THE CULTIVATOR. ^ 91, 
___^_ _ _ I 
^Inaincrs to Inquires, 
Query 6. “What quantity of butter would a cow of 
such breed produce per week??’ 
In answering this query, Sir John gives some examples 
of celebrated'cows, among M'hich is the “Crams” cow, 
the yield of which, as compared with some American 
cows, is given at page 160 of the 7th vol. of the Culti¬ 
vator. None of the instances given of great products of 
butter, are equal to many that may be selected from the 
agricultural reports and papers of this country; 19 lbs. 
per week being the highest mark reached by him. 
From these statements of Sir John, it is clear we have 
in this country the materials of as good dairies as are to be 
found in the world; cows of as good breeds, which will 
yield as much and as rich milk, and that nothing but 
skill and care in the dairymen is wanting to produce ar¬ 
ticles equal to those of any part of the globe. 
BEATH. OF THE IION. JAMES M. GARNETT. 
It was with sentiments of profound regret, that we 
saw in the Richmond and other Virginia journals, the 
announcement of the death of this eminent man; regret 
that the State of which be was one of her noblest sons, 
should lose his services; regret that agriculture, to the 
advancement of which he was so ardently devoted, 
should be deprived of his powerful example and aid; 
and regret that the pages of the Cultivator, which he 
has so long made the medium of his communication with 
the public, must henceforth want those papers of his 
which never failed to interest and instruct. Mr. Gar¬ 
nett was a farmer from choice, because he loved the oc¬ 
cupation, and saw in that and in its results the true source 
of continued prosperity to the nation. From his pro¬ 
fessional and civil engagements, he turned with delight 
to agriculture; his circumstances co-operated with his 
inclination, and enabled him to devote more time to the- 
pursuit, than usually falls to the lot of such men. With 
a mere theoretical knowledge of the details of farming 
he was never content; but he carried into practice those 
•rules which carefully conducted experiments, made under 
his own eye, proved best adapted to advance the inte¬ 
rests of the planter and farmer. Through his exertions 
the Fredericksburg Agricultural Society was early insti¬ 
tuted, and for more than twenty years he remained at 
its head, its ever zealous and efficient president. The 
influence of that society on the agriculture of that region, 
and the benefit of its example in the formation of kin¬ 
dred societies, will with difficulty be estimated. A col¬ 
lection of the addresses which he delivered before the 
annual meetings of the society, would form an interest¬ 
ing record of the progress of agriculture, of facts and 
experiments, for in these addresses he made a point of 
detailing the results of his experience during the year 
that had passed. Other districts and States were anxious 
to avail themselves of his instructive efforts, and like our 
own Judge Buel, whom in many respects he greatly re- 
sembled, he was frequently called to deliver addresses, 
or aid in the formation of societies at places remote from 
his home. When the National Agricultural Society was 
instituted, Mr. Garnett was called to the honorable and 
E'esponsible situation of president, an office he filled at 
the time of his death. To the welfare of that society, 
and the promotion of its objects, his time and efforts 
were unceasingly devoted. The Cultivator was the fa¬ 
vorite agricultural journal of Judge Garnett, and through 
its columns most of his valuable communications have 
been made to the public. A reference to the past vo¬ 
lumes will show the extent of his labors in this field, 
and their value. We may now state that the series of 
papers signed ‘ Commentator,’ so long continued, so 
ably written, embracing so many topics, and always so 
interesting, were from his pen. If we have spoken of 
Judge Garnett principally as an agriculturist, it is be¬ 
cause the topic was most suitable for this place, not be¬ 
cause we were insensible to his moral and intellectual 
worth, to his influence as a. citizen, a statesman, and a 
man. 
PROSPECTS OF THE COMING WHEAT CROP, &c. 
In some remarks on this subject in our last number, 
the opinion was expressed that damage would be found 
to have been sustained by the wheat crop, from the 
depth and weight of the snow, but to what extent, it 
was then too early to determine. Since then we have 
received notices from all parts of the country, and we 
are sorrry to say that a comparison of these reports ren¬ 
ders it very certain that the loss sustained, on the whole, 
will be greater than was at first apprehended. From 
Ohio we learn that in the south part of the State or on 
the river slope, appearances are very unfavorable •’ while 
in the lake counties, on the contrary, the fields exhibited 
a good set of plants generally, and the prospect was en¬ 
couraging. In western New-York many fields have 
been plowed up, and from many others a slender crop 
must be expected. Since the ground was cleared of 
snow, we have had no frosts to injure the plants in the 
least, and the deficiencies must be attributed to the ef¬ 
fects of the snow. 
Notwithstanding the lateness of the season at which 
farmers were able to commence their spring seeding, 
such has been the fineness of the weather, that farmers 
found their work at the middle of the past month fully 
as advanced as usual, and appearances, if g'ood getting 
in may be considered an inciication, are fair for favora¬ 
ble crops. 
