72 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
ly marked out, and we characterize them more by de¬ 
scription than by definition. We can readily distinguish 
the difference between animals and vegetables in their 
more perfect states; we find the plant confined to a par¬ 
ticular spot, its nourishment derived from the same, and 
presenting no marks of consciousness or sensation; we 
behold the animal capable of moving at pleasure, ex¬ 
hibiting marks of consciousness and sensation; and a 
very high degree of intelligence ofttimes. Yet, if we 
should only lay down consciousness or sensation and 
locomotion as the two characteristic features of animal 
life, we should find our definition untenable; for while 
the Linneah class of worms affords instances, in per¬ 
haps every one of its orders, of animals destitute of lo¬ 
comotion, and evincing no marks of consciousness or 
sensation; there tire various species of plants that are 
strictly locomotive, and that discover a much nearer 
approach to a sensitive faculty. Therefore the distinc¬ 
tion between the animal and vegetable life, in their most 
striking form, fades away as we approach the extremi¬ 
ties of the two kingdoms, where the mutual advances 
are so close and intimate that it becomes a task of no 
common difficulty to draw a line of distinction between 
them, or to determine to which of them an individual 
may belong. 
Therefore when we give a distinctive character for 
animals and plants, we are compelled to resort to, and 
derive it from the more perfect of each kind; and to 
leave the extreme cases to be determined by the chemi¬ 
cal components eliminated on their decomposition. 
STourS, S. W. JEWETT. 
Weybridge, Vt. May, 1839. 
Culture and Profits of Squashes. 
Narrows, L. I. Jlpril 24th, 1839. 
Mr, Buel —There are several varieties of squashes 
cultivated for the supply of the New-York markets, but 
the early white scollop-shell bush squash, is the one 
principally in vogue. This variety, although more pro¬ 
fitable to the cultivator than any other, is not, however, 
the best for thetable. We have asmall striped squash, 
shaped like a heart, which is more dry when cooked, 
and far preferable in flavor. This last variety came 
originally from the vicinity of Schenectady, (about forty 
years ago,) and has since been kept pure by a few in¬ 
dividuals. They are ripe about a week later than the 
first named variety, and are not fit to be pulled until 
they become so hard that the finger nail cannot indent 
their shells; they will remain on the vines without 
spoiling until frost appears in the fall. Probably the 
reason why the striped squashes have not come into 
more general use, and why the white ones continue to 
hold the ascendancy, is, our demanding the same or a 
higher price for them, although much smaller in size, 
and the fact, that many of the citizens cf New-York 
prefer quantity to quality. I have never known the 
seed of the striped squash to be sold in the seed 
stores, and have often been disappoi ted in purchasing 
what was labelled for the white scollop-shell, for the 
produce, instead of proving to be white, I have found 
to be yellow, although the papers had the usual marks, 
of the Shakers on them. 
The cocoa nut and the grey and white long neck 
squashes are excellent for fall and winter use, but not 
much cultivated in our vicinity. 
The reason why many of the squashes sold in the 
markets are poor, is their being gathered too green, the 
cupidity of the cultivators inducing them to pull all that 
are of a good size, without reference to ripeness, so as 
to have them for sale as early as possible, to command 
the highest prices. 
Squashes, like many other vegetables, will grow on 
almost any good soil, but a rich sandy loam with a red 
clover sod, on low ground, is preferable, and in such a 
situation, with proper management, they seldom fail. 
For early squashes, in the beginning of April, (if the 
frost has disappeared,) we spread over the ground about 
thirteen two horse loads of street manure to the acre, 
immediately plough, harrow until mellow, furrow into 
hills five feet apart, and place three-quarters of a shovel 
full of the same kind of manure we use for cucumbers 
and melons into each hill, which is covered with earth 
afeouit an inch deep: we then drop from fifteen to twen¬ 
ty seeds into the south half of the hills, (scattering them 
so as not to have the plants crowded,) and cover with 
fine earth an inch and a quarter in depth. About a 
lortnight after the first seeds are put in, we plant over, 
in the north half of the hills. Fo merly I was not in 
the habit of planting over, excepting such hills as were 
deficient in plants, hut experience taught me in 1834, 
the necessity of it; for on the 26th of April, after the 
plants were all up, a black frost swept them clean: by 
planting over, therefore, a greater certainty is insured 
of an early crop, which in the markets is of great im¬ 
portance. 
Squash seed is far more hardy than .that of cucumbers 
and melons, and will remain a long time in the ground 
without roiting. They require a rotation, and do not 
prosper two years in succession on the same ground. 
The after culture of the plaints is the same as that of 
encumbers and melons, except ploughing between the 
rows when planted on sod at the first hoeing, and using 
the cultivator a! the others. The plants are sradually 
thinned down to three in a hill, and the last hoeing is 
given a few days after the blossoms open. 
