44 
THE CULTIVATOR 
Dairy Cows, Fat Cattle and Fat Sheep, Batter and 
Cheese, Field Crops, Maple Sugar, and to the following 
regulations. 
All persons who intend to exhibit cattle, horses, 
sheep or swine, should give notice to Luther Tucker, 
Recording Secretary, Albany, previous to the 15th Sep¬ 
tember, in order that the necessary accommodations may 
be made for them; and all animals must be on the 
ground by 9 o’clock of the 28th. 
All persons intending to compete for the premiums on 
plows must send their plows to the Recording Secretary, 
Albany, previous to the 1st of August next, that the com¬ 
mittee may have opportunity to test them thoroughly, 
and at such times and places as they may think best, and 
be prepared to report at the Fair. 
All other agricultural implements must be sent as 
as above, on or before the 26th of September, that the 
committee may have an opportunity to test them the day 
before the exhibition. 
The statements required from those who compete for 
field crops, must be sent to the Recording Secretary, Al¬ 
bany, previous to the 1st of January, 1842, and the pre¬ 
miums will be awarded at the annual meeting of the so¬ 
ciety, on the third Wednesday of January. 
It is very desirable that all those who intend to com¬ 
pete for the premiums on butter and cheese, maple su¬ 
gar, cocoons, silk, &c., should have their specimens in 
Albany early on the morning of Sept. 27, that they may 
be deposited in their appropriate places, and the rooms 
suitably arranged on the day previous to the Fair. 
All premiums will be paid in cash or plate at the op¬ 
tion of the winners. 
The premiums for essays, to artists, and for agricultu¬ 
ral implements, will be open to the United States; but 
all others will be confined to residents of this state, who 
are members of the society, or who may become so by 
the payment of one dollar on entering their articles. 
Competitors for the premiums on essays must forward 
their manuscripts to the Recording Secretary, Albany, 
previous to the first of June, 1842, free of postage. 
rssmuns 
Offered by the Albany County Agricultural Society for 1842. 
The Board of Managers, with a hope of awakening 
the attention of the farmers of the county of Albany to a 
sense of the importance of good cultivation, and at the 
same time of exciting an honorable competition for ex¬ 
hibiting the best cultivated farms, have decided to ap¬ 
propriate ninety-five dollars of the funds of the society 
the present season, for 
PREMIUMS ON FARMS. 
For the best cultivated Farm of not less than one hundred acres 
of cleared land—regard being had to the quantity of produce, 
the general appearance, improvements and skill in husband¬ 
ry. condition of stock, &c., and the expense of cultivation, §30 
For the second best, not less than one hundred acres,. 20 
For the third best, not less than one hundred acres,. 10 
For the best Farm, not less than thirty acres cleared land, 20 
For the second best, not less than thirty acres cleared land, 10 
For the third best, not less than thirty acres cleared land, 5 
Remarks. —All claims for the above premiums must be 
made and addressed to L. Tucker, Esq., Secretary of 
tbe Society, and left at the office of the Cultivator, in the 
Exchange Building, on or before the 15th day of June 
next. The Committee will commence their duties to 
examine the farms that may be entered about the first 
of July and first of September. 
The following may be the form of the application: 
Sir—The subscriber living in the town of-, 
hereby makes known his intention of applying for pre¬ 
mium for the best farm, (of not less than 30 or 100 acres 
as the case may be,) and offers the same for inspection. 
C. D. 
The Committee will require of the applicant an accu¬ 
rate description of the farm, statement of the manage¬ 
ment and produce thereof; the number of acres tilled; 
the quantify of manure applied to an acre, (loads calcu¬ 
lated at 30 bushels); whether longer compost; means 
and manner of collecting manure; whether spread and 
plowed in for corn and roots, or put into the hills or 
drills; average quantity of grass mowed, whether upland 
or interval; number of acres of corn, potatoes and other 
roots, whether for the table or for stock; number of 
acres of wheat, rye, barley, oats and buckwheat; how 
much per acre; number of acres laid down to grass; 
quantity of seed sown to the acre; kinds used; number 
of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine; method of feeding 
and management—summer and winter; whether native, 
mixed or foreign breeds; management of calves—whe¬ 
ther for the butcher or rearing; quantity of butter and 
cheese made; number of hands employed, and expense 
of the same. 
The Committee will expect these questions to be an¬ 
swered with as much particularity as possible. The ap¬ 
plicant will not be required to make oath, as it is pre¬ 
sumed no farmer will so far descend below his calling 
as to state an untruth for the paltry sum of thirty dollars. 
The Committee hope and believe that from the method 
proposed, many important facts may be elicited, and the 
farming community enabled to derive much useful infor¬ 
mation from the skill and experience of 'practical farmers. 
PREMIUMS ON FIELD CPvOPS. 
For the best acre of winter Wheat, . $3 
For the second best,. & 
For the best acre of Barley, . 5 
For the second best,. 3 
For the best acre of Rye, . S 
For the second best,. 3 
For the best acre of Oats, . S 
For the second best,. 3 
For the best acre of Indian Corn, . 10 
For tbe second best,. 7 
For the third best,. 5 
Remarks —It is to be understood that the quantity of 
land specified above, is in each case to be in one piece. 
