THE CULTIVATOR. 
77 
corn crop was very short, and I suggested this way of 
feeding to some of my friends, for feeding mules and 
horses as well as their milch cows, and before I left, 
was told the cows had improved very much in the qual¬ 
ity as well as the quantity of their milk.” 
Mr. G. is a most successful breeder of Berkshires, 
and has sold great numbers of the pure breed, as well 
as crosses with the Irish and Bedford. Mr. Grimes’ 
stock is represented as one of the first quality, of which 
there can belittle doubt, it having been derived from the 
best sources. — 
Inquiries—Apple and Peach Orchard. 
A correspondent in Ulster County says :—“ I have 
some 50 or 60 fine thrifty apple trees, but they do not 
bear ; what process must I use to improve them ? I ob¬ 
serve something which looks like lice upon them ; if so 
what will kill them? I should be glad to set out a peach 
orchard in the spring. What situation is best for it?” 
If apple-trees that are thrifty are not inclined to bear, 
grafting will prove a certain remedy. Pruning is also 
sometimes useful, Some trees will blossom abundantly 
and yet bear no fruit ; some experiments would seem to 
show that in such cases sprinkling the blossoms with 
plaster has a good effect. Lice on the tree may be re¬ 
moved by whitewashing, or by washing with lye. The 
peach requires a warm free soil, and a southern expo¬ 
sure. This tree cannot endure a heavy soil, saturated 
with water ; and if it struggles through a brief exist¬ 
ence in such a position, the fruit will be limited in quan¬ 
tity and of inferior quality. 
A Tennessean. 
A friend of ours in Tennessee, after expressing a wish 
to make some improvements in his agriculture, and or¬ 
dering a set of the Cultivator from the beginning, adds, 
“ I assure you, however, I never expect to begin to raise 
137 bushels of corn to the acre, or make a yearling hog 
weigh 300 lbs. If I do I must have but one acre, and 
but one hog.” 
We can assure our friend, that although such crops 
of corn as those he alludes to, are rare at the north ; 
yet multitudes of hogs from 10 to 12 months old are 
made to weigh 300 lbs., by our pork growers ; indeed 
nothing is more common ; and if he will discard the 
landpikes of which he speaks, and substitute some of the 
improved breeds, we have not a doubt he will do the 
same. If our friends in the south west will seed their 
lands with good grasses, where its growth is practica¬ 
ble, keep more cattle, sheep and swine, adopt a rota¬ 
tion of crops, and depend more on these than on cotton, 
we think they would be essentially gainers by the ex¬ 
change. — 
Indian Corn. 
We have received from Dr. Goodsell of Utica, an ac¬ 
count of some experiments and trials instituted by him 
in 1839, to determine the kind of corn best adapted to 
the latitude of Utica. After examining a great number 
of kinds, he selected for planting the Tree corn, the 
Dutton, the Canada White, the White corn, the Massa¬ 
chusetts corn, (yellow,) and the Toronto, or ninety days 
corn, also yellow. These six varieties were planted in 
the same field, and at the same time. 
The Tree corn did not ripen ; the Dutton was object¬ 
ionable on account of the size of the cob, which, not 
drying through, gave a moldy effect to the kernel near 
the but of the ear ; the Canada White ripened well, and 
is a good variety ; the White corn gave a good growth 
but was too late ; the Massachusetts ripened well, but 
the kernel is not deep and cannot give as much value as 
the White flint; the Toronto gave the best ears, was 
the best filled out; and in 1840, Dr. Goodsell directed 
none to be planted but the Toronto. As a proof of the 
rapidity with which this corn comes forward, the Dr. 
states that on the first day of July he planted some of 
this corn in his garden, and before the middle of Sep¬ 
tember, ears were picked for boiling, and early in Oc¬ 
tober, it was cut up and housed. We have the plea¬ 
sure of acknowledging the receipt of several ears of this 
variety; and we understand that Dr. Goodsell could 
spare a few bushels for seed. 
Suggestions about Pigs. 
A subscriber who signs himself “ Cheshire ,” from 
Carroll County, Indiana, has made some important sug¬ 
gestions as to the propriety of not losing sight, in the 
discussions about pigs, and the efforts made to improve 
the breeds, of the admitted valuable breeds existing in 
the country, other than Berkshires. We think this 
point one that should be attended to ; and having no 
personal interest in any of the breeds ourselves, we are 
anxious that the interests of the great body of the farm¬ 
ers only should be consulted in the pages of the Culti¬ 
vator ; and though fully convinced of the excellence of 
the Berkshires, we shall be gratified in presenting the 
claims of any of the varieties or breeds named by our 
correspondent, if brought forward in the manner sug¬ 
gested in the extract. If any of our friends who have 
the breeds alluded to, will furnish us with the descrip¬ 
tions, and information desired, with correct delineations, 
we shall take pleasure in presenting them to our readers. 
“ We in the west need an improved breed of hogs, 
but we want, (at least such is the impression of many,) 
a larger and handsomer hog, at least so far as color is 
concerned, than the Berkshire, to bear witness to the 
richness of our soil, and the exuberance of our crops. 
