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Inquiries and Answers.

CAHOON'S BROADCAST SOWER-In answer to inquiries, we ean state that we have given the small or hand machine a full trial. It answers admirably for sowing grass seed, which it scatters evenly and rapidly, and the seed being light, it is not laborious to carry. It also sows wheat, barley, and other large grain with great expedition and evenness-while the opera tor is working it but it is necessary for the workman to stop so often to fill his hopper with seed, that little time is gained over common hand sowing. The labor is also considerable. These remarks apply to the ten dollar machine. The thirty-five dollar one, drawn by a horse, we have not tried, but have no doubt it obviates all these objections, and we see nothing to prevent its sowing eighty acres a day, as some of the certificates state. D. H Furbish, of Portland, Maine, is the proprietor of this machine, and will give any in

formation in relation to it.

seeds, and also the proper time. S. B. [Will some of our readers please furnish the desired information ?]

HORNLESS CATTLE. (A subscriber in Indiana.) This tendency in cattle exists with the breed. The Galloway cat tle are nearly all hornless. The same peculiarity exista in the Norfolks, Suffolks, &c. A small portion of the same tendency is diffused through many of the mixed race in this country, occasionally becoming developed in hornless animals. The constant mixture of blood prevents them from becoming

a distinct race as in Britain.

BREED OF SWINE-What breed, or how crossed, is the breed of hogs fattened around Auburn? Our butchers consider them the best hogs that ever came to our market, or in fact, any other. W. Utica. [Our impression is, they are a mixture of Suffolk and Leicester, with some of the older native breeds, without any very certain amount of each. We hope some of our Auburn readers will give us some particular and accurate information.]

BLOODY MILK-I have a young cow that his given bloody the best and most appropriate way of constructing a dairy for PLAN OF A DAIRY.-I wish to learn through your paper, milk out of one teat for several weeks. Will you please give a private family, one that will best keep butter and milk durme a remedy for it. A. M. The treatment must depend on ing the warm season of the year, where the water is thrown the cause. If occasioned simply by an injury, time will cure up by the hydraulic ram. S. [We have not met with a betit. If from garget, the treatment must vary with the sympter one than that described on p. 217, first volume of "Rural toms, which until we know, it would be very difficult to pre-Affairs," and although that is partly intended for a market scribe understandingly-as the disease might be benefitted in one case by light food, and in another might require only dairy, yet it is equally applicable, constructed of proper size, for a private establishment] local treatment. A general remedy, for all circumstances, so often recommended for a disease, is empiricism,

SHEEP VS. SWINE.-I will feel myself under many obligations, if some of your numerous readers would inform me through the columns of your paper, in which there is most profit-raising sheep or hogs, where pork is usually worth from 83.50 to 84 gross, and bacon from 8c. to 10c., and where wool is worth from 25 to 40c. per pound, and sheep for butchering bring $2.50 to $3.50 per head. Also which is the best and most profitable breed of sheep-also the best breed of hogs for farmers generally. B. B. R. St. Joseph, Mo.

BEANS FOR HORSES AND Cows-Are New-York farmers in the habit of raising beans for horses and cows, and if so, how are they fed? Do you consider they make as strong diet as corn? Is the current year's crop considered injurious? English farmers say they should not be used until a year old. Understanding that northern farmers raise peas and beans extensively for stock purposes, we who are turning our attention somewhat to the latter crop would like to have the experience of others. SUBSCRIBERS. [Will those who have tried this material for feeding, please report the results of their experiments?]

