THE CULTIVATOR. 
85 
NEW-YORK STATE AG. SOCIETY. 
The regular monthly meeting of the Executive Com¬ 
mittee of the N. Y. State Ag. Society for February, was 
held at the Society’s Room in the old State Hall on the 
23th. The President, B. P. Johnson, Esq. of Oneida in 
the chair. Present—Messrs. Prentice, Hillhouse, 
M’Intyre and Tucker of Albany—Mr. Beekman of 
Columbia— Messrs. Walsh and Vail of Rensselaer—Mr. 
Enos of Madison, and Mr. Lee of Erie. 
Reports of Committees. 
Mr. Johnson, from the committee to whom was refer¬ 
red the applications for the prize for the best managed 
Cheese Dairy, reported that they had awarded the Gold 
Medal to Alonzo L. Fish of Cedarville, Herkimer Co., 
and three vols. Transactions to Abraham Hall of Hol¬ 
land Patent, Oneida county. 
Mr. Johnson also reported that the committee had 
awarded the prize of $25, for the best Experiment in the 
Culture of Indian Corn, to George Geddes of Camillus, 
Onondaga county. 
Mr. Johnson also reported that the committee on that 
subject, had awarded the prize of $20, for the best Essay 
on Farm Management, to John J. Thomas of Macedon, 
Wayne county. 
Mr. Beekman, from the committee to whom was re¬ 
ferred the Essays on the importance of scientific know¬ 
ledge in prosecuting successfully the ordinary pursuits of 
agriculture, reported that the committee had examined 
the three Essays submitted to them, neither of which, in 
their opinion were written with sufficient care to entitle 
it to the premium; and they recommend that the same 
prize be offered another year. 
Mr. Lee, from the commiitee to whom the applica¬ 
tions for the prize for the best Text Book on Agriculture 
for the use of Schools was referred, reported that two 
books were submitted to them, neither of which were 
sufficiently adapted for the purpose to entitle it to the 
prize, and concluded by recommending that the same pre¬ 
mium be again offered. 
Mr. M’Intyre, from the committee on Essays on Ro¬ 
tation of Crops, reported that they had awarded the prize, 
$20, to the writer of the Essay marked A., the author’s 
name being unknown to them. [It was written by John 
J. Thomas, Macedon.] 
Mr. R. L. Pell, from the committee on Essays on the 
Culture of the Apple, sent in a written report, awarding 
the prize, ($20.) to the Essay sent in with the report. 
[This Essay was written by John J. Thomas.] 
Mr. Prentice, from the committee on Essays on the 
prevalent disease in potatoes, reported that they had come 
to the conclusion that neither of the Essays were such'as 
would warrant them in awarding the premium. 
Mr. Lee, from the committee on Essays on Manures, 
reported against awarding the premium to the Essay 
submitted to them. He also reported that the committee 
had awarded a Silver Medal to R. L. Pell of Pelham, 
Ulster County, for his report of Experiments to show the 
comparative value of different kinds of food for cattle. 
Mr. Walsh, from the committee on Essays on the 
Culture of Silk, slated that but one Essay had been sub¬ 
mitted to them, and that evidently not intended for the 
premium, as it did not contain the matters required in the 
prize Essay. The Essay was referred to the committee 
of publication. 
The committee on Wheat, at the annual Meeting re¬ 
commended that a premium of $15 be awarded to Mr. E. 
J. Ayres of Tompkins, provided he furnished certain far¬ 
ther particulars, which, Mr. Ayres having furnished, a 
premium of $15 was voted him, on his wheat crop, 
amounting to 114 bushels and 58 lbs. on two acres. 
Mr. Beekman presented the Annual Report of the 
American Institute, which was referred to the committee 
of publication. 
Messrs. Walsh, Lenox and Prentice, were appoint¬ 
ed a committee on the Library. 
The discussion and arrangement of the List of Premi¬ 
ums occupied most of the afternoon, and not being com¬ 
pleted, the Board adjourned to meet again on the 15th. 
