THE CULTIVATOR. 
29 
face more permeable and retentive of moisture. Marl would almost invariably 
be a good top-dressing. Gypsum, at the rate of a bushel annually per acre, 
sown as soon as the snow lias disappeared, would undoubtedly benefit all light 
or dry soils, far more than the expense of buying and applying it. And in 
many cases a top-dressing of leached ashes would be beneficial. These mate¬ 
rials, together with dung, would supply to the soil, the specific food required ; 
and the latter, I should prefer to apply in its unfermented state, in autumn : 
because it becomes saturated arid leached by the snows and rains, and partial¬ 
ly decomposed before the grasses start in the spring, and tends more to keep 
the surface moist during the summer, than short dung, and because it must 
afford more nutriment to the grasses. Dung wastes much more when ferment¬ 
ed in large heaps, than when fermentation goes on in small parcels, or when 
spread upon a sod. 
The article whiclv we have commenced in the first number upon grasses, 
will afford most of the inf irmation desired, as to the relative value of species. 
It may, however, be proper here to remark, that the Dutch and the commom 
white clovers are the same; that crimson clover and Italian rye grass are be¬ 
lieved to be too tender for our winters, that Pacy and perennial grasses are 
varieties of rye grass, which are not yet found to succeed Well here, on ac¬ 
count of the heat and dryness of our summers—and that lucerne is adapted 
for soiling, rather than pasture. The orchard grass, tall meadow, oat and 
herds grass, (red and white top,) are believed to be among the most abiding, 
and best adapted for perennial pastures—herds grass and timothy for mea- 
dovvs. 
If land is, however, well drained, it may most generally be subjected to the 
plough, and a year or two of tillage will improve it more for pasture than any 
topocal application. Improvement of pasture lands is the last thing that en¬ 
gages a farmer’s attention. The impression is that they are either npt worth 
improving, or that they are not susceptible of it; when in fact they concern 
him nearly as much as the meadow or plough land. They make the meat, 
the wool, the butter and the cheese, more than the meadows do. 
BOBBINS’ CORN PLANTER. 
Mr. Buel—S ir—Having been applied to by letter, from various 
sources, for a description of “ Robbins’ Corn Planter and Drill Bar- 
row,” and answers to the following questions solicited, I have con¬ 
cluded, with your permission, to reply through the medium ofdhe Cul¬ 
tivator, should you deem them of sufficient importance to occupy a 
small space in one of your columns. 
Question 1st. “ Is Robbins’ machine complicated, and liable to get 
out of repair?” Answer. At first view, it would appear rather com¬ 
plicated ; but on further inspection and a trial, the complication ceas¬ 
es, and it becomes very simple. There is, however, but one way of 
placing the band on the pulley, for that must be turned with the sun; 
i.e. the band should pass from the top of the nave or hub of the large 
wheel, to the left side of the pulley or whir. Particular attention 
should be paid to this, as, by placing it the opposite way, the wire 
spring in the small circular box might be injured. The band is short¬ 
ened or lengthened by twisting or untwisting. The speed may be ac¬ 
celerated or retarded by placing the band on the larger or smaller 
groove on the nave and whir. By increasing the motion of the drop¬ 
pers, the seed will drop faster, and, of course, nearer together. 
2d. “What and how many kinds of seeds will it sow?” Ans. It 
has six droppers, with different sized holes, and will plant Corn, beans, 
peas, broom-corn, beets, mangel wurzel, turnips, teazles, onions, car¬ 
rots, mulberry, aud all kinds of round or oval seed not larger than 
corn or beans, with more system and correctness than can be done in 
the usual manner of planting with the hand and hoe. One man may 
easily put in five acres in a day, placing the seeds any given distance 
apart, from two or more inches, and in rows two and an half feet apart 
one way, and the rows at such distances as may be deemed best. In 
drills, one or more seeds may be dropped, at eight inches asunder. 
3d. “Is it drawn by a horse?” No—it is pushed by a man or boy, 
like a wheel-barrow, but it is much smaller and lighter. 
4th. “Will it answer for planting corn in hills of equal distances, in 
squares, over a large field?” Yes, it will plant corn in hills, dropping 
from three to four kernels at a time, two and an half feet apart; and, 
by a little experience and attention, being particular on starting the 
rows, the hills may be placed at right angles and at equal distances. 
5th. “Will it regulate and drop any required number of seeds?” 
Yes, by using larger or smaller sized droppers. 