You would both entertain and instruct a great many of 
your western readers by giving in your paper, histori¬ 
cal sketches, of the Bedford, Cheshire, Woburn, Russia, 
and Byiiell hog, their distinctive color, shape, time of 
maturity, average size, and where the breeds in purity 
could be purchased, with prices, &c., accompanied with 
illustrations or portraits, that speak far more effectually 
than pages of description. In this way farmers will 
be enabled to judge for themselves, as to what breed 
of hogs is best adapted to their situation and their 
means.” — 
Profitable Sow. 
The following is an extract from a letter written by 
Mr. J. Reed, of Butler County, Ohio. “ As your sub¬ 
scribers are sending you the weight of calves, pigs, and 
other animals, I will venture to send to you the amount 
of sales, or the value of the litters of a single sow in my 
possession. She had the first litter the 6th of July, 
1837 ; and in all has had seven. From these seven lit¬ 
ters I have sold $1,206 of pigs, and have reserved for 
myself three choice sows, for which I have been offered 
$50 each, making in all, $1,356. The sow was sent 
from Albany by C. N. Bement to Mr. Beach. She is 
five years old this spring, and will weigh about 500 lbs.” 
Inquiry—Manure. 
I have frequently observed on reading the Cultivator, 
that you eastern folks estimate manure by the “ cord.” 
Please to say in a paragraph, what constitutes a cord 
of manure. Mauch Chunck, Pa. L. Lippincott. 
The term “ cord” has been adopted by many farmers 
to express a given quantity of manure, as more definite 
than “ load.” This latter word is applied to the quan¬ 
tity carried by a horse cart, wagon, or ox cart, and ne¬ 
cessarily expresses a variable quantity ; which is not 
the case with “ cord.” A cart or wagon body with side 
boards, will carry not far from a cord of manure. A 
“ load,” in ordinary cases cannot be considered more 
than half a cord. — 
“ Hamilton’s Patent Pit Saw & Slitting Machine.” 
W. Williamson, Esq., of “ Junction, Va.,” requests 
some information as to the value of this invention, and 
the probability of its success. We will thank any who 
are acquainted with the subject, for the information de¬ 
sired, as we think, if its performance is as represented, 
it must be valuable in many parts of the United States. 
Charlock, or Wild Mustard. 
“ A. H. N.” of Skaneateles, requests information as 
to the best mode of separating the seeds of this plant 
from the false and broken grains remaining after thresh¬ 
ing. If fed out to fowls with the grits, they propagate 
rapidly, and even spread over a farm. If it cannot be 
separated, no farmer should use it, until it is boiled or 
ground, to destroy the vitality of the seeds. “A. H. 
N.” says, “ a gill of these seeds put in a barrel of new 
cider, will keep it a long time from turning sour.” 
Mustard Seed. 
Messrs. French and Davis of this city, mustard man¬ 
ufacturers, inform us that they will pay $3 per bushel 
for clean English or American mustard seed. The 
brown American, or yellow English only should be cul¬ 
tivated. The seed of the wild mustard or charlock, is 
sometimes brought to market, but it is worthless. 
Would not the cultivation of the mustard as a field crop 
be profitable ? Has it been attempted in this country, 
and with what success? Will some of our friends re¬ 
ply? — 
Inquiry—Pumps. 
R. P. Dodge, Esq. of Georgetown, has requested to 
know whether the pump called the Troy pump, and no¬ 
ticed in the former volumes of the Cultivator, will draw 
from deep wells, or such as are from 45 to 60 feet in 
depth. If Mr. Dodge will turn to the article alluded to 
by him, (Cult. vol. 7, page 19,) he will find the follow¬ 
ing from the agent, H. Warren, Esq. of Troy. “ One 
man will pump quite comfortably, with one of these, for¬ 
ty feet deep, and I do not care .selling them longer than 
that; although I have sold them 75 feet long ; but such 
pumps go too hard to suit me, especially to send off.” 
Mr. D. will find his inquiries as to prices, &c., answer¬ 
ed at the same place. — 
Working Cattle. 
Cattle are among the most valuable animals we pos¬ 
sess for farm labor ; and though in our wheat growing 
districts where extensive summer fallowing is required, 
horses are of necessity preferred ; yet on a great majo¬ 
rity of farms in our country we have no doubt cattle 
would be found preferable. All who have worked the 
ox are aware that much of his ability to labor, and the 
ease of draft is depending on the yoke ; and it seems 
probable that a decided improvement might be made 
even in this respect by adopting the mode of yoking cat¬ 
tle practiced by the Dutch and Spaniards, and in which 
the animals draw by a strap passing across their fore¬ 
heads as represented in the cut given below. 
[Ox Gearing—Fig. 46.] 
