136 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
time of the first frost in September, and the rest of the same field 
was cut off at the ground at the same time, and set up in small 
stooks, tied near the top. It may be observed that the wire worm 
cut off the first planting to a very considerable extent, and that all 
the second planting was nearly or quite unglazed at the time of har¬ 
vesting,—and for this reason it was supposed that the topping would 
hasten the maturity of the grain, but far otherwise was the fact. 
The part that had been topped, when gathered, had undergone fer¬ 
mentation to such a degree as to be quite offensive, so that no crea¬ 
ture would eat it; while the other had become partly glazed, and 
what remained soft, was perfectly white and sweet, and was eaten 
greedily by swine and cattle ; and the difference in the value of the 
fodder was nearly equal to that in the grain. r OBSERVER. 
Coxsackie, November , 1835. 
Note. —The stocks of the uncut corn were succulent, with mostly unela¬ 
borated juices,—which, during the warm weather, readily fermented; while 
in the cut portion the juices were mostly already elaborated, the watery por¬ 
tion evaporated, and much of the nutriment was transfused into the grain.— 
Cond. 
GAMA GRASS—INDIGENOUS GRASSES. 
Stratford, Conn. Nov. 3d, 1835. 
J. Buel, Esq.—Dear Sir,—In the September number, page 94, 
of the “ Cultivator,” you stated that “ the gama grass is not found 
growing naturally in Connecticut.”* I feel a great interest in the 
progress or success of the Cultivator, having taken it from the first, 
and subscribed this year for three copies, two of which were for gra¬ 
tuitous circulation. I take the liberty to correct your mistake, and 
especially as I am a Connecticut man, I wish Connecticut to claim 
all her grassy as well her civil and religious rights. 
I am happy to inform you that the gama grass (Tripsacum dacty- 
loides,) is growing luxuriantly in this town, from three to five feet 
high, and is unquestionably indigenous, because the owner of the 
land is unacquainted with the fact that such grass is on his farm, 
and I believe the land has been in his family for something like a 
century, and besides, I presume the land was never ploughed. The 
situation is such, that you could not hesitate to pronounce it indige¬ 
nous. The grass is now well seeded, and I would send you some of 
it by mail, but it takes only about one hundred seeds to make an 
ounce, besides being very bulky. If 1 have a private opportunity, I 
will do myself the pleasure to forward you some of the seed. 
It was first discovered in this region by H. C. Beardsley, M. D. 
a distinguished botanist from Monroe, in this state. I should pre¬ 
sume from its appearance and habits that it would not be judicious 
to cultivate this grass on a good soil, because it must be almost im¬ 
practicable to plough it up, as the roots are as large as the root of 
the (Acorus calamus) sweet flag, and all completely matted together. 
But as the soil on which it grows is little else than a sand bar, I pre¬ 
sume it might be valuable as a coarse grass on a sandy soil, that 
would produce little or nothing else. 
Near to the locality of the gama grass grows spontaneously the 
Panicum vargalum, which is believed to be the prairie grass of the 
western country. It is now well seeded, and about five feet high. 
I enclose a few seeds of another kind of grass, (Aristida,) that 
grows near the same locality. The species is a new one and not 
known in the books. It was first discovered by Dr. B. The seeds 
are remarkably curious, on account of the long spiral awns attached 
to each. The grass is about a foot high, and I presume not very 
valuable except as a curiosity. 
Again, sir: As your paper is useful to the horticulturist as well 
as the farmer, allow me to suggest the result of an experiment with 
an accommodating crop of raspberry vines. 
Gardeners usually find it difficult to perfect any vegetables among 
them. 1 have tried potatoes and sundry articles unsuccessfully un¬ 
til this season. I tried as an experiment the old fashioned striped 
bell-pumpldn, used for the table (and by the way the best article af¬ 
ter all of the pumpkin kind for the table that I have ever seen, from 
Patogonia to Quebec.) I planted six hills, putting two seeds in a 
hill, only seven seeds however vegetated. They were planted so 
late that they did not begin to run or spread at all, until the fruit of 
* We stated this as a matter of inference, from the fact, that it had neither 
shown any indications of seeding, or acquired any growth to make it an object 
of culture with us—it seemed to belong to another and a warmer climate. We 
find our opinion, that it is not worth the notice of northern farmers, which is 
the main point to be ascertained, fully confirmed by the Hon. John Lowell, 
of Boston, who, in the last Gardener's Magazine, laconically remarks; “ I 
have tried it in all soils. With us it is worthless, as much so as florin, which 
mado two hours noise in the world, and then expired.” 
the raspberry was ripe, but began soon after. From the product of 
these seven seeds I gathered thirty-four pumpkins, the largest 
weighed twelve pounds, all averaging about eight pounds, total 
weight was 265 pounds, and they are all, except one, unusually good 
of the kind. 
