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' ' - ' V * V V" " m 11' Til gj> 4 wr if 'i A 7 ri rr rii i,' Irl .Hi K A I ? ,\jt A. za mjj 1 1 Jji # . * * * AND .;.V.' ' . FEE DEE FARMER. ^VOLUME IV. "CHBRAWT Wff^'SoAROUMA FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 10. laa'J *?"? f9 EDITOR AS D PROPRIETOR. TERMS: I jj If paid within three months, - - 3 00 | j. It paid within three months afler the close of the year, . 3 50 t< If paid within twelve months after the ti ; olosc of the year, - 4 00 s If not paid within that time, . 5 00 ? A company often persons taking the paper at I the same Post Office, shall be entitled to it at ?1:2 5 ! 5 nrovided the names bo forwarded together, and 1 accompanied by the money. ~ j t No paper to be discontinued but at the option (1 of the editor till arrearages are paid. Advertise meats not exceeding sixteen lines, Jinserted for one dollar the tirst time, and n fifty cents, each uubscquont inoortioii I tJ Persons sending in advertisements are request. v Cu vO specify the number of limes they are to be a ivju'ted; otherwise they will be continued till ordered out, and charged accordingly. r O*Tli0 Postage must be paid on all coramu. c n'cations. a ?? , t f UTILITY Of AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. A national society, for promoiing agri- ^ cultural improvement, was about being or- t ganizd at our last da;es, in Great Britain. ( through the active mnuence o. c. ?ri open- ( cer, the Duke of Richmond, and other dis- j tinguishfd landholders. Tnere already ex- ^ ists a Central Society of Agricul ure, which may in some measure be termed a national { institution. The rapid improvement off j ? Scotch husbandry, under the invigorating ^ influence of he Highland Agricultural So. s ciety, is operating as a powerlul stimulus to the formation of a similar society in Eng. land. The Editor of the-( London) Farmers' Magazine, speaks thus of the matter Attention is at length aroused," savs the ^ editor, "to the remarkable progress which agriculture has made in Scotland, and to { the rents cheerfully paid by the lena.es there, j j although inhering under the disadvantage j L of a more inhospitable climate Tint the ' Scotch are better farmers than the English ( generally, that they flay higher ren's, and ^ that their system of farming is improving daily, are lacts at last unequivocally, though j reluctantly admitted j and the question is .very naturally asked, how has this been effected ? How is it that our northern bre;:i? j jren, laboring under acknowledged disndtnn- | ( tageg, have beaten us in the race ? The , . ! < uu??cj i& yy reuuuiug mt? piuctiie ui, u?u / . improvements effected by, the most talented j nnd skiiffu! agriculturists, to writing, tliere- ( L>y establishing agncul ure as a science, and c again diffusing such information speedily f and widely am ngst the farmers. The ef- j fective attainment of both objecis may be { mainly, if no: nl'ogetber, ascribed to the ex- t ertons of the Highland A gricul ural Socie- { ty. We have been always so deeply im- ( pressed with the high value of this society, 5 that we h ive never failed to hold it up as u > model to all other agriculimal societies. A j like opinion of its utility is rapidly spread- , ing, as well as a desire to become better t acquainted with the system of management f adopted by the Scotch agriculturist." c The editor continues?"An agricultural s society has been formed in Paris, which r communicates wun more man ?i\j\j iutu? su < cieties in diff-rent parts of France, and has t correspondents in ev-Ty part of the kingdom, besides more than fifty correspondents in , almost every part of the world. N w local , societies are in course ol formation daily, .