roof, which +make it capable of holding a great quantity of fodder, consisting last +year mostly of cornstalks, (some of which he bought very cheap of his +neighbors, while others let theirs stand in the field and this spring +raked them up and burned them,) rye straw, and oats unthrashed, all +of which he cuts and steams--sometimes with a little hay cut also and +mixed with the above articles. These are all steamed together, or each +separately, (as best suits the appetites of the cows) in a large vat, +connected with a pipe through which the steam passes from the boiler, +which stands in a room adjoining with stone or ground floor. The +chimney is of sheet-iron running up through the roof, and coal used +for fuel, renders the risk for insurance at a very low rate. The water +is supplied from a spring running into the yard, and thence through +a pipe into the boiler. The cows are also watered from the same when +the weather is stormy in winter, and they are not allowed to go out. +But to return from this digression. After the fodder is sufficiently +cooked, which takes but a short time, it is taken out into other +larger vats or troughs, with scoop shovels, and there left to cool; +then a suitable portion of Indian meal or ground rye, buck-wheat, or +oats, or any two or all four mixed and ground together, (which in my +opinion would be better,) adding a portion of ship-stuffs, shorts, or +even bran. This is the food for the cows at all seasons, except when +there is a full supply of grass. They are driven to a woods pasture for +exercise and air when there is little or no grass. Air and exercise are +indispensably necessary for the health of cows, and without these, the +milk will always be more or less unhealthy, according to the nature of +their confinement. + +When the cows were brought into the yard, I was puzzled to know how +they were to be handled; but the stable doors being thrown open, each +cow entered the door nearest her stall, and went to it with as much +regularity as a young miss goes to her seat in a boarding-school. There +is a drop in the floor immediately behind the cows, 14 inches wide and +4 inches deep; into this all the excrements fall, the water running +off immediately to a reservoir prepared for the purpose of receiving +it; this, together with all the manure, was taken away daily, and +put upon the land or crops or in a heap to make compost; so that the +premises were kept perfectly clean and sweet. The floor was covered +with a thin bed of cut straw, which was passed off with the manure +as it became soiled, and by being cut, worked immediately into and +incorporated itself with the manure, without vexing the husbandman +or gardener as long green manure so frequently does. The floor behind +the cows, between the trough to catch the liquid and the wall, is six +feet wide, with strong plank platforms or tables on which to set the +vessels containing the milk. There is an open space directly over the +vat for steaming, where all the feed is cut and passed down through +a hopper into the vat; also, hoppers or spouts leading from the meal +room over head directly into the vats, which contain the steamed feed +for cooking. The mangers in which the cows are fed are broad, so that +the food may be thrown into them with scoop shovels without waste, of +which I found nothing of the kind about the whole premises. If a little +too much feed is given to one animal, and consequently left, it is +carefully scraped out and fed to one having a better appetite; thus the +mangers were kept clean and sweet. Mr. Charley feeds roots, but to what +extent I did not learn. I hope he may be induced to write you a letter, +giving a description of his cutting machine, which does its work better +than any one I have ever seen; having two blades coming together like +shears, cutting corn-stalks through their joints with as much apparent +ease as a pair of tailor's shears would cut a thread. + +There is a stable for dried cows which were feeding for the butcher. +Box stalls are provided for cows about to calve; the young cattle +are kept by themselves, as are also the calves. Mr. Charley was not +at home when I visited his dairy; but this disappointment to me was +made up by the kind Mrs. C., who, with justifiable pride, showed me +her spring house with its large copper caldron for scalding her milk +tubs, pans, pails, churns, &c. &c., in the best of order, all of which +she personally superintends and looks after; and whenever there is an +overstock of milk for city customers, it is here converted into butter +of the choicest quality, and each market-day finds her at her stand +with her butter and lots of garden vegetables, the raising of which she +also superintends and takes into the city at the dawn of day. That some +families are sick and others miserably poor, is not strange, to one who +looks behind the curtain and sees what can never otherwise be described. + + S. A. + + * * * * * + + _For the American Agriculturist._ + + + + +REPLY TO THE GARDENER'S CHRONICLE. + + _New-York, 14th November, 1843._ + + +THE Gardeners' Chronicle, published in England, has the following +criticism on my essay of dock-mud, inserted in your April number of +this year, page 13:-- + +"We trust the editor is more correct in his other statements than in +this, concerning the percentage of sea-salt in guano, which contains +little more than a trace of it." + +I have never analysed the guano, but depended on one or two analyses +given by Professor Johnston, reader of chemistry in the University +of Durham, England, in the appendix to his Lectures on Agricultural +Chemistry. He gives tables of contents of two parcels, the first +containing 30.3 per cent., the second rather more than 11 per cent. +of sea-salt. I took the larger quantity, to prove that if dock-mud +contained sea-salt, it could be no objection to it as a fertilizer. + +It is highly important that the tables of analysis of celebrated +manures should be correctly given, and if the editor of the Chronicle +can furnish correct tables, he will be conferring an important boon on +the agricultural community of the whole