DEEP PLOWING—PLOWING UNDER CLOVER. 
Eds. Rural :— I am sometimes at aloss to account 
for the difference of opinions of good practical 
farmers in reference to deep plowing. Some con¬ 
tend that it is productive of no good to the growth 
of crops; others, that it is well enough once in 
three or four years, but not oftener,—while some 
argue, with greater show of plausibility, that deep 
plowing not only deepens and loosens up the soil, 
enabling the roots of plants to run deeper and 
spread to a greater length, thereby drawing agreat- 
cr amount of nourishment from the soil, and from 
the atmosphere, for which a mellow, deep soil— 
which is always moist—has a stronger affinity; 
but it brings near the surface, and within the reach 
of the roots and fibres of plants, those mineral ele¬ 
ments which enter into the growth and composi¬ 
tion of all vegetation—which not having been awi- 
fied, by former deep cultivation, has lain in an iner- 
state, in the hard impervious subsoil. I can act 
count for this difference of opinion on no better 
hypothesis than this, that it depends very much 
upon the soil, and more on the subsoil, of the par¬ 
ticular locality or farm which a farmer cultivates, 
as it regards the opinions or conclusions they arrive 
at, than any error of judgment or opinions that they 
may form. 
Farmers are indebted about as much to the ex¬ 
perience and opinions of their neighbors working 
similar soils, as they are to their own personal ex¬ 
perience for the conclusions they come to, or the 
opinions they form. A section of country compos¬ 
ed of light soil, with a loose gravelly subsoil, and 
as is often the case, a subsoil of quicksand, could 
not be plowed deep without material loss to the 
cultivator. Farmers working such soils, would 
soon find that it would be very injurious to plow 
very deep, and not being acquainted with soils 
having a tenacious subsoil, would be very apt to 
condemn deep cultivation on all soils, While 
others, living in a different locality, where deep 
plowing had proved beneficial, would be quite as 
likely to recommend deep cultivation on every 
variety of soil. It therefore becomes important 
that every farmer should understand the nature of 
different soils, and knowing when to plow deep, or 
when shallow, his own good judgment will deter¬ 
mine what course to pursue, or recommend to 
others. So far as my experience and observation 
goes, I would not be in favor of very deep plowing 
where the previous cultivation had been shallow, 
unless it was plowed in the fall; what I call deep 
plowing is from nine to twelve inches deep. If 
plowed in the spring, for a spring cop, and to the 
above depth, it would, in my opinion, unless pre¬ 
viously cultivated nearly as deep, prove very inju¬ 
rious to the productiveness of that crop, particu¬ 
larly corn. All spring plowing for corn should 
not, in my judgment, be over seven or eight inches 
deep. I am decidedly in favor of deep plowing; 
but in all cases when plowed to an unusual depth, 
it should be done in the fall. 
A subsoil that has never been stirred does not 
seem fitted to promote the growth of vegetation, 
unless it has been exposed to the ameliorating in¬ 
fluence of winter’s frost, and summer’s heat and 
moisture. I have known instances where ground 
had been plowed deep and well, in the spring, for 
corn, and given but poor returns, and where a 
similar soil, on an adjoining field, had been shallow 
and poorly plowed, yielding much the larger crop. 
I have also known ground plowed in the summer, 
very deep, for wheat, where the yield was consider¬ 
ably diminished in consequenoe, but proved of de¬ 
cided advantage to the future fertility and produc¬ 
tiveness of the soil—producing all kinds of grain, 
clover, and grass, equal if not supiorto most farms 
in the neighborhood, which had formerly a much 
higher reputation. If the former cultivation had 
been poor and shallow, I think it would prove 
injurious to turn up too much of the subsoil at 
one time; but increase the depth, at each sub¬ 
sequent plowing, until you have as deep a soil 
as desirable. Deep plowing will be found to an¬ 
swer better for fall than spring crops, but for 
all crops, more beneficial if plowed the fall previ¬ 
ous. I have seen very apparent results in bringing 
impoverished and worn out lands to a high state of 
productiveness, by plowing under clover when in 
full bloom, or nearly matured, and before it was 
much dried. It is in fact, I believe, the cheapest 
and best renovator at hand on worn out or exhaust¬ 
ed soils—on extensive farms—as it seems to re¬ 
store the very properties that the soil most requires. 
