76 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
up corny over the practice of “ topping it.” I cannot 
speak from experience in regard to the whole of them, 
but am confident that the writer is mistaken at least in 
one of his assertions, if he applies it to southern as 
well as to northern and eastern corn. He says, “ two 
smart men cannot top more than one acre a day.” — 
Where corn is planted as thick as it always is to the 
north, this may be, and I presume is true, as the writer 
states it for a fact; but in a vast extent of our southern 
country, wherein our corn is left to stand much thinner 
and more distant, two acres topping would be deemed 
but a poor day’s work, even for one “ smart man;” for 
the process with us is a very different sort of business 
from what it is “ down east,”—our laborers having 
acquired, by long practice, a degree of dexterity in 
it incomparably greater than an eastern man who 
had never witnessed it, could believe possible. Again 
—the writer affirms, that “a hill of corn is gathered 
at a single blow,” in cutting up; but no implement 
ever yet used among us will do this on our corn, 
where three or four stalks are left in a hill, which is 
sometimes the case. Indeed, it requires a strong man, 
with a sharp hoe always to cut up even two stalks at a 
single blow, after they have attained their full size. 
Under the head of “succoring corn,” there is a re¬ 
mark which requires explanation. It is in the follow¬ 
ing words: “ The opinion has been given, and we think 
well sustained—that the succors perform an important 
office—that the pollen of the tassels impregnates the 
male* blossoms after that of the main stock, which de¬ 
velops earlier, has been blown or fallen off.”f Now I 
have always before been taught to believe, that the 
male of every species of animal or vegetable whatever, 
was the impregnator, and never the impregnated. If, 
therefore, the male of the corn-plant is an exception, I 
should be highly gratified to see the proofs. Again—I 
am at a loss to understand to what part of the main 
stock the term “ blossoms,” is applied, for both the 
tassel and the silk of the ears are generally dry on south¬ 
ern corn, in our climate, before any pollen at all ap¬ 
pears upon the succors, supposing them to be left. 
The practice of tarring seed-corn, which Mr. L. J. 
Hopkins has so highly commended, is very generally 
followed in Virginia, and I believe in the Carolinas.— 
He could get thousands of planters with us to concur 
with him in opinion, that it is preferable to all others 
in preparing the seed. But care must be taken not to 
use too much tar, or it will injure and retard the com¬ 
ing up of the grain. A single pint to ten or twelve 
gallons of tepid water is quite sufficient. This should 
be well stirred before the grain is put in, after which 
the mixture will be found adhesive enough to attach to 
each grain as much gypsum or lime, (for both are used,) 
as may be deemed necessary. 
I have been induced, sir, to offer these remarks from 
a thorough conviction that no subject is more interest¬ 
ing to a very large portion of our agricultural brethren, 
than that of Indian corn; and moreover that the know¬ 
ledge they possess of it, still falls very far short of 
what it might be, if such a course of judicious experi¬ 
ments were instituted and persevered in, by the best 
informed among them, as might easily be made, and at 
a very moderate expense. 
Should you deem the foregoing observations worth a 
placeun your highly interesting and valuable journal, I 
present them to you for that purpose, and remain, 
Your friend and constant reader, 
CORN-PLANTER. 
NOTES OF THE CONDUCTOR. 
* An inadvertent error of ours. For “ male blossoms,” 
read “ female blossoms,” or silk. New silk frequently puts 
forth, in the north, after the first silk has become partially dry. 
t We are inclined to, favor, though we are not confirmed in 
this opinion. The pollen, the “ impregnate?-,” on the main 
stock, is sometimes blown off, or beaten otf by rains, before 
all the silk, the “ impregnate/,” has protruded from the husk. 
Hence a portion of the latter does not become impregnated 
by the pollen from the main stock, and the terminal end of 
the cob is consently barren. The tassels of the succors, be¬ 
ing later in putting forth, and less exposed to winds, assist to 
complete the process of impregnation. As an evidence of 
this, we call to mind the fact, that the earliest ears are al-; 
ways best covered with grain, while those which push tatei 
often exhibit a .quarter, a third, or a half of naked, cob, in. 
consequence, we presume, of want of impregnation. This 
explanation, we trust, will clear up the obscurity in the text, 
which seems to have puzzled our correspondent. 
Agricultural Schpol. 
Albany,, 16th April, 1838. 
To Hon. J, Buel— Sir,—ft is with no small degree of 
difficulty that I comply with the request you were 
pleased to make in a recent conversation I had with 
you, in relation to a judicious plan of instruction for the 
“ New-York Agricultural School” and the advantages 
that will be likely to result therefrom ; for my expe¬ 
rience has not been extensive nor varied enough for so 
important a purpose. Therefore, I can only submit the 
following abstract, which, if it should merit your ap¬ 
proval, and be deemed worthy of an insertion in the 
Cultivator, you are at liberty to make that use of it; if: 
you think otherwise, you have my concurrence. 
