1R48. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
221 
feeling manifested by our neighbor is in a measure done 
away, it still exists; and these publications do not yet 
find access to but a small proportion of the agricultural 
population of our country. If any person wishes evi¬ 
dence of this, let him attempt to obtain subscribers to 
even the best of these papers, and he will soon be con¬ 
vinced of the fact, that the circulation of these papers 
is quite limrted in the most favored portions of our 
country. If the subject of agriculture was properly 
introduced and taught in our common schools, we should 
soon see an universal improvement in the agriculture of 
our country, and a great and increased demand for all 
those publications relating to it. Agricultural pursuits 
embrace a large part of our w'hole population; and our 
prospect as a nation, in a great degree, depends upon 
the intelligence and success of those engaged in these 
employments; and it is of vital interest to our country 
that the study of agriculture as a science, having so 
great a bearing on the welfare of this portion of our 
community, should no longer be neglected. Oneida. 
Improvement of Stock. 
This subject is growing in interest and importance 
from year to year, especially in those sections of our coun¬ 
try better adapted to rearing cattle than raising grain. 
Much has been done already by our agricultural socie¬ 
ties and individuals to improve our stock, and much re¬ 
mains yet to be done. It is the duty, as w T ell as the 
interest, of every friend of agriculture, to do all he can 
to elevate the standard of this important branch of far¬ 
ming. I cheerfully grant that the efforts of the past 
have to some extent been crowned with success. But 
have not those improvements been too much confined to 
a certain class of our scientific farmers, whose rank 
and pecuniary circumstances will consistently admit of 
a large expenditure for such improvements. This ap¬ 
pears from the fact, that the greater amount of premi¬ 
ums on stock awarded by agricultural societies, are to 
a Colonel A., Major B., the Hon. C., Esq., or Judge 
D., or some other personage of high rank and .affluent 
circumstances; while the great mass of farmers are 
living on from year to year with but little or no im¬ 
provement of their stock. Truly, such things ought 
not so to be. This is confining the benefits of such im¬ 
provements within too narrow limits. Something more 
should be done to aw^aken the interest and attention of 
the agricultural community to this important subject, 
that all may in a few years have the privilege and sat¬ 
isfaction of looking around on their choicest specimens 
of improved stock. 
One cause of this evil may be, that there is a want 
of interest among many in this particular. This may 
be remedied by a wider circulation of such valuable ag¬ 
ricultural publications as the Cultivator, which cannot 
fail to create a laudable ambition, and to stimulate to 
activity every farmer who reads them. But the most 
prominent cause is, that many of our farmers, who may 
be more or less in debt for their farms, think they can¬ 
not afford to make such investments as are necessary 
to purchase those improved breeds of cattle so highly 
and justly recommended. 
But how shall this be remedied ? is a question more 
easily asked than answered. In looking over the May 
No. of the Cultivator, I noticed, in the communication 
of F. Holbrook, that the “ Massachusetts Society for 
promoting agriculture,” has hit upon a plan which I 
think would in a great measure remove this cause. 
Of a truth this “ Society has set us an example 
worthy of all imitation.” If the agricultural society of 
this state, as well as the several county societies, would 
expend a portion of their funds in purchasing the best 
breeds, to be distributed for the improvement of stock, 
subject to such regulations as would benefit our far¬ 
mers generally, wo should see that a new impulse 
would be given to the agricultural interests of this 
State. 
I am aware that this subject is an important one, 
and having with much diffidence submitted the above 
remarks for the consideration of the numerous readers 
of the Cultivator, I leave it, hoping to see it enlarged 
upon by those better qualified to do it justice. C. Y. 
H. Exeter, Otsego, May 28, 1848. 
Raising Wheat. 
I do not propose to relate any account of raising big 
crops, which are few and far between in this section. 
Such are sometimes made the text for a communication 
from your correspondents, when the common method of 
farming is left out of sight. I take for my text , twenty 
bushels of wheat to the acre, which I think can be 
raised under ordinary circumstances, where wheat 
growing is an important branch of farming. There 
are here two dangers to contend with-—the fly and rust. 
My crop, for the last year, consisted of 100 acres, 
which averaged as above stated, grown on land that 
had been seeded to timothy and clover two and three 
years. It was summer fallowed in May and June, 
plowed deep, sheep kept on through the summer. 
The first of August commenced harrowing the fallows 
across the furrows, and did it thoroughly . By the mid¬ 
dle of August commenced cross-plowing in lands from 
six to eight paces wide, marked out straight and true; 
the centres of the lands form ditches to carry off the 
surplus water, and also serve as guides in sowing. The 
land remained from two to four weeks after plowing, 
before sowing, which I am sensible was a benefit to the 
crop. The seed was sowed on the furrows, so as to 
fall in drills; two bushels of seed per acre, and har¬ 
rowed lengthwise of the furrows, which preserves the 
ditches and drills. The ditches were cleared out by 
running the plow through them ; and cross ditches 
were made where the water would settle, so as to 
carry it off, and leave the ground free from it. Wheat 
will not grow where it is immersed in water. 
My method of manuring, is to sow four to six quarts 
of clover and timothy seed per acre, immediately after 
harrowing in the wheat. Should the land be of a 
clayey nature, the seed should not be sown until the 
next spring. This is the cheapest manuring I have 
found, and it answers every purpose for raising wheat. 
On the sandy soil, I sow f of a bushel of plaster per acre, 
in the month of May. 
I commenced cutting wheat ten days before my 
neighbors, and as many days before it was fully ripe, 
which satisfied me that wheat is not generally cut in 
season. 
But allow me to indulge my organ of prophecy: It 
is, that our wheat crop is gradually failing—falling be¬ 
fore its natural enemies—the enemies that Nature pro¬ 
duces, and which are growing in their strength, and 
the species greatly multiplying. The staff of life must 
come from some other production of Nature, for it is 
my prophecy that Omnipotence has decreed that these 
things will be so. 
“ There is a divinity that shapes our ends, 
Rough-hew them as we will.” 
James Otis. Berlin , Erie County. Ohio, Febru¬ 
ary 20, 1848. 
[We are unable to discover any rational grounds for 
Mr. Otis’ “ prophecy.” The increase of the ££ natural 
enemies” of the wheat crop, we do not regard as cause 
for great alarm. We must study the habits of those 
enemies, and be able to repulse, if not exterminate 
them. As good crops, (and even better ones,) are now 
produced on the Old Continent, by an improved system 
of husbandry, as were grown on the same lands a thou¬ 
sand years ago, notwithstanding the prevalence of ia- 
sects, &c. Eds.] 
