808 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Sept. 
®lje Jarmtf s 5fote-$ook. 
Notes on Farming in Ohio® 
Eds. Cultivator —I came into this place two 
days since, and have taken a little excursion among 
the farmers in the neighborhood. I had before ex¬ 
pected to see a great wheat country and large crops, 
but both far exceeded ray expectations. 
I called on Judge Kelly at his farm. He has 
recently sold one-half his land, and now only farms 
200 acres—50 in wheat. I called on Messrs. Ever¬ 
hart, (five brothers from New York State,) who 
farm about 400 acres—160 in wheat. On these 
two farms are used McCormick’s Reapers. Messrs. 
Everhart had about seven acres yet to cut, and I 
went to witness the operation of the Reapers. 
The wheat being dead ripe, they had for some days 
only worked at it while the dew was on. The}'' had 
their own, and the reaper belonging to Judge Kelly, 
both^ at work with four horses to each—although 
two horses is ample force—but the leaders keep the 
tongue of the machine straight on the line of draft, 
and thus tend to steady the machine. Two men 
ride on the machine, one to drive, the other to rake 
off the grain and leave it in heaps ready for the 
binders. Mr. E. informs me they have, during the 
present harvest, with one machine, cut from 16 to 
18 acres in a day, and by its use have got their crop 
in good time, which could not have been done if 
they had depended on hand labor, of which it is im¬ 
possible to get a supply, even at $1,50 or $2 a day. 
I could not but admire the perfect manner in 
which the wheat is cut and laid,—it being all cut 
very even, and about six inches from the ground. 
There was but very little that was not cut, and this 
little had fallen down and laid either on or very near 
to the ground. 
I also called on D. Jarvis, Esq., K. Jarvis, Esq., 
and others, who farm extensively, and all agree in 
opinion that the present crop of wheat is large— 
more than an average, and the wheat of superior 
quality. They think it will weigh 63 to 65 lbs. to 
the bushel. They generally estimate their crops at 
20 to 25 bushels to the acre,—some more. I learn 
that Mr. Hildebrand, of this neighborhood, has 200 
acres of wheat, and that he is quite confident it will 
average 30 bushels to the acre.* 
I learn that Mr. Rutter, near Bolivar, 16 miles 
south of this, had, four years ago, 54^ bushels from 
one acre—land and grain carefully measured—and 
that he has this season measured off an acre from 
the same field, which he thinks will exceed the 
quantity he then had. 
The wheat is generally thrashed and cleaned by 
the use of Pitts’ thrasher and seperator, operated by 
6 horses; and it gets out, ready for market, 300 
bushels and upwards, in a day. This is done by 
men who make it a business, and go from farm to 
farm, having the assistance of two men at each 
place, and charge the ow T ner three cts. per bushel. 
It is supposed it will be very profitable this season, 
as the amount of straw will be small in proportion 
to the wheat. The straw being 4 or 5 inches shorter 
than it usually is. At the warehouse and manufac¬ 
tory of C. M. Russell & Go., there have been for 
the last two or three weeks, eight to fifteen waggons 
in waiting, besides others coming and going, for 
* Since writing - the above, I have seen Mr. Hildebrand, who says 
he has 240 acres in wheat, and estimates the crop at 25 bushels to 
the acre. One farmer near here had a lot of 12 acres, which he has 
cleaned, and the yield was 33 bushels to the acre. I hear of others 
35 to the acre. 
these machines. They have already sent off 225 
this season, and there are many more, made by Mr. 
Partridge of this place, and also at Fulton, nine 
miles north of this place. There are three manu¬ 
factories in this town, which make and sell annual¬ 
ly about 1400 plows, and other farm implements 
and castings to a large amount. 
It is said that the clay loams yield this season 
rather the best crop of wheat, in consequence of the 
severe drouth of May and early part of June. In 
wet seasons, the sandy loams do the best. The oat 
crop looks well. It is now beginning to turn. On 
the 14th J une, corn had not come up, or if up, a 
large proportion was not more than 4 inches high. 
The farmers say that it has since then grown more 
than corn was ever before known to grow in the 
same length of time, and is now as forward as it 
usually is at this time in the season. Much of it is 
now in the ear and silk, and looks well, everywhere, 
and bids fair to make a large crop. We have had 
continued hot weather and moderate rains since the 
10 th J une. The hay crop will probably be a little 
below an average. The new meadows came on late 
and have done well*. The old meadows in some 
places suffered with the drouth beyond recovery, 
though they have done better than it was thought 
they could do. 
The frequent showers and very warm weather for 
the last few days have hurt the wheat some; but I 
think not to much extent. In this and the adjoin¬ 
ing counties, there was more ground to wheat this 
season, than usual; they will therefore have a much 
larger amount than was ever before harvested in 
one season. It is a heavy job for them to cut and 
secure it—not more than one half has yet been got 
in. 
August 1st. We had yesterday a bright good 
day and considerable wheat was taken in; but last 
night we again had a very heavy rain, and to-day 
the weather is unfavorable. The wheat out will be 
much injured if the weather does not come good very 
soon. They are here grinding new wheat. There 
has been many small parcels got out. I hear of 
none that weighs less than 63 and most of it 64 or 
65 and one lot 67 lbs to the measured bushel. 
I hear of many crops of 30 bushels and upwards 
to the acre ; and I am told by gentlemen that are 
likely to possess correct information, that the amount 
of ground to wheat this year in several counties 
around here, (the greatest wheat counties in the 
state,) is nearly or quite one-fourth more than usual. 
Culture of Flax.- —The farmers near Cuyahoga 
Falls, in Summit county, are in the practice of 
growing flax to considerable extent. When the 
seed is ripe, they go into the grounds that have been 
well and smoothly laid down, and cradle the flax. 
When it is sufficiently dried, they run it through a 
threshing machine which takes off the seed. The 
stalks or stems are then carried to a piece of grass- 
ground and spread out as hay is spread to dry. It 
there lies till it gets sufficiently rotten. They then 
get out their horses, colts and light wagons, and 
the boys drive over it; and it being turned once or 
twice, the sheaves are broken up and shook out— 
all of which requires but a few hours work. It is 
then loaded and carried to the paper mill, and there 
sold at twelve dollars per ton, which with the seed 
makes it a profitable crop. J. R. Howard. 
Massillon, July 24 th, 1850. 
Crops in Seneca County, N. Y. 
Eds. Cultivator—O ur hay crop is one of the 
best I have seen, and our wheat crop, I think, will 
