46 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
The old Colony yet. 
Post-Office, Pembroke, Mass. March 2, 1839. 
Hon. J. Buel— Dear Sir—I think the farmers of the 
old Colony have been much benefitted by the diffusion 
of agricultural information through the columns of the 
Cultivator. For one, I am free to acknowledge that I 
am not too old to learn, and that I have derived much 
information from reading your valuable paper; and you 
will confer a favor on me, as well as others in this sec¬ 
tion of the country, by giving your opinion of the adap¬ 
tation of our soil for the cultivation of roots, (ruta ba- 
ga, mangold wurzel, sugar beets, carrots, &c.) and their 
relative value as a crop to Indian corn, taking into con¬ 
sideration the exhaustion of the soil, &c.* We are just 
beginning to think that roots can be cultivated to advan¬ 
tage on our soil; that they can be profitably fed out, 
not only to our working oxen and store cattle, but to 
milch cows; and that an immense amount of the most 
valuable winter food for stock can be raised on an acre 
of land. 
A considerable portion of our lands in the Old Colo¬ 
ny are silicious loams, or light sandy soils; and much 
of it has been exhausted by bad tillage; by a close ad¬ 
herence to the old division of farms into mowing, tillage 
and pasturage ; by constantly cropping the tillage land 
with corn and rye, with a scanty allowance of manure ; 
never cultivating green or ameliorating crops, nor suf¬ 
fering it to rest and recruit (under a system of alterna¬ 
tion of crops) with clover and other grasses; and the 
mowing land having remained in the same state since 
the departure of the Pilgrim fathers. We have some 
good soils, but much of our best lands are yet unreclaim¬ 
ed ; our bog meadows and swampy lands are capable of 
being converted into fertile English meadows, and will 
richly repay the proprietors for all the labor and ex¬ 
pense bestowed upon them in a very few years; but the 
most of them lack energy; our young men have been 
told that our soil is exhausted; that the soil of the 
West is inexhaustible ; therefore they all make tracks for 
the far west but him to whom the homestead falls, and 
our population and our agricultural improvements re¬ 
main in “ statu quo.” 
But the tide of emigration will have its ebb; it will 
yet be found out that the Far West, with all her rich 
alluvions and verdant prairies—with her agues and fe¬ 
vers, is a less formidable competitor for agricultural 
success, when compared with the soil of New-England, 
with her healthful and invigorating climate, than has 
generally been supposed. I am, sir, &c. 
__ HORACE COLLAM OBE. 
Renovating worn out Land. 
West-Svffield, March 1st, 1839. 
Hon. Jesse Buel —Sir—I purchased, some years ago, 
a lot of land made poor, very poor, by the exhausting 
system of our fathers; the soil sandy. It produced no 
more than about 5 or 6 bushels of rye on an acre. I 
fenced it into convenient fields, and commenced the fol¬ 
lowing rotation: first, hauled on all the manure I could 
spare, at the rate of about 26 ox cart loads on the acre, 
spread itevenly on the surface,and turned it under with 
a plough, harrowed lengthwise of the furrow, and plant¬ 
ed with corn, potatoes, beans, &c. the manure unfer¬ 
mented ; and planted no more than I could manure.— 
Second year, a broadcast crop, i. e. oats, rye, &c. with 
clover and timothy seeds. Third, fourth, and fifth 
yeai’3, pasture or meadow. The land previous to my 
occupation having been ploughed continually, this was 
necessary to obtain a sward, and to have the land con¬ 
solidate. My corn produced 30 and 33 bushels, rye 10 
and 12, and oats about 20 bushels per acre. Sixth 
year, in rye, sowed on the first furrow, or a naked 
fallow was substituted. Three times each method was 
pursued in the same field, in the same season; one, 
that which was sowed on the first furrow yielded much 
the best; the other times it was not so productive. 
I would recommend that neither practice be pursu¬ 
ed, but that the land be broken up, and oats sowed on 
the first furrow, and that the stubble be turned under 
for rye, with clover and grass seeds. This year will 
finish my rotation, when I shall have manured my lands 
once over. My neighbors admit that my land will now 
produce double that it would when I commenced my 
rotation, and without extra labor. 
I propose next year, if my life should be spared, to 
commence my second rotation with increased means, 
from the fact of saving more manure from increased 
crops, and more knowledge obtained principally from 
your valuable journal: first year giving my manure to 
hoed crops; second year to small grains, with clover 
seeds; third year to pasture or meadow; fourth year, 
rye, or wheat, on the first furrow (of a clover lay) 
with clover and grass seeds for permanent meadow or 
pasture; that when I begin my third rotation I may 
have a good rich sward to feed my corn and potato 
crops. Thus I have doubled the produce of my lands 
within eight years without extra means or labor, sim¬ 
ply by a judicious application of such means as every 
farmer possesses. Yours, JOHN NOBLE. 
