THE CULTIVATOR. 
55 
But if the shovel full of manure that had been put in each hill, had 
been incorporated v\ itli the soil, the early growth of the crop would 
not have been so rapid, but then the growth would have been equal 
in all parts of the plant, and a crop would have been received in 
proportion to the goodness of the soil, and preparation and atten¬ 
dance given to it. AGRICOLA. 
REMARKS OF THE CONDUCTOR. 
The preceding remarks appear to us to be just and valuable, with one or 
two exceptions; and we mention these principally that the farmer may settle 
the points ol difference between us and our correspondent, by actual experi¬ 
ment. We object to the use of the plough at all in cultivating the corn crop, 
and would substitute the harrow and cultivator. Agricola dwells with just 
emphasis upon the value of the clover sod, and of spreading the manure, no 
doubt on account of the food they afford to the plants. By the free use of the 
plough, which he recommends, it seems to us, that the measure of fertility 
would be greatly reduced, by exposing the vegetable matter of the sod and 
manure to the wasting intiuence of the sun and winds, and the roots of the 
plants injuriously restricted in their natural range for food; for they must be 
cut by the plough, and confined to the narrow strip which that implement 
leaves undisturbed, at least till after the dressing operations are completed.— 
Our opinion is, that the sod and manure should be left covered with the earth, 
where the wants of the crop require food, and where the roots of the corn will 
certainly find it, if they are not curtailed by the plough. The objects of after 
culture are pulverization, to admit into the soil the genial influence of heat, 
air and moisture, and the destruction of weeds. These objects may be amply 
effected by the harrow and cultivator, without wasting the food destined for 
the crop, or bruizing and cutting the roots of the grain. 
In regard to the use of gypsum, we think it benefits the corn crop, by af¬ 
fording to it a portion of its specific food, and that it enters into the organiza¬ 
tion of the plant in the same way that other food does, namely, through the 
spongeoles of the roots. If this opinion is correct, then the method practised 
and recommended by John Taylor and Judge Peters, of sowing it broad-cast, 
before the last ploughing for the crop, is preferable, (and it saves labor,) 10 
plaistering twice on the hill. A few experiments, to test the relative advan¬ 
tage of the two modes, would tend to settle this question, and would be of 
public benefit. 
CANADA THISTLES. 
Mr. Editor —Coming into this town when young, and settling 
on a wild lot of land, I observed little patches of Canada thistles 
springing up here and there, on the land, as soon as cleared of the 
timber, and knowing their natural tendency to increase, and stand 
their ground where the soil is favorable, I concluded (with the or¬ 
dinary manner of tillage,) that the time was not far distant, when 
this fine, fertile wheat section of country, would, by them, be 
spoiled for wheat. 1 therefore took to trying various experiments, 
to find out an easy and simple method of destroying this obnoxious 
weed, (such an one as the people would universally be induced to 
follow,) and have found by several years experience, that to begin 
with the beginning of the summer season, in the last quarter of the 
moon, and with the plough, or some other instrument, cut the 
root of each and every plant, below the surface of the ground, as 
much as three or four inches, or where so situated as to be most 
convenient, to take hold of them close to the surface, and pull 
them out by the roots, will answer. And follow this plan every 
four weeks, (or every last week of the moon,) until into Septem¬ 
ber, will effectually destroy them; so that they will not grow any 
more on that ground until they are again seeded. To those fann¬ 
ers wishing to summer-fallow this summer, where there aie Ca¬ 
nada thistles, I would recommend to plough the ground belween 
the 20th ami the 27th of May, and follow the above directions, 
every four weeks, or every last week of the moon, until into Sep¬ 
tember, cutting up all the ground each and every time where there 
is thistle roots, .(for you will not kill those you do not cut off,) and 
then sow it. 1 would not recommend to plough too deep in wet 
weather, for fear the roots turned over might grow. 
I think that they will not only find this formidable enemy de¬ 
stroyed, but will find their crop of grain on the thistle ground 
enough better to pay them for their extra trouble, from the ordi¬ 
nary manner of tillage. 
I have here recommended five times ploughing, but I have de¬ 
stroyed them with four, when the last quarter of the moon hap¬ 
pened in the first of June. 
I think the above method will destroy any plant living. Set 
your boys to pulling up your milk weeds on the times above speci¬ 
fied, one summer, and you will clear your ground of those ob¬ 
noxious wrneds, notwithstanding their natural tendency to stand 
their ground. 
