THE CULTIVATOR. 
29 
Legislative Aid to Agriculture. 
The important subject of state aid to agriculture we 
are glad to perceive is again agitated, and we hope a 
full expression of the will of the people will he given 
in the matter. If this is done, we have little fear the 
public voice will be disregarded. Aid is not asked as a 
boon ; it is claimed as a right, and the man who looks 
at the sources from which the revenue of the state has 
been derived, will have little difficulty we think in com¬ 
ing to the conclusion that the claim of the farmer is 
well founded. 
Different propositions are before the public, as to the 
way in which such aid, if granted, would be the most 
effectual. We think the influence of a small sum would 
be most felt in the establishment of a State Board of 
Agriculture, but if ten or twelve thousand dollars 
is granted annually, then its division among County So¬ 
cieties, according to the ratio of representation, to be 
used for premiums and nothing else, would we think 
produce the greatest good. It is not the amount re* 
ceived by the county society from the state, that is 
the great object; the sum secures the existence of the 
the society ; it is a nucleus around which action and ef¬ 
fort can be concentrated and directed, and which expe¬ 
rience has proved produces the happiest results. An 
appropriation of twelve thousand dollars annually, 
would give us an efficient Board of Agriculture, one 
thousand dollars to be expended in premiums at the 
semi-annual meetings of the State Agricultural Society, 
and aid to the county societies at the rate of 50 dollars 
to each representative. We do not now, as we never 
have, advocate any appropriation of the money of the 
state, in such a way as to supersede the efforts of the 
county societies. No money should be paid to any so¬ 
ciety which had not actually raised for the use of the 
association, at least one half as much as it was enti¬ 
tled to receive from the state. We would not render 
individual or associated effort unnecessary ; we would 
only by legislative aid encourage and direct it. 
Let the farmers then speak out, and we are certain 
they will be heard. The'great state of New-York will 
not refuse to the interest which, while most others are 
falling off, is fast increasing the golden stream it is 
pouring into the treasury, the few thousands required 
to give it renewed life and activity. It is demonstrated 
that the state must rely on her soil, and the true ques¬ 
tion for the legislature to consider is, how can its pro¬ 
ducts be most effectually increased, and its resources 
most fully developed. 
We learn with pleasure that the subject has already 
been taken up in the Legislature, a resolution having- 
been passed, on motion of Mr. Fuller of Onondaga, 
instructing the Committee on Agriculture to inquire into 
the expediency of making an appropriation for the en¬ 
couragement of Agriculture. 
“ State and Condition of Agriculture 
In the United States, compared with Commerce, Trade and 
Manufactures 
Under this head, a correspondent (W. J. of Boston,) 
has addressed us some remarks on the causes of the low 
state of agriculture in this country, as compared with 
some other branches of national industry and business, 
which we are compelled to present in a condensed form. 
The first cause assigned by our correspondent, is 
“ The unproductive nature of this branch of industry, 
and the small returns of profit usually derived from 
capital invested in agriculture.” This arises from the 
expenditure required to keep land in good condition, 
and from the high price of labor. From 4 to 6 cords of 
manure is deemed requisite, which is stated to cost, de¬ 
livered on the ground, $6 per cord, or on an average, 
the cost of manuring an acre is $30. The expense of 
labor per acre on a farm is estimated at $6 per acre on 
the average, making the annual expenditure on each 
cropped acre, from $30 to $40. Our correspondent then 
estimates the average crop of potatoes at 150 bushels 
per acre ; for corn 25 to 30 bushels, and other crops in 
about the same proportion. This is, in truth, rather a 
disheartening view of agriculture, and as the writer re¬ 
sides near the emporium of New-England, Ave think the 
high price of materials for enriching the soil there, has 
led to rather a too general application of his expendi¬ 
ture per acre. Under a skillful course of cropping, or 
an alternation of roots and grasses with grain, manures 
could scarcely fail to cost less than the price named, and 
the amount of product be greatly increased above the 
aA r erage named. 
