THE CULTIVATOR. 
58 
be kept two and a half or three feet from the surface ; 
where it approaches nearer than this, in the ditches, 
the latter will succeed best; in order to avoid having it 
sown in rows, it should be sown a second time across 
the first sowing. It is not advisable to mow longer than 
three years in succession ; to mow and pasture alter¬ 
nately'is the better plan. If the high marsh becomes 
bound and unproductive, plowing will be necessary ; 
and after raising two or three crops of rye, Indian corn, 
or broom corn, without the application of any manure, 
the soil will be quite renovated, and when sown down 
in »rass will be much more productive. When the 
earthy deposit is several feet in depth, it will not soon 
become exhausted ; when it is not desirable to plow, 
lime may be used with success. Low marsh, or turf, 
or as we term it here, “ horse dung ” mud, should not 
be plowed ,- when it becomes unproductive, a covering 
of clay or loam to the depth of two or three inches, will 
be found the cheapest application. I have had no ex¬ 
perience with sea manure. 
y THOMAS F. LAMBSON. 
Salem, N. J . Jan. 20, 1841. __ 
©o 111 astern (ffmtgrants—$To. 4. 
Messrs. Editors —By sundry assurances from unknown 
friends, that my articles have answered some of the purposes 
for which they were written, I am encouraged to continue. 
Even if they did no other good than to be the moving cause of 
bringing “two Durham cows” from my native state of Con¬ 
necticut, to feed upon our boundless pastures, I should be 
satisfied. I hope Mr. Allen will give the required informa¬ 
tion, as to cost of freight, &c. And here I will take the liber¬ 
ty of saying to all persons desiring information connected with 
the great cause of improvement in agriculture, upon any 
branch within the extensive knowledge of A. B. Allen, or 
his brother R. L. Allen, of Buffalo, that they have but to 
ask, and they will receive. If they wish similar information 
from Chicago, address John S. Wright, Esq. Editor of the 
“ Union Agriculturist.” 
No emigrant need fear any difficulty in bringing along cat¬ 
tle and hogs. Several of the masters of steamboats on the 
Lakes, seem to take great interest in the shipment of choice 
stock to the West. I have had three lots of pigs, shipped 
from Buffalo to Chicago during the last summer, in the sole 
care of the master of the boats, and from the appearance of 
the pigs on arrival, they must have been treated like cabin 
passengers. In fact, none but a brute could maltreat a Berk¬ 
shire pig. 
In the shipment of furniture, emigrants need advice. Great 
care should be taken in packing everything in the most com¬ 
pact manner, in barrels and boxes, strongly hooped and 
nailed; and very plainly marked with full directions. The 
freight upon the canal is charged by the pound. Upon 
the Lake, and upon storage in ware-houses, it is charged 
by the barrel bulk. The best way is to contract in New-York 
or Albany, for the whole charge of transportation clear 
through, and pay it, and take a receipt, specifying the contract 
completely. If you have a family, you will have enough to 
look after, without watching your freight all the journey. Ma¬ 
ny articles are lost, through the carlessness ot the owners. 
Articles are sold every year in Chicago, “ for freight and 
charges,” that never had any mark upon them ot owner’s 
name or-destination. You cannot be too careful. Be econo¬ 
mical, prudent and good natured upon your journey. Avoid 
haste and hasty words, although often provoked, and be de¬ 
termined to have a pleasant journey, and my word for it, you 
will have. And at whatever sacrifice, be sure to settle all your 
business before you start. For I have found out that “ money 
to come from the East,” is a very snail of a traveler; it but 
rarely overtakes the emigrant; and as for “going back after 
money,” you can earn two new dollars here while you can 
hunt up one old one there. 
If it be possible, always fix upon some definite spot for 
your location before you start—and when you arrive in a new 
settlement, beware of sharks. Be careful to settle in a healthy 
spot, although the soil should be less rich. Nothing disheart¬ 
ens the new settler so much as a season of sickness in the 
first year; and it is often brought on by great imprudence. 
One prevailing fault among new settlers, is undertaking 
too much the first years. I have known many to completely 
prostrate themselves in a vain endeavor to fence and cultivate 
forty acres with strength only sufficient for ten, and after 
months of toil, finally compelled to witness the destruction of 
the whole crop, in consequence of their inability to “ finish 
the fence.” Not only the loss of crop, but a severe fit of sick¬ 
ness, brought on by oven-exertion and exposure. For proba¬ 
bly, while toiling at the field, the finishing of the house has 
been put off, and at last when placed in a situation to require 
a comfortable shelter from storms and winds, there is nothing 
of the kind. I have personally known much suffering, and 
sometimes death, to arise from such circumstances. How 
much better to make a small beginning. To be sure and 
make the cabin as comfortable as possible, for at the best, it is 
to a family that have never been used to the like, but a tem¬ 
porary convenience, generally occupied more through necessi¬ 
ty than choice. Not but that a log house can be made most 
completely comfortably, and I have ofien seen those of a very 
rough exterior, which showed the highest degree of neatness 
within. But there is such an anxiety among many emigrants 
to get a large farm, that the dwelling is neglected. This is all 
wrong, it is much better to have a “ little land well tilled,” and 
a house, if not “ well filled” inside, at least have all the cracks 
in the outside well filled, if you expect to keep the wife, ‘well 
willed.” Many an ague fit is brought upo-n the new*settler by 
the unusual exposure to which they subject themselves in an 
unfinished log cabin, with all the cracks open, perhaps without 
door or window, and but half a chimney, and sometimes with¬ 
out floor or fire-place. 