PLANTS GROWING WITHOUT SEED.-Is seed necessary to vegetable production in all cases? Where the chemical elements of certain vegetables exist abundantly in the soil, will they not spring up and assume vegetable forms without the germs of seed? Instance the thousands of hickory groves springing up throughout the west since being settled, where none existed before. L. C. Wisconsin. [No plant ever springs into existence spontaneously. There must be either a seed to start the individual, or buds, eyes, &c., to extend or multiply that individual after having thus attained existence. Seeds exist in the soil or are scattered in innumerable ways; which not being understood by superficial observation, the notion is sometimes adopted that new individuals spring spontaneously into existence, or else grow or are changed from other plants. It would be as impossible for farm animals to spring into being, without progenitors, by merely heaping together oats, hay and corn, or milk and porridge, as for plants to do the same by the use of heaps of manures or "elements." LITTLE GIANT MILL.- Can you inform me where I can obtain the Little Giant Mill, for grinding corn in ear, &c., and whether there are better mills for the purpose? S. BARSTOW. St. Albans, Vt. It is furnished by Emery & Co. of this city, at the following prices: No. 2 for $40 with levers, and No. 3 $45, less 5 per cent. cash at retail We have never used the Little Giant, but have given a thorough trial to Joice's Star Mill made by Hildreth & Co. of Lockport, and find the latter an admirable machine. We are unable to speak from experience of their comparative merits]

FALL PLOWING.-What do you think of plowing sandy soil in the fall? I manure it one-half with fine manure, and the other half leached ashes, and plow 6 inches deep. What would you put on it in the spring? J. E. ORVIS. Massena, N. Y [Fall plowing does well for early sown crops-barley would no doubt succeed well-and perhaps oats or spring wheat. Unless the soil is quite light, it is apt to become too compact before planting time, unless re-plowed or mellowed well with a gang plow, or Shares' harrow, just before planting.]

DOUBLE MICHIGAN PLOW.-Can you inform me to whom, and where I must apply, for the right of making up and disposing of the Double Michigan sod and subsoil Plow- also, what year the patent was issued? Your early attention to the above will oblige, W. T. [We are unable to answer.Will some of our readers favor us with the desired information?]

FEEDING ROOTS.- Please inform me through THE CULTIVATOR, the best plan of feeding turnips and Ruta Bagas to sheep and cows. A. B. [Slice them up, and feed them to the animals-if they do not readily eat them, add meal and a very little salt. To prevent any injurious effect, begin moderately, and always feed with a portion of dry fodder. Sheep soon learn to scoop out turnips with their teeth, without slicing. Willard's root slicer costs ten dollars and cuts a bushel a minute; but in the absence of any machine of the sort, a steel spade, ground sharp, will cut rapidly, if the roots are placed in a shallow box with a hard plank bottom.]

SPARRED FLOORS.-I am about building a hog stable, and think of laying stable floors for cattle upon the " spar plan." Your correspondent, W. R. Forster, Canada West, suggests that they be dug four feet deep under the floors. Suppose in the spring, this space to be full of the "pudding," where will a man stand to shovel it into a cart backed up to the stable door. It appears at first thought, as if his footing must be very soft, and rather uncomfortably deep. Why is it best to have "boxes" instead of stalls? Would not quarrelsome cattle fret their weaker mates? Will your correspondent please state what he considers the best size of pens for hogs, and whether hogs will do well raised in a pen without ever coming to the ground. I have a boiling apparatus, and wish when I get my pens made, to try the effects of cooked and raw food upon the thrift of the animals. L. F. D. Troy, O. We shall be glad to hear from Mr. Forster and others as suggested, and hereafter shall have more to add ourselves upon of readers, either at home or abroad, will be very welcome, the subjects alluded to. Meantime the views and experience both to the writer of the above and doubtless to many others.] LIME FOR CATTLE.--In your account of Mr. Clift's farm, a mixture of salt and lime is recommended for preserving hay when got in green. Would not the lime be injurious to stock, fed on the hay, by its caustic nature, and also by making the BITTER HONEY.-Why is honey some years very bitter? hay dusty? WM. F. BASSETT. [We have never used lime This year it was so bitter that it could not be used-neither with salt for hay, but the latter only-and therefore cannot did the bees swarm. Can any one tell the cause of the bitter-speak from experience of its effects. It certainly should be A. R. Dallas Co., Ark. used very sparingly if at all, which we question.]

ness?