| ploughing mavhes are introduced, a steain j plough has been invented ; and agricultural t schools are established in different parts of j France. The French possess several ex. perimental farms, and the propriety of es. ( tablishing agricultural colleges, for the in- j struction of youth, is strongly urged by the ( best practical writers of the day. At Pe- . tersburgh and Moscow, agricultural colleges j are estsWished. In Prussia, the king espe- | cially patronizes agriculture, and the acade- ' my at Frankfort, upon the estate called Moe- ( gelia, under the superintendence of M. c Thaer, the most scientific agriculturist in the t world, is well known. If we plume ourselves r upon our superior knowledge, and regard 1 with indifference the exertions made by our ; ( neighbors, we shall by and by discover to , our disgrace and shame, and loss, that as in ? the case of the Scotch agriculturists, we j shall have to go abroad for information,"? j' and, tee may add, for bread ! j < Highland Agricultural Society of Scot. j land.?Some unknown friend lias kindly i sent us the Scotsman, printed at Edinburgh, : e several columns of which are occupie J with j i nn account of tho meeting of this society at ! | Dumfries, There were more than two hum t dred cattle entered for premium, of the Gal. i ioway, Short Horn, Ayreshire, and other ! i breeds; more than 500 sheep, besides horses, : t BiuinA -?J - . I?? J ~ MAim'il.. . mnntf ' ? auu uiuer uuiiivsiiu uimii us , ? .*nv i i new implements, seeds, grains, roots, &c. j1 The Messrs. Lawsons, who have one of j 1 the best arranged s'-ed establishments any i f where to he found, and who lnve been justly c commended for their zeal and in getting up i an agricultural museum, exhibited several < new seeds of wheat, barley, oats, &c., which promise to be an acquisition to lius_ ; f bandry; they also exhibited the Rohan po- j i tato. But what strikps us as particularly : | characteristic of Scotland, is the interest | s which the leading men of the nation?the j ( nobility, clergy and men of fortune?take j { in these associations, and tiic encourage- ! \ ment they impart to. them by personal atten- I dance at their meetings, as weil as pecuni- t ary contributions. And we observe, that | on this occasion, many gentlemen, of distin- j f guished agricultural repute, attended from j { England, Ireland, and a deputation from an | * agricultural society in Frarec. ; < available means of AGRICULTURAL I la improvement. i 111 Societies and premiums vere tried in vain n a Germany, to renovate agriculture, says ! 01 dr. Fli'ischman, and so was theoretical i d< arming. "Tne practical farmer, uueduca- ! n: cd and full of prejudice," lie says, "was no: sr. ible to understand the principles of the new i ni ystem ; the man ofscicn ific education had ta 10 experience and knowledge of applying ; c< cience to practice properly and so botn j t'r ailed or improved slowly. At l ist agricul- j tc ural schools were established, and the sci-1 w nee and practice were taught Simultaneous- j si y. "In six years," he continues, "the in- j ai luence of these schools was felt throughout j It tic tvlmlo country." Rotation of Crops s! pas introduced ; the stock was increased s: ,nd improved ; the fertility of the land was si enovated; prejudiced neighbors became onvinced ; they began to imitate, to road, md to think, and in a short space of ume, he old system was abandoned, and the v hrmer soon saw and realized the advanta- c jes ot the science of agricul.ure." j y ??i U..L* to die eslub ishment of atiricul- i o iir.il schools," says our highly intelligent i a ) sogo correspondent, 4,as belonging to an a >arher s ate of tuings than agricultural ex- g nbitions. To him who has made an ad. n ranee," he adds With great truth, "an agri- h ruhural exhibition is a source of mortifica. c ion and a wounding of sell-lov^?[because ri t throws his own labors and skill into tue p >ack ground]?but a school will awaken the 0 pirii of improvement ; and a few young j ti nen going forth from such an establishment j o vill be like a littleleaven in ilie inert mass." ii It requires but little reflection and fore, p light to predict, with great certainty, unless c lorncihing is speedily done, by the people t| md th? people's rep resent a ives, to improve he state of our agriculture, the farmers of; tl Surope will soon supplant?will under-sell j? is?in our own markets, in the products of; fj >ur soil, Wei already find the bread stuffs j y >f Europe and even of Asia, put in requisi. j ion to fi eJ our population. From the low j v >rice of labor in Europe, and particularly | f rom the recent improvements in agricuL j ;| ure, which are doubling and trebling me j p )roducts ofagricul ural labor there, t e de?