world. + + WM. PARTRIDGE. + + * * * * * + + _From the American Agriculturist Almanac._ + + + + +SOUTHERN CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER. + + +THE closing month of the year is one in which every agriculturist +should take an interest, and for many useful hints we will refer the +reader to the Northern Calendar for this month. + +Cotton-picking will probably occupy this month until Christmas, when +this business will have been completed, if the culture has been well +managed, and the season favorable. It would be well to start your plows +and break up ground for corn; let nothing but cotton prevent--not +even cleaning; for plowing is only one job; yet, if done soon, it is +generally advantageous, and if bad weather should set in when it must +be done, time will be lost, and a drawback ensue, whereas by plowing in +time, cleaning can be done later. + +In weather not employed about other labor more important, manure and +trim all kinds of vines and fruit-trees, except the orange tribe. +Transplant evergreens and other trees, sweet briers, honeysuckles, +jasmines, &c.; sow late peas and beans, and set out onions for seed; +set all hands at work in cleaning up for other crops, picking up +limbs, grubbing, cleaning up hollows, sides of bayous, cutting down +corn-stalks with hoes, gathering materials for making manure, &c., &c. + +If you do not live in the immediate vicinity, say five or six miles, +from a sugar-plantation, by all means keep bees. This can be rendered +one of the most productive branches of business of the day. Procure +a few swarms at first, and they will soon multiply to any extent +required. Use sections of hollow logs, four or five feet long, for +hives, if you have no other more convenient materials to make them +of, and allow the bees to work over the honey a second time, that you +may avoid the injurious effects in eating honey which may have been +gathered from poisonous flowers. If the above-named class of hives be +used, there will be no necessity for killing the bees; for when the +hives are filled with honey, they can be removed without harm from +the end opposite to that in which the bees are at work, and they will +immediately go to work and fill the vacancy. In most parts of the +Southern States bees maybe kept at work during the winter. If there +are not flowers for them, they can be made to work over the bad honey +collected the season before. + +This is also a busy month for the sugar-planter. He will be active +in cutting and carting his cane with all possible despatch; and he +should employ one or more practical and intelligent men to conduct the +operations of the mill. In the manufacture of sugar, we know of no +better method than that given by Professor Mapes in a letter to Hon. H. +L. Ellsworth, from which we make the following extract:-- + +1. To cut the cane as ripe as possible, but before any acetic acid is +formed; litmus paper, touched to the fresh-cut cane, will turn red if +acid. + +2. Express the juice without loss of time, as every moment after +cutting will deteriorate its quality. + +3. A small quantity of clear lime-water, say one quart to a hundred +gallons of juice, should be added the moment it is expressed, unless +the juice shows acidity with litmus paper; in that case, no lime should +be used, but a solution of sal-soda or soda ash should be added, until +it is precisely neutral. + +4. When the juice is neutral, free from excess of acid or alkali, it +should be evaporated in such an apparatus as would finish its charge in +30 minutes; if the boiling power is too small, good crystallization can +not possibly be obtained. + +The whole time occupied, from the cutting of the cane to finishing its +boiling, should not exceed one hour. + +5. To know when the boiling is finished, place a thermometer in the +kettle, and continue to evaporate until it stands at 239° Fahrenheit. +If, when placed to run off after cooling, it should be found too freely +boiled, the next time boil to 240°, or, if too light to run off, to +238°, and so on. + +6. The kettle or boiler should be so arranged, that the moment it is +done its charge should be thrown into a cooler, capable of holding a +number of charges. The first charge should be left in the cooler with +stirring, until the second charge is thrown in; then with an oar scrape +the crystals found on the side and bottom of the cooler loose, and +gently stir the whole mass together: the less stirred the better; so +continue at the letting in of each charge, to stir gently; and when all +is in the cooler, let the whole stand until it cools down to 175°; then +fill out into sugar-moulds of a capacity not less than 14 gallons. When +cooled in the mould sufficiently, say fourteen hours, pull the plug out +of the bottom of the mould, and insert a sharp point, nearly as large +as the hole, some six inches; withdraw the point, and stand the mould +on a pot to drip. + +7. If the sugar is intended to be brown, leaving it standing on the pot +for a sufficient length of time, in a temperature of 80°, will run off +its molasses, and leave it in a merchantable shape; it will probably +require twenty days. It can then be thrown out of the moulds, and will +be fit for use. When moulds can not be obtained, conical vessels of +wood or metal, with a hole at the apex, will answer equally well. + + D. + + * * * * * + + _From the American Agriculturist Almanac._ + + + + +NORTHERN CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER. + + +SETTLE all your accounts, collect what is due you, and pay what +you owe. "Short settlements make long friends." Examine your farm +statistics, and see what have been the results of your experiments +with the different kinds of manures, seeds, modes of tillage, &c., +&c.; and note them well for future use. No farmer ought to be without +such a book, in which all experiments should be carefully recorded +at the time, and the results carried into a separate book for his +own use hereafter; and if new and valuable discoveries are obtained, +communicate them to some agricultural periodical for the benefit of +the world. Recollect, you have the