104 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Specimens of Indian Corn. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —A few days since I enclosed in a 
small box to you, a few ears of Gourd Seed Yellow Corn, origi¬ 
nally (as I was informed by an old acquaintance, since dead,) 
from the Eastern Shore of Virginia; and an ear or two of mix¬ 
ed blue, attempted to be raised by me the last season, to be sa¬ 
tisfied from actual experiment, whether the blue is a distinct 
variety or not, because it seems to be the opinion of botanists, 
that blue seed is very uncommon. I stated that long since it 
has been understood and classed, (by some writers on the sub¬ 
ject of variety of corn,) with other colors of corn, as original 
and distinct; and although believing so myself, I determined to 
try for myself; and say that I am satisfied, although the experi¬ 
ment has been only partial, that it is so. The early history of 
the maize speaks of blue, red, <fec. as distinct; and although I 
believed this to be so, yet I believe that those who will try it, 
will soon find that the varieties of red and blue are worth no¬ 
thing beyond experiment, and they will at last settle down upon 
the white or yellow, for manifold reasons, not here necessary 
to detail, or to trouble you with. 
I enclosed in the box with the corn some exquisite water-me¬ 
lon seed, and stating my apprehension, that it was likely they 
may have by some means got impregnated by the Ice Rind, al¬ 
though I am not conscious that an injury would necessarily re¬ 
sult from the mixture; because the Ice Rind is a most delight¬ 
ful melon. 
You ask those who may send you specimens of corn ; 1st, the 
name by which it is known ? 2d, the latitude in which is it grown ? 
3d, the time of ripening ? and 4th, such particulars as to its ori¬ 
gin and history as they maybe able*to give? As to the 1st, it is 
answered above, as well also as to the 4th, so far as I am at 
present able; if I can learn more of its history, I will inform 
you. The latitude is that of Virginia, between 36 and 37 degrees 
of north latitude; the time of ripening depends much upon the 
time of planting; but if planted at any time in April or on the 
1st of May, it will be ripe, according to season, from the 10th to 
the last of September; although I believe if the season is pro¬ 
pitious, and the land in good condition, with corresponding till¬ 
age and planted early, it will be ripe in August. I am satisfied 
that it is a fortnight earlier than the large white, and very near¬ 
ly as early as the Baden or Twin, which is the earliest we have 
to my knowledge, worth growing in Virginia. 
J. C. ROBERTSON. 
Springfield, E. C. county, Va., April 2, 1841. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I send you herewith five ears of 
my kind of corn, which I have been this eight years maturing, 
selecting, &c. to get an early variety. These are only medium 
sized ears; some grow four or five inches longer; but among 
all the corn that you will have presented to you this season, I 
don’t believe (“although its myself that’s saying it, that should- 
ent be saying it,”) you will get any superior, if equal, to it, for 
early maturity, size, variety, &c. Four years ago I got a barrel 
of Dutton of Judge Buel, and I tried it two years, but found that 
it did not ripen as early as mine by two weeks, and the stalks 
of the Dutton were one-third larger than my variety. I hope it 
will be kept separate from any other that you may obtain. I 
will warrant you that you will like it. S. W. JEWETT. 
Weybridge, Vt., May 15, 1841. 
Farmers' Gardens. 
Messrs. Editors —It must be pleasing to the friends of Ame¬ 
rican agriculture to observe the Cultivator so well sustaining 
its early and merited reputation as a leading journal of Ameri¬ 
can Husbandry. Experience here, as well as in Europe, has 
fully established this mode of disseminating correct principles 
and practice as the most efficient and successful of any. The 
Cultivator, as a register of practical facts, opinions and expe¬ 
riments, in all departments of agriculture, is extremely valua¬ 
ble. Horticulture being considered as a subordinate branch, 
has not received so much attention from your correspondents 
as, perhaps, it merits. Farmers have, indeed, been reproach¬ 
ed with total nc gleet of the garden; but this is far from being 
of general applica tion. Farmers, as in other professions, dif¬ 
fer in their tastes as well as in their skill, abilities and degrees 
of industry. Many farmers know and properly appreciate the 
value of their gardens, as objects both of prsfit and pleasure. 
It is also to be considered, that the Cultivator, although in¬ 
tended for the benefit of farmers chiefly, has, if I mistake not, 
many other readers ; professional men, merchants, and others 
residing in villages and cities, many or all of whom, probably, 
have gardens in which to raise useful and ornamental plants for 
convenience and pleasure, furnishing at the same time a 
healthy and delightful exercise and amusement to the owners. 
