WHERE DOES ALL THE CORN GO TO? posed of by sending it off to feed our hungry brethWhen we read of the twenty-five thousand bush-ren across the water. We have no idea that this is els of corn raised in a single year, by Mr. ELLS- any thing like the true amount sent out of the WORTH, in Indiana, and of the ten, fifteen, twen- country; but if it is, it is only a moiety of the ty, and twenty-five hundred barrels produced on whole amount expended. single plantations or farms in Virginia or Ohio, Corn meal has now become an article of food beside the vast aggregate from the smaller plantain almost all families of the county, so that vast tions and farms scattered through the land, well quantities are required for this purpose; then look may we inquire, "where can it all go to?" at the immense amount fed to horses, cattle, swine, On looking at the pages of the "United States poultry and sheep. There is scarcely a town in Economist," a most valuable paper printed at New New England but uses its six to ten thousand bushYork, and principally devoted to money matters, els a year, of southern corn, in addition to the commerce, manufactures and state of the markets, products of its own acres, and then must be added we find at least a partial solution to the question. the vast amount used for distillation. lows: This paper gives a statement of the corn shipped Even in New England, the corn crop is an easy from the port of New York within the short and profitable one to raise, with a ready market space of two weeks ending March 11, 1854, as fol- at the door of any farmer who produces it. War or no war, a large surplus beyond our own wants will be needed; in this view it becomes us as farmers, to see if we cannot produce enough for our own wants and keep our cash for some other purposes than expending it for corn. To Liverpool, To Belfast, To Queenstown, To Glasgow, To London, To British N. A. Colonies, To British West Indies, To Cuba, 305,738 bushels. From Philadelphia, mostly to Liverpool: Corn, 302,037 bushels. .6 66 66 66 Corn Meal, 63,236 bushels. We subjoin the following table as affording at a glance the amount exported in a single week, and also the aggregate since Jan. 1. Comparatively little is sent from the Southern ports, most of it being first brought North, and re-shipped to foreign ports. Exports of Corn from New York to foreign ports for the week ending March 9, 1854, compared with the corresponding week of last year: ToLiverpoool, Glasgow, Belfast, 8,980 5,927 Havre, 3,803 British West Indies, New Grenada, 3,650 WELLS' PATENT GRASS SEED SOWER. The above represents the mode of operating a very desirable and ingenious hand-implement for sowing grass seed. It is a simple hopper with a zinc bottom perforated with holes, of equal size and distance apart; the seed is distributed by means of a flat rod on the bottom, extending from one end to the other, with notches corresponding with the holes in the zinc, and notched on each side, which keeps the seed in motion, and equally divided from one end to the other. It is worked by a small lever on the side, to which is attached guage by which the machine can be regulated to Sow any quantity desired; it sows the seed very Now if we multiply the amount sent from the accurately, is not liable to get out of order, and is single port of New York in one week by the 52 neat, simple and cheap. It is very useful to the weeks in a year, we shall have the enormous amount farmer, for the easy, rapid and perfect performance of eight millions and eight thousand bushels sent of a labor otherwise very difficult. Price $4. from a single port in one year! Then we have gathered above, that, the sum of FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF 444,481 bushels have been sent from the ports of THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.-We have examBaltimore, Philadelphia and Boston, in about two ined this Report sufficiently to come to the opinion weeks, which, multiplied by 26, half of the weeks that it is the most valuable document that has yet in the year, would give an aggregate of eleven mil-been issued i this State, on agricultural subjects. lion, five hundred and fifty-six thousand, five hun-It is written in a clear and comprehensive style, dred and six bushels, making 19,664,506 bushels dis-landi a phraseology so plain and direct that no one will find difficulty in understanding all its parts. We shall improve the earliest moment to speak of it more at length and give the reader extracts from its pages. Mr. Secretary FLINT has done himself great credit in the production of this Report, and the document is an honor to the State under whose auspices it has been produced. For the New England Farmer. BEE-CULTURE--No. 3. Another obstacle to tee-culture consists in the destruction of the bees by the bee-keeper. This cruel and barbarous custom still prevails to a greater or less extent in almost every portion of the country. It necessarily prevents the legitimate and natural increase of colonies, and limits greatly the profits which might otherwise be derived from them. This has been done under the mistaken apprehension that this procedure becomes necessary in order to secure the avails of their labor. This policy is about as wise as it would be for the poultry-keeper to destroy his fowls in order to get possession of the eggs which are found within, or it reminds one of the woman who, as the Latin