THE CULTIVATOR. 
171 
the best household and farm products, and the best ag¬ 
ricultural practices, of the country or district in which 
they are established, and thus enable each individual to 
appropriate to his own use, the experience and the im¬ 
provements of his neighbors. The example of every 
good farmer produces a beneficial influence upon those 
around him; who seeing his approved modes of manage¬ 
ment, and the advantages resulting from them, will not 
fail ultimately to adopt them. Hence the more good 
farmers there are, the greater will be the ratio of gene¬ 
ral improvement, and consequently of public benefit— 
for it is the earnings and products of agricultural labor, 
that mainly contributes to the prosperity of the other 
classes of society, and to augment the aggregation of 
the national wealth. When the harvest is short, every 
department of business feels the electric shock. When 
it is abundant, a new and happy impulse is given to 
every sort of business. These considerations show, 
that it is the interest alike of all, to patronize and en¬ 
courage every effort that is made to increase the pro¬ 
ducts of the soil. One of the oldest societies in our 
country is that of Berkshire, in Massachusetts. I have 
occasionally attended their exhibitions, traversed the 
county, and marked its improvements in husbandry, 
during the last twenty years; and I feel a perfect con¬ 
viction in my mind, that the county has been benefitted 
twenty dollars for every dollar expended in premiums, in 
a pecuniary point of view. But it is not the rapid im¬ 
provement of the soil alone which has resulted from 
the establishment of her agricultural society—the im¬ 
provements of the mind have kept pace with, or rather 
preceded, the improvements in her husbandry. That 
county has probably the best schools in the country; 
and the general intelligence of her population ranks 
high. 
Among other benefits likely to result from the establish¬ 
ment of agricultural societies, Mr. Anderson, in a late 
address, before the society, at Danville, Ky. enumerates 
the following. 
“They will elevate the character of the farming and 
agricultural class of society. They will increase their 
general intelligence, their aggregate wealth, and give 
them, as they deserve to have, a control over the morals 
and politics of society. 
“ They will increase the national wealth. 
“They will be not only calculated to elevate the cha¬ 
racter of agriculture, but the Standard and spirit of edu¬ 
cation; for as men increase in knowledge even of a 
useful character, aspirations to a higher standard in 
every thing else, are enkindleJ. 
“ They will furnish essential aid to the legislature of a 
state. 
“ They will greatly increase live stock, in purity of 
blood and quality. 
“ They will increase labor saving modes of cultiva¬ 
tion, as well as labor saving machines.” 
As intimately connected with the improvement of 
husbandry, which this society is specially formed to 
promote, permit me earnestly to recommend an early 
attention to the establishment of Common School Libra¬ 
ries. The improvement of the mind must precede the 
improvement of the soil. Physical power belongs to the 
brute, as well as to man; but the application of intel¬ 
lect to aid and control this power, is the peculiar pre¬ 
rogative of man; and it requires no argument of mine 
to show, that intellect is efficient and potent, in husband¬ 
ry, as it is in the other business concerns of life, in pro¬ 
portion as it is brought under good culture;—that a well 
cultivated mind, like a well cultivated soil, can be ren¬ 
dered far more productive in usefulness, than one that 
has not received the advantages of culture. Common 
School Libraries will not only be useful in the particu¬ 
lar business of farming, but in all the relations in life 
in which we or our children may be called upon to per¬ 
form a part. All the gradations in society, from savage 
life, to the highest state of civilization and refinement, 
have principally been owing to the greater or less culti¬ 
vation of the human intellect. Useful reading noton 
ly confers postive benefit, by the instruction and admo¬ 
nition which it imparts, but it often averts p ositive evil, 
by keeping us from loose or bad company, and thereby 
preventing the formation of idle or bad habits. The 
youth who finds pleasure in reading, and has the oppor¬ 
tunity of storing his mind with useful knowledge, will 
seldom be driven to the haunts of vice and dissipation, 
to indulge his grosser appetites. And the mind too, 
like the soil, will grow weeds and briers, thistles and 
thorns—if not made, by good culture, to produce that 
which is comely and useful. The liberal appropriation 
by the legislature, for the establishment of Common 
School Libraries, if seconded, as I trust it will be, by 
the public at large, will form a new and auspicious era 
in our history, and contribute essentially to render us, 
what we ought to be—a more intelligent and virtuous 
—that we may longer reman a free and independent 
—people. 
