VOLUME III. NO. 33. I 
■} WHOLE NO. 137 
Slgrimltural Depnrtnmit. 
PSd'GBESS AND IJIPKOVKftffKNT. 
| WHEAT CULTURE.- PREMIUM CROPS. 
J| Those of our readers who have not ready 
| access to the last volume of the “ Transac¬ 
tions of the N. Y. State Ag. Society,” may 
be bonefitod by a summary of the premi- 
| um wheat crops therein reported, and a 
j condcnsod account of the valuable state- 
I ments of the mode of culturo which resulted 
] in their production. And, to nono of our 
farming friends will it be without interest 
to review the practice pursued by several of 
our most successful farmers, in growing the 
great staple crop of this section of the 
country. 
The first premium of $20, was awai’ded 
j to Wm. Hotchkiss, of Lewiston, Niagara 
Co., for six and three-fourth acres of wheat, 
harvested in 1850, averaging sixty-three and 
one-half bushels per acre. The soil upon 
which it grew is described as mostly black 
loam; the remainder, from one to two acres, 
of a gravelly soil. The previous crop raised 
on the field was wheat, harvested in 1848, 
yielding about twenty bushels per aero—no 
manure was given for several years previous, 
except what was furnished by breaking up 
the clover meadow which occupied the 
ground, and the wash from tho public road 
which lies above it. 
This field was first plowed in the fall of 
1848, then cultivated and harrowed in June, 
I 1849, and cross plowed and harrowed again 
in August. Then upon two and a half acres 
at tho west and gravelly part of the lot, 
fifty loads of well rotted barn-yard manure 
were applied and plowed in, in six-pace 
lands, the last of August. Forty bushels of 
slaked lime were then spread over the field 
and thoroughly harrowed in. Tho quantity 
of seed sown, was two bushels per acre. It 
was drilled in on the seventh of September, 
and tho field was then furrowed out and the 
wator-courses kept clear through the season, 
j The yield, as before stated, was 63 J bushels 
por acre, or 385$ bushels for the wholo field. 
The not valuo of tho wheat was $1,00 per 
bushel, and tho expenso of cultivation, ex¬ 
clusive of manure, lime and seed, is esti¬ 
mated by Mr. II. at $47,05, and at a wide 
ostimate for these, a profit is show of more 
than $250 on the whole crop. Tho Soule’s 
variety of wheat was grown in this instance, 
j This, on tho wdiolo, is one of the most 
| remarkable and profitable crops of which 
| we have any rocord. 
Tho second premium of $15, was awarded 
to S. L. Thompson, of Sotauket, L. I., for 
forty-four bushels and twenty-four quarts 
por acre of Australian wheat. Tho field 
I (of two acres) was a sandy loam, somowdiat 
j exhausted by previous cropping. The crops 
previous to tho wheat were two crops of 
corn manured in tho hill, followed by oats 
j without manure. Thirty loads of barn- 
| yard manure, and 150 lbs. of Peruvian gu- 
j ano, were applied por acre; and a bushel 
i and twelve quarts of golden Australian 
wheat, sown broad-cast, on tho 23d of Sept. 
1849, and harrowed in. Tho yield was as 
above stated, but a measured bushel of the 
grain weighed 631 lbs., and the estimate is 
made by weight. The exponso of cultiva¬ 
ting tho crop, seed, manure, &c., included, 
was $49,82 £ per acre. The wheat was sold 
for seed at $5 per bushel, and tho straw 
was worth $5 por aero. At tho market 
price, $1,25 per bushel, tho profit on the 
crop would amount to only about $20 per 
acre, but an allowance should be made for 
unexhuasted manuro which would benefit 
succeeding crops. 
The third premium of $5, was awarded 
to Justus White, of Jolferson Co., on four 
acres of Gonoseo Bald whoat, producing 
forty and one-half bushels per acre. His 
land was a black, gravelly soil, plowed three 
times and well harrowed,—manured with 
twenty-five bushels of barn-yard manure 
per acre, plowed in at tho second plowing. 
