132 



®l)e JTarmer's iHcmtl)!!} bioitor. 



procure belter articles, thut liave saved iniicli 

 tidic, patience and profit. 



In short, I'ur all that I have nrouiid me that is 

 not CO mmoti in these ports, 1 am indebted to 

 these vipfirS) foi' they not only give the needed 

 practical inforinnlion, hut what is worth full as 

 much, they are a great incentive to action." 



Well, well, thought I, if this is the hook Ibrniinp 

 against which I have heard so much said, would 

 to God all were book farmers in the laud ; and I 

 resolved forthwith to become one myself. 



B. SMITH. 



The late New Vork State Fair— Agricultural 

 £nthusiaiiin — Increasing Respect for Labor. 



To those who have attended the successive 

 Slate Fairs of New-York, comparisons between 

 the past and the Present will be at once suggest- 

 ed. Not only the absolute change which is so 

 clearly manilest, but the spirit at work strikes the 

 mind with /pleasurable wonder and pride. 



Four years since, wlien the first State Fair 

 was called at Albany, it ivas considered a matter 

 of doubt whether the great experiment would 

 succeed. Jt was deemed more than questiona- 

 ble whether even a sufficient number of visitors 

 could be induced to come there, to pay the ex- 

 penses in getting up these Farmers' Festivals. 

 That Fair was held, and it succeeded beyond 

 the most sanguine expectation. It was found to 

 be a most attractive place to visit. Those who 

 went, messenger-like, soon spread the news in 

 their several localities, and those who neglected 

 to go, afterwards regretted that they had lost so 

 much pleasure. The next State Fair was held 

 at Syracuse. The gathering was large, and the 

 exhibition fine. The next at Rochester, where 

 Western New- York poured out its richest trea- 

 sures and its thousands and tens of tliousonds of 

 people. In 1844, it was given to the Hudson 

 River Counties at Ponglikeepsie, and most no- 

 bly did Eastern New-York repay that honor, by 

 an exhibition worthy of her past reputation, 

 while the people gathered there not by thou- 

 sands, but tens of thousands, to celebrate this 

 great annual holy-day. In 1815 the Fair was 

 awarded to Central New- York at Utica, from 

 which 80 many thousands have recently returned 

 to their homes, and where the exhibition in the 

 really useful has surpassed that of any previous 

 year. 



At every successive Fair there has been an in- 

 creasing interest evinced, imtil now the enthusi- 

 asm has become so wide-spread among all class- 

 es, that the question is not. Have you been there.' 

 but rather. Have you not been there? 



One of the best evidences of this deepening 

 and pervading interest is the increased attend- 

 ance of ladies, whose presence is thus calculated 

 to dignify and a<lorn the usefut in the Farmer's 

 life. Four years ago iheir attendance was limi- 

 ted. The number has increased from year to 

 year, until at the late Festival at Ulioa at least 

 one-half of the visitors were ladies. Many from 

 distant parts of the state, and of a class too, who 

 do not usually attend these exhibitions. They 

 came there with their falliers, brothers and moth- 

 ers to commemorate the great Harvest Home of 

 New-York. 



We allude to this circumstance because noth- 

 ing can be more calculated to render agricultu- 

 ral exhibitions popular with our people, who are 

 noted for the respect they entertain for the fair 

 sex. Their influence in forming the tone of 

 |)ublic opinion is of inconceivable moment, and 

 therefore, we hail their presence U)»on such oc- 

 casions, not only as calculated to enhance the 

 pleasures of the hotu-, but as tending to give in- 

 terest to the occupation of the farmer, and to 

 elevate the life of manual labor to that position 

 which it should occupy in the minds of the 

 rising generation of our republic. 



It requires but little perception to see that 

 farming is becoming fashlonHblo in this country. 

 Young men of position, wealth and education, 

 liow pride thomselvcs upon having a finely ma- 

 naged farm, and a superior breed of stock. 

 At tlie late fair we met young men of fortune 

 and finished education scarcely in their majority, 

 who have become farmer.f, and who pointed 

 with a peculiar pride to the articles they had 

 raised for exhibition. The influence of such 

 examples is scarcely to be estimated. Ten years 

 since such was the diseased state of public 

 (ipinjot) in relation to forming, thev woidd have 



been almost ashamefrto acknowledge that they 

 were farmers. But those diiys of sickly senti- 

 mentality have passed, and a healthier and 

 sounder tone is infused iliroushoutthe State, and 

 we may hope throughout ihe Union. 'I'he culti- 

 vation of the soil is now regarded with a leal 

 pride. The toil hardened hand and the sun- 

 biuiit face are no longer esteemed a reproach. 