fable relates, had in her possession a hen, which laid daily a golden egg, and being somewhat avaricious in her tendency, killed the hen hoping to come into possession of all the golden eggs at once. The case is this, in most instances there is a destruction of bees to the value of $5,00 in order to secure three or four dollars worth of honey. In many instances the ratio of profit is much less than this, and it is profit the backward way. This mode of procedure does not pertain to any successful system of bee-culture. How very different the result, in a series of years, when all the increase is kept alive and kept at work. THE BEE AND THE CRICKET. BY GEORGE KENT. A Bee, one day, in arbor lay, Or rather was fond of humming; The work as drudge he thought "all fudge”— Twas summer time, each in his prime, One bent on mirth and pleasure; Wise to provide, the other plied His task, for winter's treasure. And Autumn brought "Jack Frost ;" Of time to count the cost. The Bee could show of cells a row Of well-filled sweetest honey; The winter came-for very shame, The Bee was hived, and joyous thrived, Among his friends his winter spends Now which, think you, on sober view, If you have doubt, don't find it oat Little Pilgrim. For the New England Farmer. WHY DON'T THE BUTTER COME. MR. EDITOR-I notice the inquiry of JOSEPH Another obstacle to bee-culture is found in the have had similar trials in years past, but since H. WELLS as above, and will say we Vermonters reluctance of very many persons to engage in the the introduction of O. R. Fyler's Patent Butter enterprise. Working Churn, those things have passed away. I This reluctance has its origin in fear. It arises from the fact that bees are furnished with a little sand of these churns were sold to the farmers in Veram informed from good authority, that one thouformidable weapon of defence, whose sharp point mont, last season. I have seen a list of more than is much dreaded by those who are very imperfect- three hundred farmers that use them, all speaking ly acquainted with them, but very little dreaded in high terms of them, not only to churn, but to by the experienced apiarian. He knows that it work and salt the butter; the cream is broken four is merely a weapon of defence, and not one which times each revolution, and they will churn any is used in sport. It is employed only in desperate cream that can be churned in short order. This cases, or those which are considered desperate, in churn is a new patent, only about one year and a which they are willing to die in the conflict. The half old, and no rights have been in the market, bee when it stings leaves its sting in the wound, but we are told there will be this year. The reand the extremity of the abdomen is torn off with tail price is, 4, 5, 6, 74 dollars, and if friend Wells it, and he dies soon after. The experienced apia- will send me any of the above sums, I will send rian gives his bees to understand early, by very one of those churns; and if he is jealous of strang cautious and gentle management at first, that they ers, and will give me his address, I will send are not to be harmed by any of his manipulations, him one, and if it don't do the work he wants, In other words, his bees soon become accustomed may only pay expenses of transportation. to his presence and are not annoyed by it, and are HENRY HOLMES. not tempted to use upon him their weapons of defence. Hence his fears are at an end. He finds his bees are domesticated or rendered manageable in the same way and upon the same principle as any other creature which is subject to his control, This society has elected the Hon. John Brooks, of viz: by familiarity, gently conducted at first, and often repeated, until they are no longer strangers, and there is no longer any trouble. North Bridgewater, Mass. Grafton, Vt., Feb. 20, 1854. WORCESTER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Princeton, a member of the State Board of Agriculture, in place of Harvey Dodge, Esq., of Sutton, whose term had expired. THE CONCORD GRAPE. "The Concord grape, as I said before, is a strong Long ago impressed with the opinion that our grower; the wood strong, the foliage large, thick, native grape was capable of being greatly ameli- strongly nerved, with a woolly under-surface, and orated and improved, through the seeds, Mr. has never mildewed nor rusted under any vicissi E. W. Bull turned his attention to their production, tudes of weather. and now has growing more than 2000 seedling "The grape is large, frequently an inch in diamplants, from some of which he hopes even to beat eter, and the bunches handsome, shouldered, and himself. It will take a long time to prove them sometimes weigh a pound. In color it is a ruddy all, but the result cannot be otherwise than im- black, covered with a dense blue bloom, the skin portant; for the natural habit of the vine once very thin, the juice abundant, with a sweet arochanged or broken, variation takes place in such a matic flavor, and it has very little pulp. manner that no opinion can be formed of the "It ripens the 10th of September. The first product. His success in raising the Concord ripe bunch of the season was exhibited at the MasGrape is the best proof of this. sachusetts Horticultural Society's Room, on the Mr. Bull has given a brief history of this new 3d of September, 1853. The vine was neither variety, and it will be noticed that he calls it a