And the claimant of either of the above premiums shall, 
with one other person, make a statement according to 
the best of their knowledge and belief to the following 
particulars; and shall obtain a certificate of the measure¬ 
ment of the land by some sworn surveyor. 
The particulars are— 
1st. The general state of cultivation and quality of ma¬ 
nure used, and quantity applied on it the preceding year. 
2d. The quantity and quality of manure the present 
season. 
3d. The quantity of seed used. 
4th. The time and manner of sowing, weeding and 
harvesting the crop, and the amount of product ascer¬ 
tained by actual measurement or weight, after the whole 
produce for which a premium is claimed is harvested, 
and the entire expense of cultivation. 
5th. Of Indian corn, the entire crop of the acre to be 
offered for premium, is to be measured in the presence 
of the claimant, who is to sign the statement made by 
the person or persons who did harvest and measure it; 
and to be measured between the 15th of Nov. and first 
day of January. Seventy-five pounds in the ear to be 
considered a bushel. 
For the best acre of Potatoes for the table,.$8 
For the second best, .... g 
For the best acre for stock,...v g 
For the the second best,. g 
Remarks. —Some sorts may be of superior excellence 
for their mealiness and rich flavor, but moderate in their 
product; some, not so well flavored, may be very abun¬ 
dant in produce and highly valuable for feeding stock; 
some growing compactly, and more expeditiously har¬ 
vested. The sorts which combine most of these good 
qualities shall be judged the most valuable, and will be 
preferably entitled to the premiums, without excluding 
claims for potatoes of highly superior goodness, although 
less productive. 
For the best half acre of Ruta Bagas, .§8 
For the second best, .... g 
For the best quarter acre of Beets, . 8 
For the second best,. g 
For the best eighth of an acre of Carrots, . 8 
For the second best,. g 
Remarks. —It will be required of the claimants of the 
above premiums to state in writing the condition of the 
land at the time the course of cultivation for the ap¬ 
proaching season may commence, and the several opera¬ 
tions in that cultivation, the kind and amount of manure 
applied, and as near as possible the expense of the whole 
cultivation and harvesting; and the amount of produce, 
as well as the measurement of the land, must be attested 
as in the other crops before mentioned. 
For the best quality of Butter and Cheese, not less than 
SO pounds..§10 
For the second best,. 7 
For the third best, . g 
Remarks. —Claimants for these premiums will be re¬ 
quired to furnish the Committee on this subject with a 
written statement (and the name concealed) of the en¬ 
tire management of their dairy, specifying the number 
and kind of cows; the manner in which they are fed 
through the year; the produce in each month distinctly; 
the manner and time of milking; the butter and cheese, 
and the method practiced of preserving and taking care 
of the same. No premium will be awarded, unless the 
specimens are accompanied with full and satisfactory 
statements of the management of the dairies in which 
the same was produced. Ladies, if your husbands are 
wanting in enterprise, come forward yourselves, and 
you will find your reward. 
N. B. Without a strict compliance with the above 
conditions, the Committee have determined not to award 
the premium. 
MAKING SUGAR. 
March is the month in which the making of Maple 
Sugar, one of the most delicious of sweets, is commenced, 
although the period of manufacture is at times prolonged 
into April. New-York produces annually, from ten to 
fifteen millions of pounds, and the quantity might be 
greatly incerased. The whole made in the United States, 
(and only those in the north make this sugar,) amounts 
to thirty # or forty millions of pounds annually. In making 
sugar, much is depending on the season. Some years 
successive thaws and snows occur, which prolong the 
flow of the sap, while in others, the rapid approach of 
warm weather swells the buds, and by rendering the sap 
unfit for sugar puts a stop at once to the manufacture. 
Days of a moderate, or rather warm temperature, with 
frosts at night, and some slight snows, make the best su¬ 
gar weather. During the latter part of the season, the 
sap sours readily, turns whitish, and becomes ropy in a 
short time, and in that state cannot be made into sugar. 
If converted into molasses, as it sometimes is, the flavor 
is not as good or the fluid as pure as that made earlier. 
If boiled as soon as gathered, or if a handful of lime is 
added to each barrel of sap, the sugar or molasses made 
towards the close of the season will be much improved 
in quality. 
Eveiy thing connected with the manufacture of maple 
sugar, should be made ready early in the month. For a 
long series of years we find that our sugar woi-lcs has 
been tapped between the 12th and the 17th of the month 
of March, with vexy few exceptions. There is no use 
in tapping before the sap flows fi-eely; and if neglect¬ 
ed beyond the proper time, much of the sugar will 
be lost. The kettles, pans, or whatever is used for 
evaporating the sap, the reservoirs or tubs for storing it 
when gathered, the troughs or tubs in which it is to be 
received from the trees, should receive a thorough clean¬ 
ing, by being washed in boiling water, and then insti - ong 
lime water, before they are required for use. This im¬ 
portant preparation is too often neglected, and an impure, 
unpleasant tasted article is too often the result. It is in¬ 
dispensable that every thing about the sugar camp, from 
the gathering of the sap to the completion of the manu¬ 
facture, be conducted with the utmost care and neatness. 
