Farmer, and Cultivator, that a repetition would be 
scarcely proper. 
By the way, our agricultural friends, to whom the 
transmutation of wheat into chess appears so certain 
and easy, have an opportunity now offered to “ make 
money,” by a demonstration of their theory. In conse¬ 
quence of a new agitation of the matter in Virginia, the 
able editor of the Farmer’s Register, Mr. Ruffin, has 
offered a premium of $100 to the man who shall demon¬ 
strate the transmutation of wheat into chess, with the 
process of performing it. We believe, too, that Mr. 
Chapin’s premium of $50 (see Genesee Farmer, vol. 2, 
page 310,) is still open for competition, so that the ad¬ 
vocates of transmutation have every encouragement to 
advance proofs and institute experiments. 
Agriculture in Virginia—Value of Marl. 
We give the following from a letter received from our 
friend, H. Harrison, of Prince George county, Va. : 
“ It is astonishing to witness the increased production 
merely from intermixing with the soil, what we fami¬ 
liarly call marl , an increase on many occasions of fifty 
per cent. Its modus operandi may form a fruitful theme 
of agricultural disquisition. It may depend upon the 
greater affinity which exists between the lime and the 
acid of the earth, and thus destroy the great obstacle to 
a successful culture ; or a combination may ensue 
which proves the proper stimulus to the plant; or a 
compound be formed, perfectly soluble, which the plant 
assimilates to itself. To Mr. Ruffin is awarded the 
merit of reviving from obscurity what had grown obso¬ 
lete, if not of original application upon an extended 
scale with us. 
“ Some attention has been directed among us to the 
improvement of our stock of cattle and hogs. The im¬ 
proved Short Horns have been introduced among us, 
but some doubt is entertained whether they are fully 
adapted to our district, as our most inferior land is de¬ 
voted to pasture, and the better kind to tillage. In¬ 
deed, it appears to be generally agreed, that so large a 
frame requires abundant grass to sustain it. The Berk¬ 
shire hogs from Bement, Lossing, and Brentnall, have 
been introduced, and are considered to be vastly supe¬ 
rior to our ordinary stock ; for elegance and symmetry 
of form, for aptitude to take on fat they stand unrivaled; 
still there are other kinds among us, derived from Eng¬ 
land, but little inferior to them. 
W isconsin Territory. 
We yield a hearty concurrence in general to the views 
and opinions expressed by our correspondent (T. W. 
Sipperly) at Delavan, W. T. as to the excellence of 
that territory, and the adaptation of its soil and climate 
in particular, to emigrants from New-York and New- 
England. As a general rule, however, we are not the 
advocates of migration, but would prefer to see our 
large farms reduced to more comfortable dimensions, 
and cultivated in a better manner, rather than have so 
many of our young men leaving for the west for want 
of land to till. Small farms, and superior cultivation, 
will be best for all in the end. The recipes sent by 
Mr. S. will appear as we can find room for them. 
Principles of Breeding. 
Our friend J. B. of Hildreth, O., in reply to our re¬ 
marks on the concluding part of our Review of Walker 
on Intermarriage, is informed that we do not plead 
guilty to the charge of. ‘ fastidiousness,’ in respect to 
the discussion of such matters ; but that we imagine 
every subject necessary to a full understanding of the 
questions at issue among breeders, may be treated in 
such a manner as to divest it of all indelicacy, or any 
thing which shall render it unfit for a journal intended 
for general reading, and which should be a welcome 
visitor to every member of a family. There are, how¬ 
ever, some topics, which the general, and correct, opi¬ 
nion of mankind, has excluded from popular discussion, 
an ! confined to works devoted to such subjects ;> and of 
these, those relating to the theories of procreation have 
always held a distinguished place. While, therefore, 
our columns are open for the discussion of all topics, 
when treated in a proper manner, we shall reserve the 
right of deciding on this point; and knowing as we do, 
that national degradation has always followed in the 
wake of female demoralization, we shall not hesitate to 
exclude any papers, or condemn any book, however va¬ 
luable in other respects, that have a tendency to such a 
result. 
We do not agree with J. B., that there is no nervous 
connection between the mother and the embryo ; we 
doubt the position that the quality of the blood derived 
from the parent has no effect in determining the physi¬ 
cal character of the progeny ; and we must be permit¬ 
ted to question whether, where a full blood Berkshire 
is crossed with a common sow, some of the pigs will be 
full blood Berkshire, some entirely of the common kind, 
and others of various grades. The question asked by 
J. B. whether “ the structure of the grandparent is 
ever transmitted to the grandchild, without being pos¬ 
sessed by the parent?” would seem to receive some 
support from the fact, that in hereditary insanity, cases 
not unfiequently occur, in which the child escapes, and 
the disease reappears in the grandchild. 
IiUsus Naturae. 
