1839] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



133 



high price in view of the vast advantage which 

 must ultimately result Irom rearing good animals, 

 instead of bad ones ; and we think he will ackow- 

 ledge that these are undoubtedly some ot the pre- 

 disposing causes of this great malady. Will you 

 come, Judge? — We promise you shall graduate 

 before you return to the north. 



The " climax,^'' however, we think, is not yet 

 attained in Kentucky. The gentlemen who paid 

 $2000 for a cow, have refused an advance on 

 that price for her. One half of the ^2000 cow 

 and calf has been lately purchased by the owner 

 of the other half, at an advance on cost. We do 

 not pretend to say that higher prices than these 

 will hereafter be given, for the animals to which 

 we have alluded, are considered extra superior ; 

 but we are confident that the present current rates 

 will be sustained for some time to come. There is 

 not the least symptom of that decline which inva- 

 riably follows a ^'climax." In saying this, however, 

 we do not wish to be understood as advocating the 

 propriety of every farmer's giving these enormous 

 prices. For the good of the breeding interest, 

 and in view of the more rapid and general spread 

 of the Durham cattle, we wish they could be sold 

 at prices that would justify every farmer in sub- 

 stituting thera for interior breeds of the country. 

 Purchasers can in general, buy Durham cattle in 

 Kentucy as low, if not lower, than they can get 

 animals of equal quality in England, and hence 

 the present current rates will not probably decline 

 very shortly. But we should rejoice to announce 

 such a decline as would enable all to purchase ; 

 although we think those enterprising pioneers 

 who have risked so much money in introducing 

 them into the country, ought to be amply remun- 

 erated. We learn that several individuals and 

 companies in Kentucky, having heavy capital, 

 have gone or sent agents to England to purchase 

 more improved stock of every discription ; and 

 this at a time too, when, it is understood, the price 

 of superior cattle has advanced fill:}' per cent in 

 that country. 



From tlie Genesee Farmer. 

 ELECTRO-MAGNBTIC POWER. 



In a latenamberof the Genesee Farmer, an in- 

 quiry was made as to the state of Davenport's 

 electro-magnetic machines, and the probability 

 of their affording a power capable of working 

 thrashing machines of the kind noticed by the in- 

 quirer, as well as affording power for other pur- 

 poses. To this inquiry we can only say, that 

 nothing morels known of the state of Mr. Daven- 

 port's machines, than that he has for some months 

 been at work upon one which it is hoped will jus- 

 tify the anticipations he and his friends appear to 

 entertain of it as a moving power. At the same 

 time, it may be remarked, that the experiments of 

 others, if not of Mr. D., would seem to lead to 

 the supposition, that the increase of power is not 

 in proportion to the increase of size in the ma- 

 chines; and Dr. Page of Washington, who has 

 tried various combinations of this power, and 

 carefully watched the results, is of the opinion 

 that it cannot be made applicable for the purpo- 

 ses requiring great power, or such as now require 

 Bteam, or at least that a single machine cannot 

 be made to exert such a power. Dr. Page's con- 



clusion may be correct, so far as regards the 

 working of a siniorle machine ; but we think he 

 has himself furnished evidence, that any required 

 degree of power may be obtained by a combi- 

 nation of small machines. In Silliman's Journal 

 for January, 1839, is a paper on this subject by 

 Dr. Page, in the course of which there is a draw- 

 ing and description of a machine made by Mr. 

 Davis, of Boston, of whicli Dr. Page says — "As 

 a proof that electro-magnetism is susceptible of 

 useful application where only a small power is 

 wanted, a sruall engine was made by Mr. Davis 

 in the inonth of July last, by the aid of which an 

 individual gains fifteen dollars per day, by the 

 simpleoperation of drilling the steel-plates for gas 

 burners. I think this may be considered the first 

 instance in which the mechanical application of 

 electro-magnetism has been turned to profitable 

 account." It appears perfectly evident to us, that a 

 combination of^the power of several such machines, 

 like that of several boilers on a single steam-engine, 

 may be nmde to exert almost any power wanted ; 

 whether the expense would be justified in the re- 

 sult, can only be determined when the nature 

 and efficiency of this new agent is better under- 

 stood. As it is, we must for a time be content 

 with the old fashioned agents, horse, water or 

 steam-power, and patiently wait for other devel- 

 opments and improvements. 



From the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 THE SUGAR BEET AND THE RUTA BAGA. 



Although the gentlemen who formed (he "Su- 

 gar Beet Society," and introduced the seed among 

 us, have not as yet seen their hopes realized by the 

 establishment of sugar manufactories in Pennsyl- 

 vania, yet they are entitled to the gratitude of our 

 farmers for introducing to their notice an article 

 which must, I think, ere long, be placed at the head 

 of our list of root-crops, as cultivated expressly lor 

 the winter food of our stock. I am aware of the 

 preference given by difi'erent root-growers to the 

 carrot, the ruta baga, and the beet, and that pre- 

 conceived opinion often prevents a lair trial of the 

 merits of other roots. 



I have the past season cultivated the beet and 

 ruta baga, and were either one out of reach, I 

 should rest satisfied with the other as one of the 

 greatest luxuries for our cattle during the winter, 

 and a rich mine from which to increase the quan- 

 tity of manure, and consequently the crops to 

 which manure is applied ; I cultivated both, in or- 

 der to arrive, by experiment, at some conclusion as 

 to their relative value ; the season has been un- 

 propitious for all root crops, it is said ; as for me, I 

 cannot complain; one sixteenth of an acre planted 

 with beets without manure, (but in a deep rich 

 soil,) twice ploughed, and four times harrowed, 

 gave 65 bushels,; at the rate of 1,040 bushels per 

 acre. One fourth of an acre of ruta baga on an 

 inferior piece of ground on which was put three 

 two-horse loads of manure, twice ploughed and 

 three times harrowed, gave 120 bushels ; equal (o 

 480 bushels per acre. 



The beets had a fair chance ; it was nothing but 

 straight-forward work with them from planting un- 

 til gathering time ; but the poor ruta bagas had 



