THE CULTIVATOR. 
81 
night; and, sir, I raise as many lambs from my Saxons as any of 
my neighbors, in proportion to number of ewes from Merino or na¬ 
tive flocks. My present lot of wool brings more than any other in the 
county, and very nearly as heavy fleeces as my former lot of Meri¬ 
nos. I wall now proceed to give you an account of the manner of 
wintering the past severe winter, with the present condition of my 
flock: the old ones, that is, all but lambs and a few old ewes, 160, were 
kept together in my yard without shelter, and with no other food than 
good fine hay, and free access to a trough of pure water; the hay 
well salted when put in the mow, and, sir, on the first day of April, 
numbered the same as in the fall, healthy and robust; and from 
about 100 ewes, have this day, May 11, rising seventy fine healthy 
lambs, and ten or fifteen more to bring lambs. And now, sir, if you 
think tills worthy a place in your paper, you are at liberty to pub¬ 
lish it. Yours respectfully, 
Oxford, N. Y., May 11, 1836. _IRA NOBLE. 
THE UTILITY OF COUNTRY SAVINGS BANKS DEMONSTRATED. 
Mr. Buel—Sir— In the Cultivator for May, I saw an article “ On 
the utility of Savings Banks in the Country” from W. W. J. No¬ 
thing would give me greater satisfaction, if I were capable of using 
language as “able and influential” as W. W. J., than to write an ar- 
ticle on that subject in answer, as I have had some experience in "the 
care of such an institution for nearly twelve years, in a country town 
of 2,300 inhabitants. Supposing the state government should enact 
a general law, to enable any town in the state to establish institu¬ 
tions for savings upon such a plan, as will give all the privileges ne¬ 
cessary to have for its management, by leaving a copy of the articles 
of their association with the secretary of state, and conform to the 
general laws. Perhaps the general law ought, however, to be on 
a liberal plan, especially where no other bank exists in the town; 
as if the trustees should make application for a loan, or if they should 
offer to be responsible for others. 
Probably such an institution in nearly all the towns of the state, 
would do away the necessity of having but very few of the common 
money making banks now existing. We have had a bank for sav¬ 
ings in our town for nearly twelve years. It began with several op¬ 
ponents, and for a while was rather unpopular. At the first meet¬ 
ing of doing business, five individuals deposited eight dollars in the 
whole ; from which time it went on with a steady increase for nine 
years, to the memorable panic times, when it amounted to $8,000 ; 
however, within three or four months’ time one-third of the amount 
was called out by the depositors, and nearly two years passed by 
before we had in the bank the same amount again. We have been, 
generally, successful, and have never lost a debt, find no difficulty 
in lending the monies, and have always been ready to pay off to de¬ 
positors, with their five per cent interest, by their giving the requir¬ 
ed notice. We now have a surplus fund over and above paying the 
principal and five per cent interest, and all expenses of its manage¬ 
ment ; but this could not be, had not the trustees given their servi¬ 
ces, and the treasurer taken up with a trifling sum. 
The operation of this bank has broken up the note shaving busi¬ 
ness in this place, and I think it has wonderfully lessened the num¬ 
ber of writs against poor debtors. 
Our mode of receiving monies for deposites is the same as with 
other savings banks, but m loaning the monies, we endeavor to ac¬ 
commodate the borrower likewise. The smallest sum we lend is 
$10, for 120 days. This is considered, probably, by most of the in¬ 
habitants, to be one of the best institutions among us. 
This bank never was incorporated. It has had no chartered privi¬ 
leges, nor no legislative restrictions, but to obey the state laws. 
This institution, from appearances, has benefitted more people, 
without injuring any, excepting half a dozen note shavers and one 
or two lawyers, than any other similar institution in the country, ac¬ 
cording to the amount of its deposites. 