experience of thousands to guide +your operations, and, by contributing to the general stock whatever +may be useful, you are but returning to mankind a part of the benefits +you have derived from them. But avoid twaddle and humbuggery, and +oft-published statements, and prolix or tedious narration, and give +all the circumstances material to the subjects in the briefest, +plainest, simplest language possible. Above all things, send in your +subscription to one or more valuable agricultural papers, and get as +many of your neighbors to subscribe as possible; and consider, in so +doing, you are benefiting yourself by it ten times as much as you are +the publishers. Summer is peculiarly the time for making observations +and experiments, and winter the time for communicating them. _Remember +the poor_, not only in this month, but every month through the year, +and especially during the inclemency of winter. You need not give so +much to them outright, but endeavor to put them in a way of making +themselves comfortable, by affording them employment, by which, you may +be benefited, while doing them good. You thus confer on them a triple +benefit, by furnishing them the means of comfortable subsistence, +teaching them to help themselves, and avoiding the habit of receiving +_charity_, which insensibly weakens their sense of self-dependance. + +Stock now requires increased attention: they must be well housed, or +at least protected against wind, with a shelter to which they can +resort in storms, well supplied with salt, and abundance of water, +if possible, in the yard, where they can get it when they want, and +without wearying themselves in looking for it, and wasting their +manure by dropping it in the road, or by a running stream or pond, +where it will all be lost. Their feed should be regular, and given to +them as near stated times as possible. They look for their food then +at certain hours, and are not uneasy and fretful till the customary +period arrives, when they again fill themselves, and rest quietly, +digesting their food till it is time to look for another supply. If +brought up in regular habits, brutes are much better time-keepers than +many are disposed to consider them who have not observed closely their +intelligence. Now is a good time to break steers and colts, while +the roads are smooth and hard. They ought to be early accustomed to +handling and the halter, and be gently treated, by which they are more +disposed to yield to the wishes of their master. If they have been +always used to good treatment, they will acquire a confidence in their +keepers, and the more readily submit to their guidance. 'Tis always +better to train them with strong, well-broken animals. Sympathy has +more to do with the brute creation than they have credit for generally; +and the good habits and orderly behavior of the older animals, they +have been accustomed to treat with deference, will not be without their +wholesome effect on them. + +This is the best month for spreading out hemp for dew-rotting, in the +latitudes below 40°, as it gets a whiter and better rot than if spread +earlier. + +KITCHEN-GARDEN.--Every fine day uncover the frames in which are lettuce +and cauliflower plants; otherwise they will become spindling, from want +of air. Hot-beds can now be made, for forcing asparagus for the table +in January. If the ground is open, continue trenching for spring crops. +When the ground is frozen, cart manure, repair fences, clean seeds, +prepare tools for spring. Provide pea-sticks, bean-poles, &c., and +finish all that will be required in the spring, and which can be done +when the ground is frozen. + +FRUIT-GARDEN AND ORCHARD.--Finish those things which may have been +omitted the previous month. If the weather continues open, digging and +plowing may be done advantageously. Perform any work that may tend to +forward your business in the spring. + +FLOWER-GARDEN AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS.--Continue to protect your beds +of bulbs, and also flower-beds and shrubs as directed in last month. +Should the weather continue open in the early part of this month, bulbs +may still be planted. They should not be left as late as this, but if +such has been the case, they had better be planted now than left until +spring. Now carefully protect seedling bulbs. The more tender kinds of +trees can have their roots protected from frost by laying manure or +long litter about them. + + + + +FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS. + + +BY the steamship Caledonia, we are favored by the receipt of our +European journals up to the 4th November. + +MARKETS.--_Ashes_, both pots and pearls, have advanced, and were +brisk of sale. _Cotton_ had declined 1/8d. per lb. The recent advices +from Bombay and Calcutta of the East India crop, were not quite +so favorable. The stock of Cotton on hand at Liverpool on the 1st +November, was 720,000 bales, against 520,000 at same period last +season. _Flour_ was flat, and little doing in it. _Naval Stores_, +declining. _Provisions_ were about the same as by our last advices, +with the exception of Cheese, the finer qualities of which were of +quick sale. _Tobacco_, steady and firm. + +_Money_ still plenty, and the low rates of interest prevail. + +_American Stocks_ continue nearly the same as at our last. Very few +recent transactions. + +_Agricultural School._--We see by the Berwick Warder, that an +Agricultural School is established in Aberdeenshire, by the practical +farmers of that county, which promises to be a very useful institution. +It is superintended by Mr. R. O. Young, and we like its arrangements +better than anything of the kind we have yet seen. To explain these, we +make a few quotations from the prospectus. + +The young gentlemen who may be intrusted to Mr. Young's charge for the +purpose of being instructed in the principles and practice of Scottish +agriculture, will have daily opportunities of witnessing the regular +routine of farming operations going on at the farm, and of taking an +active part in these operations. + +They will be required to keep, in a farm-book, a daily record of