MO 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
acres, in this street, of land that is worth 
$200 per acre. There is another street 
running parallel with this, and east of it 
sixteen rods originally, in width. The for¬ 
mer of these, has a row of very largo elms 
on each side. The houses look rather an¬ 
cient. Hadley though a rich town in soil 
and wealth, exhibits but little of the mod¬ 
ern spirit of enterprise and change. There 
is an old academy here—not very flourish¬ 
ing- 
Northampton is one of the most delight¬ 
ful inland towns in New England, aye more, 
I hardly know a more delightful town in 
our country. The “ Queen of Song ex¬ 
hibited her good taste in seeking a residence 
here, after having visited the most famous 
towns and cities of our Republic. Here 
the celebrated Jonathan Edwards, the 
greatest metaphysician that our country 
has yet produced, once lived and preached, 
until excluded Irom his pulpit for heresy, 
or its like, then so considered. 
Round Hill, where was located a school 
in which our great Historian was employed 
as a master or tutor, is one of earth s most 
favored spots. But I must forego further 
remark, having filled my sheet. J o those 
who have visited this beautiful town, enough 
has been said to quicken tho recollection ol 
the past—to others no pen can do the sub¬ 
ject ample justice. 
Northampton, Mass., August 20, 1852. 
CHESS COMES FROM WHEAT- 
Eds. Ne^v Yorker :—I have never been 
perfectly satisfied that “ chess comes from 
wheat,” though I have had sufficient evidence 
of a character to warrant a verdict in tho af¬ 
firmative from an J intelligentjury. Asthisis 
believed by very many and disbelieved by a 
great many more, the subject is worth fur¬ 
ther investigation. Let it bo an established 
fact, and a knowledge of the cause and a 
preventive will be the next subject for re¬ 
search. I know two old and reputablo citi¬ 
zens in different sections of this State, each 
of whom doclaro they have seen wheat and 
chess growing on the same stalk,—which 
was preserved a long time, and convinced 
all who saw them that such was really tho 
fact. This was twenty or more years ago. 
The subject has been often discussed, but 
just now there seems a willingness on the 
part of believers to drop the controversy.— 
Yet, but for an ill wind you would havo had 
a witness in your office, standing out in bold 
relief. A neighbor of mine, and a sub¬ 
scriber to the Rural, —a practical farmer, 
and of undoubted veracity,—says that while 
walking in his wheatfield with his brother- 
in-law, Jno. T. White, of West Walworth, 
N. Y., he discovered a head of wheat with 
a sprig of chess growing out of the side of 
it. Mr. W.’s attention being called to the 
fact, they both examined the surrounding 
grain before plucking this head, and could 
find no chess in any direction nearer than 
ten or twelve feet. Here are two persons 
convinced just as you and I would bo, be¬ 
cause they were compelled to believe the 
evidence of their own senses. Ho has 
shown it to many of his neighbors,—and 
finally in order to make an example of it in 
the office of tho Rural, placed it safely (?) 
in the crown of his hat where a man would 
hardly deposit a $10 bank note for safe 
keeping.—though the head of wheat was 
worth ten times that amount if it carried 
with it undoubtable evidence that “chess 
comes from wheat.” Tho head was of fair 
size, well stored with its legitimate grain, 
and out of tho sido grew tho sprig of chess, 
containing five grains, perfectly developed. 
So I am told, and I regret very much that I 
had not an opportunity of seeing it, and 
more that it was lost before it reached you. 
I should be still more incredulous did I not 
know the individuals, and know them to bo 
abundantly capable of investigating a mat¬ 
ter of that kind. 
