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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
LIBRARY

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74

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1839

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TRANSACTIONS

ESSEX

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

18 3 9.

Vol. I I. — No. IX

PUBLISHED BY ORDER. OF THE SOCIETY,
J AN U AR Y , 1839.

SALEM GAZETTE POWER PRESS

1840.

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[ERST, MASS.

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A N

ADDRESS

BEFORE THE

GEORGETOWN,

SEPTEMBER 26, 1839.

ALLEN PUTNAM,

OF DANVERS.

~OG^—

SALEM POWER PRESS.

PRINTED AT THE GAZETTE OFFICE,
1840.

ADDRESS.

Mr. President and Gentlemen :

I would gladly have been excused from attempt-
ing" to bring a contribution to the exhibitions of
your Society, until such a time as I could offer some-
thing that was nearly ripened. There are, no doubt,
matured grains and delicious fruits, in the field in
which I am honored with the privilege of gathering ;
but having an unpractised eye, every thing there
seems to me unripe and unfit to set before this com-
pany. How can it be otherwise ? Only a little
more than two years ago, these hands had had no
acquaintance with the plough and the scythe since
the days of my boyhood. Up to the present hour, I
have never cultivated a rood of land that belonged to
myself, or in the productions of which I had any di-
rect pecuniary interest.

Broken down in health by the confinement and
exhausting excitements of professional labors, the
quiet and the employments of the paternal farm were
resorted to as the most skilful physicians and efficient

6 mr. putnam's address.

restoratives. There, where I have been little else
than a mere laborer in carrying forward the opera-
tions upon the farm, and that too in the short term
of less than three years, have I received nearly all
my available schooling in the science and art of hus-
bandry. The situation has afforded neither induce-
ments to make such minutes, nor opportunity to try
such experiments, as enable me to address an assem-
bly of experienced farmers, in a manner that will be
satisfactory to myself, or instructive to those who
hear me.

Though well aware that assertions, without some-
thing "like proof of their correctness ; that theories
unsupported by experiments ; that second or third
hand statements of facts are far from being what the
occasion demands, yet I am obliged to tell you what
I think, rather than what I know ; to give details of
my conjectures, rather than the results of experience
and extensive observation.

The lessons, which experience is supposed to give
where I have labored and observed, are not, perhaps,
in all their parts such as she teaches in other portions of
the county. The crops and methods of cultivation,
which are most productive on one farm, may be un-
suited to other lands. Therefore, you and I, proba-
bly, do not think and judge precisely alike. My
views will be deemed erroneous. Be it so ; suspect
me, if you please, even of ignorance, partial obser-
vation, and visionary theorising. I'll bid the suspi-
cion a cordial welcome, if by raising it, I can furnish
you with a single fact or suggestion that may be turn-
ed to some good account. Cautioning you not to

mr. putnam's address. 7

adopt my opinions any farther than they arc approv-
ed by your own good sense and experience, I ven-
ture to notice, somewhat minutely, several of our
common crops and operations.

Indian corn is one of the most important produc-
tions of our soil and skill. What varieties shall be
cultivated ? The early or the late ? — The cold and
frosts of '36 and '37 aroused almost every agricultu-
ral pen in recommendation of the early kinds ; the
tongues of Commissioner and address-makers were
eloquent in their praise ; and farmers generally be-
came anxious to procure them for cultivation. The
arguments of the many pens, the power of eloquence,
and the more persuasive language of the prudent
farmer's actions, could never, in my judgment, stand
before a simple and unimposing array of facts and fig-
ures. During more than half a century the later corns
have not failed, in more than three seasons, to come
to maturity in my ancestral fields. These varieties,
I should ijudge, generally yield at least twenty-five
per cent more of both grain and stalks, than the ear-
ly kind. A very simple arithmetical process brings
me to the conclusion, that there is little wisdom in
abandoning the cultivation of the more productive
varieties. It was a maxim with one, now deceased,
who ranked among the best cultivators in my native
parish, that he would rather have a crop of larger
corn every other year, and a larger growth of stalks
and green corn the intervening years, than an annu-
al crop of small stuff. This maxim, in its spirit, if
not in the letter, is perfectly sound. I have facts that
seem to prove it. In 1837, when the corn was bad-

8 mr. putnam's address.

]y injured by frosts, I found by no negligent, if not by
the most careful measurement of the crop upon one
acre and ten poles of land planted with large and
late corn, that it amounted to thirty- five bushels that
was quite well ripened, and thirty-six or seven frost-
bitten and green ; nearly half of the latter kind, how-
ever, dried sufficiently well to grind upon the cob
and make tolerable food for cattle and swine. There
were upon the farms earlier corns ripening well, and
yet yielding a less valuable crop than the one des-
cribed. This, let me be understood to say, was in
the most unfavorable season, with two, or at most,
three exceptions, of the last fifty years. If in such a
year the late corns make any thing like a near ap-
proach in value, to the early ones, they must be de-
cidedly the most profitable in the average of a suc-
cession of seasons. Making all the deductions which
can be reasonably demanded for the greater exhaus-
tion of the soil, and for a supposition that the early
varieties with which I am acquainted are less produc-
tive than others that might be found, the position, in
my mind, can and must be still maintained, that on
all our good lands that are not cold and peculiarly
subject to frosts, and where we intend to manure
well and take proper care of our land, it is unwise to
give up the productive for the early corns.

Which among the early, and which among the late
varieties are best? I am but poorly qualified to
answer the question. Can only say generally, that the
dimensions of the kernel, particularly in depth, are
worthy of much regard. The Dutton, in all its va-
rieties, is no favorite with me. Its bright and sound

appearance, the length and fulness of the ear, and its
twelve rows recommend it to the eye, and it tells up
well in the basket ; but there is another measure —
in the half bushel it is found wanting; the cob heap
takes too large a share. The eight-rowed corns,
of the largest kernel that will mature in our cli-
mate, arc to be preferred. One of this description,
under good cultivation, has not failed with us, in any
one of the last six years, to give a growth of at least
sixty bushels to the acre, and has gone as high as nine-
ty-five. The proper name of this is not known, but
in all respects, excepting color, it is like a variety of
the Parker corn which I have seen. The Touscarou-
ra has been considered as a garden corn merely. But
the luxuriant growth of a small patch of it last year,
led to a belief that it might be found profitable in the
field ; and I am anticipating a favorable result of an
experiment with it. Here is a kernel that yields
flour scarcely inferior in whiteness, softness, and fla-
vor to the Genesee ; and by the side of which the
kernel of most of our corns is but a pigmy. I doubt
not that on warm and good soils it will stand nearly
at the head of corns in productiveness. Accounts
are coming to us of a corn called the " Brown," which
in the high latitude of N. Hampshire is made to yield
an hundred, an hundred and thirty-six, even an hun-
dred and forty-seven bushels to the acre. Doing so
well at the north of us, I hope that some of our far-
mers will be induced to see how it will thrive in our
Essex soil.

Seed sometimes fails to germinate; worms and
birds often make sad havoc in our fields. To guard

10

against loss from these causes it is well to plant twice
as many kernels in the hill as we wish to have stalks.
There is a slight direct advantage in this. For the
young plants, 1 know not why, grow faster for a few
weeks in thick bunches, than when distant from
each other. This method also enables you to dis-
pense with all the sickly and unpromising plants,
and retain a full supply of such only as are heal-
thy and vigorous. The increase of product will am-
ply compensate for the extra seed and labor of
thinning.

Much has been written in praise of the famous
Baden corn, yielding four and five ears to the stalk.
We have been advised to select our seed from stalks
bearing two ears, and thus make for ourselves a New
England Baden. But I question the prudence of
hearkening to the advice. Last Spring a gentleman
in Boston sent me three beautiful ears of corn, long,
bright and sound ; with a request to have them plant-
ed where they might have a good chance to show
what they could do. The request was complied
with. Subsequently I learned that they had been
obtained by Badenizing a Canada corn, and that I
might expect to obtain three and four good ears to
the stalk. The ears are, I must acknowledge, un-
commonly numerous, but very many of them are but
small things, and I shall be disappointed, if I find
there as much good sound corn as would be obtained
from five good stalks in a hill, bearing each one ear.
I have for a considerable time thought that Baden's
process would do little else than increase the pile of
nubbins, or diminish the mow of stalks. This is

11

merely an individual opinion, and is given without a
desire that it should [deter any one from making ex-
periments.

I have some theories or whims to state, relating to
our treatment of the growing corn. Both air and
light are thought to be serviceable to its roots ; if
so, it is a part of our business to keep the windows,
above them, open. You have all noticed that rains
and dews very soon form a slight crust upon the sur-
face of our land in tillage. When this is formed,
even but partially, it obstructs, somewhat, the pas-
sage of both air and light. In the short space of four
oi five days, be the weather ever so fair, the surface
of the ground we stir, will become very considerably
less pervious; passage ways should again be opened.
But we cannot spend all our time among the corn.
What then is our best mode of procedure ? These
subtile agents, if once admitted below the surface-
crust, will move obliquely to a considerable distance ;
so that merely [passing between the rows one way
with the cultivator, may be sufficient for furnishing a
temporary supply of light and air to all the roots. If
so, the labor of passing through the other way should
be deferred for a few days ; then after an interval of
a few more days use the hoe. At the proper time,
repeat the process. For thus, with an equal amount
of labor, applied on nine different days at intervals
of four or six days, your crop, if my theory is sound,
will be considerably more benefited, than if the la-
bor be all performed on three days, at intervals of a
fortnight or more.

12

It is presumed that stirring the surface of the
earth until later in the season than is usual with
our farmers would hasten the maturity and increase
the quantity of our crops. I should confidently ex-
pect advantage from it up to the time when the corn
becomes full. I speak of stirring the surface ; and
I mark the word as emphatic. Two years ago when
thinning corn that was not more than six or eight in-
ches high, I accidentally drew out the root of one
stalk, that, upon measurement, was found to be twen-
ty inches long. Afterwards, by pulling with care,
roots much longer than I supposed that little corn
possessed, were drawn out from many hills. Subse-
quent observation has confirmed the belief that the
minute but important roots of our corn spread wide-
ly through the ground and that many of them lie
near its surface. It is hardly necessary to assert that
it is important to spare the roots of our growing-
plants. However minute they may be, the plant will
suffer from a loss of them. The practice of plough-
ing deep between the rows, and making a high hill
around the corn must sever many of these roots, and
lay the mass of them unnaturally deep in the earth.
Corn thus treated is placed at disadvantage. There
is no benefit whatever derived from making any hill.
I have taken pains the present year to go through
many fields, and notice the effect of every grade,
from the level surface to the high hill, and I find no
reason to think that the corn either grows better, or
stands better, for being hilled. In times of drought,
the level surface will longer supply the corn with
moisture, and will convey the rain, when it comes,

IS

more directly and abundantly to the thirsting roots.
My conviction, that the surface of the ground a-
lone should be stirred, leads me to refer to the instru-
ments of cultivation. The plough is fast giving place
to the cultivator. This exchange may be advanta-
geous. But I am not satisfied that it is the best ex-
change that might be made. The form of the cul-
tivator teeth does not suit me ; it carries them too
deep ; they rend the roots of the corn too much.
Many months ago, the query arose in my mind wheth-
er the size of crops which I had witnessed, was not
augmented by the use of a harrow in the cultivation.
Since that time I have noticed with care such ac-
counts as have come to me of large crops, and have
been surprised to find that in most of the instances in
which a very extraordinary yield had been obtained,
the corn was harrowed. I throw out these opinions
in the hope that some one will be induced to bring
my theory to the test of experience, and ascertain
by some careful experiment the soundness or un-
soundness of my conclusion.

One other topic in relation to this crop, demands
a passing notice. If any faith can be placed in the
testimony of those who have endeavored to ascertain
the exact effects of taking the top of the stalk from
the growing, or rather ripening corn, the farmers of
Essex are not accustomed to pursue the best course.
Experiment is said to teach, that when the corn, as
soon as it has become a little hardened, is cut up at
the root and shocked, the yield is greater than when
left to stand with the stalk uncut until it is fully
ripened ; and that this latter method gives a larger

14

produce than that of topping the stalk. The differ-
ences have been so great as to make the matter one
of no small importance. Trials by measurement
have never been made under my own inspection,
but on each of the last two years I have seen the
process of topping and cutting at the root perform-
ed side by side, and have no hesitation in giving a
preference to the latter. The labor of harvesting
by this process is believed to be somewhat less than
by the other ; the stalks as a whole are quite as good ;
the danger of harm from severe frosts less ; and I
doubt not that the corn is more and better. We all
know that the other grains lose both in size and
sweetness by drying upon standing stalks ; and until
experiments have proved the contrary, the fair pre-
sumption is that corn will do the same,

Grasses are usually forced to drag out a feeble
and protracted infancy among the overshadowing
and greedy grains. While delicate and tender as
they can be and live, the screen is removed and they
are laid bare to the scorchings of an August sun.
That they so often survive the hardships of their sit-
uation, is matter of surprise. They would doubtless
do better if sowed alone. I have no faith in the cor-
rectness of a common opinion, that they need some-
thing to protect them ; they are the hardiest plants
we cultivate ; and the protection which the grains
give, is too much like [the wolfs protection of the
lamb. Farmers, however, might not be wise in
abandoning to any great extent, their accustomed
course. The loss in one crop may be compensated
by the convenience and worth of the other. Oats,

15

as far as my observation extends, when luxuriant and
suffered to ripen, are usually nearly fatal to the grass.
The other grains are less harmful.

To some extent our grasses may be allowed to
commence their growth under more favorable cir-
cumstances. Moist lands that will admit a smooth
turning, may be easily and profitably renovated
by ploughing in the month of August or Septem-
ber, applying a dressing of manure upon the furrow,
sowing the seed, harrowing and rolling. I have seen
enough of this method to recommend it in entire
confidence, that it is good. Where corn is cultiva-
ted without any hill, grass may be sowed among it at
the last time of hoeing, to great advantage. One
piece of ground laid down in this way, which has
now been mowed five successive summers, has uni-
formly yielded a good crop and holds out better than
any other piece of similar texture on which I ever
labored. Another piece from which two crops have
been taken, does thus far equally well, and gives fair
promises for the future. This method seems admi-
rably well adapted to light and sandy lands, where
grasses often fail to take root. The Hon. William
Clark, of Northampton, who was the originator of
this process, told me, according to my recollection,
that he now often succeeds in obtaining two tons
of clover to the acre on light soils, where no one had
ever before been able to form, by the old process,
any sward ; and where it had long been deemed en-
tirely useless to sow grass seed among rye.

The raising of roots for cattle and swine is yearly,
becoming more common. This is an improvement,

16

in our husbandry. Taking a succession of years,
and a variety of kinds, roots may be raised at an ex-
pense of twelve and a half cents per bushel ; perhaps
for less. As aids in working off the coarser kinds of
fodder, while the stock is kept in good condition ; as
means of increasing the quantity of milk, beef, and
pork on the farm ; and not least, as agents in enrich-
ing and increasing the manure heap, they fully repay
the expense which obtains them. Taking both
cost and worth into the account, perhaps neither the
ruta baga, sugar beet, nor carrot, is to be preferred
to the exclusion of the others. Let them all be cul-
tivated. For milch cows, the sugar beet will proba-
bly be found the best ; for horses and swine, carrots
will be preferred. One Winter's trial with two hors-
es has proved that a peck of carrots per day is quite
as good for a horse as four quarts of oats ; when
boiled, swine thrive well upon them. One eighth,
and perhaps a larger portion of all the land which a
farmer tills, may profitably be appropriated to the
root culture.

Let not the advance and spread of total abstinence
principles, cause you to set less value upon the or-
chard. Apples are worth as much for cattle and
hogs, as they ever were lor cider. Trial was made
a few years since with two cows. One ate a peck
of raw apples through a week ; the other had none.
The next week the apples went to the other crib.
The third week the first cow again received them.
Then came the second one's turn, and thus they
went round. The milk from these cows was meas-
ured, and each peck of apples produced about one

17

quart of milk.* For store swine they are worth at
least half as much as potatoes. Apples will continue
to be worth cultivating, even when all shall have
ceased to stupify the brain and sour the disposition
by the use of cider ; yes, even in the temperate times
when the Trustees of this Society shall cease to offer
a premium upon the best sample of an article that
wars against the domestic enjoyments and thrift of
many an Essex Farmer.

Manures — the means and methods of increasing
and compounding them ; the particular soils and crops
to which each kind is best adapted ; in what state
and at what seasons they should be applied; these all
claim our careful attention and close study. Knowl-
edge of these is the main-spring of improvement and
success in husbandry. Attempting to farm without
manure, is like setting up to be a gentleman of
leisure and fashion without money. The thing wont
go. The proper construction of yards for cattle and
swine ; the advantages of a cellar under the barn ;
the more common means of increasing the manure
heap ; I have no time for considering. Important as
brevity is, however, the claims of muck to our regard
must not be passed over in silence. Many of our
swamps and meadows consist of an invaluable col-
lection of decomposed vegetable matter. This by a
few months exposure to the atmosphere becomes an
excellent material for making most valuable com-
posts. I am persuaded that its worth, and the best

* This experiment, I am led to suppose, was not made with so much exactness
as here described ; but the experimentor was satisfied that the apples produced as
much milk, as stated above. — Dec. 16, 1839.

3

18

methods of using it, are not generally understood.
A highly intelligent member of this society, re-
cently invited me into his fields, and I have seen but
little corn of fairer promise any where, than was
growing upon land broken up the present season,
because bound out, and where the only dressing used
was fifteen or sixteen cart loads of compost to the
acre; three fourths of which was meadow mud, the
remainder stable manure. Another of our members,
intelligent and scientific, has a fine field of corn ma-
nured with meadow-mud, mixed with quantities of
stable manure and wood ashes so small as to make
the whole ai uncommonly cheap dressing for that
crop. This field, perhaps, will teach some valuable
lessons. I say no more, because, its owner will un-
doubtedly be the willing organ of its communication
with this society. Unmixed with any other ingredi-
ents, this swamp mud, after being rendered friable by
the frost, is a very considerable fertilizer of light soils ;
and will well repay the expense of using it as a top
dressing upon grass lands I will here remark that
the meadows, in which good muck abounds, are
among our most productive soils and most profitable
for cultivation. The necessary draining may often
be accomplished while one is obtaining muck for
the manure heap. Where there is sufficient consist-
ency for the use of the turf-spade, and where a new
ditch is to be opened, this labor may conveniently be
performed in winter, when the meadow is so firmly
frozen as to make it convenient and easy removing
the mud to the upland. This is no mere theory.
These feet and these hands know to the full extent,

19

what there is of cold and discomfort in working in
the muddy ditch on days that do no discredit to Jan-
uary ; and they will tell you that when cased in boots
and mittens they will not ask for a more comfortable
place. As far as the farmer has opportunity to col-
lect materials for his manure heap, and drain his wet
lands at his most leisure season, prudence directs
him to embrace them. But my subject is manures.
Chaptal, in his Agricultural Chemistry, says that " the
excellence of a soil depends upon its containing the
right proportion of each species of earth, and that
is supposed to be the best soil, in which the virtues
of one portion of its constituent principles correct
the faults or defects of the rest." To spread the
sandy wash obtained by the road-side upon sandy
and gravelly soils ; to put a dressing of vegetable
matter upon the peat meadow or on a very black soil,
would be " carrying coals to New Castle." It might
not be entirely useless, but there is so much of the
article already there that it might better be carried to
places where it is less abundant. Is it certain that
two loads of best manure from the stable would be
much more serviceable on a light sandy soil than
one load of manure and one of clay or tenacious
mud ? Can we say with confidence that pure animal
manure will add more to the fertility of a vegetable
soil than manure with an equal quantity of loam or
sand ? Would any other dressing be more valuable
upon a clayey soil than one composed of half sand ?
May it not be true that much labour might be very
profitably spent in carting soils from one portion of
the farm to another, thus making more fertile mix-

20

tures ? Should science and experience give the ex-
pected answers to questions of this kind, we have,
within convenient reach, abundant materials for en-
hancing the productiveness of our lands. A farmer
in the northern part of the county, informed me re-
cently, that a thin coating of loam, upon wet meadow
lands, has caused the growth of two tons of good
English hay to the acre annually, for five or six suc-
cessive years. No manure has ever been applied.
Facts like this command us to give more attention
than has been customary, to the mixture of soils.

The application of manures in a liquid state, so
highly approved in Europe, should not remain long
untried by us.

Observation satisfies me, that in soils not cold, un-
fermented manure, though less active than fermented
in the early part of the season, will be found the
most serviceable at the time when our crops need
their greatest supply of nourishment. I have seen
the two kinds tried repeatedly upon turnips sowed in
August. In September, the plants upon the older
and finer manure are far in advance of the others,
but in November the tables are turned. The yield
will average twenty-five per cent, more where the
manure is applied in its green state. Corn, too,
though more yellow upon this in June, will show as
much yellow, I think more above the husks, in Sep-
tember.

Bone manure, last season, did pretty well. In all
the operations I have aided to make with it the pres-
ent year, it has been so mixed up with other ingredi-
ents that it is impossible to judge of its efficacy. The

21

corn where it was used, wore in the early part of the
season a most sorrowful and forlorn aspect ; the
warm suns of July, however, enlivened its spirits
and changed its complexion. Its present size would
rebuke me were I to assert that it has not found
somewhere a pretty good supply of nourishment. In
the field of a friend, who left his corn to feed upon
bones and meadow mud, or starve, its aspect a few
weeks since indicated that the food was either diffi-
cult of mastication or hard to digest. Its growth
was less vigorous and its appearance less healthy
than that of the surrounding corn upon different
diet. A rust, a bad rust, was upon all its leaves,
while the neighboring corn on all sides was bright
and healthy in its appearance. Probably you can
find more economical means of enriching your soils,
than that of procuring bones.

Book farming. Do the words produce a sneer ?
Be that as it may ; the thing, or what is often stig-
matized as that thing, is not contemptible. For what
is it ? Not an attempt to comply with the advice and
copy the example of every one who furnishes an ar-
ticle for an agricultural journal ; not the adoption of
every method of husbandry that is recommended in
print ; not a departure from all the usages of our fa-
thers and neighbors ; not a preference of the theo-
ries contained in books to the results of experience.
No. I pity the stupidity of the man who thinks that
if we use books, we must close our eyes against the
light that is beaming upon us from other sources ; or
that we must become mere theorisers, and the vic-
tims of ruinous experiments. What! does a man

lose his common sense, his prudence and his judg-
ment, whenever he takes up an agricultural paper or
opens a book upon husbandry ? Cannot one make
himself acquainted with the doings of others without
losing his power to judge whether it v/ould be well
for him, in his circumstances, to copy their examples ?
Our brains are not so weak as this. The knowledge
acquired from books does not make us all mad. But
if it did, there would be more zest and true enjoyment
in the learning mad-man's course, than in that of
him who has learned out, and who thinks that books
cannot make him wiser. I asked what book-fanxir
ing is ? Common book-farming is learning by
means of books, new facts, opinions, results of ex-
periments, modes of operation, and the using such
parts of the information as can be turned to profitar
ble account in our individual situations. If this be
folly, we are content to be called fools. An agricul-
tural paper will be worth to you every month, if not
every week, more than its annual cost,

I have a few words for the farmers' wives. How-
ever skilful, industrious, and prudent your husbands
may be, their success in money making depends as
much upon you as upon them. Economy and skill
on your part, in turning every thing to the best ac-
count, are essential to profitable husbandry. Per-r
haps there is scope for study, experiments, and
improvement in your departments. All are not
equally successful in the management of the dairy.
Poor pastures, poor cows, poor cellars, are the alledg-
ed reasons for the difference in results. These
things undoubtedly are often the causes of failure to

23

obtain butter in large quantities and of good quality.
But may not the fault sometimes lie with the dairy
woman ? Is her business so simple as to be always
well understood ? You begin to suspect that I doubt
that some of you have perfectly mastered the art of
butter making. It may be an ungallant doubt ; but
listen to the particulars of one case in point and then
judge whether I can help doubting. As stated to
me, the facts are these. One of our famers, the
summer before the last, employed successively and
for short terms each, three different dairy women,
Here the cows, the pasture, the cellar, and all the
dairy apparatus were the same ; and how was the
result ? One obtained seventeen pounds of butter
per week, the second twenty-three, and the third
twenty-seven. Such facts should induce many of
you to vary your processes and note results.

Philanthropy, looking forward, sighs at consequen-
ces which must follow from changes that are taking
place in the employments and habits of your daugh-
ters. Circumstances beyond your control have thrown
the healthful spinning wheel and loom upon the pile
of rubbish in the garret. Housework and the dairy
do not furnish sufficient employment for all the fe-
males. Either mothers or daughters must resort to
something else by which to contribute a share in the
support of the family. It is too commonly the case
that the daughters resort to some occupation that is
not sufficiently active and invigorating. The needle
is taking the bloom from many of their cheeks and
vigor from their frames. The evil is augmented by
that mode of dress, (1 ought to use a harsher term,)

24

which obstructs the natural and healthy development
of the lungs and chest; also by imprudent prudence
in avoiding exposure to the weather; and a too
effeminate reliance upon the horse, for services
which heaven intended should be rendered by their
own limbs ! The lamentable consequences will not
be confined to them ; children will inherit the feeble-
ness of their mothers, and a sickly race will come
after us.

Useful as the needle is and beautiful as are its con-
tributions to our show, I appeal to the mothers, to
forbid its excessive, its constant use by the daughters.
I entreat them as they value the well being of their
children, to give the daughters daily and thorough
training in the care and labor of the dairy and of all
household affairs. It were well -— well for them and
for a future race, that they should revive the ac-
quaintance which their mothers and grandmothers
had with the milking-stool, the garden, and to some
extent the field ; for then, bloom would linger upon
their cheeks ; health would flow in fuller tides through
all their veins ; they would acquire vigor of body
and soundness of mind, that will contribute to their
usefulness and enjoyments when time shall bring
them to the places which you now hold — shall make
them the wives of farmers and mothers of the rising
generation.

