CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. 
The Weevil.— Inquiries. 
Eds. Rural :—Can you, or some of your 
numerous correspondents, who are posted 
up in the matter, give us some information 
respecting the weevil, which seems about to 
destroy our wheat crop in this section I 
for one would bo glad to havo the following 
queries answered, and I presume your read¬ 
ers hereabouts feel an equal interest in the 
subject: 
First .—To what extent is the weevil a mi¬ 
gratory insect, and how long docs it remain 
in one locality ? Will starving it drive it 
away sooner than it would otherwise leaver 
Second —Is there any particular variety of 
wheat more exempt from its ravages than 
another ? Third —Does it work equally on 
high and low land, on gravelly and mucky 
soil ? 
My reasons for asking an answer to 
these queries, from some intelligent source, 
is the almost entire ignorance on this sub¬ 
ject, that seems to prevail among our best 
farmers. A moro thorough knowledge of 
the habits of this ravager, may affect the 
policy which will bo pursued by our farmers 
for two or three years to come. We may 
have to discontinue our wheat crop entirely. 
If so, tho sooner wo are made acquainted 
with the facts the better. 
I have noticed but few pieces of wheat in 
this town but what are more or less affected 
with the weevil. Some are almost entirely 
destroyed — others affected in the lower 
spots, where tho wheat was later in matur¬ 
ing. Tho Mediterranean variety seems less 
affected than any other, probably owing to 
its early ripening, and yet I can go into any 
piece of Mediterranaen wheat I havo yet 
seen, and select heads that aro entirely de¬ 
stroyed. I havo no doubt but such informa¬ 
tion as you havo, will be gratefully receiv¬ 
ed by your readers.— II. H. S., Henrietta. 
Remarks. —Wo shall bo glad to receive 
answers to tho above, from those who are 
well posted on the subject. Farmers resid¬ 
ing in localities where the weevil has proved 
destructive in former years, can perhaps 
respond definitely. 
Premium for Thorough-bred Poultry. 
The undersigned proposes to bo one of the 
number of five (or more,) to pay $20 each 
to make up a fund for a Premium to bo 
awarded to any person of this State, who 
shall exhibit 5 pairs of tho best cliickins of 
the 5 varieties—Cochin Chinas, Chittagongs, 
Shanghaes, Brama Pootras, Malays or Dor¬ 
kings—according to tho following rules. 
1 st. The 5 pairs aro to bo bred by tho ex¬ 
hibitor. 2d. They must be of one breed.— 
3 d. They must bo over 4 and under 8 
months old. 4th. Adjudged of with refer¬ 
ence to unimormity, figure, weight and 
beauty. 
The exhibition shall take place on the 
last day of tho Stato Fair and at the same 
place. Tho committee shall be selected as 
follows:—Each exhibitor may namo two 
men, and their names bo put in a hat; the 
first half drawn out are to be the adjudging 
committee to award the premium. Per¬ 
sons desiring to compete for this premium 
may address tho subscriber. 
As soon as tho requisite number of names 
are received each competitor will bo noti¬ 
fied, that he may prepare for tho exhibition. 
Each competitor must deposit $20 in the 
hands of tho Treasurer of the State Agri¬ 
cultural Society on tho first day of the 
State Fair.—M. Van Deusen Phelps, Onta¬ 
rio Co., JV. Y. 
P. S. I propose to bo one of five or more 
to pay $50, each, to show 10 pairs under the 
same rules and regulations as above, on the 
first Monday after the closing of tho State 
Fair, in tho city of New York. This proposi¬ 
tion extends to any State in the Union.— 
M. V. D. _ 
Wool in St. Lawrence Co. 
Eds. Rural :—Mr. Chester Dyke of De- 
puvster in this county sheared from his flock 
of 224 sheep, 908 pounds of wool. Of the 
flock twelve were bucks, forty-five wethers, 
fifty yearlings, and one hundred and seven¬ 
teen ewes. 
