1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
261 
§tr»Tvl>ei-s"y Show of tlie Amer- 
ican Institute. — The American Institute arranged 
for an exhibition of Strawberries on June ISth, but the 
unfavorable weather induced a postponement until the 
25th. In consequence of this change, the show was not 
so large as the very liberal premiums should have brought 
out. The quality of the fruit more than compensated for 
the lack in quantify. Several new berries were shown, 
most of which are noticed on page 291. Though some of 
the principal prizes were, for reasons satisfactory to the 
judges, not awarded, we must commend the liberality that 
proposed them, and we hope that such generous efforts 
in behalf of horticulture may in the future lead to satis- 
factory results. 
The following are the premiums awarded: 
Premium Offered by Dudley S. Gregory, $50. For the 
best collection (not less than 25) of named varieties in 
bearing, to be exhibited in pots not more than 10 inches 
in diameter — Eeisig & Hexamer, New Castle, K. Y. 
Premium Offered by Salem H. "Wales, Esq., $25. For 
the best collection (not less than 20) of named varieties, 
one pint each — Eeisig & Hexamer, New Castle, N. Y. 
Premium Offered by Wm. H. Butler, Esq., $12. For the 
best collection (not less than 12) of named varieties, one 
pint each— Frank Brill, Newark, N. J. 
Premium Offered by Nathan C. Ely, Esq., $6. For the 
best collection (not less than 6) of named varieties, one 
pint each— E. Williams, Montclair, N. J. 
For the best plant (in fruit) of any kind, to be exhibited 
in a pot not more than 10 inches in diameter, $5 — S. 
Spingstead, TJnionport, N. Y. 
For the 3 heaviest berries— S. Spingstead, Unionport, 
N. Y. 
For the best quart of Agriculturist, §3, James M. Betts, 
Stamford, Conn.; for the best quart of Austin, $3, Frank 
Brill, Newark, N. J.; for the best quart of Durand's Seed- 
lings, $3, Frank Brill, Newark, N. J.; for the best quart 
of Green Prolific, $3, Frank Brill, Newark, N. J.; for the 
best quart of Ida, $3, E. "Williams, Montclair, N. J.; for 
the best quart of Jucunda, $3, Frank Brill, Newark, N. J.; 
for the best qnart of Lennig's White, $3, Frank Brill, 
Newark, N. J.; for the best quart of Rippowam, §3. J. 
W, Faulkner, Stamford, Conn.; for the best quart of Rus- 
sell's Prolific, $3, E. Marshall, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; for 
the best quart of Triomphe de Gand, $3, Mrs. R. A. Kerr, 
Marlborough, N. Y.; for the best quart of "Wilson's Al- 
bany, $3, E. Marshall, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; LaConstante 
was exhibited by O. Cleveland, Jersey City, but he being 
a manager, was debarred from receiving a premium. 
H. Beecher & Sons, Westville, Conn., for the best fruit 
basket, $3. 
Twenty-eight varieties of seedlings were exhibited in 
small .quantities; all were presented by T. R. Peck of 
Waterloo, N. Y., and some of them show good qualities. 
The Gueeley Prize. — Regarding the prize of $50 of- 
fered by Mr. Greeley, the Judges, John Ellis, Thomas 
Meehan, Geo. Thurbcr, and J. J. Thomas, say that sev- 
eral fruits of great promise were offered for this prize, 
among which were No. IS, Chas. Downing ; a seedling of 
remarkable size and beauty, No. 30 of Seth Boyden's 
Seedling ; Komeyn's Seedling, a very prolific variety, and 
Durand's Seedling; but before this premium can be 
awarded, according to the terms specified, the plants 
should be examined on the ground to ascertain how they 
have wintered, and again in fruiting time, by a committee 
appointed for this purpose. 
-A'otcs obi Fanning; iat the 4*rain. 
Districts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 
— Almost every State has its distinct phases of agriculture, 
occasioned by its soil and climate, or by its first settlers. 
Grain growing, which is the leading business in the hus- 
bandry of the best portions of these States, is secured by 
the peculiarilics of the soil mainly. The soil which is 
under the plow is easily tilled, and comparatively free 
from boulders or large stones. There is nothing to inter- 
fore with the plow, the harrow, or the cultivator. For 
the most part, com is not touched with the hand-hoe after 
plantiiiLT, and even the planting is often done by the drill. 