TOBACCO CULTURE-Having recently commenced farming,

and believing that I have land that will produce tobacco, I AN ODD FELLOW.-Morpheus, for he is undeniably a Nod take the liberty of asking you the proper way of planting the fellow.

SWINE FED ON SKIM-MILK

We published a few years since a statement of the successful feeding and fattening of swine on skim-milk, as practiced by Joseph Greene of Macedon, N. Y., a mode, however, not entirely new. He fed spring pigs through the summer, and when six or seven months old, they usually averaged about 300 pounds each. Three, at seven months, weighed in one instance, after being dressed, no less than 956 lbs. in the aggregate. Another animal at six months and ten days, weighed when dressed 298 lbs. He ascribed his success to feeding undiluted milk, or in its most concentrated state.,-without any water thrown in. This made them grow rapidly, with solid square bodies, and not like the flabby animals produced when much liquid and little nourishment are given. The fat tening was completed on the ground meal of old corn. They did not thrive well on new corn, and failed on "nubbins."

Several others have adopted a similar mode of treatment, with like success. One instance that has recently come to hand, is the following, reported in a late number of the Union Springs Herald.

David Anthony killed, on Saturday last, a litter of eight spring pigs, about 8 months old, and the total weight of which were 2,350 lbs.,- -an average of 293 lbs. each. The lightest one weighing 280, and the heaviest 320 lbs. We call that hard to beat, If any one can do it, send on the figures."

old. He was small boned, but fattened very easily, and
for some days, before killing it was difficult for him to get
up or breathe. The corn with which he was fed was very
sound and good, and I occasionally gave him ashes and
stone coal, to promote his digestion, destroy worms if any,
and sharpen his appetite.
A. S. PROCTOR.
Rome Farms, Illinois, Jan. 6.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] TO PREVENT LICE ON CALVES. EDITORS. CO. GENT.-It is generally conceded that "an ounce of preventive is worth a pound of enre," and as I often see remedies for killing lice on calves, such as snuff, safe-no injury to the animal will follow its use, and if tobacco water, grease, &c., I will give a preventive. It is regularly attended to during the cold months, lice will be scarce. It is as follows: take of shorts, one bushel, and a like quantity of corn, barley or oat meal, and mix well together give each calf a pint of the mixture night and morning it can be fed on cut hay dampened; a better way, however, is to add boiling water sufficient to scald it, and let it stand until nearly cold, and then feed it in the form of a slop♪ If oil meal can be conveniently obtained, a small quantity may be added to advantage, They should be warmly stabled, and have all the good hay they wil eat, and a fall supply of pure water twice a day. The above recipe is applicable to older animals, by increasing the quantity according to age and size. Watertown, N. Y.

J. L. R.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] CULTURE OF THE SWEET POTATO. FRIEND TUCKER-I will try to give you our mode of

On inquiring personally of David Anthony as to the mode of feeding adopted, he informs that these animals are chiefly indebted for their rapid growth to the skim-raising sweet potatoes in Gloucester county, N. J. We milk he gave them, of which he had a plentiful supply. Ile finished feeding them on 15 bushels of ground Canada corn, which was all the grain he gave them. He intends to plant a few acres of the Canada corn for fattening his swine another year, as it is fully ripe before the first day of autumn, and is therefore found to be nearly equal to old corn for fall feeding.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.]

How Much Corn will Make a Pound of Pork? MESSRS. EDITORS-On the 3d of Nov., 1859, I built a small, tight pen, and covered it well. I put in it a small sized shoat, but in good condition, and inclined to fatten easily, and weighing 92 lbs. gross. His drink was wellwater, and his food corn in the ear exclusively, weighed to him 100 lbs. at a time. The first 100 lbs., weighed the same day the hog was shut up, lasted till the 17th-14 days. Second 100 lbs., weighed Nov. 17th, lasted till Dec. 2-16 days. Third 100 lbs., weighed Dec. 2, lasted till Dec. 14-12 days. Fourth 100 lbs., weighed Dec. 14, lasted till Jan. 1-17 days. Jan. 2d & 3d a few ears were given him, not weighed, the amount, however, not equal to the waste. Jan. 4th killed the hog. Live weight 146 lbs.net weight, 116 lbs.

