20 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
AGRICULTURAL THERMOMETER. 
On the morning' of the last anniversary of American 
Independence, wishing always to mingle utility with 
amusement, I commenced, what I had some time con¬ 
templated, constructing an Agricultural and Horticultural 
Thermometer, which, having now completed, I have the 
pleasure of sending you a drawing of it, with the result 
of a few hasty experiments; and as leisure offer's shall 
continue its application to many other characters, no 
doubt equally meritorious, by way of testing its correct¬ 
ness and utility. 
The instrument consists of a cylindrical tube of glass, 
containing eighteen drops of a liquid, known only to a 
few persevering amateurs of chemical science by the 
name of Florum nectar Americanorum . The liquid is 
an animo-vegetable extract, and is very expensive. It 
was obtained by a skillful French chemist, assisted by an 
Indian doctor, from native flowers and Chica,* * * § near 
Lake George-)- and Lexington,J and mingled at Xochica- 
leo,§ with magical ceremonies, with an extract from ex¬ 
otic sensitive plants of several varieties. Its odor is ex¬ 
ceedingly powerful; until sealed up in the glass, like 
oxygen gas, its stimulus, though very delightful, is in- 
supportably powerful. 
The tube,being hermetically sealed to prevent the escape 
of the liquid, which is of amazing volatility, is fastened and 
enclosed in a case of finely polished ivory, wood or bone, it 
being found that metals,particularly gold and silver, will 
not answer on account of their strong attraction for the 
liquid, affecting it in the same manner as steel affects the 
magnetic needle. 
From the following diagram, a better idea may he 
formed of the Thermometer: 
Genius and science made practical. 
Genius and science combined. 
Scientific agriculture with horticulture. 
Emulation awakened. 
Profitable experiment. 
Book farming commenced. 
Industry with a desire to improve. 
Unprofitable industry. 
Industry with conceited ignorance. 
Ignorance and sloth. 
This wonderful liquid, which the thermometer con¬ 
tains, appears almost to say, “ I am the spirit that dwells 
in the flowers.” It possesses such extreme sensibility, 
that, when strongly excited, it becomes slightly lumi¬ 
nous, and in some extraordinary cases, emits brilliant 
sparks. I had thoughts of taking out a patent, but as I 
am not actuated by selfish views, if it can be of any prac¬ 
tical use to my brother farmers, or afford them any grati¬ 
fication by its singular developments, they have my en¬ 
tire approbation to the enjoyment of such benefits; and 
all editors friendly to agriculture, (and what editor, hav¬ 
ing due regard for good eating and drinking, is not ?) it 
is hoped will be prompt in directing the attention of the 
public generally to the Agricultural Thermometer. 
The subjoined are some of the experiments: 
Jesse Buel _In bringing the thermometer in con¬ 
tact with his paper, “ Improvement of Farm. Implements ,” 
the critique or liquid contained in the tube, appeared 
unsettled for a< moment, inclining to rest at 4, but soon 
got under way, making a distinct pause at each point of 
criticism 5, 6 and 7, and passed them to 9 in the most 
prompt and graceful manner. This will be accounted 
for by those acquainted with his life. He was a printer, 
and conducted several papers with great skill, anti by ju¬ 
dicious management raised himself from very moderate 
circumstances to a degree of wealth. He then turned 
his attention to the pursuit of Agriculture, and as a mere 
book farmer he was eminently successful in converting the 
sandy barren plains, west of Albany, into rich fields, 
covered with an abundance of nature’s choicest gifts. He 
then, at the earnest persuasion of a friend, was induced 
to commence and establish the Cultivator', which, how¬ 
ever we may hold those who govern, and those who kill 
mankind as superior in rank to those who feed them, cer¬ 
tainly ranks him as one of the greatest benefactors of the 
human race. 