 Labor is approaching the true dignily of its po- 

 sition, while the devotees of indolence begin lo 

 be estimated us they should be, in a republican 

 country like oms. 



Though much has been done, much remains 

 to be done. Improvement should be the con- 

 stant watchword in all the details of farming. 

 When any thing is to be done, it may be as well 

 done well, as shabbily done, and frequently too 

 with no more expense, and trouble. The great 

 point in all farming should be to get the full 

 worth of the labor ami money expended. The 

 experience of every one will at once call lo mind 

 how much is wasted. The comparison and ob- 

 servation of every farmer will constantly suggest 

 something better. When alterations or repairs 

 are lo be made, common sense would at once 

 say that these slioidd be dojie in an iinpioved 

 style. 



We woidd not urge increased expense, espe- 

 cially when this may cause inconvenience, but 

 the point is, as repairs have to be annvalty made 

 on every farm iii the stale, should not these be 

 so done as to get a superior article at Ihe same 

 expense? At Utica, we markeil un improved 

 self-aeling gate. It was so decided an iinprove- 

 ment, that every liirmer was noticing it. It re- 

 quired no ropes, no pulleys, no weights, no 

 latch ; but was wisely framed to shut by its own 

 weight, thus carrying out one of the noblest 

 principles of mechanics. The fence was made 

 as every farmer malies one before his house. 

 The gate opened like folding-<loors. It slid on 

 wooden rollers, inserted about half way from 

 the top of the fence. After you had opened it, it 

 gradually slid to, by having iljo gate act like a 

 slightly inclined plane, which makes it move 

 easy, and it must shut so long as the laws of 

 gravity exist. It costs no more than the old 

 fashioned gate, is less liable lo get out of order, 

 as there are no ropes lo break, no latch, and no 

 pulley to get bent. The memory of the farmer 

 will readily count up how much he has lost, by 

 the gale of a garden or field being accidentally 

 left open. If this can be so easily guarded 

 against, it is worthy of attention. 



This may .seem an improvement in a trifling 

 matter, but these little details make up the sum 

 of human life and human comfort, and therefore 

 improvement in every thing should be the uncea- 

 sing watchword of the farmer, who may wisely 

 look over his own domain, as the field where he 

 can not only earn a living for himself, but at the 

 same time, where he can so act as to benefit 

 others by his example, and thus fidfil the highest 

 atul noblest object of huuiau existence.— ./i/trrnj/ 

 Jlrgiis. 



Frum the Albany Cultivator. 

 Visit to Mr. Van Burcn's Farm. 



We lately passed a beauiilid summer's ilay in 

 the vicinity of Kinderhook. Amoui; other places 

 of interest we visited " Lindeiivvald," the seat of 

 ex-1'resident Vam Buren. 



We found Mr. Van Buren at home, an<l accom- 

 panied him in a walk over the farm. When he 

 entered oti the occupancy of his place, on his re- 

 tirement fiom the Presidency, it was much out 

 of order; the land having been rented for twenty 

 years, and been under cultivation for the period 

 of 160 years. Several of the buildings had be- 

 come poor, the fences were old and rotting down, 

 and bushes and grass of wild growth had taken 

 po.ssession of the farm. Dming the short time 

 it has been uiuler Mr. Van Buren's management, 

 the place has been greatly improved, and a coin-se 

 is now fairly begun by which a handsome income 

 may be derived from it. The garden and plea- 

 sure groun<l8 have been enlarged and newlv laid 

 out — hot-houses have been erected— and a "largo 

 nundier of fruit and ornamental trees, sluubbery 

 &c. have been planted. The grecn-houso con- 

 tniiis a collection of exotic fruits and plants, among 

 which were eomo fine grapes. In the garden 

 we noticed some fine samples of all the fruits of 

 the season. 



