any trouble, after they are laid down. But we must have more tile machines in operation. I intended to have had 10,000 tiles home this winter; but find the maker has only a very few on hand. Farmers ought to have the tiles on the ground in winter; the expense of drawing is little, and if there are any soft tiles, they will decompose before spring, which is much better than 'to put them in the drain. JOHN JOHNSTON. Near Geneva, Dec. 25, 1849. Agricultural Economy. that which first concerns the individual. too brilliant to resist, and emigration to Illinois, Wisconsin or Iowa, is 66 next in order." The land in the immediate vicinity of cities and large villages is becoming more fertile. The source from which this fertility is derived is evident. Every year thousands and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep are collected in Vermont and New Hampshire for the city consumption. The vegetable productions of the soil, to an enormous extent, are fur. nished for the same purpose, together with large quantities of flour, daily supplied from Western New-York and farther on. In this way, the ele. ties are enriched, and remote districts impoverished. ments of fertility are transferred, the suburbs of ci shire are becoming less valuable, and so are all pla The grazing portions of Vermont and New Hamp ces that export more fertility than they import or manufacture. Is it worth while to seek a remedy for these evils? In China the people are always engaged in saving every particle of manure that can be found; the English import vast quantities of fertilising sub. cultivation will be resorted to. EDS. CULTIVATOR-The economy of the farm is rich; not simply to sell the greatest possible quanNot to get tity of produce, but to maintain the original fertility of the soil or constantly improve it. The common farmer cannot expect to get rich, but with good management he may obtain a comfortable living,' and have leisure to enjoy social blessings, and time to devote to reading, and mental improvement. This should be done without wearing out the soil. True economy consists in returning the same ele-stances; but our population is not so dense as to ments to the soil that are taken from it, and in the same quantity. This will keep the soil fertile, so that it will produce the same crops, both in kind and quantity, year after year. Vegetable productions derive part of their constituent elements from the earth, and part from the atmosphere. That part derived from the earth must be returned to it again, or it will eventually become barren. The ground that produces one hundred bushels of grain this year, will not, under the same circumstances, produce the same amount next year, unless its equivalent is returned. And the more a piece of land is cropped without manuring, the more labor and expense is required to obtain a crop from it. The farmer that sells hay, grain or stock,-if he does not use extra means to increase his manure-is reducing the fertility, and consequently the value of his farm. On new land this effect is not seen so clearly, but it is nevertheless true, and in time will be manifest. the cheap and fertile lands of the West are so invi- Water-tight Cellars. EDS. CULTIVATOR-Some time ago there was pub. lished in The Cultivator an inquiry for information how a wet cellar can be made dry, when draining is inconvenient? A wet cellar is a sad thing-a nuisance to a farmer, and always inconvenient for the storage of many valuable articles of agricultural produce. When under a dwelling, it is frequently the fruitful, yet unsuspected cause of intractable sickness, to those living within the influence of the pestilential miasma, that, during warm weather, continually rises from it. The subject is of such importance, as to press it. self upon the attention of reflecting minds, and to call for a more extended notice than it has yet received. Every reader who has experience in the use of means to make a dry cellar, should communicate it to the public. In the absence of experience to make a "wet cellar dry," it may be useful to show how a cellar can be constructed, secure from water, by a cheap method, in any place where clay can easily be procured. A brief sketch, also, of some of the uses to which this substance is applied in connection with its impermeable property, may afford hints how it can be used to effect the purpose, in reference to which the writer of the publication alluded to, asks information. The older settled parts of New England, furnish sad illustrations of want of true economy. Except in the vicinity of cities and villages, the soil has long been deteriorating. This is the result of bad management. The productions of the soil have been sent to market, and the fertility, in this way taken from the soil, has not been returned. Pastures have been grazed from April to November, and the fat cattle and sheep sent to Brighton. Hence, grain and roots cannot be raised as easily as they could be formerly, and pastures cannot sustain half the stock they could thirty years ago. And we hear frequent complaints of milch cows being affected with bone disease," and bone dust must be procured for their relief. (Better bone-dust the pas tures.) A reversed order of things is in many instances taking place. Less land is tilled and more pastured. The area of woodland is sufficiently limited, and it will not do to make further encroachments upon it for pasturage, therefore when the Every farmer knows that water will not soak pastures will not summer the stock, that the