Lime is almost everywhere cheap, and with the small 
quantities of manure made, serves to keep up the fertility 
of Hie land with very moderate applications. The farms 
underlaid with limestone are said to be subject to drought 
in summer, making them unreliable for pasture. Rye or 
wheat, oats and corn, are easily raided, and probably pay 
better than dairy fanning. They Uikc less capital, involve 
less labor, and require loss skill. The rotation, corn on 
a limed sod, oats or a summer fallow, manure and winter 
grain, cither rye or wheat, clover, and timothy arc com- 
mon, making a five or six years* course. There is a uni- 
formity in following this course, without much regard to 
the nationality of the original settlors. 
Wo come upon the characteristic Pennsylvania Bakn, 
long before we cuter the State at Easton, traveling by tho 
Morris and Essex railroad. It is planted, if possible, 
upon a side hill, and has one or two stories below the 
barn floor, where the hay and grain are delivered. The 
best model has stone gables, and the walls of the lower 
stories are of stone or brick, laid in mortar, and made rat 
proof. The entrance to the main floor is directly from 
the ground on the upper side, or by a broad drive-way of 
gentle ascent where this is necessary. It is of large capa- 
city, frequently 50 by 100 feet, and will hold several hun- 
dred tons of hay and grain. There are deep bays on either 
side of the floor for hay, and immediately beneath the 
floor is the granary into which the wheat, oats, and rye 
are received, when they are threshed. The threshing and 
cutting of straw.com fodder, and hay, is all done by horse 
power. The cut feed is conveyed by a shoot to the stables 
in the basement, where it is mixed with meal, and fed to 
the animals. The whole basement is occupied with stalls 
for cattle and horses. There is a large cistern in the side 
bill, catching all the water from the barn, and furnishing 
an abundant supply for the stock. A pipe brings the wa- 
ter from the cistern, immediately in front of the feeding 
stalls, so that little time is lost in watering. Sometimes 
a neighboring spring, instead of a cistern, furnishes the 
water. There is one grand defect in this style of barn— 
the want of some means near the stalls for the preservation 
and composting of manures, and with this supplied, we 
do not know that it could be changed for the better. Ma- 
nures are not prized so highly as they are further east, 
and for this perhaps the lime is at fault. It is a great 
labor to clean out the stables in this kind of ham. The 
manure is carried out by wheel-barrow or other contri- 
vance, and deposited in the open yard, where, mixed with 
straw, it lies exposed till the annual clearing out comes 
in August or September, for the oat stubble or summer 
fallow. A barn cellar underneath the stables would save 
largely in labor, and in the value of manure. We think, 
on many of these farms, from two to five hundred dollars 
are lost every year for want of a cellar. 
Pork raising is quite an important item in the business 
of the grain farm. The pigs are sometimes fed in clover 
through the summer, but quite as frequently run at large, 
and the manure is wasted. They are generally fed upon 
raw corn, and in large inclosnres when shut up for fatten- 
ing. We did not find the small pen well filled with muck 
or loam, upon which the eastern farmer relies for several 
cords of his best manure. We believe it pays to have 
swine sheltered, and to feed with ground and cooked food. 
Raising roots receives very little attention in the grain 
growing districts. Potatoes are raised for the table, and 
the yield is quite as generous as in the Eastern States, 
but we did not see any large fields of carrots, parsnips, 
beets, mangels, or turnips. Perhaps the climate is not so 
favorable, but we could not learn that experiments had 
been tried to test the matter. We think some of the 
roots would be found to succeed very well, and that they 
would be found to be a very profitable addition to the 
stores for the winter feeding of cattle. We suspect room 
will yet be found in the model barn of this region for a 
root cellar, and that carrots will become a part of the 
daily rations of the horse. 
The breeding op horses is a common branch of busi- 
ness upon the grain farm, and generally pays well. They 
are not of any distinct breed, but are larger than those 
raised at the east. There is a great demand in the sea- 
board cities for a large horse, weighing from twelve to 
fifteen hundred pounds, for trucks and heavy wagons, 
which Pennsylvania, more than any other State, supplies. 
Almost all the work upon the farm is done by horse-power, 
and this requires a large force, which, on the eastern farm, 
is supplied by oxen. The young horses are kept until of 
suitable age for service, and then sold for from two to five 
hundred dollars each. Strength and size are qualities 
sought more than beauty and speed. The horses for ex- 
portation arc a large item in the wealth of the State. 
