MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S’ 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
The Annual Meeting of the State Agricul- 
1 tural Society was held at Albany on the 7 th, 
8th and 9tli insts. The attendance was quite 
large from different sections, embracing some 
of the best farmers and stock-breeders of the 
Empire State. The business meetings were 
unusually spirited and harmonious, the only 
distracting question now, as heretofore, being 
the location of the annual Fair. 
From the report of the Secretary, B. B 
Kirtland, Esq., we learn that the entire re. 
ceipts for the year were $12,(iS4 77, and the 
expenditures $11,882 07, leaving the cash bal¬ 
ance on hand $802 G8. It also appeared that 
at the winter meeting in 1852, the Society had 
in cash on hand and money invested $11,000 
and at the present time on hand and invested 
only some $3,000 — showing a loss of $8,000 
in the past two years. The officers attribute 
the loss to a bad season, on account of cholera) 
&c., at Utica, and the very bad weather and 
worse location of the Fair last year at Sarato¬ 
ga. To our apprehension two other causes 
more important and nearer the truth could 
readily be named. The first of these is that 
the Society has been for more than ten years 
under the control of a dozen individuals, nearly 
all of whom are more or less interested in stock 
breeding, and the premiums have been so ar¬ 
ranged that a large share of those offered 
have been taken by these breeders — we do 
not say unfairly—but to so grertan extent has 
this been the case that small farmers and breed¬ 
ers have become jealous, and do not go to the 
Fairs, either as exhibitors or observers. 
Again, the expenses of the Agricultural 
Rooms, and the salaries of those connected 
therewith, have been increasing until it requires 
near $3,000 to foot the bills annually.— 
Moderate and economical farmers look upon 
these things with so much distrust that the 
Society has lost the essential element of popu¬ 
larity, which very much curtails its capital and 
usefulness. To complete the long line of acts 
which alienate it from the body of the farmers 
of the State, it has been voted to hold the next 
Fair in the city of New York. Competent 
and energetic officers have been chosen, and 
without doubt a good Fair will be got up in 
the Metropolitan city—but our word for it, it 
will not be a Fair of the farmers of the State 
of New York. We regret this exceedingly, 
and propose to say more upon the subject at 
another time. 
The Winter Show of Fat Cattle, Sheep, 
Dressed Meats, Poultry, Grain, Seeds and Im¬ 
plements, at Woolford’s, Bull’s Head, was cred¬ 
itable to the farmers and to the Society. Mon¬ 
roe County was ably represented by a pair of 
fat oxen owned by James Upton, of Greece, 
and the three spayed Devon heifers of George 
Shaffer, of Wheatland. The latter, we ven¬ 
ture to say, cannot be excelled in the Union, if 
any where else. There were many other very 
fine specimens, as the premium list will attest, 
butour limited time prevented particulars. Of 
Grain the show was the finest we have ever 
seen in the State. The competition was so 
close that in some instances an equal premium 
was awarded to all the competitors. There 
were a few cheese and tubs of butter, though 
nothing to what the State should present on 
such an occasion, principally for tvanl of en¬ 
couragement. 
All the Agricultural Rooms we found some 
excellent samples of winter fruit, Apples and 
Pears, nine-tenths of which were from Monroe 
Co., and not embracing as many specimens as 
could be found at a well attended winter meet¬ 
ing of the Monroe Co. Ag’l Society. It is 
poor recompense to transport fruit 250 miles 
and get an award of Barry’s, Thomas’s or 
Downing’s work on fruits, when one has an 
abundance of the same at home. 
There are many other things in this connection 
to which we would gladly refer, but time and 
space both admonish us to forbear.— h. c. w. 
POTATOES IN DRILLS. 