RECAPITULATION.-The hog ate in 61 days, 400 pounds corn, or about 64 lbs. per day. Live weight at shutting up, 92 lbs.; live weight at killing 146 lbs.; increase in live weight 54 lbs., or a little less than one pound per day. 400 lbs. ear corn at 70 lbs. per bushel, equals 5 5-9th bushels, and at 35 cents per bushel, is $2.00-54 lbs. pork, live weight, worth at 4 cents per pound, $2.16, or a net gain of 16 cents to pay for trouble of feeding two months. FURTHER CALCULATIONS.- At killing, live weight 146; net weight after dressing, 116; loss 30 lbs., or a little By the same ratio, his net weight at over 20 per cent. shutting up would be 73 lbs. ; increase in net weight 43 lbs., worth, at say 5 cents per pound, $2.36, or 36 cents more than the corn fed to him was worth in the crib.

REMARKS. The hog when shut up was 7 months and 2 days old, and at time of killing was 9 months and 4 days

We dig a trench six feet wide; then put some old hay or
begin by making a hot-bed for sprouting the potatoes.---
corn stalks in the bottom; next put eight or ten inches of
stable manure; press it down lightly. We then cover
with two inches of fine earth, and put in the potatoes, not
about two inches of fine earth.
so near as to touch one another, and cover them with
ground the same as for corn-mark it out both ways with
We next prepare the
a small plow, two feet nine inches apart, and put in a
small shovel full of good short manure, and make a small
hill on the same.
pulling sprouts, and setting them in hills, one sprout in a
About the middle of May we commence
We use the cultivator and hand hoe pretty freely,
taking care to keep the grass and weeds out. Gloucester
county goes pretty largely into sweet potatoes, many of
us planting from twenty to forty acres.
We allow one
bushel of potatoes to sprout sufficiently for one thousand
hills. JOSHUA PINE. New Jersey.

hill.

CONNECTICUT STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-At the annual meeting, held at Hartford, Jan. 11, the following officers were elected:

President-E. H. HYDE, 2d. Stafford.

Vice Presidents-Robbins Battell, Norwalk; John T. Norton, Farm-
ington.
Directors-Charles F. Fond, Hartford, Hartford Co.; Washington
Webb, New-Haven, New-Haven Co.; James A. Bill, Lyme, New-Lon-
don Co.; George Osborne, Redding, Fairfield Co.; Charles Csgood,
Pomfret, Windham Co. Abijah Catlin, Harwinton, Litchfield Co.:
Tolland Co.
Levi Coe, Middletown, Middlesex Co.; R. B. Chamberlin, Coventry.

Henry A. Dyer continues as Secretary and actual agent and business manager. The Treasurer's report shows:

Expenses, 1838 and 1859..
Receipts,

Balance on hand,

$12.624.39

14,726.80 $2,102,31

An interesting report of the discussions at the winter meeting of the Fruit Grower's Society of Western NewYork, held at Rochester last week, will be found in our Horticultural Department. The following officers were elected for the present year:

President-Col. B. HODGE, of Buffalo.
Vice Presidents-J. J. Thomas, Union Springs; Wm. R. Smith, Syra-
cuse; W. R. Coppock, Buffalo,

Treasurer-W. P. Townsend. Lockport,
Secretary-C. P. Bissell, Rochester.

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2d Duchess of Airdrie-Bred by R. A. Alexander of Woodford Co., Ky. Those who have visited the beautiful Short-Horn herd belonging to R. A. ALEXANDER, Esq., of Woodford Co., Ky., will not need to be reminded that among the choicest of them, the "2d Duchess of Airdrie" occupies a high rank. She is red and white, calved 28th September, 1855, and was sired by "2d Duke of Athol." Her dam, "Duchess of Athol " was sired by "2d Duke of Oxford," and her grand-dam "Duchess 54th," carries her back on one side to "2d Cleveland Lad," and on the other to a long line of noted "Duchesses."

