NEW YORK FARMERS' CLUB. NEW YORK FARMERS' CLUB. 303 sugar. By this means, good wine can be made THE meetings of this Club have not been very from the juice of unripe grapes. While the must fully attended the last few months, owing to the is undergoing its first fermentation in the vats, a extreme heat of the season, the absence of many scum or froth rises to the surface, in a similar manpersons from the city, and the necessity of the far-ner as the pomace and other impurities do in the mers in the vicinity to remain at home and attend “ working" of cider, which is skimmed off. When to their crops. it becomes clear it is put into casks, and kept in a Grafting the Tomato upon the Potato.-Mr. cellar or cave of a temperature of about 60° F., Meigs read from the "Annals of the Royal Horti- where a second fermentation takes place, and cultural Society of Paris," an account of a suc- where the wines are finally prepared and kept for cessful experiment of grafting a stem of the tomato use, or for exportation. In the manufacture of upon the stalk of a potato, by which a crop of wine, he said, the addition of alcohol is unnecestomatos was raised in the air, and one of potatoes sary, and contrary to the prevailing opinion, it will in the earth. He also read from the same journal keep and bear transportation as well without it as an extract from a paper by Baron D'Hombres- with it. While in Spain, he ascertained that most Firmas on a of the wines of domestic consumption, as well as Journey to Pastum, in which it is stated that, those exported to the West Indies and other colonear Naples, they cultivated large fields with nies, for the use of the Spaniards, were made withgourds, and among them heads of cabbages, cauli-out the addition of brandy; whereas, all the strong flowers, salads, and other kitchen vegetables, all of wines shipped to Britain and the United States, which grow and prosper together. They also cul- contained at least 25 per cent. When the makers tivate large quantities of melons, the consumption of wine for export to England or to this country of which is enormous, for nearly half the year. were asked by him, why they put brandy in it, These melons are preserved in winter suspended in the answer was-" You, English, have hot mouths, straw under the roofs and about the windows of and we must gratify them." the houses both in the country and in town. Large Wine from the Isabella Grape.-Mr. Hall obfields of Indian corn were mentioned, the stalks of served that he had made some excellent wine from which served for beans to climb upon and ripen the Isabella grape, in a perfect state of maturity. after the ears had been gathered. Plantations of By adding to the must, or grape-juice, threemulberry-trees were also observed, entwined by fourths of a pound of sugar to a gallon, he obtaingrape-vines, and the grounds beneath them richly ed a wine much resembling the quality of hock; laden with bolls of cotton which are picked from by adding a pound to a gallon, a fair wine was August till October, and dried in the sun. The produced; and with the addition of a pound and a mulberry-trees, which shaded the cotton plants, half of sugar to a gallon, he obtained a fine sweet after having fed two generations of silk-worms, wine, which, when tasted by some gentlemen who were in vigorous leaf for the third time. were experienced in the qualities of wine, not Valencia Winter Melons.-Mr. Charles Henry knowing whence it came, was pronounced by them Hall, who resided several years in Spain, and par- as a foreign article of a delicious flavor, resembling ticularly directed his attention to the products of that of Muscat. that country, said, that the melons mentioned by Mortality among Horses..-The Secretary called the Baron of Hombres-Firmas, are the same as the attention of the Club to a distemper prevailing those known at Valencia by the name of winter among horses in the neighborhood of this city. melons. They are preserved there for half the year The disease was principally confined, at first, to by being suspended in small nets under the project- Kings County, Long Island, but has since appeared ing parts of the roofs of the houses, in a similar at Flushing, Staten Island, and other places. This manner as they are in Italy. He said that, when malady appears to reside in the head, and generally he returned to the United States, he brought home proves fatal in one or two days. In every instance, several of these melons in a perfect state of preser- it is said, the horses had been turned out to pasvation, and that others were consecutively cultivat-ture, and those which have been constantly kept in ed from their seeds, in New York, until they run stables, have escaped the disorder. In several out by cross-fecundation. cases, the animals have been carefully opened, and Wine-making. Mr. Hall stated that he had had every part, except the head, was found to be some experience both in raising grapes and in sound. The brain, on dissection, appeared like a making wine; and that he had personally examin-mass of clotted blood. The disease, it would ed the vineyards in Europe, and the caves or cellars seem, is not contagious, because, in one instance, a there, which are indispensable for the manufacture horse