124 
THE CULTIVATOR 
wheat was the same that formerly did so much damage 
in this region and New-England; but it was neither the 
weevil of the south, or the grain worm of the west. 
It is improperly termed a weevil, all this class of in¬ 
sects being bugs; while the parent of this worm is a. fly, 
as is also that of the grain worm, which caused some 
alarm in the wheat districts of western New-York, a few 
years since. The grain worm of the west is also much 
larger than the worm now under notice, so that it is 
clearly established that at least three kinds of worms are 
to be found in wheat; that produced by the weevil, and 
the two from the fly. We may recur to this subject 
again. 
Since writing the foregoing, we have had a conversa¬ 
tion with a gentleman thoroughly versed in agricultural 
matters, and a resident of Rensselaer county. He as¬ 
sures us that he has been paying much attention to the 
wheat worm since its appearance the present season, and 
finds it only in those fields that were sown late ; while 
those sown early, or in August, are, as far as he has ob¬ 
served, wholly exempt. Should further experiment ve¬ 
rify this, it would be an important fact. As late sown 
spring wheat has been found to escape the worm, and 
early sown winter wheat, it is fair to infer that the pe¬ 
riod in which the parent fly is active, is very limited, 
and that the wheat must be in a certain stage to be lia¬ 
ble to its attack. We know of but one very serious ob¬ 
jection to the practice of sowing winter wheat as eaily 
as August: in those districts where the Hessian fly is 
found, such wheat would hardly escape a fall attack, and 
in that case, would surely be destroyed by the spring 
progeny of the fly. We trust, however, that this reap¬ 
pearance of the grain worm will be but temporary, and 
its disappearance soon be final. 
AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF THE STATE. 
We are gratified in being able to give place to the 
following announcement by Prof. Emmons, that he is at 
present engaged in an agricultural survey of the State; 
and we ask the attention of agriculturists and land own¬ 
ers to its contents; as from the brief time allotted him 
for his labors, a cordial co-operation is requisite to pro¬ 
duce the results desired, and which we have a right to 
expect from such a survey. The great work now in 
progress on the geology and natural history of New- 
York, would hardly have been complete without (he 
survey now committed to Dr. Emmons. Such surveys, 
when properly performed, have always been considered 
as the most valuable of documents, alike interesting to 
the farmer and important to the political economist and 
statesman. They disclose the true source of national 
prosperity; they teach us the peculiar character and 
qualities of soils; they inform us of the system of cul¬ 
ture and the crops best adapted to any particular loca¬ 
tion; and they furnish the means of enabling the man 
who wishes to purchase lands, to do so understandingly. 
We hope the fact of the survey being in progress will 
at once be made known; and the editors of newspapers 
will confer a favor on their readers, by giving the notice 
a place in their columns. 
‘'To Agriculturists. —Dr. Emmons, who has here¬ 
tofore been engaged in the geological survey of New- 
York, is now employed by his Excellency the Governor, 
under the act of last winter, in making an agricultural 
survey. He proposes, if possible, visiting each county 
before the close of the season, for the purpose of mak¬ 
ing such observations in this department of the survey 
as shall serve to promote the great object of agriculture. 
The collection of soils forms a part of his duties. Ob¬ 
servations on drainage; the influence of slope and ex¬ 
posure on late and early vegetation; the extent of drift; 
the distribution of the mineral manures, as peat, marl, 
limestone, &c., and the extent of the different agricul¬ 
tural divisions or regions, are prominent objects of the 
survey. To assist in this work, farmers are respectfully 
solicited to collect specimens of soil, and transmit to 
Albany, by private conveyance, if possible, for the col¬ 
lection now in progress. Let the specimens thus trans¬ 
mitted, be accompanied with a description of the rock, 
subsoil, slope, mode of cultivation, &c. &c. and such 
remarks as are essential to a correct knowledge of their 
true nature and condition. Agricultural statistics in all 
the departments of husbandry are respectfully requested, 
and a communication of facts which may be deemed 
important to the promotion of husbandry in New-York; 
also the collection and transmission of those insects 
which are injurious to vegetation. The soils, when it 
is important, will receive a chemical examination, as 
soon as possible after the field work is completed. 
