1849, 
229 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
generally eradicate them, especially if the growth of 
grass is so encouraged that a close sward is formed. 
In cultivated fields, successive and thorough plowings. 
or working the ground with a cultivator with very 
sharp teeth, will destroy them. But to do this the top 
must not be allowed to grow. The leaves of a plant 
are its breathing organs, and no plant can live long 
without them. Deprive it of these, and the root must 
die, however deep it may run into the ground, or what¬ 
ever may be .its tenacity of life under other circum¬ 
stances. 
Western Virginia.— In our May number we gave 
an inquiry in relation to the country “ between the 
White Ridge and Allegany mountains ” in Virginia. In 
reference to this inquiry, Mr. T. B. McRobert, of 
Williamsville, Va., writes—“this section, in its cli¬ 
mate,- soil, minerals;; mineral-springs, water power, See., 
is certainly one of the most desirable in North America. 
But for want of proper roads, its immense resources 
have laid dormant. Our last legislature passed seve¬ 
ral rail-road bills, which will have the effect of calling 
public attention to this part of the country.” Mr. 
McRoberts has issued a prospectus for the publication 
of a semi-monthly paper, to be called the “ Western 
Advocate,” the design of which is to promote the va¬ 
ried interests, of Western Virginia. It is to be pub¬ 
lished at Lexington, Va., semi-monthly, at $1.25 in ad¬ 
vance, $1.50 if paid in six months, $1.75 at the end 
of the year. Mr. McR. states that he was the pub¬ 
lisher of the Virginia Farmer, twelve years ago. Per¬ 
sons wishing to subscribe for the Advocate are directed 
to address James Grey, Esq., Deerfield, Augusta co., 
Va. 
Scare-crows.- —The Massachusetts Plowman ob¬ 
serves that scare-crows, to be most effective, should be 
made to resemble the object of which the crows are 
most afraid, that “ is a real living man, lying in wait 
with his gun.” To make a scare-crow it is therefore 
directed to take an old flour barrel, with one head or 
no head. Set it in the part of the field most exposed. 
Then take any old coat or frock, stuff it a little and let 
it hang as easy as when on a man. Now place 
your stuffed coat in the barrel and let one arm or both 
hang over a little. Put a hat on too and let it cover 
the face so close that it cannot be seen. This saves all 
trouble of making a face like a man’s, and the barrel 
saves all trouble of being particular in the formation 
of the feet and legs. To complete the work place a 
few pine boughs over the whole. The boughs should 
half conceal the man. An old rusty gun or a stick of 
the right shape, should be placed in the hands of the 
man. 
Do Kingbirds eat Working Bees? —The kingbird 
has been regarded as one of the greatest enemies of 
the apiarian, in some situations, from the fact that it is 
a devourer of bees. Wilson, the ornithologist, sug¬ 
gested that the bird only picked out the drones, and 
never injured the working bees. Some close observers 
have come to the same conclusion. One writer states 
that to test the matter, he killed a number of the birds, 
and though he found many drones in their gizzards, he 
could find no working bees in them. What has been 
the observation of others? 
Potatoes Mixing at the root. A correspondent 
of an exchange paper wants to know if different kinds 
of potatoes will mix at the root. It is, we suppose, a 
somewhat common idea among farmers, that different 
varieties of potatoes, if planted near each other, will 
intermix, so as to produce new kinds. We are con¬ 
vinced the idea is incorrect. We do not believe it is 
possible for potatoes to mix in the tubers, any more 
than different kinds of turneps to mix in the bulbs. No 
one supposes such a mixture possible in regard to tur¬ 
neps, beets, or carrots. The different varieties may 
mix, to be sure, but they must mix in the blossom, and 
the seed produced by the blossoms containing such in¬ 
termixture, must be planted in order to obtain the new 
variety thus originated. So it is with potatoes; the 
balls which grow on the top of the stalk, contain the 
seed; and by plants being raised from them, and in this 
way only, can new kinds be had. 
Prices of Agricultural Products. 
New-York, June 15, 1849. 
FLOUR—Genesee, per bbl., $5a$5.25. Western, $4.G2a $4.- 
75. 
