3 2 



THE GENESEE FARMER 



Ayrshire, Devon and Durham breeds, as well as upon 

 our common cattle. The offspring? is considered, by 

 all who have seen them, far the handsomest animal 

 of the cow kind. They are symmetrical and active, 

 and can keep fat when any other cow would starve. 

 I had this half-breed crossed again upon our cattle, 

 but am not yet sufficiently experienced to report of 

 their milking qualities. As evidence, however, that 

 our agi-iculturists confide in the appearances, my 

 half-breeds readily sell at Si 000 a pair, and the second 

 cross, or half Brahmin, at from SlOO to $300 each. 

 Preferring the mixed breeds to the pure, I sold to 

 Mr. EnEs, of Kentucky, the original pair for .$4000, 

 as that State would prove a better place to breed 

 and disseminate the stock. As Kentucky is the de- 

 pendence of the .South for beeves, they needed an 

 animal that could come to us in the hot months of 

 summer and remain healthy and sound. They have 

 from this animal a progeny that will travel thirty 

 miles a day in August, and the further South they go 

 the better are they suited — the great desideratum to 

 the Northern breeder and the Southern consumer. 



The Asiatic buffalo, or water ox, is a large, ugly, 

 hardy animal. The cows are good milkers, making 

 fat and good-flavored beef, though coarse-grained, 

 and precisely suited to sea-coast marshes, where no 

 other animal can venture, as well as to lands subject 

 to inundation. 



I am unprepared to say anything practically of my 

 other importations, but will continue to report my 

 experimeots, and believe many of them will become 

 matters of history. — James B. Davis,M. D., of Co- 

 lumbia, 8. C, in the Patent Office Report. 



WHEAT-CULTURE IX WESTERN NEW 

 YORK. 



The average crop of wheat in this portion of the 

 State is about 2.5 bushels to the acre ; although in 

 many instances, from proper cultivation, the yield has 

 been more than double. My neighbor, Mr. William 

 HoTcnKiss, who exhibited the largest yield at the 

 World's Fair in London, in 18;j1, in a field of six 

 acres, in 1849-.50, averaged 63 J bushels to the acre, 

 of wheat weighing 63 pounds to the bushel. It at- 

 tracted much attention from the wheat-growers of 

 Europe, who could scarcely believe that so large a 

 yield could be taken from an acre. There was noth- 

 ing unusual in Mr. Hotchiciss' method of cultivation. 

 He plowed deep, taking good care to pulverize the 

 soil well, and to intermix the top with the subsoil, 

 eubduing the grass, &c. The seed was drilled in near 

 the end of August, two bushels to the acre of " Soule's 

 wheat," But extraordinary as this yield was univer- 

 sally acknowledged to be, it was exceeded during the 

 summer of 18.53 by Mr. Thomas Powell, of this 

 county, who averaged, on a field of seven measured 

 acres, within a small fraction of 70 bushels to the 

 acre — namely, 489 bushels. 



This latter yield was so unusual, that I deem it proper 

 to give the particulars of the method pursued in its 

 cultivation. In the fall a heavy dressing of swamp 

 muck was applied. During the winter the field was 

 used as a yard for sto^'k, including a flock of sheep. 

 In May there was carted on a liberal coat of barn- 

 yard njanure, which was immediately plowed in very 



deep. Up to the 15th of August it was used at night 

 as a sheep-yard, when the field was again plowed 

 three times, until the soil was perfectly pulverizetl 

 and thoroughly intermixed with the manure. Two 

 bushels to the acre of "Soule's wheat" was then 

 sown broadcast, and covered with a light plow, which 

 completed the process. The variety known in Western 

 Xew York as " Soule's wheat," is in fact no other 

 than the very best of the Genesee "white flini^'" 

 having a stiff straw and maturing early. 



As the product of this soil in wheat as yet stands 

 unprecedented, it may be useful to give the following 

 analysis, by Professor Emmoxs : 



Water of absorption, 3.00 



Organic matter, 7.75 



Silicates, 76.93 



Carbonate of lime, 2.82 



Phosphate of alumina, 0.15 



Magnesia, 0.25 



Peroxide of iron and alumina, 8.82 



99.72 



In this county it is supposed that 13 bushels of 

 wheat to the acre will pay all expenses of culture ; 

 and my experience teaches me that an additional out- 

 lay of 40 per cent, judiciously applied, will brins an 

 average return of 40 bushels to the acre. Under 

 the European system of cultivation, it could unques- 

 tionably be run up to an average of .56 and perhaps 

 70 bushels to the acre, as is evinced by the success 

 of Messrs. Hotchkiss and Powell. 



It can scarcely be necessary to caution the expe- 

 rienced and enlightened farmer as to the careful selec- 

 tion of his seed. Threshing wheat by machines should 

 be avoided, as the grain is frequently crushed and tha 

 germinating principle greatly injured or destroyetl. 

 It should be well cleaned, of course, and chess and 

 other noxious seeds excluded as much as possible by 

 repeated screening. These seeds sometimes get buried 

 deep and lie dormant for years, until the plow, by ac- 

 cident, brings them under the influence of the sun, 

 when they germinate and mysteriously show them- 

 selves, to the vexation of the husbandman. 



It has been found beneficial, also, to change th« 

 seed by selecting it from different localities every three 

 or four years. Between the middle of August aad 

 first of September is found to be the most proper 

 time for sowing wheat, and deep plowing is deemed 

 almost indispensable for a good crop. — Herman 

 Powers, of Leiviston, JYiagara Co., JV. Y., in the 

 Patent Office Report. 



Splendid Grain. — Mr. James Morrison, four mifea 

 south of Oakland, has sent us a sheaf of the finest 

 wheat we have ever seen — about five feet high, heads 

 ten inches long, and the fullest, cleanest, and best- 

 filled grain that has been exhibited yet. Mr. M. 

 approves and practices deep plowing, and subsoil 

 plowing. — California Farmer. 



Satire and sarcasm are very well in their way ; 

 but they never made a heart happy, or removed a 

 vice. Show men virtue, unselfishness, sustaining faith, 

 working as active principles in their hearts, or quicken 

 the germs of good into vigorous life. 



The Farmer for 1855 will be much improved. 