A second cause is, that “ Avhile the farmer is unable 
to realize more than 3 per cent on the capital invested, 
the profits derived from trade, commerce, and some 
branches of manufactures, have hitherto been much 
greater, varying from 10 per cent up to 20, 25 or even 
33 per cent.” 
A part of our friend’s statement is probably correct. 
Fortunes occasionally have been made much quicker by 
trade, manufactures or commerce, than by farming • but 
if it be true, as has been stated on good authority, that of 
those individuals Avho commence trade or engage in man¬ 
ufactures, three-fourths sooner or later become bankrupt 
Ave must be permitted to think that a certain 3 per cent' 
(and this Ave think too low on Avell cultivated lands) is 
better than ten or fifteen per cent subject to such rever¬ 
ses or contingencies. Besides we have the authority 
of Mr. Colman, (and better cannot be had,) that “ at 
present agricultural labor is as Avell paid as any kind 
of labor of the same description; perhaps all circum¬ 
stances considered, better than any other, excepting 
where an expensive profession or trade has been learned. ” ' 
It is true, as our correspondent asserts, “that the 
great profits Avhich trade and commerce are thought to 
afford, have a direct tendency to draAv our young men 
from the country to the cities, from agriculture to trade 
or speculations, as a more direct way to wealth and 
honor, an impression only to be corrected by inculca¬ 
tions of the truth, making honest industry honorable 
every where, and discouraging habits of luxurious and 
expensive living, to Avhich all classes of people in this 
country are so prone.” 
For the cure of the evils indicated, we expect little 
aid from national or state legislative action. Improvi¬ 
dent legislation frequently gives birth to evils that time 
only can cure. Our hope is on the people, the farmers 
themselves. Merchants will not import, foreigners will 
not deluge us with their trash, only as long as the peo¬ 
ple buy. 
Comparative Value of Pigs for Cutting up. 
That there is a very great difference in the value of 
pigs of equal Aveight, when fattened and killed, is knoAvn 
to every buyer and packer of pork, and should be Avell 
understood by every farmer. There are certain parts 
of a hog, such as the hams, lard and mess, much more 
valuable than other parts, such as the head and feet, 
and those hogs that give the greatest weight, Avhere it 
is of the most value, other things being equal, are the 
best animals for both seller and buyer. Weight, how¬ 
ever, without reference to the place where it is found, 
is generally the standard of value, and a hog that will 
weigh three or four hundred, even if one third of it is 
in the head and legs is by many considered first rate. 
A breed of hogs then having large hams, thick sides 
that lard well, with short necks, small heads, and slen¬ 
der legs and feet, is the one which is to be preferred, if 
there is sufficient weight of carcass and aptitude to 
fatten. Perhaps with an exception in a single point, 
that of Aveight, the Chinese hog comes nearer the stan¬ 
dard of perfection than any other ; and this defect in 
size, while the other valuable points have been retained, 
has been best corrected we think by the cross Avith the 
Berkshires. The great thickness of these hogs gives 
a weight of ham unequaled in any other, and their 
round capacious carcass furnishes ample room for lard, 
Avhich experience sIioavs is usually fully occupied. Ma¬ 
ny have been disappointed in killing Berkshire pigs, 
because they looked smooth and round Avhen compared 
with the alligators, and it seems to have been supposed 
they they should weigh without feeding, as much as the 
latter after months of stuffing. No one has a right to 
expect this ; the true point at issue is, Avhich pig with 
the same food will make the most meat, and of the 
most valuable kind ? and tried by this rule we have no 
fears for the Berkshire. Our pen of hogs this year con¬ 
sisted of five hogs of one of the best common breeds, and 
one Berkshire. The lot was from 18 to 24 months old, 
the Berkshire the oldest. They Avere none of them in 
high order Avhen put up, and Avere fed wholly on 
steamed apples and potatoes, Avith the exception of 
about 20 bushels of screenings, refuse wheat and oats 
mixed together and ground. The average Aveight of 
the whole was 375 lbs. each ; that of the Berkshire 
alone was 430 lbs. Several of the common pigs were 
longer than the Berkshire, but the weight in the latter 
was on the most valuable parts, and Ave have never seen 
a hog that exceeded him in the hams and lard, while 
the weight of the less valuable parts was proportiona- 
bly less. They were fed little more than two months. 