what +has been done on the farm. Explanations will be given of the principles +upon which the different operations are conducted, and upon which they +will be examined at stated times. Regular minutes will be kept by the +pupils of all such explanations, as well as of any facts that may +come to their knowledge through their occasional intercourse with the +farmers of the country. + +There will be stated times set apart for reading, as text-books, the +most approved agricultural works of the day; and on the subjects of +their reading Mr. Y. will minutely examine the young gentlemen, and +will also require them to write exercises upon given agricultural +topics--particularly those that bear on practice. + +While it will be Mr. Y.'s care to direct the attention of the pupils to +chemistry and geology in their application to practical agriculture, +a branch of study until lately very little attended to, he will make +arrangements for procuring the services of the professor of agriculture +in the University of Aberdeen, for a few weeks every summer, to give +lectures and conduct experiments on the analysis of soils, manures, +&c.--thus securing to the pupils more than a mere theoretical knowledge +of this important branch of agricultural education. + +As nothing is so much calculated to impress any subject upon the +youthful mind, as to invest it with a _personal interest_, Mr. Y. +proposes to devote to the exclusive use of his pupils, a small farm, of +about 50 acres in extent, adjoining to his other farm. This small farm +contains a variety of soils, upon which experiments of different kinds +may be conducted, on a small scale. It will be possessed and managed by +the pupils, under Mr. Y.'s direction, and upon certain equitable rules +as to each pupil's share of the concern. Each pupil will be required +to keep regular books, exhibiting all disbursements and receipts, and +the results of all experiments tried, with every particular connected +with such experiments. Each pupil will be required to take his share +of management, &c., and the profits of the concern, after paying a +certain moderate rent, will, at each term, be divided among the young +gentlemen, in proportion to their respective interests. It is conceived +that such a plan will have a strong tendency to promote exactness, +regularity, and business habits; but, without the consent of their +parents or guardians, pupils will not be asked to join in this scheme. + +FARMERS' MAGAZINE.--_Meat-Salting Instrument._--The instrument +resembles a common syringe of more than ordinary dimensions, and, +although not quite so simple in its construction, it is intended to +be used in the same way as the syringe, provided the point or tube be +not exposed to the air. The advantages to be derived from the use of +the instrument are explained by the fact that a joint of meat may, +in the simplest manner, be properly salted in less than ten minutes. +The brine is made of the usual ingredients, and after the salt and +other substances are completely dissolved, the liquid is poured into +the machine, and the nipple or tube (the circumference of which is +perforated with three small holes) is inserted into the most solid part +of a joint of meat, and the contents are, by a very strong pressure, +forced through the fibres until the brine is seen to escape on the +surface. For this purpose a smaller quantity of pickle is used than is +employed in the ordinary method of curing meat, and the bone (if there +be any,) in the centre becomes thoroughly impregnated with the fluid. +By the present mode of salting meat, it is a matter of some difficulty +to inject the brine into the innermost part of a large joint, whereas +by the process which is adopted in the use of Mr. Carson's instrument, +the size or substance of the meat presents no additional trouble to the +operator. + +_Prince Albert's Annual Sale of Live Stock._--Since Prince Albert has +turned farmer, he has an annual sale of his fat stock, and is said to +realize from 50 to 60 per cent. profit on it. The last took place in +October, at which time 417 sheep, 55 oxen, and 9 cows and heifers, were +disposed of, realising him £1,743, (about $8,000;) a clever sum for fat +sheep and cattle. + +_Produce of Ewes._--Count de Gourcey states in that part of his +Agricultural Tour in Europe, just received, that Mr. Walker, manager +of the late Duke of Gordon's estates, in Scotland, informed him that +from 200 Leicester ewes, and as many Southdowns, they _bring up on an +average_, 450 lambs. We wish we had possessed this information when +writing our notes to Mr. Grove's letter in this paper, as it would have +been something of an argument in our favor, regarding the difference +of opinion existing between us about the number of lambs bred in the +United States. + +NEW FARMERS' JOURNAL.--_Exportation of Cattle to Prussia._--One bull +and eight heifers have been recently purchased in England, for the +Royal Agricultural Society of Prussia. + +NETTING FOR SHEEP-FOLDS.--The fibre of the cocoa-nut is said to make +the most durable netting for sheep-folds; it out-wearing several sets +of tarred-hemp netting, and is so light, that a herdsman can with ease +carry 200 yards of it. + +_Soiling._--Feeding animals in the summer-season with green food, +cut daily, and given them in stalls or yards, is far preferable to +grazing--First, because the food is consumed with less waste; secondly, +because rest is an equivalent for food. The bodies of animals do not +remain stationary, but are constantly wasting in proportion to the +amount of exercise they undergo--hence, while they rove at large, they +must receive from time to time new supplies in the shape of food, to +make up for this waste, which are not needed when they are at rest, +and consequently, by the system of soiling, less food will be required +to fatten them. Thirdly, because by soiling there is an increase of +valuable manure, which, by the old method of grazing, was nearly +altogether lost. + +_American Provisions._--Within the last few days, 204 boxes of American +cheese have been received in Liverpool. Every year the quality of the +American cheese improves. Another article, which is arriving in very +large quantities, is American lard, which is coming into use for many +purposes for which salt and even fresh butter has been employed. Very +excellent salted beef has come from the United States in considerable +quantities. + +_Epidemic among Cattle._--This has broken out again in a most virulent +shape in the north of England. + +JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE.--_Miller's Safety Reins._--These consist +of gut covered with leather, and are, therefore, proof against +fracture; and being round, and of neat light appearance, form a rather +ornamental and sporting-like appendage to harness or saddle. They are +mounted in this way:--They pass through a hook placed on the head of +the harness-bridle, and through a leather loop on the head of the +riding-bridle, and come down on each side of the neck. About middle-way +down the neck is a coupling with two swivels, which receive the reins +from the head, and they then pass through the dees of the harness, and +through the turrets of the harness-saddle, and along to the front of +the splashboard to a rein-holder, by which they are held always ready +for use. The head of the horse and the turrets of the saddle being both +higher than the throat, and the coupling being short, and having leave +to traverse the reins on each side of the neck, it settles on that part +of the throat at which the reins, on being pulled, exert the greatest +force, when, the windpipe being forcibly compressed, the horse becomes +affected in his respiration, and, therefore, stands still, or slackens +his pace for breath, which he immediately obtains on the reins being +slackened. Thus, feeling he is mastered, the horse shows no farther +inclination to run off again; but in case he should renew symptoms of +starting off, a few firm grips of the coupling on the throat will let +him feel the futility of his attempts. + +In explanation of the origin of the invention, Mr. Miller stated +that he was a farmer's son, and that, in his youth, he used to be +employed at times to assist in catching horses at grass, by means of +surrounding them with a rope, borne by a person at each end of it. He +remarked that, in this service, although no restraint was laid upon the +horses when the rope rested on their chests, yet, whenever it could +be got upon their throats, they instantly stood still and allowed +themselves to be taken. The idea which this recollection suggested, of +the probable effect of pressure on the throat in stopping a runaway +horse, led Mr. Miller to the contrivance of his safety-reins. In his +first experiment, the band which connects the reins under the neck +was attached to the headstall by hooks and straps; but it has been +considered an improvement to allow it to move freely upon the reins, on +which it settles in contact with the throat, in a proper position for +use when required. + +Our communications with Mr. Miller impressed us favorably in regard +to his contrivance; but, wishing to see it in practice we availed +ourselves of an offer by him to afford us an opportunity of judging +of it in operation. We, accordingly, on a day appointed, accompanied +him in a carriage drawn by one horse, for the purpose of trial; and we +witnessed as spectators, as well as made ourselves, repeated tests of +the reins, with the horse going at a smart canter, both on a level road +and on a descent, and we invariably observed that the tightening of the +reins caused the horse immediately to stop. No injurious effect seemed +to be produced on the horse by the interruption of his respiration. He +always appeared to breathe freely, and to be ready to resume his work, +as soon as the tension of the reins was relaxed. + +Upon the whole, therefore, we consider Mr. Miller's invention to be a +neat and simple, as well as, to appearance, an effective contrivance +for the accomplishment of its important object, in the prevention of +the disastrous accidents which not unfrequently occur from horses +running away; and we think it reflects much credit on the ingenuity of +its inventor. + +GARDENERS' CHRONICLE.--_Rhododendron._--There is a variety of the +Rhododendron ponticum growing here, which appears to be different from +any of the others. It comes into flower about the same time as the +others, but instead of unfolding its blossoms at the same rate as its +neighbors, it only opens a few at a time, and continues long in flower. +It did not cease flowering this season the whole month of August; +consequently was nearly a month longer in bloom than the others. It has +a southern exposure, and is sheltered from the north and east. + +_Blight on Grain from the Barberry._--In the Chronicle of August 19, +under the head of "Vulgar Errors," we read as follows: "People still +maintain that the barberry blights their grain." This is, nevertheless, +a matter deserving attention; for in this, as in many other instances, +a popular prejudice has been founded on truth, although the real cause +has been often overlooked. Some writers have treated this subject with +respect, and among them is Dr. Thornton. The latter says that the +"leaves are very subject to the _rubigo_, which will infect the grain +in the neighborhood." Here the secret is at once explained, and the +aversion of farmers to the barberry-bush at once justified. The vulgar +notion is, that the barberry exercises some evil agency upon grain +within a certain distance, and accordingly farmers will never suffer it +to grow near their fields. They are right as to the effect, but they +attribute it to a wrong cause. I have seen some remarkable instances +of grain perishing in a semicircle, in front of a barberry-bush, and +extending a good way into a field. Any one who has but superficially +noticed the barberry, must have observed that the leaves and young +shoots of the shrub were covered with a peculiar kind of blight or +mildew. Now it is by no means extraordinary that this should be carried +by the wind into grain-fields, and infect the grain so as to cause its +destruction. This is the true explanation of the