The judicious cultivation of the soil is now deemed so 
essential to national prosperity, that it has become the 
settled policy of the most enlightened governments, to 
take a direct and efficient interest in the improvement 
of its agriculture. Schools of scientific and practical 
agriculture, in which youth are taught the best modes 
of practice, and instructed in the principles upon which 
that practice is based, are continually multiplying un¬ 
der governmental patronage on the old continent. Na¬ 
tional societies have been established for rewarding 
those who benefit the state by their improvements and 
discoveries in husbandry, and for diffusing the useful 
information which is thus brought to a common centre 
—and the rewards as well as the services of those who 
are thus engaged in promoting the common weal, are 
in most cases paid from the public treasury. Prussia 
has wisely engrafted instruction in agriculture upon 
her system of common school education; and even in 
what we have hitherto considered the benighted re¬ 
gions of Prussia, and among the oppressed of Ireland, 
we see evidences of wisdom, and the dawn of a bright¬ 
er day, in the establis hment of agricultural schools. O ur 
sister state, Massachusetts, has been foremost among us 
to adopt a liberal and enlightened policy toward this 
her primary branch of industry. She has disbursed 
large sums from her state treasury, annually, to sustain 
and encourage county agricultural societies; and when 
the law making these appropriations, was about to ex¬ 
pire, by its own limitation, so well satisfied was her 
legislature, of its utility, that the law was renewed 
with great unanimity. That state has also provided 
for an agricultural survey of her territory, which has been 
two years in progress, with a view of bringing before 
her whole agricultural population all that is found ex¬ 
cellent in the business of her farming population. How 
far New-York will profit by these examples of useful¬ 
ness—or when she will begin to imitate them, will de¬ 
pend very much upon her farming population. What 
they demand will be granted. But little need be expect¬ 
ed for the promotion of agricultural improvement from 
our public councils, while the farmers themselves gene¬ 
rally manifest a reprehensible indifference in the mat¬ 
ter. 
In the brief remarks I have made, I have endeavor¬ 
ed to show the practicability of improving our agricul¬ 
ture, and of thereby raising the character of our agricul¬ 
tural population; and have suggested some of the means 
by which the desired improvement may be brought 
about. I have already trespassed too far upon your 
patience, I fear, to go into any of the details of im prov¬ 
ed husbandry. Let it suffice to say, that they embrace 
a better economy, and more general application of ma¬ 
nures—a system of thorough draining—the introduction 
of improved labor saving machines and implements— 
the improvement of farm stock—the exclusion of im¬ 
pure seeds—the extension of root culture—the alterna¬ 
tion of crops where practicable—the improvement of 
our common roads—the introduction of system into all 
the departments of farm and household labor—the cul¬ 
tivation of as much land as can be cultivated well —and 
the keeping of as much farm stock as can be ■profitably 
fed and fattened — and no more. All those improve¬ 
ments have been made, and are making, elsewhere. They 
can be made here; they will be made here, by the in¬ 
telligence, the enterprise, and the laudable competition, 
which this society will diffuse and call into action, if its 
labors are judiciously persevered in. 
I am happy to recognize, gentlemen, in the forma¬ 
tion of this association, a disposition in its members to 
aid in the work of agricultural inprovement. The ob¬ 
ject is a worthy one, because it aims to enlarge the 
means of human sustenance and the measure of human 
enjoyment; and by encouraging and honoring industry, 
tends to advance the moral character and substantial 
prosperity of the country. I hope you may prosper in 
these public spirited efforts, and that Fulton county, 
may become as distinguished in the annals of agricul¬ 
tural improvement, as the individual whose name it bears, 
is already renowned in the history of steam navigation. 