Let those who exult in their own folly, and sneer at 
hook farming, bring forward, if they can, any thing in the 
boasted results of their old hereditary system, to compare 
in profit, usefulness, or beauty, with the doings and results 
in agriculture in general of a Buel, a Colman, a Thomas, 
a Lowell, and an extensive catalogue of others, who 
from other pursuits, and beginning perhaps with scarce¬ 
ly a knowledge of thenames of farming implements, have 
caused profits to be reaped which our grandfathers never 
knew; and by book farming have exalted the character 
of Agriculture from a low groveling pursuit, to its pro¬ 
per rank, the first and noblest employment. But to re¬ 
turn to the improvement of farm implements. 
The Plow. —In this implement the advance in thirty 
years has been truly astonishing. There is scarcely less 
difference between the neat cast iron plow of the present 
* “ Chica, an intoxicating beverage prepared by the ancient 
Indians.”— A. W. Bradford’s American Antiquities, p. 135. 
t “ Near-Lake George, in the state of New-York, formerly 
stood a large mound; and in its vicinity were fields appearing 
to have been anciently cultivated, and also oak, palm and 
orange groves.”— lb. y. 38. 
t “ Near Lexington in Kentucky, an irregular structure, 1,400 
yards in circumference, with pits and ramparts, the whole of 
which was overgrown with forest trees of large size, and of 
the growth and kinds unusual in the vicinity.” 
§ “ Xochicaleo, or the House of the Flowers, is situated upon 
the elevated plains of Cuernavaca, at a neight of nearly six 
thousand feet above the level of the sea.”— I^itrobe’s Rambles 
in Mexico. 
& 
9 
8 
7 
e 
5 
4 
3 
2 
1 
0J 
time and the clumsy wooden article used for the purpose 
at that period, than between that and the iron pointed 
crotched stick of the ancients. In the ease of working 
and the effect produced on the soil, every man compe¬ 
tent to judge will admit that the difference effected by 
improvement in the last thirty year's is equal to fifty per 
cent. 
The Thrashing Machine. —Experience shows that 
the farmer who gets out and sells his grain in autumn, ad¬ 
mitting the prices are the same, realizes from his crop at 
least ten per cent more than he who does not dispose of 
his crop till the next spring. But it may be safely assert¬ 
ed that in grain growing districts, the whole force of the 
farm, if devoted to that object alone, would not be able 
to bring his grain into market in the fall if thrashed by 
hand. Hence the thrashing machine has come to his 
aid, and does the work so much better and quicker than 
it can be done by hand, that the getting out of a thousand 
bushels of wheat is counted a small affair. 
The Horse Rake. —With this instrument, on land 
fitted as meadows always should be, one man and horse 
will do the work of six men with hand rakes. The 
value of this labor-saving machine Will not be disputed 
by those who have tested its power, when time presses 
or storms lower over the hay-field. It is not less valu¬ 
able as a gleaner in the wheat or barley stubble, where 
no care can prevent a quantity of grain being left, sur¬ 
prising to one who has never gleaned with the horse 
rake. 
When testing Jesse Buel’s article on the Economy and 
Application of Manures, the critique was found stationary 
at 9—on bringing his Advantages of Draining to the test, 
5 was found a strong point of attraction, with short trips 
to 7 and 8. His Comparative Profits of Good and Bad 
Husbandry, when brought to the critique, caused great 
commotion. The liquid inclining to rest at 0, but after a 
momentary pause jumped like the dancing master’s pupil, 
to his 1, 2 and 3—4, 5 and 6; but finally rose to 9, and 
appeared luminous with brilliant sparks. The same was 
observed on turning to his papers on the Agricultural 
School, and also his Seven Reasons why Agriculture should 
receive the patronage of Government, with nearly similar 
results. 
Henry Colman. —When his truly valuable State 
Reports on the Agriculture of Massachusetts, were offer¬ 
ed for the test, the critique was much disturbed, yet play¬ 
ed in great dignity with 7, 8 and 9, and occasional 
trips to 4, 5 and 6, and appearing slightly luminous, 
emitting at the same time small but very brilliant scintil¬ 
lations round 0, 1, 2 and 3. On turning over some vol¬ 
umes of Mr. Colman’s Addresses, found the liquid play¬ 
ing harmonious oscillations from 5 to 9, and 9 to 5, like 
the movements of a well regulated timepiece. I was 
much pleased with the effect, as it seemed to indicate his 
equal claim to those points, and I also consider it conclu¬ 
sive proof of the instrument’s correctness. Still willing, 
however, to remove all possibility of doubt as to the cor¬ 
rectness of my instrument, I turned it to several of his 
valuable essays with similar results in each case. 
