tion of all the experiments and improvements in the 
wide extent of all the United States, and beyond. But 
it is rare that any are willing to pay the dollar, although 
they would cheerfully accept the Cultivator as a gift. We 
ask them, wherein is a man better than a horse, if he 
does not know more than a horse? That knowledge is 
power, and the horse is better than the man who has no 
more knowledge, for the horse is stronger; and power 
without knowledge to direct it, is dangerous. 
We will give you an anecdote of a man living in the 
neighboring town of Niskayuna, but half a dozen miles 
from the great city of Albany, the capital of the Umpire 
State, where light is supposed to radiate in meridian 
splendor. This man, with great self confidence and 
pride, told how he could cure a horse of the bots. His 
horse was ill of the bots, and he took a tea-kettle full of 
boiling water to pour down his throat. His father in¬ 
terrupted him, so that he succeeded in pouring down the 
horse’s throat only half the tea-kettle of boiling water. 
In truth, the horse was immediately dead—he opened 
him, and found just half the bots were scalded to death, 
when lie exulted, by saying, that if his father had not 
interrupted him, he should havesucceeded in destroying 
all the bots, and proved the usefulness of his discovery. 
We remarked to him, that it was an unprofitable mode to 
kill his horse in order to destroy the bots. Oh, he said, 
he could easily have saved the horse, by pouring down 
his threat an equal quantity of oil, to heal the injury of 
the scald, if he had not been interrupted. He told this 
in great flourish, exulting in his valuable discovery in 
medicine. 
Now, sir, how will you correct such folly, except it 
be by cultivating and improving the intellect of such 
stupid men? The best English writers on farriery, say, 
that no horse is ever injured by bots ; and we believe it. 
Horses are subjects of the inflammation of the bowels, 
cholic, apoplexy, &c. as men are; and giving them cold 
water, or exposing to cold winds, to take colds when 
wet with sweat, &c. produce those diseases as they do 
in men. 
Water as warm as the horse’s blood is, may be given 
to him at any time, with impunity. It is the cold that 
injures him. The horse should never be watered at the 
well. Brook water and rain water are the safest; if the 
brook is distant from its source—a cold spring. So the 
smith will always cut off some of the frog and bars un¬ 
der the horse’s foot, when he shoes him, because he does 
not know that the maker of the horse, placed the bars 
there to support the hoof, and preserve it from closing 
up. This repeated, ruins the hoof, and injures the foot. 
The smith who shoes my horse, is told, that when he 
cuts the frog or bars, he will not be allowed to shoe him 
again. Farmers must read, or they cannot improve. 
My object in giving the anecdote is, to show you the 
great ignorance existing in the neighborhood of the re¬ 
nowned city of Albany, and the necessity of compelling 
farmers and mechanics to read, that they may improve. 
They will acquire a fondness for books, if they would 
begin and practice reading useful books. They should 
be compelled to pay a tax, to be added to such public 
bounty as the legislature may offer on that condition; 
and then they will read to share the tax. 
“ Gather up the crumbs, that nothing be lost” is a most 
valuable injunction. 
Every farmer and mechanic, and their sons, spend the 
evening hours of almost every day idly. If those 
crumbs of time spent idly were employed in reading 
proper books, all would be instructed, and many would 
become learned, and even eminent. Whereas, by idle¬ 
ness and neglect of those crumbs of time, in which they 
can earn nothing, if rightly employed, we should not 
meet any such grossly ignorant men as the one who kill¬ 
ed his horse, by pouring boiling water down his throat 
to save him from bots. 
The value of time is not understood. It is the great 
capital for obtaining the greatest and best riches both of 
this life and the future. When the poor man says he has 
no time, he speaks not the truth. Our great Creator, in 
the distribution of time, is perfectly just and impartial, 
for he gives to every one the same and equal measure 
of time. Instead of justifying such complaints as waste 
of time, he will answer, I gave to every one alike, and 
some have abused the precious gift, by folding their 
hands in idleness. Farmers must read, and then they 
will improve. Most respectfully, 
DAVID TOMLINSON. 
Agricultural Association for Mutual Improvement. 
Spotisylvania county, Va. 25 th Feb. 1839. 
Sir —I enclose a preamble and regulations for the 
establishment of an Agricultural Association, formed 
upon a plan suggested in the fourth volume of the Cul¬ 
tivator No. 12, page 194. By the unanimous vote of the 
members of this association at their first meeting, I was 
requested to forward them to you for publication. 
Very respectfully, I am your ob’t serv’t 
WALTER HOLLADAY. 
J. Buel, Esq. Conductor of the Cultivator, Jllbany. 
NORTH ANNA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
That our agricultural systems are radically defective, 
the increasing sterility of our lands sufficiently proves. 
That it is our interest to improve them, if in our power 
to do so, none will deny. Good crops cannot be obtain, 
ed, for any great length of time, upon farms made every 
year more barren by injudicious cultivation. 
