ica. 
NATIONAL AGIIMTUCAL CONVENTION, 
At the Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
D. C., Feb. 15, 1872. 
[Concluded from Page U6, last No.] 
The Third Day of the Convention was, 
like the first two, thoroughly occupied with 
the expression of ideas and plans of active 
minds. Mr. Barnard of Georgia read a 
long, excellent, though wordy and tedious 
paper, to which was appended a resolution 
equally long and wordy, the substance of 
which was that “ the Department of Agri¬ 
culture will not have reached Its full meas¬ 
ure of usefulness until it shall not only act 
in active and practical concert with the sev¬ 
eral State Agricultural colleges, boards and 
societies, but also has proposed and estab¬ 
lished an international system of observa¬ 
tions and interchange of information, by 
means of an organization of which it shall 
be a component part." The resolution was 
referred to a commit tee who were Instruct ed 
to crack off the shell and get at the kernel. 
Governor Patton of Alabama, presented 
resolutions embodying a petition to the 
General Government to act upon the recom¬ 
mendations of Com. Maury, favoring the 
calling of u Convention of the representa¬ 
tives of the different, governments, with a 
view to establishing, by international co¬ 
operation, a general and systematic plan of 
meteorological observations ami crop re¬ 
ports—the same as published in an editorial 
on Uiis subject in the Rural New-York¬ 
er, Nov. 25, 1871, This resolution was 
adopted. 
More Agricultural College Resolutions. 
Senator Justin F. Morrill of Vermont, 
the father of the Agricultural College En¬ 
dowment Bill of 18(52, offered the following 
resolution,which was unanimously adopted: 
Resolved, That, us the sense of this conven¬ 
tion, wo deem It of paramount interest to usk of 
Congress, as wo do earnestly, for an additional 
donation of land, or proceeds of land. Ruffteient 
to found a professorship ol'so me of flu* branches 
ol' practical science in each of the colleges now 
wholly, or in part, sustained by the previous 
laud grant ol Cougros, and also that the VVur 
Department may be directed, at the earliest pos¬ 
sible moment, to assign an onlcurof the army to 
each of said colleges, lu every respect compe¬ 
tent to give mathematical and other military in¬ 
struction. 
Agricultural Colleges Again. 
Gen. IIalsted of New Jersey offered the 
following resolutions, which were adopted : 
Revolved, That the agricultural societies and 
agricultural colleges of this country have the 
r ime groat alius the improvement of agricul¬ 
ture and the elevation of Uie agricultural class¬ 
es nid should be knit together in the Hr most 
friendship. 
RosolwJ, That wo heartily approve the admir¬ 
able suggestion of our President, lion Guo. w. 
Lokino, that each State and county agricult ural 
society hall provide one scholarship in Ihc Ag¬ 
ricultural Society its a living bond of union be¬ 
tween the society and the College, and as a most 
effecting means of increasing the number of ag¬ 
ricultural students in the country. 
Resolved, That we recommend thoagricull uru) ' 
colleges to procure t he appointment, annually, ' 
of a committee of intelligent practical farmers, , 
to assist In the examination of the agricultural 
olasw.M in the colleges, and that no graduate of 
such colleges shall receive a diploma till he shall 1 
p.m s u satisfactory examination before such com¬ 
mittee. 
Entomology in the Department. 
Charles V. RtT.EY of Missouri offered the j 
following preamble and resolutions, which \ 
were adopted : < 
Whereas, The injuries caused by noxious in- 1 
sects to tho different crops of the country are *' 
among the most serious draw barks to successful t 
agriculture, and all knowledge that will euablo v 
“i to counteract the ravage* of those posts of ‘/ 
the farmer should lie dhaeui touted throughout ~ 
the country ; and 
Whereas, It Is known to the members of this f 
Conveuition that Mr. Townsend Glover, Rnto- 
IUoloff4t of the Department of Agriculture, has ' 
been for many years engaged in preparing ex- 8 
pensive illustrations and other materials Tor a * 
work on insects; and h 
paring, publishing and disseminating it, was 
asked. 