Fruits of all kinds promise abundantly; but unless 
speedy measures are taken to check the ravages of the 
caterpillar, which was so destructive last year, and has 
already appeared in immense numbers, apples will be 
seriously injured. Instead of adopting any of the round¬ 
about methods of destroying this caterpillar, let the 
orchardist do as did a farmer of our acquaintance last 
yeai’, and we will guarantee them an exemption from 
this scourge. Mounted on his laddei', at the first appear¬ 
ance of the enemy, he visited each nest or Web, and 
with his hands elfectually crushed every one of their 
inhabitants at a grasp. The consequence was, that while 
his neighbors’ orchards looked as though a fire had passed 
over them, destitute of both foliage and fruit, his was 
loaded with both. The caterpillar in the orchard, like 
the thistle in the field, is one of those evils much more 
readily corrected if attacked in the outset, than when it 
has been allowed time to establish itself; and the de¬ 
struction of them the present year, usually secures an 
exemption for the next. 
CONSUMPTION OF FOOD IN CITIES. 
Few men who have not directed their attention to to¬ 
pics of that nature, can readily conceive the amount of 
food consumed in large cities, and the consequent de¬ 
mand they create for agricultural products. Smithfield 
is the great cattle market of London, and the record 
there shows the number sold in any given year. Thus 
in the five years from 1730 to 1735, the number of cattle 
sold was 93,655; and of sheep 568,060; or about 20,000 
of the first and 100,000 of the last annually. In 1840 the 
consumption had increased to 190,300cattle, and 1,500,- 
250 sheep. The same j’ear the number of bushels of 
barley, or i-ather malt, used for brewing, was 5,800,000; 
and it required 4,850,000 bushels of wheat and 620,000 
barrels of flour to supply the city with bread. Paris, 
in proportion to its population, uses less meat and more 
bread than London. Americans are famed for their use 
of meat; and the following table, apparently compiled 
with considerable care for the True Sun, will show the 
value of the agricultural products codsumed annually in 
New-York city. 
Fresh beef,. $1,470,000 
“ veal,. 350,000 
“ mutton,. 300,000 
“ pork,. 000,000 
“ poultry, game, eggs,. 800,000 
Salted beef, pork, hams, &c.,. 1,1200,000 
Vesetables and fruit,. 1,200,000 
Milk,. 730,000 
Butter, cheese, and lard,. 1,500,000 
Flout, meal, and other bread stuffs,. 3,000,000 
Hay and oats, . 750,000 
Fuel (wood and coal) exclusive of steamboat fuel,- 2,-500,000 
Other articles, exclusive of building materials, • •• 500,000 
$14,900,000 
THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED. 
Horses should never be put to severe work on a full 
stomach. More horses are hurt by hard driving after a 
full feed, than by a full feed after hard driving. 
If the farmer wishes to have his pork barrel and meal 
chest hold out, let him look well to his kitchen garden. 
Plenty of vegetables conduce not more to health than to 
profit. 
In laying in a stock of winter fodder for animals, let 
it not be forgotten that a little too much is just enough. 
Starving animals at any time is miserable policy. 
As you treat your land so it will treat you. Feed it 
with manures liberally, and it will yield you bread boun¬ 
tifully. 
Avoid debt as you would the leprosy. If you are ever 
tempted to piu-chase on credit, put it off for three days. 
You need time for reflection. 
Never beg fruit, or anything else you can produce by 
the expenditure of a little time or labor. It is as rea¬ 
sonable to expect a man to give away the products of his 
wheat field, as of his orchard or fruit garden. 
If you keep your sheep and cattle in your meadows un¬ 
til June, don’t complain next winter because you are 
compelled to purchase hay for your stock. 
The man who uses good seed, has a good soil, and 
works it in good season, rarely fails of having a good 
crop to reward his toil. 
Never forfeit your word. The saying in truth, of any 
farmer, “his word is as good as his bond,” is worth 
more to him than the interest of $10,000 annually. 
CATTLE AND SHEEP OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
We find the following in a late English joiu-nal, and 
give it for the purpose of comparing it with some of our 
own statistics and prices: 
“The total number of horned cattle in the United 
Kingdom, is estimated at 7,000,000, and the total num¬ 
ber of sheep at 32,000,000. Valuing the first, per head, 
at £10, and the last at 25s., both together will give a 
total value of £110,000,000.” 
In the U. States, according to the census of 1839, the 
number of horned cattle was 15,000,000, and the number 
of sheep 20,000,000. But the diS'erence in the estimated 
value is the most striking point in the comparison. 
There, the average value is put at about $45 for the cat¬ 
tle, and about $6 for the sheep. Here, an average price 
of .$12 for the cattle, and $1,50 for the sheep, must be 
considered a liberal estimate. This fact shows why the 
prices of meat are so high in Great Britain, and proves 
that we ought to be able to furnish them a supply of 
beef at remunerating prices. We think it clear that in 
the present position of trade, tariffs, and prices, a fair 
export trade in beef and pork to England, may be ex¬ 
pected. 
