1852. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
57 
Agricultural Societies. 
New-York State. —It should be remembered that the 
annual meeting, for the election of officers, See., is to be 
held at the Capitol on Wednesday the 21st of this month. 
At the same time there will be an exhibition of Fruits 
at the Society’s Rooms, and an exhibition of grain and 
fat cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, Sec., at Gallup’s Hotel, 
Washington street. 
Niagara. —We are indebted to A. Robinson, Presi¬ 
dent of the Society, for the Report of its doings the past 
year, from which we infer that it is in a flourishing con¬ 
dition. The officers elect, for 1852, are Morgan Johnson, 
Pres’t.—Moses C. Crawsey, Lockport, and J. W. Bab¬ 
cock, Somerset, Y. Pres’ts.—B. F. Wilson,Wilson,Sec’ y. 
—John Onderdonk, Wilson, Treasurer. 
Muskingham Co., 0. —We have received the annual 
Report of this Society for 1851, from J. L. Cox, Esq., 
Zanesville. Their exhibition in October, appears to have 
been very successful. The following officers were elected 
for the current year:—Cornelius Springer, Pres’t.—-J. 
Dillon, Y. Pres’t.—Jas. L. Cox, Treas., and John Bar¬ 
nard, Sec’y. We believe these officers reside at Zanes¬ 
ville. 
ANSWERS TO INQU3RIES. 
Disease in Calves.- —C. E. H., Monroe, Ct. We 
cannot say, from your description, what is the disease 
with which your calves are attacked. The stiffness of 
the hind legs may be caused by constipation of the bowels. 
A strict observance of the animal would determine 
whether the affection rose from this cause, and if it did, 
give castor oil or salts till a copious discharge is produced. 
But the stiffness may be simply rheumatism. In this 
case give the animal, instantly, warm shelter, and warm 
gruel seasoned highly with ginger. Rub the loins with 
some stimulating liniment—as a mixture of alcohol, 
spirits of turpentine and laudanum. 
Seed-planters.— A. B., Bucks county, Pa. “ Can 
any one machine be had which will answer for planting 
all kinds of seeds, from carrots and onions, to beans and 
corn? Will any one plant corn in rows both ways?” 
Emery’s seed-planter is provided with apparatus by 
which the small seeds you mention may be deposited in 
the desired quantity, and at the proper intervals, and 
by the necessary variation will drop the larger seeds with 
equal exatness—the change of gear admitting the seed 
to be dropped at spaces of four inches to four feet. 
There is no drill and can be none, which can be depended 
on to plant in rows both ways. Even if each row were 
commenced precisely on the same line, and the seed was 
dropped at exactly the distance, the inequalities in the 
surface of the ground, would prevent the hills being in 
regular squares. 
Phosphate of Lime.— R. S., New-York. “What 
have been the results from the use of phosphate of lime 
in this country?” We have known but few trials of this 
substance, and those were not conducted in such a way 
as to teach reliable inferences. It would be useful to the 
public to learn the results of any trials which have been 
made with phosphate of lime, in any form. It is the 
rock phosphate that is referred to—not bones—but it is 
desirable to learn their comparative effects. 
Potatoes from Seed. —M. L., Hartford, Ct. “ Have 
potatoes raised from seed shown any superiority in es¬ 
caping the rot, or disease?” There is no evidence that 
potatoes raised from seed have in general escaped the 
rot better than others. Some varieties have always 
been more hardy than others, and have been more ex¬ 
empt from disease. The advantage of raising from seed 
is, that varieties are multiplied, and by trying them, the 
hardiest and best may be selected for general propaga¬ 
tion. A great proportion of those lately produced from 
seed, have shown as strong a tendency to disease as the 
old varieties j a few appear to have less of that tendency, 
but not because they were raised from seed, and, besides, 
they require to be further tried before their constitution 
can be fully pronounced on. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the 
Year 1850: Part II. Agriculture. This volume com¬ 
prises near 600 pages of matter in reference to the agri¬ 
cultural products of this country, and the means of im¬ 
proving and increasing them. It contains several elabo¬ 
rate and able articles, besides many brief communications 
of interest and value. Among the former we notice a 
paper on “ The Study of Soils,” by Dr. Lee, and one on 
“ Fruit Culture,” by J. J. Thomas. The volume also 
contains much statistical information in regard to crops, 
fisheries, manufactures, foreign and domestic commerce, 
See. We are sorry to see that the same objections which 
have heretofore been made in reference to the mechani¬ 
cal execution of the work, the quality of the paper, and 
the arrangement of the matter, apply to this volume. 
They are objections for which no sufficient excuse can be. 
given. -— 
The December No. of Harper’s Magazine has the 
portrait and political history of Kossuth —a name that 
is on the lips of every one, and whose cause is exciting a 
deep sympathy in every heart that desires freedom for it¬ 
self and the oppressed. The impartial record of news, 
both American and Foreign, marks this admirable peri¬ 
odical, and its style of execution commends it to the 
favorable notice of those who wish to adorn their tables 
as well as inform their minds. 
The International for December contains a rare col¬ 
lection of historical and biograhical information. Among 
the most instructive articles are Nauvoo and Deseret, an 
account of the Mormon impostor; Windsor Castle and 
its associations, and Calcutta, social,industrial, and poli¬ 
tical. The portrait and brief notice of the life of Wil¬ 
liam Cullen Bryant, adds another to the valuable list 
of American authors that has embellished and contribut¬ 
ed to the popularity of former numbers. 
The American Yeterinary Journal. —We have 
received several numbers of a monthly publication with 
this title, edited by Geo. IT. Dadd, M. D., Boston. Dr. D. 
is well known to the public as author of several valuable 
works on the treatment of the diseases of domestic ani¬ 
mals, and enjoys a high reputation as a veterinary sur¬ 
geon. The Journal will be the medium of disseminating 
much useful information. Terms, one dollar a year in 
advance. 
