62 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, ETC. 
rich sediment, annually deposited on it by the wa- 
ters of the brook, its fertility may be kept up as 
long as the world lasts; so that the manure made 
from the consumption of the hay on the meadow, 
need not be returned to it, but may be used annu- 
ally to enrich the uplands. This is what I call a 
precious farmers' mine, too many of which have, 
alas! never yet been worked in our country; and 
I fear, may not be for ages, leaving them to the 
production of a poor, coarse, watery grass, scarcely 
worth cutting. Enough of this, however, for 
the present, though I intend to resume the subject 
in my next, as I have yet to explain to Mr. Wat- 
kins, and the redoutable Caesar, the fertilizing qual- 
ities of water, and what it holds in solution and 
otherwise, that so greatly benefits the land. 
Sergeant Teltrue. 
WINE MAKING IN RHODE ISLAND. 
Mr. Horace Vaughn, of East Greenwich, Rhode 
Island, has made, the past season, one hundred bar- 
rels of wine from the vines growing wild, within a 
few miles of that place, thus showing the produc- 
tiveness of the vine in this state. It is probably a 
fact, that there are more varieties of the wild grape 
growing in this state, comprising the black, purple, 
red, and white, than in any other state in the 
Union. 
Mr. Vaughn has made the same kind of wine 
for several years, and finds quite a demand for it 
with churches for communion purposes, where it 
gives entire satisfaction ; for he uses no alcohol in 
its manufacture. In fact, it is a very good wine, 
and shows that we are able to supply the article 
ourselves, without using the foreign adulterated 
' ; stuff," usually sold under the name of wine. 
A. C. M. 
Warwick, R. 1., Dec. 18th, 1848. 
PRODUCTIVE FARMING. 
Mr. James C. Corning, of Newtown, Bucks 
county, Pennsylvania, has favored us with the fol- 
lowing amount of products, as sold from his farm 
of 125 acres, in the year 1848 : — 
Wheat, 516 bushels, - 
Rye, 50 bushels, - 
Oats, 1,000 bushels, - - 
Indian corn, 17 acres, or 1,037 bushels, 
Timothy seed, 4 bushels, 
Potatoes, 100 bushels, - 
Apples, 500 bushels, ... 
Hay, 70 tons, - ... 
Sheep and lambs, - - 
Calves, 14 in number, - 
Swine, 20 in number, - 
Poultry and eggs, - - - - 
Butter, from Feb. to Oct., 3,708 lbs., 
620.00 
40.00 
375.00 
621.00 
16.00 
60.00 
125.00 
840.00 
25.00 
95.50 
240.00 
125.00 
974.08 
Total, - - - $4,156.58 
The stock remaining on the farm, on the 12th of 
December, consisted of 5 horses, 2 colts, 20 milch 
cows, 1 bull, 2 heifers, 10 sheep, and 1 breeding 
sow. 
How to Grow Rich. — If you would grow nch 
and thrive, always take care that the incomings 
amount to more than the outgoings. 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
After so long a delay, we have for the first 
time in the history of the United States, the official 
recommendation from a chief magistrate, for the es- 
tablishment of agricultural colleges and schools. 
All honor to Governor Fish for this first recogni- 
tion from the gubernatorial chair, of the paramount 
claims of agricultural education. We trust this 
suggestion will be promptly followed up by the 
legislature, and that we may have acts to record in 
favor of this great interest ; for we have had enough 
of words. 
We have been amused from year to year, at the 
classification of the legislative Solons of this state, 
nearly nine tenths of them assuming to themselves 
the honorable occupation of farmers ; yet with the 
petty exception of a few thousand dollars annually 
bestowed on the state and county agricultural soci- 
eties, we are without any aid from this host of le- 
gislative farmers. We shall soon see whether they 
think public opinion is sufficiently developed on 
this subject, to follow out the enlightened sugges- 
tions of Governor Fish. 
AUGUST FELLING TrMBER. 
In the American Agriculturist for this month is 
the following recommendation : — 
" In cutting timber, of all kinds, advantage 
should be taken of the season which will favor 
their duration and strength. Thus, oak and most 
other kinds of non-resiniferous trees, as far as the 
knowledge of practice extends, are stronger and 
more durable when felled in early winter, at the 
time the pores contain but little sap." As 
this season for cutting timber for any purpose, 
either building, fencing, or firewood, is so at va- 
riance with my experience for more than forty 
years, in its durability and strength, or good qual- 
ity for fuel, I thought it might benefit the agricul- 
turists of the country to know the proper time for 
cutting all kinds of timber in this section of 
country. 
If oak, hickory, or chestnut timber is felled in 
the eighth month (August), in the second running 
of the sap [The descent of the autumnal sap in the 
bark 1 — Eds.], and barked, quite a large tree will 
season perfectly, and even the very twigs will re- 
main sound for years ; whereas, that cut in winter, 
or spring, and remains until the next fall, the limbs 
(as thick as one's wrist), will be completely sap- 
rotten, and will be almost worthless for any pur- 
pose. The body of oak split into rails will not 
last more than 10 or 12 years. Chestnut will last 
longer, but no comparison to that cut in the 8th 
month. Hickory cut this month is not subject to 
be worm eaten, and will last a long time for 
fencing. 
When I commenced farming, in 1802, it was the 
practice to cut timber for post fencing in the win- 
ter. White-oak posts and black-oak rails, cut at 
that time, I found would not last more than 10 or 
12 years. In 1808, I commenced cutting fencing 
timber in the 8th month. Many of the oak rails 
cut that year are yet sound, as well as most of 
those formed of chestnut. If the bark is not taken 
off this month, however, it will peel off the rails 
itself, the second or third year, and leave the sap 
perfectly sound. The tops of the trees, also, are 
