THE CULTIVATOR. 
185 
author, was delivered by the president of the society, 
John Sanford, Esq. A number of valuable reports 
were made on the culture of particular crops and farm 
management generally, some of which we hope to be 
able to lay before our readers. 
Ontario Agricultural Society. 
This society has been organized within the present 
year, and held its first meeting at Canandaigua on the 
20th of Oct. From the manner in which the farmers 
of this rich and flourishing county engaged in the mat¬ 
ter, the talent and wealth as well as public spirit of 
the gentlemen embraced in its board of managers, we 
were convinced the association would be an honor to old 
Ontario, and this first report, which by order of the 
society has been forwarded us, proves we have not been 
mistaken. Although organized so recently, the atten¬ 
dance of members and others, was larger than had ever 
attended the meetings of the former society, which ex¬ 
isted in that county some twenty years since. The 
bulls, cows, oxen and calves, were of a superior order, 
and showed that the attention of the farmers of Ontario, 
had not been directed to the improvement of their stock 
in vain. The plowing match limited this year to ox 
teams, was well contested, and exhibited a fine display 
of practical skill in the plowmen. The show of corn, 
wheat, roots, and vegetables generally was good ; and 
a variety of agricultural implements and machines were 
on the ground. 
We notice a few of the premiums awarded: 
To Charles B. Meek of Canandaigua, for the two best 
acres of wheat, 45^ bushels per acre, $10. To Bani 
Bradley, of East Bloomfield, for the two best acres of 
Indian corn, 116 bushels per acre, $8. To Bani Brad¬ 
ley, of East Bloomfield, for the two best acres of oats, 
77| bushels per acre, $6. To Francis I. Paul, of Can¬ 
andaigua, for the two best acres of peas, 33 bushels per 
acre, $8. To Charles B. Meek, of Canandaigua, for 
the best half acre of ruta baga, 880 bushels per acre, 
$3. To Charles Godfrey, of Seneca, for the ox team 
that plowed i acre best within an hour, $8. To William 
Ottley, of Phelps, for the greatest quantity of useful 
articles manufactured in any family, and by females, 
from wool, cotton, flax, hemp, tow or silk, $10. To 
Harlow Monson, of East Bloomfield, for the greatest 
quantity of reeled silk, raised by any female, $10. 
The address was delivered by John Ranicine, Esq. 
and as the production of a practical and scientific far¬ 
mer, was listened to with great interest, and by a vote 
of the society, was to be printed for the use of the mem¬ 
bers. 
The officers of the society, and the managers for the 
ensuing year, appointed at this meeting, give the most 
ample assurance, that in the progress of its society, 
Ontario will not be behind any association in the State. 
Agricultural Fair of Cortland Co. 
The annual Fair of the Cortland Agricultural Asso¬ 
ciation was held at Homer, on the 7th of October, and 
was very numerously attended by the enterprising far¬ 
mers and others of that county, as well as by several 
gentlemen from other sections of the state. The day 
was fine, the multitude were in good spirits, smiles were 
on the faces of all, and this annual holiday was pro¬ 
nounced a proud one for Cortland. The show of ani¬ 
mals, particularly young ones, surpassed that of any 
previous year, and afforded the most gratifying evidences 
of improvement in the important department of cattle 
husbandry. 
The number of cattle amounted to 160 head, horses 
12, sheep 80, and swine over 100. The cattle exhibited, 
were by far the greater portion of them, and nearly all of 
those below three years old, crosses between the Short 
Horn and the native cattle. Some beautiful specimens 
of pure bred Devons, from the stock of John Cowlen, 
Esq. were shown, and their fine proportion and rich 
color, so unlike the “miserable, heavy buttocked York¬ 
shires,” which hawe obtained the name of Devonshires 
in many parts of our country, attracted much admira¬ 
tion. Some fine animals of a cross between the Short 
Horn and the Devon, particularly a six year old bull, bred 
by the Rev. Henry Berry of England. The bulls stand¬ 
ing first in each of the three classes, were all of a cross 
between the Short Horn and the New-Leicesters, and 
their silky coats, and nice handling properties were 
much noticed and admired. The native stock of cows 
and working cattle exhibited, showed “ that though the 
American farmer may find it expedient to resort to 
foreign crosses, he has the proper material to build 
upon already in his possession.” 
Of the swine exhibited, some were specimens of ve¬ 
ry good Berkshires, but the show was not as good in 
this respect, as it is hoped it will be another year. Some 
native sows of large size with litters of Berkshire pigs, 
well illustrated the value of such a cross ; and two large 
white boars of the Hampshire breed, were great favo¬ 
rites with the advocates of large hogs. 
The different varieties of sheep were well represent¬ 
ed, and the specimens of Merino, Saxon, Bakewell. 
and South Downs, attracted much notice. A flock of 
thirty ewes offered for exhibition only, presented a fine 
combination of the points desired by the wool grower, 
viz superiority in quantity and quality of fleece, with 
a size of carcass an l form in licating a vigorous consti¬ 
tution. They were understood to be a cross between 
the Merino and Saxon. 