TREATMENT OF RINGBONE.

Can you inform me what would cure a fine mare I have, of what is called ringbone, which she has had for something near one year with out my being able to find a remedy. Cus. ALEXANDER. Posey Co., Ind. There is no cure for confirmed ringbone. It is supposed to be hereditary, and the tendency is perhaps hastened by sprains or jars, in driving rapidly over a hard or very uneven road. To prevent it, use horses carefully, and never breed from those who have it, or from the relatives of such. When the disease first appears, rest is no doubt the best remedy. Burning, formerly so much practiced, is now generally regarded as both useless and cruel. should never be made in treating it. Remedies causing violent external inflammation often extend further in, in their influence, and frequently increase the disease. The application of acetate of cantharid s is recommended by Dr. Dadd. When the part is hot, apply cold-water band

ages.

A scar

There is no doubt that many of the remedies for various diseases, but for this more particularly, owe their supposed efficacy to compelling the animal to rest.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] ECONOMICAL FEEDING OF STOCK. MESSRS. EEITORS-" The harvest is past, the Summer is ended, "-Autumn with its almost constant Indian Summer, has passed quietly and dreamily away, and Winter with its stern and exacting realities, is with us. The farmer and his beasts have toiled and sweated hard, during the months that are passed, to lay up a store of food for that season, which, north of Mason and Dixon's line, occupies about one-half of the entire year, and seems to have been designed for the purpose of sharpening the faculties of animal nature, and preventing the undue development of man's acquisitiveness. Certain it is that the great majori

ty of mankind have hard enough work of it to accumulate sufficient in summer to satisfy the demands of winter. To the hard-working farmer, the subject of "the economical feeding of stock," is of intense interest, and second to none in importance and practical utility. This has always been so, and always will be so in this climate; and by careful experiment, that would be satisfactory to the yet how little is certainly known, or has been demonstrated anxious inquirer or new beginner in practical agriculture.

The present is the season peculiarly appropriated for the discussion of this subject, and I do hope that you and your valued correspondents will "ventilate" it as thoroughly as the circumstances of the case will allow. Perhaps the careful attention in preparing and disbursing the stock of present scarcity of feed in your State, will lead to more cattle and food, thereby one more ray of light be shed on this at present rather dim subject. Why is it that none of your wealthy farmers have not taken this matter in hand English books. Surely they have the means and the leisure. and given us detailed experiments, such as we find in that they are of but little use to us. The English experiments are so mixed up with turnips, We want experiments on our own soil, in our own stables, under our own peculiarities of climate, and with our own varieties of feed. In a late number of the Co. Gent., in the article on "Cooking food for Swine," you well remark "that there exists the most singular diversity of opinion in regard to cooking" their food-some asserting that grinding and cooking trebles the value of corn, while others maintain that it does not nearly double it; and so it is with all kinds of stock-no two agree.

I freely admit and deeply feel that the subject is a very complex one, and cannot be thoroughly discussed even in a volume, much less in a single sheet, or by as humble a pen as mine. But let me indicate my view of the matter, and give a page from my own experience.

The economical feeding of stock is empathatically a ma. ter in regard to which "circumstances alter cases," and the conditions are so perpetually varying that no set of rules

can be devised, applicable to all cases. What is best at one often as well or better under good nursing without meditime may not be good policy at another. eine; and also, that sometimes remedies are of the utmost

In the fall of 1851, living in Northern Ohio, I found importance. We know of no writer on the subject who has myself possessed of 13 cows, with a small mow of hay, a short crop of oats, and a very small crop of very small discriminated better, if as well, between the two courses of corn, together with a small pile of very nice wheat straw. treatment, than Dr. Dadd. I had been in the habit for many years, of getting all grain fed to stock, ground, and had been strong in the faith that that was the only right way; but the excessively muddy roads, to which we were generally subjected there, and the labor and expense of grinding, were exceedingly irksome. I concluded to try an experiment.

