210 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
soils, sometimes grow well till the roots reach the tin- 
decomposed peat, which they will not penetrate to any 
extent; but on examination will be found matted to¬ 
gether at the bottom of the loose surface soil. 
To remedy the difficulty complained of, we would 
recommend that the soil, (it having been properly 
drained,) be first plowed to a good depth—eight to ten 
inches. This might be done in autumn, or fall. In the 
course of the winter spread on two to three inches of 
gravel or loam. When the soil is in suitable condition 
to work, let this be well harrowed in, and afterwards 
more thoroughly mixed by plowing—running the plow 
rather shallow at first, and going deeper at succeeding 
plowings. After this, a slight dressing of wood ashes 
or marl applied to the surface, will be found useful. 
We have seen the heaviest crops of Indian corn and 
grass produced on such lands, by this, or a similar 
management.— Eds.] 
Putting up Garden and Flowed Seeds. —A 
correspondent with the signature of N,” who dates 
from Bedford County, Va., gives us some observations 
in regard to the disappointments which are frequently 
experienced by seeds not vegetating. He suggests as 
a remedy against the evil, that each paper be labelled 
in a particular manner, as a form for which he gives the 
following: 
u Early York Cabbage, grown by (or sold by) Da¬ 
vid Landreth. Jan. 1, 1847. Good for 5 years,” (or 
as the case may be.) 
He observes—*‘Now, don’t you readily perceive the 
force of this endorsement ? Not one person in ten in 
the country, are at all conversant with the germinating 
properties of the various seeds. Those who put them 
up know how long they will remain good; then why 
not reveal it to their customers ? They certainly don’t 
wish to sell a shadow for substance, or commit a fraud. 
I sincerely hope that some such mode as the one above 
suggested, will be forthwith adopted, and hope you 
will loudly call the attention of dealers to this subject. 
We certainly want something of this sort.” 
Singular Swarm of Insects. —A neighbor, a phy¬ 
sician, and likely to be accurate, sometime in the 
course of last summer, saw what he supposed to be a 
swarm of bees, clustered on a limb of an aspen tree, 
near his dwelling. He sent for a hand to hive them; 
but lo, on approach, they proved to be a swarm of 
tumble-bugs ! When a window near the cluster was 
opened, the whole room was filled with the peculiar 
odor of the beetle. This was at evening—-in the morn¬ 
ing they were gone—my friend having no desire to house 
them. The cock-chaffer, or Dorr, Scarabceus vorax, is 
said by Rees to be “ found in swarms, sitting on the 
hedges;” but I am not aware that the tumble-bug gene¬ 
rally swarms. W. F. Brand. Davidsonville, Anne 
Arundel Co., Md., April 16, ’47. 
Large Hogs. — I send you the weight of six hogs 
killed in this town in the month of December last, with 
their ages at the time they were slaughtered. The 
breed is without a name, but is probably the result 
of several crosses of native breeds; they are usually 
white. 
Chester Nye, one hog, age 22 mos., weight 636 lbs. 
Solomon Abel, u 
cc 
21 
cc 
Cl 
591 “ 
Septimus Loomer, u 
CC 
21 
CC 
cc 
593 “ 
George Wright, <c 
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16 
cc 
cc 
550 “ 
Samuel F. West, “ 
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21 
cc 
cc 
518 “ 
CC CC u 
Cl 
21 
cc 
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660 “ 
Whole weight, .... 
. 3,548 lbs. 
Average weight, 591| lbs. 
I believe that there were about twenty hogs slaugh- 
JULY 
tered in this town last fall and winter, which weighed 
over 500 lbs., and also the same number of pigs that 
weighed over 300 lbs. each, some weighing near 400 
at eight and nine months old. John S. Yeomans. 
Columbia, Ct ., April 24, 1847. 
Cutting Bushes. —I noticed, several years since, 
a communication stating that the best time for cutting 
bushes, (grubs,) was when the leaves had become fully 
expanded. It struck my attention, as I recollected, in 
a leisure hour, to have cut or beat down the bushes on 
a small spot, and they were almost all killed. I have 
since cut bushes when the leaves had become fully ex¬ 
panded, or as soon as they had commenced growing 
most vigorously, and fully agree with the writer, that 
one cutting at this time is worth four at any other time 
in the season. The sprouts, if any, will be feeble, and 
may easily be killed by close pasturing with sheep. 
The sap flows freely at this time from the stumps, 
(stubs,) and exhausts the root of its vitality. Be care¬ 
ful to cut all the sprouts from the root. R. -Watkins. 
Napoleon, Michigan. .. 
Agriculture in Wisconsin. —For some time past 
I have contemplated writing you a few lines from this 
beautiful and enterprising territory; but have delayed, 
; hoping to hear from some of our Wisconsin farmers, who 
are more directly interested in the subject of agriculture 
than I am. We have a delightful climate, a rich and 
fertile soil, containing more feet of rich vegetable mould 
than the New England states on an average can boast 
of inches, every natural advantage possessed by any 
country, and with a good Constitution , (which we hope 
ere long to have,) good laws enacted, and good citi¬ 
zens, which are flocking here by thousands, Wisconsin 
will soon become one of the most desirable sections of 
this Union. I am not a farmer, but if there is any pe¬ 
riod to which I look forward with pleasure and anxiety, 
it is to that, when I may be actively employed in agricul¬ 
tural pursuits, believing that no avocation in life is more 
honorable, more noble, or more conducive to one’s hap¬ 
piness than that of the farmer’s; and I am happy in the 
belief that the day has passed when u contempt is cast 
upon the husbandman.” 
Agriculture as a science is rapidly becoming more 
important, and attracting the attention of our best and 
most enlightened citizens. It is the noblest, for it is 
the u natural ” employment of man. The intelligent 
and independent farmer is ever respected; "he holds an 
important and responsible place in society. Upon him 
devolve many duties; upon him rest many obligations. 
Living not in the hum and bustle of human cities, where 
he would be continually in the whirlpool of political and 
other excitement, he can examine questions of a moral, 
political, and religious nature, with a cool head, calm 
mind, and an unbiased judgment. To him community 
generally looks for correct opinion, and in him they 
usually find a safe counsellor, and a correct adviser. 
Would that all of our farmers could be induced to cul¬ 
tivate their minds and hearts as well as their acres. 
They can reap as rich rewards in the mental as they 
can gain profitable crops in the natural world. With¬ 
out learning it is impossible for a man to be a first rate 
farmer. Without intelligence he cannot discharge in a 
proper manner the duties devolving upon him as a citi¬ 
zen. Agriculture is a science that requires great ex¬ 
perience and study. Men must be educated to be far¬ 
mers, as well as lawyers, doctors, or divines. And 
there are thousands of young men, even in our midst, 
(we have 84 lawyers,) who are in stores and offices, 
who ought to engage in agricultural pursuits. It would 
be better for them—better for this territory, and better 
for the country at large: And who among the num¬ 
ber would not rather be an independent farmer than a 
petty shop-keeper, or a fourth-rate lawyer. Who would 
