176 
THE CULTIVATOR 
acting on the conviction that, to excel in any thing, they must 
axiopt the improvements which scientific research has proved 
the most feasible for the attainment of that object.” 
Ontario County Fair. 
The Ontario Repository says that an immense crowd 
of people attended the Fair and Cattle Show in Canan¬ 
daigua, and that “ the exhibition of fabrics, products, 
cattle, horses, &.c. was by far the most satisfactory, 
both in regard to numbers and quality, that has ever 
taken place in this county.” The number of competi¬ 
tors for premiums was unusually large, far exceeding 
the most sanguine expectations of its friends. The an¬ 
nual address was delivered by Geo. Wilson, Esq. and 
is said to have been an effort highly creditable to its 
author. —. 
Jefferson County Show and Fair. 
The Agricultural Show and Fair of Jefferson county, 
was held at Watertown on the 16th of September, and 
the proceedings reflect great honor on the farmers of 
that section of New-York. The number of farmers 
and others interested in the cause of agriculture that at¬ 
tended was very great, and notwithstanding the short 
time which the several committees had for the per¬ 
formance of their respective duties, (owing to the re¬ 
cent re-organization of the society,) a numerous list of 
animals, &c. were presented for exhibition and for pre¬ 
miums. The show of domestic manufactured articles 
was good, and reflected credit on the thrifty farmers 
of the county. The exhibition of animals, both of the 
improved and domestic breeds, was most satisfactory, 
and constituted the great point of attraction in the Fair. 
An able and admirable address was delivered by the Pre¬ 
sident, O. Hungerford, Esq. It abounded with plain, 
practical remarks, and was listened to with interest by 
a crowded auditory. A very handsome list of pre¬ 
miums were distributed, and the result cannot fail to be 
most advantageous to the agricultural cause in that 
prosperous county. The agricultural census shows 
that the farmers of Jefferson have reason to be proud 
of the aggregate amount of their varied and successful 
industry. — 
Onondaga Cattle Show and Fair. 
The proceedings of this society are so closely interwo¬ 
ven with those of the State Society, being held at the 
same time and place, and the details of which are to be 
found so much at length in the present number of the 
Cultivator, we are obliged to pass it with a less distinct 
notice than we should otherwise have done. About nine¬ 
ty premiums on cattle, implements, &c. were awarded, 
and a decided impulse given to the cause of improved 
agriculture. — 
Cayuga County Agricultural Society. 
The Show and Fair of this Society took place at Au¬ 
burn on the 13th and 14th of October, and went off in 
the most satisfactory manner. We are gratified to 
learn that the Society is in a most flourishing condition, 
and indeed it would be a libel on the good citizens of 
that county to suppose that any other than success 
could be its result. Premiums to a large amount were 
awarded; the appearance of the. animals was very 
fine ; the collection of implements and domestic manu¬ 
factures worthy of the occasion, and the display of 
fruits, vegetables, &c. greater than at any former meet¬ 
ing in Cayuga. The address was delivered by Hum¬ 
phrey Howland, and we have read it with much inte¬ 
rest. It contains many facts and suggestions worthy of 
the consideration of every farmer. The first premium 
on corn was awarded to Joseph F. Osborn, the yield per 
acre being 144 bushels 14 lbs.; and the second was 
awarded to Joseph Sherwood, the crop being 121 bush¬ 
els 15 lbs. to the acre. As was to be expected, the 
quality of the corn in both cases was very superior. 
Several specimens of silk of beautiful appearance were 
exhibited, and it is already evident that the bounty 
granted by the state will be claimed to a considerable 
extent. — 
Columbia Floral and Horticultural Society. 
While Cattle Shows and Agricultural Fairs are the 
order of the day, and are producing such happy effects 
on the farming community, we are glad to notice that 
the scarcely less important department of husbandry, 
Horticulture, is also receiving the attention it deserves. 
The Floral and Horticultural Society of Columbia held 
their annual meeting at Hudson recently, and the 
meeting was numerously attended. A great variety 
of fruits and vegetables, flowers, &c. were presented, 
premiums were awarded, and the whole proceedings 
were such as to afford abundant proof of the benefit of 
such associations. 
Notices of Fairs in several other counties, will 
be given in our next. 
More Berkshires for the Southwest. 
We have learned with much pleasure that, our enter¬ 
prising and public spirited friends, Messrs. J. H. Cun¬ 
ningham & Co., of Springfield, Ky., have made a large 
purchase of A. B. Allen, Buffdlo, N. Y., of this inva¬ 
luable breed of swine, for the purpose of supplying to 
some extent, the constantly increasing demand for this 
favorite stock, in the fertile valley of the Mississippi. 
We do not doubt that the purchasers w r ill find they have 
made a profitable investment, while at the same time 
they will be essentially contributing to the prosperity of 
their section of country. 