Notices to Correspondents. 
Madder. W. R. of Gloucester county, N. J. will find 
the information he asks for, in regard to the cultivation 
of madder, at pages 35 and 141, vol. I—at pages 20 and 
171, of vol. II—and at pages 72 and 189 of vol. III. It 
would be an unpleasant repetition, to most of our rea¬ 
ders, to republish these directions. 
Lime and Marl. A correspondent at Washington, 
D. C. writes as follows:—“The application of lime 
and marl, in Maryland and Virginia is producing won¬ 
derful results. I have no doubt, that in a few years, 
all our worn out exhausted lands, will rank among the 
most productive in any part of the United States, by the 
judicious application of those two valuable calcareous 
manures, or rather agents in agricultural improvement. 
I am engaged in applying lime to a small exhausted 
farm near this city. So far the effects are great. So 
far as I shall have a full and fair experiment of the re 
suits, I will make them known in detail, through the co¬ 
lumns of the Cultivator, if they shall be deemed worthy 
of insertion. I am making the experiment, whether 
lime applied on poor exhausted land, in very small 
quantities, unassisted by manure, will alone recover the 
land, except that taken from swamps, or in other words, 
rich rotted vegetable matters. I try the lime alone also. 
What is your opinion on this point?” Our opinion is, 
that lime must have vegetable or organic matter to work 
upon, to restore fertility to the soil. If our recollection 
is right, the soil about Washington is a tenacious red 
clay, so hard, when dry, as to prevent the plumules of 
tender plants penetrating it freely. Lime will unques¬ 
tionably improve its mechanical texture ; and if brought 
in contact with inert vegetable matter, whether already 
in the soil, or brought thither from swamps, it will im¬ 
prove its fertility, in proportion to the vegetable matter 
which the lime may render soluble, and thus transform 
into vegetable nutriment. 
Peat Swamps. Willard Earl, of Hubbardston, Mass, 
will find as ample directions as we can give, for reclaim¬ 
ing peat swamps, at pages 157, 174 and 190 of our last 
volume. The first thing is thoroughly to drain them, 
so that water will not stand and stagnate within the na¬ 
tural range of the roots of farm crops. The second re¬ 
quisite is, to induce a decomposition of the vegetable 
matter, by paring and burning, by the application of 
lime or unfermented manures, or by a liberal admixture 
of earthy matters. The third is, to till and subdue the 
upper stratum till it is fit to lay down in meadow. The 
fourth is, if it is to be kept in meadow, to give it a top¬ 
dressing, once in three or four years, with manure, com¬ 
post, ashes, lime or marl. We have yet much to learn 
in draining. We do not go deep enough; and we have 
yet to learn from experience, that under-draining, ex¬ 
cept upon the main outlets, is far the most efficient 
and economical. 
Marl. Theodore Allen, of Hyde-Park, Dutchess, writes 
us, that he has just opened a bed, extending over se¬ 
veral acres, and lying within twenty rods of the Hudson, 
of what he believes to be shell marl, and has sent us a 
sample of it. Without having subjected it to an accu¬ 
rate analysis, we venture to assure Mr. Allen, that the 
specimen is shell marl, of superior quality, and that in 
his “several acres” he has a source of great fertility 
and profit. 
Pumpkin, Squash, &c. A correspondent inquires of 
us where the seven years, and mammoth pumpkins ori¬ 
ginated, what are their qualities, &c. We cannot an¬ 
swer either of these questions. We have grown both, 
but have thought so little of their quality, from their ap¬ 
pearance, that we have not had any of them cooked. 
Another equally puzzling question has been asked us, viz. 
what is the distinction between a squash and a pumpkin? 