pro- through a clay subsoil. Some careful farmers, ducts of the fields will winter, they must be enlar- availing themselves of their soil, dig ponds in the ged by a portion from the fields. Or when a piece lowest part of their field, or orchard, to collect and of tillage land is reduced so as not to pay for culti-retain rain water for the accommodation of their hogs vating, it is turned out" to pasture. Still by concentrating labor and manuring better, the original fertility of a portion of the farm may be maintained, but its aggregate productiveness is much diminished. And when it requires constant toil the whole year to make both ends meet," the rich lands of the west present visions of ease and plenty in pasture; or in very dry summers to haul a few bar. rels of water there for that purpose. Clay is extensively used along the line of our canals, to stop the leakage through the embankments. When used for this purpose, or to stop the leakage through the breast of a mill dam, or the bank of a meadow ditch, it is called "puddling;" and when this is properly done, it is capable of resisting a heavy pressure of water. Availing ourselves of this water-tight property of clay, we use it in the construction of our cellars, in a simple, but effectual manner. We stake off and dig the cellar, so large as to leave a space of from eight to twelve inches, between all the walls of the intended building and the banks. This space to be continued from the surface to the foundation; and a sufficient quantity of clay must be provided to fill this space. The work of filling it in, and ramming it solid, should commence soon after the foundation of the building is laid, and be continued as the masons progress with the wall, until the surface of the ground is reached. Small stones and chips must be carefully left out, and only a few inches of clay thrown in and rammed at a time. The writer of this has tried the method here given with a good result, and does not know an instance in which it has failed to make a dry cellar. This invariable success has suggested the plan to stop the leakage of water into a cellar of faulty construction, by digging out next the walls of the building, the width of a shovel or more, and as deep as their foundation. This excavation to be filled tight with clay, and a dry cellar has been the result. There may be wet cellars caused by a different state of things than are here referred to; for instance an upward infiltration of water through the bottom of the cellar- or one or more springs may rise therein. Such defects might probably be remedied by the same means that are recommended in a for. mer volume of The Cultivator, to sink a spring or pond of water in a field. Not having much experience or opportunity of observing the effeet of these measures, I leave the subject to the consideration of others. A. B. Setzler's Store, Chester Co., Pa. Bartlett's Double Plow. The peculiarity of this plow consists in combining two plows in such a manner the two furrows can be turned at once, with one team and one plowman. We are aware that the combination of plows is not new; but the mode of connecting them in this case, is different from any with which we have been before acquainted. In distinction from others, the frame which connects these plows is so made that each plow has in some degree an independent action, by which the two, when working together, are adapt ed to the ordinary inequalities of surface, and insure the proper execution of the work. The principle of combination will apply to plows of any size or shape. We have had two opportunities of witnessing the operation of this plow, on the farm of W. O. BARTLETT, Esq., of Worcester, one of the patentees. We have seen it used under different circumstances, as follows: 1. On plain land where the soil was loose and light. A good yoke of oxen readily drew the plow at their accustomed gait, making two furrows, each seven inches deep and ten inches wide, one man holding the plow and driving the team. The plow ran for many rods after it was set in, without being touched by the plowman. 2. On a stubble-field, where the soil contained many small cobble stones, and where the plow was often turned out by large boulders and fast rocks. The same man and the same oxen managed the plow as in the above case, and the depth and width of the furrows were also the same. The work was as well performed as it could have been in any way No difficulty was experienced in getting the plow over the stones, or in running the furrows close to them; the cobble stones did not throw the plow out; on the contrary it held its depth as well, if not better, than a single plow could have done-the two plows seemed to steady each other, which tended to preserve a uniform depth. 