“ A co-operation in this work is highly important, in 
consequence of the limited time which has been assign¬ 
ed for it.” 
To give a fair specimen of soil, it should be derived 
from different parts of the same field, well mingled, and 
then a quantity selected for transmission. If possible, it 
should be virgin soil, or that which has never been ma¬ 
nured. We hope the important point of elevation will 
not be overlooked in the survey, as we are confident few 
things have a more important bearing on agriculture 
than that. 
The New England Farmer. —With the month of 
July this paper entered upon its 22d vol. It is edited by 
the Rev. Allen Putnam, a thorough practical as well 
as scientific farmer, with a taste and judgment certainly 
not excelled by any of our agricultural journals. Pub- 
Ushed weekly, 8 pages quarto, at $2,Q0 a year. 
NOTICES OF NEW WORKS, &c. 
Prof. Johnston’s Lectures. —D. K. Minor, New- 
York, has just issued the third Part of “ Lectures on the 
Applications of Chemistry and Geology to Agriculture, 
by Prof. Jas. F. W. Johnston,” in a neat 12 mo. of 182 
pages. This part consists of five lectures,—I. The Qua¬ 
lities of the Soil may be changed by Art, embracing the 
connection between the kind of soil and the kind of 
plants grown upon it—draining and its effects—plowing 
and subsoiling—deep plowing and trenching—the im¬ 
provement of the soil by mixing, &c—II. Improvement 
of the Soil by Chemical Means, treating of saline ma¬ 
nures, their action and effects. III. Of the use of Lime as 
Manure, its composition, changes, application, action 
and effects.—IV. Of Organic Manures, treating of the 
application and effects of green and dry vegetable sub¬ 
stances_V. Of Animal Manures, such as flesh, blood, 
wool, hair, horn, bones, fish, whale blubber, oil, animal 
excretions, &c. &c. Mr. Minor has performed a most 
valuable service for our farmere in giving them this ex¬ 
cellent work in a neat form, and at a price which can 
prevent no one from procuring it—31 cents. It should 
be in the hands of every farmer who has any desire' to 
understand those operations by which he may sustain and 
increase the fertility of his lands. We shall recur to it 
again soon. 
Man’s Artificial Institutions of Agriculture, 
TESTED BY GoD’S INSTITUTIONS OF AGRICULTURE- 
We find on our table an 18 mo. volume with the above 
title, from the pen of John D. Wilkins of Louisiana, 
and the press of G. Vale, New-York. Mingled with 
much irrelevant matter, are found some very good re¬ 
marks on the practice of agriculture, and some theoretical 
fallacies which time and further observation will enable 
the writer to correct. His notions on the subject of clo¬ 
ver are in our opinion eminently just. He contends that 
it should be matured and partially dry before it is plowed 
under for manure, and this agrees with our own experi¬ 
ence. This plant too, he places at the head of all others 
as an agent for fertilizing the soil; and yet it is but a 
few days since we heard a very respectable farmer de¬ 
nouncing clover as one of the greatest curses of the 
country, and one that did more damage than half a dozen 
of our worst weeds combined. Mr. Wilkins is right in 
strenuously recommending deep plowing. It lessens the 
danger of drouth; it gives a greater range for the roots 
of plants, and it makes a deeper and more fertile soil. 
In pointing out some of the instances in which we have 
deviated from the practice of nature, he says:—“If we 
would, with the same care, return every thing to our 
fields, as does nature, we should never wear them out, 
no more than in natural agriculture;” This truth should 
be impressed on the mind of every farmer, to return in 
some form of manure, as much as is taken from the soil; 
and unless this is done, land is growing poorer as surely 
as that when two is taken from five, only three remain. 
