Vol 1.— No. 48. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



381 



I would in all cases, where trees are not to be 

 removed very far, invariably set them in the 

 spring, particularly cherries, plums, peaches, ap- 

 ricots, grapes, raspberries, &c. ; and all tender 

 and luxuriant growing trees and shrubs — short- 

 en the tops to comport with the loss of root, and 

 not set too deep nor pack the earth too hard, pre- 

 ferring to protect them against winds to stake 

 them. Yours, &c. W. O. 



Brighton, Nov. 1831 



FOR THE GENESEE PARMER. 



Mr. Goodsell — Will you or some of your 

 correspondents, have the goodness to explain to 

 us the difference betweh a Squash and a Pumpkin. 

 Formerly they were distinct vines, and we had no 

 difficulty in determining which was a Squash, 

 and which was a Pumpkin; but in these latter 

 days, we have "Crook neck Squashes," "Span- 

 ish squashes," " Winter squashes,"" Acorn squash- 

 es," " Coconut squashes," and many more which 

 look like Pumpkins, and laste like Pumpkins, and 

 yet are christened S.mashes. Have the goodness 

 <o enlighten us on this subject, and let us know 

 what is really the difference between a Squash and 

 a Pumpkin. A. B. 



FOR THE GENESEE FARMER. 



MILITARY TRANIN S, NO. 5. 



' The reviews of peaceable tradesmen are no 

 more than the solemn foppery of a pantomime 

 acted in the open ah instead of the Theatre." 



Ames. 

 In this country, there is no call for soldiers — 

 We have no baitles to fight now or in prospective. 

 But were soldiers actually needed, our Militia 

 would be good for nothing. hat do they know 

 of the duties of a soldier 1 Have they Military 

 science 1 Are th-y acquainted with Military dis- 

 cipline 1 Not at all. They are no better qualified 

 for actual service than mere school boys. This 

 may not be true with respect to our independent 

 companies. These are better organized — more 

 frequently drilled, and take some pride in appear- 

 ing to advantage ; but it is very different with the 

 infantry companies. They embrace every strag- 

 gler and ragamuffin in town. They train with re- 

 luctance. They have no desire, and take no pains 

 to learn the military exercises. Th. y are all free 

 citizens, and have no idea of subordination. It is 

 idle to think of fitting men for soldiers in this way. 

 Who that has witnessed a militia training, ever 

 imagined that it was of any use 1 Who indeed, 

 lias not rather thought it a fitter subject for " farce 

 than tragedy V The persons of the drama — - 

 " black spirits and white — red spirits and gray," 

 have no thoughts but for sport. They feel that 

 it is an idle affair, ana 1 seek to pass it off in as jol- 

 ly a manner as possible. They obey their officers 

 occasionally, because they know the law has made 

 them their superiors for the day, and has given 

 ihem authority to punish flagrant misconduct. It 

 is absurd to suppose that such men are fit to be led 

 to battle. They have scarce courage enough to 

 face each other in a *ham fight. They would flee 

 from their own shadow. Men cannot be soldiers 

 till discipline and actual service has forced them 

 into subordination, and produced a complete change 

 of character, inclination and habits. They may 

 fancy that they are soldiers, but let them march 

 into the field and hear the roar of a hostile cannon, 

 and they would quickly find themselves deceived. 



So idle a thing have our militia trainings be- 

 come, that no respectable man is willing to be seen 

 in the ranks. It is so much more a matter of bur- 

 lesque than a serious act of obedience to the laws 

 of the country, that by far the greater portion of 

 our substantial citizens, particular, y in large towns, 

 prefef to suffer the penalty of the law, rather than 

 perform the duty. Hence a large number of fines 

 are yearly imposed by Courts Martial, and a large 

 amount of money extorted from our citizens, for 

 what purpose, it is difficult to imagine. It is gen- 

 erally understood that this money is squandered by 

 the officers. One thing is true, that the people pay 

 it and receive no benefit from it. S. 



Mr. Tucker : 



I notice your correspondent S. has made a very 

 judicious attack upon our Militia System. 1 wish 

 him success, for in my opinion, never did a more 

 uncalled for Humbug exist, than this. 