Such a change from all former usage cannot be submitted 
to with impunity, although in the summer time, and though it 
be merely for that indefinite period, “’till I get over my hur¬ 
ry.” The fact is that an industrious man upon a new place, 
where everything is to be created by the work of his own 
hands before it can be called a farm , is never over his hurry. 
And I am sure that I shall have all the female part of my 
emigrating friends upon my side, when I insist that it should 
always be the first thing to do, as I am sure it is the first duty 
of the emigrant, to make the dwelling house as comfortable 
as the circumstances will possibly admit. If a man will ex¬ 
pose his own health, he is bound by the strongest ties to pro¬ 
tect that of his wife and children at all times, and doubly so, 
when he has brought them away from the thousand comforts 
that they have been reared to, “to begin a new home in the 
wilderness.” And although the new settler’s log cabin is neces¬ 
sarily a rough uncouth looking dwelling, it can with a very small 
amount of labor, be made tight, warm, comfortable and plea¬ 
sant. How many of my readers now dwelling in their hand¬ 
some mansion houses, will, as they peruse this, look back to 
thepositive happy days that they enjoyed in a log cabin. 
That many of their descendants who are disposed to par¬ 
take of the bounties that nature has provided for the indus¬ 
trious man in the Great West, will yet enjoy life in the same 
kind of humble habitation, is the sincere wish of their hum¬ 
ble log cabin friend. SOLON ROBINSON. 
Lake C. II. Ia. Jan. 28, 1841. 
Ornamental Gates. 
( Gate — Fig. 27.) 
There is no one thing, Messrs. Editors, that gives 
more character to a farm than a neat and handsome 
gate at the entrance ; and this subject has been entire¬ 
ly overlooked by our agricultural papers, as well as oth¬ 
er publications. This fact I was not aware of until 
about two years ago, when I had occasion to erect one 
at the head of the avenue, leading from the road to my 
house. I examined the Encyclopedia’s, and every book 
connected with agriculture or rural architecture, and 
not a syllable could I find on the subject. As a dernier 
resort, I was compelled to tax my imagination for a 
plan or form of a gate which would combine neatness 
and strength, and not be too expensive. 
The one represented above was the result, and I had 
one constructed with some modifications, leaving off the 
entablature and making the side gates stationary. 
I do not oiler it as being the most ornamental or least 
expensive, but one that might be adopted until a better 
one is offered ; at any rate it may awaken attention to 
the subject, and draw from your correspondents some¬ 
thing much superior. 
The two center or main posts are of chestnut, 8 inch¬ 
es square and 14 feel long, set 4 leet into the ground, 
and the earth well packed around them. The two out¬ 
side ones are 11 feet in length—8 inches square, and 
also set 4 feet in the ground’, and all encased with l£ 
inch plank. The gate is 10| feet in length and 5 feet 
high. The heel is of white oak 5 9-12 feet long—3£ 
inches wide, 2| inches thick—the top and bottom rails 
as well as the cross pieces or braces are 4 inches wide 
and 13 inches thick—the upright pieces or balustra es 
are inches square, and morticed through both bars 
and cross pieces, every one forming a brace. 
The gate is 10£ feet long, and it is astonishing how much 
weight it will resist at the head. After it was hung, a 
man whose weight would not vary much from 180 lbs. 
hung his whole weight on the head, and we could not 
perceive, that it settled in the least. 
Every farmer should have a set of carpenter’s tools 
and a room to work in, where many implements may 
be made or repaired in stormy days, when field work 
would be impracticable. By practice we become fa¬ 
miliar with the use of tools, and a little ingenuity will 
enable almost every person to make a gate of some de¬ 
scription or other, and I would offer the following 
(fig. 28.) which was handed me by a friend that has one 
in use, as being quite simple in construction, not very 
expensive, and when painted, makes a very neat and 
pretty appearance. 
( Gate — Fig. 28.) 
It is 10 feet long—4^ feet high—the heel or long back 
piece should be of oak, 3 inches square and 9 feet long 
—the head may be of pine 2 by 3 inches. The lower 
bar should be 7 inches at the heel, tapering to 5 inches 
at the head—the next 6 inches and tapering to 4 inches 
—the two center pieces should be 4 inches and tapering 
to 3 at the head—the two upper ones may be 3 inches 
at the heel and taper to 2| at the head. The brace 
should be firmly secured at the top of the heel piece 
and bottom of the head, should be 4 inches wide, and a 
wrought nail, well clenched, through the rails. The 
posts, if not cased, should be 8 inches square, and cap¬ 
ped with pine plank. 
