318 
THE CULTIVATOR 
shire, and round Boston, the disease was sudden and alarm¬ 
ing, but from some cause, or want of cause, at once the 
disease was stayed, and the potato crop is likely to be a 
good one. This is doubly desirable, inasmuch as we 
learn by the steamer Brittania, that the rot is quite 
as alarming this, as it was last year. We hope they 
may be agreeably disappointed. The above is confirmed 
from a correspondent in Wilmington, Delaware, where 
the early potatoes only were slightly diseased; the late 
ones are found sound. 
Norfolk Co ., (Mass.) 
HOVEY’S SPIRAL STRAW-CUTTER.—Fig. 92. 
Of all the various machines which have been invent¬ 
ed for cutting fodder for stock, none have been more i 
highly approved, after thorough trial, than Hovey’s, a 
representation of which is above given. It has been J 
frequently exhibited at Agricultural shows, and has, of j 
course, been brought into competition with other cut- ; 
ters of almost every kind; yet it has not failed to re¬ 
ceive the highest prizes on all occasions. Among the ! 
Societies whose highest premiums for cutting-machines 
have been awarded to Mr. Hovey, may be named the I 
Nevv-York State Agricultural Society, the Massachu¬ 
setts Mechanic’s Association, Massachusetts Society for 
Promoting Agriculture, besides several county agricul¬ 
tural societies in Massachusetts and other states. For 
particulars in regard to this machine, see advertisement 
in this number. 
The advantages of cutting fodder for stock are so obvi- j 
ous, and seem now to be so generally admitted, that little 
need be said on this point. In the first place, by cut- | 
ting, there is little or no w'aste of food. Secondly, the 
food is presented to the stomach in a condition the most 
proper for the digestive organs. Thirdly, an animal 
consumes Jess time in filling its stomach with cut than 
with uncut food. This is a very important considera¬ 
tion for laboring animals, which require all the rest and 
sleep they can enjoy, during the time they are not at 
work. 
MADDER. 
Why is it that such a vast amount of money is annually 
paid by this to foreign countries for this article, when 
•we have a soil and climate so admirably adapted for its 
production? There is no good reason why we should 
import madder, any more than that we should import 
wheat, pork, or cheese. It is one of the most sure and 
profitable crops to which the American farmer can turn 
his attention. It is not subject to be destroyed by frost, 
drouth, insects, or larm stock. The demand for it is 
increasing in the same ratio with our manufactures. 
James Eaton, of Winfield, Herkimer couuty, has culti¬ 
vated madder for 18 years. He has madder of three 
years’ growth, planted at the rate of 1,500 hills to 
the acre, that will yield, if dug the present fall, over 
3 lbs. to the hill; this he will not dig till a year from 
this fall, when it will yield 4 lbs. or over to the hill. 
He has other madder which at 4 years growth, will 
yield 64 cwt. to the acre, merchantable madder. It 
may be well to give notice to the readers of the Culti¬ 
vator, that he will be able to meet orders for seed the 
present fall. It will be sold, boxed, and delivered at 
Utica, at $2.50 per bushel. It requires 6 bushels to 
plant an acre. Plant on rich, mellow, dry land. An 
acre of madder, properly cultivated, and of four years 
growth, at $16 per cwt.,—the price he has obtained for 
his—will amount to over $900. M. 
[We wish Mr. Eaton would give us a communication 
describing the process of cultivating, and preparing 
madder for market.— Ed.] 
IMPROVEMENT IN BUDDING-. 
Mr. Tucker —The writer of this article supposes 
that he can suggest two improvements on the common 
rules of budding young trees; one in regard to the time 
of doing it, and the other in regard to the mode of 
doing it. 
As to the time of budding, we are of opinion that the 
business has been generally deferred too long. The 
experience of the writer proves that August is better 
than any part of September; and that July is still better 
than August. By beginning to bud in July we secure 
several advantages; first, we find that the bark will 
peel more freely while the tree is in its most rapid 
growth; and this is of importance in the experiment. 
Secondly, by beginning early, if a bud fail of taking, 
there will be ordinary time to repeat the experiment. 
But if the bud take, as we say, we may gain a conside¬ 
rable growth the present year, and thus gain time. 
As to the mode of budding, it may be such as gene¬ 
rally to have the buds grow the present year, if at all. 
Let them be inserted according to the usual mode, 
taking care when the bud is cut from the limb to retain 
the sliver, a woody substance which is cut off with the 
bud, as this will be more likely to preserve the eye un¬ 
injured. And now comes what we propose as the im¬ 
provement, viz: clip off the end of every twig belong¬ 
ing to the limb in which the bud is inserted; and thus 
check the upward motion of the sap till the bud ad¬ 
heres or takes. Then, when you ascertain that a bud 
has adhered for growth, cut off the whole limb above 
the inserted bud as you have been, in the common mode, 
directed not to do until the next spring; and this will 
be followed by the starting and growth of the bud in a 
very few days. 
This season I commenced budding in the latter part 
of July; and my success has been very satisfactory. 
Those inserted in the fore part of August, have done 
well, excepting those in plum trees, which have been 
a general failure. Peaches have succeeded the best, 
and pears next. I have several peaches which have 
begun their growth, (Sept. 3,) and one has grown seve¬ 
ral inches, and I think will grow a foot this fall. And 
they all appear to receive an impulse by this cutting off 
the limb above the inserted bud. I have also one pear 
which has begun to shoot forth, and others are promis¬ 
ing to do it. As to peaches, I have no doubt that, were 
the limb above the inserted bud cut off at the time of 
insertion, it would favor the adhesion and growth of 
the bud, though I have waited till that took place. 
The latter mode, perhaps, needs an experiment. 
As to the common mode of inserting the bud, and at 
the same time leaving the whole limb above to draw 
the sap, it is rather a wonder that the bud will take at 
all. It looks more rational that cutting it down part¬ 
ly or wholly, will leave more sap for the bud below, 
and this will favor its growth. 
I found the requisite bud to be inserted, as perfectly 
formed in July as afterward. R. T. 
Prospect, (Conn.,) Sept. 3, 1846. 
