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[For the Cultivator and Country Gentleman.] LARGE HEAVY PORK.

Burlington county, New-Jersey, has become somewhat noted for some of its crops of extra heavy pork, which are annually made by some of its farmers, and sold in the Philadelphia, New-York and other markets. Some of these hogs are of extra size, or rather they are made extra large by being extra fat, so that their individual weight much exceeds what we formerly used to kill. This is owing chiefly to good and careful feeding, though those farmers who make pork such an object, are careful to select the best stock for breeding, from our old common stock of hogs, and they have been crossed and recrossed, and we know of no name to specify them by; yet we think them superior to any other kind we know of, in point of fact for the grand object of making superior pork, as the result proves-that being the best test after all is said and done.

It will be seen that of the foregoing, 16 hogs weighed each one over 400 lbs., and that 40 head of them average about 400 lbs., and the whole lot averages 386 lbs.

this county worthy of notice; but I have not the weights There were many other excellent crops of pork killed in of them, and send such as I have. WATSON NEwbold. Burlington Co., N. J.

MOLE PLOW FOR DRAINING.

If you think it worth while, I should like to get some information from you as to Col. Dickinson's mode of draining, with a conical piece of iron fixed at the bottom of a thin, sharp coulter. You say nothing about it in the Register. Now here, where land is worth only from $30 to $35 an acre, and where draining would probably cost a like sum, it seems to me hardly possible that it could pay; and yet our land though high and rolling, needs draining. Wheat and clover heave out and winter kill frequently, and the soil gets sodlow clay subsoil; soil varying from a clay loam to a sandy We have for the most part a yeldened by the spring rains. loam. There are a good many boulders on and below the surface, presenting serious obstacles to subsoiling or draining. Would they make draining by horse-power impracticable? How are we to prevent the bottom of a drain partaking of the inequalities of the surface? How are we to manage about main drains, outlets to lateral drains, &c.? How much team does this draining plow require? In short, is this kind of draining suitable to our circumstances? Summit Co., 0.

J. W. SULIOT.

It could The fric

Our farmers generally like their pigs to come in April and May, when the sows can have a good flow of pasture in addition to some little feed. After harvest, they all run in the grain stubble awhile, soon after which they receive a little additional help in their feed to keep them in good thrift. The pigs are selected for keeping over; and the others, and also those one year old, are fed on the soft corn-then on better corn, and finally on the best corn in the grain and on corn-meal-more or less of each, according to the varied preferences of each feeder-generally raw, though some scald the meal with hot water, and let Col. Dickinson's draining plow is essentially the old it swell from after one feeding time to the next, and then English mole plow, which is described briefly and figured again the same this more especially at latter part of feed-on p. 78 of Thomas' "Farm Implements." It can be only ing. They are mostly killed in January, though a few are used in a subsoil nearly or entirely free from stone. kept till first of February. Large stone would at once arrest its progress. not of course be used in the subsoil described. tion of the coulter and plug are enormous. Hence, to cut deep enough for permanent value, say 24 feet deep, it has to be moved by the use of a windlass, fixed by strong iron anchors, as represented in the book above referred to. It must be used either on a smooth, descending surface, or else the course for a constant descent must be previously staked out for the machine to follow. We know of no person who manufactures this plow for sale-there are not many places sufficiently clear of stone to use it. It is not so much used as formerly, now that tile is generally employed. The "draining plow," for loosening the earth for shovelling out, has greatly reduced the expense of cutting ditches, where its use is understood.]

After long high feeding, they become very dainty of grain that has the least improper taint, and require much care not to "cloy" them.

I have been at some pains to collect an account of the weight of some crops of pork, and of a part of other crops, and herewith send them for publication:

The following is the nett weight of 32 of the hogs which were raised, fatted and killed by Thomas Hood: 720-630-625-624-617–610–592–585–576-570-569-565-563-562

561-560-552-545-512-542-541-539-538-532-531-529-527-520---520

-513-511-504.

