THE CULTIVATOR. 
187 
whole process is perfectly simple and easy. Tame, or 
cultivated grasses, take on prairie lands without difficulty, 
if the seeds are sown, and the surface thoroughly har¬ 
rowed. It is still better, if the prairie can be burned 
over previous to sowing the seeds, as the surface is then 
left in excellent condition for the new grasses-. 
THE CRANBERRY. 
“A Subscriber, ” at Poughkeepsie, asks whether the 
Cramberry (or Cranberry,) can be grown from seed; 
whether there are two kinds of the plant, and where, if 
they cannot be grown from seed, plants of the right kind 
can be procured? There are three varieties of the cran¬ 
berry, two in the northern states, and one in the south, 
but with the exception of the common kind, the others 
are so rare as not to be of any account. All are creep¬ 
ers, natives of wet places, and may be grown wherever 
the soil is damp and abounding in vegetable matter or 
muck. The best method of procuring them, would be 
to select them at once from fruit bearing cranberry mea¬ 
dows, and they may be transplanted either in spring or 
fall, as may suit convenience. We have never known 
their being cultivated from seeds, though the thing is 
doubtless possible. 
SILK MANUFACTURES, SHEEP, &c. 
Mr. A. E. Ernest of Bibb co, Geo., informs us that 
for several years past, he has been experimenting in the 
culture of silk, and has been eminently successful. He 
proposes to extend his operations, and wishes some in¬ 
formation as to the best machinery for converting cocoons 
into sewing silk. If some of our friends who have a prac¬ 
tical acquaintance with the different machines, reels, &c. 
in use, such as the Piedmont, Brooks’, Jones’, Blyden- 
burgh’s, Clarke’s, or others, will state their opinion of 
the best for making sewing silk, with the price, and the 
place where they can be procured, they will confer a fa¬ 
vor not only on Mr. E., but on others who are engaged 
in the silk business. 
Mr. Ernest asks what kind of fine wooled sheep would 
probably suit that climate best, and at what rates fine 
wooled sheep can be procured? 
Sheep derived from a warm country, would doubtless 
do better in the climate of Georgia, than those from a 
northern one; and for this reason, the Merino, or the 
Saxon, or some of their varieties, should be chosen. The 
South Down is a hardy sheep, and would probably suc¬ 
ceed well in Georgia, or elsewhere; but the wool, al¬ 
though of good quality, is not equal to Merino in fine¬ 
ness. The pure Merinos or Saxons may be procured, 
eweS and rams, at from six to ten dollars each; and the 
South Downs from fifteen to twenty-five dollars each. 
The closing remarks of Mr. Ernest’s paper, contain so 
much truth and good sense, that we are unwilling to 
withhold them from our readers: 
“ The condition of our country certainly requires that we 
should all be doing what we can to relieve it from its present 
unhappy state. The distresses of the country have clearly been 
brought about, by consuming more than we have produced; and 
it can be relieved by producing more than we consume, and in 
no other way. It is folly, or worse than folly, to expect relief 
in any other way. No single individual can do much, but each 
one can do something. Any person can in themselves furnish 
an example of industry and economy, if they .will, and this is 
precisely what is wanting. If I can throw $1,000, or $10,000 
worth of silk into market every year, I shall do something ; and 
so with any other of our products. The contributions of each 
may be small, but the aggregate is large; and it is productive 
industry that tells on the nation’s prosperity.” 
GROUND MOLE AND GOPHER. 
Our correspondent, Wm. C. Carr, Esq. of St. Louis, 
inquires for some method of destroying the moles, and 
the burrowing animal called the Gopher, (peculiar we 
believe to the country west of the Mississippi.) He 
says “they are not only highly destructive to orchards, 
gardens, yards, and meadows, but to corn fields also.” 