I have known farms that would not produce over 
ten or fifteen bushels of wheat to the acre, restored 
to a good state of fertility by turning under a heavy 
growth of clover. From puny yellow straw, as it 
grew heretofore, it grew rank and dark colored; 
yielding from thirty to thirty-five bushels per acre 
of good merchantable wheat. This system of cul¬ 
tivation does not admit of but once plowing, which 
should not be either too deep or too shallow, but 
thoroughly cultivated and brought to a fine tilth 
by the harrow, cultivator, or gang-plow, which 
• cultivation should not interfere with the sod. The 
best practical proof against turning under clover 
deep, was when I did not plow over seven or eight 
inches in depth; not that I thought it most bene¬ 
ficial to do so, but having a small plow, and the 
ground being very dry and hard, and the clover 
large, I could not plow deep. Yet I never experi¬ 
enced such marked results, from turning under 
clover, before or since. My theory is, if clover is 
turned under too deep, decomposition does not take 
place so effectually, because it is not sufficiently near 
the surface to be subjected to the influences of air, 
light, heat and moisture, which are essential not only 
to decomposition, but to assimilate its fertilizing 
properties to the growth of plants. Neither too 
shallow, for the roots of plants would not have 
sufficient depth of loose, mellow soil, to draw suffi¬ 
cient support for their vigorous growth. 
Now, theory is worth but little unless it can be 
substantiated, and fully sustained by practice, and 
before any man promulgates his opinions, he should 
be well assured b y positive, practical knowledge that 
his theories are correct. w. h. h. 
Wheatland, N. Y., Jan., 1S59. 
---- 
As the season for harrowing and rolling winter 
wheat is again at hand, we would remind those 
interested that it is a safe and beneficial process, 
according to the testimony of experienced farmers 
given in former volumes of the Rural. 
CULTURE OF DIFFERENT SOILS. 
Eds. Rural :—As Michigan is noted for its many 
varieties of soil, I thought I would give you my 
views on the cultivation of those soils. Where a 
farm contains several kinds of soil, there should 
be different modes of culture, as well as different 
kinds of grain sown and planted. If this rule be 
closely observed, it will pay a large per cent, on 
the time invested. You will learn something of 
the necessities of different fields, and of the differ¬ 
ent soils which compose these fields. Is there any 
difference between clay, black loam, or light sandy 
soil? Is a different treatment necessary? If so, 
why operate on a single field in which there is a 
great variety of soils, in precisely the same manner 
on all its parts? Farmers, some of you do this 
very thing. Suppose your horses were sick — 
one having the distemper, the other a fresh cut; 
would you make the one application cure both? I 
think not; as there are two different diseases, you 
would use two remedies. Different kiudsof soil 
must likewise have different treatment. I have 
many different kinds on my farm, I have my 
fences so arranged that they divide the different 
kinds of soil as near as possible; my fields are 
small, ranging from five to ten acres in a field, 
which I think is better than to have them larger, 
with two or three kinds of soil in one lot, and the 
same number of varieties of grain. I prefer small 
fields to large ones, on account of stock ; stock in 
a large pasture run over the food, and destroy as 
much as they eat. 
I will call your attention to lot No. 1, a black 
loamy soil. The best crops for this soil arc corn, 
potatoes, grass, barley, oats, and spring wheat.— 
For the three last mentioned, I should prefer fall 
plowing. . This soil is of a very rich nature, and 
will endure more cropping, with much less manur¬ 
ing, than other soils which I am about to mention. 
