THE CULTIVATOR. 
7 
flowering-; and previous to being transplanted into the open ground 
the last of May, the former may be divided so as to leave one 
sprout to each plant—one being better than many. Tire Dahlia is 
almost as tenacious of life as the potato, and may be propagated by 
sprouts—started early in pots, they frequently come into flower in 
June, and continue in bloom till tire autumnal frosts. When plant¬ 
ed out, they should have a strong stake driven by the side of them, 
do which they may be tied as they progress in growth. Six feet is 
a proper interval to be left between them. [For directions to 
make hot-beds, see p. 6, vol. 2.] 
Gypsum .—If Sir Humphrey Davy and others are right,in sup¬ 
posing that plaster of Paris constitutes a specific food for some 
plants, and that it requires four or five hundred parts of water to 
•render it soluble, so that it may be taken up by their absorbent ves¬ 
sels—and we are inclined to believe they are right—plaster ought 
to be sown upen grass grounds in March, so that the vernal rains 
-may carry it into the soil, where there is constant moisture to de¬ 
compose it, and where the roots, the mouths of plants, are waiting 
to receive it. There is much doubt among farmers, as to the man¬ 
ner in which this mineral benefits farm crops, and whether it bene¬ 
fits only a few, and which these are. It is generally conceded, that 
•upon porous and dry soils, it does benefit clovers, corn, potatoes, 
peas, and, generally all plants having broad and succulent leaves. 
But it is a matter of doubt, at least in our minds, whether its appli¬ 
cation is directly beneficial to timothy, wheat, rye, or barley. Now 
is the time for every farmer to satisfy himself upon these points.— 
Let him sow a strip of his grass in March, another strip in April, 
and another in May, with gypsum, and note the difference, if any. 
Let him sow a strip on his wheat, his rye, his timothy, and his har¬ 
tley, leaving adjoining par s unplastered. The results cannot fail 
to instruct him in its operation and its use. Facts thus es’ablished 
by repeated observation, become science, and are useful to the 
world ; and although the term miv be contemned by the ignorant 
farmer, it constitutes the basis of all improvement in the arts of ci¬ 
vilization and refinement. Any experiments made in pursuance of 
these suggestions, will be gratefully received and recorded. 
THE FARMER. 
‘'■Repect thyself ,” is the first step towards commanding the re¬ 
spect of others. This maxim does not receive the regard which it 
is entitled to among our northern farmers, either individually or col¬ 
lectively. There is no class in society who have at command more 
of the elements of public usefulness, of unshackled independence, 
and of true greatness, than the tillers of the soil; and yet they suc¬ 
cumb, without a murmur, in public matters, to the control of others, 
and by their own acts belittle the noblest employment of life. In 
the south, the proprietor, or planter takes, and others concide to 
him, the first rauk in society, because the soil, the fixed, abiding 
wealth of the country, is his, and because he qualifies himself, by 
education, to assume and sustain his just rights.’ With us the case 
is different. Education is too much contemned, or neglected. We 
mean that sort of education which enlarges the human faculties, 
and teaches man his rights and his duties—and which enables him 
to bring the powerful energies of his mind to co-operate with the 
physical powers of his body. We tee many of our farmers seek¬ 
ing to elevate their condition, by becoming innkeepers, merchants, 
or public officers; and others, as if ashamed of their calling, or not 
knowing how to estimate its advantages, sending their sons to learn 
the chicanery of the law, or initiating them into the mysteries of 
mercantile duplicity, in order to make them gentlemen! Mistaken 
men! There are none in society more truly gentlemen, than well ed¬ 
ucated exemplary farmers—none so independent—none more useful 
—none so honorable—none who so largely realize and acknowledge 
the bounties of Providence, or who so efficiently contribute to the 
happiness of the human family. And it costs no more to make a 
gentleman practical farmer, than it does to make a gentleman law¬ 
yer, a gentleman merchant, or an idle good-for-nothing gentleman. 
The human rnind expands more, on nature’s broad domain, than it 
can in the pent-up town; it sends abroad further the diffusive lights 
of its knowledge—it is less mercenary and selfish, and glows with 
a holier fervor of love to God and good will to man. “ God made 
the country—man the city.” 
