fC TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AM) f THE MIND.” 
New Series. ALBANY, DECEMBER, 1849. Vol. VI.— No. 12. 
Close of the Volume. 
The present number completes the current vol¬ 
ume of the Cultivator, making the sixth of the new 
series, and the sixteenth from the commencement. 
The work has been so long established, and the 
public have been so familiar with its character, 
that it seems unnecessary to expatiate on this point. 
The year which is just closing, has brought with 
it satisfactory evidence of progress in the “ art of 
arts;” and we may confidently say, that at no for¬ 
mer period has the world at large been so tho¬ 
roughly impressed with the paramount importance 
of those pursuits, from which the food and clothing 
of the human race is derived. At no former period 
has so large an amount of practical, mental talent 
been devoted to the encouragement of the great in¬ 
terest of agriculture, and to the examination of the 
principles which form its foundation. The farmers 
of our own country are awakened; and having dis¬ 
covered the importance of their position in the 
frame-work of society, they are resolved on pos¬ 
sessing the intelligence which shall enable them to 
discharge their civil and political duties with honor 
to themselves. In relation, also, to the practice 
of their vocation, a large proportion of the class 
have become convinced that 11 knowledge is power.” 
Hence the greatly increased spirit of inquiry. The 
bugbear of u book-farming” has lost its terrors; 
men have the courage to read; by an enlarged 
course of reading, and a habit of observation, they 
are enabled to discriminate and apply understand¬ 
ing^ and profitably. To extend the means of 
knowledge, to inculcate correct theory and sound 
practice, to furnish useful ideas and suggestions, 
has ever been, and will continue to be the aim of 
this journal. 
We shall enter on our next volume with increased 
facilities for carrying out the design of the work, and 
have made arrangements which we think will impart 
to our pages additional interest and value. Among 
the most important of these, we have the satisfac¬ 
tion to announce that Prof. Norton, of Yale Col¬ 
lege, will furnish a series of articles on the Science 
and Practice of Agriculture. Prof. N. is already 
so well known to our readers, that it is unnecessary 
for us to commend him for the sound, practical com¬ 
mon sense which he brings to bear on this sub¬ 
ject. 
We embrace this opportunity to renew the ex¬ 
pression of our hearty thanks to our numerous Cor¬ 
respondents, in every section of the country, for 
their very liberal contributions to our pages, show¬ 
ing the results of their practice and observation, by 
which we have been enabled to garner up a store¬ 
house of facts and suggestions of immense value to 
the farmer,—to our Agents, and Postmasters 
generally, for their persevering and successful ef¬ 
forts to promote the circulation of our journal—ef¬ 
forts made too, in most instances, without other 
reward than that which arises from a consciousness 
of having done what they could to dissipate existing 
prejudices, by causing those whom they have in¬ 
duced to become subscribers, to read, reflect, and 
act intelligently. 
As the annual subscription of our work is too 
small to admit of our keeping accounts with indi¬ 
vidual subscribers, we are compelled to continue 
our practice of discontinuing all subscriptions at 
the end of the year; and hence the necessity of an 
annual appeal to the friends of “ The Cultivator ,” 
to renew their efforts to promote its circulation. 
We have prepared a Pictorial Cultivator, con¬ 
taining more than One Hundred Engravings, a 
copy of which will be sent to every subscriber to 
our next volume. We shall also send a copy of it, 
with this number, to each of our Agents,—believing 
that by its exhibition many will be induced to sub¬ 
scribe, in order to obtain this beautiful sheet, which 
is intended as a new-year’s present for all our 
subscribers for 1850. 
As an inducement to greater exertion on the part 
of those disposed to act as Agents, the following 
Premiums will be paid, in Books, or in Implements 
or Seeds from the Albany Agricultural Warehouse, 
to those who send us the largest lists of subscri 
bers for our next volume: 
1. To the one who shall send us the largest number of subscribers 
to the Cultivator for 1850, with the pay in advance, at the. club 
price of 67 cents each, previous to the 20th of March next, the sum of 
FIFTY DOLLARS. 
2. To the one sending us the next largest number, the sum of 
FORTY DOLLARS. 
3. To the one sending us the next largest number, the sum of 
THIRTY DOLLARS. “ " 
4. For the next largest list, the sum of TWENTY DOLLARS. 
5. For the next largest list, TEN DOLLARS. 
6. For the Five next largest lists, each FIVE DOLLARS. 
7. For the Ten next largest lists, each THREE DOLLARS 
8. A copy of Thomas’ “American Fruit Culturist,” prieeone 
dollar—-a very valuable work, just published—to every Agent who 
sends us Fifteen subscribers and $10, and who does not obtain one 
of the above prizes. LUTHER TUCKER 
