Notes for the Month GOING TO ENGLAND.—We learn that the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, have entered upon an arrangement with SANFORD HOWARD, Esq., of Boston, to go to England and Scotland for the purpose of selecting stock. Mr. H. will probably leave by the middle of next month, and those desirous of sending for animals or articles of any kind, will be pleased to learn that he intends to devote some time to the execution of such commissions. It may be a service to their readers if our cotemporaries would notice this fact. We do not need to add that Mr. Howard has every qualification to render his selections judicious and satisfactory. MR. C. S. WAINWRIGHT'S FOURTH ANNUAL CATALOGUE of Thorough-bred North Devon Cattle, is now ready. The high character of this herd we have frequently referred to, and about half-a-dozen of each sex, including one or two imported animals, are now offered to the public. Mr. W.'s address, as our readers are aware, is "The Meadows," near Rhinebeck, Duchess Co. We have received vol. viii. of the "Transactions of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, with Reports of County Agricultural Societies for 1856." It contains nearly 800 pages-a fact which we do not mention as a compliment. The tendency with all such works in this country, especially when the State pays the printing bills, is to stretch them out instead of condensing, so that for one page really worthy of printing and preservation, there are three or four that might better be omitted, so far as any practical good can result from their appearance. We do not wish to be understood as making this charge particularly against the volume before us-it is probably no more open to it than nine-tenths of all that appear, and there is some really sound wheat amidst the chaff. Several subjects -among them the Potato, the breeding and management of Sheep, Fruit Trees, &c., are treated at length, and, as far as we have been able to examine them, in a careful and creditable manner. THE APPROACHING SHOW OF OUR STATE SOCIETY.-The Executive Board of our State Society held a meeting last week at Syracuse. It was fully attendedpresent President McCOUN; Vice-Presidents Wainwright, White, Turrill, Rotch and Johnson; Messrs. Barber, Ellis, Hubbell, and Sheldon, of the Executive Committee, together with ex-presidents Kelly and Faxton, members ex officio; Secretary Johnson and the Treasurer. The Board proceeded to view the grounds chosen for the fair in October next. They include the present County Society grounds, with some modifications of outline, as well as interior arrangement, and an addition to render the area equal to about 30 acres, including a commodious building now in use as a furnace, the engine in which can be employed to move the machinery on exhibition. At the next meeting, which is also to be held in Syracuse, the location of the several erections required will be finally determined upon; and although the grounds possess no features of striking interest, it is believed that the accommodations they will furnish to exhibitors and the public will be fully equal, if not more extensive than in any previous case. The local committee have manifested much de sire to meet the views and necessities of the Society and of the occasion, and several representatives of their number, among them Mr. GEDDES, Col. TITUS and others, accompanied the committee in visiting the grounds. The remainder of a long and busy session was occupied mainly in arranging the list of Judgesthose accepting their appointments in such position being expected to signify the fact to the Secretary before the next meeting, at which vacancies created by non-acceptances will be filled, and the list as then amended, made public. The Secretary and Treasurer were appointed a committee to dispose of the Society's large Tent, for which it has no farther use. Societies or individuals desirous of purchasing an article of the kind, would find it to their interest to address Col. JOHNSON on the subject. We have received from SAYRE & REMINGTON of Utica, one of their excellent cultivators, with patent steel teeth, of which we shall furnish a more particular account when we have given it a practical trial. A GOOD EXAMPLE.-An enterprising citizen of Canastota is ornamenting that village by setting out maple trees along the streets. He has also set apart three acres of his farm for a village park. Such a man is a public benefactor as well as a judicious improver of the value of his own property. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE.-A correspondent writes: "Agriculture and horticulture are taking a high stand in this State. Men of science, wealth, and enterprise are engaged in tilling the soil, and that, too, at a large profit. Land is advancing from 50 to 100 per cent. annually." From a letter which our correspondent furnished for the San Andreas Independent, and a copy of which he has sent us, we shall hereafter present some extracts. The facts and comments it contains on the immense capacities of the soil of California, for tropical fruits and trees and plants, as well as the cereals, the ordinary fruits of the Northern and Middle States, hemp, hops, tobacco, &c., &c., are such as to confirm the opinion we have before expressed, that the golden treasures obtained from her rocks and streams, are not greater than those which her valleys and hillsides may be made to yield, when more attention shall be given to the development of their productive powers. Car COMPARATIVE VALUE OF ROOTS FOR Cows.