1 'K ‘W'wwm fiif la aBMiiaattg BMffi^aa^^ 
58 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
will be doing more than all your premium crops on deep 
limestone soils, or soils made rich to fatness by the fa¬ 
cility of obtaining manure from towns. You may play¬ 
fully throw the “Yankees” at us, and tell us to follow 
them—but it won’t do, sir. We must have legs like 
them to walk as they do. You made a poor farm rich 
—so say some of your correspondents. But you were 
in the possession of th e needful, and your purchase was 
near Albany, where you could get lime, and ashes, and 
bone dust, and street scrapings, and stable manure, &c. 
Any man that would not make his land rich with all 
these favorable circumstances, deserves to-- have 
no land. 
My experience and observation tell me, that there is a 
way for a man to improve a large body of land, without 
forgetting that he has more than fifty acres, when he 
has nine times that much. Don’t make a man feel 
poorer than he is, and throw himinto thepit of despair! 
There is no necessity for his forgetting any of his land. 
Come, don’t trump up that old tale, that poor land 
makes a poor man poorer, just in the ratio of the in¬ 
creased quantity of land he owns, and frighten us from 
five hundred to fifty acres to make us feel richer. No, 
no! Let him look the whole in the face, without fear 
or despair. But let him have a beginning—a starting 
point—any thing within the compass of his capabilities 
to improve—five, ten, fifteen, twenty acres, or more— 
let the determined quantity be properly tilled, and ma¬ 
nured, and cropped so as to pay its way, and then put 
down in grass. 
As to spreading manure on a sod, and ploughing it 
down immediately, true theory and enlightened"experi¬ 
ence must condemn it; and particularly if the subsoil 
be porous. If the manure be mere straw, or grass, or 
other substances, containing little or no soluble matter, 
it will be better to cover it anyway, without being par¬ 
ticular whether it be turned down on the subsoil or not; 
for fermentation must be promoted, and the gases re¬ 
tained. Here all is right. But when the general term 
manure is used, without a particular application, we un¬ 
derstand the productions of our stables and barn-yards. 
Now, in this kind of manure, there will always be more 
or less matter that will mingle with the rain, and will 
pass down into the fan, leaving the coarser particles to 
be formed into manure by the process of fermentation. 
The loss in this case must be equal to the urine and 
other finer parts of the manure from the yard. 
I admit that manure of all kinds ought to ferment in 
the land where it is to be applied; fermentation and 
drainage in the yard, reduces it both in quantity and 
quality; and the sooner manure can be got out and pro¬ 
perly covered the better. But it must not, if we would 
get all the benefit, be turned down on the subsoil. 
But, say you, how is the objection to be obviated, if 
I intend putting a grass field in corn, on which I would 
have my manure? No other way than to plough the 
ground first—harrow well—then spread your manure 
and list it. By forming the list, you throw two furrows 
together, which will nearly if not quite cover all the 
manure, if not planted too wide; and by the time you 
harrow your corn, yon will find it sufficiently short to 
mingle with the earth, so as to prevent loss in fermenta¬ 
tion. In this way you get the benefit of all the manure, 
both of the soluble and gaseous particles. 
Now, as Agricola is not to forget that he has three 
hundred and fifty acres of open land, he is to be kept 
from despair of ever reclaiming the whole. And to do 
this, he must see how, after having improved one piece, 
he can apply his resources to another, without suffering 
that which he has improved to relapse into its former 
condition. It will be impossible for him to do this, if 
he entirely depend on clover. Clover is too soon gone. 
And to have to return to tillage operations, and of ne¬ 
cessity, the application of manure, to this partially im¬ 
proved land, will prevent the advancement of improve¬ 
ment very little if any beyond that which he improves 
the first two years. If he plough, he must apply ma¬ 
nure, or there will be a perceptible retrograde. Plough 
down clover! Let this be done where it can. But there 
are frequent obstructions, which I need not stop to no¬ 
tice. Now, if in the list of grasses, any one can be 
found that will be permanent, enduring for years, and 
tending all the time to the melioration of the soil, that 
is the grass mainly to be depended on by Agricola, in 
his reclaiming system. Such a grass we have—orchard 
grass, or what in England is called rough cock’s foot— 
(Dactylis glomerata.) 