Singular change in the quality of Soils. 
Suffolk County, Feb. 2 6th, 1839. 
Sir, —You stated in the last Cultivator, that wheat 
cannot be depended on without the application of ani¬ 
mal matter, or lime. I will state you a few facts as 
regards wheat. With us wheat was raised from the 
* Satisfactory ans .vers to these question will he found in 
our report upon root culture, made to the State Agricultural 
Society, in the March number, and in our essay upon root 
culture in the present number.— Cond. 
first settling of the county until 1780, or 90; it then 
failed. About that time we began to get fish, which 
were used for rye, which did well. Tt was no uncom¬ 
mon thing to have 40 bushels to the acre. For wheat 
they did not answer, neither did any other manure.— 
Farmers, as a general thing, gave up trying to raise it. 
At the present time, wheat is a far more certain crop 
than rye, and has been for years past. Rye has been 
failing for years past, and latterly many pieces have 
been cut merely for the straw. Here is a complete re¬ 
volution in the two grains. You will say the soil has 
been modified by the action of manure. Take a piece 
of land that has not been manured from the first clear¬ 
ing to the present time, and you will have the same 
result, that is, you will probably have a fair crop of 
wheat, and little or none of rye. Corn has not fluctu¬ 
ated; it has been a steady crop, and governed by the 
seasons. Oats—the same. Flax has run nearly the 
same round as wheat and barley. The above has par¬ 
ticular reference to the south branch of the island, Suf¬ 
folk county. We have been troubled these two or three 
years past with a worm that starts a few inches from 
the head, goes the length of the straw, and comes out 
near the ground. It does not injure the crop material¬ 
ly, on account of its coming out late ; it cuts the straw 
off about the lime, or a little before, the wheat is fit 
to cut. I do not recollect seeing an account of it, but 
it may be an old acquaintance of yours. Raising 
wheat is an expensive business with us. The first cost 
of manure is from 20 to 30 dollars per acre. In favor¬ 
able seasons, wheat does well; we sometimes get 40 
bushels to the acre, but that is a great yield. I will 
conclude by wishing you may infuse a little of com¬ 
mon sense into our legislature. Yours, &c. S. 
Remarks —The facts above stated, with regard to the re¬ 
markable change in the properties of soil, are new to us, and 
are worthy of philosophical investigation. We will not ha¬ 
zard a conjecture as to the cause, with the few facts before 
us, but we invite an investigation by more competent hands. 
Let the western farmer note, that manuring in Suffolk costs 
20 to 30 dollars an acre, that with even this expense, farm¬ 
ing there is profitable, and that the soil there, before it was 
worn out, was probably deemed as good as it now is at the 
west. It is easier to preserve than it is to restore fertility.— 
Cond. 
American Society for the Diffusion of Useful 
Knowledge. 
To the Editor of the Cultivator: 
Sir —Your paper for January, contains a communi¬ 
cation, dated “ Concord, N. H., Nov. 24, 1833,” making 
charges against “ The American Society for the Diffusion of 
Useful Knowledge ,” and those by whom it has been manag¬ 
ed, which are of such a nature, that we feel it to be due, not 
merely to ourselves, nor yet solely to the society with which 
we are connected, but also, and most especially, to the great 
interests of our national education, that they should not be 
allowed to go before the public unanswered. 
We speak in sober sincerity, when we say, that we consi¬ 
der, that this matter most especially concerns the great inter¬ 
ests of our nation’s education. We pretend not, that such 
charges against a society, on which we have bestowed much 
labor and thought, and which we believe, is becoming an in 
strument, by which may be effected great, good to our coun¬ 
try; much less, that statements aspersing our private charac¬ 
ters, fall upon our ears, without producing sensations of sor¬ 
row and pain: still, our hearts are not so bound up in that so¬ 
ciety, as to be unwilling that its objects should be effected by 
other means; and we must be allowed to say, that we have 
no fear, that our characters rest upon such frail foundations, 
as to be overthrown or even shaken, in the only sphere in 
which they are of value to us—the circle of those who know 
us, and with whom the affairs of life bring us in contact—by 
assertions imputing to us such gross fraud, as those contained 
in the communication referred to. But when we look at the 
effect these statements must produce in the public mind, if 
they meet with general belief, we cannot but perceive, that 
almost a death blow is given to every hope of ever enlisting 
the mighty influence of united effort, in the work of supplying 
the urgent wants of our people, for sound education and 
healthful knowledge. 
