Overhauling the Character. GARDEN SEEDS, FOR SALE AT THE OFFICE OF THE OHIO CULTIVATOR. CATALOGUE. White Kidney, or Royal Dwarf; Running-White Dutch Case Blood, superior; French White Sugar; Mangel-Wurzel, for cattle BROCCOLI-Early Purple Cape. CLEVELAND SEED STORE, AND AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE. THE subscribers beg to inform their friends and the public, that of garden, flower, and field seeds, which they now offer with coufi. they have spared no expen.e in procuring an entire new stock dence. A large portion of their seeds were obtained from England, and from the most celebrated establishments in New York, where they ua's. They can assure the public that they will offer for sale none were carefully selected under the inspection of experienced individ but fresh seeds. and such as they believe to he genuine. Boxes of seeds, put up to order, on which a liberal commission will be allowed. Orders from a distance enclosing cash, promptly attended to. J. STAIR & SON, Cleveland, March 1, 1845. BOWERY NURSERY. OR sale at the Bowery Nursery, one and a half miles north of trees, consisting of apples, pears, peaches, plums, prunes, cherries, apricots, nectarines, quinces, &c. Also, a great variety of roses, bulbs, ornamental trees, shrubberry, &c. All orders enclosing the money, will meet with prompt attention. JOHN FISHER. March 1. JOHN A. LAZELL, A City of Columbus, has for sale an 8ensive variety of "While you are moving about and repairing holes in the fence, putting on a rail here, a stake yonder, a rider in another place, you may inquire of yourself whether your character is not in some need of repairs? Perhaps you are very careless and extravagant, the fence needs rails there; perhaps you are lazy-in that case the fence corners may be said to be full of brambles and weeds, and must be cleared out; perhaps you are a violent, passionate man-you need a stake BEANS-Early China Red Eye; Early Yellow Six Weeks; Large Columbus, on the Sandusky road, a fine assortment of fruit and rider on that spot. And, lastly, perhaps you are not temperate, if so, your fence is all going down and will soon have gaps enough to let in all the hogs of indolence, vice, and crime; and they make a large drove and fatten fast. Now is a good time to plan how to get out of debt.Don't be ashamed to save in little things, nor to earn small gains: "Many a mickle makes a muckle." But set it down, to begin with, that no saving is made by cheating yourself out of a good newspaper. No man reads a good paper a year, without saving by it. Suppose you put in your wheat a little better for something you see written by a good farmer and get five bushels more to the acre. One acre pays for a year's paper. One receipt, ahint which betters any crop, pays for the paper fourfold. Intelligent boys work better, plan better, earn and save better; and reading a good paper makes them intelligent. Besides, suppose you took our paper a year and found nothing new during all that time (an incredible supposition!) yet every two weeks we come to jog your memory about things which you may forget, but ought not to forget. Business and Resources of Zanesville,0. ber of facts worthy of notice: "At present we have in full operation six foundries; three machine shops which turn out engines, the workmanship and mechanical construction of which cannot be surpassed; five large flouring mills; two manufactories of linseed oil; four saw mills, besides machinery for working boards, making window blinds, lasts, &c. &c., and four boat yards, where workmen are constantly engaged in building steam, canal and flat boats. "For manufacturing purposes we have abundance of water power; wool may be grown in our vicinity to almost any extent-the fa: cilities for transportation are offered in every direction; east and west by the National road, north by steam and canal boats to the lakes, and the interior of Pennsylvania, and south by steam to the Ohio river. The hills that surround us, not only abound with exhaustless beds of coal and iron ore, but their soil produces crops of grain in quality and quantity not exceeded by any land in the State. "Possessing these advantages, a lack of capital alone prevents Zanesville from becoming one of the most important manufacturing points in the west." Early Battersea; Late Flat Dutch; Large Late Drumhead: Red CELERY-White Solid; New Silver Giant. small, for Pickles. CUCUMBER-Early Frame; Early Short Green; Early Grean MUSK MELON-Large Yellow Canteloup; Skillman's Fine Net- ted; Murray's Pine Apple; Green Nutmeg; Green Citron. PEAS-Early Washington, 2 feet; Bishop's Early Dwarf, 1 foot; Dwarf Blue Imperial, fatet feet; New Giant Marrowfat, 6 feet; 3 RADISH-Early Scarlet Short Top; Long Salmon; Long White; PEPPER-Squash, or Tomato Shaped; Long Red Cayene. Hs collection of Apples exceeds 300 select varieties. PRICE Sper hundred Trees, of from three to five feet growth, $14; of from five to seven feet $16; ol from seven to nine feet, $18; and for a few select Trees, from 25 to 50 cents each from 374 to 75 cents per l'ree, according to size. &c.; and Pear, Plum and Cherry Trees, of a great variety. Price beautiful Evergreen Trees, at prices from $1 to $3, each. When Trees or Plants are to be sent a distance to require it, they will be duly labeled and carefu ly packed or boxed, for which a reasonable charge will be made. Columbus, January, 1815. LAKE ERIE NURSERY. THIS Establishment is situated about one and a half Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries. &c &c; and also a large miles west of Cleveland, on the Detroit road, and con tains, for sale, TREES of all the most choice kinds of stock of Roses. Evergreens, Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, &c, which are offered at reasonable prices. Greenhouse SQUASH-Early Bush Scollop; Summer Golden Crookneck; Wintaining the money or satisfactory reference, wil meet with Plants also supplied when wanted. Orders, post paid, con. SALSIFY, or Vegetable Oyster. THE TROTTING HORSE BELLFOUNDER, Annual Flowers. 