pruned nor pinched, nor had application of any of seedling from our native grape of the second the horticultural arts, whereby precocity and size generation. It is this; some years ago he found a are attained, my object being to ascertain what chance seedling growing upon his grounds near would be the constant habit of the vine I suppose a wall; as there are no wild grapes in the near that its quality would be much improved in a more vicinity of his place, he removed it to his garden, favorable climate, and that its superiority to the where he watched it with some care, and gave Isabella would be as apparent under such circumit good cultivation. In a year or two it produced stances as it is here. a few bunches of fruit, ripening as early as the "The great want of the country in this latitude last part of August, and remarkably sweet and is a good table and wine grape, which shall also free from the foxy flavor of the wild type. The be early, hardy, and prolific. The Concord Grape idea at once occurred to him that another gener- fulfils these conditions, and I feel a sincere pleaation would be a still greater improvement, and a sure in offering it to my countrymen. E. W. BULL." parcel of seeds was saved for planting. His anticipations have been fully realized; the Concord We close our account of the Concord Grape Grape was the produce of these seeds. We annex with a more full description. Mr. Bull's account of the origin of his vine. Concord, Mass., January, 1854. I have no doubt it will. Magazine. For the New England Farmer. Bunch, large, long, neither compact nor loose, handsomely shouldered; Berries, roundish, large, "I send you the history of the Concord Grape, three-quarters of an inch in diameter, sometimes which you desired for your excellent Magazine. I have by no means said all that can be said for it, with a thick blue bloom; Flesh, very juicy, nearly measuring an inch; Skin, thin, very dark, covered my desire being to have it come fully up to the or quite free from pulp; Flavor, rich saccharine, expectations of those who may cultivate it, which and sprightly, with much of the delicious aroma "I believe I have before stated to you that my wood; Leaves, very large, thick, strongly nerved, of the Catawba; Vine, very vigorous, making strong vine is growing on a poor sandy loam, overlaying not much lobed, and woolly beneath.-Hovey's gravel, which has not been trenched and but slightly manured; add to this, the late spring and early autumn frosts, which we are liable to in this deep valley of Concord, and the summer droughts, which are very severe with me, and I ERROR IN JUDGMENT. think you will conclude with me that it will be MR. EDITOR: It was recently urged, by an emlikely to keep up to its character under almost inent gentleman, President or Vice President of any circumstances. And here let me say that I have cultivated the that deep plowing and thorough pulverization was one of our County Agricultural Societies I believe, Isabella, and many other kinds of grape, for fif- all that was necessary to be done, to prepare land teen years, without being able to ripen them in for a crop ;-and that no benefit whatever accrued open culture, and it was this constant failure which from the application of manures. led me, ten years since, to raise seedlings from this, he said he had grown four acres of corn the In proof of our native grapes, in the hope that I should obtain last season, that yielded forty-four bushels to the a hardy grape that would give me a sure supply acre, (fair measure,) by this manner of cultivation. for my tables. In this I have succeeded beyond I fully credit his statement. Now, sir, suppose my expectations. The Concord Grape is a seedling, in the second would he not probably have had fifty per cent. four cords of manure had been applied to the acre, generation, of our native grape, and fruited for the first time four years since, being at that time much better condition for the production of grass, more corn; and would not his land have been in a the only seedling I had raised which showed a de- for half a dozen years to come? cided improvement of the wild type. The putting for"Notwithstanding its unfavorable position, it ward such statements, by men of high standing has proved a great grower and bearer, and very peculiar circumstances, perhaps, a fair crop can be in the community, does much harm. Under very constant to its quality and season. The seedling from which the Concord was raised grew near to begin to justify the omission of its application. grown without manure; but such crops will not a Catawba, and, it is quite possible, was impreg- And whoever concludes that it will, errs in judgnated by it, it having the flavor of that variety. ment. The parent vine was a good and sweet grape, Feb. 22, 1854. large, black, and ripe the 20th of August. IMPROVEMENT OF THE DAIRY. LEXINGTON, JAN. 9, 1854. To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for tention which was due alike to its subject and its source. At the last meeting of the Board, the undersigned were appointed a Committee to communicate to you the conclusion to which the Trustees GENTLEMEN—In a communication which I have had come, with full powers to arrange all the just received from the Hon. E. R. Hoar, late details which might be necessary for carrying President of the Middlesex Agricultural Society, their views into effect. he informs me that he had a