- b Jarity in the actual cost, to the cultivator p >f these products, is constantly increasing v igainst us. . The veneruble Fellenburgh? p in I may he yet enjoy a longandhappy 0 ife?was the first to demonstrate the utility t< if combining the science with the practice s if agriculture?of making farmers gentle- tl nen, and gentlemen farmers?of combining d ntellectual with physical power, and litera- ; ure with labor?in a school for the educu- j ion of young men. The sagacious Fred-j it'll, king of Prusia, soon saw the advan- ; ages to the sta'e, which were likely to re. i ji ?ult fiom schools like that at HofTWyl, and I f ;oor established ihe great school at Moege. , t in, under the distinguished Timer, and has i c since incorporated its principles into the ! | tommon schools of his kingdom. Bava? ; \ is, Austria, and other of the German states, 1 t tnd France, have since established like j c ichoo's ; Russia has agricultural schools . p lear S:. Petersburgh and Moscow, liberally j indowed and supported by the government; ' r ind even Ireland, it will be seen by the ex- j in ?,,p last ha? started in this noble ' i I (IV* lo wu. :areer of usefulness. The Unit1 d States, j \ vhich should be foremost in efforts to en- I ighten, improve and elevate the agricultural ! v mpulation, will, we fear, be last to establish ( igricultural schools, and tho last to profit by f> heir usefulness. r The only present available means of ac- r :el?'ra;ing the introduction of these schools fc im ng us?for established they ultimately c must and will be?is the ngrieutural press t ?the enlarged circulation of agricultural \ leriodicals among the people. \Vo have c low about twenty of these in our country. \ They are every day increasing the sphere c )f their usefulness, *nd the extwnt of their \ tirculation. They are bringing into notice c he best practice* in husbandry, and pro- r nulgating the principles of agricultural sci- c ;nce. They are producing a salutary p :hangc in the public mind, in regard to the c importance of improving our husbandry; ! ? V _ ! / ind this change will ere long, wo irusi, ue < relt and.manifested in our halls ofK'gislation. , riie sooner the better, for all classes of our ' citizens. j PRUNING FRUIT TREES. | Tli s operation is directed to be performid. by a writer in the Horticuhural Register, n the winter. The common praclice is to aru.ie in the spring. . Both we conceive to je wrong. It is unnecessary ugnin here to ! epeat our reasons, for pruning at mid sum. ' ncr, as we have already twice publ sued hem in the Cultivator. Wo will only add, hat our opinion in this matter is fortified by ! he philosophy and practice of the late Rev. ( [)r. Dwight?(see last Cultivator)?and by ; nhjoru.iiinn nml nrnntiff in oilr UU1 V Cdl J uujui ? | . ... >wn grounds. We prune in ihe last of J une ; c ind first part of July. We earnestly re?-j :onnnenda trial of the practice. j i The objects of pruning are at least three | ( bid. We trim shade trees to produce sym- j < netry cf form. We trim forest trees to j < produce a handsome and valuable bole, or \ item, for timber. And we prune fruit trees i or the double purpose of giving them a i ;oo l shape, and of inducing them to bear! I well. To the pomologist that shape is most! i tandsome, in a fruit tree, which indicates j; he best bearing qualities. It is remarked, j \ Particularly of the apple, that upi ight shoots j ; produce less abundantly than those which i jrow horizontal, or deviate materially from I < in upright form. Hence, in forming the head i ?f a young app!0 free, i if ens^marv fo , ' I aaai igaiam _ ,kc out the upright shoot, when the tree us attained a proper height, say seven to inc feet, and to leave three or four laterals r limbs to form the head. And as pruning j >es not increase tne quantity of-wood, but J is a different tendency and effect, by les- | tning the leaves, which are the organs of. utrition, the upright snoot should not be lien out until the .erals have acquired >nsidcrab!e wood and foliage. In pruning uu trees, all limbs which arc likely to in- i rlerc wi h each other, should be taken out I hile they are small. The head of the tree j iou!d be kept op 11, so as to admit light | id air, ess<-n iul to the maturity of the fruit. 