I have seen several articles in your valuable 
and instructive paper, on the cultivation of the 
potato, especially in reference to soil, manure, 
and the variety planted. But I have seen 
nothing about how they should be planted, in 
hills or in drills. The English farmer always 
plants in drills and gets large crops, and I think 
this is by far the best method. I would like to 
hear from your correspondents why they prefer 
to plant in hills three or four feet apart each 
way, instead of in drills sufficiently wide apart 
to admit of horse hoeing and plowing, &c., and 
eight to ten inches apart in the rows. I imag¬ 
ine I hear them say it would be more labor 
because by planting in drills they could not be 
cultivated both ways. But instead of its being 
more labor, I believe it is less, for in order to 
obtain the same crop you have only to prepare 
and cultivate about one acre instead of three. 
When they are to be gathered, you can take a 
horse and plow and take a furrow from each 
side of the drill, and then pass the plow under 
the poatoes, and then you have them dug ready 
for the basket J. Davis. 
So. Butler, N. Y., Feb. 7,185-1. 
Coinmunirations. 
ADVICE TO FARMEiiS. 
Mr. Editor: —A recent article in the JYeiv 
York Tribune, copied extensively into other 
papers, recommends to farmers to plant and 
sow spring grains extensively, in order to meet 
the great demand w hich the present state of 
European affairs seems to indicate will be 
made upon our productions. The last Rural 
has an editorial bearing upon the same point. 
Intelligent farmers are not uninformed as to the 
state of the markets, and need not the applica¬ 
tion of stimulants to awaken their attention to 
matters connected with their interests. High 
prices are always exciting, and there is danger 
that this extraordinary state of our markets 
may lead farmers into extravagant enterprises, 
which may hereafter be deeply regretted. We 
are all aware that a steady, uniform system of 
agriculture tends to prosperity, and that sudden 
changes from one system to another arc always 
disastrous. Every farmer ought to have a well 
digested system of farming, adapted to his cir¬ 
cumstances, as to soil, climate, markets, &c.,— 
and when he is sure he is right, then he should 
go ahead. Some of our farmers have turned 
their attention to the growing of wool, others 
to raising cattle, and others to the products of 
the dairy, and they have found each of these 
departments of husbandry highly remunerative. 
Now, I think there is danger that some of 
these farmers will be influenced by extravagant 
prices, to swerve from their purpose. We are 
none of us above the effects of such influences. 
Hence, a word of caution, at this time, may 
not come amiss. A little calm reasoning will 
show, that although wheat first feels the influ¬ 
ence of this foreign demand, all other agricul¬ 
tural products will follow, according to their 
relative value as food for man. After man has 
been fed, he must be clothed, and numerous 
other wants supplied, which, although not so 
imperative in their demands, can by no means 
be neglected. The wheat grower has reaped a 
rich reward for his crops—but should the wool 
grower and dairyman turn their attention to 
wheat, by the time their lands have brought 
forth, the market is glutted, and oilier products 
take the ascendency ; and thus the farmer is 
kept in a constant excitement, and never ready 
for the market until the high prices have gone 
by. Many farmers have instituted a system of 
rotation of crops, by which their lands are con¬ 
stantly improving. But this system is in great 
danger of being laid aside by a desire to com¬ 
pete for these high prices. 
The Tribune recommends to farmers, to sow 
to oats and plant to corn, all the lands they can 
make available for these crops. Suppose far- 
mere follow this advice, would not their mead¬ 
ows and pastures be in danger of encroach¬ 
ments, to the serious damage of their stock? 
Would it not be better advice to plan with 
great care his future operations, and keep 
steadily on in the same course he has found 
successful in former years? Thorough culture 
is the text which needs most to be enlarged 
upon at this time. Let speakers and writers 
dwell upon this topic, and they will not lead 
farmers into any visionary speculation. Let 
farmers practice it, and whether prices rule 
high or low, they will have their reward. 
Myron Adams. 
East Bloomfield, X. Y., Feb. (5, 1854. 
I DON’T LIKE TO SEE. 
