406 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Dec. 
I make this statement of the result from my own experi¬ 
ment. Yours respectfully, H. G. West Greenfield, 
Saratoga co., N. Y., Oct . 5,1851. 
University of Albany .~We had expected to pub¬ 
lish this month, the programme of the Agricultural 
Department of the University, but we have to send our 
paper to press before the arrangements for the School 
are entirely perfected. 
Horses vs. Oxen for Farm Labor. 
We have always held that the expediency of using 
horses instead of oxen for farm labor, must depend on 
circumstances—such as the nature of the soil, and the 
general character of the surface of the farm, as to hills 
or plains. A writer in a late English paper, makes some 
sensible remarks on this subject. He says, 
u By some it has been contended that oxen ought not 
to be used for plow or draught, and that early maturi¬ 
ty alone is and ought to be the leading object of the 
grazier. Now, it is somewhat singular that although es¬ 
say after essay has been written in favor of the exclusive 
use of the horse for the purposes of husbandry, and cal¬ 
culation after calculation has been supplied in support 
of this view, still, upon hill-farms and tenacious soils, 
the Sussex, Hereford, Devon, Scotch, and Welsh oxen 
are found successfully competing with the horse teams; 
practically proving their profitable employment and bet- 
ter adaptation to their work than the horse. The result 
of the inquiry instituted on the comparative merits of 
the horse and the ox for the purposes of draught has 
been highly satisfactory. Upon some lands the horse 
carries the palm of victory, and on others the ox is trium¬ 
phant, thereby showing that each locality is the best 
judge of its own requirements. On the side hill, where 
a dead pull is required, the ox team is brought into use; 
while upon the light vegetable moulds the horse is every 
way superior.” 
From the Albany Argus, of Nov. 1 5th, 1851. 
M R. RUSSELL COMSTOCK, of Mabettsville, Dutchess county, 
N. Y., lectured on his invaluable discovery in vegetation, in the 
N. Y. State Ag. Rooms, in this city, yesterday, to a very intelli¬ 
gent audience; several of whom were Presidents and ex-Prcsidents 
of Agricultural Societies. The opinion appeared to be general that 
Mr. Comstock’s newly discovered principle, was of very great im¬ 
portance. 
Many have requested me to repeat my lecture in Albany, but prior 
engagements occupy every day for a month or more. 
I hope to lecture in Albany city, during the annual meeting of the 
N. Y. State Agricultural Society, on or about the 21st of January, 
1852. ‘ RUSSELL COMSTOCK. 
Albany, Nov. 15, 1851. 
Russell Comstock's Inestimable Discovery Explained. 
[a copy.] 
Chester, Orange co., N. Y., Nov. 10th, 1851. 
We, the undersigned, have listened to Mr. Russell Comstock’s dis¬ 
closure of his discoveries in vegetation, and his successful system of 
cultivation, which is founded on his discoveries, with great interest; 
and his facts and conclusions we think are perfectly reasonable, caus¬ 
ing conviction of the great practical utility of his system of cultiva¬ 
tion. 
His natural laws accurately direct the judicious application of la¬ 
bor and manures. Duty also prompts us to urge, that all our agri¬ 
cultural friends and lovers of science hear his lecture without delay, 
and at any season of the year. 
Charles B. Howell, John H. Yail, D. B. Foster, Gabriel Seely, Jr., 
P. Gregory, James W. Wood, James J. Board. Dec. 1—It.* 
‘Prince’s Linnsean Botanic Garden and Nurseries. 
TY7M. R. PRINCE tc CO., Flushing Long Island, offer their select 
VV and unrivalled Collection of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, 
Shrubbery, Bulbous and other Flowering Plants, and Green-house 
Plains. The stock of Standard and Dwarf Pears, and of all other 
Fruit Trees, is very large. 100 000 Evergreen Trees, comprising 
every variety. 25,000 Roses, of the choicest Daily, Perpetual, and 
Moss varieties. 100 splendid varieties of Poeonies, 10,000 Grape¬ 
vines of the finest kinds, and all the new and superior Strawberries. 
Descriptive Catalogues, with reduced prices, will be sent to post-paid 
applicants. _ ■ _ Oct. 1—-2t. 
T HE Tranasctions of the New-York State Agricultural Society, 
vols. 1 to 9, fur sale at the Office of “The Cultivator.” price 
81 per vol. 
FINE FOWLS FOR SALE. 
V ERY handsome specimens of the Albany Dorking, Black Po¬ 
land, and Silver Spangled Poland, are for sale by 
, Albany, Dec. 1—It. E. C. PLATT. 
New and Important Insurance. 
Northern N. York Live Stock Ins. Co., Plattsburgh N. Y. 