1 pruning all trees in the nursery, the limbs ; lould ho l?'l't ajvy.tys uj>cr? one-third of ihe em, that is, onlv 'wo-inirds of 'he stem lould be denuded of limbs. THE MAIN OBJECTS ? " ^ . 1 A ? 1 'i UF farming are, or siioutu De, twQ 101a, < z : 1st the greatest nert profit with refer. < nee, however, 2cily, to the improvement, ( r at least to the preservation of the fertility 11 f the so I. He tout wears out his land, by' parsimonious stinting of manure and labor, [ nd riose cropping, wit'i a view to present i a/n, may be compared to the intemperate lan who parts wi ll his last cow, that fed is family, to gratify intemperate indulgenies. Wmlegood land pays always a liberal cward to lanor, poor lanl often beggars its roprietor The fault is often admitted, that ur fanners cultivated too much land to culvateitwell; that they are pursimoneous f their expenditure to put it and to keep it 1 good order; and that they rely more upon ropitious seasons, good luck, and the spend bounties of Providence, for yood crops, lan they do upon judicious management -upon the capital and labor employed in le improvement of th'dr grounds. There i no sounder maxim for the guidance of the irmer, than that which teaches?"what ou do. do well." Among our extracts in this day's paper, j jll be found a communication from "A j lampshire Farmer," which we copy from j l.e Farmers' Magazine, contrasting the i rofits of ihe old and new system of hus- j andry, not only as verfied in his own ; ractice, but in that of Von Thaer, whom vv agree with the writer in pronouncing ire-eminent in both the theory and practice ?f agriculture. And we beg our readers a mark the result :?"On the improve, ystem the expense of cultivation is double; he gross product is trifle ; the nett proluce is QUADRUPLE! From the pe??ejrivama Intelligencer. the silk business. We arc not engaged directly or indirectly j n the silk business?the only interest we j eel in it is that which every friend ofAmeri- I :an manufactures, industry and prosperity, ( >ught to feel. Hence we speak without | laving in view a private 'speculation,' when j ve declare it to be our opinion that the lusiness will do a vast deal of good in our :ountry, by furnishing employment to many >oor people of both sex* s, and by keeping n th?' United States an immense amount of noney which now annually goes out ofthem. rne 'morus mu!ticuulis fever,' as it ia called, o nr.117 lmr? -ill/ and the best effects J IIU'. ..J vill flow from it. Many persons ?oeer at morus.mullicaulis,' and perhaps shrewdly varn their neighbours against 'burning their ingers;' bu' th?-y who sneer are they who ire -gnorant e tough of the tree and silk busiiess to deserve to be sneered at. Indeed nany cannot comprehend, for lacl. of mowledge, why it is that there is so much ixcitement all at once on the subject of silk; he mutter, howevei, is easily explained.? iVith other varieties of the mulberry it re. juires six years to produce an orchard from vhi h to f. ?d worms; whereas, an orchard >f morus njulticaulis can be reared almost n six weeks, and in addt ion to this property >f the plant it multiplies exceedingly well? it least twenty per ceu.. and Irequontly in | rvmnli hstavior t/ih-r The nresent hiuli I Illuon ....... _ , t, jrices of the tree cannot be expected to hold >ut more than two or three years at farthest ?:hey are fictitr us, and must ultimately 'all, because the increase will in a short time j iilly meet the demand. Many fortunes lave been and will be made in the business if growing trees for sale, and the man must >e very unfit for any dealings who can conrive to lose at it: for when the time arrives hat lie cannot dispose of his trees at leust at ?rices to save himaelf, he can realize a profit >y using them (or the feeding of worms.? j 7orthis reason the present'speculation'(and i t is a specu ntion) in the trte growing busiiess, may be regarded as singularly for-1 unate for the conntry?it must end, not n a general bursting of the bubule, but in lie rearing und laeding of worma and the eeling of silk for home consumption and for ?Xportation also. \Y c cut the following calculation from >ne of our exchange papers. 