THE CULTIVATOR. 
51 
roots of the tail; though it seems there is no part of 
the body exempt. On opening the wool there appears 
nothing in the shape of a sore, or a scab, but a sort of 
sweating or greasiness of the skin, which in many in¬ 
stances extends to the outside of the wool. The skin 
appears somewhat inflamed or irritated from the disor¬ 
der, or it may be caused by the continual application 
of “tooth and nail ” to the effected part—the virulent 
character of the disease is evidently increasing. The 
sheep eat well—their feed has been good fine hay—there 
is little appearance of ill health other than that men¬ 
tioned. The flock from which these lambs were taken, 
are in the same condition, and one other in the neigh¬ 
borhood. 
In your answer, please give us your opinion as to the 
name of the disease, which appears evidently to be strict¬ 
ly cutaneous, its probable origin, and its treatment to 
effect a cure ; and whether it may have been of long 
standing in the flock from whence they were purchased. 
Yours &c. most respectfully, 
J. Y. H. CLARK. 
Rohan Potatoes. 
It is conceded, I believe, by every one who has culti¬ 
vated the Rohan potato, that they are all “ that they 
have been cracked up to be,” and no “ humbug.” From 
every section of the country we have very flattering ac¬ 
counts of their great and extraordinary yield; more 
particularly the large quantity obtained from the small 
quantity of seed planted. Some have measured the 
ground where a small patch has been harvested, weigh¬ 
ed and measured the produce, and then made a calcu¬ 
lation of what an acre would produce at the same rate, 
which exceeded 1400 bushels ! Now, allowing them to 
yield only one-half that amount, they would then ex¬ 
ceed any other variety that has ever fallen under my 
observation. It is true, they require good soil, good 
treatment, and a liberal allowance of manures; and let 
me ask what variety does not require the same treat¬ 
ment to ensure a good crop ? 
Some contend that they are nothing more nor less 
than the “ Merino,” under a new name. An examina¬ 
tion of the tubers, would, I think, convince the greatest 
Bceptic, that they are quite a different variety. The 
color, I readily admit, is very similar to the “Merino,” 
as they are called, but the form of the tubers are quite 
different; being generally something in the shape of 
the pine apple; besides, there are many more eyes, and 
more deeply indented, in which respect they more close¬ 
ly resemble the “ Lady’s Fingers,” than any other va¬ 
riety I have seen. 
The advantages this potato possesses over other 
varieties, are economy of seed, and the great facility 
with which they can be harvested. From four to five 
bushels per acre are deemed sufficient, when it takes 
about twenty bushels of the Pinkeyes to plant the same 
amount of land. Here is a saving at once of seventy- 
five per cent. The difference in gathering the crop 
is still greater. I have had 120 bushels dug and 
picked up, in the same time, by the same number of 
hands it took them to dig and pick up fifteen bushels 
of the Pinkeyes. This may appear strange to some, 
but it is no less strange than true. 
From my experience for the last two years, I am con¬ 
vinced that three feet and six inches each way, from hill 
to hill, and two sets with at least two good eyes, is the 
proper distance, and the requisite quantity of seed to 
be used. This will admit air, heat and give room to 
work with the cultivator, and earth up with the plow, 
Without making the furrows or trenches too deep. 
For manure I have used that taken immediately from 
my cattle yard, spread broad cast, about twenty loads 
to the acre, and immediately plowed under. 
My crop, the past season, amounted to more than four 
hundred bushels, some of which are now for sale, at 
five dollars per barrel, delivered at Albany. 
For the table, they have been rated as second and 
third qualities. I consider them equal to the Mercers. 
Judge Buel recommended them as a valuable acquisi¬ 
tion to our husbandry: 
“First, Because their quality for the table, Avill justi¬ 
fy it. If not superior, they are good. The flesh is 
yellow, solid, and of good flavor. 
“Secondly, Because they admit of a great saving in 
seed—two eyes sufficing (and many of the tubers have 
thirty to forty eyes,) to plant a hill, and three or four 
bushels to plant an acre of ground. 
