<3S*a> 
154 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
P. S. Permit me to commend the letter of Leonard Jarvis Esq. in the last 
Cultivator, written with much ability and great fairness. It is from such sources 
that we are to take information. For scientific examination and investigation 
cannot be profitably prosecuted in an obstinate and controversial way. 
“ But man we find the only creature 
Who, led by folly, combats nature , 
Who, when she loudly cries, forbear— 
With obstinacy fixes there.” Swift. 
N. B. Tessier was misprinted Fessier in the last Cultivator. 
RUTA BAGA—CABBAGE. 
Hyde-Park, Dec. 15, 1835, 
J. Buel, Esq.—Dear Sir—In consequence of my communicating, from 
my limited knowledge of agriculture, my different views on that im¬ 
portant subject, from so enlightened an agriculturist as Lorain , in Iris 
condemning the ridging mode of cultivat on, I take the liberty of for¬ 
warding to you the result of the crops of Ruta Baga, and Field Cab¬ 
bage, (Drum Heads,) cultivated for the use of young stock during win¬ 
ter, by E. Holbrook, Esq. Hyde-Park, on the fonr furrow ridge system 
of cultivation, applicable to his soil. 742£ bushels per acre, of superi¬ 
or fine turnips, weighing 66 pounds per bushel, 24J tons and 5 pounds 
per acre. The seed was sown on the 21st of June ; the ridges were 
hoed only twice; the furrows kept clean by the horse hoe. Although 
there was very little rain fell from the time of sowing till they were 
pulled, the largest turnips were found upon the centre of the ridees, a 
great portion of which measured two feet in circumference. The cab¬ 
bage, very superior, were planted upon the same system; the plants 
were set out 2| feet by 2 feet, containing 8929 plants per acre, pro¬ 
ducing cabbages, a considerable number of them weighing 16 pounds 
per cabbage : the whole being well headed, upon a very moderate cal¬ 
culation, will average six pounds per cabbage, making the produce 26| 
tons and 74 pounds per acre. This statement can be testified by respecta¬ 
ble and impartial persons. The enlightened professors of agriculture 
say that the ridging system originated in barbarism, and that the level 
and very superficial cultivation is the enlightened mode. We are not 
partial to any mode, but that which will, (according to the quality of 
the soil,) enable us to obtain the greatest crop with the least expense, 
and leave the soil in the best position during winter, for a succeeding 
crop. We solicit the favor, (for the benefit of agriculture,) from those 
agriculturists who practise the level and superficial mode of cultivation, 
to communicate through your valuable publication, (the Cultivator,) 
the result of their practice, with a description of the soil s<> cultivated. 
Yours with great respect, THOS. MIDFORD. 
SHORT HORNED CATTLE. 
Hartford, Ct. Dec. 13th, 1835. 
Judge Buel — I take the liberty of enclosing to yon a copy of a letter 
just received from Mr. Whitaker, the celebrated breeder of Durham 
Cattle in England. 
It is in reply to an order I sent him for the best one year old Durham 
short horned bull he could procure. The breeders of this country will be 
gratified to learn the estimation and increased value of the best Durham 
cattle in England, where purity of blood and excellence of pedigree are 
so highly appreciated. 
It will be perceived with regret, that George Coates, Esq. for many 
years a dis inguished breeder of Short Horns, and the keeper of the 
Herd Book, died Oct. 20th. He had nearly arranged the pedigrees for 
the second Supplement to the Herd Book, and his son has now under¬ 
taken to carry it through the press. 
Those gentlemen in this country who are subscribers, will probably 
receive their copies early in the spring, and it will give additional value 
to their herds, if their pedigrees I ave been forwarded in time for publi¬ 
cation. Very respectfully, JOHN A. TAINTOR* 
“ Burley, near Otley, Yorkshire, Oct. 24, 1835. 
“My Dear Sir— I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 
27th uIt I have little doubt of meeting with a superior yearling bull before 
next May. 1 have none of a proper age at present, of my own, but I have 
two well bred cows to calve, to a bull for w hich I offered 200 guineas; one, of 
high pedigree, (and the only one of my old family,) to calve about the end of 
this month; the other is also of good blood and long pedigree, to calve in Ja¬ 
nuary. I sent seven hulls and females to New-York, for the Stale of Ohio, 
last July; and should I get one for you, I hope it will not have to compete 
with any of those bulls. I offered 201) guineas for the bull alluded to above, 
(bred by me, and sold at my sale in September, 1833, for 124 guineas,) but 
could not prevail on the gentleman to sell. There have been tv.o gentlemen 
from Kentucky, offering great prices, without buying anything. Their in¬ 
quiries were confined to a few small breeders only. I hope to be able to pur¬ 
chase one of the best young bulls for 100 guineas, and perhaps less, as you al¬ 
low sufficient time to look round. When I made my sale, it was with the in¬ 
tention of abandoning breeding for the public altogether, but many of my 
friends would notallow me to follow my own inclination, but solicited me to 
make purchases for them, also urging me to keep a few good animals myself, be¬ 
lieving, I suppose, from my long experience, that my judgment was better than 
their own; and I have so far complied with their wishes, as to select many good 
ones for them and myself. But I shall not be induced again to let bulls to the 
public, which is attended with great expense and groat mortification, the finest 
animals in my fold having been let out, and returned mere skeletons. You ran, 
if yen please, give me a draft on some house in Liverpool. The greatest risk 
will be in the transit of the bull from Liverpool to New-York. 1 s nt a m in 
with those shipped in July, and lie delivered them, lie says, in as good older 
as when they were put on hoard. But this would he too expensive for one 
animat, I w ould therefore suggest the prudence of your speaking to a Captain 
in whom 5 r ou can depend, for care and proper attention. 