The command which Adam received, " to till the
ground," was merciful in its design, and has ever
been beneficent in its operations upon mankind. The
husbandman's labors give healthful exercise to the
body ; and where he is attentive to the beauties,

25

changes, laws, and mysteries of nature, his pursuit
may furnish most profitable employment to the intel-
lectual and moral powers.

Health finds as peaceful a home, and holds posses-
sion as securely, amid the tranquil nerves and the
firm sinews that are covered by the farmer's sun-
burned skin, as is furnished for her by the men of
any other occupation whatsoever. No other pursuit
is attended by greater bodily comfort. But young
men and boys are prone to imagine that some more
cleanly and less active pursuit would be more agree-
able and less exhausting than the cultivation of the
soil. The browned face, the hardened hands, the
aching back, the stiffened limbs, the muddied trow-
sers, and dirtied shirt, are unknown in the school
room, at a merchant's counter, and in the shops of
many mechanics. Half the world avoid the dirt and
hard labor which the farmer must encounter. It is
not surprising that the young, observing this, should
desire to quit the farm. Experience and observa-
tion have not yet taught them that every pursuit
brings aches and various annoyances ; or that dirt
and hard work are not among the fatal foes to enjoy-
ment. Perhaps a word from one who has experi-
enced the sensations of both the student and the
farmer, may not be worthless. The farmer's aches
bring good digestion and quiet sleep. The night
will repair the wastes of the day. But the excited
nerves and throbbing temples of the student bring
dyspepsia and exhausting restlessness. Morning
often finds him languid ; unrefreshed by his unquiet

sleep. My oft repeated experience proves that the
4

26

ordinary labors of the clergyman on the Sabbath are
felt more on the following day, than in a tolerably
vigorous use of the scythe, the pitch-fork, and the
rake, for ten or twelve hours. Whenever called up-
on to labor seven days in the week, I have found my-
self least disposed to exertion on Monday morning.
My advice to the young would be, never to quit the
farm in hopes of finding an employment more con-
ducive to their physical comfort.

Abundant food for the intellect and range for its
exertion may be found in the sphere in which the
farmer operates. Whether this pursuit has in ages
past given sufficient employment to the minds of
those who have tilled our soils, comes not within the
range of my enquiry. Our farmers have not been
the accurate and constant observers, the faithful re-
corders and logical reasoners, which the spirit of the
present day is calling for. Husbandry in this region
has been pursued in a less scientific and intelligent
manner than its nature and importance demand.
This is beginning to be known and felt ; many of our
farmers are waking up to the business of improve-
ment, and give promise of favorable results. The
work, however, is merely commenced. Many of
the important principles of agriculture are yet but
partially known, if known at all, among us; very im-
perfect, if any, records are here kept of the results
of different processes, and of the cost and worth of
different crops. Vagueness and inaccuracy charac-
terize too much of our knowledge of our own pur-
suit. Could you, brother farmer, be induced to un-
dertake to make the annual address before this So-

27

ciety, I fear that you would not be very certain about
many matters which you now consider perfectly set-
tled ; your supposed knowledge, if not composed of
more substantial stuff than mine, would mostly slip
through the fingers, as soon as you attempted to
grasp it and write it down. You might find that your
observations have been less minute and accurate
than you suppose ; that your experiments have been
conducted with less care than you imagine ; and that
you are less well acquainted with your own business
than you suspect. Such a lesson does no harm. I
am tempted to wish that you might all learn it. You
would then be made to know that we have scarcely
commenced some of our appropriate studies — the
study of the nature and composition of the various
soils and various manures ; the study of the habits
and wants of the various grains, grasses, and roots ;
the study of the first principles of agricultural sci-
ence, and of their application. Then you might per-
ceive that our pursuit can furnish daily and abundant
employment to every faculty of the mind, as well as
to every limb and muscle of the body.

You might, if placed where 1 stand, suspect that
one would find it serviceable to record whatever new
knowledge he acquired, to keep accurate and full
accounts of his expenditures, and his income. The
difficulties which embarrass me at every step of
progress in collecting matter for this address, induce
me to advise every young farmer to keep a journal ;
to note down where and how he spends each
day, to record his observations upon different modes
of cultivation, the growth of crops, and every thing

28

connected with his pursuit. This journal might be
so kept that at the close of the year it could be post-
ed, and show the cost and value of each crop, and
each variety of animals upon the farm. I know not
in what other way one can learn with accuracy the
comparative profits of his crops or stock. Such
knowledge is surely desirable, and can be obtained.
If procured in the way here recommended, the farm-
er's labors will become more intellectual.and interest-
ing than they now generally are. For the habit of
recording at night the observations of the day, would
keep the mind awake to the occurrences around it ;
would cause one to be accurate in his observations ;
inquisitive for the causes of what he witnessed, and a
reasoner from the facts so carefully noted. Thus
the mind being kept active and bright would acquire
a deepening interest in a pursuit which is constantly
presenting new views of nature's operations. If
properly pursued and explained, I see not why the
business of husbandry need be less attractive to the
intelligent, active and enterprising boy, than is the
business at the merchant's counter, the mechanic's
bench, or on the merchantman's deck. But to ren-
der it such, more employment must be furnished for
his mind than most of us had in the days of our boy-
hood. The boy is directed to learn in the school-
room ; but on the farm he must work. This is very
well, though I cannot allow that it is enough. More
pains than is usual should be taken to teach boys the
best methods of doing their work, and the reasons
for those methods ; more care and experience be-
stowed in procuring for them the best of tools, partic-

29

ularly the scythe. I know not how a farmer can dis-
play greater inhumanity and improvidence, than by
setting a boy to learn to mow with one of his worn
out and cast off scythes ; if, with the man's greater
strength and many seasons' practice, the tool cannot
be made to cut, what can be expected from it in the
feebler and inexperienced hands of the beginner !
But what I wish to present most distinctly here, is,
the importance of disclosing to boys the reasons for
nearly all the operations upon the farm. This
method will give them a greater interest in their la-
bors ; will furnish occupation for their minds ; will
make them observers of the advantages and disad-
vantages of different modes of cultivation. It will
lead them to study Agriculture in that period of life
when the senses are the most active in noticing the
various natural phenomena, and when the mind forms
its most abiding habits.

Moral and religious character may be formed and
nurtured as readily and successfully by one who is
devoted to this most natural of all pursuits as in any
other of the many employments of man. None I
believe will doubt that virtue and holiness are as
often found in the farmer's home as beneath the roofs
of any other class of our citizens. The volume of
inspiration may be and is as reverently studied there
as any where; and the husbandman must be con-
stantly receiving salutary lessons from that " elder
scripture," nature. In its moral tendencies, this pur-
suit commends itself to all who estimate virtue and
piety at their proper worth.

But how does it speak to him who inquires for its

30

pecuniary results ? It answers in honest terms. Its
promises are less liberal than are made by most other
pursuits, but its performance is more to be relied
upon. It offers a comfortable support and it pays this
more generally than almost any other occupation.

What is its repute, in the world ? How does it af-
fect one's standing in the community ? In what esti-
mation are farmers held ? Let us not be deceived
by appearances. The striped frock and cow-hide
boots are not often introduced into the parlors of the
refined, the fashionable, and the rich. The unpolish-
ed husbandman is not the chosen companion of the
refined merchant and professional man. And why
thus ? Not, I sincerely believe, because the better
portion of those who move in what are called the first
circles, regard the farmers as less deserving of honor
and esteem than themselves and their associates, but
because there is a want of similarity and coalescence
in the manners, habits, tastes and feelings of the two
classes. Those who are robed in costly apparel may
honor the laborer in his homely garb, and yet think,
and justly think, that it would contribute to neither
his enjoyment nor their own, to seat him at their ele-
gant tables or receive him at their social parties.
They know that this would be but cruel kindness ;
rude civility ; an attempt to mingle oil and water.
The pursuit is respected as highly as any other. Give
then, farmers of Essex, give contentment a perma-
nent home in your hearts.

Destructive storms, withering drought, and killing
frosts will sometimes disappoint our hopes. But it is
wise to avoid the too common habit of over estima-

31

ting losses and speaking of them in a tone that bor-
ders upon complaint. The public journals often in-
timate that we are a complaining if not ungrateful
brotherhood. I fear that our common, but thought-
less modes of speaking, will too nearly justify them
in casting upon us the reproach. Let us err, if err
we must, on that side which shows a confiding trust
in the unsearchable wisdom and boundless power of
Him who has promised that " seed time and harvest
shall not fail."

*' O fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint
Agricolas,"

has been echoed by every age since it fell from the
lips of Maro's polished muse. Its truth may pass un-
questioned. Though pleasure and happiness may be
strewed as thickly upon the paths in which high
minded and faithful mechanics, merchants, manufac-
turers, physicians, lawyers and divines wend their
various ways, as over the husbandman's fields, it is
yet true, that farmers would be a happy class, could
they but appreciate in all its fulness, the good they
may enjoy. — And I close, Farmers of Essex, by ap-
pealing to you to be contented with your honorable
pursuit, and to press forward with " unfaltering and
unwearied steps," in the processes of acquiring Agri-
cultural knowledge, of improving your farms, and in-
creasing your productions ; by appealing to you, also,
and above all, to sow to the spirit, that you may
pluck unfading flowers, and gather immortal fruits in
the fair gardens of the world above.

».

REPORTS, &.o.

ON EXPERIMENTS ON MANURES.

To the] Trustees of the Essex Agricultural Society :

Gentlemen, — The only claim to which the atten-
tion of the Committee on Experiments on Manures
has been called, is that of Dr. Andrew Nichols, of
Danvers. His farm in Middleton was visited in Ju-
ly and September. Early in the spring he had caus-
ed unleached wood-ashes to be spread on low and
cold soils, and the crops of grass gave evidence that
the application was very favorable. It had produced
a heavy burden of grass on land which otherwise
would have had but a light and sour crop.

His corn was manured with a compost made of a
small portion of animal manure, seventy bushels of
ashes and meadow or peat mud. The soil is a san-
dy loam. The growth in July was luxuriant, and in
September there was a handsome display of full-
grown, well-filled ears, in the judgment of the Com-
mittee about fifty bushels to the acre. This in some
circumstancs would not be considered a large yield,
but the soil is naturally light and for many years had
not been well manured. The committee were satis-
fied by the appearance of the crop, that this year the
proper manure and good treatment had been applied,
and that in ordinary seasons a compost of ash-
es, meadow mud and barn manure, will, on sandy
5

34 ON EXPERIMENTS ON MANURES.

and loamy soils produce a fair crop of corn. In
the locality of Dr. Nichols's farm, it would be difficult
and expensive to procure animal manure in sufficient
quantities to plant any considerable extent of land,
and we know of no cheaper or better substitute.

The attention of the Committee was also directed
to a piece of barley, on which a solution of pot-
ash and peat mud had been applied, and the quan-
tity of straw and grain appeared to have been
doubled by the operation. But the advantages of
this application were still more apparent on a small
portion of land on which onions had been sown. —
Although it was not in proper tilth for such a crop, it
produced at the rate of six hundred and forty bushels
to the acre. On a small part of the land none of the
solution had been used ; here, the crop was very
light, giving evidence that the superiority of the crop
was owing to the novel application.

The subject is important to farmers. Manure is
the capital on which they do business. And the man
who teaches them how to obtain it at a reasonable
rate and in sufficient quantities, does the public bet-
ter service, than if he lectured the live long day on
copper and silver mines, and amused the sleepy
hours with golden dreams.

The Committee think Dr. Nichols's experiment
valuable, and his statement satisfactory ; they recom-
mend that it be published, and that the Society's pre-
mium of twenty dollars be awarded to him.
For the Committee,

DANIEL P. KING

Danvers, Dec. 28, 1839.

ON MANURES, &C, 35

DR. A. NICHOLS'S STATEMENT.

7"o the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society , >
on Manures : $

Persuaded of the importance of the discoveries
made by Dr. Samuel L. Dana, of Lowell, and given
to the world through the medium of the reports of
Professor Hitchcock and Rev. H. Column, to the
Legislature of Massachusetts, concerning the food
ol vegetables, geine, and the abundance of it in peat
mud, in an insoluble state to be sure and in that state
not readily absorbed and digested by the roots of
cultivated vegetables, but rendered soluble and very
easily digestible by such plants by potash, wood ash-
es, or other alkalies, among which is ammonia, one of
the products of fermenting animal manures, I resolv-
ed last year to subject his theories to the test of ex-
periment the present season. Accordingly I direct-
ed a quantity of black peat mud, procured by ditch-
ing for the purpose of draining and reclaiming an
alder swamp, a part of which I had some years since
brought into a state highly productive of the cultiva-
ted grasses, to be thrown in heaps. During the win-
ter I also had collected in Salem, 282 bushels of un-
leached wood ashes at the cost of 12 1-2 cents per
bushel. These were sent up to my farm, a part to
be spread on my black soil grass lands, and a part to
be mixed with mud for my tillage land. Two hun-
dred bushels of these were spread on about six acres
of such grass land while it was covered with ice and
frozen hard enough to be carted over without cut-
ting it into ruts. These lands produced from one to
two tons of good merchantable hay to the acre,

36 ON MANURES, &C

nearly double the crop produced by the same lands
last year. And one fact induces me to think, that
being spread on the ice, as above mentioned, a
portion of these ashes was washed away by the
Spring freshet. The fact from which I infer this,
is, that a run below, over which the water com-
ing from the meadow on which the largest part of
these ashes were spread flows, produced more than
double the quantity of hay, and that of a very supe-
rior quality to what had been ever known to grow on
the same land before.

Seventy bushels of these ashes, together with a
quantity not exceeding thirty bushels of mixed coal
and wood ashes made by my kitchen and parlor
fires were mixed with my barn manure, derived from
one horse kept in stable the whole year, one other
horse kept in stable during the winter months, one
cow kept through the winter, and one pair of oxen
employed almost daily on the road and in the woods,
but fed in the barn one hundred days. This ma-
nure was never measured, but knowing how it was
made, by the droppings and litter or bedding of these
cattle, farmers can estimate the quantity with a good
degree of correctness. These ashes and this ma-
nure were mixed with a sufficient quantity of the mud
above mentioned by forking it over three times, to
manure three acres of corn and potatoes, in hills four
feet by about three feet apart, giving a good shovel
full to the hill. More than two thirds of this was
grass land, which produced last year about half a
ton of hay to the acre, broken up by the plough in
April. The remainder was cropped last year with-

ON MANURES, &C. 37

out being well manured, with corn and potatoes.
Gentlemen, you have seen the crop growing and
matured, and I leave it to you to say whether or
not the crop on this land would have been bet-
ter had it been dressed with an equal quantity
of pure, well rotted barn manure. For my own
part I believe it would not, but that this experiment
proves that peat mud thus managed, is equal if not
superior to the same quantity of any other substance
in common use as a manure among us ; which, if it
be a fact, is a fact of immense value to the farmers
of New England. By the knowledge and use of it,
our comparatively barren &oils may be made to equal
or excel in productiveness the virgin prairies of the
West. There were many hills in which the corn
first planted was destroyed by worms. A part of
these were supplied with the small Canada corn, a
part with beans. The whole was several times cut
down by frost. The produce was three hundred
bushels of ears of sound corn, two tons of pumpkins
and squashes, and some potatoes and beans. Dr.
Dana, in his letter to Mr. Colman, dated Lowell,
March 6, 1839, suggests the trial of a solution of
geine as a manure. His directions for preparing it
are as follows : " Boil one hundred pounds of dry
pulverized peat with two and a half pounds of white
ash, (an article imported from England,) containing
36 to 55 per cent, of pure soda, or its equivalent
in pearlash or potash, in a potash kettle, with 130 gal-
lons of water ; boil for a few hours, let it settle, and
dip off the clear liquor for use. Add the same quan-
tity of alkali and water, boil and dip off as before.

38 ON MANURES, &C.

The dark colored brown solution contains about half
an ounce per gallon of vegetable matter. It is to
be applied by watering grain crops, grass lands, or
any other way the farmer's quick wit will point out."

In the month of June I prepared a solution of
geine, obtained not by boiling, but by steeping the
mud as taken from the meadow, in a weak lye in
tubs. I did not weigh the materials, being careful
only to use no more mud than the potash would render
soluble. The proportion was something like this:
peat 100 lbs., potash 166 lbs., water 50 gallons ; stir-
red occasionally for about a week, when the dark
brown solution, described by Dr. Dana, was dipped
off and applied to some rows of corn, a portion of a
piece of starved barley, and a bed of onions sown on
land not well prepared for that crop. The corn was
a portion of the piece manured as above mentioned.
On this the benefit was not so obvious. The crop
of barley on the portion watered was more than
double the quantity both in straw and grain to that
on other portions of field, the soil and treatment of
which was otherwise precisely similar.

The bed of onions which had been prepared by
dressing it with a mixture of mud and ashes previous
to the sowing of the seed, but which had not by har-
rowing been so completely pulverized, mixed and
kneaded with the soil as the cultivators of this crop
deem essential to success, consisted of three and a
half square rods. The onions came up well, were
well weeded, and about two bushels of fresh horse
manure spread between the rows. In June four
rows were first watered with the solution of geine

ON MANURES, &C. 39

above described. In ten days the onions in these
rows were nearly double the size of the others. All
but six rows of the remainder were then watered
The growth of these soon outstripped the unwatered
remainder.

Mr. Henry Gould, who manages my farm on
shares, and who conducted all the foregoing experi-
ments, without thinking of the importance of leaving
at least one row unwatered that we might better as-
certain the true effect of this management, seeing
the benefit to the parts thus watered, in about a
week after treated the remainder in the same man-
ner. The ends of some of the rows, however, which
did not receive the watering, produced only very
small onions, such as are usually thrown away as
worthless by cultivators of this crop. This fact leads
me to believe that if the onions had not been water-
ed with the solution of geine, not a single bushel of
a good size would have been produced on the whole
piece. At any rate it was peat or geine rendered
soluble by alkali that produced this large crop.

The crop proved greater than our most sanguine
expectations. The onions were measured in the
presence of the chairman of your committee, and
making ample allowance for the tops which had not
been stripped off, were adjudged equal to four bush-
els to the square rod, or at the rate of 640 bushels to
the acre. In these experiments 7 lbs. of potash which
cost 7 cts. a pound bought at the retail price, were
used. Potash although dearer than wood ashes at
12g cents per bushel, is, I think, cheaper than the
whiteash mentioned by Dr. Dana, and sufficiently

40 ON MANURES, &C.

cheap to make with meadow mud, a far cheaper man-
ure than such as is in general used among our farmers.
The experiment satisfies me that nothing better than
potash and peat, can be used for most if not all our
cultivated vegetables, and the economy of watering
with a solution of geine, such as are cultivated in
rows I think cannot be doubted. The reason why
the corn was not very obviously benefitted, I think,
must have been that the portion of the roots to which
it was applied, was already fully supplied with nu-
triment out of the same kind from the peat ashes and
manure put in the hill at planting. For watering
rows of onions or other vegetables, I should recom-
mend that a cask be mounted on light wheels, so set
that like the drill they may run each side of the row
and drop the liquid manure through a small tap hole
or tube from the cask, directly upon the young plants.
For preparing the liquor, 1 should recommend a cis-
tern about three feet deep and as large as the object
may require, formed of plnnk and laid on a bed of
clay and surrounded by the same, in the manner that
tan vats are constructed ; this should occupy a warm
place, exposed to the sun, near water, and as near as
these requisites permit to the tillage lands of the farm.
In such a cistern, in warm weather, a solution of geine
may be made in large quantities with little labor and
without the expense of fuel, as the heat of the sun, is,
I think, amply sufficient for the purpose.* If from
further experiments it should be found economical

* Perhaps in an excavation in a peat meadow, which would fill with water spon-
taneously, a solution of geine might be still mora cheaply obtained, by »imply ad*
ding potash, ashes, &c. to the stagnant water.

ON GREEN CROPS AS A MANURE. 41

to water grass lands and grain crops, a large cask or
casks placed on wheels and drawn by oxen or horse
power, the liquor from the casks being at pleasure
let into a long narrow box perforated with numerous
small holes, which would spread the same over a
strip of ground, some 6, 8, or 10 feet in breadth, as it
is drawn over the field in the same manner as the
streets in cities are watered in summer.

Andrew Nichols.

1 certify that I measured the piece of land men-
tioned in the foregoing statement, as planted with
corn, on the 21st of September, 1839, and found the
same to contain two acres, three quarters, thirty-one
rods. John W. Proctor, Surveyor.

ON TURNING IN GREEN CROPS AS A
MANURE.

The Committee on the subject of turning in Green
Crops as a Manure, Report :

That they have examined Mr. Keely's communica-
tion, and are of opinion that his experiment is not
such, as to entitle him to the Society's first premium,
inasmuch as the plants turned in, are not the most
succulent for the purpose of enriching the soil ; also,
because the experiment was extended only to a single
year, without reference to the future improvement of
the soil.

The Committee are of opinion, that a part of the
field should have been manured in the usual way, in

42 ON GREEN CROPS AS A MANURE.

order to test with exactness, the comparative advan-
tages of the two processes ; but do not hesitate to ex-
press their satisfaction, at the result of Mr. Keely's
experiment as far as it went, and would recommend
that a gratuity often dollars be awarded him for his
valuable communication.

For the Committee,

JOSEPH K1TTREDGE.
Dec. 31, 1839.

JOHN KEELY'S STATMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, }
on turning in Green Crops as a Manure : 5

Gentlemen, — Perceiving that for several years no
claim has been entered for premium on Green Crops,
and deeming the subject one of great importance, I
have concluded to present you with a statement on
this subject. And I do it more with the hope that
perhaps others may become incited to try the effica-
cy of this mode of manuring, than on account of the
great result abstractedly considered.

The experiment was made on the same estate
where the crop of rye was raised, on account of
which 1 obtained the Society's premium, in 1832, but
on a part which is very inferior in quality, to the piece
on which that crop was raised. It is indeed so poor
that nothing but sorrel grows upon it spontaneously.

But, although I have long been firmly convinced
of the great efficacy and economy of Green Crops, yet
I thought sorrel alone scarcely fit even to plough in for
manure, until the following circumstance convinced

ON GREEN CROPS AS A MANURE. 43

me of the contrary. At the close of June, 1837, the
ground then being too wet to hoe [as a storm was
just clearing off] I began to plough the piece of land
on which I intended to sow rye, principally, to pre-
vent the sorrel from seeding. The next day was fine
and I left the remainder unploughed, until September,
when the whole was ploughed and sown together. —
The following spring a difference was seen on that
part where the sorrel had been ploughed in, which
difference became so striking, that my neighbors saw
it and inquired to know the reason. This determin-
ed me to try the experiment which is here presented.
At the close of June, 1838, while the sorrel was
yet in blossom, I ploughed it in immediately after a
heavy rain, and sowed upon the furrow one bushel
of buckwheat per acre. On the sixth and seventh of
August immediately after a rain, and while the buck-
wheat was in blossom, that was also ploughed in. —
On the thirteenth September, it was sowed with win-
ter rye. The present season, the striking difference
between this rye and that in the same neighborhood
on land of better quality, was seen and remarked by
several individuals, and some persons who have
known the estate for more than forty years, say, that
they never before saw such heavy rye on that part.
The whole piece contains nearly 24 acres; and it
yielded 48 bushels of rye, of excellent quality, weigh-
ing 59 lbs. per bushel. 1 should remark that about 3
of an acre of this piece is so poor that no sorrel ever
grew there ; the buckwheat was very light, and of
course the rye was also. I should judge that upon
rather more than two acres the produce was twenty

4<i ON GREEN CROPS AS A MANURE.

bushels per acre. The previous crop on the same
piece in 1837, did not average quite. 6 bushels per
acre.

You will perceive that the whole extra expense of
this experiment, is one ploughing and one harrow-
ing, and 1 bushel of buckwheat per acre, which would
cost about three dollars and a half per acre, and the
extra produce 14 bushels per acre.

Although this crop is not large compared with oth-
er crops upon rich land, yet for land of this poor
quality, I consider it very large. Nor is this all.
This crop was not obtained by extra expense, to force
the land to yield more than it could continue to pro-
duce, it is only the first of a series of crops, which if
continued by the same management, undoubtedly
will, in a few years, double its fertility, instead of ex-
hausting it ; and especially if the stubble is ploughed
in soon after the crop is harvested, for this with the
weeds amongst it, will furnish a third green crop, and
the scattering grain which would otherwise be lost,
will then grow and very materially increase the first
green crop the ensuing season.

You will allow me to remark that experience and
close observation upon the management of green
crops, have convinced me that three things, among
others which may be more obvious, are essential to
a successful result. First, it is absolutely necessary
that the plough used is of good construction. Sec-
ond, that some method be devised to prostrate the
crop before the plough, or it will not be covered. I
use a wooden roller about four inches in diameter,
and 16 inches long, fixed on the end of the plough

ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS. 45

beam, in a frame temporarily put on for the purpose.
Third, it is necessary that the land should be plough-
ed very soon after rain, while it is moist, or the plough
will crowd the furrow instead of turning it handsome-
ly. It will also be of considerable advantage to roll
the land after each ploughing.

Very repectfully,

John Keely.
Haverhill, Sept. 24th, 1839.

ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS.

The Committee on Milch Cows and Heifers, be"-
leave to offer the following Report :

A larger number of entries have been made this
year than we have ever before seen. Seven cows and
ten heifers were in the pens, offered for premium,
and several others, which did not come within the
rules of the Society. In respect to quality as well
as, number, the improvement was very conspicuous,
there being at the show last year but one cow, and
some ordinary heifers, all of second quality. Where-
as the present year, both cows and heifers were of
superior quality, in beauty and excellence. The
cow offered by Mr. Caldwell, of Byfield, particularly
attracted the attention of the committee and the
public ; but as she did not come within the rules of
the Society, we should not be warranted in awarding
a premium. The cow offered by Mr. Ebenezer Up-
ton, of Danvers, was considered an extra cow.

