Wheat. The present crop, for quantity and quality, has never been surpassed. I have heard of no failure in the State. Corn. This crop in our vicinity is very light; and I should judge, from reliable sources, that in that portion of the State east of the Susquehannah there will not be more than one-half of an ordinary crop, owing to the dryness of the summer. Oats. The oat crop, somewhat affected by drought, was attacked in many places, while ripening, by vast numbers of grasshoppers. In some cases they have destroyed half the crop. They have done great injury to the late pasture, and whatever came in their way. In walking over a field occupied by these hopping gentry, one feels astonishment at their unlimited numbers. "To count them all, demands a thousand tongues," a throat of brass, and adamantine lungs." Their appetites are scarcely less surprising than their numbers. I noticed none that appeared to have symptoms of dyspepsia. I have no doubt that every observing farmer has noticed the rapid increase of the insect tribes as the feathered races are gradually exterminated by gunners. One would suppose that the beauty and innocence of the latter would protect them from harm, independent of their invaluable services to man. Were the legislatures of the several States to enact heavy penalties against their destruction, they would, no doubt, confer a great favor on agriculture. Labor-saving methods of Planting Corn.-For several years past, I have endeavored to discover some way to shun the ordinary tedious mode of furrowing off ground for corn, which, with us, consists in making, with the plough, a furrow each way of the field for each row of corn, in order to save the use of the hoe in cultivation. Failing to invent an implement capable of making two or more furrows, correctly, at once, I changed the direction of my pursuit, and was agreeably surprised in finding out the fact that we had been making twice as many furrows as were needed. Although this may appear paradoxical, I proceed to describe my improvement. Whatever distance apart I desire to plant, I mark out double the space each way of the field, thus: suppose I desire to plant four by four feet, 1 furrow off eight by eight feet at right angles, and the field is then ready to plant. I then plant at the intersections, half way between the intersections, and in the centre of each square, the field over, as shown below, the lines representing the furrows, and the dots, the hills of corn: The unmarked rows, which run at right angles with the direction of planting, need the greatest care of any to keep them straight. Onefourth of the hills are planted on the surface of the ground, but no difference was perceivable in the growth of the corn. I have planted two crops in this way, and never had the rows more regular. It appears to possess other advantages besides saving half the labor of marking. The ground is less liable to wash by heavy rains prior to cultivation. It shuns about one half of the balks usually made by the plough in the old way. It causes no fatigue to the eye or the mind to divide the spaces in dropping. A person having the phrenological organs of form and size small might not be able to drop correctly. Of this I cannot say. I estimate it to be worth at least eighty cents per acre to furrow off ground for corn in the ordinary way. A farmer who adopts this plan will, in marking off ten acres, save about four dollars' worth of labor, or forty cents per acre. From the best means I have of judging, there are about nineteen millions of acres planted yearly in the United States; if the above mode were adopted, it would save seven millions six hundred thousand dollars' worth of labor annually. Some allowance should be made, however, for that which is planted with drills, &c. The writer feels desirous, through the kindness of the Commissioner, of presenting these hints to his brother farmers throughout the Union. Should it lighten in some degree their toil, or prevent the unnecessary wear of muscle, it will be a source of unfeigned pleasure to him. Under the impression that furrows are no advantage to the growth of corn, and not content with the above imperfect release from toil, I continued in pursuit of the object I had in view until I had attained (as I believe) the point desired, which was, to discover a means by which furrows could be rendered unnecessary. The instrument for this purpose is constructed on the principles of geometry; but its simplicity has, no doubt, enabled it to elude observation, as but few persons, on seeing it, could conjecture its design. It will require two boys, with a little instruction, at the beginning. It will need a straight line at the side of the field to start by, or it may begin in the middle of the field. It will require about one-fourth more time to drop the corn than the usual way. For all practical purposes it need not cost above $2. Should it possess the two essentials-novelty and utility—I would be much pleased to have a knowledge of it placed in the possession of every farmer in the United State. But justice to myself would seem to require that I should ask some little remuneration, as it will enable the farmer to drop corn with great regularity, (any desirable space either way,) and will save nearly double the amount of the former