CONSOLIDATION OF DUEL’S CULTIVATOR AND THE GENESEE FARMER. 
Cult. Vol. VIII—No. 3. 
ALBANY, N. Y. MARCH, 1841 
Cult, & Far. Yol. I!.—No. 3. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 
GAYLORD So TUCKER, EDITORS. 
JESSE BUEL & CO. PROPRIETORS. 
One Dollar per annum—Six Copies for $5. 
(payable always in ADVANCE.) 
20 per cent commission on 25 or more subscribers, and 
25 per cent commission on 100 or more. 
Subscriptions to commence with a volume; and the money 
to be sent free of postage. 
“ TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND THE BIIND,” 
Meeting of tRe State Agricultural Society. 
The proceedings of the New-York State Agricultural 
Society at its annual meeting in this city on the 10th 
and 11th of February, will be found in the present 
number of the Cultivator. The meeting was very re¬ 
spectable in numbers, and the best spirit prevailed 
among the gentlemen present. All seemed determined 
the Society should go on, and go on effectively; and such 
we trust will be the result. We have space only to call 
the attention of the reader to the new and more efficient 
organization of the Society, and the resolution adopted 
making it incumbent on the Society to hold annual 
meetings or fairs for the exhibition of cattle and other 
animals, farming implements, products, &c. the time 
and place to be designated by the Executive Committee. 
There can be no question that the successful progress 
of this Society would prove of immense advantage to 
the state, and there can be no good reason why the Em¬ 
pire State should not have an Agricultural Society 
on the most liberal and efficient scale. We are con¬ 
fident the funds can be raised for the annual and semi¬ 
annual fairs, and thus an impetus be given to the cause 
of agriculture throughout the state. On the whole we 
think it right to expect much from the energy which 
it is hoped the new board of managers will infuse into 
the affairs of the Society, and that its friends in all parts 
of the state will feel the importance of giving it their 
effective aid and support. The time and place of the 
Annual Fair, with the list of premiums, will he fixed 
upon at as early a day as possible, that the friends of 
agriculture throughout the state may fully understand 
the matter. 
American Journal of Science and Arts. 
We perceive in the latest number of this valuable 
Journal, that a change in the terms of publishing, most 
favorable to those subscribers who receive the work by 
mail, has been made, by which those subscribers who 
send in their names and pay in advance, receive the 
work free of postage, thus reducing its cost some one 
dollar and twenty or thirty cents. 
The Journal of Science, which has been so ably con¬ 
ducted by Prof. Silliman, has few equals in merit in 
the world, and no superior; and has become so identi¬ 
fied with the progress of science all over the globe, and 
so well known in all countries, that its possession may be 
considered necessary to every one who takes an interest 
in the rapid advance and surprising discoveries of science. 
Some of the most valuable papers on the subject of 
agriculture yet published in the United States, have ap¬ 
peared in the Journal, and there is scarce a subject 
of interest in any branch of Physical or Natural Sci¬ 
ence which does not here find its appropriate notice and 
place. The Journal has done more to make the science 
of this country known in Europe, and consequently to 
elevate the character of the United States among for¬ 
eigners than any other American work, and it is one 
of which every citizen of this country may justly he 
proud. It is published quarterly, making two hand¬ 
some octavo volumes annually, illustrated with draw¬ 
ings and engravings, when the subject treated requires 
them, at the price of six dollars a year; (postage be¬ 
ing now deducted.) We take a pleasure in inviting 
the attention of the readers of the Cultivator to this 
Journal, and hope that such of them as wish to possess 
the most complete record of the progress of science ex¬ 
tant, will send in their names as subscribers to Silli- 
man’s Journal at once. 
q 
Legislative Aid to Agriculture. 
We are gratified to learn that the Agricultural Com¬ 
mittee of the House of Assembly have reported a bill 
for the benefit of Agriculture. Its provisions are such 
as will, we are inclined to believe, meet the approbation 
of the great mass of our farmers. It appropriates the 
sum of seven thousand dollars, to he distributed to the 
County Agricultural Societies in the ratio of $50 to each 
member of Assembly, and the balance of the appropri¬ 
ation, $600, to the State Agricultural Society—the mo¬ 
ney not to be paid to the several Societies until they 
have raised an equal sum. If this bill shall be passed, 
and we cannot doubt but what it will he, it will give a 
new and powerful impetus to agricultural improvement. 
