AMERICAN agriculturist 
3 
horses of different ages. The Grand Duke, 
John the Third, laid the foundation of the pres¬ 
ent system of improving the breed of horses in 
Russia; but the present Emperor, by an ukase 
of the 11th of March, 1843, directed that stal¬ 
lions at proper stations should be distributed 
throughout the Empire, and that the heretofore 
Military studs should be changed into Imperial. 
The immediate consequence of this was, that, 
in 1844, 470 stallions were distributed, and 
12,000 mares were covered. In 1845, the 
former number had increased to 900 ; and in 
1848, the number was 1337, and the number of 
mares, since 1844, amounted to 165,000. By 
this means Russia has effected in a few years, 
what in other countries would have occupied 
centuries. 
And now a word concerning the races—Hai- 
mans, a Government stallion, had four descend¬ 
ants, whicli won ten prizes, and netted their 
respective owners G780 silver rubles. The 
stock of General Chasse numbered 14, which at 
the different races, won 41 prizes, netting for 
their respective owners, 31,152 silver rubles. 
The descendants of Birmingham, 31 in number, 
won 79 prizes, amounting to no less a sum than 
38,428 silver rubles. These four stallions are 
thorough-bred English horses, and were bought 
by the Russian Government, in England, at dif¬ 
ferent times, for 31,436 silver rubles. 
The performances on the turf of the half- 
breds are no less remarkable. One horse, the 
descendant of Karatakos, won prizes to the 
amount of 2283 silver rubles. The trotting 
races arc no less interesting; but circumstances 
did not allow the author to witness any. 
Moscow seems to be the greatest mart for 
horses. At the establishment where the Gov¬ 
ernment stallions are kept there is a sort of re¬ 
pository for horses, where they are sold by 
auction or private contract, similar to Tattersall’s 
in London ; with this exception, that all horses 
sent there for sale arc examined by a veterinary 
surgeon previous to their admittance, and, if 
unsound, arc rejected altogether. They charge 
for the keep, &c., 44 per cent, on the produce of 
the sale. 
There is no town in Russia where there are 
so many line horses; not even St. Petersburg 
excepted. The merchants in Moscow are the 
greatest amateurs of horses. They spare no 
expense to procure the very best, and it is a 
sight that would gratify anybody, to go in the 
neighborhood of the exchange, about 12 o’clock 
to see their carriage's; though some of them are 
no more than horse dealers. The trotters are 
held here in the highest esteem; the prices of 
them arc very high, since you cannot purchase 
one of them under 1000 silver rubles. Ten 
colts and fillies were sold at 2 years old for 6000 
silver rubles .—London Veterinarian. 
- « 90- 
FARM IMPLEMENTS IMPROVING. 
The Patent Office records show, that the im¬ 
provement and multiplication of agricultural im¬ 
plements is monopolizing a large share of the 
inventive genius in our country at the present 
time. Our columns usually contain the claims 
of patents relating to agricultural operations. 
The Scientific American gives the following 
summary : 
Three patents were granted for horse-power 
potato digging machines; the models of two of 
these we have seen, but have not yet had the 
pleasure of seeing a large one in operation. 
Fifteen patents were granted for improvements 
in plows, and four for cultivators. No less than 
twenty-six were granted for seed-planters. 
This number is very large, considering that such 
machines are of recent origin, it shows the im¬ 
portance of this class of machines, and the dis¬ 
satisfaction entertained with those already in 
use. The devices, patented, however, were 
mostly confined to the mode of distributing the 
seed—the novelties patented are stated to be 
very small, but that of B. D. Sanders, of Holli¬ 
days Cove, Virginia, for operating the shove-rod 
to work the valves by friction and rotary cam, 
is a very good one. Three patents were granted 
for horse rakes, and eight for threshers and sep¬ 
arators ; one of the latter consists in having an 
inclined rotary cylindrical straw-carrier, sup¬ 
ported on friction rollers. This cylinder is full 
of holes, and as the straw is carried up, the grain 
falls down through the openings. Ten patents 
were granted for linkers and smut machines — 
one of them being for washing, scrubbing, and 
drying the grain. One patent for a weigher 
combined with a winnower. The weighing ap¬ 
paratus is secured in such a manner to the ma¬ 
chine, that when the measure is filled up to the 
proper weight, the balance tips the weighed 
grain, which is thrown upon inclined ways, and 
immediately starts off on a railroad track to a 
grain depot. Four patents were granted for 
corn-shellers ; in one the ears are allowed to ac¬ 
cumulate, to act in the mass, as an elastic bed 
against the spiral shelling projections. Three 
patents were granted for straw-cutters, and nine 
for miscellaneous agricultural implements, one 
of them being for a metalic tube scythe snath. 
- »»• - 
CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN. 
Raising corn has always been, and still con¬ 
tinues to be, one of the most extensive opera¬ 
tions of the agriculturists of this country. We 
perceive by examining into the circumstances of 
the case, that there is an astonishing amount of 
capital invested in this one branch of farming, 
and that the common profits are exceedingly 
small, compared with favored fields, in favorable 
localities. This is the subject which appears to 
be before the public, and its remedy requires 
the consideration of practical farmers. 
There are several causes which directly or in¬ 
directly tend to produce this common effect, 
among which may be enumerated soil, tillage, 
seed, &c. Large crops are raised on all kinds of 
land in favorable seasons; yet the risk is so 
great, that experienced farmers seldom trust 
their capital in this lottery, but rather take land 
of a light, warm nature, that is easily tilled, and 
can be made productive by manuring, and is 
sure with care to produce a remunerating har¬ 
vest. I consider a sand or gravelly loam most 
suitable and profitable, though most soils can, 
by a thorough draining and sub-soiling, be made 
to produce good crops of corn. 