Lot No. 2,—Clay soil. This a good soil if well 
managed; will grow winter wheat, grass, oats and 
barley. This soil requires a large amount of hard 
labor, with considerable fall plowing, to keep the 
soil loose and mellow. It should be seeded with 
clover as often as once in three years, and a full 
crop plowed under to keep the soil in good condi¬ 
tion for cropping. Lot No. 3,—A light sandy soil. 
Is very easy tilled, and will produce most every 
kind of crop if rightly managed. If your soil is 
poor, seed with clover, at least ten pounds to the 
acre; after the clover comes up, sow one and a 
half bushels of plaster to the acre. When the 
clover gets in blossom, plow the crop well under, 
and when grass makes its appearance, cultivate 
it in, and you may expect a good reward for your 
labor. h. a. 
Paris, Kent Co., Mich. 
-*-•-*- 
MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 
The atmospheric changes alluded to in a former 
communication must be traceable to some cause. 
Can that cause be traced to man himself? Much 
has been published in the Tribune, and other jour¬ 
nals, latterly, deploring the injudicious destruction 
of the primitive forests, by the sturdy pioneers of 
all onr new settlements, and of the climatic effects 
produced by the denuding the laud of trees. That 
a change has been produced is a fact any intelli¬ 
gent observer need not dispute. Rut what has 
this fact to do with the habits and instinct of bees? 
Let us see. In conversation with neighboring 
farmers, they agree that the grasses have been 
very much injured of late years by frost-killing or 
heaving. Among the grasses is white clover, the 
main dependence of bees from which they gather 
honey, and this grass is injured with the others, 
and is yearly diminishing in amount and luxuri¬ 
ousness. The chilling blasts sweep over our hills 
and valleys without let, hindrance or impediment 
from belts, or groves of trees wisely selected and 
left for protection. The results are disastrous to 
the farmer as well as to the apiarian. Without a 
change for the better in atmospheric influences 
and quantity of bee pasturage the prospects for the 
future to the apiarian, who wishes to cultivate bees 
for profit, are rather gloomy—in common parlance, 
“ bees will run out,” as a general thing, in this 
this elevated region. To obtain large apiaries, 
this is not a favorable country I am well con¬ 
vinced from many year’s experience — successful 
bee-keeping here is a failure, not only in my case, 
but a failure universal. 
Perhaps some method of managing bees may be 
discovered or suggested that may in part, or wholly, 
obviate the difficulties complained of. This, how¬ 
ever, is a problem yet to be solved. I wish that 
others would give their experiences and sugges¬ 
tions through the columns of the Rural on bee- 
culture. Apiarian. 
Apiary Cottage, Catt. Co., N. Y., 1859. 
-■»■«.»- 
VALUE OF HEN MANURE. 
Messrs. Eds.: —Noticing in the last Rural an 
article upon hen manure, I submit my experience 
in regard to its use and value. Many years ago the 
idea suggested itself to me that the manure from 
hens could be turned to some account, and as agri¬ 
cultural papers talked much of the value of guano, 
I thought I would try what could be done with an 
artificial article. At the time I had about twenty 
bushels of hen droppings deposited on the floor of 
my hen house, which I took and added.to a like 
quantity of unleached ashes, with ten bushels of 
Cayuga plaster; mixed the whole thoroughly to¬ 
gether, being careful to powder the manure, then 
gathered the whole in one corner of my barn and 
covered the pile with my horse blankets, that the 
air might be excluded as much as possible. When 
the mass had become sufficiently fermented, I laid 
out my corn ground and commenced planting, em¬ 
ploying a boy or boj r s to follow the droppers with 
the guano, applying about half a gill to each hill, 
which was immediately covered with the hoe. The 
result was that upon ground which would not in 
the ordinary mode of treatment yield over thirty 
bushels per acre, I received fifty bushels of good, 
sound corn to the acre. I tried the experiment 
upon potatoes and wheat, upon a small scale, with 
equal success. 
I am of the opinion that the droppings of each 
hen kept on a farm, if properly saved and applied, 
will produce twice the amount of grain that she 
will consume through the winter. 