Among the ten heifers offered, only one was in
milk ; the others were yearlings. They were all

46 ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS.

promising, and gave evidence of the increasing inter-
est in the community, in raising a better kind of
stock, than has been heretofore manifested. The
greatly enhanced value of all kinds of stock for a few
years past, seems to have given an impetus to the
farmers, and induced them to bestow more par-
ticular attention to the subject ; they seem to have
been more careful to select the best for raising, in-
stead of selling the best to the butcher. Fifty dol-
lars for a cow, till within a year or two, has been
thought to be a very great price. But within two
years, double, and in some instances three times that
sum has been paid for cows, in the County of Essex,
and the income has warranted the expenditure. If
good cows are worth fifty dollars, and superior cows
from that to two hundred, as in one instance men-
tioned by the agricultural commissioner, they cer-
tainly will repay the farmer for bestowing his best
attention in selecting, and very nice care in raising
young stock. Of course when cows command such
prices, corresponding good treatment will be bestow-
ed upon them in feeding and providing for them;
and we cannot doubt for a moment, but the farmer
is always fully remunerated, for the good care he
may give Jo his stock, and especially to his cows.
We believe that if some attention is given to have
cows always supplied with green succulent food, the
trouble and expense will be fully reimbursed, in the
increased quantity and improved quality of the milk
which they will yield. It is believed that nothing is
better than good sweet grass feed, when it can be
had in abundance. But in some parts of the sea-

ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS. 47

son the grass is too much dried up. At these sea-
sons some cultivated roots should be in readiness to
supply the deficiency. Various kinds of roots and
cultivated vegetables have been used ; carrots, rata
baga, mangel wurtzel, sugar beet, and green corn
fodder, planted for the purpose, or top-stalks and
pumpkins, are all very good, and we do not think
there is much difference. Turnips, though eagerly
eaten, have not been thought to be quite as good.
We say that we believe the farmer will be amply
paid for the extra trouble of providing some kind of
succulent food for his milch cows in dry seasons.
We have noticed that when only one cow has been
kept, by the individual offering for premium, they
have most generally obtained the Society's premium,
and we attribute this to the more particular attention
given to feeding one cow, than is commonly given to
many.

My own experience is not much, but I have no-
ticed that when I kept only one cow we made as
much butter, twelve pounds a week, as when I have
kept two, and one of the cows being the same and
running in the same pasture. If we did not misun-
derstand the commissioner, Mr. Column, the cow for
which $200 was paid, yielded the year previous to
sale, within 25 quarts of 200 dollars worth of milk,
at five cents a quart, sold at the door ; and the cost
of keeping the cow was eighty-seven dollars for
one year. Now if such an extraordinary produce
may be obtained from one cow only, may not cows
in general be made to yield much more than they
now do, and would it not be economy to give to the

48 ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS.

subject more attention, by feeding as above proposed,
and sheltering from all cold and severe weather.
Such advice we know has been often given by agri-
cultural writers, but it needs to be often repeated.

The Committee have with no little difficulty award-
ed the premiums as follows :

On Milch Coivs.
To Franklin Bartlett, of Newburyport, 1st premium,

#10 00
" Nathan Tapley, Danvers, 2d prem. 7 00
" Geo. Spofford, Georgetown, 3d " 5 00

Heifers in Milk.
To Joseph Danforth, of West Newbury, 1st premium,

p 00
Yearlings.
" Ebenezer Upton, Danvers, 1st prem. 3 00
« P. M. Dole, Newburyport, 2d " 2 00

R. A. MERRIAM, ^)

NATHANIEL BERRY, |
SAMUEL PERLEY, Jr. I n
MATTHEW HOOPER, } Committee.
JOSHUA L. NEWHALL, \
SAMUEL DODGE, J

Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

POSTSCRIPT.

For the last year or two a fatal distemper has pre-
vailed among the cattle and animals of the County
of Essex and carried off many cows. Some individ-
uals have lost half their entire stock, and some more.
It has not been confined to neat cattle, but horses,
hogs, and sheep, have been affected. The disease

ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 49

has been very fatal, one half of those affected, at
least, have died, as is supposed ; for it is difficult
always to know all those that have been diseased.
The disease lasts but four or five days, and sometimes
the first knowledge of an animal's being diseased, it
would be found dead in the yard. It is supposed to
be contagious, by contact, as when it has appeared
in a stock of cattle, many of the stock have fallen vic-
tims, and in two cases in Topsfield, where persons
were engaged in taking off the hides of the animals
that had died with the disorder, their arms swelled
up, and broke out in large boils, which ulcerated and
formed a large tough black scab, some of them the
bigness of a twenty-cent piece, and some smaller.
Some, not very severe, constitutional symptoms man-
ifested themselves. The sores were sometimes in
healing, four to six weeks. After these cases of ap-
parent infection appeared, the animals were buried
without flaying, and with as little connection as pos-
sible. It is supposed that these two individuals were
inoculated, as one of them, in flaying, made a
slight wound on his hand with the knife, and the oth-
er had a fracture of the skin. The disease was so
rapid that little or nothing was attempted to be done
by way of remedy. The first appearance of disor-
der was when the cow came from the pasture at
night, she would give evidence of not filling herself
as well as usual, and would give a less quantity of
milk, would refuse the ordinary kinds of food, and
eat but little of the more delicate and inviting, and
in three or four days refuse all kinds and soon lie
down and die, and some purging of blood would ap-
7

50 ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

pear as the last effort of nature. Pain and distress
were more particularly manifested in horses, at the
close of life, by frequent lying down and getting up>
and by grunting and struggles. The disease was
most prevalent in Topsfield and vicinity in July and
August. The disease is probably a murrain, such as
we read of in the bible and ancient writings. Epi-
zooty is a term bestowed upon malignant distempers
among animals. It signifies a plague or murrain a-
mong animals. In the common acceptation of the
term, murrain is limited to distempers among useful
and domesticated animals, whereas epizooty compre-
hends those pestilential ravages to which the whole
living creation is liable. In one of the plagues of
Egypt, spoken of by Moses, is recognized a most
destructive epizooty, extending to all domesticated
animals. Other accounts are given in ancient histo-
ry of malignant and contagious diseases among an-
imals.

In modern history, more particular accounts are
given of pestilential and eruptive diseases, resemb-
ling small pox and plague in men. By some inocu-
lation was tried and supposed to modify the disease
and lessen its fatality. This, however, was thought
might spread the disease where it did not before ex-
ist, and was therefore prohibited by government.
" In 1661, after a hot dry summer, a kind of phrenzy
spread among animals, especially horses, cattle
and sheep ; but was not known to be contagious.
It was principally confined to northern climates ; one
or more worms were found in the substance of the
brain. Numbers of intestinal worms were found in

ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 51

an epizooty that prevailed in 1663, and were thought
to be the cause of the distemper. Analogous symp-
toms, though not equally fatal, attacked almost the
whole cattle in the Danish territory, in 1674.

*' France was visited by an epizooty, among the
black cattle, in 1682. The animal functions were
uninterrupted until the attack, when sudden death
ensued. This was accompanied by a gangrene of
the tongue, which came away in pieces. Those who
attended the cattle, are said to have been infected
by the disease and to have died. Its progress was
regular, and marched with astonishing rapidity, at the
rate of 12 miles a day. Thus it spread from the
frontiers of Italy to Poland. Between the years
1705 and 1711, a distemper called the flying chancre
or bubo, which the latest authors denominate a real
plague or murrain, was found to be making terrible
ravages in Europe. It had been imported by a sin-
gle ox, brought into the Venitian states from Hunga-
ry and Dalmatia ; and it was thence disseminated
throughout the Roman territory and the kingdom of
Naples, sweeping away almost the whole cattle in its
progress. It did not reach France till 1714 ; and in
the same year, having been some time prevalent in
Britain, the most vigorous means to repress it were
adopted by government. All the animals were order-
ed to be destroyed that were attacked with it, and
buried deep in the earth, and a compensation allow-
ed to those who thus lost their property. The vio-
lence of the disease did not last above three months,
during which time the counties of Essex, Middlesex,
and Surrey, lost 5857 cattle. At this time it was ob-

52 ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

served that cows being brought to water to drink,
many became giddy, fell down in convulsions, bled
copiously at the mouth and nose and died. Other
nations suffered more severely; Piedmont lost 70,000
cattle ; Holland 200,000 ; and the full extent of the
epizooty throughout Europe, was estimated to have
destoyed 1,500,000 animals. Ail these perished of
the infection disseminated by the single diseased ox
from Hungary. But the disease was marked by
considerable distinctions in different countries, and
some of its symptoms bore little resemblance in one
place to what were seen in another."

In 1730, a contagious disease appeared among
black cattle in Germany, and afterwads in France,
which affected the tongues, was called a blain of the
tongue, which degenerated into a cancerous ulcer,
whereby the organ was almost totally destroyed.
The commencement and termination of the disease
was sometimes witnessed within twenty-four hours.
A most destructive epizooty ravaged Europe for ten
years from 1740. This disease was exhibited by
shiverings, palpitations of the heart, difficult respira-
tion, cough, coldness of the hoofs and horns, cessa-
tion of the natural evacuations, sometimes the ani-
mal fell down as if struck by apoplexy. Eruptions
covered those which survived the violence of the at-
tack. It was evidently contagious, and the strongest
precautions were adopted to repress the infection.
Former experience had proved, in the history of an
epizooty by Laneisi, that they could not be too
strictly adopted ; for certain drivers having brought
their cattle to a fair in Italy, in the year 1713, a pro-

ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 53

hibition was issued against holding it, in order to pre-
vent the dispersion of the cattle. However, the dri-
vers rather than be disappointed of a market, con-
ducted them privately to Rome, and sold at a low
price. Immediately afterwards, a contagious dis-
temper spread through the whole Roman territory,
and destroyed 300,000 animals. Notwithstanding
precautions were used, such as burying the diseased
cattle, interdicting the sale of their flesh, untoward ac-
cidents happened ; and contagion was disseminated
by the skin. But at different places in France,
guards were placed, to prevent any cattle from ap-
proaching them, whereby the stock was preserved in
health, though the malady was making rapid advances
in the surrounding country.

The Marquis de Courtioron instituted numerous
experiments, regarding this distemper, from which he
concluded that it exhibited itself on the fourth day
from infection, that the ninth was the crisis, and that
the contagion could spread only from direct commu-
nication between two animals. In the course of the
year 1746, a new remedy, inoculation, had been at-
tempted at Brunswick, and in an epizooty which
appeared in Holland, the same remedy was repeated
in 1755, though with little success, and recommend-
ed by Dr. Lagard in 1757. The distemper in the
latter country was considered absolutely similar to
small pox; and the infection was said to have been
brought from Holland by two white calves of a fa-
vorite breed, or by two skins of diseased animals.
Whatever was the cause many animals perished of
it. Different epizooties appeared about the same

54 ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

time, among the cattle, horses, and reindeer of
France, Austria, Finland, and Lapland. Swine,
dogs, and even poultry are said to have been attack-
ed by it. Russia did not escape, and if we can credit
the relations given, the malady was propagated by
the skin of a bear, even to the destruction of man-
kind. These epizootics were either perpetuated or
renewed during the years immediately subsequent,
and, if possible, raged more extensively among the
various genera of animals. The horses of Switzer-
land, the cattle of other countries, sheep, and par-
ticularly lambs, were swept away in thousands.

In 1764, dogs were attacked throughout France,
poultry in Spain, and the rest of the feathered tribes
throughout Europe.

The milk of infected cows spread the contagion ;
for those animals supplied were covered with pus-
tules ; and people who suffered with it, in the same
manner, experienced great difficulty in swallowing,
and burning heat in the throat.

For some years after this period an epizooty raged
among the black cattle of Holland, carried off the
whole cattle belonging to one district. Its attack
was commenced all at once, by the animal becoming
dull and rejecting drink. Fever and shivering, at-
tended by a general prostration of strength, follow-
ed; the ears and horns grew cold, a cough became
unremitting, a purulent matter was discharged from
the nose, and an ichorus fluid from the eyes. The
hide was puffed up, and a crackling, like that of
parchment, was heard on pressure. Some were at-
tacked by diarrhoea, others by constipation, from

ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 55

the fourth to the sixth day of the disease, and they
died from the second to the eleventh day after the
commencement. The blood of the animal then
proved thin ; the intestines inflamed and putrid, the
lungs gangrenous, the gall bladder always greatly
enlarged, and many worms were found in the liver.
The symptoms were generally the same ; and Cam-,
per, who strictly watched the appearance, progress,
and issue of the malady, pronounced it a contagious
putrid fever. Animals once attacked were never lia-
ble to its recurrence, or at least very rarely ; hence
Camper, from that and other circumstances, conclu-
ded that to repress it, four principal objects are to be
kept in view. 1. To endeavor to prevent the mala-
dy and abate its virulence. 2. To preserve the flu-
ids from corruption. 3. To preserve the strength of
the animal. 4. To cleanse the intestines immediate-
ly on the appearance of the disease. There was no
way of guarding against contagion, but by excluding
diseased animals, and all substances by which infec-?
tion might be communicated. He also conceived
that inoculation was the most probable method of
averting the malignity of the distemper ; forty-six out
of ninety-two infected animals were saved, and of
cows that were not very far advanced in gestation,
three fourths were saved, lnoculatio n was success-
fully practised in Denmark ; in the first three years
of the experiment, less than a sixth of the infected
animals died. Strong prejudices in England were
opposed to it, lest it might introduce the disease
where it did not before exist. Camper established
several important points ; such as, that the epizooty

56 ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

imparted by inoculation, was exactly similar to that
communicated by natural infection ; that it was of a
much milder nature ; as also that animals infected in
this way, resisted both natural contagion and the
consequences of inoculation. The malady proved
extremely destructive in Holland; of 286,647 affect-
ed, 208,354 died. In 1771 the disease broke out in
Picardy, by the introduction of a diseased cow, and
after being subdued, appeared again in 1773 with re-
doubled violence. Numerous remedies were tried,
but their inefficiency being proved, the extirpation
of the malady was sought in the destruction of the
animals, by strangulation, without the effusion of
blood, and their carcases buried with their hides en^-
tire. Similar ordinances were promulgated in
France, with their hides cut to pieces, to prevent
the traffic in them, and that all the fodder, litter, and
whatever else which might communicate the conta-
gion should be buried with them. By these and oth-
er prudent regulations, this, which was one of the
epizooties best characterized in history, was re-
pressed.

During the period that contagious distempers swept
away the cattle of Europe, a malady, even more rap-
id in its progress, appeared in the West Indies. Its
effects seem to have been more minutely traced in
Guadaloupe, where it first attacked black cattle,
then horses, and afterwards spread to men. Animals
apparently well, in good condition, and feeding as
usual, were suddenly seized with shivering fits, at-
tended by convulsions in the spine and abdomen,
which sometimes carried them off in an hour. Almost

ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 57

all the negroes who opened the dead bodies had
boils on their arms, attended by much fever ; and
those feeding on their flesh had like symptoms. Ex-
amples were given of several who actually died from
infection. Something similar was witnessed in
France, where persons skinning the animals died of
the contagion, the effects of which were immediate.

Between the years 1780 and 1790, a pestilential
disease prevailed among the cattle in the northern
counties of Scotland, vulgarly denominated hasty,
from the rapidity of its progress.

The Eastern parts of Asia were visited by a de-
structive epizooty among the horses, especially in
1 804 ; and after the severity abated, in 1 805 and

1806. it was renewed with uncommon virulence in

1807. In so far as we can learn, this disorder con-
sisted of a sudden swelling, attended by shivering
fits, an abscess formed most commonly in the head,
and the animal died in twelve hours at farthest.
But in many instances, its commencement and ter-
mination were infinitely more rapid, and death was
known to ensue in half an hour. The malady was
observed early at Ochotsk. Cattle, reindeer, and
horses all suffered ; and at last, a caravan, consisting
of eighty, preserved only ten. The Russian Gov-
ernment of those distant regions, in order to repress
the disease, ordered all the animals perishing of it, to
be burnt ; but before its nature was well understood,
the Jakutchiuns, to whom horse flesh is grateful, un-
willing to lose such a source of subsistence, fed on it.
Most of those who had done so, died within a day or
two ; and a few lingered a fortnight. Those who

8

58 ON DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

escaped were attacked by severe swellings, in the up-
per lip and cheeks, which broke out and left great
scars.

Besides these epizooties of which a general histor-
ical view has been given, others, extremely rapid in
their progress and destructive in their effects, could
be detailed, and their sources might admit of various
conjectures. Most of those which attack the larger
and more important animals, bear a strong resem-
blance to the plague among mankind. They have
been traced, in some instances at least, to miasmata,
which if not the origin of such a terrible malady, un-
questionably foster its germs, and they are more de-
structive in all regions during the same period that
the plague is most fatal. Probably some animals are
exclusively the victims of certain epizooties, while
others of different genera may escape unhurt ; but it
is to be doubted whether any races are totally ex-
empt from them. Thus we are told that the fish of
the Lake of Constance perished from a general mor-
tality in 1722. We have seen that many of the feath-
ered tribes occasionally suffer, in different countries ;
infectious disorders frequently prevail among dogs ;;
and a contagious distemper attacked the cats of
Westphalia in 1682; while the same species were
almost extirpated from the Feroe islands by an epi-
zooty, in 1798. It is not an improbable theory that
entire genera of animals, once inhabiting the surface
of the earth, or the waters, are now extinct from
contagious maladies.

In the first or second volume of the New England
Farmer, mention is made of a contagious disease

ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS. 59

breaking out in a drove of cattle, brought in from the
country. They were ordered back again by the au-
thorities, and those that died to be buried ; but one
individual wishing to save the hide, took it oft', caught
the distemper, and died. Two others tried out the
tallow of another, and both it is related died.

In these remarks we have drawn largely from the
Edinburgh Encyclopedia, where our readers are re-
ferred, under the article Epizooty.

We have thought proper to add this supplement to
our report, that the farmers in Essex may be on their
guard another season. Although the distemper has
appeared in several towns, in different parts of the
county, yet, it is feared, it has not yet exhausted it-
self, and may again return another season, when
heat, drought, or moisture may favor it.

The small pox is now more prevalent than it has
been for many years, in New England. The con-
nexion between epizooties, plague, and small pox,
which has been hinted before, is another reason for
watchfulness.

R. A. MERRIAM.

Topsfield, January, 1840.

FRANKLIN BARTLETT'S STATEMENT.

To the Committte on Milch Cows and Heifers :

Gentlemen,— The cow which I offer for the So-
ciety's premium was bought June 8th, 1839, her
calf then four days old. The calf was sold when
twenty-four days old, for #6,00

60 ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS.

Thirty three gallons of milk sold while the

calf was with the cow, for 5,33

Milk sold from the cow from June 30th,
to July 30th, was 112 gallons, amount-
ing to 17,92

From July 30th, to August 30th, 109 gal-
lons, amounting to 16,44

From August 30th, to Sept. 24th, 80 gal-
lons, amounting to 16,00

Milk used during the time, 16 1-4 gallons, 2,60

Estimated value of the milk, $64,29

The feed of the cow was a common pasture, with-
out any provender, or extra keeping, whatever

FRANKLIN BARTLETT.
Newburyport, Sept. 26, 1839.

NATHAN TAPLEY'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society.

Gentlemen, — The milch cow, which 1 have offer-
ered for exhibition this day, is seven years old. I
have owned her three years. I purchased her in the
spring, with her second calf. I believe she came in-
to Dan vers, in a drove from the country. She
calved the last of March. We think her more re-
markable for quality, than the quantity of her milk,
and having always considered her an extra cow, we
were induced this season to keep an account of the
butter her milk would produce. The following is the
result during eight weeks : —
The week ending May 25th, she gave

ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS.

61

228 1-4 lbs milk, which produced
The week ending June 1st,
" " 8th,

" " 15th,

" " 22d.

« « 29th,

« July 6th,
« " 13th,

12 1 lbs. butter.

19 l

12 J

12
10 J

1C) 1
1~< 4

O

18 4 lbs. of her milk, produced about one pound
butter.

It was not convenient, to reserve all her milk af-
ter this time, but we are satisfied from the quantity
she gave, that she would have made as much butter
for several weeks after, and still continues to do
well.

She has fed in a common clay-land pasture,
through the season. On the 22d of June, I com-
menced giving her a quart of meal in the morning,
and a quart at night ; but did not perceive any mate-
rial difference, either in the quantity or quality of her
milk. Her butter is of fine color and flavour.
Respectfutly yours,

NATHAN TAPLEY.

Danvers, Sept. 25, 1839.

GEORGE SPOFFORD'3 STATEMENT.

To the Committee en Milch Cows :

Gentlemen, — My cow calved the 3d day of May
last. The calf was kept on the cow six weeks — and
at nine weeks of age was sold for twenty dollars.

62 ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS,

The greatest quantity of milk given in any day was
19 quarts and 11-2 pints ; averaging for a month af-
ter the calf was taken off 18 quarts per day. She has
averaged for the last four weeks, 12 quarts per day.
I have sold and used during this time 3 quarts of milk
per day, and made 32 lbs of butter. Her keeping
has been common pasture, till the last four weeks,
which has been fresh feed with four quarts of oat-
meal per day mixed with a pail of water.
Very respectfully yours,

GEORGE SPOFFORD,
Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

JOSEPH DANFORTH'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee on Milch Cows :

Gentlemen, — This heifer was raised by Joseph
Danforth, in West Newbury. She was two years old
the 17th day of April last. She has given milk from
the 8th of May ; she has not had any provender since
she was turned out to pasture the first season. The
average of her milk has been from the 8th of
May to this time, 2 gallons per day. She has had
no fall feed this season. She has made from 3 to
5 lbs butter per week, besides what milk there has
been used in the family of 4 and sometimes 5 persons.

N. B. This heifer was taken from the cow when
three days old, at which time the cow died, and
brought up by hand.

JOSEPH DANFORTH.

Sept. 24, 1839.

ON MILCH COWS AND HEIFERS. 63

EBEN UPTON'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee on Milch Cows and Heifers.

Gentlemen, — I exhibit for premium my red cow,
nine years old. She came in to milk on the 10th of
last April ; the calf was allowed all the milk she would
suck for four weeks, (then taken off to raise,) during
which time and up to the 20th of May, I sold 1 3 gal-
lons of milk, and churned 19 lbs. of butter. From
the 20th of May, to the 1st of July, inclusive, [42
days] she gave 1838 pounds of milk, an average of
43 I pounds per day, from which, after using what
was wanted in the family, 66 lbs. of butter, were
made. From the 1st of July to the 20th of the pres-
ent month 90 lbs. of butter were made. Quantity
of milk used in the family, one quart daily. Whole
quantity of butter made during the season, 1 75 lbs.; 40
lbs. of which, made in the month of June, are in the
Hall of the Society. The Committee will notice that
milk is obtained from three teats only, the other she
cut with one of her hoofs in 1837, on the day she
brought a calf. Unfortunately the gash could not be
healed, and the milk runs to waste. Keeping, ordina-
ry grass feed.

1 also exhibit for premium and for the notice of your
Committee, a heifer, sixteen months old, from the a-
bove described cow. She was taken from her mother
when two days old, and turned away to pasture with
a cow that gave four quarts of milk daily, and weaned
when 3 1-2 months old. Her keeping during the
winter, was English hay and occasionally a little meal;
the present season, common pasture feed.

Respectfully yours, EBEN UPTON.

Danvers, Sept 26, 1839.

64 ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS.

ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS.

The Committee on reclaimed meadow and swamp
land, respectfully Report :

That applications for premiums have been made
by Daniel Putnam of Dan vers, and William Osborn
of Lynn. The committee have viewed the premises
of the claimants, and examined the statements which
are here annexed, and recommend the Society's first
premium of $20, be awarded to Mr. Osborn ; and
the second premium of $10, be awarded to Mr. Put-
nam. Mr. Osborn has given a detailed account of
all his expense and income. This is as it should be ;
so that our brother farmers may see, how profitable
it is, and those who have meadows, may go and do
likewise. The Committee have great pleasure in
remarking, that they have reason to believe, that
there is an increasing attention paid to the cultivation
of that part of our land, which has remained so long
uncultivated, and, comparatively, worthless ; but
which has proved by experience, to be in point of fer-
tility, surpassed by none, even the fertile prairies of
the West. It has been ascertained, by experience,
that nearly all kinds of grains and vegetables that our
climate affords, can be raised on meadow land to
good advantage. Four and a half tons of English
hay has been cut on an acre in one year. One indi-
vidual says, 400 bushels of potatoes is his usual crop.
Rye, oats, and corn, have also been raised in like
proportion. It is an old saying, that it is a good shot
to kill two birds with one stone ; but in this case,
more can be done. In removing the stumps and

ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 65

logs with which many meadows are incumbered, the
fuel will more than pay the expense ; in draining the
meadow the mud will more than pay the expense of
ditching, to be carted into the hog pen, cow yard,
or compost heap, then to be applied to upland, as it
makes a valuable manure. Two crops will usually
more than pay the expense of cultivating them, and
then the land, instead of being comparatively worth-
less, in most cases will be worth at least one hundred
dollars per acre.

In regard to the best manner of managing meadow
land, different persons have different opinions ; as it
is natural for a person to be partial to his own way if
he has tolerable success. Grain or roots may be
cultivated profitably on meadows that can be well
drained. But there are meadows that cannot be
drained so much as would be desirable, or that are
occasionally overflowed ; such are more suitable for
grass. There are meadows within the knowledge of
the committee, that have produced good crops of
English hay without any other dressing than sand ;
others have used gravel with equal success. Good
crops of corn and potatoes have also been raised
without manure, sand or gravel being put in the hill.
How much better to cultivate land when suitable
dressing can be procured from the gravel knoll or
sand bank, than to neglect such land, and haul ma-
nure some miles after paying an extravagant price
for it, to be applied to upland, and perhaps not raise
an equal crop. Although good crops have been
raised without manure as above stated, yet it is
thought that a little compost manure may be profita-
9

66 ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS.

bly applied. Notwithstanding all that has been said,
there are those that are so opposed to the new meth-
od of farming, as they call it, or so tenacious of the
honor of their venerable fathers, that they will not
turn to the right hand nor to the left, from the path
in which they trod. But I would ask whether farm-
ers ought not to keep pace with the improvements of
the day, and if they would be as good husbands as
those that have passed off the stage before them,
whether they ought not to improve just so far as the
light of science developes itself?

