82 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
•K 
EXPRIMENTS WITH SWEDISH AND OTHER TURNIPS—BAD PROSPECTS OF 
THE CORN CROP, &C. 
Mr. Buel —Encouraged by the kind invitations you have so of¬ 
ten given to young farmers, to make known through the columns of 
the Cultivator, the result of their agricultural experiments, I will in¬ 
form you of my success in cultivating the ruta baga. I was led to 
its cultivation by the high recommendation you gave it, for I never 
saw it until growing in my own field—the farmers in this section be¬ 
ing generally unacquainted with the root or its value. The ground 
selected, was a gravelly, sandy soil, and had been tilled, without 
manure, for five successive years, and the three last years in pota¬ 
toes, by the tenant who occupied the premises, consequently it was 
very poor. The spot on which they were sown was but the one- 
fifteenth of an acre, in one corner of the field. The field was plough¬ 
ed in May, and lay until the time of sowing, June 30th, when I drew 
on four loads of short manure, the scrapings of my barn-yard. This 
was spread evenly, and three bushels of ashes and one peck of plas¬ 
ter sowed on it, the whole ploughed in and harrowed level, and the 
seed sowed by hand in drills, eighteen mches apart. They were 
afterwards dressed out by hand four times, on account of the ground 
being very weedy, but were not thinned until the last hoeing, when 
the tops soon covered the ground, the rows overspreading each other. 
After pulling, topping and cutting off the roots I had 55 J bushels, 
good measure, being at the rate of833 bushels to the acre. I observed 
your directions in securing them for winter, and on opening the pit 
this spring, found them as sound as when placed there. My cattle 
evinced an uncommon fondness for them, and they were of great 
service to my cows. I considered them well worth three shillings 
per bushel, when hay was selling for $20 per ton. 
I had likewise some turnips of the green and red top variety cul¬ 
tivated by the side of the ruta baga, in the same manner; the yield 
was a fine one ; but this spring they were pithy and fight, while the 
Swedes were sound and heavy. I was so pleased with this root that 
I intend hereafter to cultivate it more extensively, and as far as I 
am able, induce the farmers of my neighborhood to commence it. 
The errors I committed were, first, the rows were placed too close 
togethered ; and second, they were not thinned in season, two seri¬ 
ous injuries to the crop. 
A receipt for the cure of bots in horses, extracted from the Gene¬ 
see Farmer, in the second number of the second volume of the Cul¬ 
tivator, I have no doubt saved the fife of one of my fiorses. He was 
so far gone with the disease, and enfeebled by the pain he endured, 
as to be unable to rise, and was pronounced beyond recovery by a 
number of persons present. I recollected this remedy, procured the 
ingredients and put them down him, in fifteen minutes repeated the 
dose, and in half an hour after the horse got up and went to feed¬ 
ing, to the surprise of myself and all present. 
No other remedies were tried. 
The corn crop in this section wears an unfavorable aspect. By 
far the greater part planted has not germinated, owing to the drought 
which existed at the time of planting; what little has made its ap¬ 
pearance above ground, is immediately attacked by the grubs, which 
have made their appearance again this spring in great numbers. 
Permit me, before closing, to express my approbation of the Cul¬ 
tivator, and the pleasure I take in perusing and reaping instruction 
from its pages. Each number more than returns to me the sub¬ 
scription price, in the knowledge I obtain from it. The two volumes 
I have had bound. I trust its patrons will universally adopt this 
course, and by this means preserve the work for future reference, 
and for the perusal of their children. The cost of binding is but 37 j 
cents, and it certainly would make a valuable acquisition to any far¬ 
mer’s library. Respectfully yours, 
D. FULLERTON. 
Minisink, Orange Co., June 2d, 1836. 
We particularly commend, to the friends of the Useful Arts and National 
Industry, the following circular, from the trustees of the American Institute— 
too long omitted in our columns. 