Two bushels of seed were sown por acre on 
the 4th of September, 1849, broad-cast and 
harrowed in, harvested on tho 25th of July, 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1852. 
--'""•-"-T 
and yielding at the rate above stated. Tho 
expenso account is rather imperfectly made 
out, so that we cannot found any calcula¬ 
tions of comparative profit on the result. 
The wheat drillod in gave the largest 
yield. The limed land gave the greatest 
product. Here is one argument in favor of 
drilling in wheat, and of the application of 
lime to the soil, and many other instances 
could be brought to substantiate their valuo. 
Rich, well manured soils, and thorough 
preparation and culture are required to pro¬ 
duce large and profitable crops of this, or 
any other agricultural product. Let the 
lesson bo heeded by those who would live 
by the plow. 
JUDGING OF SOILS. 
The soil may be defined as that portion 
of the earth in which plants are developed, 
and which is usually turned up hythe plow 
in cultivation. That portion immediately 
beneath this, and partaking generally in the 
like constituents is termed tho svbsoil. Two 
kinds of principles unite in forming tho soil; 
some are of vegetable and animal origin, 
tho others of mineral. These last forms, 
properly, tho earth, and constitute its ac¬ 
tivity; tho first give it fertility. To yield 
abundant crops a soil should possess activity 
in proportion to its richness, but the former 
most commonly predominates, and hence 
the need of manures. Few soils possess 
organic matter in excess. When thoy do 
tho crops lodgo, and when this matter is 
wanting, vegetation is always thin and scanty. 
Yet the valuo of the soil does not wholly 
depend upon its constituent elements. The 
depth and situation of the soil, and tho na¬ 
ture of the subsoil affect in a greater or less 
degree, its fertility and value. So, we may 
not judgo of or classify soils, at least in re¬ 
lation to their ultimate value, without con¬ 
sidering something more than the simplo 
elements which compose them. But a 
thorough acquaintance with these elements 
is of much importance, in enabling tho far¬ 
mer to understand the crops they will best 
produco, and tho ameliorators and manures 
which aro necessary to their greatest pro¬ 
ductiveness. 
STATE FAIR OF ’51. —ITS PREMIUMS, &c. 
Editoiis Rural :—Every individual who 
endeavors to point out errors in any public 
Association, or find fault with its manage¬ 
ment, is in duty bound to suggest a better 
plan, and point out a remedy for the evil 
complained of. It is well known that there 
exists amongst the producers, a great dis¬ 
satisfaction relative to the management of 
the State Agricultural Society, and especial¬ 
ly tho Fair of ’51 and the premiums then 
awarded. 
Tho object of tho Society is to promote 
useful improvement, and oncourage tho 
practical operator in vigilant perseveronce, 
and tho premiums aro intended as a stimu¬ 
lus to improvement, and a reward for merit. 
It is well known that there aro many 
wealthy and enterprising farmers who do not 
need a premium to stimulate them to im¬ 
provement,—but they, having the means to 
feed and herd, much better than thoso who 
have to live by the plow generally, it enables 
them to take tho premiums on stock.— 
Would these gentlemen follow the laudable 
example of the lato President of tho Soci¬ 
ety, and exhibit, but not for premiums, it 
would promote the interest, and very much 
increaso tho usefulness of tho Society. 
Imported animals ought to be exhibited 
in a class by themselves, and not allowed to 
be competitors with tho home-bred stock. 
If wo may judge from the prices put on 
them, the importers think them much supe¬ 
rior to the home-bred opes ; if so there can¬ 
not be any honor or justice in having them 
competitors with those believed to be so 
much inferior. 