mischief caused by the +barberry to grain in its neighborhood. [This is the common explanation, +but if any one will take the trouble to examine the parasitical plant +which attacks the barberry, and that of grain, he will find that they +are totally different things. One is the Æcidium Berberidis, and the +other some species of Uredo or Puccinia, for it is sometimes one and +sometimes the other. We should as soon believe that a hen's egg would +be hatched into toads, as that the seed of an Æcidium would produce an +Uredo or Puccinia. We are aware of the facts mentioned by Mr. Wighton, +for we have seen them ourselves, and they form a curious problem yet to +solve.] + + + + +REVIEW OF THE MARKET. + +PRICES CURRENT IN NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 28, 1843. + + + ASHES, Pots, per 100 lbs. $4 62 to $4 68 + Pearls, do. 5 12 " 5 18 + BACON SIDES, Smoked, per lb. 3½ " 4½ + In pickle do. 3 " 4 + BALE ROPE do. 6 " 9 + BARK, Quercitron per ton 23 00 " 24 50 + BARLEY per bush. 52 " 56 + BEANS, White do. 1 12½ " 1 25 + BEEF, Mess per bbl. 6 00 " 7 00 + Prime do. 4 00 " 5 00 + Smoked per lb. 6 " 7½ + Rounds, in pickle do. 4 " 5½ + BEESWAX, Am. Yellow do. 28 " 30 + BOLT ROPE do. 12 " 13 + BRISTLES, American do. 25 " 65 + BUTTER, Table do. 12 " 15 + Shipping do. 6 " 10 + CANDLES, Mould, Tallow do. 9 " 12 + Sperm do. 32 " 38 + Stearic do. 20 " 25 + CHEESE do. 4 " 7 + CIDER BRANDY, Eastern per gal. 35 " 40 + Western do. 28 " 35 + CLOVER SEED per lb. 8½ " 9½ + COAL, Anthracite 2000 lbs. 5 00 " 6 00 + Sidney and Pictou per chal. 7 00 " 7 50 + CORDAGE, American per lb. 11 " 12 + CORN, Northern per bush. 56 " 58 + Southern do. 54 " 56 + COTTON per lb. 6 " 11 + COTTON BAGGING, Amer. hemp per yard. 16 " 18 + American Flax do. 15 " 16 + FEATHERS per lb. 27 " 31 + FLAX, American do. 8 " 8½ + FLAX SEED, rough per 7 bush. 8 75 " 9 00 + clean do. -- -- " -- -- + FLOUR, Northern and Western per bbl. 4 56 " 4 75 + Fancy do. 5 50 " 5 62½ + Southern per bbl. 4 50 " 4 75 + Richmond City Mills do. 5 50 " 5 62 + Rye do. 3 00 " 3 12 + HAMS, Smoked per lb. 5 " 7½ + Pickled do. 4 " 5 + HAY per 100 lbs. 40 " 45 + HIDES, Dry Southern per lb. 9 " 11 + HEMP, Russia, clean per ton. 185 00 " 190 00 + American, water-rotted do. 140 00 " 180 00 + do dew-rotted do. 90 00 " 140 00 + HOPS per lb. 6 " 8 + HORNS per 100 1 25 " 5 00 + LARD per lb. 5½ " 7 + LEAD do. 3½ " 4 + Sheet and bar do. 4 " 4½ + MEAL, Corn per bbl. 2 75 " 3 00 + Corn per hhd. 12 50 " 13 00 + MOLASSES, New Orleans per gal. 23 " 25 + MUSTARD, American per lb. 16 " 31 + OATS, Northern per bush. 30 " 32 + Southern do. 26 " 28 + OIL, Linseed, American per gal. 75 " 80 + Castor do. 90 " 1 00 + Lard do. 55 " 65 + OIL CAKE per 100 lbs. 1 00 " -- -- + PEAS, Field per bush. 1 25 " -- -- + PITCH per bbl. 1 12½ " 1 37 + PLASTER OF PARIS per ton. 2 00 " 2 25 + Ground, in bbls. per cwt. 50 " -- -- + PORK, Mess per bbl. 10 50 " 11 38 + Prime do. 9 25 " 10 12 + RICE per 100 lbs. 2 75 " 3 12 + ROSIN per bbl. 65 " 95 + RYE per bush. 65 " 66 + SALT per sack 1 35 " 1 50 + SHOULDERS, Smoked per lb. 3 " 4½ + Pickled do. 3 " 4 + SPIRITS TURPENTINE, Southern per gal. 38 " 40 + SUGAR, New Orleans per lb. 6 " 7½ + SUMAC, American per ton 25 00 " 27 50 + TALLOW per lb. 7 " 7½ + TAR per bbl. 1 25 " 1 50 + TIMOTHY SEED per 7 bush. 13 00 " 14 00 + TOBACCO per lb. 3 " 6½ + TURPENTINE per bbl. 2 62 " 2 87 + WHEAT, Western per bush. 1 00 " 1 05 + Southern do. 90 " 1 00 + WHISKEY, American per gal. 23 " 25 + WOOL, Saxony per lb. 35 " 50 + Merino do. 30 " 35 + Half-blood do. 25 " 27 + Common do. 18 " 22 + + +ADVERTISEMENTS + + +New York Cattle Market--November 27. + +At market, 1,150 beef Cattle, (110 from the south), 35 Cows and Calves, +and 2,350 Sheep and Lambs. + +PRICES.--_Beef Cattle_ have slightly improved, and we quote $4.25 a $5 +to $5.25 a $5.50 for the best. 1,101 unsold. + +_Cows and Calves._--All taken at $18 a $27. + +_Sheep and Lambs._--Sales of Lambs at $1 a $2, and of Sheep at 1.37½ a +$3.50. 100 unsold. + +_Hay_.--Sales at 62½ a 75 cents per cwt. + + * * * * * + +REMARKS.--_Ashes_, since the late news from Europe, have been in good +request. _Candles_, especially those made of stearic, are brisk. +_Cotton_. The day after the arrival of the Caledonia with advices of +a fall in England, this article receded nearly ¼ of a cent per lb.; +but a brisk demand springing up for export, it has recovered, and is +about the same now as before the reception of the late news. We hear +nothing particularly new from the south regarding the picking, the +weather upon the whole supposed to be more favorable. Export from the +United States since 1st September last, 62,450 bales; same time last +year, 113,301; same time year before, 99,904. _Flour_. The continued +navigation on the canals, has brought us an unprecedented supply, +and a large quantity has gone into store; a good business, however, +continues to be done in it. The total arrivals this season have been +1,440,000 brls. _Rye-flour_ is dull. _Buckwheat_, very scarce and +advancing. _Cornmeal_, dull. _Wheat_ is in good demand, and prices +stiff. _Rye_, declining. _Barley_, _Oats_, and _Corn_, in fair demand. +_Hemp_, dull. _Hops_, improving. _Molasses_, not much inquired for. +_Beef_ and _Pork_, quiet, and little doing at present in them. _Lard_, +much wanted. _Hogs_. Extreme rates now in Cincinnati are from $2.25 +to $2.75; we are free to repeat, however, that we believe the first +quality of hogs will be worth $3 by Christmas. _Rice_, of the better +qualities, scarce. _Seeds_, especially Timothy, in good request. +_Sugar_, quite inactive. _Tobacco_, fine Kentucky, scarce and wanted; +stems, none in market. _Wool_ seems to have taken a fresh start again, +and prices have an upward tendency. + +_Stocks_. A large business continues to be done in these, and they are +still gradually advancing. + +_Money_ plenty, and seeking investment at the usual low rates. + +_Real Estate_ seems at last to have come into demand, and considerable +sales in this species of property have recently taken place at good +prices. It must henceforth advance. Our population and wealth have +increased in an unprecedented