£02 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
management. The common vegetable matters con¬ 
sumed by the farm-stock do not contain nitrogen, this 
essential element of wheat. It, however, abounds in 
the urine of animals, and in all animal substances, as 
wool, hair, bone, horn, the dung of carniverous ani¬ 
mals, or such as feed upon flesh; it exists in fish, in 
soap boilers’ waste, impregnated with animal oil, and 
to some extent in shell marls. 
We shall be told, probably, in contradiction to our 
theory, that the primitive formation of New-England 
has produced good wheat, and that it promises to pro¬ 
duce it again. When first subjected to culture, even 
soils of primitive formation have a quantity of ani¬ 
mal matters upon their surface, the accumulation 
of centuries, which may have sufficed for one or more 
crops of wheat; but these supplies being exhausted, 
the crop has failed. Art may in many cases supply 
the deficiency, by the application to the soil of one 
or more of the above enumerated animal substances; 
and these elementary matters may have been accu¬ 
mulating from ordinary manuring, until the soil has 
become sufficiently charged with the specific food of 
a wheat crop. We really fear that all attempts to 
raise good wheat—we mean the grain, not the straw 
—on soils of primitive formation, without the aid of 
animal manures, will be found to be rather an uphill 
business ; and that even with this aid, it will turn out 
much like Franklin’s whistle—will cost more than it 
is worth. 
We will extract one other remark from the writer 
above quoted—which is, that “ although practice has 
long ago shown the necessity of animal manures for 
the above-mentioned crops, [wheat and turnips,] still 
chemical analysis alone could ever have explained the 
reason for this necessity ; thus placing the advanta¬ 
ges to be derived from the science in a truly promi¬ 
nent and important light.” 
Properties of Wheat. 
The following abstract is taken from Davy, to show, 
first, the difference in gluten, starch and bran, be¬ 
tween winter and spring wheat; and, secondly, how 
seriously impaired the value of both is by mildew. 
Flour. Bran. 
—981 39 
=955 45 
=940 60 
=650 350 
=210 790 
Showing, in one instance, a loss of 31 per cent of 
flour in the mildewed, when compared with the ave¬ 
rage English wheat, and in the other of nearly 75 per 
cent. 
It will be perceived that the spring wheat contain¬ 
ed more gluten, the more nutritious portion of flour, 
than the winter wheat; and that the winter wheat 
from Sicily, a warm climate, contained a greater por¬ 
tion of gluten than that which was raised in England, 
a'cool climate. 
Education in the German States. 
Some time ago, the Conductor received from the 
author, a pamphlet “ On the establishments for pub¬ 
lic education in Bavaria, Wirtemburgh and Baden, 
&c. by John C. Loudon,” editor of the Encyclopaedia 
of Agriculture, &c. There are many facts embracec 
in the pamphlet, from which we may derive benefit, 
particularly from those which relate to new branches 
of instruction, which may properly and profitably be 
introduced into our common schools. 
The kingdom of Wirtemburgh is represented as 
one of the most generally civilized in Europe. Ele¬ 
mentary education is universally diffused. All can reac 
and write. Schools are of course abundant. A col¬ 
lege is established for the instruction of school teach¬ 
ers. The students undergo a rigid examination, anc 
when properly qualified as teachers, they receive a 
certificate, which is indispensable to admit them to 
the head of the lowest school. Government fixes the 
amount of their salary, which is paid by a tax on the 
district. 
Every child is required to be sent to school—males 
from 6 to 15—females from 6 to 13. An annual ex¬ 
amination is had, at which the trustees award a cer¬ 
tificate to those who are found to be competently in¬ 
structed ; and no person is allowed to be employee 
throughout the kingdom, who is under the age of 21, 
without such certificate. 
In Bavaria, the system of education resembles that 
of Wirtemburgh. The elementary principles of agri¬ 
culture, both the art and science, are taught in these 
schools. M. Hazzi, an enlightened patriot, has com¬ 
posed a Catechism of Agriculture, which the govern¬ 
ment has ordered to be introduced into all the schools. 
Every school has some two or three acres of land an¬ 
nexed to it, in which the scholars act as laborers— 
Thin-skinned Sicilian 5 Gluten 239 ) 
wheat afforded of.. \ Starch 722 $ 
Middlesex wheat, (ave- X Gluten 190 \ 
rage crop,). ( Starch 765 $ 
„ - , $ Gluten 240 ) 
Spring wheat,.{ s tarch 700 \ 
Mildewed wheat of 18041 ^ 
r> r-icna S Gluten 32 
Do - of 1S06 ’. \ Starch 178 
sowing various kinds of seeds—noticing the variety 
of culture, and the phenomena of vegetable physiolo¬ 
gy. A small garden is reserved for the female chil¬ 
dren to raise flowers. The elder scholars in the fe¬ 
male academy at Carlshue study natural history, (and 
particularly botany,) astronomy, geography, the French 
and German languages, and music and drawing. 
