THE CULTIVATOR. 
39 
afford most of the information desired, as to the relative value of species. It 
may, however, be proper here to remark, that the Dutch and the common 
white clovers are the same; that crimson clover and Italian rye grass are be¬ 
lieved to be too tender for our winters, that Racy and perennial grasses are va¬ 
rieties of rye grass, which are not yet found to succeed well here, on account 
of the heat and dryness of our summers-—and that lucerne is adapted for soil¬ 
ing, rather than pasture. The orchard grass, tall meadow oat and herds grass, 
(red and white top,) are believed to be among the mostabiding, and best adapt¬ 
ed for perennial pastures—herds grass and timothy for meadows. 
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 not 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. 
ROBBINS’ CORN PLANTER. 
Fig. 18. 
Mr. Buel—Sir —Having been applied to by letter, from various 
souices, for a description of “Robbins’ Corn Planter and Drill 
Barrow,” and answers to the following questions solicited, I have 
concluded, with your permission, to reply through the medium of 
the Cu'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 1” Answer. At first view, it would appear rather 
complicated; but on further inspection and a trial, the complication 
ceases, 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 pullyor whir. Par¬ 
ticular attention should be paid to this, as, by placing it the oppo¬ 
site way, the wire spring in the small circular box might be injur¬ 
ed. The band is shortened or lengthened by twisting or untwist¬ 
ing. The speed may be accelerated or retarded by placing the 
band on the larger or smaller groove on the nave and whir. By 
increasing the motion of the droppers, the seed will drop faster, 
and, of course, nearer together. 
Sid. “ What and how many kinds of seeds will it sowl” Ans. 
It has six droppers, with different sized holes, and will plant corn, 
beans, peas, broom-corn, beets, mangel wurzel, turneps, teazles, 
onions, carrots, mulberry, and 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 distan¬ 
ces 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. 
4tli. “ Will it answer for planting corn in hills of equal distan¬ 
ces, 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 particu¬ 
lar on starting the rows, the hills may be placed at right angles 
and at equal distances. 
5 th. “Will it regulate and drop any required number of seeds?” 
Yes, by using larger or smaller sized droppers. 
6 th. “ 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 fif¬ 
teen bushels , under circumstances equally favorable, as to soil and 
cultivation. And I have conversed recently with a number of gen¬ 
tlemen who have used the machine, and tried some experiments, 
and find that the result has been in favor of the machine in all 
case?, they think, not Zessthan ten bushels.” 
Such is the description and character of “Robbins’ Corn Plant¬ 
er 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 ex¬ 
pense of two dollars. 
The above machines may be obtained at the seed store of Wi. 
Thorburn, No. 347 North Market-street, and of the subscriber, 
No. 80 State-street, Albany. 
Albany , March, 1836. C. N. BEMENT. 
Cneymans, 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 dis¬ 
solved, and poured down when dangerous, and there is no doubt of 
an absolute cure. It should be given once a month, and they will 
never have bots. I learned it from a Pennsylvania German, and 
have practised it 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 cions 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 com¬ 
mences for setting, which is as soon as the leaves begin to start, I 
set my grafts. I use a composition of two parts rosin, one of bees¬ 
wax, and one of tallow, 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 compo¬ 
sition 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. 
.. - ! " L " - - 
[The following Report of the Corresponding Secretary of the State Agricul¬ 
tural Society, came to hand too late for its place in our last.] 
The corresponding secretary of the agricultural society of the 
state of New-York, begs leave to report, that since the last meet¬ 
ing of the society, he has received no communications on the sub¬ 
ject of agriculture of sufficient interest to lay before this meeting. 
The establishment of papers having for their express object the dif 
fusion of information on the different branches of husbandry, and 
their extensive circulation, has, in a measure, superseded the neces¬ 
sity of corresponding with the secretary of this society. Many 
gentlemen now send their communications through those papers im¬ 
mediately to the public, which is probably the best disposition of 
them that ca^i be made, inasmuch as they are of public interest, all 
who wish to be benefitted may peruse them at an early day. Al¬ 
though he is happy to perceive and be informed that communica¬ 
tions through these channels are becoming both more numerous 
and interesting, yet he would still, in behalf of the society, solicit 
a correspondence on subjects connected with its objects, with gen¬ 
tlemen who may be disposed to favor him with their communica¬ 
tions, in the hope that these communications might tend to give 
more interest to our annual meetings. So far as at this time as 
this is a subject of regret, it may, perhaps, be construed into an evi¬ 
dence that this society does not so fully meet the expectations of 
its friends and supporters, as could be wished, or that the public 