5,00 11,50 Collinsia, bicolor, Cleome grandiflora, 4,50 12,00 Coreopsis, tricolor, 4,25 Contaurea Americana, COLUMBUS PRODUCE MARKET. [MARKET DAYS WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS.] Corrected for the Ohio Cultivator, March 15. GRAIN. Cucumber, climbing, Marvel of Peru, Upright do., Morning Glory, 6. Buckwheat, 1,25 a 1,50 Indian meal, bu. 37 a Homminy, quart, Beef,bind quarter. 100 lbs. 2.25 a 2,50 føre quarter 1,75 @ 2,00 Pork, large bags. 3,50 a Chickens, Apples, sound. graf common a 10 62 a 75 25 a 374 Wood, bard, ceré, 1,25 Monkey Flower, Nasturtium, crimson, Pansey, or Heart's Ease, a 874 Petunia, sorts, fine, a 1,25 Phacelia, 40 ted, bu. 3 6: dried, " small, 2,75 @ 3,00 Tallow, tried, lb., Hay, ton. 6 a 7 Lard, lb., ret, Salt, bbl., Peaches, dried, 1,00 a 40 Phlox Drummondi, a 5 Seeds. Venison. in kegs or bbls. 5 2,75 a 3,00 ECLIPSE JUNIOR. SON of the renowned AMERICAN ECLIPSE, of New York, This pure blooded colt is 5 years old in May next; 16 hands high, AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL HE subscribers have a large supply of works upon FARMING McMahon's Gardener: the American Gardener's Ca'ender; con. taining a complete account of all the work necessary to be done in the Kitchen Garden, Fruit Garden, Orchard, Vineyard, Nursery Garden, Green House, &c., for every month in the year. By Ber. nard McMahon. 1 vol. 8vo. Downing's Treatise on Landscape Gardening. 1 vol. 8vo. The American Gardener. By Fessenden. 1 vol. 12mo. The Complete Farmer. By Fessenden. 1 vol. 12mo. The Farmer's Treasure, containing a Practical Treatise on the value and nature of Manures, by Falkner; and a Treatise on Produrtive Farming, by Joseph A. Smith. 1 vol. 12mo. The Hand Book of Plants and Fruits, with 140 illustrations, a copious Glossary, &c. By L. D. Chapin. 1 vol. Ladies' Companion to the Flower Garden. By Mrs. Loudon. 1 vol. 12mo. VOL. I. A Semi-Monthly Journal of Agriculture and Horticulture. COLUMBUS, OHIO, APRIL 1, 1845. THE OHIO CULTIVATOR, A SEMI-MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE, HORTI- M. B. BATEHAM, EDITOR. Published on the 1st and 15th of each month. TERMS:-One dollar per year-When four or more sub scribers order together, only 75 cents each, four copies for $3) All payments to be made in advance, and all subscriptions to commence with the volume, as long as back numbers can be furnished. NO. 7. stitutes the only supply of many farmers in the country. The scions being provided as mentioned in our last, the next thing to be done is, To Prepare Grafting Wax.-Take 4 parts rosin, 2 parts beeswax, and 1 part lard; melt them together, stir when simmering, and while hot dip them between two sticks as taken out, to rid in pieces of old cotton cloth or calico, drawing them of an excess of the liquid. Then if large limbs are to be grafted, have a portion of the compositions remaining, which pour into cold water, and work into rolls with the hand like shoe-makers wax, and save for putting on the top of the grafted limbs. The cloth is to be torn into narrow strips or ribbands, and used as heretofore directed. The Example of New York. The following extract from a recent number of the Albany Argus (the State paper) shows in what light the subject of legislative aid to Agriculture is held in the State of New York. Who does not discover in this, one great cause of the agricultural prosperity of the Empire State: STATE AID TO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Judge SMITH of the Senate, as chairman of the committee on Agriculture, has submitted a brief report, but to the point, in favor of the continuPOST MASTERS, and all friends of agriculture, are re-ance for three years of the present annual apspectfully solicited to use their influence to obtain subscribers. propriation of $8000, from the treasury, to the Money and subscriptions, by a regulation of the state any county agricultural societies. It will Post Master General, may always be remitted by Post be remembered that Gov. WRIGHT in his message Masters, to publishers, free of expense. pressed this subject upon the favorable consideration of the legislature. He remarked that "the The kinds or modes of grafting are numerous, agricultural interest is not merely the most im- and can be multiplied and varied as necessity or portant committed to your charge, but more im- fancy may suggest; but the three methods most portant than all others." Every sound thinker in use may be readily understood from the folresponds at once to the just and timely sugges-lowing cuts, without many words of explanation: tions of the Governor. The Late Legislature. A few of our city friends, on reading the remarks in our last, on the adjournment of the Ohio Legislature, seemed to imagine that we were treading upon party political ground; but when they come to know us better, they will not suspect us of any such folly. We wrote under the influence of strong feelings of regret, and said nothing but what we believe ought to have been said in view of the circumstances. Our remark, however, about the character of the majority of the acts passed during the session, ought not to be understood as applying to the multitude of local and special laws, so much as to those of a more general nature, and particularly to the majority of those which occupied much time in their passage. We regret that it is not in our power to give at this time the history of the agricultural bills as we promised. The journals are now in the hands of the printers, and not in a condition that admits of examination, so as to enable us to get at the records of the votes. We expect to be able to give it in our next, and our readers will then be able to see how much of a partizan we are. Letter from the Commissioner of Patents. To the Editor of the Ohio Cultivator: The law of '41 has been tested during the last four years, and its popularity has kept growing stronger and stronger from year to year, until now public opinion has become so decided in its favor, that many who opposed the original law have become its warmest and most efficient advocates. Experience has shown that its fruits have brought almost unmixed good to the great interest which it was intended to benefit. The rapid organization of county societies under its provisions-the spirited emulation excited among farmers to improve their whole routine of farming, and the frequent meetings now held in all parts of the State for the purpose of interchanging, the results of their daily observation and experience, indicate that the day of agricultural improvement has but just dawned. The report pertinently remarks that the great and true object of these societies is to break up antiquated prejudices in farming. The pertinacity and absurdity with which old methods are adhered to, are well set off by Mr. S. in the following incident: 1. Whip Grafting. 