By some it is believed that chess will not 
vegetate, it has, however, been proven that 
it will,—that fact is settled. I planted some 
in the spring and it grew luxuriantly but 
did not seed that year and the roots were 
eradicated in the fall. I have regretted that 
I did not let it grow to maturity tho next 
season, for it is confidently asserted that 
the succeeding crop from chess will be Tim¬ 
othy. Some believe that this plant follows 
an oat crop which has been seeded to grass 
or clover,—of this I have been “ almost per¬ 
suaded ” by my own experience. Nothing 
interposed to prevent a firm conviction that 
such was the fact, but tho possibility that 
the fiend of the chess had lain dormant four 
or five years, as there could have been no 
c&ess £QWi with the oats or grass seed.— 
The field had been two years in clover after 
wheat-; one se&scn in corn, followed by oats 
and seeded down. With this last seeding 
came a crop of chess. 
Will the readers of the Rural throw out 
what light they havo on the subject. 
West Macedon, N. Y., Aug, 23d, 1852, I. W. B. 
Piscretion is the perfection of reason- 
IMPROVED STOCK-SHORT-HORNS. 
The following, communicated to the Wool 
Grower and Stock Register for September, 
by S. P. Chapman, Esq., of Madison Co., 
breathes the right spirit in regard to test¬ 
ing the merits of tho different improved 
breeds of cattle: 
It is truly gratifying to every friend of im¬ 
provement to witness the increasing interest which 
is being manifested for improved animals of all 
kinds. Those of high blood are now accessible to 
the farmer in almost every section of this State, 
at least, and they are quietly, yet successfully 
establishing themselves in all parts of our country. 
The prospect is, indeed, most cheering to those 
who have long labored to bring about this great 
result, and they have the satisfaction of knowing, 
that their expenditure of time and means will ere 
long be fully appreciated. 
There is now seemingly but one great hindrance 
to the speedy adoption of some of the improved 
breeds of cattle, almost universally, by all of our 
bckt farmers. This, perhaps, I may say, is a sort 
of petty jealousy among the breeders of the various 
improved breeds. This is far from being right, 
and operates greatly to retard improvement. We j 
are all exceedingly apt to consider our own the 
best, and our favorite breed preferable to all 
others. This, in a measure, is as it should be.— 
But should we not extend the same generous 
privilege to our neighbors ? I have a fine herd of 
Short-homs. I believe them to be the best breed 
of cattle in the world. My neighbor has the 
Devons. He holds the same opinion in regard to 
them. Now, let me ask, what benefit is it to 
ourselves or to the public, to quarrel about this 
matter, as to which is the best ? Rather let us 
unite, and afford each other all the aid and 
encouragement in our power, to extend this great 
work of improvement 
Suppose my Devon friend sends some of his 
fine animals to another part of the country. The 
work of improvement is thus commenced, in that 
particular section. A neighbor calls to see the 
new animals. He likes them — they are greatly 
superior to the old stock — but he is “ not going 
to be outdone.” He thinks, perhaps, the Short¬ 
horns are a little better, and he means to try them. 
The result is, he gets his spirit a little up, and he 
orders the very best pair he can procure. The 
fact is, if you can once get a person to love (if I 
may bo allowed to use the expression,) a good 
animal, the work is half accomplished. The seeds 
of improvement are sown, and you will soon see 
his farm stocked with animals of superior merit. 
I am frequently asked as to my opinion of the 
somewhat extensive sales of Short-horns that 
have taken, and will take place in this State, the 
present season,— many persons supposing that 
prices will depreciate in consequence. It seems 
to me that but little reflection is necessary to see 
that quite a different result will follow. Suppose 
150 Short-homs, or even twice that number, are 
sold in this State the present season. Some of 
them will probably go to Canada, some to the 
Southern, and some to the Western Statea They 
will, therefore, have a more extensive opportunity 
for becoming known, and I am one of those who 
believe it is only necessary for them to be known, 
to be highly appreciated. The more extensively 
they are introduced, to a certain extent, the greater 
will be tho demand ; and the time is far distant, 
in my opinion, when that demand will be fully 
supplied. So confident am I of this, that I intend 
to add consideraly to my present herd this season. 