The show of vegetable products, such as beets, tur- 
neps, and corn, and cheese and butter were unusually 
good, and proved that few if any counties could excel 
Cortland in these respects. The society was ably ad¬ 
dressed by Samuel Griggs, Esq. well known as an 
able and practical farmer. Cortland has set a noble 
example to her sister counties, in her efforts to improve 
her stock, and she is now beginning to reap a rich re,- 
ward. Let others go and do likewise. 
COTTON. 
Every one is aware of the vast importance of this ar¬ 
ticle to our country. It is the basis of the most exten¬ 
sive of our manufactures ; it constitutes the grand arti¬ 
cle of export, and whether viewed in its connexion with 
our prosperity at home, or our financial relations 
abroad, assumes an importance second to no other pro¬ 
duction of our soil, not essential to positive subsistence. 
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that every thing 
relating to it, or remotely connected with its growth, 
should be narrowly watched, particularly by those 
states most interested in its production. At present, 
the United States produces more cotton for the market 
than all the rest of the world, a circumstance not alto 
gether owing to our more favorable soil or climate; but 
because we have invented and adopted improvements to 
which the cotton growers of other countries are stran¬ 
gers; and because our citizens are at liberty to follow 
those pursuits they deem most conducive to their inte¬ 
rests without the dictation or interference of govern¬ 
ment. 
Considerable quantities of cotton have long been 
grown in India, in Brazil, and lately in Egypt; but not 
in a sufficient amount to seriously interfere with our pri¬ 
ces or product. The population of the Brazils is not 
sufficient to compete with ours in the cotton markets of 
Great Britain, France, and Germany; in Egypt the ter¬ 
ritory capable of growing cotton is not sufficiently ex¬ 
tensive to interfere with our sales materially; and the 
unsettled state of that region forbids that great cultiva¬ 
tor, Mehemet Ali, from making the most of the territo¬ 
ry he does possess ; in India there are no assignable li¬ 
mits to the population that may be employed in the cul¬ 
ture, or to the soil suitable for its growth ; and it is to 
this point, therefore, that America may reasonably look 
for a rival in the cotton trade, should one arise. India, 
too, is under the oppressive control of the greatest cot¬ 
ton using and manufacturing nation of the world ; and 
one which has every inducement to establish and for¬ 
ward its culture by every means in its power. For 
hundreds of years, cotton has been produced and manu¬ 
factured in India, but no attention has been paid to im¬ 
proving the quality, facilitating its production, or prepa¬ 
ring it for market or manufacture. The wretched popu¬ 
lation have been compelled to grow only such things as 
their taskmasters preferred, and this to a very great ex¬ 
tent, has been opium for the China market. Only as 
much rice has been cultivated as was deemed necessary 
to avoid famine, and in several instances a failure of 
that crop has caused the starvation and death of mil¬ 
lions. For a few years, however, the attention of Bri¬ 
tish statesmen has been directed to the cultivation of 
cotton in their India possessions, and agents have been 
employed to collect such information and arrange such 
facts, as would best enable them to act efficiently and 
decidedly. 
In carrying out this plan, the improvements made in 
the United States in ginning, or cleaning and packing 
cotton, required a full investigation; and the last season 
an English gentleman by the name of Baylies, has been 
exploring the cotton states, examining the soils minute¬ 
ly and accurately, ascertaining the peculiarities of cli¬ 
mate and temperature, making himself acquainted with 
the whole process of growing cotton from the prepara¬ 
tion of the soil and planting the seed, to the cleaning 
and packing of the fibre, and collecting and comparing 
the various seeds and products of the several kinds of 
cotton grown in this country. In the farther execution 
of the intentions of his employers, he has engaged the 
services of ten or twelve intelligent and practical cot¬ 
ton growers, men thoroughly acquainted with every 
step in the process, v r bo have sailed with him for Eng¬ 
land, eventually to proceed to Surat, or other points in 
India, to commence plantations in the American style. 
A large collection of the best machinery, such as gins, 
gin stands, and all the implements for cleaning cotton, 
have also been purchased and forwarded with the same 
destination. The government has appropriated some 
sixty thousand dollars for the purpose of pushing for¬ 
ward the undertaking; and there can be little doubt 
that it is determined to make a vigorous effort to intro¬ 
duce the cotton cultivation on an extended scale in In¬ 
dia. That it will succeed,, can scarcely be doubted. 
Both the climate and the soil are favorable to it; this 
the experience of ages has demonstrated. The average 
price of labor in that country is only about two dollars 
per month, or from $24 to $30 a year, while in our cot¬ 
ton states a good slave hand will command from $10 to 
$15 per month, or $150 per year ; this difference will 
give an advantage the English seem prepared to appre¬ 
ciate. In forming correct conclusions on this point it 
must be remembered that the cotton business of this 
country has grown up within comparatively afew years 
to its present immense magnitude ; that the British 
start in the competition at the point which we have so 
long toiled in reaching; that the implements we have 
invented are now the property of the world ; and that 
in a period of twenty years, England can if she will, 
produce in India, cotton to supply her manufactories, 
and control the cotton trade of the world. 