I NCORPORATED by the Legislature of the State of New-York, 
July, 1851. Horses, Cattle, and all kinds of Live Stock insured 
against Death, by the combined risks of Fire, Water, Accidents, Dis¬ 
eases, &c. CAPITAL, $50,000. 
Directors. 
James Farr, Washington county. Amasa C. Moore, Clinton connty. 
Joseph Potter, do John Boynton, do 
Olif Abell, do Zephaniah C. Platt, do 
Pelatiah Richards, Warren co. Cornelius Halsey, do 
Walter Geer, do James Averill, do 
Wm. E. Calkins, Essex co. Jacob H. Holt, do 
Albert Andrus, Franklin co. Peter S. Palmer, do 
John Horton, St. Lawrence co. George Moore, do 
Thomas Conkey, do Henry G. Hewitt, do 
JAMES FARR, President. G. MOORE, Plattsburgh, Sec’y. 
A. C. MOORE, Yice-Pest. Z. C. PLATT, do Treafc 
I. C. MIX, Port Amt, Gen. Agent. 
October 13,1851. 
This company are now organized and ready to receive applica¬ 
tions for insurance. It is confidently believed that the owners of va¬ 
luable animals will avail themselves of the advantages offered by this 
mode of protection. If fire, life and marine insurances are proper 
and expedient, so is live stock insurance: the reasons for insurance 
are equally applicable to all. 
The company have adopted such rates as, they believe, will fur¬ 
nish the means of paying ordinary losses, without resort to an assess¬ 
ment. But to guard against extraordinary losses, which may arise 
from contagious diseases or epidemics, it becomes necessary to re¬ 
quire premium notes. - 
To tbe Owners of Horses and Live stock. 
Office of the Northern Neio-York Live Stock Ins. Co., I 
Plattsburgh, August 16, 1851. j 
The Directors of the above Company, incorporated by the Legisla¬ 
ture of the State of New-York, at its extra session in July,1851, re¬ 
spectfully request your attention to the following facts bearing on this 
subject. 
1st. Value of this class of property. By the census of 1845, there 
were at that time in the State of New-York, as follows: 
Horses , 
One-half a million,. 505,155 
Neat Cattle, 
Over two millions,. 2,072,330 
Cows milked , 
Nearly a million,. 999,490 
Sheep , 
Over six millions,. 6,443,855 
Hogs, 
Over one million and a half,. 1,584,344 
Without making any estimate of the value of this property, it is 
apparent that it is immense; extending to every inhabited spot, and 
essential to the health and comfort, almost to the existence of the in¬ 
habitants. 
2d. These animals are subject to disease and accident. It is asser¬ 
ted by a Vermont Company, engaged in the Live Stock Insurance, 
as a fact which cannot be disputed, that the aggregate loss upon this 
species of properly throughout New-England, is greater than the 
losses by fire; at all events, it is a fact undoubted that the annual loss 
is very great, and the owner is left unprovided with any means of se¬ 
curity against the hazard incident to this description of property. 
3d. The knowledge of this risk is one of the leading hindrances to 
improvement in the breed of that useful aud noble animal, the horse. 
Men of capital are slow to invest large sums in a valuable animal, 
whose loss they must every day risk, to the amount often from five 
hundred to a thousand dollars, in every valuable breeding horse. 
With the ample security to be afforded by sound Insurance Com¬ 
panies, tbe investment of capital in horses and live stock may be 
made as safe and safer than the carrying of freight on the seas and 
inland waters. Marine Insurance has rendered this last business 
steady and profitable; while without it, it would want the confidence 
which that branch of business now commands. The absence of this 
Insurance in the case of live stock is universally felt, while the own¬ 
er of real estate can command half or two-thirds of its value when 
needed for an emergency. 
While the owner of the ship, “ the play thing of the wind and 
waves,” may obtain any reasonable advance; the owner of equally 
valuable property, invested in horses and cattle, cannot obtain a dol¬ 
lar. The only exception being fat cattle destined for market. In 
vain does the owner of the horse appeal to his industry or usefulness. 
The answer is, that his property is liable to disease and accident, and 
that as security it is utterly worthless. 
4th. The Insurance principle comes in, and does for him what Life 
Insurance has done for the young beginner in trade, taking away the 
risk arising from the uncertainty of life. 
It will do for him what Fire Insurance has done for the owner of 
personal properly; placing him nearly on a level with the owner of 
real estate. 
Your aid is respectfully solicited in behalf of this company, the first 
chartered in this state for this object. The Directors intend it shall 
be prudently conducted, and one which shall deserve the confidence 
of the public. 
Terms of Insurance will be furnished by tbe agents of the company. 
George Moorb, Secretary. JAMES FARR, President. 
Dee. 1—6t. 
