S48 
THE CULTIVATOR. Nov. 
needful supply, that a due regard to the well being of 
another age, we regard this subject with liberal views, 
and act; with a benevolent and just reference to their 
comfort and interest. W. Bacon. Richmond, Mass., 
1847. .. 
Ice’s Wheel Cultivator. —In the September num¬ 
ber of the Cultivator, is an engraving of “ Ide’s wheel 
Cultivator and wire grass Plow,” an advertisement of 
•which appeared in the August number of your paper. 
From the name, I was led to suppose, that it was 
fitted .to eradicate that pest of the farmers, “ wire 
-grass;” but as neither you, nor Mr. Ide in his adver¬ 
tisement. sav anything on the subject, but in enumera¬ 
ting its advantages leave that wholly out, I am left in 
doubt. If this cultivator will eradicate wire grass, 
witch grass, and other tough rooted grasses, it will 
prove a very useful invention. Will you, or Mr. Ide, 
have the goodness to inform me, whether this imple¬ 
ment justifies its name, “ wire grass plow?” Where 
it can be procured, and at what price? From its de¬ 
scription, I conclude it is to be used for the second, or 
cross plowing. 
I think if persons, who have newly invented imple¬ 
ments to sell, would, in their advertisements, be a little 
more particular as to the properties of the implement, 
and would name the price, it would save much trouble; 
and probably would, in many cases, ensure their sale. 
When a farmer sees a-new implement advertised, he 
wants to know its properties and price; and then he 
will be able to judge whether the proposed benefit and 
his means will justify the expense. P. 
Lime as Manure. —Lime appears to have succeed¬ 
ed much better as manure in some regions of the coun¬ 
try than in others. The eminent success which has 
attended its use in many places, should induce a trial, 
at least throughout the country. 
Two communications have appeared in the Ohio Cul¬ 
tivator, describing its very successful application, of 
which the following is the substance:—The first experi¬ 
ment was eight or nine years ago, with three acres of 
old, worn-out field, the soil clayey, with some loose 
sand stones. It was applied at the rate of 100 bushels 
per acre, after the land was plowed, and before it was 
harrowed, for corn. The corn on the limed ground 
was nearly twice as heavy as on the rest. The same 
was true of the oats that followed the uorn; and of the 
wheat after the oats; and of the clover after the wheat, 
where the heavy growth indicated to a foot where the 
lime terminated. A subsequent communication from 
the same writer states, that lime had been applied both 
with and without manure. “When we put on the lime, 
we always put on all the manure we make, either in 
the spring or in the fall—which is from 75 to 100 cart¬ 
loads.. Lime itself will make the ground produce 
about 50 per cent.—lime and manure, 100 per cent.— 
when we put on 100 bushels of lime per acre, which we 
always aim to do.” 
Sorrel. —The same correspondent states that a 
sandy field, or a hill of chestnut, poplar, and hickory 
timber, soon after it was cleared, failed to produce 
much grass, or anything else than “ horse sorrel.” A 
hundred bushels of lime per acre were applied before 
sowing wheat, and clover sowed on the wheat towards 
spring. “ The sorrel left about the time it saw the 
young clover, and has not been seen since.” 
Farmers who have applied lime with partial or little 
apparent benefit, often estimate its use erroneously, by 
not taking into account the long endurance of its en¬ 
riching powers, which is many times that of common 
barn manure. 
Varieties in Wheat. —Lawson describes 83 vari¬ 
eties in wheat ; Le Couteur 150 ; and the Museum of 
the Agricultural Society in Scotland has 141 varieties. 
SALES AT THE STATE FAIR. 
We are more and more convinced of the advantage 
of incorporating with our agricultural exhibitions, the 
feature of purchase and sale. If the shows were held 
at central and accessible points, we are satisfied that 
the opportunities they would afford for buying and sell¬ 
ing live-stock of all kinds, implements, valuable seeds, 
&c., would go far towards keeping up the interest and 
insuring respectable exhibitions. 
At the late meeting at Saratoga, there was a very 
good display of implements, and we believe that sales 
and orders, chiefly by a few individuals, were made to 
the amount of $1200 to $1500. The sales in live stock 
were also considerable. We were informed that the 
pair of matched hors,es which took the first premium 
were sold for $1000, and that several other pairs were 
sold at fair prices, as well as several breeding mares 
and young horses. In cattle, there was considerable 
inquiry for young Durhams of good quality. Several 
sales were made, and more might have been made, 
had there been on the ground a sufficient number of such 
as were wanted. On account of this deficiency, seve¬ 
ral persons who wished to procure Durhams, went 
away without purchasing. Nearly all the Devons 
which were offered for sale, found purchasers. Mr. 
Washbon, of Otsego county, and his associates, who 
exhibited stock with him, sold to the amount of about 
$700—chiefly calves, at $50 to $75 each. Cattle of 
other breeds, as Herefords and Ayrshires, might have 
been sold had they been offered. . 
In sheep of all kinds, and in swine, there were but 
few sales, not owing to want of purchasers, but to the 
lack of a proper assortment. 
Now, if, as before observed, these exhibitions could 
be made in reality fairs —especially for the sale of the 
choicest stock, and the most useful implements—the 
object of buying or selling would induce the people to 
come forward on these occasions with whatever is best 
suited to the market. This would afford a healthy stim¬ 
ulus, and the producer would feel safe in devoting his 
attention to those objects for which the marketable de¬ 
mand should afford the greatest profit. 
We would make a suggestion in relation to another 
matter which we think of considerable importance. A 
great objection with farmers residing at a distance 
from the places where the shows are held, in regard to 
the exhibition of their stock, is the expense to which 
they would be subjected, while at the same time there 
is much uncertainty whether they would receive any¬ 
thing as a remuneration. To obviate such a difficulty, 
the agricultural society of Worcester, Mass., and some 
other societies, have adopted the practice of paying 
travelling fees. Such animals as the examining com¬ 
mittees think worthy—whether they receive premiums 
or not—are, on their recommendation, entitled to re¬ 
ceive a certain sum per mile for the distance they have 
travelled in coming to the show. Of course, inferior 
animals are not entitled to any such encouragement. 
This rule effectually does away the objection that those 
situated near the place where the shows are held, have 
all the advantage in regard to competing for premiums. 
Liquid Manure. —The papers occasionally contain 
accounts of interesting and very successful experiments 
with liquid manure. It is indeed very valuable; but 
we believe a large share of tHe advantages result from 
the simple watering which the plants thus obtain. The 
manure itself should not. by any means have all the 
credit, as we know very well from experience, that a 
simple, a regular irrigation of garden plants, has in 
some qjases caused an increase in growth which would 
hardly be expected from the most copious manuring. 