On the Winter Management of Manure 
We make this preliminary remark, upon which 
what we have to offer is in a measure predicated, viz. 
that all the manure from the stables, yard and hog¬ 
pen, should be carried out in the spring, for the corn 
and potato crops. 
The objects to be obtained in the winter manage¬ 
ment of manure, are, 
1. To prevent waste by leeching and drainage ; 
2. To prevent its becoming fire-fanged ; and, 
3. To prevent more than moderate, or incipient, 
fermentation. 
1. Where cattle yards are upon a slope, or are 
convex, or nearly upon a level surface, the liquid por¬ 
tions of the manure, which may be termed in a mea¬ 
sure the cooked food of plants, continually pass off, 
and are lost. Heavy rains, and the drip from the barns 
and sheds, also, passing through the manure, in its 
escape from the yard, leech, and deprive it of its fin¬ 
est and most fertilizing properties. 
The remedies against this evil, consist, first, in giv¬ 
ing a concave, or dishing shape to the yard. The 
earth excavated from the centre being deposited up¬ 
on the borders, which should be fifteen or twenty feet 
broad, with a slight inclination to the centre, a dry 
passage to the barn is secured, and a sufficient space 
of dry ground to feed the stock upon which run at large. 
Secondly, the yard should be bedded, after it is 
cleaned, with peat or swamp earth, if the farm af¬ 
fords it, six to twelve inches deep; or if this is 
not to be had, with any other porous waste earth— 
and afterwards should be kept well littered with straw, 
stalks, potato cops, and the coarse grass and weeds of 
the farm. The shape of the yard prevents the es¬ 
cape of the liquids, and the earth and filter absorb 
and become enriched by them. Even should the li¬ 
quids of the yard be dried up, as they are in summer, 
the earth and litter will retain the fertilizing matters 
which they held in solution. By these operations 
alone, the quantity of manure will be double what it 
is where they are neglected. Thirdly, in endeavour¬ 
ing to prevent an excess of water in the yard, by 
catching in gutters, and conducting off what falls from 
the buildings. And fourthly, by constructing a re¬ 
servoir, under ground, for the reception of the liquids 
that unavoidably flow from the yard, and particularly 
for the urine from the stables. In this latter mode, a 
great accession may be made to the fertilizing re¬ 
sources of a farm, and a material obtained, fitted for 
the immediate wants of a growing crop. 
2. When dung is accumulated in large masses, ei¬ 
ther when thrown from the stables, or in the fields 
where it is to be applied, even if protected from the 
weather, a violent fermentation takes place, moisture 
is exhausted from the mass, and the dung becomes 
what is termed fire-fanged —dry, light and mouldy, 
and seriously impaired in its value. 
To avoid this, in the yard, spread the manure from 
the stable, occasionally, over the yard. It thereby 
become? blended with other matters less disposed to 
ferment, is trodden by the stock, and the air, one of 
the agents in causing it to ferment, is in a measure ex¬ 
cluded. Under cover, it should not be suffered to 
accumulate in excess, without the admixture of earthy 
matters, which would retard fermentation and preserve 
moisture. It is often convenient to draw manure to 
the field in the autumn, or winter, where it is to be 
used. If such manure has not undergone fermenta¬ 
tion, it should never be laid in heaps of more than 
three feet in depth, or six or eight loads together, the 
surface should be handsomely smoothed off and then 
covered, when the frost will permit, with six or eight 
inches of sod or earth. This prevents violent fer¬ 
mentation, and the loss of the gaseous matters which 
fermentation always sends off. 
With the foregoing’precautions, there is little dan¬ 
ger of fermentation proceeding to a Wasteful or im¬ 
proper length before the manure is wanted for the 
corn or potato crop. 
What farmer is there, who makes any pretentions 
to economy, who would not feel insulted to be told, 
that he carelessly wasted one half of his family food, 
or of his cattle food—one half of what his farm pro¬ 
duced for animal subsistence ? Where is the matter 
of difference, whether he wastes the food of his family, 
of his animals, or of his crops'? His crops feed both 
his family and his live stock; and unless he feeds his 
crops, the others must ultimately suffer the penalty— 
for the earth, though a kind and prolific mother, can¬ 
not always give, when we withhold from her the 
means of giving. Return to her what is no longer of 
use to us, and she will requite us with her richest bles¬ 
sings. Let us bear in mind, that every animal and 
vegetable substance, which we return to her bosom, 
she will faithfully elaborate into new organized mat¬ 
ter, for our pleasure and profit; but that if, like the 
prodigal, we exhaust the parental treasure, it can no 
longer supply us with bread or meat. Too many 
who occupy a rich virgin soil, may be likened to use¬ 
less drones who waste their patrimonial wealth : they 
wa.*te that which would benefit both themselves and 
their children. 
