94 
sand, and planting as above directed. When well set, 
the yield of an acre will not be much, if any, short of 
200 bushels. 
INQUIRIES. 
“Messrs. Editors —I wish to solicit advice from you 
or some of your worthy contributors, on the following 
points: What course is to be observed the first and se¬ 
cond years, in commencing a farm, in order to gain? Is 
it commendable to purchase the stock designed for the 
subsequent year, the first year, and feed that stock on 
your pocket, until your own corn or other food matures? 
If not, or if so, why? How many acres of good ground 
can a good hand cultivate properly, in a year, without 
injury ? Leesburg, N. C., 1842. Camdonian.” 
Will some of our southern friends be kind enough to 
reply to the queries of our correspondent? 
We cannot furnish “ A Patron and Friend,” of Bloom¬ 
field, Ky., the information he solicits. It would be im¬ 
proper for our columns. By application to a competent 
veterinarian, his wishes can doubtless be gratified. This 
notice would have appeared sooner had not the applica¬ 
tion been accidentally mislaid. 
PLASTER. 
' The following is an extract from a letter received 
from William Edwards, Esq. the founder of the ex¬ 
tensive tanneries in Greene County, which have added 
so much to the wealth and prosperity of that part of the 
state. 
“ From personal observation, and a limited experi¬ 
ence, I am led to believe that 'plaster of Paris is the best 
substitute for manure that can be applied in all this re* 
gion of our country. A knowledge of the best mode of 
using it—the quantity per acre—the period of applying it 
■—the kinds of crops most benefited by it—and in short, 
every thing relating to its use, published in your most 
interesting paper, would be highly beneficial and accep¬ 
table to the farming community, whether derived from 
your own experience, or from the pens of experienced 
contributors.” 
We have for more than thirty years, lived in a district 
where plaster has been extensively used, and where its 
value is so well understood, that the farmer who declines 
its use, would be deemed little better than insane. Plas¬ 
ter produces the most effect when sown upon land, and 
this is generally done by hand. Plowing it in is not 
generally approved, and our experience would be against 
the practice. The quantity per acre may be from one 
to three bushels, but we have received as much benefit 
from one and a half bushels per acre as from a larger 
quantity. More, however, will do no injury. The best 
time for applying plaster is when the grass or other crops 
have thrown out their leaves in the spring, say in May. 
Nearly all crops are benefited by plaster; it is applied 
advantageously on wheat, corn, potatoes, peas, &c., but 
its greatest effect is produced on the clovers, and its ac¬ 
tion here is principally relied upon for renovating and 
enriching the soil. Plaster may be made one of the most 
powerful of manures by converting it into a carbonate of 
ammonia, accomplished by the addition of urine until 
saturation is effected. 
NEW-YORK COUNTY AG. SOCIETIES. 
Chautauque. —The next Fair of this Society is to be 
held at Westfield, on the 28th and 29th days of Septem¬ 
ber next, for which a handsome list of premiums has 
been published. T. B. Campbell, Esq. Pres’t. 
Dutchess. —The Society in this county are to hold a 
Fair in the town of Washington, on the 5th of October 
next. Henry Staats, Pres’t: Geo. Kneeland, Sec’y. 
Saratoga. —Fair to be held at Ballston Spa, on the 
4ih of October next. 
Livingston. —We have received the premium list of 
this Society, of which James S. Wadsworth, Esq. is Pre¬ 
sident, and C. II. Bryan, Esq. Secretary, for their next 
Fair, which is to be held at Geneseo, on the 4th and 5th 
days of October next. 
Niagara. —The Society in this county has published 
a liberal list of premiums, which are to be awarded at 
their next Fair, but at what time it is to be held the no¬ 
tice does not state. 
The Oneida Society hold their next Fair at Rome, on 
the 12th and 13th days of'October next. 
St. Lawrence. —At the annual meeting on the 9th 
Feo., Jonah Sanford, Esq. »as chosen Pres’t—26 Y. 
Pres’ts were appointed—N. S. Prentice, Canton, Treas., 
and Ch. Lyon, Oswegatchie, Rec. and J. L. Russell, 
Canton, Cor. Sec’y. Their next fair is to be held at 
Canton, Sept. 14. 