To all such, as well as to a large majority of the farmers, 
communications on useful and ornamental gardening cannot 
fail, I should suppose, to be acceptable; nor must it be forgot¬ 
ten, Messrs. Editors, that in this department, as well as in that 
of the domestic economy, the ladies take a deep interest. I 
sincerely wish it was possible to extend this taste and its influ¬ 
ence to every mechanic and laborer in America, and regret that 
the migratory propensities of the people present a very power¬ 
ful obstacle to it. 
These remarks occurred on observing in the last number of 
the Cultivator, a communication on Ornamental Garden¬ 
ing, by your correspondent, Mr. Walsh, furnished in compli¬ 
ance with your request, and that of many others, with a very 
neat plan of an ornamental and vegetable garden; and this not 
a creation of mere imagination, but a substantial reality, being 
that of his own garden at Lansmgburgh; it is, however, a very 
handsome specimen, and although plans of gardens admit of 
infinite variety of form and disposition of parts, according to 
situation and taste, this specimen and description contains 
much valuable information that may, as you observe, be made 
available in every case where ornament is an object; and I 
hope Mr. Walsh will soon furnish you with plans for summer¬ 
house, green-house, gates, &c. agreeable to his promise. 
Horticultural structures are not as yet so common in Ameri¬ 
ca as in Britain, especially in the country; and their supposed 
expense may have a tendency to retard their extension. Sim¬ 
plicity and cheapness are, therefore, very desirable in plans of 
thiskind; thoseinMr. Walsh’s garden possess this merit; they 
are easilv understood, and cannot be very expensive. Some of us 
may, probably, smile at the idea of a farmer’s green-house, con¬ 
sidering such a thing as visionary or extravagant, and no doubt it 
would be unsuitable to those of us who cannot afford it, or have 
no time to attend to it; but there aTe a good many farmers who 
have ability and time at command. A farmer who has his land let 
on lease or shares, and continues to reside on the premises, or 
who has a son capable of superintending the operations of the 
farm, could manage any thing of this kind conveniently, and 
these are very common cases. Again, in the cities and villages, 
where many gardens are kept as much for amusement as profit, 
a green-house would be a suitable and very desirable appen¬ 
dage I understand there are green-houses in Boston and 
neighborhood of large size, and also at the Albany Nursery, 
that cost but little over .$100, so that the expense cannot be so 
much an object as, perhaps, is generally supposed. Under 
these views, occasional communications on ornamental, as 
well as common horticulture, may, I presume, be useful and 
icceptable. 
Before concluding, I must observe, Messrs. Ednors, that your 
lorrespondent is far too severe on us poor farmers; his re¬ 
narks on our gardens are too sweeping; should he favor me or 
some of my neishbors with a visit in the proper season, I flatter 
nyself he would find cause to alter his opinion a little, or at 
least to allow that there are exceptions; some of ns (not to men¬ 
tion myself) have our gardens, as well as our farms, in pretty 
good order, as we think. He will find with us all sorts of culi¬ 
nary vegetables in perfection, together with abundance of high 
and low fruit, of every kind the climate can bring to maturity. 
We have also our flower beds and borders, where our wives 
and fair daughters will exhibit to him tolerable specimens, I 
suppose, of dahlias, paeonies, roses and such like, aye, and 
some green-house plants too, all of which he will prize not the 
less, I guess, for being the work of their industrious hands. 
So far as my observation extends, I feel warranted in stating, 
and do it with pleasure, that the taste for gardening is advanc¬ 
ing gradually; and although some may think it a matter of but 
small importance, yet in some points of view it will be found 
eminently worthy of attention and encouragement. A taste 
for the pleasures and comforts of horticulture in a country has 
been justly considered as an indication of refinement in the 
people, and its excellent moral effect has been acknowledged 
m every instance where it has taken place. This is strikingly 
exemplified in the operatives of Paisley, as described by Sir 
John Sinclair in the General Report of Scotland. The superi¬ 
ority of these mechanics in moral habits and intellectual ac¬ 
quirements is ascertained to be owing entirely to the employ¬ 
ment of their spare hours in the cultivation of flowers, in place 
of spending them as most mechanics are apt to do. The same 
remark applies to the cultivators of prize gooseberries in Lan¬ 
cashire ; many other instances might be quoted. 
