1850. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
217 
3h\u for tlje Monttj. 
Communications have been received, since our 
last, from E. J. Genet, A Farmer’s Wife, W. L. Ea¬ 
ton, Hon. F. Holbrook, Prof. J. P. Norton, Obser¬ 
ver, J. A. H. Ellis, M. H., A Gleaner, Norfolk, H. 
L. Brown, *, S. P. Rollo, A. W. P., A Connecti¬ 
cut Farmer. 
Books, Pamphlets, &c.,have been received as 
follows: 
Elements of Scientific Agriculture: by Prof. J. P. Norton, of Yale 
College. From E. H. Pease & Co., publishers, Albany—price 75 
cents. 
The Poultry Book : by J. C. Bennett, M. D. From the publishers, 
Phillips, Sampson & Co., Boston—price 75 cents. 
The Story of a Family: by the author of the “Maiden Aunt.” 
From E. C. Little & Co., Albany—price 50 cents. 
The Family Kitchen Gardener : by Robert Buist. From the pub¬ 
lisher, C. M. Saxton, New-York. 
An Introduction to the Water Cure : by T. L. Nichols, M. D.,— 
(price 12£ cents,) and 
Thoughts on Domestic Life: by Nelson Sizer, (price 12£ cents,) 
from the publishers, Fowlers & Wells, New-York. 
A choice collection of Ornamental Plants, from A. .1. Downing, 
Esq., Newburgh. 
A bundle of Apple Trees, containing over thirty of the best varie¬ 
ties, from J. J. Thomas, Macedon. 
Seeds of the “ Round Borneo ” Citron Melon, which took the first 
prize at the last annual exhibition of the Penn. Hort. Society, from 
Thomas Hancock, Ashton Nurseries, Burlington, N. J. 
The American Fruit Culturist.— Copies of 
this work were sent by mail, the last week in March, 
to all our Agents who were entitled to it, by having 
sent us fifteen subscribers and $10. We regret to 
learn, as we do from various letters, that many of 
those to whom it was sent, have failed to receive it. 
Upon inquiry, we have ascertained that many copies 
of it have been detained in the Philadelphia post-of¬ 
fice, for some cause to us unknown. We shall en¬ 
deavor to ascertain the cause, and have them for¬ 
warded as soon as possible. 
Trial of Plows. —The trial of plows under the 
direction of N. Y. State Ag. Society, as noticed in 
our April number, is to commence on the 4th inst. 
A piece of ground, which will afford a fair field for 
the contest, has been selected in Greenbush. We 
understand that a large number of entries have been 
made, and there is every prospect that the occasion 
will be one of interest. 
Correction. —In the notice of a sale of stock by 
Mr. Vail, in our last number, a mistake occurred 
in regard to the name of the purchaser, which was 
stated to have been Mr. Humphrey. The purchase 
was made by Mr. Edward Belknap, of Henri¬ 
etta, Jackson Co., Michigan; and consisted, as 
we learn, of the bull American Comet,2^ years old, 
by Meteor, at $300—-the cow Esterville, (bred by 
Mr. Prentice, of Mount Hope, and by him sold to 
Mr. Vail,) at $300—cow Victoria by Wellington, 
$200—and two heifers at $100 each. 
Patent Office Report—Part II.—This com¬ 
prises the agricultural portion of the report, which 
has been presented to Congress, and 150,000 copies 
ordered printed. It was drawn up by Dr. Daniel 
Lee, who has submitted in connection with it, some 
“ suggestions for the improvement of agriculture,” 
arranged under the heads of Agricultural Educa¬ 
tion, the Ravages of Insects, Analysis of Soils and 
Fertilizers, Preservation of Provisions, Improve¬ 
ment of Domestic Animals, Distribution of Seeds, 
How cities exhaust the Fertility of Land, &c. 
Many of the suggestions, under these several heads 
are of an important character, and eminently wor¬ 
thy the attention of all who desire the promotion of 
this fundamental interest. 
Porcelain Ware. —In our volume for 1848, we 
noticed the crockery ware manufactory of Messrs. 
Lyman & Co., Bennington, Vermont. At the time 
of our visit to the establishment, they had just com¬ 
menced experiments in the manufacture of fine porce¬ 
lain, and also a new kind of ware, both of which 
have, we learn, been entirely successful. The Phi¬ 
ladelphia Ledger notices some of the ware, which 
has been exhibited in that city, wffiich is said to 
equal in beauty and quality, the best china or porce¬ 
lain known. In addition to the qualities of strength, 
durability and beauty, it is said to be afforded at 
lower prices than similar articles of clay ware. Its 
uses are not confined to the usual crockery ware, 
but the inventors make from it door-knobs, daguer¬ 
reotype frames, fancy brackets,letters for signboards, 
figures for numbering, and almost everything of the 
sort. 
Sale of Mr. Sheafe's Short-Horns. —By the 
advertisement of Mr. Allen, in this number, it will 
be seen that this herd will be sold at public auction 
on the 29th of August next. The occasion will fur¬ 
nish a good opportunity for the purchase of good 
stock of this breed. Several of the animals, which 
we have seen at Mr. Sheafe’s farm, are of superior 
quality, especially for the dairy. The bull Exeter 
we have not seen, but are assured by competent 
judges, that he is an animal of rare excellence. 
Transmutation. —We have another article from 
U A Gleaner,” on this subject, which he particu¬ 
larly desires to have published. Could any good 
arise from its publication, we would cheerfully 
comply with his request, long as the article is. We 
are certain, however,—just as certain as we are 
that no one in these days can perform a miracle,— 
that our correspondent is deceived as to what he 
supposes to be a fact. He asserts that, in his boy¬ 
hood, “ a ten acre field was sown with wheat—that 
it came up, and looked extremely promising, both 
in the fall and spring,” and that “ this entire field 
yielded chess-heads with wheat stalks .” He saw 
this himself, and consequently thinks he cannot be 
mistaken; and yet, and we say it with all proper 
respect, we should just as soon have credited the 
statement if he had said that the wheat-stalks bore 
Indian corn, with potatoes at the roots. The one 
is just as likely, in our opinion, to have occurred, as 
the other. 
Great Plowing Match in Canada. —>A plow¬ 
ing match for a prize of $400, took place near 
Thornhill, C. W., on the third of May last. The 
competition was between the townships of Vaughan 
and Scarboro—twenty plowmen being selected on 
each side. The match created great interest, and 
four thousand persons are said to have attended the 
trial, among whom was the Governor General, Lord 
Elgin. The contest was so close, that much diffi¬ 
culty attended the decision; but the prize was final¬ 
ly awarded to Scarboro. 
Short-Horn Bull Locomotive. —In reference 
to the inquiry in regard to this bull, published in 
our last, we have received a letter from Dr. Mar¬ 
tin, of Kentucky, stating that he is dead. 
The Curassow. —We learn from the Southern 
Cultivator that John W. Boddie, of Oak Ridge, 
Ga., has procured from South America a pair of 
curassows, which are so well domesticated that he 
keeps them in his poultry yard. We are informed, 
also, that R. L. Colt, Esq., of Patterson, N. J., 
has specimens of some of the curassow family. It 
is a bird nearly equalling the turkey in size, and its 
flesh is said to be of excellent quality. It has been 
