1852 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Dec. 1845 



For tlie Genesee Farmer. 



TO THE READERS OF THE GEN. FARMER. 



A few days since, I received a copy of the Pros- 

 pectus for volume vii of this truly valuable journal, 

 stating that " the Farmer is to be considerably en- 

 larged and improved,'' while the <er//is arc to remain 

 the same as heretofore. The idea strikes me as a good 

 one,cspecially for the patrons of the paper — and hence 

 I wish to say a few words concerning it to you, my 

 brother farmers and horticulturists. Having been a 

 con^tant reader of the Farmer, for several years, I 

 Bhall express my sentiments without " fear, "favor or 

 the hope of reward." 



In the first place, then, allow me to state that I 

 like the arrangements for the ensuing year, for the 

 following, among other good and prominent reasons: 

 1st. There is to be no change in the editorial su- 

 pervision of the Farmer, Dr. Lke having concluded 

 to devote hie attention and talents to this depart- 

 ment. No one who has read the paper during the 

 past twelve months, (or perused his other writings 

 upon the subject of agriculture, among which may 

 be mentioned his popular Reports as Chairman of the 

 Com. on Agriculture in the Assembly,) can doubt his 

 ability to make it what it should be — a correct and 

 able, and consequently useful journal. 



2d. The paper is to be enlarged one-third — re- 

 maining in the same form and size of pages, as at 

 present, (which is a good one for binding and preser- 

 vation,) — at the old price of only Fifty Cents a 

 year! Every one can at once see the advantages of 

 this course, without explanation — and if it does not 

 add at least Jive thousand to the list of subscribers 

 in Western New York, then the farmers of this 

 favored section are unworthy of a publication to ad- 

 vocate and promote their best interest. 



3d. The enlargement of the paper will afford more 

 reading, not only upon the practice and science of 

 Agriculture, but in the Horticultural Department — 

 which department, I am pleased to learn, is to be 

 continued under tlie supervision of an experienced 

 and practical Horticulturist. This department should 

 commend the paper alike to the Farmer, Mechanic 

 ■and Merchant — to all who cultivate Fruits, Flowers, 

 or Vegetables, whether in town or country. 



4th. The new proprietor is an experienced publish- 

 er, and is to devote his undivided time and atten- 

 tion to the publication of the paper. This is right, 

 and cannot but prove advantageous to the patrons of 

 the Farmer. The former proprietors of the paper 

 are deserving of much credit, but could not pay that 

 attention to its publication which they would, had it 

 been their chief business. 



These, friends and fellow patrons, are some of 

 the reasons why I like the arrangements for Volume 

 Vn of the Genksek Farmer, and mean to give it 

 my hearty support. Do you concur with me in these 

 reasons? If ai/p, let us give "a long pull, a strong 

 pull, and a pull all together," and see if we cannot 

 augment the Farmer subscription list, until it comes 

 up to its old number, twenty thovsand. This will 

 enable both Editor and Publisher to furnish us a pa- 

 per worth, every year, five times its subscription 

 price. The farmers of Western New York alone, 

 are abundantly able, (and many are willing.) to do 

 this. Wc are now getting from $1 to ^1,25 per 

 bushel for wheat — and many other products of the 

 Farm, Orchard and Garden, are bringing prices in 

 like proportion. Such being the fact, where is the 

 farmer eo 'poor as to be unable to pay the meagre 



sum of 50 cents a year for a volume of three hund- 

 dred pages, designed to promote his interest? Echo 

 answers, jchere ? — for surely this deponent don't 

 know. If there are none, lot each and ail of us re- 

 new our subscriptions — and alt<o induce our friends 

 and neighbors to subscribe. The postage on the pa- 

 per is but a trifle, at tiie farthest distance from pub- 

 lication—and nothing to those residing within thirty 

 miles of Rochester. Those who now take the Far- 

 mer, need not to be told of its value — and those who 

 u-ori't take it will never know — but I venture the 

 prophecy, that whoever subscribes for the ensuing 

 year, will never repent the act. 



A VVkstern New York Farmer. 

 Monroe County, Nov. 25, 1845. 



For the Genesee Farmer. 



INQUIRY. 



Mr. Editor : — In the last number of your pa- 

 per, I noticed an article from Mr. Joel Houghton, 

 under the caption of " Cheap, Durable, and Conve- 

 nient Fence," which strikes me as being "uite an 

 improvement in the art of fence-making ; especially 

 in these days, when fencing materials are becoming 

 so very scarce in many sections of our State. Hav- 

 ing a desire to try the experiment, and thus profit 

 by the experience of others. I have found from the 

 descriptions given, and the directions for making the 

 same, that there are some points rather obscure.— 

 After very minutely describing the length, thickness, 

 and width of the posts, bed-piece, rails, cap-piece, 

 fee, and showing how it should be put together, he 

 says: "Bore six two inch holes in each post." Now 

 one point" of information wanted is, whether said 

 holes are to be morticed or not ? Another point is, 

 whether the end of the rails should be halved or 

 sharpened, so as to have the ends of two rails pass 

 through the same hole in the post ? x\nother point 

 is, what is meant by the one and a half inch pin 1 

 which he says should be put through about half way 

 up the fence, to attach the whole together. What 

 is it to be put through ? 



Will the editor, or his correspondent, have the 

 goodness to give the necessary information in the 

 next number of the Farmer ? 



Respectfully yours, 



ISAAC BELL. 



Weedsport, Cayuga Co., Nov. 20, 1845. 



Will Mr. Houghton send us an answer to the 

 above inquiries, for publication in our next number? 

 — Editor. 



Agriculture in France, — France has of late 

 years pursued a wise, judicious, and liberal policy 

 in regard to her agriculture. In 1838, there were 

 in that country 123 Agricultural Societies, and 303 

 Agricultural Committees. Scarcely a movement 

 which could contribute essentially to her husband- 

 ry, has been neglected. Pecuniary encouragement 

 to a very great extent is afforded, and agents are 

 sent into other countries, at the expense of the 

 French Agricultural Society, in order to examine 

 their systems of farming, with a view to the more 

 perfect practice of theart at home. In 1803, there 

 were scarcely ten organized Societies in the king- 

 dom. They are now, however, rapidly increasing. 

 How much better would it be for the interests of 

 this country, if Government should expend some of 

 its surplus money in encouraging this great branch 

 of industry, instead of squandering it in the way it 

 does. 



