142 
tion which all harrows are liable to. It will be seen 
that the hinder cylinders cross the track of the forward 
ones at right angles, which is equivalent to harrowing 
and cross harrowing at the same time, with only one 
operation. 
The right of this harrow, which is patented, is owned 
by Jese Hodgkins of Westfield, county of Orleans, and 
state of Vermont, in the following states and territories: 
All of the New England states, Pennsylvania, Michi¬ 
gan, New-Jersey, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, 
Maryland, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Flori¬ 
da, and the counties of Clinton, Franklin, and St. Law¬ 
rence, in the state of New-York, to whom any commu¬ 
nication for the purchase of rights may be addressed, 
and will be duly attended to. For the other parts of 
the United States, it is owned by the inventor. J. H. 
Culture and Diseases of the Potato. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —As the time for com¬ 
mencing the campaign for 1840, has arrived, I think it 
will not be amiss to call the attention of farmers to the 
subject of raising potatoes. In order that we may know 
the expense of raising each crop, it is necessary that 
each crop should be charged every night with its pro¬ 
portion of the labor of the day, a course which I have 
adopted for several years, and I find it both pleasant 
and profitable. Below I will give you the expense of 
raising potatoes for several years, and then farmers can 
judge whether it will be profitable to devote more land 
to that crop than they have usualy done. 
The cost is, on my whole crop, ranging from two to 
eight acres, as follows:—cost in labor and manure, per 
bushel, in 1834, was 12 2-10 cents; in 1835, 12 7-10 
cents; in 1836, 18 7-10 cents; in 1837, 10 5-10 cents; in 
1838, 12 cents; in 1839, 12 1-10 cents. You will per¬ 
ceive that with the exception of 1836, the cost has not 
been over 12| cents per bushel, and that year I had 8 
acres, which did not yield 100 bushels per acre. 
I have suffered from the curl, for several years past, 
in a kind of potatoes w r hich I have been raising, which 
I called ‘ Long Keeps,’ from their excellence as a sum¬ 
mer potato. As they are an excellent potato to yield, 
I have been very loth to lose them, and have continued 
to plant them. In 1838, they did not curl so as to injure 
them materially; and in the spring of 1839, I sent a 
bag of them with pink eyes, to C. N. Bement of Alba¬ 
ny. When mine, which I had planted, came out of the 
ground, I found they were badly curled, and I imme¬ 
diately wrote to Mr. B. to examine his, and if possible 
ascertain the cause and a remedy. In January last, I 
received the following letter from him, which I take the 
liberty to publish : 
“ S. P. Rhoades —Dear Sir : I have delayed answering 
your kind favor of the 7th of July last, on the subject 
of ‘ curl’ in the potato crop, hoping I might be enabled 
to furnish you with something which would throw some 
light on the eause and cure of the disease. On the re¬ 
ceipt of your letter, I immediately went into the field 
and examined the potatoes (long keeps) you sent me, 
and found them as you described. In some of the hills 
the tops were very much curled or shriveled and looked 
sickly, while other hills adjoining were healthy and 
vigorous. When planted, they were cut, and two sets 
put in each hill; in many cases I found in the same hill 
one healthy plant and the other diseased or curled. 
They were planted along side of the pink eyes, I also 
obtained of you, which I examined thoroughly and 
could not discover a single diseased plant, which I think 
is pretty conclusive evidence that the cause is not in the 
soil. I then dug up several sets of the curled plants, 
and could not discover any worm, insect, or other 
cause that would be likely to occasion the injury. On 
another part of my farm, I had planted about one bushelof 
what I supposed were the ‘ old fashioned reds,’ as they 
are called. I immediately repaired thither, and found 
them much in the same situation as the others, more or 
less curled. On reflection, it occurred to me that these 
were the product of some potatoes selected from pink 
eyes, which I received from you some two or three 
years since ; and on comparing them, when harvested in 
the fall, I was satisfied they were one and the same va¬ 
riety. I afterwards examined several varieties which I 
had then under cultivation, viz. Rohans, Mercers (or 
Chenangoes,) Sault St. Marie, Quaddie Blues, and 
some I obtained from France and Ireland, and could 
discover no traces of the ‘curl’, from which I am satis¬ 
fied it is in the variety and not in the soil, or caused by 
the influence of the atmosphere, insect, or worm. 
