THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
137 
pages, contains part of Petzholdt’s Lectures to 
Farmers on Agricultural Chemistry. The se- 
c ond part, 64 pages, is made up of seventeen ve- 
ry interesting articles, all closely connected with 
the every day business of the tillers of the soil. 
Agricultural Statistics. 
The reports from tho Patent Office on the Agri- 
culture of the United States, have, for two or 
three years past, been by far the most interesting 
document emanating from the Government. 
Mr. Ellsworth will long be remembered for the 
industry and the ability with which this part of 
his duty was performed. It is the intention of 
Mr. Burke to continue these reports— giving 
them, it possible, increased interest and accura- 
cy. He can do this only by the aid of members 
of Congress, and their constituents. Mr. Cobb 
is taking the right course to get in his district the 
intormation wanted. Let his constituents, now, 
do their part. See Mr. Burke’s letter in anoth er 
part of our paper. 
South Carolina State Agricultural Society. 
The editor of the South Carolinian attended 
the meeting of this society, which was held at 
Newberry Court House, on 30th and 31st July 
last. From his account of the meeting we learn 
that the attendance of the members was not so 
numerous as could have been desired, but New- 
berry and the adjoining districts turned out in 
large numbers. On Wednesday, a Palmetto 
Banner v/as presented by the young ladies of the 
village to the McDuffie Artillery Company, com- 
manded by Capt. J. F. Williams. Mr. Bailey at 
the same time presented to the company a Silver 
Medal, made by himself, emblematic of the Ar- 
tillery service. 
The Newberry and State Agricultural Societies 
were then convened. Judge O’Neal presiding, in 
the absence of A. R. Seabrook. At 12 o’clock 
the annual address of the Newberry Society was 
delivered by Maj. Henry Summer. The after- 
noon was occupied in reading reports. The Ed- 
itor of the Carolinian says these reports are more 
substantial in their details than any he had be- 
foie read, and then adds: 
“ Thursday was the great day of the Meeting, 
and the village and grounds appropriated to the 
stock show contained crowds of spectators. The 
young ladies presented fancy work, which would 
not have been out of place in the boudoir of a 
houri, and the mats and wreaths of artificial flow- 
ers were peculiarly charming, and seemed to sup- 
ply the place of nature’s rosy children, which the 
drought had banished from the gardens. The 
more matronly dames, 'Hhe mothers of young 
Carolina," exhibited their offerings of useful do- 
mestic silk, woolen, and cotton fabrics, and patch- 
work quilts and coverlets, which tempted the 
most staid and incorrigible subjects of Bachelor- 
doTK. into the untried ways of Caudle-ism. We 
fancy these same "comforters" had a warming 
influence on many stony hearts, and look for ward 
to the fruits of their good examples, and their in- 
fluence upon the rising populace of the country 
with great hopes. 
“ The cattle show was superb. Horses of all 
ages champed impatiently their restraining bits— 
from the fiery steed, who would have acknow- 
ledged the dominion of no one, save an Alexan- 
der, or a "big nigger," and who would have 
borne the Knight Templar, or hurried the chariot 
of the victor at the Olympic games in furious 
haste across the dusty plains, to the mild suck- 
ling colt of the last spring— asses that would have 
astonished the donkey boys at Cairo — mules of 
better quality and higher form than the sacred 
beast which bore the Andalusian Monk and the 
fair daughter of Boabdil across the hills of Estra- 
madura — bulls that out-bellowed the most noisy 
of Bashan’s bovine thunderers — cows with dis- 
tended udders and glossy sides glittering in the 
sunshine — calves, as bread and graceful as a 
fashionable belle fresh from Madame Weaver’s 
magazine des modes — sheep with richer spoils 
upon their backs than the “ golden fleece” of Col- 
chis, and swine which grunted in the luxurious 
superiority of hog aristocracy, generated by the 
consciousness of the pwriiy of Berkshire blood, 
which coursed lazily through their stearine ob- 
structed veins, pinguid in their sleek obesity — all 
these were there contributing their prosperous 
looks to sustain the drooping spirits of agricul- 
ture. Visions of sweet rides, butter and cheese, 
warm jackets, hams, and fat-gourds, swam before 
our eyes in gay and giddy trains, 
“ But all these sights vanished from the nu- 
merous audience, when the ermine was laid 
aside — Themis forgotten — and our friend Judge 
Butler gave his charge in the Court of Ceres to a 
sensible and intelligent jury of farmers. Wo 
have often listened to agricultural addresses, but 
have never received more good advice, at the 
same time being highly edified, than on that occa- 
sion. Ho was very happy in his delineation of 
the popular agricultural and educaiional fallacies 
which prevail amongst us, and as we were leaving 
the Church, we heard a venerable hard-handed 
father of the plowshare say, “ That speech will 
do more good than any sermon ever preached in 
that pulpit.” Our readers may look out for a 
treat when we publish it. The village of New- 
berry exhibited all the characteristic hospitalities 
for which it has long been famed, to the dele- 
gates and visitors, and we trust everybody went 
home from the Fair delighted, instructed, and 
highly pleased.” 
Distinguished Farmers. 
In the J uly number of the Cultivator, we had 
the pleasure of directing the reader’s attention to 
an account published in that paper, of the farm 
and the extraordinary management of Mr. Cal- 
houn. We beg leave now to remind the reader 
of that account, and to request him to read, in 
connection with it, the accounts which we here- 
unto subjoin, of the farms of Mr. Van Buren, 
and Mr. Clay. 