Again, some say that they cannot afford to make
improvements, but it will do for Mr. A. or B., that has
money. In conversation with an individual that had
been improving a part of a small meadow, he said,
if I could afford to hire help, I would reclaim the re-
mainder of it. While in conversation, he acknowl-
edged that one crop of hay had actually paid all the
expense of cultivation. Now if a man under these
circumstances cannot afford to hire help, I know not
who can.

It is not the intention to convey the idea that all
meadows in all seasons will produce four and a half
tons of hay or four hundred bushels of potatoes to the
acre, for it cannot be expected. But it is the inten-
tion to convey the idea that meadow land will pro-
duce more net profit than any other ; as it requires
less manure, and is less liable to be affected with
drought, or wet, if it is properly drained.
For the Committee.

JOSEPH HOW, Chairman,

Dec. 31, 1839.

ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 67

WILLIAM OSBORN'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, )
on Reclaimed Meadows : J

Gentlemen — Enclosed you will find a copy of
my statement of 1838, and I now hand you a state-
ment in addition to that, for 1839, and will only re-
mark in advance, that you may perhaps think the
yield of potatoes and the quantity of manure small
for the land cultivated ; but in addition to the ma-
nure, I burnt a considerable quantity of brake and
other roots found on the meadow and used the ashes.
The crop of potatoes would have been larger if I
had not used lime instead of manure on a large part
of the meadow, where in gathering I found a large
decrease in the yield ; another cause of decrease was
in planting the St. Helena potatoes instead of Che-
nangoes, which I have reason to think, from a few
that were mixed, if 1 had planted all of that kind,
I should have had at least one third more.

Crop for 1838, per Account, $332 57

Income for 1 839.

300 bushels St. Helena potatoes, at 45c. 135 00

57 " Rohans, at $2 00, 114 00

2 tons Hay, $12, 24 00

41 bushels of Carrots, 25c. 10 25

74 " of Sugar Beets, 30c. 24 50

Squashes and Pumpkins, 2 00

40 bushels Mangel Wurtzels, 10 00

10 " Ruta Baga, at 25c. 2 50

Wood for family one year, and for > r0 no

boiler for hogs, I

$702 82

68 ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS.

Amount of Income brought over, $702 82

Expenses.
Expenses of 1838, per account, $246 67
1839. 74£ days work, farm help, 50 45

Extra labor hired,
4 cords of Manure,

Seed Potatoes,
1 bushel Rohan Potatoes,
1-2 pound Sugar Beet seed,
" " Carrot seed,
1-4 " Mangel Wurtzel seed,
4 casks of Lime, at 40c.
35 bushels Ashes, at 6 l-2c.
Hauling " from Lynn,
Ruta Baga and Squash seed,
Use of Horse and Cart, 20 00—387 93

26 45

16

00

15

00

8

00

50

37

19

1

60

1

95

50

25

20

00-

Balance in favor of meadow, $314 89

with of course an increased value of the land, which
is by good judges, considered in its present state,
worth one hundred dollars per acre, which in addi-
tion to the crops taken off would give a net profit of
seven hundred and fourteen dollars eighty-nine cents.
Respectfully your ob't. servant,

William Osborn.
Lynn, Dec. 14, 1839.

DANIEL PUTNAM'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, >
on Reclaimed Meadow-Lands : C

Gentlemen — The meadow which some of your
number examined last summer, is supposed to meas-

ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 69

ure something more than an acre and a half. In
1834 and in the previous years it yielded annually
about one ton of meadow hay, fit only for litter. In
1836, a small piece was turned over with the hoe
and planted with potatoes. Other parts were taken
in succeeding years until the whole has been turned
and planted. The potatoes have been manured in
the hill and the yield has been 200 to 250 bushels
per acre. Corn, beans, pumpkins, squashes, ruta
bagas, and carrots have been tried in small patches,
and all have done well.

The past season, the crops were as follows :
English Hay (Clover and Timothy,) on two thirds of

an acre, 1 ton, $15 00

Winter Rye, 1-2 an acre, 14 quarts seed, > lfi ~9l

yield 12 1-2 bushels, at #1 25, 5 *

Black Sea Wheat, 1-4 acre, 7 qts. seed, > 7 nn

yield 4 bushels, at $1 75, )

Chenango Potatoes, 30 poles, yield, 46 ) 1 q An

bushels, at 40 cents, )

Sugar Beets, 20 poles, yield, 106 bush- > 91 on

els, at 20 cents, )

Second crop on Rye and Wheat stubbles, ) 19 kh

25 cwt. at 50 cents, ] lZ ™

$39 72|-
The wheat lodged badly and was cut while very
green ; the yield was less than if it had ripened well.
Drills were opened with the hoe for the sugar beets,
and a gravelly wash from the road side, mixed with
wood ashes, was put into them. The dressing for 18
poles cost two dollars. On the remaining two poles
the wash was mixed with bone ; cost nearly two dol-

70 ON THE DAIRY.

lars. The beets on the bone appeared to be a little
and only a little larger than the others.

The whole meadow has been thoroughly ditched ;
the muck obtained paid for the labor. Each crop is
believed to have paid for its expense as well as simi-
lar crops on the upland. It cost eight or nine dollars
per acre to turn the meadow at first, and there was
an expense of about five dollars in deepening the out-
let of the waters. Daniel Putnam.

Danvers, Dec. 23, 1839.

Note. Sickness and bereavement in the family prevented measurement both of
the whole meadow and the several parts.

ON THE DAIRY.

The Committee on the Dairy submit the follow-
ing Report :

They are unable to judge how the exhibition would
compare with former years ; but that further improve-
ment may be made, there seemed but one opinion.
The number of entries for premiums for June butter,
were four. They award the premiums as follows :
To Ebenezer Upton, of Danvers, the first premium
of $8 ; to Jesse Putnam of Danvers, the second pre-
mium of $6 ; and the fourth of $4, to Isaac Carruth,
of Andover. For the butter made from the 20th
of May to the 20th of September, there were three
entries. The premiums they award are as follows :
To Joseph How, of Methuen, the first premium of
$12 ; and the second of $8, to Mrs. Margaret Ward-
well, of Andover. There were three entries of

ON THE DAIRY. 71

Cheese. They award the premiums as follows : To
R. Buttrick, on Col. Duncan's farm, Haverhill, the
first premium of $10 ; and the second of $8, to Isaac
Carruth, of Andover. The cheese was of good qual-
ity, and only needed to be further ripened and im-
proved by age. As we have intimated above that
improvements may be made in the quality as well as
quantity of butter, it may be expected that we should
point out some of the defects and suggest some im-
provements. In the first place, and as a subject of
the first importance, the cows must be of the best
quality. It is a truth that will, I judge, be readily ad-
mitted by those who have carefully examined, by pre-
serving and churning the cream of each cow, in stock
consisting of ten or twelve cows, separately, the dif-
ference in quantity will be from twenty-five to fifty
per cent, and an equal if not greater difference in
the appearance and quality of the butter.

There are some instances, (one of which has come
to our knowledge,) of a cow, giving a good quan-
tity of milk, from which no butter could be made.
How many such cows there may be, we cannot say,
but we are of opinion that every farmer should test
the quality of each cow's milk, by churning her cream
at different seasons of the year, separately. To have
a good stock of cows he must raise his stock. And
although we fully believe in the old proverb, " A good
cow may have a bad calf," yet that we are more sure
to have a good calf from good stock, I believe no
practical farmer will doubt. Therefore, the best
calves from the best cows should be raised and kept
until their qualities can be fairly tested. The best

72 ON THE DAIRY.

should then be selected and the others disposed of for
beef or otherwise. The common period of a cow's
usefulness for milk, is about ten years, some proba-
bly much longer. No first rate cow should be sold
until the infirmities of age essentially impair her use-
fulness. In this way every farmer may have a stock
of first rate cows at a moderate cost. Another fact
to which allusion has often been made by writers on
this subject, but which does not seem to us to have
received sufficient attention, is to separate the butter
from all fluid. It is attended with much more diffi-
culty to separate oily substances from water or other
like fluids when they have been intimately mixed
than is usually conceived of. Butter should, there-
fore, be much more worked than it is. If butter
could be made perfectly free from butter-milk, and
properly salted with pure salt, in our opinion it might
be preserved in a cool place for any space of time re-
quired. Another subject of much importance, is,
that it be properly salted. For this purpose the salt
must be pure and be in a very fine powder, that it
may be intimately mixed, otherwise the butter will
not have that uniform appearance so much to be de-
sired, as the eye receives the first gratification when
a fine looking lump of butter is placed on the table
together with the smoking loaf. If the butter has the
right shade of uniform yellow, it will much increase
its sweet flavor. In connexion with the subject, we
must enjoin cleanliness in every part of the process.
The cow must have a clean and dry place to rest
herself after the labors of the day in grazing for her
food in dry pastures, fighting flies, &c. All vessels

ON THE DAIRY. 73

used should be sweet and clean, the cream churned
while pefectly sweet, and as sure as that two and two
will ever make four, you will ever have good butter.
Which is respectfully submitted by

DEAN ROBINSON, Chairman.

JESSE PUTNAM'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, >
on the Dairy : 5

Gentlemen — My engagements are such that I
shall not be able to attend the meeting of the Socie-
ty this day, but I send you a firkin of butter for pre-
mium. It was made in the month of June, in the
following manner: The milk strained in tin pans,
and kept as long as sweet, before the cream was ta-
ken off, which was put in tin pails and kept in the
cellar ; it was churned twice a week, and then the
butter was salted, the butter milk that could be con-
veniently being then taken out ; in twenty-four hours
it was worked over, and again at the end of the same
period of time, and put in the firkin, which was kept
in the cellar until fall. The firkin contains about
forty pounds, which when filled was put in the well,
at the distance of twenty-one feet from the surface of
the ground, and has there remained until last even-
ing, when it was taken up.

The above statement is submitted by

Jesse Putnam.

Danvcrs, Sept. 20, 1839.
10

74 ON THE DAIRY.

JOSEPH HOW'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, >
on the Dairy : $

Gentlemen — I present for your inspection two
boxes of butter, containing 12 [and 25 pounds, it be-
ing a sample of 415 pounds, made since the 20th of
May (besides 550 pounds of cheese, made every day,
the cream taken in the morning from the night's
milk.) Our dairy has been somewhat irregular. I
cannot state the average number of cows we have
milked during the season, but think it would be
equal to six new milk cows; including what has
been used in the family of twelve persons. The
cows have had no other feed but common pasture,
excepting leaves of vegetables for the last two or
three weeks. As to the method of making the butter
there is nothing peculiar. The milk is kept in tin
pans, stands in a cool place 36 hours, the cream is
then taken off and churned twice a week, butter-
milk well worked out, and salted to the taste.
Respectfully submitted.

Joseph How.

Methuen, Sept. 20, 1339.

R. BUTTRICK'S STATEMENT.

To the Committe of the Essex Agricultural Society, )
on the Dairy : J

Gentlemen — Three cheeses, weighing eighty-
seven and half pounds, are presented for your inspec-
tion, made on my farm in Haverhill, by Mrs. R. But-

ON THE DAIRY. 75

trick. They are a sample of 31 cheeses, weighing
776 lbs., made from the first of July to the last of
August. Six cows and two heifers, having common
pasture feed only, were milked, and deducting the
milk used in the family but little more than the pro-
duce of six cows was used for cheese.

Mrs. B.'s process of making is as follows : The
milk at night is set by and the cream taken from it
in the morning, and with a part of the milk warmed
enough to make the whole as warm as milk fresh
from the cow. The morning's milk is then put with
it and the rennet, made by soaking a piece of rennet
about the size of a cent in half a tea cup full of wa-
ter, is strained into it. When the curd is sufficiently
hard to be cut with a knife, it is cut up and suffered
to stand till the whey rises, which is dipped off and
the curd broke a little more and put in the basket to
drain. It is then put into a tub and cut finer and
about four quarts of boiling whey turned upon it.
After lying ten or fifteen minutes, the curd is drain-
ed dry and carried to the cellar to stand till next day,
when another curd prepared in the same way is put
with the first. When the curd is entirely cold it is
cut finer, and nearly a pint of fine salt and a table-
spoon full of salt petre is mixed with it, and the curd
is pressed. After pressing, the cheese is laid in a
strong brine over night, to harden the outside. The
cheeses are turned and rubbed with butter every day.

Mrs. R. Buttrick,

By J. H. Duncan.

Sept 26, 1839.

76 ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

The Committee on Fruits and Vegetables would
respectfully Report :

That the show of Fruits and Vegetables was im-
posing and highly creditable to the contributors ; but
owing to some mistake or neglect in not finding a
convenient room to arrange them in a suitable man-
ner, your committee found it extremely difficult to
make a proper exhibition, and consequently visiters;
as well as members of the Society, were disappointed
in not being able to examine them. Your commit-
tee, however, trust that in future they shall not be
obliged to arrange their articles in different build-
ings, as they were at Georgetown, which prevent-
ed their making such a report as they would have
wished.

The exhibition of Apples was uncommonly good ;
among them were the Cloth of Gold or Drap d'or,
Pickman Pippen, and seven other varieties. Seckel,
Autumn Bergamot, Pound, and Iron Pears. Heath,
Lemon, and an unnamed variety of Peaches. Por-
tugal and Orange Quinces, from Andrew Dodge,
Wenham. Osgood's Favorite, Mammoth Pippen, and
five other varieties of Apples, from B. G. Metcalf,
Salem. Monstrous Pippen (large and fine), Presi-
dent, and Boxford Stump Apple, from Peabody Rus-
sell, Boxford. Yellow Sweeting, Skinless (fine), and
Beef-steak Apples, native Fox Grape, Williams's
Bon Chretien or Bartlett Pears ; these last were un-
commonly fine, as were those from the same source
last season, from Moses French, East Salisbury.

ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 77

Fall Harvey, this is decidedly one of the finest Fall
and early Winter Apples we possess ; it is thought
by Mr. Manning to have originated in this County ;
R. A. Merriam, Topsfield. A basket of Apples, mark-
ed ' Permain,' from a graft inserted in May, 1837;
Dr. Bricket, of Newburyport. York Russet Apples ;
Wm. Boynton, Georgetown. Jalousie, Long Green,
Naumkeag, and two other varieties of Pears; R.
Manning, Salem. Pears and Seedling Peaches ; Jo-
siah Newhall, Lynnfield. Duchesse de Angouleme,
Passe Colmar, and six other varieties of Pears, nearly
all grown upon grafts inserted into Quince roots ;
Wellington and Michael Henry Pippen Apples ; Cru-
ger's Seedling (new), and Blue Imperatrice Plums ;
Lemon Clingstone and Freestone Peaches ; John M.
Ives, Salem. Basket of Isabella Grapes (unripe), as
were most of this variety the past season ; T. South-
er, Ipswich. Four bouquets of garden and native
Flowers; R. S. Ives, Salem.

With regard to the Vegetables offered (owing to
their being placed inadvertently in different build-
ings, some may not have been properly entered.)
The past season of 1839, was remarkable for its
" Mammoth Squashes." Samuel Balch, of George-
town, brought to the exhibition in a wagon, five large
Lima or Valparaiso Squashes growing upon one
vine to which they were then attached ; they were
the most remarkable growth of squashes exhibited.
S. C. Thurlow, of West Newbury, sent in six of the
African Blue Winter Squash, weighing nearly 200
pounds, which were produced from one seed. Very
arge Hybrid Squashes from Gardner B. Perry, of

78 ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

Bradford ; Thos. Emerson, Topsfield ; Perley Tap-
ley, Danvers ; and VVm. Ross, of Boxford . Marrow,
Acorn, and Hybrid Squashes ; Andrew Dodge, Wen-
ham. Sugar Beet (from French seed), Rohan Pota-
toes ; Josiah Newhall, Lynnfield. Large Rohan Po-
tatoes, weighing 65 lbs. to the bushel ; Dean Robin-
son, West Newbury. Large Blue Potatoes, said to
be very productive ; Andrew Dodge, Wenham. Dil-
lingham, a new English variety, resembling the Che-
nango or Mercer ; Butman's White, a fine but not
productive variety, and the Rohan ; these last were
part of 440 lbs. which were produced from 1 1 lbs. of
seed, raised in hills 3 feet apart, and 3 eyes in each
hill ; this Potatoe proves to be of a much better qual-
ity than was anticipated ; they are a fine, yellow,
Yaw-tasted vegetable for the table ; J. M. Ives, Salem.
Eight-rowed Yellow Corn (very fine), from Wm. Wil-
liams, Rowley. Smaller variety, from Moses Petten-
gill, Topsfield. Mixed variety of Corn from D. Mig-
hill, Georgetown. Early Dutton Corn, large and fine,
and one of the varieties called ' Chinese,' from Wm.
Osborn, Saugus. Dutton and early Sweet or JefTer-
son Corn ; this variety is fine for table use ; it comes in
as early as the small Canada, and is quite as sweet as
the old shrivelled variety ; J. M. Ives, Salem. Mixed
Brocoli, sent in without being labelled. Yellow, or
Danvers Silver-skinned Onions, large and fine ; R.
T. Jaques, Newbury. St. Helena Potates ; H. B.
SpofTord, Georgetown. Early Purple Fig, in a pot,
containing the second crop of fruit (half grown) for
the season, from Sarah Johnson, Andover. Skill-
man's Netted, Minorca, and Green-fleshed Melons,
for the table ; from J. M. Ives, Salem.

ON FRIUTS AND VEGETABLES. 79

The Committee award the following gratuities :

To Andrew Dodge, J. B. Metcalf, Peabody Rus-
sell, Moses French, and Samuel Balch, 2 dollars each.

To Sarah Johnson, Dr. Bricket, W. Boynton,
Dean Robinson, R. S. Ives, S. C. Thurlow, William
Williams, and William Osborn, one dollar each.

John M. Ives, three dollars.*

Your Committee would repeat their recommenda-
tion which they made in their last report, that the
farmers of the county, particularly those that forward
us specimens of their products, would accompany
them with an account or memoradum of the time and
manner of sowing, the kind and quantity of manure,
and the method taken to produce the crop.

At the time the Report was given at Georgetown,
your Committee stated that there were many new
facts, regarding the culture of Indian Corn and Po-
tatoes. It has been asserted by some of the most
practical farmers in this country, that the method of
cutting off the stalks of corn while they are succulent,
is contrary to all the principles of vegetable physiol-
ogy ; and although for the selling of the grain by
measure the additional quantity received may not be
equivalent to the value of the stalks for cattle feed-
ing, still if the grain were sold by weight, as it should
be, and as it is in all other countries, it would be
found bad policy to cut or mutilate the stock while it
contained sap or moisture ; but while we should dep-
recate this method in corn, we should recommend the
method long since practised in the old country with

♦This graiuily was awarded by the committee, after the chairman had made his
repoit.

80 ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

the Potatoe, in taking off the flower buds before their
full expansion, (the earlier the better.) The Presi-
dent of the Edinburgh Society, in his recent work on
Agriculture, says, that an acre of potatoes thus serv-
ed produced one ton more of tubers in weight, when
thus managed. He remarks that a boy could very
soon go over an acre and pick off all the flowers ;
and we would recommend (particularly with the late
potatoes) that our Essex County farmers would try
the experiment upon the Long Red variety ; it is per-
fectly obvious that a plant or tree exhausts itself more
in forming fruit, than in wood or leaves, and hence
by taking from the vine that which goes to form its
fruit, would send its juices to the nourishment of its
root and stock.

For the Committee.

JOHN M. IVES.

ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

The Committee appointed to examine the several
claims for premiums offered on Crops of Grain, &c.
have attended to that duty, and Report :

That there were three claims for the premium on
Indian Corn ; one for that on Rye ; two for that
on Oats, and two tor that on Barley. Some of the
claimants did not prosecute their claims with suffi-
ciently definite statements of their mode of cultivation.

After a careful examination of the several state-
ments, they recommend the awarding of the follow-
ing premiums and gratuities :

To Daniel Putnam, Esq., of Danvers, for his crop

ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS. 81

of Indian Corn, being about eighty-seven and a half
bushels to the acre, a premium of ten dollars. Mr.
Putnam's statement is full, and will afford instruction
to those who are desirous of information.

To William Williams, of Rowley, for his crop of
Indian Corn, being about 85 bushels on one acre
and fifty four rods, a gratuity of five dollars. This
award is made not because the crop was large, but
taking into viev/ the known quality of Mr. Williams's
soil, his efforts were thought worthy of encourage-
ment. His statement is not sufficiently explicit to be
published.

To Richard Jaques, of Newbury, for his crop of
Oats, being sixty-seven bushels on land of ordinary
quality, a premium of ten dollars.

To the Town of Danvers, for the crop of Rye rais-
ed under the management of Mr. Edmonds, by the la-
bor of town paupers, a premium of ten dollars. Con-
sidering the known quality of the soil, and the condi-
tion it was in a very few years since, the committee
have pleasure [in thus expressing their approbation
of the management.

There were two entries for the premium on Bar-
ley ; one by Moses French of Salisbury, and one by
Mrs. Elizabeth Parker, of Bradford. Mr. French
raised 36 bushels of barley, of superior quality, on
less than one acre of land. Mrs. Parker raised
31 1-4 bushels of barley on one half of an acre of
land. Both of these crops were well cultivated.
The committee award to each of the claimants a gra-
tuity of five dollars, the quantity of land cultivated
not warranting the award of the premiums offered.
11

82 ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

Mr. F. J. Merriam, of Topsfield, submitted to the
committee a statement of the cultivation of eight and
a half bushels of black sea wheat, on 60 rods of land.
Mr. A. Sheldon, of Middleton, entered his field of
Corn, but in consequence of the injury done to it by
the wind, did not furnish a statement of the produce.
For the Committee.

DANIEL ADAMS, 3d, Chairman.
Dec. 31, 1839.

DANIEL PUTNAM'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, )
on Grain Crops • $

Gentlemen — I offer for premium a crop of In-
dian Corn, obtained, as you will learn from the ac-
companying certificates, from 168 poles of land, and
measuring 92 bushels; at the rate of 87 bushels, 19
quarts, 1 pint, 2 1-2 gills per acre. It was an eight-
rowed corn, large kernel, of reddish color. The soil
on which it grew, was dark loam with gravelly sub-
soil. This land had been in grass for five years, and
in 1838 yielded probably about one ton of hay. Jn
November of '38, about one half of this was dressed
with unfermented manure from the barn cellar, at
the rate of about 4 cords per acre, and immediately
broken up. In May, 1839, the remainder of the
piece received a similar dressing and was immedi-
ately turned over. This latter portion was then
rolled, and harrowed both lengthwise and across
the furrows. The whole was furrowed or mark-

ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS. 83

ed out for planting, so as to have the hills about
three feet apart each way. The greater part of the
piece received in the hill manure, a mixture from
the barn cellar and the hog yard, that was in a
state of active fermentation ; this was applied at the
rate of from 3 to 4 cords to the acre. One or two
loads of compost from the barn yard, consisting of
common soil, some droppings from the cattle, some
ashes, a little salt and a little lime, were used. Also
there was put in the hill one load of night soil mixed
with meadow mud. The remainder, (from a fifth to
a fourth of the whole piece,) had nothing put in the
hill, but there was spread upon the furrow and har-
rowed in, a load or two of the mixture from the hog
yard and the barn ; also a load of meadow mud mix-
ed with unleached wood ashes. From 7 to 10 ker-
nels were put in each hill ; no preparation of the
seed. The corn came up well ; was planted about
the 1 0th of May ; was thinned about the 20th of
June, leaving five stalks in each hill ; was harrow-
ed each way, some of it three and some of it four
times ; was hoed as many times. The part that re-
ceived the four hoeings was full of quack grass. In
June and July the corn upon the night soil was far
in advance of the other, while that where the manure
was all spread fell much in the rear. About the 23d
of September, the corn was all cut up, three hills
laid together, and on the same and the following day
was bound up with rye straw ; was immediately put
into stooks or shocks, containing each about eHght
bundles. On the 1 6th of October the husking was
commenced, and was completed in about three days.

84 ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

Then it appeared, (if the stooks were of uniform
size, and we supposed them to be so,) that where the
manure was all spread, there was more corn than on
any other equal portion of the field. Where the com-
post from the barn yard was used, the corn was least ;
here, however, the soil was not as good as in the oth-
er parts. Daniel Putnam.
Dan vers, Dec, 23, 1839.

I measured the lot of land mentioned in this state-
ment, while the corn was upon the same, and found
it to contain one acre and eight poles.

John W. Proctor.

This may certify that I saw the lot of corn enter-
ed for premium by Mr. Daniel Putnam, of Danvers,
and referred to the Committee of the Essex Agricul-
tural Society on Crops, measured, and witnessed the
result to be as follows, viz :

No. 1, in the ear, measured 148 baskets, average
weight per basket 42 lbs. ; measure shelled, per bas-
ket 18 quarts; weight shelled, per basket, 30 lbs.

No, 2, in the ear, measured 20 baskets ; average
weight per basket, 39 1-2 lbs.

Abel Nichols.
October 24th, 1839.