After many experiments I have adopted the 
following mode of operating. Take land that 
has been in sward two years; break with flat 
furrow as deep as convenient, late in autumn, 
before the severe frosts injure the vegetable mat¬ 
ter ; let it settle till planting season and then 
harrow until mellow. Be sure to harrow enough, 
for there is no fear of working the soil too much, 
and few think that one day’s work in spring 
will save four at hoeing time. Mark both ways 
with a marker which will make four marks 
three and a half feet apart; be careful to go 
straight, so that you can do your hoeing with a 
cultivator. Plant in intersections, after putting 
one spoonful of gypsum in each hill. Plant 
good seed, and no more than you wish to grow, 
this will save a vast amount of bending while 
hoeing. At first hoeing, put a small handful of 
ashes on each hill; hoc two or three times, as 
circumstances require, and you are sure of a 
good growth. I find that the plaster increases 
the product fifty per cent., or more, which is 
a better dividend than all the railroads, banks, 
manufacturing or mining companies in the 
Union pay. 
I harvest by cutting near the ground, and 
putting in small stocks before fully ripe, where 
it is left until cured. The stalks, if harvested 
in this manner, will half pay the expense of the 
crop'; and are eagerly devoured by most kinds 
of stock. I find them to be the best feed ever 
used for cows. Butter made while feeding them 
is always of a beautiful color and an excellent 
flavor. 
Under this treatment, I have always suc¬ 
ceeded in obtaining a remunerating harvest, 
while some of my neighbors often do not get 
corn enough to pay expenses. — F rank Paslin, 
of Malone, N. Y., in Albany Cultivator. 
CLAIMS OF AGRICULTURAL PATENTS 
FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEB. 28, 1854. 
Scythe Fastenings.—S. B. Batchelor, of Low- 
ville, N. Y. : I claim the continuous rectangular 
slot or opening, in combination with the ring 
and screw, by w hich I am enabled to attach any 
common scythe to my snath, as set forth. 
Seed Planters. —John S. Sydney & Joseph 
Young, of Wheatfield Township, Pa.: We claim 
the sliding section in the bottom plate, in com¬ 
bination with the tubes and revolving perforated 
plate, as described, for rendering tire machine 
capable of hill or drill planting, at pleasure, 
and insuring a regularity of deposit, as set 
forth. 
I also claim the aperture in the frame, in com¬ 
bination with the inclined form of the plate, for 
carrying oft' the surplus grains, and collecting 
them in the bucket, as specified. 
Seed-Planters. —Thomas D. Henson and 
George Rohr, of Charleston, Ya.: We claim 
the construction, use, and application of a re¬ 
volving longitudinal shaft, having series of right 
and left or double obliquely set beaters, and 
cleaning spikes for the purpoes as specified. 
Seed-Planters. —Lewis W. Colver, of Louis¬ 
ville, Kentucky : I claim the combination of 
the loosely hinged stocks, with their teeth, shoes, 
and a seeding apparatus, as described, and for 
the purpose of mellowing the soil, opening the 
furrows, dropping and covering the seed at one 
operation, as set forth. 
Churns. —II. W. Davis, of Rodgersville, N. Y.: 
I claim the manner described, of dividing the end 
pieces, and hanging them eccentric to the axis 
of the dasher in combination with the arrange¬ 
ment of the blades, so that the dasher may be 
adjusted by the resistance of the cream in re¬ 
volving through it, so as to present six centrip¬ 
etal cutting or agitating blades to the cream, 
and then after the butter is produced to be ad¬ 
justed by reversing the motion of the dasher, 
and through the resistance of the butter, so as 
to present but two centrifugal gathering blades 
for gathering the butter, working it into rolls, 
and expelling the buttermilk therefrom, as des¬ 
cribed. 
Harvesters. —Solyman Bell, of Marseilles, 
Ill.: I claim the pins in the sickle, or their 
equivalents in combination with the scores in 
the guards, or their equivilents, so constructed 
and operated as to remove the leaves and stalks, 
and prevent the guards from becoming clogged, 
so as to obstruct the motion of the sickle. 
Cotton-Picker Cylinders. —James Pitts, of 
Lancaster, Mass.: I claim constructing the 
screen so that the periphery of the metal inter¬ 
vening between any two immediately adjacent 
orifices shall be of a length equal to or greater 
than that of the staple of cotton or other fi¬ 
brous material to be picked, in order that the 
fibre shall not lap around the said periphery 
and become connected, attached, or tied by its 
ends, as stated. 
I also claim the improvement of constructing 
the cylinder screen of a hollow perforated metal 
cylinder without arms or ribs, and with open 
hollow cylindric journals at its two ends, as 
stated, in order that the cotton may be drawn 
out of one journal by the suction draught and 
any obstruction removed by a person’s hand 
and arm introduced throughout the other jour¬ 
nal, as specified. 
Additional Improvement. 
Plows. —David Swartz, of Tonis Brook, Ya.: 
Original Patent, dated June 22, 1852 : I claim 
and desire to have added to my letters Patent 
of June 22, 1852, attaching the comb or rake 
to the rear end of the mold-board by a crooked 
cam lever or bar swivel in combination with the 
hand lever, whereby it can be conveniently 
raised and lowered by rotating it upon its axis 
of connection as set forth. 