Of the gopher, v r e know nothing; but the mole or ra¬ 
ther meadow mouse, (which we presume is the animal 
referred to by Mr. Carr,) is in some years very abundant 
here, and does much damage to orchards, nurseries, mea¬ 
dows, &c. At such times we have found the best me¬ 
thod of saving our trees, was to keep them free from 
grass, weeds, or any thing that, could shelter the mouse, 
around the roots. They may be poisoned without diffi¬ 
culty by scattering poisoned food in their covered path¬ 
ways, or they may be caught in traps. Mr. Loudon says 
that in 1815, the extensive plantations of young trees in 
the forest of Dean, were attacked by such multitudes of 
mice that their destruction seemed inevitable. After try¬ 
ing various methods to destroy them, without much ef¬ 
fect, recourse was had to digging holes for them. The 
holes were about 20 inches deep, about the same length, 
but as narrow at the surface as would admit taking the 
dirt from them, but broad at the bottom, so as to be 
shelving over on all sides, from the bottom to the top. 
These holes were made about 60 feet apart each way, 
over about 4,000 acres, and 30,000 mice were trapped in 
a few days, and the nurseries saved. 
Mr. Carr asks for the best method of preserving stable 
manure through the summer? It should be heaped un¬ 
der cover, and mixed with swamp muck, peat, or pond 
mud, to aid in the fermentation, and absorb the gases. 
The quantity of manure may be doubled in this way, and 
load for load remain of equal value to the stable manure. 
Should it not incline to ferment, pour upon the heaps the 
wash of the yards, or the urine of the stables. 
Agricultural 0ockt£ illcctiiigs. 
We continue from our last No. the notices of these 
Agricultural holidays, as they have come to our hands, 
and only regret that we are not able to give more of the 
flattering proofs of the increased attention paid to Agri¬ 
culture, and the consequent success attending, they con¬ 
tain. So rapid, however, has been the increase of these 
Societies, that we can only find a place in our columns 
for some of the most prominent incidents of each. Our 
thanks are justly due to the many gentlemen in all parts 
of our country, who have so kindly forwarded these in¬ 
teresting notices to us. The success which has attended 
these Societies the present year, is the more gratifying, 
from the fact, that many of them are new, and the present 
their first exhibition. 
MAINE. 
Kennebec Agricultural Society —There are not 
many Societies in this country, more active and efficient 
than this favorite society of our Maine friends. The Show 
and Fair this year, came off in fine style, attended by a 
multitude of spectators, and lots of exhibited animals, and 
articles of domestic manufacture. The plowing match 
w r as well contested, the work beautifully done in the 
main, and the great number of spectators much gratified. 
From the reports of the committee on plows, and the 
plowing match, we have condensed the following par¬ 
ticulars. The number of plows entered was seven. The 
ground was a sandy loam, with patches of witch [quack] 
grass; the quantity, one-eighth of an acre to each plow. 
No. Team. 
1. Seven years old oxen,- 
2. 1 pair of horses,. 
3. 1 pair of young oxen,-• 
4. 2 pair of cattle,. 
5. Horses and oxen, 1 pr. 
each,. 
6. 1 pair horses,. 
7. 1 pair horses,. 
Kind of Flow. 
Time. 
Ruggles & Mason, 
33 min. 
New plow,. 
26 
Doe’s plow,. 
35[ 
Doe’s plow,. 
36 
Greenlow’s plow, 
29) 
Barnaby & Mooers 
26 
Doe’s plow,. 
21 
The first premium w r as awarded to No. 1, the plow 
operating admirably, inverting the sod completely, so as 
to leave no grass visible. The second premium was 
awarded to No. 3, between the work of which and No. 