-A writer in the Conn. State Ag. Transactions, gives, from "a careful experience in winter feeding of milch cows," his judgment of the comparative value of roots. rots promote the richest milk; sugar beets are next best; potatoes follow, and turnips class last in product as to quality, but first as to quantity. They were compared as fed pound for pound. Carrots, he thinks best for small families, where they desire but a small quantity of milk, but of richest quality, and a fat, sleek looking cow. Turnips are the best for those who sell milk, and desire to produce the greatest quantity. Mangold WURZEL.-The great superiority claimed in behalf of this over most other roots, seems to be based mainly on the following facts or considerations: 1. It may be grown on clay and other lands unkindly to the growth of turnips. 2. A greater weight can be obtained of this root than of any other. 3. Mangold is more easily harvested or extracted from the soil. 4. It may be kept much longer in the season than turnips and some other roots. 5. If fed judiciously with other food, it is equal, if not superior, in fattening qualities. It is especially adapted to feeding late in the spring after the turnip has lost most of its nutritious qualities. There is a difference of opinion about the effect of the mangold on ewes with lamb, as with some here about oats, (Co. Gent., April 15.) In moderate quantities, we think it very improbable that either could be injurious. Our worthy friend of the Rural American, copies our remarks from the Co. Gent. of April 29, showing that the Hungarian Grass and German millet are identical, for which we are greatly obliged. He has, however, made one mistake. The foot note which we appended to his letter, he has detached from where we placed it, and applied it to another and entirely different sentence; but this we are bound to suppose was not done with a view to deceive his readers. His comments on our article seem to be intended more as a defence of himself for selling the Hungarian seed at $10 a bushel, than to show that we were wrong, and do not, threfore, require a reply from us. We may add, however, that neither Messrs. Pease & Eggleston or ourselves, were quite as ignorant of the Iowa Hungarian Grass, as he seems to suppose, as we received a quantity of the seed, and a bundle of the grass, and identified it, long before the editor of the Rural American seems to have been aware of its great value, and had we known that he desired to enter into the speculation, we could have informed him last fall where he could have got any quantity of the genuine lowa seed at $2 per bushel. THE BEET SUGAR MANUFACTURE IN FRANCE. From an interesting letter by "an English Farmer in France," in the last London Farmer's Magazine, we glean some facts as to the production and manufacture of this, perhaps, most important of French crops. A complete panic in the sugar trade was then in operation, which had reduced the price of roots from 14 and 18 shillings sterling during the last 4 years, and 21s. in last Oct., to 2s. 6d. per ton in Feb., and after March they would, owing to their age, be worth nothing at all to the sugar maker. But such a state of things is rare, if not altogether unprecedented. The demand, with the present exception, is uniformly good, and the price remunerating. The crop is about 22 tons to the acre, often more-which would be at ordinary prices from $75 to $100, or a still larger sum per acro. "French chemists tell us that the most sugary roots are produced on clay with a deep top-soil, and containing flint." The land requires to be very clean, is plowed very deeply in autumn, well manured and sown from the middle of April to the end of May, with about 8 lbs. of seed per acre, either drilled, or dibbled with the thumb one foot apart, and subsequently thinned out when the plants are are up, to precisely this distance. Frequent hoeings during summer, and the pulling and cleaning when the tops droop and turn brown in Sept., completes the farmer's part of the operation. The white Silesian and a variety of the Silesian with red skin and white flesh, are the kinds most used. The beet crop is a rather more exhaustive one than potatoes, but on the other hand is most of it immediately returned to the soil--the tops and crowns not being carried off to the manufactory, and the farinaceous part of the root which remains in cakes after the saccharine juice is extracted, being re-purchased by the farmer at about 16 cents per cwt., for feeding purposes, for which it is highly esteemed. At the man ufactory the roots are well washed by steam power, macerated by machinery, and will yield in the hydraulic press 180 pints to 2 cwt. One ton of roots will yield 1 cwt. of brown sugar, one quarter cwt. of molasses, and 2 cwt. of refuse for sale to the farmer, the value of all of which is computed at £3 13s. 8d. LARGE CROPS vs. LARGE FARMS.