I don’t ltke to see a cess-pool of mud and 
dirt around the homestead of the farmer ; old 
hats and oiled paper used as substitutes for 
squares of glass in the windows; a garden 
overrun with weeds, and pigs and poultry act¬ 
ing as gardeners ; a farmer’s daughter so re¬ 
fined that she cannot condescend to darn the 
holes in the heels of her stockings ; a mother 
acting as maid-of-all-works before her young 
daughters ; a farmer borrowing a newspaper, 
who is perfectly able to take one for himself; 
a person going two or three miles, in order to 
carry home tools borrowed twelve months ago; 
a man keeping more dogs than he has bones 
for; a miserable old log school-house by the 
way-side, and the little urchins slily peeping 
through the openings ; loafers lounging over 
the merchant’s counter, when they want noth¬ 
ing to buy ; tobacco-eaters squirting their sali¬ 
va over the floor of the meeting-house ; young 
pigs endeavoring to extract comfort, on a tem¬ 
pestuous day, through the rails of their three- 
cornered pen, in the crook of an old Virginia 
fence; the groceries and taverns of a village 
outnumber the churches and school-houses ; a 
shoemaker’s children ill-shod, or a farmer’s child¬ 
ren ill-fed ; a hard-working man make his labor 
still harder, by working on the Sabbath; a man 
buying what he has no need of, and so be, per¬ 
haps, soon obliged to sell his necessaries ; a 
man and his wife going to different places of 
public worship ; a farmer throwing his dung 
into the river, or allowing it to go to waste, as 
if he did not know the use of it 1 n.-d. r. 
Tongue-ail or black tongue, it is said, is 
immediately cured, by half a pint of melted 
lard, or sweet oil, to which a strong solution of 
salt is added, sufficient to fill a junk bottle, 
with which the animal is drenched. 
BROOM CORN. 
Messrs. Editors: —Having observed in the 
Rural of Jan. 28th, an inquiry over the signa¬ 
ture of J. C. Knapp, in regard to the cultiva¬ 
tion of broom corn, accompanied by a request 
from you for information from any who have 
cultivated it; we have taken the liberty to 
send you a few facts gathered from our experi¬ 
ence, having raised it more or less for the last 
twenty years. We think broom corn is gene¬ 
rally a paying crop; but whether it will be the 
ensuing year is somewhat doubtful, from the 
fact that present appearances indicate that the 
prices of all kinds of grain will be exceedingly 
high. We have succeeded best by planting 
on the inverted sod of an old meadow or 
pasture. Any kind of soil that is adapted to 
the growth of Indian corn, will produce good 
broom corn. We have never applied any fer¬ 
tilizer, having always selected land that was 
rich without it. We consider broom corn a 
very sure crop, as we have failed only once, and 
that was owing to late planting and an early 
frost. 
An average yield would be about four hun¬ 
dred brooms per acre—one hundred pounds of 
cleaned brush making about seventy brooms 
of the medium size. Our rule is to prepare the 
ground the same as for a crop of Indian corn, 
only we would pulverize with the drag and cul¬ 
tivator a little more, as the seed is smaller and 
requires a finer tilth to insure its germination. 
We would mark the rows, 3 feet apart, north 
and south, to allow the rays of the sun to strike 
more directly upon the roots of the corn, and 
plant the hills about eighteen inches from each 
other, putting from ten to twenty seeds in a 
hill. It is best to plant as early as the season 
will admit As soon as the corn is high 
enough to trace the rows, commence cultivat¬ 
ing and hoeing, taking care to leave no more 
than three or four stalks in a hill; we usually 
hoe twice. There are two methods pursued in 
harvesting,—one is to cut the brush as soon as 
it comes to maturity, carrying immediately to 
the barn, removing the seed and spreading the 
brush upon boards to dry. By this method 
the brush will retain its bright green color, and 
the brooms will sell for a little more, perhaps, 
but the seed is generally worthless. The other 
is to let it stand until the seed is fully ripe, then 
cutting'it and leaving it in the field two or 
three days to dry, when it is taken to the barn 
and placed upon a scaffold, where the air can 
circulate freely through it, to prevent its 
moulding. The seed can be taken off' when¬ 
ever convenient By the last method we have 
from thirty to fifty bushels of good seed per 
acre, which is worth about as much as the 
same quantity of oats for feeding poultry, 
cows, sheep,Wb. 
