THE CULTIVATOR. 
183 
1851, 
NOTES FOR THE MONTH. 
Acknowledgments. —Communications have been re¬ 
ceived since our last, from L. Durand, R., Amenia, 
E. D. A., Bridgewater, H. Neff, J. G. C. Jr., J. 
H. Alexander, Prof. J. P. Norton, J. C., W. L. Eaton, 
C. Reagles. 
Books, Pamphlets, See., have been received as follows: 
Report of Commissioners concerning an Agricultural 
School, to the Legislature of Massachusetts, from Hon. 
M. P. "Wilder, chairman of the Board of Commission¬ 
ers.-An Address delivered at the annual meeting of 
the Rensselaer Ag. Society, Feb. 4, by Hon. L. C. Ball, 
President of the Society.-Agricultural Geology, by 
Josiah Holbrook, from the author.——Geranium 
“ Lucia Rosea,” from Geo. C. Thorburn, Astoria.- 
An Essay on the General Management of a Farm in 
Canada, published with additions, by the New-Bruns- 
wick Ag. Society.-A pair of White Dorkings, from 
Levi Durand, Esq., Derby, Ct.-Seeds of the Cape 
Gooseberry, from E. B. Prentiss, Watervliet. 
Agent to the World’s Fair. —Gov. Hunt has ap¬ 
pointed Benjamin P. Johnson, Esq., Secretary of the 
State Agricultural Society, Agent of the State to the 
World’s Fair. Mr. J. sailed for London in the steamer 
Baltic on the 16th ult. 
Winter Meeting or the New-York State Agri¬ 
cultural Society. —In connection with the next annual 
meeting of the society, it has been determined to hold, 
in this city, an exhibition of fat stock, specimens of 
grain, &c. A list has been prepared, comprising pre¬ 
miums for the best fat cattle and sheep, the best car¬ 
casses of beef, mutton, pork, poultry of all kinds, (dress¬ 
ed,) samples of grain of all kinds, peas, beans, and 
grass seeds. We belive that such an exhibition, under 
proper regulations and management, may be made high¬ 
ly useful to the farmer, the dealer, and the consumer. 
By bringing together large quantities of the best articles, 
dealers will find it an occasion for making their selections 
and purchases to advantage, and the comparisons which 
may be made, will be the means of imparting correct 
ideas in regard to the quality of meats, and the proper¬ 
ties of different breeds of animals in this respect—a 
point on which information is much needed. 
Death or John S. Skinner, Esq., and Hon. Isaac 
Hill. —These individuals, who have long occupied a 
prominent position before the public, have lately been 
taken from us by death. Mr. Skinner was the pioneer 
in the establishment of agricultural periodicals in this 
country, having commenced the American Farmer in 
1819. He has been, for the most part, connected with 
the agricultural press, from that down to the present 
time. At the time of his death, he was conducting the 
Plow, Loom and Anvil. His energy, zeal and devotion 
to the improvement of the industrial interests of the 
country, are well known, and for the important services 
he has rendered, his memory will long be cherished with 
lively gratitude. His death was sudden and entirely 
unexpected. It occurred on the 21st of March at Bal¬ 
timore. 
It appears that in attempting to leave the post-office in 
that city, where he had been called on business, he, by 
mistake, opened a door leading to the cellar, into which 
he was precipitated, breaking his skull as he fell to the 
ground. He was taken up speechless, and died in a 
few hours afterwards. 
Mr. Hill died at Washington, from an asthmatic af¬ 
fection with which he had been afflicted many years. 
He had filled many important political stations, the 
chief of which were those of United States Senator, 
and Governor of the State of New-Hampshire. Of late 
years, he had manifested great interest in agriculture, 
and had published several volumes of a paper called 
The Farmers’ Visitor. He also carried on farming to 
considerable extent, and was quite successful in the 
management of a tract of land, near Concord, N. H., 
which, previously to its coming into his possession, was 
regarded as of very inferior quality. His example in 
this respect is believed to have been highly salutary and 
useful in promoting agricultural improvement in the 
section where he lived. 
Apples from Kentucky.—Lewis Sanders, Esq., 
of Grass-Hills, Ky., has sent us some specimens of a 
variety of apple produced in his orchard and cultivated 
to considerable extent in his neighborhood. All the 
specimens excepting one were so much bruised and in¬ 
jured that their quality could not be fairly judged of. 
Mr. S. describes it as “a small red apple, highly aro¬ 
matic, juicy and crisp, very light and pleasant to the 
stomach. In eating from October to April. I think it 
is the best apple for the dessert that I have met with.” 
Mr. S. is desirous of ascertaining its name. It is very 
popular in that part of Kentucky, but he has not met 
with it elsewhere. Although we have only seen it under 
unfavorable circumstances, we should say it is worthy 
of being more extensively known and propagated. 
Fowls from Connecticut. —We have received from 
Mr. Levi Durand, of Derby, Ct., a pair of his white 
Dorking fowls. They are of good shape and medium 
size. Mr. D. says, in regard to this stock, “ Accord¬ 
ing to poultry fanciers and breeders, they must have 
five toes on a foot, to be genuine. Some of mine have 
only the ordinary number of toes, and yet are perfectly 
uniform in other respects. The cocks have both single 
and double combs, and the legs and bills of the true 
Dorking are invariably of a silvery white.” 
Effects of Railroads on Agricultural Products.— 
The effects of railroads in modifying the agriculture of 
different sections, is illustrated by the example of Mas¬ 
sachusetts. Since 1840, about 800 miles of railroads 
have been laid in that state. According to the returns 
of the assessors, it appears that the number of horses 
in the state, has increased from 60,030 in 1840, to 74,060 
in 1850. This is remarkable, especially when we con¬ 
sider the fact that the railroads have displaced many 
lines of stages on which numerous horses were employed; 
and it shows also that the increase of business occasioned 
by the railroads, gives employment to an increased num¬ 
ber of horses. From the same returns we learn that 
cattle have increased from 278,737 in 1840, to 299,600 in 
1850, while in the same period, sheep have declined from 
