THE CULTIVATOR. 
147 
you to say, through the Cultivator, whether it will an¬ 
swer, in our region, to set them out in the fall of the 
year, and at what time in the fall would be best?—3 
Franklin County Subscriber. 
Answer.—Deciduous trees, that is, trees which shed 
their leaves in autumn, may be transplanted with safety, 
when they are not in a growing state, that is, at any 
time after the functions of the leaves have been arrested 
by frost in autumn, and before they come into leaf in 
the spring. If planted in autumn, in a high northern 
latitude, it is well to throw around the tree a shovel 
full of dung, or stable litter, to protect the roots from 
the cold of winter, and this may be withdrawn in May. 
Evergreens are best transplanted when they are grow¬ 
ing, say from the 20th May to the 20th September ^and 
we think the earlier in this time the better. Litter 
may also be thrown about these with advantage, not as 
a guard against frost, but to prevent evaporation. 
Shovel Plough .—Solomon Rathbun, of Verona, Onei¬ 
da, asks where he can obtain them, adapted to a two- 
horse team ? As we cannot inform him, will some rea¬ 
der, who has them for sale, answer Mr. R’s question, 
by writing him ? 
Disease in Calves .—Richard Shaw, of Berlin, Rensse¬ 
laer, writes us, that his calves, 24 in number, about a 
fortnight since, were seized with a cough, of which se¬ 
veral have died, and the rest, as well as a large stock of 
cattle, he is apprehensive of losing. 
Grape Culture .—A Litchfield subscriber asks sundry 
questions in regard to the culture of the Isabella grape. 
He will find most of the information he desires in Mr. 
Tomlinson’s communication in to-day’s paper, and in 
Mr. Spooner’s, vol. v. p. 61. The Isabella likes a rich 
and a moist soil. The cuttings are best made in autumn, 
and may be kept in the cellar, or buried in the soil. 
Tomatoes .—In answer to the same correspondent, 
who asks how the tomato should be managed, and whe¬ 
ther it will bear engrafting on the potato, we state, in 
the first place, that nothing, not even water or other li¬ 
quid, is required to cook this vegetable. It is merely 
peeled, whan ripe, of its outer coat, and placed in a 
sauce pan over the fire, where it will cook. As to sea¬ 
soning, tastes vary. Some putin merely salt, some salt 
and pepper, some add to these a little raw onion, and 
this is the way we like them—some add sugar, crum 
of bread, &c. In the second place, the tomato probably 
might be grafted on the potato, they belonging to the 
genus solanum. Our correspondent can easily make 
the experiment; but we confess we do not perceive that 
any benefit will accrue if he succeeds. We suspect the 
grafting of annuals will be found rather curious than 
useful. 
Acknowledgements. 
Four baskets superior New-Jersey peaches, from Dr. 
McChesney and J. Pullen, Hightstown, N. J. and from 
Robert White, jr. of Shrewsbury. A superior made pa 
tent pail, from M. Pond, proprietor of the extensive pail 
manufactury at Schuylerville. 
Society of Agriculture would thus operate! That the 
nation would have been richer by millions than it now 
is 
could we have had such an institution, can not, I 
CORRESPONDENCE, 
A National Agricultural Society—A National 
Agricultural Convention proposed. 
ESPECIALLY ADDRESSED TO THE EDITORS OF AGRICULTU- 
RAL JOURNALS, AND TO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Essex County, Va. August 29, 1839. 
Dear Sir —Only a few days before I received your 
paper of the 15th of this month, I had read an account, 
in one of our political journals, of the last meeting of 
the “English Agricultural Society,” at which our dis 
tingushed countrymen Mr. Welster gave them a speech 
This account elicited in me so ardent a desire for the 
establishment of a similar society in the United States 
that I was on the point of addressing you, and through 
your paper, the editors of all our other agricultural 
journals, a most earnest request to unite heart and hand 
in an effort to bring it about. But, to my great gratifi¬ 
cation, I find, by the last Cultivator, that you have an 
ticipated me, by suggesting the project in your brief re¬ 
marks upon the meeting of the English society. Do, 
my good sir, urge it again and again, upon all your 
subscribers, as well as upon your brother editors. It 
can hardly be possible, I think, that so agricultural a 
people as we are, should have so little of the spirit 
which should actuate us all, as not to be effectually 
roused into action when properly addressed ; and who 
so fit to apply the necessary stimuli, as the editors of 
papers devoted to this great national cause? 
Can we, the people of the United States, who boast 
of being more enlightened than any other civilized na¬ 
tion, in regard to all those principles and arts of govern¬ 
ment which are best calculated to promote and preserve 
human happiness—can we be so immeasurably behind 
them all, in applying these principles, and cultivating 
these arts, as not yet to perceive, that legislative aid to 
agriculture, in a country like ours, is a vital element in 
our national prosperity? It is, in fact, to the Body 
Politic, what the heart’s blood is to the Body Natural: 
neither can exist in health and vigor, without its ap¬ 
propriate aliment. 