In the southern and middle counties of England, all travelers 
have noticed the neat and pretty appearance of the cottages 
there, and the additional beauty and interest they impart to the 
rural scenery, never failing to remark at the same time the 
cheerful and happy appearance of the inmates compared with 
many other parts of England; these cottages have small gar¬ 
dens attached, and their fronts are decorated with vines, roses 
and honeysucldes, the training of which and cultivation of their 
gardens, occupy their spare hours, strikingly verifying your 
correspondent’s remark, that where you see a good vegetable, 
flower, and fruit garden, attached even to a very humble cot¬ 
tage, that cottage is the abode of happiness. If effects so desi¬ 
rable can be produced by a taste for the pleasures of horticul¬ 
ture, who can deny its importance or withhold from it his ap¬ 
probation and patronage! With hearty good wishes for the 
success of the Cultivator, I am yours, See. SENEX. 
Saratoga county, February 27, 1841. 
Raise more Ruta Bagas. 
Respected Friends — I have often wondered that there was 
not more of this useful article of food for stock raised in this 
cold country of long winters. I think the farmers of this coun¬ 
ty have seen the want of them the past winter, owing to the 
light crops of hay the past season. For one, I am very sure 
that, had it not been for my ruta bagas and mangel wurtzels, 
I should have been able to have supplied the tanner with a 
few hides, as well as the factory with a quantity of pulled 
wool. I will admit, that the past season was a very unfavora¬ 
ble one for that crop, as well as hay, yet by sowing early and 
filling up vacant places with plants from the garden, I raised 
about half a crop, which has been of more value in wintering 
my stock than four times the amount of meadow. I have heard 
it said, that ruta bagas will not fatten cattle. This I believe 
to be incorrect, as I have tried them for several years. I fat¬ 
tened two oxen entirely upon them; commenced feeding them 
in the fall—one of them had worked through the summer, and 
was low in flesh; they eat about three bushels per day, with 
very little hay and without any drink—fed them in this way 
about three months, intending to feed them a few weeks with 
meal; but before commencing with the meal, had an opportu¬ 
nity of disposing of them. The butcher told me that they were 
the best beef that he had ever sold in the market; and as a 
proof of it, said that every one that used the meat called soon 
for more, saying they wanted more of that good beef; which 
will go to prove that ruta bagas will not spoil the flavor of 
beef. Much more might be said in their favor—the manner of 
keeping in winter, their value and expense compared with 
potatoes, See .; but I will not trouble you with any more at this 
time. WILLETS KEESE. 
Peru, N. Y., May 10, 1841. 
The White Daisy. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker— Under the title of Dictionary of 
Terms, &c. in the last October No. of the Cultivator, you de¬ 
nounce the white daisy as one of the greatest pests of the far¬ 
mer, when permitted to get possession of the soil. I was once 
of your opinion, and, therefore, spent many a weary hour in 
eradicating some scattering plants on my land. But experi¬ 
ence, I think, has taught me better. I now consider the white 
daisy on my land a valuable grass. My mowing land, and most 
of my pastures, are a thin cold soil, not swampy; and the mea¬ 
dows, when well manured and in good condition, produce a 
good crop of excellent hay, principally timothy and clover. I 
give them a good top dressing of manure, if to be obtained, once 
in three years. When the meadows are in good condition, the 
daisies, where they have got strong hold, can hardly be per¬ 
ceived, but when the influence of the manure is much lessened, 
the daisies appear to be almost the only grass, and produce a 
middling crop in quantity, of the first quality of hay for cattle 
and sheep, if mowed while in the blow. I get no hay that I 
consider as valuable for cattle and sheep as daisy hay, cut in 
bloom. It is true, it does not yield a great croj), for the reason 
that other grasses take its place when the land is in a condition 
to produce a great burden. But on my mowing land, I consider 
the crop worth more than I could get of any other grass, with 
the land in a like condition. I have, therefore, no longer any 
war with white daisies, and the only weapon I ever use against 
them, is a good dressing of manure. I consider them equally 
good for pasture on the same kind of soil, but should be kept 
fed down, so as not to be too old. 
Yellow daisies, or crow-foot, I have none on nay land; but 
where I resided when young, they were plenty in low lands, 
and I thought farmers considered them, if cut in the blow, as 
good hay for cattle as sown clover the first year of mowing. I 
presume the same remedy, that is, a good manuring, will an¬ 
swer for them as well as the others. C. BUTLER. 
Plymouth, Ct., April 22, 1S41. 
Sun Dials. 