Timber Preservation, 
Prof. Swallow of Missouri offered the 
following resolution, which was adopted: 
Resolved, That a committee of five be appoint¬ 
ed to report to the Commissioner of Agriculture 
on Hie best methods of preserving the timber of 
the country, especially the timber of tin- Rocky 
Mountains and the central prairie regions of the 
Republic. 
Military Education in Agricultural Colleges. 
Du. Gregory of Illinois presented a re¬ 
port upon Military Education in Agricultu¬ 
ral Colleges, which contained the following 
plan: 
1. bet Congress give to every State that shall 
comply with the prescribed conditions, $15,000 
annually, to aid in tho maintenance of a college 
of military-science. The condition s of this grant 
to be, that any State accepting the grant shall 
1 mulsh, as the military college, an institution— 
first, having a capacity for the instruction of- 
students, suid an actual attendance of-runic 
students; second, furnishing Instruction in all 
branches of learning now provided at West 
Point, (military ^clotioc? to bo included on receipt 
of grant;! third, having a parade ground urn plo 
lor thoovoiurIons oru buttaJion of inlantrvora 
section of artillery, and a drill hall sufficient for 
the drill of u company; fourth, requiring nil 
male students, units*, excused for a just cause, 
to drill long enough to learn thoroughly the 
duties of the infantry soldier; «nd fifth, afford¬ 
ing free military education to all students ap¬ 
plying for same, under such restriction in regard 
to age and character, us may be required. 
8, The $15,000 filial! lie used In paying the salary 
of a profeasor of military tactics, who shall teach 
whatever pertain5 to the organization, subsist- 
eneeund management of armies in camp or field; 
a professor of military engineering, Including 
ordnance, gunnery, &o.: an assistant professor, 
who shall bo u competent drib-master and 
draughtsman: a band-master, who shall be com¬ 
petent to teach the college band, and an armorer, 
to be charged with the care of anus ami drill- 
hull. The surplus, if any, may be used for the 
purchuseof military equipment, military books, 
plans, mid ulber apparatus of instruction. 
3. The War Department shall appoint Commis¬ 
sioners, who shall prescribe u course of military 
education for these military colleges, and also a 
higher course for West. Point, which shall be , 
made of higher grade, and shall receive n part 1 
of it* students from the graduates of the mill- 1 
tary coll ogee. These commissioners shidl also 
appoint annually examiners, who, with examin¬ 
ers appointed by the Governor of tho State, i 
•shall inspect the military colleges, and examine , 
the classes, selecting from each graduating class 
-cadets, who shall enter the West Point school, I 
jfichl O^rojis. 
INDIANA CORN CULTURE. 
wiih same pay and emoluments us enjoyed bv 
(he cadets of West Point. 
4. The War Department shall furnish to the 
military colleges the necessary arms, accoutre¬ 
ments. camp equipage, and ammunition to be 
used in the instruction of classes und in the drill 
of all the students. 
Seed Distribution by the Department. 
Mr. Edmunds of Illinois offered the fol¬ 
lowing resolution, which ought to have been 
adopted, but was laid on the table: 
Resolved, That in the judgment of this pun voli¬ 
tion t Ik- purchase and distribufionNei^hJil-, 
ucsoivca, inui inine judgmentoi tiHB< inven¬ 
tion t Ik- purelitifie lllia distr i f> 11 1 iopKejJg^'.js, 
plants, roots, ,Ve„ ilnti are not new, aiunuP-iiot 
known or supposed to have u distinctive utid e-- 
pedal economic value, warranting their Jntro- 
uncHoo, should bo discontinued bv tho Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture. 
Salary of the Commissioner of Agriculture. 
Gen. 11ai.sti.ii of New Jersey offered a 
resolution that Congress be petitioned to 
increase the stilurv of the Commissioner of 
Agriculture to §0,000, which was adopted. 
A Committee to Represent the Convention in 
Congress. 
