96 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
March. 
itote for the PoittI;. 
To Agents and Subscribers. —We take this early 
opportunity to tender our sincere thanks to the Agents 
who have so efficiently and promptly seconded our ef¬ 
forts to furnish the farmers of our country with a valua¬ 
ble and cheap journal, and to our many friends who have 
sent us their names without direct solicitation. Permit 
us farther to suggest that while the snow covers your 
fields, and you are to a considerable extent relieved from 
severe labor, you cannot better promote the cause of ag¬ 
riculture, than by urging upon your friends and neigh¬ 
bors the importance of subscribing to and reading the 
Cultivator. It remains for you to say, whether we 
shall be sustained in furnishing you with such a variety 
and amount of matter at a price so nominal. There is 
still ample time to canvass your towns before spring 
opens. Will each and every one of our subscribers take 
the matter in hand, and “ build over against his own 
house.” —- 
To Correspondents. —We have several papers, in 
answer to the inquiry as to the best method of training 
steers, the first of which has already appeared. The 
others shall be given hereafter. We are greatly ob¬ 
liged to An Otsego Hop-Grower, for the continuance 
of his papers on the culture of the hop, all of which 
will appear in due season. A large number of other 
favors, from various sources, are filed for insertion, for 
which the authors have our thanks. 
An Improved Seed Drill. —We have recently seen 
a working model of a seed drill, invented by Beebe & 
Wormer, of this city, and for which they are taking 
measures to secure a patent. The drill is designed to be 
drawn by two horses, is six feet in width, and makes 
nine furrows, eight inches apart, ^ when used for 
sowing grain. The drill points are simple in their 
construction and attachment to the beam, and can 
easily be removed to adapt the machine to planting 
corn. The contrivances for regulating the amount 
of seed do not differ essentially from other drills in use. 
In the rear of the axle-tree and suspended to the main 
frame-work of the machine, is a harrow, so adjusted 
that a tooth follows on either side of the drill furrow, 
covering the seed which has been dropped completely, 
and still farther in the rear is a roller, which completes 
the work. The drill points and harrow are easily 
raised by a lever at the rear of the machine, when 
turning in the field or passing any obstruction. The 
drill has a solid, substantial look, and will no doubt be 
durable and do good service. The drill, harrow and 
roller, are not new inventions, but the makers of this 
machine claim originality in the effective Combina¬ 
tion of them, and in simplifying the construction of 
several parts. We shall present a eut of the machine 
at some future time. - 
Prof. Norton’s Lectures. —The Executive Com¬ 
mittee of our State Ag. Society, made application to 
Prof. Norton’s family, for the course of lectures deliv¬ 
ered by him in this city last winter, for publication; but 
we regret to learn, as we do, by a letter from Prof. N."s 
father, that they “ are not in such a form as to admit 
of their publication. They were never fully written 
out, having been delivered at Albany and New-Haven, 
from brief notes.” -— 
A Hint. — te I got an excellent idea from your Speci¬ 
men No .— e Make the introduction to all communications 
as short as possible.’ Of all things, I hate to read long 
prosy introductions, and shall expect your paper to be 
pretty free from them.” 
Orchard Grass. —Extract of a letter from Lewis 
Sanders, Esq., Grass Hills, Ky.: “ In one of your re¬ 
rent numbers, a correspondent expresses an unfavorable 
opinion as to Orchard grass. My experience in cultivating 
it warrants me in recommending Orchard grass in pre¬ 
ference to any other, either for pastures or for hay. 
Upon this subject, I have recently prepared a paper, 
which will soon appear in the Louisville Democrat.” 
We hope Mr. S. will send us a copy. 
Giving Names—and Prices. —A correspondent 
very properly recommends that persons writing for pub¬ 
lication give their names and residences, as private com¬ 
munications addressed to them at many times, would be 
beneficial. Also, if pei'sonsf advertising farm implements 
would give their prices, it would save purchasers much 
trouble, and insure many sales for themselves. 
Cohn for Fodder. —Prof. Mapes asserts that the 
Stowell corn, so famous for preserving its succulence for 
winter boiling, “ will yield double the burden of stalks 
and leaves,' 5 of any other he has tried. If this should 
prove true, it will certainly be more valuable for fodder 
than for the winter use of the grain, which, so far as we 
have tried it, is too tough to be agreeable, after being 
strictly preserved and prepared according to the pub¬ 
lished directions.- 
The Balance Gate. —Wm. C. Van IIoesFn, of 
Leeds, Greene eo., N. Y., has patented an ingenious 
and simple contrivance, for opening and shutting a gate 
without dismounting from a carriage. 
It is supported by two upright posts, between which 
it is balanced by posts in the centre. On the top of the 
upright posts are placed horizontal strips, extending 
each way half the length of the gate. To these strips, 
cord pulleys are attached, connecting with levers over 
the posts. By pulling the hand cords which hang at 
the end of the horizontal bars, in reach of the person 
driving, the gate is detached from its fastenings and 
swings open and fastens itself; and when the carriage 
has passed through, the driver pulls the cord at the other 
side, and the gate swings back to its original position. 
The inventor is spoken of as a practical farnfer, who 
has thoroughly tested the practical operation of the 
gate, and found it to work well. We have not seen 
this gate, but it is manifest that the less time and trouble 
requisite in passing from one enclosure into another, 
or from private grounds to the public highway, the 
better. - 
Small Potatoes. —Mr. J. Case, of Troy, (Pa.) 
says :—“ I have seen several large “ stories” in the pa¬ 
pers lately on raising potatoes, and must tell you one 
that has not been in print. One of my neighbors 
planted last spring, one bushel of the smallest kind of 
•all sorts of potatoes, (and cut every one at that, making 
two pieces in a hill,) and harvested eighty bushels of 
good sized tubers from the one bushel planted.” 
[The corn crop about which Mr. C. inquires, pro¬ 
duced 95 bushels shelled corn per acre.] 
Mulching Potatoes. —A correspondent of the Gene¬ 
see Farmer covered his potatoes as usual, but on one 
part applied straw six inches deep. Those covered, were 
“ much larger and better ” than the others. We have 
heard of other similar results, but the experiment has 
not always proved successful. Thomas Peirson, of 
Lockport, N. Y., an intelligent English farmer, tried 
the experiment the past season, on rather heavy soil, 
without any sensible effect. 
Cattle Importing Company. —An association has 
been formed in Madison county, Ohio, with a capital of 
$10,000, all of \riiich has been raised, for the purpose 
of importing improved breeds of stock, for the farmers 
of that county. One or two agents are soon to be sent 
out, to make the selections. 
Hog Packing at Chicago. —The number packed the 
past season was over 22,000. 