1. Saddle Grafting. 3. Cleft Grafting. No. 1. Whip or Splice Grafting.-This is most commonly practised by nurserymen and others, on young stocks, (and on young roots of apple trees,) where the stock and the scion are "The agriculturist who will not profit by the nearly of a size. It is more easily and rapidly WASHINGTON, March 12, 1845. example of his more thriving neighbor, because performed, than any other mode, and is very sucDEAR SIR:-I notice with pleasure, by a paper it is a departure from an ancient custom, is like cessful; with a very sharp knife cut off the top received from Columbus, (I believe through your the boy who went to mill on horseback with grain of the stock, with a clean smooth stroke, so as to kindness) that your Legislature are in concert to in one end of his bag, and a stone in the other, make a slope 1 1-2 to 2 inches in length. Then do something for that long neglected but most and when told, by dividing his grain he could cut the graft with a similar slope on the lower important branch of national industry-Agricul-dispense with the dead weight, could use no end, and make a slit across the middle of the ture. I am sure that if the voice of the majority stronger argument than to say that it was the slope, on each, as seen in the cut, which will make of the people of Ohio was heard, it would be in custom of his father and grandfather, and he a tongue or wedge on each to pass into the slit favor of immediate measures for this object. New should do as they had done." in the other so as to hold the scion in its place. York has done much, very much, and her exam- Such prejudices are now gradually giving way Great care must be taken to have the bark on ple is worthy of imitation. Let me say to you, under the impulse of that spirit of change and one side of the scion exactly match the bark of what may be realized perhaps too late, that if improvement which seems at length to have set- the stock, as the union of the two will in all such patronage is withheld, other states will tled most deeply among the farmers of our coun- cases mainly depend on this circumstance.bear the palm, and Ohio will hereafter be classed try. Under its influence, we anticipate still When adjusted, take a narrow strip of waxed among the old or declining States. Without the greater progress than has already taken place.- cloth and wind around in such a manner as to application of agricultural science, her worn out The soil is broken up, the seed is sown, but the hold them firmly together and at the same time lands will not be able to compete with the virgin harvest is yet to come. Agricultural labor has exclude air and wet. The warmth of the hand will fertility of the new states, or the skilfully man- already become more honorable, and the toil- soften the wax so that the end of the cloth will aged farms of the older states, where improved hardened hand is regarded with that just respect stick to its place without any tying. agriculture is introduced. which is the highest incentive to agricultural No. 2. Saddle Grafting.-This is not so comBut Ohio can preserve her pre-eminence, if prosperity. This feeling combined with the fos-monly practiced as either of the other modes, she applies the means that are within her reach tering aid from the State, through the county so- because it takes a little more time to perform it. It -uniting skill with labor. I look forward, there- cieties, will, in a few years, render New York as is not at all difficult thowever, and is a very sure fore, with pleasure to the time when agricultural noted for its agricultural superiority, as she has method. It is best applied to stocks that are associations will be formed in every county, con- been for her Internal Improvements-her noble too large for No. 1, and too small for No. 3. The trolled by a state organization, and encouraged schools-her extended commerce, and her liber- manner of performing it will readily be seen from by state patronage; then Ohio will again march al laws. the cut. Slope the stock on both sides, in the forward, and her statistics will show a great inform of a wedge; then split the end of the graft crease instead of diminution of her great stapleand shave off the inside of the two sides of the wheat. split, so as to make them match the two sides of the stock. Observe as before to have the bark of each join exactly on one side (and at the ends, if possible.) Then bind firmly, as before, taking care to leave no opening at the top for the admission of air or wet. A little of the clear wax Directions for Grafting. We propose to give such direction for grafting Please advise me of the progress of the bill, as will enable every farmer's boy who can use a which carries with it the hopes of many well-jack-knife to perform the operation successfully; wishers out of the state for her prosperity. Very respectfully, H. L. ELLSWORTH. and as scions of good fruit can be obtained in may be advantagously applied over the cloth on top. No. 3. Cleft Grafting-This is the method most commonly practised on large limbs, in grafting old orchards, &c. Saw off the limbs at a place where free from knots (and having reference to the formation of a good shaped top) smooth the end with a sharp knife, then with a strong blade and a blow from a mallet, split the end sufficiently for an opening to receive the scion: Place a small wedge of hard wood in the middle to hold the cleft open, and then dexterously sharpen the scions to a wedge form, with a long smooth slope, and if the limb is more than 2 inches thick, place one on each side, but if smaller, one is sufficient, and the scion in that case should be made thinner on the side towards the middle of