“We copy (says the New York Farmer,) 
the following ‘ Personal Sketches’ from the 
Burlington Gazette, presuming that our ag- 
ricultural readers are always interested with 
what evidently tends to elevate the scale and 
heighten the pursuits of the agriculturist; and 
we take great pleasure in holding up as model 
farmers, those who, after having presided in the 
halls of legislation, and occupied some of the 
highest places in their country’s trust, have re- 
tired from the bustle and excitement of ‘ political 
life,’ and as farmers a rd agriculturists, doubtless 
enjoy more happiness tl;ian their elevated offices 
ever afforded them — 
There is nothing more instructive and salutary 
than the spectacle afforded to our young men, of 
those who have been eminent at the Bar and in 
the Cabinet, who have passed years in the midst 
of the fierce contests and engrossing excitements 
of political life, taking an active and prominent 
part in ihe improvement of agriculture and the 
useful arts, and exhibiting the spectacle of dig- 
nified retirement and profound enjoyment of the 
simple pleasures of rural and domestic life. Our 
country now enjoys many such examples. Mr. 
Clay’s farm is one of the best managed in Ken- 
tucky, and he has done very much for the general 
advancement of agriculture in the West, by in- 
troducing improved breeds of cattle, modes of 
cultivation, &c. Mr. Webster’s farm is smaller 
and less fertile, but is worth seeing. Jesse Buel, 
a printer by trade, after being for many years a 
leading political editor at Albany, became the 
model farmer and teacher of agriculture for an 
extensive region around him. A nd we are happy 
to learn, from the following article, that Mr. Van 
Buren is now pursuing the same path prosper- 
ously and happily. The following is from the 
Albany Cultivator: 
Visit to Lindenwald.— We lately passed a 
beautiful summer’s day in the vicinity of Kinder- 
hook. Among other places of interest, we visited 
Lindenwald, the seat of ex-President Van Buren, 
We found Mr. Van Buren at home, and accom- 
panied him in a walk over the farm. When he 
entered on the occupancy of his place, on his re- 
tirement from the Presidency, it was much out 
of order; the land having been rented for tw^enty 
years, and been under cultivation for the period 
of 160 years. Several of the buildings had be- 
come poor, the fences were old and were rotting 
down, and bushes and grass of wild growth had 
taken possession of the farm. During the short 
time it has been under Mr. Van Buren’s manage- 
ment, the place has been greatly improved, and a 
course is now fairly begun by which a handsome 
income may be derived from it. The garden and 
pleasure grounds have been enlarged and newly 
laid out — hot houses have been erected — and a 
large number ol fruit and ornamental trees, 
shrubbery, &e. have been planted. The green- 
house contains a collection of exotic fruits and 
plants, among which were some fine grapes, just 
ripening. In the garden we noticed some fine 
samples of all the fruits of the season, and some 
of the finest melons we have ever seen (so early 
in the year) in this latitude. 
Among the objects which give beauty and in- 
terest to the grounds, are two artificial ponds in 
the garden. They were easily made by con- 
structing dams across a little brook originating 
from springs on the premises. Soon aft’er they 
were made (three years ago) some fish were put 
into them, and they are now so well stocked with 
trout, pickerel and perch, that Mr. Van Buren as- 
sures us they will afford an abundant supply for 
his table. This is a matter well worthy of con- 
sideration. T’here are many situations where 
such ponds may be made ; and with trifling ex- 
pense, the luxury of catching and eating a fine 
trout or pickerel, may be had at any time. 
Several of the fields have been enclosed with 
new fences, and several buildings erected, among 
which is a very tastv farm-house, and a barn cal- 
culated for storing 150 tons of hay after being 
pressed. 
But perhaps the most important improvements 
which have taken place on the farm, have been 
made on a tract of bog land, thirteen acres of 
which have been thoroughly reclaimed, and are 
covered with luxuriant crops of grass or oats. 
Three years ago this land was worthless. It was 
first drained by ditches ; the stumps and bushes 
were then cut out and burned, and the ashes 
spread on the land. It was afterwards sown to 
grass— using a mixture of timothy and red-top 
seed— 3 pecks to the acre. The whole cost of re- 
claiming was S33 per acre, and the land will now 
pay the interest of a hundred to a hundred and 
fifty dollars per acre. In this Mr. Van Buren has 
set a good example, which we hope will be fol- 
lowed by the other farmers in the neighborhood 
who have lands similarly situated. 
The potato crop is one of considerable conse- 
quence on his farm, as well as on others in the vi- 
cinity. Mr. Van Buren raises the variety called 
Carters, produced from the ball a few years ago 
by the Shakers. _ He considers these by far the 
most profitable kind known. They yield well, 
and iheir quality is thought equal to any. Mr. 
Vp Buren assured us that all which could be 
raised would readily command fifty cents per 
bushel by the quantity in New York. All the 
crops appear to be well managed, and are pro- 
mising. Leached ashes were tried here last sea- 
son with excellent success. Great benefit has 
also been found from p’owing in clover. 
Mr. Van Buren keeps but little stock, a con- 
siderable object being the sale of hay. The man- 
agement of the farm is under the immediate su- 
pervision of Mr. Van Buren, who finds in it a 
salutary exercise for the faculties of the mind and 
body — such a state as to be highly enjoyed. In 
his rural retreat, removed from the care of state, 
and turmoil of political wars, he 
Now drinks the pure pleasure of a rural life. 
Henry Clay and Ashland. — Mr. Clay’s farm 
contains about eight hundred acres; and in all 
my wanderings, including even old New England, 
I have never seen the same number of acres in a 
body, a - handsome, as productive, as well fenced, 
and as well cultivated. His wood land is cleared 
of all underbrush and dead wood— his fields are 
enclosed with good fences, with the top rails all 
on, and not a weed or a brier in the corners — his 
hemp fields, &c. prepared with the skill and care 
