284 



GEiNES'EE FARMER. 



Dec. 



To the Cultivators of the Soil in West- 

 ern New-York. 



Fellow Laborers : — The present number 

 will close another volume of our agricultural 

 journal, and it is for us to say whether it shall be 

 continued or not — and 1 feel confident that there 

 is not any of us, who have been its patrons the 

 past year, but what will ans>Yer promptly in the 

 affirmative. It is one of the best, and the cheap- 

 est agricultural journal now published ; and it is 

 with pleasure that I can say I think there is not 

 one of its present readers who would wish to be 

 deprived of the satisfaction and benefi' of peru- 

 sing its pages — and especially the youth. Men 

 without knowledge are mere machines, and 

 knowledge is very slowly obtained without read- 

 ing. 



From an intimate acquaintance with the Edi- 

 tor and Publisher, and the price of other similar 

 journals, I know that the present circulation of 

 the Farmer, at its present price, does not afford 

 a sufficient remuneration for its publication. — 

 Yet they do not wish to increase the price, fear- 

 ing that that would curtail its circulation and di- 

 minish its usefulness. But could its present sub- 

 vscription list be doubled it would atibrd ample 

 remuneration for its publication, and extend the 

 bounds of its beneficial influence ; and I feel 

 confident that by a little exertion during the 

 coming winter, the numerous friends of the 

 Genesee Farmer can more than double its 

 readers. And I would respectfully suggest to 

 all who take an interefjt in procuring subscribers, 

 that we pay the 50 cents for each and every one 

 which we forward — for at that price it is certain- 

 ly as cheap as we can desire it to be ; and the 

 few cents in reduction which are saved by taking 

 a few in company, is a mere trifle to each indi- 

 vidual, but when put together, will do something 

 towards defraying the expenses of publishing. 



1 annually forward several names, and intend 

 in future to increase my exertions — knowing 

 that by so doing I extend my usefulness — but I 

 always pay the .'iO cents for each one, and I think 

 that I cannot make many of my young friends 

 a better New Year's present than one year's 

 reading of the Gekesee Farmer. 

 Yours respectfully, 



A Plow-holder. 



Monroe Co., Nov. 1S46. 



When a crack is discovered in a stove, thro' 

 which the fire and smoke penetrate, the aperture 

 may be readily closed in a moment, with a com- 

 position consisting of wood aslies and common 

 salt, made into a paste wiih a little water, \)h\s- 

 tered over the crack. The effect is equally 

 certain whether the stove be cold or hot. 



Encouragement. 



During the publication of the present volume 

 of the Farmer, we have received numerous let- 

 ters, from all sections, speaking in the highest 

 terms of its merits and usefulneas. Such evi- 

 dences of approbation have been truly encour- 

 aging, but we have hitherto refrained from pub- 

 lishing matter of this character, emanating either 

 from individuals or the public press. We make 

 less pretensions to perfectibility than some of 

 our cotemporaries — albeit we perhaps have as 

 many assurances of approval. We give the sub- 

 joined communications, recently received, be- 

 cause they contain some ideas worthy of thought. 

 The first was not intended for publication, but 

 we have no doubt our friend will pardon the lib- 

 erty taken in giving it to our readers: m. 



Dear Sir : — Enclosed I send you one dollar in payraent- 

 for your excellent paper, the Genesee Farmer, to the press 

 ent year, and for '47 3180. I have been a subscriber for the 

 " Farmer' for sovsral years, and think I receive every year 

 more benefit than ten times the cost of tlie paper. We 

 have a club here, that was formed last winter, with some- 

 thing over fifty names" for your paper, which I am in hopes 

 of not only seeing all renewed, but additions made thereto, 

 for the coming year ; and, as far as my influence extends, 

 shall lend it choorfullj- to obtain them. We have an ex- 

 cellent, soil hfrre, for wheat and clover, and as our land is in 

 rather a new ttato in this section, (the Reservation,) shall 

 look for good results for time to come. 



In haste, yours. &c, G. C. Spracce. 



Castila, M'l/umi/ig Co., A". 1'., Oct., 1846. 



Diet Bread. — One pound of flour, one pound 

 of sugar, and nine eggs; finish a-s directed for 

 sponge cake. 



* We have about 70 subscribers, in all, at Castile ; and a 

 large number at each of several other Post Offices in Wyo- 

 ming- County. — Pub.- 



Mr. Editor : — As a .subscriber to your valuable paper, 

 I need not say that from month to month I peruse its pages 

 with not a Utile interest and satisfaction. Much 1 find that 

 is worth remomboriiig. and more that is worth practising. 

 I regard it as of the highest importance to the tiller of the 

 groimd — to him who really earns his bread by the sweat of 

 tho brow — to have a paper devotod exclusively to his inter- 

 ests, from which he cnn learn the experience of otliers of 

 the profession, or in it record his own for the benefit of oth- 

 ers. It is a medium for tho interchango of thosght and feel- 

 ing, which may not be lightly prized by any of us. And 

 yet, great as are the advantages to be derived from gucii 

 a publication, many there are among us, axd some suc- 

 cessful farmers, too, who go a "dead set" against 'book 

 farming, " as th; y term scientific agriculture. This is an 

 evil, however, which, like many others, is destined soon, I 

 trust, to be among the things tiiat were. Men cannot al- 

 ways resist the truth and close their eyes agaisst the light, 

 especially if such a course be adverse to their true interests. 

 Cyircurastance^i will not always allow them to plod on in the 

 foot-tracks of their fathers. 



A." the Medical Practitioner encounters, from yoar to year, 

 new obstacles — new forms of disease, requiring close inves- 

 tigation and diiTerent treatment — so tho circumstances in 

 v.hich the farmer is placed changes from time to time. He, 

 too, lias ob.siaclcf) to encounter. The soil from which, for 

 years, his wants have l>ecn supplied, seems to tire or ^rorv 

 slack, and refuses to yield its substance. Where once abun- 

 dant crops repaid his toil, sterility now denies even an or- 

 dinary yiold. From yoar to year he witncssoss the en- 

 croachments of various woods, and with deep regret beholds 

 his scanty crops cut short by tho ravago>< of the insect tribe. 

 Such reverses usually set men to thinking and inquiring. 

 They arc made willing to learn. Their repugnance to ag- 

 ricultural publications — to "book farming" — i.s removed, 

 and henceforward they are found among the believers ia 

 the science, as well as the practice, of agriculture. 



I shall, at a convenient time, avail myself of the privilege 

 of askiru; some questions relative to agricultural matters, for 

 I trust I ara, on no .subject, unwilling to learn. 



Dmsvilk, Oct. 17, 134tj. Yours, ic. M. 



