No. 10. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



147 



Now, ill my humble opinion, nil ihcse etill mide- 

 tcnniiK-d iiuobiioii^ mi^Ui hnve l»cei\ ectcled many — 

 many years ago, ifilioae who were mos' iiiterestcd in 

 tlieni had taken the trouble to make a few such por- 

 feeily accurate expcrimenia ca any ciiltivnior of his 

 own or othera' land mi^'ht viry easily maUo; and to 

 publiah the reoiiUa ot'thc eanie in our agricultural jour 

 nats, inatead of the numerous vague Stieculutions and 

 inconcluaivc statements on the forCijoiny aubjccie.wiih 

 whieu these journals have so often been filled. Whe- 

 ther 1 am right or wrong in thia opinion, let your 

 readera determine, aftfr considering the lolbwing 

 queiieu to which I rcspedfully invite their attention. 



How easy would it hove been, in i.rder to srttie the 

 first controversy, for all who felt sulficient iniereot in 

 it to desire that it should be settled, to spread vcj,'eio- 

 snimal manure equally over a email determinate 

 quantity of land, and then, alternately to plough it 

 under, and leave it on the surface of exactly equal 

 poriiona of this land, and to compare by accurate mea- 

 surement, the produce of each portion 3 



Would it not have been equally easy In settle the 

 aecond contniversy, by planting a like determinate 

 quantity of land with as many varietiea of Indian 

 corn as the experimentalist wished to compare toge- 

 ther, giving to each exactly equal poriiona of the 

 land, the same diataneea between the hills and rows, 

 the some number of stalks in a hill, and precisely the 

 same culture: and then accurately to measure the pro- 

 duce of ea^-h portion 7 To prevent the produce from 

 being much alfectej by iitlerniixiure, an oblong form 

 migut be given to the land on which the experiment 

 was made, and the rows planted ocross, to the num- 

 ber, aay, of 12 or 15. Then, by comparing an equal 

 number ol the middle rowa only, the experiment 

 would approach sufficiently near absolute accuracy to 

 sntisiy even the most skeptical. 



To ac-certain the best distances at which to plant 

 corn in the richest, the poorest, and the medium qua- 

 lity of land, what difficulty would there be in trying 

 nil such as are most approved by practical men, on an 

 iascertaint'd quantity ol land of either of the foregoing 

 qualities, giving to each d.snnce exactly the eam^ 

 sized portion, and then measuring accurately the pro- 

 duce of each portion, as in the other experiments ? 



With a view to ascertain the best modes of culture, 

 can it possibly bo satisfactorily done without compar- 

 ing them at the same time, on exactly equal portions 

 of land which is the same in soil, fertility, and situa- 

 tion; and can there be any great difficulty, expense, 

 or trouble in making this conipaiison. Yet who, 

 among our numerous writers on the subject has ever 

 reported any such experiment ? This, if it ever had 

 been properly made, would have settled for ever, whe- 

 ther it benctiis or injures corn to cut the roots, since 

 ciU they iedl be, more or less, by every mode of cul- 

 ture wuich has ever yet been tried. If the portion 

 of land on which fewest roota had bern cut produced 

 the most corn, and that portion yielded the least 

 where the root-cutting had been greatest, theu eurely 

 the lirst modeol culture would be preferred by every 

 body, but the obstinate fools who have no better rea- 

 «r>n for any thing they do, than ihat they have always 

 done toe same. 



With respect lo the cheat or chess controversy, 

 lam almost afraid to open my lips, for most of our 

 brethren who maintain that cheat is the produce of 

 wheat, seem to have worked themselves up into such 

 B choleric and bellicose humor on the subject, against 

 U3 who maintain the negative in this matter, that it 

 ia quite a perilous thing to ofTer any argument in sup- 

 port of our opinions. I will therefore content myself 

 with only asking a few simple questions. Is it among 

 the unknowable things of this world to ascertain the 

 truth in regard to thia controversy ? If it is, why 

 should another word be ever said or written about iff 

 If it is not, can any one oblige me so far as to name 

 a single experiment, among all which have been so 

 ca'led and attted la pro.ifs that wheat will turn to 

 cheat, which ia not most palpably ded'ctive in several 

 csaential particulars ? I can truly e^y that 1 have 

 never seen even a silitary one., but that which was 

 made in 1833 by Messrs. Tiiomae and William J, 

 Cocke and yourself. This is to be found in the first 

 volume of your Register, on the 83d and 84th pages; 