Mendon, N. Y., 1S54. 
ABOUT THOSE SQUASH SEEDS. 
Friend Moore : —Will you please publish 
the following card : 
To those “Lovers of Pumpkin Pies:”— 
Ladies and Gentlemen — I promised you ten 
seeds of the Sweet Potato Squash, but your 
orders are so numerous, that I trust you will 
be satisfied with half the quantity, when I as¬ 
sure you that all cannot be supplied at that— 
though I have taken some pains to look up 
more seeds of the same variety, and shall proba¬ 
bly add about another quart to my stock; but 
when the supply is exhausted, I shall send in¬ 
stead, a few seeds of “Apple Squash,” a summer 
variety, and superior, in my estimation, to any 
with which I am acquainted. They are a light 
cream color, and about the size and form of 
the Baldwin apple, and very prolific ; when 
ripe, hard shelled and yellow. But do not in¬ 
fer from this that I deal in nothing but squash¬ 
es. I have many other rare seeds to draw 
from when squashes are done. Every addi¬ 
tional three cents will entitle you to another 
sample of rare seeds from my stock. As I 
have commenced, I am determined to continue 
until my stock of seeds is reduced to my indi¬ 
vidual wants. So send on your orders—and 
success to the Rural New-Yorker. 
Yours truly, I. W. Briggs. 
West Macedon, N. Y., Feb. 0, 1S54. 
Feathebless Fowls. —Three years ago the 
coming spring, I had three chickens covered 
with down, instead of feathers, and have had 
more or less each succeeding year. The color 
of the females is black, but the males are a 
light blue. They invariably have a crown of 
down upon the head, and noisier fowls I never 
heard. They cannot fly much and are not very 
hardy. They were produced from eggs of the 
common variety. They afford my visiting 
friends much pleasure. 
I am a constant reader of the Rural, and 
welcome it as a harbinger of good tidings.— 
Success to its able editors, for their untiring 
efforts for the dissemination of useful knowl¬ 
edge. —E. P. Phelps, Castile, JY. Y. 
Measurement of Hay in Bulk. —Multiply 
the length, breadth and height of the hay into 
each other, and if the hay is somewhat settled, 
ten solid yards will weigh a ton. Glover will 
take 11 to 12 yards to a ton. 
Agricultural IJliscrllnitii. fuquirmi aith l|ntslura. 
N. Y. STATE AG. SOCIETY. 
ANNUAL MEETING-OFFICERS-PREMIUMS. 
In addition to the article published else¬ 
where (containing some strictures in which we 
do not fully concur,) we give below the main 
results of the Annual Meeting of the N. Y. 
State Ag. Society, held in Albany last week. 
The following officers were elected for the cur¬ 
rent year: 
President —Wsi. Kelly, Rhinebeck, Dutchess. 
Vice President —.1. (J. Jackson, Now York; 
A. B. Conger, Clarkstown, Rockland Co.; Goo. 
Vail, Troy, Rensselaer Co.; Leroy Mourey, 
Greenwich, Washington Col; J. C. Woodruff, 
Syracuse, Onondaga Co.; J. Barber, Homer, 
Cortland Co.; IX H. Hazeit, Geneseo, Livingston 
Co.; 8. M. Burroughs, Medina, Orleans Co. 
I Corresponding Scc’y —B. JP. Johnson, Albany. 
Recording Secretary— E. Corning, Jr., Albany. 
Treasurer —B. B. Kirtland, Greenbush. 
Executive Committee —Edgar C. Dibble, Bala- 
via, Genesee Co.; Eton Comstock, Rome, Oneida 
Co.; Charles Morrell, Ludlowville, Tompkins 
Co.; T. B. Adams, Phillipstown, Putnam Co.; 
Ambrose Stevens, New York. 