Farming by Proxy is much more common than at the 
Ea*t. The land owner, instead of renting his farm for a 
stipulated price, or upon shares, hires a foreman or farm- 
er to oversee and board the laborers. He is not a resident 
upon the farm, but visits it as often as suits his conve- 
nience, and gives such directions as he chooses to the 
foreman. The compensation of the foreman varies accord- 
ing to circumstances. We found one who received 3G0 
dollars a year, house rent, fuel, and the use of two cows, 
lie agreed to board laborers at three dollars a week, aud 
the laborers worked for 10 dollars a month (wet and 
dry) and board. Another on a somewhat larger farm re- 
ceived 700 dollars a year with house rent, fuel, and other 
privileges. lie boarded the laborers at a stipulated price, 
made all the purchases, and sold all the products of the 
farm, and kept the accounts. Land owners who pursue 
this course, are generally men of business in the neigh- 
boring villages or cities, who see the farm frequently, and 
keep close watch of the management. They have a farm 
account, and know the profit or loss of the business. We 
found one gentleman who farmed in this way. making 
from 7 to S per cent, on his capital, and he could show the 
figures. Ho spent money freely, and got it back again. 
The Picnic, and How to Go to it. 
The picnic is an institution in our cities and vil- 
lages, and nothing is more common than a gen- 
eral turn out of friends and neighbors for some 
rural retreat in the dog-days. It is quite as 
much needed upon the farm, and now that the 
hay and grain harvests are mainly over, a good 
time generally should be inaugurated b}' the 
young men and maidens of the farm. "All 
work makes Jack a dull boy." Who should go ? 
Everybody that lias done good solid work 
through the hay harvest and behaved himself; 
the commodore, who lias bossed the work, and 
done the thinking, and had the tools all ready 
in season; his wife, who has spread a bountiful 
table and sent savory luncheon to the field ; 
little Bess, -who has mixed the sweetened water, 
tempered with lemons or with vinegar, and 
brought it to the field; little Bob, who lias rode 
horse to plow, and raked after the cart all sum- 
mer; the old folks who have happy memories 
of harvest days; the good dominie, who has 
sweat in his pulpit to make 3*our Sabbaths prof- 
itable, and you better every day in the week ; 
the doctor, who has taught 3'ou to observe the 
laws of health, and prescribed apples and pears 
instead of pills — every honest worker, old and 
young, ought to have a daj^s release from toil. 
"Where should they go? To any pleasant spot, 
not too far off to make it a weariness — some 
river bank, some island, some sea-side resort, 
some hill or mountain, where there is grateful 
shade and fine scenery. How should the}' go? 
With their own teams, if possible. The railway 
and steamer will do for poor people who can- 
not support an establishment of their own. We 
like independence and a home made picnic. 
What shall they do? Enjoy nature and society. 
Do not impose upon anybod}-- the necessity of 
a lecture, or a speech, or be tied up to any pro- 
gramme. Singing is in order, so is swinging, 
and silence and quiet, if people like them better. 
Only get the people together, and let your com- 
mittee see that each family brings its offer- 
ing to the festival, and it will take care of itself. 
Top Dressing Grass Lands. 
A veiy interesting experiment has been made 
with various kinds of manures applied to grass, 
at the State Agricultural College of Michigan. 
The manures were applied to the plots, from 
May 5th to 10th, 1864, and the products were 
carefully cut, dried, and weighed, in July and 
October of the year 18G4 and 1865. The soil 
was a light sandy loam. 
2 bush, of plaster per acre gave an increase of 4, 153tb of hay 
5 " L * wood ashes " " " " 3,9421b " 
20 loads of muck " l * ,l " 4,ftS;JIb u 
20 " and 3 bushels of salt " 5,31SIb " 
3 bushels of salt " " " " 4,lS4Ih " 
20 loads of horse manure " " " 5,023 B) " 
20 " " cow " " " " 4,S74tt> " 
This experiment covers two years, and seems 
to have been carefully made. It gives, without 
much doubt, the approximate value of these 
manures as top dressings for light sandy loams. 
It shows that two bushels of plaster are worth 
a little more than two tons of hay, and five 
bushels of ashes produce nearly the same quan- 
tity. Estimating hay at 15 dollars a ton, this is 
a very good pf ice for plaster and ashes. Farmers 
who want to get ahead should certainly iuvest. 
The experiment also shows the great value of 
muck in comparison with stable manure, and it 
is for the sake of the muck argument that we 
give place to this experiment this month. The 
muck is shown to be nearly as valuable as tho 