ratio within the past four years, and +there is no reason why real estate should remain at its late low +prices, and transactions in it any longer stagnant. + +_Business generally_, the past season, has been extremely good; and +we do not hesitate to say, few years can show a greater amount of +substantial profits. We consider the days of darkness as passed, and we +may now look forward to the future with the brightest anticipations. + +_Packing Pork._--On this subject we quote from the Cincinnati Chronicle +of 22d November. For the benefit of our distant readers, who may +be disposed to send their orders here for pork, we give below the +pork-merchant's prices for _packing_ this season, based upon 60 cents +per bushel for Turk-Island salt, 87½ cents for bbls., 28 cents per +bushel for Kenhawa fine salt, and 75 cents to $1.50 per day, for +laborers. For receiving, weighing, and cutting the hogs, a block-fee of +5 cents each. + +For packing per bbl., including all charges, $1.60 _a_ $1.75. For +salting 100 lbs. in bulk, including saltpetre for the joints, $1.62 +_a_ $1.75. Smoking per 1.000 lbs., including washing, $1.25. Rendering +lard, 37 _a_ 50 cents per 100 lbs., which does not include the price of +the keg or barrel--2 to 5 cents is also charged on each keg or barrel, +for nailing the hoops, boring, weighing, and marking. The cooperage is +charged at cost. + + + + +TO CORRESPONDENTS. + + +--A. B. Your package of Essays is sent to T. C. R. of P., as directed, +and we have written you in full in it. The sheep-articles shall be +condensed as you suggest, if we can possibly find room, and papers +in any event sent to the gentlemen whose names are given. Good +South-Downs, or Merinos, can be had from $10 to $20 each. It is not +worth while to transport lower-priced animals such a distance. For +Rambouillets, $30 to $50 each. See Mr. Collins' letter, Sept. No., page +166. + +Henry A. Field, J. W. Stuart, S. B. Parsons, James Bates, and D. K. +Minor, in our next. + + + + +ACKNOWLEDGMENT. + + +--From some unknown friend, we have received a tin case containing two +fine paintings of cattle, sheep, &c. We should be pleased to know to +whom we are indebted for these, for no note accompanied them, and we +can hardly guess. + + * * * * * + +BLACK GALLOWAY CATTLE. + +A pure-bred imported cow, and a bull of the Galloway or Kyloe breed of +Scotch Highland cattle, are for sale in this vicinity. These animals +are very fine of their kind, and were chosen from one of the most +celebrated breeders of this stock in Scotland. The cow took several +prizes at the agricultural shows before being shipped to this country, +and gives a superior quality of milk. The bull is quite equal to the +cow, and they will be sold at a reasonable price. + +Apply, post paid, to the Editor of this paper. + + * * * * * + +FARMING LANDS FOR SALE. + +For sale, about 500 acres of choice farming lands, lying on the Erie +canal and Niagara river, 5 miles from Buffalo, and one mile below the +Hydraulic Works in Black Rock. There is a due proportion of cleared +and timber land, and the soil is equally adapted for grain, grass, and +roots. Its proximity to an extensive and growing market, as well as the +convenience, beauty, and healthfulness of the location, render this one +of the most desirable situations in western New York. The most liberal +credit will be given to purchasers. + + Address, post paid, R. L. ALLEN, 156 Main st., Buffalo. + + * * * * * + +LINNÆAN BOTANIC GARDEN AND NURSERY--LATE PRINCE'S. + +FLUSHING, L. I., NEAR NEW YORK. + +The New Descriptive Catalogue, not only of Fruit, but also of +Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, cultivated and for sale at this +ancient and celebrated Nursery (known as Prince's, and by the above +title for nearly fifty years), with directions for their culture, may +be had _gratis_ on application to the new proprietors by mail, post +paid. The collection at this establishment is unrivalled, and prices +generally very much reduced; and the proprietors flatter themselves +that the catalogue will be found to surpass in extent of information +and usefulness, anything of the kind ever before presented to the +public, and to be worthy of a permanent place in the library of the +horticulturist. Orders will be promptly executed. + + WINTER & Co., Proprietors. + + Flushing, Oct. 24th, 1843. + + * * * * * + +A STOCK MAN WANTED TO GO SOUTH. + +A planter, in the state of Georgia, wishes to engage a faithful +competent man to take charge of his stock. If he be married, and his +wife be a good dairywoman, she will also find employment. The situation +is in the interior of the country, and quite healthy. None need apply +if above middle age, or who have not had some experience in their +business in this country, and can bring the best of references. + +Address the Editor of this paper. + + * * * * * + +BUSINESS AGENCY. + +The Subscriber will attend promptly to the execution of all orders for +the purchase of stock, agricultural implements, or merchandise of any +kind; also the negotiation of loans, sales of lands, payment of taxes, +&c. He has been more or less engaged in mercantile pursuits in this +city for ten years, and has an extensive acquaintance with moneyed men, +and a thorough knowledge of business in general. Cash or produce must +invariably be in hand, before orders for purchases can be executed. + + A. B. ALLEN. + + 205 Broadway, New York. + + * * * * * + +CHEAP CASH BOOKSTORE, + +205 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. + +Saxton & Miles, Publishers, and dealers in Books in every department of +Literature, at very reduced prices for _cash_. + +S. & M. publish the following Book, which should be in every family in +the United States: GUNN'S DOMESTIC MEDICINE, or the Poor Man's Friend. + +Among the many publications of more than doubtful utility, with which +our presses groan, it is pleasant to offer to the public one which, +while it can not injure the mental and moral powers, is capable of +improving our health and prolonging our days. It is now about ten years +since this work was first published, since which time it has