Since writing the above, we have been favored Avith 
a copy of the Report of the Committee on SAvine, made 
to the Tompkins Co. Agricultural Society, in Avhich are 
some very just remarks on the subject discussed above, 
and on the relative value of the several varieties of pigs 
now generally groAvn and fed in the country. From 
this report we make the following extract, as illustrat¬ 
ing more fully the opinions Ave hav’e expressed : 
“ The folloAving experiment made by the chairman of 
this committee last December, in cutting up his pork, 
will show that the Berkshire pig cuts up Avell, and has 
less offal than other breeds in proportion to the valua¬ 
ble parts. The first example is a sow, common breed 
2k years old—had raised one litter of pigs in July and 
August, 1839. She weighed as follows in parcels, 
whole weight 235 lbs. The second is a half blood Berk¬ 
shire sow 18 months old ; had raised two litters of pigs ; 
one in March and April, and the other in September 
and October, 1839—slaughtered in December. Whole 
weight 204 lbs. in parcels as below. The third exam¬ 
ple that we will give is a half blood Berkshire barrow, 
IS months old, killed at the same time, and all fattened 
in the ordinary Avay, 
whole weight 336 lbs. 
In parcels 
as follows : 
No. 1. 
No. 2. 
No. 3. 
Lard,. 
16 
31 
Hams,. 
31 
52 
Tenderloin,. . 
. 54 
31 
5 
Feet,. 
..... 8| 
6i 
9 
Mess Pork, . . 
. 96 
103 
176 
Prime,. 
. 23| 
16 
26 
Head, ...... 
. 18 
16 
21 
Spare Rib, ... 
12 
16 
235 lbs. 204 lbs. 336 lbs. 
The folloAving from the same report, is commendation 
strongly expressed, but we think facts will fully bear 
out the writer in his remarks : 
“ The Berkshire is a hardy hog, and a good feeder, 
an 1 is as Avell adapted to consume the coarse food qf 
the farm, as any other breed ; and it is believed they 
will make a greater return in flesh for the food they 
consume, than any other breed, except perhaps the 
China, and as large a return as they will. They are 
also remarkable quiet hogs, which is a very desirable 
quality with the farmer. They keep out of mischief, 
and save their flesh by their gentleness. Their skin is 
white when dressed and very thin. Their pork is firm 
and solid, and of the very best quality. Their hams 
are unrivaled ; and possess a higher character, where 
known, than the ham of any other breed of hogs in 
existence.” ____ 
Agricultural Soiree. 
Where is the farmer in our country, who would not 
be glad of the privilege of setting doAvn, and spending 
an evening in the society of such men as Allen, Be- 
ment, Garnett, Howard, Jewett, Rotch, Ran¬ 
dall, Robinson, and numbers of others of the most 
skillful, scientific and practical farmers of the country, 
and listening to the instructive results of their experi¬ 
ence ?—and would not the pleasure be greatly increased, 
if the same rational enjoyment was to be monthly placed 
within their reach, the meetings to include, Avilhin the 
course of the year, besides the gentlemen above named, 
some two or three hundred of the most able and influen¬ 
tial farmers of the Union. 