If it be possible, in these days of light, when a vigilant 
press is watching every enterprise which concerns the public 
interest, and conveying on the wings of the wind, every ru¬ 
mor to the most distant hamlet, if it be barely possible, in these 
days, that “ a few individuals who care for nothing but the 
profits of the concern,” can prosecute a speculation in books, 
under the pretence of diffusing useful knowledge, and publish 
to the world, “ without their knowledge or consent,” the 
names of many of the most respectable and benevolent of our 
citizens in every part of the land, as approving the plan and 
its execution, and notone intimation he given to the public, 
by one of those, with whose names so gross a liberty has been 
taken, that they know nothing of the society or its plans, 
when will the people know whom to trust? Well may our 
people, although conscious of the pressing need for united 
effort on this important subject, and willing, each to contri¬ 
bute his share to the great work, pause before they do any¬ 
thing; and resolve to confine themselves to the feeble endea¬ 
vors of individual effort and unconnected influence, if so un¬ 
scrupulous an attempt “ to do a good profitable business” out 
of the intellectual and moral wants of our nation, can be suf¬ 
fered to go on, under the sanction of such names, without one 
warning being given, by those, whose fair reputation has 
been made the cover of so unprincipled a speculation. 
Under these considerations, the subject assumes impor¬ 
tance: by these considerations, and these alone, are we in¬ 
duced to notice the attack made upon us. 
Your correspondent’s statements will be considered in the 
order in which he makes them. The first is in the following 
words : 
“ It was stated that the members of that society, or most of 
them, were elected without their knowledge or consent.” 
“ I found that many of the individuals named as members, 
were made members without their knowledge or consent.'— 
And some of my friends were among the number.” 
As no list of the members of the society, has ever been pub¬ 
lished, your correspondent evidently does not refer to mem¬ 
bers properly so called. He undoubtedly refers to the names 
printed, in the first part of each volume of the published libra¬ 
ry, as those of presidents, vice-presidents, &c. Every gen¬ 
tleman so named, was regularly elected to the office assigned 
to him in that, list; and notice of his election was sent to him. 
Some signified acceptance of their appointments, in written 
or verbal communications; others, by attending meetings in 
the capacities, which the list referred to, represents them as 
filling. 
By all such, we consider their appointments to have been 
formally accepted. 
To all the other gentlemen, were written or printed notices 
of their appointment sent, and, they were deemed to have 
accepted the same, from never having intimated any disincli¬ 
nation to accept it : but not until after the lapse of ample 
time, for returning an answer declining the appointment, 
without receiving any such answer, was the name of anyone 
gentleman published 
We give below, all the names in the list, together with a 
statement of the manner in which their appointments were 
respectively accepted. 
President —Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, formally ac¬ 
cepted. 
Vice-Presidents .—Governor Marcy, Albany; Hon. Albert 
Gdlatin, and Hon. Reuben H. Walworth, New-York; Fran¬ 
cis Wayland, D. D. Rhode Island; Hon. Theodore Freling- 
huysen, and Hon. Samuel Southard, New-Jersey; Hon. Wm. 
Robertson, and Hon. Wm. C. Rives, Virginia; Gov Duncan, 
Illinois; Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq. Michigan; Governor 
Everett, and Hon. Daniel Webster, Massachusetts; James 
Milner, D. D. New-York; Hon. Ruel Williams, Maine; Hon. 
Roger M. Sherman, Connecticut; Thomas Sewell, M. D. Dis¬ 
trict. of Columbia; Hon. Henry Clay, Kentucky; have for¬ 
mally accepted. 
Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, New-York ; Hon. 
Franklin Pierce, New-Hampshire; Hon. Robert C. Greer, 
Pennsylvania; Hon. Roger B. Taney, Maryland; Gen James 
Hamilton, South-Carolina; Hon. Henry Hitchcock, Alabama; 
Hon. Alexander Porter, Louisiana; Hon. Felix Grundy, Ten 
nessee; Rev. Charles P. Mcllvaine, Ohio; Governor Dunlap, 
Maine; Hon. Horace Everett, Vermont; Hon. Horace Binney, 
Pennsylvania; Hon. James Bayard, Delaware; Hon. William 
Gaston, North Carolina; Hon. John M. Berrien, Georgia; 
Hon. Robert J. Walker, Mississippi; Hon. Thomas J. Lacy, 
Arkansas; John C. Young, D D., Kentucky; Hon. William 
Hendricks, Indiana; Hon. Lewis F. Linn, Missouri; are the 
other gentlemen named in the list as vice-presidents, and 
have each had, a written or printed notice of his appointment, 
sent to him, and, from not one of them, has there ever been 
received any communication declining it. 