The plants, like others of a similar nature, are liable 
to the depredations of black worms and yellow flies: 
it is a singular fact, that the latter often select a single 
plant in a hill and feed upon i,t in swarms, while the 
remaining ones remain untouched. I have frequently' 
known single hills, and occasionally a large portion of 
some patches of squash plants very rucli injured, and 
sometimes destroyed, by a species of aphis taking pos¬ 
session and affixing themselves to the roots of the plants; 
they are about as large as a pin's head, of a green colour, 
and when the ground is carefully removed they are found 
adhering to the roots and stem. Plants infested by 
them in general either remain stationary or else gradu¬ 
ally pine away: those that recover never afterwards 
flourish. I am unable satisfactorily to account for their 
appearance, but suppose them to be derived from the 
manure. 
Squash plants on good ground continue in bearing 
until the frost in the fall destroys them. 
Cocoa nut and long neck squashes require to be plant¬ 
ed in hills eight feet apart, and at planting, a dozen 
seeds in a hill are sufficient. 
The following is the number of hills planted, produce, 
(unsaleable ones excepted,) and amount of sales for the 
preceding four years, viz:— 
Of early white scollop-shell squashes, 
Year, 
Hills planted. 
Dozen sold. 
Ain't rec’d. 
1835, 
1,482 
851 
$179 82 
1836, 
1,482 
1,146 
372 00 
1837, 
1,590 
858 
167 86 
1833, 
1,554 
780 
208 25 
Of striped shell squashes, 
1835, 
702 
268 
$80 36 
1836, 
702 
437 
122 3U 
1837, 
800 
215 
101 62J 
1838, 
811 
316 
76 774 
Yours, 
TUNIS G. 
BERGEN. 
Improved Expanding Cultivator. 
[Fig. No. 18.] 
The above is a figure of an improvement on the Cul¬ 
tivator, invented by Jason Smith, Esq. It can be con¬ 
tracted or expanded at pleasure, without stopping the 
horse, (which is very convenient where the rows are 
not marked out regular,) by turning the handle A, which 
is connected by a half inch rod, with a cast iron eog wheel, 
four inches in diameter, which works in two slides screw¬ 
ed to the slats. The depth can be regulated by raising or 
lowering the beam B ; a mortice is made through the 
hind end of the centre piece, of sufficient length to re¬ 
ceive the wheel and both slats; the side pieces are fas¬ 
tened at the forward end by strong hinges. Yours re¬ 
spectfully. [No patent.] J. S. 
Tyre, Seneca county, Jan. 3, 1839. 
Dressing Hogs. 
Schenectady, 2d April, 1839. 
Dear Sir —The following method of dressing large 
hogs may be useful to your readers; if you think so, 
publish it. After the hogs are laid on the lumber sleigh, 
or whatever else is used to dress them on, they are 
dusted over with finely powdered rosin, from a dredg¬ 
ing box; then they are covered with horse blankets, and 
hot water sufficient to wet them thoroughly, is sprinkled 
on them with a watering pot. In a short time they will 
be scalded so that the hair will come off easily, and they 
will be cleaned as well as in the usual way of scalding 
in a cask. I received this information from Mr. John 
Clark, who told me he once had a hog which weighed 
more than six bundled pounds, dressed in first rate 
style by this method. Also from Mr. James Rosa, who 
a few years since, saw in Boston, Mass, several large 
hogs completely dressed, in the same manner. These 
are two of our most respectable farmers. 
Last year,, Mr. Clark raised some sugar beets, and 
found them so useful in lattening his hogs, that this 
summer he intends to raise a large supply for the same 
purpose. Respectfully yours, 
CHARLES H. TOMLINSON. 
Address, by J. J. Viele, Esq. 
Delivered before the N. Y. Sta.te Agricultural Society, 
February 6, 1339.— ( Concluded .) 
I teel as thoiigh I am occupying too much of the time 
of this society, but I cannot conclude this address with¬ 
out again urging the importance of having some system 
adopted for the diflusion of science, and the improve¬ 
ment of the intellectual character of our yeomanry.— 
Here, after all that is said on this subject, lies the great 
secret of improvement in a rriculture. Disguise it as 
we may, there is a lamentable deficiency of knowledge 
in our agricultural community. We might as well ex¬ 
pect a bountiful and luxuriant harvest from a neglected 
and half cultivated jfieid,, as to expect that our system of 
.arming will make rapid progress in improvement, with¬ 
out ip the first instance improving the mind. Why is it 
that vv<? ijave schools for th« professions, the advantages 
of which are enjoyed by the few, richly endowed by the 
state, and have none for the many who are engaged in 
the pursuits of agriculture? Why is it. that science is 
allowed to shed her radiant beams upon every other 
occupation but that of tilling the soil? It cannot cer- 
taiqly be because she requires not her aid. Every dif¬ 
ferent soil requires a different treatment, and almost 
every different plant requires different cultivation, dif¬ 
ferent applications, and different ingredients in the soil. 