“ Mr. Coates, the publisher of the Herd Book, died on the 20 insl., but h '13 
son promises the second Supplement shall be out soon after the end of this 
year, and lie is quite competent to the work. 
“ As soon as 1 have the pleasure of hearing from you again, I will conclude 
the purchase of a bull, and place him in my fold. Allow me, if yon ( lease, 
to select one as much under and above one year old as you can, because 1 may 
find a superior bull, either under or above your limits, which 1 should hesi¬ 
tate to buy without your permission. It is usual, I understand, for the shipper 
to pay for a stand for the animal, provisions, «X c,. for the passage, and which 
will cost about £14, and the freight to New-York 25 or $30, and perhaps 
something more if a man lias to serve him. This you will of course take into 
your consideration, when you hand a credit in Liverpool. 
“ It is said one of the gentlemen fr.'ia Kentucky offered 300 guineas for an 
aged bull, but I hope to be able to send you a young one of the first quality, 
for about 10U guineas. 
“ I am with great respect, dear sir, yours truly, 
“J. WHITAKER. 
“ To John A. Taintor, Hartford. Conn.” 
FACTS WORTH KNOWING. 
Mr. Buel —Sir—In conversation with a gent’eman from Saratoga 
county, a few days since, he communicated to me the following informa¬ 
tion, v hich I deem of sufficient importance to occupy a small place in 
your Cultivator. 
He said a neighbor of his, who has a flock of sheep, has lost, by 
death, twenty-seven out of thirty lambs, and he could not account for 
the cause. The first symptoms of disease are a drooping, running at 
the eyes, weakness in the back and loins, and losing the use of their 
hinder legs, &c. 
A person recommended the use of Lobelia, (Indian Tobacco,') which 
he tried by turning a few of his lambs into a field where this plant was 
found in abundance. It was soon found by the lambs, which they ate 
freely, nipping it quite close to the ground. In a few days a percepti¬ 
ble difference was manifested, and they became remarkably lively, play¬ 
ing and gambolling about the field as though nothing had ever been the 
matter with them. 
Having proved so salutary and beneficial to the few, he turned in the 
remainder, which had the same effect, and all became healthy and 
thrifty sheep. 
In order to be certain, and to test the effect and efficacy of the plant 
more particularly, some of the dried Lobelia was given to some others 
in the same situation, and produced the same effect. 
I have been induced to offer the above for publication, believing that 
such information should not be withheld from the public. 
Yours, &c. CALEB N. BEMENT. 
Albany, December, 1835. 
MADDER. 
West-Winfield, Nov. 24, 1835. 
J. Buel —Sir—Since my communication to you, which you saw fit to 
publish in the Cultivator last August, I have thought best to send you 
some further statements in regard to the madder crop, which I consider 
of consequence to those not acquainted with its cultivation. As I am 
informed that some have entertained doubts as to the quantity per acre 
which I considered a fair crop, I will state, that the piece referred to 
was less than an acre, hut yielded at the rate of 5,760 lbs. per acre. 
This fall I harvested a small piece, which I purchased on the ground, 
that yielded at the rate of 8,000 lbs. per acre. This was cultivated in 
the usual way in hills, with no more than ordinary attention. I consider 
5,000 lbs. to be only a middling crop. A much greater quantity of mad¬ 
der can be raised on an acre by being planted in beds, as I described in 
my former letter, than in the old method of planting in hills. The rea¬ 
sons are these. In hills, the roots are confined and have not a chance to 
spread. In beds, the tops can be covered with earth, and these become 
roots, which send forth other tops, and innumerable small roots from the 
joints of the tops which are covered up, and these form in the beds a 
compact mass of roots, by the time the crop is ready to harvest. It will 
be understood from my former communication on this subject, that the 
operation of covering the tops is to be repeated several times. I would 
here mention, that the last covering should not be omitted later than the 
first of September, as there will then be lime for the tops to send forth 
shoots ready to come up early in the spring. In this way the whole 
growth of the top is saved, and converted into roots. The madder 
which I planted last spring in beds, promises better than any I have 
before seen. 
When land is selected for madder that needs manuring, the best plan 
for preparing, is to plough it in small lands, the width that the beds are 
calculated to he, from centre to centre. In the middle of these the ma¬ 
nure should he dropped just as wide as the beds are to he, and covered 
