1852 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
323 
sunshine, which have existed since the 8d, continue, I 
greatly fear they will produce mildew and disease. The 
late abundant rains, followed, for a few days, by cooi 
windy weather, promise to leave the cuticle of the foliage 
firm, and the elaborations healthful. But the present 
state of the weather severely threatens the health of the 
crop. Its foliage has expanded with great rapidity, for 
the last few days, and, in many fields, lies very thick. 
The circulation will be liable to become plethoric, the 
cuticle tender, and mildew and bad elaborations to follow. 
The natural result of this must be disease of the tubers. 
C. E. G. Utica, Aug. 10. 
Crops in Virginia.— We give the following extract 
of a letter from M. Davis, Jr., Esq., dated Lynchburg, 
August 2. “ We have had another dry season, which is 
the third in succession. In some neighborhoods the oats 
and clover have nearly failed. The wheat, in the fields, 
generally appeared tolerably well; but much of it has 
the disease called 1 smut/ and on some farms to an ex¬ 
tent that the millers refuse to receive it. The so called 
1 blue stem’, is most diseased. The corn and tobacco 
crops, though much affected by the drouth, appear much 
more promising than might be expected.” 
Correction. —Your correspondent, (August No., p. 
287,) used a piece of poke weed the size of a common 
ear of corn. Not a kernel, as the printer has it—a small 
dose, unless administered by a homoepathist. M. Mor¬ 
ris, Avgust 16, 1852. 
DC?* We are indebted to the Hon. Wm. H. Seward for 
copies of a proposed bill, incorporating a department of 
Agriculture in connection with the general government, 
and another proposing to establish a United States Agri¬ 
cultural Academy, both drafted by Worthington G. 
Snethen, Esq., of Washington, D. C. The first bill 
creates four distinct Bureaus, severally officered, and 
under the superintendence of a Secretary of Agriculture, 
viz-. A Bureau of the Science and Practice of Agricul¬ 
ture; one of Agricultural Chemistry; one of Agricul¬ 
tural Mechanics, Manufactures, and Commerce, and one 
of Agricultural Statistics. The ostensible purpose of 
these Bureaus is the collection of facts and statistics, and 
reducing them into a shape, accessible to the mass of the 
people. The details of the plan are drawn out with 
great precision, and yet the scheme is so complicated that 
we have great doubts whether it could be successfully 
carried into effect. The plan of the Agricultural Aca¬ 
demy is similar to the one proposed to the N. Y. State 
Legislature, though on a much larger scale. It provides 
for a model farm to be carried on by students, for 
thorough scientific and practical instruction, and the. et 
cetera of such institutions. The students to be appointed 
by members of Congress, and supported during a four 
years’ course, by the public treasury. 
Health vs. Wens. —We have received a communica¬ 
tion from N. Randall, of Woodstock, making some 
severe strictures upon the article of S. E Todd, pub¬ 
lished in the Cultivator for August, from which we make 
the following extracts:—“ Does friend Todd suppose that 
such a foul corroding ulcer, as he describes, is produced 
without a legitimate, inherent cause? Does he think an 
animal can be in good health and be afflicted with such 
a loathsome sore? And if sick, ought the animal to be 
used for food? I had supposed it was well under¬ 
stood that such incurable sores upon man or beast were 
the result of disease in the system, and the outlets for 
the discharge of poisonous matter, which would destroy 
life immediately were it not for such discharge.” 
New Reaping and Raking Machine. —Mr. Chas. 
Denton of Peoria, Ill., has invented a machine which 
cuts the grain and lays it in bundles ready to bind. The 
bundles are laid at the side of the machine, out of the 
way of the team; thus any amount can be cut, independ¬ 
ent of the binding. —- 
Leicester Sheep.— A writer of a letter from Jeffer¬ 
son county in this state, published in a Kingston paper, 
says that Col. S. D. Hungerford of Adams, has a very 
superior flock of Leicester sheep—among them a ram 
which weighed over 300 lbs. after shearing. 
Ayrshire Cattle. —The same writer also mentions a 
pair of Ayrshires, which were imported from Ayrshire 
last autumn, by Mr. James Brodie of Ellisburgh, which 
he thinks very fine specimens of this breed. We pre¬ 
sume these animals, as well as samples of Mr. Hunger- 
ford’s sheep, will be at the State Fair 
Comparative Moisture of Fallow Ground, and 
that which Supports Crops. —Some people urge as an 
excuse for not destroying weeds among their crops, in 
a dry time, that they are necessary to shade the ground, 
and keep it from drying. But they might have seen, 
that fallow ground preserves its moisture during drouth, 
better than any other. Plants actually pump up the 
moisture from the soil, and it is carried off through their 
leaves by evaporation. According to Liebig, “water 
evaporates incessantly from the surface of the young 
plant; its quantity is in direct proportion to the tempera¬ 
ture and extent of the surface.” This explains why 
sward ground, and ground near trees, become dry to so 
great a depth during seasons of drouth. 
Notice—Superphosphate of Lime. 
A S there is a spurious substance now offered for Superphosphate 
of Lime, Farmers and Gardeners would do well to know and 
examine the article before purchasing. 
We have for sale the article branded on the bag, C. Deburg. No. 1. 
and also that made under the direction of Prof. Mapes, the qualiue? 
of which have been tested. LONGETT & GR1FFING. 
Sept. 1—It. No. 25 Cliff street, New-York. 
Merino Sheep for Sale. 
f'F'HE subscriber offers for sale, 50 Merino Ewes. 2, 3 and 4 years 
_l old, a cross from a Merino Buck of the Tainlor importation, and 
Spanish Merino Ewes.. 
Also a few Bucks from the same cross. Also a few Bucks, across 
from an Atwood Buck and Spanish Ewes. Terms made reasonable, 
to suit purchasers. A. H. AYERY. 
Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 1. 1852—It.* 
POUDRETTE, 
F OR Grass Lands, Lawns, and Winter Grain, also for shrubs—for 
sale by the Lodi Manufacturing Company, in lots to suit pur¬ 
chasers. Price $1.50 per barrel, for any quantity over six barrels. 
For Shrubs. $2 per barrel. 
DC7“ The Company will sell lots of 100 barrels or over, at a reduc¬ 
ed rate this fall, as they are making extensive alterations in their 
buildings, which will compel them to empty their vats. For particu¬ 
lars address “ The Lodi Manufacturing Compannv,” 74 Cortlandt 
Street, New York. Sept. 1—2t. 
Colman’s European Agriculture. 
J EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE, from personal observation, by 
1j Henkv Colman. of Massachusetts. Two large octavo vols. 
Price, when neatly bound, the same as published in Nos., $5. For 
sale at the office of THE CULTIVATOR. 
