96 
IMPROVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURE IN MISSOURI. 
attain any important size, which brings us into 
the early part of July, at which time, the first 
crop is ready to be taken off, leaving the entire 
space for the second to grow in. Towards the 
latter part of August, we find between the rows 
of potatoes, which are planted six inches wider 
than usual, sufficient room to drill in turnip 
seed, which, before requiring more room, the 
second crop of potatoes is at maturity, and 
wntm va. c, • the entire space 
for the turnips. By this manner or prairtir*^ 
about four weeks are saved, to which, for the 
success of the experiment, I am indebted. 
—--- 
IMPROVEMENTS IN AG-RICULTURE IN MISSOURI. 
Twelve months ago, I do not believe that 
there were exceeding half a dozen agricultural 
journals taken in the county in which I live. 
Now, the subscriptions to the Agriculturist, 
alone, in this county, amount to about sixty, a 
large majority of that number, too, having been 
sent to the publisher since the beginning of 
July, and they are still presenting themselves 
more freely than they have done at any time 
heretofore. It is beginning to be taken, too, in 
the upper, (river,) counties of the state, as 
also south of here. 
A subsoil plow had never been seen here 
before the arrival of those which you sent last 
fall to Mr. Hayden and myself. Every intelli¬ 
gent farmer, who has seen their work is much 
pleased with them, and I am encouraged to 
hope that many will avail themselves of the 
advantages which would most surely result 
from their use. Thanks to your labors, and 
thanks, too, to the labors of your enlightened 
correspondents. You are all entitled to the 
country’s gratitude. At any rate, you have 
mine. It will ever be so. The circulation of 
well-conducted agricultural journals will bring 
to the knowledge of farmers new and improv¬ 
ed implements and modes of husbandry, which, 
if adopted, will always better their condition, 
contribute to their thrift, and enhance their 
comfort. 
I have been at much expense for plows, and 
yet I can seldom get a good one. I do believe, 
that if your eagle plows could be fairly intro¬ 
duced here, a great, yes, the greater number of 
plows with which we have heretofore broken 
up our lands, would be laid aside as nuisances. 
I will mention one other improvement which 
the farmers on the prairies need—a clod 
crusher. It is the most expeditious and efficient 
pulveriser I have ever seen, and is also cheap 
and simple. Still more do farmers on stiff clays 
need it. I speak advisedly, because I have one 
and have used it. 
I cannot close without congratulating you, 
my state, and more especially my country, that 
the plows now ordered will come into the hands 
of gentlemen of intelligence and discernment, 
and gentlemen, too, whose representations will 
be implicitly relied on wherever they may be 
made. Urbane B. Oglesby. 
Boonville , Mo., Jan., *1851. 
■n/r A T>T1TTR 
The root of madder, (Rubia tinczonu ,; 10 
for several dyes, but principally for the rich 
Turkey red; and it has been recently an object 
of attention in the United States. The intro¬ 
duction of this, with numerous other articles 
consequent upon the extended growth of our 
manufactures, shows the intimate and mutually 
beneficial effects of associating the two leading 
industral occupations of agriculture and manu¬ 
factures. The principal cause which has pre- 
Madder.—Fig. 15. 
vented its cultivation among us, thus far, has 
been the long time required for maturing a 
crop. Another drawback in its culture, in this 
country, is the want of suitable mills for break¬ 
ing and grinding the roots. This may be done 
immediately after the madder is dried ; or it 
will gather dampness, so as to prevent its grind¬ 
ing freely. Any common gristmill can grind 
madder properly; and when ground it is fit for 
use, and may be packed in barrels, like flour, 
for market. 
Mr. Swift, of Ohio, has raised 2,000 barrels 
per acre in one crop of four years’ growth, at a 
net profit, including all charges of rent, labor, 
&c., of $200 per acre. The roots of madder 
are also a good food for cattle, but the expense 
and delay of producing it will preclude its use 
for that purpose in this country. 
For the culture of this important plant, see 
Allen’s American Farm Book, pp. 226, 230. 
