AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
fmpefr ta imjroto tf n farmer, \\t planter, attir % (Sarktter* * 
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AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST HEALTHY, THE MOST USEFUL , AND THE MOST NOBLE EMPLOYMENT OF MAN. -rW ashington. 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY ALLEN & CO., 189 WATER ST. 
VOL. XII.—NO. 10.] NEW-YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1854. [NEW SERIES.—NO. 36. 
FOR PROSPECTUS, TERMS, $c., 
SEE LAST PAGE. 
WILL THERE BE A GREAT DROUTH THE 
COMING SUMMER 1 
We do not pretend to be weather-wise, but 
those who do, say that animals, birds, and some 
other things in their late movements, prognosti¬ 
cate a dry summer. This is likely to be the 
case, and the only reason we can give for it is, 
that one extreme usually follows another. The 
Spring thus far has been very cold and wet — 
the summer consequently may be very hot and 
dry. This would prove highly calamitous to 
the laboring classes; for drained as the country 
already is of its products by the great demands 
for Europe the past six months, a long contin¬ 
ued drouth would add considerably to the pre¬ 
sent prices, which are already very exhorbitant. 
The corn at the South has suffered materially 
by late frosts, and in many instances has already 
been planted the second and third time. This 
looks bad for that quarter, which of late years 
has become a large grower of corn. A short 
crop in that region would materially affect 
prices throughout the country. 
Yet whether we have a great drouth the 
coming snmmer or not, the farmers ought to be 
well prepared for it. Let them remember the 
dry summer of 1852, and the great loss to 
them in half - starved animals that ensued. 
Hundreds of thousands of cattle were sacrificed 
to the butcher and otherwise the following win¬ 
ter, merely for want of fodder to carry them 
through till spring. 
The best and most reliable substitute for 
grass and hay, which we can cultivate, is Indian 
corn grown in drills, and cut just as the grain 
gets fit for roasting ears or boiling for the table. 
Five to seven tons of dried fodder may be easily 
produced from an acre. Every farmer ought to 
raise at least a three months' supply for his 
• stoclc, of Indian corn fodder , and a four months’ 
supply would be still safer. It is best to get it 
in now as soon as possible. The stalks of the 
sweet varieties are much the most nutritious 
and palatable, although they do not produce so 
great a growth as some others—yet they are 
enough better to pay for this difference of pro¬ 
duction. 
Next to Indian corn, we would recommend 
growing oats, to be cut when the grain is in the 
milk, and fed unthreshed. We consider that 
either the corn or oats thus raised, and fed with 
their grain on the stalks, equal—ton for ton— 
to the best of hay. The stalks should be cut 
up fine by a machine previous to feeding. It is 
a matter of economy to use the straw and corn¬ 
stalk cutter, even when the oats and corn are 
cut and fed green from the field in the summer. 
Millet is somewhat cultivated south of us; 
though farmers generally at the North are un¬ 
acquainted with it; but from the few experi 
ments we have made with it as a substitute for 
hay, we should place it next after oats. It may 
be sown broadcast, and cultivated the same as 
oats, though to sow in drills six inches apart, is 
better. It will yield from 2 to 4 tons per acre. 
The fourth best substitute for a short crop oi 
grass and hay, is roots, such as the sugar beet, 
carrot, parsnip, and turnip, which we value in 
the order we have placed them. Potatoes, on 
account of the prevalence of the rot, are too 
uncertain to be calculated upon. Cabbage and 
pumpkins are very good for partial feed during 
the autumn months. 
FARM OF MR. WATSON. 
We spent a few hours last week in looking 
over this beautiful farm. It lies upon the river 
Bronx, near its emboucheur into the East River, 
in Westchester County, about twelve miles from 
the New-York City Hall. It comprises about 
220 acres, and was purchased by Mr. Watson 
six years ago, and was then in rather a low 
state. He has got it into such fine condition 
now, that it took the first premium of $50 last 
year, offered by the American Institute, for the 
best cultivated farm which the Committee vis¬ 
ited in Westchester County. 
This farm is devoted principally to grass and 
hay, of which it is now a large producer of the 
best qualities. For the consumption of this, 
Mr. Watson keeps improved stock of various 
kinds. He formerly had a large and superior 
flock of Long-wooled sheep, but the dogs have 
proved so destructive in his neighborhood, he 
has been reluctantly compelled to dispose of 
most of them. He has a few Ayrshire cows, 
which he imported. These are among the finest 
specimens of the breed we have ever seen in 
point of form ; added to this desirable quality, 
they are great milkers. He also showed us 
some excellent grade Durhams, which are great 
milkers. One of these, of medium size, gives 
30 quarts or more, per day during her highest 
flow of milk. 
Mr. Watson showed us four superior colts by 
the famous Trustee, sire of the late Mr. Gibbon’s 
Fashion out of Bonnets of Blue. These colts 
are respectively one, two, three, and four years 
old. They are out of a well-bred trotting mare, 
that has done her mile in 2.40. We think these 
colts will all prove fast ones. As a getter of 
runners and trotters, Trustee has proved one of 
the best horses imported into this country ; and 
what adds greatly to the value of his stock is, 
they are docile and good tempered. 
The thing, however, which Mr. Watson ap¬ 
parently takes the most pride in, is his Shetland 
and Welsh ponies. Of these he has a large 
stock, imported and reared by himself. We 
could select from this stock about a dozen 
breeding mares and a couple of stallions, which 
it would be pretty difficult to surpass in this 
country. It is amusing to see these diminutive 
creatures, capering about in droves of various 
colors over the farm. Some, full-grown, are 
not much over three feet high, while others arc 
full four feet or more. The former would be a 
good match for a buffalo calf in harness, or a 
stout Newfoundland dog under the saddle. 
Considerable quantities of fruit were formerly 
produced on this farm, but part of the orchard¬ 
ing being near to a large village, it was rob¬ 
bed every season, and the grass and other 
crops beneath the trees destroyed. This com¬ 
pelled Mr. W., at length very reluctantly to cut 
down the trees, for so long as they stood he 
could realize nothing from his land. 
The farm buildings and sto :k-yards are well 
arranged here, and very commodious. The 
fences are in excellent order, and the mansion 
and grounds around are ample and in good taste. 
The view from the house is varied and beauti¬ 
ful. It extends up and down the East River, 
over a part of Long Island, the lower valley of 
the Bronx, and the hills around in Westchester. 
It is a delightful country residence. 
Mr. Watson deserves much credit for his im¬ 
provements on and about his farm, and we are 
glad to see him take so much interest in them. 
He generally devotes one day out of the week 
to his farm, although still actively engaged in 
mercantile pursuits in this city. 
CULTIVATION OF FLAX. 
In our last number we gave a copy of direct¬ 
ions for the cultivation and preparation of flax, 
issued by Leadbetter & Co., of Belfast, (Ireland.) 
We have just received the last Report of the 
“ Royal Society for the Promotion and Improve¬ 
ment of the Growth of Flax in Ireland,” and 
we find that those directions were compiled 
from a carefully prepared appendix to this re¬ 
port, and are the result of thirteen years’ expe¬ 
rience, during which time the Belgian and other 
systems have been examined and tested by the 
Society, which is located at Belfast. 
We find some additional matter in this report 
in relation to the treatment of flax, which no 
doubt will be of interest to those of our readers 
who agree with us, that the cultivation of flax 
in the United States should receive more atten¬ 
tion, especially as the Russian war is likely to 
cut off for the present a large part of the supply 
of seed, (Riga,) and enhance its price. 