He selected twelve from which was shear¬ 
ed one hundred and eight pounds, an aver¬ 
age of nine pounds to the head. F rom one 
yearling Merino ewe tho clip was five 
pounds and two ounces, and tho ewe after 
shearing weighed but thirty-nine pounds. 
Tho wool was all well washed and clean, 
and was sold to Mr. Mintiiorl of Jefferson 
Co., for fifty-one cents per pound. Ten of 
the twelve sheep which yielded tho largest 
fleeces were wintered together and fed on 
hay only. 
Your excellent publications tho Rural, 
and Wool Grower and Stock Register, 
are awakening a spirit of enterpiso and em¬ 
ulation among the farmers in this section, 
and seemto be just what we need. I think 
you will yet hear moro from St. Lawrence. 
—A. Tuttle, Depuyster, July, 1853. 
SEYMOUR’S PATENT GRAIN DRILL. 
Now that harvest is nearly ended, farm- j lv repeat that it is a very complete and su¬ 
ers will soon make preparation for fall seed- J perior machine. Mr. Seymour was one of 
ing. And as a good Drill is one of the i the first, if not tho very first in Western 
great conveniences if not actual necessities, ; New York, whose attention was given to tho 
of the grain grower, many farmers will nat- | invention and manuiacturo ot Sowing Ma- 
urally be on the lookout for the right article. ! chines and Drills, and his efforts hav e thus 
It is not our province to say whose patent 
is the best, and would not perhaps be even 
if we were more conversant with the con¬ 
struction and operation of the several ma¬ 
chines now before the public. Farmers will 
of course examine and decide for them¬ 
selves— taking price, adaptability, facilty, 
&c., into consideration. Without dispar¬ 
agement to other drills, however, wo may 
safely mention tho one above represented, 
which we believe to be one of the very best 
yet introduced. We have heretofore vol¬ 
untarily commended Seymours Drill to the 
attention of farmers, and can conscientious- 
far redounded moro to tho benefit of tho 
public than himself. 
For particulars relative to peculiarities 
and advantages of this Drill, seo advertise¬ 
ment in this paper. 
Seymour’s Broadcast Sowing Machine, is 
also worthy the attention of grain-growing 
farmers. It is a very simple and complete 
article—adapted to sowing the various seeds, 
grains, &c., from peas to grass seed; also, 
plaster, lime, and other fertilizers. The 
large size sows ten feet wide, we believe, but 
the manufacturer furnishes narrower ma¬ 
chines when preferred. 
SEYMOUR’S BROADCAST SOWING MACHINE. 
AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 
State Fairs,—1853. 
As tho period for holding tho Annual 
Exhibitions of tho several State Agricul¬ 
tural Societies is approaching, we give below 
a list of the State and Provincial Fairs for 
the Autumn of 1S53, so far as ascertained: 
_ Sept. 
New York, at Saratoga 
Ohio, Dayton. 
Michigan, Detroit. “ 
Vermont, Montpelier. “ 
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. “ 
Ken tuck} 7 , Lexington. “ 
New Hampshire.Oct 
Maryland. “ 
Illinois, Springfield. “ 
Indiana, Lafayette. “ 
Wisconsin, Watertown... “ 
Virginia, Richmond.Nov. 
Lower Canada,Montreal.. Sept. 
Upper Canada. Oct. 
Southern Central Society, 
Augusta, Georgia.... “ 
20. 21, 22, 23 
20, 21, 22, 23 
28. 29, 30 
13, 14, 15 
27, 28, 29 
13,14, 15. 16, 17 
5, 6, 7, 
25, 26, 27, 28 
11, 12, 13, 14 
12, 13. 14 
4, 5, 6, 7 
1,2, 3.4 
to bring forward tho crops, which promise 
an abundant harvest. The Rural comes to 
hand regularly and is highly prized. It is 
just such reading as is most desired by the 
farmers of Iowa. As considerable attention 
is given to stock growing and to sheep, there 
will be some demand for the Wool Grower 
and Stock Register, which is estimated a 
most valuable publication. You may expect 
to hear from me more at length hereafter. 
