72 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Mar, 



let three or four neighbors (if one does not feel 

 disposed to buy alone,) join together and pur- 

 chase a good bull of sone of the improved breeds, 

 and by this means improve upon the stock they 

 already have. Great advances may thus be made 

 by crossing our native stock with good thorough- 

 bred bulls, and this is probably the means that is 

 destined to affect the greatest improvement in 

 the shortest time throughout our country. 



With regard to the breed of cattle it is best to 

 resort to for improvement, we are not prepared 

 to decide. Great improvement might be made 

 in a few years by selecting our very best native 

 cattle as breeders, but for our own part we pre- 

 fer resorting directly to some of the already im- 

 proved breeds. They all have their favorites 

 and are doubtless all good. The Durhams have 

 our preference, probably from being more 

 acquainted with them than the other breeds — but 

 we also greatly admire the Devonsand Herefords. 



What about the farm can give its owner great- 

 er satisfaction than a beautiful herd of thorough- 

 bred cattle? — and what looks more noble, as 

 they stand quietly ruminating in the shade of 

 some verdant trees in a hot summer's day, seem- 

 ingly conscious of their own worth and superior- 

 ity? Look at that beautiful head, those clear 

 waxy horns, that fine neck, deep and full brisket, 

 round barrel, straight back, and broad loin ; is 

 there not something there worthy your admira- 

 tion ? — and then what a loose mellow skin, fine 

 silky hair, and a countenance, too, that looks all 

 mildness. They need but to be seen to be ad- 

 mired — and to be possessed, to be rightly appre- 

 ciated. 



But I have already written more than I in- 

 tended and will only say get good cows, breed 

 them to good bulls, though it cost you some 

 trouble and expense, and then raise your calves 

 as though you thought them worthy your care 

 and attention — and in a few years you will find 

 your stock improved and your pockets filled with 

 money. S. P. Chapman. 



ClockviUe, N. Y., Feb., 1848. 



To Destroy Willows, Elders, &c. 



Messrs. Editors : — One of your correspon- 

 dents last summer requested to be informed of 

 the best method to extirpate willows that grow 

 in marshes, or along the banks of creeks. There 

 are several ways resorted to of digging them 

 out, more or less expensive, according to the 

 thoroughness of the work done. But the most 

 simple, economical, and certain method of dis- 

 posing of them with which I have become ac- 

 quainted is as follows. The willows should be 

 cut in the spring and burnt immediately, even 

 to the smallest twig ; taking care to cut close to 

 the ground as convenient, and burn the heaps 

 where the roots are most exposed. In a few 

 days the roots will begin to sprout, except in 



those places that, have been strongly heated ; 

 when these shoots, or the major jjart of them 

 have attained the height of from six to twelve 

 inches, they must be pulled off by hand ; in 

 about two months this process must be repeated, 

 and then again as occasion may require. 



This may look to some like a vast labor ; it 

 is so, but the work must not be trusted to boys, 

 as the writer had occasion to know the past season. 

 If they are cut close to the ground there will be 

 fewer shoots and the after work will not be so 

 bad for the hands as if left higher, (gentlemen 

 operators may wear gloves, though 1 prefer to 

 do without them,) and if the first pulling is per- 

 formed before the hard wood forms, the operation 

 is easy ; and if it is well done, the second pulling 

 will be a light job ; and if this is well done, 

 the cases are rare, that would require a third 

 operation. 



I do not say this is the best method ; there are 

 others doubtless as good, but I know it is effective. 

 Now gentlemen readers of the Farmer, if any 

 of you try it, and cut the stumps about knee 

 high, and let the shoots grow two feet in length,, 

 please let me know when you are to commence 

 the pulling operation ; I will attend with a third 

 person, some given over dyspeptic, or horror 

 ridden incorrigible ; and if you work right faith- 

 fully, I will guarantee a speedy renovative to suf- 

 fering humanity. Depend upon it, sirs, pulling, 

 heart-strings is but child's play to it. So don't 

 blame me, or " book- farming " 



I learned the above practice of an old gentle- 

 man of nearly four-score years, together with 

 his manner of getting rid of Elms, and Sweet,, 

 (or by some called white) Elder. The former 

 should be cut high from the ground, say three or 

 four feet, they soon sprout around the top of the 

 stump, but these shoots rarely live through the 

 winter, and if they should are easily knocked 

 off with an old axe in the spring. The elder is 

 in some sections of the country a perfect nui- 

 sance, overrunning whole fields in a few years- 

 after seeding. His method of getting rid of them 

 is to let them alone until Autumn, when their 

 season of growth is passed, then with an old axe 

 or billhook slash them down — do anything to 

 them — only get them down — they will never 

 start up again. Mild. 



South Hartford, N. Y., Dec, 1847. ' 



Great Crop. — The Prairie du Chien (Wis- 

 consin) Patriot, says: — Mr. Joseph Atherton^ 

 residing about five miles from this village, has 

 thrashed two hundred and fifty bushels of wheats 

 the product of five acres of land ; being an ave- 

 rage of fifty bushels to the acre. The wheat 

 is of an excellent quality. 



There ure some farmers in Poland who collect annuall> 

 more than 21)0 barrels of fine honey, each barrel weighijig,- 

 from 400 to 500 pounds, exclusive of tlie was. 



