1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
195 
Matts for tjje Mmfy. 
Communications have been received since our last, 
from Agricola, Charles R. Alsop, P. S., B., L. Du¬ 
rand, G. W. Barnett, Ontario Farmer, Polydamas, A 
Subscriber, W. Torrey, Reviewer, Penneypack, Henry 
Ancrum, B. A. Hall, L. A. B., P. and S. A. Wood, 
A. L. Fish, Northerner, J. V. N., W. L. Eaton, W. 
R. S., S. B. Buckley, A. K., A Cayugua Co. Wool- 
grower, Lotan Smith. 
Books, Pamphlets, &c., have been received as fol- 
lows:—Third Report of the Board of Agriculture of 
Ohio, from M. B. Bateham, Esq.—-Knapp’s Chemical 
Technology, vol. II, from the publishers, Messrs. Lea 
and Blanchard, Philadelphia.—Miner’s American 
Beekeeper’s Manual, from the publisher, C. M. Sax¬ 
ton, New-York.—A large package of Shrubs and 
Plants, from John J. Thomas. —A package of Plants 
from Col. M. P. Wilder, Boston.—Report on the 
Breadstuffs of the United States, made to the Commis¬ 
sioner of Patents, by Lewis C. Beck, M.D., from the 
Patent Office.—Pioneer History of the Holland Pur¬ 
chase, by O. Turner, Esq., from the publishers, E. 
R. Jewett & Co., Buffalo. 
Mr. Samuel Riddle, of Pittsburgh, Pa., is an 
authorised Agent for “ The Cultivator,” and “ The 
Horticulturist.” 
Agricultural College and Experimental Farm. 
—In our last, we mentioned the steps which had then 
been taken in reference to this institution. Two of the 
commissioners whose names were given, Messrs. 
Wadsworth and Lott, having declined their appoint¬ 
ment, their places were filled by Hon. John Greig, 
of Ontario county, and E. C. Frost, Esq., of Che¬ 
mung. The Board met in this city on the 16tli of May, 
and organized by the choice of Mr. Greig, as Presi¬ 
dent—-Mr. B. P. Johnson, acting (by request) as Se¬ 
cretary. The general outlines of a plan were agreed 
on, and a committee, consisting of Messrs. Beekman, 
Downing, Blunt, Cheever and Risley, was appoint¬ 
ed to prepare details, to be submitted to the Board at 
their next meeting, which is to be held at Syracuse, on 
the first day of the State Fair—11th of September 
next. 
Prof. Norton’s Lectures. —We learn that the 
course of agricultural lectures delivered by Prof. J. P. 
Norton, of Yale College, during the past winter, was 
received with great approbation. Mr. L. Durand, of 
Derby, Ct., who attended the course, informs us that 
his class consisted of 25 members, most of whom were 
young farmers. Mr. D. speaks in high terms of the 
practical value of the instruction given by Prof. N., 
in which expression, he says, all the pupils entirely con¬ 
cur. 
Esterly’s Harvesting Machine. —In The Culti¬ 
vator for 1845, page 25, we gave a cut of this machine. 
The inventor has been almost constantly engaged for 
two or three years past, in improving its construction 
and operation. We see by notices in the Prairie Far¬ 
mer , that several farmers have used it with great suc¬ 
cess. Elijah Wilcox, of Elgin, Kane county, Ill., 
states that he used it last year, and was able to gather 
fifteen acres of wheat a day—‘ c taken in fair standing 
order.” The force required to do this, was three men, 
two boys, (twelve and fifteen years old.) and four hor¬ 
ses. Two horses could propel the machine, but its ope¬ 
ration was better with four. He says all the labor was 
done by horse power, except pitching the grain from 
the machine, and stacking it. He comes to the conclu¬ 
sion that “ it is the neatest and most perfect way that 
crops were ever gathered.” The machine gathers the 
heads of the grain, which are put up in ricks or stacks. 
Mr. W. says it came from the stacks, when taken for 
threshing, dry and in good order, not a bushel in 500 
being in any way injured. 
The Season. —Notwithstanding the mildness of the 
first part of the winter, and the sudden transition to 
extreme cold, the prospect is good for most kinds of 
fruit, in this vicinity. South of Philadelphia, as we 
are informed, a large portion of the fruit was destroyed 
by the unusually cold storm which occurred about the 
middle of April. Here, the buds were so lit lie ad¬ 
vanced that they generally escaped injury. Of peach 
blossoms, we had but few, but of apricots, plums, and 
cherries, there was a good show. Pears and apples 
bloomed well. We had a great lack of moisture, in 
this section, from the first of February to the middle 
of May, while at the same time, the country at the 
south-west was deluged with rain. Of late, we have 
been favored with light rains, which have answered the 
purposes of vegetation. 
Culture of Flax.-—A correspondent at Mt. Ver¬ 
non, Ohio, states, that he has been informed that a 
kind of flax is raised in some of the eastern states, 
perhaps New Jersey, which produces from 18 to 20 
bushels of seed per acre; and wishes to know whether 
such is the fact; if so, what is the name of the variety, 
and where can the seed be had. He wishes to know, 
also, the best kind of flax for lint. We shall be pleased 
to receive any information in regard to this subject. 
Albany and Rensselaer Horticultural Socie¬ 
ty. —We have received the Second Annual Report of 
this Society, giving its proceedings for 1848, and a list 
of premiums for 1849. There are to be five exhibi¬ 
tions during the year, all of which to be held at the 
Old State Hall, Albany. The first is to be on the 13th 
of June. The funds of the Society having been consi¬ 
derably augmented, the premiums have been proportion¬ 
ately increased and enlarged, and we presume the exhi¬ 
bitions will be superior in extent and variety to those of 
former years. 
Sheep Husbandry.-—W e have received a circular 
from Mr. H. Ancrum, of Ashby, Pike co., Missouri, 
in relation to forming a joint stock company for keeping 
sheep, on a large scale. He proposes to furnish the 
land and all necessary management for the sheep, him¬ 
self ; but he does not definitely state the terms on 
which the business is to be regulated, and the profits 
divided. He states that he has had twenty years’ ex¬ 
perience in Europe and nine years in this country, in 
the management of sheep, and can show satisfactory 
testimonials of his ability in this respect. We presume 
particulars in regard to his plans can be learned by 
application to him. 
A Good Example. —Mr. C. T. Alvord, of Wil¬ 
mington, Vt., writes,—“ I may be mistaken, but I 
think this town, for this year, will bear a favorable 
comparison with other towns, as a reading community, 
all things being taken into consideration. We take, at 
the present time, 83 copies of The Cultivator, between 
40 and 50 of the School Journal and Vermont Agricultu¬ 
rist, about 12 of the Bostor Cultivator, 6 of the New 
England Farmer, and 1 of the Genesee Farmer; these 
being about one-half of the regular newspapers taken in 
the place. The town embraces a section of country six 
miles square, lying on the eastern slope of the Green 
Mountains, and containing one of the highest peaks 
within the boundaries of the state. The surface is 
generally rough and uneven, and a large portion of it 
yet remains covered with timber. The inhabitants, 
about 1200 in number, are mostly engaged in that 
part of agriculture which consists in the raising of neat 
stock, and the manufacture of butter and cheese, to 
which is added, in the spring season, the making oi 
maple sugar.” 