N. B. The second quality above named will prob-
ably measure shelled, about 14 quarts per basket.

ON CULTIVATION OF CROFS. 85

RICHARD JAQUES'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, >
on Cultivation of Crops : >

Gentlemen — I submit the following statement of
my method of raising a crop of Oats, on one acre of
flat clayey pasture land, which never had been
ploughed. The soil is about five inches deep, and so
liable to be hove with the frost, that it has produced
but very little grass. In 1338, it was ploughed in
lands about thirty feet wide, that the dead furrow
might be a drain to carry the water off; it was ma-
nured in the hills, with about three cords and a half
of stable manure, and planted with potatoes, and it
yielded about 90 bushels, it being a poor season for
such land. The present season it was harrowed and
then had spread on two hundred bushels of leached
ashes, and then sowed with two and a half bush-
els of Oats and a peck and a half of Herds Grass seed,
and then harrowed and rolled with a heavy roller ;
and produced sixty-seven bushels of Oats, weighing
thirty-five pounds per bushel. R. Jaques.

Newbury, Sept. 26, 1839.

JOHN EDMONDS' STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, "i
on Crops : 5

Gentlemen — The crop of Rye, which was enter-
ed for premium, is situated on the Town Farm, in
Danvers. The field contains three acres. The qual-
ity of the land is ordinary, yielding sorrel naturally.

86 ON CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

In 1836 it was ploughed and planted with corn and
potatoes ; tolerably well manured, nothing extra. In
1 837, it was sowed with Barley, with a few loads of
manure spread; the greater part of the crop was sor-
rel. In 1838, it was again planted with corn and
potatoes ; it was decently well manured. After this
crop was taken off, it was ploughed and the Rye was
sown. In 1839, seventy-seven bushels of rye of supe-
rior quality was gathered from the field. It grew
quite high, something more than five feet, and appear-
ed uncommonly well in the field. The manure used
was a compound from the barn yard, hog pen, and
the collections from gutters, ditches, &c. &c. There
was raised on the farm 31 bushels of Spring Rye
also. There was raised also about 220 bushels of
corn this season, and about 130 bushels of barley.
There was nearly 400 loads of this compost manure
made on the farm the last year. When this land was
planted, there was put upon it about 1 1 loads to the
acre. Considering the kind of soil, the crop of rye
was thought to be very good.

John Edmonds.

Essex, ss. Jan. 9th, 1840.

Personally appeared, John Edmonds, the Superin-
intendant of the Town Farm, in Danvers, and made
oath that the facts stated in this communication are
within his knowledge, and that the same are true.
Before me,

John W. Proctor, Jus. Peace.

ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. 87

ELIZABETH PARKER'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agriadtural Society, >
on the Cultivation of Crops : 5

Gentlemen — I submit a statement by evidences
that did the labor, of a crop of Barley raised the past
season. The land which it grew on is a black moist
loam joining a meadow. It was planted two years
with corn, and manured as common in the hill. The
first of May it was ploughed, but was so wet it was
not sowed till the 22d ; then sowed 11-2 bushel of
the two rowed Barley, that was bought at Salem. It
grew finely until the heads began to show ; while it
was tender it was beat down the 20th of July by a
shower and wind, to rise no more. The 7th of Au-
gust it was got up with a good deal of labor and put
to dry one week, then got in ; from the 19th to the
24th thrashed, with a great quantity of straw, and win-
nowed up clean. The lot contained half an acre of
land, and yielded 31 1-4 bushels of large sound grain.

Gentlemen, if you think this worthy of a place in
your Essex Agricultural Society's Transactions, make
use of it ; if not, pass it by.

Elizabeth Parker.

East Bradford, Sept. 24, 1839.

ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

The Committee on Domestic Manufactures, Re-
port : That the number of entries exceeded those of
any former year, and in several branches excelled in
variety and skill of workmanship. In the short

88 ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

time permitted for examination, and the crowded and
contracted apartments appropriated to this part of
the exhibition, it is hardly possible to do justice to all
the claimants. If any have been passed by without
award, or without notice, it must be attributed to any
thing but a want of kind intention on the part of the
committee. Our fair friends may be assured that we
always consider that part of the exhibition, which is
the work of their hands, as among the most interest-
ing incidents of the day, and as emphatically entitled
to favorable notice.

Among the articles exhibited were thirty-four
hearth rugs, many of which discovered much indus-
try and ingenuity. It was not possible to grant do-
nations to all ; but we have awarded a large number
of gratuities, being willing to encourage those efforts
that bring valuable products from materials of no
value.

The specimens of lace and fancy work equalled
those of any previous year. They reflected much
credit on those who executed them, and gave a sure
indication that our ladies have no occasion to sum-
mon the aid of foreign labor to ornament their per-
sons.

The committee regret that the specimens of silk
and of linens, were not so numerous as they some-
times have been. Both of these are well worthy the
continued attention of this community.

The committee cannot but hope, that hereafter
more spacious and convenient apartments will be ap-
propriated to this part of the exhibition ; and that
there will be a general interest taken in bringing for-

ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

89

ward all those articles of domestic industry worthy of
exhibition. For the Committee.

I. PUTNAM PROCTOR.
Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

3 00

3 00

3 00

The following premiums and gratuities were a-
warded :

For the best piece yard wide carpeting, to Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Barker, of Andover, 1st prem. $5 00
To Mrs. Hannah J. Fennimore, of Newbury-

port, 2d premium,
" Mrs. Peggy Tenney, of East Bradford,
aged 84 years, for the best straw or grass
bonnet, 2d premium,

Hearth Rugs.
To Mrs. Isaac Stanwood, of Ipswich, first
premium,
" Mrs. Stephen C. Thurlow, of W. Newbu-
ry, 2d premium,

Mrs. Benj. Oliver, of Lynn, a gra
Miss Elizabeth A. Colby, Salisbury,
" Ann Wood, Andover,
" Juiiett C. Varina, Newburyport,
" Ann Edwards, Wenham,
Mrs. C. Tappan, Newbury,
Miss Martha Conant, Beverly,
Mrs. W. S. Annis, Methuen,
" Sarah Lunt, Newbury,
" Mary P. Bollman, Newbury,
" Caroline Lane, Newbury,
For the best piece of woolen cloth, to Susan

Swan, of Andover, a gratuity,
12

2 00

jity, 2 00

« 1 00

1 00

« 1 00

« 1 00

1 00

1 00

1 00

1 00

1 00

« 1 00

1 00

90 ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

To Ballard Vale Manufacturing Company, Andover,
for the best specimen of flannel, 1st prem. $4 00

For the best specimen of woolen hose, to Ma-
ry S. Carlton of Andover, 1st premium, 2 00

To Mrs. Asa Abbot, of Andover, for woolen

hose, 2d premium. 2 00

For the best sample of men's half hose, to

Mrs. Ruth Munroe, Danvers, 1st prem., 1 00

For best linen hose, to Mrs. J. Hewes, of Ha-
verhill, a gratuity 1 00

To E. A. Cleaveland, of Byfield, for linen

hose, a gratuity, 50

To Mrs. Theron Johnson, of Andover, forthe

best wrought counterpane, 1st premium, 4 00

To Mrs. A. M. Caldwell, Byfield, for second

best, 2d premium, 2 00

For the best wrought lace, to Miss E. P.

Whittredge, Beverly, 1st premium, 3 00

To Miss S. A. Abbot, of Andover, for lace

veil, 2d premium, 2 00

" Miss Lucy S. Adams, of Beverly, for lace

veil, gratuity, 1 00

" MissM. Gerrish, of Newbury, for wrought

cape and collar, gratuity, 1 00

" Miss Caroline E. Bradstreet, Newbury'pt,

for same articles, a gratuity 1 00

" Mrs. Isabella Lefavour, of Beverly, for the
best specimen of work, under 12 years of
age, being bag and lamp stand, 1st prem. 3 00
" Miss Adeline Dodge, Wenham, for work
under 12 years of age, being a wrought
sampler, 2d premium, 2 00

ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. 91

The folloicing gratuities were awarded :

To Miss Hannah Whittredge, Beverly, for lamp
stand, 01 00

Miss Lucy J. Mosely, Newburyport, for do. 1 00
Eunice Kilham, Boxford, for linen thread, 50

Miss H. Whittredge, Beverly, for bead work, 1 00
To George Dawson, Ipswich, for two pair of

French boots, 1 00

Sarah Sargent, of Amesbury, for wrought
table cover, 1 00

Col. John Kimball, Georgetown, for spec-
imens of dressed leather, 2 00
Benjamin Mac Laughlin, Georgetown, for
the same article, 1 00
Ira S. Tyler, Georgetown, for the same, 1 00

' Mrs. Mary M. Merrill, Newbury, for spec-
imens of coloring, 1 00

' Mrs. Hannah Carlton, Andovor, for four
pair mittens, 50

* Miss Margaret Wardwell, of Andover, for
two dozen neck stocks, 1 00

' Miss B. G. Phillips and sisters, Andover,
for specimens of silk cocoons, 1 00

( Abiah Lovejoy, of Andover, (blind from
birth,) for specimens of fancy articles neat-
ly wrought, 3 00

1 Miss Harriet F. Perkins, Essex, for wro't
counterpane, 1 00

' Moses C. Tappan, Newbury, for rug stair
carpet. 1 00

' Sarah Lunt, Newbury, for rag carpet, 1 00

92 ON PLOUGHING.

To Mrs. Joseph Bradley, North Andover, for yard

wide carpeting, $1 00

" Thomas Carpenter, Bradford, for screw

plate and dies,
" T. Milton Morse, Bradford, for child's

carriage, wrought by him,
" Edwin J. Colby, Salisbury, for basket made

from cocoa nut, with a pen knife,
" Nabby Kilham, Boxford. for woolen yarn,
" S. Smith, Georgetown, for knit hose,
" Hannah Wardwell, Andover, for cricket

cover,
" Abby H. Putnam, Danvers, aged 5 years,

for needle work,
" Mrs. Sally P. Nelson, of Georgetown, for

hose and yarn,

3 00

3

00

1

00

50

50

1

00

50

1

00

ON PLOUGHING WITH DOUBLE
TEAMS.

The Committee on Ploughing with Double Teams,
Report : That ten teams were entered ; eight only
ploughed, viz : Jedediah H. Barker, of Andover, Per-
ley Tapley, of Danvers, John J. Foster, Andover,
Daniel Moulton, of West Newbury, Harrison Spof-
ford, of Georgetown, Israel Adams, of Boxford, Jo-
seph C. Putnam, of Danvers, William Williams, of
Rowley.

A field on SpofFord's Hill had been previously se-
lected, and lots of one sixth of an acre had been

ON PLOUGHING. 93

marked out and numbered, and were drawn as fol-
lows, viz :

Lot No. 1, drawn by Isaac Adams; used Prouty
& Mears' patent plough ; ploughed 24 furrows in 49
minutes.

Lot No. 2, drawn by John J. Foster ; used Wins-
low's patent plough; ploughed 22 furrows in 53
minutes.

Lot No. 3, Drawn by Perley Tapley ; used How-
ard's patent plough ; ploughed 22 furrows in forty
minutes.

Lot No. 4, drawn by Daniel Moulton ; used Rug-
gles & Nourse's patent plough ; ploughed 22 fur-
rows in 45 minutes.

Lot No. 5, drawn by William Williams ; used Rug-
gles & Nourse's patent plough ; ploughed 22 furrows
in 52 minutes.

Lot No. 6, drawn by Jedediah H. Barker; used
Prouty and Mears' patent plough ; ploughed 22 fur-
rows in 43 minutes.

Lot No. 7, drawn by Joseph C. Putnam ; used
Winslow's patent plough ; ploughed 23 furrows in
45 minutes.

Lot No. 8, drawn by Harrison SpofTord ; used
Emerson's wooden mould board plough ; ploughed
20 furrows in 33 minutes.

The field had been laid down to grass for several
years. The sward was rather tough and hard ; the
soil was a gravelly loam, and some fast stones were
scattered over the lot. Under all the circumstances,
the committee are of opinion that the ploughing was
better than in former years.

94 ON PLOUGHING.

After a careful examination of the work at the
time of ploughing, and also of the teams, and a view
of the several lots after the teams had left, the com
mittee were unanimous in awarding the first premi-
um of twelve dollars, to Daniel Moulton, of West
Newbury. The second premium of ten dollars to
Jedediah H. Barker, of Andover. The third pre-
mium of eight dollars, to John J. Foster, of Andover,
and the fourth premium of six dollars, to Perley
Tapley, of Danvers.

The team of Harrison Spoflbrd, of Georgetown,
worked remarkably well and the plough was held by
a skillful ploughman,, and had the plough been of
good construction, he would have been a fair candi-
date for premium.

After determining to whom the several premiums
offered by the Society should be awarded, the com-
mittee made a particular examination as to the com-
parison of the work done by the different ploughs
used. We are of opinion that the Winslow plough lays
the furrow the flattest, and this is considered an ob-
ject of importance in turning over grass lands ; more
especially when grass lands are not ploughed until
the spring of the year. From the specimens of
ploughing with Nourse's plough, the furrows were
laid even and well, but not so flat as the Winslow
plough. The Prouty & Mears' plough appeared to
be drawn with the least expense of labor, and laid
the furrows as well in all respects as the Winslow
plough. For the Committee.

MOSES NEWELL.

Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON PLOUGHING. 95

ON PLOUGHING WITH SINGLE
TEAMS.

The Committee on Ploughing with Single Teams,
Report as follows :

There were five entries but only four teams ap-
peared. Lot No. 1 , was drawn by Perley Tapley, of
Danvers. Lot No. 2, by Rufus Knight, of Danvers.
Lot No. 3, by John J. Foster, of Andovcr. No. 4,
by William Long of Andover.

Your committee were unanimous- in awarding the
first premium of ten dollars to Perley Tapley, of
Danvers ; the work was performed in 40 minutes, of
19 furrows; oxen well trained and ploughing very
well done.

Rufus Knight, of Danvers, is entitled to the 2d
Premium of 8 dollars ; work was performed in 37
minutes, of 17 furrows, well done.

Lot No. 3, ploughed by John J. Foster, in the
opinion of your committee is not entitled to any pre-
mium.

Lot No. 4, ploughed by William Long, of Ando-
ver; work done in 50 minutes, of 19 furrows; your
committee award the 4th premium of four dollars.
Per order of the Committee.

HENRY OSGOOD, Chairman

Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON PLOUGHING.— HORSE TEAMS.

The Committee on Ploughing with Horse Teams,
ask leave to report, that but two teams were entered

96 ON WORKING OXEN.

for premium ; David Wilkins, of Danvers, and Wil-
liam Whittier, of Danvers ; that the work was per-
formed in a workmanlike manner.

They recommend that the first premium of eight
dollars be paid to David Wilkins, of Danvers ; and
the second premium of six dollars be paid to William
Whittier, of Danvers. For the Committee.

A. A. ABBOT.

Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON WORKING OXEN.

The Committee on Working Oxen, respectfully
Report : That they have examined twelve pair of
oxen, and witnessed their drawing, all of which per-
formed the work well, and were, generally, well train-
ed ; and that the drawing and discipline of most of
the teams were so nearly equal for goodness, that
your committee have found it difficult to select those
which should have the preference. They have, how-
ever, concluded, after having considered the subject
as well as they have been able, in the short time they
have had for that purpose, to recommend that the
first premium of ten dollars be awarded to Perley
Tapley, of Danvers, for his red oxen, six years old ;
the second of seven dollars, to Joseph C. Putnam, of
Danvers, for his red oxen, six years old ; and the third
of five dollars, to Jedediah H. Barker, of Andover,
for a pair of Steers, 4 years old.

For the Committee,

ASA T. NEWHALL.

Sept. 26, 1839.

ON BULLS. — ON FAT CATTLE. 97

ON BULLS.

The Committee on Bulls having attended to that
duty, make the following Report : There were eight
animals of that description exhibited: —
One by William Brown, of Bradford, 18 months old,
" Wra. H. Moody, of W. Newbury, 16 « "
" Jeremiah Bartlet, of " " 15 " "
" Richard Stuart, of Haverhill, 17 " "
" Geo. Spofford of Georgetown, 15 " "
« Job Abbot, of Andover, 17 " "

" Isaac W. Andrews, Boxford, 18 " "
" Charles Nelson, Georgetown, 18 " "
The Committee are unanimous in recommending
the first premium to Isaac W. Andrews, of Boxford,
of ten dollars ; the second premium to Richard Stu-
art, of Haverhill, five dollars.

Submitted for the Committee, by

WILLIAM D. S. CHASE.
Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON FAT CATTLE.

The Committee on Fat Cattle have attended to
that duty and ask leave to Report :

That the whole number of fat cattle entered for
premium was six oxen, two of which were of good
quality, and in the opinion of the committee, were
entitled to premiums, and they accordingly recom-
mend that Col. Jeremiah Colman, of Newburyport,
13

98 ON STEERS AND CALVES.

receive the first premium of $15, for his off ox; and
that Peabody Russell, oi Boxford, receive the second
premium of $10, for his off ox. All of which is re-
spectfully submitted.

AMOS SHELDEN, 1

BENJAMIN WHEELER, I rnmmi„„
OLIVER EMERSON, f vommmee-

ANDREW DODGE, J

Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON STEERS AND CALVES.

The Committee appointed for the examination of
Steers and Calves presented for premium the pres-
ent year, consisting of Amos Kimball, Richard Ayer,
David Mighill, Otis Bailey, and Sam'l. Day, Report :

There were a variety of fine young creatures pre-
sented, which gives flattering evidence that an in-
creased attention has been paid to the rearing of
young stock, which subject is thought to have been
too much and too long neglected in this County
where so large a proportion of the land is fit only for
pasturing. Some difference of opinion arose among
the committee, respecting the best method of rearing
calves ; — whether they should be kept in the stable
on hay, &c. and water, until a year old, or at the age
of two or three months be turned to pasture. We
were not agreed, and have left the matter for further
investigation.

Among such a number of fine young creatures as
were exhibited, the Committee had no little difficulty
in deciding as to awarding premiums. They at last,

ON SWINE. 99

however, came unanimously to the following con-
clusion, viz : —

That Oliver Peabody, of B oxford, be awarded for the

best pair of 2 year old steers, the sum of $6 00

To Jedediah H. Barker, for his 2 yr. old steers, 4 00

" John F. Carlton, for his yearling " 4 00

" Josiah Titcomb, for his yearling steers, ? 9 00

second premium, $

" David Caldwell, for his bull calf, 1st prem., 3 00
" Wm. H. Moody, for his " 2d " 2 00
" Job Abbot, for his twin steers, 3 00

" Wm. H. Moody, for his best heifer calf, 3 00
" Ebenezer Upton, for second best " 2 00

Only one pair of three year old steers were present-
ed for premium, and them by Jedediah H. Barker.
They were well formed steers, and probably well
trained, and of fair size, but apparently not well
mated.

An extra calf, for size, was presented by Edmund
Barker, of Andover, but the committee were of opin-
ion, that considering the expense of raising him, and
his overgrown appearance, the rearing of such calves
might as well not be encouraged by the Society's
premiums at present. Per order of the Committee.

AMOS KIMBALL.
Georgetown, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON SWINE.

The following pigs were offered for premium :
By George Spofford, 2 Chinese pigs, 15 weeks
old ; very good of the kind.

100 ON SWINE.

By Willliam Marland, of Andover, 1 pair Berk-
shire pigs, 3 months and 21 days.

A. Durant, of Methuen, 1 sow and 5 pigs, part
Mackey and part Berkshire, 2 months old ; 1 Berk-
shire boar, 5 months old ; 1 boar, part Berkshire and
part Mackey.

J. L. Noyes of Georgetown, 1 boar 16 weeks old.

John C. Farnham, Andover, 1 boar pig, 4 months
and 16 days old.

William Pecker, of Haverhill, 1 sow, 17 months,
7 pigs, 14 weeks old.

William Williams, 1 sow and six pigs, four months
and ten days old.

George W. Rugg, 3 Berkshire pigs, 2 of them four
months and 1 8 days old.

John Hale, Boxford, 1 boar pig 4 months old.

Harrison B. Spofford, Georgetown, 6 pigs four
months and 2 days, old.

Abram Adams, 1 sow and 9 pigs, 21 days, 1 boar
pig, 17 weeks.

John B. Savory, Georgetown, 6 fat hogs.

Perley Tapley, Danvers, 2 fat hogs.

Jacob F. Jewett, of Georgetown, 2 pigs, 1 seven
months, 1,14 weeks.

Your Committee award to Adolphus Durant
for his Berkshire boar, five months, the first premium.

To John Hale, for his boar pig, 4 months, the sec-
ond.

To Adolphus Durant, the first premium for the
best breeding sow.

To William Williams, the second premium for his
breeding sow.

ON HORSES. 101

To William Williams for his six pigs, four months
and two days, the first premium.

Harrison B. Spofford for his 6 pigs, four months
and two days, the second premium.

The 2 hogs of Mr. Tapley were very fine.

The Committee would have given other premi-
ums if it had been in their power, as most of the oth-
ers were very fine. For the Committee,

EDMUND KNIGHT.

September, 1839.

ON HORSES.

The Committee on horses having attended to the
duty assigned them, beg leave to Report :

That twelve horses were entered for the Socie-
ty's premium, viz :

By Elbridge Stiles, of Middleton, a bay colt, three
years old in June last.

John Brown of Boxford, a sorrel colt, unaccom-
panied by a written statement.

Willard Putnam of Danvers, a colt five years old.

William Tucker of Andover, a chestnut colt,
also without a statement in writing as required by the
rules of the Society.

William Brown of Danvers, a dark bay colt, five
years old.

William S. Marland of Andover, two colts, one
four, and the the other three years old.

102 ON HORSES.

Abel Nichols of Danvers, a colt four years old.

William G. Lake of Topsfield, a three years old
grey colt.

John Northend of Byfield, a grey colt five years
old.

Amos N. Follensby of West Newbury, a colt of
four years.

On no similar occasion, have the committee wit-
nessed a finer exhibition of horses. Three of them
having been raised without the limits of the County,
were excluded from their consideration.

After having inspected them, and observed their
movement, the committee award to John Northend
of Byfield, for his grey colt of five years old, the
first premium of twenty dollars.

To William Brown of Danvers, for his dark bay or
chestnut colt, the second premium of ten dollars.
For the Committee.

Sept. 26, 1839. JOSIAH NEWHALL.

To the Committee on Horses,

Gentlemen, — The mare entered for premium by
the subscriber was raised by him, — was born in the
year 1834, and is now 5 years old. Her keeping
has always been very ordinary. In the summer, she
has been in a common pasture ; without having any
access to better feed in the fields in autumn. Dur-
ing winter season, she has had nothing but common
hay, and has never had grain of any kind as a portion
of her food. Very respectfully,

Byfield, Sept. 1839. JOHN NORTHEND.

ON FOREST TREES. 103

To the Committee of the Esstx Agricultural >
Society on Horses. 5

Gentlemen, — The colt presented by me this day
for premium, was four years old in June last ; was
raised by me, and broke to the harness when eighteen
months old, and is perfectly kind in carriage or team ;
both of which he has been accustomed to work in ;
he weighed when three years old, nine hundred and
thirty-three lbs. ; his colour is chestnut or dark bay ;
should you wish for any further information respect-
ing him, I shall be on the ground, and will willingly
give it.

WILLIAM BROWN.

Danvers, Sept. 26, 1839.

ON FOREST TREES.

The Committee on Forest Trees, Report :
That although liberal premiums for the cultiva-
tion of Forest-Trees, have been offered by the so-
ciety from its organization to the present time, no
claim for those premiums has within the knowledge
of the Committee, been presented until the present
year. Perhaps the subject has not engaged the at-
tention of the farmer, or the benefits have seemed
too remote, or the experiments made, have not been
so extensive as required by the rules of the society ;
but whatever cause may have hitherto prevented at-

104 ON FOREST TREES.

tempts to cultivate Forest-trees, your Committee
think that at no very distant day, the increased price
of fuel and the diminished stock of timber, will awak-
en attention to supply the deficiency of both. Al-
ready the planting of trees by the road-sides, for or-
nament and shade is becoming more frequent, and
thousands might yet be planted, which would beau-
tify our County, and in a few years add greatly to
the stock of fuel.

This article is one of the heavy items of expense
to every family, and every addition to the
sources of supply tends to keep down its price.
How many tracts of land there are through-
out the county, of little value for other purposes,
which might be profitably devoted to the cultivation
of trees ! How many beautiful hills, long since
divested of their primitive forest growth, and from
which more recently the high price of ship-timber,
has stripped the few remaining oaks, until they now
stand bleak and bare, exhibiting the aspect of steril-
ity however good the soil, without shade or shel-
ter for the cattle under our summer suns ! And how
obviously would rows of trees by the fences and
clumps scattered over these hills, heighten the beau-
ty of the landscape, afford a grateful shade to ani-
mals and augment the value of the land ! The val-
ue of the trees which might now be planted in the
county, would, thirty years hence, without materially
diminishing the income of the land, be almost inval-
uable.

r Nathan Webster of Haverhill, is the first and
only claimant for this premium. He commenced

ON FOREST TREES. 105

planting the seed of the locust in October, 1835, and
not discouraged by the failure of most of the seed to
germinate, or the destruction of the young plants
by the winter of 1836-7, has continued to plant ex-
tensively the seeds of the locust, ash, elm, also wal-
nuts and chesnuts, to the present time, until the lar-
ger part of about nine acres of land has been plant-
ed ; generally in furrows ten feet apart. But few of
the walnuts came up, and of a bushel of acorns
planted in the fall of 1837, not one germinated,
owing, as he supposes, to having been injured by
frost before planting. Mr. Webster has found it ne-
cessary to soak locust seed from twelve to twenty
hours in hot water before planting, to insure their
germinating. He also showed the committee a pro-
mising nursery of ash trees, sown in his garden the
last fall, and another of elms from twelve to eighteen
inches high, which were planted in June from seed
the growth of the present year. The committee vis-
ited his plantation on the twentieth September in-
stant. .The soil is dry and gravelly, and the land
in 1835 was mostly covered with white birch and
some white oak and maple trees. Previously to
planting trees, only one acre of the field had been
ploughed. The seed was dropped in furrows made
with the plough in the sward, at ten feet distance,
and covered with the hoe. Mr. W. exhibited to the
committee a considerable number of ash and button-
wood trees in a thrifty state, which he had transplant-
ed, some of the latter were growing thrifty from
.slips set in the wettest part of the land. But the at-
tention of your committee was particularly directed
14

106 ON FOREST TREES.

to the locust trees, of which Mr. Webster estimated
that from five to six thousand were in the fourth year,
and from three to four thousand in the third year of
their growth. The seed having been dropped with-
out manure in furrows from which the soil was re-
moved by the plough, the trees could not be expect-
ed to have had a rapid growth, and were almost
universally injured by the borer, which is so peculiar-
ly destructive to the locust tree. They were slight-
ly hoed the first year, but had received no cultivation
since, and the white birch and other trees were be-
gining to assert their claims to the soil. Cattle are
entirely excluded from the field by a very substantial
wall. Your committee think Mr. Webster entitled to
commendation for his extensive and spirited experi-
ments in planting trees ; and although they wish his
cultivation had been more exact and thorough, and
the present appearance of the plantation cleaner and
more promising, yet considering the variety and ex-
tent of his experiments, and the importance of the
subject, they recommend that he receive the first pre-
mium of thirty dollars.