If the firmer would imitate what is truly commendable in those 
he considers the higher classes, rejecting their extravagnees 
and follies—if he would improve his own mind, and educate his 
children in what is useful and accomplished, and in habits of indus¬ 
try and frugality—if he would exhibit a,pattern of neat and profit¬ 
able farming, multiply the comforts of his house and his garden, 
embellish his grounds, and exercise affection and kindness to all 
around him—his children would not wish to leave him, nor would 
he wish to send them to other employments, to exalt them in rank, 
or to improve otherwise their condition in life. George Washing¬ 
ton, confessedly the greatest and best man of our age or country, 
was practically a farmer, and the son of a farmer-. 
ANSWER TO QUERIES. 
A. Wethei'bee inquires: 1. “ What is the best and most expeditious method 
of clearing forests of their first growth ? 
2. “Is it better to manufacture the ashes into potash, or to let them lie on the 
ground ? 
3. “ Should the land, after clearing, be ploughed before sowing or seeding, 
or will it be better to harrow the seed in ? 
4. “ How can new land behest brought into grass, and will the plough or 
harrow be required to stock it down 1” 
We are of opinion that Mr. Wetherbee would have obtained a 
better solution of his questions in the neighborhood of his unclear¬ 
ed grounds, or of some pioneer settlers, than we can furnish him. 
Nevertheless we will give brief answers, which may serve till he 
can get better ones. Our answers are predicated on the supposi¬ 
tion, that his is a dense hard-wood forest—and that the object is 
not to save, except for fences, but to destroy, all the wood and tim¬ 
ber. 
1. Cut down all the timber—except it is intended to leave for a 
leisure time some of the large trees—in May or June, after the fo¬ 
liage is well out, -cut the butsinto suitable lengths for fence or log¬ 
ging, and lop the limbs and branches. In a dry time in August, or 
early in September, set fire to the fallow. The more thoroughly 
it burns the better will be the crop. Pick up and burn the brush, 
if any has escaped the fire, and draw off the logs for fence, or roll 
them into piles and burn them. 
2. Collect the ashes from the log heaps, and manufacture from 
them salts or potash. There will he enough remaining to benefit 
the crop. 
3 and 4. The land should be thoroughly harrowed with a heavy 
triangular drag, the grain and grass seed sown, and thoroughly 
harrowed in. If the land is not wanted for tillage, it should lay 
three or four years in grass, till the roots and stumps have sensibly 
decayed,and then—and not till then—break up with a strong plough, 
and four oxen, and collect and burn the roots and loose stumps. 
Much depends upon the burning. If the leaves and sticks which 
have accumulated on the surface are not pretty much burnt, they 
will become dry, and the seeds will fail to germinate for want of 
moisture. The fire has also a benign influence upon the surface 
soil, in neutralizing or destroying salts and acids that are hurtful, 
and producing those that are alkaline, and stimulating, and benefi¬ 
cial to vegetation. 
A. Wood, Jr., inquires: 1. “Does the moon have any effect upon our cops, 
in the time of planting or sowing?” Answer —No. 
2. “ What effect does the sun have upon man or beast in passing through the 
twelve signs of the zodiac 1” Answer —None that is perceptible. 
Sow and plant in good season, when the soil is well prepared for 
the seed, and perform the operations upon domestic animals with¬ 
out reference to the sign. 
Fat Sheep. —Our market, as is usual at this season, exhibits 
superior specimens of mutton, of New Leicester, Hampshire and 
South Down breeds. Of the latter, there were several, fattened 
by C. N. Bement, exclusively on ruta baga, which attracted par¬ 
ticular notice. The South Downs are celebrated for producing the 
best fat-lean , and well flavored mutton, which brings the highest 
price in the London market. We see also that our friends Hallock, 
of Marlborough, Ulster, whose good farming we had occasion to 
commend in our December number, has been selling his Leicesters 
at $15 per head, and that the buyer resold them at New-York at 
$20. Messrs. Hallocks have on hand two, for which they have 
refused $40 each. They weigh two hundred pounds each. 
White Mulberies.— The frequent inquiry for these induces us 
to suggest, that persons who have large quantities to sell, may be¬ 
nefit themselves by notifying us, free of charge, of the fact, their 
condition, and the price, by the hundred, thousand, or five thousand. 
