380 
THE CULTIVATOR 
display of Devons was fine. A Devon bull, owned by 
Mr. Sexton, of Plymouth, attracted considerable atten¬ 
tion. He received the second premium on aged Devons 
at the State Fair at Albany. We also saw a fine herd 
of full and half bred Devons, owned by J. W. Collins, of 
Smyrna, of which one calf took the second prize at the 
State Fair at Utica, one cow, we think, full equal to 
anything we ever saw, exhibiting better milking pro¬ 
perties than any of this breed which has come under our 
observation. (I was credibly informed that she had 
given milk every day since two years ago last March, 
and raised three calves in the time. She is not capable 
of being dried off.) A fine pair of steers two years old, 
owned by N. Sexton, half blood Devons, were very large 
and fine, weighing 2,600 lbs., grass fed. There were 
several fine lots of French Merino sheep, which argues 
well for the spread of this useful animal. Two bucks 
owned by Mr. Hakes, of Pitcher, sheared 50 pounds— 
one years growth. 
The address, delivered by J. T. Sawyer, Esq., of 
Clinton, was mainly a description of scientific farming. 
At the conclusion the awards of premiums were read, 
and a general rush of the lucky ones followed to receive 
their premiums. Thus ended the 7th Annual Fair of 
the Chenango County Agricultural Socity. Yours tru¬ 
ly, Aguftus. Smyrna : Oct. 11, 1852. 
Cayuga County Fair. 
L. Tucker, Esq. —On the 6th and 7th of October, the 
Annual Fair in our county was held. The weather was 
clear, warm and pleasant during the show. All stock 
and articles for exhibition were kept on the ground both 
days, which gave great satisfaction to all in attendance, 
and proved highly advantageous to the committees in 
giving them an opportunity to review everything on the 
second day. The number of stock of all kinds, and the 
articles on exhibition, exceeded those of any previous 
show by more than one-third. It is estimated that over 
6,000 persons were in attendance. The show grounds 
enclosed fifteen acres, and were completely crowded ; 
in short, the space was too limited to accommodate the 
farmers. I never saw so many happy faces assembled 
in my life. The farmers seemed in good spirits, and 
came in full confidence that they were participating in 
their great jubilee. 
This has been a proud show for Cayuga, and tells well 
for the enterprize of its farmers. It shows that new 
light has dawned upon them, and new life been infused 
into them. J. B. Dill. Auburn , Oct. 9, 1852. 
-- 
Reaping Machines. 
Eds. Cultivator- —I noticed in your article on the 
trial of implements at Geneva, you seem to place some 
reapers entirely above others, merely on account of their 
being geared higher, which I think if you would take the 
trouble to consider the matter in its true light, you 
would see at once that a reaper can have too much motion 
as well as not sufficient. I have used one for several 
years, and from experience I am satisfied that a reaper, 
with just motion sufficient to clear itself at a slow walk, 
is all that is required to have it do good work, and any 
motion faster than that causes it to wear cut faster and 
Nov* 
creates more friction, and makes it much more liable to 
break and get out of order; and if a farmer, using a 
reaper, wishes to cut 15 or 20 acres of grain per day, he 
is necessarily obliged to drive his team faster than he 
would to a plow or drag in order to get over the ground. 
With one of Hussey’s Baltimore Reapers, that has near¬ 
ly one-third less motion than Hussey’s, built at Auburn, 
I have never found any trouble in cutting any kind of 
grain at the slowest gait I might cause my team to 
walk. A Farmer. Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept.. 1852. 
Deep Flowing. 
The present season of severe drouth, has most distinct¬ 
ly illustrated the benefits of deep plowing. We planted 
a quantity of apple seeds on ground which was last au¬ 
tumn an old pasture, and which was inverted with a 
double Michigan plow of the largest size, drawn by three 
yoke of oxen, to the depth of eleven and a half inches, 
actual average measurement. On such soils as this, as 
commonly plowed, apple seedlings usually suffer by 
drouth, but the present severe season, they have con¬ 
tinued growing without the least check, through the 
whole summer, and are now much larger than usual un¬ 
der ordinary treatment. 
The Granite Farmer states that fields tilled only to 
a depth of six or seven inches have suffered severely, 
while on others, side by side, the crops do not feel the 
drouth at all. In one place was a field of corn, of a 
yellowish green, and with leaves rolled by thirst • while 
separated only by a single step, was another portion at 
least a foot taller, with a deep green, broad, and uncurled 
leaf. Yet the manure was the same, the seed the same, 
and the culture the same. On asking an explanation, he 
learned that this was the result of the first experiment in 
sub-soil plowing. 
Construction of Ice Houses. 
Eds. Cultivator —Your correspondent, R.R. Wright, 
of Philadelphia, asks information as to the best construc¬ 
tion of a family ice house. If you see fit you may give 
him that of mine, in which I now have ice that was put 
there nearly five years ago, the annual supply having been 
added to that nucleus. 
My ice house is ten feet cube, six feet below, to four 
feet above the surface, on the average; on a side-hill de¬ 
clining to the north-east, the ordinary entrance being at 
that end—that for filling opposite. 
I excavated the earth, placed four posts 10 feet long 
and 10 inches square—lined the outside and inside with 
two inch plank; filled the space between with tan-bark. 
Made a double roof by nailing inch boards above and be¬ 
low four inch rafters, and filled the space with straw, 
shingling the outside, the roof being at a half pitch, and 
projecting 18 inches on all sides. In the center of the 
roof, and elevated above, is a ventilator eight inches 
square. I had an open drain leading from the bottom, 
where I laid my sleepers, of ordinary fence posts, cover¬ 
ed with loose boards, in order that any liquid may f reely 
run off, a very important point in the construction of any 
ice house. 
In filling my ice house, I am particular to have all in¬ 
terstices well filled at every layer of ice, with well bro- 
