332 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
I have three grape vines, and being a little scary about 
using guano, I only applied it to one. The three, last 
year, bore very nearly alike in quantity and size of fruit, 
as also my neighbors’ vines, each side of me. This year 
my vines, and those of my neighbors have borne 
only moderately well—not as well as last year quite; 
but my third vine, about which I put the guano, has ex¬ 
ceeded any thing I ever saw, both in quantity and qual¬ 
ity, much of the fruit being as large as a fair sized wal¬ 
nut, with a deliciousness of flavor positively delightful. I 
have seen nothing in market or exposed in the streets of 
New-York for sale, that would begin with it; some of the 
clusters are tremendous, and I have this evening gathered 
from one shoot four bunches that would each cover, and 
well tOo, an ordinary tea plate. Now, whether this 
abundant yield is the result of my application it is im¬ 
possible for me to tell, but sure am I, that my impres¬ 
sions of its probability are so strong, that one like expe¬ 
riment would make me a full believer in the efficacy of 
guano. A. T. 
Brooklyn , L. /., October 10th , 1845. 
LETTER FROM ALABAMA. 
Luther Tucker, Esq. —It often happens that in this 
world of disappointment, our plans become frustrated. 
I have been brought to this reflection by the disappoint¬ 
ment of the pleasure of a personal interview with you, 
as well as the pleasure of being present at the late Agri¬ 
cultural Fair of the State of NewYork. I hope soon to 
receive through the columns of the different Agricultural 
papers, a fuil account of all that was done at Utica; but 
the best written account that can be given, I am ap¬ 
prised will fall far short of the reality. I had long de¬ 
sired to see the different states of our common union, 
and as far as I could, make myself acquainted with soil, 
climate, the products raised, the manner of cultivating 
the lands, &c., and on the 4th of June I set out for the 
purpose of travelling, having in view the above ob¬ 
jects. I found on reaching Montgomery county, in this 
state, and examining the farms of several of my friends, 
that they have grown rich by the cultivation of the soil 
there. Large cotton farmers gave evidence of their 
wealth. 
In passing up the Mississippi in the month of June, 
you see the extensive sugar plantations in a high state of 
cultivation. Indeed, as you pass up through the state of 
Louisiana, you are delighted with the show of comfort 
that is seen. I spent a month in the state of Illinois. 
Here I saw the finest lands of the United States. Indeed 
I have often understood that the best and richest lands of 
America were in the state of Illinois, and from what I 
saw I have no doubt of the truth of the assertion; and 
when the day comes that a set of such farmers as live in 
Western New-York, settle in Illinois, it must become 
the granary of a great part of the world. 
Having spoken of the farmers of Western New-York, 
I must say that I was highly delighted at the appearance 
of farms as I passed on from Buffalo until I reached Al¬ 
bany. Indeed it appeared to me that every rock was 
made to tell us something, that every spring was turned 
to some account. Although the drouth had injured the 
crops to some extent, still such was the industry of the 
farmers in plowing up their fields and hauling out 
manure, that it was apparent they would be prepared to 
supply themselves with a fine crop of wheat and hay for 
the coming season. 
The year 1845, throughout the states of Virginia, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, 
will be long remembered for the severe drouth that has 
fallen on the country. The corn crop of this portion of 
Alabama, from what I can learn, has not suffered so 
much as the cotton crop. Indeed on my own farm, I 
make as much corn as I made in 1844, but will not make 
any over half the cotton of 1844. It is true, I did not 
plant as much cotton as I did that year, and should I be 
spared, I intend to plant less another year. My object is 
to make a large supply of provisions of every kind, and 
only plant such a crop of cotton as I can prepare in the 
best possible style. Indeed a large proportion of my 
crop of 1844, sold for over 10 cts. per lb., so that I think 
I will find my system in the end the most profitable. 
Indeed, I have made for the last two years, 16 per cent, 
on the capital invested in agriculture. 
Alexander M’Donald. 
Eufala , Barbour county, Ala., 2oth Sept., 1845. 
VAN ANTWERP’S PATENT CHURN DASH. 
This dash was invented and patented by Peter Va» 
Antwerp, of Coeymans. 
The theory of this dash is very simple; but still it can¬ 
not be fully observed by any description which I can 
give you; it requires a trial to test its efficacy. I shall 
endeavor, however, to give as correct a description as 
possible, and if I am right in my theory, please inform 
me; if not, explain the true position of this dash. 
It is an established and well known fact, that in the 
common dash, there is a flat surface; and by the ascend¬ 
ing and descending thereof, a vacuum is left, which pro¬ 
duces a suction, thereby impeding the course of it. 
By the construction of Van Antwerp’s dash, this vacu¬ 
um is destroyed—the suction removed—which leaves a 
free and unimpeded course to the dash, and requiring but 
half the labor. 
1st. Is the handle. 2d. The knob or head of any size, 
(say from 1| to 2| inches in diameter,) with two rows 
of holes—six holes in each row—the rows being bored 
one inch apart. The lower row of holes are bored di¬ 
rectly under the space left by the upper ones. 3d. The 
buckets or paddles, one-half an inch thick, one-half an 
inch wide at the tenon which enters the knob, and grad¬ 
ually widening to the outer extremities, to about to 
2 inches. 
The upper holes, (the dash standing in an erect posi¬ 
tion,) are bored at an angle of 45 degrees, downwards; 
the lower holes are bored at the same angle, upwards; 
so that when the paddles are placed, the outer extremi¬ 
ties of both are on an elevation. The paddles are also 
on an elevation of45degrees, sideways; thereby leaving 
no flat surface for a vacuum or suction. 
Coeymans, N. Y., 1845. A Subscriber. 
CULTURE OF WHEAT IN CONNECTICUT, &c. 
Luther Tucker, Esq. —If you think the following 
statement of matters and things, will be of any benefit 
to the Agricultural community, you will please insert 
them in the Cultivator: To encourage the farmers 
throughout New England to sow more wheat, I can state 
that there has been more or less of wheat sowed on my 
farm for forty-five years, and there has been but two or 
three years at the most, when there has not been a pretty 
fair crop. In 1»36 or 7, when there was a great scarcity 
of wheat throughout all the States, there was here an 
entire failure. On about four acres, I did not receive my 
seed sown that year. Since then the crops have been 
very good. For 15 years that I have owned the farm, 
there has no insect of any kind, injured the crop at all, 
that I am aware of. This year's crop is superb, weigh¬ 
ing 62 lbs. to the bushel, and very plump. I generally 
soak my seed in strong brine, made of common salt with 
salt petre, 10 or 12 hours, then mix with slacked lime or 
plaster paris. This season I have sown on 7 acres 10 
bushels of seed, raised near Seneca Lake, New- York. I 
generally change my seed once in 3 or 4 years. 
My rye is likewise very good. I have threshed 45 
bushels of rye, 350 of oats, and from 28 shocks, 15 
sheaves to the shock, of wheat 36 bushels, with Badger’s 
one horse power threshing machine, and I must say that 
I think it is one of the best now in use for threshing, and 
I have seen several different kinds in Western New-York. 
This machine will thresh 200 bush, of oats or 100 of rye 
per day, with ease to the horse, and thresh it very clean. 
I should like also to state that I own a great prolific 
sow, which is said to be of the Townsend thin rind breed, 
which has had 79 live pigs at 5 litters: 14 at the first— 
15 at the second—16 at the third—18 at the fourth, and 
16 at the fifth—she has raised 58 of her family. Who 
can beat this? Claudius Allen. 
Cheshire, Conn., Oct. 13, 1845. 