I had a good stable for my cows, with stanchions and a tight floor to feed on. A gutter ran along behind to catch their droppings, and these were thrown out every morning for a fine sow to work over, who I expected would make an excellent living thereby. I was going to feed my corn unground, and the oats unthrashed, but hoped | the sow and poultry would pick up the waste.

In the morning I fed each cow a sheaf of oats, at noon a little straw, and at night two or three small ears of corn, and a little more straw. This I did until about the first of March, when hay took the place of straw. Everything was licked up clean.

Now for the result. I expected grain in the gutter, but am satisfied that not a pint a day was dropped by the cows, and was compelled to feed the sow as before. The cows came out in the spring as bright and hearty as any I ever wintered in my life, and I was satised that the economy of the thing was all right.

The work is published by Jewett & Co. of Boston, and C. M. Saxton & Co. of New-York, and is an indispensa! le book for every farmer who would understand well the management of his cattle, both in health and under the in

fluence of disease.

VERTIGO IN HORSES.

EDS. CULT. AND CO GENT-I have a horse strangely affected sometimes, and cannot find anywhere a description of the disease, although I have examined different books and papers, the Cultivator included, for which I have been a subscriber for the last 16 years. He is generally affected while being driven or used. The first symptoms I have noticed are shying, as if seeing something before him, and then staggering backward. This continues but a short time, when he either recovers himself and it passes off, or gets entirely down, (which he has done,) and after lying a few minutes will be apparently right again. It appears to me something like a blind stagger. He has been subject to these spells for some four or five years. Sometimes I see nothing of it for six months or a year together, and then again he may have them several times in the course of a year. Some say it is fits, but I do not think so. I was told a short time since that it was heart staggers. Is there such a disease? If, there is, or if you or any of your correspondents can give me information respecting the ailment of my horse, and a remedy if there is any, you will do me a great favor, and perhaps may benefit some other of your readers. A SUBSCRIBER.

The experience of that winter did not, of course, prove that grinding grain, under any and all circumstances, was a needless expense, but it did suggest to my mind one thought, and also illustrated the proposition that "circumstances alter cases." The thought is this-that the advantage of grinding and otherwise preparing food for cattle to be kept in store condition, was not as great as for those to be rapidly fattened. Ruminants are furnished with a very strong digestive apparatus, and if fed only sufficiently to keep them in good fair condition, I wouldn't give any man much for all the waste he could gather from 100 head in a whole winter, fed on unground grain. In this section, "going to mill" is a serious business, for the millers generally contrive to "keep the grain and take the bag for toll." But I must close, and will only add that what I have said applies solely to store cattle, and that the case

with cows giving milk is very different. HAWK EYE. Keokuk, Iowa, Dec. 26, '59.

DADD ON THE DISEASES OF CATTLE.

This disease is not improbably the vertigo-which usualcomes on while the animal is travelling, continues a short time, and then passes off. He often shakes his head, reels, staggers, and stops short. The disease is generally incurable; veterinarians have not been able to obtain a satisfactory remedy. The best treatment, perhaps, is very moderate labor, light diet, cleanliness and pure air, and good grooming. If any of our readers have been success

ful with its management, we should be glad to hear from

them.

PRICE OF APPLE SEEDS, &c. This is a larger, more mature, and more perfect work Will you or some of your correspondents, inform me through THE than Dr. Dadd's excellent and well known "Cattle Doc-market. I washed a few seeds out this fall, and if it will pay I would CULTIVATOR, what apple seeds are worth by the bushel, and at what tor," and this is saying a great deal. It is not a revision like to go into the business another fall to some extent. B. W. M. Montgomery Co., N. Y. and enlargement of his former book, but appears to be written wholly new. In arrangement it has some important advantages, the division of diseases being simple, natural, and well adapted to ordinary reference. For example, under the head “Organs of Respiration," we are furnished with what is known in relation to croup, inflammation of the lungs, consumption, bronchitis, catarrh, sore throat, &c. The "Diseases of the Digestive Organs," embrace hoven, diarrhea, inflammation of the bowels, colic, &c. Other diseases are similarly arranged under heads designating different parts of the system. There are a considerable number of valuable wood-cut illustrations.

