282 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
ducting farm operations in this section, is the difficulty 
of obtaining female labor. This arises from the exist* 
ence of numerous manufactories, where many females 
find ready employ at good wages. The consequence is 
that most of that class who “ go out to work,” go to 
the “ factories,” leaving but few to be obtained for the 
performance of ordinary “ house-work.” 
Thus it is seen that ‘‘ circumstances” do u prevail” 
in New England, by which the management of domestic 
affairs, necessarily devolves in a great degree on the mis¬ 
tress of the family and her daughters. To counterbalance 
this, there are many advantages. Great pains are gene¬ 
rally taken to lessen and lighten female labor. In the 
construction of houses, and in all the internal arrarge- 
men s and fixtures, the important principles of conveni¬ 
ence and labor-saving, are kept prominently in view. 
Water, for ad purposes, is commonly brought into the 
house, and in many instances, into all the apartments 
where it is wanted. The value of this item, can, per¬ 
haps, be best appreciated by those who have known 
something of the labor of 11 toting ” water, sometimes 
a distance of many rods, up steep ravines or hill¬ 
sides. Fuel is generally secured in a dry condition, in 
a building attached to the dwelling, where it can be 
reached at all times, without exposure. In the culina¬ 
ry department, there are all the improvements in eco¬ 
nomising labor, which Yankee ingenuity has been able 
to devise. In all operations requiring the greatest out¬ 
lay of strength,—such as washing, ironing, churning, 
butter-working, cheese-making, &c.,—there are ma¬ 
chines and apparatus which in some instances entirely 
supercede the use of hand-labor, and in others reduce it 
to a small amount. 
Of the facilities enjoyed in New-England, for educa¬ 
tion and the cultivation of the mind, I have no occasion 
to speak, at present; they are sufficiently indicated by 
the accomplishments wdiich the writer in the Republi¬ 
can attributes to the farmer’s wife. Observer. Hart¬ 
ford county, Ct., August, 1849. 
Circular from the Patent Office. 
We are pleased to receive the following circular, is¬ 
sued by the Commissioner of Patents. The inquiries 
are directed to the most important subjects, and are so 
framed as to elicit the principal facts relating to each. 
If properly responded to, as we trust they will be. they 
will bring out a mass of valuable information in regard 
to the agricultural resources of the different sections of 
our country:— 
The Commissioner of Patents, in execution of acts 
of Congress, desires to procure information from 
Planters, Farmers, and others, on the following and 
any other points that may occur to you, connected 
with agriculture: 
Wheat. —Your experience as to varieties, difference 
in weight, and of time in ripening; enemies and disea¬ 
ses, soil and manures best adapted to. 
Oats. —What varieties have you tried , and with what 
results, particularly as to time of ripening; with their 
estimated value as compared with corn as food; is the 
cultivation of the oat becoming more or less popular, 
and for what reason ? 
Rye. —Have you knowledge of any new and valuable 
Variety; to w T hat use is it applied; have crops dimin¬ 
ished of late years, without any apparently correspond¬ 
ing diminution in the fertility of the soil, and to what 
influence is it supposed to be attributed ? 
Barley. —Have any new varieties been tried, and 
with what results; to what uses is this grain applied in 
your State; if not cultivated, is it forbidden by your 
soil and climate ? 
Maize, ^Indian Corn.) —What varieties most es¬ 
teemed, and for what reasons: what the difference in 
Sept. 
time of ripening; is it liable to change of character 
and climate, and other influences, and your observations 
on that point; give the estimated value of the husk as 
compared with the blade, and of both as compared wdth 
good hay, weight for weight; what is the value of 
green corn for soiling cattle, and especially for produ¬ 
cing milk; your experience as to feeding grain, whole 
or ground, cooked or raw ? 
Rice. —Variety cultivated; describe any new and va¬ 
luable process for its cultivation or preparation for 
market. 
(Note.)- —As to all these grains, please state the cost 
of production and usual weight, and the probable aver¬ 
age per acre and actual aggregate product, if known, 
of each in your State; whether the average product 
per acre has increased or diminished; whether the 
weight per bushel of the various grains is fixed by law 
in your State; and what weight is prescribed for each. 
Hay. —State the comparative value, as food for stock, 
of clover timothy, and mixed hay; the grass seeds pre¬ 
ferred in laying down meadows; the average yield per 
per acre; describe any new process in curing; have 
meadows been irrigated in your State, and w T ith what 
effect ? 
Peas. —For what purpose cultivated in your State; 
for food, or for improving the soil; estimated value as 
food for stock, compared with Indian corn; the most 
esteemed variety for field culture; average product per 
acre; value of haulm or vines compared with other fod¬ 
der; average price per bushel in the last year. 
Root Crops. —Irish and sweet potatoes, turneps, car¬ 
rots, beets, mangel-wurtzel, artichoke, and other varie¬ 
ties; comparative value; cost of production; weight 
per bushel; and the average per acre, and agrregate 
produce for your State. 
Cotton. —Average yield per acre and per hand in 
your State; aggregate yield of the whole State for 
1849; describe new varieties and processes of cultiva¬ 
tion ; manures best adapted to; cost, per pound or bale, 
of production; freight, charges, commissions, &c., paid 
by the planter. 
Sugar. —Whether of cane or maple; the product per 
acre; describe any new process of cultivation or manu¬ 
facture; variety of cane cultivated; its enemies and 
diseases; cost of making sugar; freight, charges, com¬ 
missions, &c., paid by the planter. 
Hemp. —On this head give any information that you 
may deem valuable and new as to varieties, processes 
of cultivation and preparation for market; soil and ma¬ 
nures best adapted to; cost of production. 
Butter. —Quantity made in your State; average an¬ 
nual produce per cow; are cellars or spring-houses pre¬ 
ferred ? 
Cheese. —Same questions. 
Horses and Mules. —Number raised in your State; 
average value of each; comparative value for farming 
purposes; where is your market for them ? 
Number of Horned Cattle in your State; average 
value of at three years old; w T here driven to market; 
cost of keep per head per year; which of the improved 
races is preferred ? 
Sheep Husbandry. —What the prevailing races; 
what the condition of this branch of industry; amount 
of wool clipped in the year, and average weight of 
fleece of different races; cost of keeping sheep through 
the year per head; where your markets; what your 
system of selling; have you wool depots, and are they 
found advantageous for wool grower and manufacturer; 
what number killed by dogs in your State ? 
Hogs. —Average weight at a given age; average 
weight consumed per head; proportion of live to nett 
weight, and cost of production per pound. 
Rain. —Time and degree of highest and lowest range 
of thermometer, and the mean temperature of the year; 
