No. 9. 



PremmmsSugar Beet— Clay Soils. 



285 



in ten or twelve days, lest tlie sediment 

 should rise, which I have known to be the 

 case. 



The foregoing- operation should be per- 

 formed previous to the apple trees being in 

 bloom; but I have succeeded best in the 

 ■winter, in steady cool weather. I have like- 

 wise had good success in puttings the fining- 

 in the cider direct from the press, and set in 

 casks with one head out, taps put in and set 

 in a cool place properly fixed for drawing, 

 and covered ; when the fermentation sub- 

 sides, and the scum begins to crack, take it 

 off carefully with a skimmer, then draw it 

 carefully from the sediment. If it is not 

 sufficiently fine by the middle of winter pro- 

 ceed as before directed. 



The settlings of cider spirits, reduced with 

 water cider, being put into cider, in propor- 

 tion of from two or three gallons to a hogshead, 

 answered the purpose of fining, full as well as 

 the isinglass. 



Joseph Cooper. 



2nd mo. 1803. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Premiums for Crops* 



At a meeting of the Philadelphia Agricul- 

 tural Society, held April 1st, 1840, the fol- 

 lowing report was directed to be published in 

 the Farmers' Cabinet. 



It was agreed to offer premiums for the 

 following crops; the amount of the premiums 

 to be fixed and determined at a future meet- 

 ing of the Society. 



For the best field of Indian Corn, not less 



than five acres. 

 For the second best do. do. 



For the best crop of Spring Wheat, not less 



than two acres. 

 For the second best do. do. 



For the best crop of Potatoes, not less than 



two acres. 

 For the second best do. do. 



For the best crop of Sugar Beet, not less than 



one acre. 

 For the second best do. do. 



For the best crop of Mangel Wurtzel, not 



less than one acre. 

 For the second best,, do. do. 



For the best crop of Ruta Baga, not less than 



half an acre. 

 For the second best do. do. 



For the best crop of Field Carrots, not less 



than a quarter of an acre. 

 For the second best do. do. 



For the best crop of Sugar Parsneps, not less 



than a quarter of an acre. 

 For the second best do. do. 



Competitors will be required to notify thei 



Committee at least one month previous to 

 housing their crops. Each competitor must 

 furnish the Committee with a written ac- 

 count of the manner of cultivation, kind rnd 

 quality of manure; character and kmd of 

 i^oil, as nearly as practicable; and e.vpen.se 

 of labour bestowed on each crop. Tliey 

 must also furnish satisfactory evidence of the 

 quantity produced per acre. 



Geokge W. Roberts, 

 ^Robert T. Potts, 

 James Thornton, 

 Isaac Newton, 

 Isaac W. Roberts, 

 Dr. George Uhler, 



Committee on Crops. 



Siiji^ar Beet« 



To the Editor of the Fanners' Cabinet. 



Sir: — On the first introduction of this in- 

 valuable crop to notice, a portion of the im- 

 ported seed was of the yellow species. This 

 has given place to the white, or Silesian, the 

 only kind now cultivated. The writer wish- 

 ing, however, to have an opportunity of test- 

 ing the quality of the yellow species, for a 

 particular purpose, is desirous of knowing if 

 any of the friends of the Cabinet still retain 

 any of these roots — and if they do, to ask of 

 them to forward to the office of the Cabinet, 

 (No. 50 North Fourth street, Philadelphia,) 

 a few — if not more than two or three, they 

 will be very acceptable — for the purpose 

 above mentioned. The kind desired, are 

 globe shaped, rather than tap-rooted; and 

 they will be best for the purpose required, to 

 retain their tops — by which is meant, not 

 their leaves, but the crown of the root. The 

 success of the contemplated experiment will 

 be made known through the pages of a future 

 number of the Cabinet. 



W. R, 



Philadelphia, April 6, 1840. 



Clay Soil8< 



All clay soils intended for spring culture, 

 should be turned up in the fall, to receive the 

 benefit of the action of the winter's frost, 

 which mellows and reduces it infinitely bet- 

 ter than any treatment which man is sus- 

 ceptible of giving it. If very tenacious, its 

 condition may be greatly improved by simply 

 adding sand to it, after the ploughing, and so 

 harrowing it as thoroughly to mix the two 

 together. Instances of the success of this 

 practice are numerous in Europe, and are 

 said to have been so decidedly striking as to 

 excite surprise. In numerous cases, the ad- 

 vantages have been equally great as if the 

 clay had been heavily manured. 



I A farmer should never forget that it is his 

 ,duty to treat God's creatures with kindness. 



