THE CULTIVATOR. 
103 
chase.” The drawings, &c. of sheep teeth, sent us by a 
correspondent, were inserted in our second volume, p. 
188. 
Acknowledgments. 
“ The District School as it was,” from_ the author. 
This is an excellent picture, delineating, in vivid colors, 
the defects of the old system of instruction. 
An assortment of thirty kinds of Cape Bulbs, in fine 
order, from Jonathan Edwards, Esq. of Troy, collected 
in South Africa, by the Rev. Geo. Champion. 
From Dr. A. Walcott, of Clinton, Ct. through W. C. 
Wilcox, a box of “ Patent Restorative ,” for the purpose 
of restoring to the earth its original fertility. This ar¬ 
ticle, Mr. Wilcox informs us, “ has lately been discover¬ 
ed and manufactured by Dr. W. after a series of obser¬ 
vations and trials. For one acre of grain or grass, two 
bushels of the preparation would be sufficient; Indian 
corn would require three bushels—to be sprinkled on 
the surface after ploughing and harrowing.” 
Chenango Potatoes from J. G. Buswell. These pota¬ 
toes are old acquaintances. We received a barrel from 
a friend in Lancaster county, Pa. in 1827, under the 
name of Mercers, cultivated and liked them. We sent a 
barrel to Boston, in 1828, containing samples of Mercers, 
Pinkeyes, and Kidneys or Foxites,andour late friend Fes¬ 
senden, then editor of the N. E. Farmer, pronounced the 
Mercer to be best. Yet as they then had not got tlieir 
name up. no one would buy them, and we discontinued 
their culture—for those who raise for market must suit 
the taste of their customers, and not their own. We 
are glad to recognize our old acquaintance, and feel 
pleased that they have come into deserved favor. 
A highly finished scythe snath, the donor’s name mis¬ 
laid and not remembered. 
Prof. Jackson’s Geological Reports, from Mr. Webb, 
of Boston. 
“Agricultural” and “ Horticultural” Razors, from A. 
Walsh, Esq. of Lansingburgh. 
Agreeable to our proposition, we shall issue our 
next No. on the 15th Aug. and shall insert in it the es¬ 
says and diagrams on farm dwelling-houses. 
CORBESPONDENCE. 
The Sugar Beet—Queries. 
Guilford, near White-Post P. 0. ) 
Clark Co. Va. July 3, 1839. > 
Judge Buel —Sir—I have recently become a sub¬ 
scriber to, and a constant reader of your valuable and 
interesting paper, the Cultivator, and as I desire infor¬ 
mation respecting the culture of the sugar beet, I am 
sure it will give you pleasure, thus to promote improve¬ 
ment, by diffusing useful knowledge. 
A member of my family being about to commence 
farming, on what we consider here as a small scale, 
a farm of 200 acres, which, in ordinary seasons, will 
produce five or six barrels of corn, or twelve or fif¬ 
teen bushels of wheat to the acre, wishes also to 
combine with it, the culture of the sugar beet, if, after 
inquiry, it shall be advisable to do so. It is limestone 
land, of a light soil, and the cleared parts much exhausted 
by excessive cultivation, until the last thirty years, 
when it changed hands, and since then has been gradual¬ 
ly improved to the state above mentioned. The part in 
woods contains black oak, white oak, hickory, walnut 
and ash. From this description of our lands, you will, 
perhaps, be able to decide whether they are adapted to 
the sugar beet. 
In a letter, published in the National Intelligencer, a 
few months ago, from Mr. Ellsworth, the commissioner 
of patents, he stated that an acre of good land would 
produce twenty tons of the sugar beet, which would 
make 3,600 lbs. sugar, worth seven cts. per lb. Now if 
our lands would yield the half or a fourth of that quan¬ 
tity, it would be infinitely better for us to go to making 
sugar at once, instead of raising corn and wheat at a 
heavy expense, while the seasons are so precarious, and 
the prices so fluctuating. 
You stated, in a report on “root culture,” in the 
March number of the Cultivator, for 1839, that “ from 
the high state of perfection and of profit, which the 
business has arrived at in France and Germany, that 
the culture of this beet will soon be extensively gone 
into in this eountry, for the purpose of making sugar.” 
In this opinion, sir, I fully concur, but how to obtain 
the information which is requisite to enable us to begin 
a business so entirely new here, is the difficulty I desire 
to remove. Will you, then, or some of your corres¬ 
pondents, dome the favor to say, 
1st. What is the best time and mode of preparing 
land for the sugar beet? 
2nd. Whether it is best to sow it broad-cast, or in 
drills, when land is cheap and labor dear, and what 
would be considered a reasonable crop, from land rich 
enough only to produce six or seven barrels of corn per 
acre ? 
3d. How many acres in beets can one hand cultivate, 
supposing him to have little else to do ? 
4th. What is the best way of preserving them in win¬ 
ter, where there are no root houses for the purpose ? 