-There is a lesson of wisdom in the suggestion which follows: "If our farmers, instead of laboring to double their acres, would endeavor to double their crops, they would find it a vast saving of time and toil, and an increase of profits." Think of it, you who have spare capital for investment. Does your land produce you good crops now is it up to the maximum of improvement? TIME OF SOWING TURNIPS.-Some facts are given by a correspondent of the N. E. Farmer, showing that late sown turnips succeed much better than early sown. A quantity of ruta baga and other turnip seed, was planted the middle of June on well prepared ground, and carefully tended. They did well for five or six weeks, but then turned yellow and began to rot at the heart-the crop proving a failure. Some of the same seed were sown a month later-left untended for six weeks-and then hoed and lightly dressed with guano. The crop turned out a remarkably fine one. Something like this occurred in our own experience, last season. A HINT.-Systematic labor compared with that without plan or order, accomplishes far more, and does its work with much greater ease to both mental and physical powers. Nor, as many suppose, is sameness and monotony necessarily connected therewith. WAR AGAINST WEEDS.-Pastures are too frequently allowed to grow many weeds-thistles, mulleins, dock, may-weed, etc., occupy space stolen from valuable herbage. Declare war against the intruders; cut, pull, and dig, whenever they appear, and they will soon be exterminated. POTATO CULTURE.-The letter of "J. R." on the culture of the potato-the rot, its causes, and preventives, has been some time. waiting an insertion, and we can now only give a brief extract. He says: I have arrived at the conclusion, from my experience, that the potato disease is caused by a moist warm atmos phere and the presence of some substance in the soil which acts with the atmosphere in the decomposition of the potato, and not in any want of vitality or degeneracy of the seed; and also that a new or virgin soil is most favorable for potatoes-land with plenty of vegetable mold being more favorable to the growth of sound tubers, than land enriched with animal manure. I have used unleached ashes with decided advantage on potatoes, not as preventive to rot, but as a stimulant to growth. In 1846 I used one bushel of ashes on eight rows of potatoes, and got one bushel to the row more than the rows adjoining, or any rows of equal length in the field. They were put on as a top-dressing just as the tops appeared above ground -so that one bushel ashes made eight of potatoes. Some have claimed that ashes are a preventive to the rot, but my experience does not coincide with that theory. In 1857, some of my potatoes rotted badly, while a small patch where I spread some straw the year before, and had no other manure, there was scarcely a rotten one found. The straw mentioned was used for experimenting in raising potatoes on the top of the ground under straw, but the mice destroyed the potatoes under the straw. I think there would have been a fair crop had it not been for the mice. There has been good potatoes raised in that way in this neighborhood. DRAINING INCREASES THE EFFECT OF MANURES. This was shown very satisfactorily on seven acres of wet land, mentioned in a volume of our State Transactions, which, manured annually at the rate of twen ty-five loads to the acre, produced 31 bushels of oats per acre; but after being thoroughly underdrained at a cost of about $60 for the whole, produced the first year without manure, 89 bushels per acre. The increase on a singie crop more than doubly paid all the expense. This is frequently the case, and were it not returned in three or five years, the outlay would still be a profitable one. ILLUMINATED CATALOGUES-EMERY BROTHERS Of this city, are getting out a new Catalogue of their manufactures, which is to be largely illuminated by a great variety of new engravings, got up expressly for it, a specimen of which may be seen in our advertising pages. A CHINESE PEA.-Inclosed I send thee a few peas received last spring from China, by way of California; their habit of growth is the same as the Japan pea, and quite as prolific; they ripen nearly two weeks sooner than the yellow Japan pea. I think it will ripen as far north as Albany. Will thee please give it a trial and let me know the result next fall? WILSON DENNIS. ONTARIO CO. AG. SOCIETY.-This Society, whose Premium List for this year has come to hand, is to hold its next Fair on its grounds in Canandaigua, commencing on the 29th Sept. and continuing three days. All restrictions as to the residence of exhibitors have been abolished, and its prizes are therefore open to all who are disposed to compete for them. THE DELAWARE Co. AG. SOCIETY are to hold their next Fair at Franklin on the 22d and 23d Sept. CHESTER CO. (PA) AG. SOCIETY.