Messrs. Losing of Massachusetts, Bow¬ 
man of Kentucky', GREGORY of Illinois, 
Twomrly of Wisconsin, Cornell of Now 
York, and Poi.WELLot Minnesota, were ap¬ 
pointed a committee to ask Congress for an 
increased appropriation in aid of Agricul¬ 
tural Colleges. 
President boring's Closing Speech. 
Before the adjournment Pres't Boring 
said:- The Chair takes this opportunity of 
returning thanks to the Convention for the 
pleasure he has experienced in presiding 
over its deliberations. The Convention has 
been to him one of extreme, interest. I have 
endeavored to put practical agriculture in 
tho foremost rank, anil working as 1 have for 
years in Massachusetts with such men as 
Agassiz, who never do aught without a con¬ 
sultation with the practical farmers them¬ 
selves, 1 have learned likewise to respect 
i heir views and do all 1 ever can to advance 
their interests. I think that tho expres¬ 
sions of tho opinions given here with regard 
to the agricultural condition of the country 
have been most refined and useful. [Ap- 
1 have derived much valuable informa- 
’ tion from the columns of your paper, and 
have often felt a desire to contribute some¬ 
thing to the general fund of agricultural in¬ 
formation; but us often have been prevent¬ 
ed, on account of not being able to give def¬ 
inite results. Much of the information 
from communicat ions in your paper is only 
procticable on small farms, where enough 
stock is kept to consume all the produce, 
and even more, for we read of many farm¬ 
ers buying and consuming large amounts of 
grain, besides what they grow, in order to 
increase tho manure heap. But thousands 
of your readers who grow corn by the one 
hundred to t housands of acres find such in¬ 
formation impracticable; anrl I wish to 
express a few thoughts to those in regard to 
growing corn and marketing t lie same. 
The ground I cultivate is in the valley of 
White River, Indiana, known a second 
bottom; not subject to overflow, and is u 
rich, vegetable loam. T have found great 
benefit from breaking stubble ground that 
was intended for corn ns soon after har¬ 
vesting as possible. Leaving a part of the 
ground without breaking after harvest, in 
the same field, i have broken it in spring, 
and have found the fall-plowed to increase 
the yield from ten to fifteen bushels per 
acre, and with far less labor to tend, as 
many of the weed seeds had germinated in 
the fall, after tho breaking, and were de¬ 
stroyed by frost before maturing. The 
ground was also more mellow, and worked 
easier every way. 
If the ground to bo used for corn has been 
cultivated in corn the year before, and the 
stalks left standing, as they generally are 
throughout our corn-growing regions, there 
being but a very small proportion cut up, 1 
dispose of the stalks by cutting close to the 
ground with hoes, raking with a horse rake 
into winrows, and burning clean. Some 
practice breaking down the stalks with a 
pole, when the ground is frozen, and turn¬ 
ing under with the plow; but I have found 
this very annoying in laying off, planting, 
and first plowing after the corn is up, as the 
stalks are continually in the way, clogging 
tlio plow, and frequently tearing up the hill 
of young corn; and 1 think ( lie former plan 
much better. 
I now lay out the ground, after breaking 
from (5 to 9 inches deep, .3 feet 9 inches each 
way; drop and cover the way it was first 
laid oil', and cover with a drag, which I have , 
found the most valuable of any way that I 
have ever tried, and I have tried nearly 
every way known in the West. Any farmer, j 
with an auger, ax and saw, can make one in , 
two hours. I 
plowman and good plow there will be little 
to do of this back-breaking business. Thin 
to three stalks in a hill before the corn is 
knee high; when the ground is moist or 
wet never be tempted to leave more than 
three stalks to the hill; if I could always 
have two in every hill I would prefer it. 
Cultivate about ever y eight duys, using only 
tho double-shovel, leaving the ground as 
nearly level as possible When "laid by.” I 
always plow until corn commences tassel- 
ing, and even after, if not prevented by 
storms tangling the corn, or intense heat. I 
have never yet known corn injured by 
Plowing or cultivating it late. The last three 
plo wings I would not plow so close to tho 
corn or so deep as formerly. I have several 
times been stopped in the midst of a field, 
in late cultivation, by u storm twisting and 
blowing the corn, so that it could not be 
finished, and have invariably found t Fiat the 
corn last plowed was the best. 