Corunna, Mich., 1859. Richard I’. Clark. 
THAT “SUGGESTED PLOW” IN THE FIELD I 
Perhaps your Star correspondent from Trumans- 
burg, N. Y., may be pleased to learn that the 
“ new sort of Plow ” he suggests has been more 
than suggested in old Genesee. I refer to Brincker- 
hoff’s Subsoiler — an attachment to the surface 
plow. A number of them were manufactured at 
Batavia, last season — but, as Mr. B. is out of the 
business just now, I do not know that any are 
ready for this spring’s demand. He owns the 
patent and patterns, and can give what “ further 
information” may be desired. 
The implement is a simple and practical one — 
accomplishing just what Mr. “*” desires — capa¬ 
ble of being guaged at any depth below the surface 
plow, from one inch to eighteen — and, attached 
to one of Mr. B.’s plows, it will subsoil and turn a 
surface furrow with less strength of team to per¬ 
form both operations at once than would be re¬ 
quired to run a subsoil plow, alone, to the same 
depth! It is very light, and performs the work 
with the least possible resistance from tbc soil.— 
Last season, an extensive farmer said, “I would 
take one of these, but I fear I shall break it.”— 
Says Mr. B., “You can take one borne, put it in 
the worst spot you have, with your yoke of oxen 
and two span of horses, drive plow to the beam 
and the subsoiler to the bottom (22 inches,) and if 
in two days you break it, you break my plow /”— 
He tried it, and made an enthusiastic report at the 
end of the two days — with an appeqdix in the 
fall, to the effect that where that plow ran his crop 
was doubled. It did “ prove a desideratum in the 
culture of corn,” and other crops too. 
Attica, N. Y., 1859. * * L. 8. * * 
♦ - 
HOW TO MAKE HENS LAY. 
Mr. Moore: —Among other inquiries in your 
paper of April 2d, I notice one asking how to make 
hens lay, and as I am somewhat posted in regard 
to hens and eggs, I will give you my mode, founded 
upon an experience of about five years. Up to that 
time I was like the Mich, subscriber, anxiously in¬ 
quiring of every one how to make hens lay, as I 
generally kept about fifty, and would get just eggs 
enough for a man and his wife, if they both had the 
dyspepsia, for which, as all Doctors admit, there is 
nothing so bad as eggs. 
Five years ago I killed off all of the old stock, 
bought twelve Brahmas, built a hen-house 12 by 20 
feet with an out-door yard ; in cold weather con¬ 
fined the hens, but when not too severe let them 
out. Whitewash the house once a year; this keeps 
it free from lice. In regard to feed, many labor 
under a mistake; they feed too much. To keep 
twenty hens through the winter give, say six ears 
corn and two quarts oats or buckwheat per day, 
about twice a week ; also, give them shorts or bran 
wet with warm sour milk, if you have it—if not, 
wet with warm water; make it quite wet, and put 
in a large spoonful of black pepper. Give them 
all the green stuff you can get, such as cabbage 
leaves, apple parings, &c. Every fall I kill off the 
old hens, and save the earliest chickens. Change 
your roosters every ^pr^ng.. 
Since I have adopted this course, I have plenty 
bf nice fresh eggs from twenty hens. Even in the 
coldest weather I luue from ten to fifteen eggs 
daily. Hens, like eating and horses, will do better 
with good care, l^ople generally think they have 
no business to be hens, and let them take their 
chances. A. Colvin. 
Henrietta, N. Y., April, 1859. 
Kttral Spirit of tljc Jprcoo. Agricultural miscellany. 
A SPICY LETTER FROM IOWA. 
Eds. Rural: —Your valuable paper reaches me 
regularly, and I think it is appreciated. 