—A. C. Bowen, Bowens Prairie, Iowa, 
July, 1853. 
unlike that of tho other Reapers, but an 
arm upon an upright on the side of tho 
platform, is so operated by geer work, as to 
sweep round and make an intelligent look¬ 
ing grab at tho straw upon the platform, 
and raking it against a sort of shovel-apron, 
the Avholo swings around like a crane, and 
opening again at just tho right time, de¬ 
posits the gavel alongside, in good order for 
binding. 
The Mowers, on both days, were made to 
perform in very heavy grass, among which 
were occasional stones and stumps. 
Ketchum’s Machine, driven by Mr. Cha¬ 
pin. under the eye of Mr. Ketchum him¬ 
self, led off, and cut its double swath, and 
all its other swaths without let or hindrance, 
save when it rooted up a boulder or run its 
fingers into a stump, then it had only to 
back off and start anew. 
Castle’s Mower cuts by two knives vibrat¬ 
ing upon each other, with a clipping shear 
movement, and works admirably while it is 
in operation, but in the burden through 
which it was obliged to work its way, was 
subject to many delays. Tho machine seems 
to lack appetite. 
Manny’s Mower, is the Reaper without its 
platform, and in grass works admirably, the 
cutting is well done in all situations, and tho 
only objection wo should offer, is in the 
length of its coupling, which prevents get¬ 
ting about handily, especially among logs 
and stumps. 
Atkins’ Machine is not easily converted 
into a good Mower. It can possibly be made 
to do tolerable work, but not much is claim¬ 
ed for it in this department. 
Hussey’s Mower, from the shop of Min- 
turn, Allen & Co., of Urbana, cut its allot¬ 
ment very satisfactorily. Mr. Allen put the 
Machine in order, and then it icas in order, 
as any one might expect, w r ho knows those 
thorough-going mechanics. 
Tho great premium Reapers of former 
years did not seem disposed to risk their 
laurels in this trial : McCormick, tho world 
famous; Donsmoro, who has the great Ohio 
Medal for last year; Burrall, the successful 
competitor at tho Geneva trial, had no rep¬ 
resentatives in this. A large and interested 
concourse of spectators were in attendance, 
and thei'e was much bargaining for favorite 
machines. Among the outsiders there was 
scarcely any division of opinion upon tho 
relative merits of the Mowers. In regard 
to the Reapers there was more diversity, 
some good mechanics holding to the feasi¬ 
bility of Self-Rakers, others reading them 
out of the field as impracticable; while 
nearly all concurred in the opinion that 
there is yet great room for improvement in 
this particular. 
[The Ohio Farmer, in closing an account 
of tho above Trial, says :—“ The premium 
of a beautiful gold medal, w r orth $50, was 
awarded to Seymour & Morgan’s New 
York Reaper. Tho award was unanimous. 
No second premium was given, the com¬ 
mittee being divided botween Hussey's and 
Palmer & Williams’ Reapers.”] 
except under continued dry weather, consti¬ 
tutes a drawback to its value for this pur¬ 
pose. Tho best mode is to cut it with a 
cradle when in blossom, let it dry a day or 
two in swath, then tio it in small bundles, 
(the band near the top,) and set them to¬ 
gether in small shocks, which may stand till 
so much dried that they may be put in the 
barn without the liability of moulding. 
The common English flat turnip will suc¬ 
ceed in this section, if tho seed is sown pre¬ 
vious to the 10 th of August. It grows with 
great rapidity, and its bulk is chiefly made 
after the extremo heat of summer is past, 
or during tho month of September and fore 
part of October. From 500 to 1,000 bush¬ 
els maybe obtained to an acre, according to 
tho state of the land, the season and tho 
course of cultivation—the cost frequently 
not over four to six cents a bushel. It is 
not a long keeping root, but may be used 
with advantage up to tho 1 st of January.— 
A bushel of turnips a day, with cut straw, 
will keep cattle nearly as well as the usual 
quantity of good hay, and the same articles 
are proportionately as good (or better) for 
sheep. Bog-meadow hay, or salt hay, can be 
used instead of straw. 
