THE CULTIVATOR 
179 
Bommer of New-Y(^rk, who keeps his office at 75 Green- 
wich-street. Farmers living in the northei'n states who 
desire to buy the true method, are invited to send to my 
office or to my agents. The only agents established by 
me, and who are authorized to sell my patented me¬ 
thod, are Messrs. Em Barnett at Westville, Connecti¬ 
cut, general agent for the New-England states, and^ H. 
D. Robinson at New-Brunswick, New-Jersey, principal 
agent for the state of New-Jersey. 
All agents hereafter appointed will be announced in 
the newspapers of the respective counties and states. 
Principal agents who may appoint sub-agents, are bound 
to give notice to the agricultural public through the 
pi’ess. Whenever this announcement is not made, the 
farmer should be on his guard not to be duped by coun¬ 
terfeiters, (who have already arrived,) and who will 
not fail to offer them false methods for their good money. 
To facilitate the circulation of my method, a register 
is opened with each postmaster, where farmers, who 
have the intention to buy it, can subscribe. These post¬ 
masters will address every month a list of subscribers to 
my office, or to my principal agents in the respective 
states. The postmasters will receive, in the course of 
the next month, instructions for their guidance under 
the circumstances. 
Evei’y subscriber who, having paid the pidce, should 
not receive the method in due time, will please notify 
me of the delay, (at 75 Greenwich-street, N. Y. .) when 
it will be immediately attended to. 
Farmers, take notice that Mr, II. Hecrmance of Kin¬ 
der hook is not my agent. 
In order to prevent the frauds and to counteract the 
manseuvres of some rapacious individuals always ready 
to invade the rights of others, I will serve them up to 
the agricultural public, as they present themselves; and 
in this, I count upon the support of the press, who are 
also interested in denouncing to the public those who 
meditate injury to them. 
Finally, it should be known that all copies of the 
method for the northern and eastei-n states are signed 
and sealed by myself, and those of the southern and 
western states by Abbett & Co.; that any method embo¬ 
dying our instructions, which should be circulated under 
any other name, will be considered as false and counter¬ 
feit, and that those who make use of it will be prose¬ 
cuted according to law. 
Those who desire to buy the right for a state, or for 
one or more counties within my limits, can address me 
at my office, or my principal agents in the different 
states. 
All editors of newspapers who have more than 400 
farmer subscribers, by inserting the present article en¬ 
tire, and accompanying it by a small editorial article, 
shall have a right, with a copy of the method, to its 
fullest extent, with the privilege of ceding the right to 
any of his friends, if he should not himself be a farmer. 
To be entitled to the above privilege, he will address to 
my office the journal which contains the insertion in 
question, and the method will be immediately forward¬ 
ed. If the editor intend to cede his method to another 
person, he should inform me, post paid, and send me 
the name and residence of the person to whom he wishes 
to cede it. George Bommer. 
New.York, Sept. 13, 1843. 
SHEEP ON THE PRAIRIES. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I beg to oppose Mr. 
Jewett’s conjectures on the subject of ‘‘growing icool on 
the prairies,” by the results of a few years’ experience. 
I have been engaged in growing wool in a .‘mall way 
for twenty years, in the hilly and mountainous region 
of eastern New-York. There my sheep did well; here 
I think they do better. The quality of the wool is im¬ 
proved; the quantity is increased. 
I have found no evil resulting from Mr. Jewett’s 
great objection to our country, that it is ” generally 
level.’’ On the contrary, this feature of our region is 
favorable to a free circulation of air, sweeping away 
(if any) those annoying insects and dispersing the de¬ 
leterious miasma of which Mr. Jewett complains; thus 
fui’nishing a “ lodging ground” where the sheep can 
breathe the “ free and pure air,” without subjecting 
them to the extra labor of climbing the hilly eminence 
or mountain top for that purpose. 