Feb. 15th.—The President in the chair. Present— 
Messrs. Vail, Hillhouse, M’Intyre, Lee, Enos, and 
Tucker. 
The premium List was taken up, and after a few tri¬ 
fling additions, was ordered to be published. 
The Board then proceeded to the appointment of 
County Corresponding Committees in each County. (We 
are obliged to defer the publication of this list of com¬ 
mittees till our next.) 
A resolution was adopted, directing the Corresponding 
Secretary to open a correspondence with the County 
Committees, Superintendents of Common Schools, and 
others, for the purpose of furthering the objects of the 
Society, and especially the introduction of the study ot 
the principles of Agriculture into our Schools and Aca¬ 
demies. 
Messrs. Tucker, Beekman and Lee, were appointed 
a committee of publication. 
After the transaction of a variety of other business, the 
Executive Committee adjourned to meet again on the 
Second Thursday of March. 
A room has been fitted up, in the old State Hall, ex¬ 
clusively for the use of the State Society, where the meet¬ 
ings will hereafter be held. Entrance on Lodge, corner 
of State-street. 
Payment of Premiums. 
All money premiums awarded by the Society, may be 
obtained on application to Thomas Hillhouse, Treasu¬ 
rer, or to Luther Tucker, Rec. Secretary, Albany. 
All premiums not demanded within four months af¬ 
ter the award, will be considered as donations to the So¬ 
ciety. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
H. Ambler, Bethel, Conn., will find some good sug¬ 
gestions on improving worn-out lands, perhaps applica- 
cable to his location, in our Feb. No page 69. 
A. W.—Subsoil Plows can be had of Pruyn, Wilson & 
Vosburgh of this city—price, from $8. to $16. 
M. B.—Black Sea Wheat not to be had in this city to 
our knowledge. 
Lucerne. —D. E., Allegan, Michigan. The price of 
lucerne is 37 cents by the single pound. If sown broad¬ 
cast, fifteen pounds are required for an acre. It can be 
sent to Detroit per express. 
Salt for Butter. —We cannot particularly answer 
the inquiry of Mr. Barton, in regard to the means of 
ascertaining good from poor salt. The best salt for but¬ 
ter, we believe to be that which is usually sold under the 
name of rock salt. It is sometimes ground for dairy 
purposes. It may also be rendered fine by putting it in 
a kettle or boiler, with water enough to cover if, and 
heating it till the lumps are broken down, stirring it 
while the process of heating is going on. When it has 
become fine it may be dipped out and drained, and it is 
in a suitable state to use. Any impurities that rise to the 
top of the water while the salt is melting, should be 
skimmed off. The Liverpool blown, or bag salt, often 
contains impurities, and does not answer well for butter. 
The table salt, so called, made at Salina, in t-his state, it 
is said by those who have used it, answers very well. 
Mr. B. will find at page 318, of our last volume, ample 
directions for purifying salt for butter. 
Clover Seed.— A Subscriber,” at Martindale, 
N. C., is informed that we know of no way of cleaning 
clover seed, or separating it from the head or chaff, but 
by a hulling machine. It may be, and often is, sown in 
the chaff; but no rule can be given as to the quantity per 
acre, as everything depends on the quantity of seed there 
is in proportion to the whole bulk. 
Soiling.— Our Maryland correspondent, W. Orcum, 
(if we read the name right,) will find the exact informa¬ 
tion he asks for on this subject, at p. 22, of our numbej 
for Jan. last, where he will see that Mr. Newhall keep? 
25 milch cows on the soiling system. He is also refer¬ 
red to pages 108, 182 and 250, of our last volume, and tc 
page 48, vol. 10, where he will find a detail of the prac 
tice of Jas. Gowen, Esq. 
Fruit-trees. —Mr. Orcum asks the best time foi 
transplanting trees. The fall* immediately after tht 
