2S0 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
ALBANY, SEPTEMBER, 1845. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Communications have been received, since our last, 
from F. I. F., J. P. Norton, D. G. Mitchell, Grazier, G. 
G. S., Solon Robinson, G. M. Eichelberger, Eaton, Buel 
Warner, J. Bowman, C., Jno. H. Dent, W. Brookens, 
N. Longworth, John Crary, A. Dey, J. W. Seeley, S. 
W., A. L. Bingham, Senex, S. Widney, W. R., B. H., 
Jno. Gird wood, J. D. F., An Old Farmer, T. C. Peters, 
A Subscriber, E. N. Horsford, Wm. N. Ford. 
Answers to several inquiries, as well as several 
communications intended for this No., are necessarily 
deferred till next month. 
MONTHLY NOTICES. 
Our Foreign Correspondence. —We have the 
pleasure of presenting our readers this month, with the 
first of a series of “ Notes of Travel in Ireland,” 
from the pen of a gentleman abundantly qualified, from 
his practical knowledge of the agriculture and rural eco¬ 
nomy of both countries, to give peculiar interest to his 
‘‘ notes,” from which we think our readers may safely 
anticipate much gratification. The letter from Mr. Gird- 
wood, of Scotland, in continuation of his series of essays 
for the Cultivator, was received too late for this month. 
We think ourselves most fortunate in being favored with 
the contributions of Mr. Girdwood, and “ F. I. F.,” as 
well as those of Messrs. Norton, Horsford and Mit¬ 
chell, whose Letters have given an interest to our pa¬ 
ges which they could not otherwise have obtained. 
Colman’s Tour, Part IY.—Our readers will be glad 
to learn that the IVth Part of this work is now in press 
at Boston. It will be issued about the 10th of next month. 
Aguirre Wreat. —By reference to the doings of the 
New-York State Ag. Society, it will be seen that Mr. 
Townsend of this city, has presented to the society a 
parcel of wheat of the above name. The specimen was 
superior in whiteness and weight to any we have before 
seen. It has been distributed among the members of the 
society, with a request that it be carefully tried and re¬ 
ports furnished of its product, &c. 
New variety of Sweet Corn. —In our January No. 
we published a letter from Judge Darling, of Ct., de¬ 
scribing a kind of sweet corn which he had produced by 
an intermixture of the common sweet corn with a very 
early variety of the Canadian yellow. Judge D. sent us 
a few ears of the new variety, which we distributed 
among the farmers and gardeners of this vicinity. Yes¬ 
terday, Aug. 2l,a man brought us an ear which had been 
raised from this, which is ripe enough to gather for seed. 
We cannot tell the date of planting, but it was not early 
in the season. The same man planted several other kinds 
of sweet corn at the same time, but Judge D.’s new kind 
was several weeks earlier than any of them. 
Maple Sugar. —We have received from Mr. L. O. 
Stevens a very handsome and excellent sample of maple 
sugar manufactured by Mr. Joseph M. Stevens, of Hard¬ 
wick, Caledonia county, Vermont. Mr. Stevens, we are 
informed, made the past season 4500 lbs., of superior 
quality. We agree with Mr. S., that « we see no reason 
why this sugar may not in every way equal the foreign 
article in flavor, whiteness, and most certainly in purity .” 
He states that the process of manufacturing sugar of (his 
quality is simple and easily explained by the manufac¬ 
turer. 
Shepherd’s Dogs.— -S. M. Bell, West Alexander, 
Washington county, Penn., informs us that he can fur¬ 
nish a few of these dogs—“price $10 per pair for pup¬ 
pies—grown dogs, price in proportion.” A few of these 
valuable animals, of pure blood, can also be had on ap¬ 
plication at the office of the Farmer’s Cabinet, Philadel¬ 
phia—price $5 each. 
Potatoes for fattening Animals _We have re¬ 
peatedly expressed a favorable opinion of potatoes for 
fattening stock,—an opinion, which though opposed to 
the theories of some, we believe to be based on fact. 
The following extract from a letter of a gentleman of 
extensive practice as a farmer, corresponds generally 
with our own experience.— <£ Those persons who are 
of opinion that potatoes cannot fatten either hogs or 
cattle, are very much mistaken indeed. I know of no 
food I would prefer to fatten hogs upon than cooked po¬ 
tatoes, mixed either with a littie meal or bruised oats, 
mashed and made into balls as large as a man’s head, and 
laid on a shelf for twenty-four hours, to become a little 
sour. It will produce firm and transparent meat, and 
lard of a very superior quality, and at a cheaper rate than 
corn at 12| cents per bushel, fed in the ears.” 
Agriculture among the Cherokees.— We are 
happy to observe the various indications of improvement 
in the domestic arts among these people. We learn that 
they have lately organized an Agricultural Society, and 
are to hold an exhibition of stock, &c. For several years 
past, we have had from forty to fifty subscribers to the 
Cultivator among them. They publish a very good pa¬ 
per, the Cherokee Advocate ; but which, we are sorry to 
say, we do not receive regularly. Will the publisher 
have the goodness to see that it is punctually sent us? 
Delaware Agricultural Society. —This spirited 
and popular society holds its exhibition at Wilmington 
on the same days of our State Show at Utica. We regret 
this collision, as it will prevent many from visiting both 
shows, who would doubtless have done so, had they 
been held on separate days. We presume, however, 
that our Delaware friends will have no lack of specta¬ 
tors to witness their display of the products of the soil 
and the work of the hands. Jonathan Roberts, Esq., of 
Pennsylvania, and Dr. Muse, of Maryland, are to deliver 
addresses. 
Peat and Marl. —Mr. Henry Reynolds, of Green¬ 
field Centre, Saratoga co., has left us some specimens of 
peat and marl, taken from his farm. The peat appears 
to be a good article, and may be made valuable in com¬ 
posting with animal manures, or mixing with s»oda defi¬ 
cient in carbonaceous or vegetable matter. The marl is 
similar to what is found in places in this State underlying 
beds of peat. It is what is called fresh-water shell-marl. 
When applied to soils, its good effects are not always im¬ 
mediate, but in the course of a few months it moulders 
down like ashes, and improves the texture of the soil, as 
well as promotes vegetation. 
Hovey's Straw Cutters.— We would call attention 
to the advertisement of this machine to be found in this 
number. It will be noticed that Mr. H. has considera¬ 
bly reduced the price of his cutters. Perhaps there ne¬ 
ver was a season, which, from the shortness of the hay 
and other forage crops, seemed to call for the practice of 
the utmost economy in feeding, so much as the present. 
Experience has shown that there may be a great saving 
by cutting and mixing various kinds of fodder, and that 
with a little attention and labor, and with a small quan¬ 
tity of meal, shorts, bran, fox roots, straw, and such qual¬ 
ities of hay as are not usually considered valuable, may 
be made to afford stock a healthy support through the 
winter. 
Durham Cattle.—T he advertisement of Geo. Vail, 
Esq., in this No. is worthy the particular attention ot 
those wishing to obtain stock of this description. Seve¬ 
ral of the animals, it will be seen, were got by Mr. V.’s 
imported bull Wellington , and others by Meteor, which 
is acknowledged by all who have seen him, to be a bull 
of uncommon excellence. 
Correction. —A slight error occurred in our notice 
of Mr. Albott's horse Consternation, in the July No. 
He won the £100 at three years old, instead of at four, 
as we stated, and has made one or more races since the 
accident to his leg. 
The attention of Hop Growers, is invited to the 
advertisement of Mr. Ryckman in this paper. 
