128 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



The New Haven Agricultural Lectures. — The 

 success of the course of Agricultural and Horticul- 

 tural lectures at New Haven surpassed the most sanguine 

 •expectations of the friends of the movement, although w€ 

 believe the receipts were not quite equal to the expenses. 

 This course of practical and scientific lectures will form a 

 bright epoch in our agricultural history. A similar course 

 will be given next winter under more favorable circum 

 stances. The new building of the Philosophical Depart- 

 ment is nearly completed, and the lectures will in future 

 be held there. This building cost §40,000— the princely 

 gift of Mr. Sheffield, of New Haven. Prof. Porter states 

 that a fund of §25,000 may be relied upon as working 

 capital. On the last day of the course $7,500 was sub- 

 scribed to this fund. An agricultural museum and library 

 will be provided. The new laboratory of Prof. S. W. 

 JoHNSO.v, who is unquestionably the ablest agricultural 

 •chemist in the United States, is in this new building, and 

 is one of the best we have ever seen. The Scientific 

 Department of Yale is an honor to the college and the 

 ccountry^ 



Owing to the unusual press of matter in our columns 

 *his month, we are unable to give sketches of these 



lectures, but shall do so at a future time. 

 »«« 



The Peach Bvds. — There are many conflicting state- 

 ments in regard to the peach buds in this section. A 

 farmer who has a fifteen acre peach orchard near the 

 Lake, informs us that three-fourths of the buds are unin- 

 jured, and the promise is good for a full average crop. 

 On the other hand, a gentleman from Avon, who resides 

 about 20 miles from the Lake, informs us that the buds 



are nearly all killed in his neighborhood. 



^m-, 



The Cheapest Horticultural Work in the World. — 

 The five volumes of the Bural Annual a?id Horticultural 

 J)irectery,\-i3..: for the years 1856-7-8-9 and '60, will be 

 £ent to aoy address, prepaid by mail, for one dollar! Any 

 of our readers who have the volume for 1860 can have the 

 four volume* to complete their set for 80 cents. Any 

 eingle volunj.e wjU be sent for 25 cents. 



April Pbemipms. — The time for competing for our 

 April Premiums (amounting to $235) expires on the J5th 

 of April, Every ope of our agents should send in the 

 pames they have by th,at time, as they may thus secure a 

 Prijze. Will not our friends make oae more effort to 

 increase our circulation ? It is not yet too late ; but what 

 is done must be done at once. 



We are indebted to Messrs, Allex k. McElwain, of 

 ■Springfield, Sliiss., for a choice collection ot their flower 

 seeds. Also to J. W. Pdffee for some seeds of the Ca- 

 nadian Mammoth Pumpkin, which, he says, is the largest 

 he ever saw or heard of till he received the January 

 number of the Genesee Farmer! Some of the pumpkins 



weigh 200 lbs. 



«•♦< — 



The Last Call. — The time for competing for the April 

 Premiums expires on thfe fifteenth of this month. All our 

 friends who are competing for these premiums should 

 send in the names by that date — and all who are not com- 

 peting should do the same, for many will take a prize who 

 do not expect it. Let us bear from all our friends at once. 



Bound Volumes of the Gexksee Farmer. — In reply 

 to several inquiries we would say that we cannot furnish 

 a complete set of the back volumes of the Oenesee Farmer. 

 We have a lew volumes of 1847-48 and 1856-67-58 and 59, 

 bound in paper, that we will sell for 75 cents each. We 

 have also a few volumes of 1S47, 1852, 1853, 1855, '56, '57, 

 '58 and '59, handsomely bound in boards, that we will sell 

 at one dollar each. They will be sent prepaid by mail to 

 any address, on the receipt of price. Those who wish 

 them should avail themselves of this opportunity at once. 



Inquiries aad Answers. 



Plaster for Grasses — Joint Worm in Barley — Sta- 

 bles FOR Cows, ETC. — 1 would like to make several inqui- 

 ries, as follows: Is gypsum beneficial to either Timothy 

 or June grass meadows ? Does it enter into the composi- 

 tion of these grasses? If not, how is it beneficial, if at 

 all? Analysis shows gypsum as an element of clover; 

 but gis far as my observation goes, I have failed to notice 

 any benefit when sown on either Timothy or June grass. . 



2d. Will some one give some information relative to 

 what is here termed the "joint worm," in barley? Is 

 there a benefit by either early or late sowing in prevent- 

 ing its ravages? I am confident my last sown barley was 

 injured most — which was sown on the 12th of May last, 

 on rather mellow soil. I understand the worm is hardly 

 known in some sections, while hereabouts it is very inju- 

 rious. 



S. I shall feel much obliged if some practical man will 

 give a good plan for a stable for forty cows, with a manure 

 cellar beneath, so that I may save the solid and liquid 

 manure without the unavoidable waste by throwing it 

 out of doors. Is it the better method to have a cistern 

 for the liquid, or mix absorbents, such as muck, straw, 

 leaves from the forest, etc., with the manure? It is rec- 

 ommended to expose composts in the open air, with many 

 turnings, several months before api)lying; would it not 

 be well to throw up the muck in the dry season, and after 

 drying awhile, haul to the manure cellar for niixing with 

 the manure during the winter, and applying the whole in 

 a green state next spring — taking labor and all into ac- 

 count? Is not the practice recommended of expos.ng 

 some time to the elements the compost heap, teuding to 

 enrich the atmosphere and impoverish the soil, in a meas- 

 ure, by the escape of gasses evolved by deconipositiou y^- 

 Inquiker, Sanford's Corners, iV. ¥. 



Gypsum or plaster is composed of sulphuric acid and 

 lime, and these enter into the composition of all plants 

 grown for food. Why it is beneficial on clover and not oo 

 Timothy grass is perhaps owing to the fact that Timothy 

 requires more ammonia than clover, and the latter being 

 deficient, the plaster can do no good until the deficiency 

 is supplied. 



We should be glad if some of our experienced corres- 

 pondents would give their views on these subjects. 



Eps, 



Ladt Apple.— (E. N. L., Gi'anvUh, ^\ Y.) Powning's 

 Fruits and Fruit Trees of America has the following- 

 description of the Lady Apple : 



An exquisite litte dessert fruit, the pretty size and beau- 

 tiful color of which, render it a universal favorite ; as it 

 is a great bearer, it is also a profitable sort for the or- 

 chardist, bringing the highest price of any fancy apple in 

 market. 



Fruit quite small, but regularly formed and flat. Skin 

 smooth and glossy, with a brilliant deep red cheek, con- 

 trasting with a lively lemon yellow ground. Stalk of 

 medium length, and deeply inserted. Calyx small, sunk 

 in a basin with small plaits. Flesh white, crisp, tender 

 and juicy, with a pleasant flavor. The tree has straight, 

 almost black shoots, with small leaves ; forms a very 

 upright, small head, and bears its fruit in bunches. The 

 latter is very hardy, and may be left on the tree till severe 

 frosts. The Lady Apple is in iisefrom December to May. 