An erroneous opinion seems to prevail to some- 
extent, that the Short-horns are a pampered race, 
and require the best of care and feeding, to keep 
them in good condition. I admit that their ap¬ 
pearance somewhat justifies the conclusion that 
they arc so kept, as they generally appear sleek 
and fat I know, however, that they require 
nothing but good, common feed, to keep in high 
condition ; and this I contend all cattle should 
have. It is high time that this humbug of “a 
peck of meal a day,” and “the milk of two cows 
to raise a calf,” was exploded. I know that my 
own Short-horns do not get-, or require, high 
keeping; and I have never seen any tiling that 
leads me to a different conclusion as to other herds. 
My present intention is, to exhibit a three year 
old heifer at our coming State Fair, to be held at 
Utica. This heifer, since a year old, has had 
nothing but grass in summer, and hay, straw, and 
a few carrots in winter,— with the exception of 
such times as she has been exhibited at Fairs.— 
During the Fairs, and commencing about a week 
previous, I usually feed a little meal to such cattle 
as I exhibit This of course, for so short a period, 
does not alter their condition ; it only keeps them 
where they arc, during the changes of food, and 
the fatigues of the show,— and it is for this pur¬ 
pose only, that I so feed them. Those who think 
the Short-homs are “ hard to keep,” and are 
“ poor milkers,” are invited to examine this heifer, 
as well as other animals that I purpose to exhibit. 
California Barley. —The New England 
Farmer has seen a stool of barley from Cal¬ 
ifornia, which is somewhat of a wonder in 
the vegetable world. It is the product of a 
single seed and measures near tho roots 
thirteen inches in circumference. From 
this ono root there sprang one hundred and 
twelve vigorous straws or stems, one hun¬ 
dred and thirty-one heads, and fourteen 
thousand one hundred and forty-eight ker¬ 
nels of barley! The stool grew near a spring 
where it found plenty of water, and threw 
up stalks about six feet high. Each head 
has six rows of kernels. 
Full complements of tools, and imple¬ 
ments of husbandry, are intimately connect¬ 
ed with the success of the husbandman. 
Capital is not only necessary to agricul¬ 
tural success, but can be as profitably used 
I in farming as any othor occupation. 
ADVANTAGES OF DRILL SEEDING. 
We find in a recent number of the Amer¬ 
ican Farmer an “ Essay on tho compara¬ 
tive advantages of Drill Husbandry over 
tho Old System,” by Edward Stabler, of 
Montgomery Co., Md.; to which a premium 
was awarded by the State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety. We make some extracts from tho 
same, which our readers will agree with us 
are of much value as tending to the eluci¬ 
dation of an important question to every 
wheat grower: 
The importance of the subject, and be¬ 
lieving that a more extended knowledge of 
the advantages in tho use of tho Drill, over 
tho old method of seeding broad-cast, would 
prove beneficial to tho Agricultural commu¬ 
nity, I am induced to give my own experi¬ 
ence, and also the result of considerable ob¬ 
servation on its uso, by others. In theory 
at least, this subject has long been familiar 
to mo; but from tho high price of the im¬ 
plement, generally about $100 00, doubts 
wore entertained whether small farmers,— 
those who grow from ten to twenty-five 
acres in wheat, wore justified in incurring 
so much expense. Previous, however, to 
changing my plan of seeding wheat, and 
covering with either the harrow, cultivator, 
or small plow, I carefully examined many 
fields with tho wheat drilled in, in adjoining 
counties in my own, and other States; and 
with the opportunity in many cases of com¬ 
paring tho growth, and actual results, in the 
same fields. 
Within tho past three years, these obser¬ 
vations have extended over drilled fields, in 
the aggregate to fully 800 or 1000 acres; 
exclusive of drilling last year about 100 
acres in my own crop and for several of my 
neighbors. This year wo shall use it to a 
greater extent, should tho season permit 
late seeding. 