It will be seen that one weighed over 700 lbs.—that six weighed each over 600 lbs.-that fourteen averaged over 600 lbs. each-that the lightest one of the whole 32 weighed over 500 lbs.—that the whole 32 averaged 563 lbs., all

round.

Thos. Hood also killed other hogs, which were fine and well fed. They were killed about the first of February, 1860. Last year (1859) he killed 41 hogs, which averaged nett 532 lbs.; and in 1858 he killed 44 hogs, which averaged 543 lbs. All these hogs, and those yet to follow, hung on the gallows over two nights to dry and thoroughly cool, and then were carted to the railroad depot, and then and there weighed, as sold. They would have weigh ed more if weighed the day they were killed and dressed. The following is the weight of 22 hogs, raised, fatted and killed by Isaac Harrison, which however are not as large this year as formerly. I have not the last year's weights. He also killed a lot of "pigs," some of which

run from 175 to 300 lbs. nett:

649-626-606590-587-557-539-510-510-505-502-493-491-483

466-458-435-427-426-421-419-408.

It will be seen that of this crop, three hogs weighed over 600 lbs. each, and the whole 22 averaged 504 lbs. all round.

Wm. Taylor killed 34 hogs, which averaged 475 the heaviest weighing 570 lbs. nett.

lbs.,

Thos. Emly killed 33 hogs, averaging 460 lbs. Edward Jamison killed 53 hogs, of which 24 averaged 430 lbs.

The following is the weight of 52 hogs, after being dressed ready for market, and weighed the same day fatted and killed by Elwood Haines:

474-468-452-430-430-429-425-423-419-417-416-416-412-409408-402-398-397-393-392-589-388-385-385-384-384-384-384--383 -382-382-380-380-375-375-371-370-368-368-366-362-360-358

350-345-345-344-344-332-330-330-325.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] REMEDY FOR THE CUT-WORM. The most thorough mode of destroying the cut-worm, is to fatten hogs in the truck patch or garden, after the crops are taken off in fall or winter. They destroy the larvæ. A KENTUCKY FARMER.

TO MAKE COWS TAKE THE BULL-I have two cows, calved first Dec., in very fair condition, which as yet show no symptoms of bulling. The bull runs with them. I am anxious they should be with calf as soon as possible. Some say by giving salt three or four times a week, would bring them in. Please say what might be done, and you will oblige J. M. Morpeth, C. W. [We are assured by those who have made the trial, that by giving the cow a piece of rennet as large as the palm of the hand, thrusting it down her throat, she will take bull within 24 hours, invariably.]

WINTER PLOWING.-" Whenever the ground is dry enough, and the frost out, says the Ohio Faimer, begin plowing. It often happens that our springs are so wet that plowing cannot be performed until late. If performed during the fall and winter, much time and even a crop may be had, that otherwise would not be got in, in pro per season."

Agriculture---Its Standing and its Needs. How Agriculture stands in public opinion, and what it needs to place it in a proper point of view, are questions worthy of frequent and careful consideration. Though a subject we have before spoken upon, yet deeming it worthy of occasional recall, we would take it up now and here. The life and employment of a fariner has never lacked its eulogists; indeed, it has been praised and lauded from classic days until now, beyond all other occupations which men follow for a subsistence. The members of most other active business callings, seem to look upon Agriculture as a pursuit rich in varied charms and ample rewards; and often picture to themselves a farmers' life, as free from the cares which now vex them, and sigh for an exemption from

the anxieties of their present business, and the enjoyment of the elysium of a farm of their own in some pleasant rural neighborhood. Mr. Sparrowgrass has many counterparts in real life-men who have a kind of poetized idea of farming, very different from the experience of the practical agriculturist, and who little dream of going earnestly to work themselves, or of depending on the products of their own labor for support, as he must do; but they have made money in other occupations, and now propose to themselves a leisurely enjoyment of agricultural felicity. What the result often proves, we need not repeat.