the stock,-don't forget to have the bark of the scion match the inner bark of the stock. Wind plenty of cloth around the whole of the end of the limb, covering the length of the split; and put wax over the top to exclude wet. No care will be necessary, in ordinary cases, for removing the bandages, as the cloth, if old, will break and give way in due time. Grafting may be performed any time from the earliest opening of spring, till the trees are in full leaf, provided the scions are kept fresh and good; but the best time is from the first starting of the buds, till the leaves begin to show green. Cherries and Plums need to be grafted earlier than apples, and the operation is not often as successful on them. Culture of Madder in Ohio. We know of no article of culture suited to the soil and climate of Ohio, that promises so large a return for capital and labor, as Dyers' Madder. (Rubia tincitoria.) And as it is well known that over a million of dollars worth is annually imported into the United States, from foreign countries, there can be no danger of overstocking the markets, at least for many years to come; while every consideration of patriotism, and independence should urge to the home production of any article, the consumption of which is so great and is every year increasing in our manufactories. his present knowledge, he can obtain 3,000 lbs. | best done in June. As soon as the madder plants The value of the crop was at the rate of fif- The result, then, in figures, fairly stated, stands Leaving a nett profit per acre, of $75 00 9 00 100 00 $200 00 wholesale, at 20 cents per lb., and there is at (For the past year, madder has sold readily, at present, no prospect of its being lower. This would increase the profit one-third, making 300,00 per acre.) The Second Year.-Keep the beds free from weeds; plow the alleys and cover the tops, as before directed, two or three times during the sea. son. The alleys will now form deep and narrow earth for covering the tops, that operation may ditches, and if it becomes difficult to obtain good be omitted after the second time this season.Care should be taken, when covering the tops, to keep the edges of the beds as high as the middle; that section of the country, having resided near-off, and the crop suffer from drought. Mr. Swift was one of the earliest settlers of otherwise the water from heavy showers will run ly thirty years on the farm he now occupies, The Third Year.-Very little labor or attention which consists of about 400 acres of choice land, is required. The plants will now cover the whole river, seven miles from Lake Erie. At our re- pulled out; otherwise their roots will cause mostly alluvial, in the valley of the Vermillion ground. If any weeds are seen, they must be quest, he furnished us with the following prac- trouble when harvesting the madder. The crop tical directions for the cultivation of madder, is sometimes dug the third year; and if the soil ed for those who wish to cultivate only a few warm and favorable, the madder will be of good which he remarked must be understood as intend- and cultivation have been good, and the seasons Those who wish to engage in the business on an ity, and more in quantity, when left until the acres, and cannot afford much outlay of capital. quality; but generally, it is much better in qualextensive scale, would need to adopt a somewhat fourth year. different practice: Digging and Harvesting.-This should be done Soil and Preparation. The soil should be deep, between the 20th of August and the 20th of Seprich, sandy loam, free from weeds, roots, stones, tember. Take a sharp shovel or shovels, and &c., and containing a good portion of vegetable cut off and remove the tops with half an inch of Nothing but a want of practical knowledge of earth. Alluvial "bottom" land is the most suit- the surface of the earth; then take a plow of the the manner of cultivation, and the preparation of able; but it must not be wet. If old upland is largest size, with a sharp coulter and a double the article for market has heretofore prevented used, it should receive a heavy coating of vege- team, and plow the bed beam deep, turning the American farmers from engaging more exten- table earth, (from decayed wood and leaves.)- furrows outwards, remove this earth with forks or Bively in this business. All the accounts that The land should be plowed very deep in the fall, shovels, as deep as plowed, on to the plowed have appeared, were derived from foreign coun- and early in spring apply about one hundred ground adjoining, stirring it well, and picking tries, and the amount of labor and skill required loads of well-rotted manure per acre, spread was represented as so great, that the go-a-head evenly, and plowed in deeply; then harrow till spirit of our farmers prevented them from enga- quite fine and free from lumps. Next; plow the ging in business that appeared to tedious. But land into beds four feet wide, leaving alleys bein this as in most other operations, yankee inge- tween, three feet wide, then harrow the beds nuity has contrived to effect a larger reduction of with a fine light harrow, or rake them by hand, the labor required both in the growth and prepar- so as to leave them smooth, and even with the ation of the commodity. alleys: they are then ready for planting. out all the roots; then plow the bed again, beam deep, (if the roots have desended as far,) and stir the earth with forks, as plowed, to get out all the roots. Washing and Drying.--As soon as possible, after digging, take the roots to some running stream to be washed. If there is no running stream convenient, it can be done at a pump. Take large, The most extensive and successful experiment Preparing Sets and Plants.