Mr. Jewett’s second great objection is, “ that their 
winters are not so severe as with us.” I know nothing 
of Vermont winters, although I have heard of “ fearful 
storms ” there, but I have seen some fifty winters in the 
highlands of New-York; yet have I never known such 
general uniformity of the seasons, summer and winter, 
spring and fall, as I have experienced here, including 
the winter which Mr. Jewett's information tells him 
‘‘he\d. ont five months longer than usual.” Could Mr. 
Jewett see our millions of acres of unoccupied prairie, 
covered with luxuriant herbage, affording the best of 
pasture and hay, which is annually given to the flames, 
he would have no fears of “overstocking” for long 
years to come; when, however, that arrives, we too, I 
trust, shall be able to point to our fields redolent with 
the sweets of white clover. Nor have I experienced 
much loss from wolves—less than 3 per cent per annum. 
The large mountain wolf of the east is unknown here; the 
cat-like prairie wolf is a small, cowardly thief; singly,they 
rarely attack a flock of grown sheep. They are mainly 
troublesome in stealing lambs, and that risk is constantly 
lessening. As sheep increase, wolves disappear; they 
have no mountain fastnesses to which they can retreat. 
I have no experience with which to oppose Mr. Jew¬ 
ett’s second class of objections, viz: those growing out 
of the distempers that may prevail among our sheep. I 
can only say that I do not believe our flocks are in more 
danger of disease of any kind here than in Vermont or 
elsewhere. I know of no existing predisposing cause, 
either in the climate or the soil; nor can I perceive any 
reason why we may not as successfully resist its attacks, 
when found upon the plains of the west, as when raging 
among the hills of the east. 
In conclusion, I venture the remark, that had Brother 
Jewett done himself the justice to have first made the 
acquaintance of the “Great West;” had he witnessed 
our flocks cropping the rich aromatic herbage of our 
warm, dry, rolling prairies, or quietly ruminating under 
the umbrageous foliage of the old trees of our “ oak 
openings,” if he did not conclude to change the pastui-e 
of his own flocks, and himself become a “Sucker,” he 
would have returned convinced that Weybridge in Ver¬ 
mont was not the only place in the world where wool 
may be grown to advantage. 
Edward W. Brewster. 
Little Woods, Kane Co., III., Sept. 22, 1843. 
NEW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 
Report of the Committee on Plows. 
The committee on plows would respectfully <report, 
that they have attended to the duties assigned them, 
which, the Society are aware, were neither few nor 
small. We have the satisfaction, however, of acknow¬ 
ledging that we were furnished every facility for testing 
the traction of plows by the competitors, who, we are 
happy to say, manifested a very laudable zeal in render¬ 
ing us every assistance in our work; and, although la¬ 
boring under the strong excitement incident to a compe¬ 
tition for the highest prizes offered by the Society, and 
upon an article most important to the farmer, treated 
each other and the committee with a degree of urbanity 
highly creditable to this class of mechanics. We had 
the use of four dynamometers—one belonging to the 
Society; one upon the same construction, but a better 
instrument, furnished us by S. W. Chase of Amsterdam; 
one of a spiral construction, numbering as high as 1200 
pounds, but not sufficiently minute for our i)urpose, by 
G. D. Avery of Chenango county; and another, the 
most serviceable, invented by A. K. Cone, called the 
“Scale Beam Dynamometer.” Mr. Chase also kindly 
furnished us a windlass and small wheels, ropes, &c., 
and Mr. Avery, pulley-blocks, measures, &c.,which very 
much expedited the business before us, and for which 
we would tender them our thanks. 
On the morning of the 22d, we were met by a large 
number of those interested in the manufacture of plows, 
and proceeded to the trial with the dynamometer. Each 
plow was drawn by a windlass through a stiff sward, the 
distance of five rods, and required to cut a furrow twelve 
inches wide by six deep. 
The following plows were tried, and the average of 
their resistance taken, as indicated by the dynamometer: 
Names of Ploughs. Makers or Patentees. Pounds draft. 