Another class-men who have had one sort of experience in the matter-look with very different eyes upon the pursuit of Agriculture. We have met such, and they have formerly been well described in this journal, as men who have toiled for long and weary years, always working hard, and yet who are now very little in advance of their starting point-what has been gained, is the result more of saving than of making. What they possess they owe to the closest economy and ceaseless hard work. The

farming pleasant as a pursuit, honorable as a profession,
and profitable in result, or the contrary? The answer de-
pends upon the man and the circumstances. There are
certain requisites to success which may not be foregone-
enterprise, intelligence and capital, as well as industry, are
required in this as in all other pursuits. There is ample
room for the exercise and employment of all these, for it
has been well said, "Agriculture in its true sense is an
Encyclopedia in itself-requiring great knowledge, fine
powers of observation, high mental cultivation, assiduous
thought and study, and opening its arms to ingenuity and
invention." He who enters with enthusiastic relish into
the business will find it pleasant-if he understands and
appreciates its demands upon him. Its respectability and
dignity, few now question, and there would be little room
and not a bungler in his profession. Of its profit there
to do so, would every farmer show himself a workman,
will ever be varied opinions, as men may find it in their
own experience-but it will be found that comparatively
more men arrive at competence in life through agriculture
than through any other avocation. Hence we conclude—
and reaffirm the conclusion-that with the requisites to
success in this or in other pursuits,-intelligence, capital,
enterprise, industry-agriculture will prove as profitable,
as honorable, and far pleasanter, as a life-long employment,
the true state of the case.
than any other which may be chosen. This seems to us

The great need, to render Agriculture more uniformly successful, is the increase and diffusion of agricultural information and its thorough practical application. The spirit now awakened must extend its influences until we have many more thorough farmers who exemplify the best modes of culture and management, and show by their farms, their crops, their stock, and their general success, the most direct way of making a living, and a good one, farm has been to them a scene of much toil and a source by the culture and products of the soil. Such examples of little profit. To make "both ends meet has taxed are annually increasing, and are of incalculable influence every energy, and when anything more has been done, it upon the prosperity of the country, and it is an influence has ever seemed at the expense of some much-needed which will never cease to act for good. Our scientific men comfort and convenience. Meaning well, and anxious to and schools must also join in the work. Agricultural thrive, they have ever found it an up-hill business, and we papers should be circulated more widely, and read more wonder not that they are ready to decry the idea of mak-carefully-indeed we can scarcely limit the power they ing a good or easy living by the culture of the soil. may exert in showing the many how the few succeed, and Others-practical farmers, also-take a more encourag- as a means of spreading the experiments, and inquiries ing, and it seems to us, a more reasonable view of farm-and suggestions of the thousands of minds anxious to eleing, and the requisites to success therein. They look upon vate farming above its present position-ready to devote agriculture as the basis and substratum of all other avoca- all their energies to the achievement of an honest success. tions of men, as "fuel that feeds them all-that gives It is our highest ambition to do all in our power for the power to the great locomotive of human achievement." progress of this greatest material interest of our country With this high idea of its importance, they do not content and of mankind. themselves to follow the old routine whether successful or unsuccessful; they see the advances and improvements made in every thing around them, and instead of sinking back satisfied that no progress can be made, no more profitable course pursued, no waste prevented, no neglected crop, product, or fertilizer turned to profitable account, they apply all their energies, mental as well as physical, to the development of the resources of their farms, and the means at command about them. These men do not come to you with the tale of "all work and no profit" on their lips. They not only save but make money, and they do it fairly and honestly, by creating, as it were, out of the soil, new and valuable products. There need be no paltry shifts and meannesses in such a life, like those for which most avocations furnish too many often-urged excuses.

What, then, is the true standing of Agriculture? Is

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] FARMING ON A SMALL FARM. MESSRS. EDITORS-In giving some of the reasons for, and advantages of, commencing farming on a small scale by young men of limited means, my object is not to prevent or discourage them from laboring on other men's farms, at a salary for a limited time; say long enough to accumulate a few hundred dollars, with which to buy a small farm of from fifteen to twenty acres, but rather to encourage them to do so. And also to so manage and calculate their work, when farming on a small place, as to keep it ahead, and thus get time to work out by the day, when work is driving and wages good; as in planting and hoeing, having and harvesting, &c.

