REVIEW OF THE OCTOBER NUMBER OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
349 
REVIEW OF THE OCTOBER NUMBER OF THE 
AGRICULTURIST. 
The Traveller.— -Yes, he is always coming or 
going here, there, and everywhere, picking up 
useful information for the readers of the Agri- 
culturist. If it ever comes in my course upon 
some future voyage, I should greatly enjoy a 
visit to that Delaware farmer he speaks of, and 
his fine herd of Devon cattle— a breed that I 
have been fond of ever since I was big enough 
to appreciate beauty, whether clothed in hair 
or silk. I am surprised at the quantity of milk 
and butter they give. These Devons beat mine, 
although it is considered one of the best milk- 
ing herds in old Connecticut. 
Researches on the Sugar Cane. — There are 
some things in this article well worth the atten- 
tion of American sugar planters. Science has 
done much for this culture, and will do much 
more. Applied to agriculture, it is no longer 
an obsolete idea. 
Massachusetts Farming. — The writer says 
much improvement has been effected of late 
years, owing to high prices of all articles raised 
by farmers, which they obtain from manufac- 
turers of various kinds, established among them. 
An exi ellent home-market argument. If all 
the farmers of America could but see that the 
increase of manufacturing establishments in 
this country is decidedly for their interest, we 
should hear but little said in favor of importing 
all we need, except agricultural products — 
fruits, vegetables, butter, cheese, milk, poultry, 
and eggs, all find sale. Manure is made or 
bought, the capacity of the soil is increased, and 
becomes more valuable; all classes flourish, 
and happiness abounds, where that which is 
needed for home consumption is home manu- 
factured. 
Poultry Raising. — Mr. Miner is death on the 
most fashionable speculation of the day, in the 
first sentences of his article; but just as we are 
about giving up the ghost, (of a fortune in the 
hen line,) he saves us by the consoling informa- 
tion that a " small fortune is sure," if we only 
follow the directions laid down by him — pro- 
vided we do not count the chickens before they 
are hatched. There is one truth in his article 
which is worthy of notice ; that is, no foreign 
breed of hens are at all to be compared to our 
own good old domestic sorts, for raising poultry 
and eggs for market. 
Premium Butter. — These statements, from the 
Transactions of the New- York State Agricultu- 
ral Society, could not well be more meagre and 
unsatisfactory, or perhaps uninteresting to the 
reader. By " cyphering" out Mr. Van Ness' 
statements, we may find out one very remarka- 
ble fact, and that is, if the daily average given, 
continued through the whole thirty days, his 
milk averaged a pound of butter to a fraction 
over twelve and a half quarts of milk, and the 
cows averaged a fraction less than a pound and 
a half a day ! both of which are somewhat ex- 
traordinary yields. " The salt used, was from 
the Pacific Rock-Salt Company." Who, what, 
and where is this salt company, and why is 
Pacific rock salt better than any other pure arti- 
cle ? I will grant anything is better than some 
of the miserable stuff sent into market from the 
New-York State works. 
Mississippi Planting. — There is more in this 
article than will strike most readers at first 
view. The Doctor says he can now raise eight 
bales of cotton with less labor than he formerly 
did six, upon the same land. A very great im- 
provement; and how is it brought about? Sim- 
ply by substituting good plows in place of poor 
ones. Is it not worth while for some more of 
us to look around and see if we cannot go and 
do likewise? 
Improved Harrows. — Who is this writer that 
says the old forked stick with wooden teeth for 
a harrow, is still used in Connecticut? Out 
upon the slanderer. Do not think anybody 
will believe that, in this enlightened age of 
agricultural improvement, such a heathen can 
be found in the state of Connecticut, where all 
learn to read and write, and may learn to see, 
if not use good farming tools. And when once 
seen, can they ever after use such a miserable 
one as you describe ? No sir. The idea is pre- 
posterous. You must take that back. Eat 
your own words. For the honor of our state, 
don't let it go abroad that " many of the farmers 
in this section of the state use no other harrows 
than those with wooden teeth." Why, you 
might just as well say they are a set of wooden- 
headed, forked animals, that don't know any 
better. Thank fortune, no one will believe such 
stupidity exists anywhere, except in South Caro- 
lina or some other benighted land of heathens, 
where they dig up the ground with hoes, or 
load manure into a cart with wooden trays, or 
some other practice equally behind the age. A 
wooden- toothed harrow in Connecticut, in the 
year 1850 ! I won't believe it! That is worse 
than Mr. Robinson's account of the Old Bog 
Meadow. 
Reclaiming Wet Lands. — " The situation of 
my land which I have drained, was formerly 
springy and cold." Just the situation of thou- 
sands of acres all over this country. Springy, 
cold, wet, and unproductive, and yet containing 
some of the best soil upon the farm. I have 
often seen much labor expended in hauling 
stones away from the very borders of these wet 
spots, which would have served an admirable 
purpose to drain them, if buried in ditches with 
only half the labor required to carry them 
away. I have seen land well drained for years 
where stones were not to be had, by burying 
three poles in the bottom of the ditch. Brush 
is frequently used for the same purpose. Almost 
half the land now in cultivation in this country 
would be benefitted more than the cost of the 
most expensive underdraining. 
Irrigation. — And the same land, and much 
more would be greatly benefitted by irrigation. 
These several articles upon irrigation ought to 
be read with attention, and their precepts put 
into practice. 
Poultry. — A Jersey Quaker outwitting a Yan- 
kee clock pedlar ! Verily Jonathan, thy cun- 
ning hath departed from thee, and thy brain 
hath become like unto an egg that is addled, 