In no instance, either in my own, or tho 
experience of others, where the results have 
been carefully ascertained and compared, 
has the drilled wheat failed to prove the 
most profitable; first, in the saving of seed ; 
and secondly, in tho increased product of 
grain; and varying from ono, to six or sev¬ 
en bushels to the acre. 
The most common mode of covering 
wheat in broad-cast sowing, is with tho har¬ 
row ; and if tho land is well prepared pre¬ 
viously, i. e. in fine tilth and level surface, 
the harrow will so imperfectly porform the 
operation, as to leave much of the seed un¬ 
covered; or so near the surface, that the 
first settling rain thereafter will expose no 
inconsiderable portion of tho grain. True, 
some of this will sprout and take feeble 
root: but it is generally thrown out and 
killed by the winter’s frosts;—together with 
another portion, covered, though too shal¬ 
low ; henco the necessity of adding an in¬ 
creased quantity of seed to guard against 
this contingency. 
To provide against tho loss of seed, my 
broad-cast seeding has usually been from 2J 
to 3 bushels to tho acre; and if harrowed 
in, rarely stands too thick at harvest. If 
tho shovel-plow, or small bar-share is used 
instead of tho harrow, a considerable por¬ 
tion of tho seed is covered too deep, and is 
necessarily irregular in vegetating; even if 
some does not fail entirely to force through 
the ground; and this irregularity continues 
both in length of head, and maturity until 
harvest. When cut, the crop is interspers¬ 
ed throughout with green heads, unless the 
best wheat is permitted to stand too long, 
and to shatter off in the harvesting. 
There is also another objection to broad¬ 
cast sowing; it is not possible, either to dis¬ 
tribute on the ground, (particularly even 
in moderately windy weather) or cover tho 
seed with regularity; in places it is quite 
too thick, and in others again as much too 
thin. This disadvantage, I have with oth¬ 
ers long been aware of; though without 
practical knowledge, could not fully com¬ 
pare and appreciate tho “advantages of the 
drill husbandry, over the old system” of 
broad-cast seeding. 
Wo will now compare the two methods, 
by stating what are. in my opinion, the ad¬ 
vantages of using the drill. If the seeding 
is performed early, so as to admit of the 
branching or “ tillering” of tho grain in the 
fall, five pecks properly drilled on lqnd of 
medium quality, will generally provo suffi¬ 
cient ; but as it is unsafe on account of tho 
dopredations of the Hessian fly to seed most 
varieties of wheat early, I drill 1£ bushels, 
and sow broad-cast not less than 2£ bushels 
to tho acre; of course there is a saving of 
one bushel of seed ; but as most persons 
perhaps would only sow 2 bushels broad¬ 
cast, and drill five pecks, wo will assume a 
clear saving of seed of three pecks to tho 
acre. This would moro than pay for the 
hire of a drill, at tho usual charge of 50 
cents an acre; and tho samo team will drill 
near or quite two acres to ono over the har¬ 
row, and probably four or five to ono over 
the shovel or small seeding plows. 
Assuming the cost of tho team, hand and 
harrow, at $1,75 per day, tho account will 
stand nearly as follows for fifty acres of 
wheat— 
Broad-cast. Drill. 
100 bu. of seed at $1... .$100,00 62 % drilled 5 d.. .$02,50 
lOdaysteam, &c.at$l,75. .17,50 5 d. team and drill 
1.75,. 8.75 
Difference in favor 
of drill,.46,25 
$117,50 $117,50 
If to the abovo wo add only one bushel to 
tho aero increase by drilling, here is a sav¬ 
ing in a single season, of near or quite the 
cost of the best drill in the country, in seed¬ 
ing and growing a crop on fifty acres. 