American, M. H. Codding, Bristol, Ontario co.,. 330 
Cayuga County, P. D. Wright, Rochester,. 388 
Worcester County, E. Davis, Watertown, Jefferson co.,• 3S6 
Diamond, H. Delano, Mottsville, Onondaga co.,. 365 
Peekskill, T. Mercer, Peekskill,. 34S 
Williamsport, S W. Hall, Williamsport, Penn.,. 337 
Montgomery County, S. W. Chase, Amsterdam,. 355 
do (larger size,) do . 375 
Opposition, C. Seymour, Lockport,. 3!)7 
Washington, 1. S. Teft, Williamville, Erie co., . 381 
Oxford, Oxiord, Chenango co ,. 371 
Ontario County, R. C. Stiles & Co., East Bloomfield,.431 
Veto, I. Waite, Albion,.i.335 
Wyoming County, Hicks & Bailey, Perry, Wyoming co.,--- 383 
Oneida Chief, E. Wilson, Vernon, Oneida co., . 381 
Caledonia, P. Elyea, Caledonia, Livingston co.,. 345 
Middleport, I. Van Bronklen, Middleport, Niagara co.,---• 438 
Bitgle, (Mass.,) Ritggles, Nourse & Co.,. 415 
Genoa, T. D. Burrell, Geneva,. 397 
do (shell wheel,) T. D. Burrell,. 298 
so (Scotch shell wheel,) T. D. Burrell,... 325 
Locklin Improved, I. C. Fitch, Dansville, Livingston co.,-- 483 
Iron Beam, E. Richardson, Bushnell’s Basin,. 388 
Livingston County, H. Wiard, Avon,. 400 
We ought here to observe, that some of these plows 
were of a larger size than others, and their surface draft 
of course greater, as the Livingston County, Ontario 
County, and some others. Some of them were highly 
polished, while others were nearly as rough as they 
came from the molds. Some were provided with very 
sharp coulters, while others had merely a cutter upon 
the shin, which made a v’ery manifest difference. Many 
of them came unprovided with a gauge wheel, and the 
difference of draft was so great, with or without a wheel, 
that those who had not a wheel, boiTowed one before 
they would go through with a trial. Your committee 
think this point settled in the minds of everj’ one who 
saw this trial, that a wheel is an indispensable accomjia- 
niament to a good plow in sward land, or indeed in al¬ 
most any other. There was also a difference in the dy¬ 
namometer, as Mr. Chase’s, which was injured after the 
trial of four or five plows, indicated every ten juninds, 
while the scale beam, afterwards used, indicated only 
every thirty pounds. 
After we had gone through with a very thorough and 
laborious trial with the windlass and the dynamometer, 
we proceeded to try them with a strong pair of horses. 
Each competitor was allowed to hold his own plow un¬ 
til it run to suit him, and then it was held by one of the 
committee. We gave them a thorough trial in this 
way, and proceeded to compare their relative merits as 
to construction and workmanship, and heard explana- 
1 tions of their peculiar ypprits from their proprietors. 
Having thus obtained what information we could as 
to their traction, and compared their relative merits as 
to construction and durability, your committee came to 
the unanimous conclusion that we could not award pre¬ 
miums as published by the Society. We are not pre- 
pai-ed to say, neither do we believe any juilicious man 
would say, that either of these plows were so superior 
to the others as to entitle it to the large premium of $50. 
They were all superior plows, and the more we exa¬ 
mined them, the more we were convinced that such a 
collection was never seen before in this or any other 
land. 
We therefore proceeded to divide the highest premi¬ 
um among the largest sized plows, giving the “ Cale¬ 
donia,” P. Elyea of Caledonia,. $25 00 
“Wyoming,” Hicks & Bailey, Perry, Wyoming 
county,. 15 00 
“ Williamsport,” S. W. Hall,.. .. lO 00 
The remaining premiums were divided among plows 
of the second size, as follows: 
“ American,” M. D. & M. H. Codding, of Bris¬ 
tol, Ontario,. $16 00 
“Geneva,” T. D. Burrell of Geneva,. 12 00 
“Montgomery County,” S.W. Chase of Amster¬ 
dam,. 10 00 
“ Oneida Chief,” E. Wilson, Vernon, Oneida 
county,. 8 00 
“Veto,” I. Waite, Albion, Orleans,. 5 00 
We also recommend that diplomas be given to the 
“Iron Beam” and “Peekskill,” and volumes of the 
Transactions to the “Livingston County,” the “Cayuga 
County,” and “Diamond’’ plows. 
