THE CULTIVATOR. 
79 
The difference, about two tons, was hardly equal to the difference 
in the weight of seed. From a series of experiments made by the 
society, they publish the opinion, “that, in order to acquire the 
greatest possible weight of potatoes, per acre, it is necessary that 
large, heavy sound tubers should be employed; and that the space 
allowed for the growth of each plant, should be as nearly as possi¬ 
ble such as it would naturally occupy, if suffered to spread freely on 
all soils without interruption ; that this space will vary according to 
the habits of different varieties, and can only be determined by ac¬ 
tual experiments ; and that too much, and too little room, are alike 
injurious to productiveness. Finally, that it is quite practicable to 
double the crops that are usually obtained.” 
Mr. Knight raised 34 tons 9 cwt. per acre, which, estimating the 
bushel at 60 lbs. would be about 1,166 bushels to the acre ; and he 
is of opinion that still larger crops may be obtained. The soil was 
a rich garden mould, and the manure employed was chiefly decayed 
oak leaves. The tubers were planted nine inches in the soil, and 
the mould was afterwards raised three inches higher in ridges, to 
guard the young plants from frost. 
The Rohan Potato, a new variety which has lately appeared in 
Switzerland, surpasses all others in size and productiveness, and is 
said to be very farinaceous and of excellent flavor. Three tubers, 
chosen at random, weighed 13 lb. 11 oz., 11 lb. 9 oz., and 9 lb. 13 
oz., and a small tuber, having only four eyes, weighing, when plant¬ 
ed, a few grains less than half an ounce, produced 48| lbs. The 
earth is dug 20 inches deep, and the sets, containing two or three 
eyes, are dibbled in, four feet apart. This statement is from The 
Cultivator, of Jan. 1835, published in Switzerland. A dozen tubers 
of the Rohan potato have been received from France, and planted 
by a friend in the county of Greene; so that if they are as valuable 
n§s represented, we are likely to profit by them. 
rf - -* « 
‘■'■Come, let us reason the matter together.” —It is a practice with 
many farmers, in ploughing sward ground, to endeavor to turn the 
furrow-slice entirely over, so that the grass side shall lie flat in the 
preceding furrow; while others lap every furrow-slice on the one 
which precedes it, so that it reposes in an angle of 45 D . The latter 
is called the improved mode of ploughing. When the furrow-slice 
Is laid quite flat, “the weight and tenacity of the soil consolidate its 
surface almost immediately, and obstructs the action of the weather 
in breaking down the texture of the soil, as well as that of the har¬ 
rows in raising a tilth, or the greatest depth of mould for covering 
the seeds,” and if the surface is level and the soil tenacious, the wa¬ 
ter when in excess, having no passage under, reposes upon the top 
of the sod. But when the furrow-slice is lapped upon the preceding 
one, in an angle of about 45 D , every furrow forms an underdrain for 
the passage or reception of the water, leaving the surface dry; the 
greatest possible surface of soil is exposed to the influence of the 
atmosphere; the soil is kept loose and porous by the breaking down 
of the sod, as the roots of the grasses in it decay, and the harrow, 
by reducing the projecting angles of the furrow-slice, readily pro¬ 
duces a fine and deep tilth. 
STANDARD WEIGHT OF GRAIN. 
By a law passed at the last session of the Legislature, the stan¬ 
dard weight of grain is as follows: 
Wheat, the bushel,.... 60 lbs. Barley, the bushel,.. • 48 lbs. 
Rye and Corn, do. .... 58 “ Oats, do. ... 32 « 
New Plough. —We have received notice of a material improve¬ 
ment in the plough, made by Thomas Midford of Hyde-Park. The 
advantages of this improved, over the common plough, are repre¬ 
sented, by our correspondent, to consist—1. In requiring but half 
the power of a common plough to propel it; 2. The facility with 
which it may be regulated, as to breadth and depth of furrow-slice; 
3. In requiring no one to hold or guide it, except to enter it at the 
ends of the furrow, which may be done by the team-boy; and 4. In 
performing the work better than any ploughman can do it with the 
common plough. Such are its advantages as represented to us. If 
it possesses half of them, Mr. Midford has effected an important im¬ 
provement. 