The chief object of the school should be to form prac¬ 
tical mechanics, civil engineers, operative chemists, ve¬ 
terinary surgeons and practical agriculturists. It should 
be endowed with six professorships of the following 
subjects: i 
1. Mathematics and Design. 
2. Rural Architecture and Civil Engineering. 
3. Natural Philosophy and Practical Mechanics. 
4. Geology, Mineralogy and Chemistry. 
5. Entomology, Botany and Practical Husbandry. 
6. Comparative Anatomy and the Veterinary Art. 
The preparatory studies for entering the school should 
be reading, writing, English grammar, common arith¬ 
metic, history, geography, and book-keeping by single 
entry. No pupil should enter who is under seventeen 
years of age, who does not sustain a good moral cha¬ 
racter, and who has not a constitution adapted to active 
employment in the field. 
The instruction of the school should be of two kinds, 
general and special. 
The general instruction should continue two years, 
to be comprised of courses given by the professors at 
suitable periods, commencing each year on the first 
Wednesday in January, and continuing until the first 
Wednesday in September, from which, to the first 
Wednesday in December the pupils should be put un¬ 
der general examination upon all the branches in which 
they have received instruction. 
During the entire courses, the pupils should be inter¬ 
rogated by the professors on the various branches they 
are pursuing, and should perform manipulations in che¬ 
mistry, natural philosophy, mechanics, engineering, ru¬ 
ral architecture, and ornamental gardening; and when¬ 
ever the season would permit, to devote a portion of 
their time to tillage and other kinds of work connected 
with rural affairs, and occasionally to accompany the 
professors or their adjuncts on botanical and geological 
excursions. 
The drawings should consist of plans made with the 
scale and dividers, and of outlines sketched by the hand 
relative to the courses pursued; the whole of which 
should be executed by the pupils, and should be duly 
verified by the professors. What has been said of the 
drawings should be repeated in regard to the manipu¬ 
lations. They should be sufficiently numerous to give 
to the pupils a positive knowledge of every branch pm- 
sued. 
Independently of the interrogatories and manipula¬ 
tions, as stated above, the pupils should have general 
meetings for discussing topics relative to their studies, 
and for digesting memoirs upon various questions of po¬ 
litical economy, statistics, &c. 
At the end of the second scholastic year, the pupils 
should submit themselves for examination for their fit¬ 
ness or unfitness of entering the duties of their special 
education; and if they receive their certificate of capa¬ 
bility, they should name, with the consent of their pa¬ 
rents or guardians, the career for which they design 
themselves, and during the third year they should be 
practically employed in the kinds of business they in¬ 
tend to carry on. Should they be deemed incompetent 
to enter their special education, they should be permit¬ 
ted to repeat their course of studies, or to depart with¬ 
out any certificate of capability, or even of their con¬ 
nexion with the school. 
At the general examination at the end of each scho¬ 
lastic year, there should be selected from the school six 
of the most distinguished pupils, who should serve as 
adjunct professors, and who should receive, besides this 
distinction, their instruction gratuitously during the 
third year. Independently of their special duties, they 
should assist their professors, and give elementary les¬ 
sons to pupils whose preparatory studies may have been 
too small. 
The special instruction should occupy the third scho¬ 
lastic year, during which the pupils should be actively 
engaged in the kinds of business for which they design 
to prepare themselves, whether to pursue general stu¬ 
dies so as to qualify themselves for professors, or to be¬ 
come practical mechanics and civil engineers, operative 
chemists, manufacturers, veterinary surgeons, or prac¬ 
tical agriculturists. They should then be placed under 
the special direction of the professors of the branches 
they pursue, who should afford them daily conferences, 
to point out to them a plan of operations, to follow their 
progress, and to designate the portions of the courses 
it would be useful to repeat anew. 
The school should be furnished with a library of se¬ 
lect books on mathematics, natural history, agriculture 
and the.veterinary art. It should be provided with an 
extensive philosophical and chemical apparatus, and 
Avith a collection of plants, minerals and anatomical 
preparations. There should be constantly kept on the 
farm a large stock of the most useful breeds of domes¬ 
tic animals, and an hospital for the reception of sick ani¬ 
mals and for veterinary practice. The farm should be 
large enough to produce a sufficient quantity of food 
and vegetables for the animals kept upon it, and to em¬ 
brace as great a variety of soils as possible, and a Ava- 
ter privilege. It should be principally tilled by the stu¬ 
dents, who should be practically instructed in the na¬ 
ture and composition of soils, the economy and prepa¬ 
ration of manures, the adaptation of crops to particu¬ 
lar soils, and the alternation of crops. 
The buildings belonging to the establishment should 
be wellconstructed, and adapted to the objects for which 
they are intended. The laboratories and work-shops 
designed for manipulation and experiments should be 
spacious., so that a large number of students can labor 
in them at a time. There should be attached to the 
school a carpenter and Avood-turner’s shop, and of a 
mounter and turner of metals. Workmen should be em¬ 
ployed under the eyes of the students, whether in con¬ 
structing models for the collection of the school, or in 
making parts of machinery ordered by the pupils in 
their exercises, and to give them proper notions upon 
the handling of tools, the use of the forge, &c. 
