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MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
FEB. 21. 
ami productiveness, such as shall mate its cultiva¬ 
tion an easy,pleasant and profitable task. 
Saving and applying manure combined with thor¬ 
ough cultivation and a judicious rotation of crops, 
is the true way of producing and keeping up fer¬ 
tility of soil. Shall it not be thought of, studied, 
and attended to, by those so closely interested in 
the subject—those whose welfare and position de¬ 
pend so essentially upon the success with which it 
is accomplished? But we need scarcely ask this 
question. It is becoming a great practical fact in 
every progressive farmer’s plans and operations.— 
And it is one of the leading designs of this depart¬ 
ment of the Rural to “push on the column”—to 
furnish in every number some fact or suggestion 
which shall aid in the good work. Give us your 
experiments and experience in farming, ye men 
of progress, and the lessons they teach shall be 
made available to thousands, and thus help each 
other on in advancement. 
(ftotturuimatioits. 
“ DEGENERATION OF WHEAT.” 
Ens. Bubal New-Yorker: — Being a constant 
reader of your paper, I noticed the article on the 
“ Degeneration of Wheat.” For one I find myself 
incontrovertiblyconvinced that wheat and rye turn 
to chess. In the seed time of the year LSI 6 or ’17, 
I saw over ten acres of beautiful beach and maple 
laud “logged and burned,'' and nicely prepared 
as ever any new field was for wheat, and in the 
latter part, of September, sown with prime, clean, 
“red chaff” variety of wheat, which came up 
nicely. The land was of various sods, some parts 
clay, some black muck in swales, and other places 
loamy land. In November of that year this wheat 
field looked admirably. The following March and 
April were unusually wet and cold. Several long 
cold raius occurred, and soon this wheat field be¬ 
came yellow in spots where the surface water stood, 
and in those places the wheat nearly all turned to 
chess, while on the higher, airy land there was 
first-rate wheat and no chess, and so alternately 
through the whole field. This crop was put in 
with the drag or harrow only, as was then the cus¬ 
tom on the “Holland Purchase,” on beach and 
maple land universally, as the roots lay so near 
the surface that plowing there, was “ out of the 
question.” 
Again, in the August of 1825, we harvested the 
vc-ry nicest crop of fifteen acres of new land wheat 
put in in the same way, and this Btubble we burned 
over soon after harvest, and got it so that it looked 
like two land again. In fact, itlooked blackerthan 
when we finished logging it. In about three weeks 
after burning the stubble we sowed it again to 
wheat lj bushels of prime White Flint Wheat per 
acre, and out of the whole field we did not harvest 
a bushel of wheat, but instead we got twenty-four 
wagon loads of pure chess, cut green for hay.— 
This was then, to my mind, proof positive that wheat 
did turn to chess. 
I also believe to turn cattle on some of the more 
tender varieties of wheat, in winter in a wet muddy 
time, and let them crop it bare, will cause it to turn 
to chess; as I once had a fine field half of which 
was the early “Hutchinson wheat,” the other 
White Flint. The former was nearly spoiled in 
this way and very full of chess, while the hardy 
Flint was clear. I had sowed none but pure seed 
wheat of each kind above named. 
Niaga.ro Kells, N. y., 1857. A Niagara Farmer. 
- »4 ■ 
THE CHESS QUESTION. 
Editors Rural. —1 always feel nervous when I 
hear farmers, (and sometimes too, those who pride 
themselves on being good farmers,) express their 
belief in the doctrine of the transmutation of 
wheat to chess. 
Although now engaged in other pursuits, I spent 
the first twenty-one years of my life on a farm, and 
consequently can speak from positive experience. 
For several years, I instituted careful experiments 
on the chess question, and induced a few of my 
neighbors, (I am sorry to say that they were few,) 
to do the same, and, after testing it for years, we 
came to the conclusion that if we did not sow chess 
there would be no transmutation —that with clean 
seed our wheat tcould not turn to chess. We could 
always get some chess from our seed wheat after 
we thought it perfectly clean, by carefully putting 
it through a good farming mill. 
