CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. 
Harvest Time. 
We aro just now in the midst of harvest 
—that season of all seasons which tho far¬ 
mer looks forward to with hope, mingled 
with fear. Hope, that has been cherished 
for a twelvemonth, fear, that has been felt 
for, perhaps, a few weeks only. TV ith some 
(tho majority wo believe.) their hopes have 
been realized, while others have plowed, 
sowed, and gathered, in vain. T\o speak, 
of course, of tho wheat harvest. From the 
best information wo can obtain the wheat 
in this State, is, or will be, more than an 
average crop. Tho fly in some instances has 
destroyed whole fields, while in other sec¬ 
tions, where this intruding foreigner did 
not deign to visit, tho yield has been abun¬ 
dant. 
Wo may well bo called a Nation of 1 ar¬ 
mors, and this being the caso, harvest timo 
is looked forward to with much anxiety.— 
Tho improvements made in farming imple¬ 
ments, and farm stock—tho annual State 
and County Fairs, and tho interest taken by 
tlio intelligent of all classes, in farming pur¬ 
suits, shows that tho people are beginning, 
or rather have begun, to feel the importance 
which is due tho farmer. 
“ Man is tho noblest work of God,” and 
tilling the soil is tho noblest work of man. 
It promotes tho growth and strength of the 
body and mind. It makes the body vigor¬ 
ous, and the mind clear. Wo spoke before oi 
the improvements mado within a few years, 
in farming implements. But a few years since 
our wheat was cut with a sickle ; threshed 
with a flail, or beaten out by oxen—making 
a winter’s work of what is now accomplished 
in a few hours,—then conveyed to market 
in wagons, over miles of rough roads, and 
sold, in many sections, for little or nothing. 
Now wo have (in some localities) machines 
that reap, thresh, and puts the grain into bags 
ready for market, at one operation. Then 
our rail aro cars ready to take it hundreds 
of miles to market, at tho rato of 30 to 50 
miles per hour, so that grain that is bending 
before tho breeze on tho broad prairies of 
Illinois or Michigan, in the morning, may 
almost bo said to bo gathered, threshed, 
ground, and making the best of its way, in 
tho shape of hot rolls, down tho throats of 
some hungry dry goods merchant, or stock 
broker, in Now York, in the evening. 
Perhaps nothing has had a tendency to 
elevate tho farmer more than agricultural 
books and newspapers. Through these they 
interchange their views, watch tho mar¬ 
kets, receivo benefits that cannot bo confer¬ 
red in any other way—and they know it, 
as tho increasing number and circulation ot 
such works abundantly testify. They also 
promote a tasto for reading which would be 
encouraged in no other way. 
In all ages, and all nations, wo find those 
who have dignified themselves by the culti¬ 
vation of the soil. The father of our coun¬ 
try took pride in being a farmer, and among 
our farming community wo find many who 
aro worthy of such a fathor. Then success 
to tho farmer, and may ho live long to enjoy 
many returns of a bounteous harvest! 
“ Depth of Roots”—Correction. 
Eds. Rural :—In your paper of tho 16th, 
in an article on the depth of roots, &c., 
is observed an error, either of the compositor 
or copvist, as tho original drait is found 
correct. Tho error lies in tho following 
clause: “ that tho roots of corn and potatoes, 
at this time (25th June) extend horizontally, 
from one to three inches below the surface, 
&c., which might seem to imply that all the 
roots were within one, and three inches, of 
the surface. Now, nothing could bo farther 
from tho intention of the writer than such 
an idea, which is too manifestly absurb to 
pass unnoticed, even alone, but following as 
it does directly after Mr. Cone’s on the 
same subject, its absurdity becomes more 
conspicuous, by tho contrast. Instead of 
differing in opinion with Mr. C., on the 
depth of roots, tho writer is rather inclined 
to the samo opinion, or that roots, if possi¬ 
ble, will penetrate downwards, until suffi¬ 
cient moisturo is obtained for tho use of tho 
plant, or tree,—but the attention of the 
writer has been bestowed upon those roots 
that approach tho nearest, or interfere with 
cultivation, more than upon those of a down¬ 
ward tendency. Tho original article reads 
thus :—“ That corn and potatoes, at this 
time (25th June,) have their horizontal roots, 
from one to three inches below the surface,” 
&c.—S. G., Marcellus, July 21, 1853. 