Land in this section of the country has been con¬ 
sidered too valuable to cultivate —more money 
could be made by buying and selling it. But I am 
happy to say many have had “ a change come over 
the spirit of their dreams.” Land has depreciated 
in value, real estate has “ taken a tumble,” and we 
have learned the simple fact that lazy, unprincipled 
speculators, shiftless young men, and Union prayer 
meetings, never has, and never can develop and 
“save” a new country. What we want is intelli¬ 
gent industry. “ Faith without works,” died a 
miserable death long ago. 
We have piled up brick and stone on corner lots, 
but the improving of land, and cultivation of fruits, 
we have sadly neglected. I do not wish to have it 
understood that we have entirely neglected this, 
Dut, as the boys say, “ we have come so near to it 
there is no fun in it.” If there are people anywhere 
who can see their past errors, we are the ones ; and 
we are bound to retrieve. 
If you have any more young men without means, 
and. who are too lazy to work, tell them this is the 
“ doomed city ” for all such. But if they are honest, 
intelligent and industrious, (with a little capital,) 
this country is the paradise they seek. “ It flows 
(not overflows) with milk and honey”—at five 
cents per quart, and twenty cents per pound. Come 
out and help supply our markets. 
I shall probably set out about ten acres to small 
fruit the coming season, and shall want to ask some 
questions in my next letter. Yours Truly, 
Keokuk, Iowa, 1859. J. R. Tewksbury. 
- 4 - 0 -*- - 
COWS HOLDING THEIR MILK. 
Eds. Rural :—In a January number of your val¬ 
uable paper I noticed a few remarks by Daniel B. 
Hadley relative to “ cows holding up their milk,” 
and his remedy for the same, by milking “ with 
one hand at a time.” “This,” he says, “may 
seem trivial of itself,” and so it seemed to me; but 
as I had two just such cows, I concluded to try it. 
And I did so, and not without effect—for after 
stripping them several times, I was nearly discour¬ 
aged of ever succeeding until the calves had first 
been gratified. Upon seeing what he had written, 
and doing as directed, I was well pleased with the 
result,—I conquered. Let me take this opportunity 
of returning to him my hearty thanks for his use¬ 
ful information. I would recommend to all who 
keep such cows, and wish to raise the calves, to 
try this simple plan of imitating the calf as nearly 
as possible by “milking with one hand at a time” 
before giving up their attempts as fruitless. Two 
or three times’ milking in this manner, will be suffi¬ 
cient, in most cases, to break them of their habit. 
— E. L. Armstrong, Southern Wisconsin, 1859. 
The Robin.—Shall lie tie I£illed ? 
At a meeting of the Massachusetts Horticul¬ 
tural Society, early in 1858, a resolution was intro¬ 
duced authorizing the President of that Society to 
petition the Legislature for a repeal of the laws 
prohibiting the killing and destroying of the robin. 
This motion was laid on the table, but a Committee 
was appointed to ipvestigate and learn the habits 
of the robin, and report. The Committee reported 
the present spring. We give in brief the results of 
the Committee’s investigations as reported by its 
Chairman, Prof. J. W. P. Jenks, and found in the 
Society’s Journal: 
1st. Early in March numbers of this bird made 
their appearance in this vicinity; but until the 
second week in April, only the male birds. 
2d. The gizzards of those killed in the morning, 
were, as a rule, either entirely empty, or but par¬ 
tially distended with food, well macerated; while 
those killed in the latter part of the day were as 
uniformly filled with food freshly taken. 
3d. From the almost daily examination of their 
gizzards, from the early part of March to the first 
of May, not a particle of vegetable matter was 
found in the gizzard of a single bird. On the con¬ 
trary, insects in great variety, both as to number 
and kind, as well as in every variety of condition 
as to growth and development, were the sole food. 
But nine-tenths of the aggregate mass of food 
thus collected during this period consisted of one 
kind of larva, which through the aid of Baron Ostcn- 
sacken, Secretary of the Russian Legation at Wash¬ 
ington, I was enabled to identify as the Bibio 
albipennis, Say, and whose history and habits, by 
the aid of Dr. Asa Fitch, Entomologist of the New 
York State Agricultural Society, I was enabled to 
make out quite satisfactorily. From one to two 
hundred of this larva were frequently taken from 
a single gizzard, all in fresh, unmacerated condi¬ 
tion ; and usually, when this larva was found, it 
was the only food in the stomach. 
