THE CULTIVATOR. 
141 
STATE AGRICULTURAL CATTLE SHOW AND 
FAIR AT ROCHESTER. 
Before we issue another number of the Cultivator, 
this great anniversary holiday of the farmers of 
New-York will have passed; and we allude to it now 
for the purpose of calling the attention of our readers 
generally to the time of the meeting, the 20th and 
21st of September, and to state that from all we can 
learn from our friends in the various sections of the 
state, the Fair will be well attended, and the display 
such as the farmers of western New-York may well be 
proud of. As the Show is held in connection with the 
Mechanics’ Association of that part of the state, we can 
promise all who attend, such a proof of the American 
mechanics’ skill and ingenuity as has been rarely wit¬ 
nessed; and we are glad to say the contemplated ar¬ 
rangements are such that the whole may be seen without 
confusion, or danger of injury to the articles exhibited. 
There will be great numbers of beautiful cattle, horses, 
sheep, swine, &c., of both the improved and the native 
breeds upon the ground; by examining which, our farmers 
can satisfy themselves of the great superiority of the im- 
proved breeds, and the best domestic animals, over the 
common race of scrubs, such as in too many instances 
waste the time and eat out the substance of the farmer. 
Such opportunities of comparison are invaluable, and 
should be improved by all. Wheat, the berry of which 
is this year every where good, will, unless we are much 
deceived, be exhibited in samples proving that the 
farmers of the Genesee country have not yet lost their 
skill in its culture. Rochester is the very heart of one 
of the best fruit growing districts in the United States, 
of which we have no doubt the qualities and varieties 
of fruit exhibited will furnish ample evidence.^ The 
arrangements for the exhibition of agricultural imple¬ 
ments are of the best kind; and as it is clearly for the 
interest of the inventor or improver of all such that 
specimens should be on the ground, we may anticipate 
in this respect a show of great extent and interest. Our 
advices, too, warrant such an expectation. The facili¬ 
ties of approach to Rochester are so great, by canals, 
railroads ami the lake, that the conveyance of articles 
or animals for exhibition will occasion little inconve¬ 
nience, and we think our Rochester friends may safely 
calculate on a multitude of si)ectators. We trust the 
coming Cattle Show and Fair will exceed those that have 
preceded it; and that, as in them, no feelings will be 
awakened but those of increased devotion to the cause 
of agriculture, and new and still stronger proofs of the 
utility and advantages of such associations be aSbrded 
in the result. 
We learn by a letter from J. M. Sherwood, Esq., 
that most of the railroad companies between this city 
and Buffalo have consented to transport stock to the 
Fair free of expense, and there is no doubt that those 
companies not yet heanl from will be equally liberal. 
The Auhtrn and Rochester Railroad Co. will despatch 
an extra train from Auburn, and sell tickets for going 
and returning at half price; and we presume the same 
liberal course will be pursued by the railroad compa¬ 
nies west of Rochester. 
FARMING IN‘MARYLAND. 
We have been favored with a copy of Mr. Bowie’s 
Address before the Prince George's Ag. Society of Ma¬ 
ryland, at its Fair on the 3d of November last. It is 
one of the very best addresses of the season. The fol¬ 
lowing are extracts; 
Improvement of Worn out Lands.— The last 
3 mar I manured 30 acres at the rate of 21 cart loads to 
the acre. I experimented upon six acres; one I cow- 
penned; one I covered with tobacco stalks; the third I 
enriched from the stable; on the fourth I used barnyard 
manure; the fifth was provided for by my piggery, and 
on the sixth acre I sowed five bushels of fine salt. The 
result of my experiments was satisfactory as to all. I 
am not prepared at present to say which was the best, 
or which will be the most lasting. I am inclined to 
think the tobacco stalks are the best under all circum¬ 
stances. This field of 30 acres was not worth $300; it 
is now valued by discreet farmers at $900. This was 
done at v^ery little inconvenience to myself, the manure 
having been hauled out at such times when my crop 
required not my attention. I have rnentioned this to 
show how easily our worst lamls may be improved, and 
as an encouraging instance of the success of a slight 
attention to the improvement of land. 