Essex. —An Ag. Society has been organized in this 
county and the following oflicers appointed:—Reuben 
Whallon, Pres’t—Reuben Sanford, Samuel Murdock, 
Gideon Hammond, and Almerin Smith, V. Pres'fs—D. 
Judd, Treas.—E. F. Williams, Rec., and A. B. Mack, 
Cor. Sec’ys. 
SUGAR FROM CORN STALKS. 
' John Greig, Esq. of Canandaigua, President of the 
Ontario Agricultural Society, to induce experiments in 
the manufacture of sugar from the stalks of Indian corn, 
has offered the liberal premiums of $30 and $20, for the 
greatest and next greatest quantity of sugar and molasses 
made from an acre of land, to be awarded at the annual 
Fair of that Society, to be held at Canandaigua, in Octo¬ 
ber next. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE U. S. AG. SOCIETY. 
Washington, May 4, 1842. 
The Society met to-day at the Patent Office, when a 
number of delegates from the several states, appeared 
with their credentials, and the Hon. J. M. Garnett, of 
Va., at 11 A. M. took the chair, and J. F. Callan, Sec¬ 
retary. 
On motion of the Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, a committee 
of three was appointed by the Chair, to inquire into the 
expediency of establishing in this city, a periodical, to 
be devoted to the cause of agriculture, and to be the of¬ 
ficial organ of this society, viz: Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, 
D. C., Dr. Eli Ives, Conn., and Rev. J. O. Choules, N. Y. 
Rob’t E. Horner, N. J., T. B. Wakeman, N. Y., Rev. 
O. B. Brown, D. C., Dr. G. B. Simth, Md., and Hon. H. 
L. Ellsworth, D. C., were appointed a committe to re¬ 
port the order of business for the future action of this 
meeting, and the Society adjourned until to-morrow 
morning. 
Thursday, May 5, 1842. 
At 9 o’clock, A. M. the Society met at the Patent Of¬ 
fice, and proceeded to the election of officers, and upon 
counting the ballots the following named gentlemen were 
declared duly elected, viz: 
Hon. James M. Garnett, Virginia, President. 
J. F. Callan, D. C. Rec. Seretary. 
Oliver Whittlesey, Ohio, Cor. Secretary. 
Eward Dyer, Treasurer. 
Board of Control. 
Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, D. C. 
Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, Ohio. 
John A. Smith, D. C. 
John S. Skinner, D. C. 
William J. Stone, D. C. 
Vice Presidents. 
Maine,. 
... Hon. George Evans. 
New Hampshire, . 
Hon. Isaac Hill. 
Massachusetts, .... 
... B. V. French. 
Connecticut,. 
Dr. Eli Ives. 
Rhode Island,. 
. . Governor Fenner. 
Yermont,.... 
William Jarvis. 
New-York,.. 
J. B. Nott. 
New Jersey,. 
. . E. S. Green, 
Pennsylvania,. 
... Hon. G. M. Keim. 
Delaware, . 
Dr. J. W. Thompson. 
Maryland,. 
.. . Thomas Emory. 
Virginia, . 
.. . Ed. Ruffin. 
North Carolina,. ... 
Hon. E. Deberry. 
South Carolina,.... 
, . 4 Wade Hampton, 
Georgia,. 
... Hon. Wilson Lumpkin. 
Alabama,.. 
... Hon. Dixon H. Lewis. 
Louisiana,. 
Hon. Alexander Mouton. 
Arkansas,. 
... Hon. A. Yell. 
Tennessee,. 
... F. H. Gordon. 
Mississippi,.. 
.. . Hon. R. J. Walker. 
Kentucky,. 
Chilton Allen. 
Missouri,. 
. .. Hon. L. F. Linn. 
Illinois, . 
Thomas L. Hinde. 
Indiana,.. 
Solon Robinson. 
Michigan,.. 
... Hon. J. C. Crary. 
Ohio,. 
Hon. John Hastings. 
Dist. of Columbia, 
Amos Kendall. 
Florida,. 
