THE CULTIVATOR. 
21 
rom the public, as will enable it to be carried into early 
iperation. It is time something effectual should be 
lone to remove the flood of ignorance and prejudice 
that has covered the face of a large portion of the agri¬ 
cultural community, for the last half century. The sys¬ 
tem of agricultural societies, with annual exhibitions, 
and the unwearying labors of agricultural periodicals, 
have undoubtedly accomplished much in raising the 
character of the farming community, and all praise is 
due to them lor it. But we fear, that without farther 
aids, their utmost endeavors will fail of the object they 
have in view ; the production of a healthy tone and li¬ 
beral spirit among our farmers. The strong conserva¬ 
tive feeling among farmers generally will still, we fear, 
as it has in a great degree already, prove too strong 
for them to cope with single handed. They must be 
backed up by the community at large. This correcting 
an error here, and an error there, this ousting old sys¬ 
tems of culture by the partial introduction of new ones, 
this union of science with practices in husbandry engen¬ 
dered in ignorance, and established by lapse of years, 
which is so often attempted,cannot, we believe, produce 
* thorough going reform. It is too much like healing 
the sores and plague spots that break out upon the dis¬ 
eased body, without attempting to remove the malady 
that causes them. The evil must be probed to the bot¬ 
tom. Instead of resting our hopes of success in the 
regeneration of agriculture, solely upon the issue of a 
struggle with the fondly cherished errors of a majority 
of our farmers, we must raise up a race of farmers, who 
never shall have known such errors, and who, by the 
aid of science and education applied to agriculture from 
the very outset, as a regular profession, shall be enabled 
to look upon the culture of the soil with the respect it 
deserves, to feel its beauties and see its importance to 
the whole community as well as to individuals. 
We hope to see the many inducements for entering 
into and making agriculture a regular profession, which 
presents themselves to the tli®usands of young men of 
the present day, who are in doubt as to the calling they 
shall select, set forth by some abler pen than our own; 
and that very many will be persuaded to avail them¬ 
selves of the advantages of such a school, in the event 
of its establishment, to prepare themselves for an hon¬ 
orable an useful pursuit. If, in the selection of their 
profession, the desire of contributing the greatest amount 
of good to the greatest number, enter at all into their 
consideration, let them think well of an agricultural life, 
before they decide. Let them remember that the ave¬ 
nues to almost all the other pursuits, mercantile, litera¬ 
ry and mechanical, are choked even to their very en¬ 
trances, and thatcrowds have already entered them fully 
able to fill their highest stations, and carry off their 
ronors and emoluments. Let them remember, that 
while to all other pursuits the all pervading influence 
if education and science has been fully extended, the 
agriculture of our country, from the absence of that in¬ 
fluence, remains almost where it was a half century ago, 
and that the discoveries of science can be applied here 
with as wonderful results as they have been in other 
professions. The trouble is not that too little is known 
as to the great principles, that should govern agricul¬ 
ture ; but that too few know them. The wants of the 
farming community do not so much demand new im¬ 
provements and discoveries, as an increase of those, 
who by their example and precept, may induce others 
to adopt what is already known. 
The researches and labors of a few have amassed in¬ 
formation upon the culture of the soil, sufficient, if pro¬ 
perly applied, to cause the whole face of our country, 
to wear the smiles of a garden; and public interest now 
calls for those, who by the application of this knowledge 
in every part of our land, may induce all engaged in 
agriculture to yield to it, and thus render general its 
influence. Let those who are in doubt as to the choice 
of a profession, remember, that in taking up agricul¬ 
ture, they have a wide field for action. From the nature 
pf our country and institutions, we must, to a very con- 
tiderable degree, be an agricultural people; and, as we 
have already said, there is no one pursuit, that stands 
so much in need of the aids of science, and the assist¬ 
ance of men professionally educated for it. If, there¬ 
fore, they would have their names connected with the 
best interests of their fellow men, if they are ambitious 
of a reputation that shall be as lasting as honorable, 
let them become tillers of the soil, and prepare them¬ 
selves for the duties of the farmer with the same zest 
and care that they would bestow upon any of the litera¬ 
ry professions. And let them also bear in mind, that 
in agriculture, as in every thing else, as far as their own 
individual interests are concerned, their success will be 
commensurate with the amount of information and de¬ 
gree of application they bestow upon the objects that 
engage their attention. “ Seges votis respondit.’’ 