In fine, there should be placed in the hands of the 
students all the materials necessary for the construction 
of agricultural implements and machines, and such as 
are employed in rural architecture; and, in order to give 
the work as practical a character as possible, they 
should have at their disposal a certain number of mo¬ 
dels, implements, and machines which they can put up 
and take down, to operate, and to submit to such trials 
as Avill enable them to estimate their useful effect. 
There should be connected with the school, either di¬ 
rectly or indirectly, into Avhich the students could be in¬ 
troduced in order to study the operation, establishments 
for the fabrication of chemical products; for the making 
of charcoal from wood; for the preparation of coke; 
for the extraction of marine salt; for the preparation 
of lime, gypsum, potash and soda ; for the making and 
refining of sugar; for the preparation of wine, beer, 
cider, oils, talloAV; and for the manufacture of flour, 
starch, soap, candles, and numerous other products; 
which would afford the students means to acquire a 
practical knowledge of the labors relative to their fa¬ 
brication. 
Such is a general plan of Avhat may be deemed pro¬ 
per to improve the condition of our agriculture. Inde¬ 
pendently of the special objects of this seminary, young 
men Avill find a positive education, which will inspire 
them Avith a taste for agricultural pursuits, because 
they Avill see that labor guided by science is fruitful in 
useful results. Such a course of instruction will offer 
to those Avho shall distinguish themselves a station in 
society as honorable as it is lucrative, and will be re¬ 
garded equivalent to a collegiate education, in harmony 
Avith the spirit of our institutions, the importance of 
which Avill be more and more felt, in proportion to the 
groAvth of the mighty west, which will receive new de¬ 
velopments, Avhen its political influence is better un¬ 
derstood. 
When Ave reflect upon the great interests of our coun¬ 
try, we cannot but look Avith regret upon the neglected 
condition of our agriculture. For some years past, this 
all-important branch of industry has experienced seri¬ 
ous obstacles, not only from being vieAved by many as a 
degraded occupation, but from the want of attention and 
intelligence in the great body of our population. We 
have in our country numerous young men Avho have am¬ 
ple means for entering largely into this branch of busi¬ 
ness, but who are too little enlightened in regard to its 
nature, and refrain from industry, and suffer their capi¬ 
tal, even with great losses, to remain dormant. We 
have others, too, who are without capital, and have a 
remarkable tendency towards the study of the practical 
sciences, of which we all feel the need in our actual or 
our future occupations. The latter class of young men 
would be incalculably benefitted by this course of edu¬ 
cation, and might be usefully and profitably employed 
as civil engineers, as directors of establishments, as well 
as teachers and professors in our colleges and schools. 
In order that agricultural industry may develop it¬ 
self throughout our country, it is necessary that our 
practical studies should enter into our manners; and 
this to such a degree, that each capitalist may find, 
either in himself or around him, able counsel. We 
should break down the barrier to every species of in¬ 
dustry, and by leaving every man to enjoy the fruits of 
his OAvn labour, undiminished by the exaction of a ra¬ 
pacious government. Let these principles be the im¬ 
movable basis of our political economy. Our commerce 
and our manufactures should be defended and cherished 
like the sacred soil of our Republic. With means so 
ample and unembarrassed, we should give more enter¬ 
prise and extension to Avorks of domestic improvement. 
A taste for agricultural pursuits should be inspired, and 
neAv impulse given to public spirit. Institutions should 
be established, which, by assimilating the feelings of 
our citizens, may strengthen that union Avhich is the 
bulwark of our national independence. Already the in¬ 
fluence of our character far exceeds that of our strength, 
and our claims to the rank of a primary power, are ad¬ 
mitted by the Avlrole world, whose attention daily be¬ 
comes more and more fixed upon our conduct. A great 
example is wanted by mankind—from us they demand 
it—and the cause of universal liberty is interwoven in 
our actions. 
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your devo¬ 
ted servant. D. JAY BROWNE. 
Gauge Wheel for the Plough and Ruta Bagas for 
Ilogs. 
J. Buel, Esq.—Dear Sir,—In your April No. of the 
Cultivator I noticed an article captioned “ Help one an¬ 
other,” and I can think of no Avay that I can better help 
my felloAv husbandmen than by recommending to gene¬ 
ral use the gauge Avheel on the plough. 
Good ploughing I consider the first requisite in good 
husbandry, and yet many perform that part of their la¬ 
bor in a very slovenly, imperfect manner. 
The article above mentioned, I vieAV as a very impor¬ 
tant addition to the plough. The wheel should be 8 
inches in diameter, and may be made from a plank 3 or 
3 1-2 inches thick, with a bevel from near the centre to 
the outside, reducing the thickness to 2 inches. The 
tire may be made of common band iron. Boie an inch 
hole in the centre, place in it a box, reducing the hole to 
half an inch, which is to receive a bolt on which it re¬ 
volves. The wheel is confined in iron bars or braces, 
one on each side of the Avheel and beam. The braces 
should be placed in perpendicular form from the wheel to 
the beam, a little back of the clevey, through each ot 
which should be three or four holes, and fastened to the 
beam Avith a bolt passing through it, Avith a screAV and 
nut, Avith a handle, so that it may be easily altered, ac¬ 
cording to the depth you Avish to plough, and from the 