Barnaby and lYIooer's Premium Side Bill Plow— [Fig- 83.] 
The above cut gives a very correct representation of 
‘ Barnaby & Mooer’s (of Ithaca, N. Y.) patent Side 
hill and Level land Plow,” to which was awarded an 
extra premium of $30, by the New-York State Agri¬ 
cultural Society at their late Fair at Syracuse. It received 
also last year, the first premium of the Amercan Insti¬ 
tute, and the gold medal offered by the same institution 
this year for the best plow. As a side hill plow it is 
undoubtedly superior to any thing of the kind, while it 
is found to work admirably on level lands, turning the 
furrows all oneway, or in the common way of laying 
out the ground into lands, or by placing the beam in 
the center, it will throw furrows both ways, serving for 
ditching or ridging at the option of the farmer. One 
of these plows may be seen at the office of the Culti¬ 
vator. 
Correspondence, Inquiries, &c, 
Compost from Marsh Mud and Sod. 
“Messrs. Editors— Having much salt marsh adjoining my 
farm, I am desirous of getting some information respecting the 
best mode of rendering the sod available as manure, since I find 
it very difficult to rot or decompose. I hauled 20 or 30 loads 
into a heap and stacked them, and it was two years before I 
could get any of it for use, and then only about half the mass 
was fit for application to the soil. This was applied to Indian 
corn, with very satisfactory results, the corn being larger than 
on the same piece where the best hogpen manure was used. 
“ Little Compton, R. I. J. C.” 
In order to promote the rapid decomposition of turf, 
peat, swamp muck, marsh sod, See., the mixture of suf¬ 
ficient animal matter to promote fermentation with the 
mass of vegetable matter, seems necessary. Peat is al¬ 
most inert on soils until it has been fermented, or its 
acid properties neutralized by the addition of lime or 
ashes. When so fermented or prepared it is very va¬ 
luable. Marsh mud or sod is still better than peat for 
making compost, as in addition to the vegetable part, 
it contains more or less animal matter, one of the most 
efficient agents in fertilization. Dr. Jackson, in his 
Geological Survey of Rhode Island, in his chapter on 
manures, has some remarks on composts from which 
we make the following extract relating to the inquiry 
of our correspondent: 
“I should most strenuously advise the employment of fish 
with peat and swamp muck [or marsh matters] where they can 
be obtained: one barrel of fish being a sufficient quantity of 
animal matter, to convert a large wagon load of peat into a va¬ 
luable manure. Let the peat be spread on some convenient 
place on the farm, and then fish be mixed with it in layers, 
lime being spread over it to hasten the decomposition. The 
whole heap will undergo the putrefactive fermentation, and 
arnmoniacal gas and salts will be abundantly produced, and 
will impregnate every portion of the peat or swamp muck, so 
as to render it a most powerful manure. No odor will be per¬ 
ceptible, if the heap is well covered, and the whole mass will 
be converted into a black pulp or powder, and maybe used like 
other manures either in broadcast or in the hill. Every farmer 
ought to spread at least 20 loads of compost manure per acre 
on his tilled land every year, if he means to improve the soil so 
as to render it more and more fertile.” 
As the inquiry of our correspondent is of much im¬ 
portance to many farmers on the sea coast, where 
marsh mud, sea weed, and sod, abound, we hope some 
of our friends who have had practical experience in the 
formation of composts from these materials, will favor 
us with their processes and the results. 
44 Use of Toads.” 
We make the following extract from the letter of a 
correspondent at Attakapas, (La.) 
“ A very wealthy neighbor of mine, has been suffering for 
many years from what he calls rheumatic pains, but which is 
more probably gout. All the watering places and the best phy¬ 
sicians could afford him no relief. An old Indian prescribed for 
him the oil of toads, to be used by rubbing on the suffering part. 
From the use of this, he has never failed to obtain almost im¬ 
mediate relief, even in the severest paroxysms,” 
Transmutation. 
Messrs. Gaylord A Tucker —As I perceive that various opin¬ 
ions are entertained respecting the transmutation of wheat and 
other grains to chess, 1 wish to state a fact that came within 
my personal observation in 1819. I sowed a small piece of oats 
as the first crop on a farm entirely new. They were sown so 
late in the season, that the roots lived through the succeeding 
winter, which the next season produced a luxuriant growth of 
chess—nothing but pure chess ! The fact that no seed of any 
description had before been sown on the farm, united with the 
fact, that the chess was seen to grow from the same identical 
roots, which the previous year had produced oats, and nothing 
but oats, was to my mind a satisfactory proof, that oats at 
least, will under similar circumstances produce chess. As to 
wheat and rye, I have no certain proof that they will thus de¬ 
generate, but will venture the opinion that either, if sown so 
early that the young heads will be destroyed by frost, or any 
other means, a crop of chess will be the result. The subject is 
susceptible of experimental proof. For instance, wheat or rye 
might be sown as early as the first of August, or so early that 
the young heads would make their appearance before winter. 