This once lauded—sometimes abused—and now much 
neglected grass, is the only one with which I am ac¬ 
quainted, that will fully answer this purpose. Its du¬ 
rability is wonderful. From its early vegetation, it gets 
the ascendancy of all other grasses, and from the quick¬ 
ness of its growth after the scythe, it keeps it. I have 
always found, that where land was occupied with this 
grass, it broke up more mellow and friable than any 
other. After being six and seven years sett, it has 
ploughed like an “ash heap.” It does not only not ex¬ 
haust, but positively adds, from year to year to the fer¬ 
tility of the soil. It makes an excellent hay, when cut 
in blossom, and one of the earliest and latest pastures. 
You will find in the 9lh volume, page 81, of the “Ame¬ 
rican Farmer,” some remarks of mine on the utility of 
this grass as an auxiliary on a graziifg farm. What is 
said there on the comparative merits of clover and this 
grass, I have for some time past dissented from. 
Let Agricola seed down all the land he has properly 
tilled and manured, with this grass, and let that stand. 
“ So far, so good.” Let him take another piece and do 
likewise, and by this means he will get round his three 
hundred and fifty acres. His means to support an in¬ 
crease of stock will grow upon him—this will increase 
the quantity of his manure, and by the time he gets 
round, he will have the means of doubling his opera¬ 
tions. Your advice, to economise and accumulate all 
the matter that can be turned into manure, must be 
strictly attended to. Let all the bare parts of the barn¬ 
yard be thickly covered with leaves—two feet thick.— 
Let all the corn fodder be saved, by cutting the corn off 
at the ground, and let this be cut up in the winter, by 
one of Eastman’s or R, Sinclair, Jr. & Co.’s chaffing 
machines; so that instead of feeding straw, he may 
have all his straw for litter and yard purposes. Let him 
raise mangold wurzel and sugar beet, and try a little 
ruta baga. This last does not often succeed, this side 
the Delaware river. If his land require plaster of Pa¬ 
ris, let him use it, and if spared a few years, he may 
think of all his acres , with more satisfaction than des¬ 
pair, any how. Z. 
A fact or two on the operation of plaster, as I have 
yet a scrap of paper unoccupied. I have seen a fine 
limestone land, after having been reduced by a succes¬ 
sion of white crops so that it would not bring ten bu¬ 
shels of wheat the acre, restored in a few years, by the 
application of plaster. One field of this description I saw 
the clover hay and seed mowed off three years in succes¬ 
sion—then ploughed and bring a heavy crop of wheat. 
The clover could not have produced this effect as a ma¬ 
nure. There are other lands on which plaster makes 
but little impression. If plaster only acts as food for 
plants, what can make this difference? May it not 
bring out the carbonic acid gas, latent and inert, in the 
subsoil of limestone lands, so it can be reached by the 
mouths of the plants? 
A hit some time or other may be on your summer 
pruning. A new Correspondent, 
But an old Thinker. 
The Silk Business. 
Shrewsbury, N. J. 3 d mo. 25 th, 1839. 
Jesse Buel —Dear friend—From some notice of the 
proceedings of the Convention of Silk Growers, lately 
held at Albany, I see that it had decided to form a 
State Silk Society. There has been one organized in 
New-Jersey, and in Pennsylvania they have a Sugar 
Beet Society. Is it not questionable whether thus divid¬ 
ing the strength of the farming interest into various and 
distinct associations, will be the bestmeans of establish¬ 
ing permanently any particular branch ? If it be not, then 
those mostly engaged in raising corn, growing wool, 
breeding cattle, &c. &c. may each get up a society to 
promote such business exclusively. 