'Suppose that out of fifteen millions of r?t-?oImt?,nfc in fho TIniti-rt Smtp*. ene million )f them compose that useful and worthy :lass called farmers. Suppose again that mly onc-half of them would devo:e six rocks ever)' year to raise a few thousand silk worms. Persons well acquainted with :he art of silk growing will assure you that .he poorest farmer, having a few hundred mulberry trees properly cultivated, having ,i houss, however small, anil an industrious wife, may, with the least trouble and without my extra expense, give a crop of at leas: 100 lbs. of cocoons. This minimum obtained from 500,000 farmers throughout be Union, would give us an annual produc. tin;) of 50,000,000 tpo, of eoronns, or an " ii i naiia MIIIi hiiii average of6,550,000 lbs. of raw silk, winch, at the low price of $4 a pound, would realize an annuai production of $25,000,000! Thi s is not un extravagant calculatioi:, nor one of those ridiculous exaggerations' which one often meets in certain speeches and addresses, in which the most fantastical prospects arc offered to a credulous audience. It is a calculation founded on what happens ia every place where the culture of silk is considered a branch cf husbandry and a 90jrceof general welfare. 'luJt^iy you could hardly find a peasant, in thy months of May and June, whose hut doesf not contain from 58.000 to 200,000 silkworms, bv which ho will be able to pay thtfAaent of his dwelling and many other expenses incurred during the whole year.? There is no doubt that what is done on a small scale 0y the poorest and most ignorant labourers in Europe might be easily and extensively undertaken by A/.ierican farmers. whose resources and better accommo. elation would afford greater facilities and better success.* From the Silk Journal. Extract of a letterfrom a friend, near El)L ton, Md. 'I have only to-day returned from Phila. delphia. I conversed with an intelligent gentleman from Missouri, upon the subject ofrhe cultivation of the silk, and asked his opinion as to what would be the fate of the morus the coming fall?he assured me it was his opinion they would maintain high prices, and in confirmation of his opinion, shewed mt a Missouri (St. Louis) paper, in which it was evident great interest and zeal was manifested on the subject?he also gave it as his opinion, that the coming fall crop would not supply the demands of Kentucky and Missouri. 1 confess he made mo & convert to his opinions, and did not my lew vocation call me elsewhere, 1 would plant largely. the tu1nip flea. Our correspondents make groat comDlaint of the depredations of the turnip flea, and ask us to prescribe a preventive. This insect is in length nearly the eighth of an inch ; smooth, shining and of a brass} black colour, with a slight tinge of green, particularly on the wing oases. This little inseel preys upon several species of plants, as cabbages, radishes, but js particularly food 01 the turnip, which it attacks both >n its per K-ct and larvae state. It is principally destiuctive when the plants are in the seminal orfirsi4?af, and are tender. When the second leaves are unfolded, and the planU haw acquired strength their d-predatiuns are comparatively insignificant upon the leatcs, though they continue, in their larva state, to prey upon and injure the roots.? They are extremely voracious, an.individ. uul consuming, as has been ascertained, ter young turnips in a day. In Britain, when lifrfTO are from 60 to 100 acres of turnips 01 j a farm, they cause immense losses. The; ; afbrd evidence, that there are few plea, i sixes or prefits without alloy, and seem ti be a means of inciting man to constan hmlthful industry and vigilance. There have been many receipts publisliet ; asa preventive of the evils inflicted by thii ' pi^my enemy of our crops ; but hitherto al seen to have failed of producing the de sired effect. Among other applications tc tlx seed, oil, brine and sulphur have beet as<d, sometimes