THE CULTIVATOR. 
113 
ner of cultivation, and the products of each respective soil, the nature 
and extent of enclosures, the several species of live stock, the various 
implements of husbandry, the nature and effect of different manures, and 
of the rotation of crops, and watering of land. When we shall have ob¬ 
tained a very extensive collection of facts, the only sure guides in politi¬ 
cal and agricultural inquiries, the society will be well qualified to ascer¬ 
tain the existing obstacles to improvement, and the means of removing 
them, as well as the new improvements that ought to be introduced.” 
And the duty and disposition of the legislature to aid in the work of 
improvement, is thus enforced and anticipated. 
“ To the accomplishment of many of these objects, and particularly 
the collection and distribution of bo ks [on agriculture,] and a statistical 
account of our own state, the efforts of the society may be found unequal; 
and surely for such purposes the benevolent aid of the legislature may be 
freely asked, and will be cheerfully afforded, since contributing to the 
enlargement of knowledge, and the perfection of the arts, is the first 
duty, and greatest pleasure, of enlightened rulers; and a work executed 
on the plan I have submitted, would do honor to the state, and be re¬ 
membered by posterity, as an illustrious monument of national patriot¬ 
ism, munificence and taste.” 
WHITE THORN HEDGES. 
A paper on the culture of white thorn for hedges, by Jonathan Havens, 
Esq. details a series of experiments upon this culture. 
“ The qualities most essentially necessary, says Mr. Havens, “ in a tree 
to make it valuable for a hedge, anpear to be, either that itshould be well 
defended by some kind of thorns, or of a taste disagreeable to cattle — 
There are besides these, other qualities of nearly equal importance; such 
as that it should be of a durable nature; of a quick growth; not apt to be 
infected by insects; easily propagated; not difficult to grow on account 
of the qualities and strength of the soil; and inclining naturally to grow 
like a bush, or to grow well after it has been cut off or lopped.” 
The plants of our country, which combine most extensively these re¬ 
quisites of a hedge plant, are the indigenous thorn, several species, the 
wild crab, and the honey locust, (Gleditschia triacanthos ) Of the first, 
many of the haws are destitute of seed, and it is difficult to make those 
glow which are fertile. The wild crab is only found in certain districts; 
yet its seeds maybe procured; they germinate freely; and under good 
management the crab cannot fail to make an excellent fence; and as to 
the third, the honey locust, the^ greatest obstacle arises from moles, or 
ground mice, which frequently bark them in winter. Cattle, however, 
browse upon all of these plants, so that it is necessary to protect them in 
early summer, until they have attained the desired size and strength — 
The prairie west, where they all abound, is the proper place to experi¬ 
ment with these plants. 
Mr. Havens’ experiments were made upon our indigenous thorn, 
of which he notices two species, the broad-leaved and narrow-leaved, and 
upon the English hawthorn. The great difficulty seemed to be to make 
the seeds grow; and Mr. Havens’ experiments were principally directed 
to this-point. 
In experiment No. 1, he gathered the seeds of the two American spe¬ 
cies in April, cracked the haws, and planted the chits in garden mould, 
mixed with cow-dung. None of these ever came up. Mr. H. inferred, 
though we think incorrectly, that their vitality had been destroyed by the 
frosts of winter. It has been found, that the haws of the Washington, 
or Maryland thorn, are made to grow the first year, by subjecting them 
alternately to a freezing and thawing temperature. 
No. 2. The haws were gathered before frost in autumn, buried in a 
box, covered with an inch of hen-dung and an inch of mould. About 
one quarter part came up the second spring following—grew well, and in 
eighteen months were twelve to eighteen inches high. 
'No. S, was an experiment with the haws of the English whitethorn. The 
haws were gathered in the fall, part of them buried in a box below frost, and a 
part thrown into the hole with the box. Those upon the outside of the 
box grew generally the second year, and a portion of those in the box, 
but moisture had evidently been lacking wholly to saturate the latter.— 
We subjoin our own experience in this matter:—We received a present 
of a baa of haws of the English thorn, gathered in April, from Alderman 
Heeny. We mixed them with about double their bulk of soil, laid the 
mixture in a ridge, and covered with two or three inches of earth. Du¬ 
ring the summer, the seeds were twice overhauled, remixed and restored 
to their former position, and covered as at first. La'e in autumn, a seed 
bed was prepared, and the seeds and earth taken up and strewed upon it, 
and lightly covered with mould. The following spring, the plants came 
up very thick—were subsequently planted in nursery rows, and at two and 
three years old were put in hedge. The hedge was nursed six years, 
when, despairing of success, we dug it all up, and planted in its stead 
the honey locust. We became satisfied that the English hawthorn is illy 
adapted to our climate;—-that our winters are too cold, and our summers 
too hot and dry, to cultivate it here with success. 
Experiment No 4, was upon the haws of the native broad-leaved thorn. 
