THE CULTIVATOR. 
71 
S 
persisted in at the south,* that perhaps millions of 
acres have become so impoverished as to be thrown 
into commons—and turned over to nature to renovate 
their fertility, by a slow growth of cedars, pines and 
chinquepins. We confess that in some districts of 
the north our condition is but little better; but in ge¬ 
neral we have long since commenced a better system, 
which is now going on with spirit. By clover and 
plaster, alternating crops, root culture, draining, in¬ 
crease of farm stock, and economy in saving and ap¬ 
plying manures, we have renovated much of our once 
exhausted, and reclaimed much of our waste lands, 
and rendered them highly productive and profitable. 
Yet at the north the work of improvement is but be- 
gun. 
There has, besides, been less attention paid to the 
comforts and embellishments of home in the south 
than in the north. The buildings, particularly those 
denominated out-buildings, court-yards and gardens, 
receive less attention at the south than they do pt the 
north. A traveller, in describing this contrast to us, 
remarked, that in one case the owner seemed to be 
at home —in the other, not at home —that one, like 
the bee, appeared to be gathering the sweets of life 
from a diversity of rural and interesting objects, as it 
were in detail, while the other was looking for enjoy¬ 
ment principally in the products of his broad-spread 
fields, and by wholesale. 
There is evidently, however, a difference, in favor 
of the north, in the manner of managing farm lands, 
principally, we believe, growing out of education and 
habit. If there is not more science, there is at least 
more practical knowledge in husbandry at the north 
than at the south; and these are both essential to an 
improved state of husbandry. Poor Richard says, 
“ He that by the plough would thrive, 
“ Himself must either hold or drive.'” 
The northern farmer generally does one or both, 
either from choice or necessity. He is the manager, 
if not the laborer. It is too often the case in the 
south, we fear, that the planter, personally, neither 
holds nor drives. Hence the mismanagement of his 
land and the deterioration of his soil. Where la¬ 
bor is held to be menial, the principles upon which it 
ought to be conducted are often overlooked. A know¬ 
ledge of these principles, acquired in youth, with the 
supervision of their application in practice, would soon 
impart a relish for rural pursuits, increase their pro¬ 
fits, and greatly improve the general appearance of 
the country. The sentiment of Washington, that 
there is “ no pursuit, in which more real and impor¬ 
tant service can be rendered to any country, than by 
improving its agriculture,” backed, as it was, by his 
efforts to improve his own and the agriculture of his 
country, should be a sufficient stimulus to the gene¬ 
rous minded and chivalrous young gentlemen of the 
south to imitate his illustrious example,—to study the 
principles of the parent art, and to understand so 
much of its practical routine, as to be able to direct 
its labors with skill and profit. We recommend this 
course, not only as a source of profit, but of high in¬ 
tellectual enjoyment and substantial comfort. An 
education in a practical and theoretical school of ag¬ 
riculture, at the north, would enable the young gen¬ 
tlemen of the south to manage their estates far bet¬ 
ter than they are now managed, without abstracting 
from their respectability, their rational enjoyments, or 
their usefulness to society. Such schools we hope yet 
to see in successful operation among us, and to see 
their blessings, agricultural, moral and political, dif¬ 
fused into every portion of the Union, in despite of the 
fatuitous policy, which seems yet to prevail, in regard 
to this matter, in our halls of legislation. 
The Grain Worm. 
The legislature not having offered any reward for 
the discovery of a preventive to the destructive rava¬ 
ges of this insect, our offer of a premium of FIFTY 
DOLLARS for such discovery remains in force. The 
editors of the Yankee Farmer have offered a like re¬ 
ward of THIRTY DOLLARS. What gentleman 
will authorize us to add 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10 dollars 
to the reward! The evil is one of great magnitude, 
involving the interests, more or less, of every mem¬ 
ber of the community. If the reward should be just¬ 
ly claimed, millions will be saved to the state. If it 
is not claimed, no one will be the loser. We invite 
millers, merchants, land-owners, farmers-all—-to 
weigh the matter deliberately, and permit us to re¬ 
gister their names as contributors to this fund, in such 
sums as they are willing to give. 