3. On somewhat rough land, with a very tough sward. In this case two large plows were used, each cutting a furrow eight inches deep and twelve inches or more wide. Four good oxen were attached to the plow, one man drove the team and another held the plow. The work was well done and with great dispatch. This plow has been considerably tried in Massa. chusetts by many of the best practical farmers, who have certified that it makes a great saving in the expense of plowing. We entirely coincide in these statements, and have no hesitation in saying that the introduction of this implement will be attended with signal advantage. On tenacicus soils, it may induce a better system of tillage. To insure the best crops on such soils, particularly of wheat, it is important that they should be plowed fine, and thoroughly pulverised. This is generally admitted, but the objection raised is, that such nicety of work takes too much time; and hence, in order to go over the requisite extent of surface, the furrows are made wide, leaving the soil in compact masses. By the use of the double plow, the furrows may be cut deep and narrow, while at the same time the work is more expeditiously performed, and at less expense. In wheat-growing districts, we think this will be found of much importance, especially in plowing fallows, and not less in clover ley, where only one plowing is given before seeding. On all plain lands, and on the western prairies, the saving which will result from this combination of plows, will perhaps, be still more striking than in other situations. We append the following from a letter lately written to Mr. BARTLETT, by Hon. D. WEBSTER: In June, 1849, an experiment was tried on my farm in Marshfield with one of your double plows, on a piece of land intended for turneps, somewhat rocky, with a hard sward, not having been plowed for many years, and many bunches of bushes grow. ing upon it. The plow appeared to work well, and Mr. Wright, who has been our principal farmer for many years, was greatly pleased with it. The furrows were as well laid, as I thought, as they could have been by any single plow. Mr. Taylor, who lives on my farm in New Hamp. shire, wishes me to send him a double plow. His land is level, rather a rich loam, and entirely free from stones. He thinks that with a double plow, and a pair of horses, with a light hand to hold, he could quite easily plow three acres a day, for many days in succession. It struck me, when seeing the plow in operation, that one part steadied the other, and made the work smooth and even. The saving of labor in the use of the double plow. is too apparent to need remark. Profits of Fowls. Mr. EDWIN HOWARD, of Easton, Mass., gives an account of the profits of his fowls from the first of December, 1848, to the same period of 1849. He began with nineteen hens and a cock, and in the spring he added one more hen. The whole stock was valued at twenty dollars. The number of eggs produced in the year, was 1,851; the number of chickens raised by himself was 82. The eggs sold, brought $27.97, and the fowls sold, $46,48. Thir. ty-two fowls on hand, are reckoned worth $30. His fowls are mostly of the variety called Cochin China, imported by Mr. BAYLIES, of Taunton, Mass. The eggs that were sold were reckoned at fifty cents per dozen, though one dollar was the price charged; but fifty cents per dozen was deducted for the trouble of packing and sending off. The accout stands thus: Eggs sold-1300, Eggs not sold-581, at 15 cents per dozen,. Value of fowls on hand over last year at this time,. 32 bushels of corn and meal, at 75 cents,... Balance in favor of fowls,. Wire Fences. $27.97 46.48 into general use, it would add immensely to the great iron manufacturing interest of the country.Three and a half feet high is sufficient for sheep, and 5 feet for cattle and horses; and I should be pleased to give such information as I am possessed of with regard to constructing it. And now I earnestly suggest to every reader of 727 the extensively circulated Cultivator who has had 10 00 any experience or observation respecting Wire Fences, to transmit their views to this journal, to$91 72gether with a minute method of constructing it, and I doubt not that an opinion may at once be formed with regard to the propriety of its general adopA. B. 24 37 67 35 EDITORS CULTIVATOR-I regret to notice in the January number of the Cultivator, an article against Wire Fences; and to show that the writer is "reck. oning without his host," I will state that No. 10 wire, which is the finest used, can be bought for 5 cents per pound; and that Mr. ELLET, the constructor of Wire Suspension Bridges, in a report, states that a single strand of this No. will sustain 1500 pounds. A fence of wire of this No. may be made for 50 cents per rod; and in case of the "plunging of heavy cattle against it," they would probably meet with the resistance of three of the wires, and an animal in breaking them must employ a force equal to about 4500 pounds; and the writer alluded to thinks that when made even of wire so large as to cost $2 per rod, it will be "fre. quently broken" in that way. Now according to the above calculation, they must be mighty cattle, possessing "a power" of strength and force fully equal to the iron-horse called Loco-motive. Any one who has observed the effect of wind in swaying and breaking off the wires of a well-constructed wire fence, must admit that the objection is at least a windy one. Now although I have had but about 40 rods of experience in making this kind of fence, and which cost me less than 50 cents per rod, I am fully of the opinion that it is worthy of the attention of every farmer who has not "stones on his fields which he wishes to get rid of;" for I know of no locality where a farmer can erect a rail or board fence for much less than $1 per rod; but I can refer you to many large sections where every farmer will tell you his rail and board fences cost him nearly double that sum, and is yearly increasing as our forests and wood lots are decreasing, and are enhanced in value. That a cheaper substitute for field fences is loudly called for, no man can dispute. It is true that the American farmer is at greater expense for the sup. port of his fences than any other farmer in the world. It is by far the heaviest drawback