Another Premium on Poultry. 
Mr. Van Deusen’s proposition which ap¬ 
peared in the last No. of the Rural is somo- 
what enigmatical, and requires explanation. 
I have shown tho article to several fowl 
fanciers, and they are all at a loss to com¬ 
prehend Mr. V. D’s. meaning. Aro we to 
understand him to say that he will exhibit 
five pairs of Cochin Chinas, and also five 
pairs, each, of the other four varieties named, 
making fifty chickens ? Or, does ho wish 
\WZSBBffiSm 
IM 
20, 21, 22, 23 
28. 29, 30 
13, 14, 15 
27, 23, 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 
27, 28, 29, 30 
5, 6, 7 
17, 18, 19, 20 
State Fairs,—1853. 
New York, at Saratoga... Sept. 20, 21, 22, 23 
Ohio, Dayton. “ 
Michigan, Detroit. “ 
Vermont, Montpelier. “ 
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. “ 
Kentucky, Lexington. “ 
New Hampshire.Oct. 
Maryland. “ 
Illinois, Springfield. “ 
Indiana, Lafayette. “ 
Wisconsin, "Watertown— “ 
Virginia, Richmond.Nov. 
Lower Canada,Montreal.. Sept 
Upper Canada, Hamilton, Oct. 
Southern Central Society, 
Augusta, Georgia- “ 
County Fairs.—We wish to publish, soon, 
a comploto list of all the Agricultural Fairs 
to be hold in this State tho ensuing Autumn. 
The Secretaries of tho Societies from which 
we have not received (as heretofore publish¬ 
ed) information in regard to timo and placo 
of holding their shows, will greatly oblige 
us by communicating tho same at their ear- 
liost convenience. 
TRENCH MERINO BUCK, “MATCHLESS.” 
The Property of Mr. Geo. Campbell, West Westminster, Yt. 
to be understood that ho will exhibit of | 
either variety named in bis proposition, and 
that ho will show five pairs of the same 
breed ? I cannot seo the propriety of hav¬ 
ing ono brood of fowls exhibited in competi¬ 
tion with another breed. Who can com¬ 
pare their respective merits ? 
And now allow mo to mako a proposi¬ 
tion for Mr. Van Deusen. I will ex¬ 
hibit ten different breeds ot fowls, which I 
now own, for One Thousand Dollars , ono 
cock and two hens of each variety in a coop, 
(the usual manner of exhibiting fowls.) for 
the like number and breeds now owned by 
Mr. V. 1)., or my lot of Poultry against his 
for the above sum.—19. P. Newell, Roch¬ 
ester, N. Y., July, 1853. 
The Straight Scythe Snath. 
Mr. Moore :—Being a subscriber for the 
Rural, and noticing a communication in tho 
last number (July 23d,) in regard to Mr. 
John Boley’s Patent Scythe Snath, (or the 
nib in particular.) as being ono ot the latest 
inventions, I consider it a privilege to give 
to community tho knowledge I have of the 
same form as tho figure in the Rural. 
Fifty-three years ago, wlion I was a lad of 
ton years, theso snaths were introduced into 
Windham county, Conn., and used by many 
Forty years next October, I settled in tho 
town of Batavia, Goncsco county, N. Y.— 
Tho country being now, and bent snaths or 
natural crooks difficult to obtain, I bad a 
nib mado of the samo form as Mr. Boley’s, 
which has been used yearly since that timo. 
And further, Mr. John McCraken, formerly 
of Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., 
who became my nearest neighbor in 1817, 
brought with him ono of tho samo descrip¬ 
tion.— PhineasFord, Batavia, July 1853. 
bly smooth meadow,—the grass generally 
timothy or herds-grass and large red-top, in 
somo instances filled at tho bottom with a 
close growth of blue-grass and white clover, 
and in somo spots considerably lodged. 