It is owing to the worn-out condition of our lands, that 
hundreds of our citizens annually abandon the homes 
of their fathers, to seek a residence in the rich countries 
of the West. We have reason to believe, from the suc¬ 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
cess attending new modes of cultivation, now in operation 
in various parts of the United States, that these impover¬ 
ished lands may be restored to their original fertility: 
perhaps even made better than they ever were. 
However this may be, it is believed to be a fact esta¬ 
blished by experience, that almost every farmer may 
improve his land, slowly indeed, but surely, with the 
limited means which may be derived from his own farm. 
And certainly it requires no argument to prove, that an 
approximation towards fertility, though slow and gradu¬ 
al, if it be continued for a sufficient length of time, must 
ultimately reach it. 
Nothing, then, is needed, but the adoption of better 
systems of husbandry, persevering industry, and a skil¬ 
ful application of the means within our reach, with the 
blessing, at all times, of Him who giveth “ rain in due 
season,” to make our lands productive of all that can be 
necessary to the comfortable subsistence of man. He 
that abuses the ordinary gifts of Providence, is held to 
be highly reprehensible, under every system of moral 
duty. What, then, shall be said of those who abuse the 
greatest of all sublunary blessings bestowed by God up¬ 
on man, a soil capable, under proper management, of 
supporting human beings in comfort, for all time to come. 
By one of the most distinguished agriculturists of our 
country, such persons have been denominated “ matri¬ 
cides,” murderers of the bountiful mother of us all. 
We have persevered in the agricultural systems of our 
fathers, because practically we knew of none better. If 
we heard of others recommended as better, we shrunk 
from the adoption of them, under a conviction that we 
at least, possessed neither the means nor the skill ne¬ 
cessary to carry them into successful operation. We 
were in possession of lands covered with trees, which 
had been growing for ages in all the luxuriance of na¬ 
ture. We knew how to cut down, and to remove these; 
to plant, and to gather; to sow, and to reap ; according 
to the practice of our fathers. The rich products of 
these lands, fresh from the hand of nature, prevented 
us, for a time, from feeling in its full force the effect of 
our system. Three-fourths of such of these lands as 
were fertile, have been divested of their natural growth, 
and subjected to the action of the plough: crop after 
crop, for years in succession, taken from them without 
manure, or repose under artificial grasses; until they 
are reduced, as we all can witness, to a deplorable state 
of sterility. Shall we yet persevere in this ruinous 
system ? 
It is, indeed, no easy matter for us to divest ourselves 
of habits transmitted from father to son, for a period of 
more than two hundred years. Nothing, perhaps, short 
of necessity can be expected to effect a change in them. 
Does not that necessity exist at the present time ? It has 
been approaching us with rapid strides for years past, 
and, as we think, may now be seen, in a greater or less 
degree, in the impoverished condition of the fields of eve¬ 
ry farm around us. 
Convinced of the truth of these positions, on which it 
cannot be necessary to dilate, we whose names are here¬ 
unto subscribed, agree to form ourselves into an associ¬ 
ation, to be called the North Anna Association, for the 
attainment of knowledge on agricultural subjects. 
This association shall be conducted upon the princi¬ 
ple of mutual instruction, by the interchange of opinions 
relative to the improvement of our husbandry, and the 
management of our farms. With a view to these objects 
the following subjects are proposed, as particularly 
claiming our attention: The best modes of collecting 
the manure and litter of a farm ; the best way of pre¬ 
serving them, when collected, if not wanted for immedi¬ 
ate use; and the best modes of applying them to the 
crops that may be cultivated, having regard to the per¬ 
manent improvement of the land. 
The use of plaster of Paris; on what soils and crops 
its operation is most beneficial; the quantity necessary 
to the acre; and the best time for applying it. 
The rotation of crops most proper in our soil and cli¬ 
mate. The species of Indian corn most productive with 
us; the best security against the chinck-bug and the 
eut-worm ; and the best modes of cultivating and secur¬ 
ing this valuable grain, having regard to the product 
and the economy of labor. 
The species of wheat most profitable to the farmer; 
the proper quantity of seed to the acre; the most ap¬ 
proved modes of preparing the land for the reception of 
the seed; and the best way of guarding against the ra¬ 
vages of the fly. 
The cultivation of rye and oats; which of these crops 
is most valuable to the farmer; and the best modes of 
raising them. 
Whether root-crops are adapted to our soil and climate, 
and if so, the most approved methods of cultivating 
them. 
Whether the making of tobacco be consistent with 
any good agricultural system, and if so, what that sys¬ 
tem may be. 
The best time for sowing clover seed, and the proper 
quantity to the acre. 
The best method of making and securing clover hay. 
Live stock generally; the breeds most profitable to 
the farmer, in our part of the country, and the best way 
of keeping them in good plight throughout the winter, 
having a due regard to economy. 
The ploughs and other agricultural implements most 
approved for durability, and their adaptation to the pur¬ 
poses for which they are intended. 
PARTICULAR REGULATIONS. 
