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HOME-DEPARTHENT AGRICULTURAL REPORT, ETC. 
HOME-DEPARTMENT AGRICULTURAL REPORT? 
It gives us much pleasure to state, that our old 
friend, Dr. Lee, has been appointed to make up 
the Agricultural Report of the Home Depart¬ 
ment. He has been favorably known for some¬ 
time past as the editor of the Genesee Farmer 
and Southern Cultivator, and from his intimate 
* acquaintance with agriculture, we shall expect 
to see an able and reliable report from him. The 
following is his Circular:— 
To favor this undertaking, I respectfully solicit 
informmation on all topics appropriate for such 
a document, and particularly in reference to the 
inland commerce of the country. The move¬ 
ment of agricultural products on lakes, rivers, 
canals, and railways, is a subject of interest to all 
intelligent farmers and business men. 
Crude guessing in regard to the quantity of 
grain and other crops grown in the current year, 
can possess but little value a few months in 
advance of the U. S. census, so soon to be taken. 
Improvement in the practice, and progress in 
the science of agriculture are objects of great 
moment at this particular time. The public 
mind is now more engaged in the work of 
improving lands, and educating young men not 
less thoroughly to be farmers than doctors or 
lawyers are professionally educated, than at 
any earlier period. Thousands begin to appre¬ 
ciate the fact, that, no limited piece of earth can 
possibly contain an unlimited quantity of the 
atoms necessary to form good crops of grain, 
cotton, tobacco, or potatoes. The elements of 
bread and meat in any given soil or field being 
quite limited, the waste of these elements, when 
extended over many millions of acres, becomes 
a matter of paramount national importance. 
That the quantity of atoms in every cubic foot 
of soil, or earth, which can be transformed into 
wheat, is uniform or alike in all cases, no observ¬ 
ing farmer can for a moment believe. If this 
were the case, then all soils would be alike pro¬ 
ductive of this valuable crop. 
Different soils of varying fertility, possess 
equally varying amounts of the available con¬ 
stituents of all cultivated plants. If the supply 
of raw material for making all crops is really 
inexhaustible, why should any man ever be at 
the trouble and expense of hauling manure, or 
of purchasing lime, ashes, gypsum, or guano? 
The use of fertilisers tells the whole story—that 
the elements of bread and meat may be used 
up—wasted—utterly lost to the husbandman and 
the world. How much has been lost to the coun¬ 
try since the begining of the present century ? 
Who can tell ? 
Great complaint is made by persons belong¬ 
ing to the American navy of the defective man¬ 
ner in which beef, pork, and butter are put up 
for consumption in tropical climates in this coun¬ 
try. The navies of European nations are sup¬ 
plied with these perishable commodities in a con¬ 
dition to keep under the equator much longer 
and better than similar articles made in the 
United States. This defect is not creditable to 
American skill in curing meat, butter, and cheese. 
Nor is the preservation of breadstuff's so gene¬ 
rally understood as is desirable. 
Information on these and other subjects is 
sought not only at home, but from foreign nations 
with whom we have commercial and diplomatic 
intercourse. The collection and diffusion of 
useful knowledge in the cheapest possible form, 
are labors in which many can participate. 
Should not the young men of America be 
reminded of their duty in this connection? 
Look on the broad surface of the Union, and 
mark the millions of acres of native forests 
which have fallen and disappeared at the 
approach of the woodman and his axe. The 
continued toil of the farmer has dug from the 
virgin earth nearly the whole wealth of the 
country. If no damage had been done to the 
lands under cultivation, our admiration of the 
industry, enterprise, and success with which 
they have been plowed, hoed, and harvested, 
would be unmingled with regret. But unfor¬ 
tunately, many millions of acres of American 
soil have suffered incalculable, if not irrepara¬ 
ble injury. The economical renovation of par¬ 
tially-exhausted fields ; and the cheap improve¬ 
ment of all farming lands that need it, are objects 
to which much time and study may be profitably 
devoted. Daniel Lee. 
Washington, Dec., 1849. 
NOVEL METHOD OF GRAFTING. 
I have no wish to detract from the merit or 
credit of any man; but that “ novel method of 
grafting,” referred to by your correspondent 
from Mississippi, was practised by one of the 
oldest nurserymen in this state, from whom I 
learned the “ art and mystery,” some years 
since. It was termed “ side grafting.” When 
there is a deficiency of limbs, this “novel 
method” will answer to supply their place; but 
it will never make a good tree. They will be 
what is termed “ lop-sided.” 
Jacob Hewes. 
Leipersville, Delaware Co., Pa. 
Oystfr-shell Lime.— The question is often 
asked, whether this is as good as stone lime 
for land. Who can answer? Another question. 
If oyster shells were ground when first opened, 
instead of burnt, would they not be more valu¬ 
able to the land than after burning ? They cer¬ 
tainly contain a portion of animal matter, that 
is burnt out in making them into quicklime. 
This must have some fertilising properties, but 
whether to an extent sufficient to pay for grind¬ 
ing, is a question worthy of consideration. Let 
the matter be discussed. Inquirer. 
Guano—Its Effects. —Mr. Edward Harris, of 
Moorestown, New Jersey, in October last, sowed 
400 lbs. of guano and two bushels of plaster to 
the acre, upon a piece of clayey-loam land; oat 
stuble turned under, which he harrowed in, and 
then sowed grass seed and harrowed in. On the 
15th of November, he found it necessary to mow 
off the oats, for fear they would smother the 
grass, so rank they had grown from the effects 
of the guano and plaster. 
