26 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
to be taken into account in the construction of plows, 
one arising from the weight to be moved, and the other 
arising from friction and tenacity. The first is the 
subject of mathematical calculation ; and the best meth¬ 
ods of obviating it may be ascertained with certainty. 
The last is continually variable, differing almost in every 
field, and therefore not to he met hy any demonstrations 
of theory. The experiments of Mr. Pusey prove that 
the resistance from friction or tenacity is greater than 
that from the simple division of the soil, and it unfor¬ 
tunately happens that the very construction best adapt¬ 
ed to divide and raise the earth, is the one that offers 
the most resistance by friction. Thus the Scotch plow, 
constructed on mathematical principles and of a most 
beautiful model, an implement that expends less power 
in moving the earth than almost any other, owing to 
the increased friction it occasions from its extent of sur¬ 
face acted upon, is one of the very heaviest draft plows 
to be found. This was proved not only hy the experi¬ 
ments made by Mr. Pusey, but by those instituted at 
Worcester, in both which cases the Scotch plow work¬ 
ed heavier than almost any others. We think also that 
too little attention in constructing plows has been paid 
to the line of draft. It is well known that with a single 
exception, plows are so constructed that the point of 
the share is in that line, or in other Avords the landside 
of the ploAV coincides perfectly with the line of draft. 
This is evident by the birdseye \dew given of the most 
celebrated English and Scotch plows in the Encyclopedia 
of Agriculture, or by an examination of most American 
plows. The plow noted as an exception, is Prouty & 
Mears’ Centre Draft ploAV, (fig. 7,) the one that ob¬ 
tained the $100 premium at the Worcester Fair, and 
Avhich worked 100 per cent easier than some other plows 
on the ground. In this plow the coulter and the point 
incline to the land side so far, that the draft is equal on 
both sides of the beam, as was proved by its showing no 
disposition to deviate from its course, when left to its 
own guidance, and of course imposing no labor on the 
plowman or the team in their efforts to keep it in a pro¬ 
per position. 
We make no apology for the length to which this ar¬ 
ticle has extended. Great as has been the improve¬ 
ment in this important implement, since a plow consist¬ 
ed of a crotched stick drawn by an old Avoman and an 
ass yoked together, according to Pliny, there is still am¬ 
ple room for remoAung existing defects ; and every ef¬ 
fort at obviating difficulties and rendering the ploAV 
more perfect, should have the full benefit of promul¬ 
gation and discussion. 
NECESSARIES AND LUXURIES. 
“ The luxuries of life must always be made subser¬ 
vient to its necessaries,” is a remark of Bordley’s, as 
just noAV, and as Avorthy of consideration as it Avas near¬ 
ly one hundred years ago ; yet hoAV often do Ave see this 
order reversed, and the necessaries made to give place 
to the luxuries. By the term necessaries of life, is to 
be understood things absolutely essential to the health, 
comfort, and subsistence of mankind ; by the word lux¬ 
ury, those things not requisite to subsistence, health, or 
comfort,—things, the Avant of which arises from acciden¬ 
tal circumstances, and are usually possessed by few. 
Thus there are necessaries and luxuries in almost every 
department of life,—in food, clothing, literature, and 
education. The bread, the meat, and the Avater, are 
the necessaries of food ; the mixtures, the condiments, 
the spice, and the Avines, the luxuries ; the clothing es¬ 
sential to decency, and protection from the effects of 
climate, are the necessaries of dress ; the fine linen, 
the embroidered silks, and the laces, are its luxu¬ 
ries ; in language, to an American, a competent 
knowledge of his good old mother English is a necessa¬ 
ry ; French and Italian, Sanscrit and Persian, are luxu¬ 
ries ; and in books, those that relate to his business or 
profession are the necessary ones ; those that serve on¬ 
ly to beguile an hour, or assist him in killing time, are 
the pernicious luxuries. 
