200 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST., 
The Back Volumes of the American Agriculturist, 
neatly bound, can now be supplied from the commence¬ 
ment. These of themselves constitute a beautiful and 
valuable Farmer’s Library, embracing a compendium 
of all the important agricultural articles that have ap- 
peareed during the last thirteen years. First ten volumes, 
new edition, furnished bound for $10. 
Bound volumes XI, XII and XIII (new series), $1 50 per 
volume; unbound, $1 per volume. The whole thirteen 
volumes furnished bound for $14 50. 
^grroiltrai 
IVew-Yorls, Thursday, June 7 . 
This paper is never sent where it is 
not considered paid foi—and is in all cases 
stopped zvhen the subscription runs out. 
We occasionally send a number to persons 
who are not subscribers. This is sometimes 
done as a compliment, and in other cases to 
invite examination. Those receiving such 
numbers are requested to look them over, and 
if convenient show them to a neighbor. 
SOCIAL INTERCOURSE AMONG FARMERS. 
AN AMERICAN MECHI GATHERING. 
From time immemorial a standing and 
valid objection to a “farm life” has been, 
that it is unsocial and lonely. Separated 
each from the other, as farmers usually are, 
by the broad, cultivated acres intervening, 
there is indeed a lack of frequent, daily and 
hourly intercourse, unknown to those fol¬ 
lowing other avocations, where considera¬ 
ble numbers are thrown together under the 
same roof, or where, at least, their dwellings 
are contiguous. Mechanics and other occu¬ 
pants of villages and manufacturing towns 
are generally more intelligent, and improve 
in their several callings faster, than farmers 
who come less in direct contact with those 
engaged in the same pursuit. Association 
gives mutual aid, and what is perhaps of 
higher importance, nothing ennobles our own 
profession more, and stimulates to increased 
exertion to improvement, than to mingle 
with a large company of those having the 
same aims, and seeking similar results by 
the same means as ourselves. The truth of 
this is exemplified in-all public meetings of 
political associates, tradesmen, professional 
men, &c. 
Latterly our annual agricultural shows 
have, in a measure, supplied this desidera¬ 
tum to farmers. But these are by no means 
all that is wanted. In some few towns far¬ 
mers’ clubs are established, where weekly 
or semi-monthly or monthly meetings are 
held, and great good has already resulted. 
We hail the establishment of farmers’ clubs 
as one of the best things of our day ; and 
shall do all in our power to greatly multiply 
them and increase their usefulness ; both 
with our pen and by personally assisting in 
their organizations at as many points as our 
time will admit of. 
Yet there is a step still beyond these. 
While the members of a local club may do 
much to improve each other, a systematic 
correspondence and interchange of experi¬ 
ence between different organizations, will 
prove of great value. Last week we wit¬ 
nessed an excellent illustration of what may 
be done. As this is the first instance of the 
kind that has come under our observation in 
this country, we speak of it more particu¬ 
larly as an example for others. For some¬ 
time past a farmers’ club has been in opera¬ 
tion at Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and 
last spring one was organized in the town of 
Washington, in the same county. 
The latter club appointed a day meeting 
for Friday last, for discussion on farm topics 
and for an address from one of the editors 
of this journal. Subsequently they sent a 
formal invitation to the Amenia Club to 
come over early in the day, and unite with 
them in examining some of their best stock, 
&c., to partake of a social dinner, and parti¬ 
cipate in the discussions and other exercises 
of the afternoon. In acceptance of this fra¬ 
ternal invitation, some twenty-five members 
of the Amenia Club arrived in Washington 
at A. M., and with a number of the other 
Club they proceeded to the farm of Mr. Sam¬ 
uel Thorne, and spent three hours in criti¬ 
cally examining one of the best collections 
of Short Horn cattle, Southdown sheep, Suf¬ 
folk swine, Poultry, &c., to be found in this 
or any other county.* An examination of 
these animals, as they were feeding in their 
stalls and pastures, &c., a chance for minute 
inquiries into their history, breeding and 
keeping, thus afforded, was far more instruct¬ 
ive and satisfactory than we generally get 
at our annual shows, where a few choice 
animals are collected and no opportunity is 
given for particular inquiries. A special 
vote of thanks was afterwards tendered to 
Mr. Thorne, for his kind attentions to the 
company visiting him. 
