A CONSOLIDATION 
OF DUEL’S CULTIVATOR AND THE GENESEE FARMER 
“AGRICULTURE, AT ONCE THE CAUSE AND EVIDENCE OF CIVILIZ ATION.” _ 
T~ ALBANY, N. Y. JANUARY, 1840. _ Cult, and Far. Yol. I—No. 1. 
Cult. Yol. YII — No. 1. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY, 
BY JESSE BUEIi & Co. PROPRIETORS, 
JVo. 5 W'ashing'ton* Street. 
TERMS— One Dollar per annum —Six copies for $5— 
the money to be remitted in advance, free of postage. A 
commission of 20 per cent will be allowed to Agents who ob¬ 
tain 25 or more subscribers, and 25 per cent to those who 
obtain 100 or more. All subscriptions to commence with a 
volume. (For special Agents, see last page.) 
®l)£ (Eultitmtor. 
WILLIS GAYLORD & LUTHER TUCKER, Editors. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
In assuming the editorial charge of the united Gene¬ 
see Farmer and Cultivator, it may perhaps he expected 
that we should enter into some explanation of the views 
we entertain of agriculture and its importance, the best 
means of advancing it, and the principles we intend as 
editors to illustrate and follow. Were our readers to be 
only the numerous body of farmers and others who have 
accompanied us in our course as conductors of the 
Farmer, we should consider a simple reference to the 
volumes of that periodical as a sufficient exposition of 
the opinions we entertain; but as this paper will fall 
into the hands of thousands who were not readers of 
that paper, common courtesy demands that some brief 
intimations of what we intend, shall here be presented. 
In taking charge of the new series of a journal here¬ 
tofore conducted with such distinguished ability, we feel 
that in the new connection a double responsibility is rest¬ 
ing upon us. The admirable editorial tact, the great 
practical experience, the extensive and varied informa¬ 
tion, and deserved personal popularity of the late lament¬ 
ed conductor of the Cultivator, gave him advantages we 
shall not pretend to claim; and which can only be com¬ 
pensated on our part by untiring industry, and a faithful 
use of the ample and varied sources of information 
within our reach. 
The great truth that the true source of all wealth lies 
iu productive industry, is beginning to enforce the as¬ 
sent which it should long since have freely received; and 
the events of the last few months, both in this country 
and in Europe, have demonstrated that of all the branch¬ 
es of industry, there is none with which the prosperity 
of nations is so intimately connected, and on which it is 
so dependent, as our agriculture. The failure of a year’s 
crop in Great Britain, has deranged the monetary and 
commercial relations of the globe, and has influenced 
the condition and prosperity of different and widely 
Separated countries, more than would years of war. 
With the advance of civilization, it is seen that agricul¬ 
ture is destined to perform a more influential part in de¬ 
termining the destinies of nations, than it has hitherto 
done, and its importance is becoming better understood 
and its wide spread agencies better appreciated in the 
mind of every intelligent man, he he statesman or finan¬ 
cier. 
With a conviction of the value of any cause, or the 
importance of any object, comes the inquiry as to the 
best manner of advancing that cause, or promoting that 
object. There was formerly a Avide spread but evident¬ 
ly mistaken notion (arising from the feudal state of Eu¬ 
rope, and designed to perpetuate a system in which the 
tiller was little better than an adscript of the soil,) which 
maintained that knowledge was useless to the farmer; 
that science could do nothing for agriculture; that books 
could teach nothing to interest or instruct him; but that 
he must be left to plod on his way by instinct, or, parrot 
like, by repeating operations he had seen performed by 
his father, without change or hope of improvement. 
Fortunately for mankind, this feeling and state of things 
has, in the main, ceased to exist. In all civilized coun¬ 
tries, the cultivator is rapidly becoming the owner of the 
soil; with the possession of property, inquiry is awa¬ 
kened, information is demanded, experience is consulted, 
nature is interrogated, and her responses listened to and 
^ obeyed; science is invited to the aid of the farmer, and 
discloses the reasons of a multitude of processes which 
•C" were formerly involved in impenetrable mystery; and 
with the acquisition of knowledge, agriculture and its 
Yi professors have taken a position among mankind which 
v \ has made the cultivation of the soil one of the most 
^ honorable, as it is one of the most useful and lucrative 
nY employments of man. To press forward these desira- 
’ ble results, associated power has been most beneficially 
exerted, and Agricultural Societies, Schools, Books, and 
Periodicals have united their efforts with the best effect. 