CORN SUGAR—PALMA CHRISTI. 
“Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I would be glad to 
see in your dolumns the process of grinding the corn 
stalk, expressing the juice, and boiling and graining the 
sugar. Also the modus operand! of husking or freeing 
from its hard envelope the seed of the palma christi, or 
castor oil plant. I have no doubt the experiments of 
Dr. Cloud will have a good influence on the culture of 
cotton. E. Taylor.” 
Mt. Jefferson, Ala. 1843.” 
This note was written previous to our April No. 
reaching Mr. T. In that he will find full directions for 
the making of sugar from corn. With the best pro¬ 
cesses of making oil from the palma christi we are un¬ 
acquainted. In France, where oil of a superior quality 
is made, the fresh seeds are bruised and then put into a 
cold press; (some persons improperly heat the plates of 
the press.) The oil so exfi-acted is allowed to stand 
some time to separate from its impurities, or is filtered. 
The produce in oil is about equal to one-third of the 
quantity of seeds. We should be pleased to receive 
from some of our Illinois friends engaged in the culture 
of the palma christi and the making of oil, a full ac¬ 
count of the process. 
SOUTH DOWN SHEEP. 
R. Burr, Esq., of Rice Grove, Canada, asks for some 
information with regard to the South Downs, their ha¬ 
bits, constitution, price, and where they can be obtained 
genuine; and also for directions for coloring the most 
common colors wanted by farmers, particularly red and 
yellow, for which see last page of this paper. 
Experience with the South Down breed of sheep 
proves that they are a very valuable breed, well adapted 
to our country and climate, producing fine mutton, and 
if the wool is inferior to that of the Merino or Saxon, it is 
of a good quality, and is placed in fineness next to those 
we have named. It is a very hardy animal, thriving 
well on short, upland or hilly pastures, and fattening 
readily on turneps, or better pastures. Some of the finest 
mutton ever exhibited in this city was from the South 
Down flock of Mr. McIntyre. South Downs of pui-c 
blood may be obtained in the vicinity of this jdace, and 
selections made from several fine flocks; they may also 
be had of Mr. Rotch, Butternuts, Otsego co., who has 
some of the finest in the country ; and doubtless from 
other breeders of this valuable animal. The prices will 
range from $15 to $25 depending on the kind and quality 
of the sheep. 
BEST GUIDE TO FARMING. 
“Messrs. Editors —Will you be kind enough to 
state in the next number of the Cultivator, what is the 
best and most practical work yet published on farming, 
and the best adapted to the wants of a young beginner. 
“ W. S. Chapman. 
“ Cincinnati, Ohio.’’ 
One of the best works, in all respects, is the “British 
Husbandry,” in 2 vols. octavo, published in London. 
Mr. Stephens’ “ Book of the Farm,” now issuing at 
Edinburgh, in numbers, promises to be very useful. 
But we can recommend as the best, most practical, and 
therefore best adapted work on agriculture, to any be¬ 
ginner, the series of “The Cultivator;” and these 
will also be found cheaper than any other. The vo¬ 
lumes qf the Cultivator, nine of which have been com¬ 
pleted, will be found to embrace the most full, minute, 
and comprehensive details in all the various departments 
of farming, and all the products of agriculture. As 
mere manuals for the beginner, the “ Farmer’s Com¬ 
panion,” by the late Judge Buel, or the two volumes on 
“ American Husbandry,” from the press of the Harpers, 
are compilations of value. 
SMALL STONES ON LAND. 
“Messrs. Editors— I find I differ from some of my 
farming friends with regard to the propriety of entirely 
freeing the land we cultivate from all the stones, large 
and small, to be found upon it. I hav^c an impression 
that too close a removal would be injurious rather than 
beneficial. Will you be so kind as (o give us your opin¬ 
ion on the subject. A Young Farmer.” 
Something we think would be depending on the na¬ 
ture of the soil, and something perhaps on the kind of 
stones most common in the soil. On a very light gi'a- 
velly or friable soil, it would be scarcely possible to se¬ 
parate the stones too closely; for greater compactness is 
what is wanted on such lands. On the contrary, if the 
soil is inclining to be cold and dense, a too close remo¬ 
val of the small stones would be decidedly injurious. 
These opinions do not rest on mere theory alone. Mr. 
Marshall, in his works on agriculture, mentions an in¬ 
stance in which a turnpike company, wishing to obtain a 
quantity of stone, purchased of a farmer, ail that could 
be found to the depth of 18 inches in a certain field. The 
field abounded in fine stone, and the farmer congratula¬ 
ted himself on the final removal of this formidable ob¬ 
struction to its culture. The whole earth, to the required 
depth, was passed through a sieve or riddle, which sepa¬ 
rated every thing larger than an ounce ball. The appear¬ 
ance of the field was greatly improved by the operation; 
but the farmer found that its capacity for cropping was 