The Oak the Emblem of our Country. 
Our country may be likened to the oak—the three 
great business classes to the roots, branches and 
leaves, and the strong tough trunk, to society in mass. 
Agriculture may be compared to the roots, which pro¬ 
vide food and the elements of wealth ; manufactures 
to the leaves, which elaborate, and convert to useful 
purposes, the materials furnished by the roots—and 
commerce, to the branches, or channel of intercourse 
between the roots and the leaves. Without the 
branches, the roots and leaves are deprived of their 
reciprocal aids. Without the leaves, growth must 
cease. Without the roots, leaves, branches and 
trunk must perish. The root can send forth a new 
stem, branches and leaves ; but neither the stem nor 
branches, nor leaves can, ordinarily, either separately 
or conjunctively, produce new roots. All are, pri¬ 
marily, nourished from the soil, and all being in 
healthful condition, form a whole, which can, like the 
oak, buffit the storm, be it the local thunder gust, or 
the more formidable foreign north easter. Let us, 
therefore, cherish and protect all—and let us special¬ 
ly nurture the root, as the primary source of life, 
growth and usefulness, to the stem, branches and 
leaves. To carry out the comparison, we will liken 
the acorns to the “ loaves and fishes” of office, and 
the moss, which feeds upon the oak, to the parasytic 
drones who live upon society. N. B. In our compa¬ 
rison of the farmers to the radicZes of the oak, we beg 
not to be misunderstood—they are not radicaZs 'politi¬ 
cally, but the radic/es positively. 
Resources of Fertility in the South. 
Throughout the entire oceanic deposite, from Con¬ 
necticut to the Capes of Florida, or what may be call¬ 
ed the flat sandy districts on the Atlantic border, new 
elements of fertility are daily being brought to light, 
and this will undoubtedly continue to be the case for 
years, as science is made more and more subservient 
to the purposes of husbandry. So that it would 
seem, that Providence has every where scattered 
the means, if man will but properly use them, of ren¬ 
dering the soil prolific, in all that is essential to the 
wants and comforts of the human famdy. The green 
sands of New-Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, abound¬ 
ing in potash, have already done wonders in impart¬ 
ing fertility to soils that were deemed barren and 
unworthy of culture ; the shell marls, and immense 
banks of marine shells, which seem to increase in 
magnitude as we go south, are coming into useful 
action, chiefly through the instrumentality of E. Ruf¬ 
fin, whose excellent treatise upon calcarious manures 
ought to be in the hands of every farmer; and we 
see recently announced the discovery, by Dr. Cooper, 
of immense beds of calcarious matters, of uncom¬ 
mon richness, in the pine or sandy districts of South 
Carolina—a materia] exactly adapted to the wants 
of those districts. We have in our own state immense 
beds of marl, fitted to impart fertility to our soils, 
yet but imperfectly known, and less properly appre¬ 
ciated in value._ 
National Silk Convention. 
A convention of 170 gentlemen, engaged in the silk 
and mulberry business, met at Baltimore on the 12th 
Dec. and held a session of three days, and formed 
the “American Silk Society.” It was resolved in 
these meetings, to establish a national Silk Journal; 
to recommend the organization of state societies, 
auxiliary to the national society ; to offer premiums 
to encourage the culture and manufacture of silk ; 
to recommend the Piedmont silk reel; to recommend 
to the cultivators of the mulberry, to turn their atten¬ 
tion to the production of silk; to solicit the states to 
pass laws to encourage the silk culture, and to pro¬ 
tect plantations of the mulberry ; and that another 
national Silk Convention be held at Washington, on 
the second Wednesday after the first Monday in Dec. 
next. ___ 
The Grain Worm, 
Which is complained of in the west, and which 
has been particularly spoken of m the Genesee Far¬ 
mer, we are induced to believe, is not identical with 
the insect which has for years devastated our fields. 
Will the editor of that Journal, or some other indi¬ 
vidual, describe the grain-worm of the west? 
Boynton’s Straw-Cutter. —This recently patented 
mach ine, of which a figure, &c. is given in our advertis¬ 
ing sheet, is highly spoken of; but we are unable to 
speak personally of its merits, not having seen it in 
operation, or even seen the machine. 