... Hon. G. F. Mercer. 
Iowa,. 
Timothy Davis. 
Wisconsin,.. 
Henry Dodge. 
The Vice Presidents of Virginia, District of Columbia, 
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, are, ex officio, 
members of the Board of Control. 
The President addressed the Society in his usual felici¬ 
tous manner, at the conclusion of which, on motion of 
Dr. G. B. Smith of Md., the thanks of the Society were 
voted to Mr. Garnett, and a copy of his address was so¬ 
licited for publication. 
The committee to inquire into the expediency of es¬ 
tablishing an agricultural periodical, reported favorably 
to that measure, and their report was, after some debate, 
adopted. 
The committee on business, reported the order in 
which the business of the Society should be taken up and 
acted upon, and advised the amendment to the Constitu¬ 
tion as follows, in Art. 19: “and the Board shall have 
power to prescribe the mode in which it shall be with¬ 
drawn,” and that a “draft from the President, counter¬ 
signed by the Recording Secretary,” as now required, 
shall no longer be necessary. 
The Board of Control,.through its chairman, the Hon. 
Levi Woodbury, made a written report, in which they 
state in consequence of the severe pressure of the times, 
and the Society's limited means, they had declined hold¬ 
ing a Fair in the present month, as required by the Con¬ 
stitution ; but in the hope that they would find their pecu¬ 
niary condition much improved during the coming sum¬ 
mer and fall, they recommend the holding an exhibition 
in this city, early in the month of December next. 
T. B. Wakeman, Esq. of New-York, from the com¬ 
mittee on business, made a report, concluding with the 
following resolution, which was adopted : 
Resolved, That with a view to holding an exhibition 
under the auspices of the Agricultural Society of the Uni¬ 
ted States, in December next, in the city of Washington, 
a committee of two be appointed from each State and Ter¬ 
ritory, and the District of Columbia, whose duty it shall 
be to ascertain how far the agricultural and scientific so 
cieties of the country will unite in the proposed fair; and 
that this committee meet in Philadelphia, at the U. S. 
Hotel, on the 6th day of July next, at 5 o’clock, P. M., 
to decide upon the expediency of holding the contempla¬ 
ted exhibition. It shall also be the duty of this commit¬ 
tee in co-operation with the Board of Control, to make 
all the necessary arrangements for this first annual fair, 
and to associate with them such other persons as they 
may think necessary in furtherance of this object, all of 
whom together, shall constitute the Board of Managers 
to conduct the exhibition to its final conclusion. 
The Chair appointed the following gentlemen to select 
the general committee above, viz: Dr. Eli Ives, Conn.; 
Thaddeus B. Wakeman, N. Y.; Rob't E. Horner, N. J.; 
Dr. Gideon B. Smith, Md.; J. F. Callan, D. C. ; Thomas 
Crux, Va., and Hon. R. J. Walker, Miss.; who reported 
the following committee: 
Maine —Hon. F. O. J. Smith, Hon. E. H. Allen. 
New Hampshire —Hon. Isaac Hill, Hon. L. Woodbury. 
Massachusetts —B. V. French, Hon. G. N. Briggs. 
Vermont —Wm. Jarvis, Hon. Hiland Hall. 
Rhode Island —Christopher Rhodes, Sol’n Townsend. 
Connecticut —Dr. Eli Ives, Hon. J. H. Brockway. 
New-York —Thaddeus B. Wakeman, E. P. Prentice. 
New Jersey —R. E. Horner, C. S. Olden. 
Delaware —Dr. .Tas. W. Thompson, John Jones. 
Pennsylvania. —I). Landreith, Geo. M. Coates. 
Maryland —Hon. J. D. Jones, Gov. Geo. Howard. 
Virginia —Rev. Jesse H. Turner, Thos. S. Pleasants. 
North Carolina —Rev. S. Weller, Hon. E. Deberry. 
S. Carolina —Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Hon. W. C. Preston. 
Georgia —Hon. Lot Warren, J.*A. Merriweather. 
Ohio —Hon. John Hastings, Thos. Affleck. 