GRAIN—Wheat, per bush., Geilesee, $1.30^$!.40—Ohio 99c — 
Corn, Northern, 64«65c.—Rye, 58c Oais, 34a.35^. 
BUTTER—best, per ib., 18a20c.—western dairy, 10al5c. 
CHEESE—per lb., 5a7c. 
BEEF—Mess, per bbl., $11.50—Prime, $8.50. 
PORK—Mess, per bbl., $10.25—Prime, $8.50. 
LARD—per lb., 6|a7c., for good and prime. 
HAMS—Smoked, per lb., 7a9c. 
HEMP—American dew-rotted, per ton, $155. 
HOPS—per lb.. 6ia7c. 
COTTON—Upland and Florida, per lb., 7a8lc.—New Orleans 
and Alabama, 7|a8|c. 
WOOL—(Boston prices.) 
Prime or Saxon fleeces, per lb.,. 40a43c. 
American full blood' Merino,. 36a38c 
“ half blood do.,... 31a33c. 
one-fourih blood and common,.29a30c. 
Remarks. —The demand for flour and grain is moderate, at quo¬ 
tations. Provisions are firm. 
Wire for Fences. 
\\7TRE of the best quality, of all sizes, bright, annealed or gal- 
” vanized. Price from $7 to $12 per 100 lbs. When galvan¬ 
ized, 2£ cts. per Ib. extra. Wire is best galvanized, as this keeps 
it bright, and it lasts much longer. A. B. ALLEN & CO., 
July 1—It. 189 & 191 Water street, New-York 
Wire for Fences. 
"DRIGHT and annealed, at 7 cts. per lb., for sale at the Albany 
Agricultural Warehouse. Galvanized Iron Wire furnished to 
order at manufacturers’ prices. HORACE L EMERY. 
July 1. No. 369 & 371 Broadway, Albany, N. Y. 
Offered 
I ^OR SALE, the equal one-half interest in a Nursery of'Fruit 
• and Ornamental Trees, permanently established and beautiful¬ 
ly located in New Jersey, within two hours ride, per Railroad, of 
New-York—six trains of cars passing daily along side and in fuH 
view of the nursery. The depot within five minutes walk of the 
grounds—containing from 50,000 to 100,000 thrifty seedling plants, 
a portion of which, are ready for market—the greatest part ready 
for working this season. No other nursery in the place. 
This is a rare offer, circumstances obliging one of the proprie¬ 
tors to make a change. The whole can be had if particularly re¬ 
quired. For confidential particulars, address, post paid, J. J, SCO¬ 
FIELD, Morristown, Morris Co., N. J. 
July 1, 1849.—It. 
Office of the Commissioners of Emigration, 
New- York, June, 1849. 
THE COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION respectfully so- 
* licit your attention to the facilities which are furnished by the 
Institution for the supply of laborers in agriculture, Railroad Ma¬ 
king, House Building, Factory Labor, and almost every depart¬ 
ment of industry. 
There are now in the care of the Commissioners, several hun¬ 
dreds of men, women, and children, and an inexhaustible supply 
arriving, anxious for employment, and willing to engage their ser¬ 
vices at the current prices of labor. Among them are many able- 
bodied females, who either have been accustomed to work on the 
farm or in dairies, or, who with little instruction would he able to 
do so, who would gladly accept situations of that character, did 
they but know where to find them. Believing also, that in many 
parts of this and other States of the Union, there is a dearth of 
laboring men and women; the Commissioners are desirous of ex¬ 
tending, as widely as possible, the knowledge of the number of 
people desiring employment, and of receiving applications for 
them from those desiring their services. 
The Commissioners will gladly receive such applications, and 
exert themselves to supply them in the best manner. 
Communications, addressed to them, and enclosing the amount 
necessary to forward to the writers such persons as they require, 
will be duly acknowledged, and in all cases, if the employers de¬ 
sire it, a bargain will be made with the laborers that the first part 
of the wages agreed upon, shall be retained by the employer to re¬ 
imburse the latter the amount expended in forwarding them. 
Applications for laborers should state 
1st. The occupat on. 
2d. The sex. 
3d. Whether adults or children, or both are required. 
Communications should be addressed to, 
JOHN H. GRISCOM, 
General Agent, Commissioners of Emigration, New-York. 
July 1—It. 