I do not see it avowed by those who have associated 
to further the silk business, that the growing of food 
for man and beast is to be superseded, or that woohand 
cotton may not still be used as a part of our clothing; 
but on the contrary, the producing of silk is urged upon 
the attention of every farmer, as being an addition and 
an auxilary to the ordinary course of husbandry, which 
if combined therewith, promises to increase the profita¬ 
ble use of land, labor and capital. There is no doubt in 
my mind, of the correctness of this view, nor yet of the 
vast benefit already conferred upon the country, by 
those who have so zealously and praiseworthily labor¬ 
ed to enlighten our farmers on this subject. The suc¬ 
cess of a small experiment made by me last season has 
encouraged me to increase my investment in the silk bu¬ 
siness twenty-fold this, and my limited influence has 
been used to induce others to embark in it 
I have been looking for a caution from thy able and 
ready pen, against the getting up of these separate and 
unconnected societies, and to encourage the concentra¬ 
tion of strength and unity of action amongst us in coun¬ 
ty and state agricultural societies, as one means of plac¬ 
ing agriculture in this country, in proper relative posi 
tionVith manufacturing, mercantile and professional 
business. If we silk folks would but take our place in 
agricultural societies, and trust this particular branch 
to the action of committees, would it not be as effectu- 
ly promoted ? 
Having thus mentioned what I have thought to be a 
matter of some importance, I leave it with thee, not 
doubting that if it really is so, it will be duly considered 
and attended to. Respectfully thy assured friend, 
_ ROB. WHIT E, Jr. 
Encouragement to Agriculture, &c. 
Brooklyn, March 15, 1839. 
Judge Buel —Sir—Your zealous and efficient efforts 
to promote the agriculture of this country, continue 
to produce results which justify the most sanguine 
anticipations. Science must be combined with practice, 
to effect great improvement in any art, especially in 
agriculture. This desirable end cannot, I conceive, be 
better attained than by the establishment of agricultural 
schools, which you so ably advocate. I have been led 
to this reflection, by noticing the following extract from 
the late annual report of the Treasurer of the United 
States: 
“ It is an interesting fact, that during the last three 
years, more than $36,000,000 annually, or an average 
of nearly nine-tenths of our whole domestic exports, 
have been derived from agriculture. More than seven- 
tenths of our whole population, are probably employed 
in that useful pursuit.” 
What, a commentary upon the neglect of this subject, 
by our State and National Legislatures. It is a lament¬ 
able fact, that political strife has engrossed the attention 
of our Legislature Who are responsible for this ne¬ 
glect? I, sir, can assign the responsibility where it 
mainly belongs, but where it is rarely charged. The 
public press, (exclusive of agricultural journals) are 
censurable not only for failing to aid, but actually for 
retarding improvement in agriculture. The enact¬ 
ments of the Legislature are made in unison with public 
sentiment : which is controlled by the" press. Am I not 
therefore justified in charging the responsibility upon 
the press ? I have facts, however, to support my case: 
I will cite but one. The New-York Courier & Enquirer 
of the 24th March, 1838, after stating that $77,000 had 
been paid by the Slate of Maine, as a bounty on wheat, 
thus remarks: 
“ It would seem that as in olher countries, the absurd 
notion is exploded, of encouraging by legislative grant, 
the pursuit of any particular branch of industry; in the 
United States, it is immediately taken up and acted 
on. What can be more in opposition to every sound 
principle of political economy?” &c. &c. 
Again, he adds: “ And if we mistake not, a similar 
policy is pursued in Massachusetts, and we believe has 
even been suggested in the legislature of this state.—■ 
Aie the people in this country of intellect so obtuse 
that they cannot discover, without a bribe, those branches 
of industry ?” &c. &c. pursuing the same strain of school¬ 
boy argument, for nearly half a column of his paper. 