1, but little difference could be perceived. The third 
prize was awarded to the new plow, No. 2. It was well 
plowed, but not so neatly as the two former. The side 
hill plow of Barnaby and Mooers’ is highly spoken of, 
particularly for side hill work; though doubts are ex¬ 
pressed as to its fitness for level land, when compared 
with the Ruggles plotv. The interest excited by the 
plowing matches of lliis year, has furnished abundant 
proof that the managers of Ag. Societies will do well to 
pay particular attention to that subject hereafter. 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
Housatonic Cattle Show and Fair— Berkshire 
County has two Agricultural Societies, both ably ma¬ 
naged, and efficiently supported. That at Pittsfield, was 
noticed in our last Cultivator ; and we have now received 
the proceedings of the Housatonic Society, which held its 
Fair at Great Barrington, in the beautiful valley which 
gives its name to the association. It occupied two days, 
and the whole proceedings were of the most encouraging 
kind. A team of 100 yoke of beautiful cattle, attached to 
a plow held by Col. Fitch, preceded by music, passed 
through the village, amid the cheers of the multitude as¬ 
sembled. The address was by Mr. Merri am, of the Boston 
Cultivator, and is spoken of as highly appropriate and in¬ 
teresting. One of the noticeable events of the two days, 
was the first entrance of a train of cars on the Bridgport 
Railroad, with some 600 passengers, ladies and gentle¬ 
men, to attend the Fair. It is estimated that during the 
two days, not less than 12,000 persons were on the 
ground, and to the honor of the citizen farmers and me¬ 
chanics of Berkshire, it should be added, not a drunken 
individual was observed. No intoxicating liquors were 
used at the excellent dinner given at the Berkshire 
House; an example which we hope will be followed by 
all such associations, as have not already adopted the 
practice. The reports of the several committees speak 
well of the animals exhibited, and the crops grown in 
the country, wheat particularly, which has suffered less 
from the insect the present year, than for several years 
previous. The farmers of Berkshire are evidently in the 
way to prosperity; intelligent and industrious, they have 
only to go forward. 
Essex Ag. Society _There are very few societies, 
if any, in the country that have done more for the pro¬ 
motion of agriculture than this spirited association, as 
their well printed and numerous reports fully prove. 
The last fair came off in October at Andover; and the 
full attendance of farmers and others demonstrated that 
the interest felt in its proceedings was not lessened. The 
agricultural capabilities of this county are great; and the 
intelligent owners of the soil act as though they intended 
to make the most of' them. The show of cattle of all 
kinds, horses, sheep, swine, vegetables, fruits, products 
of the farm and dairy, and of domestic products, was most 
encouraging and satisfactory. Both horses and cattle 
were entered for the plowing match, and the work was 
done in a beautiful manner. Addresses were made at 
the dinner by the president of the society, the Hon. L. 
Saltonstall, Hon. D. P. King, Col. C. A. Andrews of 
Boston, and others. The annual address was by the 
Hon. A. W. Dodge. It was as such addresses should 
be—“practical in its details; replete with interesting 
facts, useful suggestions, and judicious advice.” The 
reports made by those exhibitors who receive premiums 
are of the right kind, showing how the successful results 
in their case were obtained, and are thus instructive and 
useful to others. We shall doubtless have occasion to 
again refer to them. 
Plymouth Co. Ag. Society. —The annual cattle show 
of this society was held at Bridgwater in October. The 
day was fine. A large number of the substantial farmers 
of the county with their wives and daughters were pre¬ 
sent. The show of cattle, principally native, was good. 
The plowing match was well conducted; and all the 
proceedings were conducted much to the satisfaction of 
those assembled to witness them. The dinner was good, 
and a number of spirited volunteer toasts were washed 
down with cold water. The address was delivered by 
S. Bourne, Esq. of Wareham. It embodied a number 
of interesting facts, particularly in relation to the use of 
ashes in forming compost with peat, swamp muck or 
mud. Eight bushels of ashes, unleached, were sufficient 
to mix with a cord of muck, or peat; but if leached, one 
part of ashes would be required to three of muck. This 
compost is excellent; and all farmers who can procure 
the ashes will do well to use them in this way, in pre¬ 
ference to selling them to the ash man. It is believed 
no man, after witnessing the fair at Bridgwater, would 
be disposed to speak lightly of the farmer, or the agri¬ 
cultural products of old Plymouth. 
CONNECTICUT. 
