Agriculture is the most healthful, the most useful, and the most 
noble employment of Man.— Washington. 
VOL. 111. NEW YORK, JULY, 1844. NO. Vlll 
A. B. Allen, Editor. Saxton & Miles, Publishers, 205 Broadway 
CUTTING GRAIN. 
We must make the same reference to former 
volumes of this periodical in cutting grain, as we 
have below in cutting grass. Since writing those 
articles alluded to, all subsequent experience and 
information which we have gathered, go to sus¬ 
tain the conclusion that when the berry of grain of 
any kind has well-filled and just begun to glaze, 
so that passing the end of the thumb-nail over it 
leaves a slight indenture, is the best time for cut¬ 
ting. A friend in Massachusetts informs us, that 
he made this his test in cutting his rye last year, 
and that the flour made from it was whiter and 
sweeter than any he had ever harvested before, 
there was more of it also per bushel, and less 
bran. This looks reasonable; for it is asserted 
that after this stage of the filling of the berry, 
longer standing only tends to change the flour into 
a thicker rind of the grain, and consequently forms 
more bran. In the case of our friend’s rye-flour 
above, he observed that it was nearer wheat than 
any he had ever tasted. Two other important 
considerations in cutting grain early force them¬ 
selves upon us. 1st. We have more time for the 
harvest, and are more forward with our work. 
2d. The grain shells scarcely at all, there is con¬ 
sequently little or no loss from this source. 3d. 
Since the introduction of machines for cutting 
straw, this is an article which is fast getting into 
general use for fodder, and the straw saved by 
early cutting proves greatly more nutritive and 
palatable to the stock than that cut late. Where¬ 
fore, we earnestly entreat our farmers to pay 
greater attention to the early cutting of their grain 
than they have heretofore been in the habit of do¬ 
ing. 
THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST ALMANAC. 
This valuable Almanac for the year 1845, has 
just been published by Saxton & Miles, 205 Broad¬ 
way. It contains 40 pages octavo, of a size nearly 
as large as this periodical, filled with useful and 
entertaining matter for the Farmer, Planter, Gar¬ 
dener, and Stock-breeder. There are double sets 
of tables in it, calculated for the East and West, 
and we think this will be found one of the best 
and most popular Almanacs ever issued. The pub¬ 
lishers have put it at the very low price of 6| cents 
at retail, $3 per hundred, and $20 per thousand. 
The work is stereotyped, and can be had in any 
quantity. It is expected 50,000 copies, at least, will 
be disposed of this year. It is got out thus early, 
and placed at the extremely low price above 
named, in order to make it an object to our friends 