J. M. Irwin, in a letter to the Cultivator, has de¬ 
scribed a singular freak of nature. A cow was killed 
for beef, and the calf, then in the fifth month, was ta¬ 
ken from her. On examination it was found that the 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
animal had two perfect heads, connected with a single 
neck, and each brain contributing its part to the single 
spinal cord. The heads were attached to the neck at 
right angles, which would have made delivery impossi¬ 
ble. There were two wind-pipes, each connected with 
the lung on its own side ; and two gullets, each termi¬ 
nating in a stomach of its own. The stomachs united 
in a common duodenum, and the intestines were single 
to their termination. The calf was a male, and except 
in the points noted resembled an ordinary animal. 
Experiment with Potatoes. 
In a communication from L. Smith, Esq., of Falls- 
burg, he mentions an experiment made by him in plant¬ 
ing the Yam, Mercer, and Rohan potato. Twelve Yam 
potatoes were cut in pieces, one eye on each piece, and 
planted two pieces in a hill. Adjoining, in rows of the 
same length, and with pieces cut in the same way were 
two rows of Mercers ; next these were two rows of Ro- 
hans, cut and planted as the first; and then again two 
rows of Rohans, with only one piece in a hill. At dig¬ 
ging, the Yams gave five bushels of assorted potatoes, 
and a peck of small ones ; the Mercers five bushels and 
a half of assorted, and a half peck of small ones ; the 
Rohans gave five bushels to the first two rows, and I 
could perceive no difference between them and the two 
last, either in tops or bottoms. The Rohans were large, 
and required no assorting. 
Inquiry. 
Messrs. Editors —My farm is better adapted to 
raising stock or keeping dairy than for grain, but I do 
not wish to keep a dairy. Which would afford the 
most profit, and be the best to improve the land, raising 
neat stock, or keeping sheep ? If sheep, what breed 
would be the best for that purpose? If neat stock, what 
breed? and which would be the most profitable, heifers 
or steers ? An answer from one qualified by experience 
to express an opinion would be thankfully received. 
Fallsburg. 
Inquiries—Sweet Potatoes and Hessian Fly. 
A. Aylsworth, of Granville, 0., requests some in¬ 
formation on the subject of raising and preserving the 
sweet potato ; and the prevention of the Hessian fly. 
A writer in a southwestern journal gives the follow¬ 
ing directions, which he has successfully practiced for 
twenty years : “Manure and break up your ground, 
and make it fine by plowing and harrowing. Then 
throw three furrows together, and to complete the ridge 
with a fine rake, draw the dirt up on each side to about 
the height of a potato ridge. Open a trench on the 
ridge and drop the slips five or six inches apart, and 
cover two inches deep. There is no difficulty in the 
after culture ; and a plow will materially assist in 
digging the crop. The potatoes are put in a tight bin 
or garner in the cellar with chaff or dry dirt around and 
on them, and put them in the same day they are dug. 
When freezing weather comes on, close the cellar win¬ 
dows. Plant as early as the spring frosts will admit, 
and dig after the first frost is hard enough to bite the 
leaves.” To preserve the sweet potato, exclusion from 
the air and light, a dry place and dry covering, and a 
moderate or rather low temperature is necessary. With 
these requisites there is little difficulty in their preser¬ 
vation. 
As to the Hessian fly we regret to say, that important 
as the subject is to the farmer, and extensive as are its 
annual ravages, no method has yet been discovered of 
arresting its depredations on the wl\£at crop. Every 
thing is as yet but mere theory, which it is nearly use¬ 
less to detail. What is known on the subject may be 
found in former volumes of the Cultivator. Mr. Ayls- 
worth gives the results of three experiments on spring 
wheat, the results of which condensed, are as follows : 
1st. Sowed 9th cf March, 1840. Injured by the fly 
about the lower joint; product a middling crop. 
2d. Sowed April 15th, 1840. Looked well until about 
to head, when about one-tenth of it headed, and ran up 
the usual height. The remainder formed no heads. 
On examination it was found the fly had not lodged its 
eggs in the usual place near the root, but invariably 
above the upper joint. That which bore a head had 
but few of the larvae. 
3d. Sowed May 16th, 1840. Looked finely for three 
or four weeks after it was sown ; when it began to pe¬ 
rish, and soon all disappeared ; the fly causing a total 
failure. —• 
Large Calf. 
“ O. K.” of Homer, had a cow calve on the 22d of 
June last. The calf was weak, and was obliged to be 
assisted for a fortnight before it could help itself. Its 
weight the day after it was dropped, was 115 pounds, 
at five months it weighed 550 pounds, and its girth was 
five feet. — 
Inquiry. 
Messrs. Editors —How long should a man be en¬ 
gaged in agriculture before he has a right to the appel¬ 
lation of a practical farmer? O. K. 
According to the common use of language as applied 
to men engaged in the professions, or in the mechanic 
arts, when an individual begins to put in practice the 
knowledge which he has previously acquired on any 
given subject, he is said to become a practical man, and 
we know no reason why the same rule should not apply 
to the farmer. The value of the opinions, however, 
expressed by these men, or by others, must depend 
much on their habits, and their means of observation. 