These, you will observe, are the editorial remarks of 
a paper,^ in general, as ably conducted as any in the 
United States; certainly enjoying the greatest circula¬ 
tion, and possessing, therefore, a corresponding influ¬ 
ence. I his editor probably does not imagine, that 
agriculture may be made a science; and would be sur¬ 
prised to hear that the very bounty he so rails at, has 
been already the means of saving more thqn its value 
in wheat, by causing a discovery, by which the destruc¬ 
tive ravages of the weavil may be arrested. 
The formation of county agricultural societies, is 
another powerful aid to agriculture. The combined 
efforts of these societies and the public press, would 
soon place agriculture in the high station among the 
useful arts, to which she is justly entitled. To effect 
this.desirable object, I suggest, whether it would not be 
advisable that each county agricultural society, should 
appoint a suitable committee to awaken the public, 
through the public press, to the vast importance o£ 
agriculture to this country. 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and many other states, are far 
ahead of this state in the improvement of farm stock. 
The high price of the improved breeds, places them out 
ol the reach of our farmers. This must necessarily be 
the case, while our great breeders are endeavoring to 
raise only the pure blood. 
True policy dictates that we should obtain a good 
breed by crossing, while we at the same time, obtain 
the best breed from the pure blood. 
The great improvement in our horses, was effected by 
carrying studs of blood, to “stands” through the 
country. The same course might be pursued with the 
improved breeds of imported bulls, Berkshire boars, 
&c. &c. In this way, the attention of our farmers 
would be led to improvement in breeds ; they would be 
better enabled to appreciate the good breeds,and would 
thus gradually acquire a desire to improve their own 
stock. Breeders would thus sooner experience ready 
sales of the high priced stock, and would, I have no 
doubt, even benefit themselves, by establishing such 
stands gratis. 
In the last November number of the Cultivator, 
your correspondent, Mr. John Bodden, of Poughkeepsie, 
states that nearly seventeen acres of his corn were 
destroyed by the grub worm, although the corn was 
soaked in saltpetre, which he observed had been stated 
in the Cultivator as a preventive. 
On Long-Island, and in New-Jersey, a worm very 
similar to the grub worm, has been very destructive to 
corn for the last two seasons. As very little has been 
published in relation to this worm, and as it may be 
desirable to preserve a record of their visit among us, 
I will briefly describe them. In the month of May, 
1837, this worm commenced the work of destruction in 
our corn fields. It resembles the common grub in size, 
colour, and general appearance ; both are a light gray 
colour, with red heads. The grub has legs only near its 
head; this worm, however, is legged as a caterpillar: 
from head to tail. The grub has a rough, serrated 
skin ; this worm has a smooth, glossy skin. The grub 
preys upon roots; this worm upon the stalk, under, 
though near the surface of the ground. In 1837, my 
corn was planted early, upon an old sod, which was so 
infested with this worm, that I was obliged, for more 
than a month, to go daily through the field, pulling out 
the worm and replanting the corn, where necessary.— 
In some cases, corn of the third and fourth planting, 
was destroyed by these persevering rascals. 
Their presence in a hill is easily detected, by the 
withered appearance of the stalk eaten off by them.— 
The low and wet parts of the field were free from them, 
while the dry and sandy knolls in the same field, were 
overrun with them. They disappeared about mid¬ 
summer. In 1838, they were less numerous. One of 
these worms ate through a stalk of corn three quarters 
of an inch in diameter, and two feet five inches long.— 
One of my neighbors says, these worms, about eighteen 
years ago, were as numerous and destructive as lately, 
and that they disappeared after a visit of two or three 
seasons. They were called, he says, tiger worm. Wolf 
grub, I think, would better designate their voracity. 
With regard to soaking corn in saltpetre, my experi¬ 
ence fully proves its efficacy as a security against birds. 
In 1836-7, tame pigeons and crows fattened upon my 
newly planted corn, despite of fowling-piece and scare- 
