90 
THE CULTIVATOR 
NOTES FOR THE MONTH. 
Acknowledgments. —Communications have been re- 
ceived since our last, from John Waters, James Foun¬ 
tain, Buckeye, C. E, Goodrich, Wm. McC., An old 
Farmer, Hoosier, A. Mable, H. R. L., Prof. Norton, S. 
Smith, John Lloyd, B., Geo. Yail, S. Edwards Todd, 
W» Bacon, A Subscriber, Geo. Mansfield, L. Durand, 
W. L. Eaton, Wm. Bailey, Ra-ab Shagy, V. A., Geo. 
E. Snider, 
Books, Pamphlets, &c., have been received as fol¬ 
lows: Evans 7 Dairyman’s Manual.-—-An account of 
Mr. J. J. Mechi’s farming operations at Tiptree Hall, 
England, from B. P. Johnson, Esq.——Transactions of 
Worcester Co. (Mass.) Ag. Society for 1851, from John 
W. Lincoln, Esq.——-Annual Reports of the New Ha¬ 
ven Hort. Society, for 1851,-——Descriptive Catalogue 
of Thorp, Smith, Hanchett, & Co.’s Syracuse Nur¬ 
series.--Patent Office Report on Agriculture, for 1850 
-51, from Hon. T. Ewbank, Com. Patents. 
0 =“ We have delayed a notice of the retirement of our 
late associate, Mr, Howard, from the Cultivator, in order 
that we might at the same time announce his entrance 
upon his new duties as Editor of the Agricultural De¬ 
partment of the Boston Cultivator, a weekly journal of 
very extensive circulation throughout New England. Mr. 
Howard has been our associate in the management of 
The Cultivator for many years 5 and in parting with him, 
as we do with sincere regret, we take pleasure in con¬ 
gratulating our New-England brethren of the agricultural 
press on the acquisition to their corps of so valuable a 
member,—one so worthy of their regard and confidence. 
We may also congratulate the readers of the Boston 
Cultivator on his accession to the editorial chair of that 
paper, for we feel well assured that no one could be found 
whose sound view’s and thorough knowledge better quali¬ 
fy him for the place. 
University of Albany.- —This institution is now fairly 
in operation. The opening lecture of the Agricultual 
Course, was delivered on Wednesday evening, Jan. 14th, 
to a large and attentive audience, by Prof. Norton. A 
large number of the members of the legislature, and 
citizens of the city, were in attendance, and the sympathy 
manifested in the purpose of the University, was highly 
gratifying to the friends and projectors of the Institution. 
Several of the Senatorial Districts have already furnished 
their quota of students, and the prospects are fair for a 
large and respectable class. Prop. Norton made a brief 
exposition of the general plan of the University, in the 
course of which he stated that at no time before, in this 
country, had so full a course of popular lectures on 
practical science been accessible to the public. The Law 
Department is succeeding admirably. 
CCf* The inquiry of our friend at St. Hilaire, C. E., on 
the manufacture of maple sugar, we have sent to Mr. 
Hall of Shelburne, Vt., who we hope will furnish the 
information desired. 
Lead Pipe. —J. L. M. Lead pipe is worth from 5 1 
to 64 cents per pound. The average of pipe of half 
inch calibre, weighs about three pounds to the yard. 
Feb. 
French Merino Sheep—Correction. —In a com¬ 
munication in the December number of the Cultivator, 
on u Farming in Delaware County,” it is said by a typo¬ 
graphical error, that French Merino lambs were exhibit¬ 
ed at the show of the Delaware County Agricultural So¬ 
ciety, from the flock of “ F. M’lntosh” of Otsego coun¬ 
ty. The name should have been printed F. M. Rotch, 
of Morris, Otsego county. We greatly regret the mis¬ 
take, which should have been corrected in our January 
number, has it been ascertained in season. Mr. Rotch 
has imported on his own account, and as agent for others, 
about 180 head of French Merino sheep. The animals 
were selected by himself, under the most favorable cir¬ 
cumstances. He spent much time in France; visited all 
the celebrated flocks, and thoroughly discussed with the 
owners and shepherds, in their own tongue, all matters 
relating to sheep. He bought the best sheep he could 
obtain—having ample means at his disposal to do so.,— 
and we have learned from good judges who have seen 
those he sent over, that they are very superior specimens 
of that noted stock. --- 
The Western World Institute. —Plans for improve¬ 
ment are on foot everywhere. A circular has been sent 
ns from San Francisco, giving notice of a Western 
World Institute, whose object is the advancement, 
throughout the entire Pacific coast, of all the great in¬ 
terests of Agriculture, Commerce, Horticulture, Mining, 
Manufacturing, and the Arts and Sciences—improvement 
in the breed of Horses and Cattle, and the general de¬ 
velopment of all the varied resources of the State. A 
Museum and Conservatory are established in connection 
with the Institute, and addresses on the Natural Sciences 
are in contemplation. This magnificent project is in per¬ 
fect keeping with the grand scale upon which Californians 
act, and will aid in bringing to light the exhaustless re¬ 
sources of the country. 
Heavy Litter of Pigs,- —Mr. Geo. E. Snider, of 
St. John, N. B., writes us that Mr. Hayward, a farmer 
in Kings county, Parish of Sussex, has recently slaugh¬ 
tered nine pigs of extraordinary weight. They were all 
of one litter, and killed when eight months old. Their 
weight was as follows: 840 lbs.; 848 lbs.; 808 lbs. ; 294 
lbs.; 358 lbs.; 867 lbs. 5 823 lbs. 5 336 lbs. ; 300 lbs. To¬ 
tal weight, 2,974 lbs. Average weight, 3304lbs. Eight 
of these pigs were sold for $208. Has this ever been 
beaten? --— 
Mineral Theory of Manures.— Messrs. Lawes & 
Gilbert have published in the Journal of the Royal Ag¬ 
ricultural Society, the results of many experiments, 
made by them in the course of many years, to ascertain 
the correctness of the idea advanced by Liebig, that it is 
only necessary to apply the ashes of plants or mineral 
substances, for the support of crops. They took plots of 
ground of equal quality, containing equal superfices, and 
applied different substances to the same crop. In one in¬ 
stance, ground which had no manure, produced 16 bush¬ 
els of wheat to the acre: 14 tons of yard manure pro¬ 
duced 22 bushels; the ashes of 14 tons of yard manure, 
16 bushels; mean produce of nine plots supplied with 
artificial mineral manures, 16 bushels 8 |- pecks; on other 
plots, the addition of 65 pounds sulphate of ammonia, 
