52 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Jan. 14, 1835.—Half a bushel of ears of Dutton corn weighed 20 lbs. The 
rain when shelled, weighed 15 lbs. 11 oz. The cobs weighed 4 lbs. 4 oz.— 
'he grain measured nearly nine quarts. 
Half a bushel of ears of the eight-rowed weighed 20 lbs. 11 oz. The grain 
weighed 17 lbs. 1 oz. The cobs weighed 3 lb. 10 oz. The grain measured 
nine quarts.* 
Our grass seed is sown in the following manner:—After the oats or barley 
are about four inches high, the grass seed is sown, and a roller with a bush 
fastened behind it, is immediately passed over the field, which covers the seed 
sufficiently, and makes the field very level, without injuring the barley or oats, 
which in three or four days are up as straight as ever. 
Last spring half an acre of lucerne was sown in this manner on barley, and 
When the winter commenced, it was as thick as it could stand, and nearly two 
feet high, while the common red clover in the same field was only one-third of 
that height. 
On the same farm, the last season, six hundred bushels of mangel wurtzel 
were raised from half an acre and eight perches of land, being at the rate of 
1,088 bushels per acre. The ground was manured with coarse manure; three 
pounds of seed were sown in rows, two feet apart, and tilled with the culti¬ 
vator only. The hand weeding m the rows was amply compensated after 
midsummer, by the thinnings out, which kept eight pigs till corn was ripe.— 
The expense of cultivation was about the same as if the ground had been 
planted with potatoes. Respectfully yours, 
_ CHARLES H. TOMLINSON. 
ON THE UTILITY OF SAVINGS RANKS IN THE COUNTRY. 
Hamplonburgh, Or. Co. Feb. 17, 1836. 
J. Buee, Esq.— Sir —Having for a long time been of the opinion, that it 
would be a desirable thing to nave established in the several towns of the 
state, Banks for Savings, where the poor and industrious of all classes, the 
mechanic, the day laborer, the house servant and many others, could safely 
deposite their earnings, and where they could leceive an interest on their an¬ 
nual accumulations, I venture to make the suggestion through the columns 
of your publication. It strikes me, that it would hold out strong inducements 
to all to be more provident and industrious. At present, the greatest num¬ 
ber of some of the classes referred to, spend as fast or faster than they earn, in 
useless extravagance, or in some other way still more objectionable, and con¬ 
sequently always remain poor, and in case of sickness or accident, become a 
public charge. Whereas, could they conveniently and safely deposite in a Sav¬ 
ings Bank, all surplus earnings, a large proportion would probably, when made 
acquainted with its object, avail themselves of its advantages, and thus become 
useful members of the community. I am deeply impressed with the idea, 
that much good would result from the establishment of such institutions, and 
have thus imperfectly and crudely made the suggestion, with the hope that 
some able and influential writer will advocate the measure with his mind and 
pen. W. W. J. 
Remarks. —There is no doubt that Savings Banks would be as beneficial in 
the country as in the city, where these advantages are manifestly great. But 
there are two serious difficulties—that of inducing responsible persons to take 
charge of such banks, gratuitously, and the difficulty of making investments 
of the moneys deposited.— Cond. 
MERINO vs. SAXONS. 