One part of your remarks is correct, wherein you say: There is a 
difficulty—that of inducing responsible persons to take charge of 
such banks gratuitously. We may, however, conclude, that the in¬ 
habitants of many towns would subscribe one or two hundred dol¬ 
lars to make the first deposite, and let it be drawn out as needed, 
to defray the expenses, until a surplus fund has accumulated sufficient 
to do it. G. T. E. C. 
Enfield, Ct., May 23, 1836. _ 
BEMENT’S TURNIP DRILL. 
Mr Buel—T here is scarcely any part of the extensive and im¬ 
portant science of agriculture that has received greater improve¬ 
ment within these few years, than that relating to the construction 
of farming utensils. D ' uon 
Among the great variety of different implements which have been 
presented, to the attention of the farmers, some, as may be rea -] ] 
conceived, have appeared, that are evidently much too expensive 
and complicated in their construction, for the purposes intended • a a 
others, probably from a want of practical information in the inven 
tor, have not been properly adapted to the uses for which they were 
designed; but in general they have been such as have contributed 
much to the present very improved state of the art. 
The first drill machine was invented by a German, and Drescnted 
to the court of Spain, in 1647; but it appears, from a communica 
tion to the Board of Agriculture m Britain, that a sort of rude drill 
or drill-plough has been in use in India from time immemorial 
“In the construction of all implements of this sort,” says Dickin 
son, m Ins Treatise on Agriculture, “the greatest attention should 
be paid to have them as simple in their construction as possible in 
order that they may be used without difficulty by those who have 
but little knowledge of the nature of such machinery; muc h care 
should also be taken to have them so made as that they may ner 
form their work with correctness; that the seeds, of whatsoever 
land, may be delivered and deposited in the ground with the great 
est evenness and regularity; and that they may not be bruised or 
injured in any way during the application; as the want of proper 
attention to these particulars seems to have considerably retarded 
the progress of the drill system of cultivation.” 
nothing more or less than a modification of the Northumberland 
Drill. It consists of a frame and wheel, fig. 4, with a grooved nave 
to receive the band, which passes round a pully on the end of the 
tin cylinder, fig. 2, barrel-shaped, the centre pierced with holes for 
the seed to escape into a funnel which conducts them to the drill 
fig. 3, which forms the rut, and deposites the seed. Fig. 1, is a cast- 
iron roller which follows, covers and presses the earth to' the seed 
In using, the laborer pushes it before him, sows and covers one" row 
at a time. From three to four acres in a light soil, placing the 
rows thirty inches apart, may be put in per day if required & It is 
very simple in its construction, very light, and not liable to iret out 
of repair, and can be used by a boy or any person who can walk on 
a straight line. 
They are manufactured by the subscriber, and sold by him at 82 
State-street, and Win. Thorburn’s Seed Store, Market-st., Albanv 
price $8. ■>’ 
„ ?^ le £ s rna y also be left a t 94 Broad-street, or at Huxlev & 
Co. s, 102 Barclay-street, New-York. " ^ 
Albany, April, 1836. CALEB N. BEMENT. 
,, „ „ Sherburne, May 17, 183 6. 
Mr. Buel—Sir— Can you prescribe any feasible plan to destroy 
weavels Iff not, I wish you would ask the question in the Cultiva- 
tor, possibly it may catch the eye of some person that can, and you 
will obhge a MILLER & SUBSCRIBER. 
Answer The Society of Meux, in France, recommend that cloths, made of 
ilax or hemp, be soaked in water, wrung out and spread over the grain. In 
two hours time all the weavels will be upon it. It must then be carefully 
gathered up, that none of the insects may escape, and immersed in water to 
destroy them. A plant of henbane, placed in the middle of the corn will 
drive them away. The like efficacy is ascribed to cloth saturated with nitre 
and also to aromatic herbs, as mint, sage, &c. We have tried none of the<=e 
means, but notice them on the authority of the Domestic Encyclopaedia The 
shavings of red cedar, which are odorous, and cloths sprinkled with spirits of 
turpentine, will preserve woollens from the ravages of moth, in summer 
They may be efficacious, in grain, to protect it from weave]. 