upon the profits of the farmer, that he is obliged to contend with. Indeed it stands like a lion in the pathway of many great improvements which long ago would have been made, and which every farmer yearly sees and is desirous of making, but is reluctantly compelled to turn from, and apply all the means in his power to his decaying fences of wood. And how, I ask, are our western prairies to be fenced, where in many instances, not a tree is to be seen or stone found for leagues; and it has been found that embankments of earth there will not answer. In consequence of the great cheapness of iron, many have been led to experiment with it in the form of wire as a substitute for wood fences, and I see nothing against its success, after, perhaps, some better method shall have been contrived for straining, fastening and uniting the strands; and should it come tion. The original signature of the above communication having been that of a well-known and regular correspondent of The Cultivator, we have thought it proper to substitute another in its stead. We shall be glad to receive from A. B., and from any other views as to the best method of constructing it, its of our readers who have erected wire fences, their cost, and probable permanence.-EDS. Products of Labor and Capital. The Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1848, makes the following estimate of the products of labor and capital in the United States for that year: Value. $145,319,290 344,058,500 66 6,222,050 4,044,332 32,951,500 185,500,000 46 16 21,418,475 64,925,000 12,523,000 6,266,500 .115,475,000 32,342,500 10,000,000 10,000,000 20,000,000 17,500,000 1,600,000 The quantity of molasses is estimated at 9,600,000, which, at 284 cents, realized $2,736,000. Wine, 500,000 gallons, which, at $1, brought $500,000. The annual value of pasturage is put down at $60,768,136. The value of the residuum of crops, such as straw, chaff, &c., $100,000,000. Of manure, $60,000,000. Product of orchards, $9,071,130. Of gardens, $45,000,000. Nurseries, $741, 917. Butchers' meat, including mutton, beef and pork, $146,597,360. Hides, felt and tallow, $20,000,000. Neat Cattle, $4,401,470. Horses, mules and asses, $8,129,350. Poultry, $11,680,512. Eggs, 10 tons wheat bran, or ship stuff, at $10 per ton.... 62 tons hay, at $8 per ton. 26 weeks pasturing for 41 cows, at 1s per week each.. Nett expenses Total amount. EDS. CULTIVATOR-There can be no question but a large number of our farmers would not hesitate to spare a dollar or more, to see some trifling amusement-a "bear dance," or a cock-fight; and yet are indifferent towards an agricultural paper, which like a true friend, sticks by them, ever ready to point out the poor and wet parts of the farm, Making an average to each cow, of butter. saying "drain, manure, plow deep, harrow fine, seed well, read and observe." Allow me to make a suggestion. Suppose every member of an agricultural club or society, were to make a report of all his operations at the end of every year, stating the number of his family, the number of laborers and the number of those unable to labor, the number of stock of all kinds, the food consumed by all, the work for each lot or field and the number of acres in each, the kind of crop, the yield, the amount of money received and spent, the state of the weather for each month, with such remarks as suggest themselves-would it not be useful? Our crops last year were fair, except fruits, of which we had none. I did not see a good peach or apple the whole season. The whole fall and De. cember were very pleasant, till the night of the 30th ult., when it commenced raining, then hailing, and ended in snow, which fell six inches deep. The thermometer was down to 12° on the first of Janu ary. J. BUNCH. Chuckatuck, Nansemond Co., Va., Jan. 1, 1850. Mode of Planting Corn. EDS. CULTIVATOR-We have in this section a method of planting corn which may be new to some of your readers. Deduct expenses. Leaving a balance of 66 66 cheese milk.. $164 00 337 32 1,313 80 788 40 200 00 $2,803 52 $100 00 75 00 496 00 333 25 15.00 . $1,019 25 .$2,803 52 1,019 25 .$1,784 27 160 lbs. 3 oz. 91" 6 oz. ...160 galls. The milk, it will be understood, is that which is used on table by boarders, never skimmed. Add manure and calves, and the total amount for each cow is $68 37 Deduct expenses.. Nett profit to each cow... Made of butter in the month of October, 1849, 1st week 66 2d "C 3d " 4th " Total in October....... ....201 ..932" After the ground is furrowed one way, one man It is very necessary for milch cows to be well supcommences furrowing in the other direction. A plied with good pure water, especially in the win. boy or man follows and drops the corn. Then ano- ter season when fed on dry fodder. We make a ther, provided with an implement something like the practice of watering our cows twice a day, morn. common shovel plow, with a square piece of ironing and night. This is given them in the stable, about the size of a common hoe screwed fast to the where they can drink at leisure, sheltered from cold end of it, follows the dropper and covers the corn, and storm. New Lebanon, Shaker Village. Famiby letting the iron scrape up the dirt from the bot-ly of JONATHAN WOOD and EDWARD FOWLER, numtom of the furrow, and deposit it immediately on bering 130 persons. the hill. As soon as the corn is covered up, the planter is dropped again for another hill, &c. This method here, in our new fields, where stumps are very thick, is a great saving of time. Two men, and a boy 12 years