died, where there were standing in a stable and preservation of good wines. He said that several other horses by his side, and none of them wine is made with as much facility, nearly, as cider. Before the "must," or expressed juice of the grape undergoes its first fermentation, it may vary in its specific gravity according to the kind of wine into which it is to be made. That of the best white wines of France and Spain has a specific gravity of 1.083, which is determined by an instrument known under the names of hydrometer, aérometre, saccharometer, &c. If the specific gravity of the must is below this point, it is increased by the addition of were at all affected. It is believed by many that the disorder has been produced by the effects of the sun, which, if true, it is hoped, as the weather becomes cooler, will soon disappear. Mr. Hall stated that he had seen a similar epidemic in the horses of Spain, a kind of apoplexy, or "blind staggers." He said that it had been cured by winding blankets steeped in hot water around the head of the animal, and following it up by copious bleeding. Pauper Labor on Randall's Island.-A deputation | stable now in process of erection, intended for the appointed by the American Institute a few weeks cows in winter. All this is entirely the result of since, to visit the New York Alms House Depart-pauper labor. ment on Randall's Island, presented the following We sincerely hope that Mr. Leonard may be perpaper on that subject, which was read: The undersigned from the Farmers' Club on the invitation of Moses G. Leonard, Esq., Commissioner of the Alms House Department, having visited Randall's Island on the 5th inst., in company with his Honor the Mayor, several of the Aldermen, and other citizens, ask leave to Report mitted to go on and carry out the plans he has intimated to us, of furnishing labor to all the inmates of the establishment capable of performing such, stimulating them by a system of rewards which will call for no additional charge upon the city, and, if successful, will materially lessen the cost of maintaining its poor. The Island is the property of the city, having been purchased from the Messrs. Randall in 1832 for $60,000. There could not be a better place for the experiment than is here afforded. The milk it at 4 cts. per quart, provided the quantity should be continued, will amount to more than 7 per cent. per annum, on the cost of the Island, and, so far, there have been but 70 paupers employed. There are in the establishment nearly 500, that may be employed in agricultural labor, besides a large proportion of the children, whose labor, at particular seasons of the year, may be made extremely valuable. That Mr. Leonard's object was to present to the citizens some knowledge of the success which has thus far attended his endeavors to cultivate this farm by pauper labor. It affords us much pleasure to bear testimony to the excellence of his arrange-alone which has been already furnished, estimating ments, and the great promise which is thus far afforded of signal success. Since the failure of an experiment attempted some years ago on the Long Island Farms, it has been deemed impracticable by many to cultivate the soil advantageously by pauper labor. But after witnessing the progress made under the direction of Mr. Leonard, we are far from adopting any such conclusion; on the contrary, we feel much encouraged to believe, that by steady perseverance in a well devised plan, the paupers of our city may be made to contribute largely to their own support, without exacting from them a greater amount of labor than will be found essential to their own comfort and well being. But it cannot be expected that any plan, however well devised, for the accomplishment of an object so desirable, can be expected to prosper, if the supervision of its details is doomed to continual change from one to another. Once under the supervision of those having the requisite qualifications, it should, upon no slight cause, be changed. Randall's Island is about nine miles distant from the City Hall, lying between Harlem and Long Island. It forms on one side a part of the east bank of the Harlem River, and on the other side a part of the west bank of Long Island Sound, with narrow channels on the north and south, difficult of navigation. It contains 138 acres, of marsh and upland. Some of the best fields on the island, however, have been rendered unfit for immediate tillage by the erection and recent destruction of buildings by fire, intended for the accommodation of the poor of the city. Mr. Leonard did not get possession of the Island until the middle of May last, at which time no preparation had been made for producing a crop. Nevertheless, he has secured from 80 to 100 tons of excellent hay; there are two fields of Indian corn, containing at least five acres, equal in appearance to any we have seen, averaging full twelve feet in height; one field of six acres, bearing potatoes; one of buckwheat, four acres; and one of turnips 1 acres, all in excellent order, and of fair promise; also 2,000 heads of cabbage. From the 15th of June to the present time 40 cows have been milked, furnishing daily 300 quarts of milk to the nursery on Long Island, where there are 700 pauper