The time of planting must be governed 
by locality. Tho best guide, and most gen¬ 
eral I know of, is, when the “leaves of the 
Oak are as largo as squirrels ears," and the 
ground not too wet. I think Immense dam¬ 
age is done by breaking, planting, and cul¬ 
tivating, when the ground is too wet. 
1 have not said anything about the appli¬ 
cation of manures, as l have had but little 
experience in that way, and 1 suppose 75 
per cent of the corn ground in our country 
is on land not manured. By the above 
mode of culture 1 have raised not less than 
(50 bushels of corn to the acre in tho past 
t welve years, and sometimes as high as 95, 
without manure. What I have said, and 
may hereafter say, is only to apply to those 
regions where corn is grown extensively, 
and little manure made. 
I am fully satisfied, from observation and 
experience, that Western farmers can in¬ 
crease tho product, of corn one-fourth, with¬ 
out the use of any manure, simply by more 
labor to t he acre. I think 15 acres to tho 
hand is ns much as can be cultivated well. 
I know some farmers will laugh at this, and 
say a hand will tend from 20 to 25 acres; I 
will only say, I will admit they can skim 
over it. 
I wish, in this article, to call attention 
more particularly to the manner of covering 
corn. 1 will give my experience and opin¬ 
ions as to marketing and disposing of corn in 
another communication.—W illow Brook 
Farm, Mnrrjnn Co., Inti. 
-- 
FIELD NOTES AND QUERIES. 
U'liftem, Tin' labor* of Bald officer arc in great plause.] 
P?rt lost to the country for want of sufficient I do not think that this Convention trav- 
mtana to publish tins work ; therefore, clod out of its record in taking into cotwid- 
e a»d debating upon so important a 
means to publish this work ; therefore, 
Resolved, That tills Convention earnestly tusk 
of Congress ail appropriation to the Department 
of Agriculture, to euablo It to publish the work 
at once. 
Resolved, That an annual appropriation of at 
lea a $10,OX) be furthermore asked for Hie 
special purpose of causing experiments for the 
destruction of noxious insects, to be made by the 
dill..*rent State hoards throughout the country 
whenever the Commissioner shall see lit. to so 
instruct, and direct said boards; the results of 
such expmnnents to be published In and dis¬ 
seminated through the monthly reports of the 
Department. 
A Preliminary Report on Experimental Stations 
was made, in which the importance of es¬ 
tablishing experimental farms throughout 
the country was elaborately discussed, and 
the objects to be accomplished, the mode of 
research to be pursued, and the cost and 
useful results likely to be gained were ably 
though somewhat crudely, discussed. Tho 
Committue asked further time, which was 
granted, and R. F. Johnstone of Michigan 
was instructed to prepare such further re¬ 
port, and the co-operation and assistance 
of the Department of Agriculture, in pre- 
question as the advancement of the youth 
of our country ; and, as the presiding officer 
of this Convention, 1 do not accept the com¬ 
pliment that has been paid them by the 
('onmiissioner, when he said that lie washed 
his hands clear of what he considered to he 
the fully of this Convention. LAppliiuso.] 
I do not think that such criticism was at all 
necessary, but nevertheless 1 pass it over 
with t his simple comment, knowing sis 1 do 
that it will be lost sight of in the great good 
for which I believe we have laid a founda¬ 
tion for accomplishment. [Applause.] 1 
think that, you must go away with feelings 
of the greatest respect for each other, mid 
with the assurance that agriculture lias re¬ 
ceived an increased impetus bv this general 
recognition upon the part of the Govern¬ 
ment of its interests, f Applause.] 
Final Adjournment. 
The Convention adjourned to meet the 
third Wednesday in February, 1873, at the 
call of a Committee consisting of Messrs. 