expedient. I feel diffident about offering any notions of my own; but, as the Circular seems to invite replies of this nature, I hope mine will not be found out of place. I have been much gratified in reading the last Report from the Patent Office, and I cannot conclude without expressing my admiration of those judicious recommendations to Congress in regard to the Office. I sincerely hope that honorable body may enact them all; I view the Patent Office as having been the nursing parent of so large a portion of those incompar able advantages which we possess over former generations. The foregoing remarks are respectfully submitted. Hon. THOMAS EWBANK, MORDECAI LARKIN. Commissioner of Patents. P. O. MONTROSE, SUSQUEHANNAH COUNTY, PA., DEAR SIR: Some time since I received a Circular from your office, soliciting information in regard to the agricultural products of this (Susquehannah) county. I handed it to Mr. Thomas Nicholson, one of our best farmers; and herewith you have his reply. With much respect, your obedient servant, THOMAS EWBANK, Esq., Commissioner of Patents. B. CASE, Postmaster. The principal productions of Susquehannah are wheat, corn, oats, hay, butter, and cheese; together with neat cattle, sheep, and wool. Wheat. Till within a late period the principal part of the wheat raised in this county has been grown on new land; but as the land is mostly cleared, it is now grown on ploughed ground, but not in quantity for more than a home supply, as the soil is not of the nature suitable to a profitable production of this grain. Guano is not used, and summer fallows are generally relied on for a good crop with barn-yard manure. 'The average is about 8 bushels per acre, and the yield is rather increasing, owing to better cultivation. No regular system of rotation is pursued. We are not troubled with Hessian fly or weevil. The price will average about $1 per bushel. Corn is a very important crop in this county, and gives a handsome remuneration to the farmer. The usual average is about 30 bushels per acre. No guano is used. The system of culture best adapted is to plant upon green sward, turned over in the fall, or early in the spring, with or without manure, as the land may require. Where the land has had a previous crop, it is ploughed and ridged before planting; plaster and ashes are applied to the hills. Oats. The average yield of oats is 30 bushels per acre; 2 bushels seed per acre are used. Oats are considered an exhausting crop; but large quantities are grown, as there is a ready market, and the crop is sure. Hay is the great crop of Susquehannah county, as it is peculiarly a grazing country. Timothy is the most approved grass, making incomparably the best hay; but, in seeding land, it is exceedingly beneficial to mix with clover. The average per acre is about one ton. Potatoes.-In consequence of the rot, no more potatoes are grown than are necessary for the supply of the table; but formerly they were the main reliance for fattening hogs and feeding stock. The quality in this district cannot be excelled. Butter and Cheese.-Within a very few years the products of the dairy have greatly increased; so that upwards of 1,200,000 pounds of butter were made in the county last year, and the quality is equal to any in the United States. Cheese is not much attended to as yet, but the quan tity is increasing. The time is not distant, and may be said to be at hand, when the dairies of this county will be highly celebrated. Average yearly products of butter per cow, about 80 pounds. In the larger wise be in a great measure lost, are passed through the stable for bedding, and, by the additions there acquired, are converted into rich mines of manure. The beef thus fattened always commands, in the spring, the highest prices. Root Crops.-With the exception of Irish potatoes, root crops are not cultivated as food for stock, simply because corn is cheaper. If one of our farmers was asked why he did not grow sugar-beet or ruta-baga, he would most probably say that he could not spare the time; and such is the fact, as he well knows that he can raise a bushel of corn with less trouble than he could a bushel of the turnip or beet; and one bushel of corn is worth three of the roots. The largest and finest potatoes are grown under a clover sod, previously spread with stable manure; the cuttings are planted 8 inches apart, in every third furrow, close to the land side, and well strewed with gypsum before the sod is turned over them. This application, as I have proved from numerous experiments, both improves the quality, and, in dry seasons, more than doubles the quantity. After the ground dries off, it is to be harrowed with a light sharp harrow until the surface is perfectly smooth; and if the sod is likely to be turned, the harrow should be preceded by the roller. When the tops appear, each row is to have a stroke of the harrow to disentangle any plants which cannot readily get through. When the tops are a foot high, a cultivator is passed between the rows, which are afterwards enclosed by the plough in a nice box of earth. All that is required afterwards is to pull out by hand any grass or weeds which may arise in the rows, and destroy such as come up in the middles with the cultivator. By the above simple and economical process, I have never failed