conversation some You have done the Trustees of the State Society weeks ago with one of the members of your Board, no more than justice in saying that "they have in regard to the mode in which the State Society directed their attention for many years past to the could best promote agricultural improvements, advancement of that important part of Agriculthrough the agency of the County Societies; and ture which pertains to the Dairy." They deem that he then suggested, that if the Trustees of the no department of husbandry more interesting or State Society had funds which they could spare more important, and they will gladly avail themfor the purpose, it might be well for them to selves of the suggestions of experienced farmers, divide the State into districts, perhaps four in in doing whatever more may be in their power in number; the Western Counties one, Worcester the same directions. and Norfolk one, the Southern Counties one, and With this view, and in conformity with the Essex and Middlesex the fourth; that should the general ideas of yourself and Judge Hoar, they sum appropriated admit of it, $150 should be have authorized and instructed the undersigned to offered in each district as premiums for the best select four counties in different quarte:s of the dairy of cows, not less than six in number, which Commonwealth, in which premiums for the best should have been owned for five months previous dairy cows shall be offered by the State Society to the cattle show by the exhibitor, divided into during the present year, and they have approthree premiums of $75, $50, and $25, open to priated the sum of six hundred dollars for the competition to any person in either of the coun- purpose. Should the result of this experiment ties composing the district, and offering it in fulfil the expectations which they are encouraged Middlesex this year, and in Essex next, or vice to form, it is not improbable that a similar course versa, and in like manner in each of the other will be pursued in the other counties in succeeding years. districts. For the best dairy of cows, not less than six in number, and which shall have been owned by the exhibitor and kept within the county not less than five months previous to the Cattle Show, $75. In case the funds of the Society would admit For the present, however, we are authorized to of offering only $100 to each district, in premiums announce to you, and through you to the farmers of $60, $30 and $20, or in two premiums of $60 of Middlesex, and other parts of the State, that and $40, it might be proportionably useful. the Agricultural Societies of Middlesex, Berkshire, The foregoing plan presents a mode of offering Worcester and Bristol, are hereby severally empremiums, which if not entirely new, has been powered by the Trustees of the State Society, adopted only to quite a limited extent, by any of to offer the following premiums for the present our agricultural societies. The object is one of year, and to call upon our Treasurer for their great importance: the advancement of that impor- payment, viz :— tant branch of agriculture which pertains to the dairy. Hitherto the attention of agriculturists has been mainly directed to improved modes of culture, with too little regard to the dairy, or the stock best suited to its purposes. It is true that to this end the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society have for many years past directed their You will observe that we have so far departed attention, and not without beneficial results. from your suggestions, as to confine the competiThat all their efforts should have been crowned tion to the separate counties, instead of adopting with entire success could not reasonably have the district system, which you proposed. been expected. That they had aided in awaking And we desire, also, to add, that the whole rethe minds of farmers to a sense of the importance sponsibility of judging as to the cattle exhibited, of greater improvement in this branch of husband- and of awarding the premiums, is intended to be ry, cannot be questioned. There is still much left to the County Societies, respectively, subject need of further effort to advance this department, only to the conditions and limitations which have and bring it nearer to perfection. been already stated. We remain, Dear Sir, In the confident belief that the plan above mentioned, if carried out under proper regulations, would have a useful and beneficial effect, I beg leave to offer it for your consideration, cherishing the hope that it well not be deemed unworthy of your adoption and encouragement. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. SAML. CHANDLER. BOSTON, FEBRUARY 18, 1854. For the second best do, $50. DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS AT VANSITTART ISLAND.— They generally take 2,000 to 2,200 in each pit, in the morning, at one drive; and then jumping into the hole, they set to work to pick their poor Gen. Sam'l Chandler, Lexington: captives, pulling off only the feathers of the body, DEAR SIR-Your communication of January and throwing the carcases out of the hole. This 9th was duly received by the Trustees of the is hard work, and before the end of the season Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, their nails often come off from the continual pluckand has been considered by them with all the at-ling. The feathers of 25 birds weigh only a pound, |