The great aversion to manual labor, in my opinion, means aversion to laboring for others, or working out; and that one of the principal causes of this aversion is the

opinion, that at the present price of land, it must take a young man a very long time if he ever accumulates money enough to buy a farm. Once satisfy him, that by a few years labor on a farm, by the month or year, he may save enough out of his earnings to buy a small place, and that by good management, and industry, and economy, he can make enough in a few years to add more land to his little farm, or be able to sell and buy a larger one; and that by pursuing this system of operation, he may finally become the owner of a good farm-I say, once satisfy a young man that this may be done, and a large portion of the aversion to working on a farm will be removed.

What drives thousands of young men into other business, is the idea that they cant do anything at farming without a farm of some size, say from fifty to one hundred acres; which it will cost several thousand dollars to purchase and stock with suitable teams, tools, &c., and that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for them ever to compass the means of getting such a farm. Hence they reason, that for them to undertake to earn the money to buy a farm by working out, would be very likely to end in being hirelings all their days. And they find no difficulty in pointing out plenty of examples, to sustain this kind of reasoning. To show that this is a mistaken idea, and that by pursuing the course pointed out in this, and perhaps some future numbers, they may be reasonably sure of arriving at a moderate, but respectable competence, is our object in penning these articles.

But to come more directly to the subject in hand. One of the best reasons for commencing farming on a small scale, is found in the fact that farmers are often urged to work less land, and cultivate what they do work better. They are repeatedly told that a few acres well tilled would yield more clear profit, than twice or three times the amount of land as ordinarily cultivated. The correctness of this kind of reasoning is further shown, by the frequent publication of accounts of good crops and large profits, that have been realized by the skillful cultivation of a few acres in the best manner. All of which goes to show -what by experience and observation, we have also found to be true-that as large net proceeds or clear profits, may be made on a little farm of from fifteen to twenty acres, as is usually realized on fifty or sixty acres.

Another reason for farming on a small scale, will be found in the fact that it will have a tendency to improve the agriculture of the country generally; by showing that it is better policy to cultivate a little land in the best manner, and realize large returns thereby, than the more common way of running over large farms at a very little if any profit. Furthermore, we believe that one of the best ways to promote a system of farming, calculated to get the largest amount of produce from the least land, will be the course we recommend, for young men to pursue. For being anxious to improve their circumstances, they will labor and study to make their little farms produce the largest possible amouut, and at the same time having an eye to the sale of the place at some future time, will not allow it to deteriorate in value or productiveness on their hands. And men, once accustomed to the advantages and profits of cultivating land in the best manner, will not be likely to pursue a different course, when they become the owners of larger farms.

Farming on a small scale, is more particularly adapted to young men, for the reason that having but small families, if any at all, their expenses need not be large; conseqently, the principal part of their income may be used to pay debts, or saved to buy more land. In this, as in most other kinds of business, a man's net income or profits depend, not so much on what he produces, as on what he saves. For instance, a man that raises $1000 worth of produce at a cost of $900, is only gaining or laying up money half as fast as one that raises $500 worth at a cost of $300.

We further believe, that the course we recommend for young men, would be better than going into a new country, for the reason that twenty acres of good land may easily be made to yield as many dollars worth of produce, as 100 to 150 acres usually do in new sections remote from market. We also believe, that the same industry, econo

my, and self-denial, that was practiced by those sturdy pioneers, that as a general thing, without any money to begin with, settled on and cleared up the heavily timbered lands of Western New-York, would, if practiced by the young men of the present day, secure them a fair competence, in less time and with much less labor and hardship, than was necessary in the early settlement of the country, to say nothing about the labor and expense of making roads and bridges, building school houses and churches, or the liability to sickness consequent to a change of climate, and the clearing up and bringing into cultivation of a new rich soil. Besides, the satisfaction of living near friends and relations; and if necessary, being able to aid or take care of parents in old age, and the enjoyment of old associations and congenial society.