After considerable discussion, the Society 
finally decided to hold its next Annual Pair in 
New York City. The vote stood 52 for New 
York, and 50 for Syracuse. 
The following premiums were awarded : 
FAT STOCK. 
Best fat Ox, 4 years obi and upwards, Jas. Upton, Greece, 
Monroe co., §30; 2d, W. P. &C. S. Wainwright, Rhinebeck, 
25; 3d, .las. Upton, Greece, 20. 
Best fat Steer, 3 years old, ltobt. Rome, Geneseo, $25; 2d, 
G. V. Sackett, Seneca Falls, 20; 3d, do. do., 15. 
Best fat Cow, 4 years and upwards, It. Koine, Geneseo, 
$20; 2d do. do. do. $15; 3d do. Henry Hazen, Martins- 
burgh, $10. 
Best Fat Heifer, 3 years old, Robert Rome, Geneseo, §15; 
2d do. do. do. $10; 3d do. do. do. $5. 
Best spayed Heil'er, 3 years old, Robert Romo, Geneseo, 
$15 ; 2d do. do. do., $10 ; 3d do. do. do., $5. 
Three best long-wooled sheep, 2 years old and upwards, 
It. Rome, Geneseo, $10 ; 2d do. John L. Pratt, Cambridge, 
Washington co., §8. 
Three best cross bred Sheep, 2 years and upwards, Na¬ 
thaniel Brownell, Pittstown, $10 ; 2d do. do. do. $8. 
George Shatter, Monroe, 3 superior spayed Heifers, not 
presented for competition, but owing to their excellence, 
committee reccommend an award of $15. 
D. A. Buckley, Williamstown, Mass., a fat Ox, $10. 
GRAIN AND SEEDS. 
Best 5 bushels winter Wheat, Levi Shaw, 63 lbs. per 
bush., §8 ; 2d, do., O. Howland, Owasco, 02 do., 5 ; 3d do., 
O. Howland, Owasco, 02 do., $3. 
Best 5 bushels spring Wheat, David Conradt, Brunswick, 
63 lbs. per bush., $S; 2d do., (). Howland, Owasco, 63 do., 
$5; 3d do., David Hess, Fenner, 63 do., $3.’ 
Bess 5 bushels of Rye, David Conradt, Brunswick, 50 lbs. 
per bush., $5; 2d do., Levi Shaw, Rensselaerville, 58 do, 
$3; 3d do., lC.AV. Bu.shnell, Hillsdale, 68 do., $2. 
Best live bushels four-rowed liailey, O. Howland, Owas¬ 
co, 48 lbs. per bush., $5. 
Best 5 bushels two-rowed Barley, J. Rapnlje, Rochester, 
51 lbs. per bush., $'>; 2d do., Win. Davidson, llartwiek, 61 
do., $3; 3d do., O. Howland, Owasco, 51 do., $2. 
Best 5 bushels Oats, David Hess, Fenner, 4s lbs. per bu., 
So; 2d Peter Crispell, Hurley, 43 do, 3; 3d Jas. W. Jolley, 
Coeyrnans, 33 do, 2. 
Best5 bush, yellow Corn, Volney Burgess,-, 60 lbs. 
per bush, $5; 2d O. Howland, 60 do, 5; 3d E. S. Hayward, 
Monroe, CO do, 5. 
Best o bush, white Corn, Levi Shaw, Rensselaerville, 5S 
lbs. to the bush., §5; 2d O. Howland, 08 do, 3; 3d David 
Conradt, 68 do, 2. 
Best 5 bush. Peas, O. Howland, $5. 
Bests bush, white Beans, O. Howland, §5; 2d David 
Hess, 3. 
Best 6 bush, large Clover Seed, O. Howland, G2j-< lbs. to 
the bush. §5. 
Best 5 bush, small Clover Seed, Douw Van Vechtcn, Mo¬ 
hawk, 62 do, $5. 
Best 6 bush. Timothy Seed, O Howland, $5; 2d D Van 
Vecthen. 