I planted but a part of my raspberry ground, but the part planted 
was but a fraction over one rod square. This crop therefore is en¬ 
tirely gratuitous, because it is no more trouble to cultivate the rasp¬ 
berry with, than without the pumpkins ; as the new crop of rasp¬ 
berry vines fall upon the ground and cover it, the pumpkin vines rise 
above them, and thus prevent nearly all other vegetation. If you 
deem the preceding articles worthy an insertion in your valuable 
paper they are at your service. I am, sir, respectfully yours, 
JAMES H. LINSLEY. 
THE YELLOW LOCUST. 
Montgomery County, Md. 10 th mo. 27, 1835. 
Respected Friend—I have heard that in some parts of the state 
of New-York, they make a business of raising locust trees for posts, 
and as thee seems to know every thing, would be glad if thee would 
give us some information on the subject;—how far apart to plant 
them—what cultivation they need—what kind of soil is best adapted 
to them—in how many years they will be fit to use as posts, &c. &c. 
And oblige A SUBSCRIBER. 
BY THE CONDUCTOR. 
The locust referred to by our correspondent, presumed to be the common 
yellow locust, ( Robina pseudo-acacia,) is a plant of extremely easy propaga- 
uon—of rapid growth, arid valuable not only for feuce-posls, but for ship-um¬ 
ber and mill-works. Forests of it, of indigenous growth, have existed in the 
south-east part of Broome county, but they have in a measure been prostrated, 
and the timber floated down the Susquehannah, to Pennsylvania and Mary¬ 
land. The tree is cultivated in many parts of the state, and would be in all, 
if its value was justly appreciated, and were it not lor a formidable enemy, a 
borer, which has attacked it within a few years. In some locations, the tree 
is not molested by the insect, while in another, perhaps contiguous, it is whol¬ 
ly destroyed. The cause of this partial exemption, we cannot explain, except 
it be owing to soil—having remarked, that the insect is found to abound most 
in soils that are light and sandy. 
It may be propagated by seeds, of w hich it furnishes a great abundance, or 
by sprouts, which spring up wherever the roots are wounded or severed. The 
seeds are enveloped in a hard shell, impervious for a long time to cold water. 
Hence, in order to induce prompt germination, they should have scalding 
w ater turned upon them, and the operation should be repeated upon such as 
do not swell from its first application. They may be sown pretty thick in 
drills, one foot apart, and planted in nursery rows, three feet apart, in the fall, 
with an interval of eight lo twelve inches between the plants; or sown thin in 
drills, two feet apart, and be suffered to stand two seasons, when they may 
be planted out. While in the seed bed, they should be kept free from weeds. 
They m iy be planted at six feet each way, and thinned for fence-posts, when 
of sufficient size. At this distance, 1,210 trees may be grow n on an acre. At 
a medium calculation, they will be of sufficient size for fence-posts, in ten or 
twelve years from the seed. The seed may be had at the seed stores, or, if 
applied to, we might obtain it, fresh gathered. Prices have varied from one 
to three dollars a pound. The tree requires no culture. 
To multiply sprouts, it is only necessary to plough about standing trees.— 
They w ill spring up in great abundance the first season. The tree grows well 
on all soils that are not habitually wet, but, like every other plant, will show 
its keeping. There is no timber tree that makes a quicker or more profitable 
return lo the planter. 
p. s.—After the above was penned, we visited some districts of Dutchess 
and Ulster, in which the locust is pretty extensively grown—and what ap¬ 
peared strange to us, we found them free from the borer, and but very few 
producing seeds In the litter county, in particular, we saw hundreds, and 
perhaps there are thousands, scattered over the farm of the Messrs. Hallocks, 
tall thrifty trees, and innumerable sprouts springing up around. Here they 
are exclusively propagated from the sprouts, and the trees seldom produce any 
seeds. 
On turning to Michaux, we find mention made of a new variety, which in 
its early age, is entirely destitute of thorns, distinguished by the superior size 
of its leaves, and the rapidity of its growth. We have reason to believe that 
it was this variety we saw in Ulster. The growth is equal to that of the ches- 
nut. The timber sells at fifty cents to one dollar the cubic foot. 
Cattle and Slueep Husbandry- 
From the Edinburgh Q. Join-rial of Agriculture. 
ON THE APPLICATION OF THE POINTS BY WHICH LIVE-STOCK ARE 
judged—I. to short-horns. By Mr. James Dickson, cattle- 
dealer, Edinburgh. 
Having, in my former paper, [See Cultivator, vol. I. p. 134,] 
enumerated the points and form by which the value of an ox of any 
breed ought to be ascertained, let us now apply them to the pre¬ 
vailing breeds of cattle, that we may thereby discover which is the 
most valuable one existing; and, after having ascertained that by 