I think the regularity of the cuttings, together with the 
growth of the season and the influence of the moon, is what does 
the work. Many will say, the influence of the moon is nothing; 
but I think the attraction of that orb on the fluids of the earth, has 
great influence on the growtii of vegetation. 
Those agriculturists of our country possessing lands infested 
with obnoxious weeds, and willing to cause two blades of grass to 
grow where there now does but one, will, by trying the above ex¬ 
periment, confer a favor on a true, notwithstanding an illiterate, 
friend of his country. AARON TUFTS. 
South Le Roy , Genesee County , JY. F. April 17, 1835. 
REMARKS OF THE CONDUCTOR. 
It is a settled principle in physiology, that leaves are as necessary to vege¬ 
tables, as lungs are to animals; and that without the healthful exercise of 
these organs, both the vegetable and the animal will become diseased, and 
ultimately die. They are essential to fit the food as wholesome aliment.— 
Leaves are as necessary to the roots of plants as roots are to the leaves; roots 
make leaves, and leaves make roots; they are mutually dependent on each 
other; and like the Siamese twins, one cannot long exist without the other.— 
The repeated and complete defoliation of a plant, therefore, must soon be¬ 
come fatal to its roots. Hence it has been found, that although very tena¬ 
cious of life. Canada thistles can be destroyed, and have been destroyed, by 
preventing the growth of their leaves, either by ploughing, hoeing, mowing, 
or smothering them, so that they have not time to elaborate and prepare food 
for their roots. 
UNDER-DRAINS—WHEAT—CLOVER. 
Sing-Sing:, April 18, 1835. 
Dear Sir —As you are‘writing considerable for the instruction 
of farmers, in the way of making drains and filling them up, 1 am 
induced to give you the way which the farmers of the low lands of 
Scotland practise, and which I have adopted, in filling drains with 
stones, and it is this:—I select such stones as are thin and flat, 
and set them on the bottom of the drain, on their thinnest edge, or 
on one corner, and close to the side thereof; then against the 
stones first set up, I set other stones, with their sharpest ends 
down; and against them others in like manner, until the bottom of 
the drain is covered with them, something 
in the way of the annexed representation, 
in which it will be perceived, that the wa¬ 
ter will have a free passage between the 
points of the stones, which are on the bot¬ 
tom of the drain. The advantages of this 
mode of filling a drain are simply these, 
(the sides of a drain being sloping, as I 
think they always ought to be:) the stones 
are put in, in such a manner that the pres¬ 
sure which comes on them is thrown to the 
sides of the drain, and thereby saves them from settling and chok¬ 
ing up the passages for water, and consequently prolongs its dura¬ 
tion, and it is soon done. Where flat stones cannot be had, any 
stones may be made use of, provided they are of a wedge-like 
shape. As the upright stones will not be all of a length, the first 
which are laid on them should be large, and if possible flat, and 
that will make another large opening for the free passage of water, 
if the bottom is insufficient, or gets filled up. I think the bottom 
of a drain should be narrow, and a little the lowest in the middle, 
in order to concentrate the force of the water into one direct chan¬ 
nel, the better to keep it free and clear. For instance, a ditch 
three feet wide at top, and three feet deep, should not be more 
than one foot wide at bottom. 
I have a piece of wht at which was sown about the middle of last 
September, on a dry soil, of which I should think nearly two- 
thirds is dead, with the roots fair in the ground, the cause of the 
death of which I could not account for, until I read Mr. Hickock’s 
communication, read before the State Agricultural Society, which 
came in the April number of the Cultivator, the substance of which 
was, that the saccharine matter designed for the support of the 
plant is more likely to be destroyed when grain is sowed early, 
than when it. is sowed late. I have another piece which was sown 
the 4th of October, on w T et heavy land, which has survived the 
winter admirably well, it being difficult to find a spear that has died. 
I have yet another piece, which was sowed October 20th, of which 
I suppose the one-third part or one-half is dead. On all the above 
pieces, wheat was sown at the rate of two bushels per acre, so 
there is enough left yet. 
Last spring I sowed my clover seed, on the same land, at two 
different times, about five pounds to the acre each time. The first 
time I sowed near the last of March; the second time the tenth of 