The public are much indebted to him for his long con¬ 
tinued exertions to improve all the departments of our 
husbandry. 
Weight of Cattle. —The records of the Smithfield 
market in London, prove that within one hundred years, 
the average weight of the cattle killed for that market, 
has nearly doubled, rising from between four and five 
hundred to between seven and eight hundred, and the 
greater part of this increase has been in the last forty 
years. It Is calculated that the cattle offered at the 
Brighton market, near Boston, average at least fifty per 
cent more at the present time than they did twenty years 
since. This improvement we owe to the knowledge 
brought to bear on the breeding of cattle and agricul¬ 
ture generally. 
Willis Gaylord. —His voluminous papers on Chemical 
Manures, Butter, Cheese, Agricultural Associations, the - 
Increase of the Corn Crop, &c. being severally brought 
to the test, caused rapid movements with the critique, 
which was noted roving from 4 to 8, but rose to 9 in a 
chaste and luminous manner, with brilliant sparks at the 
top of the instrument. ; 
Manures. —The preparation and application of the 
most active and efficient means, with which the farmer 
is acquainted, of increasing the productiveness of his 
grounds, are the effect of chemistry applied to ag-- 
riculture. There are few who cannot remember when 
bone dust, lime, sea-marls, urate, poudrette, &c.,were 
things never heard of; when the accumulation of bones 
about our cities and soap factories was a nuisance, 
and the only question respecting other substances now so 
valuable, was, as to the easiest manner in which they 
could be disposed of; ivlien the leisure of winter and 
the season of ice were embraced to transport them where 
the returning spring would convey them to the ocean or 
elsewhere. How astonishing is this state of things, com¬ 
pared with the fact now ascertained, that the value of 
animal manures annually collected and applied to the 
crops in England, at current prices, surpasses the whole 
amount of its foreign commerce ;* and that animal manure 
has been and can be profitably imported into England from 
so great a distance as the eastern part of the Pacific 
Ocean. 
Agricultural Associations.— The splendid agri¬ 
cultural improvements, now here and there exhibited, 
are the results of Agricultural Journals and Agricultural 
Associations, where enterprising individuals meet peri¬ 
odically, and by interchanging all their ideas, increase 
the general stock in at least the compound ratio of their 
McQueen’s British Statistics, p. 51. 
numbers; each one returns home with the knowledge 
possessed by the whole, and with a commensurate stock 
of new suggestions for future reflection and experi¬ 
ments. The spontaneous operations of the human mind, 
in an unassisted state, require ages to arrive at results 
which the united efforts of numerous individuals, excited 
by emulation, would produce in, perhaps, a few days. 
Most other employments lead to association, while the 
farmer remains in an isolated state, scarcely regarding 
the operations of his neighbor. 
Agricultural Associations of this and other states have 
already effected wonders, and these wonders are now 
becoming the joint stock of the Agricultural Society of 
this state, which has been got up by the unremitted and 
persevering exertions of a few gentlemen, who harm 
thereby conferred lasting benefits upon their countrymen. 
Indian Corn —The benefits of skillful cultivation, 
are shown in the improvement of the corn crop, as much 
perhaps as in any other way. A crop of seventy-five 
bushels per acre is now as common as fifty was twenty 
years since; and there can be little doubt that one hun¬ 
dred bushels per acre are now oftener reached than was 
seventy at that time. 
David Thomas —When his numerous articles on 
Fruits were brought to the test, the liquid stood at 8, but 
soon rose to 9, fully luminous. When his scientific and 
practical Floral articles were tested, it stood at 7 and 9, the 
strong points of attraction, accompanied by a host ofj 
brilliant sparks. 