4th. During the month of May, the Bibio larva 
entirely disappeared from the gizzards, but, up to 
the 21st of June, was replaced by a variety of in¬ 
sects or worms only, including spiders, caterpil¬ 
lars and beetles of the family Elateridae, the parents 
of the well-known wire-worms, so destructive to 
corn and various other seeds when committed to 
the ground. The earth-worm I found to be a 
favorite food for the young bird, but sparingly em¬ 
ployed by the adult for its own use. 
5th. From the date of June 21st, I began to find 
strawberries, cherries' and pulpy fruit generally, 
but in a majority of the examinations intermingled 
with insects, which led me to conclude that they 
were not fond of an exclusively vegetable diet, but 
rather adopted it as a dessert, and from the ease of 
procuring it, particularly during the enervating 
season of moulting. At this season of the year, I 
discovered a marked difference in the food of the 
birds killed near or in the village and those killed 
in the country at a distance from gardens and fruit 
trees, the latter having less of stone fruit and more 
of insects in their gizzards, which led me to con¬ 
clude that the robin is not an extensive forager. 
6th. The mixed diet of the robin seems to con¬ 
tinue from the ripening of the strawberries and 
cherries to October, the vegetable portion consist¬ 
ing during August and September, in great part of 
elderberries (Sambucus canadensis) and pokeber- 
ries (Phytolacca decandra.) 
7th. During the month of October the vegetable 
diet is wholly discarded, and its place supplied by 
grasshoppers and onhopterous insects generally. 
8th. Early in November the robin migrates south¬ 
ward—the few remaining eking out a miserable 
existence during the winter months, on bay berries, 
(Myrica cerifera,) privet berries (Ligustrum vul- 
gare,) and juniper berries (Juuiperus communis.) 
Potato Planting. 
Hon. A. B. Dickinson, of Steuben Co., this 
State, furnishes the New York Tribune with the 
following mode of preventing the potato rot:— 
“ Cut each potato so as to leave but two eyes on 
each piece, and make that piece as thin as is prac¬ 
ticable without injuring the chit or set. If you 
plant in drills, put these pieces twelve inches apart; 
if in hills, put three in a hill. Of course, the core 
of the potato—three-fourths of its bulk, if a large 
one — is left to be eaten or otherwise disposed of. 
By this mode the seed goes far, and, should it 
attempt to rot, it can do comparatively little harm. 
A large, whole potato will send up larger and more 
vigorous stalks, but will give no ampler yield. As 
a further preventive against rot, Mr. D. gives his 
potato and most other seeds a thin coating of tar, 
applied as follows :—Pour a pintof tar into ten gal¬ 
lons of boiling water, and stir till thoroughly dis¬ 
solved. Soak five bushels of potato seed, cut as 
already indicated, in this tar-water. Now roll in 
plaster, taking up as much of it as possible, and 
your seed is ready for planting.” 
Effect of Climate on Wool.— -T. Fanning, Presi¬ 
dent of Franklin College, Tenn., in replying, through the 
Southern Homestead, to Mr. Cockrill’s “challenge” in 
regard to Saxon sheep, says:—“ The effect of a warm 
climate, is to thin out and shorten the fibre, and lighten 
the fleece, take the wool from the limbs and under por¬ 
tions of the body, and substitute rough and hairy locks, 
particularly about the hips, neck, etc. In higher lati¬ 
tudes, sheep are more compact and uniform in the 
fleece over the whole body, and the yield is perhaps 
double that of Southern flocks. As we approach the North 
Pole, in order to prevent the escape of animal heat, the 
Almighty makes the fibre finer and astonishingly 
softens and thickens it over the body. This is exem¬ 
plified in all the animal creation. Even the wolf, that 
is here a bristly beast, in the North is clothed with line, 
soft fur; and there is not a fur-producing animal whose 
fibre is not finer and softer to the touch in the North 
than in the South.” 