-Madder sets, or round sieves, (riddles,) 2 1-2 or 3 feet in diameter, in the production of Madder in this State, and seed roots, are best selected when the crop is dug with the wire about as fine as wheat sieves; or we believe in the United States, was a crop of in the fall. The horizontal uppermost roots (with if these cannot be had, get from a hardware store nine acres raised by Mr. Joseph Swift, an enter- eyes) are the kind to be used; these should be sufficient screen-wire of the right fineness, and prising farmer residing in the northwest part of separated from the bottom roots, and buried in make frames or boxes about two and a half feet Lorain county. (His post office is Birmingham, sand, in a cellar or pit. If not done in the fall; long and the width of the wire, on the bottom of Erie co.,) He allowed the crop four season's the sets may be dug early in the spring, before which nail the wire. In these sieves or boxes, growth (three is the usual time) and harvested it they begin to sprout. They should be cut or put about half a bushel of roots at a time, and in the fall of 1842. We visited him the spring broken into pieces, containing from two to five stir them well in the water, pulling the bunches following, and he, very kindly, gave us a full ac- cyes each; i. e. three to four inches long. The apart so as to wash them clean; then, having a count of his management and the results. This time for planting is as early in spring as the platform at hand, lay them on it to drain. (To we afterwards published in the Genesee Farmer, ground can be got in good order, and severe make the platforms, take two or three common and it has subsequently appeared in several other frosts are over, which, in this climate, is usually boards, so as to be about four feet in width, and agricultural publications, and in the late report about the middle of April. With the beds pre- nail cleets across the under side.) Have a suffiof the Commissioner of Patents. There were pared as directed, stretch a line lengthwise the cient number of these platforms prepared on small errors in the printed accounts however, bed, and with the corner of a hoe make a drill which to sun-dry the roots in the following manwhich Mr. Swift has pointed out to us, and are two inches deep along each edge and down the ner: corrected in the subjoined. Mr. S. informs us middle, so as to give three rows to each bed, that he has a fine crop now under cultivation, about two feet apart. Into these drills drop the (number of acres not stated) and that he is try- sets, ten inches apart, covering them two inches ing some important experiments to test the effects deep. Eight or ten bushels of sets are requisite of different kinds of manure, on the growth of for an acre. the crop and the quality of the madder, the results of which, when known, he will furnish for publication. The following are the results of his experience, as relates to the crop of nine acres, before men tioned: The product of his best land was at the rate of 2,000 lbs. per acre; and he is certain that, with After Culture.-As soon as the madder plants can be seen, the ground should be carefully hoed, so as to destroy the weeds and not injure the plants; and the hoeing and weeding must be repeated as often as weeds make their appearance. If any of the sets have failed to grow, the vacancies should be filled by taking up parts of the strongest roots and transplanting them; this is Take the roots to a convenient place, not far from the house, then spread them on the platforms about 2 or 3 inches thick; then place the plat forms side by side, in rows east and west, and with their ends north and south, leaving room to walk between the rows. Elevate the north ends of the platforms about eighteen inches, and the south ends about six inches from the ground, putting poles or sticks to support them-this will greatly facilitate drying. After the second or third day drying, the mudder must be protected from the dews at night, and from rain, by placing the platforms one upon another to a conve nient height, and covering the uppermost one with boards. Spread them out again in the morning, or as soon as danger is over. Five or six days of ordinarily fine weather will dry the madder sufficiently, when it may be put away till it is convenient to kiln-dry and grind it. to give eclat, where perhaps instruction, even if it came from humbler sources, would be quite as appropriate. secutive series of years-dividing them into eras or epochs of cold and heat? Or are those four damsels, so often described by the poets, the Seasons, after all, like damsels of human mould, The successful competitor for "the neatest and followers of fashion-making themselves cold or best cultivated farm and establishment," tilled hot, a-la-mode, until the fashion plate changes! precisely 25 acres! His closing remark, in an Kiln-drying.-The size and mode of construct- With winters like our last two or three, it swer to the toast of the chairman is deserving of ing the kiln may be varied to suit circumstances. would be sheer nonsense for us to sigh for or notice:-"he would recommend all farmers, inThe following is a very cheap plan, and sufficient envy a Southern climate, such as we are getting stead of laying out their money in doubling their to dry one ton of roots at a time. Place four a spice of to-day. Give me a northern winter, if land, to lay it out in doubling their produce, strong posts in the ground, twelve feet apart one not too long and too cold! Give me lots of sleigh- which would come to the same thing in one way, and eighteen the other; the front two four-ing--jingling bells--rosy-cheek'd sleigh-riders sense, but would be found better in another, as teen feet high, and the others eighteen; put girts heigho! what are all these to a Benedick! Eut he would have only half the rent to pay." across the bottom, middle and top; and nail seriously, there are advantages about a northern A challenge clock was won by J. B. who said, boards perpendicularly on the outside as for a winter, which few have duly estimated. I con- I hold 9 acres and a few perches of land in my common barn. The boards must be well season-tend, they are the great promoters of civilization. farm, house-stead, streets and roads included.ed, and all cracks or holes should be plastered or They are 'metes and bounds' fixed by Omnipo- This is only the third year I have been in this otherwise stopped up. Make a shed-roof of com- tence to curb and limit human rapacity-the de- place. Being poor, wet and weedy, I could keep mon boards. In the inside, put upright standards sire for accumulation. They stop the labors of but one cow on it