They were buried below frost in autumn, and very few came up the se¬ 
cond year. 
The fifth experiment was made with the haws of the narrow-leaved 
American thorn, was managed somewhat like experiment No. l,and very 
few of the seeds grew'. 
Notwithstanding his discouragements, Mr. Havens persisted in the 
opinion, that our native thorn was a proper material for live fences, and 
we think he was right, if we can but discover the means of procuring 
plants. ,We think we have a good hedge of American thorn, though the 
plants were collected from the fields and woods, and headed in to six 
inches when they were planted- 
Mr. Havens alludes to the former cultivation of the prim for hedges; 
“ but this,” he says, “has been long since dead, and there appears no 
probability that it will ever flourish again.” The prediction was not true. 
We have had it growing in hedge the last four years, unscathed by our 
severe winters. The prim makes a beautiful ornamental hedge, though 
it seems doubtful if it will ever make an efficient barrier to cattle. Mr. 
H. says that hedge plants, and even trees, are much injured in their 
growth, by permitting a tough green sward to grow around them— 
“ All kinds of trees will derive nearly as much benefit from being hoed, 
or having the ground kept loose around them, as Indian corn.” This 
is true, and the hint should hot be lost upon the orchardist and the gar¬ 
dener. 
AGRICULTURE 
SHOULD BE PATRONIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT. 
To whatever state, country or age, we direct our attention, w'e find the 
condition of agriculture, and the consequent substantial prosperity of the 
population, in a great measure graduated, by the amount of protection 
and patronage which is extended to its labors by the government. Where 
it is nurtured and respected, as it should be, as constituting the source of 
national wealth and independence—and as the great moral conservator of 
a community—we find the great body of the people industrious, frugal and 
prosperous. But where agriculture is degraded as a menial employment, 
and neglected by the government, we find commerce and manufactures 
at a corresponding low ebb, and the population ignorant, indolent and 
vicious. 
In Great Britain, agriculture has received the fostering care of the go¬ 
vernment, in her agricultural surveys, premiums and protecting duties; 
and she is indebted to this branch of her industry more, probably, than to 
her commerce or manufactures, singly, for her unprecedented state of 
prosperity. Every agricultural laborer there, feeds three mouths besides 
his own—four millions of agriculturists feed a population'of sixteen mil¬ 
lions. No country has made greater strides in agricultural improvement 
during the last fifty years, thafi Scotland, under the stimulating influence 
of her agricultural society, and the thousands of dollars which she has an¬ 
nually distributed in premiums. Her commerce and manufactures have 
increased with the products of her soil, as has also the industry, intelli¬ 
gence, probity and comfort of her population. 
Contrast with that of Britain, the social and pecuniary condition of Spain, 
where agriculture has received no encouragement or patronage from the 
government, and where it consequently receives but little attention from 
the people. An ignorant, superstitious populace spend their time in indo¬ 
lence and want—the soil, naturally fertile, is neglected, her. commerce 
languishing, her manufactures a mere cypher, and the country torn by 
civil dissentions, and verging to barrenness and desolation. Such, too, is 
the condition of a part of once fertile Italy, of a great portion of eastern 
Europe, of Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, and of the northern portions of 
Africa, which were once pre-eminent for a numerous population, for 
wealth and civil refinement. The interests of husbandry have been ne¬ 
glected by the governments—honest industry has come into disrepute, be¬ 
cause emulation is not encouraged by the rewards, nor labor protected by 
the arm of government—the soil is in a measure neglected, and the mass 
of the people are poor, oppressed and wretched. 
Were not comparisons invidious, we might illustrate our text by exam¬ 
ples nearer home. But we will be content, at present, with holding up 
good examples, in the hope, that now that the importance of agriculture 
has been brought home to our feelings , by the vast importations of foreign 
grain, and the embarrassments of the times, the legislatures of the states 
will be induced, when a sufficient interval of party strife shall permit, to 
borrow lessons of instruction from states which have acted wisely upon 
this subject. Commerce and manufactures are fostered and protected by 
government at an immense cost to the nation, and the fisheries are en¬ 
couraged by liberal bounties, while agriculture, upon wjiich all must ulti¬ 
mately rely, for sustenance and support, is left to shift for itself. Were 
this primary branch of labor enlightened and encouraged by the govern¬ 
ment, as it has been in Great Britain, and is now being in France, Prus¬ 
sia, Msssachusetts, &c. its products would be greatly multiplied, its labors 
more honored and more followed, and the benign effects of its improve¬ 
ment felt in every department of society. 
Great Sale of Durham Cattle— Matthew Bullock, of Bethlehem, for 
many years a breeder of improved stock, has advertised to sell at auction, 
on the 17th October, at his farm, eight and a half miles from Albany, 
fifty-one head of Durham cattle, embracing 31 gows, ,11 heifers, B calves 
and 1 bull. 