“Thirdly, Because they require comparatively little 
labor in harvesting—a man being able to dig thrice as 
many of them in a day, as of ordinary kinds. The tu¬ 
bers are very large, one hundred and ten of the largest 
of our crop, completely filling a flour barrel. Twenty- 
seven bushels were dug in our presence in one hour, the 
tops being pulled by one man at moderate labor. 
“Fourthly, Eecause they yield an abundant crop. 
From eighty-five rods of ground, we gathered one hun¬ 
dred and seventy-five bushels, while our common culti¬ 
vated kinds did not give us a half a crop. One case 
has been stated to us, of a single potato producing a 
bushel, and another, of its having produced a barrel at 
harvest. 
“ This potato sends out laterals from the main stem, 
which grow to great length; and the roots which feed 
it, strike deep, are numerous and strong. Hence, the 
ground in which they are to be planted, should be plow¬ 
ed deep, and the hills should be placed wide apart, that 
the soil may acquire solar heat. We ought further to 
Remark, that they should be planted early, in our cli¬ 
mate, as early as the groan I is sufficient! jrwarmed for 
their reception, as they seem to require the whole sea¬ 
son to grow their large tubers, and mature the crops.” 
CALEB N. BEMENT. 
Three-Hills Farm, Feb. 1840. 
Advantages and Pleasures derived from a Study 
of Natural History. 
In a country where nature has been so liberal in her 
productions, and so prolific in internal resources, few 
objects can be of greater importance than natural his¬ 
tory. Yet unhappily, there is no branch of useful 
knowledge so little studied The cultivation of this de¬ 
partment of science will open to our view the immense 
treasury we possess unenjoyed, and which must, as they 
develop themselves, eventually tend to the security and 
welfare of our citizens; the extension of their com¬ 
merce, advancement in mechanics and manufactures; 
improvement in agriculture, and a general expansion of 
all those arts which adorn and embellish life. The lit¬ 
tle progress we as a community of farmers, have made 
in exploring the vegetable kingdom, ought of itself to 
convince us that our country is well stored with plants, 
which are capable of being greatly improved, not only 
for the benefit of individuals, but as national advantages. 
The almost total neglect of botanical inquiry in this 
part of the country, may be imputed in part to the fact, 
that until lately it has not been a subject of instruction 
in our high schools and to the insuperable difficulties 
that are supposed to attend it, but principally to the 
mistaken opinion of its inutility in common life. This 
opinion being so generally prevalent, it may be necessa¬ 
ry to observe that though all the medical properties and 
economical uses of plants are not discoverable by those 
characters by which they are systematically arranged ; 
yet the celebrated Linnaeus has found that the charac¬ 
ters of plants may be, in a considerable degree, and 
most safely determined by their natural organization. 
Plants of the same natural class, are in some measure 
similar; those of the same natural order bear a still 
nearer affinity, and those of the same genus are seldom 
found to differ in their medical properties. Thus, ac¬ 
cording to the natural system, plants of the second or¬ 
der in the third class are all esculent, affording food for 
man and beasts, or birds; and no one sprig of all these 
numerous genera, have been found to be poisonous. 
Plants in the thirteenth class are chiefly poisonous. 
