130 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
April, 
contain an error of a single cent; why should not the 
farmer know all his accounts with his fields with a faint 
degree of the same accuracy? The cotton manufacturer 
can tell to a fraction the cost of his fabric; but how few 
even among our best agriculturists know how much a 
certain animal, or a bushel of grain, has cost them ; and 
what seems still more surprising is that after numerous 
premiums have been offered by agricultural societies, we 
are still very much in the dark about the comparative 
value of roots and grain, of ground and unground food, 
of the best way of raising potatoes, and of a multitude 
of other points of great importance, and of which weigh¬ 
ing and measuring would soon furnish at least a proximate 
knowledge. 
• If a single farmer would expend fifty dollars a year in 
the time and labor required to measure his fields or por¬ 
tions of them; to reckon accurately the amount of ma¬ 
nure applied to each portion; to record faithfully the 
quantity of labor expended ; and the number of bushels 
yielded; if he would try some of the best modes for the 
feeding and management of cattle, horses, sheep, and 
swine, in connexion with different breeds or fragments 
of such breeds, he could scarcely fail to possess in ten 
years an amount of knowledge not at present enjoyed by 
one in ten thousand. What then would be the condition 
of the art, if every intelligent cultivator should adopt a 
similar course,—what an accumulation of valuable know¬ 
ledge would be thrown together;—what a clear sun-light 
would be sent into every dark corner of doubt, and the 
dim objects of twilight become clear and obvious in full 
glare of day. 
Nearly the whole expense for beginning this proposed im¬ 
provement is a weighing machine like a hay-scale, in which 
cattle, loads of hay, See. maybe quickly examined; towhich 
may be added a common grocer’s or miller’s balance for 
smaller objects; baskets of accurate measurement, half- 
bushel measures, gallon and quart measures, a tape-line 
for measuring land, and cart-bodies and wagon-boxes 
with accurately estimated contents. Weighing animals 
once a week during the various experiments in fattening 
could be quickly accomplished with such convenient 
scales; and the small platform balance would enable one 
in a moment to determine the weight of a cow’s milk or 
butter, a fleece of wool, or a bushel of grain. It is the 
want of facilities of this kind that deters many from ac¬ 
curacy. 
If any of our readers wish definite directions how to 
keep clear and distinct accounts, they will find 'the out¬ 
line of an admirable specimen on pages 509,510, and 511, 
of the last volume of Colman’s European Agriculture, 
which we earnestly commend to their attention. 
Excellent advice. —P. Barry very justly remarks, 
‘ ‘Every man who sends an order for a dozen or half a dozen 
Dahlias, Roses, Fuchsias, Chrysanthemums, or any other 
genus, should say, “ Send me none but what are really 
distinct—ohviovsly distinct. I want not merely slight 
botanical distinctions, but such as will enable me to have 
striking variations and contrasts ingrowth, foliage, and 
habit of plant, or in the size, form, and coloring of the 
/lowers”- —a half dozen distinct, well marked sorts, going 
further than twenty scarcely distinguishable in shade or 
appearance. 
Ketchum's Mowing Machine. 
Above we give a cut of this machine, which is manu¬ 
factured by Messrs. Howard & Co., of Buffalo. From all 
we hear of it, there appears to be no room for doubt as to 
its usefulness, or its ability to do all that is claimed for it. 
We think the proprietors would greatly promote their 
own interest, as well as that of the public, by making 
arrangements for its sale in this city. [See advertise¬ 
ment.] 
The Economy of Evergreens. 
We have long held the opinion that the character and 
morals of a rural community are necessarily improved 
by that most interesting of all kinds of rural embellish¬ 
ment, ornamental planting. But for those who cannot 
appreciate these advantages, we shall present another 
view of the subject,—the saving in dollars and cents. 
This the writer has had an opportunity of witnessing the 
present Avinter in his own case. Nine years ago, finding 
a serious inconvenience from the sweep of winter tem¬ 
pests, to which his residence Avas much exposed, a large 
portion of evergreens were mingled with the trees and 
shrubbery, then neAvly set out. About a dozen white 
pines, as many American Arborvitm, and a feiv balsams, 
Avhite spruce, Nonvay firs, and hemlocks, were placed, 
so far as practicable, on those sides of the house the most 
exposed, regard being had at the same time to the ex¬ 
clusion of uninteresting points of view. 
One rule was adopted in removing the young evergreens, 
which were chiefly procured from the borders of Avoods, 
and which in some instances were brought twenty miles. 
This Avas, to take up enough earth on the roots, to pre¬ 
serve the tree upright against strong winds, after setting 
out. By this means, not one, out of some thirty or forty, 
Avas lost by removal. A Avhite pine, then about three 
feet high and an inch in diameter, is now eighteen feet 
high, and six inches in diameter, and several others have 
made nearly an equal groAvth. 
Now, for the economy of this plantation, which some 
of the neighbors thought was entirely useless labor. It 
has saved, the present av inter, by the protection it affords 
against storms and wind, at least ten dollars in fire-AVOod, 
and this amount saved is increasing every year as the 
trees advance in groAvth. The cost of procuring and set¬ 
ting out the evergreens, is about three dollars. What 
farmer, AA’ho goes only for 11 utility,” can show as large 
a per centage of profit in wheat raising or making pork? 
Whose children Avould be most likely to seek the tavern, 
grog-shop, and theatre,—those who enjoy a home made 
attractive and beautiful,—or those Avhose home is bald, 
bleak, and repulsive, from a total Avant of this cheapest 
and most natural of all means for its embellishment? 