“ I find on referring to some of the European maga¬ 
zines and other works on agriculture, that it was very 
prevalent a few years since in England, and more par¬ 
ticularly in Scotland; so much so in Scotland, that the 
crop in many instances was an entire failure. Much 
was written and published on the subject, and diligent 
inquiry made at the time, and the conclusion finaly ar¬ 
rived at was that the disease was attributable to the age 
of the variety, as it was never known to occur in the 
new sorts, and the only remedy recommended was the 
entire abandonment of the variety. Truly yours, 
“ C. N. Bement.” 
It must be observed the disease above spoken of, is 
not the rust or premature decay which occurred in the 
whole of our country the last year, and which affected 
every variety of potato, but is a disease which shows 
itself as soon as the plant is out of the ground, in the 
puckered appearance of the leaves. 
I will now state my method of planting, not as¬ 
serting it as the best, but shall be happy to hear of a 
better. I use only large uotatoes for seed. If the va¬ 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
riety has many eyes, such as pink eyes, Mercers, &c., 
I prefer them cut in three pieces, and one piece put in 
a place at three feet apart, and other kinds cut once and 
one piece in a hill. I prefer a clover sod, plowed in the 
fall, thoroughly worked with a drag and cultivator in 
the spring, and then 20 or 30 loads long manure from 
the yard spread evenly over the ground ; after which, I 
furrow for my rows at three feet distance from each 
other; and then drop the seed, and cover it with a plow, 
by which means the straw and ground become well mixed. 
If I plant old land, I consider the straw as absolutely 
necessary, be the land ever so rich. I do most of my 
hoeing with a cultivator and shovel plow. In digging, I 
pull my tops with a subsoil plow. 
I am glad to see that so many farmers are keeping an 
account with their different crops. It will enable them 
to compare the seasons one with another. It will also 
enable them to see what is, for a series of years, the 
most profitable crops for them to raise; and I hope 
there will more of them furnish you with a balance 
sheet that we may see what has been done, and that 
will stimulate others to beat it, as I contend no man 
should be content to merely equal others, but each should 
strive for the top step in the ladder. 
I remain, truly yours, &c. 
S. PORTER RHOADES. 
Skaneateles , April 13, 1840. 
POPULAR ERRORS—No. 2. 
Messrs. Editors —On the 81st page of the current 
volume of the Cultivator, I have noticed a few of the 
popular, or common errors, and intimated that I might 
possibly recur to the subject at some other time. The 
theme is a fruitful one, and might be made to embrace 
a variety of topics. I propose, however, to touch only 
those that are brought to bear directly or indirectly on 
agriculture ; and first, farming in the moon. 
The moon has given rise to abundance of supersti¬ 
tious observances, and from the very earliest ages, has 
been supposed to exercise a great influence over the 
earth and men. Many of these superstitions harm been 
exploded, while others still retain no inconsiderable hold 
on the public mind, and are the pregnant source of er¬ 
ror. On no point is this more perceptible, than in that 
of farming. That the moon can produce any perceptible 
influence on crops, or deserves the slightest regard in 
their sowing or planting, is a notion as false in philoso¬ 
phy, as it is contrary to fact. That the waxing or wa¬ 
ning of the moon, has any influence on the growth of 
vegetables or their germination, is a notion belonging 
to the same ages as astrology and witchcraft; and like 
these beliefs, should ere this have ceased to exist. The 
celebrated Arrago, collected from various sources all 
the well authenticated facts relating to the influence of 
the moon on agriculture and the weather, and came to 
the conclusion, “ that there was no reason whatever to 
confirm the common notion that changes of weather at¬ 
tended changes of the moon, or that this luminary has 
any perceptible effect, or is in the least worthy of notice 
in conducting the processes of agriculture.” Some of 
the old superstitions or notions on this subject, may, 
however, be worthy of notice here. 