Twomhly of Wisconsin. Smyth of New- 
Hampshire, Clark el' Massachusetts, and 
Cornell of New York. 
VIEW OE END AND TOP. 
Cut off log 3 feet 11 inches long, 11 inches 
in diameter; split into C pieces, feather- 
edged, and 7 inches on the back ; lay three 
of them down, and pin to pieces of 2 by 4 
scantling on top—one near each end—and a 
t hird piece of scantling in the center, letting 
if project some 1(5 inches in front, with a 
hole bored in the end to hitch the double¬ 
trees to. The pieces of wood should be laid 
fcatlier-edgo to the front, and about nine 
inches apart; hitch your horses, straddle 
the row to be covered; let. a boy about four¬ 
teen or fifteen years old drive, and rido on 
the drag. You can cover about eight acres 
u clay. 
Now as to the advantages: — 1. At the 
time of covering the corn the whole surface 
of the ground is disturbed, and all vegeta¬ 
tion, started to grow, destroyed. 2. The 
ground is better pulverized than any way 1 
have ever tried, is left entirely level, and 
the furrows for planting obliterated. 3. 
Tho corn comes up on a level ground, and 
the ground is so completely mellowed that 
one can plow very close to it the first time, 
which f regard as very important, using a 
double-shovel plow, with a small shovel, or 
bull tongue, on tho side next the corn (I 
use Boswell & Bros', all iron and steel, far 
superior in every respect to any I have ever 
seen used) ; nt second plowing take off 
small shovel and put on the usual size, and 
cultivate five times; at second plowing 
don’t leave u weed or blade of grass in the 
hill. What the plow does not cover up or 
destroy, pull out by hand; but with a good 
Alfsike Clover in Michigan.— Samuel 
Booth, Branch Co., Mich., writes the West¬ 
ern Rural:—“A year ago last Spring I hesi¬ 
tatingly purchased enough of the seed to sow 
twenty-five acres, it taking at the rate of 
four and one-third pounds to the acre, at 
one dollar per pound. I sowed in the month 
of April, on ground prepared for and sowed 
to wheat. I harrowed tho ground, and after¬ 
ward plastered It. Notwithstanding the 
dry season, 1 cut from that ground about 
forty tons of hay in J uly. T drew in my barn 
five tons for feeding; the balance 1 stacked, 
and in September threshed it and g:.t eighty- 
five bushels of seed. Before catting J 
brought in some stalks which measured four 
feet in length. The field on which it was 
sown is high rolling land, soil dark sandy 
loam. I am feeding this whiter my entire 
stock, consisting of horses and cat tle, on the 
luiy that was threshed. They’ never thrived 
better on any feed than they do at the pres¬ 
ent time. It is free from fuzz nnd dust, and 
the stalk, unlike tho other clover, remains 
green after the seed has ripened, and the 
cattle seize it with an avidity that would 
plainly indicate its superiority over the com¬ 
mon red clover, it is also excellent for the 
honey bee, equal to if not surpassing tho 
white clover. The first cutting produces 
the seed, and afterward excellent pasturage, 
but if preferred for hay and no seed, it pro¬ 
duces two crops. With the knowledge I have 
of it, I would not recommend it for light 
yellow, sandy soil.” 
Big Crop of Peerless Potatoes. — In 
m,v sworn statement to the Ohio State 
Board of Agriculture (for which they 
awarded me the first premium for the best 
crop of potatoes), you will find that I har¬ 
vested 317 bushels from one aero—280 bush¬ 
els of Peerless from three-quarters of an 
acre; the balance were the Shaker Russctts. 
What P. I). It., in Rural of Jan. ti, says of 
t he Peerless as a cooking potato is very true. 
1 find them white, dry and mealy.—N ew 
Subscriber, Sandusky, O. 
Curing Tobacco.—1 want to be informed 
of the best method of curing tobacco. Can 
you or any of your readers help me? I 
mean, by “curing,” sweating it to make it 
ready for manufacturing.—E. W. Andrews. 