Rotation of Crops in Maryland —In mj’- humble 
opinion, the ])roper system of culture to improve land, 
i.< to divide a farm into five fieUis, having one in to¬ 
bacco, one in corn, and one in grain, and two in pas¬ 
ture; that is, going on turf for tobacco,_ following that 
with corn, ami corn with smaller grain, and setting 
down to clover and timothy mixed, taking care in all 
wet, low spots to sow herd’s grass. Thus you have al¬ 
ways two pastures, and three after harvest. Stock 
should never run on young clover during a rainy spell, 
or when the land is very wet. All stock should be taken 
in August from the field to be worked the following 
year. The field should then be cleaned, and if foul, 
should be fallowed in the fall; but if clean sward, 
free from weeds, it ought to be turned up early in the 
spring; and by a deep plowing, and thereafter frequent 
harrowing, a fine crop of tobacco can be taken oflf with¬ 
out disturbing the lurf. 
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS THIS YEAR. 
From every part of our state we hear the note of pre¬ 
paration for the autumnal meetings of our Ag. Societies; 
and below we give the time of meeting of as many as 
have met our notice. It is a matter of gratification to 
us, to see the extension of a spirit that produces such re¬ 
sults, for it is an assurance, that having once broken in 
upon old usages, having seen and taken note of things 
that are good,—good animals, good implements, and 
good articles of home manufacture, they will no longer 
rest contented out of the career of improvement. Among 
the Societies intended to foster domestic industry and ren¬ 
der us as a nation truly independent, the American Insti¬ 
tute of New-York, has labored long and zealously. It is 
intended that the coming Fair of this Institution shall ex¬ 
ceed any thing that has preceded it; and as it disburses 
the amount paid to the city by the state, there is reason 
to believe that the Agricultural department of the Insti¬ 
tute, will better correspond with the wealth and fine 
farming of that and the neighboring counties, than form¬ 
erly. With all our County Societies, the watchword is 
onward, and we cannot doubt that the meetings^ of the 
coming months will give a decided and beneficial im¬ 
pulse to the great cause of Agriculture. 
State Fair at Rochester, Sept. 20th and 21st. 
American Institute, New-York, commences Oct. 10. 
Silk Convention, Oct. 12. Plowing match at Patterson, 
Oct. 16. Breeder's Convention, Oct. 17. Cattle Show, 
Oct. 18, 19. 
Cayuga Co., at Auburn, Oct. 11, 12. 
Chemung Co., at Elmira, Oct. 17, 18. 
Chautauque Co., at Fredonia, Sept. 29, 30. 
Cortland Co., at Cortland Village, Oct. 3. 
Columbia Co., at Hudson, Oct. lO. 
Dutchess Co., at Poughkeepsie, Oct. 4. Premiums are 
to be given for the best 5 bushels of Clover, and 15 of 
Timothy seed, “raised in the county.” 
Erie Co., at Buffalo, Oct. 11, 12. 
Genesee Co., at Batavia, Oct. 4, 5. 
Lewis Co., at Lowville, Oct. 11, 12. Address by C. 
Dayan, Esq. 
Orange Co., at Goshen, Oct. 4. 
Oneida Co., at Vernon, Oct. 4, 5. Address by B. P. 
Johnson, Esq. 
Onondaga Co., at Syracuse, Oct. 4, 5. 
Ontario Co., at Canandaigua, Oct. 17, 18. 
Rensselaer Co., at Lansingburgh, Sept. 27, 28. 
Tompkins Co., at Ithaca, Sept. 28, 29. A premium of 
$5,00, offered by Ezra Cornell, Esq., is to be given “for 
the best experiment in fattening hogs.” 
Ulster Co., at Kingston, Sept 20. 
Wayne Co., at Newark, Oct. 10, 11. In the premium 
list of this Society, we notice with pleasure that three 
premiums are offered “ for the best and most useful set 
of experiments on the manufacture and application of ma¬ 
nures.” Premiums are also offered “for the best con¬ 
ducted poultry establishment.” Two plowing matches 
are to be held—one for men, and one for boys. 