The pumpkin, squash, water-melon, gourd, and we 
believe what is termed the vegetable marrow, belong 
to the same class, or family of plants ( Cucurbita ); and 
although there are but six species described by bota¬ 
nists as belonging to this class, there are innumerable 
varieties, partaking of the qualities of two or more spe¬ 
cies. The species named by Eaton, are, the egg squash, 
club squash, flat squash, pumpkin, water-melon anl 
gourd. Instead of giving three species of the squash, 
Loudon gives three of the gourd, and one of the squash. 
All the varieties of pumpkins, squashes, water-melons 
and gourds have sprung from a mixture of these six spe¬ 
cies; and but few of the varieties held by us in the high¬ 
est estimation answer the description in fruit, given in 
books—so remarkably have the varieties multiplied, 
and in many cases improved, by cross impregnation. 
We have apparently six varieties now growing in our 
garden, from seed which we planted aslthe apple bush 
squash—in consequence, we presume of the parent hav¬ 
ing been grown along side of other varieties and spe¬ 
cies. The pumpkin is cultivated in England as a curi¬ 
osity; yet, says Loudon, some of the inhabitants grow 
it on dunghills, and “ when ripe, they cut a hole in one 
side, and having taken out the seeds, fill the void space 
with sliced apples, adding a little sugar and spice, and 
then having baked the whole, eat it with butter.” Poor 
souls! not to know the luxury of pumpkin-pie! 
The vegetable marrow, being of recent introduction, 
having been first obtained but a few years since from 
Persia, and being withal an excellent species, we will 
copy its description from Sabine, and his directions for 
preparing it for the table. 
“ The fruit is of a uniform pale yellow, or light sul¬ 
phur colour; when full grown it is about nine inches 
in length, four inches in diameter, and of an eliptic 
shape, the surface being rendered slightly uneven by 
irregular longitudinal ribs, the terminations uniting, 
form a projecting apex at the end of the fruit, which is 
very unusual in this tribe. It is useful for culinary pur¬ 
poses in every stage of its growth; when very young, 
it i$ good if fried with butter ; when large, or about half 
grown, it is excellent either when plain, boiled, or stew- 
ed with rich sauce ; for either of these purposes it should 
be cut in slices. The flesh has a peculiar tenderness 
and softness, from which circumstance it has, I suppose, 
received its name, much resembling the buttery quality 
of the beurre pears, and this property remains with it 
till it is full grown, when it is used for pies. It is, 
however, in its intermediate state of growth, that I con¬ 
sider it likely to be most approved. Compared with all 
the other kinds which I had growing, its superiority was 
decided. I consider the vegetable marrow without a ri¬ 
val.” 
We have grown the true vegetable marrow two sea¬ 
sons; and although we have not used it in the interme¬ 
diate state of its growth, as recommended by Mr. Sa¬ 
bine, we esteem it among the best varieties of the cu- 
curbita for boiling and for pies. It is cultivated like 
the common pumpkin or squash, and will ripen in a high 
latitude. 
Indian corn in England. We are asked by a Ka¬ 
nawha, Va. correspondent, if Indian corn is grown in 
England ? It is not grown there as a crop, but "occasion¬ 
ally as a curiosity. Loudon says, it may be cultivated 
in very warm, dry situations, if the dwarf red grained 
be adopted. Cobbett did grow and ripen some; but no 
attempt, we believe, has been made to profit by his les¬ 
sons, farther than to raise a few hills for the table, while 
green. 
Will ruta baga do as well on stock ground as on sod ? 
is a question addressed to us by D. J. Bent, of Chester 
Pa. We think it will, if the former is made as rich as 
the latter, including the fertilizing matter of the sod 
A sod is beneficial in two ways: it affords the food of 
plants, and it tends, if leit carefully turned, to mitigate 
the effects of drought. The decomposition of vegetable 
matter, excluded from the atmosphere, not only pre¬ 
serves, but produces, moisture. Mr. Bent also asks— 
will manure, applied in an unfermented state to corn, in 
the spring, benefit a succeeding wheat crop, as much as 
it will if permitted to rot in the yard, and applied after 
the corn is harvested? We answer it will, and more. 