* A letter just received, and now before us, dated East- 
ville, Va. says— “All our cleared lands are divided into two 
equal fields, one of which is planted in Indian corn, and the 
other sown with oats alternately, every year, except some 
manured lots, which are appropriated to sweet potatoes, on 
which all the manure is put which can be had from the most 
negligent and slovenly husbandry. I presume an average 
crop of maize is from six to seven bushels to the acre, and 
from five to seven bushels of oats.” It is no wonder, that 
under such a system of farming, lands should soon be worn 
out. 
Small’s Plough. 
We have seen this plough in operation, under the 
management of two excellent ploughmen, who fully 
concur with us in opinion, that it is constructed on 
an excellent model, that it performs its work fast and 
well, promises to be durable, is. of easy draught, and, 
what is a matter of some consideration, is moderate 
in price,—it being sold at the factory, in Argyle, 
Washington county, at $8, and in Albany at $9 
two extra points for $1 additional. It has been 
brought to its present improved state by Mr. Wm. 
Small, an experienced and intelligent Scotch plough¬ 
man. It is for sale by W. Thorburn and J. H. Loucks, 
in Albany, and by Mr. Small in Argyle. We can 
with confidence recommend it as an excellent imple¬ 
ment. ______ 
Bushnel’s Drill Barrow. 
We noticed in our August No. of last year a rough 
model of this implement, exhibited before the view¬ 
ing committee of the State Society, described its parts, 
and pointed out some of its advantages. Mr. Bush- 
nel, we are glad to learn, has built many drill barrows 
after the model exhibited, and finds a ready sale for 
them. He has placed some in the hands of our neigh¬ 
bor Thorburn, for sale, at $6, and sells them at his 
shop at $5. We shall speak more particularly of 
this implement after we have given it a thorough 
trial, which we design to do, having one in our pos¬ 
session ; yet we doubt not but its operation will prove 
satisfactory. Address S. H. Bushnel, Sheffield, Mass. 
To those unacquainted with the value of the drill bar- 
row, in sowing seeds in row culture, it may not be 
amiss to observe, that with one a man may sow three 
or four acres per day, of ruta baga or other seeds. 
[Fig. No. 34.] 
A. forward wheel, which smooths and pulverizes 
the surface. B. B. the shafts and handles. C. the 
hopper, between which and the forward wheel is the 
coulter, not seen in the view; and behind which is 
the brush or rake that covers the seed. D. the after 
wheel, which presses the earth upon the seed. 
The Grain Crop. 
We are gratified in the news from the south and 
the west, that winter grain generally promises a good 
crop, where it is not likely to be visited by the grain 
worm; but this insect enemy may be expected to 
reach Westchester on the south, and the valley of 
Genesee west, the coming summer. And it is no 
less gratifying to learn, by a gentleman from the 
northern part of Vermont, where the worm seems 
first to have made its appearance on our continent, 
some eight or ten years ago, that this scourge is no 
longer seen in those parts. We hope that in neither 
case will our information prove illusory. 
Half Farmers.” 
There is truth in the remark, that lumbermen and 
fishermen make poor farmers. These employments 
take men from home when they are most wanted on 
their farms ; farming becomes with them a secondary 
business ; and, besides, their constitutions become im¬ 
paired, and their habits unsettled, by these employ¬ 
ments. Farming will not thrive generally in any dis¬ 
trict where fish or lumber constitute staples of trade. 
And we have fancied, and it may have been nothing 
but fancy, that in passing out of New-York, wnere 
the farmers are generally all farmer, into New-En- 
gland, that there was a marked falling off in the ma¬ 
nagement of farms—which we ascribed to the prone¬ 
ness of our Yankee brethren to be “ jacks at all 
trades,'” which, as the adage teaches, renders them 
“good at none.” The truth is, there is hardly a busi¬ 
ness in life upon which a man’s whole time, talent and 
capita] becomes so progressively productive as that of 
farming—nor in which at least the two first are so es¬ 
sential to eminent profit and success. A correspond¬ 
ent, who dates at Susquehanna, N. Y. complains bit¬ 
terly of the wretched state of husbandry in his vici¬ 
nage, not owing, he says, to the infertility of the soil, 
which is good, but to the lumbering business, which, 
while it enriches a few, so impoverishes the many 
“half farmers,” that they are barely able, with the 
greatest exertions, to “make both ends meet.” We 
do not know how the evil is to be remedied, unless 
these “half farmers” will quit the water, take the 
Cultivator, and study and follow its maxims, which 
will not fail to make them 
“ Healthy, wealthy and wise,” 
as poor Richard says. Then may our correspondent 
see his hopes realized. 
