1848. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



253 



EDITOR'S TABLE. 



To Correspondents. — Communications have been re- 

 ceived, during the past month, frem S. P. Chapman, M. 

 Adams, S. W., VVm. R. Prince, S. P. C, A Subscriber, 

 Rustic, B. P. Johnson, Jesse Smith, and VV. Halsey. 



The publication of a list of the principal premiums award- 

 ed at the recent State Fair, and other lengthy notices of the 

 Fair and Pomological Convention, precludes us from giv- 

 ing our usual variety of articlf s in this number. Want of 

 space compels us to omit a portion of the premiums award- 

 ed, but we give the most important to farmers and horticul- 

 turists, and may publish the remainder hereafter. 



The Potato Rot.— A recent letter from M. A. Beecher 

 of Hennepin, 11!., says : '■ The poiato rot is very prevalent 

 on the prairies this season. This is the first time it has 

 made its appearance in this section. The farmers, have 

 generally planted Mercers ; they are all diseased. 1 had 

 about five acres, half iMercers and half Kidneys. I have 

 commenced digging, and they appear to be but little affected, 

 as they cook well and eat well. Some farmers tell me 

 they should lie in the ground as long as possible. Please 

 give us such directions as your experience and knowledge 

 may dictate." 



We believe early digging the best, particularly in wet 

 seasons. As we have not space for lengthy remarks on 

 the subject, we will merely repeat what was given in our 

 October number of last year, as follows : — Dig potataes 

 early. The rot is abroad. The first symptoms are rusty- 

 colored rough spots, which only affect the skin, and soon 

 corrode the pulp, particularly in wet weather. If dug early 

 and kept dry — entirely dry — it will extend no farther. — 

 Moisture and heat are the very elements of eremacausis, or 

 vegetable decomposition. Dig in dry weather, and house 

 or bury them in a dry state. If you have a dry sandy 

 knoll, dig a hole 2 or 3 feet deep, run a pole over the cen- 

 ter, and cover with boards and straw and a sufficiency of 

 earth to prevent freezing. Cover the ends of the boards 

 to prevent mice getting in. 



Devon Cattle. — Will you inform me, through the Far- 

 mer, who has the pure blood Devon cattle? — and oblige 

 Yours, &c., O. D. Waldron 



East Leon, N. Y., 1848. 



Wm. Gardutt, Esq., of Wheatland, in this county, and 

 E. P. Beck of Sheldon, Wyoming county, have the pure 

 blood Devons. By reference to the award of premiums on 

 stock at the recent State Fair, published elsewhere in this 

 paper, you will learn who has the same stock in other sec- 

 tions of Western New York. 



Cooking Food for Swine. — (W. H., Trumansburg.) 

 The information you desire on this subject — embracing 

 description of an apparatus for cooking food for swine -is 

 given in our November number of last year, page 251 of vol. 

 VIII. We send you a copy of the paper. 



Mr. Ezra Gorton, of Parma, has left at our office a 

 •clover root four and a half feet in length. It grew on grav- 

 elly soil. On the same field he has this year grown a crop 

 of the common white flint corn ten feet high. Mellow and 

 deep soils and lengthened roots give a large crop, even on 

 land of moderate fertility. 



Large YiELD.~Mr. C. Bardwell, of Potter, Yates 

 county, states that he raised from one stool or kernel of 

 Soule's w heal, six heads — from which he counted 533 ker- 

 nels. The largest head yielded 106 kernels. 



Palmer's Grain Drill. — The attention of grain growers 

 is directed to the advertisement of the manufacturers of this 

 Drill, in this number. The machine received the first pre- 

 mium at the recent State Fair, and is highly recommended 

 by a large number of practical farmers who have used it the 



Hardy Roses will give a much better bloom next season 

 if planted in October, than if deferred till next spring. 

 After planting, spread three or four inches of manure around 

 the plants, to keep the frost from drawing them out, and it 

 may be spaded in next spring. The same remarks apply 

 to all hardy shrubs. 



The Rockville (Md.) Journal says that a merchant of 

 that town sold last year $1500 worth of Sumac. The Jour- 

 nal advises the farmers of the country to gather it. 



