1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
217 
NOTES FOR THE MONTH. 
Acknowledgments. —Since or last, communications 
have been received from Dr. M. Barnes, Prof. J. P. 
Norton, Youth of Bridgewater, A Subscriber, Sylvanus, 
A Subscriber from Hannover, W. D. Sugar, W. C. A. 
Books, Pamphlets, &c., have been received as follows: 
Notes on North America, Agricultural, Social and Econo¬ 
mical, by Prof. J. F. W. Johnston, 2 vols. from Little 
& Co., booksellers, Albany.——-Reports of Regents of 
the University, and of the Commissioners in charge of 
the publication of the Geological Reports, from Dr. T. 
R. Beck. ——Proceedings of the Vermont Fruit Grower’s 
Convention. —- 
Our Premiums. —We have sent our dollar Premiums 
to all those who have informed us as to the particular 
book they wanted. It will be recollected that all Agents 
who have sent us fifteen or more subscribers for our cur¬ 
rent volume, except those whose names were published 
in our April No., as entitled to higher premiums, are 
entitled to Thomas’ American Fruit Culturist, or such 
other dollar book as they may select. Those who have 
not received their books, are informed that we shall be 
glad to send them as soon as informed as to the particu¬ 
lar book desired. --- 
Messrs. Morris’ and Tail’s sales of Stock. —It will 
be recollected that the sales of these gentlemen take 
place this month—Mr. Morris’ at Mount Fordham, 
Westchester county, N. Y., on the 24th, and Mr. Tail’s 
at Troy, on the 26th. The particulars in regard to the 
herds of these gentlemen, will be found in their respective 
advertisements in this journal, and in their catalogues, 
which may be had on application to them, or at this office. 
These gentlemen have been at great expense in establish¬ 
ing their herds, and each have animals of great value. 
We shall look for large gatherings of farmers and stock 
raisers on the occasions alluded to. 
Location of the next Fair of the New-York 
State Agricultural Society. —We learn from John 
Delafield, Esq., the President of the Society, that ar¬ 
rangements have been made for the occupancy of the 
11 Rapids tract,” so called, for the coming State Fair. 
Mr. D. says —“ The ground is beautifully situated on the 
margin of the Genesee river, elevated about 100 feet 
above the stream, affording a beautiful view of the wind¬ 
ings of the river. It is about a mile and a half south 
from the center of the city, (Rochester,) presenting a 
good firm sod, and an area of twenty-five acres or more.’’ 
The Fair will be on the 17th, 18th and 19th of Septem¬ 
ber. —- 
Sulphate of Ammonia as Manure. —A remarkable 
fact in regard to the operation of this substance, is stat¬ 
ed in a late English work. It was used as a top-dressing 
for grass-land, at the rate of two hundred pounds per 
acre. Its effects on the growth of grass were highly fa¬ 
vorable ; but its effects on the quality of the herbage 
were such that the dairy farmer is cautioned against the 
use of the substance on pasture land. It is stated to fla¬ 
vor the milk in such a way that it cannot be used; that 
the cream cracks, and will not mix with tea, and that 
the butter and butter-milk are disagreeably flavored. 
National Park at Washington. —We are gratified 
to learn that the large tract of public ground, (about 140 
acres,) on which the Smithsonian Institution and the 
Washington Monument are located, is about to be con¬ 
verted into a public park, under the direction and in pur¬ 
suance of a plan reported to the Government by A. J. 
Downing, Esq., the well-known author, and editor of 
the Horticulturist. From Mr. Downing’s good taste, 
sound judgment, and intimate practical knowledge of 
effective planting, we have reason to believe he will per¬ 
form this duty in such a manner as to render this Na¬ 
tional Park one of the most attractive objects at the 
seat of our National Capitol. The climate of Washing¬ 
ton is most favorable for the object—as it will permi 
the introduction of a large number of the most highly 
ornamental trees and plants, which would not stand the 
climate of any section of this state. 
Professor Norton’s Lectures. —We would invite the 
particular attention of young men who intend to become 
farmers, to Prof. Norton’s Lectures on Scientific Agri¬ 
culture, an advertisement in reference to which will be 
found in this number. The department to which Prof. 
N. is attached, belongs to Yale College but those who 
attend the lectures are not necessarily connected with 
any other department of that institution, and no pre¬ 
vious preparation is required. The principal points to 
which the lectures relate are as follows-. “ The sub¬ 
stances of which the plant, the soil, and the animal con¬ 
sist, are shown and described. The cultivation of the 
soil, the qualities necessary to its fertility, the means 
of improving it by drainage, the composition and effect 
of the manures applied, are all topics of great interest, 
and naturally lead to the constitution of the crop, the 
theories of rotation, &c. The remaining department is 
that of the animal, the character of whose parts is given, 
and with this the various theories of fattening and feed¬ 
ing. In this part of the course the products of the soil 
are also examined, with a special reference to their-nu¬ 
tritive and economical value.” 
We have before expressed our opinion in relation to 
Prof. Norton’s abilities to give instruction on the appli¬ 
cations of science to agriculture. Many of our readers 
have been long familiar with his writings which have ap¬ 
peared in this journal,and of the thousands w’hohave read 
them, we have never heard any other expression than 
that of warm approbation. He has a happy faculty of 
adapting knowledge to useful purposes, and of render¬ 
ing what, in the minds of some men is mysterious and 
uninteresting, plain and attractive. It is this, in con¬ 
nection with the self-evident utility which characterises 
his writings, that renders them so highly prized by the 
practical farmer. It will be seen that Prof. N. receives 
students at any time. - 
Budding Peach Trees. —Mr. C. D. Bent, of Hanni¬ 
bal, Oswego county, N. Y., informs us that scions of 
peach trees may be kept from the usual time of cutting 
them, till the bark of stocks will start, say in June,— 
and insert the buds in the usual way of budding. He 
states that they will grow as much the same season, as 
if they had been inserted the previous autumn. It is, 
of course, necessary that the scions should be kept in a 
cool and rather damp place. 