Steam Cultivation. —Under the head of “ Keddy’s 
Patent Traction Engine, Steam Plow and Laud Culti¬ 
vation Company,” an advertisement appears in the 
Chicago papers, which says:—“ This Company has for 
its object the development of the above system of Steam 
Cultivation in the State of Illinois, and will, in May 
next, be prepared to contract for the cultivation of farms, 
break prairie, and supply machines to purchasers.” 
This looks like being ready for work, though many have 
no faith in plowing by steam, while some pronounce 
the idea a stupendous humbug. Let up wait and see 
what time and genius will accomplish. 
Tiie Weather has been quite boisterous—with snow, 
rain and high winds—for some days past, and of course 
unfavorable for out door operations. March not only 
“ went out like a lion,” but as we write (April 5th) the 
alternate snow and sleet, and chill blasts, convince us 
that the animal is still roving, and that “ the Winter of 
our discontent” is not yet “made glorious Summer," 
nor Spring, and that wo must wait patiently, we trust 
not long, for bright sunshine and a balmy atmosphere. 
Slick Up.—Y es, that’s the phrase— slick up the 
whole premises. Now’s the time to clean up about the 
house, barn, garden and farm generally. Slick up the 
door yard, and all the other yards, —fields, fences, build¬ 
ings, and so forth. After “slicking up” things once, 
you will not only feel a vast deal better, and have an 
easier conscience, but will find it a comparatively trifling 
task to keep things “ to rights.” A little time and labor 
now will accomplish much, and if you, Mr. Husband 
and Father, think anything of your family, and wish to 
make home pleasant and attractive to wife, children 
and friends, you will act sensibly and wisely and sliok 
up tiir homestead. 
The Coming Wheat Crop.—C ol. JonxsoN, Secretary 
of the N. Y. State Ag. Society, has made the following 
estimate of the comparative yield of the Wheat Crop 
of 1858 and 1S59, in the United States—predicated, wo 
presume, upon the probable number of acres sown : 
Estimated product for 1858. 1859, 
New York.22,000.000 20,100,000 
Pennsylvania.20.000,000 20,000.000 
Virginia.20,000,000 18,500,000 
Kentucky.10,000,000 8,500.000 
Ohio.25.000,000 22.000,000 
Indiana .15,000,000 13.000.000 
Illinois.18.00n,00) 14,500.000 
Other States.50,000,000 42,000,000 
Pennsylvania.20.000,000 20,000.000 
Virginia.20,000,000 18,500,000 
Kentucky.10,000,000 8,500,000 
Ohio.25.000,000 22.000,000 
Indiana .15,000,000 18.000.000 
Illinois.18.000,00) 14,500.000 
Other States.50,000,000 42,000,000 
Total.180,000,000 158,500,000 
Col. Samuel Jacques, for many years a distinguished 
agriculturist and horticulturist, died at his residence, 
Ten Hills Farm, Somerville, Mass., on the 27th ult., in 
the 83d year of his age. Col. J. was widely and favorably 
known as a stock-breeder. As early as 1820 he took a 
prominent lead in cattle, and in breeding Short-horns. 
He also paid considerable attention to the improvement 
of horses—having kept the celebrated imported horse 
Bellfounder (Norfolk Trotter) from 1822 to 1828, and 
subsequently, for two seasons, the famous Sherman 
Morgan, the sire of Vermont Black Hawk. Col. J. was 
also for several years a prominent and successful breeder 
of Merino and other breeds of sheep. 
Going to Europe Again.— We learn that Sanford 
Howard, Esq., of the Boston Cultivator, purposes to 
leave for Europe on the 4th of May, in the Arabia. Mr. 
Howard visited Europe last season, and wo presumo 
similar business—that of selecting and purchasing im¬ 
proved stock, for which he is eminently qualified— 
induces the trip contemplated. May he have a pleasant 
and prosperous journey, and safe return. 