Our attention has been drawn to the subject by some 
notices which have appeared in the European Journals 
in favor of this mode of harnessing cattle, and by the 
following communication on the subject front our re. 
spected correspondent, Wm. Bache, Esq., Wellsboro, 
Pa. Speaking of the Dutch mode of working oxen, he 
says: — “Thirty years ago, I spent some time in 
Havanna, and was much surprised at the novelty, as it 
was to me, of seeing oxen haul by the forehead. Oxen 
were used entirely in drawing the cargoes to and from 
the shipping, and I was soon convinced of the superior¬ 
ity of this mode over our own. I will not take upon me 
at this distance of time, to state the number of barrels 
of flour, or boxes of sugar they would haul on carts or 
drays of the most clumsy and unwieldy make ; but I 
felt satisfied I had never seen such loads drawn by one 
yoke of cattle in the United States. As the streets of 
Havanna are very narrow, it is necessary that cattle 
should be under the nicest management and control. A 
light rope is passed through the cartilage or gristle of 
the nose of each ox, which the Spanish carter, (whoal- 
1 ways rides on his cart) either carries in his hands, or 
hangs on one of the stakes of his vehicle, and in case a 
team should become restive or attempt to runaway, a 
slight pull at the rope brings them instantly under com¬ 
mand. I think their method of propelling them for¬ 
ward is better than ours. I never saw a Spaniard bela¬ 
bor an ox with a heavy stick as if he was striking on a 
wool sack, but he carries a small goad fixed in the end 
of a long stick or rod, the slightest application of which 
is found to possess a much more stimulating power than 
any quantity of blows from a heavier weapon.” 
E. H. Barnaby, Esq. of Brookfiejd, N. S., in a com¬ 
munication to the Cultivator, says—“ For some years 
past, I have been in the habit of using oxen more or less, 
yoked both in the English yoke with bows, and in the 
Dutch mode with straps, and now find the Dutch mode 
to be the best. This way of yoking, has the decided 
advantage over the English yoke ; cattle yoked in this 
way will haul more, and they will back nearly as much 
as they will haul, and will travel with greater ease.” 
See page 19 of the Cultivator, vol. 7th. 
We can see no good reason why such yokes as here 
recommended, might not be substituted for the common 
yoke in working cattle here; at least a trial might be 
made, and their comparative merits fairly tested. In- 
novations on long established usages might be expected 
to make slow progress, but if they are not only innova¬ 
tions but improvements, they may be expected to suc¬ 
ceed in establishing themselves. Let the Dutch yokes 
be tried. — 
English Berkshires and Bacon. 
Wm. Bache, Esq. of Pa., in a paper on the subjects 
here named, says :—“I think a great deal that has beeii 
said or written on the subject of Berkshires, may with- 
out any censoriousness be called Hog pedantry and Breed¬ 
ing Quackery. I have known the hog called the Berk¬ 
shire from my boyhood, and that you may place back at 
least half a century, and my recollection of them an¬ 
swers precisely to the description, (as pictured and 
written) of the Berkshires of the present day, except 
that he never attained any thing like the weight lie is 
now said to reach. They were not the ‘ Farmer’s hog* 
to make bacon of; they were the hog of small families, 
such as kept a pig and lived much as the Irish now do, 
and were much valued for their quiet habits, and the 
facility with which they took on flesh at an early age. 
They were much esteemed for making pickled pork, 
that is pork scalded, not singed in dressing, and preser¬ 
ved in brine a's is now done. They were generally, I 
may say always, a spotted white and black hog ; black 
spots on a white ground. The China hog I also well 
remember, the smallest of all the breeds of hogs, and 
the fattest. They were kept in many cases as pets, as 
they were nearly destitute of bristles or hair. There 
were two kinds, the black and the white, and some¬ 
times black and white, (I suppose from a cross) the co¬ 
lors being in large masses, and not in fine spots as the 
Berkshires. They were much kept by the hucksters 
(on account of their great fecundity, and the ease with 
which they were kept,) for the purpose of supplying 
the market with roasters. 
“ The farmer’s hog was a large framed, big boned an¬ 
imal, with long lop ears as big as a cabbage leaf, dang¬ 
ling down over his face, and generally two or three 
years old when they were fed. They were always 
dressed by singing the hair off with straw, and cut up 
into halves the whole length, first taking out the spare 
rib. It was salted in long oval tubs about a foot deep, 
and long enough to hold the whole side straight, where 
having lain a sufficient time, it was taken up and hung 
hock and shoulder, under the joists of the farmer’s 
kitchen ; and many times I have seen a dozen or two 
suspended under one ceiling in goodly array. It has in 
this state acquired the honorable title of a flitch of ba¬ 
con. There it hangs and dries, and gets no other smo¬ 
king, than what it receives from an ill constructed kitch¬ 
en chimney, which often answers the purpose of smoke- 
house tolerably well. These flitches are sometimes 
whitewashed in the summer to preserve them from the 
flies ; and when the good wife gets up on a chair, with 
the big butcher’s knife, the slices she cuts off are rash¬ 
ers of bacon. So you will see that I think you have 
partially erred in your definition of ‘ Bacon.’ It may 
be bacon without being smoked, but not without being 
dried ; and I doubt whether a right old fashioned Eng¬ 
lish plowman, would consent to call any thing by that 
name, which had its bristles taken off in any other way 
than by singing. The farmer who indulged in the lux¬ 
ury of cured hams, hung them up in his capacious chim¬ 
ney, where they generally burned refuse wood, brush, 
or other matters, and where they were smoked, no 
house being appropriated for that purpose.” 