What is needed in this case, as well as in many 
other cases, apparently anomalous, in agricultural 
operations, is ft series of carefully conducted ex¬ 
periments. There are hundreds of intelligent 
farmers who never instituted an experiment on the 
subject, who will tell you that they know that wheat 
will turn to chess. 
Let us have this subject fully and fairly tested. 
Reader, if you are a farmer, make up your mind 
that yon will know for yourself the truth or falsity 
of this theory, and at once commence a series of 
careful experiments and continue them, through a 
term of years, until you are fully satisfied on the 
subject. One or two years of experiment, con¬ 
ducted with ever so much care, will not settle the 
question. If so great an anomaly exists in nature's 
operations let ns have it fairly demonstrated. 
CORN vs. ROOT CROPS. 
Messrs. Ens.:—“Who can prove to us that the 
cultivation of root crops is profitable?” was a 
question proposed in your editorial columns last 
June, and I thought I would try to do something 
toward answering jt 1 am reminded to recall my 
experience by the communication of W. J. P., in 
a late Rural, who seems pretty well posted as to 
the advantages of root culture in theory. They 
are the “sheet anchor of British husbandry,” but 
in urging them upon the attention of American 
farmers, it. is well to admit that “ onr climate may 
not be quite so favorable for this crop as theirs,” 
for upon this depends the whole question at issue. 
Had our summer been an English one, my car¬ 
rots, sugar-beets, and turnips, would have well re¬ 
paid my labor. But the extreme dry weather set 
at naught all my calculations, and I find upon fig¬ 
uring up costand product, that they must be worth 
seventy-five cents a bushel to my stock, to set me 
square with the world again. No doubt they will 
do them a great deal of good, for I shall use them 
“ as a medicine,” and we are told wondrous stories 
of their value in this respect 
This year, at least, and in my case, it would, have 
been much better for me to have put my labor into 
a cornfield, where it would have reared twice ns 
many bushels of corn—and a large amount of good 
fodder — and corn l know how to raise. Hoeing 
and sowing, thinning and weeding, weeding and 
thinning, and then, perhaps, not half the ground 
occupied, is the order of the day with roots— 
work enough on one-eighth of an acre to take care 
of two or three acres of corn— and the crop a 
mere nothing after alL But I shall try it another 
year; my stock must have a few roots— as a medi¬ 
cine. 
“Growturnips!” was the advice farmer Webster 
gave one of his neighbors, whose land was nearly 
run out by croppiug without system and without 
manure. He might as well have said “ grow corn,” 
for that, too, requires the land to be well plowed, 
highly manured, and kept free from weeds. Corn, 
too, prepares the land in the best manner for other 
crops, and the product fed out on the farm requires 
large stock and consequently augments the manure 
heap, and increases the fertility of the farm. 
Niagara Co., 1857. B. F. 
NOTES AND ITEMS.-NO. II. 
Mr. Editor: —“Glean on” you say, give ns your 
notions on the agricultural contents of the Rural. 
I will do so,—but first let me ask you if you do 
not find this milder weather “refreshing?” May 
we not hope that the “ cold term” is over, and that 
the thermometer will keep clear of zero hereafter? 
“ Profitable Farming” [Jan. 21, No. 388] is much 
the same thing with “Thorough Farming,” every¬ 
where. In nothing do we lose more than from 
luck of thorough tillage of the soil. Urge it upon 
the*farmer—re-iterate the fact—that a deep mellow 
soil will produce the best crops, whatever the sea¬ 
son, and is our only hope in a dry one. 
Give us, too, all the information attainable on 
marketing. Some farmers have a natural tact tor 
it, others are at the mercy of the interested, not 
to say dishonest, buyer. A large share of the 
profit of farming depends upon the skill and 
foresight with which its products are marketed. 
“ Can Agriculture Prosper without Sheep?'- 1 
trow not Every farmer may profitably keep (if 
his neighbor’s dogs will let him) a certain propor¬ 
tion of sheep to his other stock, as they will eat 
some plants and grasses refused by cattle and 
horses, and thus improve our pasture land, while 
a little extra forage will suffice them—and they 
pay well for all the care required. Twenty-five 
sheep to a hundred acres, with five or six cows, 
and a span of horses, is about the right number, 
when some grain is raised. What say you, and 
your readers, to this apportionment? 
