Vol. 8, 



ROCHESTER, N. Y. — NOVEMBER, 1847. 



No. 11. 



THE GENESEE FARMER : 



Issued the first of each month, in Rochester, N. Y., by 



D. D. T. MOORE, PROPRIETOR. 



DANIEL LEE. EDITOR. 



p. BARRY, Conductor of the Horticultural Department. 



To Correspondents. 



Communications have been received, during 



the past month, from G , N. Simons, G. C, 



G. W. Pratt, H. of Fair port, *, H., T. W. 

 Painter, Geo. Bishop, jr.. Spectator, S. W., and 

 S. E. S. H. Nott, M. b. 



Books, Periodicals. &c., have been received 

 as follows : 



" The Farmer'' s Book and Family Instructor.'^ A work 

 embracing a variety of useful matter. It contains over 550 

 pages, and is illustrated with numerous engravings — some 

 of which might perliaps be omitted without impairing the 

 value of the work. For sale by S. Hamilton, State-st., 

 Rochester. 



" Landrelh's Rural Register ajid Abiumac, for 1S48." — 

 This little annual contains much useful information, and 

 will prove valuable to farmers and fruit culturists. For 

 sale by Hamilton, State st. Price 25 cents. 



" Tlie American Architect — comprising original designs 

 of Country Residences, adapted to the taste and circum- 

 stances of the Merchant, Farmer, and Mechanic." We 

 commend this valuable work to the attention of all interest- 

 ed in architectural matters. Jt is illustrated with excellent 

 Lithographic designs. Published monthly by C. M. Sax- 

 ton, New York, at $3 per annum — 25 cents for single num- 

 bers. For sale by E. Darrovv, corner of Main and St. 

 Paul St., Rochester. 



" Daily Am-^rican Directory of the City of Rochester for 

 1847-8," from the Publishers, Messrs. Jerome & Brother. 

 This is a work of about 300 pages, containing a vast amount 

 of correct infarmation which cannot be obtained from any 

 other source. It is got up in good style, creditable to its 

 enterprising Publishers. Price $1,25. 



" Illustrated Botany." We have received several num- 

 bers of this beautiful work. It is edited by J. L. Comstock, 

 M. D., a distinguished Botanist. Each number is illustra- 

 ted with splendid colored portraits of Plants, together with 

 botanical descriptions, &c. We commend the work to all 

 who have a taste for Botany, and to the ladies particularly. 

 Published in Magazine style, by B. H. Culver, 139 Nas- 

 sau St., New York— .$3 per annum. 



We are indebted to Henry O'Reilly, Esq. for an able 

 pamphlet relative to the "Atlantic, Lake & Blississippi 

 Telegraph Company," — embodying an " exposure of the 

 schemes for nullifying the ' O'Reilly Contract' for extend- 

 ing the Telegraph to the Mississippi and the Principal 

 Towns on the Lakes." 



How should Manure Le applied to Land? 



At a Convention of Farmers, held in the city 

 of New York on the 12th and 13th of October, 

 Dr. Underbill, of Croton Point, who has dis- 

 tinguished himself for his success in producing 

 grapes and in horticultural operations, made a 

 speech in which he advanced some new ideas on 

 the use and application of Manure. He con- 

 tends that it ought to be buried at least one foot 

 below the surface, either with a plow or spade. 

 According to his experience, manure never 

 wastes by leaching and running deep into the 

 ground. It always rises — the dissolved salts by 

 capillary attraction from the heat of the sun and 

 drying of winds ; and the gasses rise by their 

 own specific levity. So long as the rain is fall- 

 ing. Dr. U. admits that the water does sink deep 

 into the earth or runs off on its surface ; but so 

 soon as the rain ceases and the surface becomes 

 dry by evaporation, the liquid rises from below 

 upward. Most of the farmers and horticulturists 

 near the city of New York concur in this opin- 

 ion. If true, it will modify the general practice 

 of agriculture in this country. 



We think quite favorably of this theory ; but 

 incline to believe that its author carries it too far. 

 It is an exceedingly interesting question in me-* 

 teorology to determine what portion of the rain 

 which falls on a cultivated field in summer runs 

 into the earth and off from it, and what amount 

 evaporates from the surface. All that evaporates 

 must leave its mineral fertilizers behind ; while 

 that which dissolves manure, and runs of}', to 

 keep up the fountains of creeks and rivers, can 

 never restore its constituents of plants. 



It is a remarkable fact that the dead bodies of 

 persons in graves 4 and 5 feet deep in sandy 

 soils, give off gasses which, till the decomposi- 

 tion is complete, cause grass and weeds to grow 

 most luxuriantly. Dr. U. thinks that salts or 

 minerals in porous soils rise to that depth by the 

 capillary attraction of moisture. . 



For Award of Premiums, at late Fair of the York York 

 State Agricultural Society, see page 262. 