The Premium List for ’52 is much prefer¬ 
able to former ones, yet I think that it is 
susceptible of improvement; the premiums 
on stock aro much too largo in proportion 
to other things, and too few of them for tho 
number of competitors. Mako them less 
in amount and more in number, and it will j 
call out more competitors, and give much ' 
more general satisfaction. And no one ; 
ought to be allowed to take more than one 
premium in the same class ; giving an indi¬ 
vidual first, second, and third premiums 
makes the Fair a profitable festival to a few, 
to the exclusion of tho many. 
Last season there was much confusion 
and loss of time caused by not adhering 
strictly to the business on the Fair ground. 
Monday and Tuesday were tho entering 
days, yet animals and articles were received 
on Wednesday, and some on Thursday, 
which ought not to bo permitted. Prompt- \ 
ness in action must be strictly adhered to 
in all long exhibitions—nothing should be 
admitted after Tuesday, unless some acci¬ 
dent prevented its being there in time.— 
And the Committees ought all to be filled ! 
on Tuesday, and they commence their ar- ; 
duous duties on Wednesday morning.— j 
Thero is no reason why their important j 
business should be put off until the elev- j 
onth hour, thon to bo hurried through with j 
confusion. 
Tho funds of tho society ought to be j 
managed with rigid economy. Those who j 
have special duties to perform ought to bo j 
remunerated, but those who have not ought 1 
to meet tho producers on the Fair ground, i 
on the strict principles of equality. And I j 
know no good reason why a refreshment ! 
tent should bo provided at the expense of 
the Society, when ono tenth of the practi¬ 
cal operators who make the exhibition can¬ 
not be accommodated at it. It opens too 
wide a door for special favoritism, and looks 
too much like aristocratical distinction, to 
suit Yankee Farmers. t. d. 
Remarks. — Although it is too late to 
amend the premium list of the State Soci¬ 
ety, yet we give T. D.’s communication as 
furnishing some hints of valuo for future 
operations. Besides, wo think tho premium 
list for 1852, much better calculated to sub¬ 
serve the general interests of Agriculture 
than any previous one has been. —Ed. 
East Bloomfif.li>. Ontario Co., N. Y. 7 
August 2, 1852. j 
Mr. Moore : Dear Sir, —The following paper 
was read before the “East Bloomfield Farmer’s 
Club,” at a late meeting, .by Mr. Wm. H. Lewis, 
and a copy of the same solicited for publication 
in your most excellent Rural, which is herewith 
transmitted, and is at your disposal. 
Yours, with respect, E. M. Bradley. 
“ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER - ’ TO THE FARMER. 
That “ Knowledge is Power ” is ono of ! 
thoso facts so clearly and undoniably estab¬ 
lished that few can bo found who will at¬ 
tempt to argue the poi,ntf*tiU less to deny 
the truth asserted,—yet until very recently, 
it was an astounding fact, that by far the j 
most numorous and decidedly the most use- i 
ful class in civili/.od society, had an utter j 
contempt for scientific knowledge as con- ! 
nected with Agriculture. To such an extent 
did this feeling blind and warp the judg¬ 
ment of tho masses, most deeply interested 
in tho real prosperity of tho country,—nay, 
■the very owners of her soil — that they ridi¬ 
culed and looked with contempt upon those 
few master minds who had conquered their 
prejudices, and who assertod their convic¬ 
tion, that a knowledge of the sciences was 
as useful and important to agriculture as to 
any other calling or profession. 
“ ’Tis strange, ’tis passing strange,” that 
this contempt has been incurred; and that 
its banoful influence still continues among a 
very numerous and otherwise intelligent 
community is too true, 
“ And pity ’tis, 'tis true.” 
That tho term “ Book-farmer” should over 
have been applied as a term of reproach is 
ono of those anomalies, whose origin it is 
not necessary to ascertain, but we may rest 
assurod that the time is not far distant when 
such a radical change will occur, that the 
Agriculturist who has acquired the most 
useful, practical and scientific knowledge, 
now so widely spread and so readily attain¬ 
ed, will be looked up to as a most honorable 
and most useful member of society. 
