68 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
equally heavy crops of grass, managed and sold in every 
way the same. And on the sea beach a large tract, that 
formerly consisted of sand hills, yielding only a few 
stinted furze bushes, has been leveled within a few years, 
canals cut all round, sown with grass, and now yields 
grass equal to any grown on Mr. Oliver’s farm, and 
makes a handsome annual return to the proprietor. 
I have been thus particular, not knowing but some 
farms in the vicinity of some of your cities may possess 
equal advantages as Mr. Oliver, without the proprietor 
being aware of the riches he is allowing to go waste. 
Ascot, Lower Canada, Jan. 15, 1842. Scotus. 
REPORT ON FARMS. 
We omit some communications already in type, to make 
room for the following interesting Report of the Onondaga Co. 
Ag. Society’s Committee on Farms and Farm Crops, just re¬ 
ceived : 
The committee would respectfully report, that the 
number of farms which they were called to examine 
was small compared with the number which will proba¬ 
bly hereafter be offered in this county, when the atten¬ 
tion of the farming community shall have become more 
awakened to the subject of agricultural improvement. 
Your committee were first invited to examine the 
farm of Silas Gaylord, which is beautifully situated on 
the west bank of Skaneateles lake, and about four miles 
south of the village. This farm contains 145 acres, 25 
of which are covered with wood. The 120 acres are all 
arable land, and suitably divided into fields, on which is 
pursued a course of crops. A large share of the western 
part of this farm was formerly so wet as to be unfit for 
tillage. This Mr. Gaylord has very properly reclaimed 
by underdraining, which is a very profitable operation 
on lands which are so moist as to be otherwise untilla 
ble. Twelve hundred rods of stone underdrain are al¬ 
ready constructed on this farm. The buildings are well 
located and in good repair. The out buildings are ex¬ 
tensive and convenient, especially the barn, which is very 
large, with cellar, shed or stabling, under the whole of 
it. This your committee believe is a great improve¬ 
ment, as it requires no additional roof and furnishes a 
place where stock can be kept comfortable in the most 
inclement weather, a convenient cellar for the preserva¬ 
tion of roots, and a place for preserving manure from 
the great waste attendant on exposing it to the storms of 
winter and spring. 
The farming tools are in good order, under cover and 
ready for use. The fences mostly in good order, and a 
large share made of posts and boards. The fields are 
generally in good order, and few weeds are allowed to 
perfect their seeds. All vacancies in the timber land 
are filled by transplanting locust trees, which are taken 
from a nursery on the farm. By thus keeping the locust 
tree shaded, Mr. Gaylord thinks he shall avoid the de 
predations of the borer. The stock on this farm consists 
of 33 neat cattle, all of which are full blood or grade 
Durham, 4 horses, 15 hogs, and 74 sheep, of the im¬ 
proved English varieties. The division of the farm the 
present year with the quantity of crops is as follows: 
Wheat, 
Barley, 
Peas, 
Oats. 
Potatoes. 
18 
acres. 
, 400 bushels. 
10 
do. 
300 
do. 
5 
do. 
100 
do. 
6 
do. 
200 
do. 
, 2 
do. 
320 
do. 
Corn, 5 acres, much injured 
by wire worm. 
Meadow, 30 acres, 60 tons. 
Pasture, 45 do. 
The farm of Mr. Gaylord exhibits the practical good 
sense and untiring industry of its owner, and is well 
worthy of a visit from those who are designing to raise 
stock or erect the out buildings which are necessary on 
a stock farm. 
Your committee were next called to view the farm of 
Fletcher Woodward, situated on the turnpike, five and a 
half miles west of Syracuse. This farm contains 236 
acres, 225 of which are under improvement; all tillable 
and in a high state of cultivation. This farm is natural¬ 
ly adapted to the raising of grain, and to this Mr. Wood¬ 
ward gives most attention. The course of crops which 
is produced is: 1st, corn or potatoes, on a clover lay, 
then oats or barley, which are followed by wheat, after 
One and sometimes two plowings; then sows 8 quarts 
of clover seed, 2 quarts of timothy seed, and 3 to 4 bush¬ 
els of plaster per acre on the wheat early in the spring, 
and pastures one year after the wheat is harvested. Mr. 