“ Nor every plant on every soil will grow; 
The sallow loves the wat’ry ground and low; 
The marshes alders: Nature seems l’ ordain 
The rocky cliff for the wild ash’s reign; 
The baleful yew to northern blasts assigns, 
To shores the myrtles, and to mounts the vines." 
Every operation of the farmer is a scientific experi¬ 
ment, and unless he understands some of the principles, 
and is able to reason from cause to effect, he is wholly 
unable to judge whether he labors for profit or loss.—■ 
Without science, he knows as little of the principles 
which govern the economy of his operations, as does 
the ox who draws the plough, or the horse who propels 
machinery. Educate him, then, for his occupation, en¬ 
lighten and improve his mind, and rest assured that the 
improvement of the soil will follow. If the science of 
a Buel, can ameliorate and bring into a high state of 
cultivation and productiveness, the pine barrens of Al¬ 
bany, and that of a Colman, the worn out, sterile soils 
of Massachusetts, might we not expect that by its ge¬ 
neral diffusion, the whole slate would soon be devoid of 
waste places, and with almost the art of magic, be con¬ 
verted into a blooming garden, teeming with fruits and 
flowers, and the golden harvests of plenty? Will not 
our state, then, adopt someliberal views on this subject? 
With a commendable spirit, it has endowed colleges and 
academies in almost every city and village in the state, 
but it is well known that comparatively few of the sons 
of our farmers find their way thither, and if pei chance 
they do, it is for the purpose of preparing themselves 
for some other pursuit. It is equally obvious that the 
course of instruction pursued in our colleges is not well 
adapted to shed light upon rural labor. Let us then 
have a school, or schools, whose object shall be to qua¬ 
lify young men for the pursuit of agriculture. Let there 
be an experimenting farm attached, with workshops, 
where science can be directly applied to the useful arts. 
There chemistry would direct them in the amelioration 
and improvement of soils, in the economy and ri ht ap¬ 
plication of manures, what soils are adapted to particu¬ 
lar crops, and whether, to renovate', he should apply 
compost, lime, gypsum, marl, clay or sand. By ma¬ 
thematics, they would learn the science of computing 
by numbers, which Aould en b!e them to weigh and 
measure all articles, whether solids or fluids. By me¬ 
chanics, they would become acquainted with the struc¬ 
ture and use of tools, the principles of machinery, and 
the manner in which the moving power is applied. Bo¬ 
tany would teach them the physiology of vegetation, 
the nature and uses of plants, their powers of genera¬ 
tion, the alternation that should be observed for the best 
development of their powers, so that the the most per¬ 
fect of its kind should be produced. Geology and mi* 
neralogy would inform them of what the earth is com* 
posed, and give them a knowledge, not only of its sur¬ 
face, but als > what is contained in the strata beneath. 
From zoology, they would become acquainted with the 
natural history of domestic animals—also their charac¬ 
ter and constitutions. Entomology would point out to 
them the character and habits of the various insects 
that depredate upon crops, and often destroy the farm¬ 
er’s hopes. Attached might be a department for in¬ 
struction in veterinary surgery. The constitution and 
diseases of domestic animals could then he learned, with 
the appropriate treatment and remedies. Millions might 
annually be saved to the nation, that is now lost for the 
want of general knowledge on this subject. In short, 
all the natural sciences might there be taught, their 
principles exemplified, and applied to every operation 
upon the farm and in the workshop. We have colle¬ 
ges, theological, law, medical an I military seminaries, 
richly endowed by the government, furnished with ex¬ 
tensive libraries and costly apparatus, for illustrating 
the sciences, with able teachers liberally Supported; 
but poor agriculture, hitherto a discarded daughter of 
the state, whose industry sows the seed and gathers 
the harvest, on whom all depend, and to whom all look 
for the comforts and blessings of life, she can have no 
seminary for the education of her sons in the most use¬ 
ful of the arts. The liberality with which all the other 
seminaries and institutions have been endowed, does 
credit to the state, and why agriculture should be thus 
long overlooked and neglected, “is strange, passing 
strange.” 
The advantages to be derived from an institution of 
this kind are incalculable. Hundreds of young men 
would be annually emanating from its halls, locating in 
different parts of the state, who by their knowledge 
and their example, would diffuse light upon the various 
subjects connected with agriculture, and could not fail 
to have a most salutary influence upon the moral and 
intellectual condition of all within their reach. The 
results of the experiments in all the various branches 
of agriculture, the mechanic arts and the use of labor 
saving machinery, would be heralded forth from the 
agricultural press, thereby reducing to certainty their 
utility, in the minds ot the community, and saving an 
immense expense that is now incurred in their investi¬ 
gation. Under such an influence, I fondly anticipate, 
that soon, perhaps within the life-time of the present 
generation, a very great change would he wrought is 