While all of these liav r e been useful, while all have done 
much to awaken inquiry, promote investigation, and dis¬ 
seminate truth, it is not perhaps unduly magnifying our 
OAvn office to say, that in no way has agriculture recei¬ 
ved more effectual aid than by the circulation of well 
conducted periodicals, devoted to the interests of the 
1 
farmer, and furnishing him a record of the facts and 
theories that experience and science are daily bringing 
to light, as having a direct bearing on the_cultivation of 
the soil.. In the same way and by an extended use of 
the same means, must farther advances be made. The 
diffusion of knowledge, convertible to practical uses, is 
what we need, and in no country is knowledge of every 
kind so essential to the farmer as in this. All power 
being in his hands, he may be justly held responsible for 
every thing ; and duty to himself and the world demands 
that he should avail himself of every possible means 
of qualifying himself for the position in which he is 
placed by the institutions of the land, and the path which 
destiny appears to have marked out for his advance. 
In all our exertions as conductors of an agricultural 
journal,, to promote the interests of the farmer, the first 
place, as of right, will be given to the practice of agri¬ 
culture. Without any disposition to underrate investi¬ 
gations more purely theoretical, we consider a correct 
practice, based on Avell grounded principles, to he the 
great end of all agricultural teaching; and its inculca¬ 
tion the proper business of an agricultural journal. 
Multitudes of theories that appeared beautiful and pro¬ 
mising in the study, liaise been found illusory and un¬ 
satisfactory in the field; a result not to he wondered at, 
when Ave remember that of the great number of causes 
that go to produce a given or desired effect, it is very 
probable some of the most important, are, in the present 
state of our knoAvledge, unknoAvn, or overlooked. But 
though we thus assign the first place to practical agri¬ 
culture, we are by no means disposed to undervalue its 
theory. Every person who has paid attention to the 
progress of agriculture for the last twenty or thirty 
years, is aware that many of the greatest benefits sci¬ 
ence has conferred on the farmer, have been the result 
of pure theory, a reasoning from cause to effect, making 
certain Avhat Avas before doubtful, and enabling the 
farmer to co-operate effectually Avith nature in the ame¬ 
lioration of the soil or in the production of crops. In 
short, we intend the Cultivator shall be a repository of 
every fact, both practical and theoretical, that can aid 
and enlighten the tiller of the soil, that will promote in¬ 
vestigation or dissipate error, elevate the mind, strength¬ 
en the understanding, develope the laAvs of nature, and 
enforce a rational, and of course, successful system of 
husbandry. 
In carrying out our intentions, as conductors of the Cul¬ 
tivator, Ave invite the cordial co-operation of those friends 
of the farming interest, whose communications have gi¬ 
ven such interest and value to the columns of the Farmer 
and the Cultivator. Few are the individuals Avho are 
not able to contribute facts calculated to elucidate and 
establish some point of practical importance, aid in 
correcting some long cherished error, or suggesting some 
useful matter of inquiry. It Avas a maxim Avith Peter 
the Great, that “ nothing is little to a truly great mind;” 
and the discoverer of an agricultural truth, Avhich ena¬ 
bles a farmer to grow “ tAVo spires of grass Avhere hut 
one grerv before,” must be considered a benefactor of 
mankind, no less truly, and perhaps more beneficially, 
than he Avho deA r elopes the theory of the universe. 
To Correspondents. 
The proprietors of the Cultivator desire to present 
their aclcnoAvledgments to the correspondents of the pa¬ 
per for the various evidences of their continued regard 
to the cause of agriculture that Avill be found in this 
number. Coming as they do, from contributors to the 
papers, the union of which has produced the present 
journal, these essays are considered as proof that the 
proceeding is viewed with approbation, and that in 
our endeavors to be useful in the great cause of agri¬ 
culture, we shall receive their continued countenance 
and support. We have a number of valuable papers, 
which shall receive an early insertion; and Ave hope our 
friends, to Avhom Ave are already so much obliged, will 
still forward us the results of their observation or their 
experience. 
We also beg lea\ r e to tender our gratitude to our friends 
for the numerous expressions of kind Avishes and encou¬ 
ragement we have received from various and distant 
sources. The approbation of the intelligent, is one of 
he most welcome remunerations those Avho labor for 
the public good can receive, as a decisive proof that 
their efforts are appreciated and understood. This con¬ 
fidence, and this encouragement, it shall be our endeavor 
still to deserve. 
Back Volumes of the Cultivator. 
All the published volumes of the Cultivator can he 
furnished to neAV subscribers. The price is, for vols. 1, 
2, 3 and 4, 50 cents each—vols. 5 and 6, $1.00 each.— 
They are handsomely done up in printed covers, and can 
be sent by mail at the expense of neAvspaper postage, 
viz: 12 cents per vol. if within the state, or within 100 
miles of Albany, and 18 cents if OA^er that distance and 
without the state. 
