246 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



proved, by actual experiment, that corn cut up by 

 the roots and cured in shocks, is about four pounds 

 per bushel heavier than the same variety, on the 

 Bame kind of ground, left to ripen in the hill. The 

 reason of this seems to be, that when cut up before 

 it is killed by the frost, the sap then in the stalk goes 

 to maturing the ear. 



Mr. A.'s picture of a person seated upon a bundle 

 of damp corn stalks, endeavoring to extricate the 

 eiippery, half rotten ears from their mouldy coverings, 

 is a picture of some slap-dash farmer, who leans his 

 corn against the fence, or pole set up for that pur- 

 pose, to avoid the trouble of shocking. When such 

 a course is pursued, mouldy, half-rotten and shppery 

 ears are all that common sense would look for. But 

 try fairly the plan I have laid down, and when husk- 

 ing time comes you will find your corn sound and 

 dry; and besides, you will have the thanks of your 

 dumb animals for the excellent fodder, 



Indiana Co., Pa. W. H. M. 



A FAEMER'S OPINION OF " AGEICULTTJEAl 

 QUACKERY." 



Messrs. Editors : — In order to derive the greatest 

 benefits from agricultural pursuits, it is necessary 

 that every farmer should contribute his " mite," in 

 the way of 'practical experience, through the pages 

 of some reliable agricultural journal. Let every til- 

 ler of the soil, of however limited an extent, write 

 out his own observations and experience — not giving 

 explosive theories, or " quackery," as you term it in 

 your July number, in lieu of sound, practical experi- 

 ments. In this way, each writer, as well as reader, 

 will be beuefitted, as thought begets thought; each 

 adding his suggestions to those already added, is the 

 track over which all great improvements have been 

 forced to pass before their principles have become 

 fully developed. I would suggest that we may assist 

 tiie great minds who are continually laboring to bene- 

 fit the farmer by applying the various sciences to the 

 cultivation and improvement of our different soils, 

 by adding such ingredients as are found to be defi- 

 oidnt. 



We certainly have derived great benefits from the 

 labors of many eminent chemists abroad, as well as 

 from the efforts of great minds at home. Mechanics, 

 also, bestow much benefit, by studying to improve 

 labor-saving machinery. Still, we may arrive at 

 greater perfection, by giving, through the Agricultu- 

 ral Press, our suggestions for improvements in the 

 practical workings of the different agricultural im- 

 plements. It is a ^t that improvements in mechani- 

 cal pursuits are disseminated with much more rapidity 

 than any in connection with the fanning interest ; 

 and why is it so ? It may safely be said, it is owing, 

 io a great measure, to " agricultural quackery," or, 

 in other words, to promulgating theories that will 

 not stand the test of experience. This must be 

 remedied, by writing out plain, simple facts, as no- 

 ticed on the spot from day to day. Perhaps it is 

 owing to this same "quackery," that the deep preju- 

 dice against " book farming " is perpetuated, which 

 prejudice drives many young aspirants for fame from 

 the paternal roof, to seek room for their really 

 promising intellecL to develop. Thus are our best 

 minds drawn from one of the noblest pursuits, in 

 which they might shine and be benefactors to their 

 race, and in which there is room, to some of the 



crowded professions, in which their hopes, in more 

 cases than a mere majority, are totally wrecked— 

 where they drag out their existence, nothing more 

 than lesser lights, never realizing the independence 

 and happiness they anticipated, when, deriding the low 

 calling of a farmer, they entered the office of some 

 half-successful lawyer, or a more bustling doctor. 

 Still, agriculture may be made as honorable in its 

 progress as any other pursuit — aye, it has already 

 become a profession from which many toorking fann- 

 ers are selected to fill honorable and responsible po3ts 

 under government. The ignorance and prejudices, 

 formerly existing among farmers, as a class, are fast 

 giving way before the lights which are brought to 

 bear upon them by the batteries of science. 



1 have been lead to these thoughts by reading 

 your truly excellent remarks on " Agricultural Quack- 

 ery ; " and it is that same quackery which operates 

 on the agricultural community with such effect as to 

 cause them to be suspicious of, and slow to adopt, 

 the theories advanced by political farmers. It can- 

 not be charged to a lack of intelligence on the part 

 of the farmer, but rftther to those who profesa to 

 have the facilities (which the laboring farmer has 

 not) and disposition to prosecute the necessary re- 

 searches, through the aid of science, and who, for 

 selfish purposes, near election times, advance false, 

 yet somewhat plausible ideas, as being the result of 

 substantial experiments. As you continue to ex- 

 pose quackery in all its forms, where connected with 

 agriculture, so may your corporosity, (circulation,) 

 like an alderman of the old school, continue to in- 

 crease in rotundity, (number of subscribers,) until 

 you can view yourself (the Genesee Farmer) with 

 great complaeency. D. 



Gates, Monroe Co., JV. Y. 



REASONS WHY OUR AGEICULTURAL SOCrETTES 

 SHOULD ASD SHOULD NOT OFFER PREMI- 

 UMS FOR A PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF 

 LADY EQUESTRIANISM 1 



[The following extracts are selected from some of 

 the numerous articles we have received on the above 

 subject] — Eds. 



Our Agricultural Societies should offer premiums 

 for lady equestrianism, in order to induce young la- 

 dies to ride on horseback. The horse is a noble 

 animal, and every lady in the country ought to be 

 able to manage him, whether in the harness or sad- 

 dle. Horseback riding is very conducive to health 

 and good morals; it imparts the glow of health to 

 the cheek, and gives vigor to the whole frame. If it 

 were not for the premiums offered by our Agriculta- 

 ral Societies, many young ladies niight not take pain* 

 to learn 1o ride, and consequently be deprived of that 

 exercise, which, above all others, they need for tM 

 promotion of health. E. A. T. 



Clarkstown, Rockland Co, JY. Y. 



The great object of Agricultural Fairs is to improve 

 the farming interests of the country — to induce farmers 

 to cultivate the soil in a better manner, to breed and 

 rear better stock, to procure and use the best farm 

 implements, and to influence the ladies to effort, to 

 excel in domestic products and m.anufactures. By 

 the exhibition of superior stock, superior farm pro- 

 ducts and the like, m interest is awakened in the 