 and to my mmd is most conclusive proof that for 

 leheat to p'oduce cheat, is quite as great an impofsibil- 

 i'.y aa for " thorns to yield grapes," or for thiatlea to 

 produce figs. I will further ask, if any experiment 

 made with less particularity aijd accuracy than the 

 one just referred to, ou^ht 1 1 be regarded, even in the 

 slightest degree, as contributing towards aettling thia 

 much and long agitated controversy, or indeed, 

 should be entitled to a place in any of our agricultur- 

 al papers 1 None, I think, who reilly deinro v tnrae 



at the truth in this matter could reasonably object to 

 the editors of these papers requiring equal or even 

 greater accuraay and minuteness in the experiments 

 which they may be required to report lor either ol the- 

 parties ccncerned. li the zeal o;" those who maintain 

 the affirmative in this controversy, be not sufficient 

 when stimulated by the hope of victory, to impel them 

 to take the trouble of making such experiments as 

 have just been suggested, I would beg leave hereby 

 to call tieir attention to your pledge — made a lew 

 months ago, to pay one hundred doilare — not ** in 

 rage," but in good lawful money, to any one who 

 can prove by similar experiments, well authenticated 

 in all their particulars, that he has succeeded in con- 

 verting wheal into cheat. 



I could mention several other subjects upon which 

 much ditfercnce of opinion has been expressed, for 

 many years past, and which still occasionally appear 

 in our agricultural popers. Serving no other purpose 

 than to show the great dispropor'.ion in number be- 

 tween the multitude who prefer writing out and pub- 

 lishing their conjectures on these topics, and the lew 

 who choose the less easy, but more troublesome road 

 of accurate experiments to solve their doubts. But 

 until this be generally done in regard to all matters 

 which can be settled by the experimental process, the 

 readers of our agricultural journals, (good as I admit 

 most of them to be) will have to pay for much that 

 ailorda them little, if any satisiactory information. II 

 ** tiction, action, action,'* be essential to form the 

 finished orator, I would say that — experiments, exper- 

 iiitetil£, accurate experiments are equally, nay, more 

 important, to form the complete fanner, 1 remain, 

 dear sir, vours very sincerely, 



JA.VIES M, GARNETT, 



From the Ifew England Tarmer. 



Hajr Seed upon laveited Sod. 



Many of our moist lands upon our dry uplands and 

 the bog-meadows, though natural to grass, occasion- 

 ally need renovating. As long as a common top- 

 dressing will coll a good crop, nothing more should 

 be done than to apply the manure on the surface. 

 But when the better grasses have run out, and when 

 moss begins to collect upon the surface, it is necessa- 

 ry to plough such land. But where the plough will 

 do its woik tolerably ii ell, it is not necessary to plant. 

 These lands which are wet and heavy in the early part 

 of the season, and which bake in the scorching months 

 of July and August, are not profitable for tillage. — 

 They may yield a crop of potatoes, and possibly of 

 corn, but the chances for this are small, and it is usu- 

 ualiy bad working these wet spots in the early port of 

 the season. The best way to treat them is, to turn 

 the land over aa aoon as it can conveniently be done 

 after the crop of hay has been removed; to plough 

 in B:ieh direction that the dead furrows shall come in 

 suitable plucea for surface draine, to roll well; and 

 then put on a dressing of compost. When this has 

 been done, sow hay-seed and harrow thoroughly. 

 Then use the roller again, and the next season you 

 may obtain a fair crop of hay, and the following year 

 you probably will get a heavy burthen. Herds grasa 

 is better for these moist grounds than clover or red- 

 top. No one who has been acustomed to this process 

 will ever think of tilling any wet lands that can be 

 laid over smooth by the plough. 



The process here recommended has b^en repeatedly 

 urged upon our farmers, by Mr. Buckminster, editor 

 of the Boston Cultivator; and as tiir aa he has influen- 

 ced tbem to comply with his advice in thia matter, he 

 has rendered them good service. 



This ia the proper season of the year for working 

 all low lands, and it is by attention to them, that our 

 farmers genera ly must hope to thrive. They repay 

 the labor and expense bestowed upon them better than 

 most of the high grounds. 



Cactus Triangularis. 



