THE CULTIVATOR 
75 
failed to produce either turneps or barley, from which, 
after 50 cart loads of shale per acre, had been spread over 
it, produced 40 bushels of barley per acre. Such shales 
are mostly clay, and are speedily converted into that ma¬ 
terial by atmospheric action. In this instance, it is evi¬ 
dent, a load of clay acting- mechanically, was worth more 
than a load of dung; and on light sandy or porous soils, 
such will be the result in nine cases out of ten. Dung 
cannot benefit land beyond a certain point; but if you 
change the character of the soil favorably, that point will 
be proportionably elevated. 
In this country, the instances in which a physical or 
mechanical change his been effected, are very common. 
There are thousands of acres in New England, which 
-within a few years have been converted from worthless 
muck swamps, or peat bogs, into the most valuable soils 
for cropping, by freeing them from their surface water, 
and covering the face of them with sand or gravel. For 
another instance, we have only to refer to the use of clay 
by Judge Buel, which on his sands effected as marvellous 
a change as did the marl of the Earl of Leicester on his. 
Here the greater benefits of manures on suitably con¬ 
stituted soils are still apparent; and it is one of the most 
beautiful laws that govern such matters, that when a me¬ 
chanical defect in soils is in this way corrected, the be¬ 
neficial results remain for years if not for centuries. 
When earths in an uneombined state, as pure sand, 
with clay for rendering it more friable, or pure clay 
with sand for making it more solid and retentive of mois¬ 
ture, are added, the effect is mechanical only, or at least 
Such is the first result. But when the earths in com¬ 
bination with salts are applied, then the action is both 
mechanical and chemical. The green sands and marls 
of New Jersey and Virginia, so extensively used, and 
which have been so well described by Mr. Ruffin, be¬ 
long to this last class. Ashes also, are another instance 
when applied, of a substance acting in both ways. The 
potash produces its proper effect in the formation of 
silicates, while the drawn or leaehed ashes are mostly 
composed of silex and lime, and their action is mostly 
mechanical. There are cases known in which an earth 
used for manuring or modifying the character of soils, 
produces a good effect on soils very differently constitu¬ 
ted; thus the rich marls used in Norfolk, for giving so¬ 
lidity to porous, sandy or gravelly soils, operates admi¬ 
rably on the heavy clay ones, of which some are found 
in the same counties. The reason is easily seen; in the 
one case the clay portion of the marl combines with the, 
sand, and gives greater density and tenacity; in the other 
the lime and sand of the marl, unites with the clay, and 
renders it more friable, and more easily and profitably 
cultivated. It may be proper to add, there are some sub¬ 
stances used as manures, the action of which is purely 
chemical. Such is common salt, soda, nitrate of potash, 
potash, and -in general all such matters as are wholly so¬ 
luble in water. 
INDIAN CORN. 
Editors Cultivator —In the matter of Indian corn, 
there seems some diversity of opinion as to whether the 
white or yellow variety is most nutritious. Generally, 
in this section, the yellow is thought to be much the 
most so. The object of this communication is to draw 
from you any definite knowledge you may have about it; 
for if there is much difference in the nutriment contain- 
in the white and yellow varieties, it is of considerable 
importance it should be generally known. D. Smith. 
Burlington, N. J. 
Strange as it may seem, the first analysis of Indian 
corn that has ever been made, or at least that has fallen 
under our notice, is the late one by Dr. Dana, and that 
.had no reference to corn as a variety, but as a general 
article of nutriment. We have consequently nothing to 
guide us in the matter but public opinion; and this va¬ 
ries with the different sections of our country. At the 
north, yellow corn is almost universally preferred; in¬ 
deed we do not recollect ever meeting with more than 
one person north of the Delaware, who maintained the 
superiority of white coru. At the south, on the con¬ 
trary, the preference is decidedly given to white corn, a 
fact,we suppose, to be attributed rather to its superiority 
for making light and palatable bread than to any greater 
nutritive power it is supposed to possess. We hope that 
Dr. Dana will continue his investigations with the dif¬ 
ferent varieties of this invaluable grain; for he could 
scarcely confer a greater favor on American agricultu¬ 
rists than by developing the qualities, and correcting any 
errors that may exist with regard to this most important 
of plants. Farmers, too, by feeding pigs on the differ¬ 
ent kinds of corn, and carefully noticing their gain for 
a certain time, might do much towards determining the 
question of nutritive power. At present, all must be 
considered mere guess work or conjecture. 
CUTTING TIMBER. 
“ Editors of the Cultivator —I have long wished 
to hear an opinion expressed by some oL our scientific 
men, in regard to the proper time of cutting timber, and 
the cause of worms in wood. I have frequently observed 
axe handles, and handles of other farming implements, 
almost eaten up by worms, and perhaps not a hole to be 
seen on the outside of the wood. The question is, how 
come the worms in the wood, and what time of year must 
timber be cut, to prevent the worm from attacking it? 
Adolphus.” 