Ivetchum’s machine is constructed solely 
form owing. It is simple, strong, compact, 
and not liable to get out of order. It has 
been more extensively tried than any other, 
and since it has been brought to its present 
form has given almost universal satisfaction. 
Its work on this occasion seemed to bo about 
perfect. 
Manny’s machine is designed as both a 
reaper and mower. It performed well yes¬ 
terday in either capacity. It is not quite 
as simple in form as Ketchum’s—being de¬ 
signed for a double purpose—but works 
easily and in a manner not to bo complain¬ 
ed of. 
Emery’s is comparatively an untried ma¬ 
chine— had been used but little previous to 
this trial; its working parts are somewhat 
rough, and its draft at first heavy, and its 
action rather irregular. This is also design¬ 
ed as a convertible machine—that is, as a 
reaper and mower. Mr. Emery has certainly 
dono himself great credit in tho construc¬ 
tion of this machine. It is compact and 
strong in all its parts—iron having been sub¬ 
stituted for wood in the most essential fea¬ 
tures—it is neatly and substantially made, 
and enough has already been done with it to 
insure its ultimate success. Beforo it got 
through tho trial yesterday, it cut somo of 
its swaths in a perfectly satisfactory man¬ 
ner—going through lodged grass without a 
check, and shaving the ground handsomely, 
both on level and undulating surfaces. 
The two machines tried as reapers, woro 
Manny’s, and Seymour & Morgan’s, Brock- 
port, N. Y.,—(entered by Emery & Co., Al¬ 
bany.) They were tried in rye, of rather 
light growth, and both worked well. The 
report of the Committee will probably spark 
in detail of their comparative merit. 
L. C. Provincial Exhibition. —Wo have 
received from tho Secretary, Wm Evans, 
Esq., tho prize list of tho Provincial Agri¬ 
cultural Association of Lower Canada. The 
exhibition is to take placo at Montreal, Sept. 
27, 28, 29, and 30. Tho list is very full, 
with liberal prizes which must call out a 
largo show of tho products, manufactures, 
and stock of the lower Province. As tho 
route from here to Montreal, via, Lake On¬ 
tario, and the St. Lawrence River, is not 
excolled by any in tho world,‘citizens of 
Western Now York who visit tho Fair will 
bo amply rowarded, both on tho water and 
at Montreal. 
THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS. 
AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 
Great Letting oi South Down Rams. 
The annual letting of Mr. Jonas Webb’s 
celebrated South Down Tups took place at 
Babraham, England, on Monday, July 11th. 
Tho highest price was paid by Francis M. 
Rotcii, of Otsego county, in this Stato.— 
Mr. R. hired for 130 guineas, (about §666.) 
which is said to bo tho highest price ever 
paid for a singlo animal at Mr. Webb’s let¬ 
tings. Tho animal was ono of tho finest 
ever offered by Mr. Webb, and secured after 
a spirited competition,—and must prove a 
most valuable acquisition to this country. 
Tho number of sheep let was 71, which 
netted £1.560—being an average of £22 4s, 
about $100 each. A reserved price was put 
upon each animal, and every ono realized 
more than the up-set figure. Tho whole 
excess was £500 more than the reserve. 
Wo glean tho above facts from an article 
in tho Albany Journal—which also gives 
some of tho toasts and speeches at tho din¬ 
ner on tho occasion, at which the Earl of 
Hardwick presided. 
Another Trial of Reapers and Mowers. 
A Trial of Reaping and Mowing Ma¬ 
chines took place at Greenbush, on the 13th 
inst., under tho direction of tho Rensselaer 
Co. Ag. Society. The editor of tho Boston 
Cultivator, who was present, speaks of the 
trial as follows in his last number: 
Only three machines appeared on the 
ground as mowers, and only two as reapers, 
—several others which had been entered, 
among which was Atkin’s Automaton Reap¬ 
er, from Chicago, Ill., not having arrived in 
season for the trial. Those tried as mowers 
were, Ketchum’s, Buffalo, N. Y.; Manny’s, 
made by Ball & Parsons, lloosick, N. Y.; 
Emery’s, Albany, N. Y. 
