320 



THE FARMERS' CABINET. 



VOL. I. 



For the Farmers' Cnbinel. 

 As "book farming" is so obnoxious to gonne 

 of our practical aj^riculturists, nnd the in- 

 troduction of science or sy.sten(), by any thing 

 written on a subject is so seldom read by 

 such, — who consider the mere saying "1 

 know," a sufficient illustration in any matter 

 relating to farming, it is not to be wondered 

 at that so little improvement is made in the 

 business of agriculture. 



One farmer will tell you, "1 know there 

 is money made by stall-feeding cattle," yet 

 at the same time, he cannot tell how mucii 

 hay or grain he has fed. Perhaps in a future 

 number, I may give an account of some stall 

 feeding of the last winter. My object in this, 

 was to exhibit a table, showing the number 

 of spaces contained in an acre of land at va- 

 rious given distances. [See Table on pre- 

 ceding page.] 



The foregoing table contains all that is 

 necessary for liming or manuring land, plant- 

 ing corn, roots, &c. aided by which, we may 

 make some curious and interesting calcila- 

 tions. If wo take corn, for instance, as it is 

 most in season, — Mine is of the yellow kind, 

 14 rowed, slightly indented, about 120 ears 

 of which will make a bushel, weighing .38 lbs. 

 On an average, the ears contain each, 630 

 grains, making 7.5,600 grains in a bushel of 

 ordinary corn ; but if selected for seed, the 

 bushel consistsof about 61,248 grains. Now, 

 if ground be marked out 4 feet by 3, (if con- 

 venient, have the north and south spaces the 

 wider,) an acre will contain 3,030 hills ; cal- 

 culating that each hill will produce three 

 ears of corn, which is not an extravagant 

 calculation for a favorable season; we have 

 10,890 ears, or 90 bushels per acre. If four 

 grains were planted in each hill, it did not 

 require quite 8 quarts to plants an acre; it is 

 better, probably, to plant 5 or 6 grains in 

 .«ach hill, and depend upon the after weeding 

 to regulate the numbers. 



As a stimulant for practical farmers, I glean 

 the following from an agricultural work now 

 before me : 



" In 1822, J. & M. Pratt, of Easton, Madi- 

 son county. New York, obtained from one 

 acre, 172i^ bushels of corn; from two others, 

 each 161 bushels. In 1821, the same gen- 

 tleman obtained from 4 acres, 680 bushels, or 

 170 to the acre. Their crops were sub- 

 jected to the examination of committees for a 

 premium, and they say they have no doubt 

 of being able to raise 200 bushels per acre." , 



"In 1823, Benj. Rartlett, of Easton, Madi- 

 son county. New York, obtained from one 

 acre, 174 bushels. The veracity of this gen- 

 tleman is equally unquestioned, and his too, 

 was a premium crop." 



J. J. M. 

 CUeBler county, April 23, J8:)7. 



For llie Farmers' Cabinet. 



Raisin;; Cabbage. 



Mr. Editor, — It being about the time of 

 planting seeds for raising Cabbage, I would 

 observe that for two years pas', I have raised 

 them from old slalk.-^. Plant such stalks as 

 have not been injured by frost, quite deep in 

 the ground in the spring season; they will 

 sprout from under the suiface, and will take 

 root about the usual lime of setting out plants. 

 My method has been to take off these nprouts 

 as close to the stalks as convenient, and set 

 them out as other plants. Last spring 1 set 

 both kinds at the same time, and ihcy flour- 

 ished equally well; no difierence would be 

 observed. 



Yours, &c. T. Wood. 



Stretsville, Pa. April J4, ld37. 



PuMPKI^s. — A sub.-Ciilier willies infomiaiion through 

 the Cabinet, as to tlie best method of preserving Punip- 

 kins during the wintei. 



Tlie Markets 



Aie still in a very unsettled siat? — so much so, that 

 we think proper to omit uiir Prices Cijrrenl for the pre- 

 sent iiii in ber. Great pecuniary distress pervades the com 

 iiieriialcities and principal lowns along ihe sea boaid, 

 which must ere long, be felt ferioll^ly in the interior. 

 'I'lie failiiits in Nhw York and New Orleans have 

 swelled to ailriglitful and alinofl iiirredible amount — In 

 the latter City, Cotton and flour cannot find puichaserji 

 at one half the former rates. The entire business 

 oppialions ofthe country are unhinged. It is not our 

 intention here to investigate the causes by which thi.'i 

 much ileploiahle stale ot our monelary affairs has been 

 pioduced to the serious injury of tlie comitiy. One 

 fact. h<iwever, should be known, and remembered by 

 all — it is that during the last year, (IF36,) our ivi^orts 

 from foreign countries, exceeded our ciporu more 

 than sixiY .millions or D'LLars: this ought not to be. 

 The balance of trade should be in (vur/acor, not against 

 us. We have witnessed the last year what we hope 

 may never occur again— Aiiiern a, always consiilereU 

 as tl;e granary of lh<! world, imjioriivg- larire (inaiitities 

 ofbruid.'tvjy's. liesides, tlieie are huniiieds of articles 

 lirouslil from fori ign countries at a great i xjiense, thi.t 

 coulil easily be raised by our farmers to Iheir advan- 

 tage, anil consequently, to the benefit of the country. 

 We advise farmers to be content with their rural 

 homes— to cultivate thoroughly their plantations; strive 

 to excel in agricultii'al science, reineinlering that he 

 who causes '• two blades of grass to grow where only 

 one grew before," is a benefactor to his race— be con- 

 tent with cf-rtain a!id iiiodetato gains, and you have 

 nothing to fear. To young men, tlie sons of (arnicr.<, 

 we most re>pectfully say, iearn perfectly the ait of till- 

 ing the ground — there is no occupation more hoiioi able 

 or dignified— and fix not your minds on the gaieties of 

 a city life, or llie pursuits of trade or commerce. Sud- 

 den fortunes are seldom made, and trade and commeicc 

 are at best, but hazardous enterprises. The bow of 

 promise surrounds iliem it is true, but it has led thou- 

 sands on to luin ; of this the present state of atfaiij 

 alibrds melancholy proof 'Ihe whole iiiercantihMVorlil 

 is convulsed. I!ut the prudent and thrifty farmer, ami 

 every farmer who will, can be both prudent and thrifty, 

 feels not the shock--siirroiimled by every iieedlul com 

 fort, his lot is an enviable one. He id truly an inde- 

 pendent man. 



PiiblLsliccI 1>y 

 3IOORE &. AVATERIIOtTSE, 



JVb. 07 S^ut/t Second SI. I'/iita. 



JOHN niBBY — Plttstou TR. 



One Dollar per year. 