Those who know Dr. Dadd are aware that he declares uncompromising hostility to the old cut-and-slash, scour and burn, blister-and-bleed system, and in some instances he may carry his assaults too far. But if he errs, it is a pretty safe kind of error on the side of gentle treatment and humanity, and can appeal to nature's restorative power. We have seen enough of diseases in animals to learn that much that is ascribed to medicine, takes place

Nurserymen and dealers have formerly paid workmen three or four dollars per bushel for getting out seed, and sold them again at six to eight dollars. During the past scarce years for fruit, the prices may have been a little higher. The present year the apple crop has been very abundant, and we hear of apple seed for sale in large quantities in all quarters. We question if it will be all soldin which case much will be planted perhaps by those not nurserymen, affording a full supply of seedlings in a year

or two.

Our correspondent will probably do best to advertise his seed, offering them at a moderate price-but it will be important for him to convince purchasers that his seed are good, and not from fermented pomace, which is a most fruitful source of failure-a few hours fermentation in the heap being sufficient to destroy vitality.

On p. 204 of the Illustrated Annual Register for 1859, our correspondent will find a mode described by which two men can wash out three or four bushels of seed in a day, provided there is plenty of fresh pomace, and a good stream of water.

the fact that the entire lot he made that year was sold to a dealer in New-York, at nineteen cents per pound. We' have accepted an invitation to visit this dairy in June

THE CULTIVATOR. next, when we hope to furnish our readers with a full

ALBANY, N. Y., FEBRUARY, 1860.

Among the old and valued agricultural journals of this country,

description of all its operations.

AN EARNEST APPEAL.-We ask our friends, after giving this paper a careful examination-if it meets their approval, and they desire to see an exclusively Agricultural and Horticultural Journal sustained-to make an effort to

which have borne the burden of improvement in the heat of the day, increase its circulation. It needs, and we think deserves, a much larger number of subscribers.

no one has achieved higher distinction than the Albany CULTIVATOR, Indeed, it has more reputation both at home and abroad, than any other similar periodical in the United States; and yet, one has only to send fifty cents to the publishers, Messrs. L. TUCKER & SON, Albany,

N. Y., to obtain a copy for a year.

The above notice from the Southern Field and Fireside, meets our eye just as this number of THE CULTIVATOR is going to press. We quote it because, coming from the pen of the Agricultural Editor of that journal, it is a compliment that we cannot but duly appreciate.

Many people speak of English Agriculture as though some sudden wave from the Atlantic had washed." out all the bad farming of that country, and as if there had followed in its wake a new system as exclusively good as And as to Agriculthe former had been exclusively bad. ture here, on the one hand we meet with groanings over worn-out soils, reduced production, older states deserted, It gives us pleasure to be able to say that the subscrip- by their rural population, and new states following in a tion list of this paper has shown a gratifying increase dur-beaten track of exhaustion and ruin; and, on the other ing the past month upon the corresponding month in 1859. hand, with felicitations over wonderful evidences of proWhile we have to express our renewed acknowledgments gress, as though within a limited period a perfect revolution for good had been taking place. to many of its oldest friends, we have also to welcome as its supporters hundreds, to whose efforts we owe the re-cultural progress in Great Britain as anything else than the No representation is a correct one which displays agriceipt of club subscriptions for 1860 for the first time. The present number will go forth as a still better wit- slow growth moulded by circumstances and developed by ness of the improvements promised for the year, than its the increasing wealth, enterprise and sagacity, not only of predecessor for January. May we not, therefore, ask of the farmers themselves, but also, and perhaps primarily, of our friends to prolong their exertions a little in its behalf? inclined to think that that picture of American farming the manufacturing and commercial classes. Challenging a comparison as to cheapness of price, with an equal amount of printed matter of any kind whatever-would be most accurately drawn, which should show, how, entirely aside from any merits it may possess as an Agri- with the increasing financial prosperity of the nation, every cultural Journal—we think it has claims which our farmers pursuit has felt an impulse, and how this impulse in our Agriculture has been turned to effect, just so far as imwould recognize far more generally, if we had the means of bringing the subject to their more particular notice. provement could be profitably pursued, and just so geneThis is precisely why and where we ask, so often, the aid of rally as there have been means in existence to diffuse a of our readers-in enabling us to reach with a kind word knowledge of the ways of improvement. from them, an outer circle of hundreds and thousands, dustrious as they were, creditably as they lived both to There can be no doubt that our fathers, frugal and inwithin whose acquaintance we have no other way of plac-themselves and to the country, were often guilty of the ing our journal and its objects.