old, with two horses, can furrow out one way, and plant eight acres in a day. A change of fortune hurts a wise man no more than a change of the moon. A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines. Fools make feasts and wise men eat them. ing Secretary,) should have had an earlier notice, especially for its valuable matter in relation to fruits. The most important article of this character is Dr. WENDELL's Report, occupying 22 pages, and embracing outlines and full descriptions of American Summer Pearmain, Summer Rose, Autumn Strawberry, Pomme Royal (or Dyer,) Mother, Melon, and Wagener apples; Rostiezer, Tyson and Golden Biboa pears; and Red Gage and Purple Favorite plums. It also contains descriptions of White Imperial and Cooledge's Favorite peaches; Moorpark and Breda apricots; and Downton and Boston nectarines. A better addition to the excellent list of fruits already published by the State Ag. ricultural Society, could not well have been made. The Wagener apple, a new variety from Yates county, received the premium of the Society, as a new fruit of the highest character; and the committee appear to have exercised fearlessly a discriminating judgment, in allowing no other to rank with the required standard, out of a large number presented for examination by some of the best cultivators in the country. From a valuable and interesting article in another part of the volume, from the pen of N. LONGWORTH, of Cincinnati, well spiced with the peculiarities of his style, we extract the following: Fox Grapes. "Two years since, I was informed of a superior German grape, cultivated by a German in our city, who had not only sold the fruit to our confectioners at a high price, but had already engaged all his cuttings, and refused $200 for the vine. I started in the pursuit, warm as the day was, and after trudging on foot for three hours through the dust, and a scorching sun, the garden was pointed out to me, where this celebrated grape was to be found. I became aware of its quality when within fifty feet of the vine, for I discovered the fine scent of the fox grape, that was so much admired in my days of boyhood. It proved to be a fox grape of the poorest kind, but ripened early, and I found I could buy the plant for $500. This was too high a price for a prudent Jerseyman to give, and I had my walk without any profit. I shall be pleased to furnish cuttings to any person foolish enough to deem them worthy of culti The Hovey's Seedling bears larger fruit than any variety we cultivate. But it is subject to die out with us in winter. Its season of fruiting is short, and we deem it inferior in flavor to some other varieties common with us; and we have several varieties, that the average of the fruit is as large, and some larger. The average size, Extracts from Correspondence. cultivated as we cultivate other varieties, is less than three inches; -I should say, less than two and three-fourth inches in circumfer"The doctrine of Rotation of Crops for ordinaence. I believe the strawberry with us acquires a larger size than ry soils, is well established, and Judge Peters of Pa. it does east. Our apples, pears and peaches are larger. Some of my tenants this season had peaches measuring 14 inches, and sold extended it to forest trees, showing that one kind their finest at $5 per bushel. But in justice to Ilovey's Seedling, I of timber, frequently, if not generally, succeeded would add that no garden should he without it, and though not found by us to be the most profitable for cultivation for market, it is a desi- some other kinds, as oak after pine, and birch or rable variety to cultivate for sale, as its first fruit is larger than any beech after hemlock. Lately, Professor Liebig, other, and commands a higher price. I trust the horticultu- however, showed that the ashes of the vine formed rists of Boston will now have a staminate worthy of cultivation, in addition to the Boston Pine; for Mr. Schnieke informs me that a an excellent manure for the same plant; and others gentleman from Boston saw his bed of seedling pistillates, when in have recommended the twigs and leaves unburnt for fruit, and paid him $6 for a few plants. Mr. Burr has certainly raised some varieties worthy of their notice; and Mr. McAvoy and Mr. the same purpose. Why lands become impoverished Schneike, in the Garden of Eden, adjoining our city, have raised when the crops are removed, is more easily underseveral thousand seedlings, from the largest pistillate fruits, impreg-stood than why the forest should require a rotation nated by the largest fruited staminates; and among them, McAvoy had last season a pistillate that bore as large fruit as any of the Hovey in this vicinity, and its average size larger. It was shown at the exhibition, and he claimed the prize offered by the Society, as equalling what they required. The Society laid his application oved till his seedling was further tested. Mr. McAvoy raised more than 1,000 plants from the seed of the Hovey, impregnated by the Swainstone: Yet among them, he found but one plant which he deemed worthy of cultivation, as new varieties are not desirable, unless equal to, or superior to the parent when all the timber rots on the ground. But be this as it may, I am satisfied that some plants are well, if not best manured with their own leaves. Some years ago, Col. Carr, of the Bartram Botanic Garden, sent me a bulb of Crocus scrotinus, which increased very slowly for several years; but letting it remain on the same spot it has gradually become |