Those of the first order in the fourteenth are odorifer¬ 
ous and not poisonous. There are no poisonous plants 
belonging to the fifteenth class; but those of the twen¬ 
ty-fourth class of Linnseus, are mostly suspected or dan¬ 
gerous plants, and so of others. By a knowledge of 
the classification of plants, in meeting with a strange 
one, Ave are enabled with very accurate certainty to de¬ 
termine its properties, by comparing it Avith those of 
the same class and order to which it belongs; a great 
advantage in having a knoAvledge of botany, is the cer¬ 
tainty of knowing the right name, for then every plant 
tells its oavii name; for instance, in meeting a lily, a bo¬ 
tanist, or one acquainted with the first principles, ob¬ 
serves it has six stamens; it therefore belongs to the 
sixth class called Hexandria. It has one pistil, first or¬ 
der, called Monoginia, genus Libinum ; and the species 
may be found by comparison. Now these names are 
the same in all countries and languages for the same 
plant, where botany is attended to as a science. From 
a Avant of botanical knowledge, the grossest mistakes 
have been made by applying the names of plants be¬ 
longing in Europe to those groAving in America. Bo¬ 
tanical inquiries will enable us to correct those mistakes 
and to distinguish exotics from indigenous plants. Was 
the theory of this science united with its practical uses 
and employed in procuring the nurseries and adding to 
the conveniences and ornaments of life, the A r ulgar 
opinion of its being merely speculation Avould be re¬ 
moved, and could not fail of engaging a more general 
attention. It is Avell knoAvn that the economical uses 
of the vegetable kingdom are exceedingly numerous, 
not only furnishing food and medicine for man and 
beast, materials for agriculture, arts and manufactures, 
but Ave are to look to it for many of the delights and 
ornaments of life. It supplies important articles of 
commerce, and in some countries is the greatest source 
of inter-national Avealth. We are no doubt ignorant of 
many productions, Avell adapted to those purposes; and 
to what class of men does it belong to inquire into these 
things, and bring them to their proper light. Is it not 
to those Avho would be called upon to produce them, 
should their usefulness be ascertained? Certainly it is. 
Then Avhy should not that class of men be prepared to 
make discoveries in a science, Avhen their interests might 
be so much advanced. Who has more leisure, or greater 
opportunity than the cultivator of the soil, to promote 
inquiries. Think not that every thing A r aluable is yet 
discovered in all the varieties of plants groAving in our 
wide spread country; our progress may be sIoav, but to 
the young men of the country, let them say it must be 
certain. 
The other branches of natual history are equally im¬ 
portant in elevating the character of the good farmer. 
He Avho rears all the animals for domestic uses, should 
he knoAV nothing of zoology? In the pursuit of this 
branch of the science, our motives should extend beyond 
the “ auri fames ” [have of gold.] It should be culti¬ 
vated for the sources of pleasure it opens to the mind, 
for the benefit it extends to agriculture, and it should 
act as an assistant in bringing systematic, scientific ag¬ 
riculture to perfection ; a little reflection will arouse 
the most fastidious, and convince every intelligent mind 
that a knowledge of the first principles of zoology may 
be pursued, without interfering with those avocations 
employing the bodily powers. The body, after some 
exercise requires rest; at such times, and in the long 
winter evenings the mind may be profitably employed 
treasuring up knowledge, and unquestionably it could 
not be better engaged than in pursuing the study of na¬ 
tural history. Taking this view of the subject, the ar¬ 
gument of “ time lost ” fails to the ground. The study 
of natural history tends most poAverfully to strengthen 
the memory, exercise the judgment, discipline the mind, 
and bring every intellectual faculty into a state of the 
greatest activity and subjection. The great variety of 
facts learned from this study, and the necessity of clas¬ 
sing them in the mind begets a habit of mental activi¬ 
ty and order, that is of incalculable benefit to the pos¬ 
sessor in the common business of life, enabling him to 
arrange, distinguish and disentangle the most confused 
and chaotic matters with readiness, certainty and des¬ 
patch. The man whose business it is to cultivate the 
earth, it ought also to be expected should knoAV some¬ 
thing of mineralogy. That branch of the science Avhich 
treats of the earth’s stones and other unorganized mas¬ 
ses of the globe. Perhaps there is nothing which will 
serve so much to assist us in the progress of natural 
history and its various branches, as a cultivation of a 
correct taste. Taste may Avith propriety be imparted 
to knoAvledge, and diffused through the practical scien¬ 
ces, and connected Avith objects of improvement. Many 
a patriot bosom has burned to raise the fabric of his 
country’s prosperity on the firmest foundation—rural 
thrift. But even patriotism, supported by talents, and 
sustained by money, is better calculated to exert her 
influence in storms and commotions, than in the still 
scenes of retirement, and calm quietness of rural pur¬ 
suits. It must be left to pure unadulterated taste to 
exert her potent influence necessary to the permanent 
advancement of science connected with the rural arts. 