Journal of Agriculture. —The Quarterly Journal 
of Agriculture, published at Edinburgh, under the auspi¬ 
ces of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, 
completed its 13th vol. in April last. With the July no., 
which has just reached us, a new series has been com¬ 
menced under the title of “ The Journal of Agriculture, 
and the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural So¬ 
ciety of Scotland.’^ It is to be published quartei-ly in nos. 
varying from 160 to 200 pages, at 3 shillings, making 
the cost of it about $3,00 a year. It is a most valuable 
work, and we should be glad to see it, together with the 
‘' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England,’’ 
which is hereafter to be published in semi-annual parts, 
varying in price from $1,50 to $2,00 per part, more fre¬ 
quently on the tables and in the libraries of our wealthy 
farmers. 
The Farmer’s Herald. —^We have before us the first 
numbers of an agricultural publication, under the above 
title, issued monthly, in an octavo form of 16 pages, at 
Chester, and intended for the English farmer. Hitherto 
the price of the English Ag. Journals has been so high 
that the common farmer had no access to them; but the 
success of cheap agricultural publications in this country 
has been so great, and their utility so manifest, that the 
present work has been issued to supply a want so injuri¬ 
ously felt. The numbers before us are well filled with 
useful matter, and will doubtless exercise a most benefi¬ 
cial influence wherever they shall circulate. The price 
about 75 cents per annum. This must be considered a low 
rate, when it is remembered that it is a stamped sheet, 
and the duty is 25 cents a year. 
SiLLiMAN’s Journal. —The July no. of this work, 
comes to us laden with rich contributions to the science and 
arts of our country. Among its contents, are papers on 
the Nomenclature of Zoology, by A. A. Gould, M. D—on 
the Tides of the North American Lakes, by Lieut. Rug- 
gles of the U. S. Army—on the Influence of Pressure on 
the maximum density of liquids, by Prof. L. C. Beck — 
on the Ice Mountains of Virginia, by C. B. Hayden— 
Proceedings of the Fourth Session of the Association of 
American Geologists and Naturalists, held in this city in 
April last, &c. &c. We regret to learn that by the de¬ 
pression of the times, and the failure of agents, this valu¬ 
able work is placed in a precarious situation, and we 
heartily unite in the wish of the Editors, that the friends 
of science would exert themselves to increase its circula¬ 
tion. 
North American Review. —The July no. of this 
long established work is a capital one, proving that the 
late transfer of its editorial responsibility, will be attend¬ 
ed with no loss to its readers. The leading article is a 
candid and well written paper on the life and character 
of Thomas Paine. The one that follows, on the Fishe¬ 
ries, is a most instructive one, and will be read with in¬ 
terest. There are also reviews of Stephen’s Yucatan; 
Northern lakes and Southern invalids; Miss Bremer’s 
novels; the School and the Schoolmaster, the capital 
work recently published, by Prof. Potter and Mr. Emer¬ 
son; the Nestorian Christians; Classical Studies; the 
Mutiny of the Somers, and an ample list of critical noti¬ 
ces. D. H. Williams, 6 Water street, Boston, publisher. 
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. 
Mr. Colman. —^We are gratified in being able to give 
our readers a letter received from this gentleman by the 
last steamer. It will be seen that he enters upon the 
objects of his tour under the most favorable auspices, 
and we have reason to believe that every facility will 
be afforded him, necessary to enable him to make his 
proposed publication more valuable to American farmers 
than any work hitherto published on the subject of Bri¬ 
tish husbandry. We hope he will bear in mind the im¬ 
patience with which it is awaited, and favor us with his 
first part at the earliest period possible. He must ne¬ 
cessarily, however, occupy many months in his exami¬ 
nations and in the collection and arrangement of his 
materials, before he will be prepared to commence 
writing his survey; and we can hardly expect the pub¬ 
lication of the first part before some time in the ensuing 
winter. In the mean time, we shall be happy to add 
the names of any of our friends to his subscription 
list. 