We also think that a young man can do better on a small farm, than he could by going into any mechanical pursuit. And also that he would be a great deal surer of eventually arriving at an independent position in respect to property, by taking the course we recommend, than he would by entering any of the crowded and overstocked professions or avenues of trade.

There are many other reasons for, and advantages of, commencing on a small farm that might be given, did time and space permit, but we must pass on to the consideration of the best course or system of management on a small farm, which will form the subject of another communication. F. Orleans Co., N. Y., 1860.

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[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] HOW TO MAKE A HOT-BED EDS. Co. GENT.-I send you my plan of putting up hotbeds. About ten days before I want to put up the bed, I throw the manure up in a pile about 8 feet broad and 4 feet high, and in length according to quantity. I set my beds about half under ground-that is, I dig about a foot deep, and throw the dirt on each side, which answers for banking up. I set the frames on blocks, or rather pieces of boards about 6 inches wide and as long as to hold the frames to their proper place. I set 4 blocks under each frame, and drive a stake inside of each block to hold them to their place. The stakes should be drove square with the frames to hold them stiff and to place. Bank up on the outside to the top of the frames with earth, and make the beds in length from ten to fifty sash, according to convenience; and when the beds are ready for the manure, they are 2 feet 4 inches on the lower, and 3 feet on the upper side, (and bottom level,) which is 8 inches fall. I put the manure in the bed 20 inches deep, evenly and well beaten down with the fork, but don't tramp it. I put the manure in very hot, just when it is in the height of fermenting, and put the mold on as I put the manure in, which keeps the heat in the manure. The mold I put about 8 inches deep, which fills the bed at the lower side, and being level, within 8 inches of the upper side. I let it stand a few days before sowing, and if the heat is too great, after settling about 4 inches, I put on two inches more mould. The heat is right when the weeds start freely. My object in setting the frame on blocks is to save manure, as it takes one-third less, which is a great object among gardeners in putting up two hundred sash. Pittsburg, Pa.

W. PETRIE.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.]
Winter Butter.

Ens. Co. GENT.-I occasionally see inquiries in the Gent. in regard to making winter butter Some find it difficult to make the "butter come," even after churning nearly the whole day. I will give you our method, if you think it worth the space it will occupy in your valuable paper.

Firstly, then, the fountain from which we obtain our milk is kept pure--that is, the cows are kept chiefly on hay, with a few roots, and a little meal and shorts, together with a little cut straw mixed with the meal once a day.

Secondly-The cows are kept clean by the use of a good bed of straw, and a card-so that when the milk is strained there is no sediment (manure) at the bottom of the pailthink butter better flavored and colored some other way. Thirdly-the milk is strained into pans filled about half full, and immediately set into another pan, standing upon the stove, containing hot water and allowed to remain until scalded, or until the top of the milk appears wavy. It is then set away, and stands forty-eight hours, for the cream to rise. When the milk is skimmed, the cream is put into a stone churn (this is the kind we use) and thoroughly mixed by stirring, and when four days cream has accumulated, we churn. At the time of performing this operation we add a little carrot juice--say a middling sized carrot to every two pounds of butter-the carrots are washed and scraped, then grated fine, and the juice squeezed through a cotton cloth-this gives the butter a nice appearance, and we think, and so do others, that it improves the flavor. The churn is now set into hot water, and from fifteen to thirty minutes churning brings the butter. Care should be taken not to let the churn stand too long in hot water, as the butter might come soft. Neither the milk or cream should be allowed to freeze.

Fourthly-we have sold all our winter butter up to this time, (Feb 22d,) with the exception of one jar of 24 pounds, for 24 cents a pound-for this jar we got 20 cents. We make about 15 pounds a week from three cows-one farrow, the other two heifers, two years old in March-one calved the 6th of Dec. the other the 1st of Jan. J. L. R. Jefferson Co., N. Y.