Annual Agricultural Meetings. 
The New-York State Agricultural Society, and the 
NeAV-York State Agricultural Convention, are both to 
meet in Albany on the First Tuesday of February, 
1840. The members and delegates are requested to meet 
at the City Hotel, at 11 o’clock, A. M., from which they 
will adjourn to a place which will he provided for the 
public meetings. 
Editors throughout the state are requested to copy the 
above. 
OCr* In connection with this notice, we are requested 
to remind the members of the different committees that 
Avere appointed last Avinter to report on the particular 
subjects assigned them, that much of the interest of the 
ensuing meetings will depend upon the fulfilment of their 
duties, and it is confidently expected that there Avill be 
be no disappointment in this respect. It is to be hoped, 
also, that the friends of agricultural improvement in the 
different counties Avill take measures to be represented 
in the Convention. 
New Terms to Agents. 
It will he seen by reference to the “ Terms*’ in their 
appropriate place, that an alteration has been made in 
the conditions of the Cultivator, highly favorable to 
Agents, and to all in fact, who are disposed to promote its 
circulation by their personal efforts, viz: to alloAv every 
sixth copy gratis, instead of the eleventh, as heretofore; 
and a commission of twenty per cent on tAventy-live or 
more subscribers, and tAventy-five per cent on one hun¬ 
dred or more. We make these liberal alioAvances in the 
belief that it Avill induce our friends to make greater ex¬ 
ertions to extend the circulation of the Cultivator, as there 
can, Ave should think, he but feAV neighborhoods Avhere 
any one who is disposed to act as Agent, may not ob¬ 
tain subscribers enough to receive a copy gratis. 
Advertising. 
So general has been the complaint against the admis¬ 
sion of adA r ertisements into the Cultivator, that we are 
compelled to decline their insertion in the present vo¬ 
lume. We had thought of issuing a quarterly adver¬ 
tising sheet, but Ave find that to make it pay its cost, for 
our large edition, we should have to charge at the rate 
of $12 a column, which Avouldbe more than most adver¬ 
tisers Avould be willing to pay. We think it best, there¬ 
fore to leave the advertising business to papers of a 
more local and less permanent character. BelieA r ing 
however, that it will be a benefit to onr subscribers, Ave 
shall cheerfully, when desired, publish the address of 
such of our correspondents and agents as are engaged 
in the seed or nursery business, dealers in improved 
stocks, agricultural implements, &c. 
Sir* The publication of the last No. of the 6th volume 
of the Cultivator has been delayed for an engraved por¬ 
trait of its late editor, Judge Buel, which the engraver 
has just finished. It will, hoAvever, probably occupy 
some two or three Aveeks to print copies enough to sup¬ 
ply all the subscribers. The papers AviII be sent out as 
fast as the portraits can he printed. The No., Avhich 
consists of a sheet and a half, will also be accompanied 
by a beautiful Avood cut, of nearly the size of a page, re¬ 
presenting the Horticulturist’s Coat of Arms, devi¬ 
sed by A. Walsh, Esq., of Lansingburgh, and exhibited 
at the Horticultural Fair at Niblo’s Garden, New York, 
in October last. 
District School Eibrary. 
In the December No. of the Farmer, the publication 
and contents of the second part of the School District 
Library, published by the Messrs. Harper, Avas noticed 
by us. We have since had the pleasure of examining 
such of the volumes as we Avere not before acquainted 
with, and can recommend, the whole as a most valuable 
selection, and worthy the entire confidence and approval 
of the public. The fact that time was required for the 
preparation and publication of as many volumes as is 
demanded by the district Library system, is fully pro¬ 
ved by the manifest superiority of this second series 
over the first. 
The excellent volumes on Agriculture, furnished by 
Judge Buel, Avith the one on the same subject by Gen. 
Armstrong, Avith notes by Judge Buel, and the invalua¬ 
ble Avork of Chaptal on the Chemistry of Agriculture, 
are sufficient of themselves to give a character of useful¬ 
ness and adaptation to the series, not possessed by the 
former, nor indeed by any other yet presented to the 
public. In addition to these, the Life of Franklin, whose 
name is more closely identified with the political econo¬ 
my of the country than any other; the volumes of Amer¬ 
ican Biography, by Mr. Sparks and other able Avriters ; 
the Universal History of Tytler; the Personal Narrative 
of Humboldt, the most instructive of travelers, &c., are 
volumes of the best kind, and cannot fail to give satis¬ 
faction to all. Next to the establishment of our common 
school system, we consider the most important step that 