There are a multitude of insects that deposit their eggs 
in wood. In process of time the egg changes to a worm 
or grub, which feeds on the wood for a time, when it 
emerges from the tree and becomes a perfect insect. Of 
these borers those that prey -on the apple, locust, '&c. awe 
most familiar. There are some kinds of timber, such as 
hickory, ash, and maple, which are liable to be injured 
by worms at times, to such a degree as to render them 
utterly worthless. They become what is called ‘‘ pow¬ 
der post;” or present when broken, or cut into, little 
more than a fine dust, while the outside is apparently 
sound. Hoop poles furnish frequent examples of this 
insect destruction; and to avoid it, coopers prefer hav¬ 
ing their poles cut in the fall or winter; from November 
to February, being considered the best to secure exemp¬ 
tion from the worm. It would appear, however, that 
there is a short time after the leaf has been fully formed, 
and the bark ceases to peel readily, in which wood if cut 
will be free from the worm. From some experiments, 
this period would seem to be in the month of June. The 
cause of this, doubtless is that the insect depositing the 
egg is not developed so early in the season; but appears 
immediately afterward. 
THE YELLOW LOCUST AND MULBERRY. 
In answer to the inquiry of “ A Subscriber,” at Pough¬ 
keepsie, we would state that the tree known as the yel¬ 
low locust, is the variety grown for timber. It is raised 
from the seed, which we presume may be had at the 
seed stores in New-York. The seed does not vegetate 
readily, owing perhaps to the fact that they do not al¬ 
ways come to perfection here. The following method 
of preparing the seed it is said will insure success: 
“ Place a quantity of seed in a vessel holding a quart 
or two, pour on boiling water, and let it stand twenty- 
four hours. Then decant it, and it will be found that a 
considerable number are softened and swelled by the 
operation. These are to be separated from the rest and 
planted; and to the remaining unswollen ones another por¬ 
tion of hot water is to be added, which also is to remain 
twenty-four hours, and a second selection made, to be 
planted as before. In a few days nearly the whole of 
the seeds will be thus prepared.” 
The Multicaulis and Canton are considered the best 
varieties to cultivate forfeeding the silk worm. In rela¬ 
tion to the method of planting the trees, we quote the 
statement of Mr. Barbour of Massachusetts, before the 
late convention of silk growers at Northampton. He 
says; 
“ I set mine on dry, warm land, in a state of middling 
fertility, 4 by 2 feet, one root in a place, like other trees. 
Managed in this way, I fully believe they are safe from 
the dangers of winter, any where between Canada and 
the Gulf of Mexico. The unripe ends of the limbs may, 
or may not,be injured; but this is of no consequence,as they 
should all be headed down in the spring. On the other 
hand, by laying my trees, and leaving them to stand as 
they grow, I have lost many thousands. The reason is 
obvious, although, as in most cases, it is experience that 
has suggested that reason. They do not form roots. In the 
other way, the roots extend and fill the ground. 
“ In the spring, I cut my trees down within about two 
inches of the ground, reserving a few standing for early 
feed. This process adds greatly to the quantity of foli¬ 
age.” 
THE SEASON 
The present, has been thus far, one of the most re¬ 
markable seasons for half a century. If the degree of 
cold has not been as great as on some other years, for a 
few days, the average low temperature of February and 
March has rarely been reached. A vast quantity of snow 
has fallen. The most careful observations in various 
parts of the state, average from 11 to 13 feet; and in 
Maine, we have seen one instance where the whole fall 
was estimated at 16 feet. Even now, April 20lh, no in¬ 
considerable portion of the northern part of the States is 
covered with snow, and where the fields are partially 
cleared, drifts of great depths line their borders. One of 
the consequences of this state of things is, that there is a 
general scarcity of fodder; and severe losses of animals 
from starvation and disease are reported from all quar¬ 
ters. The eoarser grains such as corn, barley, and oats, 
have been mostly used up, prices have materially risen, 
and the effect must be felt on the wheat market, as thou¬ 
sands who had relied on corn or barley for bread will 
find their resources in that respect cut off. What effect 
such long continued cold, and such a depth of snow, will 
have on the wheat now in the ground, cannot at present 
be perfectly foreseen. So far as we have seen or heard, 
the injury sustained has not been equal apparently to -w'hat 
was feared before the partial disappearance of the snow. 
There must be some fields, however, where the young 
plants that have escaped the frost, will be found smo¬ 
thered by the snow, as was extensively the case a few 
years since. Another consequence of the long continu¬ 
ance of cold and snow, is the serious retardation of the 
farmer’s work for the spring, by which a vast deal of 
work will be thrown into the space of a few days or 
weeks, and the greatest economy in the management of 
time and labor rendered indispensable. It is not to be 
inferred, however, that because the season is late, it 
must be unproductive, or that the labor of the farmer 
will go unrewarded. Some of the seasons within the 
last half century that have been noted for their severity, 
and the late period to which the snow covered the earth, 
have been equally noted for the extraordinary produc¬ 
tiveness of the coming summer. Fortunately, thus far, 
the melting of the vast body of snow has been gradual, 
by which the floods that would have followed their dis¬ 
solution by rain, has been prevented, except in a very 
few instances. 