the first year. I now have about five feet apart, with cross-pieces, to sup- the farmer, to change him from an overtasked three cows and one heifer. ** I have thorough port the scaffolding. The first cross-pieces to be machine of bone and sinews, into a social being-drained 100 perches, part of which grew nothing four feet from the floor; the next two feet higher, an intellectual being. The newspaper-the book, previously except rushes and sour grass. * * 1 and so on to the top. On these cross-pieces, lay which would have been unheeded by him in the had but 5 acres formerly, which I brought into small poles about six feet long and two inches mere intervals of active labor, when the mind such condition that I got for it nearly £13 more thick, four or five inches apart. On these scaf- participated in the lassitude of the body-now than I paid for the 9 acres I now have, it was folds the madder is to be spread nine inches comes a welcome friend, a companion, to rescue then in such condition! (Cheers.) thick. A floor is laid at the bottom, to keep all him from the ennui dependent upon inactivity. The winner of the clock the preceding yeardry and clean. When the kiln is filled, take six He spends the long winter evenings of the high and who in the opinion of the judges ranked secor eight small kettles or hand-furnaces, and place latitudes in his family circle-surrounded by wife ond, this, also held 9 acres. He lost the premium them four or five feet apart on the floor, (first se- and children, in happy converse; restored to all by not having quite so good "a supply of moist curing it from fire with bricks or stones,) and the joyous associations of boyhood by witnessing food and fodder to bring his stock on (through make fires in them with charcoal, being careful the re-enactment of the games and sports then the winter) to the clover season." not to make any of the fires so large as to scorch played by him; in short, humanized and socialthe madder over them. A person must be in con-ized, and in turn humanizing and socializing, stant attendance to watch and replenish the by the exercise of those better and kindlier feelfires. The heat will ascend through the whole, ings which give grace and dignity to human naand in ten or twelve hours it will all be sufficient- ture. ly dried, which is known by its becoming brittle like pipe stems. Think of that, ye possessors of hundreds, nay, thousands of acres on the rich bottoms of Ohio!Fancy to yourselves a man commencing on 5 acres, exchanging it for "9 and a few perches" of "poor, wet and weedy land," and finally winTo escape the ennui of this insufferable day, ning a first premium by the award of (I judge (do you recollect Washington Irving's graphic from their report, which is too long to transcribe,) Breaking and Grinding.-Immediately after description of a similar one,) I have resorted to an impartial and discriminating committee. being dried, the madder must be taken to the various expedients. I have read a Cultivator, am far from being under the influence of that barn and threshed with flails, or broken by ma- run my eye over some of the speculations of agricultural Anglo-mania, which so strongly colchinery, (a mill might easily be constructed for Douglas Jerrold, and disposed of two or three ors the views of some of our prominent agricultuthis purpose,) so that it will feed in a common hours very comfortably with the new Quarterly ral writers. With a climate so different from grist-mill. If it is not broken and ground im- Journal. By the by, do you get this, the Ameri- that of England-and where the relations which mediately, it will gather dampness so as to pre-can Quarterly Journal of Agriculture and Science, land and labor bear towards each other are so vent its grinding freely. Any common grist- published in Albany, by Dr. Emmons, our State different, I esteem all the attempts to engraft the mill can grind madder properly. When ground Geologist? If not, send for it instanter. It sup- English system, in detail, on ours, as little better finely it is fit for use, and may be packed in bar-plies a desideratum in our agricultural literature. than absurd. For example, maize will not ripen rels like flour for market. Not encumbered with learning, it is nevertheless under the humid skies of England; turnips on solider and more scientific than it would perhaps the other hand, thrive admirably there. The soil be popular to be, in our agricultural monthlies. of Ohio almost unwrought, will give forth crop We paid a visit the past week to Dr. Shaeffer, It presents scientific principles in a shape which after crop of the former with a profusion which of this county, residing about ten miles from renders them intelligible and available to all, almost begets carelessness and waste, while her Columbus, who has been engaged in the culture while it indulges in no visionary theories-urges long, dry scorching summer, is less adapted to of Madder for 3 or 4 years past, though not as no rash and impracticable experiments. The the growth of the turnip. Now, what is the obextensively as Mr. Swift, nor with quite as prof-style is beautifully clear in the editorial depart-vious conclusion? Most assuredly, that one sysitable results. We find that his practice differs ment, and the selections, original and from for-tem and one rotation of crops is not adapted to essentially from Mr Swift's in many particulars, eign publications, are extremely appropriate. In both countries. Fut notwithstanding this, there both with culture and the mode of drying, grind- short, I esteem it decidedly superior to any of the are, I take it, certain principles of general appliing, &c. We shall give an account of his prac- foreign quarterlies of the same kind. tice in our next, and we think it will suggest some improvements on Mr. Swift's method. The great difficulty with Dr. Shaeffer has been in grinding. He did not succeed in doing this in a grist mill as described by Mr. Swift, and consequently had to construct a mill for the purpose. Another Cultivator of Madder. Letter from H. S. Randall. cation to the agriculture of all countries. One of Agricultural Meeting in Ireland. these, I venture to assert, is, that it cannot be After the Quarterly Journal, I took up an ac- profitable to so farm any quantity of land, as to count of the Markethill Agricultural Meeting in make it produce no more than one half of it Ireland, which I had the pleasure to receive a would, had the same labor been put on the half, day or two since, from Wm. Blacker, Esq., of instead of the whole. If it would not be expediArmagh, Ireland, whom you recollect as an able ent under our circumstances, to confine ourselves contributor to the 2d Volume of the Transactions to the limited farm of the Irish tenant, do we not, (especially in the Western states) err as widely in the opposite extreme? Weather in N. Y.