Your committee also witnessed with great satisfaction 
the trial of a plowing machine or gang of plows, con¬ 
structed by Thomas Wiard of Avon, and have no hesita¬ 
tion in recommending it as an article of much import¬ 
ance to the farmer. The facility and great rapidity with 
which it prepares fallow grounds, plows in wheat, co¬ 
vers peas and other spring grain requiring a deeper 
covering than the harrow gives, render it a very desi¬ 
rable article to the farmer. We had not only ocular de¬ 
monstration of its performances, but were shown very 
high commendations from some of the best farmers in 
Livingston county. We therefore recommend the 
awarding of a diploma to Thomas Wiard of Avon, for 
his gang of plows. 
Of sub-soil plows, only two were presented, both of 
which were thoi’oughly tested and highly approved by 
the committee. We believe the sub-soil plow worthy 
of a trial by our farmers, and an instrument which will 
do great service in heavy clay lands, and such as have 
impervious sub-soils. We feel that we could not do 
justice to either of these plows, by giving them the 
whole premium. We therefore have awarded to B. F. 
Smith of Syracuse, (Ruggles & Co., Mass.,) $12, consi¬ 
dering his plow superior in workmanship, and that it 
will do the best work in lighter clay soils. We award 
to S. McLean of Royalton, Niagara county, $8 for his 
sub-soil plow, the construction of which is very simple, 
is so cheap as to be within the reach of every farmer, 
and will work its way through the heaviest soils. 
In closing their report, your committee would beg 
leave to suggest that a suitable premium be offered for 
the best dynamometer. The instruments now in use are 
very imperfect, and no certain test of the power required 
in the draft of a plow. Such is the continually varying 
resistance given by the inequality of the earth’s sur¬ 
face, and the obstacles under it, that the index of the 
dynamometer revolves as rapidly as a weathercock in a 
storm. We want an instrument not so easily affected, or 
farther removed from continual fluctuations, which will 
note in single pounds the average power required in a 
given number of feet. Yankee ingenuity has evidently 
not been sufficiently employed in the construction of 
this instrument; and we are persuaded it needs but little 
encouragement from your Society, to stimulate it to the 
production of an instrument which will render the power 
required in the draft of a plow as easily determined as 
the power of a locomotive. 
All of which is respectfully submitted by your humble 
servants, 
Myron Adams, 
C. S. Button, 
L. B. Langworthy, 
R. Harmon, Jr., 
Rochester, Sept. 23, 1843. 
NEW METHOD OF FILLING ICE HOUSES. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —Croton water and pure 
ice is all the go in the city of New-York, these tempe¬ 
rance times, which induces me to recommend an easy 
and cheap method of manufacturing and filling a house 
with ice in a pure and solid state, in the best possible 
manner for preservation. 
This house or cellar designed for ice, must stand near 
a conductor of water; and the top of the house should 
be so constructed lhat it may be moved at pleasure, that 
the inner part may be as much as possible exposed to the 
weather. Insert a pipe stem into the conductor, that the 
water may spin through it at an elevation of seventy-five 
or eighty degrees into the air, in a direction so that in 
its fall it may enter the space where it is to remain dur¬ 
ing the season. This water being cooled by rising in 
the air, the force of the stream is broken in its fall, and 
if the weather be sufficiently cold, it will immediately 
congeal into one solid mass of ice quite pure, and in the 
best possible position for preservation. 
Weybridge, Vt., Sept. 29, 1843. S. W. Jewett. 
Committee. 