Under these circumstances, the question becomes a 
perfectly proper one, and one we have seen not unfre- 
quently asked in southern journals, what effect the 
carrying out of the British project would have on the 
cotton gimwing states ? The answer to this has usually 
been, that it would be destructive to the prosperity of 
the South. We are inclined to dissent from this opin¬ 
ion altogether. We do not believe the fate of this 
great nation is depending on any single product of her 
soil, however important that one may be. It is true, 
less cotton would be required for exportation and mere 
would be wanted at home. It is not reasonable to sup¬ 
pose that if Great Britain should exclude our cotton, as 
she certainly would do, could she produce it in her own 
dominions, that we should allow her to send us those 
cotton goods we now receive from her, but which w e 
might, were it not for the sake of the exchange, just as well 
manufacture at home. To precisely the extent there¬ 
fore that we now receive cotton goods from England, 
should we increase our consumption of the raw mate¬ 
rial here ; and as the supply of the English market 
would not effect that of the rest of Europe, the falling 
off’ must be comparatively limited. 
There is besides another branch of industry most ad¬ 
mirably adapted to the south, which might well take 
the place of the culture of cotton to a considerable ex¬ 
tent, and we believe, even at the present time, with 
decided advantage. That business is the culture of 
silk, and to supply the already existing demand would 
require no inconsiderable part of the population and 
capital now engaged in growing cotton. Neither silk 
or cotton can be grown in Europe, except to a limited 
extent, and the demand far exceeds the supply of the 
former, while the latter has already reached the point 
where the producer crowds the consumer. Under these 
circumstances, we cannot apprehend any serious injury 
to the country, even should the India government suc¬ 
ceed to the extent of their wishes in producing cotton. 
Our resources are too ample; our productions too nu¬ 
merous and diversified; our climate and our country too 
various and extended ; and our inventive and appropria- 
tive faculties too well developed to fear the rivalry of 
any nation whatever. 
CIDER. 
Apples may unquestionably in most cases be more 
profitably used than for conversion into cider; but as 
this liquor will still be drank in considerable quantities, 
and when used with food, and in moderation, if the his¬ 
tory of the pilgrims may be cited as proof, cannot be 
very injurious to health or morals; it is certainly desi¬ 
rable that it should be made as unexceptionable as pos¬ 
sible. There is much vile stuff' used as cider, as well 
as of wines, beer, &c.; and in many instances the inju¬ 
ry sustained by the drinker of cider, arises quite as much 
from the wretched state of the liquid, as from its re¬ 
puted alcoholic qualities. The farmer or the mechanic 
does not now spend his long winter evenings in telling 
stories and drinking cider ; more rational means of pass¬ 
ing them have been provided ; but there are many who 
take a glass of cider with their dinners,and such should 
see that they do not mix with their food an article that 
is not pure and well made. 
To make good cider, the apples for each grinding 
should be all of one kind, that the fermentationdnay be 
complete and uniform. Apples should be selected, the 
juice of which has the greatest specific gravity, as such 
juice contains the most sugar, and of consequence makes 
the richest cider. It should be pressed neatly and 
cleanly, and every step of the process from the gather¬ 
ing of the apples to the final bottling or barreling of the 
liquor, should be in the same careful and unexceptiona¬ 
ble manner. The goodness of cider, and certainly its 
purity is in a great degree depending on the perfect 
manner in which it is freed from all the feculent or sed¬ 
imentary matter. This is usually done at the time of 
fermentation, at which time, if the barrels are properly 
attended to and filled, most of the foreign ingredients 
.will run over, and so far cleanse the cider; but this 
method, which is all that most cider makers attend to, 
is very imperfect and leaves a mass of impurity that 
soon renders the liquor sour, turbid, and unfit for drink, 
or the best kind of vinegar. 
To render cider of the best quality, fit for bottling, 
drinking, or culinary purposes, it should be filtered tho- 
roughly, and thus fully freed from all impurities; it is 
only in this way that it can be done, and this, properly 
performed, never fails. For filtration, there is no sub¬ 
stance equal to pulverized charcoal. In preparing a 
vat or vessel for filtering cider, the bottom strata (and 
this must be placed a short distance from the bottom, to 
allow the clear liquor to flow 7 or be drawn off,) must 
consist of fine charcoal; over this a strata of that which 
is rather courser ; and above all, a layer of well washed 
pure sand. The several divisions should be supported 
by hair or flannel cloths, and the number of the filters, 
or their size, may be determined by the quantity it is 
required to purify. The sand as it becomes filled with 
sediment and clogged, must be taken out and washed, 
and new charcoal must take the place of the old, parti¬ 
cularly in the fine, or lowest section. 
This method has been practiced in some few places 
we believe in this country, with great success; and a 
patent on this principle, has lately been taken out in 
England, and is very highly spoken of, for its effect on 
the cider submitted to its action. For ourselves, were 
w T e in the habit of cider drinking, we should prefer a li¬ 
quor as fine and as rich as most of the foreign wines, to 
the sour, acrid, and villainous liquid that commonly 
passes under the name of cider. 