That, during the last fifty years, science j 
has oxtendod its influences through every | 
ramification of civilized society, no one will : 
daro deny; and that it is exerting a power¬ 
ful influence for good, over every de¬ 
scription of agricultural product, I imagine i 
will not be difficult to establish. And in at¬ 
tempting this, I think it advisable to confine 
my few observations to American Agricul¬ 
ture, thereby hoping to avoid prejudice, 
which is the stumbling block in the way of 
all improvement. 
I do not imagine that, in educated Ameri¬ 
ca, in the 19th century, it will bo necessary 
for me to attempt to prove that the nature 
of man, as shown in all history of human j 
society, is capable of being brought nearest j 
mental and bodily perfection, by love and | 
reward, and wide-spread intelligence, and 
consequently that fear and ignorance, have 
ever been the fetters that havo bound both 
mind and body. 
I do not think I can commence at a more 
suitable period, or from a better authority, 
than from a paragraph contained in the cir¬ 
cular of tho New York State Agricultural 
Society for 1841 : 
“By collecting together tho practical 
knowledge of our best farmers and garden¬ 
ers, in their respective branches of labor, 
a very valuable fund of information will be 
obtained, which, while it impoverishes not 
tho contributors, cannot fail to aid very 
greatly the community at large. Such con¬ 
tributions, like the offerings of charity, are 
blessed to the giver, as well as the receiver; 
it is a satisfaction, perhaps somewhat pecu¬ 
liar to the philanthropic tiller of the soil, that 
while ho is improving by intelligence, sci¬ 
ence, and industry, his own temporal and 
moral condition, he is, by his example, bene¬ 
fiting those around him, and that his bene¬ 
factions in this way are co-extensive with 
the knowledge and importance of his im¬ 
provement.” 
Here is, perhaps, the very corner stone of 
uniting science with practical farming, and 
tho consequent improvement in every de¬ 
scription of farm implements. Union is 
strength, and I think that every intelligent 
farmer must confess, that the State Society, 
together with the various local societies, are 
perhaps the best possible means of ascer¬ 
taining, combining, and laying clearly be¬ 
fore?. the agriculturist, the most scientific, 
profitable, and practicable systems of farm¬ 
ing pursued in every part of the world.— 
The more these societies engage the atten¬ 
tion of farmers in general, the more rapid 
will scientific knowledge extend, and there¬ 
by enable the studious and industrious far¬ 
mer to excel in his profession. 
So important is union, that thore 'can be 
no doubt, that when the majority of this 
most important class of society shall awake 
from their lethargy, and support these so¬ 
cieties, from a conviction of their being the 
suro and only means of gaining the most 
extensive scientific knowledge, and publish¬ 
ing the same periodically—then, and not till 
then, will the farmers of this State, have 
the power of claiming that protection and 
attention from the State, which their num¬ 
bers, intelligence, and capital employed, 
justly ontitle them to,—that is, an Agricul¬ 
tural College. This, if once established up¬ 
on a broad and liberal foundation, would be 
the means of immediately raising farming 
to that honorable position of society, falsely 
supposed to bo only obtained by employ¬ 
ment in what is termed the professions. 
The agriculturists of New York have every 
reason to bo proud of their State Society. 