children, reserving as much as is required for the farm. There have been two very comfortable buildings erected on Randall's Island, for the accommodation of the laborers, and there is a It is not extravagant to estimate that the 70 paupers employed on Randall's Island have, thus far, maintained themselves, and produced a surplus which would be equal to over $4,000 per annum. If, then, the whole 500 could be engaged in agricultural labor with corresponding advantage, together with the occasional labor of the children, in addition to their own maintenance, they would produce to the city a revenue of $30,000 per annum. Two of the Messrs. Randall having been present on the occasion of this visit, we have obtained from them some reminiscences worthy of record. The Island, formerly called Montezoue, was purchased by the family in 1784, from Col. Ogden, of New Jersey, for $6,000. It was then in a very neglected state, nearly destitute of trees, fences, &c. The excellent fruit which has been produced here, and is still retained to some extent, has resulted from the labor and enterprise of this family. Peaches were formerly one of the products in great abundance, and of the very best quality, but about 40 years ago the crop failed, and the trees gradually decayed, since which, very few have been produced on the Island. This was the case also in the adjacent country, and was generally attributed to a change in the climate, as no other assignable reason seemed to present itself, until the disease called the " yellows" and the peach borer were found to be the cause. The Vergaloo pear was produced in great abundance and perfection until about twenty years ago, when the crop failed. The trees have since yielded no fruit worth gathering. They put forth their blossoms and foliage in the spring, and appear to be vigorous, but the fruit, after attaining about half its usual size, turns to a dark color, cracks, and dries up; some specimens of it are herewith presented to the Club. These trees may be restored, we think, by proper culture. Cherries have been very abundant upon the Island-there are several varieties, and the quality excellent-the Blackhearts are most numerous. CULTURE OF THE VINE IN AUSTRALIA. The celebrated Dyckman cherry, or Black Tartarian, was first grown in America on this Island, about 40 years ago. 305 CULTURE OF THE VINE IN AUSTRALIA. THROUGH the kindness of A. H. Palmer, Esq,, The Newtown pippin flourished on the Island, Director of the American and Foreign Agency, at one thousand barrels of which have been obtained in New York, who holds an extensive correspondence a season. In all there are about 20 acres of fruit trees, in all the countries of the East, we have received In 1820 the receipts for produce sold off the the " Journal of the Agricultural and Horticultural Island amounted to $6,000, independent of the Society of Perth, Western Australia," from which supply of the family. The produce sold consisted we make the following extracts from the "Report entirely of fruit, vegetables, and hay. The hay of the Vineyard Society," formed for the purpose of alone, after retaining enough to winter 26 head of establishing in that colony a Model Vineyard :— cattle, sold for $1,600. In 1839 Mr. R. sold 14,000 lbs. of cherries. The elder brother, who was present (Mr. John Randall), resided on the Island over 50 years. He states that the family, with the exception of one year, 1824, enjoyed uninterrupted good health. During that year, they were afflicted with ordinary bilious fever, of which three members of the family died. Intermittent fever had not been known to the family during their residence on the Island. men. ADONIRAM CHANDLER. The season of preparation for the vineyard being already advanced, it is proposed in the present letter to treat only on such operations as should occupy the interval between the present time and the first week in August (a), when, at the latest, the planting out of vine cuttings should be completed. Those operations will therefore comprise-1st, the selection of land for the new vineyard, as regards soil, situation, aspect, and shelter; 2d, the preparation of the land-viz., manuring, trenching, and fencing; 3d, the best varieties of the vine from which to select cuttings; 4th, the treatment of old vines and vineyards. except clay. Under similar treatment, On Soils. The soils best adapted for vineyards New York, Sept. 15, 1846. are classed in the order of their relative superiority. Mr. Charles Henry Hall pointed out the import- 1st, light calcareous soils; 2d, light soils on granite; ance of bringing up pauper children to habits of 3d, light soils on other rocks or gravel; 4th, light industry; and of all pursuits, he said that of agri-sandy loam; 5th, sand; 6th, loam, or any soil culture had the most salutary influence in the formation of their characters, and consequently preIt is to be observed, that almost all wines of the pared them for usefulness when they came to be highest reputation in Europe are produced in calcaHe said there is no reason why they should reous soils, rather deficient in fertility, and genenot be brought up as well as farmers' sons-to be rally on elevated hilly ground. The produce, of The ordinary wines are the taught to know