1849. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



135 



RED ROOT OK PIGEON WEED. 

 Bl e. u. LAY. 



Messrs Editors: — In my rambles through the 



this spring, I have been surprised to see the 



hold this curse to wheat growers bason the fields; 



even some of the best and most thorough farmers 



have very much of it in their Boils. While :i person 



has but little of it in his fields, it may be easily kept 



r by going through the win at in the spring] and 

 weeding it thoroughly; but if neglected for a few 



9 it will get Buch a foothold on the soil as to he 

 almost impossible to get it. out. 



A practice which I nave seen tried, is well worthy 

 the attention of these who are thus situated. Some 

 time in the fall, afti r the wheat is taken off, go over 

 thestubbl i and drag or cultivate thoroughly — the same 

 as for seeding wheat. This will cover all the seeds 



•'1 nmt that are in the stubble, and will cause 

 them to vegetate — after which they ran be plowed 

 under in the Bpring an 1 destroyed. The great diffi- 

 culty with the seeds of red root always has been to 

 get thorn to grow; they will remain in the ground for- 

 years, and finally start and grow upon being brought 

 to the surface and covered in the fall. The straw 

 containing the seed of red root should be piled up or 

 made into compost in the spring, and not drawn out 

 in its long state; if not reduced to a liner state, all 

 the seeds will grow when brought to the surface. 



I hop.- farmers will attend to the matter, and not 

 not let this, the worst of weeds to the wheat grower, 

 get the upper hand. Greece, JV. Y., May, 1849. 



Remarks. — We are glad that our friend Lay has 

 broached this subject. Foul weeds are fast gaining 

 ground in many sections of Western New-York, and 

 possess something more than a mere " local habita- 

 tion and a name." Farmers must be on the alert, 

 an 1 ouard their possessions from an attack or advance 

 of the enemy. And in this connection we will refer 

 to one practice which tends to increase rather than 

 destroy these pests. Many farmers are in the habit 

 of throwing red root, thistles, screenings, &tc, into 

 the highway — not thinking that the seeds are easily 

 carried, by adhering to the hoofs of horses, wheels of 

 carriages, See., to the barns and farms of those who 

 take great pains to keep their premises entirely free 

 from all noxious plants. In some localities this has 

 become so prevalent, that a reform is urgently need- 

 ed, and we direct the attention of all interested to the 

 importance of r.t once and entirely discontinuing the 

 practice. " A word," Stc. 



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 



Messrs. Editors: — Having recently become a 

 subscriber to your journal, 1 feel bound to acknow- 

 ledge the benefit it has been to me in awakening an 

 increased interest in the subject of Agriculture; and 

 I am also impressed with the conviction that a more 

 intimate connection between the two great sister 

 States of the Union — New York and Pennsylvania — 

 would be productive of great good to each. Espe- 

 cially would an infusion of New York enterprise 

 benefit Western Pennsylvania. We are a sound, 

 sober, stable people; careful, prudent, industrious 

 and economical — but lacking that indomitable energy 

 which fully develops the wealth of a State. 



The eastern county b >rder is the summit of the 

 Laurel Hill, which together with the Chestnut Ridge, 

 (which is included in the county as far as the county 



extends,) is rich with iron ore, and there are a num- 

 ber of furnaces already erected in that section of the 



county, and room for many more. The streams 

 which emanate from the mountains, though riot gen- 

 erally large are permanent in their character, and 

 afford excellent wax* i for all manufacturing 



purposes, which is far from being occupied, to the 

 extent of even the wants of the community. The 

 rich, arable lauds extend quite to thi 

 mountains, and the country abounds with linn 

 and bituminous coal. The coil is mined and deliv- 

 ered in the towns at from two and a half to four cents 

 per bushel. The mountains afford an inexhaustible 

 supply of timber for building, fencing and tai 

 purposes. The Pennsylvania Canal, passing along 

 the valley of the Kishkiminitas River, skirts the 

 northern boundary of the county, affording the m an* 

 of an excellent market for the produce of the farm. 

 True we have the means of a good market, hut we 

 really have not a first rate market, such as you 

 Yorkers have. In the manufacturing and commer- 

 cial pursuits we need a thorough awakening, which 

 would stir up the agricultural community to greater 

 enterprise. Our staples are wheat, corn and oats — 

 horses, cattle and pork. We raise but little barley, 

 and little wool comparatively. 



With these facilities in every point of view, for 

 cultivating the soil, for manufacturing and commer- 

 cial purposes, a New Yorker will be surprised to 

 learn that our good lands, within from five to ten 

 miles of the Pennsylvania ('anal, with good build- 

 ings, are worth only from twenty to forty dollars per 

 acre. You will, therefore, readily perceive that this 

 is an excellent field for enterprise in any of these 

 departments. Particularly for men of capital dis- 

 posed to engage in the iron business in any of its 

 branches, to tanners who could commence in a con- 

 siderable way, and to mechanics who could manu- 

 facture the improved agricultural implements, would 

 this be a suitable place, and their labors and invest- 

 ments meet with a sure return. If one of your large 

 nurseries, which I see advertised in the sheet con- 

 nected with the Farmer could be transported here, I 

 think it would be a good " notion," as our old orchards 

 are about dicing oft', and we are beginning to plant 

 new ones. And if we could get your goodly city of 

 Rochester set down on the bank of our canal, we 

 would be willing to " pay a handsome premium." 



As I am but a " new beginner" in the practical 

 part of farming, I shall not attempt any disquisitions 

 on that subject now, but at some future day I may 

 inflict a communication upon you on some other sub- 

 ject, if this meets with your approbation. And as 

 my farm needs many improvements I shall be verj 

 much occupied therewith, but will endeavor to rind 

 time to recommend your excellent paper to my 

 neighbors. W. L. A. Westmoreland Co., Penn,, 

 March, 1849. 



Public Lands. — The Commissioner of the Gen- 

 eral Land Office reports, that 10,800,000 acres of 

 the public lands have been granted by government 

 for public schools; 825,950 for universities, and 

 8,474,400 for internal improvements in the different 

 States and Territories. 



Diogenes being once asked the bite of which beast 

 was the worst, answered, "If you mean of wild 

 beasts, 'tis the slanderer ; if tame, the flatterer." 



J 