What are the obstacles—the rational objections to 
aiding this vital art by legislation? Shall we be told 
by some of our martinet politicians, that our Federal 
Constitution forbids? Would to heaven they had been 
as lynx-eyed in guarding it against other attempts to in¬ 
fringe it—if indeed, the establishment of a National 
think, be doubted for a moment by any who are at all 
aware of the vast benefits which have resulted both to 
England and France, from the encouragement given by 
each to husbandry in all its branches; and I have yet to 
learn any good reason why we should not follow their 
example. 
But thanks be to our good constitution, it has a pro¬ 
vision in it which is perfectly intelligible, even to the 
most stupid; and none can dispute about the powers 
which it confers. I mean that which relates to the 
mode of choosing our immediate representatives. This 
is the king-cure-all for every political evil, provided it 
be executed as it may and should be. For example, let 
the agricultural districts—of which there is a vast majo¬ 
rity in the United States—choose none but honest, intel¬ 
ligent and zealous agricultural men, or staunch friends 
to the cause, to represent them, and they might i%ly, 
with absolute certainty, that this cause would no longer 
suffer from the want of any aid that could be legiti¬ 
mately bestowed on it. Such members of congress 
would very soon find out a way to form a National 
Agricultural Society, that would speedily become one 
of the most popular associations in our whole country; 
and would prove in a few, a very few years, the means 
of extending to the utmost extremities of our Union, 
such a mass of information in regard to all the various 
branches of husbandry, as could not fail to render our 
nation the richest, as it is still, I believe, the happiest 
on the face of the earth. Our commerce and manufac¬ 
tures, which, next to agriculture, are the great sources 
of national wealth and power, would soon be abundant¬ 
ly supplied with all the materials essential to their pros¬ 
perity; and nothing would be wanting to consummate 
our happiness, but the moral and religious education of 
our whole people. 
Can there possibly be a single individual within the 
limits of our vast confederacy, who doubts this, even lor 
a moment? If there is, I can only pray heartily, that 
he may speedily see the error of his ways, and most 
cordially co-operate in the attempt to establish a Na¬ 
tional Agricultural Society, with all of our fraternity 
who have full faith in that admirable proverb, (appli¬ 
cable, by the way, to all imaginable associations,) 
which tells us —“ United we stand—divided we fall.” 
One word more on this subject, and I will rely upon 
other and abler advocates to support it. Since it has 
become the fashion of late years to hold conventions for 
almost every purpose in which many persons are inte 
rested, I would respectfully propose, that one be held 
in the City of Washington, on the second Monday of De¬ 
cember next, with a view of forming a National Agri¬ 
cultural Society; and that the different societies for the 
promotion of agriculture, throughout the United States, 
be invited to send deputies to it. Where no such asso¬ 
ciations exist, county meetings might be held of the 
friends of the cause, who might depute one of their own 
body, or the member of congress from their respective 
districts, to represent them in the convention. Should 
you approve this scheme, your paper might commence 
the invitations, and solicit your brother editors to re¬ 
peat them. In this way, the proposal would speedily 
reach every state in the Union, and would first fall into 
the hands of the best friends to agriculture in each, for 
they alone deserve the title who support our agricultu¬ 
ral papers. 
Anxiously hoping that you will see this matter in the 
same light that I do, I remain, dear sir, your friend and 
constant reader. J. M. G. 
Rust on the Potato. 
Post-Office, Westmoreland, Oneida co. ) 
N. Y. Sept. 16, 1839. $ 
Deaf. Sir —As I am a farmer on a small scale, per¬ 
mit me to inquire of you, if the potato crop is often, or 
ever, in any section of country, cut short by its being 
struck with rust in a similar manner and about the 
same time that wheat is ? 
I have about two acres, and on digging a part of | 
them, I find it takes thirty hills to get a bushel. This 
induced me to inquire of larger farmers in this town, 
the prospect of their potato crop. The universal ex¬ 
pression is “very light crop.” Among the many I 
have conversed with, one or two by observation, think 
it is owing to its being struck with rust; a new idea to 
me, perhaps it is familiar to you. How is it? 
Yours obediently, 
ABRAHAM HALLECK. 
Remarks.— We have heard of the curl destroying the po¬ 
tato crop, in Great-Britain, but have not before heard of its 
being injured by rust. The remark has, however, been 
made to us, that this year, the tops die prematurely, from 
what cause is not stated, and that the crop, where it has 
been taken up, proves unexpectedly to be a short one. 
Conductor. 
Propagation of the Graf>e. 
Hon. J. Buel —Dear Sir—I sent you a dissertation on 
trees, and omitted to say something on grape vines, as I 
intended. 
In transplanting grape vines with roots, I have found 
it difficult to save them. They have many very fine 
roots, and if they are not put up in wet moss, or some 
other wet preservative, they soon perish. 
There is no difficulty in raising grape vines from good 
slips, much less than with roots. Cut the slips in au¬ 
tumn, after the leaves have fallen, and the vine has hi¬ 
bernated for the winter. Choose round and sound 
wood, well ripened and firm, (no flat wood,) the buds 
full and plump, the joints short between the buds.— 
(Suckers from the root of the vine, with long joints, are 
worthless.) Cut the upper end off within half an inch 
of the bud—put them in the ground sloping, the lower 
end deep, to have moisture. The upper bud should be 
covered half an inch under the ground, to break off the 
sun, and they are as easy raised as currant slips. I have 
set many slips with the upper bud above ground, as ad¬ 
vised. They grew at first well, but the sun invariably 
killed them before the fall. 
