324 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
The two numbers we have received, are filled with 
interesting articles. We trust the work will be the 
means of arousing the farmers of North Carolina to the 
importance and profit of developing the rich natural re¬ 
sources of the state. 
Popular Lectures on Science and Art, by Dr 
Lardner.— We have received this interesting and very 
valuable work, up to the ninth number. Each number is 
well worth twice the price for which it is sold. The 
eighth and ninth Nos. contain articles on the Effects of 
Lightning—Popular Fallacies—Protection from Light¬ 
ning—Magnetism—Electro-Magnetism--The Thermome 
ter—Atmospheric Electricity—Evaporation, &c. Pub¬ 
lished by Greely & McElrath, Tribune Buildings, 
New-York. Twenty-five cents. 
TRANSACTIONS of the N. Y. S. AG. SOCIETY. 
The Editor of “ The Cultivator” had determined to 
take no notice of the various attacks, (criticisms they 
cannot be called,) which have from time to time been 
made upon the annual vol. of Transactions issued by 
the N. York State Agricultural Society ; and he is only 
induced now to refer to them, by the very ungentlemanly 
manner in which the name of one of the best agricultural 
writers and most estimable men of our state, has been 
brought before the public in connection with the last 
volume. It may not be improper to state that the 1st and 
2d vols. of the Transactions were prepared for the press 
by the editor of this paper. That they are not what 
he could have desired they should be, he very cheerfully 
admits ; but that better volumes could be made from the 
materials submitted to him, by any one, he does not 
believe, though his labor upon them, as well as all his 
labors in behalf of the society, for three years, were 
bestowed without fee or reward. The preparation of 
the 4th vol. of Transactions was also assigned to the editor 
of the Cultivator. On looking over the papers in his 
hands, he came to the conclusion that a decided improve¬ 
ment might be made in the arrangement and preparation 
of the matter ; but not choosing to make the improve¬ 
ments which he deemed necessary, on his individual 
authority, he submitted his plan to the Executive Commit¬ 
tee, by whom it was unanimously approved ; and at his 
request, a committee was associated with him, consisting 
of Hon. J. P. Beekman, the last President of the Society, 
and Dr. Lee, the Cor. Sec’y, to superintend, so far as it 
might be necessary, the preparation of the copy for the 
volume. Among the improvements, it was proposed to 
exclude, so far as possible, all matters not of permanent 
value, and to arrange all the papers, whether emanating 
from the state or county societies, under appropriate 
heads. In this arrangement, the Executive Committee 
and the Committee of Publication, unanimously concurred. 
To make the compilation as it should be done, the editor 
found would require more time than his duties would 
admit of his devoting to it: he therefore engaged John 
J. Thomas, a gentleman every way admirably qualified 
for the task, to perform this labor, which he did to the entire 
satisfaction of the Executive Committee. Mr. Thomas, 
it may be proper to say, had no authority to insert or 
omit any article, he merely acting as compiler under the 
direction of the Publishing Committee, by whom his 
labors were unanimously approved. The imputation, 
therefore, that Mr. Thomas had any part in rejecting 
the contributions of others to make room for his own, is 
as destitute of truth as it is scandalous on the part of the 
writer making it, who must have known, if he knew 
any thing about it, that Mr. T. ’s contributions to the 
volume consisted of Prize Essays, the premiums for 
which were awarded by committees appointed by the 
Executive Board, who made their awards without the 
knowledge of the writer’s names. From the entire mass 
of papers submitted to him, every thing was selected 
which was deemed of permanent utility ; and as to these 
papers alone , could the editor have recourse, he could by 
no possibility have made the volume better ; and, with 
the exception of a few grumblers, it has received the 
approbation it deserved. Those who complain that the 
volume does not compare \yjth the Journal of the Royal 
Agricultural Society, would do well to remember that 
we have as yet no class of professional writers in this 
state, or in this country, who have given sufficient 
attention to the theory or practice of agriculture, to 
enable them to furnish such essays as grace many of the 
pages of the journals of the Royal and Highland Socie¬ 
ties. We can expect little more at present than the simple 
details and practical observations of men who have paid 
more attention to the labors of the husbandman than to 
those of the student of nature. From the attention now 
given to the subject, however, we may look for a gradual 
and a rapid improvement in our agricultural literature. 
PLANTING CHESTNUTS 
The rapid growth of the chestnut, the excellence of its 
timber, and its fine ornamental appearance, render it a 
desirable object of cultivation. The fruit which it pro¬ 
duces too is not the least consideration. 
Many, however, who attempt raising the trees, partially 
or wholly fail in causing the seeds to germinate. This is 
usually owing to the seeds becoming dry before they are 
planted. A few days exposure to dry air is sufficient to 
prevent their growing. Hence, as soon as they are ta¬ 
ken from the tree they should be at once planted before 
drying a day, or mixed with moist sand, and kept in 
that condition till planted. They should not be covered 
more than an inch and a half deep if the soil is heavy, 
nor more than two inches if it is light; but a still better 
way is to plant them half that depth, aud then spread on 
a thin covering—say one inch of peat, or rotten leaves, 
which will keep the surface soft and moist. 
It must be remembered that mice are exceedingly fond 
of the nuts, and if planted near grass lands, or other 
places frequented by mice, the young plants will be miss¬ 
ing the next season. 
PITT'S CORN AND COB-CUTTER. 
In our August No. we briefly mentioned this machine. 
Mr. Pitts has recently exhibited it in this city, and we have 
had an opportunity of examining it more particularly. 
It seems to us completely adapted to its purpose. Its ad¬ 
vantages are—1. Great simplicity of construction; not 
being liable to get out of order, but in case of injury, 
readily repaired. 2. Portableness; occupying less space 
than the common grind-stone used by farmers. 3. The 
facility with which it will grind corn and cob in any 
condition; its peculiar construction enabling it to work 
equally well whether the corn is in a damp, green, or 
dry state. 4. Its adaptedness to grinding shelled corn, 
coffee, peas, or beans, without any alteration or change 
of gear. 5. The grain is not heated in being ground; 
thus obviating the tendency of the meal to sour or fer¬ 
ment. 
It does not make fine meal, but it is fine enough for any 
description of stock, and is indeed, we believe, about as 
fine as corn-meal is preferred for ordinary domestic pur¬ 
poses at the south. It is readily adapted to any power. 
With one horse, one man will easily grind six bushels 
an hour—though twelve bushels an hour have been 
ground with the same force. They will soon be for sale 
in Albany, Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, and Balti¬ 
more. Address H. A. Pitts, Winthrop, Maine, or John 
A. Pitts, Rochester, N. Y. 
DEEP PLOWING. 
We have occasionally urged the importance of deep 
ening the soil, by turning up and mixing with the sur¬ 
face, small portions of the subsoil, where its nature is 
such as to produce beneficial effects. We have known 
many instances of the beneficial effects of such a course. 
Dr. D. H. Robinson, of Farmington, Ontario Co., N.'Y., 
being compelled to prepare a piece of grass land for 
wheat, late in summer, plowed it very deep, not less in 
any place than eight inches, but averaging nine or ten 
inches. This was thoroughly harrowed, with a small 
dressing of rotted manure, and sowed upon the inverted 
sod. The product was thirty-five bushels per acre, on 
land where twenty bushels are usually considered a heavy 