For the purpose of aiding us in our inquiries relative 
to the above subjects, or any others which maybe deem¬ 
45 
ed important, we agree to take, in our associated capa¬ 
city, the Farmers’ Register conducted by E. Ruffin, the 
Cultivator, conducted by J. Buel, and such other agri¬ 
cultural publications as the association may hereafter 
choose to take, which shall be read at our meetings, or 
such parts of them as may be required to be read. 
Meetings of this association may be held as often as 
once a month, at the discretion of the members; never 
at intervals of more than six months. 
When necessary for the transaction of business, this 
association shall be organized by the appointment of a 
chairman, to preside for the time at its deliberations, and 
a secretary, whose appointment shall be permanent, to 
record its proceedings. Six members at least shall be 
required to form a quorum. 
Each member shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five 
cents for failing to attend a meeting, unless he shall be 
excused at the next meeting by a majority of the mem¬ 
bers then present. 
It shall be the duty of the secretary to report to each 
meeting such members as may not have attended the 
last meeting; to receive the amount due for fines from 
the members respectively; and to keep the funds, books, 
papers, and other property of the association. 
As this association is voluntary, any member may 
withdraw from it at pleasure, by communicating to the 
secretary his intention to withdraw, and causing" his 
name to be erased from the list of members. 
Effect of Steeps. 
Mr. J. Buel —Dear Sir—Mr. Hathaway’s letter, pub¬ 
lished in the June number of the Cultivator, giving his 
opinion that steeping Italian spring wheat in strong 
brine for a length of time was injurious te its vegetating 
principle, has induced me to make some experiments in 
the case for my own satisfaction. The results have not 
been what I anticipated, and I think it my duty to com¬ 
municate them. They certainly go to prove that gen¬ 
tleman to have been correct. 
The wheat on which I experimented was the Italian; 
the berry fair and plump. The pickle was impregnated 
with as much salt as the water would dissolve. Par¬ 
cels containing twenty-five kernels each were steeped 
for different periods of time, and placed in moist earth, 
marked in such a manner as that they might be easily 
distinguished, and suffered to remain undisturbed until 
the greater part of the stems made their appearance 
above ground. 
RESULT OF FIRST EXPERIMENT 
No. 1, 25 kernels, steeped 5 minutes, 2 did not vegetate. 
2, 
do 
do 
30 do 
2 
do 
3, 
4, 
do 
do 
1 hour 
4 
do 
do 
do 
18 do 
12 
do 
[2 kernels missing. 
The result of the parcel steeped 18 hours being unex¬ 
pected, I made another trial, which was as follows: 
No. 1, 25 kernels well washed in brine—every kernel 
vegetated. 
No. 2, 25 do. steeped 4 hours, 2 kernels did not vegetate. 
3, 
do. 
8 
do 
6 
do 
4, 
do. 
12 
do 
11 
do 
5, 
do. 
18 
do 
13 
do 
It seems from the above, that the injury sustained is 
proportioned to the length of time the grain has been 
steeped, and that if it has been steeped 18 or even 12 
hours, almost one half loses the vegetative principle. 
I am fully satisfied that pickling and liming of the 
seed is ^.n infallible preventive of smut in the wheat crop, 
but I do not think that steeping for 10, 12 or 18 hours is 
necessary. This opinion is founded on my own experi¬ 
ence and observation, as well as the long practice and 
experience of others. My method has been, to make 
the brine as strong as I could, permitting the wheat to 
be no longer in it than is necessary for washing it, and 
skimming off whatever floats on the surface; when tak¬ 
en out it is mixed with fresh slaked lime and sown soon 
after. With this preparation, even when the seed is im¬ 
pregnated with smut (as was the case last year with part 
of the Italian wheat that I obtained) the crop has been 
perfectly clean. Liquoring, as it is called, has been 
practised in the wheat growing districts of Scotland for 
these forty years past; how much longer I do not 
know ; but even so long ago as at that period, good far¬ 
mers would almost as soon have thought of throwing 
their seed into the sea as they would have thought of 
sowing it without that preparation. Brine made from 
salt or sea water, or otherwise, and stale chamber ley 
were used, the latter most generally. When chamber 
ley was applied, the usual method was to sprinkle it 
on the heap of grainuntil it was well wetted; add fresh 
slaked lime, and sow immediately. In the application 
of brine, some steeped for a longer or shorter time, and 
others sprinkled. Without liquoring, in nine cases out 
often the crop was smutty; with it, never. I will con¬ 
clude with a quotation corroborative of what I have 
just stated. “ There is some danger from the first, for 
if the seed steeped in urine is not immediately sown, it 
will infallibly lose its vegetative power. The second, 
viz. sprinkling the urine on the seed, seems to be the 
safest if performed by an attentive hand; the last brine- 
ing may do equally well, if such a quantity of salt be in¬ 
corporated Avith the water as to render it of sufficient 
strength. But it may be remarked, that this last mode 
is often accompanied with smut, owing no doubt, to a 
deficiency of strength in the pickle, whereas a single 
head with smut is rarely discovered where urine has 
been used.”— Treatise on B. Husbandry. 
JAS. SMEALEE. 
Princetown, March 4 th, 1839. 