Tho two former performed very well— 
either of them doing their work in a style 
equal or superior to that of tho scythe. The 
ground where they were tried was a tolera- 
Tiiial of Reapers and Mowers in N. J. 
—A trial of Reaping and Mowing Machines 
was had at Mount Holly, N. J., on tho 2d 
instant, under tho auspices of a committee 
of tho Burlington County Agricultural So¬ 
ciety. Tho general result was decidedly 
favorable to tho employment of machinery 
for such purposes. Only McCormick’s and 
Hussey’s machines were entered for tho 
reaping; McCormick’s, Husseys, Ketchum’s 
and Manny’s for the mowing. Tho follow¬ 
ing premiums were awarded: 
For tho host machine for Mowing and 
Reaping combined, tho premium of $15 to 
McCormick’s Machine. 
Second best “ Mower and Reaper,” tho 
premium of $10 to Ilussoy’s Machine. 
For tho best Mower,” tho premium of 
$10 to Ketchum’s Machine. 
For the best “ Reaper,” tho premium of 
$10 to Manny’s Machine.— Agricultor. 
Prospects of the Hop Crop. 
A large amount of hops aro annually 
grown in Otsego, Herkimer, Onoida and 
Madison counties; consequently tho annexed 
information, copied from tho Cooperstown 
Freemans Journal, may bo looked upon as 
reliable: 
\Vo see it stated in several of tho Now 
York and Albany papers, that the recent 
rise in hops is owing to a speculative move. 
That is correct, if at all, only to a very 
limited oxtont. Several large dealers, prin¬ 
cipally in Madison county, having contracts 
to deliver hops at certain prices next fall, 
and becoming convinced that tho crop will 
ho a light ono, have been obliged to go early 
in tho market, and also to offer very high 
prices. Wo have heard of ono or two sales 
of tho new crop at 35 cents — and 30 cents 
cash is freely offered for old hops of a prime 
quality, though not many can now be bought 
even at that price. 
Tho falling off in tho crop in this section 
of tho State, from that of last year, will bo 
fully one-third. Tho accounts from Eng¬ 
land are somewhat contradictory—still it is 
conceded that tho crop will bo considerably 
short of that of last year. The duty last 
year was about £250,0*00—that for this year 
is now estimated at about £150.000. In 
1850 tho duty was less than £100,000. More 
definite information may bo expectod with¬ 
in a fortnight. 
Root Crops and Straw for Cattle. 
Robert Baker, an eminent English Ag¬ 
riculturist, gives tho following as a summa¬ 
ry of his practico in feeding roots in con¬ 
nection with other food, and which ho has 
found to ho very successful. Our readors 
may derive some valuable hints from it.— 
Tho advantages of mixed food over feeding 
singlo substances to cattlo aro well known : 
“ Tho mangold wurzols, or Swedo turnops, 
aro plucked (not sliced) with a machine 
constrtcted by myself, of which many aro 
now in use in this district, and consists of a 
revolving cylinder, into which hooks aro in- 
sorted, acting against a row of knives to fa¬ 
cilitate tho operation, and which plucks tho 
roots of Swedo or other turneps, and man¬ 
gold wurzel, into small pieces from tho size 
of an egg downwards, thus avoiding the 
sharp edges produced by turnop slicers, and 
preventing tho choking of the animals, as 
well as facilitating tho readily mixing thorn 
with tho cut chaff. Tho latter is cut into 
] \ inch lengths, in tho proportion of ono 
part of hay to three parts of straw, and is 
moistened by an application of linseed meal 
that has been previously steeped forty-eight 
hours in cold water, in the proportion of li 
lbs. to 2 lbs. for each bullock, to which is 
added 4 lbs. of barley-meal, sprinkled in the 
chaff. Tho morning meal is prepared tho 
evening previous, by mixing ono bushel of 
the plucked roots with about two bushels of 
cut chaff, prepared as abovo; and in the 
morning the evening meal is prepared in 
the samo way. If it is found the bullock 
will eat moro, it can ho increased by adding 
chaff only, or with a further admixture of 
tho roots. Tho advantages of this inode of 
feeding, will, upon experiment being made, 
become at onco apparent. Tho bullocks 
will thrive faster, and will never bo relaxed, 
as is too frequently the caso when fed upon 
tho roots by themselves, and tho quantity of 
the latter per diem may bo exactly appor¬ 
tioned. They will also eat tho chaff cut 
from straw without hay, if found desirable. 
