The New York herald., 1844-12-21

FARMERS CLTB.
TUESDAY, December H.-Subject, "Diseasc in
Caftkn "
The progress Of this stepping stone, TO the future
elevation, Eve trust) Of the American Agricultu-
rlst, in practical and theoretical knowledge, and
the manifest interest that attends each successive
meeting of the Club, in their familiar and CONVEX
sational reasonlpgo evinces universal desire
amongs. the farmers, 10 obtain such information as
may guide them, not only in the tillage of the soil,
but IN the most advantageous method of increas-
ing that soil 10 fertility which nature may have in
hercapricious whims denied tot 1t is folly to Judge
OF the nature of land the mode Of its Improvement,
or the process Of cultivation, from whole homles
published and practiscd in other countries and un-
der other cmacterlc contingencies. The study and
the practice of agriculture is purely cimacterc.-
Every breese-every indication of weather, must be
studiously watched, and no application of theore-
teal principles can be, or ought to be, exercised
beyond the sphere which it is intended to reach,
the soil 1t is designed to be applied to. It is
perpetual reference 10 the practical experience Of
foreign agnculturlsts, that hes paraZed the ambi-
ton Of American farmers to Judge for themselves
Books are searched. and plans adopted, without
any ostenslble and the result s dependence
upon the part Of the farmer, and desire TO aban-
don, for soil more coDgenial, tenement upon
which he has exhausted his health strength, and
wealth. Natare's laws Ia agriculture are natures
prlvlleges-resst them, and vegetable anarchy
and rebellion ensues--" Naturam expeas ilurea
tamen usque reeurret is as applicable in the theory
of agriculture as II is in the ianate dispositions Of
the human order Moral cultivation may anne
lorate, but not eradicate the indigenous weeds of
settled and established passions. In the latter,
human invention may, as in the former, produce a
similar effect, but as in the mind, in The earth
from which that mind originates, there Is sub.
stance that requires harmony OF solution, that
however artihcially applied, removes the thorns
and noxious elements peculiar to each. II is only
by watchtul attention to the requisites of the one,
and a careful examination OF the deficiencies OF
the other, that remedy for each can be employed.
So it was proved at this meeting Of the most en-
terprsing and intelligent farmers OF our land,
when each man avOwed his practice and de
veloped proofs OF individual experience, highly
tending (however differently to the mutual improve
ment and edfcation Of all.
Gen CHANDLER presided, and the reading Of the
proceedings OF the last meeting being dispensed
WITH the regular business was sentered upon. AN in
teresting communication from Colonel Mon
see, of Long Island, was read by Mr.. Meigs, the
Secretary, by which II appeared that that gentle
man planted twelve acres tor corn, manured II one
third with poudrette, and the remaining two.thrds
birds, and found that the birds consumed that
which was manured by fish, while that which was
manured by poudrette escaped
Mr.. WAKEMAN read a letter from w. H. Max
well, accOmpdLlcuD Dy u sample OF NHcat IhlseO In
England from the contents Of an Egyptiap mummy.
and exhibiting grain OF health and rotundity SUI
perlor TO the general or local wheat Of this coun.
Try. Samples were freely distributed, but the pre-.
else time OF sowing was not afcertalned. The
thanks OF the club were given to Mr. Maxwell :
Mr.. Joseph Black, of N. J., referred incidentally
to the subject Of clover, discussed by the Club a,
previous meeting, when the disease OF slobb,rs in
horses, was attributed TO the young clover; he al
FIRST considered that young clover produced the di.
sease, but the opn on ot a skilfnl botanist, that
"red shank" growing up with the clover, was the
true cause, induced hln to alter hi opinion. This
red shank Is botauically called "Thompson's 10
belia."-The Chairman asked the Club tor their
opinion of salt mud as manure.-The Secretary
read from communication OF Mr.. Travers, Of
Long Island, his method Of preparing salt mud
He took from his farm yard large heaps Of sali
grass, covered each with sods, tuned II over in
spring, and found il highly bene ticial.---A member
explained the method of preparing sedge in Con-
necticut, which was by cutting green, and spread
ing II TO cure; he considers that salt destroys the
grub worm. Several members expressed then
practice IN the management and cure Of sedge
General Tamage deprecated the Impression that
the grub was iostered by m0rass vegetation, to
which he assigned surcharge of poison that
would kill the grub; he advised the combination
Of any material that eould destroy the lava, such
as lime, bushel Of SALT which could be had tor
cents instead of IL or Is cents formerly paid -
Mr.. Seely bought barren farm on Staten Island
and brought 1t TO the highest perfection by pro-
should request Mr.. Seely's report OF the manner
he cultivated his land by sea shore sedge -
Mr.. Kerr read an article upon the component
parts Of barren and cul vated soils, their organic
phosphorc, mineral, saline properties, &c. Mr.
Wakeman deprecated all analysis, aud recommends
general report, to show the indications Of some
Kinds of vegetation. Ii muck contains 75 per cent
Of organic matter, 1t supplies the natural steriity
Of the land Here member recomme nded de.
batting club to facilitate business, giving every man
an opportunity to express his views. Proies-
sor Smith entered into so awfully learned and phi
losophical demonstration, that Mr. Kerr recon-
mended the assistance OF an Interpreter 10 explain
10 plain farmers, his " blonic system Gen Tai
mage re recommended another subject TO the consde-
ration Of the club Some statis cal standard Of the
consumption OF meat III the city, that would enable
every man TO answerthe inquiries % strangers upon
the subject. In accordance with this view Mr..
Wakema selected three butchers of standing in
the trade, Messrs. Broadway, Value and Degues,
TO supply him with the average quantity Of beet,
mutton, lamb and pork consumed in the city;
in beef from 80 to 200 are slaughtered yearly,
weight from $50 TO 700; showing that from 81 0O0
black cattle "a 900 600 OF pounds are derived. Oh
sheep and lambs, 1t was found the amount slaugh-
of mutton ii, 900 625 pounds, allowing $4,000 hogs
for the city consumption, averaging 100 pounds
each, there would be consumption Of pork !,
amounting to 80, ,000, 600 Of pounds The Chairman
Disease in Cattle" when Mr. Kerr exposed the ig
norance with which the diseases OF horses were
treated, and illustrated his remarks by several pro-
minent features He strongly recommended the
general use OF the hay crib for horses, In prefer
ence to the nconvenient rack at present in use. A
gentleman here stated that in the British cavalry
service, nine horse out OF ten became blinded from
the practice OF throwing the hay from the lott mix
ed with clover and other seeds over the horse :
head and filling his eyes with dust and seed. Since
the introduction Of the crib no blindness has oc-
Cured, less hay wasted, the horse cannot tram
pie it, and holding only certain quantity, cannot
remain to be blown upon.
Dr. FIELD produced specimen OF full blooded
cattle dog, known in England and Scotland as the
Cody dog-employed by Shepherds Tor many use
ful purposes the care Of sheep and other cattle.
The dog was bred by Mr.: Attention, Of the 18th
ward. The sagacity OF this species Of dog has
been matter OF vast Importance to the Shepherd,
and the cultivation OF the breed to the American
farmer is highly recommended.
Mr.. MEres stated, from the information he has
derived from butchers Of veracity, that il is gen.
eral case that the livers Of all anmasare diseased
IN this country and that consequently the carcase
i>oo ohnxy I'D tx