“ Beans as a Field Crop ” should receive more 
attention generally. I raised beans this year for 
75 cents per bushel, and sold them for $1 50—a 
little better than your correspondent “ B.” reports. 
The season was first-rate for the crop. 
“ How to Head the Rats'" has been the query about 
our corn-crib this winter. Our dog will hunt them 
out “right smart,” but some old, experienced oorn- 
stealers are off in the day time. I'll try Petten- 
cili.’s box-trap, 1 believe. 
Winter com of in oru.n uure at flll f 
but “C. W. A.” tells an encouraging story of his 
“ biddies.” Plenty of good, fresh eggs—even if no 
more than a dozen a day—will pay, at this time of 
year, for four quarts of corn and occasional rninoe 
meat Our hens never would “shell out” like that 
in very cold weather. 
“ W hither are we Tending?'" [Jan. 31, No. 369.] 
Towards au improved state of Agriculture, it is to 
be hoped. But alas! Our Neglected Manures cry 
loudly against us. Let farmers buy guano, if they 
will; its use will help to awaken attention to the 
value of domestic fertilizers. By the way, more 
than one farmer, who would think it extreme folly 
to throw a load of straw into the road or a run¬ 
ning stream, lets his cattle on their way to water 
drop manure there, every week, fully equal in 
value. 
" Large vs. Small Hogs" is a question worthy 
discussion. I shall not here “take sides” only to 
remark that my experience in weighty swine warns 
me not to be so ambitious hereafter. “ H. T. B.’s” 
hog of the “dumpy” breed (a breed readier to 
“rnn out” than in, by a long shot) reminds me of 
my pig which remains quiet in bis nest while hia 
brothers and sisters are watching and squealing. 
He is latter than the rest, so I suppose he finds it 
better to sleep than to “ fill his belly with the east 
wind” and anxiety. 
“ Wool Growing in Texas" pays an astonishing 
dividend, according to Mr. Black’s account. The 
use of the capital invested is worth nothing!—the 
land which feeds them costs nothing!—they don't 
even get salt to their provender!—what would the 
profit have been had the lambs all lived aud flour, 
ished ? What is the use o i onr keeping sheep here 
when everything must be counted against them? 
“ Farmer's Boys" are “The Main .Stay” of the 
country. And they are wide awake, too, on the 
farm. I’ll warrant you they will furnish plenty of 
letters for the Young Ruralist corner. 
— Thresh that, will you,—the straw may go to 
the paper-mill. I want to to say a word in com¬ 
mendation of your new type; it is so neat and leg¬ 
ible, it does my old eyes good, for plain or not, 
I’m A Costant Reader. 
-- 
SUFFOLK vs. “ DUMPY” SWINE. 
Eds. Rural: —In your paper of Jan. 31st, your 
special contributor, II. T. Brooks, amuses himself 
a little at my expense in relation to the weight of 
a Suffolk pig that l gave you an account of a short 
time since, and which you published for the benefit 
of your readers. Mr. B. expresses some auxiety in 
my thus increasing what he is pleased to call size, 
fearing that the "constitution” is in danger from 
"so much expansion.” I wish to assure Friend 
Brooks (for such I consider him to be) that no 
such calamity was intended while feeding the pig 
in question, and on more raatare reflection I am 
convinced that it is still safe, notwithstanding the 
weight, of the pig was a little more than the ordi¬ 
nary “ dumpy” one will attain. 
I am sorry that Mi'. B. should think me “insaneb 
in my passion for “big animals;” if such is the 
fact, I am not aware of it, and shall try to he more 
reasonable in future. I wish to have Mr. B. re-read 
the article in question, and he will see he has made 
some mistake in setting forth the statement in 
Bis preamble; also I wish to sell Mr. B. a pair of 
my best pigs this spring, from which I wish him to 
“re-produce the original renowned thistle-diggers,” 
spoken of in his letter, and I will engage to take a 
pair of them when the time expires he mentions, 
(if I am then living) as a curiosity; and to reward 
him for hiB enterprise, 1 will agree to give him $50 
for the pair, and perhaps some other persons will 
also engage them,if he succeedsin the undertaking. 