Tusser says, in his “ 500 points of Husbandry,”— 
“ Sow peason and beans in the wane of the moon, 
Who soweth them sooner, he soweth too soon; 
That they with the planet may rise, 
And flourish with bearing most plentiful wise.” 
But though such was the general feeling, there were 
some enlightened and intelligent enough to perceive the 
absurdity of such notions, and expose these errors. 
Thus Werenfels in 1748, in an Essay on Superstition, 
says: 
“ The superstitious man will not commit his seed to the 
earth when the soil, but when the moon requires it. He will 
not have his hair cut when the moon is in Leo, lest his locks 
should stare like a lion’s mane; or when it is in Aries, lest 
they should curl like a ram’s horn.” 
I would say to the farmer, don’t trouble yourself about 
the moon. See that your land is in fine tilth, well ma¬ 
nured and drained ; your seed fresh, and free from foul 
matters ; and when you are ready,, sow, without con¬ 
sulting the moon or the almanac. If all is right in oth¬ 
er respects, the moon, no matter what may be its posi¬ 
tion, will not hurt you or your crop ; and if your land 
is but half prepared or tilled, rely on the moon as much 
as you please, and you have no right to expect a crop. 
Another common error, is that relating to the “ signs.” 
Somebody among the ancients, for convenience sake, di¬ 
vided the stars into constellations, named from their fanci¬ 
ed resemblance to the objects, Leo, Ursus, Aquila, Pisces, 
Taurus, Saggitarius, &c. &c. In its annual revolution, 
the sun passes through a dozen of these constellations, 
or signs of the zodiac ; and by degrees, these signs were 
supposed to exert a magical influence on the several 
parts of the human body; and we all remember seeing 
in our old almanacs, the man mounted on the globe, in 
a state of nudity, that the place and effect of the “ signs” 
could not be mistaken. This popular error influenced 
mankind wonderfully, and though common sense has in 
most cases displaced the man, the signs still retain 
their ascendancy over the conduct of multitudes. 
There are many men at the present age, so far be¬ 
hind the times, that if they have a tooth to pull, a vein 
to open, a pig or a calf to castrate, a patch of thistles to 
mow, a bunch of white birches or shrub oaks to cut 
down, or a dose of physic to swallow, the chapter of 
signs must be consulted, and their connection with the 
body, or the plant, ascertained before any thing’can be 
done- The full believer in signs, would as soon swal¬ 
low poison as physic, when the sign was in Taurus, as 
that animal chews the cud; and in that state of the 
signs, the cathartic would assuredly prove an emetic, or 
in other words, follow the course of the cud. Weeds or 
trees must be cut when the sign is in the heart, that the 
whole may perish together; for if the sign was in Pisces 
or the feet, we suppose when cut down, only the extre¬ 
mities of the plant could be persuaded to perish ; and 
wo be to the unlucky calf or colt, that happened to un¬ 
dergo castration, when the sign indicated the forbidden 
region ; his fate was sealed beyond the possibility of 
mistake. If you see at the present time, a man’s fences 
buried in briars, his fields overrun with bushes and this¬ 
tles; half a dozen of uncastrated pigs and colts running 
about, as if to perpetuate, by in and in breeding, all the 
defects of their races; and his orchards and woodlands 
neither trimmed or pruned, that man may be set down 
as a believer in signs, one who governs his farming by 
the moon, and who will in all probability, reap such a 
harvest, and experience such results, as so irrational 
and unphilosophical a course indicates. M. S. D. 
DIFFERENT BREEDS OF SHEEP. 
Messrs. Gavlord & Tucker —In the last number of 
the Cultivator it is requested that some one who has kept 
different breeds of sheep, will give a comparative value of 
them. In the first place, I will notice their lambs, suppo¬ 
sing them to sell at the same rate per pound. 
A Saxon lamb, 6 mos. 
old, weighing 18 lbs. at 8 cts. 