The history of the Avorld, hoAvever, shoAvs that, in 
the progress of events, articles that once Avere deemed 
luxuries, or the property of the feAV, cease to be such, 
and are ranked among the necessaries Avhen common to 
all. Thus meat, a few centuries since, and in many 
countries noAV, is by the common people deemed a lux¬ 
ury, as it is seen on their tables only once a Aveek ; and 
the well known extent of the Avishes of Henry the 4th, 
for his people, Avas that every family should have meat 
on Sunday. Sere, meat ceases to be a luxury from its 
commonness, and takes its place among the necessaries. 
So Avith clothing ; all the finer kinds of goods, linens, 
Avoollens. and silks, on their introduction, were deemed 
luxuries, and some kind’s of them may justly be consid¬ 
ered so at the present time, but that is depending on 
other circumstances, rather than on the fact of their be¬ 
ing woollen, linen, or silk. India cottons, fifty years 
since, were deemed a luxury, but noAV, Avhen far supe¬ 
rior cottons are the product of our own fields and man¬ 
ufactories, they have ceased to be such, and cotton 
cloths have taken their place among the necessaries of 
the household. Woollen cloths, made from the fleeces 
of our merinos, such as are noAV Avorn by almost every 
one, fifty years since would have been pronounced lux¬ 
uries of the highest grade, and Avould justly have had 
that name, as only the rich and the great at that time 
could be dressed in broadcloth. Now, when we grow 
the fleece, and manufacture the cloth, it has fallen from 
the rank of a luxury into that of a necessary. So Ave 
imagine it will be Avith silk, if, as Ave hope, its produc¬ 
tion shall be fully established in this country. It is now 
perhaps the greatest, certainly the most expensive, of 
our luxuries ; but, as in the case of meat, woollens, and 
cotton, let silk become a matter of home production, the 
growth of our oavu farms, and the production of our oAvn 
manufactories, and it would at once take its place as 
one of the necessaries of life, because better adapted for 
the purposes of clothing than almost any other sub¬ 
stance. 
Some seem to apprehend that if the culture of silk is 
successful, the production of the other necessaries of 
life, the bread, meat, and avooI, Avill be suspended ; and 
the nation will suffer. The best reply that can be made 
to this, Avould be an examination of the effect produced 
on the great mass of the people by rendering meat, wool, 
and cotton so common as to deprive them of the name 
of luxuries. Can a single instance be pointed out Avhere 
this has been done, in Avhich the mass has not been ben- 
efitted, and their Avealth and their comforts increased ? 
Is there less bread raised in the country, or is meat 
more scarce, than it Avould be if broadcloths had re¬ 
mained a luxury, and one suit Avas now, as formerly, 
made to descend from father to son? No one Avill pre¬ 
tend it; on the contrary the means of production have 
increased with the causes that have led to this change 
in clothing; and we doubt not that should the attempt 
made to introduce the silk manufacture here succeed as 
has those of wool and cotton, the same beneficial re¬ 
sults would ensue. The capital now sent abroad to 
purchase silks, Avould, the most of it, be invested in im¬ 
provements of the soil, and both meat and bread would 
be found to be increased instead of decreased. 
National Gallery of American Agriculture and 
Manufactures. 
We have received from the Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, 
Commissioner of Patents, a notice which will be found 
below, of the readiness of the spacious Hall that has 
been erected for the above purpose, for the reception 
of such articles as may be forwarded; and Ave are hap¬ 
py to believe that ere long a collection Avill be found at 
that place of specimens of American skill, and from 
the American soil, inferior to no museum of the kind 
in the world. 