Now, Mr. Brooks, on reflection, don't you think 
your “dumpy” little “Berkshire ” was a little too 
“dumpy” for profit; would she notliave been of more 
benefit to yon, and community at large, if she had 
had a little more “ expansion, 1 "just a little, so that 
she would have been able to reproduce her species, 
and not been “ sitting” eating grass for six months 
or so, (for her amusement,) so that you might, have 
had "one more of the same sort left.” 1 am not 
an advocate of a coarse pig; I think there should 
be good selections made- to breed from, even of as 
good a breed as the Suffolk, and I still think the 
dumpy ones are not fit to use for such purposes, 
and in many instances they will not breed, (bus 
showing their inferiority at least in that respect. 
I have dressed many a small pig, and like such. 
I think pigs from 7 to 8 or 9 months old, weighing 
from 200 to 300 lbs., the most profitable, aud such 
can be had of the Suffolk, at these ages fit to dress if 
well fed, aud many of them at 18 months will 
dress from 300 to 500 lbs., and be very fat at that. 
Tn regard to horses, I shall be right along with 
Mr. Brooks, as I have a pair of colts, descendants 
of “Consternation,” which I think highly of, that 
weigh 1,050 lbs. each—will probably mature to 
1,100 lbs. each in good condition at full age— 
probably a little too light for heavy work, but a 
disposition and ambition good enough for auy 
contingency whatever. I will just say for the 
benefit of those concerned, that I have no wish 
for controversy, neither do I think Mr. Brooks 
wishes it, but perhaps he is in somewhat the same 
fix the fox was in the fable, after he lost his tail in 
the steel trap—lie then advocated the convenience 
he experienced without that appendage. I think 
perhaps friend B.'s pigs are a little too small, fust 
a little, for profit. J. Talcott. 
Rome, Oneida Go., N. Y., 1857. 
- 
FACTS AND SUGGESTIONS. 
Wintering Swine. —As to wintering pigs, I have 
been amazed at the course of many farmers.— 
While the animals have the range of their owner’s 
farm, bis neighbor’s and the public highway du¬ 
ring the fail, they make out very well, but winter 
comes, and they are confined to a scanty allow¬ 
ance—in some cases to mere hay alone—and spring 
finds them 25 per cent, lighter, the little they con¬ 
sumed in the mean time being simply throu-n away. 
Such course is both unprofitable and inhuman.— 
“Keep them thriving all the time regardless of the 
season,” and “make your pork on few legs,” are 
maxims of decided wisdom. 
Apropos to friend Brooks, and the wisdom of 
feeding spring pigs, allow me to say that I dressed 
a “ dumpy” this fall, of the red sandy breed, which 
weighed 3li5 lbs. at just ten months, after hanging 
a cold night. Who wants heavier, and who can 
Rent.? Let Stiffolkdam answer.—W. P. P. 
— '4 — 
Dairting in Oneida Countt. —In reading the 
Rural of January 24th, I saw a note from W. II. 
Gardner, of Thornby, N. Y., relative to what had 
been done in Cortland Co. in the dairy business, 
and thought I could say almost as much lor Oneida. 
We made in the year 1856, to December 27th, from 
seven cows, 1,400 lbs. of butter, 1G0 lbs. of cheese, 
and sold $5 worth of milk, besides what we have 
used in a family of five persons. We do not be¬ 
lieve in doing as Greeley says “the generality of 
country people do,” L «., sell all the best, for we use 
a large quantity of sweet cream in the course of 
the year.—W. F. Sanford, Camden 7 Oneida Co. 