passed +through many large editions, and the astonishing number of _one hundred +thousand_ copies has been sold in the southern and western states, and +the demand is increasing. + +It has just been revised and corrected, containing 900 pages, and +executed in superior style. People may be disposed to smile when we +tell them that they can save money by purchasing this book, but we +think we can satisfy them that such is the fact, In every family more +or less is paid yearly for doctor's bills. A child is taken with a +fever, or some other complaint, and from ignorance nothing is or can +be done effectually to check it. The physician is called, and a large +bill is contracted; whereas, had GUNN'S DOMESTIC MEDICINE been on +hand, a remedy could easily have been found which would have checked +the disease in its first stage, and not only have saved the purse, but +perhaps the life. + + * * * * * + +American Agriculturist Almanac for 1844. + +This work comprises 64 pages, double columns octavo, with numerous +wood cuts, price $8 per hundred, 12½ cents each. In the contents +will be found--Agricultural Statistics of the United States--Aspects +and Nodes--Astronomical Calendars for Montreal, Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, Charleston, and New Orleans--Characters and Names of the +Planets, &c.--Farmers' Northern Calendars, with particular directions +for the management of the Farm, Cattle, Fruit and Flower Garden, +&c.--Southern Calendars for the Planter and Farmer, with explicit +directions for the culture and harvesting of Cotton, Rice, Tobacco, +&c., &c. + + + + +THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. + + +Published Monthly, each number containing 32 pages, royal octavo. + +TERMS--One Dollar per year in advance; single numbers, Ten Cents; three +copies for Two Dollars; eight copies for Five Dollars. + +Each number of the Agriculturist contains but One sheet, subject to +newspaper postage only, which is _one cent_ in the State, or within +100 miles of its publication, and _one and a half cents_, if over 100 +miles, without the State. + +ADVERTISEMENTS will be inserted at One Dollar, if not exceeding twelve +lines, and in the same proportion, if exceeding that number. + +[Symbol] _Remit through Postmasters, as the law allows._ + +Editors of Newspapers noticing the numbers of this work monthly, or +advertising it, will be furnished a copy gratis, upon sending such +notice to this Office. + +Volume I of THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, with table of contents +complete, for sale at $1; handsomely bound in cloth, $1 25. It is a +neat and tasteful book, and makes a handsome premium for distribution +with Agricultural Societies; to which, when several copies are ordered, +a liberal discount will be made. + +[Symbol] To prevent confusion, all letters merely ordering this work, +or enclosing money for subscriptions, should be addressed to Saxton & +Miles, 205 Broadway, post-paid or franked by the Postmaster. + +Communications for publication, to be directed to the Editor; and all +_private_ letters, or those on business disconnected with the paper, +should be addressed, simply, A. B. Allen, 205 Broadway. New York. + + * * * * * + +STOCK FOR SALE. + +R. H. Hendrickson & Co., of Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, will +promptly attend to orders for Short-Horn Cattle, Bakewell, Merino, +South-Down, and Saxon Sheep; also for Berkshire pigs from Windsor +Castle, imported from England, and twenty choice Berkshire sows, a part +of which were also imported. Windsor Castle stands 3 feet high, and is +estimated by competent judges to weigh 1000 lbs. Pigs of crosses with +the imported Kenilworth, the large Miami, Byfield, and Grazier stocks, +will likewise be furnished. + +None but choice specimens of any of the above stock will be supplied, +and at prices corresponding with the times. Address, post paid, as +above. + +Oct. 12th, 1843. + + R. H. HENDRICKSON & Co. + + + + +AGENTS FOR THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. + + John Halsall, Bookseller, St. Louis, Mo. + G. S. Taintor, Bookseller, Natchez, Miss. + S. F. Gale & Co., Chicago, Ill. + John J. Herrick, Detroit, Mich. + J. B. Steele, New Orleans. + C. M. Hovey, Boston, Mass. + Saxton, Peirce, & Co., Boston. + Arthur D. Phelps, Boston. + R. H. Hendrickson, Middletown, Ohio + Andrew Campbell. + E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y. + H. Kirkland, Northampton, Mass. + John Bonner, White Plains, Georgia. + + * * * * * + +CONTENTS OF DECEMBER NUMBER. + +EDITORIAL. + + Page. + + Fattening Poultry, 321 + Fertility of Sea-Mud, 322 + Sketches of the West, No. 2, 323 + Breeds of Fowls, } 325 + New York Farmers' Club, } + Next Annual Show of the State Ag. Society, 327 + Tour in England, No. 15, 328 + Agricultural Shows, 330 + Sale of Rambouillet Merinos, } + Price of Sheep Dogs, } + Annual Meeting of the New York State Ag. Society, } 332 + List of Premiums of the American Institute (continued), } + Foreign Agricultural News, 349 + Review of the Market, } + To Correspondents, } 351 + Acknowledgment, } + Terms and list of Agents, 352 + +EXTRACTS. + + Making Capons, 334 + Grafting and Budding, 335 + High Cranberry, 339 + +ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. + + H. D. Grove, Fine-Wool Sheep, 340 + R. B. C, Sea-Mud as a Fertilizer, 341 + Henry Meigs, Farm of Hugh Maxwell, Esq., 342 + Robert L. Wright, Mediterranean Wheat, } + C. McD., Topping Cotton-Marl, } 343 + R. L. Allen, Hints on the Cultivation of Wheat, 344 + S. A., A Pennsylvania Dairy, 346 + Wm. Partridge, Reply to the Gardeners' Chronicle, } 347 + Amer. Ag. Almanac, Southern Calendar for December, } + do. do. Northern do. do. 348 + + + + + Transcribers notes: + + A mixture of archaic and modern spelling is used. For example; + visiters and visitors. This is retained. + + Inconsistent hyphenation is retained. + + Italics are shown thus: _sloping_. + + Small capitals have been capitalised. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The American Agriculturist. Vol. II. +No. XI, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59579 *** |