I am aware that some advocate the drill¬ 
ing of two, and even two and a half bushels 
to the acre ; and with thoir unusually pro¬ 
ductive lands, it may be, and doubtless is 
justified by experience; but where there is 
one acre that produces 35 or 40 bushels of 
wheat, there are probably thousands seeded 
that do not yield the half, if the third of it; 
but whether drilled or broad-cast, it is be¬ 
lieved less seed will suffice in the ono than 
in tho other mode, to produce at least an 
equal crop. With tho best conducted broad¬ 
cast operations, there is usually, if not al¬ 
ways more or less loss, if not an actual wasto 
of 6eed. Those who consider 1£ bushels 
sufficient broad-cast, will probably have as 
good, or a better yield with one bushel prop¬ 
erly drilled. 
It may bo asked by thoso not familiar 
with the drill why there should bo a saving 
in seed and an increased product, by its use ? 
In tho first place, tho seed is all regularly 
distributed, and to a given depth, 1, 2 or 3 
inches, by an arrangement for the purpose, 
and at the pleasure of tho farmer; and it 
is all uniformly covered ; consequently, hav¬ 
ing an equal start in vegetating, and all lia¬ 
ble alike to tho changes of moisture and 
temperaturo, it all arrives at maturity more 
equally. The samo causes also operate to 
produce moro similarity and larger heads; 
for from large and heavy heads only, can 
wo expect to reap heavy crops. When the 
grain is sown irregularly, and covered at dif¬ 
ferent depths, with portions of it crowded 
together, all our experience proves that ma¬ 
ny of tho heads are short and small;—poor¬ 
ly filled, and late in maturing. 
Again, this plan of seeding leaves the 
earth ridged up between the drills, which is 
gradually crumbled down by tho frosts; and 
as tho alternate freezing and thawing has a 
necessary tendency to throw out the young 
plants, this process of feeding them, as it 
may bo termed, rarely fails in this way to 
protect tho tender growth, and to prevent 
serious loss from scoding in low wet lands ; 
and which would otherwise bo half lost in 
some cases. 
There is however another advantage, and 
an important one; the open spaces between 
the drills, afford a greatly increased chance 
to get a good stand of grass seed ;—clover, 
timothy, or other varieties, which should al¬ 
ways bo liberally sown on tho wheat that 
finishes tho rotation of grain crops. In tho 
courso of my investigations, many cases 
might be referred to, in which tho results, 
carefully ascertained, and comparing tho 
yield by both methods, has shown tho in¬ 
crease by drilling to average several bushols 
to the acre; and if to this bo added the 
saving in seed and tho greater facility, and 
economy in laboring, tho saving is still more; 
but not having permission to uso tho names 
of individuals,—some of whom even prefer 
not to have them made public—it would be 
satisfactory perhaps to state results, without 
giving names. 
Reference could also bo made to well au¬ 
thenticated experiments where the increase 
by drilling, carefully compared side by side 
with broad-cast sowing, was seven and eight 
bushels; and in ono case well attested, it 
was equal to nine bushels to the acre; these 
however, are considerably abovo the aver¬ 
age increase. An incident camo to my 
knowledge, so germain to the subject, and 
so well vouched for, that I givo it full cro- 
dance. A vender offered a drill for the in¬ 
crease in a crop of fifty acres of wheat;— 
tho grower to determine this to his own sat¬ 
isfaction, by seeding portions through the 
field broad-cast. Before harvest however, 
ho agreod to pay ono hundred dollars, tho 
price of tho drill, with interest, having that 
privilege. On carefully ascertaining the 
increase, it was found to bo one hundred 
and fifty-three bushels. 