What has the Legislature done for Agriculture ? 
From the indications given in our March and April 
numbers, many persons, as well as ourselves, were 
led to hope and expect, that our legislature would 
have made a just, if not a generous appropriation, in 
aid of the improvement of our agriculture,—and they 
were lauded abroad for the liberal provisions which 
they were expected to make in its behalf. But alas ! 
the session has gone by, and nothing has been done, 
and hardly attempted to be done, in furtherance of 
this great branch of industry. A bill was reported in 
assembly, by Mr. Allen, and some discussion had 
upon its merits; but no question was taken which 
fairly tested the sense of the house. Indeed, such 
was the boyish scramble for popularity, by shortening 
the session, and such the urgency of individual and 
corporate claims upon their attention, that the repre¬ 
sentatives had but little time to devote to the humble 
claims of agriculture. There were many thousand 
dollars appropriated to literary schools, and some mil¬ 
lions to aid incorporated companies, but not a cent in 
direct aid of the great body of the people who follow 
the business of farming. And what is the most as¬ 
tonishing, and will hardly be believed by the coming 
generation, the farmers in the legislature were most¬ 
ly disinclined to make the anticipated appropriations ! 
We ardently hope, that the sons of such farmers will 
possess more wisdom than their fathers, and that they 
will ere long occupy their places in our legislative 
halls. 
Agricultural Implements. 
We mention, for the benefit of our subscribers in 
Virginia and the neighboring states, that an exten¬ 
sive manufactory of agricultural implements has been 
sometime in operation at Richmond, Va., under the 
direction of Jabez Parker; and that the implements 
furnished from his shop, as threshing machines, straw 
cutters and corn shellers, are, according to the Rich¬ 
mond Enquirer, particularly excellent. Labor-saving 
machines, like those above named, as well as culti¬ 
vators, drill barrows, horse rakes, &c. add much to 
the profits of farm labor, and are becoming almost 
indispensable in spirited and profitable husbandry. 
Agricultural School. 
A highly respected correspondent, who makes farm¬ 
ing his pleasure and sole business, and who, by his 
example, is enlightening and benefiting those around 
him,—expresses his disappointment and mortification, 
at the failure of our legislature to adopt an enlight¬ 
ened and liberal policy in regard to the improvement 
of our agriculture. In a letter to us, he says— 
“ I presume we went into the field too soon for the 
harvest. The time is not yet come—the Cultivator has 
not done its perfect work; but I feel assured it will do 
it in time; and until then, it will he to little purpose to 
force on a people a -benefit they do not appreciate or 
wish. 
“ Any thing within the compass of individual enter¬ 
prise and philanthropy, may still succeed, and be carried 
through) to the benefit of the few who have learnt the 
value of information and acquirements, and already sus¬ 
pect that there is science in agriculture. I look to the 
establishment of agricultural schools as belonging to an 
earlier state of things than agricultural exhibitions.— 
To him who has made no advance, an agricultural ex¬ 
hibition, nine times in ten, is a source of mortification, 
and a wounding of self-love; but a school will awaken 
the spirit of improvement; and a few young men going 
forth from such an establishment, will he like a little 
leaven in the inert mass. I hope its consideration may 
be early resumed. At this moment, how many young 
men of education, could they enter such a school, if 
only for a year or two, would put their hands to the 
plough, as the auspicious means of providing a mode¬ 
rate living for the future.” 
Massachusetts Premiums. 
The trustees of the Massachusetts agricultural so¬ 
ciety have offered the following premiums for the best 
cultivated farms in that state, of not less than seventy 
acres, exclusive of wood land, regard being had to 
the quantity of produce, the manner and expense of 
cultivation, and the general appearance of the farm: 
For the first best farm,.$200 
For the second best,. 175 
For the third best,. 150 
For the fourth best,. 75 
All theminutiaof soil, culture, stock, manures, pro¬ 
duct, &c. are required to be stated, and the farms are 
to be inspected by one of the trustees or an agent. 
The form of application, as prescribed, is this : 
“To Benj. Guild, Esq. Boston. 
“ Sir—The subscriber, living in the town of- 
hereby makes known his intention of applying for a 
premium for the best farm, and offers the same for in¬ 
spection.” 
