64 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Feb. 
Communications from David Thomas. 
I. Machine for cutting Sausage meat. —Last 
summer, a kind friend near Philadelphia, sent us a sau¬ 
sage machine, and a few days ago we tried it, highly 
gratified with its performance. Fourteen pounds of 
meat were run through it in a few minutes, cut fine 
enough. Knowing, however, that when chopped by 
hand, frozen meat always works easiest,—care had been 
taken to have another batch of 52 pounds reduced to that 
condition • but it went badly, and we had to thaw it before 
we could proceed with any satisfaction. It then passed 
through with great facility. I believe the whole sixty- 
six pounds might have been done in but little more than 
half an hour. 
Every substantial farmer ought to have one of these 
machines 5 but great care will be necessary to keep the 
knives sharp, by excluding bones, &c., and to cleanse 
it, and dry it thoroughly when the work is done. For 
these reasons, the propriety of lending one round the 
neighborhood, may be very questionable. 
II. Snow bales on Horses’ feet. —Lately travel¬ 
ing in a cutter, the horse’s feet collected balls of snow 
which annoyed and fatigued him excessively. He could 
not touch the ground by two or three inches; and his 
labor, probably increased three-fold,—was so great, 
that after ascending a long slope, he stopped of his own 
accord, nearly exhausted. On our return, I had his 
hoofs cleared out, and soft soap well rubbed in. The 
consequence was that no more balls collected, and he 
came home in fine spirits. 
On a journey, to soap the hoofs twice a day may be 
best in some cases, but once a day in ordinary times, 
would be a great relief. 
HI. Soap-stone Griddles. -Understanding that 
cakes on a soap-stone griddle required no fat to keep 
them from sticking,—I brought home one a few days 
ago, and we prepared to try the experimeut. The look 
of incredulity in the chief cook at that moment, was 
amusing; but it was soon turned into one of triumph, 
for the cakes were turned and taken off as easily as 
they would have been from the best greased “ bake- 
iron;” and without any fume from burning fat, as in 
common cases. Besides, the cakes were all nicely 
browned, and not one burned in the slightest degree. 
It is true, soap-stone may be heated red hot, but then 
the plate is so thick, and heats so slowly, that all dan¬ 
ger of burning is easily prevented. In short, we are 
highly pleased with the purchase, and deem it a great 
acquisition. 
It will be important to keep these griddles very elean, 
and for this purpose, they may be rubbed occasionally 
with pumice stone. Greatfeld, Cayuga Co., 1 mo. 10. 
Benefits of Agricultural Societies. 
We have often remarked that the great benefit of ag¬ 
ricultural associations, is the opportunity they afford for 
bringing together the people, with their animals, arti¬ 
cles and products, by which all may be compared and 
the particular improvements possessed by each may be 
seen and adopted. Mr. Fletcher, in his address be¬ 
fore the Windsor (Yt.) Agricultural Society, in speak¬ 
ing of their exhibitions says :—“ It is very desirable 
that every improvement in husbandry, and the most suc¬ 
cessful systems of agriculture, which are known to but 
a few comparatively, should be generally known and 
universally adopted. Here, the best agricultural pro¬ 
ducts are exhibited, as an example and incitement. 
Here, we have an opportunity of viewing and compar¬ 
ing, the best of our flocks, and herds, of different 
breeds, to ascertain their relative value; and here, are 
exhibited, the most improved, the best specimens of 
agricultural implements. There, we see the rapid im¬ 
provements in the mechanic arts, the handmaid of ag¬ 
riculture. Here, we may see the difference between 
the limb of a tree for a plow beam, with a knot to it 
for a coulter and share, and the fine plow of the pre¬ 
sent day. Here, we may learn from the modern im¬ 
plements how to save time and strength, and accoror 
plish a greater amount of work. Here, the farmers of 
the county assemble once a year; become acquainted, 
promote kindly feelings; converse freely with each oth¬ 
er, on those subjects most interesting to them. What 
can be better calculated to teach us to do well?” 
Grazing in Michigan. 
As the opinion has been prevalent among travelers 
at the west, that the plains and openings in Michigan, 
although so valuable for the production of wheat, and 
other grain crops, were not adapted to grazing, I have 
thought that it might not be uninteresting to some of 
your readers, to make a brief statement of facts in re¬ 
gard to that matter. 
Shortly after I commenced improving my farm, about 
ten years since, being in need of meadow, I stocked 
down two pieces of land, one containing ten acres 
which had been plowed three years, and another six 
acres, which had been plowed two years. The ten 
acres yielded about two tons of hay per acre, and the 
six not more than one ton. The land being exactly 
alike, and the seed having been sown at the same time, 
and having appeared at the commencement equally pro¬ 
mising, I sought to examine into the cause. When a 
thought suggested itself to me that it was owing to 
the land not having been cultivated a sufficient length 
of time, to have become mouldered down to that state 
that is necessary to the growth of grass. I therefore, 
deferred the business of stocking down, until I had 
tilled my land two or three years longer. 
I then manured and fenced off one acre, and sowed 
with clover and herdsgrass (timothy) near my barn, 
for the purpose of soiling; which I used four years to 
a very great profit. Then, after having reduced the 
lot to one hundred square rods by taking off sixty rods 
for other purposes. I commenced pasturing in March 
last, and pastured the following amount of stock, viz: 
From the last of March to the 10th of November, 4 
rams, 3 years old—1st of June to 10th Nov. 6 ram 
lambs, 5 months old—in May, turned on 2 cows, 10 
days—in July, one yoke oxen, 10 days—from May till 
August, 3 calves.—The rams and lambs were kept 
constantly on the above named 100 square rods of land 
during the whole season, without having been fed any 
thing, except a little salt occasionally, the sheep were 
all fat with one or two exceptions. I have taken note 
of this, more particularly, because I have never heard 
of more than seven sheep being kept on an acre during 
the season. 
Ours is what is denominated burr-oak and hickory 
soil, and is composed of a black loam and gravel, and 
is highly impregnated with lime. The clover, in our 
vicinity the past season, was equal to any that I have 
ever seen, without the aid of manure or plaster. 
Plaster has been introduced to the lighter soils of our 
state, and works well. J. Gardner. Albion , Mich. 
Orange Co. (Vt.) Ag. Society. 
Our County Society held their fair at this place, 
(Chelsea,) on the 27th day of September last, and a 
splendid fair w r e had. We had a fine display of stock, 
a good number of stallion horses, very fine matched and 
single horses, a good number of fine sheep, a large 
number of cows, heifers and bulls, and then, to cap the 
whole, working oxen in great abundance. From Wash¬ 
ington, there was twenty-two fine pair, in one team, 
and from Tunbridge, sixty-eight pair, fine red oxen, 