In behalf of the Committee.

J. H. DUNCAN,
September, 1839.

NATHAN WEBSTER'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society >
on Fbrest Trees : y

Gentlemen — The lot of Locust trees which I
have offered for the premium of the Essex Agricultu-
ral Society, is planted in Haverhill, about one mile

ON FOREST TREES. 107

east of the village. The land, between nine and ten
acres, was in 1835 mostly covered with white birches,
with some white oak and maple trees. The land is
light gravelly loam, the bushes and trees 1 had cut
and about one acre of the land ploughed and planted
with potatoes, and in October, 1 835, 1 sowed one
pound of locust seed, but very few came up. In
May, 1836, 1 had one acre of land furrowed in fur-
rows ten feet apart, and in these furrows sowed two
pounds of locust seed, and think that more than ten
thousand trees came up. These were hoed once the
first year but in the following winter more than three
fourths were killed. In the spring of 1837, sowed
one pound of Locust seed, on two acres of land, in
rows about ten feet apart ; the seed came up well, the
plants were slightly hoed the first year, the first win-
ter killed more than half of them. In the fall of 1 837,
I planted between one and two bushels of white
oak acorns in rows ten feet apart, made by plough-
ing a furrow, but from these acorns not a single tree
came up. I presume the early frost of that year kill-
ed the acorns before they were ripe. In 1838; sow-
ed one pound of locust seed which came up well. I
pour hot water on the locust seed, let it remain
twelve or twenty hours in the same water ; but few
locust seeds will germinate if not soaked in hot wa-
ter. I presume there are now on the nine or ten acres
of land, in the fourth year of their growth, from five
to six thousand trees, and in the third year from three
to four thousand trees. Where they were too thick,
I transplanted them, and they now cover eight or
nine acres. They have been very extensively attack-

103 ON MULBERRY TREES.

ed by the borer, which has very much injured their
appearance and growth. There has not been any
labor bestowed on them since the first year.
Yours very respectfully,

Nathan Webster.

ON MULBERRY TREES.

MISSES PHILLIPS'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, >
on Mulberry Trees : 5

Gentlemen — We offer for premium a nursery of
trees raised from seed, and now consisting of about
750 flourishing plants. "The seed was the species
called " Canton," and given us by a gentleman who
brought it from China. Part of this seed was plant-
ed in May, 1838 ; of this, one lot is now more flour-
ishing than the other. Two hundred and fifty of
these plants were transplanted to a richer soil in the
spring of 1839, and are now from 3 to 5 feet high,
and covered with a fine, rich foliage, besides having
afforded much produce for the feeding of worms the
present season. Three hundred plants of the same
lot were transplanted to a more exposed situation,
and a less rich soil, and have not nourished so well,
but still are in a fine, sound and thrifty condition.
Of the seeds planted the present season, we have two
hundred young trees, from 1 1-2 to three feet high,
well covered with a fine broad leaf, and very flour-
ishing. The nursery of White Mulberry, for which
your Committee last year awarded us the first pre-

ON MULBERRY TREES. 109

mium, is also in a flourishing and healthy condition,
and has afforded us sufficient foliage for feeding
rising 12,000 worms, with a little assistance from the
young plants above mentioned. During the past
winter, we preserved the trees by covering them with
tan. Our nursery of white mulberry was left entire-
ly exposed, and received no injury.

Our object has been to raise trees by a steady
growth, for the particular object of feeding the worm
and making the silk, and thus far we have succeeded
to our entire satisfaction.

North Andover, Oct. 28, 1839.

The Committee on the cultivation of Mulberry
Trees, finding the statement of Miss R. Phillips and
sisters to be correct, are of opinion that they are en-
titled to a premium of ten dollars, which sum they
unanimously recommend to be granted them by the
Essex County Agricultural Society.

Signed in behalf of the Committee.

G. B. PERRY.

The foregoing statement of the Misses Phillips, together with the
opinion of the Committee, came to hand too late to be submitted to
the Trustees at their meeting in December. But as it contains in-
teresting information on a subject but imperfectly understood, and
exhibits a degree of success in cultivation, not known to be equalled
in any other part of the County, I have thought it should be pub-
lished ; and have no doubt the Trustees, when they meet, will be
pleased to do justice to the enterprising cultivators.

JOHN W. PROCTOR.

January, 1840.

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A LIST OF

PREMIUMS AND GRATUITIES,

AWARDED IN 1839.

To Eben Upton,
" Jesse Putnam,
" Isaac Carruth,
" Joseph Howe,
" Margaret Ward well,
" Mrs. R. Buttrick,
" Isaac Carruth,
" John Keely,
" Nathau Webster,
" William Osborn, jr.
" Daniel Putnam,
" Daniel Moulton,
" Jedediah H. Barker,
" John I. Foster,
" Perley Tapley,

61 CC CC

*• Rufus Knights,
" William Long,
" David Wilkins,
" William Whitlier,
" Andrew Nichols,
" Daniel Putnam
" William Williams,
" Richard Jaques,
" Moses French,
" Elizabeth Parker,
" Town of Dan vers,

Danvtrs,

For Butter,

CC

1st prem.
2d "

03
6

Andover,

<<

3d "

4

Methuen,

"

1st "

12

Andover,

CC

2d "

8

Haverhill,

For Cheese,

1st "

10

Andover,

cc

2d "

8-

-56

Haverhill,

Green Crops,

gratuity,

10

u

Forest Trees,

1st prem.

30

Lynn,

Meadow Lands,

1st "

20

Danvtrs,

4<

2d "

10-

-SO

TV. Newbury,

Ploughing, D. T.

1st "

12

Andover,

(C

2d "
3d "

10

8

Danvers,

"

4th "

6

cc

Ploughing, S. T.

1st "

10

(4

"

2d «

8

Andover,

«

4th «

4

Danvers,

Ploughing, Horse T.

1st **

8

cc

<<

2d "

6-

-72

cc

Exp'ts. on Manures,

1st "

20

c<

Crop of Corn,

1st "

10

Rowley,

CC

gratuity,

5

Newbury,

Crop of Oats,

1st "

10

Salisbury ,

" of Barley,

gratuity,

5

Bradford,

CC CC

"

5

" of Rye,

1st prem.

10-

■45

§263

112

PREMIUMS AND GRATUITIES AWARDED.

Brought over.

$263

" Jeremiah Colnian,

Newburyport,

For Fat Cattle,

1st

«J

15

" Peabody Russell,

Boxfoed,

14

2d

«<

10

" Isaac W. Andrews,

ti

For Bull

,

1st

<•

10

" Richard Stewart,

Haverhill,

CI

2d

M

5—40

" Franklin Bartlett,

Newburyport,

Milch Cow,

1st

II

10

" Nathan Tapley,

Danvers,

<<

2d

"

7

" George Spofford,

Georgetown,

l€

3d

II

5

" Joseph Danforth,

W. Newbury,

For his

Heifer,

1st

<(

7

" Eben Upton,

Danvers,

(C

f

1st

"

3

«« Parker M. Dole,

Newburyport,

If

tt

2d

II

2—34

" Perley Tapley,

Danvers,

Working Oxen,

1st

<(

10

•' Joseph C. Putnam,

IC

it

a

2d

tt

7

" Jedediah H. Barker,

Andpver,

i<

i

3d

II

5

•* Oliver Peabody,

Boxford,

Steers,

1st

<«

6

" Jedediah H. Barker,

Andover,

a

2d

IC

4

" John F. Carlton,

II

ii

1st

cc

4

*• Josiah Titcomb,

Byfield,

c<

2d

cc

2—38

•« David Caldwell,

««

Calves,

1st

II

3

" William H. Moody,

W. Newbury

ci

r

2d

cc

2

" Job Abbot,

Andover,

Twin Calves,

gratuity,

3

" William H. Moody,

W. Newbury,

, Calves,

1st

prem.

3

" Eben Upton,

Danvers,

n

2d

"

2—13

" Adolphus Durant,

Melhuen,

Swine.

Boar,

1st

Cf

5

•• John Hale,

Boxford,

tc

■i

2d

cc

2

" Adolphus Durant,

Methuen,

ct

Sow,

1st

cc

5

" William Williams,

Rowley,

"

Boar,

2d

cc

3

«< « "

fi

<<

Pigs,

1st

cc

6

« H. B. Spofford,

Georgetown,

II

"

2d

cc

3—24

" John Northend,

Byfield,

Horse,

1st

CI

20

" William Brown,

Danvers,

ii

2d

II

10—30

By the Committee on Fruits, &c. See

page 79,

21

By the Committee on Domestic Manufactures; see page

s ^89—92,

91

$554

PREMIUMS OFFERED

BY THE

ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
1840.

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, December
31st, 1839, the following orders were passed, and the
Secretary was directed to prepare a list of premiums,
in conformity thereto, which will be published on a
sheet, previous to the Exhibition, which is to be at
Georgetown, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1840.

On Farms, to be reduced 50 per cent, from the last year — same
Committees and Regulations continued.
On Dairy. First and third class the same ; 2d class $10 and $8.
On Green Crops as a Manure — the same as last year.
On Forest Trees — the same.

On Mulberry Trees, Silk, $-c. — $60 00 to be offered.
On Irrigation — the same.

On Wet Meadows — the same. Only two years cultivation to be
stated.

On Ploughing — the same; with new conditions and restric-
tions.
On Agricultural Implements — the same.
On Crops — the same.
On Experiments on Manures — the same.
On Fattening Cattle — ' the same.
On Teams of Oxen — the Bame.
On Animals exhibited — the same in amount, with some variations.

114 NEW MEMBERS.

On Domestic Manufactures — the same.

On Fruits and Flovoers — the same.

On Live Fences — the same.

The premiums for Horses, are not continued the present year.

The premiums for Calves, are not continued.

The premiums for Working Oxen are limited to those not exceed-
ing eight years old.

There is reason to believe that the Trustees will be able to offer
additional premiums on Stock, by the aid of the Massachusetts Soci-
ety, but we are not fully advised on this point.

Attest. JOHN W. PROCTOR, Secretary.

March, 1840.

NAMES OF MEMBERS ADMITTED,
In 1839.

JOSHUA L. NEWHALL, of Newbury.
WILLIAM BROWN, of Danvers.
JOHN C. FARNUM, of Andover.
WILLIAM OSBORN, of Lynn.
CHRISTOPHER HOWE, of Methucn.
BENJAMIN SCOTT, of Ipswich.
DAVID PULSIFER, of Salem.
J. PULSIFER, of
SIMEON PEARL, of Boxford,
JOSEPH HOLT, of Andover.

INDEX.

Mr. Putnam's Address, ... - Page 5 — 31

Report on Experiments on Manures, - - S3 — 34.

Dr. Nichols's Statement, ... 35 — 41.

Report on Turning in Green Crops as a Manure, - 41 — 42.

Mr. Keely's Statement, ... 42—45.

Report on Milch Cows and Heifers, - - 45 — 48.

On the Diseases of Animals, - - 48 — 49.

Mr. Bartlett's Statement, ... 59—60.

Mr. Tapley's Statement, - 60—61.

Mr. Spoflford's Statement, ... 61 — 62.

Mr. Danforth's Statement, - - 62.

Mr. Upton's Statement, - - - 63.

Report on Reclaimed Meadows, - 64 — 66.

Mr. Osborn's Statement, ... 67 — 68.

Mr. Putnam's Statement, - 68 — 70.

Report on the Dairy, ----- 70 — 73.

Col. Putnam's Statement, - - - 73.

Mr. How's Statement, - - . 74.

Mrs- Buttrick's Statement, - - - 74 — 75.

Report on Fruits and Vegetables, - 76 — 80.

" on Cultivation of Crops, - - 80 — 82.

Mr. D. Putnam's Statement ... 82 — 84.

Mr. Jaques' Statement, - 85.

Mr. Edmonds' Statement, ... 85 — 86.

Mrs. Parker's Statement, - 87.

Report on Domestic Manufactures, ... 87 — 92.

" on Ploughing, with Double Teams, - 92—94.

" on " with Single Teams, - 95.

c' on " with Horse Teams, - 95—96.

" on Working Oxen, 96.

" on Bulls, ----- 97#

" on Fat Cattle, - 97—98.

" on Steers and Calves, - 98 — 99.

" on Swine, - 99 — 101.

" on Horses, .... 101—102.

Mr. Northend's Statement, - - - 102.

Mr. Brown's Statement, - - - 103.

116 INDEX.

Report on Forest Trees, - - - - 103—106.

Mr. N. Webster's Statement, - - 106—108.

Report on Mulberry Trees, - 108—109.

Treasurer's Annual Statement, - - - HO.

List of Premiums and Gratuities in 1839, - - 111—112.

Premiums offered for 1840, - - - 113—114.

Members admitted in 1839, ... - 114.

Index, 115-116.

Appendix.

Mr. Column's Account of Agricultural Meeting, - - 3 — 8.

Remarks by Hon. Daniel Webster, ... 8 — SO.

« by Prof. Silliman, - 30—36.

Notes.

Note A. Housing Sheep, - - - - - . 1.

B. Cultivating Turnips, - 2.

C. Draining, - 2—3.

D. Redemption of Peat Meadows, j 3.

E. Irrigation, - - - S.

F. Cultivating the Bean, - - - - 4.

G. " the Tare, ... 4—5.
H. The Product of sheep, - 5—6.
I. Agricultural Statistics, - 6 — 7.

By the favor of the Agricultural Commissioner,r.who has hereto-
fore done so much for the benefit of the farmers of Essex, I am per-
mitted to include in our annual pamphlet, his report of the remarks
of Messrs. Webster and Silliman, at the\.\gricultural Meeting, in
Boston. Knowing that there could be no higher sources of infor-
mation, I have thought it would be useful and gratifying to the mem-
bers of the Society, to be thus instructed.

JOHN W. PROCTOR.

March 11, 1840.

AGRICULTURAL MEETING.

The Commissioner of Agricultural Survey, having
obtained, by a vote of the House, the Representatives'
chamber for the purpose, invited a meeting of the
members of the Government and others inter-
ested in Agriculture to be held on the evening of the
13th January, 1840.

The meeting was very fully attended. The Hon.
Leavitt Thaxter, of Edgartown, Dukes Co., member
of the Council, was called to the chair. He briefly ex-
pressed the pleasure he felt in being present on this oc-
casion ; and his respectful acknowledgements of what
he deemed a high honor, that of being called to pre-
side at a meeting of the farmers of Massachusetts.

The Commissioner, Mr. Colman, then opened the
object of the meeting.

He stated the great satisfaction, which he felt in
meeting again in that place his brother farmers from
every part of the state, and so numerous an assem-
bly of intelligent and respectable persons, who took
an interest in a matter of such paramount impor-
tance as the Agriculture of the Commonwealth and
the country. The weekly meetings of the last winter,
during the session of the Legislature, of the farmers of
the Legislature and others, had given much pleasure;

4

elicited much useful information ; stimulated agricul-
tural inquiry ; and, in various ways, been productive
of highly beneficial effects. This was to be regarded
as the introduction of another series of meetings, the
results of which, he trusted, would be equally agreea-
ble and useful.

It was gratifying to meet on an occasion where the
conflicting elements of party strife could not be arous-
ed ; and where any difference of opinion, which might
be found to prevail, could have no other effect than
to encourage inquiry and experiment, the only sure
roads to useful knowledge. Intelligent minds here
brought into collision would emit ; light but it would
be light without heat. This could have no other ef-
fect than to extend knowledge and improve skill in
that great art, which lies at the foundation of indi-
vidual subsistence, of domestic comfort, and of na-
tional wealth.

The importance of this great art, agriculture, could
not be over estimated. He trusted that the public
mind would presently arrive at sounder and more
comprehensive views of its great moment ; its bear-
ing upon the various sections of society, upon the
general welfare, and the moral condition of the com-
munity ; and elevate it to its proper rank among the
humane arts and the useful pursuits of life.

The subject which he had the honor to propose
for the discussion of the evening was, 'The Agricul-
ture of Massachusetts.' This subject particularly
concerned them as the citizens of a state, eminently
distinguished for its social privileges and improve-
ments. Agriculture in Massachusetts had not re-

eeived the attention which it might justly claim. Its
progress had not kept pace with the advances made
in the mechanic arts and in commercial enterprise.
It was not justly appreciated among us. The soil of
Massachusetts had been too much disdained and its
climate pronounced unfavorable to agriculture. We
were, in a large measure, and to far too great a
degree, dependent upon other places and countries
for a supply of the substantial products of the earth;
and the first necessaries of life. We did not raise
our own bread or potatoes ; and we imported largely
of the necessary supplies for man and beast.

This was not as it should be. There was nothing
in the soil or climate of Massachusetts inconsistent
with a highly improved and profitable agriculture.
It was his confident belief that Massachusetts was
fully capable of producing her own bread ; and in
this respect, what could be done ought to be done.
Her power was the only limit of her duty. In the
good morals and good habits of her people, in their
industry; temperance, frugality, and general intelli-
gence, there were all the elements of improvement ;
and the best foundation for an intelligent, skilful, and
consequently productive agriculture.

In repeated instances her crops had been remark-
able. There had been raised seven hundred bush-
els of potatoes upon an acre, more than nine hundred
bushels of ruta baga, more than seventeen hundred
bushels of carrots, more than six hundred bushels of
onions, more than four tons of hay, forty bushels of
rye, fifty bushels of barley, fifty bushels of wheat, one
hundred bushels of oats, and more than one hun-

dred bushels of Indian corn. What had been done
could be done again ; and instead of stopping
short at what had already been reached, we should
never be satisfied without at least attempting to go
further. In some respects Massachusetts was singu-
larly blessed ; and that is, in her capacity of growing
Indian Corn. In respect to this magnificent crop,
magnificent from its bountifulness and its important
uses, it was said by Arthur Young, that a country
which could produce it, should be regarded, in an ag-
ricultural view, as eminently distinguished. Yet ev-
en with a capacity for its abundant production, the
produce of this crop was not a tithe of what it
should be. It had been calculated by a gentleman
well qualified to judge, in the case, that the product
of Indian corn in Massachusetts, did not average half
a peck to every acre of her whole territory. It was
easy to see, if the state produced a bushel of Indian
corn for every acre, and this was by no means an ex-
travagant calculation of what she ought to do, what
a vast amount would be added to her resources, her
comfort, and her wealth. The same remarks would
apply with equal force to other crops, which might
be cultivated with corresponding advantage. But
little was to be expected until agriculture should rise
to its proper place in the public estimation ; until it
should be felt and acknowledged to be, as in truth it
is, next to its morals, the highest interest of the com-
munity. To raise it to this point, we must have not
only practical skill and experience, but the joint aid
of science and intelligence, of labor and capital to
assist its progress ; and the force of public opinion
and public respect in its favor.

In agriculture experience is of great value. Agri-
culture is particularly an art resting upon facts.
Theories are of little value excepting as they are di-
rectly deducible from actual experiments and well
attested and acknowledged facts. It is a matter like-
wise in which we might avail ourselves with essential
benefit of the experience of others, who have pursued
the art with success and carried it to a high degree
of perfection, especially as far as our circumstances
resemble theirs, and their rules and practices are ap-
plicable to our condition.

The highly improved agriculture of England and
Scotland would in various respects afford most valu-
able and instructive lessons ; and the Commissioner
added, that he had the highest pleasure in saying,
that their distinguished fellow citizen, who had re-
cently returned from his tour in Great Britain, had
at his request come to the meeting of the farmers of
Massachusetts this evening, and would favor us with
his observations on foreign agriculture in its highly
improved condition, and on its improved practices in
their applicableness to husbandry among ourselves.
In intelligent and practical observation, in familiar
acquaintance with the agriculture of New England,
and in a just sense and comprehensive view of the
importance of this great art, no one could be better
qualified to make observations abroad, or to deter-
mine with sounder judgement what would be appli-
cable and useful to his countrymen at home. While,
therefore, in common with others of his fellow citi-
zens, the farmers of Massachusetts tendered to him
their hearty welcome on his return to his native

8

shores, he would in behalf of the meeting, pledge to
him, on this occasion, their respectful and undivided
attention.

Mr. Webster began with stating that he regarded
agriculture as the leading interest of society ; and
as having, in all its relations, a direct and intimate
bearing upon human comfort and the national pros-
perity. He had been familiar with its operations in
his youth ; and he had always looked upon the sub-
ject with a lively and deep interest. He did not es-
teem himself to be particularly qualified to judge of
the subject in all its various aspects and departments ;
and he neither himself regarded, nor would he have
others regard his opinions as authoritative ; but the
subject had been one of careful observation to him,
both in public and private life ; and his visit to Eu-
rope, at a season of the year particularly favorable
for this purpose, had given him the opportunity of
seeing its improved husbandry, and as far as it might
be interesting, or would have a bearing upon the sub-
ject of the evening's discussion, the agriculture of
Massachusetts, he would, as the meeting appeared to
expect, say a few words upon what had attracted his
notice.

How far, in a question of this kind, the example of
other countries was to be followed, was an inquiry
worthy of much consideration. The example of a
foreign country might be too closely followed. It
would furnish a safe rule of imitation only as far as

the circumstances of the one country correspond with
those of the other.

The great objects of agriculture, and the great
agricultural products of England, and of Massachu-
setts, are much the same. Neither country pro-
duces olives, nor rice, nor cotton, nor the sugar cane.
Bread, meat, and clothing are the main produc-
tions of both. But although the great productions
are mainly the same, yet there are many diversi-
ties of condition and circumstances and various
modes of culture.

The primary elements which enter into the con-
sideration of the agriculture of a country are four ;
climate, soil, price of land, and price of labor. In
any comparison, therefore, of the agriculture of Eng-
land with that of Massachusetts, these elements are
to be taken particularly into view.

The climate of England differs essentially from
that of this country. England is on the western
side of the eastern, and we on the eastern side of the
western continent. The climate of each country is
materially affected by its respective situation in rela-
tion to the ocean. The winds, which prevail most,
both in this country and in England are from the
west ; it is known that the wind blows, in our lat-
itudes, from some point west to some point east, on
an average of years nearly or quite three days out of
four. These facts are familiar. The consequences
resulting from them are, that our winters are colder
and our summers much hotter than in England. Our
latitude is about that of Oporto, yet the tempera-
ture is very different. On these accounts, there-
2

10

fore, the maturing of the crops in England and the
power of using these crops, creates a material dif-
ference between its agriculture and ours. It may
be supposed that our climate must resemble that of
China in the same latitudes; and this fact may have
an essential bearing upon that branch of agriculture
which it is proposed to introduce among us, the pro-
duction of silk.

The second point of difference between the two
countries lies in the soil. The soil of England is
mainly argillaceous ; a soft and unctuous loam upon
a substratum of clay. This may be considered as
the predominant characteristic in the parts which he
visited. The soil in some of the southern counties of
England is thinner ; some of it is what we should call
stony ; much of it is a free gravelly soil, with some
small part which with us would be called sandy.
Through a great extent of country this soil rests on a
deep bed of chalk. Ours is a granite soil. There is
granite in Great Britain ; but this species of soil
prevails in Scotland, a part of the country which
more resembles our own. We may have lands as
good as any in England. Our alluvial soils on Con-
necticut river and in some other parts of the country,
are equal to any lands ; but these have not, ordinari-
ly, a wide extent of clay subsoil. The soil of Mas-
sachusetts is harder, more granitic, less abounding in
clay, and altogether more stony, than the soil of
England. The surface of Massachusetts is more
uneven, more broken with mountain ridges, more di-
versified with hill and dale, and more abundant in
streams of water, than that of England.

11

The price of land in that country, another impor-
tant element in agricultural calculations, differs great-
ly from the price of land with us. It is three times as
high as in Massachusetts, at least.

On the other hand, the price of agricultural labor
is much higher in Massachusetts, than in England.
In different parts of England the price of labor is
considerably various ; but it may be set down as
twice as dear with us here.

These are the general remarks, which have sug-
gested themselves in regard to the state of things a-
broad. Now have we any thing to learn from them?
Is there any thing in the condition of England, appli-
cable to ours ; or, in regard to which, the agriculture
of England may be of use to Massachusetts and oth-
er countries ?

The subject of agriculture in England has strongly
attracted the attention and inquiries of men of sci-
ence. They have studied particularly the nature of
the soil. More than twenty years ago, Sir Humphrey
Davy undertook to treat the subject of the application
of chemical knowledge to agriculture in the analysis
of soils and manures. The same attention has been
continued to the subject ; and the extraordinary dis-
coveries and advances in chemical science, since his
time, are likely to operate greatly to the advantage
of agriculture. The best results may be expected
from them. These inquiries are now prosecuted in
France with great enthusiasm and success. We may
hope for like beneficial results here from the applica-
cation of science to the same objects.