Were we in the immediate vicinity of a superi- 

 or or hostde nation, that would serve as an excuse ; 

 but even in that case, it is doubtful whether our 

 present is the better system. The last war was 

 sufficient, if we would profit by the past, to con- 

 vince us that something more is necessary in or- 

 der to reduce our enemy, than a collection of draft- 

 ed militia. We know also, that every citizen of 

 the United States, (with the exception of some at 

 Washington) will defend his home and his fire- 

 side, against an invading enemy who snail pre- 

 sume to penetrate into our country. And rash in- 

 deed would be that enemy who should attempt it, 

 while the states remain united, even if they had 

 the numbers of Nicholas, or the ferocity of the 

 Tiu'ks. The only danger which can threaten the 

 states united, is that of an invading naval power, 

 which with sufficient force, might lay our seaport 

 towns under contribution, or at least, do them ma- 

 terial injury. Under these circumstances, what 

 would be the proper method of defence < WeshoulJ 

 have to rely unon our fortifications, and their effect 

 would depend altogether upon the knowledge of 

 engineering, which those in charge of them pos- 

 sessed. It is true that our militiamen would ma 

 ny of them dig in entrenchments lustily ; but coul J 

 they construct a fortification upon the most approv- 

 ed plan 1 We presume not. Give them cannon 

 and ammunition, and they could load ecciAJire and 

 make a prodigious noise ; but would they be able 

 to elevate a gun upon scientific principles, so as to 

 be sure of doing execution 1 Let the records of the 

 first years of the last war answer ! 



It may be asked, did we not b-at the enemy at 

 Sackets harbor? And was it not done by militia % 

 We grant it, and we gained the honor of record- 

 ing our shame & defeating an enemy by cowardice 

 and undisciplineu conduct. What: will not our 

 yeomanry fight % Yes, and as long as we are free 

 from game-laws and allowed the use of rifles, an 

 enemy that dares to march across the lines of our 

 frontiers, will find winged messengers of death 

 from every stump and tree, which would diminish 

 their ranks faster than the Cholera of Europe and 

 the Plague to boot ; but not so with those who ap- 

 proach our fortifications, when manned with mi- 

 litia (as was the case at Sackets harbor.) Then 

 it was difficult to tell which were in greatest dan- 

 ger — friends or enemies, until our guns were spik- 

 ed for fear of injuring both, — at the very moment 

 when every discharge should have strewed the 

 field with slain. 



The past should convince us that we are in 

 want of skilful Engineers, — and these were nev- 

 er educated at military trainings. 



Why is it that the armies of France are consid- 

 ered superior to any other in Europe'? Because 

 they excell in ■Engineering. Their school Poly- 

 technic, has given her armies strength which could 

 not have been done by numbers. Hence, if we 

 would render ourselves invulnerable, we should 

 educate a sufficient number of Engineers, who 

 should be versed in all the arts of war, — and let 

 them be supported by government in the manner 

 of the French schools, ready to be called into ser- 

 vice when our country requires. A small annual 

 tax from each individual now subject to military 

 duty, would support a competent corps for any 

 anticipated occasion ; — and we might dismiss our 

 military parades as calculated only to corrupt the 

 morals of our young mm by promoting disorder 

 and intemperance. 



A few schools like the one at West Point, 

 would do more towards preparing young men for 

 defending our country, its situation considered, 

 than all the military trainings have ever dont. 

 since the revolution. N. G. 



for the genesee farmer. 

 Mr. Editor : 



A respectable lawyer from Stark county Ohio, 

 passing through our village last week, gave a ve- 

 ry singular account of a conviction for forgery, 

 which occurred in that county a short time since. 

 He was present at the trial and will vouch for the 

 truth of the statement. 



An individual forged an order for goods, to the 

 amount of three or four dollars, and called on the 

 merchant and received the goods without incur- 

 ring the least suspicion. Immediately afterwards, 

 he called upon an acquaintance, told him what he 

 had done, and insisted that complaint should be en- 

 tered against him. He was accordingly commit- 

 ted for trial. When he was called before the 

 court, being asked if he had counsel, answered that 

 he " had none and desired none." When asked 

 whether he plead guilty, he replied, " guilty." 

 He was sentenced to the state prison for 3 years, 

 the shortest terms the law allows. 



You are by this time prepared to ask what ter- 

 rible calamity this man could have brought upon 

 himself to render a three year's confinement in the 

 Penitentiary, an object of desire 1 You will ask 

 perhaps, whether he had an abandoned wife who 

 was rendering himself and his family wretched 1 

 Or whether he had broken a military or some oth- 

 er law of honor, the penalty of which is more to 

 be dreaded than hard labor within the walls of a 

 prison 1 No, nothing like these is given as the 

 cause of this strange and almost unexampled con- 

 duct. And yet there was a cause which operated 

 upon the mind of this individual, sufficiently strong 

 to produce such a result. And that cause was 

 nothing less than a determination to conquer ani 

 attachment to strong drink. He stated to the com- 

 that he committed the crime and insisted upon the 

 enforcement of the law, that he might be so con- 

 fined as to render it utterly impossible to gratify 

 his appetite for ardent spirits. He supposes that 

 by imprisonment for a time, he shall so far obtain 

 the mastery over himself as to be able to return to 

 society and remain a sober man. 



Now whether this man could not have become 

 temperate short of this sacrifice of personal liberty, 