New Potato Digger.— Wc have been shown a work¬ 
ing model of a potato digger recently patented by Mr. 
Robert Niven, of this county, which appears to supply 
a long-sought desideratum. The machine was thor¬ 
oughly tested last season, before application was mado 
for a patent, and is said to fulfil its design admirably. 
The model certainly works well, and we predict that 
“ Niven’s Potato Digger” will prove a success. 
An Extensive Farmer. — It is said that Jacob 
Strawn, of Rockford, Ill., went to that State twenty-five 
years ago, a poor man, and has by industry and perse- 
vereancc become one of the most wealthy and promi¬ 
nent farmers in the Union. He has reduced to cultiva¬ 
tion over 30,000 acres of land, and lias now one farm of 
7,800 acres, and another of 10,000. He usually employs 
from 200 to 300 men, and till recently has stalled from 
5,000 to 6,000 head of cattle every year. 
Location of An ary.—E. W. Ppelps says:—“ I al¬ 
ways prefer an eastern aspect, or one bearing a little 
south of east, as this gives the bees the influence of the 
sun in the morning, or fore part of the day, when it is 
beneficial to them, and during the middle of the day it 
will not be as oppressive as when the hives are fronting 
the south. Whatever the aspect may be, the hives 
should never be exposed to the rays of the sun during 
the middle of the day, excepting in April and May. 
The Address delivered before the N. Y. State Ag 
Society, at the Annual Meeting, Feb. 10th, 1859, by Wm. 
T. McCouN,the retiring President, and that of Abraham 
B. Conger, on taking the Chair as President elect, liavo 
been published in a handsome pamphlet by the Society, 
and are sensible and appropriate. Wo are indebted to 
Mr. Secretary Johnson for a copy. 
A Bill to Prevent Cruf.lty to Animals has passed 
the Mass. Legislature, and been approved by the Gov¬ 
ernor. It provides that “ Every person who shall cruelly 
beat, maim, or torture any animal, shall be punished by 
imprisonment in the county jail or house of correction 
for not more than one year, or by a fine not exceeding 
one hundred dollars.” 
Col. Joxa. Read, of Brooklyn, N. Y., died last week, 
aged 87 years. The N. Y. Tribune says ho was the 
inventor of the first reaping machine built, and of many 
other machines now in use; also that he was the first 
to introduce the Lima bean into this country, importing 
it himself from Lima in 1800. 
A Self-Raking Rearer has recently been invented 
and patented by C. R. Brinckeriioff, of Batavia, N. 
Y. From an examination of a working model, we are 
inclined to think the machine comprises some very- 
valuable features —the raking attachment operating 
very perfectly. 
A Wise Law.— Michigan lias passed an act donating 
40 acres of land to every actual settler who shall reside 
upon the same for five years continuously. Michigan 
is a good State to settle in, aside from such enactment, 
and many emigrants “ go farther and fare worse.” 
Rap.ev, the American Horse Tamer, still flourishes. 
He lately gave four demonstrations of bis skill in Brus¬ 
sels, handling nine horses, one of them a very wicked 
piebald mare, and the gray savage par excellence of 
the army, who had been regularly thrown for eight 
years to be shod. It was full twenty minutes before the 
fore leg could be got up; but when all was over, his 
groom took them up outside just as he liked. There 
were 250 subscribers, and of these 84 were officers sent 
in by the Government. Five of the Royal family were 
among the subscribers, all of whom were of course de¬ 
lighted with the “ performance.” He was next going to 
Berlin. By-the-way, what has become of Rarey’s 
pupils and imitators in this country? Have all our wild 
horses been tamed—or is it true, as some assert, that 
wc have few vicious animals here, compared with those ^ 
in the old world, and if so, why ? 
The Steuben Co. (N. Y.) Fair is to be held ou the 
28lh, 29th and 30th days of September next. 
JMy-. * 