And we are

We will send for gratuitous circulation, copies of the the soil; but it is equally true that, without the excuse utmost profligacy, in their treatment of the resources of January and February numbers of this year to any person their fathers had, too large a part of this present generarequesting them, or to any addresses that may be named. Those who are now members of clubs, can procure addition still adhere to the old furrow. The good seed, howtions to clubs at club rates. To those who have not seen the REGISTER for 1860, we repeat our offer to send a copy postpaid, for use in canvassing for subscriptions.

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page.

*PLEASE SEE TERMS AND SPECIAL NOTICES on last

THE COMPREHENSIVE FARM RECORD.-We understand that C. M. Saxton, Barker & Co., 25 Park Row, New-York, have in press, a blank Record of the above title, which will be issued in January. It is to be a well bound folio volume of about 150 pages, with an explanatory introduction and a series of carefully prepared headings, arranged for enter ing every date and event useful for reference upon the farm-the results of each particular crop, and of each field, and every item useful for record and reference concerning domestic animals. The book is ruled and arranged for entering the results of twenty-five years, (from 1860 to 1884 inclusive,) and will supply every want, as to the means of arriving at a direct and intelligent understanding of the profit and loss of the various departments of husbandry. It is prepared by Dr. F. B. Horen of Albany, whose labors upon the last State Census have necessarily rendered the subject of Agricultural Statistics entirely familiar.

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"ENGLISH DAIRY CHEESE."-We have used in our family, what is known as English Dairy Cheese," for many years, from the dairies of Litchfield county, Conn., and the Western Reserve, Ohio, some of which have been of very fine quality; but a gentleman of our own state, who has been engaged for several years in making it, last week presented us one of 254 manufactured by him in 1858, of an average weight of 17 lbs., which we think superior to any cheese we have ever tasted; and that others appreciate its good qualities, we have evidence in

ever, has been widely sown; the agriculture of those who fected more than they might care to own, by the example never read an Agricultural Journal, or go to a Show, is afof some more intelligent neighbor, who does read and look about him, and if there are on the one hand reasons for a somewhat gloomy view of our present condition, there are also causes for encouragement and hope. This is the or actual. The canal boat goes forward, but to the railcase because progress is a matter which is either relative way passenger just above, it seems as he whirls more rapidly on, to be just standing still; and so the marvellous growth of our cities outstrips the actual advancement our country is making in some measure at least, and at the same time Science and Invention have done so much more comparatively for other arts, that the aid they have really rendered to the farmer secins almost insignificant in the contrast.

That farmers should feel the need of improvement, is a great step towards accomplishing it. No evidence that they are constantly awakening to this necessity, is stronger than that afforded by the numerous attempts now going forward for the establishment of agricultural schools. Without detracting from the importance of such movements, it should still be borne in mind that they are designed to diffuse a knowledge of the principles on which the practice already adopted by our best farmers, is dependent for its success, rather than to instruct the young man in the actual details of the practice itself. If there is no "royal road to learning," still less is there any academical or collegiate machinery capable of converting an inexperienced lad either into a money-making merchant or a money-making farmer.

The truth is, that for the sake of their sons, if not for their own, our farmers should endeavor to render the farm

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