But although the circumstances of climate and sit-

12

uation and nature of the soil form permanent distinc-
tions, which cannot be changed, yet there are other
differences, resulting from different modes of culture,
and different forms of applying labor ; and it is to
these differences that our attention should be par-
ticularly directed. Here, there is much to learn.
English cultivation is more scientific, more systemat-
ic, and more exact, a great deal than ours. This is
partly the result of necessity. A vast population is
to be supported on comparatively a small surface.
Lands are dear, rents are high, and hands, as well
as mouths, are numerous. Careful and skilful culti-
vation is the natural result of this state of things.
An English farmer looks not merely to the present
year's crop. He considers what will be the condi-
tion of the land, when that crop is off; and what it will
be fit for, the next year. He studies to use his land,
so as not to abuse it. On the contrary, his aim is to
get crop after crop, and still the land shall be growing
better and better. If he would content himself with
raising from the soil a large crop this year, and then
leaving it neglected and exhausted, he would starve.
It is upon this fundamental idea of constant produc-
tion without exhaustion, that the system of English
cultivation, and indeed of all good cultivation, is
founded. England is not original in this. Flanders,
and perhaps Italy, have been her teachers. This
system is carried out in practice, by a well consider-
ed rotation of crops. The form, or manner of this
rotation, in a given case, is determined very much
by the value of the soil, and partly by the local de-
mand for particular products. But some rotation,

13

some succession, some variation in the annual pro-
ductions of the same land, is essential. No tenant
could obtain a lease, or if he should, could pay his
rent and maintain his family, who should wholly dis-
regard this. White crops are not to follow one a-
nother. White crops are wheat, barley, rye, oats,
&c. Our maize, or Indian corn, must be considered
a white crop ; although from the quantity of stalk and
leaf which it produces, and which are such excellent
food for cattle, it is less exhausting than some other
white crops; or to speak more properly, it makes great-
er returns to the land. Green crops are turnips, po-
tatoes, beets, vetches or tares, (which are usually eaten
while growing, by cattle and sheep or cut for green
food) and clover. Buck or beech wheat, and winter
oats, thought to be a very useful product, are regarded
also as green crops, when eaten on the land ; and so
indeed may any crop be considered, which is used
in this way. But the turnip is the great green crop
of England. Its cultivation has wrought such changes,
in fifty years, that it may be said to have revolution-
ized English Agriculture.

Before that time, when lands became exhausted
by the repetition of grain crops, they were left, as it
was termed, fallow ; that is, were not cultivated at all,
but abandoned to recruit themselves as they might.
This occurred as often as every fourth year, so that
one quarter of the arable land was always out of cul-
tivation and yielded nothing. Turnips are now sub-
stituted in the place of these naked fallows ; and now
land in turnips is considered as fallow. What is the
philosophy of this? The raising of crops, even of

14

any, the most favorable crop, does not in itself enrich,
but in some degree, exhausts the land. The exhaus-
tion of the land, however, as experience and obser-
vation have fully demonstrated, takes place mainly
when the seeds of a plant are allowed to perfect them-
selves. The turnip is a biennial plant. It does not
perfect its seed before it is consumed. There is a-
nother circumstance in respect to the turnip plant,
which deserves consideration.

Plants, it is well understood, derive a large
portion of their nutriment from the air. The
leaves of plants are their lungs. The leaves of tur-
nips expose a wide surface to the atmosphere, and
derive, therefore, much of their subsistence and nu-
triment from these sources. The broad leaves of the
turnips likewise shade the ground, preserve its mois-
ture, and prevent, in some measure, its exhaustion by
the sun and air.

The turnips have a farther and ultimate use.
Meat and clothing come from animals. The more
animals are sustained upon a farm, the more meat
and the more clothing. These things bear, of
course, a proportion to the number of bullocks,
sheep, swine, and poultry which are maintained.
The great inquiry then is, what kind of crops will
least exhaust the land in their cultivation, and furnish
at the same time, support to the largest number of
animals ?

A very large amount of land in England is culti-
vated in turnips. Fields of turnips of three, four,
and even five hundred acres are sometimes seen,
though the common fields are much less ; and it may

15

be observed here, that in the richest and best culti-
vated parts of England, enclosures of ten, fifteen,
twenty, or thirty acres, seemed more common.
Since the introduction of the turnip culture, bullocks
and sheep have trebled in number. Turnips, for the
reasons given, are not great exhausters of the soil ;
and they furnish abundant food for animals. Let us
suppose, that one bushel of oats or barley may be
raised at the same cost as ten bushels of turnips ; and
will go as far in support of stock. The great differ-
ence in the two crops is to be found in the farmer's
barn yard. Here is the test of their comparative
value. This is the secret of the great advantages,
which follow from their cultivation. The value of
manure in agriculture is well appreciated. M'Queen
states the extraordinary fact, that the value of the
animal manure annually applied to the crops in Eng-
land, at current prices, surpasses in value the whole
amount of its foreign commerce.* There is no doubt
that it greatly exceeds it. The turnip crop returns a
vast amount of nutritive matter to the soil. The
farmer, then, from his green crops, and by a regular
system of rotation, finds green feed for his cattle and
wheat for the market.

Among the lighter English soils, is that of the

* This is a very extraordinary fact, but it rests upon good authority; and when it
is considered that this is of course the product of agriculture, as well as going in the
great circle, to renew and extend these products, we must have Btrong impressions of
the amazing extent of this great interest. In this case, cattle manure is valued at
4*. sterling; sheep at 3s. ; horse at As. ; pigs, poultry, &c, at 3s. per load ; size of
load not given; making a grand total of £59,860,000 sterling, or nearly 300,000,000
dollars. This is understood to be " exclusive of quantity dropped by cattle on land
during summer, autumn, &c, perhaps one third more; and exclusive of lime, moss,
shells, fish, bone dust, &c." — McQueen's British Statistics, p. 51. H. C.

16

county of Norfolk ; a county, however, which he
had not the pleasure to visit. Its soil, he understood,
is light, a little inclined to sand, or light loam. Such
soils are not unfavorable to roots. Here is the place
of the remarkable cultivation and distinguished im-
provements of that eminent cultivator, Mr. Coke,
now Earl of Leicester.* In these lands, he under-
stood, a common rotation is turnips, barley, clover,
wheat. These lands resemble much of the land in
our county of Plymouth ; and the sandy lands to be
found in the vicinity of the Connecticut and Merri-
mack rivers. The cultivation of green crops in New
England deserves attention. There is no incapaci-
ty in our soil ; and there are no circumstances unfa-
vorable to their production. What would be the best
kind of succulent vegetables to be cultivated, whether
turnips, or carrots, he was not prepared to say. But no
attempts within his knowledge had been made among
us of a systematic agriculture ; and until we enter up-
on some regular rotation of crops, and our husband-
ry becomes more systematic, no distinguished success
can be looked for. As to our soil, as had been re-
marked, there is no inherent incapacity for the pro-
duction of any of the common crops. We could
raise wheat in Massachusetts. The average crop in
England is twenty-six bushels to the acre. From his
own farm, and it was comparatively a thin and poor
soil, he had obtained this summer seventy-six bushels
of wheat upon three acres of land. It is not, there-
fore, any want of capability in the soil ; but the im-

* He has increased the rental of his farms by his improvements, from twenty-five
to two hundred thousand dollars a year. H. C

17

provement and success of our husbandry must de-
pend upon a succession of crops adapted to the cir-
cumstances of our soil, climate, and peculiar con-
dition.

In England, a large portion of the turnip crop is
consumed on the land where it grows. The sheep
are fed out of doors all winter ; and he saw many
large flocks, thousands and millions of sheep, which
were never housed. This was matter of surprise, es-
pecially considering the wetness of the climate ; and
these sheep were often exposed in fields where a dry
spot could not be found for them to lie down upon.
Sheep were often folded in England by wattled fences
or hurdles temporarily erected in different parts of the
field, and removed from place to place as the portions
of the crop were consumed. In some cases they were
folded and the turnips dug and carried to them. In
such case they were always fed upon lands which were
intended the next year to be, as far as practicable,
brought under cultivation. He had seen many labor-
ers in fields, employed in drawing the turnips, splitting
them, and scattering them over the land, for the use of
the sheep, which was considered better, often, than to
leave the sheep to dig for themselves. These labor-
ers would be so employed all winter, and if the ground
should become frozen, the turnips are taken up with
a bar. Together with the turnips, it is thought im-
portant that sheep should have a small quantity of
other food. Chopped hay, sometimes a little oil
cake, or oats, is usually given. This is called trough
food, as it is eaten in troughs, standing about in the
field. In so moist a climate as that of England,

18

some land is so wet, that, in the farmer's phrase, it
will not carry sheep ; that is, it is quite too wet for
sheep to lie out upon it. In such cases the turnips
must be carried, that is, removed from the field, and
fed out elsewhere. The last season was uncommon-
ly wet, and for that reason, perhaps, he could not so
well judge, but it appeared to him it would be an im-
provement in English husbandry to furnish for sheep,
oftener than is done, not only a tolerably dry ground
to lie on, but some sort of shelter against the cold
rains of winter.* The turnips, doubtless, are more
completely consumed, when dug, split, and fed out.
The Swedish turnip, he had little doubt, was best
suited to cold climates. It was scarcely injured by
being frozen in the ground in the winter, as it would
thaw again, and be still good in spring. In Scotland,
in the Lothians, where cultivation is equal to that in
any part of England, it is more the practice than far-
ther south, to house turnips, or draw them, and cov-
er them from frost.f He had been greatly pleased
with Scotch farming, and as the climate and soil of
Scotland more resembled the soil and climate of
Massachusetts, than those of England did, he hoped
the farmers of Massachusetts would acquaint them-
selves, as well as they could, with Scotch husbandry.
He had had the pleasure of passing some time in
Scotland, with persons engaged in these pursuits, and
acknowledged himself much instructed by what he
learned from them, and saw in their company. The
great extent of the use of turnips, and other green

* See Appendix,— Note A. t Ibid,— Note B.

19

crops, in Scotland, is evidence that such crops can-
not be altogether unsuited to Massachusetts.

Mr. Webster proceeded to state, that one of the
things which now attracted much attention among
agriculturists in England, was the subject of tile
draining. This most efficient and successful mode
of draining is getting into very extensive use. Much
of the soil of England, as he had already stated, rest-
ed on a clayey and retentive sub-soil. Excessive
wetness is prejudicial and destructive to the crops.
Marginal drains, or drains on the outside of the fields,
do not produce the desired results. These tile drains
have effected most important improvements. The
tile itself is made of clay, baked like bricks ; about
one foot in length, four inches in width, three fourths
of an inch in thickness, and stands from six to eight
inches in height, being hemispherical, or like the half
of a cylinder, with its sides elongated. It resembles
the Dutch tiles sometimes seen on the roofs of the
old houses in Albany and New York. A ditch is
sunk eighteen or twenty inches in depth, and these
drains are multiplied, over a field, sometimes at a dis-
tance of only seven yards apart.* The ditch, or
drain, being dug, these tiles are laid down, with the
hollow side at bottom, on the smooth clay, or any
other firm subsoil, the sides placed near to each other,
some little straw thrown over the joints to prevent
the admission of dirt, and the whole covered up.
This is not so expensive a mode of draining as might
be supposed. The ditch, or drain, need only be

* See Appendix, — Note C.

20

narrow, and tiles are of much cheaper transportation
than stone would be. But the result is so important,
as well to justify the expense. It is estimated that
this thorough draining adds often twenty per cent to
the production of the wheat crop. A beautiful ex-
ample came under his observation in Nottingham-
shire, not long before he left England. A gentleman
was showing him his grounds for next year's crop of
wheat. On one side of the lane, where the land had
been drained, the wheat was already up, and grow-
ing luxuriantly ; on the other, where the land was
subject to no other disadvantage, than that it had not
been drained, it was still too wet to be sowed at all.
It may be thought singular enough, but it was doubt-
less true, that on stiff clayey lands, thorough draining
is as useful in dry, hot summers, as in cold and wet
summers ; for such land, if a wet winter or spring
be suddenly followed by hot and dry weather, is apt
to become hard and baked, so that the roots of plants
cannot enter it. Thorough draining, by giving an
opportunity to the water on the surface to be con-
stantly escaping, corrects this evil. Draining can
never be needed to so great an extent in Massachu-
setts, as in England and Scotland, from the different
nature of the soil ; but we have yet quantities of low
meadow lands, producing wild, harsh, sour grasses,
or producing nothing, which, there is little doubt,
might be rendered most profitable hay fields, by be-
ing well drained.* When we understand better the
importance of concentrating labor, instead of scatter-

* See Appendix,— Note D.

21

ing it ; when we shall come to estimate, duly, the su-
perior profit of "a little farm well tilled," over a
great farm, half cultivated and half manured, over-
run with weeds, and scourged with exhausting crops,
we shall then fill our barns, and double the winter
feed for our cattle and sheep by the products of these
waste meadows.

There was in England, another mode of improve-
ment, most important, instances of which he had
seen, and one of which he regarded as the most beau-
tiful agricultural improvement, which had ever come
within his observation. He meant irrigation, or the
making of what is called water meadows. He had
first seen them in Wiltshire, and was much struck
with them, not having before understood, from read-
ing or conversation, exactly what they were. But
he had afterwards an opportunity of examining a
most signal and successful example of this mode of
improvement on the estates of the Duke of Portland,
in the North of England, on the borders of Sherwood
forest. Indeed, it was part of the old forest. Sher-
wood forest, at least in its present state, is not like
the pine forests of Maine, the heavy hard wood for-
ests of the unredeemed lands of New Hampshire and
Vermont, or the still heavier timbered lands of the
West. It embraces a large extent of country, with
various soils, some of them thin and light, with beau-
tiful and venerable oaks, of unknown age, much open
ground between them and underneath their wide-
spread branches, and this covered with heather, lich-
ens and fern. As a scene to the eye, and to the
memory by its long existence, and its associations,

22

it is beautiful and interesting. But in many parts,
the soil is far enough from being rich. Upon the
borders of this forest, are the water meadows of
which he was speaking. A little river ran through
the forest in this part, at the bottom of a valley,
with sides moderately sloping, and of considerable
extent, between the river at the bottom and the com-
mon level of the surrounding country above. This
little river, before reaching the place, ran through a
small town, and gathered, doubtless, some refuse mat-
ter in its course. From this river the water was
taken, at the upper end of the valley, conducted a-
long the edge, or bank, in a canal or carrier, and from
this carrier, at proper times, suffered to flow out,
very gently, spreading over and irrigating the whole
surface, trickling and shining when he saw it, (and it
was then November,) among the light green of the
new-springing grass, and collected below in another
canal, from which it was again let out, to flow in
like manner over land lying still further down to-
wards the bottom of the valley. Ten years ago,
this land, for production, was worth little or nothing.
He was told that some of it had been let for no
more than a shilling an acre. It has not been ma-
nured, and yet is now most extensively productive.
It is not flooded ; the water does not stand upon it ;
it flows gently over it, and is applied several times in
a year, to each part, say in March, May, July and
October. In November, when he saw it. the farmers
were taking off the third crop of hay cut this season,
and that crop was certainly not less than two tons to
the acre. This last crop was mostly used as green

23

food for cattle. When he spoke of the quantity of tons,
he meant tons of dried hay. After this crop was off,
sheep were to be put on it, to have lambs at Christ-
mas, so as to come into market in March, a time of
year when they command a high price. Upon tak-
ing off the sheep in March, the land would be water-
ed, the process of watering lasting two or three days,
or perhaps eight or ten days, according to circum-
stances, and repeated after the taking off of each
successive crop. Although this water has no doubt
considerable sediment in it, yet the general fact
shows how important water is to the growth of plants,
and how far even it may supply the place of other
sources of sustenance. Now, we in Massachusetts,
have a more uneven surface, more values with slo-
ping sides, by many times more streams, and such a
climate that our farms suffer much oftener from
drought than farms in England. May we not learn
something useful, therefore, from the examples of ir-
rigation in that country.*

With respect to implements of husbandry, Mr.
Webster was of opinion that the English, on the
whole, had no advantage over us. Their wagons
and carts were no better, their ploughs he thought,
were not better any where, and in some counties far
inferior, because unnecessarily heavy. The sub-soil
plough, for which we have little use, was esteemed a
useful invention, and the mole plough, which he had
seen in operation, and the use of which was to make
an under-ground drain, without disturbing the sur-

#*See Appendix,— Note E.

24

face, was an ingenious contrivance, likely to be use-
ful in clay soils, free from stone and gravel, but which
could be little used in Massachusetts. In general, he
thought the English utensils of husbandry were un-
necessarily cumbrous and heavy. The ploughs, es-
pecially, required a great strength of draught. But
as drill husbandry was extensively practised in Eng-
land, and very little with us, the various implements,
or machines, for drill sowing, in that country, quite
surpass all we have. He did not remember to have
seen the horse-rake used in England, although he had
seen in operation implements for spreading hay, from
the swarth, to dry, or rather, perhaps, for turning it,
drawn by horses.

There were other matters connected with English
agriculture, upon which he might say a word or two.
Crops were cultivated in England, of which we knew
little. The common English field bean, a small
brown bean, growing not on a clinging vine, like some
varieties of the taller bean, ran in what is called with
us the bush form, like our common white bean, upon
a slight, upright stalk, two or two and a half feet
high, and producing from twenty to forty bushels to
the acre. It is valuable, as food for animals, especi-
ally for horses. This bean does not grow well, in
thin soils, or what is called a hot bottom.* A strong,
stiff, clayey land, well manured, suits it best. Vetch-
es, or tares, a sort of pea, was very much cultivated
in England, although almost unknown here, and is
there either eaten green, by sheep, on the land, or
cut and carried for green food.f

* See Appendix,— Note F. t Ibid,— Note G.

25

The raising of sheep, in England, is an immense
interest. England probably clips fifty millions of
fleeces this year, lambs under a year old not being
shorn. The average yield may be six or seven pounds
to a fleece.* There are two principal classes of sheep
in England, the long wooled, and the short wooled.
Among these are many varieties, but this is the gen-
eral division, or classification. The Leicester, and
the South Down, belong respectively, to these sever-
al families. The common clip of the former may be
estimated from seven to eight pounds ; and of the last
from three to three and a half or four. Mr. Webster
mentioned these particulars only as estimates ; and
much more accurate information might doubtless
be obtained from many writers. In New England,
we were just beginning to estimate rightly the im-
portance of raising sheep. England had seen it
much earlier, and was pursuing it with far more zeal
and perseverance. Our climate, as already observed,
differs from that of England ; but the great inquiry
applicable in equal force to both countries is, how
can we manage our land in order to produce the lar-
gest crops, while at the same time we keep up the
condition of the land and place it if possible in a
course of gradual improvement ? The success of
farming must depend in a considerable degree upon
the animals produced and supported on the farm.
The farmer may calculate in respect to animals upon
two grounds of profit ; the natural growth of the ani-
mal, and the weight obtained by fattening. The skil-

* See Appendix,-^Nute H.

26

ful farmer, therefore, expects where he gains one
pound in the fattening of his animal, to gain an equal
amount in the growth. The early maturity of stock
is consequently a point of much importance.

Oxen are rarely reared in England for the yoke.
In Devonshire and Cornwall, ox teams are employ-
ed ; but in travelling one thousand miles in England,
Mr. Webster saw only one ox team, and here they
were driven one before the other, and in harnesses
similar to the harnesses of horses. Bullocks are raised
for the market. It is highly desirable, therefore, both
in respect to neat cattle and sheep, that their growth
should be rapid and their fattening properties favora-
ble, that they may be early disposed of, and conse-
quently the expense of production lessened.

Is it practicable on the soil and in the climate of
Massachusetts to pursue a succession of crops ? He
could not question it ; and he had entire confidence
in the improvements to our husbandry and the great
advantages which would accrue from judicious rota-
tion of products. The capacities of the soil of Mas-
sachusetts were undoubted. One hundred bushels of
corn to an acre had been repeatedly produced, and
other crops in like abundance. But this would not
effect the proper ends of a judicious and profitable
agriculture, unless we could so manage our husband-
ry that by a judicious and proper succession of crops,
the land would not only be restored after an exhaust-
ing crop, but gradually enriched by cultivation. It
is of the highest importance that our farmers should
increase their power of sustaining live stock, that they
may therefrom obtain the means of improving their
farms.

27

The breed of cattle in England was greatly im-
proved, and still improving. He had seen some of
the best stocks, and many individual animals from
others, and thought them admirable. The short
horned cattle, brought to this country, were often
very good specimens. He .said he had seen the
flocks from which some of them had been selected,
and they were certainly among the best in England.
But in every selection of stock, we are to regard our
own climate, and our own circumstances. We raise
oxen for work, as well as for beef ; and he was of
opinion that the Devonshire stock furnished excellent
animals for our use. We had suffered that old stock,
brought hither by our ancestors, to run down, and
be deteriorated. It had been kept up, and greatly
improved, in England, and we might now usefully im-
port from it. The Devonshire ox is a hardy animal,
of size and make suited to the plough, and though
certainly not the largest for beef, yet generally very
well fattened. He thought quite well, also, of the
Ayrshire cows. They were good milkers, and being
a hardy race, were, on that account, well suited to
the cold climate, and to the coarse and sometimes
scanty pasturage of New England. After all, he
thought, there could be no doubt, that the improved
breed of short horns were the finest cattle in the
world, and should be preferred, wherever plenty of
good feed, and some mildness of climate invited
them. They were well fitted to the Western States,
where there is an overflowing abundance, both of
winter and summer feed, and where, as in England,
bullocks are raised for beef only. He had no doubt,

28

also, that they might be usefully raised in the rich
valleys of the Connecticut, and perhaps in some oth-
er favored parts of the State. But, for himself, as a
farmer on the thin lands of Plymouth county, and on
the bleak shores of the sea, he did not feel that he
could give, to animals of this breed, that entertain-
ment, which their merit deserved.

As to sheep, the Leicester were like the short
horned cattle. They must be kept well ; they should
always be fat; and, pressed by good keeping, to
early maturity, they are found very profitable. " Feed
well," was the maxim of the great Roman farmer,
Cato ; and that short sentence comprises much of all
that belongs to the profitable economy of live stock.
The South Downs are a good breed, both for wool
and mutton. They crop the grass that grows on the
thin soils, over beds of chalk, in Wiltshire, Hamp-
shire, and Dorsetshire. They ought not to scorn the
pastures of New England.

When one looks, said Mr. Webster, to the condi-
tion of England, he must see of what immense im-
portance is every, even the smallest degree of im-
provement in its agricultural productions. Suppose
that by some new discovery, or some improved mode
of culture, only one per cent could be added to the
annual results of English cultivation ; this, of itself,
would materially affect the comfortable subsistence
of millions of human beings. It was often said that
England was a garden. This was a strong meta-
phor. There was poor land, and some poor cultiva-
tion in England. All people are not equally indus-
trious, careful, and skilful. But on the whole, Eng-

29

land was a prodigy of agricultural wealth. Flanders
might possibly surpass it. He had not seen Flan-
ders ; but England quite surpassed, in this respect,
whatever he had seen. In associations for the im-
provement of agriculture, we had been earlier than
England. But such associations now exist. He had
the pleasure of attending the first meeting of the
National Agricultural Society, and he had found it a
very pleasant and interesting occasion. Persons of
the highest distinction for rank, talents, and wealth,
were present, all zealously engaged in efforts for the
promotion of the agricultural interests. No man in
England was so high, as to be independent of the
success of this great interest; no man so low, as not
to be affected by its prosperity, or its decline. The
same is true, eminently and emphatically true, with
us. Agriculture feeds us ; to a great degree it
clothes us ; without it, we could not have manufac-
tures, and we should not have commerce. These all
stand together, but they stand together, like pillars in
a cluster, the largest in the centre, and that largest is
agriculture. Let us remember, too, that we live in a
country of small farms, and free-hold tenements ; a
country, in which men cultivate with their own
hands, their own fee-simple acres ; drawing not only
their subsistence, but also their spirit of independ-
ence, and manly freedom from the ground they
plough. They are at once its owners, its cultivators,
and its defenders. And whatever else may be under-
valued, or overlooked, let us never forget, that the
cultivation of the earth is the most important labor
of man. Man may be civilized, in some degree,

30

without great progress in manufactures, and with lit-
tle commerce with his distant neighbors. But with-
out the cultivation of the earth, he is, in all countries,
a savage. Until he steps from the chase, and fixes
himself in some place, and seeks a living from the
earth, he is a roaming barbarian. When tillage be-
gins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are
the founders of human civililization.

After Mr. Webster closed, Mr. Silliman began by
remarking that he was taken wholly by surprise,
nothing having been farther from his thoughts than
to say any thing on this occasion. Indeed; after the
remarks from the honorable gentleman who had just
spoken, to which he had, in common with others, the
pleasure of listening, there was little that need be
said by any one. On an occasion so gratifying as
the present, and offering objects of inquiry and dis-
cussion so highly important and interesting, he could
not, however, withhold the expression of his own per-
sonal interest in the case, and what little aid to the
cause might be derived from his concurrence.

In the statement relating to British husbandry,
made by the honorable gentleman who preceded him,
and in the impressions which that gentleman had
gathered from his observation of rural and agricultu-
ral life in England, he expressed his entire assent
and sympathy. In a visit many years since, made by
himself to England, he derived from similar though

31

far less perfect opportunities of observation, great
pleasure; and he left the country more than thirty
years ago, with a strong admiration for the extraor-
dinary improvements and advances made in this great
art, in that active, populous, and intelligent com-
munity.

The British nation had long since arrived at the
conviction, which experience and further inquiry had
served only to confirm and strengthen, that science
in all its influences might lend a most substantial aid
to agriculture. They therefore have largely availed
themselves of its aid in the chemical examination of
soils and manures, with a view to ascertain their uses
and correctives.