Messrs. Gaylord Sc Tucker—I perceive in two communica¬ 
tions from A. Walsh, Esq. in late Nos. of the Cultivator, re¬ 
commendations of a sun dial as one of the convenient and use¬ 
ful decorations of a garden, and inquiries made where a proper 
one is to be procured. The object of this is to inform your nu¬ 
merous readers, that when the communications met my eye, I 
was engaged in constructing one, partly for the very purpose 
for which Mr. Walsh recommends it. I expect to have a quan¬ 
tity finished and for sale in two or three weeks. They will be 
for sale in Hartford and in New-York city, and if convenient, a 
quantity will be sent to Albany. Due notice of the persons 
having them for sale will be given in the Cultivator, if permit¬ 
ted. Resp’y yours, S. MOORE. 
Kensington, Ct., May 21, 1841. 
Notices to Correspondents, &c. 
Our correspondents will perceive, that by a more liberal use 
of nonpariel type, we are this month enabled to publish an un¬ 
usual number of their favors; but, notwithstanding we have 
given in this and our last number, at length or in a more or 
less condensed form, about one hundred and forty communica¬ 
tions, we have still to beg the indulgence of our friends for the 
omission of several, which we had intended to have given this 
month. During the past month, communications have been re¬ 
ceived from C. Allen, R. Jenkins, C. Broom, Garret Bergen, J. 
C. Robertson, C. G. Page, Thos. Tinley, N. Sutherland, S. 
Akerly, W. H. Sotham, S. Blydenburgh, Josiah Holbrook, C. B. 
Hite, Vv. M. Hall, JohnLossing, B. A. Bidlack, J. J. Slatter, J 
B. Gray, Willetts Keese, John Johnston, Jos. Sanford, J. M. 
Weeks, S. W. Jewett, L. O. Lawrence, Calvin Butler, J. P. C., 
A Subscriber, C. M., A. B. A., One Subscriber, Richmond, E. H. 
K., A Wool Grower, Kit. Cornhill, and Holkham. 
In consequence of the number of articles and communica¬ 
tions we wished to insert this month, we have been compelled 
to condense and abridge several. We hope our correspon¬ 
dents, to whom we feel so deeply indebted for their kind favors, 
will remember that as much directness and conciseness as is 
possible, consistent with the nature of the subject treated, is 
desirable in all communications, as we have room for nothing 
which does not have a practical or necessary bearing on the 
great object for which the Cultivator was established,—the pro¬ 
motion of Agriculture. 
Acknowledgments. —Our thanks are due to Rev. Henry Col- 
man, for a copy of the “Essex Ag. Society’s Transactions for 
1840’’—To the Author and to some unknown friend, for copies 
of “ A Discourse on the Character, Properties, and Importance to 
Man, of the Natural Family of Plants called Graminese or True 
Grasses, by Wm. Darlington, M. D.”—To some one unknown, 
for a copy of the “ Revised Acts” of Virginia, “ which prescribe 
the mode of ascertaining the taxable property,” &c.—to J. C. 
Robertson of Va. for specimens of two varieties of Indian Corn, 
and for a paper of Water Melon seeds—to S. W. Jewett of Ver¬ 
mont, for a beautiful specimen of Indian Corn—and to Josiah 
Holbrrook, for a “ Geological Cabinet,” such as noticed in his 
communication in this paper. 
Errata. —Mr. Garnett’s communication, page 79, in the 10th 
line from the bottom of the second column insert “have” before 
“varied.” And in the 10th line of the second paragraph of the 
third column, insert before “their inquiry” the words. “ the an¬ 
swer to;” and in the next line read inventus instead of inventur. 
In the list of officers of the Farmers’ Agricultural Society, p. 
37, for Wm. S. Bowne read Wm. F. Bowne; for Addison M. 
Snick read Addison M. Smith; for Wilson B. Pearsall read 
Nelson B. Pearsall. 
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. 
—Law to ) 
lir—Cuy- > 
National Ag. Society—State Aid to Agriculture—] 
Promote Agriculture—N. Y. S. Ag. Society’s Fair- 
ahoga Ag. Society—Sales of Berkshires,. 
Peach Worm—the Curculio—Chimneys—The Apple Tree j 
Borer—Green Fly or Aphis—Hint to Agents—Silk Cul- I 
ture—Corn Suckers—Disease of Cattle—Cedar Hedges j 
—Making Mush by Steam—Rotation of Crops, • • .J 
Inquiries—Broom Corn Seed—Curl in Potatoes—Disease) 
of Lambs—Hoof Ail—Worm in the head of Sheep—The. j 
Wool Market—Poudrette—Hart’s Plow—Yearling Bull j 
—Culture of Millet,....... 
Constant Supply of Eggs—Security against Lightning— 
Weeding Wheat—Ag. College—Kentucky Corn Crops 
Fattening Pigs—Profitable Cow,. 