Plaster on Clover for Seed. —When Bhall we 
sow plaster on clover designed for seed? My ex¬ 
perience in raising clover seed is limited, but I 
think I have learned some things which will he of 
use to me in the future, lu the summer of 1855 I 
mowed a few acres of clover the first week in July, 
and immediately sowed on plaster at, the rate of 
about 200 lbs. per acre, A space of a few rods 
square was left unplastered, and it could be readily 
traced where the plaster wasuot sown. The clover 
was leBs green aud not more than three-fourths as 
heavy. The product was at the rate of five bushels 
of clean, heavy seed per acre. This was the large 
kind of clover. Early in the spring of last year 1 
sowed about the same quantity of plaster on an¬ 
other field of clover. The result was a large yield. 
The first crop was cut with a mowing machine 
about the close of June. It was much lodged and 
could not be cut short. When the clover sprang 
up again, where it was the heaviest aud the stubble 
longest, there the second crop was nearly a failure. 
The long Btubble did not start, aud I am of the 
opinion more seed would have been obtained bad 
it not been plastered. It has not been threshed, 
but it is very light, though allowance must, he made 
for the drontb, which lessened the clover as well 
as every other crop. From these results I con¬ 
clude to sow plaster on clover to lie pastured, early 
in the spring, and on that to he cut for seed—es¬ 
pecially on land in good condition—alter the first 
mowing.—1. L. S. t South Onondaga, Feb,, 1857. 
Fairs for Sale of Stock, Ac.—In relation to 
Town and County FairB, much has been said about 
the arrangement of grounds, buildings, fast horses, 
ladies riding, Ac,, and many other things connect¬ 
ed with, and appertaining to the interest of these 
institutions. The subject has been shown up to 
us at different times, and from different points, and 
we have been amused and instructed while reading 
many of them. It has occurred to this deponent, 
that if some of your many able writers would turn 
their attention to the subject of holding regular 
market days, say once a month, where the farmer 
could drive his stock, that he might have on hand 
and wish to dispose of,—in short, where buyer 
aud sellers might meet together, and both parties 
be benefited thereby. Would it not save butchers 
and drovers much time and expense? We have 
allthc Itxlurcs, buildings, stalls, &c., and it seems to 
me that they might bo used to advantage in some 
such way. There might be mauy strong arguments 
presented in favor of something oftthc kind, and 
perhaps, some reasons against it. Wo would like 
to hear from farmers, and those interested, on this 
subject.—J. M. L., W. Co., N Y„ Feb., 1857. 
fdral |lotes anti Items. 
N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Annual Meeting of this Society convened 
in the Assembly Chamber, Albany, Feb, 11, Mr. 
President Faxton in the chair. We subjoin a 
brief abstract of the most important proceedings. 
Mr. B. P. Johnson, Secretary, read the reports of 
the Treasurer and Executive Committee. The 
Treasurer’s report shows the receipts lor the year 
$17,997 99, and the expenditures $18,933 0G. The 
expenditures tn be reimbmsed are sufficient to 
leave a balance in the Treasury of $1,140 70. The 
report of the Executive Committee enlarges on 
the progress of the Society, aud sets forth the bene¬ 
fits which have accrued to Agricultural interests 
through its extension. 
The attendance was large. Buffalo was espe¬ 
cially well represented—au effort being made to 
secure the holding of the next State Fair in that 
city. A Committee was appointed to nominate 
officers, and designate place for holding next 
Annual Fair. They recommended Buffalo as the 
place of holding the Fair; and presented the fol¬ 
lowing lisi of officers for the ensuing year: 
President —Hon. Alonzo S. On am, of Gmipsoo. Vice- 
Presidents - Jonathan Thorne, Win. O. McCoun, Herman 
Wendell, John M. Stevenson, n. E. Bowen, Francis M. 
Itotcb, Willard Hodges, Lewis F. Allen. Cor. Secretary— 
B. P. .lohnsOD. Rec. Secretary — Erastug Corning, Jr. 
7\casurer —B. B. Kirkland. Executive Committee —G. W. 
Tifft, E. C. Dilil.de, C. S. Wainwrigbt, Solon Hungerford, 
C. Morrell. 
After some discussion, and an unsuccessful mo¬ 
tion to substitute Syracuse for Buffalo, the report 
was agreed to, and the officers named were elected. 