with apparent success I on! one farmer completely saved his crop; , for fifteen years, by keeping the seed some j ture previous to sowing, among a quantity ' of Jour of sulphur, and sowing the sulphui alaig with tne seed. In this way the juice; of lie plant might he tainted by absorption so that the insect had no relish for it. The best remedies for the evil seem t( be: 1. To have the ground well preparec acd rich, so as to insure a vigorous growl! to the young plants. j 2. To sow thick, that a part may at leas have a chance to escape the flea,?and tlx crop being thinned at the first hoeing. Ant it has been found effectual to sow thick ui extra row between every two rows inten ded for the crop?the thick sown beinj ovn npoTpprpfl Iw the flea, ant IliUlU IUIUCI ) HIV. |/1 V. .W. . ? J r may be extirpated by the cultivator at thi first dressing,?the extra seed and labo bearing no proportion to the value of th< crop. 3. And principally, reliance must be had j when the young plants are threatened, 01 j dusting the plants with some kind of powder ( Soot, ashes, gypsum, &<\ have been use< j for this purpose, "but there can be no doubt,' ! says the Quarterly, "that by far the mos j useful application of this kind is quick j lime." ; The Doncaster Agricultural Association j which has rendered the mos* esscytial ser vice to the agricultural world by its labor and publications, has given to this subjec the best attention ; and has concentratec ; by their queriet, the experience and ira | provemcnts of more than one hundred prac J tical farmers, on the means of averting th j evils induced the turnip flea. From thi J information, they have prescribed certai : rulqs of prevention, from which we take th j following, as particularly adapted to oi i practice : j "Most effectually to insure the speed I growth of the plant, the land should be Ifej in the best possible state of cultivation. "The system of ridging the land, wit manure under the rows, and dulling on th ridges, should be adopted in every possib case. ' The nT"^t fivorab'e opprr!,?rv!y f"r ridj iug should be chosen, and it ought to 1)9 particularly observed, that the land be not i ridged in too dry a state. "As soon as the land is opened for ma- : j nure, it ought to be laid in, the ridges I formed, and the seed drilled immediately, h ! Tie quicker these operations follow each ! other, the greater chance there is of a good ' crop. I "The manure chosen should bo adopted ; to the soil, and such as is likely to insure the i 1 speedy growth of the young plan', and a full j quantity ought to be allowed. 1 "The seed should not be deposited in the | manure, but the manure thinly covered with soil, and the seed drilled in this soil. very liberal allowance of seed ought to be given, as much as 3 lbs. ox 4 lbs. the acre for drill, and 6 lbs. or 7 lbs, for broad, cast, and the seed should be of one year's growth. "As soon as the plant appears above ground, it should be dusted with quick-lime, and this repeated as quick as rain or wind beats it off, and the fly reappears." We will only add that wo spread our manure, drili upon the level surface, and, in eighieen years' practice, have never made any topical application, and yet have never failed in obtaining a fair crop of turnips. THE TURNIP FLY, Has been uncommonly destructive this I year to the ruta baga crop. It seems to bo ! confidently affirmed, in some of the European agricultural Journals, that sulphur, or brimesione, may be effectually employed as a preventive. One mode of using it is, slightly to moisten the seed and roll it in sulphur, previous to sowing. The other, i to keep the seed for some time in sulphur, ; and to sow the sulphur with the seed, it is affirmed, that the young plants in this way become so strongly impregnated with the sulphur, that the fly will not touch thena.? Sulphur is so extremely subtile, that it is j known to diffuse itself, in a very short time. ! through the vegetable, as well as the animal J system ; and it is known to be obnoxious or destructive to the whole race of insects. The turnip seed imbibes it, and imparts it, ! with the sap, to the young plumule, or stem. Although the