Proceedings of N. Y. S. Ag. Society, and their Cattle Show ) 
and Fair—List of Premiums—County Ag. Societies : On- 1 
tario, Tompkins, Oneida and Saratoga—American But- ( 
tex Abroad J 
Work for tlie Month—Ag. Statistics—Disease of Silk 
Worms—The Season,.7... 
Subsoil Plow in Massachusetts—Preparation of Timber 
—The Peach Worm—Theory of Manures—Things not to 
be done,. 
Letters from the West, No. 6, by A. B. A.—The Hessian 
Fly, by J. Mines— Draining and Irrigation, by E. C. 
Frost, •••• . 
Wintering Sheep on Oat Straw and Oats, by C. M. —Farm 
Gates, by S. Henkell— To Western Emigrants, No. 5, 
by S. Robinson— Management of Manures, See., by S. 
Wood —Use of Calcined Gypsum, by L. B.—Ma¬ 
nagement of Bees, No. 2, by J. M. Weeks, . 
Durham Stock as Milkers, by L. F. Allen, . 
Hawthorn Hedges of England—Letters from West Ten¬ 
nessee, No. 1, by E. W. H..;. 
Ag. Geology, by J. Holbrook —Culture of Tobacco in Con¬ 
necticut, by J. P.—Freezing of Potatoes and Apples, by 
C. —Stables with and without Floors, by L. Durand— A 
Journey contemplated, by S. Robinson, .J 
Improved Rake, by G. W. T.—Gapes in Chickens, by G. 
Bergen —Water Fountains^ by S. Blydenburgh —Ayr¬ 
shire Bull, notice of, by S. W. Jewett —Asparagus Knife, 
by C. G. Page —Feeding Silk Worms, &c. by S. H. Nich¬ 
ols —To Destroy Lice on Cattle, by Richmond—To De¬ 
stroy Canada Thistles, by C. M.—The Turnep Fly, by _ 
B. A. Bidlack— Scalding Peas for Seed, by R. Jenkins, , 
Theory of Vegetable Nutrition, No. 2, by W. A. Seely, - 102 
Castratioti of Lambs, Destruction of Ticks, &c. by L. A. ) 
Morrell —The.Rohan Potato, by J. C. Mather— Build- > 103 
ing Mill Dams, by F. Tucker, A. S. R. and C.. ) 
Specimens of Indian Corn, by J. C. Robertson and S. W,) 
Jewett —Farmer’s Gardens, by Senex—Raise rnore Ru- j 
ta Bagas, by Willetts Keese —The White Daisy, by C. i 104 
Butler —Sun Dials, byS. Moore —Notices to Correspon- | 
dents, &c.. j.J 
Illustrations. 
Figs. 54 & 55.—Flans of Drains, See., . 96 
Fig. 56.—Plan of Farm Gate,. 97 
Fig. 57.—Improved Hand RaKe,. 101 
Fig. 58.—Portrait of Ayrshire Bull,. 101 
Fig. 69.—Lunar Pointed‘Asparagus Knife,. 101 
89 
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91 
92 
93 
94 
95 
96 
97 
98 
99 
100 
101 
Subscriptions for the Cultivator 
Are received, in the different cities, by the following Agents: 
New-York—Alex. Smith. 
J. L. Mott. 
Augusta—Geo. Robertson, 
Alexandria—Bell & Entwisle. 
Boston—Eben Wight. 
Hovey & Co. 
Baltimore—G. B. Smith. 
Buffalo—Harlow Case. 
Halifax, N. S.—C. H. Belcher. 
Hartford—E. W. Bull. 
Louisville—D. S. Chambers. 
Montreal—Benj. Brewster. 
New-Orleans—W. Dinn. 
Nashville—Trabue, West & Co. 
New-York—Israel Post. 
G. C. Thorburn. 
G. Freeborn. 
W. A. Chapin & Co. 
Philadelphia—J. Dobson. 
D. Landreth & Co. 
Providence—A. H. Stilwell. 
Quebec—A N. Morin. 
Richmond—R. Hill, Jr. & Co. 
Rochester—S. Hamilton. 
St. Louis—E. P. Pettes. 
Toronto—Eastwood & Skinner. 
Utica—W. Bristol. 
Washington—J. F. Callan. 
Cure for the Mange in Swine. 
Give them sulphur in their food, and wash them in soap suds. 
B. C. Leavelll 
VAN BENTHUYSEN’S PRINT, 
ALBANY, N. Y. 