Artificial Stone Block for Building.

MESSRS. EDITORS-I wish to get accurate and concise directions for preparing and mixing the mortar for "artificial stone," or "concrete blocks," spoken of by "J. E. S.," on page 109, vol. 5, of THE CULTIVATOR. Cannot some reader of your papers, who has had experience, give us a little more "light" on the subject?

If the "concrete plan of building really has the advantages claimed by "J. E. S.," it ought to be fully discussed, and accurate directions given for preparing it.

How are "composition roofs " for buildings made? What materials are used, &c., and what advantages do they possess compared with shingled roofs ? A. BABCOCK.

Union Co., Ill.

J. E. S. has given minute directions in the communication referred to, for every part of the operation but mix ing the materials. We should say, take the best lime and mix it into mortar, with at least five or six times as much sharp, coarse, clear sand, the best for hardening perfectly. If a larger portion of lime is used, as some masons like, because it then works and spreads more easily, it will never become so hard-and an obstinate, ignorant mason will be sure to spoil the work. The success of this mode must depend upon the perfect hardening of the blocks. When the mortar is made, fill the boxes which are to give shape to the blocks, intermixing it during the operation with broken stone, small stone, &c., of all sizes, getting in as much stone as possible, for two reasons-first, they assist the hardening of the mortar, and secondly, they reduce the expense by diminishing the amount of mortar needed. But every interstice must be perfectly filled with mortar.

What we most want is the result of experience in this mode of building. J. E. S., as we understand him, only proposed it had not tried it.

We should esteem it a favor if some of our readers who are familiar with all the details of the manufacture of composition roofs requisite for success, would give us the desired information.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] The Perennial Phloxes, &c.

Roses and Verbenas are considered as indispensable in every flower garden, be it ever so limited; and next to these, perhaps the Asters excepted, come the Perennial Phloxes. They require a deep, rich, moist soil, to fully develop their beauty. The varieties are numerous, and some of the new French varieties are really splendid. The best six, are: Madame Soeur, white, purple center.

Surpasse Madame Rendatler, white, purple center, perpetual flow-
ering,

Augustine Lierval, white, pink center, perpetual flowering.
Madame Audry, white, tinged with rose, violet center.
Juliette Roussel, white, purple center.

Rigolo, lilac and violet, mixed with white and red.

The cultivation is easy, and being perpetual they require but little care except annually manuring the beds, and when the clumps become too large take them up and divide them. They are rapidly propagated by cuttings in the spring or by division of the roots. The flower garden can be beautified by a judicious selection of varieties from July to October, and what renders them more valuable, they flower at a season when our gardens are nearly destitute of blooms.

The Phlox Drummondii is an annual, and also very beautiful, and dwarf in its habits, and suitable for large masses. Indeed, except the Verbena, we have no flowers so showy for large bed as this one, with its various hues and tints, seldom finding two bushes bearing flowers alike.

a

In large yards or gardens the Dahlia is equally indispensable, and the Aster is of sufficient importance to have a chapter for itself. Rensselaer Co., N. Y.

WILLIAM NEWCOMB.

SQUASH BUG.

Can the editor or any reader of THE CULTIVATOR give a convenient and infallible remedy for the large brown squash bug? The kind of bug I speak of is of a dirty brown color, and emits a disagreeable odor, especially when disturbed or killed. This bug is a great pest to squash growers in this region, working nearly all summer upon the main trunk of the vine, at the base or near it. It also attacks the young squashes if it should fail in girdling the vine at the root. They destroyed 40 hills of Hubbards for me last summer. Union Co, Ill.