“ The benefits which have attended the annual exhibitions of the 
useful productions of our country, and the constantly multiplying im¬ 
provements of invention and the arts, have induced the American 
Institute of the city of New-York to procure a suitable place for a 
continued display; for which purpose a spacious hall has been taken 
for a term of years, in that public and pleasant situation, No. 187 
Broadway, between Cortlandt and Dey-streets, to be denominated 
The Repository of Arts of the American Institute. It will be 
opened in the early part of May next. It is intended to collect, in 
one great hall, machines, models, specimens, and drawings, of all 
the important improvements and inventions which our country af¬ 
fords ; and for that purpose manufacturers, mechanics, artizans, in¬ 
ventors, and producers generally throughout our country, are invited 
to contribute of their varied products. 
The knowledge thus to be derived by enabling all to become ac¬ 
quainted with the improvements and products of each, will contri¬ 
bute greatly to general success in this unprecedented age of compe¬ 
tition in the useful arts. 
The great work in which the Institute is engaged, is no other 
than to supply the conveniences and comforts of fife, with the great¬ 
est economy and abundance, and in the highest perfection. There 
is not a place on the globe, better calculated than the city of New- 
York for an infinitely varied museum of curious and beneficial pro¬ 
ductions. Will the fostering patronage of the public be extended 
to this Repository 7 The answer involves its existence. From that 
answer we have nothing to fear. For eight successive years, this 
Institute has been cheered and strengthened by increasing confi¬ 
dence and patronage. Our fellow citizens have sanctioned all our 
measures with their decided approbation. They have virtually said : 
Your measures have conduced to the prosperity, independence, and 
glory of our country. Go on—we have sustained, and we will con¬ 
tinue to sustain you. We embark therefore with renewed and una¬ 
bating confidence in this undertaking, in the full assurance of its 
paramount utility, and nothing doubting but that the public favor it 
will receive, will be fully proportioned to such utility ; and thus, un¬ 
der the auspices of the American Institute, every individual in our 
whole country will have full opportunity to profit, according to his 
or her talent, in the arts or the sciences or individual industry. 
The space assigned to each contributor, will necessarily be limit¬ 
ed. The models, specimens, &c., must be graduated accordingly. 
MARTIN E. THOMPSON, GEORGE BACON, 
CLARKSON CROLIUS, EDWIN WILLIAMS, 
GEORGE SULLIVAN, T. B. WAKEMAN. 
New- York, March 30, 1836. Trustees of the Institute 
TO FARMERS. 
At a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Farmers’ Agricultural 
Society, held this tenth day of June, 1836, at Mr. Bergan’s Hotel in 
Louisville, Otsego county, it was resolved to offer the following pre¬ 
miums, under the annexed rules and regulations, for stock, &c. &c. 
to be exhibited at the annual meeting of the society, to be held at 
Louisville on the first Wednesday in October, (the 5th) 1836. 
For the best bull of any breed over one year old and under two 
years old,. $0 
For the next best as above,.. 3 
For the best heifer of any breed over one year old and under 
two years old,. 3 
For the next best,. 2 
For the best yoke of working oxen over four years old,. 8 
For the next best,. 5 
For the next best,. 3 
In adjudging these premiums, consideration will be had, not only to 
their close matching, handsome appearance, and good condition, but 
particular regard will be had to their good training, ready obedi¬ 
ence, handiness, action, and docility—to be proved by their perform¬ 
ance on the ground, where a loaded wagon will be provided for the 
necessary trial. 
For the best pen of five ewes of the common or mixed breeds of 
long woolled sheep,... $5 
For the next best,. 3 
By the term of “ long woolled sheep,” is to be understood all those 
sheep which have been crossed with the Leicester, Bakewells, 
Lincolns, or other long woolled sheep of the pure breeds, in con¬ 
tra-distinction to the Merino cross, regard being had to the length, 
weight, and fineness of the wool, and the excellence of the carcass. 
For the best pen of five ewes of the common or mixed breeds of 
short woolled sheep,. $5 
For the next best. 3 
By the term.- 41 short woolled sheep,” is to be understood all the 
varieties of mixed Merino and common blood, regard being had in 
this case to the combined excellence of a fine, close, heavy fleece, 
and a good mutton carcass. 
For the best mare from four to ten years old,. $4 
For the next best,... 2 