that they are accountable beings, course, is small. and that it is their duty to do something for them-growth of richer soils, making up in quantity for selves, and be made to feel that they are not entirely deficiencies in quality, and the latter are frequently dependent upon the bounty of the city for support; the most profitable. but live in a land in which they are capable of be- therefore, the comparative quantity produced in coming useful citizens, and can enjoy the sweets of different situations will afford a tolerably accurate freedom, independence, and happiness. He said test of the various qualities of the wines. that it has long been his belief, that, under judiThe best situation to select for superior wine in cious management, our alms-house can be made to this country will be a hill side, sheltered from the support itself by pauper labor. He cited several harsh southerly winds, with a calcareous or granite instances where this has been done in other cities, soil, and having an easterly aspect, which will and as a case in point, he referred to that of Salem, protect it from the rays of an evening sun. For in Massachusetts. He hoped that this subject ordinary wine, the alluvial flats or other rich lands would not be suffered to pass the Club without will be preferred, and a medium quality of land will further notice, and expressed a wish that the gen- be chosen for a somewhat better wine. tlemen who had so ably and correctly reported upon the agricultural capabilities of Randall's Island, be invited to continue their inquiries. Similar sentiments were also expressed by Drs. Field and Underhill, and by Messrs. Hyde, Van Wyck, and others, whereupon it was moved by Mr. Wakeman, and sanctioned by the Club, that a vote of thanks be tendered to the gentlemen of the Report, and that they constitute a committee for the further investigation of the subject. AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS.-The American Agricultural Association will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, the 7th inst., at 7 o'clock, P.M., at the Historical Society's Rooms, N. Y. University. The N. Y. Farmers' Club will hold their next meeting conjointly with the Farmers, Gardeners, and Silk Culturists' Convention, on the 12th inst., at 11 o'clock, A.M., at Mechanics' Hall, Broadway. Raisins, Zante currants, and sweet wines, should be cultivated on rich lands. The banks of red and The first market to be supplied will be at home, for internal consumption; the settler will therefore select a situation for his vineyard near his homestead, and within reach of protection, combining as many advantages as he can. brown sandy loam descending into the alluvial lands on the Swan, and generally known as nativehole lands, have already been proved to answer well for this purpose, by a gentleman who has taken the lead in the cultivation of the vine, and from having been constantly moved by the natives in search of roots, would require little preparation. An upland stubble, or any light soil of a tolerably fertile character, and well drained, will answer for this purpose, provided it be sufficiently sheltered. Preparation of the Land.-Trenching from two to three feet deep, according to the soil, is quite essen 306 CULTURE OF THE VINE IN AUSTRALIA. tial, and the land should be previously well manur-fully treated hereafter. In trellises, vines have ed and plowed in. In trenching, care must be hitherto been very much crowded. It may in taken to place the top soil, which has been manur-general be said that in this country the trellis ed, at the bottom of the trench, and the virgin soil, should never be less than 18 feet wide, and the which has been taken from the bottom, is to be plants 20 feet asunder; the old wood an upright laid on the top. The subsoil thus placed on the stem, the bearing wood always horizontal. surface prevents the roots from pushing upwards, The chief object in pruning a vine is to increase which would injure the plant; and the manured its fertility, which is effected by cutting out the susoil at the bottom of the trench nourishes and perabundant wood, and adjusting the number and draws the roots downwards, thereby protecting them from the scorching heats of summer. Trenching should take place in dry weather, and the clods must be well pulverized, as hollow spaces in the soil are prejudicial to the plants. The land should now be walked upon as little as possible, especially in wet weather. length of the branches which are to remain, to the age and strength of the plant, for the ripening of the fruit, and for the production of wood for the ensuing year. The great object to be gained is to get rid of as much old wood as possible, as it never bears fruit after the first year, yet has still to be supplied with sap which ought to be applied to the On Manures.