A. BABCOCK.

The only infallible remedy we know of, although not very "convenient," is to kill daily all the bugs that can be found. At the same time care should be taken to destroy the eggs, which are laid in little patches, and fastened by a cement to the under side of the leaves. A daily examination will not consume a great deal of time. Next to this, we can recommend the protection of wire frames covered with gauze, or boxes set with a pane of glass or piece of gauze. This insect, (the Coreus tristis of entomologists,) is common everywhere, and is very destructive to squashes and pumpkins. It is important to destroy them early in the season, before their number increases so much as to render it difficult, as well as before the plants are destroyed. A good time is early in the morning, before they have concealed themselves from their nightly depredations.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Putting in Spring Wheat, etc., Early.

In consequence of what happened last season in the partial destruction of the wheat crop, it may be that some farmers will feel a little timid on the subject of early sowBut I think reflection ing the spring varieties of cereals. will convince those who are open to the "logie of facts,” that no alarm need be entertained for the comparative safety and success of early sown crops of rye, oats, barley, and especially of wheat. Usually the cold of spring is more intense, and of longer duration, in the open portions of Illinois and Wisconsin, than in the comparatively wooded or sheltered parts of Ohio, New-York, etc., in the same latitude. Yet, so far from entertaining a fear of frost-killing in the spring, the best or most successful farmers in the western States named, are now more strongly inclined to plant early, than they have ever been heretofore.

The principal reason of this is, that early sown crops

have a longer season-more time to grow-and being de- It being impracticable to cover seed, or put it in well, veloped more slowly, are less liable therefore to the till the ground is dry enough, putting in seed too early is attacks of blight, rust, insects, &c., that appear to be prin- generally impossible. The same degree of heat, or therecipally incident to a too rapid growth under the influence abouts, that will make grass grow, will, when the ground of too much heat, with other favorable growing conditions. is not too wet, be sufficient to make wheat also germinate In the Prairie Farmer of Feb. 16th, E. Stetson, of Bu- or grow. But, according to the facts which govern reau Co., Ill., says: "The quality of wheat is much im-growth-"facts" giving the conditions upon which laws proved by early seeding. A few years since," (probably or rules are predicated-time is also essential to the plant in 1853,"during an open termn in March, I sowed a part work of large and excellent growth, as are absorption and of a field to wheat, and the balance some three weeks transformation of the elements of its structure. later. No good judge of wheat would have pronounced the product of both parcels to be of the same variety, (Rio Grande.) The product of the early sowed was transparent, of a bright golden color, while the late sowing was dark and flinty, like the Black sea wheat." My own observation is confirmatory of this. I have noticed much of the Rio Grande that was late sown, to be unusually dark in color-considered as to its nutritive value, it is none the worse for this; because the nutritive element gluten, gives the dark color, and this fact of late sown wheat, which therefore makes more of its growth in a high temperature than such as is put in earlier, corresponds with the alleged fact, that southern wheat contains a larger proportion of gluten than that of the north. But the brightest wheat is always most sought after by millers, because it makes the brightest flour, and early sown producing the brighter product, is, for that reason of itself, produced at the greatest profit.

But there are other advantages incident to early seeding. A crop that is put in early-other conditions being similar-will yield from 10 to 20 per cent more from each acre. I have proved this by experiment, and think it may be explained consistently with good reasoning.