From Mr. Thorne’s the company proceed¬ 
ed to the village hotel, where a dinner had 
been prepared, in the discussion of which, and 
in social intercourse, the time passed pleas¬ 
antly and profitably until 3 o’clock, the time 
appointed for the public exercises. As we 
took a prominent part in these, we shall be 
excused from describing them further. 
We will, however, record a proposal made, 
by one of the members, which for want of 
time was laid over until the next meeting for 
consideration, and we hope for adoption 
in some form. It was, that a premium be 
offered to boys between 12 and 18 years of 
age, for the best cultivated small plot of 
ground under their own care. Such a course 
will do more than anything else to interest 
boys directly in the labors and improvements 
of cultivation, and divert their thoughts from 
that almost universal desire to leave the 
farm and crowd into cities and villages. 
We look upon the meeting of the Clubs 
alluded to above, as one of the most inter¬ 
esting agricultural gatherings we have ever 
witnessed, and we earnestly hope that many 
such social reunions will hereafter take 
place, not between the agricultural clubs of 
Dutchess County only, but that they will 
speedily become general throughout this 
country. 
*Forafull description of these superb animals, see 
Volume XII, page 369, of the American Agriculturist. 
Devon Cattle for Sale. —We call atten¬ 
tion to Mr. Tredwell’s advertisement, page 
205 of this number of our paper. 
Plans for the Hunt Botanical Garden.— 
We call special attention to the advertise¬ 
ment of the Trustees of the above Garden. 
This is one of the most interesting and im¬ 
portant enterprizes of the kind in our coun¬ 
try. At the earliest opportunity we shall 
visit the grounds, and give our readers a de¬ 
scription of the plan and progress of the en- 
terprize. 
Keep Planting. —The Illinois Journal ad¬ 
vises its farmer-readers to keep planting. 
The editor says that the best corn he has 
ever seen in the State, was planted on the 
9th of June. 
Catalogues of Col. J. M. Sherwood’s Short 
Horn cattle, offered for sale on the 20th inst., 
(see advertisement) can be had by applying 
at this office. 
Importation of Alderney Cows. —We had 
the pleasure of looking at some beautiful 
Alderney cows, recently imported by Mr. 
John Giles, of Woodstock, Conn. Mr. Giles 
has several times previously imported choice 
Alderney stock, and has a very superb Eng¬ 
lish prize bull, from which he is breeding. 
He has also imported largely of the most 
select fancy poultry, rabbits, &c., and we 
are sorry to learn from him, that some of the 
most expensive of his last summer’s import¬ 
ed swans, pheasants, &c., contracted dis¬ 
eases on their voyage across the Atlantic 
that have resulted in their death. 
The Alderneys last brought out, are of the 
most delicate limbs and graceful proportions 
consistent with stamina and constitution, 
which it is indispensable the breeder should 
always secure. We hope the neighbors of 
Mr. G. will appreciate his efforts in the in¬ 
troduction of these choice animals, and in 
due time avail themselves of the opportuni¬ 
ty thus afforded for the improvement of thei 
own herds. 
CAW! CAW!! CAW!!! 
Just now the crows are making sad havoc 
with the young corn, and every one is anx¬ 
ious for the best contrivance for “keeping 
them off.” There are a number of these, 
which have been successful for a time, but 
the difficulty is, that crows seem to be rea¬ 
soning animals, and though shy at first of any 
new bug-bear, they soon ascertain its real 
character, and cease to be frightened by it. 
A friend tells us he placed an image, made 
by stuffing his own clothes, in a tree where 
it was partly concealed by the leaves. This 
was quite successful for one season ; but the 
next spring he put it there again, and on one 
occasion removed it and seated himself in its 
place with a loaded gun in hand. Being 
weary and the day being warm, he fell asleep. 
He had not remained thus long before he 
was awakened by the loud caw of an old 
crow which had perched on a limb within 
two feet, of him, and was calling to his com¬ 
panions to come to the clear field. 
We think there is no single contrivance 
that will be long successful in one place. 
Probably the best plan is to change the 
scarscrow each spring, so that the same one 