Woodward sows from one and a fourth to two bushels 
of wheat per acre, according to the time of sowing; 
prefers sowing from 10th to 15th September. Never 
sows grass seed with any crop but wheat; general ave¬ 
rage of wheat crop per acre, from 20 to 27 bushels; has 
raised 48 bushels per acre on small pieces. Corn is in¬ 
variably raised on green sward, with one plowing, har¬ 
rowed down smooth, and struck out both ways; rows 
north and south, 3 feet 4 inches, east and west, 2 feet 8 
inches apart. Plants early in May with plenty of seed, 
coated with tar, and thins at hoeing to 4 stalks in hill; 
plasters as soon as up, and again after second hoeing; uses 
the cultivator, hoes 3 times, and makes very little hill. 
Barley is generally sown on pasture land with one 
plowing; general crop 30 to 58 bushels per acre; sows 
from 2 to 2 j bushels per acre. Oats are cultivated after 
corn; sows 2| to 3 bushels per acre; general crop 50 to 
80 bushels per acre. 
Mr. Woodward’s method of cultivating potatoes is to 
draw at the time of threshing wheat, (with a pair of 
worses and rope,) the straw, and deposit it in large bunch¬ 
es on a clover lay, leaving a narrow strip all around the 
field on which no straw is put. In the spring this nar¬ 
row strip is plowed and harrowed fine. Then drops the 
seed once in two feet each way, covers about one inch 
deep, and keeps the surface as near level as possible. 
He then takes the straw adjoining this circle, around the 
field, and deposits it evenly on the ground already plant¬ 
ed, to the depth of about 4 inches when settled together. 
This leaves another strip for plowing, which is treated 
in the same manner as the first, and so on, until the crop 
is ready to harvest, which is usually from 300 to 500 
bushels per acre. This farm is divided into fields of the 
average size of 23 acres. The fence consists of 963 rods 
of posts and boards, 215 rods of full wall, and 180 rods 
of half wall, all in good order. For the convenience of 
passing these fences, 33 gates are already hung, and the 
committee were informed by Mr. Woodward that he 
had contracted for 22 additional gates to be erected this 
fall. The quantity of produce raised on this farm the 
present season is as follows: 
Wheat, 88 acres, 1760 bushels. 
Corn, 20 do. 1460 do. 
Oats, 33 do. 1320 do. 
injured by drouth. 
Barley, 25 acres, 750 bushels. 
Potatoes, 5 do. 1500 do. 
Meadow,10 do. 20 tons. 
Pasture, 47 do. 
The stock kept on the farm consists of 12 horses, 28 
neat cattle, 83 hogs, and 150 sheep. 
Mr. Woodward has given a practical illustration of the 
fallacy of the idea which is so often advanced, that the 
farmer cannot afford to be nice in his farming operations, 
and that the profits will not pay for an outlay of extra 
capital in improving the soil and fence. One of the 
committee asked Mr. Woodward if he took an agricultu¬ 
ral paper, to which he replied— U I do, and have for a 
number of years, and have found it of great use. And 
could I have had the Cultivator, with the present light 
upon the subject of farming, when I first commenced, 
(18 years since,) I think it would have been more than 
$1000 benefit to me.” 
The farm of Mr. Woodward exhibits in a favorable 
manner the beneficial effects of what is denominated the 
new system of husbandry. The antiquated customs of 
farming which our forefathers followed, are not so dear 
to him as to cause him to shut his eyes to the improve¬ 
ments which modern agriculturists are annually making 
in the science of farming. He is not so fearful of being 
called a “ book farmer ” as to refuse to take and read 
the agricultural publications of the day. He is not so 
fearful of being denominated a theorist as to refuse to try 
the improvements which are recommended in those pub¬ 
lications; and his farm shows the consequence; it being 
well fenced, well cultivated, very productive, and very 
clear from weeds, none of which are suffered to seed. 
