150 THE CULTIVATOR. April, 
If the high price of labor operates against the in¬ 
terest of some, it tends greatly to improve the con¬ 
dition of the masses. As a matter of course, the 
farmer will save as much manual labor as possible, 
consistent with the proper cultivation of his farm. 
But a great point in farming economy consists in 
the adoption of labor-saving machines and improved 
implements. Yet a good deal of hand labor will 
always be required to carry on farming advantage¬ 
ously. 
The question is often asked whether capital laid 
out in farming can be made to pay . In reply, I 
would say, I have known many instances where mo¬ 
ney laid out in this way has paid well. It is true, 
that time is required for this result; but I believe 
that capital invested in farming, need never pay 
less than six per cent.; and under good manage¬ 
ment, it may yield even eight to ten per cent, on 
the original stock. The culture of fruits—such as 
apples, pears, peaches, &c.—often yields a profit of 
eight to fifteen per cent. 
A great barrier to impi*ovement in farming, is the 
erroneous value which farmers often put on money. 
They seem to think that a dollar is worth much more 
than its equivalent in wheat, or any agricultural 
product. This leads them to hoard their cash with 
scrupulous care, fearing to trust the earth with the 
loan of a cent—the risk being so much greater, as 
they say, than on deposites in banks. This difficul¬ 
ty can only be removed by demonstrating to the 
farmer, the certain success of a better system of 
management; which will gradually inspire confi¬ 
dence that labor and money expended on the soil, 
shall not go unrewarded. L. Durand. Derby, 
Ct., Feb., 1850. _ 
Trial of Plows. 
The New-York State Agricultural Society offer 
the following premiums on plows—the premiums to 
be decided by a trial to take place at Albany, com¬ 
mencing on Tuesday, the 4th day of June next, and 
to continue until the committee are fully satisfied 
that they have arrived at correct results. 
Best Sod Plow for stiff soils, furrows not less than 7 inches in depth 
nor over 10 inches in width,.Diploma and $15 
Second best do.,.... 10 
Best Sod Plow for light soils, furrows 6 by 12 inches, Diploma & 15 
Second best do.,. 10 
Best Plow for fallows or “ old land,”.Diploma and 10 
Second best do.,. 8 
Best Subsoil Plow,.Diploma and 8 
Best Side-hill Plow,.Diploma and 8 
A general competition for these premiums is invi¬ 
ted, as the trials will be conducted and the decisions 
made without regard to any former trials or awards, 
and will be open to competitors from any part of 
the world. 
Competitors must become members of the Socie¬ 
ty, for which an entrance fee of one dollar will be 
required, and their names, together with the names 
and number of the plows intended for trial, must be 
given to the Secretary, B. P. Johnson, Esq., Alba¬ 
ny, on or before the 15th of May next. The plows 
for which premiums are awarded, must be deposited 
at the Rooms of the Society, if others of the same 
pattern are not already there. 
The committee to superintend this trial and 
award the premiums, consists of A. Van Bergen, 
Coxsackie; John Delafield, Oaklands; J. Stanton 
Gould, Hudson; Sanford Howard, Albany; B. B. 
Kirtland, Greenbush. 
The committee will meet at the Society’s Rooms 
on Monday, June 3, to make arrangements for the 
trial. 
In deciding the general question—what are the 
best plows? the committee will be governed by the 
following principles: 1st, the character of the work 
performed; 2d, the power required in draught; 3d, 
quality of materials, durability and cost of the im¬ 
plements. 
For stiff soil, excellence of work shall consist, 
first, in leaving the furrow-slice light and friable; 
second, in so disposing the sod and all vegetable 
matter, as to insure its ready decomposition. 
For sandy soil, or that which is already too light, 
the points in regard to quality of work will be, first, 
thoroughly burying the vegetable matter, and se¬ 
cond, leaving the ground generally level. 
For fallows or old land, the principal point in re¬ 
ference to the quality of work, will be thorough pul¬ 
verization and friability of the soil. 
In determining the power required in draught, the 
most perfect instrument will be used, and the trial 
will be conducted in the most careful and thorough 
manner. 
The same implement for testing draught, and 
the same team, will be used for all plows in the same 
class. 
The plows may be held by the competitors or by 
persons appointed by them, as may be preferred. 
Importation of Animals from Asia. 
The Charleston (S. C.) Mercury states that Dr. 
Davis, of that city, has imported the Cashmere 
goat, a pair of Bramin cattle, and some “Water 
oxen,” together with an assortment of useful poul¬ 
try. We suppose the Bramin cattle mentioned, be¬ 
long to the Zebu race, a description of which, with 
a cut, will be found in our volume for last year, p. 
59. It was there mentioned, also, that the late 
Gorham Parsons, Esq., of Brighton, Mass., in¬ 
troduced, and for several years bred, this kind of 
cattle. The “ Water ox” is probably the common 
buffalo (Bos bubalus ) of Asia, eastern Africa, and 
southern Europe—an animal which naturally inhabits 
swampy grounds and marshes, and has the habit of 
wallowing in mud and water. It is sometimes used 
in Asia for labor in the cultivation of rice grounds, 
and its milk and flesh are used in some countries for 
human food. 
Among other remarks made in the paper above 
referred to, respecting the success of these animals in 
this country, it is said—“The Merino sheep, carried 
from its original locality, degenerates; but in Saxony 
crossed upon a coarse wooled sheep, makes a supe¬ 
rior and more valuable animal than the Merino in 
Spain.” 
We do not think the Merino sheep generally dege¬ 
nerates when carried from Spain—that being the 
country which is probably alluded to as its “original 
locality.” It has not degenerated in the United 
States nor in Europe, except under unskilful manage¬ 
ment. In regard to fineness of wool, it has been i?n- 
proved in Germany ; as the finest wooled sheepof that 
country are, in blood, pure Merino. It may be true 
that some high cross of the improved Saxon with the 
common or “coarse wooled” sheep of that region, 
produces wool of a finer quality than the common 
Merino of Spain; but the original Merino blood is, 
nevertheless, that which is relied on as the founda¬ 
tion of the most perfect fleece. 
Wetting Brick in Laying. —The advantage of 
soaking bricks in water, to prevent the too rapid 
drying of the mortar, is so great, that a wall 12 
inches thick built with wet brick, is considered bet¬ 
ter than one lfi inches thick with the brick un¬ 
soaked. 
