AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
187 
were, the profit of guano, the best mode of its 
application, and the monopoly of this fertilizer. 
"We were more interested in these discussions or 
relation of individual experiences and experi¬ 
ments, than in any thing else during the fair. 
Several gentlemen who had used as many as 20 
tons, had not yet decided that on their lands it 
did more than pay cost, while others were cer¬ 
tain that it paid 2, 3, and sometimes 500 per cent, 
profit. From all these statements we gathered* 
that on poor and almost worthless lands, the use 
of guano is immensely profitable, while on richer 
lands it pays proportionally less and in some 
cases is unprofitable. We trust the Society will 
record all these statementa in tlieir transactions. 
We have notes of these discussions, which, wo 
hope to perfect and embody in a future article 
on this subject. 
We tender our thanks to J. H. Gilmer Esq., 
to whose hospitality we were greatly indebted 
for a comfortable home during our stay in Rich¬ 
mond. 
TO THE SUBSCRIBERS TOi THE FARM AND 
GARDEN. 
The Farm and Garden having been suspended 
after the delivery of the September number, 
there were still three numbers due to those who 
had subscribed for the year. Instead of these 
three numbers, we have sent the weekly Ameri¬ 
can Agriculturist to those subscribers, and shall 
continue sending it to number 12 without any 
extra charge. We thus give 4 numbers of the 
Agriculturist for one of the Farm and Garden. 
This has been done at a considerable pecuniary 
loss, but we determined to do all in our power 
at whatever cost, to give entire satisfaction to 
those who may have been disappointed by the 
suspension of the Farm and Garden by circum¬ 
stances temporarily beyond our own control. 
All agents for that na.ner are sunnlied with 
the first 12 numbers of the American Agricul¬ 
turist for the same price they would have been 
charged for 3 numbers of the Farm and Garden. 
We trust our friends who have heretofore 
taken the monthly paper will renew their sub¬ 
scription to our weekly paper, after they have 
received the first 12 numbers. The terms will 
be found in the prospectus on the last page. 
Those who do not renew their subscription 
will not look for this paper beyond number 12. 
-»-•-«- 
CHESTNUT TREES. 
On poor land or a rocky soil, the chestnut is 
one of the most profitable forest trees that can 
be cultivated. Its growth is very rapid, the 
timber is always in good demand, and the fruit 
is of considerable value. Some cultivate this 
tree for its fruit alone. We have often won¬ 
dered that it is not more regarded as an orna¬ 
mental tree. None grow larger, and few more 
symmetrical; its blossoms are handsome and 
unique, and so are its golden burrs and rich nuts. 
Parks and pleasure grounds should always be 
well supplied with chestnut trees; also with the 
black walnut, and best varieties of the hickory 
nut. Strange that these splendid fruit trees 
should be almost ostracised from ornamental 
grounds; it is mere caprice that has done it in 
these United States; in other countries they are 
highly prized and carefully cultivated. 
Apple Speculators. —There are plenty of 
these afloat at present throughout the country, 
in quest of all the good bargains they can find. 
We advise our friends not to be in any hurry in 
parting with such apples as are certain to keep 
well. Apples are in great demand in this city, at 
good prices, and the probability is that they will 
soon be higher. 
-0-O-#- 
Cattle Shows and Fairs. —We are under 
obligations to numerous friends for sending re¬ 
ports of these, and we beg a continuance of 
their favors, although they have got to be so 
numerous now throughout the country, that we 
have not room to publish any thing more than 
a list of the most important ones. Still we 
wish to see these reports, especially when any 
thing of an important nature occurs, which our 
correspondents will please do us the favor of 
m a rk ing with ink, so that our attention shall be 
more certainly drawn to it. 
-0 © o- 
Documentary History of New-York. —AYe 
beg to express our thanks to the Hon. Henry 
S. Randall, Secretary of State, for volumes 
third and fourth of this highly estimable work. 
To the future historian and antiquary these 
volumes will be of great value; and as our 
country grows in years and importance among 
the nations of the earth, so will it be with the 
Documentary History of this great State, which 
by a wise legislation is directed to be gathered 
up and preserved for posterity. The volumes 
are published in large quarto form, and are very 
handsomely illustrated with topographical maps, 
views of battle fields, natural scenery, towns 
and cities, town plots, portraits of distinguished 
men, medals, coins, and official seals. AYe con¬ 
fess to a great predilection for the study of such 
works, and can only regret that we have not 
more time at our disposal to devote to them. 
Cock-a-doodle do-o-o !—AYe are about tired 
looking at the great, coarse engravings of fowls 
wVnrh have.baen l.nrn&/*v_vncp ”r* chtv 
agricultural exchanges for the past few years. 
AA r e beg a truce to them on the part of our con¬ 
temporaries, and trust hereafter they will insert 
more profitable matter. 