In short, everything shows that the operations on this 
farm are directed by an enterprising, intelligent, practi¬ 
cal farmer. 
Your committee were next called to examine the farm 
of Hiram Church, situated in the town of De Witt, 2J 
miles northeasterly from Syracuse. 
This farm contains 137 acres, about 100 of which are 
under improvement, and all suitable for tillage. It is 
divided by a good cedar fence into fields containing about 
10 or 12 acres each. The produce of this farm the pre¬ 
sent year is— 
30 acres wheat, 679 bushels. 
4 do. corn, 200 do. 
6 do. oats, 360 do. 
3 do. peas, 75 do. 
1 acre potatoes, 150 bushels. 
12 acres meadow, 24 tons hay. 
22 do. pastured. 
22 do. summer fallow. 
Mr- Church prepares his ground for wheat mostly by 
summer fallowing, plowing three times. His method of 
raising corn is much like that pursued by Mr. Woodward, 
except Mr. Church uses a small plow instead of a culti¬ 
vator ; consequently he makes some hill around the corn. 
The stock kept on this farm consists of 9 neat cattle, 
7 horses, 10 hogs, and 60 sheep. Mr. Church makes 
liberal use of clover seed and plaster, and this practice 
your committee would earnestly recommend to every 
farmer. 
The farm of Mr. Church is newly improved compared 
with the farms of Mr. Gaylord and Mr. Woodward; but 
is naturally choice grain land, and we doubt not with the 
industry and enterprise which Mr. Church exhibits, it 
will soon show such a degree of neatness, and amount of 
produce as few, if any, farms can now exhibit. 
Your committee also examined a field of corn contain¬ 
ing 9 acres, cultivated by H. Fancher on the farm of 
Fletcher Woodward and in the same manner as reported 
by Mr. Woodward. It was well cultivated and would 
yield more corn per acre than any other field on the 
farm of Mr. Woodward. 
Royal White of Onondaga called the attention of the 
committee to a field of wheat containing 4 acres and 52 
rods, which Mr. White informed us yielded 167 bushels 
of wheat. Method of cultivation—broke up about the 
middle of June about ten inches deep, and immediately 
harrowed. Plowed and harrowed again the fore part of 
August. Plowed and harrowed the third time the 10th 
of September, and immediately sowed with 7 bushels of 
Canada flint and white flint wheat. Three-fourths of an 
acre of this piece of land was sowed with peas, and was 
plowed but twice. 
Col. W. Abbott, of Otisco, presented a fine sample of 
spring wheat which he originated by a series of experi¬ 
ments from the bald flint, which is a well known variety 
of winter wheat. For an account of his experiments 
we would refer to page 138 of volume 9 of the old Ge¬ 
nesee Farmer. 
The committee would here state the quantify of pro¬ 
duce which is given in this report, is in part given from 
ascertained facts and partly from estimates which the 
ccmmittee believe to approximate near to correctness. 
The committee recommend that the first premium on 
farms be given to Fletcher Woodward. The second to 
Silas Gaylord, and the third to Hiram Church. 
They also recommend that premiums be awarded to 
H. Fancher, Royal White and Warner Abbott. 
The committee would farther remark that they have 
had a pleasant duty assigned them, and they regret that 
the number of competitors was not greater. 
The committee would also return their thanks to the 
different. competitors for the kindness and hospitality 
with which they have been treated. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
Enoch Marks, 
William Fuller, 
Syracuse, September 29, 1841. 
■ Committee. 
PITTS’ IMPROVED BEE HIVE. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —Permit me, through 
the medium of the Cultivator, to call the attention of 
those who feel an interest in bee keeping to an examina¬ 
tion of Pitt’s improved hive. 
