THE CULTIVATOR. 
171 
8£» 
much or more to the grower as any flock of Bake we 11s in my knowledge. 
Our grass fed wethers bring from 3 to 4 dolls, per head, the culls from 
our ewes about the same; and our lambs from 2 to 3 dolls, per head. 
I doubt whether a Subscriber knows a flock of Bakewells (which he 
tthinks the best) for which he can say as much. A Subscriber says 
they, the Saxons and merinos, frequently die, from their inability to 
stand our hard winters. In reply to this I would say, that our best 
shepherds even in our last hard winter did not lose more than one and 
two from a hundred. I agree with a Subscriber "perfectly in urging 
breeders to procure well bred bucks. I know some farmers who breed 
from ill shaped, long, bare legged, bare faced bucks that will not cut 
more than 2| lbs. of wool, and only, because they can obtain them at a 
small price. Such farmers I think must breed without pleasure or pro¬ 
fit. A Subscriber says, that two breeds Canndt be kept distinct on one 
farm; I believe he is mistaken, for I am acquainted with a flock of me¬ 
rinos and Bakewells kept so, the breeder of which informed me he 
found no difficulty in keeping them so—that his merinos cut as much 
■wool as his Bakewells, and that the average weight of his whole flock 
tvas 4& lbs. fie has one merino buck that cuts 8| lbs. of washed wool. 
In conclusion, I wish to urge upon farmers the necessity of raising ve¬ 
getables for their stock. My farm horses eat the ruta baga with great 
avidity, and thrive remarkably Well on them, and when cut up with a 
machine (which we have) and mixed with cut hay or straw, stock may 
he kept with one half the expense, that they usually are. I am yours 
respectfully, A WOOL GROWER. 
VEGETABLE CUTTER. 
Mr. Buel,— Much attention has been paid for the last few years to 
the culture of roots for feeding stock, &c. At first some difficulty oc¬ 
curred in sowing the seed, until the drill was introduced Which dimi¬ 
nished the labor to a pastime. 
Where a large stock was fed, much time and labor was spent in slic¬ 
ing or cutting the roots suitable for feeding. At first the spade, snick 
and chopper were brought into requisition, but did not operate satisfac¬ 
torily. Other machines have since been tried, such as the grater and 
horizontal knives, operated by a lever; but “Melishe’s Vegetable Cut¬ 
ter” bids fair to eclipse the whole. 
It consists of a box seventeen and a half inches long, twenty two in¬ 
ches wide, and about four feet high, which answers for a hopper above 
and a receiver below. Near the centre of the box is a frame bearing: a 
■circular plate, or wheel, of cast iron, mounted on a horizontal axis, to 
which the crank is attached. This wheel, carries three knives or cut¬ 
ters, set parallel to the fhce of the plate, and radiating from the centre. 
The vegetables press against the knives, and their own weight is suffi¬ 
cient to keep them within the stroke of the knife. 
The following statement is from a gentleman who has had one of 
these machines in operation for sometime, and recommends them high¬ 
ly. I have seen one in operation—it sliced potatoes with great ease 
'and rapidity. 
“I have had one of 'Melishe’s Potato Cutters’ in use, and consider 
it one of the most useful machines ever invented, and think no farmer, 
who values the lives of his cattle, or his own interest, should be with¬ 
out one. They will cut more potatoes into thin slices in one hour, than 
a man could cut with a knife in two days. I find that potatoes cut in 
this machine will boil soft in about half the time of whole ones, thereby 
making a great saving of fuel and labor. The machine cuts potatoes, 
'turnips, cabbage stumps, (squashes and pumpkins when cut into quar¬ 
ters with a spade,) with the same facility and ease that it does pota¬ 
toes.” 
The above notice is given to answer the many queries made, “ which 
is the best implement or machine used for cutting or slicing vegetables 
for feeding stock, &c. ? and where can they be had and at what price!” 
A few of these machines are now for sale at the Agricultural Ware¬ 
house of Wm. Thorburn, No. 317 North Market-street, Albany-^price 
§10. C. N. BEMENT. 
INQUIRY RESPECTING GRASSES. 
Jesse Buel, —Please to state in the Cultivator the kinds and quanti¬ 
ties of grass seeds our most experienced and best informed practical 
graziers would prefer to sow on a meadow fallow, previously prepared, 
and designed for a permanent grass sward, for grazing and mowing.* 
I have been in the practice of sowing my meadows early in Septem¬ 
ber, with timothy, and a little herd grass,f and red clover. And While, 
as 1 think, timothy will give way to spear or green grass (as we call 
* We invite an answer from our graziers. The truth is, we believe this 
subject has not received sufficient attention among us. There is little danger 
of over stocking, or of mixing too many kinds, except on account of the cost 
of the seed, because the soil will only carrry a certain quantity of plants; and 
if there is seed enough, and the ground is in good condition, there will none of 
it be naked. We sow' 10 lbs. clover and 6 or 8 quarts of timothy to the acre.— 
Conti. 