Dr. James K. Davis, who went out to Tur¬ 
key seven or eight years ago, on invitation of 
the Sultan, to attempt the cultivation of cotton, 
failed in that enterprise, but brought back some 
Persian goats, which produce the cashmere 
wool, and from which he is raising up a flock 
of goats that promise to be a valuable addition 
to the stock of the country .—Scientific Amer. 
-• • *- 
A Great AYheat Crop. —The Le Roy (N.Y.) 
Democrat says, that Hon. A. S. Upham, of that 
village, from a field of 100 acres, has raised and 
gathered in good order, three thousand six hun¬ 
dred bushels of wheat the present season. 
At the Mechanics’ Fair in Boston was ex¬ 
hibited an engine moved by an electrical battery, 
which is driven at a speed of two hundred and 
fifty revolutions per minute. This power has 
proved more costly in former experiments than 
steam, but it is thought that such discoveries 
have of late been made, that shortly it will be 
the cheapest motive power in the world, and 
stationary machinery, rail cars, and every thing 
else, will be run by lightning. 
----- 
Southern Central Agricultural Society 
Show. —AYe notice that Mr. Peters of Atlantic 
Ga., took several of the first premiums at this 
show on his Devon Cattle, &c. It was held last 
month at Augusta, and was a fine show we un¬ 
derstand. Mr. Peter’s also sold a considerable 
amount of his choice improved stock at the 
time. 
Horticultural Show in France.— The French 
correspondent of the Journal of Commerce 
says: 
AYe were attracted, last week, to the Champs 
Elyses, by the autumnal exhibition of the Im¬ 
perial Society of Agriculture, for the Metropolis. 
It formed a lounge for the strangers, and the 
few of French haut ton who could consent to be 
known to inhabit the town at this season. The 
arrangements, or the distribution and display of 
the articles, exemplified, as usual, the fancy and 
the taste in which the French are unrivalled on 
such occasions. The exhibition was remark¬ 
able for the great quantity of new plants and 
new fruits. The progress of horticulture was 
indicated further, by the improvement in the 
quality, beauty and variety of the old. Orna¬ 
mental flowers are wonderfully multiplied, and 
cheaper from year to year. Nevertheless, they 
are brought at no considerable cost, from the 
extremities of the earth. The array of pears 
apples, and fresh strawberries was larger and 
remarkable for size and eclat, than in any former 
year. In vegetables there was a little superior¬ 
ity. Roses and dahlias were diversified and 
beautiful beyond description. Messrs Jarmin 
and Durand’s hybrid rose-bush, had incessantly 
flowered for four months—the Glory of Parthe- 
nay. I visited the Madeleine Flower Market 
the day before yesterday; the prices of fine 
bouquets were so low that the quantity sold 
could alone explain the perseverance of the gar¬ 
deners in an unlimited culture. Several work¬ 
men from the new buildings near, bought, for 
four and six sous, what might have served for a 
lady's drawing-room. AA r e may doubt that com¬ 
mon laborers on the other side of the channel, 
know, or would indulge a taste of the kind. 
-* © «- 
Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained: being 
a complete analysis of the whole subject, by 
Air. Quimby, practical bee-keeper. C. M. 
Saxton, publisher, 152 Fulton st., New-York. 
pp. 376, Price one dollar. 
Portions of the above work have already ap¬ 
peared in this periodical in advance of publica¬ 
tion. These found much favor, and were highly 
approved of by bee-keepers, even when their 
own practice differed from the course recom¬ 
mended by Mr. Quimby. It must be remem¬ 
bered that different methods succeed or do not 
succeed under different circumstances, and that 
even a difference of seasons makes a different 
result, under precisely the same treatment. 
Considerable allowance, therefore, must always 
be made by those wdio keep bees ; and the ex¬ 
ercise of one’s own good common sense must 
be brought to bear on their treatment, or ill 
success will be the consequence. The author 
of the volume under notice is a good guide; he 
has had great experience, and we confidently 
recommend his work to the attention of the 
public. The matter is clear, brief, and well ar¬ 
ranged under separate heads, making it easy 
any time to turn to the work for consultation 
on particular points. This saves much time, 
and is a great convenience to the reader. AVe 
trust the book will have a large sale, as it fully 
deserves it. 
-- 
Address delivered before the Mercer County 
Agricultural Society, Sept., 1853, by James 
Gowen, Esq., of Philadelphia. 
AVe make the following extracts from this 
valuable address upon agricultural exhibitions, 
and the rank and importance of the husband¬ 
man. 
Agricultural Exhibitions have ever been with 
me a favorite expedient, whereby a laudable 
emulation and rivalry might be promoted among 
the tillers of the soil; and to serve as a rallying 
point, where, in the presence of each other, 
they might learn to have more confidence in 
themselves, and by emulating the progress of 
others, snatch a spark of that spirit and enter¬ 
prise, so luminous now-a-days, in the track of 