prescription is now out of sea, son, it should be laid by for trialthe sowt ing season. rQ.inl.i. cnaJ /-.n tVlO OT mr> ffrrtllll/t anil > LOUlYUIg tauioii SVkU VII MIW uuiuv c ?? f at the 6ame time with the turnip seed has been found to answer. The worms are said to pre" ' fer the radish, and to confine themeelvei to * this plant till the turnip is so large as not to be 5 injured by them; after which the radish may | be pulled up. Co. C. Gazette.J \ From the Cultivator of November 1838. The English Agricultural Society?a national institution?wus organized in Lon. , don in June, under Earl Spencer as presi2 dent, twelve trustees and eleven vice?presL , dents, all belonging to the nobility or to y parliament. We mention this latter circum* stance merely to show, that the first men in 'j the British empire are the4ardent active adl vocates of agricultural improvement; and are devoting their means to its advance.. \ ment;?and in the hope, too that their ex. s i ample may have a benign influence upon j : the great men of our country, in inducing them to become active and liberal promo} ters of improvement in the great branch of j national industry, and primary source of . national wealth. They may be assured 5 that they can hardly render, in any other way, a more enduring service to their coun. r try, or to its civil institutions. r Among the avowed objects of this socie. 4 ty, are the following, which we copy for the f particular information of our statesmen, ana for the benefit of our readers generally, as , indicating some of the prominent means of improvement. These objects are, j "1. To embody such information con} : tained in agricultural publications, and in other scientific works, as lias been proved 1 by practical experience to be useful to the ? cultivators of the soil. j "2. To correspond with the agricultural, 2 horticultural, and other scientific societies, at home and abroad, and to select from such , correspondence, all information which, acj cording to the opinion of the society, is likely 21 to lead to practical benefit in the cultivation r j of the soil. 2 | ''3. To repay any occupier of land, or j other person who shall undertake, at the |f! request of the society, to try any experiment rj J how far such information leads to useful re.. j suits in practice, any, loss that he may in j I cur by so doing. *I "4. To encourage men of science in the t improvement of agricultural implements, . the construction of farm buildings and cottages, the application of chemistry to the t general purposes of agriculture, the destruc. . tion of insects injurious to vegetable life, s and the eradication of weeds. "5. To promote the discovery of new varieties of gruin, and other vegetables use. i. ful to man, or for the food of domestic ani.. mals. e "6. To collect information with regard is ! to the management of woods, plantations n and fences, and on every o her subject cone ' nected with rural improvement. Ir j "7. To take measures to improve the edu.r i/non the CUiti I CClllOfl OJ lliusc UJIIU jyiy.?.v .~g y J vadon of the soil for their support.* i "8. To take measures for improving the I veterinary art, as applied to cattle, sheep I, i and pigs. te j |c I *We would add, as applicable to our own con| dition "and upon whom tne state must ever dc. j pend for tho perpetuity of its civil and religious J* j freedom " "9. By the distribution of prizes, aod by other means, to encourage the best mode of farm cultivation, and the breeds of live stock." Among the rules of the society, it is deM clured to be a fundamental one, that no questions of a political tendency -shall be discussed at its nv.;ctings. Among the prizes for essays, is one of 50 sovereigns= to $220 "for the best account of the improvements which have taken place in the agriculture of Scotland since the formation of the Highland Socic iy." Premiums of ten and twonty sovereigns are also offered for the best essays, verified by practice upon the folk wing subjects; "1. BestfifWe ofkwping roots; 2. Subsoil or trench ploughing ; 3. Transportation and admixture of soils ; 4. Insects prejudicial to pknti; 5. The black caterpillar which destroys tar. nips; 