Board of Directors . 1 —Alonzo Potter, D. D., John Knox, D. 
D., Jacob Janeway, D. D., Rev. John A. Vaughan, Rev. 
Gorham D. Abbot, and Hon. Benjamin F. Butler, New-York; 
Hon. Samuel J Armstrong, Massachusetts; Hon John Ser¬ 
geant, Pennsylvania; Peter G. Stuyvesant, Esq., Hugh Max¬ 
well, Esq., Charles Butler, Esq., James Brown, Esq., Elea- 
zer Lord, Esq., Thomas Cock, M. D., John T. Gilchrist, Esq. 
and Samuel W. Seton, Esq., New-York; Israel Collins, Esq. 
Pennsylvania; Thomas McAuley. D. D., Thomas De Witt, 
Rev. George Potts, Rev. John Proudfit, Hon. Samuel Jones, 
Hon. Heman Lincoln, David Graham, Esq. Hiram Ketcham, 
Esq., Timothy R. Green, Esq., Cornelius Baker, Esq., John 
Griscom, L. L. D., Anthony P. Halsey, Esq. and Robert 
Kelly, Esq. New-York; Thomas J. Wharton, Esq. Pennsyl¬ 
vania; have formally accepted. 
Hon. Samuel Hubbard, Massachusetts; Frederick A. Tracy, 
Esq. and Francis L Hawks, D. D. New-York; Benjamin Sil- 
liman, L. L. D. Connecticut; Hon. Myndert Van Schaick, 
New-York; Bradford Sumner, Esq. Massachusetts: George 
S. Robbins, Esq. New-York; Isaac S. Lloyd, Esq. Pennsyl¬ 
vania, have had written or printed notices of their appoint¬ 
ments sent to them, and have never directly or indirectly de¬ 
clined to accept it. 
Executive Committee.' —James Brown, Esq. Chairman, and 
John Torry, M. D. New-York; Alonzo Potter, D. D. Sche¬ 
nectady; Wilbur Fisk, D. D. Connecticut; Rev. Jacob Abbot, 
and Rev. Bela B. Edwards, Boston; h’ev. Leonard Bacon, 
New-LIaven; Charles Butler, Esq. and Thomas Cock, M. D. 
Lewis C. Beck, M. D. N. Y. University; Wm. Cooper, Esq. 
John T. Gilchrist., Esq., Timothy R. Green, Esq., Marinus 
Willett, M. D , Wm. Betts, Esq. and Henry E. Davis, Esq. 
New-York, have formally accepted. 
To the Rev. Calvin A. Stowe, of Ohio, printed notice of 
his appointment was sent, and no communication declining 
it, has been received. 
Gotham D. Abbot, Secretary, and Anthony P. Halsey, 
Treasurer, have formally accepted, and are now fulfilling the 
duties of their respective offices. 
These facts speak for themselves, and completely refute 
the charge of gentlemen being “ elected without their know¬ 
ledge or consent.’ We would add the remark, that the exe¬ 
cutive committee, are, as their name imports, the acting por¬ 
tion of the society; those, on whom the proper management 
of its concerns directly falls : that the board of directors, by 
the constitution, under which they were elected, and which 
has been printed and extensively published, are designed, to 
meet but once a year, unless specially convened, and to exer¬ 
cise a general superintendence over the executive committee. 
The office of vice-president, as is well known, is an honor¬ 
ary appointment, involving no labor other than, perhaps, pre¬ 
siding at some public meeting. 
We believe, that the receipt of a notice of appointment, 
without returning any intimation of unwillingness to fill the 
office, is considered an acceptance of it. 
It will be seen, that the highly respected gentleman, who 
was named as our president, had, formally accepted the office. 
That of the vice-presidents, thirty-seven in number, seven¬ 
teen have formally accepted. Of the Board of Directors, 
thirty-nine in number, thirty-one have formally accepted.— 
Of the Executive Committee, seventeen in number, sixteen 
have formally accepted. 
We will only add, that our libraries have been extensively 
published, every book in them containing the above list; our 
prospectuses, notices, advertisements and circulars, most 
widely spread over the whole country, with the above list of 
officers; and we have never, from any one gentleman named 
in that list, received any communication, directly or indirect¬ 
ly declining his appointment. 
The next charge is in the following words : 
“The whole matter was managed by a few individuals, 
who cared for nothing but the profits of the concern.” “ The 
amount of it is, that the society was planned by Mr. Abbott, 
the secretary, and more as a speculation, than any thing 
vise.” This statement comprizes two charges—first, that Mr. 