The popular impressions formerly entertained,
that little was to be gained in agriculture by the ap-
plication of science, are, in a great measure remov-
ed. Nothing could have less foundation in reason
or fact. The advantages of the judicious applica-
tion of knowledge to art, are every where obvious.
All the arts of life have their foundation in knowl-
edge ; and all the improvements of mechanism, from
a wheelbarrow to a chronometer, are due to science
and mechanical philosophy. It will be fouud true in
relation to every thing connected with human im-
provement and comfort, even in the commonest de-
partments of life, the more knowledge the better.

Inquiries into the nature of soils are of great im-
portance ; and in respect to many soils now either
wholly unproductive or uncongenial to certain crops,
science may enable us to apply the necessary altera-
tives or correctives. x\lthough we cannot fabricate

32

in a laboratory the soils of a country, we can discov-
er their composition and ascertain their deficiences ;
the deficient ingredient may be supplied, and al-
though it should be in small quantities, it may be done
in a form that may be generally practicable, and thus
may essentially change the character of a soil.

The honorable gentleman has, without doubt, tru-
ly assigned the causes of the mildness of the climate
of western Europe, and especially of Great Britain ;
and he has indicated with equal clearness and truth
the causes of the comparative coldness of the Eas-
tern countries of North America. In this connexion
it may be remarked that the western countries of this
continent enjoy a climate far milder than the eastern.

The climate of these western countries is affected
by their position in relation to the vast Pacific ocean,
which produces an effect similar to that of the Atlan-
tic ocean upon Europe, but in a far greater degree.
Thus the climate corresponds to a considerable de-
gree with that of the western shores of Europe. Its
mildness is such that the plough may be driven near-
ly or quite through the whole year. Its temperature
is, perhaps, considerably affected by its geological
formation and by the extensive range of volcanoes,
which stretch along its shores, and some of which are
still breathing forth their internal heat. Here every
thing is on a vast scale; and the agricultural
products will at no distant day, become abundant
and highly important. We cannot indeed alter the
climate of a country ; but we may in some measure
accommodate our husbandry to its peculiarities and
variations.

33

The larger portion of the soils of New England,
as stated by the honorable gentleman, is undoubtedly
derived from granite and other primary rocks ; and
many of the red sandstone soils, such as those in the
neighborhood of New Haven, are, in fact composed
of the principles found in granite rocks. Argillace-
ous soils, or those which are derived chiefly from the
decomposition of argillaceous or clay slate, abound
likewise in many parts of New England and of Mas-
sachusetts, and being retentive of water, are found
highly productive in grass and grains.

A considerable part of the nutriment of plants is
undoubtedly derived from the air, and water, or its ele-
ments, constitutes a large portion of their food. The
composition of water is now well understood, and we
may with safety, in the presence of this intelligent as-
sembly, speak in technical terms of the constituent
parts of water, hydrogen and oxygen, which enter
largely into all vegetables. Carbon, which forms
also a large part of all plants, though it exists in com-
paratively small proportions in the form of carbonic
acid gas in the air, is yet derived from innumerable
sources and supplied to the growing vegetables in
abundance. The effect of light upon the green
leaves of plants is to decompose the carbonic acid,
and the carbon is absorbed to nourish the plant,
and the oxygen is evolved into the air ; thus it
separates from the atmosphere an important element
of nutrition, supplying it in the form of food for the
plants.

Mr. Silliman farther alluded to the curious fact in
the constitution of nature, that notwithstanding the

34

superior density or specific gravity of carbonic acid
gas, it being much greater than that of the other el-
ements of which the atmosphere is composed, it is
nevertheless found in abundance in the elevated re-
gions of the earth, and even on high and barren
mountains contributes in an important degree to the
support of plants and of trees. If the air and water
afford the most important elements of plants, it may
be asked, what then is the use of the soil? Its
first use is to furnish a point of support in which the
plant can fix itself; but it doubtless contains many
things which water serves to dissolve, and hold in
solution, that they may be taken up by the plants.
He expressed his belief that in most of the soils in
New England and in Massachusetts, the principal el-
ement wanting is lime. This abounds in the wes-
tern districts of New York, and renders those lands,
as in Geneseo for example, on the magnificent farm
of Mr. VVadsworth, extraordinarily productive in
wheat.

The addition of lime to our own soils, he consid-
ered of great importance. Our sea-shores abound
in shells, whose base is lime, and which are capable,
by being burnt, of being converted into the best of
lime. New Haven, the town of his own residence,
abounds in oysters, both natives and those that in
great numbers are colonized there from Virginia.
The shells are burnt for manure and applied to the
land. The soil of New Haven and its vicinity is de-
rived from a species of red sandstone ; but this was
composed of the elements of granite^ quartz, mica
and feldspar, the ruins of granitic and other primary
rocks.

35

An interest in agriculture is now awakened in
Connecticut, which promises the most valuable re-
sults ; and improvements in cultivation are rapidly
advancing. He agreed in the estimation of the Com-
missioner, of the great value of Indian corn. One
hundred bushels had been repeatedly produced in
New Haven upon an acre. A cattle show and agri-
cultural and horticultural fair have been holden in
New Haven annually for several years — the last au-
tumn in particular, with a spirit which evinced the
lively interest taken in the subject ; and he had the
pleasure on that occasion of seeing one hundred yoke
of very fine oxen from East Haven, attached to a
plough, and the plough holden by a venerable man of
ninety-six years of age, who laid a furrow along the
public square.

In his own opinion, there was no occasion, in an
agricultural point of view, to despair of Massachusetts
or any part of New England. There were no evils
or disadvantages connected with the climate or soil,
which could not be met and overcome. It was a
great and lamentable error that so many of our young
men deserted the pursuits of agriculture to crowd into
the trades of cities.

He reverted again to the value and importance of
chemical knowledge to agriculture. The analysis of
manures was a subject of great, and indispensable im-
portance. The knowledge obtained from geological
and agricultural surveys and chemical investigations,
could not be too highly estimated ; and the State
could expend no money to more advantage than in

36

procuring and encouraging them.* This patonrage
should not be withdrawn or withheld ; and the with-
holding of it could arise only from a want of a just
appreciation of the value of these branches of sci-
ence. He alluded with much respect to the late la-
mented Judge Buel, whose skill in the science and
application of manures was a just subject of eulogy,
and whose success, in converting a portion of the
barren and unpromising soil in the vicinity of Albany
into fertile and productive fields, was well known and
honored.

He pressed the importance of a Board of Agricul-
ture, and congratulated Massachusetts upon the spir-
it and liberality with which she had regarded the im-
provement of her husbandry. The subject could not
receive too much of her concern. It stood second
to no interest but those of a moral and religious char-
acter, and indeed it might be said to be nearly allied
to them also, since habits of rural industry are the
most favorable to good morals. The value of sci-
ence, in this case, could not be too highly estimated.
Here science might be regarded as the eye, and prac-
tical skill the hand, by which this great art was to be
carried forward to perfection.

* See Appendix, — Note I.

APPENDIX,

(Note A. — p. 18.) Housing Sheep.

If sheep were allowed to give their voice on the subject, there is little doubt how
the question would be decided. Where a shed is open at one side, sheep in case of
a cold storm of rain or sleet, will always, if left to govern themselves, seek a shelter.
Under other circumstances they are equally disposed to remain in the open air.

The very fine wooled sheep, whose constitutions are tender, require much nursing;
and in our climate must be sheltered. This is necessary, also, in order to preserve
the fineness of the wool; and some shepherds go so far as to put linen jackets upon
them. With respect to the coarse wooled sheep, and the half bloods, many of the
best farmers in Vermont and in the Western part of Massachusetts, have come to
the conclusion that their flocks are, upon the whole, better in health, and that the
ppr centage of loss in their flocks is less, where the flocks are fed at stacks in the
field and rarely housed, except occasionally at their own pleasure, than where they
are regularly shut up every night in a covered and close fold. Any one, who has
been accustomed to the air of a sheep house, where a flock has been confined all
night, can hardly doubt that it must be prejudicial to the health of the animals unless
their lungs are made of leather.

Our climate differs essentially from that of England; but with us to fold sheep in
wet yards is likely to produce the disease of the foot-rot, a most troublesome disor-
der and extremely difficult to eradicate. If it does not produce the disease, yet if
the poison is lurking within the fool, it will bring it out and aggravate it. It is an
infectious disorder, and I know from experience, much to be dreaded; though I am
not prepared to say with a writer of no small credit, that the only effectual rem-
edy is to cut off the sheep's head. H. C

(Note B.— p. 18.) Turnips.

The common flat or white turnip is little cultivated among us, excepting for the
table. The Swedish turnip or ruta baga is much more valued for its solidity, its
supposed superior nutritiveness, and its endurance. It may be kept perfectly well
until May, and often until June. They are easily grown; but the condition of the
land cannot be too much enriched. With respect to the keeping of them through the
winter, we protest, on account of the health and comfort of his family, against
a farmer's ever putting any of the turnip or cabbage family into his house cellar;
but they may be stored in his barn cellar, or a deposit may be made for them on
his barn floor if the sides be well filled in and the top carefully covered with hay, for
which purpose the poorest will answer. Or I have preserved them in perfection by
pitting them in the field where they grew. For this purpose, on the driest part of
the field, dig a hole about six inches or a foot in depth, and wide and long ac-

2

cording to the quantity of turnips you have to provide for, there deposit your ruta
baga after they are dug and trimmed, and raise the pile in a sloping form like the
pitched roof of a house. Do this after the dirt has been knocked off the turnips,
and they have become as dry as circumstances will admit. Lay on the heap a thin
layer of straw, and a thin covering of earth, leaving the south end of the heap,
which should be made north and south, to be stopped up with several loose bundles
of straw. Then make a few holes with a crow-bar to act as ventilators until the
first heat of the turnips i3 over. Let them remain in this condition until the cold
increases, so that they are in danger of freezing; then put another layer of straw
and another covering of dirt, smoothed down neatly with the spade, so that it may
shed the rain. Your turnips in this way will keep well all winter, and access to them
will be easy through the winter at the south end, by removing the loose bundles of
straw, and afterwards carefully replacing them. The straw and dirt, by the aid of
frost, will make a perfect roof to your turnip house, which will stand firm until the
frost is gone. I have kept hundreds of bushels for my stock in this way; and if a
farmer desires in the feeding season to make accurate calculations of the amount
consumed as he goes on, he can put them up in heaps of one or two hundred bushels
each in different parts of his field, managing with them in the way I have described.
The cultivation of green esculent vegetable crops cannot be too strongly urged upon
our farmers. We shall never reach an improved husbandry until we get into a reg-
ular system of rotation of crops; and green feed for our winter feeding forms a part
of that rotation. Condiments or esculents of this sort are as important for our cat-
tle as potatoes and other vegetables are upon the farmer's table. The condition of our
cattle, and especially our young stock and our milking stock, would be greatly im-
proved by them. This green feed can be produced in many cases at a less ex-
pense than long feed. It makes, from the exact cultivation required, an excellent
preparation for grain; and it supplies under proper management, directly and effi-
ciently the means of enriching our farms, and of increasing their productiveness in
a rapid ratio. H. C.

(Note C. — p. 19.) Draining.
According to the testimony of Mr. Kennedy, formerly M. P., and Mr. James
Smith of Deanston, England, the author of this system of draining and inventor of
the sub-soil plough, before a committee of the British Parliament, these drains where
tiles are used, are sunk to a depth of twenty-four inches, and where stones are used,
are sunk to a depth of thirty inches; the object in each case being to stir the ground in
the course of improvement with the subsoil plough, to the depth of sixteen inches, with-
out disturbing the tiles or the drain. When stones are used the ditch is sunk to the
depth of 30 inches ; small stones are then thrown in promiscuously to a height of 12
inches; and then a sod of 2 or 3 inches thick, inverted, is laid over the stones to
prevent the dirt falling in and stopping the passage of the water; the top is then
filled up and the field left smooth. The centre or main drain into which the cross
drains empty, is sunk to the depth of three feet. These drains are durable and
effectual. Tiles have not been used among us; but nearly twelve years ago, I made
several hundreds of rods of these covered drains with small rough stone, as above
described, in order to drain a wet field. The drains continue to operate well to this
time. The value of the land was increased tenfold; and the increased crops soon

paid the whole expense of the improvement. These drains are entirely out of sight;
but I would advise, whenever they are made, that their distances and direction should
be accurately laid down in a plan of the farm, that they may easily be found in case
of interruption.

In England the improvement is not considered as complete, until, after the land is
drained, the whole field is by a gradual process, loosened with a subsoil plough to
the depth of sixteen inches. The land is first ploughed to the depth of six inches
and a crop of oats is taken; it is then ploughed again and subsoiled, if I may use
the expression, to the very top of the drain, care being taken not to bring much of
the subsoil to the surface at a time, but the top and the lower soil are intermixed by
a gradual process of cultivation. Other crops are then taken from this land, which
is cultivated and manured in the usual manner; and the products are enormously in-
creased by this process. I shall give more full details in my third Report of the
Agriculture of Massachusetts, now in the press. II. C.

(Note D. — p. 20.) Redemption of Peat Meadows.

Some most beautiful examples of the success of redeeming lands by draining, es-
pecially bog meadow, are to be found in Saugus, Lynn, Lexington, Framingham,
Groton, and other towns in this State. In these cases, lands which were of little
value, are now brought into most productive fields, yielding five or six hundred bush-
els of potatoes and three to four tons of hay per acre besides other crops. These
however, are in general open drains. We have a very large amount of peat land
in the State, which is capable of being thus redeemed and made some of the most pro-
ductive in the State. By the estimation of the learned Geological Surveyor, there are
more than SO,O0O acres or 125 square miles. One of the most remarkable examples
of this sort of improvement may be found detailed in the Appendix to the Third
Report of the Agriculture of Massachusetts. This was made by Mr. Timothy H.
Brown, of Saugus, and deserves particular attention. An account of it is given
likewise, in the Reports of the Essex Agricultural Society for 1838 — 9.

There seems to me no reason why the introduction of the Deanston System of im-
provement, thorough draining and subsoil ploughing, may not be introduced among us
in particular localities, to as great advantage as has been done in Scotland. H. C.

(Note E. — p. 23.) Irrigation.

A very skilful enterprise of this same kind, on a smaller scale, has been undertaken
in Medway, which promises the best results. Here a considerable stream has been
dammed and carried in a canal round the whole field of several acres, so as to be
allowed to (low upon them over the bank at the pleasure of the owner. Two other
examples of irrigation are to be seen, one in the the upper part of Dedham and one
in Chelmsford, which, though on a small scale, have been eminently successful. Our
improvements are very humble compared with those referred to by Mr. Webster;
but they are creditable and encouraging. The struggling steps of infancy must be
taken before we can move with the firm gait of manhood. The enriching qualities of
water are far from being properly appreciated. In such circumstances as described,
it is by no means a simple substance ; and it effects an essential purpose in holding
in solution the nutriment of the plant with which it mixes in its passage over the
soil and percolations into it. H. C.

(Note F.— p. 24.) The Bean.

The Bean ( Vicia Faba.) — "The bean is a valuable field plant, as affording
food for live stock and in part for man. The varieties of the bean are two, garden
and field beans, the white and the grey beans. The best soils for beans are clay and
strong loams. On sucli soils they generally succeed wheat or oats, but sometimes
also clover leys. Turnip soils or sands are by no means proper for them. The cli-
mate most favorable to the bean is one neither very dry nor very moist; the first
brings on the fly; and the last prevents the setting of the blossoms. The flour of
beans is more nutritive than that of oats, as it appears in the fattening of swine."
Dr. Darwin thinks them a cheaper provender for horses than that of oats; but being
of an oily nature, more difficult of digestion than oats, and he would therefore hesi-
tate in giving them the preference for this object.

The bean is considered as an exhausting crop; but on account of the clean culti-
vation which is given to it, it often favorably precedes wheat. My own experiments
in the cultivation of the English field bean, which I have tried two or three years, re-
sulted in disappointment, as they were in every instance destroyed by a little black
fly. This is the great enemy with which they have to contend abroad. Forty bush-
els to the acre must be regarded as a large yield. From twenty to thirty-five is
more common.

The cultivation of the white bean among us, is pursued to a very small extent and
in a very slovenly and negligent manner. Land that is under a curse and considered
fit for nothing else, is usually selected for a crop of white beans; and a farmer would
as soon think of dressing his children in peacock's feathers, as of giving any manure
to his white beans. The result is exactly what, under such circumstances, is to be
expected. We have no doubt, that under proper cultivation, beans may be made
a highly productive and valuable crop. For feeding sheep, especially fatting-
wethers, I have tried and know their value. Intermixed and ground or alternated
with Indian corn, they are exceeedingly favorable for the thrift of sheep, and may
be to a degree profitably used, notwithstanding the customary difference in price.
We can hardly expect, however, that they should take the place of Indian corn; a
crop which cannot be grown in England, which is not more exhausting than any oth-
er grain crop allowed to perfect its seeds, which when consumed on the farm u ntler
good management, returns a large amount to the land; and the rough fodder of
which, when well cured, is almost an equivalent for the cost of cultivation. — H. C.

(Note G.— p. 24.) The Tare.

TnE Tare or Vetgh (vicia sativa) is a plant which we have sometimes seen
growing, but rarely cultivated among us. There is no hindrance in our climate to
its cultivation ; and perhaps the great reason why the cultivation of the tare or field
bean has been neglected or not introduced, has arisen from our capacity to produce
Indian corn; and our high estimation, which can hardly be extravagant, of its value
as food for the brute and the human animal. As green feed especially, and for the
purposes of soiling, undoubtedly the tares might be introduced to great advantage.

" The Tare," says Low, " is one of the most esteemed of the leguminous plants
of this country, (England.) When used as green forage, they are cut after the pods
are formed, but long before the seeds are ripe. Being in the class of crops not al-

lowed to mature their seeds, they are not exhausting to the soil. They are consid-
ered as restorative crops, from the quantity of manure which the consumption of
them affords. They are exceedingly nutritious, and supply a larger quantity of food
for a limited period, than almost any other forage crop. All the anima's of the farm
are fond of this legume, and all thrive upon it in an eminent degree. Hogs may
he fattened entirely upon it. It causes milch cows to give more butter than any
other species of food, and it is employed extensively in the feeding of horses. Alt
the English agriculturists are impressed with a high opinion of the value of tares."

Youug observes, " tare crops are of such use and importance that not one tenth
of the stock could be sustained without them; horses, cows, sheep and hogs are all
fattened upon them; hogs are soiled upon them without any other food. This
plant maintains more stock than any other plant whatever. Upon one acre Davis
maintained four horses in much better condition than upon five acres of grass. Upon
eight acres he has kept twelve horses and five cows for three months without any
other food. No artificial food whatever is equal to this excellent plant."

" Tares cut green," Professor Thaer observes, " draw no nourishment from the
soil, whatever; while made into hay they afford a fodder preferred by cattle to pea
straw, and more nutritious than hay or any other herbage."

These high encomiums on this plant will, we hope, invite the attention of our farm,
ers strongly to the subject, that experiments may be made among ourselves of their
adaptation to our climate and soil; and of the expediency of introducing them among
a rotation of crops in our system of husbandry, if we are so fortunate presently as
to have a system. — Tares are of two kinds, Winter and Spring, but not distinguish'
able from the appearance of the seed. The winter tares are sowed in England in
September and October, and where they are designed for soiling the sowing
is continued at successive times until May. The spring tares are advised to
be sowed as early in the Spring as they can be got in. A clay soil is most congenial
to their growth; and any rich soil will do, provided it is not too dry. The quantity
of seed to an acre is from two and a half to three and a half bushels; the latter
quantity where they are to be cut for green fodder; the former where they are culti-
vated for their seed. It is advised to sow some grain with them, such aS rye with
winter tares and oats with spring tares, which serve to support them-

It is doubtful whether tares sowed in the fall would surviv our severe winters.
This, however, can cnly be determined by some actual ewsr'ment' We hope they
will have a fair trial. For soiling they must be an .Acellent article; and I cannot
but hope that the practice of soiling will prevail ««><* more among us; especially
for the quantity of most valuable manure, !•*><* under proper management maybe
made in this way. I ask leave here P refer to an admirable and encouraging ex-
periment in soiling, on a email scale, in my Second Report of the Agriculture of

HP

Massachusetts, p. 69. "' Vf

^Note H. — p. 25.) Product of Sheep.

This would seem to be a large yield, but perhaps under good management, not
overrated. Mr. Hubbard, an extensive wool dealer at Leeds, whose authority ap-
pears to be much relied upon, states the average of the short wooled sheep at 3 1-2
lbs. each, and the long wooled at 7 1-2 lbs. each. Mc Culloch in his tables, states the
yield of (he Teeswater sheep to be 9 lbs. to a fleece; the Lincoln, 10 lbs.; of the

5

6

Dishley, 8 lbs. ; of the Cotswold, 9 lbs. ; and of the South Downs 2 1-2 11 s. , of the
Cheviot 3 lbs, to a fleece. It is stated in another work that a Mr. Selhir, by dint
of persevering attention to the choice of rams, the change of herbage and placing
the sheep at different ages upon appropriate pasture, together with supplies of artifi-
cial food in the pinching seasons of the year, has raised the average wool of the Chev-
iot race to 4 and 4 1-2 lbs. per fleece.

I have known cases of as remarkable improvement here. They show emphatically
how much a farmer's success depends on enterprise, care, and skill.

I ought to say, in this place, that Mr. Webster is in no respect whatever, responsi-
ble for the Notes attached to his address. With the exception of those on beans
and vetches, he lias not seen them. H. C.

(Note I. — p. 36.) Agricultural Statistics.

EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMORIAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OF

AGRICULTURAL SURVEY TO THE LEGISLATURE OF

MASSACHUSETTS, FEBRUARY 17, 1S40.

The domestic industry of the State, and especially its agriculture, in its connexion
with national wealth, with the comforts of every class and condition of its people,
and with good morals, has claims to the most liberal encouragement and patronage
of the government.

In a faithful and enlightened regard to Agriculture, Massachusetts has eminent-
ly distinguished herself among her sister states. In her endowments and annual
bounties to agricultural societies, in her geological and agricultural surveys, anil in
her premiums offered for the production of wheat, silk, and sugar, she has made a
generous provision for the encouragement of this great and useful art; and with a
sound discretion has expended money, which has already given back, and is in the
process of making, the most abundant returns.

It wems to your memorialist, exceedingly important that some mode should be
adopted ia ascertain, with as much exactness as the nature of the case admits, the
actual products of agriculture within the State. True political economy differs not
at all, except ii. t|lc extent of its application, from true household, private, or do?
rnestic economy. T^e wise merchant or farmer will seek to possess himself in the
most exact manner of tlh. knowledge of his condition, his stock in trade, his income,
his expenditures, his gains, hV losses> alu] tne actual results of his business. A state
or political community should i.- like manner become acquainted with its actual
condition, and especially with all the .^plications and results of its industry; for
this is indeed the great source of its weak... t|le nght arm of its power, the only
true foundation of its independence. It should Vocome acquainted with its own ca-
pacities and powers; and learn how far they are calltU out, how they are applied
how they may be best applied, and to what extent she inny rely upon thenv and
especially how far she may rely upon them for the supply of he* necessary wants, and
to what extent and in what way they may be made the foundation of social wealth
and independence.

Every part of the civilized world seems to have waked up to the importance and
value of statistical information ; and no knowledge is likely to lead to more-useful
practical results. The smaller the community, the more directly practical and effi-
cient is such knowledge. The statistical returns of the mechanical and manufac-

Hiring industry of the Commonwealth, obtained and published three years since by
direction of the government, is universally admitted to be one of the most valuable
documents ever published by the State or in the State. It has exalted the credit of
the Commonwealth in the highest degree at home and abroad; and given her the
command of capital and resources for use and improvement, which otherwise, with
her limited territory and disdained soil, she could hardly have maintained. It has
inspired in her own citizens, an honest pride, a self-respect, a feeling of self-depend?
enc.e, which naturally grow in an attachment to home, and quench the desire of emi-
gration. More especially, and above all, it has revealed and established, even in
the most humble and the most sceptical minds, the great truth, that in honest, en-
lightened, well-directed, persevering, and productive industry, there are to be found
a means of wealth, an instrument of power, a source of comfort, a security to mo-
rals, and a ground of independence, which the underlaying of her whole territory
with mines of gold would not supply.

What has been done for manufacturing and mechanical industry, your memorialist
is anxious should be extended to every other branch of productive labor, and more
especially to agriculture. It will not be difficult or expensive to accomplish it. It
may reveal in many respects a mortifying deficiency and a blameable neglect. The
knowledge of the facts in such case will more than any thing else conduce to amend-
ment. It may disclose to our gratification and surprise more favorable results than
we apprehend. Such a case would stimulate ambition, and encourage to greater
exertion. In any event an accurate ascertainment of our condition and products in
this matter, would have a powerful and favorable influence upon our agriculture;
and would prove a most important step in the way of improvement.

It is believed, as already stated, by some highly intelligent and observing men, that
taking the whole territory into view, Massachusetts does not produce half a peck of
Indian corn to an acre. If this fact could be ascertained, in an authentic form, it
would, your memorialist believes, at once awaken the farmers to the great value of
this crop, and the losses suffered by the neglect of its cultivation. It would at once
occur to them that it could not be difficult for Massachusetts to raise at least one
bushel of com to the acre, or as many bushels of corn as she has acres in her territo-
ry. To say nothing of the fodder, and the means consequently of increasing her
live stock, this would be the actual creation, out of her soil, of four million, fiva
hundred thousand bushels of Indian corn. In such case we may consider half the
product in grain as the clear product of the crop. What an advantage to our habits,
our comfort, and our power of usefulness, if then, as clear gain beyond the cost of
labor and cultivation, we could produce annually in the State two million bushels of
Indian corn. What mine of gold in any country would be comparable to this "?
Hul this is only one article of agricultural produce. The knowledge of other pro-
ducts would be equally and similarly useful.