88 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
carted out of New-York city by the farmers of Long 
Island ami New-Jersey. They consider it a very valuable 
manure there. 
Mr. Ellis believed that the bitterns and ashes from our 
salt works were valuable manures. 
Mr. Brown thought that stiff soils should be plowed in 
the fall and exposed to the action of frosts. It thus was 
rendered friable and its particles could be more readily 
dissolved and taken into the circulation of the plants. 
Loose soils he thought were injured by fall plowing. 
Mr. Ellis would have all lands plowed in the fall, if he 
could be sure of a covering of snow all winter. He 
thought plowed land absorbed a great deal of ammonia 
from snow. 
Mr. Brown remarked during the meeting that a friend 
of his, an excellent farmer, had observed to him that he 
always derived the greatest benefit from plaster as a ma¬ 
nure for wheat, when he sowed it on his summer fal¬ 
low. 
MONTHLY NOTICES. 
We are indebted to Capt. Silas Allen, of Shrewsbury, 
Mass., for some fine specimens of the Baldwin, Seek-no- 
further, Spice, Sugar Sweeting, Roxbury Russet, and 
Detroit apples, and we are happy to have an opportunity 
of speaking of Mr. A.’s well deserved success in fruit¬ 
raising. His peaches, in particular, have long been 
celebrated in the Worcester market, and have, we be¬ 
lieve, several times taken prizes at the state and county 
fairs. He has raised during the past season, about one 
hundred bushels of this fruit, of the very first quality; 
some of the finest selling at a dollar per dozen; of Quinces 
he has also raised nearly the same quantity. 
Capt. Allen’ apple orchard, though not very large, is 
thrifty and well selected, and the pains he takes in 
gathering and packing his fruit for market, is worthy the 
imitation of all fruit-growers. It is, as he says, the 
cheapest in the long run, for by this means his fruit has 
acquired a celebrity that ensures a ready sale. His 
second quality of apples, is equal to most sold as first 
quality, and his first quality commands a ready sale at 
the highest price. 
The specimens with which we have been favored, 
are very fine; the Baldwins, in particular, we think the 
finest of that variety we have ever seen, though in point 
of fiavor the Seek-no-further is inferior to none. 
Cortland Academy. —We are gratified to learn that 
a course of instruction in Agricultural Chemistry and 
Geology will be given at this institution during the pre¬ 
sent winter, commencing Dec. 4th, and terminating on 
the 18th March. It will embrace a general outline of 
Chemistry and Geology, with their applications to Agri¬ 
culture, including the nature and analysis of soils, the 
nature and action of manures, and Vegetable and Animal 
Physiology, as exhibiting the nourishment and growth 
of plants and animals. The Principal, Mr. S. B. Wool- 
worth, will devote a large portion of his time to the 
class, and every effort will be made to elevate agricul¬ 
ture to its true dignity, by presenting the principles and 
reasons of its processes. We consider this an important 
experiment in academical instruction, and shall be grati¬ 
fied to learn that its success is such as to be followed at 
many of the other academies of this state. 
Agricultural Addresses. —We have received copies 
of numerous agricultural addresses, and should be glad 
if we could find room for particular notices and extracts 
from each. Most of them are valuable productions, 
well suited to the circumstances under which they were 
delivered. But we are compelled to pass them for the 
present with only this general notice—tendering our 
thanks to the individuals who have been so kind as to 
forward them. 
Wool. —We would call attention to the article of Mr. 
Pettibone, under the head of “Heavy Fleeces, ”in an¬ 
other part of this paper. We received in connexion 
with the communication, samples of his wool, which we 
think remarkably good—fine, long, soft, and very free 
from gum. They show that Mr. P. must have an excel¬ 
lent flock of sheep. Judging from his statement, (for 
we have no personal knowledge of him or his flock,) 
we think he has pursued a very judicious course with 
his flock, and we doubt not his labor and care are well 
rewarded. 
Stoddard’s Washington Alpine Strawberry__ 
Where did our friend Elliott learn that this is “ nothing 
but the common Alpine, save that the soil on which it 
grew and fruited, was rich and some three feet deep, thus 
giving the vines every benefit?” We saw it while in 
full fruit, and can assure Mr. E. that it is no “ common ” 
plant, and we know no reason to doubt the statement of 
Col. Stoddard respecting it. He had a large number of 
seedlings of various ages, some just coming from the 
ground, and others in fruit; but nothing to compare with 
“the Washington.” 
Cornstalk sugar and Molasses. —We have re¬ 
ceived from John Beal, of New Harmony, Indiana, 
samples of corn-stalk sugar and molasses manufactured 
by him the past season. The sugar is equal in quality to 
any of that kind we have seen with the exception of a 
single sample, which we understood to have been made 
by Mr. Webb, of Delaware. The molasses is clear and 
thick, but retains a little of the peculiar pungency in 
taste, which seems to attend more or less, that which is 
made from Corn-stalks. But we can hardly doubt that 
improvement will be made in the process of manufac¬ 
ture, by which these articles will be produced of better 
quality. It should be considered that the business is 
yet new, and of course partakes of the imperfection at¬ 
tending all untried enterprises. The communication of 
Mr. Beal having been mislaid until too late for this num¬ 
ber, will appear in our next. 
American Quarterly Journal of Agriculture 
and Science. —The fourth number this work, which 
closes the first year, has been received. From a rather 
cursory view of its contents, we think it the most interest¬ 
ing number yet issued. Among the original articles we 
notice one on “ The Wheat Fly,” ( Cecidomyia ,) by Asa 
Fitch, M. D. It is accompanied by a well-executed 
plate, exhibiting several species of the insect in its vari¬ 
ous stages. We deem this a highly valuable paper, af¬ 
fording a clear and comprehensive history of this di¬ 
minutive though potent enemy of the wheat-crop through¬ 
out a considerable portion of this country. We have not 
room to particularize, but observe other valuable arti¬ 
cles—such as one on manures by Jesse Ryder, and an 
editorial article on the same subject. 
POTATOE ROT. 
In this section we have heard but little complaint in 
reference to the disease or rot in the potatoe, this year, 
till since the crop was harvested. In some other neigh¬ 
borhoods too, we have heard that heavy losses have been 
sustained by the potatoes having rotted since they were 
dug, though while the crop was growing it exhibited 
generally a healthy appearance. The Boston papers 
make complaints of potatoes rotting much in the cellars, 
and within a few days we have heard of many having 
rotted in this vicinity. Some kinds seems to have suffered 
more than others—the very excellent kind called Carters 
appear, from statements we have heard, to be more in¬ 
clined to rot than others. A gentleman in this vicinity 
who raised this kind quite largely, has lost half’his crop 
since they were put in the cellar. The Shakers, located 
at Watervliet, also raise the Carters largely. They in¬ 
formed us a few days since that they had lost from $600 
to $1000 worth of this kind since they were dug. As to 
preventives, it is agreed that they should be carefully 
sorted over, rejecting all that show the least unsoundness, 
as soon as they are discovered to be rotting. The Sha¬ 
kers inform us that the best remedy which they have dis-' 
covered, (and they have tried many,) is to dry them tho¬ 
roughly by spreading them exposed to the air. This they 
say will stop the progress of decay, and it is the only 
way they know by which it can be stopped. 
Musty Oats Poisonous. —Several horses have died 
at Princeton, N. J., from eating musty oats. 