But when fed upon the roots alone, they 
will not,rest satisfied until they have had 
their fill, and then will refuse chaff cut from 
straw altogether. The stomach of rumina¬ 
ting animals is larger than that of other an¬ 
imals, and requires to be filled beforo they 
will lie down to rest; and the large quantity 
of roots they will consume (if allowed to be 
fed without restriction) becomes absolutely 
injurious to them, while 50 per cent, moro 
will he consumed with loss benefit to tho 
animals. 
If oil cake is bruised and stoeped in tho 
samo way, it will ho found moro beneficial 
than when given alone, and tho wholo of the 
nutritive properties will becomo extracted, 
as will bo at onco perceived by tho difference 
of tho manure; but tho latter, of course, 
will at tho samo timo not ho so valuablo. 
With store stock ono bushel of roots with 
cut chaff is sufficient, and ono or moro 
pounds of linseed meal per diem may, if re¬ 
quired, he added ; hut if an attempt ho mado 
to keep them upon ono bushel of roots, giv¬ 
en separately, tlioy will pine after more, 
and remain constantly restless and dissatis¬ 
fied. The vegetable food may also ho 
“ marshalled to meet the jaws,” and an ex¬ 
act calculation mado of tho extent of time 
they may bo required to last.” 
Agriculture in France. 
A letter writer for tho Republic says a trip 
of six hundred and fifty miles, from the 
northern to tho southern extremity of 
France, justifies him in the expression of tho 
opinion that God’s sun does not elsewhere 
shed its rays on so fair a land, or ono so 
thoroughly cultivated. 
The whole country is literally a garden. 
Every square foot, from tho mountain top 
to tho lowest ravine, is made to produce 
something, if it ho susceptible of it. Their 
mode of planting or sowing their crops 
whether on plain or hill side, produces tho 
finest effect on tho appearance of tho land¬ 
scape; tho allotted space for each crop is 
laid out in squares or parallelograms with 
mathematical precision, and whether largo 
or small, the best garden could not bo divid¬ 
ed with greater accuracy. 
As there are no fences or hedges, and as 
tho different crops are in various stages of 
maturity you can imagine the variety of 
hues that meet tho oye, and tho magnifi¬ 
cence of the panorama that stretches out in 
every direction as far as tho vision can pen¬ 
etrate. 1 am sorry to add in this connection 
that seven-eighths of the labor is performed 
by females, while two or three hundred thou¬ 
sand stalwart men aro idling away their 
time in tho barracks in tho cities and vil¬ 
lages. 
In the absence of fences, cattle secured by 
ropes aro driven about their pasturage by 
females, and sheep are confined within the 
required limits by boys, assisted hv shep¬ 
herd’s dog. Speaking of cattlo reminds mo 
that notwithstanding fresh pork is abundant 
enough in market, both in England and 
France, I have not seen a live porker in 
either country. 
Winter Flax. 
The Secretary of tho New York Stato 
Agricultural Society, has received from a 
Russian gentleman by tho namo of Falker- 
saborf, a samplo of tho seed of a variety of 
winter flax. A larger quantity is promised, 
which is expected to arrive in the fall. Tho 
same gentlemau also proposes to send somo 
of “ the seed whoso weed furnishes tho pre¬ 
cise powders for killing insects of all 
kinds.” 