Mr. Lewis F. Allen offered a resolution, “ani¬ 
madverting on the practice of County Societies of 
encouraging trials ot the speed of horses, by lay¬ 
ing out race courses—and discouraging such prac¬ 
tices as foreign to the object of the. founders of 
the Couuty Fairs, demoralizing in their tendencies, 
and recommending that hereafter no ring be laid 
out of a larger diameter than 150 feet.” This 
elicited considerable discussion, pro and con, in 
which Judge Osrorn and Messrs. Williams, Hil¬ 
ton and Prentice of Albany, Hon. T. C. Peters 
of Genesee, Gen. S. M. Burroughs of Orleans, 
Hon. A. B. Dickinson of Steuben, aud several other 
gentlemen, participated. The resolution was final¬ 
ly referred to the Executive Committee. 
In the evening an address was delivered by Dr. 
Fitch on the Insects of this Country. The lecture 
is said to have been of absorbing interest, embo¬ 
dying a vast amount of practical information, and 
fully sustaining the reputation of its distinguished 
author. It will probably be embodied in the 
next volume of the Transactions of the Society. 
— - 
Dedication of toe State Ag’i. Hall.—T he 
new Agricultural Hall, at Albany, (an engraving 
and description of which were given in our last 
volume,) was formally dedicated on Thursday eve¬ 
ning, Feb. 12. The occasion was one of conside¬ 
rable interest. Most of the officers and many 
members of the State Society were present, while 
the Legislature was well represented. Col. John¬ 
son, Secretary of the Stale Society, briefly rehears¬ 
ed its history from its foundation to the present 
day, congratulating the farmers upon its marked 
success and future promise. Judge Cueever fol¬ 
lowed, delivering an able address. Messrs. W. II. 
Bogart, T. C. Peters, Senator Kelly and Gov. 
King also spoke. An Address by T. S. Faxton, 
Esq., the retiring President of the Society, muiuly 
rehearsing the history of the Society during the 
past year, was read by Mr. Secretary Johnson.— 
Hon. A. S. UrnAM, the President elect (of Le Roy,) 
was then inducted into the Chair, and made a brief 
but handsome inaugural address,—(all which pro¬ 
ceedings, but for certain “ills that flesh is heir to,” 
we should have endeavored to witness.) The So¬ 
ciety then adjourned to the room above, and dis¬ 
cussed, amply and satisfactorily we presume, a 
tempting collation, 
-.■» » 
Palmyra Union Ao. Society. —This Society 
held its Annual Meeting at Palmyra on the lltli 
inst. The following gentlemen were chosen offi¬ 
cers for 1857:— President — Martin Butterfield. 
Vice-Presidents —Stephen Hyde, Win. 11. Feller, 
Russtdl Stoddard, I. W. Briggs, James D. Ford, 
Isaac A. Clark. Cor. Secretary —Carlton H. Rog¬ 
ers. Rec, Secretary —Charles J. ForTin. Treasurer 
—Joseph C. LovetL Directors —One year—Luther 
Sanford, Win, II. Rogers; Two years—Stephen K. 
Williams, J. C. Petti tt; Three years—Tlieron G. 
Yeomans, Daniel Gates. 
- »•»«- 
Hartlanp Agricultural Society.—T he Hart- 
land Agricultural Society held its Annual Sleeting 
oa the 26th ult, The following officers were elect¬ 
ed for the ensuing year:— President, Zeno Hoag; 
Vice-President, Asa P. Aldrich; Secretary, J. C> 
Douol; Treasurer, Abner Kittredge; Directors, O. 
T. Keith and Curtis Root. We regret that severe 
illness precluded us from fulfilling an engagement 
to address this Society at its annual meeting. 