Discretionary premium of small silver medal and Trans¬ 
actions was awarded to O'. F. Grosman, lor varieties of Peas, 
Beans, &c. Another to D. a. Buckley, of Williamstown, 
Mass., for large varieties of Wheat, Coin, &c., $5. 
FIELD CROPS. 
Best crop of Wheat, not less than 2 acres, nor less than 
40 bush, per acre, J. W. Waterbury, North Adams, Jetter- 
gon co., 2 acres, 86 bush., $20. 
Best crop of Spring Wheat, not less than 2 acres, 30 bu., 
Clias. W. Kells, Westmoreland, Oneida co., 2 acres, 1 rod, 
76 bush. 56 lbs., $15; 2d Hart Massey, Watertown, Jettcisbii 
co., 2K acres, 64 bush., $10. 
Winter Wheat. — Hon. T. C. Peters, Darien, Genesee 
Co., 2 barrels very fine white, blue stem, weighing 62 tbs. 
per bushel,—small silver medal and transactions. 
Best cr >p of Indian Corn, not less than 2 acres, to be 
shelled and weighed between 20th Dec.and 5th Jan., Sobu. 
Geo. R. Kells, Clinton, Oneida, 2'A acres, 218% bu., $20: 2d 
Ira Apthorp, Riga, Monroe, 2 acres, 183 bushels, $15; 3d E. 
S. Hayward, Brighton, Mom oe, 2 £6-100 acres, 186)£ bu. $8. 
Best crop of Barley, not less than 2 acres, 40 bu., R. W. 
Hess, Turner, Madison, 16 acres, 13 roods, 35 rods, 779 22- 
48 bushels, $15. 
Best crop of Rye, not less than 2 acres, 35 bush., E. W. 
Bushnell, Hillsdale, Columbia, 3 acres, 3 roods, 20 rods, 103 
2-56 bush., $15; 2d II. Converse, Pamelia, Jefferson, 2 12- 
100 acres, 81 bush., $10. 
Best crop of Oats, not less than 2 acres, 70 bush., J. W. 
Jolley, Coeyrnans, 1 acre, 76E bush., $16. 
Best crop of Buckwheat, not less than 1 acre, 25 bush., 
Chas. W. Kells, 1 acre, 6 rods, 32 bush. 26 lbs., $8. 
Best crop of Peas, not less than 1 acre, 25 bushels, J.W. 
Jolley, Coeyrnans, 1 SO-lOOacre, 88bush.,$8; 2d, N. Hitch¬ 
cock, Homer, 1 acre, 3 roods, 5 rods, 74-L bush., $3. 
Best crop of Beans, not less than 1 acre, 25 bushels, Da¬ 
vid Conradt, Brunswieh, 1 acre, 12 rods, 30.!£ bushels, $8. 
Best crop of Carrots, not less Ilian half an acre, Co lbs. to 
the bush., 400 bushels, IC. S. Haywood, Brighton, Monroe 
Co., yi r ere, 278 bushels, $8. 
Best acre of Timothy Seed, D. Van Vetchen, Mohawk, I 
acre, 6 bushels, 27 quarts, $6. 
Experiments with Potatoes. —1, II. H.Eastman, Mar¬ 
shall, Oneida Co., $125. 2. Volney Burgess, Chatham, Co¬ 
lumbia Co., $75. 3, J. B. Morse, Cazenovia, Madison Co., 
$50. Special premium recommended to N. Culver, Arcadia, 
Wayne Co., of plate valued at $25. 
DRESSED MEATS AND POULTRY. 
Best carcass of long wooled Sheep, Patrick Downey, Al¬ 
bany $5; 2d do. do., 3. 
Best carcass of middle wooled Sheep, O. Howland, Owas¬ 
co, $5 ; 2d, Geo. Hallett, 3. 
Best carcass of cross breed, Nathan Brownall, $5; 2d 
do. do., 3. 
Best dressed Hog, weighing over 350 lbs., J. Winnie $5; 
2d do. do., 3. 
