12 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Jan. 



deep, pervious soil can only be formed by nature or 

 man. in which a great deal of .water may be stored 

 up for use in seasons of drouth, by a peculiar 

 mechanical condition of the earth, that permits the 

 atmosphere with its oxygen and carbonic acid, to 

 penetrate the same. Fertility can only result from 

 chemical action and changes in the several sub- 

 sl Mnes in the surface of the earth. Without change, 



and, clay, iron, lime, mold and plants are alike 

 insoluble, and worthless to feed and nourish a new 

 generation of vegetables. Man must study nature 

 and imitate her example if he will make in a cheap 

 and economical way, a rich soil that can endure 

 protracted dry weather with little injury. On this 

 head we shall have more to say. In closing this 

 article we desire to admonish our readers, that the 

 felling of natural forests has already been carried too 

 far in many portions of the United States ; and 

 that excessive tillage in growing cotton, tobacco, 

 corn and wheat for export, is fast leaching, wasting 

 and consuming millions of acres of the best lands in 

 the ( T aion. There is neither wisdom, moderation, nor 



■< ■-■ it benefit in this popular system of agriculture. 

 We will talk about Dews and the Dew Point in 



our next. 



HAY, STRAW, AND CORN STALK CUTTER. 



The above is a figure of Ruggles, Nourse, k. 

 Mason's Straw Cutter, to which was awarded the 

 first premium at the State Fair at Buffalo, in Sep- 

 tember last. Though we are not prepared to say it 

 is the best cutting machine extant, we believe it to 

 be one of the most perfect and durable. The knives 

 are set upon the circumference of the cylinder, and 

 cut against a roller of raw-hide, as represented in the 

 engraving. The manufacturers claim that this 

 machine possesses the following named advantages : 



•• First — The knives !»'iii!.',- straight, are readily ground 

 or sharpened by the purchaser or operator. Second — They 

 can be replaced by a common blacksmith when worn out 

 or broken. Third— The knives are made heavier, and 

 attached to the cylinder without sloats or screws ; confined 

 at both cuds, and supported in the middle in a manner 

 much stronger and less complicated, thus leaA ing th< strength 

 nf the knives unimpaired, and avoiding the great liability to 

 twist, cripple, and break. Fourth — The manner of attaching 



1 knives to the cylinder admits of their being plac 

 each other, so as to cut as short as is desirable. Fifth — The 

 bide roller, when used with straight knives properly set, will 

 last much longer than when used with the spiral knife." 



Some of the machines are made large and strong, 

 and rigged to go by horse power. They vary in 

 price from $10 to $28, according to size — and may 

 be obtained at most of the Agricultural Warehouses. 

 Rapat.je fa. Briggs, of this city, have recently 

 received a very large and superior assortment. 



A FABLE, AND ITS APPLICATION. 



BY T. C. PETERS. 



A rain drop during a shower crept under the 

 cornice, and stood looking very demurely at his 

 fellows, who went laughing and dancing along in 

 the gutter, as full of frolic as a tlock of lambs in 

 June. " Why don't you join us ?' said a gay fellow, 

 as he went leaping past. " Can't do any good," said 

 the drop ; " besides, there are enough of you without 

 me, and I don't see how I can make myself useful in 

 that great black cistern you are all tumbling into. 

 I shall get along by myself and can do a great deal 

 more alone than mixed up and lost as I should be in 

 this great stream." 



While thus musing the shower ceased, the bright 

 warm sun came out and in a moment drank up our 

 little drop. 



Gentle reader, you and I are but drops in the 

 shower of human life. If we mingle in the great 

 stream, and contribute our mite to add strength and 

 force to the current, to swell the brimming banks until 

 they are overflown, and the fertilizing properties of 

 thought, experience, and observation are spread upon 

 the surrounding country, we are useful, and thus 

 fulfill a portion of our duty to ourselves and to our 

 fellow beings. But, if we stand aloof, unwilling to 

 be lost amid the flood — that ceaseless flood that ever 

 pours on, and can never cease — doing nothing, 

 because we do not at the moment see the good that 

 may come of it — saying, as is so often said by you 

 and others, " somebody else will do it better than I 

 can, therefore I will not bother with these things," 

 we do but represent the -little drop, and evaporate, 

 leaving no trace behind. 



In agriculture more than in any oilier pursuit, 

 improvement is only to be made by slowly and 

 patiently gathering facts, and these facts are only 

 to be obtained over a large extent of country. 



The experience of every farmer has something that 

 is important to some other farmer, and if each could 

 have the benefit of the experience and judgment of 

 all, the sum of knowledge would be great beyond all 

 that is now known, and greater and better improve- 

 ments would be the result. For, as you increase 

 knowledge you increase man's capacity for greater 

 knowledge, greater improvement. 



Alone, my friend, we are but solitary drops ; but if 

 we would do good, we must mingle together and 

 make a strong force. I do not intend to be found 

 under the cornice, and you see me now already mixed 

 up in our friend Moore's great cistern, with a great 

 many other and better drops than myself. The sun, 

 when he comes out, will not find me alone. I shall. 

 life and health permitted, tumble into this cistern 

 through the year, carrying therein whatever I may 

 gather up that I think can be of the slightest interest 

 to you. And I shall expect to meet you here also. 

 And I must ask you further to do me the favor to 

 introduce me to all your friends and neighbors. Let 

 us do all we can to make the Genesee Farmer worthy 

 of the farmers of Western New York ; and if we do 

 that, it will be worthy of any body. u You will write 

 as much as I </o." Agreed. Better I know you can 

 if you will only try ; so keep your word, and until 

 we meet next month may you be deservedly pros- 

 perous. Darien, JY. Y., Dec. 1848. 



Those who like the application of the above, are 

 earnestly invited to comply with its appropriate sug- 

 gestions, by furnishing facts, results of experiments, 

 observations, fac, to add to the value of the Farmer. 