The subject may be presented in a different, and per¬ 
haps to some, a more pleasing aspect. We speak with¬ 
out the slightest regard to the fanciful pictures of the 
poets, of rural pleasures, pretty visions of shepherds 
and shepherdesses, meandering streams, and lover-like 
grottoes, &c. &c., when we say, that there is scarcely 
any pursuit that exerts, in an equal degree with that of 
the farmer, an elevating and refining influence upon the 
mind, connected with the most unadulterated pleasure. 
Removed, as it is, from the contracting effects of busi¬ 
ness and the corroding influence of political strife, it 
opens one of the grandest fields for the study and admi¬ 
ration of nature’s works. The study of her operations, 
and a knowledge of the laws that govern her, are pre¬ 
eminently necessary for any success in agriculture. And 
what is more, we deal with animated nature. The 
smallest plant that grows, as well as the animal that de¬ 
mands our constant care, is endowed with vitality, and 
while it lasts, presents all the curious and wonderful 
changes incident to life. The creatures that Providence 
has made dependant on the farmer’s care, all possess an 
individuality; and we soon learn to study and honor 
their various characters. Indeed, in every department 
of agriculture, the educated mind may find ever chang¬ 
ing material for study and admiration: is constantly 
“ looking through nature up to nature’s God.” It deals 
with subjects beyond the influence of mens’ passions 
and prejudices, and is led daily to perceive the little¬ 
ness of all things human, compared with the least of 
God’s works. 
If there be any then, of those still casting about them, 
in doubt which of the many avocations to enter, who 
have a taste for rural pursuits, let them gratify that 
taste, and believe that in so doing, they will at the same 
time consult their own interest, and that of the public. 
Let none, in the consideration of this subject, limit their 
ideas of agriculture, as is too often done, to the plough- 
tail and the harrow, and suppose that the farmer’s ope¬ 
rations extend no farther than to the use of the spade 
and flail. If they do, they will deceive themselves, and 
do the subject great injustice. Let them rather, if they 
have no other means of judging, turn to some educated, 
liberal and high minded agriculturist, if any such they 
have among their acquaintances, and take a few lessons 
from his word and example, before they come to any 
such conclusion. We believe they will find him enjoy¬ 
ing the true “ otium cum dignitate,” drawing upon na¬ 
ture rather more for his occupation and pleasures; dis¬ 
pensing to those around him these pleasures and the in¬ 
formation he has acquired ; and, in one word, enjoying 
that great desideratum of human life, “ Mens sana in 
sano corpore.” H. V. 
Greenfield, Mass. Jan. 19, 1839. 
Light wanted—Corn and Potatoes successfully al¬ 
ternated in culture. 
Brooklyn, Susquehannah co. Pa. Dec. 1,1838. 
Jesse .Buel, Esquire—Dear Sir—The agricultural 
interest is of vital importance, for it is upon this 
that we wholly depend, being not only the source of 
our wealth, but the medium of our existence. I have 
long seen that our citizens are too negligent in their 
avocations, and do not pay that attention to practical 
publications upon tillage, which their interests severally 
demand. We go on too much in our own individual and 
old way, and seemingly spurning the notion of learning 
and practising upon the well tried experiments of others. 