Common wood ashes, and pearl ashes, are 
good manure for turnips, particularly on 
light soils, which are bi3t for this crop.— 
Superphosphate of lime, especially in tho 
form of bones, has in many instances pro¬ 
duced excellent results. We would recom¬ 
mend a trial of this article, and also of gua¬ 
no, by those who can conveniently obtain it 
—being sure, always, that the trial shall be 
such as to show as far as possible, the actual 
value of the manure. 
o, 6, 7 
17, 18, 19, 20 
The Hay Crop. 
We observe complaint in many of tho 
New England papers that tho drouth has 
severely effected the hay crop. In Maine 
tho drouth has been so protracted as to 
blast tho prospect which was thought to ex¬ 
ist of a fair crop of hay in that State. It is 
now believed tho crop will not average half 
the usual amount. Other crops, especially 
spring grains, havo suffered very much.— 
The Worcester (Mass.) Spy says :—“ Up to 
early June tho grass did finely, but a month 
of dry weather subsequently greatly injured 
the prospect—so much so that in this sec¬ 
tion the crop is hardly better than that of 
last year. There is tho further disadvan¬ 
tage, that last year at this time there was 
very much moro hay that had been winterd 
over than there now is.” 
In this Stato the crop will be better than 
last year, though not as heavy as many far¬ 
mers had supposed, tho cold wet weather 
having injured it very much. It is matter 
of surprise that farmers do not raise more 
carrots, beets and turnips as winter food for 
cattle, by which means they could be better 
wintered and less loss from high prices oc¬ 
cur by the partial failure of tho annual hay 
crop. See article an another column, en¬ 
titled “ Substitutes for Hay.” 
Agriculture in Iowa. 
Eds. Rural :—An Agricultural Society 
has been formed in Jones County, and wo 
hope to havo a fair in September. This 
county is making great improvements this 
year. A spirit of progression pervades tho 
enterprising settlers in this western country. 
Though west of the Mississippi, we aro not 
entirely destitute of the privileges and luxu¬ 
ries which tho wise men of tho east so much 
prizo. Schools are organized, churches 
built, and every thing done to render a resi¬ 
dence here desirable. Land is settling very 
fast, and proves to be of superior quality. 
Tho season thus far has been very healthy. 
Labor of all kinds is well rewarded, and we 
are in need of artisans and mechanics. The 
weather is very fine, with just enough rain 
Trial of Reapers and Mowers. 
A Trial of Reapers and Mowers, under 
the supervision of the Ohio State Board of 
Agriculture, took place at Wooster, on the 
27, 28, 29, 30 j Gch and 7th of this month. -The official re- 
r ' r ' 7 port of tho Judges is to bo announced at the 
next Stato Fair. The last number of the 
Ohio Cultivator contains an account of the 
Trial, tho substanco of which we annex : 
The ground was surveyed in lots of one 
acre each, and drawn by the several compet¬ 
itors, who proceeded to their work in suc¬ 
cession. under the inspection of the Judges. 
The following are tho several machines, and 
their manufacturers, which were entered for 
competition: 
REAPERS. 
No. 1. Palmer & Williams’, Self-Rake 
—Brockport, New York. 
No. 2. Hussey’s, Hand-Rake—Ball and 
Aultman, Canton, Ohio. 
No. 3. J. II. Manny’s, Hand-Rake—Ball 
& Parsons, Iloosick Falls, N. Y. 
No. 4. Seymour & Morgan’s, Hand-Rake 
—Warder & Brokaw, Springfield, O. 
No. 5. Atkins’, Self-Rake—J. S. Wright, 
Chicago, Ill. 
MOWERS. 
No. 1. Ivetciium’s —Howard & Co., Buf¬ 
falo, N. Y. 
No. 2 S. P. Castle’s— Wilcox & Grymo, 
Urbana, Ohio. 
No. 3. J. II. Manny’s —Ball & Parsons, 
I-Ioosick Falls, N. Y. 
No. 4. Atkins’ —J. S. Wright, Chicago, 
Illinois. 
No. 5. Hussey’s —Minturn, Allen & Co., 
Urbana, Ohio. 
