296 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Dec. 



Vegetable Cutter. 



The above figure gives a front view of Rug- 

 GLES, NouRSE, & Mason's Vegetable Cutter. 

 This is the best machine for the purpose manu- 

 factured in this country, and is sold at a less 

 price than those of the same quality made in 

 England. "The cutting wheel is made of cast 

 iron, faced on one side, through which are in- 

 serted three knives like plane-irons. These cut 

 the vegetables into thin slices with great rapidity, 

 and then by cross-knives they are cut into slips 

 of convenient form and size for cattle or sheep 

 to eat, without danger of choking. The pieces 

 after cutting lie loosely and anglingly together, 

 and can easily be taken up by the animal. This 

 machine will cut 60 bushels per hour." For 

 sale by the manufacturers; also at the principal 

 Implement Stores in New York, Albany, Roch- 

 ester, Buffalo, &c. 



Sheep Racks. — Now is the season to repair 

 old and make new racks, to hold forage for 

 sheep and cattle. Every farmer knows how to 

 construct these ; but many neglect so to do till 

 their stock has wasted a good deal of hay, straw, 

 or corn fodder. Neglect this matter of economy 

 no longer. 



Cheap Root-Cellar. — Dig the cellar three 

 feet deep, wall the sides, and cover with 

 coarse timber and slabs, and then with earth, 

 and a window at one end, a Joor at the other, 

 will admit free ventilation except in freezing 

 weather. 



Draining by Steam. — The stone of the 

 building for a new steam engine of 50 horse 

 power for the draining of the fen lands of the 

 Stow Bardolph, (England,) was lately laid, in 

 the presence of several of the commissioners, 

 which afforded a gratifying sign of improvement 

 in the county. 



A PIPE of cast iron 14 inches in diameter and 

 three-fourths of an inch thick, will sustain a 

 head of water of 600 feet. One of oak, 2 inches 

 thick and of the same diameter, will sustain a 

 head of 180 feet. 



Politics and Party Feeling. 



Messrs. Editors : — Your remarks in the October num- 

 ber of the Farmer, relative to the impropriety of the Hon. 

 J. C. Spencer's address at the State Fair, were perhaps 

 correct, considering the present vindictive feelings of par- 

 ties ; but it is much to be regretted that a subject of such 

 immense importance to the whole of community, and espe- 

 cially the cultivators of the soil, as the procuring of a mar- 

 ket, cannot be freely investigated wiliiout arousing the 

 vulture of party. Any subject of importance which politi- 

 cal humbuggers and party fudgites wish to keep in obscu- 

 rity, they twist into the trammels of party, and the door is 

 closed against investigation, candor, and truth. 



Protective industry, internal improvement, and a national 

 currency, should never be interfered with by party faction ; 

 and it is a disgrace on the intelligence and candor of com- 

 munity, that they are thus trammeled. Those subjects are 

 complicated, and very materially affect all the business 

 transactions of society, and many of the comforts of social 

 life, and it is very essential that tliey should be clearly com- 

 prehended and correctly understood by all ; but that never 

 can be, if the door is closed against candid investigation and 

 free discussion. And it is most sincerely to be hoped that 

 the day w'ill soon come, when all subjects of importance 

 and general interest can be honestly and freely investigated 

 without the inierferance of party feelings, sectarian discord, 

 or sectional feuds. William Garbutt. 



Wheatland, N. F., Nov., 1848. 



Agricultural Periodicals, 



In this age of progress no farmer can afford to do without 

 an agricultural paper. It is too late to sneer at and dispute 

 the benefit of books and periodicals devoted to Agriculture 

 — and an intelligent man would about as soon deny the ad- 

 vantage of rail-roads, or the possibility of communicating 

 information by Telegraph. Farmers were created to read 

 and think, as well as Divines, Doctors, and Lawyers, and 

 should thoroughly understand their profession. The ensu- 

 ing year will be the last of the first half of the nineteenth 

 century, and the Farmers of America should see to it that 

 they advance in an equal ratio with men of other professions 

 — and that the duties which they owe to themselves and 

 their children are properly performed. And if, in doing 

 this, any of them are disposed to make the year 1849 a 

 semi-centennial jubilee to Agricultural Editors and Publish- 

 ers, we presume there will be no objection, as all parties 

 may thus be benefitted. Tlie Political Press has had a 

 " good time" during the Presidential Campaign — and now 

 that the smoke and excitement of the battle have evapora- 

 ted, we respectfully present the Agricultural Press as a 

 proper recipient of public (not official) patronage. It affords 

 quite as valuable a return as the former, to say the least — 

 treating upon matters as necessary to community, and per- 

 haps not less important than President making. Grain must 

 be grown, houses built, and animals bred, whatever party 

 is in power, or whoever is President. 



While on this subject we will remark that, as all sub- 

 scriptions to this journal expire with the present number, 

 unless paid in advance for a longer period, we hope all of 

 our present subscribers will renew their subscriptions, and 

 obtain as many new ones as convenient. Whatever "noise 

 and confusion" may prevail, we shall " never surrender" 

 while our friends continue to extend •' aid and comfort" in 

 the shape of subscriptions and communications. The at- 

 tention of our regular agents, and all others disposed to aid 

 in extending the circulation of the Farmer — and we invite 

 the co-operation of all — is directed to our Prospectus on 

 first page, and Premium List on page 303 of this number. 



The failings of good men are commonly more published 

 in the world than their good deeds ; and one fault of a de- 

 serving man shall meet with more reproaches than all his 

 virtues praise. 



A GOOD conscience is to the soul what health is to the 

 body. It preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, 

 and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions 

 that can befall us. 



Cheerfulness is as essentia! to the health of man, as 

 light is to that of vegetables. 



