THE CULTIVATOR. 
91 
one branch secures, in a great degree, success in the 
other. 
The remarks made in regard to selection of cows, and 
their management for cheese dairies, apply equally well 
here, and we can only say that to equal, and even excel, 
the individuals we have named, farmers have only to 
procure good cows, give them good feed, both summer 
and winter, see that they are at all times protected from 
cold and stormy weather, have plenty of pure water and 
free access to salt, are regularly milked by careful hands, 
and finally that the milk and the cheese or butter, as the 
case may be, are properly managed. These constitute 
the essentials in dairy management—essentials which 
may be attained in almost every particular by all dairy¬ 
men. It is easy to see that while, in the usual method 
of managing cows, very little profit can be realized, the 
results arrived at by the individuals named, (and there 
are scores of similar cases,) cannot fail to afford a very 
handsome profit from their labor. It costs scarcely any 
more to keep a stock of cows in good order throughout 
the year, than to'Jet them get poor, and then by extra 
feed raise them again to good condition. Now, we hold 
that three-fourths of the dairymen in this country may, 
by simply having warm and well ventilated stables, 
feeding and milking regularly, and treating their cows 
gently, increase their products considerably, without one 
dollar of additional expense; and if a fevv bushels of 
grain or roots be added in the winter and spring, the 
profit will be greatly increased. Of the method of ma¬ 
naging the milk and manufacture of butter and cheese, 
we have not room to speak in this article, but will en¬ 
deavor to speak of some points connected with that subject 
hereafter. The cases to which we have alluded are not 
extremes, but are frequent in many parts of the State; 
yet not one in one hundred reaches the amount named in 
these statements. 
The season for commencing dairy operations will soon 
arrive; indeed, the time for giving increased attention 
to dairy cows is now at hand, and we appeal to all, so 
far to consult their own interest, if they have no mercy 
for their animals, as to look well to the care of then- 
stock during the coming spring. We also respectfully 
suggest to our agricultural brethren, the propriety of 
endeavoring to increase the products of their dairy, as 
well as of all crops and productions of the farm, the 
coming season. We can improve in these as well as 
other branches of agriculture. Shall we not say that we 
will improve in these things? Let us not be disheartened 
by the assertion, so often thrust in our faces, that we now 
raise more than we need of agricultural products. Or if 
this is really so, let us keep fewer cows, and make from 
them the same quantity which we now make from a 
greater number. And so with our crops; let our motto 
be, “the greatest amount of produce at the least ex¬ 
pense.” Profit is our object, and how shall we secure 
H except by cheapening the cost of production? 
E. Comstock. 
KNOCKS ON A FARM. 
Mr. Editor—I know that you will have considered 
me, long ere this, “slack concerning my promises;” 
but each day has furnished some new pledge that “ to¬ 
morrow ” you should have some account of my success 
and mishaps in my new vocation. 
The first of May last found me in possession of a farm 
of about one hundred and eighty acres of land in this 
pleasant farming district, with about as much knowledge 
of my new calling as most plowmen have of a special 
demurrer. Yet my former experience had taught me 
that patience and perseverance would overcome almost 
any difficulty; and relying on these supports I went to 
work, and, as you might expect, received many “ knocks ,” 
the teachings of which will be long remembered. There 
was growing on my farm, when I took possession of it, 
twelve acres of wheat and six acres of rye. In order 
that the crop might be good, the seed had been procured 
at the west, and at a high price. A part of the crop was 
sown on greensward turned under, the soil being low and 
moist. The result, when harvest came, was forty-two 
bushels of ordinary wheat and eighty-eight bushels of 
chess. As soon as the half-bushel had shown me the 
quantity of each, I seated myself in my o<g arm chair, 
placed my feet on the office table (attitude is everything) 
and commenced looking over the list of premiums for 
the next State Fair at Poughkeepsie, supposing, of course, 
that my chess crop would entitle me to number one. But 
finding no bounty offered for my crop of chess, I con¬ 
sulted the back numbers of the Cultivator (and these have 
been my indispensable oracles) to find some information 
as to the quality of my abundant harvest. While, how¬ 
ever, but little light was afforded by the treatises, much 
amusement was enjoyed from the sharp controversy 
which has been carried on among the agricultural com¬ 
munity on the “transmutation of wheat”—the “book 
men”* claiming the transmutation of wheat into chess to 
be a violation of the laws of nature, and the practical 
farmers maintaining that the severity of winter changes 
wheat into chess. One thing I know, my predecessor 
sowed good wheat and I harvested good chess; and the best 
explanation is found in the Book that says: “ Thou sowest 
not that body that shall be, but bare grain; it may chance 
of wheat or of some other grain.”f 
I cannot, in justice, omit here to recommend a fan- 
mill made by J. T. Grant & Co., of Schaghticoke, Rens¬ 
selaer county. It removed all the chess from my wheat, 
and has cleaned thoroughly rye, peas, timothy and clover 
seed; in short all the grains and seed ordinarily produced 
on a farm have been entirely cleansed from their impu¬ 
rities by this mill. I was very careful to examine the 
various patterns which were offered for sale in your city 
and elsewhere, and to witness their operation; and I have 
impartially compared the work of my mill with that of 
the mills used by my neighbors, and I must say that Mr. 
Grant's mill is superior to all which I have seen, in the 
simplicity of its construction, the ease of its revolutions, 
and the perfect manner in which it performs its work. 
It is the most finished agricultural implement which I 
have ever seen, and has deservedly taken the first pre¬ 
mium at our state and county fairs. 
My corn was planted early, and finding that it did not 
come up, I examined the hills and discovered in more 
than half of them two or three small white worms in 
each kernel, gnawing at the very chit. A second plant¬ 
ing escaped the insect, and gave an ordinary crop. Much 
of the first planting in this section of country failed, and 
a second was required. 
The barley harvest has yielded the best returns, being 
worth six shillings per bushel, while oats were quoted 
at twenty-eight cents, corn at fifty cents, and buckwheat 
at thirty-seven and a half cents. 
I have made many efforts to learn to plow, but all 
my lois had a slight sprinkling of stones, and the plow 
would jump out, and before I could enter it again the 
team would be far from the furrow. But I consoled 
myself with the reply which the boy made to his father 
when reproved for making irregular furrows: “ Never 
mind,” said he, “ it has all got to be plowed.” More 
practice another season will improve my skill, they say; 
at all events it shall have a fair trial. 
Yours respectfully, 
Ballston Centre, Jan. 20, 1845. B. P. Learned. 
Honey is, according to Mr. Milton, who has lately 
published a treatise on bees in England, a universal spe¬ 
cific, and among its other valuable properties, he declares 
that it prevents consumption, and siates that that destroy¬ 
er of human life is not known in countries where honey 
is regularly taken as an article of food. Those who have 
less faith in the specific, may perhaps attribute the cause 
to difference of climate rather than to honey. The Ital¬ 
ian singers, it is also affirmed, are greatly indebted to 
honey, but their practice is to sharpen it with a few drops 
of acid, though they sometimes take it in a pure state. 
* This is not altogether fair. We have carefully looked over 
the old controversy in the Cultivator and Genesee Farmer, and 
find that every writer on the negative side of the question, was, 
to our certain knowledge, strictly a practical farmer. 
(• Our correspondent should have finished his quotation. It 
reads thus: “And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not 
that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, 
or some other grain : but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased 
him, and to every seed its own body.” —Cor. xv. 37, 38. 