And Avhat good reason, we would ask, can be given 
Avhy Ave should not have in this country a National 
Board of Agriculture ? Such a board as is to be found 
in many of the best goA^erned European countries, and 
which are productive of the most beneficial effects. We 
have been in the habit of going abroad for lessons in 
banking, finance, keeping the public moneys, and vari¬ 
ous other matters, and we can perceive no good reason 
why a lesson in the promotion of agriculture, should 
come Avith a worse grace from them, than on the other 
topics named. A National Board, Avhich should hold 
its annual meetings at Washington, during the session 
of Congress, which should furnish or receive Reports 
on Agriculture and the Crops of the several states, 
which should be composed of leading agriculturists 
throughout the States, Avould occasion but little expense 
to the nation, and be productive of benefits beyond cal¬ 
culation to the whole country. The United States are 
and must always remain an agricultural nation. For 
this the soil and climate has peculiarly fitted them, and 
it is the duty of the government to take all proper mea¬ 
sures to secure to the citizens of this country, the full 
benefit of its ample resources. The Agricultural Mu¬ 
seum, Avhen filled and supplied, will form a nucleus 
around which objects of comparison may be collected, 
and measures’of adaptation be successfully planned and 
executed. We merely throAv out these hints in this 
place, but Ave firmly believe that the man who shall be 
the means of introducing into Congress and carrying 
through such measures as shall secure the formation of 
a National Board of Agriculture, will be remembered 
as a national benefactor, long after the present party 
feuds and struggles shall be buried in oblivion. 
Mr. EllsAVorth is deserving of much credit for the at¬ 
tention he has paid to these subjects, and for the valu¬ 
able information Avhich with the limited means hith¬ 
erto at his disposal, and under many disadvantages, he 
has collected and given to the country in hisAmrious re¬ 
ports. We hope the call here made will be promptly 
and cheerfully responded to; and that the means and 
the information he has proved he so well knoAvs how 
to render available, will be freely rendered. 
Patent Office, Nov. 20, 1840. 
Notice is hereby given that the Hall in the new Patent Of¬ 
fice for the exhibition of manufactures, is now completed. 
The Hall is spacious, being 273 feet long, 63 feet wide, 30 feet 
high, and fire proof. . 
Agents whose names are annexed, will receive and forward 
free of expense, articles which may be deposited with them. 
These articles will be classified and arranged for exhibition, 
and the name and address of the manufacturer (with the 
prices when desired,) will be carefully affixed. Few, it is 
presumed, will neglect to improve the opportunity now pre¬ 
sented of contributing their choicest specimens to the Nation- 
tional Gallery of American Manufacture *, where thousands 
who visit the Seat of Government Avill witness with pleasure 
the progress of the arts in these United States. . 
If fairs, in limited sections of our country, have excited in¬ 
terest, what must be the attractions of a national exhibition, 
enriched by daily additions. 
Tlie Agriculturist may be gratified to learn, that commodi¬ 
ous rooms are provided for the exhibition of agricultural im¬ 
plements, and also for the reception of seeds for exhibition or 
d' The 1 Commissioner of Patents, being authorized to collect 
agricultural statistics, avails himself of this opportunity to so¬ 
licit information of the condition and character ot the crops 
in the several sections of the country. These data will aid 
him in presenting with his annual report, the aggregate amount 
of products of the soil, and it is hoped that the public may 
be guarded in some measure from the evils of monopoly, hy 
showing how the scarcity in one portion of the land may be 
supplied from the surplus in another. 
Names of agents who will receive and forward packages 
for the Patent Office. Collectors of the Customs at Ports¬ 
mouth, N. H., Portland, Me., Burlington, Vt., Providence, R. 
I., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, 
New Orleans, Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland. Surveyors of the 
Customs—Hartford, Ct., St. Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, 
Louisville, R. H. Eddy, Boston, Mass., David Gardner, (Cus¬ 
tom House,) New-York. HENRY L. ELLSWORTH, 
Commissioner of Patents. 
‘ Notes on European Agriculture.’ 
Under this title, an intelligent writer in the Charleston 
Southern Cabinet, has published a series of papers on the 
agriculture of the various European countries, which are 
of a most interesting character, as showing the principal 
points in which their farming differs from ours, and the 
various Avays in which ours is susceptible of improvement. 
We can give only , a few extracts, where we should be plea¬ 
sed to quote columns. 