-A variety of opinion exists as to production of fruit, and shoots for the following the sort of manure best adapted for the vineyard, year. Now, on the old system of spur pruning, it but the prevailing belief is, that the manure of cat-is quite evident that in a few years there is a great tle is best suited for light, sandy, or gravelly soils, accumulation of old wood which cannot be got rid which are liable to aridity; and that the manure of of, which is not only unsightly to the eye, but is a the horse, sheep, or goat, is best calculated for strong and damp soils in level vineyards. The manure of pigs is supposed to be prejudicial to the flavor of the wine, and too much manure is also injurious to its quality; but this observation does not apply to new vineyards, where the cuttings and young plants must require much nutriment in the early stages of their growth. It is hardly necessary to observe that a vineyard should be effectually fenced against all descriptions of live stock, but this important work may in the present instance be deferred until the vineyard is planted, the operations of which will probably fully occupy the remaining part of the present season. positive injury to the tree, and a great loss of fruit; there are also at the time of pruning a much greater number of wounds to be healed, which likewise take away from the strength of the plant. To obviate all this, the Committee would recommend the system of long pruning, for which they will now proceed to give some directions as being not only more simple, but more efficacious in every respect. laterals are taken off without leaving an eye, it will often flow into the fruit buds, and cause them to burst, and thus spoil them for fruit the ensuing year; this is meant as a general rule, let the age of a plant be what it may. First Year.-As soon as the vines are planted cut them down to within three eyes of the ground. In the spring, when the buds begin to break, take the two strongest shoots and tie them carefully to sticks as fast as they grow, never allowing them to be blown about by the wind. As soon as you have secured two shoots by tying them, rub off the Having fixed on a vineyard site, and determined other, the only object in leaving three shoots being on the sort of produce to be cultivated, the suitable to guard against the accident of one being broken; cuttings should be obtained, cut into lengths of keep them thus growing all the summer, pinching three buds, tied in bundles, and laid in a cool dry off all the laterals, but leaving one eye to each of place; watered over, or plunged into water occa-them, which is left as a vent for any superabunsionally, and, the day before planting, the lower dance of sap; for if the tree is very strong and the ends re-cut, so as to renew the wound, and the bundles set upright in about four inches depth of water; the object being to start the vegetation of the lower before the upper part. They are then to be planted, and, assisted by a little manure, with the uppermost bud a little above the surface. Should this bud refuse to vegetate, lay bare the second. Cuttings should be from vines above 4 years old, if possible; the shoots of young vines being too porous to form good stems. Of course, the thickest and nearest to the old stems are preferred. The distance of the plants is a subject on which we are hardly able as yet to afford much information; the European vineyards differing in this Third Year. The plants now, if they have been respect to the enormous extent of from 10 inches properly attended to, will have made strong shoots, to 7 feet. Two points are to be attended to the and be able to bear fruit; in that case, cut one shelter of the ground from the sun, and the space shoot down to one eye, leaving the other from two requisite for the proper supply of wood, and for the to three feet long. Now, if this were left quite convenience of tillage and vintage. Without en-perpendicular, it is certain that only two or three tering at length on this very important but imper-eyes at most would break, and those at the extreme fectly known subject, the Committee are inclined to end. To obviate this, the shoot must be bent and recommend 4 feet distance in the rows, and 5 feet tied in the shape of the letter S; the bends in between the rows; from a combined consideration which, checking the flow of sap, cause the buds to of the great heat of our vintage season, and the luxuriant growth of our vines. This subject, as well as the pruning, training, &c., will be more Second Year.-At the proper season for pruning cut both shoots down to about a foot, and spread them out in a horizontal direction, one to each side, taking care not to break them; and secure them in that position. In the spring, when you have secured two shoots, one from each branch as near the extremity as possible, rub off all others, so as to throw all the strength of the plant into them. break regularly all the way up. As soon as the shoots are long enough pinch off the tops, leaving four eyes above the fruit, so as to throw all the SIXTH ANNUAL SHOW OF THE N. Y. STATE AG. SOCIETY. sap into it. The other shoot that was cut down to one eye must be suffered to grow as long as possible, as that is to be the fruit-bearing shoot the next year. Fourth Year.