Best pair of dressed Turkeys, O. Howland, $2; 2d do., 1. 
Best pair of dressed Geese, O. Howland, $2; 2d W- Da¬ 
vidson, 1. 
Best pair of dressed Ducks, Wm. Davidson, $2. 
Best pair of dressed Capons, O. Howland, $2; 2d do., 1. 
Best pair of dressed Fowls, O. Howland, $2; 2d do., 1. 
One carcass of Beef, by James Battersby, Albany. Com¬ 
mittee recommend premium of $3. 
DAIRY. 
Butts n.—Best 3 tubs or firkins of Butler, Joshua Bal. 
lard, Homer, cup, value $15; 2d, Goo. B. Powell, Milton, 
Saratoga Co., cup, value 10; 3d, II. Daniels, Greenfield, Sa¬ 
ratoga Co., 5; 4th N. Hitchcock, Homer, Trans. 
L. L. French, Warren, Herkimer Co., discretionary pre¬ 
mium 3 tubs of Butter, small silver modal and $5. 
Cheese. —Best 3 Cheese, John Winsiow, Watertown, cup, 
value $15; 2d, Moses Fames, Rutland, Jeff. Co., cup, value 
10; 3d, Geo. Clark, Otsego Co., 6. 
Committee recommend a premium of Trans, to George 
Clarke, for Old Cheese. 
FRUIT. 
Apples.— 1st Premium, H. II. Brown, of Greece, Monroe 
Co., 28 varieties, silver medal; 2d do., and largest collec¬ 
tion, A. B. Rose, Wyoming Co., 25 varieties, Downing 
fruits; 3d, E. k E. S. Hayward, Monroe Co., 20 varieties, 
do.; Frank Atwater, Ithaca, 16 varieties; Henry Truman, 
Richfield, 14 varieties; C. F. Crosmau, Rochester, 12 vari¬ 
eties,— each a copy of Barry’s Fruit Garden; Isaac Merritt, 
Monroe Co., Hart Massey, Watertown, Jeff. Co., 11 varieties, 
B. Ji. Kirtland, Rensselaer, Co., 5 varieties, — copies of 
Thomas on Fruits; J. II. Watts, Rochester, Isaac Foster, 
Hillsdale, Wm. Bacon, Richmond, Mass., Wm. Kobis'on, 
Westmorland, Oneida Co.,—each vol. Transactions. 
Peaks. —Ellwanger k Barry, 27 varieties, all line size and 
beautiful appearance, which was awarded silver medal mid 
diploma. 
Grapes. —John S. Goold, Albany, Golden Chasselas, Ca¬ 
tawba, and Isabella, in fine condition, grown in open air, 
and kept in cotton; awarded copy of Dairy’s Fruit Garden. 
Is Red Ci.ovf.r a Biennial ?— Your assertion 
in last week’s Rural, that Red Clover is a Bien¬ 
nial plant, is a new idea to me. I have always 
supposed it as strictly perennial as any other 
vegetable, and have now, meadows six years 
sown in Clover and Timothy, without any di¬ 
minution in the Clover. It will hardly do to 
assert, that it is continued by sowing its own 
seed ; as it is difficult often to make it take on 
fresh ground, much more so on a stiff meadow 
sward, and I am quite confident you are mis¬ 
takes. Will you set me right on this subject, and 
give your authority for that assertion V—II. Y. 
We supposed every one admitted that the 
common cultivated red clover of the Northern 
Statps (Trifoliumpratense) was ordinarily a 
biennial plant. In its wild slate, it is a per¬ 
ennial, and as botanists usually examine un¬ 
cultivated plants, they generally call it a per¬ 
ennial. There are /many eminent botanists, 
however, who, from a consideration of its de¬ 
portment under cultivation, have come to the 
conclusion that it is a biennial. 