AGRICULTURAL PAPERS IN NEW-YORK. 
“ The Plough Boy ” was the first agricultural paper 
published in this state, and the second in the Union. It 
was commenced June 5, 1819, by the late Solomon 
Southwick, and by him published weekly, in quarto 
form, for three years, when it was discontinued for want 
of sulficient support to sustain it. 
The next was the “New-York Farmer,” originally 
commenced, we believe, at Huntington, Suffolk county, 
in 1828, by S. Fleet, but shortly after removed to New- 
York city,where it was published by Mr. F. for a number 
of years, when he disposed of it to D. K. Minor, by whom 
it was continued till 1838, when its publication ceased. 
The Genesee Farmer was commenced at Rochester 
on the 1st of January, 1831, by the present proprietor of 
“ The Cultivator,” and by him continued as a weekly 
paper, until the 1st of January, 1840, when it was united 
with 
1. “The Cultivator,” the publication of which 
was commenced in Albany, by Judge Buel, in the year 
1834. 
The Monthly Genesee Farmer, the publication 
of which was commenced January, 1836, was made up 
from the weekly Genesee Farmer, and issued at the 
same office, till the consolidation of both papers with 
“ The Cultivator.” 
2. “ The New Genesee Farmer,” now published 
at Rochester by Crossman & Shepard, was commenced 
January, 1840, by Bateham & Marshall. It is pub¬ 
lished monthly at $1 a year. 
3. “ The United States Farmer” was commenced 
in New-York, January, 1842, by S. Fleet, the original 
publisher of the New-York Farmer, and is now pub¬ 
lished by Mr. F., monthly, at $1 a year. 
4. “The Central New-York Farmer,” at Rome, 
was commenced January, 1842, under the editorial di¬ 
rection of Johnson & Comstock. It is continued by 
the latter gentleman, monthly, at 50 cents a year, and 
edited by Messrs. Comstock, Johnson & Bement. 
5. “ The American Agriculturist,” commenced 
the last year in New-York city, by the Messrs. Allen, 
is now edited by A. B. Allen, and published by Saxton 
& Miles, monthly, at $1 a year. 
6. “The True Genesee Farmer,” the April No. 
of which only has reached us, was commenced the pre¬ 
sent year at Rochester. It is edited by N. Goodsell, 
who was a contributor to the editorial department of the 
Genesee Farmer, for the first two years or more after its 
commencement. It is published by Wm. A. Wells, 
monthly, at 60 cents a year. 
THE CULTIVATOR IN THE COTTON REGIONS. 
The testimonials we are almost daily receiving of 
the high estimation in which (he Cultivator is held by 
very many of the planters of the south and southwest, 
are truly gratifying. We have, however, to regret that 
so few among the number of our friends have afforded 
us that assistance which we so much require, to enable 
us to impart to the southern reader a more immediate and 
personal interest in our pages. To give it this interest, 
it is only necessary for a few of our numerous subscribers 
there, to furnish us with communications on the various 
subjects connected with the advancement of the agricul¬ 
tural interests of the south—such as the improvement of 
their soils, the culture of their various crops, and gene¬ 
ral suggestions on the improvement of their husbandry. 
If we could persuade the planters to communicate their 
progress and improvements as freely as our northern 
farmers do, the interest of our southern readers would be 
greatly increased. We are particularly indebted to Alex. 
M’Donald, Esq. of Barbour co. Alabama, and to our 
friend “ T.” of Wilkinson co., Miss., for (heir very flat¬ 
tering notices of the value of the Cultivator. We are 
only deterred from publishing their favors at length, by 
the high’commendation bestowed on our pages. “T’s.” 
letter will be found, in part, on another page of this paper, 
and we annex an extract from Mr. M’Donald’s letter, and 
shall be glad to hear from both these gentlemen fre¬ 
quently : 
“Notwithstanding nine-tenths of the pieces written, 
do not, and cannot apply to our southern system of hus¬ 
bandry, owing to the great difference in latiludc between 
this section of the United States, and the section where 
the work is published, still there are hundreds of sugges¬ 
tions and maxims laid down throughout the volumes, that 
one out of a hundred is worth more to a cultivator of the 
soil, than a year’s subscription. This region of country 
abounds with marl, that I have no where found so good 
a description of, as at page 146, of the third volume of 
the Cultivator. Owing to the recent settlement of the 
country, and the amount of fresh rich lands to cultivate, 
that our farmers have so easily iTocured, little attention 
as yet has been paid to the marl (hat abounds in all the 
banks of our rivers, creeks and branches. We last sum¬ 
mer spread over our garden some of it, and from the trial 
we have made of it, we think it a most important ma¬ 
nure.” 
“ On the 18th March of last year, we had green peas 
on our table; to-day, (March 18,) we are apparently in 
the midst of winter. Scarcely any movement in the ve¬ 
getable kingdom. Many of us are planting our corn over 
the second time.” 