Tiie Reapers. —No. 1 was superintended 
by the Patentees; the team was driven by 
Mr. Palmer, in person. Tho machine is 
compact and well made; the platform is a 
quadrant, which is swept by a rake, operat¬ 
ed by a pivot in tho angle, delivering tho 
gavel upon tho right side. Tho cutting of 
this Reaper is excellent, and in straight 
grain the gavels are laid fair. 
No. 2, sustained its reputation, of boing a 
reliable Machine, going through with its acre 
without accident or delay ; it is not liable to 
got out of order. 
No. 3, was driven by Mr. Manny, and su¬ 
perintended by Mr. Ball. Tho cutting was 
fair, but owing to tho bank or inclined plane 
upon the platform, the gavels aro badly de¬ 
livered. The Raker stands behind the plat¬ 
form facing the advance, and pitches off tho 
straw to tho right. The Machine was well 
made—the best wo have ever seen of this 
patent. 
No. 4, is the most compact of all tho reel 
Machines ; the Raker faces as in No. 3, but 
pitches to tho left; with a tolerable stand 
of grain tho gavels go off in good shape. 
No. 5, is a now Machine, and a great cu¬ 
riosity to spectators. The cutting is not 
THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 
Substitutes for Hay. 
We copy tho following sensible and timely 
article from tho last number of tho Boston 
Cultivator: 
Although this was a prominent topic with 
farmers a year ago, circumstances still ren¬ 
der it expedient to keep it before the public. 
It is now certain that the present Lay crop 
is deficient in many situations, and the ques¬ 
tion presented is, how can this deficiency 
bo supplied ? Wo believe if attention is 
immediately turned to the subject, substi¬ 
tutes can bo produced to such an extent as 
to secure the farmer against loss. 
At this late period of the season, the best 
articles to be grown for the support of stock, 
aro turnips and Indian corn—the latter to 
bo used as fodder. Either of these will 
make a fair crop if put in any time this 
month. Land from which rye or hay has 
been taken this season, if sufficiently moist 
to insure the germination of the seed, will 
answer the purpose. If it is not rich, a 
largo yield cannot bo obtained without the 
application of considerable manure, which 
should either be plowed in with a shallow 
furrow or spread after plowing and mixed 
thoroughly with the soil. Manuro which is 
somewhat decomposed will act moro imme¬ 
diately, and be likely to produce a better 
crop than that in a raw stale. 
For corn-fodder, sweet corn has advan¬ 
tages over any other kind. Animals are 
more fond of the stalks, and from its habit 
of tillering, or suckering, and producing 
abundance of leaves, it gives a large yield. 
The large southern corn, on very rich land, 
may produce a greater weight, but is moro 
watery, altogether of a coarser nature, and 
not relished by stock. When animals havo 
been fed on the stalks of sweet corn, they 
will refuse tho other until pressod with sharp 
hunger. 
The mode of planting fodder corn in drills 
is preferable to broadcast sowing, especially 
when it is desired to hasten the growth.— 
The seed can bo put in with a drill or seed- 
planter, making tho rows two and a half 
feet apart, to give room for killing tho weeds 
with a cultivator, which, if used in time, 
will supersede tho necessity of using tho 
hoe. The corn will grow rapidly, and soon 
shade the soil so much that nothing will 
start between tho rows. On this account, 
corn cultivated in this manner is one of tho 
best of crops to clear the land. 
The best use to which corn-fodder thus 
produced can bo put, is to feed it green, or 
only wilted, in autumn. It may frequently 
save hay as much at this time as any other, 
for it is not unusual that the scarcity of 
grass is such that moro or less hay is fed to 
stock at that season. If there is plenty of 
grass, however, tho fodder may be dried for 
winter use. But tho difficulty of curing it, 
Pratt’s Ditching Machine. 
We find in the Ontario County Times 
some account of a ditching machine, in¬ 
vented by a Mr. Pratt, of Hopewell, in 
that county, which promises to be valuable 
to tho farming interest. Steps have been 
taken to secure a patent. Tho Times says : 
At a recent trial near Canandaigua, Mr. 