The best implement for any purpose, is 
generally tho cheapest in tho end :—and of 
ail Agricultural implements, the best Drill, 
is unquestionably tho cheapest. It is a 
“penny wise and pound foolish” policy, to 
purchase a drill merely because it can bo 
had at a low price. If it performs imper¬ 
fectly, it may provo dear at any price, and 
is not worth having; as it is sure to lead to 
disappointment, and may occasion more loss 
in a single crop, than would pay tho differ¬ 
ence,—if not the full prico, of an efficient 
and first rate article. I gave $100 for a 
drill last season, in preference to others of¬ 
fered at about half prico; and the saving 
in my own crop in tho seed and increased 
product, and also by drilling for several of 
my neighbors, nearly or quite repaid mo 
tho cost; to say nothing of the economy of 
time and labor in seeding, and the satisfac¬ 
tion of having the work done in a complete 
and workmanlike manner; having indeed, 
rarely expended the samo amount of money 
with moro satisfaction. I would not, how¬ 
ever, be understood as intending to convey 
the opinion, that an efficient drill cannot bo 
made at much less prico. Increased de¬ 
mand will cheapen production; as well by 
competition, as by enlisting more inventive 
genius and skill in tho manufacture. If 
not now attained, as I believe it is, a good 
drill and sufficient for all practical purposes, 
will be furnished at about half tho sum. 
No good practical farmer however, will 
attempt to seed his land until it is properly 
prepared to receive and nourish the grain 
that is destinod to furnish him with his daily 
bread, and reward him for all his toil. If 
seeded in a slovenly manner, on land only 
half prepared,—anil immaterial which way 
seeded, he should not be surprised if at har¬ 
vest, ho can only reap a meagre and sorry 
crop. If ho waits for nature to do her share 
of the work,—tho clods to be broken and 
pulverized by frost, ho will be very likely to 
find much of his seed destroyed in tho in¬ 
terim, by tho samo active and powerful 
agent; and all for want of a little extra care, 
and protection to tho tender plants. 
Tho Drill is not calculated to work in 
new ground ; though a stump occasionally 
is readily passed round. Fast rocks, cause 
a few moments delay by breaking a wooden 
pin._used and intended to be broken by 
such obstructions, and without at all derang¬ 
ing the machine otherwise. If well con¬ 
structed and made in a durable manner, it 
will last many years, by merely renowing 
tho steel points and brushes;—and these 
will seed 200 or 300 acres, or moro perhaps 
in some light soils, without renewing. 
CUTTING FODDER. 
We believe there is econemy in cutting 
straw, stalks, and hay to feed neat stock, 
and horses, arising from two sources. 
— The first, and most important, is that 
of securing tho whole bulk of it to be eaten. 
In the article of corn-6talks, the most nu • 
tritious portions, the large butt ends, are 
always left uneaten, for the simple reason 
that cattle are unable to masticate them.— 
These wasted portions of the stalks are evi¬ 
dently tho most nutritious — for, from them 
molasses can be exiracted in great abund¬ 
ance, while they cannot from the leafy 
portions. In feeding stalks, there must evi¬ 
dently bo a great gain in reducing these 
pithy and nutritious ends to such a compass 
as will allow of mastication. Straw, in its 
natural state, will not be eaten by cattle till 
they are reduced by hunger to the necessity 
of feeding upon it; then, the finer leafy and 
chaffy portions are selected, while tho great 
bulk of it is left unconsumed. By cutting 
it fine and moistening it with weak brine, it 
will bo not only all consumed, but highly 
re ished. This is about all clear gain. As 
much may not bo gained by cutting hay, 
though this will depend much upon tho 
quality of it. 
Another source of economy arising from 
cutting food for cattlo, is tho more perfect 
digestion secured by such a course. 
The advantages of cutting hay for neat 
stock will be seen by tho following account 
of an experiment made with hay cut and 
uncut, taken from tho Geneseo Farmer.— 
The Farmer contains an account of four 
experiments, all of which corroborate the 
view, that it not only takes less hay to keep 
a creature, but that it will improve upon it 
much faster than on uncut hay. 
This experiment was with two milch cows, 
four yoars old each. Trial commenced on 
tho 9th day of January, 1852; each cow be¬ 
ing fed during the eight weeks trial with 
648 lbs. of carrots. The trial was to bo 
made with at least two animals, as near alike 
in condition, ago, &c., as possible, tho time 
of trial to last 8 weeks, divided into periods 
of two weeks each—ono animal to bo fed 
with cut and tho other with uncut hay—the 
feed of each to be reversed at the expiration 
of two weeks, and so on alternately each 
two weeks during tho trial. 