I planted some slips this season, and they have alrea¬ 
dy grown from two to four feet. I have had bunches 
of grapes the third year on slips thus planted. If they 
are planted in sunny places, they should be watered the 
first year. Water is always acceptable to grape vines 
of any age. If not put out in the autumn, then cover 
the slips with wet ground or mulch, and set them in the 
spring. If put up in damp moss, or other matier, to pre¬ 
vent the slips from drying, they may be taken to Eu¬ 
rope or elsewhere, till from November to May. Re¬ 
spectfully, D. TOMLINSON. 
Remarks on Breeding. 
Stockport, 9 mo. 10th, 1839. 
Esteemed Friend, J. Buel —“Walker on intermar¬ 
riage,” is the title of a work just republished in this 
country. Its object is to point out the rules to be ob¬ 
served in the selection of wives, with a view to the pro¬ 
duction of a beautiful, healthy and intellectual offspring. 
Although the primary object of the author is to amelio¬ 
rate the form and intellect of the human species, by 
means of judicious intermarriages, yet he treats largely 
on the means of improving inferior animals, by means 
of breeding, and asserts that-all his newly discovered 
laws, relative to the human species, are equally appli¬ 
cable to domestic animals. It is to the views which he 
takes of this latter subject, that I wish to call the at¬ 
tention of my agricultural brethren. Although I do 
not think he has demonstrated the laws, yet he has 
certainly brought forward a very respectable body of 
proof, for their support, sufficient at least to induce 
those who are interested in obtaining good animals, to 
give their serious and careful attention to his views. 
It is necessary to observe, in order to render the se¬ 
quel intelligible, that by the “ locomotive system,” we 
mean the organs of support, of motion, and of connex¬ 
ion, or bones, ligaments and muscles; and by the “vital 
system,” we mean the organs of absorption, circula¬ 
tion, and secretion. The organs of absorption are 
sometimes denominated lacteals or lymphatics; their 
use is to absorb the nutritious portions of the food 
from the intestines, and to convey it to the heart, where 
it is mingled with the blood. The organs of circula¬ 
tion are the blood vessels, which circulate the blood 
from the heart to the extremities, and from the extre¬ 
mities back to the heart. The organs of secretion are 
the glands, where the various fluids of the body are se¬ 
creted. The foundation of Walker’s system of breed¬ 
ing is, that “like produces like.” This has been stated 
before, but never satisfactorily shown to be the case, or 
in other words, while other authors have stated this 
to be the rule, they have at the same time stated such 
a numerous list of exceptions, that we are left in doubt 
whether it is any rule after all. These exceptions are 
shewn by Walker to be only apparent and not real. 
The second law is extremely important if true, (and 
in order to ascertain whether it is so or not, nothing 
more is necessary than for one farmer in every county 
in the state, should observe it for two or three years, 
and send the result to the Cultivator office.) “ Organi¬ 
zation is propagated by halves,” that is, one parent 
communicates to the offspring the fore part of the 
head, the long part of the face, the forms of the organs 
of sense, and the whole of the internal nutritive system. 
The resemblance to the parent who thus communicates 
“the vital system,” will therefore be found in the fore¬ 
head and long parts of the face, as the orbits, cheek 
bones, jaws, chin and teeth, as well as the shape of 
the organs of sense, and the tone of the voice. The 
other parent communicates the posterior part of the 
head, the bones, ligaments and muscles, or the whole 
of the fleshy parts. The resemblance to the parent 
who thus communicates the “locomotive system,” must 
be found in the back head, the few more moveable 
parts of the face, as the external ear, under lip, lower 
part of the nose, eye-brows, and the external forms of 
the body, in so far as they depend on the muscles, as 
well as the form of the limbs, even to the fingers and 
toes, &c. If this law be correct, viz. that “ organiza¬ 
tion is propagated in halves,” or that one parent gives 
the whole of the “ vital or nutritive system,” and the 
other the whole of the “locomotive system,” it will be 
perceived that many of our commonly received opinions 
and practices are erroneous. In crossing, we are com¬ 
monly directed in the selection of a male to choose one 
most perfect in the points where the female is most de¬ 
ficient. But from this law, we learn that we shall not 
in all cases, accomplish our object. If a part of the 
“ vital system” in the female is deficient, and we seek 
to improve the progeny by crossing with a male, per¬ 
fect in these particulars, yet defective in some other 
portion of vital system, we shall fail, because one pa¬ 
rent must necessarily communicate the whole of the vi¬ 
tal system, as the other must necessarily communicate 
the whole locomotive system. 
But I shall tresspass too much on the columns of the 
Cultivator, by tracing out the practical inferences. I 
shall therefore confine myself to a bare statement of 
the laws themselves. If we inquire how we are to as- 
