190 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
The above is a good portrait of a Leicester ewe, about one year old, belonging to Paris Fletcher, Esq. of 
Bridport, Vermont. She is descended from the stock of Mr. S. Norton, of Greenwich, N. Y. She is a large, well 
formed, and very heavy fleeced animal, and will, in the opinion <>f competent judges, give at least eight pounds of 
washed wool, at her first shearing. Mr. Fletcher has at present but a few sheep of this blood, but those he has, 
have proved so valuable, that he is determined to increase the number. He has a fine and very neatly managed 
farm, well calculated for supporting the finest cattle and sheep. 
by the influences of climate, than by imperfections of j 
soil. 
In accordance with the above principles, and for the 
reasons assigned, it will be always practicable in equal, 
or even inferior conditions of the soil, to raise heavier 
crops, where the climate is more temperate and uniform; 
for the reason, in addition to those stated, that the crop 
occupies the soil a much longer time in arriving atmafu- 
rity, and is also less subject to the adverse vicissitudes 
and influences alluded to. This is believed to be the 
case in some parts of Europe and in Great Britain, in 
which last, the crop generally occupies the soil, in a 
growing state, excluding the fall and winter, from the 
first of March to the middle of August; but doubtless its 
insular position has a favorable influence. In such cli¬ 
mates also, it is more practicable, for the same reasons, 
to carry down the cultivation of wheat, to soils of inferi¬ 
or natural adaptation. 
As the influence of climate is a fixed condition, and lit¬ 
tle subject to human agency, our alternative is to adapt 
our soil to the climate; and this we may do, chiefly, by 
laying the land dry, and obviating on a large extent of 
our soil, the injurious effects of superabundant moisture. 
In clearing new land, the importance and economy of 
retaining, or even planting, at proper intervals, narrow 
belts of timber, as protection against the winter winds, : 
will engage the attention of practical men. The white! 
oak, which retains its leaves through the winter, is admi¬ 
rably suited for this purpose, and indigenous to the soil. I 
In continuation, it may be remarked, that the winter! 
frost, and the heat and drouth of our summers, while of¬ 
fering superior advantages for cultivating and subduing 
the fallows, atfect injuriously at the same time the grow¬ 
ing crop, especially in wet and heavy soils; urging their 
drainage also from the consideration that they are after¬ 
wards more easily and seasonably tilled, anil more pro¬ 
ductive of all other crops as well as wheat. 
The additional conclusions resulting from these gene¬ 
ral views and principles, are—that the first requisite, in 
the cultivation of wheat, is to obtain a good soil—that a 
good soil is one that abounds in lime, is clean and dry, 
ami right in the mixture and quality of its mineral mat¬ 
ter, including fertility and absorbent qualities of the sub¬ 
soil—that a soil containing vegetable fibre or humus in 
excess produces much straw and little grain, and that con¬ 
sequently alluvial soils are not well adapted to wheat ex¬ 
cept when naturally overlaid by a proper mixture of the 
neighboring upland minerals—that there is much unpro¬ 
fitable application of labor and capital, because of non¬ 
conformity to the natural laws of soil and climate—that 
the cultivation of wheat may be profitably continued or 
extended on large portions of our land, by adapting the 
soil to the climate, ami thus to the cultivation of wheat, 
on lands that are too level or wet, provided the mineral 
qualities of the soil are proper in other respects. 
I would finally ofler the suggestion to practical men, 
that as good wheat soils are well adapted to the produc¬ 
tion of nutritious pasturage, it will be found most profita¬ 
ble at the relative prices of products and labor, to reno¬ 
vate the soil to a greater extent than is now practiced, 
by rendering pas'urage accessary the cultivation of 
wheat, in preference to costly or artificial manures, be¬ 
yond a judicious economy and application of those that 
accumulate on the farm; and that lands not natural to 
wheat will be most profitably applied to other crops. 
Celery for Ducks.—A writer in the Buffalo National 
Pilot, says —“ The common duck of the poultry yard, if 
fed—while fattening—copiously upon the tops of the ce¬ 
lery plant, will attain a juiciness and a flavor that must 
call forth unqualified approbation from every epicure. It 
is the wild celery plant that gives peculiarity of enchant¬ 
ment to the canvass-back, and the common celery top 
will add a charm to the duck of the yard, that cannot be 
conceived. You cannot make a tame bird equal one with 
the wild'flavor of freedom and foreign travel, but still 
you can refine on poultry.” 
