260 
THE CULTIVATOR August. 
and that too is a heavy crop. Although the drought 
of last season injured the roots of grass considera¬ 
bly, yet the fine season of this year has made it more 
than an average. It was noticed early in the spring, 
that there was much sorrel in fields, more than usual; 
was it caused by the absence of grass roots, killed 
by the dry weather of last year ? 
“ Oats are very large, and promise to be a great yield; 
they are getting ripe, and will, in a day or two, need 
to be cut. The weather was wet for some two weeks 
in June, and the first one of July, so that we could not 
commence haying as soon as usual or desirable, and 
have had busy times since. Corn, perhaps, never looked 
better; it is very forward, and in a most growing state, 
just setting for ears; there are no poor fields of it to be 
seen. Buckwheat is sown, and has a good start. 
“So far, our farmers do not complain of any crops. 
The rot in the potato has commenced in fields of those 
planted early, and we fear will be extensive. There is 
a fine prospect for fruit, but the wet weather caused 
the cherry to rot on the trees. They were very abun¬ 
dant.” 
Crops in Georgia. —Extract from a letter received 
from R. A. Benson, Esq., of Macon, Ga.: “The 
crops are very promising. More wheat lias been made 
this year in this state than ever before: fully double 
what has been made in any previous year.” 
Crops in General. — Grass has generally been over 
an average crop. In some few cases it has not done 
much better than last year, but accounts from all direc¬ 
tions, with a few exceptions, speak of the crop as being 
unusually good. Rye has given a good yield, and the 
grain is generally plump and of good quality. Oats 
have not yet (July 22,) been harvested, but the crop 
looks heavy. In some instances the growth of straw is 
so rank that it has somewhat fallen down, but we have 
not seen many cases where the crop appears to be suffer¬ 
ing on this account. Barley , so far as we have seen, is 
promising. Wheat, taking the whole country together, 
we venture to say is unusually abundant. It is true, 
the Hessian fly has committed damage in some districts, 
but their ravages are quite limited, and from the great 
west and the far south, we have the unanimous state¬ 
ment of a bountiful harvest. Indian Corn is generally 
promising. Accounts from the south inform us that it 
never looked better. We have seen a few fields which 
have been almost entirely destroyed by the wire-worm. 
This insect has prevailed in uncommon numbers in some 
neighborhoods and on some kinds of soil, during this 
season and the last. Oats and barley, as well as old 
meadows, in some cases have been greatly injured by 
them. For Potatoes, the season may be said to have 
been so far rather favorable. They have not suffered 
with drouth, as has been the case for the two previous 
years But the final condition of the crop cannot yet be as¬ 
certained. The malady which for several years has so 
seriously affected it, may yet make its appearance. In¬ 
deed we have already seen its “ premonitory symptoms ” 
in a few instances, and have been informed that on Long- 
Island and in some parts of New-Jersey, the tubers have 
even now began to rot. A few days more will proba¬ 
bly show with some certainty what we may expect in 
the case. 
$Cff=>We saw lately some very superior Dorking 
Fowls, and some Rabbits of extraordinary size, 
which had just arrived from England, and were on 
their way to the country seat of Frs. Rotch, Esq., at 
Butternuts, Otsego county. The rabbits weigh, it is 
said, when full grown, from 14 to 16 lbs. each, dressed, 
and are highly esteemed for the quality of their flesh. 
We are pleased to learn, that Mr. R., with his family, 
have returned to this country, after an absence of seve¬ 
ral years in Europe. 
Hereford Cattle for Vermont —Rev. L. G. 
Bingham, of Williston, Vt., has lately purchased of 
Messrs. Corning & Sotha.m, some fine Hereford cattle. 
The lot consisted of the imported cow, Aston Beauty , 
two yearling heifers, a yearling bull, arid heifer calf, 
They are animals of excellent qualities, anti, we think, 
will prove particularly valuable to that section of 
country. Their vigorous constitutions will adopt them 
to the climate; and on the sweet pastures of the hills 
and mountains, they will easily and quickly thrive 
and fatten, while in any fair trials in the yoke, or for 
the production of butter, they will not be “ found 
wanting.” 
Durham Oattle. —Among our advertisements will 
be found that of Paoli Lathrop, Esq., of South Hadley, 
Mass., offering for sale his herd of Durham cattle. We 
have seen some good animals belonging to Mr. and 
we believe the herd is generally reputed one of the 
best in the country. 
Fine Cherries. —We were presented, the first of 
last month, with some very superior cherries, from the 
garden of Messrs. McCulloch & Kirtland, of Green- 
bush. We think they were of the variety described by 
Mr. Downing as the Bigarreau, though they had been 
procured under the name of White Tartarian. Their 
size was greater than any we have before seen, and 
their flavor and appearance corresponds with Mr. 
Downing’s description, as follows: “Flesh pale yel¬ 
low, quite firm, juicy, with a rich, sweet, and delicious 
flavor if allowed fully to ripen. In perfection the last 
of June.” 
Mr. Norton’s Analysis of Oats. —Some months 
since we noticed the fact, that the Highland Society of 
Scotland had awarded a premium of fifty sovereigns to 
our fellow-countryman Mr. John P. Norton, for a 
chemical inquiry into the nature and composition of the 
oat. The society’s journal for July, contains Mr. Nor¬ 
ton’s report on this subject. The late period at which 
it was received precludes a lengthened notice at this 
time, but we shall endeavor to present an abstract of it 
in our next. 
$C|p The early potatoes advertised by E. Comstock 
& Co., are of the kind we have before spoken of in 
several instances. We deem them the most valuable 
early variety we have ever known. Their growth is 
remarkably rapid—making a strong, healthy vine—and 
the tuber is decidedly more farinaceous and palatable 
than any other kind known to us which ripens so early. 
We had them on our table of fine size and quality this 
season, the 25th of June. 
Genesee Agricultural School. —We are well 
pleased to learn that this institution has been patron¬ 
ised so far to an extent even greater than was antici¬ 
pated. General Harmon, who, it will probably be 
recollected, is associated with Dr. Lee in the manage¬ 
ment of this school, writes as follows to a gentleman 
of this city:—“ We have had as many boys at our agri¬ 
cultural school as we could accommodate. I have ad¬ 
ded a few more rooms, which have made accommoda¬ 
tions for ten more.” 
Hay-Spreading Machine. —We are obliged to our 
correspondent, C. B., for his suggestions in regard to 
this implement; but if he will turn to our last volume, 
page 190, he will find a cut and description of one 
which we think gives a correct idea of its construction 
and uses. 
National Fair_Adrian Bergfn, of New 
Utrecht, L. I., writes; “In attending the National 
Fair at Washington, I was much gratified to witness 
the improvements our country has gained within a few 
years, in manufactures, and in improvements of all 
kinds: and if our nation remains prosperous, we shall 
still continue to advance, only let our young men labor 
with their own hands, and not think it beneath their 
dignity.” 
Corn and Cob Meal.—Samuel Teague, near 
Dayton, Ohio, informs us that he fattened his hogs last 
fall, on corn-and-cob meal made into mush by steam, 
and that he intends feeding about one hundred hogs in 
the same way the present season. He thinks he saved 
one-half of the grain by this mode. We are fully of 
the opinion that the saving by cooking meal for hogs 
is very great. As to the use of the cobs, we have not 
had the opportunity of testing them very thoroughly, 
but incline to the belief, that where the meal is tho- 
I roughly cooked, they would be of less value, particu- 
