THE GENESEE FARMER. 



321 



miles from Baltimore. If a vessel were to sail down near 

 the center of the Chespeake, and up near the center of the 

 Potomac, to Washington, the distance would be some two 

 hundred and thirtj- miles ; to enter all the inlets, coves, 

 bays, &c., on the Maryland side alone, a vessel would sail 

 at least one thousand miles in making the trip, counting 

 the distance to the head of every navigable river and creek. 

 Such another chance to reach almost every man's farm by 

 steam, is not to be found in North America. In rising up 

 out of the ocean, the peninsula stopped at precisely the 

 best elevation. It can all be drained^; and most of it is 

 naturally drained to a sufficient degree. It can all be 

 economically irrigated ; and it all will be in the brilliant 

 future of this giant republic. Nature has done so much 

 for the people of St. Mary's county, that they seem disin- 

 clined to do anything of imi;)ortance for themselves. With 

 a knife that costs six cents, a child three years old will i)ick 

 up, open and eat fresh oysters three hundred and sixty-five 

 days in a year. A couple of barrels of corn (ten bushels) 

 will give him bread the year round. Population thus fa- 

 favored, do not generally work more than a third of their 

 time ; while young men seek amusement and excitement 

 in horse-racing, gambling, drinking, hunting, fisliing and 

 other sports, to the neglect of mental culture, and the de- 

 plorable injury of tlieir morals. Mankind should not live 

 too easily ; for idleness is the prolific mother of a thousand 

 vices and crimes. Christian civilization must advance 

 many degrees before young, and old, and middle-aged 

 persons, of both sexes, will work steadUy and successfully 

 from an inborn desire to do good in the world, after every 

 mere animal want is satisfied. The million work to live ; 

 and when any can live without work, they do so as naturally 

 as a herd of buffaloes on the Western plains. Indeed, 

 manual labor in a hot sun, such as shines in this latitude 

 about these days, is not so refreshing as to eat roasted oys- 

 ters, and sea-bathing in the shade. 



Remaeks on Pkices. — There is much speculation 

 among dealers in produce in regard to the future prices of 

 wheat and flour. In Western New York, Northern Ohio, 

 and Illinois, we judge that about half an average crop has 

 been harvested. In Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and 

 Canada, fuU average crops have been realized. The effect 

 of drouth upon corn in the United States generally has 

 been very prejudicial, and many good judges estimate a 

 deficiency of from twenty to forty per cent, on an average 

 crop. There is an abundant mast at the South and West, 

 and that will materially supply the deficiency in corn. The 

 prices of flour in the New York market for pure Genesee, 

 for some time pastj have been above the prices at Liver- 

 pool. The great majority of our American population 

 having been accustomed to use the best quality of flour, 

 will use no other ; and much of the flour sold in the New 

 York market would not be used by our farmers in our 

 wheat-growing districts. We have noticed as a general 

 fact, that when the prices of any article of produce have 

 been held for a length of time above the average market 

 price for a series of years, cautious operators realize on 

 purchases as soon as possible. But a few days since one 

 ef our millers received a boat load of wheat, which cost 



him about two dollars per bushel ; he immediately sold it 

 to a brother miUer at a slight advance, preferring a certain 

 profit to a future contingent one. Although speculations 

 as to future prices are very uncertain, we think that the 

 highest price for wheat in our markets will be reached by 

 the first of November ; and when supplies shall have 

 reached the seaboard markets, that prices will recede. 

 Brands of pure Genesee will command extra prices, and 

 be sought for to supply an article of extra family flour, at 

 home and in our Eastern cities. We do not give these 

 observations as infallible ; but according to the best of our 

 judgment, we anticipate a decline in prices by the first of 

 November next. 



New York State Fair. — We would call the attention 

 of our readers to the State Fair to be held in the city of 

 New York, on the 3d to the Gth inst. inclusive. The in- 

 fluence of these fairs in awakening an interest in the foun- 

 dation of our nation's wealth, is universally beneficial. 

 Suppose you have nothing to exhibit — go and see what 

 others have to show ; learn how this animal was fed, notice 

 his good points, and how they differ from similar ones at 

 home. I'ou will there see implements of husbandry, for 

 encouraging labor in every branch of the farmer's calling ; 

 notice their construction, and see wherein your own cannot 

 be improved. Any one who goes with a desire for being 

 taught, and willing to be taught by the experience and 

 observation of others, cannot fail of reaping a rich harvest 

 of facts, and principles to guide him thereafter. 



Virginia State Fair. — The second annual exhibition 

 of the Virginia State Agricultural Society, to be held at 

 Richmond during the month of November (the circular 

 issued by the Executive Committee does not say on what 

 days), judging from the spirit manifested by the farmers 

 and planters of the Old Dominion, and the extent and va- 

 riety of premiums offered, promises to be one of great and 

 exciting interest. Among the names of its officers, we see 

 many of the most distinguished and worthy of her citizen?. 

 We rejoice to see these evidences of increasing interest in 

 Scientific Husbandry ; and in the cordial intercourse of tl.e 

 cultivators of the land on occasions like these, we see much 

 to encourage to renewed zeal and effort. The premiums 

 offered for essays, and carefully-conducted experiments in 

 the growth and successful cultivation of our staple crops, 

 will, we doubt not, elicit from various sources information 

 that will be a mine of facts and statistics, of which the in- 

 telligent cultivator can avail himself. Success to all agri- 

 culturists in their efforts to diffuse correct and reliable 

 information throughout the land. 



"Beat this who Can." — Under this heading, the 

 Adrian (Mich.) Watchtower says that Rev. Mr. Pilcheh. 

 of that city, has a white Shanghai, hen, that has laid every 

 day for one hundred mid twenty-three successive days, and 

 on the one hundred and twenty-second day she laid two 

 eggs. He obtained her of W. S. Lunt, an extensive 

 breeder, of Findlay, Ohio. 



On account of the crowded state of our columns we aro 

 are obliged to omit our " Ladies' Department " this month. 



