THE LOCUST TREE.—THE NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, ETC. 
345 
state. The land where it was sowed is far from 
being rich; four years since it was a worn out 
old field, and has had but little manure, and that 
applied to previous crops of corn and turneps. 
When preparing the ground for wheat, on which 
the clover was sowed, a two-horse turning plow 
was used, and a scooter plow run after in the fur¬ 
row, as a substitute for' a subsoil plow. A heavy 
iron-tooth harrow and roller followed, all of which 
I think very necessary to success in raising good 
crops of small grain and grass. I expect to seed 
ten acres with clover this fall, on part of which I 
shall sow red top with the clover. W. H. S. 
Sparta , Georgia , Aug. 1, 1844. 
THE LOCUST TREE. 
Occasionally you have recommended the cul¬ 
tivation of the locust on plantations, and for shade. 
It has been said that the locust will spread, so as 
to injure the tillage in the adjoining fields, and this 
deters many from planting it. 1 am told that, in 
New England, they are attempting its eradication 
for this reason, and that even this is difficult, be¬ 
cause where a shoot is pulled up, each broken 
root will send up another. On account of the 
freedom of the tree from insects, its general beauty 
of appearance, and its rapid growth , it is very de¬ 
sirable to cultivate it, especially for shade (where 
the Algerine custom of taking off all the forest 
trees has prevailed), if it can be done safely. I 
have planted a few, which are growing so finely 
as to attract the attention of most passers; but 
have refrained from planting more, in consequence 
of the above suggested difficulty. Can you give 
your readers any certain information on this point ? 
(a) I would be glad to plant many this fall, being 
sure they make the best shade for the farm gen¬ 
erally, if it is safe to do so. There are none old 
enough in this region to settle this matter. 
A Subscriber. 
Ohio , August , 1844. 
P. S. The spreading is said occurs in this way 
—the roots extend a great distance, and shoots 
will spring up, and these again extend roots, and 
throw shoots, till the lots adjoining are filled with 
them. 
(a) We have never heard of the above objec¬ 
tions to planting locusts before, though we have 
seen hundreds of acres of them. Will any of our 
readers answer as to this point ? Locusts at 
the north have been greatly injured by the borer; 
but for the last few years it has nearly disappeared, 
and they are now flourishing finely. 
Peaches not attacked by the Curculio.— 
In Mr. Parson’s article, page 310 of our last num¬ 
ber, he desires us to say, that peaches should not 
have been included among the fruits subject to be 
attacked by the curculio. 
Fall Plowing.— If the land abound in clay, 
this is essentially necessary, as frost is a much 
better pulveriser of the soil than the harrow and 
roller. Besides, fall plowing exposes insects of 
most kinds to destruction. Sandy or light gravelly 
lands may be plowed in the spring. 
NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 
ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY, 1845 
To Agricultural Writers and Farmers generally. 
The annual convention of the New York State 
Agricultural Society, which will continue in ses¬ 
sion for several days about the middle of January 
proximo, will be occupied with the examination 
of many subjects highly important to the agricul¬ 
tural community and to citizens generally. The 
range of investigation (in the reports from com¬ 
mittees, in the essays prepared by various writers, 
and in the remarks from sundry speakers), is de¬ 
signed to embrace all topics of leading interest 
in reference to such improvements as may better 
enable the farming community of this state to sus¬ 
tain itself under the competition generated by the 
fertile and cheap lands of the west—such as im¬ 
provement in the character and management ol 
stock—in the introduction and promotion of new 
branches of farming industry—in the application of 
science as a profitable auxiliary in various depart¬ 
ments of rural industry, as well as in the compo¬ 
sition of manures and the cultivation of the soil— 
including, not least though last, the diffusion of 
agricultural and horticultural knowledge through 
the instrumentality of the public libraries and com¬ 
mon school organization. Sufficient is now known 
from consultation with gentlemen most conversant 
with these matters in different sections, to warrant 
the undersigned in expressing a belief that the 
approaching annual convention will concentrate 
the efforts of the friends of agriculture in a man¬ 
ner eminently conducive to the great objects for 
which agricultural organization is desirable. The 
mornings and afternoons will be devoted to busi¬ 
ness, at the agricultural Hall, in the Old State 
House, at Albany; and the evenings to sociable 
intercourse among the members of the state and 
county societies, and other friends of agriculture 
and horticulture from all sections of the state of 
New York, and from several neighboring states. 
The hospitality of the friends of the cause in and 
around Albany, the undersigned also feels war¬ 
ranted in saying, will be manifested liberally in 
providing comfortable quarters for gentlemen at¬ 
tending the convention on this interesting occasion. 
The multiplicity of business and the immense 
crowds at the state fair and cattle shows, render it 
impracticable on those occasions to convene the 
friends of agriculture as fully as desirable for 
deliberation, discussion, and sociability; and it is 
hoped and believed that the January convention 
will furnish opportunities for promoting these ob¬ 
jects, to the satisfaction of agriculturists and friends 
who may honor the convention with their presence 
from this and other states. 
It may be added that the agricultural meetings, 
commenced satisfactorily last winter, will be con¬ 
tinued on each Thursday evening of the approach¬ 
ing winter; and friends of the cause generally are 
invited to attend, at the society’s hall. 
Among the business which will employ the 
time of the state society at the annual meeting, 
will be an examination and decision on the merits 
of the reports and essays and books on the various 
