248 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Communications have been received, since our last, 
from S. Tillotson, N. B. Cloud, Wm. Bacon, J. Town¬ 
send, C. N. Bemen*, H., David Thomas, H. W. S. C., 
2). G. Mitchell, S. N. Holmes, E. Hammond, R. Burritt, 
S. M. Ackerly, Agricola, A. R. D., R. Johnson, Utica, 
N. Reed, C. S., S. B. Buckley, W. Cushman, S. Robin¬ 
son, Dr. Lee, Alex. M’Donald, J. C. Mather, T. C. 
Hines, C. H. R., J. W. G., G. A. Fiske, E. W. Ells¬ 
worth, V. Juvenis, A. Eastwood, R. 
Our thanks are due to Mr. Downing, for a copy of his 
“ Fruits and Fruit Trees of America”—To Lea & 
Blanchard, the publishers, Philadelphia, for the 5th 
and last vol. of the “United States Exploring Expedi¬ 
tion”—To Greeley & M'Elrath, for the continuation 
of Lardner’s Lectures on Science and Art—To A. G 
Summer, Esq., Columbia, S. C., for copies of Gov. Ham¬ 
mond’s Letters on Slavery—to some unknown friend, 
for Judge Rost’s Oration before the Agricultural and 
Mechanic’s Association of Louisiana. 
We have copious notes of Connecticut Far¬ 
ming, &c., but a pressure of other matters oblige us to 
defer them for future numbers. 
Transmutation Controversy.— We have received 
from Mr. Townsend, Zanesville, Ohio, a reply to the 
remarks of “ L. F. A.,” in our June nnmber. We can 
hardly think it expedient to extend this controversy, and 
we hope Mr. Townsend will excuse our declining to 
publish his letter. The arguments he advances against 
transmutation are, in our view, correct, and they agree 
with the opinions we have already expressed. Mr. T. 
offers to pay all the expenses of an investigation which 
shall prove positively “that a single grain of wheat ever 
did, ever will, or ever can, turn into chess.” Therefore, 
until some new evidence can be brought forward in fa¬ 
vor of transmutation, we can see no necessity of further 
agitating the subject. 
MONTHLY NOTICES. 
Good Cows.—Mr. Wm. Cushman, of New Braintree, 
Mass., has a cow one-fourth Durham, which, he states, 
gave for ten days in June, from 54 to 63 pounds of milk 
per day—also a full blood Durham heifer which gave 
for the same time, 41 to 63 pounds per day. Those in 
want of Mackay pigs, South Down sheep, or a Durham 
bull, may be accommodated by applying to Mr. Cush- 
Corn and Cob Cutter.-— While at Rochester recent¬ 
ly, we had an opportunity of witnessing the operation 
of a new machine for grinding corn on the cob, invented 
by Mr. Pitts, which appeared admirably adapted for 
the purpose. Mr. P. has been at work for some years 
upon it, and thinks he has now succeeded in perfecting 
a machine which will fully answer the requirements of 
the farming interest. It is very simple in its operation, 
permanent in its form, and not liable to get out of order. 
The teeth are so arranged as to be easily taken out and 
sharpened, when necessary. It may be worked with a 
one horse power. 
Fine Merino Wool. —We have received specimens 
of the fleeces of Mr. L. A. Morrell’s Merinos, purchased 
of Jacob N. Blakeslee, of Watertown, and of Stephen 
Atwood. Woodberry, Conn., and to which were awarded 
the first and second premiums at the last State Agricultu¬ 
ral Fair held at Poughkeepsie, on sheep exhibited from 
without the State. One of these samples equals in fine¬ 
ness the best Merino wool we have ever seen, and the 
other is a very beautiful sample. Mr. Morrell informs 
us that these bucks were fed a little grain about a fort¬ 
night before they were placed with his ewes; after which 
none was given them. Their fleeces fully equalled his 
expectations as regards weight. Mr. Morrell’s flock of 
high grade Saxons averaged last year a fraction over 
three pounds per head, and he appears sanguine that, by 
proper selections, he can bring it up to nearly four 
pounds, by means of his Merinos, and yet depart but lit¬ 
tle, if any, from the present quality of his wool. If he 
succeeds, his flock will be extremely valuable, and of 
course, equally profitable. We invite our friends to call 
and see these samples. 