Tho weight of cut hay consumed in tho 
eight weeks was 1,150 lbs.; gain in the weight 
of the animals while kept upon it 130 lbs.— 
of milk given 438 lbs. The weight of uncut 
hay was 1,130; gain in tho weight of the ani¬ 
mals while kept on uncut hay was only 30 
lbs.—of milk given 417 lbs. It will bo seen, 
that in this experiment there were 20 lbs. 
only, more of cut hay consumed than of un¬ 
cut, while the gain in the weight of the ani¬ 
mals while feeding upon it was 100 lbs. moro 
than while feeding upon tho uncut, and the 
quantity of milk in favor of cut hay 21 lbs. 
In this case the experimenter, Mr. W. S. 
Lincoln, says: 
“ Some timo before commencing this ex¬ 
periment, I was feeding to my stock what 
would bo called poor stack hay, with an al¬ 
lowance of roots. I commenced cutting 
this hay for all my stock, young and old, (16 
head,) occupying mo about an hour and a 
half daily. Almost simultaneously with 
feeding the cut hay was an increase of milk, 
very perceptiblo as it was milked into tho 
pail. From day to day tho milk increased 
so, from tho stock I have described, as to re¬ 
quire the substitution of six quart for four 
quart pans, which bad been previously usod. 
1 think I am within bounds in saying tho 
increase was over a pint daily per cow, oc¬ 
casioned, to tho best of my knowledge, soh ly 
by the use of cut hay.”— JY. Y. Reformer. 
SAVING SEED CORN. 
Mr. F. Holbrook, a distinguished farm¬ 
er of Brattleborough, Vt., has published a 
long communication on the subject of culti¬ 
vating Indian corn, in which wo find the fol¬ 
lowing mode adopted by him in selecting 
Seed Corn: 
While upon my present subject, I will say 
a word about saving seed corn. All experi¬ 
enced farmers are aware that the produc¬ 
tiveness and early ripening of any kind of 
corn, depends very much upon tho manner 
of selecting the seed. I have a long eared 
variety, which I have been planting and im¬ 
proving for some ten or twelve years ; and 
although during that timo I have tried. I 
presume, ajdozon other sorts, I t;ive the first 
named sort tho preference. Whatever may 
be said in favor of a change of seed, as re¬ 
gards other erops, there is no need of chang¬ 
ing seed corn, provided proper care is used 
for tho yearly selection of that for planting. 
By proper attention to this matter, a varie¬ 
ty may bo perfectly adapted in its habits to 
a given climate and soil, and changed much 
for the better as to productiveness. Tho dif¬ 
ference in product, between carelul selection 
in the field, and taking seed at random from 
tho crib, will, in a very few years, be mued 
in favor of tho former mode—the soil anh 
cultivation being in both cases alike. 
As soon as the earliest ears are thorough¬ 
ly glazed, I go ovor tho field myselt, select¬ 
ing from those stalks that are “ stocky ” and 
vigorous, and that produce two good ears. 
Tho selected ears are taken immediately 
homo, braided, and hung up in a dry airy 
place. When I commenced with my favor¬ 
ite variety, it was difficult to find twin ears; 
but now they are abundant. My crops also 
ripen ten days earlier than at first. I will 
not mention tho length of ears that might 
he found in my fields, but will say to you 
Mr. Editor, como and see for yourself. 
Leicester Sheep. —A writer of a letter 
from Jefferson county in this State, publish¬ 
ed in a Kingston paper, says that Col. S. D. 
IIungerford of Adams, has a very superior 
flock of Leicester sheep—among them a 
ram which weighed over 300 lbs.^alter shear¬ 
ing.— Albany Cultivator. 