-The branch which has borne fruit must now in its turn be cut down to one eye, and the other, which was allowed to grow its full length all the summer, must take its place, being trained in the same way, only that, as the tree is now stronger, a greater length of wood may be left for fruit, which will increase every year as the tree gets older, bearing in mind the principle, that the two shoots must bear on alternate years, one shoot bearing fruit and the other preparing for the next year. This course may be continued until the tree is strong enough to have two more shoots laid in, one on each side; when having four shoots the proper method to cut them would be to let Nos. 1 and 3 bear one year, and the next year Nos. 2 and 4, by which means your fruiting shoots would never interfere with each other. As a general rule for the length of shoots to be left, the following table is recommended, taking the girth of the stem six inches from the ground. As the length increases, care must be taken that the number of bends also increase, giving a good bold bend every time; it will not injure them even if the bark cracks a little in the operation : 3 inches in girth, 31 3 307 western segment was occupied by the horses. Near the centre of the ground was Floral Hall, devoted to flowers and fruits; on either hand in the rear, were the Domestic Hall, for fabrics of all kinds; Farmers' Hall, for butter, cheese, lard, &c. ; and Mechanics' Hall, for farm implements of the smaller and higher finished kinds. Then there was the great tent pitched on the south side, at least 40 feet in diameter, under which was delivered the annual address, and the reports of Committees read. At the north side were various small tents for the use of Committees, &c. The Business Office stood outside of the enclosure, at the north-east entrance; the Ticket Office a little distance south, immediately fronting, and about 100 yards in advance of the great entrance gate to the show grounds. In addition to these, two halls on the north side within the enclosure were allowed to be occupied for refreshments for visitors. Plenty of hay and water were provided for the stock on the show grounds. Floral Hall was upwards of 120 feet long, and in form of a Greek Temple. The front and pillars were densely covered with evergreens, giving it a most enchanting rural appearance. The other buildings were of corresponding size, and very commodious. Taking it all in all, the arrangements were more complete than at any former exhibition of the Society; and the Committee superintending them deserve high praise for their indefatigable endeavors to make everything so perfect on the occasion. Trial of Plows.-This took place on Tuesday the 15th. There were few plows present, and these not of the best kind. However, we consider this of no importance, so long as the trials are conducted as the Society has hitherto pleased to order them. They prove nothing at all, and are a mere Iwaste of time. The excellent Committee on the occasion did the best they could to make the most of the affair. But pray what results can they arrive at, so long as one quality of ground, and that a stiff clayey green sward, is to be turned over? Does the plow best fitted for this, answer best in a deep (a) The month of August in Australia corre- friable loam ? or on a light sandy soil? or in a wet sponds to February in the United States. SIXTH ANNUAL SHOW OF THE meadow or among rocks and stumps? or on a stubble field? We should be very glad to have these questions answered, if they can be satisfactorily and in accordance with the rational principles of mechanics. Wednesday and Thursday were the great show days, and early on the morning of the first, the people, stock, &c., began to assemble, and soon filled the area of the show-ground. NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. THIS was held at Auburn, on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of September. The concourse of people attending it was as great as at any of the preceding exhibitions; full 40,000 having visited the grounds during the three days of the show. A copious Horses. This was, as we expected, the best exshower fell on the night of the 14th, which com-hibition of horses by far that has ever been made. pletely laid the dust, and nothing could have been There were present the beautiful thorough-bred, more favorable than the weather which followed. the superb roadster, the poney Morgan, and the imShow Ground. This comprised about thirteen mense cart horse, together with mares, foals, and acres, and was laid out on Capitol Hill, in the pre-match carriage and single horses. Thursday aftercincts of the village. The ground was well chosen, noon all these were drawn up in two lines fronting being covered with a firm turf, of a slightly rolling each other, with 20 or 30 feet of open space between surface, and commanding a beautiful view of the them. The stallions, mares, and foals, occupied one adjacent country. It was enclosed with a high, line, and the match and single horses, in harness and tight board fence, inside of which, at a suitable dis-under the saddle, the other line. They stretched tance, was a railing put up all around, except on the front side, to form the carriage drive. The sheep and pig pens were arranged along the south and west sides of this railing within, while the cattle were tied up on the north side. The intermediate quite across the show grounds and made a most imposing display. It might be considered invidious in us to distinguish upon such an occasion, but we must confess we were highly pleased with Busirus, belonging to Dr. Irvine of Pennsylvania. He was |