St. Louis Co. (Mo.) Oct. 24, 25. 
Union, (Ill.) at Ottawa, Sept. 27, 28. 
Philadelphia, (Pa.) at the Lamb Tavern, Oct. 4, 5. 
Windham county, (Ct.) at Brooklyn, Sept. 27. 
Hampshire, F. and H. at Northampton, Oct. 19. Ad¬ 
dress by Wm. Lincoln, Esq., of Worcester. 
Newcastle, (Del.) at Wilmington, Sept. 13, 14. Ad¬ 
dress by Dr- Wm. Darlington of Pa. 
ABORTION IN COWS. 
We give the following letter, received by Mr. Pren¬ 
tice of Mount Hope, from Prof. Grice, veterinary sur¬ 
geon, of New-York, on this subject. Believing that a 
change of pasture would prove beneficial, Mr. Prentice 
some time since sent a large portion of his beautiful 
herd of Durham cows to the north part of the State, 
whence we trust they will ere long return in a sound 
and healthy condition. 
New-York, June 27, 1843. 
Sir —I should have written to you before this, but 
absence from the city and a press of business have pre¬ 
vented. 
After much mature deliberation on the obscure cause 
of abortion which your cows have been subject to, I 
think I have arrived at a satisfactory conclusion as to 
the cause. In taking into consideration the luxuriant 
state of the soil caused by animal matters emploj^ed to 
effect that purp,ose, and knowing the decomposition 
which they undergo, also the new compounds which 
they form, I hesitate not to say that ergot of rye has 
located itself among the grasses; and as we know it has 
a specific action on the womb, causing an expulsion of 
its contents, it has fully confirmed my first diagnosis. I 
have availed myself of the knowledge of the first che¬ 
mists: they at first seemed at a loss; but when I sug¬ 
gested to them my views, they unanimously' agreed with 
me. Two opinions have been advanced respecting 
this substance: my own opinion is that it is a fungus 
which locates itself on the stems of different grasses. 
The ergot which is used for medicinal purposes is of a 
violet color, the inside white. The active principle, it 
seems to me, i>esrdes in its outer tunic; and as this may 
be washed off by the rain, in wet seasons it is not pro¬ 
ductive of so much mischief. 
In giving you my advice, the only plan I could at 
this moment suggest for the removal of the evil, would 
be tlic immediate change of pasture for the cows; also 
that the lands should be broken up for one season, so 
that the roots of the grass may decompose, and an en¬ 
tire change be effected in the vegetable process. 
THE SEASON, THE CROPS, &c. 
Extracts of Letters to the Editors of the Cultivator. 
Talbot CO . Md., July 31. —“ The crops of wheat on this 
shore are much injured by red rust.” M. G. 
Derby, Ct., July 31.—“We have in this region, for the 
past two months, suffered from the great drouth. Our 
hay crop, on upland meadows is not more than half a 
crop, as estimated by our farmers. Rye in this (own, in 
some pieces is good; while in others is hardly worth 
harvesting; owing, as is supposed by many, to the hard 
frost which we had the first of June, which froze 
it when in the bloom. Oats in this region are short 
stemmed, owing to the drouth, but the grain pretty well 
filled. Corn and potatoes more or less generally injured 
by the drouth. Yesterday and last night we have had a 
fine rain, which has been the only rain to wet the ground 
since the first of last June.” L. D. 
McConnellsville, O., July 29.—“Crops of wheat light; 
a poor prospect for corn, oats, potatoes, &c. &c. on ac¬ 
count of the extreme dry and hot weather.” W. H. 
Macon co. Ala. July 15.—“ This has been an extraordi¬ 
nary year for planters; a very cold and backward spring, 
some two or three very considerable falls of snow in 
March, with a great deal of rain. This entirely destroy¬ 
ed the first planting of corn, which had to be planted 
over again. The rains set in before planters cleaned out 
their crops, commencing about the 8th June, and they 
have had their hands full since. It rained constantly, and 
frequently in torrents, till about the 4th July. Nothing 
will save the planter but a late fall and good season from 
this forward, which may give them half crops of cotton. 