Previous to the setting in of winter, let the whole be mowed 
close to the ground, and the roots carefully protected through 
the winter, and the produce of the next season would probably 
.settle the question. Will not some of your readers try the ex¬ 
periment 1 Hudson, Ohio, 1841. T. HUDSON. 
Why not try the experiment yourself, Mr H. ? since 
if you succeed you not only settle an important point in 
vegetable physiology, but entitle yourself to the pre¬ 
miums which have been offered for indisputable proof 
of the transmutation of wheat into chess, amounting 
to some two hundred and fifty dollars, and which we 
presume will be forthcoming. We give Mr. Hudson’s 
paper a place, not because we think it adds particular 
force to the many similar proofs! of transmutation, 
but because we wish to give the advocates of that doc¬ 
trine every chance of demonstrating by variety of ex¬ 
periment, the truth or fallacy of their system. Have 
any of our readers noticed the fact stated by H. of the 
oat-root surviving the winter ? It is new to us, and 
may be of some practical importance. 
Hool Ail? 
Messrs Editors — I thank you for your article inyour last pa¬ 
per, in answer to my inquiry respecting the origin and remedy 
of foot rot in sheep. I have another to propose quite as inter¬ 
esting to farmers as the above. I raised the last spring some 
18 calves, a part Durham, and well fed. Some weeks since one 
was taken lame and died in less than 24 hours; mortification 
succeeded, and on examination, the blood on the limb affected 
coagulating and extending into the body quite to the vitals; 
four have already died in quick succession of the same disease. 
Now if you will give us the causes and remedy, and if it will 
communicate to larger stock, and how, or if contagious at 
all, you will confer a lasting favor on the public. 
Yours very respectfully, JOS. H. MERRICK. 
Franklin, Del. co., N. Y., Oct. 13, 1841. 
Will some of our correspondents who have seen this 
disease, or are acquainted with a remedy for similar 
complaints, favor us with their opinion on its nature, 
cause and remedy? We believe in many cases where a 
complaint having a like fatal termination has prevailed, 
it has been considered as the foot ail and been treated 
as such. Will Mr. Merrick ascertain, if possible, 
whether ergot was to be lound on the grasses where his 
calves fed ? If June grass was plenty in the fields, it is 
probable such was the case, and a clue to the nature of 
the disease may be thus gained. 
Imported Stock. 
Cattle. —The ship Birmingham from Liverpool, at 
New-York on the 23d Sept., brought out six head of 
Improved Short Horn Durhams, four of which were for 
E. R. Prentice, Esq. of this city, and have been added 
to his already extensive herd at Mount Hope Farm, on 
the west bank of the Hudson, about a mile below Al¬ 
bany. Who the other two animals were for, w r e have not 
learned. Those for Mr. Prentice consist of four 
in-calf cows and heifers, viz : 
“ Moss Rose,” roan, four years old. 
“ Violanta,” red and white, three years old. 
“ Easterville,” roan, two years old. 
“ Catherine,” spotted, two years old. 
These beautiful animals were sent out by J. Whita¬ 
ker, Esq. of Burley-Otley, to whom Mr. P. sent an or¬ 
der, unlimited as to price, for the four best cows which 
could be procured, and those who have seen them think 
they do credit to Mr. Whitaker’s taste and judgment, 
though they have suffered, two of them severely, from 
a long and boistrous sea voyage. Mr. Prentice deserves 
great credit for the public spirit and liberality he has 
manifested, not only in the importation of these animals, 
which have cost him $2,000, but also for his previous 
importations of Improved Short Horns and South Down 
and Leicester Sheep, so many of which, with their pro¬ 
geny, grace the lawns and pastures of Mount Hope. 
The lovers of fine stock, in passing through town, 
should not fail to visit Mr. Prentice’s farm, where they 
will find a herd of improved cattle and sheep, not ex¬ 
celled in beauty and numbers, probably in the Northern 
States. 
We learn also that our friend Judge Van Bergen of 
Coxsackie, Greene co., one of the best farmers on the 
Hudson, received, by the last London packet ship, an 
Improved Short Horn Durham Cow, celebrated for her 
milking properties. 
South Down Sheep. —Our readers will be gratified 
to learn that our esteemed friend and correspondent 
A. B. Allen, Esq. of Buffalo, came home in the Lon¬ 
don packet ship Hendrick Hudson, Capt. Morgan, 
which arrived at New-York, Oct. 17, from a three 
month’s agricultural tour through the different coun* 