5th. Do you know of any individual, or company, in 
New York or Pennsylvania, or even nearer to me, that 
is engaged in the manufacture of sugar from the beet ? 
6th. Can you inform we what such a manufactory 
would cost, and whether it is worked by water, steam 
or horse power ? 
7th. What is the practice in France or Germany, 
amongst those who cultivate the sugar beet, in regard 
to its manufacture ? Does the farmer make his own su¬ 
gar, or are there public establishments, like our mills, 
and the manufacture of the beet a distinct occupation 
from the raising of it? Since the plan of kiln drying 
the beet has been adopted, it would, I presume, bear 
transportation to market as well as other products. 
8th. Is there any French or German work, (translated 
into English,) on the subject, in the book-stores of 
New-Yorkor Philadelphia, that you can recommend? 
Any information, not embraced in the above interro¬ 
gatories, which may be deemed pertinent to the occa¬ 
sion, will be, I assure you, sir, most thankfully received, 
bv your very ob’t. and humble serv’t, 
J JAMES M. HITE. 
ANSWERS. 
We are not practically acquainted with the beet culture or 
the manufacture of beet sugar. We have published in for- 
mer volumes, the best information we could obtain ; but the 
business has been undergoing constant improvement in France 
and Germany ; and it is upon this improved management, 
the details of which have not yet been made known to the 
American public, sufficiently to guide in the practice—it is 
upon this improved system of management that Mr. Ells¬ 
worth has based his calculations. We have no doubt but the 
business will be ultimately introduced and made profitable, 
when judiciously managed; and we have as little doubt that 
it will prove to many a losing concern. We would rather 
be a follower than a pioneer in it. Inviting from correspon¬ 
dents a more general answer to Mr. Hite’s queries, we will 
content ourselves for the present, with responding briefly to 
some of his inquiries. And, 
1. The best time and mode for preparing land for the beet, 
is to apply manure to the previous crop, and to deposite the 
seed immediately after the preparation is completed, upon 
the fresh turned soil. 
2. The seed should be sown in drills—to save labor. A 
reasonable crop would be from five to six hundred bushels. 
3. A man can tend half as much ground in beets as he can 
in corn. 
4. The beets have bee'i preserved in the manufactory in 
France. They may be preserved in pits. If dried, they may 
be preserved wherever they can be kept dry. 
5. We can give no particular reference. 
To the other three inquiries we can give no satisfactory an¬ 
swers; but the coming six months, we hope, will afford us 
the means of being more explicit in the matter. We will 
not withhold from Mr. Hite, our impression, that the climate 
of Virginia is not well adapted to the culture of the sugar 
beet—that it is too far south—the root in the south of I ranee 
being far less rich in saccharine matter than that grown in 
the northern departments. We do not pretend to determine 
the beet zone ; but we are inclined to think, that upon our 
Atlantic border, it is north of 42°.— Cond. Cult. 
Plan of an Improved Gate. 
[Fig. No. 21.] 
Plattekill. 6 mo. 24, 1839. 
Respected Friend J. Buel —As I was perusing the 
last number of the Cultivator, I observed the descrip¬ 
tion of the revolving gate. I think that I shall be doing 
good rather than hurt to send thee a description of one 
of those that I erected last summer; they are new with 
us and may be with you. I find them to surpass all 
others that I have ever seen; and I doubt not but what 
thy correspondent will acknowledge with' me after he 
has seen them fully tried. I think it is a duty that we 
owe to one another to impart instruction,' and at the 
same time be willing to receive it; and I hope that none 
will forget that we may live and learn all our days. As 
I have taken the Cultivator for two years past in com¬ 
pany with another gentleman, I may say that I feel 
highly thankful for the knowledge and many benefits 
that I have received from the pages of that most noble 
paper. 
It is made as follows : set three posts, 6 feet 6 inches 
high, of an equal distance apart, one extending along 
the fence in the direction that would best suit for the 
gate to slide. I send thee a drawing of this gate, to 
enable thee to understand it the better: a a a posts, b 
crosspiece nailed fast to the back and middle posts for 
the gate to roll upon, (c crosspiece); when the gate is 
slid open, it will rest upon the point of the crosspiece b; 
then the crosspiece c is at full liberty to be taken out: 
d d cleats which are nailed thoroughly on each end of 
the slats, and extend to a sufficient height to straddle 
the crosspieces, in which is inserted the rollers e e, 
which are made of cast iron with us, which are prefera¬ 
ble to wood; f cleat which is nailed on the middle post 
after the gate is hung, with sufficient pieces of wood, or 
what some carpenters style furring inserted, to admit 
the gate to slide with freedom; ggggg slats, the ends 
of which are admitted to extend an inch through the 
front cleats, for the purpose of striking into some mor¬ 
tice which is made in the front post: or else by nailing 
on cleats. I made them by nailing on strips of inch 
boards; h hook to hook it fast if needful; I never have 
found it necessary. The above represents a gate partly 
open. 
I hope that no person will raise any objection to these 
gates till he has tried them ; then I think he will have 
none to give. 