Long experience, combined with correct observation , 
certainly entitles opinions to great weight; but there 
are men who have farmed it all their days, that act as 
mechanically as the implements they use, and the latter 
are almost as much entitled to the appellation of practi¬ 
cal farmers as the former. 
Rohan Potatoes and South Downs. 
Mr. Taylor of Delphi, Onondaga, informs us of the 
result of an experiment made by him last year in cul¬ 
tivating potatoes. He planted the Rohans, (cut in pie¬ 
ces, with two eyes in a piece, and two pieces in a hill,) 
the Sardinias, English Whites, and Orange potatoes, 
two rows of each ; rows, 60 or 70 hills in length, and 
gave them the same treatment throughout. At digging, 
the Rohans were found clustered together in the hills, 
much lessening the labor of digging ; but they did not 
yield as much to the row into nearly a bushel, as the 
other kinds planted. Mr. Taylor has commenced the 
breeding of South Downs from stock purchased from 
the flocks of Messrs. Rotch and Bement. The South 
Downs are great favorites of ours as a sheep for the 
common farmer, and we presume Mr. Taylor will not 
be disappointed in their value. We concur fully in the 
desire expressed by Mr. Taylor, that where no good 
reason exists for withholding a name, it should always 
accompany a communication. We have no doubt such 
a course would be generally acceptable to the numer¬ 
ous readers of the Cultivator. 
Gapes in Chickens. 
Our correspondent, Gen. C. of Iowa, attributes the 
gapes in chickens to breeding from too old cocks, and 
says—“ Whether the age of the male would cause that 
disease or not, I know not; but I can well remem¬ 
ber the time when cocks were allowed to grow old 
for the purpose of cock-fighting, that three-fourths 
of the chickens died with the gapes ; and I have since 
noticed that where none but young cocks are kept on a 
farm, the disease is almost unknown. I do not remem. 
ber having seen a dozen chickens affected with it in the 
last thirty years.” 
Farm Crops. 
Mr. J. F. Osborn of Port Byron, Cayuga Co., well 
known as a successful agriculturist, writes us as follows: 
“ My crops for 1840, were not quite as good as usual; 
still my corn averaged 80 bushels per acre ; my oats 
over 60, wheat 20, and potatoes 300 bushels to the acre. 
On one and one-eighth of an acre of sugar beets, I had 
800 bushels ; but on three-fourths of an acre of ruta ba- 
ga, I had but 200 bushels, while three years since, on 
the same ground, I had over 1,000 bushels. The black 
bug attacked the young plant; the white worm or mag¬ 
got showed itself in the root; and a little red blue bug, 
which eat out the small or center leaves of the plants 
about finished them.” 
Great Yield of Carrots. 
Mr. Edgerton of Mount Moriah, N. Y. says —“ In 
1839, I planted eight rods of ground with carrots, in 
drills twenty inches apart; (they should be two feet 
when the ground is suitably prepared;) the produce was 
88 bushels, or at the rate of 1,900 bushels to the acre. I 
measured one that was 18 inches in diameter, and the 
same in length. I also raised a considerable quantity of 
Swedish turneps and Mangel Wurtzel. From the lat¬ 
ter I could have selected 100 roots that would have 
weighed half a ton. I am convinced there is no crop 
that better repays a little extra labor than carrots, or 
that is more deserving of general cultivation by farmers.” 
China Tree Corn. 
Mr. Fowler of Vermillion, Ohio, gives the following 
as the result of some experiments made by him last 
year in raising corn :—“ About the 20th of May I fitted 
one and a half acres of ground (without manure) and 
planted half an acre with the improved White corn ; 
half an acre with the China ; and half an acre with the 
common gourd seed ; in rows 4 feet apart, drilling the 
corn so that the stalks were from 8 to 10 inches distant 
in the rows. I hoed the corn twice, and kept it free 
from suckers. About the first of October I gathered it, 
and after husking made trial by shelling and weighing ; 
the result of which was that the China yielded 73£ bush¬ 
els of 56! lbs., or at the rate of 147 bushels per acre ; 
the White, 54, or at the rate of 108 bushels per acre ; 
and the gourd seed 56, or at the rate of 112 bushels per 
acre.” Mr. Fowler speaks highly of the China corn, 
and thinks it will be one of the best kinds for cultiva¬ 
tion in a suitable climate. The correctness of Mr. Fow¬ 
ler’s estimate is certified by C. Ruggles, Esq. who wit¬ 
nessed the measure. 
W. Bache, Esq. of Wellsboro, Pa., writes us that his 
experiment with the Chinese corn was very successful, 
and that he has little doubt the acquisition to the coun¬ 
try will be an important one. 
Portrait of Judge Buel. 
For the purpose of preserving the fine portrait of 
Judge Buel furnished the subscribers to the Cultivator 
with the 6th volume, a correspondent suggests that the 
engraving be neatly pasted on blank paper of suitable 
size and bound with the Cultivator as a frontispiece to 
the volume. He says —“ Personally permit me to say, 
I can never forget the dignified form, the patriarchial 
mien, the sauvity of manner, and benevolent expression 
of countenance, evinced in our limited personal acquaint- 
