78 THE CULTIVATOR. March. 
It was impossible not to observe the great superiority 
in bearing of the some forty Englishmen over their fel¬ 
lows generally, from Switzerland and Germany. M. F. 
says they have more energy, but so high a regard for 
the practical—that which they can see to be useful— 
and so little, comparatively, for science or knowledge 
for its own sake, that though in the outset they lead the 
way in study, they are almost invariably outstripped by 
their patient, persevering companions. 
On parting with M. F., he put into my hands a vari¬ 
ety of papers, including prospectuses of the school, and 
plans of study, from which I shall be enabled to learn, 
when more at leisure, more minutely the peculiar fea¬ 
tures of this school. 
Respectfully yours, E. N. Horsford. 
SARATOGA COUNTY, N. Y- 
Mr. Tucker —Believing that Saratoga county, as an 
agricultural and manufacturing district, is but little 
known abroad, I thought a brief sketch of ourselves 
might not be uninteresting to you and some of your 
readers. The traveller, in going to and from Saratoga 
Springs, by our railroads, passes over our most barren 
and sterile fields; hence often comes to the conclusion 
that there is but little here worth possessing except our 
“health giving fountains.” 
But great is the mistake. At a little distance, on 
either side of those roads, may be found a soil seldom 
surpassed, with barns and granaries as capacious and 
well filled as elsewhere in the Empire state. Ours is 
the great pork-making county, it being we 1 * understood 
that in this Ave surpass in quantity and quality our neigh¬ 
bors; and in the dairy, we are vain enough to believe 
we shall soon rival our own Orange county in butter. 
The soil is much of it a sandy loam, congenial to the 
growth of corn and rye, though wheat and the other 
grains are grown in considerable plenty. For each and 
eA r ery product we haA^e the best of markets, and these 
steadily and constantly increasing. Saratoga Springs, 
for three months in summer, consumes every beef, pig, 
lamb, chicken, egg, &c., wfithin her reach, and these 
too, at prices, many times, better than could be ob¬ 
tained in New-York. 
Congress water has a remarkable effect in improving 
the appetite, and whilst the drinking is enormous, there 
seems to be a corresponding ratio of increase with the 
eating propensities. 
Our numerous streams are being covered. with manu¬ 
factories. On the Kayadarosseras, near Ballston Spa, a 
Lowell in machinery is springing up. Four cotton 
mills are now in operation, a fifth one of 150 looms, is 
preparing, and several others contemplated. Beside 
these,'are woolen mills, flour mills, and other smaller 
works, too numerous to mention here. The Ballston 
works of Isaiah Blood, Esq., are in this neighborhood. 
They are a most splendid and interesting monument of 
what indomitable perseverance may do Avhen combined 
with Yankee mechanical skill. These works turn out, 
m the scythe department alone, six thousand dozen per 
annum, and to those who have used them it is hardly 
necessary to say, “there’s none better, if as good.” 
Had I time and space, I should like to go more into 
detail with regard to this establishment, but I must go 
on, and say to those wishing further information, go, 
see for yourselves, it will richly repay you. 
Farther up the Kayadarosseras, are Factoryville, 
Lindley’s Mills, Rock-city, Jamesville, &c., with their 
woolen, paper, flour, saw, and other mills. At Rock- 
city is a fall of 150 feet in a mile. Some excellent 
water privileges may yet be secured here at Ioav rates. 
This Kayadarosseras is a beautiful stream, and were 
it not for its unrhymable name, its charms would long 
since have been sung through the length and breadth of 
our land. 
At Fort Edward, a company hav'e purchased the state 
dam on the Hudson river, ami are preparing for exten¬ 
sive operations another year. At Schuylerville, Mr. 
Marshall, the celebrated manufacturer, has made an ex¬ 
tensive purchase, which is to be improved forthAvith. 
Then there is Mechanicville, and Waterford, with tneir 
wheels and looms in daily motion. In the north part of 
our county, beds of iron ore abound, Avhich are already 
opened and being smelted, Avhilst extensive glass Avorks 
are in a state of preparation. Thus, it must be seen at 
once that we are in the ascendant, and that Avith a dense 
manufacturing population, we shall consume at good 
prices the surplus of our farms. Should a foreign mar¬ 
ket be needed, we have our two railroads from Ballston 
Spa to carry us direct to Boston or New-York, Avhilst a 
third, (the Whitehall,) Avill another season connect us 
with the Canadas. A fourth, from Saratoga Springs to 
Sacketts Harbor, through the Sacandaga and Black 
River vallies, is proposed, and laterals and branches in 
various directions contemplated. Lands, in conse¬ 
quence of all this, are adA ancing, though still decidedly 
belOAv the average of other places Avith like advantages. 
Few places can be found at this time offering greater 
inducements to actual settlers in farming than Saratoga 
county. 
Many of the northern towns are admirably suited for 
the dairy, whilst the lands may be had for prices even 
less than the worn out tobacco farms of Virginia, so 
eagerly sought after by some of our northern farmers. 
Fearing I shall tire you and your readers, I Avill now 
close by saying if you or they shall Avish to know more 
respecting us, I will answer any interrogatories on 
being addressed at Ballston Spa. 
Respectfully yours, Seth Whalen. 
West Milton, Jan. 15, 1846. 
ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 
Mr. Tucker —It is very important in the present age 
of agricultural science, that farmers should be thorough¬ 
ly informed of the different constituents of their lands, 
in order that they may apply their manures in such a 
way as to produce the greatest and most practical re¬ 
sults. It is true that many, by a careful and systematic 
rotation, so manage that while one crop exhausts a cer¬ 
tain portion of the soil, a succeeding crop will restore 
it again, and render it fit for another change, and in four 
or five years it is sufficiently restored for another rota¬ 
tion. Yet in all this, what does he knoAv of the constit¬ 
uent elements of the soil? About as much as he does of 
the moon. 
According to Liebig, the stalks and leaves of plants 
require for their development and groAvth, a rich sup¬ 
ply of alkaline carbonates and sulphates, Avhile on the 
other hand, the seed requires alkaline phosphates. A 
soil containing a small quantity of alkali, may be fertile 
for grain, but for potatoes, turneps, &c., an abundance 
is needed. 
These remarks are suggested, hoping that the editor 
will give a few hints, which Avill enable a practical far¬ 
mer to analyze some of his different soils, and ascertain, 
if possible, what particular elements it contains, and 
what are necessary for the production of any crop. 
This seems to be the great desideratum—for men to 
know of what their soils consist, and Avhat kind of ma¬ 
nures should be applied, to produce the greatest and 
most beneficial results. 
I would also solicit some information in regard to the 
best means of reclaiming an orchard, Avhich for many 
years has been unfruitful. It is situated on a rather wet, 
but hilly soil, with a southern exposure, and, Avith one 
exception, has been pastured about tAvenly years. 
H. Luther. 
Middlebury, Vt., Dec. 20, 1845. 
1. It is indeed true, that it is desirable for farmers to 
knoAv of what their soils consist, anti Avhat kind of ma¬ 
nures should be applied, to produce the greatest anil 
most beneficial results. 
But this can be attained only partially by analysis. A 
distinguished chemist informs us that to detect an ingre 
dient in the soil constituting only one thousandth part 
of its weight, requires as great analytical skill as chem¬ 
ists usually attain. But there are many very poAverful- 
ly active substances in the soil, constituting a much less 