Any farmer can make one with the aid of an axe, 
saw, hammer and nails, in six hours’ time. They are 
very simple, and cost not more than one-quarter that of 
ordinary gates, and many advantages that I might men¬ 
tion. Thine most respectfully, 
J ___ 
Early Rising. 
Hon. J. Buel —Dear Sir—As your paper has a very 
extensive circulation, I desire to present before your 
numerous readers, a few arguments in favor of early 
rising. The couplet of the sage, so long familiar to the 
community generally, contains much more truth than 
men practically believe: 
“ Early to bed and early to rise, 
Will make one healthy, wealthy, and wise.” 
Many who have pursued this course, have enjoyed 
much better health and other comforts than many others 
who have pursued anentirely different course. Therea- 
sons for this may be very obvious to those who have re¬ 
flected upon it with only a little attention, especially if 
their practice has been in accordance. 
In the first place, our Creator has hung out the sun 
from the heavens, for the benefit of his creatures. If 
we lie in bed after his precious rays shine around our 
habitation, we deprive ourselves of much comfort, 
which we might have enjoyed in the sublime and beau¬ 
tiful sight of beholding the trees and distant hills, first 
enlightened by his golden beams. Besides in the spring 
and summer seasons, especially in country places, where 
farmers generally reside, those who sleep until after the 
sun has arisen, lose most of the pleasure and benefit 
which they might have by listening to the inimitable 
songs of the feathered tribes. 
Again—the farmer and gardener need to be early 
abroad to prevent the intrusion of many enemies upon 
their crops, or to banish them soon if they appear. 
Some have never seen, for instance, the cut worm, in 
the very act of his depredations; but after the sun has 
risen, they have often had painful demonstration, while 
standing by their fallen plants, that such an enemy is 
in existence. Had they been in their garden or field as 
soon as the dawning day, carefully watching by the side 
of their plants, it is at least possible they might have 
been convinced how the work was accomplished. 
Again—many complain that their vines are destroyed 
by the little striped bugs, and before they have oppor¬ 
tunity to destroy them, they take wing and fly away, 
ready to return again at their own convenient time. I 
would say to such, be at your post a sufficient time be¬ 
fore the sun makes his appearance, and you may se¬ 
cure many of them from futher depi edations. 
Once more—many plants may be essentially benefit- 
ted by stirring the dirt around them every morning, 
while the dew is on. Their growth may be promoted, 
and often the effects of drought prevented, and many 
other benefits obtained. Some plants, it is true, may 
receive more benefit to be hoed when the dew has dis¬ 
appeared, but enough may be benefitted to occupy an 
early hour. Will you make the experiment ? Will you 
in future rise early? 
The Season, Crops and Insects In South-Caroliua. 
Oakley Farm, Chester District, \ 
S. C. June, 27, 1839. $ 
Judge Buel —We are suffering here severely from 
drought. The whole spring has been dry—our gardens 
are burnt up, without having yet given us anything; 
from 6 beds of peas planted in succession, I have not 
had half a dozen messes; our corn is in a most deplo¬ 
rable state, now tasseling-out—wilted and must soon pe¬ 
rish if we do not get rain in a few days. We have had 
but one rain to wet the earth below the furrow of a 
shovel plough since the 8th of May,—and very little all 
April. We have, notwithstanding, made good crops of 
wheat for us, where it is not generally sown as a mar¬ 
ket crop,—and commonly put in very carelessly for fa¬ 
mily use. 
Though we are not yet afflicted with the “grain 
worm,” nor much injured by the Hessian fly; a pest has 
appeared among us within the last two years, which 
from their prodigious numbers and destructiveness 
threaten to be even a more serious evil to us. They are 
called chinchbugs in Va. though they have no resem¬ 
blance to our domestic pests but their disgusting smell. 
They are nearly the shape and size of the small black 
flour weevil; can fly, but take to their wings reluctantly; 
have no mandibles, but a proboscis with which they 
penetrate the stalks of plants near the joints, and suck 
them te death. They have destroyed my oat crop to¬ 
tally : I shall not make the seed sown; my white May 
wheat (harvested 28th of May) Vame to maturity too 
early for them, and was but slightly injured; but my 
white bearded wheat (harvested 12th of June) was se¬ 
riously injured by them,—many ears not having a sin¬ 
gle grain filled in them,. Bad as this is, it is nothing to 
what followed; for as soon as the small grain was cut, 
they took to our corn fields in such myriads as is incon¬ 
ceivable to any but those who have witnessed them; I 
have seen some of my corn so perfectly black with them 
for two feet up, no particle of green was to be seen but 
5 or 6 inches of the tips of the leaves; and they hun** 
to the under parts of them in knots like little swarms 
of bees. It takes them only one or two days to destroy 
the corn; from such an attack I saw no remedy but 
burning them up, corn and all; and by promptly doing 
so in that part of the field into which they first migrated 
in such immense numbers, hope I have saved the rest 
of it from total ruin—though patches of corn in some of 