-»-*-•- 
Wolcott Union Ag. Society.—T he following 
are the officers of the “Union Agricultural Socie¬ 
ty of the towns of Wolcott, Huron, Butler and Sa¬ 
vannah,” Wayne Co., N. Y., for 1857:— President— 
E. N. Plank, Wolcott. Vice-Presidents —George 
Thompson,Daniel Van Aukea, Thomas Armstrong, 
Jr., Thomas Johnson. Cor, Secretary — Samuel 
Wells, Huron. Rec. Secretary —Wm. II, Thacker, 
Wolcott. IVeasurer —Zclolus Guild, W oleott.— 
Executive Committee —Chester Dutton, Win. D. 
Sheldon, Royal Matthews, James M. Scrviss. 
Lebanon Ag. Society.— At the Annual Meeting 
of the Lebanon Agricultural Society held on the 3d 
inst,, the following officers were elected for the 
ensuing year:— President — Daniel B. Shaplsy. — 
Vice-l'residmts— Henry Seymour, Horace Stowoll. 
Cor. Secretary —Lewis Sheriff. Rec. Secretary — 
Alfred Seymour. Treasurer —Edwin S. Benedict. 
Directors —V. W. Lillibridge, S. B. Benedict, 
- _ - 
Wheat Crop. — The St. Louis Republican says 
that the severity of the winter now drawing to ft 
close, has operated unfavorably on the wheut.— 
Farmers in Morgan and Sangamon, and other 
counties in Illinois, report the wheat killed In 
many fields, in others badly damaged. They do 
not anticipate half a crop. We hear similar re¬ 
ports from Marion county, Missouri. 
Ontario Co. Society.— The Winter Meeting of 
the Ontario County Agricultural Society was held 
at Canandaigua the 4th inst. After the distribu¬ 
tion of the awards for farm products the following 
officers were elected: — President — Wm. Johnson, 
Esq., Seneca. Fice- Presidents —C. B. Meek, Canan¬ 
daigua: Thos. Sprague, East Bloomfield; Robert 
R. Sanger, Manchester; S. H. Ainsworth, W. 
Bloomfield; Geo.Dakin, Seneca; W. S. Clark, Vic¬ 
tor; il. Metcalf, Gorham; E. Jones, Bristol; L. W. 
Smith, Farmington; Enoch Ottley, Phelphs; Shot- 
well Powell, South Bristol; E. A. Hebard, Hope- 
well; W. R. Pitts, Richmond; Abram T. Nelson, 
Naples; Hiram Colegrove, Canadice, Treasurer — 
Jus. S, Cooley, Canandaigua. Cor. Sec'y —Gideon 
Granger, Canandaigua. Rec. Secretary —John W. 
Uolderton, Canandaigua. 
The report of the Treasurer exhibits the posi¬ 
tion of the Society as follows: 
Amount paid work on Am phi theatre. $7,063 08 
Grading grounds_____ 501 01 
Premiums at Fall Exhibition, $1,052 50 ; do, 
Winter, 1856, $UH 00... 1,160 50 
Advertising, piloting, labor, lumber, mason 
work, &c. 1,005 88 
$10,3SO 47 
assets# 
On hand 6th Feb., 1850 ......... _ $186 07 
521 lile members added during the year 5,210 00 
Donations, $01 ; rents received, $200.. 201 00 
702 annual members... 702 00 
Receipts »t, gates, 12!£o tickets.1,216 40 
Entries sweepstakes... 165 00 
Stone sold on ground.. 10 00 
- 7,780 47 
Excess ol liabilities__ .$2,600 00 
Stock for New York.—A t the late sale of Mr. 
B. V. French's stock, Mr. C. N. Bement brought 
several animals for account of M. Vassar, Esq,, of 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y r . We understand they are to 
be placed on Mr. Yassar’s farm, of which Mr. Be- 
ment is to have the superintendence. The animals 
purchased were cows, as follows: — No. 13 of the 
catalogue — Lady Anne 4th, two years old seven- 
eighths Devon Otte-eighth CTeampot; $75. No. 27, 
Lady Anne 2d, five years old, three-fourths Devon 
one-fourth Creampot, $68 60. No. 29, Washbon, 
full-blood Dovon, eight years old, $60. No. 30, Van 
Rensselaer, full-blood Devon, eight years old, $00. 