The advantages claimed for tho winter 
flax, are set forth as follows: 
a. Bosides it has the advantage to bo 
sown in the fall, not subject to he sown ei¬ 
ther too early or too late, as this is often the 
caso with tho spring seed, and has always a 
failure of the crop in its train. 
b. That tho winter seed shoots sooner, 
yet before the weeds como out, which latter 
aro kept back by it; it is earlier ripe, and 
can bo brought in beforo tho hands aro 
wanted for other agricultural operations. 
c. In order to prevent the shooting in tho 
fall, tho seed must bo worked in by tho 
plouvv, as lato as possible, and then tho 
seed is not damaged neither by 20 degrees 
of cold (Reaumur). In tho spring, as soon 
as tho field is dry, it must bo lightly har¬ 
rowed. It shoots with the first rays of tho 
warm sun, arid is already in flower when 
other spring seod is sown, and before the in¬ 
sects can do it any harm. 
d. This winter seed is glossy, hut dark 
and mixed with black grains, yet all shoot. 
It is a great deal moro oily than tho com¬ 
mon seod. —Boston Cult. 
Wheat for the English Market. 
An English paper has tho following rela¬ 
tive to where tho grain is produced to sup¬ 
ply that country : 
It is proved by tho returns of tho foreign 
corn trade in tho last few years, that a 
change is taking placo in tho principal 
sources of tho supply of food. Tho United 
States and tho Baltic aro no longer by ai y 
means our largest producers. Their yearly 
surplus falls short of our yearly wants, and 
it is from tho fertile districts and fino rivers 
of Eastern Europe that we now draw our 
greatest and inexhaustible supply. In 1841, 
when tho total imports of wheat into this 
kingdom was 240,000 quarters, only 230,000 
quarters or about one-tenth, came from 
Russia, Turkey, or the Mediterranean. In 
1852, tho total import of wheat (exclusive 
of flour) was about 3,200,000 quarters of 
which 1,700,000 quarters came from tho 
ports of those countries and taking tho 
wholo import of corn at 6.750,000 quarters, 
tho supply from tho East was 8,350,000 
quarters. 
Effects of Deep Plowing.—The Far¬ 
mer and Mechanic, published at Lewiston 
Falls, Maine, says :—“ A gentleman in Can¬ 
ton took us out tho other day on two acres 
of land which ho had cultivated for a few 
years, and which ho makes very productive. 
Ho told us that it was so wet when ho com¬ 
menced upon it that ho could do but little 
with it; hut somo three or four years ago 
ho put in a large plow, and turned it over 
to tho depth of nearly ono foot, following 
with tho subsoil plow to tho depth of nearly 
ono foot more. Since then ho has had no 
trouble with the wet or tho drouth. Eve¬ 
ry thing he puts upon it flourishes finely.— 
This process will pay on much of our land, 
whether tho undermining will or not.” 
A Quadruped Chicken. —Tho “ German¬ 
town (Pa.) Telegraph ” publishes tho fol¬ 
lowing extract from a lotter of a gentleman 
of Columbia to a citizen of Germantown :— 
“ Ono of my Shanghai hens has a few chicks 
hatched a few days ago, and one of them— 
which toddles about and eats heartily, and 
seems to thrive—has four legs. For tho 
first day, ‘Quady,’ (as we call him, from 
quadruped) did not know which to go upon. 
The hind pair made him roar up. and tho 
front pair made him kick up. But after 
balancing tho thing in his mind over night, 
ho settled down next morning on his “ all 
fours” boldly, and persists in that mode of 
locomotion.” 
The Way to Pull Turnips. —Tho Yankee 
grasps tho root by tho top and pulls it with 
his hand, and then cuts off the tops with a 
knife. Tho Englishman has a better way. 
Ho sharpens his hoe, and passing along, cuts, 
with a singlo stroke, tho tops of the turnip; 
then with tho samo implement, strikes under 
it so as to cut off tho roots, and brings it 
out of tho earth. In cutting oft' tho tops ho 
guides his hoo so as to throw them into a 
sort of row, in ono place, and in digging ho 
guides it so as to throw tho roots together in 
another row. lie will dig the roots about 
four times as fast as ono Yankee with his 
pulling and knife. 
j 