New-Haven Co. Ag. Society. —The fair of this ac¬ 
tive and useful association was held at New-Haven on 
the 28th and 28th of September, and exceeded in interest 
any that have preceded it. About 100 head of fine stock, 
imported and domestic, were on the ground, with any 
number of sheep, swine, and some excellent horses. 
The beautiful Short Horn stock of Mr. Whitney, which 
had been sent to the N. Y. State Fair at Albauy, were 
much missed. The plowing match came off in fine style, 
and was attended by several thousand spectators. The 
quantity of land was one-eighth acre to each team; the 
shortest time in which the plowing was done was 26 min¬ 
utes; the longest only 32J minutes. The plows, with but 
a single exception, were of bad construction and model; 
and when it is remembered that experiments prove there 
is a difference of draft in plows of quite 100 per cent, 
farmers who have any mercy on their beasts or them¬ 
selves, should be more careful in getting the best ones. 
But the great charm of the day for the farmer was the 
unprecedented show of working oxen. The South Green 
is a parallelogram of 54 by 21 rods, surrounded by dou¬ 
ble rows of magnificent elms; and around this green as 
they entered, they were paraded in the form of a hollow 
square, reaching 9| times around the whole area, or 
making a string of 1| miles. The number of working 
oxen was 1,026, 513 yoke; and among these were many 
of the most beautiful animals. There was one pair of 
twins, deep red, and so near alike in every respect that 
the owner, Mr. Todd of North Haven, had no means of 
distinguishing one from the other, except a small black 
spot of the size of a pea on the muzzle of one. Their 
great beauty, form, size, and admirable command, excit¬ 
ed the attention of all. The address was by Prof. Olm¬ 
sted —“ On the Right God has given Man over Ani¬ 
mals;” and the subject was ably illustrated. The elec¬ 
tion of officers of the society was held at the State House 
on Thursday, and Prof. Benjamin Silliman was chosen 
president, and the Hon. Alfred Blackman secretary. 
Hartford Cattle Show and Fair _The fair of 
this rich county in the land of steady habits was held in 
the city of Hartford the first week of October, and exhi¬ 
bited abundant evidence of the spirit of honorable emu¬ 
lation, which the association in its progress had awaken¬ 
ed. 100 yoke of working oxen were on the ground, 
mostly of the rich deep red that belongs to the Devon¬ 
shire blood and its crosses, well formed and trained. 
We have long been of the opinion that no part of the 
world can show such numbers of fine working cattle as 
New-England; and the shows of this year have given 
ample proof of this fact. A bad day will it be for New- 
England when she substitutes horse for ox labor on the 
farm, as many other parts of the U. S. have done, where 
no particular necessity for this course existed. There 
was a good show of Short Horns, among which the fine 
stock of Mr. Watson of East Windsor, and Mr. Peck of 
Beilin, received much notice. Mr. Peck’s cows were 
imported, and were said to be first rate milkers. Of 
other animals, there were a respectable number on the 
ground—many of them very fine. The show of fruits, 
flowers, vegetables and farm products, was good; and 
that of domestic manufactures gave proof positive of the 
industry of the Connecticut fair. The show of statuary 
and paintings attracted much attention; and as opening a 
new field for the cultivation of the mind and taste, may 
well be recommended for the imitation of other socie¬ 
ties, where the means of making such an exhibition ex¬ 
ists. We have received the report of the committee on 
farms from this society, and shall endeavor to give a sy¬ 
nopsis of its valuable contents as soon as we can find 
room. 
The Union Ag. Society of Connecticut is composed 
of the patriotic and spirited farmers of the towns of 
Farmington, Bristol, Burlington, Southington and Ber¬ 
lin, in the counties of Hartford and New-Haven, and 
furnishes a striking proof of what zeal and intelligence, 
aided by a good cause, can perform. We have received 
the report of the executive committee, and are gratified 
to learn that the fair of the present year was attended 
with such marked success. The exhibition of working 
cattle was such as many societies of far greater limits 
and pretensions might well be proud of, numbering 244 
yokes, a few of them crosses of the Durham, about thirty 