t Timothy (phleum pralense ) is the herds grass, and herds grass (agrostis 
vulgaris, of Eaton, and A. stricla of Mich.) is the red top of the eastern states. 
it) and white clover, much more easily than herd grass, which will re¬ 
tain its hold firmer and longer ; yet i generally find when the timothy 
takes well at first, it overpowers and smothersthe herd grass. Which 
latter kind I are disposed to-think, from experience and observation, is 
better, both as a grass and as a hay, for fatting cattle andTeeding cows, 
than timothy is; although I am aware that timothy is by many pre¬ 
ferred for horses, especially in our large cities—yet. still some have 
doubts as to its superiority or even its equality.for that use either. Un¬ 
der these views, I have sown my meadow fallow this fall with herd 
grass and a little timothy and red clover. 
I think the quality of the soil, and its inclination to produce spear or 
green grass, and white clover, (a mixture of which I consider prefera¬ 
ble for grazing, to any other kind, and if I amWrohg I wish to be cor¬ 
rected) ought in a degree to be consulted, and perhaps the climate 
and situation. 
I observed in No. 4 of the current vol. of the Cultivator, a table of 
grasses experimented upon at AVoburn. Yet the soils upon which the 
different kinds grew, appear to have been very different, and in very 
different states of fertility. I should also think’that the same kind of 
grass, growing on the same soil as in the previous year, would likely 
be not only different in quantity, but also in its per cent of nutritive 
matter, owing to various causes in the season. And while one season 
or one country might be favorable to an increased burthen or quality of 
one kind of grass, the same season or the same 'Country would not so 
well serve another kind Of grass; which if true, go to show that not¬ 
withstanding it is a very interesting table, and Contains much useful in¬ 
formation, yet we must not rely too much upon it. The well informed 
and scientific agriculturist, that is really and thoroughly a practical 
one too, can often ascertain important results, when others cannot. 
Jan. 7, 1837. ... __ N. 
EARM ACCOUNTS—PRODUCTS OF A FARM. 
J. Buel, Esq.—Sir—Having been a constant reader of your valuable 
paper from its commencement, and having been amused and instructed 
from the perusal of it, especially from original communications upon 
practical farming, statements of products, &c.; and having heard a 
gentleman in an agricultural address in this county some years since 
say, “ It is time that farmers leave off guessing, and attend to their bu¬ 
siness systematically, that they may know their income,” &c. I have 
once or twice since began to keep an account of the products of my 
farm, but have failed to go through the year. This year I began early 
in the season, and have kept an account of the principal articles pro¬ 
duced, at their estimate at the common market price in this vicinity. 
But as I am a Yankee, I must be allowed the privilege of “ guessing” 
at a part. The reason of my communicating to you the result of my 
labors, is not that I expect that I have outdone every body else, for I 
believe that many farmers in this region have produced more from the 
same number of acres than I have, as some of my crops were very 
poor ; my orchard and a few thousand silkworms almost wholly failed. 
But I have thought that the publication of the products of farms might 
influence some of those who occupy land and farm by guess, to use 
more exertion; and may probably induce some young men to turn their 
minds from the fancied gains of speculation to the slow, but substan¬ 
tial, income of good farming. And in this tvay, and no other, can we 
compare our own advantages of location with our brethren at a dis¬ 
tance. And since there is such an itching desire for removal and the 
prairies of the west, it would be well for many of them to know that 
they are well situated. 
My farm contains about 150 acres of land. I improve about 106 
acres, the remainder is in wood; some of the land has been cleared of 
wo'od thirty-five years, and farmed without much system for a number 
of years; now some of it is in tolerable cultivation, though very little 
in a high state. I shall now proceed to give the items of produce and 
their estimate. I am thus particular, that every reader may see for 
himself, and imitate the example if he thinks proper, and communicate 
the same for the benefit of others. 
1,088 lbs. of maple sugar, at $10 per cwt. is.... $108 80 
Mulberry trees sold for cash,. 143 75 
35 lbs. of wool, at fifty cents per lb........ 17 50 
4 veal calves, at $2.50 per head,... 10 00 
1 killed at four days old, skin sold for.... 50 
5 lambs raised, at $2 per head,.. 10 00 
5 calves raised, at $4 per head,.,.. 20 00 
6 pigs sold young, at $1 per head,.... 6 00 
8 pigs raised, at $3 per head, .... 24 00 
50 tons of hay, at $7 per ton,.... 350 00 
1 ton of hemp,........ n 72 
16 bushels of peas, at$l per bush. 16 00 
59 bushels of rye, at $1 per bush... . . 59 00 
68£ bushels of barley, 62£ cents per bush. 42 81 
70 bushels of wheat, at $1.50 per bush.105 0Q 
Flax in the bundle and seed,... 67 60 
80 bushels of apples; at 25 cents per buslu....;... 20 00 