No. 31, Beauty, full-blood Devon, seven years old, 
$74. Mr. B. informs us that these animals are 
duly installed at tlieir now home, and are doing 
"as well as could be expected.” Some of them 
were bought at very low prices, particularly No. 
29.— Boston Cultivator. 
®|c gouwj flttralist 
FABMEES’ BOYS. 
Mr. Moore: —I am a boy, yet I have been a 
reader of the Rural for more than a year; and, 
Sir, as you open your columns to all that are in¬ 
terested, I thought I might write something. I 
live on the height of laud between the Snsque- 
hauuah and Chenango rivers, where tho wind in 
winter, whistles merrily. Nevertheless, the Rural 
finds its way once a week in among the snowdrifts, 
let them be as high as they will. And, Sir, I assure 
you it is a most welcome visitor at all times. Old 
Boreas has given ns pretty* good notice of his ex¬ 
istence, but now he has left for unknown regions, 
and we are having a spell of warm weather.— 
I am a farmer's boy, and look with especial inter¬ 
est for the farmer’s boy’s comer, and indorse what 
C. W. C. says in the Rural, of Jan. 31st. Boys, 
if you would be happy, independent, and healthy, 
stick to the farm. Farming is the business for me. 
Although a man may not accumulate wealth as 
fast as in some other way, yet a good farmer is tho 
freest, most independent, man that breathes,— 
Willie Waters, Coventryville, Feb. 5, 1957. 
Remarks, —We do not wonder that intelligent, 
enterprising boys do not like farming, as farming 
is often conducted. We do not wonder that many 
look forward with pleasure to the time when they 
may leave their father’s farms, and make thc-ir way 
to some city where they can commence the battle 
of life lor themselves, with fuff scope for their en¬ 
ergies and their talents, Farmiug as they have 
been in the habit of seeing it practiced, is a 
drudgery*, bringing neither pleasure nor profit, nor 
l, onor —giving no opportunity lor the exercise of 
the highest faculties of the mind. Tho farmer 
pursues the same system, slightly modified by cir¬ 
cumstances, as was pursued by his father, and is 
now practiced by his neighbors. He thinks mot, 
neither does ho read. Experience teaches him 
but few lessons, science none. Is it strange that 
the boy with an inquiring mind, desires to have 
nothing to do with a business that thus dwarfs the 
mind, and straguates its highest faculties? Is it 
strange that ho considers it a degrading business? 
The boy, il ho has good sense; whose father is a 
reading, thinking, intelligent, enterprising fanner, 
who studies the nature of his soil, produces large 
crops, keeps fine cattle, and talksHntelligently on 
all these subjects, will not think farming a degrad¬ 
ing business. He sees that knowledge and skill, 
can he as profitably and as honorably employed on 
the farm as in auy other business of life, and en¬ 
gages in it with interest and enthusiasm. 
THE BOY IN THE GARDEN. 
Mr. Editor:—I am too young to do much work. 
I can’t plow, or reap, or mow, but I can do a little 
in the garden. So I dig up the dirt around mother’s 
rose-bushes aud pmonies and pinks and other flow¬ 
ers, and mother soys she has a much nicer garden 
than she did before I helped her. Then I help her 
sow lettuce and radishes aud parsnips and onions; 
and wheu the weeds begin to grow I hoe them up, 
and when the radishes and other things are grown 
large enough I go out atul puff them for tea. And 
father save we grow better things than anybody 
round. Then I watch for the seed, and as it gets 
ripe T pick it in a teacup until 1 get enough, and 
then I tie each kind up in brown paper by itself, 
and put it in an old shot bag aud bang it up in the 
garret until it is time to plant again, feouiellmcs 
I get seed enough to give a good lot away. Mother 
said I might write this lbr our paper, tho Rural, 
as she saw that other boys were writing, and she 
would copy it hotter and put it In the 1'ost Office. 
She has read it, aud now says she will only make 
a few alterations, and send it in just as it is.—N. 
M., Onondaga Co., N. Y. 
Remarks.—'T hat boy has a wise mother; and 
that mother has a son of whom she will have no 
reason to be ashamed. 