Amontf thn oIvjacih which j^ive beauty and Ih- 



terest to the grounds, are two artificial ponds in 

 Ihe garden. They were easily made by coustruct- 

 mg dams across a little brook originating from 

 springs on the premises. Soon after thev were 

 tnade (three years ago,) some fi.-li were put into 

 them, and thev are now so well stocked with 

 trout, pickerel and perch, that Mr. Van Buren as- 

 sured us they will aflTord an abundant supply for 

 his table. Tills is a matter well worthy of con- 

 sideralion. There are many .--iiiiations where 

 such ponds may be made; and with trifling ex- 

 pense, Ihe luxury of catching and eating a fine 

 trout or pickerel, may be had .-it any time. 



Several of ihe fields have been enclosed with 

 new ((.uces, and several buildiiigserected, among 

 which is a very tasty (iirm-house, and a barn cal- 

 culated for storing 150 tons of hay after being 

 pressed. 



But perha[)s the most important improvemenia 

 which have taken place on the farm, have been 

 made on a tract of bog land, thirteen acres of 

 which have been thoroughly reclaimed, and are 



covered with luxuriant crops of grass or oats. 



Three years ago this land was worthies.--. It was 

 first dniineil by ditches; the stumps and bushes 

 were then cut out and burned, and the ashes 

 spread on the land. It was afterwards sown lo 

 grass, using a mixture of limolhy and redtop 

 seed— 3 pecks to the acre. The whole cost of 

 reclaiming was $38 per acre, ;md the land will 

 now pay the interest of a hundred to a hundred 

 and fitly dollars per acre. In this Mr. Van Bu- 

 ren has set a good example, which we hope will 

 be Ibllowed by other liiruiers in Ihe neighborhood 

 who have lands similarly situated. 



The potato crop is one of considerable conse- 

 quence on his farm, us '.veil as on others in the 

 vicinity. Mr. Van Buren raises the variety called 

 the Carters, produced from the hall a few years 

 ago by the Shakers. He considers these by far 

 the most (irofitable kind known. Mr. Van Buren 

 assured us that all which could be raised would 

 readily command fifty cents a bushel by the quan- 

 tity in New York city. 



All the crops appear lo be well managed. 



Leached aslies were tried last season with excel- 

 lent success. Great benefit has also been derived 

 from ploughing in clovbr. 



Mr. Van Buren keeps but little stock, a consid- 

 erable object being the sale of hay. Tiie man- 

 agement of the fiirm is under the inmiediate su- 

 [lervision of Mr. Van Buren, who finds in it a 

 salutary exercise for ihe faculties of mind and 

 body. In his rural retreat, removed from the 

 cares of Stale, and turmoil of prdilical wars, he 

 now 



Drinka tlic pure pkasure of a mral life. 



From liici .Magazine uf Ildrticulture. 

 On the Cultivation of the Raspberry. 

 In our last number we gave an aiticle on the 

 cultivation of the currant. It was the first of a 

 series of papers we inlend lo r.fler upon the cul- 

 tivation of all the fruits of Ihe garden, which have 

 not previously been written upon by ourselves. 

 We now proceed to treat upon ilie growth of the 

 raspberry. 



The raspberry, like the straw berry and currant, 

 and other small fruits, the gooseberry excepted, 

 has been jjrcatly neglected in its cultivation! 

 Though common in every garden, and every- 

 where esteemed, next lo the sirawberrv, for lis 

 rich and handsome fruit, yet few individuals have 

 attempted improved methodsof growth, by which 

 the size, beauty, excellence and proiluctiveness 

 of the berries may be increased to ii much great- 

 er degree than they are generally seen in our 

 gardens. 



The raspberry is as susceptible of improve- 

 ment as the strawberry: yet, while in Ihe latter 

 we have the beautiful Keen's seedling and our 

 own variety, conlrastiug with such marked su- 

 periority o\er the small and inferior berries of 

 the older sons, iho same varieties of the raspl)erry 

 are now cultivated that were common twonty or 

 thirty years ago, and they are still deemed the 

 most desirable sorts. The same attention be- 

 stoweil on this fruit, that has been devoted to Ihe 

 gooseberry, would undoubtedly have resulted in 

 the production of varieties much superior lo those 

 at present grown. 



The raspberry, like the strawberry, is a native 

 of low and partially shady situations, growing ia 

 hoggy or soft black soils, which allow its roots to 

 Strike deep, and throw up a free growth of its 