The corn crop is pretty fair. The grass and weed crop 
full to overflowing.” N. B. C. 
Holmes co. Miss. July 21.—“ I have the pleasure of send¬ 
ing on to you again, another $5 for six copies of the 
Cultivator. The amounts I send are small, but I will try 
and send them often. I am anxious for each planter to 
enjoy the benefit of the Cultivator, therefore I do not 
wait to obtain a large sum before sending on. Several 
of our planters are experimenting on Dr. N. B. Cloud’s 
system of raising or planting cotton, and I have no doubt, 
if they pursue to the letter, “ his plan,” they will suc¬ 
ceed well, at least better than they have heretofore done. 
All our planters cultivate (or rather try,) too much land, 
from sixteen to twenty-two acres to the hand; say ten of 
cotton and eight of corn. Our crops generally bid fail 
to make plentifully, and most of planters have heavy 
crops on hand.” A. M. M. 
Jjog Hall, Miss., July 23.—It is too early to give any 
sure opinion as to the present crop—the cotton crop es¬ 
pecially; it is as uncertain a crop as ever was planted in 
any countiy, and as the most critical part of the season 
has yet to come, the present prognostics should be re¬ 
ceived accordingly. Generally speaking, there is much 
complaint; many do really believe they cannot make an 
average, while othei-s think much less will be made. 
From what I have seen, I think it will be fair; should 
we have dry weather for two or three weeks, this will 
not be; because for six weeks to two months it has been 
reasonable, yea! wet; and if it turns off dry, the cotton 
must cast (or shed,) its forms greatly, there, being a very 
light early crop; this must cause a failure. My own 
prospects are excellent—cotton good, and two acres more 
to the hand than ever before. Mine has had advantages; 
it has never sufl’ei-ed by the grass, and is now lain by, 
while others have been and are even now in the grass. 
Crops of corn are good.” M. W. P. 
Adams co., Miss., Aug. 10.—“In (his part of the cotton 
country we have fine crops of corn; in the opinion of 
(he wiseacres, we have had too much rain for a good 
cotton crop; it is opening very slowly, and any predic¬ 
tion as to the extent of the crop, might be considered 
hazardops. I fi ar though, we shall make more than we 
shall sell well.” H. A. G. 
New-York, Aug. 1_“ I have just returned from a tour 
through Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The 
wheat crop, I think, is little more than half as heavy in 
the straw as last year; but the grain is of better quality, 
and probably about three-fourths as much in quantity. 
Corn, though unusually late, has a very healthy growing 
appearance, and promises a pretty fair crop. Oats I have 
never seen shorter. I ilon’t think that from here to the 
interior of Virginia, there will be more than half as ma¬ 
ny oats as last year; and the crop of hay, I think is about 
two-thirds as good as last j'ear.” L. F. 
Muskingum co. 0., Aug. 8.—“We are at this moment 
having a fine rain, after a most severe drouth, which has 
inevitably cut off corn and potatoes to less than half a 
crop. Wheat proved very light, not more than half a 
crop through the middle and southern regions of this 
state; but in the eastern and more northern portions it 
was much better.” S. H. 
Bunker Hill, III., July 24.—“Wheat crop in many parts 
a total failure, and what remains is blasted.” J. A. P. 
Chester co. Pa., Aug. 11.—“Wheat here in general is 
good; oats is short; hay crops are lighter than usual; 
corn is unpromising, owing to the severe frost on the 2d 
of June.” J■ H. 
Onmdasa co., Aug. 19.—“The drouth here is very 
severe, and will have a bad effect on the corn crops, un¬ 
less it rains speedily. Potatoes are past recovery. It is 
a little damp and cloudy to-day, and we hope for rain 
before all is overA^_W. G. 
Columbia Hort. Society.— We believe our good 
friends in Columbia county, can boast of the most efficient 
Horticultural Society in the state. Their general exhi¬ 
bition for this year will be held at Hudson, Sept. 21, 22, 
23, when over $100 will be distributed in prizes. 