Pratt succeeded in digging twenty-five rods 
of ditch two feet deep, in two hours and a- 
half with a singlo team, and those present 
wore entirely satisfied with its operation.— 
If it will work one half as fast as it is said 
to hero, it will be am immense labor-saving 
machine. It is a difficult thing to describe, 
but we will attempt to give an idea of its ap¬ 
pearance and mode of operation. Tho plow 
which digs the ditch, is attached to the bot¬ 
tom of a semi-circular tube of cast iron, re¬ 
sembling the box in which grain elevators 
load themselves. The elevators are of cast 
steel, twelve in number, and look like shovel 
plows; these elevators or spades aro attach¬ 
ed to a wheel, and when the machine is in 
motion tho wheel revolves and they take up 
tho earth as deep as tho plow cuts it, carry 
it up through the cast iron tube, and when 
the dirt falls off it strikes upon an inclined 
plane and slides off on each side of the ditch. 
There aro handles for guiding it, like plow 
handles, and tho bar to which tho team is 
attached has different holes for the clevis, 
so that it may bo set to go deeper or more 
shallow, according to the nature of tho 
ground in which it is to operate. Ditching 
is becoming an important item in tho far¬ 
mer’s expense account, and any thing cal¬ 
culated to make it cheaper, will bo received 
with favor. Wo trust that Mr. Pratt’s in¬ 
genuity will be liberally rewarded. 
Educated Wheat. —A singular discovery 
has been mado, in France, by M. Fabre, an 
humblegardner of Ayde, but of some local 
note as a botanist. The herb cegilops , here¬ 
tofore considered as worse than useless, 
grows abundantly on tho shores of tho Med¬ 
iterranean. It produces a species of grain 
resembling wheat in form, but much smaller. 
In the year 1839, M. Fabre sowed a quantity 
of this grain, and ho was struck by ob¬ 
serving that tho produce seemed to bear a 
close affinity to wheat. That produce he 
sowed the next year, and tho yield was moro 
like wheat. Ho went on sowing the yield 
year after year, and each year found a mark¬ 
ed improvement in tho produce, until at 
last he had the satisfaction of getting a fino 
crop of wheat, and of as good quality as 
could wish to bo seen. At first he produced 
his crops in a garden, but his latter sowings 
wore made broadcast in an open field. Thus, 
then, a wild and mischievous herb, which is 
particularly destructive to barley crops, can 
be educated into excellent wheat.— Literary 
Gazette. 
Eggs for Hatching. —These should be as 
fresh as possible. Some suppose that they 
should not bo over a fortnight old. It is 
difficult to fix upon tho precise time when 
the vitality of tho germinal vessiclo is de¬ 
stroyed by ago. This doubtless depends up¬ 
on circumstances, such as tho vigor of 
parents, tho mode of preserving the egg, 
&c. A safe rule, however, is to secure fresh 
eggs; and if they aro to be sent any dis¬ 
tance, they should bo carefully packed in 
dry sawdust, (not pine) or oats, and arranged 
so that thoy will not touch each other. And 
they should bo shaken as little as possible, 
for fear of rupturing tho ligaments and 
mixing the albumen with tho yolk. A care¬ 
ful observance of theso rules may save many 
from disappointment in rearing some of the 
choicest varieties of fowls.— Ohio Fanner. 
Indiana State Fair. —This is to be held 
at Lafayette, on the 11 th, 12 th, and 13th 
days of October next. This point is access- 
able by canal and railroads. Among the 
premiums offered aro six silver pitchers, 
valued at $33 oach ; thirty-five silver cups, 
valued at $15 each ; seventy-five silver cups, 
valued at $10 each; thirty sets of tea-spoons, 
valued at $5 each ; and a largo number of 
premiums, consisting of cash, agricultural 
works, books, diplomas, &c. Tho competi¬ 
tion for the silver pitchers will bo among 
the cultivators of wheat and corn, and the 
| owners of cattle, horses, jacks and hogs. 
