Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-10

Timely Hints.


The failure of the wheat crop in many sec
tons of the country, has caused farmers to look
about them for the best substitutes, and con
siderable forethought and planning is necessary
to determine the best crops TO plant, the best
way to procure the seed, and the best mode of
cultivation, A desire to aid our readers in ar
riving at proper conclusions has caused US to
give considerable thought to this subject, and
in the present and previous numbers we have
described plants not generally grown in this
country, that perhaps may be introduced to
advantage Oflate, we have examined tho
mportatons of agricultural products to ascer-
tain what we were purchasing from foreign
countries, that might better be grown at home
and we will give few facts for the consdera-
tion of the producers of the country.
During the last fiscal year, ending June 80,
1853 there were imported into this country
nearly 500, 900 worth of potatoes Most Of
these were what are known in eastern cities as
Bermudas They are similar to our Western
Red, but being raised in the warm climate of
the British West Indies, are ripe about the
time we plant, and find a ready sale here as
new potatoes. The Secretary ofthe Treasury,
however, reports importatons amounting to ST.
900 from Ireland, and $4,000 from Eng land.
Last Fall we saw statement in the Boston
papers that &c, 600 bushels of potatoes had
been received at that port in one week, from
New Brunswick These facts would seem to
show that growing potatoes is a good business
for those who are within reach of the Eastern
markets The Blue Mercer has long been the
favorite with wholesale buyers aud sells for
the highest price but unfortunately, it is not
productive. For year or two, growers have
been testing the English Fluke, aud it is good
potato and yields well We have been told
that it is not faYorite East, but with the ex-
perience of ouly few trials, we think We know
of none much better-eXcepting always that
little gem, the Mexican, which every farmer
who is fond of good living should raise for his
own use, and for a few customers who are will
ling to pay for them The Peach Blow is get
ting to be a great favorite east. 1t is a fair
sized roundish, whitedeshed potato the skin
parti-cOlored lf red and white, one end being
almost entirely red, and the other end almost
entirely white 1t bears good crops and sells
as high in New York as any variety, and there
fore is good sort to plant for shipping. 1t
originated in New Jersey, we believe Seed
can be obtained here at 81 per bushel.
Flax seed, We imported last year to the value
of over three millions Of dollars, mostly from
the East Indies and Russia Linseed Oil, 192,-
S43 gallons, at an expense Of $l64, ,757 early
all of which was bought of England. Wheth
er there is any necessity for this large importa-
ton of Flax Seed, and its oil, we leave to our
readers to Judge.
Castor Oil, no doubt, will be thought small
matter hardly worthy of notice, and yet We
bought last year 226,578 gallons costing Us
$l43,458 This mostly came from the East
Indies. but over $4,000 gallons came from
England, and 240 from Canada.
England presented bill for Oatmeal of So
800. No one will believe there is any necessi-
ty for purchasing ground oats. Was the de-
mand greater it would no doubt be generally
manufactured in this country 1t is principal
" consumed we presume, by Europeans who
prefer it to corn meal. 1t is ground pretty
extensively in Canada, in some of the Scotch
settlements. Germany and Holland we paid
over $1,000 for Barley.
Many of the Dye stuffs that we import might
be grown to advantage here, such as Madder,
for which wepaid last year 1921, 1856; Woad
and Weld, or Dyers' Weed, of which we may
speak more particularly hereafter.
OF fruit We talk sufficiently in our Horticul-
tural Department, and will here only remars
that we exported last year 81 barrels Of
Apples which brought us ST4, 1868: of these.
94I barrels were sent to England, 1850 to
to Canada and S5S to Australia Boston
shipped 1000 barrels, GenesSee, (Rochester)
5.4 20 barrels, Niagara, 1881 and New York.
1856. That the raising Of our fine, long keep
ing apples for expectation might be made pro-
fitable, we have not the least doubt
We shall contnue to introduce to the notice
of our readers such things as are at least de-
serving of thought in the hopes that some will
be induced to give them a trial, and thus add
to our stock of practical knowledge.-Rsret
Nep Yorker.