During any part of the season, if the sap when gath¬ 
ered, (and it frequently will flow in such quantities as to 
accumulate on’the hands of the maker of sugar,) is 
obliged to be kept a few daysbefoi’e boiling, lime should 
be placed in the reservoir, or occasionally sprinkled into 
it, to thoroughly check any tendency to the formation of 
acids, and assist the formation of sugar. Sap, when boil¬ 
ed, into which lime has been thrown, will have its im¬ 
purities more easily separated, and the process of grain¬ 
ing will be more satisfactory and complete. On the 
cleansing of the syrup, previous to its conversion to su¬ 
gar, much of the purity and consequently the goodness of 
the article will depend. Our method is, to boil into 
syrup each day all the sap possible; to sti-ain off the sy¬ 
rup at night into vessels where it x-emains over the night; 
in the morning it is carefully turned off from what sedi¬ 
ment there is, and placed in the kettle for reduction into 
sugar; for cleansing the syi-up we prefer the white of 
eggs, although milk will do, when eggs are not to be had; 
the white of the egg alone to be used, well beat, and 
carefully stirred into the syrup, after the kettles are over 
the fire, but before it is warmed. The syrup must then 
not be disturbexl until it begins to boil, when all the im¬ 
purities will rise to the surface, and may be taken off 
with a skimmer. The syrup must be heated gradually, 
or it will be apt to burn. When fully cleansed, the boil¬ 
ing may be pushed until the syrup is ready to be dipped 
into the pans or molds for sugar. Some sugar makers 
reduce their syrup to sugar, or so that the mass will 
grain, and then pour it into barrels or tubs, for gx-aining. 
When this is fully done, a hole is opened at the bottom 
of the barrel, from which the syrup not grained, will 
gradually drain, and the sugar will be left of a beautiful 
quality and whiteness. When made into cakes, these 
may also be drained, and will then, in whiteness, resemble 
the best Muscovado. 
Notices of New publications. 
NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, FOR JAN’Y, 1842. 
This number of the leading literary journal of the 
United States contains a number of ai-ticles of value, and 
well sustains its high chax-acter. Those on the Florida 
war, that gulf which lias swallowed up so much of the 
life blood and treasure of this counti-y, Chandlei-’s Ame¬ 
rican Criminal Trials, Brougham’s Natural Theology, 
&c., will be read with interest. But to the agricultu¬ 
rist, the most valuable article will be.the one on Harris’ 
Entomology of Massachusetts, of which it gives a sy¬ 
nopsis or review. We have not had the pleasure of 
meeting with Dr. Harris’ work; but the review has con¬ 
vinced us that it is a work much wanted, and one 
honorable to his chai’acter as a man of science. It is a 
work prepared in connection with the geological and 
agricultural survey of Massachusetts, and is worthy a 
place by the side of Hitchcock’s and Colman’s Reports. 
Such publications as this lead us to look with increased 
anxiety for the reports of the survey of our own state; 
and we must take the liberty of repeating here that it is 
to be ardently hoped no unworthy parsimony on the part 
of the state will prevent these final reports from being 
got up in a manner that will be the most creditable and 
useful to the state. The report on Entomology will be 
of great importance to the fai-mer; and if the illustra¬ 
tions and descriptions are such as they should be, an in¬ 
calculable service will be rendered the agriculturist by 
enabling him to know, and of consequence to guard 
against his insect enemies. 
The necessity of this knowledge will be apparent from 
a single fact stated by Dr. Harris. In this country the 
name of weevil is applied to at least six different insects; 
two of which are moths, two beetles, and two are flies. 
Now as all these are depredators on the crops of the 
farmer, but have habits and forms entirely different, he 
requires to know what is a weevil and what is not, that 
he may adopt proper measures of security from these 
pesls, as it is evident that what would save his crop or 
his granary from one of these would have no effect what¬ 
ever on others. It should always be remembered that 
the weevil is always a bug; never a moth or fly. Dr. 
Harris says that the plum weevil, or the one that stings 
the young plum and causes it to fall prematurely, is also 
the cause of the black excrescence which disfigures and 
has destroyed so many of the best plum orchards in the 
state. The doctor may be right; but from an examina¬ 
tion of the grub, we had been inclined to think differ¬ 
ently. If this grub is the product of the plum weevil, 
then the measures resorted to in order to save the fruit 
from its attacks would be useful in the case of the tree. 
The cutworm attracted a large share of Dr. Harris’ no¬ 
tice, as it deserved to do, since it is one of our worst 
depredators in gardens and corn fields. He procured a 
number, all alike in color, but varying somewhat in size, 
all called cutworms; and in August, from the crysalis 
formed by these worms, five different kinds of moths 
made their appearance. That which the doctor believed 
to come from the cutworm proper is a moth which flies 
about our candles in great numbers in the latter part of 