§1 
44 
Merino lamb, “ 
“ 20 “ 
1 
60 
Bakewell, “ 
“ 30 “ 
2 
40 
Cotswold, “ 
“ 60 “ 
4 
80 
South Down, “ 
“ 50 « 
4 
00 
In the second, their 
wool: 
Saxon fleece weighing 3 pounds, at 50 cents, 
§1 
50 
Merino, “ 
Bakewell, “ 
3 
“ 40 
1 
20 
5 
“ 30 
1 
50 
Cotswold, “ 
10 
“ 36 
3 
60 
South Down, “ 
5 
“ 40 
2 
00 
The above I think will show the difference in value of 
the lambs and fleeces ; but no one is to suppose that eight 
cents per pound is the value of the Cotswold or South Down 
lambs. They are now worth about §20 to §25 each; I 
would not sell at a less price. 
In the third place, the sheep, when full grown : 
Saxon sheep, 
weighing 50 pounds, 
at 6 cents, 
§3 00 
Merino, 
Bakewell, 
“ 60 
6 
3 60 
“ 110 
6 
6 60 
South Down, 
“ 120 
6 
7 20 
Cotswold, 
“ 240 
6 
14 40 
The Bakewell, I consider a sheep not at all adapted for 
this climate, being of a tender constitution, hard to keep, 
wool coarse, small fleece; another objection is, when the 
wool is a few inches long, it parts and leaves the back of 
the sheep naked, and when exposed to cold storms, the ani¬ 
mal is much injured, and many of them die. The Saxon 
and Merino, I find much alike; both of a weak consti¬ 
tution, and require great attention to keep them alive 
through the winter; they are also very bad nurses—a great 
difficulty in rearing their lambs. I have conversed with 
many gentlemen who keep large flocks of Merino and Sax¬ 
on sheep, and they all agree what I have stated respecting 
them, to be correct, but they say we must have fine wool. 
If such sheep must be kept for their wool, let it be in states 
where land is of little value, but not in a state like New- 
York, where the carcass of a large breed of sheep can be 
sold from §10 to §20. For my own part, I will never 
keep a Merino or Saxon in this state, and I should think 
no man would keep an animal, where he could keep ano¬ 
ther which would bring him three times as much for the same 
trouble and expense, but it is a hard matter to convince 
people of the benefit they derive from having good stock ; 
and those that are, say it costs us so much to get those 
things, that we are fearful we shall never see our money 
again ; of course they must not expect to see it the next 
day. If they would only give it a trial for two years, they 
will receive good interest for their investment, and I am 
much pleased to see that some spirited individuals are ma¬ 
king considerable progress in the improvement of stock, as 
many valuable shipments have been made into this country 
this last year. For the last five years I have imported more 
than 500 head of cattle, sheep, and pigs. With those and 
other shipments, I am confident we are on the improving 
side. I again leave, in a few days, for Europe, to select 
some of the choicest of their animals for this country, and 
having traveled through both, lam confident that no coun¬ 
try can go ahead of us, if we start right. 
I must say that the South Down and Cotswold sheep 
have exceeded my expectation. I have seen some of the 
South Down wool manufactured into cloth, fine enough for 
any man; and if people get the pure blooded South Down 
sheep, they have an animal in every respect that is wanted ; 
theirmutton superiorto anyin the world; of a hardy constitu¬ 
tion, the wool good, and no sheep will live on shorter pas¬ 
ture. The South Down has a brown face and legs or dark 
grey. One thing I should caution people, not to buy be¬ 
fore seeing the importer’s certificate, that the sheep are im¬ 
ported and pure in blood, or from pure blooded imported 
sheep. I have not sold to any one that has taken two or 
more without giving one, and I have no doubt but other 
importers have done the same; if they have not, they should 
do so, as it would check many impositions of cross bloods, 
being sold for pure. 
I consider the Cotswold sheep a hardy animal, well 
adapted for this country; but they want better keep than 
the South Down; they make great weights and their fleeces 
are heavy. I had last year 18 Cotswold ewes, whose 
fleeces averaged 10£ lbs., and one buck whose fleece 