I have long wanted to enjoy the profit of reading the 
practices of farmers in various sections and latitudes, 
and upon different soils; and when I cast my eyes about 
me, my anxiety increases; and I would fondly hope that 
ere long your Cultivator would be both generally taken 
and read among us. It is true that many modes of 
tillage on other soils, and in foreign latitudes, may not 
be well adapted to our own; yet we know that many 
times, useful hints are taken from events of a foreign 
nation which prove to be, on trial, very salutary. Our 
country is new ; our citizens are land clearers ; and ere 
long must be either emigrants or land ploughers and 
grass growers; and every one must, or ought, to see that 
the most successful mode of doing these without reducing 
the fertilizing powers of the soil is an object highly de¬ 
sirable. No question can be raised that the most of us, 
if not all, by following in the too well beaten way of 
our predecessors and of superstitious practice, sacrifice 
not only our labor, but the strength of the soil we cul¬ 
tivate. It is indispensable, then, that we should reform. 
And how shall we do this successfully without that light 
which practical experience may shed upon us. 
I noticed an experiment in your Cultivator, upon 
planting corn and potatoes together, by alternating the 
rows of each, and accordingly I tried the same with a 
small variation. I planted fifty-four perches of ground, 
after being once ploughed perfectly and well dragged, 
in the following manner, viz: three rows of potatoes 
and three of corn, and thus alternately. The corn I 
planted in rows, three feet and a half by two feet, with 
three stalks to the hill; the potatoes, in drills from a 
foot to fifteen inches asunder; planting both on the flat 
surface. I planted on the last day of May, and har¬ 
vested on the 15th of September, and obtained twenty- 
four bushels of ears of corn, three loads of pumpkins, 
and fifty-five bushels of potatoes. The season was not 
altogether congenial to the potato with us last summer, 
being too dry; of course the seed was, by hoeing, raised 
too high to insure a full crop; and had the ground been 
lightly furrowed for the potatoes, and ridged for the 
corn, I think the produce of each would have been con¬ 
siderably increased—that of the potato in particular. 
The produce of an acre would have been 71 bushels of 
corn, and 163 of potatoes. This is at the rate of 35§ 
bushels of shelled corn to the acre, according to the 
usual mode of planting: and since 40 bushels in this 
country is counted a tolerable crop, the potatoes might 
be counted almost a clear gain to reward for the expe¬ 
riment. S. W. NEWTON. 
Caterpillar in Wheat, &c. 
Warren, Warren co. Pa. Dec 27, 1S3S. 
J. Buel, Esq. — Dear Sir — In your October number of 
the Cultivator, you allude to “A new insect enemy to 
the wheat crop,” and invite a description of a worm, 
said to prey upon the mature grain. Such an enemy 
has made its appearance here. 
I first noticed a worm in 1837, in a small patch of 
winter wheat sown in my garden. When the heads had 
just shown themselves, and before being in blossom, 
some few of them turned yellow, dead. On examining, 
I found a worm in the upper joint. When the wheat 
was at maturity, I found the same worm in the kernel, 
of larger growth, but they were not numerous. They 
were examined with a magnifying glass. Those in the 
joint and those in the kernel were alike except in size. 
My field wheat also had some few of the same worms. 
In 1838, I began thrashing my winter wheat immedi¬ 
ately after harvest; on cleaning up, was surprised to 
find in the screenings, separated from the heavier and 
better part of the wheat, a vast army of the new disco¬ 
vered enemy. 
I now thought it might be of importance to examine 
them with a view to an acquaintance with their habits. 
It is a caterpillar, about 3-8ths of an inch in length, when 
full grown—is of a straw colour, but viewed through a 
magnifier, is striped lengthwise, with orange and cream 
coloured stripes—its head dark brown. All its move¬ 
ments, shape, legs, &c. indicate the caterpillar, and it 
will suspend itself by its web. The broken kernels in¬ 
dicate plainly that it preys upon the mature grain. I 
took a handful of screenings and worms and put them 
into a clear glass decanter, in September. They were 
very lively, and would have made their escape, but 
were prevented. After remaining unmolested for some 
time, they buried themselves under the wheat, where 
they seemed satisfied to remain, unless disturbed, when 
they would again endeavor to make their escape. Af¬ 
ter two or three weeks, they became languid, and in six 
weeks they had ceased to show any symptoms of life. 