In 1855 I harrowed in a piece of Canada Club wheat, sowing nine pecks-(I never allowed less than eight)-to the acre, on fair clay loam soil, on the 12th of March. Severe frost set in the next night, and the ground was frozen solid for eighteen or twenty days. The yield was 274 bushels per acre; quality bright and good. Last year I sowed 24th of March, with a fair result for the season. Now, as I maintain that every fact has a theory in nature-if reason can only find it out-it may be well to look to the remote causes of the superiority arising from early seeding. To do this, we must premise that the absorbent capacity of roots and branches, is as much limited by natural conditions and laws as size itself. In fact, it depends much upon the extent or size of a plant, as to the rate of growth it can make in a given time. There can be so many openings or pores, to admit the substances of growth, of a certain relative size in a root or leaf, of a given dimension or area. In favorable weather, a certain quantity of the elements of growth can be absorbed by the plant organs in an hour or a day, as much as the interior spaces are fitted to contain and digest, but the limits of this interior capacity-which varies as the structures of plants expand and contract under the influence of heat and humidity-at a given time, cannot be exceeded. plant can no more digest a two days' supply in a single day, than I can digest two or three meals in the time naturally allotted to one only. And as the digestion, or assimilative functions of plants, largely depend upon the degree of heat and humidity, and the latter control the supply of organic plant food also to a great extent, the plant, unlike some other beings, takes in only as much as it can transform naturally and efficiently. The working powers of plants, those by which they absorb and grow, are, then, limited to the absorbtion and transformation of a given proportionate amount of earth and air within a given period. Though they grow seven days in a week, they will not make two days enlargement in twenty-four hours, because light is an essential of growth. If the capacity of growth within a given time is limited, then so also is the proportion of time in which growth may take place. We have therefore no reason to expect either as much or good growth, or as large and good quality of yield from late sown crops, as from those that are put into suitable growing conditions in the earliest part of the growing season.

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Growth that is made early in the season, is necessarily more compact, weighs more per given bulk than that made later in a higher temperature. The straw of early sown wheat is therefore stiffer, more perfect, and better adapted to its part, the subsequent formation of perfect seed. Superior tools for superior work. The seed will not only ripen earlier, but will be of better quality; superior produce of natural work. To expect the best crops of spring wheat, and the same is true of oats, rye, &c.-with good reason, then, we must sow carly to give time for the natural work of the plant, as well as other conditions necessary to satisfactory results. J. W. CLARKE, Green Lake, Wis.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] CULTURE OF RUTA BAGAS.

EDS. CO. GENT.-Having been impressed with the influence of the root culture in British Agriculture, I induced my farmer, Mr. H. Jones, to cultivate last season one acre of Ashcroft's Purple Ruta Baga. The cultivation was as follows:

About 12 wagon

Ground plowed previous fall-clover sod of three years standing. In the spring well harrowed. Drills 30 inches apart, opened by a double furrow. A sub-soil plow run through in the bottom of the drills. loads of barnyard manure then spread evenly in the drills. On this, spread 8 bushels of bone dust mixed with 16 bushels wood ashes; then covered drills by two furrows and sowed about 25th May, with Emery's seed drill, 14 lbs. seed on the ridge. The turnips came up remarkably well and even. In due time they were weeded and cultivated fairly, but no extra labor, and I regret I have not the cost of this labor. The grasshoppers trimmed them pretty sharply in July and August, but they had got so well on that I do not think they did much harm. The crop was very even, and the tubers mostly ranged from 2 to 6 lbs., and some weighed over 10 lbs. The land was in about medium condition, sandy loam and some cobble stone.

We harvested 940 bushels, or about 28 tons net. They were stored for winter use in a barn cellar. I had my cellar partitioned into sections about 10 by 12 feet, the bottom and sides of lath 1 by 3 inches, so that the air circulates freely around the bottom and sides of each bin. They are now mostly fed out. Not a root has been injured by frost or other cause of decay. You will understand, the quantity of land was not guessed at, but accurately measured. JOHN W. JERVIS.

Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1860.

AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.-In 1833 I commenced taking the "Genesee Farmer," Vol. 3, (I wish I had 1st and 2d vols.) and have all of its subsequent volumes bound. Also the

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Cultivator," complete from its commencement bound, until the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN was commenced, since which I have that carefully preserved and bound. Together with other similar works, they form a most valuable library, interesting to every one, especially the farmer. To me it is surprising that so few preserve their papers. Surely a paper that is worth taking and reading is worth preserving. I know of no way that so cheap and valuable information can be procured, as through our several agricultural and horticultural publications. They are and have been exerting an influence for good to all classes of our country, that is not appreciated, and cannot be easily esti mated. Success to your efforts. JAMES MCLALLEN.

The Eleventh Annual Fair and Cattle Show of the Brookfield Agricultural Society, will be held on the 26th and 27th days of September next.

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