Syphon Pump.— We invite particular attention to the 
communication of Mr. Ellsworth on this subject, on 
another page of this number. We have lately had an 
opportunity of witnessing the operation of the apparatus 
mentioned, and can assure our readers of the entire cor¬ 
rectness of Mr. E.’s description. The application of 
power in this case we believe to be altogether new, and 
in our opinion is highly creditable to the ingenuity and 
scientific knowledge of Mr. Ellsworth. We see no ob¬ 
stacle in the way of this invention becoming useful to a 
great extent. 
| Farm for Sale at Auburn. —We had the pleasure 
of walking over the farm advertised by Mr. Remer, at 
Auburn, a short time since, and can heartily recommend it 
to any one wishing for a country residence in the imme¬ 
diate vicinity of one of our pleasantest inland villages. 
Fine Wool in Michigan —“ C. H. R.,” Aurora, N. 
Y., informs us that several flocks of selected fine wooled 
sheep have been of late driven from this, and the states 
of Vermont and Connecticut, into Michigan. That 
Messrs. Daniel A. Mills and George Barker, of Man¬ 
chester, Washtenaw county, Mich., have lately selected 
a very fine flock of about 700 ewes and 50 stock bucks, 
from the flocks of Mr. Scovill, Ct., Mr. Church, of Ver¬ 
non, Oneida county, and Mr. Richmond, of Aurora, 
Cayuga county, N. Y. “ C. H. R.” thinks these sheep 
may be relied on as of pure Saxon blood, and as pro¬ 
ducing the finest quality of wool. He states that “ over 
two hundred young ewes, and thirty stock bucks” of the 
700 above mentioned, were taken from the flock of Mr. 
{Richmond, which flock was “ chiefly derived from the 
importations of Mr. Grove and have been kept with 
great care pure as when imported.” “C. H. R.” also 
thinks that Michigan is well calcutated for the produc¬ 
tion of “fine wool,” and that great inducements are 
offered the farmers there for engaging in this branch of 
husbandry; he is therefore desirous of informing them 
that “an opportunity is now presented in this flock of 
Mills and Barker, by which they can obtain those that 
are recommended as pure.” 
We are indebted to Alexander Walsh, Esq., 
for specimensof the following plants:—Teazel; Madder; 
(manufactured;) Siberian crab-pplea: Staphylea trifo¬ 
lia, (three leaved Bladder-nut;) White Dwarf Horse- 
chestnut; Pink do.; Gymnocladus canadensis; Upright 
Honey-suckle; White, Yellow, and Green Mint; Senna; 
Sea Kale; a specimen of silk reeled in 1827. 
American Quarterly Journal of Agriculture 
and Science. —The third number of this publication is 
before us. It contains various interesting articles, among 
which are—Agricultural Geology—Relations of Vegeta¬ 
bles and Animals—Drifts and Changes in the Position of 
Soils—Manures—their action—How Plants absorb Car¬ 
bonic Acid—Agricultural Science—Husbandry in Central 
New-York—Practical Directions for the Flower Garden 
—Animals useful to the Farmer, &c. Edited by Prof. 
E. Emmons and Dr. J. A. Prime, Albany. Terms, three 
dollars a year, in advance. 
Lardner’s Popular Lectures on Science, part 
vi., is received. Its contents are a continuation of re¬ 
marks on Radiation of Heat—Meteoric stones, and Shoot¬ 
ing stars—the Earth—Lunar Influences—Physical Con¬ 
stitution of Comets. Each succeeding part of these high¬ 
ly instructive and interesting lectures, seems more and 
more valuable. Price only 25 cents per number. Gree¬ 
ley and McElrath, New-York. 
“Catalogue of Camellia Japonicas, green house 
and stove plants, etc., cultivated at the exotic nursery 
and horticultural gardens of Valk & Co., Flushing, 
Long Island.” A handsome pamphlet of 92 pages 
octavo, with valuable directions for cultivating plants in 
houses and the open air. 