6th. “What is the price?” Fifteen dollars. 
To plant one acre of ruta baga, the rows twenty-seven inches apart, 
and the seeds in the drill one inch apart, only from four to six ounces 
of seed is required. 
In a letter from a gentleman who has had one of these machines in 
use for several years, I find the following observation, which I have 
taken the liberty of transcribing:— 
“The corn I planted with Robbins’ machine, last season, on my 
farm, exceeded that planted with the hoe, by the acre, at least fifteen 
bushels, under circumstances equally favorable, as to soil and cultiva¬ 
tion. And I have conversed recently with a number of gentlemen who 
have used the machine, and tried some experiments, and find that the 
result has been in favor of the machine in all cases, they think, not 
less than ten bushels.” 
Such is the description and character of “Robbins’ Corn Planter 
and Drill Barrow,” and I know of nothing wanting to make it perfect, 
except a roller, which I consider of very essential service to cover and 
press the earth on to the seed, which causes a more rapid vegetation. 
The roller may be attached by an additional expense of two dollars. 
The above machines may be obtained at the seed store of Wm. 
Thorbubn, No. 347 North Market-street, and of the subscriber, No. 
80 State-street, Albany. C. N. BEMENT. 
Albany, March, 1836. 
Coeymans, March 15, 1836. 
For the cure of the Bots in Horses. —Give them "alum of the 
size of a small butternut, either pulverized in their feed or dissolved, 
and poured down when dangerous, and there is no doubt of an abso¬ 
lute cure. It should be given once a month, and they will never have 
bots. I learned it from a Pennsylvania German, and have practised 
if nearly twenty years with effect. STEPHEN HAINES. 
HINTS ON GRAFTING. 
J. Buel, Esq.—If you deem the following hints on grafting of any 
practical utility, they are at your service, the whole, or any part of 
them. 
The method which I have practised, with excellent success, for eight 
years past, is as follows. I cut my scions as late in April as they can 
be, before the buds begin to swell, and keep them with the but ends 
in the earth, in a damp cellar. When the season commences for set¬ 
ting, which is as soon as the leaves begin to start, I set my grafts. I 
use a composition of two parts resin, one of beeswax, and one of tal¬ 
low, melted in a small kettle, and applied hot, with a small brush, 
which any one can make in five minutes, nicely painting over the end 
of the branch cut off, so as to cover the split, and prevent the air or 
wet from getting in. By this method, one can set much faster than in 
the usual way of applying the, composition cold—it requires less of it, 
and of' apples or pears, not more than from five to ten per-cent need 
be lost. On other fruits I have not had much experience,’but from 
what I have, believe it will succeed equally well. 
Respectfully, LEVI HOPKINS. 
Mentz, March 8, 1836. 
THE CULTIVATOR-MAY, 1836. 
TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND THE MIND. 
THE DAIRY ZONE. 
We have heard the remark repeated, that in the United States, the 
cheese and butter district is circumscribed between the parallels of 40 
and 45° north latitude. It seems to be true, that the principal cheese 
dairies are within those parallels ; and that although very excellent 
fresh butter is made in Pensylvania, and in states west and south, yet 
we have an impression, without being able to determine, at present, 
how true it is in fact, that comparatively little butter is produced for ex¬ 
portation south of New-York. Whether this fact is merely imaginary, 
or, being true, whether it is owing to climate, to herbage, or to inciden¬ 
tal causes, we shall not stop to inquire. Most plants and animals have 
their natural zone, beyond which they deteriorate or do not live. The 
potato, for instance, deteriorates sputh of latitude 40; and the fact is of 
common notoriety, that cows do not furnish that abundance of milk in 
the southern states, that they do in the northern. The reputation of 
Goshen butter is well established ; and yet we are persuaded, that but¬ 
ter made with the same care in the northern and western parts of the 
state, particularly in the hilly and undulating districts, is as good as 
that made in the county of Orange. And why should it not be so ? 
The climate and herbage are similar. 
It is sufficient, for the present, to state, that the zone of which we 
have spoken is well adapted to dairy farming—that the business is a 
safe and profitable one, requiring but little outlay for labor ; and that 
there are, in our state, large districts, yet unoccupied, or but partial¬ 
ly improved, which are peculiarly fitted for this branch of husbandry. 
There are strong reasons which urge us to embark more largely in this 
business. In the first place, dairy and sheep husbandry afford a certain 