Tennessee —F. H. Gordon, Hon. W. B. Campbell. 
Alabama —Hon. W. R. King, Hon. D. H. Lewis. 
Louisiana —Hon. E. D. White, Hon. Alex. Mouton. 
Mississippi —M. W. Phillips, Hon. R. J. Walker. 
Kentucky —Chilton Allen, Hon. P. Triplett. 
Missouri —Hon. L. F. Linn, W. H. Saunders. 
Illinois —Thomas L. Hinde, Hon. Z. Casey. 
Arkansas —Hon. W. S. Fulton, Hon. A. Yell. 
Michigan- —Hon. J. E. Crary, Hon. J. M. Howard. 
Florida —R. W. Williams, Hon. C. F. Mercer. 
Wisconsin —Hon. Henry Dodge. 
Iowa —Timothy Davis, A. C. Dodge. 
List, of Columbia —Hon. H. L. Ellsworth, J. Pierce. 
Mr. Adam Lindsly, of the District of Columbia, exhi¬ 
bited a piece of black Satinet, containg 23 yards, manu¬ 
factured in his family in this city. 
Mr. T. B. Wakeman, offered the following resolution, 
which was unanimously adopted : 
Resolved, That the thanks of this Society are due to the 
Hon. Henry L. Ellsworth, Commissioner of Patents, for 
the agricultural statistics contained in his annual report 
to Congress, and that the continuance of such statistics is 
worthy the patronage of the national government. 
SILK IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
One of the most satisfactorily conducted experiments 
in the silk culture which we have seen, was made in the 
family of Mr. Barton, Gill, Mass., and reported by Mr. 
Colman, in his 4th report. The management was under 
the direction of Miss Earton, who not only fed the worms 
but reeled the silk. Mr. Deane, the narrator, says:— 
“ Partly at my suggestion, the details of this experiment 
were accurately noted. The weight of the eggs hatched 
was 2| oz. The worms spun in 28 or 29 days. The 
amount of leaves consumed was 2,£00 lbs. The weight 
of cocoons was 248 lbs. The weight of reeled silk was 
20 lbs.; and the amount of labor was one month; that is, 
the first half was greatly less than that, and the last days 
something more. The building used was the vacant corn 
house, which of course should not enter into the list of 
expenditures, and the fixtures were merely temporary 
shelves of rough boards, and a few hurdles to contain the 
worms, during their three first ages. Neither should 
there be any charge for eggs, as a great quantity were 
produced for future use. The expenses therefore stand 
as follows: 
Labor, one month, $12,00, board do. $6,00,. $18 00 
2,500 lbs. of mulberry leaves, 50 cts. per 100 lbs.-- 12 50 
Gathering cocoons, camphor for curing do.. 2 50 
Reeling 20 lbs. silk at 75 cts. per-lb.. 15 00 
Interest on reel and fixtures,. 1 00 
$49 00 
Income. 
20 lbs. silk, for which Mr. B. has refused $5 per lb. $100 00 
The state bounty of 15 cts. on 248 lbs. of cocoons, • • 37 20 
“ “ 50 cts. on 20 lbs. reeled silk, •• 10 00 
$147 20 
Deduct. 49 00 
Profit, including bounty,. $98 20 
Without it,. 51 20 
In this case, the cost of cultivation was less than $2,50 
per lb.; from which the state bounty was to be deducted. 
Miss Barton was able to reel without difficulty, one and 
a half lbs. of silk. During the three first ages, the worms 
were fed with chopped leaves; during the two last, on 
branches. The worms passed each entire age without 
the removal of their litter, which service was only per¬ 
formed immediately after moulting. In what other way, 
we may ask, could a young lady make as profitable a use 
of her time, as was done by Miss B. in feeding these in¬ 
dustrious laborers ? And we may hope that such exam¬ 
ples will be followed, until such instances of successful 
industry shall not be as rare as they now unfortunately 
are. 
INDIAN CORN. 
We make the following extract from the New Ency¬ 
clopedia of Agriculture, by C. W. Johnston, Esq. article 
Maize. The only apology for the singular error into 
which the writer has fallen, is to be found in the fact, that 