I have preserved this sample of wheat for the purpose 
of examination another summer, if perchance a new 
generation should succeed. 
How extensive the ravages of this worm are, I 
am not imformed. How much influence it may have 
had in lessening my own crop, I am not prepared 
to say, but for some cause the yield, on thrashing, is 
much less than was anticipated. It may have been 
noticed by others heretofore, but is new to me.— 
Perhaps it may be comparatively harmless. The in¬ 
crease however from 1837 to 1838, was immense; and 
a like increase in future would be attended with cala¬ 
mitous effects. Whether such increase will take place, 
remains to be seen. The insect described by Mr. Mur- 
phy, in your November number, differs from this in co¬ 
lour and in size, and he says he saw nothing in the fornv 
of legs—this worm has legs like other caterpillars. 
In your June number, you gave place to a communi¬ 
cation from me, in which I stated that I had sown two 
bushels of winter wheat in the spring, after having pre¬ 
pared it as recommended by one of your correspondents, 
see 4th vol. p. 64. The result was not in favor of rer, 
peating the experiment, the crop being very late, light, 
and inferior in quality. 
The Italian spring wheat has succeeded with me the 
past season, better than winter or other spring varieties. 
My spring wheat, early sown, was but little affected 
with the above worm. Very respectfully yours, 
' _ NATHANIEL SILL. 
The Mulberry—Varieties. 
Linncean Garden and Nurseries, ) 
near New-York, February 4//i,1839. \ 
J. Buel, Esq.—Dear Sir—Having been applied to by 
numerous persons to decide whether the Morretti mul¬ 
berry of France, and the tree called “ Alpine,” are the 
same, and it having been controverted by some persons, 
we now state explicitly, that they are identically the 
same, and that every tree called Alpine was grown from 
Morretti seed. A quibble is made by some persons, 
who say the Alpine trees are selected Morretti—but 
we presume they are quite as much selected when un¬ 
der one name as when under the other. The Canton 
and Nankin mulberries are also identical with each 
other. 
Of all the varieties of the mulberry ever yet intro¬ 
duced to this country, the Morus Expansa is pre-emi¬ 
nent for a northern climate, as it is very hardy, and has 
leaves equal to the multicaulis in excellence, and second 
only to it in size. Yours respectfully, 
__ WM. PRINCE & S ONS. 
Blight iu the Pear-Tree. 
Near Vincennes, la. 16th January, 1839. 
J . Buel, Esq.—Dear Sir—As I have been a subscriber 
to your Cultivator, except the second year, I will say a 
word about preserving pear trees, from personal expe¬ 
rience. 
Pear Trees .— The first was as thick as a man’s thigh; 
limbs and leaves turned black ; I cut off all that wash¬ 
ing; continued to cut off all but two side limbs: new 
shoots put out, and the tree now has a fine top. Second, 
a small tree with a fine top, all the leaves turned black- 
I cut the limbs all off' to near the body, rubbed the body 
with soft soap, made strong with lye; in two years after 
I cut off five shoots, from three to five feet long, leaving 
four shoots on; I have seen no more black leaves on 
this tree. Third, a pear tree as large as the calf of a 
man’s leg, the top leaves turned yellow, and the under 
leaves turned black; I cut out ten feet of the top and all 
the limbs that had black leaves on them, and rubbed 
the body with soft soap and lye. Since that time it has 
gi own finely; no more black leaves on any of these 
trees. Yours respectfully, 
__ DANIEL SM ITH. 
Pish Manure. 
Upper Aqucbogue, Suffolk co. L.I. Feb. 1, 1839. 
J. Buel —Dear Sir—Mr. Roberts inquires in your No¬ 
vember number,whether fish as a manure will impoverish 