-Northern Winters.-American of our State Agricultural Society. The compari- Advantages of Furrow Draining. There were one or two subjects discussed at I the Markethill meeting, of much interest. shall allude to but one more, to wit: draining.Many of the farmers present gave the results of their experience in relation to the comparative efficacy of cross and furrow draining, and with but one exception they had arrived at the unhesitating couclusion that the latter was not only best, but in the end, the cheapest. Cross drain CORTLAND VILLAGE, N. Y. March 5, 1845. My Dear Sir: Rain, rain, rain! Nothing but one steady, drenching pour down for the last twenty four hours! Scarce a vestige of snow remains, and even the mighty drifts lately piled up between Markethill meeting. the fences, (so admirably calculated to catch The society seems to have been instituted by them!) which line our roads in utter disdain of the Earl of Gosford, more particularly for the ben- ing is the present system used in the United statute books, at the distance of about three rods efit of the tenantry of his extensive estates. In States, in diagonal drains across declivities, runapart, have disappeared. This is something like the absence of his lordship, Mr. Blacker took the ning where the water first oozes out along the winter a little nearer the tropics! In fact, until chair. Various subjects were discussed in what side of the declivity. In furrow draining, the within the last three weeks, we have scarcely appears to have been a previously arranged or- drains run up and down the slope, parallel to each had a severely cold day. Last winter and the der. In one respect it differed widely from our other, at regular distances, say 15 feet apart! winter before it, were also mild ones. But the American agricultural dinners. No speaker got up One could hardly think this as cheap a system as three or four which preceded those, would have to exhibit himself to make a long harrangue to the first even in reference to its ultimate results, done no discredit to Greenland! Was this the "Buncombe"-to talk about every thing under and granting those results considerably superior result of chance, or is there some hidden law heaven and earth besides agriculture! None of to those attained by cross draining. The testiwhich thus gives a distinctive feature to a con- them, I infer, were celebrated politicians, invited mony on the subject is curious, and I regret that it cannot be here transcribed. It is entitled to respect, coming as it does, not from wealthy men who could afford to sink some capital to carry out a favorite theory, to ride some favorite hobby -but from tenants who must do their ditching and get their living off from a dozen acres of land.After asserting the superiority of furrow draining in removing water from below, the chairman Mr. Blacker said: "But, gentlemen, it is not drawing off springs alone in which the old and new systems are to be compared. Nine times out of ten it is the water from the clouds, which, falling on a clay surface, cannot get away, and is only dried up by evaporation. Now I am strongly inclined to think that the majority of small farmers have never thought at all upon the effects produced by this evaporation. They say, from common observation, such a soil is a dry and warm, early soil -but they have never considered what makes a dry soil warm, and a wet one cold; it is effected by this very evaporation to which I have alluded, and the cold produced thereby you will soon be convinced of if any of you will take off your coat and dip one arm in water, so as to completely wet your shirt sleeve, and then hold both arms to a sharp north-east wind. The evaporation from the wet sleeve, thereby produced, will very soon give an idea of the cold occasioned in a wet soil by the wind passing over it, and also how shelter from wind tends to make the cold less penetrating. Now, gentlemen, in furrow drained land the rain sinks as fast as it falls; for if you will consider a little you will see that a wet soil is swelled up by the quantity of water contained in it; but where these parallel drains are dug, the water oozes out, and the consequence is, the soil bracks under the surface, just as you often see the dryness in summer crack it on the surface; and through these cracks the water is immediately conveyed into the drains, and the land is kept constantly dry. * * * * Ohio Cultivator. COLUMBUS, OHIO, APRIL 1, 1845. Horticultural Meeting in Columbus. We are requested to invite the citizens of Columbus and its vicinity, to meet in the old Court House; on Thursday, April 10th, at 3 o'clock P. M. for the purpose of organizing a Horticultural Society. All who desire the improvement and prosperity of the city, and the health and enjoyment of its inhabitants, it is hoped will endeavor Letter from New York. Our readers will find the letter from H. S. Randall, in this paper, well worth a perusal-it is not a bit too long. The writer informs us in a postcript that he has some thoughts of paying a visit to some relations at Columbus, next month.Come on, dear Colonel, we shall be delighted to see you, and will try and tempt you to remove to the Buckeye State, with all your fine sheep and other choice fixens! This is just the place for the like of you, and the place where you are most needed. With the aid of a very few such men, we would pledge ourselves to revolutionize this State-we mean its agriculture in three years! And then such land as we'll show you here; and such a climate! Talk of your northern winters, indeed! 