At the meeting of the Council of the Royal Ag. So¬ 
ciety, on the 21st June, as we learn from our London 
papers, Mr. Colman was present, and presented the So¬ 
ciety with a model of Atwater’s Steam Generator—sam¬ 
ples of sugar made from cornstalks—several specimens of 
flax, prepared by steam, with a view to its being spun 
on common cotton machinery, and a specimen of pe¬ 
rennial flax, from Mr. T. J. Walker, Eckford, Mich.— 
also various specimens of silk and cotton; upon which, 
“Mr. Pendarves, M. P., moved a vote of thanks to 
Mr. Colman for the interesting specimens and details 
he had brought under the notice of the Council; and 
having dwelt on the advantages the Society ivoukl de¬ 
rive from the information Mr. Colman, as one of 
their honorary members, would from time to time lay 
before them during his present visit to England, he 
would, he trusted, be enabled, after his agricultural tour 
through the kingdom, and especially after his personal 
attendance and inspection at the ensuing Derby meeting, 
to carry back to America a favorable repoi't of the agri¬ 
cultural improvements of the old country.” The chair¬ 
man, Lord Portman, was quite sure that the proposition 
required no seconding; and the motion being put, the 
vote of thanks was carried unanimously. 
Mr. Colman attended the meeting of the West Sussex 
Ag. Association on the 16th June, and was introduced 
by the Duke of Richmond, who said:—“ I beg to pro¬ 
pose the health of a gentleman from the United States. 
I have much pleasure in introducing him to the farmers 
of Sussex as one who W'as engaged in the inquii-y into 
the agricultural affairs of America. I have seen the 
report of that inquiry, and know that no one could have 
written such a work on the subject, unless he had been 
well aware that agriculture was of the first importance 
in all countries. I had the pleasure of introducing him 
as an honorary member of the Royal Agricultural So¬ 
ciety ; and 1 now introduce Mr. Colman, who sits by 
Mr. Dickens, not as a stranger, but as a descendant of 
those who were one with us, and as a brother citizen. 
The disputes with America have been happily settled, 
and let us hope that we may long remain in amicable 
relations with the United States. I ask you to drink the 
health of Mr. Colman, with three times three; and then 
show your response to the sentiments which I have ut¬ 
tered, and may our only rivalry with them be, w'ho can 
produce the best men and the best farmers.” (Loud 
cheers.) 
Mr. Colman, on rising to return thanks, was loudly 
cheered; and after a brief and pertinent response, which 
was loudly applauded, gave—“ Success to the beneficent 
landlord, and success to the honest and industrious la¬ 
borer.” __ 
LETTER FROM MR. COLMAN. 
Jjondon, 3d July, 1843, 
Luther Tucker, Esq.: 
Dear Sir—I intended sooner to have had this pleasure; 
but life in London consumes one’s time very much as a 
North River steamer consumes the fuel; and at the close 
of the day or the week, you can about as well say what 
has become of it. Such a rushing torrent of human 
life as the great avenues in this city present—and really, 
speaking of great avenues, one street seems very much 
like another—it is hardly possible to realize but from 
actual observation. The Strand, Holborn, Piccadilly, 
Regent-street, "Westminster bridge, London bridge, &c. 
&c with their coaches and carts, and barrows and 
omnibusses, and horses and dogs, and very often droves 
of sheep and oxen, and people of all nations and cos¬ 
tumes, in silks and tatters, in elegance and squalidness, 
some with clothes on of course, and some I had al¬ 
most said without any, equally matter of course, I 
iud“’e. with them; some running, some creeping, some 
talldng, some singing, some crying, some reading, 
some musing present, indeed, from the top of an 
bus, where you can take in the whole line, one of the 
most striking and curious scenes imaginable, and infl- 
nitely amusing and instructive. It resembles nothing so 