6. Application of mechanical power ; 7. Two horse ploughs; 8. Spring food?corn?grasses?vetches'; 9 Rotation of crops; 10. Best mode of annalyzing soi s ; 11. Irrigation; 12. Plantations ; 13. Underwood; 14. Varieties of grain ; 15. Economical keep of farm horses; 16. Improved rural economy abroad , 17. Stall feeding on the continent; 18. On the diseases of plants." This society embraces 186 governoife, that is, subscribers who pay ?5, equal to i niiuuaiiy. All of these ma tiers, it will be readi !y seen, have a strong bearing upon improvement in agriculture,?tboy aim at subslan. tial and permanent improvement?and will afford useful suggestions, to our agricultural societies, in the bestowment of their awards. From the Cultivator. SIX4UUK EFFECTS OF GYFSU0. J. Buel, Esq.?Sir?No doubt you are pleased to hear any remarks that wilt bene* fit the agricultural community. 1 therefore remark, that on Saturday the 16th of this month, we commenced applying gypsum to our corn; we commenced lats in the afar, noon, and only plastered about one-third of the field, which contains about 4 1-3 acres. 1 he ground was dry wnen we applied tne I gypsum. On Sunday, we had a very heavy shower. On Monday we plastered the to. mainder of the field. There was a drain that led from the highway into the fitkt, which conducted the water Into it. A ft* perches of the land were ia puddles; bit when the last plaster was applied, the water had subsided, but yet the ground was soft where the water had stood ; in thobe spoti we soon after discovered that the corn wfcl evidently perished! and all over that part of the field last plastered turned yellow*, ceased to grow, and now looks miserable^ That part first plastered looks black, thrifty;, and is twice the length of the latter! it ii to me a full evidence, that gypsum applied to wet, or moist land is a damage in lieu of a benefit i and never ought to be applied ti. corn after a rain, until the ground gets dry and warm. It is proper to observe, that life two parts of the field are about as equal as to moisfness as you will find generally ina high, hilly land; not any of it wet, but drj land. The odd appearance of the corn commencing at a row, and continuing through (he field, is so conspicuous that people travelling by, will stop, wonder and av i i - ? i inquire, ino aouoi k is generally unaerstood by farmm-s, at least by those who have read the Cultivator, that gypsum is a damage applied to wet, or moist land.* The circumstance of the application of it, evi. dently proves, that it never ought to be applied, even on the dryest land, even in time of a drought, when there has been a dew during the night, until the grass, if applied to mowing or pasture lands, or grain, until the dew be wholly evaporated from the earth. 1 should say not till afternoon. I am convinced the usual practice of applying it promiscuously, is the case of farmers saying that it will uot have the same .&><-? every year. It is common to cotrr.^uco arly in the morning, before the wir.d rises, and also to escape the heat of the sun, having no consideration to moist effect. Henceforth I shall never apply it-eidy lb* ground is dry and warm. I am, sir, yours respectfully, JN. SEEL YE. Sherman, Connecticut, June 25,1888. * We havo net supposed that gypsom is a damage to wet ground, but merely that it pro. duced no benefit.?C. Cult. - ? m tr r Contents of Farmers' Kegister, no. % vcVII. Original Communications. Experiment with M try land twin-corn. Essay on Vegetable Physiology. On the improv mentofland dj hme. Cttltiva. tion of corn. Eastern Virginia. Successful mode of keepiug sweet potatoca. The country of Fluvanna. On the importance of calcareous soil fbr grape and mulberry culrure. Olla Podrida. Alleged effects of slavery oh the agriculture of Virginia. Comparison of the agricultural management and economy of Virginia and New England. " r ... r.c William Bcrke tie uu ino tiiuisuci u. ? ? ? ley. ' . Plan of a cocoonery and fixtures for the spinning of silk.worms. The twin or okra cotton. ' Loin distemper in hogs. Conditions of the Farmers' Register. Monthly commercial report. Selections. i Irrigation of Lombardf. pemperatorc of Ita^y.