156 THE CULTIVATOR. May, 
Profitable Cultivation, 
The Middlesex (Mass.) Agricultural Society, award¬ 
ed their first premium on farms to that of George 
Pierce, of West-Cambridge. This farm consists of 
only forty acres. It is devoted to the cultivation of 
vegetables and fruits for the Boston market. In addi¬ 
tion to the ordinary articles of the kitchen garden, it is 
mentioned that about three acres of ground are devoted 
to dandelions , which it is said u afford a rich return 
for the labor and expense of cultivation.” A large 
portion of the farm produces three crops in a season— 
u first, radishes and early peas—second, potatoes and 
cucumbers—and next, celery, cabbages, &c. The fol¬ 
lowing is the statement of the expenses and the value 
of the produce, as given to the committee who examined 
the farm: 
Hands employed from April to October, at an average of 
$16 per month,. $672 00 
Labor paid by the day,. 80 00 
Board of men at $10 per month,. 420 00 
Night soil from ten vaults,. 30 00 
Manure from one stable in Boston, . 400 00 
Teaming the same,. 300 00 
Manure from one stable in Charlestown, the produce of 
44 horses, at $10 per horse, delivered on the farm,. ... 440 00 
Manure from Porter’s stable in Cambridge, 30 cords at 
$5.50 per cord,. 165 00 
$2,507 00 
Proceeds of sales from March 3d to September 23d, as 
rendered by the market men, of which a daily account 
is kept,.$4,544 79 
$2,037 79 
Showing a balance of $2,037.79 in favor of the farm, 
exclusive of the crops on the land on the 23d of Sep¬ 
tember, which the committee say, are “ probably worth 
as much more.” 
Successful Cultivation. 
Eds. Cultivator —Twenty-nine years ago, my fa¬ 
ther came to this place and bought 76 acres of land on 
credit, with not a stick chopped on it. He has cleared 
and fenced about sixty acres with his own hands, and 
has built a good house, barn and out buildings, and 
cleared himself from all incumbrance. 
When I sent for the first Cultivator , my father thought 
I had better keep my dollar. When the year was out, 
he said if I sent again, he would send also, and since 
then we have read your valuable paper with interest, 
and I trust with profit. 
Fruit being my favorite crop, and having a good lo¬ 
cation, I have tried it a little. The last two years, I 
followed The Cultivator as far as it went, and then I 
got Downing’s Fruits and Fruit Trees of America. I 
have had excellent success in the raising of trees, shrubs, 
bushes, vines, &c. I have now growing, 47 varieties 
of peaches, 16 of apples, 22 of plums, 7 of cherries, 
7 of apricots, 3 of quinces, 5 of currants, 3 of gooseber¬ 
ries, 7 of grapes. A good many of these varieties are 
on trial to test their qualities in this climate. The soil 
on which my trees grow is a strong clay loam. I have 
a patch of 90 seedling peach trees, six years old, three 
years in bearing. The fruit has been tried with budded 
peaches from Cleveland, and pronounced equal in size, 
and superior in flavor. The cause I suppose, is in the 
soil. The soil of Cleveland is clear sand, mine is strong 
yellow clay loam. I intend to settle the question another 
year whether the soil has any effect on the flavor of the 
peach. Downing states that peach trees should be 
shortened-in half of their growth. I only cut about 
one-third, as my trees are very thrifty. If I cut more, 
they make too great a growth of wood. Some of them 
have produced limbs five feet long the past season. 
In conclusion, I would say that with all my trees, 
and bushes and flowers, I can get time to read The Cul¬ 
tivator. I am frequently asked — u what makes your 
trees so thrifty-^-how do you keep them so straight ? I 
can’t make mine grow so ?” My answer is, I take 
The Cultivator. 
In June last, I whitewashed all our out houses, ac¬ 
cording to the receipt in vol. ii. p. 291 of The Culti¬ 
vator. A great many have asked for a receipt, which 
I give, at the same time taking occasion to remark, 
that if they would take The Cultivator they would get 
all of these things gratis. Selden H. Reed. Vienna, 
Trumbull Co., Ohio , Jan., 1849. 
-s- 1 — 
Advantages of Railroads to Farmers. 
There has been bought at this place, by men from 
New York and Boston, from Nov. 18, 1848, to Jan. 18, 
1849, two months, 4398 dressed hogs, weighing 1,139,- 
522 pounds—making 56 tons, 1,522 lbs., which at the 
average price of $5 per hundred pounds, amounts to the 
sum of $56,966.10. They have also bought 15 tons 
of poultry, at seven cents a pound,—making $2; 100 
paid for this article. This shows a gross amount paid 
out in this city, by eastern men, of $59,066.10, for ar¬ 
ticles produced in this county. This arises from allowing 
the railroad to carry freight. There is about 300 head 
feeding here for the eastern market. This pork, beef 
and poultiy business will continue to increase from year 
to year—there is no knowing to what extent. John 
B. Dill. Auburn , N. Y., Jan., 1849. 
Information Wanted. 
Eds. Cultivator —We frequently see it stated in 
northern papers that free labor is more profitable than 
slave, and that if southern people were to liberate their 
slaves they would be more prosperous and happy. As 
happiness and prosperity are objects which most of us 
wish to attain , I write to elicit information upon the sub¬ 
ject, from some of your numerous and intelligent con¬ 
tributors who use free labor; which would not only be 
acceptable to myself, but to most southern agricultur¬ 
ists. I will state my own case, with some inquiries, 
which I hope will be answered, and such other infor¬ 
mation may be given on the subject as may suggest it¬ 
self. 
I hold about 1200 acres of land, two-thirds of which 
is cleared and arable, the balance in timber. About 
one-half of the cleared land is in good heart; the other 
quite thin, but affords grazing for sheep. The land is 
well adapted to corn, oats, grass, and with a favorable 
season, produces good wheat. It is sufficiently undu¬ 
lating, with upwards of 100 acres of low grounds, 
most of which is good meadow land. 
I have between 60 and 70 persons to support, most 
of whom are slaves, and about two-thirds of them too 
} r oung to support themselves; consequently, the other 
third has to support them and do all the work of the 
farm. My expenses are about $2,000 per year; my in¬ 
come but little more; with a great deal of trouble, vex¬ 
ation and solicitude on account of my dependants. For 
my duty, as well as my inclination and interest, require 
that they should be well clothed and fed, and have pro¬ 
per attendance in sickness, which must necessarily cause 
much trouble and anxiety. 
Now, if it can be proved to me that my condition as 
well as theirs, is to be benefited by getting rid of 
them, in the name of common sense, I ask who would 
hesitate ? Is it not the dictate of wisdom, of interest, 
of every consideration, yes, of humanity itself? But 
how is this to be accomplished without greatly diminish¬ 
ing my income, which is now scarcely sufficient to sup¬ 
port a growing family ? I will not dispose of any of 
my lands. How am I to obtain labor to keep up about 
15 miles of fencing, and to cultivate or graze my farm 
to advantage ? How many hands would be required ? 
Would grazing stock for market, or cheese-making be 