By this a permanent foundation Avill be secured; such 
is the true basis upon Avhich to rear this superstructure ; 
without it our exertions proceed from mere excitement, 
and consequently can not be lasting. FARMER C. 
Manlius, Jan. 28, 1840. 
Experiment in Planting Potatoes. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker — I noticed an article 
in the Poughkeepsie Journal, of Oct. 30, credited to the 
Yankee Farmer, on the cultivation of the Rohan pota- 
toe; as I am in possession of the information called for 
in that paper, I give my experiments and the result. 
If you think they Avill benefit your patrons, you will 
give them a place in your paper. The Farmer says,— 
“ The extraordinary prolific nature of the Rohans, as 
stated in many papers, is likely to deceive those farmers 
Avho are unacquainted Avith them, and know not that 
this potato needs much more ground than our common 
kinds; and it would be more satisfactory and useful too, 
as it Avould lead to a correct vieAV of the subject, if those 
Avho publish accounts of their great yield, would have 
the goodness to state the quantity of ground or the 
number of hills planted, as well as the quantity of seed, 
for this is surely of superior importance.” I planted 
six rows of Rohans, of thirty hills each, with the fol- 
loAving quantity of seed : 
No. 1, one eye in a hill, produced 
120 
130 
151 
139 
155 
155 
pounds, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
No. 2, two eyes in a hill, do. 
No. 3, three eyes in a hill, do. 
No. 4, four byes in a hill, do. 
No. 5, five eyes in a hill, do. 
No. 6, six eyes in a hill, do. 
The soil a dry gravel, well manured, planted the first 
of May, and precisely five roves to a rod, equal to 4,000 
hills to the acre; the greatest yield being equal to 344 
bushels (of 60 lbs. to the bushel) to the acre. The 
common varieties do not yield, this year, on dry soils, 
but little more than half the usual quantity to the acre. 
It is reasonable, therefore, to suppose that the Rohans 
do not yield a full average crop—my largest potato 
weighed three pounds five ounces. To judge from the 
size of the potatoes and the size of the tops, I am in¬ 
clined to believe that it is unnecessary to plant them 
more than three feet three inches asunder, or five roAVS 
to the rod, the same distance that I plant my common 
varieties. I regret that I did not Aveigh my common po¬ 
tatoes, planted by the side of the Rohans, and cultrcated 
the same in eA r ery respect—but should judge they did 
not yield more than half the quantity to the acre. 
I also tried an experiment with the common potato, 
planting tAvo rows of thirty-three hills each, Avith one 
middling sized potato in a hill; and tAvo roAvs of thirty- 
three hiils each, Avith tAvo middling sized potatoes in a 
hill, and placed from four to six inches apart, the pota¬ 
toes of a size as near as Ave could judge, planted pre¬ 
cisely five roAvs to the rod. The tAvo roAvs, Avith one in 
a hill, yielded 251 lbs. or 253£ bushels of 60 lbs. to the 
bushel, to the acre: the tAvo roAvs with tAvo in a hill, 
yielded 300 lbs. or 303 bushels to the acre, making a 
difference of fifty bushels, in round numbers, to the 
acre, in favor of tAvo potatoes in a hill. The soil a 
moist loam, and in an extra state of cultivation. 
Perhaps I ought to say a few Avords about Grant 
Thorburn’s “ Charity Corn,” as I Avas one of the many 
who purchased this highly recommended variety of 
early corn. In the 5th A r olume of the Cultivator, page 
157, Mr. Thorburn says: “ I planted this corn on the 
10th of May; it had ears fit for boiling the 10th of Ju¬ 
ly!!” I planted this corn on the first of May, on a 
gravel soil, highly manured ; and on the tenth of Sep¬ 
tember, I do not think an ear could haA r e been found too 
, hard to boil. So much for the early eorn: I will say 
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