Mr. Buel — Dear Sir —The recent discussion that has appeared in your 
paper upon the subject of “ Old Fashioned Merinos,” I think cannot be totally 
void of interest, especially to the wool growing portion of community. The 
discussion has called forth remarks from those who still retain some of the re¬ 
mains of the Merino blood, as well as from those who are still breeding a race 
of sheep denominated the Saxony, who seem to be sincere in their belief, that 
the Saxony sheep are the best calculated for a flock for the farmer. But, sir, 
happening to be a practical farmer and a wool grower at the present time, and 
having a flock of sheep composed of a few “ old fashioned Merinos,” the re¬ 
mainder Saxonys, permit me to oiler a few plain remarks upon the two breeds 
of sheep. Having been in the farming business but a year or two, conse¬ 
quently my knowledge cannot be very extensive, but what I have learned re¬ 
specting sheep husbandry, has been principally by experience, and notwith¬ 
standing the labored communications that have appeared in your paper, in 
support of the Saxony breed of sheep, yet I am thoroughly convinced , that the 
“ old fashioned Merino,” or as one of your correspsndents has expressed him¬ 
self, the “ American Merino,” must be the breed of sheep from which the 
farmer and wool grower can expect to realize their income. When I first turn¬ 
ed my attention to farming and to sheep husbandry, there was a great fever 
throughout the country, toobtain the Saxony sheep, and to quickly dispose of 
the Merinos, for we were repeatedly told that from the former we could real¬ 
ize double the profit; consequently in selecting my flock, I did not purchase 
any but what was of the pure Saxony breed. The loss that I have sustained 
is very great, and my neighbors have all shared the same fate with me. I am 
now disposing, as fast as possible, of my delicate Saxonys, and supplying 
their places with strong and healthy “ old fashioned Merinos.” We have re¬ 
peatedly been told, through the medium of your paper, (and certainly with a 
great deal of truth,) that the Merinos are a hardy race of sheep, strong consti¬ 
tution and exactly fitted for our cold climate, while the Saxonys are a delicate, 
tender breed of sheep, weak constitution, and unable to withstand the severi¬ 
ty of our northern winters. 1 am confident that the farmer loses nothing in 
giving his flock of sheep grain during the winter, but he will be the gainer, 
for in his Merinos he will perceive an improvement in their looks; but in the 
Saxonys, notwithstanding he may give them grain, yet in the spring they be¬ 
gin to loose their flesh, their appetites are gone, and they become weak and 
sickly, and this too at a time when they ought to be in good heart, to be ena¬ 
bled to take care of their young; but they being in such a miserable condition, 
* The important inquiry is, which variety produces the most grain in a row, 
or on an acre—which ripens earliest?— Conductor. 
their lambs die, and if the mother survives the wool is checked in its growth, 
and consequently does not shear but about two-thirds of a fleece. Thus you 
see, the farmer loses his lambs, together with a part of his fleece. This is not 
the result of mismanagement—for let a flock of Saxony sheep receive the ut¬ 
most care and attention possible, in a measure the condition of the flock will 
be similar to what I have said above. The subject of sheep husbandry is, at 
the present day, one of great importance, and I sincerely hope that we shall 
see many more communications in your paper upon that subject. 
Yours, &c. G. T. 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY—No. V. 
Mr. Editor —In the February number of the Cultivator, I unexpectedly 
noticed the compliment on my “ rounded periods.” Being now only a plain 
practical farmer, I had not attended particularly to their configuration, hold¬ 
ing the subject matter more important than the manner. I hope no critic will 
attack the subject matter, for I am ill disposed to controversy. As F. is so far 
removed from A. B., I feel unwilling to approximate in a controversial way 
upon a subject of common interest. This thing ought to be conducted other¬ 
wise. 
I have not yet arrived at the point of embracing the whole medley of the first 
importation of Spanish sheep, Escurial, Montaru, Gaudaloupe, Paulaur, Ne- 
gretto, &c. At that early period we were but imperfectly acquainted with 
their distinctions; and mainly influenced by the importance of the acquisition of 
Spanish sheep. And then to have this business so deserted, and these sheep 
so degraded 1 as to be even rejected by the butcher-, and now, because the 
price of wool has advanced the price of sheep, to say, give us our “ old fash¬ 
ioned merinos.” 
If we go to the drover or the butcher, they will reply, they were not worth 
preserving. Gone, gone. 
If we could have them as they came from Spain, they would be an admix¬ 
ture of all flocks; this to my mind is not “ distinctive.” 