The Charlestown Courier says, we were among 

 thu gratified beholders of the magnificent and numer- 

 ous bloom of this rare plain, at Mr. L. B. Baker's, 

 on Wednesday night last. The plant is in a state of 

 most luxuriant vegetation, growing in a box contain- 

 ing rocks, superficially covered with sand, and of 

 course deriving its nourishment chiefly from the at- 

 mosphere. When we saw it, thirteen magnificent 

 flowers, gigantic in size, yet gvaccful in form and ex- 

 quisite in beauty, siiniiltoneously expanded their pe- 

 tals to delight the eye, while at a little distance a 

 pleasant fragrance was diffused. The evening be- 

 fore, seven flowers, on the some plant, had commen- 

 ced and closed their ephemeral bloom. We carried 

 away one of tbf^* rich Woswras of night, kindly pre- 



sented to us by their proprietor, and found to our 

 agreeable surprise liiat, by depoeittng it in a jar of 

 water, its existence was prolonged, and it bloomed 

 belle of the rosy morn as well aa the curtained night. 

 Th» bloom of this plant io one of nature's myeterica 

 — floral beauty the most rare oiid exquisite, dcslincd 

 only to hang on the brow of night, like a rich jewel 

 in the Plthiop's ear, and to close its petals in early 

 and lovely death as r„idnight tolls its knell — depend- 

 ent too wholly on human aid to prevent it from be- 

 ing born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness on 

 the desert air. 



A fine specimen of this beautiful Ceetus owned by 

 Mr. Otie Everett, jr., which opened its blossoms on 

 Wednesday last, and was witnessed by many of his 

 friends, all of whom speak in the highest terms of ita 

 beauty and fragrance. The flower is very large, of 

 a pure white, with CO outer and 18 inner petals G 

 inches in length. It commenced opening at 4 P. M. 

 was half open at 7, fully expanded at 10, ond doted 

 next morning at 7 o'clock. Thia plant came from 

 the interior of the island of Cuba. Truly is it said 

 that this is one of "nature's mysteries," — Bosttn 

 Transcript. 



The Pear Tree. 



We are told that many persona are afraid to plant 

 pear trees lest they should die with the Jire-hlight ; 

 that they have done their best to savs the trees, but all 

 to no purpose ; and that they now settle down in de- 

 spair. In reply to this melancholy account however, 

 we can repeat the assurance that ice hace not lust a 

 single tree by tlte Jire-blight in twenty years. It has 

 been in our fruit garden several times, but always 

 seemed to walk out again aa fast aa we did ; for we 

 cut off the injured branches wii/ioi/t delay and burnt 

 them immediately, — destroying aa we believed, the 

 whole colony of insects that had committed the depre- 

 dation. 



As soon aa the leaves begin to blacken on the 

 branches, lor two feet or more near their extremities, 

 let the owner waken up at once, lay aside all otuer 

 business, and proceed with aa much zeal to the task as 

 he would drive the pigs from his garden. We are 

 satisfied it is the putting off till a more convenient 

 season in such eases, that proves so fatal to the pear 

 tree. The stable door may be locked when the horee 

 is stolen ; and the limb may be cut off when the in- 

 sects are gone to another part of the tree. Did you 

 cutofTthe Vnnbbeloto where it was dead, say a foot «r 

 more? " No — we only cut off the dead part" — leav- 

 ing the insect at work below. Did you burn it when 

 it was cut off! " Why — no — we left it under the 

 tree" — for the insect (if there) to go up again at bis 

 leisure, t 



Culture of 8lllf. 



It is indeed " an ill wind that blows nobody good," 

 The subsidence of the mulberry speculation is follow- 

 ed by cheeringattentiontothemanufactureofeilk. The 

 immense quantity of trees lately propagated for spec- 

 ulauon, essentially aids those who now embark with 

 a view of pursuing the Silk Culture as a steady busi- 

 ness. The vice of speculation is thus rendered trib- 

 utary to honest industry; and we confidently predict 

 that the crop of silk, in three or four years, will prove 

 that, whatever evils may have deluged the country 

 through the speculating mania, the "mulberry fever" 

 isfjllowed by healthy and efficient action in the great 

 cause of rendering our country independent of foreign 

 nations for an ample supply of Silk. 



Wo congratulate thousands of thrifty farmers upon 

 the pleasant and profitable employment which the 

 silk business affordj to the females and children in 

 their families — affording means and inducements for 

 industry that may essentially serve those families 

 throughout life — promoting comfort and independ- 

 ence, and yielding returns that would guard againat 

 pecuniary distress, should the ordinary meana of sup- 

 port be curtailed by the loss of husband or father, or 

 by other reverses of fbrtune, R. 