In such a meeting, Avhich may Avith propriety be 
termed an ‘ agricultural soiree,’ every subscriber to the 
Cultivator Avill be a Avelcome participator, and a par¬ 
taker of the benefits. Through our columns we shall 
monthly convey to our friends, the collected wisdom 
and experience of some thirty or forty of our ablest 
agriculturists, men who have done the most to advance 
the cause of improved husbandry, and as a necessary 
result increase the wealth and prosperity of the nation. 
To soirees of this kind, we invite the farmers of our 
country to be present by thousands. Our rooms are 
open, and the year has opened upon us most prosper¬ 
ously. None of the thousands who have favored us 
with a call have been dissatisfied, and we trust the 
thousands we are yet to meet, will have equal cause for 
satisfaction. 
Young Men’s Agricultural Society of Dutchess. 
Old Dutchess, by the skill and enterprise of her far¬ 
mers, the excellence of her soil when properly cultiva¬ 
ted, the promptitude with which the leading farmers 
have adopted obvious improvements in husbandry, and 
the means they have made use of by a liberal circula¬ 
tion of Agricultural papers, and by associated effort, 
has obtained the honorable distinction of the Pattern 
County of New-York. She seems, however, to be 
aware that this distinction can be only retained by a 
diligent use of the same means and effort that acquired 
it, as both in the east and the west other counties are 
following her steps closely, counties for which nature 
has done as much or more than for her, but for which 
the farmers have done as yet far less ; and we have ac¬ 
cordingly the notice of the formation of the “Young 
Men’s Society of Eastern Dutchess,” the spirited reso¬ 
lutions adopted, and a copy of the well written and ap¬ 
propriate address delivered before the Society by the 
President, Edward Merritt, has been forwarded us. 
All this indicates the right feeling. It shows that the 
farmers of Dutchess are not content with having done 
well; it proves they mean to do still better. J_,et other 
counties and sections of our country imitate their exam¬ 
ple. _ 
USEFUL RECIPES. 
To Cure Poisoned Lambs.' —I send you a recipe to 
cure lambs when poisoned with Withey, so called here. 
It grows on Ioav lands, about one foot high, and is green 
the year round. To half a pound of black tea, put one 
quart of water, boil it until you get the strength of the 
tea, SAveeten Avith molasses, and give tAvo table spoon¬ 
fuls at a time. One dose is in most cases sufficient. 
Great Falls, N. II., Dec. 1840. Isaac Chandler. 
To Color Madder Red. —For 10 lbs. flannel or yarn, 
take fths lb. cream tartar and |tlis lb. alum—pound 
them fine and boil 15 minutes in sufficient rain water— 
then add a little cold Avater and put in your cloth and 
boil it 3 hours, stirring it often—take it out and air it 
Avell, throw aAvay your alum water—-put in a sufficient 
quantity of water so as not to crowd your cloth ; then 
put in 3 lbs. madder, and heat it over a moderate fire 
as hot as you can bear your hand in ; then put in your 
cloth and keep it stirring 3 hours at the same heat. 
Then take out your cloth and add 2 quarts of soap and 
stir it up well, put in your cloth for 20 minutes, and 
then it is ready for scouring. The cloth or yarn should 
be well washed and put in the alum water while wet. 
The cost will be but 6 cents per yard. J. Parker, Jr, 
For Bots in Horses. —A junk bottle full of strong 
sage tea, made very sweet with molasses, Two or 
three doses is generally sufficient for a cure. 
Trenton, N. Y. Jan. 4, 134L J, Parker, Jr. 
Cure for Bloated Cattle. ^Mn the month of Au¬ 
gust last, I discovered that's yearling of mine was very 
much bloated, groaning at every breath. After cutting 
off the end of her tail, I boiled a strong dose of thorougli- 
wort with a little tansey, poured it down as soon as it 
AA r as cool enough, and on application of the first bottle, 
it started the wind. I gave the second, then turned the an¬ 
imal into the yard, and drove it about a few moments, 
Avhen the bloat disappeared and the groaning subsided, 
New-IIaven, Vt. 12 mo. 1840. A. M. 