Mr. Gilbert, member of the National Institute of France, whom I have for¬ 
merly quoted, in speaking of the stock from which the Rambouilet was derived, 
says, “ but having been chosen from a great number of flocks, in different parts 
of the kingdom, they were distinguished by very striking differences which 
formed a medley disagreeable to the eye.” We hear of no disposition in the 
managers of Rambouilet to “ retrograde” to this old fashioned period. 
Mr. Jarvis has done this thing in better style; he has told us in the Cultiva¬ 
tor, No. 10, page 155, that he has kept his Saxony, Escurial, Paulaur, &c. se¬ 
parate—and with great frankness says, “ there is very little difference between 
my Saxon and Escurial fleeces.” And further observes, “ my Merinos carry¬ 
ing much heavier fleeces than in 1810.” Whence then this feverish sensitive¬ 
ness to “ old fashioned merinos"? If gentlemen, with the discriminating views 
and practice of Mr. Jarvis, will take sheep, of the different Spanish flocks, and 
the Electoral Merino; preserve them pure, keep them distinct, then might 
they present their experience for public examination. Otherwise I must con¬ 
sider “ old fashioned merino ” as even a bad “ barn yard phrase.” 
If any one had asserted that the Paulaur is a large, hardy sheep, a heavy 
shearer, and for those who keep a few sheep, or bestow little care; and parti¬ 
cularly for those who manufacture their own wool, is preferable to the Electo¬ 
ral or Escurial, I should not have controverted it, in my own “ chimney cor¬ 
ner.” 
All those who are particularly devoted to antiquity and principled against 
improvement, would be unmolested in this harmless enjoyment, unless they 
place themselves in the way of the grand progress of modern improvement, 
and discrimination. When all the other occupations of mankind are evincing 
their skill and advancement, I should feel ashamed of farming, if it was neces¬ 
sarily so low as to remain stationary 1 much more to be compelled to “ retro- 
gade.” 
The term Saxony sheep, and old fashioned merinos, are both too indefinite 
to satisfy a good shepherd, which I have endeavored to illustrate in my pre¬ 
ceding numbers. I intend to hold myself to the last, opposed to carrying re¬ 
finement too far, in any shape, or under any denomination. From my peculiar 
locality, I availed myself of die opportunity of procuring by selection, Saxony 
sheep and merinos, of most of the Spanish flocks, and of rescuing the remnants 
of some choice flocks from the knife of the butcher. 
An opinion has arisen in the minds of some, and undoubtedly an honest one, 
that Saxony sheep have ruined our flocks. I would refer them to my first 
number in the Cultivator, to show that all the sheep denominated Saxony, 
ought not to be admitted as an improvement. I have had among my Saxony 
and Escurial, individual sheep exceedingly fine; but with open, thin fleeces, 
delicate and tender, flat-sided and poor nurses. And I find them equally among 
both. These I exclude from propagating. And no flock of merinos of any de¬ 
scription can be sustained or improved in any other way. 
I am confident that it will be ultimately acceded by those who now doubt, 
and those who now controvert the opinion, that the Electoral close woolled 
merino, is an improvement on the Spanish. And 1 am mainly desirous to ex¬ 
cite our shepherds and growers of wool, to the use of the same means which 
have elevated the Electoral and Rambouilet flocks. And to me the way seems 
open. In estimating the difference of latitude between Saxony and New-York, 
in whose favor would it fall ? Are we better or worse shepherds ? They rear 
lambs and produce fine wool for exportation. 
My Saxony sheep are subjected to the same exposure with my merinos, 
which they have sustained equally well. They have thick heavy fleeces, 
averaging with my merinos, but evidently and decidedly finer and more elas¬ 
tic. One of my Electoral bucks last year, sheared five pounds of washed wool. 
They were not during the last severe winter sheltered more than five nights. 
We do not farm in exotic greenhouse style in this part of the great state. 
All that can be reasonably asked of the editor or the public, is candid exami¬ 
nation and patient experience. We are all aiming at one object, and why 
should we fall out by the way? Respectfully yours, F. 
P. S. I suppose the admission of stricture and animadversion necessarily in- 