Genesee Seed Stoke and Ag. Warehouse.— The en- 

 terprising proprietors, Messrs. Rapalje & Briggs, are 

 about removing this establishment from Front street to Ir- 

 ving Hall, opposite tlie Eagle Hotel, Buffalo street. They 

 have recently purchased Messrs. Nott, Elliot, & Fit>:h's 

 stock of implements, &.C., (the latter gentlemen devoting 

 their entire attention to the hardware and stove trade,) 

 which makes a handsome addition to their former large and 

 excellent assortment. Messrs. 11. &. B. are entering more 

 extensively into each branch of their business, for which 

 their new location affords ample room. 



"The Science of Agriculture." — This is the title of 

 a new work now in press and soon to be published by E. 

 Darrow, co.-nerof 3Iain and St. Paul st., Rochester. It 

 treats of Geology, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Botany, &c., as 

 applied to Agriculture. Dr. 31. M. Rodgers is the author. 

 Patent Office Report.— The last Annual Report can 

 be obtained of D. M. Dewey, Arcade Hall, Rochester. It 

 is handsomely bound in muslin. Price $1,50. 



Dewey has also the proceedings of the recent State Fair 

 and Pomological Convention, in pamphlet form— embracing 

 the list of premiums awarded at the former, and the discus- 

 sions, &c., of the latter. 



Converting Wheat from an Annual to a Pebren- 

 NiAL Plant.— The attempt has been made to convert wheat 

 from an annual to a perennial plant, and it is said, with 

 some good degree of success. The account given, is that it 

 was discovered by the steward or director named Kern, of 

 an estate at Constance. After he had plowed and man- 

 ured the land, he then sowed it with summer or winter 

 wheat. In the spring, before the ear makes its appearance, 

 he mows it. This he does repeatedly several limes in the 

 course of the season, using it as a kind of hay. After this 

 he allows the plant to grow, and be harvested as usual. — 

 The next year it ripens earlier and bears a much larger crop 

 than wheat cultivated in the usual manner. In autumn it 

 is manured like the grass of meadows, and in the spring the 

 the weeds are removed. The effect is stated to be such 

 that from one field four successive harvests have been gath- 

 ered. The subject is one of considerable interest, as no 

 doubt, if rendered perennial, it would be useful for the pur- 

 pose of forage. It might be well for some of our enterpri- 

 zing farmers to test the principle, as it is so easily done, 

 and fuller informatinn relating to it is needed. We have 

 sought for some more satisfactory history of the matter, but 

 as yet have been unable to light upon any thing which w ill 

 give it. At present it is too vague to entitle it to much re- 

 liance, though the particular fact does not appear to be at 

 variance with analogy in regard to improvements quite as 

 great of numerous plants, by particular cultivation.— Pato^i 

 OJice Report. 



Arkansas Lands. — We sometime since mentioned that 

 the State of Arkansas was giving away lands, to any person 

 who would settle in that State. The State Government 

 have still half a million acres, which it offers on these terms 

 to immigrants -.—Any person designating a lot not exceeding 

 160 acres of the State lands, to the Auditor of the State, and 

 within 18 months thereafter enclosing five acres, prepared 

 for cultvaiion, is to be entitled to a deed of the lands, at that 

 time. In addition to this, residents and non residents are 

 allowed to purchase these lands, by paying the taxes and 

 costs on the 160 acre lots, which average about $15 each. 

 The Pork Trade of the West.— De Bow's Commer- 

 cial Review for July, contains some interesting tables of 

 the Pork trade of the Western States. The number of hogs 

 slaughtered during the year lS46-'47 was 1,500,000,— an 

 increase of nearly 50 per cent, over previous years. The 

 number slaughtered in Cincinnati alone amounted to 575, 

 000. 



Only a small portion of this valuable product is exported : 

 snd four-fifths of that sent out of the country is to the British 

 Colonies, South America and West Indies. 



Agricultural Fairs. — We give below the time and 



place designated for holding Fairs the present month. 



American Institute, N. Y. City, Oct. 3, (3 weeks.) 



Johnstown, 



Canandaigua 



Mt. Morris, 



Rochester, 



Seneca Fall 



Fulton County, 

 Ontario " 

 Livingston " 

 Monroe '• 

 Seneca " 

 Windsor Co., Vt., 

 Prov. Ass'n, C. W. 



Mahoning Co., Ohio, Canfield, 



Oct. 4 and 5. 



Oct. 10 and 11. 



Oct. 3 and 4. 



Oct. 4 and 5. 



Oct. 5 and 6. 

 No. Springfield, Oct. 4 and 5. 

 Cobourg, Oct. 3, 4, 5 and 6. 



Oct. 3 and 4. 