-At the annual election for officers of this Society, recently held at West Chester, the following gentlemen were elected : President--ISAAC W. VAN LEER. Vice Presidents-Joseph Dowdall, Dr. J. R. Eshleman, M. B. Hickman, Edward Gheen. Executive Commitee-Lewis Sharpless, Thos. S. Woodward, C. Brinton, Jr., Wm. B. Baldwin, Edwin James Thos. W. Cheyney, Wm. Chalfant, John Hannum, Wellington Hickman, Lewis P. Hoopes. Cor. Sec'y and Treasurer-J. Lacy Darlington. Rec. Secretaries-Jas. H. Bull, Wm. D. Sugar. This Society held its annual spring exhibition of horses on the 4th inst. The display of horses was creditable to the Society, there being about 100 present, and the attendance larger than could have been expected. Notice is given that those who intend to compete for the Society's premium on farms, must have them entered with the Secretary, J. Lacy Darlington, before the 15th of June. THE HORTICULTURIST―This publication has been sold by its late publisher, R P. SMITH of Philadelphia, to C. M. SAXTON of New-York, where it is hereafter to be published, but under the editorship of J. JAY SMITH, as heretofore. Mr. SAXTON's long acquaintance with the publishing business, will afford him many facilities for extending the circulation and influence of the work. PANSIES.-We are indebted to Mr. JAMES HALEY of Cohoes, for a beautiful bouquet of Pansies of a great variety of colors. They were all seedlings raised by Mr. H., and included some very fine blooms. DRILLS VS. HILLS-The Massachusetts Ploughman says that corn, potatoes, and white beans do better planted in hills than in drills. We are not, however, by any means certain that this is the case, the editor's reasons therefor not seeming satisfactory to us. If any of our readers have made careful experiments to test the merits of these two methods of planting, we shall be glad to hear the results. The largest crops of potatoes on record, to our knowledge, were planted in drills, and we think the largest crops of corn ever grown in this State, were also grown in drills, although we have not now time to refer to the reports necessary to decide this point. CORN PLANTING.-Our farmers have been planting corn for the last ten days, and are now pretty generally done, the ground having been in good order for the most part, but just now rather wet. Early planting seems to find favor in this neighborhood, and as far as I have observed there is more manuring done in the hill this season than usual. On land that will bring, under favorable circumstances, fifty bushels of corn per acre without manure of any kind directly, it is still found to be an advantage to use a little of some kind or other in the hill, as it gets the corn out of the way of the birds and worms, and ready for the plow and harrow before the press of other work comes on. Where wheat is sown after corn, a week or ten days gained in this way is a matter of some importance-and all these should be taken into the account in estimating the cost of the manure and labor of putting it on. As to the kind to be used, farmers can consult their own fancy. That which the farm furnishes is generally the cheapest and most reliable, and should not be overlooked for a more costly material. C. Salem Co., N. J. BIRDS-PREPARATION OF SEED CORN.-" A Plea for the Birds" in your paper, causes me to come forward with my plan, which is a plan to receive the benefit of the insect catching propensity of the birds, and a remedy against their corn pulling operations. It is this: As soon as your corn comes up feed the birds. Crows will not, (as far as my experience goes,) pull corn if they are properly fed, and they want feeding but a short time. Two quarts sowed over a field of ten acres, about twice, while the corn is in danger, will supply all that take the privilege of boarding on me; but even if it took a half bushel or a bushel, it would be cheaper by far than exterminating the birds. I tar and plaster my seed at planting, (not gas tar.) I never had any difficulty about my seed coming up. E. 0 JR. TO NERVOUS SUFFERERS. A retired Gentleman having been restored to health in a few days, after many years of nervous suffering, will send (free) to assist others, a copy of the prescription, and a supply of the remedy, on receiving a stamped envelope bearing the applicant's address. Direct to the Rev. JOHN M. DAGNALL, 186 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. May 1-m3t. FOR SALE, THE SHORT HORN BULL" FRANK," bred by Mr. J. F. Sheafe, New-Hamburgh, Dutchess Co., three years old this month. A good stock getter, and from a milking family of Durhams. As we have no further use for him, will be sold at a bargain, if applied for soon. May be seen at Millcove Farm, 2 miles east of Po'keepsie. For pedigree, see Allen's Am. Herd Book, vol. 2 page 148. For further particulars apply to C. N. BEMENT, May 6-w3tmlt Springside, Po'keepsie, N. Y. Nurserymen, Florists, and Agriculturists. AUL BOSSANGE, agent for Louis LEROY of the GRAND JARDIN, Angers, France, begs to announce that he is now fully prepared to execute all orders for Fruit, Forest, and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Flowers, &c. Catalogues of the prices current, embracing shipping and insurance charges, and all other needful information, may be had gratis on application to PAUL May 20-wlam4t PAUL BOSSANGE, 20 Beekman street, New-York MOWERS AND REAPERS. THE Kirby's Patent. HE subscribers are sole agents for this vicinity, for this celebrated machine, which was awarded a Silver Medal at the great National Trial at Syracuse, in July, 1857, by the United States Agricultural Society. It is