The Grape. —Dr. Hogg, a British traveller, speaking of the luxu¬ 
riant growth of vegetables upon the older lavas at the base of Mount 
Etna, says, “ t The grapes are here universally cut down to within six 
inches of the ground, a mode of cultivation which accounts for the 
superior excellence and strength of Sicilian wines.” 
ESSEX (Mass.) AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
We love to refer our read.-rs to this society, because it is an old 
one, has done and is doing much good, and its organization and 
means promise to perpetuate its usefulness. It has-been eighteen 
years in operation. Its permanent vested funds exceed $6,000, the 
income of which is about $600; and other $600 are annually drawn 
from the state treasury, thus affording the society about $1,200 
per annum, to be awarded in premiums, and to defray expenses. 
Their proceedings are annually published in a handsome 8vo. 
pamphlet, of about 100 pages, the last of which has been kindly 
sent to us by the secretary, J. W. Proctor, Esq. The address af¬ 
fords a happy illustration of the advantages which have resulted 
from agricultural societies down east. “ I suppose,” (we quote the 
words of a reverend clergyman)—“ that ten bushels of rye to the 
acre, twenty of Indian corn, one ton of English hay, and 200 bu¬ 
shels of potatoes, were formerly considered as average crops. 
Since premiums have been offered, we have claims for from forty 
to fifty bushels of rye, from one hundred to one hundred and twen¬ 
ty-two of corn, from three to four tons of hay, and from four to 
five hundred bushels of potatoes. Our improvements have not 
been confined to single acres; irrseveral instances the products of 
entire farms have been more than quadrupled.” 
We extract from the pamphlet of 1835, some facts from which 
others may profit. D. Putnam drilled in half an acre of corn, one- 
third early in May, one-third late in that month, and the other 
third 10th June, to furnish a succession of green food for his coivs. 
The produce amounted to eight tons. Mr. Putnam has an acre of 
irrigated meadow, the product of which was one and a. half tons of 
hay f 
Elias Phinney, of Lexington, raises three good crops with one 
ploughing, viz: corn, rye and grass. His practice is, to manure 
well a piece of greensward, plough and plant it with corn in drills; 
cultivate superficially, so as not to break the sod, but never to make 
hills; gather his corn crop, then run a shallow furrow through the 
rows, sow rye and timothy, and smooth off with a bush harrow_ 
the second year cut his rye, and the third year his grass. Two 
acres thus managed, produced 140 bushels corn, 69J bushels rye 
and five tons of hay in three seasons. 
The pamphlet contains an interesting paper, drawn up by the 
Rev. H. Colman, on cutting and preparing food for cattle and 
horses, in which many facts are adduced to show the saving of fod¬ 
der effected by the practice. We quote two of the many cases in 
the statement: 
1. In 1816, Mr. Hale, proprietor of a line of stages running from 
Newburyport to Boston, purchased for his stable, from April 1 to 
October 1, six months, and fed uncut, 32 tons, 4 cwt. 10 lbs, hay, 
at $25 per ton,.$800 00 
From October 1 to April 1, 1817, he pur¬ 
chased for the same teams, and cut, 
Straw 16 tons, 13 cwt. 3 qrs. 10 lbs.- •• 160 23 
Hay 13 “ 14 “ 1 “ 0 “ ... 350 00 
- $510 23 
Deduct on hand April 1, by estimation, four tons 
more than there was Oct. 1, at $25 per ton,- 100 00 
—- 410 23 
Saving, by the use of the straw cutter, in six months, • • $390 77 
Consumed by 25 horses belonging to the Salem stage, from 
April 1 to Oct.. 1 , 1816, and fed uncut, 22 tons at $30*. • $660 00 
Consumed by the same horses from October 1 
to April 1, 1817, cut, 
Straw 15 tons 13 cwt..$187 80 
Hay 2 “ 15 “ . 81 00 
- 268 80 
Saving in using chopped fodder,. 391 20 
Total saving in using straw cutter nine months, 
At Newburyport, .$389 77 
At Salem,. 391 20 
- $780 97 
The horses had the same allowance of grain during both periods. 
2. Mr. Shelden, of Beverly, took accurate account of the feed 
required for his stock of fifty-one head of horses and neat cattle, 
when fed uncut and when cut; the result was, he saved $2-86 per 