Of Scotch farming, he says: “A farmer by the name 
of Thomas Oliver, residing five or six miles from Edin¬ 
burg, leased a farm for the last twenty ur 100 acres, 
paying annually a rent of 10 guineasper acre ($7,500) on 
which he raised hay, grain, and vegetables for the market 
of Edinburg. This lease he has recently renewed for fif. 
teen years (the usual time to which leases run) on the same 
terms, and from a poor man he has become independent in 
his circumstances, and now rides in his carriage. What 
American farmer could make a profit that would enable 
him to pay such an enormous rent ? All may be account- 
ed for on the principle of judicious management, and care¬ 
ful industrious cultivation.” 
Good management and good cultivation, will doubtless 
perform wonders, but we think there are other causes ope¬ 
rating to prevent the farmer of this country realizing the 
profits of the old, and of these the two most prominent are 
the difference in the price of labor, and the difference in 
the price of products between that country and this. 
These two items are of vast importance in an estimate of 
comparative profits, and we have reason to think are too 
frequently overlooked by travelers and others. 
He gives the following lively and just picture of the ag¬ 
ricultural Fairs in some parts of Germany; and there is 
no truth more conclusively proved, than that an improv¬ 
ed agriculture and fairs usually accompany each other. 
“ On the continent, especially in Germany, their annu¬ 
al fairs bring together the farmers and peasants of all the 
surrounding country, where their ambition and industry 
are stimulated by a variety of fetes, the distribution of pri¬ 
zes to successful competitors ; and while princes, dukes, 
and barons are engaged in awarding prizes to those who 
have been most successful in the cultivation of grains and 
cattle, their lovely wivos are ooenpifirl in n humbler, hut 
much more lively scene, in complimenting and distribut¬ 
ing premiums to the industrious housewife, for her fine 
specimens of fruit—her butter and cheese—her linen 
cloths, weaving, knitting, and other manufactures. I have 
no doubt I shall be ridiculed for my want of taste, when I 
state, that to me, the Grand Dutchess of Baden, present¬ 
ing a silver cup to a peasant girl, before an assembled 
crowd of farmers and nobility, for the finest specimen of 
manufactured gloves, was a more interesting sight than 
that of the gay Queen Victoria racing through St. James 
Park, with fifty fools at her heels, striving not to be dis¬ 
tanced by their lovely mistress.” 
Speaking of the great attention paid to seeds in Europe, 
and the necessity there is for this where good crops are ex¬ 
pected, and the extended nature and importance of the 
seedsman’s occupation, he remarks: “ I noticed at Edin¬ 
burg, in the collection of Lawson and Son, Seedsmen and 
Nurserymen to the Highland and Agricultural Society of 
Scotland, 83 varieties of wheat, 62 of peas, 51 of turneps, 
146 of potatoes, and an immense number of species and 
varieties of the grape.” 
To England he awards the palm of high and neat cul¬ 
tivation, ‘ its neat cottages adorned by the eglantine, honey, 
suckle, and ivy, chequered here and there by the park and 
lordly palace, rendered the whole land a picturesque gar¬ 
den.’ The soil of Belgium is better than the English ge¬ 
nerally, and the excellence of the wheat of Denmark sur¬ 
prised and gratified him. To the grumblers about our 
country and its institutions, we recommend his remarks 
on the taxes and grinding oppressions of the old world, and 
think the result will be the same that the sight of these 
things were on him, a more fervent attachment to our Re¬ 
public and our American home. 
Working to be Idle.—T here is many a person tvho 
has such an abhorrence of every thing that goes hy the 
name of labor, that to avoid it, they actually incur more 
effort and trouble than they Avould to labor strenuously 
the same number of hours. The shabby genteelman or 
Avoman, will despise an honest laboring person, yet will 
spend more time in striving to render a threadbare half 
Avorn garment passable, than the laborer, or they them¬ 
selves if they would shake off their dread of Avork, 
would in earning a netv one of good quality. Prudence 
from proper motives, is a virtue, but AA r hen it arises 
from false pride and a scorn of labor, it is a curse. 
Candles.— Candles altogether superior to the com- 
mon tallow ones, are made in the following manner. 
Melt together ten ounces of mutton tallow, one-fourth 
of an ounce of camphor, four ounces of bees Avax, and 
two ounces of alum. Candles thus made, bum with a 
I clear brilliant light. 