Torrky says:—“Root perennial according 
to most authors; biennial according to some.” 
ile docs not give his own opinion, but quotes 
an author who says it is a biennial. Sinclair, 
in Iiortus Gramineus, calls red clover a bien¬ 
nial. J) ARLINGTON says“ Authors generally 
consider this species a perennial; but a distin¬ 
guished agriculturist of New England asserts 
positively that it is a biennial, and my own 
observation inclines me to the same opinion.” 
Louden, in Encyclopedia of Agriculture, 
page 872, says:—“The red clover (Trifolium 
pratense.) a biennial , and sometimes, especially 
on chalky soils, a triennial, known from the 
other species by its broad leaves and reddish 
purple flowers, in its wild stale perennial.” 
Cuthbert- W. Johnson, in Fanners' En¬ 
cyclopedia, says:—“Being a biennial plant, 
clover leaves the field after the second year, 
unless allowed to seed itself.” 
Wood says it is biennial. 
Allen, in American Agriculture, says:— 
“The common red or Northern clover, (Tn- 
folium pratense,) a biennial, and occasionally, 
on calcareous soils, a triennial, is the species 
most generally in use in the United States.” 
We do not know of a single Agricultural 
writer of any “ authority” except our corre¬ 
spondent, tvho calls it a perennial. 
Muck, Shells, <fcc.—I have on my farm about 
one acre bf muck, lying above the level of a 
creek, and was probably at one time a cove.— 
The top layer for four feet thick is muck, and 
below this for four feet, and I know not how 
much further, is a deposit of small shells in va¬ 
rious stages of decomposition, from fine white 
powder to whole perfect shells. 1 have poured 
strong vinegar upon some of it, and it foams like 
saletatufi or pearlash. What l wish to know is, 
how shall I determine its value V It is evident 
it contains some lime; how shall 1 determine 
the quantity ? Is it necessary to apply to a regu¬ 
lar chemist; and if so, where is there one I can 
send it to Y What quantity of it would be suf¬ 
ficient lor the test, and the probable expense?— 
It you will answer these inquiries as far as you 
can, you will do me a great favor.— Horace 
Gardner, West Burlington, Otsego Co., A. Y. 
The probability is, that the shells are prin¬ 
cipally carbonate of lime. Bum some of them, 
and see if they do not afterwards exhibit the 
well-known characteristics of lime. If so, by 
burning a given weight, and weighing the ash¬ 
es, you cun estimate the amount of lime they 
contain. To determine its fertilizing value, 
the most decisive method would be to apply 
the most thoroughly decomposed part of the 
mass to various crops, and mark the result.— 
It is true that a complete analysis would fur¬ 
nish some valuable information respecting if, 
in less time; but such an analysis would be 
well worth $25 or $30. A qualitative analy¬ 
sis, costing only a few dollars, would give some 
indications of its value, and show whether a 
more critical analysis would pay Dr. Salis¬ 
bury, Albany, N. Y., is perhaps the best 
chernist^ve could name to you. Five pounds 
would be sufficient. 
State Uoultry Society’s Exhibition. —The 
first exhibition of the New York State Poul¬ 
try Society, held in Albany, last week, exceed¬ 
ed the expectations of its most sanguine origi¬ 
nators and friends. The excitement it pro¬ 
duced may be judged from the fact that up- 
wards of 1,200 single tickets were sold in one 
day. We will give the official premium list) 
election of officers, &a, next week. 
Lie Roy Agricultural Society. — At the 
Annual Meeting of this spirited town Agricul¬ 
tural Society, the following officers were elect¬ 
ed for the ensuing year: 
President—(1. K. Ward. Vice President 
— A. Robertson. Secretary— J. R. Bart¬ 
lett. Treasurer—J. I I. Stanley. Executive 
Committee—J. W. Siiedd, Alex. McPher¬ 
son, C. C. Brinsmaid, J. S. Combs, J. J. 
Callup. 
Elihu Cross, Iloosick, Rensselaer Co., N. 
Y„ h as a maple tree, only two feet three inches 
in diameter, from which he says he made last 
spring, thirty-three pounds of sugar! 