Small as the sum appropriated is, it will have the effect 
to bring into existence associations for the advancement 
of agriculture in all our counties, and their action will 
be extended to every town, so that, more or less, every 
individual may participate in the benefits to he derived 
from these associations. 
“Low's Illustrations.” 
We have received the first four numbers of Prof. 
Low’s splendid “ Illustrations of the Breeds of British 
Animals ,” a series that in its progress can scarcely fail 
to throw much light on the origin and improvement of 
the various races of domestic animals in Britain; an 
inquiry scarcely less interesting here than there, as it 
is from the same source our domestic animals are de¬ 
rived. The Illustrations is a magnificent work in 
folio, the numbers published every two months, each 
containing four engravings of the folio size, of some 
of the most distinctive races of animals of the older 
breeds, most beautifully drawn and colored from life. 
We think this method is a very good one, as it will show 
more clearly than any other the improvements which 
have been effected in the breeds, and the sources from 
which the improvement has been derived. The letter 
press description is by Prof. Low, and his extensive ac¬ 
quirements, the great advantage he enjoys from his po¬ 
sition, and his intimate acquaintance with the subject 
on which he writes, gives the greatest assurance to the 
breeder or the agriculturist, that the opinions expressed 
may be fully relied upon. The publication price of the 
work is one guinea a number. Of the numbers before 
us, No. 1, is devoted to the Ox—No. 2, to Sheep—No. 
3, to the Hog—and No. 4, to the Ox. 
It is impossible to look over the portraits of some of 
the original breeds here given, without being struck by 
the development of qualities that have given the great¬ 
est value to some of the improved breeds. Thus it is 
well known (see Cultivator, vol. 7, page 94,) that the 
present beautiful Short Horns are the result of a suc¬ 
cessful cross of the Durhams and Galloways, effected by 
Mr. Collings. Now we think no one can look at the 
Galloway heifer in one of these engravings, without 
perceiving at once the origin of the square form, hea¬ 
vy quarters and fine points, which are so characteristic 
of the Improved Short Horns. The color of the Gallo¬ 
ways in the Illustrations is indeed black, but the cross 
was effected with a red Galloway cow, which may ac¬ 
count for the product of the cross being free from all 
colors excepting white and red. 
So with the Hog ; no one can look at the figure of the 
Siamese sow given in this work, and compare it with 
the Berkshire in the same number, without tracing at a 
glance those peculiar qualities, the union of which ren¬ 
der the improved Berkshire the most valuable breed of 
the age. The clean head, short ears and neck, round 
chest, and heavy hams and shoulders, are those of the 
Berkshire mainly, while the color, quiet nature, short 
legs, and aptitude to fatten, have in a great degree been 
derived from the Siamese or China pig, for, according 
to Prof. Low, these are identical. We believe an ex¬ 
amination of these portraits would have materially aid¬ 
ed our southern and western agricultural friends in dis¬ 
posing of that vexed question, the color of the Berk¬ 
shire pig. Prof. Low has given the original English 
Berkshire, a sandy color, dashed with black spots, and 
the Siamese is perfectly black. That the improved Berk¬ 
shire should have white feet, and that invariably or 
nearly so, is seen from the fact that in both figures, all 
the feet and part of the leg is white ; even the white 
hairs in the tail, which have elicited so much criticism, 
are not wanting. Of the Chinese or Siamese, Prof. 
L. says —“ The individuals are of small size, and 
have a cylindrical body, with the back somewhat hol¬ 
low, an ! the belly trailing near the ground in conse¬ 
quence of the shortness of the limbs. The bristles are 
soft, approaching to the characters of hair ; the color is 
usually black, the skin externally of a rich copper co¬ 
lor.” Again, “ the varieties of this widely extended 
race, with which we are chiefly conversant in this coun¬ 
try, are derived from China; they have usually the 
dark color characteristic of the race, but they are often 
also white.” Of the Berkshire, he remarks, “ Many 
of the modern breed are nearly black, indicating their 
approach to the Siamese character, and sometimes they 
are black broken with white, showing the eff ects of the 
cross with the white Chinese.” To us, the black, or 
nearly black, color of the Improved Berkshires, with 
the sandy tinge of the extremities of their hair occa¬ 
sionally, and their white feet, appear satisfactorily ac¬ 
counted for by Prof. Low’s statements and figures. 