to produce finer crops of potatoes than I could grow on ground that was fallow under the most careful culture. For planting, I prefer a large potato cut small; which, having the strongest buds, will put forth the strongest shoots, and we will always find the size of the tubers will be proportionate to that of the talks. But one or two good eyes are left to each cutting. Various kinds are planted for early useamongst which the mercer is perhaps the best, and also keeps well. The finest variety we have for a late crop is the pink-eye. I regret to add, that crop after crop, and some of the most promising we have ever had, including every kind, have fallen a prey to the mysterious destroyer so universally prevalent. All the potatoes which have ripened before the 1st of August (that I have planted) have escaped the rot; if others have been alike fortunate, the hint should not be lost. Our late potatoes are gathered when the ground is dry; which is put in with the rest of the field in wheat. Fruit.-Abundance of fine apples are raised everywhere throughout our county, but prices are too low to make it a profitable crop. In fruit seasons the best apples are frequently sold in our orchards for 12 cents a bushel, and cider at the press for $1 per barrel. The varieties that keep best are the Newtown-pippin, the pound or fallow-water, the gray-house, cart-house, smoke-house, and green pippin. The Rambo, Spitzenberg, French pippin, yellow bellefleur, and black Vandervere, are the favorite fall and winter fruits. The peach once flourished everywhere throughout our State; but, for many years past, the worm and the yellows have been so fatal to it, that its culture is almost abandoned. The only remedy yet found for the yellows is the extirpation of the whole stock of trees on hand, replacing them with healthy kinds from uninfected districts. Trees have often been preserved a long time in a healthy condition by constant vigilance in picking out the worms with a sharppointed knife, and pouring boiling water around the roots spring and fall. Tobacco-leaves are much spoken of as a preventive; also, an ointment of train-oil and tallow, containing a small portion of mercurial ointment. There is an accurate colored engraving of the peach-destroyer, (Egeria critiora,) in its winged state, in Say's Entomology. The blight in pear-trees may be avoided by ingrafting the Seckle, the Bartlett, and other hardy varieties of recent origin upon seedling stocks. The Vine.-My experience with the grape has been sufficient to prove that its culture might be turned to profitable account, particularly in the vicinity of our larger towns and cities, where there was a market for the fruit. I had, for many years, from one to two acres under cultivation. After unsuccessful trials of the French and Rhenish vines, I finally turned my attention to the native kinds only, of which I found the Eichelberg, or York Madeira, and the Catawba the best. From the former I made a red wine, without addition, which somewhat resembled good claret, with a very pleasant flavor of the fruit peculiar to itself. From the Catawba, with the addition of some sugar at the press, I made a rich, strong wine, which now, after twelve years, retains all its good qualities. This fine fruit is seldom left upon the vines till perfectly ripe; and after it appears so to superficial observers, it should be permitted to remain several weeks, during which time the pulp becomes softer, the skin thinner, and the juice richer and more saccharine. One principal cause of failure in the culture of the vine arises from planting it in too rich a soil, from which it acquires an unnatural luxuriance of growth; the bearing-shoots will be long-jointed and spongy, with two much pith; the wood does not become sufficiently ripened, and is attacked with mildew, and perishes in the winter. In a congenial situation the bearing-shoots will be small, short jointed, and solid. A light sandy or gravelly soil, with a southern exposure, should be selected. Very little manure is required; and a compost, into which the virgin soil from the woods and fence-rows enters largely, with a small addition of ashes and foreign or domestic guano, is the best. Manures.-Lime has been used to some extent, and with various results, and its complex operations upon different soils are still involved in much obscurity. When mixed with argillaceous earths, it has a highly beneficial operation, not possessed by any other agent, of changing the texture of the soil, rendering it more crumbling and permeable to water, and assimilating it to that which is naturally calcareous. When applied to a good limestone soil, its beneficial effects, of course, are not so apparent; but even in this case we have the most decided proof of its favorable operation in the change it produces in the suite of plants which are the spontaneous growth of every kind of soil. In fields which have been well limed, instead of the blue grass and sorrel, injurious to our crops, there will spring up the weeds peculiar to the richer soil of our gardens, such as the lamb's quarter, (Chenopodium album,) mallows, (Malva rotundifolia,) and Spanish needle, (Bidens bipinnata.) When applied with a view to its durable operation upon the soil, from 100 to 200 bushels should be allowed; and I have reason |