The object of the improvement is to protect the bees 
from destruction by the bee moth, and other external 
enemies. The plan adopted by the inventor is very 
simple, and costs but a mere trifle, and has, so far as it 
has been used, proved effectual against the ravages of 
that wily and destructive insect—the bee moth ° The 
hive is of the most easy and plain construction, consist¬ 
ing only of a simple box, set upon what is denominated 
the protector; and the bees are permitted to work on 
what is called the subtended plan, that is—when one 
hive is filled with comb, it is raised up, and an empty 
box or hive is set under it, with holes through the top 
board or cover of the box, through which the bees will 
descend and take possession of the lower hive, leaving 
the top hive with its contents to be taken away by the 
bee master at his own convenience, whenever circum¬ 
stances w T ili permit. By the adoption of this plan, there 
is no necessity for killing the bees to get their honey; 
and they are, in addition, provided with sufficient space 
below to always work downwards; which is in accord¬ 
ance With the natural habits and instinct of the bee. 
To work bees on the subtended plan is not a novel 
idea. It has been adopted in France and Germany with 
the best success; and is also practiced by many apiarians 
in our own country, as the simplest, cheapest and most 
successful method of working bees that has as yet been 
recommended to their attention. The hive left at your 
office is of the usual size, and combines the whole im¬ 
provement. In constructing the protector, the natural 
habits of the bee moth has guided the inventor, and ena¬ 
bled him to protect the bees from the worms or larvae 
of the moth after the eggs are hatched. The miller or 
moth that lays the eggs which produce the worms, en¬ 
ters the hive for the simple purpose of depositing them 
in the vicinity of food adapted to the wants of the worm, 
before it is transformed into a winged insect—the real 
bee moth. The miller will of course be as well satisfied 
to lay its eggs in any other aperture immediately con¬ 
nected with the hive, offering' equal accommodations to 
the young worms. The facilities offered the moth to 
pass into the protector in preference to going into the 
hive, are in such proportion that the moth will seldom, 
if ever, find its way in among the bees. The protector 
is easily kept clean of the worms without disturbing the 
inmates of the hive, and provides complete ventilation 
when the entrance to the hive is closed up. 
Albany, March, 1842. H. A. Pitts. 
WORCESTER PLOWS. 
Messrs. Editors —When in the city a few days ago, 
I was invited by Messrs. Pruyn, Wilson & Vosburghfto 
step into their store, in State-street, and examine some 
plows, cultivators, &c., which they had just received 
from that well known establishment at Worcester, Mass., 
of Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, who, I am inform¬ 
ed, have appointed the above firm their agents for the 
sale of implements in this city. 
I congratulate the farmers in this vicinity on this ac¬ 
quisition, and would recommend them to call and see for 
themselves before they purchase elsewhere; for I am 
fully persuaded that on an inspection of the plows, they 
will be convinced of the superiority of their construction: 
that they are far superior to anything of the kind we have 
had heretofore; and from the well known character of 
the establishment from whence they were sent, I am 
confident they will not be disappointed in the perform¬ 
ance of their work, strength, and durability. They are 
not like “ Pinder’s razors—made to sell,” but are made 
to perform well when sold. The first performance of 
plows that I had ever seen from the above establish¬ 
ment, I witnessed in October last at the plowing match 
of the Berkshire agricultural society, where I officiated 
as one of the committee to award premiums, and out of 
eighteen plows that started, three were of Messrs. Rug¬ 
gles, Nourse & Mason’s manufacture; and it is a singu¬ 
lar fact, that notwithstanding these plows were all en¬ 
tirely new, and in the hands of persons who had never 
seen one of them until the day previous, two out of three 
premiums were awarded to the plowmen that used these 
plows; and they had to contend against Chsmberlin’s 
plows which had always been successful heretofore, and 
the plowmen accustomed to them. 
I also noticed a small swivel plow for the purpose of 
plowing in grain, and which could be used also for a 
corn plow if necessary. There were other kinds, but I 
have not time to particularize them now. 
Farmers, call and look at the plows; you will find 
Messrs. Pruyn, Wilson & Vosburgh polite and attentive. 
C. N. Bement. 
Three Hills Faj-m, March, 1842. 