That the color should not have beenblack, or nearly so, 
would have been contrary to the well known results c f 
crosses in other animals, and to what must have been 
rationally expected here. 
Imported Seeds and Implement?. 
We have received from James Ronaldson, No. 200 
South Ninth-st., Philadelphia, a pamphlet containing a 
list of grains, grass seeds, implements, &c. imported by 
him from England and Scotland for the use of Ameri¬ 
can farmers. Among these we notice the Oxford While 
Prize, Pomeranian Red, and Golden Drop Wheat; 
Scotch and Chevalier Barleys ; Hopeton Oats ; Rye ; 
Rye Grass ; the celebrated Don Potatoes ; Sugar Beet; 
Weed hooks ; Hand Mills ; Subsoil Plow, &.c. Mr. Ro¬ 
naldson has also brought a great variety of articles in 
extensive use abroad, as examples to artists in this 
country, and as worthy of introduction in some of the 
many processes connected with agriculture. 
We think the undertaking of Mr. Ronaldson a praise¬ 
worthy one. There can be little doubt that some of the 
new varieties of grains that have been introduced by 
either skill or accident into European agriculture will 
be found very valuable in this country, and well worthy 
the attention of our farmers. Some things ma 3 r not be 
adapted to our climate or our culture ; there will l e 
doubtless some failures, but the introduction of a single 
valuable grain, or grass, or root, into cultivation would 
compensate for many such. Letters, post paid, address¬ 
ed to Mr. R. will receive prompt attention. 
Agricultural Address. 
We have received by the kindness of our friends cf 
the Kentucky Farmer, the address of the Hon. Chilton 
Allan, delivered before the Kentucky State Agricul¬ 
tural Society, at its annual meeting in January. The 
main proposition of Mr. Allan in his Address, is that 
“ the direct action of government should be brought in 
aid of individual industry, in promoting the great inte¬ 
rest upon which our individual and social prosperity so 
much depends.” 
This position is most ably illustrated and enforced, 
by a reference to the history of agriculture in past ages’ 
its present condition in this country, and the vast im¬ 
portance it has in connection with the prosperity of the 
United States. We have room for only a single ex¬ 
tract : 
“ I have satisfied myself by much observation and reflec¬ 
tion of the truth of the following statements: 
1. That at least two-thirds ot our arable land is annually 
becoming poorer by unskillful husbandry. 
2. That it is practicable to make our lands annually more 
fertile. 
3. That both our arable and pasture lands may be made 
to produce twice as much as they have done. 
4. That at an inconsiderable expense the cattle in our state 
can be made worth annually upwards of four millions more 
than they have been. 
5. That with the same amount of food, our swine may be 
annually advanced in price $2,000,000. 
6. That there is yet in use among us, in a large part of the 
state, very imperfect agricultural implements. 
7. That two men with the best plows can perform more 
work in a day, than three with those in common use. * * * * 
There are 490,613 cattle in the state, their average value is 
hut $5.87, while the average value of those in three counties 
that have improved their stock is $15. The aggregate value 
of the whole is but $2,882,218, but if all the counties had giv¬ 
en the same attention to improving the stock as Fayette, 
Bourbon, and Clarke, the aggregate value would have been 
$7,359,195. The experience of the few counties that have 
given their attention to swine, has demonstrated that the im¬ 
proved breeds can be brought to maturity upon half the food 
required by the old sorts ; and a proper rotation of crops on 
exhausted fields, has restored them to their primitive fertility.” 
Kentucky has a most fertile soil; sons that always 
make their mark in whatever they undertake; and if 
the impulse already given to her agriculture is increased 
or perpetuated, the best results are sure to follow. 