certainly the cheapest and easiest draft machine now made, weighing only 600 pounds and costing only $100. The most important part of the machine is the independent action of knife bar, which adapts itself to the uneven surface of the field, whether it be ridge or furrow. We have numerous recommendations noting the superiority of this machine over all others, and would respectfully solicit the attention of the farmers to this machine, before purchasing. It is also the best Reaper in the world, as well as the simplest. A Descriptive Pamphlet, with numerous recommendations, will be forwarded by addressing the subscribers. PEASE & EGGLESTON, 84 State-st., Albany, N. Y. April 29-w4tmlt WM. R. PRINCE & Co., Flushing, FFER Dahlias, 350 splendid varieties-dry roots $3assortments, 100 for $12, 50 for $7, 25 for $3.50. 75 new Verbenas, $1.25 per dozen. Double Hollyhocks $2 per dozen. 200 splendid new varieties of Carnations and Picotees, $2 to $2 per dozen. Double and variegated Petunias, Chrysanthemums, 200 varieties, $2 per dozen. Gladiolus, Hemerocallis, Lilies, Fuchsias, Heliotropes, Habrothamnus Splendens, Lantanas, Pansies, Double and Single Primroses, Polyanthus, Auriculas, Cowslip, Geraniums, Phlox and Iris, 200 varieties, $2 per dozen-and fine bedding varieties of every class. Daily and Perpetual, and Climbing Roses, a collection unrivalled in every respect. Dorchester and Lawton Blackberries $10 per 100-Imperial $11. May 6-w&mlt* SCHENECTADY AG. WORKS. ARMERS or others, who have an interest in introdu Fcing the best machinery for Farming purposes, are re quested to notice our improved Endless Chain Horse Powers, for one, two or three horses, in connection with Overshot Threshers and Separators, or Combined Threshers and Winnowers. We have been engaged in the manufacture of this kind of machines for a number of years, and have made improvements which make them equal to the best in use. A Circular, with full description of machines made by us, and list of prices for them, may be had by application to us. G. WESTINGHOUSE & CO., March 25-weow6tm3t Schenectady, N. Y. very first quality, and either bred or imported by himself. R Copies, with the prices marked against such animals as are for sale, may be had by addressing him as above. April 1-w&m3m C. S. WAINWRIGHT. Blood and Wool Manure, OTHWELL'S, in Bags or Barrels, for sale by A. LONGETT, May 1-m3t 34 Cliff-et., New-York. For the Harvest of 1858. The best Combined Reaping and Mowing Machine in use, as endorsed by the United States Agricultural Society. KETCHUM'S Combined Harvester for 1858, With a Reel! HE improvements on this celebrated Machine for 1858 to the public. Among these improvements are the following: 1st. An expanding Reel, very simple, and ingeniously arranged so as to be readily attached, and is propelled by the main shaft. 2d. A new, strong and well-braced guard, which will not clog. 34. An adjustable Roller with a lever, by which the dri. ver, while in his seat, can elevate the finger-bar and hold it in any desired position, for transportation, to pass over obstructions, and to aid in backing or turning corners. 4th. A Roller in the outer shoe, on which the finger-bar rests, which obviates all side draft and very much lessens the direct draft The SIMPLE MOWERS have wrought-iron frames, with all of the other improvements except a Reel. With these improvements the draft of the KETCHUM Machine is as light as any machine known, and by the test with the Dynanometer at Syracuse, by the U. S. Ag. Society last July, the draft of the Reaper was more than one-quarter less than any other of the 13 Reapers on trial. This result is obtained by enlarging the main wheel for Reaping, which lessens the motion of the knives and the actual draft of the machine fully one-quarter. The VERY BEST MATERIAL is used throughout, and no pains or money are spared to make the KETCHUM MACHINE what the farmer needs I Manny's Patent with Wood's Improvement. offer my machine to the Farmers for the coming harT is with much pleasure and renewed confidence, that vest, with all its improvements and increased high reputation as a combined Machine and single Mower. The large sale the past season, and great success at the National Trial of Harvest Implements at Syracuse in July last, where it was awarded one Gold and two Silver Medals, is conclusive to every unprejudiced farmer that it is the most approved machine of the kind in use, and the subscriber begs to say that they will be perfect and complete in workmanship and material, and are offered to them on terms accommodating and suited to the times. With each machine will be furnished two scythes, two extra guards, two extra sections, one extra pinion, and wrench. Warranted capable of cutting from 10 to 15 acres of grass or grain per day, in a workmanlike manner. Price of Machines as heretofore. The Combined Machine varies in price according to width of cut and its adaptation in size and strength to different sections of the country, from $125 to $150, delivered here on the cars. Price of Single Mower, steel Bar...... $115.00 WALTER A. WOOD, Manufacturer and Proprietor, Hoosick Falls, N. Y. April 22-w4ms&mtf Agricultural Books, For sale at the office of the Country Gentleman. |