So early as 1841,'they succeeded in obtain¬ 
ing from the Legislature $8,000 per annum 
for five years, which has been renowed, for 
tho advancement of agriculture, which never 
would have been obtained, had there been 
no union of interest established. But the 
pecuinary advantage obtained for tho far¬ 
mer, through their State Society, falls into 
insignificance, when compared to tho im¬ 
mense scientific and practical information 
obtained by their encouragement and per¬ 
severance. Witness their continued suc¬ 
cess up to the present timo see the interest 
their Fair and Annual Meeting excite thuo’ 
tho length and breath of the State, calling 
together tho intelligent farmers from every 
city, town, and hamlet, all emulating each 
other in producing the best and most choice 
description of every variety of art and na¬ 
ture connected with their profession. — 
Does not this show that it is a truth beyond 
all doubt, and as gratifying as it is true, that 
the number of intelligent, scientific, and 
wealthy farmers, has greatly increased with¬ 
in the last few years ? Does it not also 
prove that the really intelligent farmers are 
showing new life and vigor, and are acting 
as though they were resolved to unite their 
energies, and place their own profession in 
honor,—where it belongs in fact, among the 
most useful, scientific, happy and healthful 
occupations of man ? w. n. l. 
Tall Timothy. — Messrs. Editors: —I no¬ 
ticed last summer, in some agricultural pa¬ 
per, an account of somo Timothy heads 9| 
inches in length, which were thought to be 
mammoths. I think I have the start this 
time, and I enclose six heads from one stool, 
which had thirty heads of various lengths— 
tho united length of the six being 5 feet 
If inches.. 
Who says Western New York is not good 
for raising grass ? Trot them out. 
George W. Rowell. 
Somerset, Niagara Co., N. Y., 1852. 
SYSTEM IN FARMING. 
Success in farming, as in every other op¬ 
eration, is a consequence of order, system^ 
and thoroughness. Tho following extract 
from ai^address before the Oakland (Mich.) 
County Agricultural Society, by Hon. J. B. 
Hunt, pictures to tho life, the practice of the 
Makedo family, who undertake farming.— 
It also gives at a glance, tho requisites to 
success: 
There is no great branch of business car¬ 
ried on at tho present day, which is man¬ 
aged with as little system as farming. On 
looking over the whole country, how few 
you find who conduct the whole operation 
right. We aro happy to say, that wo can 
find many successful farmers among them, 
but they fall infinitely short of what they 
should be. The whole business appears to 
be carried on without any certainty; not 
one farmer in ten knows the exact quantity 
of land he has in each field on the farm, 
and when he has sown his seed, he is not 
certain whether he has put on a bushel or a 
bushel and a half to the acre of wheat— 
whether he has put on six or ten quarts of 
grass seed to the acre; and when the grain 
is cut he cannot tell how many bushels he 
has grown to the acre; it is guess work all 
around. 
Another great defect is, wo undertake the 
cultivation of too much land each season— 
we have not sufficient force to carry it out 
—we are compelled to hurry the work— 
leave one thing unfinished to commence 
another which is in a moro suffering condi¬ 
tion ; and in this way the wholo is slighted 
and run over. We undertake to put in a 
large crop of wheat, and for that purpose 
the team is divided, if moro than one, and 
if there is but one team, the plowing is done 
as shallow as possible, to hasten tho process, 
instead of taking time and plowing deep.— 
Wo put in a large crop of com when we 
have not manure for more than half of it, 
and not half hands enough to give it a thor¬ 
ough hoeing. Large meadows and little 
grass, because the ground has been worn 
out in raising wheat years before. The 
fences are allowed to rot down, because 
there is such a long string of it. The bushes 
grow up over the fences, because thero is so 
much other work to be attended to, and so 
the bushes are put off to a moro convenient 
season ; all goes on in this slovenly manner. 
We have a class of men who call thomsolves 
farmers, who make tho street their cow- 
yard in the summer, and frequently thro’- 
out the year ; while the hog-pen is made to 
grace the door yard. With such men, ma¬ 
nure has no value, deep plowing is all folly, 
and ditching does not pay. 
Wo would not, if wo were capable of do¬ 
ing so, give a system of farming on an oc¬ 
casion like this ; but thero are certain load¬ 
ing features, to which the attention of evory 
farmer should be called, although they are 
perfectly well known to every man who has 
over worked on a farm, and almost as uni¬ 
versally neglected as they aro known; and 
l yet they are tho foundation of his sue- 