'Tis true your "sleigh rides" are good things in their way, but you know they cost too dear when to pay for them you have to fodder your sheep six months of the year, instead of only two or three, as here! And then your "rainy days," there are quite too many of them in that valley of yours. By the way, Col., do you remember that time when we strayed into Correspondents.-An excellent article on blight your region, in one of our summer rambles, and in fruit trees, by Eli Nichols, will appear in our got rain-bound there for two days and three next, with others on that subject. The Curculio nights? What excellent quarters we were in! will also be attended to. We have great pleasure What angeliferous girls? What dreams of heaven in acknowledging the receipt of a trio of articles that sunday night! How we did'nt want it to stop from the able pen of friend J. J. Thomas of New raining for a whole week! Heigh-ho!-narrow York. Several favors from correspondents, not escape that, for the roving bachelor! having particular reference to the season, are salted down in anticipation of a scarcity during the busy months that are approaching. Others need investigation by the aid of our books which have been laid up at Cleveland through the winter, and will arive by the first canal boat. to attend. THE SEASON.-The third week of March was very cold in this region; nearly as severe as any week of the past winter; but owing to the dry *state of the weather less injury has been done to vegetation than was anticipated. Fruit buds which were just ready to open at that time, have mostly escaped injury, and the few warm days at the end of the month have brought them out in full bloom. The cold dry weather has been favorable for the wheat crop, but rain is needed for vegetation generally, (March 31.) THE MUSTARD SEED promised some of our friends, is on the way from Philadelphia-will doubtless arrive very soon. It is from Mr. Parmelee's crop. Persons having business with Mr. Bateham, will be most likely to find him in his office during the forenoon of each day. Proposed Visits Among the Farmers. Now the advantage of the furrow drains is, Such are some of the features of the new system introduced by Mr. Smith of Deanston, and which now finds many advocates. But I must close my long letter. HENRY S. RANDALL. A Good Crop of Corn. Mr. BATEHAM:-Being somewhat engaged in corn growing, I thought that a statement of a piece of corn that I raised last year, would not be uninteresting: The piece consisted of 8 acres of sward ground, a stock of 30 or 40 head of cattle were fed on it during the winter, until the 15th of April. The rubbish and cornstalks were removed, and the ground plowed deep, and well done, rolled with a heavy roller, then harrowed 1 day to 2 days, it was then planted in rows 4 culture. We as A friend in Medina county is anxious to know whether Mr. NELL has given us that "carte blanche," for the use of his stages yet. We presume that in his sickness, the matter entirely escaped his memory, if so, we shall jog it a little when the time comes for us to ramble. DISCUSSION ON RAISING CORN AND FATTENING PORK.-On reviewing our minutes of the discussion at the meeting in the State House, on the subject of the corn crop, &c., we find that it would require so much space in our columns to give even a synopsis of what was said by the different speakers, and their remarks were so diffuse, and in many cases conflicting, that we have concluded to abandon our design of publishing them; especially as our space is all needed for valuable communications, of which our friends continue to furnish a bountiful supply. We may hereafter have occasion to refer to some particu lar subjects introduced into the discussion; and shall therefore preserve the minutes for that pur pose. Rolling wheat fields, early in spring, is exceedingly beneficial on loose open soils, especially where the plants have been heaved up by the frosts of winter. The present dry time is a favorable one for this purpose. On close heavy soils it will be better to go over with a light harrow instead of the roller. The few plants that may be pulled up will be more than made good by the increased growth of the remainder. Try it on a portion of a field and see. NEW LOGIC! The Editor of the Cincinnati Chronicle proves that the falling off of the wheat crop in this State has only been 12 per cent. in three years, instead of 45 per cent. in two years, (as reported by the Commissioner of Patents,) by showing that the crop of last year was only 12 per cent. less than that of 1841. Why did not he go back three years farther and show (as he could by the same reasoning) that there had been no falling off at all in six years? Editors of several country papers have unjustly censured us for not sending them the Cultivator. We have sent it regularly to all that have noticed it, and sent us the notice marked. But where they have omitted to mark the notice, it is not strange that we have overlooked them, inasmuch as there are nearly two hundred papers printed in this State, and we have not time to examine closely, one-half that we receive. FINE PICTURES.-The two first numbers of the Albany Cultivator, of the present year were ac- feet apart each way, and 4 plants in a hill-it OUR THANKS are due to the Hon. Jas. Matthews, was kept clean during the season, which did not M. C., and Hon. W. Allen, M. C., for a If the farmers of Ohio sustain us as well as we require much labor. It produced ninety bushels copy of Ellsworth's Report from each. We will think they will, the Ohio Cultivator will also give per acre, although last season was a poor season make good use of them. Also, to the Hon. J. S. fine pictures after a while; and that too before it or corn. The whole cost of raising and harvest-Skinner, for sundry papers and favors which will ing said corn did not exceed $60. be used when space permits. Also, to M'Intosh & Co., Nurserymen, Cleveland, for a copy of their new catalogue. JOSEPH SWIFT. Yours truly, is half as old as its Albany contemporary. Back numbers of this paper are still abundant, and will be sent to all new subscribers. Send on the orders right lively! |