Fruits. —Compare the quantity and quality of the 
fruits and vegetables now offered in our markets with 
those exhibited thirty years since, and the improvement 
is astonishing. From the growth of the cucumber to the 
production of the most delicious of our fruits, the influ¬ 
ence of science is felt, and the encouragement for further 
effort, and the certainty of an ample reward, is every 
where visible. 
Flowers :— 
“Who does not love the flowers, the sweet young flowers, 
With their bright radiant eyes, and gentle smiles, 
And tones of love for all who step aside 
From the dim path of life, to talk with them 
Awhile, and gather lessons from their pure 
And ever opening leaves?—Oh, it would seem 
That God had placed them here, and given to each 
Its own meek, simple loveliness, that man, 
Proud man, may stoop from his high throne at times, 
And humbly own the gentle flowers his teachers 
In the great school-room of this busy world.” 
Henry S. Randall. —On bringing his paper, Agri¬ 
culture compared with the Professions, to the test, 9 was 
noticed to be the luminous strong point. Found his ar¬ 
ticles on Cattle , Sheep, and Horses, at the same point, with 
brilliant sparks. 
Breeding Stock _The progress of improvement in 
breeding has been so great, that the best breeders have no 
longer occasion to use the old proverb, “ A good cow may 
have a bad calf;” on the contrary they can say with confi¬ 
dence, their good cows never have bad calves. A skill¬ 
ful observance of the laws of nature has wrought tliis 
change. Formerly there may have been as good ani¬ 
mals as we have now, but then it was accidental, and 
there was no certainty the progeny would resemble the 
parent; now the breeder makes the good qualities con¬ 
stitutional, and is thus certain of the character of his 
animals. 
De Witt Clinton’s Addresses, while governor of 
New-York, were brought for review, and those portions 
of them relating to promoting agricultural knowledge, 
coming in contact with the thermometer, the critique 
rose majestically to 9, where it appeared stationary, 
continuing luminous for some time, emitting bright scin¬ 
tillations. This result greatly enhanced their value. It 
brought a tear of gratitude to the memory of that truly 
great statesman, whose genius laid the foundation of our 
national greatness, and inspired his country with uncon¬ 
querable ardor in the achievement of internal improve¬ 
ment. 
The Transactions of the Essex Agricultural 
Society were passed in review, and gave decided evi¬ 
dence of high bearing; 5 was noted a point of strong at¬ 
traction. On turning over the many yearly proceedings, 
found the liquid roving to 6, 7, 8 and 9, all movements in¬ 
dicating “ Theory to he the parent of practical know¬ 
ledge.” 
James M. Garnett. —On presenting several of his 
interesting communications, the liquid inclined strongly 
to 6, but on applying his Maxims and Precepts for Young 
Farmers, it rose suddenly to 9, with brilliant sparks, 
somewhat luminous, with bright scintillations. These 
maxims, compared with the ephemeral matter which fur¬ 
nishes most of our reading rooms and fire sides, are like 
Shakspeare's two grains of wheat to the bushel of chaff. 
Solon Robinson’s papers claiming for Agriculture the 
Patronage of Government, being brought in contact 
with the liquid, it passed to the top of the tube, with force 
nearly sufficient to demolish the instrument; my hand, 
which held it, receiving a shock as if from electricity. 
After some commotion it settled at 9. 
The American Institute. —On collecting together 
the doings and addresses of the Fourteenth Annual Fair 
of this Institute, and placing the instrument in contact 
with the collection, the liquid sunk to 3, but immediate¬ 
ly commenced rising by small distinct advances till it 
settled at 9, emitting a steadily increasing light, continu¬ 
ing to increase in brightness till it became dazzling, be¬ 
ginning to emit sparks, when feeling alarmed for the 
safety of the instrument, I removed it away. 
Daniel Chandler’s experiments on the Cultivation 
of Indian Corn, caused the liquid, when brought in con¬ 
tact, to settle at 5. 