It is an old adage that “ a man is known by the 
company he keeps.” So the provident farmer is known 
by his gates, fences and out-buildings ; to find them 
in good order and repair is evidence of thrift, and gives 
character and a favorable opinion of the proprietor. 
“ Show me,” said a valued friend, “ good fences, 
gates and out-buildings—fields free from brush, briars 
and weeds, and I will show you a good farmer.” 
To illustrate this, I will relate a circumstance that 
occurred while myself and son were riding through the 
east part of Saratoga about one year ago. It was in a 
section of the country new to both of us ; of course 
the inhabitants were all strangers. After passing se¬ 
veral farms which had the appearance of being pretty 
well managed, and many which appeared the very re¬ 
verse, we came to one which attracted my attention, 
and I said to my son, “ This man takes and reads an 
agricultural paper.” “ Why do you think so ?” said he. 
I pointed to his fences and gates for an answer, and as 
we approached his dwelling other evidences were so 
apparent that I proposed to make him a call. Unfortu¬ 
nately for us he was absent, but we found one of his 
men who was kind enough to show us the stock and 
improvements, all of which strongly confirmed my first 
impression. 
In his yard we found a fine Durham bull, for the im¬ 
provement of his cattle; and. his pigs were a cross of 
the Mocho and Berkshire breed. His piggery was on 
a new plan intended for the double purpose of fatten¬ 
ing his swine and cattle. It w r as in the basement of his 
grain barn, near a cellar in which he stored his roots. 
The basement also contained his horse power,with which 
he thrashed his grain, and ground his apples and vege¬ 
tables for his stock. Near to this he had two cauldrons 
set in arches, in a house where the food was cooked for 
his hogs. 
His pens were about 4 feet w’ide and 10 feet long. In 
each pen from two to four hogs are fattened in the fall, 
and when slaughtered, their places were supplied by 
bullocks, each pen forming a very comfortable stall for 
one animal. In addition to the usual fixtures for swine, 
he had racks erected for hay, and the troughs answered 
for mangers in which grain or roots could be fed to cattle. 
Every step we took only increased our regret at the 
absence of the proprietor, from whom w r e were confi¬ 
dent we could receive much information. 
We w r ere informed, by his man, that he was attending 
an auction about four miles distant on our road home. I 
was determined, if possible, to ascertain whether I was 
correct in my opinion or not. After considerable search 
I found him, and did not hesitate to approach and en¬ 
ter into conversation with him at once. 
And here I would remark, that I have never yet met 
with a farmer that had imbibed a spirit for improvement, 
that did not receive me with cheerfulness and a hearty 
welcome. After some conversation on “ matters and 
things” appertaining to our profession, I put the fol¬ 
lowing question to him : ££ What agricultural paper do 
you take ?” “ The Cultivator and Genesee Farmer.” 
was the reply. 
To show the importance of gates in another point 
of view, besides convenience, I will relate another 
circumstance that occurred last fall. I was in search 
of a person in an adjoining town, and was directed to 
take a particular road and turn into the first ££ swing 
gate,” which I found without difficulty, and could not 
but remark that it was the only gate I saw in that sec¬ 
tion. CALEB N. BEMENT. 
Three Hills, Feb. 1840. 
Improved ITorkshire Swine, 
Editors of the Cultivator —Will you so far oblige 
us as to give us space in your exceedingly valuable pub¬ 
lication to inform your countrymen, (several of whom 
have gratified us by most interesting and intelligent let¬ 
ters,) that we expect to have a tolerable quantity of our 
improved Yorkshire sw r ine ready for shipment about 
the middle of May. The price of a single pig will be 
15 dollars ; for a pair, $25 ; at which price they will 
be properly caged and put free on board a steamer at 
Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario. Prepayment 
to be made in bills payable in Canada, or at least in the 
State of New-York. A description of the swine appear¬ 
ed in one of your previous numbers, and we have noth¬ 
ing to add to it. We have orders to send several pairs 
into the United States the ensuing spring, and we have 
no doubt of their making themselves favorably known 
to the enterprising breeders of that country. It may 
however, be important to state, that as a cross with the 
far famed “ Alligators,” they have proved themselves 
highly valuable. Two years ago we had a lot of as 
shabby sows presented to. the notice of our boars, as 
could possibly be met with, such indeed as no feeding 
would bring to the weight of 200 pounds ; and we have 
the best evidence that the produce on being slaughtered 
this winter, being about 18 months old, have weighed 
from 280 lbs. to 350 lbs. This very great improvement 
has induced many of our sapient friends to believe 
that their hogs are now as good as they can be made, 
and they are consequently breeding from half bred boars, 
by which proceeding every man of intelligence must 
know that they will shortly have another swarm of“ Al¬ 
ligators.” JOHN & E. A. HARLAND. 
Guelph, U. C. Jan. 23, 1841, 
